"Yvonne, where exactly have I been shameless? Do tell."


    A cool, clear voice came from behind them.


    Everyone froze.


    Sebastian whipped around to see Natalie standing beside Marshall, casually holding a half-eaten slice of cake. A small smudge of white frosting dotted the corner of her mouth.


    Marshall saw it and gently wiped it away for her.


    A wave of relief washed over Sebastian, immediately followed by a surge of irritation at himself for ever doubting her. But seeing Marshall''s intimate gesture, his expression darkened once more.


    Joanna was in utter shock. "Natalie, you... how are you...?"


    "Joanna, what''s with that expression? Have you been bad-mouthing me again?" Natalie asked, feigning an innocent pout. Two could y the victim.


    Joanna was speechless. "I... I didn''t."


    Yvonne, flustered and angry, demanded, "Natalie, what are you doing here?"


    Natalie looked at her, baffled. “Where am I supposed to be? There was a huge gust of wind just now that knocked over all the flower arrangements outside. I was helping the butler set them back up. The moment I walk in, I hear you screaming my name."


    The butler chimed in with a smile. "It''s true. That wind was quite strong. It blew gift cards everywhere. We''re very grateful for this youngdy''s help."


    Joanna and Yvonne were stunned. If that wasn''t Natalie, then who was in the room?


    Mr. Wilson, his face a thundercloud, stormed into the room with the others behind him. He ripped back the curtain, and the crowd gasped.


    Joanna, in particr, looked as if her eyes were about to pop out of her head. Her body began to tremble uncontrobly.


    Wendy stared at the absurd scene. It was... Nathan. And his first love.


    Joanna stumbled back a step, horrified.


    Mr. Wilson''s expression was murderous. At that moment, he knew he''d been used as a pawn by Joanna. After decades of navigating the treacherous world of business, He could see through her cheap theatrics.


    Sebastian turned and walked back toward the doorway, not wanting to soil his eyes with the scene.


    Wendy, however, saw her chance. A perfect opportunity to deal with the mistress. She''d been waiting for this ever since she''dst seen the woman.


    She stormed forward, brandishing her chain-strap purse, and brought it down hard on Nathan''s head.


    "Nathan, you bastard!" she shrieked, her voice filled with pain and fury.


    The preupied Nathan yelped in pain. The drug''s effects weren''t that strong, and the blow jolted him back to his senses. He looked around at the crowd of onlookers and his jaw dropped. Then he looked at the woman beside him and his blood ran cold.


    How... how could this be?


    "Honey... I..."


    SLAP! Wendy''s hand cracked across his face.


    SLAP! The other followed.


    Nathan''s head spun, but he scrambled to exin. "Honey, listen to me, I don''t


    know what happened! How did I end up here?"


    "You disgrace Wendy roared. "To do something like this at Mr. Wilson''s gata! Do you have any


    respect for him at all? Joanna is


    such kind girl she nearly died saving Mr. Wilson''s grandson and you repay that kindness by carrying on with another woman right here? Have you no shame?"


    Every word was a calcted blow, framing Nathan''s actions as a direct insult to their host.


    Nathan felt a rush of blood to his head and nearly fainted. He couldn''t understand what had possessed him.


    Wendy''s gaze, cold and sharp, fell on the woman cowering under the sheets. Your turn, you bitch. She dropped her purse and yanked the covers away.