"I''m sorry, but this is between my wife and me. I''ve made up my mind. I''m not divorcing Natalie. I was wrong before..."


    Natalie''s cold voice cut him off. "Sebastian, spare me the useless words. I am divorcing you. Even if you refuse, I can file for separation and the divorce will be granted in two years. It''s already been six months. I can wait another year and a half."


    She and Wayne turned and walked away without a second nce.


    Sebastian frowned, taking a deep breath. No matter what he did now, she wouldn''t believe him. Just as he had never given her a chance to exin, no matter how much she tried. He remembered the pained, pleading look in her eyes, a look he had always ignored because he was too busy with work, too busy dealing with a crying Joanna, to handle a crying Natalie as well.


    He didn''t know what kind of spell he had been under to have trusted Joanna sopletely and hurt Natalie so deeply. If it hadn''t been for her fighting back, he never would have seen Joanna''s vicious, disgusting true colors.


    Sebastian pursed his lips and left the police station.


    In the car, Wayne handed Natalie a bag of breakfast. "These Raviolis are the best. Have some. There''s hot water in the thermos. Drink some first."


    Natalie was touched. Wayne had always genuinely cared for her.


    "Okay." She poured a cup of water, drank it, then started on the Raviolis. Everything tastes good when you''re hungry, but these were exceptionally delicious.


    She gazed out the window at the bright, beautiful day. Her mind felt clearer than ever. Before, she had been in pain but had never let it show. Now, she would whine to her grandfather and brother, vent to her friends. Had she finally killed the coward she used to be and grown into someone stronger?


    After finishing her breakfast, Natalie said, "Let''s go to the hospital. I want to see how Jerome is doing. I''ve been fetting him stew for so long, just for this moment. I won''t feel right if I don''t see it for myself."


    Wayne chuckled. "Why would you want to see him? Are you looking to get upset?"


    Natalie shook her head, smiling. "No, I''m going to gloat. They always used to lecture me from their moral high ground. Now that I''ve cut ties with them, Ddeserve to enjoy the show. Isn''t the greatest malice in the world not wanting to see eed? Well, I''m going to embrace my malice to the fullest."


    Wayne just smiled and pulled out his phone to navigate to the address Natalie gave him.


    Twenty minutester, Natalie walked into the hospital room alone.


    The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant. Wendy was there. Jerome was awake, propped up in bed. In just one night, he looked like he had been through hell and back-defeated, with no will to live.


    When Wendy saw Natalie, she was overjoyed. “Natalie, you''re here!"


    Natalie''s smile was frigid. "Yes. I came specifically to gloat." Wendy''s face fell.


    Jerome looked at her radiant face, his emotions a tangled mess. Six months ago, it had been Joanna and Yvonne who had set him up, not Natalie He had woken up that morning, still unable to ept the


    truth. The Joanna he had doted on


    his whole life-how could she do this


    to him?


    Looking down at his mangled legs, he suddenly roared, "Natalie, you did this on purpose!"