Natalie looked up to see Yvonne and her expression hardened. "Yvonne, you''re Jerome''s fiancée. He''s lying in a hospital bed, and you''re out here enjoying yourself. So much for your ''love.""


    Yvonne sneered. Why should she waste her energy on a cripple? "A useless cripple can''t even take care of me. And I''m not his fiancée anymore."


    "What a shame," Natalie said sarcastically. "After all the trouble you and Joanna went through to set up Zenobia and me just a few months ago. And now you''re left with nothing." Yvonne had always been Joanna''s pawn, a way to keep Jerome on a leash.


    Yvonne''s face paled. It was true. She had schemed so hard back then, and again at the hotel three months ago. But now Jerome was crippled, and she had no intention of being tied to him for the rest of her life.


    "Hmph! Who are you to talk? An orphan who was kicked to the curb," Yvonne shot back, her eyes darting nervously. But she had to have this child. It might be her only chance to ever get pregnant again. A woman deserved to be a mother at least once. Even if the baby wasn''t Jerome''s, she would make the Scott family raise it.


    With her mind made up, she decided to head to the hospital. Even if Jerome was a cripple, Wendy could still support the child, and she would be free to live her life.


    As Yvonne moved to pass Natalie''s table, Queena spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "Youngdy, I suggest you stop bothering Natalie. And while you''re at it, you should go to a clinic and get yourself checked out. You''re sick."


    Yvonne whirled on her, furious. "Last time, you called me a dead person, and now you''re saying I''m sick? What did I ever do to you? Why are you cursing me?" She pointed a trembling finger at Queena. "I think you''re the one who''s sick!"


    Queena just shook her head. "You''re digging your own grave. It has nothing to do with me."


    Yvonne was bewildered. This woman was so bizarre. "Hmph! Natalie, your friend is just as passive-aggressive and vicious as you are. No wonder the Scotts threw you out."


    "Yvonne, what are you doing here?"


    As if on cue, Sebastian and Joanna appeared. The sight of them made Natalie''s stomach turn. Sebastian was apparently willing to ept anyone Even after all of Joanna''s lies had been exposed, he still forgave her. In this life, just like thest, he would always be biased toward Joanna.


    Natalie shot Sebastian a cool nce, meeting his deep, probing gaze. He was watching her. She slowly looked away This times she wouldn''t react impulsively like she used to,shing out at him for being with Joanna. This time, she felt remarkably calm.


    But it was toote. They were already walking over. She sighed and rested her forehead in her hand. "Queena, let''s find somewhere else to eat." It seemed she couldn''t even have a peaceful meal. Joanna and Sebastian were truly her inescapable nemeses.


    Yvonne quickly yed the victim. "Joanna, Mr. Griffith, I just ran into Natalie and her friend. I was just trying to be nice, and her friend said I was sick."


    Queena frowned, her disdain unconcealed. "You are sick," she said bluntly. "You have a dirty disease. Stay away from us."


    Natalie leaned in and whispered, "Queena, how can you tell? You can diagnose people too?"


    Queena just smiled. "Natty, some secrets are best kept."


    Natalie pouted. First her curiosity was piqued, and now she couldn''t get an answer. It wasn''t fair. Still, Yvonne had been with countless boyfriends since high school. As a mutual acquaintance once said, she was burning the candle of her youth at both ends." Her candle had certainly been burning brightly.


    A flicker of fear crossed Yvonne''s face. A dirty disease?