Natalie didn''t object further, smiling as she said, "Then I''ll call you Mr. Monroe."


    "That sounds nice, but one day, I hope you''ll call me Matt," he replied, his voice gentle as his gaze fixed on her beautiful face.


    Natalie''s eyes flickered, a smile gracing her clear gaze. They had danced around this issue several times before, so for now, Mr. Monroe it was.


    "Shall we go, Natalie? I''ve already made reservations for dinner, and this is the perfect time to head over." Matthew stepped forward and elegantly opened the car door for her.


    Luna was directed to a separate car behind them, leaving just Natalie and Matthew in the front vehicle.


    After they drove off, Sebastian watched from his car nearby, his expression dark. The image of Natalie''s smile as she left with Matthew reyed in his mind, a sharp, twisting memory.


    She had never smiled at him like that.


    Well, maybe she had, during the six months he couldn''t walk. She had


    encouraged him with that same bright smile, but perhaps his own despair at the time had blinded him to its brilliance.


    His hands, resting on his knees, clenched into tight fists.


    He didn''t look away until Matthew''s car waspletely out of sight.


    Sean could feel the oppressive atmosphere in the car and didn''t dare speak. After


    a long silence, he finally ventured, "Sir, are we heading home?"


    Sebastian snapped back to reality, his voice hoarse. "Follow them."


    "What?" Sean thought they should be heading home to get some much-needed rest. Even men needed their beauty sleep to stay looking young.


    Sebastian''s brow furrowed. "I said, follow them," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    Sean mumbled under his breath, "When Ms. Sanders was still at home, you wouldn''t evene back for the dinners she made every night. Why are you chasing after her now?"


    Though he spoke quietly, Sebastian


    heard every word, and his


    expression soured even further


    even further de


    leaned back against the seat, azy


    posture that belied the storm of


    irritation brewing inside him, his lips pressed into a thin line.


    At the hospital.


    Nathan woke up with a start, his eyes wide and vacant. He had no idea where he


    was.


    Joanna, sitting by his bedside, asked worriedly, "Dad, what''s wrong? What happened to you?"


    Her n had failed. Because of her carelessness, Wendy hadn''t taken the bat she had only found out this morning that Wendy had stopped drinking the tonic,ining that it tasted awful.


    Hearing his daughter''s voice, Nathan turned to look at her. "Who are you?"


    Joanna''s face paled in horror. "Dad, what are you saying? You don''t recognize me?"


    Nathan just stared out the window, a nk look on his face. Who was he? He couldn''t remember.


    Joanna frantically pulled out her phone to call Wendy, but just then, a phone rang from the doorway. She spun around to see Wendy walking in.


    "Mom, what''s wrong with Dad? He doesn''t even know who I am!" Joanna cried out. This couldn''t be happening. Not now.


    Wendy looked at Nathan, her expression unreadable. Was he faking it, or was the drug causing memory loss ahead of schedule? She needed to be careful.


    Putting on a concerned face, Wendy said, "When your father fainted, he hit his head on the coffee table, He


    might have a concussion. We should have the hospital run a


    full


    check-up."


    "Yes, Mom, let''s do it now! He doesn''t even recognize me," Joanna urged, her voiceced with panic.


    "Alright. Your grandparents heard your father was sick and havee to stay with us. Why don''t you go home and look after them? I''ll hire a nurse to stay with your father here."


    Joanna froze. What were those two old fossils doing here?