Just then, Natalie and Keith arrived to sign the contract with Susan. Jared blocked Keith''s path, sneering at Natalie. "Mr. Jones, Natalie must have seduced you to be the design director at yourpany. She''s just a wild girl from the countryside. What could she possibly know about design? If you''re really looking for a designer, my fiancée Monica is one too. She''s even won awards. How about I introduce her to you?"


    Natalie''s eyes filled with loathing, but she remained silent. She knew Keith''s words could cut deeper than hers.


    Keith''s eyes glinted with cold fury as he scrutinized Jared. "Jared. First, Natalie and I grew up together. She didn''t sleep her way into her position; I begged her toe back. Second, the ''country bumpkin'' you''re talking about is a top schr with multiple degrees from a prestigious international university. She had alreadypleted all her studies when she came to your family. You thought she never went to college, but the truth is, she graduated years ahead of schedule. Her brilliance is something a person like you could never hope to attain. And third, regarding your fiancée Monica and her so-called award—I was a judge at thatpetition. Why don''t you take her design portfolio and try to get funding with it? See who''s willing to invest."


    Jared was stunned. Impossible. When he picked her up, she was in the countryside. He remembered how inly she was dressed the day she arrived. How could she have already finished all her studies by then?


    "Hmph! Mr. Jones, there''s no need to belittle my fiancée just to defend her. Monica never did anything to you," he retorted. "Besides, if Natalie is as amazing as you im, why did she let Sebastian support her all those years?"


    Keith''s handsome face hardened. At the mention of Sebastian, a palpable wave of pressure radiated from him. "That''s because Sebastian was blind and crippled, and Natalie put her life on hold for years to take care of him. Meanwhile, his precious future wife, Joanna, could only enjoy the good times and couldn''t handle the hardship. Natalie held your two families together and what did she get in return? Insults from her own brother. Jared, regarding your recent nder against Natalie, ourpany will be sending yourpany a subpoena. We''ll see you in court."


    With that, Keith steered Natalie away. She didn''t spare Jared a single nce. Susan angrily mmed her office door shut, refusing to look at him either.


    The sound of the door mming was the final humiliation. Jared''s face contorted with rage. He refused to believe a word Keith said. Back then, Sebastian was a wreck, and Natalie had eagerly thrown herself at him. She chose to take care of Sebastian. Joanna was raised in luxury; was she supposed to wait on a cripple? Natalie was lucky to have been Mrs. Griffith for a few years. Besides, it was Sebastian''s mother who had refused to let Joanna marry him. It wasn''t Joanna''s fault.


    Furious, he returned to his office and ordered his RR team to photoshop images standering Natalie. In an


    instant, the inte was flooded


    with pictures of Natalie with various men. The men''s faces were blurred, but Natalie''s was perfectly clear The usations of her being


    promiscuous were now seemingly ''confirmed'' with evidence.


    Natalie had just returned to her office when Luna burst in, fuming. "Jared has


    gone too far!"