Sebastian''s mind shed back over the past few years, and a look of guilt crossed his face.


    "From now on, you cane to me if you need anything. You don''t have to go to Matthew." His voice was cold.


    It was a strange feeling, like watching someone else im something precious that belonged to him, leaving a dull ache in his chest.


    Natalie shook her head. "No, thank you. The only thing I want from you is a divorce. Mr. Monroe is a good person to work with. I''m only now realizing what it feels like to have someone care about you, someone who fears you getting hurt more than you do yourself. He''s good to me. He never lets me suffer."


    “And you," she continued, her clear eyes fixed on him, “aside from causing me pain, you''ve given me nothing. Sebastian, you supposedly love Joanna so much, so why have you suddenly decided not to divorce me?"


    Sebastian stared back at her quietly. He had always known Natalie was more beautiful than Joanna. And he had realized that Matthew was a good man in her eyes. The ache in his chest sharpened. It was an unfamiliar, deeply unpleasant sensation.


    When Joanna left him all those years ago, he had been angry, but he had never felt this kind of pain.


    “Sebastian, I have gathered all my disappointment and am ready to walk away. You were the one who always wanted to push me out, so please, do it now. I''m not ying hard to get, and I''m not throwing a tantrum. I simply want a divorce."


    She hadn''t made a fuss about Joanna. It wasn''t the right time. If she exposed Joanna as a homewrecker now, she would be the one who got hurt. And if she did that, how would she be any different from Joanna? She would make Joanna pay in her own way.


    Sebastian looked at her, stunned, then changed the subject.


    "Grandma said she misses you. She wants you toe over for dinner tonight."


    Natalie knew the old woman was


    kind to her. Throughout her marriage, both of Sebastian''s grandparents had treated her well. Mrs. Griffith often gave her gifts and had the chef make her favorite foods on weekends. She always got to have them whenever she visited.


    "I can go have dinner with Grandma, but you can''t be there. I don''t want to go with you. Grandpa and


    Grandma will find out eventuall


    anyway. Besides, I''ve been gone for half a year. Grandmas a strong woman; she''s seen the problems between us for a long time. I''ll exin everything to her tonight."


    "Natalie, are you that fond of Matthew? Do you want to divorce me for him?" Sebastian''s calm expression finally cracked.


    Natalie shook her head, her face etched with disappointment. "You and Joanna are the same. You only think I''m right when I''m under your thumb, quietly epting your insults. The moment I show a bit of spine, I''m wrong, I''m tainted."


    "I need to end this rtionship. You use me of having affairs with other men.


    Sebastian, how blind was I to have ever loved a man like you?"


    Sebastian''s lips thinned, the unspoken answer hanging between them.


    "But I don''t even want you anymore. So why would I still love you? I Sebastian, you''ve never shown me any gratitude or guilt. You''re just like the Scotts. Because Ie from a rural background and have nothing tomy name, you think I should be eternally grateful for everything you give me, that I shouldn''t darepete with Joanna."


    “But what you want to give isn''t necessarily what I want. Why must I be grateful for


    your charity? From the very beginning, you''ve done nothing but degrade me."


    "I never needed your pity, and I have no desire topete with Joanna for anything."


    Sebastian felt as if a dull knife was twisting in his heart, an agony that was almost unbearable.