The food was tender and vorful, and by the end of the meal, she waspletely full.


    Afterward, Natalie excused herself to the restroom. On her way back, she saw Sebastian at the end of the hallway, his powerful silhouette lurking in the shadows. He had been waiting for her.


    When he saw her, he strode forward purposefully.


    "Natalie, when are you going to stop this nonsense?" he demanded, his voice thick with me. His eyes held an emotion she couldn''t decipher, as if his patience had worn thin. He looked at her, truly looked at her, and saw a woman transformed. She was more beautiful than ever.


    Natalie shook her head. "Sebastian, I''m not ying games with you. As soon as we sign the divorce papers, we''re done. If you refuse to sign, I''ll file for an automatic divorce in two years."


    "Natalie, listen to me. Stop being unreasonable. You are Mrs. Griffith. No one can change that," he said, a flicker of warmth finally entering his eyes.


    Hearing this, Natalie felt like aplete joke. "Sebastian, I don''t understand. If you don''t love me, why are you clinging to a marriage that''s already dead and buried?"


    She truly didn''t understand his sudden refusal to divorce. She didn''t even me him for not loving her anymore. She had been a stranger in his life, so why should he show her any special favor? Thinking this way brought her a strange sense of peace. The world was full of unfairness; she couldn''t dwell on all of it.


    Sebastian gazed at her. She was stunning, especially her bright, captivating eyes. Tonight, she wore a sleek, ck dress that perfectly entuated her curves. Seeing herughing and talking with Matthew made him want to kill the man.


    "Come home with me tonight. I don''t want to say it again," he threatened, his voice cold.


    Natalie''s expression didn''t change. "I''m not going back."


    Sebastian''s eyes narrowed. "Natalie-"


    "Tsk. It took you three years just to learn how to say my name properly, Sebastian. Why on earth would I go back with you?" she cut him off with augh, then turned to leave.


    Sebastian started to call after her but stopped when he saw Joannaing to find him. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on Natalie.


    "Remember what I said. Come home tonight."


    "No need. I remember what you said. You told me to nevere back."


    Natalie nced at Joanna, then walked back into the main dining room.


    But Joanna wouldn''t let her go so easily. "Natalie, you''re getting a divorce. Why do you keep pestering Sebastian? Have some decency."


    Natalie stopped abruptly and turned back to face her. "Joanna, you''ve always been so resourceful, haven''t you? Why don''t you make Sebastian divorce me? He''s the one refusing now I''ll be waiting for your good news. I think it''s time you used your trump card. You know, like those photos you sent me? Go ahead, get pregnant. I''m sure Sebastian will sign the papers in a heartbeat then."


    As Natalie''s wordsnded, Joanna''s face went white. Her hands, hanging at her sides; clenched into tight fists. She couldn''t control Sebastian anymore; she had no idea what he was thinking. And the truth was he had never even touched her.


    Natalie saw it all clearly. Joanna didn''t love Sebastian; she loved his


    money She projected an image of gentle grace, but her eyes held nothing but calction, not trace of love.


    Natalie walked away.


    Joanna, panicked, turned to Sebastian. "Sebastian, don''t listen to her nonsense. Those photos were just her way of framing me."


    Sebastian raised an eyebrow, a yful, dangerous smile on his lips. "Then tell me, why would she need to frame you?"