Joanna looked up at Sebastian, his sharp, breathtaking features radiating an intense pressure. His deep eyes were devoid of emotion, and his presence made her


    incredibly uneasy.


    She shook her head, her voiceced with grievance. "Sebastian, I don''t know why she''s trying to frame me. Maybe... maybe she''s jealous of how much you care for me."


    The words only made Sebastian''s expression colder. He almost wished Natalie was jealous. He missed the days she would confront him, demanding, "Sebastian, we''re married. Why are you having dinner alone with Joanna?" He''d found it unreasonable then, but now, after seeing her with Matthew, he finally understood her fury.


    Joanna watched his vtile expression, her stomach churning as if on a rollercoaster. A single nce from him could send a chill down her spine. He''d never made her feel this way before. But now...?


    "Let''s go," Sebastian said dismissively.


    Joanna pressed, "Sebastian, why won''t you divorce her? Don''t you love me anymore? You promised you would marry me. But you won''t divorce her, and you won''t marry me..."


    "I''ve been observing your character, Joanna," he cut in. "Andtely, your actions have left me deeply disappointed."


    With those words, he turned to leave.


    Joanna''s face went pale as she watched him walk away. It was all that damn


    Natalie''s fault! If it weren''t for her, why would Sebastian question her character? She hurried after him. "Sebastian, it was all Natalie''s scheme, you..."


    "And the kidnapping you orchestrated yourself?" he shot back. "Did she hold a knife to your throat and force you to tie yourself up?"


    "That was an ident! I did it for you! If you had just married me when I came back, I never would have done something like that. it because I love you!" Tears


    streamed down Joanna''s pale face,


    hereyes misty and plea Pavelmet


    But


    Sebastian didn''t even look at her as he strode down the stairs.


    Joanna gritted her teeth, ring at his retreating back. The man was clueless about love. Growing up in such a dysfunctional family, he probably didn''t even know who he truly loved. Fortunately, she knew exactly how to handle him Natálie, you''re finished.


    Joanna pulled out her phone and sent a message to her assistant. [Leak the story about Natalie''s giarism. Buy trending spots on social media, spare no expense. I want her reputationpletely destroyed.]


    Assistant: [Ms. Sanders, Natalie is already trending. Releasing this now won''t have much impact, and someone is actively suppressing negative topics.]


    [They''re paying to investigate this. We''ve tried to cover our tracks, but they seem to know it''s you. They sent over one of the photos of you and Mr. Griffith that was uploaded.]


    Joanna seethed. It was Natalie. She''d known it all along. She couldn''t let those photos leak. As long as Sebastian was still married, she''d be branded a homewrecker, and it would destroy her career. Acting was the fastest way to make money, especially now that


    Sebastian had cut off her allowance. She couldn''t bring herself to ask him for money, not with their rtionship in this awkward limbo.


    When Joanna got downstairs, Sebastian was gone. Sean was waiting by the car instead. "Sean, where''s your boss?" she asked.


    Sean smiled politely. "Mr. Griffith had to leave for an urgent matter. He asked me to take you home, Ms. Scott."


    Joanna bit her lip, her eyes still red from crying. "He didn''t even wait for me," she muttered, ring at the bustling city street.