While eating lobster, Zenobia scrolled through her phone and saw the news: Joanna was officially still the lead in Bright Night.


    "Oh my god, Natalie!" Zenobia eximed. "What kind of spell does Joanna have over Mr. Wilson? They just announced she''s the lead, iming the other day was just a ''small squabble between sisters.'' And you''re the one being med! There are even articles painting you as the viin who framed her. The worst part? Your father did a livestream saying you left home because you were seducing men. He didn''t say who, but still!"


    Natalie just smiled faintly. "Joanna has always been lucky." This was all within her expectations. "I''m fine, Zenobia. Don''t worry about me."


    Zenobia knew Natalie would fight back, but Joanna''s viciousness was still rming. "Natalie, please be careful when you get back."


    "I will," Natalie said with a smile, turning her attention to her te. "Wow, this grilled fish is so tender!"


    She focused on enjoying her food, deciding to deal with Joanna once she was back home. Zenobia pushed a bowl of octopus toward her. "This is your favorite. Eat up."


    "Zenobia, I left a ton of it in the freezer for you. Make sure you eat it every day," Natalie instructed.


    "I can''t eat that much, Natalie." Her appetite had been small since her pregnancy began.


    "Well, save it for them when they visit in a few days. I''m already taking a huge cooler full of stuff back with me."


    "Okay. I''m so sad to see you go. Having you here made me forget all my troubles."


    Natalie thought for a moment. "I''ll go back and handle things at thepany, but I''ll be here for you when you go intobor. Just call me the second you feel anything. It doesn''t take me long to get here."


    "Okay, Natalie, you have toe. I''m


    done with his father. If I meet


    get


    someone Nike in the future, married again. But i always love my child more than anything. One bad experience with a jerk isn''t going to kill my passion for love.


    Hearing Zenobia say that put Natalie''s mind at ease.


    After saying her goodbyes, Natalie caught thest ferry and arrived home at eleven. She stored the seafood in the freezer, went upstairs for a shower, and then copsed into bed The days of being out on the water had been exhausting. She snuggled into the softforter, listening to the north wind howl outside. As the weather grew colder, she pulled the nket up to her shoulders, feeling the warmth envelop her.


    Ding.


    She picked up her phone. It was a message and a video from Marshall.


    Marshall: [Natalie, this is how Joanna secured her role. Look at Mr. Wilson when he


    came out—so satisfied. The old man''s still got it.]


    Natalie watched the video. Joanna


    entered a room, and about ten minutester, Mr. Wilson followed They stayed inside for a long time before emerging But Marshalt bad arrived toote to capture the most incriminating part.


    "This kind of video doesn''t prove anything," Natalie texted back.


    Over the past three days, she''d done a lot of thinking. The best strategy was to retreat into the background. It would make Joanna let her guard down, giving Natalie the chance to investigate her in secret.


    Marshall: [I know, I got there toote yesterday. But if it happened once, it''ll happen again. Next time, I''ll catch them in the act.]


    Natalie: [She''s better withputers than you are. She could easily turn this around on you.]


    Marshall: [Natalie, there''s a g in three days. Are you going?]