But she had fallen in love with another man.


    A man who was gentler and cared for her more deeply.


    As a teenager, Sebastian had been gloomy and bloodthirsty, an outcast living in the shadows.


    If not for Mr. and Mrs. Griffith Sr., he might not have even survived.


    His mother was not favored by Timothy and had no status in the Griffith family. Even the servants looked down on Sebastian and his mother.


    All of this was orchestrated by Timothy, who had a woman he loved deeply outside the family and had spent years living with her.


    Of course, Timothy had several other women as well. He loved all the women on the outside, just not Sebastian''s mother.


    Sebastian didn''t say anything. He was in a foul mood and had barely touched his food. He stood up, looking down at Joanna. Her dress was slightly revealing, showing the pale curve of her breasts—a calcted move. “Joanna, I''ve told you, you can marry me, but it will be a me with nothing. Think it over and give me your answer."


    As Joanna watched his retreating figure, a murderous glint shed in her eyes. Sebastian and Natalie couldn''t get a divorce?


    She didn''t believe it. There was nothing in this world that Sebastian couldn''t handle. He simply didn''t want to.


    Sebastian, if you won''t divorce her, you''ll only hasten Natalie''s death.


    Wait, there was still the matter of Maxwell.


    “Sebastian, wait for me," Joanna called out, quickly chasing after him.


    Sebastian stopped outside the restaurant.


    He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Is there something else?"


    Joanna said, "Sebastian, Mr.


    Spencer called me. He said Natalie


    framed his son for attempted


    murder. Sebastian, you know how


    vicious Natalie can be To frame an


    innocent person like that


    really capable of anything.


    "I also heard she seduced Taylor to buy thatnd below Nayn Mountain at a low price."


    "Sebastian, she''s still your wife in name. Are you really going to let her continue like this?"


    Sebastian stared at her deceptively pretty face. Her skin was fair and smooth, and in her pink dress, she looked so innocent.


    So this was how she had fooled them all this time.


    "Oh? You''re speaking up for Maxwell. Do you know him?" Sebastian asked with a cool, detached smile.


    An icy aura emanated from him.


    It made Joanna deeply ufortable. She was used to Sebastian''s doting affection, and being treated with such coldness left her feeling both resentful and anxious.


    Joanna smiled and denied it. "No, I don''t. Mr. Spencer called me, and that''s how I found out. I just don''t want to see Natalie frame an innocent person.”


    "Natalie was the one who almost died. Isn''t she innocent?" Sebastian retorted with an indifferent smile.


    Joanna was at a loss for words. "But... she didn''t die."


    Thinking of how Natalie had sent her most capable assistant to prison, she wished she could send Natalie straight to hell.


    "If she had died, you wouldn''t be standing here making callous remarks. Joanna, I remember you used to be kind and considerate. If you didn''t see the video that was all over the inte, maybe you should get your eyes checked. They''re clearly not serving you well."


    "And another thing, don''t test my patience. I indulged you for ten years, and can destroy you in an instant. Natalie is my wife now. I can overlook what you''ve done to her in the past, but I will never again allow you to nder her in front of me."


    "As for Taylor''snd, I watched her win it from him fair and square, and Taylor sold it


    to her willingly. Are you slinging mud at her simply because your own mind is so filthy?"