Joanna suddenly grabbed Sebastian''s hand, her voice thick with grievance.


    "Sebastian, now that she''stched onto Mr. Monroe and has someone backing her, she''s gotten so bold. She doesn''t even want you anymore, so why are you still trying to drag her home? Sebastian, let''s just go. I''m not eating this dinner. Natalie is being too cruel. She''s the one who''s promiscuous, yet she turns around and frames me to ruin my reputation."


    Matthew frowned. This woman... she really knows how to twist everything, doesn''t she? Utterly shameless.


    Natalie watched Joanna''s damsel-in-distress act and couldn''t help butugh. "Tsk, what a performance."


    "Pfft..." Matthew couldn''t hold back augh. "Natalie, you''re being too subtle."


    Natalie smiled. "I have to be a little more reserved in front of Mr. Monroe. I just lost my temper for a moment there."


    Joanna''s eyes darkened as she red at the sarcastic Natalie. This damn bitch. I''m going to kill her.


    She dared to set me up with evidence. Just wait until I finish filming this movie. I''ll take her life.


    Meeting Joanna''s venomous gaze, Natalie felt a chill run down her spine.


    The darkness in her eyes was like a sharp dagger, ready to stab her in the back at any moment.


    Natalie''s expression shifted, and a wicked grin touched her lips. "Tsk, Joanna, I received your warning. But you seem to have forgotten mine. I told you I would hit back, hard."


    Her clear eyes now held a cold, murderous glint.


    Joanna''s eyes widened in fury, her nose wrinkling in disgust.


    But Natalie just kept smiling sweetly, which infuriated Joanna even more. If she weren''t so concerned with maintaining her image, she would have already ripped that pretty face of Natalie''s to shreds.


    Seeing Joanna''s twisted expression, Natalie couldn''t resist another jab. "Look at that contorted face of yours. Not even the thickestyer of foundation can hide your dark heart."


    "Natalie, do you have to humiliate me like this? You''re the one who stole Sebastian..."


    "Whether I stole him or you threw him away, you know the truth better than anyone. Joanna, you want to have your cake and eat it too. When he was down on his luck, you walked away. Now that he''s standing on the shoulders of giants, you''vee back to reap the benefits"


    "But since Mr


    Griffith is willing to tolerate your shamelessness, we have nothing to say. However, if you cause trouble for me again, it won''t be as simple as a p. You''d better think about that movie you''re filming. Ifit t be re


    because of your character issues, we''re talking about a loss in the hundreds of millions."


    Natalie nced at Sebastian, who was still holding Joanna''s hand, and gave a derisive smile. "Of course, whatever you do, there will always be someone willing to clean up your mess. Like Sebastian, who loves you


    more than life itself."


    Sebastian stared at her with deep, conflicted eyes. She was radiant, but her gaze held no love for him-only hatred.


    She truly hated him.


    Sebastian''s brow furrowed, his heart feeling an excruciating pain, as if it were being torn apart.


    His lips turned down slightly in a grimace of agony that came from his very soul. Is this... what a broken heart feels like?


    Sebastian abruptly let go of Joanna''s hand. So, she hated him. Hated him deeply.


    When she loved him, he had left her time and again to go to Joanna.


    The pain in her eyes back then must have been the same heart-wrenching agony he felt now.


    He was the one who had broken her heart, over and over again.


    Natalie looked at her hand, reddened from his grip, and frowned. Without giving Sebastian another nce, she turned to Matthew with a smile. "Mr. Monroe, let''s go. We can eat at home."


    Natalie had the food packed to go, and she left with Matthew.


    Sebastian watched them leave,ughing and talking together.


    It was a stark contrast to his own treatment of Natalie.