In the past, he was the oneughing and talking with Joanna, ignoring Natalie as


    she watched him with hopeful eyes.


    But he had always dismissed her. Now, Natalie was dismissing him in the very same way.


    So this is what it felt like to be ignored by the person you love.


    Sebastian ced a hand over his heart. It hurt. A lot.


    Joanna saw the expression on Sebastian''s face. Something was wrong. He was feeling guilty.


    Guilty about what?


    About the things he did to Natalie for her sake?


    Joanna nervously grabbed Sebastian''s arm, unwilling to let him feel guilt.


    "Sebastian, don''t be sad. It''s Natalie''s fault for not cherishing you...''


    Sebastian shook off her hand and walked away in silence.


    "Sebastian!" Joanna followed him out, fuming.


    The wind and snow raged around them. Sebastian stood in the storm, the biting wind on his face making his mind clearer.


    He suddenly remembered Natalie''s words.


    "Sebastian, I''m not afraid of the cold. I only said that because I wanted you to care about me a little more. But did you?"


    It wasn''t that she didn''t know how to ask for affection; it was that he had never bothered to notice.


    "Sebastian, let''s go back and finish dinner," Joanna said, clinging to his arm, trying to stop him from leaving.


    To create buzz and drive traffic for her movie, she always arranged for photographers whenever she was with Sebastian.


    With Sebastian''s name attached, she was certain the movie would be a blockbuster upon its release.


    Sebastian said coolly, "You can have it alone. After all, you need to work hard on your movie. And about that affair with the leading man, keep it under wraps. Don''t let it get exposed before the movie evenes out."


    Joanna was stunned. She asked tearfully, "Sebastian, what do you mean by that? You don''t believe me either?"


    Sebastian''s cold gaze made Joanna feel an immense pressure, as if she were seeing the gloomy, harsh young man from years ago.


    Sebastian''s voice was frigid. "Joanna, if you don''t want people to know, don''t do it in the first ce. Do you think everyone is blind?"


    "You two shared a room on the ind and went to restaurants together You know exactly how many nights you spent there, don''t you? Or do you need me to count for you?"


    "What?" Joanna''s eyes widened. "You investigated me?"


    Sebastian sneered, looking at her shocked and somewhat ugly face. "Do I need to? Someone naturally reports your activities to me. Youre the one whocks self-respect, yet you me others for framing you."


    Joanna''s eyes widened in defiance. He refused to be intimate with her; that was his loss.


    Was she not allowed to find handsome men elsewhere?


    Sebastian was gone. When Joanna looked up, she realized he had vanished into the snowstorm.


    She let out a chillingugh that turned into a sob. She had been seen through by Sebastian.


    And yet, he was still willing to have dinner with her.


    So, Sebastian would always be her most loyalpdog. After all, she had been by his side during his most difficult years Sebastian Still had feelings for her.


    Natalie was right. Sebastian was willing to tolerate anything from her. He hadn''t questioned her past actions because he wanted to help her.


    So, she had still won against Natalie.


    Sebastian would always be loyal to her.


    Joanna took a deep breath. Having figured things out, her mood improved. With Sebastian gone, she called Horace over, and the two of them had dinner together.


    As for Natalie, she was going on a long trip. When she returned, Joanna would make sure it was the end of her.


    Early the next morning, Natalie drove to the ind.


    Her hand was injured, so she drove slowly, not arriving until noon.


    The ind was even colder than Yaro. Being by the sea, the wind and snow were more intense.


    She parked her car downstairs from Zenobia''s ce, opened her bottle, and took her anti-inmmatory pills before getting out to find Zenobia.