Natalie''s head snapped up, her eyes widening when she saw Sebastian.


    It had been half a month since she''dst seen him.


    He was thinner, his handsome face sharper and more defined. He looked tired, and his expression was as dark as a thundercloud.


    "What do you think you''re doing, Mr. Griffith?" Natalie demanded.


    Matthew''s eyes also shed with irritation. Him again!


    Sebastian nced at the USB drive in his hand, then looked at Matthew, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Mr. Monroe, I''ll review my wife''s proposal myself. No need to trouble you with it."


    Matthew''s brow furrowed, his gaze hardening. "Mr. Griffith, Natalie and I are discussing a business partnership. Please return the drive."


    Sebastian''s grip on the drive tightened slightly. Natalie was full of surprises.


    First, a top-tier designer, which was shocking enough.


    Now, she had developed an intelligent medical system. How many more secrets was she hiding from him?


    He had recently been looking for a team to develop this exact project. He hadn''t realized his own wife was capable of it, saving him the trouble.


    "My apologies, Mr. Monroe. Dinner tonight is on me. For now, I''ll be taking my wife home. We have some things to discuss."


    He deliberately emphasized the words "my wife."


    Then he grabbed Natalie''s arm and started to pull her away.


    Natalie tried to wrench her arm free, ring at his domineering face. "Sebastian, let go of me! I''m not going with you!"


    At her words, Matthew shot to his feet. "Sebastian, let her go. She doesn''t want to go with you."


    Sebastian''s eyes were filled with a chilling cold. "I''m sorry, Mr. Monroe, but this is a matter between husband and wife."


    The implication was clear: outsiders should not interfere.


    Matthew''s fists clenched. It was precisely because of that rtionship that he had no standing to stop him from taking Natalie.


    He wanted to help her, but he couldn''t cause her any trouble or subject her to gossip.


    Sebastian turned to Natalie, his eyes conveying a clear warning. "Natalie, I''ve warned you about Mr. Monroe before. He has just returned to the country and hasn''t fully established himself yet. If a scandal breaks out involving you, it could be a major blow to him."


    Natalie froze. In her excitement about the partnership, she had forgotten about that.


    She couldn''t cause problems for Matthew, not when he was in such a crucial stage of development.


    She couldn''t jeopardize his future; her own future depended on him.


    Matthew said angrily, "Sebastian,, you don''t need to threaten Natalie with that. There is nothing improper between us, unlike the ambiguous rtionship between you and Joanna."


    Matthew, normally so refined, rarely spoke ill of others.


    But Sebastian had gone too far.


    A cold smile touched Sebastian''s lips, and the intense pressure he exuded was suffocating.


    Natalie knew this was a sign that Sebastian was about to lose his temper-no, he was already furious.


    She knew how ruthless this man could be.


    She only knew Matthew as a future tycoon but had forgotten that here and now, in Yaro, he had yet to secure his footing.


    Natalie took a deep breath. Hating Sebastian''s threats, she turned to Matthew. "Mr. Monroe, don''t worry. Please finish your dinner and head back. I''ll text you when I get home safely."


    ?


    "Natalie..."


    She gave him a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry about me, Mr. Monroe. I can protect myself."


    Sebastian''s cold gaze deepened. Protect herself? What did she think he was? A monster?