She had seen through his loneliness, and her soft heart had been deeply moved. She''d wanted to stay by his side, to chase away the darkness and bring him warmth.


    However, he didn''t need it.


    That cold gaze, that heartless rejection, was like a sharp de piercing her heart.


    Because she wasn''t the love of his life, not the one he would open his heart to and willingly ept.


    Her deep affection seemed so insignificant in the face of his indifference. Herpanionship meant nothing to him.


    He stubbornly clung to his obsession with his first love, refusing to let anyone get close, not even her, who genuinely wanted to care for him.


    Looking at Sebastian, she suddenly began to cry, tears blurring her vision. She knew that her love was doomed to be a tragedy from the very beginning. Her efforts only added to the sorrow.


    And he, after Joanna returned, had grabbed onto hisst straw. He was no longer in the abyss of loneliness. His salvation would always be Joanna.


    Sebastian watched her shed tears, growing tense. "Why are you crying?"


    Natalie shook her head. "It''s nothing. I just feel like I was so foolish back then. You clearly didn''t need mypany, and I was just deluding myself."


    Sebastian''s hand gripping her wrist tightened slightly.


    "It wasn''t like that. Back then, I was so grateful to have you by my side. Without you, I''d still be a cripple, Natalie..."


    "Don''t. It''s useless to say all this now. I''m tired. I''m going to rest."


    Hearing she was tired, Sebastian let go of her hand.


    Natalie hurried upstairs. After opening her bedroom door, she sank to the floor,pletely drained. She could smell danger in the air.


    If she stayed here any longer, she would fall for him again.


    She could control her actions, but what if she couldn''t control her heart?


    No, no, no. She absolutely could not fall into that trap again.


    Once her brother''s project was finished, she could leave this ce.


    In the meantime, she would avoid seeing Sebastian.


    Natalie sat on the floor for a long while before finally getting up. She went to


    a shower. The phone in


    her bag was vibrating. She took out and saw it was Joanna again.


    Couldn''t this woman go one day without bothering her?


    She answered the phone listlessly. "Hello!"


    Joanna roared, “Natalie, was it you who told Sebastian I''m pregnant with his child?"


    Natalie replied, "Yes! You''re carrying his child, so he should divorce me. I told him to take responsibility for the baby."


    "Also, why are your tactics getting so


    pathetic? Weren''t you able to


    before? You


    him


    to divorce me for the baby in your belly now that would show some reat skill."


    Natalie grabbed a white nightgown and headed toward the bathroom.


    On the other end, Joanna was furious. "Natalie, do you really want to leave Sebastian? If you truly wanted to go, do you think you couldn''t?”


    Natalie took a deep breath. "I do want to leave, but I really can''t. If I left, even if you got him, you wouldn''t get the wealth and status thate with him. You must know about that agreement by now, right? I only found out Qut it recently


    myself. So, that baby is your biggest bargaining chip now. Good luck,


    Joanna!"


    Joanna was left speechless.


    Natalie had adopted a devil-may-care attitude.


    She walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Joanna''s voice came through


    the phone,ced with a maliciousugh.


    "Natalie, the day after tomorrow, I''ll treat you to a good show."


    Natalie was instantly on guard. "What show?"