"What do I need to beat you at? Are you more talented than me, or do you have a better education?"


    "Oh, I just remembered. There is one thing where I fall short. For example, when ites to seducing men, I''m truly no match for you. But that''s hardly something worth learning, so there''s no need for you to say things like that."


    "And beating you is even more pointless. Who are you, anyway? Why should I have to beat you?"


    "You haven''t made any great contributions to society or done anything for the public good. You''re just someone who uses dirty tricks. What exactly am I supposed to bepeting with you over?"


    Natalie stared at her coldly, watching her face pale bit by bit. The sight was satisfying.


    Joanna suddenly felt a wave of defeat. She had always wanted to surpass Natalie, but Natalie had never even considered her a rival.


    Natalie said directly, "Joanna, before, I cared about the Scott family and Sebastian, so I didn''t fight back. Now, I don''t care about any of them. You can have them all."


    "So, if you scheme against me even once, I will return the favor a thousand times over. From now on, there will be many more schemes between us. I hope you continue to be just as vicious as ever. The more ruthless you are, the closer you''ll get to your own demise."


    Natalie''s words cut deep, leaving Joanna visibly shaken.


    Seeing her fear, Natalie continued, "Look at the snow outside. It''s starting to let up. When summeres, those who have been dormant will gradually awaken. Timothy''s other illegitimate children will start to attack the person Sebastian cares about most. And that person is you. In a few months, you''ll be living a life of constant stress too."


    Joanna hadn''t forgotten about that. She knew even more than Natalie did.


    Sebastian himself didn''t even know how many illegitimate half-siblings he had. She hade here to vent at Natalie, but instead, she was left seething from her words.


    "Joanna, you personally threw away Wendy''s protection. Those people have been eager to make a move for a long time. They were only holding back out of consideration for Sebastian''s feelings for you."


    Natalie''s barrage of words continued relentlessly, leaving Joanna able to do little more than re.


    Joanna shuddered again.


    Only then did she realize that Natalie was the one who saw things most clearly.


    She had a perfect grasp of the


    situation, while she, lost in her owet


    quest for revenge had ended being the one retaliated against.


    Joanna shot to her feet and looked at Natalie. "I still have my biggest trump card. As long as Sebastian protects me who would dare to touch me?"


    Natalie nodded, her smile hiding a knife. "That''s true. Sebastian''s love for you is


    unrivaled. You should hold on to him tightly."


    Hold on to Sebastian, and be perfectly positioned to be schemed against.


    Joanna shot her a fierce re and left.


    Natalie blinked. That was it?


    Her attacks were getting weaker.


    As Natalie watched her leave, she stood up, only to see another person at the door. He was fall and


    imposing, with a powerful presence. Natalie took a look and, hey, wasn''t that her scumbag husband?


    What was he doing here?


    And he ran right into Joanna. Well, well, the show was about to start.


    Natalie lingered near the doorway, eavesdropping on their exchange.


    Joanna was shocked that Sebastian woulde to see Natalie of his own ord.


    This had never happened before.


    Sebastian would only ever seek her out, never Natalie.


    Natalie was just her recement.


    She was gone, so Natalie kept Sebastianpany for two years in her ce.


    She couldn''t believe it. Her eyes filled with fury as she confronted him. "Sebastian, what are you doing here?"