Joanna walked up to Sebastian. Though overwhelmed by hismanding presence, she felt a sense of security.


    "Sebastian, let''s talk," she pleaded, her eyes full of entreaty.


    Sebastian''s eyes narrowed dangerously as he noted the tension and resentment in


    her gaze. He gestured toward thepany lobby. "Inside."


    Joanna''s face lit up, and she followed him meekly.


    She was captivated by his sheer masculinity.


    Lately, whenever she got close to Sebastian, she felt her blood rush, as if it were boiling.


    She had a love-hate rtionship with Sebastian.


    She loved that he had once cherished and pampered her.


    She hated how ruthless he was to her now.


    Once inside, Sebastian led her to a lounge.


    Joanna was displeased. She was so used to Sebastian''s kindness.


    Being taken to a mere lounge made her feel deeply ufortable.


    “Sebastian, I want to go to your office."


    Receiving her here... what did he take her for?


    Sebastian looked at her coldly. "Then we don''t have to talk."


    “I.....” Joanna was cut short. She suppressed the anger rising within her and gripped the strap of her handbag tightly.


    Without her realizing it, the distance between them had grown wider and wider.


    Before, she had always held onto a sliver of hope. Every time she saw him, she reverted to her old pampered self, but Sebastian only grew colder.


    After they entered the lounge, Sean stood guard outside the door.


    Joanna waited for Sebastian to sit before taking a seat herself.


    "Sebastian, I can exin the pregnancy. Robert and I were both drunk that night, which is why it happened. Sebastian, I was forced."


    Joanna exined through her tears.


    Sebastian raised an eyebrow coolly. "And?"


    "Sebastian..." Joanna was incredibly hurt. Sebastian was no longer willing to dote on her.


    She was forced, so shouldn''t he feel sorry for her?


    Why was his expression still so detached?


    Then, in the next moment,


    Sebastian''s icy voice exploded in her ears. "Joanna may be a fool, but I let you have your way before. because I believed you were a good person. But tell me, are you?"


    "Now that this scandal has broken, your movie will definitely be shelved."


    “No, no, Sebastian, there must be a way to release it. That was something my mother did, not me."


    "Oh? And are you not the other


    woman? Your actions, yourck of


    boundaries, constantly driving a wedge between me and my wife...


    Joanna, you''re even more


    shameless than your mother."


    "And as far as I''m concerned, businesses first. Feelings are deadst."


    "You can''t choose where youe from, but you can choose to be a decent human being. But are you one? You''repletely devoid of humanity."


    “I have done more than enough for you. Don''t ever appear in front of me again.”


    Having made himself clear, Sebastian stood up and walked away.


    His heartless demeanor left Joannapletely stunned.


    This... this wasn''t how Sebastian was supposed to act.


    She shot up from her seat and called out unhappily to his retreating back,


    “Sebastian, you can''t treat me like this! I saved your life."


    Sebastian turned, his gaze cold. He remembered having this conversation not even twenty minutes ago.


    "Joanna, I just told you, I''ve done more than enough. That monthly allowance I''ve been handing you. have you even tried to count the fortune I''ve wasted on you over the years?


    "Don''t push your luck."


    With that, Sebastian left without a backward nce at Joanna.


    He wouldn''t let Natalie suffer just so Joanna could thrive.


    He wanted to make those people anxious, to make them realize Joanna was a


    useless pawn so they woulde out and fight him themselves.