Sebastian watched Natalie storm away, then roughly shook off Joanna''s hand. "Why did you secretly sign her up?" he snarled.


    Joanna hadn''t expected Natalie to juste out and say it. She put on a wronged expression. "Sebastian, I was just trying to help her. She doesn''t have a degree or a diploma from a prestigious university. If her team wins the Fashion Cup, won''t that give her more standing in thepany?"


    "That country girl is in over her head. I was just helping her find her ce."


    Sebastian watched her dramatic performance and let out a derisiveugh. "So you''re the real clown here?"


    Joanna''s whole body tensed. "Sebastian, what do you mean by that?"


    Sebastian''s meaning couldn''t have been simpler. "You''re just bored and asking to be humiliated!"


    Joanna was speechless.


    If there weren''t people around, she would have already lost it.


    "Sebastian, don''t forget that in everyone''s eyes, I''m your fiancée..."


    "Then today, I''ll announce to everyone that you''re not my fiancée. You''re the other woman."


    A strange smile appeared on Sebastian''s handsome face as he leaned closer to Joanna. "Joanna, if I make this public, do you think Mr. Sterling will still treat you with such respect?"


    Joanna trembled, instantly understanding his intent.


    Without Sebastian, she, Joanna, was nothing.


    It was true. Sebastian had made her who she was.


    All these years, it was because she was known as Sebastian''s fiancée—a fact he never denied that everyone treated her so politely.


    "No, Sebastian, please. For the sake of the one time I saved you, don''t reveal the truth. Please. I won''t mess with Natalie again. Today was a day of growth for her, this is a good thing."


    Sebastian shot her a cold look. This


    woman was truly incorrigible.


    "Joanna, do you have any idea what happens to people who lie to me? You''ve seen how I deal with others One day, I use those same methods on you."


    After delivering his cold warning, Sebastian turned to go inside with Sean.


    Joanna clenched her fists and ran to block his path. There were fewer people here: She sneered,


    "Sebastian you''re not willing to help me now because you know what I did to Natalie. But don''t you forget how desperate she is for affection."


    "She was so good to you before because you pulled her out of the Scott family When she went back the Scouts didn''t like her saw her cry, saw her at her most miserable. But because she loved you, she chose to stay by your side."


    "And what did you do in the end? Something Natalie will never forgive you for in this lifetime."


    "You gave all your love to me, hurting her again and again as if it were your right. You left herpletely broken. Sebastian, don''t you get it? You wounded Natalie too deeply."


    "You left her broken and shivering on the side of that highway for me. You abandoned your own wife in a godforsaken blizzard without a second thought. Tell me, Sebastian, how do you even live with yourself?"


    "It''s been over a decade. The one you love has always been me."


    Joanna decided to make onest gamble, drawing a sharp contrast between how well Sebastian had treated her and how badly he had hurt Natalie.


    Hearing her words, Sebastian realized that Joanna had known all along.


    At the time, he had also thought Natalie was malicious, which was why he chose Joanna. But one thing he was sure of was that he hadn''t loved either of them.


    It was only now that he was developing feelings for Natalie.