Natalie shook her head. "I don''t want a man you''ve tainted. You can have him. The two of you can be tied together forever a perfect match for your messy life."


    "Please, Natalie. Just because you can''t seduce a man, you''re calling me dirty? Have you still not faced reality? A woman''s youth and beauty are her greatest assets. That''s why you''ve always been poor, you know."


    Natalie was infuriating. She had to die.


    Soon, Natalie would be dead.


    Natalie let out a humorlessugh. So that''s how she saw her. "Joanna, you can drag yourself to hell for all I care. Your life has nothing to do with mine. But I''ll say it again: you cross me once, I''ll pay you back tenfold."


    Natalie didn''t want to waste her breath arguing with her.


    The fact that Joanna was still here, causing trouble, told her everything she needed


    to know. Sebastian wasn''t going to do anything to her.


    She already knew the oue. And though her heart was numb, a sharp pang of pain still shot through it.


    She mmed the door shut.


    Natalie''s lips curved into a faint smile. Finally, some peace and quiet.


    Joanna was furious. She couldn''t understand why Sebastian wouldn''t divorce Natalie when he clearly didn''t love her.


    She turned around and froze. Sebastian was standing right behind her.


    His tall figure and cold, handsome face radiated a chilling intensity that demanded attention.


    Joanna''s lips parted slightly as she stared at Sebastian in shock.


    "Sebastian, you..."


    How long had he been here?


    How long had he been standing there!?


    Joanna was so tense that the gift bag she was holding slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.


    Sebastian''s gaze was deep and icy. He curled his lip into a cold smirk. "I''ve been here for a while. I heard everything you and Natalie said."


    Fear instantly flooded Joanna''s chest.


    She quickly tried to exin herself. "Sebastian, don''t take any of that to heart Natalie and I were just messing around. You know how women can be, alwayspeting. We were just talking."


    "Just talking?" Sebastian''s tone was frigid, his smile unsettling.


    Joanna couldn''t read his expression. She was nervous, terrified of this version of Sebastian with his unreadable smile.


    "Sebastian, I wasn''t the one behind what happened to your grandmother. The housekeeper was trying to get money from me. She did it all, it had nothing to do with me."


    "I just gave her some money to get information about you. I know you''re busy. You always wanted to marry me, but your grandparents disapproved only gave the


    housekeeper money to


    el.nt


    what


    they liked. I never told her to poison them."


    "Natalie''s just saying that to nder me. Sebastian, I grew up with you. Don''t you know what kind of person I am?"


    "Yes, you grew up with me. But you''re like a phantom. I feel like I never truly saw you for who you are."


    Joanna was speechless.


    She bit her lip, putting on a wounded expression.


    "Sebastian, how can you say that about me? I... I only said those things because I have issues with Natalie. Please don''t take it to heart."


    Damn that Natalie, ruining her image in Sebastian''s eyes time and time again.


    She must have seen Sebastian and deliberately provoked her into saying those things.


    Natalie was bing more and more maniptive. That bastard Maxwell, why hadn''t he made his move yet?


    "Oh? And what did you expect me to say? You know, Joanna, before Natalie showed up, I really did n on marrying you. But after I married


    her He never had any desire to marry


    you again."


    He took a few steps closer, a smirk ying on his lips. "And do you know why,


    Joanna?"