Natalie looked at the elderdy, confused. Why was she telling her all this?


    "Grandma..."


    “Natalie, just listen to me. Joanna has always been Timothy''s person. If Sebastian had been good to you, you wouldn''t have been safe."


    Natalie froze. So...


    “Natalie, you''re a smart girl. You should understand what I mean,” the elderdy continued. "When he has someone he cares about, he has a weakness. You were with him for two years during his most difficult time. You were the dawn that broke through his darkness. How could he possibly forget what you did for him? I raised that boy. I know his character better than anyone."


    Natalie finally understood what the elderdy was trying to say. Was she suggesting that Sebastian had been so cruel to her back then to protect her?


    But she didn''t need his protection in such a hurtful way!


    It was too painful. She still wouldn''t forgive him.


    He was tainted.


    "Natalie, I know the damage has been done, and it''s irreparable. But until the very end, until the whole truth is out, no one knows what the oue will be. Perhaps we are all just pawns on someone else''s chessboard."


    “What? Pawns?" Natalie was shocked. Her grandmother''s words today were profound.


    What did she mean by pawns?


    Could she be a pawn, too?


    In Nathan''s eyes, she was certainly a pawn, but her only value was to keep Sebastian upied until Joanna returned. When Joanna came back, she was expected to step aside, and she had.


    But in the eyes of others? Who was she?


    "Natalie, the truth is..."


    The elderdy told Natalie what she wanted to say.


    After hearing it, Natalie was utterly astonished.


    "Grandma, is that really true?" she asked, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the elderdy.


    Was this a secret she was supposed to know for free?


    No, no, this was not a secret she should know.


    The elderdy''s face was streaked with tears, her grief uncontroble.


    Qu


    know


    "It''s true. That''s why we''ve been plotting against Timothy as well. Natalie, in this high-stakes game, alles down to who has the upper band Sebastian does about this yet. Your grandfather has been abroad for years he spends almost half the year away-just to investigate this. The other party is hidden so well. Your grandfather has been investigating for decades and has only just found a few leads."


    Natalie was speechless.


    It was truly a game within a game among the elite.


    "But Grandma, they clearly..."


    Natalie didn''t finish her sentence. Sebastian and Timothy looked so much alike.


    Save You


    The elderdy gave a bitter smile. "That''s how clever they are. After Joanna''s situation is resolved, I will tell you the whole truth. Natalie, have never been an innocent bystander in this mess. In fact, you might be the most important person in all of this. When you learn the truth, you might be even more shocked than I am."


    "Grandma, what are you trying to say...?"


    Natalie''s mind was in a whirl, unable to process anything.


    Why was she the most important person?


    The elderdy smiled. "Natalie, stand by Sebastian, know you resent him, but never truly destroy him."


    stial ~ you could norm


    She was also aware of Natalie''s capabilities. No one knew Natalie''s true identity, not even Wendy.


    But she knew. Her granddaughter-inw had some very deep secrets.


    Natalie looked at the elderdy''s confident expression. It wasn''t that she couldn''t


    bring herself to hurt Sebastian.


    It was that she already knew his fate.


    She was simply respecting his destiny.


    Natalie was absolutely reeling. How could things be this absurd?


    She wished she had nevere here today. If this secret ever got out, she''d be in serious trouble.