Chapter 102

“Come and eat,” Natalie said, placing a bowl of rice in front of Sebastian.
He glanced at the trash can before sitting down across from her. His tone left no room for argument. “You’ll eat, too.”
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry,” she replied, already full. “And don’t worry about me poisoning you. I have too much respect for food to ever tamper with it.”
On that, at least, Sebastian believed her.
He picked up the bowl of stew and took a sip. It was the same familiar, comforting taste. Looking at the simple, home-cooked meal, he ate two full bowls of rice.
When he finally set down his utensils, he watched Natalie, who was sipping her tea with her head lowered.
“Natalie, I was wrong about what happened before. From now on, I’ll try to trust
“There is no ‘from now on,” she cut in sharply. “I’m quitting my job tomorrow. I refuse to let you threaten me. How dare you think you can shatter me to pieces, say a simple ‘I was wrong,’ and expect me to come running back?”
“I would rather die than stay by your side in this lifetime. That’s my final answer.” Threaten me? Dream on, she thought.
Sebastian’s gaze turned icy, and the air in the room grew cold and suffocating.
“Natalie,” he said, his voice tight. He looked at her indifferent attitude, remembering how for the past two years, she had loved him so completely, dedicating all her energy to him.
Could she really just turn that love off like a switch?
Was that why she didn’t care when their special couple’s mug shattered?
A wave of intense irritation washed over him, a feeling more potent than any frustration he’d felt when Joanna had gone abroad.
“Don’t you dare speak to me with that attitude.”
Natalie frowned at his dark
expression. “What more do you want from me? When you and the Scott family conspired to drive me away, you should have expected treat you like this.”
“I told you, I misunderstood. I was wrong.”
“And I told you, I don’t accept your apology.”
They stared at each other in silence-Sebastian radiating fury, Natalie exuding a calm, unyielding resistance.
Where the hell is Joanna? she wondered. I posted on Facebook ages ago.
The unfamiliar look in her eyes sent a strange tremor through Sebastian’s chest.
He abruptly shot to his feet, strode over, and pulled Natalie up from her chair. She scowled. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to buy wedding rings,” he declared, pulling her toward the door.
Natalie stared at him, bewildered. Wedding rings? Now? The man was insane, and she had no intention of joining his madness.
“Sebastian, let go of me! I’m not buying any rings. We’re over. We have no future, so what’s the point?”
He stopped short, his voice a low warning. “Natalie, there’s a limit to playing hard to get.”
She blinked, looking at him in utter disbelief. He still thought she was
playing games? His ego was
astounding. He must have grown so accustomed to her affection over
the years that he’d deluded himself
into thinking she couldn’t live
without him.
And once, that had been true. She had been so hopelessly in love, so
lost in him that her world net Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs.net
entirely around his. She felt sick
when she couldn’t see him. She avoided disturbing him when he was busy with work and always made him special herbal broths when she worried about his health.
But in this new life? Who the hell would want a scumbag like that?
Just as Natalie was frantically trying to think of a way to refuse, a pair of bright headlights flashed across the window. A sly smile touched her lips.