Natalie hung up just as Matthew sat down across from her.
Seeing the latte in his hand, she beamed.
“Matt, thank you.”
He smiled at her radiant expression, seeing her genuine happiness. “Natalie, I’ll work hard to make you feel comfortable enough to always call me by my name.”
Natalie smiled back, taking a sip of her latte. It wasn’t that difficult.
“Matt, thank you for trusting me. The worst thing in any relationship is when the person sitting across from you believes what others say about you instead of believing in you.”
The Scott family had painted her as utterly worthless. In their eyes, she was a malicious, uncultured girl from the countryside.
Once she divorced Sebastian, she would show them all that she was a woman they could never hope to reach.
She was grateful for this chance.
“Silly girl,” Matthew said, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “Your talent is all the proof I need. Why would I need to listen to anyone else’s opinion? What I see is the real you.”
Being with her felt so natural. He had been on dates with other women, but none of them felt as comfortable as this.
Their food arrived, and they ate and chatted, enjoying the easy conversation.
…
Back in Sebastian’s office, the temperature seemed to plummet.
Sean stood before him, his head bowed.
Sebastian’s deep-set eyes were sharp with fury. “Sean, why didn’t you remind me about the time?”
Sean felt wronged. “Sir, you never told me you had a five o’clock meeting with Ms. Sanders.”
He was being unfairly blamed.
Sebastian’s frown deepened. “I already told you at your house last time. I’m done with Joanna and the Scott family’s affairs.”
Jerome was furious. “Sebastian, what’s wrong with you? Joanna has always been the one you were going to marry. How can you just abandon her? What is she supposed to do without you?”
“Did Natalie say something to you? Don’t believe a word she says. She’s a compulsive liar.”
“And I should believe you instead? You hired people to go after my wife, and I haven’t even settled that score with you yet. Turns out Natalie was right. The only reason they didn’t rat you out is because there’s a bigger scheme waiting for you down the line.”
“Hah! They didn’t expose me because they value our bond as friends!” Jerome yelled, puffing out his chest.
Sebastian hung up.
He tossed his phone onto the desk and sank into the sofa. Natalie’s words echoed in his mind: If someone has you in their heart, they’re free 24/7.
He remembered how, in the past, Natalie would always be waiting for him when he got home, with a nourishing tea or a late-night snack prepared.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Bye-bye Trash! Hello Queen!
Hi ... Could you please publish another novel .. The mocked missed hidden crowns.. thank you 🙏🏻...
Please update.....
Can you please publish another novel - sorry for your loss, its me am the loss...