Eventually, Sebastian emerged. Chloe ran off in tears, looking utterly pathetic. Sebastian dismissed his friends, got into the car, and began treating Natalia’s wound with painful sincerity.

His movements were as gentle as if he were handling a fragile treasure, his voice low and raspy. "Nat, the engagement is a family arrangement. I won't marry her, and I'll clear things up with my parents soon. Don't overthink it."

Natalia didn't speak. She just stared blankly ahead. "I understand, Sebastian. Let's drive."

Sebastian glanced at her, appearing as if he wanted to say more, but ultimately started the engine. The atmosphere in the car was suffocatingly heavy. Natalia closed her eyes, her mind a chaotic mess.

Suddenly, the screech of tires tore through the air.

Natalia snapped her eyes open just in time to see a truck heading straight for them. Her pupils contracted. In the next second, Sebastian lunged across, shielding her tightly in his arms.

CRASH—

A deafening roar, and the world spun out of control. Natalia blacked out in a pool of blood.

When she woke up again, she was in a hospital bed, the overhead lights stinging her eyes. Sebastian was sitting by her side, his face pale, his eyes filled with wild relief. "Nat, you’re finally awake. You scared me to death."

Natalia’s lips moved, her voice raspy. "How badly are you hurt?"

Sebastian rubbed her hair, his tone light. "Just a broken rib, nothing major. I’m sorry I didn't protect you better."

He stood up quickly. "Stay still. I’ll get the doctor to check on you."

After he left, Natalia’s phone vibrated. She picked it up and found a video sent by Chloe.

The footage was from the cafe earlier. Sebastian’s friends were talking over each other in the recording:

"Miss Chloe, how many times do we have to say it? Sebastian’s relationship with Natalia is part of the plan. Acting like he loves her is all a performance to get revenge on Weston. Since the families have agreed on the marriage, you’re the one he’ll marry. When has he ever gone back on his word in business? Just stop making a scene, okay?"

But Chloe only looked at Sebastian, her voice trembling. "Sebastian, is what they’re saying true? You don't like Natalia at all? It’s all just revenge?"

The friends chimed in: "Of course! How could he fall for his rival’s sister? That’s not his style. If he actually fell for her, it wouldn't be him humiliating Weston; it’d be Weston stepping all over him. God, I can’t even imagine that."

"I want to hear it from Sebastian!" Chloe stared at him with red-rimmed eyes. "Sebastian, you tell me."

Sebastian’s expression was unreadable as he looked out toward the car where Natalia was waiting. Finally, he gave a nod.

Chloe finally collapsed into his arms, sobbing. "But I still feel insecure. We’re getting married soon, yet you’re still acting with another woman. Fine—in a moment, pretend the brakes failed. Swerve toward the passenger side so Natalia gets into an accident. Then I’ll believe you. Deal?"

Sebastian was silent for a long moment before whispering, "Deal."

The video cut off there.

Chapter Five

Natalia’s fingers shook so violently the phone clattered onto the floor.

So even the car accident had been part of his plan.

She closed her eyes. Sadness, despair, and a profound sense of betrayal swirled in her chest, leaving her feeling heavy and hollow. She didn't understand what more Sebastian wanted from her.

She remembered that during the crash, he really had turned the steering wheel toward the passenger side. But at the very last second, he had turned back to shield her.

She couldn't fathom what he was thinking. If he was so hell-bent on revenge, wouldn't he be happier the more she was hurt? Why bother with the extra step of protecting her and breaking his own rib?

A theory hovered in her mind, but she refused to entertain it.

Sebastian.

I truly hope that, as you said, you have zero feelings for me and this is all just revenge. Because if there is even a shred of real emotion, you will find yourself in absolute agony.

For the next few days, Sebastian looked after her constantly. Despite his broken rib and the doctor’s orders to rest, he stayed stubbornly by her side, never leaving. One moment he was feeding her porridge or tucking her in, the next he was peeling fruit or telling her stories.

To any onlooker, he appeared madly in love. But Natalia felt no joy. She knew it was all a lie. His tenderness and concern were nothing more than a meticulously crafted scam.

On the day she was discharged, Sebastian noticed her low spirits. To cheer her up, he took her to a new club opened by one of his friends. The lighting in the VIP lounge was dim, and the music was deafening.

Sebastian was incredibly attentive, and his friends crowded around her, offering well-wishes. But Natalia felt deeply uneasy, sensing that something was about to happen.

Then the door opened, and Chloe walked in.

The mood in the room soured instantly. As Sebastian looked ready to lose his temper, his friends hurried over to Chloe, whispering urgently, "Didn't we make this clear? You asked him to cause the accident so Natalia would get hurt, and he did it. What are you doing here now?"

Chloe smiled, her voice airy. "Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here to join the plan. After all, Sebastian is marrying me soon. I should help add some fuel to the fire meant for his enemy."

She leaned in and whispered something into one of the friend's ears. Their eyes lit up, and a meaningful smirk spread across their faces.

Natalia desperately wanted to hear what they were saying, but the music was too loud.

After speaking, Chloe walked straight up to her with a fake smile. "Miss Natalia, I apologize for earlier. Sebastian has already taught me a lesson. He hasn't agreed to the engagement yet because he loves you too much to marry anyone else."

Natalia frowned, a dark premonition rising in her heart. She didn't know why the usually arrogant Chloe was suddenly compromising, but her intuition told her it wasn't that simple.

Sebastian’s expression was tense as his gaze shifted between Chloe and Natalia.

Chloe, dropping her previous hostility, suddenly pulled a set of keys from her bag and held them out to Natalia. "Miss Natalia, I just bought a villa downtown. Consider it a gift—an apology for the other day."

Natalia didn't take them. Her voice was cold. "That won't be necessary. I won't be living in New York."

The color drained from Sebastian’s face. He grabbed Natalia’s hand. This man, who was usually so in control, now had a trace of panicked desperation in his voice. "Nat, what do you mean by that? I’m here in New York. You’re going to marry me eventually. Where else would you go if not staying here with me?"

Natalia looked at him with calm, vacant eyes.

She wanted to go back to The South, of course. To marry the man she was meant to marry, and stay with the people she was meant to stay with.

Chapter Six

But she didn't speak the truth, offering only a vague evasion. "I was just speaking off the cuff. Don't overthink it. It's just that... regarding the future, no one can say for sure what will happen."

"With me here, what could possibly be uncertain?"

Sebastian clearly wasn't buying it and wanted to press further, but Chloe cut in. "Miss Natalia, I heard you're a dancer. Why stay cooped up in here? Go out and dance."

Natalia shook her head. "No thank you. I don't feel like it."

Chloe was relentless. "Don't worry, Miss Natalia. I’ve booked the entire place. The dance floor is empty right now. We'll all accompany you."

Sebastian’s expression darkened. He clearly didn't want Natalia to go; he wanted her to explain what she had meant moments ago.

But then, his friends began to persuade him. "Seb, let her go dance. We’d love to see her grace on the floor."

One of them leaned in and whispered something into Sebastian’s ear.

Sebastian’s face grew incredibly grim. He hesitated for several long seconds, but finally, he gave a slow nod.

As Chloe pulled Natalia away, a sense of dread pooled in Natalia’s stomach. She felt certain they were brewing some kind of plan and only wanted to finish a dance quickly so she could leave.

But just as she and Chloe reached the edge of the dance floor, Chloe’s foot suddenly twisted, and she collapsed to the ground.

Clutching her ankle, she began to cry, tears streaming down her face like a wilting flower in the rain. "Sebastian, it hurts so much. Please, take me to the hospital."

Sebastian frowned, his impatience evident. But Chloe grabbed his sleeve, her voice trembling with sobs. "Our families have been friends for generations. You can't just leave me like this, can you?"