Joshua slid a folder across the table. "These are the actual payment records for my mother's medical care during that period. Several of the payments you're claiming credit for never came from your accounts at all. Some were handled through other people entirely. Including, interestingly enough, Mark Sullivan."Natalie was stunned but quickly accused Joshua of twisting the facts.Natalie stared at the documents, her face paling briefly before hardening again. "This is fabricated. You're twisting the facts to make me look bad."Her father stepped in and warned Joshua that he should be careful because damaging Natalie's reputation could have serious consequences."That's enough," her father cut in sharply, leaning forward. "You should be careful, Joshua. Damaging Natalie's reputation with fabricated documents could have serious consequences for you."He insisted that Joshua should stop behaving arrogantly simply because he had a company now and reminded him that the marriage was already

Natalie found Mark outside the building smoking alone.She spotted him near the parking structure, leaning against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes distant.She lowered her voice and told him she had noticed his attitude toward her."Mark," Natalie said, approaching quietly, "I noticed how you've been acting lately. Distant. Cold. What's going on?"Mark pretended that nothing was wrong and claimed he was only tired from working for her."Nothing's wrong," Mark said, taking a slow drag. "Just tired. You've had me running around nonstop."Natalie eventually apologized for slapping him during their previous argument, explaining that she had been under too much pressure."About the other day," Natalie said, softening slightly. "The slap. I'm sorry. I was under too much pressure, and I took it out on you. That wasn't fair."Mark acted surprised and told her that he understood, but inwardly he sneered because he still blamed her for humiliating him."It's fine," Mark said

Two days after the divorce confrontation, Natalie returned to Harrison Group and continued working on the legal situation. She sat at her desk, buried in paperwork, still shaken by the lawyer's ominous comment from the meeting that had never been fully explained. Selena came to visit and offer to help. "I heard about the confrontation," Selena said, stepping into Natalie's office without announcement, settling gracefully into the chair across from her desk. "How are you holding up?" Her suspicion of Selena had not disappeared, especially after noticing how interested Selena had become in the evidence Joshua was withholding, but she still chose to listen because the woman remained one of the few people helping her regain influence. "I'm managing," Natalie said carefully, studying Selena's expression. She still hadn't forgotten the recordings, the blackmail, the way Selena's warmth had curdled the moment Natalie had questioned her. And yet, she thought, glancing at the scattere

During noon, Natalie met Selena privately after receiving another update from her lawyer."Miller says the next hearing is scheduled for early next week," Natalie said, settling into the chair across from Selena at the quiet café table.Natalie admitted that she still did not know what Joshua intended to present during the next stage of the divorce."I still have no idea what Joshua's planning to present," Natalie continued, frustration creeping into her voice. "He's holding something back, and I can feel it, but I have no way to find out what."She also reminded Selena that she had already begun questioning why Selena seemed more interested in Joshua's evidence than in Natalie's actual welfare."Actually," Natalie said, studying Selena carefully, "I've been meaning to ask you something. You seem far more interested in what Joshua's hiding than in how any of this actually affects me. Why is that?"Selena handled the suspicion smoothly, pretending to be hurt that Natalie could doubt th

Two days later, Lorenzo was suddenly confronted by an old rival, who had returned to the city. Lorenzo was stepping out of a business meeting downtown, briefcase in hand, when a man flanked by several others blocked his path near the entrance of the building."Lorenzo Gatti," the man said, his voice cold, carrying easily across the busy sidewalk. "It's been a long time."Lorenzo paused, studying him for a moment before recognition settled in. "Do I know you?"The man was the brother of the businessman who was defeated by Lorenzo and Joshua."Richard Vaughn was my brother," the man continued, his jaw tight, stepping closer. "You remember him, don't you? Or have you already forgotten what you and your little protégé did to him?""I remember him quite clearly," Lorenzo said evenly. "He tried to intimidate his way into a partnership and was exposed for it."Instead of attacking Lorenzo's companies, the man deliberately confronted him in public and accused him of destroying his family year