"As long as you're careful, that leg will be fully healed in less than three months."

Hearing his logical explanation, the tension instantly drained from Natalie's body. She was the blind date her grandfather had set up for him, and being in such close proximity made it hard not to let her imagination wander.

Matthew gently set her down in the backseat, carefully reaching across to buckle her seatbelt.

A deep flush stained Natalie's cheeks. Despite spending years with Sebastian, they had rarely shared moments of genuine physical closeness.

Having a man suddenly invade her personal space made her wildly flustered.

Especially when that man was devastatingly handsome-it was practically impossible not to have a few inappropriate thoughts.

Natalie tilted her head up, flashing him a cheeky, vibrant smile. "Thanks, Matthew! Hurry back inside and get some rest. Thanks for keeping me company and going over those files for three hours."

Matthew shook his head with a soft chuckle, his eyes lingering on her playful expression. If Sebastian and Joanna hadn't relentlessly chipped away at her spirit, she would have always been this bright, vivacious girl.

His grandfather had told him that the Natalie he knew from childhood was extraordinarily brilliant.

She was a mischievous little troublemaker, but a genius who mastered everything she touched instantly.

His grandfather rarely praised anyone. Among the girls in their circle, Natalie was the only one to ever earn his absolute respect.

"Will do. Text me when you get home, Natalie."

"I will!"

With obvious reluctance, Matthew gently closed the car door.

Luna exchanged a brief wave with him before steering the car away from the curb.

Standing alone in the biting wind, Matthew watched the taillights fade into the distance, a deeply affectionate smile gracing his lips.

Parked just a short distance away, Sebastian had a front-row seat. Seeing the tender smile on Matthew's face, and knowing Natalie had been inside his house for hours, pushed him over the edge into pure, unadulterated rage.

Matthew actually had the audacity to covet his wife. Sebastian glared murderously at Matthew's hands, a violent urge to hack them off surging through his veins.

Sean, having just woken up from a nap, caught the tail end of the scene.

He glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror. Beneath Sebastian's heavy brow; his dark eyes were swimming with raw homicidal intent of looks could kill, Matthew would already be shredded into confetti.

If Sebastian didn't make a move soon, his wife was going to be gone for good.

"Hiss..."

Sean shivered involuntarily, suddenly feeling like the temperature in the car had plummeted below freezing.

"Boss, are we heading back now? Or..."

"Drive back," Sebastian snapped coldly.

He had been cooped up in this car all day. He couldn't take another second of it.

Once they were back, he could

monitor Natalie's every move

through the security cameras et

He

couldn't relax unless he had eyes on her.

Sean let out a massive sigh of relief. Finally.

He threw the car in drive and headed toward the apartment.

Meanwhile, Natalie was exhausted, resting her head against the seat with her eyes closed.

Luna caught a glimpse of her in the rearview mirror and smiled. Mr. Monroe's really gentle with you, isn't he?"

Natalie's eyes snapped open, her long lashes fluttering.

"Little brat, since when do you tease your boss? He was just worried I'd slip on the ice. What is going through that head of yours?"

Before Luna could respond, a pair of blinding high beams flooded the cabin. Her pupils contracted sharply. as she yanked the steering wheel hard, swerving just in time to avoid a head-on collision. 'FindNovel.net

They were driving over a bridge. Luna had lived in this area for years and knew

every curve of the road.

After swerving sharply, she wrestled the wheel back into the lane.

A deafening crash erupted right behind them.

"Bang!"

It was immediately followed by the heavy, sickening splash of a car plunging into the

river.