Chapter 1144

Joanna stood there, completely hollowed out, her hands and feet numb with cold.

Wendy gathered her broadcasting equipment and walked out of the private room without looking back.

Once the door clicked shut, Joanna collapsed, pounding her fists against her chest. “No, it wasn’t supposed to be like this! Wendy, why did you ruin me? I was your favorite! How could you be so cruel?”

In that moment, regret flooded her veins.

If it hadn’t been for her biological mother, she wouldn’t have gone down this path. She had been so obsessed with the idea that if she just got rid of Wendy and her children, her own family of four could live happily ever after. She wouldn’t have to carry the shameful label of an illegitimate child anymore.

She would have been the true Ms. Scott.

But her dream was shattered. Her life was utterly destroyed.

Joanna’s eyes were vacant, as if every last spark of light had been snuffed out.

Her tears had run dry, leaving behind nothing but an endless, suffocating wave of despair and numbness.

The bright future she had meticulously planned lay in ruins at her feet.

Back in Natalie’s office.

She stared at the blank screen of the ended broadcast, her chest feeling incredibly heavy.

Luna looked at her with concern. Wendy was still her biological mother, and seeing her like this was bound to stir up complicated emotions.

“Natalie, the schedule is clear for the rest of the day. The shareholders are thrilled with the new product line. How about I take you home to rest?”

Natalie shook her head. “No, I’ll stay at the office. Grab my laptop. I want to check the stock market. Making money is a good distraction.”

Luna fell silent and went to fetch the custom laptop.

Natalie slumped back in her wheelchair, suddenly feeling deflated.

She pressed the power button, watching the screen boot up.

She had absolutely no desire to look at the market. Instead, she muttered dejectedly to herself, “Well, Natalie, turns out you’re the product of an affair too. You don’t even know who your real father is.” S to’FindNovel.net

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. Thank God she had her grandfather’s love; she had never truly felt alone growing up.

But she was deeply confused. Who had swapped her paternity test results?

Nathan certainly didn’t know the truth.

Natalie pulled out her phone and dialed her grandfather’s number.

A few seconds later, he picked up. Natalie sniffled, a lump in her throat as she called out, “Grandpa.”

Hearing the tears in her voice, the old man instantly panicked. “Oh my, what’s wrong with my Natty? Why are you crying? Who bullied you?”

“Grandpa, I just miss you. When are you coming back?”

He chuckled warmly. “Aww, my sweet girl misses me. I won’t be back until April, so

I’ll miss your birthday, but I’ve already prepared a gift for you.”

Natalie fell silent.

Not coming back? What was the stubborn old man even doing abroad? Why was he being so secretive?

“Grandpa, how are things with my brother?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Don’t worry about him, kiddo. The project is running smoothly. We’ll break ground after the holidays, but it’ll take a year or two to finish.”

“Don’t worry, I threw some funding his way, and a share of the equity is under your name.”

Natalie choked up with gratitude.

Her grandfather was always

investing everywhere, constantly putting shares in her name. She had built quite a nest egg by now, and it gave her a tremendous sense of security.

“Hehe,” Natalie’s tears turned into

bright smile. “Hearing that you’re

а

making me more money makes me

feel so much better. I’m going to get back to work now, Grandpa.”

His voice was endlessly affectionate. “Did someone hurt your feelings, little one?

Tell Grandpa. I’ll have Tyler go beat them to a pulp.”