Chapter 183

At his words, Joanna felt tears welling up in her eyes.
She stared out the window, her gaze lifeless. “What do you think happened?” she said, her voice hollow. “Sebastian saw the photos and texts I sent to provoke Natalie. He knows I was deliberately trying to destroy their marriage, and now he doesn’t trust me anymore.”
“Natalie used to be such a pushover; she would never have told him. I never imagined I’d be shooting myself in the foot.”
“She has nothing left to lose and wants to divorce him, but Sebastian is refusing. That evidence could be used to sue him for infidelity, with me as the other woman.”
She turned her tear-filled eyes to her father. “So, Dad, you have to make sure they have an amicable divorce. No lawsuits. I don’t want to be branded a homewrecker.”
“And another thing… have you noticed that Natalie has changed? It’s like she’s not herself anymore.”
“Oh, please,” Nathan scoffed, a cold glint in his eye. “She hasn’t changed. She was just putting up with our crap because she saw us as family. We signed disownment papers. Did you really expect her to keep tolerating you?” He shook his head. How can she be so dense?
“It seems our plan needs a more aggressive push,” Nathan said, his face hardening. “We’ll get that five percent of his shares, and I’ll figure out the rest.”
He stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the bustling city outside, his eyes burning with ambition.
Joanna lowered her gaze, her expression venomous.
Outside the door, Wendy recorded their entire conversation before slipping away unnoticed.
Down in the lobby, she ran into Jerome, who had just stormed in, still fuming.
“Mom.” Jerome clutched his stomach, his face pale from the pain.
Wendy felt a wave of relief that Natalie wasn’t with him.
“You went to see Natalie, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice weary.
Jerome’s eyes were cold with resentment. “I did, but her people beat me up and threw me out.”
Wendy managed a faint, bitter smile. Good. Maybe they knocked some sense into him.
The smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Jerome, come walk with me in the garden. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Mom, I should check on Joanna first,” he said, his concern evident. “She must be so upset right now.”
Wendy’s laugh was brittle. “Of
course. You care so much about her that you’d turn on your own sister. Meanwhite, she’s plotting to kill you. Go on go to her. I’ll start making funeral arrangements i know how stubborn you are. You only trust Joanna; you’d never believe your own mother.”
Seeing his shocked expression, she continued, “Go on. I’ll even buy you a The source of thɪs content is
abul ets
plot with a nice view. Your fate is already sealed You’re like
charging ahead, and I can’t stop you The least I can do is prepare for the inevitable.”
Jerome gritted his teeth. “Mom, what are you talking about? Are you cursing me to die?”
“Did Natalie tell you to avoid certain places recently?” Wendy asked, her eyes filled with tears.
Jerome sneered. “She told me not to go to the race. I’ve been preparing for three years. How could I possibly skip it?”
“Even if it means risking your life?”
“It won’t come to that. Mom, don’t listen to Natalie’s nonsense. I think she’s trying
to set me up.” Ever since Natalie’s warning, he had been on high alert.
Wendy’s face went pale, her eyes turning frosty. She gave a hollow laugh. “So that’s what you think? She warns you to be careful, and you twist it into an accusation.”
“Jerome, do you know what
happened two years ago? The car
crash? It was Natalie who pulled you
from the wreckage. You’re alive today because of her. You werent seriously injured, but you were knocked unconscious. The airbag was crushing your head. If she hadn’t gotten you out in time, you would have suffocated.”