It was Joey. Joey,


    stuck in a wheelchair.


    He was so gaunt that Anastasia barely recognized him. She thought about telling the cabbie to pull over, but then remembered her fallout with Gianna. There was no point in getting involved in things that weren''t her business anymore, so she stayed silent. Just around the corner from the coffee shop, Joey could only move his hands. Sitting in his wheelchair, he handed out flyers to the passersby.


    The flyersid out how Gianna had pushed him down the stairs, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. They used her of cheating on him before their divorce, stealing all his money, transferring assets, and dumping him in a nursing home where he was mistreated.


    This was why Gianna''s coffee shop was going under.


    People walked past the coffee shop but didn''t go in once they learned what kind of person the owner supposedly was.


    Gianna stood inside, watching the crowd walk by, wondering why no one wasing in. Frustrated, she grabbed her purse and decided to head out for some pampering at the beauty salon.


    As soon as she stepped outside, Gianna felt the strange looks from people on the street. Their whispers were unintelligible, but she knew they were about her.


    A flyer floated down to her feet. She picked it up and instantly saw red.


    She knew Joey was behind this mess.


    Following the direction the flyer hade from, she found Joey in his wheelchair, handing them out.


    "Joey!"


    Gianna shouted, storming over and snatching the flyers from his hands.


    "So, it''s you causing trouble! Instead of staying out of sight back home, youe here to be a pain. Are you asking for it?"


    Gianna, fuming, ripped the flyers to shreds.


    Joey red at her, his eyes full of spite. "Tear them up all you want, I can print more. You''re afraid of your own actions, Gianna. Everyone will know what you did. You, the nasty woman, will get what''sing to you. Look, everyone! This is the woman who pushed me down the stairs, stole my money, and then shamelessly fell for her cousin-inw. Disgusting."


    Mentioning Herman hit a nerve with Gianna, and Joey''s public usation made her feel utterly humiliated.


    Yes, Joey was paralyzed, and seeing Gianna all dressed up only fueled the rumors about her.


    People naturally sympathize with the underdog, and a crowd started to gather. Onepassionate woman sided with Joey, scolding Gianna, "Just look at her, all dolled up like a fox, heart as ck as coal."


    The onlookers murmured in agreement.


    "How could someone be so cruel, to do this to her own husband? The flyer says she mistreated him, kicked out her inws, and sent her husband away to the countryside like he was nothing."


    "She''s heartless. Look at her husband, just skin and bones. What a tragedy."


    "You''re wicked, taking his money and banishing him to the country."


    The crowd pointed fingers and hurled insults at Gianna.


    Gianna, red-faced with anger and shame, shouted back, "You don''t know anything! This man cheated on me, got another woman pregnant, and tried to take over my family''s property. His whole family is despicable. Joey, do you have the guts to admit what you''ve done?" "What have I done? Now you''re ndering me? You''ve ruined my life, and that''s not enough for you? You took my money, you kicked out my elderly parents. Do what you want to me, but you had no right to treat them that way."


    Joey turned to the crowd, stirring them up even more, "Look at this woman. She opened this coffee shop with my money, flirts with different men every day, a real Jezebel. How many times have you made a fool out of me? Tell them."


    "Joey, you''re lying! I divorced you, and the money for this shop came from my parents, not you." Gianna, unable to out-shout Joey, in a fit of rage, reached out and pushed his wheelchair.


    The wheelchair toppled over, Joey tumbled out, and the crowd''s anger surged like a wave.