It hit him then he knew Jerome, but Natalie didn''t know him. This was a disaster. What was he supposed to do? He couldn''t afford to cross the Scott family, and he certainly couldn''t expose Jerome. His only hope was that Jerome woulde and bail them out.


    "Take them away," an officermanded.


    The men were led out to the police cars. Outside, Keith saw that Natalie and Luna were safe and breathed a sigh of relief.


    He approached Natalie and spoke in a low voice. "On the way here, I had someone pull the security footage. I have it all. I''ll give it to the police shortly."


    "Good," Natalie murmured back. "Bring it with you to the station. I want these men to rot in prison. They have a history of this-human trafficking, selling women and children. Make sure you mention that to the police specifically. Tell them to investigate."


    "The leader, Larry, threw his phone into the ocean." Joanna''s most trustedckey was Larry, a man who would do anything for money.


    "I''ll handle it," Keith promised.


    Joanna presented herself as a paragon of virtue, untouchable and pure, but inside she was rotten to the core. True nobilityes from self-respect, but Joanna had willingly chosen to debase herself.


    At the police station, after giving their statements, Natalie and Luna were released. They had just reached the street when a sports car screeched to a halt beside them. Jerome jumped out and rushed over to Natalie.


    "Natalie, today was all a misunderstanding! You need to go back in there and tell the police="


    SLAP!


    Natalie''s hand cracked across his face. Jerome froze, stunned, staring into her hate-filled eyes. A wave of guilt washed over him as he took in her bruised and disheveled appearance. "Natalie, I just wanted them to teach you a lesson..."


    "Is that right?" she spat. "For that vicious woman, Joanna, you were willing to sacrifice your own sister? Your idea of a ''lesson'' was to have them rape me and Luna? Jerome, I never realized you were evermore vile than she is. But don''t you worry. They won''t rat you out. Intheir eyes, you''re just a disposable pawn. The moment you''ve outlived your usefulness, all their crimes willnd squarely on your shoulders."


    "You can rx for now. Someone needs you for that race. But after it''s over, your dear sister Joanna has a very special gift waiting for you. I''m sure you''ll love it. I''ll evene to visit you then, just to see what a generous gift she''s prepared."


    "Go home and rest easy," she


    continued, her voice dripping with venom. "They won''t expose you, because you aren''t their real master. Oh, and by the way, your good friends are involved in trafficking to


    children and selling wo the race


    anderground casinos After the race, when all of thises to light, the me for that will fall on you too. Someone has already paved the road for you."


    With that, she turned to leave.


    Jerome was stunned. What the hell was she talking about? Had the ordeal scrambled her brain? Larry was a degenerate, sure, but he knew where to draw the line.


    Natalie paused after a few steps.


    "And another thing. Don''t you ever


    call me your sister again. We''re not a


    family, You told the world I was


    adopted, that Joanna was


    YOUR


    precious baby sister. So go on, treat her like the treasure she is. It''s the least you can do after all the love you''ve poured into her."


    "And about what happened six months ago—it wasn''t me and Zenobia who set


    you up. It was Yvonne. As for why she did it, I imagine someone will tell you after the race."