He pushed open the door to find Joanna standing amidst the wreckage of her room. "Joanna, I already talked to Natalie," he said, "She won''t sign the letter. Maybe you should go ask Sebastian. He''ll do anything for you."


    After her bout of destruction, Joanna felt calmer. She looked at Jerome, her eyes filled with a flicker of hatred. The idiot. Why did he have to use Larry to teach Natalie a lesson? Larry had been loyal to her, helping her frame Natalie several times without leaving a trace for Sebastian to find.


    "Are you stupid?" she hissed. "If you want to ruin someone like Natalie, you go to a bar and hire some random thugs. Why Larry? Don''t you know that kidnapping leads to a long prison sentence? Now your ''good friend'' is going to jail because of you. What about his disabled mother? What is she supposed to do without her son?"


    Jerome was taken aback. Was Joanna ming him? "Joanna, I was just trying to get Natalie to apologize to you. You were so upset, I was worried about you." He looked at her, and for a moment, she seemed like a stranger.


    Joanna scoffed. "An apology? You think I care about that? Larry is the one in jail, and his mother is the one who will suffer. From now on, you can take care of her. He went down because of you." She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. She couldn''t risk asking Sebastian for help with this; she was afraid he might investigate and uncover her other schemes. She still needed his money for now. She would find another way to deal with Larry.


    As for that little bitch Natalie, she would make her pay. And this idiot, Jerome? He could die in that race. One by one, she would deal with them all. She refused to be an adopted daughter, an illegitimate child. She would be a true, respected heiress. And Yvonne, that fool, had served her purpose and was now disposable.


    Back at her own home, Natalie sent Luna to rest while she joined Wayne and his grandfather for dinner. The old man had heard about what happened and was furious.


    "Natty, all the kindness you showed the Scott family was wasted on a pack of dogs! From now on, you are forbidden from ever going back there, Mr. Sanders fumed, his face red with anger. The Scotts were worse than animals.


    Natalie stood up and gently rubbed his back. "Grandpa, calm down. I won''t go


    back. I promise. This is my home now."


    Her words soothed him instantly.


    "Good girl. Sit down. We have your favorite abalone tonight. Eat


    before this one finishes it a D


    gestured toward Wayne and started piling food onto her te.


    Wayne rolled his eyes. He loved abalone too, but there were six of them-two for each of them. He


    wasn''t about to eat all four himself.


    He ced one of his onto Natalie''s


    te, and


    Mr. Sanders promptly


    gave her both of his.


    Natalie''s heart swelled with happiness. From now on, this would be her life, filled


    with the love of her grandfather and three brothers.


    After a cheerful dinner, Queena arrived. She had justnded a big contract and was eager to celebrate.


    "Natalie,e on! I''m taking you out! We''re going shopping until we drop. Let''s hit October za!"