The reporters froze.


    Natalie arched an eyebrow, watching as a kaleidoscope of emotions yed across their faces. It felt good. So good to finally fight back. She had been too polite for too long, and her kindness had been mistaken for weakness, making every dog think it was a lion.


    This whole mess had Joanna''s fingerprints all over it.


    Natalie nced up and, sure enough, saw Joanna standing in the crowd. Natalie offered her a small, provocative smile.


    Joanna was stunned. Since when was Natalie so articte? These reporters were known for their sharp questions, yet they werepletely ineffective against her.


    The atmosphere turned dead silent. The reporters were shocked. Looking at the cool andmanding Natalie, they felt a sense of impending doom. She was stunningly beautiful; just by standing there, shemanded everyone''s attention. Joanna, her face a mask of jealousy, walked over. "Natalie," she said with feigned concern, "you should have the courage to admit when you''ve done something wrong. It''s not shameful to sell your soul and principles when you''re in love with Mr. Zade!"


    "Ha!" Natalieughed. "Let me finish that for you. It''s not shameful to sell your soul and principles; what''s shameful is not getting a good price for them. But you already sold yours for a fortune, so why are you still bothering me?"


    "Me, in love with Larry? I don''t even know who the hell he is. You, on the other hand, Joanna—you and Larry crawled out of the same bed. And now you have the audacity to use me?"


    Joanna''s face went deathly pale. "Natalie, you... you''re lying."


    Natalie suddenly pointed towards a figure in the distance. "Wait a minute, that tall, distinguished man over there... he looks familiar. Oh, right. He looks like that bag of trash I threw out yesterday."


    She had spotted Sebastian, and herstment was aimed directly at him.


    Sebastian froze. He''d been hit by a stray bullet just for standing there. Natalie had misunderstood him again.


    Joanna, seething, blinked back tears that were threatening to spill. "Natalie, what''s happened to you? I always thought you had a good temper. Why have you be like this?"


    "Here we go again," Natalie sighed. "ying the victim. Is that your only move? Would it kill you to not put


    an act? I do have a good temper, but why on earth should I waste it on you?"


    "But please, continue your performance. I love watching you put on a show. Go on, I see a


    woman over there live-streami


    this. It''s the perfect chance for everyone to see your pathetic


    damsel in distress routine lov


    acting, right? Consider this practice. Let the audience see just what kind of face you have."


    Joanna froze, staring at the woman holding up her phone, her expression nk.


    "Natalie, how could you be so... so vicious?"


    "Vicious? Joanna, do you want me to show everyone how you seduce men? Let me tell you, the public isn''t stupid. Your innocent act might fool a few suckers, but it won''t fool everyone."


    "But then again, you can''t help but cause drama whenever you''re around me. So go on, feel free to improvise. Everyone here can use a goodugh."


    "See? You''re useful for something after all. At least you can bring people joy."


    Tsk. She had been too nice for too


    long, indulging their every whim. When people are determined to debase themselves, there''s no stopping them. Joanna was already too far gone. She was addicted to power and money Between love and wealth, love was disposable; money was her everything.