Only by being with Sebastian could she live there. That neighborhood was the ultimate symbol of wealth and status.


    She often drove by just to look at it, a constant reminder of her goal. But now, Sebastian didn''t want her anymore. All her hard work, all her scheming... she knew what it was all for.


    Her lips trembled. "Sebastian, I will make you mine, forever."


    Joanna''sughter echoed, wild and unhinged.


    She saw that the lights in Sebastian''s vi were off and turned to leave, the fear from the attack finally catching up with her.


    After she was gone, a wicked smile appeared on the face of someone sitting in a luxury car parked nearby.


    ...


    When Joanna got home, she found Yvonne waiting for her.


    "Joanna, you''re back!" Yvonne said cheerfully, reaching for her hand.


    Then she saw Joanna''s swollen, bruised face. "Joanna, what happened? Who hit you?"


    Joanna''s face darkened, in no mood for pleasantries. "It''s nothing. What are you doing here?" Yvonne had served her purpose; she was disposable now.


    Yvonne, sensing her bad mood, got straight to the point. "Joanna, when Jerome left, he gave you his shares. You promised you''d transfer a portion of the dividends to me on the 15th of every month. Well, today''s the 15th. I''m here to collect."


    Joanna scoffed. She had only made that promise to trick Jerome Scott.


    She forced a smile. "Yvonne, you''re not even married to Jerome yet, and you''re already after his money. If my mother found out, she''d think you were just a gold digger. Besides, thepany''s not doing well right now. I don''t have any money to give you."


    Yvonne stared at her, stunned. Natalie''s words echoed in her mind: You''re just one of Joanna''s pawns.


    "Joanna, even if thepany is having problems, the dividends should be fine. Please, just give me my share," Yvonne said, trying to keep her tone pleasant. She didn


    want to burn this bridge until she


    had her money.


    To keep Yvonne quiet for now, Joanna transferred her a few thousand dors.


    "Yvonne, you have to be careful,"


    Joanna said, feigning concern. "The


    more you take from me, the less likely my mother will be to ept you. My eldest brother is disabled and out of the country for treatment. You should really think about your future. And we both know that baby you''re carrying isn''t his."


    Thatst sentence was a direct threat.


    Yvonne''s face flushed with anger. "Joanna, you promised you''d keep my secret!"


    "What secret?" A portly old woman emerged from one of the rooms.


    It was her grandmother. Joanna smiled sweetly. "Grandma, it''s nothing. You''re still awake?"


    The old woman red around the


    empty hall.


    Of


    course I''m awake. I''m


    waiting for your mother toe


    home. What kind of woman stays


    out thiste every night? A woman''s ce is at home serving her husband while he goes out to work. Thepany should be your father''s. After all these years of


    marriage, she still won''t let go. It''s like she never considered us family."


    The old woman was particrly irritable because she hadn''t received her monthly allowance.


    Joanna put on a cating smile and tried to soothe her grandmother.


    Meanwhile, Natalie, who had just gotten home, received a text from her informant.


    [The old man and woman are here. Yvonne came by asking for money.]


    A cold smile touched Natalie''s lips. All she had to do now was sit back and watch the show.