"Apologize to her? Why should I apologize for something I didn''t do? Go on, ask her. Does she dare to call the police?"


    "What do you mean? Why wouldn''t she call the police? She''s the victim!" Jared''s voice wasced with a venomous hatred, as if he wanted to devour her whole.


    For a moment, Natalie truly envied Joanna. Her brothers genuinely adored her, willing to do anything for her, even rush headlong into danger.


    Natalie''s voice, however, remained calm. "Jared, go tell Joanna to file a police report. See if she has the guts. She drove someone to their death. Do you really think she wants the police looking into her?"


    With that, Natalie hung up and blocked Jared''s number.


    She got out of bed and went to soak in a hot bath. She was still covered in a cold sweat, her emotions raw and unstable.


    After the call, Jared stormed back to Joanna''s hospital room. She had put some ointment on her facest night, but this morning it was even more swollen, forcing her to seek medical attention. Her face was almost ruined, and her first priority was to heal it before she dealt with those two thugs.


    She had subtly suggested to Jared that Natalie might be behind the attack, and just as she''d nned, he had immediately gone to confront her.


    As Jared walked in, Joanna was already picturing Natalie''s downfall. "Joanna, Natalie denies everything."


    Joanna gently touched her swollen cheek, her voice trembling with manufactured vulnerability. "Maybe it really wasn''t her. But besides Natalie, I can''t think of anyone else I''ve offended."


    "Hmph!" Jared''s eyes were red with anger. He despised Natalie''s vicious tactics Let''s call the police. A little time in jail will teach her a lesson ein


    and stop her from scheming against you."


    The mention of the police sent a jolt of fear through Joanna. Her face paled. "No, we can''t! We don''t have any evidence Those two men got away and the police couldn''t find themst night. Without proof, we can''t do anything to her. Besides, calling the police will only make her hate you all more."


    Jared froze. Natalie had been right; Joanna wouldn''t agree to call the police.


    Could it be...? No, Joanna would never lie to him. It had to be Natalie''s doing.


    "Alright, alright," he said softly. "You just rest. The doctor said your face will be fine after a few days."


    Joanna looked up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes, a sweet, gentle smile on her lips. "Thank you. You all love me the most. Ever since I found out Natalie was your real sister, I''ve felt so insecure. She''s always been jealous of how good you are to me It''s all my fault. If we hadn''t been switched at birth, she would be the one you all love. I''m the reason our family is in this mess."


    She lowered her head and began to sob, her cries pitiful.


    Jared''s heart ached. He sat on the edge of her bed, his voice filled with affection. "Don''t cry, Joanna. We only have one sister, and that''s you. I will never ept Natalie. She''s too evil."


    Hatred filled Jared''s eyes. If only his father had never found Natalie, their family would still be happy. What did blood matter? Besides a biological connection, she was nothing to them.


    "It''s a shame we can''t call the police on Natalie," he muttered. "She''s getting off way too easily."