The assistant pointed a trembling finger at Natalie. "Ms. Sanders, that was a low blow! You were live-streaming in here?"


    Natalie just smiled. It felt surprisingly good to be the viin.


    "Your boss was ndering me, Mr. Scott. Am I not allowed to seek justice for myself?"


    She turned her gaze back to Jared. "It''s time you got a taste of your own medicine. I told you, I won''t let you bully me anymore. From now on, I''ll hit back- hard."


    With that, Natalie turned and walked out. She ran right into Joanna in the hallway.


    Joanna raised her hand to strike, but Natalie was faster,nding a sharp p across her face first.


    "Ah!" Joanna cried out in pain. "Natalie, you hit me?"


    "So what if I did? Do I need to make an appointment? This is just the beginning, Joanna. Everything you ever did to me, I''m going to return in full." Natalie''s smile was eerie, a captivating yet menacing sight that sent a chill down Joanna''s spine.


    "Joanna!" Jared rushed out when he heard themotion, his eyes burning with murderous rage as he watched Natalie''s retreating figure.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, his voiceced with concern.


    Joanna''s anger erupted. "Don''t you know how cunning she is? You''ve ruined me! I finallynded a lead role, and now it''s gone, just like that!" She copsed onto the floor, overwhelmed.


    All her efforts, all her climbing-what was it for? It was all to escape the stigma of being an illegitimate daughter, to be a true Scott.


    But now these people, who were supposed to be dragging Natalie down, were dragging her down with them.


    Only then did Jared fully grasp that Natalie had yed him. "That damn Natalie!" he seethed, his eyes turning crimson with rage.


    "Joanna, get up. Does your face hurt? Let me take you to the hospital." He bent down to help her, but she pped his hand away.


    Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him, a horrifying realization dawning on her. The very favoritism that had protected her could also be her rum.


    "Are you braintess, Jared? Why would you treat Natalie like that for my sake? Now everyone knows I''m the reason the Scott family adopted: her in the first ce!" she screamed. "My reputation, the Scott family''s stock, yourpany-it''s all going to suffer because of what you said."


    Joanna scrambled to her feet and shot Jared a look of pure hatred before storming off.


    A sharp pain pierced Jared''s heart.


    He did it all for her, so why was she ming him?


    When Sebastian was disabled, she was the one who refused to stay by his side. They had forged Natalie to marry him, just to hold his ce untif Joanna decided toe back.


    He knew the truth of what happened back then better than anyone. But now, all


    he could see in Joanna''s eyes was contempt for him.


    "Hmph!" He kicked the wall in frustration.


    In his memory, Natalie never fought back when she was bullied. He had tormented her because he knew she craved the affection of a family.


    He could have left her alone if she hadn''t antagonized Joanna, but she dared to retaliate. She dared to broadcast everything without a word.


    He was furious. Was his fledglingpany really going to be destroyed just like that?


    "Sir," his assistant interrupted his thoughts, "the Scott Group''s stock is plummeting. And your mother just released a statement disowning you."


    "Ourpany was just getting started. I''m afraid this time..." The assistant trailed off, implying he might lose everything.


    He hung his head, not daring to meet Jared''s eyes.


    Jared froze, his voice trembling. "What did you just say? My mother did what?"