"No," Joanna shook her head. "It''s impossible. They won''t hate me." But then the memory of her words and actions flooded her mind. Her lips turned white, and she began to tremble with uncontroble fear. That damn Natalie. How dare she use a livestream to set her up.


    "Hmph! Luna, do you know what I''m best at?" Joanna said, forcing herself up against the wall, the pain still searing through her.


    Lunaughed mockingly. "Oh, you''re good at a lot of things. Drugging people behind their backs, photoshopping images to frame Ms. Sanders, and of course, your greatest talent..." Luna paused dramatically. "Seducing men."


    "And let me tell you something else. The only reason Ms. Sanders is fighting back is because she has plenty of dirt on you. For every move you make, she''ll hit you back twice as hard. Today''s little show should be enough to make your life a living hell. Your movie deal is toast unless Mr. Wilson steps in to save you. And saving you might require... certain sacrifices on your part. But given your shamelessness, I''m sure you''d do anything to protect your reputation. So go on, start your damage control. If you''re quick, you might be able to spin this into some kind of notorious fame."


    "Aaargh!" Joanna screamed,pletely breaking down. She wasn''t a fragile person, but her mind was now a chaotic mess, buzzing with the sound of a thousand angry hos. Her perfect, innocent image was shattered, all thanks to Natalie.


    Seeing her in such agony, Luna felt a surge of satisfaction. "Joanna, Ms. Sanders is going to peel away your disguise,yer byyer, until you''re sent straight to hell." With that, Luna turned and walked back into the office.


    Just then, Joanna''s assistant rushed over. "Ms. Sanders, it''s bad! Mr. Griffith is furious about the livestream. He''s pulled his investment!"


    "What about Mr. Wilson?"


    "No word from his side yet."


    Joanna swayed on her feet. Sebastian had pulled his funding. The man who had once ced her on a pedestal was the first to stab


    her in the back She closed her


    eyes


    for a moment, and when she opened them again, they were clear and determined. "Let''s go. We''re finding Sebastian."


    Natalie had watched the whole thing unfold on the livestream during her drive. She just smiled. Dealing with Joanna''s self-destructive tactics wasn''t so hard after all Humming a cheerful tune, she continued on her way to Royal Ind.


    Jared also say the livestream. He stared in disbelief at Joanna''s ugly, twisted face, his mind reeling. She''d driven Natalie away on purpose. The realization hit him hard, and tears welled in his eyes. It was as if he was finally waking up. Joanna wanted Natalie to have nothing never recover. After what happened with his father, this new revtion hit him with the force of a physical blow. He finally understood a fraction of Natalie''s helplessness and Joanna''s venom. Had Joanna always been this monstrous when they weren''t looking? His hand holding the phone trembled. Her words made him feel sick with guilt.


    Wendy saw it too, and sheughed through her tears. Natalie was finally fighting back. Her daughter was strong, not weak. Wendy had looked haggardtely, but seeing this brought a spark of joy back to her eyes.