"Having dinner with a drama queen like you? I''d probably choke. I''ll leave that pleasure to the superstar by your side."


    Natalie turned to Susan. "Susan, let''s go."


    Robert''s voice was frigid. "Did I say you could leave?”


    "Oh? And what are you going to do about it?" Natalie shot back without an ounce of fear.


    Robert, a man ustomed to being the center of attention, carried an air of natural authority. He fixed Natalie with a warning look. "I want you to apologize. Apologize to Joanna."


    Natalieughed, her tone light but dismissive. "Apologize? Why don''t you ask


    Joanna if she dares to ept my apology? Do you really think a woman who schemes and plots to have me killed day and night would dare to ept an apology from me?"


    Joanna''s heart pounded. The Natalie before her was truly fearless. She


    remembered Natalie''s words from earlier that she would drag them all to hell.


    She was probably serious.


    Struggling to her feet, Joanna looked pathetic, her hand throbbing with pain, but she forced a smile. "It''s not necessary. Natalie didn''t do it on purpose. She''s just upset about being kicked out of the Scott family for trying to frame me. She''s all alone now, so it''s understandable that she''d want to take her anger out on me."


    "Wow, what a massive serving of crocodile tears! You''re really something, Joanna.”


    Susan looked at Mr. Warner. "Congrattions, Mr. Warner. You''ve won yourself a master maniptor. Be careful, she''ll suck you dry."


    Robert''s brow furrowed, and a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes as he looked at Susan, but he said nothing.


    Joanna, however, shot Susan a venomous re. The damn fool. When did she learn to talk back like Natalie?


    She used to be nothing but a crybaby when Monica framed her. How dare she confront her in public like this?


    Putting on an innocent and hurt


    expression, she began her smear campaign. "Susan, I know you''re


    upset that you couldn''t marry Jared,


    but you shouldn''t say such thared,


    about me. Love has to be mutual understand the pain of unrequited love."


    Susan stamped her foot in frustration and took a deep breath.


    Before she could speak, Natalie cut in. "Joanna, Susan broke things off with Jared a year ago. She''s the one who dumped him, so it''s not a case of unrequited love."


    “You went to great lengths to make Susan leave Jared just so the White family would withdraw their support for him. Your n worked. Are you still not satisfied? Do you have to bully Susan now too?"


    "Do you really think these little tricks of yours will win you universal acim? Joanna, time will expose you for who you really are."


    Natalie then turned to Robert. "Mr. Warner, I don''t think you have any right to interfere in matters between Joanna and me. If you do, and you harm Susan in any way, I''ll pay to have the video of Joanna arrangin my kidnapping broadcast on every screen in Yaro. Whether this movie of yours ever sees the light of day will depend on your luck."


    After her brisk speech, Natalie took Susan''s arm and left.


    Robert pursed his lips. Natalie''s image was far superior to Joanna''s, but Joanna was gentler.


    Joanna had been involved in a few scandals before, but they had all been spun in her favorter on.


    Some of it was manufactured hype, but if any of it was true, the consequences would be severe.


    Joanna hadn''t expected to be so thoroughly shut down by Natalie''s threat. For once, she was smart enough not to argue.


    But someone else would speak for her. Yvonne stomped her foot angrily. "Mr. Warner, don''t listen to Natalie''s nonsense. She''s the


    adopted daughter of the Scoo


    family. After they threw her out, she has nothing. She''s just jealous. Joanna''s sess."