Seeing his silence, Wendy looked disappointed. She then turned to Joanna. "Joanna, I hear your new movie is going to be a huge hit, and you''ll make a lot of money. Mom has raised you for so many years, please help me. Someone poached hundreds of my partners, I don''t even know who was secretly targeting me."


    "After they pulled their investments, I had no choice but to take out bank loans. I kept it from you all so you wouldn''t worry, but I never expected more people to pull out, and then someone bought mypany at a low price. I had no choice but to sell, but even after that, I still owe about a billion."


    "Joanna, you have to help me." Wendy suddenly grabbed Joanna''s hand, pleading. Joanna sneered internally. The day had finallye.


    But those two old geezers, the Scotts, still held arge chunk of assets.


    "Mom, I can make money from acting, but the movie isn''t even finished yet. We don''t know if it will be a hit. You''ve always given me an allowance, so I don''t have any money of my own to help you pay off the debt."


    No matter what, I have to get my hands on all the assets those two old fools have. Then I''ll kick them all out, and my real family can finally be reunited.


    It''s perfect. My n has finally seeded.


    Wendy froze, looking at Joanna, and continued to cry. "Joanna, I''ve raised you for so many years. For you, I even drove away my own biological daughter. Can''t you help me with this small thing? A billion is easy for you to get. Don''t you know Mr. Wilson? Please, ask him for me. If he helps us pay off this debt, our family can make aeback. Trust me, Mom will make sure you live a good life."


    Joanna was shocked. Wendy was truly desperate to suggest something like that. Trust her?


    She''d rather trust herself. She could provide herself with a good life.


    All those partners had been poached by her. She had been preparing for this moment for years.


    She put on a wronged expression. "Mom, I really want to help you. I''m grateful for all the years you''ve raised me, but I truly don''t have any money. Mom, I will stay by your side and get through this with you."


    Hearing this, Wendy''s stomach churned, and she almost threw up.


    This woman was so disgusting. How had she never noticed it before?


    A flicker of rage ignited in her downcast eyes. Just wait. Once I get rid of them, I can get Natalie back.


    Joanna, misinterpreting Wendy''s expression as grief, continued, "I''m not heartless like Natalie, who just left without a word and nevereven came back to see you."


    Joanna then feigned a sudden realization. "Oh! Mom, speaking of which, I remembered something. Yesterday, when I was having lunch with Sebastian overheard her talking with Mr. Monroe seems Natalie might not be from the countryside after all. She has an older brother who is supposedly very rich. He''s partnering with Mr. Monroe on a project and gave all his shares to Natalie. I heard it could


    make over a billion."


    "Joanna, is that true?" Nathan, snapping out of his stupor, lit up at the news.


    If Natalie had money, they could force her to hand it over.


    "Dad, why would I lie about it? Natalie is Mom''s daughter, she''ll definitely help."


    It would be best if we could take all that billion from her.