Joanna''s eyes grew exceptionally dark, brimming with ambition.


    Wendy let out a painedugh. "It''s true what they say. An outsider can neverpare to your own flesh and blood. When trouble strikes, you still have to turn to your own child."


    A sh of anger crossed Joanna''s eyes, but seeing Wendy''s pale face, she said nothing.


    "Joanna, I raised you. For you, I kicked out my own biological daughter and even cut ties with her."


    "Now that we''ve cut ties, how can I go ask her for money? No matter how thick- skinned I am, I can''t just go begging her to cover a billion-dor debt for me. I never raised her for a single day. You''re the daughter I raised. Is the bond of birth really greater than the bond of upbringing? How could you say something like that just to upset me?"


    "Back then, when you framed Natalie for that kidnapping you staged, I was furious. But to spare your feelings, I refused to even acknowledge her as my daughter. I''ve already gone that far for you, and now you want me to go to her? How could I possibly have the nerve to do that?"


    Wendy was emotional, her gaze fixed angrily on the ungrateful Joanna.


    Even a dog would show more loyalty.


    And the woman standing before her was worse than a dog.


    Nathan quicklyforted her. "Wendy, don''t cry, please don''t cry. If you''re too embarrassed to go, I''ll go. I, as her father, will swallow my pride and go, alright?"


    "That''s ridiculous. The money belongs to her brother, does she even have it? The project just started, where would the moneye from? Besides, my debts have to be fully paid before the 10th of next month. Before the 10th, all the assets I gave you will be repossessed and sold to cover the loans."


    Nathan panicked and roared, "Impossible! Without thepany, how am I supposed to live?"


    He shouted in rage, his face contorted and ugly.


    All semnce of marital affection was gone, reced only by the fury of having to bear a billion-dor debt.


    "Oh, you jinx! You''ve ruined our entire family! Your ownpany goes under, and now you want to drag my son''spany down with it? I told you long ago, a woman''s ce is at home, taking care of her husband and children. But you just had to go Qut and make a spectacle of yourself. Now you''ve ruined the business and racked up all this debt, and you expect my son to pay for it? In your dreams! Get out! This is my house. You have nothing now, so don''t you dare try to leech off my son any longer!"


    "You want my son to pay a billion-dor debt for you? What kind of fantasy are you living in?"


    The old woman burst into tears, wailing. What would be of her in her old age? How could they just go bankrupt like that?


    Wendy had kept every single one of them in the Scott family living in thep of luxury for years. If the money was gone, how would they survive? It would be a death sentence.


    "Mom, how can you say that? I gave


    you so much money for living


    expenses every month. And now


    you''re ming me? In


    usiness


    there are sesses and failures


    it my fault that it failed? Someone


    was manipting things behind the


    scenes, I never saw iting."


    "Those bastards are scheming against me, if I find out who it is, I''ll kill them, I


    swear!"


    A flicker of anger crossed Joanna''s eyes.


    Wendy caught it and felt a surge of satisfaction. Just wait. I''ll send your entire family


    to hell.


    She whirled on the old woman, shouting, "Mom, I didn''t want thepany to go bankrupt! I wanted to run it well so everyone could live a good life. But thepany is gone now. What''s the use of ming it all or me? Shouldn''t we b? tryng t? figure out how to pay off the debt first?"