Natalie turned to face him. She''d only seen him from a distance before, his features blurred, but up close, she could see he''d lost a lot of weight.


    If this were before she had been reborn, seeing Jerome like this would have broken her heart.


    "Is there something you need, Mr. Scott?" she asked, her tone distant.


    Jerome''s heart clenched.


    "Natalie, about that night with Zenobia... I was wrong to me you. I''m so sorry. I had no idea it was all a setup by Joanna and Yvonne."


    Natalie shook her head. "Don''t bother apologizing. Your apology means nothing. You chose to trust the wrong person and said those cruel things yourself. Honestly, we are pretty satisfied with how things turned out."


    "Natalie, I know it''s toote for me to say anything now, but... will you ever forgive me?"


    "No. I will never forgive you or Sebastian." She would never forget what they did to her for Joanna''s sake.


    "So, from now on, please act like you don''t know me."


    With that, Natalie turned to leave.


    Jerome quickly called out, "Natalie, are Zenobia and the baby okay?"


    Natalie spun around, her eyes shing with anger. "Jerome, stay away from


    Zenobia! In a few years, she''ll meet a man who loves her more than you ever could, and I absolutely will not let you ruin her happiness."


    After her furious deration, Natalie strode away into the swirling snow.


    Jerome opened his mouth, but only a gust of icy wind filled it, stinging his face. He wanted to say that he no longer had any right to see Zenobia.


    But the thought of Zenobia marrying another man and raising his child was a knife to the heart.


    How... how did he let his life be such a mess?


    Zack spoke up beside him. "Alright, let''s go. You''ve got nothing left. The kindest thing you can do now is not bother her."


    Jeromeughed at himself. "Zack, do I deserve all this?"


    "Of course you do. But it''s never too


    best thing you can do now is work hard and get back on your feet. Only will


    when you''ve bettered yourself she even give you a second book Having looked after him for two months, Zack had developed a decent impression of the guy.


    Jerome stared out at the snow-filled sky, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He silently vowed to himself that he would get back up.


    Yvonne''s scandal was blowing up online.


    When Joanna got home, she saw the trending topics. Yvonne was facing jail time, with no way out.


    Even if Jerome knew the truth, he''s all bark and no bite.


    She was happy to have removed another obstacle.


    Now that she had left Wendy''s house, she was living in the apartment Sebastian had bought her.


    She happily cracked open a beer to celebrate.


    She had Wendy''spany in her grasp. Next up were the Wilson family and Marshall''s family.


    Marshall had gotten luckyst time, but he wouldn''t be so fortunate again.


    She took her drink to the balcony,


    Bug Smiling, she picked up et


    her bare feet sinking into the soft


    her


    phone and dialed a familiar number.


    5, W


    "Joanna, you miss me?" azy voice came from the other end.


    Joanna smiled. "I do. All these years, I''ve always been the one to call you. You never call me first."


    "You know our rtionship can''t be exposed. If Sebastian finds out, he''ll stop helping you, and my n will fail."


    "I''ve already taken down Wendy''spany. Next is the Wilson family. I''ve been slowly paving the way for you."


    "My brilliant Joanna. Once you''ve secured Sebastian and torn up that agreement, I''lle back. We''ll find a time to hypnotize him and make him forget Natalie. He''s already slipping from your control; we can''t wait any longer."