Joanna frowned. "Ever since Natalie blew everything up and Sebastian learned the truth, he''s been hot and cold with me. He even stopped the allowance."


    "Hmph! I told you before that orchestrating things yourself could lead to trouble, but you wouldn''t listen. Now Sebastian suspects something and knows your ambition. You absolutely cannot let him find out about me."


    "Otherwise, we''re both doomed."


    Joanna was furious too. She never expected Natalie to fight back so suddenly. "I know. I''ll handle things from here on out."


    She hadn''t heard a single word she wanted to hear. Angrily, she hung up. She loved him, but it seemed all he did was use her.


    Joanna took a deep breath and stared at the swirling snow outside. A draft asionally seeped through the window, making her shiver. She sat back down in the living room, staring nkly at a vase of flowers.


    She had gotten what she wanted, so why did she still feel so miserable?


    Now, she had to face retaliation from Wendy and Natalie. Natalie had sworn to drag her to hell.


    Natalie was still young and probably wouldn''t do anything too rash, but those two old fools from the Griffith family needed to be dealt with quickly.


    If Timothy couldn''t bring himself to act against his own parents, then she would.


    Natalie spent ten days on the ind before returning home.


    After a day of rest, she was full of energy.


    She replied to all her messages.


    As for Yvonne, the scandal had died down. Even if she died, she would never truly repent.


    To Natalie, Yvonne''s downfall was just a minor interlude.


    Matthew, knowing she was back, asked to meet her near herpany.


    He wanted to treat her to lunch. Realizing she needed to discuss a partnership with


    him soon, Natalie grabbed her proposal before heading out.


    The proposal was for the Al-assisted diagnostic system she was currently developing.


    It was a massive undertaking. If she could introduce this groundbreaking concept, it would attract a flood of investors.


    With Matthew on board, things would be much easier. He was trustworthy and had the resources and influence.


    She might not even need other investors. If she, Matthew, and her senior partner worked together, they could seed.


    This was the project she had poured her efforts into for the past two years, workingte after Sebastian was asleep or whenever he was out of the house.


    Next, she and her senior partner would assemble a core R&D team to continue the work.


    Natalie wore a white down jacket and a beige hat, bundled up so tightly that only her bright, expressive eyes were visible.


    Luna drove over to pick her up.


    As soon as Natalie got in the car, Luna asked, "Are you happy that Wendy went bankrupt?"


    Natalie smiled. "What''s there to be happy about? It''s not a real bankruptcy."


    "But she and her family haven''t


    shown a shred of remorse. After everything they did to you, they couldn''t even bring themselves to say sorry. Now they''re getting what they deserve."


    Natalie''s indignation made Natalieugh. "Luna, that''s not karma. The one who''s truly going to pay is


    Ne!


    Joanna. Their revenge is my


    revenge. All we have to do is sit back and watch the show."


    Luna still felt a knot of anger in her chest for all the suffering Natalie had endured so, when do youshin Joanna will realize thepany is an empty shell?"