Nathan just couldn''t understand it.


    "Hmph! You think that pittance was enough for me? I''ll handle my own affairs. And like I said, you''re not so clean yourself. Besides me, there''s that assistant at yourpany. You two get pretty cozy. When you travel for business together, you only book one hotel room."


    "Nathan, I haven''t made a scene about your affairs, so you''d better just put up with mine."


    Nathan: "..."


    He stumbled back, devastated.


    Even Wendy never found out about the assistant. How could Sophia know?


    Joanna looked at the toxic atmosphere in her home, feeling like she''d lost something important.


    After tonight''s disaster, even Sebastian was unwilling to help her.


    And that old hag, Mrs. Wilson, knew she was the other woman. Did she know anything else?


    Joanna couldn''t believe she''d been backed into such an impossible corner.


    She looked at the dejected Nathan with cold eyes. "Dad, you will treat my mother better. You are not to hit her again. Do you have any idea how much she''s suffered for you all these years?


    You know perfectly well how much business she brought you through Mr. Wilson. Without him, do you really think yourpany could have grown to its current size with just Wendy?"


    "But mypany is gone."


    He didn''t even remember when he signed it back over to Wendy.


    He had been in a terrible state at the time, dazed and confused, constantly hallucinating.


    It had been happening recently too-waking up in the middle of the night with the


    terrifying feeling that someone was standing by his bed, watching him.


    The sensation made his blood run cold.


    "Sigh!" He sighed, his gaze on Joanna darkening. "Joanna, since we''vee this far, we might as well see it through to the bitter end. I don''t know who''s backing you, but I know they want to take down Sebastian But Sebastian loves you Marrying him is your only path to happiness."


    "What''s so great about that illegitimate son? You''re doing all this for him, but does he even understand your feelings?"


    Joanna pressed her lips together, silent. She knew she couldn''t rely on anyone but herself.


    Actually...


    Whatever. She had already done it, and she wouldn''t regret it.


    But Wendy was acting strangely. Her eyes turned cold. "I suspect Wendy and Mrs. Wilson nned tonight''s events together to frame us."


    Nathan frowned, his face murderous. Wendy had nothing now; even the Don family assets had been sold off.


    Nathan reflected for a moment. "It''s possible. She''s lost everything, and now she knows you''re my biological daughter, she knows about your mother and me, and she knows! deceived her into marriage. With her prideful nature, she would definitely seek revenge in secret."


    A murderous glint shed in Joanna''s eyes as she prodded her father, "Dad, for the sake of our family''s happiness, Wendy has to be eliminated. She''ll cling to us like a leech. I never want to go through something like tonight again."


    "It was utterly humiliating. I''ve worked so hard all this time precisely to avoid being seen as an illegitimate child, but tonight has branded me as one for everyone to see."


    Her voice rose to an emotional roar, "All my efforts have gone to waste! All of them, do you understand? And now that your divorce is public, my status as an legitimate daughter f confirmed. Everything I''ve worked for all these years is ruined


    Overwhelmed, Joanna crouched on the floor and sobbed.