"How could you be so stupid?" Yeri''s mother sobbed, leaning on her husband for support. "Honey, let''s go pack. As for her, we''ll send her abroad. If she doesn''t want to go, I''m done with her. She''s a bad seed. How could I have given birth to such a horrible daughter?"


    "I''ve found out about some of the things she and Joanna have been doing behind our backs. A daughter like this... she''s terrifying."


    Yeri''s mother was filled with regret and self-me, but most of all, anger. She had failed to protect her daughter from being corrupted by bad influences.


    Her parents went back to their room to pack.


    Yeri copsed to the floor, feeling as if the sky had fallen. How could they suddenly be bankrupt?


    It was all over one person, Natalie.


    Her phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw a text from an unknown number.


    [If you choose to be Joanna''spdog, you have to be ready to face the consequences.]


    "No, it can''t be." She scrambled to her feet, but in her panic, her legs gave out, and she fell back down. She had to find Joanna. She had to ask her what Natalie''s rtionship was with Marshall.


    Why would Marshall attack her family?


    With a trembling hand, she dialed Joanna''s number.


    "Hello? Yeri, what''s wrong?" Joanna asked with a smile in her voice.


    Yeri''s voice shook. "Joanna, I need to ask you something. Is it true that Natalie has been bullying and scheming against you?"


    "Yes, it is. Why?" Joanna asked, feigning distress.


    Even with her firm answer, Yeri felt lost. "Joanna, you have to help me. I need to see Marshall and Sebastian. How could they crush my family''spany for Natalie? They''ve bankrupted us."


    "I liked Marshall so much, I even told my parents wanted to marry into the Spencer family. Why would he


    Sur family


    do this to us for Natalie? Our family is ruined because of him! Joanna, my family is finished because i helped you, do you understand?"


    Joanna was shocked. "Your family went bankrupt?"


    Yeri sobbed. "Yes, we''re bankrupt. We have to mortgage the house. My parents think I''m a monster, that it''s my fault the family is ruined, all because I helped you clear your name."


    "Joanna, you have to show them proof that you''re innocent and I was right. That''s the only way my family can recover. Please, Joanna."


    Joanna scoffed. "Yeri, if the Spencer family is involved, you''ll just have to take it. There''s nothing I can do to help you. Natalie and Marshall have always been close. I''m powerless."


    Yeri froze, her wide, beautiful eyes widening even further. "Joanna... so, you''ve been using me this whole time. I was just a pawn to you."


    Joanna sounded exasperated. "Yeri, I never used you. I just told you how wronged felt. You were the one who volunteered to clear my name. Besides I never did any of those things. It was all Natalie. I''m innocent."


    "Ha ha......." It was as if Yeri had suddenly woken up. Joanna was shameless to the


    core.


    She realized now that Joanna had never actually asked her to do anything. She had offered to help all on her own.


    She had walked right into it.


    Now that disaster had struck, Joanna could walk away clean, while she was the one dragged down to hell.


    Yeri could no longer make out what Joanna was saying. Her body went limp, and she crumpled to the floor,pletely still.