But with Mrs. Yates''s statement, the tide of public opinion turned, and everyone started cursing her out.


    When Joanna tried to call Yeri again, the number was no longer in service.


    "Argh!" She angrily smashed her phone.


    Her eyes darkened. That fool actually let her mother go online and rify things, and then she just disappeared.


    She clenched her jaw, the muscles in her face twitching with rage.


    Mrs. Yates was a bitch!


    She cursed Mrs. Yates viciously in her mind.


    Her hands balled into fists, her nails digging so deeply into her palms that she didn''t even feel the pain.


    Her mind was a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts, and a fire of anger burned in her chest, threatening to consume her sanity. "With Mrs. Yates getting involved, this situation is only going to get worse. I worked so hard to clear my name."


    Joanna''s gaze grew colder, like a bottomless pool on a frigid night.


    She had yed the victim, acted weak, and won sympathy. She had finally gotten Sebastian to bend to her will, but now...


    She stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the snow-covered city. This winter felt especially long.


    Joanna reached out her hand as if to catch a gust of winter wind, but it slipped through her fingers.


    Just like how she could never capture that man''s heart.


    Tears welled in Joanna''s eyes as she cradled her belly. Robert Warner had been avoiding the issue, refusing to acknowledge the child.


    But given their current rtionship, they couldn''t afford to burn that bridge.


    Joanna saw her own haggard reflection in the window. She had truly yed a winning hand into aplete disaster.


    Then, a cold smile touched her lips. Natalie and Sebastian could never be together


    now.


    Whether Sebastian had touched her or not, in Natalie''s eyes, he would never be innocent.


    If she couldn''t have Sebastian, then Natalie certainly couldn''t either.


    Just then, Horace rushed in. "Miss, Natalie has been released."


    Joanna frowned. How could it be so fast?


    Horace was also furious, his expression grim. "Miss, it was the Spencer family heir and Mrs. Spencer Sr. They testified for Natalie Marshall wasn''t feeling wellst night, so Natalie went to the Spencer estate and took care of him all evening. The Spencer family provided video evidence. She has an alibi."


    "And as for whether Mrs. Wilson is dead or alive, no one knows. By the time I got there, the Spencers had already provided the evidence. They were faster than us."


    Joanna trembled with rage, tears in


    her eyes. Her voice choked as she asked, "Horace, why did it turn-out


    like this? We were so close to -sess, but how it feels like we''ve lost everything."


    An empty ache filled Joanna''s heart. She was ice-cold, her eyes devoid of any warmth.


    Sophia didn''t love her at all. The only thing she loved was money.


    And she had fought so hard to protect Sophia''s dignity, wanting her to be able to live with her father openty. But none of it had turned out as she''d imagined. She wasn''t happy at all.


    Horace said, "Miss, let''s wait for a bit. There might still be a chance. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Griffith won''t abandon you."


    Joanna closed her eyes in pain and whispered, “Get that trending topic taken down. I''ll get back at that bitch, Mrs. Yates."


    Horace looked at her pained figure with sympathy. She was brilliant, but her rush for quick sess had backfired.


    Now, all they could do was wait. Her career as a celebrity was likely over.


    He gave a chilling smile. "It''s already been taken down. Leave the rest to Maxwell. He''ll make his move soon."