Colin smiled gently. "Yes, Mom, it''s true. I''ve been keeping a close eye on them. Natalie is fine. Marshall and Mrs. Spencer Sr. went to get her out."


    Wendy took a deep breath. With Marshall protecting Natalie, she could finally feel a little more at ease.


    She looked around the small, two-bedroom apartment. After living in a vi for half her life, a ce like this didn''t feel as bad as she''d expected.


    Its small size made it feel cozy. Now that it was just her and Colin, it was manageable.


    As long as you were happy, your circumstances didn''t matter.


    Wendy sighed heavily.


    Life is long. You never know who will be with you at the end until you get there.


    It had taken her half a lifetime to understand that some paths must be walked with the heart.


    She had already walked through a field of thorns. She was sure she could find happiness again.


    "After the new year, your fourth brother will be back. He also dotes on Joanna. I don''t know who he''ll choose your father and Joanna, or me."


    Wendy had seen with her own eyes how all four of her sons adored Joanna.


    The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to cry. She stood up to find something to do.


    As she organized the clothes in the closet, she said quietly, "Colin, you should go. Come back after work. Don''t let Joanna get suspicious."


    A tear glistened in Wendy''s eye, but a cold smile touched her lips. It was the end of the month. Joanna was in for a rude awakening.


    Colin watched his mother''s back, his heart aching for her. His mother was suffering, too. For most of her life, she had believed the happiest thing that ever happened to her was marrying his father.


    Then she had them, her children. She used to tell everyone countless times how she had a loving husband and dutiful sons and daughter.


    But even she was living a lie. None of them, her sons, were dutiful. All they did was ask for money every month.


    Even Joanna, whom they all cherished, only knew how to take money, not earn it.


    His mother earned a lot, and their monthly expenses were always within her means, so no one thought much of it. When people are


    I.ne


    immersed in happiness, they tend to


    overlook the ws in th


    them.


    around


    in


    When your heart is filled with sweetness and contentment, it''s as if you see the world through a soft filter.


    Sharp edges and unpleasant behaviors that once seemed ring are softened under the glow of happiness, no longer so jarring or unbearable.


    And that was why they had downyed Joanna''s ugly side. Then, suddenly, a clear- headed Natalie appeared.


    They had seen her as naturally defiant. Her warm smiles and sincere concern were dismissed as an act.


    Meanwhile, their adoration for Joanna made them automatically ignore all her ws. The more Colin thought about it, the more he felt like aplete, worthless jerk.


    He had done many things to hurt Natalie for Joanna''s sake.


    ***


    That afternoon.


    Thanks to Robert''s


    behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the online buzz about his affair with Joanna grew even more intense than it had been during the day.


    Joanna kept in contact with Robert, smiling as she watched the topic trend.


    She knew very well that in this age of information overload, the trending topics list held unimaginable power.


    It was like a giant spotlight on a stage, capable of catapulting those in its beam to instant fame.


    Someone who was previously


    unknown could be the center


    of attention overnight with a single


    viral post. As long as you made it onto that list, you could instantly attract countless eyes.


    Her follower count had already jumped by a million.


    The magic of the trending list was about tounch her career to new heights.