Joanna was at a loss for words, then she sneered. “Natalie, other people might not know why, but you do, don''t you?"


    Natalie''s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Alright then. I called the police on you. Other people might not know why, but you do, don''t you?"


    Her red lips parted in a faint, knowing smile.


    Joanna understood perfectly. Natalie had always held something over her head.


    Joanna''s smile froze, her expression turning frigid. "Natalie, the fact that you came here means you''re willing to settle. Name your price."


    Natalie didn''t want anything. If Joanna stayed locked up, she wouldn''t fall into Mr. Scott''s trap. Someone else would deal with Joanna, and Natalie wouldn''t have to get her hands dirty.


    But with Joanna behind bars, the real show couldn''t go on.


    “It''s simple. I won''t say anything about your pregnancy. Whosever child it is, that''s your business. What I want is for you to publicly rify that I never framed you, and this was all a misunderstanding. If you refuse, I have ways of making sure everyone finds out you''re actually pregnant."


    Two could y at the ckmail game. Natalie was a natural.


    It was so much easier to be the bad guy.


    Joanna was instantly opposed. “In your dreams! Natalie, you''d better withdraw theint right now, or else—"


    "Or else what? You''ll kill me?" Natalie finished her sentence with a wicked smile.


    Joanna clenched her fists, her face burning with rage.


    Natalie''s beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked back at her.


    "Think carefully, Joanna. We both know who has been scheming against whom all these years. And I have proof."


    "You abandoned your adoptive mother and framed your own sister. Once those stories get out, your acting career is over. I''m here to help you, to settle this. If you''re not willing, I won''t force you."


    She looked at her deeply, the corners of her mouth turned up in a meaningful smile. She could act, too.


    For a moment, Joanna couldn''t quite figure this new Natalie out.


    rifying that everything was a misunderstanding wouldn''t really cost her anything. It was a simple solution.


    It was only yearster that Joanna would realize Natalie let her go that day only to ensure she would suffer a fate worse than death.


    After weighing her options, Joanna agreed.


    Natalie informed the police of her terms.


    Outside the station, Joanna had gathered the media. Facing the cameras, she began to cry, her voice filled with pathos. "To all my friends, fans, and the public, this is Joanna. Im so sorry to be taking up your time and public resources.


    The recent events between my sister and me have drawn a lot of attention and discussion, and for that, I am deeply ashamed.


    First, I want to offer my sincerest apologies to everyone.


    What happened between my sister and me started as a misunderstanding. I listened


    to someone''s lies and impulsively and wrongly believed that she had framed me.


    However, after we talked and I


    learned more, I discovered that was


    not the case at all. This was entirely


    the work of someone in the shadows trying to nder us and create conflict for their own @lterior motives.


    As of now, I still don''t know who that person is.


    I implore everyone, please do not attack my sister with your words. We have


    reconciled, and all the misunderstandings between us have been cleared up...”


    Joanna spoke with deep emotion.


    Natalie stood beside her, smiling at


    the cameras as she exined, "Everyone, I''m very sorry. My sister had a huge misunderstanding about me, Because we didn''t grow@p together, she always thought I would take her things and our parents'' love when I came back. The truth is, I


    never did any of those things. I''m d that on this asion, we can


    d the misunderstanding


    clear up


    between us. It makes all the


    suffering I''ve endured over the years worthwhile."