Wendy stared at him coldly. "You were always arrogant and refused to listen,


    Jerome. You brought this on yourself. You were the one who dragged her into that room, but you were too much of a coward to take responsibility, forcing Zenobia to leave in heartbreak."


    "Jerome, if you had shown even a little bit of integrity back then, your son wouldn''t be without a father."


    “Of course, Zenobia is an amazing woman from a good family. It won''t be hard for her to find a man who loves her. I just feel sorry for you. You never take responsibility for your actions. You''re just like your father-utterly spineless."


    Wendy''s long-suppressed emotions erupted in a torrent of disappointment and pain. She lowered her head and wept, feeling as though crying was all she had left to do. She knew her son was a failure, and Zenobia was a good girl. But Jerome was just not destined for happiness.


    Jerome froze. The thought of Zenobia marrying another man was a sharp, twisting pain in his chest. After Yvonne''s downfall, his memories of Zenobia''s kindness had bloomed like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, growing faster and stronger each day.


    Lately, he''d been constantly reying Zenobia''s good qualities in his mind, while the memory of Yvonne''s face had started to fade.


    Jerome lowered his eyes, the anguish making it hard to breathe. "Mom, I regret it, but it''s toote. She doesn''t want me. Natalie was with her when she gave birth, and Natalie never told me a thing. I only found out Zenobia was pregnant and had a child because Yvonne tried to kidnap him to extort money from her."


    Jerome told Wendy what had happened on the ind, admitting he knew he had no im to the child.


    The baby belonged to Zenobia, and if he dared to try and take him, she had plenty of ways to shut him down.


    That woman, Yvonne, was simply evil. It was his own blindness, arrogance, and pride that had led to this oue.


    Wendy closed her eyes in pain, her hatred for Joanna deepening.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Joanna was triumphant. The problem with the baby was resolved, she had signed a contract with Julian Song, and the news of their partnership was trending online.


    Natalie and Susan were chatting when Susan saw the trending topic. She was surprised. “Natalie, why do bad people have such good luck?"


    Natalie, who was snacking on some nuts, nced at her phone. She saw the news about Joanna and Julian Song and just smiled. "Susan, you have to believe that bad people eventually get punished. It''s not a matter of if, but when."


    Joanna would get what wasing to her.


    Susan felt the same way. "Yeah! Your second brother was so cruel to me, and that''s why all those terrible things happened to him. Now he might be disabled for life. That''s karma. gave him my genuine affection, but he didn''t deserve it!"


    Susan asionally felt a pang of heartache when she remembered Jared Scott covered in blood.


    But that rtionship was slowly fading from her life. In the future, she would just remember him as someone who had once been a part of it.


    Natalie looked at her friend''s clear eyes. Susan was truly over Jared.


    “Susan, the past is the past. Look at you now you''re more beautiful and better than ever."


    Susan beamed, her smile bright.


    "You know it. Getting over him was like dropping a heavy weight feels so light and clear headed. I never felt this way before, but now that I''ve truly let go, it''s an incredible relief."