In reality, the rtionship between him and Sophia was already on the brink of copse, with or without their meddling.


    Sophia loved Mr. Yang''s money more, and so did he.


    "Wendy, I know you''re angry, and it''s frustrating to be deceived, but isn''t that just life? You were beautiful and rich back then, an only daughter. It wasn''t just me; any man who met you approached you with an agenda. Everyone wanted to marry into wealth and inherit everything."


    Wendy shuddered. Even though she had known this for a long time, hearing him say it out loud still sent a wave of pain through her.


    Back then, with her cascading curls and chic, fashion-forward ensembles, she was the undisputed girl of the university.


    Married men desired her, single men pursued her, and other women were jealous of her. But she only had eyes for the ambitious and principled Nathan.


    Back then, Nathan had cultivated that very persona-driven and full of integrity- precisely to catch her eye.


    It was all a carefully crafted act.


    Someone who approached her with a motive would have made sure to understand herpletely.


    And she was only learning the truth decadester.


    Wendy pushed aside the useless thoughts of the past and looked at him and Joanna. "Are you here to harass Natalie again?"


    Nathan had intended to bring Joanna to see Sebastian, hoping her current state would stir some pity in him.


    But when they arrived, he heard that Natalie had a specialized recoverypound to treat her. He thought that if Joanna could be treated for her reproductiveplications, she could still marry into a wealthy family. A good marriage was still possible for her.


    But Natalie had given the medicine to Sean and not to Joanna, and his anger red instantly.


    "Wendy, even though things are unpleasant between us, the children are still rted by blood. Joanna is Natalie''s older sister, and that can''t be changed."


    "Talk some sense into her, Wendy. Tell her to show some mercy and give Joanna a single dose of that treatment. She''s the daughter you raised and cherished since she was a child. Can you really bear to see her body suffer from this chronic condition?"


    Nathan shamelessly yed the sympathy card.


    He knew Wendy was sentimental and would surely feel sorry for Joanna.


    But he was wrong. Wendy had had a rude awakening. Now, her five children were the only thing that mattered to her.


    A simmering rage built deep in Wendy''s chest. She was so angry that a throbbing pain started in her temples.


    "Nathan, Joanna, the two of you are


    the most shameless people I


    met Get lost! What right dove ever


    you


    have toe to my daughter?


    "She owes you nothing. You''re the ones who owe her. How can you still show your


    faces in front of Natalie?"


    "Get out!" Wendy yelled furiously.


    Joanna justughed. "Wendy, look at you now. You''ve lost all semnce of a high- societydy."


    Wendy sneered. "And you should look at yourself. You''re nothing but a piece of trash Do you really ink you canpare to my daughter?"


    "My daughter possesses a natural grace you couldn''t match in a hundred lifetimes."


    Joanna''s face contorted with rage,


    her knuckles whitening as she clenched her fists. "Wendy, I really regret not having driven you to an early grave.


    They had already burned all their bridges; she wasn''t going to hold back anymore.


    Wendy smiled a cold, thin smile. "What a shame. You won''t get another chance."


    Wendy was furious, but her face, once so elegant and dignified, remained calm, despite her anger.


    Only her eyes were exceptionally cold.


    Joanna was so intimidated by her icy re that she actually took a step back.