“Hello? Joanna, my flight is in three days. Are you that impatient?”


    Joanna smiled. "Yes, I miss you. Sebastian was in a car ident tonight. He might be stuck in the hospital for a long time. Maxwell, do you understand what I mean?"


    "Joanna, I understand perfectly. I''ve already poached several of his projects. Don''t worry. I''ming back in three days to spend the holidays with you. Wasn''t your wish for this year to have me here for the holidays?"


    "That''s wonderful. And Joanna, didn''t you want to get under Natalie''s skin? When I get back, I''ll help you do just that."


    Joanna gave a coldugh. "She''s in the hospital too. When the timees, you can apany me to the hospital for a ''check-up.'' We can humiliate her. I want to make her life a living hell."


    "You wicked girl. Alright, alright, whatever you say. Remember to pick me up in three days."


    Joanna''s smile was sweet. "Okay!"


    She hung up, her mood instantly lifted. She stood up and went downstairs to eat, but in her mind, a muchrger n was already brewing.


    A n that would make Sebastian disappear for good.


    This vi was under Sophia''s name, and Sophia had a room prepared for Joanna.


    Nathan didn''t know about this ce. When Joanna went downstairs, she saw Mr. Wilson was also there, and she felt a sh of anger.


    What was he doing here?


    When Mr. Wilson saw Joanna, he greeted her with a smile.


    "Joanna, you''re home too."


    Knowing she still had a use for him, Joanna pasted on a smile and returned the greeting. "Mr. Wilson."


    "Good, good. Come, sit down. I have a business deal on hand, and it''s a good time to discuss it with you and your brother."


    Joanna smiled at his words, quite pleased with what she heard.


    ***


    Outside the vi, Wendy had brought Evelyn Carrington.


    Wendy had brought binocrs in the car and handed them to her, telling her to look inside.


    Wendy looked at her, her voice


    heavy. "Evelyn, see for yourself. Your mother asked me to bring you here She doesn''t want to see you again. She just wants you to understand, that your father has other children now. From now on, you and your brother will be disposable in your father''s eyes."


    "After your mother left, your father left your care entirely to the servants. He''s no longer involved every detail of your life. brough you here to see the truth, not t make you do anything, but to encourage you to grow up and learn to protect yourself."


    Evelyn watched through the lenses, her heart breaking as her father shared an easy, intimateugh with Joanna and Alexander in the living room. They even signed a contract.


    The sight was a physical blow, leaving Evelyn cold and hollow.


    On a day like this, shouldn''t her father have invited her and her brother?


    Evelyn couldn''t believe her father would forget about them.


    She called him, her hand trembling as the call connected.


    "Evelyn, I''m busy right now. Why do you keep calling me?"


    Hearing her father''s cold voice, tears streamed silently down Evelyn''s face. "Dad, we haven''t had dinner yet, Where are you? Why have you Stopped caring about me and brother?"


    "Evelyn, I''ve instructed the servants to take good care of you. If you want to eat, go home. Someone will cook for you. I''m working right now. I don''t have time for you."


    Evelyn hung up the phone, her face drenched in tears.


    She didn''t understand. Her father had promised her that even after her mother left, he would always love her and her brother. But how much time had passed?


    They were no longer in his heart. He was alwaysining that they were useless and that without the support of their mother''s family, his business was in deep trouble.


    Evelyn looked at Wendy. She didn''t look well and was coughing intermittently. Still, Evelyn asked, "Mrs. Scott, is my mother... is she okay?"