Natalie shut down her computer. It was time to pick up Queena.

She glanced at Marshall. Panicking wouldn't solve anything; they needed time. "You should head home for now. Joanna is too busy to come after us today. I need to go to the airport to get Queena. She flies in tonight."

"Let me come with you," Marshall insisted. "I need to thank her properly for saving my dad's life."

She was an absolute master in her field, managing to save his father's life from a completely different country. He fully intended to roll out the red carpet for her. When it came to certain things, you just had to believe.

"Alright, let's go," Natalie agreed.

Luna drove the car, and the three of them headed to the airport to pick up Queena.

Three hours later, they returned to the city. Marshall invited them to one of his luxury restaurants for dinner.

Coincidentally, they ran into Joanna and Horace, who were also there to eat.

Despite being in a wheelchair, Joanna was immaculately dressed. Her makeup was flawless, and she carried herself with an eerie calm, looking more like an amused spectator than a woman whose movie had just been banned and who was currently the most hated person on the internet.

Seeing her casually dining out, Marshall had to admit he was begrudgingly impressed by her sheer audacity.

Spotting them, Joanna offered a thin, calculated smile. "Natalie, Marshall. Fancy seeing you here. How did you enjoy today's little game? Thrilling, wasn't it? Especially you, Mr. Spencer. Do you feel a little anxious?"

Marshall froze.

What the hell did that mean? Why would he feel anxious? But she was right, his heart was hammering against his ribs.

He forced a cocky smirk, glaring down at her with aristocratic disdain. "What's that supposed to mean? Why would I be anxious?"

Joanna's smile turned sickeningly dark.

She slowly pointed a perfectly manicured finger at his arms and legs Tsk was just brainstorming the best way to chop off your limbs.'

A phantom agony ripped through Marshall's body. He had felt that exact, excruciating pain in his nightmares.

His eyes narrowed sharply.

"What kind of psycho garbage are you spouting?" he snapped, refusing to let her see him sweat.

"Hehe." Joanna shifted her gaze to Natalie, her tone dripping with

mockery. "Well, Natalie

"Well Natalie. Turns out

Youre just a fatherless

too.

A gust of freezing wind howled through an open window, sweeping across the dining

room.

Natalie's heart gave a slight jolt, the chill seeping into her bones.

She had only found out that morning, and it had been a massive shock.

But what could she do about it? She couldn't change her bloodline; she just had to accept her reality.

Her expression remained icy and silent. The seconds ticked by, and a suffocating, heavy tension blanketed the entire lobby.

Joanna just sat there, staring at Natalie with a triumphant smirk. Her mood had vastly improved.

Natalie was nothing but an illegitimate stray.

"Pfft." Natalie suddenly burst out laughing. "Joanna, if telling yourself that helps you sleep at night, then by all means keep believing it content

With a dismissive wave of her hand, she gestured for Queena to push her wheelchair forward.

She had absolutely nothing left to say to a woman like Joanna.