Maxwell's eyes darted away for a fraction of a second before he flashed a

reassuring smile. "Things blew up at the office. After Wendy's livestream, the stock started tanking, so I had to handle it. I know how strong you are. I knew you could hold your own. The second I locked everything down, I came straight here. Don't push me away, okay?"

He looked at her with pleading eyes. He genuinely cared for her.

She had been the first real light in his life, and there was a time when marrying her was all he ever wanted.

Joanna's heart ached terribly.

If she hadn't experienced those prophetic dreams, she would have completely bought his story.

But in those dreams, she wasn't the woman he truly loved.

In her visions, he had committed suicide right in front of Natalie's memorial. She didn't know the full context; all she remembered was his agonizing, tear-streaked smile as he looked at the memorial.

Fate was so unfair. Why couldn't she have seen the whole picture?

Whatever. Keeping Maxwell around still served a purpose. He provided excellent emotional leverage.

"I believe you," she said softly, offering him a sweet smile.

At the very least, he was incredible to look at. There weren't many men in the world with a face like that.

Maxwell let out a breath of relief. He stood up with a gentle smile and glanced at Horace. "I'll take over from here. Go pull the car around to the front."

"Yes, sir," Horace replied with a smile. "I'm just glad to see you two work things out."

He knew he wasn't in Joanna's league, but beyond just protecting her, there was so much more he could do for her.

He would clear her path and ensure she became the ultimate business queen.

In his eyes, Joanna was perfection.

Natalie was nothing compared to her beauty and brilliance. He had watched Joanna prove her worth and competence every step of the way.

Natalie only got where she was through cheap tricks and sheer luck.

Maxwell chuckled, clapping Horace on the shoulder. Seeing the genuine loyalty on the man's face, he knew this guy was devoted to them. True loyalty was hard to come by.

"You've worked hard all these years, Horace. You've done an excellent job," Maxwell praised.

Horace beamed at the compliment. "You gave me my life, my job, and everything I have."

He looked at Joanna with red-rimmed eyes. Going from a broke college student to making millions of dollars a year was Something he never could have imagined. Now, he could give his mother a comfortable life and send his sister to a top-tier university.

Joanna and Maxwell had made all his dreams a reality.

"Let's go home," Maxwell said with a smile.

Horace was deeply moved, but Joanna sat in her wheelchair, feeling completely hollow.

Maxwell just wanted her support, and she just wanted the illusion of a partner to justify all the sacrifices she had made.

As long as she felt the sacrifices were worth it, she could keep the creeping doubts at bay.

Maxwell severely lacked Sebastian's attention to detail.

When Sebastian played the part of the devoted lover, he had been flawless.

Sebastian was an idiot if he thought treating Joanna well was the way to protect Natalie.

Natalie was destined to end up just as ruined as he was.

Lost in her thoughts, Joanna looked up only to see Natalie, Marshall, and Luna walking out of the private room across the hall.

Their eyes locked. Two women, both in wheelchairs, glaring coldly at one another.

Joanna smirked, her tone dripping

with sarcasm. "Fate really loves

throwing us together today. We just keep running into each other. You're honestly insufferable, but seeing you twice in one day is downright nauseating."