Joanna offered a bitter smile. Perhaps it was true. Her current feelings for Sebastian mirrored the exact way she had fallen for Maxwell years ago.

Now that Sebastian was gone, her heart ached for his kindness.

Back then, she had used Sebastian as a stand-in for Maxwell. Was she now using Maxwell as a replacement for Sebastian?

She scoffed internally. How could fate play such a cruel joke on her?

What did she have to do to make her life go the way she wanted?

Shaking her head, she forced a laugh and explained, "Don't overthink it, Maxwell. I'm just exhausted. You tossed me around for hours last night, and my whole body aches."

She leaned shyly against his chest.

Maxwell thought about it and realized he had indeed been relentless. Reaching out, he pulled her back down against the pillows. "Then sleep a bit longer. I'll have room service bring up a hearty breakfast and some rich soup to help you recover."

Joanna shook her head. "I can't. We have work to do this morning. Robert Warner went to see Mr. Wilson last night. Knowing that old man, he's been cooped up in the hospital for way too long. He's definitely going to look for female companionship, and that's our chance."

"I won't give that old creep the opportunity to turn the tables on me. Jenna is keeping an eye on things."

Joanna picked up her phone from the nightstand and texted Jenna, instructing her to monitor Mr. Wilson's every move.

Jenna replied almost instantly.

"Miss, you're brilliant. Mr. Wilson couldn't hold back the second he got out. He assaulted the woman we arranged. I've already called the cops, and they're heading up to his room right now."

Seeing the message, Joanna smiled. She operated like a demon lurking in the shadows. The moment she struck, she destroyed her enemies' last shred of peace.

She walked through the ashes of morality, stepping on broken principles with every stride.

That was the only reason she had achieved her current success.

She just wanted to be true to herself. If other people were too stupid to survive, that was their own fault.

What good was being kind? She had played the sweet, innocent girl before, and while she received everyone's affection, it wasn't the life she craved.

She would only ever take what she wanted. She had no interest in what others freely gave.

"Maxwell, Mr. Wilson is at the hotel and is about to be arrested. With him behind bars, we'll have a lot less to worry about."

"Robert is just an actor with no real connections. His entire network relied on his father Now that their

family company is drowning, they

don't have the time or energy to care for their useless son. This is a godsend." t

FindNovel.net

Maxwell looked at her, his eyes brimming with admiration. Joanna might not be

perfect, but when it came to scheming, no one could rival her.

"I knew you were incredible. You

always control the board perfectly. It's what I admire most about you, # about you

With them out of the way I can snatch up some of Robert's family's projects."

Internally, he sneered. So what if she controls the board? Everything will eventually

belong to me anyway.

Joanna stared deeply into his

smiling eyes before urging him, "Hurry up and get dressed. Let's go watch the show. I want to see their foolproof plan die before it even takes a breath."

Her hands gripped the duvet so tightly her knuckles turned white.

A fiery rage burned in her beautiful eyes.

She wanted to watch their self-proclaimed flawless schemes disintegrate into dust under her manipulation.

She wanted Robert to taste pure, agonizing despair.

She wanted him choked by terror and suffering, until hopelessness completely swallowed him and left him as nothing but mud under her shoes.