Wendy's temper flared at the mere mention of Nathan's name. "Yes. He reaped what he sowed. His health is deteriorating by the day, and it's high time he paid the price for everything he's done."

Over the years, she had basked in the illusion of a happy marriage. But it was precisely because she thought she had it all that Nathan's betrayal had cut so deep!

She had poured her heart into the wrong man, turning herself into a complete laughingstock.

But hitting rock bottom had taught her one crucial lesson: reputation was worthless.

So what if her reputation was in ruins? It just meant a few people were laughing behind her back.

So what if people called her a washed-up has-been? She wasn't living her life for them. Her own happiness and peace of mind were all that mattered!

If she hadn't been so obsessed with saving face, she never would have looked down on the daughter she had dragged back from the countryside. Her blatant contempt for Natalie back then felt like a stinging slap to her own face now.

A few months ago, Natalie was just a country bumpkin they all loved to mock.

But now, and in the years to come, Natalie was destined to dominate the business world.

...

Joanna returned home and immediately locked herself in her bedroom.

She curled up in her sheets, sobbing hysterically.

Her agonizing wails were accompanied only by the howling spring winds battering against her window. The gale was so fierce it set her nerves on edge.

She cried for half an hour before sheer exhaustion pulled her into a deep, heavy slumber, where she plummeted into a vivid dream.

When she woke up, her eyes were red and swollen. Her radiant complexion stood out against the pink duvet as she stared blankly at the ceiling. The events of the day had played out flawlessly in her dream.

Except, in her dream, the disaster had struck a rival company, not hers.

Another scene had played out in her mind: with her brilliant guidance, Maxwell had snatched up a piece of land owned by Taylor Woodard for pennies. They developed it into a lavish hot spring resort that raked in millions.

But in reality, she was one step too late. That coveted plot of land was already registered under Natalie's name.

And worse, Colin was the one who brokered the deal.

It was her own doing. If she had gone to save Colin that night, Natalie would never have played the hero and Natalie would never have had the chance to buy Taylor's land.

"Ah!" Joanna shrieked, totally unhinged. Why?!

Why had everything that rightfully belonged to her been stolen by Natalie?

"Why?" Joanna bolted upright in bed, seething with bitter resentment.

her dream, Marshall, Sebastian,

Natalie and those four idiot brothers had all died horrible agonizing deaths.

Wendy had lost everything and been committed to a psychiatric ward.

She had died a miserable lunatic in that asylum.

Natalie and Marshall, especially, had suffered the most gruesome fates.

So why had reality twisted into this nightmare?

She clawed at her hair in agony. In her dream, Sebastian-the untouchable billionaire heir of the capital, a man revered by all and fusted after by every woman had ultimately been conquered by her.

But in real life, she had taken a winning hand and completely tanked it. Joanna was consumed by despair.

Taking a deep breath, she threw off the covers and tried to stand, only to slump right back down. She was so physically exhausted her legs wouldn't even hold her up.

Joanna decided she needed to track down the temple from her dream. The visions had been far too vivid to ignore.

She focused on her breathing, mustering just enough strength to stumble into the bathroom for a shower.

After freshening up, she stared out the window. Night had already fallen.

She gazed blankly at the glittering city lights, but her heart had plunged into a bottomless abyss.

Excavating ancient artifacts on her construction site meant getting any financial compensation for the delay was completely impossible.