Joanna looked at the two of them, fuming. She had given everything for this family,

and in the end, it was all just a complete mess.

Every time she came back to this house, it felt cold and empty.

She had never felt any warmth from this couple.

She had played a winning hand so poorly, all for the sake of being able to be herself, openly and honestly.

Now she understood. She regretted it, but it was too late.

Nathan mocked her. Her flailing, aggressive posture was quite hideous, but as he watched her now, he felt nothing for this daughter. He no longer felt the urge to comfort her as he once would have.

He tilted his head, his smile laced with malice. "Joanna, I didn't want it to be this way either. It was your mother who cheated with another man first. We both tried our best to make her happy, but it seems she didn't need it."

Sophia froze, staring at Nathan. "Nathan, are you trying to drive a wedge between me and my daughter? You think I didn't want it? I was doing it for you two, to help you secure more partnerships. I was thinking about this family too."

She whirled to face Joanna. "Can't you see the effort I put in? Joanna, just yesterday I landed you a deal that will make you tens of millions! If your mother didn't know Mr. Wilson, would you have gotten a contract like that? I do everything I can to help you make money, and this is how you treat me?"

She was furious too. She had become a mistress that everyone despised.

That woman Wendy had exposed her, and so had Melissa Grant. How was she supposed to live after this?

Joanna wanted to say that she could have done it herself, that she didn't need her mother to do anything, that her career was successful on its own.

She was so angry she didn't want to say anything at all. She grabbed her bag from the table. "I'm leaving."

She couldn't stand being in this house for another second.

The new year was approaching, and she still had a final showdown with Natalie. She was going to crush her into the dust.

***

When Natalie returned to her office, she heard Luna say, "Boss, Joanna is here."

Natalie was rather surprised. On a day like this, why would she be out instead of resting at home?

"Let her come up," Natalie said.

A few minutes later, Joanna pushed the door open and came in.

Natalie was sitting on the sofa, sipping a warm tea. She watched Joanna enter, covered in snow, her eyes red and puffy. She had clearly been crying.

Joanna couldn't accept her defeat. Before heading to her company, she had made a special trip to see Natalie, intending to curse her out and vent her frustration.

She angrily sat down across from Natalie.

Natalie observed her. Her skin was fair, and her delicate nose was red from the cold. Even bundled in a thick coat, her figure was still graceful.

"Joanna, you just had a baby. What are you doing running around in the freezing cold? If you keep pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion, you're going to end up in the hospital.

Joanna snapped, "Natalie, my health is none of your business. Do you think you can lecture me just because you won today?"

"Not at all I'm just reminding you to take care of yourself. After all, we're supposed to be rivals until we're old. If you collapse prematurely, wouldn't that just let me off easy?"

Natalie's smile was playful, the corners of her lips turning up beautifully.

Joanna's lowered eyes glinted with a cold light. Why was she getting more and more beautiful?

She put on an arrogant front. "Natalie, you will never beat me."

Natalie knew she was in a bad mood and had come to take it out on her.

But Joanna was in for a disappointment. She was about to make her even angrier.

She raised an eyebrow at her.

"Joanna, why do I need to beat you

at anything? Isn't it enough that my

What is

life is better than you tipeting.

there about you worth

with? Are you richer than me?

Prettier than me?"