“Are you okay, Joanna?” Elliot asked.
After settling into the passenger seat, Joanna closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat with a frown. Her hands rested over her lower abdomen as she took deep, steady breaths in and out.
Her face was pale.
Elliot glanced at her with concern. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”
Joanna shook her head, her eyes still closed. “I’m fine. Let’s go. I just need to rest for a while.”
Elliot hesitated but finally pressed the accelerator lightly, driving away.
Jeremy’s car was already gone by now.
…
Back at his house, Jeremy was greeted by the sight of Marie directing a team to pack his belongings. His frustration boiled over. He yanked off his tie and threw it onto the couch, barking, “Put everything back!”
Marie stood in front of him. Her face showed a mix of nervousness and utter confusion. “Mr. Hansen, but—”
“Aren’t my words clear enough? Put it all back where it came from!” Jeremy’s voice was sharp with barely restrained fury.
“Yes, sir.” Marie didn’t dare defy him. She hastily ordered the staff to return everything to its original place.
Jeremy undid two buttons on his shirt while asking in frustration, “What did Joanna say before she left?”
“Mrs. Hansen—”
“Mrs. Hansen?” Frowning, Jeremy glared at Marie as his cold voice interrupted her. “There’s no more Mrs. Hansen.”
Marie lowered her head. A flicker of satisfaction flashed in her eyes before she corrected herself. “Ms. Thompson left decisively without saying a word.”
Upon hearing this, Jeremy slammed the water glass on the table. Gritting his teeth, he ordered, “Get someone to keep an eye on her.”
“Yes, Mr. Hansen.”
…
Meanwhile, Joanna and Elliot had arrived at Maplewood Residences, one of the most prestigious apartment complexes in Clementson City, with sprawling single-floor units and top-tier security.
Joanna had already fallen asleep and didn’t wake even when the car pulled into the underground garage and came to a stop.
Elliot carefully carried her out of the car. But as soon as they entered the elevator, Joanna’s eyes fluttered open. “Put me down, Elliot.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked.
Joanna nodded.
Elliot didn’t push it and gently set her down.
She glanced at the elevator’s control panel and noticed that only the 37th floor was lit. She reached out and pressed the button for the 38th floor as well.
When Elliot saw that, he smiled helplessly. “You’ve never stayed in your apartment. Why not rest at mine while I get someone to clean it up for you?”
Joanna shook her head and changed the subject. “The trial data for the new products is out, right? Have Skylar notify everyone that we’ll hold a video meeting in half an hour.”
Frowning, he clicked his tongue. “You’re still burying yourself in work at a time like this? I’ve never seen you push yourself this hard before.”
She gave a bitter smile and lowered her gaze to her flat stomach. “It’s different now. Soon, I’ll have two children to raise.”
In the past, work had been a hobby she enjoyed. Managing the company and developing new products weren’t her primary focus.
But now, everything had changed.
Elliot’s gaze followed hers to her abdomen. After a moment, he asked softly, “After everything Jeremy’s done to you, are you still planning to keep his children?”
He had always trusted Joanna. Over the years, he had witnessed her sacrifices for Jeremy, and it pained him deeply.
“No.” Joanna looked up, a smile on her face as she shook her head. “They’re my children. They have nothing to do with Jeremy.”
…
The video meeting lasted over three hours.
When it finally ended, Joanna was about to stand up and stretch when a notification about the latest entertainment gossip article popped up in the bottom right corner of her screen.
The title read, “Jeremy Hansen Goes All Out for Nadine Slinger: Books Entire Rotating Restaurant and Gifts Multi-Million-Dollar Antique Cello.”
Joanna froze mid-motion. She gripped the mouse and clicked on the article. It was filled with photos of Jeremy and Nadine.
There was Jeremy helping Nadine out of the car, the two of them entering the restaurant, dining together, and finally, Nadine receiving the cello with a delighted expression.
In every picture, they looked intimate, like a couple madly in love.
Joanna thought she’d woken up from her feelings for Jeremy. She believed that seeing him and Nadine in each other’s arms would no longer affect her.
But she had overestimated herself. As she stared at the photos, a tightness gripped her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Joanna had loved Jeremy for ten years. That was an entire decade.
From the moment her grandmother, Vivian Tillman, brought her to the Hansen residence and she saw 18-year-old Jeremy for the first time, he had taken root in her heart.
Those roots had grown deep and flourished into a towering tree.
And now, in just a matter of days, she was expected to rip that tree out. How could that be possible?
“You’re pregnant. Jeremy can’t divorce you so easily,” Elliot said.
He had stayed for the meeting. When it ended, he noticed she was still staring at the screen, lost in thought, so he glanced over at it too.
One glance at the headline was enough to make his brow furrow. “You’re not divorced yet, and he’s already making such a public display with Nadine. We can definitely make him regret this.”
Joanna closed the article and shook her head. Her tone was eerily calm as she said, “It’s fine. Let him do whatever he wants.”
“Joanna, you can’t be this soft. He’s walking all over you. You should fight back.” Elliot looked at her with a frown. “If you don’t want to step up, I’ll help you.”
Joanna walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the fading sunset and the city lights flickering to life. After a moment, she smiled faintly.
She turned to look at him.”Elliot, you probably don’t know this, but Jeremy only married me because Mrs. Hansen Senior forced him to. Before we got married, he had me sign a three-year agreement. He would pay me 300 million dollars when the term was up.”
Her smile turned bitter, and her eyes dimmed. “The agreement also explicitly stated that I wasn’t allowed to have his child during our marriage.”
From the very beginning, Jeremy had told her she wasn’t worthy of bearing his child.
Elliot stared at her, momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
After a pause, he asked, “What are you going to do now?”
“That depends on Jeremy.” Joanna’s expression was calm, but her tone was resolute. “But I’m keeping my children no matter what.”
