Chapter 34
Joanna was woken up by the sound of her phone ringing. She opened her eyes and reached
for it.
The screen showed an unfamiliar number. She hesitated for a moment but decided to
answer.
“Hello, who’s this?”
“Joanna, can you help me again? The woman who wanted to buy my uterus has captured me!” Joy’s tearful plea came through the phone.
“What? Who has you?” Joanna frowned, and all traces of drowsiness vanished.
“She… I think her last name is Slinger,” Joy said in a panicked voice. “She said you ruined her plans. If you don’t come, she’s going to take my uterus today.”
Joanna’s expression turned cold, her eyes narrowing. “Let me speak to Nadine.”
Nadine’s voice immediately replaced Joy’s on the phone. “Joanna, yes, Joy is with me. Whether you come or not is up to you.”
“Address,” Joanna demanded without hesitation.
Nadine chuckled softly and gave her the location.
Joanna hung up and changed her clothes in the walk–in closet. After applying a quick swipe of lipstick, she called for Dominic.
The address Nadine had given her led to a coffee shop near Hansen Group’s headquarters.
Joanna wasn’t sure why Nadine had gone through the trouble of capturing Joy just to draw her here, but since she had already stepped into this mess, she couldn’t abandon Joy now. When Joanna arrived, she noticed that the coffee shop had been cleared out.
Inside, it wasn’t just Nadine and Joy–there were five others as well. Jeremy and Kenneth were there, along with three others whom Joanna guessed were Joy’s mother, brother, and boyfriend, Nathan.
The sound of the door opening drew everyone’s attention.
Upon seeing Joanna, Jeremy frowned almost imperceptibly, and his previously calm expression darkened noticeably.
Joy, on the other hand, lowered her head in panic, not daring to meet Joanna’s gaze. Her mother, Helen Whitaker, her brother, Benjamin Holm, and Nathan were nothing like her; their expressions were hostile and resentful as they glared at Joanna.
“Joanna, you’re here!” Nadine greeted her with a warm smile, rising gracefully like the
Chapter 34
hostess of the gathering.
Joanna’s indifferent gaze swept across the room. Without a word, she walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Dominic stood silently behind her.
As soon as Joanna sat down, Helen jumped up and pointed a finger at Joanna, shouting angrily, “You’re the wicked woman, aren’t you?”
Joanna’s sharp glare silenced Helen instantly. She shrank back and took a step back.
“Don’t scare them, Joanna,” Nadine said with a gentle, mocking smile. “They’re simple folk; they can’t handle being frightened by you
Joanna ignored Nadine. Her attention shifted to Joy, who sat with her head down not far away. “Joy, weren’t you leaving Clementson City with your boyfriend?” she asked. “How did you end up here?”
Hearing Joanna’s words, Joy clenched her hands on her lap. After a moment of hesitation, as though she had come to a decision, she suddenly raised her head.
Her expression mirrored the anger and resentment of her family and boyfriend as she glared at Joanna.
“Ms. Thompson, I know you hate Ms. Slinger and don’t want her to regain her dignity as a woman, but you shouldn’t use me to attack and frame her!”
Her words were sharp and accusatory, each syllable dripping with condemnation.
Use Joy to attack and frame Nadine?
Joanna thought she must have misheard. She stared at Joy in disbelief and asked, “Joy, what did you say? Can you repeat that.”
