Chapter 3 Meet Again

Julissa's face lit up with excitement. "What is it?"

Joanna pulled out her phone and began to record their negotiation. "You have to guarantee you'll cover all of my mom's medical expenses this time-including every follow-up checkup."

"No problem!"

Shelling out a few hundred thousand to lock in a hundred-million-dollar investment from the Harvey Group? A deal well worth it!

Afraid Joanna might reconsider, Julissa quickly agreed without hesitation.

"Tomorrow evening, I'll have someone take you to the Harvey estate!" Then she practically floated out of the hospital in exhilaration.

The moment Julissa left, the mask of composure Joanna had been holding onto shattered.

Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone and typed a breakup message to Mathew.

Simple words, yet they felt impossible to write. Minutes passed before she could bring herself to press send. And when she finally did, it was as if she could hear her own heart breaking into pieces.

She tried to assure herself that it was okay. As long as her mother survived, this sacrifice would be worth it.

The surgery took eight long hours.

By morning, the good news arrived-her mother had made it through.

Joanna felt relieved, the crushing weight on her chest lifted. A faint smile touched her pale lips.

After ensuring Martha was safely transferred to the ICU, Joanna wasted no time heading back to campus.

Later that morning, once classes ended, Mathew asked to see her.

Mathew stood in the hallway, his handsome face devoid of emotion. "Why are you ending things with me?"

Joanna looked away. "I already explained in my message. I'm leaving the city for work, and I don't want to hold you back."

Mathew's face darkened. Without warning, he pulled out a photo and threw it at her. "Then explain this."

Joanna picked it up, and her entire body went cold.

It was a picture of her at the pharmacy that morning, buying emergency contraception.

And in the image-clear as day-was the faint hickey on her neck she had failed to fully hide.

Mathew clenched his fists, glaring at her. "No explanation? Fine, I'll do it for you. You found yourself a better option and couldn't wait to ditch me, huh? Your broke boyfriend wasn't good enough anymore, so you went out and cheated? Joanna, if you wanted to be with someone else, you could have just said so! I wouldn't have begged you to stay! But this? This is pathetic."

Joanna's head swam.

It felt like a deep wound had been torn open in her chest, the pain crushing the air from her lungs.

"No, that's not what happened! Last night, I..."

She barely got the words out before a girl suddenly rushed over, latching onto Mathew's arm. "Mathew! There's a new restaurant outside campus. Want to check it out with me?"

Joanna's pupils shrank.

Norene Powell-her half-sister and the legitimate daughter of the Powell family, the very girl Joanna was supposed to take the place of in marriage.

Joanna had always known Norene liked Mathew. But Mathew had never once looked at her that way-until now.

Her eyes landed on their intertwined hands. Her lips parted, trembling. "Are you two... together?"

Norene leaned against Mathew with a shy smile. "Mathew accepted me earlier this morning. Joanna, I really appreciate you stepping aside for me."

"There's nothing left to say to someone like her." Still glaring at Joanna with disgust, Mathew slid an arm around Norene's shoulders. "If you want to try that restaurant, let's go."

Well...

Joanna stood frozen, watching them turn away. The air felt too thick, like she couldn't get enough of it into her lungs.

Mathew could have chosen anyone... but not Norene.

This was hard to accept.

She was still struggling to breathe when Norene suddenly glanced back at her. Gone was the sweet, gentle act-her eyes gleamed with quiet victory, sharp with malice.

Norene mouthed the words, "You're out."

Joanna went wild with shock. It all made sense now.

Last night... Norene had planned everything.

"Stop right there!" Joanna shrilled, lunging forward to strike Norene. But Mathew shoved her backward.

"Enough!" he thundered. "I'm the one who chose Norene. If you've got a problem, take it up with me! But hear me now-if you so much as lay a finger on her, I won't let it slide! Come on, Norene. Let's leave."

Norene smirked smugly. "Okay, Mathew."

Joanna watched them leave, her vision blurring. She didn't even realize the tears were falling down her face until she heard a low chuckle behind her.

Joanna turned, her body going stiff.

In the dim recesses where the sunlight failed to reach, a man leaned casually against the wall, amusement flickering in his eyes. It was him-the man from last night!

Her stomach twisted again. She had thought it was nothing more than a drunken mistake. But now, it was clear; this man had worked with Norene to ruin her reputation.

Rage erupted inside Joanna, a wildfire coursing through her veins, burning so hot it felt like she might explode.

The intensity in her eyes made the man hesitate. Such defiance. He had only witnessed her humiliation, yet she looked at him as if she wanted to tear him apart.

He had no desire to add to her embarrassment. But before he could turn away, Joanna stormed up to him.

The man stared at her, puckering his brows. "What? You want an apology?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she lifted her hand-and slapped him across the face.