The Billionaire Heiress He Threw Away A Revenge She Served Cold

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Everyone in their circle knew that Paddy Floyd, golden heir to Riverside City's most powerful conglomerate, had married a penny-pincher.

She cross-checked every receipt at the grocery store. She hoarded coupons for days just to save a few cents on a discount. While other women chatted about Botox and fillers, she was comparing egg prices. She even tracked every last fifty-cent difference in her monthly ledger.

And yet, Paddy Floyd was absolutely smitten. He'd turned down Lola Sullivan, his childhood sweetheart, for her. He'd given up his inheritance rights just to move out and live a modest life by her side.

Everyone had bet he wouldn't last. But Paddy held on for two years, and if anything, his relationship with Joanna Winfield only grew more solid.

Until the day of Joanna's twenty-seventh birthday, when she found out she was pregnant.

She clutched the prenatal report so tightly her hands trembled.

But the pregnancy wasn't her only secret.

After today, she would inherit a billion-dollar fortune. They'd never have to scrape by again.

She wanted Paddy to be the first to know.

She hurried to the study door and was about to knock when voices drifted through from inside.

"Bro, Joanna's a total tightwad, but I gotta sayshe's surprisingly passionate in bed." That was Percival Floyd, Paddy's twin brother.

"Anyway, Lola was drugged that night, and you personally took care of it. Don't you think you owe her something?"

Paddy's voice was flat. "I'm going to marry her."

Percival paused. "Then what about Joanna?"

"Mrs. Sullivan and Mom came to see me a while back. After I broke off the engagement, Lola refused to even consider marrying anyone else. She tried to kill herselfmultiple times. Nearly died."

"They asked me to play husband to Lola for a while. Give her a child, something to hold onto. The Floyd family has already quietly annulled my marriage to Joanna."

Paddy paused. "Once this is done, I'll remarry Joanna."

Percival laughed. "No wonder that night when she and Lola both got drugged, you pushed Joanna to me. She thought I was you the whole time..."

"But honestly, broany regrets? You and Joanna have been everyone's favorite punchline for two years now. People laugh behind your back about marrying some broke nobody."

Paddy said nothing. But his silence told Percival everything he needed to know.

It told Joanna everything, too.

A cold draft crept beneath her collar, turning her body rigid.

That night had been Lola's birthday party. Paddy had brought her along to celebrate.

Someone had slipped something into her drink. Disoriented, she'd gone looking for Paddy, only to see him with his arm around Lola, walking into the next room without a backward glance.

The moment the door closed, someone grabbed her from behind.

Through the haze, she'd seen a face identical to Paddy's.

She'd assumed the man with Lola had been Percival.

The man had leaned close to her ear and smiled. "Let's go back to the room."

All she remembered was that he smelled like Paddy, but his hands were far rougher.

It had been Percival all along.

She shoved the report into her pocket and turned back toward the bedroom.

Her back hit the door. Joanna slid to the floor, closed her eyes, and finally let the tears fall.

She was the sole granddaughter of the wealthiest man in the capital. After her parents died in an accident, her ailing grandfather had left her a billion-dollar inheritance and controlling shares in his empirebut she couldn't claim any of it until she turned twenty-seven.

For ten years, she had to survive on her own. No connections, no safety nets. Only by proving she could stand on her own two feet would she prove she was worthy of guarding the family legacy.

From that day on, she counted every single penny.

The cheapest dishes in the cafeteria. Clothes worn until they frayed. She never went to a single social gathering. Everyone laughed at her for being too low-class to show her face in polite company.

Then, three years ago, she'd pulled Paddy from a car wreck.

Without blinking, the woman who agonized over every dollar paid his entire medical bill.

Money saved up penny by penny could save a life. That was worth it.

Paddy woke up with no memory of who he was. She was the one who brought him home.

He rode the bus with her, crouched beside her scanning clearance racks, redeemed loyalty points for toilet paper. And whenever someone mocked her, Paddy stepped in without hesitation.

"Joanna's wonderful. This kind of life is real. At least I love it!"

Later, he discovered that every cent she'd saved went to an orphanage on the outskirts of the city.

The director had been her high school teacherthe only person who'd helped her handle funeral arrangements after her parents and grandfather passed, without asking for a single thing in return.

The orphanage had been on the verge of shutting down. She'd poured in every dollar she had, and lived even more frugally after that.

Once Paddy found out, he went with her to the orphanage every day.

Watching his silhouette beside her, she'd thought that maybe having someone in her lonely life wasn't so bad after all.

Then his memory came back. To marry her, he broke off his engagement to Lola. He endured ten days of corporal punishment from his family. He gave up his inheritanceall to live an ordinary life with her.

At their wedding, he held her hand. "From now on, you live however you want. I'll always be right here."

She'd believed that someone in this world truly didn't mind that she was poor, didn't care that she wasn't polished enough for high societythat someone would actually give up a life of luxury just to be with her.

She'd even planned it: the moment her twenty-seventh birthday passed, she'd tell him they never had to pinch pennies again. That they could do so much together.

But two years had gone by. The novelty had worn off. He still wanted to go back to being the untouchable young heir of the Floyd family. And in his eyes, she was still the girl who wasn't good enough to stand beside him.

Joanna wiped her tears. A new message from her lawyer lit up the screen.

"Ms. Winfield, the shares and billion-dollar assets still require processing. Funds will clear in five days."

Five days.

More than enough time to settle things with Paddy.

She had just put her phone away when the door swung open. Paddy stood in the doorway, brow furrowed, holding up her ledger book.

His scrutinizing gaze dropped to her lower abdomen. "You went to the OB-GYN today?"

Joanna's heart clenched. "Just some irregular periods. I went in for a checkup."

Paddy's expression relaxed. He carefully helped her to her feet. "Why were you sitting on the floor? What if you catch a cold?"

His phone chimed.

He glanced down at the screen, then hesitated before speaking. "Lola threw a fit and ran away from home. How about she stays here tonight?"

When Joanna said nothing, Paddy's tone turned helpless.

"It's just for a little while, Joanna..."

"Let her come."

Joanna cut him off, her voice flat.

It didn't matter whether she refused. The outcome would be the same.

Paddy blinked, caught off guard. Before he could dwell on how unusually calm she was today, he grabbed his coat and walked out.

That evening, he brought Lola home.

Joanna had just picked up a glass to take it to the kitchen when Lola hurried over.

"Let me do it!"

She snatched the glass and ducked into the kitchen. A second later, a sharp crack echoed through the room.

Paddy rushed over immediately. "Lola!"

The moment he saw the cut on her hand, he grabbed her fingers and pressed them to his lips.

Joanna stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the scene before her. A dull, spreading ache bloomed behind her ribs.

She thought of a few days ago, when she'd sliced her hand while chopping vegetables. The cut had been deep, blood pooling across the cutting board.

She'd asked Paddy for help. He'd barely looked up.

"I'm busy right now, Joanna. Handle it yourself."

She'd paused, then gone to the bathroom to stop the bleeding. But the blood only came faster.

She had no choice but to call out again. "Paddy, take me to the hospital. It's bad this time."

His voice drifted back through the door, laced with impatience. "How bad can it be? You're the one who hates spending money on hospital visits."

Joanna had stood there, stunned. The words landed like a slap.

In the end, she'd called a cab herself. Checked in alone. Paid the bill alone. And came home alone.

Paddy noticed Joanna watching them now. He pulled away from Lola's hand, flustered, but the worry in his eyes didn't fade.

"Lola, let me take you to the hospital."

Lola didn't answer him. Instead, she turned to Joanna.

"Joanna, I'll pay you back for the glass. How much was it?"

Paddy frowned. "You don't need to pay for a couple of glasses."

Lola pressed her lips together.

"But Joanna's famous for being frugal. She probably spent days hunting for a sale on these."

The moment the words left her mouth, Paddy's expression darkened.

Joanna's hand tightened at her side, fingers curling into her palm.

The meaning was clear enough. She was the cheapskate everyone in their circle talked about.

Paddy sighed and pulled Lola toward the door. "Your hand matters more. I'm taking you to the hospital first."

"As for the glasses..."

He looked back at Joanna, irritation plain on his face.

"If she can't let it go, take it out of the savings in my account."

Joanna had never cared about other people's jabs before. She could keep her head down and live her own life.

People who didn't matter to her couldn't hurt her.

But hearing those words from Paddy's mouth felt like being slapped across the face in public.

The door closed softly behind him, but the sound reverberated through Joanna's chest until her whole body felt numb.

It wasn't until the small hours of the morning that Paddy came back with Lola.

He walked into the bedroom, shrugged off his jacket, and climbed into bed. His arm slid around Joanna from behind.

Her body went rigid. She tried instinctively to pull away, but he tightened his grip and pressed her closer.

"Come on, don't be upset."

"Lola grew up wealthy. She's not cut out for housework. I transferred a hundred thousand to your account. Just let her stay for a few days and stop asking her to do chores."

The words hit Joanna like a fist to the sternum. She wrenched free of his arms and sat up.

"You think I made her wash that glass because I didn't want to spend the extra money on another person in this house?"

Paddy frowned but said nothing.

Silence was answer enough.

The bridge of Joanna's nose burned. She bit down hard, forcing the tears back.

A knock came at the bedroom door. Lola's voice floated through.

"Paddy, I can't sleep in a strange bed. It's dark and I'm scared. Could you come keep me company?"

Before Joanna could even react, Paddy was already out the door.

She stared at the empty space where he'd been.

The tears finally fell.

The next morning, Joanna was jolted awake by the sound of something shattering.

She pushed open her door, and the scene before her sent the blood rushing to her head.

Lola stood in the center of the living room. At her feet lay a broken jewelry box.

And her mother's necklace was dangling from Lola's fingers, being toyed with like a trinket.

"What are you doing?! Give that back!"

Joanna lunged forward, reaching for the necklace.

Lola watched her. A slow, deliberate smile curved across her lips.

Then she opened her hand.

Joanna's fingers grazed the edge of the necklace. She couldn't catch it.

The imperial jade struck the floor and split into pieces, shards scattering in every direction.

Joanna froze where she stood, staring at the fragments on the ground.

That was her mother's.

All those years, when she'd been too poor to afford a meal, she hadn't sold it. When she'd been too sick to see a doctor, she'd never once considered parting with it.

Now it was gone.

Joanna crouched down, her hands trembling as she gathered the broken pieces.

Lola withdrew her hand at a leisurely pace, leaning against the back of the sofa, watching her with a look that hovered between amusement and contempt.

"Oops. Butterfingers."

She lifted her foot and nudged one of the shards with the toe of her slipper.

"Joanna, I'm not trying to be mean, but you pinch every penny like your life depends on it. How nice could anything you own really be? Cheap knockoff stuff like this falls apart if you breathe on it. How is that my fault?"

Joanna's fist tightened around the shards. The jagged edges bit into her palm.

"Say that again."

Lola straightened up and looked down at her.

"I said, everything you own is cheap garbage. It was bound to break sooner or later. You got what you dese"

Crack.

A slap rang through the room.

Lola's voice cut off mid-word.

She clutched her cheek, staring at Joanna in disbelief.

"You hit me?"

Joanna's gaze was cold and razor-sharp. She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled out her phone.

"Hello, I'd like to report a crime. Someone deliberately destroyed another person's property. The item is of significant value."

Twenty minutes later.

The police station.

The two women sat in a mediation room. Paddy arrived in a rush after getting the call.

The moment he walked through the door, Lola threw herself into his arms.

"Paddy, I didn't mean to! I thought it was just a necklace. I figured if I accidentally broke it, I could just pay for it. But Joanna wouldn't let it go. She insisted on dragging this all the way to the police station..."

Paddy murmured reassurances to Lola, his gaze drifting to Joanna, who sat off to the side in composed silence.

The officer looked at the jade fragments laid out on the table. "You said this necklace is of significant value. Do you have anything to back that up?"

Joanna took out her phone and opened a folder.

"This is the appraisal certificate."

She handed the phone to the officer.

He took it. The instant his eyes registered the words on the screen, they went wide.

"Imperial jade. Appraised value... twenty-eight million dollars?"

The officer's words made Lola whip her head around.

"That's impossible!"

"How could she possibly own a necklace of that quality? She's nothing but a"

Lola caught herself, softening her tone.

"Joanna has always been so frugal. She pinches pennies on her own daily expenses. How could she afford a necklace like that?"

Paddy frowned and walked over to Joanna's side, glancing at the shattered jade fragments on the table.

The jade was dull and lusterless, cheap-looking in every way.

Paddy sighed. "Joanna, that's enough."

He pulled out a card and held it in front of her.

"There's a million dollars on this. Is that enough?"

Joanna stared at the card, and all she felt was the absurdity of it.

Paddy actually thought she was using this as an excuse to shake him down for money.

The officer looked at her. "Ma'am, the other party is willing to compensate. Do you accept the settlement?"

Joanna lifted her eyes. Her voice was soft, but unwavering.

"This was a keepsake from my mother."

Paddy froze for a moment when he heard that.

"I won't settle. I want to go through the proper legal channels."

Lola's voice cracked with a sob. "Paddy, I really didn't mean to... It's just a necklace. I can have someone buy Joanna an even nicer one..."

"But twenty-eight million dollars... There's no way that necklace was worth that much."

Paddy's frown deepened. The flicker of unease he'd felt a moment ago vanished entirely beneath Lola's crying, and his voice turned hard.

"If you insist on pressing charges, I'll hire the best lawyers for her. You won't see a single cent in damages, and you'll be on the hook for legal fees on top of it. Think carefully."

His words cut like a knife, driving straight into her chest.

Joanna drew a long breath. Her gaze swept over the two of them, cold as winter.

"I've thought very carefully."

"No matter what it costs, I will pursue this case."

Paddy watched Joanna's retreating figure, and the restlessness churning inside him refused to settle.

He had never seen her like this.

The way she'd looked at him just now. Like he was a stranger.

A sudden pang of regret hit him over what he'd said.

That night.

Joanna stood outside the door of her rental apartment, suitcase in tow.

Her phone rang.

It was the director's number.

She answered, but the voice on the other end belonged to a young girl, choked with tears.

"Joanna! Something terrible happened at the orphanage! Someone filed an anonymous report claiming we've been abusing the children... They're going to shut us down, and the land is being reclaimed..."

A sharp ringing filled Joanna's head.

"What happened?"

The girl only cried harder.

"Mrs. James hit her head during the confrontation. She's in the ER now, and the blood bank is running low... Joanna, please, you have to do something."

Joanna gripped the phone until her knuckles went white.

She'd crossed Lola today. And that very evening, the orphanage was under attack.

Only one person had the power to make that happen. Paddy.

Years ago, after Paddy was welcomed back into the Floyd family, he had voluntarily given up two percent of his shares in exchange for permanent land-use rights for the orphanage.

That day, he'd held her and said, "Your family is my family. I'll never let anyone drive them out."

He had genuinely cared for those children.

He had genuinely respected the director.

And now?

To vent Lola's frustrations, he'd torn it all down without a second thought.

A sting hit the bridge of her nose. Joanna forced herself to stay composed, but her voice still trembled.

"My blood type matches the director's. I'm going to the hospital. She's going to be fine."

Joanna burst through the hospital doors and headed straight for the blood transfusion department.

She had barely rounded the corridor when a gut-wrenching wail stopped her in her tracks.

Denise Sullivan was on her knees, clutching a doctor's hand and refusing to let go.

Paddy leaned against the wall nearby. He sensed someone watching and looked up. The moment he saw Joanna, his expression turned to ice.

Before Joanna could react, Denise had already charged at her and slapped her across the face.

Denise's eyes were bloodshot. She seized a fistful of Joanna's hair and held on tight.

"You vicious woman, how dare you show your face here! It wasn't enough to spread lies about what happened at the police station and frame my daughteryou had to drag her name through the mud online too, calling her a bully, saying she tried to buy someone off with a million dollars! She has her pride! How is she supposed to live with people talking about her like that?"

Pain seared across Joanna's scalp. Her thoughts scattered. She struggled to pull free, trying to explain.

"I didn't"

"Enough."

Paddy stepped forward and pried Denise off her.

Joanna steadied herself and met Paddy's cold stare. The words left her mouth before she could think.

"Paddy, it wasn't me"

"Joanna, when did you become like this?"

His voice was thick with disappointment.

"Are you so desperate for money that you'd stoop to something this low? A million wasn't enoughyou had to get greedy and demand twenty-eight million?"

"Do you have any idea that because of you, Lola tried to kill herself?"

Joanna stared at him, frozen.

All these years, he was the one who knew exactly where every penny she saved went. He was the one who knew she never kept anything for herselfthat every dollar she scraped together was so those children at the orphanage could live a little more comfortably.

And now the person who knew her best had said the words that cut the deepest.

"Paddy, after all these years, is that really what I am to you? Someone who'd do anything for money?"

Paddy frowned. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something.

The emergency room doors swung open.

Lola was wheeled out, her face white as paper. The moment she saw Joanna, tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Joanna..."

Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'll pay the twenty-eight million. Just please stop dragging my name through the dirt... I really can't take any more..."

Joanna listened to those wordsso carefully wrapped in victimhood, so precisely aimed to destroyand clenched her fists.

"I didn't do any of it. You're welcome to investigate."

"I have something urgent to deal with right now. I have to go."

She turned to leave.

Several bodyguards stepped forward immediately, blocking her path.

Paddy's voice came from behind her.

"You made a mistake, and you need to own it. You owe the Sullivansand Lolaan explanation."

Joanna drew a deep breath and turned around.

"Paddy, Director James was attacked. She needs a blood transfusion urgently. I have to get to her right now"

He hesitated.

He knew better than anyone what that orphanage and its director meant to her.

Joanna would never lie about something like that.

She saw that flicker of hesitation in his eyes and seized it like a lifeline.

"Paddy, I'm begging you. Let me give blood first. After that, you can do whatever you want with me."

Her eyes were rimmed red, but she fought with everything she had to keep the tears from falling.

Seeing her like that, something complicated stirred in Paddy's chest.

Neither side would yield. Then a poised, elegantly dressed older woman walked over.

Lillian Floyd glanced at Joanna, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

"Joanna, I always thought you were a sensible woman. I never imagined you'd turn out to be such a liar."

"I had the admissions checked. There is no director among tonight's patients. Not a single one."

Joanna's pupils contracted. "That's impossible"

Lillian cut her off and turned to Paddy.

"I told you from the start. Women like her put on an act at firstpretending money doesn't matter to thembut give it enough time and the mask always slips. Now do you finally believe me?"

Lillian had never once shown Joanna a kind face. But every single time, Paddy had shielded her. He never allowed his mother to say a single word against her.

He had even moved them both out of the Floyd family estate to spare Joanna from the hostilitythe two of them squeezing into a small one-bedroom apartment together.

But this time, Paddy said nothing.

His silence hurt more than any words could have.

In that moment, Joanna heard something inside her shatter completely.

Paddy's voice was flat, utterly devoid of emotion. "Take her home. I'll deal with this later."

The bodyguards closed in. They seized Joanna, and no matter how she struggled, they dragged her back to the Floyd residence.

She was hauled to the ancestral hall. The head housekeeper stood before her, his voice cold.

"Mrs. Floyd has given her orders. As a daughter-in-law of this family, you've made a grave mistake and must be punished accordingly. Since her son can't bring himself to do it, she'll give the command herself."

"Thirty lashes. Afterward, solitary confinement in the cellar."

The whip came down on her back, splitting skin and flesh.

She clenched her teeth and didn't make a sound, but consciousness began slipping away from her.

She couldn't pass out. She still had to save Mrs. James.

When it was over, they dragged her to the cellar.

Her body was a ruin of wounds. She struggled to her hands and knees, then crawled to the door and pounded against it.

"Open the door... please..."

A wrenching cramp tore through her lower abdomen, wave after wave. Joanna looked down. A pool of blood had gathered beneath her.

Her vision darkened. Joanna collapsed.

The door burst open.

Someone rushed in and scooped her into their arms.

She forced her eyes open and saw a face.

"Paddy...?"

When Joanna woke, the wounds on her back had already been treated, wrapped in thick layers of gauze.

The door opened. Percival walked in carrying a glass of water, and when he saw she was awake, he crossed quickly to the bedside.

"Don't move. You're hurt."

Joanna looked at him. The memory of that night flashed through her mind, and she instinctively edged away.

Percival was quiet for a moment. "The baby's gone. When did you find out you were pregnant?"

Joanna's hand trembled. She lowered her head and didn't look at him.

"A little over three months."

Percival's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression hard to read.

Three months. The timing didn't quite add up.

He was about to say something else when the door swung open.

Paddy stood in the doorway. The moment he saw Percival, his brow furrowed tight.

"What are you doing here?"

Percival's lips curved into a smile that held no warmth.

"If I hadn't come, she would've died in that cellar and nobody would've known."

Paddy's gaze shifted to the figure on the bed.

Joanna was propped against the pillows, her face white as paper, her lips completely drained of color.

Something slammed hard against the inside of Paddy's chest. "What happened?"

The next second, he watched Percival reach over and tuck the blanket more snugly around her. An inexplicable wave of irritation surged through him.

He strode forward and yanked Percival's hand away.

"Hands off." His voice dropped cold. "She's your sister-in-law. Show some respect."

Percival looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"She's your wife, Paddy. Mom had her whipped and locked in that cellar. Did it never occur to you to send someone to look after her?"

Paddy froze. "What? I only told them to bring her home and wait until I dealt with it. Who gave them permission to touch her?"

Percival let out a short, derisive laugh, gave Paddy a mocking pat on the shoulder, and walked out.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Paddy stood beside the bed, looking at Joanna. Something he couldn't name churned inside him.

"Joanna, don't worry. I'll make sure this"

"Is there something you need?" She cut him off. Her voice was soft, but there was nothing warm in it.

Paddy pressed his lips together.

"Lola's out of danger, but the backlash online hasn't died down."

"I need you to record an apology video. Admit the necklace was a fake, that you got greedy and tried to extort more money."

Something finally rippled behind Joanna's eyes. She repeated his words slowly.

"You want me to record an apology video?"

Paddy rubbed the bridge of his nose, visibly agitated.

"Lola had the necklace appraised afterward. The necklace and the certificate were both fakes."

"Asking you to apologize isn't exactly asking too much."

Joanna almost laughed at the absurdity.

"I'm not doing it."

Paddy's expression darkened.

"Fine. But the land the orphanage sits on? I'll have it seized immediately."

Joanna's eyes stung.

"Paddy, you've held those children in your arms. They all called you 'big brother.' Can you really do that to them?"

Paddy's jaw tightened. "Joanna, my patience has limits."

Joanna managed a smile that looked worse than crying. The last thread of feeling she'd held for him snapped and dissolved into nothing.

"Fine. I'll do it."

She eased herself upright, took the phone from him, and began recording.

"The necklace was fake. I just wanted to squeeze out more money."

"I'm sorry, Lola. I'm sorry, everyone. I was wrong."

Before he left, Paddy delivered one final ultimatum.

"Joanna, if you'd just listened sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this. You brought all of it on yourself."

After he was gone, Joanna dragged herself out of bed and rushed to the hospital to see Mrs. James.

But when she burst through the door of the hospital room, the answer she received rooted her to the floor.

"The patient didn't receive the transfusion in time. Prolonged oxygen deprivation to the brain. She's in a vegetative state."

A high-pitched ringing filled Joanna's skull.

She collapsed at the bedside and seized that ice-cold hand.

That hand had given her warmth more times than she could count.

Now it would never move again.

"Mrs. James I'm sorry I'm so sorry"

The tears finally broke free, unstoppable.

One by one, they fell onto that cold, still hand.

If it weren't for her, the orphanage would never have been targeted.

If it weren't for her, Mrs. James wouldn't be lying here.

All because she'd loved the wrong person and refused to bow her head.

She buried her face against the edge of the bed, her whole body shaking with sobs.

"I'll save you, Mrs. James I'll find a way. I promise I'll find a way"

The next second, her phone rang. Joanna answered, and Mandy's sobbing voice came through the speaker.

"Joanna, a bunch of people came and smashed up everything at the orphanage. I'm so scared"

When Joanna arrived at the orphanage, the front gate hung wide open. The yard was destroyedfurniture overturned, walls spray-painted, glass shattered across the ground.

The children were huddled in the corner. When they saw her, they rose to their feet one by one.

Dick Driscoll was the first to charge at her. He shoved her hard with both hands.

Joanna stumbled back two steps. The wounds on her back slammed against the wall, and she sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth.

"You've got some nerve showing up here!"

The other children surged forward, surrounding her.

"You killed Director Mom! Why didn't you go donate blood last night? Why?!"

Fists rained down on her. Joanna didn't dodge. She only lowered her head and murmured.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

"Sorry doesn't fix anything!" Dick screamed, eyes rimmed red.

"Director Mom won't wake up! We don't have a mom anymore!"

"Get out! Get out right now! We don't want to see you!"

Joanna knelt there, looking at the hatred in those children's eyes, and felt her heart shred itself apart.

They shoved her out of the orphanage, pushing and kicking until she lay on the ground outside, battered and bleeding. A white Porsche was parked right in front of her.

The door opened, and Lola stepped out.

She wore a pale coat, her makeup flawless, a smile curving her lips.

"So? How does it feel, being hated by the very children you've always loved and protected?"

"All I did was let them know what kind of person you really are." Lola tilted her head. "Don't tell me you can't handle it already?"

Joanna pushed herself to her feet and fixed her gaze on the woman before her.

"What do you want?"

Lola narrowed her eyes, stepped closer, and lowered her voice.

"If you get on your knees right now and kowtow to me, I might convince Paddy to withdraw the complaint and let the orphanage keep its land."

"What do you say? If you refuse, these children will be taken away tonight."

Joanna clenched her jaw and slowly sank to her knees.

Her kneecaps hit the ground with a dull thud.

Joanna bent forward, pressing her forehead to the earth.

She had barely completed one when Lola frowned.

"Too slow."

She flicked a glance at the bodyguard beside her.

The bodyguard stepped forward, seized the back of Joanna's head, and slammed it into the ground.

Crack.

Her forehead struck concrete. Blood welled up instantly.

He held her down, smashing her head against the ground again and again, blood spattering with each impact.

Ten times. When it was over, Joanna lay flat on the ground, a gash split open across her forehead, blood smeared across her entire face.

She struggled to lift her head.

"Now... are you satisfied?"

Lola glanced down at the blood on the toe of her shoe, wiped it off with a tissue, and tossed it onto Joanna's face.

Just then, Lola's phone rang.

Her eyes lit up. She answered on speaker.

"Paddy?"

"Hey, babe." Paddy's voice came through, warm and gentle. "Are you free right now? Let's go pick out a wedding dress."

Lola smiled, looking down at Joanna sprawled on the ground.

"I'm free. I'll be right there."

She tucked the phone away and crouched down, meeting Joanna's eyes at her level.

"Did you hear that?" Her voice was soft, almost conversational. "In three days, we're getting married. Someone like you, squatting in my place, clinging to my man for all these years. It's made me sick."

"Now it's time for you to disappear for good."

A deafening boom erupted from somewhere behind them.

Joanna whipped her head around. The orphanage was engulfed in flames, fire clawing at the sky.

She scrambled to her feet and staggered toward the blaze.

Lola watched her disappear into the inferno, her lips slowly curling upward. Then she turned and climbed back into the car.

Inside the burning building, the smoke was so thick Joanna couldn't keep her eyes open.

She kicked open door after door, shoving children toward the exit.

In the very last room, she found Mandy, curled up in the corner.

Joanna rushed over and scooped her up. A burning beam crashed down onto her back. She grunted and dropped to her knees but held the child tight against her chest, shielding her with her own body.

Gritting through the pain, she crawled toward the exit, inch by inch.

"I'm getting you out of here..."

Mandy sobbed against her neck, her small voice barely a whisper.

"Joanna, I know you're not a bad person... You've always been like a mom to me..."

Joanna's eyes burned with tears. She held the child close and dragged herself out of the fire.

The moment she collapsed on the ground outside, her phone rang.

"Ms. Winfield. All shares and assets under your name have been fully transferred. You are now the company's largest shareholder."

The tension that had been holding Joanna together finally released. She dialed another number.

"Get me the best legal team in the country."

"Lola set fire to the orphanage, and I'm going to personally send her to prison!"