Joanna’s steps quickened as she left the hotel, her phone pressed to her ear. Her father, Edmund Mayfield, had just delivered the news: Susan had been hit by her husband and was now in the hospital. He was taking Luma to be by Susan’s side.
The call ended, and loanna made her way to room 101 of Central Hospital.
Upon anival, Joanna burst into the rooms, only to find her daughter, Luna, bring knocked to the ground by a boy around her age
“Luna” Joanna gasped, her heart constricting as she rushed over to help her daughter to her feet, “Sweetheart, does it hurt? Are you okay?”
Luna, her hair tied up in a cute bun and her eyes sparkling like precious gems, looked up at Joanns. She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips, trying to reassure Joanna that she was okay.
Joanna’s heart ached at Luna’s attempt to
mpt to be strong. She turned her gaze to the little boy. “Who are you? And why did you push my daughter?”
Five years ago, Joanna had spent a night with “Mr. Ken” to save Norbert. When she found out she was pregnant, the doctor advised against terminating the pregnancy due to her fragile uterus, leaving her no choice but to keep the baby.
During her pregnancy, Norbert was often absent at night, leaving Joanna to weep herself to sleep, night after lonely night. Her sorrow translated into a lack of appetite, which in turn affected the baby’s nourishment.
When Luna was born, she was a mere four pounds, lighting for her life. As she grew, she began to speak later than her peers. Tests revealed she was not developing at the same pace as other children.
Joanna’s heart was heavy with guilt; she was convinced that her own actions had led to Luna’s fragile state. As Luna showed more signs of understanding, Joanna’s self–reproach only deepened
“Joanna, Jenah is my son. He doesn’t mean any harm, he just wants to play with Luna, Susan’s voice cut through the tension. “Children can be rough when they play, a few bumps and scrapes are to be expected. There’s no need for anger.”
As soon as Susan finished speaking. Jonah dashed over to her, his face scrunched up in a pout. “Mommy, is she mute? I tried talking to her, but she didn’t say anything back.”
At the sound of Susan’s voice, Joanna tensed, her gazelting to meet Susan’s eyes.
Susan, with a tender smile, took Jonah’s hand. “Joanna, it’s been ages since we’ve crossed paths,” she said, her voice soft. In the hospital gown, Susan looked much the same–still delicate, still in need of care.
“Susan, what are you trying to pull here?” Joanna asked, her voice icy as she kept Luna close and protected behind her.
“Joanna, it’s been five years and you’re so cold with me? That really hurts,” Susan said, her expression one of feigned sadness as she moved closer.
She looked as she always had, like a kind and understanding older cousin, “Remember, when I found out you had feelings for Norbert, I stepped aside for you, even though he was my boyfriend.”
Joanna’s patience wore thin. “You deliberately kept it from me that he was your boyfriend and told me you didn’t care for him. You agreed to marry into the Anderson family, making Norbert believe I forced you into it, and now he resents me for it.”
Susan’s face clouded as the truth hit home, her brows knitting together and her smile turning brittle. “Don’t forget, I’m the one who convinced Norbert to marry you. Shouldn’t you be thanking me for that?”
She paused, her gaze flicking past Joanna, a mocking laugh escaping her lips. “I just didn’t expect that while claiming to love Norbert, you’d end up with a child from another man.”
“Susan, enough” Joanna cut her off, her expression hardening as the secret of Luna’s parentage was about to be exposed.
Only a few people were privy to the truth, a
and it was clear t
it was clear to Joanna
that 5
Susan had learned of it from Norbert. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks
1/3
Chapter 4
“Alright, I won’t say any more. Susan mached for Jonina’s hand. “Joshua, I’m a mom too, and I wouldn’t want to make things hard for a child. I don’t want to cause any trouble, I just want what’s rightfully mine.“
Joanna snatched her hand back, a bitter smile playing on her lips, “Does that include Norbert?” she asked.
Susan’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold, superior air. “Joanns, don’t pin this on me. It’s been five years, and forbert still doesn’t want to be with you. Il something isn’t yours, no amount of insistence will make it so. You can’t mourn a marriage that never was, can you?!
Hearing Susan’s words, Joanna let out a cold laugh. “So, you’re trying to take my husband, even though you’re married? I’d say your husband hitting you
was well deserved”
The barb hit home, and Susan’s facade crumbled. Her face fell, the haughty expression replaced by a look of gloom.
Five years ago, when Norbert got locked up. Susan was his girlfriend. Abandoning him in public would have invited scor
So, after lots of thinking, she reached out to the Anderson family and agreed to marry Fraser in Joanna’s stead. Despite Fraser’s flaws, he was a better option than a penniless boyfriend.
However, post–wedding, she discovered that Fraser had not only contracted HIV but also had a disturbing habit of mistreating women in bed. The one silver lining was the Anderson family’s influence and wealth, which made her life somewhat tolerable.
But five years on, the Andersons‘ clout waned, and Norbert’s true lineage came to light–he was the illegitimate child of the wealthiest Wesley family in
Jadevale.
The news hit her hard, and for a moment, she was swamped with regret. But amidst the turmoil, there was a saving grace–Norbert was convinced that she had been his savior and clung to her with all his heart.
In the next moment, a glint flashed in Susan’s eyes She yanked at Joanna’s collar, revealing a trail of red kiss marks on her chest. “Joanna, looks like you were quite smitten with the guy I set you up with.” Susan said.
Joanna’s eyes s narrowed as she met Susan’s gaze. “Susan, I knew it was you.
Last night, someone had tampered with her ovulation injection. When Joanna needed her husband the most, it was Susan who had called Norbert for help, Later, a fake waiter had almost assaulted Joanna. This had been no coincidence. Someone had orchestrated the entire ordeal.
Susan didn’t deny the accusation, she just leaned in with a sly grin. “Joanna, I gotta hand it to you, I didn’t see this coming. Look at you now, all sly and scheming, trying to use a kid to keep your hubby on a leash.
“You were this close,” Susan said, her smirk widening, “but not quite there” She continued, “Five years back, you had a love child. And now, are you having another?!
Susan took a moment to let the tension build. “And let’s not forget, the guy from last night? ladies every day.”
Joanna had reached her breaking point and let her hand fly, striking Susan across the face.
sa low–rent gigolo, pandering to the whims of wrinkled
“Joanna, how could you hit me?” Susan’s voice was laced with indignation as she clutched her cheek. But in the next moment, her eyes brimmed with tears, and her voice softened. “Joanna, I know I shouldn’t have come back, messing with you and Norbert.”
“Bad woman, you hit my mom!” Jonah screamed, his voice high–pitched with anger as he ran over and swung at Joanna
Watching the chaos unfold, Norbert humed into the room, his gaze fixed on Susan. “Susan, what’s happening here?”
“Dad, that woman hit my mom!” Jonah’s eyes widened with tears as he waited, pointing at Joanna.
Joanna’s breath hitched in her throat, her eyes locked onto Norbert. “You let Susan’s son call you ‘dad ?” she asked.
Norbert didn’t offer any explanation, instead turning to Joanna with a stern expression. “Joanna, if you have any issues, take them up with me. Susan and Jonah have been through enough.”
2/3
11:39 Sat, 31 May
Chapter 4
Susan managed a pained smile. “Norbert, Joanna is upset because she thinks I interfered with you two last night.”
At Susan’s words, Norbert’s gaze turned to Joanna, his eyes as cold as steel. “She has no right to blame you. There was nothing happening between us
*Norbert, didn’t you sleep with Joanna last night?” Susan’s voice wavered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her sectel. “Just now, Joanna showed me some marks and warned me to stay away from you. I assumed.
face, as if the had stumbled upon a
Before Susar could finish her sentence, she clapped a hand over her mouth, her words cut off abruptly. The room fell into a heavy silence. Joanna’s face drained of color as she clutched at her chest.
Norbert’s expression darkened. He moved towards Joanna. “Joanna, what have you done?” he demanded,
“Norbert, let me explain,” Joanna pleaded.
But Norbert wasn’t in a listening mood. He roughly yanked her hand away and torn at her clothes, exposing the telltale marks. In a flash of age, he slapped Joanita across the face. “You bitch,” he spat out, “you really have no shame at all.”
Exhausted from last night, Joanna was already on the brink of collapse, and the force of Norbert’s blow sent her crashing to the floor. Luna, who had been standing behind her, was also knocked off balance.
Luna quickly rose to her fest, her small arms wrapping around Joanna in a protective embrace. She struggled to form her plea, her voice trembling but resolute. “Daddy, don’t hit Mommy
AD
