Chapter 193

The news had been circulating for a day. Rumors surrounding Joanna and Jaydon dominated the headlines. Joanna, in particular, was subjected to vicious online attacks, labeled a "vixen," "whore," "scheming bitch," and other insults. Jaydon's situation was even worse. He had called Joanna all night the previous day without reaching her, and fearing the Greyport entertainment reporters who were now actively seeking him out for comment, he had fled the city. Joanna, meanwhile, remained hospitalized.

At the hospital, Joanna ate breakfast while watching Lilia and Bruce play.

"Lilia, it's getting late. Go home with Tracy," Joanna said.

Lilia looked unhappy. "Mommy, can I stay a little longer?"

"Mommy has things to do and can't stay with you. Be a good girl and go home with Tracy," Joanna replied firmly.

Bruce's gentle expression instantly hardened. "Joanna, do you think you've recovered? Lilia doesn't need your company; I'm here with her."

Joanna looked at him helplessly. "Bruce, I really have something to do. Please give me my phone."

"I'll give it to you when you're discharged," Bruce said grimly.

Joanna, worried about her factory in Mossbourne, wanted to leave immediately. "I can be discharged now!" she insisted.

"You'll be discharged when you're better," Bruce countered.

"Bruce, don't be so domineering," Joanna pleaded.

Their argument escalated, frightening Lilia, who cried, "Daddy, Mommy, please don't fight!"

Bruce's anger subsided. "Good girl, Daddy and Mommy weren't fighting," he said, soothingly holding her. He then added to Joanna, "You should be more gentle and loving in front of our daughter."

This angered Joanna further. She had raised the children alone for four years; he was only now pretending to be a loving father.

"I don't want to argue. Tracy, take Lilia home now," Joanna said.

Tracy, somewhat awkwardly, agreed. "Mr. Everett, please give me the child."

Bruce remained firm. "Joanna, I want to take Lilia back to the Everett mansion for a few days…"

Joanna interrupted sharply, "Don't even think about it! I'll do anything to stop you from taking Lilia. Davian and Irvin are already gone, and I regret it terribly. I would rather die than let you take Lilia."

Seeing her agitation, Bruce sighed, "Alright, alright. Don't get so upset. I promised Lilia I would take her to see Davian and Irvin."

Lilia intervened, "Daddy, don't quarrel with Mommy! I'll go home now. When Mommy agrees, I'll go with you."

Touched by his daughter's maturity despite her disability, Bruce vowed to heal her leg. Lilia said goodbye, and Tracy quickly left with her.

"Give me the phone, or I'm leaving," Joanna demanded.

After a pause, Bruce handed her the phone, admitting, "Joanna, when did you become so stubborn? So persistent?"

"Now," Joanna replied.

He gave her the phone; he had turned it off earlier. Joanna powered it on and checked her messages. The rumors had also implicated others.

Ingrid, on her way to a beauty salon, was ambushed by entertainment reporters. They bombarded her with questions about Joanna, Bruce, and their relationship. Ingrid, after a carefully crafted response deflecting blame and implying Joanna's past actions were the cause, made damning statements, effectively throwing Joanna under the bus, fueling the already intense online negativity. The internet was overwhelmed with abusive comments.

Back at the hospital, Joanna suffered a headache from being confined to the ward. Despite Bruce's constant vigilance, she ventured into the corridor for some fresh air. There, she encountered a ten-year-old boy who spat at her, calling her "Greyport's vixen." His mother apologized, but the boy's words echoed the public sentiment. Joanna, devastated, was about to be comforted by Bruce when more people began taking photos of them. She retreated back to the ward, her distress overwhelming her.

The phone rang; it was Shaun. He revealed that Roxy was pregnant and angrily accused Joanna of seducing Bruce. He blamed her for the family's humiliation, criticizing her actions and reminding her of the importance of a woman's reputation. Joanna felt utterly defeated.