Chapter 207

"Grandma, calm down. If you want to see her, I'll get her now," Bruce said.

Margaret's expression changed. "No need. I'll go see her myself."

"Grandma!"

The butler aggressively pushed Margaret's wheelchair toward the room. Bruce, realizing he had to act quickly, ran back to his room. He needed to reach Joanna before Margaret. Persuading his grandmother was futile; his only hope was Joanna.

He hurried to his room. "Joanna, Grandma's here!"

Joanna looked at Bruce with a sullen expression. "And why is that my problem?"

"Grandma has a heart condition and can't be agitated. But she might say something nasty when she sees you."

"So?" Joanna narrowed her eyes.

Bruce frowned. "You know Grandma's temper. No matter what she says, please don't be impertinent. She's old; just listen to her."

Joanna rolled her eyes impudently. "Hmph!"

"Did you hear what I said?" Bruce sighed.

Joanna ignored him, turning her head away. She had already endured Margaret's manipulations countless times. Few people were as self-righteous and capable of distorting facts as Margaret. Joanna was still bitter about Margaret forcibly keeping Davian and Irvin. What right did the Everetts have to bully her? She owed them nothing.

The butler wheeled Margaret into the room as Bruce and Joanna spoke. Margaret immediately surveyed the scene. Joanna was still in bed, her slender arms exposed, even showing bruises on her neck. The evidence of a passionate night between Bruce and Joanna was clear.

"You're pretty impressive," Margaret said sarcastically.

Roxanne, seeing Joanna's disheveled state, gritted her teeth. "Joanna, Grandma's here. How can you still be lying down?" Joanna's eyes darkened, but she remained silent.

Margaret took a deep breath and said furiously, "You're really something. Do I have to pay my respects to you now?"

Joanna looked at Margaret with contempt. "Margaret, I know you dislike me. Just say what you want. It's your mouth and your freedom."

Margaret fumed. A respected figure in Greyport, she wouldn't tolerate such disdain. "You! You're shameless! Bruce is engaged to Roxanne, yet you still harass him. And he's practically your brother-in-law! How can siblings fight over the same man?" Margaret pointed and berated Joanna.

Joanna was incensed. Contrary to appearances, she and Bruce weren't involved; he was pursuing her. Yet, everyone blamed her, not Bruce.

Bruce, finding Margaret's words too harsh, frowned. "Grandma, Joanna isn't that kind of girl! I'm the one who's been contacting her."

Margaret rolled her eyes and pointed at Bruce angrily. "Don't speak for her! You're just as shameful!" She continued, "You reap what you sow. If she were truly virtuous, no one could take advantage of her. Is she playing hard to get? She's pretentious and repulsive!"

Margaret's words stung Joanna, who clenched her fists. Roxanne pretended to sob, looking pitifully at Joanna. "Joanna, I know you were married to Bruce. I know how hard it must be to move on. But I love Bruce very much. Neither I nor my baby can do without him! I'll give you anything else, but I can't give him up."

Roxanne's words branded Joanna as immoral. The most terrifying thing was stigmatization; it was nearly impossible to overcome. Any defense only fueled the public's anger. Stigmatization was the simplest, most noxious form of aggression.

Chapter 207

Joanna sighed, then began to chuckle uncontrollably. Margaret and Roxanne were doing their best to condemn her.

Joanna turned to Bruce, who stood grim-faced and tense. He would defend her against others, but against his grandmother, he was helpless. He couldn't risk agitating her.

Joanna took a deep breath. "Say whatever you want. I'm not explaining anymore."

"Tell me, what did you do last night?" Margaret demanded.

Joanna sneered, looking Margaret directly in the eye. "I did everything I could do," she declared. "And hear this: not just last night. I'll do it with Bruce tomorrow and the day after, too!" Joanna intended to rattle them.

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