Chapter 24

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, Bruce snorted angrily. "Grandma, what's the point of seeing her sons?"

"Oh, you stupid child," Margaret replied. "Do the math. Those two boys might be your children!"

Bruce's jaw dropped. "What? No way! That's impossible! I asked her, and she said they weren't my sons!"

"Alas," Margaret sighed, "you don't understand women at all. She hates you, and she might be saying that to anger you!"

"To anger me?" Bruce blinked, dumbfounded.

Then it hit him. He had been awful to her. It made perfect sense.

"Anyway," Margaret said, "bring the boys over for a paternity test. If they aren't your sons, so be it. But if they are, they can't wander around without a father!"

"I see" Bruce mumbled.

Five days later, Joanna moved into her new apartment. She'd cleaned it, and they were finally settled. The apartment was large and located in the city center. Besides four bedrooms and a sitting room, there were two nannies' rooms. The rent was $40,000 a month.

Although Joanna was chairwoman of the Haynes Group, she didn't have much cash on hand. She owned properties and company shares, which she could sell if needed. The money her mother left her was long gone. However, in Greyport, even a comfortable apartment could cost tens of millions of dollars.

Joanna faced a choice: comfort or life. She chose life.

"Joanna, have you seen the news?" Jaydon asked, helping her clean.

Joanna, preoccupied with her children's clothes, replied without looking up. "I'm too busy to think about anything else. Moving is exhausting!"

Jaydon smiled. "Have a look. You'll be surprised."

He handed her his phone.

After reading the comments, Joanna sighed. "Honestly, I don't want this to happen! I don't want to fight with my dad, but he left me no choice"

"Don't worry," Jaydon said. "Show your strength. Ignoring bullies only encourages them. You need to fight back to protect yourself and your children."

"You're right. Thank you, Jay!"

"Come on, you're always so polite!" he chuckled.

"But I owe you. I don't know what I'd do without you," Joanna said sincerely.

Jaydon gazed into her eyes. "Do you really want to thank me?"

"Of course!"

He smiled brightly. "Then will you marry me?"

Joanna froze, flustered. She wasn't sure if he was serious. Without children, as a younger woman, she wouldn't hesitate. But now? She didn't feel worthy of him.

Noticing her unease, Jaydon patted her shoulder sheepishly. "Just kidding!"

Joanna managed an awkward smile. "Jay, don't make those jokes. You're embarrassing me!"

Jaydon smiled gently, but her hesitation hurt him deeply. He'd never shown such tenderness to any woman but Joanna. Six years ago, on her birthday, Bruce had ruined his confession—a lifelong regret.

"I need to take some pictures of you today!" Jaydon said.

"Sure!"

"And Davian and Irvin need to be there," he added.

Joanna hesitated, then smiled in agreement.

Hours later, they were in the park. At sunset, Joanna strolled in a white dress with her sons. Jaydon captured the harmonious scene.

Haynes' house:

Days later, public opinion had completely reversed. Ingrid's past was trending online, infuriating her.

"Joanna, you're shameless!" Ingrid cursed.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Roxanne asked cautiously.

"I called the website manager's wife, and she can't do anything! Damn it!" Ingrid smashed her cup, furious. "Hire more people to write stories about Joanna! I'll crush her!"

The next day, new posts appeared:

"Joanna Haynes: A Promiscuous Woman Who Shames Her Family." "Ten Tricks Joanna Used to Steal Raymond's Legacy." "Joanna Haynes Seduces Her Brother-in-Law."

Ingrid had spent a fortune paying trolls to attack Joanna.

"She won't survive this time!" Ingrid told her daughter.

"Mom," Roxanne protested, "we've spent so much money, and it's not working!"

"You know nothing," Ingrid scoffed. "Just wait, that Joanna bitch will be ostracized by all of Greyport!"

Ingrid smirked, anticipating victory. However, the next morning, before the new stories spread, Ingrid's trolls were blocked.

(The final sentence and the "Search the FindNovel.net" are website advertising and should be removed.)