Chapter 76

Ingrid had made a special trip to the Haynes Group to confront Joanna on behalf of her daughter, Roxanne. She harbored a long-standing hatred for Joanna. Joanna and Bruce's renewed entanglement threatened Roxanne's position, and Ingrid refused to tolerate it.

Upon entering the building, Ingrid unleashed a torrent of profanity.

“Damn bitch, get out here! Everyone, come look at Greyport’s most shameless woman! She specializes in seducing her sister’s man! Who do you think you are? You’re a one-of-a-kind bitch! A piece of trash! You’re desperate to latch onto a man!”

Four fashionably dressed middle-aged women accompanied her, echoing Ingrid’s insults.

“Hurry up and get out here! Joanna is a professional mistress who sleeps with men! Get out here and tell us how many men you’ve slept with! You’re so shameless. How dare you stay in Greyport! In ancient times, women like you would be whipped and paraded through the streets!”

These women, like Ingrid, had achieved wealth and status through relationships with men in their youth, explaining their lack of restraint. Their vulgar tirade alarmed the first-floor employees, who gathered to watch.

“Mrs. Haynes is here. Gosh, she’s making such an unpleasant scene!” “That’s right! How uncivilized! Why can’t they talk behind closed doors? Why make a public spectacle of a family matter?”

An old employee smirked. “This is typical Mrs. Haynes. She cries, throws tantrums, and threatens suicide when things don’t go her way. Since Miss Haynes is involved with Mr. Everett, she’s probably here to defend her daughter.”

“Hey, stop talking. Just watch the show quietly!”

Cora and Luna intervened. “Mrs. Haynes, this is a company. Please be mindful of your behavior…”

Ingrid sneered, pointing at Cora. “Little hussy, who do you think you are? How dare you tell me what to do? Do you know the Haynes Group belongs to the Haynes family? Sooner or later, it will return to us! That damn bitch shamelessly seized it and is occupying what’s rightfully ours! Where’s that damn bitch Joanna? Get her out here! I’ll expose her misdeeds to the world!”

Unable to control Ingrid, Cora called security. Several guards hurried upstairs.

Meanwhile, Bruce was attempting to seduce Joanna in his office when the commotion erupted. He was shocked and stopped, having overheard Ingrid’s insults.

Joanna sneered. “Let go of me. Your mother-in-law is here! What else do you want from me? Haven’t you put me through enough?”

Bruce stared into Joanna’s eyes. Once bright and clear, they now held numbness and exhaustion.

“Joanna, don’t be afraid. I’m here!”

“Ha, it’s because of you that I have to suffer the insults of so many people.” She recalled the intense online abuse six years ago, which nearly drove her to suicide and exacerbated her depression.

“Joanna, I’m sorry!”

“What’s the point? I beg you, stop pestering me! I’m scared. I don’t want to be insulted anymore!”

“Ignore them. Let them throw their insults.” Bruce kissed Joanna deeply.

Ingrid and her companions burst into the office. Security guards tried to stop them.

“You can’t enter the office. Leave the Haynes Group now!”

Ingrid scoffed. “Let’s see who dares to stop me! This is Mrs. Haynes! She’s the real boss of the Haynes Group! Are you guys blind? How dare you stop Mrs. Haynes!”

Her accomplices, despite their age, were well-dressed and physically assertive. They shoved the guards, who didn’t retaliate.

“Let’s go to the office and find that damn bitch!”

They stormed into the office. “Joanna, damn bitch, get out here!” Ingrid flung the door open.

Bruce sat rigidly, eyeing the intruders. Upon seeing him, Ingrid momentarily restrained her anger.

“Oh, Bruce, you’re here too!” she said sourly.

“What are you doing?” Ingrid asked, glancing at Joanna, who sat coldly behind her desk. “Bruce, you’re about to marry Roxy! What are you doing now?”

Bruce raised an eyebrow. “Need I report to you?”

(Note: I have removed the repeated promotional sentence and replaced excessive use of ellipses with more appropriate punctuation.)