Chapter 84

Flustered and exasperated, Ingrid lunged forward, attempting to retaliate. Joanna’s expression was cold. Before Ingrid could strike, Joanna raised her hand and slapped her again, hard. Despite her delicate appearance, Joanna had years of experience in self-defense. Her attacks, while not lethal, were more than sufficient to subdue Ingrid.

Roxanne, her pretty face contorted with fury, rushed to Ingrid’s aid. "How dare you hit Mom again?" she cried.

Infuriated by the second slap, Ingrid screamed and charged at Joanna. Joanna, however, swiftly grabbed Ingrid’s arms, delivered a hard kick to her knees, and threw her to the ground.

"I'll beat you every time I see you if you dare call my daughter a cripple again!" Joanna snarled.

Roxanne, hampered by her wedding dress, could only shout, "Stop fighting!" from the sidelines. The assistants also rushed to intervene.

The chaotic scene escalated when over ten men in black suits arrived.

"Mr. Everett is here! Mr. Everett is here!" someone shouted.

Joanna ceased her attack as Bruce Everett approached. He frowned at the spectacle before him. "What is going on here?"

Roxanne cried out, running to him and grabbing his arm. "Bruce, Joanna hit my mom!"

Surprise flickered across Bruce's face. "What happened?"

Joanna released Ingrid and stood up angrily. Seeing Bruce, Ingrid, already disadvantaged, became even more defiant.

"Joanna, you little bitch! How dare you hit me? You’ve gone too far! I’ll tell your father, and he’ll cut you off!"

"Do as you please," Joanna replied coldly.

"Oh, just wait! You shameless bitch, you're the Haynes family's jinx!" Ingrid shrieked.

Joanna raised an eyebrow. "I'll beat you again if you say another word!"

"Bruce, make her stop!" Roxanne pleaded.

Bruce stared coldly at Joanna, his expression dark. He hadn’t seen her in over a week, and their reunion filled him with inexplicable frustration.

"Joanna, I didn't expect you to be so capable," he said sarcastically. However, his anger wasn't directed at Joanna defending herself; he was furious about her perceived betrayal.

Davian ran to Joanna's side. "Mommy, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Let's go," Joanna said, starting to leave with her children.

"Stop right there!" Bruce commanded.

"What do you want, Mr. Everett?" Joanna asked.

"Hmph! You hit her and want to leave without apologizing?"

Joanna sneered. "Ha!" and turned to leave again.

"Joanna, stop!" Bruce repeated.

His bodyguards immediately surrounded and stopped her.

Davian glared at Bruce. "They bullied Mommy first! That's why she hit her!"

Irvin chimed in, "That's right! She called my sister a cripple first! She deserved it!"

Bruce sneered, his gaze fixed on Joanna. "You're not leaving until you apologize!"

"Mr. Everett, are you interfering now, too?" Ingrid asked fiercely.

"Of course," Bruce replied.

Ingrid continued, "Bruce, teach this bitch a lesson!"

"Tracy, call the police! Let's go to the station!"

Roxanne, realizing a trip to the police station would ruin their wedding photos, quickly changed her tactic. She gently coaxed Bruce, "Forget it, Bruce. We still need to take our wedding photos! Don't waste time on her!"

Ingrid sputtered, "This evil little bitch! She caused trouble six years ago, and now she's doing it again because Roxy's marrying Mr. Everett! I'll call your father and show him what kind of daughter he has!"

Joanna looked coldly at Ingrid. "I'll say this one last time: I was framed six years ago! Mr. Everett, I've never set you up!"

"Hmph! What's the point of saying that now?" Bruce scoffed.

"Forget it, forget it. We're all family. Let's stop arguing!" Roxanne intervened, subtly urging Ingrid to relent. Ingrid understood the implication; securing Bruce's presence for the photoshoot was paramount. They had more important priorities.

"Forget it. I'm fine. I won't argue with her anymore," Ingrid finally conceded.

The commotion spoiled the mood, and Joanna took her children home early.

That evening, Irvin and Davian discussed the events.

"Davian, that man, Bruce Everett, seems to be Mommy's ex-husband!" Irvin said.

"So what?" Davian replied.

"Do you think he's our dad?"

Davian was startled. "Huh?"

"Hmph! We don't want him as our dad! He's a big bully who constantly torments Mommy!"

"He's not our dad!"

Irvin tilted his head. "But Mommy's never told us who our dad is. He's probably our dad!"

"I heard he's getting engaged next month!" Davian said mischievously. "We'll send him a big gift!"

"Davian, what are you planning this time? Our last prank didn't work," Irvin said.

"I'll teach him a lesson when he gets engaged!" Davian declared.

"We can't let him marry that evil woman! If he's our dad, we can't let him marry someone else!"

"Shh, be quiet! Don't tell Mommy!"

"Okay!"

"Go to sleep!"

"Okay!"

The next day, Sunday, Joanna took her sons to Venturas.

"Lilia, be good! We're going to Venturas!"

"Okay, Davian and Irvin. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Lilia! See you next weekend!"

Jaydon accompanied them.

"Joanna, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I'd still like to bring Davian and Irvin back to Greyport to study, if possible."

"Why?"

Joanna sighed. "It's troublesome to drive back and forth every week."

"Aren't you worried about Bruce?"

Joanna smiled faintly. "I think he believes they're not his children. He won't pursue it further."

"Let's wait until the semester ends."

"Alright."

"Be good in kindergarten. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Mommy!"

"Goodbye, Mommy!"