Joanne stood frozen, her nails digging painfully into her palms.Anything to keep from crying.

No.

She wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not in front ofthem.

The weight of betrayal pressed against her chest, suffocating. Yes, she had planned to break up with Jonathan, butmust he do this now?Here, in public, where anyone could see?

How long had they been kissing?

It felt like an eternity.

Her insides twisted—not just from heartbreak, but from shame. And that part confused her the most.Why should I feel ashamed?She had done nothing wrong. She had come here to do the right thing, to end thingsproperly.

Just like she had wanted to with Jeffrey Winchester.

But he had vanished before she could even open her mouth.

Why do men always run from me when I try to do the right thing?

Was shethatdespicable? Was she so unworthy that they couldn’twaitto be rid of her?

Why was history so cruelly repeating itself?

After what felt like a lifetime, Jonathan finally pulled away from Valerie, though his hand lingered on her chin, his gaze locked onto hers.

Joanne clenched her jaw, squared her shoulders, and took a step forward.

Then another.

And another.

She wouldn’t stand there like a fool, letting this moment stretch any longer than it already had.

Clearing her throat, she forced her voice into a crisp, polite tone, the kind she reserved for indifferent goodbyes. "So..." She exhaled sharply, an empty smile curling her lips. "I was hoping to do this properly, but—" she gestured vaguely between them, "—you’ve certainly made it easier. So,thank you,Jonathan."

Valerie was the first to react. She stiffened, stepping back as if bracing for a storm. Joanne had expected a victorious smirk or a mocking sneer, but instead, Valerie pressed her lips together andlooked away.

Ashamed?

Sheshouldbe.

Jonathan turned slowly, his expression unreadable, but then—he bowed his head. He ran a hand over his face and shook his head, as if he couldn’t even look at her.

Yeah, feel ashamed, you bastards.

Joanne’s smile sharpened. "And you too, Ms. Porter. I sincerely wish you the best. You’ll need it." She tilted her head. "After all, you’re far more in need of a husband than I am. Nearing forty.Divorced."

Valerie’s face paled.

"Joanne..." Jonathan started, his voice taut.

Her gaze snapped to him, and the wordsdiedon his tongue. He swallowed thickly, averting his eyes.

Joanne huffed a laugh, her chin lifting higher. "Don’t worry about me,really.I’m not even thirty. I even rejectedJeffrey fucking Winchesterin the past. I can certainly do better than you,Mr. Meyer."

"Joanne, listen to me—"

"Goodbye,Mr. Meyer," she cut him off coldly. "I hope toneversee your face again."

She turned on her heel.

She was done.

Jonathan’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around her wrist.

"Jo—"

Joanne wrenched free, fire blazing in her eyes. "Fucking let go,youson of a—" She clenched her teeth, her breath shaking.

Jonathan hesitated, and for a fleeting moment, she saw it—the guilt, the regret pooling in his eyes. His lips parted, voice raw.

"I’m sorry... You deserve better, Joanne Smith."

Her throat tightened, but she refused to let it show.

She lifted her chin, biting back the lump in her throat. "Yeah," she said through gritted teeth. "Ifuckingknow that."

And without sparing him another glance, she walked away—head held high, back unyielding.

Sheneverlooked back.

-----

Nina checked her phone screen for the third time, makingabsolutely sureshe had recorded the entire thing. Every word. Every reaction.Everydelicious second of Joanne Smith’s humiliation.

What had she just stumbled upon?Was this what people meant by having Lady Luck on their side?

Because this?

This wasthe motherlodeof gossip.

Her fingers twitched with excitement as she skimmed through the footage.Jeffrey Winchester?Seriously? Did Joannereallysay she hadrejectedJeffrey Winchester?

Oh, please.

Everyone in town knew the Winchesters werefamiliarwith Joanne, but this? This was delusional. And if Joanne actually had the nerve to reject someonelike him, then maybe she truly was cursed to die an old spinster.

A smug grin spread across Nina’s face. She hadgoldin her hands. She almost hitpostright then and there, but—no.

She could make itbetter.

A littleediting, a littletrimming, and this could be amasterpiece.

A viral masterpiece!

She wanted the world to see Joannefor what she truly was—a cold, manipulative, heartlessbitch.

Even after catching her boyfriendfull-on making outwith another woman, Joanne didn’tflinch. Didn’tscream. Didn’tfight. If shereallyloved Jonathan, wouldn’t she haveat leastslapped him? Yanked Valerie Porter by the hair? Caused ascenelike any woman with a heartshould?

But no.

Instead, Joanne had just stood there,smug, bragging aboutrejectingJeffrey Winchester—like that was therealpriority here.

Unbelievable.

Joanne Smith deservedeverythingthat was coming for her.

And Nina wouldgladlymake sure of it.

-----

Joanne let the cool breeze wash over her, willing it to carry away the ache tightening in her chest. She blinked against the sting in her eyes, refusing—absolutely refusing—to let a single tear fall.

Not here. Not in front ofthem.

She needed to get this over with. Do what she came here to do andleave. She couldn’t bear to be around these people any longer. She needed space. Needed to bealone—to break down in the privacy of her own sorrow.

"Jo!"

That sweet, expectant voice cut through her swirling thoughts like a warm blade.

Then,arms around her waist.

A familiar scent. A familiar warmth.

Charlotte.

Joanne froze, the raw wound in her heart burning anew.What do I do?Just minutes ago, her father had shattered her—and nowshe was supposed to stand here and smile? Pretend shewasn’tfalling apart inside?

Charlotte tilted her head up, her hands still wrapped around Joanne’s waist, her bright eyes full of happiness.Oblivious to the wreckage left in her father’s wake.

"I thought you wouldn’t come! Why are you so late?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com