Chapter 194
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Joanna’s heart hammered against her ribs, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She knew her meticulously planned scheme had been exposed, and Dallas could reveal her as the mastermind at any moment.
Joanna’d waited for her moment. As soon as she got the chance, she’d slipped out, clutching her stomach, pretending she had to pee. This was the suburbs–barely anyone around. A few cars flew past her, but none stopped.
If she kept running like this, she’d have nowhere left to go. Then, like a miracle, an old shepherd walked by. She rushed over and grabbed his arm. “Sir, can I please borrow your phone?”
The shepherd paused for a moment, but still handed her his phone.
Joanna snatched up the phone. She paused for a split second. Then, without wasting another moment, she quickly dialed Liana’s number. The call connected almost instantly. Tears streamed down Joanna’s face as she sobbed. “Liana, please, come save me—hurry.”
Lately, Liana had been giving Joanna the cold shoulder. She had already noticed Joanna’s many deceptions, but hearing her sob uncontrollably on the phone, her heart still melted. “Joanna, calm down. What on earth happened?”
Joanna didn’t dare to explain too much. Choking back her sobs, she managed to say, “Liana, just come here. I’ll tell you when you arrive.” After that, she sent over her location.
Without a second thought, Liana floored the gas and sped all the way to the suburbs.
She spotted Joanna by the roadside, saw she was covered in dust and dirt, and immediately jumped out of her car, her eyes wide with shock. “Joanna, what in the world happened?”
Joanna looked up, her eyes darting nervously with unshed tears. “Liana, I’ll explain later. I just need to borrow your car now.”
Joanna knew Liana inside out and had her completely under her thumb. In her mind, Liana was nothing but a fool–so gullible, she was practically begging to be used. Without another word, she hopped into Liana’s car.
“Joanna, what’s going on? Just drive safe, okay?” Liana said, her face etched with worry.
“I’ve got something urgent–I’ll explain later!” Joanna floored the gas pedal and took off. She gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles turned white. All she could think about was running. As far away as possible.
Liana muttered to herself, ‘What happened to Joanna?‘ Still lost in thought, she noticed several cars racing up from behind.
Byron and Sylvia scrambled out of their respective cars. “Mom, what are you doing here?” Byron asked.
Liana looked puzzled and said, “Joanna asked me to come here.”
Sylvia pulled Zack out of the car and anxiously added, “Where’s Joanna?”
Liana shot Sylvia a displeased look, frowned, and pulled Zack to her side. “Stop meddling all the time. Byron has legal custody of Zack. You’ve got no business dragging him around all the time.”
Sylvia’s face darkened instantly. She demanded sharply, “I’m asking you one last time–where the hell did Joanna go?”
Liana looked at Byron with a wronged expression and said, “You see how rude she is? Zero respect-”
Byron frowned and shot Liana an impatient look. “Mom, come on, where’s Joanna?”
Liana was taken aback. She hadn’t expected/even Byron to side against her. Reluctantly, she muttered, “Joanna took my car. Said she’s got something urgent.”
Sylvia’s expression darkened as she instinctively turned to Byron. “Send your men after Joanna now. Don’t let her get away.” With that, she sprinted to
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12:52 AU, TUS)
Chapter 194
her car.
Liana get annoyed. She grabbed Sylvia’s arm, saying, “I know Joanna made plenty of mistakes in the past, but can’t you just let bygones be bygones? Give her a break–stop dwelling on every little thing.”
Unable to shake Liana off, Sylvia grew increasingly frantic and furious. She seized Liana by the collar with both hands and snarled, “Do you even know what that scheming Johas done?
“And you’re still covering for her. Tell me who matters more to you, your own grandson or Joanna?”
Liana was startled by Sylvia’s sudden move, her eyes wide with shock.
Sylvia yanked Zack to her side and snapped, “All you ever think about is Joanna. Do you even realize your own grandson was just kidnapped?”
Liana was stunned and whirled to face Zack. “Zack, is this true?”
Zack burst into tears, wiping his eyes as he sobbed. “Grandma, a bad guy kidnapped me and brought me here.”
That was when Liana finally got a good look at Zack–he looked like a total mess. “Who did this?” Liana shouted in fury.
“It was your precious Joanna.” Sylvia sneered. “She’s the one who had someone do it.”
Liana shook her head in disbelief, then turned anxiously to Byron. “Byron, I just can’t believe what Sylvia said. Tell me, is it true?”
Byron nodded. “It’s true.”
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Liana’s head spun, her face draining of color in shock. Had she not heard it directly from Byron himself, she never would have believed Joanna capable of such a thing.
Sylvia sneered. “Mrs. Blair, you always boast about how smart you are, yet you failed to recognize Joanna–a wolf in sheep’s clothing–right under your
nose all these years.
“How utterly blind can you be? Your own grandson nearly lost his life because of the woman you’ve doted on day after day.”
Liana’s face alternated between pale and flushed, but she was left speechless.
Byron’s expression darkened as well. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Sylvia’s words weren’t just aimed at Liana–they were meant for him, too. “Enough talking, Sylvia. Let’s hurry after Joanna,” Byron said urgently.
With that, Byron jumped into his car and sped off with his team in pursuit.
Joanna’s car tore down the highway, picking up speed as it went, her wheels kicking up a cloud of dust behind her. ‘They are definitely chasing me,‘ Joanna thought, certain of it.
In her growing panic, things only got worse. As she turned onto a side road, her car slammed into a man riding his bike by the roadside.
‘You’ve only yourself to blame,‘ Joanna thought coldly. She didn’t bother to check–she just floored the gas and sped off.
Right behind her, Sylvia and the others gave chase–car after car speeding up to catch Joanna. Sylvia glanced out the window, but something caught her eye. She slammed the brakes, jumped out, and ran toward the man lying on the ground. “Roman! Wake up!”
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