The officer's words made Lola whip her head around.
"That's impossible!"
"How could she possibly own a necklace of that quality? She's nothing but a—"
Lola caught herself, softening her tone.
"Joanna has always been so frugal. She pinches pennies on her own daily expenses. How could she afford a necklace like that?"
Paddy frowned and walked over to Joanna's side, glancing at the shattered jade fragments on the table.
The jade was dull and lusterless, cheap-looking in every way.
Paddy sighed. "Joanna, that's enough."
He pulled out a card and held it in front of her.
"There's a million dollars on this. Is that enough?"
Joanna stared at the card, and all she felt was the absurdity of it.
Paddy actually thought she was using this as an excuse to shake him down for money.
The officer looked at her. "Ma'am, the other party is willing to compensate. Do you accept the settlement?"
Joanna lifted her eyes. Her voice was soft, but unwavering.
"This was a keepsake from my mother."
Paddy froze for a moment when he heard that.
"I won't settle. I want to go through the proper legal channels."
Lola's voice cracked with a sob. "Paddy, I really didn't mean to... It's just a necklace. I can have someone buy Joanna an even nicer one..."
"But twenty-eight million dollars... There's no way that necklace was worth that much."
Paddy's frown deepened. The flicker of unease he'd felt a moment ago vanished entirely beneath Lola's crying, and his voice turned hard.
"If you insist on pressing charges, I'll hire the best lawyers for her. You won't see a single cent in damages, and you'll be on the hook for legal fees on top of it. Think carefully."
His words cut like a knife, driving straight into her chest.
Joanna drew a long breath. Her gaze swept over the two of them, cold as winter.
"I've thought very carefully."
"No matter what it costs, I will pursue this case."
Paddy watched Joanna's retreating figure, and the restlessness churning inside him refused to settle.
He had never seen her like this.
The way she'd looked at him just now. Like he was a stranger.
A sudden pang of regret hit him over what he'd said.
That night.
Joanna stood outside the door of her rental apartment, suitcase in tow.
Her phone rang.
It was the director's number.
She answered, but the voice on the other end belonged to a young girl, choked with tears.
"Joanna! Something terrible happened at the orphanage! Someone filed an anonymous report claiming we've been abusing the children... They're going to shut us down, and the land is being reclaimed..."
A sharp ringing filled Joanna's head.
"What happened?"
The girl only cried harder.
"Mrs. James hit her head during the confrontation. She's in the ER now, and the blood bank is running low... Joanna, please, you have to do something."
Joanna gripped the phone until her knuckles went white.
She'd crossed Lola today. And that very evening, the orphanage was under attack.
Only one person had the power to make that happen. Paddy.
Years ago, after Paddy was welcomed back into the Floyd family, he had voluntarily given up two percent of his shares in exchange for permanent land-use rights for the orphanage.
That day, he'd held her and said, "Your family is my family. I'll never let anyone drive them out."
He had genuinely cared for those children.
He had genuinely respected the director.
And now?
To vent Lola's frustrations, he'd torn it all down without a second thought.
A sting hit the bridge of her nose. Joanna forced herself to stay composed, but her voice still trembled.
"My blood type matches the director's. I'm going to the hospital. She's going to be fine."
