Chapter 4

Linda Wade had worked for Joanna for years. But two years ago, not long after Hattie's accident, she suddenly quit. Rowan told Joanna that Linda had to return home to take care of her grandchildren. Joanna couldn't get used to the food in Eldorra, and with Linda gone, she had lost her appetite completely. She dropped so much weight that Rowan had grown visibly concerned. Rowan even made international calls just to ask Linda how to cook for Joanna. Joanna still remembered the focused way he held the phone, scribbling notes, as if nothing mattered more than her next meal. Back then, it had made her feel loved. Now, looking back, it just felt pathetic. Joanna didn't remember how she left the airport or how she got back to the car. Her phone suddenly rang, the shrill sound slicing through her daze. She answered without thinking. The voice on the other end said, "Joanna, we found the guy who attacked you at the mall." Her expression turned cold instantly. "Wait for me." When she arrived, the man had already been roughed up. He was barely holding on. A few days ago, she and Rowan had gone to a luxury shopping center to pick out outfits and accessories for an upcoming gala. But while they were browsing, chaos broke out. They were attacked right there in the middle of the mall. Everyone assumed the shooter was after Rowan. His rivals were many. So his men had moved to protect him first. No one had expected the shooter was after Joanna. The bullet had grazed her calf. She had been hospitalized for two weeks and missed the gala entirely. Now, Hector Vasquez, who shot at her, hung restrained, bruised, and bloodied. When he saw her step into the room, disbelief flashed across his face. Barely clinging to consciousness, he lashed out in a burst of humiliation and rage, shouting with what little strength he had left. "Seriously! You people actually abducted me? Where the hell is Rowan? Get him here now. "He promised! He said it was over, that he wouldn't come after me. What is this, some kind of game?" Joanna's head buzzed, and for a moment, her mind went completely blank. The men surrounding her didn't hesitate. Their expressions darkened as they turned and landed brutal kicks into Hector's side. "Watch your mouth. Say one more word and I'll break your damn jaw." They kicked and punched Hector until he could barely make a sound. Calvin Shelton, one of Joanna's men, walked over to her, his brows drawn tight. "Joanna, don't listen to him. He's probably trying to stir things up." Joanna stood in a haze for what felt like forever before she finally found her voice again. A bitter smile appeared on her pale face. "What if… everything he said is true?" Calvin stared at her in disbelief. "Joanna…" "Calvin, I need to talk to him alone. Everyone out." He hesitated, clearly uneasy. But when he met her unwavering gaze, he gave a reluctant nod and motioned for the others to clear the room. Just before he stepped out, Joanna called after him. "Not a word of what happened here leaves this place. Understand?" Calvin glanced back at her, the unease still etched on his face. Something about Joanna felt different now. She was colder, sharper. But she had once saved his life. And between her and Rowan, his loyalty always leaned toward Joanna. Once the heavy door clicked shut, Joanna calmly walked toward Hector, bloodied and crumpled on the floor. "Tell me everything you know." Hector spat out a mouthful of blood. A few cracked teeth clattered into the red foam. His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Your man's side piece paid me to cripple you. Then he found out and paid me to keep quiet. That's it. What more do you want to know?" Joanna's nails dug into her palms, the pain sharp and grounding. Her face remained composed, though every muscle trembled to hold it together. On the floor, Hector's eyes gleamed with something twisted—he was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. In the next instant, while she was still dazed, a wire suddenly snapped tight around Joanna's throat. Calvin had been standing guard outside. The moment he heard the commotion, he kicked the door open without hesitation. He burst in to find Joanna with blood seeping from a wound around her throat, the wire cutting deep. His eyes flared with rage. To save her, he let Hector slip past him and disappear into the shadows. The doctor had just finished wrapping fresh bandages around Joanna's neck when Rowan stormed into the room. Sweat beaded on his brow. His eyes were bloodshot and wild with fury. The moment he saw the injury on her throat, he lost control. He slammed a nearby stool across the room, sending it crashing into the wall. "Who was it? Who the hell dared lay a hand on you? Where is he?" Rowan's voice thundered through the room. Joanna's gaze drifted slowly toward Rowan. She used every ounce of strength to focus on the man standing before her. When Rowan first arrived in Eldorra, he had no footing and no real power. He had barely held himself together. And his half-brother had already put a price on his head. Once, he had taken four savage knife wounds to the back. Blood had soaked through his shirt in seconds, pouring onto the floor like it would never stop. Joanna had carried him on her shoulders, risking her life to save him. She ran barefoot through the freezing winter streets to get him to the hospital. When Rowan came to, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her hard, like he had just realized she was the only thing keeping him alive. His forehead pressed against hers, and his voice was hoarse when he whispered, "Anna, turns out when you're dying, all you can think about is the one person you can't let go." Rowan couldn't let her go. But just a few years later, his heart had made room for someone else. Joanna's chest felt hollow, like something vital had been ripped out of her. But her expression remained calm and detached. "I'll handle it myself," she said softly.