Chapter 236: Mutual Non-Aggression

As Joanna pondered, Claire's call came through.

The moment she put the phone to her ear, Claire's voice filled the line.

"Justin defended you and made the Murphy family unable to stay in Harbor City. He indirectly helped me get revenge. I suppose I should thank you for that."

Claire's breakup with Ethan had a lot to do with Joanna.

Joanna had assumed Claire would hold that against her.

Hearing Claire's calm tone, Joanna felt a sense of unreality, momentarily wondering if the person on the other end was really Claire.

Then Claire spoke again, her tone apologetic. "I'm calling because I wanted to apologize to you again. I did a lot of wrong things in the past and hurt you and your family. I'm sorry."

At those words, Joanna leaned back against the headboard, saying nothing.

She could tell Claire's apology was sincere, but she couldn't bring herself to say "it's okay."

Claire had nearly cost her grandfather his life. She could never forgive that.

Claire didn't wait for Joanna's response. She continued on her own:

"When I was little, Leon always told me I had to be better than you. So I always targeted you, treated you like my enemy. Only recently did I realize—you were never my enemy."

Claire paused, then continued. "My enemy was always Leon."

Over the phone came the sound of Claire taking a deep breath. "He's morally bankrupt. He had an affair and fathered me, then resented me for being a girl. He used my mother and me as pawns, made us fight with you to distract us while he went out finding mistresses and having sons."

"He doesn't deserve to be a father. So I'm going to act like I never had one."

With that last statement, Joanna assumed Claire meant that since Leon was paralyzed, she had no intention of properly caring for him.

"You don't need to tell me all this. I stopped caring about him a long time ago. Whatever you do with him is your business."

Joanna had long ago realized Leon was the root of all evil.

She'd already cut him out of her heart. He no longer provoked any emotion in her.

Justin, by the window, turned his head at those words, seemingly curious about who she was talking to.

Joanna shifted slightly, turning her back to him.

Claire suddenly asked in surprise, "Whatever I do with him? He's not with me—he's in Justin's hands. You didn't know?"

"What?" Joanna sat up straight.

Claire asked in shock, "He didn't even tell you that?"

"What do you mean?" The moment Joanna asked, Claire realized she'd said too much.

But having come this far, Claire decided to make it clear. "Justin told me not to tell you, but... if I tell you now, I'm actually helping him, right? He shouldn't come after me for it, should he?"

"Tell me."

"Do you know who was responsible for you falling down that mountain?" Claire's tone was mocking. Joanna's heart immediately supplied the answer.

The next second, Claire confirmed Joanna's guess. "It was Leon."

Claire spoke slowly. "He hated Justin for tricking him out of all his money. He hated Justin for burning down the company warehouse and making him go bankrupt. He blamed you for everything. He thought it was because of you that Justin destroyed him."

So her biological father had decided she should die?

Joanna gripped her phone, one hand bracing against the bed frame, suppressing all emotion, trying not to appear too obvious, not wanting Justin to notice anything wrong.

She spoke in a low voice. "Go on."

"Justin nearly beat Leon to death. Considering he was your father, at least, Justin spared him and locked him up in a nursing home."

Claire speculated as she continued. "He told me not to tell you. He wanted you to think it was just an accident. I'm guessing he didn't want you to be hurt by the truth."

It wasn't just that.

Joanna understood. More importantly, Justin had nearly died. Justin didn't want her to feel guilty because of it.

Claire muttered nervously, "I promised him I wouldn't tell you, but I thought he would at least tell you that Leon was in the nursing home he manages. I didn't mean to tell you on purpose. Don't let him know. Don't let him make things difficult for me."

"Okay, don't worry."

Joanna made the promise in a low voice, a layer of frost settling over her eyes.

Claire said, "Well, now that everything's out in the open, from now on we're strangers. We stay out of each other's way."

"Fine." Joanna agreed.

Claire hung up, relieved.

Joanna sat there, clutching her phone, her fingertips white.

Leon had wanted her dead. She wasn't particularly disappointed.

She was just terrified.

What if something had really happened to Justin...

Joanna didn't dare think about it.

A sharp pain shot through her forehead. She pressed her hand against it.

Her hair had been shaved off before surgery. Now only some fine fuzz had grown back. She'd been wearing a hat ever since.

The headache was unbearable. She lowered her head, breathing deeply.

When Karen pushed open the door, she found Joanna with both hands clutching her head, looking like she was in agony.

Justin was already turning his wheelchair, moving quickly toward Joanna.

He pressed the call button at the head of the bed first, summoning the doctor, then grabbed her hands, asking worriedly, "Is it a headache?"

Her hands held in Justin's, Joanna looked up at his worried expression, then at Karen who also looked extremely anxious. Instinctively she said, "I'm fine."

Justin didn't believe her. She clearly wasn't fine.

"Who were you on the phone with? What did they say?"

Justin picked up the phone from beside the bed and lit up the screen.

Joanna hurriedly pressed down on his hand. "No one. I'm really fine. I just need to rest."

She quickly darkened the phone screen.

At that moment, Willie rushed in wearing his white coat.

Justin and Karen both stepped aside. Willie had Joanna lie flat and began examining her.

Fortunately, nothing was found to be wrong.

Willie gave her a string of instructions.

As he left, he emphasized once more: "You must avoid emotional upheaval and reduce stress."

Joanna nodded in agreement, lowering her eyes guiltily, not wanting anyone to notice what had just happened.

Karen and Justin exchanged glances. Neither pressed further.

Karen brought over a bowl of congee.

It contained minced beef and chopped vegetables, stewed together with the rice until everything was soft.

She wouldn't let Joanna feed herself, personally spooning the congee into her mouth until she'd finished a small bowl.

After the meal, while Justin was in the bathroom, Joanna asked Karen with feigned casualness, "Mom, did they find out why the railing on the mountaintop broke?"

Karen looked at her gently and sighed softly. "It was due to the railing deteriorating. The staff didn't notice in time. They've now arranged for inspections of the entire mountain. Everything's been repaired."

Karen's answer came naturally, as if she'd rehearsed it many times, having prepared her response long ago.

Joanna didn't ask further.

She claimed to be tired, pulled the blanket over her head, closed her eyes, and breathed evenly, as if asleep.

Justin came out from the bathroom in his wheelchair.

Karen looked at him, about to speak, but Justin gently shook his head at her.

"Mom, you should head back."

Karen thought for a moment and decided to listen to Justin.

After Karen gathered her things and left, Justin picked up his phone, wheeled quietly out of the hospital room, and closed the door behind him.