Chapter 10

Joanna then went to the hospital and quickly met Victor's daughter.

Naomi looked about four or five years old. Her face was pale, and her tiny frame seemed fragile. Despite the sweltering weather, she was still wearing a winter knit cap. Her big, round eyes blinked beneath it, making her seem all the more pitiful.

Joanna's memory was sharp, and Naomi's features bore a noticeable resemblance to Victor, the man who had packed Jeremy's items at Clementson Bay Villa that day.

Knowing she would soon become a mother herself, Joanna felt a deep ache in her heart as she looked around the hematology ward. It wasn't just Naomi—there were so many other sick children.

At that moment, she completely understood why Vivian had donated so much money every year to help children from impoverished families.

Even when the Thompson family was in decline, Vivian steadfastly continued her yearly contributions. Her commitment was unshakable, no matter the financial strain.

This had caused significant tension between Vivian and Joanna's parents. Since Joanna was the closest to Vivian, her parents' resentment eventually extended to her. By the end, they treated her like an enemy.

Three years ago, the Thompsons would have done anything—whether for 300 million or even three million—to push her into marrying Jeremy.

However, Vivian had kept a significant asset hidden, even from Joanna's parents. She guarded it carefully, revealing its existence only a month before her death. At that time, she transferred all of her assets to Joanna's name.

This asset was an entire pedestrian street located in the most prosperous area of Clementson City. The street was essentially the heart of Clementson City, generating rental income of five billion annually, with revenues increasing every year.

The property had originally been passed down to Vivian by her mother, but Vivian never mentioned it to anyone. When she married into the Thompsons, they were already thriving. Their family was even more influential than the Hansens were today.

Unfortunately, neither Joanna's grandfather nor her father had a knack for business. Their poor decisions led the Thompson family into gradual decline, ultimately resulting in bankruptcy.

Frankly, Vivian could have used the pedestrian street to save the Thompson family. But Joanna's parents were not only ungrateful but also greedy. They were quintessential squanderers.

So, Vivian made the painful decision to watch the family collapse, never revealing the existence of the street to Joanna's parents.

Thankfully, Vivian passed away before the Thompson family's complete downfall, sparing her from witnessing their ruin.

Although the street now belonged to Joanna as a personal asset, she didn't manage it herself. Instead, she left it in the hands of professional managers.

The immense profits generated by the street were reinvested into various ventures, compounding over time. By now, Joanna had lost track of the total value of her assets—it was an astronomical figure.

However, the portion of money Vivian had allocated annually for charity was something Joanna never touched. She continued donating it on schedule every year. But now, her perspective was shifting.

In the years following Vivian's passing, Joanna had spent her time either focused on her studies or consumed with loving Jeremy and trying to please the Hansens. Now, it was time for her to stand tall and live for herself.

As she exited the hospital building, Joanna took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Mr. Mackers," she greeted warmly when the call connected.

"Joanna, how have you been lately?" Thomas Mackers asked affectionately on the other end of the line.

He had seen the recent reports about Jeremy and Nadine. Though he was concerned for Joanna, he held back from calling her. He knew she had the resources to walk away from Jeremy and the Hansens and build a good life for herself.

Thomas had been managing the pedestrian street since Vivian's time. After Vivian passed, Joanna trusted him deeply, treating him like family.

In turn, Thomas felt an even stronger sense of duty, managing the street meticulously and ensuring Joanna's wealth grew exponentially each year.

"Thank you, Mr. Mackers. I'm doing well; there's no need to worry about me," Joanna replied with a bright smile. "I'm calling today to discuss something with you."

"What is it? Go ahead," Thomas said.

"Has this year's charity fund been donated yet?" Joanna asked.

"Not yet—it's not time," he replied with a kind laugh. "Why? Do you have a new idea for it?"

"Yes," Joanna nodded. "I'd like to establish a charity foundation specifically for children with cancer. Can you help me with that?"

"Of course, that's no problem!" Thomas sounded genuinely pleased. "How much do you plan to allocate to the foundation each year?"

Joanna thought for a moment. "There won't be a limit. As long as the applicants meet our criteria, we'll provide support."

"That's excellent," Thomas replied, clearly delighted. "This is a truly wonderful endeavor. I'll get started immediately and have all the documents drafted for your review as soon as they're ready."

"Great, thank you, Mr. Ma—"

Suddenly, Joanna felt a heavy bump against her shoulder, cutting her off. Caught off guard, her hand trembled, and her phone slipped from her grasp. It ended up falling to the ground.

She stumbled backward but was quickly steadied by Dominic, who rushed to catch her and picked up the phone.

"Joanna, is that you?" Before she could look up, a somewhat familiar voice reached her ears. Her brow furrowed slightly as she raised her gaze.

It was Nadine.

"Are you alright?" Nadine asked before Joanna could respond.

She stepped forward and grabbed Joanna's hand, her face full of apology. "I'm so sorry. I was rummaging through my bag and didn't notice you. Did I hurt you?"

Joanna glanced toward the corner, where someone was holding up their phone, clearly filming the scene. Her lips curved into a faint smile, but her eyes remained icy.

"Even if you hurt me, what do you plan to do about it?" she asked coldly.

Nadine's expression darkened instantly. Gritting her teeth, she lowered her voice. "Joanna Thompson, don't push your luck."