Any person watching this scene would be weirded out, but Joanna loved it. It was as if she was born for the battlefield as she screamed the war cry loudly.
"Good… Very good!" Austin nodded his head proudly, tears in his eyes." William, are you watching this? Joanna is truly your granddaughter. She's a natural leader with a bright future!"
Jack and Sophia held each other's hands with tears in their eyes. "Our son finally made us proud. She's the best daughter-in-law anyone could ask for!"
On the other hand, Justin felt terribly guilty. 'Damn, is Grandpa serious? He gave Joanna an entire army! If he finds out the truth, I'll be in big trouble.'
The group of people got in their car and headed to a fine dining restaurant in the next city.
Sophia had already accepted Joanna as her future daughter-in-law. She had held Joanna's hand for the entire journey to the restaurant, enthusiastically pointing out every landmark they passed. "Joanna, do you see that shopping mall? It belongs to us. Oh, that building belongs to us too! Even that TV tower in the distance belongs to us. We invested in five of the local television stations."
Joanna was very impressed with the Baldwin family's capabilities – they were definitely on equal footing with the Moran family. However, the Moran family was based in the City, which had an advanced transportation system that boosted the country's economy and aided the Moran family in dominating the business sector.
Compared to the City, the next city was mainly inland with limited industrial production, so resources were usually monopolized by a few big shots who would develop and grow the country.
Both families were powerful, but because of the previous generation of descendants, they had become enemies. Fortunately, both families conquered their own sector, so there wasn't any fight for profits.
However, it now seemed that Joanna might be the reason for a war between the two families!
Austin sat at the head of the table and held up his glass of wine as he said to Joanna, "You've suffered a lot in the past few years. I heard that the Moran family treated you badly and even kicked you out of their house. You may have forgiven them, but I can't accept such rude behavior towards you. So, I have decided to declare war against the Moran family and take revenge for you!"
After speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the whole glass of wine.
Joanna, however, was terrified when she heard this. "Thank you for wanting to help me but it's fine, Grandpa Baldwin. I did everything of my own free will during my time in the Moran family, and now that I've divorced Ace, I have no connections with them anymore!"
Austin shook his head. 'You're too kind. I can't let them bully you like this. I owe William to take care of his granddaughter, so I must take revenge on your behalf!"
"I…" Joanna was flustered and thought to herself, 'Is he for real? What exactly is he planning to do?'
Before she could say anything, a waiter entered the room and stammered fearfully, "l-l'm sorry for disturbing your evening, but there's someone outside who wishes to dine with you. Would this be alright with you?"
"Who dares to make such a bold suggestion?" Austin slammed his fist on the table and scowled at the waiter. "Fine, ask them to come in. It's been a while since a person this bold appeared in the Baldwin's family territory!"
Joanna glanced at the door and was instantly curious about this mysterious person. After all, the Baldwin family was the most powerful family in the next city, but this person dared to disrespect them, so they had to be someone powerful too.
The door to the banquet hall opened and an elegant woman strolled in. She was wearing an expensive-looking silk dress and carrying a fancy Hermes handbag.
"It's been a while, Uncle Baldwin. I missed you so much that I came all the way from the City to see you. I hope you can grant me the pleasure of dining with you." Under everyone's surprised gazes, the woman placed her ten-million-dollar Hermes bag on the table and sat down at the table casually.
This elegant yet arrogant woman was none other than Joanna's ex-mother-in -law, Susan.
After processing this strange situation, Joanna blurted out, "Mom- Miss Susan, what are you doing here? This is the next city!"
She was actually implying that this was the Baldwin family's territory, not the City. The Baldwin family and the Moran family hated each other… Did this woman have a death wish?
"Oh my god!" Susan turned to Joanna, looking shocked. "Joanna, my darling daughter-in-law, it's been ages! What a coincidence! Why are you here? What did you call me earlier? Can you call me that again?"
Joanna was speechless and thought to herself, 'Didn't we just meet yesterday? And also, are we even that close?'
Sophia was the most furious among everyone at the table. She stood up, pointed at the door, and growled, "Susan, don't talk nonsense! The whole world knows your son divorced Joanna. She's my future daughter-in- law now! Leave this place – you're not welcome here!"
Susan, however, didn't back down. She slowly poured herself a glass of red wine and swirled her glass as she smiled sweetly. "Sophia, why are you so tense? We've been best friends since we were little. We used to have the same taste in things, from small things like flowers and dolls to bigger things like jewelry… and men."
"Susan, shut your mouth!" Sophia's face had darkened and her hand was reaching for the wine bottle. It seemed like she was ready to fight Susan.
Susan had been doted on by her family when she was a kid, and even as an adult, her husband and son loved her and doted on her. She had become a blissfully ignorant woman because of this, and she continued bluntly, "Back then, both of us were in love with Ace's father. Since I was older, I wanted to let you have him, but he fell in love with me and insisted on marrying me. So, I married him, and it's been 20 years since I last saw you."
"Susan, that's enough. Aren't you ashamed to talk about all this in front of the youngsters?" Sophia clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth.
If she wasn't trying to maintain her good image in front of Joanna, she would have gladly fought Susan!
"What is there to be ashamed about? We fought because of Ace's father, and your husband knows it too. It's all in the past, so there's nothing to be ashamed about."
After Susan was done speaking, she clinked glasses with Joanna and laughed. "You see, daughter- in-law? I was young once too. My love life back then was far more interesting than whatever is happening in this generation."
Joanna smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. She knew that Susan was arrogant, but she didn't know she could be so bold.
Had Susan just come here to boast about her relationships?
"How dare you!" Jack slammed the table, his face fierce as he shouted," Do you think you're in the City? This is the Baldwin family's territory. If you dare to continue this nonsense and upset my wife, then don't blame me for hurting you!"
Susan rolled her eyes and remarked sarcastically, "Oh, I'm so scared. Jack, we used to be childhood sweethearts, and your wife and I were really close when we were kids. How can you threaten me like this?"
"You!" Jack was so enraged that he clenched his fists, about to hit her.
When Joanna saw this, she immediately stood in front of Jack and calmed him down. "Uncle Jack, don't be mad. Miss Susan is known for being rude and blunt. Just think of her as an underdeveloped child, okay? There's no point in arguing with a child."
She was able to endure the years in the Moran family because of this mindset. Susan wasn't a bad person, it was just that she had an annoying personality and her words were usually harsh.
Honestly, Susan was actually a good person. Among the rich in the City, she did the most charity and would always donate lots of money to help those in need. Hence, even if Susan bullied Joanna a lot in the past, Joanna never hated her.
'That's right. Listen to Joanna. Don't get mad at a mad woman." Sophia scoffed as she and Jack finally calmed down.
Joanna turned to Susan and said, "Miss Susan, if there's nothing else, please go home. This is a family banquet, and an outsider like you shouldn't be here."
Although her words seemed harsh, she was just trying to protect Susan. The Baldwin family wasn't a tolerant family – they were like the royal family of the next city with the military in their hands.
If anything happened, Susan's identity as Mrs. Moran wouldn't help much.
"A family banquet?" Susan smiled elegantly. 'You're not family either, but you're still sitting here."
Joanna was speechless. 'I can't help her anymore!'
Susan had been protected well over the years, so she was oblivious and had absolutely no sense of danger.
Suddenly, Austin said coldly, "Susan, the Susan family was indeed connected by blood to the Moran family, but that ended the minute the Susan family married into the Moran family. Just tell me why you're here, or else, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Hearing this, Susan raised her eyebrows, put down the glass in her hand and said slowly, "If that's the case, then I'll be honest. The reason I'm here is to bring my daughter-in-law back."
Instantly, everyone became tense and their faces darkened.
" Joanna grew up in the City," Susan said confidently. 'The economy there is flourishing and everything is perfect. the next city, on the other hand, is impoverished, inconvenient, and has terrible transportation. I can't watch her stay here and suffer."
The Baldwin family's expressions were thunderous, and nobody said a word, but the atmosphere was dangerously tense.
Joanna became even more scared, and she tugged on Susan's arm and whispered, "Miss Susan, I advise you to stop talking. Why are you insulting this city?"
Susan was a really brave woman!
"I'm not insulting it, I'm just stating facts. If you look at the annual global wealth list, this City far outranks the next city. The numbers are practically on opposite ends of the list. Am I wrong for merely stating the obvious?"
Susan grabbed Joanna's hand and stood up. "Anyway, enough about the past. I can tell that Ace really likes you. Come back with me, and the two of you can have a fresh start!"
"Miss Susan, don't do this." Joanna flatly refused her request, saying firmly, 'Didn't Ace tell you? At the airport, I told him clearly that I chose Justin over him. Otherwise, I would not have come to the next city with Justin. Since my relationship with Ace has already ended, we should be giving each other space. You can't keep bothering me like this."
"It's impossible. I don't believe you!" Susan was like a stubborn child trying to fight for a toy. "You loved Ace so much before this, there's no way you can let him go just like that. I know you're angry that Ace did you wrong and the Moran family didn't appreciate you and treated you badly, but you shouldn't make the wrong choices just because you're angry. The Baldwin family are like a pack of wolves – none of them are good people. You'll only suffer if you marry into their family!"
"Susan, shut up! I've had enough of you." Sophia snarled, and turned to the door as she ordered, 'This woman is mad. She dared to cause a scene at the Baldwin family's banquet! Lock her up and let her think about her mistakes."
Soon after, two armed men in black uniforms entered through the front door, and forcibly dragged Susan out.
Seeing this, Joanna panicked and immediately stepped forward to stop them. "Hold on, let's talk it out. There's no need for violence."
Sophia smiled at her and said gently, "Joanna, it's best you don't get involved in this. Since she's in the next city, she has to abide by our rules.
Anyone who dares to insult the Baldwin family will be held inside the confession room. People will think we're afraid of the Morans if we exempt Susan from punishment!"
"But…" Joanna turned to look at Austin and Jack who were now calmly sipping wine and eating their food. It was obvious that they were the ones who intended it, but Sophia was the one to execute the plan.
It was just as the rumors said – the Baldwins were pretty much the the next city royal family, and the power they wielded was far greater than Joanna could have imagined.
Justin saw her concerned expression and said reassuringly, "Don't worry. Miss Susan is too arrogant, so we're just teaching her a lesson. Nothing bad will happen."
"That's right." Austin smiled and said, "We know our boundaries. Please continue your meal and treat the scene earlier as entertainment, don't let it ruin your mood."
Joanna finished her meal warily. She felt as if she had voluntarily walked into the lion's den.