Joan Alden’s face turned pale. Shania didn’t want to waste a single second on him. She brushed past him and walked toward the pharmacy, where she spotted a slender figure — Serena Sterling. Serena had arrived early, and now she stood by the pharmacy door, her bright eyes filled with delight and warmth as she looked at Shania. Shania felt a warmth in her heart and quickly ran forward, "Serena!" Serena took Shania’s small hand and looked her over several times, "Shania, how much weight have you lost? Earlier, you looked like a big star surrounded by everyone, and I didn’t dare approach. Shania, you’re so beautiful now." Shania playfully blinked, "Serena, it’s all thanks to you. Your medicinal culinary recipe really worked wonders, and I must thank you properly!" Serena curled her red lips and whispered, "You’ve already thanked me, with the mandrake flower!" The two girls were chatting happily, while Joan Alden stood frozen in place. Initially, he felt proud watching Shania’s transformation. But while he was lost in thought, Shania doused him with cold water, sending him off with a "blocking dog" remark, treating him like air. Joan couldn’t even hear his own breathing — all pride and vanity vanished. At this moment, the low laughter of his colleagues surrounded him, It seems Shania really doesn’t like Joan... Joan Alden. Shania’s such a good girl. She used to bring Joan Alden meals and breakfast, yet endured his many humiliations after he fell for Yasmine Sterling. If it were me, I’d have kicked Joan Alden out long ago. They say every chubby girl is a potential gem, and now Shania’s dazzling transformation is so stunning, she’ll surely have many suitors. What do you mean by that? Are you trying to pursue Shania? Joan Alden’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, the shame of being talked about and the blow dealt by Shania kept stirring his heart, making him feel extremely embarrassed. At this moment, there was a commotion nearby, "Look, Yasmine Sterling is here!" Yasmine Sterling came! The drama on Weibo had just concluded, and the aftermath lingered. Now Serena Sterling and Yasmine Sterling appeared together for the first time, igniting a fierce flame of gossip in everyone’s eyes. Yasmine looked weary today, devoid of her usual bright colors, wearing a simple black dress, her whole demeanor faintly sickly and pale. Joan Alden composed himself and quickly approached Yasmine, "Yasmine, are you okay?" Yasmine shook her head softly, "Team Leader Zhao, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault for dragging you into this." This version of Yasmine looked pitiful, and Joan Alden quickly replied, "Yasmine, don’t say that. You’re the real innocent one." Yasmine looked at Serena Sterling ahead, her pale face showing a hint of sorrow, "Serena, it’s all my fault. I’m apologizing to you now. Will you forgive me this time? Please direct anything at me, don’t take it out on my family and friends, and certainly don’t harm them, okay?" Serena wasn’t expecting Yasmine to appear so pathetic the first time they faced each other. "Yasmine Sterling, so now you’re playing the victim, portraying yourself as an innocent party?" Yasmine stepped forward with her eyelashes fluttering, and tears began to fall, "Serena, I really... I really don’t know what I did wrong. Can you tell me what I did wrong?" "Mr. Crawford and I are old acquaintances. Everyone knows Mr. Crawford invested 1.2 billion to help The Sterling Group’s medical department through a crisis. He’s handsome, wealthy, and charming. I admit I deeply admired him, but we kept things proper. My upbringing taught me to be reserved and self-respectful. We’ve never even touched hands, so I don’t think liking him is a crime." "Now the whole internet mocks me for being overly sentimental. Everyone knows I didn’t know you were marrying Mr. Crawford and becoming Mrs. Crawford beforehand, but... I’m clueless, while you knew." "Serena, why didn’t you tell me you were Mrs. Crawford earlier so I could give up? Dad arranged the birthday party, where the sky lantern incident became widely known. You let me indulge my naive romantic feelings, cruelly standing in the corner, mocking me as this foolish romantic, then... then delivering the fatal blow. You confessed your love in front of the whole city, placing me in an awkward and embarrassing position. Do you really... really hate me that much?" Yasmine cried as she spoke, choking up several times, her face now blurred with tears, even her shoulders were trembling. Her pitiful demeanor instantly gained everyone’s sympathy. The onlookers who were merely watching gossip began to whisper, Actually, Yasmine is quite pitiful. Yeah, who doesn’t love Mr. Crawford? Serena Sterling knew Yasmine liked Mr. Crawford but didn’t reveal the truth. She staged a drama at the birthday party, and in retrospect, her trickery is formidable... indeed ruthless! Shania almost burst with anger. She had underestimated Yasmine Sterling before. Who knew she had such superb acting skills, nearly Oscar-worthy? Shania wanted to move forward, but Serena stopped her with a pull. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel·fire·net Serena looked at Yasmine now, satisfied. Yasmine had seized upon the loophole in her plan and launched a fierce counterattack. This was the Yasmine she remembered, finally displaying her true abilities. Serena straightened her slender and graceful back, her bright eyes sparkling with a fresh and radiant light. This was getting increasingly interesting. Yasmine, through her tear-blurred eyes, showed a cold calculation and scheming. Did Serena think it was over? No, this was just the beginning! "Serena, I know you hate me. You hate Dad for sending you to the countryside, leaving you with only a high school education, while I’ve become the first Chinese to study at The St. Lyra Academy in Ferelden. Fine, it’s all my fault, and I’m kneeling before you now!" With a thud, Yasmine really knelt. Yasmine’s kneeling shocked everyone, even Shania’s mouth fell open in surprise. Yasmine was truly going all out! Serena wasn’t surprised at all. Yasmine was still the same as she remembered. Even back when she was just a teenager, Yasmine knew how to endure and lie low. To gain her trust, Yasmine once got bitten by a dog while protecting her. Now, she was kneeling in public, truly someone with ambition. "Serena, I’m kneeling before you now, I’m bowing my head. Over the past days, I’ve received many things from your fans. They’ve cursed me, threatened me, even stated they want someone to violate and kill me. I’m really scared, please let me go!"