"Mom, stop!" Kyle cut in urgently. "How can you judge Joanne without even hearing her side?"
Joanne shook her head at him, signaling him to stay calm before turning to Pamela with quiet composure. "I know you don't trust me, but I swear I wasn't with Zane for his money. Yes, our relationship went beyond professional, but it wasn't what those online rumors claimed."
Pamela shot back, "Then why were you with him? For his wealth?"
"No." Joanne chose her words carefully. "Yes, he gave me cars, an apartment, money. But none of that was why I stayed."
"So you were dating?"
"...Not exactly." She exhaled in frustration. "It wasn't that kind of relationship. We were equals. I was the one who ended things."
"And the baby?" Pamela pressed. "What happened?"
Joanne's nose stung as she forced a b
