The Ex-Con Queen Strikes Back - Chapter 186: Chapter 186

Victor bent down to chat with Adam while Skylar stood by, watching them with a warm smile.
The heartwarming scene among the three stung Joanne's eyes with jealousy as she sat in the black sedan, fuming.
The black sedan was parked by the roadside. As Victor's car drove past, it nearly brushed against the sedan.
The windows were left open, allowing Joanne to witness every moment between Victor and Adam, each word and gesture cutting straight to her heart.
Joanne gritted her teeth so hard she thought they might shatter. She had never seen Victor smile like that before. Not once. Not for her.
No matter how hard she tried, doing everything she could to please Victor, he always greeted her with an icy glare, not once softening, never sparing her even the smallest smile.
Joanne thought bitterly, 'Let alone Victor ever taking the initiative to talk to me, or even trying to make me laugh.;
Joanne seethed as she watched Victor stoop so low, cozying up to a married woman and even getting along so well with her son.
Joanne thought bitterly, 'Compared to that woman, I'm not lacking in any way. So why can Victor accept a married woman, but not me?'
Joanne's heart churned with conflicting emotions.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her long manicured nails dug deep into her palms, snapping clean in half from the pressure.
Her palms bore crescent-shaped nail marks, the flesh beneath turning white from the pressure. Yet she felt nothing.
Joanne felt like she was about to explode, her chest tight with frustration. She desperately needed an outlet to let it all out.
Joanne snapped, "Take me to a bar."
Joanne sat alone in the private booth, downing drink after drink in rapid succession.
Feeling down, Joanne called Curtis and told him to come drink with her.
It was the first time Curtis had ever seen her so down in the dumps, hitting the bar in broad daylight. He asked, "Miss Green, what's going on with you?"
"Why?" Joanne demanded through clenched teeth, her voice tight with frustration.
Joanne banged her drink down, glaring at him through red-rimmed eyes. "Why her... and not me?"
Curtis's eyebrows shot up in confusion. 'What the hell is she talking about?' she wondered.
Curtis couldn't help but ask, "Seriously, who's got you so upset?"
Curtis suddenly had a thought and blurted out, "Wait, could it be that pretty boy?" He couldn't help but answer his own question, shaking his head in disbelief.
Curtis scoffed, clearly not understanding her obsession. "Seriously? You're really this upset over some pretty boy?" he said with disbelief, "If you want him that badly, why not just have your dad pull some strings and get him for you?"
Joanne let out a cold snort. "If only it were that easy," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Curtis leaned in, intrigued. "So that pretty boy's got a powerful backer?"
"My dad says he's got powerful backing, so he's untouchable," Joanne said, taking another big swig of her drink, frustration clear in her voice. "But I checked, Caden is just some nobody who started out as an extra. He doesn't have any real connections at all."
Joanne said, "I don't understand why Dad refuses to help me get Caden. What exactly is he so afraid of?"
Curtis tried to reassure her, saying, "Your dad must have his own concerns about this."
Joanne scoffed, "What kind of concerns could he possibly have?"
Curtis asked, "Do you really want him that badly?"
"Of course," Joanne hissed through gritted teeth.
Joanne thought bitterly, 'He was the one I was crazy about from the very first moment. After everything I've done for him, how could I just walk away?'
Curtis leaned in with a sly grin. "I've got a plan."
Joanne froze mid-motion, setting down her glass with a clink. "What's the plan?" she demanded.
Curtis crooked his finger at her, a sly grin on his face. "Come closer, I'll tell you."
Joanne leaned in closer.
Joanne's eyes lit up with excitement as Curtis finished. "That's a brilliant plan!" she exclaimed.