Reborn with Nothing but My Farm and Vengeance in the Apocalypse novel Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Chapter 120

Although Mr. White didn’t speak, he also looked at Joanne White with concern.

As a man himself, he knew just how ruthless a man could become once love was gone.

If Joanne never secured her official status, he was afraid that the moment Zane Simmons grew tired of her, she would be thrown out of the villa.

Joanne White’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

This was the one topic she dreaded her parents bringing up, the one subject she most wanted to avoid. She didn’t know how to answer, so she could only bite her lower lip and gently shake her head.

The more time Joanne White spent with Zane Simmons, the more she realized he wasn’t someone she could easily manipulate.

Zane Simmons seemed like a debauched, good-for-nothing playboy, and many of his business partners saw him as an easy mark. In reality, however, very few ever managed to get the better of him.

He appeared to be a philanderer who flirted with everyone, but he had never genuinely fallen for any of his companions. It was all strictly transactional.

Joanne White had always considered herself a master of manipulation. She could effortlessly wrap even a man as polished and self-serving as Austin Hale around her finger. But when it came to Zane Simmons, she found she was completely powerless.

Worse, she was starting to care more and more about Zane Simmons—perhaps due to the hormonal imbalance after childbirth.

This terrified her. She knew she couldn’t afford to catch feelings in a transactional relationship like this, yet she couldn’t seem to control herself.

’I have to keep a clear head,’ she constantly reminded herself. ’I absolutely cannot let myself get swept away.’

Seeing Joanne White lower her head in silence, both Mr. and Mrs. White’s hearts ached for her. They were well aware of the injustices she faced, but at present, there truly was no better alternative.

It was a year of cataclysm. The drought and scorching heat had persisted for a full year. Although Mr. and Mrs. White lived in what was considered a luxury apartment complex, people were still dying from the heat. Many couldn’t endure it any longer and chose to end their own lives by jumping from the rooftops.

Zane Simmons gave Joanne White a sum of money every month. Thanks to this, Mr. and Mrs. White didn’t have to worry about water or electricity. They could afford to eat rice and bread, unlike their neighbors, who were mostly subsisting on sand vine cakes.

Joanne White could only force a smile. "Mom, Dad, don’t worry," she said. "I’ll figure something out."

Mr. White nodded but still offered a word of caution. "There’s no rush. You must be patient and strategic about this. Don’t ruin your relationship with Mr. Simmons."

Mrs. White nodded vigorously. "That’s right, Joanne! It’s fine if you don’t have an official title for now. Whatever you do, don’t be hasty and get on Mr. Simmons’ bad side!"

If she tried to force the issue and angered Zane Simmons, the Simmons Family had a thousand ways to make her entire family disappear from the face of the earth.

Joanne White bit her lower lip gently and nodded. "I know, Mom and Dad."

*

Private Hospital.

The three Lancasters had walked in to see Melody Summers on their own two feet, but two of them were carried out.

Seeing that Robert Lancaster had fainted from rage and Silas Lancaster was slipping into unconsciousness from blood loss, the police didn’t press the matter. They simply reprimanded Elaine Hughes, filed a report, and warned them never to set foot in The Metropolis Residences again.

In the end, out of a sense of humanitarian duty, the police brought the family of three to the hospital.

A checkup revealed nothing seriously wrong with Robert Lancaster. Thankfully, his collapse wasn’t due to a stroke from high blood pressure; he had simply fainted in a fit of rage and would be fine after some rest.

The wound on Silas Lancaster’s leg was deep and had reached the bone.

The doctor bandaged the wound to stop the bleeding, but even with anesthetic, Silas’s body still twitched uncontrollably from the pain.

After reviewing the CT scan, the doctor frowned. "This is a bit tricky. It’s not just a flesh wound—he has a fracture in his femur."

Elaine Hughes heard this and quickly asked, "What should we do, Doctor? Does he need surgery?"

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