Jasmine covered her face and stood next to Joel in a gesture of vulnerability. "Joel, she hit me."

Joel shielded her behind him. "Jazz, you've gone too far."

I looked at him, no longer with the affection I once had, only disappointment. Summoning all my strength, I slapped him hard. "I've gone too far? I not only hit her, but I also hit you."

His bodyguards moved forward to intervene, but a single look from Joel made them step back.

"Joel, my grandmother's death is on you. I spent every penny of my savings to keep you alive when you were in the hospital. And now, you make me wonder, why would someone from the wealthy Griffin family had to deceive me over such trivial matters? It's unthinkable."

Joel looked at Jasmine in confusion. "Didn't you say she left me? What's this about the medical bills, then?"

"You did give her a check. Why did her grandmother still end up dying then?"

At that, I gritted my teeth and said, "Money? Handing over a worthless check counts as money?"

Jasmine tugged on Joel's sleeve, putting on a pitiful expression as she sweetly said, "Joel, when I went through all that trouble to find you, you were alone. I thought she had abandoned you."

Joel's expression softened a bit. He patted Jasmine's head and said, "It's okay, you couldn't have known. It's just a misunderstanding."

He turned to me again, "Jazz, I'm really sorry about your grandmother. I think this is just a misunderstanding. Jasmine didn't mean any harm."

I felt nothing but bitterness. My grandmother had given him everything, even worrying about him after he disappeared and now he stood before her grave, making excuses for the person who indirectly caused her death.

I looked at him coldly, my anger rising. "Don't call me Jazz, Joel. Haven't you had enough of playing the poor man's game? Please leave. I refuse to be anyone's substitute."

Joel instinctively reached out to hug me but pulled back, his face contorting with guilt. He fumbled in his pocket and took out a bank card. "I'm sorry I deceived you, but I did love you. Here’s seven hundred fifty thousand dollars as compensation."

"The password is your birthday."

I took the card. Jasmine's face showed displeasure, but she didn't dare say anything.

“Fine, compensation it is then. Mr. Griffins, please leave. With this, our problems are settled. I wish you and Ms. Stevens a lifetime of happiness together. I just hope I never see you again.”