17.


    The atmosphere in Joe’s living room had been transformed. Kimmy’s Hello Kitty-themed birthday party was dominated by pink decorations.


    Some guests had arrived wearing red attire as per the dress code. They were rtives of Mrs. Linn, Joe’s uncles and aunts, as well as rtives of Mr. Bond.


    Their family wasn’t doing well. They envied Joe’s wealth because, among their various business endeavors, Joe was the most sessful with his jewelry designpany, “Blue Jewelry.”


    Joe was sitting with Mrs. Linn and Mr. Bond, greeting the guests. Meanwhile, Kimmy sat next to Joe, looking towards the stairs. The little girl was waiting for ra toe down.


    Shortly after, ra descended the stairs wearing a red dress. She left her long hair neatly flowing. ra’s gaze shifted to Kimmy, and she immediately approached the little girl.


    “You said Mama woulde, where is Mama?” Kimmy asked hopefully.


    ra nced at her watch. “Just wait a moment, your Mom wille, Kimmy,” ra reassured her.


    “When?” the impatient girl asked again, scanning the door but finding no one.


    “Just wait, I’ll call her!” ra whispered, reaching for her phone and immediately dialing Vivian’s number. However, after three missed calls, there was no answer from Vivian.


    “How is it?” Kimmy asked again.


    “Just wait a bit more!” ra reassured her.


    Now it was Joe’s turn to inquire with ra.


    “Are you sure Vivian wille? The party is starting in ten minutes, and there’s no sign of her!” Joe said, not too concerned about Vivian’s presence.


    “Just wait a bit more, Uncle!”


    “It seems like you’re going to lose, ra! You won’t be able to bring Vivian here!” Joe asserted. ra was too confident.


    “ra, if Mama doesn’te, will you apany me in cutting the cake?” Kimmy asked. She remembered the moment from her cousin’s party.


    “Of course,” ra replied.


    As the clock continued ticking, minutes turned into moments. Now it was exactly 1:00 PM. It was time for the birthday party to begin.


    “Look, ra! You lost, Vivian didn’te because I didn’t want her toe. A woman like her doesn’t deserve to be here!” Joe dered, feeling triumphant. Joe still loved Vivian. However, the divorce petition filed by Vivian hurt his heart and dignity. If he still behaved kindly, it was for Kimmy’s sake.


    ra sighed in frustration as her efforts went in vain. She followed Kimmy, who led her to the party area.


    All the guests who had arrived began to sing the birthday song and p their hands. Joe was on Kimmy’s right side, while ra was on her left.


    Then, it was time to blow out the candles and cut the cake.


    “Okay, for the first slice, Kimmy, who do you want to give it to?” Joe asked in his baritone voice.


    Kimmy looked at Grandma and Grandpa, then at Joe. Then, her gaze stopped when she looked at ra.


    “I want to give the first slice to ra,” Kimmy said, handing the slice of cake to ra.


    “Thank you, Kimmy!” ra epted it. Everyone looked at ra with disapproving nces. Yes, ra was just a parasite who was leeching off. That’s how Joe’s rtives viewed ra.


    The event continued with a meal together. The party ended, and one by one the guests left therge house.


    ==?==


    In the evening at 5:00 PM.


    “Where are you going, ra?” Joe asked. He was apanying Kimmy in opening her pile of gifts. He looked at ra from head to toe, focusing on the shoulder bag dangling from ra’s arm.


    “My leg has healed, I have to go back to the dorm because you’ve already paid for my expenses there until the end of the semester!” ra replied.


    “Just stay here! Because Kimmy will feel lonely if you’re not here!” Joe insisted.


    “But, Uncle, I didn’t seed in bringing Aunt Vivian here, and I also can’t stay in this house because you’ve already paid for my dorm expenses until I graduate!” ra pretended to be sad. In reality, she was jumping for joy inside.


    “Kimmy, don’t you want ra to stay here?” Joe asked his daughter.


    “Yes, Dad, I want ra to stay here!” the little girl replied.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Do you hear that? Kimmy wants you to stay here. Stay in this house, and tomorrow I’ll send someone to pick up your things from the dorm!” Joe asserted. He nced at ra with a convincing look.


    “Okay, Uncle, I’ll stay here!” ra replied with a nk expression, far different from the joy in her heart.


    “So starting tomorrow, you’ll go to school from this house! There’s a driver, or you can go with me,” Joe said. ra’s presence had changed Kimmy. The little girl, who used to be quiet, became more expressive now. Joe was sure it was all because of ra’s attention and kindness.


    “Yes, Uncle!”


    “Return your bag and study, tomorrow you have school!” Joe instructed.


    “Yes, Uncle!” ra replied, keeping her face expressionless. Slowly, ra walked back to her room. She turned the doorknob, then closed it tightly.


    “Yes!” ra shouted with joy.


    Knock, knock.


    ra turned around and opened the door. Joe was standing behind it.


    “What’s up, Uncle?” ra asked.


    “Could you apany Kimmy? I have a guest downstairs, her caregiver is in the kitchen making milk,” Joe instructed.


    “Sure, Uncle,” ra replied.


    Joe went downstairs while ra approached Kimmy.


    “Kimmy, do you like me staying here?” ra asked as she sat near the child.


    Kimmy looked at ra and nodded slowly.


    “Okay, then I’ll stay here!” ra replied, smiling as she remembered Nadia’s words from earlier-if she wanted to get closer to Uncle Joe, ra also had to get closer to Kimmy. That way, she’d be one step closer.


    The nanny, a woman named Cici, arrived with a bottle of milk for Kimmy.


    “Mrs. Vivian is here!” Cici whispered to ra.


    “Where is she?” ra asked, taken aback.


    “She’s downstairs. Mr. Joe didn’t allow her to meet Kimmy,” Cici exined.


    “Oh,” ra responded, choosing to act indifferent because she was disappointed with Vivian. Very disappointed.


    ra and Cici sat beside Kimmy and started opening gifts.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    The familiar sound of footsteps approached. Joe was standing next to ra.


    “What’s up, Uncle?” ra asked, looking up and noticing Joe’s strange expression.


    “Somebody wants to talk to you downstairs,” Joe said.


    ra stood up, meeting Joe’s gaze. Aunt Vivian?


    Joe nodded reassuringly, indicating that everything would be fine. ra descended the stairs and found Vivian sitting in the living room.


    “Auntie wants to talk to me?” ra asked as she sat in front of Vivian.


    “Yes, ra,” Vivian replied. “You’re not as innocent as I thought. You may be 17 years old, but your heart and mind are very cunning!” Vivian expressed, ending with a mocking smile.


    “What do you mean, Auntie?” ra asked, trying to contain her emotions and anger.


    “Don’t think I don’t know. You’ve liked Joe for a long time, haven’t you? And you deliberately approached Kimmy to get closer to Joe, didn’t you?” Vivian used. She had received information from one of the servants in Joe’s residence. She was both a right-hand and a spy whom she paid dearly.


    “Before Uncle Joe married Aunt Vivian, I was already close to and knew Uncle Joe. It’s natural for us to still be close to this day. And as for Kimmy, I’m justforting her. What’s wrong withforting a little girl who misses her mommy, who prioritizes her career over her own daughter?” ra replied.


    p, p, p. Vivian apuded. She stood up and moved closer to ra, then sat next to the girl.


    “You’re indeed clever at acting and shameless, ra. I know Joe has rejected you, yet you still try to get close to him! You really have no shame!” Vivian jeered, with a mocking smile. “Look at yourself, ra!” she added.


    Silence. ra’s throat tightened. There was a bitter taste there.


    “Auntie has divorced Joe, right? He’s no longer Aunt Vivian’s husband, so it’s okay for me to get close to Joe. He’s a widower and doesn’t have a rtionship status with any woman!” ra replied. The dislike for Vivian filled her heart again.


    “You’re audacious, ra. I did divorce Joe, but after getting what I want, I’ll reconcile with him! So, don’t you dare get close to Joe!” Vivian threatened. It hadn’t even been a month since their official divorce, and someone was already approaching her ex-husband.


    “If Uncle Joe is the priority, why did Aunt Vivian divorce him? Don’t be greedy, Auntie!” ra trembled, but she tried to stand up to Vivian.


    “Shut up!” Vivian shouted with emphasis.


    “Even if it’s not me, there will surely be many women who admire Uncle Joe. He’s handsome, kind, rich, and smart. Plus, he once loved Aunt Vivian wholeheartedly!” ra exined.


    “Shut up, you brat!” Vivian was provoked to anger. “Mind your words and don’t try to influence Kimmy with your foolishness!” she added angrily.


    ra looked down, honestly, she didn’t dare to meet Vivian’s gaze. “And one more thing, don’t you dare try to poison Joe’s mind with your nonsense!” she added angrily.


    “I promise not to do anything inappropriate with Kimmy because I only want to be her friend. But… I don’t promise not to get closer to Uncle Joe because I loved him even before Aunt Vivian did. Got it!” ra threatened. She stood up and left Vivian. She was trembling, but she managed to ovee her fear and confront the older woman.


    Once she reached the second floor,


    “Has she gone?” Joe asked.


    “Yes, Uncle,” ra replied.


    “Get ready, I’m taking you out to dinner. There’s something I want to discuss about what you and Vivian just talked about,” Joe instructed. He was honestly curious about what Vivian and ra discussed.


    “Yes, Uncle,” ra replied, then headed to her room. Before showering and getting ready, ra grabbed her phone and wrote a message to Vivian.


    [Aunty, I’ll soon have a special dinner with Uncle Joe. Don’t try to find out where we’ll be dining. I’m afraid you won’t be able to sleep tonight regretting divorcing Uncle Joe, my handsome CEO.]


    Click. ra sent the message to Vivian’s number.