Chapter 176


    Chapter 176 Do You Know What I’m Going to Do?


    “No,” Chloe replied.


    “Okay, let me rephrase the question. Did Joseph have something to do with you falling into the water?”


    Icarus persisted.


    The question threw Chloe for a loop. She was unsure of how to respond, so she said, “Please stop


    asking. He didn’t expect such a thing to happen either. It’s not his fault.


    It was Jane who had gone too far. However, Icarus


    misunderstood Chloe’s words and thought she was covering up for Joseph. His brow furrowed even


    deeper as he continued, “Chloe, listen to me. You need to leave him. I’ll help take care of any debts


    you owe him. I don’t want to see you treated unfairly.”


    “No, you listen to me. If you help me, yes, I may no longer owe Joseph, but I’ll owe you instead.”


    “But you don’t have to pay me back. I just want you to have a better life.”


    Chloe hesitated, locking eyes with him as he stared intensely at her. A feeling of difort washed


    over her, causing her to avert her gaze. “Don’t invest your time in me. We can’t be together.”


    She had once put in great effort to marry Jake’s uncle as a way to seek revenge, but now she had


    made her peace with it.


    Samuel became increasingly incredulous as he listened. Seriously? This guy’s trying to steal Chloe


    away despite


    knowing she’s Joe’s wife? No, I can’t allow that to happen. I have to do something!‘


    Joseph had not paid him yet, and if the rtionship between him and Chloe were to end now, based on


    what Samuel knew about Joseph’s temperament, he would not receive a single penny. He had to find a


    way to prevent that.


    “Ms. Chloe, could youe with me, please? There’s something I need to discuss with you regarding


    the case,” Samuel said.


    Chloe looked at Samuel and nodded in agreement. “All right, I’ll be right with you.”


    Samuel did not bother to hide his scrutinizing gaze as he looked at Icarus. “Sir, you don’t have to wait.


    It’s going to be a long conversation.”


    Icarus sensed Samuel’s hostility, but he was unaware of the underlying reason. However, since Chloe


    had other matters to attend to, he did not want to disrupt their conversation. With a slight nod, he took


    his leave with Jake.


    Just a few minutes after they left, Joseph arrived.


    In the lounge, Chloe proceeded to recount the entire court proceedings to Joseph, her eyes brimming


    with admiration and her voice filled with happiness. “Jojo, thanks to you, I was able to get a skilled


    lawyer like Samuel. And when did you persuade thewyer the Johnsons hired?”


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, finding the sequence of events somewhat perplexing. Nevertheless, he


    acknowledged Samuel’s considerable contribution to the case. As for the


    what happened.


    “It wasn’t Joseph. It was Gideon who chose to go against the Johnsons on the spot,” Samuel said.


    “Huh? But why?” Chloe asked, puzzled.


    Samuel chose not to delve into the details and deftly changed the subject. “Is that bespectacled


    gentleman also a ssmate of yours? But he appears to be a few years older than you.”


    “No, he’s just a friend.”


    As Chloe concluded her words, she sensed Joseph’s gaze fixating on her, and a surge of exasperation


    flooded through


    her.


    ‘Oh god, not again…‘


    “A bespectacled gentleman? Icarus?” Joseph asked.


    “Yeah…‘


    “Why was he here?”


    “I don’t know either. Perhaps he came to witness the downfall of the Johnsons. As you know, the


    Johnsons and the Coopers are no longer on amicable terms.”


    Joseph shifted his gaze, directing a cold stare at Samuel. “Tell me what happened.”


    Samuel was speechless.


    “I suppose he was here to offer his congrattions to Ms. Chloe for winning the case,” Samuel mused.


    He was not one to interfere in the affairs of others, but when it came to his good friend, he felt it


    necessary to offer a gentle reminder.


    Chloe could sense her impending doom.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    “I have another case this afternoon, so I have to go now. You guys take care,” Samuel said. While


    passing by Lucas, who was waiting by the door, he gave his shoulder a pat and added, Remember to


    transfer the payment to my ount within three days. Thank you.”


    *


    With only the two of them left in the lounge, Chloe tugged at Joseph’s sleeve and suggested, “Let’s


    leave too.


    11


    He lowered his gaze, his smile fake. “Are you feeling guilty?”


    “No, it’s just that we’re in a courthouse. If we have something to discuss, it’d be more appropriate to do


    so at home, don’t you think?” Chloe was in a good mood, her tone exceptionally gentle and soothing as


    if trying to pacify a child.


    However, in Joseph’s eyes, it seemed as if she were hiding something from him. She offered no


    exnation, no defense. Did this not imply that there was something suspicious going on between her


    and Icarus?


    As the thought surfaced in Joseph’s mind, his face turned darker and darker with every passing


    second, and the dark, sinister gleam in his eyes sent shivers down Chloe’s spine.


    ‘She’splimenting me while cozying up to other men. Hah, she really knows how to keep herself


    busy.‘


    Chloe could feel her hair standing on end under his gaze. What…What’s wrong?”


    ‘I…I didn’t do or say anything wrong, did I? So why is getting angry at me again?‘


    “Follow me,” Joseph ordered, striding purposefully toward the parking lot.


    Chloe cautiously followed behind and got into the car. Just as she was about to exin herself, Joseph


    suddenly encircled her waist and forcefully made her sit on hisp.


    Joseph tugged at his tie, his voice dripping with emotion as he said, “Do you know what I’m about to


    do?”


    As their bodies pressed closely together, a deep blush spread across Chloe’s face.


    In her nervousness, she blurted out, “You’re not thinking of… that, are you?”