Chapter 1010


    Thssa hesitated for a moment. She gazed instinctively at Lysander, whose handsome face was as


    stoically cool as ever. He took the wine ss from her hand and looked intently across the table at


    Joshua.


    "She''s got workter. I''ll drink this one." Lysander dered, emptying the ss in one smooth motion.


    Thssa was astonished, not expecting Lysander to intercept the drink meant for her.


    His reason was because she had workter, and he was concerned that drinking might impair her


    performance.


    Was it because Atticus had mentioned earlier that he would be waiting at home for her, ready to tutor


    her on the new software and help with her workload?


    Thssa couldn''t tell if Lysander was stepping in to prevent disappointment for Atticus, who might be


    left waiting in vain if she returned home drunk and unable to focus, or if he was simply worried about


    her getting intoxicated.


    In that moment, was it Atticus, his son, whom Lysander truly cared about, or was it Thssa herself?


    After a second of astonishment, Thssa''s rationality returned. Of course, he cared about his son.


    How could he possibly care about her?


    If he really did care, he wouldn''t have put her through hell time and again, especially at her most


    vulnerable moments, without any regard for her feelings.


    "Well, it''s all the same if Lysander drinks it." Joshua said with a smile that was loaded with meaning as


    he nced between Thssa and Lysander.


    Thssa snapped back just in time to catch Joshua''s knowing smirk, full of implication and a hint of


    mischief.


    It was obvious he was relishing the drama unfolding between Lysander and her.


    Thssa''s eyes widened for a moment, feeling ufortably exposed by the tant and yet subtle


    gossip about her rtionship with Lysander, especiallying from an elder. This was a first for her.


    Feeling awkward and at a loss for words, she wanted to rify that there was nothing between her and


    Lysander, but she didn''t know where to begin.


    "Our stoic Lysander has finally surrendered. There used to be rumors saying that Lysander was not


    interested in women. Now, the rumor is proven wrong." Richard chimed in from across the table, his


    voiceced with mirth as he nced at Joshua and then looked at Lysander and Thssa with warm,


    congrattory eyes, as if they were newlyweds.


    Richard''sment amplified Thssa''s difort, turning it into unease and embarrassment.


    She had been by Lysander''s side from the start without any official status. He had never acknowledged


    her publicly as his woman.


    Her presence in his life was hidden from the light of day, yet it was a constant source of teasing.


    Thssa felt her dignity trampled underfoot, carelessly stepped on by others, leaving her scalp tingling


    with humiliation.


    "Mr. Sinir has always been interested in women. There was his ex-fiancée Charlotte Ravensong,


    and then his faithful secretary Faye Brennan who loyally stood by his side for ten years. Both left the


    scene eventually, probably when the novelty wore off." Thssa replied calmly to Richard, masking her


    inner turmoil.


    She picked up a ss of juice and took a sip, trying to cover her panic and deliberately ignoring


    Lysander''s intense andmanding presence beside her.


    Her words were a subtle counterattack. It suggested that Lysander wasn''t indifferent to women; he just


    preferred to keep his affairs private. Once the novelty faded, everyone had their exit, including


    Thssa herself.


    Joshua''s smile faltered upon hearing her words. Then, he let out a sigh that was bothmenting and


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    remember to cherish what you have."


    Sensing Lysander''s icy re and the tension rising, Richard knew he was on the verge of provoking his


    anger.


    He quickly attempted to defuse the situation. "Mr. Joshua is right. The most important thing in a


    rtionship is to cherish what you have."


    He busied himself pouring wine for Joshua and Lysander and skillfully changed the subject. "Mr.


    Joshua, have you had any luck finding those Phoenix jade pearls you mentioned?"


    "I took a look at the Draven Group''s jade auction today. There was a variety of jade and emeralds, but


    nothing that I was searching for." Joshua replied, getting back to business and taking a sip of red wine


    from his ss.


    Joshua''s main reason for returning to the country was to find a set of jade pearls he had given to a


    woman 28 years ago. The jade pearls were engraved with the image of a flying phoenix.