Chapter 141


    After nearly a week, Aubree finally emerged from the prosecutor’s office, her hair disheveled and her


    face dirty, a gloomy air emanating from her.


    Without the support of high-level cosmetics, her face was dark and yellow, making her look ten years


    older than she was, with several strands of white hair appearing.


    Avoiding the swarming reporters, she dared not go home in such a state, for fear that Jake would see


    her and the image she had so carefully crafted would be ruined.


    Apanied by Skyler in secret, she went to the beauty room, took a bath, changed into a new set of


    clothes, pulled out her white hair, and put on her makeup. Only then did she feel brave enough to go


    out and meet someone.


    “Don’t head back yet. Let’s go visit Grace.”


    Aubree stood before the mirror, her expression glum. “She is, after all, my biological niece. I can’t turn a


    blind eye to the fact that she has sacrificed half of her life. I must demonstrate mypassion and


    benevolence to your father.”


    For twenty-five years, she had established a certain image of herself and was determined not to break


    it!


    *Mom! Grace even attempted suicide!”


    Although Skyler loathed Grace, she still had a lingering dread when she contemted the gory


    bathroom. “Let’s not debate. whether Joseph believed her act or not. If she feigned it, if others


    discovered that it was toote, her life would be forfeited. She was really hard on herself!”


    “Ah, how could someone have found her in time?” Aubree put away the small mirror and raised her


    eyebrows in ridicule.


    Skyler was taken aback for a second. Then, it dawned on her and she eximed, “Mom! Did you


    know…?”


    Aubree, cing her index finger between her lips, motioned for Skyler to be quiet.


    She had the idea of making Grace take her own life in an extreme manner in order topel Joseph.


    In the past. Aubree employed this technique to evoke Jake’s sympathy and urge to safeguard her, and


    it worked; she was able to join the Sawle family and now enjoys the prestige she has today.


    Joseph was also deeply tormented by depression, and it was Grace who helped him out of the


    darkness.


    Were he to relive the nightmare from before, he would be reminded of the advantages of Grace time


    and again. Despite the danger, the rewards were great!


    “Even if Grace isn’t the best option, I can’t let Joseph and that despicable Chloe have any chance of


    reuniting!”


    Aubree had endured much hardship during the prosecution these past few days. At this moment, when


    she thought of Chloe, she wanted to take a bite out of Chloe’s neck. “Chloe, you dare to cross me… I,


    Aubree, swear to battle you to the bitter end! I will never let you have a moment’s peace!”


    “That’s right, that’s right! No matter how mighty Thorp Group is, she is only the mayor of that small,


    broken city of Sea Gate! Medo is still the world of our Sawle Group!”


    “In the future, we will have plenty of chances to settle the score with that hussy!” Skyler gritted her


    teeth, vowing to take revenge for those two who had shamed her!


    Upon arriving at the ward room’s door and discovering that Jake and Joseph were both present,


    Aubree put on a facade of being a good wife and mother and, with a cry, pushed open the door.


    “Grace! My dear Grace! Why are you so reluctant… to do such a foolish thing!”


    Aubree hugged Grace in front of the two families and sobbed, “Why is our Bell family’s woman so


    wretched? She was framed and formented by others… If this continues, I won’t be able to survive!”


    “Aunt… Don’t be like this…” Grace also wept like a pear blossom in the rain.


    Willow twitched in tandem with her, and her visit took on a somber tone.


    Joseph silently gazed, his face remaining impassive.


    ncing at him furtively from the corner of her eyes, Grace felt her heart tremble at his indifference.


    In the past, as soon as she started crying, he would rush to her side to providefort.


    But no trace of that gentleness was visible now.


    The affection that had been hers originally was gradually fading away, all thanks to Chloe! The three


    women embraced and wept together, while Jake’s brows were furrowed deeply.


    “Aubree. Joseph,e over here. I’ve got something to tell you.”


    A few minutester, in the reception room arrived.


    “Jake!”


    Aubree’s cheeks were wet with tears as she looked at Jake with a tender and pitiful gaze. “I thought I’d


    nevery eyes on you again. These past few days have been pure torture. Im so scared, Jake…”


    Jake saw that his wife was haggard, and he felt no heartache whatsoever.


    Despite all the negative events that had urred in the past few days, he was still very fond of her, yet


    he could not bring


    himself tofort her.


    Right now, the TV on the wall was broadcasting the news.


    At the contract signing ceremony, Oscar, President of KS Group, and Mayor Savor, Project Manager of


    Balin City, joined forces in a cooperative agreement.


    The picture captured the important moment when Oscar and Mayor Savor exchanged.contracts and


    warmly shook hands. The sh beneath the stage immortalized this special asion!


    Joseph stared intently at the screen, his veins bulging in his hand that held the teacup, his heart filled


    with an impatient dark


    fire


    Jake’s face was already pitch ck at that moment.


    Chloe, the wolf cub, just snatched away the roasted duck from his hand’


    Aubree was taken aback. She quickly embraced the man’s arm tightly and eximed, “The Thorp


    family is really something! How did the Sawle Group offend them? Not only did they take the project


    away from us, but they even sent me to jail!”


    “Why is this woman so unkind? When did the Sawle family mistreat her during the three years she was


    married to Joseph Even I showed her politeness. How can she respond to kindness with ingratitude?”


    Upon hearing this, Joseph felt extremely awkward. He leaned forward and ced the teacup on the


    table. He then raised his eyes, his expression cold. ‘Is Aunt Bell’s ‘courtesy supposed to mean that


    Chloe has to cook for you for three years?”


    Aubree was livid. She clenched her jaw. “That was Chlor’s own doing. None of us coerced her!”


    “Aubree,”


    “I’ve got something I need to tell you,” Jake said in a hushed tone


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Aubree was startled, then the man’s words reverberated in her ears like thunderbolts. “Joseph has


    been appointed as the president of Sawle Group and the vice president of the board of directors.”


    “Jake… What, what did you say? Why… Aubree was utterly stunned, her face suddenly losing all its


    color.


    Jake pursed his lips and stayed quiet for a moment.


    Joseph narrowed his pitch-ck, stone-like eyes slightly. He was well-acquainted with the connection


    between the couple. If Jake couldn’t exin it, Joseph was ready to do it for him. “Aunt Bell, you know


    why.”


    “How could a high-ranking member of the group, who had epted the prosecution’s investigation for


    bribery, abuse of authority, and corruption. remain an important member of the group?”


    “If word were to spread, wouldn’t our management be aughingstock in Medo’s business world?”


    “Chloe framed me! She took out her anger on me through my cousin and set me up!”


    Aubree’s eyes were red. She abruptly stood up. It was unclear whether she was mad or upset, but her


    eyes were dark. “It was all n’s doing! And he’s already confessed to it. This has nothing to do with


    me!”


    “I want to be the Vice Director of the Board of Directors – why can’t I?*


    Joseph’s thin lips curled up in a smirk as hezily disregarded the woman with a chicken head and


    white face. He slowly rose from his seat and exited the reception room.


    Bastard’ Bastard! This bastard!


    Aubree cursed Joseph viciously in her heart and seized Jake’s rigid arm. “Jake! I was wronged… Chloe


    had the audacity to


    cure me!”


    “You said you’d let me sit in that position… How can you give him what you promised me?!”


    “Aubree, even though I’m the chairman of Sawle Group, it’s a publicly-tradedpany. There are


    shareholders and board members, so it’s not just up to me to make a ‘promise. After what happened,


    how can I possibly back you to take that role?”


    Jake took a deep breath, slowly and forcefully withdrawing his arm from her embrace. “Besides, are


    you truly meless?”


    “Jake… You suspect me? I’m your wife! We’ve been married for twenty-five years… Don’t you know


    who I am? How can you believe those rumors?!” Aubree’s heart pounded, and she spoke more sharply


    to conceal her guilty conscience.


    Jake furrowed his brows and fixed her with a heavy gaze. Without a word, he rose and departed.


    Aubree’s soul was pierced through like a sharp bolt of lightning by that meaningful nce.


    Finished, she was finished.


    She had worked and pestered Jake tirelessly, yet the duck in her hands had still flown away!