《Mr. Neal, Mrs. Neal鈥檚 Gone With The Money》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 It was nighttime at Sovereign Heights of Jiverton. Two people sat facing each other in the spacious and bright living room. A divorce agreementy between them. The man, wearing a well-pressed suit, had perfect facial features and an indifferent expression. His whole body exuded a strong sense of oppression. His cold eyes fell on the silent girl opposite him, and his gaze was as dark as the midnight outside. ¡°We¡¯ll get a divorce on Monday. Besides thepensation in the divorce agreement, you can ask for anything else you need,¡± Joshua Neal stated firmly, and his words were cold and his voice was low. ¡°Why so sudden?¡± Cynthia Yates¡¯ voice was cold. Joshua¡¯s response was simple. ¡°Jayleen is back.¡± Cynthia knew who Jayleen was. After a short silence, she agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Joshua paused, seemingly not expecting her to agree so readily. Cynthia opened the divorce agreement, saw the densely packed words, and remembered her past with Joshua. They had met at Jiverton¡¯s Evening Club two years ago. Both of them were heartbroken. But luckily, they found sce in each other¡¯spany over two sses of wine. Their encounter was brief, without a one-night stand, and they parted ways after their drinks. Three dayster, Joshua showed up at her door with his personal assistant Mr. Cheyne to propose marriage. She said yes. After they married, he was kind, caring, and helpful. He would help her dry her hair after she washed it and would cook soup for her when she was sick. However, six months ago, everything changed after he answered a phone call. He became indifferent and distant, and was no longer gentle. That was the day she discovered that Joshua had married her and treated her well because she resembled his lost love, Jayleen. With this thought, Cynthia pursed her lips and asked Joshua calmly, ¡°You said I can determine the compensation myself, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua answered concisely. ¡°Any kind ofpensation is fine?¡± Cynthia raised her eyes to meet his, her delicate facial features lacking their usual spirit. Seeing her eyes, Joshua felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Mmm.¡± He had already thought it over. As long as Cynthia¡¯s request was not too much, he would do his best to meet it. She had been kind to him throughout their marriage. ¡°Alright, I want the most expensive supercar in your garage.¡± ¡°Done.¡± ¡°A vi in the suburbs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The money you earned during our two years of marriage has to be split equally between us.¡± Hearing this, Joshua, who had maintained a steady expression, finally shifted his gaze. While worrying that he had misheard, he asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°The property acquired after marriage belongs to both spouses. Let me see¡­ Excluding your investments and financial management, your sry plus thepany¡¯s dividends during our two-year marriage is worth hundreds of millions. I don¡¯t want too much. A quarter of it was enough,¡± Cynthia exined seriously, without a hint of a joke. Joshua stared at her and was speechless. Cynthia continued, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll also share 40% of your ie.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua snapped and his guilt was evaporating. He could not believe he had not realized that she loved money this much. Cynthia looked up at him and asked seriously, ¡°Can¡¯t you do that?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Joshua refused without even thinking. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Cynthia said, setting her pen down. ¡°Next time you meet with your parents, just make sure they know about your infidelity in our marriage. I believe they¡¯ll be more than happy to back me up.¡± Joshua¡¯s aura cooled a bit, and his eyes narrowed like sharp knives. He had not expected this person to be such a hypocrite, pretending to be a nice and reasonable woman while they were married. ¡°Are you sure you want to talk to me like this?¡± he asked. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Cynthia replied, meeting his gaze. She knew he hated threats more than anything, but she also despised marital infidelity. ¡°Fine,¡± Joshua said, and his eyes was dark and his expression was cold. ¡°I¡¯ll give you what you want, but if the divorce doesn¡¯t go smoothly, you know the consequences.¡± ¡°Mr. Neal, are you threatening me?¡± Cynthia leaned back in her chair, while her piercing ck and white eyes was filled with seriousness. Joshua had never seen her like this before. In their two years of marriage, Cynthia had always been sensible, obedient, and gentle. She had never confronted him in such a manner. ¡°No. I¡¯ll give you the money, the vi, and the car. We¡¯ll get a divorce on Monday,¡± Joshua responded with a thin and cool voice. Cynthia rolled her eyes and spoke slowly, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Joshua¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°Come and go shopping with me tomorrow. After shopping, we¡¯ll go back to your house together and tell your parents about our divorce. As for the reason, I¡¯ll just tell them I don¡¯t like you anymore,¡± Cynthia said, seemingly unfazed by the chill emanating from him. ¡°Fine,¡± Joshua agreed. Once the conversation ended, Joshua did not want to stay there a moment longer. He left, the cold atmosphere following him. Beforeing to see her, he had thought that if Cynthia had trouble epting the divorce, he could give her more time to adjust gradually. However, now it seemed she could not wait to divorce him, and was eager to divide their assets. If Cynthia knew what he was thinking, she would probably scoff, ¡°Would she care for that little money?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be back tonight. I¡¯ll pick you up at nine o¡¯clock tomorrow morning to go shopping.¡± Joshua said as he reached the door, ¡°Make a list of the ces you want to visit beforehand.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you going to see Jayleen?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like being cheated on. You¡¯d better not sleep with her before the divorce,¡± Cynthia said, no longer pretending after their confrontation. Joshua¡¯s face darkened. He stepped back toward Cynthia and looked down at her. Unaffected by his intimidating presence, Cynthia asked, ¡°Why, can¡¯t you wait for two and a half days?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re resentful. You don¡¯t need to provoke me with words like that,¡± Joshua said, managing to stay calm. After thinking it over, he realized that if he had been in her position, he might have reacted even more extremely. ¡°We¡¯re just getting divorced and don¡¯t be enemies.¡± Cynthia remained silent. ¡°Get some rest,¡± Joshua said before leaving the room. As the door closed, the divorce agreementy quietly on the table. Cynthia stood there, motionless for a long time. To say she was not emotionally affected would be a lie. From the moment she discovered, half a year ago, that there was a third person in their rtionship, she had felt uneasy. Joshua had been her first love in her twenty-four years of life. Before that phone call, aside from being somewhat reticent, he had been a perfect husband¡ªpatient, gentle, and rarely giving her cause for concern. So when she found out that he had someone else in his heart, though she could not ept it, she asked him for a divorce and encouraged him to pursue his true love, choosing to let go of him. However, Joshua disagreed. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 His reason was simple. That was, before Jayleen returned, he needed someone to help him deal with his family¡¯s elders. Cynthia was well¨Cliked by his parents and grandfather, which made her the perfect candidate. Sometimes, she wanted to ask him a question. Did she look like a fool? Otherwise, why would Joshua assume she would be willing to help him and his elders conceal his affair? Now that he had suddenly brought up divorce, her chest felt tight. Even after half a year of mental preparation and knowing he was a scumbag, she still could not help feeling emotional. She exhaled, walked over to the sofa, sat down, and took out her phone. Cynthia opened WhatsApp and found a contact saved as ¡®Little Jerry¡®. She opened the chat that she had not used in two years and typed a message. [Look into whether Neal Group has been facing any difficulties recently, and Joshua¡­does he have a terminal illness?] Immediately after sending the message, she received a reply. [Little Jerry: !!!!] [Little Jerry: Cynthia, did you fake your death?] [Little Jerry: Wow, I never thought I¡¯d receive a message from you again in my lifetime. Where have you been these past two years? Why did you vanish without a trace?] [Little Jerry: Yo know, we almost held a funeral for you.] [Cynthia: ¡­] Chapter 2 77 She did not provide any exnation. While feeling annoyed, she simply replied with one word, [Check.] [Little Jerry: Alright!] Cynthia put her phone down and waited for a response. If Joshua was nning to divorce her because he did not want to burden her, she could forgive him and even help him. However, if he were truly a scumbag, she would not hesitate to kick him to the curb. About half an hourter, her phone buzzed with new messages. [Little Jerry: No difficulties, no terminal illness, no sickness.] [Little Jerry: Cynthia, why did you want me to look into this?] [Little Jerry: You know, Joshua is handsome, talented, and rich. You two make a good pair. You like good¨Clooking guys, don¡¯t you? Maybe you should give it a shot.] Ignoring his question, Cynthia shot back without any courtesy, [You and a dog would make a good pair.] After sending that reply, she exited WhatsApp. With no external factors at y, there was only one conclusion. That was, Joshua was indeed a scumbag! Little Jerry was left confused and bewildered. Why was Cynthia in such a bad temper? He would not get an answer to that question now. Cynthia nced at the divorce agreement on the table, hesitated for a moment, then picked up a pen and signed it. After signing, she threw it in a drawer and went to take a N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. 30 shower. When she came out of the bathroom, she found her phone disying over 99 WhatsApp messages and 32 missed calls. Cynthia was speechless. She did not have to guess that Jimmy Barnes, aka Little Jerry, had spread the news about her contacting him far and wide. Holding a towel in one hand to dry her damp and messy ck hair, she picked up her phone with the other hand to check the messages. Before she could unlock the phone, a call came in. The phone showed the caller ID, Old Man Yates. Seeing the name of someone she had not been in touch with for two years, Cynthia felt a mix of emotions. Back when she left Nexuria because of the incident involving her mother, neither of them had contacted each other. There was an unspoken understanding between them. After some hesitation, she answered the call. Cynthia¡¯s voice was faint. ¡°Hello.¡± There was silence on the other end. Just as Cynthia was about to hang up, having no patience for him, the man finally spoke, and his voice was slightly hoarse. ¡± Cyn.¡± That simple word evoked Cynthia¡¯s deepest memories. She did not stop him but asked indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I heard from Jimmy that you contacted him.¡± The middle ¨C aged man¡¯s voice continued with a hint of guilt detectable in his tone, ¡°He said you were looking into Joshua. Is there anything you need your father¡¯s help with?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia replied, not wanting to be too involved with him. Mrs. Neal paused for a moment before speaking again, ¡°So, what¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡± ¡°We¡¯re a couple on the verge of divorce.¡± Cynthia dropped a bombshell. Mrs. Neal was speechless. Divorce? Cyn? Married? ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Cynthia cut him off, not wanting to say more. ¡°Wait.¡± Mrs. Neal interjected quickly. Cynthia remained silent. The atmosphere grew tense. After a while, he asked, ¡°When are youing back?¡± ¡°That person isn¡¯t living in the house anymore. Your mother¡¯s things haven¡¯t been touched,¡± Mrs. Neal added hastily, fearing she might hang up. Cynthia¡¯s eyes flickered with emotion, but she coldly responded with the words, ¡°I know.¡± Without any hesitation, she hung up. Mrs. Neal stared at his phone, feeling a bit wronged. He had not even asked about the marriage yet¡­ Cynthia did not care what he thought. She set her phone to airne mode, dried her hair, and fell asleep in bed. It was a dreamless night for her. The next morning at eight, Cynthia got up, washed up, ate, and changed clothes. She applied light makeup that day, making her fair, and delicate skin appear even more radiant. visible upon close Her lips were full, and no lines were inspection. Her most captivating feature, however, was her pair of alluring eyes. When she smiled, it felt like she could heal everything. When Joshua arrived, he saw her already dressed and sitting on the sofa. Her shoulder¨Clength hair was tucked behind her ears, and her bangs were swept up, topped with a ck beret. Upon seeing him, she stood up and draped her coat over her shoulders. She exuded the aura of a wealthy youngdy. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Cynthia said, holding her bag. Joshua did not move. His well¨Ctailored suit entuated his slender frame. ¡°Not today.¡± Cynthia looked puzzled. ¡°I have other matters to attend to.¡± Joshua¡¯s deep voice carried a hint of indifference. His eyes could not help but linger on her for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll apany you tomorrow.¡± hapter 2. ¡°Joshua Neal,¡± Cynthia called him by his full name. He did not like being addressed this way. ¡°I put on makeup today. If you still want a smooth divorce, cancel your ns. I don¡¯t like people who don¡¯t keep their words,¡± Cynthia kindly reminded him. Joshua¡¯s gaze was sharp. After weighing the pros and cons, he stepped outside to make a phone call. Cynthia faintly heard him mention Jayleen, a hospital, and a follow¨Cup appointment. Holding her bag, Cynthia¡¯s emotions stirred, and she mentally cursed him. He was still pining for his former love at a time like this. Joshua did not notice her emotions, only thinking that she looked exceptionally beautiful today. She seemed entirely different from her usual gentle demeanor. Even her aura had changed significantly. After hanging up, he asked where she wanted to go. Cynthia named Jiverton¡¯srgest luxury mall. Instead of calling it shopping, it was more like she was stocking up. By ten o¡¯clock, four bodyguards trailed behind Cynthia, and their hands were full of items, watches, jewelry, handbags, and clothes. She had bought a little bit of everything. Joshua¡¯s hone kept receiving notifications about her payments. As he watched Cynthia enter another high¨Cend jewelry store, his face turned dark. So much for shopping and apanying her. He now understood that she was deliberately trying to make him unhappy. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡°Mr. Neal, should I book a restaurant?¡± Mr. Cheyne asked after careful consideration. Joshua pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. ¡°No need for that.¡± He knew Cynthia was venting her frustrations. If spending money made her feel better, he would let her do so. Just as he said this, another payment notification arrived on his phone, a purchase worth over four million. Mr. Cheyne and the four bodyguards kept their eyes to themselves, not saying a word, apanying him silently. Cynthia came out after making her purchases. The jewelry was naturally handed to Mr. Cheyne, who had his hands free. Just as she was about to continue shopping, Joshua¡¯s phone rang. His irritated mood eased a little when he saw the caller¡¯s name. His furrowed brow rxed, and he answered the call with an exceptionally gentle voice, ¡°Jayleen.¡± Mr. Cheyne and the four bodyguards were speechless. Had he forgotten that Mrs. Neal was still here? ¡°Mr. Neal, Jayleen had a car ident on her way to the hospital for a follow¨Cup appointment. She¡¯s still unconscious in the operating room. Could you pleasee over? She kept saying your name before going into surgery,¡± the voice on the phone sounded loud and worried. ¡°Send me the address. I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Joshua replied quickly, and his heart was tightening. After hanging up, he looked at Cynthia, wanting to exin but realizing there was no need. He simply instructed Mr. Cheyne, ¡°You guys apany Cynthia while shopping. Buy whatever she wants. If you can¡¯t carry it, have it delivered to the house in the afternoon.¡± The bodyguards replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal.¡± With long strides, Joshua left. The atmosphere became somewhat awkward when Cynthia was left with Mr. Cheyne and the other bodyguards. Feeling that he had to say something to help Mr. Neal, Mr. Cheyne adjusted his gold¨Crimmed sses and smiled. ¡°Mrs. Neal, there¡¯s no need to worry. Mr. Neal will return once he finishes his business.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Cynthia said meaningfully. Mr. Cheyne tilted his head. What? Cynthia looked at the bright and splendid decorations in the mall, then slowly said, ¡°Not only do you work day and night, but you also have to say such things against your conscience. Have you ever seen anyone leave to meet their lover but leave halfway through their date?¡± Mr. Cheyne and the bodyguards did not know what to say. For a moment, the five of them looked at her with pity. This might be the pain of marrying into a wealthy family, knowing that her husband was with another woman, yet unable to do anything. They sighed inwardly. Cynthia, amused by their reaction, said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with such pity. Any one of the items in your hands is worth your annual or even ten years¡® sry.¡± Ouch! It was a heartfelt blow to them. That was harsh, but it was the truth. ¡°Is there anything you want?¡± Cynthia asked. All five of them looked up, looking at her quizzically, unable to keep up with Mrs. Neal¡¯s unpredictable train of thought. ¡°While he¡¯s seeing his crush, I¡¯ll spend his money on things for you,¡± Cynthia said, pinching the card in her hand, and her tone was deeper than before. She had not realized that she still cared that Joshua had left her for Jayleen. At that moment, she just wanted to max out his card. Mr. Cheyne and the bodyguards stared at her in shock. Cynthia found them amusing and continued to shop with the card. She never expected Joshua to appear while they were eating suddenly, his body exuding an icy chill, his gaze sharp. Before anyone could react, he dragged Cynthia toward the parking lot, gripping her wrist with surprising strength. ¡°Bang!¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 3 4/6 Cynthia was mmed against the car, and her body ached from the impact and her brow furrowed involuntarily. What was happening? Before she could react, usatory words rang in her ears. ¡°Why did you harm Jayleen?¡± Joshua was engulfed in a raging fury, barely able to control his strength. ¡°Why did you hire someone to drive a car to hit her? I have already given you the cars, houses, and money that I promised you. What more do you want?¡± Joshua looked like he hade from hell, and his body was emitting an icy aura. Those narrow, and bottomless ck eyes were dark, bottomless and icy as if they could swallow a person whole. ¡°When did I ever harm her?¡± Cynthia was puzzled by the usation. ¡°You dare feign ignorance? You deliberately scheduled the shopping trip today to take this opportunity to have someone kill Jayleen, didn¡¯t you? You must know that even if I were dead, I wouldn¡¯t let her suffer the slightest harm,¡± Joshua spoke with a cold voice. Joshua¡¯s words were chilling, making them shiver. Cynthia was initially angry, but after hearing his words, she became calm. She looked at him, her wordsced with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re the first person I¡¯ve ever met who can rephrase cheating in such elegant words.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua was furious. ¡°If you have a problem with your brain, go see a doctor,¡± Cynthia retorted without regard for his dignity. ¡°Why would I give up my wonderful life after divorce to hire someone to kill her? What do I gain from this?¡± ¡°You tell me,¡± Joshua¡¯s tone became increasingly dangerous. Cynthia realized his thoughts. ¡°You think it¡¯s because I want you?¡± Joshua did not answer. However, his expression and attitude gave her the answer, Wasn¡¯t it?¡® ¡°What do I gain from you?¡± Cynthia continued to question him, ¡°To treat me as a substitute for your lover? Or for you to cheat on me?¡± Joshua was speechless. He found her words somewhat harsh and tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat.¡± ¡°You did,¡± Cynthia did not give him a chance to refute. Joshua frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one causing trouble for no reason,¡± Cynthia retorted. Joshua remained silent, while his deep and cold gaze was falling on her, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression as if he was seeing her for the first time. Cynthia did not want to waste time on this matter, and she did Chapter 3 6/6 not like being wronged. ¡°Just because she told you that I hired someone to hit her, you believed her?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Joshua¡¯s anger gradually subsided under her gaze, but the chill surrounding him did not dissipate. ¡°She never lies to me, and she has evidence that you¡¯re behind it.¡± Cynthia raised her eyebrows. Her grip on her purse tightened and her emotions got the better of her. ¡°Fine, get in the car. I¡¯ll go to the hospital with you to see her.¡± Joshua¡¯s icy aura dissipated with her words, not expecting her to be so cooperative. After all, if she were guilty, she would not go. For a moment, he felt conflicted, unsure whether to believe the evidence or not. || ¡°Get out of the way! Cynthia stared coldly at him, who was in her way. Joshua released his grip on her, and he looked at her, feeling distant. He felt an inexplicable irritation. Suppressing his emotions, he took out his car keys and unlocked the door. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Seeing this, Mr. Cheyne quickly came over, took the keys, and assumed the driver¡¯s role. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia opened the passenger door and sat down, not looking at Joshua again for the entire journey. Mr. Cheyne was apprehensive, fearing that Cynthia might blurt out something shockingter. He hesitated. ¡°Mrs. Neal, you¡­¡± ¡°Drive.¡± Cynthia¡¯s voice was light but cold. Mr. Cheyne nced at the rearview mirror, and seeing that Mr. Neal had no reaction, he drove out of the parking lot in silence. The atmosphere inside the car was so heavy that Mr. Cheyne felt as if he were being suffocated. Neither Mr. Neal nor Mrs. Neal seemed inclined to speak, and an icy chill emanated from both of them. While he understood Mr. Neal¡¯s temperament, Mr. Cheyne could not figure out why Mrs. Neal, who had been in a good mood just moments before, was now so cold. He kept his concerns to himself. Joshua sat in the back seat, his gaze uncontrobly drawn to the silent Cynthia in the passenger seat. He was surprised by the emotions stirring within him. Half an hourter, the car came to a stop at the hospital entrance. With a firm grip on Cynthia¡¯s wrist, Joshua led her toward the VIP ward. Cynthia said, wincing at the pain from his grip, ¡°Mr. Neal, if you keep holding me like this, you¡¯ll be charged with intentional harm in court before I even get the chance to be charged with attempted murder of Jayleen.¡± Only then did Joshua release her, revealing her now red and swollen wrist. Cynthia gave him a disdainful look, making him. feel ufortable. He felt a flicker of guilt, but it vanished when he considered the possibility that she was responsible. for hurting Jayleen. ¡°Follow me,¡± he said, averting his eyes and striding to Jayleen¡¯s hospital room. He opened the door, revealing Jayleen lying in bed. Her face lit up with a gentle smile when she saw Joshua, and she called out to him with deep affection, ¡°Joshua. 11 Joshua quickly went tofort her while Cynthia entered the room. Taking in the tender scene before her, she sarcastically asked, ¡°Do you need me to step out so you can finish your lovey¨Cdovey moment?¡± ¡°Mrs. Neal, don¡¯t misunderstand. There¡¯s nothing between. Joshua and me. It¡¯s not what you think,¡± Jayleen stammered, trying to exin. Cynthia raised an eyebrow and replied with a hint of irony, ¡°If you¡¯d let go of his hand, your words might be more convincing. 11 As she walked toward the hospital bed, Cynthia took a closer look at Jayleen¡¯s features. Jayleen appeared gentle, kind, and delicate. No wonder she upied such a special ce in Joshua¡¯s heart. Chapter ¡°Joshua¡­¡± Jayleen said with a hint of grievance, gripping his hand tighter. Cynthia saw this and understood Jayleen¡¯s intentions. Jayleen likely hoped to provoke and enrage her with jealousy. Joshua, thinking that Jayleen was afraid of Cynthia¡¯s hostility, gently patted her back with a voice much softer than usual. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here.¡± Cynthia said, feeling disgusted, ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m still here.¡± He was tantly humiliating her with his affection for Jayleen. Did he think Cynthia was easy to be pushed around? Joshua ignored Cynthia, continuing tofort Jayleen. ¡°Mr. Cheyne, how long are you going to stand there?¡± Cynthia asked, noticing him out of the corner of her eye. She was clearly on the verge of anger. Mr. Cheyne entered the room, unsure how he had been discovered. ¡°Mrs. Neal,¡± he said nervously. ¡°Take out your phone and make a record that Mr. Neal is being affectionate with another woman. I¡¯m curious if Neal Group¡¯s stock prices would be affected if news of your president, Mr. Neal¡¯s infidelity and poor conduct were to leak,¡± Cynthia said calmly. Mr. Cheyne was speechless. He could not believe what Mrs. Neal was asking of him. ¡°Joshua¡­¡± Jayleen said weakly, letting go of his hand. ¡°Cynthia, have you caused enough trouble?¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was icy, and he patted Jayleen¡¯s back to comfort her. ¡°I brought you here to apologize to Jayleen.¡± Cynthia took out her phone and started to record. ¡°I thought you called me here to catch you cheating.¡± The room fell silent at her words. ¡°What do you think would happen if I sent this to Mrs. Neal?¡± Cynthia asked, saving the recording and putting her phone. away. Joshua¡¯s expression grew darker. Cynthia could not help but notice that even with his cold, detached demeanor, his face was still quite attractive. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± he asked. ¡°Just joking. I just thought you two look great together, and the scenes I captured would make perfect screenshots,¡± Cynthia replied casually. She nced at both of them before continuing, ¡°But are you sure you want to discuss things with me like this?¡°! Joshua did not respond, clearly signaling that he would stand by Jayleen no matter what Cynthia said. ¡°Fine,¡± Cynthia said, putting her purse down. Everyone in the room was puzzled by her actions, except for Mr. Cheyne, who had a gut feeling that she was up to something. His suspicions were confirmed when Cynthia walked over to him, took his arm, and spoke in the same casual tone, ¡°Let¡¯s get this conversation over with. Mr. Cheyne and I have some things to discuss afterward.¡± Mr. Cheyne was shocked. ¡°Mr. Neal, I assure you that I have nothing to do with Mrs. Neal. I would never betray you in any (Chapter 4 way.¡± ¡°Why are you in such a rush? A grown man like you can¡¯t evenpare to Ms. Shaw¡¯s calm demeanor. Look at her, she¡¯s soposed,¡± Cynthia asked soothingly. Mr. Cheyne and Joshua were both speechless. A sh of resentment flickered in Jayleen¡¯s eyes. Joshua found Cynthia¡¯s hand on Mr. Cheyne¡¯s arm to be quite irritating. ¡°Yoel,¡± he warned. Mr. Cheyne tried to pull away from Cynthia, but to his surprise, he could not. Stunned, he looked at theposed Mrs. Neal, his mind filled with questions. How could she be so strong? ¡°Mr. Neal¡­ I swear I have nothing to do with her,¡± he said, on the verge of tears. Joshua¡¯s aura grew colder and more ominous. The next moment, Joshua grabbed a pillow for Jayleen to lean against, and his hand left hers. Cynthia raised an eyebrow, letting go of Mr. Cheyne and taking a seat. Mr. Cheyne felt like he¡¯had just survived a close call. Jayleen watched their tacit understanding, her hand unconsciously clenching beneath the nket. ¡°I heard from Joshua that Ms. Shaw used me of hiring someone to kill her, and said she had evidence. Would it be possible to see this evidence?¡± Cynthia said and her expression unreadable. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Jayleen looked at Joshua and said something ambiguous, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to Joshua¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Joshua, are you willing to show me?¡± Cynthia¡¯s beautiful eyebrows lifted slightly. Joshua looked at her feigned innocence and, without saying much, picked up a phone from the table, opened WhatsApp, and handed her the conversation after scrolling through the chat history. Cynthia took it and read the contents. [Mrs. Neal: If you help me get rid of Jayleen, I¡¯ll pay off your debt and give you another hundred thousand.] [Driver: How do I know you¡¯ll keep your word?] [Mrs. Neal: I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s wife; a hundred thousand is nothing to me.] [Driver: I¡¯ll trust you this time, but if you back out, I¡¯ll make a scene at Neal Group!] [Driver: Send me a photo.] [Mrs. Neal: Picture] [Mrs. Neal: Make it clean.] Cynthia finished reading and asked, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Joshua looked down at her, searching for a hint of panic on her face but found none. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Cynthia returned the phone, calmly analyzing the situation. 2/6 It wasn¡¯t me. With Mr. Neal¡¯s resources, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to find out who¡¯s behind this ount.¡± ¡°The ount is new and unverified,¡± Joshua replied coldly. Cynthia suggested, ¡°You can track the IP address.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes narrowed, sweeping over her. He had never known her to be particrly clever. In the past, he had always solved her problems. Now it seemed that she was a different person. ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me the IP address is hidden, are you? Cynthia prompted when he did not respond. 11 Joshua did not answer her directly but instead gave an order, Cheyne, have the tech department traced all the IP addresses associated with this ount.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Cheyne left with the phone, genuinely afraid that if he stayed any longer, Mrs. Neal would trick him again. ¡°Are you sure it wasn¡¯t you?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice remained cold, his eyes unfathomable. Upon seeing the chat logs, his first thought was that Cynthia was responsible. After all, her recent actions had shattered his previous impressions of her. The woman who did not care about money demanded so much in the divorce. Her gentle demeanor suddenly turned confrontational. Who could say whether her kindness and nonchnce during the divorce were genuine? ¡°Instead of wasting time with me, you should investigate how the hit¨Cand¨Crun driver knew Miss Shaw¡¯s itinerary for the day, ¡°Cynthia reasoned, not engaging in an argument. Before Joshua could speak, Cynthia continued, ¡°Also¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°In situations like this, the first thing you should do is call the police.¡± Cynthia reminded him, her gaze resting on his handsome face, ¡°Note after me, an unrted person.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. He did not know why, but when he found out it was Cynthia, his first reaction was to confront her instead of calling the police. For a moment, their eyes locked, and an odd atmosphere grew between them. In Joshua¡¯s eyes, all he could see was her reflection. Her usually smiling eyes blinked gently, her curledshes fluttering like butterfly wings. They maintained eye contact until Jayleen¡¯s voice interrupted Joshua¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Joshua.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I want to rest now.¡± Her simple statement carried an unmistakable undertone of dismissal. Cynthia, however, had no intention of letting her rest. She stood by the bedside, a faint curve at the corner of her lips. ¡°Before you rest, Ms. Shaw, shouldn¡¯t you apologize to me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jayleen asked and bewildered. Joshua understood Cynthia¡¯s meaning and called her name with a hint of warning. ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll set aside the issue of you seducing my husband for now. Let¡¯s discuss the fact that you falsely used me,¡± Cynthia said, unfazed. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jayleen quickly apologized, her voice full of regret as her nervous fingers tightened. ¡°I saw the name Mrs. Neal and assumed it was you.¡± Cynthia replied, giving her a taste of her own medicine. ¡°I see, I thought you might have staged this ident out of jealousy because Joshua was with me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Jayleen instinctively defended herself. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua was angry. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Can¡¯t I make a joke?¡± Cynthia chatted amiably, seemingly unbothered. ¡°Is that how you make a joke?¡± Joshua instinctively protected his beloved. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like her, but there¡¯s no need to smear her. Take it out on me if you¡¯re angry.¡± Cynthia¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she looked at him. ¡°You get so angry over a joke. Did you ever get this upset for me when she seriously told you I hired someone to hit her?¡± Joshua paused, and his deep and cold eyes were unreadable. ¡°Joshua,¡± Cynthia called him with a more formal tone. Joshua¡¯s heart felt inexplicably unsettled. He furrowed his brows, casting aside the strange emotion. ¡°Do I need to remind you that we¡¯re still bound by a marriage certificate?¡± Cynthia¡¯s emotions surfaced, and if not for her strong pride, she would have told him that she, too, had feelings when he protected another woman in front of her. Jayleen interjected at the right moment with an considerate expression. ¡°Joshua, this was my fault, so don¡¯t be mad at Mrs. Neal.¡± Cynthia was speechless. She had no interest in dealing with such low¨Clevel and innocent pretense, but that did not mean she could tolerate being trampled on repeatedly. ¡°When did our family matters be your business?¡± Her tone was indifferent and her words were light. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to see you two argue,¡± Jayleen exined. ¡°It¡¯s because of you that we¡¯re arguing,¡± Cynthia retorted. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Does an apology work now?¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Joshua was somewhat irritated, grabbing Cynthia¡¯s arm gently as he led her out. ¡°Come with me.¡± Cynthia did not linger. She grabbed her purse and followed him. Joshua pulled her to the end of the hallway, suppressing his emotions and resuming his indifferent demeanor. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°To be mean to her.¡± Joshua was speechless. ¡°I want to call her a mistress.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m the mistress?¡± Chapter 5 ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then who is?¡± Faced with Cynthia¡¯s question, Joshua could not find an answer. The atmosphere grew tense. He wanted to exin something to her, but when he saw her beautiful face filled with disdain and her once gentle eyes now void of warmth, he managed to say, ¡°You didn¡¯t use to be like this.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°Well, poor me. My husband doesn¡¯t even know my true character after two years of marriage,¡± Cynthia blurted out. Joshua was speechless yet again. Was she really not satisfied unless she provoked him? ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± He loosened his tie, grabbed her purse, and held her wrist as he walked out. Cynthia hesitated. Joshua paused as well. Both of their gazesnded simultaneously on the purse in Joshua¡¯s hand. Did he mistake her for Jayleen? That was Cynthia¡¯s first thought. Without further exnation, Joshua strode out quickly. This scene was witnessed by Jayleen, who was in the hospital room. The gentleness on her face vanished, and she did not even care about the red marks her nails left on her palms as her hands gripped each other hard. In a moment, the door to the hospital room opened. Jayleen¡¯s friend walked in, voicing her confusion, ¡°Didn¡¯t Cynthia hire someone to hit you? Why is Mr. Neal still¡­¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It wasn¡¯t her.¡± Jayleen furrowed her brows. At first, she thought Cynthia was behind the incident, as Cynthia might be worried that she was taking her ce. However, judging by Cynthia¡¯s reaction earlier, things were 1/6 not that simple. Joshua had arrived at a simr conclusion. After the driver picked them up, Joshua pulled Cynthia into the back seat with him. Before he could talk about today¡¯s events, Mr. Cheyne called, providing an update on the situation. ¡°Mr. Neal, I¡¯ve looked into the IP address. The ount¡¯s login IP address isn¡¯t in Jiverton.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. At that moment, his phone felt incredibly heavy in his hand. He knew he had wronged Cynthia. A mix of emotions filled him as he nced at the person leaning against the car window. Sunlight streamed through the half¨Clowered window, casting a glow on her face, where he could faintly see the fine fuzz. At this moment, she seemed to have shed her earlier confrontational demeanor and had reverted to the gentle, well¨Cbehaved person she used to be. ¡°Cynthia,¡± he called her, and his handsome face tinged with a hint of remorse. Cynthia had overheard the phone conversation and replied nonchntly, ¡°Mr. Neal, please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re about to apologize to me.¡± Joshua was at a loss for words. Why could she not just talk to him properly? ¡°Just because the IP address isn¡¯t in Jiverton doesn¡¯t mean I didn¡¯t have her harmed. What if I called someone else and had them bribe the driver responsible for the ident?¡± Cynthia said lightly, but her words wereced with mockery. 216 Joshua knew she was just trying to provoke him. He wanted to apologize, but the words just would not come out. After much consideration, he finally managed to say, ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t you.¡± He reasoned that if she had indeed been responsible, she would not be so calmly discussing the matter, let alone analyzing the evidence. ¡°Sure,¡± was all Cynthia said. She didn¡¯t even bother to engage with him. Joshua was puzzled. ¡®That¡¯s it? Just a ¡®sure¡®?¡® Hoping to put an end to the matter and remembering the harsh words he had exchanged with her in the parking lot and hospital room, he took out a Centurion card and handed it to her. ¡°This is my main bank card. If you¡¯re upset, feel free to use it as you please. ¡°Fine,¡± Cynthia replied as she took the card. Joshua was taken aback by her brisk response, seemingly not expecting her to agree so readily. Suddenly, Cynthia¡¯s voice rang out again, asking for more. ¡°Where are the other cards?¡± she inquired. Joshua, feeling a chill creeping over him, asked, ¡°What other cards?¡± ¡°In light of your indecent conduct at the hospital, I want you to hand over all your cards as a precaution. I¡¯ll return them on the day we divorce,¡± Cynthia said with an unreadable tone. The driver could not believe what he was hearing, and neither could Joshua. ¡°Are you unwilling to do so?¡± Cynthia challenged him. ¡°Watch yourself.¡± Joshua replied, bing angrier as the atmosphere in the car grew tense, ¡°Today¡¯s mishap was due to my poor judgment, but if your behavior these past few days hadn¡¯t been so different from before, I wouldn¡¯t have made such a mistake.¡± Cynthia was incredulous. Was he ming her? ¡°Is that so?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua confirmed. ¡°Even without the contrast, you would have doubted me without hesitation when you learned about Jayleen¡¯s ident and saw those chat logs, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Cynthia asserted with conviction. Joshua wanted to argue, but he found that her statement was not entirely wrong. Cynthia tossed the card back at him, and her mood clearly irked. She could not understand why she was so upset over someone so insignificant, especially when she already knew that Jayleen held the number one spot in Joshua¡¯s heart. Caught off guard by the card hitting him, Joshua could not even get a word in before Cynthia¡¯s voice rang out again. However, this time, her words were not meant for him. ¡°Mr. Walters, please drop me off at the next intersection,¡± she said. ¡°Alright,¡± Mr. Walters replied. Joshua, still feeling the chill, asked in a heavy voice, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to buy some walnuts to improve my brain function, ¡°Cynthia replied, having regained most of herposure. She used the most nonchnt tone to deliver the most provocative statement. ¡°Just in case being brainless turns out to be contagious. 11 Joshua was infuriated. He had never realized before that this woman could be so adept at subtly insulting people. ¡°Just keep driving. Don¡¯t stop,¡± he ordered. Mr. Walters, of course, obeyed his young master¡¯smand, and the car continued on its way toward Sovereign Heights. Joshua¡¯s chest felt tight, and any guilt he had felt toward Cynthia evaporated at that moment. Half an hourter, the car pulled up smoothly in front of the house. Before Joshua could get out, Cynthia had already grabbed her bag, opened the car door, and headed inside. By the time he reached the living room, Cynthia had retreated to the bedroom. He knew she was going in to change her clothes, so he waited there for her. Ten minutester, Cynthia emerged wearing casual clothes. Her thin bangs fell loosely over her face, making her look even more delicate and petite. She did not seem surprised to see Joshua still there, knowing full well why he had stayed. ¡°At six this afternoon, we¡¯ll go to the old vi. Pack your things in advance, and I¡¯ll have Mr. Walters pick you up,¡® Joshua announced after she had settled down on the sofa. Cynthia picked up the remote control and turned on the 6/6 television. ¡°I¡¯m not going. ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who broke the agreement first; you can¡¯t me me for this,¡± she shot back. ¡°Get your priorities straight. Which do you think is more important: shopping with you or Jayleen¡¯s life?¡± Joshua said, feeling increasingly estranged from her. Cynthia switched to a variety show. Just hearing the name¡® Jayleen¡® made her head ache. Up until today, she had always thought of Jayleen as a gentle and charming person who had a soothing smile, the girl¨Cnext¨Cdoor. However, she never imagined Jayleen to be a low¨Clevel and deceitful individual. It was disillusioning. ¡°Obviously, shopping is more important,¡± Cynthia replied to his question. Joshua¡¯s eyes grew colder, and his words came out angrier.¡± Are you trying to provoke me?¡± Cynthia did not respond. ¡°If you want to get that divorce settlement, you¡¯d better cooperate. If you really make me angry, you won¡¯t get a single cent,¡± Joshua warned, and his patience was wearing thin. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Cynthia put the remote control down, appearing indifferent. ¡± Fine, I don¡¯t want it.¡± Joshua was confused. ¡°When you¡¯re desperate to give Jayleen a legitimate status, you¡¯ll offer me a higher price to leave,¡± Cynthia said in a dead serious manner. Joshua¡¯s demeanor turned icy. No one had ever threatened him like this before; Cynthia was the first. ¡°Do you really think I can¡¯t do anything to you?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Cynthia replied, switching to another reality show. She continued earnestly, ¡°You can freeze the cards you gave me, limit my spending and freedom, lock me away in a remote ce, and even¡­¡± As her suggestions grew increasingly outrageous, Joshua¡¯s anger strangely dissipated. He suddenly found himself wanting to know. How was it possible for someone, who could now infuriate him with just a casual remark, to have been gentle for two whole years? ¡°But this way, Jayleen can only remain a hidden lover. You probably don¡¯t want her to be the subject of gossip,¡± Cynthia said. Her emotions were now under control. Even Joshua, the legend of the business world, would be subject to ridicule and mockery if his affair and keeping a mistress were exposed. ¡°Anyone who chooses their crush must have something wrong with their brain.¡± ¡°What about you, Mr. Lindley?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a scumbag, Life is a constant process of moving forward. Those who choose their crush probably can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s their past regrets, obsessions, or genuine affection,¡± Yiordan replied. His voice was warm and soothing, exuding a radiant aura. ¡°How profound.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯m reminded of a childhood friend who dumped his current partner for his first love. A total scumbag.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying online, ¡®When the ex sheds a tear, the current partner has already lost.¡°¡± ¡°Ha ha ha ha¡­¡± As the show continued, Joshua¡¯s eyes grew more intense. His gaze heavy with pressure as it fell on Cynthia, who appeared nonchnt. He seriously suspected that she was subtly mocking him. ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I can agree to your terms.¡± Joshua conceded for the sake of their divorce, discussing the conditions with her. ¡°But before cutting off contact, I need to investigate her car ident.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Cynthia agreed without pressing him further, If you need tomunicate with Jayleen during this time, have Mr. Cheyne do it.¡± Joshua wanted to refuse, but considering his parents¡® and grandparents¡® fondness for Cynthia, he agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± Cynthia said, equally eager to divorce and extremely unwilling to be around him, ¡°You go take care of your work. Pick me up. at six.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Having finished their conversation, Cynthia turned off the television and walked upstairs, wearing her slippers. The distance between the two of them seemed to grow, and their once¨Cclose hearts began to drift apart. As Cynthia closed her bedroom door, Joshua felt a strange sensation in his heart, as if he was about to lose something. Furrowing his brows, he adjusted his tie with his slender, pale fingers, which were so beautiful that they seemed like a gift from god. ncing at the closed door once more, he left the vi and headed to the company. He still had to investigate Jayleen¡¯s car ident. Cynthia took a shower and then took a nap. She was awakened by the ringing of her phone. Seeing that it was Little Jerry calling, she rubbed her slightly foggy head and answered the call, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Cynthia! Cynthia! Cynthia!¡± Jimmy excitedly repeated her name three times, his voice filled with youthful enthusiasm. Cynthia moved the phone away from her ear and only spoke when she could no longer hear his voice. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Mitchell is here.¡± ¡°Who?¡± 5/6 ¡°Mitchell Cyrus.¡± ¡°What¡¯s he here for?¡± Cynthia was puzzled. ¡°He said he¡¯s here on behalf of Chairman Yates to handle your divorce from Joshua. Did you and Joshua really secretly get married?¡± Jimmy hesitated, but his curiosity could not be contained. Cynthia pinched her tired brow. Jimmy continued to pry. ¡°Cynthia?¡± ¡°When will he arrive?¡± Cynthia asked, somewhat helplessly. ¡°Around 11 p.m. tonight. He¡¯s just leaving for the airport now. 11 Jimmy¡¯s curiosity was burning, but he did not dare to keep asking. Cynthia thought about how to stop this. ¡°Got it.¡± After saying that, she hung up the phone. When they got married, Joshua did not ask about her background. When the holidays came around, and he asked if she wanted to go back, she said she did not, and he did not ask any further. If Mitchell came, it would undoubtedly catch Joshua¡¯s attention. Jimmy stared at the disconnected call, his forehead filled with question marks. He had not even gotten an answer to his question yet. He quickly opened his WhatsApp chats. With his fingers flying across the keyboard, he began a barrage of messages. [Little Jerry: You haven¡¯t told me if you really got married.] N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Chapter 7 [Little Jerry: Why did Uncle Yates say you¡¯re getting a divorce?] [Little Jerry: What happened in these two years?] [Little Jerry: Cynthia, where are you?] Cynthia looked at the iing messages and, after careful consideration, replied, [Yes, we did. Our rtionship fell apart. ] Little Jerry could not believe it and replied, [!!!!!] Not even a series of exmation marks could express half of his excitement. Cynthia, his idol, had gotten married! It was true! [Little Jerry: Are you lying to me?] Cynthia ignored the question and added, [For now, don¡¯t spread the news. Don¡¯t let the others find out apart from you and Mitchell.] The cold sweat on Jimmy¡¯s forehead slowly umted as he looked at the others around him. How was he going to tell Cynthia? The others were already gathered around hisputer, and they knew what was going on. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 After replying to the messages, Cynthia tried to call Mitchell but could not get through. Knowing that she had to go to the old vi tonight and not wanting any surprises, she sent him at message. ¡°Text me when you arrive in Jiverton. We¡¯ll meet tomorrow.¡± If Mitchell came looking for her on his own, she would be at a disadvantage. It would be better for her to take the initiative to talk to him. She sighed inwardly. She could have refused more easily if it were old man Yates, but it had to be Mitchell¡­ Time passed quickly. By the time she got dressed and was ready to leave, it was almost six o¡¯clock. After receiving a call from Mr. Walters, she quickly left the house. When she got into the car, she saw Joshua was there as well. He was still wearing the same suit from earlier that day. His disheveled hair framed his cool, indifferent face, giving him an air of disarrayed beauty. Cynthia did not start a conversation with him, and the car smoothly headed toward the old vi. As they were almost there, Joshua finally broke the silence, considering what they had to discuss that day. ¡°If Mom asks. youter why you don¡¯t like me, what are you going to say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell her the truth.¡± ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°If you mention the Jayleen incident, my parents and grandfather won¡¯t agree to our divorce.¡± Joshua¡¯s handsome face took on a colder expression, and his eyes were covered in ayer of frost. Cynthia thought his concern was baseless. ¡°Who said I was going to mention Jayleen?¡± Joshua paused, a suspicion hanging in his mind. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I simply don¡¯t like you.¡± Cynthia exined it once more, speaking casually, ¡°I find you uninteresting and not worth it. Right now, all she could think about was Mitchell¡¯s arrival. She did not have the energy to engage in a battle of wits with Joshua. Joshua wanted to believe that she was just being spiteful, but Cynthia¡¯s reaction told him that she was serious and she truly did not like him anymore. The thought left him feeling irritable. An indescribable emotion weighed heavily on his heart, lingering for a long time. ¡°Master Joshua, Mrs. Neal, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± Mr. Walters announced, opening the car door. Joshua and Cynthia got out of the car. Just as he was about to remind Cynthia that they had to put on a show for his family before bringing up the divorce, she calmly took his arm and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Joshua could not help but wonder if she had been pretending to be clueless around him all this time. They entered the old vi, walked through the courtyard, and headed to the main building. The Old Neal Manor was simr to a hacienda, with a vast building area. By the time they arrived, everyone else had already gathered. It was just a small family dinner. Aside from the two of them, only their grandparents, parents, and the housekeeper were present. As they entered, everyone greeted them warmly. Mrs. Neal Senior, in particr, pulled Cynthia to sit beside her, and the two of them chatted happily. Observing the scene, Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly. His intuition told him that getting a divorce might not be so easy after all. ¡°Mr. Ferguson, please serve the food.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± In no time, a variety of delicious dishes were brought to the table. At first, everyone enjoyed their meal until Old Man Neal cleared his throat and broached a subject. ¡°You two have been married for two years now. When do you n to have children? ¡°There¡¯s no rush,¡± Joshua replied calmly. ¡°Did I ask you?¡± Old Man Neal seemed quite displeased with Joshua. ¡°I¡¯m asking Cynthia.¡± Joshua fell silent. Cynthia swallowed the food in her mouth before responding, There¡¯s no rush.¡± Joshua shot her a sideways nce. Was she doing this on purpose? Mrs. Neal Senior asked with concern, ¡°Is Joshua treating you badly? If he¡¯s not treating you well, just tell us, and we¡¯ll stand 11 up for you.¡± ¡°Just speak up, don¡¯t be afraid. Our family members should never have to endure wrongfulness,¡± Old Man Neal chimed in, clearly fond of Cynthia. Joshua interjected, ¡°Grandpa, I am a family member.¡± ¡°Really? I thought you married into our family,¡± Old Man Neal retorted and his feelings toward his grandson were a mix of love and exasperation. ¡°Cynthia ys chess with me, practices. calligraphy with me, and apanies me during my standing meditation. What have you done for me?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to manage the Neal Group well?¡± ¡°No.¡± Joshua did not know what to say. ¡°Grandpa, try this dish. It¡¯s your favorite.¡± Cynthia used serving utensils to offer Old Man Neal his favorite dish. ¡°Cynthia is the best,¡± Old Man Neal immediately cheered up. Joshua felt a bit redundant. He caught a glimpse of Cynthia pleasing the elders, and a hint of happiness that he did not even notice himself emerged from deep within his heart. When Cynthia first married him, Old Man Neal had not been particrly fond of her. Although his parents were polite to her, they did not genuinely like her either. Aristocratic families valued equal social status, but they had already registered their marriage, so the dissatisfaction was not openly expressed. Later, as they interacted more, Old Man Neal grew fond of Cynthia and would often call Joshua to ask if she had any free It was just a small family dinner. Aside from the two of them, only their grandparents, parents, and the housekeeper were present. As they entered, everyone greeted them warmly. Mrs. Neal Senior, in particr, pulled Cynthia to sit beside her, and the two of them chatted happily. Observing the scene, Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly. His intuition told him that getting a divorce might not be so easy after all. ¡°Mr. Ferguson, please serve the food.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± In no time, a variety of delicious dishes were brought to the table. At first, everyone enjoyed their meal until Old Man Neal cleared his throat and broached a subject. ¡°You two have been married for two years now. When do you n to have children? ¡°There¡¯s no rush,¡± Joshua replied calmly. ¡°Did I ask you?¡± Old Man Neal seemed quite displeased with Joshua. ¡°I¡¯m asking Cynthia.¡± Joshua fell silent. Cynthia swallowed the food in her mouth before responding, There¡¯s no rush.¡± Joshua shot her a sideways nce. Was she doing this on purpose? Mrs. Neal Senior asked with concern, ¡°Is Joshua treating you badly? If he¡¯s not treating you well, just tell us, and we¡¯ll stand up for you.¡± ¡°Just speak up, don¡¯t be afraid. Our family members should never have to endure wrongfulness,¡± Old Man Neal chimed in, clearly fond of Cynthia. Joshua interjected, ¡°Grandpa, I am a family member.¡± ¡°Really? I thought you married into our family,¡± Old Man Neal retorted and his feelings toward his grandson were a mix of love and exasperation. ¡°Cynthia ys chess with me, practices. calligraphy with me, and apanies me during my standing meditation. What have you done for me?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to manage the Neal Group well?¡± ¡°No.¡± Joshua did not know what to say. ¡°Grandpa, try this dish. It¡¯s your favorite.¡± Cynthia used serving utensils to offer Old Man Neal his favorite dish. ¡°Cynthia is the best,¡± Old Man Neal immediately cheered up. Joshua felt a bit redundant. He caught a glimpse of Cynthia pleasing the elders, and a hint of happiness that he did not even notice himself emerged from deep within his heart. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. When Cynthia first married him, Old Man Neal had not been particrly fond of her. Although his parents were polite to her, they did not genuinely like her either. Aristocratic families valued equal social status, but they had already registered their marriage, so the dissatisfaction was not openly expressed. Later, as they interacted more, Old Man Neal grew fond of Cynthia and would often call Joshua to ask if she had any free time. Joshua, who spent most of his time at thepany, simply gave them each other¡¯s numbers and let them contact one another directly. He was not sure what had transpired between them, but their rtionship grew stronger. One thing was certain, earning such affection from Old Man Neal was not achieved merely by being sweet¨Ctalking or tactful. Throughout the meal, the atmosphere remained pleasant, thanks to Cynthia¡¯s efforts. Cynthia knew that once the dinner was over, it would be time to discuss certain matters that were not suitable for the dinner table. ¡°Joshua, go to the kitchen and prepare some fruit for Cynthia. Do it yourself,¡± Mrs. Neal instructed with a gentle and elegant demeanor. Joshua nced at Cynthia and gave a slight nod. ¡°Alright.¡± With Joshua gone, Old Man Neal and Mrs. Neal Senior turned their attention to Cynthia. Neal Senior pretended to read his newspaper, asionally eavesdropping, the quintessential onlooker. ¡°Cynthia, be honest with me. Is there any special reason why you two haven¡¯t had a child after all this time?¡± Mrs. Neal inquired delicately. Cynthia hesitated for a moment. Before Cynthia could react, Mrs. Neal Senior blurted out, ¡± Does Joshua have any fertility problems?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia stammered, unsure how to respond. ¡°You don¡¯t need to cover for him. No children after all this Cropter time must mean that the young man is incapable,¡± Old Man Neal, dressed in a traditional suit, said kindly but firmly. Cynthia and Joshua, who had just returned with the fruit, did not know what to say. Neal Senior caught a glimpse of Joshua and raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a meaningful gaze. ¡°Son, are you not up to the task?¡± Joshua¡¯s face darkened. ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s not up to it.¡± ¡°Where would you be if I wasn¡¯t up to it?¡± Neal Senior retorted, proving that oldies were goldies. Joshua did not know how to respond. ¡°What are you waiting for, Joshua?¡± Old Man Neal¡¯s tone became stern, as if Joshua was adopted. ¡°Serve the fruit to Cynthia.¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Resigned, Joshua ced the fruit in front of Cynthia and sat down next to her. Before he could remind Cynthia to discuss. their divorce, Old Man Neal spoke again, ¡°Don¡¯t you see that Cynthia is too shy to eat? You¡¯re not very attentive as at husband.¡± ¡°Am I adopted?¡± Joshua finally asked. Mrs. Neal replied, ¡°No.¡± Neal Senior joked, ¡°You came as a free gift for our credit card.¡± Cynthia sensed the time was right and broached the subject. Mother¨Cinw, Father¨Cinw, Grandpa, actually, we came here today to discuss something important with you.¡± ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± ¡°How many months?¡± ¡°When did this happen?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior and Old Man Neal fired off their questions, one after the other. Seeing the hope and happiness in their eyes, Cynthia found it difficult to break the news, but she finally said, ¡°I¡¯m nning to divorce Joshua.¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, the atmosphere turned cold. Mrs. Neal Senior¡¯s hand froze mid¨C air while reaching for fruit, Old Man Neal¡¯s smile gradually vanished, and even Neal. Senior, who had been disinterested, put down his newspaper. It was clear just how shocking this news was to them. ¡°Why do you suddenly want a divorce?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior 2/6 asked after a long pause. ¡°It¡¯s because of me.¡± Cynthia took responsibility, aiming to quickly close the matter. ¡°I don¡¯t love him anymore.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Mrs. Neal Senior replied, ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine.¡± Old Man Neal breathed a sigh of relief. Old Man Neal¡¯s gaze swept over Joshua, mysterious and enigmatic. ¡°You can divorce him. Your father and I will teach you how to manage thepany, and you¡¯ll be the president of the Neal Group,¡± he said decisively. To everyone present, falling out of love seemed like a minor issue. Feelings could be cultivated, and as long as there were no other significant problems, they could keep Cynthia with them. Joshua, who had been sidelined, finally spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re not joking. The divorce process is already underway. We¡¯ll submit the divorce application on Monday, and once the cool¨Coff period is over, we¡¯ll get our divorce certificate.¡± ¡°Did we ask you to speak?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior snapped, clearly angry. Joshua made his position clear. ¡°We only came back to inform you.¡± Old Man Neal quickly grasped the key point. ¡°So, it¡¯s you who wants the divorce, not Cynthia? You had a whirlwind marriage with her, and now you want a divorce. Do you have any sense of responsibility as a man?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior asked, ¡°Why did you marry Cynthia in the first ce?¡± Chapterg Old Man Neal interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it was love at first sight.¡± Neal Senior added, ¡°You didn¡¯t use Cynthia as a substitute for someone else, did you?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior and Old Man Neal turned to Neal Senior in unison, their expressions solemn. ¡°A substitute for whom?¡± Joshua was speechless. Was he really his father? Cynthia, knowing that saying more would only lead to trouble, did not borate on the details. ¡°It was me who brought up the divorce. It has nothing to do with Joshua.¡± With her serious tone and sincere attitude, everyone realized that Cynthia was not joking. They wanted to mediate, but upon noticing the invisible rift between Cynthia and Joshua, they understood that some unknown conflicts might have arisen between the two. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Cynthia did not say anything more and waited for the elders to respond. Mrs. Neal Senior began, holding Cynthia¡¯s hand, genuinely fond of her. ¡°How about this? Divorce is no small matter. Let¡¯s call your parents over and discuss it together. If they can¡¯t make it, we can go to them.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been two years since they got married, and this brat has never bothered to visit Cynthia¡¯s parents. Whether they divorce or not, we should at least meet them and apologize properly,¡± Old Man Neal was genuinely angry, his dislike for Joshua growing. Having taken their daughter and failed to take good care of her, if he were Cynthia¡¯s true grandfather, he would have hit Joshua with his cane long ago! ¡°No need. I can make this decision on my own,¡± Cynthia rejected the suggestion. Mrs. Neal Senior persisted, ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Cynthia revealed her family situation for the first time, admitting, ¡°My rtionship with my family isn¡¯t good. My father has a new partner.¡± Joshua paused and looked at Cynthia, whose expression seemed no different from usual. Feeling a suffocating sensation in his chest, he asked in a slightly hoarse voice, ¡± Why haven¡¯t you mentioned this before?¡± Bang! Old Man Neal struck Joshua with his cane. This time, he really could not hold back. He imagined Cynthia¡¯s difficult situation in his mind. After finding someone new, her father no longer cared for her and now faced a divorce. ¡°Grandpa!¡± She had not expected him to suddenlysh out. Old Man Neal was furious. ¡°How dare you say that? In two years of marriage, have you ever cared for or paid attention to Cynthia? As her husband, you don¡¯t even know her family¡¯s situation!¡± The angrier he got, the more he wanted to throw Joshua out. Mrs. Neal Senior looked at the situation and subconsciously believed that her own son had not cared enough for Cynthia, leading her to lose hope in the marriage. ¡°Cynthia, how about. this? Stay with Joshua for one more year. If after a year you still insist on a divorce, I¡¯ll support you.¡± Cynthia was about to refuse. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. I didn¡¯t tell you before, fearing it would affect you.¡± Mrs. Neal Senior¡¯s eyes dimmed, and her words be heavier. Cynthia and Joshua were all taken aback by her revtion. Neal Senior sighed inwardly with exasperation, strangely not expressing any shock or sadness. Time was running out, and Mrs. Neal Senior¡¯s reaction was unexpected. ¡°The doctor told me I have stomach cancer and only a year and a half left to live. Cynthia, please give Joshua another year, just one year, okay?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior said, and her spirits were low and her energy was drained. Cynthia took her hand to check her pulse and then examined her pupils. Mrs. Neal Senior was a bit baffled by her actions. ¡± It¡¯s possible you¡¯ve encountered a quack doctor. Your pulse is calm and steady, and there¡¯s no ck sediment on the edge of your pupils, which means that your stomach is healthy,¡± Cynthia suggested, trying to save the situation. Mrs. Neal Senior stopped pretending to be ill, grasping Cynthia¡¯s hand with a look of reluctance on her face.¡± Cynthia¡­¡± ¡°The decision to divorce was made after careful consideration between Joshua and me. There¡¯s no need for you to persuade us otherwise. Thank you for your care and concern over the 5/6 years,¡± Cynthia exined,forting her. Tears welled up in Mrs. Neal Senior¡¯s eyes. She genuinely did not want to let Cynthia go. She had always wanted both a son and a daughter, but fate had given her two sons. It was not until Cynthia came into their life that her wish was fulfilled. ¡°Have you really made up your mind?¡± asked Old Man Neal. His energy was gone and his face thin, showing unspoken sadness. Cynthia replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡± Seeing her sincere and resolute attitude, everyone swallowed the words they were about to say. They knew they could not change her mind about the marriage. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°Joshua,e with me,¡± Old Man Neal said, standing up with his cane in hand. Joshua nced at Cynthia before following his grandfather out of the room and into the adjacent study to discuss matters. Mrs. Neal stayed with Cynthia, chatting about family matters. She mentioned that if Cynthia ever found Joshua to be a worthy lifelong partner, their family would always wee her back. Cynthia felt warmth in this family. It was like the cozy days she had experienced before her mother passed away. Half an hourter, Joshua returned from his conversation with Old Man Neal. Joshua appeared unchanged, but Old Man Neal looked somber and visibly unhappy. Old Man Neal snapped and his emotions were crumbling, ¡°Get out of here! Don¡¯t make a scene. You have one month left to take good care of Cynthia. If she suffers any grievances, I¡¯ll give all your money to her!¡± With his exceptional demeanor, Joshua replied, ¡°Understood.¡± As the two were about to leave, Mrs. Neal Senior suddenly spoke up, ¡°Wait.¡± Joshua and Cynthia both turned back, the moonlight casting a glow on them, seemingly bringing them closer together. However, it was just an illusion. ¡°Have you two settled the division of assets for the divorce?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior was worried Cynthia would be at a disadvantage. ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t treat her unfairly. She won¡¯t lose a penny,¡± Joshua said without going into detail, not wanting to give the impression that Cynthia was greedy. ¡°In addition to the house and car, you should also share some of your stocks and bonds with Cynthia,¡± Mrs. Neal insisted with no hint of joking. Joshua hesitated, wondering if he was really their child. Old Man Neal agreed, ¡°She is right.¡± Neal Senior chimed in, ¡°Listen to my wife, and don¡¯t make her worry about you.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Joshua replied, holding back his frustration. He got in the car with Cynthia. Since they had already filed for divorce, they no longer needed to feign intimacy with each other. Watching the car drive away, both Mrs. Neal Senior and Old Man Neal had worried expressions on their faces. It was not until the taillights disappeared from their view that they looked away. ¡°Let the children handle their own affairs. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Neal Senior said, holding his wife¡¯s hand with a steady and warm voice. Mrs. Neal Senior sighed, and Old Man Neal patted her shoulder. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you exin what you meant by ¡®substitute¡® earlier? What secrets are you and your son keeping from me?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior asked, looking at her still handsome husband. 3/6 || Neal Senior hesitated, ¡°I promised my son I wouldn¡¯t say.¡® Mrs. Neal Senior pressed, ¡°Are you going to tell me or not?¡± Old Man Neal gave in, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our room and talk.¡± The car headed toward Sovereign Heights. The two of them sat in the back seat. This was not the first time that Joshua had nced at Cynthia, wanting to ask something but holding back. ¡°Just say what¡¯s on your mind,¡± Cynthia could not ignore his repeated nces. ¡°Did you study medicine?¡± Joshua was genuinely curious. He realized once again that he had never truly known her. Cynthia replied briefly, leaning back in her seat with her eyes closed, ¡°No, I¡¯ve just read some books out of interest.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes deepened, feeling like she was lying to him. ¡°Let¡¯s revise the divorce agreement when we return, ording to what my mother said. We¡¯ll split the assets acquired after marriage equally.¡± Joshua was still grateful to Cynthia for apanying his family in his stead. ¡°There¡¯s no need. What we agreed on before is enough,¡± Cynthia declined. Joshua looked at her with scrutiny. She seemed so contradictory, wanting money one moment and dismissing it the next. ¡°I¡¯ll also make a list of my assets acquired after marriage. Half for each of us,¡± Cynthia finally conceded, somewhat unwillingly. Crater: 10 The thought of Joshua using those assets to support Jayleen made her unhappy, but she could not cling to his wallet either. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I can earn the amount of your money in a minute,¡± Joshua rejected the offer firmly. Cynthia remained silent, disagreeing with that statement. After returning home, Cynthia took out the previously signed divorce agreement and revised the asset division ording to their prior discussion. If Joshua did not want her money, she would not force him to take it. At 11 p.m. that night, the divorce agreement wasid out on the table again. Cynthia pushed it toward Joshua. ¡°It¡¯s your turn to sign. We¡¯ll apply for the divorce the day after tomorrow.¡± Joshua picked up the pen, his eyes falling on the elegantly written ¡®Cynthia.¡® He could not help but wonder what she felt when she signed the agreement. He was the one who wanted the marriage, and now he was the one who wanted the divorce. ¡°Cynthia,¡± he spoke as if his conscience was catching up to him. Cynthia looked at her phone, waiting for Mitchell¡¯s reply. Upon hearing Joshua call her name, she responded indifferently, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°After the divorce, if you encounter any difficulties, you cane to me. My grandparents and parents like you quite a bit. Even if we¡¯re not married, we can still be friends,¡± Joshua said. His voice was gentle as he tried to find a reason for the offer. ¡°There¡¯s a saying online,¡± Cynthia replied, putting her phone down and speaking in a calm tone. ¡°What is it?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°A good ex should be like the dead.¡± At these words, Joshua¡¯s anger red up. Without hesitation, he signed his name forcefully on the document. He must have been crazy to think of being kind to this person. With her infuriating personality, she could make a fortune arguing with people. ¡°You¡¯d better remember that,¡± Joshua said, his anger inexplicably rising. He could not pinpoint the source of his irritation. ¡°Ex¨Cwife!¡± Cynthia grabbed the document, feeling much better now that she would not have to give her money to Joshua to support Jayleen. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be a qualified ex¨Cwife.¡± Joshua grew even angrier. He grabbed his coat and stormed upstairs. If he stayed any longer, he thought he might explode. Cynthia did not have the patience to soothe his emotions either. After storing the divorce agreement, she picked up her phone and went upstairs as well. Ever since a phone call six months ago, they had been sleeping in separate rooms. Thankfully, they had done so, or she might have found herself pregnant during the divorce. Back in her room, Cynthia had just put the divorce agreement down when her phone rang. It was a message from Mitchell. [ I¡¯m here.] [Cynthia: Shall we meet tomorrow?] Not long after sending the message, the call was connected. Chapter 10 Cynthia answered, ¡°Hello?¡± WAP 6/6 6/6 ¡°You really married Joshua?¡± The teasing yet gentle voice on the other end asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And now you¡¯re nning to divorce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Mitchell was not as nosy as Jimmy. He wore a slight smile with his sses on, sitting in the car, appearing gentlemanly. ¡°Send me the time and ce, and we¡¯ll talk when we meet tomorrow.¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia agreed before hanging up the call and sending him the time and ce via WhatsApp. Just as she finished sending the message, there was a knock at the door, apanied by Joshua¡¯s voice. ¡°Open up. I need to talk to you.¡± Cynthia tossed her phone on the bed, walked over to open the door, and spoke without the gentleness she once had, only disying indifference and detachment. ¡°What is it?¡± Joshua handed her his phone. ¡°Grandpa wants to talk to you. He said he couldn¡¯t reach you because you were on a call.¡± Cynthia paused, guessing it might be because she had just been on the phone with Mitchell. She took Joshua¡¯s phone, and her voice softened, ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you by calling sote,¡± he said. ¡°No, not at all.¡± ¡°I just remembered that I forgot to tell you when you left earlier that the unfinished chess game you left for mest time, I still haven¡¯t solved it¡­¡± The two of them chatted on the phone. Joshua did not bother listening to their conversation, noticing that ever since his grandfather became close to Cynthia, the old man sought Joshua¡¯spany less and less frequently. His grandfather would often say things like, ¡®Cynthia is definitely more capable than you,¡® or ¡®Your chess skills are not as good as Cynthia¡¯s. How could I have such a foolish grandson?¡® Chapter 11 Cynthia had be his grandfather¡¯s ¡®beloved granddaughter ¡®, while Joshua found himself increasingly dismissed by the old man. With these thoughts in mind, Joshua¡¯s gaze involuntarily fell on Cynthia, who was speaking to his grandfather with such tenderness and patience. He had once been the recipient of that warmth for two years. As he was thinking about this, Cynthia¡¯s phone, which was lying on the bed, vibrated. Joshua instinctively looked over, but before he could see the message¡¯s content, Cynthia quickly picked up her phone and turned off the screen. The entire process took less than a second, too fast for anyone to react. ¡°I¡¯m done talking to Grandpa. Here¡¯s your phone,¡± Cynthia said calmly as she handed Joshua his phone back. Joshua did not take it. His eyes were still fixed on the phone Cynthia held behind her back. Although he had not seen the message clearly, he thought he had seen the word ¡®Mitchell¡®. ¡°You don¡¯t want it?¡± Cynthia maintained her posture, offering the phone. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, and he did not take the phone. ¡°Who sent you a message just now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my business,¡± Cynthia replied candidly. ¡°I¡¯m your husband,¡± Joshua blurted out. Cynthia remained silent, simply looking at him. At that moment, he was wearing only a white shirt, appearing more elegant than usual. With his sleeves rolled up, revealing a portion of his fair¨Cskinned arm, he had quite the handsome face. 3/6 Joshua understood her gaze. ¡°As long as we haven¡¯t gotten our divorce certificate, I have the right to know who you¡¯re in contact with.¡± Cynthia withdrew her hand, still holding the phone. ¡°You might not be familiar with thew. Even if you are my husband, you don¡¯t have that right without my consent.¡± ¡°Cynthia.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone grew cold. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. He knew who Mitchell was. Although they were not in the same circle, Joshua was aware that he was a ruthless man who never left people any room to maneuver. If Cynthia became involved with him, she would not even know if she was being tricked. ¡°Give me your phone.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you forcing me to take it myself?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°I¡¯m not against giving it to you,¡± Cynthia did not want to fight with him, so she came up with a reason. ¡°You have to let me see your phone too, if you want to see mine.¡± Without much thought, Joshua, eager to see if Mitchell was the one Cynthia had beenmunicating with, agreed. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look at your chat history with Jayleen,¡± Cynthia said, providing a reason for him to refuse. Joshua¡¯s lips tightened into a thin line, and after a brief moment of consideration, he inevitably refused. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t give you mine either,¡± Cynthia¡¯s stance was clear. After she said this, Joshua fell silent for a long time. His deep, pure ck eyes were fixed on Cynthia as if trying to discern something from her face. In the end, he simply left with his phone, saying, ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± The two parted ways on unhappy terms. Cynthia did not pay any attention to Joshua¡¯s anger. She closed the door and went to bed after cleaning up. The next day, they did not talk much. Joshua made a phone call at noon and then went out while Cynthia went to meet Mitchell. They arranged to meet at a restaurant. When she arrived, Mitchell was already there. Mitchell and Joshua werepletely different people. Joshua had an aloof and cold air about him, while Mitchell maintained a polite smile for everyone. No one could guess what he was thinking behind that smile. He was dubbed ¡®Mitchell the Fox by Jimmy and others. However, he was exceptionally kind to Cynthia. ¡°Why are you here so early?¡± Cynthia asked with a rxed and natural expression when she saw him in the private room.¡± Didn¡¯t we agree at twelve¨Cthirty?¡± ¡°You tell me.¡± Mitchell smiled, the handsome and refined face was wearing sses and a casual gray suit, making him look like the perfect older brother next door. Meanwhile, outside the private room in the hallway, Joshua was walking along with two men. One had a wicked,zy demeanor, and the other was gentle like the wind, both strikingly handsome. ¡°Joshua, wasn¡¯t that your soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Cwife who just went 11 in?¡± The wicked¨Clooking man teased with a hint of yfulness. ¡°If I remember correctly, the one who reserved that room is Mitchell, the heir of the prominent Cyrus family and a rising star in the legal world.¡± Joshua stopped in his tracks. He looked back at the man, his eyes darkened. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Mitchell,¡± the wicked¨Clooking man repeated. and Joshua¡¯s gaze locked onto the door, and without any hesitation or thought, he strode toward the private room. Images of Cynthia and Mitchell being intimate flood his mind. She was really mingling with Mitchell! ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to stop him?¡± the gentle¨Clooking man asked. ¡°Why stop him when there¡¯s a good show to watch?¡± The wicked¨Clooking man replied and his eyes were full of interest with hands in his pockets. Joshua entered the private room, radiating coldness. He saw Mitchell sitting close to Cynthia, looking quite friendly. The noise at the door caught their attention, and they both looked over, seemingly in sync. Seeing Joshua, Cynthia hesitated and asked, puzzled, ¡°Joshua?¡± Mitchell looked over as well. Joshua avoided his gaze, maintaining his usual indifference as if he had not seen anything. He closed the door again, saying, Sorry, I entered the wrong room.¡± Was Cynthia dumbfounded at hisme excuse? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin that?¡± Mitchell asked slowly. Chapter 11 ¡°There¡¯s nothing to exin. If you meet himter, don¡¯t reveal my identity. To him, I¡¯m just an ordinary person, Cynthia said nonchntly, having given up on Joshua. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡°Alright,¡± Mitchell agreed, always ready to fulfill Cynthia¡¯s requests. Cynthia continued eating but could not help thinking about what was Joshua doing here? On the other side, Joshua was pondering the same question. After joining Chyler and Yiordan in their private dining room, his mind was filled with the scene he had witnessed when he opened the door. Why were they sitting so close at such arge table? ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Chyler Young asked yfully, his eyes never losing their amusement. ¡°You said you had something to discuss with us, so why are you so quiet now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Joshua replied without borating. Chyler and Yiordan exchanged nces. The former was always eager to stir up trouble. ¡°I heard that Mitchell has been a virtuous man for the past twenty¨Ceight years, never getting too close to any woman. It seems the rumors might be false after all.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Yiordan casually sipped his wine. Joshua felt annoyed every time he heard Mitchell¡¯s name, so he confronted Chyler directly, ¡® You never fail to annoy me, do you?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Chyler admitted with a smile. The three of them had been close friends since childhood, so they were not worried about Joshua getting angry. However, Joshua was feeling quite stifled. As he caught a glimpse of Yiordan, who seemed to be minding his own business, Joshua was reminded of a television show he had watched with Cynthia while discussing matters at home. He suddenly became furious. Not caring about their feelings, heshed out. ¡°How does a scumbag like you have the nerve to drink wine so calmly here?¡± Yiordan was puzzled, wondering, ¡®What did I do to deserve this?¡® Chyler draped his arm around Yiordan¡¯s shoulder, grinning wickedly. ¡°Let¡¯s not argue with someone who¡¯s got so many problems on his te.¡± ¡°You¡¯re no better than me. At least Cynthia isn¡¯t carrying someone else¡¯s child,¡± Joshua retorted, not giving a damn that they were his good friends. 11 Chyler¡¯s smile fro his lips. Yiordan was utterly confused. He nced sideways, still exuding a schrly aura, and asked gently, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to discuss something with us?¡± Chyler changed the subject, his mood noticeably worse than before. ¡°Just tell us what it is.¡± ¡°Please take care of Jayleen for me for a while. Consider it a favor I owe you both,¡± Joshua said, momentarily forgetting about Cynthia. Chapter 12 The two of them knew how difficult it was for him to owe anyone a favor.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. However, now they only had one thing on their minds. ¡°Jayleen is back?¡± Joshua simply replied, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Are you divorcing Cynthia because of her?¡± Yiordan asked the crucial question, his expression bing moreplex. ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua admitted. Chyler finally found an opportunity to retaliate. ¡°Have you forgotten how she abandoned you back then, nearly ruining you?¡± ¡°It was a misunderstanding. She exined everything to me six months ago. Cynthia won¡¯t let me see Jayleen before we get the divorce papers, so I need your help to watch over her during this time,¡± Joshua said, not hiding anything from them. Yiordan still had the impression of Cynthia as a gentle and polite girl. ¡°Isn¡¯t she angry?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Joshua recalled. Chyler blurted out, ¡°It seems she doesn¡¯t have strong feelings for you either. She probably married you for your money.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not that kind of person,¡± Joshua instinctively defended her. ¡°Wait until she asks you for something during the divorce, and then you¡¯ll know. Some people pretend to be virtuous on the surface, but who knows what kind of person they really are,¡± Chyler said with a mocking smile in his eyes. ¡°People usually hide their true selves,¡± Chyler added. Joshua furrowed his brow, not agreeing with Chyler¡¯s words. He wanted to say that Cynthia did not care about money, but when he thought about the demands she made during their divorce, he was no longer sure. This realization made him increasingly agitated, even affecting his appetite during the meal. He asionally nced toward the door, a sense of anticipation building within him, though he was not sure what exactly he was expecting. If there really was something going on between Cynthia and Mitchell, she should have followed him out to exin when he closed the door. However, nearly half an hour had passed without any sign of her. Lost in his thoughts, Joshua took another sip of his drink. Both Chyler and Yiordan noticed his reaction. After another ten minutes, Chyler could not stand to see him like this anymore. He stood up, hand in his pocket, and suggested, ¡°Once we¡¯re done eating, let¡¯s go next door and say hello to them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Joshua refused firmly. It was Cynthia who should feel guilty, and she should be the one seeking him out. Chyler, aware that Joshua would not swallow his pride, gave him a way out. ¡°Mitchell came to Jiverton from Nexuria. Shouldn¡¯t we at least greet him?¡± Joshua hesitated for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Yiordan said, patting his shoulder. With a reasonable excuse, Joshua got up and joined them. All three were exceptionally handsome, being about 190 centimeters tall. Their appearance together would have caused quite a stir elsewhere. Fortunately, this was a members¨Conly restaurant, and there were not many people around. 2/351 Chapter 12 Joshua and Yiordan stood together, leaving the task of knocking on the door to Chyler. With his experience in these matters, Chyler quickly gained permission to enter. His eyes swept over Cynthia and Mitchell before settling on thetter with a smile. ¡°Mitchell, you should have told me you were coming to Jiverton. I could have shown you some hospitality.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± Mitchell replied, wiping his mouth with the manners of a gentleman. ¡°And this is¡­¡± Chyler¡¯s gaze fell on Cynthia, deliberately drawing out his words. Cynthia remained silent. During their two years of marriage, Joshua had never formally introduced her to his friends, but she had encountered them at several events. She did not believe that Chyler did not know who she was. Mitchell simply said, ¡°A friend.¡± ¡°I wonder if Mitchell would mind if I bring two friends to join your table?¡± Chyler asked without any embarrassment, ¡°It would be nice to get acquainted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not convenient today. Perhaps another time, I¡¯ll have the pleasure of treating you to a meal,¡± Mitchell politely declined, his refined demeanor intact. With this brief statement, Mitchell effectively blocked any further attempts by Chyler. This made Chyler take a closer look at Cynthia, realizing that their rtionship must be moreplex than it appeared for Mitchell to be so resolute in his refusal. 1 Chyler, wanting to stir up some drama and harboring resentment from Joshua¡¯s previous slight, suggested, ¡°Well, then, we¡¯ll be in the private dining room next door. After you two finish your dinner, we can catch up. How does that sound?¡± This time, Mitchell did not refuse outright but looked to Cynthia for her opinion. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 He had wanted to agree. Cynthia did not want him to interfere in her divorce, but seeing her being bullied, he had to help her as her friend. Moreover, Mr. Yates had sent him here to let Joshua know that Cynthia had someone supporting her. ¡°Anything is fine with me.¡± Cynthia misunderstood the look in Mitchell¡¯s eyes for the first time, thinking he was on Chyler¡¯s side. ¡°Alright,¡± Mitchell agreed. Chyler¡¯s eyes became even more amused and then left after exchanging some pleasantries. Only after the door closed did Cynthia speak to Mitchell, as rational as ever, ¡°Just interact with them as you usually do, don¡¯t worry about me being there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mitchell did not bother exining. That worked out well. When they met with Joshuater, he would not have to be overly polite. Chyler returned with a grin, standing outside the private room door, and raised an eyebrow at Joshua. ¡°He declined to share a table, not wanting us to disturb their meal.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes deepened, and the hand in his pocket hesitated. ¡°However, they agreed to join uster.¡± Chyler added with a twist, his following wordsden with implications, ¡°You didn¡¯t see how obedient Mitchell was to Cynthia. Tsk, tsk, you¡¯d think they were a couple if you didn¡¯t know better.¡± ¡°You should get your eyes checked. And find a teacher to brush up on yournguage skills while you¡¯re at it,¡± Joshua retorted dismissively, then strode back to the private room. Chyler did not understand what Joshua said, so he tapped on Yiordan¡¯s arm. ¡°What does he mean?¡± Yiordan, surrounded by a gentle aura, replied with a faint smile, ¡°The phrase ¡®obedient¡® is inadequately used. You¡¯ve misread their rtionship, so Joshua advises you to go get your eyes checked.¡± Chyler gritted his teeth in defeat. ¡®You win this time. Just wait and see how I¡¯ll deal with youter,¡® he thought yfully. Half an hourter, Chyler had Joshua and Yiordan go first while he went to pick up Cynthia and Mitchell. After picking them up, he led them to the club upstairs, which was filled with drinks and games designed specifically for guests to enjoy after their meal. The restaurant¡¯s owner was none other than Chyler himself. Chyler noticed Joshua¡¯s gaze fixated on Cynthia and never moving away. A hint of a smile graced his lips. ¡°Let me introduce you to my friends Joshua and Yiordan. This is Mitchell, the young master from Nexuria, and his friend.¡± Mitchell exchanged brief pleasantries with them. Joshua and Cynthia stared at each other as if trying to bore holes into each other¡¯s faces with their eyes. Chapter 13 ¡°What are you doing, Joshua? You¡¯re a married man. It¡¯s inappropriate to stare at Mitchell¡¯s friend like that,¡± Chyler said deliberately. Joshua knew Chyler was stirring things up, but he did not intervene further. ¡°This woman in front of you is the one who has her name on my marriage certificate. I wonder if Mitchell is aware of this.¡± With that simple sentence, the atmosphere instantly froze. If there had been any ambiguity between Cynthia and Mitchell, it should have been exposed by now. ¡°I knew Cyn was married.¡± Mitchell sat down on the sofa, lifting his gold¨Crimmed sses with a smile. ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect her to be married to Mr. Neal.¡± Cynthia nced over, almost getting goosebumps from him calling her by her nickname. ¡± What are you doing?¡± she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. Mitchell said, ¡°I¡¯m backing you up.¡± Cynthia did not know what to reply. Simrly sensitive to that name was Joshua. Her parents called her Cynthia. Her grandfather called her Cynthia, but Mitchell¡­ He called her by such an affectionate nickname! He had never called her that before. Chyler suddenly said, standing up and offering his seat, ¡°So you are my sister¨Cinw. I apologize for not recognizing you earlier. Please, sit here; this is your seat.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Joshua and Cynthia said in unison. One with a cold, distant demeanor and the other calm and emotionless. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two?¡± Chyler was here for the drama. ¡°Did you two fight?¡± Joshua shot him a look. Chyler pretended not to see it. Cynthia did not want to say another word to Joshua. ¡°Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom. ¡°Alright,¡± Mitchell te erly agreed. This scene stung Jr an outsider. ..¡®s eyes, and the subtle interaction between the two made him feel like Chyler took on the role of the conversation starter. ¡°How did you and Cynthia meet, Mitchell?¡± Mitchell hesitated for a moment. He wanted to say they were childhood friends, and their families were old acquaintances. 2/3 Chapter 13 However, he also recalled Cynthia¡¯s request not to reveal her identity. For a moment, he did not know how to answer the question. His reaction was interpreted by Joshua as something inappropriate. They were hiding something, Joshua thought. The atmosphere in the club became somewhat somber. Chyler tried to liven things up, calling for drinks and starting to pour the drinks for them. ¡± You don¡¯t need to say it if you feel ufortable about it. Let¡¯s drink to our encounter.¡± They chatted for a while longer before Cynthia returned. She became the focus of the room, and everyone¡¯s gaze fell on her. She did not want to stay any longer. After discussing matters with Mitchell, she said her goodbyes. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave. Please continue without me. Chyler called after her. ¡°Don¡¯t rush off. You can go back with Joshuater.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± ¡°Could you stay a little longer?¡± Mitchell also spoke up. Cynthia did not say anything but eventually walked over. The atmosphere in the room immediately became gloomy. Joshua¡¯s hand gripping his cup tightened, his knuckles turning white, and it was as if a heavy stone weighed him down on his chest. ¡°I heard from Cynthia that you two are getting a divorce.¡± Mitchell deliberately broached the subject, his inscrutable eyes looking at Joshua. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°What, are you nning to take her over?¡± Joshua blurted out with some resentment. The moment he said it, he regretted it. Everyone froze. Even Chyler had not expected him to say something so provocative. If he were really willing to divorce, would he need to be so angry? Cynthia did not want to deal with him, but his words were too much. ¡°Please think thoroughly before you speak, Joshua.¡± Joshua¡¯s hand on the side hesitated, but once his temper red, he could not hold back. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to say such things, you should be aware of your own actions.¡± ¡°What a psychopath.¡± Cynthia could not be bothered to argue with him. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. She picked up a ss of wine from the table and drank it all. She was frustrated. As she went to pour a second drink, Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Just as he was about to stop her, another hand reached out and stopped Cynthia. It was Mitchell. His eyes were full of concern for her as he advised, ¡°Don¡¯t drink anymore; it¡¯s bad for your health.¡± Cynthia obediently ced the ss on the table, but her emotions were in turmoil. She had never expected to hear such harsh words from Joshua. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¡°It seems that Mitchell and Cynthia have a good rtionship,¡± Chyler observed, trying to probe further. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve known each other for a long time. Our rtionship has always been very good,¡± Mitchell admitted, not hiding the truth. Chyler whispered something into Joshua¡¯s ear, so softly it was barely audible. ¡°It seems they¡¯re just friends. They would have been together long ago if there were any feelings between them. Why wait until now?¡± ¡°Get lost,¡± Joshua muttered, irritated. Cynthia was never one to suffer alone; she would make sure whoever wronged her felt ufortable too. She turned her gaze to the usually quiet Yiordan, greeted him, and then said, ¡°Yiordan, I think you¡¯re a man with a strong moralpass, someone worth entrusting my life to.¡± Everyone present had no idea what she was doing. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yiordan instinctively looked toward Joshua, who did not look too pleased. Cynthia brought up the past, insinuating something. ¡°I watched the reality show you were on. I think what you said on the show was morally upright andmendable.¡± Yiordan waspletely baffled. Chyler asked, ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°They were discussing a hypothetical situation during some downtime afterpleting a task. The question was whether, after marriage, they would choose to be with their first love if they returned or stay with their spouse. Yiordan shared his opinion, which I think was spot on, Cynthia exined clearly, recalling it by heart. T Hearing this, Chyler looked at Joshua, realizing that Cynthia was essentially talking about him. Yiordan also caught on. He remembered talking about this on TV. He seemed to have said something like, ¡°I¡¯m not a scumbag.¡± Recalling this, Yiordan suddenly thought of the time when Joshua had abruptly called him a ¡® scumbag¡® while having dinner. So, does this mean that Cynthia watched the show with Joshua? ¡°How did you answer?¡± Chyler nudged his arm. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Yiordan calmed down, and after briefly thinking, he did not answer Chyler¡¯s question. Instead, he said to Joshua, ¡°Joshua, I think you¡¯re making a mistake.¡± Joshua and Chyler were speechless. ¡°Are you getting cocky because of the praise she just gave you?¡± Joshua¡¯s irritation grew. Yiordan, considering the number of people present, did not speak directly. Instead, he rubbed his tired brow. Chapter 14 When he appeared on the reality show, Joshua and Cynthia had not yet had their marital issues, so he answered the question from an objective perspective. Now that he knew Joshua was nning to divorce Cynthia for Jayleen, he was certain that Joshua would regret this decision in the future. Joshua stood up and reminded the two, ¡°I have some things to take care of. Don¡¯t forget what I told you.¡± The two nodded. When Joshua walked over to Cynthia, his dark eyes nced at her before he said to Mitchell,¡± If you want to be with her, he must be prepared to lose at least half your money and assets. She¡¯s a greedy woman, this one.¡± Mitchell was not joking when he said in all seriousness, ¡°As long as Cynthia needs them, my property is all hers.¡± Joshua¡¯s hands, hanging at his sides, suddenly tightened. Chyler and Yiordan were also surprised by that remark. ¡°Then I wish you a happy rtionship in advance,¡± Joshua said sarcastically before leaving. Mitchell left with Cynthia to go to the car. Cynthia looked at him with disagreement and asked, ¡°Why did you say those things to him?¡± ¡°I was summoned here by Mr. Yates here to deal with this issue, and he asked me to say that.¡± Mitchell replied, lips slightly raised and his demeanor spot on, ¡°But your rtionship is even worse than I thought.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this before. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with him today,¡± Cynthia said, leaning back in her seat. ¡°He¡¯s jealous,¡± Mitchell said. Cynthia¡¯s lips twitched. She had no hesitation in saying, ¡°You sure can spin a story. His mind is on his crush; he doesn¡¯t have much of his brain left to be jealous because of me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s likely jealous without realizing it. He¡¯ll only realize it after he really lost you,¡± Mitchell analyzed, now with a greater interest. Cynthia fell silent. ¡°If he asked you to remarry him, would you agree?¡± Mitchell asked, now more concerned. Cynthia answered quickly, speaking her mind, ¡°No, if he really does that, I would disagree. I gave him half a year, but he didn¡¯t cherish it.¡± ¡°Okay, that¡¯s good,¡± Mitchell said, relieved. ¡°When will you return to Nexuria?¡± she asked. ¡°When you get the divorce certificate.¡± Cynthia was surprised at his answer. ¡°This is Mr. Yates¡¯s suggestion. I have two more meetings to attend here in Jiverton,¡± Mitchell exined, still smiling. ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia said simply. 2/3 Chapter 14 Mitchell was a pioneer in the legalmunity and also had a pivotal position in the business community. He was like the child every parent hoped for, having won the love of Old Man Yates. The two had a great rtionship, and she never interfered with Mitchell and Old Man Yates, even though their rtionship was not the best. She did not want to let him stop listening to Old Man Yates either. The two did not say much more as Mitchell dropped Cynthia off outside the vi¡¯s iron gate. Just before she got out of the car, he added, ¡°Call me if you need anything. I¡¯ll be here for some time.¡± He knew Cynthia¡¯s abilities and believed she could handle her rtionship with Joshua. However, believing she could handle it was one thing. How Joshua dealt with it was another. ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia said with a small smile. Joshua watched from the balcony above as the two people below seemed inseparable. His grip on the railing tightened, and he could not even hear what the person on the phone was saying. He had one thought in mind. He had to confront Cynthia and find out how her rtionship with Mitchell began. ¡°Mr. Neal?¡± Mr. Cheyne called several times, trying to get Joshua¡¯s attention. ¡°Mr. Neal, are you listening? Mr. Neal?¡± he repeated, getting no responses. ¡°What is it?¡± When Cynthia came in after seeing Mitchell off, Joshua finally left the balcony with his phone and walked inside. Mr. Cheyne was speechless. So his words just now were in vain, were they? Despite his annoyance, Mr. Cheyne dutifully repeated his report for the sake of his sry. ¡® The police just sent word that they¡¯ve apprehended the suspect behind Ms. Shaw¡¯s car ident. Do you want to go there?¡± 1 ¡°No, let them handle it ording to the normal procedures,¡± Joshua replied as he walked downstairs, determined to clear things up. Mr. Cheyne was puzzled by his boss¡¯s change of attitude but did not ask further. ¡°Alright.¡± 11 Joshua hung up the phone and entered the living room just as Cynthia finished taking off her shoes. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Their eyes met. The atmosphere turned cold as both of their faces showed clear disdain for each other. Cynthia, wearing slippers, headed upstairs without any intention of engaging in conversation. For the first time, she exuded such a cold aura. ¡°Stop,¡± Joshua said, addressing her retreating figure. Cynthia acted as if she had not heard him and kept walking. Joshua quickly stepped in front of her at the bottom of the stairs, looking down at her with his usual detached demeanor. ¡°Can we talk?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Cynthia agreed. They walked toward the couch, and Joshua removed the remote control. Cynthia saw this and said nothing. She poured herself a ss of water, took a sip, and then sat down on the sofa with the ss. ¡°Go ahead. What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Mitchell?¡± Joshua stared at her intently, not missing any of her facial expressions. Cynthia replied confidently, ¡°We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°When did you meet?¡± Joshua asked further. Cynthia did not hesitate to answer, ¡°When we were kids.¡± A chill flickered in Joshua¡¯s eyes. He felt that she could not evene up with a proper lie. ¡± Given Mitchell¡¯s background, there¡¯s no way you could have known him as a child.¡± Cynthia did not respond, feeling like they were talking at cross purposes. ¡°You better not harbor any inappropriate thoughts about him. He¡¯s not as harmless as he seems,¡± he warned. ¡°We¡¯re just friends, and we have no intention of taking things further. Don¡¯t impose your assumptions on me. That¡¯s the basic respect people should have for each other,¡± Cynthia rified. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened even more. Seeing that he had asked her a question, Cynthia decided to ask one too, ¡°Since you¡¯re asking, let me ask you, when did you first meet Jayleen?¡± Joshua was speechless. ¡°She¡¯s not as innocent as you think. You better stay away from her,¡± Cynthia mimicked his earlier words. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua was angry again. Cynthia leaned back on the sofa, her emotions no longer fluctuating. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°Jayleen and Mitchell are twopletely different people. Don¡¯t use him to tarnish Jayleen. I¡¯m warning you onest time, if you want to have a better life after the divorce, stay away from him,¡± Joshua said, his words harsher than before. Cynthia grabbed her phone and left the room. She could not believe she¡¯d fallen in love and gotten married on a whim to someone like Joshua. How could she have been so reckless? Joshua watched Cynthia retreat to her room and gently close the door, with a fire burning in his chest. She could not stand being here another second or more urately, she could not stand being around Joshua any longer. She gazed at the greenery outside the window for a moment before picking up her phone and making a call. Her tone was casual and indifferent. ¡°Hello, is this Clear Spring Cleaning Services? I have an apartment that needs dusting. That¡¯s right, just dusting. For a move¨Cin tomorrow. Great, I¡¯ll send you the ess codeter.¡± After hanging up, she sent the ess code. The apartment was a townhouse she had purchased in Jiverton several years ago. Jiverton was known for its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, perfect for vacations. At the time, she had thought it would be a nice ce to stay during her leisure time. However, she had not stayed there once since it was renovated. Tomorrow, after filing for divorce, she could finally move her things out and avoid the annoyance of seeing certain people. Joshua had no idea about Cynthia¡¯s ns. He did not even know what had possessed him to have someone investigate her background. When he thought about it, he realized that aside from her name, he knew almost nothing about her. After an afternoon of work, Mr. Cheyne¡¯s team had spent hours investigating Cynthia, only to find even less information than what was on her ID card. He hesitated before calling Joshua. ¡°Mr. Neal¡­¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± ¡°Well, we found something, but there¡¯s not much to it,¡± Mr. Cheyne said, looking at the sparse information on the paper in his hand. Joshua did not catch the implications of his words. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Cynthia. Female,¡± Mr. Cheyne read the words on the paper with trepidation. He waited for more information, but nothing came. His brow furrowed as he asked impatiently, ¡°And?¡± ¡°And¡­ that¡¯s all we found,¡± Mr. Cheyne admitted, pushing his sses up his nose. Joshua stood up from his chair, theputer screen on his desk disying Cynthia¡¯s information. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± ¡°We spent the whole afternoon on it, and this is all we¡¯ve got. It¡¯s even less than what¡¯s on her ID,¡± Mr. Cheyne said, his voicecking confidence. He then ventured to ask, ¡°May I ask why you wanted to investigate Mrs. Neal?¡± ¡°Look deeper.¡± ¡°We already did, and this is the result of our thorough investigation.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Joshua wore pajamas that matched the color of hers. His cor was slightly open, and his hair a bit messy, which gave him an air of disheveled charm, more unrestrained than usual, and the coldness he often exuded was now diminished. For a moment, it felt like the early days of their marriage. Noticing Cynthia¡¯s dazed expression, Joshua realized there were tears on her face and lingering teardrops on theshes of her eyes. Swallowing hard, he furrowed his brow slightly and asked, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s crying?¡± Cynthia replied in confusion. However, having just woken up, her mental state was not as sharp as usual, making her retort seem more like an attempt to cover up her own vulnerability. Assuming she was upset about the divorce, Joshua said, ¡°Well, since we¡¯re both awake,e and sit for a while,¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± Cynthia wanted only to drink some water and sleep, feeling extremely tired. ¡± I¡¯m going back to bed.¡± However, before she could take a step, Joshua grabbed her hand, took the ss from her, and led her to the dining table. Cynthia was puzzled, cing the ss in front of her, Joshua¡¯s slender, pale hand revealed his distinct knuckles. With a low, gentle voice, he asked, ¡°Why can¡¯t you sleep?¡± Cynthia stared at the half¨Cfull ss, sipping the water slowly. She did not answer his question. ¡°Is it because of the divorce tomorrow?¡± Joshua inquired. Cynthia¡¯s drinking motion paused, struggling to keep up with his pace. ¡°When I proposed to you, I truly intended to spend my life with you.¡± Joshua took the initiative to bring up the topic, his freshly awakened eyes not as distant as they usually were. I just didn¡¯t realize Jayleen had another reason for leaving me.¡± Setting the now¨Cempty ss on the table, Cynthia responded calmly, ¡°I know.¡± Before that call from Jayleen, Joshua had been very good to her. He did not arrange a wedding when she did not want one, and he did not announce their rtionship to the media to avoid attracting attention. He even took care of her potential insecurities and praised her for the smallest things in their daily life. If it had not been for that call from Jayleen, she would have thought she had hit the jackpot. Her mother could rest easy. This is from N?velDrama.Org. However, the reality was quite different. ¡°Cynthia,¡± Joshua called her name with the same gentleness and concern as before. Cynthia did not stop him. Perhaps it was the dream of her mother, reminiscing about their past, or simply the night ying tricks on her mind. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 ¡°Are you sure y guys really looked into it?¡± Joshua was frustrated. believablel Half a day of work, and all they had were were two words? Mr. Cheyne sighed inwardly. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re sure.¡± ¡°Atr. Neal, is it possible that Mrs. Neal is a highly skilled hacker who¡¯s hidden her own. information?¡± Mr. Cheyne suggested. Joshua shot back sarcastically, ¡°That¡¯s some great imagination you have there,¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°In Nexuria, there are countless hidden talents. Who¡¯s to say Mrs. Neal isn¡¯t one of them?¡± Mr. Cheyne had already started to consider Cynthia a formidable person. Those who could remain hidden from his investigations were few and far between. Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Nexuria?¡± ¡°Yeah, what?¡± Mr. Cheyne asked. ¡°How did you know she¡¯s from Nexuria?¡± ¡°When you two went to get the marriage certificate, I saw her ID card,¡± Mr. Cheyne disyed his astounding memory. ¡°The address and ID number on her ID card were both from Nexuria.¡± Joshua was stunned. Mr. Cheyne continued, ¡°You haven¡¯t paid attention to it before?¡± Beep, beep, beep, beep. Joshua hung up the phone. He took out the marriage certificate from the safe and frowned slightly when he saw the ID number on it. She was from Nexuria¡­ Could Cynthia really have known Mitchell since childhood? As soon as this thought came to his mind, he denied it. However, he had an idea and felt it was necessary to meet Cynthia¡¯s family. Thinking of this, he threw his phone on the table, and after pondering for almost half an hour, he stood up and knocked on Cynthia¡¯s door. Cynthia opened the door while still holding a towel to dry her hair. Water droplets fell on her white and delicate neck, which was as smooth as porcin. Her dark sleepwear entuated her fair skin, and a few drops of water umted on her beautiful corbone, which was both pure and stunning, o Joshua felt his breathing be heavy, and as he opened his eyes, he coincidentally met her clear, bright, and attractive eyes. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Joshua¡¯s gaze faltered. His eyes moved from Cynthia to Mr. Cheyne. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Do you really like Ms. Shaw, or is it just the obsession and unwillingness to let go of this past rtionship? Even though it¡¯s only been two years, are you sure Ms. Shaw is still the same Ms. Shaw you knew?¡± Mr. Cheyne inquired. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Joshua seemed a bit annoyed by the question. ¡°I¡¯m worried that you¡¯re misunderstanding your emotions.¡± Mr. Cheyne acted as an emotional consultant. ¡°You might miss out on your chance with your wife.¡± Joshua did not answer. He was very clear about his feelings for Jayleen; he liked her. Even now, whenever he recalled her gentleness andpany, it helped him calm down and focus on dealing with matters. If it were not for their breakup, they might already be married. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a simple and direct way to test whether you really like Ms. Shaw or not.¡± Mr. Cheyne¡¯s lips curved into a grin he could not quite hide, the seeds of gossip already sprouting. ¡°The question is, are you willing to give it a try?¡± Joshua looked at him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Being attracted to someonees with sexual impulses. Think about whether or not you have any sexual impulses towards Ms. Shaw,¡± Mr. Cheyne whispered into Joshua¡¯s ear so that only the two of them could hear. Joshua, as an adult, knew what that meant. Mr. Cheyne asked softly, ¡°Do you?¡± No. That was Joshua¡¯s first reaction. Whether it was in the past or now, he had never had any such thoughts about Jayleen. All he wanted was to care for her and ensure that she led a happy life. However, with Cynthia¡­. At that thought, Joshua furrowed his brow, his gaze falling on Mr. Cheyne, outright rejecting his suggestion. ¡°Don¡¯t apply your theories to other people. Just because they work for you doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll work for me.¡± If what Yoel said were true, it would mean that the person he liked was Cynthia. The idea was ab Mr. Cheyne dicot say anything more, as he understood his boss¡¯s emotions all too well. He could almost envision Mrs. Neal senior getting a divorce from Joshua in a month and Joshua sitting alone in the vi, living off memories. The second young master was right; Joshua needed some setbacks in life. ¡°I¡¯ve moved all my things. Once the cooling¨Coff period is over, I¡¯ll contact you to get the divorce papers,¡± Cynthia informed Joshua after she had finished packing. Chapter 19 ¡°Hold on,¡± Joshua called out to her. Cynthia looked back at him. Joshua nced at the moving truck filled with her belongings and, after careful consideration, said, ¡°Yoel will take you there; the moving truck doesn¡¯t have room for you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia agreed without any objections. She got into the car, and just as she was about to ask Yoel to drive, Joshua opened the door on the other side and got in. His tall figure made the spacious car seem suddenly cramped. Cynthia furrowed her brow. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just heading to the office on the way,¡± Joshua said nonchntly. Cynthia was skeptical. Did he even know where she lived? She did not expose his lie. In her opinion, Joshua was probably worried she would run away without divorcing him, so he intentionally got into the car to see where she was going to live. As long as he knew her address, there was no way she could escape. Cynthia was not worried about him causing trouble after finding out where she lived. She would only be staying in Jiverton for another month before returning to Nexuria. Even if she came back to Jiverton later, it would likely be rare. Joshua was oblivious to her thoughts. He simply wanted to know where she was going to live and what kind of environment it would be. The drive was quiet, and an hourter, they arrived at a residential area on the outskirts of Jiverton. Seeing the distance from the city center, Joshua¡¯s handsome eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯re living here?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Cynthia nodded. She had chosen this ce after considering all the properties in Jiverton. It was far from the city center, making it an ideal ce to live. Joshua could not understand why. He carefully weighed his words and said, ¡°You can move into the vi I offered you. It will be your property after the divorce.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine here,¡± Cynthia replied without further exnation. Joshua did not agree with her, but he did not say anything more since she insisted on staying. Cynthia got out of the car outside the residential area, along with the movers, and headed for the underground parking lot. Mr. Cheyne was still the car with Joshua and asked, ¡°Boss, are we going back to the office now?¡± Joshua nced at nim. Mr. Cheyne was puzzled. ¡°What does that mean? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Cynthia is still registered as my wife. Are you just going to watch her move all by herself?¡± Joshua said coldly, without showing any emotion. 2/3 Chapter 19 With just a simple sentence, Mr. Cheyne immediately understood Joshua¡¯s intention. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. I¡¯ll make sure Mrs. Neal senior and her belongings get home safely.¡± ¡°Go on, then,¡± Joshua urged. Without hesitation, Mr. Cheyne got out of the car and sprinted toward Cynthia. He could not understand why his boss did not just find out Mrs. Neal senior¡¯s apartment number himself rather than using such a flimsy excuse to have him do it. Ten minutester, Mr. Cheyne returned and informed Joshua of Cynthia¡¯s floor and apartment number. Joshua gave nothing away, simply instructing him to drive back to the office and prepare the documents needed for their business trip. As for Cynthia, she knew that Mr. Cheyne had followed her upstairs at Joshua¡¯s request, and she understood that his purpose was to make sure she did not run off without obtaining the divorce papers, leaving him unable to be with Jayleen openly. She did not say anything, instead focusing on packing her belongings. An hourter, she had finished packing and was about to order lunch when a phone call disrupted her ns. Seeing the words ¡®Old Man Yates¡® shing on her phone screen, her first instinct was to hang up. However, when she did, the call came through again. In the past, if she hung up once, he would not call back. It had be an unwritten rule in their strained rtionship. Hesitating while staring at the vibrating phone, Cynthia eventually answered, her tone as indifferent as before, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Your sister is in trouble,¡± came the hoarse voice on the other end, delivering five chilling words. Those words threw Cynthia¡¯s heart into turmoil. She did not know how she managed to hang up or leave the apartment, but when she came to her senses, she was already in a taxi heading for the airport. As the scene fell away behind her outside the taxi window, her mind was filled with the words her father had said on the phone. Her sister had a broken arm and a head injury, and was unconscious when taken to the hospital. Her sister was the most important person to her, aside from her mother. ¡°Driver, could you please go a bit faster?¡± Cynthia¡¯s heart was in disarray. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 It was already noon when she arrived at the airport. The nearest flight from Jiverton to Nexuria was at two in the afternoon, so she immediately went to the ticket counter to ask if there were any cancetions by other people. All tickets were sold out online, so she could only hope for ast¨Cminute cancetion. However, things did not always go as nned. Just then, two people appeared behind her. A deep, cold voice with a hint of anger sounded, ¡± Trying to run away after filing for divorce?¡± Cynthia froze, then turned around to see Joshua in a suit, apanied by Mr. Cheyne. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, but the flights to Nexuria today are fully booked. If you¡¯re not in a hurry, there is a flight at eight in the morning tomorrow,¡± the staff member said clearly and politely. ¡°No, thank you,¡± Cynthia declined. With the ne and train tickets sold out, she would have to drive back. However, the distance between Jiverton and Nexuria was simply too far. Holding her identification, she walked toward the airport exit, her mood heavier than ever before. ¡°Cancel a ticket to Nexuria.¡± Joshua could tell she was in a hurry and calmly approached the counter to speak to the staff member. Mr. Cheyne was dumbfounded. With a hint of confusion, he asked, ¡°If you cancel, who will go to the meeting?¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Who said I was canceling?¡± Mr. Cheyne paused, quickly realizing the situation, and nced at Cynthia and his boss. He was the one whose ticket was getting canceled! ¡°Please present your ID,¡± the staff member said. With a look from Joshua, Mr. Cheyne obediently handed over his own ticket and ID. The staff member quickly took care of the cancetion and called Cynthia back. The moment she received the ticket, Cynthia felt a mix of emotions. ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew Joshua had deliberately canceled his ticket for her. Joshua responded coldly, taking the briefcase from Mr. Cheyne¡¯s hands. ¡°No need. Once you¡¯re on the ne, just exin why you¡¯re leaving, and that¡¯ll be enough.¡± Cynthia did not argue, nor did she have the energy to do so. The thought of her loved one in the operating room consumed her with worry. Seeing her preupied, Joshua sent a message to Mr. Cheyne. [Arrive in Nexuria before noon tomorrow.] Mr. Cheyne replied, [Understood, boss.] At exactly two in the afternoon, the ne took off. Cynthia sat next to Joshua, with an aisle separating them. Chapter 20 ¡°What are you going to Nexuria for?¡± Joshua initiated the conversation, scrutinizing her more closely. ¡°My family member is in the hospital; I¡¯m going to see her,¡± Cynthia replied honestly and calmly. Joshua paused, then carefully asked, ¡°Do you need me to go with you?¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Which hospital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. The call came so suddenly that her heart had been racing since hearing about the incident. She left without asking about the hospital or the cause. Her only thought was to get back as quickly as possible. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you after wend to help you find out which hospital they¡¯re in,¡± Joshua decided without giving her a chance to refuse. Cynthia insisted, ¡°I already said no.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking for your opinion.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Since I¡¯m in Nexuria with you, it¡¯s my responsibility to visit them.¡± Cynthia remained silent, nning to run away once theynded. During the flight, Cynthia tried to rest while Joshua asionally nced at her face, filled with exhaustion and worry. He wanted to smooth her furrowed brow and let her sleep peacefully. Three hourster, the ne arrived at Nexuria International Airport. As first¨Css passengers, they had the privilege of disembarking first. Cynthia and Joshua left the ne quickly. As they approached the airport exit, Joshua looked at her beside him, constantly checking her phone, and asked, ¡°Did you find out which hospital they¡¯re in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still asking,¡± she said. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I need to go to the restroom for a moment,¡± Cynthia said, putting her phone in her pocket with the same expression she¡¯d had before. Joshua did not notice anything unusual and simply nodded. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Half an hourter, the person from Nexuria¡¯s branch office who hade to pick up Joshua reminded him, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s been half an hour.¡± Joshua suddenly realized that Cynthia might have been in the restroom for too long. He pulled out her number and dialed it, but she hung up after just one ring. Before he could call again, Cynthia sent him a text message. (I¡¯m leaving first. Thank you for the ne ticket.] Joshua¡¯s face turned dark. Cynthia, what a move! ¡°Sir?¡± The head of the Nexuria branch office was getting anxious. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the office,¡± Joshua said coldly. Chapter 20 Once in the car, he felt a lingering sense of frustration, thinking about Cynthia¡¯s actions. He decisively opened his email, entered the recipient¡¯s email address, andposed a message. [ Help me find someone. Cynthia Yates, female, from Nexuria, here¡¯s her picture. Find all the information you can about her, and name your price.] He was contacting a hacker he¡¯d met online when he was neen. They rarely kept in touch, but whenever either of them faced difficulties, they¡¯d help each other without hesitation. It had been a long time since they¡¯dst been in contact. Meanwhile, Cynthia sat in the passenger seat of a white sports car, listening to the endless chatter from the person beside her. The speed at which he spoke suggested he wanted to catch up on two years¡® worth of conversation. ¡°Cynthia, are you even listening to me?¡± Jimmy, dressed in casual, sunny attire, looked youthful with his baby face. ¡°You¡¯re really annoying,¡± Cynthia bluntly replied. Jimmy suddenly looked hurt. ¡°Don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± ¡°Say one more word, and I¡¯ll throw you out of the driver¡¯s seat,¡± Cynthia threatened, keeping it short and sweet. Jimmy instantly quieted down. As they approached the hospital, Cynthia could not help but worry. ¡°Is everything really okay with Shirley?¡± ¡°You trust my sister¡¯s medical skills, don¡¯t you?¡± Jimmy knew she was worried and did not beat around the bush. ¡°The moment she heard about Shirley¡¯s ident, she volunteered to treat her. She knows Shirley is important to you.¡± Cynthia felt slightly relieved. Before getting off the ne, she had not expected Jimmy to be waiting for her at the airport. She was surprised when she saw his message uponnding. She then found out that, after she had the call with her father, he had arranged for someone to pick her up from the airport based on her arrival time. Jimmy was at the hospital with her father and took on the task of picking her up. Cynthia sighed in exasperation. If she had not been so lucky to have a seat on the quickest flight, they would have waited at the airport for nothing. Her phone suddenly vibrated twice. She casually unlocked it and saw that she had received an email to an ount she had not used much in the past two years. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 She clicked on the email, revealing its contents. [Help me find someone, Cynthia Yates, female, from Nexuria, here¡¯s her picture. Find all the information you can about her, and name your price.] Cynthia nced at the sender¡¯s email address, an ount she had frequently interacted with a few years ago. They had both been knowledgeable and shared simr goals, which led to a period of mutual assistance. However, they eventually lost touch. However, why would this person want to investigate her? She quickly typed a response. [Did she do something to you?] Joshua received it as soon as the message was sent. He had assumed that after several years without contact, she might not even use the ount anymore, so he was prepared for his message to go unanswered. However, to his surprise, she responded almost instantly. Reading her reply, he sat in the back seat of a car, fingers tapping on the keyboard. ¡°No, I¡¯m helping a friend. I can¡¯t say more. Can you find any information?¡± Cynthia looked at histest response and furrowed her brow in contemtion. In the next moment, as if she had realized something, she opened the photo Joshua had sent. She noticed that the background appeared to be the living room of a luxurious vi. She replied, [Is your friend Joshua?] She rarely investigated people¡¯s backgrounds, even those she was in contact with, like the person she was messaging now. She primarily used her technical skills to gather evidence. However, now¡­ Was it Joshua looking into her? Or someone close to him? ¡°Cynthia?¡± Jimmy waved a hand in front of her face. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Cynthia shifted her gaze from the phone screen and looked at him indifferently. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± Jimmy stopped the car at a traffic light, his curiosity piqued. ¡°You were staring at your screen for a long time.¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Cynthia locked her phone screen and put it in her pocket, ignoring any further messages in her inbox. ¡°Before you got off the ne, my sister sent me a message saying that the surgery went well for Shirley, and she¡¯s already resting in her ward.¡± Jimmy continued driving as the light turned green. ¡°She wanted me to tell you not to worry too much.¡± Cynthia responded, ¡°Alright.¡± However, she could not help feeling worried. Shirley had always been the apple of her eye, the kind of child who would cry in pain over a minor scrape. Now, she had a broken bone and at head injury, and Cynthia could not imagine how much pain the poor girl was in. At six thirty in the afternoon, Jimmy dropped her off at the hospital, informed her of Shirley¡¯s ward number, and then went to park the car. Cynthia entered the third inpatient ward and made her way to the sixth floor. The closer she got to Shirley¡¯s ward, the more anxious she became. Her palms were damp with sweat when 1/3 Chapter 23 she finally reached the door. She looked inside through the window of the ward. A cute, well¨Cbehaved girly in bed with her eyes closed as if asleep. Beside her bed sat her worried, deadbeat father, Mr. Yates. He was already in his fifties, but his handsome face looked more like that of a man in his thirties or forties. Sensing Cynthia¡¯s gaze, Mr. Yates looked up, and their eyes met through the observation. window. In that instant¡­ Both of their hearts experienced a slight disturbance as Mr. Yates¡® gaze seemed to be glued to Cynthia, unable to look away. ¡°Cyn¡­¡± Cynthia, unable to express her emotions,posed herself and opened the door to the hospital room. She was still wearing the casual ck suit and white T¨Cshirt she had worn to the divorce proceedings, giving her a cold and aloof appearance. She closed the door behind her. ¡°Cyn.¡± Mr. Yates¡® voice choked with emotion as memories surged uncontrobly in his mind. ¡°How is Shirley?¡± Cynthia asked, not addressing him as she approached the bed to look at the girl who was sleeping deeply. Mr. Yates suppressed his emotions and answered her question. ¡°She should be fine. Her wounds have been treated, but we¡¯ll have to wait until she¡¯s recovered to do more tests.¡± Cynthia nodded in response, and the room returned to silence. Mr. Yates¡® gaze rested on her, noticing she had lost weight. ¡°You¡­¡± Mr. Yates hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll be here at the hospital. You should go home,¡± Cynthia interrupted, her tone cold. Mr. Yates did not speak. He wanted to ask her how she had been these past two years, but he knew that Cyn would not discuss such things with him. After carefully considering his words, he asked, ¡°You and Joshua¡­¡® ¡°We¡¯re getting a divorce,¡± Cynthia said as she sat down beside the bed, her gaze fixed on Shirley. Understanding that Cynthia did not want to talk much with him, Mr. Yates exchanged a few more words of concern before finally leaving the room. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. As he was leaving, he ran into Jimmy. ¡°Mr. Yates?¡± ¡°Cyn must have rushed back without eating lunch.¡± Mr. Yates said, ncing back at the room before adding, ¡°Make sure she eats somethingter.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Jimmy agreed, knowing that Cynthia and Mr. Yates did not have a great rtionship. He said nothing more. After Mr. Yates left, Jimmy entered the room and yfully said, ¡°Cynthia, guess who I saw when I came back from parking the car?¡± Chapter 21 Cynthia shot him a look, clearly warning him not to disturb Shirley¡¯s rest. ¡°The man on your marriage certificate,¡± Jimmy whispered. Cynthia raised her eyebrows slightly, a glimmer of doubt in her eyes. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure. He was even brought here in a Neal Group business car from the Nexuria branch. Do you think he knew you were here and came to see Shirley on purpose?¡± Jimmy provided the details, his toneced with his joy for gossip. Cynthia remained silent, mentally retracing her steps from boarding the ne to parting ways with Joshua, certain she had not revealed her location. ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Jimmy continued quietly, careful not to disturb Shirley¡¯s rest. Cynthia spoke concisely, ¡°He doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here, and he doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m Shirley¡¯s sister. ¡± Jimmy was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I never told him my true identity,¡± Cynthia informed him calmly. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t find out. Whether in Jiverton or Nexuria, he has a widework of connections. As soon as the name Joshuaes up, many people would be willing to help him,¡± Jimmy argued, knowing Joshua well. Cynthia looked at him. Jimmy, as if realizing something, stared at her wide¨Ceyed. ¡°Did you hide your own information from him?¡± Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 A slight nod from Cynthia was all the confirmation Jimmy needed. He could not help but feel astonished. While Joshua might be able to uncover information hidden by others, anything hidden by Cynthia would be practically impossible to find. The two of them continued their hushed conversation for a little while before Cynthia¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated. Seeing that it was a call from Mitchell, she asked Jimmy to watch over Shirley while she stepped out of the room to take the call. However, just as she opened the door to leave the room, she spotted several figures around the corner, and right in the center was Joshua, who hade to Nexuria with her earlier. She quickly retreated and closed the door to the hospital room. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Jimmy, utterly bewildered. Without giving him an exnation, Cynthia walked toward the balcony of the room with her phone. Meanwhile, Joshua, who had caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the hallway, stopped in front of Shirley¡¯s hospital room. The person from the Neal Group¡¯s Nexuria branch asked, Mr. Neal, is everything alright?¡± They were all confused! They were supposed to go to thepany, but instead, they were at the hospital! ¡°Who is staying in this room?¡± Joshua asked indifferently, his lips barely moving. The person in charge quickly responded, ¡°It appears to be the daughter of Yates Group, Shirley Yates.¡± ¡°Knock on the door,¡± Joshua ordered, his voice deep and steady. The Neal Group branch manager hesitated. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to visit the CEO of the Tanz Group?¡± ¡°We also have a partnership with the Yates Group, and it¡¯s appropriate for us to visit their daughter while she¡¯s in the hospital. Knock on the door,¡± Joshua replied seriously, his maic voice commanding. Obediently, the branch manager knocked. While he suspected that there was more to the situation than met the eye, he could not help but follow orders. He was sure that something was off; the CEO never bothered with such trivial matters and would have delegated the task to them instead of handling it personally. Inside the ward, Jimmy saw a suited figure through the door¡¯s observation window and instinctively nced toward the balcony where Cynthia was standing. ¡°Cynthia, it looks like it¡¯s someone from the Neal Group.¡± ¡°You handle it. Don¡¯t let them in,¡± Cynthia said, not wanting to see Joshua. Seeing Joshua here might make him think she had ulterior motives for marrying him or was trying to steal trade secrets. She had no intention of discussing these matters or arguing with him in Shirley¡¯s ward. Jimmy stood up and opened the door, his youthful appearance entuated by his tousled hair. 1/3 Chapter 22 ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m the manager of Neal Group¡¯s Nexuria branch,¡± the person in charge introduced himself before gesturing to Joshua. ¡°And this is our CEO, Mr. Neal. We heard that Ms. Yates is in the hospital and came to pay her a visit.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jimmy replied casually. The manager was taken aback by his response. Were they not going to invite them in to sit? Joshua¡¯s gaze shifted past Jimmy and into the room, his presencemanding. Jimmy studied him for a moment and realized that Joshua looked even more attractive in person than in photos. No wonder Cynthia had fallen for him. ¡°Is Cynthia here?¡± Joshua asked, his dark eyes carrying an unnerving intensity as he posed a potentially loaded question. Jimmy, caught off guard, stammered, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°This is a gift for Ms. Yates.¡± Joshua said, shifting his gaze away and taking a gift prepared for the CEO of Tanz Group from the director¡¯s hands, ¡°We wish her a speedy recovery.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jimmy said, epting the gift. Afterward, Joshua left with his entourage. The branch manager looked bewildered, staring at his empty hands, his mind racing. What would they give to Mr. Tanz now that the gift prepared for him had been given to Ms. Yates? Jimmy could not understand the purpose of their visit. He ced the gift on the table next to Shirley¡¯s bed, still pondering the recent events. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to handle that so well,¡± Cynthiaplimented him from a spot hidden from the observation window. ¡°What?¡± Jimmy asked, confused. ¡°Joshua was trying to trick you just now. No matter what you said about me being there or not, it would have revealed that you know me.¡± Cynthia exined, having been worried he might slip up, ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d say something.¡± Upon hearing this, Jimmy looked a bit sheepish. He scratched his head, grinned, and admitted, ¡°Actually, I was just thinking about how much better looking he is than in the pictures. I didn¡¯t really hear what he was saying.¡® Cynthia was speechless. ¡°By the time I realized what he¡¯d asked, he had already handed me the gift and left,¡± Jimmy added, his eyes shifting. Cynthia rolled her eyes. Was it all just a coincidence? ¡°Cynthia, did you marry him because of his looks?¡± Jimmy finally found an opportunity to gossip. Cynthia pursed her lips in agreement. ¡°You could say that.¡± Joshua had always been her type. Even now, after their divorce and now him being a scumbag, she had to admit that he was handsome. To this day, she had not seen anyone better looking Chapter 22 in the entertainment or fashion industry. As for the man they were discussing, he was currently in a room two doors down, talking to someone. The branch manager and others waited outside the room while Joshua sat in a chair next to the bed of a handsome, defiant¨Clooking man. ¡°Howe I never noticed before that you have such a soft spot for women?¡± Mr. Tanz teased, watching the drama unfold, ¡°You even gave away the gift meant for me.¡± Joshua replied, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone bring you ten more giftster.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. Just tell me why you suddenly came to the hospital to see me. I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re that kind¨Chearted,¡± Mr. Tanz retorted without hesitation. ¡°Help me find out if Shirley Yates has an older sister. Around twenty¨Cfour years old,¡± Joshua said, never hiding anything from him. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°You are looking for a new partner right after your divorce?¡± Mr. Tanz raised an eyebrow, clearly joking. Joshua calmly responded, ¡°Neal Group will beying off employees soon. It would be a shame if your childhood friend were to be let go by ident.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Mr. Tanz challenged. ¡°Try me.¡± Joshua countered. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of her having a sister.¡± Mr. Tanz reluctantly shared the information, cursing Joshua under his breath, ¡°But everyone in Yates Group calls her Little Miss.¡± ¡®Little Miss?¡® Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What do you want this information for?¡± Mr. Tanz asked, puzzled. ¡°Nothing,¡± Joshua replied, standing up. He patted Mr. Tanz¡¯s bandaged shoulder twice, saying, ¡°Take care of yourself, and when you¡¯re better, treat me to a meal.¡± Mr. Tanz winced in pain, quickly warning Joshua as he reached the door, ¡°If you dare make my future daughter¨Cinw lose her job, I won¡¯t let you off easy!¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Joshua did not pay him any attention, and he left the hospital room with steady steps. He thought about what Yosef Tanz had said, and his eyes deepened with thought. Could Cynthia really be Chairman Yate¡¯s daughter? As he considered this, his gaze fell on the branch manager waiting outside. He called out to him, ¡°Mr. Harrison.¡± Mr. Harrison immediately stood up straight. Seeing the look on Joshua¡¯s face, he wondered if the conversation with Yosef Tanz had not gone well. ¡°Arrange a dinner with the chairman of Yates Group,¡± Joshua said slowly, his tone so mysterious that no one knew what he was nning. Mr. Harrison was confused. Worried that he had misheard, he asked, ¡°The chairman of Yates Group, Mr. Yates?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua replied indifferently and continued walking toward the exit. As he passed by Cynthia¡¯s hospital room, he nced inside. ¡°But our coboration with Yates Group isn¡¯t an important part of our business.¡± Mr. Harrison thought Joshua wanted to discuss business and was concerned about the appropriateness of the dinner invitation. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit improper to arrange a dinner under such circumstances?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any problem. Just say that I find our coboration with Yates Group pleasant, and I¡¯d like to discuss the possibility of extending our partnership,¡± Joshua replied, already nning to probe Chairman Yates for information. Mr. Harrison hesitated for a moment, his expressionplicated as he looked at Joshua. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua noticed. ¡°Our coboration with Yates Group hasn¡¯t been very pleasant, actually. During our negotiations, both parties were outwardly polite, but deep down, we were quite hostile toward each other,¡± Mr. Harrison recalled previous events, his face pale. That particr coboration had been nothing short of a battle between them. He did not want to coborate with Yates Group as they were simply too difficult to deal with! Joshua was taken aback. He had not expected this oue. Nexuria¡¯s business dealings were usually arranged externally. ¡°Then find another reason to arrange the meeting.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Mr. Harrison reluctantly agreed. Cynthia was unaware that Joshua was about to meet her ¡®Old Man Yates¡¯. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Shirley finally woke up. As she opened her eyes to the white hospital room, she felt pain all over her body. Furrowing her brow, she tried to move but was stopped by a familiar voice. ¡°Don¡¯t move. You¡¯re still receiving an IV,¡± Cynthia warned her. Shirley¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She instantly became more alert, looking toward the source of the voice. Seeing her sister, her eyes filled with joy. ¡°Sis! You¡¯re back!¡± Chapter 23 Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Yes. You have about twenty minutes left on your IV. Lie still.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shirley obeyed, her bright eyes never leaving her sister¡¯s face, as if she could not get enough of looking at her. Cynthia tucked her in, worried she might catch a cold. ¡°Sis.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so d you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Sis.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so happy to see you.¡± Cynthia gently scraped her nose, her expression full of affection. ¡°You need to focus on recovery first.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Shirley happily agreed. Twenty minutester, Cynthia called the nurse on duty when the IV was finished. When the IV bag was removed, Shirley struggled to sit up. She really missed her sister! Cynthia helped her sit up, raising the hospital bed and handing her a cup of warm water. She only sat down after taking care of everything. Shirley had been beaming ever since she saw Cynthia, her energy and excitement apparent. ¡°I heard from Dad that you married Joshua and are nning to get a divorce. Is that true?¡± Cynthia sighed. Why does everyone know? Cynthia began, her gaze falling on Shirley¡¯s bandaged head, ¡°Before I answer that question, you need to tell me how you got these injuries.¡± The excitement in Shirley¡¯s eyes faded, reced with a hint of nervousness. Cynthia waited for her sister to speak, not rushing her. ¡°You can¡¯t be mad at me if I tell you,¡± Shirley said hesitantly, biting her lip as she said. Cynthia agreed, ¡°Alright.¡± Shirley hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke, ¡°I was beaten up, but I¡¯m not quite sure who was behind it.¡± ¡°Tell me more,¡± Cynthia said, steadying herself and calmly discussing the situation with her sister. ¡°I suspect with Mr ght have been Mrs. Quinn¡¯s rtives, but I don¡¯t think it has anything to do .,¡± Shirley confessed in a hushed tone, biting her lip again. Mrs. Quin was their father¡¯s new partner. Cynthia knew. 2/4 Chapter 23 ¡°I had only one ss this morning, and I was nning to go shopping with my dormmates when I received a text message. It said that my friend was in trouble and I needed to get there. quickly,¡± Shirley recounted, exining the sequence of events. ¡°Which friend?¡± Cynthia inquired, looking for more details. Shirley stammered for a while, unable to find the words, her eyes darting away evasively. Seeing her sister¡¯s reaction, Cynthia understood. ¡°A boyfriend?¡± Shirley admitted sheepishly, fearing her sister¡¯s reprimand. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah. I didn¡¯t think much about it at the time and just headed to the address the person provided. I didn¡¯t know it was a trap.¡± ¡°Can I see the text message?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Relieved that Cynthia was not pushing the issue further, Shirley quickly unlocked her phone and handed it to her sister. Cynthia read the message and made a mental note of the sender¡¯s number. ¡°Sis.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t make things difficult for Mrs. Quinn.¡± Shirley said cautiously, aware of her sister¡¯s lingering resentment about the situation, ¡°I can guarantee that she has nothing to do with this.¡± Over the past two years, without her sister at home, Shirley hade to understand a lot more about their family dynamics. Mrs. Quinn was not a bad person. Cynthia hesitated before responding, ¡°As long as she hasn¡¯t hurt you, I won¡¯t make things difficult for her.¡± ¡°What happened after?¡± Cynthia asked, handing the phone back to Shirley after reading the message. ¡°I was attacked with sticks in an alley before I even reached the destination. I think I saw Mrs. Quinn¡¯s brother standing outside the alley.¡± Shirley recounted objectively, without embellishment, ¡°Eventually, my¡­ boyfriend arrived. He rescued me and took me to the hospital.¡± ¡°As for what happened next, I have no idea,¡± Shirley continued. ¡°Oh! My boyfriend came because I texted him while I was on my way to confirm if he was really in trouble ¡°I see,¡± Cyn said, having gathered enough information. She asked onest question, ¡°Did you call the police?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Shirley replied obediently, nodding. Cynthia nodded and promised, ¡°I¡¯ll have this sorted out for you in seven days.¡± Shirley nodded her head lightly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. 3/4 23 After avoiding any consequences regarding having a boyfriend, Shirley grew bolder. ¡°Sis, I¡¯ve already told you about my situation. Isn¡¯t it your turn to tell me about yours?¡± Cynthia was about to respond when her gaze was drawn to a message from Old Man Yates. [Old Man Yates: Cyn, Joshua invited me to dinner. Should I go?] Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 ¡°Sis, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Shirley noticed the change in her expression. ¡°Nothing. You just get some rest.¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes darkened slightly as she stood up with her phone. ¡°I¡¯m going to make a call.¡± Shirley simply nodded. Cynthia stepped out into the hallway and dialed her father¡¯s number. Mr. Yates answered quickly, as always. ¡°Cyn.¡± ¡°When did he tell you?¡± Cynthia got straight to the point, with no beating around the bush. ¡°Just now.¡± Mr. Yates did not hide anything from her. ¡°Nexuria¡¯s director called my secretary, saying Joshua is very interested in Yates Group¡¯s new project and wants to discuss it.¡± Cynthia pondered the situation. Her intuition told her that things were not as simple as they seemed. ¡°Can you refuse?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Mr. Yates spoke from a business perspective and exined his reasoning, ¡°If I refuse, Joshua might be ¡°When are you meeting?¡± Spicias This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The Neal Group suggested for us to meet tomorrow, but it depends on my schedule.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s just about a coboration, then go.¡± Cynthia quickly came up with a n. ¡°If he asks if you know me or if you have any other daughters besides Shirley, say you don¡¯t know her, and you don¡¯t have any.¡± Mr. Yates hesitated, holding the phone. Cyn was not trying to sever their father¨Cdaughter rtionship, was she? ¡°It might not be a good idea to say that¡­¡± he finally spoke after much consideration. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Cynthia was direct and indifferent. ¡°I don¡¯t want him to know my identity before the divorce, nor do I want the divorce to be difficult.¡± Upon hearing the word ¡®divorce¡®, Mr. Yates feltplicated. Still, after much thought, he agreed. They discussed a few more details, and in the end, Mr. Yates asked, ¡°Can you tell me what happened between you two?¡± ¡°Later.¡± Cynthia used that sentence as her closing statement and hung up the phone, returning to the hospital room. Seeing her expression, Shirley guessed immediately, her eyes full of mischief. ¡°Did you call Dad?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cynthia did not hide it. ¡°Actually, he¡¯s been missing you these past couple of years.¡± Shirley yed the mediator. Chapter 24 He¡¯s always worried that you¡¯re unhappy and not well taken care of.¡± Cynthia did not respond. Seeing another message from her father, she replied with a tap of her finger. Shirley¡¯s feelings were a bitplicated. ¡°Sis, can you tell me what exactly happened between you and Dad?¡± She had asked her father many times over the past two years. However, he always remained tight¨Clipped, either shifting the conversation to her studies or asking about her post¨Cgraduation ns, always adeptly avoiding her questions. She really wanted to know. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Cynthia did not want her to know. ¡°I¡¯m going to get you something to eat, and once you¡¯re feeling better, let your boyfriend know you¡¯re okay.¡± Hearing this, Shirley¡¯s thoughts were immediately diverted, and her cheeks flushed as she nodded. Cynthia left the hospital, asking Jimmy to look after Shirley for the time being. As she walked aimlessly along the streets outside the hospital, her mind was filled with the questions Shirley had asked. Old Man Yates had done things that Shirley must never know about. If she found out, her image of her father would be shattered, as would her faith in him. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 To Shirley, Old Man Yates had always been a superhero. Whatever she wanted, he would make it happen. Cynthia wanted Shirley to be happy for the rest of her life. That would be enough as long as she and Old Man Yates understood the situation. Cynthia let out a sigh, about to buy some of Shirley¡¯s favorite treats, when the phone in her hand started vibrating. The name ¡®Joshua¡® appeared on the screen. She swiped to answer. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°How¡¯s your family?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°They¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°I want you toe with me to a dinner party tomorrow night. Send me your address, and I¡¯ll have Yoel pick you up.¡± Cynthia furrowed her brow. ¡°A dinner party?¡± ¡°Yes, with the chairman of Yates Group.¡± Joshua¡¯s attractive voice came through the phone. Cynthia groaned inwardly. Joshua sat in his hotel room, staring at the email Cynthia had sent him earlier. As he read the contents, his eyes darkened. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were the heir to Yates Group? It would be easier for us to talk if you came.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go,¡± Cynthia refused outright. Joshua was determined to find her identity. ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll put up a ¡®missing person¡® notice for you on the big screens outside Nexuria¡¯s malls the day after tomorrow. Whoever finds you will get a million dors.¡± Cynthia was speechless. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Joshua said, ¡°I believe someone will be happy to make that money.¡± ¡°Do I need to remind you that we¡¯re getting a divorce?¡± Cynthia felt it necessary to remind him. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your activities. I was just joking when I mentioned that before.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see if it¡¯s a joke after youe tomorrow.¡± Joshua did not even try to hide his intentions. As Cynthia thought about something, she responded, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that after Jayleen in Jiverton sees you with me in Nexuria, she¡¯ll cry her eyes out in the hospital every day?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Joshua was certain. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, you clearly don¡¯t understand women. If you don¡¯t contact her for a month, and you go to a dinner party with me while you¡¯re supposed to be divorcing me, she¡¯ll definitely think you don¡¯t love her anymore or that you fell in love with me during our two¨Cyear marriage.¡® ¡°Jayleen is not like you. I had Yoel tell her about this, and she agreed.¡± 1/2 Chapter 25 Cynthia just said, ¡°Oh.¡± Her emotions were unreadable. Jayleen might be able to handle other matters, but after their encounter at the hospital, it was clear she valued her position as Joshua¡¯s wife too much. anxious she would be. The more she valued it, the more one might even be furious Consider whether you want toe or not,¡± These days, she might have been trying to find out about their divorce and the current situation, whether Joshua had any lingering feelings for her or about the division of assets in their divorce. ¡°Yoel will contact you after he arrives in Nexuri Joshua said before hanging up. He knew Cynthia would agree. She would not want her picture and information to the big screens. However, Cynthia nned to go, not because of his threat. appear on She went, only to dispel Joshua¡¯s suspicions. She did not want Joshua to think she had ulterior motives for getting close to him. Ever since she nned to marry him, she wanted to live as Cynthia, not as the heir to the Yates Group. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Being the heir to Yates Group was too exhausting; she just wanted to find someone to truly love and spend her life with, building a happy home through theirbined efforts. Even without the status of the Yates Group heir, her worth wasparable to Joshua¡¯s. Before their divorce, she wanted the marriage to end the way it began, as Cynthia. With these thoughts in mind, she decided to tell Old Man Yates about it. If she did not tell him, he would surely give himself away due to surprise when Joshua brought her to meet him the next day. ¡°What?¡± Mr. Yates was stunned, his mind unable to process the information for a moment. Why is he bringing you to meet me?¡± ¡°He wants to test my identity,¡± Cynthia replied bluntly. In truth, that was not Joshua¡¯s real goal. His true intention was to find out if Cynthia would make a phone call to contact Chairman Yates after learning about the situation. If she did, it would mean she was telling the truth. If not, she was just making stuff up. After talking to Mr. Yates, Cynthia received an email from the same sender as before. [Yes, he wants you to help him check the call records of a mobile number to see if this number has recently contacted the Yates Group Chairman.] Cynthia could not describe her current emotions. It felt like someone was trying to poison her by asking her which poison would be most effective. In a good mood, she quickly replied, [Last I checked, there was no contact between the two.]Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She was not afraid of Joshua asking other hackers to check. Her phone number and other contact methods were encrypted, and it was impossible to obtain them through illegal means. Seeing the email, Joshua made a phone call to another person who was helping him. The person confirmed the same result. This made him think otherwise. The next afternoon, Cynthia was still at the hospital chatting with Shirley, listening to her recount the interesting events that had happened over the past two years. As they talked, the conversation turned to Joshua. ¡°Sis, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°About Joshua.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Cynthia¡¯s interest was piqued, and a bad feeling began to surface in her heart. Shirley looked a bit guilty, biting her lip and slowly saying, ¡°This morning, I talked to Dad for a bit. I found out that Joshua was going to bring you to meet him, so I asked Dad to arrange the meeting here.¡± serious?¡± Cynthia looked at her in dismay. ¡°Are you ¡°I just wanted to see what he¡¯s like in real life,¡± Shirley admitted, knowing she had done something wrong, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. ¡°After all, he was once my brother¨Cinw.¡± Cynthia fell silent. This girl really knew how to cause trouble. ?? Chapter 26 ¡°Sis?¡± ¡°Are you good at acting?¡± Cynthia did not me her for what she did. Shirley hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If Joshua really agrees to meet here, pretend you don¡¯t know me when you see me,¡± Cynthia had not even considered this, fearing that Shirley¡¯s acting might not be good enough to conceal the truth. ¡°And don¡¯t make any eye contact with me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Also, don¡¯t be overly curious about him. He¡¯s not your brother¨Cinw; he¡¯s just a business partner of Yates Group.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 ¡°The most important thing is not to mention that you have an older sister. Discuss this with Old Man Yates in advance and make sure you don¡¯t slip up,¡± Cynthia instructed, Shirley agreed to all of it. She had heard many stories about Joshua¡¯s business sesses, his wless decision¨Cmaking, and his status as a legend in their industry, She had seen him at business banquets before but never imagined he would be her brother¨Cinw. Not long after Cynthia finished briefing, Shirley, she received a call from Mr. Cheyne, He asked her where she was, offered to pick her up, and informed her that the meeting ce had been changed to the hospital where Shirley was staying. Cynthia told him she would wait for him at Nexuria¡¯s First People¡¯s Hospital and hung up the phone. When she left Nexuria¡¯s First People¡¯s Hospital, she withdrew some cash. At half¨Cpast five in the afternoon, Mr. Cheyne and Joshua arrived at Nexuria¡¯s First People¡¯s Hospital on time, meeting up with Cynthia. Joshua was dressed in a dark gray suit that entuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, though the cold aura he exuded was even more pronounced, ¡°Mrs. Neal,¡± Mr. Cheyne greeted her with a slight smile. ¡°Please, just call me Cynthia,¡± she corrected. Mr. Cheyne and Joshua both seemed taken aback by her request. ¡°Are your family members staying at this hospital?¡± Joshua asked, his deep, anfathomable eyes scanning the surroundings, addressing the critical question. ¡°No,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°Do you think I would believe that?¡± he challenged. ¡°Whether you believe me or not has nothing to do with me,¡± Cynthia shot back. Ever since. Jayleen¡¯s ident, she knew Joshua¡¯s trust in her was non¨Cexistent. Mr. Cheyne did not dare say a word, fearing the couple would start arguing again. ¡°Why is your Google Fit step count only around two hundred if your family isn¡¯t here?¡± Joshua asked, pulling out his phone to check her activity, not giving her any ck. His tone was cold as he thought about the fleeting figure he had seen outside Shirley¡¯s hospital room when he visited Yosef the day before. It looked just like the woman standing before him. ¡°Would that be the case if you came from somewhere else? You should have walked more steps,¡± Joshua inquired, his gaze scrutinizing her and adding to the oppressive atmosphere. Cynthia retorted, ¡°I used not to believe that people in love had zero intelligence, but now, I do. 11 This is from N?velDrama.Org. Joshua and Mr. Cheyne were both speechless. ¡°There¡¯s a mode of transportation called a taxi,¡± Cynthia informed him. Riding in a vehicle did not count toward her steps, a fact both Joshua and Mr. Cheyne were aware of. Mr. Cheyne nced at his boss, thinking for the umpteenth time that his mind was not as sharp as Cynthia¡¯s. Joshua¡¯s heart sank. While Cynthia¡¯s words were indisputable, she did not seem like someone who had rushed over from somewhere else. 1/2 Chapter 27 ¡°Boss, we should go in. After visiting the Yates Group¡¯s heiress, we still have a meeting with Chairman Yates,¡± Mr. Cheyne interjected, feeling the tension in the air. Joshua¡¯s probing gaze lingered on Cynthia for a moment before he started walking toward the inpatient department. Cynthia, feeling somewhat relieved, patted the cash in her pocket and followed him. She had withdrawn some cash in case Joshua asked her to show the payment record for her taxi ride, as she had no such records on her phone. If he asked, she could im she took a taxi and paid with cash. He did not ask, so she did not have to worry about saying too much and making a mistake. From the hospital entrance to Shirley¡¯s room, the distance was not very long, but Joshua deliberately slowed his pace. He was testing Cynthia to see if she genuinely did not know or was just pretending. Chapter 28 When they reached a fork in the road, Mr. Cheyne went in the correct direction, while Joshua deliberately went the wrong way. He wanted to see how Cynthia would choose. In truth, Cynthia would not choose at all. Regardless of whether she knew or not, between Joshua and Mr. Cheyne, she would unhesitatingly choose Mr. Cheyne. This was what Joshua had taught her. ¡°Boss¡­¡± Yoel noticed his boss going the wrong way and stopped, calling out, ¡°Mrs. Neal¡¯s room is this way; you¡¯ve gone the wrong way.¡± Joshua turned back, and the three continued walking. Joshua focused on Cynthia, who had been calm from the beginning. ¡°How did you know this was the right way?¡± ¡°Because Mr. Cheyne is leading,¡± Cynthia replied, silencing all of his suspicions. Joshua fell silent while a panicked Mr. Cheyne worried that his boss might suspect something improper between him and Mrs. Neal. After all, he was the one who apanied her shopping, made dinner reservations, and picked her up when she went out. What if his boss imagined something else? He anxiously waited for a response. Frustrated, Joshua quickened his pace toward Shirley¡¯s room. He could always send someone to investigate their coborationter. Meanwhile, in Shirley¡¯s room, Mr. Yates adjusted his clothes and asked Shirley to check if there were any issues before asking, ¡°Do I have an imposing presence like this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really!¡± ¡°Can it suppress Joshua?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s hard to say¡­¡± Shirley told the truth. In her memory, no one had ever intimidated Joshua, it was always the other way around. Mr. Yates knew this as well, and his expression grew somber as he contemted how to intimidate Joshua. He needed to teach him a lesson for bullying his daughter. As he thought this, the secretary, dressed in a suit, opened the door and announced in a professional tone, ¡°Chairman Yates, Mr. Neal from the Neal Group is here.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The secretary immediately invited the guest into the room. Both Joshua and Chairman Yates were experiencing their first business meeting in a hospital ward. Joshua brought Cynthia with him, greeted Chairman Yates, and observed Mr. Yates and Shirley¡¯s reactions throughout the process. However, he did not gain any clues. Both Chairman Yates and Shirley maintained a calm demeanor when Cynthia entered the room as if she were just an unrted person. They exchanged pleasantries, and after Joshua expressed his concern for Shirley and wished her a speedy recovery, the conversation between him and Mr. Yates finally turned to business. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°You mentioned you are interested in one of Yates Group¡¯s new projects. Which one is it?¡± Mr. Yates asked politely while sitting in a chair, exuding a sense of maturity, Cynthia noticed a subtle change in Old Man Yates¡¯s demeanor. What she did not know was that Mr. Yates was currently very dissatisfied with Joshua. Bringing her along without introducing her made him feel that Joshua did not care about Cynthia at all. This dissatisfaction gave him an imposing presence that subtly surpassed Joshua¡¯s. Joshua sensed some hostility from Mr. Yates, but upon closer inspection, he figured he was just overthinking it. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the artificial intelligence project.¡± ¡°We have several AI projects.¡± Mr. Yates replied quickly, his gaze focused on Joshua, ¡°Which one are you referring to?¡± Joshua rified, ¡°The AI robot project.¡± ¡°That is indeed an impressive project, but we¡¯ve already partnered with anotherpany for it,¡± Mr. Yates said. ¡°No problem,¡± Joshua replied, knowing he was not there for serious business. He nced at Cynthia and, with a meaningful smile, asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious, aside from Shirley, does Chairman Yates have any other daughters?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mr. Yates responded naturally. At that moment, Shirley looked up at them. Joshua continued calmly and seriously, ¡°Some time ago, I heard someone in Jiverton iming to be an heir to Yates Group. I thought maybe Chairman Yates had another daughter besides Mrs. Neal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m my father¡¯s only daughter,¡± Shirley confirmed, leaning against the hospital bed with a youthful voice. Shirley was the apple of their family¡¯s eye! Mr. Yates seemed more rxed now and joked, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t take such rumors too seriously. Many ims are just idle talk. For example, I¡¯ve heard quite a few people say they want to have a child with Mr. Neal here.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Joshua agreed, chatting casually with Mr. Yates. Shirley could not help but let her gaze wander to Cynthia from time to time. On her tenth nce, Joshua looked up and asked in a low voice, ¡°Does Ms. Yates know wife? Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia remained silent. Shirley would not expose her, would she? ¡°She¡¯s your wife?¡± Shirley finally asked openly, looking at her sister. Joshua gave a vague answer, ¡°For now.¡± ¡°For now?¡± Mr. Yates inquired. my ¡°We¡¯re in the process of getting a divorce,¡± Joshua exined casually, observing Chairman Yates¡® reaction. If Chairman Yates were truly Cynthia¡¯s father, he would surely be upset by this news. However, Mr. Yates did not show any emotional reaction. ¡°Dad!¡± Shirley found an excuse to confront Joshua, excitedly telling Mr. Yates, ¡°Don¡¯t you Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Joshua sensed some hostility from Mr. Yates, but upon closer inspection, he figured he was just overthinking it. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the artificial intelligence project.¡± ¡°We have several AI projects.¡± Mr. Yates replied quickly, his gaze focused on Joshua, ¡°Which one are you referring to?¡± Joshua rified, ¡°The AI robot project.¡± ¡°That is indeed an impressive project, but we¡¯ve already partnered with anotherpany for it,¡± Mr. Yates said. ¡°No problem,¡± Joshua replied, knowing he was not there for serious business. He nced at Cynthia and, with a meaningful smile, asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious, aside from Shirley, does Chairman Yates have any other daughters?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mr. Yates responded naturally. At that moment, Shirley looked up at them. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Joshua continued calmly and seriously, ¡°Some time ago, I heard someone in Jiverton iming to be an heir to Yates Group. I thought maybe Chairman Yates had another daughter besides Mrs. Neal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m my father¡¯s only daughter,¡± Shirley confirmed, leaning against the hospital bed with a youthful voice. Shirley was the apple of their family¡¯s eye! Mr. Yates seemed more rxed now and joked, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t take such rumors too seriously. Many ims are just idle talk. For example, I¡¯ve heard quite a few people say they want to have a child with Mr. Neal here.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Joshua agreed, chatting casually with Mr. Yates. Shirley could not help but let her gaze wander to Cynthia from time to time. On her tenth nce, Joshua looked up and asked in a low voice, ¡°Does Ms. Yates know wife? Cynthia remained silent. Shirley would not expose her, would she? ¡°She¡¯s your wife?¡± Shirley finally asked openly, looking at her sister. Joshua gave a vague answer, ¡°For now.¡± ¡°For now?¡± Mr. Yates inquired. my ¡°We¡¯re in the process of getting a divorce,¡± Joshua exined casually, observing Chairman Yates¡® reaction. If Chairman Yates were truly Cynthia¡¯s father, he would surely be upset by this news. However, Mr. Yates did not show any emotional reaction. ¡°Dad!¡± Shirley found an excuse to confront Joshua, excitedly telling Mr. Yates, ¡°Don¡¯t you 1/2 Chapter 29 think Mr. Neal¡¯s wife looks a lot like someone we used to know?¡± Mr. Yates looked puzzled, wondering what she was up to. Shirley whispered, ¡°We need to back Cynthia up!¡± Mr. Yates hissed, ¡°You might expose Cynthia!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Shirley reassured him in whispers. Despite her confidence, Mr. Yates remained uneasy. ¡°Who?¡± he asked, ceasing his eye contact with Shirley. ¡°My personal bodyguard from elementary school, Cynthia,¡± Shirley provided, her eyes shining with excitement. Mr. Yates and Cynthia both fell silent. Joshua furrowed his brow slightly, murmuring, ¡°Your personal bodyguard?¡± ¡°Cynthia?¡± Mr. Yates feigned ignorance, not knowing how to continue the conversation. Shirley¡¯s acting was impable, helping her father recall, ¡°When I was nine, didn¡¯t you bring home a girl five years older than me to ensure my safety and prevent me from being bullied at school?¡± Mr. Yates frowned, unsure how to respond. Should he pretend to remember or continue feigning forgetfulness? Shirley was indeed five years younger than Cynthia. He hesitated, not wanting to ruin Shirley¡¯s. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¡°I remember when I was in elementary school, I fell down the stairs because someone pushed me. At that time, you even went to check the surveince footage with the police¡­¡± Shirley continued, speaking earnestly, As Shirley spoke, she became more serious. Mr. Yates realized that if he continued to pretend not to remember, he might reveal more. So he followed her lead, feigning realization, ¡°Are you talking about Cynthia?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, yes!¡± Shirley was ecstatic. ¡°You¡¯re that Cynthia?¡± Mr. Yates asked Cynthia standing next to Joshua, seeking confirmation of her identity. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia had not expected the two of them to be such good actors. She responded with a faint,¡± Mhm.¡± ¡°Cynthia, is that really you?!¡± Shirley was thrilled, not giving away any hints of deception. I¡¯m Shirley, the little girl with short hair who fell into the pond, and you saved me when we were kids. Do you remember?¡± ¡°I remember.¡± Cynthia nodded. How could she forget? That rascal had snuck away to pick some water nts while she was not paying attention and slipped into the pond. When Cynthia pulled her out, Shirley still clung tightly to the water nt she had picked. Joshua nced at her with a more scrutinizing look. ¡°I never heard you mention before that you had a connection with the Yates family.¡± ¡°Why would I talk about something that happened ten years ago?¡± Cynthia retorted. Joshua was silenced. Shirley enthusiastically invited Cynthia. ¡°Cynthia,e sit over here!¡± Cynthia joined her, and the two of them chatted, reminiscing about the past. They spoke about the time Cynthia had defended Shirley from bullies and the time Cynthia had covered for her while she snuck in food. ¡°You¡¯ve changed so much in these ten years that I almost didn¡¯t recognize you,¡± Shirley said, holding Cynthia¡¯s hand and refusing to let go, her eyes filled with nostalgia. Seeing this, Joshua realized the truth in their shared past. Shirley, who was smitten with her older sister, wasted no time challenging Joshua, ¡°Mr. Neal, may I ask why you and Cynthia divorced?¡± ¡°We just didn¡¯t get along,¡± Joshua gave a brief answer. Shirley turned to Cynthia. ¡°Is that true?¡± Cynthia nodded in agreement. Shirley¡¯s eyes flickered. She was certain Cynthia was lying. ¡°It¡¯s for the best.¡± Shirley boldly dered, not fearing any consequences, ¡°I have many 1/2 Chapter 30 outstanding friends who would be great for you. They¡¯ll be very curious about you when they hear how you protected me in the past.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Cynthia knew she was just showing off her acting skills at this point. Joshua¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly at the word. It was clear he was not happy with Shirley¡¯s statement. ¡°Does Ms. Yates enjoy matchmaking?¡± Joshua¡¯s hostility toward Shirley was growing. ¡°Not really.¡± Shirley did not back down. ¡°I just like finding matches for Cynthia. She¡¯s such an outstanding person and deserves the best.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t really know much about her. How would she know who is right for her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll arrange for them all to meet Cynthia, and she can choose the one she likes.¡± Joshua did not know what to say. He felt that the conversation should not continue. He was not even divorced yet, and Shirley was already trying to introduce Cynthia to new people right in front of him. He felt that she was being a little impolite. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this after my divorce with her.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone grew colder and more annoyed.¡± Regarding our business cooperation, I¡¯ll have someone visit the Yates Group to discuss it personally with Chairman Yatester. I won¡¯t trouble Miss. Yates any further today,¡± Joshua concluded. ¡°Alright,¡± Mr. Yates agreed, standing up to see Joshua off. And so, their conversation came to an end. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Both sides knew they were not talking about business cooperation. Joshua was talking about going to the Yates Group another day to talk was just a pretense. In the business world, it could not be considered a done deal unless a contract was signed in ck and white. After Joshua and hispanions left, Shirley immediately took out her phone and sent several WhatsApp messages to Cynthia. [Shirley: Cynthia, when you married Joshua, was it because you were attracted to his looks?] [Shirley: He doesn¡¯t seem nice to you at all.] [Shirley: He¡¯s not worthy of being my brother¨Cinw.] [Shirley: He¡¯s just not good enough!!!] In just one minute, Shirley had sent several WhatsApp messages to Cynthia. She did not know about anything else, but she did not see any love or affection in his eyes when he looked at Cynthia. If it were not for Cynthia hiding her true identity, Shirley would have suspected he was only interested in Cynthia¡¯s money! Cynthia felt her phone vibrate, and she knew it was Shirley¡¯s barrage of messages. However, she did not read them immediately since Joshua was still there. ¡°Are you that good?¡± Joshua stood in front of the car, looking down at her and asking. For some reason, Cynthia found it hard to be polite. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem for me to hit you.¡± Joshua and Yoel were speechless. ¡°Did you feel like you finally have someone to rely on when Shirley told you she wanted to introduce you to a wealthy guy?¡± Joshua was holding back his anger. Cynthia just wanted to make him angry. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± This made Joshua really angry. Unfortunately, Joshua tended to say regrettable things when he was angry. ¡°Do you really think those wealthy guys would be interested in you? Even if you worked as Ms. Yates¡¯s bodyguard before, it only proves that you were just a former employee of the Yates family.¡± ¡°Dream on. You¡¯re not Cindere, where your life can turn around overnight. That only happens in children¡¯s fairy tales.¡± Joshua¡¯s words were harsh as he continued, ¡°Even if those wealthy men pay attention to youter, it¡¯s only because of the Yates family¡¯s name.¡± He knew this circle better than anyone else. Once Cynthia stepped in, she would likely be eaten alive and left with nothing. ¡°After being with you, I can¡¯t help but want to give my dream another try. Maybe if I do it a few more times, my value will surpass yours.¡± Cynthia was unphased. ¡°Do you think those people will look at you like I do?¡± Joshua¡¯s tone became colder. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Cynthia nodded. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°It¡¯s better to have a bit of self¨Cawareness.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone became even heavier, and the following words slipped out, ¡°I only like you because your face is somewhat simr to Jayleen¡¯s.¡± Cynthia froze. Joshua suppressed his anger and continued, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your looks, I wouldn¡¯t have spared you another nce.¡± ¡°Say it again.¡± Knowing it was one thing, but listening to it in person was another. Cynthia never liked being another person¡¯s substitute. ¡°I married you and cared for you just because you look like Jayleen¡­¡± Bang! ¡°Mr. Neal!¡± Yoel eximed. Cynthia did not hesitate to strike and punched Joshua in the face. She would not have held back if she had not been worried about hitting him too hard and breaking his nose. Cynthia spoke immediately after punching him, not giving him any chance to respond, ¡°Do you think that after you said that, I would feel inferior, sad, and think I only have what I have now because of Jayleen?¡± Joshua held his face in pain, still in a daze. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Joshua said with a painful frown, still radiating a cold aura. ¡°Even the worst person on earth wouldn¡¯t say something like that.¡± Cynthia was furious and felt that he was superficial. ¡°Why should I feel inferior for your mistakes? Without Jayleen, I would only live better.¡± ¡°Go ahead and give it a try.¡± Joshua was irate too and spoke without thinking twice, ¡°Let¡¯s see who else would be willing to give you so much in a divorce settlement.¡± ¡°Cynthia, we need to know our ce. I admit you¡¯re outstanding, but there¡¯s no shortage of outstanding people in the world,¡± Joshua continued. ¡°Business people are most concerned with their interests, and there will be a prenuptial agreement before the marriage. Once you divorce them, you won¡¯t get a penny,¡± Joshua warned. After punching him, Cynthia¡¯s heart was a little calmer. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°The Yates family is not your backing, and you are not Shirley Yates,¡± Joshua said. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to remind me. I didn¡¯t get married to get a divorce settlement,¡± Cynthia said in a serious manner. Joshua was stunned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if there¡¯s a prenuptial agreement. All I want is someone who loves and cherishes me, someone to build a happy home together.¡± Cynthia continued, and herst remaining bit of patience had disappeared, ¡°Don¡¯t use your life and character to judge others. Not everyone is a scumbag like you.¡± After saying this, Cynthia left without waiting for his response. Joshua remained in a daze for a long time, his mind filled with Cynthia¡¯s words. She said all she wanted was someone who loved and cherished her. A huge sense of uneasiness rose in Joshua¡¯s heart, as if something had left his life forever and would never return. ¡°Mr. Neal¡­¡± Yoel tentatively called out, unable to express his emotions. Mr. Neal had a fight with Mrs. Neal, and Mrs. Neal even hit Mr. Neal. Sigh. Joshua remained quiet. He opened the car door and got in, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed. His hair falling over his forehead made him look more deste than ever. The atmosphere inside the car was heavy and tense. As Joshua did not say where to go, Yoel drove around aimlessly. After some time, Joshua opened his eyes, and his obsidian eyes were unreadable. ¡°Yoel.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°Do you think she¡¯s right?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Well¡­¡® Could he really say yes? ¡°If she doesn¡¯t care about money, why did she ask for so much when we filed for divorce?¡± Joshua felt as if his surroundings had turned colder. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself. ¡°What she says sounds noble, but in reality, it¡¯s all the same.¡± Yoel hesitated, but he thought he needed to speak what was on his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t think Mrs. Neal is that kind of person.¡± ¡°She¡¯s really good at manipting people. Even you fell for it.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was cold, and his impression of Cynthia grew worse. Yoel was nervous, but he remained calm and analyzed the situation. ¡°ording to our country¡¯sw, the post¨Cmarital property belongs to both husband and wife, so it¡¯s normal for Mrs. Neal to ask for half.¡± He did not dare to say that even the second young master thought what Mrs. Neal did was right. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for anything from her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you didn¡¯t want it.¡± Joshua suddenly scolded, ¡°Yoel!¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Mr. Neal, let me say something you may not want to hear.¡± Yoel bit the bullet and continued, not wanting Joshua to have a twisted moralpass, ¡°You had an affair first, and Mrs. Neal was already kind enough not to kick you out of the house.¡± Joshua asked, ¡°When did I have an affair?¡± Yoel kept a straight face and did not dare to answer. Joshua became angrier. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Yoel¡¯s phone rang. When he noticed it was Jayleen, he turned around and said, ¡°Mr. Neal, it¡¯s Ms. Shaw.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of my concern,¡± Joshua snapped at him. He was in a foul mood. ¡°Don¡¯t you know I can¡¯t contact her now?¡± Yoel remained silent and continued driving, nning to reply to the message when they returned. Meanwhile, Cynthia returned to the hospital after leaving Joshua. Mr. Yates was still waiting for her in the ward. Despite having a distant rtionship with Cynthia, he was still her father, and he wanted to care for her and did not want to see her being bullied. After waiting for half an hour, Shirley got impatient and discussed with Mr. Yates, ¡°After Cynthiaes back, we must find out why she and Joshua are divorcing and not let Cynthia suffer in vain.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Mr. Yates agreed. Just as they were about to say more, the door opened, and Cynthia walked in, still with the same calm expression as before. It was as if her anger toward Joshua earlier was all just a show. ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Cyn.¡± The two of them spoke together. Cynthia was confused by theirplex expressions. Then, she closed the door and asked, ¡± What¡¯s the matter?¡± Knowing that her father was not good at asking, Shirley took the initiative to speak up. ¡°Why are you getting a divorce? Don¡¯t try to fool me with the excuse of ipatibility!¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia hesitated. She had wanted to hide the truth, but seeing the expressions on their faces, she decided to tell them. ¡°His ex¨Clover came back.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shirley and Mr. Yates were shocked. Cynthia ced her phone aside to charge and sat in front of Mr. Yates. ¡°Isn¡¯t this also ipatible? He asked for a divorce, and I agreed.¡± ¡°Are you joking?¡± Shirley was baffled. Cynthia raised an eyebrow. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Did he hurt his head as a kid? Is his sight okay? He gave up on an excellent person like you and chose his ex¨Clover?¡± Shirley was in disbelief. Cynthia did not respond. Whether it was an ex¨Clover or the one that got away, both used to be important people to the parties involved. Chapter 32 ¡°Do you think she¡¯s right?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Well¡­¡± Could he really say yes? ¡°If she doesn¡¯t care about money, why did she ask for so much when we filed for divorce?¡± Joshua felt as if his surroundings had turned colder. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself. ¡°What she says sounds noble, but in reality, it¡¯s all the same.¡± Yoel hesitated, but he thought he needed to speak what was on his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t think Mrs. Neal is that kind of person.¡± ¡°She¡¯s really good at manipting people. Even you fell for it.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was cold, and his impression of Cynthia grew worse. Yoel was nervous, but he remained calm and analyzed the situation. ¡°ording to our country¡¯sw, the post¨Cmarital property belongs to both husband and wife, so it¡¯s normal for Mrs. Neal to ask for half.¡± He did not dare to say that even the second young master thought what Mrs. Neal did was right. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for anything from her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you didn¡¯t want it.¡± Joshua suddenly scolded, ¡°Yoel!¡± ¡°Mr. Neal, let me say something you may not want to hear.¡± Yoel bit the bullet and continued, not wanting Joshua to have a twisted moralpass, ¡°You had an affair first, and Mrs. Neal was already kind enough not to kick you out of the house.¡± Joshua asked, ¡°When did I have an affair?¡± Yoel kept a straight face and did not dare to answer. Joshua became angrier. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Yoel¡¯s phone rang. When he noticed it was Jayleen, he turned around and said, ¡°Mr. Neal, it¡¯s Ms. Shaw.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of my concern,¡± Joshua snapped at him. He was in a foul mood. ¡°Don¡¯t you know I can¡¯t contact her now?¡± Yoel remained silent and continued driving, nning to reply to the message when they returned. Meanwhile, Cynthia returned to the hospital after leaving Joshua. Mr. Yates was still waiting for her in the ward. Despite having a distant rtionship with Cynthia, he was still her father, and he wanted to care for her and did not want to see her being bullied. After waiting for half an hour, Shirley got impatient and discussed with Mr. Yates, ¡°After Cynthiaes back, we must find out why she and Joshua are divorcing and not let Cynthia suffer in vain.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Mr. Yates agreed. Just as they were about to say more, the door opened, and Cynthia walked in, still with the same calm expression as before. It was as if her anger toward Joshua earlier was all just a show. ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Cyn.¡± The two of them spoke together. Cynthia was confused by theirplex expressions. Then, she closed the door and asked, What¡¯s the matter?¡± 11 Knowing that her father was not good at asking, Shirley took the initiative to speak up. ¡°Why are you getting a divorce? Don¡¯t try to fool me with the excuse of ipatibility!¡± Cynthia hesitated. She had wanted to hide the truth, but seeing the expressions on their faces, she decided to tell them. ¡°His ex¨Clover came back.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shirley and Mr. Yates were shocked. Cynthia ced her phone aside to charge and sat in front of Mr. Yates. ¡°Isn¡¯t this also ipatible? He asked for a divorce, and I agreed.¡± ¡°Are you joking?¡± Shirley was baffled. Cynthia raised an eyebrow. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Did he hurt his head as a kid? Is his sight okay? He gave up on an excellent person like you and chose his ex¨Clover?¡± Shirley was in disbelief. Cynthia did not respond. Whether it was an ex¨Clover or the one that got away, both used to be important people to the parties involved. ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± Mr. Yates became angry. Cynthia looked at him. Mr. Yates immediately lost his temper and could only ask, ¡°How did you even fall for him in the first ce?¡± ¡°He¡¯s good¨Clooking,¡± Cynthia replied simply. As it turned out, good looks alone could not sustain a rtionship. Mr. Yates was speechless. Shirley silently sighed. She knew Cynthia was someone who valued appearance, voice, figure, and even hands. Mr. Yates asked all the important concerns, ¡°So, how far along are you in the divorce process?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve filed the application, and we¡¯ll get the divorce certificate as soon as the cooling¨Coff period is over,¡± Cynthia revealed. ¡°You should definitely get the divorce certificate!¡± Shirley had no sympathy for jerks. ¡°Such a jerk doesn¡¯t deserve to be with you. He¡¯s trash, a jerk, and a disgrace! Chapter 34 Shirley was furious. How could someone be so annoying? How could Joshua treat Cynthia he this! This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°By the way, are you going to make him leave with nothing after the divorce? Leaving you for another woman is also a form of infidelity¡± shirley, a young woman in her prime, had always been intolerant of such things. ¡°Shirley is right,¡± Mr. Yates agreed ¡°No, we split our assets,¡± Cynthia replied, observing their emotions ¡°How are you splitting them?¡± Mr. Yates and Shirley both asked, seeming particrly curious about this issue. Cynthia exined that they had agreed on the same terms they had discussed: one of his expensive supercars, a vi in the suburbs, and 40% of his post¨Cmarriage ie for her. She had thought they would praise her for doing well, but¡­ ¡°Are you still in love with him?¡± Shirley frowned with concern. ¡°He sent you away with so little money?¡± ¡°The Neal Group¡¯s annual profit is worth tens of billions of dors, so giving you so little might not be enough,¡± Mr. Yates added. Cynthia rubbed her temples, not knowing how to respond to them. Tens of billions might be a small amount for the Yates Group, but it was a lotpared to her annual ie. ¡°He took most of the money and invested it, and I said that investment money shouldn¡¯t be split. Besides, I didn¡¯t give him any of mine,¡± Cynthia exined. Shirley was dumbfounded by the answer, and she reached out to feel Cynthia¡¯s forehead. Cynthia waspletely dazed. ¡°Cynthia, you need to understand that he cheated on you! He¡¯s the one in the wrong! You¡¯re right not to give him anything. Knowing him, if you gave him money, he¡¯d use it to support his lover.¡± Shirley grew increasingly angry, and her head started to ache. ¡°No way! I can¡¯t let you take this loss,¡± Shirley eximed. ¡°I¡¯m calling Mitchell. He needs to give Joshua a good beating!¡± Cynthia stopped her just in time. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shirley asked, confused. ¡°This is enough. The divorce papers have been filed. If I want to make his life difficult, I have plenty of ways to do so. There¡¯s no need to argue about this anymore,¡± Cynthia calmly replied. Cynthia paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Besides, if we really split the assets evenly, and news of our marriage gets out, the media might spin it as the Yates Group being so desperate for funds that they have to resort to fraudulent marriages to stay afloat.¡± Upon hearing this, Shirley and Mr. Yates were both stunned. Only a few of their friends knew that Joshua was divorcing Cynthia for Jayleen. If the media reported on it, she could not say that Joshua cheated on her. After all, Joshua did not sleep with Jayleen, and they never spent the night together. Furthermore, Cynthia could not even find evidence of his cheating. Even if pictures of Joshua taking care of Jayleen were found, he could just say that they were friends. As long as there was no concrete evidence, public opinion would side with them. However, the current amount of assets was a different story. Billions might be an astronomical sum for otherpanies, but it was just a drop in the bucket for the Yates Group. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cynthia¡­ I didn¡¯t think it through.¡± Shirley realized she had been impulsive. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. I know you care about me.¡± Cynthia smiled and squeezed her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve let go of Joshua, but what about you¡­¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Shirley blinked her mischievous and innocent eyes and asked, ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Even though my marriage didn¡¯t end well, I hope you won¡¯t be discouraged by it. If you meet. someone worth it, don¡¯t give up,¡± Cynthia replied, afraid that Shirley would lose hope in marriage. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Shirley reassured her. The two sisters chatted lovingly. Mr. Yates watched the scene and felt a surge of happiness. He was willing to pay any price as long as his two daughters were well. ¡°I need to talk to Chairman Yates about something. We¡¯ll talk more when you¡¯re feeling better, Cynthia said in front of Mr. Yates, still addressing him coldly. Shirley readily agreed. Mr. Yates followed Cynthia to the corridor. He alwayscked confidence when facing Cynthia, as he was filled with guilt. ¡°Cyn, what do you want to talk to me about?¡± ¡°Who is the current president of the Yates Group?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°Your cousin, Kendrick Yates,¡± he replied. ¡°Is it possible to give me a position as an investment advisor? I also want the project details. with the Neal Group,¡± Cynthia was emotional as she asked. Mr. Yates was stunned. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. His eyes flickered with emotions. ¡°D¨CDo you want to return to the Yates Group?¡± ¡°Only for a job, not to inherit it,¡± Cynthia replied concisely. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange itter,¡± Mr. Yates said excitedly. Then, he asked with even more excitement, ¡°Besides the details of the project with the Neal Group, do you need anything else? ¡°Give me a list of the new projects the Yates Group will undertake too,¡± Cynthia answered. She had always been straightforward in her work. Until today, she had never thought of hitting Joshua in the face. Just like what she had said to him before, ¡®A good ex should be like the dead.¡± However, what he said today upset her, and she wanted to confront him in his familiar field. ¡°Okay,¡± Mr. Yates agreed quickly. He had long wanted Cynthia to return and inherit thepany. Unfortunately, she was not interested in being the heir at all. Despite having great business talent, she never joined the Yates Group. Nheless, she finally decided to work there now! Chapter 35 Cynthia was indifferent as she thought about going to Jiverton to collect the divorce. certificate. She soon said, ¡°I¡¯ll first understand the situation during this period and then officially take the job after I receive the divorce certificate.¡± Mr. Yates had no objections. ¡°Okay, you cane whenever you want. Cynthia nodded. up Over the next few days, Joshua did not contact Cynthia and was busy with his meetings, while Cynthia was busy investigating Shirley¡¯s incident. In the blink of an eye, seven days pass. After aprehensive examination, Shirley was discharged from the hospital after confirming that there were no after¨Ceffects. Fortunately, her arm fracture was not too serious, and she recovered after a few days of rest in the hospital. It would have taken at least a month to recover if it were serious. As for the injury on her head, it only seemed terrifying due to the excessive bleeding. With Jimmy¡¯s superb medical skills, Shirley recovered rtively quickly, but she still needed to tend to the injury on her forehead daily. Mr. Yates personally picked her up and took her back. Shirley sat in the car feeling a little gloomy. ¡°Cynthia is investigating your incident. She submitted all the evidence to the police a few days ago. After the review by the prosecutor¡¯s office, it will be transferred to the court for prosecution,¡± Mr. Yates exined to her for Cynthia¡¯s sake. ¡°Have you found out who did it?¡± Shirley perked up suddenly. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 ¡°I don¡¯t. I asked her, but she didn¡¯t tell me,¡± Mr. Yates replied. When he intended to investigate, Cynthia asked him not to intervene and said she would handle it alone. Yesterday, when he asked for the results, she just changed the subject and reminded him to pick up Shirley from the hospital. Shirley hesitated to speak. She did not know if she should tell her father. Mr. Yates noticed it and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Maybe Cynthia didn¡¯t tell you because she didn¡¯t want to make it difficult for you,¡± Shirley answered after calming herself down. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mr. Yates was taken aback. ¡°When I was being beaten up, I saw a man outside the alley. He was Mrs. Quinn¡¯s brother. I told Cynthia, and she told me not to tell you,¡± Shirley said as her memories gradually became clearer. Mr. Yates froze. Shirley really wanted to improve the rtionship between Cynthia and him. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened between you two or why your rtionship has turned this way, but since you care about each other, why can¡¯t you sit down and talk it out?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Mr. Yates remained silent, feeling guilty. He also wanted to have a good talk with Cynthia, but he knew she would never forgive him. In the end, Mr. Yates still decided to keep it from Shirley. ¡°You¡¯re still young. I¡¯ll tell you when you¡¯re an adult.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already neen, so I¡¯m legally an adult,¡± Shirley corrected him. Her heart surged with countless emotions. ¡°I¡¯m not the same little kid who only wanted candy and cried when facing. difficulties.¡± Mr. Yates still did not say anything. There was an unspoken agreement between him and Cynthia not to tell Shirley about that incident until she found her happiness. Shirley was frustrated. Cynthia was not telling her anything, and neither was her father. Were they nning to keep it a secret from her for a lifetime? Ding¨Cdong. The notification for iing messages sounded a few times. [Image] [Image] [Image] [Jimmy: Cynthia is having a face¨Coff with Joshua!] [Jimmy: Joshua is purposely making things difficult for Cynthia! Come and help her.] Shirley clicked on the photos and saw Cynthia and Joshua were locked in a standoff in a fancy private dining room, ring at each other. Even in the photos, it looked like they were about Chapter 36 toe to blows. ¡°Mr. Lorenzo, let¡¯s go to the tinum Restaurant,¡± she quickly ordered, sounding urgent. The tinum Restaurant was a members¨Conly establishment in Nexuria, frequented by celebrities and people with significant influence in the business world, Regr folks had not chance of getting in. Based on the photos Jimmy had sent, there seemed to be a business dinner, and besides Cynthia and Joshua, there were several other familiar faces. Mr. Yates sensed Shirley¡¯s anxiousness and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Cynthia and Joshua are facing off. I¡¯m not sure what exactly happened, but Jimmy told me that Joshua is making things difficult for Cynthia,¡± Shirley exined. ¡°Mr. Lorenzo, take a shortcut.¡± Mr. Yates also became anxious upon hearing that it was about Cynthia. Jimmy was on edge now. His father had forced him toe along, saying he needed to meet a legendary figure in the business world and build rtionships. However, Jimmy never imagined that the person his father was talking about would be Joshua. Nheless, the most important part was¡­! Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Cynthia was also here! ¡°You can¡¯t even drink two bottles of wine, yet you have the audacity toe to the business cooperation here?¡± Joshua sat at the head of the table, looking handsome and indifferent in his suit. ¡°Do you really think this is a ce where you can make money just by your looks?¡± Cynthia¡¯s head was pulsing. She came here to make trouble for Thomas Quinn. Thomas was Mr. Yates¡¯s new wife¡¯s older brother. On the surface, Shirley¡¯s incident seemed to have been caused by Timothy Quinn, Mrs. Quinn¡¯s younger brother, but Timothy would not have done it without the cunning Thomas¡¯s instruction. There was no legal way to deal with him, so Cynthia had toe in person. She would give a good beating to anyone who posed a danger to Shirley. However, Cynthia just did not expect to meet Joshua here. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to argue with you today,¡± Cynthia stated briefly. ¡°Mr. Neal offered you a drink as a courtesy, so why are you still standing there?!¡± ¡°The management of this restaurant is something else! They actually let this kind of woman in.¡± ¡°I have to say¡­ she has a pretty face.¡± Jimmy sat there in fear. It was not because of what the people at the table were saying, but it was purely because he felt that these people were courting death. Thest person who threatened Cynthia would go out of their way to avoid her! ¡°Mr. Neal, this kind of woman must be taught a lesson.¡± Thomas dressed well and appeared like a decent man, but his words needed to be more sophisticated. ¡°We should take her back to the hotel and teach a lesson.¡± Joshua¡¯s cold gaze swept over, and he calmly said, ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Thomas¡¯s lecherous eyes nced at Cynthia. ¡°If you need my assistance, I¡¯ll have someone prepare a room at the hotel and send her over.¡± The others frowned slightly. They could not understand why someone like Joshua would invite someone like Thomas to dinner. Not to mention hispany was just a small to medium¨Csized enterprise, but his nauseatingly lewd personality was enough to disgust anyone! Chapter 37 ¡°Okay.¡± Joshua agreed, adding, ¡°But I don¡¯t want anyone to touch her before me.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. He looked at Cynthia with his inscrutable obsidian eyes, feeling a burning anger inside him. He wanted to teach this woman a lesson! ¡°Mr. Neal, don¡¯t worry!¡± Thomasughed with confidence. ¡°I guarantee that we¡¯ll deliver her to your room intact, so you can enjoy her when you get back.¡± Joshua remained silent, emitting an oppressive aura around him. He would never have sat down for a meal with this trash if it were not for his desire to learn about the Yates family. He had already dismissed his suspicions about Cynthia, but then he found out a few days ago. that she was investigating Shirley¡¯s ident and had sessfully handed Timothy over to the police. A mere bodyguard would not be so concerned about Shirley¡¯s situation. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a good idea¡­¡± Jimmy nervously spoke up, and his words immediately caught Joshua and Cynthia¡¯s attention. Joshua¡¯s gaze became even darker while Cynthia red at him, giving him a warning. ¡°Young Master Barnes, do you have any issues with this?¡± Joshua¡¯s deep, maic voice sounded calm but exuded a strong sense of pressure. Jimmy involuntarily looked at Cynthia, but the terrifying look in her eyes scared him into silence. Sob, sob! However, Joshua thought Jimmy¡¯s cowardice meant he was worried for Cynthia. Jimmy wanted to say something but could not muster the courage under the pressure of Joshua¡¯s power. Finally, Joshua said, ¡°Do you think she¡¯s pretty and unworthy of me?¡± ¡°Mr. Neal, that¡¯s not what my son meant.¡± Mr. Barnes noticed Joshua¡¯s displeasure and read the situation through his seasoned business instincts. ¡°Please don¡¯t me him.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Jimmy frowned. He disliked attending all these parties because he did not want to see his father like this. He knew that at business dinners, one had to know how to ingratiate oneself if they were not of high status. Nheless, knowing and liking were two different things. Soon, Jimmy looked at Cynthia. Indeed, being by Cynthia¡¯s side was the mostfortable for him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to take me to the hotel?¡± Cynthia stared at Thomas. ¡°Why aren¡¯t we leaving yet?¡± Everyone looked confused, including Thomas, and Joshua also suddenly tightened his grip on his phone. Only Jimmy lowered his gaze and silently drank from his ss, not daring to say anything. He knew very well that Cynthia was up to something! ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? Don¡¯t think spending the night with Mr. Neal will give you the upper hand. Thomas felt ufortable with Cynthia¡¯s words. It sounded as if he was a pimp or something. ¡°To Mr. Neal, you¡¯re just someone to vent on.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, and he fixed his gaze on Cynthia¡¯s face. He had to admit that. Cynthia was rather impressive for handling such unpleasantmentaries with an unchanged expression and taking them all in. ¡°Mr. Neal, about our cooperation¡­¡± Thomas returned to his bootlicking self and said tentatively before leaving, ¡°Mr. Cheyne will make the arrangements,¡± Joshua uttered. Thomas immediately became happy. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Neal.¡± The most desired coboration for these businessmen was with the Yates Group and the Neal Group. Thomas would not have a chance with the Yates Group, but now he coborated with the Neal Group! As long as there was a chance in the future, he would definitely establish a close partnership with Joshua and strive for a more intimate coboration. With these thoughts in his mind, Thomas left with Cynthia. She was very cooperative throughout the process. After all, she could only give him a good beating once they arrived at the hotel. In the private dining room, everyone chatted for a while. They all had enough insight to know when to interfere or not with matters of consent. After ten minutes, someone said, ¡°Mr. Neal, since you have something to attend to today, we won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± ¡°We can discuss our coboration another day.¡± Chapter 38 ¡°Mr. Neal, what do you think?¡± Joshua scanned the group before standing up. ¡°As for the specifics of the coboration, I¡¯ll have Mr. Harrison follow up with you. However, the ultimate decision on whether we can work together will depend on the project itself.¡± With that, Joshua left the private dining room. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Yoel greeted him politely. ¡°Where¡¯s Cynthia?¡± Joshua felt a heavy weight in his chest. Yoel replied, ¡°We¡¯ve sent people to follow them. If Mrs. Neal is in danger, they¡¯ll save her.¡± Yoel knew Joshua like the back of his hand and knew what to do before being ordered. Even though he felt relieved, Joshua¡¯s response was cold. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Yoel maintained his smile. It was hard to guess Joshua¡¯s true feelings. ¡°Make arrangements with Sky Holdings. Trash belongs in the trash can, not the dinner table,¡± Joshua adjusted his tie and spoke in a hoarse voice. Yoel quickly understood Joshua¡¯s intent and replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Sky Holdings was apany under Thomas¡¯s control, and Joshua was taking revenge on behalf of Cynthia. ¡°Go to the hotel,¡± Joshua said solemnly. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Yoel immediately went to get the car. After reading Thomas¡® message, he drove toward the hotel. On the way, he could not resist asking Joshua what had happened earlier. ¡°Mr. Neal, may I ask a question?¡± he said. ¡°If you don¡¯t think you should, don¡¯t ask,¡± Joshua snapped back. Feeling brave and curious, Yoel continued, ¡°Do you consider it as cheating on yourself when you let Thomas bring Mrs. Neal to your bed? What kind of feelings do you have when you treat Mrs. Neal in this way?¡± Joshua replied coldly, ¡°You can forget about your year¨Cend bonus.¡± Yoel realized he had overstepped his bounds and tried to make amends, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Neal. I¡¯ll make sure to take care of the Sky Holdings side and let them know who¡¯s protecting Mrs. Neal.¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Your quarterly bonus is gone too.¡± Yoel did not know what he had done wrong. ¡°Mr. Neal¡­¡± ¡°Cynthia and I are divorced.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was icy as he held his phone. ¡°I¡¯m only dealing with Thomas because I don¡¯t like it when someone taints my integrity.¡± Yoel was speechless. Joshua had already divorced Cynthia for Jayleen, so why would he care about his reputation? ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not getting your mid¨Cyear bonus either,¡± Joshua added. Despite Yoel¡¯s good nature, his sanity was beginning to crumble. What did he say wrong again? Yoel said as he drove, trying toe up with a response, ¡°I think something is missing from what you said earlier. Although Mrs. Neal has already divorced you, as long as you haven¡¯t received the divorce certificate, you¡¯re both still under legal protection. As long as you¡¯re still under legal protection, you have an obligation to help Mrs. Neal deal with scumbags.¡± ¡°She did this to herself.¡± Joshua thought of the previous incident and became angry. ¡°She even urged Thomas to take her to the hotel quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Mrs. Neal knew that the person she would spend the day with after checking in was you,¡± Yoel replied. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Yoel remained quiet as he had no way to respond to that. Joshua knew Cynthia did not like him, yet he still chose to embarrass her in front of so many people. He deserved to be divorced! Joshua looked at the back of Yoel¡¯s head with a terrifying gaze. ¡°Mr. Neal, what do you think?¡± Joshua scanned the group before standing up. ¡°As for the specifics of the coboration, I¡¯ll have Mr. Harrison follow up with you. However, the ultimate decision on whether we can work together will depend on the project itself.¡± With that, Joshua left the private dining room. Yoel greeted him politely. ¡°Where¡¯s Cynthia?¡± Joshua felt a heavy weight in his chest. Yoel replied, ¡°We¡¯ve sent people to follow them. If Mrs. Neal is in danger, they¡¯ll save her.¡± Yoel knew Joshua like the back of his hand and knew what to do before being ordered. Even though he felt relieved, Joshua¡¯s response was cold. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Yoel maintained his smile. It was hard to guess Joshua¡¯s true feelings. ¡°Make arrangements with Sky Holdings. Trash belongs in the trash can, not the dinner table,¡± Joshua adjusted his tie and spoke in a hoarse voice. Yoel quickly understood Joshua¡¯s intent and replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Sky Holdings was apany under Thomas¡¯s control, and Joshua was taking revenge on behalf of Cynthia. ¡°Go to the hotel,¡± Joshua said solemnly. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°Take a shower and change into the clothes on the bed while you wait for Mr. Neal,¡± Thomas said. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he found Cynthia too alluring. ¡°Watch how I¡¯ll deal with you, if you dare upset Mr. Neal.¡® Cynthia did not even nce at the items on the bed. Her gaze fixed on Thomas, so cold that it felt dangerous. Thomas did not want to linger here any longer than necessary. He had everything ready and feared he would be unable to control himself if he stayed too long. After all, Joshua had imed Cynthia. As he turned to leave the room, Cynthia mmed the door shut and locked it with the safety lock. Thomas frowned. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. He was not afraid of what Cynthia might do to him and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°To talk,¡± Cynthia said, pulling a chair behind the door to block Thomas¡¯s exit. ¡°We can talkter after Mr. Neal is done.¡± Thomas smiled, misunderstanding Cynthia¡¯s intentions. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied then¡­¡± Bang! Cynthia stood up and kicked him. She just wanted to beat up this trash! ¡°Ah!¡± Thomas screamed, clutching his stomach as he fell to the ground, staring angrily at her. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Cynthia approached him steadily. ¡°Did you ask Timothy to attack Shirley?¡± Thomas froze, forgetting the pain. His eyes darted nervously as he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. Let me remind you,¡± Cynthia said, and she began to use her special techniques. She had looked up this guy¡¯s information and knew he had caused trouble for many girls. Some did it to climb the ranks, while others were forced. She would not hesitate to send Thomas to jail if there was substantial evidence. ¡°Ah!¡± Thomas screamed in pain. The bodyguards who followed him heard it and instinctively felt something serious was happening inside, and they started banging on the door with force. One of them sent a message to Joshua. Cynthia heard themotion at the door but ignored it. Just as Thomas was about to scream for help, she grabbed a nearby towel and stuffed it into his mouth. Mmmm!¡± Mmmm? Mmmm! Mmm!¡± Thomas could not scream, and fear filled his eyes. He had no idea how he had angered this person, and he had never even heard of someone like her in Shirley¡¯s circle. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 ¡°Let me introduce myself. My name is Cynthia Yates. I used to be Shirley¡¯s personal bodyguard. Unfortunately, my absence gave you a chance to hurt her, but it¡¯s time for me to make things right for her.¡± Cynthia spoke calmly, but her presence was powerful. Mmmmm! Mmmm! Mmm! Thomas struggled. Besides, he did not hit Shirley! ¡°She¡¯s not someone you can bully¡± Cynthia caught a glimpse of the bathtub filled with water and dragged him into the bathtub. ¡°If you dare to suggest or instigate anyone to harm her again, I¡¯ll return the pain tenfold to you. Thomas was terrified! Why was this woman so strong Thomas was thrown into the water. He tried to struggle but was unable to break free. His hands were tied with a tie, leaving only his feet able to move. His mouth was gagged, and he would choke each time his nose touched the water. This was the first time Thomas had ever felt despair. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Cynthia asked. Despite his heart full of hatred, Thomas quickly nodded his head in agreement. Mmhmm.¡± Cynthia lifted him out of the water. Meanwhile, Joshua received a message that the door was locked and could not be opened. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. He stood outside the door with his eyes filled with panic. At the thought of that scum possibly hurting Cynthia, he fumed with rage, wanting to murder the man. At this moment¡­ Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Cynthia stared at him and retorted, ¡°Do you want me to give you another punch?¡± Joshua remained silent. Perhaps it was because he was no longer worried, or maybe it was the romantic lighting in the room, but he felt irresistibly drawn to Cynthia, and he really wanted to be close to her. Since they had started sleeping in separate beds six months ago, they had not slept together, let alone had sex. Joshua approached Cynthia step by step, enveloping Cynthia with his domineering aura. Cynthia furrowed her brow and disliked the atmosphere. ¡°I have something else to do,¡± she spoke up. ¡°Are you going to pretend that you don¡¯t know what Thomas meant by giving you to me?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes grew darker, and his breathing became heavier. ¡°At this point, do you think I¡¯ll let you go?¡± ¡°Do you want to sleep with me?¡± Cynthia asked. Joshua got even closer, and he could smell the fresh, light fragrance emanating from her body. With a hoarse voice, he whispered, ¡°Yes.¡± Cynthia did not answer him. Just when she was about to ignore him, Joshua suddenly carried her and ced her on the bed. ¡°Josh¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak.¡± Joshua¡¯s towering figure pressed her down, leaving her trapped in his arms. Their noses were almost touching, and Cynthia could even feel Joshua¡¯s body temperature. rising. As someone who had been married and slept with him for a year and a half, she knew all too well what that reaction meant. ¡°Do you know you¡¯ve been very naughtytely?¡± Joshua spoke, his warm breath blowing on her face. ¡°There were a few times where I¡¯ve wanted to take you back and give you a good lesson.¡± Cynthia did not say a word, only staring back at him. Joshua looked at her plump red lips, and his Adam¡¯s apple rolled as his body temperature rose. His gaze became even deeper as he leaned in to kiss her. Cynthia turned her head away. ¡°Why are you avoiding me?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was hoarse and seductive, sending shivers down her spine. Cynthia answered firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t like affairs.¡± Joshua paused for a moment, puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chapter 42 ¡°Are you going to act dumb?¡± Cynthia refused to believe he did not understand her. ¡°We haven¡¯t gotten our divorce certificate yet. We¡¯re not divorced yet,¡± Joshua blurted out, thinking of Yoel¡¯s words earlier. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Jayleen. Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll find out about you cheating on her with me?¡± Cynthia said directly,pletely disregarding his feelings. As soon as those words came out, it felt as if a bucket of cold water poured over Joshua¡¯s head, dissipating all his desires. ¡°Let go,¡± Cynthia said calmly. Joshua¡¯s eyes were dark, but he ultimately got off the bed and sat in the living room. Cynthia got up unhurriedly. Just as she was about to leave, Joshua¡¯s oppressive gaze fell on her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you exin what you were doing at the tinum Restaurant?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Cynthia could not be bothered to answer. ¡°The tinum Restaurant is a members¨Conly restaurant, and you can¡¯t get in.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze carried scrutiny. ¡°Who brought you in?¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s not your concern,¡± Cynthia repeated. She did not intend to stay with Joshua any longer, so she walked past him and headed out. Joshua grabbed her arm and pushed her against the wall, his hand propping up beside her face. ¡°Cynthia, there¡¯s a limit to joking around!¡± Cynthia was puzzled. ¡°I didn¡¯t pay attention to you before because I wanted you to know that this circle is not as simple as you think.¡± Joshua¡¯s aura was terrifying. ¡°After experiencing today¡¯s events, your should understand that you can¡¯t survive in this circle.¡± ¡°If Thomas had given you to someone else, you wouldn¡¯t have been unscathed like you are now.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone became even harsher, and his ck eyes glinted with cold light. Cynthia provoked him by saying, ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Cynthia did not reply. Then, Joshua pulled her to another room in the suite and turned on theputer. His slender fingers tapped on the keyboard, and then a series of pictures appeared on the screen with the eyes of the people in them blurred out. ¡°These are all people who were yed to death by those people.¡± Joshua pointed at the screen, but his gaze was fixed on Cynthia as he continued, ¡°Some of them were sent to jail, and some are still in the circle.¡± Cynthia nced at the pictures. Although their eyes were blurred, she recognized a girl she had seen before. She had helped report her case, but theck of evidence meant the perpetrator was not caught. Some people looked morous on the surface but were actuallypletely different behind. Chapter 42 closed doors. Knowing that Joshua was concerned for her, Cynthia looked away and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll protect myself.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua was angry. Cynthia remained calm as she said, ¡°I care about myself more than anyone else. I¡¯ll make anyone who harms me pay the price. Since we have already chosen to divorce, there are some things you don¡¯t need to worry about.¡± ¡°Do you want Mitchell to take care of you?¡± Joshua was bing more furious. Cynthia was not in the mood to argue with him. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to take care of me.¡± ¡°So, you just want to enter this circle?¡± Joshua¡¯s rage was building up inside him. Cynthia replied firmly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even if it means paying a painful price for it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Joshua stood up immediately, releasing a chilly aura. ¡°Don¡¯te crying to me if something happens.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t,¡± Cynthia reassured him. This only made Joshua angrier. He could not understand why Cynthia was so determined to enter this circle despite knowing the risks involved. In the merciless business world, it was possible to be taken advantage of even if one had billions of dors. After their conversation, Cynthia and Joshua parted ways on unfriendly terms. Joshua stormed out. Yoelpensated for the hotel room door and then drove Joshua to the airport. They had already finished discussing the necessary coborations in the past few days. As for the meeting at noon today, he would not need to attend. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Yoel noticed that Joshua was in a bad mood and asked, ¡°Mr. Neal, are you really not considering staying another day?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Noel.¡± The atmosphere inside the car was heavy. Joshua was feeling irritable and closed his eyes to rest. Not long after, he opened his eyes and ordered Yoel, ¡°Make sure the people in Nexuria sabotage Cynthia¡¯s efforts and force her to give up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea,¡± Yoel said bravely. Joshua¡¯s gaze grew colder. ¡°Are you feeling sorry for her?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Yoel was quick¨Cwitted. ¡°I just think that you still care for Mrs. Neal. Why do you want to divorce her? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to bring her back to Jiverton if you¡¯re so worried?¡± ¡°Focus on the road,¡± Joshua snapped at him. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Yoel did not dare to babble anymore and drove the car obediently. When Joshua emphasized his request for the second time, Yoel still conveyed his request to the others. After arriving at the airport, Yoel held the ticket and kindly reminded Joshua, ¡°Mr. Neal, are you really nning to leave Nexuria?¡± Joshua frowned slightly and felt that his personal assistant was annoying. ¡°The message you asked me to convey to them is likely to make them think that Mrs. Neal has. offended you,¡± Yoel said, trying his best to help Joshua to see through his true feelings. ¡°What if they force Mrs. Neal into a dead end when you are not in Nexuria?¡± Joshua froze. Yoel continued in a serious tone, ¡°You know better than anyone else about this circle. Once people know you¡¯re targeting Mrs. Neal, other big and small yers will follow suit. In the long run, Mrs. Neal might¡­¡± Yoel let out a loud sigh, looking troubled. Joshua frowned but quickly recovered hisposure. ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, why don¡¯t you just bring her home and marry her?¡± he said sarcastically. Yoel ignored Joshua¡¯s sarcasm, thinking that Joshua was really mean. ¡°Besides, Cynthia has already applied for divorce with me. After I get the divorce certificate, I don¡¯t want to hear the words ¡®Mrs. Neal¡® again,¡± Joshua added in a cold voice, devoid of any warmth. ¡°Okay, Mr. Neal,¡± Yoel agreed quickly. Joshua did not respond, and his dark eyes became even more inscrutable. In the next moment, he ced the object in his hand into Yoel¡¯s hand and stood up straight, his straight¨Ccut trousers entuating his long legs. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Yoel looked at what he held in his hand and asked, ¡°Mr. Neal, what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t reminded me just now, I would¡¯ve forgotten it. Those at lunch today all knew that Cynthia was with me,¡± Joshua adjusted his clothes and spoke softly. Yoel was confused. What about it? ¡°Just delivering the message through you might make people think that you dislike Cynthia. After all, I wouldn¡¯t have caused trouble to someone who was with me recently,¡± Joshua continued. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Yoel asked. ¡°You should return to Jiverton first while I stay in Nexuria.¡± Joshua sounded calm, and his eyes were as dark as night. Chapter 43 ¡°I have to make it difficult for her personally as only then will others know I truly have at problem with her.¡± Yoel was dumbfounded. After all, there was no need for Joshua to do that. Instead, he should. just admit that he was worried about Cynthia. What an¡­idiot. ¡°Okay.¡± Yoel did not say much and promptly took his ne ticket to board the ne. After Joshua called the driver, he returned to the Nexuria branch of the Neal Group. His n was simple. He had to personally make it difficult for Cynthia so that she would give up. Joshua thought that if he made things difficult for Cynthia long enough, she would eventually be tired of this circle and take the divorce settlement to live a peaceful life. However, he quickly realized that things were different in reality. He stayed in Nexuria for three more days, but there was no sign of Cynthia. Then, when he had someone look for her, they found no trace of her. It was as if she had disappearedpletely. No matter how much he searched, he could not find her. As it turned out, Cynthia had returned home after leaving the hotel that day. She went to the castle that truly belonged to her, along with Shirley, her father, and her mother. She cleaned the entire castle from top to bottom. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 The castle was very clean, with a dedicated servant cleaning it daily. Except for her mother¡¯s room, all the rooms, including hers, were spotlessly clean. Shirley watched as Cynthia wiped their mother¡¯s things one by one, standing at the door and saying, ¡°No one has entered this room except for me. Dad also instructed the servant not to clean this room, but don¡¯t worry, I came back every weekend to clean it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Cynthia replied with a hint of warmth in her eyes. Her father bought the castle when he married her mother. He said she was the most beautiful princess in the world and princesses should live in a castle. Until now, she still remembered everything they had experienced here. ¡°Cynthia?¡± Shirley called her. Cynthia put down the photo album and looked at her sideways. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Dad already knows it was Timothy,¡± Shirley said, a little worried because Cynthia had not met him for three whole days. ¡°He said he supports you no matter what, and he also said¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He also said Mrs. Quinn is not Timothy.¡± Shirley felt a little guilty saying this. She had told Cynthia this before, and now their father was saying the same thing. Would Cynthia think they were all taking Mrs. Quinn¡¯s side? This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°Hmm,¡± Cynthia answered lightly. Shirley pursed her lips, feeling even more guilty. Before she could say anything, Cynthia said, ¡°I know right from wrong, and I won¡¯t me others. Tell him not to worry.¡± ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have sses this morning? You should go first.¡± Cynthia was very concerned for Shirley and knew that Shirley loved her too.. Shirley stayed silent. Then, she hugged Cynthia, gently but firmly telling her, ¡°I¡¯ll always be your sister.¡± ¡°Silly girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going now¡­¡± Cynthia saw her off and then returned to her room, nning to take a nap. Since returning these past few days, she had been thinking about her mother all night and had not slept well. She felt tired, although she had just woken up. Cynthia.¡± The sudden voice made Cynthia stop in her tracks. This time, she did not refuse to talk to him as she had done in the past. Instead, she went with him to the garden pavilion on the first floor to talk. Mr. Yates¡¯s emotions wereplicated. However, Cynthia did not like to waste time and cut to the chase. ¡°Do you have something to tell me? ¡°I do. I know about Shirley¡¯s situation, and I want to talk to you about Mrs. Quinn¡­¡± Mr. Yates paused here, realizing that he was too nervous. Cynthia took the opportunity to speak. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in hearing about you and her. If that¡¯s all, there¡¯s no need to talk about it.¡± ¡°Did you provoke Joshua?¡± Mr. Yates finally got to the point. Cynthia was confused. Seeing that she was unaware, Mr. Yates told her what he had learned over the past three days. ¡°He said he wants to make it impossible for you to continue in the industry. He¡¯s a legend in the business world, and many people listen to him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Cynthia was very indifferent, only thinking that Joshua was very childish. He was a grown man, yet he still used such tactics. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Mr. Yates was a little concerned. Cynthia nodded calmly. ¡°Yes.¡± Seeing her like this, Mr. Yates did not say much more, but as a loving father, he still had to ask, ¡°Can you tell me in detail about what happened between you and him? I¡­want to know.¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Cynthia only gave her father a vague exnation the other day at the hospital, and he wanted to know all the details of what happened in the past two years. Cynthia responded calmly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to say. I was just a substitute. Now that the game is over, we¡¯re going our separate ways.¡± Mr. Yates was taken aback. A substitute¡­ ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Mr. Yates asked. ¡°I¡¯m not a child. I can handle these things. Besides, he¡¯s handsome,¡± Cynthia answered. Mr. Yates did not feel relieved by her words. On the contrary, he felt even more uneasy. ¡°Cyn¡­¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s stop here. I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night, so I need to catch up on some rest,¡± Cynthia interrupted, not wanting to say more. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s one more thing¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Her daughter works at the Yates Group. You might run into her.¡± When Mr. Yates said this, he dared not even look into Cynthia¡¯s eyes. In fact, he was terrified. to look at them. Cynthia knew who he was referring to. Mr. Yates felt uneasy and continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll ask my secretary to change her position.¡± ¡°You can do whatever you want,¡± Cynthia replied, clearly uninterested. Mr. Yates did not know what to do. He did not want to bother Cynthia too much for fear of annoying her. Cynthia slept the whole morning and only woke up around four in the afternoon. Just when she nned to check the time, she found a text message. [Jayleen: Mrs. Neal, can you help me get in touch with Joshua? I have something very important to tell him.] Cynthia was shocked. Were mistresses these days really that bold? Why would she contact the wife instead of the man directly? She dismissed the message and got up to attend to her own business. She was not a saint and could not possibly be the messenger for Joshua and his mistress. Besides, there was definitely something fishy about the message. There were other people in the Neal Group that Jayleen could contact, so why did she message Chapter 45 the person she disliked the most? it all seemed very suspicious to Cynthia. Buzz! Suddenly, Cynthia¡¯s phone began to vibrate intensely. She looked at it and saw that it was the same number that had just messaged her. In other words, it was a call from Jayleen. Cynthia answered the call and decided to record the conversation just in case. A soft and somewhat sad voice sounded as soon as the call connected. ¡°Is this Mrs. Neal? This is Jayleen. Can you please give the phone to Joshua? I need to tell him. something important.¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia replied curtly. ¡°Mrs. Neal, I really do have something very important to discuss with him. Please, can you help me out?¡± Jayleen persisted, maintaining her previous tone. ¡°You have no shame,¡± Cynthia retorted. This was her usual attitude toward Jayleen. ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s appropriate for me to help you contact Joshua?¡± Jayleen stayed quiet. Cynthia delivered a final blow, ¡°It¡¯s better to have some dignity. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°Mrs. Neal¡­¡± Beep, beep, beep¡­ This is from N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia did not hesitate to hang up the phone. She even blocked and deleted the number as she really did not want to receive any more calls from that person. To be honest, she could not understand what Jayleen was thinking. [Mrs. Neal, please, I really need to see Joshua urgently.] Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 1/2 [Because of your agreement with him, he has not contacted me ore to see me, but now I really need him.] Cynthia looked at the message from the new number, and the light in her eyes became brighter. The mistress was telling the actual wife that she really needed her husband. This was just ridiculous. [You don¡¯t want to see two people dead, do you?] [Mrs. Neal, I¡¯m pregnant with Joshua¡¯s child!] Jayleen bombarded her with multiple messages, each bringing bigger news than before. Especially thest message when she said she was pregnant with Joshua¡¯s child. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia was not in the mood to entertain Jayleen, but the woman was simply too shameless. Cynthia replied, [Jayleen, do you think that having the child of a married man is something to be proud of?] Cynthia added, [If you bother me again, I don¡¯t mind exposing your affair online.] As soon as she sent that, Jayleen stopped responding. Despite Joshua being a scumbag, he always kept his promises. Hence, Cynthia decided to wait and see. Besides, it was impossible for Jayleen to get pregnant in less than a month since she returned. Thinking about all this, Cynthia took a screenshot of Jayleen¡¯s messages and posted it on her social media. She attached the screenshot and captioned, [What an experience.] Shortly after, people startedmenting. [Little Jerry: What the hell! She¡¯s so shameless.] [Mitchell: Seriously¡­] [Shirley: Is this his ex¨Clover?] Cynthia panicked, realizing she had forgotten to block her family from seeing the post. [Mr. Neal Senior: @Joshua, look at the mess you¡¯ve made! Your mistress is unting herself at Cynthia!] Joshua had just finished dealing with some paperwork when he heard the notification on his phone. He frowned slightly as he picked up his phone to check Cynthia¡¯s social media post. Almost instantly, he called her. Cynthia was not sure she wanted to answer, but she decided to anyway at the thought of Jayleen. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°What does your post mean?¡± Joshua¡¯s tone had a hint of annoyance. A child? He had not slept with anyone else. Cynthiaughed and replied, ¡°Are you seriously asking me?¡± ¡°Exin it to me.¡± ¡°This was sent to me by your ex¨Clover.¡± Cynthia did not hide anything. Instead, she wanted to see how he would exin it. ¡°I¡¯m curious to know how this child came about.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Send me your address, and I¡¯lle over and contact her with your phone to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± Joshua wanted to get to the bottom of this. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a satisfactory exnation.¡± Cynthia sent him the address of a cafe. Joshua had nned to hang up and head over to the cafe, but his mother called and scolded him. He could not talk back and just let her vent. Toward the end of the call, she asked, ¡°Who sent the message to Cynthia? Did you divorce Cynthia to be with this woman?¡± ¡°I have some things to talk to Cynthia about. I¡¯ll tell you when I get back,¡± Joshua changed the subject and did not answer her question right away. He knew that if his mother learned about this, she would be furious. After all, she loved Cynthia as if she were her own daughter. ¡°You better handle this well.¡± Mrs. Neal Senior was angry, and she really disliked the person who sent the message to Cynthia. ¡°If you¡¯re divorcing Cynthia to marry this woman, I won¡¯t ept her.¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 ¡°Got it,¡± Joshua said before hanging up the phone. He knew they would not ept Jayleen. Whether it was his parents or his grandfather, they only acknowledged Cynthia. After suppressing his emotions, Joshua left ording to the location Cynthia had sent and picked up a random car from thepany to get there. When he arrived, Cynthia was already there. After a few days of not seeing each other, Joshua felt an indescribable feeling. Cynthia did not seem to be doing badly after leaving him, unlike those girls who broke up and vented all over the inte. ¡°Did Jayleen say anything else to you besides the child?¡± Joshua was direct and did not bother with any small talk. Cynthia looked for the call recording and handed the phone over to Joshua. He nced at her before listening to the recording. Jayleen obviously sounded unwell, and his heart tightened. Without much thought, he med Cynthia, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you contact me immediately?¡± Cynthia asked with confusion, ¡°Why should I have contacted you for her?¡± ¡°If she hadn¡¯t encountered difficulties, she wouldn¡¯t have called you in the first ce.¡± Joshua was cold and displeased. Cynthia did not know how he got the nerve to say such things and asked, ¡°Do you want to argue?¡± Joshua pursed his lips, and he did not respond to her. Instead, he used her phone to call Jayleen. When he realized that Cynthia had blocked the number, he unblocked it before making the call. Cynthia watched his series of actions and was toozy to argue with him anymore. The phone was answered after a short while. ¡°Mrs. Neal¡­¡± Jayleen¡¯s soft voice came through the phone. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was reassuring, and his expression was soft and gentle. Cynthia felt like she was going to throw up everything she had eatenst night, but she did not stop him. She knew Joshua¡¯s personality well enough to know that any attempt to stop him would only lead to an argument. ¡°Joshua¡­¡± Jayleen started crying on the other end of the phone, and her voice choked with emotions. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Take your time and tell me what¡¯s going on. Why did you tell Cynthia that you¡¯re pregnant with my child? We both know that¡¯s not the case¡­¡± ¡± Joshua said, his voice soothing and gentle. Chapter 47 2/2 ¡°I couldn¡¯t get in touch with you, and I didn¡¯t know what else to do. I had to resort to this,¡± Jayleen exined between sobs. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Take your time.¡± ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m tainted.¡± When he heard those words, Joshua¡¯s hand holding the phone tightened, and his whole body tensed 1. up. Jayleen continued to cry, gasping for breath between sobs. Nevertheless, Joshua still tried to keep his emotions in check. He knew that Jayleen needed his support and understanding right now. ¡°Who did it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Last night, I was out shopping with Heidi when I received a text message from someone saying they missed me and were waiting for me at a hotel. They said they were you, Joshua,¡± Jayleen said, her voice hoarse from the crying, filled with despair. Joshua¡¯s grip on the phone tightened even more. ¡°I missed you so much, so I went to the hotel room, thinking that you were afraid to contact me after Mrs. Neal found out, so you used another number to contact me. But once I got to the hotel room, someone hit me over the head, and when I woke up, it was toote¡­¡± Jayleen continued, her voice shaking. Jayleen could not continue, her voice trailing off into a sob. ¡°Where are you now?¡± Joshua asked without hesitating. ¡°I¡¯m at the apartment you rented for me,¡± Jayleen said, her voice small and frightened as she curled up on the bed, her eyes swollen from crying. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Joshua instructed her, promising, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be there immediately. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°But¡­what about you and Mrs. Neal?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Joshua said with determination, ending the call. Then, he handed the phone back to Cynthia with a heavy heart. ¡°I have to cancel our previous agreement. Jayleen needs me now, and I must return and take care of her.¡± Cynthia did not say anything, just staring at him. Joshua had broken his promise for the first time Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. since she knew him. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to divorce me because of this, I have plenty of ways to make you agree,¡± Joshua said. Cynthia did not care about those things anymore, she just wanted to end this absurd and disgusting marriage. ¡°Just one question, Joshua,¡± Cynthia said calmly. ¡°What is it?¡± Joshua asked, looking up at her. ¡°Do you really like Jayleen so much?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua admitted. ¡°Do you like her enough to keep hurting me again and again?¡± Cynthia pressed. Joshua did not answer. Cynthia did not want to discuss it anymore. Instead, she said firmly, ¡°If you choose Jayleen and leave Nexuria today, breaking our agreement, we¡¯ll be enemies the next time we meet.¡± She was willing topromise and have a peaceful divorce, bing strangers after that. However, she did not mind making it hard for Joshua if he wanted to break their agreement. She really hated being cheated on. ¡°Can¡¯t you be more mature about this?¡± Joshua was angry when he heard Cynthia¡¯s words. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Jayleen¡¯s situation, I wouldn¡¯t have broken our agreement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of my business.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Cynthia stirred her coffee, replying calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve already said enough. It¡¯s up to you to make your choice.¡± Suddenly, Joshua¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Must you anger me?¡± Chapter 48 2/2 ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled at twisting the truth, Mr. Neal.¡± Cynthia remarked, lifting the spoon and shing a cold, sarcastic smile, ¡°You were the one who cheated on me, but now you¡¯re saying I¡¯m the one who¡¯s making you angry.¡± ¡°Jayleen was assaulted,¡± Joshua said, trying to calm down as he did not want to fall out with her completely. ¡°That¡¯s none of my concern,¡± Cynthia answered, minding her own business. ¡°She was vited at the hotel. You¡¯re also a girl. You should know how devastating it is when something like this happens. She got into trouble because she was looking for me, and I can¡¯t just sit back and do nothing,¡± Joshua exined, his heart sinking. When Cynthia heard the first part, her heart stirred slightly. She did not like Jayleen, but hating someone and despising an assaulted girl were different matters. However, she suppressed her emotions when she heard the second part. She did not need to waste her concern on Jayleen, and as for the person who assaulted her, Joshua would take care of it. ¡°That¡¯s her problem. It has nothing to do with me,¡± Cynthiamented coldly. Joshua was afraid he had misheard her. ¡°What did you say?¡± Cynthia remained silent, not liking to repeat herself too often. ¡°When did you be so heartless?¡± Joshua felt as if he was looking at a stranger. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t like Jayleen, she¡¯s still a girl. Is there a need to be so indifferent after knowing that she went through something like this?¡± Cynthia became emotional as well. Her clear eyes met his icy gaze, and she said bluntly, ¡°If I were really heartless, I would say she deserved it.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¡°You also said she got into trouble because she was looking for you. We haven¡¯t divorced yet, and I can perceive her action as you two having an affair. In other words, she¡¯s the other person in our marriage.¡± Cynthia¡¯s words were direct. She believed the person who caused trouble should be punished by thew, but she would not pity or sympathize with Jayleen. Joshua¡¯s gaze was cold. Cynthia was not affected by his presence and continued, ¡°She got into trouble, and you bear the responsibility.¡± If Joshua had divorced her when he received that call, he would have married Jayleen as soon as she returned, and there would be no need for an agreement. He was scum, yet he put the me on her. Joshua stared at her for a long time and finally uttered, ¡°The biggest regret of my life is thinking that you were as understanding as her and marrying you.¡± Cynthia retorted, ¡°Funny, the biggest regret of my life is marrying you.¡± With a chilling gaze, Joshua got up and left the cafe. The moment he left, he called Yoel to book his return ticket. Cynthia heard it all. She was in a foul mood. Before this, she thought she had no more feelings for Joshua and could bepletely calm, but she just realized that some people need a long process to forget the past and move on. After watching Joshua leave, Cynthia made a phone call. Six o¡¯clock in the evening. Blue Friday Bar, a pub that belonged to Jimmy. He was excited when Cynthia called him, but he felt slightly nervous when he heard her ask him to apany her. The lighting in the bar¡¯s private room was dim, and Cynthia had a table full of drinks in front of her. Seeing these drinks, Jimmy felt a little scared. He gulped and tentatively asked, ¡°Cynthia, we can¡¯t drink all of these by ourselves. Should I call our friends over?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Cynthia refused. ¡°Actually, they¡­¡± 2/2 Jimmy swallowed the remaining sentence when he noticed her gaze, not telling Cynthia that their friends already knew about her marriage and divorce from Joshua. Cynthia did not want them to know as she knew their personalities well. She wanted her marriage and divorce to be quiet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Jimmy quickly backed off. Cynthia opened bottle after bottle of alcohol and handed one to Jimmy. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Cynthia was not in the best mood. Jimmy bit his lip. It was tough to keep a secret, and he decided to take the risk and tell her. ¡°There¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°They already know about your situation with Joshua,¡± Jimmy said, and Cynthia¡¯s drinking came to a halt. Jimmy started sweating as Cynthia¡¯s presence was simply terrifying! ¡°When you told me not to tell them, they were right next to myputer¡­and it was toote to keep it a secret,¡± Jimmy weakly spoke, feeling nervous. Cynthia¡¯s eyes flickered, and her voice was soft. ¡°What was their reaction?¡± ¡°They beat me up!¡± Jimmy sighed. ¡°They said you were being biased, keeping secrets from them and only telling me.¡® Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia pursed her red lips, and her eyes showedplex emotions. She tightened her grip on the bottle in her hand. ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Jimmy was a bit worried. ¡°I¡¯ll meet up with them after I get the divorce certificate. I¡¯ll talk to them about it then,¡± she said. shakily. Cynthia was not in a good mood. ¡°Probably not¡­this month,¡± Jimmy said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°They¡¯re probably not avable. Some have nned trips with their girlfriends, some are meeting up with online friends, and others are going to visit their significant other¡¯s parents,¡± Jimmy replied. Cynthia was surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± Jimmy asked. ¡°What should I know?¡± Cynthia was confused. ¡°Of our seven dwarfs, only Mitchell, Gaby, and I are still single. The rest are secretly dating, like you. You got married!¡± Jimmyined. Jimmy¡¯s emotions grew more and more intense as he spoke. Then, he remembered that Cynthia was getting a divorce and felt bad. ¡°Cynthia, I¡­¡® Sob, sob, sob. He was hitting Cynthia¡¯s sore spot again. 11 ¡°Did they really start dating?¡± Cynthia¡¯s previous emotions vanished, and she became a different person. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the group messages?¡± Jimmy asked. Cynthia shook her head. She did not spend much time on her phone and only asionally checked the group, where they mostly gossiped. However, she was uninterested in those and only checked when someone mentioned or messaged her directly. Very few times did she open the group messages in her spare time. ¡°Just three months after you left the Nexuria for Jiverton, they all started dating, one after another. Didn¡¯t we promise to be friends forever and never date?!¡± Jimmy said, still resentful. Cynthia put her drink on the table and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s not drink anymore.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jimmy was confused. ¡°Don¡¯t you like motorsports?¡± Cynthia¡¯s mood improved again. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the racing track.¡± Jimmy was shocked. ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Mmhmm.¡± Cynthia¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°Wow!¡± Jimmy stood up and hugged Cynthia, excited beyond words. ¡°Cynthia, you¡¯re my hero!¡± 2/2 Cynthia pushed his forehead, trying to get him to back off. She never wanted their group to know about her divorce from Joshua. The main reason was that they promised not to get married for life, and she did not want them to avoid marriage because of her failed marriage. Some people were worth it. Fortunately, all of them found someone they liked. That evening, Jimmy went with Cynthia to Nexuria¡¯s dedicated racing track. It was different from those racing tracks because it was set up specifically for the privileged few. In fact, this ce was an entertainment center for national and even world¨Crenowned racers. Of course, many people wanted toe in and watch the races, but not everyone could. Cynthia was well¨Cknown here, so it was easy for her to bring anyone in and even let Jimmy have the best view. They watched several races together, and when it was over, Jimmy took a picture and posted it on his social media with the caption, [Ahhh, Cynthia brought me to see the races!] As soon as he posted it, there werements underneath. Shirleymented, [Unfair! Cynthia actually brought you but not me! Hmph!] Mitchellmented, [She didn¡¯t participate, right?] Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 ¡°Probably not¡­this month,¡± Jimmy said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°They¡¯re probably not avable. Some have nned trips with their girlfriends, some are meeting up with online friends, and others are going to visit their significant other¡¯s parents,¡± Jimmy replied. Cynthia was surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± Jimmy asked. ¡°What should I know?¡± Cynthia was confused. ¡°Of our seven dwarfs, only Mitchell, Gaby, and I are still single. The rest are secretly dating, like you. You got married!¡± Jimmyined. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Jimmy¡¯s emotions grew more and more intense as he spoke. Then, he remembered that Cynthia was getting a divorce and felt bad. ¡°Cynthia, I¡­¡® Sob, sob, sob. He was hitting Cynthia¡¯s sore spot again. 11 ¡°Did they really start dating?¡± Cynthia¡¯s previous emotions vanished, and she became a different person. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the group messages?¡± Jimmy asked. Cynthia shook her head. She did not spend much time on her phone and only asionally checked the group, where they mostly gossiped. However, she was uninterested in those and only checked when someone mentioned or messaged her directly. Very few times did she open the group messages in her spare time. ¡°Just three months after you left the Nexuria for Jiverton, they all started dating, one after another. Didn¡¯t we promise to be friends forever and never date?!¡± Jimmy said, still resentful. Cynthia put her drink on the table and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s not drink anymore.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jimmy was confused. ¡°Don¡¯t you like motorsports?¡± Cynthia¡¯s mood improved again. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the racing track.¡± Jimmy was shocked. ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Mmhmm.¡± Cynthia¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°Wow!¡± Jimmy stood up and hugged Cynthia, excited beyond words. ¡°Cynthia, you¡¯re my hero!¡± Chapter 50 2/2 Cynthia pushed his forehead, trying to get him to back off. She never wanted their group to know about her divorce from Joshua. The main reason was that they promised not to get married for life, and she did not want them to avoid marriage because of her failed marriage. Some people were worth it. Fortunately, all of them found someone they liked. That evening, Jimmy went with Cynthia to Nexuria¡¯s dedicated racing track. It was different from those racing tracks because it was set up specifically for the privileged few. In fact, this ce was an entertainment center for national and even world¨Crenowned racers. Of course, many people wanted toe in and watch the races, but not everyone could. Cynthia was well¨Cknown here, so it was easy for her to bring anyone in and even let Jimmy have the best view. They watched several races together, and when it was over, Jimmy took a picture and posted it on his social media with the caption, [Ahhh, Cynthia brought me to see the races!] As soon as he posted it, there werements underneath. Shirleymented, [Unfair! Cynthia actually brought you but not me! Hmph!] Mitchellmented, [She didn¡¯t participate, right?] Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Jimmy replied to Shirley, [That¡¯s because I¡¯m the apple of Cynthia¡¯s eye.] Jimmy replied to Mitchell, [She didn¡¯t.] [Dwarf 1: You¡¯re living the life, man! Did you get your idol¡¯s autograph?] [Dwarf 2: What the hell! This is unfair! I asked Cynthia to take me, but she didn¡¯t!] [Dwarf 3: You¡¯re so excited about just watching a race. I didn¡¯t even say anything about sleeping with Cynthia!] Jimmy replied, [Shut up!] [Dwarf 1: Stop being bitter because you¡¯re single!] [Dwarf 2: Stop being bitter because you¡¯re single!] [Dwarf 3: Stop being bitter because you¡¯re single!] Jimmy got angrier as he read thements. He was so mad that it showed on his face while he sat in the passenger seat. ¡°Cynthia, they¡¯re making fun of me for being single!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll be the same as you soon,¡± Cynthia said. Jimmy¡¯s eyes lit up, a little. and he replied to the others with what Cynthia had said, and his anger dissipated Cynthia drove around the suburbs for a fewps and only returned home around one o¡¯clock in the morning. Shey in bed, finally feeling calm andposed. She realized a profound truth that she was quite happy with her life as a single person. She had friends to keep herpany when she was unhappy and friends to share her joy. A romantic rtionship was not a necessity in life. In the following days, Cynthia continued to live in a carefree state. Most of her time was spent studying the information her father gave her. If it were not for the call from Jiverton, she could have stayed in Nexuria until the day she received her divorce certificate. When Mrs. Neal Senior called, Cynthia initially did not want to answer, but she gave in when the phone rang for the second time. ¡°Hello, Cynthia?¡± ¡°Yes, Mom.¡± ¡°Can youe to Nexuria?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior knew Cynthia had gone to Jiverton, and her tone Chapter 51 2/2 reflected herplicated emotions. ¡°Old Man Neal was infuriated by what Joshua did to you, he¡¯s currently still in critical condition.¡± and Cynthia¡¯s grip on the phone tightened. Old Man Neal was extremely kind to her, even better than her own grandfather. ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone, she told Jimmy and Shirley. Shirley could not help but feel worried and asked, ¡°Cynthia, can Ie with you?¡± Cynthia was gentle with Shirley. ¡°I¡¯m going there for errands, but we can go to Jiverton together when it¡¯s your school break, okay?¡± ¡°If you need anything, call me. Don¡¯t bear it alone.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not just your sister, but I¡¯m also your confidant.¡± Cynthia paused and walked over to ruffle Shirley¡¯s hair, smiling softly. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Shirley insisted on driving her to the airport, and Cynthia did not stop her. When she arrived in Jiverton, it was already three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Cynthia called Mrs. Neal Senior from the taxi and went straight to the hospital after finding out where they were. By the time she arrived, Old Man Neal had been transferred to the ward, and he was awake. However, he still looked pale and was not as lively as before. ¡°Cynthia?¡± Mrs. Neal Senior was the first to notice her. Cynthia brought along Old Man Neal¡¯s favorite fruits and some health supplements. After putting the things down, she greeted everyone. Apart from her and Mrs. Neal Senior, there was only Old Man Neal and Joshua Chapter 52 Joshua¡¯s demeanor was somewhat calmer, dressed in a meticulously tailored ck pinstripe suit, his handsome features creased with a hint of gloom. However, the palm print on his face was the most striking part. Did Old Man Neal do that? ¡°Cynthia,e here.¡± Old Man Neal¡¯s mood improved slightly upon seeing her. Cynthia walked over. She was genuinely worried about Old Man Neal. In their two years of knowing each other, she had found him to be a very interesting person, knowledgeable, and not at all old¨Cfashioned. They had developed a true grandfather¨Cgranddaughter rtionship. ¡°I know about your situation,¡± Old Man Neal took Cynthia¡¯s hand, his eyes filled with guilt. ¡°It was our family¡¯s fault¡­ I failed to educate that boy properly.¡± ¡°This is his fault. It has nothing to do with you or the Neal family,¡± Cynthiaforted him softly. Joshua was taken aback by her choice of words. Old Man Neal felt even moreplicated, feeling increasingly guilty toward Cynthia. Cynthia was such a good girl, yet Joshua was too foolish to appreciate her! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as I¡¯m alive, that woman will never enter the Neal family. If he dares to act recklessly, I¡¯ll end my life in front of him,¡± Old Man Neal spoke sternly. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Joshua looked disapprovingly. Old Man Neal did not even nce at Joshua, truly angry with him. Cynthia was also shocked by Old Man Neal¡¯s words, and she consoled him again, ¡°Grandpa, that¡¯s not a good idea.¡± ¡°Do you have a better idea?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°You should stay healthy and lively. That is the greatest deterrent,¡± Cynthia suggested. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is that so?¡± Cynthia coaxed, not wanting to upset him, ¡°Of course. If the family of the person I like doesn¡¯t approve of me, I¡¯ll be trembling with fear, and I¡¯ll back down when I hear their family members¡® names.¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 2/2 Joshua nced at her, thinking that Cynthia had a strong talent for talking nonsense. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I dare anyone to disagree!¡± Old Man Neal was filled with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll support you as long as I¡¯m alive. If anyone dares to have any objections to you, I¡¯ll go and have a good talk with them. ¡°Well, you better take care of yourself. My future happiness depends on you watching over me.¡± Cynthia was particrly good atforting people. Old Man Neal agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them talked,pletely ignoring Joshua. Mrs. Neal Senior sighed. What was she going to do with this old man? ¡°I wish you were the daughter¨Cinw of the Neal family.¡± Old Man Neal became emotional. Cynthia was dumbfounded. How should she respond to that? Suddenly, Old Man Neal called, ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you be part of our Neal family?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kick this little bastard out of the Neal family. Afterward, you can be the heir of the Neal family, and the Neal Group will be under your management. Cynthia hesitated and replied, ¡°Do you not love me anymore?¡± ¡°How could I not love you? You¡¯ll always be my granddaughter!¡± Old Man Neal¡¯s spirits improved. ¡°Then why do you want me to inherit the Neal Group and earn money for Joshua to spend? He already has shares in the Neal Group and can still receive dividends even if he¡¯s not involved in managing it. I want to be kicked out of the family too if that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Cynthia teased the old man, trying to distract him from hisplicated thoughts. Joshua remained silent. Old Man Neal thought for a moment and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t let this brat have it so easily.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa, I¡¯ll take care of it. Your job is to take good care of yourself. You shouldn¡¯t waste your energy and ruin your health for unnecessary people,¡± Cynthia reassured Old Man Neal. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Old Man Neal genuinely liked Cynthia. For the rest of the day, Cynthia mostly stayed in the hospital room chatting with Old Man Neal. They talked about this and that, and she managed to cheer him up. Old Man Neal was very astute and noticed many details in Cynthia¡¯s demeanor and behavior. When they were alone in the room, he said, ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can you be honest with me? Is your family also quite wealthy?¡± Old Man Neal asked straightforwardly. Many things could be observed in how people interact with each other. Cynthia always seemed calm and collected, as if nothing could shake herposure. This kind of attitude was likely due to her upbringing. Cynthia did not hide anything and answered honestly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you mind telling me which family you belong to?¡± Old Man Neal did not force Cynthia, giving her the choice to answer him. ¡°The Yates Group,¡± Cynthia answered. Old Man Neal smiled widely and eximed, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great!¡± While cutting some fruit for him, Cynthia asked him to keep her background a secret for now. ¡°Can you keep this between us for now?¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll keep it a secret! Now that I know you have that kind of background, I¡¯m not worried anymore.¡± Old Man Neal did not doubt her, and his lingering concerns dissipated. Cynthia was a bit puzzled. ¡°Worried? About what?¡± Old Man Neal was in a good mood. ¡°If you didn¡¯t have such a background, I¡¯d be worried about Joshua bullying you.¡± Cynthia¡¯s heart warmed at Old Man Neal¡¯s words. ¡°I know that kid¡¯s personality all too well. He¡¯s divorcing you for Jayleen now, but when you two are really divorced, he¡¯ll realize who the right person is.¡± Old Man Neal sighed heavily. ¡°At that time, he¡¯ll definitely want to make amends.¡± Old Man Neal could see through Joshua easily. Cynthia was still cutting fruit, saying, ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Chapter 53 212 ¡°Cynthia, I can ignore certain things, but there are times when I have to interfere.¡± Old Man Neal felt much better and regained his energy. ¡°What is it?¡± Cynthia paused. ¡°If Joshua wants to remarry you in the future, don¡¯t agree so easily. If a man can easily get something, he won¡¯t know how to cherish it,¡± Old Man Neal said angrily. Cynthia was speechless. Then, she cleared her throat and replied, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re a man too¡­¡± ¡°Just remember that.¡± Old Man Neal coughed to hide his embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Cynthia nodded and agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Old Man Neal really wanted Cynthia to be his granddaughter¨Cinw. Yet, he thought if Cynthia were his biological granddaughter, he would never agree to her being with a scumbag like Joshua. After weighing everything, Old Man Neal chose to stand by Cynthia¡¯s side. Cynthia was such a good girl and deserved to be happy. Joshua was standing outside the door and was just about to enter when he heard Old Man Neal say that. His brow furrowed slightly, puzzled. Why did everyone think he would regret it? Yoel did. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Grandpa did too. Even Mrs. Neal Senior had said that to him earlier when he went to handle the discharge procedures. He pushed the issue aside and entered the ward. When his tall figure appeared in the ward, the room felt somewhat cramped. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 ¡°I¡¯ve settled the discharge procedures. Do you want me to take you back, or do you want your¡® granddaughter¡® to take you back?¡± Joshua said to Old Man Neal in his usual indifferent and cool tone. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to help me,¡± Old Man Neal was still angry with him, and the incident from yesterday morning appeared in his mind again. He had been oil painting in the yard when Joshua brought Jayleen to Old Neal Manor. After a brief introduction, he announced that he would marry Jayleen after divorcing Cynthia. Old Man Neal was furious, and without much thought, he pped him. He was furious. He never expected that his own grandson, who had been polite and sensible since he was young, would do such an absurd thing! ¡°Fine, the car is waiting outside.¡± Joshua did not say much after. After a simple cleanup, Cynthia took Old Man Neal out of the hospital. As she passed by Joshua, the two of them treated each other as strangers, without any eye contact or exchange of nces. Another day passed by in a sh. Cynthia had been in Jiverton for two days already. Afterforting Old Man Neal, she went to the duplex apartment the servants had cleaned earlier to wait for the divorce certificate. There were still thirteen days left before she could receive the divorce certificate, and she did not want to go through the hassle of going back to Nexuria. On this day, Cynthia had just taken out herptop to work when the doorbell rang. Without much thought, she got up from the sofa and opened the door. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia froze when she saw Jayleen. She never expected Jayleen to find her here. ¡°Mrs. Neal, I have something to talk to you about. Can Ie in?¡± Jayleen wore a beige windbreaker today, and her beautiful hair fell on her shoulders. ¡°No, I don¡¯t feel like disinfecting the ce after,¡± Cynthia refused firmly. Jayleen clenched her hands tightly and could barely maintain her gentle expression. ¡°Why do you have so much hostility toward me?¡± Bang! Cynthia mmed the door shut, ignoring Jayleen. Chapter 54 2/2 This mistress had really gone too far. Jayleen¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of viciousness. She stood there for a long time before ringing the doorbell again. She wanted to talk to Cynthia and resolve things once and for all. Once¡­ Twice¡­ After countless times¡­ The doorbell kept ringing, and Cynthia turned it off. However, she never expected Jayleen would be so shameless. When she realized that the doorbell was not working, Jayleen began knocking on the door loudly. This neighborhood had two households on each floor, and Cynthia knew that people were living next door. As she was afraid of disturbing her neighbors, she went to open the door, feeling impatient toward Jayleen. ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± She should have bought the neighboring unit to avoid all this trouble. ¡°I just want to talk to you.¡± Jayleen lost her usual gentleness in front of Joshua and met Cynthia¡¯s gaze. Cynthia exuded a domineering aura. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about with someone who interferes in other people¡¯s rtionships.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re talking about someone interfering in someone else¡¯s rtionship, aren¡¯t you the one who interfered in my rtionship with Joshua? If it weren¡¯t for you suddenly showing up, Joshua and I would have had a child by now,¡± Jayleen retorted, no longer appearing as helpless as usual. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Cynthia did not feel like arguing with Jayleen anymore and simply replied, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± Jayleen felt hopeless, as if she was talking to a wall. She had never encountered someone like Cynthia before! ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because Joshua gave you so much money in the divorce that he cares about you. Actually¡­¡± Jayleen was angry, wanting to tear Cynthia¡¯s calm demeanor apart. Why did she always act so superior when they talked? It made Jayleen feel like a clown! Cynthia was getting annoyed with Jayleen¡¯s constant babbling. She had never been so irritated by someone before. She used to think that girls were the most adorable creatures in the world. Shirley was adorable, and her friends were adorable. Yet, she really wanted to throw Jayleen out the window. ¡°Are you finished?¡± Cynthia did not want to waste any more time. Jayleen was almost at her breaking point and eximed, ¡± Cynthia!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in what you have to say. If you¡¯re only here to talk about these boring matters, turn right and take the elevator down.¡± Cynthia¡¯s emotions remained steady throughout the entire exchange. Jayleen¡¯s intelligence was too low, and she did not bother to y any mind games with her. Jayleen felt frustrated. This was not the scene she had imagined. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia should have argued with her, preferably yelling and hitting her. Only then could she cry and run to Joshua. Then, he would start to loathe Cynthia, and she would not have to worry about him regretting the divorce. Jayleen bit her lip and pulled out her trump card. ¡°I have other important matters to discuss with you. Let¡¯s discuss them downstairs.¡± Cynthia said, ¡°Just say whatever you need to say here.¡® Jayleen pursed her lips and did not speak. Cynthia stared at her. The two of them stood there, motionless. After about a minute, Cynthia¡¯s patience wore thin. She entered her room, grabbed herptop, closed the door, and 3/4 went downstairs. Jayleen followed her. When they reached the neighborhood, Jayleen pointed to a cafe and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk there.¡± However, Cynthia ignored her and hailed a taxi. Jayleen was taken aback, and she immediately chased after the car, standing in front of it and saying, ¡°Cynthia, I really need to talk to you!¡± ¡°Just drive,¡± Cynthia ordered the driver, not even ncing at Jayleen. She wished she had bought a car and kept it in the garage as it was inconvenient for her even to go out now. The driver replied, ¡°Miss, why don¡¯t you talk to your friend?¡± He hesitated for a moment and then added, ¡°It looks like it¡¯s something urgent.¡± Cynthia did not want to, but Jayleen was like a piece of adhesive tape she could not shake off. Then, she looked through the window and gave it a thought. In order to have some peace in the future, she got out of the car. Jayleen did not block the taxi anymore. Five minutester, the two of them sat by the window in the cafe. After Jayleen ordered coffee, Cynthia asked directly,¡± What do you want to say?¡± ¡°Do you love Joshua?¡± Jayleen suddenly asked. Cynthia was puzzled. ¡°I love him,¡± Jayleen said. Cynthia was still confused. ¡°Do you know why we broke up before?¡± Jayleen asked again. Cynthia looked at her and said, a little impatiently, ¡°You¡¯d better have a good reason for talking to me.¡± ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t fair to you for Joshua to divorce you for me, but I can¡¯t let him go. When I found out I had a terminal illness, I broke up with him even though I didn¡¯t want to,¡± Jayleen said, her hand tightening slightly as she bit her lip. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 ¡°At the time, I didn¡¯t hold out any hope, but who knew I¡¯d recoverter,¡± Jayleen continued. She had a request for Cynthia. ¡°After I recovered, I contacted him and told him about what happened before, and that¡¯s how we ended up where we are now.¡± Cynthia replied coldly, ¡°Do you want me to give you an award for that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mock me. I came to you because I need your help with something.¡± Jayleen found it difficult to speak, but she also knew that only Cynthia could help her. She fell silent for a while before finally saying, ¡°Can you talk to Old Man Neal and Mrs. Neal Senior for me and ask them to ept me? I really, really like Joshua.¡± Cynthia¡¯s hand, which was ying with her phone, stopped. She opened the WhatsApp group chat for ¡®The Seven Dwarfs¡® and sent a rare message. [Cynthia: Do I look like a fool?] It was Joshua before, and now it was Jayleen. Did everyone think she was an easy target to bully? [Little Jerry: ???] [Mitchell ] [Everyone else: ???] [Gaby: Did someone hack your ount?] [Little Jerry: What do you mean, Cynthia?] Cynthia replied to them,pletely ignoring Jayleen. In her daily life, Cynthia typically avoided looking at her phone when talking to others. After all, ying with your phone while someone was speaking was impolite. However, manners were for people, not for trash. Cynthia added, [Joshua¡¯s lover just told me how much she loves him and asked me to help her plead with the Neal family elders to ept her.] The group was flooded with question marks. Little Jerry was the first to respond. [Was she dropped on the head too much as a child?] Gaby suggested, [Give her 15 USD to get a brain CT scan.] Riley replied, [Tell her to find me. I¡¯m an expert at dealing with all kinds of shameless people.] Little Jerry eximed, [This is so annoying!] Riley added, [@Cynthia, help her plead¡­and plead hard.] Confused, Little Jerry and Gaby both replied, [?] Cynthia immediately understood what Riley meant and replied with a small smile, [Okay.] After sending the message, she turned off her phone screen. Little Jerry and Gaby werepletely outraged. Helping this shameless trash with her plea? Cynthia even agreed to it? The two of them bombarded Riley with their curses and disbelief in the group chat. ¡°Just promise me this, and I guarantee that when you¡¯re in trouble in the future, I¡¯ll make sure Joshua helps you,¡± Jayleen said earnestly as if she were doing Cynthia a favor. Cynthia looked at her and spoke, ¡°Sure.¡± Jayleen was puzzled. Cynthia was not supposed to like her very much and should have rejected her requests. ¡°You agreed?¡± ¡°Mmhmm. I¡¯ll help you with the request now, okay?¡± Cynthia said before calling up Old Man Neal. Jayleen agreed and could not help but suppress the joy in her eyes and felt that Cynthia was a fool. Cynthia dialed Old Man Neal¡¯s number, and he answered quickly, ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s me. I have something important to tell you, so be prepared,¡± Cynthia spoke softly. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Old Man Neal loved Cynthia dearly and yed along with her. ¡°I¡¯m already prepared. Go ahead, darling Cynthia.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 ¡°Ms. Shaw came to see me and asked me to plead with you and Mom. So that you both agree to her marriage with Joshua and ept her into the Neal family.¡± Cynthia set the atmosphere just right, knowing she would not upset Old Man Neal. Jayleen¡¯s smile froze on her face as she stared at Cynthia. She never expected Cynthia to be so direct! ¡°You¡¯d better get her a pillow and ask her to dream on.¡± Old Man Neal was also a master at sarcasm. ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia agreed. They talked about a few other things before Old Man Neal reluctantly hung up the phone. Cynthia told Jayleen the result, who was still unhappy. ¡°I pleaded for you, but Grandpa says you¡¯d better buy a pillow and dream on.¡± Cynthia was straightforward. ¡°You did it on purpose!¡± Jayleen could now see through her. If she still thought Cynthia was actually helping her, she would be a fool! Cynthia admitted frankly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why did you do it? If you didn¡¯t want to, you should¡¯ve just said so!¡± Jayleen was angry, fire raging in her eyes. Cynthia took a sip of coffee without answering. Jayleen clenched her hands tightly on both sides. Old Man Neal and Mrs. Neal Senior did not like her to begin with, and now Cynthia had made things worse. Old Man Neal¡¯s impression of her must have worsened! It was all Cynthia¡¯s fault! ¡°Don¡¯t think just because Old Man Neal and Mrs. Neal Senior likes you that you can stay in the Neal family. If Joshua doesn¡¯t like you, you¡¯re nothing,¡± Jayleen said with hatred. Cynthia replied calmly, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Jayleen was furious, gritting her teeth. However, Cynthia was calm and indifferent, with a hint of cold detachment. This made Jayleen feel like a clown. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Cynthia asked casually. Jayleen wanted to leave immediately, but thinking about what happened before, she still asked, her eyes red, ¡°Did you arrange for something to happen to me at the hotel?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°I haven¡¯t even said what it is, and you¡¯re already denying it.¡± Jayleen immediately assumed it was her. ¡°Joshua told me,¡± Cynthia did not add insult to injury and stared at Jayleen¡¯s face for a few seconds before speaking again, You should go to the hospital and get your brain checked, preferably with a CT scan.¡± Jayleen¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. She had heard that Cynthia easily diagnosed illness while dining at Old Neal Manor. Could it be that her brain had a problem? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my brain?¡± Jayleen asked. ¡°It got caught in the toilet lid,¡± Cynthia replied tly. Jayleen¡¯s knuckles turned white as she clenched the cup in her hand. If looks could kill, Cynthia would be riddled with bullet holes. She hated Cynthia so much! Cynthia did not say anything more. As she got up to leave, Jayleen followed suit. Then, at the door, she grabbed Cynthia¡¯s arm. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Cynthia recoiled from her touch like she had touched something dirty, asking, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I want to prove to you that Joshua will choose me,¡± Jayleen spoke softly, but Cynthia understood her words clearly. At that moment, Cynthia felt pity for Jayleen. Not the sympathetic kind of pity, but the kind of pity for someone who had something to be hated for. She looked at Jayleen and said, ¡°He had already chosen you long ago.¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 hapter 58 Cynthia could not understand why Jayleen was so in love with Joshua and, even more so, why Jayleen needed to prove something to her, especially after already having won him over. It was truly outrageous. Jayleen¡¯s eyes showed a determination to take a risk. Just as she was about to do something, Cynthia spoke up, ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of setting me up by tripping or bumping into me, don¡¯t bother. There¡¯s a security camera over there.¡± Jayleen looked over and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. If Joshua were to investigateter and find out that she had done something intentionally, all her efforts would have been in This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. vain. Cynthia ignored Jayleen and left with her things. As soon as she got home, Cynthia received several messages from Jimmy. [Little Jerry: Holy crap! Cynthia, guess what I found out?] [Little Jerry: Your future ex¨Chusband¡¯s lover is something else.] [Little Jerry: It¡¯s insane!] Cynthia put down herptop and sat on the sofa, calling Jimmy directly, ¡°Did you investigate her?¡± ¡°I was just curious about what kind of person could say such shameless things. But I found out a shocking secret.¡± Jimmy sounded a bit nervous, but he became excited at the thought of the gossip. ¡°Keep whatever you know to yourself,¡± Cynthia was not interested in these things. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know why Jayleen returned?¡± Jimmy had found her name when searching online. Cynthia replied with her usual indifferent attitude, ¡°It¡¯s none of my business.¡± ¡°She came back for Joshua¡¯s money to use it to support another man,¡± Jimmy revealed what he knew to Cynthia. Cynthia remained quiet. ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Jimmy had his phone to his ear while typing on his keyboard. Then, he sent a screenshot to Cynthia. ¡°Look at the screenshot I sent you. Apparently, they broke up because Joshua did not give her enough attention.¡± Cynthia was even more confused. She really had no interest in this and reminded Jimmy, ¡°Don¡¯t search for others¡® personal information in the future. Cyber- attacks are illegal in this country.¡± ¡°Are you really not curious?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± After a brief conversation, Cynthia ended the call with Jimmy. To be frank, she waspletely uninterested in why Jayleen returned or why they broke up. As long as it did not affect her, she would not be concerned about it. Meanwhile, Jayleen returned to the apartment Joshua had bought for her and called him, crying about Cynthia¡¯s behavior earlier. Jayleen was as pitiful as usual. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to say those things. Do you think Grandpa¡¯s impression of me will get worse?¡± ¡°Why did you go see her?¡± Joshua frowned. He had a lot of documents that required signing in front of him. ¡°D¨CDid I do something wrong?¡± Jayleen stopped crying. ¡°Cynthia has nothing to do with our affairs, and I¡¯ll handle any concerns you have. Don¡¯t go to her again because of our issues. ¡°Joshua¡¯s voice was calm, but tired. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡°¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Joshua¡¯s mind was filled with images of Cynthia loathing him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯lle over after I finish work¡± Jayleen obediently agreed but was upset at how Joshua asked her not to see Cynthia anymore. Soon after hanging up the phone, the old phone that Jayleen had under her pillow suddenly vibrated, and her face was instantly ashen. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 1/2 Jayleen reached for the old phone that she had left under her pillow. When she saw the number that had not contacted her for almost a month, her heart started pounding, and her lips turned pale. Jaylen wanted to hang up the call, but she still answered the call tremblingly when she thought of the consequences. With a shaky voice, she greeted, ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Why did it take you so long to answer the phone?¡± The voice on the other end was soft, but it terrified her. Jayleen shuddered and stammered, ¡°I was in the bathroom and didn¡¯t hear it.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the situation progressing?¡± ¡°They still have thirteen days of the cooling¨Coff period left. After that, they¡¯ll get the divorce certificate.¡± ¡°Are you sure Joshua will marry you after the divorce?¡± The man¡¯s voice was calm and pleasant, but his tone was intimidating. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Jayleen gulped, her forehead covered in sweat. ¡°He has already told his family about this. Once he gets the divorce certificate, he will marry me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The man did not seem interested in chatting further. ¡°After you marry him, remember to follow the n. You know the consequences if you dare to have crooked ideas behind my back.¡± Jayleen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she felt a chill running down her spine. Just before hanging up, she thought of something and said nervously, ¡°Wait!¡± There was silence on the other end. Jayleen¡¯s hand holding the phone was covered in a cold sweat. ¡°Did you have me get into the car ident and ruin my innocence?¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. She bit her lip, feeling extremely anxious. The man neither confirmed nor denied it, only saying, ¡°I prefer to do things myself.¡± Jayleen was dumbfounded, feeling so weak that she was losing grip on the phone. After the other person hung up the phone, Jayleen¡¯s phone slipped from her hand, and all her strength seemed to drain away. She slumped on the sofa, wondering who could have done it if it was not him or Cynthia. She sat on the sofa for half an hour before she recovered. Then, she picked up her phone and deleted the call log. After deleting the call log, Jayleen sat there in a daze with only one thought in her mind: she couldn¡¯t let Joshua find out. No way! Meanwhile, Jayleen was not on Joshua¡¯s mind at all. After taking her call and hearing her news, he set aside his work and went to find Cynthia. Yoel came in with a few documents and his signature smile. ¡°Mr. Neal, these documents require your signature¡­¡± ¡°Put them on the table.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re urgent.¡± Joshua paused in his tracks. His gaze turned icy, and his thin lips parted with a hint of displeasure. ¡°If they¡¯re urgent, why didn¡¯t you bring them earlier? Why wait until now?¡± Yoel just stood there, stunned. He was only a messenger. ¡°Make them wait so they won¡¯t repeat it again,¡± Joshua said before leaving. Not long after Joshua left, someone hiding in the shadows approached Yoel and asked about the situation. ¡°Yoel, what did Mr. Neal say to you just now? He seemed upset.¡± Yoel nced at them and repeated everything Joshua had said, word for word. The group was baffled. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 ¡°Did he really say that?¡± ¡°Did Mrs. Neal and Mr. Neal fight?¡± ¡°I feel like they¡¯re getting a divorce.¡± Yoel¡¯s gaze drifted over to them. Those three were so sharp. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. The girl who said they were getting a divorce could not believe it and covered her mouth in shock. ¡°No way¡­did I guess right?¡± Yoel did not show it, but he was shocked by their spection. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Neal has a strong rtionship. As a member of the secretary department, we should always remember not to pay too much attention to Mrs. Neal¡¯s personal life.¡± If these few people knew that Mr. and Mrs. Neal were getting a divorce, the entire headquarters would know by tomorrow. They were professionally strong in confidentiality but as quick as lightning when it concerned gossip. Yoel let out a quiet sigh and continued working. Joshua took over an hour from thepany to Cynthia¡¯s house, and it was already half past noon by the time he arrived. Cynthia was eating when she heard the knocking and went to open the door. She had already decided that if it were Jayleen, she would not hesitate to throw her out. Unexpectedly, the visitor was Joshua. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Cynthia now strongly disliked him and Jayleen and did not even want to spare another second for them. ¡°I want to talk to you about something,¡± Joshua said, walking inside on his own. Cynthia stopped him and knocked twice on the door. ¡°Can¡¯t you read?¡± Joshua was confused. He nced at the sign but did not read a single word. ¡°What does it say?¡± Cynthia asked, with a hint of mischief in her voice. ¡°Joshua and dogs are not allowed inside,¡± she continued, enunciating each word carefully. Joshua strode inside anyway, pressing Cynthia against the door and trapping her with his body. ¡°Have I been too easy on youtely, making you think you push me around?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°I should be the one asking you that. Do you think I¡¯m a doormat that you and Jayleen can step on anytime you want?¡± Cynthia retorted, eyeing him with disdain. ¡°You? A doormat?¡± Joshua asked skeptically. Maybe he would have thought she was easy to manipte in the past. However, since he asked for a divorce, she had done aplete 180. It was impossible to use the term ¡®doormat¡® to describe her. Cynthia did not bother to respond to Joshua¡¯sment, and she would have thrown Joshua out by now if it were not for the divorce certificate. ¡°What do you want? If there¡¯s nothing else, leave,¡± Cynthia asked impatiently. ¡°Why did you say those things to Grandpa? You know he doesn¡¯t like her. By saying that, you only made him dislike her more. ¡°Joshua finally found something to pick at, looking down at Cynthia, who he pinned against the door. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°You caused it.¡± ¡°If you want to get pped, keep talking,¡± Cynthia said, her tone turning icy. That incident was Joshua¡¯s dark history, and just the thought gave him chills. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua eximed. ¡°I seriously suggest you and Jayleen go get a brain CT scan. You¡¯vepletely lost your moral compass. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Jayleen was the third person in our marriage, and you were the one who cheated,¡± Cynthia replied, making it clear for the first time. She had reced the word ¡®rtionship¡® with ¡®marriage¡®. ¡°You keeping to me, first saying this, then saying that. Do you really think I¡¯m easy to bully?¡± Cynthia put the issue out in the open. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Joshua emphasized, ¡°She¡¯s not a third person, and I didn¡¯t cheat on you.¡± Cynthia remained silent, feeling like it was a futile conversation. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe what you want,¡± Cynthia responded firmly, convinced that Joshua had indeed cheated on her. After all, emotional cheating was still cheating. ¡°I¡¯ll say it onest time. If you or Jayleen come to me again over your issues, I won¡¯t hesitate to expose your affair to the public. You need to consider whether you can handle the bacsh.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Joshua interrogated, his gaze locked onto her. ¡°What about me?¡± Cynthia frowned, annoyed. ¡°About you and Mitchell, and about you going to the hotel with Thomas in Nexuria. Would you have gone with them if I hadn¡¯t been there?¡± Cynthia was beyond angry. She tried to reason with Joshua, yet he kept bringing up hypothetical scenarios. Pushing him away, Cynthia replied with a sharp tongue, ¡°I must¡¯ve been out of my mind if I thought I could reason with a dog. Joshua fell silent. Just as Cynthia was about to drag him out of her apartment, Joshua strode past her with his long legs and settled onto the sofa as if he owned the ce. He hade to talk things out with Cynthia, but now he was unsure. Cynthia was clearly not in the mood to talk, and it was probably not a good time to bring up the matter that Jayleen had told him about. Despite that, Joshua could not resist provoking Cynthia. Cynthia looked at Joshua, knowing he was a stubborn man who would not leave easily. She also knew that reporting the incident to the property management or the police would not help. They would simply say this was a domestic issue they could not resolve. After thinking about it, Cynthia decided to let it go and returned to the dining table to continue her meal. Luckily, she was not a picky eater and could still eat despite her bad mood. As for Joshua, who was still sitting on the couch, watching her wolfing down her food only made him angrier! Despite the hunger, he drove more than an hour to get here. Instead of getting food, he got scolded! Joshua frowned and made a phone call. Yoel, who had just finished his lunch, answered the phone, ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal?¡± ¡°Bring me lunch,¡± Joshua ordered. ¡°Where to?¡± Yoel asked, confused. Joshua gave him Cynthia¡¯s address. ¡°Mrs. Neal¡¯s ce is over an hour away from the office. It will take at least two hours, including the time it takes to order and deliver,¡± Yoel exined. It was already half past noon. If Joshua waited for his lunch to arrive, it would be almost three in the afternoon.. ¡°Okay,¡± Joshua replied simply. Yoel was taken aback. His boss was always punctual when it came to eating, and he could not believe Joshua was willing to wait for so long. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Mrs. Neal to take you out for lunch instead? The food won¡¯t taste good when it reaches you,¡± Yoel suggested. ¡°Whatever,¡± Joshua said before hanging up. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Yoel understood immediately. Joshua probably wanted to eat at Mrs. Neal¡¯s ce but was too embarrassed to ask. They must have argued! They were even ying a childish game of who the first person to speak would be the loser! Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Annoying! This was simply annoying! Cynthia had just finished cleaning up after eating when she saw a message on her WhatsApp. [Mrs. Neal, Mr. Neal hasn¡¯t eaten yet, and the food will take a while to arrive. Can you please take him out for a meal?] Cynthia replied, [No, I can¡¯t.] Yoel responded, [I know you¡¯re kind¨Chearted, and you¡¯ll definitely agree.] Cynthia responded, [Even if I¡¯m kind¨Chearted, you can¡¯t morally pressure me to take a dog to a restaurant for a meal.] Yoel was speechless. After silently cursing at his luck, Yoelsent a message to Joshua, [Your lunch will be delivered at 3 pm.] Joshua was confused by the message. Before he could respond, Cynthia¡¯s voice came through. She held herptop and said naturally, ¡°Yoel wants me to take you out for a meal. Are you interested?¡±This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t eat food that¡¯s too heavy.¡± Joshua was picky about his food, but he could not help wondering what Yoel was up to. He stood up, adjusted his suit, and walked over to Cynthia, saying simply, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°That way, turn a corner. There¡¯s something you would like to eat inside,¡± Cynthia directed him as if she was never angry. Joshua was taken aback. Those words caused ripples in his heart. He looked at Cynthia¡¯s beautiful and delicate face, feeling an unprecedented sense of guilt. His actions with Jayleen were ultimately unfair to her. In that instant, Joshua decided to talk to her calmly after they finished eating, apologizing on behalf of Jayleen in the process. ¡°Thank you,¡± Joshua said in a low,plex voice, turning around and heading toward the direction Cynthia had pointed. In just a few seconds, Joshua arrived at the room Cynthia had mentioned. Without much thought, he put his hand on the doorknob and opened the door. When his eyes fell upon the scene inside, anger surged within him! Cynthia! Joshua was livid as he mmed the door shut and stormed back toward the living room, determined to give Cynthia a piece of his mind. That woman was asking for it. She actually asked him to eat in the bathroom! However, Cynthia was nowhere to be seen when he returned to the living room. Instead, she had already retreated to her room on the second floor, locking the door and putting on noise¨Ccanceling headphones to focus on her own work. Cynthia was not even afraid of Joshua knocking down the door. After all, he would never be able to break it down with his weak legs. Two hourster, at Neal Group¡¯s president¡¯s office, Yoel stood there with a look of confusion, waiting for Joshua to make an announcement. He had been driving to deliver lunch to Joshua when he received a call telling him to cancel the delivery and organize a departmental meeting instead. When had they ever had a meeting on a Wednesday? Then again, he dared not to ask. ¡°Is the meeting organized?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all set. Everyone¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Joshua let Yoel take the documents and go to the meeting room without saying a word. The atmosphere in the meeting room that day was tense, and as the first department was called out and scolded, the others. felt like a guillotine was hanging over their heads. It was not until the meeting ended that they all breathed a sigh of relief, having been reprimanded harshly. They all realized one thing¨CJoshua was in a horrible mood!!! ¡°Those who didn¡¯t meet the standards will be cleaning the bathrooms for a month,¡± Joshua said coldly, his eyes sharp as daggers. Yoel was baffled. Everyone who did not meet the standards was too stunned to speak. Clean the bathrooms?! Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 ¡°Only cleaning toilets?¡± Yoel was surprised. If this were in the past, they would have had their bonus deducted. Joshua could not help but feel annoyed when he heard the word ¡®toilets¡® as it reminded him of Cynthia asking him to dine in the bathroom. ¡°Do you want to clean the toilets too?¡± Joshua asked. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s probably better to leave this glorious task to the department managers,¡± Yoel smiled and declined. The rest of the team was shocked. How could it be glorious? Joshua¡¯s mind was upied with Cynthia¡¯s act, and he did not want to talk to them any longer, so he told them to leave. ¡°Mr. Neal, are you having lunch now, or are you going to wait for dinner? The lunch we ordered is still fresh, and if you need it, I can get it now,¡± Yoel asked after everyone had left. Joshua nced at him. ¡°You¡¯re in charge of cleaning the toilets on this floor for the next two months.¡± ¡°Mr. Neal¡­.¡± ¡°Two months.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal¡­¡± Yoel did not dare argue. He returned to his office, still confused about why Joshua suddenly had a thing for cleaning toilets. He wanted to vent to his buddy, so he sent a message on WhatsApp, saying, [Our president has gone crazy. He suddenly has a thing for cleaning toilets. However, he¡¯s not deducting bonuses or sries, just making us all clean toilets. I¡¯ve been affected too.] Off¨CDuty Worker replied, [You¡¯re getting paid as a personal assistant, but doing the work of a janitor. You shouldn¡¯t be ungrateful.] Yoel replied, [When will your presidente back from vacation? It¡¯s been two years, and he still has not returned to work. Isn¡¯t he afraid of thepany going bankrupt?¡± Off¨CDuty Worker replied, [Even if your Neal Group goes bankrupt, ourpany won¡¯t.] Yoel promptly closed WhatsApp and refused to chat further with him. He could not figure it out. What kind of person was his president? He took two years off and even gave this guy a vacation. Not only that, but he continued to pay him a sry and bonuses. When asked who his president was, he refused to answer and said it was ssified. At that moment, the brilliant manager in Yoel¡¯s mind was at home learning about the projects of the Neal Group and the Yates. Group. Then, halfway through her research, a phone call came in. Seeing that it was her personal assistant calling, Cynthia answered and put it on speaker. The voice on the other end immediately said, ¡°Ms. Yates, when are you returning from your vacation?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been on vacation for two years,¡± the voice on the other end said. ¡°As thepany¡¯s president, you should care about thepany.¡± Cynthia remained quiet. ¡°If you keep ying around like this, I¡¯ll have to run thepany.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°Ms. Yates, please take this seriously,¡± the voice on the other end said, cool and slightly stern. Cynthia answered, checking her calendar, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll be back in two weeks. I¡¯ve asked for an investment advisor position at Yates Group, so you may need to work a bit harder on thepany side.¡± ¡°You only need toe back to work and sign some documents asionally I¡¯ll take care of the rest,¡± the calm voice came through as if there was no emotion. Cynthia also felt reassured. ¡°Okay.¡± After that, they ended the call. Joshua and Cynthia did not contact each other for the next two days. Regardless of whether it was Joshua or Cynthia, they both decided not to have any contact with each other before they received their divorce certificate. However, things did not go as nned. Cynthia and Joshua unexpectedly met each other because of an ident. It was Saturday night, and Cynthia went out to buy something. Since it was just a short distance away, she walked. However, when she passed through an alleyway, she was stopped by a dozen men holding baseball bats. Cynthia scanned her surroundings and the men one by one, and finally, her gaze settled on a shadow holding a phone toward her in the depths of the alleyway. In almost an instant, she understood. These people had made preparations, and if they beat her up in this surveince¨Cless alleyway, she would be in trouble. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 If Cynthia were to beat them up, they would use the footage from that person¡¯s phone to sue her. Cynthia did not think too much about it. To avoid trouble, she turned around and ran without arguing with them. ¡°Grab her!¡± ¡°The client said we must break her limbs.¡± The voices came from behind. Cynthia ran very fast but did not run toward home because she knew that if she did, these people would follow her past the gate and cause trouble for her in the future. However, themunity itself was located on the outskirts of Jiverton, and there were fewmercial areas nearby. As she thought about it, she ran toward arger open space with a surveince camera. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you running anymore?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a fast runner!¡± ¡°I¡¯m exhausted!¡± The group of people cursed and grumbled. Cynthia was not even out of breath, as her speed was no different from walking. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± She only offended two people: Jayleen and Thomas.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Thomas was in the Nexuria and probably did not know she was in Jiverton. As for Jayleen¡­ Well, she was not smart enough to hire people to beat her up and let them choose a ce without surveince in advance. Otherwise, she would not have done those stupid things before. She did not seem to have offended anyone other than these two people, and it could not be Joshua. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who you offended?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been Mrs. Neal for long enough. It¡¯s time to step down.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re about to have your limbs broken, let me kindly tell you that it was Ms. Shaw who hired us.¡± ¡°What nonsense! Our backer is clearly Mr. Neal!¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go get her. Ms. Shaw said whoever can break her limbs will get 150,000 USD!¡± The group of people talked and discussed. Upon hearing these words, Cynthia almost immediately ruled out Jayleen and Thomas. After all, Thomas did not know she had married Joshua, and Jayleen simply did not have the brains for this. Bang! Cynthia kicked one of them away. As others rushed toward her, she snatched a baseball bat from one of them and swung it at them. ¡°What are you all standing there for? Attack her!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all attack her together and see how good she really is!¡± the leader continued to give orders. Cynthia¡¯s movements became even faster as she used the baseball bat to block two iing baseball bats and kicked two others aside. Even so, her back was almost hit by one of their attacks. With so many peopleing at her, it was difficult to avoid all of their bats. She knew that she had to end this quickly. Meanwhile, Yoel was driving Joshua back home when he happened to see people fighting. Upon closer look, he realized it was Cynthia! Yoel looked at the rearview mirror and reported, ¡°Mr. Neal, Mrs. Neal is being attacked.¡± Upon hearing those, Joshua became annoyed. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business.¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 ¡°Just now, Mrs. Neal got hit with a baseball bat in the head.¡± Yoel made up a story, but he sounded serious. Then, slowing down the car, he added, ¡°I can¡¯t tell if she¡¯s bleeding.¡± Upon hearing this, Joshua instinctively looked out the window and was shocked to find the scene across the empty lot. Six baseball bats were simultaneously aiming at Cynthia. Each person appeared fierce as if they wanted to beat her to death. Before his brain could fully process the situation, he blurted out, ¡°Stop the car!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal.¡± Yoel immediately pulled over to the side of the road. Joshua opened the car door and rushed across the road. Luckily, there were not many cars passing by at the location. Otherwise, it could have been dangerous. Yoel stayed behind. As apetent personal assistant, he learned not to hold Joshua back. After all, he was not good at fighting, so it was better for him to wait here for Joshua and Cynthia to return. Cynthia was in the midst of the fierce fight and did not notice the car not far away. As the six baseball bats were all aiming at her, she kicked down two people without hesitation, swinging her baseball bat at the same time. Bang! Bang! Bang! A loud noise echoed, and several people fell to the ground. Cynthia stared at the remaining standing people coldly and said, ¡°You¡¯re not gonna continue?¡± The leader took a step back, stuttering, ¡°Everyone¡­ Everyone, attack her!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do it anymore!¡± ¡°This woman is insane!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the client say she can¡¯t fight?¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± The remaining people were scared. Those who were beaten down stood up with bruised and swollen faces. At a closer look, there was obvious fear in their eyes. The leader spoke quickly, ¡°What do you mean what should we do? Even if we can¡¯t win, we still have to fight! Think about the 150,000 USD! You won¡¯t have to work for a long time!¡± ¡°But we also need to be alive to spend it,¡± someone said nervously. If they continued this fight, they might not die, but they would be left crippled. ¡°Two arms and two legs, that¡¯s only 600,000 USD.¡± Cynthia did not continue to fight with them. She wanted to find the mastermind behind the scenes. ¡°As long as you tell me who¡¯s behind this, I¡¯ll give each of you 150,000 USD.¡± Everyone paused. 150,000 USD per person!!! Moreover, they would not even have to risk being caught for beating or killing someone. ¡°Hey, this deal seems worth it¡­¡± ¡°Worth it? Why is it worth it? If the other person finds out we were bought off, they¡¯ll just send all of us to jail!¡± The leader did not even realize that he had fallen into Cynthia¡¯s trap. ¡°But¡­¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say 150,000 USD is enough for us not to work for a long time?¡± The group was tempted by the offer. The leader became nervous. What should he do? ¡°Howe I didn¡¯t know Jayleen had such power? Or is it that you guys have something on her?¡± Cynthia continued to dig at hole for them, scanning their faces one by one. Everyone looked confused, not understanding why Jayleen was suddenly dragged into this. Just as they were about to speak up, the leader suddenly realized something. He could be a fool to let this opportunity to earn the 150,000 USD slip away! ¡°Who¡¯s Jayleen? We don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± The leader cast a knowing nce at the others, and they began to act along with him. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 The group of people immediately understood their leader¡¯s hint, and everyone rushed to chime in. ¡°There¡¯s no point in pretending anymore. She already knows,¡± one of them said. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°We slipped up earlier,¡± another added. ¡°Yes, Ms. Shaw sent us to beat you up. Your existence only gets in her way.¡± Cynthia nced at the group, realizing they were all trying to manipte her. She was about to speak up and expose their n when a deep,manding voice interrupted them. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been Jayleen,¡± the man said with a sense of authority. Cynthia froze, and the others instinctively turned to look in the direction of the voice. Their faces turned pale when they saw who it was, and they began to stutter. ¡°M¨CMr. Neal¡­¡± Joshua was still in his ck suit, and his cufflinks glinted mysteriously in themplight. His handsome face was cold and unwavering as he focused his gaze on the group leader. ¡°Who are you?¡± Joshua asked in a low voice. ¡°W¨CWe¡­¡± they stuttered, unable to answer. It was not their fault for being scared. After all, Joshua¡¯s aura was simply terrifying. ¡°I can send you to jail, or I can take care of you myself. It¡¯s up to you to decide,¡± Joshua said emotionlessly. The group was shocked. Did he have to be so cruel? Their hearts were in turmoil, but one of them spoke up. ¡°It was Mrs. Neal who told us to go along with her act.¡± Cynthia¡¯s gaze fell on him. She recognized him as the guy filming her in the alleyway earlier. The others quickly chimed in to support his statement. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°She nned it all out. She knew you¡¯d pass by here.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°We were just pretending to attack her so we could use Ms. Shaw when you arrived.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Please, Mr. Neal. Look into this.¡± At this point, Cynthia would be a fool if she were still unsure of their true motives. This remark gave Cynthia a rough idea of what kind of person was targeting her. Joshua¡¯s aura suddenly became heavy, his icy gaze fixed on Cynthia with a strong sense of oppression. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°You actually believe them?¡± Cynthia was a little surprised. Joshua pursed his lips and remained silent. Why would he not believe it? So many people had baseball bats in their hands, and each seemed to be a skilled fighter. Even though Cynthia had worked as Shirley¡¯s bodyguard before, it did not mean that a girl like her could handle so many people. Moreover, he himself might not be able toe out unscathed from the scene he saw just now. Chapter 66 2/2 However, Cynthia had already defeated the group of people the moment he was about to get out of the car. The man in the white T¨Cshirt nced at him just as he was about to approach, and then he heard those words. Joshua did not believe it was a coincidence at all. ¡°This has nothing to do with me. After I was done shopping, these men blocked me in the alleyway. I ran in this direction to avoid trouble, but they still caught up with me,¡± Cynthia said, not liking to be med. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll believe that?¡± Joshua¡¯s aura became more intimidating. ¡°It¡¯s up to you whether you believe it or not. It¡¯s none of my business,¡± Cynthia replied calmly. She only exined because those people were lying. As for whether Joshua believed it or not, it was his own business. In the end, it would prove who was the fool. ¡°Normal people who are blocked would run toward where there are more people. Why did youe to this sparsely popted area instead of running toward your residential area several hundred meters away?¡± Joshua questioned. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Cynthia and the group of attackers were speechless. After all, they were just lying based on the script, and they could not believe Joshua fell for their lies. ¡°Mr. Neal, actually¡­¡± One of the attackers felt a bit guilty and tried to exin that Cynthia really did run faster than them. Joshua nced at the guy coldly. A guy in the white t¨Cshirt quickly chimed in, ¡°Mrs. Neal was indeed faster than us, but this was because she had asked us to slow down and not catch up with her.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That was the case.¡± Other attackers chimed in and went along, and the guy in the white t¨Cshirt frowned at the person who almost revealed the truth, obviously unhappy. Cynthia saw everything. ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± Joshua was furious and could not hold back his anger. The attackers left, leaving Cynthia no chance to question any of them. Yoel saw that the attackers had left and immediately started the car, turned around, and parked on the side. Before he could say anything, Yoel saw Cynthia shake off Joshua¡¯s hand and show some anger on her usually calm face. Yoel intervened at the right time, ¡°Mr. Neal, Mrs. Neal, let¡¯s discuss this matter when we get back.¡± Cynthia corrected, ¡°Just call me Cynthia.¡± Joshua was emitting a cold aura. Yoel gulped but still changed the way he addressed her. ¡°Ms. Yates, who were those people just now, and why were they attacking you?¡± At the mention of this, the atmosphere instantly became tense. Cynthia turned around and walked away, with no intention of going back with Joshua. ¡°Stop!¡± Joshua shouted angrily. Cynthia ignored him. Joshua grabbed her hand from behind and forcibly pushed her into the car, ordering Yoel to drive. Yoel drove the car nervously, keeping his eyes on the road. Cynthia had nned to scold him but then thought, why bother getting angry with a dog? He was taking her away to ask why she did what she did and why she framed Jayleen. It did not matter. The car drove for over an hour and finally arrived at Sovereign Heights. Yoel opened the door, still trembling with fear. He could not understand why Joshua was still angry with Cynthia, considering she was being attacked just now. Joshua dragged Cynthia over. If Cynthia did not have such strong willpower, she would have thrown him over her shoulder. However, she could not fully reveal her abilities, including her martial arts skills, in case anything unexpected happened before their divorce was final. Bang! 172 Joshua mmed the door loudly. Then, he threw Cynthia onto the sofa and looked at her.. ¡°Why did you do that? How did you know about my schedule?¡± ¡°Who told you? Who did you ask?¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to shout. My ears are fine.¡± ¡°I gave you what you wanted, and you agreed to the divorce. So why did you hire people to beat you up and frame Jayleen?¡± Joshua questioned, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Cynthia suddenly became curious and stood up. Even though she was 1.7 meters tall, she was still much shorter than Joshua. She stared at him and asked, ¡°Why do you believe everything everyone else says except me?¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 hapter 68 ¡°What do you think?¡± Joshua retorted. ¡°I¡¯ve said everything I need to say.¡± Cynthia got her answer,pletely disappointed in Joshua. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe me or not.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll warn you onest time, don¡¯t use these dirty tricks again.¡± Joshua was angry just thinking about what had happened before. ¡°If you dare to go after Jayleen again, I won¡¯t let you get away with it.¡± Cynthia did not respond, treating his words as if they were nothing. Joshua felt a build¨Cup of frustration in his heart, seeing she was not taking him seriously. How could someone be so shameless even after making a mistake? ¡°For the next few days, you¡¯ll stay here. You¡¯re not allowed to take a single step outside until we¡¯ve taken the divorce certificate!¡± Joshua made it clear that he was putting her under house arrest. After saying that, he called over twenty bodyguards and had them surround the entire vi. Cynthia did not bother arguing. She was very adaptable, and after scanning her surroundings, she asked, ¡°Where do I sleep?¡± Joshua was exasperated. He had said so much, and all she had in mind was where she would sleep! ¡°Do you really think that you can do whatever you want just because my parents and grandfather dote on you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Cynthia had already calmed down. ¡°Old Man Neal already recognized me as his granddaughter.¡± Joshua was speechless. How could she be so shameless? Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Remember to bring me a few sets of clean clothes. Also, buy some daily and nighttime sanitary pads. My period ising,¡± Cynthia instructed him calmly. Joshua was at a loss for words. When he did not respond, Cynthia asked again, ¡°Did you hear me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your servant.¡± ¡°Then are you letting me out to buy them?¡± ¡°Keep on dreaming!¡± The conversation ended on a sour note. Despite his reluctance, Joshua knew how much Old Man Neal cared for Cynthia, so he still ordered someone to prepare her stuff. Cynthia ced her belongings in the room where she used to live and took a shower. Then, shey on the bed with only her phone in hand. In truth, Cynthia had several ways to leave, such as jumping from the second floor or calling Joshua¡¯s parents, Old Man Neal, or even Mitchell. However, she knew the consequences of such actions would be endless arguments with Joshua. In the past twenty days, Cynthia and Joshua had already argued too many times, and she was exhausted from the constant drama. To have some peace, she decided not to cause any more trouble. While contemting, Cynthia thought of what had happened tonight, frowning. After some hesitation, she called Jimmy as some things needed to be looked into. ¡°Cynthia?¡± Jimmy answered the phone with a puzzled voice. ¡°Can you help me find out if Joshua has any good female friends or if someone likes him?¡± Cynthia revealed her suspicion. Jayleen¡¯s car ident, her defamation, and Cynthia being targeted for an attack were all rted, and she believed someone had nned these events. 2/2 Although the suspect in Jayleen¡¯s ident was already caught, Cynthia¡¯s intuition told her it was not that simple. She even suspected the same person orchestrated all three incidents, aiming to ruin her and Jayleen¡¯s position in Joshua¡¯s heart. When Jayleen had her ident, the driver framed Cynthia, and Joshua might have already believed she was responsible if it was not for her rational response. Likewise, when Jayleen was defamed, the perpetrator aimed to make Joshua think that Jayleen was tainted, but they underestimated Joshua¡¯s affection for her. As for the assault tonight, the attackers were hired to frame her in front of Joshua. The purpose was probably to make Joshua dislike her. As long as Cynthia and Jayleen were out of Joshua¡¯s life, the position of Mrs. Neal would be vacant, and that person could get it as she wanted. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 ¡°Are you sure you want me to look into this?¡± Jimmy asked tentatively after hearing her request. Cynthia replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Though puzzled, Jimmy agreed, saying, ¡°No problem!¡± ¡°After you finish, send me the information,¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Okay.¡± Cynthia then put down her phone and went to sleep under the covers. The following day, she saw a message from Jimmy. [Cynthia, I searched all night and didn¡¯t find anything special. The only woman who entered his circle is still Chyler Young.] Cynthia replied, [Okay, got it.] She did not call Jimmy to ask for more details. After all, Jimmy had burned the midnight oil and was probably asleep now. Hence, calling him would only disturb him. Cynthia thought that nothing else would happen aftering here with Joshua and behaving herself. However, she had underestimated the ability of some people to cause trouble. Not long after having breakfast and finding a charger to charge her phone, Cynthia saw Joshua return with Yoel, who had aplicated expression. Joshua exuded a cold and ruthless aura, and his eyes were sharp as a dagger. Then, he walked toward Cynthia. With his tailored suit, Joshua looked very tall and imposing. Suddenly, he grabbed her by the neck and pinned her against the wall, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°Cynthia, I really misjudged you!¡± ¡°When you loudly dered in the hospital that it wasn¡¯t you, I believed you.¡± ¡°How could you ruin my trust!¡± Joshua had incredible strength. Cynthia sensed danger and instinctively kicked at Joshua, forcing him to release her neck. She coughed violently, and a distinct mark appeared on her fair, slender neck. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Cynthia could not contain her anger anymore. It was early in the morning, and Joshua did not even bother to greet her before trying to strangle her. Was this something a normal person would do? Joshua¡¯s eyes were cold and filled with anger. ¡°Why did you send someone to hit Jayleen? Tell me!¡± ¡°When did I send someone to hit her? The police have already arrested the suspect. Why are you coming to me like a madman? ¡°Cynthia said furiously. Yoel pushed his sses up and cleared his throat, chiming in, ¡°The police just called. They said the suspect used you of hiring him to hit Ms. Shaw.¡± Normally, the police would arrest Cynthia since she was the suspect. However, Joshua stopped the arrest after the police. updated him on the discovery and came here himself since the matter concerned Jayleen. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the police station.¡± Cynthia did not want to argue with Joshua any Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 If she did not do it, even if many people used her, thew would prove her innocence if there was no solid evidence Who are you trying to fool? You used the same method to clear your name thest time at the hospital, and now you want to do it again?¡± Joshua sneered. ¡°You should get your brain checked and treat the underlying issue,¡± Cynthia retorted. She did not expect to be used again. ¡°Do you really think that you can actually get to the bottom of everything by shouting nonsense here instead of investigating the matter?¡± ¡°Cynthia, I really underestimated you.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone became even more serious. Cynthia¡¯s patience was wearing thin. Yoel could feel the pressure and dared not even take a breath. ¡°You really think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes became even darker. ¡°What am I nning?¡± Cynthia retorted, feeling fed up. ¡°If you really go to the police, with Mitchell¡¯s abilities, he could easily get you out. Besides, with his status in the legalmunity, it would be simple to clear your name,¡± Joshua said, not realizing the emotions that shed through his mind as he spoke. Cynthia did not feel like wasting her time talking to him anymore.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 [Riley: Stop daydreaming.] [Gaby: That¡¯s impossible.] [Mitchell: Go back to sleep.] No one in the group believed him. To them, nothing in the world could make Cynthia resort to hacking to solve a problem. Even if there were, she would immediately report it to the authorities and let them handle it. Meanwhile, as Cynthia searched for information, boxes appeared on herputer screen one after another, filled with lines of code. Her high¨Cperformanceptop made a humming sound as it operated at high speed. Yoel waspletely stunned, staring at the screen filled with iprehensible content. He was incredibly in awe of Cynthia He guessed correctly! Cynthia really was a super hacker. ¡°Mr. Neal I told you that Mrs. Neal is a hacker, but you didn¡¯t believe me,¡± Yoel whispered with great excitement, wanting to share his feelings with someone. Joshua kept silent, and his gaze was unreadable. He was equally as shocked as Yoel. The more he watched, the deeper his gaze was as he stared at Cynthia. They had been married for two years, sharing a bed for a year and a half, but Joshua had never noticed her hacking skills. No wonder the hacker he hired to help him replied to him that he had found nothing. It was because Cynthia had already covered her tracks. What was her purpose foring to him? ¡°Mr. Neal?¡± Yoel asked when Joshua remained silent. Joshua decided and ordered, ¡°Have someone investigate who Cynthia has been in contact with and what they have talked about over the past two years.¡± Yoel was confused and asked, ¡°You¡¯re suspecting Mrs. Neal?¡± Joshua said nothing, but his expression and attitude showed it all. Cynthia was not paying attention to their conversation. As time passed, she mobilized other hackers to help her search. After half an hour, a progress bar appeared on theputer screen. One percentpleted Two percent. The data was slowly loading bit by bit. Cynthia stopped typing, and theptop was hot from its high¨Cspeed operation. Yoel¡¯s admiration for Cynthia was like a surging river. Every man had a superhero in his heart, but for Yoel, his admiration for hackers far surpassed that for superheroes. Since he was young, he had always thought that people who knew how to hack were really cool! ¡°Mrs. Neal¡­¡± Yoel said, realizing quickly that this was not the right title, and immediately corrected himself, ¡°Ms. Yates, is it done?¡± ¡°Yes. Once it hits 100%, all the information will be revealed,¡± Cynthia replied, still looking at the screen. Yoel¡¯s eyes were gleaming with excitement. Joshua was emitting a terrifying aura. Just as he was about to question Cynthia, Yoel took out a pen and a notebook the size of a palm from his suit pocket and Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. handed them to Cynthia. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Joshua looked at Yoel with a questioning expression. Both Cynthia and Joshua looked at Yoel, unsure of what he was trying to do. ¡°Ms. Yates, could you do me a favor and sign this for me?¡± Yoel did not fail to notice Joshua¡¯s cold re, but he was not afraid to take risks for his idol. ¡°I¡¯m your fan,¡± he added. Joshua growled softly, ¡°Yoel!¡± If this had happened in the past, Yoel would have already retracted his hand and obediently stood by, waiting for Joshua¡¯s orders. However, he had to show his iron will before his beautiful and cool idol. ¡°Is that okay?¡± Yoel asked Cynthia. Cynthia froze, not quite sure what was going on. She had encountered simr situations, but Jimmy and the others were usually just joking around. Hence, she was not sure if she should ept this seriously. Yoel took a small step forward, smiling as he extended his hands. Seeing Yoel¡¯s gaze, Cynthia did not think much and agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± She took his pen and notepad and signed her name quickly and neatly. Cynthia¡¯s signature waspletely different from the one on the divorce papers. The signature on the divorce papers was written carefully and meticulously, with a graceful script. However, the signature she just signed was more personal and stylish, which was really cool! Joshua saw it, which only made him more suspicious of Cynthia¡¯s motives for getting close to him. Even the way she signed her name seemed intentionally different, making it hard for him not to suspect her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you give me an exnation?¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was usatory, radiating a cold aura. Cynthia nced at the progress bar, which was only at 30%, before responding, ¡°An exnation for what?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes were deep and emotionless as he spoke in a cool, detached tone, ¡°Your hacking skills and your signature. You even intentionally altered your handwriting. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s strange?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to exin. Do you dare say that you¡¯ve shown everything you know to me? Do you write everything with the same handwriting?¡± Cynthia responded calmly. Joshua stared at her. She was too good at arguing. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± Joshua asked. Cynthia and Yoel both looked confused. ¡°Did you get close to me and marry me just to steal the Neal Group¡¯s business secrets?¡± Joshua continued, his eyes locking. onto hers with intensity. Yoel felt it was necessary to say something for his idol. ¡°Mr. Neal, you proposed to Ms. Yates, not the other way around.¡± ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Cynthia retorted. Joshua looked displeased and turned to Yoel. His aura grew colder as he spoke, ¡°If you say one more word, I¡¯ll have you go to the finance department on Monday to settle your sry and leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth,¡± Yoel replied seriously. Joshua¡¯s eyes turned sharp like daggers. If it were not for Yoel having been with him for a long time, he would have fired him on the spot! ¡°If you¡¯re suspicious, you can check it yourself,¡± Cynthia said firmly. Since marrying Joshua, she had never been to his Neal Group, let alone sneak into his study to tamper with hisptop. At most, she had just analyzed his problems and advised him. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Can I really investigate it if your hacking skills are that good?¡± Joshua¡¯s expression grew serious as he spoke with a sharp tone. Cynthia no longer bothered to respond to him. No matter how much she said, it would not change his wild imagination. Yoel could not bear to see his idol being wronged. ¡°If Ms. Yates really wanted to steal our business secrets, why would she implicate herself? With her skills, wouldn¡¯t it be more convenient for her not to marry you?¡± ¡°Yoel!¡± Joshua wanted to throw him out. ¡°I¡¯m just reminding you out of goodwill. You¡¯re always rational in other matters. Why are you so irrational when ites to Ms. Yates?¡± This was something Yoel could not understand. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on Yoel¡¯s babbling mouth, wanting to shut him up. How could Joshua know for sure that Cynthia did not do it? He only said those things to find out why Cynthia was hiding her hacking skills. As her confidante, he did not even know about this aspect of her life. When Joshua became visibly angry, Yoel joined in and asked, ¡°Ms. Yates, why have you never told us that you¡¯re a hacker?¡± Cynthia replied, ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Because it was really cool.¡± Cynthia and Joshua were speechless. ¡°Just kidding.¡± Yoel also knew that his reply was absurd. Then, he adjusted his ss and added, ¡°I just feel that it¡¯s a pity that no one knows about your amazing skills.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing pitiful.¡± Cynthia did not mind that. As a child, Cynthia and Yoel had simr aspirations, thinking it was cool and impressive to be able to find information about anything just by using aputer. Hence, she wanted to be a skilled hacker when she grew up. However, her interest in hacking slowly faded away as she got older. Cynthia realized that the information she could obtain through hacking was also avable to the police, military, and other secret organizations of the state. Moreover, she had reached a high level of proficiency in hacking when she entered high school, and her teacher, who had introduced her to the world of hacking, had also retired. Perhaps it was teenage rebellion, or maybe it was the fire of justice burning in her heart, but Cynthia used to search for evidence and then pass on the information to the police. She became obsessed and dug deeper into the dark corners of the inte, where she came across the darkest aspects of humanity. There was a ce on the foreign website called the dark web where Cynthia saw many gruesome and terrifying things and realized that some peoplecked basic human morality, colder than the demons from hell. After that incident, she began to withdraw from hacking. She only secretly researched and sent information to the authorities when they hadplex cases. However, Cynthiater realized that whatever she could find, they could also find. Hence, she gradually retreated even more. Cynthia was grateful that she lived in the embrace of her mothend because it was so much safer compared to other countries. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Cynthia stopped recalling her past and opened the new folder saved on her desktop. ¡°The real cause of Jayleen¡¯s car ident is here. Take a look for yourselves.¡± She turned herputer slightly and pushed it toward them. Yoel took the mouse and opened the folder, looking through the information one by one. It took him an hour to finish going through everything. After reading thest piece of information, he had a feeling that went beyond his understanding. ¡°This n is just too meticulous. It¡¯s only a car ident, yet it involved such arge circle of people.¡± What shocked him the most was Cynthia¡¯s skills. In just this short amount of time, she retrieved recordings of the conversations between the mastermind and others. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. This was too impressive. ¡°Mr. Neal, Ms. Yates didn¡¯t do it. As long as we give this to the police, Ms. Yates will be proven innocent,¡± Yoel was like Cynthia¡¯s spokesperson. ¡°Do you really believe everything she says?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°What?¡± Yoel was a little confused. ¡°All evidence presented is not necessarily true.¡± Joshua made it clear that he did not trust them. ¡°There¡¯s a term called fabrication.¡± Cynthia was calm. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to apologize, just say it. There¡¯s no need to be passive¨C aggressive.¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯re amazing just because you know a little about hacking?¡± With one hand in his pocket, Joshua walked up to her coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t believe anything you say or anything you find.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my problem whether you believe me or not!¡± Cynthia retorted. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Joshua grabbed Cynthia¡¯s chin. This time, Cynthia could not tolerate it anymore. She quickly grabbed his wrist and kicked him. Bang! Joshua was caught off guard and fell to the ground. He never thought Cynthia would hit him. Yoel got excited again. Cynthia was so cool!!! ¡°If youy a finger on me again, I won¡¯t mind breaking your arm,¡± Cynthia warned Joshua coldly. Joshua gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Try it and see.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡± Cynthia was about to go over when Yoel suddenly stood between them and said to Cynthia, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. Mr. Neal was just trying to provoke you. There is surveince here. What if he turns around and uses you of intentionally hurting him?¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Joshua¡¯s temples throbbed. Yoel really deserved to be taught a lesson! ¡°The surveince can be tampered with,¡± Cynthia replied angrily. Yoel froze. She had a point. After confirming that her idol was not in danger, he stepped aside and continued, ¡°After you. If Mr. Neal is in danger, I¡¯ll call 911 right away.¡± Joshua was speechless. For the umpteenth time, he wanted to throw Yoel out. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Yoel looked puzzled. Where was he supposed to go? ¡°Even if this evidence is fabricated, the police still need an exnation.¡± Joshua nned to settle this with Cynthia personally. ¡°Go and take care of it.¡± Joshua was infuriated. With Cynthia¡¯s skills and quick temper, he could not possibly handle her himself. Had Yoel forgotten who was the one paying his sry? ¡°Ms. Yates has won Chairman Neal¡¯s favor. Please think twice before speaking or acting.¡± Yoel took the computer and added, ¡± Also, this is genuine evidence, not fabricated.¡± Joshua shot a nce over. Yoel hastily grabbed theputer and left. Before getting in the driver¡¯s seat and driving off, Yoel sent a message to Cynthia, [Ms. Yates, if Mr. Neal crosses the ler, message me, and I¡¯ll call the chairman over.] Feeling excited, he opened a chat and shared the news. [I have something exciting to tell you. My president¡¯s wife is actually a ¡± super¨Cskilled hacker!] Off¨CDuty Worker replied, [So is my president.] [Yoel: She¡¯s also very good at martial arts.] [Off¨CDuty Worker: My president can defeat ten of you.] [Yoel: She can beat up twenty people.] [Off¨CDuty Worker: My president can kill countless opponents in seconds.] Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Cynthia, who was not added to the conversation, had no idea that she had be a topic of discussion between them. When she heard her phone ring, she nced at it, and her eyes widened at Yoel¡¯s message. Joshua noticed her reaction and quickly grabbed her phone to see the message. However, his expression turned sour when he read it. He was infuriated by Yoel¡¯s behavior and vowed to withhold all of his bonuses for the year! ¡°Are you done reading my messages?¡± Cynthia asked, aware that Joshua was looking at her phone. Joshua lightened his grip on the phone, intending to throw it at her. However, he identally touched the screen, which took him to the messaging interface. Then, he saw Shirley¡¯s name and the group chat named The Seven Dwarfs. Shirley¡¯s chat ended with an animated emoji, while The Seven Dwarfs¡® chat was constantly updating with new messages from Little Jerry. Then, Joshua saw Mitchell¡¯s name, whom Cynthia had chatted with only yesterday! The chat ended with just two words¨CGood night. For some inexplicable reason, Joshua suddenly wanted to open Mitchell¡¯s chat and see what they had talked about. Why were they so intimate that they said ¡®good night¡® to each other? Did Cynthia say ¡®good night¡® to Mitchell, or did Mitchell say it to Cynthia? As various emotions swirled within him, he tapped on Mitchell¡¯s chat. However, Cynthia snatched the phone back from him. before he could even read the content. She turned off the screen and red at him with a hint of displeasure. ¡°Mr. Neal, it¡¯s one thing to lose your manners and sanity, but it¡¯s another thing to go through someone¡¯s phone without their consent. I don¡¯t recall Grandpa teaching you to behave this way,¡± Cynthia finished speaking her mind. ¡°What did you talk to Mitchell about?¡± Joshua asked coldly, with a hint of usation in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Cynthia replied to him. ¡°Show me. I have reason to suspect that you have told the Neal Group¡¯s confidential information to him,¡± Joshua demanded with a grandiose reason, not even knowing why he was so insistent on wanting to know. ¡°You can call the police,¡± Cynthia said calmly. Her indifferent attitude provoked Joshua. ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°How many times do I have to remind you, calling the police is the most reliable way to solve problems. The police will give you the fairest answer,¡± Cynthia said calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t force me to do it myself.¡± ¡°Only you could describe ¡®robbing others¡® so beautifully,¡± Cynthia retorted. ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°Do you want to fight?¡± Cynthia questioned. Joshua¡¯s hands hanging at his sides tightened slightly, and the pressure around him was low. If it were anyone else, they would have been scared off by his aura and dared not to breathe. He really could not connect with the person in front of him who was so aggressive and different from the gentle person he had known before. ¡°It¡¯s been hard for you to suppress your true nature and pretend to be gentle these past few years,¡± he thought sarcastically. Cynthia responded, ¡°Likewise, you pretended to be affectionate.¡± Joshua¡¯s breathing was heavy, and his eyes were extremely dark. If it were not for his Old Man Neal and his parents being too concerned about Cynthia, he would have definitely left her with no way out after the divorce. ¡°You should be grateful that Grandpa cares about you. Otherwise, I¡¯ll definitely give you back ten times what you did to Jayleen,¡± Joshua said harshly, not considering the consequences. ¡°You should also be grateful that he cares about you. Otherwise, I would have thrown you into the sea to feed the fish by now, Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Cynthia retorted. They entered a staring match with each other. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 After that, Joshua did not speak to Cynthia again and left the vi. Joshua confined Cynthia in the vi and had all the chargers taken away from the vi, making it clear that Cynthia was not allowed to use her phone. Cynthia did not argue with him. Instead, she turned off her phone and went to sleep, nning to turn it back on and contact someer. Nheless, she still informed Jimmy briefly that she had things to do and would not be using her phone for a few days before shutting it down. However, Cynthia did not expect this would cause Old Man Neal to panic. The day after Joshua left the vi, he had food delivered to Cynthia because he thought she might be hungry and alone. It was then that Yoel found out that Cynthia was being confined there by Joshua. Yoel said, ¡°Even though Ms. Yates is your wife, it¡¯s illegal to confine her. Mr. Neal¡­¡± ¡°Whose personal assistant are you?¡± ¡°Yours, of course.¡± Then, Yoel tried to warn Joshua that he was breaking thew by confining Cynthia for over 24 hours, but Joshua threatened to fire him if he said anything more. Yoel had nothing to say, but he could not bear to see his idol suffering. Thus, he decided to inform Old Man Neal about Cynthia¡¯s situation without Joshua¡¯s knowledge, hoping that Joshua would not hold it against him. After calling in food for Cynthia, Yoel reported the situation to Old Man Neal, hoping to find a solution. He could not stand seeing Cynthia suffering like this. In terms of official business, Yoel was on Joshua¡¯s side, but when it came to moral and legal matters, he stood with his idol, Cynthia! In just a few minutes, Old Man Neal found out about the situation. When it concerned information, even if it came from his own grandson¡¯s assistant, Old Man Neal maintained a neutral attitude and decided to call Cynthia to confirm it. If she really had been confined, he would definitely break Joshua¡¯s legs. After several attempts, the call did not go through, which made Old Man Neal very anxious. How could Joshua, that bastard, imprison his beloved Cynthia? Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Without a second thought, Old Man Neal ordered his driver to take him to Sovereign Heights. Of course, on the way there, he did not forget to call Joshua and give him a piece of his mind. As soon as he received the call, Joshua dropped everything and rushed back, holding a grudge against Yoel. When Old Man Neal arrived at Sovereign Heights and knocked on the door, the bodyguards looked at each other in confusion, their minds racing. ¡°Why is he here?¡± ¡°Should we stop him?¡± ¡°Are you crazy? He¡¯s the chairman!¡± ¡°What should we do then?¡± ¡°Pretend like we didn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Open the door for me,¡± Old Man Neal ordered firmly, holding on to his cane. Bodyguard number three obediently opened the door, saying, ¡°Yes, Chairman Neal.¡± Chapici Zu The other bodyguards were taken aback. Did they not agree to pretend like they did not see anything? As the door opened, Old Man Neal walked in and saw Cynthia eating a bowl of unappetizing pasta. Old Man Neal felt sorry for her. ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Cynthia was shocked when she heard Old Man Neal¡¯s voice. ¡°Grandpa? What brings you here?¡± Cynthia asked, setting down her utensils and standing up. ¡°Is this all you¡¯re having for lunch?¡± Old Man Neal asked, his expression full of concern. ¡°I wasn¡¯t very hungry, so I prepared lunch with whatever¡¯s avable here. Have you eaten? If not, I¡¯ll ask them to get something for you,¡± Cynthia exined politely. Old Man Neal¡¯s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expressionplex. He asked, ¡°Do they listen to you?¡± Cynthia pursed her lips, unsure how to answer. ¡°Tell Grandpa, did Joshua confine you here and not allow you to go out?¡± Old Man Neal was angry at Joshua. ¡°Grandpa, please believe me. Joshua isn¡¯t keeping me here against my will,¡± Cynthia lied, not wanting him to worry too much. Besides, if she really wanted to leave, these people would not be able to stop her. Cynthia was willing to stay here for the time being because she did not want to deal with the drama anymore or argue with Joshua about Jayleen. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I reach you on your phone earlier?¡± Old Man Neal asked, pressing the issue. ¡°Somebody called me, and it was getting annoying, so I turned it off,¡± Cynthia replied, choosing her words carefully. Old Man Neal¡¯s wrinkled face showed more concern. As an elder, he did not want to interfere too much in the affairs of the youngsters. If Cynthia did not admit to being held against her will, there was not much he could do. Just then, Joshua returned. He frowned slightly at the sight of Cynthia and Old Man Neal talking in the living room. Walking over with his usual detached demeanor, Joshua greeted Old Man Neal, ¡°Grandpa.¡± However, Old Man Neal did not give him a warm wee, dering, ¡°I want to take Cynthia back to Old Neal Manor for a few days.¡± Cynthia was surprised. Joshua immediately refused, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why are you refusing before Cynthia even speaks?¡± Old Man Neal did not want Cynthia to be mistreated. Even if she was going to divorce his own grandson, he still wanted her to be happy. ¡°I have something to discuss with Cynthia. She won¡¯t have time until we receive the divorce certificate,¡± Joshua lied with exceptional skill. Old Man Neal asked Cynthia, ¡°Is that true?¡± Cynthia replied simply, ¡°Mmhmm.¡± They both had the same goal: to handle their own affairs without bothering their elders. Old Man Neal also knew that the two had their own ns, so he came here for two purposes. First, if Cynthia admitted to being confined, Old Man Neal would take her away to give her freedom. If she denied it, his visit would serve as a warning to Joshua, reminding him that Old Man Neal would support Cynthia. The more Old Man Neal thought about it, the moreplicated his feelings became. In the end, he expressed his dissatisfaction with Joshua and said, ¡°Come with me. I have something to tell you.¡± Joshua obediently followed him, and they talked for about ten minutes. ¡°I¡¯ve said what needs to be said. If you dare to restrict Cynthia¡¯s freedom or bully her, you¡¯ll face the consequences when youe back,¡± Old Man Neal concluded. Chapter/1 ¡°I understand,¡± Joshua replied, his gaze deepening. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Old Man Neal did not stay long and left after telling someone to buy better food and drinks for Cynthia. He also said a lot of things to her before leaving. After Old Man Neal left, the entire vi was left with only Cynthia, Joshua, and the bodyguards. Joshua was still dressed in a suit as he looked at the bowl of pasta that was still half full on the table. Then, he coldly sneered, ¡± I didn¡¯t know you had the skill to act pitiful before.¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Cynthia did not even bother to acknowledge him. She nned to eat the pasta but discovered that they had clumped together. After stirring them a couple of times, she decided not to eat them at all. Joshua could not stand being ignored, especially since they were the only two in the living room ¡°I¡¯m talking to you,¡± he said. ¡°I heard you,¡± Cynthia replied tly. ¡°You heard me, and you¡¯re not going to answer?¡± ¡°Just because a dog barks at me doesn¡¯t mean I have to bark back. If you want to talk, that¡¯s your business. I don¡¯t have to answer,¡± Cynthia retorted yfully. Joshua ground his teeth in frustration. This woman had just called him a dog! ¡°You can leave. If you pull any more stunts before we divorce, I won¡¯t be this forgiving,¡± Joshua said, afraid that he would lose his temper if he kept her there any longer. ¡°Do you have a mistaken impression of yourself?¡± Cynthia felt the need to correct his self¨C righteousness. ¡°I¡¯m the one being framed, while you¡¯re the one causing trouble. Are you sure you¡¯re being forgiving and not ruthless?¡± He really did not know the meaning of being forgiving. What a conceited man. Joshua¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°If you didn¡¯t do those things, I wouldn¡¯t have used you.¡± Cynthia took out the remaining 15 USD she had on her and pped it on his body. Joshua looked confused. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± ¡°Go to the hospital and get your head checked. I¡¯ll pay for it,¡± Cynthia said, feeling like it was a waste of breath to talk to him any longer. After saying that, she went upstairs to grab her phone and left the vi hurriedly, leaving the angry Joshua behind. Once out of the vi, Cynthia hailed a taxi and headed back home. When she had been researching the real culprit behind Jayleen¡¯s car ident, she had justpiled and loaded the data without actually looking at it. Thus, she wanted to take a closer look to see who was putting in so much effort to involve her in this. As Cynthia nned to do that, Mitchell called. The moment the call connected, Mitchell¡¯s pleasant voice came through the phone. ¡°You¡¯re really back?¡± Cynthia knew what he was talking about and said, ¡°Not really. I just had to handle a tricky situation and went to check it out.¡± ¡°Because of Joshua.¡± ¡°Mmhmm.¡± ¡°Do you have ns tonight?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet and talk about something¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Their conversations were always simple and direct, with almost no small talk. After hanging up, Cynthia received a message from Mitchell with the time and location. She replied, [Okay.] Then, she turned off her phone. That evening, at a bar. Cynthia wore a ck and white outfit and went to the private dining room where Mitchell awaited her. He was still all smiles, and the gold¨Crimmed sses on his face made him look elegant. Seeing Cynthia, he greeted her, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mmhmm.¡± ¡°I have something to show you.¡± Mitchell took out a stack of photos from his inner coat pocket and ced them in front of her, exuding an elegant and refined demeanor. ¡°These photos are all real. Take a look first.¡± Cynthia picked up the stack of photos and looked through them one by one, realizing that they were all candid shots of Jayleen with another man. Some were intimate photos of the two kissings, some were photos of them being really close at a dinner party, and there were also some photos of their daily lives. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia asked, ¡°Where did thesee from?¡± She was not interested in Jayleen¡¯s affairs, but since Mitchell showed her this, it meant that he had more to discuss with her than just this. ¡°A partner gave them to me. They said someone sent them these and wanted them to make up a story based on the photos,¡± Mitchell told her directly. Cynthia frowned. She had known Jayleen was a model, but shecked the drive to seed and only wanted to take shortcuts, which resulted in her remaining mediocre. However, being mediocre did not mean people would not pay attention to her if negative news about her surfaced. Even if you were an ordinary person, once you hit the trending topics for something bad,izens could easily dig up all of your personal information, such as your address and so on. After giving Cynthia some time to think about it, Mitchell asked, ¡°Do you want to go back to Nexuria? There¡¯s a flight avable early in the morning.¡± Cynthia was a bit confused. ¡°Why should I go back?¡± Mitchell was sincerely concerned about Cynthia and exined, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Joshua already knows you have hacking skills. Once Jayleen¡¯s scandal is exposed, the first person he¡¯ll suspect is you.¡± ¡°If I leave, he¡¯ll only be more suspicious.¡± Cynthia understood this clearly. Mitchell looked at her. Cynthia gave him an affirmative answer, ¡°He has falsely used me more than once, whether I¡¯m in Nexuria or here. As long as he suspects me, he¡¯ll cause me trouble.¡± Not to mention, she was still waiting to receive the divorce certificate. Cynthia used to feel like time was passing quickly; before she knew it, a year had passed. However, it felt as if time was dragging on. Less than thirty days have passed, but it felt like years. ¡°Do you need my help to find the person behind all these?¡± Mitchell offered to help. After all, his connections and resources coulde in handy. ¡°No need,¡± Cynthia declined. She had researched the evidence of Jayleen¡¯s car ident earlier that afternoon. ¡°Even if you found the person, they might not be the mastermind behind it.¡± Mitchell was shocked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Do you remember the incident where I was framed for Jayleen¡¯s car ident? Well, this afternoon, I reviewed all the incident details, and something didn¡¯t add up. The evidence suggests that Joshua¡¯s Mitchell was surprised. Meanwhile, in another private room in the bar, Joshua had invited Chyler and Yiordan over, and he discussed the evidence Cynthia found with them. After hearing Joshua¡¯s exnation, Chyler smirked and said nonchntly, ¡°You actually believe this kind of evidence?¡± Joshua looked at him, and Chyler continued, ¡°You already said she¡¯s a hacker. It would be easy for her to fabricate this evidence. Besides, why would yourpetitor resort to something like this?¡± ¡°Fabricating evidence like this would be too careless, even for her,¡± Chyler added. Joshua agreed, ¡°You¡¯re right. This is too careless.¡± Based on Cynthia¡¯s personality, if she wanted to fabricate evidence, she would havee up with a perfect excuse. This did not make sense. ¡°What did the police say about this?¡± Yiordan, who had been silent until now, asked. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 ¡°I haven¡¯t received a response from them. It¡¯s probably hard to catch,¡± Joshua said with a deepening gaze. He never expected Jayleen¡¯s situation to be soplicated. ¡°Although we have recordings and chat logs, if they insist it was just a joke, it¡¯s hard to fault.¡± ¡°Is it necessary for us to be called out here for such a small matter? Just let the bodyguards protect Jayleen.¡± Chyler poured a ss of wine and exuded a mischievous vibe. That was how he saw it. Joshua said all these things because he feared the mastermind would target Jayleen again. Yiordan also spoke up, ¡°Are you really nning to divorce Cynthia?¡± Joshua and Chyler both looked at him in confusion. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Chyler raised an eyebrowzily and leaned against the sofa. ¡°Now that his lover has returned, why wouldn¡¯t he want to divorce Cynthia? Was he supposed to let someone else make Jayleen happy?¡± ¡°This is not a child¡¯s game of ying house.¡± Yiordan thought there was a problem with Joshua¡¯s approach and wanted to point it out as a friend. ¡°If you¡¯re divorcing Cynthia only because Jayleen has returned, I can¡¯t support it.¡± Before Joshua could respond, Chyler interrupted, ¡°Are you okay, Yiordan? Have you lost it?¡± ¡°You two have always had a stable rtionship, proving you¡¯repatible. Have you thought about whether you like Jayleen for who she is or just for the feeling of the past?¡± Yiordan continued, ignoring Chyler¡¯s remark. Sometimes, being unable to let go of a rtionship was not because you still loved that person but because you cared about the part of yourself that gave in that rtionship. ¡°Do you really know her well?¡± Joshua suddenly asked. Yiordan could not keep up with the pace. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°When you said Cynthia and I werepatible¡­?¡± Joshua¡¯s words carried a hint of chilliness, clearly indicating that he was not in a good state. ¡°The past two years of marriage seemed peaceful and loving, but that was just her pretending.¡± Yiordan became more confused. Joshua stood up and became angry at the mention of Cynthia. ¡°Since we filed for divorce, she has exposed her true nature, her personality ispletely opposite to before.¡± and ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t regret divorcing her?¡± Yiordan asked, looking at him with his warm eyes. As his friend, he could tell that Joshua treated Cynthia differently than others. Joshua was not a person who wore his heart on his sleeve, but he would easily be triggered when it came to Cynthia. Joshua thought Yiordan¡¯sment was funny, and he asked, ¡°Why would I regret it?¡± ¡°Cynthia is a special girl.¡± Yiordan did not quite know how to exin it, but that was all he said. ¡°What you all see is what she wants you to see. I know what kind of person she really is better than anyone,¡± Joshua retorted. Why did everyone think he would regret it? He knew Cynthia much better than they did. Yiordan did not answer him. Then, Joshua repeated, ¡°I won¡¯t regret getting a divorce.¡± It was as if he was telling Yiordan again but also reminding himself. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Yiordan would just wait until Joshua regretted it and tried to win over Cynthia. Then again, Joshua probably would not even have the chance. Thinking this, Yiordan gave Joshua a friendly warning, ¡°It¡¯s best not to regret it. Based on my short time with Cynthia, she¡¯s not one to go back on her decision. Since one of you won¡¯t turn back and the other won¡¯t regret it, it¡¯s best to go your separate ways.¡± Joshua was speechless. Was Yiordan intentionally trying to provoke him? Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81 ¡°Alright, you two, stop talking about women. Can¡¯t we talk about something else?¡± Chyler said, not wanting to hear it. anymore. ¡°Did you solve your problem?¡± Since Joshua was in a bad mood, he would surely drag his friend along. Chyler stopped pouring the wine and casually responded, ¡°Only things that can trouble people are considered problems. What I have is nothing.¡± ¡°Have you found out who the father of her baby is?¡± Joshua continued to prod. Chyler mmed the bottle down on the table, finally showing his emotions. ¡°How can I find out? You know how chaotic that circle is! It can be the director, producer, or the actors from the same set! Even though she doesn¡¯t know who the father is.¡± Joshua and Yiordan remained silent. ¡°It¡¯s not as exaggerated as you said. I think she¡¯s a professional and good actress,¡± Yiordan interjected. ¡°You think everyone you met is nice. Whether it¡¯s her or Cynthia, everyone¡¯s a good person,¡± Chyler fired back, taking out his anger on him. Yiordan went quiet again. Chyler picked up the bottle from the table and drank it all in one go, trying to drown his frustration. As soon as he thought of the fact that the baby in her belly belonged to someone else, he felt suffocated. ¡°If you care so much, why not get a divorce? It seems like she wants to divorce you too.¡± Yiordan poked. Chyler¡¯s eyes emitted a chilling sensation. Then, without thinking, he blurted out, ¡°If I get divorced, how can I cheat on her and let her suffer like she did to me?¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Chyler was not in the mood to stay any longer or discuss anything further. Hence, he stood up and told Joshua, ¡°I¡¯m going. back first. You guys take your time drinking.¡± Then, he seemed to remember something and took out a mini perfume from his pocket, spraying it on himself. After that, he pulled out a brand new lipstick and applied it evenly on his hand before pressing it against his cor. A kiss mark appeared. Yiordan and Joshua were puzzled by Chyler¡¯s action. Joshua frowned at the overwhelming scent of the perfume. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ¡°cheating on her¡®,¡± Chyler said with a serious expression as he tossed the perfume and lipstick aside. Yiordanmented, ¡°Your method is quite unique.¡± Joshua replied, ¡°You have too much time on your hand.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t actually find a woman just for the lipstick and perfume. If she¡¯s unfaithful to me once, I¡¯ll make her feel the taste of being cheated on multiple times,¡± Chyler replied nonchntly. ¡°If she no longer likes you, she won¡¯t be emotionally affected no matter how many times you cheat on her. However, if she still likes you, your approach will affect her. Pregnant women¡¯s emotions shouldn¡¯t fluctuate too much, as it can affect the fetus,¡± Yiordan advised. Chyler stiffened but quickly replied, ¡°It¡¯s not my child anyway. It¡¯s none of my business whether it affects her emotions.¡± After he finished speaking, he left. However, both Yiordan and Joshua noticed that he wiped away the lipstick stain on his cor before leaving. ¡°Let¡¯s go too,¡± Yiordan said to Joshua. Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on the lipstick and perfume, and his eyes darkened slightly. ¡°You go first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yiordan put on his mask and hat before leaving. It was eleven o¡¯clock at night. Cynthia had already finished talking to Mitchell and went home to shower. Just as she was about to go to bed, her vibrating phone caught her attention. She answered it on speakerphone, ¡°Mr. Cheyne?¡± Yoel nced at Joshua sitting in the backseat, then braced himself to say, ¡°It¡¯s me. I need to talk to you about something. Are you at home now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cynthia replied. She still had a good impression of Yoel. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Yoel was already secretly crying as he darest to fight against the tyrant Joshua, silently apologizing to Cynthia multiple times. as he said, ¡°I want toe up and talk to you about something. Are you home now?¡± With that said, the call endest Voel pursed his lips and told toshma, ¡°Mr. Neal, I have done what you assigned me to do.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let the snitching incident slide, but it there¡¯s a next time, you don¡¯t have to stay at the Neal Group anymore,¡± Joshua said as he draped his suit jacket over his arm. He was wearing a white shirt and suit pants. ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal,¡± Yoel replied Joshua opened the car door and got out, walking toward the building where Cynthia stayed. Yoel stopped him ¡°Wait!¡± Joshua halted his steps, and his sharply defined, handsome face and the white shirt added a few more degrees of coldness to his temperament. ¡°How about I get you a room nearby so you can freshen up and change before meeting Ms. Yates?¡± Yoel nced over the lipstick on Joshua¡¯s cor When Joshua called him at nine o¡¯clock to pick him up, he did not hesitate to go. However, Yoel never expected to find a lipstick stain on Joshua¡¯s cor, and he had a pungent fragrance on him! Thispletely shattered his understanding of Joshua. Even when Joshua was with Jayleen, he had never had lipstick smudged on him. Apart from patting her on the back tofort her, they had basically had no physical contact. Yet, there was a lipstick stain and such a strong fragrance on him today. This could only be done by being physically close! ¡°Is she the Queen? Do I have to bathe and change clothes to see her?¡± Joshua looked at Yoel coldly, saying with a sharp tongue. Yoel pointed and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s the lipstick stain on you, and there¡¯s a strong perfume smell. It may not be a good idea to see Ms. Yates like this.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± That was exactly what Joshua wanted. In fact, he did not know why he copied it from Chyler. It was just when he heard Yiordan¡¯s words, he suddenly wanted to know if Cynthia cared about him at all. People were always contradictory. Even if he did not like her or even did not want to see her, he still did such a foolish thing just to get an answer. Thinking about all this, he strutted forward with his modelesque figure. Seeing this, Yoel rubbed his temples. Forget it. There was no point in trying to persuade Joshua Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Anyway, they were divorcing soon. Cynthia was wearing home pajamas, looking delicate and peaceful. Just seeing her could calm even the most restless heart. When she heard the knocking, she walked over and opened the door. She had been thinking about installing a peephole camera, but she did not bother because she was only staying here for a short time. As a result, she frowned in obvious annoyance when she saw it was Joshua. ¡°Why is it you?¡± Cynthia asked directly. ¡°I asked Yoel to find you.¡± Joshua draped his suit jacket over his left arm, and with just a white shirt, he looked even more sharp and refined than usual. ¡°I need to talk to you about something.¡± Cynthia stayed silent. Thest person she wanted to see right now was Joshua. Thest thing she wanted to hear from him was him needing to talk to her about something. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Cynthia asked calmly, creating a distance between them. This feeling made Joshua feel ufortable. He took a step forward, and without thinking, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about what you n to do after your divorce. Will you continue to work as Ms. Yates¡® bodyguard or be with Mitchell?¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Cynthia replied, no longer bothering to be polite to him. Cynthia thought it was best to part ways amicably after their divorce. However, she found Joshua bing increasingly crazy as time went by. It was as if the gentle person she had known in the past year and a half was just her imagination. ¡°If you don¡¯t have a job, I can give you a position at the Neal Group out of respect for Grandpa,¡± Joshua said, ignoring her retort. He came here to see her reaction to the lipstick on his cor, and talking about this was just an excuse. Yet, he could not help but think about Cynthia¡¯s life after the divorce. Just the thought of her sitting alone in that vi, staring at the sky like an abandoned kitten, made him uneasy. Cynthia asked him, ¡°What kind of job pays more than 3,000,000 USD a year?¡± Joshua was taken aback by her audacity. ¡°Sry is proportional to ability. What do you have to prove you¡¯re worth more than 3,000,000 USD a year?¡± he said. ¡°If a job pays less than $3,000,000 a year, why would I work for yourpany? If I put the 200,000,000 USD from the divorce in the bank, I can do nothing and still make more than 3,000,000 USD a year in interest alone based on an annual interest rate of 1.5%,¡± Cynthia rationally analyzed, leaving Joshua speechless. Joshua was speechless. ¡°Not to mention, such arge amount of savings would not be given such a low¨Cinterest rate. It¡¯s a wonder you¡¯re al businessman but can¡¯t even do the math,¡± Cynthia continued. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What if you act impulsively and get cheated of all your money?¡± Joshua struggled toe up with something. ¡°Even if you became a beggar, I wouldn¡¯t be cheated. I¡¯m a smart person,¡± Cynthia replied firmly. Joshua gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m not smart?¡± Cynthia stared at him. ¡°Well, you have a brain, but you¡¯re not using it.¡± After all, could a normal person do what he did? Joshua felt a surge of anger in his chest. He was crazy toe here and do something so stupid. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see who bes a beggar first.¡± The conversation ended, and Joshua was holding back his frustration. Cynthia said, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Joshua left, exuding coldness. After he entered the elevator, Cynthia closed the door and sat back on the sofa in the living room. Images of Joshua with the lipstick stain on his cor and the scent of the perfume flooded her mind. Cynthia frowned, feeling more emotional than before. It was not that she still cared, but she could not describe her irritation. The feeling of being betrayed was stronger than seeing him with Jayleen. She rubbed her forehead. Chapter 83 At the thought of leaving Jiverton in a few days, Cynthia nned to say goodbye to her friend in Jiverton, Ellora Reynolds. Considering it was alreadyte at night, she opened WhatsApp and sent a message. [Ellora, I¡¯ll be leaving Jiverton in a few days. Do you have time to meet up for a meal?] Ellora was a friend Cynthia had met when she first came to Jiverton, and the two hit it off right away. She was a small¨Ctime actress until a year ago when her viinous role rose her fame, and she immediately became a B¨Clist actress. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 It had been half a year since theyst met. Cynthia waited for a while for a reply from Ellora, but assuming she had already gone to sleep, she decided to go to bed herself. However, she unexpectedly received a series of messages from Yoel, begging for forgiveness and apologizing for lying to her. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. [Yoel: Ms. Yates, I¡¯m sorry.] [Yoel: I shouldn¡¯t have lied to you.] [Yoel: Can you forgive me?] Cynthia chose to ignore the messages and turned off her phone before going to sleep. Meanwhile, Yoel was panicking, knowing that he had caused a rift between Cynthia and Joshua. Joshua, who was already furious, became even more displeased when he saw Yoel looking at his phone, and he said coldly,¡± What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for the sun to rise so we can go for breakfast?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± Yoel did not dare to argue and drove away. Along the way, he was thinking about how to stop Cynthia from being angry with him. The wicked Joshua actually made him offend his idol! Joshua and Yoel could not sleep well that night, but Cynthia slept soundly. She refused to let her emotions and the situation affect her sleep. Except for asionally dreaming about herte mother, she could easily calm down regarding other matters. The next day, she received a message from Ellora. [Ellora: Sure! What about meeting up today?] Ellora had sent the message at three in the morning. At first, Cynthia wondered why Ellora was awake at that hour, but then she remembered Ellora was an actress, and she might have just finished filming. Thinking of that, Cynthia replied, [Do you still have to be on set for filming today?] Just as Cynthia sent the message, Ellora called her. Ellora¡¯s beautiful and sweet voice sounded, ¡°I haven¡¯t been filmingtely. If you¡¯re free today, let¡¯s go to this new French restaurant downtown. I heard the food is pretty good, and we can try it out together.¡± Cynthia agreed. She was not picky about food and would eat anything as long as it was not poisonous. As Shirley said, Cynthia was easy to please. After setting a time to meet, Cynthia changed into a simple outfit and went out. Her clothes were all cool colors, and ck, white, and gray were almost the colors of most of her clothes. Her shoulder¨Clength hair flowed down on both sides, and her thin bangs hung down her forehead. Although her attire was simple, she looked stunning. They met around ten o¡¯clock in the morning, and Ellora was wearing sunsses and a hat with a long, warm¨Ccolored coat. Ellora was only 1.65m tall, and she looked cute standing next to Cynthia. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Ellora said, holding Cynthia¡¯s hand and leading her toward the downtown shopping center, ¡± Leaving the house is such a hassle now. I¡¯m afraid of being discovered by paparazzi and fans.¡± Cynthia suggested, ¡°Next time, you can just stay in the private dining room, and I¡¯lle to find you.¡± Ellora replied firmly, ¡°That won¡¯t work! With your poor sense of direction, even if I tell you the floor and room number, you might not be able to find me.¡± Cynthia tried to defend herself, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t have a poor sense of direction.¡± Their first meeting resulted from Ellora thinking Cynthia had a poor sense of direction. They had initially contacted each other due to a misunderstanding, but they became friends after realizing they could hit it off. Cynthia had many friends, most of whom she had known since childhood, but Ellora was the first to be her friendter in life. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 It was strange, really. Everyone in Nexu thought Cynthia was capable of anything and was really talented. Yet, Ellora always felt the need to protect her and even imed that she had no sense of direction. Not only that, she even imed that she would work hard as an actress, taking in more jobs so that she could take care of Cynthia. Cynthia was sometimes curious about when she had given Ellora the impression that she was someone who needed protection. As they arrived at the private dining room, Ellora pulled her to sit down. Then, after ordering, Ellora asked Cynthia about her sudden decision to leave Jiverton. ¡°Are you and your husband nning to move to another city?¡± Ellora knew about Cynthia¡¯s marriage, but neither had mentioned names. Ellora did not ask, and Cynthia did not say. The two girls had many topics to discuss when they were together, mostly gossip, food, drinks, work, fashion, and makeup. However, they would rarely talk about rtionships unless something happened. In addition, Cynthia rarely attended Joshua¡¯s parties, and the two had not announced their rtionship, so naturally, not many people knew. Cynthia did not hide it and said, ¡°No. We¡¯re getting a divorce soon.¡± Ellora was shocked. The impact of this news was too great for her. She had never thought that Cynthia would get a divorce. ¡°Is this a joke? Didn¡¯t you say you had a sh marriage and that he treated you well?¡± ¡°The divorce application has already been filed. The cooling¨Coff period will end next Tuesday, and we can go get the divorce certificate on Wednesday,¡± Cynthia said bluntly. ¡°Let me process this for a moment.¡± Ellora was a bit overwhelmed. Divorce? She had never thought of this happening to her best friend. How could anyone be willing to leave her? After calming down a bit, she asked tentatively, ¡°Did you file for divorce, or did he?¡± Cynthia replied, ¡°Him.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Ellora asked curiously. Cynthia did not tell her the real reason, only saying, ¡°We¡¯re ipatible.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia knew Ellora¡¯s personality well. She would have been furious if she knew that Joshua had asked for a divorce because his ex¨Clover had returned. Cynthia did not want her to worry too much. ¡°It¡¯s okay, bye¨Cbye to him! The next one will be even better! When you find someone who is better looking and treats you better than him, let him know that there are people who care about you. You don¡¯t need him,¡± Elloraforted Cynthia, wanting to make her feel better. Cynthia nodded and hummed in agreement. They continued chatting for a while, and then the food arrived. During the meal, Cynthia saw that Ellora had a hickey on her neck, but she had not noticed it before because of the scarf. Cynthia said, ¡°Ellora.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ellora replied, ncing over while replying to a message on her phone. ¡°Do you have a boyfriend?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°Impossible.¡± Elloraughed. Cynthia pointed to her own neck, her eyes fixed on Ellora. ¡°Then what happened?¡± Ellora finally realized it, and her body stiffened. Cynthia noticed this slight reaction. ¡°I got married. That man gave it to me,¡± Ellora said casually, her tone no different from before. Cynthia¡¯s surprise was no less than Ellora¡¯s reaction when she learned about Cynthia¡¯s divorce. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told me before?¡± ¡°It was a marriage of convenience. When his ex¨Clover returns, we¡¯ll divorce. I didn¡¯t tell you because he¡¯s not that important,¡± Ellora said quickly, only revealing part of the truth. Cynthia was puzzled. Ex¨Clover? Then, Cynthia said, ¡°So, why did he want to¡­¡± She truly did not know how to put it in words. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 ¡°In the adult world, everyone takes what they need.¡± Elloraughed dryly. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Let¡¯s think about where we can go after lunch. I haven¡¯t been out in ages.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Ellora did not mention that she was forced. Last night, when the man came back, he still had the smell of another woman¡¯s perfume and lipstick marks on him. Ellora had refused and resisted, but the man¡¯s strength was much greater than hers. She had to give in. Fortunately, the man had been angered by her resistance and had not gone through with it. Otherwise, she would really be afraid it would hurt her unborn child. ¡°If you need anything, just tell me. I can help you.¡± Cynthia did not say much, but she did offer to help. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay, I¡¯m relieved. If you have trouble with anything after the divorce, remember to tell me. I¡¯ll work hard to support you!¡± Ellora said lightly, her beautiful eyes curved as she smiled. ¡°I should be the one saying that to you,¡± Cynthia finally said. ¡°What?¡± Ellora asked. ¡°I have a lot of money,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°How much?¡± Ellora asked. ¡°200,000,000 USD. It was part of our divorce settlement,¡± Cynthia repeated. Ellora trusted her. Ellora was shocked. 200,000,000 USD? How many zeroes was that? She could never earn that much even if she acted for her whole life. ¡°Did he cheat on you, or did you catch him doing something?¡± Ellora got excited and thought of the crucial point. After all, that was 200,000,000 USD, not 20,000 USD, and it was definitely not 2 USD. Ellora could not believe a man would be willing to give so much money if he did not love the woman. Cynthia was speechless and rubbed her forehead. Ellora was the kind of person who could make others let down their guard easily. Cynthia did not want Ellora to worry, so she mentioned that she had money. Yet, she had forgotten the reason behind therge sum. ¡°Really? Does he have someone else?¡± Ellora widened her eyes. After a moment¡¯s consideration, Cynthia replied, ¡°It¡¯s simr to your situation.¡± ¡°His ex¨Clover?¡± Ellora¡¯s temper red up. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I thought he was good to you and someone you could trust for a lifetime. It turns out he¡¯s just a scumbag.¡± Cynthia did not respond. She could not. When Ellora¡¯s emotions exploded, it was not something anyone could handle. ¡°He just gave you 200,000,000 USD, and that¡¯s it?!¡± Ellora¡¯s anger red up even more. ¡°With a guy like this, you should leave him with nothing. He didn¡¯t even tell you he had an ex¨Clover when he married you.¡± ¡°No!¡± Ellora stood up. Cynthia was confused. Before she could react, Ellora had already grabbed her hand. ¡°Take me to see him. I have to give him a good scolding! He dared to bully my best friend. Let me expose his scumbag behavior, and the righteous keyboard warriors will destroy him!¡± ¡°No need. We¡¯re getting the¡­¡± Cynthia said, grabbing Ellora¡¯s wrist with her other hand. She stopped in the middle of her sentence, not saying the words ¡®divorce certificate¡®. Ellora noticed Cynthia¡¯s expression was off and immediately sat down, asking with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cynthia checked her pulse rate more seriously than ever before, and Ellora was left stunned by her actions. ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± Cynthia asked tentatively, looking at her with a serious expression. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Ellora¡¯s hands and feet turned cold in an instant. She quickly withdrew her hand, and her eyes showed a moment of panic. ¡°Pregnant? How could I possibly be pregnant?¡± She was surprised at Cynthia¡¯s medical knowledge. ¡°How far along are you?¡± Cynthia saw through Ellora¡¯s lie. Ellora could not keep up the pretense any longer, and she lowered her head, admitting, ¡°It¡¯s been a few months.¡± Cynthia was skeptical. ¡°And you¡¯re still¡­doing it with him?¡± She thought Ellora¡¯s husband was very unreliable. ¡°You can¡¯t have sex during the first three months of pregnancy,¡± Cynthia pointed out. ¡°We didn¡¯t have sex.¡± Ellora blushed. ¡°When he wanted toe in, I angered him and drove him away.¡± Cynthia felt that something was off. Even if it was a marriage of convenience and her husband had a lover, he should not joke around with Ellora and their unborn child. If Ellora could only stop him by angering him, how did he usually treat Ellora? ¡°I suddenly remembered my agent asked me to finish my meal and go back early.¡± Ellora knew that if she stayed longer, she would reveal more, and she did not want to involve Cynthia in this mess. After all, the man involved was not someone Cynthia could provoke, especially since he was a top¨Ctier wealthy elite. Even Cynthia¡¯s 200,000,000 USD fortune would not be enough to handle the matter. Ellora did not want Cynthia¡¯s life to be turned upside down. Cynthia called out to her, ¡°Ellora.¡± Ellora pretended to grab her bag and put on her hat and sunsses. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now. When you settle down in another city, let me know. I¡¯ll visit you when I¡¯m free.¡± ¡°Bye!¡± Ellora left quickly, not giving Cynthia a chance to ask her anything. Cynthia stayed in the private dining room for a while, still concerned about Ellora. Then, she took out her phone and sent a message. [If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask me.] She could easily find out who Ellora¡¯s fiance was, but Ellora did not want her to know or meddle, so she would not investigate. Everyone had secrets and privacy, and she would not get involved. Ellora sat in the car, and her eyes lit up with happiness when she saw Cynthia¡¯s message. Cynthia was indeed a great friend. After Cynthia left the private dining room, she had no idea that something big had happened online. #JayleenShawtheMistress surged to the top of the trending list. Many people clicked on it out of curiosity, wanting to know who this person was. The search led to several blurry images of two figures, both with outstanding appearances. Those who knew them could immediately recognize the man as Joshua. The post was titled, Model Jayleen Shaw¡¯s Affair with a Married Businessman. [Who is Jayleen Shaw? Why haven¡¯t I heard of her before?] [What is this messy gossip?] 1 [How can something like this make it to the trending list?] [It started with just one picture, and the rest is all fabricated. Can these ounts stop ruining the reputation of innocent girls? [Maybe this model has offended someone, and they spent money to make the matter trending to smear her.] Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. [Jayleen had debuted for six years. Although she¡¯s not extremely famous, she has never offended anyone. I wonder who has such a vicious heart.] [Wait, doesn¡¯t the man in the picture look a little familiar?] [Agreed.] Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 [I have a feeling that the guy in the picture was the president of the Neal Group¡­ Can I say that?] [What a good eye! That¡¯s indeed Joshua Neal, the president of the Neal Group. I look at his pictures every night before I go to sleep. Even if you put a mosaic over his eyes, I can still recognize him!] [Mr. Neal got married?] [Not sure. It seems like he did, but also like he didn¡¯t.] [I know! It must be someone in Jayleen¡¯s circle who saw her getting close to Mr. Neal and was afraid she would be famous, so they started spreading rumors.] [You can spread rumors with just a word, but it takes a lot to refute them.] Thements section was bustling. As gossip was typical these days, people were no longer willing to believe everything any ounts said. Without evidence and proof, they would not mindlessly ruin someone¡¯s name. However, they did not know that this was true¨CJayleen had indeed intervened in Joshua¡¯s and Cynthia¡¯s rtionship, and Joshua had indeed divorced Cynthia because of Jayleen. When Cynthia arrived at her doorstep, she noticed that the door seemed to have been opened before. She became a little more cautious, ready to confront the burr when she went inside. As the sound of the electronic door lock echoed, Cynthia opened the door. To her surprise, the living room was neat, with sunlight streaming in from the window. She took a few steps forward and saw Joshua sitting on the sofa with a dark expression and Yoel looking slightly worried. ¡°What are you doing in my house?¡± Cynthia asked coldly. Upon seeing her, Yoel quickly stood up and tidied up his appearance. He looked different from usual, without his trademark soft smile, and greeted her with aplicated expression, ¡°Ms. Yates.¡± Cynthia ced her stuff onto the cab and walked over to Joshua, clearly wanting an exnation. ¡°Where did you go today?¡± Joshua¡¯s face was gloomy. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Cynthia replied, sitting on the sofa.. Joshua, rare for him, did not get angry and continued to ask, ¡°Who did you see?¡± ¡°Before you ask me that, shouldn¡¯t you exin how you got into my house?¡± Cynthia asked directly. She did not say that trespassing on someone else¡¯s property was illegal because she knew that Joshua had the right to enter her residence as long as they were still married. Joshua did not say a word. Yoel answered, ¡°Mr. Neal called a locksmithpany, proved his rtionship with you as a spouse, and the locksmith.pany helped to open the door.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. In fact, it was not a locksmithpany at all. It was clearly Joshua who opened the door! He did not even know how Joshua knew Cynthia¡¯s door code. Cynthia knew Yoel was lying. If it really were a locksmithpany that opened the lock, there would be marks on it. However, she had just checked, and there were no marks at all. Moreover, Cynthia only recorded her fingerprint and had not told anyone the password. Although she had given the password to the housekeepingpany before, that password was only temporary and would. expire after a certain time. ¡°I warned you that if you dare to cause any more trouble, I won¡¯t show any mercy. It seems like you think I¡¯m just joking with you.¡± Joshua emitted a cold aura, and his eyes were chilling. Cynthia was confused. She did not understand at all. ¡°Record a videoter and post it online to rify on behalf of Jayleen that everything you did was just out of jealousy. If you don¡¯t post it, I¡¯ll make sure you know the consequences,¡± Joshua said, feeling that Cynthia was too good at pretending. Cynthia did not understand a single thing he said, but since Jayleen was mentioned, it was likely that she was being used of something again. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Cynthia did not speak to him and instead made a phone call in front of them, saying, ¡°Is this the psychiatric hospital? I have a severely mentally ill patient here. Can youe over?¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua stood up and snatched her phone, hanging up the call. This woman never failed to anger him. Cynthia said calmly, ¡°If you¡¯re sick, you should seek treatment. Dying it not only harms yourself but also risks harming others.¡± ¡°Do you think pretending to be crazy can avoid what happened today?¡± Joshua threw the phone aside and looked down at her. ¡°What happened?¡± Cynthia was not affected by his coldness. ¡°Yoel.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze was fixed on her. He never thought her acting skills were so good. ¡°Show it to her.¡± Yoel picked up the tablet, opened Twitter, and handed it over to Cynthia. He believed she was not the one who did it. ¡°Ms. Yates, please take a look.¡± ¡°No one except you would do something so childish. I¡¯ll make sure you pay for the suffering you caused Jayleen!¡± Joshua said confidently, and his affection for Cynthia had greatly reduced. Cynthia nonchntly crossed her legs and casually browsed through it. As she scrolled through the photos, she nced at the She did not say who did it, but she casually looked at him and asked, ¡°How do you n to make me pay for it?¡± Cynthia met his gaze and continued, ¡°By spending money so that I be the trending topic and tell the whole inte that you cheated on me? Let thement section mock me and say that I can¡¯t even keep my own man?¡± Yoel stayed quiet. Joshua¡¯s whole body exuded a chilling air. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, you may be disappointed.¡± Cynthia¡¯s retort left him speechless. ¡°Netizens are smarter than you and have better values. They¡¯ll only think that the person who cheated should be criticized.¡± ¡°Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to you?¡± Joshua said. This was the first time he looked at her with such a cold gaze. Cynthia leaned back on the sofa and returned the tablet to Yoel before speaking calmly, ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t have the nerve to question me about this. Whether I did it or not, is there anything incorrect in the content?¡± ¡°Yoel,¡± Joshua said, losing patience with the conversation. Yoel trembled. ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal?¡± ¡°Cut off all of Ellora¡¯s filming resources,¡± Joshua said, his eyes sharp and his words icy. Yoel had no choice but toply, saying, ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°I dare you toy a finger on her.¡± Cynthia¡¯s nonchnt expression disappeared, and she became emotional. ¡°Besides the filming resources, cut off others too, and release all her dirty secrets,¡± Joshua continued emotionlessly. ¡°Mr. Neal¡­¡± Yoel hesitated. He knew Joshua was only threatening Cynthia and would not really cut off Ellora¡¯s resources. However, was Joshua not afraid of exhausting any remaining feelings between them by saying these things in front of Cynthia? Joshua was emitting a terrifying aura, ordering, ¡°Just do it!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal,¡± Yoel had to agree for the time being. Cynthia¡¯s emotions were stirred up, and she stood up, saying, ¡°If you dare to touch Ellora, I¡¯ll make sure you never see Jayleen again.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Well, then you won¡¯t see Ellora either,¡± Joshua responded, confronting her. Cynthia did not understand how he had be like this. How could he implicate someone innocent? ¡°She has no grudge against you. Why do you have to implicate her?¡± ¡°Are you telling me that buying trending searches wasn¡¯t her idea?¡± Joshua was convinced, his face cold and stern. ¡°You had only just met, and Jayleen was already trending. Do you want to tell me it was a coincidence?¡± Before today, Joshua did not know that Cynthia had a friend in Jiverton, and he did not even know that her friend was from Chyler¡¯s wife. After seeing the trending search, he looked into Cynthia¡¯s schedule today and learned she had met with Ellora. At that moment, he was convinced that Ellora had taught Cynthia to do it. Chyler had said that Ellora had cheated on him and became pregnant with another man¡¯s child. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Someone with such a messy private life would definitelye up with dirty ideas. Cynthia listened as Joshua used her of orchestrating the trending topic about Jayleen, and she knew he had looked into her whereabouts after seeing Jayleen¡¯s name on the trending list. Without wasting any time, Cynthia responded bluntly, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°Do you really expect me to believe that?¡± Joshua retorted. Cynthia rolled her eyes. ¡°Joshua, when are you going to use your brain? Why would I spend money to put her on the trending Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. list?¡± Joshua continued questioning her motives, ¡°You think her appearance ruined¡­¡± ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Cynthia interrupted. She could see that he was a lost cause and could not be bothered to waste any more time arguing with him. He was aplete idiot! ¡°Apologize on Twitter,¡± Joshua ordered, assuming that Cynthia had agreed to his terms. He was getting annoyed and angry. ¡°Then, meet Jayleen and apologize to her until she epts your apology.¡± Yoel watched the exchange and could not help but feel sorry for Cynthia. ¡°Mr. Neal, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for Ms. Yates to apologize online¡­¡± Joshua red at Yoel, his cold eyes piercing through him. Yoel quickly exined, ¡°The matter has calmed down on the Inte. However, if Ms. Yates posts an apology on Twitter,izens will definitely abuse and ckmail her.¡± ¡°This is her own fault,¡± Joshua said heartlessly. ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± Yoel tried to exin. He had been wracking his brain for a solution. ¡°The problem is¡­¡± ¡°Yoel¡­¡± Cynthia interrupted him, knowing exactly what he was going to say. If she received too much negative attention, theizens would start digging up dirt on her and uncover the secrets of her marriage with Joshua as well as Joshua¡¯s rtionship with Jayleen. She did not want Joshua to know the consequences of her being publicly shamed. Yoel was taken aback by Cynthia calling him by his name, and he froze. ¡°Joshua has made up his mind. Are you sure you want me to apologize online?¡± Cynthia said, her voice icy as she looked at Joshua with a mixture of emotions. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Joshua replied without hesitation. Cynthia reluctantly agreed, ¡°Fine.¡± Yoel was confused by Cynthia¡¯s sudden agreement, and he wanted to persuade her further. ¡°Ms. Yates, how¡­¡± How could she agree to Joshua¡¯s demands just like that? That did not fit her usual character! ¡°As long as you apologize online, this matter will stop here.¡± Joshua did not mention the matter of asking her to apologize to Jayleen. ¡°When you introduce yourself, just say that you¡¯re Jayleen¡¯s colleague. Don¡¯t mention our marriage.¡± Cynthia did not respond. Did he really think she would apologize? Did he actually think everyone¡¯s an idiot like him? Joshua withdrew his gaze and ordered Yoel, looking unreasonable. ¡°Stay here and watch her write the apology. Then, post it on the Inte.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°After that, spend some money to make the post hit the trending list.¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Neal.¡± Before leaving, Joshua looked at Cynthia and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t y tricks. Otherwise, Ellora will pay the price instead of you.¡± Then, Joshua left with the car keys. When he returned to the car, he did not immediately start the car. His demeanor was not as calm as it appeared on the surface. He thought about Cynthia¡¯s attitude and appearance tonight, feeling uneasy in his chest. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 This was the first time in a while that Cynthia had been sopliant, and Joshua could not help feeling a strange difort in the depths of his heart, even though it was the result he had wanted. Once Joshua had left, Yoel gathered the courage to express his thoughts, ¡°Ms. Yates, why did you agree to apologize? Isn¡¯t that taking the me for someone else?¡± ¡°Taking the me?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cynthia forgave Yoel for what he had done before, adding, ¡°Joshua is convinced that I did it.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you exin it to Mr. Neal again?¡± Yoel could not bear to see his idol take the me. ¡°If you exin it a few more times, Mr. Neal will definitely believe you.¡± Cynthia¡¯s gaze fell on him. ¡°Do you believe that?¡± ¡®No.¡® Yoel had no doubt that Joshua was actingpletely out of character. Cynthia casually pointed in a direction and said, ¡°You can sleep in that room tonight. Handle your own change of clothes.¡± Yoel was confused. ¡°Sleep?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Joshua tell you to keep an eye on me until I apologize on Twitter? I¡¯m not nning to do it tonight,¡± Cynthia spoke calmly, without any hint of anger. Yoel was stunned. Then, Cynthia continued, ¡°The kitchen is over there, and there¡¯s milk and fruit in the fridge. You can order takeout if you¡¯re hungry.¡± ¡°Ms. Yates!¡± Yoel called out to her. Cynthia looked at him. Yoel pursed his lips, weighing his words carefully before finally speaking up, ¡°I¡¯ll go to Mr. Neal and exin the situation, tell him that it wasn¡¯t you who did it. If he doesn¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll investigate and provide evidence to him.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Cynthia refused. She had agreed to apologize, but that did not mean she was apologizing for this incident. Cynthia had previously stated that if Joshua ever came looking for trouble because of Jayleen, she would not hesitate to expose their affair. Yoel felt sorry for her, but Cynthia did not want to chat much before going upstairs. Once Joshua and Jayleen¡¯s affair became public, the Neal Group would be affected. No matter what, Old Man Neal was good to her, but she should inform him about this matter in advance. Old Man Neal did not me Cynthia when he found out but just sighed. Things had gotten out of hand, and he did not want to deal with his ipetent grandson.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. After hanging up the phone, Cynthia sent a message to her personal assistant. [Keep an eye on Ellora¡¯s resources. If the Neal Group interferes, help her keep them safe.] [Off¨CDuty Worker: Okay.] After dealing with this matter, she called Jimmy as there were some things that he was better at than her. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Jimmy¡¯s tone was very cheerful. He was always happy when talking to her. ¡°Are you busy?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Cynthia got straight to the point. ¡°I need you to do something for me. Write an apology letter in my tone. I¡¯ll send you the details on WhatsApp.¡± Jimmy was confused. ¡°Apology?¡± ¡°To whom?¡± ¡°Jayleen.¡± Jimmy saw the Twitter trending topic, connected it with the previous incident and the pictures, and immediately understood what had happened. ¡°Why do you want to apologize to her? She interfered in your marriage.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not really apologizing. I just want to help the gossip¨Clovingizens understand the truth. I¡¯ll send you the details,¡± Cynthia exined. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Jimmy was relieved after hearing that Cynthia would not genuinely apologize. This was their Cynthia, and they could not stand to see her being mistreated. Cynthia sent the details to Jimmy, and Jimmy was angry to learn that Joshua was a scumbag who had asked Cynthia to help. him cover up for his mistress. Jimmy was really angry! He was furious! The result of his anger was that he wrote a sincere apology letter in Cynthia¡¯s tone, although he could not help injecting some of his own emotions into it. That evening, while Cynthia and Yoel were still having dinner, Joshua called. Yoel put down his fork and spoon and answered the phone, ¡°Yes, Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°Why haven¡¯t she posted the apology statement?¡± Joshua had already returned to Sovereign Heights and was sitting in the study on the second floor. ¡°She¡¯s still writing it,¡± Yoel replied. ¡°Does she need a whole afternoon to write it?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°The previous versions weren¡¯t good enough, so I had Ms. Yates rewrite them several times. She¡¯s a bit upset now,¡± Yoel lied, ncing nervously at Cynthia. ¡°Really?¡± Joshua said skeptically. Yoel quickly asked, ¡°How about asking the editorial department to help?¡± Nheless, he knew Joshua would not agree and added, ¡°This apology statement is quite difficult to write, and it¡¯s easy to make mistakes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more day. I want to see the result by tomorrow night,¡± Joshua said with a slight frown. ¡°Okay, Mr. Neal,¡± Yoel agreed. As soon as the call ended, Cynthia asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just tell him we hadn¡¯t written it yet? One lie will only lead to another.¡± ¡°With his temperament, he¡¯ll definitely be angry if we say we haven¡¯t written it yet. This way is better for everyone and avoids. a lot of trouble,¡± Yoel exined, adjusting his sses. As they talked, they heard a notification sound. It was a message from Joshua. [Send me what she wrote before.] Yoel¡¯s expression stiffened, quickly replying, [It¡¯s already been deleted¡­] [There¡¯s always an editing history.] [Ms. Yates wrote it on a text document, so there¡¯s none.] Joshua replied, [¡­] Joshua threw his phone on the desk, feeling that something was off. Thinking back to Yoel¡¯s admiration for Cynthia¡¯s hacking skills, he grabbed his coat from the office chair and headed out to Cynthia¡¯s neighborhood. He arrived after nine o¡¯clock in the evening. Yoel was sitting on the sofa watching a variety show. This was the most rxed andfortable time he had since bing Joshua¡¯s assistant. Cynthia came downstairs to get water and nced at the TV. ¡°Ms. Yates, do you want to join me?¡± Yoel moved over a bit. ¡°It¡¯s morefortable to sit here.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia just got water and took a break. ¡°I¡¯ll just watch for half an hour.¡± Yoel did not say much either. The two of them watched a funny variety show, and Yoel enjoyed it. After watching for a while, Cynthia¡¯s mood also rxed a bit. Spending the afternoon reviewing projects from the Yates Group and the Neal Group really hurt her head. About ten minutester, the electronic lock on the door suddenly rang. At this time, the variety show was showing the funniest part. Cynthia and Yoel¡¯s attention was all on the TV, and they did not pay much attention to the movements. When Joshua came in, he saw Cynthia and Yoel watching TV together. His blood boiled with anger! He stood there with his coat on his arm and his whole body exuding coldness as he looked at the two of them. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 When the cold voice suddenly sounded, Yoel¡¯s body stiffened. Was it Joshua¡¯s voice¡­. The smile on his face had not yet had time to fade, and he heard Joshua speak again. ¡°Having a good time watching TV?¡± Joshua strode over, increasing the pressure in the room. Yoel and Cynthia both looked at him at the same time. Yoel almost instantly stood up and gulped, stuttering, ¡°M¨CMr. Neal¡­¡± Why did Joshuae here?! Cynthia nced at him and continued watching,pletely unaffected by him. However, this person just came in directly and probably guessed her password, so she should find time to change it. ¡°Is the apology statement written?¡± Joshua¡¯s rage was burning inside. Yoel looked at Cynthia. In truth, he did not know if Cynthia had written it or not. After all, she had been upstairs all afternoon. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? It¡¯ll be posted sooner orter,¡± Cynthia answered casually. ¡°I want to see it by tomorrow night.¡± Joshua did not know why she could still be so indifferent. ¡°If you don¡¯t post it, you¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying! I can¡¯t even watch TV in peace,¡± Cynthia retorted mercilessly. After speaking, she brought her water upstairs. Yoel and Joshua were speechless. Both were stunned and never expected Cynthia to get angry suddenly. Yoel pursed his lips and tentatively said, ¡°Mr. Neal, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll work overtimeter to write one. Then, if Ms. Yates hasn¡¯t written it by tomorrow, I¡¯ll send her the one I wrote.¡± Joshua stared at him without responding. Yoel felt his scalp tingling from Joshua¡¯s re. Then, he wiped his face and asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He had washed his face after dinner, so nothing should be on his face. ¡°It¡¯ste. Why haven¡¯t you gone back to eat yet?¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze darkened slightly, with a hint of coldness on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten,¡± Yoel answered. He was too engrossed in watching variety shows and forgot to be professional. ¡°Ms. Yates ordered my food with hers at six o¡¯clock, and we ate together.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze became icy. He had not eaten with Cynthia for so long, while this guy was having a good time here. Yoel was slow to notice Joshua¡¯s emotion. ¡°Haven¡¯t you eaten yet?¡± ¡°Go and clean thepany¡¯s toilets.¡± Joshua did not answer his question. ¡°Seriously?¡± Yoel asked. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking with you?¡± ¡°What about Ms. Yates¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll watch her myself.¡± Joshua¡¯s thin lips pressed together, emphasizing the word ¡®myself¡®. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Yoel suddenly realized where Joshua¡¯s coldness came from. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go to thepany now.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he left. Of course, as someone here to freeload, he was still very conscientious about taking out the trash. As the door closed, Joshua looked around the room. Had he note tonight, would Cynthia have nned to let Yoel stay overnight here? He did not greet Cynthia and went upstairs to her room, knocking on the door. Cynthia thought it was Yoel and opened the door as she did not think Joshua would stay. She thought he was only here to supervise Yoel¡¯s progress. After all, the effects of urging someone in person and through a phone call were different. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Upon opening the door and seeing Joshua, Cynthia did not bother to say hello and closed the door on him. However, Joshua stopped the door from closing. He noticed her change in expression upon seeing him and spoke with a sharp tone, ¡°Disappointed to see me?¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Cynthia replied bluntly. ¡°Do you like Yoel that much?¡± Joshua questioned. ¡°I like dealing with people who use their brains.¡± ¡°Cynthia!¡± Joshua¡¯s tone became more aggressive. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything to say, leave.¡± ¡°Is it so hard to apologize? Why didn¡¯t you consider the consequences when you ruined Jayleen¡¯s reputation on the Inte?¡± Cynthia did not answer him. In fact, she was willing to pay someone 150,000 USD to drag this man away. Cynthia¡¯s silence made Joshua ufortable. He would rather have her argue with him than ignore him like this. Just then, his phone rang, and he saw it was from Moses Neal. He frowned and walked toward the balcony to answer the call. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Just calling to chat. Can¡¯t I call my beloved brother for no reason?¡± Moses replied with a teasing tone. ¡°If you say one more nonsense, I¡¯ll send you to Africa,¡± Joshua warned coldly. Moses chuckled. ¡°If you do that, Grandpa will break your legs.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Joshua asked again. They had not talked in months. Hence, Joshua did not believe that Moses was calling him for no reason. ¡°Grandpa asked me to check on your love life. Yoel told me you divorced Cynthia for that ex¨Clover of yours?¡± Moses said in his casual, light¨Chearted voice. Joshua remained silent. ¡°I have to say, I support your divorce. You have such a dull personality, and Cynthia can definitely do better than you. Luckily, I have some good friends who are reliable and good at sweet¨Ctalking. If Cynthia likes them, it¡¯ll be their lucky day,¡± Moses continued. ¡°I did some research, and they didn¡¯t have anyone from the past that they¡¯re still hung up on, and they¡¯re all very devoted to his rtionships. More importantly, they¡¯ll unconditionally believe in the person they like if they¡¯re in a rtionship.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Moses went on and on, not afraid of offending his own brother. Joshua tightened his grip on the phone, and his breathing became heavier. He knew Moses well enough to know that he would. follow through with what he said. Moses was always capable of anything. ¡°We¡¯re not divorced yet,¡± Joshua finally said in a low voice. ¡°Well, you¡¯re almost there. Just a few more days left in the cooling¨Coff period,¡± Moses said in his melodious voice. Judging from his voice, Moses sounded like an outgoing young man. ¡°If you can immediately have someone recing Cynthia after the divorce, she needs to have some potential suitors too.¡± ¡°Are you itching for a fight?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes grew darker. ¡°I¡¯m just analyzing the situation with good intentions. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m against you, but nowadays, girls like men who can pamper them,¡± Moses said confidently. ¡°Take my friend, for example. When his girlfriend was bullied, he immediately rushed to her defense. When those people used him of being unreasonable, he said he was there to support her, not to be reasonable.¡± Moses continued babbling, ¡°All the girls at the scene were moved to tears by his words.¡± Joshua frowned slightly, his thoughts wandering back to the past. Cynthia¡¯s attitude toward him changed after he answered Jayleen¡¯s phone call. Before that, she had been very good to him, and he had taken good care of her. Their rtionship was so good that others envied them. ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t bother you anymore. I care about your love life, and if Grandpa asks, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± Moses said, sensing that he had said enough. ¡°Are you sure you care?¡± Joshua asked him. Mosesughed. ¡°Do you want me to fly back and give you a hug or something?¡± ¡°Get lost,¡± Joshua replied, not mincing his words. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Moses hung up the phone with a smile and crossed his legs in the private dining room. Then, he casually dialed another number and said, ¡°I talked to him. He won¡¯t make Cynthia apologize.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Old Man Neal asked tentatively. ¡°Do you still doubt my abilities?¡± Moses replied with a smirk on his handsome and mischievous face. After hearing this, Chapter 95 Moses hung up the phone with a smile and crossed his legs in the private dining room. Then, he casually dialed another number and said, ¡°I talked to him. He won¡¯t make Cynthia apologize.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Old Man Neal asked tentatively. ¡°Do you still doubt my abilities?¡± Moses replied with a smirk on his handsome and mischievous face. After hearing this, Old Man Neal was relieved. However, he would not feel at ease if he knew how Moses had talked to Joshua. The whole Neal family knew that Moses understood Joshua the best. He knew how to push his brother¡¯s buttons. Even though he sometimes received a scolding, he never cared. Just like this time Joshua had already nned how to deal with Moses when he came back He was even plotting on his own sister¨Cinw! He really deserved a beating! Joshua put away his phone and nned to go in and watch Cynthia write the apology letter. However, for some reason, he felt ufortable at the thought that Cynthia would only drift further away from him if he made her do it. Then, Moses also said something about introducing someone to her. Cynthia had been looking at Joshua in the study, thinking about why he was still in the room and not leaving after hanging up the phone. She could not even concentrate on the project with him in the same ¡°Joshua, go out after you finish the call. I still have things to do,¡± Cynthia said straightforwardly, never beating around the trush Hearing her voice, Joshua turned to look at her. He saw her expression, and it was as if she was a prickly hedgehog that no one could approach ¡°As long as you promise not to target Jayleen again, you don¡¯t have to apologize this time,¡± Joshua said, staring at her with deep, inscrutable eyes He did not know why he was so soft¨Chearted. He just did not want to see her pure and innocent eyes full of tears Cynthia asked, ¡°What?¡± This time she really suspected that Joshua was sick as he was unpredictably moody, and his emotions were as changeable as the weather ¡°Are you okay?¡± Cynthia asked her, sensing that something was amiss. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. We¡¯re married, for better or for worse. Before Jayleen came into the picture, you were fine. I just didn¡¯t expect you to change like this,¡± Joshua replied, his demeanor icy as usual Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s you who has changed,¡± Cynthia retorted. ¡°Cynthia,¡± Joshua said, his tone bing more serious. He could not believe how ungrateful she was being Thankfully, Cynthia really liked how good¨Clooking Joshua was. For the sake of his handsome face, she reminded Joshua,¡° Don¡¯t you think that since Jayleen came back, you¡¯ve lost your ability to make good judgments? Before, you were calm and rational when dealing with problems. Now you make decisions based solely on your feelings.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, and a trace of coldness crept into his expression. ¡°If three people were at the scene and one died, wouldn¡¯t it be normal for the other two to suspect each other?¡± Joshua Chapter 96 Chapter 96 ¡°What if the killer was someone outside the group? Person B knew she didn¡¯t do it, but she wouldn¡¯t suspect Person A,¡± Cynthia countered, knowing exactly what Joshua was insinuating. With just a few simple sentences, the two of them were locked in a standoff. Cynthia spoke to him seriously, ¡°I¡¯m tired of all this. I don¡¯t want to argue with you anymore because of Jayleen. Believe me or not, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She was not the type to pick fights. However, being repeatedly forced into difficult situations, being doubted, and being questioned had worn her out. Joshua wanted to believe her, especially when he saw the sincerity in her eyes. However, he could not bring himself to trust her every time he thought about how she had changed after he mentioned divorce. 2 He could not tell which of her words was true and which was false. Jimmy was angry that Joshua had bullied her. [Cynthia: I¡¯m not posting it.] [Little Jerry: ???] Jimmy was confused. Why was she not going to post it? His first thought was that Joshua must have threatened her, but then he remembered that the apology statement was something Joshua had asked Cynthia to post. What was going on? Being full of doubts, Jimmy called Cynthia and got straight to the point. ¡°Cynthia, why aren¡¯t you posting it? Weren¡¯t we going to expose Joshua and Jayleen¡¯s dirty secrets?¡± Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 ¡°We talked it over again. He said I don¡¯t have to apologize,¡± Cynthia replied, looking at the joint project of the twopanies on herputer screen. Jimmy was confused. ¡°What does he not wanting you to apologize have to do with us exposing his affair?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with it. I don¡¯t want to argue,¡± Cynthia exined. Joshua wanted her to apologize, and she could have exposed everything even if he had caused trouble. However, if she still exposed it after he told her not to apologize, he would surely cause her trouble. If he got angry and caused problems for her, it would not be a big deal, but if it led him to go back on their divorce agreement, it would be a huge loss for her. Joshua was a business legend, and if he wanted to make things difficult, she might not be able to handle it all. 1 ¡°So, we¡¯re just going to take this loss?¡± Jimmy sympathized with her. ¡°Just treat him as an insignificant person. We don¡¯t need to care,¡± Cynthia replied, gradually calming down. Jimmy agreed. Before ending the call, he asked, ¡°Oh, by the way, Shirley has been asking me when you¡¯ll be back in Nexuria. I told her to contact you, but she¡¯s too scared.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go back after taking the divorce certificate on the 31st,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone, Cynthia continued to work on the project. After the divorce, she would participate in some of the Yates Group¡¯s projects, including those rted to the Neal Group. She had to make a fortune from this. The next few days were rtively calm. On Friday night, Old Man Neal called Joshua and Cynthia toe over. Cynthia did not refuse. After all, Old Man Neal was a respected elder, and she knew why he had called them back. They arrived at Old Neal Manor. The butler led Joshua and Cynthia inside. Joshua¡¯s parents were not there, only Old Man Neal and the recently returned Moses. ¡°Grandpa,¡± Joshua greeted as they entered. Cynthia followed suit and greeted them as well. ¡°You¡¯re here. Cynthia, sit next to me,¡± Old Man Neal said, feeling down knowing they were getting a divorce soon. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Cynthia did not refuse and was actually d she did not have to sit next to Joshua. Moses, dressed casually, had a mischievous and handsome face. Since they only met about three times a year, they were not very familiar with each other. However, Cynthia remembered him from their first meeting because of his good looks, just like Joshua. The dinner was quite somber, and even with Moses asionally chipping in to lighten the mood, Old Man Neal did not smile as much as before. Toward the end of the meal, Old Man Neal put down his spoon and looked at Cynthia next to him, his voice slightly hoarse as he asked, ¡°Cynthia¡­ are you really going to divorce Joshua?¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Before Cynthia could answer Old Man Neal, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll miss you very much.¡± ¡°In the future, you cane to Nexuria and visit me, or you can call me,¡± Cynthiaforted. ¡°Can you not divorce Joshua?¡± Old Man Neal¡¯s voice was heavy, and he seemed to have aged several years. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t leave, I promise he will treat you well. I¡¯ll also take care of that Jayleen.¡± ¡°Grandpa,¡± Joshua spoke discontentedly. Old Man Neal scolded him harshly, ¡°Shut up!¡± What a useless guy! He could not even keep his own wife. ¡°Grandpa, a forced marriage is not a happy one. I don¡¯t like him anymore, and it¡¯s better for everyone if we divorce.¡± Cynthia no longer had any feelings for Joshua. ¡°Exactly,¡± Moses chimed in, his gaze shifting toward Joshua. ¡°Forcing Cynthia to be with someone she doesn¡¯t love, isn¡¯t that unfair to her?¡± Old Man Neal red at Moses. What nonsense was he spouting?! Joshua¡¯s eyes were also dark, and he looked at Moses with a terrifying aura. ¡°Cynthia, would you like to go out and have some fun with meter?¡± Moses hinted at Cynthia, helping her out of the situation. ¡°I have a few friends I can introduce you to, and after the divorce, you still need to develop your career.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia agreed. Joshua was infuriated by this. Okay? Did this woman even know what kind of people Moses, the little rascal, was introducing her to? ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll take Cynthia out first.¡± Moses winked at Old Man Neal. ¡°You and Joshua can continue to eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Old Man Neal nodded. Joshua was at a loss for words, frowning. He felt strange about tonight¡¯s events. Joshua could not imagine Old Man Neal just standing by and watching as Moses took Cynthia away, especially at a time when he and Cynthia were going through a divorce. ¡°Does it bother you?¡± Old Man Neal suddenly spoke up. ¡°What?¡± Joshua was caught off guard. ¡°Seeing Cynthia taken away by someone else. Does it bother you? Your cooling¨Coff period ends next Wednesday, and the divorce will take ce. Then, someone else will be the one to remind her to wear a jacket, to offer her warmth and support.¡± Old Man Neal was serious this time as he spoke from his heart. Old Man Neal continued, looking up at Joshua, ¡°You¡¯ll be just a passing figure in her life. If you hear all this and feel no emotion, go ahead with the divorce. But if you feel even the slightest difort, I hope you¡¯ll fight for her.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Joshua suppressed his emotions. Since he had decided to divorce, he should stick to that path. Even if he felt ufortable and did not want any other man near Cynthia, it was just possessiveness after being together for so long. It did not mean anything. Besides, since he had promised Jayleen a future, he could not let her down. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Joshua!¡± Old Man Neal felt like he could not get through to Joshua. ¡°I know my feelings for Cynthia better than anyone. The decision to divorce was made after careful consideration. I¡¯m an adult, and I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Joshua said determinedly. ¡°Fine then!¡± Old Man Neal was getting angry again. ¡°Don¡¯te crying to me for helpter.¡± Joshua remained silent. ¡°If you dare to marry Jayleen, get out of the Neal family.¡± Old Man Neal red at him. ¡°Grandpa, she¡¯s a good girl. Please don¡¯t have too much of an opinion about her,¡± Joshua spoke. ¡°A good girl? A good girl would not destroy someone else¡¯s marriage. She wouldn¡¯t be so intimate with you after discovering you¡¯re married. She wouldn¡¯t make you divorce Cynthia for her! Can¡¯t you have somemon sense?¡± Old Man Neal felt like Joshua¡¯s morality had been shattered. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 After the evidence from thest car ident came out, Joshua checked it all again and found out that it was all valid. Yoel still remembered Joshua¡¯splex reaction at the time, which looked like someone who was too proud to apologize after wrongly using someone. ¡°You¡¯re doing it,¡± Joshua said. Cynthia could help him find out in the shortest possible time, but he knew his own personality. If the results turned out to be the same as Old Man Neal¡¯s assumption, his first reaction would be to use Cynthia of ruining Jayleen¡¯s reputation. Hence, it was better to let Yoel do the investigation. Yoel reluctantly agreed, ¡°Okay, Mr. Neal.¡± If Cynthia knew about Joshua¡¯s train of thought, she would say he was overthinking it, as she would never help him with the investigation to begin with. At this moment, Cynthia sat in Moses¡¯s car and spoke up after they drove a distance. ¡°Just drop me off on the side of the road. I¡¯ll call a taxiter.¡± ¡°What are you going back for?¡± Moses drove the car and looked handsome and outgoing when he smiled. ¡°I haven¡¯t even introduced my friend to you yet.¡± Cynthia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Isn¡¯t this just an excuse for you to leave?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an excuse, but it¡¯s also true,¡± Moses spoke. He had a likable personality. ¡°Joshua gave you 200,000,000 USD after the divorce. Don¡¯t you want to make that money grow?¡± ¡°Are you trying to swindle me?¡± Cynthia asked. Although they had not spent much time together, every interaction with Moses had been enjoyable. However, enjoying oneself was one thing, and understanding the person was another. Although Cynthia was not afraid of being swindled, she still needed to ask. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m Joshua? I can¡¯t swindle you. You¡¯re my sister¨Cinw. Not to mention my parents, but if Grandpa knew I swindled you, he¡¯d give me a beating.¡± Cynthia did not reply. The car drove a distance before she spoke again, ¡°I¡¯m not going with you today. I have something to do at home.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to make Joshua jealous?¡± Moses asked. ¡°Why would I want to do that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s using his lover to make you jealous, so why don¡¯t you find some suitors to make him jealous? That would be fair,¡± Moses said as if it were obvious. Cynthia replied, ¡°How childish.¡± She totally believed that this man was Joshua¡¯s own brother as he was relentless in pulling Joshua¡¯s legs. Moses did not drop Cynthia off halfway. Instead, he took her directly to Jiverton¡¯s racetrack. As he brought her in, a group of very good¨Clooking people began to heckle him. ¡°Young Master Neal, it¡¯s rare for you to bring a woman along.¡± ¡°I remember someone saying they weren¡¯t interested in women?¡± ¡°Moses, don¡¯t you want to introduce her?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This is my sister¨Cinw, Cynthia.¡± Moses introduced her openly, jokingly saying to them, ¡°I heard you three had had some good projectstely. Give me two.¡± The three of them were confused. ¡°Why do you want projects if you¡¯re not interested in making money?¡± ¡°I want to give Cynthia some practice. As you know, Joshua is divorcing her, and Grandpa is worried that she can¡¯t survive after the divorce. So, he wants me to help her invest in two profitable projects,¡± Moses said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, with a smirk on his face. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Everyone looked at Moses with skepticism. Then, a handsome young man in racing gear asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Joshua supposed to be wealthy? Why didn¡¯t he give anything to Cynthia during the divorce settlement?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t give her anything. You all know how stingy he is. Think back to the things he did when he worked with you,¡® Moses replied without hesitation. ¡± ¡°He really is stingy.¡± ¡°Cynthia is really unlucky.¡± For a moment, everyone looked at Cynthia with aplex and pitiful expression. Other women who married into wealthy families could at least get something when they were forced to divorce, but Cynthia got nothing. Cynthia remained silent. ¡°Alright, for Moses¡® sake, I¡¯ll give you two projects to work on. Just transfer your investment funds to me and wait for your share of the profits every year,¡± the handsome young man said decisively. ¡°No thanks,¡± Cynthia declined. The handsome man was puzzled. ¡°She¡¯s just too embarrassed to use any rtionship she has with Joshua,¡± Moses chimed in casually. ¡°This project has nothing to do with Joshua. It¡¯s just between us. You can trust uspletely,¡± the young man exined. Cynthia did not say anything. Instead, she just looked at Moses, asking him what he was actually doing. ¡°Wait a little longer,¡± Moses whispered to her. He hade back to watch the show. ¡°After we finish talking, I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Cynthia felt like this was a trap. Whether she wanted to leave or not, she had to stay and chat with them. Moreover, she could not even hail a cab since they were in the middle of nowhere. After about twenty minutes, a car suddenly drove over. Its headlights were so bright that it was hard for anyone to open eyes. their Then, a man with long legs and an extraordinary temperament got out of the car. He wore a long coat and walked over to them with big strides. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Moses, Joshua is here.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like Joshua is not in a good mood?¡± ¡°He looks very angry.¡± Moses smiled, crossing his legs. He had tricked this group of people, but he managed to say in his casual tone, ¡°When hees over later, remember to praise Cynthia. He likes it when people praise her.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they getting a divorce?¡± ¡°Do you want people to talk about how you married a useless woman after your divorce?¡± Everyone immediately understood Moses¡¯s intention with that simple sentence. They thought they were the only ones who cared about their reputation, but they did not expect Joshua to care too!. They would praise her! They had to praise her. They would praise her with all their heart! When Joshua arrived, he saw Cynthia standing on the other side talking on the phone while Moses was chatting with a group of unmanly¨Clooking men. Joshua instantly concluded that Cynthia would not fall for any of the faces here. They greeted him, ¡°Hello, Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite fast.¡± Moses was still as rxed. Joshua¡¯s cold eyes swept over the group, devoid of any warmth, and then looked at Cynthia, who was still on the phone. The group noticed his gaze and exchanged a nce. Then, they quickly started to praise Cynthia. ¡°Mr. Neal, Mrs. Neal is so beautiful. Why haven¡¯t you introduced her to us before?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 ¡°Moses mentioned that Cynthia is beautiful, but I thought he was joking.¡± ¡°Mr. Neal, are you really willing to divorce Mrs. Neal?¡± The group started bombarding Joshua with questions, taking the topic seriously. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, interpreting their curious nces as anticipation for his divorce so that they could have a chance with Cynthia. ¡°Rather than being concerned about my personal life, you should focus on your projects. With how your performances have been, can you even brace the New Year without guilt?¡± Joshua retorted, All eyesnded on Moses, wondering what was going on. Why did Joshua seem angry? Moses chimed in, ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day for today. We can discuss the details when Joshua and Cynthia are divorced. It doesn¡¯t seem appropriate to talk about it now.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± they agreed, assuming that Moses was referring to their projects. Joshua¡¯s beautiful obsidian eyes suddenly turned cold, and he held his breath. The people around him shuddered. Moses noticed everything and smirked, waving at Cynthia, who had just finished her call. ¡°Cynthia, let¡¯s go.¡± Cynthia put away her phone and looked at him. When she saw that Joshua was also there, she quickly looked away and walked toward Moses. Moses could not even get a word in when Joshua said coldly, ¡°Are you having fun here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than being with you,¡± Cynthia replied coldly. Everyone was stunned! Wow! Cynthia was so ruthless! ¡°We¡¯re not divorced yet, so you should know what you can and can¡¯t do. I don¡¯t want to see any negative rumors about the wife of the Neal Group¡¯s president online,¡± Joshua said coldly. As he spoke, Joshua nced at the three people over there. Their hearts shrank in fear. Why did Joshua seem so unfriendly? Cynthia gave him a cold look and ignored him. He was the least qualified person to say such things. Moses walked up to him, leaned down, and whispered, ¡°Joshua, don¡¯t you feel guilty when you told Cynthia that?¡± Joshua gave him a look. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Why should he feel guilty? ¡°Cynthia is innocent and hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. It¡¯s you who divorced her for the sake of your ex¨C lover. I can only say that you¡¯re indeed impressive,¡± Moses said boldly, yet his tone was gentle. Joshua remained quiet. Moses patted his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re a real jerk.¡± ¡°Are you itching for a beating?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Physical pain is nothing. At least I¡¯m not itching for another woman while I¡¯m married,¡± Moses replied. ¡°Moses!¡± Joshua shouted. It had been half a year since theyst met, and he was increasingly disrespectful! ¡°I¡¯m just joking. Why so serious?¡± Mosesughed and stepped back from him. ¡°I¡¯ll take Cynthia back first. Remember to go to thepany and bring back what Grandpa asked for.¡± He said for others to hear and to avoid suspicion. Both he and Joshua were here, and if Cynthia did not leave in Joshua¡¯s car, there would inevitably be rumors. No one said anything upon hearing Old Man Neal¡¯s name. After all, everyone in the circle knew that Moses had no interest in making money and even less interest in work. ¡°Grandpa told you to do it instead.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze swept over Cynthia and Moses. Moses raised an eyebrow. Was he jealous? ¡°You can fetch Grandpa¡¯s things together. Just give me the key to the other car, and I¡¯ll drive myself back,¡± Cynthia finally found an opportunity and spoke calmly. ¡°How can we do that?¡± Moses unlocked the car, took the key, and got in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Grandpa told me to make sure you get home safely. If you go back alone, Grandpa will skin me alive.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Cynthia was speechless. She thought Moses¡¯s acting skills were on par with Shirley¡¯s. However, she wasted no more time with them and got into Moses¡® car. Joshua watched as the car drove away. His hand tightly gripped the car key till his knuckles turned white. Just when everyone thought Joshua would leave, his gaze shifted to them with intense pressure, making them feel suffocated. ¡°Mr. Neal, is there anything else I can help you with?¡± one of them asked nervously. ¡°Do you guys like Cynthia?¡± Joshua¡¯s cold voice suddenly asked. They looked confused, wondering where he was going with this. Before they could react, Joshua ruthlessly continued, ¡°Well, you should give up. She only likes good¨C looking guys.¡± Ignoring their reactions, Joshua warned them and then left. It was not until his taillights disappeared from their sight that they finally processed what had just happened. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did Mr. Neal just say we¡¯re not good¨Clooking?¡± ¡°That¡¯s rude. Dozens of girls are interested in me, and I can make a living with my looks.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re only interested in your money, not your face.¡± ¡°Or your sweet talk.¡± ¡°Mr. Neal was talking about all of us, not just me.¡± The group fell silent. Meanwhile, Joshua was furious. Thinking about how Cynthia had rejected him in front of so many people, he wanted to catch her and discover what was going through her mind. However, Joshua did not follow her. He knew that Moses would be gone by the time he arrived, and Cynthia would not let him in. Moreover, she had probably changed the password on the door after what happenedst time. Joshua knew Cynthia well enough to know that. Cynthia had indeed decided she would not let Joshua into the house anymore. As she watched the buildings outside pass by, she asked Moses, ¡°Do you and Joshua have a bad rtionship?¡± ¡°Not at all. If we did, he would¡¯ve already beat me up a long time ago for the things I¡¯ve said and done to him,¡± Moses replied honestly. Cynthia was a little surprised. She had not seen through the brothers¡® rtionship. Moses had always teased his older brother, and Joshua had shown a tendency to want to discipline his younger sibling. This back¨Cand¨Cforth banter did not seem like the behavior of two close brothers. ¡°Our rtionship with each other is a little different than with other brothers. I like to tease him and watch him get mad, but he never actually does anything to me. He just talks a big game,¡± Moses continued on, chattering away. Cynthia expressed her surprise, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°He let it slide because of something that happened when we were kids. Joshua was really quiet when he was young, not much of a talker. If someone said ten things to him, he might only respond to one,¡± Moses said, telling their story as if it was a tale. ¡°Because of this, the kids in the neighborhood didn¡¯t like him very much and beat him up one day. I happened to be looking for Joshua that day and saw everyone ganging up on him. I stepped in to help him out,¡± Moses continued, still chuckling. ¡°As a result, they knocked me out with one hit, and Joshua was terrified. From that moment on, he¡¯s been extra protective of me,¡± Moses said, smiling. ¡°Oh,¡± Cynthia replied nonchntly. She had not expected the reasoning. Moses nced at her sideways and curled his lips. ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Cynthia responded. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 ¡°Do you still like Joshua?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. Keep it that way. He¡¯s had it too easy his whole life and hardly ever faced any setbacks. This is the perfect opportunity for him to face obstacles, that is you,¡± Moses¡¯s answer always surprised Cynthia. Cynthia did not reply and instead opened the car window to breathe in some fresh air. As they drove toward the neighborhood, Cynthia saw someone wearing a white sweater at a turn in the road about three kilometers away. Upon closer look, Cynthia realized it was Jayleen. However, she saw Jayleen charging toward the car at an insane speed before she could wonder why Jayleen was there! Screech! Moses quickly hit the brakes, his carefree demeanor disappearing in an instant.¡± Despite hitting the brakes, the car collided with Jayleen as the distance was too close. Bang! A dull sound echoed as Jayleen¡¯s body fell to the ground. The car stopped immediately. Cynthia and Moses opened their doors simultaneously, and their hearts filled with anxiety and concern. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Cynthia eximed as she checked Jayleen¡¯s condition. Soon after, blood began to pool around Jayleen¡¯s legs. Cynthia immediately realized that Jayleen had suffered a miscarriage from the impact, and she quickly dialed 911 on her phone, her heart heavy with worry. ¡°I told you¡­ I¡¯ll make Joshuapletely stop caring about you¡­After this, he¡¯ll definitely hate you,¡± Jayleen said, her face devoid of color. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Moses froze. Joshua? ¡°He can only be mine, and no one can take him away,¡± Jayleen weakly said before fainting. Moses finally noticed Jayleen¡¯s face, and he quickly realized something. ¡°Is she Jayleen? Joshua¡¯s ex¨C lover?¡± ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Cynthia replied. She could not express what she was feeling right now. She hated being falsely used and framed but only felt that Jayleen was incredibly foolish. How could she lose her sanity and humanity, even to the extent of being willing to lose her life for a man? Cynthia could not find any meaning or purpose in doing so. Fortunately, the ambnce arrived quickly. Moses and Cynthia followed along. Although Jayleen caused the ident, they still had to go. During the surgery, Moses and Cynthia sat on the chairs in the hallway, thinking about what had just happened. Moses asked, ¡°What did she mean by the things she said to you?¡± ¡°She meant what she said literally,¡± Cynthia answered simply. She was well aware that another mess would be dumped on her soon. When Joshua arrived, Jayleen would definitely say that Cynthia caused her to miscarry and might even use her of trying to kill her. Just thinking about how to deal with all of that made her feel a headache. Cynthia was really, really tired of dealing with these kinds of things and did not want to exin anymore. Unfortunately, the divorce cooling¨Coff period has not passed yet. Moses sensed her emotional changes and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Cynthia leaned her head against the wall. To avoid more trouble, she continued, ¡°After Joshua meets with Jayleen, no matter what she says, don¡¯t interject or exin anything. Leave everything to me.¡± Knowing Joshua¡¯s personality, he would definitely think that she had also won over Moses¡¯s heart if he spoke up for her. 1 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Cynthia was already fed up and did not want to exin another. She thought it must be Mercury retrograde this month. Otherwise, why was everything going wrong? Moses noticed something was off and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Just trust me,¡± Cynthia replied briefly. Although Moses had his doubts, he did not ask further. Whatever the reason was, he would find out later. The surgery was over an hourter, and Jayleen was sent to a regr ward. The doctor exined the situation to Cynthia and Moses, ¡°The patient lost the baby, and there are several abrasions on her body, but other than that, she¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Baby?¡± Moses was surprised. Then, he turned to look at theposed Cynthia, and he felt a little nervous for the first time. Was it Joshua¡¯s baby? Cynthia ignored Moses, only thanking the doctor, ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± After that, she went to Jayleen¡¯s ward. Moses followed her, and he could not help but ask, ¡°Is it Joshua¡¯s?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Cynthia replied truthfully. Although Joshua said he had never slept with Jayleen, no one but themselves knew the truth. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Moses remained quiet, thinking, ¡®Uh oh. If it¡¯s Joshua¡¯s baby, things are not going to look good.¡® Then, Moses said, ¡°I¡¯m going to make a phone call. You can go ahead first, and I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± He had to get Joshua toe over and ask him face¨Cto¨Cface. Cynthia knew he was going to call Joshua and did not stop him. After everything that had happened, she did not feel like dealing with anything anymore. Five minutester, Cynthia arrived at Jayleen¡¯s room, and Jayleen had already woken up when she got there. The nurse had just hung up her IV drip. ¡°Where¡¯s Joshua?¡± Jayleen asked straight away. Cynthia remained silent. Jayleen was quite audacious to ask her that immediately. ¡°Earlier, the person who hit me with the car was the pretty boy you found behind Joshua¡¯s back, right? What if I tell him that your new man hit me to vent his anger toward you? What would happen then?¡± Jayleen spoke quietly, but her eyes were fixed on Cynthia. Cynthia frowned in confusion. Did Jayleen not know Moses? ¡°I don¡¯t want to set you up, but I won¡¯t rest easy until you¡¯vepletely fallen out with Joshua. I have to be with him, and he can only be with me,¡± Jayleen said. ¡°The car has a dashcam,¡± Cynthia said with a straight face. Jayleen smiled. ¡°Do you think Joshua will believe your dashcam over my words?¡± With her injuries and the baby in her womb, Jayleen knew that Joshua¡¯s protective instincts would be triggered. However, she never expected to get pregnant from that encounter with that person before returning to Jiverton¡­ Jayleen could not keep this child, and even if Joshua thought it was the result of her being taken advantage of at the hotel and did not mind, she could not take the risk of him finding outter. The best way to solve this problem was to use Cynthia to her advantage, killing two birds with one stone. Cynthia showed no emotional response, not even the slightest bit of anger. Joshua would surely believe Jayleen¡¯s words; he had already dismissed previous evidence against her as false and would likely think the dashcam footage was also fake. ¡°Don¡¯t you fear that the car won¡¯t stop and end up killing or injuring you?¡± Cynthia asked calmly. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 ¡°If I die. I¡¯ll live on in Joshua¡¯s heart forever. If I¡¯m crippled. Joshua will cherish me even more. Either one is worth it¡± Jayleen said. Her life was already in such a state that if she did not grab onto Joshua tightly, her days would only be more hellish. That person would not let her go and tormented her day and night, making her wish for death. Joshua was her lifeline, and she had to hold onto him no matter the cost! ¡°Well you better hold onto him tightly. Don¡¯t let someone else steal him away from you,¡± Cynthia said coldly. ¡°You can¡¯t steal him from me!¡± Jayleen blurted out. Cynthia looked at her with a pitiful expression. It was really sad to see someone living their life this way. Nheless, she told Jayleen about a new discovery, but her tone was still as t as before, just with a bit of emotion at the end. ¡°Who said I¡¯m the one trying to steal him from you?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jayleen narrowed her eyes. ¡°Your car ident and the incident at the hotel. If someone wasn¡¯t targeting you, how could this happen?¡± Cynthia replied, ying her own game. Including the time when Cynthia was attacked by a group of people. Cynthia had asked Jimmy to investigate, but the results were too different from what she had expected. Hence, she could only say that the person behind everything was hiding too well. If it was just Jayleen who had an ident, it could be attributed to Joshua¡¯s enemies seeking revenge. However, thect that Cynthia was also implicated meant that it was definitely the work of someone who admired Joshua. It was definitely so. ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± Jayleen frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cynthia said, hoping that Joshua would be better at finding out the culprit. Then, she added with a hint of emotion, ¡°You can ask Joshua to investigate for you.¡± It wasughable, really. She actually let Jayleen take the initiative to ask Joshua. Jayleen hesitated for a moment as she studied Cynthia¡¯s expression. She did not doubt Cynthia¡¯s words, Ever since their first meeting at the hospital she knew that Cynthia did not cause the car ident Although Jayleen disliked Cynthia, she knew that Cynthia was an honest person after meeting her a few times. If it were not for apelling reason, Jayleen would not want to harm this girl, but she really had no other way out. ¡°Cynthia. I¡¯m sorry about what happened today. But please forgive me, as I still have to frame you.¡± Jayleen suddenly said. ¡°I never knew what two-faced meant until now. You fit the definition perfectly,¡± Cynthia mocked. Jayleen was embarrassed and angry. ¡°Say that again!¡± ¡°You could be the spokesperson. I¡¯ve never seen someone who¡¯s so twoced, always taking advantage of others while pretending to be innocent¡± Cynthia said slowly. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Jayleen said furiously. Cynthia did not respond. She was waiting for Moses to antive. A reminder for everyone: If you meet someone whomits maintain the scene, and do not let the scammer gel ah imr scam to Jayleen¡¯s, please report it to the police immediately, hemselves. About ten minutester, Moses arrived. He did not introduce himself but just confronted Jayleen. Alter all he would not go solt on anyone just because they were sick. Moreover, Jayleen was the one who ran straight into his car, causing him almost to hit her. It Moses had not braked quickly, she would have been dead. ¡°How could you be so shameless?! You hit me!¡± Jayleen was furious. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you want to die, no one can stop you.¡± Moses still looked calm, sitting with his legs crossed on a chair. ¡± you try to do it again, I won¡¯t hesitate to send you to the afterlife.¡± Cynthia remained quiet. Impressive. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 ¡°You¡¯ll be held legally responsible if I die.¡± Jayleen said, her original intention being for Cynthia le hit her. However, she realized that Cynthia had not driven since moving out. Mases looked at her with skepticism, wondering how Joshua could have been interested in someone this stup id. He had only heard from Joshua that he was in a rtionship, but he had never formally introduced Jayleer to his family. Hence, Moses was always curious about the kind of person who had managed to win Joshua over. Now he k Thank goodness he did not bother to find out earlier. Her intelligence was reallycking, and he found it quite distasteful ¡°It was you who caused the ident. As long as I didn¡¯t vite traffic rules, even it hit you and you died. It would be entirely your fault. Even if there were Irgal consequences. I would only be responsible for less than 10% of the me. I can definitely take care of that responsibility myself if you insist.¡± Moses replied casually, making his point without actualy confronting her. Cynthia pursed her lips and inexplicably found herself liking Moses a bit more. Jayleen bit her lip, clenching the hand without the IV cria lightly. Just like Cynthia, this man was truly hard to like! ¡°Do you know who I am? Jayleen began to reveal her identity, ring at Moses with dislike and anger. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Moses suddenly became interested and raised an eyebrow. ¡°I really don¡¯t¡± he said. ¡°I am Joshua¡¯s future wife. Just for what happened today. I can ruin your reputation It I want to hold you ountable,¡± Jayleen repied loudly, hoping to scare him off. ¡°Then go ahead and have him sue me.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Texperience what it¡¯s like to live in prison.¡± ¡°Do you really think I won¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°Is there anything you won¡¯t do anyway? After all, your future husband is Joshua Neal,¡± Moses chuckled, adding with a yful tone. ¡°A legend in the business world, and every youngster worships him. If he wants to bring someone down, it¡¯s just a matter of saying the word.¡± Jayleen furrowed her brow as she suddenly could rol understand if the person in front of her was really afraid or just mocking her. ¡°But..¡± Moses changed the subject and stood up from his chair. Jayleen stared at him. ¡°But what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that his taste isn¡¯t very good. Otherwise, why would he choose to be with you to be my sister- inw? Cynthia is already so excellent.¡± Moses revealed his identity, hands in his pockets with a hint of arrogance. Jayleen was about to get angry when she caught the keyword in his sentence. Sister-inw¡­ Could it be that the man who was with Cynthia was.. ¡°I forgot to introduce myself, I¡¯m Moses Neal. I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s younger brother,¡± Moses said with a pleasant voice and a smile. He emphasized the word ¡®brother clearly. Jayleer¡¯s pupils shrank, and her face turned pale. Il this person was Joshua¡¯s younger brother, then the things she said earlier about the car ident were¡­ No! She could not let Joshua lind out. She definitely could not! Chapter 107 ¡°Joshua is already on his way here,¡± Moses kindly informed her. He really wanted to watch the show now. ¡°When he arrives, please exin the car idert and how you wanted to ruin my pl on.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Jayleen¡¯s mind was stuck, Moses pulled over a nearby chair, talking to Cynthia nicely, ¡°Cynthia, please sit.¡± Cynthia did not say anything. In the next half hour, Moses chatted with Cynthia while Jaydeeny in bed Ustering to them During this time. Jayleen figured out how to exin things to Joshua and even found excuses for herself. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 It was almost eleven o¡¯clock when Joshua arrived. He was still wearing the same outfit as bellore, and his heavy breathing indicated that he had rushed to get there. His obsidian eyes were filled with worry. When he saw Cynthia, he subtly frowned but walked over to Jayleen. Jayleen, Joshua said. ¡°Joshua.* Jayleen replied, tears streaming down her face. Cynthia was impressed by Jayleen¡¯s ability to cry onmand, After all, it was a skill not everyone possessed. Joshua tried tofort Jayleen, and his words and demeanor were much more patient than when he had spoken to Cynthia. Moses coughed lightly. ¡°Ahem.¡± Was Joshua really so insensitive that he would show affection to his mistress in front of his wife? What a scumbag. ¡°What happened?¡± Joshua asked, still standing and looking at Cynthia and Jayleen. He seemed displeased. ¡°Why is Jayleen in the hospital?¡± Cynthia did not say anything, and Moses remained silent too. When he called Joshua earlier, he only said that Jayleen had an ident and was in the hospital and he did not say anything else. ¡°It¡¯s Cynthia¡­¡± Jayleen tried to grab Joshua¡¯s hand, but he avoided her when he saw Cynthia¡¯s gaze. Jayleen noticed that and bit her lip, her eyes reddening. ¡°I identally found out about her and Moses. She wanted to kill me to keep me quiet.¡± Moses and Joshua both looked confused. Joshua was skeptical. ¡°Moses and Cynthia?¡± ¡°Yes I went out for a walk to clear my head, but I saw them being intimate in the car. I didn¡¯t know he was your brother. I thought he was someone Cynthia was seeing behind your back,¡± Jayleen spoke slowly and with a heavy heart. Jayleen spoke each word carefully, her eyes slightly red. It was hard not to feel sorry for her. Anyone who heard her would not think she was lying. ¡°I called her out and told her I would tell you about her affair. Then she had Moses drive the car and hit me.¡± Jayleen added. ¡°You¡¯re really wasting your talent by not being in movies.¡± Cynthia retorted. Jayleen did not say anything and just looked at Cynthia. *Since you said Moses and I were being intimate in the car, why don¡¯t you tell me what we did? What exactly did we do, and where did we do it?¡± Cynthia spoke coldly, still seated. ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Jayleen¡¯s face reddened, looking ashamed. ¡°Joshua, I can¡¯t say it¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Joshua¡¯s expression turned cold, losing all warmth instantly. Then, he stared at Cynthia and asked, ¡°What did you guys do?¡± ¡°You should ask her. Why are you asking me?¡± Cynthia showed no respect for Joshua. ¡°Have you trusted anything I say?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Joshua was rendered speechless. At that moment, Moses looked at Cynthia with aplex gaze. What did the bastard Joshua do to hurt Cynthia like this? Chapter 108 ¡°Jayleen, tell me.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was deeper than before. Jayleen seemed hesitant and paused for a long time before murmuring. ¡°I saw Cynthia leaning over to kiss Moses in the driver¡¯s seat. Her hand was around his neck, and they did.. more intimate things.¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was hoarser than usual and his obsidian eyes were filled with raging emotions. Jayleen was half¨Cleaning on the hospital bed. She had removed her IV drip and clenched her hand tightly. ¡°Moses put his hand in Cynthia¡¯s clothes.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Moses blurted out Cynthia looked at him. Despite her anger, her mood lightened up, even finding it slightly amusing because of his remark. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say that Cynthia and I were having sex in the car? You have a talent for lying with your eyes open! I¡¯ve never met someone like you before.¡± Moses retorted. ¡°Moses! Joshua shouted. Moses grinned. When he recalled Cynthia¡¯s response, he replied, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you believe me?¡± Joshua did not say anything, Watching Moses delend Cynthia made Joshua feel inexplicably frustrated. ¡°Joshua, they might just be temporarily infatuated. Cynthia might be upset about something between us. That¡¯s why she did something like this.¡± Jayleen tugged on Joshua¡¯s sleeve, her beautiful eyes filled with concern. ¡°Don¡¯t me her. Jayleen added. Cynthia and Moses remained silent. The two stood there waiting for Joshua¡¯s reaction and response. Joshua clenched his hands tightly, and he finally asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Are you sure you saw it?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Jayleen nodded. Joshua asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t see it wrong?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No.¡± After Jayleen said this, Joshua stood there for a long time without speaking. For a moment, the three of them could not fathom his thoughts. ¡°Joshua, since you¡¯re going to divorce Cynthia and be with this person anyway, why not just let us be together? I¡¯m sure I¡¯m better to her than you are, and Grandpa won¡¯t object.¡± Moses stirred up trouble. ¡°Shut up!¡± Joshua¡¯s whole body was filled with coldness. Jayleen finally felt a little relieved. Even the fool Moses had admitted it, and Cynthia¡¯s attempts to exin were useless. Her les worked. Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on the silent Cynthia, a mix ofplex emotions swirling inside him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin?¡± ¡°Is there a need to exin? Cynthia could not be bothered to respond. ¡°Cynthia!¡± ¡°Are you going to believe me if I say there¡¯s nothing between Moses and me and Jayleen purposely ran straight into the car?¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes met his. Silence fell over the entire hospital room. Jayleen looked at the scene, already imagining the situation between Cynthia and Joshuapletely falling apart. No man could ept being cheated on, especially when both of them were his closest people. ¡°Josh Jayleen was about to speak when Joshua suddenly Interrupted. 1/2 Chapter 109 ¡°I believe it.¡± His tone was icy. Cynthia was puzzled. Jayleen stiffened all over. A hint of panic shed in her eyes, and a sense of dread spread through her heart. Then, she instinctively reached out to hold Joshua¡¯s hand. ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m not lying. Moses and Cynthia were really¡­¡± ¡°Do you know who Moses is? Joshua appeared exhausted. Jayleen looked at Moses, but before she could speak, Joshua said, ¡°He¡¯s my brother, and he would risk his life to protect me.¡± ¡°Joshua¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Even if he¡¯s not nice to everyone, he wouldn¡¯t have done anything to hurt me,¡± Joshua sald without any warmth in his voice, his obsidian eyes staring at Jayleen. Jayleen was truly scared now. ¡°Joshua. I really didn¡¯t lie to you. They were really doing it in the car¡­¡± ¡°Enough¡± Joshua¡¯s anger had reached its peak. Jayleen shuddered. Joshua never thought that someone he trusted so much could turn out like this, ¡°Do you think that no matter what you say about Cynthia, I¡¯ll believe it?¡± Jayleen¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Moses wouldn¡¯t betray me, and neither would Cynthia. You shouldn¡¯t be smearing her reputation with something like this.¡± Cynthia looked a bit bewildered. She had prepared herself for being med for everything today, but things took a turn. ¡°Isn¡¯t Joshua acting weird today?¡± Cynthia pointed at her head and whispered to Moses. ¡°You should say that he¡¯s normal today. His head was clouded with shit before.¡± Moses smirked as if he had already expected this oue. Cynthia was caught off guard by the remark. Wow. ¡°Joshua¡± Moses suddenly called out to him. Joshua looked at Moses with an icy gaze. He never expected Jayleen to turn out like this as she used to be a very innocent person. Moses continued to add fuel to the fire. ¡°Was the child in her belly yours?¡± ¡°What child?¡± Joshua looked up. ¡°When I was driving Cynthia home, she deliberately crashed into us at a turn. As a result, she had a miscarriage. The doctor confirmed the baby was gone,¡± Moses exined. Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on Jayleen. Moses continued to ask, ¡°Was it yours?¡± ¡°No.¡± Joshua answered quickly, without hesitation. He had never had sex with Jayleen, so it was impossible for her to have his child. Jayleen realized that things were not going in the direction she wanted. She felt panicked and thought about how to resolve the situation. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were pregnant? Joshua asked her. ¡°I was afraid¡­¡± Jayleen¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She hugged her knees and curled up on the bed. ¡°I was afraid you would despise me and not want me anymore¡­ She buried her head in her knees and sobbed. The scene was so distressing that anyone who did not know what was going on would think she had been greatly wronged. ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said repeatedly. ¡°Was it because of the incident at the hotel? ¡°Yes¡­¡± Joshua¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Finally, he simply asked, ¡°Why did you try to me Cynthia and ruin her reputation like that?¡± ¡°I was afraid that if you knew I was pregnant with someone else¡¯s child, you wouldn¡¯t want me anymore. You would think Cynthia is 1/2 Chapter 110 cleaner than me. I¡¯m dirty. I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m sorry¡­ Jayleen sobbed. Jayleen was filled with tears and despair. Joshua thought about what had happened to her before. Although he had already sent the person who took advantage of her to jail, the trauma left behind needed time to heal. Joshua tried to put himsell in her shoes and said, ¡°I never wanted to leave you, but what you did was wrong. You need to apologize to Cynthia and Moses.¡± *Tm sorry, Cynthia. I¡¯m sorry, Moses. I was wrong, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jayleen quickly apologized sincerely. Cynthia did not say anything. Jayleen got full marks for her acting skills. She really knew how to capture a man¡¯s heart. Compared to her previous refusal to admit her mistakes. Jayleen¡¯s quick confession and sincere apology were too effective in capturing anyone¡¯s heart. Moreover, Joshua had always viewed Jayleen through rose¨Ccolored sses. Chapter Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 ¡°I don¡¯t ept it Cynthia blurted out. Moses also said, ¡°I don¡¯t ept it either.¡± Jayleen looked at Joshua with teary eyes, hoping he would forgive her. However, Joshua did not indulge Jayleen like before. If it had been Mitchell with Cynthia, he might have believed half of it. After all Mitchell. was someone Cynthia liked, and that would have caused a big argument between them. Sensing Joshua¡¯s intention, Jayleen took the initiative to ask ¡°Tell me What can I do for you to ept my apologies? I do anything you want me to.¡± Cynthia nced at the two of them and said, ¡°Stay away from Joshua and never show up around him again, and I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± ¡°Uh¡± Jayleen bit her lip. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t do it?¡± Cynthia pressed. ¡°Then p Joshua twice. If you do that, I forgive you,¡± Cynthia added. Jayleen clenched her hands tightly under the nket, her hatred for Cynthia deepening. Even so, she had to keep pretending. ¡°Cynthia, this is my fault, and it has nothing to do with Joshua¡­¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m asking you to p him as a reminder for him to control his mistress better.¡± Cynthia said brazenly. Joshua remained silent, and Moses raised an eyebrow. Jayleen bit her lip, her eyes turning red as if she was on the verge of tears. p! Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Jayleen pped herself hard, leaving a red mark on her fair skin. She knew how to make Joshua forgive her, and she knew how to make Joshua hate Cynthia. ¡°What are you doing? Joshua was shocked. ¡°I acted impulsively and selfishly. It¡¯s my fault. I can¡¯t bring myself to hit you, and I can¡¯t leave you, either. All I can do is hit myself to calm Cynthia down,¡± Jayleen berated herself. Jayleen knew how important Moses was to Joshua, so she did not drag him into this. However, Cynthia was not her match. ¡°Enough. This matter ends here,¡± Joshua said with a hint of frustration. ¡°That won¡¯t do. If people can get away with framing others with just a small punishment like this, doesn¡¯t that tell them that all they need to do when they mess up is shed some tears, apologize, and pretend to hit themselves?¡± Moses chimed in with his usual carefree demeanor. ¡°What do you suggest?¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze was heavy, but he warned Moses to tread carefully. However, Moses was never someone who would tread carefully. *Let her kneel and reflect on her actions. Not for too long, just half a day.¡± Moses suggested simply, trying to speak up for Cynthia. Jayleen looked up nervously, wondering if Joshua really nned to make her kneel. ¡°Moses! Joshua warned him. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re way too sed. If Cynthia falsely used Ms. Shaw, would you let Cynthia off so easily? Moses walked over and hooked arms with him. No, he would not. The answer Immediately came to Joshua¡¯s mind. Cynthia was no longer in the mood to listen to their discussion about the incident. As long as Joshua did not wrongly use her, she 1/2 Chapter 111 would not care anymore. In the face of the situation, she simply said to Moses, ¡°Im going back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Cynthia refused. She did not even nce at Joshua and Jayleen as deen as she walked out as if they were both Insignificant. Joshua¡¯s heart tightened, but before he could make up his mind, he was already chasing alter Cynthia, When he reached the door. Joshua did not forget to remind Moses. ¡°Watch over Jayeen, I be back in a bit. Moses did not even respond whether he agreed to it or not. By the time Joshua caught up to Cynthia, they had already left the inpatient department. ¡°Cynthial¡± Joshua grabbed her arm from behind. his husky voice carrying a hint of tension. Cynthia stopped in her tracks, looking at him calmly. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened today. Jayleen isn¡¯t usually like this. She may have sulle red asychological trauma from being assaulted. causing her to act impulsively.¡± Joshua said, leeling uneasy. He felt a coolness spreading throughout his body. ¡°What authority do you have to apologize on her behall? Cynthia asked. Joshua paused. All his words seemed to get stuck in his throat, making it hard for him to speak. Cynthia did not want to waste any more time. ¡°Move aside.¡± She was wrongly used, yet Joshua not only failed to uncover the truth, and he also believed Jayleen¡¯s words without questioning them. Moreover, he not only did not me Jayleen when she made a mistake, but he also apologized on her behalf. Moses was right. Joshua was biased toward Jayleen. ¡°Cynthia¡± ¡°I told you to move aside.¡± ¡°Can you just calm down and listen to me?¡± Joshua was not used to her indifference. Cynthia looked at him. Even though she had not said anything. Joshua could still understand what she was trying to convey. She was trying to say. What was your reaction when I asked you to listen to my exnation calmly and rationally?¡± Joshua¡¯s heart ached, and he could not quite describe the emotion he was feeling. It was like a huge stone was pressing on his chest. He took out the car keys, said nothing about what had just happened, and changed the subject, TL take you back home.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to,¡± Cynthia refused firmly. However, Joshua did not give her a chance. Inslead, he pulled her slender wrist with hisrge hand and brought her to the parking lot. He forcefully stuffed her into the car and drove her home. It was already half past eleven at night. Cynthia was so tired that she fell asleep in the passenger seal. She did not trust Joshua in many things, but when it came to personal safety, he was sill trustworthy. Moreover, she usually went to bed around ten o¡¯clock every night, and even if she was dyed, she would sleep by eleven o¡¯clock at thetest. As a result, Cynthia really could not stay awake any longer. While driving. Joshua wanted to talk to Cynthia about what had happened. ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± However, after calling her several times, he realized she had fallen asleep. He slowed down the car and looked at the sleeping girl Suddenly, his heavy heart softened, and the suppressed emotions dissipated. 1/2 There was even a moment where he thought it would be nice if things continued like this. The car headed toward Cynthia¡¯s neighborhood. It was not unti. nearly one o¡¯clock in the moming that Joshua linally brought Cynthia to her neighborhood. He wanted to wake her up and walk her to her door, but after calling her softly. Cynthia did not wake up. In the end, Jeshua had to park the car and carry her up to her apartment. 2/2 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 If it were any other day, Cynthia would have been awake by now. However, she was in a rxed state, coupled with extreme exhaustion, so she slept soundly. When they arrived at the door. Joshua used Cynthia¡¯s lingerprint to open it. After charging his shoes, he carried her upstairs. As he did not know which room she slept in, he had to open each one to check. It was not until he opened the second room that he saw Cyn/h personal belongings. Later, Joshua helped her take off her shoes and gently ced her on the bed. Then, just as he was about to help her remove her clothes and change into pajamas, Cynthia suddenly woke up, instinctively grabbing his hands on her cor. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Joshua whispered. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia stared at him for a moment seemingly conlirming that she knew him, before closing her eyes and falling back asleep. Joshua could not help but frown at her reaction. Has Cynthia experienced something in her past? Her reaction just now did not seem like she was fully awake. Instead, it was more like a subconscious action, ensuring she was in a safe environment before rxing and going back to sleep. After helping Cynthia change into her pajamas, Joshua sat by her bed for a long time, realizing he knew very little about her past and experiences. Just then, his phore vibrated, It was a message from Yoel. [Yoel: Mr. Neal, are you there? He gently tucked Cynthia in bed and left the room with his phone in hand, trying not to disturb her sleep. Then, he went downstairs to the living room and turned on the lights before calling You. Yoel¡¯s energy perked up upon seeing Joshua¡¯s call Joshua was stu awake! ¡°Mr. Neal,¡± Ycel answered the call feeling slightly nervous. ¡°What is it?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°I finished investigating Ms. Shaw¡¯s terminal illness, as you requested. However, the results are slightly different from what you already knew, Yoel exined, trying to phrase his words in a way that Joshua would ept. ¡°Go on,¡± Joshua urged, standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window and looking into the right. ¡°There are hospitalization and treatment records of Ms. Shaw having stomach cancer abroad, but we didn¡¯t find any of her records in Jiverton.¡± Yoel continued. Joshua paused for a moment before realizing what Yoel meant. ¡°So you¡¯re saying Jayleen¡¯s terminal illness might be fake?¡± ¡°Outpatient records are only kept for two years, and it¡¯s possible that Jayleen had the checkup done a long time ago.¡± Yoel replied. Intentionally finding an excuse to avoid any potential bacsh, Joshua hung up the phone without saying anything. Half a year ago, Jayleen had called him and told him that she had just received a checkup report the day before they broke up, which showed she had a terminal illness. She even showed him the records of her treatment abroad. the report had been received the day before the breakup. the checkup must have beer done a few days before. Although culpallent records were only kept for two years, many hospitals did not clear their records as soon as they reached the two¨Cyear mark. There was usually a reasonable extension ped Did Jayleen lie to him? Joshua Immediately rejected the idea. Why would she lie to him when she had no reason to do s so? If it were just to be with him, she would not have broken up with him in the first ce. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Joshua was in a dilemma. He opened Yoel¡¯s WhatsApp and sent a message, (Are you sure your investigation is correct?| Yoel replied. Yes, I¡¯m sure. To avoid any mistakes during the investigation. I checked it three times, and the results were the same every time.] Joshua closed his phone, and he quickly came up with an idea. He trusted Yeel, but he also would not easily doubt Jayleen. He learned from Moses that Jaycen had not slept yet, so he called her. Jayleen answered the phone, sounding aggrieved and teary. ¡°Joshua¡± ¡°Why haven¡¯t you slept yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll me me. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I did that. I really didn¡¯t mean to use Cynthia and Moses,¡± Jayleen said. ¡°It¡¯s in the past. After you¡¯ve rested, I¡¯ll take you for a full¨Cbody check¨Cup.¡± Joshua said, slightly emotional Jayleen tensed up, thinking about the fact that she had led to him. ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already had it done before. I¡¯m really healthy. ¡°Miscarriage is like giving birth, which can cause great harm to the body. I feel more relief if you go for a check¨Cup.¡± Joshua said emotionally. ¡°Okay.¡± Jayleen gave in. This conversation did not yield any results. Hence, Joshua asked her to sleep early and hung up the phone. Then he slept on the s. The next morning, Cynthia woke up in her room, feeling confused. She could only remember sitting in the passenger seat of Joshua¡¯s car. falling asleep from exhaustion. The next thing she knew, it was already a new day. Cynthia dismissed these thoughts and was about to put on her shoes when she realized she was wearing what seemed to be pajamas. She did not think much of it and immediately u understood that Joshua had done this. He had taken care of her many times before, such as when they went shopping or attended a dinner party. If it were toote, he would just carry her back to their room, help her remove her makeup, change her clothes, and tuck her into bed. Cynthia was just responsible for sleeping. It seemed that she was really exhausted yesterday as this man even changed her clothes without waking her up. Cynthia took a shower, changed into a new cutfit, and then walked downstairs in her slippers. She was taken aback when she saw him sleeping on the s in the corner. He¡­ slept on the sofa all night? She walked down in her light¨Ccolored loungewear and kicked his long legs that were dangling off the sofa. ¡°Wake up.¡± Joshua woke up from being kicked. When he opened his eyes and saw her standing in front of him, his mind was still a bit foggy. ¡°You should go.¡± Cynthia said coldly. With her long hair falling freely, Cynthia looked even more unapproachable. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re a bit heartless?¡± Joshua was not fully awake yet. He frowned and sat up on the sofa, feeling a headache. ¡± weren¡¯t for me carrying you backst night, you would still be sleeping in the car.¡± ¡°Do you want me to thank you? Cynthia did not sound friendly at all. She was not the type to forget old grudges just because someone did her avor once. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Joshua rubbed his forehead. Why was she in such a bad mood in the early morning? Did he do something to annoy her? Cynthia did not care about him and called to order breakfast Just for one person. Chapter 114 She was good at many things, but cooking was not one of them, as she found it troublesome. Thus, she usually ordered food. Only a very small number of times would she prepare something to eal. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Joshua was not in a hurry to leave, so when Cynthia ced her order for breakfast and headed upstairs, he took it upon himsell to go to her kitchen. As someone who did not enjoy cooking, Cynthia¡¯s kitchen looked brand new. Except for a few simple seasonings, there was nothing else. Joshua found the soy milk maker, took out some beans, and began making breakfast. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Half an hourter, Cynthia¡¯s order arrived, and Joshua¡¯s breakfast was also ready. He made soy milk, a sandwich with a fried egg. When Cynthia saw Joshua¡¯s breakfast she frowned. She only cared about one thing and asked. ¡°Did you clean the kitchen?¡± ¡°No.¡± Joshua lied. Cynthia suddenly did not feel like her catmeal was very appetizing, and her temper rose. ¡°Joshua¡± Joshua continued to eat his breakfast, unfazed. As he ate, he could not help but sneak a nce at Cynthia, and a thought crossed his mind. Cynthia had been living here for a while now. What did she usually eat? There was barely any food in the house, and if it were not for him scrounging arcund, he would not have been able to put together a simple breakfast. ¡°Do you eat takrout every day?¡± ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just concerned for Grandpa¡¯s sake.¡± Cynthia did not reply, not believing his excuse. She quickly finished her oatmeal and reminded him, ¡®Remember to clean the kitchen and put everything back to how it was before you used it.¡± ¡°Can you do me a favor? Joshua asked after finishing his breakfast. Cynthia gave him a skeptical look. It was not like Joshua to ask for favors. Joshua cleaned up and then began discussing the matter with Cynthia, ¡°Can you give me a list of people in Jiverton who have been diagnosed with stomach cancer?¡± Cynthia was confused. She could not help but wonder what gave Joshua the confidence and courage to make such a request. Did she really look like the kind of person who would help him out? ¡°Why don¡¯t you just openly admit you¡¯re looking for Jayleen¡¯s medical records?¡± She saw through his intentions. Asking for a ist of people was just a cover. Old Man N ¡°You¡¯re right. Grandpa asked me to do IL Joshua confessed, name¨Cdropping Old Man Neal. ¡°Not interested,¡± Cynthia relused bluntly. Cynthia stared at Joshua, wondering what the hell this man was nning. ¡°He doesn¡¯t believe Jayleen ever had stomach cancer, and he wants to see her medical records from both Jiverton and abroad. I thought. you could help me find them faster.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask for the records from Jayleen Cynthia pushed back. Joshua walked toward her and looked down at her. ¡°Are you unable to find them?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not. Myputer rejects the name ¡°Jayleen Shaw. It treats anything rted to her as a virus and deletes it automatically. Cynthia admitted frankly. Joshua was taken aback, not expecting her to have such a strong reaction to the name. Cynthia threw the car keys at him and said. ¡°The door is over there. You can leave now.¡± 1/2 Joshua look the keys, assuming she was still angry about what had happened yesterday. ¡°Jayleen won¡¯t repeat what she did yesterday. Don¡¯t be angry anymore.¡± Cynthia suddenly got curious and asked, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t Moses who sent me home yesterday, but Mitchell¨CWould you still believe Jayleen? Joshua¡¯s expression changed, the light in his eyes getting dimmer, Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Cynthia understood immediately. ¡°Would you have believed what she said?¡± ¡°Why were you with Mitchell? Joshua¡¯s heart began to race at the mention of that name, and he was filled with a wave of unnameable anger. Cynthia gave a possible exnation, ¡°Just friends getting together for a meal Joshua lightened his grip on the car key. In the end, he did not say anything and left. He did not know how to answer the question. If Jayleen had mentioned Cynthia and Mitchell he would have been angry. He knew Cynthia would not do anything inappropriate with Mitchell Still the thought of Cynthia¡¯s trust and obedience to him and the invisible trust between the two made it hard for him to control his emotions. Cynthia was indifferent as she watched him avoid the question and leave. Then, she went back upstairs to attend to her own affairs. That afternoon, Cynthia had just finished reading all the projects that Mr. Yates had given her and was about to take a good rest when she received a call from Moses. ¡°Cynthia, why don¡¯t you join us for some fun? I organized a game and invited a few close friends.¡± Moses¡¯s casual voice came through the phone. Cynthia declined. ¡°No. I have some things to do here.¡± ¡°Mitchell ising too,¡± Moses said meaningfully. Cynthia stayed quiet Moses did not give her a chance to refuse. ¡°Get ready. I¡¯ll pick you upter. Anyway, that¡¯s it. Bye.¡± Without waiting for Cynthia¡¯s response, he hung up the phone. The people in the vi watched him mischievously. ¡°Are you not afraid that Joshua will kill you?¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Moses enjoyed causing trouble. After saying goodbye to them and grabbing his car key, he left the vi His game was specifically organized for Joshua to make him feel a little nervous. Moses did not use Michell to anger Joshua and the two actually divorced, Joshua might drag Moses by the cor to help him pursue Cynthia back. Moses did not want that to happen. On the way to Cynthia¡¯s house, he made a quick call to Joshua and Mitchell Although he knew Mitchell, they were not close. However, this did not prevent him from using Cynthia to arrange a get¨Ctogether. They agreed to meet at hall past seven in the evening, and Moses brought Cynthia to the vi. Cynthia did not even have to ask before Moses exined, ¡°If our group goes to bars or nightclubs, we¡¯ll simply attract too much attention, so I arranged the party here. It¡¯s usually empty anyway.¡± Cynthia simply responded, ¡°Oh.¡± Then, she did not say much more. She had attended many such parties in Nexu, usually dragged there by Jimmy and spending most of her time sleeping in the corner or being forced to y games. When she arrived at the vi, only Chyler and Yiordan were there. She suddenly had a suspicion after seeing them. ¡°Will Joshua being too?¡± Moses replied, ¡°Of course. He should be here in a while, and Mitchell is still on the way.¡± Then, he exined the situation to her and added. ¡°There are fruits and food here. If you¡¯re hungry or thirsty, help yoursell. We¡¯ll y games when they arrive.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ying. Eli just watch you guys,¡± Cynthia declined immediately. 1/2 Chapter 116 They waited for a while longer before Mitchell arrived in his car, wearing amon gray suit and a pair of gold¨Crimmed sses. He briefly greeted the others before sitting down beside Cynthia with a smile, starting a casual conversation with her. Watching this scene. Moses smirked. Chyler took out her phone and sent Joshua a WhatsApp message. If you don¡¯te soon, Moses will help your soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Cwife get together with Mitchell)Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Joshua was still driving when he received the text. He nced at the message that popped up, and his gaze deepened as he elerated toward the suburban vi. When he arrived, Chyler and Yiordan seemed to be ying a mobile game while Moses ran back and forth between different ces. Only Cynthia and Mitchell were sitting there chatting. Although it was just an ordinary distance and conversation, Joshua could not help but feel they should be separated, as their behavior was like an eyesore. ¡°You finally made it. We¡¯ve been waiting for you for over hall an hour.¡± Moses joked, cing a bottle of wine on the table and pulling Joshua over. Joshua was emitting a terrifyingly low pressure. Moses pulled him to sit down, and all six were present. Chyler nced at Mitchell liddling with his phone and asking Moses, ¡°Today isn¡¯t day worth celebrating, so why did you call us all here?¡± Moreover, he even invited Mitchell. ¡°Who said it¡¯s not worth celebrating?¡± Moses blurted out. All of their eyes turned to him, each with a look of contusion on their face. Moses continued to pour the wine nonchntly and put the bottle down before casually saying, ¡°Joshua and Cynthia are getting divorced in four days, so we¡¯re celebrating their retum to single life in advance.¡± Yiordan pursed his lips, avoiding eye contact Chyler coughed lightly. Moses really was as daring as ever! ¡°It¡¯s definitely worth celebrating.¡± Mitchell said, eager to join in the fun as he picked up a wine ss. Seeing that he had achieved his goal Moses raised his ss, smirking as he said. ¡°Cynthia, let¡¯s have a toast.¡± Without hesitation, Cynthia picked up her own ss. ¡°Joshua, what are you doing? Haven¡¯t you been warting a divorce from Cynthia for a long lime? Or is it that you actually don¡¯t want to divorce her?¡± Moses urged, giving him a nudge on the arm. Joshua red at Moses, his gaze piercing like a smile. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. However, Moses was used to it and he was not afraid of Joshua at all. The coldness emanating from Joshua was almost tangible as he looked up at the sses held by Cynthia and Mitchell, which were almost touching. Then, he raised his ss in dence and clinked it against theirs, making a loud sound that echoed in the spacious vi. Clink! Chyler and Yiordan exchanged a nce, realizing one thing: Moses was in trouble. ¡°Chyler, Yiordan, what are you two standing around for? Moses wanted everyone to participate. Otherwise, the game would not be linter on. ¡°This is a very important day for Joshua.¡± ¡°Aherr¡± The two of them cleared their throats and lifted their sses in a toast withplicated emalions. The six of them all started drinking. Chyler took a small sin and put his ss down, barely making a dent. Moses and Yiordan did the same. Only Joshua, Cynthia, and Mitchell finished their drinks to thest drop. When Joshua put down his ss, he noticed the issue at hand. 1/2 Cynthia and Mitchell¡¯s sses werepletely empty, as if they were anticipating the end of their marriage. Suddenly, the almosphere became eerie. Chyler regretteding. He would not havee it he had known that Moses¡® idea of a fun game involved drinking and causing drama. This was far from a game. It was more like sharing the pressure of an icy silencel ¡°Mitchell, I heard you¡¯re still single and never had a girlfriend?¡± Moses felt no pressure whatsoever and continued to stir things up. Mitchell had a refined and gentlemanly presence about him, simply answering. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Well what do you think of Cynthia? I heard you guys are really good friends, and Cynthia will be divorced soon. Do you have any interest in pursuing her?¡± Moses said, ignoring Joshua¡¯s deathly re. 2/2 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 ¡°This depends on Cynthia.¡± Mitchell summed up everything in one sentence. Seeing that the day¡¯s highlight wasing, Moses asked, ¡°Cynthia, what do you think of Mitchell?¡± ¡°He¡¯s great¡± Cynthia replied in a professional tone. Moses smirked and asked teasingly, ¡°And Joshua?¡± ¡°A scumbag Cynthia bluntly replied. She was not afraid to damage Joshua¡¯s image. Everyone here knew what he had done and why he divorced her for his ex¨Clover. Calling him a scumbag was not an exaggeration. ¡°Ahem!¡± Chyler could not help it anymore. Joshua¡¯s soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Cwife was too tough! ¡°Can¡¯t you stuff your mouth with the food and shut up?¡± Joshua¡¯s chilly gaze fell on Moses, his words cold and unsympathetic. *Food is meant to be tasted, not to be used to shut one¡¯s mouth. How did Cynthia fall for you with that IQ of yours?¡± Moses replied with a smirk. Joshua remained quiet. Where was his knite when he needed it?! ¡°Let¡¯s y a game. Moses started the next round. He had put in much effort for Joshua¡¯s sake. ¡°Since there aren¡¯t any outsiders here. let¡¯s y Truth or Dare, shall we?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Chyler agreed. Yiordan calmly said. ¡°Sure.¡± Joshua looked over with a scrutinizing gaze. What was going on with these two? Chyler did not even lift his head. As long as he did not look up, he could not see Joshua¡¯s gaze. If only he had known that they would y Truth or Dare at this time, he would not have agreed, no matter what Moses had offered. Now that he was already here, he could not escape. ¡°Joshua, are you ying?¡± Ylordan, a bold person, asked the most lethal question in the calmest tone. Joshua wanted to stand up and leave. However, he could only coldly reply with a yes when he thought of the unreliable Moses. Cynthia did not want to y. She had no interest in this kind of game, but Moses was too persistent. Hence, she had no choice but to reluctantly agree. And so it began. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The six¨Cperson game had started. There were no ying cards or any other board games. Instead, Moses pulled out six small porcin round discs, the size of chess pieces, that he had prepared in advance. ¡°Out of these six small white discs, only two have words written on them, one with the letter A and the other B, while the others are nk. Those who get the disc with the letter A can ask questions or make demands of those who get the disc with the letter B.¡± Moses exined, having made a lot of preparation for this day. ¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± He promptly distributed the small discs. Chapter 116 Cynthia fell that something was a little off but could not quite put her linger on it. In the first round. Joshua got the disc with the letter B, while Mitchell got the one with the letter A After realizing it was not her, Cynthia¡¯s doubts vanished, and she absentmindedly joined the game with them. ¡°Joshua, truth or dare?¡± Joshua answered coldly. ¡°Dare.¡± ¡°Mitchell you can make a demand now.¡± Moses acted as amentator, worried that they might be unable to y along. Everything tonight was preparation for Cynthia and Joshua¡¯s situation, and the first few rounds were just warm¨Cups. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Mitchell was not very interested in this kind of game, so he made a random de mand, and Joshua quicklyplied. Then, they moved on to the next round. After four rounds without Cynthia¡¯s turn, they moved on to the fifth round. ¡°I got A,¡± said Moses with a hint of yfulness in his eyes. Then, he asked, ¡°Who got B?¡± ¡°Not me,¡± said Mitchell. ¡°Not me,¡± said Chyler. ¡°Also, not me.¡± said Yiordan. As Mitchell Chyler, and Yordan spoke, Moses¡® gaze fell on Joshua and Cynthia. The game had officially begun! Cynthia flipped over her small round disc and epted calmly. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Truth or dare?¡± Moses asked, already knowing the routine. Cynthia thought about the not¨Cso¨Coutrageous conditions from their previous rounds and chose ¡®dare¡®. Truth did not suit her well ¡°Are you sure?¡® asked Moses ¡°Yes,¡± replied Cynthia. ¡°Call your first ove on speakerphone and tell them you miss them.¡± said Moses, who had already prepared the question. Whether Cynthia chose truth or dare, the oue would not stray from the topic of her first love. Moses was dying to see Joshua¡¯s reaction to the scene of Cynthia calling her first love. He would surely be jealous! At the mention of it. Cynthia paused, and her hand holding the small disc also froze. Mitchell¡¯s gare also fell on her, with aplex expression that others could not understand. ¡°Tll drink,¡± said Cynthia softly, taking one ss of wine after another from the table. When she finished thest ss, she ced it on the table with a loud thud, and her hand ingered on it for a long time. This scene made the other four people present collectively think that Cynthia¡¯s first love was an untouchable past that would make her sad and depressed at the mere mention of it. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Joshua unconsciously squeezed the small round disc in his hand. Cynthia¡¯s first love¡­. Who could it be? ¡°Cynthia, are you okay? Moses did not expect this reaction from her. In his opinion, even if Cynthia had a deeply ingrained past with her first love, she had already forgotten most of it since she married Joshua, and she could joke about her past events. However, Cynthia¡¯s expression waspletely different from someone who had moved on. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Cynthia lelt a little dizzy, but she tried to stay alert and told them to continue.. Moses looked at her with concern, then nced at Mitchell and Joshua, but ultimately decided to collect the white discs, shuffle them, and distribute the randomly. Moses had a bit of a hidden agenda. He purposely did not give the B disc to Cynthia this time, thinking that she might need some time to deal with the issue of her first love. However, he did not expect that the random distribution would end up giving the 8 disc to Cynthia again! What was more surprising. Joshua ended up hang the A discl Even Moses, who was normally calm and collected, was now slightly unsettled. He knew Joshua¡¯s personality well. When Cynthia saw the B disc appear in her hands once again, she initially thought that Moses was ying a prank on her, but she realized that it was just a coincidence when she saw Moses¡¯s shocked andplex expression. Joshua¡¯s grip on the disc lightened, but his tone remained the same as usual. ¡°Truth or dare?¡± ¡°Dare,¡± Cynthia replied with the same answer. Joshua¡¯s eyes became darker. Was Cynthia so unwilling to talk about her past? Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 However, the more Cynthia tried to keep it from Joshua, the more he wanted to know. Joshua mmed the small disc on the table and fixed his gaze on Cynthia. Then, slowly and deliberately, he said. ¡°Text me the name, upation, and age of your first love.¡± Everyone was confused. Was that even allowed? Cynthia locked at him, puzzled. Was this man dropped as a baby? How could he not know his own name, upation, and age? ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you afraid to let me know? Cynthia¡¯s stare made him feel ufortable, as it she was trying to hide something from him. Joshua just had to know. Who was this person who had be her first love and made her remember him so fondly after all these years? Cynthia muttered, ¡®You¡¯re insane.¡± Then, she downed three more sses of wine. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Mitchell was worried about her condition as Cynthia did not have much experience crinking, and her alcohol tolerance was not high. After she lin shed her third ss of wine. Mitchell interrupted, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cynthia replied. After three sses, she realized that Joshua and his friends probably thought she still had feelings for her first love. Nheless, she did not want to exin or rity anything. they want to misunderstand, let them. Cynthia did not mention it was Joshua because she simply did not want to be involved with certain people. ¡°That¡¯s it for tonight. Cynthia¡¯s had too much to drink and her alcohol tolerance isn¡¯t very good.¡± Mitchell suggested. ¡°Oka¡± Before Moses could finish his word. Joshua chimed in, holding back his frustration, ¡°If she can¡¯t handle her alcohol she can choose not to drink. No one is forcing her to.¡± ¡°Go on,¡± Cynthia slurred, already a little drunk and unwilling to back down from Joshua¡¯s taunts. Mitchell pinched the bridge of his nose, sensing trouble. He lowered his voice, so only Cynthia could hear him, ¡°Do you remember what you did when you got drunk four years ago?¡± Cynthia froze, a moment of difort shing across her face. It was a ck mark on her history that she could not erase. Joshua watched as the two of them got closer, and he really wanted to separate them. However, his own pride and ego kept him seated, and he asked indifferently. ¡°Can¡¯t handle it after all? Why don¡¯t we continue?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s, Cynthia blurted out. Moses and Mitchell both remained silent. The others noticed that Cynthia was not her usual sell. Normally, she would not y along with anyone¡¯s teasing if she did not feel like it. No matter how much anyone tried to provoke her, she would just ignore them. Yet she agreed to continue just because of Joshua¡¯s remarks. ¡°Mitchell is Cynthia okay? Moses hesitated for a moment, worried that something might happen. Joshua, Chyler, and Yiordan looked at Moses. Chapter 120 Joshua was livid, while the other two¡¯s expressions were unreadable. Asking anyone else about Cynthia¡¯s condition instead of Joshua was probably the boldest move anyone had ever made. Moses was indeed the best brother one could have! Moses knew that his question might not have been appropriate, but he also knew that Joshua would not give him an answer, Mitchell on the other hand, might know more. ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t drink anymore, there won¡¯t be any major problems.¡± Mitchel finally answered after careful consideration. However, his gaze remained fixed on Cynthia and never wavered. Joshua pushed the discs over to Moses, saying, ¡°What are you waiting for? Keep going.¡± ¡°Are we really going to continue?¡± Moses asked uncertainty. ¡°Aren¡¯t we here to celebrate our divorce?¡± Joshua shot back. ¡°Alright.¡± Moses gave in, deciding not to worry too much since Mitchell was there to keep an eye on Cynthia. ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 In the following rounds, Moses did not sabotage Cynthia anymore. Instead, he distributed the discs among them fairly. However, Cynthia seemed to bepeting with Joshua. It was either her turn or his turn. ¡°Joshua has disc B. Who got disc A?¡± Moses looked around the room. Cynthia¡¯s eyes were brighter than usual, and her voice sounded more lively. ¡°Me.¡± ¡°Truth or dare?¡± ¡°Dare.¡± ¡°Drink all the alcohol on the table,¡± Cynthia blurted out. Everyone was speechless. Mitchell could not bear to watch. Cynthia¡¯s intelligence had definitely plummeted from the intoxication. Joshua looked at her, poured three sses, and drank them all. His voice was a bit husky and sexy as he said, ¡°Next.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Joshua, that¡¯s not fair. I told you to drink it all, not just three sses,¡± Cynthia slurred, but fortunately, she was still coherent. ¡°Cynthia, Joshua chose to drink, It¡¯s not part of the dare,¡± Moses exined, hoping that Cynthia would catch on. Cynthia paused, looked at Joshua, and then at the drinks on the table. It seemed to make sense. Joshua initiated another round, and this time they switched roles. Cynthia got disc B, and Joshua got disc A. Although Cynthia was drunk, she still knew which choices she should make. ¡°Dare,¡± she said. ¡°Come here,¡± Joshua said in a deep voice. His gaze was all focused on Cynthia. At this moment, her face was flushed, her big beautiful eyes blinking, and her thin bangs fell just above her eyshes. Her moist red lips still had water droplets on them, making her even more alluring. Joshua had never seen her like this. Cynthia held the ss and loudly eximed, ¡°No!¡± Everyone was stunned. Mitchell was at a loss for words. Cynthia downed her drink, which Moses had switched out for fruit juice to avoid any problems. ¡°I called you over to talk about the details of the dare. Not for any other reason,¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes 213 glimmered as he stared at Cynthia¡¯s bright eyes. Cynthia frowned and looked at Mitchell, maintaining her usual cold demeanor. ¡°What is he saying? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand either,¡± Mitchell replied, equally confused. Everyone else was confused. Moses added, ¡°I don¡¯t think I understood much either.¡± Joshua was in the wrong this time. He should have just exined the dare without bringing Cynthia over. Even the act of bringing her over could have been considered a dare. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s end the game here for today. There are rooms upstairs and downstairs, so find a room to sleep in,¡± Moses said casually. Chyler and Yiordan got up and left. They realized that tonight¡¯s game was arranged by Moses for Cynthia and Joshua, while¡­ they were just pawns in Moses¡¯ n. Moses nced at Joshua and Mitchell before continuing, ¡°There are two more rooms upstairs. Which of you will take care of Cynthia?¡± Joshua was confused, How could he let someone else take care of his wife? He thought Moses was being ridiculous. Everything he said tonight was just thoughtless. ¡°Let Cynthia sleep alone,¡± Mitchell blurted out, his gaze meeting Joshua¡¯s. Their auras collided. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep with you.¡± Joshua and Moses were taken aback Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Both of them had a hint of emotion in their expressions. ¡°Cynthia and I haven¡¯t gotten divorced yet, and I take care of her well,¡± Joshua said as he looked at the person still ying with the porcin discs, already decided on it. Then, he added, ¡°I don¡¯t have the habit of sleeping with men.¡± ¡°Cynthia,¡± Mitchell called out. Cynthia turned her head, her big watery eyes looking innocent and pure. ¡°Hmm?¡± Moses quickly melted. Cynthia¡¯s personality while drunk was no longer tough and mature, and she became his ideal type. If they got too close, it would be easy for Moses to develop inappropriate feelings. It was best to leave this matter to them. ¡°Do you want to sleep alone or with Joshua?¡± Mitchell always respected Cynthia¡¯s decisions. ¡°I want to sleep with Bailey. Sofortable to hold,¡± Cynthia blurted out, her words sounded softer than usual. Joshua¡¯s face darkened. Who was Bailey again? Mitchell raised his eyes and patiently reassured her. ¡°Bailey isn¡¯t here, so you can only choose between sleeping alone or with Joshua.¡± Joshua¡¯s deep and unfathomable gaze involuntarily fell on Mitchell. He did not expect Mitchell to say that. Most people in this situation would have asked if she wanted to sleep with him or Joshua, What was Mitchell¡¯s intention toward Cynthia? ¡°Then can I sleep with Ellora? She¡¯s soft and easy to hold!¡± Cynthia only wanted a pillow to hug. ¡°I¡¯ll ask her,¡± Mitchell said. ¡°Okay.¡± Mitchell walked out with his phone. Cynthia was still ying with the porcin discs and did not even acknowledge Joshua standing next to her. When Ellora saw an unknown number, she instinctively hung up, but the person called back again. Hence, she had no choice but to answer. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Mitchell Cyrus. Is this Ellora Reynolds? Mitchell introduced himself politely. ¡°I am.¡± Once Mitchell confirmed she was the right person, he asked if she was in Jiverton before giving the address and exining the situation. The call ended five minutester. As he turned around, Mitchell saw Joshua standing not far behind him. However, he was not surprised 2/2 and asked, ¡°How may I help you, Mr. Neal?¡± ¡°What is your rtionship with Cynthia?¡± ¡°We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°Who is Bailey?¡± Joshua asked seriously, his tone deeper than usual. Just the thought of Cynthia sleeping and cuddling with this person made Joshua feel ufortable. He knew it was her past and that he had no right to Interfere, but he still wanted to know. Mitchell smiled gently, pushing his sses on the bridge of his nose, and looked toward Cynthia. ¡°This is something you should ask her personally.¡± Joshua frowned. Something he should ask her personally? ¡°You¡¯ve been married for two years, and she never told you? Didn¡¯t she say anything when she held you?¡± Mitchell continued to take a stab at Joshua¡¯s heart. ¡°This is our own business, and it¡¯s not your ce to know too much. If you¡¯re interested in our rtionship, you should experience marriage for yourself.¡± Mitchell smiled meaningfully and did not respond, sitting next to Cynthia and waiting for Ellora to arrive. Joshua felt ignored. Soon, he remembered the first night they were married, when Cynthia hugged him andmented on how firm his body was. Since then, she had never hugged him againMaterial ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 An hourter, Ellora arrived. She wore a warm-colored coat and had her long brown hair flowing down. She was escorted inside by the guards at the door. If it were not for confirming with Mitchell on the phone that Cynthia, whom he mentioned, was the same person as her friend Cynthia, Ellora would not have dared toe to such a remote cete at night. ¡°Mr. Cyrus,¡± Ellora greeted Mitchell with a smile as he stood at the door. Mitchell was a big shot in the legal world that even many topwyers wanted to befriend. ¡°Cynthia is inside. She¡¯s had a bit too much to drink. Thank you for agreeing to look after her,¡± Mitchell said in a gentle tone. ¡°No problem,¡± Ellora replied. As she followed Mitchell inside, Ellora could not help but wonder if Cynthia¡¯s husband was Mitchell. Before Ellora could ponder further, she stopped in her tracks upon seeing the person taking care of Cynthia inside. Joshua Neal? Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Ellora stopped in the living room, unable to process what was happening. Upon hearing Ellora¡¯s voice, Cynthia immediately looked up. Her face was still nk, but her eyes were brighter than usual. Then, Cynthia stood up and ran toward Ellora, throwing herself into Ellora¡¯s arms. ¡°Ellora!¡± Ellora was taken aback. She hugged Cynthia back, still unable to wrap her head around what was happening. She, a small and inconspicuous person, had met the hardest-to-get Joshua and Mitchell overnight. No one would believe her if it got out. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ellora asked Cynthia in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep with him,¡± Cynthia said, speaking her mind. She felt the person she was holding onto was so soft. ¡°So I said I wanted to sleep with you.¡± Ellora gulped. ¡°Who?¡±¡± ¡°Joshua,¡± Cynthia said clearly. Ellora instinctively looked at the man wearing a ck suit and emitting an intimidating aura, whom she knew immediately was the man Cynthia was divorcing because of his obsession with his ex-lover. ¡°Mr. Neal,¡± she politely greeted him. *Take care of her. If you need anything,e to me.¡± Joshua said, exuding a domineering aura. While Joshua might not like her, he knew Ellora could care for Cynthia. Ellora nodded in understanding. After confirming which room Cynthia was staying in, Ellora took her upstairs. Thankfully, Cynthia was not too drunk this time. Ellora helped her take a shower before putting her to bed. The two men in the living room did not seem to have any intention of going upstairs. It was not until one in the morning that Mitchell went upstairs to sleep. Since Ellora had note out by then, it indicated that Cynthia was already asleep. After Mitchell left, Moses emerged from the room on the first floor, wearing a set of dark-colored pajamas and with slightly messy hair as he had been lying in bed for a while. Joshua¡¯s anger that had dissipated a little resurfaced upon seeing him. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry at night. It¡¯s not good for your health,¡± Moses said as he walked over in slippers and sat on the couch. ¡°If you know it¡¯s not good for my health, why are you still doing this?¡± Joshua wanted to punch him for what he had done earlier that night. He should have thrown him out the window and let him sleep outside! Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Mosesughed casually and leaned toward Joshua. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for you, you know?¡± Joshua stared at him, clearly conveying the message that he had no right to say such a thing. ¡°Now that it¡¯s just the two of us¡­. Tell me. How did you feel when you found out about Cynthia¡¯s unresolved first love?¡± Moses was all about the gossip. In one gulp, Joshua downed a ss of wine and said coldly, ¡°I didn¡¯t feel anything.¡± ¡°Stop putting on an act. If you really felt nothing, would you have asked Cynthia for the name, age, and profession of her first love while ying Truth or Dare? Moses called him out. Joshua remained silent. This guy was so annoying ¡°Sometimes you have to face your own feelings.¡± Moses hit the nail on the head. The purpose of tonight¡¯s game was to make Joshua realize that he liked Cynthia, and his reaction to the question about her first love proved that he cared a lot about her unresolved feelings for that person. Moses decided to y a more serious card. ¡°How would you feel if Cynthia¡¯s first love came back and asked her to divorce you and marry him?¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she? You divorced her for your first love, so why couldn¡¯t she do the same for hers?¡± Joshua¡¯s icy gaze swept over him, and a chilling aura emanated. In the end, he just said, ¡°It¡¯s not the same.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so.¡± Moses had said all he needed to say, leaving the rest up to Joshua. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s 80th birthday party is in the works. If you want Cynthia to stay married to you a little longer, you can tell her about it tomorrow morning.¡± After saying this, Moses went back to his room. Joshua sat alone in the brightly lit living room, thinking about Moses¡¯s words and feeling a wave of restlessness in his heart. He reached up and loosened his tie, smoothing his breathing. At three in the morning. Joshua fell asleep on the couch. Suddenly, there was a faint sound of a door opening upstairs, and he woke up as he was a light sleeper. Joshua looked toward the sound and saw Cynthiaing down from upstairs. She wore light¨Ccolored pajamas, and her eyes had returned to their usual indifference. Joshua knew that Cynthia had sobered up. Cynthia had indeed sobered up. Even though she did not have a good tolerance for alcohol, she could wake up sober after sleeping for a few hours. Chap 124 She was thirsty and had nned to go downstairs for some water when she saw Joshua sitting on the couch, looking at her. Their eyes met, and they were enveloped in an invisible bond. Cynthia stood at the corner of the stairs, facing Joshua. Joshua was the first to speak, his voice low and hoarse, ¡°Do you want some water?¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Cynthia replied softly. Although Joshua could not hear her response, he could tell from her expression. He stood up, poured a ss of warm water, and ced it before her when she came downstairs. Then, he said slowly, ¡°Have some warm water.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cynthia said as she took the ss. Joshua noticed she finished the water in one go and knew she was extremely thirsty. When she put down the ss, he asked, ¡°Do you want more?¡± ¡°No, thank you,¡± Cynthia replied. She did not want to linger around anymore. Last night, she was notpletely drunk and remembered everything she said and did while ying games. Those were best left forgotten! ¡°Can we talk?¡± Joshua asked, his gaze fixed on her. His mind was filled with thoughts of her first love and the person named Bailey. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Cynthia paused momentarily, then responded in her usual indifferent tone, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s quite a bit to talk about. Like, who was your first love? Joshua replied as he brought her another ss of water and stood in her way, blocking her path. Cynthia remained silent. ¡°You really liked him?¡± Joshua pressed on. ¡°Do you care?¡± Cynthia shot back. After spending so much time with Joshua, she knew which questions would stump him. However, she seemed to have misjudged this time as Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, and his voice became hoarse. ¡°I¡¯m just curious who could make you remember them for so many years.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Cynthia said, ready with an answer. Joshua was taken aback. Oh? ¡°He¡¯s just like you,¡± Cynthia added, leaning her back against the table. ¡°A scumbag.¡± Joshua¡¯s face turned even darker. This woman! ¡°If you¡¯re really curious about him, you can look at yourself for reference. You¡¯re both equally matched. when ites to being a scumbag.¡± Cynthia went on indifferently. Joshua¡¯s gaze grew even darker, and his demeanor was colder. Just when Cynthia thought he was about to explode, he asked, ¡°Who is Bailey? Cynthia hesitated for a moment. Bailey was her sleepingpanion, a plush toy specially designed to fit her hugging habits. However, she would not tell Joshua that. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, can¡¯t say it?¡± Joshua felt this was the angriest he had ever gotten in his whole life. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can say. Bailey is my sleepingpanion.¡± Cynthia leaned against the table, facing Joshua. As soon as the words fell, Joshua clenched his jaw and pursed his lips. Sleepingpanion?! If it were not for his remaining rationality holding him back, he would have stripped this sleeping companion naked and thrown him out to be paraded in the streets! ¡°I never thought my wife¡¯s private life before our marriage was so exciting.¡± Joshua gritted his teeth, the coldness in his ck eyes almost solidifying. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me sleep with your sleeping companion too?¡± Cynthia was taken aback. Moses, who hade out from hearing themotion, said awkwardly, ¡°Joshua¡­ when did you develop Chapp: 125 such a peculiar taste? If you like men, you can find a boyfriend. Don¡¯t steal Cynthia¡¯s.¡± 2/2 Joshua was furious now, emitting a terrifying aura. ¡°If you still want to stay in Jiverton, then go back to your room.¡± Moses promptly shut up. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. He closed the door and stopped eavesdropping. ¡°Are you going to let me sleep with Bailey? Joshua returned to the topic, speaking seriously. Cynthia felt slightly embarrassed listening to him, and her face turned red. She was very curious about how the handsome Joshua managed to say such things with a straight face. If someone did not know better, they would think he was discussing something serious with her. Joshua noticed her dilemma, and he could hardly suppress the anger in his heart. ¡°Can¡¯t bear it?¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 ber128 ¡°Saley is not right for you¡± Cynthia could not imagine a tall, muscr man holding a plush toy while sleeping Joshua was infuriated Did she really think he wanted to sleep with Bailey?! He just wanted to see what kind of person would catch Cynthia¡¯s eye.. If Joshua ever found out who was shameless enough to sleep with Cynthia, he would kick him out of both Jiverton and Nexuria, and he would never have a chance to get close to Cynthia again! ¡°How long have you been sleeping with him?¡± Joshua knew he should not care, but the thought of Cynthial returning to that person¡¯s embrace after their divorce made his heart ache. What right did Cynthia have to call him a scumbag when she had someone she could sleep with whenever she wanted? At least he had never slept with anyone when he was with her. Cynthia remembered she bought Bailey for herself as a gift when she was seventeen. Now she was twenty -four, excluding the two years of marriage, that was twenty¨Ctwo. Then, minus seventeen, so it was a total of five years. Joshua was about to explode. Why was it so difficult to calcte? ¡°Is it that hard to figure out?¡± His voice was tense. Cynthia was brought back to reality by Joshua¡¯s sudden proximity, and she instinctively stepped back. However, she found herself backed against the table and could not retreat any further. Joshua felt her rejection and distance, and he felt inexplicably annoyed. Cynthia also realized that she seemed to be following his rhythm, so she quickly gathered herself and retorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t care about my past? As long as I¡¯m wholeheartedly devoted to you. when we¡¯re married, isn¡¯t that enough? ¡°Are you?¡± Joshua could not forget when Mitchell asked her if she wanted to sleep with him or alone, and she blurted out that she wanted to sleep with Bailey because he wasfortable to hug. Joshua recalled that she had always been particr about appearances, and he could not help but wonder how good¨Clooking Bailey was for Cynthia to still think about him even after two years of marriage. ¡°Yes,¡± Cynthia answered his question. ¡°Cynthia, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s a scumbag.¡± Joshua did not want to ask any more questions. The more he asked, the more ufortable he felt. ¡°When we sleep together every night, do you think about holding Bailey?¡± She did. Cynthia admitted this silently to herself. After all, she had been hugging Bailey for five years, and it was really hard to get used to not being able to hug him after getting married. ¡°No one owes anyone anything between us,¡± Joshua said with a heavy tone. His cor felt tight around his neck. ¡°But if you dare to divorce me and show up with him, I can¡¯t guarantee he¡¯ll leave my sight unscathed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so childish,¡® Cynthia said. Maybe because Joshua was being kept up at night by the thoughts of Bailey and her first love, or maybe because of his possessiveness, he could not control himself anymore after Cynthia said those words. Then, Joshua lowered his head and kissed her lips, which were cold and soft, unleashing the beast he had been suppressing for a long time. Cynthia was caught off guard by Joshua¡¯s sudden move. Her lips were covered with warmth, and she froze. Her innocent appearance only made Joshua¡¯s inner beast more excited. With one hand on the back of her head, he deepened the kiss as he was about to conquer her. Suddenly, Cynthia pushed him away and shouted, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her heart was racing her face was red, and her eyes misty with tears. Cynthia quickly wiped her mouth. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, staring at her plump lips. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°What do you mean? This is just a kiss between husband and wife.¡± Cynthia was furious, but she could not say anything. She wiped her lips twice again as she reminded him, You have Jayleen now. Don¡¯t kiss me with lips that have been on someone else. It¡¯s disgusting.¡± Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Chapter 127 1/2 Joshua could not help but stare at Cynthia¡¯s increasingly red lips as she rubbed them, and he felt his mouth go dry. After hearing her words, he walked over and looked at her from above. His voice was low and husky as he asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I said¡­¡± Cynthia started to reply, but Joshua interrupted her. ¡°Mm.¡± Joshua¡¯s hand was behind her head, while the other arm was wrapped around her waist, his movements gentle yet provocative. Cynthia was no match for him when it came to situations like this. Whenever he kissed her, she would inevitably fall for him, eventually surrendering to his advances. A cool and restrained person like him would be a bewitching devil that one could not resist once lost in desire, and it was a temptation that could not be ignored. If Cynthia¡¯s remaining brain cell did not remind her, she would probably fall deeper into his embrace. ¡°Joshua¡± Cynthia used all her strength to push him away. Joshuas breath was unsteady, his dark eyes revealing a hint of something extra, while his thin lips became more moist. Cynthia blushed and red at him. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, don¡¯t kiss me with the mouth. you¡¯ve used to kiss Jayleen! I¡¯m afraid of getting infected with helicobacter pylori!¡± Joshua was no longer angry but amused. Helicobacter pylori. He could not believe she hade up with that. ¡°I¡¯ve only kissed you,¡± Joshua said. He had a dignified and indifferent demeanor, but his disheveled clothes betrayed his repressed desire. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the infection, you already had it when we got married.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Cynthia cursed at him. Joshua looked at her slightly red face and suddenly felt good. ¡°Do you want to get checked? I¡¯ll pay.¡± Cynthia did not say anything. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. She really wanted this annoying man to disappear. ¡°No need.¡± Cynthia wiped her mouth again and headed toward the stairs, ring at him before going upstairs. As she watched Cynthia¡¯s angry figure disappear, Joshua unconsciously smiled. He did not even understand why Cynthia could easily stir up his most primal desires. This feeling only appeared when he was with Cynthia. Cynthia went upstairs feeling agitated. However, she calmed herself down before opening the door to the room to avoid waking up Ellora. To her surprise, the light inside the room was on. Chapple 12 ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ellora asked, noticing Cynthia¡¯s unusual mood. ¡°Who made you angry?¡± ¡°No one,¡± Cynthia replied. She was usually calm and rational in front of others, but she could not help getting angry whenever she was around Joshua. ¡°Why are you up? Did I wake you up?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ellora answered briefly before asking. ¡°Joshua is your soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cynthia confirmed. ¡°Who¡¯s his lover?¡± ¡°Jayleen Shaw.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of her before.¡± Ellora was puzzled, but she quickly moved on to the next question. ¡°Are you really willing to divorce Joshua? He¡¯s the dream husband of many women! He¡¯s handsome, rich, and has a great figure.¡± Although Ellora worked in the entertainment industry, she did not keep up with every trending topic. Hence, she did not know about the incident that made Jayleen trending a while ago. ¡°He¡¯s quite good¨Clooking. Unfortunately, he¡¯s a scumbag.¡± Cynthia appreciated good looks and would not discredit Joshua¡¯s appearance. ¡°Truc.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Ellora nodded in agreement. ¡°No matter how good¨Clooking, wealthy, or muscr someone is, if their heart doesn¡¯t belong to you, it¡¯s all for nothing,¡± she said. Cynthia joined her on the bed, feeling a twinge of guilt. I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re pregnant, and I shouldn¡¯t have let youe here sote at night, but I was too drunk.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re my friend,¡± Ellora said, taking her hand. She was happy that Cynthia had thought of her when she needed someone, which made her realize that she had some purpose in life. Cynthia asked, ¡°Did you go for a prenatal checkup? How¡¯s the baby?¡± ¡°It¡¯s doing well, Ellora replied, her tone gentle and happy. Hearing this, Cynthia felt reassured. Then, they turned off the lights andy on the bed, each with their own thoughts, entering the long night ahead. Later that night, Cynthia quickly fell asleep and had no dreams about Joshua¡¯s kiss. However, Ellora was filled with thoughts. As for Joshua downstairs, he had made a phone call to Yoel after Cynthia had gone upstairs. It was past three in the morning, and anyone who received a phone call at this nour would be annoyed, including Yoel. ¡°Can¡¯t this wait until tomorrow? Why do you have to call at this hour? Dont think that you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re my employer,¡± Yoel answered the phone with a grumpy tone. ¡°Get up and take the call. I¡¯ll give you a bonus of 1,500 USD this month aspensation for your sleep,¡± Joshua said. Yoel immediately perked up at the mention of the 1,500 USD bonus. He quickly sat up and rubbed his eyes before putting on his sses from the bedside table. Then, he spoke with his usual tone, ¡°Mr. Neal, please borate.¡± ¡°Help me check on someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Bailey.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened when he said the name He could investigate Cynthia¡¯s first loveter, but he must immediately find out who Bailey was since Cynthia would hug him to sleep and evenin about Joshua being ufortable hugging. Joshua wanted to see what kind of face and soft body could make Cynthia still think about him after two years of marriage. Yoel was confused. ¡°You only have the first name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s rted to Cynthia and is very intimate with her. They were together almost every day.¡± Joshua said, unable to tell him directly about Cynthia¡¯s situation. Thus, he had to beat around the bush. Cynthia? ¡°You can put down everything that¡¯s not very important for now. You don¡¯t have to clean the tollets either. Just quickly find out all the information about Bailey and give it to me.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Neal,¡± Yoel said happily upon hearing that he did not have to clean the toilets. Joshua hummed and hung up the phone. He fiddled with his phone, intending to ask the hacker to help him investigate, but he was afraid that the other party would know he was Joshua, Content ? N?velDrama.Org. No friend would help with everything. After thinking for a while, he sent a message to Yosef from Nexuria, asking him to help investigate. Since Cynthia was from Nexuria too, it should be easier to find information from Yosef¡¯s side. After finishing everything, he took off his tie andy on the sofa to sleep. However, he did not sleep as peacefully as Cynthia. He had just fallen asleep when he dreamed of Cynthia cuddling with two men. Both looked extremely handsome and were very good at pleasing her. She held the soft and fluffy one and said to him, ¡°Joshua, you have Jayleen, and I have my little Bailey and my first love.¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Cynthia even kissed the pretty boy¡¯s face after saying that. Joshua immediately woke up from the anger and angrily checked his phone. When he found that it was only five in the morning, he rubbed his tired temples. Then, he grabbed his coat and stormed into Moses¡¯s room, throwing him off the bed before lying down. This time, Joshua managed to sleep somewhat soundly. Moses, who was suddenly thrown to the ground, opened his eyes dazedly. What happened? Why was he on the ground? However, these questions did not linger in his mind for too long. As Moses was exhausted, he just turned over and slept on the floor, where the furry carpet kept him warm. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The next morning, Ellora was the first to wake up. After freshening up and getting dressed, she went downstairs. She was always tired during the first month of her pregnancy, buttely, she had been sleeping less than usual. Ellore sat in the living room and responded to messages on her phone. Before she could reply to more than a few, a displeased and chilly voice suddenly sounded. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ellora was shocked. She turned around and saw Chyler. She became a bit flustered and stood up from the sofa. ¡°¡­¡± Ellora tried to exin, but as soon as she saw his face, she remembered what he had asked her to do as soon as she saw his face. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I know you¡¯re capable of doing this? You can even get into private parties,¡± Chyler said, misunderstanding the situation as he approached her with a chil ing air. ¡°Did youe to see Joshua, Mitchell, or Moses?¡± ¡°Mr. Cyrus asked me to take care of¡­¡± Ellora tried to exin, but Chyler got angry, and his entire body exuded a fierce aura. ¡°He asked you toe, so you came? Did you spend the night in his room yesterday? Chyler asked, not listening and staring at her emotionlessly. ¡°No. He asked me to take care of¡­ Ellora exined, not wanting him to misunderstand. ¡°Did you get the abortion? Chyler interrupted her, not giving her a chance to exin. His intimidating presence made Ellora instinctively move away from him. ¡°It seems you haven¡¯t done it yet.¡± Chyler¡¯s eyes were filled with coldness, but his slow tone made it hard for Ellora to breathe. She took two steps back and confronted him, ¡°This is my child. You have no right to ask me to abort it.¡± ¡°When you cheated on me, did you think about that? Chyler¡¯s tone was sarcastic, and his eyes showed no warmth. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there myselfter. Don¡¯t threaten me with suicide. It¡¯s useless.¡± He had put up with it before, but this time he would not allow her to act recklessly. Ellora panicked, and her heart was in turmoil. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s seel¡± Chyler¡¯s gaze became fierce, unlike when he was with Joshua and the others. ¡°If you darey a hand on my child, I hate you for life!¡± Ellora said this without confidence, knowing it would not threaten him.. Chyler¡¯s heart hurt for a moment, but he did not show it on his face. Instead, he smirked and said with a hint of disdain, ¡°If you want to hate me, then go ahead. I won¡¯t allow you to keep the bastard in your belly.¡± As he spoke, Chyler took out his phone and made a call, He asked his assistant to contact the private hospital under hispany and prepare for the abortion surgery. He would take Ellora there immediately. Ellora panicked when she heard this. She knew that she could not escape from Chyler. Moreover, this was the suburbs, and she could not run away. Everyone in the vi was his friend, so she could not ask for help. As for Cynthia¡­ She was already hurting from Joshua¡¯s actions, and Ellora could not bear dragging her down with her. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 ¡°Do you want me to tie you up and throw you in the car, or will you get in on your own?¡± Chyler approached Ellora, making her fearful and wanting to run away. ¡°You can¡¯t kill my baby.¡± Ellora¡¯s eyes turned red as she clutched onto her phone until her knuckles turned white. ¡°This baby is yours!¡± Chyler sneered. His eyes were filled with mockery as he ced his hand on her cold face. ¡°How did you get pregnant with my baby while I was on a business trip?¡± Ellora¡¯s eyes turned red, and she bit her lip tightly. ¡°As long as you get rid of this baby and stay by my side in the future, I can give you everything you want. Even if you want to be famous, I can make it happen.¡± Chyler¡¯s warm fingertips wiped away her tears, and his tone softened. Ellora shook her head. She did not want to be famous, nor did she want to stay by his side. She just wanted her baby in her belly. ¡°Be a good girl.¡± Chyler was like a demon, emitting a dangerous aura. ¡°Come with me to the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Ellora refused. She stepped back from him, feeling a sense of panic like never before. Chyler still felt her warmth in his palm, and his gaze grew darker. Then, he spoke coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t make me use force.¡± Ellora and Chyler were at a stalemate. Just then, Mitchell came down from upstairs. Seeing them in the living room with obvious tension, he did not think too much and just asked, ¡°How¡¯s Cynthia?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sober now. She was still sleeping when I got up.¡± Ellora replied calmly, but a thought popped into her mind. Chyler heard their conversation and nced at them. From their words, he understood that Mitchell had called Ellora to take care of Cynthia. What the hell was Joshua thinking? Why did he not take care of his own wife? ¡°Thank you forst night,¡± Mitchell said, dressed in a suit. He was polite and gentleman¨Clike. Ellora replied ndly, ¡°It was nothing.¡± Chyler became emotional again. What did she mean by that? What was the rtionship between Ellora and Mitchell? Why was she willing to take care of Cynthia, whom she had never met, just because of Mitchell? ¡°Mr. Cyrus, I heard rumors that you have no interest in women, but now it seems that the rumors are false. I never thought that you have so many female confidantes,¡± Chyler said casually, but his eyes revealed some depth. Mitchell was confused, while Ellora remained silent. 212 What a lunaticl ¡°I¡¯m just wondering how you met Ellora,¡± Chyler said, looking directly at Mitchell. As a very wise person, Mitchell immediately understood the rtionship between Chyler and Ellora. ¡°Ms. Reynolds is Cynthia¡¯s friend, so of course, I met Ellora through Cynthia,¡± he said calmly. Chyler froze. Ellora was Cynthia¡¯s friend? ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t you know that Ms. Reynolds is friends with Cynthia? Mitchell asked, enjoying the drama and saying the most piercing words calmly. ¡°Of course, I do. I just didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯d expand your social circle in such a unique way. It seems like you know all of Cynthia¡¯s friends? Chyler lied without batting an eye, trying to y it off as if it was nothing. ¡°More or less,¡± Mitchell replied with a faint smile, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He and Cynthia had grown up together, and their friends also knew each other. Only Ellora became friends with Cynthiater on Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chyler wanted to pry open Mitchell¡¯s head and see what he was thinking. How could he say such things so calmly? Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chyler held Ellora¡¯s hand very naturally and said, ¡°I think Cynthia doesn¡¯t reed Elly to take care of her anymore. We should go. We have other ns.¡± The corners of Mitchell¡¯s lips curled slightly. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Chyler nodded slightly as if he had done a good job on the surface. Just as he was walking out with Ellora, she suddenly broke free from his hand and subconsciously approached Mitchell¡¯s direction ¡°You go hack first. Cynthia and I still have something to talk about.¡± She knew what his purpose As long as she followed him, he would definitely drive the car directly to the hospital. ¡°Ellora,¡± Chyler called her name, with a hint of warning in his tone. ¡°I¡¯ll be back after talking with Cynthia. Go and do your work first,¡± Ellora said. Chyler¡¯s eyes became darker. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. He did not care if Mitchell was there or not. He walked over with his long legs and grabbed her hand, determined to take her to abort the chald ¡°I said I won¡¯t go with you!¡± Ellora struggled hard. Regardless of Chyler¡¯s disregard, he pulled her hand, and his grip gradually tightened so much that Ellora felt that her wrist was about to be crushed. Mitchell looked at the situation, stretched out his hand to pinch Chyler¡¯s hand, and came to her rescue. ¡°Mr. Young, Ms. Reynolds wants to talk to Cynthia, so please let her stay for a while. It¡¯s rare for them to see each other.¡± ¡°I wee Cynth to my house as a guest. But today, Ellura ising with me.¡¯ As he said that, he pushed Mitchell¡¯s hand away frurn his with the other hand. However, he could not. He tried his best, but Mitchell still held his hand, standing there motionless. Chyler doubted himself. What did this person eat to have such great strength? ¡°Let them chat. What do you think, Mr. Young?¡± Mitchell maintained a smile on his lips the whole time. Chyler¡¯s eyes darkened, and he finally let go of Ellora¡¯s hand. Mitchell¡¯s hard also let go at this moment. Chyler nced at him, and hits eyes fell on Ellora ¡°When you are done talking with Cynthia, tell me. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Ellora refused. in Chyler ignored her, turned around and went to Moses¡¯ room. He wanted to lenow why he invited Mitchell to their party. However, he never expected that he would see Mases sitting on the floor, confronting Joshua after opening the door and entering Chyler did not understand what was going on. The two men Gate over t to look and gave him sideways nces as if to say ask him what he was doing there Chyler ignored thern and walked to the side sofa and sat down without asking the two of them what was going on. Originally, Moses wanted to ask his brother why he threw him on the ground, However, thinking about what he identally Chapter 131 heard just now, his gossip spirit burned again. ¡°Chyler, were you arguing with a woman just now?¡± ¡°Are your ears working properly?¡± Chyler was furious. If he had not called Mitchell over, would he have suffered so much? Before Moses could speak, Joshua spoke first, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s deaf.¡± ¡°Joshua, what¡¯s the matter with you? Did I offend you when I teased Moses?¡± Chyler, who had held it in last night, became angered after being teased by him Joshua looked at him without saying a word However, his intentions were clear. ¡®I¡¯m the only one who can tease Moses. Why don¡¯t you try that again? Chyler also know this guy¡¯s temper, so he said angrily, ¡°All right, all right, I won¡¯t quarrel with you. I don¡¯t understand why Moses called Mitchell over for our party. Is it just to stir trouble?¡± Hearing him say that. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Chapter 13 2 Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on Moses. It was not to cause trouble but to make him ufortable. ¡°Chyler, 1 don¡¯t like hearing that from you.¡± Moses patted his buttocks and stood up. He was really easy-going. ¡°Back then, didn¡¯t you agree in a heartbeat when you were invited to the party?¡± Chyler was speechless. How was he to know that Ellora woulde too? Were you arguing with Ellora just now?¡± Joshua looked at his expression deeply and guessed. Chyler was bored and did not speak Moses nced at him but did not have much reaction. ¡°She is Cynthia¡¯s friend. Cynthia wanted her toe, so Mitchell invited her. There is no rtionship between her and. Mitchell.¡± They were all men, and Joshua knew what Chyler cared about. He le was beside Mitchell when he made that phone call, and the conversation they started was no different from that of strangers. Chyler¡¯s expression was still oply. ¡°I know.¡± Joshua and Moses were both speechless. If he knew, then why was he still venting his anger here? ¡°If Ellora wants to hitch a ride when we leaveter, you should refuse. Remember to remind Yiordan that as well. Also, you have to stop Mitchell,¡± Chyler finally said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Joshua stared at him as he was also upset now, His mind was full of scenes from his dreamst night, and now he suspected that she would live as though in his dream after the divorce. There was no smile on Chyler¡¯s evil face at the moment. He said bluntly, ¡°Ellora can only tale my car.¡± Both the Neal Brothers were speechless. ¡°Get out!¡± Chyler snorted lightly and did not respond at all. The three of them just stayed in the room. It was almost eight o¡¯clock when Cynthia got up and went downstairs. Yiordan also appeared in the living room with messy hair Seeing that everyone was present, Moses brought out breakfast. The atmosphere at the dinner table was a little weird during the meal. Joshua nced at Cynthia from time to time, and anyone could feel the slightly tense pressureing from him. Moses nced at him, then at Cynthia. Unexpectedly, Cynthia did not care at all. She ate her breakfast with her head down,pletely humersed in her own world, free from outside influences. Chyler looked at Ellora, who was sitting the fart he st away from him, put down his cutlery and saki, ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to talk to Cynthia about? ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Cynthia asked, ncing at him from the sile ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just want to ask what name is better for your child. I¡¯ve been thinking about it for a while, but I can¡¯t think of 2/2 one.¡± Ellora had already removed Chyler from her heart and pretended to smile rxedly. Cynthia originally wanted to say that she could ask the child¡¯s father about that. However, thinking about what Ellora told her before, she frowned subconsciously. That kind of scu mbag was unworthy. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it after I go back, and I¡¯ll send it to you when I think of something good. You don¡¯t have to think about it for now. The baby will not be born for several months. It¡¯s not urgent.¡± Cynthia will not deal with it hastily, and she took everything she promised very seriously. Ellora nodded and said, ¡°Yeah.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Moses still remembered how Chyler ndered him in the moming and said something deliberately, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you discuss your child¡¯s name with the father of the child? If Ms. Reynolds can¡¯t figure it out, you can let the child¡¯s father take a c rack at it.¡± Ellora subconsciously looked at Chyler. Before she could speak, Cynthia said coldly, ¡°He is not worthy.¡± Moses, Joshua, and Chyler were speechless. The three of them looked at her at the same time, not understanding where her anger came from. Yiordan was expressionless. He just nced at Chyler, who was sitting next to him, a little curious about his reaction Chyler was angry. ¡°Why is Cynthia so crazy? What does their family¡¯s affairs have to do with her?¡± However, after thinking about it, what she said was right. He was not the child¡¯s father, so he really did not deserve it! ¡°Cynthia, what are you¡­¡± Moses asked tentatively. ¡°I¡¯m done eating.¡± Cynthia did not answer, got off the table, and sat down on the s beside her. Ten minutester, everyone finished their breakfast one after another. When he was about to leave the vi, there was a problem. Moses leaned closer, ¡°Cynthia, do you want to take my car or my brother¡¯s car?¡± ¡°Cynthia will take my car.¡± ¡± Mitchell¡¯s voice suddenly appeared, with the car keys in his hand. Cynthia nced at him and saw that he had something to tell her, so she agreed. ¡°Okay.¡± The tense pressure in Joshua¡¯s body was so terrible that it was scary. Chyler had just gloated over what Mitchel said, and he asked Ellora, ¡°Ms. Reynolds, let¡¯s leave together.¡± ¡°No need. My manager will pick me upter,¡± Ellora refused. She understood Chyler¡¯s character. If she left in Mitchell¡¯s car today, he would not let her go in the future. He was determined to ask her to abort the child. If he still insisted, she had no choice but to leave. Chyler¡¯s cold eyes gradually softened after hearing her words, and he also thought about giving her one more day to think about it. That was all Cynthia followed Mitchell into the car. Chyler kindly gave way as they passed. It was at that moment that Joshua took a deep look into his eyes. Yiordan was wearing a white shirt, exuding a young, gentle, and elegant vibe. ¡°I¡¯m leaving too. I¡¯m going to be on the set for the next few days, so I won¡¯t be able to hang with you for the time being,¡± Joshua and Chyler bolli grunted and watched him leave. Soon. Only Joshua and the four of them were left. 2/2 After Cynthia left, Moses did not want to gossip anymore and left after saying goodbye. He had to tell his grandfather what happened that night. Joshua put one hand in his pocket and called him in a deep voice, ¡°Moses.¡± Moses paused when he opened the door. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? ¡°Send Ms. Reynolds home.¡± Joshua did not even nce at Chyler and just said calmly, ¡°Ms. Reynolds, take Moses¡¯s car. He¡¯s rtively free. Just tell him where you want to go.¡± Ellora was a little ttered, but after giving it some thought, she still agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± The reason why she did not take Mitchell¡¯s car was because she could see that Chyler did not like Mitchell.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 However, Moses was his friend, and he would not be too angry at that suggestion. The car drove away. Only Joshua, who was calm and quiet, and Chyler, who was angry and wanted to beat someone, were left behind. Chyler was extremely upset and turned to him. ¡°Joshua, are you deaf? Do you remember what you promised me in the bathroom?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Help me stop Ellora, and get her into my car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chyler was furious, ¡®How dare he say ¡®Oh¡¯?¡¯ ¡®Oh, my butt!¡¯ This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. He came to him filled with anger, as if the mes had driven him mad. ¡°Tell me, what is the meaning of letting her get in Moses¡¯s car?¡± ¡°What do you mean by giving way to Cynthia and letting her get into Mitchell¡¯s car?¡± Joshua asked unhurriedly. His ck eyes were indifferent and cold Chyler paused and then understood everything He suddenly became less angry. He looked at Joshua leisurely and walked over to h ook his arms around his shoulders. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Joshua did not answer him. Jealous? How could he be jealous? ¡°I gave way because you like Jayleen. If you let her know that Cynthia is in a car with you, she will definitely be jealous. You don¡¯t want her to be jealous, do you?¡± Chyller seemed to be nonchnt, but in fact, he deliberately tried to poke at Joshua. ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t really like that crush of yours, and you like Cynthia instead?¡± Joshua frowned. Speaking of Jayleen, he remembered what Yoel told him on the phone, that Jayleen¡¯s illness might be fake. Thinking of that, he took the car key and unlucked it, and said calmly, ¡°Instead of caring about my problems, why not think about who the child¡¯s father is ¡± After speaking, he started the car and left, leaving behind Chyler, who was once again p issed off. Joshua originally wanted to tell Cynthia about his grandfather¡¯s 80th birthday, but after thinking about it, he decided to wait for an opportunity to tell her properly. Cynthia remembered Old Man Neal¡¯s birthday. However, too many things happened during this period, and she could not pay much attention to it. After the car drove out of the suburban vi, Cynthia looked sideways at Mitchell, who was driving, and asked, ¡°Did something happen in the Nexuria?¡± Mitchell looked ahead and said in a pleasant voice, ¡°No. It¡¯s about Ellora.¡± ¡°Ellora?¡± Cynthia paused. Mitchell nced at her before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t you know that she¡¯s involved with Chyler?¡± Chapter 1. 2/2 Cynthia¡¯s face was full of confusion. Why did she get involved with Chyler? ¡°I saw Chyler arguing with Ellora when I went downstairs this morning, Chyler said that Ellora belonged to his family.¡± Mitchell did not hear the specific content, so he did not jump to conclusions. r ask.¡± Cynll ¡°Wait, let me ask.¡± Cynthia felt a little confused. If Chyler was married to Ellora, did it mean that he was that sc umbag? ¡°Forget the marriage of convenience¡­ this kind of person is simply s cum to do that when Ellora is pregnant.¡¯ Mitchell concentrated on driving his car. Cynthia originally wanted to make a call, worried that she was with Chyler, so she chose to send a WhatsApp message. [Ellora, are you married to Chyler?] Ellora was still in Moses¡¯s car when she received the message. She felt absent-minded for a moment while looking at Cynthia¡¯s cartoon head avatar. After thinking about it over and over again, she replied, [Yes] Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 She did not say much else. In order not to make Cynthia worry too much about her problems, she pretended to be rxed and chatted with her in at cheerful tone in her messages. [To be honest, I never thought the man you married was Joshua. This is amazing Seeing this, Cynthia felt a little worried. Mitchell saw this and asked her, ¡°Well? How is it? ¡°She and Chyler are married. However, she changed the subject, probably because she didn¡¯t want to talk about this matter,¡± Cynthia said slowly, her eyes still on the phone screen. She chatted with Ellora for a little while more, and when she learned that she was in Moses¡¯ car, she ended the conversation. She just said that whatever happened, remember that she would be there for her. Mitchell waited for a good time and asked, ¡°You¡¯re going to divorce Joshua at the end of the month?¡± Cynthia said lightly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Call me after the matter is over, and I¡¯ll book a ticket back to the Nexuria.¡± Mitchell was really gentle to Cynthia, like a big brother. Cynthia nced at him. ¡°Are you done with your affairs in Jiverton?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Hearing what he said, Cynthia did not refuse. Mitchell sent her home, watched her enter the house before leaving, and returned to the hotel. Meanwhile, Joshua did not go back to Sovereign Heights but went to the hospital where Jayleen was. Jayleen¡¯s eyes were full of hope at seeing him appear. She sat up from the hospital bed and called him tenderly, ¡°Joshua.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you make an appointment for a physical examination. Now I¡¯ll take you to have the examination done.¡± With a deep gaze, Joshua held the checklist prescribed by the doctor in his hand. Jayleen froze Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She reacted quickly and tried to maintain her expression. ¡°Okay,¡± Joshua was waiting for her at the door with the checklist. Seeing that he did note to hold her, fayleen suddenly felt a little ufortable and probably guessed that he might still be concerned about what happened that night. ¡°Joshua.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Are you still ming me for what happened that day?¡± Jayleen lowered her head, sounding a little more aggrieved. Joshua paused, and after realizing what she said, he said very lightly, ¡°No, don¡¯t think too much. Go and do the examination. first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jayleen lowered her eyes. There are a lot of things to do in the ysical examination. When it was time to check her stomach, Jayleen hesitated at the door for a long time and did not go in.. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. His words were low but obviously a little more emotional as he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go in?¡± ¡°Can I ski p this test? I¡¯m afraid.¡± Jayleen bit her lip with resistance to the test in her eyes. 135 2/2 ¡°This is a capsule gastroscope, and you won¡¯t feel any difort. Rest assured,¡± Joshua told her, already having doubts about this matter in his heart. Jayleen stood there without moving Joshua just looked at her. The two were in a stalemate for a long time before Jayleen¡¯s eyes were red, and tears fell from her eyes uncontrobly. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to do it. The moment I step in, I¡¯ll think of the hardships I suffered during the treatment abroad. Joshua, 1¡­¡± At this point, she was sobbing. Tears fell down like broken beads. Joshua patted her on the shoulder with dark eyes and did not force her anymore. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do it, don¡¯t do it. Let¡¯s do the other things first.¡± Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Jayleen was still crying. Three hourster, all of Jayleen¡¯s examinations werepleted. Joshua had her discharged from the hospital, and only after sending her back did he say to her, ¡°I¡¯ll find you a butler toe over tomorrow and take care of your everyday meals. You just had a miscarriage, and you need to take care of your health.¡± ¡°No need!¡± Jayleen quickly refused, and thinking that she had overreacted, she added, ¡°I¡¯m used to being alone.¡± Hearing this, Joshua did not insist either. After watching her go upstairs, he drove away and went to the company. When Mr. Cheyne saw him, he walked over and greeted, ¡°Mr. Neal.¡± Joshua walked into his office and asked, ¡°How is the investigation going?¡± Mr. Cheyne was confused for a moment. What investigation again? Seeing his confused expression, Joshua paused, looked at him solemnly, and said, ¡°You forgot?¡± How would Mr. Cheyne dare say he forgot? He kept calm and worked his mind quickly. Finally, at thest moment, he remembered the phone call from his boss at three o¡¯clock in the morningst night. He breathed a sigh of relief and replied calmly, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I have been busy with meetings this moming, and I haven¡¯t had time to check it yet.¡± It was really not his fault. He was half asleep when he called and had forgotten everything. He only remembered it because of the 1,500 USD bonus. ¡°Leave that to the secretary department. Work on the matter 1 entrusted to you.¡± Joshua did not expose him, and he was not in the mood to argue. ¡°Yes,¡± Yoel immediately agreed. Just when he was going to hand over the work, Joshua called him into the office. He put his suit jacketContent ? N?velDrama.Org. on the back of the chair and wore a white shirt that was ascetic and cold. ¡°Send me the detailed records of Jayleen¡¯s treatment abroad, including those who participated in her surgery, the physicians, and medical assistants.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Yoel agreed very quickly. He was just about to leave when something suddenly urred to his mind, and he stopped in his tracks. Joshua loosened his tie. ¡°Do you have any questions?¡± ¡°You want these things from Ms. Shaw just to know if her stomach cancer is real, right?¡± Yoel asked tentatively. Joshua answered truthfully, without second thought, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Actually, there is a very simple way.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mr. Cheyne took two steps toward him, pushed up his sses, and said in a calm tone, ¡°Whether it is traditional surgery or minimally invasive surgery, there will be scars left on the abdomen. It may be less noticeable, but there is no way to remove itpletely.¡± In other words, all he needed to do was to take a look at Ms. Shaw¡¯s abdomen. as not good Joshua frowned deeply, and the first reaction in his mind was that it would damage Jayleen¡¯s reputation, which was not good. Yoel seemed to know what he was thinking and said on purpose, ¡°Anyway, you will marry Ms. Shaw in the end, so looking at Chapter 13 6 2/2 her belly is okay.¡± ¡°Go and investigate.¡± Joshua pretended to ignore Yoel¡¯s opinion. Mr. Cheyne left after saying yes, and the moment he turned around, there was a look of understanding in his eyes. He can now be sure that Joshua liked Ms. Yates, but his unwillingness or regret of being dumped was mistakenly interpreted as affection. It seemed that he had a lot to do after the divorce. Maybe he will work at home in the future. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 He wasted no time and left after handing over some important matters to the people in the secretary department. It was Sunday, after all, and there were not many people in the office. Not long after he left, Joshua sat down to deal with matters Most white-cor office workers had days off on the weekends and national holidays. However, there was almost no distinction between working days and holidays for people like him and Yoel After he processed a few documents, his phone vibrated a few times, but he ignored it. He took it over to look at it after processing a few documents. However¡­his gaze deepened when he touched the content on the phone. It was a text message with several intimate photos of Jayleen and other men. The message read, [Joshua, Jayleen has been lying to you.] He could not tell the tone of the message, and he could not tell whether it was a man or a woman. He did not hesitate too much and called the number to ask where these photos came from and what that sentence meant. He read it again carefully. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. These were not photoshopped pictures. As soon as the call was connected, a mechanical female voice could be heard telling him that the number was no longer operational He frowned and suddenly thought of the pictures before. After pondering for a moment, he picked up his phone and the jacket, left the office, and drove to Jayleen. At this time, Jayleen was still reporting the situation to others. There was trepidation on her face, and her voice showed obvious fear of the other party. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to have such a good rtionship with Moses. He would rather believe his words than mine. You really can¡¯t me me for this.¡± ¡°You should know the consequences of interrupting my n.¡± The voice came from the phone. Jayleen¡¯s hand holding the phone trembled. Just as she was about to exin, knocking came from the door. Knock, knock, knock She did not know why, but her heart beat violently at this moment as if it was going to jump out of her throat. ¡°I¡¯m going to hang up first. Someone knocked on the door.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better not make any trouble for me. ¡°Okay¡­¡± She hung up. Jayleen deleted the call log on it and took a tissue beside her to wipe her tears. After calming herself down, she stood up and went to open the door. There were only three people who knew that she lived there. One was her friend, and the other two were Joshua and Yoel No matter who it was, she must not let them know about her matters. Joshua¡¯s tall and straight figure appeared outside the door. She was subconsciously nervous, but in order not to arouse suspicion, she acted particrly surprised. ¡°Joshua! Why are you here?¡± 2/2 ¡°There¡¯s something I want to talk to you about,¡± Joshua said as he held a document that he had to deal withter. ¡°Come in quickly.¡± Jayleen took out a pair of slippers that she had prepared for a long time but never used and ced them in front of him. ¡°What do you want to drink? I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°No need. I have something to talk to you about.¡± Joshua looked indifferent, and his long and narrow eyes were calmer than Jayleen paused. The guilt in her heart made her panic, and her eyes were a little erratic. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Joshua could see that she was acting weirdly. Normally, he would just think that she had just had a physical examination and was worried that something was wrong with her health. However, since she lied to him thest time that Cynthia had an affair with Moses, he did not trust her so much. ¡°W-What do you want to talk to me about?¡± Jayleen was so guilty that she did not have any confidence when she spoke. Joshua decided to give her a chance. ¡°Do you have anything to hide from me?¡± Jayleen subconsciously held the water ss in front of her. Her brows and eyes were still as innocent and nk as before.¡± why are you asking me that all of a sudden? Did something happen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Joshua was not an idiot. He said lightly, ¡°I just think that Cynthia has lied to me many times these days, and I am worried that I have been living in lies. I think she¡¯s not sincere.¡± Hearing this, Jayleen breathed a sigh of relief. She was not as nervous as before, and a gentle smile appeared on her face tofort him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if the whole world Bes to you, I will always be truthful.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even believe me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you 1 just want to make sure.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, never in my life,¡± Jayleen said, trying to pull some heartstrings. Joshua grunted. The living room suddenly became quiet. Jayleen was utterly relieved, and she asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°After I get the divorce certificate with Cynthia, I will marry you. Before that, I want to ask you something. During the two years we separated, have you dated anyone else?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jayleen started to panic again. She did not know why Joshua would suddenly ask these questions. He had never done it before. Joshua rubbed the phone in his hand deeply and slowly before asking, ¡°If you have, I want to thank him for helping me take care of you.¡± Jayleen¡¯s heart was like riding a roller coaster. She lowered her voice and said in a sad tone, ¡°No. I have been single since 1 broke up with you, and I have a terminal illness, so I dare not date anyone else.¡± She knew very well that Joshua would definitely feel guilty when he heard this. As long as he feels guilty, the mistakes she made before may be gradually forgiven. Joshua unlocked the phone, clicked on the photo in the text message, and pushed the phone toward her. ¡°Then take a look. Who is this? Jayleen was puzzled at first, but when she took the phone and saw the photo clearly, her face turned pale in an instant. The phone dropped to the table with a bang. Panic and anxiety were written all over her face, She opened his mouth but found that all the words were stuck in her throat. How.. Why did this photo appear on Ju¡¯s phone?! ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡± Joshua gave her a chance to exin, and as long as it was reasonable, he would not 2/2 me her. ¡°¡­¡± Jayleen bit her lip, her heart was a mess at this moment, and there was only one sentence in her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know him. Joshua¡¯s eyes became darker and darker, and his obviously indifferent tone was enough to take her breath away. ¡°Really?¡± Jayleen thought of an excuse in her mind. She could not afford to fail. ¡°Joshua, you have to believe me. I really don¡¯t know him. Cynthia must have photoshopped this photo. She doesn¡¯t want me to be with you, so she deliberately framed me.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Yes She would push the me on Cynthia. Joshua hated Cynthia, and Cynthia lied to him many times. As long as it was Cynthia, he would definitely believe her. ¦§ Joshua put the documents on the table and said to her very formally, ¡°Jayleen, you should know that I hate lying and cheating the most.¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Jayleen froze. She thought about lying to him, but now she did not have any choice. If she did not marry Joshua and did not follow what that man said, she would go back to hell. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you. I know you were still ming me for the matter between Cynthia and Mosesst time, but I really didn¡¯t lie to you about this matter. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go investigate,¡± Jayleen lied, trying to gain sympathy. ¡°I really don¡¯t know who this guy is.¡± With that person¡¯s ability, even if Joshua wanted to investigate, he would not be able to find anything. After all, she did not want Joshua to find out about these things even more than himself. Joshua dropped the subject. The photo was not fake, and Jayleen was lying. That was already an irond fact. ¡°Joshua¡­¡± Jayleen had tears in her eyes. This time she was not pretending but really panicking. Joshua¡¯s eyes were so deep that people could not see through them. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you believe me?¡± Jayleen felt that the reversal was too fast. Joshua put his hand on the file bag, ate candy, and then continued to torment her. ¡°Since you said so, how can I still not believe you? But I have one more thing I need you to exin With lingering fears in her heart, Jayleen picked up the water ss and took a sip of water to suppress her shock. ¡°What is it?¡± Joshua opened the document he had brought with him as he said, very slowly, ¡°I gave your medical records abroad to your attending doctor. After reading it, he told me that he had never seen you as a patient. How do you exin this?¡± Bang! Jayleen¡¯s cup fell in response. If it was panic and fear before, then she was on the verge of despair now. She went pale, and there was a shock that could be seen at a nce in her eyes. Joshua investigated her. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because there are too many patients, so he forgot about me,¡± she insisted. ¡°I asked them to check on theputer. They checked all the patients treated in the past two years, and you were not there,¡± Joshua continued digging, looking at her with dark eyes. This time, Jayleen was really speechless. Joshua understood everything through her reaction. The anger he imagined did not appear, but he just asked a little coldly, Why did you lie to me?¡± Jayleen lowered her head, tears streaming down her face. Joshua sat there deeply and did not try tofort her. The two persisted like this for ten minutes, and Jayleen kept crying while covering her face. Ten minutes had passed, and Jayleen had already found an excuse in her mind. She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and suddenly said with a sad smile, ¡°Since you low everything, I won¡¯t hide anymore. I lied to you. I did lie to you. I have not been treated in that hospital.¡± Joshua frowned deeply. ¡°Not only this, but I also lied to you about something else. Actually, my stomach cancer has not been cured,¡± Jayleen cried. with red eyes but still maintained a forced sunile on her face Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, thinking about the authenticity of her words. Jayleen sniffed and said, ¡°I had surgery in another hospital, and the doctor said I could only live for one year. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can take off my clothes now and show you the scars from the surgery.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Tayleen took off her coat and went to unbution her shirt.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 She gambled that Joshua would stop her from taking her clothes off. It was exactly as she thought. As soon as she undid a button, Joshua sald in a deep voice, ¡°No need ¡°If you think I¡¯m lying, you can go to the hospital to check the records. It¡¯s the private hospital that I told you about before. You can check for my name on the records,¡± Jayleen still had tears on her face Hearing this, Joshua wondered for the first time whether her words were true or not, and finally said, ¡°I will investigate.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jayleen nodded calmly. That hospital was a private hospital owned by that person. Even if Joshua checked, he would only find the results they wanted for him. Seeing her calm expression, Joshua asked deeply, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you lie to me that you were cured?¡± Because I love you, I want to be with you. Anyway, I¡¯m going to die in a few months, I want to marry you, I want to die without regrets.¡± Only half of what she said was true, and then she began to lie again. ¡°Jayleen.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was deep, and he did not know how to describe his emotions. ¡®I know you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll wait for you. Come back to me after you have checked everything out.¡± Jayleen returned the phone to him with a frank look in her eyes. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Joshua took it and nced at the photo that was still lit Jayleen seemed to know what he cared about and continued, ¡°This photo is also real. At first, I nned to wait for death slowly, but he persuaded me to go for surgery and spent that time with me. We dated for a week andter found out that we were not suited for each other, so we split up ¡°If you are bothered by it, I can leave now.¡± Jayleen retreated. It had to be said that her acting was excellent. Joshua was clearly tricked. 1 If Jayleen insisted that the photo was fake, he might still have doubts, but now, she was saying that it was genuine. He did not know what to do next. ¡°Since it¡¯s real, why do you say that Cynthia photoshopped it?¡± Jayleen did not speak This silence made Joshua aware of the problem. His words and attitude toward Cynthia affected the views of people around him on Cynthia. He had wronged Cynthia in the past, so Jayleen must now feel that Cynthia was an easy target to bully. ¡°I only have five months. I don¡¯t need to marry you, but I really want to be with you, even if it¡¯s just a five¨Cmonth rtionship ¡± Jayleen changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Joshua stood up, holding the document bag, but did not say anything else. Jayleen¡¯s gaze fell on the document, and she said after some deliberation, ¡°The medical record in your document bag is fake. Throw it away.¡± ¡°This is apany document. It¡¯s not a medical record.¡± Joshua did not hide it from her. After speaking, he left her residence. He did not ask how she managed to falsify medical records, and he did not want to know. The moment the door closed, Jayleen finally broke down her disguise. She leaned on the sofa, exhausted, her back covered in a cold sweat, her lips bloodless. 2/2 She wondered how she survived just now. When she thought about Joshua, the man who could easily see through her, she could not help being afraid that the lie would be exposed After a short rest, she just took out her mobile phone, entered the previous number, and dialed it. That was herst resort. If she did not do this, her future days would be hell Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 After Joshua walked out of the apartment and sat in the car, he called Yoel and asked him to investigate the matter. He could not trust someone who had lied to him wholeheartedly. Yoel was still carrying out the investigation, and when he heard that there was something else to look into, he wanted Joshua to raise his sry. ¡®Do you really want to look into Ms. Shaw?¡± 1sn¡¯t she your crush? Aren¡¯t you going to divorce Ms. Yates because of her? What else was there to investigate about? Joshua was not in a good mood, and he said coldly, ¡°Just do what I asked you to do. Why are you asking so many questions? First, check when she was hospitalized, and then check her whereabouts during that time.¡± Even if the hospital records could be found in the hospital, it would be useless if the whereabouts were not correct. It was impossible for a normal person to be hospitalized. ¡°Okay¡±What else could Yoel do? He could only agree. This was the man that was paying his sry. After hanging up the phone, Joshua put the file on the passenger¡¯s seat. His mind was filled with everything that had happened. For a while, he felt depressed. He initially wanted to send a message to the group to ask if they were free. Then, he remembered that Yiordan was working with a new crew, so he had to call the other person. When Chyler received the call, he was still with people at the bar. ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Joshua sounded indifferent. ¡°I can¡¯te, Samantha just came back, and I¡¯m still catching up with her. Why don¡¯t youe here?¡± Chyler said in a rxed tone. Normally, Joshua would not participate in other people¡¯s gatherings. However, there were too many meetings, and he felt a little bored, so he drove over after asking for the address. Meanwhile, at Cynthia¡¯s side, she had just finished her work when she received a WhatsApp message from Mitchell. [Mitchell: Cyn,e over and save me. Something happened to me, Imperial Hotel, Room 520.] [Cynthia: What¡¯s wrong?) After the message was sent, Mitchell did not reply, and she did not dy too much, worrying that something might happen to him. She took a taxi with her mobile phone and went there. After more than an hour, she arrived. She quickly went to the room where Mitchell was, stood at the door and knocked several times, but there was no response from inside. ¡°Mitchell.¡± 2/2 ¡°Mitchell, opened the door. It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Mitchell.¡± Cynthia knocked on the door and made a phone call. After the call was connected, she heard a cell phone ringing inside. It was Mitchell¡¯s ringtone. Cynthia was a little worried. In addition to being a leader in the field ofw, Mitchell was also the heir of the Cyrus family. Wealthy families fought many battles, openly and otherwise. It was not that Mitchell had never been targeted by others before. This time, he came to Jiverton without bodyguards or assistants. The more she thought about it, the more anxious Cynthia became.. ¡°Mitchell!¡± she called again. Just when she was about to go to the front desk for help, the door suddenly opened. She rushed in quickly, only to find that the room was pitch ck. With the mobile phone in her hand, she walked a little further inside. Mitchell?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . At this time, a stick suddenly appeared on the back of her head. Before Cynthia could think, she raised her hand to catch the stick reflexively. Then twisted it with her backhand, pulling the person behind her and throwing the person over her shoulder! Bang! The person was thrown to the ground and let out a scream. ¡°Ah!¡± Cynthia soon realized that she had been fooled. Mitchell called her Cyn, so she did not doubt it. There were very few people in Jiverton who knew that her nickname was Cyn. Besides a few of her friends, only Mr. Yates and a few rtives knew about it. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 12 She did not expect anyone to dare to impersonate Mitchell. She stepped on the man¡¯s hand and asked coldly. ¡°Who are you? Where is Mitchell?¡± ¡°Captain! Save me! It hurts! Ahhhh! It hurts!¡± the person being stepped on screamed, his voice distorted in pain. Following the man¡¯s screams, the bed curtains in the room were opened, and the whole room lit up instantly. The dazzling light from the window made people close their eyes subconsciously. The person hiding in the room took the opportunity to hit Cynthia again. They used the short window when Cynthia was distracted by the sudden brightness to hit her. Boom! However, Cynthia caught it before it even hit her. Everyone was shocked. F*ck! What just happened!? How did Cynthia catch it? Did she not close her eyes? Did it not take time to get used to the sudden bright light? Most importantly, would her hands not hurt after catching the stick? ¡°Let me ask onest time, who are you, who sent you here, and where is Mitchell now. Cynthia¡¯s hand holding the stick was a little stronger, and her eyes looked at the six or seven people in the room without much warmth. After scanning around, she found that these people should be bodyguards of the securitypany. They were wearing ck uniforms, and each held a baseball bat in their hand. Pity, They were not very skilled. The six people subconsciously looked at their team leader. ¡®Should we tell her? Cynthia is quite powerful.¡± ¡°Do we need to answer you just because you asked?¡± the tall and thin Captain said. Both of them looked at their captain pitifully. ¡®Can we escape from Cynthia¡¯s hands before bragging about it? One of the bodyguards screamed, ¡°It hurts!¡± The other started to shake in fear. What should he do? Should he ask for forgiveness? ¡°C-Captain Why don¡¯t you save us first and then talk to Cynthia? in this way, our lives aren¡¯t threatened.¡± He swallowed. He was really nervous for the first time on such a mission. One of the bodyguards hurriedly said, ¡°Yes!¡± Cynthia was speechless. 2/2 Who hired this group of idiots? Was he an amateur? ¡°Are you an idiot? She is holding your baseball bat, not your hand. It¡¯s fine if you let go!¡± the Captain yelled. at the bodyguard, seething. The rest of the bodyguards nodded in unison. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°But¡­if I let go, she¡¯ll get a baseball bat. She¡¯s so fierce without a baseball bat. If she had it, we¡¯d lose, right?¡± Everyone was speechless. Including Cynthia The Captain coughed lightly and ordered decisively. ¡°Then you hold on to it, and we will talk about it after our mission ispleted.¡± ¡°For the sake of collective honor, there must be dedication.¡± ¡°Come on, we believe in you.¡± The teammates each gave him words of encouragement.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 The silly bodyguard also seemed to be encouraged. He clenched his baseball bat with determination and said firmly, ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Then¡­ what about me?¡± the other bodyguard cried. ¡°Endure the pain. You are best in our team for enduring pain.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give you an award when we get back.¡± *111 give you an extra 100 USD bonus this month.¡± The bodyguard seemed to be burning with hope and asked urgently, ¡°Are you really going to give me 100 bucks? ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you now. Hold on to that bat, okay?¡± The Captain was afraid that he would not be able to hold on, so he decisively took out a 100 USD bill from his pocket and put it in his hand. ¡°Okay!¡± He squeezed the money, full of strength, He just had to hold on for a while, and he would earn 100 bucks. Persist! Cynthia¡¯s indifferent eyes evaluated thebat effectiveness of these people. After confirming that she could defeat them alone, she initiated the battle. Before everyone could react, she grabbed the baseball bat from another person and held it in her hand. The whole process takes only a few seconds. ¡°She¡¯s not going to step on you anymore?¡± The bodyguard still held the 100 USD bill in his right hand. Cynthia nced at the closed door, not afraid of them slipping away, and casually said, ¡°Do you still want to be stepped on?¡± ¡°You¡¯d better step on me a while longer. It¡¯s better if you use a little more force. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to hold the 100 USD securely.¡± The bodyguardy on the ground again and stretched out his hand. Cynthia was speechless Who were these people? Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If I had known you¡¯d do this, I wouldn¡¯t have given you the money.¡± The Captain suddenly felt a headache coming. The bodyguard tightly held the bill in his hand and said quickly. ¡°You promised to give it to me, and I have already nned to use the 100 USD to buy new clothes and new shoes for my daughter. She is still waiting for me to get her some candy!¡± Nothing could take the money away from him. Hmph! The Captain stared at the other bodyguard. ¡°And you! Didn¡¯t I tell you to hold on tight? Why did you let go of your hand?¡± The bodyguard was speechless. He held on tight. It was Cynthia who was too strong, and he could not grasp it firmly enough. ¡°You care about your daughter?¡± Cynthia suddenly asked the bodyguard, who was sitting on the ground and had not gotten up yet. ¡°What do you want? If you dare to hurt my daughter, I will fight you.¡± The bodyguard suddenly became serious, a little more vignt. ¡°Since you care about your daughter so much, do you know that if I decide to press charges for what you did today, you will be arrested?¡± Cynthia spoke slowly and indifferently. What? ¡°Once you are arrested for crimes, it will affect your daughter¡¯s future. She will be affected in future public examinations, joining the army, confidential scientific research, and so on¡­ She will be shunned by society.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? Will it really affect my baby?¡± the bodyguard said anxiously. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can search online.¡± Cynthia talked to him patiently. She believed that a father who cared about his daughter would not be so bad, and some of them might just be there to make a living. The bodyguard suddenly became worried, and the others quickly took out their mobile phones and started searching online. After reading the results, everyone looked at each other in nk dismay, with a look of perplexity between their brows, as if they did not know what to do next. ¡°Tell me who hired you, what is the purpose, and where is the owner of the mobile phone, and I won¡¯t hold you guys ountable.¡± Cynthia nced at Mitchell¡¯s mobile phone on the table, willing to negotiate peacefully with them. ¡°Umm. It¡¯s not that we refuse to say it. It¡¯s that we can¡¯t afford the damages.¡± The Captain hesitated, looking troubled. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Chapter 144 The damages were 750,000 USD, They could not afford to leak the information. ¡°How much.¡± 750.000. The Captain spoke the truth. However, it was not included in the confidentiality agreement. That person said that as long as weplete this mission, he will give us 75,000 USD, but if the secret is leaked, we will pay ten times thepensation.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you 1,000,000 USD. Take 750,000 to pay the damages, and you guys can split the rest,¡± Cynthia said directly. Hearing this, they were shocked and confused. They immediately forgot what happened before. Now there was only one thought in their minds. Is there something wrong with her brain? They were going to knock her out, but she still wanted to help them pay. ¡°Cynthia, you¡­¡± The Captain still wanted to talk to her. A simple girl like her would be easily tricked in the future. Cynthia was toozy to argue. She just wanted to know who was behind it. ¡°Do you want it or not?¡± ¡°Yes¡± the seven people shouted in unison. A million dors! Their average share was more than 35,000 USD each!!! This was their annual sry. ¡°Captain, I feel that she is different from what that person said. I think she is a good person. She is not a bad person.¡± Cynthia was a little confused. Bad person? ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°We are members of a smallpany, helping people move stuff. We mostly help people move goods or as temporary bodyguards. Suddenly, someone came to us yesterday and said that he¡¯ll give us a job.¡± ¡°Right!¡± ¡®He said that we should hide in a hotel and knock out a person, then wait for half an hour. He would give us 75,000 USD afterpleting the task.¡± ¡°We originally didn¡¯t agree, but that person said that you are a bad person, and you often bully your ssmates at school, and you are an unfilial daughter,¡± ¡°Yes! We were angry, so we agreed.¡± ¡®He also gave each of us a suit and let us enter the hotel.¡± The Captam wanted to stop them before, but they were not real hitmen, so they were very sincere and honest in this matter ¡®We apologize to you for this, sorry ¡°Tim sorry, the remaining six people also apologized. ¡°They just asked you to knock me out for half an hour?¡± Cynthia always felt that something was wrong. They nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Nothing else?¡± ¡°No.¡± Hearing this, Cynthia suddenly could not understand why they had done it She asked, ¡°Who is that person? What does he look like? Is there a picture of him?¡± ¡°No, he always contacted me by phone, and the contract was ced at our door without anyone noticing. At first, we thought it was a scam, but he called us 30,000 USD up front,¡± the Captain confessed honestly. ¡°Give me the phone number,¡± Cynthia said very simply. The Captain gave it after much deliberation. He regretted it after thinking about how he almost broke the law. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Cynthia wrote down the phone number, thinking that she had nothing to lose today, so she said, ¡®Give me your bank details, and I¡¯ll have someone transfer the money to youter) Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ¡°That would be me.¡± The Captain stood up, and wrote down his bank details on a piece of paper. Cynthia nced at it, took a picture of the details, and returned it to them. She sent the phone number to Jimmy for him to investigate and the bank details to her special assistant for him to transfer the money. After finishing all this work, she put away her mobile phone and did not bother with them about today¡¯s affairs. ¡°Someone will transfer the money to youter, and after you pay the liquidated damages, send me the other party¡¯s card number. Also, don¡¯t ept such tasks in the future. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Thank you, Cynthia.¡± Everyone was very polite, with apologetic expressions on their faces, Cynthia saw the mobile phone on the table and asked a little more coldly, ¡°By the way, where is the owner of this mobile phone?¡± They shook their heads and answered, ¡°We don¡¯t know either¡­ That person just asked us to bring the mobile phone over, put it on the table, knock you out when youe, and say nothing else.¡± ¡°Understood. Cynthia¡¯s eyes were dark. Seeing that they had not left yet, she added, ¡°If you worry about the money, you can wait until the money arrives before you leave.¡± She still had to wait here for half an hour, because she wanted to see who was behind this. ¡°No, we trust you! You are a good person, and you will be rich and happy in the future,¡± one of the bodyguards said to Cynthia with sincerity ¡°Thank you¡± Cynthia replied lightly, Soon, the bodyguards left. In order to ensure that there would be no danger in the future, Cynthia kept a baseball bat by her side. She closed the door, took Mitchell¡¯s cell phone, and found that it was unlocked. She switched it on and clicked on WhatsApp, and saw a message in the dialog box between him and herself. This message was exactly the one she had received before. Jimmy quickly made a call, and when Cynthia got through, he said, ¡°Cynthia, this number is a new one. and there is no real¨Cname authentication.¡± ¡°Got it¡± Cynthia felt a headache. Why were there so many things going on recently? They even hired someone to knock her out. The childish enemy was definitely not someone she provoked. So who the heck was it? ¡°Cynthia, I found that you seem to be always being targeted by others recently. Did you offend someone?¡± Jimmy also noticed the problem and was a little worried about her. ¡°I don¡¯t think I offended anyone. There is a high probability that someone who likes Joshua is trying to get to me. If it¡¯s really someone I offended, things wouldn¡¯t be this simple. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . People she offended would try to kill her and not y these kiddy games. ¡°But I checked, and I couldn¡¯t find anyone.¡± Jimmy could not figure it out. ¡°Forget it for now. Let¡¯s talk about it after a while. If there is still trouble after divorcing Joshua, it¡¯s not too Chapp: 145 ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± The phone was hung up. The special assistant sent a message. (The money is settled.] [Cynthia: Okay.] After solving these matters, Cynthia wandered around the room. After confirming that there were no cameras or recording equipment in the room, she went directly to the bedroom of the suite with a baseball bat andy down on the bed to rest. About twenty minutes passed when suddenly there was a sound of unlocking the door. Almost instantly, Cynthia woke up from the bed and stood behind the bedroom door with a baseball bat, intending to hit anyone who came in. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Click. The door lock was opened. A tall figure with slender legs walked in from outside. He wore shiny leather shoes, and every step he took seemed to be stepping on someone¡¯s heart, making people unconsciously nervous. Except for Cynthia. In a short while, the man came to the bedroom door, put his hand on the doorknob, and locked it. He then opened the bedroom door. The moment she saw someoneing in, Cynthia swung the baseball bat in her hand, fearing that she would kill him with too much force, so she only used a small half of her strength. Bang! The dropped baseball bat was caught. The man held the stick with great strength and pulled the stick over in a cool and concise manner. Cynthia quickly realized that he knew martial arts, so she gripped the baseball bat tightly and kicked it over. The man dodged quickly but was still kicked by Cynthia. He let go of the baseball bat and retreated a few meters from Cynthia. The whole process took only a second or two. Cynthia was ready to fight him but found that she knew this man and called him with some surprise, Mitchell? ¡°Cyn?¡± Mitchell also saw the person who kicked him. The two said in unison, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Someone knocked on my door a few minutes ago, and they left a letter and a room card outside my door. The letter said that there was a girl kidnapped in this room.¡± Mitchell rxed his guard and raised his gold¨Crimmed sses. Cynthia was confused. Mitchell continued to exin, ¡°They also said that they didn¡¯t dare to offend the person who kidnapped the girl, and they didn¡¯t dare to call the police, so they quietly gave me the room card and asked me to save her.¡± Cynthia raised her brows. ¡°Do you live in this hotel?¡± ¡°Yeah I nned to call the police first, but I was worried that something might happen to the girl who was kidnapped, so I thought I woulde to see it first, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be you.¡± Mitchell nodded, his elegant demeanor was particrly attractive. Cynthia nodded. The person behind it seemed smarter than they thought. ¡°What about you?¡± Mitchell asked her. Cynthia walked out of the bedroom, put the baseball bat on the table, and handed over his mobile phone. 2/2 Someone sent me a message on your mobile phone. The person called me Cyn. I didn¡¯t doubt it, so I came directly.¡± Mitchell took it and looked at it twice and frowned when he saw the message. Cynthia took advantage of the situation and sat on the sofa, talking to him about this matter. ¡°You are not so vignt. You don¡¯t even know if your phone is stolen. Captain will definitely punish you if you are called back to the team one day.¡± Mitchell thought about it for a while and guessed that it should be when he was helping out in the parking lot. He re¨Clocked the phone, a yful smile on his lips. ¡°You are not very good at filtering real to fake news. Captain will punish you just as severely.¡± Cynthia was speechless. Thinking about what happened today, Cynthia said, ¡°This probably isn¡¯t over.¡± They lured both her and Mitchell here. What was the purpose? ¡°Did Jayleen do it? Maybe she¡¯s trying to put me and you in this room and then get Joshua to see us in the room together,¡± Mitchell guessed, and he could only think of one thing for the time being. result. Joshua would misunderstand Cynthia, and Cynthia would hate Joshua even more. Was that the purpose? ¡°She isn¡¯t that smart. Also, she wouldn¡¯t be able to find someone to steal your phone.¡± Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out!This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Chapter 147 ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s too much trouble. I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Cynthia stood up, toozy to waste her mental energy on such things. This kind of thing resulted in nothing more than Joshua doubting her and questioning her. She had been wronged so many times, and she did not mind it happening again. Joshua would just think she was a liar. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡± Mitchell followed suit and stood up. ¡°No need. You should go to the hotel first and ask for surveince to see who sent you the letter,¡± Cynthia refused. Hearing this, Mitchell did not insist on driving her. However, he still sent her to the hotel door, called a cab for her, and watched her get in the car before. returning to the room. After returning to the room, Mitchell took his mobile phone and made a call. At this time, he was the kind the and gentle man from before. His eyes were full of danger as he instructed his men to investigate matter thoroughly. It did not matter that others used him, but Cyn was bullied again and again. He could not bear it any longer. Cynthia did not know this. She just sat in the back seat and closed her eyes when she got in the car. She also did not notice that a handsome man was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat of a limousine in the hotel. parking lot, and he saw everything. He saw her leave the hotel, saw her get in the car. The low air pressure inside the car was thick and cold Chyler sat in the passenger¡¯s seat and looked at the person in the driver¡¯s seat with aplex expression. He raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder tofort him. ¡°Hey man, it¡¯s not a big deal. Ellora is pregnant with someone else¡¯s child, and I¡¯m still fine, right?¡± ¡°Get out.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice seemed to beden with frost. What? He thought he had heard wrong. Just when he was about to ask, Joshua¡¯s cold voice sounded like ice as he shouted, ¡°Get out!¡± Chyler was a little worried, fearing that something might happen. He persuaded, ¡°You¡¯re not going to settle the score with Cynthia, are you? Don¡¯t be impulsive. What if this is a misunderstanding? What if¡­ ¡°I¡¯m asking you to get out of my car. Joshua¡¯s eyes were as sharp as a knife, and he was extremely patient. From the moment he received the pictures and text messages, he kept telling himself that it was a misunderstanding. He had wronged Cynthia several times before, and he could not wrong her again this time. So he came here and waited. However, he never expected that he would see her and Mitchell walking out of the hotel, talking and 2/2 ¡°Then take it easy. Say what you have to say,¡± Chyler knew that he was angry and reminded him before. getting off. Joshua ignored him. After he got out of the car, Joshua drove toward where Cynthia lived. He drove faster and passed the cab Cynthia was sitting in. After an hour¡­.Cynthia got out of the car and went back to her home. When she saw Joshua standing outside her room door, covered in a cold aura, she paused momentarily. Then, a sh of understanding shed in her eyes. This should be the continuation of the hotel incident. She did not speak to him either. She unlocked the door with her fingerprint and went in. This time, she did not shut Joshua out. She knew he must have something to talk to her about. ¡°Did you have fun today?¡± Joshua stared deeply at her unchanging face. He had to admit that he admired her. It was such a pity for her not to be an undercover agent. She did not even bat an eyelid after having an affair with someone. Cynthia changed her shoes, walked inside, and muttered, ¡°It was okay.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Where did you go?¡± Joshua also changed his shoes and followed in, closing the door. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Cynthia sat on the sofa, feeling a little tired. ¡°Hotel.¡± Joshua was speechless. How did she have the courage to say that? She said it so eloquently too. ¡°You¡¯re looking for me because you know I¡¯m in the same room as Mitchell? Cynthia said. ¡°I did go to the hotel to find him because someone took his mobile phone and sent me a message, using his identity to tell me that he has something to ask me.¡± As she spoke, Cynthia took out her mobile phone, clicked on the chat dialog box, and showed him. ¡°I thought he was in danger, so I went there.¡± Joshua said nothing. His cold gaze stayed on the word ¡®Cyn¡®. An exclusive nickname? ¡°After I went there, I found out that it was a trap. Someone attacked me when I opened the door, but I beat them up. If you need, I can ask them to testify,¡± Cynthia said briefly. ¡°Mitchell appeared there because someone knocked on his door and gave him the room¡¯s key card and a letter. The letter said that someone kidnapped a girl and asked him to help save her. After he went there. he found out it was me,¡± Cynthia continued to exin. Joshua raised his eyes deeply, and his eyes fell on her face, which had been indifferent since she came in. He suddenly wanted to ask her, ¡®Do I look like a fool?¡± Would he believe such a poor excuse? ¡°If you want to ask anything else, you can ask.¡± Cynthia gave him the initiative to speak. ¡°It must have been hard for you two. After having fun, you still have toe up with a story to fool me.¡± Joshua¡¯s breath was cold, and ayer of ck mist surged in his ck eyes. She really did not understand how a person could be this stupid. ¡°What do you mean? ¡°You guys are well¨Cprepared, and it¡¯s really easy for people to trust you if you take the initiative to exin. things clearly. However, you forgot the most important point.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze locked onto her eye, not missing the slightest expression on her face ¡°What?¡± Cynthia asked subconsciously. ¡°Did I say that I came to you for this matter? Are you patting yourself on the back?¡± Twice that day, he was deceived. Did these people really think he was an idiot? Cynthia almostughed angrily at these words. ¡®Pat myself on the back? ¡°Cynthia, you are smart, and Mitchell is also smart. But sometimes, you are too smart for your own good.¡± When Joshua thought of her sharing the bed with Mitchell, he could not control his emotions. Aftering up with a story, she took the initiative to try to fool him again. 2/2 It was quite convincing. However, given her character, if things were really as she said, and nothing happened between them, why would she exin it to him? He did not forget that he had wronged her before, how much she hated him when she exined, so what about now? She exined the whole ¡®ordeal¡± in a matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone. ¡°What exactly do you want to say?¡± Cynthia¡¯s patience gradually ran out. ¡°Did you sleep with Mitchell?¡± Joshua unconsciously tightened his hands, his eyes filled with a bit of uncontroble hostility. Cynthia was speechless. Fine. She took a deep breath and still nned to talk calmly with him. After all, if she had seen him and Jayleen in the same room, she would have misunderstood something. She answered his question. ¡°No.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Can you be honest? Must I catch you red¨Chanded with photos of you two in bed anding out of a hotel together before you can tell me the truth? Joshua finally lost control of his emotions. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Cynthia held back her emotions and said, ¡°If you have any doubts or don¡¯t believe me, you can say it directly.¡± ¡°Someone knocked on the door to deliver a letter to Mitchell. Who was that person? Why did he send it to him? If someone is really kidnapped, isn¡¯t calling the police the best solution?¡± Joshua did as she wished and asked all the questions. Cynthia said, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Joshua was seething. She still wanted him to wait?! Cynthia took the mobile phone and called Mitchell, asking him to send the letter to her. After Mitchell hung up the phone, he took a photo and sent it to her. Cynthia clicked on the picture and showed Joshua. After Joshua read every word, he only had one thought. Mitchell really outdone himself. He even created evidence so seamlessly.¡± ¡°Mitchell is still checking the surveince cameras at the hotel to find out who left him the letter,¡± Cynthia exined. Joshua threw her mobile phone on the table, looked at her as if he was looking at a stranger, and said coldly, ¡°Are you going to say that the hotel¡¯s surveince system is broken?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe it?¡± Cynthia asked him. ¡°If it were you, would you believe it? You got someone to write this letter, didn¡¯t you? You created the letter so that you have something to show me when I ask. Joshua stood up, his chest constricted in panic. Cynthia held her breath. Did she not exin everything clearly? The coldness in Joshua¡¯s deep eyes condensed a little bit, and his whole body became more alienated Cynthia could clearly feel that something separated the two of them. They were deadlocked for a while. ¡°Cynthia, it was my mistake to trust you,¡± Joshua said without any emotion in it. He left after speaking. The door mmed loudly when leaving. He thought about believing her, but he saw her and Mitchelling out of the hotel with his own eyes, and she went ahead and told him an borate story before he could even ask, How would he dare to Content ? N?velDrama.Org. believe it? The more Joshua thought about it, the more ridiculous he felt. This time he called no one and drove to the nearest bar. Now, he needed alcohol to numb himself. He was afraid that he would trouble Cynthia, that he would not be able to control his emotions, and that he would hurt her unintentionally. Cynthia was already hurt. She looked at the door, trembling. Her heart, calm and unruffled recently, seemed to have been stabbed. Joshua¡¯s resolute back view and the sentence ¡®Cynthia, it was my mistake to trust you¡® was reying in her head. If it were not for the phone call from Mitchell, she would almost have stood there for a long time. The moment the phone was connected, Mitchell noticed something was wrong with her voice and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Joshua doesn¡¯t believe me.¡± Cynthia lowered her eyes and rested her forehead with one hand. Mitchell thought for a while and asked, ¡°How did you tell him?¡± Cynthia told him the whole conversation between the two. Nothing was wrong. ¡°I talk to himter. The way you exined to him¡­ It¡¯s no wonder he found it hard to believe. It sounds like you¡¯re making up excuses,¡± Mitchellforted her. He knew that this incident had a certain emotional impact on Cyn. ¡°Why do you say that too?¡± Cynthia did not quite understand. She just wanted to exin things clearly in one go, and she did not want to quarrel. With a gentle smile, Mitchell sorted out things with her. It¡¯s your character. You have always ignored things you have never done, and you only fight back when you are really annoyed. Joshua has been with you for two years, there was no way he would not understand your character.¡± A simple sentence caused waves in Cynthia¡¯s heart. She really did not take the initiative to exin things in the past. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will talk to him. Mitchell knew how tomunicate with Joshua. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Cynthia hung up the phone with a grunt. She let the phone slip and fall on the table. She copsed on the sofa, and her mind was in a mess. She originally thought that she would calm down after a while, but she did not know what was going on in her head as she reyed over and over again the words Joshua said. She could almost see his cold and alienating back view as he left. After another ten minutes, she still could not calm down. She simply stood up and went out, stopped a car, and went to a bar in the city center. When it was time to pay, she realized she had not brought her mobile phone. She did not turn back to get it. She took out her wallet and paid before entering the bar. The bar was full of colorful lights. Cynthia randomly found a ce to sit and ordered two sses of wine. She came here just because it was a mess here. Just like now, just as her wine was served, someone came and sat down next to her and started to strike up a conversation. ¡°Miss, are you alone?¡± ¡°Get out of the way.¡± Cynthia¡¯s tone was a little cold. ¡°Don¡¯t be so fierce. Everyone is out to y. Let¡¯s have a drink together.¡± The man moved closer to her and poured some drugs into her wine ss calmly. Cynthia had seen that trick countless times. At the same time, several other men also gathered around. Cynthia was good¨Clooking, and even in a dimly lit ce like a bar, she was the one who could catch people¡¯s attention at a nce. Coupled with her cool and calm temperament, she was extremely attractive. She did not like crowded ces, and she did not like people approaching her. She did not choose a private room today but chose a booth with a lot of people outside, purely because. she was in a bad mood and also because she could beat someer when she saw someone making trouble. ¡°You are really interesting.¡± ¡°I will cover your expenses tonight.¡± ¡°Drink whatever you want, please. A few of them tried to talk to her. One of them handed the drugged wine to Cynthia with a friendly expression. Cynthia took the ss of wine, and those people smiled and looked at each other as if they were joking. However, Cynthia could tell that this group of people was in cahoots with the man that drugged her wine. ¡°You guys should drink this wine yourself,¡± Cynthia said calmly. The men were stunned, and the deafening music made them unable to hear clearly. Before they asked again, Cynthia pinched the cheek of the man who handed her the wine and forced the man to open his mouth before pouring the ss of wine into his mouth. Chappi 150 212 The whole process happened so fast that none of them could react. Cynthia¡¯s eyes swept over them one by one. ¡°Do you really think I can¡¯t see that you have added something to the wine?¡± ¡°Hehe, what do you know?¡± ¡°This stinky girl gave me a drink!¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good to drink? You¡¯ll end up in bed with herter anyway.¡± ¡°Whether you know or not doesn¡¯t matter. Here, I have the final say.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cynthia remained calm. ¡°Are you going with us alone, or will we carry you there? If we carry you, you won¡¯t feel so cold.¡± The person, who passed her the drugged drink, smirked, thinking that Cynthia was an ordinary girl. ¡°I¡¯m not in a good mood today. Now, you should kneel down and beg for mercy. I won¡¯t beat you if you do that.¡± Cynthia took out a napkin and wiped her hands. She really hated to be dirty. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 ¡°Hahaha. It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re not in a good mood. We can make you feel better.¡± ¡°Come with us and experience what true happiness is.¡± ¡°Let me carry her.¡± Everyone reached out toward Cynthia with their eyes shining like they were looking at their prey. When one of them was reaching toward Cynthia¡¯s chest, Cynthia grabbed his wrist and exerted all her strength. ¡°Ah! Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go of me now, or you¡¯ll regret itter!¡± The person let out a miserable scream, trembling in pain. When they saw this, others realized something was wrong, and they all instantly rushed forward. It was at that moment Cynthia finally took action. She kicked the person closest to her with great force. Bang! The man mmed into the wall, letting out a dull grunt. As the others closed in, Cynthia threw a punch without any hesitation, causing the person¡¯s face to swell and turn blue. She vented all her frustration. Bang! ¡°Ah!¡± A few came forward, and Cynthia fought them off. She did not need fancy moves or techniques to deal with people with no skills. Instead, she simply kicked and punched them as they charged at her. ¡°Da mn! Who is this woman?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve totally humiliated ourselves today.¡± They whispered to each other. Thest person who had not joined the fight grabbed an iron rod and swung it toward Cynthia. HeN?velDrama.Org content rights. refused to believe that he could not defeat a girl. However, the reality was often far from imagination. Just as he was about to strike Cynthia, she skillfully caught the iron rod, snat ched it away, and struck him twice. The man fell to the ground in pain, screaming, ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°What the hell is going on over there?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the notorious hooligans that often show up in this bar? Many girls have fallen victim to their harassment.¡± 5 Chapter 151 ¡°Did no one do anything about it?¡± ¡°How can we do anything about this? It¡¯s hard to investigate the matter and find evidence.¡± The bar was abuzz with discussions, and many people¡¯s gazes turned to Cynthia, who had used the rod to defend herself. They were all captivated by her cold aura and stunning beauty. What a cool youngdy! Cynthia nced at the men. Three of them had broken ribs, two had broken hands, and each person had numerous other injuries on their faces and bodies. ¡°I¡¯m going to sue you for intentional assault! You¡¯ll go to jail for what you¡¯ve done to us!¡± The person who had originally drugged Cynthia was clutching his stomach as he grimaced in pain. Cynthia threw the iron rod to the ground, making a ttering sound. Those few individuals trembled, frightened by her actions. ¡°Do you need me to help you call the police?¡± Cynthia sat on the sofa, emanating a powerful aura, her tone calm. This was self-defense. Those few individuals gulped and exchanged nces. Soon enough, they came up with a new idea. ¡°Do you know who we are? If you offend us, you can forget about living in Jiverton!¡± ¡°Youngdy, you¡¯re beautiful. As long as you beg us to let you go, we won¡¯t trouble you in the future.¡± ¡°Think about your family. You may be able to protect yourself, but what about your family?¡± They threatened her, one after another. Originally, Cynthia had nned to teach them a lesson. After all, the broken ribs and hands were not minor injuries. However, it seemned that they were in for a few years of prison time. ¡°If you want to live a good life in the future, listen to our advice.¡± They had already decided on how to deal with Cynthia. ¡°As long as you spend a night with us, we¡¯ll let go of what happened today, and we won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 ¡°Sure,¡± Cynthia agreed. Everyone, including the onlookers, was shocked. No one could quiteprehend the sudden turn of events, not even the individuals who had spoken. They had only said those things to buy themselves some time, waiting for their boss to arrive after hearing about themotion. However, this crazy woman actually agreed? ¡°You¡­actually agreed?¡± They found it hard to believe. Cynthia maintained her calm demeanor, and her eyes revealed no emotions. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who said that if I spend a night with you, everything that happened today will be forgiven?¡± Upon hearing her words, they finally understood. They had thought this woman was so formidable, but it turned out she was just putting on a show! She was even speaking so calmly about surrendering. What an act! ¡°Let¡¯s go. Where to?¡± Cynthia stood up, ncing at them. She had already decided to unleash her fury on them once they were upstairs. ¡°There are rooms upstairs. Let¡¯s go there.¡± ¡°Help me up quickly.¡± ¡°Damn it. I¡¯m definitely going to teach this woman a lessonter!¡± The hooligans grimaced in pain, their faces swollen and bruised as they stood up from the ground. Their eyes locked onto Cynthia¡¯s figure like a hungry wolf looking at amb. Cynthia maintained her mature andmanding aura. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Everyone was baffled. How could a pathetic little wretch who begged for mercy and surrendered have the audacity to say such words? ¡°What are you standing around for? Lead the way, quickly.¡± Cynthia was extremely dissatisfied with their hesitation. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll lead the way,¡± one of the men gritted his teeth and spoke. They were determined to make Cynthia suffer to the point where life was worse than death, avenging the humiliation they had endured today. They did not question it further; they simply assumed Cynthia was concerned about her reputation and continued to put on a facade. As they began to lead Cynthia away, other girls stepped forward, looking at her with concern. ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t go with them. If you give in to people like them once, they¡¯ll take advantage of you even more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. We¡¯ll call the police, and they won¡¯t dare to harass your family.¡± Several girls stood up, all of them not wanting anything bad to happen to Cynthia. Cynthia¡¯s heart softened in an instant. Her gaze fell upon them as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± They wanted to say something more. ¡°If anyone else babbles another word, I¡¯ll kick you out. If you interfere with this, you¡¯ll be lying dead in the streets tomorrow,¡± the less injured individual threatened fiercely. Thud! Cynthia kicked him with a swift and decisive motion, sending him flying as he fell face-first to the ground! ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want your family to be safe?¡± ¡°You wretched woman, I think you¡¯re asking for death.¡± The group cursed andined. Cynthia stood before the group of girls, her eyes fixed on their fierce and malicious. appearances. She asked, ¡°Do you think you can escape thew of our society if you kill someone?¡± ¡°If you utter another word, our boss will make sure you don¡¯t see the sun tomorrow,¡± said angrily. they This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Cynthia looked at them with disdain, thinking they were a bunch of brainless fools. She initially thought about calling the police since there was certainly something amiss with these men, given their arrogance and behavior. As she reached into her pocket, she remembered that she did not have her phone with her. However, she could not be bothered to waste more time with them and simply said, ¡°If you say another word, I¡¯ll disable your other arm as well.¡± Hearing this audacious remark, the men dared not speak even though they were angry! They did not dare to approach her either. Up until now, they were still apprehensive about Cynthia¡¯s skills, especially the one who had just been kicked again. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 17 ¡°Quickly inform our boss about this matter.¡± ¡°From today onward, you won¡¯t be able to stay in Jiverton.¡± After threatening Cynthia, the group left, clearly going to seek help and tend to their injuries. After the others watched them leave, they dispersed and went about their own business. Only the girls who had spoken up earlier remained, looking at Cynthia with concern. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°In the future, it¡¯s better to go to bars like this withpany.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Theyforted her. Cynthia smiled faintly, giving off a soothing and carefree vibe. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°No need to thank us. If you don¡¯t mind, why note with us? We¡¯re nning to stay and have some fun before leaving.¡± They had smiles and concern on their faces. ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m nning to head back.¡± Cynthia smiled gently. The others did not insist. However, as Cynthia was leaving, a few could not help but stop her, treating her as someone. inexperienced in society. ¡°Miss!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°If you ever encounter such a situation again, never agree to go with someone.¡± ¡°Those people didn¡¯t seem like good people at all. If you had gone with them, the consequences would have been terrible.¡± ¡°In a bar, if your drink is ever out of your sight, don¡¯t drink it.¡± As Cynthia listened to these heartwarming words, she regarded them as she would her own sisters. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee!¡± They smiled sweetly. Cynthia left the bar. ncing at the time outside the bar, she realized it was already eight o¡¯clock. The bar was in the city center, a two-hour drive from where she lived. Just the thought of sitting in a car for two hours to get back made her hesitant. She had calmed down at this point, and she understood why Joshua did not believe her. When strange things happen, there must be a reason behind it. Joshua had already been suspicious of the rtionship between her and Mitchell, and coupled with her recent actions that werepletely contrary to her usual character, it was no surprise that his doubts deepened. Cynthia temporarily restrained her thoughts and had originally nned to take a taxi back home. However, considering that the subway would only take an hour and a half, she decided to take the subway instead. At half past ten, Cynthia arrived at the subway station. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw a fire truck heading toward her neighborhood. Meanwhile, the voices of people around her discussing the situation filled her ears. ¡°A fire at this time of night. I wonder if there¡¯s anyone inside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s really frightening.¡± ¡°How could this happen so suddenly?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± A fire? Cynthia furrowed her brow, quickening her pace toward the scene. When she reached a point where she could see her neighborhood, she noticed a building engulfed in mes, and the upper floor¡­ seemed to be her home? Her home?! Theposed expression on her face vanished in an instant as she hurriedly ran toward her neighborhood. There was not anything particrly important inside. The loss of herputer or phone. would not matter, but her marriage certificate was there. If it were burned, she would have to go through the ha ssle of getting a new one. Considering her current rtionship with Joshua, if he found out the marriage certificate was destroyed, he would surely think it was an excuse she came up with, leading to another dispute. The fire trucks had already arrived and set up barricades to keep the crowd away. Joshua sat in his car, with Yoel in the driver¡¯s seat. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Yoel looked at the house billowing with thick smoke and said to Joshua, ¡°It seems like Ms. Yates¡¯ home is on fire.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Joshua had already gotten out of the car. He was a little dizzy as he had drunk alcohol. If it were not for the influence of alcohol, he would not havee here in the first ce. ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s anyone in those upper-floor apartments. When I knocked on the door earlier, it seemed like nobody answered.¡± ¡°If nobody answered, then there¡¯s nobody inside, right?¡± ¡°With such thick smoke, they should know, shouldn¡¯t they?¡¯ Listening to the discussions around him, Joshua quickly took out his phone and dialed Cynthia¡¯s number. However, there was no answer on the other end despite several attempts. ¡°Mr. Neal,¡± Yoel called out to him tentatively. Joshua took Yoel¡¯s phone and dialed Cynthia¡¯s number again. He was worried that Cynthia was still upset with him because of what had happened earlier, causing her to ignore his calls. Even so, there was still no answer from Cynthia¡¯s side. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Joshua suddenly felt anxious. He did not care about the possible rtionship between Mitchell and Cynthia anymore. Concerned for Cynthia¡¯s safety, he dialed Mitchell¡¯s number and asked him to call Cynthia. However, the result filled him with fear and worry. Mitchell made the call, but Cynthia still did not answer. ¡°Don¡¯t be too anxious. Maybe Ms. Yates is outside and couldn¡¯t hear the phone,¡± Yoel tried to console him. ¡°She¡¯s inside,¡± Joshua said, his voice h oar se, as he looked at the building enveloped in smoke. When he had just spoken to Mitchell on the phone, Mitchell checked Cynthia¡¯s phone¡¯s location, and the IP address indicated her homework. A thought came to Joshua¡¯s mind almost instantly, ¡®Cynthia¡¯s phone is in silent mode, and she is asleep.¡¯ ¡°Mr. Neal, what are you doing?¡± Yoel grabbed him, trying to hold him back from rushing into the crowd. ¡°Let go! Cynthia is still inside!¡± Joshua shook him off in one motion and hurriedly made his way inside. He did care about her and Mitchell, but he could not bear to see her lose her life here. The fire trucks had just arrived. The thick smoke was already making its way into Cynthia¡¯s home. Could she be choked by the Chapter 15 smoke if she was still asleep and unaware of this? The thought of seeing the lifeless Cynthia was unbearable for Joshua. Yoel wanted to pull him back, but he realized Joshua was stronger and had longer legs. He could not hold him back at all! Just then, a voice filled with doubt suddenly rang out, ¡°Mr. Cheyne?¡± Yoel froze. Joshua, who had just broken free and was running inside, also halted his steps upon hearing the voice. M-Ms. Yates? What are you doing here?¡± Yoel¡¯s eyes widened slightly, filled with surprise. ¡°I went out for a while.¡± Cynthia had yet to notice Joshua rushing into the crowd. She nced at the fire and then at Yoel, before asking, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Yoel instinctively looked toward Joshua, and Cynthia¡¯s gaze followed him. When she saw the unabashed concern on Joshua¡¯s face, she paused. ¡°Mr. Neal, Ms. Yates¡­¡± Yoel began. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was cold and merciless as he walked away from Cynthia. The worried heart, however, rxed at that moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Yoel was speechless. Then, he hesitated, coughed lightly, and tried to ease the tension between the two. ¡°Weren¡¯t you very worried about Ms. Yates just now? Now that she¡¯s safe, shouldn¡¯t you talk to each other?¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 ¡°Who told you I was worried about her?¡± Joshua¡¯s words contradicted his true thoughts. Whenever he saw Cynthia, he could not help but think about her and Mitchell. Yoel blurted out, ¡°Just a moment ago, you rushed into the fire for Ms. Yates.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze turned icy. Was he too easy on Yoel these days? ¡°You two should talk. I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.¡± Yoel ignored Joshua¡¯s terrifying gaze. He did not even nce at him and slipped away. He got into the car and casually locked the doors. Joshua did not pay much attention to his words and walked toward the car. He intended to open the door but realized the car was locked. Joshua was shocked. He emanated a terrifying chill as he shouted, ¡°Yoel!¡± Yoel kept his head down, refusing to look outside. As long as he did not meet Joshua¡¯s gaze, he would be fine! ¡°Did youe to see me?¡± Cynthia asked. Joshua was still angry and was not friendly toward Cynthia. ¡°Do you think I woulde to find you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia replied. Joshua¡¯s expression grew colder, infuriated by her response. He knew this woman was heartless. No matter how much he worried about her, he was just someone cold and heartless in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re aware of that. The only thing I¡¯m worried about is that marriage certificate. If it gets burned, I won¡¯t have time to apany you to get it reissued,¡± Joshua retorted, his tone bing more frigid. ¡°As long as I have all the necessary documents, I can do it on my own,¡± Cynthia calmly replied. Joshua was rendered speechless. A fire burned inside him, and he really could not stand being with Cynthia anymore. Seeing Yoel still pretending inside the car, he raised his hand and knocked on his window. Yoel was conflicted. Should he unlock it? What if Cynthia and Joshua had not settled things yet? Before Yoel could resolve his dilemma, he received a message from Joshua on his phone. [If you don¡¯t unlock the door now, you¡¯ll be fired.] 7/2 Yoel was terrified and quickly put down his phone. Then, he unlocked the car door and swiftly got out of the car. Afraid of incurring Joshua¡¯s resentment, he opened the door and gestured, ¡°Mr. Neal, please get in the car.¡± Joshua entered with an icy aura, with his gaze as cold as ice. Even Yoel was chilled by the low pressure in the car. ¡°Ms. Yates, we¡¯re leaving,¡± he informed Cynthia as he sat in the driver¡¯s seat. Cynthia responded, ¡°O Okay.¡± The car disappeared into the night quickly. Yoel could not bear the oppressive atmosphere in the car. After carefully choosing his words, he tried to engage Joshua in conversation, hoping to ease the tension. ¡°Mr. Neal, you clearly care about Ms. Yates, so why would you say you don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Will you care about someone who betrayed you?¡± Joshua retorted. Question marks popped up in Yoel¡¯s mind. ¡®Betrayal? Did Ms. Yates betrayed you?¡± Joshua pursed his lips and remained silent. He did not mention Cynthia¡¯s involvement with Mitchell. Cynthia was a woman, and while Yoel would not gossip, he knew that such information would tarnish Cynthia¡¯s reputation. ¡°You¡¯re getting divorced on Wednesday. After this divorce, Ms. Yates might return to Nexuria, and you may never cross paths again,¡± Yoel said, frustrated with Joshua¡¯sck of understanding- This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Joshua furrowed his brow. He had not given it much thought when Cynthia requested a vi as part of the conditions. If she really intended to return to Nexuria, she would not have asked for a vi. ¡°Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°Did you finish investigating the matter I asked you to look into?¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°And if you haven¡¯t, why do you have the time to worry about other things?¡± Yoel retaliated, bringing out his trump card and asking Joshua a question that struck right at his heart, ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided to divorce Ms. Yates, why are you still investigating Bailey?¡± He imed not to care, yet here he was. Was it so hard for this man to be honest for once? He deserved the divorce! ¡°It¡¯s none of your business if it doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± Joshua warned with a hint of irritation in his words. With just a simple sentence, Yoel obediently fell silent. Joshua¡¯s mind was a jumble ofplex thoughts. Cynthia upied his mind entirely, and he did not understand why his attention toward her had been increasingtely. His train of thought was interrupted by the vibration of his phone. When he saw it was a call. from Mitchell, his gaze darkened for a moment before he answered, ¡°What¡¯s up? ¡°Have you found Cynthia?¡± Joshua thought of the name on WhatsApp, and a cold remark escaped his lips, ¡°Cynthia? Shouldn¡¯t it be Cyn?¡± Mitchell fell silent on the other end of the phone. That silence pierced Joshua¡¯s heart as if Cynthia and Mitchell had been hiding something from him, and he had finally exposed it. Cyn. Would theyst forever? ¡°Let¡¯s meet and talk,¡± Mitchell suggested after considering that Cynthia¡¯s identity had not. been compromised. With that assurance, he felt relieved. Joshua raised an eyebrow and finally replied, ¡°Monday, ten o¡¯clock in the morning, at the office.¡± He wanted to see what Mitchell had to say. After agreeing, Mitchell hung up without asking further about Cynthia. In his view, if something had really happened to Cynthia, Joshua would not be speaking in the tone he was now. The difference in his current demeanor and his tone during their previous phone call was truly stark. Half an hourter, Cynthia returned to her home. The room still had the lingering smell of smoke, and the walls were charred. Then, she went to pick up her phone from the table and saw missed calls. Mitchell (1), Yoel (2), and Joshua (7). Thinking about what Yoel had said downstairs, she could not help but frown. She unlocked her phone and sent Mitchell a message to let him know she was safe. After sending the message, she noticed the chat with Joshua and tapped on it. She had initially nned to type a message saying that the fire had been extinguished and she was safe, but after careful consideration, she decided to change her text. Instead, she sent a few words and a picture. [Cynthia: Image] [Cynthia: The marriage certificate is safe and wasn¡¯t burned.] The picture was a photo of the marriage certificate ced on the table. Joshua received the messages while still in the car, which almost infuriated him. This woman¡­ He did not even respond to her messages and just tossed his phone aside, his expression growing even darker. Yoel noticed this through the rearview mirror and swallowed hard, taking a deep breath and focusing on driving. Cynthia¡¯s intention in replying to those messages was simple. Since Joshua imed to care about the marriage certificate, she wanted to tell him it was safe. After sending the messages, she returned to the chat screen and saw that Old Man Neal had sent her a message a few hours ago. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Old Man Neal asked, [Cynthia, will youe to my 80th birthday celebration?] Cynthia replied, [I¡¯m not sure yet.] Old Man Neal held a prominent position in their social circle, and if the Yates Group were to send representatives, she could attend one. Cynthia and Joshua were scheduled to receive their divorce certificate on August 31st, and Old Man Neal¡¯s birthday was on September 15th. As she did not know what responsibilities she would have after returning to Nexuria, Cynthia could not make anymitments without knowing the situation. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Shortly after sending the messages, Cynthia received a phone call from Old Man Neal. Cynthia answered quickly, ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you. ¡°No, not at all.¡¯ ¡°Do you have any ns tomorrow evening? Mom and Dad are back after settling their matter on hand, and since you and Joshua are getting divorced soon, I thought we could have a meal together,¡± Old Man Neal asked. Cynthia remained silent for a moment. They had just had dinner on Friday¡­ Although it was only Moses and Old Man Neal, it still counted as a gathering. ¡°Mom really misses you. She¡¯s been talking about you since she returned yesterday. Why don¡¯t you talk to her?¡± Old Man Neal added. ¡°No need,¡± Cynthia declined. She could not handle Mrs. Neal Senior¡¯s sugar-coated maniption. ¡°I¡¯ll come over tomorrow evening.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Great, great!¡± Old Man Neal suddenly became delighted. After wishing each other a good rest, Cynthia waited for Old Man Neal to hang up the phone. She felt a bit tired at the thought of going to the Old Neal Manor tomorrow and rubbed her temples. Then, she ced her phone on the bedside table to charge before freshening up. That night, Cynthia slept deeply. Perhaps it was because she had been busy all day, and her energy waspletely drained. While she was in a deep sleep, Joshua had trouble falling asleep. He was not even thinking about whether what Jayleen said was a lie. Instead, Joshua¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts of how Cynthia felt when she was with Mitchell. Did she really know what kind of person Mitchell was? The more he thought about it, the moreplicated his mood became. In the end, Joshua was overwhelmed by drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, Cynthia requested a housekeeping service to clean the room while Joshua went to the company. At exactly ten o¡¯clock, Mitchell appeared downstairs at the Neal Group. After stating his name, he was allowed in. Yoel personally took him to meet Joshua. His heart pounded rapidly as he looked at the two equally powerful figures in the office. He was truly afraid that the two of them would start fighting in the office. After all, their heights and physiques were so simr that Yoel could not really tell who was more formidable. ¡°Go about your business. I have something to discuss with Mr. Cyrus,¡± Joshua instructed Yoel. ¡°Alright, Mr. Neal.¡± Yoel promptly slipped away. He understood Joshua¡¯s implicit meaning: no one should disturb their conversation during this time. As the door closed, Joshua stood up and walked over to the sofa in the office, sitting directly across from Mitchell. ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t have the guts to show up again,¡± he said. ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Neal?¡± Mitchell pretended not to understand, deliberately teasing him. ¡°Do I need to remind you about what happened between you and Cynthia yesterday?¡± Joshua retorted, his eyes colder than usual. Mitchell adjusted his gold-rimmed sses, smiling faintly. This particr demeanor was something Joshua despised the most. He felt that Mitchell was extremely hypocritical, always. using the most casual tone and expression during discussion. Even if you exposed him, he would simply smile lightly and ask, ¡°So what?¡± Sometimes Joshua did not understand what was wrong with Cynthia¡¯s judgment, getting involved with someone like Mitchell. Did she really not know that he was a deceitful person who would never reveal his true intentions? ¡°Cyn told me you think we slept together in the hotel,¡± Mitchell said in the most nonchnt manner, no longer addressing her as ¡®Cynthia¡±. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Joshua sat there. ¡°Isn¡¯t it true?¡± he asked. ¡°If you and Cyn are already divorced, I¡¯d definitely say yes, just to get under your skin. But she¡¯s still your wife, and I can¡¯t tarnish her reputation,¡± Mitchell half-jokingly replied, a smile ying at the corner of his lips, and his eyes carried an air of sophistication. ¡°You¡¯ll know the whole story once you watch this video.¡± Mitchell took out his phone and opened the previously copied video as he spoke, handing it over to Joshua. Joshua took it, and while he watched, Mitchell continued speaking, ¡°I¡¯ve edited the video, leaving only the key parts. If you want the full version, I can send it to you, but it¡¯s over an hour long- Joshua remained silent, still watching the video. The video showed several people entering a room. After that, Cynthia also entered that room. The scene shifted, showing a person wearing a mask and a baseball cap, dressed in work clothes, knocking on Mitchell¡¯s door and leaving a key card and a letter on the floor. The person¡¯s face was not clear in the video. Afterward, Mitchell came out to retrieve the letter and then entered the room where Cynthia was. He stayed inside for less than ten minutes, and Cynthia came out with him. Then the video captured the entire process of him escorting Cynthia to the hotel entrance and helping her into the car. ¡°The video has timestamps; you can verify it,¡± Mitchell said, estimating that Joshua must have finished watching- ¡°And then?¡± Joshua asked in response. After watching the video, he believed it, but he still did. not like Mitchell¡¯s calcting demeanor, leaving nothing to chance. ¡°I was in the room with Cyn for less than ten minutes. That would not be enough time for at shower, let alone anything else,¡± Mitchell said, getting to the point. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Five minutes for a shower, two minutes to get things done. It¡¯s not impossible,¡± Joshua replied seriously. Mitchell raised his sses, not getting angry, and simply smiled. ¡°Seems like you have experience in this area.¡± Joshua remained silent, keeping his thoughts to himself. Then, he handed over the phone, coldly saying, ¡°I¡¯m evaluating you.¡± ¡°In that case, besides business matters, your evaluations in other aspects seem quite off,¡± Mitchell replied with a double meaning. Joshua rarely left a statement unanswered. He knew that Mitchell was ming him for wrongly using Cynthia. ¡°What about those people who entered Cynthia¡¯s room beforehand?¡± Joshua brought up the matter proactively, his gaze slightly deeper. ¡°Have you found the person who delivered the letter?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still investigating. Yesterday, we were looking for someone to recover the surveince. footage. As for those people in Cyn¡¯s room, they were just ordinary individuals paid to do a job, thinking Cyn was the bad guy.¡± Mitchell knew the timing was right and revealed everything that had happened at the hotel to Joshua. It was not to provide an exnation but rather to suggest that there were some things and people that Joshua should investigate on his own. Mitchell had some information that he could find, but certain aspects were difficult to uncover. Ten minutester, Joshua had listened to everything Mitchell had to say. It was almost identical to what Cynthia had told him, but he knew it was the truth, not a concocted n between them. It was precisely because of this that he felt uneasy. Yesterday, Joshua had once again wronged her because of this incident, saying all he cared about was whether the marriage certificate had been burned. Cynthia probably¡­ really disliked him. ¡°You know Cyn¡¯s personality? You were her confidant for two years, so you should understand. You can doubt my character, but you shouldn¡¯t doubt hers,¡± Mitchell defended. her briefly. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Mitchell straightened his suit, his refined demeanor quite captivating. ¡°This is a premeditated setup.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Mitchell raised his gaze, waiting for Joshua¡¯s follow-up statement. Joshua¡¯s deep and piercing gaze looked over as he asked a soul-stirring question, ¡°What kind of feelings do you have for Cynthia?¡± ¡°Whatever role she needs me to be, that¡¯s the kind of feeling I can have,¡± Mitchell answered. They had been childhood friends, and their rtionship transcended ordinary feelings; deeper than friendship, more reliable than romantic love, with something extra that surpassed mere familial ties. If Cynthia had to get marriedter, he could be the person on her marriage certificate. If she chose not to marry, he could still be her lifelong friend. As Joshua listened to his words, he suddenly realized something. ¡°You don¡¯t have romantic feelings for her, do you?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°If you did, with your personality, wouldn¡¯t you mind that she still carries the lingering feelings for her first love? Not to mention she has Bailey, whom she cuddles with while sleeping,¡± Joshua recalled these matters, his gaze deepening little by little. It was reasonable for anyone to be possessive over the person they liked, especially someone like Mitchell. ¡°You have a narrow understanding of what it means to like someone. As long as Cyn is happy and likes it, I¡¯m willing to do anything.¡± Mitchell maintained his calm and gentle smile. Joshua hoped to find a hint of deception in Mitchell¡¯s eyes but found no ws. Did Mitchell¡­ truly love Cynthia? Mitchell knew Joshua was doubting, so he added, ¡°She rushed to Jiverton to marry you despite notN?velDrama.Org content rights. knowing you, and I didn¡¯t stop her, did 1?¡± He did not want Joshua to think that Cynthia was unimportant or that no one cared about her. Only by giving him a sense of crisis would he regret losing her. Cynthia should not be let down. Joshua found it increasingly difficult to understand the person in front of him. Mitchell pushed his sses up and still appeared nonchnt. ¡°She rushed into a marriage with you because she fell in love with your face at first sight. If you treat her well, her happiness is my happiness. If you treat her poorly, I can provide her happiness.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t have that chance,¡± Joshua blurted out without thinking. Chapter 151 Mitchell kindly reminded him, ¡°You¡¯ll be getting a divorce certificate the day after tomorrow.¡± Seeing the stung look on his face, Joshua felt ufortable in his heart. Finally, he uttered, Does she know how you feel about her?¡± ¡°She thinks we¡¯re friends.¡± Mitchell knew very well that Joshua was setting a trap for him, and he provided a brief exnation. If he admitted that Cynthia knew, Joshua would definitely call Cynthia a terrible woman. Mitchell did not want to waste any more time with Joshua, and he had said what needed to be said. The rest was for Joshua to figure out on his own. Joshua could not articte his current feelings. His mind was filled with what Mitchell said, and he clearly knew that Mitchell¡¯s good looks also fell under Cynthia¡¯s preference for men. If she divorced him, she would probably be with Mitchell. Just the thought of it made him inexplicably agitated. Mitchell seemed to have appeared in his and Cynthia¡¯s life only after he had proposed the divorce. Did this person really care about Cynthia so much? Joshua knew he would not get the answer to this question now. Thinking about this incident, he had someone investigate it and then resumed his own affairs. Mitchell was in a rtively good mood when he left the Neal Group. Later, he called Cynthia to assure her he had rified everything with Joshua Cynthia responded faintly, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Your reaction doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± Mitchell was always straightforward with her. Cynthia had alreadye to terms with it. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether he believes it or not. I¡¯m thinking about going to Old Neal Manor for dinner tonight. I think they¡¯re going to ask me to postpone the divorc Chapter 160 Chapter 160 hapter 160 Cynthia knew the routine with Old Man Neal and Mrs. Neal Senior, but knowing it was one thing and dealing with it was another. She could not just say no as the elders were very good to her. Moreover, she was not very busy right now. If she did not go, it would seem impolite.. ¡°When is Old Man Neal¡¯s birthday?¡± Mitchell asked. ¡°September 15th,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°I remember Joshua is going abroad on the 16th. You can casually ask in advance and use that as an excuse if it¡¯s true,¡± Mitchell suggested, remembering something he knew before. The deadline for the cool-off period to obtain the divorce certificate was thirty days. If Cynthia missed it, she would have to reapply for the divorce and wait another month. A lot could happen in a month. ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia agreed. Anyway, she had to go and get the divorce done the day after tomorrow. She used to like Jiverton, but not anymore. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Before hanging up the phone, Mitchell said, ¡°By the way, I told Joshua I like you. Cynthia was confused by his actions, ¡°He seems jealous,¡± Mitchell added. ¡°I doubt he¡¯ll get jealous over this. Don¡¯t make that kind of joke in front of Jimmy and rest, Cynthia replied, already feeling calm. ¡°I know.¡± Mitchellughed. Jimmy and the other¡¯s ability to gossip could blow everything out of proportion. After the phone call ended, Mitchell began preparing to return to Nexuria. He had been in Jiverton for so long, and things were piling up on the Nexuria side. Cynthia, on the other hand, enjoyed her days of leisure. However, after two days of leisure, it was time to get back to work. If it were not for her personal assistant pushing her, she would have wanted to live on a scenic and pleasant ind for a while after the divorce. It was now lunchtime, and Cynthia made herself some lunch. While eating, she thought about what Mitchell had said and called Yoel, indirectly inquiring about Joshua¡¯s uing business trip. After confirming that Joshua was indeed going on the 16th, she felt relieved. After hanging up, Cynthia thought about Ellora and decided to give her a call. She did not want Ellora to keep everything to herself, and she also did not trust Chyler. The call was answered almost instantly. ¡°Hey¡­¡± ¡°Cynthia, help me! Chyler wants to abort my baby.¡± Ellora¡¯s voice sounded hoarse, and she spoke rapidly, fear evident in her tone. ¡°Where are you now?¡± Cynthia did not waste any time and got straight to the point. ??? ¡°¡­ Just as Ellora was about to reply, the call was already disconnected. Cynthia quickly dialed again but found that Ellora¡¯s phone was switched off. At that moment, on Ellora¡¯s end, Chyler had discovered her escape attempt. He locked her in the car and threw her switched-off phone as far away from her as possible. ¡°Trying to run away?¡± Chyler squeezed her wrist, his gaze icy. He had not expected this. The woman had agreedst night to listen to him and have the abortion, but while he was at work, she secretly bought a ne ticket, intending to leave. ¡°Let me go!¡± Ellora struggled with all her might, but her efforts were futile due to the vast difference in strength. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chyler did not release his grip but rather coldly ordered his assistant, ¡°Drive to the hospital.¡± The assistant immediately started the car and headed toward the hospital owned by thepany. Ellora watched as the airport went farther and farther away, and an infinite sense of panic and fear filled her heart. She did not want to have an abortion. She did not want to be taken to the operating table. ¡°Chyler, if you abort my baby, I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡± Ellora¡¯s eyes were bloodshot.. Chyler did not take her threat seriously. Instead, he simply restrained her from moving. When they arrived at the hospital an hourter, Ellora refused to get out of the car. She knew all too well what awaited her once she got out. Chyler¡¯s eyes showed a hint of reluctance, but in the end, he still forcibly dragged her out of the car. Chyler restrained his temper and said to her, ¡°Just listen to me. You¡¯re not in good health to have this baby. If you really want to, you should recuperate and have a babyter.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that just an excuse? You think he¡¯s not your child, so you want to abort him! Why bother with all these excuses? Ellora¡¯s wrist was already red from being pulled, and it hurt. ¡°Ellora!¡± Chyler rebuked sharply. Ellora¡¯s eyes were filled with stubbornness. The hospital was not crowded as Chyler had made preparations considering Ellora¡¯s identity. He had no intention of exining anything to Ellora. He gestured to the waiting doctor, and they took her away without mercy. Ellora struggled, cried, and resisted, but it was all in vain. She was dragged toward the operating room. Without her phone, she could not make a distress call or report to the police. She could not even protect her own child! She watched Chyler¡¯s cold and heartless face gradually blur before her eyes. At this moment, she grew to hate him. ¡®Chyler Young, I¡¯ll make you pay with your life for what you¡¯ve done to my child!¡¯ she thought. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cynthia¡¯s voice suddenly sounded as she stood in the hallway, looking at the group of people holding onto Ellora. The entire hospital ceemed to freeze at the sound of her voice. Ellora regained hope when she heard Cynthia¡¯s voice. She quickly wiped away the tears that blurred her vision, but upon seeing Cynthia, her nose tingled, and tears welled up again. Cynthia. It was Cynthia who hade. ¡°Release my friend,¡± Cynthia said, dressed in casual attire that was youthful, carefree, and exuded a mature and powerful aura. The doctors looked at each other, and their gaze eventually fell on Chyler, standing at the door in a suit. Chyler frowned when he saw Cynthia. Why was Joshua¡¯s soon-to-be ex-wife everywhere? ¡°This is our family matter, and it has nothing to do with you. Mrs. Neal, you should take care of your own matter first.¡± Chyler walked over with his usual carefree demeanor. ¡°Do I need to call the police and ask if forcing someone to have an abortion is a family matter?¡± Cynthia had alreadye to Ellora¡¯s side and stood in front of her, protecting her. The doctors began to speak up one after another. ¡°Mr. Young, this matter should not be escted.¡± ¡°Although you¡¯re married to Mrs. Young, you don¡¯t have the right to deprive her of her right as a mother.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ you should talk to Mrs. Young?¡± They did not want to be involved in this matter, but when Chyler gave the order, they had no choice but to follow, even if they were unwilling. Chyler¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly, and he started to despise Cynthia more. This woman. She really was annoying!This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 ¡°Cynthia, you¡¯re Joshua¡¯s wife, and I can¡¯ty a finger on you, but don¡¯t forget, you two are getting a divorce soon, and I can make sure that you can¡¯t survive in Jiverton with just a simple order,¡± Chyler said, intending to intimidate her, ¡°Chyler, how dare you!¡± Ellora was furious. She finally realized how reckless she was when she called Cynthia over the phone, and she was worried about pulling Cynthia into trouble. Cynthia gave her a reassuring look and reminded her, ¡°Watch your emotions. The baby can feel it. Didn¡¯t I tell you I have money?¡± Ellora froze. She recalled Cynthia mentioning that Joshua gave her 200,000,000 USD as part of the divorce settlement, and even if she kept it in the bank at a low annual interest rate, she would earn more than 3,000,000 USD in interest per year. It seemed¡­like she had a way to survive after all. Chyler noticed the interaction between the two and remembered that Joshua would surely give Cynthia a divorce settlement. Joshua was always causing him trouble! ¡°Ellora, think carefully. If you don¡¯t have the baby aborted today, Cynthia may get into a car ident in the future and end up with a broken arm or leg. Anything is possible, Chyler threatened, N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. He would not actually do it. He just wanted Ellora to make the right choice. Ellora¡¯s eyes turned red, and she looked hesitant. Suddenly, she did not know what to do. She could not bear to abort the baby, but she also could not bear to watch Cynthia get hurt. ¡°Never mind him. Let¡¯s go.¡± Cynthia took her hand and walked away, ignoring the foolish Chyler. However, Ellora still stood there, motionless. Cynthia looked at her with kindness in her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Cynthia, you should go first¡­¡± ¡°What nonsense. Come with me, and let me take good care of you and the baby. Joshua doesn¡¯t have the- ability to do so, let alone Chyler.¡± Cynthia became domineering and took charge. End up with a broken arm or leg? She would not believe such words even if they came from her enemies, let alone Chyler. Chyler was sessfully provoked. Cynthia could insult Joshua, but why did she have to bring him down too? ¡°Cynthia, are you sure you want to go against me? Chyler stared at her and Ellora as they walked away, feeling slightly pressured. Cynthia paused momentarily and said, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much.¡± Chyler let out a sigh of relief. It was enough that she did not dare to oppose him. With one hand in his pocket, Chyler walked over. Being nearly six and a half feet tall, he was much taller ¥ß 7/12 than Cynthia. ¡°Since you don¡¯t dare to go against me, just mind your own¡­¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t earned the right for me to oppose you,¡± Cynthia calmly said. After saying that, she took Ellora¡¯s hand and left. She did not even spare an extra nce for Chyler throughout the process. Chyler¡¯s hands by his side tightened slightly. After weighing the pros and cons, he ordered the bodyguards nearby, ¡°Stop them!¡± This woman was truly infuriating! As his voice fell, four bodyguards surrounded Cynthia and Ellora, ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Ellora started to worry again. ¡°Chyler, if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t have handled things so ruthlessly.¡± Cynthia showed no fear at all. Chyler could not care less. All he wanted was to keep Ellora and have the baby aborted. He could not afford to let her act recklessly, as it would pose a deadly danger to her if the pregnancy continued. He could not allow such a risk. im Bonus For Free Every Day** Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 ¡°What are you waiting for? Why aren¡¯t you moving?¡± Chyler directly ordered. As his words fell, the bodyguards started moving toward Cynthia. ¡°Wait!¡± Ellora suddenly shouted. All eyes turned to her, and the bodyguards stopped in their tracks. Her gaze pierced through the gap between the two bodyguards as she looked at the tall, distinguished man standing in the distance. ¡°Why do you insist on aborting my child? If you can¡¯t ept him, we can just get a divorce.¡± Chyler pressed his thin lips together, and the emotions in his eyes were unreadable. ¡°You¡¯re not in good health for childbirth,¡± Chyler finally stated the reason. Not wanting to escte the situation further, he added, ¡°I consulted the doctor. If you insist on giving birth, it could cost you your life.¡± Cynth was shocked and looked at Ellora. Ellora smiled self-deprecatingly as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. ¡°Can you be more honest?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Chyler narrowed his eyes, his tone dangerous. ¡°As a mother, how could I not be aware of the situation with my own child? I went to every prenatal check- up with my assistant, and the doctors consistently said that the baby is healthy,¡± Ellora said. The doctors would have informed her immediately if there were any risks in giving birth. How could such a situation as Chyler described ur? ¡°Get them!¡± Chyler did not waste any more time, and the air around him filled with hostility. The bodyguards did not hesitate. Two went to grab Cynthia, and two went to grab Ellora, clearly nning to take Ellora to the operating table today. However, they overestimated themselves and underestimated Cynthia. Bang! Cynthia always preferred to kick. Her moves were swift and decisive, without any hesitation. She did not hold back when dealing with these people. As she sent another person flying with a kick, Ellora stood there dumbfounded, staring at the Incredibly cool Cynthia. The sadness she felt moments ago had now transformed into astonishment and admiration. Was this still her best friend? She was so cool! Cynthia swiftly grabbed the wrist of the bodyguard who was reaching for Ellora and twisted it, resulting in a cracking sound. ¡°Ah!¡± the bodyguard screamed in pain. Then, Cynthia kicked him, sending him flying toward Chyler instantly. Chapt Th 70 The entire process took less than a minute. Cynthia shielded Ellora behind her like a mother hen and looked at Chyler with even more disdain. ¡°You really are absurd for attacking a pregnant woman.¡± ¡°Mr. Young¡­ She¡¯s too strong, and we¡¯re no match for her.¡± ¡°Her skills are almost on par with Mr. Neal.¡± ¡°Should we still go after them?¡± They were already intimidated, hoping that Chyler would tell them to get lost so that they could escape. ¡°You can¡¯t even defeat a woman. What¡¯s the point of keeping you around?¡± Chyler was genuinely angry. The thought of Ellora being taken away by Cynthia made him extremely displeased. The bodyguards were shocked! If he thought they were useless, then why did he not do it himself? Cynthia perfectly conveyed their thoughts and chimed in, ¡°Since you think they¡¯re incapable, why don¡¯t you.e and handle it?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The eyes of the bodyguards lit up simultaneously. Cynthia! She was like their knight in shining armor!!! Chyler easily noticed their expressions and subtle movements, further fueling his resentment toward Joshua. If it were not for Joshua marrying such a fierce wife, would he have ended up in such a situation? ¡°Considering that you¡¯re Joshua¡¯s wife, I won¡¯ty a hand on you.¡± Chyler had to find some way to salvage his pride. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 1/2 The four bodyguards were no match for her. How could Chyler possibly defeat her? He was not really that foolish. ¡°You don¡¯t have to consider that. If you¡¯re a real man,e at me.¡± Cynthia showed no mercy. She stepped forward. It was the perfect opportunity for her to teach this scu m bag a lesson while protecting Ellora openly. Chyler was rendered speechless. ¡°Mr. Young, you don¡¯t have to go easy on her. Go and sna tch Mrs. Young back,¡± one of the bodyguards advised. ¡°Right!¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a woman, Mr. Young. You¡¯ll definitely be fine.¡± ¡°Come on, Mr. Young!¡± The four defeated bodyguards spoke loudly, afraid that nobody would hear them. Chyler was in a dilemma. If he fought, he would definitely lose to Cynthia. On the other hand, if he did not fight, Ellora would think he was a weakling ¡°Ellora, are you sure you want to go with her?¡± He decisively changed the topic, making the atmosphere more serious. Ellora would have been torn in the past, weighing whether Cynthia could handle Chyler. However! Her mind was filled with admiration for her best friend to the point where, upon hearing Chyler¡¯s words, she casually replied, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thatter. The most important thing now is your duel with Cynthia.¡± Chyler was surprised. Everyone¡¯s gaze fell upon him as if waiting for his decision. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you can¡¯t win, you can also surrender,¡± Ellora said lightly. Chyler was suddenly dazed. It was as if the person before him ovepped with the lively and cun ning girl she was when they first met. Back then, she was just as lively and cu nning, with a hint of mischief. ¡°I can¡¯t win,¡± Chyler admitted openly. He did not want to embarrass himself by stepping into the fight. ¡°But have you really thought about going with her?¡± Cynthia nced at him, seemingly saying, ¡°If you can¡¯t win, don¡¯t talk so much.¡± Chyler understood the message, and his hands tightened slightly. ¡°Ellora, let¡¯s go.¡± Cynthia took Ellora to retrieve her phone and then left. No one dared to intervene, as nobody wanted to get beaten up again. Chyler watched Ellora¡¯s departing figure without saying a word. The bodyguards, finally finding their voices once everyone had left the hospital, spoke to Chyler, ¡°Mr. Young, are we just going to watch Mrs. Young leave with Mrs. Neal without doing anything?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you stop them?¡± Chyler retorted. They had already done more harm than good, and it seemed like they were just seeking attention, Did he appear to be in a good mood or something? The bodyguards did not dare to say more. The assistant had been waiting on the side and approached Chyler, saying, ¡°Mr. Young.¡± ¡°Follow Cynthia and Ellora and find out where they are staying. When the time is right, bring her back.¡± Chyler did not believe Cynthia could take Ellora out of his control. ¡°Yes,¡± the assistant acknowledged the order. He knew who she was. Chyler¡¯s gaze darkened slightly as he reached into his pocket, taking out his phone and contemting for a moment before sending a message [Chyler: Don¡¯t try to provoke me. You can¡¯t afford the price.] When Ellora saw the message, she had already arrived at Cynthia¡¯s residence. The room had been cleaned by the housekeeper. After Cynthia told her to sit and rest, she grabbed Ellora a ss of hot water. During Cynthia¡¯s absence, Ellora nced at her messages. However, she did not pay any attention to the message sent by Chyler. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 However, some things would alwayse at a price. Chyler was not easy to negotiate with. Once he made up his mind, even if it meant pushing you into a desperate situation, he would achieve his own goals. Just as Ellora had locked her phone screen, she saw a call from her agent. The moment the call connected, an urgent voice sounded. ¡°Oh, my G od! How did you offend Mr. Young? He has suspended all your resources.¡± The agent¡¯s voice was loud, mixed with anxiety. Ellora froze. She did not say much but just replied, ¡°We had a fallout.¡± ¡°Are you dumb? You finally climbed to the B-list through a viin character. Then, you told me you¡¯re pregnant and need to take a year off.¡± The agent had a touch of frustration in her voice. ¡°I agreed to that too. Even if you¡¯re not on set, we can still work on your marketing. But now that you¡¯ve offended Mr. Young, he has cut off all your resources. What are you going to do?¡± the agent spoke very seriously. If Ellora could not keep up with the marketing, her poprity would quickly be reced by other dramas and other actors. By then, forget about being a B-list actress, it would be hard for her even to step foot in the scene. Ellora understood all these reasons. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . She remained silent for a while and replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll start from scratch.¡± ¡°Ellora!¡± The agent had never seen someone so stubborn. She was in a good spot, so why would she offend the man? ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. I have acting skills and looks. Voice, stage, and appearance, I¡¯m good in every aspect. As long as I work hard, it will always work out.¡± Ellora was still confident in her professional abilities. There was no response from the agent¡¯s end. Ellora wanted to say a few moreforting words, but the agent interrupted, ¡°Being cklisted by Mr. Young means you have no good resources left.¡± Ellora¡¯s heart ski pped a beat, and her grip on the phone tightened slightly. ¡°By then, the only scripts that wille knocking on your door will be those poorly crafted ones. What does it matter if your acting skills are good? Are you willing to spend your whole life acting in meaningless ys?¡± the agent spoke the harshest reality. Ellora was not willing to do that. Perhaps many would not believe it, but her dream was to be a performing artist. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you what needs to be said. It¡¯s up to you now.¡± The agent truly had Ellora¡¯s career in mind. The call ended. Ellora sat there in a daze, her mind contemting this matter. Returning to Chyler¡¯s side was impossible; she would not joke about her own child. However, her career¡­. Chap 165 Offending Chyler meant she would be even lower than a neer actor. At least neers had at chance of being nurtured by directors if they had good acting skills, but if Chyler cklisted her, no one would dare to use her. Thinking about all this made her feel even heavier. Thud. A ss of hot water was ced on the coffee table before her. Cynthia had a gentle demeanor as she said, ¡®Have a cup of hot water.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ellora did not want to worry her, so she smiled sweetly and drank it. After finishing, afraid that Cynthia would notice something strange, she began to chat with Cynthia, her eyes shining brightly. ¡°How did I not know that you were so capable before?¡± ¡°There was no need to intervene in the past,¡¯ Cynthia answered. Ellora praised, ¡°My best friend is really cool!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll support you,¡¯ Cynthia suddenly said. Ellora could not understand at first, and her eyes filled with confusion. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what your agent said.¡± Cynthia had heard their conversation as she had been standing. in front of her with the ss of hot water for a long time, but Ellora did not notice her. Upon hearing this, Ellora paused for a moment, then smiled. ¡°She was just joking. Chyler can¡¯t interfere with my career.¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Cynthia had already offended Chyler because of Ellora, so there was no way Ellora would let Cynthia worry about her career. ¡°For the next few months, focus on taking care of yourself, and don¡¯t worry about the resources that were cut off,¡± Cynthia said seriously. She sat in front of Ellora, holding her hand to assure her. ¡°After you give birth and recover, if you want to make aeback, I¡¯ll provide you with even better opportunities.¡± ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± Ellora coughed lightly, and suddenly her mood was not as bad. She found Cynthia really interesting. The way she earnestly painted a bright future for her was even more convincing than her boss. Cynthia asked, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°You have the potential to be a boss,¡± Ellora praised her, but deep down, she had already let go of her worries. Where there was a will, there was a way. She did not believe Chyler had that much control! Cynthia gave her a simple reply. ¡°I¡¯m the boss.¡± ¡°Oh,e on. Even though you have $200,000,000, that¡¯s just a deposit at most. I said you have the potential to be a boss because you¡¯re quite convincing at giving hard-to-fulfill promises, Ellora joked, lightly tapping her forehead. Cynthia remained silent. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. After I give birth, I¡¯ll work hard and support the two of you,¡± Ellora reassured, cing her hand on Cynthia¡¯s shoulder. Go to hell, Chyler! ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia did not exin any further. Anyway, when Ellora gave birth and made hereback, she would give her a big surprise, allowing her to focus on her career without worries. Ellora felt warmth in her heart. She gently touched her belly and thought about something. ¡°By the way, how did you know I was there?¡± Chyler¡¯s group had several hospitals, and it could not have been a lucky guess. ¡°I asked someone to look into it,¡± Cynthia simply replied without going into details. At that time, she could not reach Ellora on the phone, so she investigated Chyler and found out the truth. To prevent Ellora from overthinking, she changed the subject and asked about her rtionship Chyler. ¡°When is his lovering back?¡± with She remembered Ellora telling her before that she would divorce Chyler when his lover came back. Ellora froze, and her hand unconsciously tightened. She had told Cynthia that Chyler was waiting for his lover before divorcing her. Cynthia noticed this and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I lied to you. There was no lover, no marriage of convenience. It was a misunderstanding. We slept Chapte: The 2/2 together, and he obeyed his family¡¯s arrangement to marry me.¡± Ellora took a deep breath and confessed, afraid that Cynthia would dislike her. Cynthia was confused. Chyler did not seem like someone who would follow his family¡¯s arrangements. *Three months ago, he was on a business trip abroad, and I was filming overseas. One night, he called me while drunk, saying he missed me, so I went to see him, Ellora exined everything. ¡°You got pregnant from that encounter? Cynthia asked. Ellora nodded. ¡°Yeah. But he always thought this child resulted from me fooling around during my filming. No matter how I exined, he wouldn¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°What about your marriage?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not addressing that for now,¡± Ellora had no idea what to do with this marriage. Chyler would never agree to a divorce, and sometimes she could not understand what was going on in his mind. N?velDrama.Org content rights. He did not even like her and doubted that the child in her womb was someone else¡¯s. In that case, would it not be better to get a divorce? Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Cynthia noticed that Ellora clearly understood the situation, so she did not bother with it any further. Later, she prepared a room for Ellora and took her to buy some clothes. By the time they were done, it was already past five o¡¯clock. If it were not for Moses phone call, Cynthia would have almost forgotten about the dinner at Old Neal Manor tonight. She quickly briefed Ellora on some matters and hurriedly made her way there. When Cynthia arrived, it was already past seven o¡¯clock. ¡°You¡¯re young, but you surely are arrogant. Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to make all of us wait for just you? a man who resembled Joshua¡¯s father spoke up. Cynthia recognized this person. He was Joshua¡¯s uncle, Henry Neal. The Old Neal Manor was very lively tonight. Besides Old Man Neal, Joshua¡¯s parents, Felix and Daphne Neal, Felix¡¯s second brother and his wife, Henry and Lilian Neal, as well as Felix¡¯s third brother and his wife, Duane and Irene Neal, and their children were there. Beingte was indeed her fault, so Cynthia simply apologized to the crowd, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Apologizing is something anyone can do. This is the Neal family. Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve married into the Neal family by marrying Joshua, you can disrespect your elders,¡± Henry continued, showing his disdain toward Cynthia as she had no prestigious background. Old Man Neal could not stand anyone speaking ill of his beloved Cynthia. Before he could reprimand Henry, a deep and somewhat chilly voice suddenly sounded, exuding a strong sense of pressure. ¡°Uncle Henry, it would be better if you directed those words at yourself.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Henry was displeased. ¡°Cynthia is a part of my family,¡± Joshua said. Cynthia was confused. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Old Man Neal, Felix, and Daphne appeared satisfied. It was evident that they were pleased with Joshua¡¯s actions. Henry, unaware of Old Man Neal¡¯s fondness for Cynthia, kept badmouthing her. ¡°Dad, look at what Joshual has be now. He disrespects his elders for a woman who only knows how to climb the socialdder. Clearly, Felix and Daphne failed to educate him properly.¡± Felix casually nced at Joshua and calmly remarked, ¡°Indeed, we haven¡¯t taught our children to behave as Henry does.¡± Everyone remained quiet. They all knew that Henry¡¯s son, George Neal, was aplete failure! He was useless in business and poor in academics. All he knew was to enjoy himself, never doing anything productive. For a moment, there was a strange atmosphere in the hall. Joshua held Cynthia¡¯s hand and sat down next to Old Man Neal, looking at Henry as he said, ¡°If you could make George stay out of trouble, Cynthia and I wouldn¡¯t have arrived sote.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Old Man Neal yed along. ¡°George got into a fight thatnded him at the police station. He imed that the CEO of the Neal Group was his brother. If it weren¡¯t for dealing with his mess, we wouldn¡¯t have beente,¡± Joshua said. Old Man Neal coughed lightly. This kid was lying so nonchntly. Did he really think Old Man Neal was unaware that he had parked his car outside Old Neal Manor and waited for Cynthia for over an hour? Henry¡¯s face turned red, and Lilian could not hide her embarrassment either. Moses, being mischievous,mented, ¡°Getting into fights and causing trouble at the police station¡­ Uncle Henry, Auntie Lilian, you¡¯ve done a great job raising your son.¡± ¡°Moses, that¡¯s quite impolite to say, isn¡¯t it?¡± a girl of about eighteen years old interrupted. She was Duane¡¯s daughter, Kimberly Neal. ¡°Have you and Joshua ever got involved in fights? What about Cynthia?¡± ¡°No, we actually haven¡¯t,¡± Moses replied earnestly. The matters between the children were left to themselves, without the interference of the elders. Ever since Old Man Neal handed over control of the Neal Group to Joshua, Henry and Duane both showed their disagreements. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 They were both his grandsons, yet why did Old Man Neal favor Joshua more? ¡°Well, let¡¯s take a look at this! This is what I saw yesterday when I went to the bar. I didn¡¯t expect Cynthia to be so good in a fight.¡± Kimberly found a video and showed everyone. As she finished speaking, the video of Cynthia fighting at the bar started ying. The recording began when Cynthia started throwing punches, but due to the noise around, it was difficult to hear what those people were saying to Cynthia. All they could see was Cynthia¡¯s swift and ruthless moves as she mercilessly beat the men. At the end of the video, they heard Cynthia threatening. If you say another word, I¡¯ll disable your other arm as well.¡± The atmosphere in the entire hall became somewhat silent. Old Man Neal, Felix, Daphne, and others all fixed their gaze on Cynthia. They were surprised by the situation. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Cynthia was that skillful? That was Old Man Neal¡¯s first reaction, followed by an even stronger fondness for Cynthia. ¡°Cynthia, you¡¯re my idol,¡± Moses said, already in awe. He could not pull off such cool moves himself, so how did Cynthia, a girl, manage to do it? Felix and Daphne exchanged nces, knowing that Joshua¡¯s path to pursue Cynthia after this had be even more challenging. ¡°You all criticize George for getting into fights, but what about Cynthia?¡± Kimberly did not like Moses¡¯s comment. Then, her gaze shifted to Joshua and Old Man Neal. ¡°What does this make her?¡± She was certain that after Old Man Neal saw this, he would definitely dislike Cynthia. Old Man Neal hated those who were simple-minded and acted without thinking. Cynthia¡¯s behavior was simply embarrassing for the Neal family! ¡°Maintaining public order,¡± Joshua calmly replied. ¡°Exactly,¡± Old Man Neal agreed. Felix and Daphne nodded in agreement as well. Everyone else was puzzled. Kimberly became anxious all of a sudden. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re showing favoritism? When George gets into fights, it¡¯s a mess, but when Cynthia fights, it¡¯s maintaining public order?¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for a few girls who stepped in and stopped her, she would have gone upstairs with the men and slept with them!¡± As Kimberly continued, her agitation grew. She could not stand Cynthia. It was one thing for Felix¡¯s family to receive Old Man Neal¡¯s favor, but why did Cynthia also receive his favor? She was Old Man Neal¡¯s biological granddaughter, after all! Chapter 168 2/2 ¡°I dare you to say that again,¡± Joshua suddenly spoke, his voice chilling and his gaze devoid of warmth. Duane quickly pulled his daughter back. If they offended Joshua, the consequences would be unbearable. ¡°If you¡¯re blind, go get your eyes checked.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes were sharp, showing no mercy just because the person was his cousin. ¡°Cynthia is not someone you can easily nder.¡± With a simple sentence, everyone understood Cynthia¡¯s position in this family. Except for the annual New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, they hardly ever met Cynthia, so it could be said that they did not understand her. Precisely because of this, they did not understand why Joshua would marry someone without a prestigious background or family. Old Man Neal chimed in, feigning seriousness as he uttered the concluding remark, ¡°Enough. What have you turned this fine family dinner into? You only know how to make a scene. Can¡¯t you be as quiet as Cynthia?¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Cynthia remained quiet, and the others appeared to be in a bad mood. Duane carefully considered his words and ultimately said, ¡°Dad, honestly, your favoritism is showing.¡± ¡°And yours isn¡¯t? Have you ever seen anyone who¡¯s unbiased?¡± Old Man Neal retorted without a hint of amiability. Duane pretended not to grasp the implied meaning, clearing his throat before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m referring to your treatment of the younger generation, George and Kimberly are your own grandchildren, Why haven¡¯t you shown the same protection toward them?¡± Old Man Neal let out a cold snort, his displeasure evident. It was apparent that he was displeased. ¡°Why should I protect them?¡± Old Man Neal could not care less about the others¡¯ feelings. As the eldest and most authoritative figure in the family, he was always direct and straightforward. ¡°They¡¯re your biological grandchildren. Have you ever seen a grandpa who favors his daughter-inw more than his own flesh and blood?¡± Duane emphasized, unwilling to give up. As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers began to disy a range of emotions. They could see that Duane was deliberately trying to belittle Cynthia, insinuating that she was nothing more than an outsider. ¡°So, I¡¯m supposed to neglect Cynthia and love you ungrateful lot? Have George and Kimberly ever shown any concern for me besidesing to me forfort and help?¡± Old Man Neal was now visibly irritated and did not bother with pleasantries. ¡°Don¡¯t even mention Kimberly and George. Even Joshua and Moses, those two troublemakers, can¡¯t hold a candle to Cynthia!¡± Old Man Neal said bluntly, disregarding everyone. The old and the young alike, both needpanionship and care. Although Joshua and Moses showed concern for him when they returned and paid attention to his health and emotions, the two rascals had not spent much time with him. As for Kimberly and George, apart from approaching him when they needed something, their presence was rarely seen. ¡°Kimberly is still young and doesn¡¯t know any better. As for George¡­ Forget it. He could note up with an excuse for that brat. ¡°Stop giving excuses for them. I may be old, but I¡¯m not se nile.¡± Old Man Neal thundered, growing increasingly emotional as he continued, ¡°Among both your families, who have apanied me in ying chess, painting, and meditating like Cynthia?¡± ¡°Not a single one!¡± ¡°Are you going to say you¡¯re busy? Joshua tends the vast Neal Group and still manages to find time to apany me every month. Are you busier than him?¡± Old Man Neal grow angrier as he spoke. Duane and Henry¡¯s familles did not dare to speak up. They knew very well that they had not done enough In these matters. However, painting, ying chess, and meditating were so boring, and they were not interested in such things. ¡°Grandpa, aren¡¯t you afraid of hurting our feelings by saying this? Who knows if Cynthia deliberately Chapter 169 learned these hobbles of yours in advance just to win your favor after marrying Joshua?¡± Kimberly¡¯s prejudice against Cynthia grew stronger. 2/2 Cynthia, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up. ¡°You can learn too. As long as you surpass me in any one of them, I¡¯ll have Grandpa hand over the Neal Group to you.¡± ¨C ¡°That¡¯s eptable,¡± Old Man Neal decisively said. He still could not defeat Cynthia. Sometimes, hel wondered how she could be so skilled in chess. Although every game ended in either win or a draw, when he reviewed the matchester, he could tell that Cynthia had subtly let him win or draw. Kimberly¡¯s temper was ignited. ¡°Have you ever asked Joshua for his opinion on this?¡± ¡°I have no objections.¡± Joshua¡¯s response was calm and indifferent.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Old Man Neal snorted. Would Joshua even dare to object? Joshua remained quiet. ¡°You¡¯re not showing off any skills byparing yourself to me in something you¡¯re good at. We should compete in something I¡¯m good at.¡± Kimberly did not like this feeling. She believed everyone should cherish her.. ¡°What does what you¡¯re good at have to do with Grandpa?¡± Cynthia fired back. In the two years since Cynthia married into the family, although Old Man Neal initially did not like her, he never said anything offensive. As they gradually interacted more, she discovered that he was actually at lonely old man. He did not adhere to traditional ideas of favoring male descendants over female ones and cared for and valued each child equally. However, he realized that some people were not worth it. Kimberly despised her, saying, ¡°You only know how to tter Grandpa. What good is that? < ¡°That¡¯s still better thancking respect for the elderly, Cynthia replied simply, seemingly unaffected by these words. If they were topete, she was not afraid of this little girl at all. However, such competition held no meaning, and it would only create more chaos. After this statement, Kimberly was furicus, but Old Man Neal directly ordered the meal to begin. During the meal, no one dared to be unruly. Everyone ate properly, and Cynthia¡¯s dining habits were no different from before. She ate what she liked and picked out Old Man Neal¡¯s favorite dishes for him, In the eyes of some, her basic filial piety was interpreted as ttery toward Old Man Neal. However, Cynthia did not mind and would not pay attention to it. After dinner, the ser vants cleaned up the dining table, and everyone apanied Old Man Neal for a walk in the yard. As they strolled, someone brought up the one thing that had been suppressed throughout the evening. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some rumors that Joshua is nning to divorce Cynthia. Is it true?¡± ¡°Rumors end with the wise,¡± Old Man Neal cryptically uttered. Cynthia nced at Old Man Neal. They were divorcing the day after tomorrow. ¡°But a friend of mine who works at the Civil Affairs Bureau said they saw Joshua and Cynthia submit divorce papers some time ago. If we calcte the time, they should be¡¯receiving their divorce certificates in a few days.¡± Henry finally found an opportunity to bring up this matter. Joshua frowned, about to deny it. However, Cynthia spoke up before him. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the day after tomorrow.¡± Old Man Nea and Joshua were taken aback. ¡°The real world isn¡¯t like the Neal family, where you can have a good life just by saying a few kind words and pleasing the old man with gifts,¡± Hanry sneered. ¡°Rather than reminding me about that, you should remind your own child.¡± Cynthia was not a nalve person Chopper 170 who would let others talk about her without retaliating, and she added, ¡°No matter how much money you have, it can¡¯tst forever if you¡¯re useless.¡± Henry and Duane mostly relied on their shares from the Neal Group. George was a loser. As a result, the gap between Felix and their two families had clearly widened. Upon hearing her words, Henry immediately became angry and was about to retort when Old Man Neal intervened. ¡°Henry, Duane, you should both go back first. Cynthia, Joshua, and I have something to discuss.¡± Though they were reluctant, the group left. Old Man Neal took Cynthia and Joshua to meet Felix and Daphne, while Moses had already disappeared somewhere, off on his own adventure. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 With only family members present, Cynthia knew that the purpose of that night had finally arrived. Old Man Neal, Felix, and Daphne were likely to persuade her to postpone the divorce. ¡°Cynthia, have a seat,¡± Daphne greeted her with gentleness and elegance, showing that she genuinely liked Cynthia. Cynthia walked over and took a seat. Then, Old Man Neal and Daphne began their discussion. Felix, as before, sat on the side reading a newspaper while Joshua stood there like an unwanted orphan with no one to care for him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Old Man Neal grew angry when he saw Joshua sitting beside him. ¡°Is this where you¡¯re supposed to sit? Go over there!¡± Joshua was annoyed but did notin and moved to the other side. Unexpectedly, he also faced disdain from the other side. ¡°Cynthia and I don¡¯t want to be near you. Keep your distance.¡± Joshua could tell they disapproved of him because of the impending divorce from Cynthia. Without saying much, he conscientiously moved to sit next to Felix, finally avoiding being driven away. ¡°Still haven¡¯t managed to change Cynthia¡¯s mind?¡± Felix asked casually, enjoying himself as he held the newspaper, adopting the demeanor of a spectator. Joshua did not answer him. They were so annoying. ¡°Did you pay a visit to Cynthia¡¯s family?¡± ¡°No.¡± Upon hearing that, Felix finally showed some emotional response. He set aside the newspaper and nced at Joshua. ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re not very efficient in handling things, are you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying as if you were pretty quick when pursuing my mom.¡± Joshua was straightforward. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The speed doesn¡¯t matter; what matters is that I seeded in pursuing her.¡± Felix picked up the newspaper again, no longer concerned with Joshua¡¯s affairs. ¡°If you still n to be with Jayleen, you¡¯ll never have a chance to win Cynthia back in this lifetime.¡± Joshua felt that Felix was meddling too much in his affairs and retorted, ¡°If you have so much free time, go manage thepany.¡± I want to spend time with my wife,¡± Felix countered. Joshua nced at him and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been unting your affection for twenty-two years. Aren¡¯t you tired of it?¡± Since Felix managed to win over Daphne when Joshua was five years old, he has openly disyed affection for her in all situations. The phrase ¡®my wife¡¯ had almost be his catchphrase. Felix smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Those without a spouse wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I have one.¡± ¡°Oh? Is it Cynthia, the woman you¡¯re divorcing soon?¡± Joshua did not answer him. ¡°Or is it your soon-to-be wife, Jayleen?¡± Joshua kept quiet. He had never wanted to silence Felix¡¯s mouth more than at that moment. He should not have helped Felix win over Daphne in the first ce. Instead, he should have found more rivals for him and made him jealous. ¡°There¡¯s no need to reminisce about the past.¡± Felix saw through what Joshua was thinking with just one nce. ¡°Regardless of whether you helped me pursue your mom or not, I would have won her over.¡± ¡°Anyone can brag.¡± ¡°Do you know why?¡± Joshua did not reply. He did not want to know. ¡°Because your mom has always loved me. I was her unforgettable first love. Though I misunderstood her, I¡¯ve never had another woman by my side apart from her.¡± Felix, for once, had a serious conversation with him. ¡°And I¡¯ve never broken up or divorced h Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Joshua stiffened. Felix nced at Joshua and warned him, ¡°When you go out, don¡¯t mention that you¡¯re our son. It¡¯s embarrassing for us.¡± ¡°Who was the one proudly unting me around, saying that I was their son?¡± Joshua did not expect his father to turn against him. ¡°Who?¡± Felix raised an eyebrow and asked. Joshua refused to speak to him. Just as the father and son finished their conversation, Old Man Neal¡¯s conversation with Cynthia echoed in the room. ¡°How about you and Joshua wait until after my birthday to get the divorce certificate? I really want you to attend my birthday party as a member of our family.¡± Old Man Neal wanted to dy their divorce. ¡°Joshua and I have already agreed to get the divorce certificate the day after tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Joshua,e over here!¡± Old Man Neal interrupted Cynthia. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He really did not want Cynthia to divorce Joshua. After all, Cynthia was a great person! Why could this brat not appreciate her? ¡°You can get the divorce certificate after my birthday. Any objections?¡± Old Man Neal red at Joshua fiercely, his eyes clearly conveying. If you have any objections, keep them to yourself!¡¯ Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly as he said, ¡°None.¡± ¡°Cynthia, Joshua has agreed too. Just wait until after my birthday party to go and get the divorce certificate with Joshua, alright? Old Man Neal really wanted to spend more time with Cynthia. Cynthia could not bear disappointing the old man, but she would not back down on this matter, ¡°Grandpa, the cooling-off period is only thirty days, and your birthday is on the 15th. On the 16th, Joshua has to go abroad on a business trip. It¡¯s better to get it on the day after tomorrow to avoid any unexpected situations.¡± Daphne, Felix, and Old Man Neal all looked over. They understood Cynthia¡¯s determination through her words. Regardless of anything, she had made up her mind to divorce Joshua. The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly became quiet. ¡°Who told you I¡¯m going on a business trip?¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. Cynthia thought he was angry that she had checked on his whereabouts. ¡°Mr. Cheyne.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been busy with other matterstely, and my travel arrangements have been handed over to the personnel in the secretary department. The overseas business trip has been canceled.¡± ¡°Joshua lied with a straight face, a touch of coldness in his eyes as usual. Cynthia stared at him. Why would she believe him? ¡°Since Joshua doesn¡¯t have to go on a business trip, we can walt until after his birthday to get the certificate,¡± Daphne also said. ¡°Call the secretary department and ask about the schedule for the 16th. Put it on speakerphone. If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll go with you to get the certificate on the 16th.¡± Cynthia was convinced that Joshua was lying, as she had asked about it at noon today. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened, and his hand hanging by his side signaled to his father. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Cynthia affirmed confidently. ¡°Okay.¡± Joshua leaned closer to her, unlocking his phone with his right hand, deliberately using his actions to attract her attention. As for Felix behind him, despite his disdain for his son, he still had to lend a hand when he saw the signal for help. Taking advantage of the moment when Joshua¡¯s body blocked Cynthia¡¯s view, he discreetly took out his phone and conveyed the message to the secretary department while pretending to be still reading the newspaper in his hand. After all, Felix used to be the head of the Neal Group, so contacting the department and rying some information was a piece of cake for him. movem Even Daphne did not notice their subtle movements. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you made the call yet?¡± Cynthia noticed that he had unlocked the phone but had not dialed anyone from the contacts, so she asked. ¡°To prevent you from going back on your words, I¡¯ll record it in advance. Repeat what you just said for evidence.¡± Joshua had racked his brains to dy the time, but his expression remained Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Cynthia¡¯s dark, clear eyes continued to gaze at Joshua. Joshua could not quite figure out what she was thinking, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid to record it?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Cynthia shifted her gaze away from his incredibly handsome face and slightly adjusted her body to look at Felix behind him. ¡°But before recording, Dad, please put down your phone.¡± Joshua and Felix were surprised. Felix was shrewd, and he calmly ced his phone down, putting the newspaper on hisp and pretending to be confused. ¡°What?¡± Joshua grew even more bothered, thinking this was how Felix used all sorts of tricks to deceive his kind and innocent mother into his grasp. ¡°The phone beneath the newspaper. You should have just sent a message to the secretary department, right?¡± Cynthia found the phone¡¯s position with just a nce, but her expression was still gentle. Joshua and Felix were both taken by surprise. Felix¡¯s gaze fell on Joshua as if saying, ¡®Cynthia is too smart! What should we do?¡± Joshua looked back at him. I have no idea.¡± He had never imagined that Cynthia would find out. Felix was usually so reliable in his actions; Joshua had witnessed it from his childhood. However, he did not expect Felix to be outsmarted by Cynthia in this situation. ¡°What?¡± Felix looked genuinely confused. Anyone who saw him would think he was innocent. Daphne was perplexed too, thinking that Cynthia must have made a mistake. After all, Felix¡¯s expression truly showed his cluelessness. Nheless, Cynthia was not foolish and had been specially trained in certain areas. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Cynthia did not dwell on the matter any further. Instead, she exchanged a few pleasantries with the elders before saying, ¡°I have some things to attend to, so I¡¯ll head back for now. I¡¯ll