《Jojo and Coco's Unexpected Love》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    After ending a three-month business trip early, Chloe Johnson headed straight to Jake Cooper¡¯s


    apartment, excited to surprise him.


    Just as she entered her fingerprint and opened the door, her smile froze and her heart sank. There


    were clothes scattered everywhere from the entrance to the living room, and there were even


    suggestive noisesing from the bedroom.


    She was being cheated on!


    When the realization hit her, Chloe¡¯s blood turned cold as she walked step by step toward the source of


    the sounds.


    The people in the room were shocked to find someone standing at the door of the bedroom and quickly


    grabbed a nearby nket to cover themselves.


    Seeing the two panicking, Chloe¡¯s mind went nk. Her stomach churned and she felt nauseous. She


    had thought of all the bad oues, but she never imagined that Jake would cheat on her with her


    half-sister!


    She forced herself to calm down and said, ¡°I demand an exnation.¡±


    ¡°Coco¡­¡± Jake could not meet her gaze and took a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯re great, but Ava is more suitable


    for me.¡±


    In terms of personality and background, Ava was impable. She was gentle and sexy, not to mention


    that she could also help him in his career. As for Chloe, she refused to have sex with him and was


    despised by the Johnsons.


    The differences between them were so significant that it was clear whom he would select.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes were red as she fixed her gaze on this man who had been pursuing her since high


    school. She felt like a joke.


    ¡°Coco, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Ava chimed in, her face filled with tears. ¡°I just love Jake too much. This is all my


    fault. Please don¡¯t be mad at him.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Ava. This isn¡¯t your fault. I¡¯ve wanted to break up with Chloe for a long time. I just


    haven¡¯t had the chance because she¡¯s been so busy with work,¡± Jake said, shielding Ava behind his


    back.


    ¡°Actually, Ava and I are about to get engaged. Coco, we should just let each other go and¡ª¡±


    Smack!


    Chloe pped Jake so hard that her hand went numb.


    Caught off guard, Jake quickly regained hisposure and roared, ¡°Are you crazy?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m crazy! That¡¯s why I became your girlfriend!¡± Chloe clenched her fists, her nails digging into her


    flesh. With a sneer and a cold glint in her eyes, she looked at Ava and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry. I should


    thank you for helping me expose this scumbag. You can have him.¡±


    Hearing what she said, tears welled up in Ava¡¯s eyes. She did her best to hold them back as if she was


    the one who had been wronged.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to act brave, Coco. I know you must feel terrible right now.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s lips curved in a mocking smile as she said, ¡°So? Is it exciting to sleep with your little sister¡¯s


    boyfriend, huh? An apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. You¡¯re just like your mother. Both of you are


    shameless homewreckers who destroy other people¡¯s families!¡±


    She did not want to waste any more of her time with them. She threw the gift she had bought into the


    trash and left, taking a taxi to Emily Patel¡¯s ce.


    Seeing Chloe¡¯s miserable expression, Emily, her best friend, asked, ¡°Did you have a fight with Jake?¡±


    ¡°No. He dumped me,¡± she replied, gritting her teeth in hatred.


    Emily was so shocked that her jaw dropped. After all, it took Jake a lot of effort to win over Chloe so if


    anyone was going to end the rtionship, it should have been Chloe.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Chloe recounted the events and Emily remained silent for a while before saying, ¡°Could it be that Jake


    is interested in Ava because she¡¯s your parents¡¯ favorite child? So he¡­¡±


    Others might not have been aware, but Emily knew all too well. Karen Smith, Ava¡¯s mother, had been


    influencing their father, Benjamin Johnson, by whispering in his ear at night. As a result, the Johnsons


    provided Ava with the best resources while burdening Chloe with the most challenging and arduous


    tasks. This included the recent three-month, high-pressured business trip abroad.


    Chloe¡¯s eyshes were wet with tears as she curled up in a corner, holding her head. ¡°Maybe¡­ but I¡¯m


    too tired to think about that right now.¡±


    Emily could not bear to see her friend in such a dejected state. She grabbed Chloe¡¯s hand and led her


    outside.


    Chloe looked up at her in confusion. ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to celebrate that you¡¯re single and avable again! A jerk like Jake doesn¡¯t deserve you!¡±


    Emily led Chloe to a bar. After three rounds of beer, Chloe¡¯s face was now tinted with a rosy hue,


    rendering her appearance all the more captivating.


    ¡°I need to go to the washroom.¡±


    Emily was worried about her friend in this state so she put down her ss. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    When Chloe stepped out of the washroom, she noticed Emily staring intently in one direction.


    ¡°Did you spot a handsome guy?¡± she asked casually.


    Emily nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes, I did.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll just go back to drinking,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°Wait. Aren¡¯t you curious? He¡¯s not just any ordinary handsome guy. It¡¯s Jake¡¯s uncle¡ªhis mother¡¯s


    younger brother.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. ¡°His mother¡¯s younger brother? Isn¡¯t he overseas?¡±


    She had heard of Jake¡¯s uncle before. He was a cookie-cutter rich and handsome man. At the age of


    twenty-eight, he owned severalpanies abroad. He was much wealthier than all the Coopers


    combined.


    It was said that half of the investments under the Cooper projects were brought in by this man.


    ¡°Apparently, he came back recently because of work,¡± Emily said, pointing to the high-end booth.


    Chloe vowed that she had neverid her eyes on a man as strikingly handsome as him before. His side


    profile alone was sufficient to overshadow the most renowned male celebrities in terms of looks, not to


    mention the noble and aloof atmosphere he emanated. It would not be an overstatement to im that


    his piercing gaze had the power to y a person.


    If there was a word to describe him, it would be ¡°perfect.¡±


    He made the man sitting opposite him, who initially looked pretty handsome, seem mediocre.


    Perhaps Chloe¡¯s gaze was too intense. The man suddenly looked up and met her eyes. At that


    moment, a bold idea sprang into Chloe¡¯s mind.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    The man stared at Chloe briefly before withdrawing his gaze.


    He seemed aloof and cold.


    Chloe stared at his back and whispered to Emily, ¡°You go on ahead. I¡¯m going to ask him for his


    number.¡±


    Emily¡¯s eyes widened and she asked, ¡°Are you going toin to him about Jake?¡±


    ¡°Getting revenge with your own two hands is much more fun than asking other people to do it for you,¡±


    Chloe said, her ssy eyes twinkling yfully.


    Emily did not know what she was talking about. It was only after she returned to their booth that she


    realized what Chloe was going to do. However, she did not deny the fact that Jake¡¯s uncle was a fine


    specimen, but the unknown handsome guy in front of him was clearly the better option.


    It seemed to Emily that Chloe was willing to go to the extreme in order to get it back at Jake.


    With the alcohol rushing to her head, Chloe let down her ponytail, picked up a ss of wine, and


    walked toward the man. Unexpectedly, the phone on the table suddenly rang. He picked it up, nced


    at it, and got up, walking past Chloe and heading outside.


    Chloe froze. She had not expected the man to leave so soon. She had not even talked to him yet!


    After hesitating for a few seconds, the words that Jake had said to her echoed in her mind, and with a


    determined stomp, she followed after the man.


    Upon exiting the bar, he got into a Rolls-Royce. Chloe came up to the car, striking what she thought


    was her best pose, and raised her hand to knock on the window.


    The window rolled down, revealing the man sitting in the back seat. He raised an eyebrow and looked


    at Chloe in a condescending manner. After stepping out of the dimly lit bar, he appeared even more


    striking and regal under the bright light. His impable features seemed toe to life as if he were a


    character from a fairytale, exuding an otherworldly charm.


    ¡®Oh gosh, he¡¯s even more handsome than Jake!¡¯ Chloe eximed inwardly.


    Holding his gaze, Chloe asked, ¡°Excuse me, sir, could you lend me your phone to make a call? My


    phone¡¯s dead.¡±


    The man¡¯s eyebrow went even higher at her request. He seemed surprised, but thankfully, he did not


    reject her outrightly.


    Chloe nervously sped her hands together, beaming with sparkling eyes and a delicate charm.


    The man¡¯s gaze lingered on her for a few seconds before he reached for the power button to close the


    window. However, before he could touch it, his phone rang. He frowned slightly and reluctantly


    answered the call.


    ¡°If you like those women so much, keep them. I don¡¯t mind having one of them as my new


    grandmother.¡±


    ¡°You b*stard! Do you really want to be thest of our family line?!¡±


    Despite the distance, Chloe could clearly hear the angry voice from the other end of the phone. She


    assumed it to be an energetic old man, but that was not the main point. It seemed to her that he was


    urging the man in front of her to get married.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t this my chance?¡¯


    The man¡¯s chin lifted slightly as he scoffed in a drawn-out tone, ¡°So, marry one of them if you like.¡±


    ¡°You ungrateful brat! How could you talk to me like that?!¡±


    As soon as the words fell, something crashed to the floor, followed by a gasp.


    ¡°Sir! Are you all right?!¡±


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Quick! Call an ambnce!¡±


    ¡°Sir, your grandfather has a heart condition. Is this really okay?¡±


    The man massaged his temples in frustration, his visible annoyance indicating that this was not the first


    time this had happened.


    Chloe caught the gist of the conversation. She summoned her courage and said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m single.¡±


    The man turned to her and asked indifferently, ¡°And?¡±


    Perhaps she had stayed outside for too long or perhaps his voice was bereft of any emotion, Chloe


    slowly came out of her drunken state. She suddenly realized what she had just said and became


    embarrassed.


    However, it would even be more embarrassing if she backed off now.


    Feigning calmness, Chloe said, ¡°Actually, I brought my phone with me and approached you just to


    strike up a conversation. From what I overheard, your family is pressuring you to get married. My family


    is doing the same to me. Maybe¡­we could help each other out?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± the man asked, his eyes dark, flickering with an ominous gleam. ¡°I¡¯m infertile, and I


    haven¡¯t told my family because I don¡¯t want to hurt them.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Chloe suspected that was hallucinating and instinctively rubbed her ears before directing her gaze


    toward the man once again.


    Yet, his countenance remained unchanged as he calmly observed her.


    With a sparkle in her eyes, Chloe¡¯s determination grew stronger. ¡°To be frank, I¡¯m not interested in sex.¡±


    After witnessing what she had seen earlier in the day, she developed some emotional scars when it


    came to that aspect.


    The man frowned slightly as he scrutinized her face with a cold stare. Nheless, Chloe stood tall,


    unflinching under his gaze. He then withdrew his gaze andmanded coldly, ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    Once in the car, Chloe could not contain her excitement and messaged Emily.


    [Chloe: Em, don¡¯t wait for me. I¡¯m on my way with Jake¡¯s uncle to meet his parents!]


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    [Emily: You never fail to surprise me, Coco. Your rtionship is moving faster than a rocket!]


    In the high-end VIP ward of the hospital, Harold Whitmany on the bed and excitedly looked Chloe up


    and down.


    ¡°May I ask who this youngdy is?¡± he inquired.


    Before the man could say anything else, Chloe confidently stepped forward and answered with a smile,


    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m your grandson¡¯s girlfriend. I was in such a rush to get here that I forgot to bring a gift. I


    hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    Harold sat up, his voice trembling with emotion as he asked again, ¡°Are you really his girlfriend? Why


    have I never heard him mention you before?¡±


    ¡°Well, we just confirmed our rtionship not long ago, and I had to travel around due to my busy work


    schedule so I haven¡¯t found a suitable opportunity toe to meet you,¡± Chloe replied smoothly, her


    sweet and crisp voice pleasant to the ears.


    ¡°We were having dinner earlier when we heard that you were sick so we decided toe and pay you


    a visit,¡± she added.


    Chloe was dressed in a Chanel-style suit. She had finely chiseled features and an innocent, delicate


    face that made her seem approachable. Her feet were d in high heels, which exposed her snow-


    white, slender legs. She appeared to be the very picture of a wealthy family¡¯s daughter.


    ¡°Wonderful! This little brat has finallye around!¡± Harold eximed, clearly pleased with Chloe. He


    could not stop smiling and looked nothing like someone with a heart condition. He even warmly invited


    her to stay for ate-night snack.


    It was almost midnight by the time they left the ward.


    The man looked at his watch and asked, his voice clear and pleasant, ¡°Where do you stay?¡±


    Chloe hesitated, not sure whether she should go home or not. Ava knew she had returned to the


    country, yet her father had not bothered to call her. Chloe felt a pang of loneliness, but she had


    nowhere else to go so she answered softly, ¡°Laguna Vis, thank you.¡±


    The man noticed the conflicted look on Chloe¡¯s face and raised his eyebrows.


    With few cars on the road that night, they quickly arrived. As she was about to exit the car, the man


    gave Chloe a ck business card with gold trimming.


    ¡°I¡¯m in need of a spouse. Besides love, you can name any other condition you desire,¡± he said.


    Chloe looked up at him in shock, but he maintained his cold and calm demeanor as if he was


    conducting business. After a few seconds of silence, she took the card and asked, ¡°Can I have some


    time to think about it?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the man agreed briskly, ¡°I¡¯d like to have a response by tomorrow morning as I only have an


    hour avable in the afternoon. If everything goes well, we can go straight to City Hall.¡±


    Chloe nodded slightly and watched him leave. She then tucked the card into her bag and entered the


    vi.


    She found Benjamin sitting on the sofa in the living room and was pleasantly surprised to see him.


    ¡°Dad, were you waiting for me?¡±


    Benjamin looked up at her and struggled to contain his displeasure. He ordered, ¡°Go upstairs and


    apologize to your sister.¡±


    Chloe froze in her tracks. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t you understand what happened?¡±


    ¡°What else is there to understand? Jake and your sister are getting engaged. How dare you try to get in


    between them.¡±


    ¡°Get in between them?¡± she asked, her voice faltering. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Jake and I have been


    together since high¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Ava and her mother came downstairs.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    When Karen reached Chloe, she patted her daughter¡¯s back and consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Coco.


    I¡¯ve already scolded Ava.


    ¡°You¡¯re her younger sister. Of course, she only wants the best for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Coco. I¡¯ll call off the engagement tomorrow,¡± Ava said, her lovely eyes shimmering with


    tears. She looked like she was a victim of Chloe¡¯s unreasonable ims.


    ¡°Although we can¡¯t force someone to love us and since you like him, as your older sister, I shouldn¡¯t


    have gotten too close to him¡­¡±


    Getting dumped by Jake had hurt, but Ava¡¯s words felt like salt in a wound. Chloe was enraged as she


    hissed, ¡°Too close? You mean sleep with him?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Benjamin could not take it anymore and shouted in anger. ¡°The engagement will


    proceed as nned. The invitations have already been sent out. I can¡¯t afford to be the


    laughingstock of the city like you!¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m only telling the truth!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes turned red as she pointed at Karen, emphasizing every word that spilled out of her mouth,


    ¡°Ava and she are the kind of people who like to steal other people¡¯s husbands. Why do you believe


    everything they say?¡±


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Benjamin raised his hand and pped Chloe with all his might,


    throwing her head to the side and causing her ears to ring.


    A trace of satisfaction crossed Karen¡¯s eyes. However, she feigned panic and stepped up to stop


    Benjamin. ¡°What are you doing, Ben? How could you p Coco?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s spoiled rotten, and you still want to take her side? Stay in this house if you can, and if you can¡¯t,


    get lost. You¡¯re just like your mother who died early, bringing bad luck wherever you go.¡± Benjamin was


    infuriated and stared at Chloe in disgust.


    The way he looked at her was not like that of a father. Instead, it felt like he was looking at an enemy.


    ¡°It¡¯s normal for kids of her age to have a temper. You have to wake up early tomorrow. Let¡¯s go to bed,¡±


    Karen said before gesturing at Ava. ¡°You stay here and keep Cocopany.¡±


    ¡°You work so hard every day. I¡¯m sorry for making you worried, Dad,¡± Ava added empathetically.


    *


    Chloe froze after being pped by her father, her body tense with emotion.


    It was Karen who had inserted herself into Chloe¡¯s family. After Chloe¡¯s mother passed away due to


    illness, Karen came in and took her ce. She even brought Ava with her, who was one year older


    than Chloe.


    And now, it was Chloe who was being pushed out.


    Nheless, all of that became inconsequential when Benjamin hit her. At that moment, Chloe finally


    understood his true character. He had never valued her or her mother, no matter how much they tried


    to please him.


    As Benjamin and Karen disappeared into the bedroom, Chloe saw Ava¡¯s gentle expression transform


    into a scornful smirk. She approached Chloe and started insulting her in a hushed voice, audible only to


    the two of them, ¡°I thought Jake would be a tough nut to crack, but with a mere beckon of my finger, he


    was ready to swear his loyalty to me and break up with you. It was barely a challenge. He even


    confessed that he was tired of you.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe looked at Ava expressionlessly and said, ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s a dog that likes to eat sh*t.¡±


    Ava choked and red back angrily. ¡°Watch your mouth!¡±


    Chloe turned around and went to her room. Sitting on the side of her bed, she took out the business


    card from her purse. It only had a name and phone number printed on it. She whispered softly, ¡°Joseph


    Whitman¡­¡±


    ¡®Wait,¡¯ she thought, ¡®Doesn¡¯t Jake¡¯s mother have a different surname?¡¯


    But in the next second, Chloe felt that it did not matter. She, after all, had always thought of Jake¡¯s


    mother as a Cooper. She was probably just misremembering things.


    Putting such trivial matters to the back of her head, Chloe pulled out her phone and dialed the number


    on the card.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯ve made up my mind. Let¡¯s meet at City Hall tomorrow afternoon.¡±

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    The next afternoon.


    After Benjamin and the others left home, Chloe packed her belongings and brought it and her identity


    card to the agreed location. When Joseph saw the luggage in her hand, he asked, ¡°Are you moving?¡±


    Chloe did not answer his question and instead said, ¡°I can marry you but I need a temporary ce to


    stay.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±


    Joseph clenched his hands and his voice turned cold. ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to give you anything beyond


    money.¡±


    He could not ignore the fact that women always viewed marriage as something sacred and beautiful.


    This woman must want other benefits in exchange for it. He did not believe that she did not want


    anything at all.


    As if she could read his mind, Chloe offered him a sweet smile and teased, ¡°Mr. Joseph, nothing in this


    world is absolute. What if you identally fall in love with me first?¡±


    Just because she ran into a scumbag did not mean no one was interested in her. She was popr


    among the boys and had many suitors since childhood.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on the woman before him. Her skin was fair and it


    seemed to glow under the sunlight.


    ¡°Being confident is good.¡± He scoffed.


    Twenty minutester, Chloe silently stared at the certificate in her hands. Before yesterday, she never


    imagined that she would marry a man she had known for less than a day. It was truly unbelievable.


    Joseph said to Chloe while barely looking at her, ¡°If you need anything, just call the number on my


    card.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chloe replied, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°Um, where am I going to stay?¡±


    ¡°The driver will take you there.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    After a quick nce at his watch, Joseph got into another car and sped off.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, let me help you with your luggage,¡± said a middle-aged man with a kind face.


    Chloe recognized him as the driver of the Rolls-Royce from the previous night. She nodded and said,


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The driver drove with a steady hand, and the interior of the car was extremelyfortable. Chloe, who


    had not slept wellst night, gave in to her exhaustion and dozed off.


    When the car stopped at a traffic light, Jake¡¯s car coincidentally pulled up next to them. Sitting in the


    passenger seat, Ava immediately spotted Chloe, who was asleep in the back seat of the Rolls-Royce.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Coco?¡± she eximed in surprise, her eyes shing with jealousy.


    Jake followed her gaze and saw the car emblem. After that, he turned to look at the middle-aged man


    driving the car at the front and his brow furrowed in disgust. ¡°She¡¯s bing more and more


    shameless. Even if I¡¯m not with her, does she have to sink so low and get together with a man who¡¯s


    almost as old as your father?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Coco isn¡¯t that kind of person,¡± Ava said, chewing her lip. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s in some sort of trouble


    or yesterday¡¯s incident upset her so much that she¡¯s not thinking straight¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s just being shameless. Ava, I know you¡¯re a kind soul but it¡¯s better if you told your father


    about this. After all, it won¡¯t be good for your family¡¯s reputation if someone sees this.¡±


    Ava lowered her head so that Jake would not see the smirk on her face and softly replied, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll tell


    Dad.¡±


    *


    When Chloe opened her eyes, she found the car had stopped at the entrance of a vi.


    As the driver took her luggage inside, he said, ¡°Ms. Chloe, you can have any room on the second floor


    except for the one in the middle.¡±


    ¡°Except for the one in the middle?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s Mr. Joseph¡¯s room.¡±


    Chloe was slightly stunned. She thought Joseph would just arrange for a random ce for her to stay.


    She had not expected him to let her stay at his house.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    The driver noticed Chloe¡¯s concerns and exined, ¡°Mr. Joseph just returned to the country recently.


    There¡¯s no other ce for him to stay other than the ancestral mansion so he temporarily purchased


    this house. If you mind it, I can talk to him.¡±


    ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t mind!¡± She forgot that Joseph had been living abroad for many years. It was normal for


    him not to have a house here. When she gave it a second thought, living under the same roof seemed


    like a good option to foster closer ties.


    As soon as the driver left, Chloe picked up her suitcase and walked into the bedroom next to Joseph¡¯s.


    At half past five in the afternoon, she finished unpacking. She went to the living room and scanned the


    ce. The vi was minimally decorated, with only the essentials for living and there was a lot of


    sparse, empty space. As the driver had mentioned, it looked like Joseph had just recently moved in.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes fell on the refrigerator. When she opened it, she found that it was fully stocked with fresh


    ingredients. Her eyes brightened up and immediately started searching online for cooking tutorials.


    After all, as someone¡¯s wife, she had an obligation to serve her husband hot, fresh meals when he


    came home from work.


    Half an hourter, Joseph got home.


    Upon hearing the sound of someone entering the house, Chloe turned her head to catch a glimpse of


    the man changing his shoes in the foyer. He had broad shoulders, long legs, and an impable


    physique that was entuated by his suit.


    Like everyone else, Chloe found it hard to resist beautiful things. She could not help but take a few


    more nces before speaking up with a smile, ¡°You go ahead and rest. I¡¯ll call you when the food is


    ready.¡±


    Joseph raised his head and looked at Chloe who was standing in the kitchen. There was a smile on her


    face and she was wearing an apron. After a short while, he replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    He thought Chloe knew how to cook, but little did he expect that this was Chloe¡¯s first time trying her


    hand at cooking, so of course, she messed up.


    Chloe frowned as she looked at the burnt pork chop in front of her. She hesitated for a moment before


    taking a piece and putting it in her mouth.


    Her whole face wrinkled up. ¡°It¡­it¡¯s still edible. Just a little bitter.¡±


    However, she was pretty certain that Joseph would not eat something like this. Even if he did, she


    could not embarrass herself by serving it to him.


    Chloe nced at the time and knew that she would not have enough time to prepare anything else.


    Therefore, she decided to order some takeout.


    She ordered a bunch of dishes but before she could ce the order, she received a phone call from


    Benjamin. As soon as she picked up, his angry voice entered her ear. ¡°Where are you right now?¡±


    It was not the right time for her to tell her father about her marriage to Joseph yet. Her eyes darted


    around as she tried to find an appropriate response.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m with Em.¡±


    Upon hearing her response, Benjamin¡¯s anger began to rise. He almost could not resist the urge to


    scold her for lying but Karen stopped him. ¡°Calm down. Let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s important.¡±


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s right, Daddy. We have to sign that order with Lionel Lynch this month¡­¡± Ava chimed in, her


    voice thick with worry. ¡°But he said he¡¯ll only sign it with Coco¡­¡±


    Benjamin looked at Karen and Ava. Both of them were dedicated to thepany. In contrast, not only


    was Chloe disobedient toward him, but she was also having an affair with an old man. In his opinion,


    she was a disgrace to his family.


    Suppressing his anger, he ordered in amanding tone, ¡°Go to Cloudia Restaurant tomorrow at noon


    to sign the contract with Mr. Lionel.


    Chloe frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t the project being handled by Tommy?¡±


    ¡°Tommy has resigned so you¡¯ll be taking over now.¡±


    ¡°But I know nothing about the project,¡± Chloe argued, her face clouded with suspicion. ¡°If Tommy has


    resigned, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s better to send someone else from the project team to sign the contract


    with Mr. Lionel?¡±


    Benjamin lost all his patience. ¡°I don¡¯t care! If I say you go, you go! If you refuse or mess it up, there will


    be no ce in this home for you any longer!¡±


    With that, he hung up the phone. As Chloe continued to stare at her phone, Benjamin sent the project¡¯s


    data and progress to her email.


    After browsing through it, she realized that they were at the final step of signing the contract as


    Benjamin said, and the profits were substantial. If she took over, she could earn a lot inmission.


    She did not want to go home but that did not mean that she did not want to make money.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When Chloe exited her email, she realized that she had forgotten to ce the order and became


    flustered. What¡¯s worse, she saw Joseph emerge from the study.


    He leaned against the door frame, calmly ncing in the direction of the stovetop, and asked, ¡°Is the


    food ready?¡±

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    Panicked, Chloe quickly exited the food delivery app and began chopping vegetables.


    ¡°Almost ready! Patience is a virtue when ites to savoring the finest cuisine!¡±


    Joseph did not say anything and returned to the study with a cup of water. If he had not seen the burnt


    broli on the table, he might have believed her.


    Chloe had to admit that food delivery apps were one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century. She


    transferred all the food from the takeout container onto tes and arranged them nicely. After that, she


    hid the containers and the bag so that Joseph would not see them.


    After everything was done, she shouted, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready. Come and eat!¡±


    The two sat facing each other at the dining table. Chloe watched Joseph nervously, and she secretly


    breathed a sigh of relief when she did not see his handsome face frown.


    As good as food delivery apps were, the truth could not be hidden forever. She knew she had to take


    the time to enroll herself in some cooking sses and improve her skills.


    While eating, Chloe¡¯s mind wandered to various issues. Suddenly, she was hit by a severe twisting pain


    in her abdomen. The pain caused her to gasp sharply, and she clutched her stomach with both hands.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph noticed her difort and put down his fork. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face turned pale as she said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just having a stomach ache. I¡¯ll go find some


    painkillers. You continue eating.¡±


    She struggled to stand up with the support of the table, taking slow steps toward the bedroom.


    Joseph frowned, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s just a stomach ache?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s an old problem.¡±


    While on her overseas business trip, she frequently experienced stomach difort due to high stress


    and the need to attend social events. Usually, the pain would go away after taking painkillers but she


    did not know what was going on this time. The pain persisted and gradually intensified.


    When Joseph passed by Chloe¡¯s bedroom, he saw the woman curled up and clutching her stomach in


    pain. Herplexion was ashen and her brows creased as she endured the pain in silence,


    resembling a frail and powerless creature.


    His brow furrowed imperceptibly, and he walked over to her. ¡°Have you experienced any health issues


    in the past?¡±


    Chloe shook her head, sweat beading on her forehead. ¡°No.¡±


    Joseph pressed his finger on her stomach and asked, ¡°Does it hurt here?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she replied.


    ¡°What about here?¡± he asked, poking a different spot.


    ¡°Ouch! That hurts!¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°That¡¯s the spot. It¡¯s especially painful there¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You fool. How can you not tell if it¡¯s a stomach ache or gastritis?¡±


    Chloe was in too much pain to speak.


    Joseph hastily picked her up and carried her out of the room, surprised at how much lighter she was


    than he had anticipated. He did not know what made her think he would not be able to tell that the


    dishes were actually takeout. He now had a clear understanding of her intellect.


    Half an hourter, they arrived at the hospital¡¯s emergency department. The doctor looked at Joseph


    suspiciously as he held the test results.


    ¡°Are you the patient¡¯s husband?¡± he asked.


    Joseph replied hesitantly, ¡°Uh, yes¡­¡±


    Even though their marriage was fake, it was a fact that he was her legal husband.


    The doctor continued, ¡°What kind of husband are you? Your wife was on the brink of a gastrointestinal


    perforation from exhaustion, and yet you only brought her here now?¡±


    He pointed to the test results and added, ¡°She can¡¯t have greasy foods. How can you not know about


    that?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t me him, doctor. We live in different cities, and I only just found out myself,¡± Chloe


    interrupted weakly.


    She forced a smile as she looked toward Joseph, her face resembling a wilted flower. ¡°My husband is


    usually¡­very good to me.¡±

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    Joseph watched Chloe trying to make excuses for him despite her pain. His gaze deepened, but no


    one could tell what he was thinking.


    Upon hearing this, the doctor looked at Chloe disapprovingly and said, ¡°What¡¯s more important? Work


    or your health? Don¡¯t you know that health is wealth?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, doctor. I promise that I¡¯ll eat on time in the future,¡± she said sheepishly, ¡°So, what do we


    do now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll administer you an IV drip treatment. Some nurses wille and take you to the ward,¡± the doctor


    said before turning to Joseph and handing him a medical bill. ¡°As for you, go settle the bill.¡±


    Without saying anything, Joseph took the bill from the doctor and left for the first floor. Looking at his


    tall figure, Chloe sighed. Not only had she failed to prepare a meal for him today, but he also had to


    send her to the hospital.


    There were many people in the hospital, and Chloe was transferred from the emergency room to a


    regr ward after she was better.


    After paying the bill, Joseph received a phone call. Seeing that he was busy, Chloe assured him that


    she would be fine on her own. The man frowned but found her a temporary caretaker before he left.


    It was already midnight by the time the treatment was done. Chloe was exhausted so she decided to


    stay at the hospital for the night. When she woke up the next day, she saw that she had received a text


    from her father.


    [Benjamin: Don¡¯t forget the contract signing with Mr. Lionel this afternoon.]


    Chloe scoffed at how her father only cared about thepany¡¯s business and had never once asked


    how she was. However, she had be ustomed to this kind of treatment since childhood.


    After sitting on the bed for a while, she got up and left the hospital. She gged down a cab and went


    back to Joseph¡¯s ce. Since there were still two hours left, she decided to take a quick shower. After


    that, she applied some makeup and headed to Cloudia.


    Lucerna Building.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    On the fifth floor, in a small private kitchen, Nathan Reese put down his fork with satisfaction and patted


    his stomach. ¡°I¡¯ve been craving this ce¡¯s food since I was abroad. Finally, I get to eat here. It feels


    great.¡±


    Opposite him, Joseph also ate a lot more than he usually would and looked satisfied.


    Nathan raised his brows at him and asked, ¡°So, what do you think of the food?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. About a six out of ten,¡± Joseph replied in a maic voice as he gracefully popped a piece of


    meat into his mouth.


    ¡°You ate so much and you¡¯re giving it only a six?¡± Nathan asked.


    ¡°I had takeoutst night and didn¡¯t eat much,¡± Joseph exined, and understanding instantly dawned


    upon Nathan.


    Joseph had always had very high standards when it came to life and food. He never made


    compromises so Nathan was surprised that Joseph had ordered takeout.


    ¡®What¡¯s going on? Is the sun rising from the west? Is that why he wanted to try something different?¡¯


    After finishing their meal, they left the private kitchen and headed to the underground parking lot. As


    they were getting into their car, a middle-aged man with a portly figure angrily rushed out and


    identally bumped into Nathan, almost causing both of them to fall.


    The man was furious, but upon seeing Nathan and Joseph¡¯s refined attire¡ªparticrly the


    distinguished appearance of thetter¡ªthe enraged man refrained from uttering his insults and instead


    swallowed them.


    ¡°Are you blind or something?¡± Nathan muttered under his breath, feeling annoyed.


    Joseph did not say anything and just fixed his gaze on something in the distance. Nathan followed his


    gaze and saw the same middle-aged man yelling at a tall, slender woman.


    ¡°You should thank your lucky stars that you¡¯re the one I chose to sign the contract with. How dare you


    behave so haughtily when your father asked you to entertain me? You¡¯re nothing but a cheap wh*re!¡±


    Chloe suddenly turned her head, her eyes zing with cold fury.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± she hissed.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Nathan stroked his chin and nced at Joseph standing beside him.


    ¡°Do you know her?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Joseph replied nomittally.


    ¡°So, what are you waiting for? Go be the hero and save the damsel in distress,¡± Nathan teased


    yfully, ¡°Can you stand watching a weak woman face this filthy scum alone?¡±


    ¡°I know her but we¡¯re not close.¡±


    In other words, he was not going to help her.


    As for the ¡°weak woman¡± Nathan was talking about, Joseph remembered how effortlessly she had


    hoisted a heavy suitcase with one hand on the day they got their marriage certificate.


    Joseph¡¯s reaction was within Nathan¡¯s expectations. After all, Joseph was never one to meddle in other


    people¡¯s affairs or to be kind and gentle toward women.


    It was just that Nathan felt a little bit disappointed. The woman standing not far away was gorgeous.


    With long legs, a slender waist, and blemish-free skin, the simple design of her business suit


    effortlessly entuated her perfect figure. Her exposed skin was as luscious and tender as a boiled


    egg, with a smooth and milkyplexion.


    She was a rare beauty that was more stunning than many A-list female celebrities.


    Nathan could not bear to see a beauty being bullied so he suggested, ¡°Since you¡¯re not close, why


    don¡¯t I go help her?¡±


    Joseph shot a cold nce at him. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    His gaze sent a chill down Nathan¡¯s spine and he quickly waved his hands, indicating that he was just


    joking.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I won¡¯t do anything,¡± he said.


    Joseph calmly shifted his gaze back to Chloe. The middle-aged man in front of her was bold, and the


    words that came out of his lips were fouler than thest.


    ¡°Stop acting all high and mighty!¡±


    As if he heard the funniest joke in the world, the middle-aged man chuckled and said, his saliva


    spraying into the air, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a second chance. If you apologize to me ande upstairs


    obediently, everything will be resolved. I¡¯ve already reserved a room on the sixth floor. We¡¯ll sign the


    contract the moment we¡¯re finished. Don¡¯t behave like a spoiled princess.¡±


    ¡°You want me to sleep with you? Why don¡¯t you take a good look at yourself in the mirror first, you


    d*mn pig!¡± Chloe shouted. Her fingers were trembling but she had no intention of backing down.


    The underground parking lot was rather hollow and their voices echoed loudly. Onlookers who drove by


    paused to observe them. Losing his patience, the middle-aged man suddenly grabbed her and dragged


    her toward the elevator.


    Joseph stood stock still, his gaze fixed on Chloe. And fortunately, she did not disappoint him.


    Although she was weaker than the middle-aged man, she was clever and knew how to target his weak


    spots. Seizing an opportunity, she kicked him hard, and at the next moment, a sound akin to a pig


    being ughtered echoed through the parking lot. The man¡¯s face turned crimson red as he clutched


    his crotch in pain.


    Chloe took advantage of when the man was incapacitated to quickly make her escape. Despite the


    harsh May sun in Aesper City, she shivered from head to toe as if she was devoid of warmth.


    She found it hard to believe that even if Benjamin disliked her, he would not let his own daughter take


    on such a degrading task under the guise of signing a contract. Perhaps it was the man who had added


    fuel to the fire and twisted the facts¡­


    Chloe did not want to dwell on the matter any longer, nor did she have the courage to face the truth.


    She lowered her gaze and watched the passing cars on the street, feeling lost and uncertain of where


    to go next.


    Then, her phone rang. It was from Benjamin.


    Chloe fell silent for a few seconds before answering the call.


    ¡°You had one job! I just wanted you to sign the contract with Mr. Lionel, but you screwed it up! Not only


    that, but you even injured him!¡± Benjamin¡¯s enraged voice came through the earpiece, filling Chloe¡¯s


    ears.


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s hand tightened around the phone, her voice tense as she replied, ¡°I went there to sign a


    contract and discuss business. Not to sleep with him.¡±

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    Chapter 10 Loving Father and Filial Daughter


    There was a pause on the other end of the line before Benjamin angrily rebuked, ¡°When did I ever ask


    you to sleep with him? If you can¡¯t handle the project, don¡¯t make excuses to avoid responsibility!¡±


    Chloe frowned and replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t. He was the one who touched me¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been working on this project for a whole year, and you ruined it at thest moment. Your


    irresponsible behavior has caused thepany significant losses!¡±


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check the surveince cameras in the building.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough! No more excuses. Either you take responsibility for thepany¡¯s losses or you


    apologize to Mr. Lionel and beg him to sign the contract. This is yourst chance!¡±


    With that, Benjamin hung up the phone, leaving only the sound of the cold, mechanical dial tone in


    Chloe¡¯s ear.


    Chloe looked at her phone screen, which disyed the word ¡°Dad,¡± and fell silent. She stood frozen to


    the spot until a car horn red out from behind her and she snapped back to reality. She silently


    moved aside to make way and murmured an apology under her breath.


    At this moment, Nathan came out and saw Chloe standing at the crossroads. Through the rearview


    mirror, he noticed that Joseph, who was sitting in the back seat, was also looking in Chloe¡¯s direction.


    He hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Should we give her a ride?¡±


    Joseph habitually rolled down the window, letting in the cool breeze. His thin lips parted, and just as he


    was about to speak, Chloe also looked over in their direction.


    When the woman saw that it was Joseph, the destion and disappointment on her face instantly


    vanished. Her almond-shaped eyes brightened as she waved and called out, ¡°Jojo!¡±


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Nathan stomped on the brake and burst outughing. ¡°Jojo?¡±


    ¡®And he said they weren¡¯t close.¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s face sank as he warned Chloe, ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Chloe walked over, cing her hands on the car window and looking at him pitifully. ¡°Can you


    please drive me home? It¡¯s difficult to get a cab from here.¡±


    She was not lying. All the cabs passing by were required to stop at the underground parking lot, and


    she did not want to go back there.


    Joseph silently looked into her teary eyes and, after a moment, calmly withdrew his gaze. ¡°Get in.¡±


    A bright smile appeared on Chloe¡¯s face. ¡°Thank you!¡±


    Upon getting into the car, she noticed that the person sitting in the front seat was not the same man


    from before.


    ¡°Hello, my name¡¯s Nathan Reese,¡± Nathan introduced himself.


    Joseph remained silent, while Chloe politely responded, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Chloe Johnson.¡±


    The two sitting in the back seat remained silent, and Nathan also wisely kept his mouth shut.


    The ride was short and the temperature in the car wasfortable. Soon, Chloe arrived at her


    destination. Since she was not sure if Nathan knew about her and Joseph¡¯s rtionship, she chose to


    turn off at the roadside near his vi.


    Nathan watched her departing figure thoughtfully and asked, ¡°Joe, do you live in the same


    neighborhood? It seems that you two live very near to each other.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite talkative today.¡±


    ¡°I heard that your grandfather has been bing more incessant in his urging for you to get married


    lately. I¡¯m just concerned about your future. I think she¡¯d be a good choice.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s thin lips curled into a mocking smile. ¡°Because she¡¯s a beauty?¡±


    For Nathan, any woman with a beautiful face was attractive.


    ¡°She¡¯s indeed a beauty, but what¡¯s more important is that I think she manages her emotions well. At


    least she doesn¡¯t let her negative emotions affect others.¡±


    Joseph was stunned and hemanded, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Fairlight.¡±


    He had not had the chance to visit the ce since he came back, and it was about time for him to do


    so.


    *


    Chloe returned to the vi and felt strange upon seeing the unfamiliar environment. She habitually


    opened the food delivery app to order something to eat, but after cing an order, she realized that she


    only had $150 left in her bank ount!


    She suddenly remembered that Benjamin had not paid her sry in three months. He also had not


    given her any bonuses for over a year. She texted her colleagues at thepany and found out that


    they had all received their sries on time every month, all except for her.


    She immediately called the finance department and was met with an arrogant response, ¡°This was Mr.


    Benjamin¡¯s decision. If you have any questions, you can bring it up with him directly.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    Chapter 11 I Might as Well Quit


    Chloe was seething with anger.


    Her emotions had reached their boiling point after days of being suppressed, and the pent-up


    frustration in her chest made it hard for her to breathe. She had been working tirelessly overseas,


    putting in long hours and negotiating deal after deal, yet not only was she betrayed in the end, but she


    could not afford to pay for a meal now.


    ¡®How dare they do this to me!¡¯


    Filled with rage, she hailed a cab and headed straight to Artron Enterprise, which was owned by her


    family.


    When she arrived, she saw everyone leaving a meeting. Ava was trailing behind Benjamin, asking him


    questions about his work. Benjamin was gentle and patient as he answered her queries, and they


    looked like a father and daughter who loved each other deeply.


    This was an entirely new sight for Chloe, for she had never felt this kind of warmth and affection before.


    She clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. Her eyes stinging with tears, but


    she maintained a stoic expression.


    Ava looked up and saw Chloe standing in front of her. She paused for a moment, then happily


    eximed, ¡°Coco, you¡¯re finally back! Where have you been these past few days?¡±


    Chloe ignored her fake concern and directed her question at Benjamin, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I been paid in


    three months?¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s face sank when he saw Chloe. He refused to look at her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t just ask why.


    Think about what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    ¡°I told you that I¡¯m not to me for Mr. Lionel refusing to sign the contract,¡± Chloe said, ¡°I reviewed all


    the project materials yesterday to ensure that there were no mistakes in my work. It was him who


    disrespected me.¡±


    Chloe had stayed up studying the project materials while receiving her IV drip the night before. She


    never cked off when it came to her job.


    ¡°How can you say that when you were out gallivantingst night? You didn¡¯t evene home. As a


    girl, you should be ashamed of yourself!¡± Benjamin replied with a veiled insult.


    The moment he finished speaking, the other colleagues looked at Chloe with disdain.


    Her face turned pale and she blurted, ¡°I was at the hospital!¡±


    However, no one believed her. Suppressing her urge to smile, Ava stepped forward and grabbed


    Chloe¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Coco. Daddy didn¡¯t really mean that. How much money do you need? I¡¯ll


    give it to you.¡±


    ¡°Get away from me!¡± Chloe hissed coldly as she pushed Ava away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, you b*tch!¡±


    Ava should have been able to stand firm but she suddenly lost her bnce and fell in front of everyone.


    All her colleagues rushed to her aid as Benjamin red at Chloe in fury. ¡°Why did you push Ava? She


    was just trying to help you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You shouldn¡¯t use underhanded tactics just because Mr. Jake likes Ava and not you. Don¡¯t


    forget that she¡¯s your sister.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t force someone to like you.¡±


    ¡°Instead of scheming, why not focus on improving yourself?¡± another colleague chimed in.


    ¡°Jealousy can really twist a person¡¯s mind.¡±


    In the past, Chloe¡¯s colleagues had been friendly toward her, but now they all avoided her as if she had


    committed some heinous crime. She scanned each of their faces one by one and said, ¡°What gives you


    the right to judge me?¡±


    The group sneered and dispersed back to their seats without saying another word.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe turned to Benjamin and asked, ¡°When will I receive myst year¡¯s annual bonus as well as this


    month¡¯s sry and the quarterly bonus?¡±


    ¡°You injured Mr. Lionel and ruined the project so I took your sry to pay for his medical expenses. The


    only way out for you is to apologize to Mr. Lionel, gain his forgiveness, and finalize the contract,¡±


    Benjamin replied.


    ¡°What if I refuse to apologize?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to give you a chance and here you are being unappreciative,¡± Benjamin responded coldly,


    ¡°You better not do anything embarrassing to ruin our family¡¯s reputation for money. Otherwise, don¡¯t


    come crying if I disown you!¡±


    Despite her strong emotions, Chloe found herself at a loss for words. A lump formed in her throat and


    she was unable to express the depth of her disappointment.


    Her own father did not even bother to ask if she had got home safe after she was absent all night. All


    he worried about was her not dragging down the family name. In Benjamin¡¯s eyes, she was only


    valuable if she could be used. Otherwise, she was a burden.


    Chloe had no reason to stay and work hard for nothing. After a long silence, she spoke up again, ¡°If


    you¡¯re so afraid of me ruining the family¡¯s reputation, then I might as well quit.¡±

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    Chapter 12 We Just Got Our Marriage Certificate Yesterday


    Ava¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard what Chloe said.


    However, she suppressed her excitement and stepped forward to stop her. ¡°Coco, don¡¯t be so


    impulsive. This is your home. Where will you go if you quit?


    ¡°I have some savings. I¡¯ll give you my bank card when we get home tonight. Consider it your sry,


    okay?¡±


    ¡°Why do you still want to help her? If she wants to leave, just let her leave. Nobody wants her here


    anyway,¡± Benjamin said.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    He felt frustrated because the deal with Lionel had fallen through and he now had to handle Chloe¡¯s


    mess. Knowing that Chloe would not apologize to Lionel, he did not want to deal with her anymore. He


    called for the security guard and ushered Ava into the office.


    Soon, the guards rushed in and tried to drag Chloe out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I can walk on my own!¡±


    She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked out of Artron in big strides. However, she


    was not expecting to run into Jake, who was here to see Ava.


    When Jake saw the dark expression on Chloe¡¯s face, he shook his head and suggested earnestly,


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you be more like Ava? Instead of defying your father, you should obey him. After all, men


    prefer women who are submissive. You let your emotions cloud your judgment.¡±


    Although Chloe was beautiful andpetent, she was nothing without her family¡¯s support. Even if she


    worked tirelessly for the rest of her life, it was unlikely that she would be able to afford a house. And


    what Jake sought was power, influence, and a partner who could assist him in his career. He had no


    interest in aiding those in need.


    ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Chloe was disgusted with this scumbag and did not wish to look at him for even


    a second. ¡°If you¡¯re done, get out of my way.¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Jake was ticked off by her attitude. ¡°I¡¯m sincerely trying to help you, and this is how


    you repay me?¡±


    ¡°Did I ask for your help? You should just mind your own business.¡±


    After she had finished speaking. Chloe turned around and left. Jake was infuriated and he snarled, ¡°Do


    you really think of yourself as a pure woman? I¡¯m just trying to help as a friend since we couldn¡¯t be


    lovers. If not, why would I waste my time talking to you now?¡±


    Hearing his words, Chloe stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. She admitted that Jake was


    handsome, and he was considered the most popr male student back in college. She had epted


    his feelings due to her preference for attractive men and his disys of affection toward her. Besides,


    they had been close friends since their childhood so it was natural that they would end up together. But


    now that they had ended their rtionship, she saw him in a different light and realized that he could


    notpare to Joseph in terms of appearance or business skills.


    ¡°Mr. Jake, here¡¯s a suggestion. Since you despise the poor and like to curry favor with the rich so


    much, I don¡¯t think we can be friends,¡± Chloe said, sneering coldly. After that, she turned around and


    left, leaving Jake seething with rage.


    Chloe did not go home. It was 5 o¡¯clock in the evening after she replied to Emily¡¯s message so she


    went to Emily¡¯s workce to find her. When Emily came out, she immediately asked upon spotting


    Chloe, ¡°What happened? Why did it get so bad that you had to resign?¡±


    When she read Chloe¡¯s reply earlier, she was so shocked that she nearly requested her supervisor to


    be let off early.


    Chloe let out a bitter smile and briefly told Emily the story. Upon learning the truth, Emily became


    extremely angry as she shouted indignantly, ¡°How could your father do this to you?! How could he be


    so blind that he can¡¯t even distinguish right from wrong?!¡±


    Benjamin was so fixated on the project that he ignored the fact that his daughter almost got vited


    andpensated the jerk with her sry.


    Emily just could not believe it. If she was not Chloe¡¯s best friend, she might have thought that Chloe


    was adopted.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going home anymore, and I don¡¯t have to return to Artron either. It¡¯s good that I can cut off all


    this unpleasantness from my life,¡± Chloe said in a light-hearted tone.


    Emily could tell that Chloe was attempting to conceal her disappointment behind a calm facade.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t go home then. Just move in with me,¡± Emily suggested.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already found a ce to stay.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯ve already found a new ce?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Chloe said, looking a bit shy for some unknown reason. ¡°I married Jake¡¯s uncle. It just so


    happens that he needed a marriage partner, and we got our marriage certificate done yesterday. He


    has a spare room in his house.¡±


    Emily was stunned for several seconds and her eyes widened.


    ¡°Are you serious?!¡± she eximed, ¡°You got married to him after knowing him for just a day?!


    ¡°Chloe, it¡¯s fine if you like him, but shouldn¡¯t we be a bit more cautious when ites to marriage?¡±


    It was clear from the nature of her questions that she was greatly taken aback.


    ¡°Well¡­ I was a bit drunk at the time but I assure you that I thought about it thoroughly before agreeing


    to the marriage. Anyway, didn¡¯t you tell me earlier that yourpany was hiring? Are there any suitable


    positions for me?¡± Chloe asked, switching the topic.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Chapter 13 Mystery Man


    Emily¡¯s shoulders slumped as she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Coco. There¡¯s only one position that¡¯s suitable for


    you and we just filled it today.


    ¡°But the headquarters of Fairlight has moved to our country, and it¡¯s not far from here. I read online that


    they¡¯re recruiting an Estrenian trantion specialist. Your Estrenian is good, and you have the


    certification. You¡¯ll definitely be up to the task. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?


    ¡°Are you talking about the Fairlight Group that made aeback a few years ago?¡± Chloe asked, her


    eyes fixed on Emily.


    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the one!¡± Emily said as she pointed to the tall building in the north. ¡°It¡¯s right there. It¡¯s not


    very far from here. I heard that they offer great benefits. If yound the job, we can go out for dinner


    every day after work!¡±


    Chloe followed Emily¡¯s finger and looked to the center of the city, where the tallestmercial building


    there had been transformed into a structure with two prominent words¡ªFairlight Group¡ªwritten in


    ck and gold at the top.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered. Five years ago, the Fairlight Group was on the brink of bankruptcy after its


    investment went sour. Then, a mysterious man took over thepany and was met with scorn from


    many industry leaders who predicted that he would undoubtedly lose everything by taking over. This


    became a hot topic at the time.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, just a yearter, the mystery man at the helm of thepany led it to make a


    remarkableeback. He not only managed to ovee the previous business losses, but also


    earned numerous des, establishing himself as a top financial genius.


    Chloe believed that if she could secure a job under the guidance of such an intelligent and capable


    leader, her future would be equally promising as it would be at Artron.


    However¡­


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t major in finance,¡± Chloe said worriedly, ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll give me a chance?¡±


    ¡°Well, how would you know if you don¡¯t try?¡± Emily replied.


    Chloe pondered over it and then began to hesitate when she remembered her bank ount bnce.


    After a while, she nodded. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll submit my resume tonight!¡±


    After having dinner with Emily, Chloe took the bus back to Joseph¡¯s vi. As soon as she walked in,


    she was weed by the aroma of delicious food.


    Joseph was sitting at the table in a gray casual outfit, elegantly enjoying his meal. The dishes on the


    table looked mouthwatering. He nced at her, and it was only then she realized the dishes seemed to


    be for two people.


    She rubbed her full belly, feeling a bit regretful. ¡°Although I really want to sit down and eat with you, I


    can¡¯t fit any more food in my stomach.¡±


    ¡°You stop eating out since you have a weak stomach. It may upset your stomach again if you


    identally eat something that¡¯s cooked with cheap oil,¡± Joseph said.


    Chloe could not help but roll her eyes. ¡®Can¡¯t this man say anything nice?¡¯


    ¡°I had arge bowl of chicken soup today,¡± she said. However, as an ordinary person, how could she


    compare to the man in front of her who grew up in a wealthy family? It was evident that he had a


    discerning pte when it came to food. He had not eaten much of the takeaway yesterday probably


    because it did not taste good. She was confident that he must have hired a chef to cook for him today.


    It seemed to Chloe that she really should enroll in cooking sses as soon as possible since the way


    to a man¡¯s heart was through his stomach. After all, she had lost her job. If she did not seize this


    opportunity, she might end up on the streets one day.


    Joseph could not be bothered to say anything more, nor did he remind her that chicken soup had no


    effect on nurturing her stomach.


    Chloe returned to her bedroom and looked through Fairlight¡¯s official website. She found the


    recruitment section and discovered that they were looking for an Estrenian trantor. The benefits


    were excellent, and most importantly, the office was only half an hour away by bus.


    She spent the whole night working on her resume, enduring the drowsiness that threatened to


    ovee her. Finally, she submitted it to thepany¡¯s email and copsed onto her desk in


    exhaustion after seeing the sessful submission notification.


    After dinner, Joseph went to his study and spent several hours reviewing financial reports. He


    massaged his temples before getting up to go to the garden for some fresh air. As he passed by the


    guest bedroom, he noticed a faint light shining from under the door that was left ajar. He furrowed his


    brows and took a step closer, peering inside.


    There, he saw Chloe lying on her side in a lc, low-cut nightgown. She lookedpletely


    defenseless. Themp on the bedside table cast shadows on her fair neck and extended downwards,


    partially covering and revealing some of her beauty.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes darkened and he reached out to close the door firmly.


    At the sound of the loud ¡°click,¡± Chloe was jolted awake from her sleep. She heard the footsteps


    outside the door gradually fade away and her thoughts returned to reality.


    When she arrived in the garden, she saw Joseph there and asked in confusion, ¡°Did you knock on my


    door just now?¡±

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    Chapter 14 Not Just Anyone Can Work at Fairlight


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Joseph looked at her coldly and replied, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    Chloe did not dwell on the matter too much, thinking that she must have been hearing things.


    ¡°Are all your clothes this revealing?¡± Joseph suddenly asked in a cold voice.


    Perplexed, she looked down at her nightgown, which reached her calves. ¡°Revealing? What do you


    mean by revealing?¡±


    ¡°Your cor,¡± he answered.


    Chloe was speechless. ¡°Only a little of my corbone is shown¡­¡±


    Joseph was not much older than Jake. She assumed that he was at most eight years older than him,


    so why was he so conservative?


    ¡°Others won¡¯t see a thing now, but what if you¡¯re lying down?¡± Joseph stared at her, his maic voice


    pleasing to the ear.


    Chloe was stunned when she heard what he said and suddenly realized what the closing sound from


    earlier was all about. Her cheeks grew hot but kept calm and met his gaze. ¡°If I were lying down, it¡®d


    only be in my own room. Unless¡­you have some sinister plot to secretly watch me.¡±


    Josephughed and said in a calm voice, ¡°Sorry, but I prefer D cups.¡±


    In other words, Chloe was not his type.


    Chloe¡¯s ears were tinged with red as she realized that this shameless man was, in a roundabout way,


    insulting her for herck of bosom. Her lips twitched as she stared at Joseph, who satzily in his chair.


    His chiseled features were like the most perfect work of God, but now that illusion had been shattered.


    She knew he was sarcastic, but she never expected him to be shameless as well.


    In a fit of anger, she stormed back to her room.


    The next morning, Chloe received a call from the human resources department of Fairlight while she


    was still sleeping.


    ¡°Hi, Ms. Chloe, are you avable for an interview this afternoon? If so, I¡¯ll send the invitation to your


    email.¡±


    She immediately woke up and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m avable. I¡¯ll be there on time. Looking forward to


    meeting you this afternoon.¡±


    After hanging up, Chloe messaged Emily to share the good news, and Emily swiftly replied.


    [Emily: Fairlight is so efficient! You should prepare well for the interview. Bigpanies usually have


    several rounds of screening.]


    [Chloe: Okay! I¡¯ll go prepare now!]


    Chloe quickly cleaned herself up. She then took a small notebook to jot down some questions that


    mighte up in the interview. During the bus ride, she asionally took it out to review what she had


    written down.


    Soon, she arrived at Fairlight and followed the receptionist to the interview waiting area. The first


    person she saw when she entered was someone she knew well¡ªMelody Grace. She was Ava¡¯s best


    friend.


    Melody was taken aback and clearly had not expected to run into Chloe here.


    When the receptionist left, Melody strutted over to Chloe in her high heels and said in a condescending


    tone, ¡°Oh, why are you here Ms. Chloe? If you¡¯re here to apply for a job, I advise you to have some


    sense and leave right now. Fairlight isn¡¯t a ce just anyone can get into.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Fairlight isn¡¯t a ce just anyone can get into, especially someone who hasn¡¯t even got


    their university diploma.¡± Chloe sneered.


    ¡°Who are you trying to mock here?¡± Melody snarled.


    ¡°I¡¯m mocking the ¡®someone¡¯ who¡¯s talking to me,¡± Chloe replied coldly.


    Melody was so angry that she could barely speak. ¡°So what if I didn¡¯t graduate from university? I still


    have my family¡¯s support and can find a decent job. Unlike you, who probably can¡¯t even afford a


    decent meal right now.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression darkened at the mention of her family. She did not bother responding to Melody and


    instead sat quietly, flipping through her notes.


    Melody surreptitiously took a photo of Chloe and sent it to Ava.


    [Melody: Your sister is participating in Fairlight¡¯s interview. My uncle happens to be one of the


    interviewers. Should I get her kicked out?]


    She then put her phone away and nced at the interview number on Chloe¡¯s arm.


    Immediately, she sent a message to her uncle.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    Chapter 15 I¡¯m Not Scared of You Since I Have Nothing to Lose


    The interview began with a written test, followed by a face-to-face interview.


    Chloe excelled in the written test and submitted her paper confidently. As she was leaving, she noticed


    that there were many nks on Melody¡¯s test paper. However, Melody was calmly admiring her freshly


    painted nails and showed no signs of concern.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, Chloe had a feeling that passing the interview would be an uphill battle for her.


    Sure enough, when the results of the written test were announced, Chloe had not been selected and


    had received the lowest score among all the candidates.


    ¡°This is impossible. I couldn¡¯t have scored so low!¡± Chloe confronted the interviewer. ¡°I want to see my


    test paper and I want to know a clear exnation of where points were deducted.¡±


    The interviewer, William Grace, stood up and arrogantly replied, ¡°Each interviewer has their own


    criteria, but one thing is consistent: low scores represent failure. Please don¡¯t make a scene and leave


    immediately. Our time is valuable and we cannot afford to waste it on you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only asking for fairness. Your time may be valuable but so is mine. I won¡¯t let this go without a


    proper exnation,¡± Chloe insisted, standing tall and facing William¡¯s gaze firmly.


    The other candidates looked on, bewildered by Chloe¡¯s strong reaction. Melody smiled gleefully,


    anticipating the drama that was about to unfold and recording the whole incident to share with Ava.


    Chloe knew that Melody was behind this and suspected that the interviewer who asked her to leave


    was the same one who marked her test paper. If he had given her a valid reason or pointed out her


    mistakes, even if it was just perfunctory, she would have epted it.


    After all, she had spent two years in Estre and had passed the C2nguage test.


    Fairlight was apany filled with talent, and while she might not have been selected for the interview,


    giving her the lowest score was pure humiliation. Chloe could not understand why this interviewer was


    targeting her. She did not know him at all.


    Did they really think they could embarrass her like this? No, she would not allow it.


    Chloe was not afraid to make a scene, and if necessary, she would make a big deal out of this. She


    refused to believe that apany asrge as Fairlight would let something like this slide.


    ¡°If you¡¯re questioning Fairlight¡¯s integrity, then I have no reason to be polite with you anymore,¡± William


    responded defensively, realizing that Chloe knew something she should not. He quickly changed the


    subject and yelled for security to remove her from the premises. ¡°She¡¯s disrupting our work.¡±


    This security guard was much more forceful than the ones at Artron. Despite Chloe¡¯s attempts to avoid


    him, she was dragged out, sustaining several cuts and bruises on her arms and legs in the process.


    She gasped in pain, taking in sharp breaths of air through her teeth. She looked at the crumpled


    resume in her hand, feeling both aggrieved and angry. In a fit of pique, she balled it up and threw it in


    the trash can, but it missed and fell outside of it.


    Chloe did not care at this point. She had no desire to maintain herposure anymore. She had read


    news reports about well-known corporations bullying new employees but shrugged it off as nonsense.


    She always believed they were in a civilized society now and such things would not happen, but her


    eyes were opened today.


    If she had known things would turn out this way, she would not have bothered staying upte preparing


    for the interview. She checked her wounds and found that the scrape on her ankle was particrly


    deep and was still bleeding. Seeing a pharmacy across the street, she gritted her teeth and hobbled


    over to the zebra crossing, enduring the pain.


    ¡°Did you fall down, miss? Your leg is bleeding,¡± said a little girl who was also waiting at the zebra


    crossing with her mother, looking innocently at Chloe.


    She was taken aback, the frustration on her face turning into embarrassment.


    ¡°Yes, I just tripped and fell,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t your mommye to keep youpany? When I fell down, my mommy was so worried.


    She not only apanied me to the hospital but also fed me,¡± the little girl said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pry into other people¡¯s business. Remember what I told you? People like their privacy,¡± the


    woman said softly to the little girl.


    The little girl stuck out her tongue and yfully said, ¡°I won¡¯t ask again next time. I was just curious.¡±


    ¡°Well, even so, you shouldn¡¯t ask such questions. The next time you forget, I¡¯ll punish you by not letting


    you have ice cream for a week¡­¡±


    As the mother and daughter walked away, their conversation reverberated in Chloe¡¯s ears. At that


    moment, she suddenly missed her mother and tears began to well up in her eyes.


    Less than ten minutes after Chloe left, a Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance of Fairlight. Joseph got


    out of the car and a gust of wind blew a crumpled piece of paper toward his feet.


    His assistant, Lucas Anderson, was speechless. ¡®Who the hell threw rubbish all over the floor? And


    where are the janitors? Don¡¯t they know that Mr. Joseph ising today?¡¯


    Lucas bent down to pick it up and unfolded it, only to find that it was a resume.


    ¡°Chloe?¡± he muttered.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    Chapter 16 Tell Him to Get Out


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucas remembered that HR was holding an interview. He assumed that this was the resume of


    someone who had failed to pass.


    Just as he was about to toss the resume in the bin, he was suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Upon hearing the familiar name on the resume, Joseph furrowed his brows and reached out to


    take it from Lucas.


    At the top floor of the building, the HR manager nervously handed over a stack of interviewee


    information forms to the CEO¡¯s assistant. Lucas took them and pushed open the door to the office. The


    HR manager strained to get a look but did not manage to see anything and left disappointed.


    ¡°Find out more about this person named Chloe Johnson,¡± Joseph ordered emotionlessly.


    ¡°Right away, sir,¡± Lucas replied, and within ten minutes, he had found Chloe¡¯s information. ¡± Mr. Joseph,


    here¡¯s her information. She was rejected in the first round.¡±


    ¡°Given her qualifications, that shouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Joseph said as heid the previously


    crumpled resume t on his desk.


    ¡°She has level C2 proficiency in Estrenian. It¡¯s impossible for her to fail the written test!¡±


    Lucas eximed.


    Those who passed the C2 examination were generally over thirty years old, but Chloe looked no more


    than twenty¨Cfour. This young talent was exactly what Fairlight needed right now.


    Joseph tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, sinking deep into his thoughts. He found himself


    pondering if such a coincidence could actually ur in this world.


    There were individuals who might never cross paths their entire lives. Yet, in just four short days, he


    had met Chloe, married her, and now she was attending a job interview at hispany.


    ¡®Does she really not have any ulterior motives?¡®


    Lucas had been observing Joseph closely, but could not quite figure out his boss¡¯s thoughts. He


    carefully suggested, ¡°Mr. Johnson, should we investigate this further?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Joseph inteced his fingers and ced them on his chest, pausing for a moment before saying,


    ¡°Also find out why she didn¡¯t pass the written test.¡±


    At four in the afternoon, Lucas hadpleted both tasks.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with Ms. Chloe¡¯s background. She¡¯s the daughter of a smallpany owner in


    Aesper. However, her deceased mother¡¯s background is a bit strange. I can¡¯t find anything about her


    prior to her marriage.¡± Lucas hesitated before continuing, ¡°As for why she didn¡¯t pass the written test


    today, it¡¯s a bitplicated¡­¡±


    Joseph looked up and said, ¡°Go on.¡±


    Lucas recounted the conflict that had urred between Chloe and William earlier in the afternoon, as


    well as the fact that Melody was William¡¯s niece.


    T


    ¡°Taking advantage of his power, William brought in five of his rtives into headquarters and arranged


    for them rtively easy positions. This time, there was only one vacancy for the Estrenian trantor


    position. After disqualifying Ms. Chloe, Wiliam informed the remaining qualified candidates in the same


    way that they didn¡¯t pass the interview. In the end, only Melody made it through, and HR has already


    confirmed that she¡¯ll be starting work at Fairlight starting tomorrow.¡±


    Lucas exined the situation while observing Joseph¡¯s reaction.


    Fairlight¡¯s headquarters had been overseas for the past few years, with only one branch located in


    Aesper. After Joseph took over the Aesper branch, he focused on projects within the country. Last


    month, the branch merged with headquarters.


    William was one of the old employees of the Aesper branch.


    ¡°Tell him to pack his things and get out,¡± Joseph ordered coldly as he stood up.


    ¡°What about his rtives?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°Fire them all as well.¡± Joseph walked to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window that overlooked the bustling traffic


    below, his eyes radiating a dark light.


    ¡°Notify HR that all interviewees who did not pass today will be given another chance.¡±


    Lucasplied but he could not help but wonder. Joseph had always been impartial but had now


    broken the rules for this woman named Chloe. What was their rtionship?

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Chapter 17 Chloe the Homewrecker


    Finding a young and resilient person with a C2 certification in Estrenian was not easy these days, as


    many young people tend to quit their jobs at the slightest difficulty and value their freedom greatly.


    Perhaps Joseph was just cherishing talent?


    William was leisurely sipping on a coffee in his office when he received notice of his dismissal.


    The HR manager ced the termination letter in front of him, and it took him a while to realize what


    was happening.


    ¡°Are you kidding me? I¡¯ve been with Fairlight for fifteen years, and I¡¯m being fired just like that?!¡±


    William shouted.


    The HR manager had harbored resentment toward William for quite some time. His smirk conveyed a


    sense of satisfaction as he said, ¡°I¡¯m not responsible for this decision. It was made by the CEO.¡±


    William¡¯s spirits plummeted as he spoke, ¡°You may dismiss me but I demand an exnation and


    compensation.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nopensation,¡± the manager chuckled. ¡°As for the reason, I¡¯m not quite sure. But many


    things don¡¯t have a reason. Like that low score you gave that interviewee today who had a C2


    proficiency in Estrenian.¡±


    William froze and his face turned pale. It was only now that he realized Chloe had someone to back her


    up. His face turned sour and started packing his things.


    As the HR manager was leaving, he pretended to remember something and said, ¡°By the way, tell your


    niece that she doesn¡¯t need toe tomorrow.¡±


    Meanwhile, Melody was at home, happily picking out clothes to wear on her first day of work. She tried


    on one after another and struck poses in front of the mirror. While she was in the midst of changing into


    another dress, she received a call from William.


    ¡°What? But you¡¯ve been with Fairlight for so long. How could they fire you just like that?


    ¡°We¡¯re just normal friends. She doesn¡¯t have anyone to back her up. I¡¯m telling you the truth.


    ¡°Uncle William, I¡¯m not lying! Please let me exin! Wait! Don¡¯t hang up!¡±


    William ignored her and hung up the call. When she tried to call him back, she found that her number


    had been cklisted.


    Melody threw all of her expensive clothes on the floor in anger. Then, in a fit of rage, she went


    to find Ava who was on a date with Jake. The two were enjoying a candlelit dinner together, basking in


    each other¡¯spany.


    Ava put down her cutlery and asked with a puzzled look, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What¡¯s got you so riled


    up?¡±


    Melody nced at Jake and restrained her anger. ¡°Can youe with me for a moment, Ava?¡±


    ¡°Go with her. I¡¯ll cut your steak for you. You can eat it when you get back,¡± Jake said with a gentle


    smile.


    Ava blushed and nodded obediently.


    ¡°Your uncle was fired because of that b*tch?!¡± Ava¡¯s voice suddenly rose. Realizing that Jake was still


    nearby, she lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not because of some other reason?¡±


    Melody became livid. ¡°What do you mean? Do you think I have nothing better to do than to lie to you?¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡± Avaforted her. Suddenly, a thought struck her and her heart sank.


    ¡°I saw her riding in a Rolls¨CRoycest time. Could the owner of that car be involved?¡±


    ¡°Definitely. Her mother died early, her father doesn¡¯t like her, and she¡¯s got no one to rely on. Without


    an old man to support her, how could she have gotten my uncle fired?¡± Melody replied.


    Melody was well aware of Chloe¡¯s status in the Johnson family. That was why she was so willing to


    take Ava¡¯s side.


    Ava clenched her fists. The unknown man behind this must have significant wealth or influence to be


    able to pressure the CEO of Fairlight into firing Melody¡¯s uncle. The thought of Chloe relying on an


    older man and trampling on her in the future was unbearable to her.


    ¡°Say something! You have to help me, Ava¡­¡± Melody urged impatiently.


    Ava¡¯s eyes flickered and a strange smile appeared on her face. ¡°The man driving the Rolls-


    Royce is quite old. He must be married. If their affair gets exposed, do you think he¡¯ll still care about


    that b*tch?¡±

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    Chapter 18 You¡¯re the Best, Jojo


    It was nine at night by the time Joseph got home.


    The vi was dark and quiet. He changed into his house slippers at the entrance and walked past


    Chloe¡¯s room, stopping for a moment before raising his hand to knock a few times.


    Chloe¡¯s hoarse voice came from inside, ¡°Just a moment.¡±


    As she spoke, a ray of light shone through the crack under the door. After a few seconds, Chloe got to


    the door. Following a brief pause, she turned the handle and the door creaked open. However, her


    usual beaming expression had vanished, reced instead by puffy, reddened eyes and nose, a clear


    indication that she had been crying for quite some time.


    Looking at Chloe in this manner was unsettling for Joseph. She appeared disheartened, akin to a


    drooping flower drenched by a storm.


    ¡°Have you been crying?¡± he asked.


    Chloe sniffled and turned her face to the side. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not blind,¡± he replied calmly.


    Chloe was in no mood to argue with him and asked weakly, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Joseph froze for a while and replied, ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m about to have dinner. Would you like anything?¡±


    She shook her head, believing that he was merely being courteous. At the same time, she chided him


    inwardly, ¡®Working under a capitalist surely isn¡¯t easy. It¡¯s already ten at night and he still wants the chef


    toe over and cook for him.¡®


    Without uttering a word, Joseph went back to his room, leaving Chloe alone. She shut the door and


    climbed into bed, clutching the teddy bear her mother had given her as a child. As she held it tightly,


    she whispered to it about how much she missed her mother.


    Slowly, Chloe drifted off to sleep.


    She did not know how long she had slept when she was aroused by the smell of food. In the darkness,


    her stomach grumbled loudly. After wrestling with herself for a bit, she gave in to her hunger and rose


    from bed to head downstairs.


    In the kitchen, Joseph was wearing casual clothes, sprinkling chopped fresh parsley onto a te of


    steaming lemon parsley pasta. He lifted his eyes to nce at the person peeking from the corner of the


    stairs and his lips curled up slightly.


    Chloe gulped as she watched him skillfully toss a sd.


    ¡®Wow, he can cook? Even though it¡¯s just pasta, it looks incredibly delicious!¡®


    Joseph took the pasta to the table, changed the channel on the TV to a finance program, and ate


    gracefully while watching the report. He appeared to be quite satisfied.


    Chloe thought he would offer to share with her, but he did not.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡®What a rude man! I even thought of taking cooking sses to learn how to cook for him, can¡¯t be


    bothered to share his food with me.¡®


    yet


    he


    1


    She walked over to the TV and stood in front of it, intentionally blocking Joseph¡¯s view. Then, she made


    a pouting face and said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry too.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said you weren¡¯t hungry,¡± Joseph said in a t tone.


    ¡°I thought you were going to call a chef over and didn¡¯t want to trouble someone sote at night,¡± she


    exined. The moment her sentence ended, the air between them became charged


    with tension.


    Wearing a fake smile on his face, Joseph looked at her and asked, ¡°So you¡¯re fine with troubling me?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, no, not really. I wasn¡¯t hungry at the time, but now I am. And most importantly, I really want to


    taste your cooking!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more in the kitchen. Go get it yourself.¡± His tone was still chilly, but there was a slight hint of


    softening in it.


    ¡±


    Chloe froze for a moment, then peeked into the kitchen and saw another te of pasta on the table.


    Delighted, she brought out the te and thanked Joseph with a twinkle in her eye. You¡¯re the best,


    Jojo!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Jojo!¡±


    Joseph was exasperated and gave up on trying to correct her. Chloe had not eaten anything all


    afternoon and was now eating with great gusto. The pasta was hot so she blew on it carefully before


    putting it in her mouth.


    Joseph looked at her face expressionlessly and asked, ¡°Had a bad day today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I went for an interview this afternoon and had an unpleasant experience.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡®Are you worried about me?¡± Chloe lifted her head and met his gaze, her bright eyes brimming with joy.


    She had not expected such a gesture from Joseph at all.


    ¡°Is it that hard to tell the difference between curiosity and concern?¡± Joseph leaned back slightly.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she replied, sounding a bit disappointed.


    It seemed to her that she still had a long way to go before she could win the heart of the jerk¡¯s uncle,


    but at least he was curious about her. That was a good start.


    Chloe perked up and asked, ¡°You work in the finance industry, right? Do you know about Fairlight?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows creased slightly. He was surprised that she knew he worked in finance and was


    even more surprised that she knew about Fairlight. However, before he could ask how she knew all


    this, she suddenly grew upset.


    ¡°I had an interview at Fairlight today and they sucked! From the interviewer to the security guard, they


    all cover for each other. I strongly suspect that their boss is no different. As they say, a fish rots from


    the head down. Curse those capitalists!¡±


    Joseph the capitalist fell silent.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    Chapter 19 Another Interview


    ¡°A security guard?¡±


    Lucas had not told Joseph that a security guard had been involved as well.


    Chloe nodded, and as she recounted the incident, she felt aggravated. Rolling up her sleeves, she


    showed him the scratches.


    ¡°This is what he did to me. There¡¯s a wound on my calf too.¡±


    The two scabs on her fair skin looked like damage on a priceless piece of artwork, and the sight was


    jarring.


    As she continued toin about Fairlight, his expression grew increasingly dark. Chloe only noticed


    something was amiss with Joseph¡¯s expression after she had finished venting. She cautiously prodded


    him with her finger and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®Is he a friend to the CEO of Fairlight?¡®


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze and suppressed his emotions. ¡°Go to bed early, and please wash the dishes.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Chloe said readily. She did not find any issue in taking care of the dishes since Joseph was the


    one who cooked.


    The lights were still on at the Johnson residencete at night. Sitting on the couch, Benjamin asked


    doubtfully, ¡°The interviewer at Fairlight was fired because of Coco?¡±


    Ava, who was sitting beside him, grabbed his arm. ¡°It¡¯s true. What other reason could there be? Such


    things don¡¯t just happen by coincidence. Coco must have found someone better than us.


    ¡°Do you think she¡¯s really capable of doing that?¡± Benjamin scoffed. ¡°Those with power aren¡¯t idiots.¡±


    It was within the norms of high society for men and women to have a secret lover without their family¡¯s


    knowledge, and Benjamin was convinced that Chloe was being kept as a mistress by the man in


    question.


    ¡°Daddy, we can¡¯t just watch Coco go down the wrong path. You should call her tomorrow and ask her to


    come home,¡± Ava said.


    ¡°Indeed, society can be unforgiving, especially to those who try to benefit from the wealth of


    the influential without paying a price. Rumor has it that a young girl was caught by the wife of the man


    she was seeing and had her face disfigured. It ruined her life. Despite Coco¡¯s strong personality, she¡¯s


    still a Johnson and would do well to avoid any kind of scandal. Any negative publicity would have


    severe consequences for both Coco and the Johnsons as a whole,¡± Karen


    chimed in.


    After listening to what Karen said, Benjamin patted her shoulder and let out a long sigh. ¡°She treats you


    so rudely, yet you¡¯re still trying to help her.¡±


    Karen smiled. ¡°No matter what she does, she¡¯s still my child. I¡¯m just afraid that Coco won¡¯t


    up the ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a choice. She doesn¡¯t want toe home because she messed contract. If


    she refuses toe home tomorrow after I call her, she can say goodbye to the assets that her mother


    left for her.¡±


    He had originally nned to give Chloe a tenth of her mother¡¯s assets, but now he was reconsidering


    it.


    At his words, Ava hugged his arm and asked sweetly, ¡°What about me, Daddy? Where¡¯s my


    share?¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s expression softened and a smile spread across his face. ¡°My dear, every single thing in the


    family belongs to you. I¡¯ll make sure your wedding is the grandest there ever was.¡±


    After overindulging in the pasta Joseph had cooked, Chloe did not sleep well and woke up at dawn to


    the faint light of morning.


    She continued toy in bed, listening as the upant in the next room turned on the lights, went into


    the bathroom to freshen up, and then headed out the door. She could not help feeling envious of


    Joseph.


    Unlike her, he had a job.


    Chloe received an email at precisely nine in the morning, which is the customary time for


    manypanies to start working. As she read through the message and reached thest line,


    her eyes


    widened in utter disbelief.


    Before she could even recover from her shock, a phone call came in.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Chloe.


    ¡°Huh? The interviewer from yesterday was fired?


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d love to.¡±


    After scheduling another interview in the afternoon, Chloe hung up the phone. She clutched her phone


    tightly with both hands and spun around several times. She felt indescribably happy.


    Chloe still found it hard to believe when she arrived in front of Fairlight. Then, she noticed that the


    security guard who had thrown her out yesterday was nowhere in sight.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Chapter 20 Chloe Is Despicable


    The previous security guard had been reced by two honest and kindly¨Clooking young men.


    Spotting Chloe looking around, they thought she had lost her way and approached her.


    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not lost. I¡¯m here for an interview,¡± she exined. After a short pause, she continued, ¡°I


    didn¡¯t see you two yesterday when I came for an interview. Do you work on a shift system?¡±


    ¡°I was taking care of the warehouse yesterday and just transferred here today,¡± one of the guards


    replied.


    ¡°What about the guard who was previously in charge of this area?¡± Chloe asked out of curiosity. The


    man on the other side hesitated for a moment, scratching his head and struggling to find an answer.


    Chloe suddenly realized what had happened and was somewhat shocked. It seemed that he had been


    fired.


    Initially, she hade for the high sry Fairlight offered, but now she felt that the


    After yesterday¡¯smotion, a few people had been called back for a second interview today so the


    entire process was swift. Chloe easily passed the written test and went directly to the interview area. By


    the time the interview was over, it was already afternoon.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, we¡¯re d you came to interview with Fairlight. This meeting is now concluded and we¡¯ll


    inform you of the results tomorrow by email.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you,¡± Chloe replied. She walked out of Fairlight and breathed out a huge sigh of relief.


    This was a proper interview process for a bigpany. It waspletely different from the chaos


    yesterday.


    In the high¨Crise office building, Joseph stood in front of the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. He was wearing a


    coffee¨Ccolored trench coat that entuated his tall and slender figure. His white shirt was buttoned all


    the way up and his fitting ck cks showed off his straight, long legs.


    The deep¨Cset eyes under his bangs made him look unapproachable. He gazed down at the tiny human


    figures below and took a sip of water from the ss handed to him by his assistant.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Ms. Chloe has finished her interview and HR says that her qualifications are good. They¡¯ll


    notify her tomorrow morning that she has passed the interview,¡± Lucas reported.


    ¡°Good,¡± Joseph replied with indifference. He was not surprised by this oue. He had taken a look at


    Chloe¡¯s resume. Even if Fairlight did not hire her, otherpanies would.


    Lucas, who was watching from the side, assumed that he had made a correct guess. Joseph just


    wanted to give Chloe a second chance because he valued her talent.


    But did this not mean they would have to work together in the future?


    Joseph nced at Lucas and understood what his assistant was thinking. He sneered, ¡°Even if she


    joins thepany, we will never cross paths.¡±


    This was something that would only happen if she made it into high¨Clevel management.


    Lucas scratched his head andughed foolishly, ¡°You¡¯re right, sir.¡±


    When William learned that Chloe had passed the interview through his ex¨Ccolleague, he called Melody


    and berated her harshly.


    Melody was stunned. She did not know why William was scolding her but she dared not to talk back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Uncle William. I know how to get it back at that b*tch.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Just wait and see. I promise you won¡¯t be disappointed.¡±


    Melody called Ava and told her that Chloe had been epted into Fairlight.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the business card of a paparazzo. Add him and send him the video of Chloe at the


    interview site. It¡¯s likely that it¡¯ll go viral tonight.¡±


    ¡°But what if something goes wrong?¡± Melody hesitated, not wanting to shoulder the me.


    ¡°What could possibly go wrong?¡± Ava burst outughing. ¡°Chloe is just a homewrecker, and honestly, I


    think she¡¯s even worse than that. Do you really expect the old man behind her toe to her


    defense?¡±


    Then, her tone changed. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s kind of a pity.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Melody asked.


    ¡°If you could get into Fairlight, with your looks and figure, you could easilynd a golden bachelor. Even


    the mysterious person behind Fairlight might fall under your spell. But now¡­


    ¡°Sigh, my little sister is just despicable.¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Melody felt a slight ache in her heart as she realized how her dream had been shattered. She gritted


    her teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll contact the paparazzo right now.¡±

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    Chapter 21 I¡¯m Not Eating Any Food You Prepare


    A satisfied smile crossed Ava¡¯s face as she hung up the phone.


    Under Ava¡¯s guidance, Melody quickly reached out to a paparazzo and even went as far as to hire a


    team of inte trolls.


    In the afternoon, Chloe was learning how to cook by following a tutorial on the Inte. When Joseph


    came home and saw her in the kitchen wearing an apron, listening to instructions on her phone, and


    putting various spices into the pot.


    He said, ¡°If you can¡¯t cook, stop pretending. Food is meant to be eaten, not wasted.¡±


    He did not want to eat takeout or poorly made food again.


    Chloe turned to look at him, and a bashful smile appeared on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I think I did a


    pretty good job this time.¡±


    Joseph nced at the food she called ¡°pretty good¡± and chuckled, ¡°You can eat it. Remember to call an


    ambnce in advance if you do.¡±


    ¡°Come on, just give it a try. I promise I¡¯ve gotten a lot better thanst time!¡±


    ¡°No thank you,¡± Joseph replied as he took off his coat and hung it on the rack. ¡°As I said, I won¡¯t give


    you anything except money.¡±


    Chloe froze for a moment. ¡°I know that. But I had your spaghetti yesterday, so I decided to cook for you


    today. It¡¯s just a matter of courtesy.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Joseph said. There was no emotion on his handsome face as he climbed the


    stairs.


    As the orange lights of sunset crossed the sky, the final beams of sunlight shone through the window


    onto Chloe¡¯s face. A bitter expression pulled at the corners of her lips as she muttered, ¡°Hmph. If you


    don¡¯t feel like eating, then fine. I¡¯ll just eat it all myself and let you starve!¡±


    After an hour, she ced the three dishes and soup she had made on the dining table. Looking at the


    tightly closed door of the study on the second floor, she wrestled with herself for a moment and


    ultimately decided to knock on the door.


    ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready. Would you like toe and have a bite?¡±


    Silence answered her. Not a peep came from inside.


    ¡°Are you asleep? Jojo?¡±


    As Joseph¡¯s hand reached for his forehead, he rose to his feet and opened the door, gazing


    down at Chloe. Their eyes met, and she could not help but feel a bit uneasy.


    ¡°I said I¡¯m not eating the food you make. Why won¡¯t


    you understand?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll be hungry¡­¡±


    1


    Joseph fell silent, staring at her with his piercing gaze. It had only been a few seconds, but Chloe felt


    like an eternity had passed.


    Feeling at a loss for what to do, she impulsively grabbed his hand and said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go. The


    food¡¯s getting cold.¡±


    To her surprise, Joseph¡¯s hand was not as cold as she expected. It was big, warm, a sense of


    reassurance.


    and gave her


    She did not dare to turn around to see the expression on Joseph¡¯s face. She just silently prayed inside


    her heart and hoped that he would not get angry at her.


    Joseph obediently followed her downstairs and sat at the dining table for some inexplicable reason.


    Chloe¡¯s heart pounded as she put a piece of steak on Joseph¡¯s te. She looked at him with hopeful


    eyes and said, ¡°Try it.¡±


    Joseph unconsciously wiggled his fingers as if he was feeling the warmth that Chloe had left on


    him.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Eat up.¡±


    Chloe watched nervously as he took a bite. She then raised three fingers and made a solemn promise.


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t taste good, I swear I won¡¯t force you to eat my cooking anymore!¡±


    With time on her side, she was determined to master the art of cooking and win over Joseph¡¯s heart


    and stomach. After that, she would exact her revenge.


    Under Chloe¡¯s earnest gaze, Joseph leisurely picked up a piece of steak with his fork and put it in his


    mouth, savoring it. The meat was sulent with a crispy outeryer. It was a culinary achievement


    worth praising for a beginner.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise, and he paused before saying, ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Right?! I also think it¡¯s pretty good. It¡¯ll be even better after I¡¯ve tried a few more times!¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes


    sparkled with a hint of pride on her delicate face, making her look adorable.


    Joseph looked up and asked, ¡°You n to cook every day from now on?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. You alwayse backte from work, and it¡¯s inconvenient for the cook toe over all the


    time. I can cook at home anytime, anywhere. Isn¡¯t it more convenient?¡±


    In addition to securing her position as Joseph¡¯s wife, Chloe also did not want to rely on takeout food.


    Besides, she would feel embarrassed about constantly mooching meals.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    Chapter 22 Don¡¯t Get Too Immersed in the Role


    Joseph did not bother exining that there was no cook in the first ce.


    After some brief contemtion, he went upstairs to grab a bank card. Then, he handed it to Chloe.


    ¡°This is my supplementary card. You can use it for household expenses or if you want to buy clothes or


    something.¡±


    Chloe was about to say that groceries would not cost much, but she suddenly remembered that she


    was currently unemployed, and not wishing to appear stubborn, she epted the card.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Go to H Mart if you want to grab something. Their stuff is fresher.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s an international supermarket that sells imported goods and the stuff there is pretty


    expensive. A tiny head of lettuce could cost up to 15 dors, whereas you can get the same item for


    just a few bucks at the local market. Moreover, the produce at the local market is freshly picked from


    the farm, making it healthier and more affordable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, not discussing with you.¡±


    Joseph finished his meal and set down his utensil. ¡°Your job is to help me fool the parents, not to be a


    virtuous wife. Don¡¯t get too immersed in the role.¡±


    Chloe held back the urge to roll her eyes.


    ¡®What¡¯s so special about an international supermarket? Are foreign goods really that good? Will eating


    them make you immortal?¡®


    She took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°I just want to help you save money.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to save money. You can spend it freely,¡± he replied coolly as he gave her a once¨C


    over. ¡°Take some time to buy a few sets of clothes. We¡¯ll be visiting my father this


    weekend.¡±


    Chloe fidgeted with the hem of her dress and asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I just wear what I¡¯m wearing now? I¡¯ll have


    you know, I spent a few thousand dors on this dress.¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate to wearst year¡¯s fashion to an important asion.¡±


    Chloe chuckled, though her smile did not reach her eyes. ¡°Fine.¡±


    After all, it was his reputation on the line and his money being spent. It would be a waste if she did not


    buy some new clothes.


    After washing the dishes, Chloe had just returned to her room when she heard a notification


    1/2


    sound from herputer, indicating an email in her inbox. She eagerly checked on it and found that it


    was a job offer from Fairlight, informing her that she had passed the interview and was to start work the


    very next day.


    Chloe was so thrilled that she could not sleep all night, drifting off only in the wee hours of the morning.


    When she woke up, she looked in the mirror and regretted staying upte. There were faint dark circles


    under her eyes, though her skin remained clear and radiant.


    ¡®Fortunately, I have good skin. I can just cover up the dark circles with some foundation,¡® she thought.


    As she was admiring herself in the mirror, Joseph walked by and saw her. She was wearing a white,


    elbow¨Clength¨Csleeve, button shirt and ck pencil pants that hugged her curves perfectly, emphasizing


    her slender legs in a way that was both graceful and sexy.


    He quickly averted his gaze and adjusted his tie before leaving the house.


    The vi was not far from Fairlight, so Chloe took the bus after getting ready. As she looked out the


    window, she breathed a sigh of relief that she had managed tond a job. Otherwise, she would have


    to tighten her belt next month.


    As the bus approached Fairlight, Benjamin suddenly boarded with two burly men who Chloe


    recognized as Artron¡¯s security guards. She furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Get off the bus with me. I need to talk to you,¡± Benjamin replied in a stern tone.


    ¡°I can¡¯t. Today¡¯s my first day at work. I can¡¯t bete,¡± she retorted.


    He looked around the crowded bus, a look of annoyance crossing his face. Suddenly, his expression


    softened as he said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m going to talk with you about the money your mother left you. It


    can be retrieved from the bank safe two months from now. Awyer came to the house today and


    needs you to meet with him.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡± He pressed on. ¡°Did youe out to find a job because you¡¯re mad at


    me?¡±

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Chapter 23 The Shady Things You¡¯ve Been up To


    After the people around them heard their conversation, they sized Chloe up with looks of disgust on


    their faces.


    It was as if she was the person who caused trouble with her father over property and being


    unreasonable.


    Chloe¡¯s face sank as she bit her lip. ¡°I can set up an appointment with thewyer forter.¡±


    ¡°No, they don¡¯t have so much free time to wait around for you,¡± Benjamin replied with an impatient tone.


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t have time, I¡¯ll temporarily take care of it. I¡¯ll give it to you when you get married in the


    future.¡±


    ¡°No! I¡¯ll go with you¡­¡± She quickly changed her mind and followed Benjamin off the bus.


    Although work was important, the things her mother had left behind were the only things in this world


    that she could not give up. She was well aware that Benjamin was threatening her. If she did not


    retrieve them this time, it would only be more difficult to do so in the future.


    She thought for a moment and decided to exin the situation to the HR department at Fairlight,


    requesting a postponement of her start date to be for the following day orter that afternoon. If they


    did not agree, she could not me anyone but herself she was the one who could not keep up her end


    of the bargain.


    Benjamin got into a car parked by the roadside and nced at the phone in Chloe¡¯s hand. ¡°Thewyer


    is waiting for us at home. Let¡¯s go home and talk there.¡±


    Chloe looked at the guards standing on both sides of the car and felt it a little strange.


    ¡°Why did you bring bodyguards with you?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We just happened to be going out. Hurry up and get in. Don¡¯t waste time,¡± he replied.


    Chloe did not think much of it. Benjamin might not like her, but she was certain that he would


    not do anything to harm her in broad daylight.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said and got into the car. But just as she settled in, the car sped off and she nearly lost her


    bnce. After settling down, Chloe asked about her mother¡¯s inheritance, but Benjamin remained


    silent.


    A sudden realization hit Chloe, and she quickly realized that something was wrong. She turned to the


    driver and said, ¡°Stop the car! I want to get off.¡±


    The driver, seeming to have received orders, ignored her request.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Chloe looked at Benjamin warily.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°I want you to inform Fairlight that you will not be working there,¡± he ordered.


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked.


    How did he know that I got a job at Fairlight?¡®


    Benjamin sneered, ¡°Do I really need to spell out what shady things you¡¯ve been


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Chloe replied, clearly at a loss for words.


    ¡°Just look it up online and you¡¯ll understand,¡± he said.


    up to?¡±


    With trembling fingers, she opened her phone and the first search result with an offensive headline


    popped up.


    [Famous Company Makes a Scandalous Decision for the Sake of a Beautiful Woman!]


    The article talked about the fight between her and the interviewer who was fired by Fairlight, insinuating


    that she had some kind of backing from a powerful figure. It even included a photo of her being


    escorted out by security guards after the confrontation.


    Thements below the article were even worse.


    [She¡¯s just a useless pretty face with no skills. It was bad luck on that poor interviewer foring


    across her.]


    [She looks like a homewrecker. She¡¯s probably a mistress kept by some wealthy man.]


    [I heard from someone inside Fairlight that the top executives were impressed by her and set up a


    special interview just for her. She passed and is supposed to start working in the next couple of days.]


    [Well, well, well, it seems like she¡¯s more than just a pretty face.]


    [I know her. We went to the same school and had a good reputation. Her family is quite well- off too


    and they own apany in Aesper City. I think something must¡¯ve happened to her family that forced


    her into this situation.]


    Chloe¡¯s knuckles turned white as she gripped her phone tightly. She spoke up, her voice clear and loud


    as if she were speaking out against injustice, ¡°They¡¯re making this up. I didn¡¯t do any of these things.¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s gaze was full of mockery, thinking to himself that how could someone ride in a luxury car


    without relying on a man? Even though she was rejected by Fairlight, she managed to get another


    interview with them.


    He would never believe that she had not received help from a man.


    ¡°I want you to tell Fairlight immediately that you won¡¯t be taking the job. I can¡¯t let our family¡¯s reputation


    go down the drain. You may not care about your reputation, but I do!¡± Benjamin¡¯s voice was stern and


    forceful.


    ¡°No way. I got the job on my own merits. Why should I reject the offer?¡± Chloe replied resolutely,


    looking straight at Benjamin.


    She added in a self¨Cdeprecating tone, ¡°Even if others misunderstand me, you should know that I


    started helping out with our family business before I even graduated from college. You should know


    better than anyone else if I¡¯mpetent or not.¡±

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    Chapter 24 MS. Chloe Didn¡¯t Come To Work Today


    ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I know what you¡¯re capable of that I asked you to resign. How could our small


    company possiblypare to a leading enterprise like Fairlight? You¡¯re overestimating yourself.¡±


    Chloe froze, clutching her phone and unsure of what to say. Despite being ustomed to Benjamin¡¯s


    treatment toward her, at this moment when everyone was misjudging her, she could not help feeling


    sorry for herself when he chose to align with those online bullies. Throughout her childhood, her father


    had only ever shown care and concern toward Ava, while toward her, he treated her as if she were a


    complete stranger.


    Seeing that she remained silent, Benjamin looked at her with disdain and snatched her phone from her.


    Chloe tried to retrieve her phone but was forcibly held down by the bodyguards.


    In the middle of her resistance, Benjamin found Fairlight¡¯s HR contact information on her phone,


    composed a rejection message, sent it, and then shut off her phone.


    ¡°You¡¯re my father. Can¡¯t you stand to see me doing well?¡± Chloe could no longer bear it and her voice


    trembled.


    ¡°Enough! What I can¡¯t stand is seeing you disgrace yourself!¡± Benjamin shouted in anger. Turning to


    the bodyguards, he ordered, ¡°Take her home and lock her in the room. Don¡¯t let her out.¡±


    Then, he got out of the car.


    Chloe started panicking. She tried several times to jump out of the car but to no avail.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Half an hourter, they threw Chloe into her bedroom upon reaching the house and locked the door to


    prevent her from running away.


    As soon as Fairlight¡¯s HR received the text message, they immediately tried to contact Chloe, but her


    phone was switched off.


    ¡°Cecelia, if she doesn¡¯te, she doesn¡¯te. She has the ability to get rid of Mr. William, so why


    bother worrying about this?¡± one of the employees joked.


    ¡°Yeah, who knows? She might even be our supervisor one day,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°Hahaha, that would really make those old¨Ctimers in thepany lose their minds,¡± someone said with


    augh.


    The HR personnel for Fairlight was a mature woman called Cecelia Ross. She nced at her


    colleagues and said sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that. William¡¯s conduct was inappropriate, so it was just a


    matter of time before he was dismissed by thepany.¡±


    Her colleagues sneered and went back to their respective workstations, quieting down.


    After thinking it over, Cecelia decided to report the matter to her manager.


    The manager reviewed Chloe¡¯s interview materials. It was normal for people not to show up after


    passing an interview, but this situation was rare at Fairlight. He had also seen the trending news today,


    but he was unsure if Chloe had chosen not toe to work because of public pressure.


    Coincidentally, Lucas passed by the HR department with a tray of breakfast in his hand and was


    heading upstairs. The manager immediately put down his cup and hurried over to tell him about the


    trending news and Chloe¡¯s rejection.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, should we send someone to Chloe¡¯s house for counseling? Althoughpanies like ours


    often face public pressure, this situation has generated a great reaction online.¡±


    Lucas nced at the trending news and replied, ¡°Just handle it normally. You don¡¯t need to worry about


    her.¡®


    He decided to consult with Joseph before making any further moves. After all, he was not sure of


    Joseph¡¯s intentions. Although he was confident that Joseph would not open the backdoor for Chloe, it


    was never wrong to consult him.


    At that moment, Joseph was in a video conference. Lucas quietly ced the breakfast on his desk and


    mouthed the words, ¡°Ms. Chloe didn¡¯te to work today.¡°

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    Chapter 25 If You Two Get Caught in Bed Together


    Joseph paused for a moment, then gave some instructions to the person on the other end of the video


    call and ended the meeting.


    Crossing his legs, he calmly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡±


    ¡°No idea. HR says Ms. Chloe sent a message close to the start of her shift saying she won¡¯t being,


    and that was the end of it.¡±


    Joseph recalled how happy Chloe looked in front of the mirror this morning. He propped up his chin


    with one hand. ¡°Did they call her?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but her phone is switched off.¡±


    Joseph furrowed his brows slightly, clearly dissatisfied with her behavior. She was the one who had


    applied for the job, yet she was also the one who did not show up for work.


    Lucas could not quite decipher his boss¡¯s thoughts from his expression. He took out his phone and


    disyed the top trending news to Joseph. ¡°There¡¯s another thing. It seems that William, who we fired,


    isn¡¯t happy and has been stirring things up online.¡±


    Joseph briefly nced through the article, hardly reading a tenth of it before shifting his gaze


    away.


    is


    ¡°Could Ms. Chloe have been influenced by this article and decided not toe? The manager


    considering sending someone to her house for some counseling. After all, this matter started because


    of Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°Fairlight needs an Estrenian trantor, not her,¡± Joseph said, his voice cold. He even snorted. lightly


    through his nostrils and continued, ¡°We already gave her a second chance. If someone gives up a job


    opportunity because of a fewments from irrelevant people, it means they can¡¯t handle the stress.


    They¡¯re likely to be overly sensitive in the workce in the future.¡±


    Nowadays, people tend to get carried away with their achievements.


    ¡°So we don¡¯t need to do anything about this?¡± Lucas asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Yes. Just handle it the usual way.¡± Joseph¡¯s gaze remained fixed on theputer screen.


    Later that day, with not much to do at thepany today, Joseph left on time and returned to his vi.


    The empty house waspletely silent, and he nced at the woman¡¯s house slippers ced neatly


    on the shoe rack with a snort.


    ¡®She hasn¡¯t been home all day, yet she imed she¡¯d cook for me every day.¡®


    Joseph was not hungry, so he went upstairs and took a shower. He grabbed a book andzily sat


    in his chair reading.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As time passed, the sky grew dark, and Chloe had yet to return. Joseph took out his phone and called


    her. He was ready to admonish her for not keeping her word, but before he could even say anything, a


    cold, mechanical voice interrupted him.


    ¡°The number you have dialed is currently unavable¡­¡±


    Joseph paused, recalling Chloe¡¯s demeanor from this morning. He remembered how her eyes sparkled


    with eagerness and enthusiasm. At first, he assumed that she had rejected the offer because she


    found a better opportunity, but upon further reflection, he realized that it was highly unlikely.


    Joseph did not like to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs, but Chloe was currently his legal wife. It was


    almost the weekend and it was time for them to visit his family home. He did not want any unexpected


    incidents. After all, dealing with his grandfather was exhausting.


    It was 10 o¡¯clock in the evening at the Johnson residence. Ava used her spare key to open Chloe¡¯s


    bedroom door, wearing a gift that Jake had bought for her.


    quickly closed the window and sat on Smooth. When Ava entered the room, she did not


    As soon as she heard movement outside the door, Chlo the bed. Her movements were quick notice


    anything unusual.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes immediately fell on the bracelet on Ava¡¯s wrist. It was the same brand that Jake had


    bought a gift for her from previously.


    Seeing that Chloe had noticed the bracelet, Ava raised her chin and maintained her usual gentle


    disposition. Yet, there was a trace of sarcasm in her voice as she said, ¡°I advise you to break it off with


    that old man you¡¯re seeing sooner rather thanter. If you two were to get caught in bed together by his


    wife, the whole family won¡¯t be able to hold our heads up high in Aesper.¡±

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    Chapter 26 How Did You Find Me?


    Chloe remained expressionless as she said, ¡°Your mother¡¯s a homewrecker, yet she can still hold her


    head up high in front of everyone.¡±


    Ava responded with a smile instead of anger. She gently stroked the wardrobe and replied, ¡°Do you


    remember? This used to be mine but I thought your wardrobe looked better, so I asked Dad for it.


    Whatever I want in this family, I can have. Even if my mother was a homewrecker, I can call the shots.¡±


    One could rise to great heights and gain a splendid life despiteing from a humble background. In


    contrast, Chloe¡¯s mother was a well-breddy who fought with her parents and cut ties with them just to


    be with Benjamin. However, she failed to even keep her man in the end.


    ¡°A broken wardrobe is all you need to feel superior?¡± Chloe sneered disdainfully, drawing out her


    words. ¡°Speaking of that wardrobe, I should thank you. Only a fool would trade a new wardrobe for an


    old one.¡±


    Ava treated Jake, who was a scumbag, exactly in this manner-like he was a precious


    treasure.


    Her face livid, a sudden thought popped into Ava¡¯s head and she went back to smiling, straightening


    her back out of pride.


    ¡°You¡¯re just jealous of me!¡± she eximed.


    ¡°I¡¯m jealous of you? Oh, please! That was the funniest joke I¡¯ve ever heard in my life. You and your


    mother are unsightly,¡± Chloe retorted.


    Ava¡¯s face sank, and she raised her hand to p Chloe, but Chloe was prepared for this. She pulled


    Ava¡¯s hair and pushed her backward forcefully. With a loud crash, the wardrobe and Ava toppled to the


    ground.


    Hair in a mess and her pretty dress covered in dust, Ava still maintained the smile on her face,


    triumphant in her scheme, ¡°You¡¯re done for now.¡±


    With that, she got up and left the room, making sure to lock the door behind her before heading to


    Benjamin toin. Almost simultaneously, Chloe deftly opened the window and escaped, taking


    advantage of the time that Ava was away.


    Looking down at the grass below, Chloe inhaled deeply, shut her eyes, and jumped. Landing on the


    soft grass, she was grateful that she had not broken any bones and only sustained a sprained ankle.


    After that, she heard the door to her room being unlocked from upstairs.


    ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t scold Chloe. Maybe she¡¯s not in a good mood and didn¡¯t mean it,¡± Ava pleaded.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. You tried to talk to her nicely, but she didn¡¯t appreciate it. She needs to


    be taught a lesson!¡± Benjamin replied sternly.


    The conversation ended abruptly as soon as he opened the door.


    Chloe hastily limped toward the front gate as she knew Benjamin woulde for her soon enough. As


    soon as she stepped outside, Benjamin and Karen came running after her.


    Under the faint glow of the moon, Benjamin¡¯s face contorted in fury as he fixated his wrathful stare on


    Chloe. Karen trailed behind him, her visage disying anxiety, yet the venomous hatred that lurked


    behind her facade was apparent to Chloe.


    Together, they resembled malevolent demons.


    As Chloe reminisced on her childhood, her face drained of color as she recalled how Ava had


    wrongfully used her of stealing money and how Benjamin had berated her in a simr fashion.


    Despite her attempts to defend herself, Benjamin violently attacked her until her eyes were swollen and


    bleeding.


    Chloe did her best to run away, but she could not move any faster with her sprained ankle. As


    Benjamin closed in on her, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out and pulled her into a


    corner.


    It was not until she was sitting in the car and looking at the man¡¯s stern profile that Chloe realized it was


    Joseph who had saved her. She asked in astonishment, ¡°H-How did you find me?¡±


    Joseph stepped on the elerator and his eyes shed with disdain. ¡°Given that we live in an age


    where virtually anyone¡¯s personal information can be found on the Inte, would it be a challenge for


    me to locate your address?¡±


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Chloe nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    She then asked, ¡°So, did youe to find me because you were worried about me?¡±

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    Chapter 28 I Like You Very Much


    Chloe woke up with a start and quickly pulled the nket tightly around herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be out soon!¡±


    Although her foot was a little sore fromst night¡¯s fall, it did not affect her walk.


    After a quick shower, Chloe appeared in front of Joseph wearing a delicate dress. She tossed her hair


    and asked, ¡°How¡¯s this outfit? Is it good?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes lit up. He could not help but acknowledge how stunning she looked in the milky white


    dress that was delicate and not overly ostentatious. Her subtle makeup gave her a vibrant appearance,


    and her lips-embellished with peach-colored lip gloss -were so plump and supple that they resembled


    jelly, enticing one to taste them.


    However, it was a cheap dress. If his grandfather saw her wearing this, he would think that Joseph was


    mistreating her. He did notment on her outfit, but instead pulled her into the dressing room.


    ¡°Take it off and pick a different dress.¡±


    Chloe was astonished as she gazed at the wardrobe brimming with a vast collection of expensive


    women¡¯s clothing. In addition, the drawers next to it were overflowing with a plethora of jewelry and


    cosmetics.


    Though she had not grown up with much pocket money, Chloe had acquired several luxurious


    possessions during her financially independent college years as well as receiving some high-end gifts


    from Jake. This exposure had broadened her perspective, but the extent of wealth that nowy before


    her made her past possessions seem like a mere drop in the ocean.


    Just the clothes alone were worth almost a million, not to mention the precious jewelry.


    ¡°I was originally going to let you buy some clothes yourself, but because of time constraints and your


    leg, I had someone buy them and deliver them here. I don¡¯t know what you like, so I just picked some


    stuff at random.


    ¡°Pick a set to wear today. If you don¡¯t like any of these, you can go out and buy some on your own


    when your leg heals.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up as she looked at him admiringly. ¡°Jojo, you¡¯re so rich! I like you very much!¡±


    Apart from the asional sarcasm, Joseph was much more generous and gentlemanly


    than Jake, who was a scumbag. She could not believe how blind she had been in the past. How could


    she not notice there was such a fine man in Jake¡¯s family?


    ¡°Do you like rich guys?¡±


    ¡°I do. But even if you weren¡¯t rich, I would still like you.¡±


    Joseph was taken aback and felt a sense of pleasure in his heart. He looked


    Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re handsome.¡±


    ¡°That sounds pretty superficial.¡±


    ¡°Which woman in this world doesn¡¯t like hot guys?¡± she said tly.


    up at her.


    While people always said that inner beauty was more important, it was hard to deny that an attractive


    appearance is what catches people¡¯s eyes during first impressions.


    Joseph decided to end the topic. He bent his slender fingers and flicked her forehead. ¡± Hurry up and


    change. Stop wasting time.¡±


    From the line of clothes, Chloe chose a fashionable dress that made her look dignified and elegant.


    Chloe and Joseph got into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce with the same license te from before.


    She noticed that he nced at her several times and felt delighted.


    ¡®Are my moves working?¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She deliberately adjusted her posture to a ttering position, causing her dress to climb above her knee


    and revealing her long slender legs with overly fair skin.


    Joseph¡¯s lips twitched as he watched every detail of Chloe¡±s actions.


    ¡°Are you cold?¡± he asked.


    Chloe felt a surge of happiness, confirming that her efforts over the past few days had paid off.


    ¡®He actually cares for me!¡¯


    Trying to maintain herposure, she replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not that cold.¡±


    Joseph nodded and instructed Patrick, ¡°Slow down the car and open the windows. I feel a bit dizzy.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡±


    All of a sudden, a chilly gust of wind rushed in, and goosebumps popped up all over Chloe¡¯s bare


    thighs. Her previously joyful expression fell away as she gritted her teeth against the cold.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    Chapter 29 You¡¯re Married?


    Ten minutester, Chloe could not bear the cold any longer and weakly tugged at Joseph¡¯s sleeve,


    laughing dryly. ¡°I¡¯m getting kind of cold now. Can we close the windows?¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As a gentleman, Joseph replied, ¡°Why of course.¡±


    He immediately had Patrick close the car windows.


    The flicker of amusement that crossed his eyes did not escape Chloe¡¯s notice. She realized he was


    toying with her, but she had no other choice but to clench her teeth and bear it, in light of the fact that


    she was wearing the dress he had bought for her.


    Harold was waiting outside the house with his cane in hand, anxiously looking out for them. The car


    stopped outside therge mansion that was as grand as a castle, and Chloe felt something was amiss


    when she saw it.


    Although Jake¡¯s uncle was wealthy, his family was not considered one of the wealthiest in Aesper. How


    could they afford such an extravagant estate worth billions while he was just a financial analyst?


    She asked in a low voice, ¡°Is this your ancestral home?¡±


    Joseph answered, ¡°Yeah, my ancestors have lived here for five generations.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Chloe nodded, understanding how they had obtained the mansion.


    Turns out Joseph¡¯s ancestors were rich. That was how they had obtained this mansion. Several


    hundred years ago, the value of real estate in Aesper had not skyrocketed yet. Back then, a lot of


    people made a fortune from evictionpensation, so their future generations were able to spend


    money without worry.


    ¡°Ah, herees my beloved granddaughter-inw!¡± Harold eximed joyfully when he saw Chloe, his


    eyes crinkling into a kind, happy expression.


    Chloe handed him the gift that Joseph had bought in advance and said with a smile, ¡® Grandpa, this is


    for you. I hope you¡¯ll like it.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll love it.¡± Harold beamed, but his expression changed suddenly when he saw the state of


    Chloe¡¯s ankle. He angrily pointed a finger at Joseph and scolded, ¡°You little rascal. Did you bully


    Coco?!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re getting old and your eyes aren¡¯t working as well as they used to, Grandpa. If I wanted to bully


    her, it would be much more serious than this,¡± Joseph replied.


    How did she hurt her leg then?¡±


    Judging by how big the bruise was, it could not have been caused by a simple fall.


    ¡°Grandpa, it was me. I was on my phone at night and identally fell into a ditch,¡±


    Chloe quickly exined.


    ¡°Really?¡± Harold asked, his voice thick with suspicion.


    ¡°Really!¡± Chloe said. As she made up the borate story, she held onto his arm and they walked


    inside.


    ¡°Grandpa, what are we having for dinner tonight? I¡¯m getting hungry.¡±


    ¡°You can have whatever you want. Just inform the chefs. They can make anything from a full-course


    meal to whatever you desire,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re so kind to me. It¡¯s my good fortune to have married into the Whitman family,¡± Chloe


    said, ttering Harold.


    It was not entirely untrue. Based on what she knew, apart from Joseph¡¯s strange temper, everything


    else about him and his family was top-notch. It really was fortunate that she could marry into such a


    family.


    Unfortunately, their rtionship was based on a contract.


    Harold stopped in his tracks, his old eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at Chloe. Did you just say


    marry into the Whitmans? That means you two are married?¡±


    Chloe paused, quickly covering her mouth as she looked toward Joseph for help.


    ¡®Oh gosh, I¡¯ve let the cat out of the bag. Joseph hasn¡¯t told his family about our marriage yet!¡¯


    Joseph turned his head to look at Chloe, his expression unchanged. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter.¡±


    From the exchange, Harold knew the marriage was true, and he became extremely excited, feeling as


    though he had be ten years younger. It seemed to him that Joseph had inherited some of his old


    charms-not wasting any time and putting a ring on it once finding someone he liked.


    ¡®Not bad. Not bad at all,¡¯ he thought.


    In the hall, Harold dered, ¡°I don¡¯t care. You have one year to give me a great- grandson!¡±

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    Chapter 30 What¡¯s Going On With Chloe¡¯s Family?


    ¡°Tsk¡­¡± Joseph sat down, leaningzily into his chair and putting his long legs up on the coffee table as


    he spoke in a sarcastic tone, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t you be a doctor? Those other


    doctors would surely worship you for your ability to control women¡¯s reproductive cycles.¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I¡¯m already old, so is it wrong for me to want to hold a great-


    grandchild?¡± Harold¡¯s expression became livid. ¡°Besides, you went ahead and registered your marriage


    with Coco without even having a wedding or giving her any gifts. What do you think people will think of


    her?¡±


    This remark caused a sense of warmth to blossom in Chloe¡¯s chest. She poured a cup of tea for Harold


    and exined in a gentle voice, ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s not his fault. It was my decision to not hold a wedding


    since we¡¯re both so busy with work. Besides, as long as we love each other, having a wedding or not


    doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°No, this is uneptable. A person only gets married once in their lifetime. How can you not have a


    wedding just because you¡¯re busy?¡± Harold took a sip of tea to soothe his.


    throat.


    Chloe could not convince Harold, so she threw a nce at Joseph. However, Joseph showed no


    intention of helping her. She had to bite the bullet and said, ¡°We can discuss thister, okay? For now,


    let¡¯s focus on enjoying our meal, Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but you two have to make a decision soon. I want to throw a grand wedding and invite all of my


    old friends. When they see that the young troublemaker from my family has found such a beautiful wife,


    they¡¯ll be so envious.¡± Harold chuckled.


    At the dinner table, Harold continued to talk about the couple¡¯s future wedding, even suggesting how


    many children they should have. Chloe initially tried to make light of the subject, but Harold became


    emotional and tears welled up in his eyes.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    A twinge of remorse shot through Chloe as she realized that it was one of Harold¡¯s greatest desires to


    witness his grandchildren tying the knot and having kids. Sadly, she could not fulfill his wish as their


    marriage was a sham.


    ¡®It¡¯s fine,¡¯ she thought. She just needed to work hard to win over Joseph¡¯s heart and turn their


    contractual rtionship into a real one so that they could fulfill Harold¡¯s wish.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, when do your parents have time? Both our families should sit down and have a meal


    together,¡± Harold said.


    As his grandson had married Chloe without informing anyone, he felt it was necessary


    to provide an exnation to Chloe¡¯s family.


    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll decide on that in my own time..¡±


    Harold paused for a moment as if he had understood something and his gaze deepened. However, he


    did not inquire any further on the topic.


    ¡°A few of my rtives will be here in a while. How about you go upstairs and get some rest first?¡±


    Joseph spoke up.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chloe replied and nodded lightly.


    As soon as she was gone, Harold¡¯s expression turned serious as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with


    Coco¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°She lost her mother and her father remarried,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t get along with her stepmother.¡±


    ¡°What about her father? Does he treat her well?¡±


    Joseph got annoyed with Harold and left. ¡°Don¡¯t bother me with such trivial matters.¡±


    After that, he headed upstairs.


    Harold felt crestfallen. He had only wanted to show his concern for his granddaughter- inw, but it


    seemed like his intentions had been misconstrued.


    ¡°If you want to know anything, sir, I can send someone to investigate. That¡¯s just how Mr. Joseph is.


    Haven¡¯t you gotten used to it by now?¡± The butler chuckled.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Don¡¯t forget to prepare some gifts too.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s room was on the third floor. It was painted in ck and white and was about


    1,000 square feet in size. Other than a bed, there was an enormous couch where Chloe sat, browsing


    through a job search site.


    She had not informed Fairlight¡¯s HR about her absenteeism in advance, so she felt too embarrassed to


    go back to them.


    Joseph came in to retrieve hisptop as he was prepared to get to work in the study. When he saw her


    phone screen, his face sank slightly. ¡°You¡¯re not going to Fairlight anymore?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the guts to go there anymore. Fairlight¡¯s HR team reached out to me multiple times


    yesterday, but I didn¡¯t have the courage to answer,¡± Chloe said with a helpless shrug. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s not


    meant to be for me to work at Fairlight.¡± a


    The situation had escted to the point where even the Johnsons were aware of it, which made it clear


    to her that working at Fairlight would not be peaceful even if they did not hold her ountable for


    failing to show up.


    Joseph raised his eyebrows and his mouth twitched, but he did not say anything and left with his


    laptop. Watching his back, Chloe did not know why, but she felt that Joseph had wanted to say


    something to her.


    After a while, Joseph returned.


    ¡°You know Estrenian, right?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Chloe was shocked.


    ¡°Trante these Estrenian documents and send them to my email. Your sry will be based on the pay


    you would¡¯ve received from Fairlight. This month, you can trante these documents while looking for


    a job as a transition period.¡±

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Chapter 31 Jake¡¯s Aunt


    ¡°Take that card I gave you earlier as your sry.¡±


    Chloe stared in disbelief at the document lying on the table, her mind nk. Then, a smile slowly


    spread across her face, revealing a row of straight pearly whites.


    ¡°Thanks a bunch, Jojo,¡± she said.


    ¡®Now I can finally use your card without scruples!!


    She suspected that he was concerned that she might be reluctant to spend his money and thus had


    arranged a job for her.


    ¡®Looks like he can be pretty sweet and considerate at times.¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows went up slightly, and the indifference on his face melted a little as he chuckled. ¡°If


    you want to thank me, just stop making terrible food.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll enroll in a cooking ss!¡± she said.


    ¡®But with your money!¡¯


    Chloe struggled with the documents Joseph had given her due to all the financial jargon written on


    them. After tranting two pages, she leaned against the table and closed her


    eyes, intending to take a quick break, but ended up drifting off to sleep. 1


    She was roused by a furry thing brushing against her face. Initially, she assumed it was her own hair,


    but she soon heard muffled giggles. Quickly lifting her head, she came


    face-to-face with an adorable little face.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the little face cautiously, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Joseph¡¯s cousin,¡± said Ginny Reyes as she scrutinized Chloe. ¡°You¡¯re his wife, right?¡±


    ¡®Joseph¡¯s cousin? Doesn¡¯t this mean this little girl is Jake¡¯s aunt?!¡¯


    Understanding dawned upon Chloe. She asked softly, ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m five.¡±


    ¡°That means you¡¯ll be a beautiful youngdy in a few years.¡±


    Ginny nodded, her bright eyes, and said softly, ¡°Yeah! And when I¡¯m all grown up, I¡¯m


    going to marry Joseph, so I can¡¯t call you sister-inw!¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you have a crush on Joseph?¡± Chloe blinked. ¡°But you can¡¯t marry him because he¡¯s your


    family.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ginny pursed her lips and tears filled her eyes.


    Chloe¡¯s forehead twitched, and she quickly tried to console the little girl, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I was just teasing


    you.¡±


    Ginny looked at her, her eyes brimming with tears as she asked, ¡°So can I marry Joseph in the future?


    Wahh!!!!


    ¡°Well, you can, but¡­¡±


    ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°But there are many men in the world who are better than your cousin. By the time you grow up,


    Joseph will already be a forty-year-old man.¡±


    ¡°Wahh! Joseph won¡¯t get old! You¡¯re lying! Wahhh!¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The corner of Chloe¡¯s lips twitched. Concerned that themotion would draw the attention of the


    adults, she watched helplessly as the little girl¡¯s crying got louder and louder.


    She eventually relented and said, ¡°All right, all right. Joseph won¡¯t grow old. When you¡¯re grown up, you


    can marry him if you want. But you have to promise me that you won¡¯t cry anymore. Joseph doesn¡¯t like


    girls who cry.¡±


    ¡°What kind of girl does Joseph like then?¡± Ginny anxiously wiped away her tears and stopped crying.


    Chloe pointed to herself with a serious expression and replied, ¡°Of course, he likes someone pretty and


    mature, just like me.¡±


    Ginny gazed at Chloe with a serious expression, chewing on her fingernail. She seemed to agree with


    the idea that Chloe was pretty, and she nodded in agreement. ¡°I want to be as pretty as you.¡¯


    Chloe touched her chin with her delicate, white fingers and said, ¡°Then you have to call me Aunt Coco!¡±


    After hesitating for a second, Ginny called her out in a sweet voice, ¡°Okay, Aunt Coco!¡±


    Chloe was speechless.


    Clearly, nothing was more important than bing beautiful. Not even Joseph

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    Chapter 32 I¡¯ve Met You Somewhere


    Half an hourter, Chloe appeared in front of everyone holding Ginny¡¯s hand.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise. Ginny was a sheltered child. Despite not being mischievous, she


    was timid, especially around unfamiliar people. It seemed to him that Chloe possessed some


    commendable traits.


    At the very least, she knew her way around kids.


    Ginny went around the crowd, showing off to everyone her new hairstyle. It had been tied up in a pair


    of symmetrical buns, each on one side of her head. It entuated her adorable features, making her


    look like a little fairy.


    ¡°This hairstyle looks good on you, Ginny. It¡¯s good to know that my granddaughter-in-w is good with


    her hands,¡± Harold praised generously.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Her hands are like magic.¡±


    ¡°Someone who is usually good with their hands probably cooks very well too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so fortunate to have a wife like her, Joseph.¡±


    All of the people nodded and agreed with Harold.


    Blushing and smiling shyly, Chloe took a seat next to Joseph and assumed the role of a good wife.


    While at the dinner table, Joseph raised his ss to make a toast with the others. He proceeded to


    drink several sses of white wine in session and began feeling uneasy in his stomach. As he got


    up to pour himself some water, someone approached him and offered a straw to his lips.


    He turned his head and saw Chloe holding a bottle of yogurt in her hand. She looked at him fixedly and


    said, ¡°Drink some yogurt. It¡¯ll help hydrate you.¡±


    Bright lights filled the room, while a faint scent tickled Joseph¡¯s nostrils. He gazed at her deeply, and his


    tightly set jaw rxed at this moment.


    Chloe did not know what was going on in his mind. As she lifted the yogurt, she identally touched


    his lips with her fingers. Startled, she quickly moved away and whispered, ¡°Drink.¡±


    Joseph twirled his finger and lowered his head slightly to take a few sips of yogurt from the straw she


    handed him.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After the party ended, Chloe thought they would spend the night at the ancestral home together, but


    they had to leave as Joseph had been called in toe to work early the next day.


    Chloe stayed alone in the vi that night. The next morning, she woke up early and finished tranting


    a few pages of the documents. While searching for jobs online, she also looked for cooking sses


    nearby. After finding one, she inquired about it, and the other party called her back that afternoon.


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Chloe. We have a trial ss this afternoon. If you¡¯re interested, I can reserve a spot for


    you.¡±


    Since the ce had positive reviews on the Inte and she had finished her tasks on hand, Chloe


    agreed to attend the ss.


    She reached her destination shortly after, but the culinary school was nestled in abyrinthine


    neighborhood, almost causing her to lose her way. Just as she was about to give up, a clear, refined


    male voice sounded behind her, ¡°Are you looking for Sander Culinary School too?¡±


    Turning around, she saw a towering, handsome man with well-defined features wearing a pair of gold-


    rimmed sses. He exuded a mature, regal aura and appeared to be in his early thirties. Something


    flickered through her mind the moment she saw the man, but she could not quite catch it. Yet, one thing


    was certain-she had seen this man before.


    Chloe collected her thoughts and replied, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Icarus Baker smiled faintly and said, ¡°Their ce is really hard to find. Let me make a


    call and ask the staff for directions.¡±


    He took out his phone and went to the side to make the call. Having no other option, Chloe had to wait


    for him to finish the call and find the right way.


    The staff was very helpful. Upon learning that they were lost, they immediately offered toe and


    pick them up.


    Chloe stood waiting in silence since she did not know Icarus, maintaining a dignified and elegant


    demeanor.


    ¡°I have a feeling that I¡¯ve met you somewhere,¡± Icarus said, his face disying a slight perplexity as he


    struggled to recall where he had seen her before.


    She was startled and felt somewhat incredulous. ¡°To be honest, I get the same feeling.¡±

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    Chapter 34 That Nutjob of a Moron Is Your Nephew


    When Joseph came back from work, he found Chloe in the kitchen, chopping potatoes with a knife.


    She looked as if she had a deep grudge against the potatoes, for she was smashing instead of


    chopping them.


    ¡°Who upset you?¡±


    Chloe paused and turned around to look at him, knife in hand.


    ¡°A moron,¡± she said begrudgingly.


    ¡®Yes, a moron. And that nutjob of a moron is your nephew!¡¯


    After a look of confusion, Joseph went upstairs to clean up.


    For dinner tonight, they had beef potato stew, oven-roasted vegetables, and Greek sd.


    ¡°I took a crash course on cooking today. Want to try the result of my learning?¡± Chloe asked.


    Joseph took a bite of the beef and said, ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t much difference from the previous days.¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s only the first day, okay?¡± Chloe replied. ¡°Give me a month and I¡¯ll surprise you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Joseph said.


    Although he said the food was not great, he enjoyed the meal very much.


    Chloe retired to her room to continue her work after dinner. Shortly after, Emily called and said that


    Jake hade to her house looking for Chloe.


    ¡°He¡¯s still waiting outside my door. He¡¯s going on about some heirloom bracelet thatMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    gave you and ims that it must be at my ce,¡± Emily said.


    he


    Chloe narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Put him on the phone.¡±


    ¡°Chloe, I understand that you¡¯re attached to the bracelet, but please, you have to return it to me. It¡¯s a


    precious family heirloom that I had nned to give to my future wife,¡± Jake pleaded, as though he had


    exhausted all other options.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Meet me at the coffee shop in the middle of Dixie Street in an hour and I¡¯ll return the


    bracelet,¡± Chloe sald firmly, ¡°Stop bothering Em or I¡¯ll report you for


    trespassing on private property.¡±


    Chloe was familiar with the family heirloom that Jake was referring to. During their time together, he


    had presented her with the bracelet with great enthusiasm. She had been over the moon, believing that


    she had gained not only Jake¡¯s approval but also that of his family.


    However, all her illusions were shattered the day she caught him cheating on her. Consumed by her


    fury, she had discarded most of his belongings, including the bracelet. She could not recall if she had


    disposed of it or if it was still tucked away in her jewelry box or if it was somewhere back in her room at


    the family home.


    Thest option seemed unlikely. Given Ava¡¯s personality, she probably already rummaged through


    Chloe¡¯s room in search of it. That was why Jake had contacted her.


    As expected, Chloe found the bracelet in the jewelry box stuffed inside her suitcase. She did not feel


    like changing clothes. Jake was not worth the effort of her dressing up anyway. Without even bothering


    to change out of her pajamas, shezily slipped on a coat and swung open the bedroom door, only to


    run into Joseph who was carrying a cup of water down the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit. I¡¯ll be back soon, don¡¯t worry,¡± she said sweetly, voluntarily reporting her ns


    to Joseph.


    Chloe was wearing a in nightgown, and her ck hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall.


    Her face had a healthy hint of pink, and her long legs were hidden by the nightgown, revealing only a


    pair of dainty, slippered feet. Her oversized coat covered her delicate figure, and her innocent-looking


    eyes and brows lent her an air of purity. She was not wearing any makeup, yet she appeared more


    stunning and captivating than if she had.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze remained steady as he asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to Dixie Street.¡±


    Since her rtionship with Joseph was not yet stable, she could not let Jake know about them. Dixie


    Street was about two miles away, so it was unlikely for them to run into


    each other.


    Joseph nced at the darkening sky outside and put down his cup on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡±

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    Chapter 35 Joseph Is Jealous!


    By the time Joseph came back with the car keys, Chloe¡¯s mind was still swimming.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± He raised his eyebrows. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Chloe fiddled with the buttons of her coat and demurely said, ¡°Is it too much trouble for you to drive me


    thiste at night?¡±


    Despite not being emotionally prepared to confess to Jake yet, the idea of him seeing her with his uncle


    and losing his confidence was too big of a temptation to let go. Just the thought of that scene sent


    shivers of joy down her spine.


    Unfortunately, Joseph misconstrued her intentions and his expression turned sour as he quipped,


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I just happened to be heading back to the office and it¡¯s along the way. I won¡¯t be a


    hindrance to your secret meeting with your paramour.¡±


    ¡°What paramour?¡± Chloe was taken aback, and it was not until a momentter that she realized the


    meaning behind his odd tone. She took a few steps closer, smiling slyly as she stared at him. ¡°Are you


    jealous?¡±


    Otherwise, why would he sound so sarcastic?


    Joseph met her gaze and gave a dismissive smile. ¡°Overconfidence is an illness. You better get it


    treated sooner rather thanter.¡±


    He checked the watch on his wrist and strode downstairs in long strides. ¡°If you¡¯re not leaving, I am.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ming! This is the first time you¡¯re driving me somewhere, Jojo.¡± She trailed after him


    like a lively butterfly.


    Joseph turned the steering wheel, but he could still see Chloe out of the corner of his eye. She sat in


    the passenger seat, earnestly looking ahead and asionally pointing


    out the way as if they were a husband and wife on a journey.


    ¡°Hey, stop! The rightne is on green light!¡± The urgent tone in Chloe¡¯s voice brought Joseph back to


    reality. He looked toward the pedestrian crossing and quickly adjusted


    the car¡¯s course.


    Chloe breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I told you several times, but you


    still didn¡¯t change directions.¡±


    Regret flickered in Joseph¡¯s eyes as he could not believe he had ever entertained the idea of spending


    the rest of his life with such a talkative woman. He must have been insane.


    1/


    Without pressing him for an exnation, Chloe simply pointed to a nearby cafe and said, ¡°You can drop


    me off here.¡±


    As she got out of the car, Joseph looked at the small bag in her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll probably be back in


    about an hour. If you can¡¯t wait for me, just get a cab and go home first.¡±


    ¡°Are you really going to the office?¡± Chloe asked in surprise, her rosy lips parted slightly.


    Could it be that she was just imagining things?


    Well, she felt the likelihood of such a scenario was quite high. Having spent time in his presence, she


    had be adept at discerning his usual mannerisms-aloof,


    unforgiving, and sardonic.


    ¡°Of course. Do you think I¡¯d deliberately be your personal chauffeur just to drive you here?¡±


    Joseph replied with a sneer.


    ¡°Okay then.¡± Chloe smiled brightly, waving at him. ¡°Bye-bye. Be careful on the road and remember to


    come back and pick me up. I¡¯ll be waiting!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Joseph ran into Nathan who was just stepping out for ate-night snack when he arrived at Fairlight.


    When Nathan saw Josephing out of his car, his eyes widened in shock as he asked, What are you


    doing here sote at night?¡±


    Joseph nced at him and replied, ¡°I came back to check on the bidding documents for


    tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that something the staff can take care of?¡± Nathan wondered aloud, knowing Joseph would


    usually not bother with such a trivial matter.


    ¡°Well, Chloe had something to take care of, so I dropped her off and decided to make a stop here,¡±


    Joseph replied as he rubbed his temples. ¡°Besides, those employees are all new. I want to make sure


    there are no mistakes.¡±


    Nathan was puzzled but unsurprised. He could see that Joseph¡¯s primary intention was to drop Chloe


    off at her destination and that the visit to the office was just a brief detour. She clearly upied a


    special ce in Joseph¡¯s heart.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    However, he did not expose Joseph. After the brief chat, he slipped away quietly.


    Why did he not expose Joseph?


    The reason was simple-he could not beat Joseph.


    Chloe waited ten minutes at the coffee shop before Jake and Ava showed up. The moment Ava spotted


    her, she immediately started to act as if they were close sisters.


    ¡°Coco, how could you be so foolish? The second floor of our house is ten feet above the ground. You


    can¡¯t just jump off because you disagree with Father¡¯s rules.

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    Chapter 36 What Was Once Precious Is Now Meaningless


    It seemed that Ava was still proficient in twisting the truth.


    ¡°These are


    Ignoring her sister, Chloe ced a bag on the table and said in a t tone, all the jewelry and clothes


    you gave me. The dolls and such are at the Johnsons¡¯.¡±


    Ava grabbed Chloe¡¯s hand and asked worriedly, ¡°Where have you been staying the past few days?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡±


    ¡°I asked Em and she said you haven¡¯t been at her ce.¡± Ava bit her lip, her voice thick with concern.


    ¡°You shoulde. It¡¯s not safe for a girl to stay outside alone.¡±


    Jake knew a thing or two about Chloe¡¯s involvement with an older man and a mixture of disdain and


    disappointment filled his heart. On one hand, he felt responsible for her downfall, but on the other, he


    felt she should not just give up on herself even though their rtionship did not work out.


    ¡°Ava¡¯s right. It¡¯s not right for a girl to be alone. Go back home,¡± Jake chimed in and said in a preachy


    tone.


    Chloe was speechless. ¡°Is there something wrong with you guys?¡±


    After all they had done, it was audacious of them to interfere in her personal affairs.


    ¡°How could you say such a thing? We¡¯re just worried about you,¡± Jake scolded her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your concern.¡± Chloe blinked her innocent eyes, almost writing ¡°Mind your own


    business¡± on her face.


    Ava wanted to say something more, but Chloe did not give her the chance and interjected, ¡°I¡¯ve


    returned your things. Please don¡¯t contact me again. Thank you.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, she got up and left.


    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m so disappointed in you!¡± Jake¡¯s angry voice came from behind her.


    Ignoring him, Chloe calmly exited the cafe and aimlessly wandered around the vicinity, knowing Joseph


    would arrive soon. After walking for a while, she estimated that he would be back soon, so she turned


    back in the direction of the cafe.


    As Chloe approached the cafe, she witnessed Ava and Jake discarding the bag that held the jewelry he


    had given her by the roadside. Ava even offered a tissue to Jake to wipe his hands with as though they


    had touched something dirty.


    Initially, Chloe was unfazed, but as she saw the gifts that Jake had given her in the past being tossed


    away so nonchntly, she felt as if their precious memories together had been ruthlessly abandoned.


    After all, those memories represented some of the happiest moments of her life.


    Suddenly, indescribable anger and grievance surged through Chloe¡¯s heart, overwhelming her and


    making it difficult for her to take even one step.


    Meanwhile, Jake and Ava had already left in their car.


    Chloe walked over to the scattered trinkets on the ground. There were rings, keychains, and the


    ne that Jake had personally woven for her. She picked them up one by one, handling them with


    the utmost care, almost as if she was bidding them a heartfelt farewell.


    From a ck Rolls-Royce parked on the side of the road, Joseph sat inside and observed her intently.


    Nobody knew how long he had been there.


    Despite feeling unhappy, Chloe did not forget her main goal to be Joseph¡¯s real wife. She


    composed herself and looked around before fishing out her phone to call him.


    ¡°Jojo, are you done? When are youing over?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± he replied.


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°What? Where?¡±


    ¡°Look across the street.¡±


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Chloe looked at the man next to her with a puzzled


    expression. ¡°Jojo, was there some problem at work? You seem like you¡¯re in a bad mood.


    ¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Then what¡¯s wrong? If you have something that¡¯s bothering you, you can let it out. Talking about it will


    make you feel better,¡± she said.


    Joseph kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his eyshes drooping slightly and casting a shadow


    over his eyes.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What about you? Why don¡¯t you talk about what¡¯s bothering you?¡± he asked.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    Chapter 37 Goodnight


    A little taken aback, Chloe asked, ¡°You saw everything?¡±


    However, Joseph answered in a nonmittal tone, ¡°What did I see?¡±


    ¡°The person I met at the cafe¡­¡±


    ¡®That sc*mbag is your nephew!¡¯


    Joseph was silent for a while and said, ¡°Nope. I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    He had only seen her standing on the street looking lost and dejected.


    Chloe stared into Joseph¡¯s eyes and realized that he was not lying. He really had not seen Jake or Ava,


    leaving her slightly disappointed.


    Joseph thought she did not want to talk about the subject so he did not press any further. The journey


    home was silent. After Chloe wished him good night, she went to her room to sleep.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As Joseph watched her disappear up the stairs with a pensive expression on her face, he murmured,


    ¡°Good night¡­¡±


    Chloe, still seething in anger, did not notice what Joseph said and went straight into her room.


    Uponing downstairs the next day, a look of surprise spread across Joseph¡¯s face when he saw a


    lunchbox out on the table. Chloe then emerged from the kitchen, her clean and pure face shining


    brightly in the morning sunlight.


    ¡°I made you breakfast. They¡¯re some sandwiches and sd. You can have them while. working,¡± she


    said.


    Joseph had a habit of eating breakfast, and he much preferred to have the healthy food that Chloe


    made at home rather than buying from some cafe. It was not particrly delicious, but it was nutritious.


    He grunted in acknowledgment, picked up the lunchbox, and headed out the door. It was half


    past nine in the morning, and he was stuck in traffic for almost half an hour before he finally arrived at


    the office.


    Joseph headed straight to the meeting room. The board of directors seated in the room looked at the


    pink lunchbox he ced on the table and exchanged confused looks. They all had the same question


    in their minds.


    ¡®Did Mr. Joseph choose that cute lunchbox himself? Could his loving wife have prepared it for him?¡¯


    As Lucas entered the room with a pile of documents, he sensed the unusual atmosphere and followed


    everyone¡¯s gaze to the lunchbox ced in front of Joseph. He quickly realized the situation and walked


    over to pick it up, cing it on the windowsill.


    Who could be so foolish as to ce their wife¡¯s lunchbox in front of Joseph and cause everyone to


    mistakenly assume that he had a girlfriend? It was widely known that Joseph was a pristine golden


    bachelor!


    Joseph looked up at Lucas, then his gaze shifted to the lunchbox on the windowsill. It was a suitable


    spot to ce it since it would not obstruct the view of those in the back.


    row.


    Understanding dawned upon the board of directors as they realized that the lunchbox did not belong to


    Joseph, but to his assistant. When the meeting ended, Joseph was thest to leave. But before


    leaving, he did not forget to pick up the lunchbox that had been put aside.


    Lucas witnessed this and his jaw dropped as if it had been dislocated. ¡°M-Mr. Joseph, did you bring


    this?¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah. What about it?¡±


    After finishing her breakfast, Chloe began to focus on her own affairs. She had scheduled an interview


    for a trantor position. Although thispany was not her first choice, she did not have any other


    options at the moment. Fortunately, it was a


    position at argepany.


    Upon reviewing her resume, the interviewer took off her sses and eximed, ¡± You¡¯re so young, and


    you¡¯ve already passed the C2 exam?!¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Chloe responded with a smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°As you know, we¡¯re arge corporation and positions here are limited. We¡¯ve already filled all the


    trantor positions.¡±


    ¡°Why did you call me for an interview?¡± Chloe furrowed her brows, unable to


    understand.


    Was this just a ploy for this person to boost her performance?


    ¡°Please don¡¯t be quick to judge. Although all the trantor positions have been filled, we have other


    openings that you might be interested in. Would you be willing to consider joining our sales team? The


    starting sry is 2,000 dors and there¡¯s an 18%mission fee. Some of our top-performing


    employees in the sales department are making up to 8,000 dors per month.¡±


    Chloe smiled sardonically and picked up her resume before walking out. ¡°Thank you, but no thank you.¡±


    She was wrong. This woman was not just trying to boost her performance. She was also misleading


    applicants with false promises.


    As Chloe left thepany, she ran into Icarus. He was dressed in a formal suit and looked quite


    dignified. Offering him a polite smile, she greeted him, ¡°Hey, what a coincidence seeing you here.¡±


    ¡°It certainly is. It seems we¡¯re fated,¡± Icarus replied as he nced at the skyscraper behind her. ¡°Do you


    work here?¡±

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    Chapter 38 Chloe, You Sure Are Clear-Headed


    ¡°No, I was here for a job interview,¡± replied Chloe.


    ¡°You had a job interview with the Baxons?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Chloe confirmed.


    ¡°How did it go? Did it go smoothly?¡± Icarus inquired.


    ¡°No.¡± Chloe shrugged as she sighed dejectly. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to find a job these days.¡±


    Icarus gestured toward her resume. ¡°May I have a look?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± she replied, handing it over.


    After reading through her resume, Icarus remarked, ¡°Objectively speaking, you are indeed outstanding


    among your peers.¡±


    ¡°And subjectively?¡± asked Chloe as she fixed her gaze on Icarus.


    ¡°Subjectively, in my opinion, you¡¯re extraordinary,¡± Icarus answered.


    It was evident that she was an exceptional candidate, with a four-year streak of receiving schrships


    during her time in university, attending internships at two major corporations during her sophomore


    year, and achieving excellent results on all her projects. Upon graduation, she even led her team in


    overseas business negotiations. Her frequent travel abroad could be the reason why she was able to


    obtain the Estrenian C2 certificate at such a young age.


    However, Icarus could not help but wonder why she ended up staying in a smallpany instead of


    going to arge corporation with such impressive performance during her internships. He vaguely


    recalled hearing the name of this smallpany a few times from Jake, but at the time, he paid little


    attention to Jake.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe smiled. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. If I really were extraordinary, I wouldn¡¯t have trouble


    finding a job.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I believe you¡¯ll find one soon.¡±


    Chloe was oblivious to the hidden meaning of his words and responded with a simple nod and a brief


    expression of gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡±


    As he watched Chloe walk away, Icarus took out his phone and dialed an old friend¡¯s


    number.


    ¡°I¡¯m at your office right now. You¡¯re half an hourte. I¡¯ll wait another ten minutes. If you aren¡¯t down


    here by then, I¡¯m leaving,¡± he said.


    Five minutester, a man of simr age to Icarus emerged from the Baxon¡¯s office, carrying a briefcase


    andining, ¡°We¡¯re so busy this quarter. I have to hide in the bathroom if I want to ck off.¡±


    ¡°Do you regret not starting your own business?¡± Icarus teased.


    ¡°Regret is useless. I have a wife and kids. The risk of starting a business at my age is too great,¡± the


    man replied.


    Icarus patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Staying at Baxon isn¡¯t a bad choice. Didn¡¯t you get promoted


    recently? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be one of the top executives in another ten years.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Contentment brings happiness,¡± the man agreed.


    Icarus looked in the direction Chloe had left and smiled. ¡°Is your department still looking for people? I


    just met a talented young woman withmendable skills.¡±


    For the next two days, Chloe spent her mornings tranting documents Joseph had given her and her


    afternoons looking for a job. In the evenings, she would buy groceries


    and cook.


    On the third day, Joseph instructed her to pick Harold up, who had just returned from


    out of town.


    ¡°Patrick will drive you there,¡± Joseph said, ¡°He might bring up the topic of meeting the parents and the


    gifts.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°What should I do? Should I find two actors to y my parents?


    She could not go home, nor could she ept Harold¡¯s gifts.


    ¡°You can ept the gifts,¡± Joseph said nonchntly, ¡°Just consider it part of the contract fee.¡±


    Chloe shook her head profusely and firmly refused, ¡°No! I don¡¯t want your money. Our rtionship isn¡¯t


    measured by money!¡±


    If she epted the gift, it would be as if she was acknowledging their contract and would be unable to


    reverse her decisionter. She aspired to be Jake¡¯s aunt for life. Furthermore, if she could win Joseph¡¯s


    affection, his wealth would be hers as well. Why should she allow the prospect of a trifling gain to


    obscure her true goal?


    There was a moment of silence on the phone, then Joseph said meaningfully, ¡°Chloe, you sure are


    clear-headed.


    ¡°Jojo, do you know why I¡¯m clear-headed?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Nope, and I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just y along?¡±


    ¡°Fine, what¡¯s the reason?¡±


    ¡°Because I really love you. I¡¯m not here for your money,¡± she teased him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you


    touched?¡±

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Chapter 39 Toto


    ¡°Not one bit,¡± Joseph replied honestly.


    If she was noting for his money, it meant he did not have the ability to make her after it.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe found herself at a loss for words.


    ¡®How could he be so insensitive?¡¯ she thought, ¡®Any normal guy would be moved by such words, so


    why is his response so indifferent?¡¯


    go


    Chloe fixed her gaze upon the mirror, observing her reflection. She had been honing her cooking skills


    lately and her principles of minimizing waste had led her to consume everything she prepared,


    regardless of its vor. Consequently, she had gained some weight-particrly around her cheeks-and


    no longer appeared as slim as she used


    1.


    Standing with her hands on her hips, Chloe dered, ¡°I¡¯ve made a decision. Starting today, I¡¯m going to


    go jogging with you every morning! Be sure to wake me up!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, tinged with a hint of suspicion. ¡°What scheme are you cooking up now?¡±


    Chloe had been waking up around tentely and had not made him breakfast in a while. Thest time


    she had made it was the only time. And now, she was talking about going for morning runs? With her


    tendency to oversleep, she would probably onlyst three days.


    Women were unpredictable. Thank goodness he had a reliable male assistant.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. I think I¡¯ve put on weight, so I need to start losing it!¡± Chloe persisted.


    ¡®Otherwise, how am I going to win your heart?¡¯


    Joseph, not wanting to continue this conversation, said helplessly, ¡°You¡¯re not fat. You don¡¯t have to


    lose weight.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Chloe replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement. ¡°You like curvy girls?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°Great, then I know what to do now!¡± Chloe eximed.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± he asked, confused.


    1/3


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out tonight!¡±


    Chloe went upstairs to change, and Patrick arrived shortly after. She got into the car and went to the


    airport to wait for Harold. But instead of a man, a dog arrived instead.


    An airport worker in uniform handed Patrick a ck and white Border Collie and asked. him to sign a


    form. Chloe bent down and curiously petted the dog¡¯s head. ¡°Patrick, what¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°This is Mr. Joseph¡¯s dog that he has been raising abroad. It was shipped back today. Its name is Toto,¡±


    Patrick replied, ¡°Mr. Harold¡¯s flight will be arriving soon.¡±


    Chloe was stunned and she stopped petting the dog. ¡°Joseph has a dog?¡±


    ¡®But he¡¯s a clean freak, and Border Collies have long fur. Won¡¯t the whole house be covered in dog fur


    during shedding season?¡±


    ¡°He does. Mr. Joseph raised Toto¡¯s mother too,¡± Patrick replied.


    ¡°I see,¡± Chloe replied, shocked by the revtion.


    Sensing that Chloe had stopped petting it, Toto barked discontentedly at her, urging her to continue.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched, and she reluctantly went back to petting it.


    Just then, Harold stepped out of the terminal, and Chloe greeted him warmly. As they made their way


    back to Joseph¡¯s vi, the two chatted about trivial family matters, and Chloe specifically inquired about


    Joseph¡¯s habits and hobbies.


    Upon arriving at their destination, Chloe said to Harold, ¡°Grandpa, go rest up. I¡¯ll call for you when I¡¯ve


    finished cooking.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. It¡¯s already tiring enough for you to pick me up. We can just get the chef toe


    by,¡± Harold replied.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°No buts. Patrick will handle everything,¡± Harold interrupted and walked to the balcony.


    The balcony was teeming with a plethora of nts, while a dainty pink apron was hung on the wall of


    the kitchen. The refrigerator was adorned with cartoon stickers and daily reminders.


    Harold ran his hand contentedly over his beard and remarked, ¡°Now this is what a


    home should feel like. This ce has a much more human touch nowpared to when


    that scoundrel was overseas all the time.¡±


    Chloe smiled and agreed, a hint of cunning shing through her almond-shaped eyes. The old man


    might be old, but he was still as sharp as a tack. Fortunately, she had been smart enough to prepare


    everything ahead of time.


    After strolling around the vi for a while, Harold remembered the main topic of discussion. ¡°Chloe, let¡¯s


    talk about the gifts for your family-¡±


    Ring, ring!


    His words were interrupted by a phone call. Chloe¡¯s tense nerves immediately rxed. She said,


    ¡°Grandpa, get some rest. I need to take this call.¡±


    Harold paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Chloe went to the backyard to answer the call. ¡°Hello? Who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Chloe. I¡¯m the HR manager of Baxon Corporation. Have you found a job yet? Would you be


    interested in working for ourpany?¡±

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    Chapter 40 Not as Good as Chloe¡¯s Cooking


    Chloe tightened her grip on the railing as she asked, ¡°May I know how you got my contact information?¡±


    ¡®Did Baxon¡¯s HR give this person my number?¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s not important. The important thing is whether you¡¯re still interested in ourpany. However,


    the position of Estrenian trantor you wanted has been filled. Janice wasn¡¯t trying to make things hard


    for you the other day.


    ¡°Anyway, the only avable position open now with a sry and job scope that matches your


    capabilities is a project leader position. If this interests you, we can arrange a face-to-face meeting to


    discuss further.¡±


    ¡°Discuss it with you or with Janice who interviewed me before?¡±


    She had been highly annoyed during that incident and did not wish to meet with the HR personnel who


    randomly called people in for interviews just to meet performance goals.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be talking to me directly.¡±


    ¡°All right then. Let¡¯s set up a time to meet.¡±


    After the call ended, Chloe stared at her phone and got lost in thought. She did not know what made


    Baxon suddenly change their mind and offer her a new position.


    ¡°Why are you standing here daydreaming instead of keeping my grandpapany?¡±


    Suddenly, Joseph appeared, his tall figure and deep gaze looming over her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already been chatting with Grandpa for quite some time. He¡¯s gone upstairs to rest now,¡± Chloe


    replied, her pretty almond eyes shining brightly. ¡°You can trust me to handle things.¡±


    Joseph did not say anything more. He had faith in her abilities, as Harold¡¯s fondness for her was


    genuine. As the two walked into the house, he noticed a change in the decor and his face sank.


    ¡°What happened to the house?¡± he asked, noticing the fresh green nts, the pink apron in the kitchen,


    and the cartoon stickers and post-it notes on the refrigerator.


    Chloe quickly exined in a hushed tone, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. I put these things up so that


    Grandpa wouldn¡¯t suspect anything.¡±


    1A


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph could not deny that she had a point. However, he was still displeased. These girly decorations


    just were not his cup of tea.


    As Chloe gazed at Joseph¡¯s handsome face-now clouded with displeasure-she felt a growing


    resentment within her. Despite all the hard work she had put into impressing his grandfather, this


    insensitive man not only failed to praise her efforts but also showed no empathy whatsoever.


    However, Joseph¡¯s mood did not remain sour for long. Just as he was about to tell Chloe. he had found


    a job for her, Toto, his furry littlepanion, came bounding down the stairs, wagging its tail and


    begging for attention.


    Joseph¡¯s icy demeanor softened considerably at that moment as he knelt down to scratch Max¡¯s belly.


    Chloe watched the scene with mixed feelings. She raised a hand to her cheek and got lost in thought


    when she saw that he showed more affection to a dog than to her.


    She wondered if she had no charm at all.


    With a despondent sigh, Chloe turned to leave, not wanting to interrupt the tender moment between the


    man and his dog.


    ¡°Chloe,¡± Joseph suddenly called out to her.


    She spun around, her sad expression turning into a bright smile.


    ¡°Yes?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Toto will be staying with me from now onward. When you have the time, y with him,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Chloe replied, her voice devoid of any real emotion.


    Joseph watched with furrowed brows as Chloe left in dejection. He thought that she was feeling down


    because she had not found a job yet after so long, so he decided to tell her after dinner that he had


    found her a job.


    He knew that she would be overjoyed once she heard the news. When the thought surfaced in his


    mind, a faint smile yed at the corners of his lips, unbeknownst to even himself.


    Dinner was prepared by a five-star restaurant chef. The table wasden with all sorts of


    delicacies.


    Chloe savored every bite while Joseph found the food tasteless. Perhaps he had grown ustomed to


    her cooking over the past month, as he now found her dishes more


    delicious than what was served by the restaurant chef.


    Had he finally gone insane?


    After finishing his meal, Harold wiped his mouth with the handkerchief Patrick handed to him and


    ced a card in front of Chloe.


    ¡°I¡¯m a simple man, Chloe. I don¡¯t know what kind of gift to give you other than money. Buy whatever


    you like with this. We Whitmans treat all our members with equal kindness.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t ept this, Grandpa,¡± Chloe pushed the card back and said sincerely, ¡°As you said, I¡¯ve


    already married Joseph, so there¡¯s no need for these things. Joseph has already given me his


    secondary card and I¡¯m not wanting for anything. Please take the money back and use it however you


    like.¡±


    With a bashful expression, she raised her eyebrows as she leaned onto Joseph¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t you


    agree, Jojo?¡±

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    Chapter 41 Is Chloe Not Your Daughter?


    Joseph stiffened and murmured robotically, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s words were so pleasant that Harold felt like he was wrapped up in a cotton jacket. He beamed


    so wide that his smile reached his eyes. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll do as you say, Chloe.¡±


    They enjoyed their dinner in a harmonious atmosphere, and before Harold left in his *car, he


    remembered that the two families had yet to meet. However, he resisted the


    urge to bring up the information he had uncovered about Chloe¡¯s family.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®Well,¡¯ he thought, ¡®I could just meet them on my own.¡¯


    After seeing off Harold, Chloe removed the stickers on the refrigerator and carefully wiped off the glue


    that stuck to it with a cloth. As she wiped, she told Joseph, ¡°I¡¯ll make it sparkling clean. I¡¯ll remove the


    potted nts on the balcony too. Rest assured. Your house will go back to exactly the way it was


    before.¡±


    Joseph felt a bit embarrassed at Chloe¡¯s words. She made it sound like he was the one being


    unreasonable here. He picked up the leash to take Toto for a walk and said, ¡®


    Never mind. Let¡¯s just leave it as it is. Grandpa will visit again, and it¡¯s too troublesome to keep


    rearranging things.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    In any case, Chloe did not feel like cleaning everything, so she put away the cloth and went to the


    bathroom to take a shower. As she approached the bathroom, she turned to Joseph and said, ¡°By the


    way, what do you think of Baxon Corporation? I¡¯m nning to


    go


    there for an interview tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve found a job?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just today.¡±


    Not understanding why Joseph was not responding, a look of confusion appeared on


    Chloe¡¯s face.


    When Joseph faintly spoke, his voice was steady and his jaw clenched tightly. Despite theck of


    malice in his tone, there was an indescribable, spine-chilling feeling to it as he asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say


    Fairlight was a good choice? And yet you¡¯ve already moved on so quickly?¡±


    Chloe could not figure out how she had upset him and forced out a dry smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t


    Chapter 41 is Chloe Not Your Daughter!


    show up on my first day of work at Fairlight, so even if I wanted to work there, it¡¯s not in the cards for


    me anymore.¡±


    Joseph was momentarily silent before saying, ¡°Baxon¡¯s pretty good.¡±


    Chloe was ustomed to his unpredictable reactions and did not take it to heart.


    ܇


    Chloe had matters to attend to tomorrow, so she went to bed early. As soon as shey down, she


    remembered the ¡°surprise¡± she wanted to give Joseph tonight. She thought *of the sexy nightgown she


    bought today and her face grew hot with anticipation.


    Despite this, she decided to dy the n until after the interview. After all, she had to secure the job


    before making any moves on Joseph. With a job in hand, she would not have to worry even if he kicked


    her out.


    The next day was overcast, and the streets below themercial building were crowded with people


    who seemed busy with their own affairs. They held cups of coffee and looked down at their phones,


    paying no attention to the dark clouds overhead.


    At the appointed time, Chloe arrived at Baxon for her interview. Since she was rmended by an


    internal staff member, the interview process went smoothly, and she was informed on the spot that she


    had passed.


    Although the sry was not as good as at Fairlight, she was aware that it was probably the best


    opportunity she could get for the time being. As an unemployed individual, she could not afford to be


    choosy. Thus, she agreed to begin work the following day.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle in tomorrow.¡±


    In the meantime, at an upscale club, Benjamin was adjusting his clothes with a nervous


    best and excited expression on his face. He instructed Ava, ¡°Make sure to give your performanceter.


    We can¡¯t afford to make any mistakes. This is very important since this investor is crucial to our


    company¡¯s expansion ns.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad,¡± Ava reassured him.


    She had taken great care in dressing up. A full face of makeup coupled with bright red lips made her


    otherwise ordinary appearance seem a bit shy. With the pressure of her father¡¯s expectations


    weighing heavily on her, she felt her palms growing sweaty.


    ¡°Who is this person and why did he want you to bring me along?¡± she asked.


    Chapter 41 Chloe Not Your Daughter?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. The old man sent someone to tell me that his granddaughter is about your age and


    he always brings her along when he conducts business. So, he wanted me to bring my daughter too to


    keep his granddaughterpany,¡± Benjamin exined.


    He may not know much about the old man¡¯s background, but one thing he was certain of was that the


    man was not an ordinary wealthy person based on the car he drove and the ring on his finger.


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Ava replied with a hint of disappointment written on her face. Soon, the door was pushed


    open. Benjamin and Ava stood up from their chairs and put on a smiling faces to greet the neer.


    Silently, Harold surveyed the room. When he only saw Ava-who had a forced smile on her face and not


    Chloe, his face turned grim.


    He was displeased with the father in front of him for bringing only Ava. After all, was his granddaughter-


    inw not a member of the Johnson family too? No wonder Chloe never mentioned anything about her


    family to them.


    As Ava met Harold¡¯s eyes, her legs could not help but feel weak. She turned to Benjamin, feeling


    slightly aggrieved and not understanding what she had done wrong.


    However, Benjamin¡¯s attention was focused solely on Harold. He was busy pouring tea and handing


    Harold the menu, trying his very best to cater to the old man¡¯s needs.


    Harold¡¯s butler intercepted the ss of water that Benjamin handed over with both hands and said, ¡°Mr.


    Harold doesn¡¯t drink anything prepared outside. He thinks it¡¯s dirty.¡±

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    Chapter 42 I¡¯m So Disappointed


    There were two possible meanings to this sentence, but either way, it was an insult to


    Benjamin.


    Upon hearing the butler¡¯s words, Benjamin hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to withdraw his


    hand or not. After a moment of silence, he forced a smile and agreed, You¡¯re right. The water in


    restaurants may be unclean, and we can¡¯t see it.¡±


    -Harold ignored him.


    Ava mustered up the courage to approach Harold and spoke, ¡°Grandpa Harold, my father mentioned


    that you were nning to bring your granddaughter. I have a gift prepared for her, but I¡¯m uncertain if it


    will be to her liking.¡±


    She ced a set of five-figure skincare products on the table, eagerly trying to please


    Harold.


    ¡°My granddaughter had matters to attend to and couldn¡¯t make it,¡± Harold replied.


    Ava looked disappointed and said, ¡°I was hoping to meet your granddaughter. I¡¯m sure


    she¡¯s as outstanding as you are.¡±


    ¡°Of course, she is,¡± Harold said, stroking his beard. In his opinion, Chloe was the best. After all, she


    won Joseph¡¯s heart and married him at lightning speed. She must possess


    exceptional qualities.


    The waiter knocked on the door and brought out the dishes one by one. The restaurant offered a wide


    variety of delicacies. There were wild-caught tuna, pan-seared foie gras, and even a steaming bowl of


    ck truffle beef stew.


    As Ava nced at the expensive dishes, she became aware of how much her father had spent on this


    spread, but the old man sitting across from her did not seem enticed by it.


    This made her even more anxious.


    However, upon the mention of his granddaughter, he seemed to be slightly more talkative. Ava


    decided to employ the same strategy once again.


    ¡°Grandpa Harold, the desserts here are great. I¡¯ll order one so that you can bring it back to your


    granddaughterter. After all, girls love sweet things.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, my daughter loves the desserts here.¡± Benjamin rubbed his hands anxiously and asked, ¡°Did


    you receive thepany information I sent to you, Mr. Harold? The plot ofnd I selected will definitely


    soar in value in the next few years. Now¡¯s the


    Chapter 42 fm So Disappointed


    perfect time to invest in it and use it as a new area to expand ourpany. It¡¯s a risk- free opportunity


    worth considering.¡±


    As an investor who had taken the initiative to approach them, Harold must have faith in Artron¡¯s


    potential. Generally speaking, the chances of sess were high. However, Benjamin¡¯s gut feelings


    were telling him that the elderly man in front of him was not


    here to discuss business but to cause trouble.


    Harold ignored himpletely and asked, ¡°Your daughter? Which daughter? I heard you have two.


    Why did you only bring one today?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Benjamin shook his head and sighed, his face showing a hint of


    disappointment and disgust at the mention of Chloe. ¡°The one other is unruly. Let¡¯s don¡¯t talk about


    her.¡±


    ¡°How is she unruly?¡± the butler interjected. He sounded puzzled. ¡°Girls are generally well-behaved and


    obedient.¡±


    At this point, Benjamin began to talk without reservation. He ranted and raved about all the bad things


    Chloe had done, ¡°You don¡¯t know. Not only did she try to steal Ava¡¯s boyfriend, but also hooked up with


    an old man recently. Once she got in that Rolls- Royce, she never came back. It¡¯s disheartening to


    have a daughter like her.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Harold mmed his hand on the table in anger and pointed fiercely at Benjamin. ¡°Even if


    your daughter really did intrude on someone else¡¯s family, as her father, you have no right to speak ill of


    her when others criticize her. It¡¯s your responsibility to make sure she doesn¡¯t turn out this way!¡±


    Most importantly, the man inside that Rolls-Royce was not an old man! It was his grandson!


    He felt that Benjamin was not only stupid but also blind.


    Benjamin was dumbfounded for several minutes and did not understand how their discussion had


    taken this turn.


    Ava was equally scared out of her wits. ¡°Grandpa Harold, please don¡¯t be angry. My dad didn¡¯t mean it.


    He just thinks-¡±


    ¡°Stop calling me that! I¡¯m not your grandpa!¡± Harold had always been hot-tempered, and now he was


    too upset to pretend otherwise. He red at Benjamin and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need to


    cooperate with a father as irresponsible as you.¡±


    The butler understood the situation and quickly went to open the door of the private


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    room.


    Benjamin and Ava watched in shock as Harold left, their mindspletely nk. ¡°Dad¡­ Did I say


    something wrong?¡± Ava asked, looking at Benjamin.

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    Chapter 43 Punish Her


    Benjamin refused to admit that it was his fault, so he went with it and shifted the me onto his


    daughter.


    He stated, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s your fault. If it isn¡¯t, then whose fault could it possibly be?


    Mine?¡±


    Ava¡¯s face turned red with frustration, but she did not dare retort. She had only made an -offhand


    remark, and it was his fault for using Chloe¡¯s scandal as fodder for small talk


    with potential investors.


    What did any of this have to do with her?


    With both being located downtown, Fairlight and Baxon were situated not far from


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    each other.


    On her first day of work at Baxon, Chloe found herself attending apany-wide meeting. As she


    followed her colleagues into the conference room, a man in his thirties. greeted her warmly, ¡°Hello


    there.¡±


    Chloe looked at the unfamiliar man, then nced at the work badge pinned to his chest. which read


    ¡°Harry Smith, Director of Operations.¡± Though she did not understand why he was greeting her, she


    responded politely, ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Icarus¡¯s old friend. He was the one who rmended you to me,¡± Harry exined.


    Chloe was stunned and she opened her mouth wide in shock. ¡°You know Icarus?¡±


    ¡°I absolutely do. So when he rmended you to me, I wrote your referral letter.¡± Harryughed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to treat Icarus and me to dinner one day.¡±


    She appeared delighted as she said, ¡°Sure! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.¡±


    Chloe never thought that Icarus would go out of his way to help her as they had only ever met twice.


    Meanwhile at Fairlight.


    Patrick had taken the day off, so Joseph had to drive himself. After he was done with work, he went to


    the underground parking lot to pick up his car. Along the way, he


    Chapter 43 Punish Her


    checked the messages on his phone only to find that Chloe had not contacted him all day. Usually, she


    would have sent him more than ten messages by now.


    Joseph squinted his eyes and a sneer yed on his lips. It seemed to him that she had be bolder


    afternding a job. She had not even asked him what he wanted to have for dinner tonight.


    As he had anticipated, Chloe was not home by the time he arrived. He assumed that she would only be


    an hour behind him, but it was not until eleven at night when he caught sight of a delicate figure


    stepping out of a cab.


    When Chloe saw Joseph standing in the courtyard with an unhappy expression, she asked in


    confusion, ¡°Why are you still up at this hour?¡±


    Joseph was always mindful of maintaining his physical health, following a strict routine of rising at


    seven in the morning and sleeping by ten at night. He abstained from engaging in leisure activities such


    as video games or card games, and would only read financial news in his idle hours. His disciplined


    lifestyle was reminiscent of that of an elderly person.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had my dinner yet, so how can I sleep?¡± he replied with a forced smile that shed with the


    darkening shadows on his face.


    Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Chloe blinked and asked, ¡°Oh, why haven¡¯t eaten? Are you not


    feeling well or do you not have an appetite?¡±


    Joseph remained silent.


    you


    As she watched the man¡¯s face grow darker, she btedly eximed, ¡°Have you been waiting for me


    all this time?!¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Joseph responded, his icy voice sending a chill down Chloe¡¯s


    spine.


    She trembled and quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I was just so busy today. Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡±


    ¡°Take a look at your phone. Can anyone reach you?¡±


    Chloe was taken aback and hastily fished out her phone from her bag. It was out of battery and had


    been switched off.


    ¡°Jojo, I was just so busy today and forgot to check my phone¡­¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Joseph pointed toward the kitchen. ¡°Instead of wasting time talking, how about


    you get to cooking?¡±


    unish Her


    ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll go make dinner right now. What do you want to eat?¡± Chloe knew she was in the wrong


    and readily agreed.


    ¡°I want mushroom soup, meat with potatoes, and pan-seared sea bass.¡±


    ¡°But those will take too long to make. How about pasta instead?¡±


    ¡°Is this how you show your sincerity?¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll go make them for you.¡±


    ¡°As he watched the woman donning an apron and scuttling into the kitchen, his mood.


    improved slightly. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just have pasta.¡±


    Joseph did not actually want those dishes. He was just punishing Chloe for not answering his calls.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    Chapter 44 I¡¯ve Got Great Assets


    While sitting at the dining table and waiting for Chloe to finish cooking dinner, Joseph browsed through


    thepany¡¯s internal chat group where everyone was gossiping.


    [Breaking news! Baxon¡¯s executive got an employee pregnant. Someone saw him taking the employee


    to the hospital for an abortion!)


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    [Is this executive named Maurice Oberden?]


    [Yes! How did you know?]


    [His scandals have been circting in the financial world. Rumor has it that his wife found out and


    confronted him at his officest year. Don¡¯t know why they¡¯re not divorced yet though.]


    [His wife is a full-time housewife. A divorce won¡¯t be easy considering her situation.]


    Joseph scrolled down and the gossip about the Baxon¡¯s executive ended there. He switched his phone


    off just as Chloe finished making the pasta.


    ¡°Ta-da, your carbonara is ready! I even made you an omelet!¡±


    Joseph then looked at her te, which contained nothing but some nched broli.


    ¡°Have you had your dinner?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m on a diet and don¡¯t want to eat too much.¡±


    Although it was generally advised not to eat anything at thiste hour, her stomach. was rumbling so


    loudly as she cooked that she could not resist making some nched


    broli for herself.


    ¡°You¡¯re not fat. There¡¯s no need for you to go on a diet,¡± Joseph said seriously.


    Spring and summer were generally busy seasons forpanies, and there were a lot of things for


    Chloe to learn at her new job. If she was not at peak physical health, she might quickly be


    exhausted and burnt out.


    ¡°No! I weighed myself today and saw that I¡¯ve gained six pounds!¡±


    If a woman could not control her weight, how did she expect to control a man?!


    Jaws set tight, Joseph stared unblinkingly at the stubborn woman before him. ¡°If you want to lose


    weight, don¡¯t do it in front of me.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Chloe opened her mouth to fight back but hesitated before changing the subject.


    ¡±


    I understand. You¡¯re afraid that if I lose weight, I won¡¯t be curvy anymore and you don¡¯t


    like that.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Joseph massaged his temples. ¡°What the heck is going on inside that head of yours?¡±


    He had been joking when he said he liked curvy women but she had taken his words


    seriously.


    ¡°But Jojo, men like curvy women, not overweight ones. They need to be filled in all the right ces.¡±


    Chloe then puffed out her chest confidently and said in all seriousness, As for myself, I¡¯ve got great


    assets. Even if I were to lose some weight, my curves would


    still be noticeable.¡±


    Observing her behavior and facial expression, Joseph¡¯s eyes shifted as he avoided her gaze. ¡°Are you


    always this expressive? Do you just blurt out everything that crosses your mind?¡±


    Chloe looked at him with an innocent expression and asked, ¡°What did I say that was wrong? I was


    simply stating facts. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m showing you my thighs or bum.¡±


    He was at a loss for words, unable to refute her statement.


    Chloe noticed that Joseph was rendered speechless for the first time. She blinked and leaned in closer


    to him, almost touching his face, and inquired in a yful tone, ¡°Jojo, are you feeling shy?¡±


    ¡°Me? Shy?¡± He sneered and met her gaze. ¡°I just have a sense of shame.¡±


    Chloe pouted as she did not believe him.


    After they had finished their dinner, Joseph said, ¡°Be careful of a man named Maurice


    from Baxon.¡±


    Having only been there for a day, Chloe had no recollection of this name and could only recall hearing


    a fewments from her colleagues. Bewildered, she asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Joseph did not say anything further and replied, ¡°You¡¯ll understand in the future.¡±


    During the following month, Chloe made a great effort to integrate into her new workce, often


    leaving early and returningte. As a result, she had less time to devote to cooking and asionally


    relied on Joseph to preparete meals. However, he always prepared simple dishes, which prevented


    Chloe from realizing the true breadth of his culinary skills.


    Chapter 44 Tve Got Great Assets


    One day, Chloe attended her culinary ss after work and ran into fearus, whom she had not seen in a


    while. She seemed surprised and asked, ¡°You haven¡¯t beening to sstely.¡±


    Ever since Harry mentioned that Icarus had rmended her for the job at Baxon, she had been


    eager to invite him out for a meal. Unfortunately, she was never able to meet him as he had been


    absent from ss.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve had a few work-rted things to take care of, so I was out of the country for a few days. I


    heard you joined Baxon. How¡¯s it going? Are you getting used to it?¡± Icarus


    asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s going swimmingly,¡± Chloe replied.


    Chloe disliked being indebted to others. As soon as the ss ended, she invited Icarus to a meal.


    ¡°When are you free? I¡¯d like to treat you and Mr. Harry to a meal. After all, without your


    rmendation, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to join Baxon.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. Just let me know the time and ce.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but I don¡¯t think we can do it today. I have to head back and finish my assignment,¡± she replied,


    gesturing toward the dessert recipe handed out by their


    instructor.


    The tuition fees were high for a reason. The ss structure was strict, and there was not room for


    personal adjustments. Additionally, after each session, the instructor would provide the students with


    ingredients to practice with at home.


    ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t keep you. It looks like it¡¯s going to rain soon, and it won¡¯t be easy. to hail a cab in


    such weather. Do you want me to give you a ride home?¡± Icarus.


    suggested as he nced outside at the darkening sky.


    Chloe considered for a moment and thought it made sense. After all, she had been


    looking forward to Saturday. She nned to make some homemade dog food for Toto, but if she got


    home toote, she would not have enough time to finish.


    ¡°Okay, thank you in advance.¡± She epted his offer.


    As expected, halfway through the ride, it began to rain heavily.


    Pointing toward a nearby spot, Chloe said, ¡°I¡¯ll get off up there.¡±


    Icarus looked at the mart ahead and guessed that she was going to buy something. He stepped on the


    brakes and parked the car on the side of the road.


    ¡°Thank you for the ride. I¡¯ll text you when I¡¯ve decided on the time and ce.¡±


    Chapter 441¡¯ve Got Great Assets


    After speaking, Chloe covered her head with her hands and sped off toward the mart¡¯s


    entrance.


    She was dressed in a ck, form-fitting knitted dress that swayed gracefully as she ran, making her


    look alluring and charming. Hands gripping the steering wheel, Icarus kept his gaze fixed on her figure,


    unable to look away even after she entered the mart.


    Chloe got all the ingredients for the dog food and walked out of the mart with tworge -bags in her


    arms. Across the street was a five-story pool hall nestled inside a


    Joseph held a cue stick and bent down slowly, his slim-fitting suit vest entuating his broad shoulders


    and narrow waist. He pressed his left wrist against the table and used his slender fingers as a bridge to


    support the cue stick. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he expertly hit the white ball on the table with the cue


    stick which then hit the red ball on the right, pushing it into the pocket.


    ¡°Great shot!¡± Nathan pped enthusiastically.


    Joseph nced outside the window and caught a glimpse of Chloe who was downstairs. He hesitated


    for a moment, remembering that she was going to make dog food for Toto today.


    ¡®Oh well, since she¡¯s making food for my pet, I could give her a ride back,¡¯ he thought. With that thought


    in his mind, Joseph threw his cue stick to Nathan, startling the man.


    ¡°Are we leaving already? Don¡¯t you want to y a little longer?¡± ¡°Nope. I have to go home and take


    Toto for a walk,¡± he replied.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    Chapter 45 What¡¯s Wrong With Me Wearing Something Sexy?


    Nathan felt something was off with Joseph.


    Upon catching sight of Chloe downstairs, Nathan narrowed his eyes. He instantly grasped the reason


    for Joseph¡¯s eagerness to leave despite only having been here for a while. A smile danced on Nathan¡¯s


    lips as he lightly stroked his chin.


    ¡®It¡¯s no wonder that he¡¯s so eager to leave. It seems like someone¡¯s in the season of love.


    The mart was not far from home, and Chloe nned on carrying the bags home herself when Joseph


    appeared in front of her. Her sweet face held a look of surprise as she asked, ¡°What are you doing


    here?¡±


    ¡°Just hanging out with a friend,¡± Joseph said, smoothly taking the bags from her hand.


    ¡°I see.¡± Chloe followed him toward the parking lot. ¡°The cooking ss gave out ingredients to make a


    cake today. I¡¯ll make it for you when we get back.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    As they walked together beneath the westbound sun, their figures ovepped and cast intertwined


    shadows on the ground. They appeared like a couple deeply in love.


    Two hourster, Chloe ced the cake and the meatballs meant for Toto in front of Joseph.


    With its mouth agape, Toto swiftly devoured the meatballs one after another, polishing them off in just a


    few bites. It then rubbed its fluffy head against Chloe¡¯s arm as a gesture of gratitude.


    ¡°Do you like them?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Woof, woof!¡± Toto wagged its tail joyfully as if it could understand her words and was trying its best to


    show its support.


    Chloe smiled and said, ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and get you some more.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overfeed him.¡± Joseph looked up.


    Toto had gained eleven pounds ever sinceing to this house and now looked more like a fluffy


    sheep than a Border Collie from a distance.


    After hearing this, Toto¡¯s tall stopped wagging as ity down on the ground pitifully. The dog¡¯s dark eyes


    fixated on Chloe, filled with yearning, hoping she would get more. meatballs.


    Chloe shrugged helplessly. There was nothing she could do either.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to my room for a bit,¡± Chloe said, her face tinted with a rosy hue.


    Joseph noticed the change in her expression.


    Half an hour passed, but Chloe had yet toe back down. Joseph grew suspicious and instinctively


    knew that she was hiding something from him. He climbed up the stairs. and stopped in front of her


    room.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    The door was slightly ajar, and warm-toned light from inside spilled out onto the floor. He could faintly


    hear her talking to someone. It was a man, but he could not make out what they were saying. He only


    knew that they were on a video call.


    Inside the room, Chloe was patiently guiding Icarus, who had failed his assignment


    three times.


    ¡°Brush the pan with some oil and follow the steps that the instructor gave us. It¡¯s better to start with a


    small amount and test it first, rather than pouring all the ingredients in and wasting them if it doesn¡¯t


    turn out well,¡± Chloe advised him.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± Icarus said lightly, ¡°Since you spent so much time helping me, how about I treat


    you to a movie in a couple of days aspensation?¡±


    ¡®A man and a woman going to watch a movie together?¡±


    Chloe was not sure if she was imagining things, but even if she was, she could not possibly ept his


    invitation. She politely declined, and Icarus showed understanding. He did not feel the slightest bit


    dejected at her rejection.


    After the call ended, Chloe quietly slipped off her robe to reveal a fine and seductive negligee that


    entuated her curves. Her skin, visible beneath the delicate fabric, was as smooth as silk, exuding a


    mesmerizing appeal that was both captivating and breathtaking.


    She felt a little embarrassed. Despite her flirtatious banter with Joseph, she was quite conservative at


    heart. She had maintained herst line of defense during the entire time she was with Jake, and now¡­


    ¡®Screw it. What¡¯s the point of overthinking things? Joseph and I are legally married, so what¡¯s wrong


    with ine wearing something sexy?¡¯


    Chapter 45 What¡¯s Wrong With Me Wearing Something!


    Taking a deep breath, Chloe steeled herself and headed downstairs to find Joseph. But as she reached


    for the door handle, she was startled..


    Joseph was standing right outside the door, his icy gaze fixed on her with a mix of contempt and anger.


    ¡°Chloe, I won¡¯t interfere in your affairs after the contract expires, but I won¡¯t allow you to flirt around or


    bring shame to me while living under my roof!¡±

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    Chapter 46 Suspected of Theft


    Chloe was both ashamed and angry. Her voice rose sharply. ¡°You were eavesdropping on my


    conversation?!¡±


    She could notprehend why he was using her of such a thing. ¡®Is he hard of hearing? If he had


    indeed overheard my conversation, why is he using me like this?¡¯


    ¡°I was just passing by.¡± Joseph sneered as he shook the cup he was holding in her face.


    He spoke the truth. Despite being angry upon overhearing Chloe¡¯s conversation with another man, he


    was not someone whocked emotional control, nor did he have a habit of snooping on other people¡¯s


    conversations.


    He was not expecting toe across such a scandalous scene just as he was walking out of his


    bedroom after retrieving his water ss.


    Chloe did not know how to exin. Her face turned red with anger, and she quickly made a voice call


    to Icarus in front of Joseph.


    ¡°Open your eyes and see if I¡¯m flirting with anybody!¡± she eximed.


    ¡°End the call. You¡¯ve embarrassed yourself enough,¡± Joseph mocked her.


    Just as Chloe was about to faint from anger, Icarus answered. His voice was thick with surprise and he


    sounded confused. ¡°Chloe? Why are you calling me again?¡±


    Did she want to chat with him because she could not sleep?


    In a split second, Chloe¡¯s tone shifted, and she spoke calmly, ¡°I just remembered that I forgot to


    mention that you don¡¯t need to adhere to the temperature and time settings. strictly mentioned online


    for baking the cake. Just check on it from time to time and adjust it ordingly.¡±


    ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Icarus responded with a hint of disappointment in his voice.


    ¡°All right, goodnight.¡± Chloe hung up and confidently turned to Joseph, who stood silently next to her. ¡°I


    was just chatting with my friend about baking, and you use me of flirting with him? Just how dirty-


    minded are you?!¡±


    ¡°What about the clothes you¡¯re wearing?¡± Joseph¡¯s fury subsided slightly, but his tone remained severe.


    It was just a thinyer of clothes. Could anyone have a regr video call with a friend. while dressed in


    this way?


    ¡°I¡¯m wearing it to seduce you!¡± Chloe yelled. She moved closer, lifted her head to meet his gaze, and


    added, ¡°Does that answer satisfy you?¡±


    Joseph was taken aback. Gazing at the scantily dressed woman in front of him, he tugged at his cor


    irritably and replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m not satisfied.¡±


    ¡°Bullsh*t. You mentioned that you prefer women with curves, and this attire perfectly highlights my


    figure. Aren¡¯t I curvy enough?¡± Chloe retorted in frustration, surprised by her failed attempt at


    seduction. Her ears turned red, making her look like a boiled shrimp.


    Before he could respond, Chloe ran back into her room and angrily stripped off the negligee. ¡°I got


    cheated! This damn thing doesn¡¯t work!¡±


    Joseph stood outside her room for a long time. His anger slowly dissipated and he could not help but


    chuckle, ¡°Silly woman. As a girl, she should be more reserved.¡±


    Chloe felt that Joseph had yed her like a fool, and she vented to Emily untilte at night before


    finally falling asleep.


    The next day at Baxon Corporation.


    Chloe was following up with a client in her office when several police officers came in.


    ¡°Are you Ms. Chloe Johnson?¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She nodded hesitantly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. Is there something wrong?¡±


    ¡°We received a report that you¡¯re suspected of theft. Pleasee with us and cooperate with our


    investigation.¡±


    ¡°What did I steal?¡±


    ¡°A pair of bracelets worth 400,000 dors.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Chloe was bbergasted. ¡°Are you sure you have the right person, officer? I didn¡¯t take any


    bracelets.¡±


    ¡°You said you didn¡¯t take them, but do you know Mr. Jake Cooper?¡± the police officer


    asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I do.¡± Chloe hesitated for a moment before something came to mind. ¡°Are you talking about his


    family heirloom? I returned them to him already.¡±


    The officer exined, ¡°Mr. Jake suspects that the bracelets you returned to him are fakes, so he


    reported it to us. That¡¯s why we need to investigate.¡±


    Chapter 46 Suspected of Theft


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she exined, ¡°Officer, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. There must be


    some misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°Even if there¡¯s a misunderstanding, we still need you toe to the station to rify the situation.


    After all, the amount involved is not small,¡± the officer replied.


    As Chloe¡¯s colleagues heard themotion, they gathered outside her office, staring at the scene with


    mixed expressions. Some were curious, while others remained


    indifferent and apathetic.


    However, not a single person approached her to show concern or ask what was happening.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    Chapter 47 If You Apologize, You Won¡¯t End up in Jail


    Chloe¡¯s face turned pale as she clenched her fists, knowing that Ava must be behind all of this.


    If she followed the police back to the station today, her reputation in thepany would be ruined.


    However, she had no choice but to go.


    Chloe took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go, but I want to make it clear that if the investigation proves


    that I¡¯m innocent and have nothing to do with the case, Jake must apologize to me.¡±


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    The police could not control these matters and replied, ¡°Once the results of the investigatione out,


    you can negotiate privately.¡±


    you


    At the police station, Ava sat in front of Chloe and said in a low voice, ¡°Why do insist on working at a


    bigpany? Now, you¡¯re back to square one. No bigpany will hire a criminal.¡±


    Chloe smirked and retorted without hesitation, ¡°I got into a bigpany solely based on my abilities.


    And what about you? Apart from framing others, what skills do you possess? You aspire to work in a


    bigpany but evidentlyck the ability to secure a position in one.¡±


    Ava dropped out of high school due to falling in love at an early age, and even with the family¡¯s help,


    she barely made it to a third-rate university. Otherwise, maybe she would have managed to seduce that


    scumbag Jake during his college years.


    The things Chloe said struck Ava¡¯s nerves, but instead of getting angry, she boasted, You better think


    about how to get out of here. No matter what I did, I won¡¯t have to spend my remaining years in prison!¡±


    As soon as she had finished speaking, Jake and the officer walked in.


    Ava pretended to fall to the ground and cried out in despair, ¡°Why did you push me, Coco?¡±


    Fed up with Ava¡¯s antics, Chloe eximed in anger, ¡°No one pushed you, so stop ying the victim!


    Show some dignity, will you?!¡±


    Jake helped Ava up and then looked at Chloe in disgust. ¡°You¡¯re not fooling anyone by ying


    innocent. My advice to you is to hand over the bracelets right now. I might be


    Chapter


    Apologize, You


    willing to overlook our past rtionship, but if you continue to exploit us and treat everyone like fools,


    I¡¯ll make sure you face legal consequences.¡±


    ¡°Are you nuts? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. I¡¯m innocent and have nothing to fear. Why should I be


    afraid?¡± Chloe retorted.


    If she had wanted those bracelets so badly, she would have taken them long ago.


    ¡°Quiet!¡± the police officer shouted. After that, he presented a pair of bracelets to Chloe. ¡°Do you


    recognize these?¡±


    -She inspected the bracelets that looked almost identical to Jake¡¯s family heirloom.


    Although they appeared no different on the surface, she could tell by touching them that they were not


    the same ones.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen these bracelets,¡± Chloe said, quickly exining to the police, ¡°This pair isn¡¯t the one I


    returned to them!¡±


    The police officer frowned and said, ¡°We know that these bracelets are not Mr. Jake¡¯s family heirloom.


    Can you provide evidence to prove that you¡¯re not involved with these bracelets?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have them. I haven¡¯t been in possession of these bracelets recently, so how could I provide any


    evidence?¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t, but I do.¡± Jake sneered as a woman walked in.


    The woman could not look Chloe in the eye as she spoke, ¡°Ms. Chloe, do you remember buying these


    bracelets from my store a few days ago?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s brain froze for a moment, and she gritted her teeth, realizing she had fallen into their trap. But


    she had not done anything wrong. Ava had taken everything from her. Her father, her boyfriend¡­ Why


    did she still have to go to such lengths to frame her?


    She looked at the woman and asked, ¡°If I went to your store, do you have the receipt or surveince


    footage?¡±


    ¡°You paid with cash, and the surveince camera in our store isn¡¯t working,¡± the woman replied.


    Ava approached Chloe and spoke timidly, ¡°Jake is just very angry right now. Apologize and let me


    handle the rest. I assure you that you won¡¯t end up in jail.¡±

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    Chapter 48 Ava, You¡¯re Too Kind


    Fairness existed in the world, and after the police officers conducted a thorough investigation, Chloe


    knew she would be released.


    Jake felt disappointed that Chloe remained obstinate and uncooperative, so he swiftly departed with


    Ava.


    In the end, it turned out that Chloe was too naive. After spending several hours at the ¡°station, she was


    physically and mentally devastated, and her temper had been


    After Ava and Jake left, thetter could not stopining about Chloe.


    ¡°Why would she use such underhanded tactics to cheat me of my money? If she really needs it, she


    could¡¯ve just asked me. Those bracelets are my family heirloom that has been passed down for


    generations. How could she sell it so brazenly? I was blind to fall for her in the first ce!¡±


    ¡°Maybe Coco has been going through a tough time,¡± Ava said in a soothing voice, ¡°But Jake, whatever


    the result may be, I hope you won¡¯t bear any ill will toward her. Consider it as a favor to me. I¡¯ll make


    sure that you get your bracelets back.¡±


    Jake embraced her tightly and said, ¡°Ava, you¡¯re too kind. Chloe doesn¡¯t deserve your kindness.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re family. She¡¯s my sister, so it¡¯s only natural that I treat her well.¡±


    When Ava got home, the woman who gave her statement at the station was already waiting for her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done my part. Please give me the money quickly. My child is still in the hospital waiting for


    surgery¡­¡± the woman begged.


    Her son¡¯s condition worsened all of a sudden. She was already struggling to pay her rent, and now she


    had to give false testimony¡­.


    As for Chloe, the woman had no other choice but to do this and just feel sorry for her.


    Ava looked at the woman and threw a card on the floor, saying, ¡°It¡¯s only 150,000


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    1/2


    Chapter 42 Ava. You¡¯ve Too Kind


    dors. Did you think I was going to run away? Take the money and get out of here.¡±


    At three in the afternoon, Ginny bounced out of her father¡¯s office, clutching a cone of ice cream in her


    hand. Suddenly, something caught her eye and she came to an abrupt halt. She stared at Chloe in


    amazement and asked, ¡°Aunt Coco, what are you doing in this room?¡±


    Her father had told her that the person inside might be a bad person, but she knew Chloe could not be


    a bad person because bad people would not help her braid her hair.


    Chloe was taken aback at first, but then her eyes lit up when she saw the little girl. ¡± Ginny, what are


    you doing here?¡±


    ¡°My daddy works here.¡±


    ¡°Your daddy is here? Who¡¯s your dad?¡± Chloe was shocked.


    ¡°My daddy is a police officer here. He¡¯s the best one,¡± Ginny said, her braids almost standing on end


    from the pride she exuded.


    Chloe felt like she had caught a lifeline and said with great enthusiasm, ¡°Ginny, I really need to see


    your daddy right now. Can you please call him over for me?¡±


    Ginny was startled by Chloe¡¯s words, but she nodded obediently and ran back to her father¡¯s office.


    Tyson Reyes was a detective and had just returned from his morning rounds.


    When he learned that Joseph¡¯s wife was being detained in the station, his hands trembled. He hastily


    set down his cup and immediately went to inquire about the situation. As he approached the


    interrogation room, he hesitated for a few seconds. Realizing that Joseph was likely unaware of the


    situation, he pulled out his phone to give him a call.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Chapter 49 Shouldn¡¯t You Be Thanking Me?


    After briefly exining the whole situation to Joseph, Tyson went to the interrogation


    room to see Chloe.


    Although they did not cross paths when they attended the party at the Whitmans¡¯ not long ago, Tyson


    knew about Chloe. In light of their rtionship, she should call him ¡± Uncle Tyson.¡± However, Chloe was


    aware that the current moment was unsuitable for introductions.


    ¡°About a month back, I gave the bracelets to Jake at a coffee shop on Dixie Street. You can check the


    surveince footage there. It¡¯s been quite some time since then, so I wonder why he reported it only


    now if what he said is true. There must be something going on.


    ¡°Moreover, the store owner who gave her testimony must also be involved in this. Today was my first


    time ever seeing her! You can start investigating her to gather more information,¡± Chloe said, listing all


    the suspicious details she could think of.


    However, she felt disheartened when the person across from her remained silent. The man in front of


    her was Joseph¡¯s uncle, and although they were only rted by marriage, there was a slim chance


    Tyson knew Jake.


    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯ll consider investigating the details you have provided. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Tyson said. When he felt


    his phone vibrating in his pocket, he continued, ¡°I have to step out for a moment.¡±


    Tyson walked out and answered the phone. A maic, icy voice spoke on the other end.


    ¡°I¡¯m at the station.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Tyson replied.


    The station spent the entire afternoon investigating the cause and consequences of the case. Jake had


    only reported the incident this morning and it had yet to be officially registered, so Tyson took charge


    and handled the case himself.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    With narrowed eyes, he examined the picture of the jewelry maintenance store owner


    on the ckboard.


    ¡°Since she imed the store¡¯s camera was out of order, we can obtain footage from the


    vicinity of the store,¡± he asserted and promptly sent someone to retrieve it.


    After a while, the officer responsible for retrieving the surveince footage sent over a video. The time


    stamp on the video indicated that it was from three days ago. In the footage, Ava visited the woman¡¯s


    store with the bracelets, looking to get them polished. She stayed there for fifteen minutes before


    leaving, and an hourter, the woman closed the store and left, carrying a beautifully wrapped box with


    her. Upon closer inspection, the box in her arms was the same one that Ava had brought the bracelets


    in.


    The woman was swiftly apprehended and taken to the station. Upon being questioned, she readily


    admitted, ¡°I coveted the bracelets, so I swapped them out with counterfeit ones I made at home.¡±


    Tyson sensed that there was something wrong and turned his gaze toward Joseph, who was sitting in


    the adjacent restroom. Upon seeing the gloomy expression on Joseph¡¯s face, Tyson started to sweat


    profusely.


    In any case, he decided to temporarily notify the owner of the bracelet toe over.


    The woman was relieved when she saw that Tyson was not going to press her further, and tears welled


    up in her eyes. Just an hour ago, her son had experienced a major blood loss during surgery and the


    150,000 dors she had was not enough to cover the costs.


    She had to return to Ava and ask for more money, and just at that moment, she received a call from the


    station. Ava had offered to provide an additional 300,000 dors and a letter of forgiveness if she took


    responsibility.


    Chloe was greatly taken aback when she saw Joseph. She thought she was hallucinating and rubbed


    her eyes several times before confirming that it was really Joseph standing in front of her. She frowned


    slightly and asked, ¡°How¡­ How did you get here?¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Joseph asked, his icy tone indicating that he was in a bad mood.


    ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t know how to tell you about it. You already know?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Joseph urged impatiently, ¡°Why are you still standing there?¡±


    Nervously, Chloe trailed behind him with a perplexed expression on her face. Once they were out of the


    station, Joseph gave her an exasperated look and said, ¡°I got you out. Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me?¡±


    Did she really not trust him? If it were not for Tyson, he would probably still be in the


    dark.


    Chloe lowered her head and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Noticing Chloe¡¯s exhausted expression, Joseph inferred that she had had a rough day. Despite his


    lingering discontent, he refrained from reprimanding her any further.


    ¡°There are several inconsistencies in this case, and considering the victim¡¯s forgiveness letter, the


    defendant is likely to receive a lenient punishment.¡±


    ¡°Victim?¡± Chloe was stunned and she looked at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t see¡­ I mean, you ¨C didn¡¯t meet the


    victim?¡±


    ¡°Why should I meet the victim?¡± Joseph asked, ¡°That¡¯s the police¡¯s job. I¡¯m not at policeman.¡±


    Though he could have gotten Chloe out on his own, since Tyson was family and worked at the station,


    he decided to trust Tyson to handle the case.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    Chapter 50 She nned on Giving Them a Big Present


    Patting her chest, Chloe let out a long sigh and muttered, ¡°Thank goodness you didn¡¯t see him.¡±


    She had not truly be Joseph¡¯s wife yet, so she was not ready to confess to him.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± Chloe replied. After regaining some of her


    Joseph did not respond. As he turned the wheel skillfully with his slender fingers, he said in a serious


    voice, ¡°You know that there¡¯s something fishy about today¡¯s matter, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°You have a lot of enemies.¡±


    After a period of unemployment, Chloe finally secured a job, but she managed to cause a huge


    problem within the first month. Although Baxon might let her stay on, she would need to find the


    courage to confront the rumors and gossip that would surely


    circte.


    With a bitter smile, she exined, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m bad at dealing with people. Luck just hasn¡¯t been on


    my side.¡±


    Being born into an unfair family and having a father as biased as Benjamin was the


    source of all her sorrow.


    Joseph stepped on the elerator and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Go home and get some rest. Go to


    work as usual tomorrow. If Baxon is willing to keep you, then stay. If


    not, quit as soon as you can.¡±


    He had always looked down on Baxon, particrly their executives in the project team. They were


    willing to sacrifice their employees to achieve their targets, showing apleteck of humanity in their


    pursuit of profits. Maurice was among those on the project team.


    ¡°No. As long as Baxon doesn¡¯t fire me, I¡¯ll keep working here. I can¡¯t afford to lose this job,¡± Chloe said


    firmly, shaking her head.


    She could enjoy her days with the card that Joseph had given her, but she was not the


    owner of the card and had no security. Besides, Joseph had not developed any romantic feelings for


    her yet and she could not rely on himpletely unless she found a better ce to go. At least not for


    now.


    Chloe was not a pushover and would not stay silent when treated unfairly. It would be Ava and Jake¡¯s


    engagement party soon, and she nned on giving them a big present.


    The news of the case being resolved quickly spread to Baxon. Yesterday, those colleagues who had


    chosen to stand by and watch the show came one by one tofort Chloe. She had already seen their


    true faces and did not want to talk to them, so she gave them curt replies and went back to her desk.


    Janice from the HR department walked over and said in a sarcastic tone, ¡°Wow, you¡¯re amazing. You


    were brought to the police station and managed to get out. You must be well-connected.¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe had not said anything yet when Maurice suddenly appeared from the corridor and joked, ¡°Well,


    it¡¯s normal for someone as beautiful as Chloe to have some connections.¡±


    Maurice had taken a liking to Chloe a month ago. After observing her for a while, he realized that she


    was a proud woman. He had been hinting at her for a half month, but she remained unfazed. One time,


    she almost pped him. He had not met such a tough nut in a long time. If he could not win her over,


    he was determined to make her suffer a little.


    ¡°Wow, that sounds great. I wish I had some connections too. Who knows? I might be made team leader


    right after joining apany,¡± eximed Janice in a shrill voice that was unpleasant to the ears.


    ¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? Our team leader got to where she is through her abilities,


    defended a girl in Chloe¡¯s team.


    She took a day off yesterday, and when she came in this morning, she learned about the big incident.


    Fortunately, Chloe was cleared of suspicion and returned safely.


    ¡°What am I talking about? Why don¡¯t you ask her yourself?¡± Janice scoffed coldly,¡± Everyone in HR


    knows that Chloe originally applied for an Estrenian trantor position. But after just a few days, she


    magically became a team leader. Who would believe that she didn¡¯t use connections?¡±


    Because of this incident, the manager discovered that she had manipted her performance and lost a


    month¡¯s bonus.


    Chloe¡¯s teammate was so angry that her chest heaved up and down. Just as she was about to roll up


    her sleeves, Chloe stepped forward and said innocently to Janice, ¡°You


    wish you had some connections too? But too bad, you can¡¯t.¡±


    Janice knew that Chloe¡¯s words were not friendly, but she still could not help asking, Why?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­ You¡¯re not pretty enough.¡±

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    Chapter 51 I¡¯m Joking Too


    Janice stood frozen in her spot, the phrase ¡°You¡¯re not pretty enough¡± echoing in her


    ears.


    She felt the curious gazes of those around her. With anger coursing through her, she quivered and her


    face twisted in fury as she charged forward, intent on attacking Chloe.


    Nheless, Chloe effortlessly evaded her and fixed her gaze on Janice with her almond -shaped


    eyes. ¡°Did you intentionally rmend me for the business department during our interview?¡±


    Having been in Baxon for a month, Chloe now had some understanding of the business department.


    Besides performing well, everyone there was a beautiful woman. It was obvious what their role was.


    Janice had clearly wanted to push her into a trap.


    ¡°All right, all right, simmer down. Janice was just joking with you.¡± Maurice stepped forward to mediate


    the situation. He gestured at the colleagues at the side to pull Janice


    away.


    Chloe¡¯s face sank. ¡®A joke huh?¡¯


    A smile slowly spread across her beautiful face as she calmly said, ¡°Yeah, I was just joking too.¡±


    ¡°No, wait. Are you serious? You¡¯re not done yet?¡± Maurice was stunned.


    Chloe wore a self-assured smile and scanned the spectators. Nobody had stepped in despite Janice¡¯s


    attempted assault, and Maurice even had the audacity to brush it off as a joke.


    If they wanted a joke, then she would give them one.


    In the afternoon, Janice resigned. Rumor had it that she wept uncontrobly in the CEO¡¯s office as if


    she had been grievously mistreated. She was given a month¡¯s worth ofpensation.


    Chloe ignored the news and continued to focus on her work. If she did not adopt a stronger stance this


    time, everyone would take her for a pushover next time.


    Six o¡¯clock came, and work was out for the day. Chloe entered the elevator, and two HR employees


    started whispering.


    ¡°That¡¯s her. She¡¯s the one who forced Janice to resign.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s kind of attractive, but she shouldn¡¯t trample over others¡¯ looks. It¡¯s one¡¯s parents who give one


    their appearance. There¡¯s nothing Janice can do about it¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, physical appearances are inherited from our parents, but not our character.¡±


    Chloe spoke up, standing tall and carrying a confident posture. Her voice was clear and loud, in


    contrast to the hushed whispers of the two people in front of her.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ding.


    The elevator doors opened.


    Chloe stepped out of the elevator in lithe, graceful steps, her figure slender and graceful.


    Her strategy of beating the dog before the lion proved quite effective. Despite the continued murmurs


    and whispers, no one dared to intentionally provoke her in the following week.


    During a meeting one day, the superiors distributed tasks.


    ¡°Chloe, I want you to go to Fairlight this afternoon and discuss our cooperation with Mr. Jack. It¡¯d be


    best if you can settle everything in one go. If not, at least find out his stance on the matter and what he


    wants in terms of price or resource exchange.¡±


    Fairlight had only recently relocated back to their home country of Asvand this year, and they held


    significant influence both domestically and internationally. Their resources were even more plentiful


    than Baxon¡¯s, making their assistance crucial for Baxon to have a chance at bidding for a project from a


    foreignpany.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth turned into a single, firm line. ¡°Are you asking me to entertain him?¡±


    ¡°You can put it that way.¡± The superior patted her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re young, beautiful, andpetent. I


    trust you to handle this. Even if you can¡¯t close the deal, you can at least have a meal with Mr. Jack and


    make friends with him.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯m sorry. Please find someone else,¡± she said.


    She had no desire to visit Fairlight or socialize with Jack. When she was hired, they only mentioned


    that she would be involved in coordinating projects with otherpanies. They never said anything


    about entertaining clients.


    ¡°I¡¯m asking you to go because I believe in you. There¡¯s no one better suited for this task than you.


    Chloe, you wouldn¡¯t deny me this favor, would you?¡±

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    Chapter 52 First Date


    Chloe fell into momentary silence, unsure of how to reject the task.


    Sensing her hesitation, her superior tried to ease her worries by saying, ¡°No worries. Take your time to


    think about it. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself. I¡¯ve met Mr. Jack a couple of times and he¡¯s


    kind of scared of his wife. Other than exchanging


    resources, you won¡¯t have to do anything else.¡±


    ¡°But does Fairlight agree with this kind of behavior?¡± Chloe asked, aware of thepetitive rtionship


    and differences between Baxon and Fairlight.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s precisely why we¡¯re sending you,¡± her superior replied.


    ¡°I see. I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Chloe said.


    After work, Chloe got off the bus. As she was lost in thought, she did not notice a car pull up beside


    her.


    ¡°Chloe?¡± Joseph called out from the driver¡¯s seat.


    She turned around, surprised at the sight of him next to her. But her face lit up with a smile the second.


    ¡°Are you off work too?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Get in.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chloe said, thinking that they were heading home. But instead, the car drove past their house.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe was confused and pointed to herself. ¡°You¡¯re the one who picked me up but you¡¯re


    asking me where I want to go?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa knows that you¡¯ve been working overtime a lot and told me to take you out shopping,¡±


    Joseph replied, helplessness thick in his voice.


    Harold had nagged him multiple times now, and it was getting unbearable. If he did not take Chloe out,


    Harold would definitely kill him.


    Chloe paused, remembering the work-rted posts she had forgotten to hide from


    Harold.


    ¡°Wow, your grandpa is so kind to me,¡± she said, blushing.


    This was her first time going on a date with Joseph, and she could not believe how lucky


    she was.


    Joseph nced at the woman. With rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, she was clearly excited about


    their uing ns. He could not help but wonder aloud, ¡°Do all women love shopping this much?¡±


    As soon as the topic of shopping was brought up, her spirits lifted considerably, even more than when


    she was earning money.


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s mostly because I get to shop with you. This is our first date, after all!¡± Chloe said, her eyes


    shining brightly like wless ss. A shy expression graced her features like a college girl meeting her


    crush for the first time.


    She was truly enchanting.


    Joseph¡¯s lips curved into a pleased smile. While he was annoyed by Harold¡¯s repeated nagging, if it


    made Chloe this happy, he was willing to take some time out of his busy


    schedule to take her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go shopping first, then have some food, see a movie, and y some w


    machines. What do you think?¡± Chloe said eagerly, smiling up at him for his opinion.


    ¡°No, that won¡¯t do,¡± Joseph refused without hesitation. ¡°There are too many activities.


    We¡¯ll have to choose two out of the four.¡±


    Chloe checked the time. It was already half past six in the evening. She searched online and found that


    there had been no good movies ying recently.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s just go shopping and eat. Summer¡¯s here, and I¡¯d like to get some pretty pajamas,¡± she


    suggested.


    ¡°And you also need some cosmetics, right? I¡¯ll pay for them,¡± Joseph added.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Chloe usually applied makeup in her bedroom, thus he did not know what brands she used. He had


    heard that using random cosmetics could cause skin allergies, so he had not bought any for her.


    ¡°Okay! Thank you so much, Jojo.¡± Her eyes turned into crescent moons as she beamed and revealed a


    neat row of pearly whites.


    Joseph drove to a high-end mall and parked his car at the entrance.


    Inside the mall, Chloe went to a cosmetics counter and picked out some daily-use makeup and lipstick.


    When Joseph was paying for the items, the salesgirl could barely hide her envy.


    Before they left, the salesgirl even proactively gave Chloe countless samples, almost as many as her


    formal purchases.


    Chloe felt a sense of satisfaction and a little self-pride. It turned out that relying on one¡¯s appearance


    could really make someone a living!


    ¡°Wait here for a moment. I need to hit the restroom,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Hmm, okay.¡± Chloe obediently nodded.


    She walked around the nearby clothing stores carrying her newly purchased cosmetics. A sapphire


    dress then caught her eye and she walked into the store.


    The store¡¯s saleswoman immediately noticed her gaze.


    ¡°Miss, would you like to try it on? Your skin is fair and you have a great figure. This dress will definitely


    suit you very much.¡±


    Chloe looked at the time and figured that Joseph would not be back so soon.


    She said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll try it on.¡±


    When Chloe stepped out of the fitting room, the saleswoman could not take her eyes off her as she


    sincerelyplimented, ¡°Miss, you look beautiful in this dress. You¡¯re even more beautiful than the


    biggest celebrities.¡±


    Chloe looked at herself in the mirror and was quite satisfied with the dress. It was only when she was


    about to pay that she realized this store was a luxury goods store and the dress was a couture piece


    priced at 70,000 dors.


    She promptly decided not to buy it.


    The saleswoman tried to persuade her, ¡°Miss, please reconsider. There are only two of these dresses


    in the entire city, and the brand is very picky about who wears them. You¡¯re the first customer who has


    managed to pull it off.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have the money. No matter how much you try to persuade her, it¡¯s useless, ¡°a sharp voice


    said.


    Chloe followed the voice and saw Melody and Ava walking in with an air of arrogance.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    Chapter 53 Pack These Dresses for Me


    Ava was immediately drawn to the sapphire dress that Chloe was wearing at first nce.


    She had been fretting over what to wear for her engagement party, and this dress was perfect for such


    an important asion.


    Ava turned to the salesperson without even looking at Chloe and said, ¡°I want to try on that dress she¡¯s


    wearing.¡±


    The salesperson greeted her with a smile and said, ¡°Certainly, I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡±


    This dress was in limited quantities, only two pieces to be exact, and they might both be sold today.


    The salesperson would make a lot ofmission from selling them.


    As soon as the salesperson left, Ava looked at Chloe and said disdainfully, ¡°This dress costs 70,000


    dors. You should take it off before you ruin it. You can¡¯t afford to pay for it if it gets damaged.¡±


    Although she was initially taken aback by the price, Chloe had enough money to buy the dress.


    ¡°If you really want to buy this brand, why don¡¯t you look at those clothes instead?


    They¡¯re more suited to you,¡± said Melody, pointing to the area with discounted items whileughing


    uncontrobly.


    Thanks to Ava¡¯s intervention, Chloe did not get into Fairlight, which gave Melody an exnation to


    provide her uncle with atst.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Chloe shot them an icy re.


    She had been looking for a chance to settle the score with them for falsely using her of stealing


    Jake¡¯s family heirloom, and she had not expected them to deliver


    themselves to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m just concerned for you. How could you speak to me like that?¡± Ava retorted.


    ¡°Keep your concerns to yourself.¡± Chloe sneered sarcastically. ¡°I can afford the dress, and I¡¯ll buy both


    of them.¡±


    Ava and Melody looked at each other and burst outughing as if they had heard a big joke.


    ¡°Oh, please stop, Chloe. We¡¯re not ying house right now.¡±


    ¡°Does she think 1,000,000 dors is 10 dors? She doesn¡¯t even know what she¡¯s talking about.


    Chloe ignored them and said to the salesperson who had just returned, ¡°I want this dress, and I want


    both of them.¡±


    The salesperson was taken aback and eagerly asked, ¡°Certainly. May I know how you would like to pay


    for them?¡±


    ¡°Credit card,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Hey, my friend hasn¡¯t even tried it on yet. How could you sell it to someone else?¡± Melody admonished


    loudly.


    ¡°But thisdy over here came first,¡± the salesperson said.


    ¡°Yes, but she didn¡¯t say she wanted to buy both.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± The salesperson was in a dilemma and hesitated, clutching the ck card Chloe had given


    her.


    Rather than waiting for the person who had not even tried on the dress yet, why not sell it to someone


    who had already decided to buy them both? After all, who knew if Ava would end up purchasing it?


    Standing with her arms crossed, Chloe said calmly, ¡°If she wants to try it, then let her try it.¡±


    Wearing the same outfit as someone else was not the end of the world. It was just that whoever looked


    worse in it would just have to deal with the embarrassment.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    This particr dress had a very narrow waistline, and unfortunately for Ava, her waist was the widest


    part of her body. Plus, the dress was long and would make her look.


    shorter than usual.


    Chloe had always been confident in her appearance. Aside from her facial features, her height and slim


    waist had earned her the title of ¡°perfect hourss¡± back when she was in college, thus, she had


    absolute faith in herself.


    The salesperson had almost seeded in selling both dresses to Chloe. A hint of reluctance shed


    across her face as she handed the dress to Ava.


    After trying it on in the fitting room, Ava emerged a few minutester. As expected, the dress did not do


    justice to her figure at all, with the hemline covering her feet and the fabric creating unsightly bulges


    around her waist.


    The elegant dress made her look dowdy.


    ¡°Ava, this dress really matches your skin color. You should buy it,¡± Melody quipped. There was no way


    she was going to let Chloe, the little sl*t, steal the spotlight.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    Chapter 54 Go See a Doctor


    ¡°Hah!¡± Chloe could not help butugh.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She gave Ava a meaningful look from head to toe, admiring how thetter¡¯s face. changed from white


    to red. With a confident stride, she approached the mirror, twirled around, and asked the salesperson,


    ¡°Does this dress suit me?¡±


    The salesperson excelled in ttery, particrly when in the presence of such a stunning individual.


    She showered Chloe with a plethora ofpliments without hesitation.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s swipe the card,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°Do you want one or two?¡± the salesperson asked.


    ¡°I only want to wear the one on me,¡± Chloe replied, ¡°I don¡¯t like the other one.¡±


    The salesperson hastily turned to ask Ava, ¡°Thisdy only wants to buy one. Do you still want the


    dress?¡±


    Ava bit her lip fiercely. Why should she get the things that Chloe did not want?


    She red at the salesperson and stormed back into the fitting room to change. After that, she left the


    store without another word.


    Melody was stunned and shouted, ¡°Ava, where are you going?!¡±


    ¡°Hey, is she not buying it?¡± Chloe took the shopping bag from the salesperson and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem


    like it. Hey Melody, since you like this dress so much, why don¡¯t you try it on?¡±


    Melody¡¯s figure was even worse than Ava¡¯s, so she definitely would not look good in the dress. She


    cursed Chloe under her breath and ran out to catch up with Ava.


    Unexpectedly, she bumped into Joseph, who was returning from the restroom, as soon as she stepped


    out of the door.


    Joseph stared at the foundation mark on his shirt and frowned.


    However, Melody was slow at reading the atmosphere. The man in front of her had a cold and stern


    face. His eyes were some of the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, and there was a regal air


    about him.


    Melody¡¯s eyes glowed and she said bashfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Joseph wanted to find Chloe as soon as possible and did not wish to talk to Melody. He withdrew his


    gaze and walked away.


    Melody was reluctant to let him go and caught up with him, saying in an apologetic tone, ¡°Sir, I dirtied


    your clothes. Leave me your number. I¡¯llpensate you with a new one.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. My family is very rich. You don¡¯t have to feel embarrassed.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s something wrong with your head, go see a doctor,¡± Joseph said impatiently and turned his


    head. ¡°Understand?¡±


    His voice was bereft of emotion, and Melody stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.


    Joseph did not bother to pay attention to her and strode away, quickly disappearing from her sight.


    Chloe did not see Joseph when she came out so she gave him a call. They decided to meet at a


    restaurant on the fifth floor.


    After ordering, Joseph questioned Chloe, ¡°Was it really that difficult to wait for me for a few minutes?¡±


    It had taken him a long time to find her.


    Chloe nervously yed with her bangs and admitted, ¡°I went to buy a dress and spent 70,000 dors.¡±


    She carefully observed his expression after she had finished speaking.


    When Joseph heard this, he raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°You bought only one dress?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­I know it¡¯s a bit¡­¡± She hesitated, but he cut her off before she could utter the word ¡°expensive.¡±


    ¡°You should buy more. It¡¯s almost time for a change of season.¡±


    Chloe straightened her posture, blinked several times, and stared at him fixedly.


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows rose even higher. ¡°Do you want me to apany you to buy more clothes?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no!¡± She quickly shook her head. It was too much to ask him to apany her after she had


    already spent 70,000 dors.


    She reminded herself that one should be content with what they have.


    Chloe secretly breathed a sigh of relief and tried to please him with a smile. ¡°Jojo, has there been


    anything you wanted to eat recently? I¡¯m not busy with work, so I can cook for you.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes filled with satisfaction and he said, ¡°I¡¯ll make a list for you when we get back.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay,¡± Chloe replied.


    She could not help but feel that she had set a trap for herself.


    Looking at the food in front of him, Joseph frowned and asked, ¡°What did you order?¡±

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    Chapter 55 Pursuing Chloe


    There were chili peppers, meat, tomatoes, and kidney beans in Chloe¡¯s dish. It did not look savory at


    all.


    She sat there innocently, her gaze fixed directly on him.


    ¡°It¡¯s chili con carne,¡± she said.


    It was an authentic dish, and she assumed he had never had it before.


    Joseph remained unimpressed and did not take a single bite throughout the whole meal.


    Chloe, on the other hand, relished the meal and even took a few photos to share on her social media,


    unting her new clothes and the dinner they were having.


    Harold was the first to like andment on her post.


    [Coco, are you on a date with that rascal?]


    [Yes, Grandpa. We went out for a date today, and I had a great time.]


    After she had replied to Harold, she showed Joseph her phone.


    ¡°See? I helped youplete your mission,¡± she said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he responded curtly before getting up to pay the bill.


    After that, they headed home and took Toto for a walk. When they arrived at a spacious field, Joseph


    released Toto and let it run free.


    As they walked, a golden retriever suddenly appeared and charged toward Toto. Chloe¡¯s pupils dted


    with fear that the other dog might hurt Toto. She instinctively crouched down, holding Toto close to her


    chest to protect it.


    Joseph saw this and his face sank. He felt that she was such an idiot. Nothing would happen if dogs


    fought with each other, but she would need to be vinated if she was bitten.


    He walked over and pulled her up.


    ¡°They know each other,¡± he said, his voice deep and low.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe was stunned. ¡°They know each other?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they used to y together when they were young. The goldie¡¯s owner should be nearby,¡± he


    exined before a man with a leash appeared in the distance.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I didn¡¯t know you were back,¡± the man said as he approached them.


    ¡°I came back not too long ago.¡±


    The man nodded and turned to look at Chloe. ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°This is my wife,¡± Joseph replied.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up with joy as she beamed. ¡°Yes, this is my husband!¡±


    This was the first time Joseph was hearing Chloe call him her husband, and he could not. quite


    describe how he felt about it. However, he did not dislike it.


    The man was speechless. He did not know how to react, but he was a tactful man and knew not to


    disturb their romantic stroll. He quickly said a few words in polite greeting before taking his golden


    retriever and leaving.


    Late at night, Icarus opened his phone and checked his social media feed before going to sleep. He


    stumbled upon a photo Chloe had posted and a slender hand at the corner of the photo caught his


    attention.


    It was clearly a man¡¯s hand.


    He hesitated for a moment before typing ament, but then hastily deleted it.


    Today was thest day of the first course of their cooking ss, which was also a practical lesson.


    The assignment was to make meatballs. After Chloe had everything ready, she carefully ced the


    perfectly molded balls into the frying pan. However, before she could do so, the woman next to her cast


    a sidelong nce at her and rudely tossed her own meatballs into the pan, causing hot oil to stter


    and burn Chloe¡¯s hand.


    Chloe winced in pain, staring at the blisters rapidly forming on her hand.


    Icarus, who was working nearby, immediately put down what he was doing and asked in concern,


    ¡°Hang on. I¡¯ll go get some burn ointment for you.¡±


    ¡°This is what happens when you don¡¯t pay attention to your surroundings,¡± the woman said.


    Chloe was in a lot of pain, and she looked at the woman with a frown. ¡°You did it on purpose.¡±


    She clearly saw what the woman had done.


    ¡°Getting sttered with oil while cooking is normal. Don¡¯t make a big deal out of it. If you can¡¯t handle a


    little pain, maybe you shouldn¡¯t be learning to cook.¡± The woman


    sneered.


    The woman was in her forties and exquisitely dressed. She was well-known in Aesper as a powerful


    and cunning businesswoman. She looked down on poor people, especially girls who liked to take


    shortcuts. She was also an investor in this culinary school.


    Everyone around them looked over, and the head chef approached with a smile, ¡°Ms. Patricia, it¡¯s


    normal for youngdies to have delicate skin. Why don¡¯t you sit inside for


    a bit? I¡¯ll handle this.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, I¡¯m sorry about that. Ms. Patricia has a bad temper. Let me apologize on her behalf,¡± the


    chef said to Chloe.


    Chloe kept her head down and said nothing.


    Upon returning with the burn ointment, Icarus noticed Chloe hanging her head. Her eyes were


    concealed by her curled eyshes, so he could not discern her expression. However, he could sense


    her unhappiness from the slight pout of her lips. Despite her tantrum-like behavior, she exuded an


    innate and attractive innocence that captivated.


    any man.


    Icarus was filled with sympathy. He wanted to help apply the ointment, but she refused. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can


    handle it.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Patricia is an investor in this school, and the staff can¡¯t do anything about it,¡± Icarus exined.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Chloe did not intend to make a big deal out of it. She had learned enough cooking skills and had no


    intention of attending any more sses after this course ended. She just felt that some people wereMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    unreasonable.


    ¡°After ss, let me take you to get some dessert. It¡¯s said that eating sweets can lift your mood,¡± Icarus


    offered.


    Chloe lifted her eyes and looked at Icarus. ¡°No, thank you. I have to go home and cook. Let¡¯s meet


    tomorrow instead. I¡¯ll ask Mr. Harry along as well. The three of us can go together.¡±


    ¡°Are you cooking for yourself?¡± he teased her, ¡°Or is it for your boyfriend?¡±


    Chloe sighed silently, ¡°I wish.¡±


    She had no idea when she would finally win over Joseph¡¯s heart.


    Icarus had heard the answer he wanted to hear and was now determined to pursue Chloe.

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    Chapter 56 She Really Wanted to Hit Someone Right Now


    After ss, Chloe saw that Icarus was still there and asked, ¡°Waiting for someone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my rtives. We have to attend a forum this afternoon,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Okay, goodbye then,¡± she said.


    Icarus was dressed in a white casual suit, and his gold-rimmed sses reflected a gentle light as he


    called out, ¡°Chloe.¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Chloe turned her head.


    ¡°What kind of flowers do you like?¡± he asked sincerely.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like flowers,¡± she replied.


    His smile froze and he fell silent for a moment.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said.


    Chloe did not understand why he suddenly asked this question, but she was not going to stick around


    to find out.


    However, she unexpectedly ran into Jake.


    Holding a new set of car keys in his hand, he looked around. ¡°Does that old lover of yours stay in this


    area?¡±


    This was the upscale vi area of Aesper.


    ¡°You better watch your mouth,¡± Chloe said with disgust in her tone.


    As time passed, Jake¡¯s true character became increasingly apparent to her, causing her to question


    what had initially drawn her to him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re afraid of others talking about what you did, then don¡¯t do it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Don¡¯t be like Ava, biting people like a mad dog when you see them,¡± Chloe


    replied.


    This reminded Jake of the incident a few days ago where he wrongly used Chloe of stealing his


    family heirloom.


    ¡°Making mistakes is something everyone does. Ava was just extremely worried when she discovered


    that my family¡¯s precious heirloom was missing. She didn¡¯t


    Intentionally try to implicate you. You should take the higher road and forgive her,¡¯


    Jake said, ¡°Ava cried throughout the night after realizing that she had falsely used you. Besides,


    didn¡¯t you make it out of the station unharmed?¡±


    ¡°Get the f*ck out of my face!¡± Chloe¡¯s face trembled with anger.


    ¡°Coco, you never used to swear like this. Why have you changed? If it¡¯s because of me and I¡¯ve hurt


    you too much, I¡¯m willing to apologize. We can¡¯t be husband and wife, but we can still be friends or


    family. I¡¯ll protect you like a good brother. You should leave that old man and stop angering your father,¡±


    Jake advised.


    Chloe picked up a stone and weighed it in her palm. Gritting her teeth, she said with a sinister smile,


    ¡°Not only have I learned how to curse, but I also want to hit you. You¡¯d better disappear or I won¡¯t be


    able to control myself and will beat you until your skin. splits open.¡±


    She was not joking. She really wanted to hit someone right now.


    All of this was caused by Jake and Ava. How could they turn around and me her?


    In the past, Chloe thought that as long as sheplied and endured, she could earn her father¡¯s care


    and her family¡¯s harmony. But years had passed, and with each passing day, they just grew bolder and


    bolder, taking away all that she had held dear.


    She had learned the hard way thatpliance and endurance were useless. If she wanted what she


    desired, she had to stop at nothing and use any means necessary.


    She was determined to make them all bow down and call her ¡°Aunt Chloe.¡±


    Jake recoiled in fear and called her crazy before quickly running away. From a distance, Icarus saw


    Jake running away in panic.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you running like you¡¯re being chased by a ghost?¡± he asked, ¡°You¡¯re getting married soon,


    so it¡¯s high time you matured and stopped behaving so childishly.


    Jakeughed awkwardly and suggested, ¡°Uncle Icarus, would you like toe to our house for


    dinner? My mom hasn¡¯t seen you in ages.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t. I have some business to attend to,¡± Icarus replied, handing him the keys to his seaside vi.


    ¡°Have a good time with your wife.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle Icarus.¡±


    Ava had been wanting to spend quality time with Jake in a seaside vi as a post- engagement


    celebration. Since Jake¡¯s uncle owned one, he was nning to surprise her


    with it.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, my mom wanted me to tell you that you¡¯re not getting any younger, and it¡¯s time for


    you to settle down and start a family. She has someone in mind for you, and if you¡¯re interested, she¡¯d


    like you to meet her,¡± Jake said.


    ¡°I have my sights set on someone already,¡± Icarus replied, leaving Jake in shock and delight.


    ¡°Who?¡± Jake asked eagerly.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    Chapter 57 Keep Your Aunt Entertained


    Chloe¡¯s image appeared in Icarus¡¯s mind and he smiled, ¡°Someone gentle but tough, and smart.¡±


    It was rare for Icarus to rate a woman so highly, and Jake asked out of curiosity, ¡°Is she from Aesper?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Jake became even more confused. He had been living in Aesper for more than twenty years, but he


    had no impression of a woman like Icarus had mentioned.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring her home to meet the family when the time is right,¡± Icarus reassured him.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll definitely treat her well,¡± Jake replied.


    The towering skyscraper of Fairlight stood tall in the city center, its name looming in the clouds above.


    In the afternoon, there was a financial forum at the city center.


    As a special guest, Joseph made the final appearance, standing on the high tform with all the lights


    shining on him, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. He spoke briefly and then went to the lounge to rest.


    There were two types of lounges-a regr one and a VIP one. Joseph walked past the regr lounge


    and went straight to the VIP lounge.


    Patricia was an investor from Aesper. She had been waiting there for a long time, hoping to talk to


    Joseph about an investment. She sat on the sofa with her assistant, loudly discussing the scene where


    she had bullied Chloe in the cooking ss. She even opened the cooking ss¡¯s group chat and


    erged Chloe¡¯s photo for her assistant to


    see.


    ¡°Look at her. She looks like a b*tch. She got only a few blisters on her skin and she was already


    bawling like a baby. When I was young, I was working even when I was pregnant. I wasn¡¯t as fragile as


    she is,¡± Patricia said.


    Wanting to tter her boss, the assistant yed along with Patricia but suddenly noticed Joseph


    standing at the door. She quickly stood up and stammered, ¡°M-Mr. Joseph¡­¡±


    Patricia turned her head and saw Joseph looking down at her with a frosty expression. Her face filled


    with a smile as she said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, do you have a moment? I¡¯d like to talk to you about an


    investment.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°How about we make an appointment for another time then? How about tomorrow?¡±


    Patricia asked.


    ¡°It seems like I wasn¡¯t clear enough,¡± Joseph replied in a stern tone, his gaze cold. ¡® There¡¯s no


    possibility of cooperation between us.¡±


    Patricia was stunned. She was confused as to why he treated her with such hostility. However, Lucas,


    who was standing next to Joseph, understood exactly what was going


    1.


    Joseph was helping Chloe to get her revenge. However, Patricia refused to ept this and continued


    to plead, ¡°If I¡¯ve done anything to displease you, please let me know so that I can have the opportunity


    to make amends. Also, please understand that mypany is one of the best in Aesper. If we work


    together, I¡¯m sure we can bring in a lot of profit for Fairlight.¡±


    Joseph did not even spare her a nce and strode into the VIP lounge. Lucas stopped Patricia from


    following him and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Patricia, but you can¡¯t go in there.


    Patricia looked at the closed door in front of her and could not figure out how she had offended Joseph.


    As the sun began to set, Joseph parked his car in the yard and immediately spotted Chloe sitting on


    the sofa, watching TV. She held a bag of popcorn in one hand and a bag of pet treats in the other, while


    Totoy at her feet, wagging its tail eagerly and drooling uncontrobly.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Joseph could not bear to look at Toto. Border Collies were supposed to be the smartest dogs in the


    world, so why did the one he raised seem so dumb?


    ¡°You¡¯re back. What do you want to eat?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°You can still cook?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡®Didn¡¯t she hurt her hand?¡¯


    Chloe was thrown for a loop and looked at him in confusion. Joseph did not answer, but


    walked straight to her and said, ¡°Let me see your hand.¡±


    Chloe hesitated for a moment but then extended her hand. The back of her hand was covered in


    several blisters from the earlier oil stter. The blisters looked painful.


    Frowning, Joseph went back to the study and retrieved a burn ointment he had


    purchased overseas. Kneeling on one knee, he used his fingertips to delicately apply the ointment to


    Chloe¡¯s blisters. His captivatingly handsome features were even more striking in his silence.


    Chloe¡¯s heart started hammering. ¡®Is he worried about me?¡¯


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°A little, but I already put some medicine on it,¡± Chloe replied softly.


    ¡°This ointment works better,¡± Joseph said confidently.


    Chloe nodded gently, not arguing with him.


    As the ointment was applied, a wave of coolness spread over Chloe¡¯s hand, easing the pain. It was


    indeed better than the tube of ointment that Icarus had given her.


    Joseph put away the ointment and looked up at her. Their eyes met, and he saw a pair of shining eyes,


    like ss holding countless stars, that was a feast for the eyes.


    Chloe could be a little dramatic sometimes, but she was definitely not pretentious. Feeling a bit shy,


    she avoided his gaze as her face flushed red. ¡°What are you staring at me for?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as he felt a sudden heat spread through him. He closed


    the distance between them until their faces were just inches apart, and their breaths became


    intermingled in an atmosphere charged with emotions.


    ¡®Seriously? Is this really happening?!¡¯


    Chloe was excited and nervous. She closed her eyes and puckered her lips, ready for anything!

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    Chapter 58 Testing and Probing


    Joseph noticed her reaction and smirked.


    He stretched out his arm and pinched her cheek.


    ¡°Hey! Hey! Hey!¡± Chloe abruptly opened her eyes and swatted his hand away.


    She truly thought that he was going to kiss her.


    A light smile yed on Joseph¡¯s lips as he sat regally on the sofa, his fingers interlocked on his chest


    as he stared at her yfully.


    ¡°Hey¡¯ what?¡± he teased.


    ¡®D*mn it!¡¯ Chloe cursed inwardly when she realized that Joseph was teasing her again.


    Chloe took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± she said, trying to act nonchnt.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph watched her leave with a disappointed expression. He did not know why but he found her quite


    cute.


    Meanwhile, Chloe returned to her bedroom, flopping onto the bed in frustration. When would she ever


    be able to win over Joseph? Did he really mean it when he said he was impotent? If not, why would he


    be impervious to her charms?


    After a while, she received a call from Emily who was checking up on her. ¡°How¡¯s it going with your


    contractual husband?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even ask. It¡¯s terrible. I feel terrible,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°What happened? Tell me about it.¡±


    Chloe confessed that she had tried to seduce Joseph in her sexy negligee but had failed miserably.


    Emily was shocked. ¡°What?! Is he a saint or something?!¡±


    She found it hard to believe that Joseph was able to resist Chloe¡¯s attractive appearance and physique.


    This reminded Emily of Jake¡¯s infidelity. Perhaps all men were fundamentally terrible and


    unappreciative once they got what they wanted. But then again, neither of them got Chloe.


    Ping!


    A notification alerted Chloe to a new email in her inbox. She sat up, dejectedly opening herptop.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m starting to think that what he said to me before was true. And there be another reason-he


    doesn¡¯t like women.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. Why don¡¯t you test him?¡± Emily suggested.


    ¡°How?¡±


    may


    ¡°Go take a shower but pretend that you forgot your towel. Then, ask him to bring you one¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so embarrassing!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? No one else has to know except for us. And if I may offer


    some advice, perhaps your negligee wasn¡¯t sexy enough. Joseph is already in histe twenties and


    has seen and experienced a lot. He¡¯s not an innocent young boy who doesn¡¯t know anything. You need


    to up the ante a bit.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯ll give it a try.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and can you send me the link to the negligee you bought? I want to buy one too!¡± ¡°Fine, fine. I


    will!¡± Chloe said enviously and with a tinge of jealousy.


    Emily had recently started dating a new guy and they were in the honeymoon stage of their


    rtionship, while Chloe was struggling to win over Joseph.


    Opening up an online shopping website, she sent Emily the link before turning her attention to her work


    emails. After a spot of work and finishing her dinner, she reluctantly made her way to the bathroom.


    Applying a fragrant body lotion, Chloe caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Admiring her naked


    form, her cheeks flush with warmth. ording to Emily, if she could not win Joseph¡¯s heart with this, it


    was likely that he was not lying about his impotence.


    While she was not overly concerned about that, she did worry that if their contract expired before she


    could establish herself as his rightful spouse, all the time and


    energy she had invested would have been for nothing and she would miss out on the prospect of a


    possible real marriage.


    Summoning her courage, Chloe wrapped a towel around herself and timidly called out,


    ¡°Jojo, we¡¯re out of shampoo. Can you get me a bottle from the cupboard please?¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± he said, then came the sound of footsteps getting closer. Chloe clutched at her chest, her


    breathing becamebored with nervousness.


    ¡°Here you go.¡±


    Arge hand appeared, offering her the shampoo in a gentlemanly fashion without any inappropriate


    gestures. Chloe felt disappointed and deliberately pushed the door open to grab the bottle.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, looking up at Joseph, who was now only a foot away. Her soaked hair flowed


    down her shoulders, and her skin glistened with a subtle sheen. Her makeup -free face appeared


    pristine and innocent, akin to a white lily. Her eyes sparkled like polished jewels.


    As Joseph lowered his gaze, Chloe identally dropped the towel. At that moment, time seemed to


    stand still, and Joseph¡¯s pupils dted as he felt a rush of warmth surge through his body.


    Chloe¡¯s heart raced as her eyshes trembled uncontrobly, too afraid to look at his reaction.


    The next second, Joseph removed his woolen sweater.

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59


    Chapter 59 This Is Her First Time


    Chloe caught a glimpse of his actions and tightened her fists nervously.


    She was afraid of both how he would respond and how he would not respond. After all, this was her


    first time doing such a thing. She was scared. Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, almost as if


    she could boil a pot of water with the warmth she felt.


    Just when she was lost in her anxious thoughts, Joseph threw his woolen shirt right over her head!


    Chloe was stunned and the world around her turned ck.


    ¡°If you do this again, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences.¡±


    His voice echoed in her ears, devoid of any warmth or emotion. It sounded exactly like what Joseph


    would say-unyielding as a rock and cold as ice.


    Chloe was ashamed, but after a few seconds, the heat in her body dissipated, leaving her trembling as


    if she had gone through an ordeal of fire and ice.


    She pulled the woolen shirt off her head and hastily put on her clothes before running into the bedroom.


    She called Emily and vented her frustration at the terrible idea Emily had given her. Not only had she


    failed to seduce him, but she had also made him


    Emily was silent for a long time before concluding, ¡°It¡¯s time to cut your losses.¡±


    angry.


    Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Joseph wiped away the blood trickling from his


    nose.


    Luckily, he had blocked Chloe¡¯s view before the nosebleed started. However, his mind was utterly


    restless, filled with thoughts of her. Especially the scene of her dropping the towel, which had


    enchanted him and refused to leave his head.


    ¡°D*mn it,¡± he cursed softly. Hey in bed and was unable to sleep until the early morning hours. The


    last time he had stayed up all night like this was when he first took over Fairlight.


    When dawn broke, Joseph got up and headed to thepany. His assistant, Lucas, was startled upon


    seeing the two dark circles under his eyes.


    ¡°Are you unwell, Mr. Joseph?¡±


    Joseph¡¯splexion was even worse than Owen¡¯s when his wife kicked him out of the


    house after a fight.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°I see.¡± Lucas did not dare to ask any more questions. He silently reced Joseph¡¯s usual coffee with


    wolfberry tea and kindly reminded him, ¡°We have a dinner party tonight. If you¡¯re not feeling well, we


    could cancel it.¡±


    ¡°No need for that,¡± Joseph replied.


    He did not want to see Chloe, because every time he saw her, he would recall that indescribable scene


    fromst night.


    Of course, Chloe had not slept well either.


    Last night was one of the most shameful and humiliating experiences of her life, one that made her


    want to dig a hole and disappear into it forever. Even in her dreams, Joseph was mocking and belittling


    her.


    The day passed quickly, and she forgot to reply to messages in the group chat with her ex-college


    coursemates.


    As evening approached, the rush hour hit Aesper, with pedestrians dashing about and traffic moving in


    an orderly fashion. Chloe was standing at a bus stop when a Mercedes pulled up next to her.


    ¡°Chloe, aren¡¯t you going to the reunion?¡± asked Peter Franklin, her ex-coursemate, as he rolled down


    his car window.


    Chloe was caught off guard by his question, and it was only then she remembered the gathering that


    her coursemates had organized a few days earlier. She was not in the mood to socialize and had


    intended to decline, but she had forgotten to reply.


    ¡°I have some things to take care of at home¡­ You go ahead, have fun!¡± Chloeughed politely.


    Seeing through her fa?ade, Peter got out of his car and pulled her into the passenger


    seat.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in two years. You were the most promising of us all back then, and you


    went abroad even before graduating. You must be a director-level executive by now, right?¡± Peter


    teased.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Feeling uneasy, Chloe tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    Peter chuckled, thinking she was being modest.


    At Four Seasons, over thirty coursemates from their course had gathered, chatting andughing


    together. Amid the banter, someone asked Chloe, ¡°How are you and Jake doing? Are you married yet?¡±


    ¡°Married? You should be asking if they have kids already,¡± another joked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! You should be asking how many kids they have now.¡±


    As everyoneughed, Chloe¡¯s smile froze, and she bit her lip. ¡°We broke up.¡±

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60


    Chapter 60 Don¡¯t Ever Bother Her Again


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. You guys were the model couple.¡±


    ¡°Are you for real? You¡¯re kidding, right?¡±


    ¡°Jake is so handsome and devoted. Why did you guys break up?¡±


    The group could not believe it. At that moment, Emily¡¯s sarcastic response cut through the air. ¡°Yeah,


    your seemingly devoted Jake cheated, and the person he cheated with is


    Chloe¡¯s half-sister.¡±


    The group looked at each other in disbelief, until the ex-ss monitor, Peter, changed the subject,


    urging everyone to focus on the food. The topic was ultimately dropped, but


    several coursemates came over to console Chloe.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    After drinking quite a bit of water, Chloe got up to go to the restroom. Peter noticed and followed her.


    When she emerged from the restroom, she saw Peter waiting in the hallway and casually asked, ¡°Are


    you going to the restroom too, Peter?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Waiting for me?¡±


    Peter had had a few too many drinks, and his speech was slurred as he said, ¡°Chloe, there¡¯s


    something I want to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I like you. I¡¯ve always liked you. I knew I wasn¡¯t as good as Jake when you were together, but now that


    you¡¯ve broken up, could you give me a chance? I¡¯ve just bought a house and a car. Although I have to


    pay off the loans every month, please trust me when I say I¡¯ll give you a better life in the future.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s head was spinning. ¡°Peter, you¡¯re drunk.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk. I¡¯m serious about you,¡± Peter insisted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. We¡¯re not suited for each other.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t know until you try.¡± Peter suddenly grabbed her hand and passionately dered, ¡°Chloe,


    look at me. I know you¡¯re very talented, but I¡¯m doing well now. I¡¯m in charge of over twenty people, and


    thepany will surely give me a promotion next year. Then, you won¡¯t have to work anymore. You


    can just be a housewife and take care of the house. I¡¯ll take care of you.¡±


    Chloe quickly pulled her hand back, resisting with both hands held up in front of her chest as she


    retreated. ¡°No, no. We can¡¯t be together. I have something to do. I need to go.¡±


    With that, she turned her head to leave the hallway. However, Peter grabbed onto her clothes and


    refused to let her go. He was absolutely hammered.


    Panicked, Chloe struggled to break free and identally bumped into someone behind her. As she


    opened her mouth to apologize, a clear and cool voice interrupted her thoughts.


    ¡°Let go of her.¡±


    It could have been the frigid chill emanating from Joseph¡¯s demeanor, or perhaps it was just the


    unfortunate timing of his arrival, but Peter instantly came to his senses. Upon locking eyes with


    Joseph¡¯s piercing gaze, he promptly let go of Chloe¡¯s clothes.


    Joseph shielded Chloe behind him, his hands in his pocket as he stood tall and imposing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever bother her again,¡± he warned.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Peter tried to maintain hisposure before Chloe, but before he could say anything, she interjected


    boldly, ¡°He¡¯s my husband.¡±


    This was the second time she had called him that in front of others. Joseph raised his eyebrows. It


    seemed to him that Chloe was bing more familiar with addressing him as her husband.


    In just a few seconds, several emotions flitted across Peter¡¯s face-embarrassment, sadness, disbelief-


    before he ultimately said nothing and walked away dejectedly.


    As Chloe watched him leave, she breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Joseph. ¡°Thanks for getting


    me out of that situation.¡±

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61


    Chapter 61 You¡¯re the Most Shameless Woman I¡¯ve Ever Met


    Joseph would always be there to save Chloe whenever she was in trouble.


    If he did not have a bad temper and his tongue was not so sharp, she might actually have fallen for


    him. Even if he was impotent.


    Joseph snorted coldly and haughtily turned his head, refusing to look at Chloe. ¡°I just happen to be


    passing by. I don¡¯t want other people to think my wife is open game.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s not like I wanted to be popr.¡± Chloe pouted, feeling unjustly


    used.


    ¡®It¡¯s not my fault that I¡¯m talented and likable. He¡¯s so unreasonable.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re the most shameless woman I¡¯ve ever met,¡± Josephmented in a sarcastic


    tone


    Although what Chloe said was not entirely wrong, he did not like her attitude. Even if someone


    confessed to her, she could have simply told them that she was married. Was it really necessary to


    make such a fuss?


    Only God knew how angry Joseph was when he saw her fooling around with another man in broad


    daylight. His temper red, and his blood pressure rose.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me like that. I don¡¯t want to be angry with you,¡± Chloe said, staring at Joseph seriously.


    He might have helped her out of the predicament, but that did not give him the right to insult her.


    Casting her a nce, Joseph did not say anything and walked into another private room.


    Chloe took a few steps forward to see the number on the door.


    ¡®Is he meeting someone here too? It really is a small world.¡¯


    Emily came out to look for Chloe as she had been gone for some time. When she saw Chloe staring


    nkly at the opposite private room, she asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°My contractual husband is in there,¡± Chloe replied with a forced smile.


    ¡°What a coincidence,¡± Emily said.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Chloe sighed.


    ¡°You two really are destined for one other,¡± Emily added.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± Chloe rubbed her temples, feeling a headacheing on. ¡°Peter just confessed


    to me earlier. Can you help me get my coat and tell our coursemates that I have something to attend to


    and have to leave early?¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Oh, my God! I knew it!¡± Emily eximed.


    She had noticed that the way Peter looked at Chloe was different back during their college days. At the


    time, they had joked that he would pursue her once she broke up with Jake.


    It seemed that fate had indeed yed a part.


    Chloe did not know what to say and urged Emily to return to the private room to get her coat. She could


    not stand staying there any longer, so she gged down a cab and left.


    However, the cab broke down midway. Since the remaining distance was only a thirty- minute walk, she


    asked the driver to let her down and slowly made her way back.


    Misfortunes nevere singly. And that saying was spot on.


    Chloe raised her hand to touch the raindrops on her cheeks. Just as she was about to curse out loud,


    the raindrops poured on top of her. Her clothes were instantly drenched. She did not have time to


    comin and had to quicken her pace to get home.


    At Four Seasons, the organizers quickly noticed the subtle changes in Joseph¡¯s expression as he


    repeatedly checked his phone. They exchanged knowing nces with their partners and decided to


    wrap up the evening¡¯s festivities.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, it¡¯s raining outside. How about I get my assistant to give you a ride home? ¡°one of the


    partners offered.


    ¡°Do you have an umbre?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± the partner replied.


    With an umbre in hand, Joseph made his way to the private room where Chloe was. After hesitating


    at the door for a few moments, the door suddenly opened and Emily


    came out.


    Months ago,


    she had caught a glimpse of Joseph¡¯s stunning features back at the bar, which she still remembered


    vividly to this day. In her opinion, he was far more handsome than Jake¡¯s uncle.


    Looking at Joseph with a mixture of surprise and delight, Emily asked, ¡°May I know who you¡¯re looking


    for?¡±

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62


    Chapter 62 So Close


    Emily was half a head shorter than Chloe, so Joseph could effortlessly look past her head and into the


    room.


    There were many empty seats, and Chloe was nowhere to be seen. She most likely had gone home


    already.


    Withdrawing his gaze, Joseph said in a low, deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I think I made at


    mistake.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Emily nodded, unsurprised by his response.


    Lucas was already waiting in the driver¡¯s seat. When he saw Joseph, he grabbed an umbre and got


    out to greet him. As he drew closer, he noticed that Joseph was already holding an umbre of his own.


    Without overthinking it, Lucas assumed that it must have been given to him by one of the business


    partners who saw that it was raining outside.


    After forty minutes, Joseph arrived home and punched in the password to enter the living room. His


    attention was immediately drawn to a pair of damp women¡¯s sports shoes resting in the hallway,


    causing him to furrow his brows.


    ¡®Did she choose to brave the rain rather than wait for me?¡¯


    After taking a shower, Joseph passed by Chloe¡¯s room. The door was notpletely shut, and the


    room was pitch ck. It seemed that she had gone to sleep.


    Suddenly, a faint murmur could be heard from inside.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hit me¡­ I didn¡¯t steal anything¡­


    ¡°Dad, please believe me¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed as he pushed open the door to Chloe¡¯s bedroom. The light streaming in


    through the window allowed him to barely make out her figure on the bed. Her eyes were shut tightly as


    if caught in a nightmare and her forehead glistened with sweat. Her hair clung to her face, and her lips


    were ashen and parched.


    Joseph felt that something was not right. He reached out to touch her forehead and realized that she


    was burning with a fever.


    ¡°Great. This is what you get for not waiting for me.¡¯


    Joseph ced a ss of water and cold medicine on her bedside table. After that, he nudged the


    person on the bed. ¡°Get up and take some medicine.¡±


    However, except for her murmurs which became more persistent, Chloe did not respond.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Joseph did not know what she was dreaming about, but tears glistened at the corners of her eyes and


    her tightly furrowed brows made her look especially pitiful.


    His face sank as he could not help but feel sorry for her. She was actually quite pitiable. Despite living


    here for so long, her family never once visited her. Their rtionship


    must be in a terrible state.


    Joseph rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on. Judging by how high her fever was, she


    would definitely need to go to the hospital for an IV drip tomorrow if she did not take her medicine now.


    And he knew that with herplicated family situation, he would have to be the one to handle the task.


    After struggling for half an hour, Joseph finally managed to get Chloe to take her medicine. He was


    nning to leave, but Chloe unconsciously grabbed his hand.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t go¡­¡±


    Joseph tried to pry her fingers open, but she had a surprisingly strong grip. Every time he managed to


    loosen one of her fingers, the others quickly tightened.


    ¡°You¡¯re like a leech.¡± He sneered.


    Left with no other options, Joseph sat on the chair and waited for Chloe to fall asleep before leaving.


    However, since he had been sleepless the night before and had drunk tonight, he inadvertently fell


    asleep in the chair.


    In the early hours, the sky began to lighten. In her drowsy state, Chloe felt something weighing down


    her hair and tugged at it several times, but it would note loose. She groggily opened her eyes and


    saw a closeup of Joseph¡¯s handsome face, along with his muscr chest that was revealed under his


    disheveled pajamas.


    They were so close that they could touch each other, but she had no such thoughts right.


    now.


    Chloe¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted, and her head cleared. She struggled to recall what happenedst


    night. She remembered feeling unwell after getting caught in the rain and going to bed after taking a


    bath.


    But how had she managed to lure Joseph into sleeping with her?


    So Che


    Then, she saw the cold medicine on the nightstand, and her memory gradually returned to her. She


    vaguely remembered someone feeding her waterst night.


    Chloe looked at Joseph with a puzzled expression.


    The saying goes that you should not try to guess a woman¡¯s thoughts because it is pointless even if


    you do. However, she felt that Joseph¡¯s thoughts were several times moreplicated than any


    woman¡¯s.


    ¡®Didn¡¯t he just reject me a moment ago? So why was he feeding me water and medicine?


    As Chloe pondered over these thoughts, Joseph opened his eyes

 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63


    Chapter 63 Principles Are Meant to Be Broken


    Their eyes met as theyy facing each in the bed.


    Joseph furrowed his brows, equally confused as to how he ended up in Chloe¡¯s bed. Before he could


    even begin to exin, she cut in quickly, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I don¡¯t know how you ended up in my bed. And


    we¡¯re both fully clothed, so don¡¯t scold me!¡±


    Joseph could not help but sneer at her frantic attempts to diffuse the situation.


    ¡°Hah, now you know how to behave like a cultureddy?¡±


    Chloe pouted and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve always been a cultureddy¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push it,¡± Joseph replied.


    Determined to defend herself, Chloe insisted, ¡°This is all because of you. When you meet someone you


    like, you naturally break all your principles.¡±


    She could not help butmend herself for how skilled she was at flirting and saying sweet nothings.


    As the tension between them eased, Josephnguidly buttoned up his shirt, his every gesture oozing


    with seduction. A blush crept up Chloe¡¯s face, and she bent down to search for her shoes.


    Perhaps because she had not fully recovered yet, she was suddenly hit with dizziness and her vision


    momentarily faded to ck. She nearly lost her bnce, but Joseph caught her just in time. Chloe


    instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist, and she had to close her eyes for a few seconds


    before the dizziness subsided.


    When she opened her eyes again, she was met with Joseph¡¯s mocking gaze. Her lips twitched as she


    asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t think I fell on purpose, did you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    Chloe took a deep breath and decided to y along with his assumptions. After all, he had not pushed


    her away.


    ¡°Since you already caught on, I won¡¯t hide it from you anymore,¡± she said, gazing deeply into his eyes.


    Joseph snorted as if he had seen through her. ¡°And was getting caught in the rainst night part of your


    scheme too?¡±


    ¡®Does he really think I¡¯m that stupid?¡¯


    As Chloe thought to herself, her eyes reddened and she put on a pitiful act. ¡°It isn¡¯t like


    what


    you think¡­ The cab I took broke down halfway so I had to walk back. There were no lights on the way,


    and I even fell down. It hurts so much, Jojo¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡±


    ¡°Wait for you? For what?¡±


    ¡°Toe home together.¡±


    Chloe blinked, and she seemed slightly surprised: ¡°Weren¡¯t you mad at me?¡±


    Yesterday, she had thought ofing back with him, but he seemed angry, so she thought he would


    not have agreed.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re right.¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°So¡­ Are you still angry?¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze, his ck eyes cold as he stared at her. ¡°Do you know what you did wrong?¡±


    She lowered her head and replied obediently, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have flirted with you.¡¯


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see that kind of behavior ever again. If it happens again, you can get out of my house.¡±


    Chloe was at a loss for words. How could he talk like that when he was the one who had benefited from


    the situation? Besides, he had clearly enjoyed himself!


    Seeing her admit her mistake and apologize, Joseph did not say anything more and went to wash up.


    He had a meeting with all the higher executives of thepany today. It was the first internal meeting


    since Fairlight returned to Aesper.


    Chloe also got to showering and getting ready for work. When she was almost done, she recalled that


    Joseph had wanted to give her a ridest night, so she did not rush out. Instead, she waited for him in


    the hallway.


    Chloe opted for a simple attire, consisting of a pair of jeans, a white short-sleeved shirt, and a high


    ponytail. Her dainty features were pristine and innocent, reminiscent of a college student.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze lingered on her for a moment before remarking, ¡°Trying to pass off as a human, are


    we?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to give apliment, then keep your mouth shut,¡± Chloe said.


    Joseph withdrew his gaze and asked, ¡°What are you doing here instead of going to work?¡±


    She seized the opportunity to hint at him, ¡°Is your office on my way to work? I don¡¯t want to take the


    bus today after getting caught in the rain yesterday¡­¡±


    Despite living together for so long, other than knowing that he worked in the finance. industry, Chloe


    knew very little else about him.

 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64


    Chapter 64 She Kissed Him


    Chloe was not lying. Even with light makeup, it was apparent that herplexion was not too great.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Joseph calmly.


    Chloe was surprised that he agreed so readily. It seemed to her that he had be at little friendlier to


    her since the day she dropped her towel in an attempt to seduce him.


    She got into the car¡¯s passenger seat. She pulled out her phone and opened the navigation app to


    input the destination Baxon.


    ¡°No need for GPS. I know the way,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Baxon was a financialpany. Since Joseph worked in the financial industry, it was normal for him to


    know about their location.


    After driving for a while, Chloe¡¯s boss called her on the phone. She did not put the call on speaker, but


    the two were close enough for Joseph to hear their conversation.


    ¡°Chloe, have you considered the proposal I mentioned about discussing bidding resources with the


    executive from Fairlight?¡± he asked.


    Joseph nced at her as she answered.


    Chloe did not notice his gaze and replied seriously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m capable of handling this


    task. You should find someone else. Negotiating resources is not my strong suit.¡±


    She had been contemting this matter. If she could seal the deal, she would receive a bonus, but if


    she failed, she did not know what consequences she would face. In short, the risks outweighed the


    benefits. She did not want to stand out or take the risk.


    There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment before her superior spoke again. ¡°Fine.


    If you don¡¯t want to go, I won¡¯t force you. How about this instead? You¡¯ve been with thepany for a


    while now, so rmend someone with simr capabilities as you and I¡¯ll send her instead.¡±


    Chloe was at a loss for what to do. It seemed that her superior wanted to y hardball since the softer


    approach did not work. After hanging up the phone, a bewildered expression appeared on her face.


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the executive your superior mentioned?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I have no idea. I just know that his name is Jack.¡±


    ¡®Jack?¡¯ Joseph let out a cold sneer.


    There was only one Jack who was responsible for bidding at Fairlight, and that was Jack


    Reed.


    Chloe did not know why Joseph was asking her this and asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression was inscrutable as he replied in his maic voice, ¡°Do you want me to help


    you?¡±


    ¡°Nope. I was just asking why you¡¯re asking me.¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After a momentary pause, she tried to please him again and said, ¡°Of course, it¡¯d be great if you¡¯re


    willing to help me, Jojo.¡±


    She had heard from Jake that his uncle had a rtively sizable business overseas.


    Joseph and Jack were both in the financial circle, so maybe they knew each other.


    Joseph sneered. He was not crazy enough to help her steal resources from his ownpany and give


    them to someone else. During the journey, he did not speak, and Chloe did not dare to continue asking.


    In the adult world, not agreeing was the same as refusing.


    The car stopped across from Baxon. Chloe got out of the car and grabbed her bag. Joseph stopped her


    and said, ¡°I can ask Fairlight about it for you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, Jojo!¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled, and in her excitement, she nted a kiss on his cheek.


    The moment her lips touched his skin, she froze in shock.


    ¡®Oh my god, what have I done?!!


    Unable to meet his gaze, Chloe hastily fled the scene.


    As Joseph watched her back recede, his ck pupils flickered with indiscernible emotions. Unknown to


    him, a bright red lip print was left on his handsome face.


    Joseph had a private elevator that led to his office on a floor shared only with Lucas¡¯s office.


    From a distance, Lucas spotted the red lip print on Joseph¡¯s face, and his jaw nearly dropped in


    surprise.


    ¡°Mr¡­ Mr¡­ Mr. Joseph, your face¡­¡± he stuttered.


    Puzzled, Joseph asked, ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Your face is¡­¡± Lucas hesitated, struggling to find the right words before he decided to hand Joseph a


    mirror.


    When Joseph saw his reflection in the mirror, his forehead twitched with anger. Lucas shrank back,


    sensing the danger in Joseph¡¯s piercing gaze.


    Meanwhile, in a distant location, Chloe suddenly sneezed and grabbed a warm cup of water before


    taking a dose of cold medicine.


    Trembling, Lucas offered a tissue to Joseph. ¡°Mr. Joseph, here¡¯s a tissue¡­

 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65


    Chapter 65 We¡¯re Just Friends


    Joseph grabbed the tissue and vigorously wiped his face. Annoyingly, Chloe¡¯s lipstick would note


    off no matter how hard he tried to rub it off.


    It was Lucas who came up with a smart solution. He ran out to buy a bottle of makeup remover, which


    finally did the trick.


    As a result, Joseph had a dark expression on his face throughout the meeting with the high-level


    executives. His imposing aura made him look like a demon from the depths of hell, and everyone was


    so intimidated that they barely said a word.


    After the meeting ended, Joseph asked Jack to stay behind.


    Ten minutester, Jack walked out of the meeting room,pletely puzzled as to why he had been


    transferred to a different position for no apparent reason¡­


    In the afternoon, Chloe¡¯s superior seemed to be in a foul mood and was snapping at everyone. Her


    colleagues avoided him like the gue, afraid of getting caught in the


    crossfire.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Chloe asked the secretary as she went to the pantry to get


    some water.


    The secretary shrugged and lowered her voice, ¡°Mr. Jack from Fairlight was transferred today.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°Does that mean our bid is doomed?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that Fairlight got wind of something?¡± Chloe wondered aloud.


    Her superior had asked her to talk to Jack before this, so he must have known what they were after,


    and Jack was probably aware of their intentions as well.


    The secretary remained silent for a few seconds then said, ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡±


    Chloe tightened her grip on her ss, not knowing whether to be happy or worried.


    Near the end of the workday, Harry came to see her.


    ¡°Want to hang out after work? I¡¯ll bring my wife and Icarus.¡±


    She thought for a moment. ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t have much work today. Where do you want to


    eat?¡±


    ¡°Up to you. We¡¯re not picky.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Time flew by quickly. Chloe buried herself in work, her ten fingers flying over the keyboard. When the


    clock struck six, she closed herptop, picked up her bag, and met up with Harry at thepany


    entrance.


    Harry checked the time. ¡°Icarus should be here soon. Let¡¯s wait for him.¡±


    Just as he said these words, a BMW came to a stop beside them. Icarus was in the driver¡¯s seat, and


    he rolled down the window, snapping his fingers at them. ¡°Get in.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re unusually punctual today,¡± Harry joked.


    ¡°When am I everte?¡± Icarus replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re especially punctual today,¡± Harry said before turning to Chloe. ¡°You sit in the front. My wife and


    I will sit in the back.¡±


    She nodded, thinking it was no big deal.


    Icarus handed Chloe a bottle of water. ¡°What do you feel like eating?¡±


    ¡°Three choices-barbecue, hot pot, and seafood. Which one do you guys want? They¡¯re all nearby, and


    we can pick up my wife on the way.¡±


    ¡°Seafood sounds good,¡± Icarus said, turning the steering wheel. ¡°I know a good seafood restaurant


    nearby.¡±


    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s do seafood then.¡±


    After picking up Harry¡¯s wife, they drove straight to the seafood restaurant. As they were finishing their


    meal, Chloe got up to pay the bill, but the waiter told her that it had already been paid for.


    She was stunned for a moment and asked, ¡°Are you sure? I didn¡¯t pay for the meal.¡±


    Chloe and her friends had been in the private room the whole time and had not gone


    out.


    ¡°Mr. Icarus has already paid the bill. He¡¯s a regr customer of our restaurant and left us instructions


    when he came in. He paid the bill with his card,¡± the waiter exined.


    Chloe pursed her lips, feeling embarrassed. She thought of transferring the money for her portion of the


    meal to Icarus when she got back to the room.


    ¡°Chloe, if he wants to treat us, just let him. You can always treat him back next time,¡± Harry said.


    Icarus pushed his gold-rimmed sses up his nose and gave a gentle smile, ¡°It¡¯s not right for a girl to


    pay when we¡¯re out having a meal.¡±


    ¡°But I should be the one paying,¡± Chloe insisted. ¡°Without you, I would never have gotten into Baxon.¡±


    ¡°Your sess in the interview and being able to join Baxon is your own achievement. I only yed a


    small role,¡± Icarus said modestly.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re so young and yet you can lead a team. It¡¯s your own abilities,¡± Harry¡¯s wife added.


    At this point, Chloe felt that it would be too insistent to decline again.


    ¡°Fine, but the next round¡¯s on me, all right? Let¡¯s make a deal. No one is allowed to pay in advance


    next time,¡± she said with a smile.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Icarus replied warmly. Chloe found that hecked the typical shrewdness of a businessman and


    instead exuded a weing demeanor akin to that of a friendly teacher.


    She enjoyed being around him. He was not like that scoundrel who always bullied, exploited, and


    insulted her!


    On the way out of the restaurant, Harry¡¯s wife whispered to her, ¡°Mr. Icarus is a rare, good man. He¡¯s


    the dream man of many girls. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to consider him?¡±


    Chloe was slightly stunned and exined seriously, ¡°We¡¯re just friends.¡±


    ¡°Friends can be something more. Do you already have a boyfriend?¡± Harry¡¯s wife asked.


    ¡®A boyfriend?¡¯


    Chloe smiled bitterly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Even if their legal rtionship ssified her and Joseph as husband and wife, in reality, their


    rtionship was only slightly better than that of strangers. 1


    He was not her boyfriend at all.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon hearing this, Harry¡¯s wife made an ¡°okay¡± gesture toward Icarus behind Chloe¡¯s


    back.


    After dinner, Icarus had nned to send Chloe home, but she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure


    outside the restaurant and declined his offer, dashing off to catch up


    with the person.


    Icarus watched as she disappeared from view, then slowly looked away and answered his ringing


    phone. It was Jake.


    ¡°Uncle Icarus, we¡¯ve set a date for the engagement. It¡¯s this Sunday at the Imperial Pce Hotel.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Icarus, do you know anyone at Patterson Real Estate? Ava and her family want to coborate


    with them on a new project-


    ¡°I can¡¯t help you with that,¡± Icarus interrupted.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking me why? Do you really think a giant corporation like Patterson would take notice of a


    smallpany like Johnsons? Stop dreaming and don¡¯t try to take on everything yourself.¡±


    Jake fell silent for a few seconds before finally deciding not to say anything else.


    Meanwhile, Chloe had chased after Miles Upshaw for a whole block before catching up to him.


    Panting for breath, she called out, ¡°Mr. Miles, wait up!¡±


    Miles turned around and, upon seeing her, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. But he quicklyposed


    himself and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Chloe Johnson. Before my mother passed away, she entrusted you with the assets that she


    left behind for me. I just wanted to confirm with you that I¡¯ll be able to receive it by the end of this month


    ording to our agreement.¡±

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66


    Chapter 66 She Had Spent Her Night With Another Man


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long that I can¡¯t remember.¡± Miles let out a few fake smiles, ¡°Let me check my files at the


    office tomorrow and contact you then.¡±


    Chloe was confused, ¡°Didn¡¯t you contact my fatherst month?


    So how could he forget so quickly?


    Upon hearing her question, Miles¡¯s voice turned harsh as he said, ¡°I¡¯m busy with work.¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s exchange numbers so that I can contact you directly if necessary. It¡¯s better


    to lock in a date for the asset handover.¡±


    Miles did not want to exchange his number with Chloe, but she insisted.


    On the way home, Chloe kept thinking about Miles. She felt that his reaction was very strange-like he


    did not want to deal with her.


    In the courtyard of her home, Toto rushed up to Chloe the moment she returned, wagging its tail wildly


    in greeting.


    ¡°Are you hungry, Toto? Let me get you some food.¡±


    ¡°Woof, woof, woof!


    Chloe walked to Toto¡¯s doghouse and found that the food bowl was full.


    Behind her, Joseph stood with his arms crossed, and his tone was sarcastic as he said, ¡± Toto would¡¯ve


    starved to death by the time you got him to feed it.¡±


    ¡°I went to dinner with some friends today, so I¡¯m home a littleter than usual,¡± Chloe replied helplessly.


    ¡°Dinner with friends?¡± He raised his eyebrows and spoke slowly, ¡°Guy friends, right?¡±


    Nathan texted him just now and told him that he saw Chloe at a seafood restaurant with a man in his


    thirties. The man even offered to send her home.


    Nathan also sent a video in which Icarus¡¯s voice could be vaguely heard. It was the man who was on a


    video call with Chloe a few nights ago.


    It turned out that Chloe had note back to cook for him because she had spent her night with


    another man.


    ¡°It was a guy, but there were a few of us,¡± Chloe replied. However, she paused halfway and her eyes


    widened coquettishly. ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°I know a lot of things.¡±


    ¡°Have you been following me?¡±


    Despite her joking tone, Joseph felt a sudden wave of irritation and her words did not register with him


    clearly. ¡°You seem to have a high opinion of yourself. I¡¯m not attracted to women who switch partners


    frequently.¡±


    She kissed him in the morning, and at night, she went out to dinner with another man and came back


    sote. If she was not someone who changed partners frequently, then who was?


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t say such things to me!¡±


    ¡°If you have the guts to do it, be ready to face various types of criticism. If you don¡¯t wish to be criticized


    by others, refrain from doing it altogether.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re unreasonable!¡± Chloe said angrily. She then took Toto out for a walk, not wanting to be with


    someone who was kicking up a fuss for no reason.


    There were all sorts of vis in the residence. Toto sunbathed in the backyard every day and got a walk


    once a day. It was so excited that it pulled Chloe and ran around.


    Chloe could not keep up with Toto and decided to find a ce that was deserted to let Toto go so that it


    could y by itself.


    While Toto was having fun, she checked her phone and saw a text message from Ava. The message


    contained her and Jake¡¯s engagement date and a reminder for Chloe toe and witness their


    beautiful love.


    Chloe felt angry and disgusted. She had seen what kind of person Jake truly was, but she could not


    deny the past between them.


    She did not reply to Ava since it was no use retaliating now. She needed to conserve her energy and


    prepare for that big present!


    Upon returning home with Toto, Chloe ignored Joseph, who was sitting on the sofa, as her mind was


    preupied with plotting her revenge against Ava.


    Joseph was in absolute disbelief that Chloe would ignore him. His expression turned terrifyingly dark as


    he watched her wash up and shut the bedroom door with a loud


    snap.


    Sitting in front of her table, Chloe inserted a USB drive into herptop and searched for the birthday


    videos she and Jake had made together in previous years.


    The videos were full of sweet nothings and handwritten letters. She printed out the letters one by one.


    Of course, the real bombshell was the recording of Jake¡¯s outrageousments when he was caught


    cheating.


    At that time, she was so enraged that she identally pressed the record function on her phone,


    capturing every word from beginning to end.


    Chloe had originally wanted to delete the recording, but after Ava repeatedly caused trouble for her and


    almost caused her to be thrown in jail, she could not continue to remain silent. As Chloe focused on


    nning her revenge, someone knocked on the door. She sprang up and suddenly remembered that


    Joseph would likely attend Jake¡¯s uing wedding since he was his uncle.


    At that time, would he help her or his scumbag nephew?


    Lost in thought, she stood up and opened the door. Joseph looked her straight in the eye and said, ¡°I¡¯m


    going on a business trip for a few days. Take good care of Toto while I¡¯m away.¡±


    She was stunned for a few seconds before asking, ¡°Which days specifically?¡±


    ¡°From Thursday to next Monday.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to the engagement party?¡± Chloe blurted out.

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67


    Chapter 67 I Love You Even More Now


    ¡°What engagement party?¡± Joseph asked, his voice thick with confusion.


    Chloe blinked, wondering what was going on.


    ¡®Has Jake not told him yet? Maybe they just confirmed the date and Ava couldn¡¯t wait to


    show off to me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a friend¡¯s engagement party this weekend. Will you go with me?¡± Chloe asked with a


    sheepish smile.


    Joseph responded bluntly, ¡°I have a business trip.


    He had no time to attend such a party with her.


    ¡°Okay, well, go ande back early. Make sure to eat on time when you¡¯re out, and if there¡¯s nothing


    urgent, go to bed early. Goodbye and goodnight.¡±


    Joseph stared at her. It seemed to him that she wanted him to leave as soon as possible.


    The veins on his forehead began to bulge and he raised his hand to stop the door from closing. He said


    in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into Fairlight for you. Jack has already been transferred.¡±


    Chloe raised her eyebrows and smiled brightly, ¡°I know, but I still want to say thank you.¡±


    ¡°And your job¡­¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my concern anymore since he¡¯s been transferred. My superior won¡¯t bother me and should be


    able to handle it himself. He won¡¯te looking for me again anytime


    soon.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Joseph paused and looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze. ¡°You look like you¡¯re in a good


    mood.¡±


    ¡°Not really. I¡¯m just relieved. Fairlight is my dreampany, but Baxon is my bread and butter. I don¡¯t


    want to offend either side. Luckily, everything is settled now.¡±


    When Joseph heard the phrase ¡°dreampany,¡± his mouth twitched slightly. ¡°If you wanted to work at


    Fairlight so much, why didn¡¯t you try harder in the first ce?¡± ¡°There are many uncontroble factors,


    just like how I like you but can¡¯t be with you. As long as I can be with you every day and look at you a


    few more times, I¡¯m satisfied.¡±


    Chloe portrayed the role of a devoted woman wlessly. She was impressed with her own acting skills


    and thought it was a shame she was not in show business.


    Joseph did not believe her sweet talk and was amused. ¡°Drop the act. I know what you are after.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she looked nervous. ¡®Does he really know?¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re after my money. Anyway, I gave you a supplementary card, so buy whatever you want and stop


    ying the emotional card.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. ¡®Am I really that kind of person in your eyes?!!


    But when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she quickly changed them, ¡°Okay. Can I buy myself


    a car?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°What about a house?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Can I buy a big vi?¡± Her eyes shone with excitement as she looked at Joseph


    expectantly.


    Joseph reached out and ruffled her hair with a mischievous smile. ¡°Behave and please Grandpa, then


    maybe I¡¯ll buy a vi for you.¡±


    He had made enough money tost several generations of extravagance. One vi would not make


    much of a dent.


    When thisment reached Chloe¡¯s ears, it had a somewhat pretentious ring to it.


    The Coopers were only a second-rate family in Aesper. If Joseph was really that good at making


    money, the Coopers would have risen to prominence a long time ago.


    Based on what she knew and what Jake told her, his familypany had received some investment


    funds as a gift from his uncle, but that was about it. So Chloe believed that Joseph was indeed wealthy


    and could afford to buy a vi, but it would definitely cost him a significant amount of money and not as


    easy as he made it sound.


    However, based on Joseph¡¯s personality, when he made a promise, he always kept it. ¡®Well, I guess I


    shouldn¡¯t bite the hand that feeds me.¡¯


    With that thought in mind, Chloe made a heart with her hands and looked at him like a smitten fangirl.


    ¡°Jojo, you¡¯re so rich. I love you even more now.¡±


    ¡°Now you know.¡± He sneered, his cold and indifferent eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. Bathed


    in light, he was as resplendent as the first blooms of spring, captivating anyone who gazed upon him.


    Chloe could not help but gaze at him in admiration, once again marveling at how being good-looking


    had its advantages. She even felt a slight flutter in her heart!


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Joseph noticed her gaze and looked down at her


    condescendingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Chloe quickly lowered her head, trying to conceal her embarrassment, and quickly


    changed the subject. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s yourpany located? I¡¯lle to find you for dinner after


    work someday.¡±


    Actually, she wanted to send him a lovingly prepared dinner. But after some consideration, she realized


    that some men did not like their wives going to their workce to deliver food. Even though they were


    technically married, it would not hurt to increase their chances of meeting each other.


    Joseph parted his thin lips and replied, ¡°Dixie Center.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yourpany is next to Fairlight?¡± Chloe asked.


    Dixie Center was mainly a business district with Fairlight as the biggestmercial building there,


    surrounded by several smallerpanies.

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68


    Chapter 68 You¡¯re Such an Idiot


    Narrowing his eyes, Joseph pinched her cheek.


    ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot,¡± he remarked.


    Chloe believed that he was unfamiliar with the area since he had just returned to the country, so she


    took it upon herself to exin, ¡°Fairlight is located in Dixie Center. 1 didn¡¯t make a mistake.¡±


    It was he who was the idiot.


    Joseph remained silent, a hint of inscrutability crossing his gaze. Chloe stared into his deep and


    unfathomable eyes, feeling as though she was peering into an abyss.


    Suddenly, something shed through her mind, but she could not quite grasp it. She thought carefully,


    but could not catch the passing thought.


    It was hot in the afternoon. Chloe joined her coworkers for a quick lunch break. downstairs before


    returning to her desk. As she pulled out her phone to check her messages, she realized that Miles had


    not responded to her morning message even after five hours.


    While contemting whether to call him, she scrolled through her Facebook feed and noticed that


    although he had not responded to her message, he had forwarded a corporate promotional message.


    Chloe took a deep breath and tapped the call button.


    ¡°Mr. Miles, do you not have time to review the files?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been very busy. I¡¯ve been in court all morning,¡± Miles replied.


    ¡°When I went homest night, I reviewed the contract we signed. The date on it was forst


    Wednesday, and today¡¯s already Monday. ording to the contract, you should¡¯ve already contacted


    me. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re too busy to remember work-rted matters, but regardless, please make


    time tomorrow at noon to meet with me face-to- face. Let¡¯s meet at your office, I¡¯lle to you.¡±


    Chloe did not give Miles a chance to refuse and promptly hung up the phone.


    Irritated, Miles lit up a cigarette and called Benjamin.


    ¡°Your daughter is causing trouble for me, please deal with it quickly,¡± he demanded.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ll contact her this afternoon, but I¡¯ll need you to cooperate with me,¡± Benjamin said calmly. He had


    alreadye up with a method to deal with Coco a long time


    ago.


    ¡°I can cooperate with you, but you need to make sure that she doesn¡¯t suspect anything. You already


    have the money, so I trust you won¡¯t betray me. My entire family depends on me to provide for them,¡±


    Miles said.


    ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯ve gotten the money, but I didn¡¯t forget your shares back then.¡¯


    Miles felt a little regretful. The benefits he received were insignificantpared to the assets left by


    Chloe¡¯s mother. Since he had decided to break the agreement, he should


    have asked for more.


    Benjamin ced his phone on the coffee table and Ava immediately hugged his arm, speaking in a


    gentle tone, ¡°Daddy, why don¡¯t we return the assets to Coco? Even if I don¡¯t have money, Jake won¡¯t


    look down on me. But Coco is different. She has a bad temper and if she gets married without any


    money, she¡¯ll be bullied by her inws.¡±


    ¡°She ran away and left this home, so there¡¯s no need to worry about her,¡± Benjamin replied.


    ording to him, Chloe had sunk so low that she was now behaving like a promiscuous woman who


    shamelessly sought the attention of older men. She was nothingpared to Ava, who was both kind-


    hearted and knowledgeable.


    Since she refused toe home, Ava should get the assets.


    Ava¡¯s heart swelled with delight as she heard those words. She reached up and brushed her fingers


    against the diamond ne adorning her neck, a precious heirloom passed down to Chloe from her


    late mother.


    From the moment Avaid eyes on the ne, she was smitten with its beauty. The diamond


    shimmered with a warm, translucent glow in the sunlight, and one could tell its immense value at just a


    nce.


    Now, in addition to the billions of dors, the ne and diamond ring were all rightfully hers.


    Suppressing her sense of satisfaction, Ava said, ¡°Daddy, I managed to get in touch with Mr.


    Alexander¡¯s secretary. I have an appointment this afternoon, and if the opportunity arises, I will discuss


    our business n with him.¡±


    Benjamin nodded in agreement and emphasized the importance of securing the


    partnership with Patterson Real Estate as it would determine their family¡¯s sess In bing a


    major corporation.


    ¡°Be sure to return early. We need to cooperate with Miles tomorrow,¡± Benjamin.


    reminded her.


    Ava smiled lightly. ¡°I will, Daddy.¡±


    Holding a folder, Chloe got into thepany car.


    In the afternoon, she joined her colleagues on a visit to a client¡¯spany to discuss some ns. They


    soon arrived at the entrance of Patterson Real Estate, which had a simr simple yet grand style


    reminiscent of Fairlight. On both sides of the entrance. sat two pots of marigolds.


    As the team leader, Chloe got out of the car and had a brief conversation with the security guard, who


    then nodded and went inside to notify the client after telling her to wait patiently for a moment.


    The afternoon sun was scorching, so Chloe went back into the car to wait. At that moment, not far from


    the entrance of Patterson, Ava was having a conversation with a man in formal attire. Both of them had


    unpleasant expressions on their faces.


    Suddenly, the man spotted something in the distance and gestured to Ava. She followed his gaze and


    her eyes lit up. Chloe was curious and followed their line of sight too.


    She saw a young man in his early twenties, perhaps even younger, step out of a pink Maserati. He had


    slicked-back hair and he exuded a rebellious nature.


    Chloe knew who he was. She had seen him on a celebrity gossip site. Adam Graham, the sole heir to


    Patterson Real Estate, and a ssic example of a privileged young man. Born into wealth and luxury,


    he had a reputation for getting into brawls, dating famous women, and stirring up controversy.


    She could not fathom why Ava¡¯s expression suddenly changed upon spotting Adam. It was not until


    Ava pretended to trip and fall in front of him with a pitiful and seductive. look in her eyes, resembling a


    peacock in heat showing off its feathers, that Chloe¡¯s red lips curved into a scornful smile.


    ¡®Jake, oh, Jake. Looks like someone is going to cheat on you soon.¡¯

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69


    Chapter 69 An Unromantic Man


    The security guard was efficient and soon let Chloe in.


    From inside the car, she watched as Adam helped Ava up and she leaned into his


    embrace.


    Chloe deliberately waited for a moment, observing coldly as both of them exchanged numbers. She


    only came out of her car once Ava had left.


    Having previously worked on a simr project abroad, the discussions went smoothly and the n was


    quickly settled upon. When she emerged from Patterson, it was already time to clock out.


    Since Joseph was away on a business trip, Chloe made some simple tuna sandwiches for dinner. She


    ced the tes of sandwiches on the table and took a photo before sending it to Joseph.


    [Jojo, I don¡¯t feel like eating without you around. This is all I¡¯m having for dinner tonight.]


    Joseph was attending a meeting overseas and felt his phone sitting on the table vibrate. The presenter


    paused mid-sentence and looked up at him, silently seeking approval to


    continue.


    Joseph did not lift his head, keeping his gaze fixed on hisptop. He moved the mouse cursor and said,


    ¡°Carry on.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Mr. Joseph. Our focus for the second half of the year will mainly be on the Southeast region¡­¡±


    Buzz, buzz, buzz!


    Three consecutive vibrations interrupted the presentation once again. Frowning, Joseph shifted his


    attention to his phone and checked the notifications. All three messages were from Chloe.


    The first was a photo of her and Toto out for a walk.


    (Jojo, Toto and I are out for a walk.]


    The second was a picture of Toto munching on some grass.


    (Are you sure Toto is a Border Collie? It always looks a bit slow-witted to me¡­]


    The third was a photo of Chloe and Toto together.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    [I¡¯m going to bed after our walk. I¡¯ve been busy all day and barely had a chance to rest, but I still found


    time to think of you. You should remember to miss me too. Goodnight.]


    In the photograph, Chloe was dressed in a white nightgown, holding Toto¡¯s fluffy head in her arms, and


    shing a peace sign at the camera. Even without makeup, herplexion was wless. Her eyes


    were shining and clear, making her look. breathtakingly beautiful.


    Joseph tapped on the photo, zooming in to get a closer look. After about ten seconds, he returned to


    the chat box and typed out a message, which made Chloe very happy upon receiving it.


    Holding onto the leash while unlocking her phone, Chloe read the message.


    [Toto is eating grass because it isn¡¯t feeling well. Can you take Toto to the vet tomorrow when you have


    the time?]


    She was speechless for a moment. She had said so much, which had all failed to capture. Joseph¡¯s


    attention, except for the part about Toto. That had caught his attention?


    What an unromantic man!


    Late at night, in the Johnsons¡¯ residence, Benjamin shared his n with Ava.


    ¡°Tomorrow, Miles and I will lure Coco to the seaside house Jake rented. There aren¡¯t many people


    there, so we can lock her up temporarily and let her out after the agreed- upon time.


    ¡°Standing her up is one thing, but I think we should still get a voluntary agreement from her to give up


    her assets. Otherwise, if she goes to the bank, I¡¯m afraid things will getplicated.¡±


    ¡°Juste up with an excuse. She doesn¡¯t understand that much,¡± Miles interjected. He had done this


    kind of thing before and had plenty of tricks up his sleeve to deal with the bank.


    Ava¡¯s eyes flickered, and she suddenly had a good idea. ¡°Daddy, let me handle this. I can make Coco


    voluntarily give up the money and sign the agreement. You just need to lure her to the seaside house.¡±


    Benjamin smiled and said, ¡°Okay, you¡¯re the clever one here. I¡¯m getting old, and my brain isn¡¯t as


    sharp as it used to be. Thepany will rely on you in the future.¡±


    ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re not old at all. In my heart, you¡¯re still the most formidable and strategic person,¡± Ava


    replied affectionately.


    After chatting with Benjamin for a while, Ava went upstairs. She contacted Melody and shared the


    latest gossip she had heard.


    ¡°Is it true that the CEO of Fairlight is really young? Is he on the same level as A-list male celebrities?¡±


    Melody asked, thrilled and skeptical at the same time.

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70


    Chapter 70 Marrying Peter


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Goodness me. He¡¯s young, rich, and handsome. The female employees at Fairlight are so lucky to see


    him from time to time. Who knows. They might even get a chance to get up close and personal with


    him.¡±


    ¡°Those female employees are nothingpared to you. Your uncle is a manager at Fairlight, and


    there¡¯s a chance he might be able to transfer you to his department. You¡¯re beautiful, and with a little


    effort, you could easily captivate him¡­ Oh, wait, I forgot. Your uncle was fired because of Chloe¡¯s


    scheming.


    ¡°When I think about it, you¡¯re the one who got the short end of the stick. You missed out on a good


    match¡­¡±


    Melody was so angry that she could barely contain herself. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so good about that


    b*tch. Why are there people standing up for her?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just someone standing up for her. There are plenty of people who like her. Do you still


    remember Peter? He was Chloe¡¯s college coursemate, and he confessed his love to her a few days


    ago.¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Melody was filled with rage, feeling that the world was so unfair. People like her who truly needed love


    did not receive any, while that little sl*t Chloe had men swarming around her every day.


    in


    As she seethed with jealousy, Ava said slowly, ¡°I have a way to make Chloe¡¯s behind-the -scenes


    benefactor abandon her. This way, she¡¯ll never be able to hold her head up Aesper again.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the n? I won¡¯t be a part of it if there¡¯s any risk involved.¡±


    Melody had learned her lesson and did not immediately agree.


    ¡°There¡¯s zero risk. I want you to help me contact Peter. He knew Chloe in college and must be aware


    that we don¡¯t get along. Get him toe, and I¡¯ll ¡®create¡¯ an opportunity for them¡­¡¯


    The next morning at nine o¡¯clock, Miles contacted Chloe and agreed to meet her at noon. When she


    saw the address he sent her, she frowned.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to meet at yourpany? Why did you send me the address of a house by the


    seaside?¡±


    ¡°I have a client here and can¡¯t leave.¡±


    ¡°Why a house by the seaside though?¡±


    ¡°Well, where else are we supposed to talk? In the middle of the street? Besides, your father will be


    there. Are you afraid I¡¯ll bully you?¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brow. She did not want to create any unnecessary trouble and agreed to meet him


    there.


    In the afternoon, she hailed a cab and headed to her destination after finishing up her morning tasks.


    Arriving at the seaside vi, she found the front door ajar and no one inside.


    Miles had yet to arrive.


    She wandered around the yard, and after about ten minutes, Benjamin arrived. Her face was devoid of


    expression and her eyescked the respect and anticipation that had once been there, reced now


    by an overwhelming sense of disappointment.


    Benjamin had received Chloe¡¯ste mother¡¯s money the previous month, so he had been in good


    spirits. He ignored her, humming a tune as he strolled about.


    Five minutester, both Benjamin and Chloe received a text message from Miles, informing them of a


    last-minute change of address. Benjamin¡¯s message arrived slightly faster, and he was the first to step


    out the door.


    Chloe followed closely behind, but as she took her final step, the door mmed shut with a resounding


    ¡°thud.¡± Her eyes widened, and she pushed hard against it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy. You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    Ava emerged from an adjoining room. Holding a ss of red wine in her hand, she looked rxed as if


    she were in her own home.


    Chloe tensed up as she stared at Ava warily. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Ava retorted, pausing for a moment before smiling. ¡°Also, there¡¯s someone I


    want to introduce you to.¡±


    Chloe remained silent, scanning her surroundings for a way to escape. Ava was confident that she


    could not get out and chatted with her as if they were old friends catching up.


    ¡°Peter¡¯s family lives in a vige two thousand kilometers away. There¡¯s no electricity or signal there.


    After marrying him, you¡¯ll probably have to take care of his parents. It¡¯s


    fine for you to stay In Aesper for now, but if he loses his job one day and takes you back


    to his hometown, I wonder if you¡¯ll be able to adapt to life in the countryside.¡±

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71


    Chapter 71 Benjamin, the Worst Father


    Chloe frowned. ¡°What are you talking about? What do you mean by ¡®marry Peter?¡¯ What does this have


    to do with him?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t understand. All you have to do is enjoy what¡¯sing next.¡±


    Ava smirked and called two burly men from outside to forcefully tie Chloe to a chair. Then, they roughly


    poured a bottle of a bitter-tasting concoction down her throat. The bottle had nobel-clearly an


    unregted product.


    Chloe tried to resist, but her body suddenly went limp and she was unable to even open her


    eyes.


    Everything happened too quickly. Chloe had been through so much, but she never imagined that Ava


    would be so vicious and dare to break thew!


    She tried to open her mouth, but her stomach rolled violently, and a surge of fear she had never


    experienced before overwhelmed her.


    Looking at Chloe struggle futilely, Ava reached into Chloe¡¯s bag and grabbed her phone before


    viciously smashing it on the floor.


    As the phone shattered into fragments, Ava let out a wickedugh. Gone was her usual gentle and


    meek demeanor. Her lips, adorned in red lipstick, resembled a carnivorous flower.


    ¡°Your happy days are over. From this moment on, the Johnsons will only have me as their daughter


    and you will be nothing more than a despised rat that everyone wishes to kill.


    ¡°You¡¯re no match for me. I can easily get everything I want with just a beckon of my finger, including the


    money your dead mother left for you.¡± She sneered, touching the diamond ne around her neck


    and looking at Chloe condescendingly. ¡°Everything is mine now, and Daddy said he wouldn¡¯t give you


    even a single penny.¡±


    Chloe stared fixedly at the ne around Ava¡¯s neck, her face ashen. It was only now that she


    realized this was all part of Benjamin¡¯s n.


    She could notprehend how her father could be so heartless toward her mother. Her mother had


    suffered greatly under Karen¡¯s bullying before she passed away, and now Ava had taken the assets


    she left behind.


    That ne was the one her mother had loved before she passed away!


    Chloe¡¯s mother told her that the diamond ne was a present from Benjamin and shemented on


    her deathbed that she had taken the wrong path in life. She should never have severed her rtionship


    with her father for a man.


    Benjamin¡­ He was unworthy of being a father. He was worse than an animal!


    Chloe was furious. She summoned all her strength and spat fiercely at Ava, her breathing quivering


    and tears rolling down her eyes. ¡°Sh¡­ Shut up!¡±


    Ava froze in shock, then she slowly lifted her hand to touch her face. As she felt the saliva on her face,


    herplexion turned livid, and she hurriedly rushed into the bathroom to clean herself.


    As soon as she finished, Melody called.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of everything with Peter. As soon as I mentioned Chloe, he immediately took the bait!¡±


    Melody eximed.


    ¡°Good job. I¡¯lle pick you up now.¡±


    Ava hung up the phone and went to pick Melody up with her men.


    Chloe watched as they left, her vision bing a blur. She shook her head vigorously, trying to stay


    conscious. She knew that once she fell unconscious, she would be amb on the chopping block


    waiting to be ughtered.


    But all her efforts were in vain. Her eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, and she struggled to keep them


    open. The metallic taste of blood filled Chloe¡¯s mouth as she clenched her teeth, which served to clear


    her mind.


    She struggled and twisted, trying to break free from the restraints that held her. However, she soon


    sumbed to the intense dizziness that followed, and before long, her vision went dark, and she lost


    consciousness.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    In the country of Ameria.


    Joseph nced at his phone several times. He had sent a message to Chloe to ask if she had taken


    Toto to the vet for a checkup. However, two hours had passed, and he still had not received a reply


    from her.


    Lucas craned his neck and peeked over. When he saw the name ¡°Chloe,¡± he took a deep breath.


    ¡®Are Mr. Joseph and Ms. Chloe seeing each other?!¡¯ After his initial shock, he nced at Joseph again


    and fell into thought. ¡®Hmm¡­ But it doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re together¡­¡¯


    He nced at Joseph¡¯s expression, then looked back at their chat. He then pondered for a while, and


    cautiously said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, sometimes women just want you to care about them.¡±


    Joseph frowned. ¡°Why should I care about her?¡±


    ¡°Well, I mean¡­ Ms. Chloe is a woman, and Toto is a medium-sized dog. It can be difficult to handle


    such a dog of such size alone¡­¡±


    Joseph contemted for a few seconds and felt that Lucas was right. He paused for a few seconds,


    considering this point. Chloe might be a bit foolish, but she had been taking good care of Toto, who had


    visibly gained weight recently.


    He remained silent before finally sending a message to Chloe.


    [Remember to drink more warm water.]


    Lucas was left speechless. ¡®Mr. Joseph doesn¡¯t get it at all.¡¯


    Joseph did not know what was going through Lucas¡¯s mind, but he felt that he had taken the initiative to


    show concern for Chloe. Given her personality, she should be thrilled and respond quickly, or even call


    him back excitedly.


    However, the reality was that not only did Joseph not receive a call from Chloe, but he also did not get


    a reply.


    Sitting in his office chair, ayer of frost descended upon his handsome features as rage built up inside


    of him.


    In the end, he decided to call Chloe.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72


    Chapter 72 I Won¡¯t Fall For Her Tricks


    Before the phone could even ring on the other end, Joseph quickly hung up and his expressionless


    face instantly returned to normal.


    What was the point of him making the call? Whether she was busy or she was intentionally ying


    hard to get, he would never fall for her tricks.


    Just because Chloe did not reply to his messages did not mean he could not find out about Toto¡¯s


    condition.


    ¡°Have Patrick check on Toto,¡± he ordered.


    Lucas could not fathom Joseph¡¯s intentions, so he dared not say anything and simplypiled.


    An hourter, Patrick called to report that Toto had been vomiting and looked lethargic. He had taken it


    to the vet where the preliminary diagnosis showed gastrointestinal irritation.


    Joseph¡¯s temper rose with each passing moment. Had this woman ignored his warnings and let Toto


    suffer? Not only had she not taken Toto to the vet today, but she also had not even bothered to notify


    him.


    For the entire afternoon, Joseph radiated cold air like a portable air conditioner. Lucas, who was in the


    same room as him, sneezed several times but could not express his frustrations.


    Lucas spoke and acted with utmost caution. He even prepared a cup of tea for Joseph as he was afraid


    of triggering his anger.


    At seven at night, Patrick brought Toto back to the vi, but Chloe still had not returned. He called


    Chloe to advise her toe home as soon as possible and to avoid a fight. However, all of the calls he


    made went straight to voicemail.


    He assumed that Chloe was in an important meeting and had turned off her phone. For the next hour,


    he took care of Toto while waiting for her to return.


    As the hours went by and the sky grew darker, there was still no sign of Chloe. Patrick patted Toto, who


    was lying in its bed. Realizing that Toto had not eaten anything yet, he searched the house for dog


    food. But everything had been rearranged recently and he could not find it anywhere. He left to buy dog


    food and happened to pass by Baxon on the way.


    He decided to stop by and tell Chloe about it.


    ¡°Excuse me, can you please find Ms.Chloe for me?¡± he asked the receptionist.


    When the receptionist noticed the keys to a Rolls-Royce in his hand, a strange smile appeared on her


    face.


    ¡°She didn¡¯te in this afternoon,¡± she said.


    ¡°Did she take the day off?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. She just didn¡¯te this afternoon,¡± she replied.


    Patrick thanked the receptionist and left. As he stepped out, he immediately pulled out his phone to


    report to Joseph. Chloe was well-mannered and sensible, so she would not ignore Joseph¡¯s message


    without a good reason.


    The receptionist craned her neck and watched as Patrick got into a Rolls-Royce parked right outside


    thepany, smacking her lips and making a clicking sound with her tongue.


    ¡®Chloe appears innocent on the surface but is secretly engaged in such activities. That man is old


    enough to be her father. She really has no sense of shame. This is why she was able to bully Janice


    and get away with it.¡¯


    As the receptionist thought about this, a sour expression crossed her face.


    At that moment, Maurice stepped out of the elevator. He had a close rtionship with the receptionist


    and she gave him a meaningful look, gesturing toward the outside.


    ¡°That Rolls-Royce is here to pick up Chloe. No wonder she refuses to give you the time of day,¡± she


    said.


    The Rolls-Royce itself was nothing special, but what caught his attention was the consecutive numbers


    on the number te.


    Disdain crossed Maurice¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Just because she rides in a Rolls-Royce doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s


    hers.¡±


    He had relied solely on his talent for years, unlike people such as Chloe who relied on their youth and


    looks to advance the corporatedder, which he believed would eventually limit their sess.


    At the seaside vi.


    Chloe woke up with a splitting headache. Her hands and feet were untied at some point, and she was


    lying on a bed. Peter, who was also unconscious, was lying beside her. He was burning with a fever


    and covered in a bright red rash, his clothes torn and asken.


    ¡°Peter, wake up,¡± Chloe said, trying to wake him. She could not think straight, so she instinctively


    sought help upon seeing a familiar face.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Peter slowly opened his eyes, but as soon as he saw Chloe, he did not try to help her. Instead, he


    greedily lunged at her.

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73


    Chapter 73 No One Else but Me Will Want You


    ¡°What are you doing, Peter?!¡± Chloe gasped for breath, struggling to push him away.


    ¡°Chloe, I feel terrible. Please help me. I¡¯ll marry you when we get out of here,¡± Peter pleaded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, Peter! Wake up!¡± Chloe raised her voice, screaming


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful. I can¡¯t resist touching you. Just agree to be with me.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t like you! If you touch me again, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Chloe warned.


    Smack!


    Peter pped Chloe hard across the face, leaving five distinct finger marks on her cheek. He then


    proceeded to forcefully tear off her clothes as his face contorted with excitement.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Once everything is over, no one else but me will want you.¡±


    Enduring both mental and physical agony, Chloe forced herself to swallow the bloody taste in her


    throat. Her expression dulled as she watched her clothes disappear one by one. As if she had lost all


    hope, she stopped struggling and stared at the ceiling as tears of despair streamed down her cheeks.


    But she refused to give up. She was in her prime-with youth and beauty on her side.


    ¡®I¡­ I refuse to give up!¡¯


    When Peter lunged at her again, Chloe seized the opportunity and kicked him hard in the groin.


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    While he writhed in pain, she struggled to get up and run.


    But before she could even leave the bed, Peter grabbed her hair from behind.


    ¡°Trying to run? There¡¯s no way out!¡± Peter¡¯s eyes glinted with madness as he viciously threw Chloe


    back onto the bed. ¡°You used to be the most popr girl in our college, but now you¡¯ve been kicked out


    by your family. What are you pretending for?¡±


    Chloe felt as though her internal organs were about toe out of her throat from the force of the


    impact. She was too weak to argue with him and curled up in pain, almost wishing for death.


    As soon as Peter saw that she had stopped struggling, he eagerly climbed on top of her.


    Losing all hope, Chloe closed her eyes.


    Creak.


    The sound of a door opening suddenly echoed through the quiet space.


    Patrick and Icarus stood at the door, stunned.


    The woman on the messy bed barely had any clothes on her body. She was hunched over, and her


    shoulder des looked like a butterfly about to take flight. Apart from her swollen face, there were


    several injuries on her body. Tears streamed down her face and she looked utterly grief-stricken.


    Icarus was the first to react. His eyes zed with anger as he rushed forward and grabbed Peter by the


    cor, punching him fiercely in the face until he was unconscious.


    After Patrick regained hisposure, he tremblingly pulled the covers over Chloe and immediately


    called 911.


    Joseph rushed back to Asvand on a private ne that traveled overnight. When he arrived at the


    hospital, he saw that Chloe had needles in her hand. Her face was pale and her brows were tightly


    furrowed despite her being unconscious.


    His heart ached at the sight of her and he reached out to check the injuries on her face. But as soon as


    his fingertips touched her, she seemed to be frightened and her body trembled uncontrobly.


    He paused for a moment. His fingers hovered in mid-air before he withdrew them.


    ¡°I was gone for only half a day. How did you get yourself into such big trouble?¡± he said, ¡°How can you


    not protect yourself?¡±


    Patrick quietly approached Joseph and said, ¡°The perpetrator has woken up. Do you want to see him?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph replied harshly, ¡°Just let the police handle it.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Also, the owner of the seaside vi has left.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Let him be.¡±


    Last night, after Joseph had received a call from Patrick, he found out the reason for Chloe¡¯s leave of


    absence from her superior. Luckily, the boss had asked Chloe where she


    was going, and that was how Joseph learned that she had gone to the seaside vi.


    There were only a few seaside vis around, and after asking a few security guards, he confirmed


    which one she had gone to. Interestingly, the owner of the vi had also received news that someone


    had broken into his home and rushed over.


    It waste at night, and Jake was abruptly awakened by a ssh of cold water to his face


    courtesy of his uncle.


    Startled, Jake jumped up, staring at the fuming Icarus in confusion. ¡°Uncle Icarus, why the hell did you


    do that for?!

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74


    Chapter 74 Break up With Ava


    Icarus sneered and threw the surveince footage he had retrieved from his home at Jake. ¡°Take a look


    at what your girlfriend did!¡±


    Jake watched the video on his phone and swallowed nervously. ¡°Uncle Icarus, please let me exin.


    Ava is kind and innocent. She couldn¡¯t possibly have done something like this. There must be a


    misunderstanding¡­¡±


    ¡°The evidence is right in front of your eyes, and yet you still don¡¯t believe it! Are you blind?!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Even if Ava did it, it must be because of something Coco did. You don¡¯t know her. You don¡¯t know her


    well. She¡¯s vengeful and sharp-tongued. Maybe Ava just wanted to scare her.¡±


    The video only showed the scene in the courtyard. Who knew what happened after Chloe entered the


    room? She could bring herself to cozy up to a wealthy man, so she might have something going on


    with Peter too. Besides, it was Melody who pushed Peter into the room. What did it have to do with


    Ava?


    Icarus was almostughing at his foolish nephew. ¡°I truly fail toprehend how Chloe developed


    feelings for someone like you.¡±


    Jake paused and sensed something was amiss in Icarus¡¯s words. ¡°Uncle Icarus, do


    you know her?¡±


    ¡°Not only do I know her, but she also might be your aunt in the future!¡± Icarus repressed his anger


    and warned Jake, ¡°Break up with Ava right now. If you don¡¯t, you won¡¯t see a single penny from the


    company.¡±


    Icarus owned a third of thepany¡¯s shares and had a big say in front of his sister and brother-inw.


    The main point was that he could not allow a woman like Ava to be his niece-inw. She was too


    vicious.


    ¡°The woman you¡¯ve fallen for is Chloe?!¡± Jake was shocked.


    ¡°Of course. Who else would it be?¡±


    ¡°Uncle Icarus, don¡¯t be fooled by her appearance. She¡¯s not worthy of you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a line I should be telling you! If Ava can be so ruthless to her own sister, then someday, when


    you are no longer useful to her, you¡¯ll be next!¡±


    Jake knew that Icarus would follow through on his words. He gritted his teeth and said,


    ¡°Uncle Icarus, are you asking me to break up with Ava so that you can smoothly marry Chloe in the


    future?¡±


    After all, people mightugh at them if Ava married him and Chloe married his uncle.


    Icarus did not respond to this. Suppressing his rage, he said instead, ¡°You should be grateful that I


    didn¡¯t expose Ava. I don¡¯t mind helping you cut the ties of affection when


    the timees.¡±


    With that, Icarus left. As soon as he left, Jake¡¯s parents rushed over and asked Jake what had


    happened.


    Jake thought of what Icarus had said and came up with an excuse to fool them. He did not tell them the


    truth. He was afraid that if he told the truth, his parents would force. him to break up with Ava.


    Ava had recently received a hefty amount of money and they were about to get engaged, so he had to


    make sure everything went ording to n. After sending his parents. away, he rushed out and went


    to Ava¡¯s house. When he arrived, the maid told him that


    Ava had yet to return since she left earlier this afternoon.


    Jake stood there thinking, wondering if she was afraid of being scolded by her parents after causing


    trouble and thus did not dare toe home. It was highly likely that Chloe hadined to Icarus.


    The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Ava was timid and was probably hiding like a


    frightened bird. As he pondered this, his disgust for Chloe grew stronger.


    Little did he know, Ava was not as panicked as he thought, and was enjoying red wine and delicacies in


    a private location with Adam.


    ¡°Mr. Adam, have you talked to your father about the cooperation we discussed?¡± Ava asked.


    ¡°I did,¡± Adam replied with a smirk, seeing through her intentions. ¡°How do you n to repay me?¡±

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75


    Chapter 75 Are You Stupid?


    Ava¡¯s face flushed with shyness as she pretended not to understand.


    ¡°Ourpany will definitely bring great profit to Petterson,¡± she replied.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about,¡± Adam replied impatiently as he pulled Ava into his arms.


    At first, Ava hesitated and tried to resist, but after Adam promised that he would arrange for her to meet


    with his father the next day to discuss the project, she wrapped her arms around his neck and shyly


    said, ¡°You promised. Take me to meet your father tomorrow.¡±


    Adam agreed without hesitation and pushed her onto the sofa.


    After doing the deed, Adam went to a bar for another party, while Ava, although unhappy, did not show


    it and instead went home after cleaning up.


    Jake searched for Ava but could not find her, so he anxiously returned to the Johnson residence to


    wait. When he saw her, he immediately rushed over to hug her tightly and asked if she had gone into


    hiding because she was worried about Chloe¡¯s retaliation.


    Ava was shocked and had not expected there to be cameras in the courtyard of the


    seaside vi. She had not expected Icarus to get there so quickly either.


    Her expression stiffened for a few seconds, but the next moment, she threw herself into Jake¡¯s arms


    and cried loudly, ¡°You¡¯re right. I just wanted to scare Coco. I didn¡¯t have any other intentions. Melody


    and Peter just happened to meet each other, and Melody saw that Peter was drunk, so she took him


    over to rest for a while.


    ¡°Please believe me, Jake. I would never do anything to harm Coco¡­ I just want our family to be


    together. I only scolded her for a while¡­¡±


    ¡°I believe you. I know what kind of person Coco is, and I don¡¯t me you,¡± Jakeforted Ava gently.


    Suddenly, he noticed the sexy dress that she was wearing.


    Avaughed nervously, acting coquettish as she said, ¡°I went out with Melody in the morning to buy


    clothes, and she insisted that I wear this one because it looks good. If you mind it, I won¡¯t wear it


    again.¡±


    ¡°Why would I? You do look great in it,¡± Jake said.


    Ava always dressed conservatively, so this was the first time he had seen such a sexy dress on her.


    Although it was quite unusual, he did not think too much about it.


    In the VIP ward of a private hospital in the city center, the ring sunlight outside the window shone


    onto Chloe¡¯s eyes, waking her up from a nightmare. She gasped for air and her breathing wasbored.


    ¡°Another nightmare?¡± Joseph handed her a wet towel, a hint of concern in his cold and calm voice.


    Chloe epted the towel and asked in confusion, ¡°How did I get here?¡±


    Joseph briefly exined what had happened to her while she was unconscious.


    ¡°You had the police take Peter away?¡± Chloe struggled to sit up and identally touched her wound,


    causing her to grimace in pain.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°I think he was framed like me. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing to me. Can you ask the police to


    investigate thoroughly? Peter works for a state-owned enterprise. If he has a criminal record, his life will


    be ruined.¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Joseph asked exasperatingly.


    ¡®I saved her life, and instead of thanking me, she¡¯s asking me to help the man who hurt her?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯m just suggesting. I don¡¯t mean anything else by it.¡± Chloe weakly pulled at his


    sleeve. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then forget it.¡±


    She already knew that the true masterminds behind this were Ava and Melody.


    Joseph gazed at Chloe, who was wearing loose hospital clothes. Her pretty face was pale, and her


    eyes were watery. Although there was a red welt on her cheek, the swelling had subsided somewhat.


    She looked pitiful, making one feel like protecting her.


    He looked away, feeling irritated, but seeing her in such a miserable state, he held back and did not


    snap at her again. ¡°I¡¯ll find a caretaker to look after you, or you can call a friend over.¡±


    ¡°No need. I can manage alone. If you¡¯re busy, go ahead and take care of your business.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn. You¡¯ll need to stay on the drip for three days. Even going to the bathroom will be a


    problem. I have work to attend to and have no time to take care of you.¡±


    75 Are Yes


    After hearing this, Chloe suddenly remembered that Joseph should still be abroad.


    ¡°Did youe back early because of me?¡±


    Joseph looked up and nced at her coolly. ¡°Yes.¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. Finally, after enduring so much suffering, she finally had his attention.


    But his next sentence extinguished her joy like a bucket of cold water.

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76


    Chapter 76 Joseph Is Efficient


    ¡°I came back to clean up your mess, you idiot.¡±


    Chloe was speechless.


    ¡°I feel terrible right now. Why can¡¯t you say something nice tofort me?¡± Chloe said.


    Seated gracefully on the chair beside the bed, Joseph crossed his legs and leaned in, cing hisrge


    hand gently on top of Chloe¡¯s head. Although his touch was as soft as if he were stroking a cat, his


    tone was arrogant as he spoke, ¡°I won¡¯t offer youfort, but I do have the ability to save you.¡±


    Both of their gazes met. Chloe inexplicably felt that his words made perfect sense. A true man never


    spoke in a flowerynguage but takes direct action and is decisive.


    In that instant, she was awash by a surge of gratefulness and said solemnly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You should solve your problems as soon as possible. That would be the real gratitude toward me,¡± he


    replied.


    Every now and then, she found herself in trouble. Though she could handle it, her body was no longer


    able to bear the strain.


    When Chloe heard what Joseph said, she thought he implied she was a burden. Or perhaps he had


    received some news and knew about her rtionship with Jake.


    ¡®That¡¯s right, we have no blood or family ties. Even our marriage is fake. There¡¯s no need for him to


    care about me at all.¡¯


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe pursed her lips and spoke with determination, ¡°I will.¡±


    Since the Johnsons did not treat her like a human being and they even went to the extent of iming


    the assets her mother left for her as theirs, she felt that she did not need to be soft-hearted anymore.


    As for Joseph, she would try her best and leave the rest to fate.


    Joseph looked at the time and asked, ¡°Have you decided? Do you want a caregiver or are you asking a


    friend for help?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call my friend.¡±


    It was awkward to ask a stranger for help with something as private as going to the toilet.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°By the way, do you know anywyers? I want to sue someone,¡± Chloe asked Joseph


    before he left.


    He paused but did not turn around. ¡°I¡¯ll have Lucas send you the contact information.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    After Joseph left, Chloey on the bed motionless, staring nkly at the drip bag in the upper right


    corner.


    In the afternoon, Emily received Chloe¡¯s text and rushed over anxiously. Upon seeing Chloe¡¯s pale and


    tired appearance, her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Why did you only tell me now?¡±


    ¡°I told you as soon as I woke up. Wasn¡¯t that fast enough?¡±


    ¡°How could Peter do this to you? How could he team up with Ava to bully you?¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°Peter is probably a victim too.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Nothing happens for no reason. He¡¯s at fault, as your contractual husband said. Let the


    police lock him away for a few years. It¡¯d be best to also throw Ava in jail to prevent her from doing


    anything immoral!¡± Emily said exasperatingly.


    Karen and Ava had been bullying Chloe since she was a kid, and now they wanted to take away the


    assets that Chloe¡¯s mother had left for her.


    They were just shameless!


    Chloe fell silent for a moment and asked, ¡°You know why Ava brought Melody and


    Peter into this?¡±


    Emily paused and said, her voice thick with disbelief, ¡°Are you saying she¡¯s looking for a scapegoat?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    Like Karen, Ava was also a selfish person. Judging from what Ava did to her in the past, Chloe


    surmised that she had always intended to make Melody her scapegoat.


    ¡°She¡¯s so scary,¡± Emily said with a frown, ¡°It¡¯s unlucky to be her friend.¡±


    ¡°Birds of the same feather flock together. Melody isn¡¯t a good person either.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Chloe said, her face cold and resolute. ¡°Ava and Jake¡¯s engagement party will be held


    in a few more days. That¡¯s the time when I¡¯ll fight back.¡±


    Joseph came almost every day to visit Chloe for the three days she was hospitalized.


    After she regained her strength and could take care of herself, she did not need Emily¡¯s help anymore


    and asked Emily to return to work. They made ns to meet up again. when she was discharged.


    Time flew by, and it was already the day of Ava and Jake¡¯s engagement. In the early morning, Chloe


    kept ncing at Joseph, sitting on a chair, debating whether or not to reveal her true identity to him.


    After all, he would be present at the engagement partyter that day, and it would be better to give him


    a heads up and prepare him for the truth. However, she was worried that he might try to stop her since


    Jake was his nephew.


    Joseph put down his phone and rubbed his temples. ¡°Just tell me what¡¯s on your mind. Don¡¯t give me


    that look.¡±

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77


    Chapter 77 The Uncertainness in One¡¯s Mind


    ¡°Nothing¡­ I just wanted to ask if you have any ns today. I want to treat you to a meal,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t today,¡± replied Joseph.


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank a little. Although she already knew the answer, she still asked, ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I have to apany Grandpa for his check-up,¡± he exined.


    She was stunned for a moment and asked nervously, ¡°Is everything all right with Grandpa?¡±


    ¡°He has a heart condition, so he goes for regr check-ups. Nothing to worry about,¡± he reassured her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go see him after I¡¯m discharged from the hospital. I haven¡¯t visited him in two weeks,¡± she said.


    While the engagement party was important, it paled inparison to the importance of Harold¡¯s well-


    being. Therefore, it was understandable that Joseph chose to


    apany his grandfather for his medical check-up.


    Joseph lifted his gaze and smirked. ¡°Grandpa didn¡¯t spoil you for nothing.¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Well, he treats me kindly, so of course, I have to treat him back with the same level of kindness,¡±


    Chloe said as she nodded vigorously.


    Harold treated her well, and she also liked him very much. He was approachable and had a good


    personality. Most importantly, he did not look down on her for her humble background.


    Suddenly, Joseph looked up and surveyed her face.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the thing that you want to tell me? You can tell me now,¡± he asked firmly.


    Chloe was consumed with guilt for lying to him, and as he interrogated her, her eyes flickered nervously


    and she couldn¡¯t muster the courage to look directly at him. She waved her hand anxiously.


    He frowned. ¡°Hurry. Don¡¯t waste my time. I don¡¯t have that much patience.¡±


    ¡°1¡­¡±


    Joseph cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to look at him. His maic voice carried a hint of


    command as he said, ¡°Speak.¡±


    His hands wererge. One of them could wrap around Chloe¡¯s entire face, let alone both hands


    together, making his grip even tighter.


    At this moment, the scent of soap tickled Chloe¡¯s nostrils. She felt the warmth of his palms and her


    heart raced into a gallop.


    ¡°If I were to have a conflict with your rtives, would you me me?¡± she blurted out.


    Joseph furrowed his brows, not expecting her to ask such a strange question. He did not want to


    answer, but upon meeting her eager and hopeful gaze, he paused and replied, ¡± I¡¯ll support what¡¯s


    right, not just because they¡¯re my family.¡±


    He could not say he liked his rtives, nor could he say he disliked them. Therefore, he would not


    show favoritism toward anyone.


    ¡°Really?!¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes shimmered with excitement.


    If that was the case, she could confidently proceed with her n!


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    ¡°Okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing. Will you go straight back to the office after apanying Grandfather for the check-up


    this afternoon, or will you go somewhere else?¡±


    ¡°What are you up to now?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I was just asking so that I can prepare your dinner in advance.¡± Chloe blinked innocently.


    ¡®And go to Jake¡¯s engagement party and give him a big surprise.¡¯


    Joseph nced at her. He noticed the sly glint in her eyes but did not bother asking further.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going back to the office. Grandpa might ask you out for dinner tonight, but I¡¯ll give the excuse of


    you being busy with work and refuse. Don¡¯t give anything away,¡± he


    said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    After having lunch at the hospital cafeteria, Chloe went through the discharge procedures when she


    returned to the ward. While she was preparing to be discharged, Emily came and helped her.


    Patrick, who was waiting outside the hospital, reached out to help carry their things. Emily was startled


    and dodged to the side, mistaking him for a man trying to pick her


    1.


    ¡°I have a boyfriend. I don¡¯t need a ride,¡± she said.


    Even if he was driving a Rolls-Royce, he was too old for her.


    Patrick awkwardly pulled his hand back, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. I know that when men get rejected they always say it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I understand.¡±


    Chloeughed, and her pale face became slightly flushed. ¡°Hahaha, what are you thinking? Mr. Patrick


    is my husband¡¯s driver!¡±

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78


    Chapter 78 This Was Your Mother¡¯s


    Emily stood there stunned, looking at Patrick and then at the Rolls-Royce parked beside him. The


    awkwardness was evident.


    She forced a smile, suppressing the urge to dig a hole and bury herself in it. ¡°Well, from this


    perspective, your husband¡¯s not too bad. At least he knows to find someone to pick you up.¡±


    Chloe smiled wryly. ¡°He¡¯s unpredictable.¡±


    She just could not read Joseph¡¯s mind.


    Emily patted Chloe on the shoulder. ¡°I think you still have a chance. You should keep trying.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t console me. Last time, I almost got kicked out because I listened to your advice! ¡°Chloe blushed


    and spoke in a low voice that only Emily could hear. ¡°When I undressed in front of that man, he didn¡¯t


    even bat an eyelid. He¡¯s either too experienced or impotent.¡±


    No matter the case, he was someone she could not handle.


    However, Emily did not share the same view as Chloe. Taking practical action was always more


    convincing than sweet talk. Chloe might not have won Joseph¡¯s heart, but she had at least won his


    favor.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    After Patrick dropped them off at the vi and drove away. As soon as Chloe walked into her house,


    Toto rushed up to her, whining incessantly and expressing how much it had missed her.


    Chloe yed with Toto for a while before going upstairs to grab the USB and photos. Standing in front


    of the dressing table, she picked a vibrant, bright red lipstick from her row of lipsticks. But as soon as


    she applied it, she changed her mind and wiped it off with a tissue.


    The midday heat was intense.


    She hailed a taxi and headed straight to the Imperial Pce Hotel. Despite the heavy traffic, it only took


    her twenty minutes to arrive. As she arrived at the entrance, she was met by Ava and Jake.


    Ava wore an elegant beige dress, while Jake was dressed in a crisp white suit. Both of them were


    standing side by side, weing their guests. However, the moment Jake


    Chapter 75 This Was Your Mother¡¯s


    saw Chloe, his demeanor shifted abruptly.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Chloe shook her phone and replied, ¡°You invited me, and it would be impolite of me not to show up,


    wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Who invited you? Don¡¯t make things up,¡± he retorted.


    Annoyed, Emily stepped in, ¡°Coco, show him the text.¡±


    Ava came over to stop them and said, ¡°Jake, I was the one who invited Coco. Daddy said he wants us


    to reconcile.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Jake said as he nced at Chloe. ¡°Uncle Benjamin wants you to be here, so you maye in.


    But let me warn you, you better behave yourself. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kick you out of here straight away. Even


    if you¡¯re my ex-girlfriend.¡±


    Today was the most important day of his life, second only to his wedding day. Once he and Ava were


    engaged, his father would hand over half of the family¡¯s assets to him to manage. He could not afford


    to have any blemishes at this engagement party because of Chloe.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will,¡± Chloe replied, offering him a cold smirk.


    ¡®I¡¯m just here to give you a little surprise.¡¯


    Chloe and Emily werete, and the hall was nearly filled with guests. When Benjamin noticed Chloe,


    his face turned pale. He wanted to rush up to Chloe, but Ava stopped him. She whispered something


    into his ear, and he sat back down.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s up to no good for showing up here. You better be careful,¡± Benjamin said.


    After what happened the other days, he was certain that Chloe already knew he had gotten the money


    her mother left for her, so he needed to put up his guard against her.


    ¡°Daddy, I have a n,¡± Chloe said.


    After that, she pulled out a box from her purse and walked over to Chloe with a condescending smile.


    ¡°This was your Mother¡¯s. Do you want it?¡±

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79


    Chapter 79 Don¡¯t How You Got Him Like You


    The box was half opened, and at the center of the box sat the finely-crafted diamond ring¨Ca possession


    Chloe¡¯s mother had brought with her from her family¡¯s home.


    Chloe smiled but said nothing, unsurprised by Ava¡¯s actions.


    ¡®Does she really think she¡¯ll get me to let her go just by returning this one item to me? How absurd.¡±


    When her mother passed away, Chloe had been young. She could not remember how much her


    mother had bequeathed her in the will. The exact amount had not been specified in the contract, and


    she had always felt that something was amiss.


    But being young at the time, she could not fully grasp the significance of the situation. Now, however,


    she was aware that her money had beenpletely taken from her, and she was convinced that it was


    worth much more than what Ava was offering her.


    ¡°What? You want more?¡± Ava sneered, feeling disgusted by Chloe¡¯s insatiable greed.


    Chloe¡¯s expression darkened as she spoke her next words clearly, ¡°Of course, I want more. All of this is


    rightfully mine, and I¡¯ll take it all back. Don¡¯t even think about. touching any of it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Our family worked hard to raise you. My mother took care of your daily needs,


    and my father provided you with food, drink, and clothes. Why don¡¯t you know how to show respect for


    your elders?¡±


    ¡°Showing respect and stealing are two different things.¡±


    Ava bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening as tears threatened to fall.


    Chloe ignored her and snatched the box from her hands before getting up to leave.


    Jake had been observing the situation the entire time from the side. Seeing that things were not going


    well, Ava subconsciously reached out to take back the box. However, she caught sight of Jake¡¯s caring


    gaze and redirected her hand to grab a napkin on the table to wipe her tears.


    Upset by the e of his beloved wife crying, Jake stopped Chloe and sternlymanded her,


    ¡°Apologize to Ava.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°You snatched her belongings, and that¡¯s not wrong?¡±


    ¡°Has it ever crossed your mind that this item was originally mine?¡±


    ¡®This guy¡¯s an idiot!¡¯


    Jake paused and quickly denied her im, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Ava is crying so pitifully. It must be your


    fault.¡±


    Chloe smiles, but it did not reach her eyes. ¡°Have you ever heard the saying¡­¡±


    ¡°What saying?¡±


    ¡°Gentle people are frank and straightforward, while viins are deceitful and scheming.


    People like Ava liked to y the victim. They wanted to pose themselves as pure and innocent, but in


    reality, they were the ones with malicious intent. There were so many articles online that exined how


    to identify such people.


    Chloe just could not understand why there were still so many like Jake who could not see through this.


    ¡°Your sister is crying, and all you can do is make sarcastic remarks. Don¡¯t you have any sense of


    empathy?¡± Jake gritted his teeth, utterly disappointed in Chloe.


    ¡°Whatever. Stop bothering me. I don¡¯t have time for your lectures.¡±


    Chloe scanned the surroundings, searching for Emily. She wondered if Emily had prepared everything


    since the engagement party was about to start.


    ¡°Is all your time spent trying to seduce men?¡± Jake sneered.


    Chloe halted, then chuckled without anger. ¡°That remark is better suited for Ava.¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe was convinced that given the opportunity, Ava would leave Jake for Adam. However, she had no


    interest in knowing the current status of Ava and Adam¡¯s rtionship or whether Adam would


    eventually lose interest in her. The only thing that mattered to her was whether Jake would end things


    with Ava orpromise his principles and continue their rtionship after discovering her infidelity, all


    for the sake of their mutual interests.


    Regardless of the oue, Chloe felt quite pleased.


    Jake frowned and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject. I know about you and my uncle. I don¡¯t how


    you got him like you, but please remember that integrity is the most fundamental moral principle.¡±


    Jake did not understand the hidden meaning behind Chloe¡¯s words. All he felt was that


    she was beyond redemption as she would resort to any means to bully Ava.


    While he could protect Ava, he could not control his uncle. But at the very least, he had to try to prevent


    Chloe from bringing disaster upon them.

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80


    Chapter 80 How Could You Be So Shameless, Chloe?


    Chloe stared at Jake¡¯s furious face, her eyelids twitching with a tremendous sense of pleasure.


    Instead of answering immediately, she casually tucked the strands of hair falling on her forehead


    behind her ear and grinned arrogantly. ¡°You already know, huh?¡±


    As she had suspected, Joseph must have learned about her past rtionship with Jake when he saved


    her from miles away that day. She just could not understand why he had not mentioned it.


    Chloe felt an indescribable itch in her heart. The result was much better than she had anticipated.


    ¡°How shameless can you be?!¡± Jake¡¯s chest hurt with anger. Unable to control his emotions, his voice


    was loud, and the guests around them gave him strange looks.


    ¡°Why are you shouting at me for no reason?¡± Chloe said, looking innocent like a harmless little rabbit.


    The crowd did not understand the situation, but some recognized her..


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Benjamin¡¯s youngest?¡±


    ¡°Benjamin has two daughters? I always thought Ava was his only daughter.¡±


    ¡°But this one is much prettier than Ava¡­¡±


    As they spoke, everyone unconsciously nodded in agreement.


    Ava had spent a lot of time on her makeup today, and she could be called beautiful. However, she


    paled inparison to Chloe, who was a natural beauty and innocent- looking without makeup.


    The difference between them was huge.


    Hearing the crowd¡¯s discussion, Ava¡¯s face turned livid. She haughtily pushed through the crowd and


    grabbed Jake¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive. There are a lot of people watching.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what she did behind our backs?¡± Jake gritted his teeth, pointing at Chloe.


    Ava was confused by his anger. Just when she was about to ask him what happened, Benjamin


    appeared. His face was dark as he asked, ¡°What are you guys doing in front of so many people?¡±


    After the incident a few days ago, Chloe did not even want to look at him. She had given up on


    Benjamin, and once she got her money back, she did not want to have any contact with the Johnsons


    anymore.


    Jake lost hisposure and approached Benjamin, looking like a kid seeking help from a teacher after


    being bullied.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Uncle Benjamin, Coco and my uncle¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the sound of steady footsteps, Icarus


    pushed the crowd aside and hurriedly rushed over with rapid footsteps.


    As his eyes fell on Jake, his gaze was filled with rage and his gold-rimmed sses glinted with a cold


    light. He was always a mild-mannered man, never hasty or impatient, even in business dealings. Many


    of his business partners had teased him for it, remarking that he did not seem like a businessman at all.


    But now, he was clearly infuriated because of Chloe.


    Jake¡¯s words caught in his throat as he felt the weight of Icarus¡¯s intimidation. His face turned red, and


    he found himself unable to say anything.


    Icarus nced at him disdainfully, then took Chloe by the hand and walked away, leaving the others


    staring in astonishment. Even Chloe was stunned.


    ¡®What just happened? Why is Icarus here?¡¯


    ¡°Wait!¡± Chloe said to him,pletely bewildered. ¡°Do you know the Johnsons or the Coopers?¡±


    Icarus¡¯s eyes glittered. ¡°The Coopers.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with the Coopers?¡± she pressed.


    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯d rather not say right now,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Why not?¡± she demanded, her eyes wide with curiosity.


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t like Jake, and I don¡¯t want to risk losing your friendship because of


    him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can tell me.¡±


    After all, she was already married to Jake¡¯s uncle. No degree of closeness in familial rtions could


    compare to that of an uncle.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81


    Chapter 81 Jake Deserves It


    Icarus pondered for a moment before saying solemnly, ¡°Not yet, Chloe. Someday, maybe, but not now.¡±


    Yesterday, he had learned many things, including how the Johnsons had treated her in the past. He


    had visited her at the hospital because he did not have the courage to tell her that he was Jake¡¯s uncle.


    He worried that his rtionship with Jake would push Chloe away from him. He had no intention to


    come to the engagement party today, but while he was at lunch today, he figured that Chloe might


    come so he came to check on her. To his surprise, she really was here.


    Chloe could not quite understand his concern. She shrugged indifferently and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Whatever


    rtionship I had with the Johnsons and Jake is in the past. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    Furthermore, Icarus and Chloe were simply friends. Even if Icarus was rted to Jake, it would not


    matter as they simply would not have any further contact in the future. What she was unaware of was


    that the more she acted indifferent, the more it pained Icarus.


    She had clearly suffered so much, yet she brushed off the scars of the past so lightly. If their current


    circumstances allowed it, Icarus would have loved nothing more than to embrace her and offer her


    comfort.


    In the end, Icarus raised his hand and patted Chloe¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If Jake or the Johnsons. ever bully you


    again, tell me. I¡¯ll help you get revenge.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to help me get revenge. Just don¡¯t stop me,¡± she said yfully as she smiled.


    Icarus smiled back at her. ¡°Anything you say.¡±


    She blinked skeptically. She guessed that Icarus and Jake were probably distant rtives who only


    saw each other every few years.


    ¡°The party¡¯s about to begin. Do you want to go in?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Chloe had nearly forgotten about the surprise she had prepared for Jake and Ava. With long strides,


    she headed back into the banquet hall. When she reached the entrance of the hall, she turned back to


    look at Icarus and grinned, showing a neat row of white


    teeth. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll remember your promise and won¡¯t stop me.¡±


    Icarus knew that Chloe was intentionally reminding him of this and was surprised that she hade up


    with a n so quickly. Under her seemingly fragile and delicate exterior, she hid a tough and strong


    heart. She was not like other women who would cry and whimper when being bullied. She was a lot


    stronger and tougher than them.


    He nodded. ¡°Go ahead and do whatever you want.¡±


    After all, Jake deserved it. It would be good for him to have a taste of his own medicine, and he needed


    to be made aware that Ava was not a good match for him.


    On an elevated tform, Benjamin held a microphone and was giving a speech, while Ava stood


    beside him, eyes red and puffy as if she had just cried. As for Jake, he was holding a tissue in his hand


    and gently wiping away her tears.


    Meanwhile, instead of taking a seat, Chloe walked up to the second floor. Leaning against the railing,


    she observed the scene below expressionlessly. Other than the Johnsons and Coopers, there were a


    few important business partners from the Johnsons


    side sitting among the attendees.


    1


    Just then, Emily returned from outside and gave Chloe a wink.


    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°That was fast.¡±


    ¡°My boyfriend¡¯s a skilled hacker. Breaking into the hotel¡¯s system was a piece of cake,¡± Emily replied


    with a smirk.


    ¡°After all is said and done, let¡¯s go out for dinner tomorrow. I want to thank your boyfriend properly,¡±


    Chloe suggested.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Her best friend had told her before that her boyfriend was a skilled hacker. She had not expected to


    need his help so soon.


    Emily hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Our rtionship isn¡¯t stable yet. Let¡¯s wait until we¡¯ve


    been together for a while before I introduce you to him.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes and refocused her attention on therge screen below.


    The emcee¡¯s booming voice filled the hall, ¡°Next up, let us enjoy a video montage couple¡¯s sweet love


    story.¡±


    of the


    As soon as the emcee¡¯s voice trailed off, therge screen lit up. Handwritten love letters


    appeared one after another. The contents and the cheesy words that Jake had written in the past were


    clear for all to see.


    The attendees were momentarily confused, thinking that the love letters were meant for Ava. They


    teased the couple.


    ¡°Oh, youth. They¡¯re so romantic,¡± one personmented.


    ¡°Who says it¡¯s not? When my wife and I got together, it was all arranged by our parents. We met once


    and became a family after. But free love is so sweet to watch,¡± another person added.


    ¡°Hey, why isn¡¯t the recipient of these letters Ava? It seems to be addressed to Chloe,¡± someone pointed


    out.

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82


    Chapter 82 Love Triangle


    All of the guests looked at Ava and Jake in confusion.


    The couple¡¯s faces turned bright red in embarrassment.


    ¡°Turn it off now!¡± Benjamin roared at the emcee.


    The emcee realized that something was wrong and immediately notified the staff to turn off the big


    screen.


    The next second, a short burst of noise came from the speakers lining the hall, and the sounds of Ava


    crying started ying, ¡°Coco, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. I love Jake too much. Please don¡¯t me him.¡¯


    ¡°Ava, don¡¯t say such silly things. It¡¯s not your fault. I just couldn¡¯t control myself and wanted you. Now


    that it¡¯s out in the open, it¡¯s actually better. I wanted to break up with Coco long ago, but she¡¯s been too


    busy with work and I never had a chance to exin to her. You¡¯re more suitable for me, Ava.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my God¡­¡±


    The crowd was in an uproar, and chaos ensued.


    ¡°Seriously? Chloe and Jake used to be a couple?¡±


    ¡°Holy moly, he¡¯s amazing. He made both Benjamin¡¯s daughters his girlfriends!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Ava who snatched away Chloe¡¯s boyfriend. Men¡¯s attention is so weird.¡±


    The whispers grew louder as the yback of the recording progressed.


    Karen shouted loudly, iming that the rification video and recording were synthesized, and scolded


    the younger generation for spouting nonsense. A few letters. and a recording could not prove anything.


    The scene finally quieted down a bit, and Ava bit her lower lip. Tears were gushing out of her eyes as


    sheined bitterly, ¡°I don¡¯t know where Coco gets these things from. Jake has always treated her


    as his sister.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Coco has always had a crush on Jake, but Jake only likes Ava. Because of this, Coco loves


    ying pranks to get attention. She¡¯s just a young girl experiencing her first love, so everyone should


    understand,¡± Karen said, expressing the helplessness of a mother for her daughter. ¡°But today is an


    important day for Ava, second only to her wedding day. I didn¡¯t expect Coco to be so immature¡­ I saw


    her go to the control room


    appeared one after another. The contents and the cheesy words that Jake had written in the past were


    clear for all to see.


    The attendees were momentarily confused, thinking that the love letters were meant for Ava. They


    teased the couple.


    ¡°Oh, youth. They¡¯re so romantic,¡± one personmented.


    ¡°Who says it¡¯s not? When my wife and I got together, it was all arranged by our


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    parents. We met once and became a family after. But free love is so sweet to watch,¡± another person


    added.


    ¡°Hey, why isn¡¯t the recipient of these letters Ava? It seems to be addressed to Chloe,¡± someone pointed


    out.


    Chapter 82 Love Triangle


    All of the guests looked at Ava and Jake in confusion.


    The couple¡¯s faces turned bright red in embarrassment.


    ¡°Turn it off now!¡± Benjamin roared at the emcee.


    The emcee realized that something was wrong and immediately notified the staff to turn off the big


    screen.


    The next second, a short burst of noise came from the speakers lining the hall, and the sounds of Ava


    crying started ying, ¡°Coco, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. I love Jake too much. Please don¡¯t me him.¡±


    ¡°Ava, don¡¯t say such silly things. It¡¯s not your fault. I just couldn¡¯t control myself and wanted you. Now


    that it¡¯s out in the open, it¡¯s actually better. I wanted to break up with Coco long ago, but she¡¯s been too


    busy with work and I never had a chance to exin to her. You¡¯re more suitable for me, Ava.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my God¡­¡±


    The crowd was in an uproar, and chaos ensued.


    ¡°Seriously? Chloe and Jake used to be a couple?¡±


    ¡°Holy moly, he¡¯s amazing. He made both Benjamin¡¯s daughters his girlfriends!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Ava who snatched away Chloe¡¯s boyfriend. Men¡¯s attention is so weird.¡±


    The whispers grew louder as the yback of the recording progressed.


    Karen shouted loudly, iming that the rification video and recording were synthesized, and scolded


    the younger generation for spouting nonsense. A few letters


    and a recording could not prove anything.


    The scene finally quieted down a bit, and Ava bit her lower lip. Tears were gushing out of her eyes as


    sheined bitterly, ¡°I don¡¯t know where Coco gets these things from. Jake has always treated her


    as his sister.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Coco has always had a crush on Jake, but Jake only likes Ava. Because of this, Coco loves


    ying pranks to get attention. She¡¯s just a young girl experiencing her first love, so everyone should


    understand,¡± Karen said, expressing the helplessness of a mother for her daughter. ¡°But today is an


    important day for Ava, second only to her wedding day. I didn¡¯t expect Coco to be so immature¡­ I saw


    her go to the control room


    a while ago. Sigh¡­¡±


    In just a few sentences, she shifted all the me onto Chloe.


    Others nodded as if they vaguely understood the ins and outs of the matter.


    So it was a love triangle.


    Jake breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he looked at Icarus, who was standing in the


    distance. Icarus¡¯s eyes were filled with disappointment and felt that Jake had failed to live up to his


    responsibilities as a man. Jake was embarrassed and his face turned red then white.


    The whole thing had happened so long ago, yet he could not fathom why Chloe was still holding onto it.


    To make matters worse, his uncle was siding with her. Had he gone mad?


    The family¡¯s conduct left Emily seething with anger. She stood on the second floor, itching to confront


    Karen. However, Chloe swiftly covered her mouth and whispered, ¡± This is their turf. They¡¯ve already


    dispatched people to find us. If we make a sound, we¡¯ll only be walking into a trap.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s intention was not to immediately turn the tide in her favor, but rather to nt a seed. This was


    only the first step.


    After this happened at the engagement party, Ava was probably not in a good mood anymore. Chloe¡¯s


    rtionship with Jake was not exactly a secret, and anyone who cared to inquire would know.


    As they conversed, Benjamin, who had been sulking downstairs, finally spoke up and said a few words


    to several security guards. They then dispersed to search the area.


    Emily was shocked and asked, ¡°He¡¯s your father. Is he nning to harm you?¡±


    Chloe forced a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡±


    Benjamin was seething with rage, and she was certain that he wanted to beat her up right now more


    than anything else.


    The two slipped out of the hotel through the back door and hailed a cab. As they drove away, Emily


    caught a glimpse of Icarus¡¯s figure in the rearview mirror and her heart skipped a beat. ¡°I think I saw


    Jake¡¯s uncle. Is he going to cause trouble for you?¡±


    With his nephew making such a big scene, it was likely that Chloe would face some unpleasant


    consequences when she returned home.

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83


    Chapter 83 We¡¯re Married


    Chloe was stunned and immediately turned around.


    However, she saw no trace of Joseph. Instead, she spotted Icarus. She patted her chest and let out a


    long sigh of relief. ¡°You must be seeing things. You scared me!¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t seeing things,¡± Emily insisted, but in the next second, Icarus vanished before she could point


    him out. She began to doubt herself. ¡°Could I really be seeing things?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve been running back and forth between the hospital and the office while also making


    time for your boyfriend. It¡¯s normal to experience some eye impairment,¡± Chloe said with a smile. ¡°Once


    I finish up what I¡¯m working on, I¡¯ll treat you well.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure Jake¡¯s uncle wasn¡¯t here today?¡± Emily asked, her face stern.


    After dropping Chloe off at the hotel, Emily went to meet up with her boyfriend. Upon her return, Emily


    scanned the table where Jake¡¯s older rtives were sitting but did not spot Icarus.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Nope. I¡¯m sure he didn¡¯te today. Today was his grandfather¡¯s check-up day. Otherwise, do you


    think I would¡¯ve been so tant?¡±


    ¡°That makes sense. Given the pace of your rtionship, there¡¯s no way you could¡¯ve


    wrapped things up with him so quickly.¡±


    Chloe felt disheartened when Emily brought this up. Joseph was a tough nut to crack,


    and she did not know what to do about it.


    ¡°It¡¯d be nice if you hadn¡¯t married him. The other day, I saw an extremely handsome guy. He¡¯s several


    times better looking than Jake¡¯s uncle. I guarantee you¡¯ll drool when you see him!¡± Emily eximed.


    ¡°Is that so? While Jake¡¯s looks are average, his uncle is a work of art. In fact, in all my years of


    existence, I¡¯ve never seen a man as handsome as him.¡±


    Emily rolled her eyes. ¡°Once you see this guy, you won¡¯t say that anymore.¡±


    Chloe was intrigued by Emily¡¯s confident tone and was about to inquire further when her phone rang. It


    was an unknown number.


    ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me first?¡± azy drawl came from the other end of the line.


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°Are you Mr. Samuel


    Winson? Thewyer?


    Yesterday, she had dialed the number on the business card Joseph had given her, but no one


    answered. She had then gotten busy with other tasks and had not tried the number again.


    ¡°What can I help you with?¡±


    Chloe proceeded to recount how her mother¡¯s money had been secretly transferred away by the


    Johnsons. Samuel remained indifferent and did not ask any questions.


    ¡°You can sue them. It¡¯ll be an easy win,¡± he dered.


    ¡°Really?¡± Chloe was thrilled. She had expected him to ept the case so readily.


    ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s nowsuit that I, Samuel Winson, can¡¯t win. Your case isn¡¯tplicated and will be


    easy for me to resolve.¡±


    She clutched her bag tightly and asked eagerly, ¡°Great. What materials do I need to prepare?¡±


    ¡°My assistant will contact you about that. The only thing you need to prepare is thewyer¡¯s fee.¡±


    Chloe nodded understandingly. ¡°May I ask how much it¡¯ll cost for you to take on this case?¡±


    ¡°Typically, a case of this difficulty level is priced at 1,500,000 dors. However, since Joseph


    rmended me to you, I¡¯ll give you a discount of 20% and charge your


    1,200,000 dors. You can transfer the money to my ount before the trial.¡±


    Chloe gasped, ¡°1,200,000 dors?¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Samuel asked, not realizing how outrageous his asking price


    sounded.


    ¡°Can you lower it?¡± Chloe bit her lip and added embarrassingly, ¡°I don¡¯t have that much money.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even have 1,200,000 dors?¡± Samuel was shocked that Joseph would have a friend as


    poor as Chloe. He spoke with an air of superiority as if being unable to pay 1,200,000 dors made one


    a pauper.


    Chloe¡¯s face turned red. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. 1,200,000 dors is too much for me. I probably won¡¯t be able to


    hire you to handle the case.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have the money, you can ask Joseph for it. In Aesper, no one other than me can guarantee


    100% sess in thiswsuit.¡±


    Samuel said one shocking sentence after another, but Chloe rubbed her nose and said, No, I can¡¯t do


    that. The amount is toorge for me.¡±


    ¡°This amount may be a bit high for you, but it¡¯s just chump change for Joseph.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re not rted¡­


    ¡°In that case, there¡¯s nothing I can do. Goodbye.¡±


    Samuel hung up the phone. He would not do bad business, and offering a 20% discount was already


    his limit. He had no idea where Joseph came to know someone as poor as Chloe, let alone a woman.


    ¡®Hold on¡­ A woman?¡¯


    Samuel suddenly realized something. All these years, Joseph had been a workaholic. His life revolved


    around nothing but work. He never had anydy friends, so where did this onee from?


    When this thought came to mind, he regretted not asking more about Chloe¡¯s rtionship with Joseph


    from her.


    It had been a long time since he had gathered with his buddies, so Samuel decided to call Nathan out


    for some drinks. Just before hanging up, he quipped, ¡°By the way, do you know a girl named Chloe?


    Seems like she and Joseph have an unusual rtionship.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just finding out now?¡± Nathan replied nonchntly.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m the only one who doesn¡¯t know about it?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯m just guessing. How did you find out about Chloe?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when we meet up. Let¡¯s also get Joseph toe out. If he refuses again this time, we¡¯ll just


    go to his office and confront him.¡±


    ¡°You go ahead. I want to live for a few more years,¡± Nathan replied, embracing the woman in his arms.


    ¡°Well, forget it then,¡± Samuel said.


    Who had the courage to face Joseph¡¯s poker face alone? It was scarier than losing a case.


    As Joseph was on his way back to his office after apanying Harold to his check-up, he ran into


    Nathan who enthusiastically invited him to have a meal together.


    With dinner time approaching, Joseph agreed to the invitation. Seeing the opportunity, Nathan


    immediately sent a location to Samuel, urging him toe quickly. At the dinner table, Samuel slyly


    inquired about the situation with Chloe, while Nathan chimed in from time to time.


    Their incessant questions annoyed Joseph to the point where he furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°What


    exactly do you want to know?¡±


    Nathan winked and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Chloe? Have you managed to win her over?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re married,¡± Joseph replied tly.

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84


    Chapter 84 I¡¯ll Destroy It if I Can¡¯t Have It


    Samuel¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°What?! You should¡¯ve told me earlier! I wouldn¡¯t have asked her to pay mewyer fees then!¡± he


    eximed.


    ¡°Lawyer fees?¡± Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°She approached you already?¡±


    He had returned from his overseas business trip earlier than nned and a lot of things were piling up


    on his te. He had nned to finish everything and then inform Samuel about Chloe¡¯s situation. He


    even intended to pay for the legal fees, but he had not expected her to be so impatient and approach


    Samuel herself.


    ¡°She called me yesterday. If I knew she¡¯s your wife, I wouldn¡¯t have asked for the fee,¡± Samuel


    exined.


    ¡°Help her with thewsuit. I¡¯ll have my assistant pay you.¡±


    After regaining from his shock, Nathan looked at Joseph and teased him, ¡°One second, you told me


    you couldn¡¯t stand her, and the next, you married her behind our backs. This isn¡¯t like you at all, Joe.¡±


    It seemed that Chloe¡±s beauty and her ability to captivate men were exceptional. Otherwise, how could


    the unapproachable Joseph have fallen for her?


    ¡°Of course, this isn¡¯t my style. Our marriage is just a contract.¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What do


    you mean?¡± Both Samuel and Nathan were stunned.


    Calmly sipping his tea, Joseph then proceeded to tell them about his grandfather pressuring him to


    marry and have children.


    ¡°Wow, you went to such lengths just to avoid an arranged marriage,¡± Samuelmented, impressed


    by his friend¡¯s determination. ¡°However, you can¡¯t keep up with this forever. Knowing Mr. Harold¡¯s


    desire for a grandson, you need to consider an


    alternative solution.¡±


    As a top-tierwyer, Samuel soon pinpointed the problem. It wasmon for people to tell lies to cover


    up for the previous one, but eventually, their lies would be exposed.


    Harold might be old but he was sharp. He would figure it out eventually.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you just make it real?¡± Nathan suggested with a grin.


    Samuel¡¯s eyes lit up with amusement as he added, ¡°That¡¯s also a solution. Since you¡¯re


    willing to pay her legal fees, my guess is that you two get along pretty well, right?¡±


    Joseph tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, recalling his interactions with Chloe over the past


    few months.


    ¡°She¡¯s always causing trouble. Do you really think that¡¯s possible?¡± he scoffed.


    ¡°Beautiful girls naturally attract more trouble. She helped you out so much, so can¡¯t you help her in


    return?¡± Nathan defended Chloe.


    ¡°You think I haven¡¯t already helped her?¡± Joseph retorted.


    Nathan and Samuel exchanged a knowing look, sensing an undercurrent of affection between the pair


    despite Joseph¡¯s words. Despite his cold and indifferent nature toward others, his repeated willingness


    to assist Chloe suggested that she held a special ce in his heart. But since he refused to


    acknowledge any romantic attraction, they decided


    not to risk their lives to reveal it.


    Nathan urged Joseph, ¡°Chloe is beautiful, kind, and cooks for you every day. It¡¯s not easy to find such a


    good woman these days. If you have feelings for her, you should let her know before someone else


    steals her away.¡±


    ¡°But you haven¡¯t even interacted with her. How do you know she has a good personality?¡±


    ¡°If she can live with you for such a long time and hasn¡¯t run away in annoyance, doesn¡¯t that prove her


    good character?¡±


    ¡°So? There are plenty of women who like me. Besides, I don¡¯t like her. She¡¯s at troublemaker,¡± Joseph


    said.


    Nathan could not argue with him. In terms of family background, ability, and appearance, Joseph was


    undoubtedly the dream lover of all the girls in the city. However, his intuition told him that although


    Chloe might not be the most beautiful ore from the most affluent family, she was definitely the


    most suitable for Joseph.


    After dinner, Samuel immediately contacted Chloe and told her that he could help her with her case for


    free, but his schedule was fully booked for this month and the next. They would have to wait until July.


    After hanging up the phone, Chloe pinched her cheeks as if to confirm that this was not a dream. Just


    three hours ago, Samuel had hung up on her without hesitation when she could not afford his legal


    fees. Why was he suddenly willing to help her for free now?


    The image of Joseph¡¯s handsome face floated into her mind. ¡®He¡¯s the one who rmended Samuel


    to me. Could he have something to do with this?¡¯


    Chloe fell silent for a moment before typing ¡°Samuel Winson¡± into the search bar on herptop. As she


    read over the long list of impressive des that popped up on the screen, her eyelids twitched.


    Suddenly, 1,200,000 dors seemed like a paltry sum.


    The fact that Joseph knew such a capablewyer only added to Chloe¡¯s admiration for him.


    After finishing work in the evening, Chloe nned to go to the market to buy ingredients and cook a


    nice meal for Joseph. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, Jake came up to her.


    ¡°Move aside.¡± Chloe frowned.


    Jake was filled with anger, and he widened his eyes. ¡°Why are you so vicious? You ruined the


    engagement party that was going perfectly. Do you really have to destroy me just because you couldn¡¯t


    have me?¡±

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85


    Chapter 85 She Adores Men Who Are Upright and Upromising


    ¡°Oh, please. You think too highly of yourself. You guys are pieces of sh*t,¡± taunted Chloe.


    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Jake asked, his eyes bing bloodshot and his once impable suit


    was now crumpled and disordered. It was evident that his engagement party with Ava had not gone as


    nned.


    ¡°I want the assets that my mother left behind for me.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you already gotten it?¡± Jake sneered.


    ¡°When did I take it?¡±


    Jake thought she was lying and jeered, ¡°I saw Ava give you that box with my own eyes.¡±


    He thought that Chloe just wanted a share of the Johnsons¡¯ fortune. What was she pretending for? He


    could not think of any other reason for her repeated troublemaking.


    Chloe was taken aback for a moment. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s the only thing my mother left me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Please use your brain,¡± Chloe replied, ¡°Was Ava really returning my things to me? No, she was


    humiliating me! And only a fool like you would believe her.¡±


    Jake furrowed his brow. ¡°Then what else did Ava not give you?¡±


    ¡°Many things, including the diamond ne she¡¯s wearing around her neck right now. If you really


    want to know, go ask her yourself.¡±


    He hesitated. ¡°If I give you back your things, will you promise not to bother us again?¡±


    ¡°If you can retrieve all the things my mother left me,¡± Chloe replied with a smirk.


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll do it. And one more thing, leave my uncle alone,¡± Jake demanded.


    ¡°If you have the guts, go tell your uncle that. If he tells me to leave, I¡¯ll leave,¡± Chloe said, shooting him


    a nce.


    ¡°Why you!¡± he fumed.


    ¡°Me what? Get back my things from Ava first. If not, you¡¯re in no position to talk to me.


    After Chloe had finished speaking, she left inrge strides.


    In the bustling market, many people milled about, picking out ingredients at various stalls. Chloe bought


    the vegetables for dinner and rushed back home.


    At eight o¡¯clock sharp, Joseph returned home. As he stood in the foyer, he caught at whiff of the


    delicious aroma emanating from the kitchen. Chloe heard the sound and immediately set down her


    spat, running over to him. She grabbed a pair of slippers from the shoe cab and ced them at


    his feet with a beaming smile. ¡°Please change your shoes, Jojo.¡±


    Joseph noticed her excessive enthusiasm and asked, ¡°Is there something you need?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Do you have anything you want to tell me?¡± Chloe probed, knowing that as Jake¡¯s uncle, he


    must have heard some rumors.


    ¡®This fellow is really good at hiding things. How had he not looked for me for the entire afternoon?¡¯


    Joseph did not understand her and said, ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    After that, he headed to the restroom to wash his hands.


    Chloe stared at his retreating figure, feeling incredulous.


    ¡®Does Joseph really uphold the principle of standing up for what was right, regardless of who was


    involved?¡¯ a wide smile spread across her face at the thought, ¡®Yes! This is exactly the kind of


    principled man I adore! Upright and upromising!¡¯


    Despite escaping danger, Chloe could not shake the feeling that something was off. The way Joseph


    acted made it seem like he did not have a nephew and was cold-hearted.


    As the man emerged from the bathroom after washing his hands, he sniffed and eximed,


    ¡°Something¡¯s burning.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh no! I forgot to turn off the stove!¡±


    She had been too busy trying to please Joseph. Luckily, only one dish had been slightly overcooked.


    The rest was delicious with great color and vor.


    It had been a while since Joseph had eaten her cooking as Chloe had been either busy with work or


    was hospitalized and thus could not help but have a few more mouthfuls.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe noticed this and went out of her way to serve him. She had not removed her apron as she got


    more soup for Joseph. In the warm glow of the living room, with her lowered


    Are Upright and Upromising


    head and her silky and sleek hair, she gave off the appearance of a devoted and affectionate wife.


    Joseph watched her, his eyes deep and inscrutable. At that moment, Chloe looked up and met his


    gaze.

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86


    Chapter 86 Not a Maid but a Wife


    Their gazes met, and Joseph noticed that she had lost some weight after being hospitalized for a few


    days.


    ¡°By the way, Mr. Samuel told me today that I don¡¯t have to pay for his service. Did you help me pay for


    it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    A mix of emotions ran through Chloe after she heard the answer. She fidgeted and said


    embarrassingly, ¡°It¡¯s too much. I can¡¯t pay you back. Please tell Mr. Samuel not to bother. I¡¯ll find a


    cheaperwyer myself.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to pay me back.¡±


    ¡°No. Your money didn¡¯t fall from the sky. You¡¯ve already spent so much money on me, and I can¡¯t pay


    back the 1,200,000 dors anytime soon. It may take me years, maybe even a lifetime,¡± Chloe said.


    Gratitude was the hardest thing to repay. She wanted to be his wife, not an emotionless money-


    making machine.


    Joseph stared at her, and after a moment, his thin lips curved into a small smile. ¡°If you be the


    director of Baxon within three years and the regional general manager within five, although it may still


    be a challenge for you to pay me back, it¡¯s not impossible.¡±


    Her eyes lit up. ¡°Do you have that much confidence in me?¡±


    ¡°I usually offer encouragement to employees who are not particrly exceptional.¡±


    Chloe was rendered speechless.


    ¡°Worst case scenario, you can work as my maid until you pay back the debt. I¡¯ll provide you with food


    and a roof over your head so you won¡¯t have to worry about anything else.


    At least her cooking was good.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a maid!¡± Chloe said, pausing for a moment before continuing, ¡°I want to be your


    wife.¡±


    Joseph froze then slowly turned his head to look at her. Chloe felt a bit flustered under his gaze.


    ¡°Wh-What?¡± she asked nervously.


    ¡°It seems to me that you enjoy dreaming a lot.¡±


    Chloe had no idea what she was expecting, knowing full well that nothing good could possiblye


    out of Joseph¡¯s mouth.


    After a satisfying meal and a refreshing cup of tea, Chloe was hanging upundry on the balcony when


    Emily called in a panic, urging her to check the college group chat.


    She went to look and was puzzled to find that the group chat, which was usually quiet with only a few


    active members, now had over a hundred messages. As she scrolled to the top, she saw screenshots


    of the video in which Peter had vited her. Each


    screenshot deliberately captured her face.


    Chloe¡¯s blood instantly froze in her veins as all the memories of that day flooded her mind and her body


    trembled with fear.


    ¡°Coco, are you listening to me?¡± Emily¡¯s anxious voice called out, ¡°You need to report this to the police.


    Ava must¡¯ve been the one who leaked it.¡±


    ¡®Yeah, I need to call the police.¡¯


    Chloe suddenly snapped out of her daze and hung up on Emily before dialing 911 to report the


    incident.


    ¡°Hello, this is the 911 emergency center. How may I assist you?¡± The moment the other end picked up,


    Chloe¡¯s pupils contracted abruptly and she realized something.


    ¡°Sorry, wrong number,¡± she said before hanging up abruptly.


    ¡®No. I can¡¯t call the police.¡¯


    Ginny¡¯s father was a detective at the police station and if she reported this, it would certainly draw


    attention to her and could drag Joseph down as well. If Harold found out Chloe did not dare to imagine


    the consequences. Her mind was in turmoil, unable to think of a solution.


    ¡°What are you doing up sote? Why are you just standing there?¡± Joseph came out with a ss of


    water and squinted at her.


    Chloe¡¯s body shook and she did not know how to answer.


    Joseph frowned slightly. He gazed at her fist that was gripping her phone tightly and asked in a deep


    voice, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°N-Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    ¡°Really. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Chloe¡¯s face turned pale as she did not want Joseph to see the photos.


    Without another word, Joseph walked over and snatched the phone from her hand. As he looked at the


    screenshots, his face sank and an icy aura silently emanated from his body, creating a heavy pressure.


    That day, only Patrick had seen the scene first-hand. After Chloe was taken to the hospital, she was


    changed into a hospital gown in the emergency room. He had always thought that Chloe had merely


    passed out and that Peter had not touched her.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Watching his expression darken, Chloe¡¯s first reaction was that he felt she had brought disgrace to him.


    She anxiously said, ¡°Please don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ll handle this myself and won¡¯t bring you any trouble.¡±

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87


    Chapter 87 I Believe In My Wife


    In the bright light, Joseph¡¯s deep ck eyes looked like bottomless pits as he asked, ¡°Is that how you


    see me?¡±


    Chloe shrunk back a little and whispered, ¡°No¡­¡±


    However, it was clear that she was not sincere.


    Joseph¡¯s forehead twitched as he picked up his phone and called the police.


    Chloe panicked and tried to stop him. ¡°No, your uncle will find out!¡±


    Joseph paused for a moment before realizing that she was referring to Tyson.


    ¡°So what if he finds out? You¡¯re the victim here. Unless you want to be a coward and pretend you didn¡¯t


    see anything.¡±


    ¡°Bullsh*t, I¡¯m just worried about you. If Tyson finds out, what will your family think of you?¡±


    She was Joseph¡¯s wife. She did not want to drag him down with her problems.


    ¡°Take care of your own problems first before worrying about others.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe was taken aback. She was surprised to discover that the man who appeared tock


    compassion had a humane side.


    Fifteen minutester, the police arrived. They were the officers that had handled the previous case with


    Peter.


    Chloe¡¯s restless heart calmed down a little when she saw them. She heard that Peter was detained for


    a few days but was released due tock of evidence. The case was still under investigation, and the


    police remembered Chloe.


    After learning the situation, they had the technicians delete the screenshots uploaded online. The


    person who posted the article had clearlye prepared and had tweaked their privacy settings,


    making it difficult to investigate their IP address, which would take several hours.


    The police promised to work overtime and provide results by the following day. They alsoforted


    Chloe and told her to rest assured that they would do their best to bring the culprits to justice.


    Afterward, they brought Joseph to the side and spoke to him earnestly, ¡°After the on- site investigation


    last time, we determined that your wife didn¡¯t do it willingly. She¡¯s a


    victim. As a husband, it¡¯s natural to feel ufortable in this situation, but your wife Is in even more


    pain. She needs yourfort andpanionship at this time.¡±


    Joseph reacted quickly and understood what they meant. He nodded. ¡°I believe in my wife. I feel more


    heartache than anyone else to see her suffering. Please resolve this as soon as possible and bring the


    culprit to justice.¡±


    Joseph and the police were in the living room, so Chloe heard everything clearly. She blinked and


    sighed, realizing that he was even better at telling lies than she was.


    After the police departed, she felt drained and went to her bedroom to try to get an early night¡¯s rest.


    However, sleep just would note. She turned and tossed in bed as the screenshots lingered in her


    mind, causing her to feel overwhelmed by a wave of emotions including shame, anger, grief, confusion,


    and more.


    She could keep her emotions in check in front of Joseph, but when she was alone and it was all quiet,


    she felt aggrieved as she stared at the dark ceiling. She knew that the culprit behind this had to be Ava,


    but she had no evidence to prove it.


    In the end, she let out a long sigh and swallowed all the grievances. She clutched her teddy bear tightly


    and closed her eyes.


    No matter what, life must go on, and she had to wake up early tomorrow to go to work


    and earn money.


    The sun was shining brightly and the sky was a wless blue. As Chloe gazed up at the vast sky, her


    mood lifted just a little. She had barely arrived at the office when she received a call from the police.


    The


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    person who posted the article had been traced to an IP address overseas. Unfortunately, this did not


    help much as it wasmon for inte criminals to use foreign IPs to avoid detection. Despite feeling


    a twinge of disappointment, Chloe¡¯s gratitude remained sincere as she thanked the officers for their


    efforts.


    ¡°Thank you, officers.¡±


    Determined to focus solely on her work, she threw herself into her tasks for the rest of the day, forcing


    herself not to dwell on the troubling events that had transpired.


    Early in the morning, Jake went to the mall to buy many gifts for the Johnsons as an apology. When he


    got to the house, Ava greeted him at the door and yfully scolded him, ¡°You don¡¯t have to bring all


    these gifts when you¡¯reing here.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday was all my fault. If I had stopped Coco with the security guards, none of that would have


    happened,¡± Jake said apologetically.


    ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself. I¡¯m also at fault. I was too eager to make up with Coco and invited her. I didn¡¯t


    expect my good intentions to end up causing trouble¡­¡± Ava hooked her arm around his and said,


    ¡°Come in and talk. Daddy¡¯s in the living room. By the way, what did your uncle say? Can he help


    connect us with Patterson?¡±


    As soon as she mentioned Icarus, Jake¡¯s head began to ache. He said, ¡°He says he doesn¡¯t know


    anyone from Patterson. We¡¯ll have to think of another way.¡±


    Ava¡¯s expression changed, but she suppressed her annoyance and asked, ¡°What should we do then?¡±


    ¡®You still have the nerves to show up here when you can¡¯t even solve such a trivial matter?¡¯


    If Adam had not been avoiding her for several days, they would not have had to rely on Icarus in the


    first ce.


    Jake was not in the mood to talk about this. ¡°Let¡¯s put that aside for now. There¡¯s something I need to


    ask you. You have to answer me seriously because it¡¯ll affect our future.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Did you take the money Coco¡¯s mother left for her?¡±

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88


    Chapter 88 You¡¯ve Always Had Coco in Your Heart


    A flicker of shock crossed Ava¡¯s beautiful face as she asked, ¡°Who told you that? Was it


    Coco?¡±


    ¡°Just answer my question,¡± Jake slowed down and spoke gently, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for our


    future.¡±


    ¡°If you were doing this for our future, then you wouldn¡¯t be asking me such a question! ¡°Ava said, her


    eyes filled with tears.


    Seeing her cry, Jake immediately found a tissue to wipe her tears and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Did Coco tell you that I took the money her mother left behind?¡± Ava asked, her voice choking up.


    Jake was silent for a moment before answering, ¡°Yes, she said that as long as you return the money-¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d believe her over me?¡± Ava interrupted him with a trembling voice, ¡°Am I a greedy person who


    would covet other people¡¯s inheritance in your eyes?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m trying to say. You¡¯re misunderstanding me. I didn¡¯t mean-¡± Jake tried to exin, but


    Ava cut him off.


    ¡°Stop talking. I thought two people should trust one another when they¡¯re engaged. I had no idea you


    would go behind my back to see Coco without taking my feelings into consideration,¡± Ava said with a


    sorrowful smile, tears still rolling down her cheeks.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t cry, Ava. I can exin. I went to see Coco yesterday to warn her not to disturb us,¡± Jake


    exined.


    ¡°Warn her?¡± Ava smiled bitterly through her tears. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why are you questioning me


    first thing in the morning?¡±


    Jake was at a loss for words. He tousled his hair anxiously and said, ¡°You always talk about trusting


    each other, but you don¡¯t seem to trust me much either. I was already annoyed by yesterday¡¯s


    engagement party. Can¡¯t you try to understand me a little?¡±


    Before he could say anything further, a loud crash came as if something had fallen to the ground.


    Benjamin kicked the broken pieces away and walked over, staring at Jake with displeasure. ¡°The


    engagement party was for both families. You¡¯re not the only one who


    was annoyed. If you came here to argue, then get the hell out of here.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Ava, show him out.¡±


    Ava looked at Jake with disappointment. ¡°I know you¡¯ve always had Coco in your heart. If you want to


    go back to her, I won¡¯t stop you. Let¡¯s both just take a break and cool off for a while.¡±


    After saying this, she closed the door, ignoring Jake¡¯s knocking from outside.


    In the end, the gifts were given, but Jake did not have the chance to step into the house. He was left


    with a burning anger in his heart and kicked a nearby tree trunk in. frustration. 1


    On the second floor, Ava stood by the window and pursed her lips as Jake drove away. She wiped


    away her tears and spent another half an hour touching up her makeup in front of the mirror.


    ¡®Looks like I can¡¯t rely on Jake anymore. I¡¯ll have to rely on myself.¡¯


    She picked up her phone and video-called Adam. The phone rang a few times before being hung up.


    Ava clenched her phone and gritted her teeth in frustration. She decided to call him back every single


    time he hung up on her. She did not believe that he would keep hanging up on her indefinitely.


    As May drew to a close, Chloe handed in her monthly report to her superior, but her superior just put it


    to the side without looking at it.


    ¡°This afternoon, take some time to head over to Patterson and finalize the project documentation.


    Better early thante,¡± her superior instructed brusquely.


    With overseas bidding thrown into disarray by Fairlight¡¯s sudden reassignment, there was little urgency


    for him to prepare the monthly report.


    Chloe nodded and said, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll get a few team members to apany me thereter.


    ??


    Upon arriving at Patterson, the client was in the middle of a meeting, so Chloe was instructed to wait in


    the conference room. Soon after, someone brought in tea and snacks.


    Chloe smiled and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± The administrator nodded in response before leaving with the tray.


    As soon as she opened the door, she bumped into Adam. The administrator winced in pain and said,


    ¡°Mr. Adam, there are people inside. Please don¡¯t go in.¡±


    However, Adam simply pushed past her carelessly and said, ¡°I just need to grab a charger.¡±


    Upon entering the room, Chloe, who was sitting on the first row, caught his attention. She was wearing


    a button-up shirt and a short skirt, with her hair tied up in a ponytail. Her facial features were finely


    chiseled, and her skin had a glossy sheen that glimmered brilliantly in the light.


    Compared to those hookers with overdone makeup at the nightclubs, her natural beauty was a million


    times more captivating.


    Adam unplugged the charger and was momentarily stunned, unable to move his feet.


    Chloe was organizing her documents when she instinctively looked up and caught his gaze. She was


    slightly surprised to see him there.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t he the yboy who was hooking up with Ava?¡¯


    Adam noticed that she was looking at him too and struck a pose, thinking he looked cool. He then


    handed over his phone and said, ¡°Beautiful, can I have your number?¡±

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89


    Chapter 89 Ava Hits on a Younger Man


    Chloe could not help but chuckle. ¡°Judging by our age, you should be calling me ¡®big


    sister.¡±¡±


    Adam had changed his hairstyle to dreadlocks since shest saw him a few days ago, giving him a


    rougher appearance that resembled that of a hooligan. However, there was a certain youthful and


    delicate quality to his finely chiseled features that hinted he was about neen to twenty-one years


    old.


    He was certainly younger than Ava, and Chloe did not know if he was aware of Ava¡¯s age, or if he just


    preferred women older than him.


    ¡°Will you give me your number if I call you ¡®big sister?¡±¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of calling random people my brother,¡± Chloe replied coolly before returning her


    attention to her work, dismissing him as if he were a kid. ¡°You should go now. We have work to do. If


    your father sees you here, he¡¯ll probably scold you.¡±


    It had been a long time since someone dared to dismiss him like this. The corner of Adam¡¯s lips


    twitched as he said, ¡°My dad doesn¡¯t care about me. I¡¯m an adult. Just give me your number, and


    maybe I¡¯ll buy you a car if I¡¯m in a good mood.¡±


    Chloe could not help but roll her eyes at Adam¡¯s presumptuousness. Giving out her number was out of


    the question. For one thing, she was not interested in dating someone so much younger than herself,


    and on another, if Adam couldnd Ava, he probably was not the most trustworthy person.


    Adam was ustomed to being the center of the world and was annoyed when Chloe did not treat him


    as such. However, as he watched her sitting quietly at the desk, he noticed her delicate, long eyshes


    and straight, pretty nose.


    Upon closer inspection, he could even make out the fine, soft hairs on her face. Who could resist such


    a natural beauty? Adam¡¯s anger instantly dissipated as he pondered how to win Chloe¡¯s favor.


    At that moment, the administrative assistant outside whispered, ¡°Mr. Adam, Mr. Alexander has arrived.


    Pleasee out.¡¯


    Startled, Adam scampered away like a mouse fleeing from a cat. The Baxon employeesughed at the


    sight of this.


    Chloe also found it amusing but reminded everyone to keep quiet since they were not at Baxon. Soon,


    the supervisor responsible for negotiations with Baxon arrived. Chloe and


    Chapter


    her team sprang into action, discussing the project with enthusiasm.


    ¡°In general, I find the proposal eptable, but I do have some concerns about the first andst three


    articles as they don¡¯t quite align with our style. To be more precise, we need to infuse the content with a


    futuristic touch while preserving a sense of warmth that¡¯s suitable for our real estate specialization.


    Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that our customers feel at home with our brand.¡±


    ¡°Could you be more specific about your modifications?¡± asked Chloe.


    ¡°In short, it just doesn¡¯t feel quite right,¡± the supervisor replied.


    Chloe listened politely but scolded him under her breath afterward. All clients were the same. They just


    never get straight to the point.


    After taking a deep breath, she maintained her smile and asked, ¡°When do you need


    this?¡±


    ¡°No rush,¡± he replied, ncing at the date. ¡°It¡¯s only the 15th today. You can submit the revision to us


    by the 17th.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    Chloe packed up her stuff and prepared to leave Patterson. From behind her, Lily muttered, ¡°He said a


    bunch of things but didn¡¯t actually say anything. How are we supposed to make changes?¡±


    Lily had just graduated from college and joined Baxon around the same time as Chloe. When Janice


    used Chloe of getting into Baxon through the backdoor, she was the one


    who stood up for her.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll make the changes myself. You guys focus on your own tasks,¡± Chloe


    assured her.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Ms. Chloe. I heard there¡¯s a department dinner tonight, but I don¡¯t know where it


    is¡­¡± Lily said, but she trailed off mid-sentence. She tugged on Chloe¡¯s sleeve and continued, ¡°Ms.


    Chloe, look over there.¡±


    Following Lily¡¯s gaze, Chloe saw Adam leaning against a blue Lamborghini, whistling


    at them.


    Chloe was speechless. She wanted to pretend that she did not see Adam, but Adam was faster than


    her and stopped her from leaving.


    ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t consider me?¡± Adam asked impatiently, ¡°Just think of it as making a new


    friend. Have dinner with me and we¡¯ll just chat. I won¡¯t do anything to


    you. If you keep mepany for three days. I¡¯ll give you 40,000 dors. How about it?¡±


    Before Chloe could respond, he continued, ¡°At your age, if you want to find someone better than me,


    you can only look for one in a bunch of old men.¡¯


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Adam had seen too many women


    age willing to marry men several times their age for money because most men their had mediocre


    financial status. Very few could be wealthy at a very young age.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve met plenty of young, handsome, and rich men,¡± Chloe rebutted.


    She was referring to Joseph, who was top-notch in all aspects-except for his temper, which made


    people hesitant to approach him.


    Adam did not believe her. ¡°Who?¡±


    As soon as he spoke, a cold voice like a cool breeze on a hot summer day that sent chills. down one¡¯s


    spine, suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Me.¡±

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90


    Chapter 90 Challenging the Unchallengeable


    Samuel waspletely taken aback.


    The Joseph he knew had no interest in women, let alone stepping forward in public and acting as a


    hero to save a damsel in distress. So why would he take the initiative to help this girl?


    ¡®Hold on a moment! He didn¡¯t just rescue her. He also admitted to being the young, handsome, and


    wealthy man this girl was talking about! It¡¯s absurd how he¡¯s willing to sacrifice his pride just to save


    her. That¡¯s some extreme level of narcissism.


    ¡®But hang on¡­ Something¡¯s not quite right here. Is this girl Chloe?¡¯


    Samuel¡¯s suspicions were confirmed as he observed Joseph and Chloe.


    Chloe and Adam turned their heads simultaneously. The man before them was d in an expensive


    ck suit. He was tall and slim with eyebrows that curved like crescents. The high position of his nose


    bridge and tightly pursed lips gave him a distant, almost unapproachable air. His deep-set eyes were


    dark and emotionless, yet his gaze was icy and cold as he stared at Adam.


    Thetter trembled visibly. His haughty demeanor disappeared the moment he saw the


    man.


    ¡°M-Mr. Joseph, what brings you here?¡± he stammered.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Chloe was slightly taken aback. ¡°You know him?¡±


    Before Adam could answer, Alexander, the CEO of Patterson, emerged from the building and pushed


    him aside to warmly wee Joseph.


    Joseph gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, but his gaze remained fixed on Adam. It seemed to him


    that Adam had a lot of nerves to flirt with his woman when he was barely out of diapers.


    ¡°Mr. Samuel? What brought you here today too?¡± Alexander was surprised to see Samuel.


    ¡°I had some time today, so I came to discuss the case with you,¡± Samuel answered with


    a smile.


    Remembering the legal troubles hispany had been facingtely, Alexander said, ¡± Oh, in that case,


    I won¡¯t be of much help. I¡¯ll have our legal departmente out and talk to you.¡±


    Despite having spent a considerable amount of money on multiplewyers to resolve the issue, none


    had been able toe up with a solution. Alexander was left with no choice but to turn to Samuel,


    even though he knew Samuel¡¯s services came with a high price tag.


    As he spoke, his secretary gestured for Samuel to follow her into the building.


    Turning to Joseph, Alexander said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, shall we go in as well?¡±


    Joseph did not immediately respond, slowly retracting his gaze while replying nomittally, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Alexander observed this subtle movement and threw Adam a nce, wondering how his son managed


    to get on Joseph¡¯s bad side.


    As Joseph walked past her, Chloe furrowed her brows, a hint of suspicion crossing her


    face.


    ¡®Could he really be doing business on such arge scale? He even has business with Patterson. But


    how is this possible? If memory serves me right, Jake¡¯s uncle isn¡¯t that


    influential at all.¡¯


    ¡°I want to have chicken cordon bleu tonight,¡± Joseph said, stopping next to Chloe.


    Chloe had been cooking for him for so long that she instinctively agreed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go to the market


    after work to buy some ingredients.¡±


    But then she remembered the department dinner party tonight and pped her forehead in frustration.


    ¡°Oh gosh, I forgot that my department is having a dinner party tonight. You¡¯ll have to take care of dinner


    yourself.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows knitted ever so slightly but did not say anything.


    In the meantime, Alexander perceived the bond between the two and a realization struck him. He cast


    a disapproving re at Adam, admonishing him for daring to provoke someone as influential as


    Joseph, all the whilementing his misfortune for having an inept son.


    With a heavy heart, Adam hung his head low. He never expected Chloe to have ties to someone as


    prominent as Joseph. He did not know why his father was ming him.


    After they had walked into the building, Lily snapped herself out of her trance and asked excitedly, ¡°Ms.


    Chloe, is that your boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°But you¡¯re married!¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ Our rtionship isn¡¯t like what you think, Lily.¡±


    Lily did not believe her and continued, ¡°If you¡¯re not in that kind of rtionship, then what kind of


    rtionship is it? Why else would you cook for him? You two must be


    living together. You¡¯re just too embarrassed to admit it, right?¡±

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91


    Chapter 91 I¡¯m His Maid


    Chloe blinked her eyes, meeting Lily¡¯s curious gaze.


    ¡°I cook for him because I¡¯m his maid,¡± she exined.


    They lived under the same roof. They were devoid of the love and affection that a


    married couple shared, but they shared the mundane chores of daily life. Was that not what a maid


    did?


    If she was not a maid, then what was she?


    Lily was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re his maid?¡± she parroted.


    ¡°Yeah. Do I not look like one?¡±


    Lily knew that wealthy families would often have strict requirements when hiring maids, but someone


    as beautiful as Chloe was a rare find. She could not help but feel a little disappointed. A person who


    could make the CEO of Patterson personallye out to greet them must be extraordinary in some


    way.


    Besides, his height was perfect, his appearance was impable, and he had an extraordinary air


    about him. He was the dream man of every woman in the world.


    But unfortunately, he was not Chloe¡¯s boyfriend.


    ¡°Why did you refuse to give Adam your number? If you could get together with him, you wouldn¡¯t have


    to work during the day and be a maid at night,¡± said David.


    David Lane was the oldest member of the team. He had been with Baxon for five years. and had


    expected to be promoted to team leader, but Chloe had beaten him to it. Therefore, he was always


    finding fault with her work.


    Chloe nced at him and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like Adam. He¡¯s not my type.¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°His father is the CEO of Patterson. If you marry him, you¡¯ll live a life of luxury and be a wealthy


    lady for the rest of your days. Isn¡¯t that the ultimate goal for women? ¡°David pressed on.


    Lily felt ufortable hearing this. ¡°Not all women want to be housewives,¡± she said.


    ¡°Come on, why do you girls try so hard toe to Baxon if you don¡¯t want to marry into a wealthy


    family?¡± David sneered.


    Everyone knew that there were plenty of eligible men in bigpanies, and it was not umon for


    women to use work as an excuse to find a partner.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you shave your head?¡± Chloe joked.


    ¡°Why should I shave my head?¡± David asked in confusion.


    ¡°In ancient times, eunuchs all shaved their heads. Since you know women so well, you could have


    been an emperor¡¯s favored eunuch.¡± Chloe chuckled.


    David¡¯s face sank.


    Upon their return to Baxon, Chloe threw herself into her work, her fingers tapping the keyboard in a


    steady rhythm, creating a crisp stato of clicks. She diligently followed Patterson¡¯s advice and made


    revisions to the document, which was not supposed to be a daunting task. However, the word ¡°feeling¡±


    mentioned by the other party posed a challenge.


    In a world of infinite possibilities, each person had their own unique perception of feelings. If everyone


    felt the same way about something, it would not truly be considered a feeling.


    To concentrate, Chloe put on her headphones and tuned out the world, immersing herself in soft, gentle


    music. When David emerged from the restroom, he saw Chloe sitting at her desk, diligently revising the


    proposal.


    A hint of resentment flickered across his face. If it were not for this girl suddenly appearing out of


    nowhere, the position of team leader would have been his.


    At this moment, everyone¡¯s phone in the office buzzed. It turned out that Patterson had changed the


    deadline for submitting the proposal and was now demanding it by


    tomorrow.


    Lily grumbled in annoyance, ¡°Well, there goes our dinner ns for tonight.¡±


    ¡°You guys can go ahead without me. I¡¯m almost done,¡± Chloe said as she removed her headphones.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let you stay here alone and work overtime,¡± Lily replied.


    The others chimed in, but their disappointment was evident.


    David¡¯s eyes rolled and an idea took shape in his mind.


    ¡°You guys go ahead. My wife is working the night shift tonight, and I need to go pick her up. I¡¯ll take


    care of the remaining work,¡± he said.


    With that, he went to stand beside Chloe, asking about her progress on the proposal.


    Chloe could not resist his enthusiasm, and since there were only some minor detalls left to adjust, she


    agreed.


    That night, Chloe had a few drinks at the dinner table. Lily took several pictures of her to post on her


    social media. In the pictures, Chloe¡¯s cheeks were tinted with a rosy hue, her eyes appeared dreamy,


    and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders. She leanedzily against Lily, revealing a slender and


    fair-skinned neck that exuded a charming and delicate feminine air. Despite her innocent appearance,


    there was a subtle hint of coquettishness on her face.


    As Harry scrolled through his social media feed, he came across the photo posted by Chloe¡¯s friend. It


    appeared to him that they were at a restaurant near Baxon. Harry quickly took a screenshot and sent it


    to Icarus along with the address.


    ¡°Chloe is having a department dinner tonight, and she seems to be drunk. Do you want to create an


    idental encounter?¡± Harry asked.


    Icarus looked at the photos of Chloe and replied with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t want to create an idental


    encounter. I just want to be her driver.¡±


    The dinner ended at eleven o¡¯clock. Lily¡¯s boyfriend came to pick her up and offered to give Chloe a


    ride. However, Chloe turned down his offer.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just take a cab. Lily has had quite a few drinks, so please take care of her.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s not easy to get a cab at this time,¡± he insisted.


    Lying drunkenly in the back seat, Lily chimed in, ¡°Ms. Chloe isn¡¯t going home. She¡¯s going to work as a


    maid. It¡¯s really tough!¡±


    ¡°At this time of night? Working as a maid?¡± Lily¡¯s boyfriend was surprised, and it was apparent that he


    had misunderstood the situation.


    Chloe was speechless.


    After sending Lily on her way, Chloe took out her phone and opened up a ride-hailing app. Suddenly, a


    BMW pulled up and parked in the adjacent parking space.


    She looked up and saw Icarus stepping out of the car. With a gentle smile, he personally opened the


    passenger seat door, his gold-rimmed sses exuding an air of refinement and elegance. ¡°The ride


    you called for has arrived, madam. Please, get in.¡±

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92


    Chapter 92 Are You That Desperate?


    Chloe looked at her phone skeptically and said, ¡°Strange. I haven¡¯t even started hailing a ride yet.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I arrived just in time. Neither too early nor toote,¡± Icarus replied.


    Her cherry lips parted in surprise. ¡°You came specifically to pick me up?¡±


    ¡°Mhmm.¡± he nodded.


    Seeing the perplexed expression on Chloe¡¯s face, Icarus paused for a moment before exining, ¡°I


    was having dinner nearby with Harry and saw on his social media that you were also in the area.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought it might be inconvenient for you to hail a ride at this time of night, so I came to offer you a ride


    home,¡± Icarus continued.


    ¡°It¡¯s already sote, and it¡¯ll be midnight by the time we arrive at my ce,¡± she pointed out.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve been having trouble sleeping these past few days and usually stay upte,


    Icarus said.


    At this point, Chloe found no reason to refuse his kind offer.


    Joseph took Toto for a walk, but as soon as they left the vi, Toto sat on the ground, panting and


    refusing to go.


    Toto had already been taken out for a walk five times tonight. Any more and it would


    die!


    However, Joseph showed no mercy and reprimanded, ¡°You eat so much every day. You¡¯ve gained a


    few pounds, so you have to exercise more to lose the weight.¡±


    It was Chloe¡¯s turn to take Toto for a walk tonight, yet there was no sign of her despite it being already


    sote.


    ¡°What kind of dinner partysts for five or six hours? Even the Fairlight board meetings never go on this


    long! Baxon can¡¯t get any work done, but they sure knew how to organize a party,¡± Joseph muttered.


    Toto had no way to express its frustration, feeling like it was being dragged into the human squabbles.


    As Joseph and Toto werepleting their tenthp around the neighborhood, a car light shone from


    the entrance. Soon enough, it stopped at the gate and Chloe stepped


    out.


    Joseph stood in the shade of the trees, his stern face softening for a moment when he saw her. But


    that moment was fleeting as his expression turned dark again when he saw that it was not a cab, but a


    car driven by Icarus.


    ¡®So she didn¡¯te home to take care of Toto because she was hanging out with another man? Great.


    This is just great.¡¯


    Chloe thanked Icarus before both of them went their separate ways.


    The dark sky loomed over her as she walked toward the neighborhood. However, Toto¡¯s fur and


    Joseph¡¯s towering figure made it easy for Chloe to spot them. Her lips curved upwards and her eyes lit


    up, thinking that Joseph hade to pick her up.


    However, as they drew closer, she noticed that his face was as ck as the bottom of a burnt pot. She


    sobered up a little and asked, ¡°Are you in a bad mood?¡±


    ¡°Do you not realize what you¡¯ve forgotten?¡± Joseph asked in a deep voice.


    She was stunned for a few seconds. Just when she was about to shake her head, Toto barked, as if it


    was reminding her.


    As she turned to look at Toto, she finally remembered. ¡°It was my turn to walk the dog today!¡±


    They had made an agreement to take turns walking Toto at night. Since yesterday was


    Joseph¡¯s turn, today was hers.


    Joseph sneered and sarcastically taunted her, ¡°I thought you enjoyed your ride so much that you¡¯d


    forgotten about it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much. I¡¯ll walk Toto tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,¡± Chloe


    said.


    To her, Joseph had always been like this. He would mock her every now and then, so she did not


    realize that something was wrong. But to Joseph, it appeared that she was feigning ignorance out of a


    sense of guilt. He smiled and spoke in his usual low, maic voice, but what came out of his mouth


    was unpleasant.


    ¡°I told you not to fool around with men of questionable character during the contract


    We You Thi


    sperut


    period. Are you really that desperate?¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Am I talking nonsense, or are you just too afraid to admit it?¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I don¡¯t understand why you have to use me like this,¡±


    Chloe said.


    The branches rustled and a few leaves fell on Joseph¡¯s shoulder. Without moving, he stared straight at


    Chloe and sneered. ¡°I saw the man who dropped you off earlier. No matter how you try to deny it, you


    can¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s not just a normal friend.¡±


    ¡°We are just normal friends!¡± Chloe protested.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one neighborhood here, and he definitely doesn¡¯t live nearby. Would a normal friend¡¯


    drive you home sote at night?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡®Does she think I¡¯m an idiot? How could she expect me to believe her when she gives such ame


    excuse?¡¯


    ¡°You don¡¯t want toe and pick me up, so do you expect me to refuse when someone offers me a


    ride?¡± Chloe said, throwing caution to the wind.


    ¡°Come on. You live a life of luxury and don¡¯t have to take a cab at night. You have no idea how difficult


    it is to get a ride at this hour, especially in such a remote area. You¡¯re just lying around at home doing


    nothing, so why can¡¯t I ept it when someone offers to take me home? Why do you keep harping on


    about it?!¡±

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93


    Chapter 93 It Isn¡¯t Dead Yet


    Joseph stared at her intensely, his anger rising as he let out a sarcasticugh. ¡°Did you ask me to pick


    you up?¡±


    ¡°Would you have if I had asked?¡± she shot back.


    Joseph fell silent. The answer was no. But if he had known that Chloe could not get a ride and had to


    be brought home by another man, he would have gone to get her. After all, this woman was so foolish


    that she would not realize if someone was going to harm


    her.


    Seeing that he was unresponsive, Chloe had her answer. She forced a bitter smile, turned around, and


    headed toward the residential area.


    Joseph frowned and handed her the leash.


    Chloe looked at the leash and asked, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t walked the dog yet today,¡± he said.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t walked the dog thiste?!¡± Chloe eximed.


    ¡°Well, you should¡¯vee back earlier,¡± he replied curtly.


    Chloe took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to argue with him. She grabbed the leash and


    headed toward the garden at the back of the residential area.


    Toto yelped in protest, ¡°Please don¡¯t do this! I¡¯ve already walked tenps!¡±


    As Chloe strolled with Toto in their usual spot, she noticed that it seemed exhausted. It seemed to her


    that Toto had been walking for a long time as it was panting heavily.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Is your stomach still upset, Toto?¡± she asked with concern.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± Toto barked in response, protesting that it was not the case and that it was just


    tired from all the walking.


    Chloe did not know what to do since Toto refused to take another step. After scanning her surroundings


    and determining that there was no one in the vicinity, she decided to release the leash. ¡°Go for a little


    walk on your own, and then we¡¯ll head back home.¡±


    However, Toto did not run around and y like it usually did, choosing instead to just lie at Chloe¡¯s feet.


    She could not help but worry that Toto¡¯s stomach was acting up


    again.


    Just when she bent down to check on it, arge dog suddenly leaped out from the greenery and


    pounced on Toto. Chloe was startled and took several steps back. At first, she thought it was the same


    Golden Retriever they had encountered before. But when Toto growled, she realized that something


    was wrong. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that it was a German Shepherd that was attacking


    Toto!


    In an instant, the two dogs were locked in a vicious fight, biting and wing at each other. Chloe was


    stunned. Although Toto was intelligent for a Border Collie, it did not stand a chance against a German


    Shepherd in a fight.


    She tried to rush over and grab Toto¡¯s cor to separate the two dogs, but every time she touched the


    cor, she was thrown off and almost got herself injured several times.


    As Toto¡¯s stamina waned, the German Shepherd took advantage of the opportunity and pounced,


    viciously tearing into its flesh. She was at a loss for how to handle the situation since she had no


    experience raising dogs.


    She wanted to call Joseph for help, but before she could do so, a middle-aged man sauntered over,


    lazily calling out the German Shepard¡¯s name.


    ¡°Is this your dog?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied, watching the two dogs fight without any intention of stopping them. Heined,


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t your dog on a leash?¡±


    ¡°Your dog ran over first. Also, don¡¯t talk about that right now. Get your dog away,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it?¡± he shot back.


    ¡°If I could separate them, I wouldn¡¯t have asked you!¡± Chloe watched helplessly as Toto¡¯s thigh was


    bitten and blood oozed out. She could not help but yell at the Hurry up, your dog has injured my dog!¡±


    man,


    The man reluctantly came over and pulled the German Shepherd away. ¡°It¡¯s not like it killed your dog.


    Why are you yelling so loudly?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s fingers trembled as she turned on her shlight to examine Toto¡¯s wounds. Hearing the man¡¯s


    disdainful remark, she suddenly stood up andshed out, ¡°I may not have had the leash on, but I made


    sure there were no people around before letting my dog go.


    ¡°What about you? Where were you when your dog ran over? If you can¡¯t keep up with a dog because


    you¡¯re old, then you shouldn¡¯t have one as a pet!¡±


    The man grew even more upset at her words, ring at her with a fierce and menacing expression.


    ¡°Say that again. I dare you!¡±

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94


    Chapter 94 giarism


    The neighborhood was quiet despite being in a bustling area. There were no people in the surrounding


    area, especially at night.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    To be honest, there was nothing she could do if the middle-aged man in front of her decided to do


    anything to her.


    Chloe¡¯s palms were sweating, but she did not back down. ¡°What are you going to do to me if I say it


    again? I did nothing wrong. You were the one who failed to keep an eye on your dog, and now you


    have the audacity to shift the me on me. The regtions in Aesper prohibit the ownership of


    German Shepherds. I have the right to report you.¡±


    As soon as Chloe said she was going to report him, the man faltered and did not say anything more.


    He pulled his dog away and quickly left.


    Chloe let out a sigh of relief and called Joseph toe over.


    Five minutester, Joseph arrived. He was wearing a cotton shirt, and his expression was gloomy and


    terrifying under the night sky.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t put Toto on a leash?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I did. I let it go for a few minutes behind the garden,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Are you an idiot? Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s against thew to walk a dog without a leash?¡± he scolded.


    ¡°I know, but I only let it go for a short while and there was no one around,¡± Chloe defended herself.


    ¡°That means Toto wasn¡¯t on a leash for at least a few minutes. It¡¯s still uneptable.¡±


    ¡°But there was nobody around us at that time. How was I supposed to know that a German Shepherd


    would suddenly appear?¡± Chloe said.


    She felt sorry for Toto. Even though Toto was not her dog, she loved the dog.


    Joseph¡¯s face sank a little. ¡°Are you still trying to argue with me?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not argue for now,¡± Chloe said weakly, ¡°Please take a look at Toto¡¯s injuries.¡±


    In truth, Toto did not seem too badly hurt. Despite limping, it was still affectionately nudging them and


    asking for pets.


    Joseph pushed aside Toto¡¯s fur and saw the wound caused by the German Shepherd¡¯s


    bite. It was only one wound, but it was deep, and blood was flowing out continuously.


    Chloe felt self-reproachful seeing the wound. ¡°I did try to separate the two dogs, but I wasn¡¯t


    sessful.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Joseph¡¯s anger rose again.


    ¡®Is she an idiot? She actually tried to pull apart tworge dogs with her bare hands. Moreover, the other


    dog¡¯s origins were unknown. It could¡¯ve been carrying bacteria that could be dangerous if it bit her.¡¯


    ¡°Are you taking Toto to the vet?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Just when Chloe wanted to go back and get some disinfectant wipes to clean the wound, she heard


    Joseph say, ¡°I¡¯ll take Toto there myself.¡±


    Chloe bit her lip hard, wanting to exin that it was not her intention to let Toto get hurt. She looked up,


    but upon seeing the stern and cold expression on Joseph¡¯s face, she swallowed her words back and


    nodded.


    At this point, it was more important to take care of Toto¡¯s injuries first. It was better to keep quiet and


    avoid another argument.


    Chloe had a long day and went to bed immediately after washing up.


    The following day, the rm clock jolted her awake. She rubbed her bleary eyes as she stumbled out


    of the room to check on Toto. She looked around the courtyard but Toto. and Joseph were nowhere to


    be found. She felt a little bit worried about them and sent a message to Joseph to ask about their


    whereabouts.


    After washing up, she grabbed an umbre and walked along the path in the residential area.


    Suddenly, she came across a few property staff talking to a man who seemed to be agitated. She did


    not pay much attention to them until she got closer and realized it was the owner of the German


    Shepherd fromst night.


    ¡°ording to the contract, it is explicitly stated that you¡¯re not allowed to keep banned dog breeds in


    the city, which is a vition of public security regtions. If you don¡¯t send the dog back to your vige


    within three days, we¡¯ll have to takepulsory measures,¡± one of the staff members said.


    ¡°I won¡¯tply. The house and the dog are both mine. If you want to use force, go ahead!¡± the man


    retorted.


    ¡°Calm down, sir. We¡¯re trying to work something out with you. If the policee, not


    only will you be fined, but your dog will also be taken away,¡± another staff member replied calmly.


    The man grew increasingly agitated. ¡°How dare you threaten to take my dog away! Do you know who


    my daughter is?!¡±


    The staff sneered. ¡°We don¡¯t know who your daughter is, but the person our manager mentioned is


    definitely not someone your daughter can afford to mess with.¡±


    Chloe lowered her gaze and hurried off to Baxon without stopping. It was likely that this man¡¯s habit of


    walking his dog without a leash had led to numerous reports from other residents, which ultimately


    forced the property management to take action.


    Such people brought their troubles on themselves. It was not a big deal to raise a German Shepherd,


    but if they could not manage it properly, that would be a problem.


    In the end, dogs fighting with each other was a minor issue, but if they attacked people, especially


    children or the elderly, that would be a major problem.


    Chloe bought herself a cup of coffee and some croissants at a coffee shop below Baxon. She had just


    ced the breakfast on her desk when her superior mmed a folder onto it, spilling coffee all over her


    keyboard.


    ¡°How could you im someone else¡¯s ideas as your own?! Do you have no shame?!¡±

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95


    Chapter 95 Go Apologize to Patterson


    Chloe¡¯s mind went nk for a few seconds, and when she came around to her senses, her first


    reaction was that there must have been a misunderstanding.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t giarize anything. Did you make a mistake, sir?¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Even if I made a mistake, do you think Patterson would have made the same mistake? They called me


    this morning to inform me,¡± her superior retorted.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, I didn¡¯t giarize. Thetest version was revised ording to their requirements. I


    didn¡¯t even have the chance to giarize,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°The proposal you submitted to Patterson has a fifty percent simrity to a proposal on the Inte.


    What do you have to say about that?¡± her superior said, clearly not believing in her.


    ¡°Submitted¡­¡± Chloe suddenly remembered something and picked up the folder stained with coffee to


    examine it. After scanning through it, she could not believe what she saw. ¡°This isn¡¯t the proposal I


    revised.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t written by you, so it must be someone else who¡¯s framing you, right?¡± Her superior sneered.


    ¡°It¡¯s not mine. Yesterday, I went out to dinner with everyone, and the proposal was almostplete by


    then. David offered to handle the final touches as he wasn¡¯ting with us,¡± Chloe exined.


    Lily nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I can vouch for her. Ms. Chloe was with usst night.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s David?¡± her superior asked.


    David immediately stood up and said, ¡°I swear it has nothing to do with me. I followed Chloe¡¯s


    instructions and made the revisions before I left to pick up my wifest night.¡±


    ¡°But you were the only one with the opportunity to make the final changes,¡± Lily refuted softly.


    ¡°What are you saying? I was working hard in the office while you all were out having fun. Now, you¡¯re


    ming me for everything? Besides, the final copy was sent out from Chloe¡¯s email,¡± David said, ¡°Sir, it


    really isn¡¯t me.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t send that email. I was going to send it this morning,¡± Chloe denied.


    ¡°Really? Why don¡¯t you check your email and see for yourself?¡± David sneered.


    Everyone nodded in agreement. Chloe turned on herptop to let her superior check her email.


    After looking through it, her superior¡¯s face turned red with anger.


    It was true that Chloe had not sent an email to Pattersonst night. Instead, she had set it to send at


    seven the next morning. However, there was a link to a website on her desktop. Upon clicking it, the


    link brought them to an article that was exactly like her proposal.


    Chloe stood frozen in ce, her pale face now drained of all color.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me¡­ It really wasn¡¯t me,¡± she whispered.


    Compared to the newly appointed leader who had just joined them a few months ago, her colleagues


    were more inclined to believe David, who had been working with them. for five years. Apart from Lily,


    no one believed Chloe. Even the skeptical employees who had initially kept an open mind were now


    convinced that it was her fault.


    ¡°I told you. She¡¯s too young to be a team leader. She has no real ability,¡± one employee scoffed.


    ¡°She does have the ability, but not enough to match her current position,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°I wonder how she got through the interview,¡± a third said.


    ¡°Do you not know? Mr. Maurice said it was all about her looks.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Looks alone won¡¯t cut it. In some critical moments, you might have to sell your body.¡±


    Chloe clenched her fists tightly by her side, feeling disappointed as she watched her former colleagues


    tear off their masks of pretense and heap scorn upon her.


    ¡°Enough. Instead of wasting time with this gossip, let¡¯s think about how we¡¯re going to exin this to


    Patterson,¡± their superior snapped, ring at them before turning to Chloe and issuing a stern


    command. ¡°You have half a day toe up with a solution. If


    you can¡¯t figure it out, resign on your own ord.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Not only will I solve this problem, but I¡¯ll also expose the person who did this to me,¡±


    Chloe vowed.


    David¡¯s smile froze on his face. He was so angry that he could feel his teeth grinding


    together. He was determined to kick Chloe out, and he would not change his mind now!


    After everyone dispersed, Lily nervously asked Chloe, ¡°What should we do? We only have half a day,


    and our boss clearly wants to kick you out.¡±


    Chloe forced a smile and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a job. There are plenty of opportunities in


    Aesper. Right now, the priority is to revise the document and send it to


    Patterson.¡±


    ¡°But can you finish it in such a short time?¡± Lily asked with concern.


    ¡°I can. I already made some revisions yesterday, and it¡¯s all in my head. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Chloe


    replied confidently.


    Lily nodded profusely, ¡°Yes! I believe in you, Ms. Chloe!¡±


    Chloe then got to work on the revisions at lightning speed. Two hourster, she finished and called the


    project manager at Patterson, her heart pounding with anxiety. However, before she could even


    apologize, she was greeted by a cold, mechanical voice.


    ¡°Hello, the number you have dialed cannot be reached. Please try againter.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank. Her number had been blocked.


    After thinking for a few minutes, she made a decisive decision. She grabbed herptop and headed


    downstairs to hail a cab to Patterson. Being blocked meant the other party was truly angry, and


    perhaps apologizing in person would show more sincerity.

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96


    Chapter 96 They Might Already Be Family


    Chloe got into the cab and told the driver where to go.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re going to Patterson. I know that area well,¡± the driver responded.


    ¡°Please drive faster. I have an urgent matter to attend to,¡± Chloe requested.


    ¡°All right, I promise you¡¯ll be there in no time!¡± the driver replied.


    In the next second, another car came around the corner toward them. The driver¡¯s pupils contracted,


    and he quickly hit the brakes. Unfortunately, they were going too fast and could not stop in time.


    There was a loud crash as the two cars collided.


    Thankfully, both drivers¡¯ reactions were quick. Chloe¡¯s body flew forward a little, but she did not hit the


    window.


    ¡®I thought this guy said he was a professional¡­¡¯


    ¡°Are you crazy?! Why were you driving so fast?! My employer has a heart condition. Can you afford the


    consequences if something happens?!¡± Mateo angrily questioned the driver as he got out of the car.


    The cab driver knew it was his fault. Just when he was about to apologize, his face turned pale when


    he saw the other car. It was a Lincoln worth millions.


    ¡°I¡¯m toast,¡± he muttered to himself.


    Chloe got out of the car and looked at the person inside the other car. She was surprised and


    eximed, ¡°Grandpa!¡±


    When Harold saw that it was her, he smiled brightly, ¡°Chloe? What are you doing here?


    ¡°I¡¯m going to deliver some documents,¡± she replied, ncing at the cab driver. ¡°I have an urgent matter


    to attend to, so I told the driver to drive faster. Are you okay, Grandpa?


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Mateo, don¡¯t give the driver a hard time. Car idents happen all the time,¡± Harold said as he


    beckoned at Chloe. ¡°Come on up. It¡¯s not easy to hail a cab halfway through the journey. Let me give


    you a ride.¡±


    11


    She did not have time to waste, so she picked up her document folder and got into the


    car.


    ¡°Where are you headed?¡±


    ¡°Patterson, Grandpa. It¡¯s hard to find parking there. You can just drop me off somewhere nearby.¡±


    ¡°Why do you have to go out to work at this hour? Hasn¡¯t Joseph assigned you an easier job?¡±


    Chloe paused for a moment and quickly exined, ¡°Grandpa, you misunderstand. I don¡¯t work at his


    office.¡±


    ¡°Then where are you working?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m working at Baxon.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Harold sat up straight. ¡°That scoundrel didn¡¯t give you a job in his office?¡±


    Fairlight was at least a publicly listedpany. Why would he let his granddaughter-in w work at a


    company with a bad reputation like Baxon?


    ¡°No¡­ This isn¡¯t Joseph¡¯s fault.¡± Chloe struggled to find the right words. ¡°I just don¡¯t want us to be


    together all the time. After all, women need to have their own careers.¡±


    ¡°Our family can certainly afford to support you,¡± Harold said, his voice thick with concern. ¡°I should ask


    that scoundrel to open a store for you and let you be the boss instead. It¡¯s much easier than your


    current job, and it¡¯s a career path too.¡±


    ¡°But being toofortable might make mezy,¡± replied Chloe.


    ¡°If you bezy, then just focus on having babies. Give birth to obedient grandchildren, and I¡¯ll help


    you take care of them so you won¡¯t have to worry about anything,¡± Harold suggested.


    At the mention of children, Chloe immediately tensed up and changed the subject. If they continued this


    topic, she feared she would sink into the wonderful life nned by Harold and be unable to extricate


    herself when the contract between her and Joseph


    ended.


    Fortunately, it did not take long to arrive at Patterson. Chloe hastily got out of the car and ran into the


    building.


    Upstairs, Alexander watched everything happen with great rity.


    The number te of the luxury car under the Whitmans¡¯ name was very impressive, and the numbers


    on the Lincoln Chloe was in were all eights. Those who knew Harold would instantly recognize the car


    as belonging to the Whitmans.


    It was likely that Chloe and Joseph were already family since she was able to ride in Harold¡¯s car. They


    probably had their own reasons for not making their rtionship public.


    After a moment of thought, Alexander instructed his secretary on what to do next.


    ¡°If you find the timeline challenging or the modifications too difficult, you could have told us. But using


    someone else¡¯s work as your own? What do you take us for? Fools?¡±


    The Patterson project manager initially had a good impression of Chloe, but now he was furious and


    did not bother to hide it.


    Chloe nervously ced the folder in front of him and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You may not believe me,


    but that email sent from my email this morning wasn¡¯t from me. This one on the desk is the proposal I


    wanted to submit to Patterson.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy, so stop wasting my time. If you came here just to tell me this, you can leave now,¡± the project


    manager said impatiently. He did not even look at Chloe¡¯s proposal and asked her to leave.


    Chloe¡¯s grip on her phone tightened and her voice became parched. ¡°Sorry to bother. you.¡±


    That¡¯s right. They were just business partners, and the final result was what mattered. to each other.


    They did not care about the process.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, please hold on.¡± A secretary walked up to Chloe with a gentle smile. Chloe turned around,


    hesitation in her voice. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡±

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97


    Chapter 97 She Probably Used Her Body


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the secretary looked at Chloe and said, ¡°Can you wait for a few minutes?


    Although Chloe did not understand why, she nodded.


    The secretary pulled the project manager to the side and whispered something into his ear. He looked


    shocked and his expression changed, but he nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood what he


    needed to do.


    After he and the secretary were finished talking, he approached Chloe and his attitude changed


    drastically.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for my attitude earlier, Ms. Chloe. Can you give me another chance to sit down and talk


    things out?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Chloe was stunned for a few seconds before eximing, ¡°Of course, we can!¡±


    After taking about ten minutes to review the newly revised proposal, the project manager said


    earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s very good. Let¡¯s go with this version.¡±


    ¡°A-Are you sure?¡± Chloe asked in disbelief.


    ¡°I have faith in your ability,¡± he replied.


    Chloe was overjoyed, feeling incredibly grateful for the manager¡¯s trust in her. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll get out of


    your hair now. Have a pleasant day.¡±


    ¡°Wait. I called your superior this morning to tell him that you giarized the proposal. He must have


    misunderstood,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m the person in charge of this project. If there¡¯s a problem, it¡¯s my fault,¡± she replied with a wry smile.


    She jokingly added, ¡°I didn¡¯t handle this carefully enough and caused


    so much trouble.¡±


    She and her colleagues only had a professional rtionship and had to prioritize thepany¡¯s


    interests. Furthermore, she had Lily who believed in her.


    Remembering what the secretary had said, the project manager suggested, ¡°How about this? This is


    my fault too. I¡¯ll go back with you to Baxon to exin to your supervisor.¡±


    Chloe was so surprised that her eyes widened. ¡°No, no! It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll go back and talk to my superior.


    You don¡¯t have toe with me.¡±


    However, he insisted on apanying her. Chloe could not understand his change of


    heart, but she did not say anything more. He meant well, and rejecting his offer would have been rude.


    When Chloe¡¯s superior saw the project manager from Patterson, he greeted him


    warmly and led him into the office. Chloe could not hear what they were talking about inside. Lily came


    over and asked curiously, ¡°So did you get it done?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ But it¡¯s a little weird.¡±


    ¡°At least we got it done. Who cares about the rest?¡± Lily said, casting a nce at David, who was


    surreptitiously listening in. ¡°We prioritize doing things correctly and maintaining proper conduct, unlike


    those who enjoy speaking ill of others behind their backs.¡±


    Chloe followed her gaze and looked at David. Realizing that they knew he was eavesdropping, David


    cleared his throat guiltily and red at Lily. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Whoever speaks ill of me, I¡¯ll do the same to them,¡± Lily replied confidently.


    Sneering coldly, David mumbled under his breath, ¡°She probably used her body to get ahead. What¡¯s


    there to be proud of?¡±


    The Patterson project manager apanied Chloe to Baxon to rify the situation. during his lunch


    break. It was clear that something had happened between them as it was unusual for ordinary people


    to receive such a treatment. Chloe¡¯s department colleagues looked at her contemptuously as if they all


    knew what had transpired.


    She scanned their faces, and her eyebrows furrowed tightly. She had not wanted to have a fallout with


    them, but it seemed like they all believed in David.


    After the project manager left, their superior took the initiative to apologize to Chloe.¡± I¡¯m sorry, Chloe. I


    should¡¯ve believed you. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that I didn¡¯t touch myptop from seven yesterday until nine this morning. Although the


    misunderstanding has been cleared up, there¡¯s still a chance that some people may have the wrong


    idea about me.¡±


    Her superior thought Chloe was still upset and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a few days off to rest. You¡¯ve been


    through a lot.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to take time off. I want to check the surveince footage. Whoever touched myptop after


    work yesterday is most certainly the culprit.¡±


    As soon as she said this, David¡¯s expression changed dramatically, and he was the first to object.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. The matter has already been resolved. Why waste time finding out who


    the culprit is?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a waste of time. Patterson was gracious enough to let this pass, but there may be others who


    will try to frame me again in the future.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s superior felt that she was right and promptly contacted the security office.


    A USB drive was quickly delivered to their superior, who took it back to his office and plugged it into his


    computer. He fast-forwarded the footage, and in the end, he saw David sneakily opening Chloe¡¯sptop


    after everyone had left!


    He could not contain his anger and yelled for David toe into his office.

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98


    Chapter 98 Deciding to Resign


    At first, David denied everything, iming that he was only looking for some information. However, after


    he was pressured by their superior, he eventually confessed.


    He was envious of Chloe¡¯s promotion to team leader shortly after joining thepany and had made a


    rash decision.


    Their superior was furious and scolded, ¡°We need to cooperate with clients from Estre all year round,


    and with her top-notch Estreniannguage skills and experience in leading a team, Chloe is more


    qualified and capable than you. There¡¯s no point inpeting with her!¡±


    David was resentful, but there was nothing he could do. The evidence was clear, and the truth was out.


    Since David had been working at Baxon for five years, their superior just fired him. He left Baxon with


    his belongings in hand, his head hanging low and defeated.


    Chloe had proven her innocence, and her colleagues quickly gathered around her, showering her with


    compliments. She responded to them with a fake smile on her face. She had not forgotten the things


    they had said this morning.


    All of them were fair-weathered. They were fickle and only cared about themselves. Joseph was right.


    The work culture at Baxon was not great-full of scheming and backstabbing.


    Chloe sat at her desk, and after a short contemtion, she decided to express her gratitude once again


    to the Patterson project manager. If it were not for his


    intervention, there was a good chance that her superior would not have approved the request to ess


    the surveince footage.


    The project manager responded with a text, saying that Chloe did not need to thank him and that she


    should thank Alexander instead. Chloe was confused, but before she could ask why, the project


    manager retracted his message.


    [Don¡¯t mention it, Ms. Chloe. It was just a small favor. I¡¯m really grateful that you were so kind and didn¡¯t


    me me for my presumptuous behavior.]


    As Chloe read the new message, the look of confusion on her face gradually faded. He must have sent


    the previous message to the wrong person.


    She replied politely and ended the conversation.


    Everything should have gone back to normal, but when Chloe went to the restroom in the afternoon,


    she overheard two women from her department chatting andughing as they entered the restroom.


    ¡°The new team leader is pretty impressive. She managed to deal with that fellow at Patterson. Maybe


    she sold her body to get ahead,¡± one of the women snickered.


    ¡°Who knows? But she is young and beautiful. It wouldn¡¯t be hard for her to seduce a man,¡± the other


    responded.


    They then looked at each other and let out augh together.


    Chloe¡¯s expression darkened as she pushed the door to her cubicle open, startling the two women.


    They then greeted her awkwardly, ¡°H-Hi, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Meanwhile, Chloe bent down at one of the sinks, washing her hands as her beautiful face with fair skin


    and delicate features was reflected in the mirror. Her downcastshes shielded her emotions from view.


    She scrubbed her hands vigorously and did not stop even after they turned red.


    Not hearing any response, the two female colleagues pursed their lips and left. At the same time, Chloe


    made a decision. If her superior wanted to dismiss her, then so be it.


    The atmosphere at Baxon was toxic and she could feel the stress and negativity weighing down on her.


    Even though she had already cleared her name, some people still believed the lies that had been


    spread about her.


    She decided to find a new job, but not at the moment. She was well aware of her financial capability


    and knew that she needed to take her time and explore all options. before making a move. It was time


    to be patient and search for better opportunities while keeping her current position as a backup n.


    As Chloe emerged from the restroom, she bumped into her superior. He repeated his offer for her to


    take a few paid days off to make amends for the recent turmoil.


    This time, Chloe did not refuse.


    She had not heard back from Joseph and wanted to personally check on Toto to make sure it had


    arrived home safely. However, her already low spirits were dampened further when she discovered she


    had started her period upon returning to the vi, and


    Toto was still nowhere to be found.


    Feeling down, she curled up on the sofa and did not want to move.


    Just as she was about to drift off, the shrill sound of her phone ringing jolted her awake.


    Assuming it was Joseph, she answered without looking at the caller ID.


    ¡°Ava told me that she didn¡¯t take the money your mother left for you! Have deliberately trying to sow


    discord between us the entire time?!¡¯N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    you been


    The sound of Jake¡¯s enraged voice pierced her ears and even caused a sharp pain in her


    abdomen.


    Chloe wondered if the maniptive behavior of a woman like Ava truly held an


    irresistible charm that could cause a person¡¯s intelligence to decline rapidly in just a


    few months.

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99


    Chapter 99 Is a Dog More Worthy Than Me?


    ¡°What evidence do you have to prove that I lied to you?¡±


    Jake was silent for a few seconds before he spoke with confidence, ¡°And what evidence do you have to


    prove that Ava took the money your mother left for you?¡±


    ¡°The diamond ne on her neck and Miles Upshaw from Sterling Law Associates can prove it!¡±


    She found it ridiculous that she had to prove that something was rightfully hers.


    Jake was speechless. It went without saying that he would not go to thew firm to verify whether Ava


    was lying or not. What he cared about was when he and Ava would make up. His parents had been


    asking him for the start-up capital for a while now.


    Hearing silence from the other end of the line, Chloe hung up the phone.


    Jake stared at the disconnected call, his brow furrowed tightly. He took a deep breath, knowing that


    other than the Johnsons, the only person who could help him now was his uncle. But he was worried


    about the rtionship between Chloe and his uncle.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Jake gritted his teeth and went to Icarus with hisst hope.


    Sipping on a cup of tea, Icarus looked coolly at him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Uncle Icarus, I have no other choice. I need start-up capital. My dad promised me that if I get this


    money, he¡¯ll let me start my ownpany and will also give me half of the projects under our family¡¯s


    name.¡¯


    ¡°I won¡¯t give you money. Leave.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Icarus, I¡¯m your nephew. Please don¡¯t treat me like this. You¡¯re the only person I can turn to


    now. If you don¡¯t help me, my dad will give thepany to that b*stard!¡±


    Icarus was aware that Jake¡¯s father was separated from his mother and had started a


    rtionship with another woman. He even had a son with that woman.


    ¡°What about the Johnsons?¡±


    ¡°Ava and I had a fight¡­¡±


    ¡°She refused to help you just because you two had a fight?¡± Icarus sneered.


    ¡°It was a pretty big fight this time¡­¡± Jake said, a hint of resentment crossing his eyes. He med


    everything on Chloe. If she had not appeared at the engagement party and


    had not seduced his uncle, Ava and he would not have gotten into a fight, nor would his uncle refuse to


    help him now.


    ¡°Even if you guys had a big fight, you¡¯re engaged. How could she not help you?¡±


    Jake looked at Icarus in confusion and asked, ¡°What do you mean, Uncle Icarus?¡±


    Icarus pushed his gold-rimmed sses up his nose and said calmly, ¡°If she really loves you and cares


    about you, she¡¯ll still help you when you¡¯re in a difficult spot even though she¡¯s angry. If Ava agrees to


    help you with this one time, I¡¯ll put aside my prejudices. against her.¡±


    Jake understood the implication of these words, but he was still skeptical. He thought that Chloe had


    filled his uncle¡¯s head with lies. But for now, he could not think of a


    better way, so he nodded and went to find Ava.


    Not long after Jake left, Harry called Icarus and told him the gossip he had heard in the pantry that day.


    ¡°Chloe lives in a vi and attends an advanced culinary ss. She can also easily call upon people


    from Patterson to testify for her. She doesn¡¯t look like someone who has been abandoned by her


    family, but rather someone who has many suitors. If you really like her, I suggest you speed things up,¡±


    Harry said seriously.


    Icarus ced his cup on the table and fell into thought. After a while, he said, ¡°Okay. Thank you for


    your advice.¡±


    Something happened to a project overseas, so Joseph went to Fairlight early in the morning to deal


    with it. By the time he solved the problem, he needed to attend another meeting. He had been so busy


    the whole day that he did not even take a break to eat.


    Night fell.


    After Patrick picked Joseph up, they went to pick Toto up from the vet. Toto did not look like it was


    injured at all as it was jumping and hopping around in high spirits.


    By the time they arrived home, it was already nine o¡¯clock.


    As Joseph gazed upon the pitch-ckness in front of him, he reached out and pressed a switch on the


    wall, causing the warm glow of lights to fill the space. As the room brightened, he saw a pair of white


    canvas shoes ced in the hallway.


    Joseph was observant. Even though Chloe had not told him, he knew that she wore canvas shoes for a


    few fixed days every month before switching to other shoes.


    After he switched into his slippers and advanced toward the living room, he caught sight of Chloe


    sleeping on the couch, her brows furrowed in discontent at the sudden intrusion of the bright lights.


    At this moment, Joseph¡¯s stomach growled loudly, and the hunger gnawing at his stomach made him


    urgently crave a hot meal. However, the cold kitchen told him that Chloe had not made any food.


    He thought about the pain that women felt when they are on their period, and his heart. softened. He


    did not wake up the sleeping woman to cook.


    However, Toto was not aware of all this. It just felt that it had been separated from Chloe for too long,


    so it bounded on top of the couch and enthusiastically rubbed its furry head against her.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Chloe was awakened by the noise, and when she saw the dog¡¯s head in front of her, she


    wrapped her arms around it, happy to find out that Toto was all right.


    In the next second, she met Joseph¡¯s gaze. Remembering the man¡¯s irrationalityst night, she


    immediately averted her eyes and focused on petting the dog.


    Joseph froze.


    ¡®What does that mean? Is a dog more worthy than me of her attention?¡¯

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100


    Chapter 100 Simple Dishes Taste Like Heaven.


    Joseph¡¯s face sank. He stretched out his hand, revealing his prominent knuckles as he pointed at


    Chloe. ¡°Go cook for me.¡±


    Chloe had a stomach ache and did not want to cook, so she said, ¡°Let¡¯s order takeout.¡±


    ¡°Sure, you pay for it then. I want seafood from Floria,¡± Joseph said, looking at her fixedly as he saw


    through her intentions with a nce.


    Floria was a famous seafood restaurant in Aesper. It carried a variety of fresh and cured seafood


    dishes, with oysters being its specialty. The prices were high, yet the portions were


    small.


    Chloe was stunned for a moment and said in disbelief, ¡°How did you know I got paid today?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Joseph raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Then I should order more today.¡±


    Chloe opened the takeout app and handed her phone to Joseph. ¡°Order whatever you want.¡±


    He casually ordered a few items. Chloe painfully paid for it and ordered a bowl of m chowder as


    well. When the takeout arrived, Joseph realized that she had not ordered anything else for herself.


    ¡°Why are you so stingy with yourself?¡± he asked exasperatedly.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because I like you. I¡¯d rather eat in food than see you suffer,¡± Chloe sarcastically retorted,


    but her voice was weak due to her stomach ache. Coupled with her innocent and harmless


    appearance, it aroused a protective instinct in those around her.


    Joseph froze and his gaze grew deep. He was taken aback by the fact that she loved him so deeply


    that she would willingly go without food just to provide him with a satisfying meal. Even someone with a


    heart of stone would be touched by such affection.


    Joseph pushed the oysters he had ordered toward her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    Chloe declined and pushed the te away, signaling she had no appetite. Her stomach was aching


    and she was not in the mood for cold oysters at the moment. Instead, she preferred a warm bowl of


    soup.


    Chloe held the bowl of m chowder and sipped on it. As the warm soup filled her belly, happiness


    filled her face.


    A furrow appeared on Joseph¡¯s forehead.


    ¡®Is this what people mean when they say simple dishes taste like heaven when eaten with a loved


    one?¡¯ he wondered.


    He could not understand this feeling, but he could not help but be moved by it. An indescribable feeling


    slowly spread from a certain ce in his heart. It was like a tender shoot


    sprouting out of dry earth, growing and blossoming silently.


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡±


    Chloe identally choked on the soup, her face turning bright red as she urgently looked for water to


    drink.


    Joseph snapped out of his thoughts and without hesitation, offered his own water cup to her.


    Chloe, struggling to catch her breath, did not even think twice about whose cup it was and took a few


    sips. It went down smoothly and she felt much better. However, when she looked down at the cup in


    her hand, she was almost scared out of her wits.


    ¡®This is Joseph¡¯s cup! He gave me his cup?!¡¯


    From the moment she moved in, he had emphasized several times that she was not allowed to touch


    his personal belongings, so she had always remembered his words and never touched his items, even


    separating theirundry and using two separate washing machines. But this time, she had used his


    water cup¡­


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe dared not look at Joseph and quietly put the cup down. She lowered her head and ate silently.


    Feeling a sudden thirst, Joseph picked up the ss and took a sip, not realizing that it was the same


    spot where Chloe had touched. As he finished drinking, he suddenly became aware of his own actions.


    ¡®Why did I give her my cup?¡±


    Despite the intimate gesture, he did not dwell on it and even took a few extra sips of water to quench


    his thirst.


    The two of them ate the rest of their meal in silence, with Toto nudging Chloe¡¯s leg and eyeing her soup


    hungrily.


    Chloe lowered her head and looked at the wound on Toto¡¯s leg. Since the dog¡¯s fur was white, the


    bloodstain was particrly noticeable as the wound had yet to heal and Toto could not have a bath or


    the wound would get wet.


    She pursed her lips and let out a long sigh. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let Toto loose yesterday.¡±


    Joseph was rigid in his opinions, but technically speaking, he was in the right. The mistake he made


    was that he unfairly criticized her without distinguishing right from wrong at the beginning.


    Of course, she did not voice this out loud. She was well aware that if she did, Joseph might start


    arguing with her again, and that was something she did not want to happen right now.


    Joseph did not immediately change into his usual clothes upon returning home tonight. Instead, he


    undid the buttons on his white shirt and rolled up his sleeves to reveal his strong and powerful wrists.


    He was born with a noble demeanor, and every move and action he made


    Chapter 100 Simple Dishes Taste Like Heaven


    was filled with elegance.


    His expression did not change, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. To show that he was the


    bigger person between them, he said, not realizing the smugness on his face, Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t hold


    it against you.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes, not believing a word of it.


    ¡°I ran into Grandpa today,¡± she said. She then told him everything that happened this afternoon,


    including the small ident she and Harold had got into.


    To her surprise, Joseph calmly replied, ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Grandpa told you about it?¡±


    ¡°Not only did he mention that he ran into you, but he also said that you were toiling away in the


    scorching summer heat, unable to take a lunch break as you had to go out for business.¡± He sneered,


    his voice chilly.


    It seemed to Joseph that Harold was getting old and his mind was not working properly anymore.


    Harold wanted him to make Chloe the vice president of Fairlight but also expected him to handle all the


    work.


    Such behavior was ridiculous and made Joseph want tough out loud.

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101


    Chapter 101 Role-ying


    A look of enlightenment appeared in Chloe¡¯s ck eyes as she looked at Joseph¡¯s face.


    She asked carefully and tentatively, ¡°Did Grandpa ask me to go to yourpany?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much.¡±


    ¡°He mentioned this to me before, but I turned it down with an excuse.¡±


    Her underlying meaning was that it was none of her business now.


    Joseph looked up at her coldly. ¡°Well, you shirk responsibility pretty fast.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t concern me, so why can¡¯t I shirk responsibility?¡± Chloe retorted seriously.


    Harold was too enthusiastic, and she found it hard to ept. It was not that she could not handle it.


    She was just not a true granddaughter-inw of the Whitman family.


    She was unwilling to lie to Harold every time she met him because he was very nice to her. Thus, she


    felt guilty. She was weighed down by her guilty conscience.


    Joseph retrieved a tissue and wiped his lips before he asked lightly, ¡°Are you very busy at Baxon?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a little busy.¡±


    ¡°Do you get tired?¡±


    ¡°I can handle physical exhaustion, but I¡¯m mentally drained too.¡±


    On the surface, those in Baxon were nice and peaceful, but secretly, they schemed against each. other.


    Working there was exhausting. She had to be vignt at all times.


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows went up. When he was about to speak, Chloe beat him to it.


    She stated light-heartedly, ¡°But I¡¯ve decided to resign.¡±


    Consequently, he became slightly surprised. ¡°Why?¡±


    He thought she would hold on for a year or two at Baxon. Surprisingly, she was enlightened after such


    a short time. She was not that stupid, after all.


    ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re right.¡± Chloe supported her chin with two hands and sighed helplessly. She


    recalled what had happened over the past few days.


    She seemed to have found a ce to vent her feelings, so she told him everything in one go.


    When she was done, she let out a long sigh, feeling much more rxed.


    Joseph was not at all surprised by the affairs that happened. Baxon had always had a bad reputation in


    the industry. It was the reason why mostpanies were expanding while this


    Chapter 101 Role ying


    hundred-year-old corporation was falling behind.


    ¡°Are there any Estrenian documents from yourpany for me to trante right now?¡± Chloe smiled


    shyly. ¡°I have time now.¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯ve recruited enough trantors.¡±


    Her expression became gloomy. She simply sighed in reply.


    After a pause, Joseph recalled what Harold had said earlier today. ¡°But there are other positions.¡±


    Puzzlement washed over Chloe. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Just take it literally.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to hire me to work at yourpany?¡±


    ¡°Forget it if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°No, I do. But what¡¯s the position? And¡­how much is the sry¡­¡± She picked her fingernails


    nervously, looking at Joseph eagerly.


    If they worked at the samepany as him, she could meet him at work and after work.


    She would have plenty of chances then.


    However, there was a problem.


    She felt that Jake¡¯s uncle, even if he owned apany, would possess only a medium one at most. A


    mere medium-sizedpany would never be on par with the one Alexander Graham


    owned.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Although Jake was pretty useless, his uncle was capable. It might only be a mediumpany in the


    beginning but it was likely to grow bigger over time.


    ¡°How much do you want?¡±


    Joseph tapped on his watch and raised a query. ¡°How much do


    After dwelling on it for a few seconds, she boldly gestured a number at him. It was the sry Fairlight


    had offered her back then.


    She would be very satisfied with that amount.


    Without any hesitation, he nodded and agreed to it. ¡°Okay.¡±


    A strange feeling overwhelmed her as she blinked.


    ¡®Well, hispany isn¡¯t small. His employees¡¯ sries are the same as Fairlight¡¯s. But would Ava have


    targeted Jake if he has an uncle like him?


    ¡®Of course not. So, there¡¯s only one possibility left.


    ¡®Joseph isn¡¯t Jake¡¯s uncle.¡¯


    Chapter 101 Role ying


    When this thought emerged in Chloe¡¯s mind, she was shocked. Goosebumps erupted all over her skin,


    and she quickly denied it in the next second.


    ¡®Of course, Joseph was Jake¡¯s uncle. Jake is also aware that I want to seduce his uncle.


    ¡°That¡¯s just impossible.¡¯


    Thinking of this, she was relieved. She then put away all those chaotic thoughts in her mind.


    Joseph supported his chin with one hand as he observed her. Doubt and shock shed across her


    face. She even nodded, shook her head, and muttered to herself from time to time, her thoughts


    unknown to others.


    He pinched her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m negotiating your sry with you, and you¡¯re daydreaming?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chloe then sat upright and still. ¡°You haven¡¯t told me what position you¡¯re offering me.


    What are the requirements?¡±


    ¡®What position?¡¯ Joseph pondered.


    There were many departments in Fairlight. It should not be too hard to find a post that was


    suitable for her.


    He only had one request. ¡°Work hard at thepany and keep our rtionship a secret.¡±


    Chloe understood, so she patted her chest and promised, ¡°Will do.¡±


    She could not pester him in public, but she could flirt with him in secret.


    When Joseph thought of the differences between her and the other employees, he wanted Samuel to


    draft a specialbor contract for Chloe. He told Samuel about his idea after dinner.


    Samuel¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°This isn¡¯t abor contract anymore, is it?¡±


    However, Joseph answered nomittally, ¡°Why not? She¡¯ll be adding value to Fairlight, and I¡¯ll pay


    her a corresponding sry. There¡¯s just an additional term.¡±


    Samuel was rendered speechless. All this sounded serious, but for some unknown reason, he thought


    this was like role-ying.

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102


    Chapter 102 You Took It off for Me


    After resting at home for a few days, Chloe¡¯s period passed.


    The next day was the final day of her holiday. She nned to go shopping and enjoy a meal. with


    Emily. Before she went out, she informed Joseph and told him to have dinner on his own.


    When Joseph read that message, he snorted. ¡®She just recovered, and she already can¡¯t stay


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    still. She just has to go out.¡¯


    Samuel put the drafted contract in front of Joseph. ¡°Check it out. See if there¡¯s anything you


    want to add.¡±


    Joseph picked up the document and quickly read through it. Just then, Lucas came in with two boxes of


    cookies. When he noticed that Samuel was around, he smiled and greeted Samuel.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Liam from the data department got married to Tina from the trantion department. These


    are the cookies they gave out.¡±


    Hearing that, Joseph nced at the boxes of cookies. His voice turned cold and low. ¡°Add another


    condition. She¡¯s prohibited from engaging in workce love affairs.¡±


    As a result, Samuel was at a loss for words. ¡°What if Chloe rejects this?¡±


    ¡°She has no right to refuse.¡±


    Samuel was rendered speechless again. He yearned to pat his friend¡¯s shoulder and sighed. ¡® Why


    does he make everything so difficult? Why does he want to give himself such a hard time?


    At a shopping center located in the city center.


    Chloe and Emily were looking at clothes. However, Chloe had a lot of clothes at home, so she did not


    buy any. She then spotted a tie that was suitable for Joseph.


    After checking the price, she found that it cost merely $30. She felt that Joseph would despise it, and


    hence, rejected the salesperson¡¯s promotion.


    Emily found the tie very nice too, so she purchased it.


    ¡°Is it for your boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hm, he¡¯s been looking for a job recently, so he needs a tie.¡±


    After a pause, Chloe asked, ¡°What kind of job is he looking for?¡±


    ¡°Programmer. He was a programmer before.¡±


    Chloe raised no more questions about this and went to queue up at an inte-famous


    restaurant with Emily.


    The queue was long. The people in line were most probably attracted by the overwhelming promotion


    on the Inte. The waiter informed them that they had to wait for more than an


    hour.


    Chloe did not feel like waiting and left for another restaurant. While she was discussing with Emily, she


    saw two familiar figures in the restaurant out of the corner of her eye.


    Blinking, she cracked a wicked smile. She took her phone out to snap a few photographs of those two


    people.


    Emily became curious, so she looked in the same direction. She then saw both Ava and Adam eating


    at the same dining table.


    Taken aback, it was a while before she asked doubtfully, ¡°Is Ava cheating on Jake?¡±


    Chloe shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know but it seems to be the case.¡±

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103


    Chapter 103


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why did you take photos of them?¡± Emily was confused. ¡°Are you sending them to Jake?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want the two of them to have anything to do with each other again. I just want to keep


    things that are beneficial for me in case Ava causes trouble in the future.¡±


    Ava, who was in the restaurant, did not notice the scene outside. She interrogated agitatedly, ¡± You


    promised to introduce me to your father at the beginning of the month, but it¡¯s the end of the month


    now!¡±


    She nearly failed to get a hold of Adam, let alone Alexander.


    ¡°Dad said he won¡¯t cooperate with your family¡¯spany, so it¡¯s useless even if youin. to me


    every day. Dad has full control over Patterson, not me.¡± Adam lowered his head and checked his watch


    from time to time, impatient that he had to deal with Ava.


    As he was heading out to y basketball earlier, Ava had stopped him. If it was not because he could


    not act outrageously while they were in public, he would not be here having dinner with


    her.


    Hearing this, Ava¡¯s face turned livid. ¡°So, you want to shirk responsibility, huh?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t put it that way. You¡¯re the one who took it off for me. Both of us were willing. I didn¡¯t force you


    to do anything. You don¡¯t have to act like I bullied you.


    She was indeed naive to think that she could pester him forever after taking the initiative to sleep with


    him once.


    Adam was young, but he talked in a rather vicious manner-just like Joseph. He deliberately raised his


    voice, and the surrounding patrons turned to look at Ava.


    Ava was an engaged woman, so she hurriedly lowered her head to hide her face so others would not


    recognize her.


    Adamughed frivolously after he gained the result he desired. He appeared like a young overlord. He


    got up to leave since he did not want to waste any more time, ignoring Ava¡¯s screamsing from


    behind him.


    When he reached the door of the restaurant, he found himself unable to leave.


    He met Chloe¡¯s gaze. Consequently, joy and fear overcame him. He recalled his father¡¯s orders, so he


    obediently said, ¡°Sis?¡±

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104


    Chapter 104 Taking the Lead


    Chloe¡¯s hair stood on end from inexplicable fear.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She shook her head and covered her stomach. ¡°You go on ahead. I need to use the washroom.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a washroom in the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m used to


    But before Chloe could finish her sentence, she gave a short cry.


    Joseph had suddenly scooped her up. She lost bnce and instinctively held onto his neck.


    A hint of wickedness dawned on Joseph¡¯s handsome countenance. He put his thin lips to her ear and


    spoke in a voice only both of them could hear. ¡°You like goading me into action so much. Well, I¡¯ll grant


    your wish today. Let¡¯s see if I can do it or not.¡±


    His masculine scent engulfed her as his warm breath tickled her ear. She instantly blushed. Even her


    earlobes turned slightly pink. She stared at him motionlessly, but through his beady ck eyes, she


    could not tell if he was joking, trying to scare her.


    She had tried all means to seduce him for such a long time. But if they really were to do something, she


    was an inexperienced novice.


    While she was still in her stupefied state, Joseph carried her into the bedroom-his bedroom.


    Remaining where he stood, Harold looked up at the second floor with gratification. ¡°Well, that brat is


    indeed a man of my family. He has a great executive force, and he does things right away.¡±


    When Patrick witnessed that scene, he was confused. ¡®Does Mr. Joseph intend to turn the act into


    reality?¡¯


    In the bedroom.


    Joseph¡¯s bedroom was the master bedroom, and it wasrge. Decorated in ck and white, there was


    nothing else inside other than a bed and wardrobe. Everything was extremely simple.


    Chloe poked his chest with her finger and suggested dryly, ¡°Umm¡­ You can put me down now.


    Under the light, Joseph¡¯s facial features appeared very charming. ¡°Don¡¯t you like being close to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but isn¡¯t this too sudden?¡±


    ¡°I like getting things done quickly.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyelids twitched fiercely. Without checking her appearance in a mirror, she could tell that she


    was blushing fiercely right now.


    ¡®Getting things done quickly¡­ Here?¡¯ She tilted her head slightly and nced at the six-foot- wide bed.


    ¡®Is this actually possible¡­¡¯


    She gulped. Her clear eyes became serious. ¡°Aren¡¯t you impotent?¡±


    Joseph snorted. ¡°You¡¯ll know once you give it a try.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up. She felt that it was reasonable.


    ¡®If I sleep with him, I¡¯ll truly be Jake¡¯s aunt. Over time, both the Johnsons and the Coopers will


    have to show me respect.¡¯


    Hence, she made up her mind and closed her eyes before puckering up and cing her lips against


    his.


    When she touched his lips, his eyes widened in shock. It was beyond his expectation that this dumbo


    would believe him and take the initiative.


    She was inexperienced and too careful. So, it was not much of a kiss and more like she was just


    nibbling his lips recklessly.


    Chloe and Jake had dated for a long time, but she was either away on business trips abroad or


    Benjamin would keep her busy at thepany. They did get physical but it was just surface- level


    things.


    They never got past first base.


    Men generally liked women who took the initiative. Especially the aloof man in front of her. She could


    not figure out what kind of woman could make him take the initiative, but she knew very well that she


    was not it.


    After taking this step, she felt that it was fine even if she and Joseph took it further than this.


    At first, Joseph wanted to push her away. But though her skills werecking, her lips were particrly


    tender. Inevitably, he took the lead and showed her how to kiss properly.


    After kissing for some time, Chloe rxed. She held his neck with her feeble hands, and her breathing


    was off the charts. Even her eyes had turned red-her soft and seductive demeanor bewitching his mind


    and soul.


    However, she was extremely nervous. She did not know what to do next. Should she make the next


    move?


    However, she had no experience in this regard and was clueless. She could not force herself on him


    either.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes gradually darkened as he stared at Chloe¡¯s slightly red and swollen lips. He gulped while


    trying his best to suppress something.


    When Chloe noticed that he was motionless, her watery eyes were full of confusion. After dwelling on


    it, she decided that she had to take the initiative. So, she bit her lip and started slowly unbuttoning his


    shirt.


    Joseph looked unnerved as if something in his mind had copsed. He picked her up and walked


    toward the bed.

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105


    Chapter 105 Joseph Hates Her So Much


    The moment they were about to indulge in their desires, the phone on the bedside cab


    rang.


    Originally filled with desire, Joseph¡¯s lustful eyes cleared. He gazed at the woman whose clothes he


    had torn off before he abruptly regained hisposure. He then got out of bed and walked into the


    bathroom with his phone.


    With a loud ¡°Bang,¡± the door mmed shut. The whole wall seemed to shake along with the mming.


    It was filled with a tinge of inexplicable fury and helplessness.


    This scene was unexpected.


    Stunned, Chloe remained in bed for a long time. She lowered her head to take a look when she heard


    the shower turn on.


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty big. What¡¯s wrong with him? Is he dissatisfied with me? Was I that bad?¡¯


    Suddenly, immense shame and defeat overwhelmed her when she recalled how she had taken the


    initiative earlier. Her eyes turned red as she smoothed her clothes and stormed out of the bedroom.


    Harold had already left and was no longer downstairs.


    She heaved a grievous sigh. She then returned to her bedroom, burying herself under the nket.


    However, she could not fall asleep despite tossing and turning. Opening her eyes, she gazed at the


    night view outside her window. Her eyes turned watery.


    ¡®Is this worth it just for the sake of taking revenge on that jerk and b*tch?


    ¡®But what else can I do even if it isn¡¯t worth it? I can¡¯t turn things around anymore.¡¯


    She then wiped away her tears and fell asleep as her mind raced with wild thoughts.


    On the other hand, Harold had to stand under the cold shower for an hour before he could barely calm


    himself down. But as soon as he thought of Chloe, he was aroused again.


    Feeling frustrated, he grabbed his car keys and went out for some fresh air.


    Half an hourter, Nathan dug at his ear. He thought he had heard Joseph wrong. He could not help


    but seek confirmation. ¡°Wait. I didn¡¯t hear what you said clearly.¡±


    ¡°Get me a few women.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°Why do you think?¡±


    Nathan trembled. Of course, he knew the reason why. He was well aware of the reason if others


    told him this, and he might even tease them briefly. After that, he would give them a few young,


    beautiful women.


    However, he was filled with deep fear when Joseph raised such a request. Hesitation crept up


    on him.


    ¡°Did you argue with Chloe?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Well, what is it then?¡±


    ¡°She and I have a contractual rtionship.¡±


    His underlying meaning was that they had nothing to do with each other except lying to Harold.


    Staring at his cold and gloomy eyes, Nathan was too afraid to raise any more questions. He rapidly


    went and got things done. It was rare to see Joseph wanting to indulge in sexual pleasures. Of course,


    Nathan had to satisfy his buddy¡¯s needs.


    But he had to find some bold women.


    Soon, Nathan came back to Joseph with four women of different styles.


    ¡°Go ahead. Who do you prefer?¡±


    When the women saw Joseph, their eyes lit up.


    Joseph leaned against the sofanguidly, his slender and long legs crossed over each other. His


    countenance was cold and, and water droplets clung to his wet hair. He looked extremely charming.


    However, his gaze was extremely chilly as if he was in an ice sculpture. It was biting cold.


    Speechlessly, he nced at the four women. None of them roused his desire regardless if they were


    pure or flirtatious. It was as if only Chloe could arouse his desire.


    After taking a look at Joseph, Nathan was enlightened. Joseph did not take a fancy to any of these


    women, so he waved and asked them to leave.


    One of the women was full of reluctance. She behaved boldly because she thought she was pretty. She


    went over and sat beside Joseph. She then suggested tenderly, ¡°Sir, let me serve you.¡±


    The cloy perfume scent on her made him sick. A tinge of disgust shed across his eyes.


    He came here today to see if he would be aroused by other women.


    When he went abroad for business in the past, many cooperative partners eagerly provided him with


    young models and celebrities. He was never once aroused in the slightest. However, he nearly fell into


    Chloe¡¯s trap after merely kissing her.


    When the woman noticed that he did not refuse her, she happily poured a ss of wine and held it up


    to his lips. When she got closer to him, her pungent perfume engulfed him and nearly choked him.


    Joseph could no longer stand it. He shot her a fierce re. ¡°Get lost.¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Trembling, she spilled a majority of the wine in the ss. Consequently, Joseph¡¯s face turned gloomier.


    The woman was so scared that her legs turned weak. She shuddered as she left the private


    room.


    Nathan handed Joseph a napkin and asked yfully, ¡°Why are you so mad?¡±


    Joseph remained silent and grabbed a wine bottle before chugging it.


    Nathan continued asking slyly, ¡°If you don¡¯t like those women, how about I get you another


    few?¡±


    ¡°No, I dislike the women here. They¡¯ve be weary of life.¡±


    Yes, they had served too many men. There was no other reason.


    After Joseph gained an answer, he secretly heaved a sigh.


    Joseph drank until dawn.


    He woke up in a haze.


    Feeling a headache, Joseph pinched the spot between his brows and kicked Nathan away, who was


    drunk. He then hailed a cab to Fairlight.


    Lucas was the first to arrive at thepany every day. When he found that his boss was there. earlier


    than him, he quickly went to make a cup of tea for Joseph, as he usually did.


    In short, Joseph¡¯s daily routine had be irregr after he got to know Chloe.


    Chloe, who stayed at home, had a restless night. She feebly got up from the bed. When she found the


    house vacant, she realized that Joseph had spent the night outside.


    Struck dumb, immense bitterness crept up onto her face.


    ¡®Does he hate me so much that he doesn¡¯t want to stay in the same house as me?¡±


    Chloe found her feelings unspeakable. For the first time, she felt like giving up.


    ¡®But what do I do with my life after giving up? Will Samuel still be willing to fight for me in thewsuit?¡¯

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 106


    Chapter 106 Join My Company and Be My Assistant?


    Chloe took the bus to Baxon, her mind lost in a daze.


    It was a day before she started work again.


    The security guard and janitor on the ground floor were engrossed in idle chatter.


    ¡°How¡¯s your rtive doing? Did she end up getting a divorce?¡±


    ¡°She did. Life has be challenging for her. Without proper education, she¡¯s now single- handedly


    raising two children. I remember advising her against leaving back then, but she chose not to listen.


    She regrets making that decision, but there¡¯s nothing she can do about it


    now.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, in my opinion, her husband makes well over 150 grand every year. Despite his bad temper, he


    hasn¡¯t made any significant mistakes that would undermine their rtionship. If they hadn¡¯t got a


    divorce, they wouldn¡¯t be burdened with financial worries. It¡¯s a shame that it¡¯s the children who will


    bear the brunt of it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just how it goes. Young folks tend to act on impulse. It¡¯s tough to convince them otherwise.¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As they carried on with their sporadic conversation, Chloe, who was behind them, reached at boiling


    point. Her fists clenched tightly by her side, the pressure causing her knuckles to turn pale.


    After contemting on the spot for a while, she ultimately discarded the notion of giving up. Perhaps


    staying by Joseph¡¯s side was the best choice for the time being, even if their time together would be


    limited.


    Chloe handed her resignation letter to her superior, who made multiple attempts to persuade her to


    stay. Resolute in her decision, she politely declined any further negotiations, standing firmly by her


    choice. After all, she had only been in Baxon for a few months, and her position. could easily be filled


    by someone else.


    Word of her resignation quickly spread to Lily and Harry. During their lunch break, the trio convened in


    the pantry for a chat.


    Lily showed a strong reaction to Chloe¡¯s resignation, her eyes turning red like a little white rabbit.


    ¡°Chloe, please don¡¯t go. If you leave, there will be no one left in thispany that I can rely on. I won¡¯t


    have any friends.¡±


    Chuckling, Chloe jokingly responded, ¡°Once things settle down for me, I¡¯ll check if there¡¯s a need for


    more hands on deck, and then I¡¯ll pull you over to my side.¡±


    The sorrow of parting was fleeting. Since Chloe had not known Lily for long. A few days of adjustment


    would suffice.


    ¡°Yeah, sounds good!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not keen on staying here, then don¡¯t. With your age and abilities, put in effort wherever you


    go, and you¡¯ll carve out a reputation for yourself,¡± Harry said with a calm demeanor. Being a seasoned


    veteran of thepany, he understood the true nature of a seemingly morousrge corporate


    environment.


    Were it not for his current family responsibilities-being married with a child-he too desired to venture out


    like Icarus. Yet, his familial obligations prevented him from doing so.


    ¡°Thank you, Harry. I¡¯ll give it my all.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a meal together tonight. After this farewell, we probably won¡¯t have many chances. to see


    each other.¡± Harry took the opportunity to suggest, not forgetting to create ant


    opportunity for his good brother, Icarus.


    Chloe dly agreed, ¡°Sure. It¡¯s my treat.¡±


    They continued their conversation for a while longer before going their separate ways. Just as they


    were about to part, a sense of regret seemed to wash over Harry as he recalled something.


    ¡°Argh, my rusty memory. Ipletely forgot that I had ns with Icarus to grab a snack tonight.¡±


    Lily blinked innocently, suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t we all go together? The more the merrier,


    after all.¡±


    Chloe readily agreed, ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s invite him along as well.¡±


    She was indebted to Icarus for the opportunity to join Baxon, who had even escorted her home on a


    previous asion. It seemed only right to inform him of her decision to discontinue. working at Baxon,


    a gesture of thoughtfulness from beginning to end.


    However, she also needed to notify Joseph to avoid any potentialplications that might


    arise.


    With her final PowerPoint slides for Baxonpleted, it was time for Chloe to leave the office. Feeling


    an unexinable sense of nervousness due to the events of the previous night, she decided to call


    Joseph.


    Thankfully, he had not blocked her or declined to answer. In fact, he promptly picked up the call as


    soon as it rang.


    ¡°My colleagues and I are having a farewell dinner tonight, so I won¡¯t be home. Could you please walk


    Toto for me today? I¡¯ll make up for it by taking, Toto for an extra walk this week,¡¯ Chloe anxiously


    exined, her fear of being turned down evident in her voice.


    In his spacious office, Joseph stood by a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the


    shimmering lights and fireworks below. When he heard her mention that she would not be returning


    home, an unexinable restlessness surged within him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be home before ten,¡± Chloe quickly reassured him, sensing a hint of unease.


    Unaware of it herself, her tone unwittingly took on the quality of a submissive wife dutifully reporting her


    schedule to her husband.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Joseph paused, his thoughts momentarily shifting to the man who had once escorted Chloe


    home. He continued, ¡°Give me a heads-up toward the end of your farewell dinner. I¡¯ll be workingte


    today, so I can swing by and pick you up on my way.¡±


    In the past, Chloe would have been thrilled by such a gesture, but now she understood that Joseph


    was not really fond of her. Her initial joy transformed into distant politeness. ¡°Okay, thank you. Sorry for


    the inconvenience.¡±


    Joseph frowned, expressing his displeasure. ¡°Why are you being so polite?¡±


    ¡°How should I respond then?


    Upon hearing this, he was at a loss for words.


    Mutual respect and polite exchanges-this was the way normal people interacted. Once he understood


    this, he felt frustrated. ¡°Fine, do as you wish. I¡¯ll bring the work contract tonight, and once you sign it,


    you can start working at my ce.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Chloe replied, ¡°What position?¡±


    ¡°Provisional nner.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    Joseph was left speechless, taken aback by Chloe¡¯s cold and distant response.


    After concluding their conversation, Chloe hung up the phone and went out with Harry and the others.


    Opting for a nearby open-air Mexican restaurant, they relished in the refreshing evening breeze as they


    savored their meal, feeling a sense of rxation and satisfaction.


    Icarus noticed that Chloe was fond of her corn sd, so he ordered an extra te for her.


    ¡°Chloe, have you thought about what you¡¯ll be doing next? Coincidentally, I¡¯m in need of an assistant.


    Would you be interested in joining me?¡±

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107


    Chapter 107 Resigned


    ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ve already found a job with a good sry,¡± Chloe responded, taking a sip of


    water.


    ¡°So quickly? Whichpany?¡± Icarus expressed his surprise.


    ¡°It¡¯s a smallpany¡­¡±


    ¡°Your qualifications are remarkable. Why settle for a smallpany?¡± Harry interjected, ¡°I can connect


    you with some great job opportunities. Don¡¯t let your prime years go to waste.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right. While smallpanies can serve as stepping stones, joining arger corporation offers


    better prospects for long-term growth.¡¯


    ¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Chloe. Don¡¯t be too impulsive in your decisions.¡±


    Hearing their advice, Chloe¡¯s heart warmed. However, deep down, she understood that it was her


    inability to act impulsively that led her to ept Joseph¡¯s arrangement. Nevertheless, she sincerely


    cherished their genuine concern.


    ¡°I will and I have indeed given it careful consideration. I won¡¯t make any impulsive moves,¡± Chloe


    replied, a mischievous smile gracing her face as her eyes sparkled like stars. ¡°I¡¯m fully aware of my


    intentions. I chose thispany because they offered me a higher sry than


    Baxon.¡±


    Icarus locked eyes with her, his expression filled with tenderness. ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. Remember, if


    you ever need any help, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out to me.¡±


    ¡°Really? If Jake finds out that we¡¯re getting closer, do you think it¡¯ll affect your rtionship with him?¡±


    Chloe yfully teased.


    The mere thought of Jake¡¯s potential reaction upon discovering her connection with Joseph filled her


    with amusement, almost causing her to burst intoughter.


    Icarus¡¯s expression tensed slightly as he shifted his gaze. ¡°Based on seniority, I¡¯m technically his


    senior, so he has no right to interfere.¡±


    Chloe replied with a nonchnt ¡°Oh,¡± not giving much thought to it. After all, her bond with Icarus was


    solely that of friendship. It appeared that Jake had a number of senior rtives as she had already


    come across two of them within a span of three months.


    At that moment, Harry leaned over and raised his ss to clink with hers. ¡°If Icarus is Jake¡¯s uncle,


    does that mean you¡¯ll stop contacting Icarus?¡±


    Chloe was momentarily caught off guard, but she quickly responded with a mischievous smile. ¡°No, I


    won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because I want to be Jake¡¯s aunt!¡±


    The room erupted withughter, and the expressions on Icarus and Harry¡¯s faces were absolutely


    priceless, except for Lily, who did not fully grasp the underlying meaning of these


    words.


    Chloe had been in a sour mood all day. She had consumed three bottles of beer, and while not yet


    intoxicated, she felt slightly dizzy. Her mind remained clear as she observed Icarus, whose expression


    was constantly shifting. She touched her nose and remarked, ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. I was just


    messing with you guys.¡±


    It was not worth getting entangled in this mess just to seek revenge on a scumbag. Yet, who could


    resist Joseph¡¯s charm?


    He exuded a captivating allure, with his striking handsomeness and exceptional demeanor, stirring


    Chloe¡¯s heart. Little had she anticipated that after spending time together day after day, no matter how


    handsome his face was, it could not offset his terrible temper.


    Who would find that appealing?


    Icarus, realizing he might have acted inappropriately, averted his gaze. A sense of joy spread within


    him as he spoke, ¡°I understand how you feel. It¡¯s tough to be let down by someone, and it¡¯s hard to


    resist the urge to express anger.¡±


    Chloe smiled, and her impression of him improved. He appeared to be reasonable and fair-


    minded.


    While Harry went to the restroom, he dragged Icarus along. Nudging Icarus with his elbow, he said,


    ¡°The atmosphere was getting intense earlier. Why didn¡¯t you confess?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it tomorrow. With you guys present, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll make Chloe ufortable and have the


    opposite effect.¡±


    ¡°True, that littledy is pretty delicate. It wouldn¡¯t work out with me and Lily around,¡± Harry gloated, a


    mischievous smile on his face. ¡°Remember to share the good news with me if you seed tomorrow. I


    do wonder how your nephew will feel about it though.¡±


    Someone transitioning from an ex-girlfriend to an aunt was more melodramatic than most


    television dramas.


    ¡°I said it earlier. I¡¯m his senior. He has no right to control me,¡± Icarus reiterated, his dignified demeanor


    apanied by a touch of seriousness.


    Upon hearing his words, Harry felt a sense of relief. ¡°Our little Chloe has been through a lot. Take good


    care of her when you¡¯re together.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    As they continued their conversation, they exited the restroom. Icarus requested Harry to go back first


    while he took care of the bill.


    Meanwhile, Lucaspleted his transaction at the counter and walked past Icarus. Icarus halted for a


    moment, his gaze fixed on Lucas¡¯s retreating figure, lost in thought.

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108


    Chapter 108 Dazzled


    Icarus let out a chuckle, feeling dazzled by the sight of Lucas and attributing it to a trick of the


    eyes.


    He took a deep breath,posed himself, and resumed walking toward the front desk.


    ¡°Hi, Table 8 just settled the payment,¡± the staff informed Icarus, catching him off guard. His immediate


    thought was that it must be Chloe, but when he returned to his seat, she was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Chloe?¡± Icarus asked, his voice thick with concern.


    Harry shrugged, indicating he did not know. ¡°Lily¡¯s finding out.¡±


    ¡°But weren¡¯t you here earlier, Lily?¡±


    ¡°The heat was killing me, so I went to the nearby store to buy an ice cream. When I came back, Chloe


    was already gone,¡± Lily exined, pulling out her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll call and ask her. Maybe she went to the


    restroom.¡±


    Icarus¡¯s


    eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Chloe has had quite a few drinks. The alcohol should be kicking in right now.¡±


    On the highway.


    Chloe nestled into thefort of the car¡¯s back seat, her mind abuzz like a train zipping back and forth


    on its tracks. The bustling traffic outside the car window resembled a living


    painting. She was feeling a bit dizzy and wanted to call Lily, but her phone rang first.


    ¡°Chloe, did you go to the restroom?¡±


    ¡°No, something urgent came up, so I went home first.¡±


    Beside her, Joseph¡¯s lips twitched. Even in her drunken state, this dumbo could still utter such things


    with a straight face.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Okay, Chloe. Let us know when you get home, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mm, okay.¡±


    After ending the call, Chloe rxed and closed her eyes, longing for a nap.


    ¡°Liar.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice, neither light nor heavy, entered her ears. Although devoid of emotion, it carried a hint of


    taunting.


    Chloe gritted her teeth. ¡°I had to lie because you showed up without any warning.¡±


    The restaurant Chloe and her friends were dining at was situated in an alley, inessible to cars.


    Being located on a busy street, a car could not park there for an extended period.


    Chloe had no choice but to leave first.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯de to pick you up.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m supposed to be on standby for you all the time? Everready to be picked up by you?¡±


    ¡°This is a privilege.¡±


    Chloe fell silent.


    ¡®F*ck your privilege.¡¯


    She felt the onset of motion sickness, apanied by dizziness and a churning stomach. She decided


    to close her eyes and rest, seeking sce in silence. Gradually, the car fell into quiet tranquility, and


    the soft glow of the lights enveloped the space.


    Her sitting posturecked elegance, despite her long legs and the high heels that entuated her


    graceful curves. Yet, her face remained flushed, exuding an innocent, endearing charm.


    Joseph¡¯s eyshes fluttered. Unable to resist the urge, he reached out to pinch her cute cheeks.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes suddenly flew open. Perhaps due to the alcohol clouding her mind, she became a little


    bolder and angrily pped his hand away with considerable force, her voice tinged with anger as she


    said, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze, his eyes fixated on the red mark on the back of his hand as he sneered


    coldly. ¡°Oh, so now I can¡¯t touch you without a reason, can I?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    ¡°You were quite forward yesterday, and now you¡¯re ying coy?¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Chloe¡¯s pent-up emotions reached a boiling point. The difort in her


    stomach added to her distress, causing her eyes to well up and turn red. With a sense of grievance,


    she turned her face away. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m pretending. I have no right to refuse. If you want to do anything to


    me, just go ahead.¡±


    Her words were too ambiguous. Lucas, who was seated in front and driving, made an effort to remain


    silent and fade into the background.


    ¡®Oh my goodness, is Joseph so desperate that he wants to engage in such activities in the car?¡¯


    Observing her demeanor akin to that of a mistreated young wife, Joseph furrowed his brows tightly,


    feeling more perplexed than anything else. It was she who had made the first move, yet now she acted


    as if she was treated unjustly, making him seem like a lecherous wolf.


    It was a stark reminder of the enigmatic and unpredictable nature of a woman¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Who said anything about doing something to you?¡± Joseph impatiently tossed the work


    contract at her. ¡°Here¡¯s the contract. Sign and report to work tomorrow.

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109


    Chapter 109 What¡¯s Your Nephew¡¯s Name


    Chloe braced herself against the difort in her stomach and sat up straight to examine the


    contract.


    However, the swift movements of the car hurtling through the darkness, coupled with an abrupt break


    from Lucas, nearly caused her to vomit right then and there.


    Chloe retracted her hand that was poised to switch on the overhead light. She hunched over, covering


    her mouth with one hand, while flipping the contract to thest page. Despite the dim light, she located


    the signature area and swiftly signed her name.


    As a solitary woman, she had nothing to offer to those with greedy intentions. Moreover, even if Joseph


    harbored any intentions of enforcing unjust conditions, he would find it futile. After all, the terms of her


    sry had been mutually agreed upon from the get-go.


    Chloe handed over the contract, immediately closing her eyes in an attempt to suppress her rising


    nausea. She moved swiftly as if purposefully avoiding any interaction with Joseph.


    His handsome face darkened, shrouded in a veil of gloom. ¡®Does she despise me?¡¯


    The rest of the journey passed in silence. Although it was the warm month of June, the atmosphere in


    the car was icy. Lucas shivered against the chill.


    ¡®Sob, sob. Why do I have to suffer from the cold just because you two are quarreling?¡¯


    Soon, they arrived at the central courtyard. The torment of the journey had left Chloe drained. Stepping


    out of the car, she greedily inhaled the fresh air, feeling a small measure of relief


    wash over her.


    Despite her exhaustion, she had not forgotten that it was her turn to walk Toto today. Hastily, she


    grabbed the leash and briskly passed by Joseph without a word, opting not to provoke him any further.


    Joseph was left speechless by Chloe¡¯s cold attitude. He had never realized that this woman possessed


    such a fiery temper.


    Tomorrow, when Chloe got to work and discovered it was Fairlight, she would surely express gratitude


    toward him. At that point, he will have the perfect opportunity to impart to her a


    lesson or two.


    Twenty minutester.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe returned with Toto and made her way to her bedroom. She drank a ss of water, swiftly


    freshened up, and slipped into bed.


    The next morning, still groggy and half asleep, she heard amotion outside her room. She


    pulled the nket over her head, opting to surrender to sleep until she naturally woke up. As someone


    who had recently resigned from her job, she was determined not to disappoint herself and decided to


    sleep as much as she wanted.


    Knock, knock, knock¡­


    ¡°You have fifteen minutes to get ready.¡±


    Three secondster, Chloe threw off the nket, her eyes wide open, remembering the contract she


    had signedst night.


    ¡°I¡¯m reporting to work today?¡± she eximed, her morning voice soft and sweet,ced with a hint of


    coquettishness.


    ¡°Finance will begin calcting your sry today. If you don¡¯t feel like going, I can inform them.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll go!¡±


    Fifteen minutes were definitely not enough for Chloe toplete her makeup routine. Hastily brushing


    her teeth and washing her face, she stuffed her makeup bag into her handbag before heading


    downstairs to find Joseph.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Joseph set down the newspaper and nced at her. Pencil pants, a boyfriend-style shirt, and petite


    high-heeled shoes adorned her figure, lending her a casual yet fashionable charm.


    Water droplets glistened on her fresh, makeup-free face. Under the gentle caress of sunlight, her


    delicate eyebrows and captivating eyes radiated a mesmerizing sparkle, making it impossible to look


    away.


    Joseph¡¯s eyelid twitched. Suddenly realizing that even though Fairlight had no shortage of beautiful


    women, Chloe was the only one who was naturally radiant without any makeup on.


    He pondered for a moment. The marketing department consisted mostly of female employees, with


    only a few males. He had interacted with some of them, and they were decent men, unlike the


    darkness he had witnessed at Baxon.


    Joseph responded with a casual ¡°Okay.¡±


    Yesterday, Patrick had taken leave due to personal matters, but he returned today. Joseph reinstated


    him as the driver. With over twenty years of driving experience, Patrick possessed a solid skill set


    behind the wheel, unlike Lucas.


    Chloe cheerily applied her makeup inside the car. Coincidentally, they arrived at Fairlight just as she


    put the final touches on her face.


    She stepped out of the car alongside Joseph, initially unaware that something was amiss as the


    surroundings consisted mainly ofmercial buildings. It was not until Joseph led the way into Fairlight


    that she was taken aback.


    ¡°What are we doing at Fairlight?¡± she questioned, her voice tinged with surprise.


    Joseph did not bother to turn around. ¡°Are you an idiot? What else would we be doing here besides


    going to work?¡±


    Chloe stood in stunned silence, her mind racing as a thousand thoughts flooded through her head. She


    coughed, trying to gather herself.


    ¡°Are you joking?¡± she asked, hoping for some rification.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph replied curtly.


    Joseph had ess to a private elevator, and since it was not yet working hours, they hardly ran into


    any employees along the way. Chloe anxiously watched the floor numbers change as they ascended.


    Finally, the elevator came to a halt on the highest floor.


    Her fingers trembled, her heart pounded fiercely, and the pain of her nails digging into her flesh could


    notpare to the horror thaty before her. This floor housed only two offices the CEO¡¯s office and


    the CEO¡¯s assistant¡¯s office.


    Joseph strode toward the CEO¡¯s office, pushing the door open with a casual ir and tossing his suit


    jacket onto the couch.


    ¡°Wait here. Once Lucas arrives, he¡¯ll guide you through the orientation process,¡± Joseph instructed.


    Chloe surveyed the office, still imbued with Joseph¡¯s lingering scent, a testament to the time he had


    spent there. Her head spun and her body swayed. She was on the verge of toppling over.


    Joseph swiftly reached out and steadied her by wrapping an arm around her waist. ¡°Are okay?¡±


    you


    ¡®Could it be low blood sugar from skipping breakfast? There is a pantry on the seventh floor stocked


    with choctes.¡¯


    He guided Chloe to the nearby couch and intended to fetch some for her. However, as he was about to


    turn away, Chloe clung tightly to his arm, her gaze locked on him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your nephew¡¯s name?¡± she asked.

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110


    Chapter 110 Mr. Joseph, There¡¯s Been an Unexpected Development


    Nephew?


    Joseph¡¯s brows knitted together as he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have a nephew.¡±


    At that moment, it felt as if a tightly wound string in Chloe¡¯s mind had snapped. Her mind went nk,


    leaving her with an empty stare and a vacant gaze, devoid of expression. She stood there in a daze,


    completely lost in her own confusion.


    Three months¡¯ worth of memories spun through her mind like a carousel. She became acutely aware


    that many things had left traces and evidence. It was her own eagerness that had led her


    to overlook them.


    ¡®So why did Jake mention an ambiguous rtionship between me and his uncle?¡¯


    As her thoughts slowly churned, the name Icarus shed through her mind.


    ¡®Distant rtives¡­


    ¡®Senior¡­¡¯


    Chloe¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and she wished she could p herself hard for her


    foolishness.


    Joseph noticed Chloe¡¯s abnormality and grasped her shoulders with both hands. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are


    you feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m fine,¡± she stammered.


    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling unwell, let¡¯s go to the hospital. Don¡¯t force yourself. I don¡¯t want to see employees


    working while they¡¯re sick.¡±


    Chloe stared into his eyes, remained silent for a while, and forced a smile. ¡°All right.¡±


    Joseph furrowed his brow, sensing her reluctance to say more, and decided not to press


    further.


    Lost in her thoughts, Chloe sat there in a daze, unaware of the passing time until Lucas arrived.


    Joseph had informed him of the arrangement the previous day, so Lucas took charge of guiding Chloe


    through the formalities of joining thepany. Throughout the tour, Chloe followed him like a puppet.


    Lucas noticed her peculiar state on several asions and contemted saying something, but after


    careful consideration, he chose to remain silent.


    Afterpleting the necessary formalities, Lucas stopped at the entrance of the marketing department


    and said, ¡°Ms. Chloe, this will be your workce from now on.¡±


    ¡°My workce¡­¡± Chloe murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on the work badge hanging from Lucas¡¯s


    chest. The word ¡°Fairlight¡± written on it was especially ring.


    No¡­


    Joseph was not Jake¡¯s uncle. She could not stay here!


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, please convey to Joseph that I won¡¯t be joining thepany,¡± Chloe pleaded, hastily


    escaping before Lucas could inquire further about her decision.


    Lucas returned to the CEO¡¯s office and cautiously approached Joseph. ¡°Sir, there¡¯s been an


    unexpected development¡­¡±


    His gaze was unflickering, showing little interest. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe just informed me that she won¡¯t be joining thepany¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes snapped upward, his voiceced with a hard edge as he asked, ¡°What do you mean she


    won¡¯t be joining? Is this ce regarded as a mere yground where people can enter and leave on a


    whim?¡±


    Lucas steeled himself. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure either. Ms. Chloe didn¡¯t say anything explicitly, but she seems


    distressed as if she¡¯s at a loss¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you not disclose your identity to Ms. Chloe beforehand, leaving her unprepared for this.


    revtion?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze momentarily froze. This was not entirely out of the realm of possibility.


    However, it should not have warranted such a strong reaction either.


    Lucas did not want them to engage in a fight and spoke up on Chloe¡¯s behalf. ¡°Why don¡¯t you call Ms.


    Chloe and ask her directly?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not calling her.¡± Joseph outright refused. Though he had offered her a job, he did not want to beg


    her to ept it. He could not fathom another woman in this world who would be so oblivious to her own


    best interests and take advantage of him.


    ¡°Then should I make the call?¡±


    ¡°If you


    have nothing better to do and want to meddle in her affairs, go ahead,¡± Joseph remarked, a touch of


    arrogance in his cold, arched brows. ¡°In any case, consider her absent today and deduct her sry.¡±


    Lucas was stunned speechless upon hearing this. ying the role of peacemaker turned out to be


    much more challenging than simply carrying out his regr duties. With determination,


    Lucas retrieved Chloe¡¯s number and dialed it.


    The first time, there was no answer; the second time, the call was rejected.


    Annoyed, Lucas felt that Chloe was going too far. Nevertheless, he maintained hisposure and


    dialed once more.


    ¡°Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unreachable. Please try againter.¡±


    ¡®Ugh,¡¯ Lucas thought to himself, venting his frustration in silence. He had made every effort to mediate


    the situation. Now, he would leave it in the hands of fate.


    Joseph, who had maintained a stoic silence throughout, concealed a brewing storm behind his eyes.


    He irritably tugged at his tie. ¡°Don¡¯t waste any more time on her. Let her fend for herself out there.¡±


    He was no Harold, and he had no intentions of tolerating her ws and disruptive behavior.


    Lucas nced at Joseph-whose face was slowly darkening-and wisely chose to remain silent. He


    simply acknowledged with a single word and returned to his work.


    Chloe found Emily, who had pulled a night shift yesterday.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Emily yawned, barely keeping her eyes open due to sleepiness. ¡°What¡¯s up? Did you have a fight with


    Jake¡¯s uncle?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched in frustration. Just hearing these words made her anger re up. ¡°Do you know


    who Jake¡¯s uncle is?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t I point him out to you at the bar?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not him.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Emily rubbed her eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Chloe pulled out the photos she had secretly taken of Joseph and handed them to Emily. ¡°Take a good


    look. Is this Jake¡¯s uncle?¡±

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111


    Chapter 111 We Aren¡¯t Fit for Each Other


    Joseph exuded an air ofziness as he lounged on the sofa, his face partially concealed by the angle


    of the photo.


    Yet, even with only half of his face visible, his captivating presence was enough to enchant anyone who


    laid eyes on him.


    Upon seeing the handsome guy, Emily¡¯s mind cleared up a bit. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the handsome guy we


    encountered at the bar who was with Jake¡¯s uncle that day?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s anger was written all over her face. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Perplexed, Emily repeated, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? He¡¯s the guy we met at the bar. I also met him at the


    ss reunion the other day. Honestly, you could make a move on him if you weren¡¯t so fixated on


    seeking revenge against that despicable couple.¡±


    Even during the short encounter at the bar, Joseph¡¯s charisma remained undeniable. He emitted an


    aura of elegance and exceptional grace. While others might have been easily forgotten, he possessed


    the ability to leave asting impression.


    ¡°Stop it¡­¡± Chloe was on the verge of tears. She thought Emily had made a mistake, but it turned out


    that she was the one who had misunderstood.


    ¡®I¡¯m such an idiot!¡±


    ¡°By the way, why do you have his photo? And from this angle, it looks like a sneak shot¡­.¡± Realization


    quickly set in for Emily, her eyes widening in astonishment. ¡°You know him?¡±


    Dropping to the floor, Chloe clutched her head and said exasperatingly, ¡°He was the man I flirted with at


    the bar¡­¡±


    Emily¡¯s jaw dropped, her face filled with disbelief. ¡°You must be joking!¡±


    ¡°What should I do? I¡¯m married to him¡­¡±


    ¡®I also nearly had sex with him¡­¡®


    Emily stood there in a daze, taking a moment toe to terms with reality before a smile slowly crept


    onto her face. ¡°This is great! He¡¯s so handsome, and he must be very wealthy, right?¡±


    Lifting her head, Chloe bit her lip and said, ¡°He¡¯s the owner of Fairlight.¡±


    ¡®Not only that, but he also has a big mansion, fancy cars, and a coboration with Patterson.¡®


    The heavens had given her countless signs, but she failed to delve deeper into their meaning. Emily


    jumped from the bed and said excitedly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget me when you get rich!¡±


    ¡°Stop teasing me. I¡¯m so f*cking worried right now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be worried about? He¡¯s rich and handsome. You should consider yourself lucky.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t love me. Our contractsts only for three years. After that period, we are to get divorced.¡±


    ¡°Enchant him and make him fall in love with you. Persuade him to extend the contract, and before he


    knows it, a lifetime will have passed in the blink of an eye.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making it sound so simple.¡± Chloe smiled bitterly. ¡°We aren¡¯t fit for each other. Our background


    doesn¡¯t match. What¡¯s more, he doesn¡¯t like me at all.¡±


    Emily fell silent. Throughout history, the union of individuals from the same social standing has held


    significant importance in marriage.


    Chloe let out a sigh, feeling lost. She hid like a turtle at Emily¡¯s ce for a whole day, keeping her


    phone turned off to avoid the harsh reality she did not want to face.


    While applying her face mask, Emily nced at Chloe and sincerely offered her advice. ¡°You should


    have a serious conversation with Joseph. Dragging it out like this won¡¯t solve anything.


    ¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t say anything. After all, you still have three years. During that time, you


    can stay by his side and even work at Fairlight. Make good use of these three. years, and focus on


    your career. Even if you can¡¯t win his heart in the end, at least you¡¯ll have a respectable job.¡±


    Chloe picked at her nails, hesitating. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that be using him¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh please. He married you to appease family expectations.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡±


    Emily removed her mask and casually tossed it into the trash can. ¡°Let me ask question. Do you not


    have feelings for Joseph whatsoever?¡±


    Three years was not long, nor was it short either.


    you one


    The human heart was made of flesh, and if Chloe was determined to win Joseph¡¯s, there was a


    possibility of sess. Besides, the intricacies of human rtionships could not be simply exined byThis is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    the notion of ¡°mismatched backgrounds.¡±


    Chloe found herself at a loss, unsure of what to do. There were moments when Joseph treated her


    kindly, and she could not deny that she had developed some level of affection for him.


    However, every time the flickering me of love began to ignite, it was abruptly extinguished


    by his cutting remarks.


    ¡°No. Anyone who likes him is just asking for abuse,¡± Chloe said.


    Emily responded with a contemtive silence before stating, ¡°You should think it over. I¡¯m off to meet


    my boyfriend now.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be chicks before dicks?!¡±


    The night stretched on.


    Chloe felt a mixture of anticipation and unease as she switched on her phone. She scrolled through her


    messages, but to her disappointment, there was no message from Joseph. Instead, she saw a


    message from Icarus.


    [Chloe, are you avable at 8 tonight? I have something to discuss with you. Let¡¯s meet on the fifth floor


    of Gilded Harvest.]


    She checked the time. It was seven o¡¯clock, and she figured that she still had enough time. She quickly


    tidied herself up and set off.


    However, as soon as she stepped out of the building, her vibrating phone in her bag caught her


    attention. She pulled it out and saw the name ¡°Joseph¡± disyed on the screen.


    At the sight of the name, Chloe¡¯s hand trembled as she answered the call.

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112


    Chapter 112 Heart Attack


    ¡°Grandpa just had a heart attack. Come to the hospital now.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s pupils instantly constricted. Without thinking about anything else, she immediately agreed,


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Forty minutester, she arrived at the hospital. Through the ss window, she could see


    Harold lying in the emergency room with an oxygen tube inserted into his nose and a pale face.


    devoid of color.


    This sight made Chloe¡¯s heart tighten. ¡°Why did Grandpa suddenly have a heart attack?¡±


    Joseph remained expressionless and said, ¡°He went to y an escape room with some friends, and he


    got frightened.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hm.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Chloe touched her nose and replied, ¡°Grandpa still has the heart of a child.¡±


    ¡°Where are the family members of the patient? The patient has awakened,¡± a nurse said as she


    emerged from the ward.


    Joseph nced at Chloe. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The two of them entered the ward one after the other. When Harold saw them, a gentle smile graced


    his aging face. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Patrick was just being paranoid in calling you two here.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips and coaxed him like a child, ¡°Grandpa, you shouldn¡¯t go to escape rooms


    anymore.¡±


    Flushed with embarrassment, Harold shot an annoyed re at Joseph before clearing his


    throat. ¡°Fine, fine. I won¡¯t go anymore. This is the fault of those oldrades of mine. They wanted to


    keep up with thetest trends, so they suggested we give an escape room a try for


    some fun.


    ¡°I thought it¡¯d be like ying hide-and-seek, like what we did back in the war. But once we stepped


    inside, darkness engulfed us, and the path ahead became indiscernible. It should be


    called a haunted house instead.


    What¡¯s more, the room had been filled with intricate traps and mechanisms. A skeleton abruptly


    emerged from the wall, and if Harold had been aware that it was merely a prop, he would not be lying


    here.


    ¡°Did they hold a knife to your throat and force you to go?¡± Joseph asked as he peeled an apple.


    Harold grabbed the tissue box from the bedside table and threw it at him. ¡°Shut up! Go buy me some


    food. I haven¡¯t eaten all day, and I¡¯m about to starve to death because of you, you brat.¡±


    The tissue box bounced off Joseph harmlessly, and he chuckled. ¡°If you go to another escape room,


    you won¡¯t have to eat for the rest of your life.¡±


    Chloe could not fathom why Joseph felt the need to argue with Harold immediately after he woke up.


    Stepping in between them, she offered, ¡°I¡¯ll go buy some food. Grandpa, please wait


    for me.¡±


    Staring at her retreating figure, Joseph handed the peeled apple to Harold. ¡°I¡¯ll go settle the


    bills.¡±


    The hospital cafeteria was already closed at this hour, so Chloe made her way to a restaurant situated


    across the street and ordered a few light dishes and a nutritious soup.


    Upon returning to the hospital, Chloe encountered Joseph in the main lobby. His well-fitted suit


    entuated his tall and slender physique. His eyebrows arched slightly, giving off a hint


    of coldness.


    While Joseph¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he nced at Chloe, a subtle warmth could be


    detected in his gaze. His gaze shifted to the food container in her hand, and he asked, What did you


    buy?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a small eatery that serves home-style dishes. I bought some poached eggs, steamed fish, and


    some soft-cooked grains. Is that okay?¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Joseph nodded, striding forward in long strides and taking the lead.


    Chloe followed closely behind him. Just before reaching the ward, she took a deep breath and asked


    the question that had been lingering in her mind, ¡°Were you waiting for me earlier?¡±


    There was no need to wait in line at the payment counter, and it usually took no more than five minutes


    to settle the bill. He had no reason to stay in the lobby.


    Continuing his stride without pausing, Joseph¡¯s maic voice brushed past her ear. ¡°Yes. After all,


    you have a tendency to run away when you¡¯re unhappy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­ I didn¡¯t intend for things to turn out this way. I just couldn¡¯t control my


    emotions,¡± Chloe softly retorted.


    After all, who the hell would have thought that she had gone for the wrong person from the get-go?


    Joseph did not catch what she said, but he clearly knew it was something unpleasant. He pinched her


    cheek and asked, ¡°What are you mumbling about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Chloe realized it was not the appropriate moment to argue with Joseph, so she


    refrained from retorting and let him pinch her cheek which left behind a faint red welt.


    The way she lowered her head submissively appeased Joseph greatly. His anger abated, and he


    released his fingers from her cheek.


    ¡°Bring the food to Grandpa and thene out.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°I have something to tell you.¡±


    Chloe obedientlyplied. She followed Joseph¡¯s order to bring the food to Harold. She even


    ced a ss of warm water on the bedside table before leaving the room.


    There were hardly any people in the corridor since this is the VIP ward section, so the surrounding was


    exceptionally quiet.


    Chloe walked toward Joseph, who was sitting on a long bench in the hallway. Just as she was about to


    speak, her phone rang. It was Icarus calling.


    ¡®Oh gosh! I forgot to tell him!¡¯


    ¡°I need to take this call. Please wait a moment,¡± she said.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Joseph interjected, noticing the shift in Chloe¡¯s expression. His eyes narrowed slightly


    as he continued, ¡°Answer the call right here.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. For some reason, she felt like a wife who had betrayed her husband.¡±.


    Fine.¡±


    ¡®I haven¡¯t done anything wrong, why should I be afraid of taking the call here?¡¯ she thought.


    She lightly swiped the screen with her fingertips and answered the call.


    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t make it for our appointment today. A family of mine fell ill. Can we meet another day?¡±


    she asked.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, yes. He¡¯s fine now. Okay, good night.¡±


    Chloe briefly exined the situation to Icarus.


    Icarus remainedposed and understanding, without expressing any disappointment despite the


    change of ns. He seemed to have a better temperament than Joseph.


    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve finished the call, you can speak,¡± Chloe said to Joseph with a smile.


    Joseph evaded her question and fixed his gaze on her. ¡°The person who just called you¡­ Is he. the


    one who attended the cooking ss with you?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Hah.¡±


    Not only did he recognize the caller¡¯s voice, but he also heard that they were going out on a date


    tonight.

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113


    Chapter 113 ying Hard to Get


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Chloe asked, unable toprehend his


    gaze.


    ¡°I believe I¡¯ve warned you more than once to stay away from men of questionable character,¡± Joseph


    said.


    ¡°He¡¯s my friend,¡± Chloe retorted, feeling a bit displeased.


    ¡°You¡¯re not just an individual anymore. You¡¯re my wife, and you represent not only yourself but also the


    Whitmans and Fairlight,¡± Joseph said sternly.


    Chloe felt a shiver run down her spine. She lowered her head and weakly responded, ¡°You now


    acknowledge me as the Whitmans¡¯ daughter-inw? Why didn¡¯t you tell me that before? Were you


    afraid I was after your family¡¯s wealth?¡±


    ¡°Have I ever hidden anything from you or deliberately kept you uninformed?¡± Joseph replied with


    displeasure.


    ¡®It was your own stupidity for not realizing it.¡¯


    ¡°Well¡­ You didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Joseph snorted with an air of arrogance and said, ¡°Act within your capabilities, and don¡¯t go overboard.


    Can you find a better ce than Fairlight?¡±


    ¡®Can you find a man better than me?¡±


    Chloe waspletely at a loss. She could not help but recall what Emily had said, which made her feel


    worried. Before, she had tried to please Joseph because she believed he was Jake¡¯s. uncle, but now


    he had be her provider.


    ¡®Goodness. Am I destined to be unable to leave him?¡±


    ¡°The contract clearly outlines the terms in explicit detail. We¡¯re all adults, and there¡¯s no need for further


    exnation. I¡¯ll consider today as an unauthorized absence, and the penalty for such absences is three


    times the basic sry.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°That¡¯s a lot!¡±


    ¡°You brought it upon yourself.¡± He sneered.


    After hesitating for a moment, Chloe cautiously asked, ¡°Well, I¡¯m just asking, but is it possible for us to


    terminate the contract now?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face sank and his eyes narrowed. Rising to his feet, he took a step closer to Chloe and


    demanded, ¡°Say that again?¡±


    He had been very patient with her, yet she did not appreciate it. Everything had its limit, including his


    patience.


    In a split second, Chloe felt her back forcefully pressed against the chilling wall, leaving her with no


    room for escape. She gazed at the man standing just inches away from her. His gaze was sharp, and


    his handsome face remained devoid of any expression.


    Her heart began to pound uncontrobly.


    She really did not want to owe him any favors. Nervously, she stammered, ¡°Can we terminate.


    Before she could finish her sentence, Joseph pinned her against the wall. Startled, she looked at the


    man before her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t get angry, I was just joking. I was just trying to lighten the atmosphere!¡±


    With his imposing figure, Joseph loomed over her and cast his gaze


    ¡°Are you ying hard to get?¡±


    downward.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe paused, awkwardly touching her nose. ¡°You caught me. Well, it seems like I¡¯ll never win


    your heart in this lifetime.¡±


    She felt rather embarrassed after uttering those words. However, her immediate concern was to pacify


    Joseph. His reaction had made it clear that she could not bring up the topic of


    contract termination again.


    Dealing with an enraged Joseph was simply too frightening!


    A mixed expression shed across Joseph¡¯s handsome features as he met her clear gaze. He knew all


    too well about her little tricks, yet he still fell for it.


    ¡®D*mn it!¡¯ he chided inwardly.


    ¡°Stop deluding yourself into challenging me in the future,¡± Joseph tossed out this remark before


    releasing her.


    Chloe sighed and nodded in resignation, epting her fate. ¡°I understand.¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    For now, she would just focus on surviving and rolling with the punches. After all, she had tried to warn


    him, and if things got exposedter on, she could not be solely med for it.


    It was he who refused to let her leave!


    Joseph nced at Chloe¡¯s mncholic expression and felt a tinge of displeasure in his heart.


    ¡®Am I really making her suffer by insisting on her working at Fairlight? Or is it because of the man she


    was talking to on the phone just now?¡¯


    At the thought, a wave of anger surged within Joseph.


    ¡®I¡¯m losing my mind, and it¡¯s all this dumbo¡¯s fault.


    ¡®No, I can¡¯t let that happen. No one should have the power to influence my emotions.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, heposed himself and coldly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to report to the marketing


    department tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114


    Chapter 114 Treating Her Like a Maid


    Chloe blinked, confusion written all over her face as she asked, ¡°Does this mean you¡¯re terminating my


    contract?¡±


    ¡°There have been changes to your job responsibilities,¡± he stated firmly, enunciating each word with


    emphasis. ¡°You are to report to the custodial department starting tomorrow.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and she forced a dry smile, ¡°You must be joking with me, right?


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡®I¡¯ve been too nice to her. She needs to be taught a lesson for quitting her job without any legit reason!¡¯


    Chloe¡¯s expression froze.


    ¡°You want me to work as a janitor?!¡± she asked, her voice thick with disbelief.


    ¡®Seriously? Is he out of his mind?¡¯


    While she was open to a change in her job role, the idea of bing a janitor was difficult for her to


    ept.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s a chance you cane back to your original department, but that¡¯ll depend on your


    performance,¡± Joseph said casually, admiring her gradually changing expression with an indifferent


    nce. His thin lips curved slightly, finally feeling some satisfaction.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me! I¡¯ll tell Grandpa about it!¡±


    ¡°He may be able to protect you momentarily, but can he protect you for three years?¡±


    With a swift movement, Joseph reached out and lightly pinched Chloe¡¯s chin, his fingertips. cool


    against her skin as they glided with a tantalizing touch. His voice was filled with allure. and a hint of


    temptation as he continued, ¡°Provoking mees at a cost. Remember to behave yourself next time.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice was calm andposed, devoid of any discernible chill. However, once Chloe looked


    into his eyes, they felt like piercing daggers, prating deep into her soul with an intensity that sent


    shivers down her spine.


    Just when Chloe was about toply, her resistance manifested in her words instead. ¡°What if I


    refuse? What if I insist on terminating the contract?¡±


    A faint frown appeared on Joseph¡¯s face as he spoke in aposed manner, ¡°It appears you didn¡¯t pay


    close attention to the contract. Allow me to refresh your memory. It explicitly states that only Party A


    has the exclusive right to terminate the contract and holds the power to alter your job position. As Party


    B, you can terminate the contract, but you¡¯ll be liable for any losses


    incurred on my part.


    ¡°And should I find your performance unsatisfactory, I can take legal action, engaging Samuel as my


    representation, which would ultimately leave you bankrupt, drowning in debt, and facing the potential


    risk of imprisonment if circumstances demand.¡±


    Chloe clenched her fists. ¡®So even if I know the truth, I still can¡¯t run away from him. Why does


    misfortune constantly befall me?!¡¯


    If she could start over again, even if she vomited in the car that day, she would meticulously read and


    understand every word and symbol on the contract before signing it!


    Regrettably, life offered no opportunities for do-overs. She had no alternative but to ept her


    circumstances.


    Chloe let out a long sigh, her voice filled with despair as she asked, ¡°When can I be transferred back to


    the marketing department?¡±


    ¡°As I said. It depends on your performance.¡±


    They apanied Harold at the hospital until 11 o¡¯clock, after which Harold urged Chloe and Joseph


    to go home and rest.


    Joseph agreed promptly without any objections and got up to leave. Chloe observed Harold¡¯s condition,


    and after ensuring that he was fine, she left him to Patrick¡¯s care.


    Joseph walked ahead, while Chloe trailed behind him. Her mind was wrestling with whether she should


    rent a ce of her own in the future. The reason she stayed with him was to flirt with him, but now, it


    seemed unnecessary.


    Joseph turned his head and noticed Chloe¡¯s troubled expression. His thin lips parted, saying, ¡±


    Hurry up.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°When we get back, make me some sandwiches.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you not willing to?¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I wonder. Have you been treating me as a maid since the beginning?¡±


    After all, they had spent so much time together. They constantly saw each other, yet there had been no


    change in his attitude toward her.

 Chapter 115

    Chapter 115


    Chapter 115 Outburst of Emotion


    Joseph pondered for a moment and answered thoughtfully, ¡°Of course not.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s spirits lifted visibly, her vitality returning. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a maid is far more diligent and obedient than you.¡±


    Chloe was speechless.


    Joseph chuckled softly. ¡®But your position is slightly higher than that of a housemaid.¡¯


    To put it bluntly, he had considered her to be beneath even a maid. The definition of a maid was


    someone who cooked well and was hardworking.


    The first meal she had cooked was disastrous. She even ended up in the hospital after eating it.


    After that, she enrolled in a culinary ss. She was clever, and she managed to cook rtively


    delicious meals within less than a month. And now, he had grown ustomed to her cooking.


    He had enjoyed extravagant meals since he was young, and honestly, her cooking was not


    exceptionally delicious. However, for some inexplicable reason, every time he ate the food she made, a


    surge of warmth welled up within him.


    Chloe had no idea what Joseph was thinking, so she remained silent, assuming that he genuinely


    looked down on her.


    Chloe apanied Harold who was in the hospital for three days. Compared to the task of cleaning


    toilets at Fairlight, this duty of apanying the elderly was much easier.


    On the fourth day, Harold insisted on being discharged, so Patrick went to consult the doctor. The


    doctor said that Harold was fine to leave since his condition had gotten better, but he


    advised him to get plenty of rest.


    And so, Chloe¡¯s blissful days came to an end.


    On the fifth day, she prepared a table full of breakfast dishes. There were boiled eggs, sandwiches,


    pies, coffee, steaks, sd, and orange juice.


    As Joseph descended the stairs, his eyes were immediately drawn to the bustling figure in the kitchen.


    d in a pink apron, Chloe¡¯s slender and tall figure exuded a captivating, youthful


    allure.


    Hearing a noise, Chloe turned around and offered him a sweet and enchanting smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. Breakfast is ready,¡± she said.


    Joseph frowned slightly, but he calmed himself and took a seat. Under Chloe¡¯s expectant gaze,


    he picked up the cutlery and ced them next to the steak.


    Sensing this, she promptly handed him a ss of orange juice. ¡°It¡¯s freshly squeezed. Have a sip?¡±


    ¡°Say it. What do you want this time?¡± he said.


    ¡°Jojo, you¡¯re so clever. How did you know that I have something to tell you?¡± She straightened


    her posture. ¡°I don¡¯t want to work in Custodial. Can you transfer me back to Marketing? Please.


    ¡±


    Chloe cupped her cheeks with her hands, her clear eyes akin to a pool of spring water. ¡°I believe my


    performance these past few days has been good enough, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but you¡¯ve been good to Grandpa. Apart from this morning as I have the food you made, I haven¡¯t


    even caught a glimpse of you for the past few days,¡± Joseph smirked.


    ¡°I¡¯m a human, not a robot. I have only two hands and legs. After visiting Grandpa, I don¡¯t have much


    time left,¡± Chloe retorted matter-of-factly.


    Joseph paused for a moment and lifted his head. He looked into her eyes for a brief moment before


    saying, ¡°After spending three days in Custodial, I¡¯ll transfer you back.¡±


    ¡°Why?!¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Because we¡¯re short on staff.¡±


    Chloe stuffed a boiled egg into her mouth, choosing to remain silent. She could manage it since it was


    only three days.


    After they finished their breakfast, both of them headed to Fairlight.


    When Lucas was about to lead Chloe to the custodial department, Chloe smiled at him and said, ¡°You


    don¡¯t have to bring me there. I saw Custodial on the ground floor when I came in. By the way, I¡¯m sorry


    about my outburst of emotion. I didn¡¯t mean to lose control. Lucas shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m more


    interested in the reason behind your outburst.¡±

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116


    Chapter 116 A p to Chloe¡¯s Face


    Chloe let out a bitter smile. ¡°Well, I knew Joseph was rich, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be the CEO of


    Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I understand how you feel.¡±


    It was just as Lucas expected. It was like a massive pie falling from the sky, making one question the


    reality of it all.


    Of course, Chloe had no idea what was going through Lucas¡¯ mind. She walked to the custodial


    department and politely knocked on the door three times.


    Soon, a middle-aged woman wearing a cleaner¡¯s uniform opened the door, looking puzzled.¡± Do you


    need something?¡±


    ¡°Madam, I¡¯m the new staff.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± The cleaner hesitated for a moment before letting her in. ¡°I thought it would be an oldie


    coming by, but turns out you¡¯re a young girl. Strange¡­


    ¡°I made a mistake. My superior is angry with me, so he¡¯s punishing me by making me work here for a


    few days,¡± Chloe exined meekly as she changed into her work uniform. ¡°Madam, which area am I


    responsible for?¡±


    Even though she was sent here as a punishment, she was still willing to work. The cleaner¡¯s heart


    softened and she said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. Just stay here.¡±


    Chloe quickly waved her hand. ¡°That won¡¯t do. I came here to work. Please let me know which area I


    should be responsible for.¡±


    Recognizing Chloe¡¯smitment and realizing that she might face difficulties exining her actions to


    her superiors if she did not fulfill her duties, the cleaner walked over to a diagram. disying the


    division of work areas pasted to a wall.


    Holding a pen, she said, ¡°We have Donald taking care of the first-floor corridor, Susan is managing the


    second-floor office area, and there¡¯s someone assigned to the third-floor pantry¡­ As for you, you can


    go to the conference room on the thirtieth floor. No one¡¯s in charge of that area.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Chloe nodded. Picking up a cloth and broom, she went on her way. She put on a mask and


    took the elevator up to the thirtieth floor.


    And her timing was impable.


    Just as Chloe reached the conference room, the employees were just wrapping up their morning


    meeting. She positioned herself at the entrance, waiting patiently as they exited the


    room one by one. Her face remained hidden behind a mask, revealing only her radiant eyes that


    sparkled with anticipation.


    The cleaning process in the conference room went smoothly, bringing a sense of joy to her as it


    required minimal effort to tidy up.


    Afterpleting her task, Chloe stepped out of the room. Two young and beautiful girls walked past


    her.


    ¡°Did you hear? Mr. Joseph came in with a girl this morning.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I heard! Could that girl be his girlfriend? Oh my goodness. Please don¡¯t let it be true. I¡¯ll be


    devastated and in no mood for work.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s highly possible.¡±


    ¡°For my birthday this year, I don¡¯t want to be rich. I want to travel back in time and be that girl!¡±


    As Chloe listened to the fading voices of the two girls, her mouth twitched in disbelief.


    ¡®She wants to be me? For what? To be a janitor?¡±


    As lunchtime approached, Chloe took off her uniform and headed to the convenience store near the


    company to grab a bite. Sitting at the counter, she held a bowl of warm soup in her hands and took a


    sip, feeling aforting warmth spread through her body.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Across the street from the convenience store, Ava¡¯s gaze was fixed on Chloe¡¯s figure, a hint of jealousy


    shing through her eyes.


    ¡°Daddy, Coco¡¯s over there. Let¡¯s go over quickly,¡± she urged.


    After searching for two days, they had finally found her.


    Ava hadprehended why Adam treated Chloe with such courtesy. It was likely due to his father¡¯s


    influence. What was more, Adam even regarded Chloe as his older sister, as young men like him were


    susceptible to deception.


    Benjamin¡¯s face darkened. Without uttering a word, he strode purposefully toward Chloe. He entered


    the convenience store and raised his hand, delivering a harsh p to her face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve sprouted your own wings now, have you?! How dare you put me on the cklist!¡± he shouted,


    his voice filled with anger.

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117


    Chapter 117 A p to Chloe¡¯s Face


    Chloe let out a bitter smile. ¡°Well, I knew Joseph was rich, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be the CEO of


    Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I understand how you feel.¡±


    It was just as Lucas expected. It was like a massive pie falling from the sky, making one question the


    reality of it all.


    Of course, Chloe had no idea what was going through Lucas¡¯ mind. She walked to the custodial


    department and politely knocked on the door three times.


    Soon, a middle-aged woman wearing a cleaner¡¯s uniform opened the door, looking puzzled.¡± Do you


    need something?¡±


    ¡°Madam, I¡¯m the new staff.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± The cleaner hesitated for a moment before letting her in. ¡°I thought it would be an oldie


    coming by, but turns out you¡¯re a young girl. Strange¡­


    ¡°I made a mistake. My superior is angry with me, so he¡¯s punishing me by making me work here for a


    few days,¡± Chloe exined meekly as she changed into her work uniform. ¡°Madam, which area am I


    responsible for?¡±


    Even though she was sent here as a punishment, she was still willing to work. The cleaner¡¯s heart


    softened and she said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. Just stay here.¡±


    Chloe quickly waved her hand. ¡°That won¡¯t do. I came here to work. Please let me know which area I


    should be responsible for.¡±


    Recognizing Chloe¡¯smitment and realizing that she might face difficulties exining her actions to


    her superiors if she did not fulfill her duties, the cleaner walked over to a diagram. disying the


    division of work areas pasted to a wall.


    Holding a pen, she said, ¡°We have Donald taking care of the first-floor corridor, Susan is managing the


    second-floor office area, and there¡¯s someone assigned to the third-floor pantry¡­ As for you, you can


    go to the conference room on the thirtieth floor. No one¡¯s in charge of that area.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Chloe nodded. Picking up a cloth and broom, she went on her way. She put on a mask and


    took the elevator up to the thirtieth floor.


    And her timing was impable.


    Just as Chloe reached the conference room, the employees were just wrapping up their morning


    meeting. She positioned herself at the entrance, waiting patiently as they exited the


    room one by one. Her face remained hidden behind a mask, revealing only her radiant eyes that


    sparkled with anticipation.


    The cleaning process in the conference room went smoothly, bringing a sense of joy to her as it


    required minimal effort to tidy up.


    Afterpleting her task, Chloe stepped out of the room. Two young and beautiful girls walked past


    her.


    ¡°Did you hear? Mr. Joseph came in with a girl this morning.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I heard! Could that girl be his girlfriend? Oh my goodness. Please don¡¯t let it be true. I¡¯ll be


    devastated and in no mood for work.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s highly possible.¡±


    ¡°For my birthday this year, I don¡¯t want to be rich. I want to travel back in time and be that girl!¡±


    As Chloe listened to the fading voices of the two girls, her mouth twitched in disbelief.


    ¡®She wants to be me? For what? To be a janitor?¡±


    As lunchtime approached, Chloe took off her uniform and headed to the convenience store near the


    company to grab a bite. Sitting at the counter, she held a bowl of warm soup in her hands and took a


    sip, feeling aforting warmth spread through her body.


    Across the street from the convenience store, Ava¡¯s gaze was fixed on Chloe¡¯s figure, a hint of jealousy


    shing through her eyes.


    ¡°Daddy, Coco¡¯s over there. Let¡¯s go over quickly,¡± she urged.


    After searching for two days, they had finally found her.


    Ava hadprehended why Adam treated Chloe with such courtesy. It was likely due to his father¡¯s


    influence. What was more, Adam even regarded Chloe as his older sister, as young men like him were


    susceptible to deception.


    Benjamin¡¯s face darkened. Without uttering a word, he strode purposefully toward Chloe. He entered


    the convenience store and raised his hand, delivering a harsh p to her face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve sprouted your own wings now, have you?! How dare you put me on the cklist!¡± he shouted,


    his voice filled with anger.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118


    Chapter 118 Swollen


    Chloe paused, momentarily taken aback. Despite her curiosity about her maternal grandparents, she


    remained cautious and asked, ¡°Are you saying you know who they are?¡±


    ¡®Mom never mentioned anything about her parents, so how does he know?¡±


    ¡°If you want to find them, go talk to Alexander,¡± he replied.


    With a smug expression, Benjamin led Ava away from the convenience store. As they stepped outside,


    Ava asked in confusion, ¡°Daddy, do you really know about Coco¡¯s maternal grandparents?¡±


    ¡°When her mother married me, she cut ties with her family, but I know how to find them,¡± Benjamin said


    as he gazed at the diamond ne she was wearing. ¡°Take this ne and go to Jade Street in


    the southern part of the city. You¡¯ll find them there.¡±


    These were the words Chloe¡¯ste mother had entrusted to Benjamin, who had instructed him to wait


    until Chloe reached adulthood before revealing the truth.


    Ava was surprised. ¡°Are they in the jewelry business? Wouldn¡¯t that mean they¡¯re quite wealthy?¡±


    ¡°They just run a small shop. It¡¯s nothing great,¡± Benjamin replied disdainfully.


    In the evening, nearing the end of the workday, Joseph nced at his wristwatch and stood up. He


    picked up his suit from the coat stand and headed toward the underground parking


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    garage.


    In the distance, Chloe was crouching in a corner, her head lowered in a daze. She hugged herself


    tightly with her chin resting on her knees, assuming a self-protective posture. From the side, her long


    and curled eyshes hung low, veiling the emotions in her eyes.


    She resembled an abandoned kitten, licking its wounds while hiding in the corner.


    Upon spotting her, Joseph could not help but wonder, ¡®Is working in Custodial that exhausting? Perhaps


    she¡¯s overwhelmed by the burden of difficult and tiring tasks¡­ Maybe I should transfer her back to


    Marketing tomorrow. Otherwise, people might think I¡¯m mistreating her.¡¯


    With that thought in mind, he approached Chloe and ced his hand on her head, gently massaging it.


    He intended to offer some words offort, but what came out carried a teasing tone, ¡°Just one day


    and you can¡¯t handle it anymore?¡±


    Chloe froze and slowly lifted her head. One side of her cheek was swollen, and there were clear finger


    marks on it.


    Joseph¡¯s face sank as he asked, ¡°Who did this?¡±


    ¡°My dad. Well, I¡¯m not sure if I should still call him my dad or not.¡±


    Joseph was stunned and he frowned in disbelief. ¡°He pped you in the face?¡±


    ¡®And he ims to be her father?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Chloe replied with a shrug, feigning nonchnce. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    This was not the first time. She should have gotten used to it a long time ago, right?


    Though she realized it a littlete, it was not toote now.


    ¡°Why did he hit you?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can handle it myself. But I do have another favor to ask of you,¡± Chloe said.


    Joseph saw through her mask of resilience, his heart throbbing with a pang of pain. His voice softened


    slightly as he replied, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Could you get Mr. Samuel to reschedule the appointments a little earlier please?¡± Chloe asked with a


    hint of hesitation. She knew she had asked too much of him already, but at the moment, she had no


    other choice.


    She had consulted aw firm, and while it seemed feasible to file awsuit, the fact that she had a legal


    father-daughter rtionship with Benjamin made it incredibly challenging. The chances of winning a


    case with an ordinarywyer were extremely low.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll inquire about it when we get home,¡± Joseph agreed.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make something delicious for youter,¡± Chloe said gratefully. ¡°You should apply some


    ice to your face. It¡¯s like a swollen pig¡¯s head,¡± he added.


    Leat

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119


    Chapter 119 Suck-up


    Chloe covered her face in embarrassment, gritting her teeth as sheined inwardly,¡¯ What¡¯s


    wrong with this guy? He¡¯s so insensitive. It¡¯s one thing to not show any concern, but why would he add


    insult to injury byparing my face to a pig¡¯s right now?¡¯


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph entered his study and closed the door before dialing Samuel¡¯s number.


    Samuel found it unusual to receive a call from Joseph, and thus, immediately put down the files in his


    hand to answer. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Can we expedite the court hearing for Chloe¡¯s case?¡± Joseph got straight to the point without wasting


    any words.


    Aplex expression shed across Samuel¡¯s face. ¡°This is the reason you called me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t fallen for her, have you?¡±


    Joseph was taken aback for a moment. He instinctively denied, ¡°I just want to help her.¡±


    Samuel fell into silence, contemting the situation. His close friend was undoubtedly a business


    genius, yet when it came to matters of love, he was quite clueless. Unbeknownst to


    him, the fondness men develop for women often begins with a sense of empathy and


    Nevertheless, Joseph was his best friend, and he could not bring himself to refuse when he asked for


    help.


    Samuel asked his assistant to bring his itinerary and carefully examined it. After contemting for a


    while, he said, ¡°No, the earliest possible date is in July. I can¡¯t expedite it. The court isn¡¯t under my


    control. It not only requires my avability, but the files also need time to be submitted and reviewed


    before scheduling the hearing.¡±


    Joseph loosened his tie and unbuttoned his cor. ¡°How much would it cost for you to take on such a


    case normally?¡±


    ¡°Typically, it would be around 1 to 2 mil. And for more challenging cases, it could go up to 7 to 15 mil.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you 15. Find a way to arrange Chloe¡¯s case for mid-month.¡±


    Samuel shook his head in refusal. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. Although I have a good rtionship with


    the judge, I can¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°100 million dors.¡±


    ¡°Joe¡­ We¡¯ve known each other for very long. Don¡¯t try to buy me off with money.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face sank as he asked, ¡°Who did this?¡±


    ¡°My dad. Well, I¡¯m not sure if I should still call him my dad or not.¡±


    Joseph was stunned and he frowned in disbelief. ¡°He pped you in the face?¡±


    ¡®And he ims to be her father?¡¯


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Chloe replied with a shrug, feigning nonchnce. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    This was not the first time. She should have gotten used to it a long time ago, right?


    Though she realized it a littlete, it was not toote now.


    ¡°Why did he hit you?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can handle it myself. But I do have another favor to ask of you,¡± Chloe said.


    Joseph saw through her mask of resilience, his heart throbbing with a pang of pain. His voice softened


    slightly as he replied, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Could you get Mr. Samuel to reschedule the appointments a little earlier please?¡± Chloe asked with a


    hint of hesitation. She knew she had asked too much of him already, but at the moment, she had no


    other choice.


    She had consulted aw firm, and while it seemed feasible to file awsuit, the fact that she had a legal


    father-daughter rtionship with Benjamin made it incredibly challenging. The chances of winning a


    case with an ordinarywyer were extremely low.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll inquire about it when we get home,¡± Joseph agreed.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make something delicious for youter,¡± Chloe said gratefully. ¡°You should apply some


    ice to your face. It¡¯s like a swollen pig¡¯s head,¡± he added.


    Chloe covered her face in embarrassment, gritting her teeth as sheined inwardly, What¡¯s wrong


    with this guy? He¡¯s so insensitive. It¡¯s one thing to not show any concern, but why would he add insult


    to injury byparing my face to a pig¡¯s right now?¡¯


    Joseph entered his study and closed the door before dialing Samuel¡¯s number.


    Samuel found it unusual to receive a call from Joseph, and thus, immediately put down the files in his


    hand to answer. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Can we expedite the court hearing for Chloe¡¯s case?¡± Joseph got straight to the point without wasting


    any words.


    Aplex expression shed across Samuel¡¯s face. ¡°This is the reason you called me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t fallen for her, have you?¡±


    Joseph was taken aback for a moment. He instinctively denied, ¡°I just want to help her.¡±


    Samuel fell into silence, contemting the situation. His close friend was undoubtedly a business


    genius, yet when it came to matters of love, he was quite clueless. Unbeknownst to him, the fondness


    men develop for women often begins with a sense of empathy andpassion.


    Nevertheless, Joseph was his best friend, and he could not bring himself to refuse when he asked for


    help.


    Samuel asked his assistant to bring his itinerary and carefully examined it. After contemting for a


    while, he said, ¡°No, the earliest possible date is in July. I can¡¯t expedite it. The court isn¡¯t under my


    control. It not only requires my avability, but the files also need time to be submitted and reviewed


    before scheduling the hearing,¡±


    Joseph loosened his tie and unbuttoned his cor. ¡°How much would it cost for you to take on such a


    case normally?¡±


    ¡°Typically, it would be around 1 to 2 mil. And for more challenging cases, it could go up to 7 to 15 mil.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you 15. Find a way to arrange Chloe¡¯s case for mid-month.¡±


    Samuel shook his head in refusal. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. Although I have a good rtionship with


    the judge, I can¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°100 million dors.¡±


    ¡°Joe¡­ We¡¯ve known each other for very long. Don¡¯t try to buy me off with money.


    ¡°200 million.¡±


    Samuel sucked in a breath of cold air and replied without any hesitation, ¡°Fine, fine, but let me make it


    clear in advance. Mid this month is impossible. If it¡¯s toward the end of the month, I can try to help you.¡±


    After gently pressing an ice pack to her face, Chloe went straight to the kitchen. Now that she was


    living under someone else¡¯s roof, it was only natural for her to take care of the cooking.


    However, the once vibrant enthusiasm she held for pleasing Joseph had waned noticeably. In its ce


    was a sense of duty, making the act of cooking feel more like an obligatory task rather than an


    expression of genuine eagerness.


    At the dining table, Chloe did not anticipate any words of praise from Joseph regarding the meal.


    Keeping her head lowered, she reached out to the project manager overseeing the Patterson project,


    hoping to obtain Adam¡¯s contact details through their assistance. Although the person did not reject her


    request, they did mention the need to consult with Adam and said they would respond to her within half


    an hour.


    Chloe readily agreed and expressed her gratitude. After Joseph had finished his meal, she began to


    clean up the dishes and utensils. He nced at her and spoke in a t tone, ¡°Report to Marketing


    tomorrow.¡±


    Engrossed in her thoughts on how to counter Ava, Chloe was so preupied that she failed to register


    Joseph¡¯s words. Lost in her own world, she simply nodded absentmindedly and replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Just okay?¡± Joseph questioned, his eyebrows raised in a gesture of dissatisfaction.


    It was only then Chloe snapped back to reality. She stared at Joseph in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re transferring


    me back to Marketing already? I thought you said three days?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to go?¡±


    ¡°I do, I do!¡± she eagerly responded in a joyful tone, her voice filled with excitement. ¡°Thank you for


    sparing me, Jojo! I promise to work diligently and contribute to Fairlight!¡±


    Ever since she first set foot in Fairlight, she had longed for a position there. Now that her wish. was


    coming true, she could not help but feel ecstatic.


    Joseph fixed his gaze upon her radiant face, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips.


    ¡°Suck-up.¡±


    His tone carried a hint of affection, though he remained oblivious to it himself.


    Raising her chin, Chlow saw no harm in ttery and replied earnestly, ¡°Hehe, what employee doesn¡¯t


    tter their boss? As long as one knows how to maintain a proper bnce, no one will


    say no to ttery.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re just buttering me up? These aren¡¯t your true feelings?¡± Joseph asked, his voice turning stern


    and his gaze bing cold as it swept over her.

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120


    Chapter 120 His Attitude Toward Her Has Changed


    A chill ran down Chloe¡¯s spine as she touched her nose and replied, ¡°Well, my words may sound a bit


    exaggerated, but my feelings toward Fairlight are genuine.¡±


    Joseph chuckled dismissively, his demeanor nonchnt as he made his way upstairs.


    ¡®Genuine feelings toward Fairlight? Shouldn¡¯t it be directed at me instead? This dumbo has been so


    eager to find her way into my bed, and now with these increased chances of meeting, I¡¯m certain she¡¯s


    absolutely delighted.¡¯


    He had encountered many women like Chloe, but he did not find her repulsive. If she behaved


    obediently and yed her cards right, there was a possibility of her bing his true wife.


    After taking a shower, Chloe received a call from Emily.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°So, when are you nning to move out? My colleague has a house for rent, and it¡¯s close to my ce.


    You could even stay at mine if you like. My boyfriend won¡¯t be around,¡± Emily suggested.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment before whispering, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stay here for now and not rent a


    ce.¡±


    ¡°Huh? But why?¡±


    ¡°I just feel like he has done a lot for me, and it wouldn¡¯t be right to leave so abruptly,¡± Chloe replied


    softly.


    Besides, what Joseph said was true. They had signed a contract, and she needed to honor it.


    There was a pause on the other end of the line before Emily said, ¡°You¡¯re not having second thoughts


    about Joseph, are you?¡±


    Chloe bristled and she hastily retorted, ¡°You must be out of your mind. Even the dog in this house is


    more likable than him!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t talk about him in that way. After all, he¡¯s the CEO of a prominent listedpany and a


    talented young man. He¡¯s the dream man of many women. If you really can¡¯t bring yourself to leave,


    then stay. Besides, doesn¡¯t his grandfather treat you well?¡±


    ¡°Why are you hell-bent on pairing us off?¡± Chloe asked in annoyance.


    Emily had never approved of any of the men who pursued Chloe in the past. She had a knack for


    finding ws in them.


    ¡°Because he¡¯s genuinely exceptional. If my best friend bes wealthy, I will surely live a good life


    too. I may not be able to achieve rapid sess, but my daily life will surely be delightful,¡± Emily


    exined.


    1/2


    Chloe finally realized that she was joking. ¡°Stop teasing me. High society might seem morous, but


    only the one who experiences it knows the bitterness behind it. All right, I¡¯m going to hang up now. I


    have another calling in.¡±


    As she looked at the unfamiliar iing call, her intuition told her it was Adam. And just as she


    expected, when she answered the call, a voice that straddled between adolescence and youth rang


    out.


    ¡°Sis, you were looking for me?¡±


    Adam was quite excited. He had not expected Chloe to reach out to him of her own ord.


    Chloe nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to ask for your help.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go


    ahead and tell me what it is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about your rtionship with Ava¡­ Can you please share the details with me?¡±


    Her tone was gentle and politepletely different from the cold attitude she had when refusing to give


    Adam her phone number back then.


    When seeking someone¡¯s assistance, this was the way to go. What¡¯s more, she was inquiring about


    someone else¡¯s personal matters.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Adam readily replied. He told Chloe everything about his rtionship with Ava, and even


    mischievously added, ¡°Sis, are you nning to teach her a lesson? I still have those flirtatious


    messages Ava sent me. I can send them to you, and you can show them to her fiance. I guarantee


    they¡¯ll drive him crazy.¡±


    ¡°Revealing your chat history could have consequences for you,¡± Chloe said seriously.


    ¡°My reputation isn¡¯t great anyway, so I don¡¯t care about it. If you feel guilty, just blur out my profile


    picture.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    Since Adam had voluntarily made such an offer, Chloe did not hold back either.


    She hesitated a bit before asking, ¡°Also, why are you suddenly calling me ¡®sis?¡±¡±


    Not only that, but he treated her with respect. She remembered that they had only met twice before this


    call.

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121


    Chapter 121 A Flower Bud Waiting to Bloom


    After a brief pause, Adam said rather shyly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that you were acquainted with Mr. Joseph


    and wanted to flirt with you when I saw how pretty you were. Of course, I don¡¯t dare to treat you that


    way now that I know.¡±


    Joseph prohibited him from doing so, let alone his father.


    Hearing that,plicated feelings washed over Chloe. She had unspeakable feelings.


    She made the right guess. As expected, it was because of Joseph.


    After Adam hung up the call, he quickly sent Chloe a bunch of screenshots of his conversation with


    Ava. Although Ava appeared gentle and virtuous on the surface, she had sent such explicit messages


    to Adam.


    Chloe pitied Jake when she saw the extent to which Ava had cheated on him. She just happened to


    spot Ava and Adam when they hooked up. There might be a lot of other men Ava had hooked up with


    without Chloe¡¯s knowledge.


    After she finished reading the final chat log, Adam sent her a contact number. [This guy¡¯s an


    entertainment news reporter. Sis, you can send the screenshots to him if you don¡¯t want to


    send them to Ava¡¯s fiance.]


    Chloe replied, [Won¡¯t Mr. Alexander beat you up if he learns that you ruin your reputation this way?]


    Adam answered, [I can easily clear my name if I want to, but it¡¯ll be very difficult for Ava to do


    so.]


    That was right. It was fine if she could not clear her name, but she would lose her marriage. Both the


    Coopers and the Johnsons would no longer maintain their cooperation. If there were a lot of interests


    involved between both families, they might fall out with each other.


    At night, Chloe tossed and turned in bed, dwelling on it. After that, she sent Ava parts of the


    screenshots.


    Joseph kept his promise. The next day, he transferred Chloe to the marketing department.


    The atmosphere there was great. It was nothing like Baxon, where many private fights were taking


    ce even though everything looked peaceful on the surface.


    Chloe¡¯s direct superior was a pregnantdy who was five months pregnant. She appeared gentle and


    motherly. But on the contrary, she worked decisively and resolutely.


    Chloe realized that Fairlight was far more awesome than she had anticipated. Its business


    covered many industries.


    Finance was Fairlight¡¯s main business. It was also involved in healthcare, resource development,


    project contracting, real estate, and so on.


    As aprehensivepany, it was not strange. But the key was Fairlight did a great job in all these


    various industries. On top of that, Joseph managed to achieve these results in just one. or two years


    after taking over thepany.


    At first, thepany was on the verge of bankruptcy. Joseph managed to bring it back to life and turn it


    into a legend in the business world. Besides that, he did such a good job of it. He


    was indeed a rare talent.


    Chloe began to admire Joseph. Of course, admiration was all she had for him.


    ¡°Chloe, please help me deliver this document to Mr. Joseph¡¯s assistant. Ask him his opinion on it and


    report back to me,¡± Wendy Jensen, Chloe¡¯s direct superior, instructed as she handed at


    document to her.


    ¡°Okay.¡± epting the document, she quickly went to deal with it.


    Chloe had just begun working there, so no task was assigned to her yet. She just simply needed. to run


    errands. While getting to know thepany, she could be familiar with her colleagues too.


    It was easy to locate Lucas¡¯ office. Both his and Joseph¡¯s offices were located on the top floor.


    Lucas flipped through the document and frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t make a decision about this. You should ask


    Mr. Joseph.¡±


    Chloe was slightly stunned. ¡°Which of us should go?¡±


    Generally, Lucas would help deliver documents to Joseph during this sort of situation.


    However, Lucas wished that Joseph would have a family soon and enjoy a life full of happiness.


    Hence, he said to Chloe, ¡°You should go. I need to go downstairs for something.¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Chloe behaved all business-like and knocked on Joseph¡¯s office door.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m here to deliver a document to you.¡±


    Joseph heard Chloe¡¯s clear and pleasant voice. His charming eyes remained calm. Although he was


    still staring at theputer screen, his attention was not on it.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Chloe gently pushed the door open and entered Joseph¡¯s office. She then ced the document on the


    upper right corner of his office desk and waited quietly.


    Joseph took in her slim and curvy body from the corner of his eyes. She was wearing a pleated


    skirt coupled with a white T-shirt. That was the first time she was dressed in such a youthful


    manner.


    She looked young and lively-like a flower bud waiting to bloom.


    One would inevitably feel the desire to take her when gazing upon her.


    Feeling his throat get stuck, Joseph gulped. Surprisingly, he recalled what nearly happened the other


    night. It turned out that he cherished that memory.


    skirt coupled with a white T-shirt. That was the first time she was dressed in such a youthful


    manner.


    She looked young and lively-like a flower bud waiting to bloom.


    One would inevitably feel the desire to take her when gazing upon her.


    Feeling his throat get stuck, Joseph gulped. Surprisingly, he recalled what nearly happened the other


    night. It turned out that he cherished that memory.

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122


    Chapter 122 Family Friends


    After a while, Joseph finally looked up from hisputer screen and absent-mindedly picked


    the document to read.


    up


    He smoothly signed his name at the end of the document with steady penmanship.


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem. It can be carried out.¡±


    Chloe nodded and retrieved the document before she replied properly, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be going now, sir.¡±


    However, a strong force opened the door before she reached it.


    A domineering and attractive woman was standing outside. She strutted into the office in her high


    heels.


    The woman was meticulous in her attire. Her clothes were customized designs by famous designers,


    so they were very expensive.


    There were four strong and muscr bodyguards behind her. At a nce, it could be seen that they


    were well-trained.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Chloe was frightened and hastily took a step back.


    ¡°Joseph, your grandfather told me that you¡¯re married!¡± Jane Fox stared at Joseph in disbelief


    and evident sadness. ¡°Say it isn¡¯t true.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s ck eyes turned ice-cold as he said, ¡°Get lost.¡±


    ¡°No! I want you to tell me that you¡¯re not married!¡±


    Standing in the corner, Chloe pursed her lips. ¡®If I were to hazard a guess, this woman is this jerk¡¯s


    admirer.¡¯


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell you. I am married. Is there anything else you would like to ask?¡± Joseph crossed


    his arms in front of his chest, iciness written all over his handsome face.


    Jane looked like she had received a fatal blow. It took her a while to regain herposure after


    suffering that great shock.


    ¡°Who is she?¡±


    Consequently, Chloe became nervous. Seeing how overbearing Jane was, she tiptoed to sneak out of


    the office, not wanting to get into trouble.


    Joseph narrowed his ck eyes and looked at Chloe before he cracked a wicked smile. He then


    pointed at her. ¡°She¡¯s the one.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s body stiffened as she clenched her fists tightly. She felt like rushing over to punch him.


    ¡®Is he out of his mind?! Does he want to make it worse?!¡¯


    Jane then noticed another person in the office. When she looked over, she became vignt.


    Chloe was dressed like a student and looked extremely young, only in her early twenties. She looked


    pure and bright. Her legs peeking out from under her pleated skirt were slim and straight.


    Her whole being was full of youthfulness and liveliness.


    On the contrary, Jane was the same age as Joseph. A twenty-eight-year-old woman had no


    advantages inparison. Although her family background was good and she was rich, Joseph was


    also a wealthy man.


    Jane¡¯s expression changed. She walked over and sized Chloe up. She then faked a smile. ¡°This is the


    woman you found out there?¡±


    ¡°Tsk! Why did she say such a weird thing? Those who don¡¯t know any better will think that I¡¯m the


    homewrecker who ruined the rtionship between her and Joseph.¡¯


    A hint of annoyance surfaced in Chloe¡¯s heart. As she watched Joseph sitting on the chair leisurely, a


    thought dawned on her, and she suddenly threw herself into his arms.


    ¡°Jojo, I¡¯m not the woman you found outside. We¡¯re a couple that¡¯s married to each other openly.¡±


    Caught off guard, Joseph¡¯s body stiffened. He looked down at the woman in his arms. Her body was


    tender and smelled good, and a tinge of distress showed on her fair face.


    Unconsciously, he ced his hand on her waist and hugged her.


    As a result, Jane was infuriated. She raised her voice and screamed at Chloe to get out of Joseph¡¯s


    arms.


    Chloe blinked innocently. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m hugging my husband. Why should I get out of his arms?¡±


    While talking, she clung to his neck. ¡°Darling, do you let me hug you?¡±


    Joseph chuckled. Being a handsome man, both the women found it hard to breathe when they saw his


    smile.


    He lowered his head and vaguely ced his thin lips against Chloe¡¯s earlobe. ¡°Who else should hug


    me if not you, hmm?¡±


    The raised syble he uttered at the end was maic and seductive, tempting people vehemently.


    Chloe blushed as she stared at Joseph with shining eyes. Her heartbeat quickened.


    ¡°This b*stard is so good at flirting!!


    Jane¡¯s expression turned livid. If looks could kill, Chloe might be dead by now.


    She red at Chloe fiercely. ¡°This is an office where people work. You can¡¯t behave in such a manner.


    How crass!¡±


    ¡°Oh, the office¡­¡± Chloe stretched her words and smiled shyly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not aware of some


    special hobbies Jojo fancy. He simply loves role-ying.¡±


    Jane wanted nothing more than to strangle Chloe to death. She was fuming with anger as she said,


    ¡°Joseph, this woman doesn¡¯t look like a decent woman. She¡¯s a tramp. She has no right to be a part of


    the Whitman family!¡±


    Chloe was stupefied. She then looked Jane up and down and covered her mouth tough.¡± Well, you


    look like a pretty good match for him.¡±


    After a brief pause, a smug look appeared on Jane¡¯s face. ¡°Of course, the Foxes and the Whitmans are


    longtime family friends.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s a shame¡­¡±


    ¡°What is?¡±


    Chloe touched her chin. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that you¡¯re old. You look to be in your thirties. If you marry Jojo,


    you¡¯ll be an old pregnantdy giving birth to babies after you¡¯ve finished organizing the wedding,


    getting married, preparing to get pregnant, and finally getting pregnant.


    ¡°But I¡¯m different. I¡¯m still young. It¡¯s not a problem for me to give birth to even a few babies.

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123


    Chapter 123 Helping Him Deal With His Crazy Admirer


    ¡°Shut up,


    b*tch!¡±


    Jane was fuming with so much anger that her body shook. She would have pped Chloe if Joseph


    was not hugging Chloe in his arms.


    Joseph stared at Jane and frowned. ¡°Watch your tongue. My wife is right.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to spoil her so?¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem with me spoiling my


    wife?¡±


    As a result, Jane found it hard to breathe. She red at Chloe with envy. ¡°What kind of evil means did


    you use to seduce Joseph?¡±


    Jane had liked Joseph since childhood. Although he did not reciprocate her feelings, he treated her


    nicely because of the rtionship between their families.


    This was the first time he was defending someone so openly.


    Chloe tilted her head. Not angered in the slightest, she ruminated over the matter seriously. ¡°I didn¡¯t


    use any evil means. I simply asked Jojo for his number, and he decided to marry me. He probably fell


    in love with me at first sight.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡®I did hit on him, but I only did it once. He was the one who suggested we get married.¡¯


    Hence, Chloe was not lying.


    At that moment, Jane¡¯s face became distorted out of fury. She looked toward Joseph. ¡°Are you sure


    you want me to treat me this way?¡±


    Joseph remained calm and slowly looked up at her. ¡°Can you get out of here now?¡±


    Jane took a deep breath. She was on the verge of going berserk.


    Noticing this, her bodyguards were scared. Jane had a bad temper, and she got angry easily. The


    reason she could stand to be there for long and not leave was simply because she liked Joseph that


    much.


    Chloe clung to Joseph. She was also worried that Jane would go berserk.


    Joseph felt her fear. After a moment of hesitation, he silently patted her back repeatedly to


    console her.


    Surprisingly, Jane held herself back. She put on an arrogant expression and raised her chin high. ¡°Let


    me be frank with you. I¡¯ve known Joseph since childhood. Our elders are good friends. I¡¯m the one


    who¡¯s most suitable to be his wife.¡±


    ¡°If you were suitable, why didn¡¯t Grandpa ask you to marry Jojo?¡±


    Inparison to Joseph, Chloe had more confidence in Harold. She knew very well that Harold was


    sincerely nice to her.


    However, Jane was stunned. ¡°You¡¯ve met Mr. Harold?¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe raised her chest in slight pride. ¡°What¡¯s more, Grandpa is always urging me to conceive


    Jojo¡¯s baby.¡±


    Luckily, Jane grew up in arge family. She soon calmed down and said profoundly, ¡°It¡¯s normal for him


    to want grandkids. My stand remains unmoved. Think about it carefully. Marriages should be between


    people who share equal social rank. Can you guarantee that Joseph will like you forever even if he


    likes you now?¡±


    In short, one¡¯s family background was the most important factor for people fromrge, powerful families


    when choosing a life partner.


    After that, Jane no longer pestered them. She casually ordered one of her bodyguards to hand her


    business card to Chloe.


    Jane Fox.


    She was the eldest daughter of the family that owned the Alpire Group. Her father was the president of


    apany worth tens of billions while her mother was the daughter of an aristocrat. She possessed


    the background of a typical storybook heroine.


    However, Chloe cracked a teasing smile. Others might feel very self-abased and inferior if they faced


    such a rival in love but not her. It was because she knew that they were not love rivals.


    Joseph fancied neither Jane nor Chloe.


    ¡°Did you suffer a blow?¡±


    Joseph was leaning in close to Chloe and thus spoke with his lips almost against her ear. She tilted her


    head and dodged him because she was not used to it. Feeling awkward, she struggled


    out of his arms.


    ¡°We¡¯re just acting. I won¡¯t suffer a blow if I don¡¯t take it seriously.¡±


    At Chloe¡¯s sudden change in attitude, Joseph knitted his brows hard. He then snorted. ¡°You didn¡¯t say


    that when you tried your best to get into bed with me.¡±


    When he mentioned the unbearable memory, she blushed embarrassedly. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to get into bed


    with you. I¡¯m unworthy!¡±


    She then grabbed the document and left in a fit of humiliation and anger.


    ¡®Motherf*cking b*stard! Why did he mention that abominable incident?


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have helped him deal with his crazy admirer!¡¯


    Graham Vi.


    After partying for a whole night, Adam was now sound asleep. His phone, which he was


    sleeping on, vibrated incessantly. After an unknown period, he reacted atst and picked up the phone


    to answer it.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    He hated two kinds of people in this world-those who snatched others¡¯ money and those who disturbed


    others¡¯ sleep.


    ¡°Why did you send screenshots of our conversation to Chloe?¡± Ava asked, her voice filled with


    indignation. ¡°Do you know what kind of rtionship she has with your father? Why¡­Why did you do


    this to me?¡±


    When Adam heard her question, he sobered up a little. ¡°Tell me. What kind of rtionship does she


    have with my father?¡±

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124


    Chapter 124 Coco Framed Me


    Ava took a deep breath and said meaningfully, ¡°Are you really unaware of it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything. Spill it.¡±


    ¡°Your father and Chloe are engaged in an abnormal rtionship.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s abnormal about it?¡±


    ¡°Why are you so clueless?¡± Ava¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°Did your rtionship with Chloe stem from your


    father?¡±


    Adam pushed his nket aside and rubbed his eyes. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±


    He would have asked for Chloe¡¯s contact number no matter what if his father had not noticed


    that Chloe and Joseph were a couple. Of course, everyone loved bright and charming women.


    Unexpectedly, Ava misunderstood the way Alexander was rted to Chloe. After some pondering, she


    did not dare to get straight to the point.


    ¡°I grew up with Chloe, so I know her character best. Previously, I saw her get into an old man¡¯s car. Her


    rtionships with others are ratherplicated.¡±


    Adam was slightly stunned. For a moment, he did not think about it from that angle.


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Say something I can understand.¡±


    As long as they were from a slightly rich family in Aesper, the young men would generally be


    inexperienced. So, the drivers their family hired were usually middle-aged men.


    Ava became slightly anxious. She simply went straight to the point. ¡°I think your father is having an


    affair with Chloe.¡±


    Adam was struck dumb before a deep disgust overwhelmed him. His buddies were right. He should be


    picky when choosing women in the future. He could not sleep with literally any beautiful woman.


    It was fine if they were dumb, but they could not be schematic and cunning.


    Ava heard no replies, so she assumed he had received a blow because of her words. Feeling smug,


    she smiled but maintained a concerned tone on the surface.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Try exposing this affair to your mother and let her deal with Chloe. But please don¡¯t be


    too harsh on Chloe since she¡¯s my younger sister. It¡¯s normal for young people to do the wrong thing.¡±


    Adam was rendered speechless before he asked, ¡°Are you dumb?¡±


    Why is Ava ndering her own sister?


    ¡®How wicked!¡¯


    ¡°Mr. Adam, why did you scold me¡­¡± Ava was confused and started crying piteously. ¡°Don¡¯t scold me


    even if you hate my sister.¡±


    ¡°Stupid b*tch!¡±


    After hanging up the call, Adam cklisted her number.


    ¡®Oh, gosh! What bad luck! She¡¯s the most wretched woman I¡¯ve ever slept with.¡¯


    When Ava heard the call drop, she was baffled. She slowly regained her wits after Jake sent her


    a text.


    [I found a particrly good Estrenian restaurant. I booked a table there for tonight. I¡¯ll be waiting for


    you.]


    Ava had not met Jake for a week now. Besides, it seemed unlikely that she would gain the support of


    the powerful Graham family. Hence, she decided to pacify Jake at the moment.


    She sent him a reply.


    [Okay, love you.]


    Ava entered the Estrenian restaurant at seven o¡¯clock at night. Its environment, ambiance, and service


    were pretty good.


    Jake presented her with a bouquet of roses he had prepared and stated tenderly, ¡°What happened the


    other day was all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have argued with you. Don¡¯t be mad, okay?


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    and I¡¯ve waited for you for so many days.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m no longer mad. You didn¡¯te to find me, and I¡¯ve waited for Ava rolled her eyes at him


    reproachfully. After she epted the bouquet, she sniffed it. ¡°It smells so good.¡±


    Jake attentively pulled a chair out for her. ¡°I¡¯ll buy one every day if you¡¯d like me to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so good to me.¡±


    The fresh flowers, candlelight dinner, and the handsome man sitting across from her made Ava feel at


    ease. At least Jake was good to her. On top of that, he was handsome too. It was just that he was not


    as rich as the Grahams.


    When they were almost finished with their meal, Jake held Ava¡¯s hand in slight


    embarrassment. ¡°You¡¯ll stay with me forever, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Well, I have something to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    They looked at each other before Jake let Ava speak first.


    She bit her lip before bursting into tears. ¡°Coco, she¡­ She framed me with someone¡¯s help.¡±

 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125


    Chapter 125 nning to Confess One¡¯s Love


    Jake¡¯s expression changed. He immediately consoled her. ¡°There, there. Take your time and tell me


    everything.¡±


    Ava sobbed as if she had suffered a great grievance. She could not even speak properly. ¡°Chloe


    maliciously photoshopped some pictures to threaten me.¡±


    As she said this, she turned on her phone and showed him the chat logs that Chloe had sent


    her.


    After Jake read them, he felt a tinge of disbelief. ¡°This chat log doesn¡¯t seem to be photoshopped¡­¡±


    ¡°So you think I¡¯m this kind of person?¡± Ava burst into aggrieved tears. ¡°It¡¯s a well-known fact that Mr.


    Adam is a yboy. Why would I hook up with him?¡±


    Jake¡¯s heart softened at her words. After struggling for a few seconds, he chose to believe her. After


    comforting her, he told her the things that he had been holding back for a few days.


    ¡°You know that my dad wants to build apany for me, but we need money right now. Can you


    please use your dowry to help me out first?¡±


    He had no choice since his uncle did not want to lend him the money. Hence, he could only do what his


    uncle asked.


    She instinctively retracted her hand while facing his extremely expectant gaze. She answered


    awkwardly, ¡°I can¡¯t decide on this. I have to discuss it with my dad.¡±


    Jake breathed a sigh of relief. He hugged her excitedly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±


    He was not wrong about her. His fiancee was willing to help him.


    ܇


    At Fairlight.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    When one was busy, time passed quickly.


    Chloe spent the day getting to know her colleagues in the same department as her. After finishing her


    work for the day, she received a text from Icarus asking if she was free.


    After missing the meetup with him the other day because Harold was hospitalized, she became busy


    with work at Fairlight. Hence, she had not contacted him for a few days.


    Chloe did not turn him down and promised to meet him at a cafe on the ground floor of Fairlight¡¯s office


    building. Of course, she told Joseph about it for fear that he might make things difficult for her again.


    Icarus was sitting near the window of the cafe. He was wearing a shirt and a vest coupled with


    suit pants. His gold-rimmed sses were a nice touch to his appearance, making him appear gentle


    and refined. His attire perfectly showcased his charms as a mature man.


    Chloe arrived just on time. ¡°You¡¯re here early.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just got here.¡± Icarus pushed a cup of hot chocte toward her and asked curiously, ¡°Why


    did you ask me to meet you at this cafe below Fairlight?¡±


    At first, he had nned to bring her to an art exhibition before heading to a romantic. restaurant. Then


    lastly, he would confess his love for her while driving her home.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m working at Fairlight now.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Icarus froze. He was extremely shocked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me you were going to work at a small


    company?¡±


    Chloe held her forehead helplessly and tried to beat around the bush. ¡°Umm, there was a change of


    ns.¡±


    She had presumed it was just a smallpany.


    Icarus did not understand her, but he could tell that she was reluctant to dwell on the matter. Thus, he


    ended the topic and asked considerately, ¡°Did you just get off work? Are you hungry? Let me take you


    out for a meal. We can chat while eating.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. We can just chat here.¡±


    ¡°Umm, okay.¡±


    He could not force her since she disagreed. However, he felt that it was too informal to confess his love


    in a cafe, finding it rather weird.


    Chloe noticed something strange about him, so she pursed her lips and spoke first. ¡°Is Jake your


    nephew?¡±


    Icarus was slightly stunned. His gaze turnedplicated. ¡°You know everything?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hm, I learned about it recently. Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°I was worried that it would affect our rtionship, but I did help teach him a lesson.¡± Icarus said


    solemnly, ¡°I won¡¯t let him bully you ever again. Don¡¯t let him affect our rtionship, okay?¡±


    For a moment,plicated feelings emerged in Chloe¡¯s heart. She believed that Icarus had taught


    Jake a lesson. Otherwise, Jake would not have reacted so strongly previously.


    She did not marry Jake¡¯s uncle, but the one who helped her deal with the scumbag was still Jake¡¯s


    uncle.


    ¡°No, that won¡¯t happen.¡±


    She believed that Icarus was a reasonable man who could differentiate right from wrong.


    Chapter 125 nning to Confess One¡¯s Love


    ¡°Great. Allow me to apologize to you for everything Jake did to you in the past. He isn¡¯t so lucky to have


    you since you guys broke up with each other.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched before she cracked a sarcastic smile. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. If he was as smart as you,


    things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way.¡±


    Ava cheated on Jake to such an outrageous extent, but Jake still believed that Ava was the gentlest


    and most virtuous woman in the world.


    Being a smart man, Icarus instantly discerned the underlying meaning of her words. ¡°Do you know


    something? Can you tell me about it?¡±

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126


    Chapter 126 A Different Joseph From Imagined


    Chloe fell silent, reflecting upon the support Icarus had provided her thus far.


    She made up her mind to inform him about Ava¡¯s deceitful actions.


    As Icarus heard the details, fury ignited within him.


    ¡°My nephew¡¯s a fool!¡± Icarus eximed, his anger evident.


    Chloe shrugged and replied, ¡°Feel free to tell him that yourself. If I were to tell him, he might see it as


    me defaming Ava.¡±


    This is why she had been hesitant to confront Jake, as her efforts had gone unappreciated, and


    furthermore, leaving her entangled in a messy situation.


    ¡°Thank you, Chloe. Jake will surely regret his actions,¡± Icarus expressed his gratitude.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me whether he regrets it or not,¡± Chloe replied nonchntly.


    Icarus observed her indifferent demeanor with great joy. Despite the circumstances, she no longer held


    any feelings for Jake. However, he believed that confessing at this point would be considered too hasty.


    During a restroom break, Icarus discreetly handed a tip to the waiter and asked him to


    purchase a bouquet of flowers. Upon his return, he also acquired a slice of cake for Chole from


    the counter.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Chloe expressed slight surprise at his small gesture, although she did not attach too much


    significance to it.


    She epted the cake, slowly savoring small bites. The delicate cream melted on her tongue, and she


    closed her eyes, experiencing a sense of relief from the day¡¯s exhaustion.


    Across the cafe, Joseph, having just finished dinner with his business partner, parked his car by the


    roadside. His dark eyes locked onto the woman inside, brimming with anger. His knuckles clenched


    tightly, emitting a cracking sound, as he witnessed Chloe¡¯s blissful expression.


    Lucas¡¯ heart sank, and he silently sent a prayer to God. He had failed his role as a wingman miserably.


    He had exhausted all his efforts to convince Mr. Joseph to purchase sweet treats for Chloe in hopes of


    mending their rtionship.


    But before even entering the shop, they were confronted with this dreadful scene.


    ¡®May the heavens protect me. I¡¯m innocent!¡¯ Lucas pleaded internally, hoping that Mr. Joseph¡¯s anger


    would not be directed at him.


    Joseph¡¯s sudden outburst of anger left Lucas bewildered and unable to quell the tension in the air.


    Oblivious to the traffic lights, Joseph hastened his steps and stormed into the cafe.


    ¡°Tsk, taking a break from work to go on a date?¡± Joseph sneered at Chloe in a strange tone as he


    gazed down at her.


    Icarus¡¯ eyes


    lit up when he saw Joseph.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph,¡± he greeted warmly.


    Ever since Joseph¡¯s speech at the financial forum, half of the industry knew him as the legendary figure


    set to take over Fairlight. Icarus would have attended the forum himself, but unforeseen circumstances


    had caused him to miss it.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Chloe set down the cake and regarded Joseph, sensing the displeasure etched


    on his face. She hesitated for a moment before altering her tone, ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯ve finished my tasks.


    Ms. Jensen allowed me to leave work.¡±


    She implied that she had not been neglecting her duties, so there was no need to go searching


    for faults.


    Lucas felt an overwhelming urge to bang his head against the wall at theck of self- preservation in


    her response. Acting swiftly, he stepped in to defuse the situation. ¡°Mr. Joseph came in to buy some


    desserts as gifts, not to talk about work. By the way, are you also in the finance industry, sir? You look


    familiar.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I established a financial education foundation abroad and even did a little promotion for


    it.¡± Icarus smiled.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph shifted his gaze to Icarus. ¡°The Daedalus Foundation?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Icarus smiled and nodded. ¡°I sent you an invitation.¡±


    Lucas exined that Joseph had been busy at the time and could not attend and thus had sent his


    blessings instead.


    ¡°Speaking of that time¡­¡± Joseph began, his gaze shifting toward the vacant spot beside Chloe. A


    forced smile appeared on his face as he asked, ¡°Do you mind if I sit down and join you for a


    conversation?¡±


    Icarus nodded. ¡°Certainly. Miss, could you bring two additional chairs please?¡±


    He intended to leave soon, with the hope of not disrupting his impending confession to Chloe.


    ¡°No need. Just scooch over a little,¡± Joseph suggested as he moved closer to Chloe¡¯s side.


    The seat was designed for only one person, and even though Chloe had a slender figure, the space


    became incredibly cramped. Their bodies were pressed tightly together, creating the image of a


    reunited couple who could not bear to be apart.


    Chloe found herself enveloped in a unique and chilly fragrance as if she had stumbled into a man¡¯s


    embrace that was both possessive and intimate. A giant question mark formed above her head. ¡°Are


    you trying to squeeze me to death?¡±


    Chapter 126 A Different Joseph From Imagined


    ¡°Not to that extent, silly. I think it¡¯s just right, don¡¯t you?¡± Joseph responded nonchntly, his face


    disying no emotional fluctuations.


    Icarus was left speechless by this unexpected action. Joseph was far from what he had imagined.


    The only one left standing, Lucas, awkwardly touched his nose. He nced at the cramped space next


    to Icarus¡¯s seat and promptly requested the waiter to bring an additional chair. It was just too strange


    for two men to squeeze together.


    Chloe was practically squished to the point where she could not movefortably, let alone enjoy her


    cake. She rubbed her temples, feeling a bit suffocated, and said to Icarus, ¡°I just remembered I have


    some unfinished work. I¡¯ll have to leave now.¡±


    ¡°Is it urgent?¡± Icarus pondered his confession, weighing whether he should apany her


    outside to see her off.


    Chloe cast a nce at Joseph, who had a sly smile on his face. She gritted her teeth in frustration.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s extremely urgent!¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll walk you out.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m also going back to the office. We¡¯re heading in the same direction.¡± Joseph stood up at


    the opportune moment and casually hooked his pinky finger around Chloe¡¯s.


    Neither Icarus nor Lucas noticed this subtle gesture due to the angle.


    Chloe, on the other hand, had a look of utter disbelief. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Wh-What in the world are you doing?¡±


    Why did he touch her hand?!


    And he¡¯s even holding onto it!

 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127


    Chapter 127 Intoxicated Surrender


    Icarus was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Just as Chloe was about to shake off Joseph¡¯s hand, he swiftly released it, leaving her feeling


    perplexed.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I should get going¡± Joseph casually straightened his tie, acting as if nothing had urred.


    His cool, phoenix-like eyes shifted toward Icarus. ¡°Lucas, why don¡¯t you chat with Mr. Icarus?¡±


    have a


    Lucas¡¯ reluctance was clearly visible on his face. His mind was focused on Mr. Joseph, while Mr.


    Joseph only had eyes for Ms. Chloe. Well, it was just a mistake, after all.


    Deep inside, Icarus remained silent, unable to find the right words.


    ¡®There¡¯s really no need. Please just leave quickly.¡¯


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As soon as Chloe and Joseph departed, the cafe¡¯s waiter returned with the flowers.


    Lucas stared at the blossoms, his gaze frozen. He cautiously inquired, ¡°Mr. Icarus, were you nning


    to confess to Ms. Chloe?¡±


    Icarus faintly smiled, neither confirming nor denying it, keeping his response ambiguous.


    Chloe stepped into the elevator with the intention of going back to her department, but Joseph joined


    her and swiftly canceled her button press, selecting the highest floor instead.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Icarus?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just friends.¡±


    ¡°Friends?¡± Joseph sneered. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m blind?¡±


    ¡°That old man had a clear look of mischief in his eyes!¡±


    Chloe could not fathom why Joseph was angry again. Despite carefully considering various


    possibilities, she was unable to pinpoint the exact reason. Nheless, she was determined not to


    initiate an argument.


    Arguments only strained rtionships and squandered emotions.


    With a gentle tone, she gazed at Joseph with clear, calm eyes and asked, ¡°Have I done something to


    upset you?¡±


    As their gazes locked, Joseph, typically articte, found himself at a loss for words in the face of her


    uncertainty. He struggled to find a fitting response, and his frustration transformed


    into irritability.


    In a moment of impulsiveness, he eximed, ¡°You¡¯re legally my wife. It isn¡¯t appropriate for you to meet


    privately with other men.¡±


    ¡®Here we go again.¡¯ The corners of Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched, and she could not help but let out


    a scoff.


    ¡°But we were in a public ce-right here in thepany building. If our rtionship is as you suspect,


    wouldn¡¯t it be better for us to go to a cafe further away from here or a hotel?¡±


    The word ¡°hotel¡± seemed to strike a nerve. mes of anger instantly ignited in Joseph¡¯s heart. ¡°Is it


    appropriate for a woman like you to constantly bring up such indecent topics?¡±


    Chloe pouted in protest, unconvinced. ¡°It¡¯s not me. You always misunderstand me. When will you learn


    from Icarus? He has a great temperament and never loses his temper with others.¡±


    Ding


    As the elevator doors opened, Joseph¡¯s fury consumed his rationality. He forcefully grabbed hold of


    Chloe and marched toward the office, paying no heed to her struggles. The delicate and fair skin of her


    wrists bore red marks from his grip.


    With a resounding m, Joseph shut the door behind them. In the next instant, he harshly gripped her


    chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice took on a deep and mysterious tone.


    ¡°Do you find Icarus¡¯s personality appealing?¡±


    Chloe met his gaze defiantly, refusing to yield. ¡°Yes, I do. And it¡¯s not just me. Everyone likes him. Why


    would anyone like someone with a temper as horrible as yours-¡±


    But before she could finish her sentence, Joseph abruptly covered her mouth with his, leaving Chloe


    wide-eyed and staring at the man standing inches away from her. At that moment, she forgot to resist,


    finding herself frozen in ce. 1


    Seizing the opportunity, Joseph used his tongue to pry open her lips and passionately his tongue with


    hers. Last time, Chloe had taken the initiative, and this time was an entirely different experience.


    The unfamiliar sensation enveloped them, causing them to surrender willingly.


    Chloe¡¯s hands pressed against Joseph¡¯s chest, but involuntarily, they softened. Her entire body craved


    his embrace, devoid of any strength to resist. It was as if she were intoxicated, mentally aware but


    physically weak.


    To their surprise, the sound of the door opening went unnoticed, lost in the depths of their embrace.


    Thud!


    Lucas fumbled and dropped the box of pastries he was holding, creating a loud noise that


    Chapter 127 Intoxicated Surrender


    broke the moment.


    ¡°S-Sorry for the interruption!¡± he stammered, covering his eyes and trembling with fear.


    ¡®It¡¯s over! I¡¯ve ruined Mr. Joseph¡¯s private moment!¡¯


    Chloe snapped back to reality, pushing Joseph away in disbelief. Her face flushed crimson, her body


    engulfed in heat, and she felt a deep sense of embarrassment washing over her.


    In contrast, Joseph remained remarkablyposed. He raised a finger to his lips, tracing them


    meaningfully, his gaze and actions exuding an enchanting allure.


    For the first time ever, he did not get angry at Lucas. His gaze shifted to the fallen pastries on the floor


    as he spoke in a maic and hoarse voice, ¡°Get us some more.¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir. I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Lucas secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly made his exit as


    if being pursued by a relentless hound.


    The spacious office was once again engulfed in silence. It unsettled Chloe greatly, prompting her to


    grab her bag with the intention of making a swift escape.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Joseph¡¯s long arm extended, halting her in her tracks, his raised


    eyebrow expressing a mix of curiosity and authority.

 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128


    Chapter 128 A Dowry Is a Woman¡¯s Pre-marital Asset


    ¡°I¡¯m going home!¡±


    ¡°Ah, what a coincidence. Shall we?¡±


    Chloe took a deep breath, mustering a smile as she said, ¡°Joseph, are you trying to prevent me from


    leaving because you desire my body?¡±


    ¡°Hah, can¡¯t I use the same excuse on you? After all, you didn¡¯t resist, and it seemed like were enjoying


    it,¡± Joseph retorted.


    Chloe was momentarily speechless, taken aback by his quick-witted response. Feeling at mixture of


    embarrassment and frustration, she found him shamelessly clever. She grinned and countered, ¡°Yes.


    After all, you were the one who took the initiative this time.¡±


    you


    Upon hearing her words, a fleeting expression of unease crossed Joseph¡¯s usuallyposed and


    handsome face, and he let out a light snort. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    In this verbal skirmish, neither of them emerged as the clear victor.


    Chloe shot him a fierce re before retreating to the office restroom topose herself. In front of the


    mirror, her face bloomed like a peach blossom, her eyes shimmering with moisture. The cor of her


    clothes had shifted slightly, and the smudged lipstick on her lips. exuded a subtle allure that was


    difficult to define.


    Feeling a mix of shyness and anger, Chloe swiftly reached for a tissue and wiped off her lipstick. She


    lingered in the restroom for a while, collecting her thoughts, before finallying out.


    Standing by the window, Joseph¡¯s gaze swept over her face. He walked toward her with confident


    strides, teasingly remarking, ¡°I thought you had moved in there for good.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes in exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re really annoying to talk to.¡±


    Despite his handsome face, she could not fathom why he could not utter a single kind word.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Joseph paused for a moment, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. ¡°So, who would you rather choose?


    Me or Icarus?¡±


    Chloe found his question absurd and chose to ignore it, pushing the door open without a response.


    At the entrance, she noticed a box of pastries with familiar packaging from the cafe downstairs. It was


    undoubtedly bought by Lucas. She nced outside and inquired, ¡°Where¡¯s Lucas?¡±


    Joseph responded in a hushed tone, ¡°He¡¯s afraid of interrupting us, so he left.¡±


    Chloe silently rolled her eyes once again, refraining from furtherment.


    The lights in the Cooper residence shone brightly that night.


    Jake clutched Icarus¡¯ hand tightly and pleaded in a bitter tone, ¡°Uncle, why do you believe in Chloe, a


    stranger, instead of trusting me? Ava is about to hand over her dowry to me. She¡¯s not the person you


    imagine her to be. Those chat records are all fabricated.¡±


    Icarus gazed at his stubbornly oblivious nephew with an indescribable sense of


    disappointment. ¡°You may see Chloe as a stranger, but have you ever considered that she was once


    someone you wholeheartedly cared for?¡±


    Embarrassment washed over Jake¡¯s face. ¡°Perhaps I used the wrong words, but Uncle, please don¡¯t


    show those screenshots to my parents. I¡¯ll have my ownpany soon. I beg you, please.


    ¡±


    This was Jake¡¯s sole opportunity to inherit the family fortune. If he could sessfully manage his own


    company, his father might entrust the family¡¯s businesses to him too.


    However, he could notprehend why Chloe would single him out in this way. If her feelings for him


    had changed from love to hate, she should have silently supported him instead of acting in such a


    manner.


    ¡°You¡¯re willing to put up with Ava¡¯s infidelity and allow her to make you look like a fool just for the sake


    of personal gain?¡± Icarus angrily rebuked, ¡°Even if you can overlook it, I can¡¯t associate myself with


    someone of that nature.¡±


    After uttering those words, he pushed Jake away, determined to confront Jake¡¯s mother about the


    situation.


    Witnessing this, Jake immediately dropped to his knees before Icarus. ¡°Uncle, please don¡¯t go. If you


    tell my mother, she¡¯ll force me to break up with Ava. Ava has promised to transfer the money to me


    tomorrow. I just need one more night. Tomorrow. Tomorrow will be sufficient. I¡¯ll make you believe


    wholeheartedly that our love is genuine.¡±


    Since Jake entered university, Icarus had rarely meddled in his personal affairs. He believed that his


    nephew possessed solid values, albeit a strong desire for fame and aplishment. Now it seemed


    that he had overestimated his nephew.


    Relying on others as a means to achieve sess in his career was a futile endeavor destined for


    failure.


    ¡°Do as you wish. Don¡¯te crying to me when things go south,¡± Icarus uttered icily before storming


    out, the sound of the mming door echoing through the room.


    Caught in a bewildered haze, Jake stood frozen, losing all sense of time. The ache in his knees grew


    more pronounced, and he gingerly rose to his feet, relying on the support of the ground. Difort


    permeated his heart as he aimlessly wandered through the courtyard, seeking sce and rity for his


    troubled mind.


    Coincidentally, Jamie Cooper, Jake¡¯s younger brother, who had just returned home, spotted him and


    approached with a friendly demeanor. ¡°Jake, why are you still up at this hour? Is something bothering


    you?¡±


    ¡°No need to concern yourself,¡± Jake replied dismissively, not in the mood for conversation.


    ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you,¡± Jamie replied, rolling his eyes. ¡°Hey, did Ava send you the money? Dad


    has everything lined up with our business partners for next quarter, and they¡¯ll be counting on you.


    Make sure you don¡¯t mess it up at thest minute.¡±


    ¡°You can trust that I¡¯ll handle it just fine. Focus on your own matters,¡± Jake retorted.


    Jamie chuckled, a hint of disdain crossing his eyes.


    ¡®Disgusting. Relying on others is nothing to be proud of.¡±


    The next day, Jake, barely having made it through the night, immediately went to the Johnsons.


    To his surprise, Ava wore a remorseful expression as she delivered the news, ¡°Jake, Daddy informed


    me that all the family¡¯s money has been invested in a project. I can¡¯t help you.¡± Jake stood there


    dumbfounded. ¡°Even your dowry?¡±


    Ava hesitated for a moment before reluctantly replying, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    They had only been engaged for less than half a month, and Benjamin had transferred the dowry to


    Ava on the day of their engagement. It seemed imusible that they had found a suitable project and


    invested the money within such a short period.


    ¡®Unless,¡¯ Jake spected, ¡®the Johnsons had orchestrated this long before our engagement took


    ce.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Ava admitted, her voice filled with guilt and helplessness. ¡°You know that father holds all the


    power in my family.¡±


    my


    Jake grabbed his hair in frustration. ¡°Everything took a sudden turn from what we agreed on. What am I


    supposed to do now?¡±


    ¡°Jake, I really want to help you, but it¡¯s not as simple as you think. You should understand that a dowry


    is considered a woman¡¯s pre-marital assets.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, realization dawned on Jake, and he blurted out, ¡°So you never had any


    intention of helping me from the beginning?¡±

 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129


    Chapter 129 Ava¡¯s One-Sided Breakup


    ¡°I never said that.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s what you think.¡±


    Ava scoffed. ¡°Fine. If you¡¯re going to see me in a negative light, then we have nothing more to discuss.


    Just go, please.¡±


    With those words, the Johnsons¡¯ housekeeper swiftly appeared and escorted Jake out of the vi.


    Everything unfolded in a whirlwind, and Jake realized his father had called, pressuring him to finalize


    the investment funds.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve encountered an unexpected situation here. Give me a few more days. I¡¯ll settle everything by


    then.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t even seize an opportunity when it¡¯s right in front of you. How about I give you one year to


    handle it? Would that be enough? Don¡¯t bothering to the office tomorrow.¡±


    Jake¡¯s breath caught in his throat, his hand trembled, and his phone slipped from his grasp, crashing to


    the ground. It felt as though the world was crumbling around him.


    Not long after, Ava unleashed a bombshell on the Inte.


    She published a lengthy thread discussing three matters.


    The first was about her one-sided breakup with Jake, and the second was an usation against Chloe


    for concocting and spreading false, damaging information about her, tarnishing her reputation. The third


    matter was to rify her rtionship with Adam, emphasizing that he was a respectable and honorable


    man who would never haphazardly share their private conversations.


    To support her ims, she attached screenshots of the chat logs Chole had sent. Although Adam¡¯s


    profile picture remained unaltered, the chat content had been manipted and twisted into vulgar and


    explicitnguage, clearly disying signs of maniption through photo editing.


    Ava, with thousands of followers on Twitter, typically shared exquisite photos of afternoon teas or


    meticulously edited selfies, presenting herself as a wless representation of a refined socialite.


    However, this time, alongside her bombshell revtions, she also posted at mncholic selfie, adding


    a touch of sadness to her usually picture-perfect image.


    [User #1: These chat logs look fake at first nce. It¡¯s obvious they¡¯ve been fabricated.]


    [User #2: Rumor has it that Ava¡¯s sister caused quite a dramatic scene during Ava¡¯s engagement.]


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    [User #3: Speaking from personal experience, having gone to the same school as Adam, I know he¡¯s


    famous for changing girlfriends frequently. It¡¯s possible that the chat logs are real.]


    Perhaps due to the influence of paid advertisements, this thread quickly gained traction and swiftly


    made its way into the top ten trending on Twitter within a single afternoon.


    Additionally, with it being a Friday, it had climbed to the eighth position by 6 in the evening.


    In the midst of preparing in the dressing room, Chloe came across the Twitter thread. Joseph held on to


    the phone as she carefully read through the entire article.


    Impressed, she offered a thumbs up, showing her admiration. ¡°Her writing skills are quite remarkable,


    surpassing even some professional copywriters.¡±


    However, the true focus of the thread was not solely on the quality of writing, but on the way Ava


    portrayed Adam. She depicted him as the young prince of a prestigious corporation, emphasizing his


    disinterest in getting involved with an engaged woman like herself.


    While it appeared to be apliment at first nce, there was an underlying hint of negativity woven


    into the words.


    Once Adam chose to acknowledge his rtionship with Ava, it would not only invite trouble upon


    himself but also to the Graham Group. Suppressing him without offending the Grahams was like killing


    two birds with one stone.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, finding the situation somewhat amusing. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of worrying? It has circted all over the inte by now.¡±


    ¡°Are you not nning to retaliate?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s smirk widened, revealing a row of neatly aligned pearly whites. With a hint of cuteness, she


    replied, ¡°Just a little longer. Now¡¯s not the time just yet.¡±


    She intended to capitalize on the current buzz and make strategic use of the paid trolls Ava had


    enlisted.


    Joseph crossed his arms, confident that Chloe could handle the situation on her own. He refrained from


    saying anything further and gestured to the nearby makeup artist to expedite their work.


    Tonight, he would be taking Chloe to a high-profile charity g, where numerous celebrities, including


    Jane, would be in attendance.


    Half an hourter, Chloe stood before Joseph, who appeared slightly absent-minded as his eyes fell


    upon her.


    In contrast to her usual mature style, the makeup artist had fashioned Chloe¡¯s hair into voluminous


    waves. Her light makeupplemented her outfit, with her alluring lips tinted. red and her skin


    radiating a healthy, rosy glow. She exuded a vibrant and noble aura, resembling a princess emerging


    from the aristocracy.


    Her pure presence was impossible to ignore and carried an undeniable tenacity.


    Chloe noticed his stunned expression and yfully spun around as she gripped her skirt lightly. ¡°What¡¯s


    the matter? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    Today¡¯s outfit veered toward a cute style, a departure from what Chloe was ustomed to. In her


    youth, she had yearned to dress in such a manner, but Karen had never indulged her with beautiful


    dresses. As she grew older and gained financial independence, the window for wearing such lovely


    dresses had closed, and she gravitated toward a more mature and professional style.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph paused, his cold eyes gleaming with seriousness. ¡°It looks excellent.¡±


    He could not help but imagine dressing his future daughter in a simr style.


    ¡°d you like it. Tonight, I¡¯ll apany you and follow your lead.¡±


    While Chloe maye across as affected and pretentious in her daily life, she always took important


    asions seriously.


    Joseph was highly pleased with this aspect, and he locked eyes with Chloe, asking, ¡°Jane will be there


    tonight. Are you afraid?¡±

 Chapter 130

    Chapter 130


    Chapter 130 Commoners Like Yourself


    ¡°Why should I be afraid?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll likely confront you.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help me?¡±


    Joseph remained indifferent. Closing his eyes to rest, he disregarded her plea for help. It was clear he


    had no intention of intervening.


    Chloe stared at that handsome and valiant face of his and rolled her eyes in exasperation.


    ¡®Come on, even if she¡¯s so great, she can¡¯t match the multitude of formidable young women. out there.


    If it was only Jane, that would be manageable, but with her allies, I¡¯d undoubtedly find myself at a


    disadvantage


    ¡®Forget it, I don¡¯t want to dwell on it. I¡¯ll see how it goes and take it one step at a time.¡±


    In the front seat, Patrick took charge of driving as they made their way to the art exhibition. center


    situated in a far-off area. Chloe gazed out the window, observing the fleeting scenery, and eventually


    closed her eyes, seeking sce after a day filled with restlessness.


    It was Patrick¡¯s voice that roused her from her reverie, prompting her to follow Joseph and disembark


    from the car, still feeling a bit dazed.


    A crowd had gathered at the entrance of the exhibition center, dressed in formal attire and elegant


    suits. A casual nce at any individual revealed limited edition jewelry and handbags, reminiscent of


    those featured in the pages of prestigious fashion magazines.


    Every guest exuded a vibrant andmanding presence.


    Chloe nced down at her dress and the diamond ne adorning her neck. They were not luxury


    brands, but that did not faze her. She straightened her posture and willingly linked her arm with


    Joseph¡¯s. To her, the man by her side was the ultimate essory-his extraordinarily handsome face


    surpassing any luxury item.


    Joseph lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on the delicate hand gracefully resting on his arm. A subtle


    smile yed at the corner of his lips. ¡®Is this dumbo staking her im? Women have all sorts of tricks


    up their sleeves.¡¯


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Those lingering at the entrance were eager to approach Joseph and engage in conversation, but he


    paid them no attention, causing them to retract their hands awkwardly.


    Once inside the exhibition center, they saw the space was filled with an array of exquisite ceramic art


    pieces. ss protective cases showcased each artwork, adorned with extravagant price tags. Chloe


    briefly nced at them before averting her gaze.


    Jane, seated in the secluded resting area at the back, immediately caught sight of Joseph and


    Chloe as they entered together.


    Chloe donned a timeless Bavarian chiffon dress, entuated by a bespoke ne from a renowned


    designer and sparkling earrings that matched wlessly. Her presence exuded an understated yet


    palpable sense of luxury. On the other hand, Joseph was dressed in a sleek ck tailcoat,


    entuating his slender waist and broad shoulders, resembling a gant knight.


    Together, this strikingly attractive couple made a perfect match.


    Not only did they catch Jane¡¯s attention, but the men in the vicinity could not help but steal nces at


    Chloe too.


    Jane clenched her fists and pouted at the man standing beside her, ¡°Bass, that¡¯s the woman. who stole


    Joseph from me.¡±


    Her brother, Sebastian Fox, followed her line of sight and nced at Chloe, stroking his chin.¡± She¡¯s


    undeniably impressive. An absolute beauty.¡±


    ¡°Bass! You shouldn¡¯t be praising her!¡±


    These past few days, every time she thought about Joseph-who was like a god in her eyes- she felt


    that he was being wasted on this in, uncultivated girl. It felt as if a heavy stone was weighing down


    her heart, causing an aching pain.


    ¡®Why is life so unfair? Why wasn¡¯t I blessed with such good fortune?¡¯


    ¡°Jane, you¡¯re not thinking straight. Beauty is one thing, but it can¡¯t outweigh financial advantages.¡±


    Sebastian¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement. ¡°Joseph is the heir of the Whitman. family, the leader of the


    four great families. Do you honestly think someone of his caliber. would fall for a background-less


    Cindere?¡± ¡±


    Jane was taken aback, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a passing infatuation. Once the novelty wears off, no matter how beautiful she is, he¡¯ll grow


    weary of her.¡±


    ¡°But¡­they¡¯re already married.¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t had a wedding ceremony yet. As long as there¡¯s no grand announcement, it means he¡¯s


    keeping his options open.¡±


    Sebastian¡¯s logical analysis provided a glimmer offort to Jane¡¯s aching heart. She bit her lip,


    watching as Joseph and Chloe parted ways. Passing her wine ss to Sebastian, she dered, ¡°I¡¯m


    going to find Joseph.¡±


    Meanwhile, Sebastian¡¯s gaze fixed on Chloe, who stood alone, waiting. A mischievous intent began to


    stir within him. This untamed girl seemed like a young fledgling-a rare innocent presence that had been


    absent in the entertainment industry for a long time.


    Chloe, who had skipped dinner and arrived directly from work, grabbed a handful of cookies from the


    buffet line and began munching on them. Suddenly, a cookie crumb lodged in her


    throat, triggering an uncontroble fit of coughing.


    ¡°Here, have some water.¡± Sebastian, with a gentlemanly demeanor, promptly offered her a ss of


    water, his eyes shining as he smiled.


    Chloe immediately took the water, taking several gulps to ease her difort. As she held the ss,


    her gaze fell upon Sebastian. As she was about to express her gratitude, the words caught in her


    throat.


    She hesitated for a few seconds before finally speaking up, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re that celebrity¡­¡±


    Not just a celebrity, he was Jane¡¯s brother too.


    After their sh with Jane that day, she looked Jane up and stumbled upon a surprising revtion.


    Jane¡¯s big celebrity brother was the very celebrity Chloe used to dislike. His reputation was tainted with


    numerous negative news stories, particrly concerning his disrespectful treatment of assistants and


    staff. Reports imed that he would make assistants sleep in hotel. corridors and even order them to


    wash their faces with the water he washed his feet in, among other disturbing incidents.


    Sebastian¡¯s face bore a hint of arrogance as he proudly introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Sebastian Fox, the


    male lead in Clouded Suspicions.¡±


    Chloe forced a smile, maintaining a polite distance. ¡°Okay, thank you for the water.¡±


    With those words, she turned to leave.


    Feeling a blow to his ego by her indifferent response, Sebastian reached out and grabbed her. Don¡¯t


    you want an autograph? I can give you one.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment and responded, ¡°Um, no need, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on. Don¡¯t be shy. For Joseph¡¯s girl, an autograph is nothing to me. I can even throw in


    tickets to my concert. After all,moners like yourself don¡¯t often get the opportunity to rub shoulders


    with celebrities.

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131


    Chapter 131 She¡¯s a Bumpkin and Can¡¯t y the Piano


    Chloe fell silent, finally realizing that this was yet another form of humiliation directed at her.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m not interested in you, and I don¡¯t want your autograph,¡± Chloe said with a sweet smile on


    her face. ¡°By the way, my favorite celebrity is Aiden Knight.¡±


    In an act of retaliation, she purposely brought up the name of his rival, fully aware of the impact it would


    have.


    As anticipated, Sebastian¡¯s expression immediately turned grim. He let go of Chloe and sneered


    sarcastically, ¡°Well, you have terrible tastes then.¡±


    Chloe shrugged with nonchnce, casually turning her head away to demonstrate herck of interest


    in getting into an argument with someone so uncivilized. Just then, Joseph returned. with Jane, who


    shared an equally discontented look as Sebastian. Her eyes were red, hinting at an unpleasant incident


    that had taken ce.


    Chloe furrowed her brow momentarily but swiftly eased her expression. She looked at Joseph and


    asked, ¡°When does the evening party begin?¡±


    ¡°Soon,¡± Joseph replied, his gaze fixed on her eyes. He then cast a nce at Sebastian nearby and


    asked, ¡°Did he bully you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± As soon as she had finished speaking, she changed her mind and said, ¡°Yes! He was talking


    down to me.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze locked onto Chloe, his voice cold as he said, ¡°Would you like me to give him a taste of


    his own medicine?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Keep dreaming.¡±


    A heavy silence enveloped Chloe as she cast her gaze downward, a bitter sadness etched upon her


    face. Her long, delicately curledshes quivered faintly, reflecting the turmoil in her heart. and the


    overwhelming sense of disappointment she felt.


    ¡°But someone will,¡± Joseph said, pulling Chloe out of her own world.


    Chloe¡¯s curiosity was piqued, and she raised her head, asking, ¡°Who?¡±


    Joseph sneered, ¡°The government.¡±


    Tax evasion was considered a severe offense, one that could lead to significant consequences.


    Just as the words left Joseph¡¯s mouth, the host of tonight¡¯s charity event approached, signaling the


    official start of the auction.


    Joseph made a symbolic bid on a desk ornament, which was quite ugly but exorbitantly priced.


    ¡°Time has flown by, and we find ourselves approaching the grand finale,¡± the host proimed with an


    air of mystery from the stage. As the audience¡¯s curiosity grew, two staff members appeared, carefully


    carrying an object hidden beneath a cloth, its true nature concealed from view.


    Holding the microphone in his hand, the host asked, ¡°Let¡¯s do a no-prize quiz. Anyone wants to take a


    guess?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a piano.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a couch.¡±


    ¡°A drawing.¡±


    ¡°A piano.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s interest was piqued, and she observed for a few seconds before chiming in, ¡°It does. resemble


    a piano.¡±


    As soon as she spoke, the host uncovered the item, revealing an extremely worn-out piano to the


    audience¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°It is a piano! However, as you can all see, this piano is neither valuable nor an artistic masterpiece.


    Yet, its owner spent a remarkable twenty years working as a music teacher in the mountains using this


    very piano. It has now retired with honor. The next part of the auction. involves ying a piece on this


    piano, live on stage, with a starting bid of 700,000 dors!¡±


    As soon as the host had finished speaking, a bad feeling crept into Chloe¡¯s heart.


    At the very next moment, Jane turned her gaze toward her and asked, ¡°Ms. Chloe must undoubtedly


    possess a plethora of artistic talents and aplishments to be chosen as Joseph¡¯s wife. Surely,


    ying the piano is a mere trifle for someone of your caliber, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± chimed Sebastian, ¡°Everyone knows that Mr. Joseph has exceptionally hight standards when


    ites to his partner. He has broken the hearts of numerous socialites and aristocratic youngdies. I


    heard that Ms. Chloe and Mr. Joseph registered their marriage not long after they met. She must


    possess an extraordinary charm.¡±


    Theirments caused all the guests to shift their attention to Chloe, and many nodded in agreement.


    After all, it was widely known that Harold had introduced nearly every eligible unmarried woman in their


    social circle to Joseph, but Joseph had rejected them all.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Now that Joseph had suddenly gotten married, it was inevitable that Chloe would be a subject of


    public interest. However, ying the piano was not Chloe¡¯s strong suit, not to mention that she had to


    perform a piece valued at 700,000 dors. She was sure that there would be great anticipation ced


    upon her.


    If she refused to perform, it would bring shame to Joseph, but if her performance fell short, it would


    diminish the value of the 700,000 dors.


    It was truly a daunting challenge.


    Seeing Chloe¡¯sck of response, one of the women sitting beside Jane intentionally raised her voice


    and said, ¡°I remember now. Ms. Chloe can¡¯t y the piano. Let¡¯s not make things


    difficult for her.¡±


    Doubt spread through the crowd and someone questioned, ¡°Seriously? She doesn¡¯t know how. to y


    the piano? Not even one song?¡±


    Everyone that was present tonight was raised in a privileged world and had been exposed to various


    arts throughout their lives. Even if they were not particrly skilled, they possessed some proficiency in


    different areas.


    Jane covered her mouth and said, her voice thick with mockery, ¡°It seems that Ms. Chloe never learned


    how to y the piano. Her family doesn¡¯t appear to be affluent.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­ Then being able to marry Mr. Joseph is a tremendous stroke of luck.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more like hitting the jackpot. Hahaha!¡±


    Despite speaking in low or whispered voices, Chloe managed to catch snippets of their discussion as


    the venue was not particrly spacious.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze turned sharp as a knife, sweeping over the backs of those who were gossiping, causing


    a chill to run down their spines. Startled, they hastily sealed their mouths, their expressions filled with


    fear.


    ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll embarrass you?¡± Chloe asked as she tugged at Joseph¡¯s sleeve.


    Joseph furrowed his brow, casting a sidelong nce at Chloe, and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything


    you don¡¯t want to.¡±

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132


    Chapter 132 Lowly People Will Never Make It Big


    He had plenty of ways to silence these people.


    Chloe blinked and said, ¡°It¡¯s not about fighting over a piece of bread, but about fighting for dignity. Just


    answer my question.¡±


    ¡®Embarrassed?¡¯


    Joseph chuckled and replied, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. If there¡¯s anyone who¡¯ll end up embarrassed, it¡¯ll


    be you. 1


    Words caught in her throat, Chloe was unable to retort. In this case, she did not need to worry about


    anything anymore. Just as the host hesitated on whether to skip this part and end the event, she stood


    up.


    ¡°Can I have five minutes to prepare?¡±


    Her voice was sweet and melodic as it echoed throughout the exhibition hall.


    The host was stunned for a moment before smiling. ¡°Of course.¡±


    As the crowd watched intently, Chloe took her seat in front of the piano. She took a deep breath, gently


    rested her fingers on the keys, and began the process of familiarizing herself with the instrument.


    ¡°Hah, what a poser. There¡¯s no benefit in putting on airs and pretending to be something you¡¯re not.¡±


    Jane stifled augh, her face turning red from the effort of maintaining herposed demeanor as a


    refineddy. Yet, her eyes were brimming with excitement and anticipation.


    She had been practicing the piano since childhood and had obtained a Grade 9 certification at an early


    age. When Chloe made a fool out of herself, she would step in and save the day.


    Sebastian alsoughed joyfully, well aware of Chloe¡¯s boldness.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Women from lowly backgrounds would never make it to the big stage. Sebastian estimated that Joseph


    would soon understand this truth, and realized that his sister was the most suitable candidate to be his


    wife.


    After five minutes passed, the host approached and inquired.


    Chloe nodded solemnly. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll pass the floor to you then, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s outwardposure belied the nerves bubbling within her. She flexed her fingers a few times,


    envisioning the melody in her mind. As her fingertips gently touched the intermingling ck and white


    keys, a remarkable sound emerged from the piano, filling the air with its enchantment.


    The piano notes flowed like a meandering stream through the mountains, winding and twisting, taking


    unexpected turns, all while bearing a captivating melody. The song¡¯s gentleness and soothing quality


    resonated with the depths of the soul.


    The smile on Jane¡¯s face froze as she stared wide-eyed at the person on stage.


    ¡®How could this be happening? How does this wretched girl know how to y the piano?¡±


    The stage lights above illuminated Chloe, highlighting her slender and graceful figure. She appeared


    delicate and innocent, yet the music that flowed from her fingertips carried an undeniable power.


    Joseph silently watched her, feeling an inexplicable sense of joy welling up within him. It was not


    because she yed well and protected his reputation. Rather, he realized that this woman harbored a


    multitude of concealed virtues. The more time they spent together, the more of her remarkable qualities


    he discovered.


    She was born in the marshes, but unexpectedly emerged with resilience and blossomed into a radiant


    flower. Such a rare species was truly precious.


    As the song came to an end, the host was the first to apud, followed by the rest of the audience.


    Chloe smiled shyly and said, ¡°Thank you, everyone. To be honest, I only know how to y this one


    piece. I hope you don¡¯t think too highly of me. Ms. Jane was right. Ie from an ordinary family and


    am not as privileged as all of you. Therefore, my exposure to certain things is limited. I apologize if I


    made a fool of myself.¡±


    Her straightforwardness won her the favor of many, and their perception of her changed for the better.


    Joseph was somewhat surprised by her words. He cast a deep gaze at Sebastian, who was wearing an


    unpleasant expression, and pondered thoughtfully.


    ¡®Perhaps I can help the government to punish those who disregard thew.¡±


    After Chloe stepped down from the stage, the host picked up a small hammer and struck for the first


    bid. ¡°700,000 dors going once!¡±


    ¡°750,000 dors!¡±


    ¡°800,000!¡±


    ¡°850,000!¡±


    As Chloe listened to the voices bidding over one another, she discreetly asked Joseph, ¡°Did you hire


    some people to bid?

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133


    Chapter 133 Work as a Maid at Night


    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then why are they¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my wife. If they disrespect you, wouldn¡¯t it be disrespecting the Whitmans?¡± he answered.


    On top of those, Chloe did not disgrace him.


    The bidding for the piano ended with a final bid of 2,000,000 dors, called out by Joseph himself. It


    was not that otherscked the money, but rather, they did not dare to bid.


    After all, it was his wife who yed the piece, and their participation was merely for show. Engaging in


    a bidding war would have been inappropriate.


    On their way back, Joseph asked Chloe, ¡°Why do you only know how to y one piece?¡±


    She paused for a moment, and self-mockingly replied, ¡°When I was in high school, I wanted to learn to


    y. However, my father insisted that Ava should be the one to learn, believing that it was unnecessary


    for me to spend money on such pursuits. To prove myself, I¡¯d visit at ssmate¡¯s house every


    afternoon to practice on their piano. Due to my limited ess to the instrument, I became familiar with


    just one particr piece.


    ¡°But in the end, my father still refused to let me learn. He believed that Ava was the one who deserves


    special attention.¡±


    Though the family had money, it was not to be wasted on her.


    Joseph fell silent for a moment. He then asked, ¡°Do you still want to learn now?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. It¡¯s in the past,¡± she answered without a hint of hesitation.


    Joseph remained silent, his chiseled face devoid of any emotion.


    After finishing her evening routine and lying in bed, Chloe noticed a new text message on her phone.


    It was from Ava.


    [If you delete those chat logs, I¡¯ll consider removing my thread.]


    Chloe replied, [Tell me the contact information and address of my grandparents, and I¡¯ll grant you some


    dignity.]


    The next day, the thread rose to the third position on the trending topics list, but Ava stopped contacting


    her.


    Chloe prepared some yogurt for herself and then called Adam. She then uploaded the photos taken at


    the popr restaurant and the original chat logs on her social media.


    In the chat logs, she purposely covered Adam¡¯s profile picture and rified that it was not Adam but


    someone else. As for the photo from the trendy restaurant, it showed that it was Ava who was


    harassing him.


    Although the overall appearance seemed somewhat suspicious andcked credibility, it was the only


    way Chloe could help Adam.


    As soon as she uploaded it, Adam liked the thread, and it soon appeared on the homepage and


    attracted a lot of attention. Many professional photo editors emerged, and some experts confirmed that


    the chat logs Chloe shared were authentic.


    Now, theizens who had sympathized with Ava changed their stance and began to berate her


    mercilessly. A dayter, Ava deleted her Twitter ount, and this incident finally came to an end.


    Chloe thought her life was about to return to normal when Icarus and Lily suddenly showed up on the


    ground floor of Fairlight.


    ¡°Why are you guys here?¡± Chloe looked around. ¡°Is Mr. Harry here too?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just me and Icarus,¡± Lily replied with a smile. There was a hint of excitement in her


    eyes.


    On their way here, Icarus told Lily that he had a crush on Chloe and expressed his intention to confess


    his feelings to her today. He sought Lily¡¯s assistance in this endeavor, unwilling to postpone it any


    further. After all, Jake had broken up with Ava and he feared that Jake might


    Chloe felt that something was weird about the two standing before her, but she could not pinpoint


    exactly what was off and asked, ¡°Are you guys here just to see me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Chloe. No wonder you quit your job at Baxon. Turns out you¡¯ve joined Fairlight. How could


    you not tell me about it? Do you still consider me a friend?¡± Lily said.


    Chloe awkwardly chuckled, ¡°It all happened so suddenly. I didn¡¯t expect Fairlight to ept me


    either.¡±


    Lily paused for a moment and suddenly remembered that Joseph was the CEO of Fairlight.


    Understanding hit her and she said, ¡°I get it now.¡±


    ¡°You get what?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Joseph, right?¡±


    ¡°Why is this rted to Mr. Joseph?¡± Icarus asked with a frown, but he remainedposed.


    Lily blinked and replied, ¡°You don¡¯t know? Ms. Chloe is working as a maid in Mr. Joseph¡¯s


    house.¡±


    ¡°M-Maid?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. She works during the day and does housekeeping as a maid in the evenings. Maybe Mr. Joseph


    saw that Ava had lost her job and offered her this opportunity,¡± Lily said with a sigh, feeling a deep


    sense of empathy for Chloe.


    Icarus was stunned. ¡®She works as a maid for Joseph at night?¡±


    Chloe lived in a luxurious vi and had enrolled in an expensive culinary ss that cost a six- figure


    sum per month. Her ie from work alone could not possibly cover such expenses.


    Looking at Chloe, Icarus¡¯ face was filled with aplex mix of emotions. He did not want to think of


    Chloe as that kind of person, but he would not be able to exin the things that happened between her


    and Joseph.


    However, Chloe did not strike him as that kind of person.

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134


    Chapter 134 Does She Think I¡¯m Old?


    Chloe wanted to smack herself in the face. ¡®Why did I tell Lily that I worked as a maid?¡¯


    Now that things hade to this point, Icarus would surely think that something illicit was happening


    between her and Joseph.


    ¡®Hang on. It¡¯s true that I have to keep my marriage with Joseph a secret.¡¯


    With this realization, Chloe instantly felt less embarrassed. In fact, when they bumped into Joseph as


    he wasing downstairs, she even took the initiative to invite him to join them for a meal.


    After all, Icarus and Lily hade all the way here, and it was only reasonable for her and Joseph to


    entertain them together. If she went out for a meal with someone else and returned. homete, Joseph


    would certainly be mad about it. So it was better to take the initiative and invite him along.


    Upon receiving Chloe¡¯s invitation, Joseph thought, ¡°This dumbo¡¯s making some progress.¡¯


    He had previously told her to avoid being alone with other men, and she not only remembered his


    instruction but also invited him to join them for a meal, which could be seen as a disguised rejection of


    Icarus.


    Joseph readily agreed, and Icarus¡¯ face sank


    Lily suggested going to a restaurant that served crawfish, and Chloe was all for it.


    Icarus¡¯ mind was in a mess, and he had no appetite for food. He reluctantly responded with a vague


    ¡°Mm-hm¡± to go along with the n.


    Facing the eager gazes of the two women, Joseph reluctantly nodded.


    At the dining table, Icarus remained silent for a few minutes before sending a text message to Lily.


    Lily, who was sweating profusely from the paprika and cayenne pepper, picked up her phone and


    nced at the message.


    [Change of n. I¡¯m not confessing today.]


    Lily was stunned, and she exchanged puzzled nces with Icarus sitting across from her, using only


    her eyes tomunicate.


    ¡®What was going on? Why did you suddenly decide not to confess?¡¯


    Icarus forced a bitter smile. He nced at Joseph sitting next to Chloe and subtly shook his


    head.


    It was the season for crawfish, and Chloe ordered a te of them cooked with lots of paprika and


    cayenne pepper. She relished every bite, savoring the intense vors. Since being with Joseph, whose


    pte leaned toward more mild and healthy cuisines, she had not had such boldly vored dishes in a


    long time.


    Unable to resist, she indulged in a few extra bites.


    Joseph, who had been idly sitting without touching the food, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it delicious?¡±


    ¡°It certainly is!¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Then peel one for me,¡± he ordered, causing Icarus to furrow his brows disapprovingly.


    Chloe looked toward Joseph, who sat in his chair, his tidy short hair framing his forehead. His slender,


    dark eyes carried an air of nonchnce and sophistication, and his remarkably attractive face


    appeared unaffected by the ordinary. He appeared somewhat misced amid the ambiance of the


    restaurant.


    Pursing her lips, Chloe asked, ¡°It¡¯s spicy. Can you handle it?¡±


    She remembered seeing some medication for treating stomach aches at home.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to peel for me?¡±


    ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s thin lips tightened, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Chloe threw her hands up in the air and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll peel them for you¡­ I¡¯m your maid,


    so I should listen to you anytime, anywhere.¡±


    Once the contract was over, she would definitely run far away from him so that she would not have to


    endure this frustration ever again.


    Chloe peeled ten crayfish and ced them on Joseph¡¯s te. He picked one up and took a small bite,


    but it felt as if his mouth was on fire, making it difficult for him to swallow.


    ¡°How does it taste? Is it delicious?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation, looking like a prideful child


    sharing the best snack in the world with her best friend.


    Meeting her gaze, something flitted through Joseph¡¯s eyes. He did not want to disappoint her, so he


    replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s great.¡±


    A smile broke across Chloe¡¯s face. ¡°Then let me peel some more for you. In the future, you should try


    different cuisines and not always eat such mild vors like an old person.¡±


    Besides, as long as he did not eat too much, he should not have any stomach problems, right?


    Joseph was speechless.


    Did she think of him as an old man who did not share her taste? Why did she not feel the same way


    about the man across from her, who seemed even older than him?


    As if wanting to prove something, Joseph endured the spiciness and finished all the crawfish Chloe


    peeled.


    Icarus silently watched their interaction, jealousy bubbling up in his chest.


    In the evening, after they parted with Lily and Icarus, Chloe walked alongside Joseph toward the


    underground garage.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Somehow, the man who usually walked with a brisk pace was moving slowly today, and Chloe had to


    slow down her steps to wait for him on several asions. When they finally reached his car, Joseph


    stopped in his tracks and ced his hands on both his knees, suppressing the twisting pain in his


    stomach.


    ¡°Go buy some medicine for me. I¡¯m having a stomach ache,¡± he gasped.

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135


    Chapter 135 A Strange Feeling


    It was only then Chloe noticed then that hisplexion was pale, with his eyebrows furrowed tightly


    and fine beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead and nose.


    Without hesitation, she hurried to the nearest pharmacy and returned with the medicine.


    After taking the medicine, Joseph¡¯splexion slowly improved after half an hour.


    Once they returned to the house, Chloe asked softly, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle spicy food, why did you eat


    the crawfish?¡±


    She regretted bringing him there in the first ce.


    Joseph, still covered in a cold sweat, nced at her and smiled ambiguously. ¡°You were going out for a


    meal with another man. If I don¡¯t follow you, do you expect me to starve?¡±


    The guilt that had just welled up in Chloe¡¯s heart vanished without a trace. Annoyed, she retorted, ¡°I


    didn¡¯t force you to eat, and there¡¯s nothing in the contract that says I can¡¯t go out for a meal with


    friends.¡±


    ¡°Is that not stated in the contract? Thanks for the reminder. I¡¯ll add it tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, why are you so mean to me?!¡±


    ¡°If I were being mean to you, you¡¯d be the one feeling ufortable right now.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s beautiful face sank, and she was on the verge of tears. Although she felt frustrated, she could


    not find a way to refute him.


    How could he possess such a venomous tongue yet maintain an air of innocence?


    ¡°Bring me lunch tomorrow afternoon. I can¡¯t eat outside food,¡± he demanded.


    She gritted her teeth and retorted, ¡°Do you really see me as your personal chef? I¡¯m exhausted. too,


    you know. Ms. Wendy just assigned me a task today, and I have to go out tomorrow. I don¡¯t have that


    much time.¡±


    ¡°Do you want a pay raise?¡± Joseph looked at her nonchntly.


    Chloe was stumped. Her face blossomed into a smile, brimming with charm. ¡°Really?¡±


    Joseph was speechless. ¡®What a materialistic woman.¡¯


    ¡°Jojo, how much of a raise are you willing to give me?¡±


    At the mention of money, Chloe transformed from a fierce tigress into a gentle little kitten, gently


    tugging at his sleeve. Once she had saved enough money, she would repay him and never again live


    under someone else¡¯s roof.


    What was a little hardship and fatigue in the grand scheme of things? Chloe dreaded the


    1/85


    thought of experiencing both exhaustion and destitution simultaneously.


    Joseph lowered his gaze, fixating on her slender, white fingertips. He felt an urge to hold them, but


    quickly averted his eyes and stated a figure.


    Chloe widened her eyes, brimming with joy. Overwhelmed with excitement, she embraced him tightly.


    ¡°Thank you, boss!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s senses were greeted by a subtle fragrance that filled the air. Drawing closer to her, he fixated


    on the gentle smile adorning her face, which unexpectedly evoked a fluttering


    sensation deep within his heart.


    After giving him a brief hug, Chloe happily hummed a tune and went to her bedroom, oblivious to


    Joseph¡¯s expression.


    While cleaning her face with a makeup remover pad, she received a text message from Icarus. [Chloe,


    can you be honest with me? What exactly is your rtionship with Mr. Joseph?]


    Lily had a carefree and easygoing personality, so it was normal that she did not realize anything.


    Icarus, on the other hand, had surely noticed something on their first encounter.


    Chloe¡¯s hand paused, and she pursed her lips, unsure of how to respond. She sent back a simple


    reply.


    [We¡¯re both just getting what we need from each other.]


    With her sry increase, Chloe woke up early the next morning and prepared lunch, packing it in a


    thermal container. Joseph nced at it, finding that all the dishes were his favorites. He lightly tapped


    his fingers on the steering wheel and a smile formed at the corner of his lips.


    Chloe had to go on a site inspection with Wendy, so Joseph dropped her off at the destination before


    heading to Fairlight. It was only after getting out of the car that she realized she had inadvertently taken


    the lunchbox with her:


    Annoyed, Chloe ran her fingers through her hair, uncertain if she would be able to wrap up the


    inspection in time to rush back for lunch. By the time Wendy and she arrived at the site, the property


    developer was already there, apanied by a secretary dressed in an ostentatious. suit. He stood


    with his back to them, giving orders to the workers.


    Chloe furrowed her brow, feeling ufortable listening to his orders. The property developer called


    out, ¡°Melody,e over and meet them.¡±


    When Melody turned around and saw Chloe, she asked in a displeased voice, ¡°What are you doing


    here?¡±


    Having previously gotten into trouble with Ava, Melody¡¯s parents had grounded her for a while. Through


    some connections, Melody managed to secure a position as a secretary in at


    Deep down, she harbored resentment toward Chloe. If it were not for Chloe, she surmised that she


    would be a staff of Fairlight by now and could have even won over the newly appointed CEO with her


    looks.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136


    Chapter 136 Who Are You to Bring Joseph Lunch?


    ¡°You know these employees of Fairlight?¡± the developer asked.


    Melody was taken aback. ¡°She¡¯s from Fairlight?¡±


    ¡®Didn¡¯t Ava say Chloe had left Fairlight and wasn¡¯t working there anymore? Why is she back there


    now?¡±


    ¡°She is. The two of them are here today to inspect the site,¡± the property developer confirmed.


    Jealousy and anger overcame Melody¡¯s face, but she suppressed her emotions and put on a friendly


    facade. With a forced smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve known her for many years. We¡¯re old friends.¡±


    Chloe remained silent, rolling her eyes but choosing not to expose the truth. She just wanted to get her


    job done as soon as possible.


    1.


    Realization hit the developer and he generously granted them half an hour to catch However, Chloe


    quickly declined and said, ¡°No, no. We should dedicate ourselves to our work. during office hours. We


    can catch up privately outside of work.¡±


    The property developer looked at Chloe with appreciation in his eyes.


    Melody was so enraged that her eyeballs were about to pop out.


    ¡®A wh*re will forever be a wh*re. She¡¯s always trying to attract others wherever she goes.¡¯


    Wendy and the developer exchanged a few words, after which he started them guiding around to


    examine the site. Due to Wendy¡¯s pregnancy, they had to take asional breaks before resuming their


    walk.


    It was already eleven o¡¯clock, and the tasks that should have been finished in the morning remained


    iplete. Holding the lunchbox, Chloe hesitantly interjected, ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but I have something


    to say¡­¡±


    Supporting her waist, Wendy nudged her chin at her and said, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Can I take an hour off? I need to go back to the office to deliver this lunchbox¡­¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Go back to the office?¡± Wendy was puzzled. ¡°Who are you delivering it to?¡±


    Chloe swallowed nervously and forced a smile on her face. ¡°Mr. Joseph.¡±


    The other three froze in surprise.


    Melody was the first to regain herposure. She raised her voice and asked, ¡°Mr. Joseph? Who are


    you to him? Why are you delivering his lunchbox? Chloe, you should know your ce. Daydreaming


    isn¡¯t a good habit.¡±


    Wendy looked displeased and cast a nce at Melody. ¡°That¡¯s not an appropriate way to speak.


    ¡±


    ¡®You should be the one to know your ce. How dare you speak to my subordinate in such a manner


    while I am standing right here?¡¯ Wendy retorted inwardly.


    The developer chimed in and tried to diffuse the tension. ¡°Melody has always been. straightforward.


    Please don¡¯t take her words to heart.¡±


    Wendy shifted her gaze to the lunchbox in Chloe¡¯s hand, vaguely recalling seeing it in the conference


    room. She was perplexed.


    ¡°How did Mr. Joseph¡¯s lunchbox end up in your hands?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Um¡­ I bumped into Mr. Joseph this morning while I was on my way to the office. He had something


    urgent to attend to and asked me to bring his lunch box to the office. Ipletely. forgot that I was


    supposed toe here today,¡± she hastily came up with an excuse. However, she realized that leaving


    now would be untimely, so she proposed, ¡°Should I call someone toe and take it to the office for


    me?¡±


    Wendy pondered for a few seconds, wondering if she should send Chloe back.


    Knowing that it was Joseph¡¯s lunchbox, Melody immediately chimed in, ¡°Give it to me. I¡¯ll go. After all,


    I¡¯m just sitting here serving tea.¡±


    Melody did have a point. She was the only one avable at the moment, and without Chloe around,


    there would be a substantial amount of data entry work for Wendy to manage alone.


    Melody looked toward the developer, who understood her intention and silently nodded in agreement.


    Seeing this, her face lit up with a wide smile as an unexpected surge of happiness welled up inside of


    her. She swiftly snatched the lunchbox from Chloe¡¯s hands as if afraid she might change her mind. With


    her heels clicking against the ground, she dashed off like a running dog.


    Chloe chortled. ¡®Hah, does she really think this is a great opportunity for her to get close to Joseph?


    Well, I wish her good luck. After all, not everyone can handle that guy¡¯s behavior.¡±


    Outside Fairlight, Melody swaggered in with the lunchbox in her hands. The security guard spotted her


    and stopped her from entering. ¡°Please show me your employee ID.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver lunch to Mr. Joseph. Can you afford to dy his lunchtime?¡± she said with


    a hint of arrogance.


    The security guard looked at her suspiciously and hurriedly went to the front desk to ask about it. The


    receptionist ced a call to Lucas, who assumed it was Chloe and that she must have forgotten her ID


    as she just joined thepany, he granted her entry.


    Melody smoothly entered Fairlight and the front desk escorted her to the elevator. As she


    watched the changing floor numbers, she could not contain her excitement. She was about to meet


    Joseph, the man rumored to have single-handedly transformed Fairlight.


    Was he as handsome as she had imagined?


    Meanwhile, as Joseph¡¯s assistant, Lucas sensed that Joseph was in a good mood when he entered the


    office. He poured a ss of water and promptly exited. 1


    Coincidentally, the elevator doors opened at that moment, and Melody stepped out. Lucas looked at


    her with a furrowed brow and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137


    Chapter 137 Personal Grievances


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m here to help Chloe deliver Mr. Joseph¡¯s lunchbox. She¡¯s currently conducting a site inspection


    and couldn¡¯t get away. I¡¯m the secretary of the boss from the office across the street,¡± Melody


    introduced herself.


    Lucas took a sharp breath, feeling a headacheing on. He had just informed Joseph moments ago


    that Chloe would soon be arriving with his lunchbox. Joseph had neatly stowed away the documents on


    his desk, and his frosty countenance softened somewhat when he heard what Lucas said. However,


    the person who stood before him now was not Chloe, and an uneasy feeling settled over Lucas.


    Despite his internal frustrations, Lucas maintained hisposure as a professional secretary, ensuring


    his emotions did not betray him on his face. He put on a courteous demeanor and guided Wendy


    toward Joseph¡¯s office.


    ¡°All right, please follow me,¡± he said.


    ¡®F*ck it! I¡¯m sorry, Miss, but I need someone to help me take the me. And no one is more suitable


    than you for this job.¡±


    Following closely behind Lucas, Melody hastily took out a small mirror and checked her reflection,


    eagerly anticipating the moment when Joseph would see her.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, your lunchbox is here,¡± Lucas said and promptly exited the office, fearing that Joseph¡¯s


    anger would fall on him.


    Joseph kept his eyes down and focused on his phone.


    ¡°Mm,¡± he repliedzily.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was wearing a light blue shirt today as he sat in his office chair, his fingers gliding effortlessly across


    the pages of a book. With his head low, his long eyshes veiled the frostiness in his gaze, adding a


    touch of charm and gentleness to his already captivating


    presence.


    Melody could not help but be infatuated. She rubbed her eyes vigorously, unable to believe what


    she was seeing.


    ¡®Wasn¡¯t this the handsome man I encountered at the mall some time ago? So he¡¯s the CEO of


    Fairlight. Seems like we¡¯re fated for each other¡­¡¯


    A blush spread across Melody¡¯s face, her heart racing and breath quickening in response. She gingerly


    ced the lunchbox before Joseph, her gaze fixated on him as if unable to tear her eyes away,


    captivated by his


    presence.


    Joseph did not raise his head, but he could clearly sense the burning gaze. It made him chuckle


    inwardly.


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong with this dumbo today? Even if she likes me, there¡¯s no need to stare at me like


    that.¡±


    It was as if ripples were stirred in the calm surface of ake. Undeniably, the way she looked at him


    brought him a sense of pleasure.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay and have lunch with me? Let¡¯s warm up the food first,¡± he said.


    Upon hearing these words, Melody felt like she was in a dream, her spirit soaring with joy. However,


    she maintained herposure and pretended to be hesitant. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little inappropriate?¡±


    Joseph suddenly lifted his head and looked over, only to see apletely unfamiliar face. His pupils


    contracted as he coldly questioned, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡®Where¡¯s Chloe?¡¯ he added silently.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Joseph. I¡¯m the secretary of Moongazer Constructions¡¯ general manager. Chloe is busy at


    the construction site, so she asked me to deliver your lunchbox to you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Joseph¡¯s face sank. While he understood that she might be busy, what was the


    meaning of sending a random woman to him without telling him in advance?


    Melody did not know what to do, so she decided to warm up the lunchbox first.


    ¡°Get out,¡± Josephmanded in a strong tone.


    Melody was startled, unable to understand why his attitude had changed so quickly. ¡°Mr. Joseph, did I


    do something wrong?¡±


    ¡®How could he allow that woman to send him a lunchbox, but not me? Am I not better than


    her?¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡± Joseph shouted in a stern voice.


    Lucas was waiting in front of the door as he knew things would end up this way. When he heard


    Joseph call him, he sighed.


    Other than Chloe, no woman could stay more than ten minutes in Joseph¡¯s office.


    He resignedly pushed the door open and gestured for the dumbfounded Melody to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss. Please leave.¡±


    A sudden rush of impulsiveness took hold of Melody, and without hesitation, she stared directly at


    Joseph and challenged him, ¡°Is this how Fairlight treats people? I went through the trouble of delivering


    lunch on behalf of your employee, and instead of offering me a simple ss of water, you¡¯re kicking me


    out?¡±


    With a hint of resentment, Melody could not understand why that wh*re, who had been. expelled from


    the Johnsons, was allowed to work here while she could not. Her family


    Personal Grievances


    background was simr to Chloe¡¯s, so it seemed unfair to her.


    Lucas tried to maintain a calm demeanor as he replied, ¡°Miss, let¡¯s be clear. You are only here to


    deliver the lunchbox, and now that the task isplete, there¡¯s nothing inappropriate about asking you


    to leave. As for your request for water, you can take the elevator to the


    ground floor and the receptionist will be happy to assist you.¡±


    Melody opened her mouth to retort but found herself speechless. Anger surged through her veins,


    causing her neck to flush with a mixture of frustration and indignation.


    Suddenly, Joseph spoke up, his expression dark. ¡°Did Chloe specifically request you to deliver the


    lunchbox?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Chloe was too busy toe herself, so she personally asked me to bring it!¡± Melody said,


    shifting all the me onto Chloe.


    Joseph¡¯s face turned grim, his jaw set tightly. 1


    ¡®D*mn woman. Does she not know that I shoulde first?¡¯


    ¡°Give her 100 dors,¡± he ordered.


    Lucas paused for a moment, and understanding dawned upon him. He handed a few bank notes to


    Melody and said, ¡°This is yourpensation. Is it enough for you?¡±


    Lucas acknowledged that hisst statement was influenced by personal grievances. After all, it was this


    woman who had enraged Joseph in the first ce.


    The distance between the site and Fairlight was a one-hour journey, and a hundred dors for an


    hour¡¯s work was considered a decent rate within the industry.

 Chapter 138

    Chapter 138


    Chapter 138 It¡¯s Because You¡¯re Stupid


    Feeling deeply humiliated, Melody cast a nce at Joseph, expecting him to reprimand his employee


    on her behalf.


    However, Joseph¡¯s countenance was dark, making him hundreds of times more intimidating than the


    assistant standing before her.


    In the end, Melody red fiercely at Lucas before storming off in


    anger.


    Fueled by rage, Melody returned to the site and looked for Chloe.


    ¡°You did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± she confronted Chloe as she seethed with anger.


    Chloe blinked innocently. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°You intentionally set me up to provoke Mr. Joseph and make a fool of myself!¡±


    ¡°But it was you who volunteered for the task and insisted on helping me deliver it,¡± Chloe replied,


    ncing at the developer and saying earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m not remembering things wrong,


    am I?¡±


    The developer let out an awkward smile and turned to Melody. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Melody. Go fetch us


    some coffee.¡±


    ¡°But Uncle! She bullied me! You have to help me!¡±


    ¡®He¡¯s her uncle?¡¯


    A sudden realization struck Chloe. Considering Melody¡¯s limited abilities. nopany would be willing


    to hire her if she did not have any connections.


    Feeling helpless due to their family rtionship, the developer did not say anything too harsh to


    Melody, merely waving his hand for her to quickly go buy the coffee.


    Chloe stood with her arms crossed, maintaining a calm andposed demeanor. Her expression


    resembled that of a spectator, enjoying the unfolding drama.


    Standing at the side, Wendy¡¯s face sank. From her perspective, Joseph was typically calm and


    collected, rarely showing signs of anger. Melody must have done something to upset him and was now


    attempting to pass the me onto someone in her department.


    ¡°I suggest you first appease the emotions of yourpany¡¯s staff before we discuss any cooperation


    further,¡± Wendy said.


    It was exceedingly umon for the developer to secure a lucrative business opportunity with


    Fairlight, and he had put in tremendous effort to make it happen. Therefore, he was determined not to


    allow Melody to jeopardize everything he had worked so hard for.


    With that thought in mind, he raised his voice, bringing up Melody¡¯s parents and reproaching her, ¡°If


    you feel aggrieved in mypany and can¡¯t continue working here, I can have your parentse and


    pick you up right now.¡±


    Melody fell silent and reluctantly went to buy coffee. Fifteen minutester, she returned with three cups


    in hand. She extended one toward Chloe, and suddenly, an idea took shape in her head. Her eyes


    swiveled around in their sockets as she smiled. ¡°I apologize for earlier. I tend to be quite frank, so


    please don¡¯t take it personally.¡±


    Chloe knew Melody was up to no good. She recalled that Melody was part of the team when Peter


    nearly vited herst time.


    She smiled silently and reached out to take the cup.


    Melody tilted her wrist as if intending to spill the coffee on Chloe. However, Chloe deftly maneuvered


    her body, evading the impending spill, while ¡°unintentionally¡± stepping on Melody¡¯s shoe.


    ¡°Ouch! Are you blind?!¡± Melody shrieked in pain, her voice filled with anguish.


    Chloe sneered coldly, ¡°You didn¡¯t hand the coffee to me properly and instead spilled it on my clothes.


    So, who¡¯s the one that¡¯s blind?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Realizing that Chloe had done it intentionally, Melody lunged forward, her teeth bared and her hands


    raised high in the air, ready to scratch Chloe¡¯s face.


    However, Chloe was prepared and forcefully pushed Melody away. To her surprise, Melody, seemingly


    consumed by madness due to Joseph¡¯s actions, persisted and lunged at her once more like a wild cat.


    ¡°It¡¯s all


    your fault! If it weren¡¯t for your meddling, my uncle wouldn¡¯t have been fired by Fairlight and I could be


    working for Fairlight!


    ¡°Why are you so shameless? Your mother must¡¯ve not taught you well! Ava was right! The Johnsons


    were right to disown you! You¡¯re a curse!¡±


    For Chloe, her mother had always been a sore spot. Infuriated, she raised her hand and pped.


    Melody. A crisp sound echoed through the air.


    Chloe¡¯s hand stung, her eyes crimson as she stared at the bewildered Melody.


    ¡°Do you know why Ava likes being friends with you? It¡¯s because you¡¯re stupid,¡± she said, her voice


    cold. ¡°You defend her, but she just thinks of you as a pawn. You should consider visiting a hospital for a


    brain check. Having such low intelligence is a problem.¡±


    During her interview at Fairlight, it was highly likely that Ava was pulling the strings behind


    the scenes.

 Chapter 139

    Chapter 139


    Chapter 139 No One Bullies My Wife


    Upon hearing Chloe¡¯s words, Melody lost all control of her emotions and started throwing objects at


    her.


    Wendy reacted swiftly, grabbing Chloe¡¯s arm and attempting to pull her away from the chaos, while the


    developer rushed forward to intervene and put a stop to Melody¡¯s violent outburst.


    Once they were outside the site, Chloe regained control of her emotions and offered a sincere apology


    to Wendy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for messing up the job, Ms. Wendy. I¡¯ll personally talk to Mr. Joseph and ept


    any punishment he deems necessary.¡±


    Wendyughed heartily and patted Chloe on the shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to shoulder all the


    me. I¡¯ve long noticed that the secretary from Moongazer has a grudge against you. What you did


    was right. Otherwise, people will just keep taking advantage of you.¡±


    Chloe blinked and chuckled. ¡°I thought you¡¯d scold me right off the bat.¡±


    ¡°If you did something wrong, I would. But since you didn¡¯t, why should I?¡± Wendy said as she started


    the car and settled into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°All right, let¡¯s head back. I¡¯ll apany you to exin the


    situation to Mr. Joseph. Everything will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Really? But he can be so unreasonable,¡± Chloe muttered softly as she fastened her seatbelt.


    Joseph possessed a domineering nature and constantly held the belief that he was always right.


    Wendy did not catch Chloe¡¯s murmuring and was instead thinking about how to exin things to


    Joseph. Despite being in the right, facing the formidable Joseph still made her feel a bit


    uneasy.


    In contrast, Chloe seemed surprisingly calm. Even moreposed than Wendy herself.


    On the way back, they passed a traffic light. By chance, Chloe nced at a car parked next to them


    and her brows instantly furrowed.


    Inside the Toyota sedan, a young couple sat intimately, sharing affectionate gestures and exchanging


    kisses during the fleeting pause at the red light. It was evident that they shared a deep connection.


    What caught Chloe¡¯s attention was the tie the man was wearing. It was the same one Emily had bought


    for her boyfriend during theirst shopping trip.


    Chloe immediately messaged Emily to inquire about the car her boyfriend drove. Emily quickly replied,


    (He just found a job recently and hasn¡¯t bought a car yet.]


    Upon reading this message, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief.


    To be honest, her heart skipped a beat when she saw that man earlier. She thought that


    Emily¡¯s boyfriend was cheating on her since such urrences were not umon in these modern


    times.


    When they were back at Fairlight, Chloe and Wendy went straight to Joseph and briefly exined the


    situation to him.


    ¡°So Mr. Joseph, what should we do next regarding this cooperation?¡± Wendy cautiously asked.


    However, Joseph did not reply to her. He stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window with his back facing


    them. His sleeves were rolled up, showcasing his fair skin, and emanating an irresistible air of maturity.


    Wendy felt a slight panic, her palms growing sweaty. ¡®Is Mr. Joseph mad?¡¯


    With one hand supporting her waist, Wendy contemted the situation, preparing to apologize for their


    mistake. However, just as she was about to speak, the office door swung open, revealing Lucas with an


    anxious expression on his face.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Marketing is about to hold an emergency meeting. May I leave with Ms. Wendy first?¡± he


    asked urgently.


    Finally, Joseph spoke, breaking the silence with utmost brevity. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Before leaving, Wendy gave Chloe an encouraging look which left Chloe perplexed. She highly


    suspected that Lucas had done this on purpose.


    Wendy was a long-serving employee and pregnant, and she had already worked the whole day. It was


    only logical for her to go and rest.


    ¡®Lucas must have done this deliberately.¡¯


    Lucas soundlessly mouthed to Chloe, ¡°Good luck!¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m leaving Mr. Joseph to you. I¡¯m sure you know how to deal with him.¡±


    Chloe felt like crying.


    ¡®It¡¯s over. It¡¯s just me now, and he¡¯s definitely going to give me a severe scolding,¡¯ Chloe thought.


    Lucas and Wendy left one after the other, and the office door gently closed with a soft click


    Joseph turned around. His cold, piercing gaze fixed upon her.


    ¡°Do you know what you did wrong?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let someone else bring you lunch,¡± Chloe replied.


    Joseph nodded, satisfied with her answer.


    Just as he was about to say something, Chloe continued, ¡°The correct approach would¡¯ve been for me


    to give you the lunchbox in the morning, so that I could focus on my job in the


    afternoon. Moreover, it was unnecessary for me to get into an argument with the other person during


    work hours. It is crucial to exercise patience whenever possible, as work should take precedence. I


    apologize, Mr. Joseph. However, her behavior was extremely disrespectful. I¡¯ve endured her


    mistreatment for quite some time. When a rabbit is pushed too far, it¡¯ll bite. I momentarily lost control


    and ended up pping her.¡±


    She exined everything to Joseph in a professional manner, disying the appropriate behavior of an


    employee toward their employer.


    First, she admitted her mistake, followed by providing an exnation for her actions. Finally, she


    tactfully expressed her feelings of being mistreated, strategically aiming to pacify


    Joseph¡¯s anger after experiencing losses.


    ¡®I¡¯m such a smart*ss!¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s lips twitched in frustration.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°She had been mistreating you for a long time, and you didn¡¯t retaliate in the slightest?¡± he


    asked.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe did not understand, looking innocent. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Come here,¡± hemanded.


    Chloe approached cautiously, and he pulled her into his embrace. His eyes locked onto her face as he


    inquired, ¡°Which hand did you use to p her?¡±


    ¡°Right hand¡­¡±


    Joseph held her right hand and caressed her palm gently. His voice remained cold, but there. was a


    hint of resentment as he said, ¡°From now on, if someone mistreats you, there¡¯s no need to endure it.


    Stand up for yourself in the moment. I¡¯ll take responsibility for the consequences.


    His wife was not meant to be a target for mistreatment.

 Chapter 140

    Chapter 140


    Chapter 140 Even if You Spank Me to Death


    Startled by Joseph¡¯s touch, Chloe appeared taken aback by his sudden disy of affection. Yet, when


    he reassured her that he would support her decisions, her heart quickened with a hint of delight.


    ¡°Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that you not only represent yourself but also the entire Whitman family.


    ¡°But you also told me to keep our rtionship a secret¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. You can¡¯t expose our rtionship in the office, but I didn¡¯t say you can¡¯t do it outside.¡±


    ¡°If the outside world knows of our rtionship, it won¡¯t be long before the staff in the office finds out as


    well.¡±


    In the era of big data, even the most secretive celebrity couples would be exposed, let alone theirs.


    Joseph grew quiet, recognizing that announcing their rtionship publicly might not be the wisest


    decision. Furthermore, Chloe¡¯s defiant attitude made it necessary for him to evaluate her further.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After all, he was not someone she could effortlessly charm or win over.


    ¡°I can still support you without making our rtionship public. Just remember that you¡¯re one of the


    Whitmans,¡± he assured her.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s clear and radiant eyes lost their sparkle. It turned out he was worried about. her


    tarnishing the Whitmans¡¯ reputation. He was not concerned about her at all.


    Her small glimmer of hope was cruelly shattered. She wanted to break free from his embrace, but


    Joseph¡¯s hold grew firmer, enveloping her in his long arms. His captivating voice carried an irresistible


    allure as hemanded, ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Go on what?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What else did you do wrong today?¡±


    Chloe scratched her head, a hint of confusion appearing on her delicately sculpted face. ¡°I¡¯ve already


    admitted my mistakes.¡±


    Harrumphing haughtily, Joseph said, ¡°From now on, Ie first while workes second, and you


    must personally take care of my affairs. I was displeased with you sending a strange woman here


    today.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to either, but everything happened so quickly. You should also understand and consider


    my circumstances,¡± Chloe said.


    She was incapable of being in multiple ces at once. She had only agreed to cook yesterday


    and made no promise to deliver the meal directly to him.


    Upon hearing her response, Joseph¡¯s face turned dark.


    ¡°How could youpare me to your work?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that workpares to you. I can take care of you and be your maid, but I also need my


    own space. I admit that I owe all my sess to you, but at the same time, I want to achieve something


    of my own,¡± she exined.


    She had epted being tied to him for the next three years, but she could not live solely for


    him.


    As soon as the words fell, she suddenly felt a sharp pain on her buttocks. Her eyes widened in shock


    as she turned to look at Joseph, thinking she must be hallucinating.


    ¡°Did you just pinch my¡­buttocks?¡± she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.


    ¡°Chloe, I think it¡¯s time for you to understand that you don¡¯t have control over this household. This is the


    consequence of disobedience,¡± Joseph said, delivering a serious reprimand with a stern expression


    and furrowed brows.


    He still did not understand how to get along with women, let alone how to make them obey. So he


    resorted to this simple and crude method. He had even disciplined Toto in a simr manner, except it


    was pped, not pinched.


    Chloe¡¯s face turned crimson with embarrassment, and her eyes aze with immediately struggled


    fiercely. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Let me go!¡±


    anger. She


    ¡°Onest chance. Will you obey?¡± Joseph asked.


    Despite her continued struggles, Chloe found herself unable to break free, for the power imbnce


    between them was too great. She gazed up at Joseph, tears welling in her eyes, and defiantly


    dered, ¡°Even if you spank me to death, I¡¯ll still stand my ground!¡±


    Veins pulsated on Joseph¡¯s forehead. He then ced his hand on her buttocks before lifting his hand


    high in the air.


    ¡°All right, as you wish,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do this. I¡¯m a person with flesh and blood-with dignity. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and you


    shouldn¡¯t treat me like this¡­ If you don¡¯t like someone else bringing you food, just say it. I¡¯ll try my best


    to avoid such situations in the future. But you can¡¯t resort to violence,¡± Chloe pleaded.


    Chloe felt truly aggrieved, her fair and delicate face scrunching up like a wilted flower. Despite her


    distress, she held back her tears and looked utterly miserable.


    In that fleeting moment, Joseph realized that his approach had been wrong. Perhaps he should not


    have resorted to physical force. A sense of regret washed over him, prompting him to release his grip


    on her.


    Chloe immediately extricated herself from him, clutching her buttocks and seething with


    anger.


    Joseph fell into contemtion for a moment before speaking, ¡°Okay, you must inform me in advance if


    you have something to attend to.¡±


    He was angry with her because Chloe asked a strange woman to bring him his lunch box without prior


    notice. If she hadmunicated beforehand, he would not have been so angry.


    Doubts continued to linger in Chloe¡¯s mind, preventing her from fully believing Joseph¡¯s words.


    Nevertheless, she did not want to remain in the same room as him anymore.


    A man capable of physical violence was too terrifying.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my work now.¡±


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Startled, Chloe asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Wh-What is it?¡±


    Observing her reaction, Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed. He had only applied minimal force to the toughest


    part of her body.


    ¡®Did it hurt that much? But then again, she¡¯s delicate and tender, so it was only natural for her to feel


    pain.¡¯


    With that thought in mind, he retrieved a document from the drawer of his desk and said, ¡°I have


    something for you.

 Chapter 141

    Chapter 141


    Chapter 141 A Suddenly Ravenous


    Chloe walked over and took the document to take a look.


    Soon she put away all the displeasing affairs that had just happened.


    Her voice went a pitch higher and she appeared shell-shocked as she asked, ¡°Is this evidence


    of Sebastian¡¯s tax evasion?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hm.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to report against the Foxes?¡± Chloe put both hands on the table. ¡°Aren¡¯t they your family


    friends? Why do you want to do this?¡±


    ¡°Do you really believe in that superficial rtionship?¡± Joseph¡¯s lips twitched in an unfathomable


    manner and his expression filled with disdain.


    Jane¡¯s ambition was pretty obvious, so Mr. Harold never considered her when he was introducing


    women to Joseph. Of course, people cared about equal social ranks when it came to their marriages


    but they were also afraid that it might cause disaster instead.


    Chloe was slightly stunned but realized that he was right. Jane might really like Joseph, but


    she always talked about interests and profits. How sincere was her love for Joseph? What she cared


    for was the Whitman family or the resources brought by Fairlight.


    ¡°When do you n to do it?¡±


    ¡°Within the next few days.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Chloe raised her doubt. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me that something bad may happen to Sebastian soon?


    Can¡¯t you just wait? Why do you want to report him?¡±


    ¡®Is it because Sebastian and Jane targeted me during the charity party the other day?¡¯


    Joseph drummed his fingers on the table rhythmically, making a clear sound. ¡°It¡¯s because I find them


    an eyesore.¡±


    Chloe looked at him. He appearedposed with his eyes half narrowed, trying to hide the


    emotion in his eyes.


    Forget it. He always acts ording to his mood. Well, I don¡¯t think he really wants to take revenge for


    me. If I ask about it, it¡¯ll bring contempt upon myself.¡±


    After Chloe left Joseph¡¯s office and returned to the office safe and sound.


    Wendy was amazed. ¡°Chloe, you look like you¡¯re in good shape¡­¡±


    Previously, a middle-level executive was asked to stay in Joseph¡¯s office for half an hour. When he got


    back, he was in very low spirits. He had no appetite whatsoever. When he got home, his wife thought


    that he had been fired.


    Chloe was just a low-level employee. After she was scolded, she remained calm and easygoing. Her


    mentality was indeed extraordinary.


    Consequently, Chloe became helpless as she touched her nose. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m bold and not easily hurt by


    others¡¯ criticisms.¡±


    Besides, it was not the first time Joseph had scolded her, so she was used to it.


    However, Wendy did not think so. She felt that Chloe must be capable, so she wanted to take Chloe


    under her wing.


    After Wendy decided to promote Chloe, Chloe got a lot of chances to move up in the marketing


    department.


    After a few days, Samuel told her that thewsuit had been filed and that they would now wait for the


    court summons to open the case.


    Feeling gratified, Chloe said, ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Samuel. You¡¯ve done so much for me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. Just thank Joe. He cares a lot about your affairs. At first, the trial


    was set to begin in July at the earliest, but he spent quite a lot of effort to advance it by half a


    month.¡±


    Chloe was overwhelmed by shock. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me about it¡­¡±


    Samuel was not surprised. ¡°Joe may look cold but he¡¯s actually warm-hearted. He dislikes talking about


    the good things he does for you. Just be nicer to him. As his friend, I won¡¯t be worried about leaving


    him in your care.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Samuel, you got it all wrong. We¡¯re just-¡±


    Before Chloe could finish exining, she was interrupted by Samuel. ¡°All right, that¡¯s all for now. My


    assistant will contact you if there¡¯s anything rted to the case.¡±


    After that, he hung up the call without giving Chloe any chance to exin that.


    While staring at her dark phone screen, she thought about Joseph, and her gaze turnedplicated.


    At night, Joseph found Chloe busy in the kitchen when he got home after a social gathering. Dressed in


    simple home clothes and her hair in a low ponytail, she was learning from an online tutorial how to


    make hamburger soup, which was said to be good for hangovers.


    Half of her face was light under the dim and gentle light, and it seemed very tender. At the same time, it


    exuded a veryforting charm.


    It made this house truly feel like home.


    Joseph then twirled his fingers briefly before he sauntered to the dining table and sat down. He asked


    lightly, ¡°Did you do something wrong?¡±


    A Suddenly Ravenous


    While holding thedle, Chloe sounded confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    He nced at her. ¡°Why are you making me hamburger soup then?¡±


    Previously, Chloe would eat on her own at night if he had to attend a social gathering. When he was


    home, she would either be sleeping soundly or having a bath and applying a facial


    mask.


    However, she was so eagerly attentive to him that day. So, he assumed that she had done something


    wrong. She was doing this to appease him.


    Chloe answered, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Joseph raised his brows in disbelief.


    Chloe poured some soup into a bowl and got a spoon for him. She then yawnednguidly. ¡± Just drink


    it. I¡¯m going to bed now. I¡¯ll make you fish and chips with a sd for lunch tomorrow.¡±


    The soup smelled good, so it was quite enticing.


    Joseph watched Chloe as she walked up the stairs. She was tall and slim, and her waist was thin too.


    The part of her petite legs that was exposed was fair and straight. In addition, her skin was extremely


    tender as if it would turn red with just a light touch.


    His eyes darkened slightly. At first, he did not have an appetite. But out of the blue, he suddenly felt


    ravenous.


    Chloe was back in her bedroom. She dozed off before long, and when she woke up in the morning, she


    found she had missed a call from Jake.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    He had called her at three o¡¯clock in the morning.

 Chapter 142

    Chapter 142


    Chapter 142 I Think My Boyfriend Is Cheating On Me


    Seeing as how Jake was awake in the middle of the night, it looked like he had not been having an


    easy time after breaking up with Ava.


    However, Chloe did not care about that. She shuddered at the thought of going back to her


    exes. Besides, she would never do that either.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She was not moved by Jake¡¯s midnight pretense of loyalty and passion.


    After washing up, Chloe went downstairs with Joseph.


    The weather was perfect today-bright and sunny. Chloe¡¯s work desk area was beside the window. She


    threw open the window and felt a light breeze which lifted her mood.


    She enthusiastically typed away on her keyboard, making rhythmic clicking sounds.


    ¡°Chloe, someone is looking for you downstairs.¡±


    After an unknown period, the receptionist called her and interrupted her thoughts.


    Chloe took off her earphones and was stunned for a while. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go down right now.¡±


    When she arrived on the ground floor, she furrowed her brows when she saw Jake.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Coco, congrattions on passing your interview and getting a job at Fairlight.¡±


    Although his hair was a bit messed up, Jake looked decent enough. However, dark circles could be


    seen under his eyes. He had lost so much weight and appeared dispirited and haggard. But


    he sounded rather sincere.


    ¡°How do you know I¡¯m working here?¡±


    ¡°Ava told me when I went to the Johnsons¡¯ family to cancel the engagement.¡± After dwelling on it for a


    while, he suppressed his deep emotions and inquired, ¡°Is the matter between her


    and Adam true?¡±


    Chloe was silent. He appeared pretty desperate, so she nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. Ava took the initiative to


    get close to Adam for Patterson¡¯s projects.¡±


    ¡°F*ck! That b*tch!¡±


    Ava had worn such sexy clothes that day, iming that she had gone shopping with Melody. She must


    have been out with Adam.


    Jake knew now that Ava had cheated on him with a younger man. But that young man was Alexander


    Patterson¡¯s son. Hence, he could only suffer in silence.


    ¡°Coco, I was wrong and blind. I didn¡¯t see how nice you were to me. Is it¡­still possible


    Chapter 142 Think My Boyfriend is Cheating On Me


    between us?¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± she refused directly without any hesitation.


    get


    How ridiculous. She had started a new life. She must be crazy if she wanted to back together with him.


    Jakeughed at himself. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve lost that right. Uncle Icarus is far better than me.¡±


    Even if Icarus and Chloe ended up marrying each other, Jake would not object even if he could not


    forget about her. He had brought this upon himself, so he deserved to suffer as such.


    ¡°What does Icarus have anything to do with me?¡± Chloe instantly took a step back and tried to


    dissociate herself from that. ¡°Stop saying nonsense.¡±


    In a daze, Jake became hesitant. He said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been spending time with Uncle Icarus?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding!¡±


    ¡°No way. Uncle Icarus told me that he likes you. Why is it a misunderstanding?¡±


    Chloe was slightly stunned, and her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s Icarus who told you that?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he told me.¡± Jake¡¯s expression became strange. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? You told me before that Uncle


    Icarus likes you¡­¡¯


    While they were talking, many things that could not be exined previously were now


    resolved.


    ¡®Oh, gosh! Are you kidding me?¡¯ Chloe scratched her head, frustrated. ¡®I wanted to be Jake¡¯s aunt, but


    not anymore. It¡¯s toote now.¡¯


    Jake looked at her in worry. ¡°Are you having a headache? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m going back upstairs to work if you¡¯re done.¡± She was in no mood to handle this now


    because she wanted some alone time.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m done. I have yet to regain the dowry I gave to the Johnsons. It¡¯s Benjamin¡¯s birthday party


    next week. If they still refuse to return it to me by then, I¡¯ll go there and ask for it on that day. Then,


    they¡¯ll be thoroughly embarrassed.¡± Jake gnashed his teeth in hatred. After all, things hade to this


    state, and he did not care if he had a falling out with them.


    After some slight hesitation, he stated guiltily, ¡°I heard Benjamin mention your mother before I left. He


    seemed to be talking about a dowry. Are you going back to them?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Will you attend Benjamin¡¯s birthday party? He cares about his reputation a lot. If you go there and ask


    for it that day, he may give it to you since he¡¯ll be put on the spot in front of so


    Chapter 142! Think My Boyfriend is Cheating On Me


    many people.¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re too naive.¡¯


    If it were that simple, she would not have had to file awsuit. The court summons should reach them


    in the next few days.


    After sending Jake off, Chloe returned to her desk and continued working. When the work day was


    almost over, Emily suddenly called her.


    As she sobbed, Emily said, ¡°I think my boyfriend is cheating on me. Why Coco¡­..¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyelids started to twitch furiously. She immediately recalled the couple she had seen hugging


    and kissing each other in the Toyota the other day.


    She then nced at the time shown at the bottom of herputer screen andforted Emily,


    ¡°Where are you now? I¡¯ll be off work in about half an hour. I¡¯lle to find you.


    Emily gave her an address to a private cinema.


    A bad feeling dawned on Chloe. There was no doubt that they were about to catch the cheating couple


    red-handed.


    Chloe decided to ask Joseph for a few guards as a safety precaution.


    If they indeed caught the cheating couple red-handed, Emily mightunch herself at the scumbag in a


    fit of rage. Hence, they had toe on strong and imposing.

 Chapter 143

    Chapter 143


    Chapter 143 The Cheating Couple


    After Chloe exited the elevator, she gazed at the whole floor that Joseph upied.


    A realization overcame her. Although he had a bad temper and vicious tongue, he was not a yboy.


    After spending such a long time with him, she found that he had good self-control.


    ¡®He is a pretty good man¡­¡¯


    When Lucas came out, he saw Chloe standing at the entrance of the elevator, lost in thought. She even


    nodded to herself from time to time.


    He waved his hand in front of her and disrupted her thoughts. ¡°Ms. Chloe, are you here to see Mr.


    Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Yes. Is he here?¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, he is.¡±


    After saying that, Lucas deliberately added, ¡°Mr. Joseph has left instructions that you may go straight in


    whenever youe by. It¡¯s more convenient that way.¡±


    Chloe gave Lucas a weird look. She just needed toe here once to deliver lunch to him at


    noon every day. So, it had nothing to do with whether it was convenient or not.


    Still, she gave a courteous reply even though she fancied such a thought.


    Surprisingly, Joseph was not in his office working. Instead, he was taking a break, lying on the ck


    leather sofa with his eyes closed.


    Chloe took care to be light footed and held her breath. She then stopped in her tracks as she was


    troubled by conflicted feelings. She did not know if she should wake him up. After dwelling on it for a


    few seconds, she felt that Lucas might be able to decide on whether she could have a few guards.


    She heard Joseph¡¯s clear voice behind her the moment she grasped the doorknob.


    ¡°Spill it.¡±


    Startled, Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She patted her chest in resentment. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±


    Joseph had been so silent. ¡°I was, but I woke up when you came in.¡± He sat up on the sofa and rubbed


    the ce between his brows.


    His underlying meaning was that she had woken him up. She thought herself innocent since she had


    not made much noise.


    ¡°Umm¡­ Can I get a few guards from you?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes flew open and stared at her through dangerously narrowed eyes. ¡°Are you going


    Chapter 143 The Cheating Couple


    to the Johnson residence?¡±


    ¡°No, my bestie thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her. I¡¯m going with her to check things out.


    11


    He frowned and paused. After a moment, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. We can then go home together


    when it¡¯s over.¡±


    However, she frowned and gazed at him with some doubt. He seemed fine, but did he know


    how to handle a situation like this?


    Doing business and catching a homewrecker in the act were two vastly different affairs.


    He had been in the business world for a long time, and he had never encountered other types of


    hardships. What if he got rid of Emily before it began just because he despised her for being too noisy


    with her crying and wailing?


    Joseph then met her gaze and whispered, ¡°I won¡¯t go in. Lucas will go with you.¡¯


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    They soon arrived at the spot based on the address Emily had sent. She was sitting in the lobby of the


    cinema, her eyes red from crying.


    ¡°Did you see him go upstairs with a woman?¡± Chloe held Emily¡¯s hands, her heart aching for


    her friend.


    ¡°Yeah, I saw them. I know which room they¡¯re in.¡±


    Lucas looked around and felt that it was a rather decent ce. ¡°Is it possible they¡¯re just here to watch


    a movie?¡±


    ¡°Impossible. People normally wouldn¡¯t pick a room with a water bed if they really wanted to watch a


    movie!¡± Emily cried, ¡°I¡¯m being cheated on. We¡¯re so unlucky, Coco. Your boyfriend cheated on you


    before this, and now my boyfriend is doing the same to me. We¡¯re both on team cheated-on-and-


    dumped¡­¡±


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop saying nonsense. Let¡¯s go upstairs and check it out.


    The room the couple had booked was on the third floor. In the corridor, they could hear all kinds of


    explicit noises from inside. Chloe¡¯s heart sank. There was doubt about it anymore.


    Lucas pretended to be a waiter and knocked on the door.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± a man answered, breathless.


    ¡°I¡¯m a technician. There¡¯s a problem with the wiring in your room, and there may be a danger of electric


    leakage. Let me check it out for you. I¡¯ll have everything fixed in a few minutes.¡±


    After that, they heard the rustling sounds of people putting on clothes before a man opened the door,


    the top half of him bare.


    Emily immediately rushed into the room.


    When Chloe saw the man¡¯s face, she clenched her fists tightly. The man she saw kissing a woman in


    the Toyota the other day was none other than Emily¡¯s boyfriend.

 Chapter 144

    Chapter 144


    Chapter 144 You Can¡¯t Stay With Joseph for Long


    In the room, clothes were scattered all over the floor. An unknown woman was lying on the water bed,


    naked and screaming.


    It was irrefutable evidence. It was just like the day when Chloe walked in on Ava and Jake in bed


    together. Thinking that such things were behind her, she could not suppress her nausea upon seeing


    this same scene.


    In the next second, she started retching. At the same time, she heard people arguing.


    Lucas had worked for Joseph for a long time, so he acted resolutely and decisively. He immediately


    separated Emily from the scumbag. After affirming the truth, he took out his phone and took


    photographs of the scene to record the evidence. He then left with Chloe and Emily.


    When they got downstairs, Emily regained her wits. With a tear-filled face, she asked, ¡°Why did you pull


    me away? I haven¡¯t beaten him up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on meaningless stuff.¡±


    Chloe tilted her head. She found that Lucas¡¯ resembled a certain person very much.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph is waiting for you in the car. I¡¯ll help your friend get a cab.¡±


    They could not make Joseph wait for too long.


    Chloe pointed at Emily, who was crying profusely. ¡°I want to go home with Em.¡±


    Lucas was stunned before he recalled Joseph¡¯s order. ¡°I¡¯ll help you give her a ride home and send her


    the photos I took.¡±


    Chloe watched as Lucas helped the teary Emily into a cab. He was indeed efficient, but she felt


    something was amiss.


    When she was back in the car, Joseph nced at hernguidly. When he saw her pale face, he


    frowned. ¡°Why do you look sick?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­ I just found the scene a bit disgusting.¡±


    Joseph remained silent before he turned the steering wheel and drove home. They reached the


    vi half an hourter.


    When Jane saw Joseph arrive home, she rushed over even before the car stopped. She begged


    anxiously, ¡°Joseph, the police took Bass. You know people at the station. Please help me.¡±


    Joseph lowered the car window and revealed an aloof expression. His slender eyes narrowed. ¡± What


    does this have to do with me?¡±


    ¡°Despite not being married, we¡¯ve been friends for so many years. Can you bear to see them lock up


    Bass?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, the Fox Group secretly and unscrupulously seized business deals from my family and ruined the


    project of an office building of over 10,000 square meters. Why can¡¯t I bear to see him locked up?¡±


    Jane¡¯s face fell. ¡°My dad apologized to Mr. Harold about that affair.¡±


    Joseph snorted in response and drawled, ¡°My grandpa is old. He wanted to do something good before


    passing on, so he let the matter go. That doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯ll ept it.


    Chloe was struck speechless. ¡®Is he praising or cursing Grandpa?¡¯Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Jane then noticed Chloe who was sitting in the back seat, and envy engulfed her rationality She


    admonished, ¡°Five years have passed since then, and you¡¯re bringing it up all of a sudden now? Is it


    because of this b*tch you married?¡±


    The properties managed by the Whitman family were separate from Fairlight¡¯s. Joseph went abroad to


    study in the past and single-handedly established Fairlight. After that, he never meddled in his family¡¯s


    business.


    In addition, Harold, who was old, did not worry about his business. He handed most of the affairs to the


    people he trusted to manage. Even if there was a loss, he did not care very much about it.


    During those years, the other aristocratic families conspired with each other to snatch many projects


    from the Whitmans. But when Joseph came back, he punished somebody as a warning to others after


    he inspected the family¡¯s finances.


    As a result, those people stopped their scheming.


    Chloe retorted before Joseph could say anything.


    ¡°Your brother¡¯s tax evasion is illegal. What does it have to do with me? Do you want my husband to go


    against thew and help you? What¡¯s more, you should hurry up and pay the taxes. It¡¯s better than you


    pretending to be pitiful here.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. Bass¡¯ acting career is ruined even if we pay the taxes.¡±


    Jane¡¯s face became distorted as she gnashed her teeth. She had lost her usual dignited and esteemed


    image of a rich, youngdy. ¡°You¡¯re just a bumpkin who ims ties wi man. What right do you have to


    tell me what to do?¡±


    Hearing that, Chloe looked at Jane as if Jane was stupid. ¡°So, why didn¡¯t he pay his taxes and be a


    good citizen who abides by thew?¡±


    Sebastian started to feel fear when his crimes were exposed. Butpared to sitting mall. having his


    future destroyed was nothing.


    Sebastian was used to leading a good life with him as the center of the universe, so he sup


    would not ept bing an ordinary man.


    Chloe¡¯s statement infuriated Jane, and she wanted to drag Chloe out of the car.


    Joseph quickly pressed the car horn several times-the piercing sound grinding on the ears. His gaze


    was cold as he said, ¡°This is my home. It is not a ce for you to make a scene.¡±


    Jane shook her fists at the window before she retracted them, still trembling.


    Joseph stepped out of the car and walked into the vi, Chloe following behind him.


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll be able to stay with Joseph forever?¡± Jane suddenly shouted.


    Chloe nced at the man who had gone up to the second floor. Surprisingly, she stopped in her tracks


    and turned to look at Jane. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Sarcasm was written all over Jane¡¯s face as if she was staring at a clown. ¡°Do you know why Joseph


    went abroad and remained unmarried for such a long time?

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145


    Chapter 145 She¡¯s a Perfect Match for Joseph


    Chloe clenched her fists beside her body and faked a smile. ¡°Why?¡±


    Jane¡¯s smile deepened as she leaned in closer to Chloe. ¡°It¡¯s because the woman he loves is abroad.


    He remained unmarried for such a long time because he was waiting for her toe back. When she¡¯s


    back, it¡¯ll be time for you to get lost.


    ¡°He married you because he felt that you¡¯re obedient and easy to bully. It¡¯ll be easy for him to get rid of


    you in the future, and he won¡¯t get into trouble either.


    ¡°On the other hand, the Foxes and the Whitmans are family friends. If there¡¯s a marriage, it¡¯ll be an


    alliance. It won¡¯t be trifled with and we can¡¯t get a divorce so easily.¡± Jane looked at Chloe and mocked


    her, ¡°But you¡¯re different. Your mother died early, and your father hates you. Your family disowned you,


    so no one will step up for you. It won¡¯t cost much to make you disappear.


    ¡°Joseph is a businessman. He knows how to minimize losses.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. She knew more than anyone the meaning of this marriage. Simrly, she had a


    very clear understanding of it. But she still felt bad when someone exposed it.


    Chloe straightened her back and took in the smugness on Jane¡¯s face. She then said rationally, ¡°If


    you¡¯re right, Joseph may have the upper hand, but I¡¯m not suffering a loss either. I can gain arge sum


    of property after the divorce. What¡¯s more, you told me this just because you¡¯re jealous. You¡¯re jealous


    that I can be a part of the Whitman family.¡± 1


    She calmly made an objective and clear analysis without a hint of emotion.


    As a result, Jane stabbed her fingernails hard into her palms and sneered. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so


    smart. You know your ce so well.¡±


    ¡°Are you


    done?¡± Chloe side-eyed Jane. ¡°If you are, you should go home and discuss with your brother how to


    handle the tax evasion. I¡¯m sure he must be deeply worried over it right now.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re better off than poor people even if we suffer a loss now. You don¡¯t have to worry about


    that.¡±


    At this point, Chloe no longer wanted to waste any more time. She turned around to head to


    her bedroom.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who¡¯s the woman Joseph cares about?¡± Jane¡¯s indignant voice came


    again.


    Chloe slowed her steps but did not stop. She continued up the stairs.


    ¡°Her name is Xavia Larson, and she was a promising violinist back in the day. She even acted in


    several movies. You can find her information on the Inte,¡± Jane raised her voice and said this to


    Chloe. She believed that Chloe would be curious.


    Upon hearing the name, Chloe¡¯s eyshes fluttered but she did not express any emotion. When she


    was back in her bedroom, she habitually changed into casual clothes and was ready to go downstairs


    to cook.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    But when she reached the door, she took a deep breath and abruptly turned around to turn on her


    ¡®No, I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m just curious.


    ¡®Yeah, I don¡¯t care about it at all. I¡¯m just curious.¡¯


    After Chloe murmured in her heart, she gripped the mouse and clicked on the search button. Several


    hundred pieces of news about Xavia popped out. The first thing she saw was Xavia¡¯s photograph.


    She was a woman around twenty-five or twenty-six years old with fluffy, curly that exuded aid-back


    vibe. Her charming eyes had a bewitching quality and her body figure was good. It was curvy and held


    a tinge of gentleness.


    Her exposed skin was fair, and her neck was slim and long. She was charming but not vulgar, emitting


    a mature aura. She appeared rather elegant with the violin she held in her hand.


    For a moment, Chloe¡¯s mind went nk. She did not know how to describe it. Xavia would be in the


    limelight everywhere she went given her appearance and temperament.


    She was indeed a perfect match for Joseph. They would be an ideal couple.


    The information showed that Xavia went missing after she went abroad three years ago to join a TV


    show about wilderness survival. But this incident did not attract much attention on the Inte because


    she did not enjoy much fame in the entertainment industry.


    However, it proved that Jane was not lying.


    Chloe quietly stared at theputer screen for a long time.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t cooking yet?¡±


    After an unknown period, Chloe heard Joseph¡¯s voice from outside her room.

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146


    Chapter 146 How Did It Suddenly Turn Out Like This?


    Chloe jolted from her daydream and swiftly closed the web browser with a guilty conscience.


    ¡°Coming,¡± she replied.


    On the first floor in the living room, Joseph had also changed into his home attire. His navy blue long-


    sleeved shirt and long pants softened his demeanor, making him appear less distant and more


    approachable. However, his scrutinizing gaze in his eyes seemed unfriendly.


    ¡°What were you doing holed up in your room?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°I was just changing,¡± Chloe replied, her gaze on his clear but distant face. She recalled Jane¡¯s


    remarks, but she suppressed the sudden surge of sourness and kept aposed smile. ¡± Different


    rules for the mighty, right?¡±


    Chloe and Joseph shared something inmon. Upon returning home, they would change, taking off


    the ones they had worn outside for the day. Wearing outside clothes indoors felt unclean to them.


    Joseph smirked and responded, ¡°It only takes five minutes to change. You¡¯ve been in there for forty-two


    minutes.¡±


    His sarcastic and pettyment eased some of the sourness in Chloe¡¯s heart. Being liked by Joseph


    was not something to be desired. She could not believe she had felt upset about


    bing his backup n.


    She had fallen for Jane¡¯s trap.


    ¡°I was just tired and wanted to rest for a while. You can¡¯t be that hungry, can you?¡±


    ¡°Your attitude is a problem,¡± Joseph said, grabbing Chloe¡¯s shoulder and forcing her to look at him.


    ¡°What did Jane say to you?¡± He clearly sensed that something was off with her ever since Jane¡¯s


    departure.


    Chloe hesitated to address the issue, but since he brought it up, she seized the chance to sarcastically


    taunt him, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, honestly.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, she cast a quick nce at him before continuing, ¡°She just mentioned your first


    love.¡±


    Joseph furrowed his brow, ¡°First love?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Xavia.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s gaze lingered on his face, attentively observing his every reaction. Joseph¡¯s eyebrows went up


    slightly upon hearing her words, but his response remained subdued.


    ¡°She¡¯s not my first love,¡± he retorted.


    Chloe¡¯s almond-shaped eyes widened ever so slightly. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What do you want to hear?¡± he snapped, his tone unfriendly. ¡°A tale of our undying love? An ount


    of our inseparable past perhaps?¡±


    ¡°Th-Tthere wasn¡¯t any of that?¡± Chloe replied, her voice trailing off.


    The presence of a figure by Joseph¡¯s side, someone even Jane was aware of, held significant


    importance. Though they were not romantically involved, it was evident that they shared a special


    connection.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing like that.¡¯


    11


    ¡°Then what¡¯s your rtionship with her?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes flickered, a barely noticeable curl forming on his lips. ¡°Do I sense a hint of jealousy?¡±


    ¡°No, just curiosity,¡± Chloe denied, shaking her head.


    She refused to admit it.


    Joseph reached out and gently pinched her cheek, savoring its soft and smooth texture. Surprisingly,


    his voice held a touch of gentleness. ¡°Now, go and cook. I¡¯m famished.¡±


    Chloe assumed that he did not want to talk about it, deliberately concealing the truth. A wave of unease


    washed over her, and she swatted his hand away before making her way to the kitchen.


    As she sat at the dining table, ready to indulge in her meal, Chloe¡¯s phone buzzed, drawing her


    attention. Simultaneously, Joseph¡¯s phone rang as well.


    She picked up her phone and saw a message from Samuel, informing her about the court hearing


    scheduled for the 27th at the end of the month. The Johnsons should have received the same


    notification today.


    ¡°Did Mr. Samuel text you as well?¡± Chloe asked as she looked up.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Joseph nodded, continuing to eat gracefully.


    ¡°Do you think Mr. Samuel is confident about this case?¡±


    To be honest, she had some doubts, not about Samuel, but about Benjamin and Ava. Their


    receiving court summons would surely only make things worse.


    Joseph¡¯s tone turned cold. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Samuel isn¡¯t a kind person. As awyer, one can¡¯t afford to be


    compassionate.¡±


    A twitch formed at the corner of Chloe¡¯s mouth. ¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡±


    As it was a weekend the next day, Chloe prepared some delicious desserts and paid a visit to Emily


    who was heartbroken.


    Emily had not left her house for several days, and her home was in disarray. She greeted Chloe with


    rat¡¯s nest hair, then climbed back into her bed, appearing lifeless.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. This isn¡¯t worth it for a scumbag like him,¡± Chloe said.


    Emily stared at the ceiling and forced a bitter smile. ¡°I epted the fact that he cheated a long time


    ago.¡±


    ¡°Then gather yourself and don¡¯t let him see you as a joke.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­ What¡¯s bothering me is something else.¡±


    Chloe tilted her head, her hands pausing on peeling the orange she held. ¡°What could be more serious


    than being cheated on?¡±


    Emily sat up, propping a cushion behind her back. ¡°Lucas took a few photos of that jerk in the cinema


    and sent them to me. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became, so I


    forwarded the photos to hispany.


    ¡°Was he fired?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and the woman he was with at the cinema was his colleague. They were both fired.¡± Emily


    sighed. ¡°He knew that I reported him and sent me a bunch of nasty messages.¡±


    As Emily stared at those hurtful messages, memories of their past flooded her mind. The way he had


    pursued her with sweet words and charming smiles. How did it suddenly turn out like this?


    Chloe pursed her lips. ¡°Do you feel like you¡¯ve been blindsided? Like you¡¯ve misjudged him?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Emily replied, her voice filled with disappointment.


    Chloe let out a sigh, a tinge of mncholy in her expression. ¡°I know that feeling all too well. I felt it too


    when I discovered Jake¡¯s affair. Try to see it from a different perspective. Yes, you lost a few months of


    your life, but it¡¯s better to cut your losses now.¡±


    Emily forced a smile that was even more bitter than tears. ¡°Join me for some drinks?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    At the bar, Emily downed a few drinks. She cried and cursed, releasing her pent-up emotions.


    Chloe offered her a tissue. ¡°I need to answer nature¡¯s call. Clean your tears. Your makeup is smudged.¡±


    She then got up from her seat and made her way toward the restroom. However, to her surprise, she


    spotted Ava who had been missing in action for a while.

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147


    Chapter 147 Intimate Photos


    Ava was dressed in a delicate white dress,ughing and joking with a stranger. Her enchanting


    demeanor made the man next to her blush.


    ¡°I¡¯m relying on you for this case.¡±


    ¡°No problem. It¡¯s just a small matter. But can you handle your alcohol? You don¡¯t look like a wild one¡­¡±


    ¡°I can handle some. Lawyers like you must have a challenging time in their daily work. Today is a good


    opportunity for you to unwind.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll follow your lead. Thanks to the timely rain outside, it has created this chance. It¡¯s an honor to


    have yourpany, Ms. Ava.¡±


    In just a few sentences, Chloe grasped the situation at hand. Without hesitation, she boldly approached


    the pair, a sneer on her face.


    As soon as Ava caught sight of Chloe, her previously joyful expression turned serious. The man beside


    her observed the sudden change and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Ava¡¯s lips tightened into a line and whispered, ¡°I just saw my sister.¡±


    The man paused, following her gaze, and his eyesnded on Chloe, filled with astonishment. He had


    thought Ava was beautiful before, but now she seemed to pale inparison. However, the allure of a


    woman as captivating as Chloe was too much for him to handle, while Ava was just right for him.


    Thewyer, Gideon Parker, looked at Chloe and said in a firm tone, ¡°You¡¯re the ingrate I¡¯ve heard so


    much about, I presume?¡±


    Chloe could not be bothered to respond to him and addressed Ava directly, ¡°Did you receive the court


    summons?¡±


    Ava timidly replied, ¡°Coco, we¡¯re family. Why do we have to make it so embarrassing?¡±


    ¡°Stop pretending. I don¡¯t have time for your theatrics. Save your pitiful act for the judge on the 27th.¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ava was anxious about Chloe¡¯s assertive attitude, fearing that they might lose thewsuit. However,


    her worries subsided when she took into ount Gideon¡¯s renowned reputation as awyer. In Aesper


    City, there were few who could rival him-one of those few being Samuel


    Winson.


    She found it hard to believe that Chloe, with her limited means, could afford to secure the services of


    such a high-caliber attorney.


    Gideon frowned in the face of Chloe¡¯s aggressive attitude. Just as he was about to intervene,


    Ava stopped him before he could speak.


    ¡°Could you give us a moment alone? I¡¯d like to have a private conversation with Coco¡±


    Gideon threatened Chloe with his re. ¡°Be more polite when talking to your sister.¡±


    Chloe nced at him, inwardly sighing at another man who could not see beyond appearances. Or


    maybe men simply preferred girls that possessed soft and gentle demeanors.


    After seeing Gideon leave, the fleeting tenderness on Ava¡¯s face quickly vanished. Her voice dripped


    with disgust as she said, ¡°You witnessed it yourself. He¡¯s Gideon Parker, a renowned force in the legal


    field. Use yourmon sense and file for the cancetion of the trial if you want to salvage any


    semnce of dignity.¡±


    ¡°Gideon? Never heard of him, but I trust that thewyer I¡¯ve chosen is far more formidable than him.¡±


    Ava burst intoughter, her sneer evident. ¡°You didn¡¯t hire Samuel Winson, did you? Do you know how


    much he charges for his cases? You won¡¯t earn enough in a lifetime.¡±


    Chloe shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just wait and see.¡±


    Ava¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and she asked with a hint of uncertainty, ¡°Who¡¯s thiswyer you¡¯ve


    hired?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to disclose that to you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s unwavering demeanor heightened Ava¡¯s sense of unease. She clenched her teeth and


    retorted, ¡°I have evidence of your disruptive behavior at the engagement banquet.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Only three people were aware of that incident at the time. While it was


    widely known that Chloe was involved, the only person besides Emily who could possess solid


    evidence was her despicable ex-boyfriend.


    ¡°Did Em¡¯s ex-boyfriend give them to you?¡±


    ¡°Not only that, but I also possess intimate, explicit photos of Emily. I paid over 3 grand to acquire them.


    You¡¯re not worried about your own reputation? Then do you not care about protecting Emily¡¯s image?


    Don¡¯t you wish to prevent her intimate photos from being exposed to the public?¡±

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148


    Chapter 148 You Don¡¯t Need to Train Me


    Upon hearing these words, a surge of anger coursed through Chloe¡¯s entire being.


    Her voice turned cold as she roared, ¡°You dare to do such a thing?!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Ava¡¯s eyes darted around, and a sudden idea sparked in her mind.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s birthday party is in a few days. If you attend, I¡¯ll permanently destroy all of Emily¡¯s photos, and


    we can have a proper discussion about this. Seeing as we¡¯re sisters, I truly don¡¯t want to take this to


    court.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll report you to the authorities?¡± Chloe suppressed her anger, her eyes burning with


    an intense fire.


    ¡°Yes, I am. But I¡¯ll advise you not to ruin Emily¡¯s life for your temporary satisfaction. A girl who


    experiences such a blow may have suicidal thoughts.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes turned red, and her pupils contracted. She knew. She knew it all too well.


    She understood the devastating impact those photos would have on Emily. Other than her mother,


    Emily was closest to her-her oldest and dearest friend. Furthermore, Emily came from a single-parent


    household.


    Chloe could not bear to see her suffer.


    Struggling to control her emotions, Chloe lifted her head and locked eyes with Ava. Her once- beautiful


    face now resembled a venomous scorpion as she whispered, ¡°Fine.¡±


    Ava smirked triumphantly and walked away.


    Chloe returned to her seat, gazing at the intoxicated Emily with a profound sense of pity. She


    apanied her friend home. On her way home, Chloe passed by the police station, where she


    decided to take action..


    Soon after, Emily¡¯s ex-boyfriend was apprehended by the police. During the interrogation, he readily


    admitted to secretly selling Emily¡¯s intimate photos without her consent. However, he vehemently


    denied any involvement in illegal transactions.


    Chloe, determined to bring Ava to justice, reported her to the police. Despite the existence of various


    pieces of evidence, there was no direct contact or financial transactions found between Ava and him.


    Chloe fell into silence, contemting the situation. It was true that Ava had boldly imed to leave no


    trace of evidence behind. As a result, Emily¡¯s ex-boyfriend was detained for further investigation, while


    evidence of Ava¡¯s involvement remained elusive.


    Chloe had no intention of burdening Emily with these troubling matters. She knew that


    sharing such information would only further upset her dear friend.


    However, she was not one to easily contain her thoughts, especially when in the presence of Joseph.


    As she sliced apples in the kitchen, her mind could not help but wander to Emily¡¯s predicament,


    causing her to identally cut her finger.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± She winced, observing the blood trickling from the wound.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you be more careful?¡± Joseph¡¯s brow furrowed as he swiftly rose from his seat and retrieved a


    first aid kit. Taking hold of Chloe¡¯s hand, he proceeded to disinfect and dress her injury.


    Chloe was taken aback, not anticipating his quick action or his willingness to help her.


    ¡°What¡¯s been upying your thoughts these past few days?¡± Joseph reproached, his voice tinged with


    annoyance. ¡°You¡¯re absent-minded even while cutting fruit.¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Was it that obvious?¡± Chloe¡¯s gaze dropped, feeling exposed by Joseph¡¯s keen observation.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± hemanded, his tone brooking no denial.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes averted even further. ¡°It¡¯s a personal matter concerning my friend¡­¡±


    She desired to handle Emily¡¯s situation on her own, not wishing to burden Joseph.


    Raising an eyebrow, Joseph questioned, ¡°Is it something rted to your friend, Emily?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s surprise was evident as she looked up. ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Joseph yfully flicked her forehead with his index finger. ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡±


    Wincing and covering her forehead, Chloe fell into silence for a moment before finally opening up about


    the encounter with Ava earlier that day.


    ¡°Beg me and I¡¯ll help you,¡± Joseph stated.


    ¡°No, I want to handle it myself,¡± replied Chloe, determined not to rely too heavily on others.


    Relying too much on others was not a good thing.


    Joseph choked, his temper ring. ¡°Handle it yourself? When have you ever sessfully handled


    something on your own? Even to reim your mother¡¯s inheritance, you needed me to find awyer to


    fight for you in court.¡±


    ¡°I may not be capable, but I¡¯ll try. I won¡¯t curl up and give up when you eventually stop helping me one


    day,¡± Chloe asserted.


    He gently patted Chloe¡¯s head, his handsome face adorned with a bewitching smile. ¡°As long as you


    behave and don¡¯t make me angry, I¡¯ll always be there to help you.¡±


    Naturally, his woman deserved his protection. How could this dumbo not understand such a


    basic principle?


    Chloe stared at Joseph incredulously. ¡°I¡¯m not your pet. You don¡¯t need to train me to be obedient.¡±

 Chapter 149

    Chapter 149


    Chapter 149 Be Good, Will You?


    ¡°If


    you refuse to obey me, who else would you listen to?¡± Joseph disregarded the first part of her


    sentence, gripping her chin tightly as he questioned her coldly.


    ording to customs from the olden days, a husband was traditionally regarded as the center of a


    wife¡¯s world, and it was expected of her to obey him dutifully.


    Joseph¡¯s intensity instantly grew, causing Chloe to gulp nervously. ¡°I mean, our rtionship is


    somewhat unequal. We should treat each other with respect.¡±


    ¡°Fine, as long as our capabilities match.¡±


    ¡°But even if I don¡¯t match, there should still be some humanity. I cook for you every day and even have


    to tter you as Toto does. I¡¯m a living, breathing person, and I deserve to be treated with dignity!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being like Toto?¡± Joseph raised his chin slightly. ¡°Do you know that many people in


    the world envy Toto¡¯s life?¡±


    Chloe gazed at the Border Collie lying by the door, its luxurious bed imported from abroad and costing


    tens of thousands. A mere bag of snacks or dog food would cost hundreds. The regr grooming, hair


    care, and misceneous expenses spent on Totot exceeded those of an ordinary office worker¡¯s sry.


    Sensing her gaze, Totozily shook its body and ambled over to Joseph, rubbing its furry head against


    his hand, seeking attention and affection.


    Chloe sighed, at a loss for words. Truly, Toto¡¯s life surpassed that of many people. The arrogant man¡¯s


    words remained as undeniable as ever.


    Joseph rose to his feet, towering over her, while his slightly calloused fingers caressed her face. His


    dark eyes gleamed with possessiveness. ¡°Be good, will you?¡±


    He contemted that continuing like this would not be so bad. This woman might not be the brightest,


    but he did not harbor any dislike for her.


    Chloe locked eyes with him, her skin still tingling from his caress. Her gaze faltered, and she


    stammered, ¡°I¡­I¡¯ll clean the dishester.¡±


    She hastily escaped, rushing upstairs.


    In the confines of her bedroom, Chloe locked the door behind her, cing a hand over her racing heart.


    That scoundrel, Joseph, was too good-looking. She hade dangerously close to surrendering, but


    thankfully, her willpower proved strong enough to resist his charm.


    Fortunately, Joseph had stopped picking on her. Shey on the bed, mindlessly scrolling through her


    phone. Just as she was about to doze off, a trending thread caught her attention.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    [Breaking News: Renowned actor, Sebastian Fox, is under investigation for tax evasion and


    embezzlement totaling seven hundred million.)


    Chloe sat up, tapping on the thread and delving into thements section.


    (Finally, he¡¯s getting what he deserves. Ugh, what an eyesore.]


    I¡¯ve always loathed celebrities who look down on their fans and exploit them. Let¡¯s boycott him from


    now on.]


    [Sob sob sob. Sebastian isn¡¯t like that. It¡¯s all a misunderstanding.]


    [The thirdment has already received ten thousand likes. Some fans must have the intelligence of


    toddlers.]


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened as she continued to read.


    The article had been published by the Aesper City Police Department, not some promotional ount. It


    appeared that Sebastian¡¯s career was truly on the verge of copse.


    The days flew by, and before she knew it, it was already Friday. Benjamin¡¯s birthday party was taking


    ce at the most prestigious restaurant in Aesper City-a testament to his desire for grandeur.


    Having wrapped up her work, Chloe intended to hail a cab and head to the venue. As she descended


    the stairs, she noticed Lucas stationed at the entrance on the ground floor.


    ¡°Are you waiting for someone?¡± she asked.


    Lucas was always there to ensure important business partners visiting Fairlight Group received a warm


    and friendly wee.


    ¡°Not really. Mr. Joseph has a meeting with the overseas team today, and he instructed me to


    apany you,¡± Lucas replied.


    Chloe had no objections and felt grateful for the arrangement. ¡°Okay, thank you then.¡±


    Twenty minutester, they arrived at the restaurant. Chloe stepped out of the car and turned to Lucas,


    saying, ¡°All right, I¡¯m at my destination. You can go back and inform Joseph now.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t leave just yet. Mr. Joseph wants me to wait for you to finish and then escort you home. I¡¯ll be


    waiting outside. If you encounter any problems, inform me immediately, and I¡¯lle in right away,¡±


    said Lucas.


    He paused for a moment, his expression serious, before adding, ¡°Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph genuinely


    takes your well-being into consideration in every aspect.¡±

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150


    Chapter 150 Icarus¡¯ Undivided Attention on Chloe


    Hearing Lucas¡¯ words, Chloe felt a warmth in her heart, although she was aware that it


    stemmed from Joseph¡¯s possessiveness. Nevertheless, she could not deny that he was being attentive


    to her needs this time.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m grateful to him,¡± she replied.


    Lucas smiled and nodded in response.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Inside the banquet hall, everyone was elegantly dressed. Benjamin and Ava stood at the entrance,


    weing the arriving guests. It appeared that the dissolution of Ava¡¯s marriage to the Coopers had


    little impact on their attitude.


    As soon as Ava spotted Chloe, she rushed over and embraced her affectionately. ¡°Coco, you¡¯re here.


    Let me walk you inside.¡±


    Chloe discreetly shrugged Ava off, maintaining an expressionless face. ¡°I can go in on my own.


    ¡±


    Ava paused, concealing her hidden malice behind a gentle smile. ¡°All right, Jake is inside too. You can


    sit with him.¡±


    Chloe ignored Ava¡¯s instructions and found an empty seat, choosing to sit alone. It had been


    challenging to distance herself from Jake since cutting him out of her life.


    Soon, the banquet hall started to fill up as more and more people arrived. Business partners, rtives


    of the Johnsons, and even media reporters were part of the guest list.


    Chloe scanned the room and furrowed her brows as she noticed a significant number of media


    representatives present, which did not sit well with her.


    Jake had caught sight of Chloe earlier, and frustration swelled within him when he observed. her


    purposefully keeping her distance.


    Icarus arrived five minutes before the birthday banquet was scheduled to begin. He took a seat beside


    Jake and said in a deep voice, ¡°Looks like the Coopers invited the media as well.¡±


    Jake was caught off guard. ¡°No wonder there are so many reporters outside.¡±


    ¡°They came prepared today.¡±


    Initially, the n was to invite the media to exert pressure and demand the return of the dowry.


    Considering Jake¡¯s current situation, 3 million in dowry was a substantial amount.


    Under normal circumstances, if a couple were to break up, it would be eptable to forgo iming the


    dowry. However, Ava¡¯s affair with Adam made it impossible to let this matter slide.


    ¡°What should we do? I just saw Chloe. She¡¯s here too,¡± Jake eximed, hisposure slipping.


    Icarus¡¯ expression grew serious as he scanned the room, searching for her. He spotted Chloe in a


    corner, standing out amid the elegantly dressed crowd. She wore professional office attire, the tight


    fitting pencil skirt highlighting her enticing figure and exuding an air of


    Icarus¡¯ heart raced as he turned to Jake and said, ¡°Wait here for a moment. I¡¯ll go talk to Chloe.


    Jake wanted to stop Icarus but was uncertain about his own role in this situation. Despite his mental


    preparation and constant self assurance that his uncle was superior in every aspect and could bring


    happiness to Chloe, seeing Icarus sitting next to her, showering her with gentle looks, made Jake feel a


    pang of jealousy. He grabbed the ss of red wine in front of him and downed it in one gulp


    ¡°Did Ava invite you?¡± Icarus asked casually, his expression natural, and a touch of gentleness


    emanating from behind his gold rimmed sses.


    Chloe noticed Icarus and was slightly taken aback. Remembering Jake¡¯s words, a trace of


    embarrassment crossed her face ¡°Yeah, she did.¡¯


    Icarus¡¯ refined features turned into a scowl. ¡°She has ulterior motives.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, but I had toe,¡± Chloe said, tightening her grip on the voice recorder pen in her


    hand. The corner of her mouth twitched, disying determination. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know how to handle it.


    And what about you? Did youe with Jake?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Jake currently holds a special position in the Cooper family. His younger brother has inherited half


    of the management rights of the Cooper family¡¯spany I have to support


    him ¡±


    Years ago, Jake¡¯s father had an affair, and his mother used to make a fuss about it. As time passed,


    she lost her willpower and stopped attending to the business matters of theirpany Jake grew up


    day by day, and eventually, his mother became more epting and stopped intervening


    Chloe sighed andmented, ¡°Every family has its own set of problems.¡±


    The high-profile birthday partymenced, and many attendees presented valuable gifts, including


    exquisite caviar, gourmet truffles, and famous paintings Having been with Joseph for a long time,


    Chloe¡¯s taste had been influenced, and she found these so-called gifts to be tacky


    Icarus¡¯ attention was not on the festivities. Instead, it was solely focused on Chloe. After careful


    consideration, he said to her, ¡°Ahem, Chloe, have you encountered any difficulties while continuing to


    maintain such a rtionship with Mr. Joseph?¡±


    He could not fathom why Chloe would willingly choose to be in a rtionship of that nature with Joseph

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151


    Chapter 151 I Love You, Chloe


    Pursing her lips, Chloe said, ¡°I guess so. He has helped me a lot, and there¡¯s no turning back.


    now.¡±


    With the contract signed, resisting was meaningless. It was better to go along with it and avoid


    unnecessary trouble. Besides, she could not win against that guy in an argument anyway.


    Hearing her response, Icarus looked at her with tender eyes and said, ¡°You can tell me. I¡¯ll help you I


    don¡¯t want to see you suffer.¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll work hard on my own,¡± she replied.


    Three years was not a short time. However, she was young and still had much time ahead of


    her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to treat me like an outsider. I may not be as wealthy as Mr. Joseph, but I do have some


    assets. If you ever face difficulties, I can help you anytime, anywhere, as long as you don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡®As long as you don¡¯t degrade yourself like this.¡¯


    Chloe was deeply moved, and a relieved smile appeared on her fair face. ¡°I really am okay. You should


    focus your energy on your own matters. I¡¯m not someone who fusses over everything. If I encounter


    something I can¡¯t handle, I¡¯ll definitelye to you.¡±


    Apart from Joseph¡¯s asional tantrum, he was generally good to her.


    After being rejected by Chloe repeatedly, Icarus knew he should drop the subject but he just could not


    help himself. After all, he did not know when they would meet again after this.


    separation.


    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m saying all this because I love you. You¡¯re a wonderful woman, and I want you to be my


    girlfriend. More than that, I want you to give me a chance to take care of you. Mr. Joseph can help you,


    but I can help you too.¡±


    Chloe had not expected Icarus to confess his feelings at this moment. She waspletely


    stunned.


    ¡®But I¡¯m already married.¡¯


    Her mind raced, and she responded tactfully, ¡°We¡¯re notpatible. You deserve someone


    better.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the best,¡± Icarus praised generously, ¡°You¡¯re the toughest girl I¡¯ve ever met. Even when faced


    with setbacks, you treat life with kindness, never giving up orining. You¡¯re kind, yet you¡¯re not a


    pushover. But nevertheless, don¡¯t feel pressured to give me a response.¡±


    His gaze was warm, his words gentle as he continued, ¡°I¡¯m just telling you that I love you. You


    don¡¯t have to give me an answer now. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    Confronted with his sincere gaze, Chloe found herself at a loss for words. Her mind was a jumbled


    mess as she stammered, ¡°Please, Icarus¡­ I¡¯m not as good as you think¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Chloe. I¡¯ll wait for you. One day, you¡¯ll break free from that unhealthy rtionship of yours.¡±


    She froze, and silence filled the air.


    ¡®Unhealthy rtionship? Is he talking about Joseph and me?¡±


    Chloe felt a strange difort in her heart. She stood there, stunned.


    Icarus realized he said something wrong when she did not respond and anxiously tried to exin, but


    Ava suddenly walked over and interrupted, cutting off his words.


    ¡°Chloe, it¡¯s Daddy¡¯s birthday. How about you go up and say a few words?¡±


    Chloe looked to the stage and saw the emcee beckoning at her.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be going.¡±


    Ava gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t you want Emily¡¯s photos?¡±


    Chloe raised an eyebrow and looked at her indifferently. She discreetly switched on the recorder pen in


    her hand and said, ¡°Emily¡¯s ex-boyfriend has already confessed. The police are gathering evidence


    against you.¡±


    ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible! I didn¡¯t make the deal. How could they trace it back to me?¡± Ava immediately


    retorted.


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Ava realized something and red at Chloe with malice.¡±


    You tricked me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t have evidence before, but now I do,¡± Chloe teased, shaking the recorder pen in her hand


    and shing Ava a smile ¡°By the way, don¡¯t bother trying to snatch the recorder from me. It has a


    Bluetooth function and is synced to myptop.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got some skills, but I¡¯m not afraid either,¡± Ava replied, her anger abating. ¡°Hurry up and go up


    on stage. Daddy wants to return your mother¡¯s assets to you. You wouldn¡¯t want to give up on that,


    would you?¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    After Ava finished speaking, the emcee on stage called out Chloe again.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, your father has something for you. Could you pleasee up?¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brow. In the past, she would have naively believed in Ava, but not anymore. She


    was confident that they were up to something no good.


    Standing on the stage, Benjamin offered her a gentle expression. ¡°Come up here, sweetie.¡±


    Chloe narrowed her eyes, stood up, and confidently walked toward the stage. She wanted to


    see what Ava was going to do in front of everyone,

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152


    Chapter 152 Who Upset Mr. Joseph?


    Benjamin took a square box from Karen and handed it to Chloe.


    ¡°These are the assets your mother entrusted to me for you. It consists of liquid assets worth 70 grand


    and jewelry worth 300 grand. I didn¡¯t give it to you earlier because I was concerned. that you might


    spend it recklessly due to your young age. However, circumstances have changed now. You¡¯ve grown


    up and developed your own thoughts. I believe I can trust youpletely.¡±


    ¡°Coco, don¡¯t be angry with your father,¡± Karen added.


    ¡°Yeah, Coco. It¡¯s better for our family to stand together. I¡¯ll take care of Daddy. All you have to do is try


    not to make him angry,¡± Ava said.


    At that moment, the media rushed in, capturing the scene of a ¡°family reunion¡± as their cameras clicked


    away. The intense re of the shing lights blinded Chloe, causing her to take a step back


    involuntarily. At that very moment, she noticed the diamond ne around. Ava¡¯s neck.


    Chloe could not help butugh at their audacity. She had not expected them to be so shameless.


    Without hesitation, she snatched the microphone from the emcee¡¯s hand and spoke sharply, her words


    loud enough for everyone present to hear.


    ¡°Hold your horses. While I may not remember the exact amount my mother left for me, the jewelry and


    liquid assets are definitely worth more than this. Plus, aren¡¯t we supposed to have a court hearing on


    the 27th? You even hired Gideon Parker as yourwyer. And now you¡¯re bringing it up out of the blue in


    public? Are you trying to resolve the matter by offering me this meager sum?¡±


    The Johnsons wanted to achieve the best reputation with minimal cost, openly and covertly ming


    her for being ignorant and shifting the me onto her. Even if they could not reach. an agreement and


    were forced to go to court, it would be all her fault and not theirs.


    It was a brilliant way that could kill two birds with one stone.


    The Johnsons had invited Gideon as well, and he was now sitting among the audience. Many people


    turned around and looked at him.


    ¡°Mr. Gideon, is this true?¡±


    ¡°She needs to go to court to im the assets left by her deceased mother?¡±


    ¡°It seems a bit unreasonable, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    With furrowed brows, Gideon replied ¡°The situation is not as simple as you think. Today is Mr.


    Benjamin¡¯s birthday, and his daughter didn¡¯t even bring him a gift. It¡¯s clear she¡¯s an ungrateful


    daughter.¡±


    ¡°It is only this year that Chloe didn¡¯t prepare a birthday gift for Benjamin, but has Benjamin given her a


    birthday gift in the past twenty years? Has he even said a single ¡®Happy Birthday¡¯ to her? Does that


    make him a good father?¡± Jake defended Chloe indignantly.


    Ava¡¯s fury ignited, her heart aze with anger. Wearing a sorrowful expression, she locked eyes with


    him. ¡°Jake, why are you spouting nonsense? I endured it when Coco stepped in between our


    rtionship, but you can¡¯t defame Daddy just because you want to defend her.¡±


    Everyone gasped in shock. When Ava broke up with Jake, it sparked heated discussions, but no one


    expected it to be because of Chloe.


    Jake sneered, and his next words dripped with anger and sarcasm. ¡°Stop ttering yourself. The


    biggest regret of my life is bing your boyfriend. Give back everything I ever gave you.


    Benjamin remained calm, clearly anticipating this turn of events. He took out a USB drive and said,


    ¡°Jake, I¡¯ve known all along that you were with Ava for the sake of inheriting the Coopers¡¯ businesses. I


    was well aware that you deliberately handed that USB drive to Chloe, causing a scene at the


    engagement party. I didn¡¯t want to confront you about it, but you can¡¯t push us too far and expect us to


    remain silent about this unfounded demand for


    ¡°Security, get him out of here!¡±


    Distorting the truth, manipting the facts.


    money.


    Chloe was genuinely impressed by the Johnsons¡¯ ability to tell lies without batting an eysh.


    Jake¡¯s face turned red with anger. He did not say much as he was escorted away by the guards.


    Icarus motioned for the media he had contacted toe in and capture the scene, broadcasting it live.


    [Oh my, their rtionship is soplicated.]


    [I can¡¯t distinguish who¡¯s right and wrong anymore. What should we do?]


    [I don¡¯t think anyone in this family is decent.]


    Barrages ofments fromizens instantly filled the screen.


    Icarus stopped the guards from taking Jake away and pulled out printed bank transfer records.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His


    gaze locked onto Benjamin and said. ¡°It isn¡¯t easy to deceive other people when the


    amount is more than 3 million dors. Let¡¯s rely on evidence, shall we?¡±


    His demeanor was confident and convincing, easily winning people over.


    Benjamin¡¯s face turned ugly. ¡°As an outsider, you shouldn¡¯t meddle in our family¡¯s affairs.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Jake¡¯s


    uncle. How am I considered an outsider?¡± Icarus replied, his voice confident. Benjamin was stumped.


    He hastily wrote a check for 3 million and threw it over. ¡°Now, please


    leave.¡±


    However, Jake refused to go. ¡°No, I¡¯ll wait for Chloe. We¡¯ll leave together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Chloe. You¡¯ll only get in the way if you stay,¡± Icarus said calmly.


    Jake did not want to leave, but he had no choice. It was Icarus who had helped him retrieve the money,


    after all. Reluctantly, he exited the restaurant, casting backward nces inside multiple times.


    Unknown to him, this entire scene was captured by the media.


    Joseph was in the midst of a video conference when he caught sight of the scene on his phone. His


    expression darkened, resembling a demon from the depths of hell. A storm brewed in his coal-ck


    eyes.


    As he nced at the barrage ofments flooding the screen, all reading ¡°hero saves the beauty,¡± the


    veins on the back of his hand popped out, disying his inner turmoil. He gripped the pen in his hand a


    little too tightly and it snapped into two pieces, ttering onto


    the floor.


    Several middle-aged staff in front of theirputer screens bowed their heads, trembling in fear. What


    was supposed to be a video conference had turned into a voice conference. No one dared to lift their


    heads to look at Joseph. They just hoped that he would not direct his.

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153


    Chapter 153 Phone Call


    When Joseph called Laicas, Lucas was still waiting outside of the restaurant.


    ¡°Sir, Ms. Chloe hasn¡¯te out yet. Have you finished your business? Are youing over?¡±


    Lucas asked.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you keeping an eye on her? What have you been doing?¡± Joseph¡¯s cold voice cut through


    the phone, carrying a palpable sense of oppression and undeniable anger.


    ¡°Sir¡­¡± Lucas keenly sensed Joseph¡¯s anger, and it was particrly intense. The hairs on his arms


    stood on end. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting right outside the restaurant. I haven¡¯t moved an inch.¡±


    ¡°Who told you to wait outside? What are you supposed to see by waiting there?¡±


    Lucas was tongue-tied.


    ¡®It was you who told me to wait outside!¡¯ he shouted inwardly.


    ¡°Should I go in now?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let her stay inside for too long,¡± Josephmanded.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was annoyed seeing that woman talking to another man.


    Ending the call, Joseph swiftly wrapped up the video conference, smoothly uttering a few sentences in


    a foreignnguage before briskly ending the discussion.


    As Lucas stepped into the restaurant, he witnessed the scene where Chloe and Icarus were


    surrounded by the media Benjamin had summoned. The atmosphere was a frenzy of chaos and


    confusion.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, is it true that you came here today specifically to ask your father for money?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve noticed that your rtionship with your father doesn¡¯t seem as terrible as you¡¯ve portrayed it.


    Why would you fabricate such lies?¡±


    ¡°Did your interference contribute to the end of Ava and Jake¡¯s rtionship? Why did you meddle in


    their rtionship?¡±


    Amid the chaos, Chloe maintained a radiant smile, bravely facing the cameras, and confidently said,


    ¡°Whatever amount Ava paid you, I¡¯ll double it.¡±


    Her bold statement momentarily silenced the chattering paparazzi, their faces betraying a hint of guilt.


    One of them cautiously asked, ¡°Can we trust your words?¡±


    ¡°All of you came here voluntarily. I didn¡¯t force you or pay you to do it!¡± Ava shouted, her face turning


    pale. ¡°Looking at your level of professional ethics, you wouldn¡¯t receive a single


    penny if I had invited you here!¡±


    Upon hearing Ava¡¯s words, a surge of renewed vigor and enthusiasm coursed through the paparazzi.


    Like a well-coordinated swarm, they quickly thrust their microphones toward Chloe, while an incessant


    storm of blinding shes bathed the scene in dazzling light.


    Icarus shielded Chloe behind him and calmly responded, ¡°Firstly, it was the Johnsons who called Chloe


    here to discuss the inheritance left by her mother.


    ¡°Secondly, the fact that Benjamin brings his family matters in front of the public suggests ulterior


    motives.


    ¡°Lastly, I can confidently state that the reason the marriage between the Coopers and Johnsons was


    called off was the result of Ava¡¯s infidelity. It has nothing to do with Chloe.¡±


    ¡°And who are you to speak on Chloe¡¯s behalf and provide exnations?¡± one reporter asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m Jake¡¯s uncle. As such, I¡¯m authorized to handle the necessary procedures following the termination


    of their engagement. Any further doubts?¡±


    Ava gritted her teeth and whispered a few words to the closest paparazzi.


    After listening to Ava¡¯s words, the paparazzi immediately dashed forward, confronting Icarus. with a


    question. ¡°You said that you¡¯re Jake¡¯s uncle, so why are you helping Chloe?¡±


    As soon as the question was posed, others in the crowd also began to sense that something was


    amiss. Icarus¡¯s eyes flickered with a peculiar gleam as he prepared to respond, but before he could


    utter a word, Lucas stormed onto the scene, forcefully pushing his way through the throng of paparazzi


    and guiding Chloe toward the exit with urgency.


    Lucas quickened his steps, propelled by the fear of provoking Joseph¡¯s anger even further. He had


    caught the paparazzi off guard, and by the time they came to their senses, the pair had already


    reached the entrance.


    Ava¡¯s view was obstructed by the dense crowd, and when she managed to break free and went after


    them, all she caught was a fleeting glimpse of the retreating silhouette of a Rolls-Royce. Her pupils


    contracted as a vivid memory surged back to her.


    ¡®Chloe has ridden in that very car before. Looks like she hasn¡¯t severed ties with that old man.¡¯


    A sinister expression crept across Ava¡¯s face as she seethed with jealousy.


    ¡®No wonder she had the audacity to take this to court. It turns out she has someone helping


    her. What a shameless sl*t!!


    ¡°It seems like Mr. Joseph is angry. Let¡¯s go back now, Ms. Chloe,¡± Lucas said urgently, pressing hard


    on the elerator.


    Chloe frowned. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he saw you with Mr. Icarus,¡± Lucas replied helplessly.


    ¡°But Icarus was here to help Jake get back his money.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ You can exin that to Mr. Joseph yourself,¡± he said carefully, ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure


    if I should say, but I feel Mr. Icarus¡¯ behavior toward you is a bit different¡­¡±


    Chloe was speechless. It was true that Icarus treated her differently, but they had not done anything


    inappropriate. They had maintained a normal friendship, and Chloe had taken great care not to bring


    any shame upon the Whitmans. She could not understand why Joseph was so infuriated.


    Though she harboredints, Chloe knew that confronting him head-on was not an option,


    especially considering her ownck of courage.


    As she stepped into the office, she immediately sensed the palpable tension in the air. Approaching


    Joseph with a gentle smile, she reached out and tugged at his sleeve, asking, ¡® Why the glum face?¡±

 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154


    Chapter 154 No Way


    Joseph propped up his chin with one hand, his gaze icy and piercing as itnded on Chloe¡¯s


    face.


    His tone brooked no opposition as hemanded, ¡°From now on, stay away from Icarus.¡±


    Confused, Chloe protested, ¡°But why? Nothing happened between us, and I don¡¯t have any feelings for


    him.¡±


    ¡°You might not, but I can see clearly that he has feelings for you.¡± Joseph furrowed his brow, his gaze


    bereft of emotion. ¡°Or do you simply enjoy being admired by others?¡±


    ¡°If you can see that I have no such feelings for Icarus, why can¡¯t you trust me?¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡± Joseph sneered, his nostrils ring with disdain. ¡°If there truly is nothing between you, then you


    should maintain your distance from him. Don¡¯t think for a moment that I¡¯m unaware of your intentions.


    You¡¯re keeping him as a backup n, ready to go to him as soon as you leave me. Those asional


    dates with him only serve to reinforce that fact.¡±


    Chloe met Joseph¡¯s cold gaze, her frustration was evident as she exined, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I was


    completely unaware of his feelings for me. If I had known, I¡¯d have never gone out with him. Especially


    not with you present. Cheating or betraying someone should always be carried out with discretion. It¡¯s


    not something that can be done openly or in a public manner.¡±


    It would be a public disy of humiliation, and she was not an idiot.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    As soon as the word ¡°cheating¡± reached Joseph¡¯s ears, something inside him snapped. He reached for


    her hand and gripped it tightly, a menacing aura shrouding his handsome face as each word he uttered


    dripped with fury.


    ¡°Are you challenging me?¡±


    ¡°What? No! I was just exining. I¡¯d never cheat on you with Icarus!¡±


    Little did Chloe know, the more she exined, the more it stoked Joseph¡¯s anger. The mes of fury


    rose higher within him. He could not bear the sight of her lips, which seemed to mention nothing but


    Icarus. Overwhelmed by irritation, he leaned in and sealed her lips with a


    forceful kiss.


    Lucas quickly covered his eyes and hastily retreated from the office.


    ¡®Ugh¡­ Mr. Joseph is so jealous¡­¡¯


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at the man pressed against her face. The words


    she had wanted to utter turned into a whimper. She tried to resist, but Joseph did not give her the


    chance.


    He seized her hands, swiftly securing them behind her back, while his other hand wrapped


    1/3


    around her delicate waist, effortlessly lifting her onto his thigh.


    ¡®Jesus!¡¯ Chloe eximed inwardly, ¡®What kind of embarrassing position is this?!¡¯


    This time was different from the previous instances, as Joseph disyed unprecedented dominance


    relentless and urgent-denying Chloe any chance to catch her breath.


    She struggled to resist, her cheeks turning crimson. But soon, she sumbed to his embrace, her


    body going limp in his arms.


    After half an hour, Joseph finally released his grip on Chloe. She quickly retreated to a corner, her


    clothes disheveled, her gaze dazed, and her lips slightly swollen, exuding an indescribable


    allure.


    Joseph watched her, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down in his throat. He clenched his tie tightly as


    if contemting removing it.


    ¡°What are you¡­ Why are you taking off your tie? This is a workce, and if you dare to act out of line,


    I¡¯ll call security!¡± Chloe snapped back to reality. Resembling a startled little creature, her eyes tinged


    with redness, teetering on the brink of tears.


    He chuckled, ¡°Go ahead. This is my territory. Let¡¯s see who dares toe and help you.¡±


    Chloe had no choice but to back down and use a different approach. ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. I¡¯m not ready


    yet, and it¡¯s weird to do it in the office.¡±


    ¡°Do I look that desperate?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ But you look scary¡­¡±


    Joseph scoffed, throwing his tie onto her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have my standards when ites to that kind of thing.¡±


    Engaging in such activities in the office showed ack of respect for himself and for Chloe.


    Chloe pursed her lips and retorted angrily, ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person either.¡±


    Joseph looked at her through the corner of his eye before turning his head. He fell silent for al moment


    and asked, ¡°How many boyfriends have you had?¡±


    ¡®And how many people have you had sex with¡­¡¯ he added silently.


    He was not a traditional man who insisted on women preserving their virginity, but that did not mean he


    did not care.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered, and she whispered softly, ¡°Just one.¡±


    ¡°Just one?¡± Joseph remained skeptical.


    ¡®She¡¯s so good at flirting with me, but she only ever had one boyfriend?¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s true! Just one. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check.¡± Chloe raised her chin, her


    expression serious.


    Joseph¡¯s mouth twitched slightly and he lightly uttered, ¡°Hmph.¡±


    He did not delve further into the matter, and he showed no interest in investigating either. After all, he


    understood that uncovering any additional information would only invite unnecessary distress upon


    himself.


    Chloe blinked, momentarily surprised by his casual response. However, she quickly epted it,


    knowing that he had no interest in her romantically. It was only natural that he had not curiosity about


    her past rtionships.


    That being said, she could not help but feel a bit aggrieved. If he did not like her, why did he kiss her?


    Chloe straightened her clothes, pouting like a wife who had lost an argument with her husband. ¡°I¡¯m


    leaving.¡±


    ¡°Finish tranting these before you go.¡± Joseph tossed a stack of documents written in Estrenian her


    way.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°But I¡¯m already off the clock.¡±


    ¡°Stay and work overtime with me,¡± Joseph said, his voice calm.


    The video conference had not reached a full conclusion and needed to be continued.

 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155


    Chapter 155 Chloe and Mr. Joseph Are Fighting


    Chloe stood there, her mouth agape, as she watched the man in front of theputer fully immerse


    himself in his work.


    With a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her, she picked up the scattered documents from


    the floor and mmed the door shut as she left.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    In the marketing department, there were only a few people remaining, including Wendy. However, she


    was already packing up. She nced at the Estrenian documents in Chloe¡¯s hands, and a perplexed


    expression appeared on her face.


    ¡°Do you need to trante these?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Wendy,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t that Trantions¡¯ job? Who assigned you this task?¡± Wendy questioned.


    Chloe clenched her teeth and forced a smile on her face. ¡°Apart from Mr. Joseph, who else has the


    authority to do so?¡±


    Still perplexed, Wendy asked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Mr. Joseph know that you belong to Marketing? It must have


    been a misunderstanding. Just exin it to him.¡±


    ¡°He knows.¡± Chloe sighed, not wanting to delve further into the matter. ¡°Ms. Wendy, no need to worry


    about me. I¡¯ll handle the trantions. Perhaps the trantion department is too busy, so he asked me


    for help.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ Well, when the end of the monthes, I¡¯ll talk to Finance and make sure your overtime pay


    is included,¡± Wendy assured her.


    As a fellow coworker, she could not let Chloe¡¯s hard work go unrewarded.


    ¡°All right. Thank you, Ms. Wendy,¡± Chloe replied gratefully.


    As night descended, the sky opened up, and rain cascaded down outside. The rhythmic pitter- patter of


    raindrops against the window created a tranquil atmosphere within the office.


    Chloe focused her energy on tranting line by line, her gaze fixed on the pages for an extended


    period, causing her eyes to grow weary and strained. She pinched her brow and once again raised her


    head, only to find that darkness hadpletely enveloped the outside world.


    In the office, only one colleague remained.


    Jason Brown looked at Chloe and asked, ¡°Are you almost done?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. I still have a long way to go. Do you have a lot of work on your hands?¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Not really. Did you upset Mr. Joseph? It doesn¡¯t seem appropriate for you to be working on Estrenian


    documents,¡± he remarked.


    Given their limited interactions, Chloe smiled at Jason and simply gave an excuse without delving into


    further details.


    Jason pondered for a moment and said, ¡°All right, I need to use the little boys¡¯ room.¡±


    He entered the restroom and carefully surveyed his surroundings to ensure no one was present. Then,


    he dialed a number on his phone and called Jane.


    ¡°Ms. Jane, it seems like Chloe had a fight with Mr. Joseph. It¡¯ste, and she¡¯s still working overtime at


    the office,¡± he reported.


    Jane sat up straight, excitement evident in her voice as she said, ¡°Find a way to bring her out of


    Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°It might be a bit difficult¡­¡± Jason hesitated.


    ¡°You useless fool! When I gave you money to keep an eye on Chloe, I didn¡¯t mean just to talk to her.


    You can either get things done or return the money. It¡¯s up to you,¡± Jane scolded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try, Ms. Jane¡­¡±


    When Jason returned to the office, he stopped in front of Chloe and nced at his watch. He


    eximed in surprise, ¡°Oh my gosh, It¡¯s already past nine. Ipletely forgot about dinner. Are you


    hungry, Chloe? Let¡¯s go downstairs and grab a bite together.¡±


    Chloe gently touched her empty stomach and felt a pang of hunger upon hearing Jason¡¯s suggestion.


    After a brief hesitation, she responded, ¡°Let¡¯s order takeout instead. It¡¯s raining heavily outside. It¡¯s not


    a good idea to head outside.¡±


    The main reason behind her decision was to avoid the possibility of angering Joseph if he saw her


    going out to eat with a male colleague.


    Jason contemted for a moment and agreed to her suggestion.


    As they ced their order, Chloe decided to order an extra portion, intending to bring it up to Joseph


    later. The estimated delivery time for the takeout was around forty minutes.


    When it was about five minutes away from being delivered, Jason ced his phone on Chloe¡¯s desk


    and said, ¡°My stomach¡¯s a bit upset. Can you keep an eye on my phone for me? If the delivery person


    calls, please answer and let them know I¡¯m in the restroom.¡±


    Unaware of any ulterior motive, Chloe nodded and continued her work. As expected, five minutester,


    Jason¡¯s phone rang. She nced in the direction he had left and picked up the phone, pressing the


    answer button.


    ¡°Hello, your takeout has arrived. I¡¯m downstairs. Pleasee and collect it,¡± said the voice on the other


    end.


    ¡°Okay, just a moment,¡± Chloe replied.


    She descended to the lobby, but the delivery guy was not there. At that moment, Jason¡¯s phone rang


    once again


    ¡°Hey, sorry, I went to the wrong building. Can youe out and pick it up? I¡¯m going to bete for my


    next delivery Sorry to trouble you,¡± the voice pleaded.

 Chapter 156

    Chapter 156


    Chapter 156 Help Me, Jojo


    Hearing the pleading voice on the other end of the phone, Chloe hesitated for a moment before


    agreeing to the delivery man.


    Following the instructions he gave her, Chloe stepped out of Fairlight, only to be instantly assaulted by


    a gust of cold and damp wind. The icy tendrils cut through her clothing, causing a shiver to run down


    her spine.


    After walking about half a mile, she arrived at a residential building. Despite the inviting glow, a sense


    of unease washed over her. With a flicker of wariness crossing her beautiful face, she made a quick


    and decisive decision. She halted in her tracks and, trusting her instincts, hung up the phone. Without


    wasting another moment, she turned around and doubled back to Fairlight.


    Chloe quickened her pace, her high heels sshing up water from puddles on the road. In her haste, a


    misstep threatened to send her tumbling to the ground, but she managed to regain her bnce just in


    time.


    Yet, as if guided by an unseen force, she inexplicably turned her head to cast a nce behind. her. It


    was a mistake she instantly regretted as goosebumps erupted all over her body.


    of


    Standing behind Chloe was none other than Jane herself, d in a sleek ck leather skirt and an


    elegant trench coat that enveloped her upper body. She was apanied by a group imposing


    bodyguards, and the scene mirrored something straight out of a dramatic television. series, where a


    formidable antagonist emerged to provoke and stir up trouble.


    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Chloe bolted, fully aware of the dire consequences if she were


    caught.


    Jane waved her hand, instructing the bodyguards to pursue her. ¡°Don¡¯t let her get back to


    Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°Yes, miss.¡±


    As the echoing sounds of their heavy footsteps grew closer, Chloe¡¯s legs weakened with fear. She was


    familiar with the vicinity of Farlight and knew there was a food street nearby where she would be


    rtively safe amid a crowd of people.


    Her high heels were hindering her progress, so she decided to take them off halfway and continued to


    sprint without care.


    Taking advantage of the terrain, Chloe purposefully darted into different alleys, effectively putting some


    distance between herself and her pursuers. However, it did not take long for the burly men to realize


    they had been tricked. They immediately divided into two groups, strategically surrounding her in an


    attempt to trap her.


    Atst, Chloe arrived at the food street. However, the rainy weather had deterred customers,


    leaving the street sparsely popted. This worked to Jane¡¯s advantage as she continued her relentless


    pursuit.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s face turned pale, gasping for breath as she ran out of energy.


    Desperately, she made a sharp turn and rushed into a restroom, intending to seek help from Joseph by


    calling him.


    To her astonishment, there was a man inside the stall, and that man was Jake!


    Chloe widened her eyes, her mouth gaping in disbelief. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Their eyes met, and Jake was also momentarily stunned before replying, ¡°I¡¯m here to eat¡­¡±


    ¡®Huh? He¡¯s eating in the restroom?¡±


    ¡°I mean, I was outside eating and came in to use the restroom¡­¡± he exined again.


    ¡°You came all the way here just to have a meal?¡±


    Jake¡¯s face blushed with embarrassment. ¡°Um¡­ I had nothing else to do¡­¡±


    He could not possibly tell her that he had be worried after seeing her leave and wanted toe


    and check on her, only to be stopped by the receptionist at Fairlight.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Miss, she must be inside here.¡±


    ¡°Go in and get her for me!¡± Jane¡¯s voice echoed from outside, causing Chloe to hastily close the door.


    ¡°You stay here and hold them off. I¡¯ll make a call and ask for help.¡±


    Jake¡¯s face was filled with confusion, but he felt a momentary joy from being able to spend some time


    with her.


    He was willing to fulfill any request she made, but it pained him to realize that moments like. this, which


    used to be somon between them, were now a thing of the past. Regrettably, his mistake had


    irreversibly destroyed any chance of them being together again.


    Chloe¡¯s fingers trembled slightly as she dialed Joseph¡¯s number, hoping that he would pick up quickly.


    As if he could sense something, Joseph swiftly answered the call and his voice wafted over from the


    other side of the line slovenly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Juste up and find me directly.


    ¡°Jojo, Jane has trapped me in the restroom at Food Street. Please help me!¡±


    Joseph came faster than she had imagined.


    He was not wearing a jacket, so his shirt was soaked, revealing his well-built muscles in a tantalizing


    manner. His wet hair clung to his forehead, yet he appeared anything but disheveled. His narrow eyes


    shimmered with a fierce intensity that could annihte


    everything in its path.


    Lucas could not match his speed, and it was the first time he had seen Joseph¡¯s exceptional physical


    condition, with running speedparable to that of a professional athlete.


    When they arrived, the restroom stall door had been forcefully smashed open, revealing a glimpse of


    Chloe¡¯s fearful and helpless expression.


    Thankfully, with Jake¡¯s presence, the situation had notpletely spiraled out of control.


    As Chloe caught sight of Joseph, she eagerly extended her hand through the hole in the door and


    eximed, ¡°I¡¯m here!¡±

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157


    Chapter 157 She Wants to Destroy Me and Rece Me!


    Upon hearing this, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their gaze toward Joseph.


    Lucas walked over and opened the door to the cubicle, allowing Chloe and Jake to step out.


    Jake stood frozen in shock, never expecting the unexpected savior to be Joseph.


    Chloe hurriedly ran to Joseph¡¯s side andined, ¡°Jojo, this woman is evil. Ife five minutes


    later, I wouldn¡¯t see you anymore.¡±


    you had


    ¡°Shut up! That was not what happened!¡± Jane scolded loudly. She had only wanted to teach. this


    despicable woman a lesson. She had no intention of causing a fatal incident.


    ¡°Jojo, I¡¯m so scared. She¡¯s envious of what we have. She hates that she can¡¯t have it. She wants to


    destroy me and rece me!¡± Chloe disregarded Jane¡¯s presence and pressed on, her voice. quivering


    and her countenance twisted with anguish, evoking a heart-wrenching sight.


    No one could urately foresee events that had yet to unfold. The fact that Jane dared to openly


    pursue Chloe with a group of intimidating men suggested that she was capable of something terrifying.


    Hence, it would not be a stretch for her to resort to nefarious deeds. behind closed doors.


    Jake¡¯s attention snapped back into focus as he heard Chloe¡¯s words, causing him to turn his head and


    direct his gaze toward Joseph and Chloe.


    Meanwhile, Jane, who had been observing from the corner of her eye, seized upon an idea that formed


    in her mind. In a confident tone, she eximed, ¡°I saw this woman with another man, and I wanted to


    help you catch them in the act. You shouldn¡¯t trust her.¡±


    Joseph remained silent the whole time. When he heard Jane¡¯s words, he narrowed his eyes slightly


    and locked his gaze on Jake, seemingly scrutinizing him.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, anxiety coursing through her veins. ¡°We simply ran into each other,¡± she


    exined.


    ¡°Why is he protecting you then?¡± Jane pressed on. ¡°I overheard your conversation outside. It¡¯s clear


    that you two know each other.¡±


    Chloe was left tongue-tied. ¡®Of course, we know each other. He¡¯s my ex-boyfriend!¡±


    Encountering an ex in such a situation would be deemed too coincidental even for a work of fiction.


    Furthermore, given Joseph¡¯s sensitivity toward such matters, he would surely be skeptical and would


    not easily believe it.


    Jane observed the expression on Chloe¡¯s face and became increasingly convinced that she had


    stumbled upon a secret. Wearing a self-satisfied smile, she said to Joseph, ¡°I strongly advise you to


    thoroughly investigate and not overlook any details. Some women may present


    themselves as innocent and pure, but beneath the surface, they harbor promiscuous proclivities. It¡¯s


    highly likely that they came here for some illicit activities out of loneliness.¡±


    Jake wished to rify the situation, yet he hesitated, fearing that revealing his past rtionship with


    Chloe would only deepen the misunderstanding. However, what perplexed him the most at that


    moment was the realization that Chloe and Joseph¡¯s rtionship seemed. to surpass that of mere


    employer and employee.


    Just as everyone looked at each other silently, Joseph slowly withdrew his gaze. He looked at Jane


    with annoyance and said, ¡°You¡¯re so nosy.¡±


    Jane was stunned. ¡°I was helping you!¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help,¡± he responded curtly.


    Joseph had nearly believed Jane¡¯s words. However, the man standing before him exhibited at weary


    and dejected countenance as if he had recently endured a significant setback in life. The only


    redeeming quality about him was his moderately appealing appearance.


    But that did not concern him, as he himself was far more handsome than Jake. Despite Chloe¡¯s


    asional foolishness, she had good taste in men.


    Chloe patted her chest in relief, released a pent-up breath, and made a face at Jane.


    ¡®Hah! Serves you right!¡¯


    ¡°Joseph, is there something wrong with your eyes? It¡¯s clear that something is fishy going on between


    them!¡± Jane persisted.


    ¡°I trust Chloe. Your focus should be on how to apologize to her to satisfy me,¡± Joseph responded


    calmly.


    As Chloe gazed at Joseph¡¯s handsome profile, her heart fluttered, and a radiant smile adorned.


    her face.


    ¡®He can be good sometimes¡­¡¯


    Jane was consumed with so much rage that she felt she might have a heart attack.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go straight to your grandfather and tell him how you¡¯ve been enchanted by a promiscuous woman!¡±


    she threatened.


    All the women Harold previously selected for Joseph were esteemeddies. Jane was certain that


    Harold was dissatisfied with Chloe, which was why there had been no wedding ceremony despite


    Joseph and Chloe being married.


    Chloe could not help but smile disdainfully. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to entertain your tantrums.¡±


    Although Chloe did not know if Harold would believe Jane, she was certain he would not take


    an outsider¡¯s side.


    ¡°You¡¯re just feeling guilty!¡±


    Chloe was speechless.


    ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s go visit Grandpa,¡± Joseph said, his narrowed eyes turning icy. ¡°Lucas, bring the car.¡±


    He wanted Harold to see clearly what kind of people the Foxes truly were. Was it worth showing them


    any mercy?

 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158


    Chapter 158 Will Grandpa Stand By Me?


    Lucas acted swiftly, bringing the car over within five minutes.


    Jake¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the Rolls-Royce before him. This car looks. familiar.¡¯


    After Chloe ended their rtionship, she had been sitting in this car with an older man upying the


    front seat. This meant that this car belonged to Joseph, and the so-called older man driving in the front


    seat was most likely just the driver!


    Jake¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Lucas, who sat in the driver¡¯s seat. Unable to shake himself out of his


    stupor, he allowed rainwater to ssh onto his face. In a sudden surge of frustration, he lifted his hand


    and delivered a sharp p to his own cheek, startling Lucas.


    Lucas turned to Joseph seated in the back and inquired, ¡°Sir, how should we deal with him?¡±


    ¡°Ignore him,¡± Joseph instructed without so much as looking up.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    With Lucas pressing down on the elerator, the car sped off, creating a cascade of water that


    sshed onto Jake, drenching him from head to toe. However, he made no effort to evade it, his gaze


    remained fixed on the direction in which Chloe had left as a wave of emotions swirled within him.


    His shoulders sagged in a gesture of defeat. In his eyes, individuals like Joseph held an almost divine


    status. At this moment, apart from the 3 million he got from Ava, he had nothing.


    Jake trudged through the rain with a heavy heart, allowing the rainwater to pour over him.


    As he walked, he reminisced about his past with Chloe. If only he had remained steadfast in his original


    intentions and resisted Ava¡¯s seduction, his life might be on apletely different trajectory. Yet, it was


    now toote for regrets.


    ¡°Ring, ring, ring¡­¡±


    The sound of his phone ringing mingled with the rhythm of rain resonated through the deserted streets.


    In a mechanical manner, Jake retrieved his phone and answered the call.


    ¡°Where are you? Come back quickly,¡± Icarus urged.


    Jake had been cast out in the first half of Benjamin¡¯s birthday party, and Chloe had been whisked away


    in the second half, leaving him utterly alone.


    Upon hearing Icarus¡¯ voice, Jake snapped back to reality and quickly asked, ¡°Uncle, aren¡¯t you with


    Chloe? Why did I see her with Joseph¡­¡±


    He paused, hesitating with his words.


    Jake had been cast out in the first half of the party, and Icarus sensed his unspoken question and


    paused briefly. ¡°You saw Chloe with Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ What¡¯s your rtionship with Chloe?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not together. I like her, but she doesn¡¯t like me,¡± he admitted without hesitation.


    Jake was stunned. ¡°So the person Chloe is with is Joseph?¡±


    Icarus remained silent for a moment, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. Then, he released a


    deep sigh and said with words filled with a tinge of sorrow, ¡°Chloe has faced certain challenges. Being


    with Joseph is a circumstance she waspelled into. Their rtionship¡­ Can¡¯t be revealed to the


    public.¡±


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Realizing the underlying meaning, Jake was overwhelmed by an immense sense of guilt. He came to


    the realization that he had yed a significant role in shaping the circumstances that led to this point.


    Looking back now, he realized how incredibly selfish and self-centered he had been. He owed Chloe


    an apology¡­


    It was a fairly long journey from Fairlight to the Whitman family home-approximately an


    hour.


    Inside the car, Chloeposed a message to send to Ava, cautioning her against sharing Emily¡¯s


    photos and threatening to turn over the recording to the police. After that, she nced back and asked


    the man sitting next to her, ¡°Is Grandpa on good terms with the Foxes?¡±


    ¡°On the surface, yes,¡± he replied.


    ¡°On the surface?¡± Chloe asked, sensing there was more to it. She continued, ¡°Will Grandpa stand by


    me?¡±


    Joseph looked up and replied coolly, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡®He treats you even better than me, his grandson.¡¯


    Undoubtedly, Harold would stand by her, but he would also likely demand a grandchild.


    Chloe did not fully grasp Joseph¡¯s meaning and cautiously said, ¡°I suppose he will?¡±


    ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t stand by you, you¡¯re my wife. As long as you obey me, I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡±


    Chloe blinked, her cheeks flushed with color. ¡°Your wife?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Joseph replied matter-of-factly.


    Chloe reached up and lightly touched her warm cheeks, feeling an unfamiliar but sweet


    affection blossoming within her.


    Contemting the situation, she pondered whether it was necessary for her to disclose her connection


    with Jake to Joseph. After all, this was to avoid any misunderstandings or potential maniptions


    orchestrated by someone like Jane.


    Making up her mind, she licked her dry lips and spoke earnestly, ¡°Actually, I..

 Chapter 159

    Chapter 159


    Chapter 159 Opportunity-Seizing Dumbo


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯re here,¡± Lucas announced as he parked the car, interrupting Chloe¡¯s unspoken words.


    Joseph exited the car first, and when he turned his head around, he noticed Chloe¡¯s ill-fitting


    shoes.


    ¡°Change your shoes when we get inside,¡± he instructed.


    Chloe had lost her shoes while escaping from Jane. She was now wearing a pair that Joseph kept in


    the trunk as a spare.


    Curious, she swallowed her words and asked instead, ¡°Were these shoes meant for me?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa had someone purchase daily necessities for you so that you cane back here and stay


    whenever you want,¡± Joseph exined.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight, and she smiled radiantly, ¡°Grandpa is so considerate.¡±


    Joseph harrumphed coldly. ¡®Considerate? It¡¯s all part of his n to have you get pregnant!¡±


    As the car came to a halt, Jane hurriedly rushed into the house, contrasting the rxed atmosphere


    that Joseph and Chloe exuded. She frantically searched for Harold, eager to share her discovery.


    Meanwhile, Harold was feeding fish by the backyard pond. When he saw her from a distance, a


    puzzled expression crossed his face, followed by a gentle smile. ¡°Jane? What brings you here today?¡±


    Feeling his warmth and friendliness, Jane gathered her courage and said, ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t be


    angry. Today, by chance, I witnessed Chloe and an unknown man together in at restroom stall. I caught


    them in the act, but Joseph didn¡¯t appreciate my assistance.¡±


    ¡°In a restroom stall?¡± Harold ced the fish food aside and adopted a serious expression.


    ¡°Yes, and I also brought Joseph and Chloe here. Grandpa, you can question them yourself,¡± Jane said,


    lowering her voice. ¡°Women from humble backgrounds are all like this. Theyck


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    manners.¡±


    As her words trailed off, Joseph and Chloe approached Harold.


    Chloe obediently greeted, ¡°Grandpa.¡±


    Harold did not storm off to deliver a p to Chloe¡¯s face as Jane had anticipated. Instead, he appeared


    concerned and worried. ¡°Are you all right? Jane informed me that you were harassed


    in the restroom.¡±


    Jane quickly interjected, correcting him, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I meant she was being unfaithful to


    Joseph, and I happened to catch her in the act in the restroom.¡±


    13


    ¡®Is his hearing so impaired due to his old age? It¡¯spletely different from what I just said to him!


    Jane thought in frustration, but Harold paid her no mind and continued to focus his gaze on Chloe with


    a caring expression.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Grandpa. Jojo arrived just in time to rescue me,¡± Chloe reassured him with aforting smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Harold sighed in relief. However, his attention quickly shifted to Joseph, and his tone


    turned stern. ¡°This is all your fault! Why didn¡¯t you assign Chloe a bodyguard? How could you be so


    stingy?¡±


    In today¡¯s world, wealthy individuals always had personal bodyguards apanying them. No one


    dared to harm Joseph since the action itself was akin to bearding a lion in its den. But Chloe was


    different. She was as delicate as a porcin doll, so it was crucial to ensure her constant protection


    and safety.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t my fault.¡± The corners of Joseph¡¯s mouth twitched.


    ¡°If this isn¡¯t your fault, then whose fault is it?!¡± Harold eximed.


    ¡°It was Jane,¡± Joseph replied, throwing Harold off guard.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Joseph, I saw with my own eyes that Chloe was inside a restroom stall with an unknown man. The


    man was even protecting her. Who would believe they¡¯re just strangers?¡± Jane spoke clearly, skillfully


    diverting the focus and stayingposed.


    She had nned her words carefully on the way there and showed no signs of panic now.


    Furthermore, her words made sense.


    Chloe¡¯s nerves began to fray. She realized that she should have discussed things with Joseph


    beforehand. If she were to inform Harold that Jake was her ex and that their unexpected encounter was


    coincidental, it might raise suspicions as if she were concealing something.


    The elderly often had traditional thinking and were susceptible to rumors and nder.


    Harold pondered for a moment, his expression unchanged. After a while, he turned to his grandson and


    asked, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Jane has a history of deliberately causing trouble,¡± Joseph replied, his words clearly implying


    that he fully believed in Chloe¡¯s innocence.


    Chloe felt relieved. Although they had a small argument at lunchtime today, Joseph unquestioningly


    trusted her throughout this incident and stood firmly by her side. She reached out and held his hand,


    intentionally disying their affection in front of Jane.


    Joseph¡¯s body stiffened momentarily when he felt the soft and smooth touch in her palm, but a content


    smile soon graced his typically impassive countenance.


    ¡°This dumbo surprisingly has a knack for understanding the situation and seizing the opportunity to act


    appropriately.¡¯

 Chapter 160

    Chapter 160


    Chapter 160 Kneel


    ¡°That¡¯s because I like you!¡± Jane eximed, her gaze fixated on their intertwined hands, her eyes


    aze with fury ¡°If I didn¡¯t like you, why would I go out of my way to help you?¡±


    Chloe sighed and rubbed her temples, feeling a sense of disbelief. The silver lining in all of this was


    that her connection with Joseph was solely contractual If they were a genuine couple, even individuals


    with the mostposed and patient temperaments would find themselves tested by such relentless


    provocation. It would not be surprising if they ended up engaged in at heated argument with Jane.


    ¡°I understand your feelings for Joseph, and he should be happy about it. However, the reality is that


    he¡¯s already married You don¡¯t have to hold on to him. There are plenty of other men in the world, and


    I¡¯m confident that you can find someone who is trulypatible with you.¡±


    ¡°But she cheated on Joseph. How can you let her off the hook just like that, Grandpa?¡±


    Chloe frowned, taking a few steps forward. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Jane I haven¡¯t even asked for your apology,


    yet you keep ndering me in front of Grandpa Show some restraint.¡±


    From the way Jane and Harold interacted, it was evident that the two families had a cordial


    rtionship, at least on the surface Chloe did not want Harold to be caught in the middle and burdened


    with any troubles.


    Little did she know, Jane interpreted her actions as a sign of guilt and she mocked her, ¡± What¡¯s the


    matter? Are you feeling guilty? That¡¯s why you want me to stop?¡±


    ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°I really like Chloe, and I firmly believe that she isn¡¯t that kind of person. Most importantly, our family


    matters are none of your concern,¡± Harold interjected, his face devoid of emotion.


    Blinded by anger, Jane remained oblivious to the change in his demeanor and persisted, Grandpa, I


    have no intention of causing strife. My only concern is for the well-being of your family and for your


    happiness. I¡¯m genuinely worried that this woman might deceive you.


    ¡®What kind of medicine has this wretched woman fed them? Why are they defending her?¡±


    ¡°That being said, this is a family matter, and I¡¯m well aware of what needs to be done,¡± Harold stated


    firmly, his voice carrying a tone of authority and his gaze piercing. ¡°As for you, you¡¯re an outsider, and


    it¡¯s not your ce to interfere in our affairs.¡±


    Jane¡¯s panic set in, and she quickly tried to rify herself. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I just didn¡¯t want


    you to get hurt. Grandpa, please don¡¯t be mad at me.¡±


    ¡°Patrick, escort her out,¡± Haroldmanded.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Patrickplied.


    Patrick approached Jane and gestured for her to leave. ¡°Ms. Jane, this way please.¡±


    A gloomy expression clouded Jane¡¯s face as she cast a nce at Harold¡¯s icy demeanor. She dared


    not utter another word and departed with a dejected look.


    After sending Jane away, Harold called for his private doctor and insisted on conducting a medical


    examination for Chloe despite her objection.


    ¡°Also, find her some fresh clothes,¡± Joseph added.


    After Chloe went upstairs, Harold¡¯s face turned serious, and he sternly asked Joseph, ¡°What


    happened?¡±


    Joseph shrugged and ordered, ¡°Lucas.¡±


    Lucas entered with aptop and ced it on the marble table respectfully. ¡°Mr. Joseph, I have retrieved


    the surveince footage from Food Street.¡±


    After a brief click of the mouse, the footage appeared on the screen. Due to the rain, the street was


    sparsely popted. Chloe was seen running with a terrified and frantic expression on her face,


    asionally ncing behind her. In relentless pursuit of her was a group of muscr men led by Jane.


    Although the surveince footagested only a few minutes, it was enough to tell the story.


    Harold¡¯s anger red uncontrobly as he mmed theptop onto the floor. ¡°D*mn it! How dare they


    bully Chloe like this! They clearly have no respect for us!¡±


    Joseph kicked away the brokenptop with the tip of his toe and said, ¡°That¡¯s worth 3 grand.


    Remember to transfer the money to meter.¡±


    Harold¡¯s anger reached its climax, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. ¡°Someone is bullying


    your wife, and you¡¯re concerned about a d*mnputer?¡±


    ¡°Well, what do you suggest we do then? Should I pay a visit to the Foxes and settle the score? Are you


    really willing to go that far?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?!¡± Harold smacked his thigh forcefully, his face contorted with rage. ¡°They dared to


    mistreat Chloe, so they must face the consequences. Especially Jane!¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by his grandfather¡¯s response.


    Immediately, Harold instructed Patrick to contact the Foxes and invite them over. He wanted them to


    come and personally apologize to Chloe.


    Patrick swiftly reached out to Jane¡¯s father, Richard Fox, whose legs turned weak as heprehended


    the gravity of his daughter¡¯s actions.


    Although both the Foxes and the Whitmans hailed from prestigious backgrounds, there was a


    significant gap in their power and influence. Engaging in subtle schemes behind the scenes


    23


    was one thing, but facing the Whitmans head-on was a daunting prospect.


    How could his daughter have the audacity to do such a thing?


    Without saying a word, Richard hurriedly drove her to the Whitman family home.


    Within twenty minutes of Patrick ending the call, Richard and Jane arrived. Chloe had not yete


    downstairs.


    Richard ced the gifts he had brought on the table and spoke in a conciliatory tone, ¡°Mr. Harold, I


    reprimanded Jane on the way here. Regardless of the reason, what she did today was inexcusable. I


    hope you can be the bigger person and forgive her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say. Luckily, Joseph got there in time. If he had been half a minutete and


    something happened to Chloe, it would have been a murder!¡± Harold reprimanded angrily, his gaze


    sharp and filled with rage.


    Richard trembled slightly. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Harold. Jane indeed has gone too far this time. I¡¯ve brought


    her here to apologize to Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want to-¡± Jane protested, refusing toply.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Richard hissed, shooting her a warning nce.


    Apologizing was the least of Jane¡¯s concerns. She was fortunate that Harold had not involved the


    police. Sebastian had recently gotten into some troubles, so their family could not afford any more


    problems.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Seated on a spacious armchair, Joseph ran his finger over the priceless tea set and parted his thin lips.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to apologize?¡±


    Jane¡¯s eyes brightened, and she assumed a look of grievance, ¡°Well, I feel


    ¡°If you refuse to apologize, then kneel,¡± he interjected, showing no interest in hearing the rest of her


    words

 Chapter 161

    Chapter 161


    Chapter 161 A Great Humiliation to the Foxes


    Jane suddenly looked up at Joseph as if she found this to be unimaginable. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Joseph sneered and said slowly, ¡°I don¡¯t mind repeating myself if your hearing is bad.¡±


    Richard¡¯s expression changed drastically. He could no longer sit still. ¡°Joseph, it¡¯s true that Jane is at


    fault, but you can¡¯t step out of line!¡±


    ¡®It¡¯d be a great humiliation to my family if my dear daughter kneels over and begs for that poor girl¡¯s


    forgiveness. If word about it gets out, how will the family continue living on in Aesper?¡±


    Simrly, Harold found this to be slightly inappropriate, but he remained silent.


    ¡°You want to go to such lengths to protect her? What¡¯s so good about her? You treat me this way for


    her sake, but I¡¯m the one who grew up with you!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°You lied and ndered her. And you found fault with her repeatedly. Do you think my people are easy


    to bully?¡±


    When Jane heard Joseph iming Chloe to be one of his people, she felt as if an invisible hand had


    grabbed hold of her heart. She was in so much pain that she found it hard to breathe.


    She stared at Joseph fiercely. Putting her head up high, her eyes turned red as she said, ¡°Who the hell


    is Chloe? Me kneeling and begging for her forgiveness is out of the question!¡±


    ¡®Not only that, I¡¯ll ruin her youthful face since this b*tch acted recklessly just by relying on the fact that


    she¡¯s younger. I want to see if Joseph will continue to protect her when she bes an ugly monster!!


    Richard¡¯s face turned solemnly before he abruptly stood up from the chair. ¡°You insist on humiliating my


    family for the sake of a woman. Thus, I think there¡¯s no reason for us to stay anymore. Jane, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Jane¡¯s eyes were teary as she stared at Joseph in resentment before turning around to leave


    with her father.


    Joseph did not stop them. He merely stretched his bodynguidly and said, ¡°In that case, then I think


    the Whitmans can cease doing business with the Foxes. After all, we lose money on that project every


    year.


    Hearing that, Harold nodded unconsciously and sipped his tea.


    It was true indeed. His family paid for the losses every year in that project but the Foxes made profits


    instead. His grandson was asked to make up for the losses every year. It seemed like he had paid over


    one billionst year.


    Now Harold could grab that chance and break that cooperation.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t break a business deal just like that!¡± Richard rebuffed.


    They would not earn any money without that business deal.


    Joseph¡¯s dark eyes turned cold. He sounded extremely aloof as he said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I recall that this


    contract will end this year. Sebastian, the face of this project, is now a fallen star. His endorsement fee


    isn¡¯t a small expense.¡±


    Usually, the Foxes would shamelessly approach the Whitmans and ask for a continuation of the


    contract. Harold found it hard to reject, so he would reluctantly sign the extension.


    He could help them, but no one wanted to suffer losses.


    ¡°Joseph, this year is a very difficult one for my brother. It¡¯ll only make matters worse if you end the


    cooperation now!¡± Jane roared and burst into tears as if the party that suffered losses all this while was


    her family.


    Richard¡¯s expression was extremely hideous as he exuded a strong aura. He admitted that Joseph was


    very powerful, but he could not disregard his family that way.


    Yes, his son¡¯s future prospects were half-ruined, but the Foxes were not doomed.


    ¡°Mr. Harold, I¡¯ve always respected you. I treat Joseph as my child too, but he has let me down today.


    When my dad was still around, you regarded him as your buddy. You even imed that you¡¯d help us if


    anything happened to my family. My dad just passed five years ago but things are changing vastly.


    Your family no longer takes my family seriously.¡±


    Harold was moved when Richard¡¯s father was mentioned. He always had a good rtionship. with


    Richard¡¯s father. So, he looked at Joseph and said after some consideration, ¡°Yes, Jane did. make a


    mistake. Luckily, she made a timely statement. It¡¯s fine as long as she says sorry.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes were fierce as he snorted disdainfully. ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t ask for my help if you suffer any


    losses in your business.¡±


    Harold¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Why did you say that? We¡¯re a family. Don¡¯t say such an unfriendly thing¡­¡±


    ¡°Mr. Harold, it¡¯s normal for young people to be proud and arrogant.¡± Richard changed the topic and said


    dully, ¡°s¡­ What a pity! If everything had gone smoothly, our families would have be even


    closer to each other and these things wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±


    Richard seemed to be saying nice things, but he was still trying to fight for justice on Jane¡¯s behalf.

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162


    Chapter 162 Joseph Will Be Mine


    Harold knew that Richard was deliberately stirring up trouble.


    But it was indeed too demeaning for Richard, so it was hard for him to get out of the humiliating


    situation with grace.


    After the storm was over, the sunlight shone in through the ss window and fell on Joseph¡¯s cold and


    stiff face. He impatiently shot a sidelong nce at Harold.


    ¡®Grandpa wants to maintain a sense of decency, but he refuses to suffer the losses either. Well, if he


    wants to be the good guy, so be it. I¡¯ll be the bad guy. It¡¯s all wishful thinking.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa. Jojo.¡±


    A pleasant voice came from upstairs. Joseph looked over and saw Chloe standing at the top of the


    stairs, looking charming as can be. At that moment, she was smiling. ¡°I¡¯ve finished my bath.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Her smile was so bright that it inexplicably soothed Joseph¡¯s frustration. She slowly ambled down the


    steps.


    Harold turned all his attention to Chloe when she appeared. He immediately asked, ¡°Chloe, how did the


    check-up go?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She reached downstairs and walked to Joseph before she lowered her voice and said, ¡°Let¡¯s


    stop here. The Foxes even mentioned the previous generation. What¡¯s more, their apology was pretty


    good. Don¡¯t embarrass Grandpa. Maybe he thinks that this matter alone. isn¡¯t enough to fall out with


    them. Take it slow. At most, I¡¯ll infuriate Jane more in the future, so her father can¡¯t always manipte


    the former friendship.¡±


    After eavesdropping for a while upstairs, she roughly learned about the ins and outs of the incident and


    was enlightened.


    Joseph wanted to manipte the incident of Jane bullying Chloe to cut off the business ties. with the


    Foxes, and his first step was to ruin Sebastian. He would then have a proper reason to cut off the sky-


    high endorsement fee. Moreover, he could grab the chance to put an end to the


    cooperation.


    Frankly, Chloe was a bit sad when she realized that he was not protecting her sincerely. She yearned


    to be protected and cared for, so she could be a little girl without any worries.


    That kind of person might appear in the future, but Joseph would never be that


    person.


    He was a businessinan, so he always valued interests and profits more than anything. She should be


    considerate.


    Joseph then nced at her face which was still wet with water droplets clinging to it. He moved his


    fingers slightly, but he held himself back.


    ¡°I just find the Foxes an eyesore. What makes you think I¡¯ll listen to you when I don¡¯t even listen to


    Grandpa?¡±


    Chloe echoed his words, ¡°Yes, me too! I find Jane an eyesore. Why don¡¯t I infuriate her now?¡±


    Joseph was stunned for a while.


    In the next second, she grabbed his arm before bringing her soft face to him, saying considerately and


    gently, ¡°Darling, I know that you¡¯re worried about me. But I¡¯m fine, aren¡¯t 1? Don¡¯t fall out with them just


    because of me. Maybe Ms. Jane loves you too much. Don¡¯t me her.¡±


    Jane instantly fumed with anger when she noticed the drastic change in Chloe¡¯s attitude. Besides,


    Joseph did not repulse Chloe¡¯s intimate touch. He even cracked a faint smile.


    Consequently, Jane was driven mad by her envy. ¡°What¡¯s with the act? This is all because of you but


    now you¡¯re acting all innocent. Are you trying to make me sick?!¡±


    When Jane roared at her, Chloe pretended to be scared and hugged Joseph¡¯s waist before she hid in


    his arms. Her clear eyes were full of terror, and she appeared quite pitiful.


    Harold stood up all of a sudden and shouted, ¡°Chloe did no wrong! Are you trying to drive her mad?!¡±


    Richard¡¯s face turned livid. They had just smoothed the tenseness, and now it had worsened. He was


    too ashamed to say anything now, so he forcefully dragged Jane away.


    He knew full well of his daughter¡¯s character. Everything would be over if she acted dumb, but she


    insisted on making a scene no matter what.


    It was inadvisable to take others as fools when they madepromises.


    Chloe watched them leave and smiled happily. ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene for a man. This world is full of


    men. It¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    Jane gritted her teeth and yearned to tear Chloe into pieces.


    ¡®After that b*tch appeared, even Mr. Harold took her side when he¡¯s usually very nice to me. How


    wonderful!


    ¡®Even if I can¡¯t marry into the Whitman family, Joseph will be mine.


    ¡®I¡¯m curious how Chloe will ept apromise and make a scene then.¡¯

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163


    Chapter 163 Hurry Up and Make a Baby


    Harold sighed deeply. ¡°This brat is rather popr. But Chloe, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. They


    merely like his appearance. When he gets fat after a few years, no one will try to snatch him away from


    you.¡±


    Chloe released Joseph¡¯s arm andughed because she was amused. ¡°Grandpa, Jojo won¡¯t get fat. He


    goes for a run every morning, and he walks Toto every night. He gets lots of exercise.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s self-discipline was admirable. She wondered what kind of woman could handle him.


    Lowering his gaze, Joseph stared at his arm which Chloe had just let go of. A tinge of frustration crept


    into his heart. Why did he have a feeling that this dumbo used him to drive. Jane mad?


    Harold wanted to say something else before then he saw Joseph go upstairs. He shouted, ¡± Where are


    you going?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he has some work to do. Let him be, Grandpa. I¡¯ll spend some time with you,¡± Chloe. said


    considerately, unaware of Joseph¡¯s feelings.


    Harold was happy to hear her words. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s just ignore him then. I don¡¯t want to see his sullen


    face.¡±


    Joseph took off his clothes to take a hot bath before he put on a bathrobe and went to the study.


    He went abroad after he was of age and rarely returned to the Whitman family home. Even so, Harold


    had instructed Joseph¡¯s room to be kept clean. It could be seen how much Harold valued Joseph.


    Lucas knocked on the door and walked into the study.


    ¡°Have you found anything?¡± Joseph stood beside the window and held a cup of hot coffee. He was


    enjoying the dense rain outside.


    Lucas nodded. ¡°The only suspect is an employee called Jason Brown. He was the only one working


    overtime in the office with Ms. Chloe tonight. He suggested getting takeout with her, and she was lured


    out by one of the bodyguards pretending to be a delivery man.¡±


    ¡°Fire him.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± After a pause, Lucas asked, ¡°Mr. Joseph, are you going to stay here with Ms. Chloe tonight?¡±


    Joseph nced at the time and nodded. ¡°Yeah. You should get a guest room and stay here too.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    12


    When Lucas left the study, a tinge of excitement shed across his face.


    Joseph and Chloe slept in separate rooms back in the vi, but they could not do so in this house. It


    wasmon knowledge what happens if a man and a woman sleep on the same bed in the same


    room.


    Currently, both Lucas and Harold shared the same wish. Lucas strongly wished that Joseph. and Chloe


    would sleep together sooner.


    Firstly, their rtionship would be much steadier if they had a child. In other words, it meant that


    Joseph¡¯s temper would improve greatly, and Lucas¡¯ job would be all the easier.


    Secondly, Joseph would value his family more if he had a child. Lucas could then ck off at work. He


    found himself miserable since he never had a chance to ck off after working for so many years for


    Joseph.


    Harold was a talkative person. He seemed to have a lot to talk about when he was with his


    granddaughter-inw whom he liked and chatted with her until the clock struck one.


    So, Joseph walked out of the bedroom and looked downstairs condescendingly. He then said coldly,


    ¡°Chloe, are you not nning to sleep tonight?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to chat with me, but you prohibit others from chatting with me, quickly retorted, before


    Chloe could reply.


    Harold


    A servant called Winnie smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Harold, it¡¯ste. You can continue your chat with Ms.


    Chloe tomorrow. They¡¯re newlyweds and are still in their honeymoon phase.¡±


    When Harold was reminded of this, he regained his wits and pped his hands. ¡°That¡¯s right. They¡¯re


    still in the honeymoon phase. Chloe, hurry up and go upstairs to bed. Give me a grandchild soon so I


    can y with the baby.¡±

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164


    Chapter 164 Have You Fallen in Love With Me


    Chloe blushed slightly in awkwardness and helplessness.


    Winnie handed her a bowl of oatmeal and stated amiably, ¡°Ms. Chloe, please share this with Mr.


    Joseph when you get upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Okay.¡±


    Chloe did not dare to promise Harold anything, so she escaped with the bowl of oatmeal.


    Joseph was back in his bedroom and was lying in bed. When Chloe found that there was only one bed


    in the room, she stood at the door in a trance and took a deep breath.


    ¡®Motherf*cker! This brat is already in bed. Does he expect me to sleep on the floor?


    ¡®Forget it. There¡¯s a carpet on the floor. It won¡¯t be too hard.¡±


    ¡°Winnie prepared some oatmeal for us and asked us to have it.¡±


    Joseph rubbed his temples. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. When are you going to sleep?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat some of this and sleep afterward.¡±


    Chloe did not have the heart to turn Winnie down. She uncovered the bowl and used a spoon to scoop


    some of the oatmeal into a smaller bowl.


    ¡°There¡¯s fruits and nuts in the oatmeal¡­ It¡¯s all nutritious ingredients¡­¡±


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched. She quietly put the spoon down. There was too much of it, so she was afraid that


    she would be too full to sleep afterward.


    She put the bowl of oatmeal aside and grabbed a pillow. She then picked up the small nket on the


    sofa andy it on the floor before she sensiblyy on it.


    ¡°Chloe!¡± Joseph could not take it anymore.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Come over here!¡±


    Feeling stunned and uncertain, Chloe put her pillow beside Joseph and questioned helplessly,¡± Do you


    want to sleep on the floor?¡±


    The veins on his forehead bulged. ¡°We¡¯re going to sleep on the same bed together.¡±


    Chloe widened her pretty eyes and asked in a serious tone, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of me taking advantage


    of you?¡±


    Previously, Joseph was unmoved when she had stripped herself naked in front of him. Why did he want


    to sleep with her in the same bed today? Was it because he was annoyed by Harold¡¯s


    1/3


    relentless pestering of wanting a grandchild?


    ¡°Why would I be afraid of you taking advantage of me? I just think that you¡¯re shameless.¡±


    Chloe became a little shy as she muttered, ¡°I did that just to get you.¡±


    Joseph snorted. A sincere smile dawned on his handsome and perfect face. ¡°Don¡¯t you want me now?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want you now.¡±


    She had mistaken him for someone else, so she could not fancy such wild thoughts.


    Joseph put away his smile and shot her a cold re. ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I want you!¡± Chloe gave in and said weakly, ¡°But I think I should respect your wishes.¡±


    Joseph smirked. Not bad. She has improved and is obedient now.¡±


    ¡°Come. You have my permission to sleep in the same bed as me.¡±


    Chloe stood where she was in slight amazement. Her ears perked up. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    When Joseph saw her silly look, he thought she was overjoyed. Hence, he let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Yes.


    Hurry up and get over here.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Chloey down but stayed close to the edge of the bed. She did not dare to move a muscle.


    Click.


    Themp was turned off and the room fell into darkness.


    Chloe sniffed slightly and noticed that the pillow, bedsheet, and nket were perfumed with Joseph¡¯s


    scent. It was a cold and light fragrance. One would know that it was an aloof and indifferent person by


    the scent alone without even seeing him.


    Chloe opened her eyes. She could not fall asleep under these circumstances.


    Suddenly, Joseph hooked one of his arms around her waist. Consequently, she stiffened. In the next


    second, he slowly intensified his force around her waist and pulled her into his arms.


    ¡°Why are you sleeping so far away from me?¡±


    He did not sound cold and indifferent as he usually was. At that moment, his voice was low, maic,


    and bewitching.


    Chloe¡¯s breathing instantly quickened. She reached out both hands to push him away because she


    wanted to distance herself from him. But she suddenly touched his burning chest and felt like she had


    been electrified. She speedily retracted her hands.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Just sleep. Don¡¯t fancy wild thoughts. It¡¯s toote today,¡± Joseph said grumpily while


    Tapter 164 Have You Fallen Love With Ma


    intecing his fingers with hers, preventing her from doing anything else.


    ¡®Why did she have to talk to Grandpa for so long? If she hade up earlier, I could¡¯ve satisfied her.¡¯


    Chloe gaped in shock. ¡°If it¡¯s impossible today, then can I think about it tomorrow?¡± ¡®Why is Joseph


    being so casual? Men should be reserved!¡¯

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165


    Chapter 165 She¡¯s Special


    Chloe raised such a bizarre question.


    In the dark, a tinge of uneasiness crept onto Joseph¡¯s face. ¡°Depends on how you behave.¡± ¡°Oooh¡­¡±


    Chloe drew in a cold breath and blurted out, ¡°Have you fallen in love with me?¡±


    She could not fathom any other reason for Joseph to give up his body other than this possibility.


    Feeling stunned, Joseph retorted subconsciously, ¡°No.¡±


    He just wanted to give her a chance.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Why did you suddenly agree to let me get close to you then?¡±


    ¡°Shut up. Just sleep!¡±


    Chloe was struck speechless.


    For the first time, they werefortable while hugging each other and were sleeping together in the


    same bed for the first time.


    Due to how tired she was, Chloe soon drifted off to sleep. However, she moved around a lot. She even


    pounced on Joseph like a bear and rubbed against him from time to time until he was aroused.


    Joseph fixed his fervent gaze on her, who was sleeping soundly. After some inward struggles, he took


    a deep breath and pushed her out of his arms.


    He even ced a bolster between them.


    The next morning, the space beside Chloe was vacant when she woke up. Besides, a bolster had.


    appeared out of nowhere.


    ¡®Does he despise me? But if that was the case, why did he hug me and say those things the previous


    night?¡¯


    Chloe could not figure it out. So, she simply stopped dwelling on it and went to wash that, she went


    downstairs. She had a good rest, so she felt energetic. Her face was rosy too.


    1.


    After


    On the contrary, Joseph had dark circles under his eyes.


    Harold, who was ying with a bird on the first floor, smiled in satisfaction when he saw this. He felt


    that his grandson was indeed powerful.


    ¡°This brat must have gone at it all night.¡¯


    Chloe was unaware of Harold¡¯s thoughts. She epted a ss of hot milk from Winnie.


    ¡°Grandpa, have you had breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have. You guys should eat to nourish your body.¡±


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    When Chloe heard that, she recalled the oatmeal fromst night and identally spurted out


    the milk.


    Joseph, who was passing by, grabbed a tissue and handed it to her. He said disdainfully, ¡±


    You¡¯re such a mess.¡±


    She said shyly, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why did you criticize her? Have you never choked on your drink before?¡± Harold red at Joseph in


    displeasure.


    Chloe quickly scoffed down a bun to avoid a fight between them in the early morning. Grandpa, Jojo


    and I will be going to work now.¡±


    ¡°Okay, be careful.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle and visit you again sometime.¡±


    In the car.


    Lucas noticed Joseph¡¯s dark circles through the rear-view mirror. ¡°Sir, should I postpone the morning


    meeting to the afternoon? You don¡¯t seem well.¡±


    ¡°No, just do as usual.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Joseph closed his eyes to rest. Chloe peeked at him out of the corner of her eye and asked as if she


    was unconcerned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you sleep wellst night?¡±


    ¡°You even have the nerve to ask.¡±


    She pouted. ¡°What did I do? I don¡¯t snore, talk in my sleep, or grind my teeth while I sleep.¡±


    Joseph opened his eyes and stared at her gloomily. ¡°Your limbs are wild.¡±


    Chloe blinked repeatedly. ¡°Did I do something to you after I dozed off?¡±


    Joseph raised his chin slightly and asked, ¡°What do you think happened?¡±


    She had hugged him like a ko and refused to let go. However, her body was soft, so it was


    comfortable hugging her.


    ¡°Umm¡­¡± She touched her nose awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re very handsome, so I couldn¡¯t hold


    myself back in my dream.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d you know that. How are you going to make it up to me?¡±


    After a pause, Chloe replied, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to seafood at The Seaside Market! I know you love that


    ce.¡±


    Joseph was struck speechless. ¡®I¡¯m the CEO of Fairlight, but does that mean I like the seafood there?¡¯


    He just did not want her to spend so much the other day.


    ¡°This woman really is a dummy.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s my birthday tomorrow. Do you n on getting me a gift?¡±


    Lucas gaped in shock.


    ¡®Mr. Joseph never celebrates his birthday. He¡¯s the one who forbade others from celebrating it for him.


    He finds it meddlesome and a waste of time.


    ¡®Ms. Chloe is indeed special to him¡­¡¯

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166


    Chapter 166 Reiming Her Man


    Chloe¡¯s smile widened as she replied, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll make sure to find the perfect gift for you after


    work today. How do you want to celebrate? Will we be going to Grandpa¡¯s ce?¡±


    ¡°Just you and me,¡± he replied.


    She was slightly taken aback and said, ¡°Okay, got it.¡±


    Tomorrow was Joseph¡¯s birthday, while the end of the month loomed a mere two days away. Time


    seemed to slip through their fingers, carrying them closer to the impending court hearing.


    Fairlight¡¯s marketing department convened their regr morning meeting, and Ms. Wendy somberly


    delivered the news that Jason had been fired. Curiosity and concern filled the room as whispers of


    confusion and spection floated among the team members.


    ¡°Why did this happen?¡±


    ¡°I saw him working overtimest night. Why did this happen all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t led any major projects recently. What could he have done wrong? It seems like it¡¯s


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    serious.¡±


    Ms. Wendy shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not privy to the details. The decision was made by the higher- ups.¡±


    Upon their arrival that morning, the team had already noticed Jason¡¯s belongings being packed up


    under the watchful eyes of the security personnel.


    A peculiar glint sparked in Chloe¡¯s eyes. She pursed her lips, determined to uncover the truth, and


    swiftlyposed a text to Joseph.


    [Is Jason connected to Jane?]


    A swift response appeared on her screen.


    [Yes.]


    Suddenly, it all made sense. Jason¡¯s mysteriously well-timed bathroom breaks yesterday revealed his


    motive with rity. Given Jane¡¯s long-standing infatuation for Joseph, it was no surprise that she had


    nted covert eyes and ears within Fairlight.


    While Chloe acknowledged the situation, she consciously chose not to dwell on it, immersing herself in


    her work after the meeting. With unwavering determination, she directed her focus toward her tasks


    and responsibilities.


    During that time, she received a call from Ms. Wendy, summoning her into the office. The


    instructions from above were clear: terminate the cooperation with Moongazer Constructions. Chloe


    was surprised. ¡°So, who will bepensating whom for the breach of contract?¡±


    Ms. Wendy responded with a mysterious smile. ¡°My guess is that it will be Melody Grace.¡±


    ¡°That seems highly probable.¡±


    A well-established business unexpectedly took a turn for the worse, and Melody could not escape


    me for it.


    In the afternoon, with no immediate work on her te, Chloe decided to take half a day off and met


    Emily for a shopping trip. They nned to buy a gift for Joseph.


    The two rendezvoused at a luxurious shopping mall. With her hair pulled back into a high ponytail


    which exuded vibrant energy, Emily appeared to be in a much better state than before. The intimate


    photos had never been exposed to her; perhaps it was for the best.


    Chloe yfully remarked, ¡°Finally back to your old self, huh?¡±


    ¡°Of course! There¡¯s no point in being sad and shedding tears over a scumbag. I was just a little down,¡±


    Emily replied, her expression filled with mischief.


    ¡°Let the past stay in the past. Preventing yourself from sinking further is the wisest decision,¡± Chloe


    advised.


    Emily leaned in with a mischievous grin on her face. ¡°Oh, look at you, spouting all these wise quotes.


    Seems like you and Joseph are having quite a fruitful time together.¡±


    ¡°Stop teasing me,¡± Chloe said, brushing off Emily¡¯sment, before turning to the task at hand.


    ¡°Tomorrow is Joseph¡¯s birthday. What do you think would be a good gift for him? It¡¯s a bit difficult to


    choose because he already has everything due to him being so rich. He doesn¡¯t care about


    inexpensive things, and I can¡¯t afford extravagant ones. It¡¯s quite a headache.¡±


    Understanding the dilemma, Emily nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s why the thought behind the gift


    matters most. I don¡¯t think you need to worry too much. Just choose something you feel suits him and


    falls within your budget. It¡¯s the sentiment that counts.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    Due to budget constraints, Chloe scoured the whole mall, excluding luxury stores, in search of a


    suitable gift. Eventually, she stumbled upon a cozy home attire that was priced a little over $ 450.


    Considering that Joseph often wore pajamas at home, it seemed like a practical choice.


    ¡°Miss, this pajama set also has a women¡¯s version. It¡¯s currently on sale. Two sets for a 55% discount.


    It¡¯s an amazing deal. Would you like to get an extra one?¡± The salesperson presented a matching set


    of pajamas in the same color to her.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled as sheid her gaze upon the outfit. ¡®A 55% discount!¡¯


    She reached out and felt the fabric, which seemed even softer than Joseph¡¯s. Realizing that she did not


    have many summer pajamas, she felt a strong temptation. However, the sets were designed for


    couples. Would Joseph misunderstand her intentions if she bought them?


    Emily, equally excited about the discount, chimed in, ¡°Absolutely! A 55% discount is practically a steal.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Chloe gritted her teeth and agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll take both sets.¡±


    She reasoned that there were already enough misunderstandings between her and Joseph, so one


    more would not make a significant difference.


    Afterpleting their purchase, Emily suggested they grab a coffee. The bustling coffee shop was


    filled with people, so Emily maneuvered her way to the front to ce their order while Chloe patiently


    waited behind.


    As she stood there, someone tapped her shoulder and asked, ¡°Hello, are you Chloe?¡±


    Chloe turned around and saw the face of a stranger. ¡°Um, you are?¡±


    A sinister smile appeared on the man¡¯s face. Without warning, he swiftly covered Chloe¡¯s mouth and


    nose, forcing a noxious and overpowering odor into her senses.


    Overwhelmed by the strong scent, Chloe¡¯s body instantly grew weak, and she lost all her strength. In


    the blink of an eye, darkness engulfed her vision, and she copsed to the ground, unconscious and


    motionless.


    Joseph, on the other hand, was attending a press conference. The venue was expansive, teeming with


    a sea of bodies. Following the host¡¯s grand introduction, the press conferencemenced in earnest.


    The podium glowed under the re of bright lights, and Joseph, with hismanding and graceful


    stature, confidently stepped forward.


    The room buzzed with anticipation, particrly due to the presence of numerous photographers. As


    Joseph made his appearance, their shutters clicked rapidly, each vying to capture the perfect shots that


    would grace the covers of prominent magazines the following


    day.


    Joseph¡¯s face remained cold and expressionless throughout the event.


    Jane, concealed within the crowd below the stage, fixed her gaze on him. Wherever Joseph went, he


    could not escape being the center of attention. This remarkable man should rightfully be hers. It was


    that despicable wretch who shamelessly stole her man.


    Today, she would reim what was meant to be hers!

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167


    Chapter 167 The Foxes Will Be Buried if Chloe¡¯s Hurt


    After approximately twenty minutes into the press conference, Joseph took the stage to deliver a


    concise speech.


    When he was done, instead of returning to his seat, he headed straight to the back and entered. his


    car. ncing at his watch to check the time, he realized it was already past seven o¡¯clock.


    ¡®Dumbo should be on her way home by now.


    He knew she had taken the afternoon off but had no idea about the gift she had bought for


    him.


    ¡°Lucas, head back to the vi,¡± he instructed.


    ¡°Right away, sir,¡± Lucas replied. He pressed the elerator pedal, but suddenly mmed on the


    brakes as Jane extended her arms, blocking the car¡¯s path.


    She peered through the window at Joseph, who remained unresponsive, not even looking up. Wearing


    a troubled expression, she said, ¡°Step out of the car. I have something to tell you.¡±


    Lucas nced at the unbothered Joseph, his eyes stubbornly lowered. With a slight hesitation. and a


    headache, Lucas slowly slid the window down.


    ¡°Ms. Jane, can we discuss this another day? Mr. Joseph has other matters to attend to.¡±


    ¡°No, it has to be now.¡±


    ¡°But Mr. Joseph has something on today¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m more important than any of his work.¡±


    Lucas hesitated and spoke cautiously, ¡°Ms. Jane, please stop joking around. It¡¯s best if you leave. Mr.


    Joseph needs to get home.¡±


    Jane sneered and fired back, ¡°There¡¯s no one waiting at home, so why bother going back?¡±


    Suddenly, Joseph lifted his head, his gaze sharp and piercing. ¡°What do


    you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean it literally. If you allow me in the car, I¡¯ll let you see that worthless wretch.¡±


    ¡°Get in.¡±


    Janeughed triumphantly, her hatred palpable, as she stepped into the car and took a seat


    beside him.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Chloe?¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°First, apany me for a drink, and then I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    A flicker of disgust passed through Joseph¡¯s eyes as he instructed Lucas, ¡°Call her.¡±


    By ¡°her,¡± he was referring to Chloe. Lucas made three attempts to dial her number, but it was


    disconnected.


    ¡°Sir, I can¡¯t reach her¡­¡±


    Something bad had most likely happened.


    Joseph¡¯s body tensed, his joints cracking as he clenched his fists. His voice, as cold as the chill of


    winter, cut through the air. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one chance, and it¡¯s thest one. Where is she?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t find out unless you promise to spend a day with me.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression darkened, his anger simmering beneath the surface. ¡°Who do you think you are?


    Are you even worthy?¡±


    One of the most heart-wrenching things in the world was being demeaned by the person you loved,


    dragged through the mire of inadequacy.


    Jane¡¯s anger surged, her voice reverberating with frustration as she eximed, ¡°I¡¯m not worthy


    enough? Yet that wretched Chloe is? Ie from a prestigious background, with stunning looks and a


    perfect figure. What does she have that surpasses me? Why do you. choose to marry someone who


    can¡¯t measure up to you? Can¡¯t you spare even a fleeting nce for me?¡±


    ¡°Shecks the malice that you possess, and she¡¯s better looking, more hardworking, more diligent, and


    more resilient. Every aspect of her surpasses you,¡± Joseph retorted. Taking a deep breath to steady


    himself, he turned to Lucas and issued amand, his voice tinged with urgency, ¡°Lucas, find Chloe¡¯s


    whereabouts immediately. Deploy all our resources and locate her.¡±


    Without wasting a moment, Lucas pulled the car to the side and swiftly took action. It did not take long


    for their efforts to yield results. They discovered that Chloe had been shopping with Emily earlier this


    afternoon. Lucas immediately contacted Emily, who confirmed that she was currently searching for


    Chloe as well.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless. Only I know where that sl*t is,¡± Jane dered, connecting a video call in front of Joseph.


    The screen disyed a pitch-ck image, apanied by the incessant sound of rushing water as


    the camera zoomed in. Chloe appeared in the frame, unconscious and submerged in a massive


    reservoir. Her hands and feet were bound, and the water level reached her waist. The rushing sound


    from the phone indicated that she had limited time before drowning, likely within the hour.


    ¡°If you drink this bottle of water and spend a day with me, I¡¯ll release her. How about it?¡± Jane


    shamelessly presented a bottle of transparent liquid to Joseph, a wicked smile adorning her enchanting


    face.


    p!


    2/3


    Joseph forcefully knocked over the bottle, his hand trembling with anger, and then tightly grasped


    Jane¡¯s neck. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with intense hatred as he uttered in a menacing tone, ¡°If


    anything happens to Chloe, the entire Fox family will be buried with her!¡±


    Jane struggled to catch her breath, her eyes fixated on the enraged man before her, fueled by his fury


    for another woman. At that moment, fear gripped her, but it was overshadowed by an overwhelming


    surge of jealousy.


    ¡°She alone should be buried!¡± Jane eximed, her voice filled with bitterness and resentment.


    ¡°You¡¯re despicable!¡± Anger zed in Joseph¡¯s chest, apanied by a hint of fear that he himself did


    not notice. ¡°You¡¯re right. Burying you won¡¯t be enough. I want you to live in this world, day after day,


    gued by remorse for what you¡¯ve done to her. I want the Foxes to endure a life worse than that of a


    dog!¡±


    ¡®Chloe, please be okay. Wait for me.


    ¡®I¡¯ll save you. I won¡¯t let you endure such suffering any longer.¡¯


    Jane, wracked with pain, felt as if her neck was on the verge of snapping. Tears of anguish streamed


    down her face. ¡°Are you willing to kill me for that sl*t?¡±


    ¡°You overestimate your worth,¡± Joseph retorted, applying force to push her aside. He swiftly grabbed a


    tissue, scrubbing his hands vigorously as though they hade into contact with something vile.


    He deliberately ignored Jane and mobilized every avable resource in Aesper to investigate the


    enigmatic reservoir.


    **


    At half past seven in the evening, Chloe regained consciousness, her head throbbing intensely. As she


    realized her dire situation, trapped within the confines of a vast reservoir, she fought desperately


    against her restraints, only to find herself tightly bound to a pir.


    Surveying her surroundings, she was met with a scene of imprable darkness. Acting on instinct,


    she grabbed a stone and hurled it forcefully into the water.


    The sound of the stone hitting the bottom revealed the chilling truth-the water was at least five meters


    deep. Even more terrifying was the steady rising of the water level, which was now up to her chest.


    A tremendous sense of despair and fear enveloped her, and the tears she had been holding back


    cascaded down her face.

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168


    Chapter 168 Chloe¡¯s Death Rests on Your Shoulders


    ¡®It¡¯s over. I¡¯m going to die.


    ¡°This must be Jane¡¯s doing, that f*cking crazy woman!!


    The idea of taking someone¡¯s life for the sake of a man was unfathomable.


    The water was icy cold but Chloe¡¯s body was not numb yet, indicating she has not been submerged for


    long. However, the water level had already risen to her waist, indicating a rapid increase.


    If Joseph could be aware of her predicament immediately, there might still be a chance of


    survival. Otherwise, she was undoubtedly doomed


    After a bout of crying, Chloe forced herself to calm down. She refused to surrender


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    very end. Her life belonged to her, and she was far from ready to let it go.


    Sniffing and with a voice choked with sobs, she shouted as loudly as she could, ¡°H-Help! Is anyone


    there?!


    ¡°I¡¯m in the water. If you can hear me, please save me!¡±


    Silence greeted her. The sound of water, intermingled with echoes, echoed throughout the expansive


    reservoir, enveloping the surroundings in an eerie atmosphere.


    Chloe dared not look down, fearing that something horrifying might emerge from the depths of the


    water. Her face turned pale from the cold, and her entire body quivered uncontrobly Yet, she


    persisted, desperately calling out for help, clinging to the hope of a miracle


    In a mere fifteen minutes, the water level had reached Chloe¡¯s neck, intermittently ssh over and


    leaving her gasping for air. Her lips turned a shade of purple, her hair chung to face, and her body grew


    numb from the chilling cold. Just as consciousness returned to her, ominous darkness descended upon


    her.


    Was this truly the end? Was she destined to die here?


    But she had a court case in a couple of days, and she could not bear the thought of leaving the dowry


    her mother left her unretrieved. Even if she died, she was determined not to let the Johnsons benefit


    from it.


    And then there was the matter of thewyer Joseph had assisted her in finding, the exorbitant legal


    fees she still owed him weighed heavily on her conscience. She refused to die while still owing him.


    Facing the prospect of life and death, Chloe¡¯s survival instinct kickest in,


    ¡°She¡¯s over there!¡±


    Another voice echoed through the empty reservoir, breaking the silence chloe gathered her


    strength and followed the sound with her gaze, her focus sharpening. When she saw the person


    clearly, her eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡®Why is he here?¡¯


    In an instant, her flickering will to survive vanished, reced by a wave of despair that crashed against


    her like a torrent, leaving her heart as lifeless as ashes.


    At ten minutes to eight at night, Joseph arrived at the reservoir, only to find that the floodgate had


    already been closed. The vast expanse of the reservoir stretched out before him, spanning an


    estimated area of So square miles. The true depth of the reservoir remained a matter of imagination.


    Jane observed the reservoir, noting how the water hadpletely engulfed the pir.


    ¡°See that? I tied her over there. She has likely drowned by now. You can¡¯t even see the top of her


    head,¡± she dered, cackling maniacally as she pointed to the center of the reservoir. ¡°You refused to


    be with me upon my request, and this is the consequence! Joseph, Chloe¡¯s death rests on your


    shoulders!¡±


    Joseph was drenched in a cold sweat, an inexplicable sense of fear threatening to burst from his chest.


    He fixed his gaze on the floodgate, his voice trembling as he muttered, ¡°Who closed it?¡±


    In the recorded video, the floodgate was clearly open. The reservoir staff shook their heads in


    confusion and stated, ¡°It wasn¡¯t done by our people.¡±


    Joseph scanned his surroundings but found no one in sight. ¡®Did someone manage to rescue Chloe?¡¯


    ¡°Lucas, gather a few people and search the area surrounding the reservoir. Those who are skilled


    swimmers,e with me,¡± said Joseph, his voice filled with determination. He loosened the tie around


    his neck, preparing for the task ahead.


    Lucas was shocked by Joseph¡¯s words and hurriedly attempted to dissuade him. ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t go


    down there. It¡¯s too dangerous-¡±


    ¡°Chloe is in even more danger!¡± Joseph growled, his forehead veins bulging. ¡°Hurry. We can¡¯t waste


    any more time!¡±


    Every passing second diminished Chloe¡¯s chances of survival.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t go! Why would you sacrifice yourself for that wretched woman?!¡± Jane¡¯s voice turned


    frantic as she clung to his thighs.


    ¡°Yeah, you can¡¯t go. Look, I¡¯m perfectly fine,¡± came a soft, trembling voice from behind, betraying the


    cold that enveloped the speaker.

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169


    Chapter 169 A Twenty-Eight-Year-Old Child


    Joseph¡¯s body stiffened. He turned around slowly and was greeted by the sight of Chloe¡¯s drenched


    figure.


    She was soaked from head to toe, her fair features appearing even paler amidst the wetness. Yet, her


    delicate brows and eyes retained their ethereal beauty, evoking a sense of fragility and


    sorrow.


    As Joseph gazed at her, a wave of disbelief and relief washed over him, momentarily numbing his


    senses. The tension in his body began to dissipate, reced by a profound sense of gratitude and


    sce. At that moment, he realized how d he was to see her standing there, safe and unharmed.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    He removed his coat and approached her, gently draping it over her shoulders. His voice,ced with a


    tenderness that had never been revealed before, resonated in the air. ¡°How did you manage to


    escape?¡±


    Chloe pointed toward Richard who was standing beside her. ¡°He saved me.¡±


    Jane¡¯s eyes widened with rage. ¡°Father, why did you ruin my n?!¡±


    Richard¡¯s anger erupted, his voice booming with fury. ¡°Do you evenprehend the gravity of your


    actions?! If any harm had befallen her today, you would¡¯ve be a murderer! Your life would¡¯ve been


    irreparably ruined!¡±


    Yesterday, when Richard got home, he immediately sensed that something was amiss with his


    daughter. Worried that she might stir up trouble, he never anticipated discovering her sinister n to


    drown Chloe.


    ¡°Even if I had killed her, I would¡¯ve died too. An eye for an eye! That¡¯s only fair,¡± Jane retorted


    defiantly.


    Richard¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°How am I supposed to face your mother if you end up losing your life?


    Enough with the words. Come here and apologize to Chloe!¡±


    ¡°Apologize for attempted murder? Do you think a simple apology will be enough, Mr. Richard? Is my


    wife¡¯s life so insignificant in your eyes?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes emitted a chilling aura, and his towering figure exuded an intimidating presence that


    sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Richard¡¯s face darkened, fully grasping the severity of the situation. With authority, he sternly


    commanded Jane, ¡°Kneel!¡±


    Dignity was an invaluable virtue, surpassing the worth of any material possession. When lost. or


    disregarded, it bes incapable of securing even the most basic necessities. Regrettably, Jane


    remained oblivious to this fundamental principle.


    ¡°No, I refuse to apologize. She¡¯s not even dead, so why should I apologize?!¡±


    The sight of the man she loved protecting another woman right before her very eyes was utterly


    unbearable. Why could her father not understand her?


    Enraged, Richard delivered a kick to Jane¡¯s knee and had two people hold her down, forcing her to


    kneel before Chloe. Throughout the ordeal, Jane appeared like a victim of humiliation, bitterly


    comining and spewing venomous words.


    Richard stated, ¡°Ms. Chloe, my daughter will bear the full weight of what happened today. I extend my


    sincere apologies to you on her behalf. Moving forward, I¡¯mmitted to sending her abroad and


    ensuring that she refrains from interfering in your rtionship with Joseph. If you have any demands,


    feel free to mention them.¡±


    It could be said that Richard had significantly humbled himself. But Chloe, not being a saint, would not


    yield easily just because someone showed humility. She understood that Richard¡¯s change in stance


    was solely due to Joseph¡¯s influence.


    Speaking softly to the man beside her, she said, ¡°The choice is yours. I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression turned cold devoid of any mercy-as he uttered with a sneer, ¡°Murder. demands


    justice, and attempted murder must be dealt with by the authorities. It is now the police¡¯s responsibility


    to handle this matter.¡±


    Richard¡¯s legs gave way, and he pleaded desperately, ¡°No, please don¡¯t do this. Jane is still at child.


    She¡¯s only twenty-eight. Subjecting her to the police would inflict more torment than death itself. She¡¯s


    my only daughter, the precious remnant left behind by her mother who tragically passed away during


    childbirth.¡±


    A twenty-eight year-old child. Usually, Chloe would find this statement amusing, but under the current


    circumstances,ughter eluded her. It was at this very moment that sheprehended the underlying


    cause of Jane¡¯s irrational behavior-the result of being overly pampered by her adoring father.


    Chloe¡¯s heart felt a pang of resentment. Reflecting upon theck of love her father showed her in


    comparison, this was the first time she had ever felt such resentment. Oh, how she longed for a father


    who cherished her, who enveloped her in warmth and provided a loving home. Jane was truly blessed


    in that regard.


    Chloe averted her gaze, quickly brushing away the moisture that had welled up in the corners of her


    eyes. Taking a deep breath to regain herposure, she spoke with determination, ¡°I¡¯ll only begin to


    consider this incident as if it never happened if the Foxes agree topletely sever all business ties


    with the Whitmans and provide properpensation for the breach of Sebastian¡¯s endorsement


    contract.¡±

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170


    Chapter 170 Dumbo¡¯s Restraint With Her Love


    Joseph paused, his thin lips pressed together tightly. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to do this.


    ¡°I understand, but I want to do something for you,¡± she replied. If Chloe had the chance to assist the


    Whitmans, she would seize it.


    A myriad of emotions swirled in Joseph¡¯s eyes as he tightened his grip on her shoulder.


    Confronted with his daughter¡¯s future, Richard¡¯s face paled, and he ultimately relented. In the grand


    scheme of things, what worth did money holdpared to his daughter¡¯s future?


    After discussing it with Joseph, Chloe made the decision not to inform Harold about the incident.


    Considering his heart condition, she felt it best to spare him the added stress.


    ¡°Before anything else, let¡¯s head to the hospital to avoid you getting a fever.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve been feeling hot then cold. I don¡¯t feel so good.¡± Chloe sneezed and sensed a heaviness in


    her head.


    Joseph nced at her, noting the abnormal flush on her typically pale face. Her voice sounded. hoarse,


    a clear sign of a colding on.


    His lips tightened into a firm line. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot today.¡±


    Chloe paused, her expression reflecting surprise. ¡°Are you feeling guilty?¡±


    It seemed she had grown ustomed to the notion that most men would simply take things for


    granted.


    Joseph¡¯s mouth twitched with a mix of irritation and amusement. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m heartless?¡±


    ¡°Just kidding. You¡¯re amazing. In my heart, you¡¯re a considerate and handsome man, the epitome of


    perfection.¡±


    ¡®Well, except for that fiery temper of yours,¡¯ Chloe added silently in her mind.


    Joseph¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°You know your ce¡±


    ¡°By the way, are you a good swimmer? I saw that you wanted to jump into the reservoir to save me,¡±


    Chloe asked earnestly, ¡°Though I was touched, please don¡¯t do it again. It¡¯s all too easy for a rescuer to


    be a victim.¡±


    ¡°Shut up. There won¡¯t be a next time.


    ¡°Ack, right, no next time. Slip of the tongue!¡±


    ¡°I was going to save you out of duty. You¡¯re my legal wife, and it¡¯s my responsibility to protect


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    you.¡±


    Chloe blinked, and a realization dawned upon her. The man standing before her possessed numerous


    admirable qualities. In a world where many men bring chans at the beginning and Jonment at the end


    of rtionships, she understood that appearances and wealth were not the most crucial factors. What


    truly mattered was a sense of responsibility.


    When they arrived at the hospital, Chloe sumbed to heavy drowsiness after receiving the IV drip


    and soon drifted off to sleep.


    Upon hearing the news, Emily rushed to the hospital with great haste. Lucas intercepted her, his voice


    lowered. ¡°Ms. Chloe has a high fever and is currently resting.¡±


    Emily¡¯s anxiety welled up, threatening to spill over into tears. Summoning her courage, she fiercely


    scolded Joseph, ¡°If you¡¯re a real man, you should deal with the crazy admirers. surrounding you. Why


    should Coco suffer these unwarranted tribtions?¡±


    With more rivals like Jane in the picture, Chloe¡¯s life would be in constant danger.


    Thinking about how Chloe lost her mother at a young age and was bullied by Ava, Emily¡¯s anger


    intensified. ¡°So, money makes you superior, huh? Money makes you indifferent to the lives of others,


    huh?!¡±


    Lucas swiftly covered Emily¡¯s mouth, trembling as he apologized to Joseph. ¡°Sir, please excuse her


    outburst. She didn¡¯t mean it.¡¯


    ¡°I handled this matter poorly, and I apologize.¡± Joseph unexpectedly disyed a good temper. His


    attitude was sincere, devoid of any arrogance. After a brief pause, he continued, ¡°However, I have a


    question. Is Jake really Chloe¡¯s ex-boyfriend?¡±


    Was Chloe¡¯s taste really that poor? Did she have such poor vision when she knew Jake and then


    miraculously undergo corrective surgery after getting to know him?


    Emily¡¯s fiery demeanor suddenly waned, and she forced an awkward smile. ¡°No, who told you such


    nonsense?¡±


    Joseph maintained hisposure, his presence stillmanding, as he pressed for rification. ¡°Are


    you absolutely certain?¡±


    ¡°Sob, sob. Please don¡¯t pressure me. I honestly don¡¯t know anything. I just came here to check. on


    Coco.¡±


    Lucas was at a loss for words at Emily¡¯s abrupt shift in demeanor. It seemed like she did not say


    anything, yet it also felt like she did.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze shifted toward Chloe lying on the hospital bed, his eyes as calm as water, concealing his


    thoughts from prying eyes.


    Emily hesitated, racking her brain to find a way to defend her sister.


    ¡°Is Chloe nearsighted?¡±


    Emily paused, not quite grasping the question. ¡°Nearsighted¡­ I suppose she is, to some extent.


    Joseph nodded subtly, affirming his thoughts. He had suspected as much. Someone like Jake could


    hardly be considered a worthy rival to him.


    Lucas noticed their reactions and subtly signaled to Emily. He deliberately spoke loudly, ¡± What are you


    holding? Is it Ms. Chloe¡¯s belongings?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ yes, yes, it is. This is a birthday gift that Coco bought for you,¡± said Emily as she handed the gift


    bag to Joseph.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to open it and see for yourself.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s heart skipped a beat, a tinge of anticipation washing over his face as he nonchntly


    unwrapped the gift. ¡°A set of pajamas?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Chloe mentioned that she hopes it can bring warmth to your home,¡± Emily lied smoothly, her


    expression unwavering. ¡°She has a matching one as well, so you can dine together at home and


    symbolize your love all the time.¡±


    Joseph chuckled, a touch of sweetness mingling with his amusement. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course! Coco likes you a lot. You¡¯re the only one in her heart. She even constantly talks about


    you whenever we¡¯re together.¡±


    ¡°To make fun of you.¡¯


    The curve of Joseph¡¯s lips gradually grew wider. Just as he expected. This dumbo was restraining her


    love for him in their daily interactions.

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171


    Chapter 171 Xavia¡¯s Letter


    Chloe slept through the evening and woke up in a daze, finding a nurse attending to her hand.


    ¡°Your fever hasn¡¯t subsided, so we¡¯ll continue with the IV drip. You¡¯ll need to stay in the hospital for


    observation today, so you can¡¯t be discharged yet,¡± the nurse informed her.


    ¡°What¡¯s my temperature?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°102.2,¡± Emily replied, tucking in the nket around Chloe. ¡°You should focus on resting in the


    uing days and avoid exerting yourself.¡±


    ¡°But what about work? And Joseph¡¯s birthday? Also, the hearing ising up in another two days¡­¡±


    Chloe voiced her concerns.


    ¡°Joseph is the CEO of Fairlight, so why worry about work? Besides, his birthday isn¡¯t a one- time event.


    You¡¯ll have an opportunity to make it up to himter. I¡¯ve already delivered the gift on your behalf. As for


    the court hearing, it¡¯s still some time away. You should be feeling better by then,¡± Emily reassured her.


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ By the way, where¡¯s Joseph?¡±


    ¡°He had some business to attend to and just left.¡±


    ¡°Oh, does he like the gift I got him?¡±


    The gift was considered low-priced for someone of his status.


    ¡®Will he find it cheap?¡¯


    Recalling Joseph¡¯s expression upon receiving the gift, Emily tilted her head and said, ¡± Outwardly, he


    appeared unimpressed, but behind closed doors, his smile stretched from ear to


    ear.¡¯


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°It¡¯s just a pajama set, nothing rare or valuable. I¡¯m sure you must be mistaken.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I believe Joseph has feelings for you.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up, but she quickly shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. He doesn¡¯t have any romantic


    feelings for me. At most, he sees me as someone valuable because Mr. Harold holds me dear.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no. Trust me, he definitely has a soft spot for you. I don¡¯t know to what extent, but do you


    remember how he acted when he wanted to jump into the reservoir to save you? Did he look anxious


    or worried?¡±


    ¡°It was too dark inside. I couldn¡¯t see clearly. I only heard him say he wanted to jump in to save me,¡±


    Chloe said.


    Emily froze for a moment, then pped her own thigh in excitement. ¡°That¡¯s it! It¡¯s proof that he loves


    you!¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Em.¡± Chloe chuckled, finding her friend¡¯s enthusiasm amusing. ¡°If he loves me, wouldn¡¯t


    I be able to sense it?¡±


    ¡°The onlooker sees more than the yers. Trust me, hold onto him tightly. Be a wealthy madam


    in the future, bask in endless glory and riches, and then be my sugar mama!¡± Emily eximed.


    ¡°All right, all right. I¡¯ll be your sugar mommy,¡± Chloe yfully agreed, leaning back and feeling drowsy.


    ¡°You can go now. No need to worry about me. I want to continue sleeping.¡±


    ¡°No rush. I¡¯ll stay with you for a while. Sleep. Joseph has arranged a caregiver for there¡¯s anything you


    need in the evening, just let the caregiver know,¡± Emily said.


    you. If


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chloe replied nonchntly. After all, it was Joseph¡¯s crazy admirer that had caused all of this,


    so it was only appropriate for him to arrange a caregiver for her.


    Perhaps due to her fever, she quickly drifted back to sleep. When she woke up again, it was early


    morning of the following day. She got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, where she encountered


    a nurse who took the opportunity to check her temperature.


    The fever had subsided somewhat, although she was still running a mild temperature. Nevertheless,


    she was cleared for discharge from the hospital.


    ¡°Okay, thank you. I¡¯ll arrange for my dischargeter,¡± Chloe replied.


    She could feel that her condition had improved significantly. After having breakfast at the hospital


    cafeteria and tidying up a bit, she took a cab back to the vi.


    Joseph, who had returnedtest night, was leaving early again today. As he was going downstairs,


    he coincidentally ran into Chloeing back.


    ¡°Why were you discharged so soon?¡± he asked, his voiceced with surprise.


    He had intended to visit her at the hospital after his morning meeting.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now. The fever has subsided. I just need to rest at home.¡± Chloe shrugged indifferently before


    patting his shoulder. ¡°Go to work. I won¡¯t take my health lightly.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze focused on her face. Although herplexion was still pale and her lipscked color,


    her eyes had regained their sparkle, and her overallplexion appeared much better than the


    previous day.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯lle back early today.¡±


    After bidding Joseph farewell, Chloe took Toto for a walk before diving into preparations for


    his birthday. She ced an order for a cake, carefully nned a special meal, and ventured out to the


    grocery store to gather all the necessary ingredients.


    For some unknown reason, she feltpelled to celebrate Joseph¡¯s birthday. Perhaps it was because


    he told her that day belonged solely to the two of them.


    With everything prepared, Chloe waited quietly. In the middle of her anticipation, Toto suddenly erupted


    into a flurry of barks.


    Intrigued, Chloe headed outside to investigate, finding a delivery man awaiting her.


    ¡°Good day, miss. Is this the residence of Mr. Joseph Whitman?¡± the delivery man inquired.


    ¡°Yes, it is. Is this a delivery for him?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°I have a letter here for him from abroad,¡± the delivery man replied.


    Chloe epted the letter, her eyes casually drifting over the sender¡¯s address. Initially, she wondered if


    her vision had deceived her, prompting her to pause and examine it more closely.


    To her astonishment, she had read it correctly. The name Xavia Larson, previously mentioned. by Jane,


    adorned the sender¡¯sbel.

 Chapter 172

    Chapter 172


    Chapter 172 The Return of His First Love


    Chloe could not help but admit that Xavia¡¯s handwriting was beautiful.


    She ced the envelope on the table and took a photo of it to send to Joseph.


    In the afternoon, Joseph replied, [Got it.]


    Chloe felt a bit puzzled. Was he not supposed to be more enthusiastic about Xavia¡¯s return?


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Anyway, it did not really matter to Chloe. After all, their contract would eventually end, and their


    separation was inevitable. Who Xavia was and who Joseph would be with in the future had nothing to


    do with her.


    However, a subtle sadness lingered within her. It was only natural to develop feelings for someone after


    spending so much time together, just like the bond she shared with Toto.


    Joseph arrived home earlier than Chloe expected. However, he was not alone.


    Samuel hade by as well.


    ¡°Joe, you should¡¯ve been more considerate! How can you secretly celebrate your birthday? Let¡¯s call


    our friends and let¡¯s have a great time together,¡± Samuel eximed.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Joseph replied, shooting a cold, disapproving look at Samuel. He clearly was not pleased


    with his unexpected visit.


    Samuel was speechless.


    Noticing Samuel, Chloemented, ¡°If I had known you wereing, I would¡¯ve prepared. more dishes.


    Now there are only five, and I¡¯m worried it won¡¯t be enough. Should I make a few. more?¡±


    Samuel nced at the dining table. ¡°Indeed, you should prepare more.¡±


    When dining alone at home, it was customary to have at least ten dishes on the table. This way, one


    could savor each dish with just a few bites, ensuring a satisfying and fulfilling meal. What¡¯s more,


    Joseph had always been known as one of the pickiest eaters in their group. He was certain that these


    dishes would not be able to satisfy him.


    ¡°Are you a pig?¡± Joseph snapped back harshly. ¡°We have five dishes, and you think it¡¯s not enough?


    How many stomachs do you have?¡±


    ¡®Dumbo cooked for us right after being discharged from the hospital, and this freeloader still has the


    audacity to be picky.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m not a pig¡­¡± Samuel replied sadly.


    ¡°Then keep your mouth shut. If you don¡¯t want to eat, then leave.¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t had dinner yet. I need to eat.¡±


    Though the selection of dishes is limited, they all smell delicious.¡¯


    Chloe found this scene quite amusing. She had encountered Samuel a few times before due to the


    lawsuit, and he always appeared as a serious and shrewd individual, befitting his title as a professional


    in the legal field. But now, next to Joseph, he hadpletely transformed, resembling a mouse in the


    presence of a cat.


    Xavia¡¯s letter remained on the table, catching Joseph¡¯s attention. He opened the envelope and began


    reading. He looked down and hid the emotions in his eyes, leaving everyone unaware of his thoughts.


    Samuel leaned over and eximed in surprise, ¡°Wasn¡¯t she missing?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    It was Xavia who had disappeared without a word.


    ¡°Is this the first time you¡¯ve received any information about her?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s response was brief. Samuel instinctively nced at the figure busy in the kitchen and lowered


    his voice. ¡°Is sheing back to find you?¡±


    Joseph did not answer. He simply ced the letter on the coffee table and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Curiosity got the better of Samuel, and he quietly approached the coffee table to take a quick. nce at


    the letter.


    In the letter, there were only a few lines of writing.


    [Happy Birthday, Joe. I¡¯ll be returning to the country in a while. Can we meet? I want to exin.


    everything that happened back then in person.]


    Before the meal, Samuel stated the purpose of his visit.


    ¡°We have a court hearing tomorrow, and there are some details I need to discuss with you,¡± he said.


    Chloe nodded in agreement. ¡°All right, is there anything I need to do?¡±


    Samuel¡¯s gaze shifted to the birthday cake on the table as he said with a serious expression, ¡± The


    matter concerning the case has been temporarily resolved. If I may say so, my timing foring today


    seems somewhat inappropriate, considering it appears you two were nning a candlelit dinner.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a candlelit dinner. It¡¯s just a simple celebration,¡± Chloe rified.


    Joseph lifted his head, locking his intense gaze on Chloe. ¡°You returned from the hospital this morning


    solely to celebrate my birthday?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I made a promise, and I always keep my promises,¡± she replied casually. She had promised


    Joseph to celebrate his birthday, and she intended to honor her word. It was not about trying to impress


    him or anything of the sort.


    With her recovery progressing well, being at the hospital with unfamiliar caregivers felt less.forting


    than being in their home.


    Samuel picked up a piece of fish and teased, ¡°The food is delicious. Just be careful not to constantly


    argue with Chloe. One day, she might genuinely grow tired of you.¡±


    Despite their contractual marriage, he observed that Chloe knew how to make the most out of life,


    making her a more suitable partner for Josephpared to Xavia.


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, sensing the underlying meaning in Samuel¡¯s words. In a deep


    voice, he remarked, ¡°She¡¯s a decent cook.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips, noticing his unease. Rising from her seat, she took the initiative to serve more


    rice, subtly bringing an end to the conversation.


    After finishing their meal, Chloe and Samuel brought out an agreement, its pages slightly yellowed,


    giving it the appearance of something tucked away for many years.


    ¡°What is this¡­¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Take a look for yourself,¡± Samuel replied.


    Chloe nced at the contents of the agreement, and her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Is this the original


    copy of the agreement my mother signed before her passing?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Joseph found it in Miles¡¯ office,¡± Samuel revealed.


    Overwhelmed with emotion, Chloe¡¯s gaze shifted toward the man who waspletely. absorbed by a


    financial program on the couch.

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173


    Chapter 173 I Have No Objection


    His simple ck loungewear outlined his perfect physique, while his face possessed a refined and


    exquisite charm.


    Sensing her gaze, Joseph turned his head and their eyes locked. Enveloped in an enigmatic trance,


    Chloe felt herself descending into the depths of his alluring, obsidian gaze.


    Her eyes flickered, and she awkwardly averted her gaze. ¡°Do you think Miles will resent you?¡±


    ¡°What can he do if he is? Will he dare to challenge me?¡± Joseph scoffed arrogantly.


    Chloe clicked her tongue, but deep down, she knew Miles would not dare say anything. She was just


    worried he might resort to dirty tricks behind their backs.


    ¡°With this agreement and the assets and jewelry records retrieved by Benjamin from the bank, we¡¯ll


    secure victory tomorrow. However, if he tries to y the emotional card with you, just ignore him,¡±


    Samuel advised.


    Finding evidence for this case was not the most difficult part. The true challengey in Chloe and


    Benjamin¡¯s father-daughter rtionship.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t. Our rtionship is beyond repair, and I won¡¯t show him any mercy,¡± Chloe


    responded with unwavering determination.


    Seeing her resolution, Samuel could not help but worry about his good friend¡¯s choice. He hoped that


    Joseph would not end up bing a homeless and pitiful soul in the end.


    ¡°However, I noticed in the agreement that my mother left me 300 grand. Are you sure the figure is


    correct?¡± Chloe asked.


    300 grand was a significant amount of money a decade ago, enough to establish a small-scale


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Samuel nodded seriously. ¡°Yes, I suggest you ask Benjamin about your grandfather and grandmother


    after the case concludes.¡±


    Perhaps the 300 grand was a gift from her grandparents to their daughter.


    ¡°Okay, I will.¡±


    They continued their conversation for another hour. At ten at night, Samuel left with a stack of


    documents.


    Subconsciously, Chloe nced at the coffee table, noticing the envelope was no longer there.


    ¡®Did he take the letter back to his room? Is he treasuring the letter from his first love as some sort of


    priceless memento?¡¯


    Chloe snorted disdainfully and took Toto out for a walk.


    In the morning, Chloe woke up at eight, and another half hourter, Samuel arrived to pick. her up in


    his car. He leaned out and nced inside. ¡°Where¡¯s Joseph? Is he not joining us?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s at his regr morning meeting. He said he¡¯lle after it¡¯s finished,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Oh, I see. In that case, let¡¯s go,¡± Samuel said.


    The court session was set to start at ten. When they entered, Ava and Benjamin werete. Thewyer


    sitting beside them turned pale upon seeing Samuel. His hand holding the pen trembled uncontrobly


    and dropped to the floor multiple times.


    Ava had heard of Samuel but did not know what he looked like. She perceived the man as astute and


    formidable. Piqued by curiosity, she asked, ¡°Mr. Gideon, do you know the opposingwyer? Is he


    famous?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Samuel Winson! Did you do this on purpose?¡± Gideon almost wailed in response.


    If he had known it was Samuel he would be up against, he would never have taken this case. Losing a


    lawsuit was not scary, but having Samuel as the opposing defensewyer was a nightmare. He was


    notorious for showing no mercy to fellow attorneys.


    ¡°Today is undoubtedly a stroke of ill luck,¡¯ he inwardlymented.


    Ava stood frozen in ce. ¡°How could it be Samuel? Samuel charges millions for his services. There¡¯s


    no way Chloe can afford him.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know. No one dared to take your case. You purposely hid this from me and


    made me assist you,¡± Gideon retorted.


    He would not have fallen for her trap if he had known.


    ¡°How was I supposed to know?¡± Ava grew angry, casting a sidelong nce at him. ¡°Just do your job


    properly after epting the money. Don¡¯t exhibit your ipetence on your face!¡±


    A flicker of anger flitted across Gideon¡¯s face.


    Even if it was Samuel who deliberately concealed his identity, Ava also conveyed the wrong information


    to Gideon. She imed that Chloe was impoverished and relied solely on older


    men for a living.


    ¡®There¡¯s no way she¡¯s poor if she can afford Samuel!¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Our immediate priority is to prepare for the court session. Stop wasting time. with these


    pointless discussions,¡± Benjamin snapped, his gaze darkening as he red at Gideon. ¡°You¡¯ve taken


    money from our family. Regardless of who Samuel is, you must win


    thiswsuit.¡±


    Gideon chuckled, sensing that both of them remained unaware of the formidablewyer they


    2/3


    were up against.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! If this is what you want, I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡±


    Chloe observed the crumbling situation on their side. It was evident that things were falling apart even


    before the court sessionmenced. Strangely enough, the person she admired at that moment was


    not Samuel, but Joseph.


    It was only when one achieved greatness and strength that they attracted individuals of simr caliber.


    Soon, the judge announced themencement of the court session.


    Samuel stood up, confidently presenting the relevant evidence and unveiling the money that Benjamin


    had offered Chloe during his birthday party to expose his deceit.


    After carefully reviewing, the evidence, the judge and jury exchanged knowing nces, acknowledging


    the truth in Samel¡¯s statement. The judge then turned to Benjamin and inquired, ¡°Does the defense


    have a response?¡±


    Panicked, Benjamin pushed Gideon forward. ¡°Hurry up and speak!¡±


    Gideon rose to his feet, his cold gaze fixed on Benjamin. ¡°I agree with the prosecution. The defense


    has no objections.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback.


    ¡®Did Jojo seek out Miles and also bribed the opposingwyer? Impressive,¡¯ she thought to herself.


    Samuel shared the same suspicion.


    ¡®Does Joe trulyck faith in me? Theirwyer is a mere inconsequential figure. There¡¯s absolutely no


    reason for Joe to resort to such measures,¡¯ he wondered.


    ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re saying?!¡± Ava clenched her teeth, warning Gideon, ¡°This is at courtroom, not


    a yground!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who made me say this,¡± Gideon innocently replied, but behind the unseen nces, a


    wicked smile yed on his lips. ¡°I want both money and a good reputation. What are you going to do


    about it?¡±


    If they had shown a better attitude earlier, he would have gone all out to help. Unfortunately, they had


    not.1


    The judge¡¯s voice boomed out, ¡°Quiet! Exin the situation clearly.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s what happened. Mr. Benjamin approached me with the intention of contesting histe wife¡¯s


    assets. However, heter changed his mind and confessed the truth to me. Consumed by guilt, he is


    now willing to return all the assets left by his wife to Chloe. He also expressed his desire to seek


    forgiveness from his daughter,¡± Gideon exined.

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174


    Chapter 174 I¡¯ll Help You Protect Her


    ¡°I never said that, Your Honor¡¯ Please don¡¯t listen to him!¡± Ava shouted in desperation.


    The judge¡¯s gaze fell upon Ava, his scrutiny piercing ¡°So, are you resolved to fight Ms. Chloe for her


    late mother¡¯s legacy? From what I understand, you and Chloe are half sisters sharing the same father


    Since these assets were bequeathed by Chloe¡¯s biological mother, you have no entitlement toy im


    to them.¡±


    The judge¡¯s words cut through the air, leaving Ava pale and flustered She struggled to exin. ¡°That¡¯s


    not what I meant 1 merely wanted to speak on behalf of my father


    ¡°You¡¯ll have your chance to speak, but for now, please remain quiet,¡± the judge instructed firmly


    Turning his attention to Benjamin, the judge asked, ¡°Defendant, it¡¯s your turn to speak. State your


    demands.


    ¡°I seek to reim a portion of these assets, as they are jointly owned by my wife and me, Benjamin


    stated, sensing a glimmer of hope as he noticed the judge¡¯s contemtive expression


    Thankfully, he had held onto this trump card.


    Chloe bit her lip, tightly clenching her fist


    ¡°I¡¯ve conducted my investigation on the matter, and these funds indeed constitute marital assets,¡±


    Samuel interjected.


    ¡°Exactly! So, what¡¯s wrong with my desire to retain the right of use Benjamin responded


    arrogantly


    After a brief pause, Samuel responded with a smile that was more like a smirk, ¡°Under normal


    circumstances, there would be nothing wrong. However, over the past twenty years, you have utterly


    failed to fulfill the responsibilities of a father, so you¡¯re unworthy of utilizing this


    portion of the money


    ¡°If I failed to fulfill my duties as a father, then how did she be the person she is today?¡± Benjamin


    maintained hisposure ¡°Young man, don¡¯t go digging up old wounds.¡±


    anuel remained calm andposed. ¡°Your Honor, may I present my evidence?¡±


    ¡°Please proceed,¡± the judge allowed


    *I have interviewed several of Chloe¡¯s childhood friends, who can provide insight into Benjamin¡¯s role


    as a father,¡± Samuel stated confidently


    ¡°Very well,¡± the judge granted.


    Immediately, Emily and several of Chloe¡¯s university roommates, along with her former


    colleagues, entered the courtroom one by one. As Chloe looked at each familiar face, her eyes could


    not help but well up with tears.


    Emily spoke first, addressing the judge, ¡°Your Honor, I¡¯m a close friend of Chloe. We have known each


    other for seven years. I can testify that Benjamin has treated Chloe poorly to the point of being harshly


    abused. Throughout the nine years ofpulsory education, he never attended a single parent-


    teacher meeting, yet he was always present at every meeting regarding Ava. How can he im to have


    fulfilled his responsibilities as a father by merely providing food?¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s face contorted with anger, his agitation mounting. He wanted to refute the usations, but


    the judge denied him the opportunity.


    ¡°Defendant, please be patient. Let the witnesses speak,¡± the judgemanded.


    Next, one of Chloe¡¯s roommates took the floor.


    ¡°During our college years, Benjamin frequently exploited the excuse of business matters to force Chloe


    to workte nights at hispany. She would return the next day exhausted and still have to attend


    sses. On one asion, she even copsed from fatigue. We contacted Benjamin to inform him, but


    he disyed no concern for Chloe. Instead, he med her for not sessfullypleting the


    projects.¡±


    ¡°I used to work with Chloe at thepany owned by the Johnsons. Chloe worked the hardest among


    all the employees but received the same pay as an entry-level staff. I couldn¡¯t bear witness to this


    injustice and spoke up for her, which led to my dismissal,¡± another witness. added.


    ¡°As for me¡­¡±


    After listening to all the testimonies, the judge and the panel of juries had already made their decision


    regarding the verdict.


    ¡°Hurry up and do something!¡± Ava forcefully kicked Gideon¡¯s foot under the table.


    Gideon remainedposed. He dusted off his pants, thoroughly relishing the drama unfolding before


    him. ¡°I never imagined your family could harbor such malice. It¡¯s quite revealing to witness your guise


    as a refineddy while concealing a vindictive heart.¡±


    As long as it did not affect his interests, he did not mind sacrificing his client.


    Gideon now felt fortunate about the choices he made in the heat of the moment. Luckily, he picked the


    right side.


    ¡°Does the defendant have anything to say?¡±


    Ava locked her gaze on Gideon, cing all her hopes on him.


    Gideon cleared his throat theatrically and said, ¡°After recent deliberations, my client hase to a


    profound realization of his mistakes. He acknowledges the testimonies presented by the


    witnesses, and his demands remain unchanged. He only hopes to obtain his daughter¡¯s forgiveness


    and reunite the family.¡±


    ¡°Bullsh*t!¡± Benjamin could not suppress his anger anymore, his face turning crimson. ¡°Your Honor, this


    man has vited my testament and twisted my demands!¡±


    Ava hurriedly chimed in. ¡°Yes, thiswyer must¡¯ve been bribed by the opposing party. Everyone knows


    that Samuel is notorious for his domineering behavior in the legal profession. Perhaps he threatened


    and coerced Gideon into saying such things!¡±


    The courtroom erupted into a frenzy at their words.


    ¡°We did no such thing! Stop hurling mud at us!¡±


    Ava sneered, ¡°Hah! Did it not happen just because you say it didn¡¯t¡±


    Samuel recalled the things Joseph told him and grew increasingly convinced of their validity. Chloe had


    truly suffered at the hands of this family.


    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, brother. I¡¯ll help you protect her!¡¯


    Unperturbed by Benjamin and Ava¡¯s barrage of ims, Samuel maintained hisposure and asked,


    ¡°You use me of secretly intimidating and threatening yourwyer. So, do you have any evidence? If


    not, I can sue you for defamation.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175


    Chapter 175 Did Joseph Bully You?


    As soon as those words were uttered, a heavy silence engulfed the room.


    The mere possibility of being sued by Samuel and the looming threat of losing everything cast a


    palpable unease over


    everyone present.


    Ava¡¯s body went rigid, her once radiant face now drained of color. She swiftly realized the folly of her


    words and attempted to rectify the situation.


    ¡°I never said such words to Gideon, and our demands werepletely different. Therefore, I have a


    valid reason to harbor suspicions,¡± she hurriedly exined, seeking to rify her stance.


    ¡°You have the right to be suspicious, but you must provide evidence,¡± the judge acknowledged her


    statement with a nod.


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t have any evidence.¡±


    In a fit of anger, Benjamin pounded his fist on the table and yelled at Chloe, ¡°Do you have to tarnish our


    family¡¯s


    reputation just for the sake of money?¡±


    Chloe sneered contemptuously in response, ¡°How could you shift the me onto me? It has always


    been you who schemed to seize the assets Mother left behind!¡±


    In the past, Chloe would have been willing to lend a hand if the Johnsons faced hardships. However, as


    they refused to return what rightfully belonged to her, she saw no reason to show them any mercy. She


    owed them nothing. Even if Benjamin


    yed a part in raising her, she had more than repaid him


    long ago.


    Benjamin¡¯s gaze bore into Chloe, his eyes filled with an


    intense desire to choke the life out of her right then and there. It had been months since hest


    punished her, and now she dared to speak to him this way.


    Samuel nced at the Johnsons, savoring the sight of their mounting frustration and impotence. This


    was the very joy he derived from being awyer. Rising to his feet, he gestured to the judge, indicating


    that the proceedings should resume.


    The judge nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed upon Ava.


    ¡°Without physical evidence or witnesses to support your ims, your ims are not supported,¡± he


    stated firmly.


    Following that, the judge pronounced the verdict. Benjamin was ordered to relinquish the assets left by


    Chloe¡¯s mother in full within three months as stipted in the agreement. Failure to do so would result


    in a direct deduction from


    Benjamin¡¯s personal assets.


    Ava trembled with rage, her entire body shaking as she gritted her teeth in frustration.


    ¡®Just you wait, Chloe! Though you¡¯ve managed to reim the money, I¡¯ll never let you find your old


    folks! I heard they run a small business on Jade Street in the southern part of the city. Very well. I¡¯ll


    arrange for a few individuals to create some ¡®buzz


    for those old fools.¡®


    Benjamin understood the situation and realized that further words would be futile. He stood up and


    stormed out of the courtroom in anger.


    Ava followed closely behind, lowering her voice to speak to him, ¡°Daddy, I want to make a high¨Cquality


    replica of that diamond ne¡­¡±


    Benjamin ignored her words, raising his head to re at Jake and Icarus on his way out. He frowned at


    them and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already returned the money to you. Get out of my sight!¡±


    ¡°Jake, it¡¯s impossible between us. Stop clinging to me stubbornly,¡± Ava interjected, ¡°It¡¯s just some


    money. If people didn¡¯t know better, they¡¯d think you had given me a lot of money.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to whitewash your actions. I gave you a lot of money, but I haven¡¯t seen a single dime from


    your side.¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s mood worsened, the buzzing in his ears intensifying. He no longer wished to hear anymore,


    so he forcefully pulled Ava along and made his way out.


    Icarus did not even spare a nce at the father¨Cdaughter pair. When Chloe and Emily emerged from


    the courtroom, he immediately approached them.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Congrattions on reiming what rightfully belongs to you,


    ¡± he said.


    ¡°Thank you. Are you here today just to see me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I got here a littlete and wasn¡¯t allowed in. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Chloe responded sincerely, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡±


    She felt grateful for the presence of her friends and former colleagues who hade today. She made


    up her mind to treat them all to avish meal another day.


    At this moment, Icarus noticed her paleplexion and signs of fatigue in her eyes. ¡°Chloe, are you


    feeling unwell? You look pale.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Chloe touched her nose and her gaze flickered. ¡°I identally fell into the water¡­¡±


    ¡°You went swimming? But you can¡¯t swim, right?¡± Jake asked curiously.


    ¡°Oh, never mind about that. It¡¯s not important,¡± Chloe said, dismissing the topic.


    Icarus pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment. Then he said, ¡°Chloe,e with me for a


    moment. Let¡¯s go talk over there.¡±


    Jakepsed into silence, torn by conflicting emotions. He desired to speak up, but the words eluded


    him. He felt a mixture of regret and a sense of powerlessness witnessing his own uncle openly


    pursuing his former girlfriend. But besides regretting his past actions, he understood that he had no


    authority to intervene or express his thoughts.


    Meanwhile, Samuel finally managed to free himself from Gideon¡¯s grip and emerged. As he looked


    around, her eyes fell on Chloe and Icarus, who were engrossed in their private conversation.


    Samuel paused for a moment, then intentionally walked a few steps closer.


    After contemting for a while, Icarus asked, ¡°Did Joseph bully you?¡±

 Chapter 176

    Chapter 176


    Chapter 176 Do You Know What I¡¯m Going to Do?


    ¡°No,¡± Chloe replied.


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


    Icarus persisted.


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


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


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


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


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


    you owe him. I don¡¯t want to see you treated unfairly.¡±


    ¡°No, you listen to me. If you help me, yes, I may no longer owe Joseph, but I¡¯ll owe you instead.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t have to pay me back. I just want you to have a better life.¡±


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


    over her, causing her to avert her gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t invest your time in me. We can¡¯t be together.¡±


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


    made her peace with it.


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


    away despite


    knowing she¡¯s Joe¡¯s wife? No, I can¡¯t allow that to happen. I have to do something!¡®


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


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


    way to prevent that.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, could youe with me, please? There¡¯s something I need to discuss with you regarding


    the case,¡± Samuel said.


    Chloe looked at Samuel and nodded in agreement. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll be right with you.¡±


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


    It¡¯s going to be a long conversation.¡±


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


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


    his leave with Jake.


    Just a few minutes after they left, Joseph arrived.


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


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


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


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


    acknowledged Samuel¡¯s considerable contribution to the case. As for the


    what happened.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t Joseph. It was Gideon who chose to go against the Johnsons on the spot,¡± Samuel said.


    ¡°Huh? But why?¡± Chloe asked, puzzled.


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


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


    ¡°No, he¡¯s just a friend.¡±


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


    flooded through


    her.


    ¡®Oh god, not again¡­¡®


    ¡°A bespectacled gentleman? Icarus?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡®


    ¡°Why was he here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Perhaps he came to witness the downfall of the Johnsons. As you know, the


    Johnsons and the Coopers are no longer on amicable terms.¡±


    Joseph shifted his gaze, directing a cold stare at Samuel. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡±


    Samuel was speechless.


    ¡°I suppose he was here to offer his congrattions to Ms. Chloe for winning the case,¡± Samuel mused.


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


    necessary to offer a gentle reminder.


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


    ¡°I have another case this afternoon, so I have to go now. You guys take care,¡± Samuel said. While


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


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


    *


    With only the two of them left in the lounge, Chloe tugged at Joseph¡¯s sleeve and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s


    leave too.


    11


    He lowered his gaze, his smile fake. ¡°Are you feeling guilty?¡±


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


    so at home, don¡¯t you think?¡± Chloe was in a good mood, her tone exceptionally gentle and soothing as


    if trying to pacify a child.


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


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


    and Icarus?


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


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


    ¡®She¡¯splimenting me while cozying up to other men. Hah, she really knows how to keep herself


    busy.¡®


    Chloe could feel her hair standing on end under his gaze. What¡­What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡®I¡­I didn¡¯t do or say anything wrong, did I? So why is getting angry at me again?¡®


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Joseph ordered, striding purposefully toward the parking lot.


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


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


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


    do?¡±


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


    In her nervousness, she blurted out, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of¡­ that, are you?¡±

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177


    Chapter 177 Do You Take Me for a Fool?


    Lucas, who was sitting in the front row, spoke up at the opportune moment, ¡°Sir, shall I wait for you


    downstairs?¡±


    He did not want to be the third wheel and disturb their intimate moment. Besides, if they had a baby, he


    could take a break from his job!


    ¡°Are you sure you want to do it in the car?¡± Chloe asked hesitantly.


    ¡®Is he in the mood for intimacy because spring is here?¡®


    ¡°What kind of dirty thoughts are filling your minds?¡± Joseph asked, letting out a humorlessugh.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t he suggesting something intimate?¡®


    ¡°You talked to another man behind my back, and I¡¯m going to punish you for it.¡±


    ¡°We were just having a normal conversation!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t argue with me.¡±


    Samuel was clearly trying to warn Joseph earlier. Chloe¡¯s refusal to admit her wrongdoing only fueled


    Joseph¡¯s anger, and the air inside the car turned chillingly cold despite that the air conditioning was off.


    Shivering from the chill, Chloe bit her lip and tried to ignore Lucas¡® presence.


    Seizing the lead, Chloe enveloped Joseph in her embrace, her


    hands gently caressing his back, feigning innocence as she steered the conversation away. ¡°Please


    don¡¯t be angry anymore. You can punish me however you want. Getting angry is bad for your health,


    and I¡¯ll feel bad about it.¡±


    Strangely enough, her words managed to assuage his temper to some extent. Joseph¡¯s anger


    diminished slightly as he gazed at the delicate figure before him, captivated by her dark tresses, fair


    complexion, sparkling eyes, and rosy plump cheeks that radiated a sense of gentleness and purity.


    He gulped hard, and the fierce light in his eyes dimmed.


    Feeling a sense of difort being seated on hisp, Chloe subtly adjusted her position. As she


    raised her head, she met Joseph¡¯s scorching gaze and a blush immediately graced her cheeks.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Joseph took a deep breath. He had not initially had such


    thoughts, but he could not resist when tempted and enticed by her. ¡®I have to admit, this dumbo knows


    how to y her cards right when ites to seduction.¡®


    ¡°Get off me.¡± Joseph¡¯s voice cut through the air with amanding tone.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Chloe hastily got off hisp, but she felt something was amiss.


    In the next second, Joseph removed his suit jacket and draped it over his thighs, his eyes resembled a


    predator as they locked onto Chloe. ¡°If you dare to misbehave again, I¡¯ll punish you. Consider this a


    one¨Ctime exception.¡±


    Chloe mustered a bold and fearless expression, challenging him, ¡°And how do you n to punish me?¡±


    ¡°By spanking you,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s explore other options,¡± Chloe suggested.


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to choose,¡± Joseph retorted, his tone unwavering.


    Chloe wished she could find a hole to crawl into. ¡®How could he do this to me? He pinched my buttocks


    last time, and now he wants to spank me?¡®


    Sitting at the front, Lucas could not help but be entertained by the spectacle ying out before him.


    Suppressing his


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Is it 1 million?¡± Chloe asked.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°28 million,¡± Lucas replied.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth dropped open, and she exploded with astonishment. ¡°I thought it was only 1 mil!¡±


    ¡®When did it skyrocket to 28?!¡®


    ¡°Well, you see, Mr. Samuel is different from otherwyers. His base appearance fee alone is 1.5 mil.


    But considering theplexity of our case, the need for witness testimonies and evidence gathering,


    along with the expedited court hearing, Mr. Samuel had to decline several other cases, which led to this


    price,¡± Lucas exined.


    ¡°But 28 mil is a bit too much¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This amount is nothing for Mr. Joseph.¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s nothing for him, but it¡¯s an astronomical sum for me!¡® Chloe¡¯s mind roared, and she felt like burying


    her head and crying in despair.


    Josephzily nced at her and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to repay me.¡±


    Her body trembled, and she looked at him with pleading eyes, ¡°Really? I don¡¯t have to pay you back?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you do. Do you take me for a fool?¡± Joseph coldly retorted.


    ¡°But you said I don¡¯t have to repay you¡­¡±


    ¡°What I meant was, you don¡¯t have to repay the money


    directly. There are other ways.¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about my body?

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178


    Chapter 178 Don¡¯t Worry, He¡¯s Looking at Me


    Noticing her anticipation, a faint smile yed upon Joseph¡¯s lips. However, he could not allow her to


    obtain it so easily.


    He said, ¡°We shall see¡­¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. It seemed that spring had arrived, stirring not only the seasons


    but also Joseph¡¯s desires. She had previously assumed him to be impotent, but now she was certain


    he was not. And if he was a normal man, he would have physiological needs.


    Yet, she did not want to betray herself for personal gain. Such actions would diminish her self¨Crespect.


    That being said, she might be able to earn 1 million if she worked harder, but earning 28 million was


    nothing but a fairy tale.


    *


    In the Johnsons¡® residence, Ava haphazardly threw all the jewelry left behind by Chloe¡¯s mother into a


    suitcase from the jewelry cab. As the multitude of ornaments collided, producing crisp sounds,


    some came dangerously close to breaking. However, Ava paid no attention to their fate. Since they


    belonged to Chloe, she saw no value in preserving them and continued tossing them inside the


    suitcase without care.


    Karen entered the room and offered her constion. ¡°These are just trinkets. Let¡¯s return them to that


    destitute woman since she seems so eager to have them.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s not about returning or not. Since she left home, the people she has been associating with


    have be more and more influential. I¡¯m afraid that she¡¯ll surpass me one day.


    From the mysterious old man to Adam, and now Samuel. She had a vague feeling that something was


    not quite right.


    Karen fell silent. She too had not expected Chloe to be able to afford Samuel¡¯s services.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°And Mommy, are that despicable woman¡¯s grandparents truly just running a small business? If they


    could give their daughter 300 grand, they must have had at least tens of millions in assets back then.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re in the jewelry business, and they happened to strike it lucky once and made a fortune,¡± Karen


    exined.


    In reality, they gave Chloe¡¯s mother 200 grand, but with the umted interest over the years, it


    became 300. The reason the elderly couple had given Chloe¡¯s mother that money was to persuade her


    to leave Benjamin and return to them. And when she was in the advanced stages of her illness, she did


    not wish to burden her parents and so deposited the money into the bank for Chloe to use in the future.


    Karen knew all the details of these matters. She had even persuaded Benjamin to trick Chloe¡¯s mother


    to obtain the money, but she never expected her to deposit it into the bank so quickly. It was this


    incident that sparked a heated argument between Benjamin and Chloe¡¯s mother, ultimately leading to


    her untimely demise. However, Chloe, in her innocence, still believed to this day that her mother had


    passed away due to


    her illness.


    Ava fished out a diamond ne from under her pillow. Mommy, I n to make a fake one for Chloe


    and keep this one for myself.¡±


    Karen had always held a disdainful view of Chloe¡¯s mother and cast a scornful gaze upon the ne.


    ¡®What good would it do to use this ne to find those two old folks? They were probably long gone


    by now,¡® she pondered. But since her daughter liked it, she allowed her to keep it.


    Karen noticed an SD card on the table and asked, ¡°What¡¯s that?


    TI


    ¡°Emily¡¯s nude photos.¡± Ava sneered contemptuously. ¡°Her ex- boyfriend sold them to me for a few


    thousand dors.¡±


    The explicit content was so extensive that anyone unaware of the circumstances might assume it was


    intentionally produced for sale. Just like Chloe, both of them were worthless


    Maybe she could use such a transaction to hire Samuel. After all, she definitely could not afford his


    legal fees.


    A glimmer danced in Karen¡¯s eyes, and a smile bloomed on her still¨Cbeautiful face. ¡°Sweetie, I¡¯ve


    thought of a way to help you seek revenge.¡±


    *


    After taking a day off to rest at home, Chloe returned to work at Fairlight. In a disy of great


    compassion, Joseph waived her lunch orders for a week, considering that she was still recovering from


    her illness and had yet to fully regain her strength.


    Chloe epted this gesture without any qualms, knowing full well how ruthless Jane could be and the


    extent of the torment she had endured that day. However, the weight of the


    substantial legal fees burdened her thoughts, causing her to


    feel overwhelmed and frequently distracted duringpany meetings.


    When Wendy needed an assistant for an important meeting, she chose Chloe to apany her. But


    something peculiar happened today. Wendy sensed that Joseph, sitting in the front row, had his gaze


    fixed on her. The realization startled Wendy, causing a thinyer of perspiration to form on her body


    and triggering a sense of unease.


    Chloe snapped back to reality and noticed Wendy¡¯s unusual behavior. She leaned in and whispered,


    inquiring if something was amiss or if Wendy was feeling unwell.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ I just feel like Mr. Joseph is staring at me,¡¯ Wendy replied softly.


    Chloe was stunned for a moment and then lifted her head to look. Sure enough, her gaze met


    Joseph¡¯s. He showed no signs of withdrawing his gaze or any change in expression. He remained aloof


    and unapproachable, like a rare flower atop a lofty peak, untouchable by mere mortals. His eyes


    seemed to harbor a warmth that was previously nonexistent. However, it vanished as soon as she


    blinked, and his chin lifted slightly, revealing a subtle arrogance.


    ¡®This dumbo¡¯s looking at me again. She¡¯s so bold to express her affection in the workce. It¡¯s too


    ostentatious, but I


    didn¡¯t hate it.¡®


    Chloe had no idea what Joseph was thinking. She turned her head toward Wendy and whispered in a


    hushed tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s looking at me.¡±


    Wendy was at a loss for words. ¡®Girl, do you know what you¡¯re talking about?¡®


    The meetingsted for two hours, and it was lunch break by the time it was over.


    the


    As Chloe followed the crowd out of the meeting room, receptionist called her. ¡°Chloe, pleasee to


    the lobby. Someone¡¯s here iming to be your friend, but I have a feeling they might be here to cause


    trouble¡­¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brows, thinking it might be Ava or Jake. ¡°I won¡¯t being down. Can you please


    help me turn them away?¡±


    ¡°All right. They were quite insistent, and I almost fell for it. By the way, the person said her name is


    Emily.¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°The person downstairs is named Emily?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll be right down.¡±

 Chapter 179

    Chapter 179


    Chapter 179 A Man Who Protects His Own Is Charming


    As Chloe descended to the ground floor, she witnessed Emily locked in a fierce dispute with her


    parents, her face contorted with distress and tears flowing down her cheeks.


    Hastening her steps, Chloe approached and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Nelson Patel immediately redirected his anger toward Chloe,unching a barrage of insults.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°What happened? Emily thinks of you as a friend, but what did you do? You, yourself, are a woman of


    loose morals, but how could you involve my child in this turmoil alongside you?¡±


    Lina Ress¡® eyes were bloodshot as she chimed in, ¡°We¡¯ve warned you repeatedly about befriending


    her, and now look at the mess you¡¯ve made! You¡¯ve tarnished your prospects for marriage. It¡¯s utterly


    disgraceful!¡±


    TI


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. I believe Coco has nothing to do with this, Emily¡¯s voice trembled, her tear¨Cstained


    face evoking a pang of sympathy.


    Chloe swiftly retrieved a tissue to wipe away Emily¡¯s tears, ignoring the hurtful words from her parents.


    Concerned, she asked, ¡°Em, please tell me what happened.¡±


    ¡°Earlier today, Ava said that because she couldn¡¯t find your contact address, she sent everything your


    mother left behind to my house, but there was a memory card¡­¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyebrows twitched. She had a hunch of what was on that memory card: intimate photos of


    Emily taken by Emily¡¯s


    ex¨Cboyfriend.


    Emily remained silent, tears were forming in her eyes as she shook her head vigorously, unwilling to


    disclose the truth in a public setting. Clearly, she understood the situation but could not find a way to


    exin it to her parents.


    Chloe¡¯s expression grew grave as she spoke, ¡°Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Lina, let¡¯s find a quiet ce to sit down


    and have a proper conversation, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Why? Is it because this is your workce and you¡¯re worried that you¡¯ll be affected?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ That¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s anxiety and


    confusion escted as more onlookers gathered. She was torn between calling for security assistance


    and fearing the potential harm it could cause Emily¡¯s parents.


    ¡°You have to give us an exnation today, or else you can forget abouting to work!¡±


    ¡°You dress so elegantly and work in a prestigious corporation. It¡¯s hard to believe that you have such a


    malicious heart. How is Emily going to get married in the future?!¡±


    The couple yelled at the top of their lungs, their voices


    strained with sorrow.


    Seeing how Chloe¡¯s father showed no favor toward her, they were led to believe that she must be the


    one who influenced their daughter in a negative way which ultimately led to the existence of those


    explicit photos.


    Just then, a calm and steady set of footsteps approached. Joseph emerged from the elevator, his gaze


    ice¨Ccold as he looked at Emily¡¯s parents.


    ¡°Who gave you permission to shout at my employees in mypany?¡± he boomed, clearly indicating


    his identity.


    ¡°Oh my, Mr. Joseph¡¯s way of protecting his employees is so cool!¡±


    ¡°Seriously, he¡¯s so charming. If I were a woman, I¡¯d totally go after him.¡±


    ¡°Oh please. Even if you were a woman, you¡¯re not worthy of him.¡±


    Whispers filled the air among the surrounding employees, with women admiring Joseph and men filled


    with awe. The charisma of someone who stood up for their own people was undeniably captivating.


    Joseph¡¯s imposing presence made it clear that he was not to be provoked, and Emily¡¯s parents felt a


    tinge of fear in his presence. Mustering up his courage, Nelson replied in a trembling voice, ¡°This


    woman ruined my daughter¡¯s future. This is no trivial matter. We came here to seek answers.¡±


    ¡°She ruined your daughter¡¯s future? Do you have any evidence?


    ¡°Ava has already mailed everything to my house. What more evidence do you need?¡± Nelson retorted.


    With one hand in his pocket, Joseph instinctively positioned himself in front of Chloe. There was a


    disdainful smirk ying on his lips as he said, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go confront Ava?¡±


    ¡°Because it was Chloe¡¯s belongings. Why should I bother Ava?¡±


    ¡°But those items went through Ava¡¯s hands,¡± Joseph said, making his point clear.


    Emily¡¯s parents were left stunned when they heard what Joseph said, though a hint of suspicion started


    to form.


    Unable to bear witness to the situation any longer, Lucas sought permission from Joseph and escorted


    the Patels to a meeting room. He meticulously told them the entire story, emphatically assuring them


    that, apart from Chloe, Ava, and Emily¡¯s unscrupulous ex¨Cboyfriend, no one had everid eyes on the


    explicit photos. He also further reassured them that a report had already been filed with the police.


    To their surprise, Emily¡¯s parents, who had just begun to regain theirposure, burst into tears upon


    hearing the word ¡°police.¡±


    ¡°How can we face our rtives with the police involved? How will you ever get married in the future?


    Who would be willing to marry you?¡± Linamented, her voice filled with despair.


    ¡°Mom, can you please give me a moment to myself?¡± Emily, now aware of the truth, experienced a mix


    of emotions. On one hand, she was grateful for Chloe¡¯s help, and on the other, she harbored an intense


    hatred for her ex¨Cboyfriend.


    ¡°You¡¯ve made such a grave mistake, and you expect us to leave you in peace?!¡± Lina shouted as she


    red at Emily


    exasperatingly. She then turned her piercing gaze toward Chloe and continued, ¡°This is all your fault! If


    it weren¡¯t for you, none of this would have happened! You¡¯re going to take responsibility for this!¡±

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180


    Chapter 180 Since When Do You Eat Leftover Pasta?


    Emily could notprehend the absurdity of her mother¡¯s demand for Chloe to take responsibility. It


    seemed like a shameless ploy.


    ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m begging you. Please don¡¯t make things worse for me. It was my mistake. I shouldn¡¯t


    have trusted that jerk.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Lina retorted in a low voice, ¡°Can¡¯t you see how fiercely Chloe¡¯s boss is protecting her?


    There must be some hidden connection between them, which means we should demand proper


    compensation for the harm they¡¯ve caused us.


    Despite Lucas¡® thorough exnation, Lina remained unwavering in her belief that Chloe was to me


    for her daughter¡¯s situation. She insisted on seekingpensation from Chloe, and if mary


    compensation was not given, she hoped at least for her daughter to be offered a job in theirpany


    as reparation. In Lina¡¯s eyes, this office appearedrger and more prestigious than Emily¡¯s current


    workce.


    ¡°You¡¯re just embarrassing me further!¡± Emily shouted. She was overwhelmed with a sense of shame


    and guilt. Fueled by her fury, she left her parents behind and stormed out of the meeting room. Without


    her presence, Chloe could now handle the situation without having to take her feelings into


    consideration.


    Joseph turned to Chloe and said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave as well.¡±


    Chloe hesitated for a moment, but she decided to ignore Emily¡¯s parents.


    To their surprise, Lina stepped forward and tightly grasped


    ||


    Chloe¡¯s sleeve, dering fiercely, ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere! You have to give us a proper


    exnation, or else, I won¡¯t let you leave!¡±


    Joseph turned around, his gaze icy and piercing, sending a shiver down Lina¡¯s spine. Her hand


    trembled, and she released her grip on Chloe. Swallowing nervously, she said, ¡°I¡­ As parents, is it


    wrong for us to seek justice for our daughter?¡±


    ¡°Seeking justice isn¡¯t wrong, but you¡¯re cing all the me on my people, and that¡¯s something you


    should never do,¡± Joseph responded firmly.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Chloe, those photos wouldn¡¯t have ended up in Ava¡¯s hands,¡± Nelson argued defiantly.


    ¡°Yes, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up with Ava, but they would¡¯ve spread throughout Aesper,¡± Joseph


    calmly stated, emphasizing each word. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Chloe¡¯s quick action to report and prevent the


    photos from circting, you


    wouldn¡¯t have learned about this through Ava. She chose not to argue with you because you¡¯re Emily¡¯s


    parents. Chloe didn¡¯t want to hurt you, yet you still have the audacity to try to take advantage of her.¡±


    Lina and Nelson were left feeling utterly ashamed and


    embarrassed, their faces flushed crimson. They could not find a single word to retort.


    Chloe gazed nkly at Joseph, her eyes briefly filled with intense sorrow. She felt both sympathy and


    guilt toward Emily, but the way Emily¡¯s parents spoke to her broke her heart.


    Joseph saw through her unhappiness and was willing to protect her and even stand up for her. Apart


    from being


    touched, she truly had a fleeting moment of wanting tomit to this man and spend her whole life


    with him.


    Lucas looked at the peculiar parents and promptly gave them the order to leave. They slinked away


    with their heads hung low before the security could arrive.


    ¡°Next time, don¡¯t show mercy to anyone and boldly fight back, ¡± Joseph reached out and pinched


    Chloe¡¯s cheek. ¡°Do you hear me, dumbo?¡°!


    Chloe pressed her lips together. ¡°But they¡¯re Emily¡¯s parents. I don¡¯t want¡­¡±


    Emily was her best friend. She had done more than just apany her.


    Joseph furrowed his brows. ¡°Then when encountering such situations in the future, just let Lucas


    handle it.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Chloe softly nodded, her bright almond eyes shimmering with a peculiar glint. She felt that


    Joseph was exceptionally handsome. Normally, she was quick¨Cwitted with a sharp tongue, but when it


    came to expressing genuine emotions, she was tongue¨Ctied.


    Meanwhile, Lucas was speechless. ¡®Seriously? You¡¯re leaving all the mess for me to handle while you


    enjoy yourself?¡®


    In the afternoon, Chloe texted Emily and learned that she had taken a temporary leave from her work


    and was staying at a hotel. This brought some relief to her.


    [Chloe, the things Ava sent over, I¡¯ll give them to you another day. They¡¯re still with my parents.]


    [Okay. No rush.]


    *


    Feeling a bit hungry since she had not eaten anything at noon, Chloe went downstairs to buy some


    food. She thought that Joseph might also be hungry, so she bought an extra portion to bring to him.


    Upon reaching Joseph¡¯s office, Chloe spotted a man casually dressed in sportswear waiting by the


    entrance. He seemed to be around Joseph¡¯s age. He possessed captivating eyes,


    apanied by faint dark circles, exuding an air of a carefree yboy.


    After politely acknowledging him with a nod, Chloe proceeded directly into Joseph¡¯s office, leaving


    Nathan astonished in her


    wake.


    ¡®What¡¯s the meaning of this? Why do I have to wait on Joe while she can just walk in there?¡® Nathan


    protested internally, feeling aggrieved. ¡®Isn¡¯t this pure favoritism based on gender?¡®


    Unwilling to ept it, Nathan followed Chloe into the office. At that moment, Joseph had just finished a


    video conference.


    ¡°I bought some food and brought you some,¡± said Chloe as she ced the takeout box on the coffee


    table.


    Nathan cast an incredulous nce at the offering, expressing his skepticism. ¡°Pasta Frittata? Isn¡¯t this


    made from leftover pasta?¡±


    ¡®Joe holds high standards when it came to food. Why would he ever eat something like that?¡®


    Chloe blinked. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Nathan looked at her sympathetically. It seemed to her that


    this poor girl was going to get a scolding from Joseph soon.


    ¡°Leave it there. I¡¯ll eat itter,¡± Joseph responded to Chloe while flipping through the documents on his


    desk. He was indeed feeling a bit hungry now since he had not eaten lunch.


    ¡°Since when did you start eating leftover pasta, Joe?¡± Nathan could not help but express his confusion,


    wearing a bewildered expression on his face.


    ¡°You¡¯re being quite noisy, you know?¡± Joseph retorted.


    Observing Nathan¡¯s interaction with Joseph, Chloe realized that he was Joseph¡¯s friend. Sporting a


    warm smile, she exined, ¡°Jojo is ustomed to the food I cook. I didn¡¯t cook today, but there¡¯s a


    restaurant downstairs that makes Pasta Frittata simr in taste to the one I make.¡±

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181


    Chapter 181 Giving Ava a Stink Bath


    Joseph raised his head slightly since he found it amusing. ¡®She really is a dummy. Why¡¯s she so proud


    when her cooking skills are on par with the downstairs restaurant?¡®


    Nathan understood Joseph¡¯s meaning and found it even more frightening. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me Joe is serious


    about this girl. It doesn¡¯t seem like he finds her a novelty. Well, I¡¯d be happy to see him find his


    significant other if it happened a month ago, but now that Xavia ising back¡­ I don¡¯t think he has


    forgotten about her.¡®


    Chloe left after delivering the meal. When she closed the door, she heard Nathan¡¯s words. ¡°Xavia


    contacted me. She asked me why you didn¡¯t reply to her and if you¡¯re still mad at her.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face stiffened slightly and she was struck dumb,


    unable to pull herself away from the spot. She had never felt a strong desire to eavesdrop. Currently,


    she yearned to listen to Joseph¡¯s answer.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, why aren¡¯t you going in?¡± Lucas suddenly opened the door of the neighboring office and


    looked at her in


    confusion.


    Chloe quickly straightened her body and avoided his gaze. ¡°I just came out. I¡¯m going back to work


    now.¡±


    Lucas felt it odd as he watched her scurrying away, but he made noment.


    *


    A few dayster, after Emily had made up with her parents,


    she went to visit Chloe. When Chloe noticed her best friend¡¯s haggard face, she knew very well that


    Emily had not had a happy life despite making up with her parents. Previously, Emily was renting her


    own ce. Now that her lease was up, she recently moved back home.


    After a brief silence, Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up as she stared at the supermarket opposite them. ¡°We can¡¯t let


    Ava off the hook so easily.¡±


    She could not be bothered by the things Ava did in the past to disgust her, but this time, Ava had


    deliberately tried to sow discord between Chloe and Emily. Even Emily¡¯s parents had gotten involved. It


    inevitably challenged Chloe¡¯s limit, and she could not suffer in silence any longer.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not bother. It¡¯s all over now.¡± Emily shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be a good thing. She¡¯s too arrogant, and we must teach her a lesson.¡± Chloe blinked at Emily


    before she entered the supermarket to buy some rotten eggs from the store


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    employee. She then headed toward the road Ava would take every day to get home.


    At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Ava stepped out of a luxurious car. Her face was seemingly in but


    she had full makeup on. She even dressed up inconspicuously. She clearly wanted to put up a feeble


    and delicate front. The man in the car opened the car door for her. It seemed like he was rtively


    satisfied


    with her.


    ¡°I enjoyed myself very much today. I hope to see you again.¡± He appeared like a gentleman, behaving


    politely.


    Great satisfaction engulfed Ava. She nodded at the man shyly. ¡± It was an honor to have a chance to


    have lunch with you, Mr.


    Max.¡±


    Max Lopez¡¯s family was based in Docwood City. Although his family¡¯s assets were ordinary, he had


    high prospects. He was also very handsome. Benjamin got to know the Lopez family through work and


    had set Ava up on a date with Max. The main thing was that Docwood and Aesper were two separate


    cities, so no one knew that Ava was previously engaged to Jake.


    With passionate eyes, Max yearned to chat more with Ava when a charming figure suddenly dashed


    out of nowhere and knocked him away. He had just steadied himself and had yet to regain his wits


    when Chloe smashed all the eggs in her hands on Ava in one go.


    The sticky yellowish liquid flowed down Ava¡¯s delicate


    appearance before a pungent smell wafted off her body. Ava was blindsided. She raised her hand and


    touched it, her handing away full of yellow and sticky liquid. The passers¨Cby were shocked at the


    sight and immediately took a few steps


    back.


    ¡®D*mn! What is this?! It¡¯s yellow and smelly! Is it poop?!¡®


    Ava found it hard to breathe because of the pungent smell and stared at Chloe wide¨Ceyed. Her mind


    went nk at the same time. People were holding up their phones to record what was happening, and


    there were a lot of passers¨Cby.


    ¡®How dare this b*tch did this to me?!¡®


    For the first time, Ava burst out into real, desperate tears. Chloe, I¡¯m your older sister. Why did you do


    this to me¡­¡±


    When Ava made that statement, Max regained his wits. He stared at the charming but wicked Chloe


    and scolded coldly,


    frowning, ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened between you and Ava, but regardless, what you did just now is


    out of the line.¡±


    The few stinky eggs seemed harmless, but Chloe schemingly used this method to humiliate another


    woman in public. It was much more serious than beating someone up.

 Chapter 182

    Chapter 182


    Chapter 182 Stupid Sap


    ¡°And who are you? Why did you speak up for Ava?¡± Emily walked over and looked Max up and up.


    ¡°Oh, I know¡­ You must be another stupid sap who has been tricked by her.¡±


    Her bestie had charged forward and attacked their enemy, so of course, she could not retreat.


    Max consciously assumed that she was talking about him, so his face turned livid and he fell silent.


    Ava¡¯s tears were mixed with the stinky liquid of the eggs, and they were all over her face. As a result,


    she presented quite a ghastly scene. She roared, ¡°Come at me if you dare! Don¡¯t vent out your anger


    on Mr. Max!¡±


    Max nced at her withplicated feelings. It seemed that Ava¡¯s move was effective.


    Chloe smirked wickedly. ¡®She doesn¡¯t forget to keep up her good image even at this moment. Great!¡®


    She cleared her throat and spoke loudly so more people could hear her. ¡°Mr. Max, right? You said that I


    shouldn¡¯t do this no matter what happened. Well, I¡¯d like to tell you what she did. I sincerely hope that


    you won¡¯t be tricked by her.


    ¡°Firstly, we¡¯re indeed sisters but we have different mothers. When I was still together with my ex¨C


    boyfriend, she secretly seduced him several times before she sessfully gained his heart. In the end,


    she dumped him when something went wrong with his business.


    ¡°Secondly, she didn¡¯t hesitate to give her body up to Adam


    with them.


    ¡°Thirdly, I moved out of my house because none of the


    Johnsons are nice people. That¡¯s why they raise a shameless girl like Ava.


    ¡°If you show favor toward her today, she¡¯ll try to get


    something out of you tomorrow. You¡¯d better run if you want to live peacefully for the rest of your life.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ava screamed desperately and was about to rush over to hit Chloe. However, Emily had


    been staring at Ava all that while. She was ready to protect Chloe at any moment.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Emily then screamed with her head held high, ¡°Do you dare swear you never did any of those things?!


    If you dare, you¡¯ll be struck to death by lightning!¡± She vented the gloominess that had been bottled up


    in her for many days. She felt great and relieved at that moment.


    Ava appeared shell¨Cshocked as her head buzzed. She then cked out immediately after that. Seeing


    this, Max wanted to go and support her. However, Chloe reminded him, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to get rid of the


    stench of rotten eggs, just like how it¡¯s difficult to get rid of the stench of wretched people. You won¡¯t be


    rid of her unless you peel off ayer of your skin.¡±


    Max immediately retrieved his extended hands.


    With a chuckle, Chloe left with Emily. Yeah. They left without calling 911 for Ava.


    Chloe had asked Samuel about doing this before she came here. It was not illegal to throw rotten eggs


    at others. At most,


    she would be rebuked and educated. She did not know if Max


    would call 911 for Ava or not.


    After saying goodbye to Emily, Chloe hailed a cab to return to the vi. Joseph was wearing a white


    shirt and suit pants,


    slowly opening a can of food for Toto in the yard. The dog wagged its fluffy tails vigorously, its saliva


    dripping onto the ground.


    When Toto heard Chloe¡¯s footsteps, it barked several times to wee her home. After that, it turned


    back around to stare at Joseph eagerly.


    ¡®Well¡­ it¡¯s indeed just for show.¡®


    Joseph tilted his head and looked over. His tall nose bridge, coupled with his handsome and aloof facial


    features, made a beautiful arc. Every part about him was impable. But in the next second, his face


    split into a disdainful expression. ¡°What is that smell?¡±


    Chloe took a sniff of her hands and answered awkwardly, Rotten eggs.¡±


    TT


    Joseph was bbergasted. He then grabbed arge box of wet tissues from inside the vi and threw it


    at her without hesitation. ¡°Wipe yourself clean before you enter the house.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Okay.¡± She finally got rid of the smell on her hands. Joseph then ordered her to take a bath.


    When she stepped out of the shower, she was clean. Her wet hair draped over her shoulders casually,


    and her delicate cor bone was exposed by her round¨Cneck nightgown. She blinked innocently. ¡°Is it


    okay now?¡±


    Joseph stated expressionlessly, ¡°Spill it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What were you doing with rotten eggs?¡±


    Ordinary people would have nothing to do with such a thing. Chloe was not afraid of telling him the


    truth, so she described the incident to him in a few words. Knitting his brows, Joseph pursed his thin


    lips tightly in disapproval.


    ¡®She could have asked Lucas to do that kind of thing. Why did she take it upon herself to do it?¡®


    But before he could say that, his phone on the table vibrated. It was a call from Tyson who worked at


    the police station.

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183


    Chapter 183 It¡¯d Be a Pity if It Was True


    Joseph¡¯s brows went up as he nced at Chloe, who appeared nervous. He then picked up his phone


    and walked toward the backyard. Chloe frowned as she stared at his back as he left. She then took out


    her phone and texted Emily.


    [I think Ava filed a police report.]


    [How shameless! She has done so many shameful things. Isn¡¯t she afraid of being exposed?]


    [But she didn¡¯t leave any evidence.]


    [What should we do now? Will officers being to take us away?]


    When that scene came to mind, Emily was filled with a tinge of fear. [I think we¡¯ll be fine. Joseph has a


    rtive working at the station. He just called Joseph. I guess he¡¯s asking Joseph about the incident.]


    At most, that incident could be considered a civil dispute. Since she and Ava had familial ties, she


    assumed she just needed to apologize to Ava in public to resolve this. She did not mind apologizing to


    Ava.


    Hearing that, Emily rxed. After chatting a bit, they ended


    the conversation.


    Soon, Joseph returned and stared at Chloe gloomily. A tinge of strangeness dawned on his handsome


    face. ¡°Did you throw rotten eggs at Ava on a main street?¡±


    ¡°I did¡­ Did she file a police report?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    the


    And it was more than that. Ava was currently hospitalized with ae. There was a demand for a


    psychological damagepensation fee of four million. If Chloe failed to pay amount, she had to


    apologize to Chloe on the Inte via a live broadcast.


    Chloe inevitably rolled her eyes. ¡®How greedy! She actually has the balls to demand four million dors.


    ¡°Should I go and apologize to her?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll get awyer to deal with this.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe widened her eyes. ¡°Are you going to ask Samuel for help?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise?¡± Helplessness engulfed Joseph. ¡°Please be


    smarter about it if you want to teach someone a lesson next time. What you did today may seem


    harmless but powerful. Have you ever thought about the cost thates to deal with the aftermath?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. I think apologizing to her is the smallest price to pay. I just need to say a few words. It¡¯s


    fine.¡± Chloe made up her mind and said seriously, ¡°I¡¯ll say sorry to her. It¡¯s too expensive to hire Samuel


    to do this.¡±


    She decided to do that now and wanted to go upstairs to change her clothes and leave. Unexpectedly,


    her slippers were wet from the water in the bathroom. She slipped and inevitably fell toward Joseph.


    Thetter reacted fast and quickly supported her.


    At the same time, Chloe sought out support since she wanted


    Ava¡¯s date had been right beside her. There was no other way out except pretending to faint to avoid a


    fatal humiliation and awkwardness.


    When she saw that Benjamin was back, she eagerly sat up on the hospital bed. ¡°Daddy, how did it go?


    When is Chloe going to say sorry to me in public?¡±


    ¡°She refused to apologize.¡±


    Great excitement dawned on Ava. ¡°So, does that mean she agreed to pay me 4 million as


    compensation?¡±


    ¡®Is she that rich? I should¡¯ve asked for more.¡®


    Karen did not have the heart to disappoint Ava, so she did not know how to expose the truth after being


    hesitant for a long time. Benjamin vented all his fury out at the side and


    demanded Ava stay far away from Chloe in the future.


    Chloe was a curse.


    After waiting for an entire afternoon, Ava only received $35. She copsed on the bed as if she had


    suffered an invisible p, her face was burning with shame. She then clenched the bed sheets tightly


    and became furious. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m going to the South today.¡±


    The Lopez family was very satisfied with her but Max had been scared off because of that b*tch Chloe.


    Two of her marriage prospects had been ruined. If she could not deal with Chloe, she could at least


    bully Chloe¡¯s old folks. It would be for the best if they were dead. If not, they would suffer greatly.


    *


    The warmest season of the year descended on Aesper City.


    Chloe took Toto for a walk in the morning. When she got


    home, she was all sweaty. After taking a bath, she fished out a pair of breezy shorts and paired them


    with a light, thin shirt. She wore her thick ck hair in a bun. The getup made her appear pure and


    young.


    When Joseph saw her straight and symmetric legs as well as therge part of fair skin that was


    exposed on her upper body, his face inevitably sank. ¡°Are you nning to go to work in that?¡±


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± Chloe twirled in front of him. She looked fair and charming. Any expression she made


    was bewitching and seductive.


    Of course, an exceptionaldy of her caliber was attractive. However, Joseph did not want others to


    enjoy her charms. His expression became ice¨Ccold. ¡°Put on a different shirt.

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184


    Chapter 184


    After waiting for an


    ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too sexy.¡±


    Chloe was bbergasted. She solemnly inspected her clothes for a few minutes before she stated, ¡°No.


    It¡¯s just a in old shirt.¡±


    ¡°Change it. Keep your current identity in mind. You represent more than yourself now.¡®


    Chloe yearned to retort back at him, but it was time to go to work. Hence, she reluctantly returned to


    her bedroom to change into a boyfriend -style top. The long hem of her shirt covered her pants so now


    it looked like she wore nothing else other than her shirt. It seemed ordinary, but this was


    attractive to men.


    A frown appeared on Joseph¡¯s face. ¡°Who are you trying to seduce?¡±


    Chloe disobeyed him this time around. She put her hands on her waist and retorted, ¡°What do you


    mean by normal or strange clothes? You¡¯re just being prejudiced against me. It¡¯s useless no matter


    what clothes I put on!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s slender sharp eyes turned dark. He got up from the sofa and forced her into a corner step by


    step. Soon, his tall figure towered over her. ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s bravado faded. She chuckled. ¡°No, I¡¯m just trying to exin it to you. People have the freedom


    to wear what they want to wear in today¡¯s society. There¡¯s no need to argue


    about it. All the girls dress up like this.¡±


    Joseph tried his best to recall but he could note up with images of other women as he hadrgely


    ignored other


    women. But he decided to not argue with her today because of the recent softening of her attitude. He


    would have time to slowly make that right in the future.


    They went to Fairlight together. After the morning meeting, Joseph called Nathan. ¡°Why do women


    always dress in such revealing clothes? What¡¯s going on in their minds?¡±


    Nathan, who was much experienced in this matter, swallowed the food that the woman beside him was


    feeding him. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s pretty.¡±


    ¡°Is that the only reason?¡± Joseph tapped the space bar on his keyboard. ¡°Isn¡¯t the reason to seduce


    men?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. Women put on makeup sometimes and buy pretty clothes to make themselves happy or to


    compete with other women in terms of charm. It¡¯s like how men like topete with each other in


    terms of wealth. Women like topete in terms of their prettiness.¡± Nathan made a rational analysis


    before he teased Joseph, ¡°Did you and Coco have a tiff?


    Joseph lifted his chin and snorted indignantly, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have the guts.¡±


    ¡°Well, why are you suddenly asking about this then?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. What¡¯s the most effective way to resolve this issue?¡±


    ¡°Simple. Take her out shopping and pick some styles that


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    you¡¯re satisfied with. Women are happy when they get new


    clothes, and you get what you want at the same time.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s finger hovered over the spacebar. He fell into deep thought. ¡®That is a good idea.¡®


    *


    At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Wendy gathered all the employees of the marketing department and


    made an announcement. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make. I¡¯m starting my


    maternity leave


    tomorrow and will be away for a month and a half. Ellie and Chloe will be taking over my tasks. Chloe


    will be responsible for your daily, weekly, and monthly reports.¡±


    Everyone nodded to express their obedience. ¡°Ms. Wendy, remember to invite us to your baby shower.


    We¡¯ll prepare great gifts for you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Get a nanny and rx during this holiday. I heard that women should get plenty of rest


    after delivery or else their bodies will be weak.¡±


    ¡°I understand. You guys have toplete your task seriously. I won¡¯t worry as long as you don¡¯t


    infuriate Ellie and Chloe.¡±


    Wendy had worked for Fairlight for many years and always held the role of a senior. Although she was


    generally stern, she always took care of her others. Hence, her colleagues liked her.


    However, Ellie Miller raised a sarcasticment. ¡°It¡¯s good if they don¡¯t anger me, but Chloe just got


    here. She knows nothing.¡±


    Wendy knew that Ellie was bitter over this, so she tried to persuade her patiently, ¡°Chloe hasn¡¯t worked


    here for long but she has the experience of leading a team abroad. Plus, she


    has a lot of unique ideas. You guys can learn from each other.¡®


    With a sneer, Ellie shot a side¨Ceye at Chloe. Her palm¨Csized face looked beautiful and pure, but her


    clear and pretty eyes brightened with a malicious glint. ¡®At most, Chloe¡¯s just a


    fresh graduate. She has led a team? Wendy must be trying to fool us.¡®


    Wendy handed apleted proposal to Chloe and Ellie in an attempt to bring them closer. ¡°Help me


    deliver this proposal to Mr. Joseph¡¯s office. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to tell you what to do, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we know what to do.¡±


    Chloe was closer to Wendy than Ellie was, so she epted the document. A tinge of dissatisfaction


    shed through Ellie¡¯s eyes as she stood at the side. When they knocked on Joseph¡¯s door and walked


    into his office, Ellie suddenly snatched the document from Chloe and went forward, smiling


    enthusiastically.


    11


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯m sorry to take up a few minutes of your time. This is the proposal brought up duringst


    week¡¯s meeting. Please take a look and see if any amendments need to be made.


    11


    However, Joseph did not ept the document Ellie handed over attentively. He pinched the spot


    between his brows as slight exhaustion dawned on his face after working for a whole day. ¡°Chloe, tell


    me the proposal direction and its contents in simple words.¡±


    Ellie¡¯s smile stiffened but was forced to hand the document to


    Chloe.


    170 515


    P


    When Chloe met Ellie¡¯s gaze, she saw the envy in thetter¡¯s eyes. She sighed softly and ced the


    document in front of Joseph again before saying in an all¨Cbusiness tone, ¡°I¡¯d like to keep the proposal


    in view. You can listen to my exnation while flipping through it. This way, you can get the most


    content in the shortest time. I¡¯ll try to save you as much time as possible.¡±


    Joseph looked up. His deep¨Cset eyes were dark, billowing with emotions. ¡®Dumbo senses that I¡¯m tired.


    She feels sorry for me.


    He hastily straightened his back, feeling a surge of energy as he picked up the document. But as soon


    as he opened the folder, he frowned deeply and put it down immediately. He raised his hand and


    looked at his thumb. It was bleeding.


    Chloe yelped and went forward to inspect the situation, finding a loose paper clip glued to the interior of


    the foldeentire afternoon, Ava only received $35. She copsed on the bed as if she had suffered an


    invisible p, her face was burning with shame. She then clenched the bed sheets tightly and became


    furious. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m going to the South today.¡±


    The Lopez family was very satisfied with her but Max had been scared off because of that b*tch Chloe.


    Two of her marriage prospects had been ruined. If she could not deal with Chloe, she could at least


    bully Chloe¡¯s old folks. It would be for the best if they were dead. If not, they would suffer greatly.


    *


    The warmest season of the year descended on Aesper City.


    Chloe took Toto for a walk in the morning. When she got


    home, she was all sweaty. After taking a bath, she fished out a pair of breezy shorts and paired them


    with a light, thin shirt. She wore her thick ck hair in a bun. The getup made her appear pure and


    young.


    When Joseph saw her straight and symmetric legs as well as therge part of fair skin that was


    exposed on her upper body, his face inevitably sank. ¡°Are you nning to go to work in that?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± Chloe twirled in front of him. She looked fair and charming. Any expression she made


    was bewitching and seductive.


    Of course, an exceptionaldy of her caliber was attractive. However, Joseph did not want others to


    enjoy her charms. His expression became ice¨Ccold. ¡°Put on a different shirt.

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185


    Chapter 185 Take Chloe Out Shopping


    ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too sexy.¡±


    Chloe was bbergasted. She solemnly inspected her clothes for a few minutes before she stated, ¡°No.


    It¡¯s just a in old shirt.¡±


    ¡°Change it. Keep your current identity in mind. You represent more than yourself now.¡®


    Chloe yearned to retort back at him, but it was time to go to work. Hence, she reluctantly returned to


    her bedroom to change into a boyfriend -style top. The long hem of her shirt covered her pants so now


    it looked like she wore nothing else other than her shirt. It seemed ordinary, but this was


    attractive to men.


    A frown appeared on Joseph¡¯s face. ¡°Who are you trying to seduce?¡±


    Chloe disobeyed him this time around. She put her hands on her waist and retorted, ¡°What do you


    mean by normal or strange clothes? You¡¯re just being prejudiced against me. It¡¯s useless no matter


    what clothes I put on!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s slender sharp eyes turned dark. He got up from the sofa and forced her into a corner step by


    step. Soon, his tall figure towered over her. ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s bravado faded. She chuckled. ¡°No, I¡¯m just trying to exin it to you. People have the freedom


    to wear what they want to wear in today¡¯s society. There¡¯s no need to argue


    about it. All the girls dress up like this.¡±


    Joseph tried his best to recall but he could note up with images of other women as he hadrgely


    ignored other


    women. But he decided to not argue with her today because of the recent softening of her attitude. He


    would have time to slowly make that right in the future.


    They went to Fairlight together. After the morning meeting, Joseph called Nathan. ¡°Why do women


    always dress in such revealing clothes? What¡¯s going on in their minds?¡±


    Nathan, who was much experienced in this matter, swallowed the food that the woman beside him was


    feeding him. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s pretty.¡±


    ¡°Is that the only reason?¡± Joseph tapped the space bar on his keyboard. ¡°Isn¡¯t the reason to seduce


    men?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. Women put on makeup sometimes and buy pretty clothes to make themselves happy or to


    compete with other women in terms of charm. It¡¯s like how men like topete with each other in


    terms of wealth. Women like topete in terms of their prettiness.¡± Nathan made a rational analysis


    before he teased Joseph, ¡°Did you and Coco have a tiff?


    Joseph lifted his chin and snorted indignantly, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have the guts.¡±


    ¡°Well, why are you suddenly asking about this then?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. What¡¯s the most effective way to resolve this issue?¡±


    ¡°Simple. Take her out shopping and pick some styles that


    you¡¯re satisfied with. Women are happy when they get new


    clothes, and you get what you want at the same time.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s finger hovered over the spacebar. He fell into deep thought. ¡®That is a good idea.¡®


    *


    At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Wendy gathered all the employees of the marketing department and


    made an announcement. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make. I¡¯m starting my


    maternity leave


    tomorrow and will be away for a month and a half. Ellie and Chloe will be taking over my tasks. Chloe


    will be responsible for your daily, weekly, and monthly reports.¡±


    Everyone nodded to express their obedience. ¡°Ms. Wendy, remember to invite us to your baby shower.


    We¡¯ll prepare great gifts for you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Get a nanny and rx during this holiday. I heard that women should get plenty of rest


    after delivery or else their bodies will be weak.¡±


    ¡°I understand. You guys have toplete your task seriously. I won¡¯t worry as long as you don¡¯t


    infuriate Ellie and Chloe.¡±


    Wendy had worked for Fairlight for many years and always held the role of a senior. Although she was


    generally stern, she always took care of her others. Hence, her colleagues liked her.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    However, Ellie Miller raised a sarcasticment. ¡°It¡¯s good if they don¡¯t anger me, but Chloe just got


    here. She knows nothing.¡±


    Wendy knew that Ellie was bitter over this, so she tried to persuade her patiently, ¡°Chloe hasn¡¯t worked


    here for long but she has the experience of leading a team abroad. Plus, she


    has a lot of unique ideas. You guys can learn from each other.¡®


    With a sneer, Ellie shot a side¨Ceye at Chloe. Her palm¨Csized face looked beautiful and pure, but her


    clear and pretty eyes brightened with a malicious glint. ¡®At most, Chloe¡¯s just a


    fresh graduate. She has led a team? Wendy must be trying to fool us.¡®


    Wendy handed apleted proposal to Chloe and Ellie in an attempt to bring them closer. ¡°Help me


    deliver this proposal to Mr. Joseph¡¯s office. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to tell you what to do, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we know what to do.¡±


    Chloe was closer to Wendy than Ellie was, so she epted the document. A tinge of dissatisfaction


    shed through Ellie¡¯s eyes as she stood at the side. When they knocked on Joseph¡¯s door and walked


    into his office, Ellie suddenly snatched the document from Chloe and went forward, smiling


    enthusiastically.


    11


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯m sorry to take up a few minutes of your time. This is the proposal brought up duringst


    week¡¯s meeting. Please take a look and see if any amendments need to be made.


    11


    However, Joseph did not ept the document Ellie handed over attentively. He pinched the spot


    between his brows as slight exhaustion dawned on his face after working for a whole day. ¡°Chloe, tell


    me the proposal direction and its contents in simple words.¡±


    Ellie¡¯s smile stiffened but was forced to hand the document to


    Chloe.


    Chapter 185 Take Chloe Out Shopping


    170 515


    P


    When Chloe met Ellie¡¯s gaze, she saw the envy in thetter¡¯s eyes. She sighed softly and ced the


    document in front of Joseph again before saying in an all¨Cbusiness tone, ¡°I¡¯d like to keep the proposal


    in view. You can listen to my exnation while flipping through it. This way, you can get the most


    content in the shortest time. I¡¯ll try to save you as much time as possible.¡±


    Joseph looked up. His deep¨Cset eyes were dark, billowing with emotions. ¡®Dumbo senses that I¡¯m tired.


    She feels sorry for me.


    He hastily straightened his back, feeling a surge of energy as he picked up the document. But as soon


    as he opened the folder, he frowned deeply and put it down immediately. He raised his hand and


    looked at his thumb. It was bleeding.


    Chloe yelped and went forward to inspect the situation, finding a loose paper clip glued to the interior of


    the folde

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186


    Chapter 186 The Elusive Opportunity


    Ellie was visibly prepared as she forcefully pushed Chloe aside. ¡°I told you to thoroughly inspect


    everything beforeing here. Why didn¡¯t you listen?¡±


    Chloe was bewildered. ¡°I did inspect it¡­¡± Although she had carefully checked the contents of the n,


    there was clearly something stuck to the file with glue, which naturally should have been noticed.


    ¡®Wait a minute¡­¡® Chloe suddenly noticed something and took another look at the folder. It was not a


    paperclip, but a sharp- ended safety pin!


    Ellie¡¯s expression turned flustered and concerned. ¡°Mr.


    Joseph, this is due to her carelessness. I have a first aid kit in my office. Let me fetch it and help you


    bandage the wound.¡±


    Joseph nonchntly wiped the blood off his finger with a tissue as if it was a minor inconvenience and


    turned his gaze to Chloe. ¡°Did it prick you?¡±


    ¡°No, I recall when Ms. Wendy handed me the folder, it didn¡¯t have this item on it, and I hadn¡¯t used any


    safety pins. However, it¡¯s still my mistake, and I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°When you make a mistake, you should acknowledge it immediately instead of trying to make excuses


    and shift the me!¡± Ellie scolded Chloe.


    After speaking, a trace of undisguised satisfaction appeared on Ellie¡¯s face. She relished the thought of


    reporting this incident to Ms. Wendy upon her return and getting Chloe fired. The marketing department


    would then be hers to rule.


    However, Joseph remained expressionless as he stared at Ellie. ¡°And who are you?¡±


    Ellie saw this as her chance to make a favorable impression. She approached him, attempting to win


    his favor. ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯m the team lead of Marketing. In lieu of Ms. Wendy¡¯s absence, as she¡¯s about


    to go on maternity leave, I¡¯m in charge and will be handling department responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in charge?¡± Joseph sneered, his prating ck eyes seeing through her ulterior motives.


    ¡°Then why did you bring Chloe here?¡±


    Ellie¡¯s forced smile froze on her face, and she awkwardly replied, ¡°Ms. Wendy asked me to take care of


    her.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you can leave. Chloe can stay here alone.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, she has only been here for a few months, and shecks the necessary skills. It won¡¯t work


    ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I believe in Chloe.¡±


    With just one sentence, Ellie¡¯s words choked in her throat. She felt unwilling and resentful as she


    begrudgingly walked out, her ns disrupted.


    Chloe stayed behind to wrap up the discussion about the project and asked, ¡°So, are there any areas


    that need to be changed?¡±


    ¡°The theme¡¯s meaning is too shallow and not directly rted to finance. We can delve deeper into this


    direction.¡±


    ¡°All right, anything else?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll be leaving now,¡± Chloe nced at Joseph¡¯s hand and paused. ¡°I¡¯ll go downstairs and


    get you a Band¨CAid.¡±


    Joseph intertwined his fingers in front of his chest and put on a casual, faint smile. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said.


    This opportunity had to be given since the dumbo wanted to show concern for


    him.


    Chloe nodded and headed downstairs to the convenience store, where she ran into Ellie. Noticing the


    Band¨CAids in Chloe¡¯s hands, Ellie sarcastically remarked, ¡°Don¡¯t think that because Mr. Joseph didn¡¯t


    reprimand you that you can advance thedder. Don¡¯t me me for not warning you, but that


    extraordinary man is not someone you can get close to. It¡¯s best to abandon such notions.¡±


    Chloe felt uneasy hearing Ellie¡¯s words and responded with a hint of impoliteness, ¡°So you think I can


    get close to him just by giving him Band¨CAids? That sounds pretty easy.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°I¡¯m advising you out of kindness. Don¡¯t overstep your boundaries.¡±


    ¡°Thanks but you can rest assured. I¡¯m not interested in him.¡±


    In the past, it might have been worth fighting for, but now, what¡¯s the point of fighting? Even if she


    wanted to escape, she


    could not.


    After paying at the front desk, Chloe turned around with the Band¨CAids in hand and left. Her tall and


    slender figure created a beautiful sight amid the bustling building, catching the eyes of 95% of the


    opposite sex, or even higher.


    Ellie stomped her foot in frustration. Ms. Wendy would start her vacation tomorrow, and Chloe¡¯s good


    days were about to


    *


    Chloe delicately applied the Band¨CAid to Joseph¡¯s injured finger as her eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    They were so close that he could see the tiny fuzz on her cheeks.


    ¡°Better be careful not to get it wet. Infections can happen,¡± she advised earnestly.


    Joseph found this somewhat amusing. It was just a minor injury that would heal by tomorrow.


    Noticing his silence, Chloe grew suspicious. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s hurting.¡±


    ¡°It does. Maybe a kiss from you will make it feel better,¡± Joseph teased.


    Chloe scratched her ear in astonishment, her eyes widening. ¡± Are you serious?¡± Does the epitome of


    masculinity actively seek to degrade himself and invite humiliation?


    Joseph looked at her shocked expression, his smile brimming with yfulness. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you


    seize this hard¨Cearned opportunity while you can?¡±


    ¡®Hard¨Cearned opportunity, my ass!¡® Chloe could not help but burst intoughter. Yet, as she looked at


    the alluring and maddeningly handsome face before her, a thought crossed her mind. Maybe, just


    maybe, she would not lose out if she gave him a kiss. In fact, she might even gain something. Why


    pass up on a good deal?


    After a brief internal struggle, Chloe set aside what she was holding and slowly approached Joseph.

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187


    Chapter 187 Final Breath


    Joseph grew impatient with Chloe¡¯s tortoise¨Cpaced approach. Not wanting to waste any more time, he


    bent down, closing the gap between them, and their bodies pressed tightly


    together. With a firm grip on her chin, he urged her to respond actively.


    In a fleeting moment, an intense intimacy enveloped them. Joseph found himself unexpectedly drawn


    to this sensation. It was as if he had discovered a newfound craving, a fatal attraction to such intimate


    exchanges. Particrly in recent times, his desire to connect with her on a more profound level had


    been steadily growing.


    In a hazy state, Chloe opened her eyes and found herself gazing at the magnified, dashing face before


    her. His long eyshes softened the cold gleam in his eyes, and hisrge hands cradled her gently.


    Chloe could not help but wonder if her eyes were deceiving her. At that moment, she sensed a shared


    intensity in the kiss, as if Joseph, too, was caught up in the whirlwind of emotions. A whimsical thought


    crossed her mind¨Ccould Joseph hold a hint of affection for her?


    Thinking of this, she could not help but burst intoughter. It was ironic how moments ago she had told


    Laura that she had no interest in him, yet here she was entertaining such


    thoughts. Attraction, she realized, could be both deadly and irresistible.


    The kiss ended the second Chloe startedughing. Joseph shot her a dissatisfied nce before


    retrieving his coat and making


    his exit. A flush of crimson spread across Chloe¡¯s face, and a wave of confusion washed over her. Oh


    no, could he be angry?


    She hastily got up, determined to chase after him, but her unsteady steps almost caused her to


    stumble. Her body felt weak as if she were a flimsy puppet on strings, devoid of strength. It reminded


    her of how subi in TV dramas would drain people¡¯s souls.


    Chloe trailed behind Joseph until they reached a shopping mall.


    ¡°Choose anything you fancy.¡±


    ¡°You¡­want to buy me clothes?¡± Chloe could hardly believe it.


    ¡°What else do you do at a shopping mall besides shopping?¡±


    A spark lit up in Chloe¡¯s eyes, and she yfully blinked at him. ¡°Well then, I won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s one condition.¡±


    ¡°What condition?¡±


    ¡°The clothes you choose must align with my aesthetic standards.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Confidently, Chloe patted her chest with her small hand. ¡°No problem at all!¡± In such arge shopping


    mall, it would surely be possible to find several pieces of clothing that both of them would be satisfied


    with. After all, Joseph had a good sense of fashion in his daily attire.


    She stepped into a clothing store, her eyes scanning the racks with keen interest. The attentive


    salesperson would asionally steal nces at the tall man seated in the lounge area, then proceed


    to shower Chloe withpliments,


    highlighting her good fortune. Not only did she have a handsome boyfriend, but his demeanor and style


    exuded affluence.


    With an air ofposure, Chloe gracefully dismissed the praise. ¡°Just good taste,¡± she casually


    remarked.


    In the dimly lit bar, it was easy to be attracted to Joseph at first sight. Mistaking him for someone else


    was indeed understandable. Certain individuals possessed a natural maism thatmanded


    attention without any effort. Icarus, undoubtedly handsome himself, could not hold a candle to Joseph¡¯s


    maic allure when they were ced side by side.


    Chloe carefully selected five or six items and presented them to Joseph for his input. His gazended


    on a dress with an open back, and he promptly dismissed it. ¡°Not this one,¡± he remarked.


    ¡°I think it looks pretty good,¡± Chloe responded, perplexed.


    The observant salesperson quickly grasped the situation and swiftly fetched a series of more


    conservative styles. ¡°Sir, how about these? This miss has a stunning figure and fairplexion. These


    outfits would truly entuate her beauty.¡±


    Joseph cast a brief nce at the selection, noting that most of the garments extended to below the


    knees. He nodded approvingly and said, ¡°Excellent. We¡¯ll take them all.¡±


    The salesperson was momentarily taken aback, her excitement evident in her wide grin as she


    hurriedly replied, Certainly, sir. Please wait just a moment.¡±


    She had struck gold! This was a significant achievement for


    her, one that would bolster her sales performance for the next six months!


    Chloe was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, ¡°Was it Grandpa who asked you to bring me


    here?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You volunteered?¡±


    Joseph opted to ignore her question, leaving it unanswered.


    Chloe understood his response and, without hesitation, rushed into his arms, giving him a tight bear


    hug. ¡°Jojo, you¡¯re so good to me. You¡¯re the most handsome, richest, and most generous man I¡¯ve ever


    met!¡±


    When she was with Jake before, he would buy her gifts on special asions, but it paled in


    comparison to the unrestricted indulgence she experienced now. Deep down, only one word echoed in


    her heart: satisfaction!


    Joseph gently propped up her chin with one hand and yfully twirled a strand of her hair with his


    finger. ¡°Am I better, or is Icarus better?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s noparison!¡± Chloe eximed with sincerity and excitement, holding his hand tightly.


    ¡°Icarus is a friend, but you¡¯re my god!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Why was he feeling a tinge of embarrassment?


    Chloe chuckled, freeing herself from his embrace. ¡°I¡¯m going to look at the shoes over there. You stay


    here for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    As Chloe ventured off to explore the shoe section, a man entered the store apanied by two


    women. ¡°What brings you here, Joe?¡±


    Joseph calmly raised his eyes to Nathan and then cast a brief nce at the women nking him. He


    could not resist making a sarcastic remark. ¡°Take care not to indulge too much and choke on your final


    breath.¡±


    TT


    Nathan replied with a smirk, ¡°Even if I were to vanish into thin air, I¡¯d still leave behind an air of charm


    and elegance.¡± He gestured for the two lovelydies to pick out clothes while he sat down, craning his


    neck to survey the surroundings. ¡°Did you bring Chloe with you?¡±

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188


    Chapter 188 Hope You¡¯ll Pick Me Up, I Miss You


    Joseph remained silent, elegantly crossing his legs and scrolling through financial news articles on his


    phone.


    Nathan interpreted the silence as confirmation and let out a sigh. ¡°So, you¡¯ve really decided to go


    serious with Chloe?¡±


    Joseph continued to ignore him.


    ¡°Are you certain about this? It¡¯s a matter of long¨Ctermmitment. Don¡¯t leave Chloe in limbo while


    still holding onto Xavia. That¡¯s not cool, mister womanizer!¡±


    Nathan had gathered information about Chloe¡¯s family situation from Samuel, and based on their first


    encounter, he was convinced that Chloe¡¯s father was not a good person.


    ¡°You rotate partners every day. What right do you have to lecture me?¡±


    Shaking his head, Nathan replied, ¡°My arrangement with my women is consensual. It¡¯s not the same.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, you¡¯re a noble one.¡±


    Nathan had no clevereback for that remark. He continued in a serious tone, ¡°I¡¯m not joking around


    with you. Xavia reached out to me yesterday. She has a ne ticket for next Friday. It¡¯s time for you to


    make a choice.¡±


    Upon hearing this, a mocking expression crept onto Joseph¡¯s sharp features, and his voice took on an


    icy tone. ¡°You suddenly fancy yourself a mediator now?¡±


    Nathan sighed, rubbing his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your


    own good.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m capable of handling my own affairs.¡±


    With that, Nathan stopped saying anything further. Matters of the heart were far moreplex than


    business dealings. When two women were involved, if things took a turn for the worse, one would have


    a hard time dealing with the consequences.


    ¡°I had my eye on these shoes first. You¡¯re familiar with the concept of ¡®Firste, first served,¡® right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve practically bought out half the store. What harm is there in letting me have these shoes?¡±


    ¡°I already stated it clearly, firste, first served. Don¡¯t try to guilt¨Ctrip me.¡±


    The sound of an escting argument reached their ears, prompting Joseph and Nathan to exchange a


    nce before walking further into the store. Once inside, they witnessed Chloe and another woman


    engaged in a fierce dispute over a pair of crystal high¨Cheeled shoes, both adamantly refusing to


    back down.


    When the woman caught sight of Nathan, she coquettishly pleaded, ¡°Nate, I really like these shoes.


    Can you buy them for me?¡±


    ¡°Come on now. Be a good girl and choose a different style. I¡¯ll reimburse you,¡± Nathan sweetly coaxed


    the woman.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I want this pair.¡±


    Chloe could not help but roll her eyes. ¡°You have so many things you like. Let me remind you once


    again, I saw these shoes first, and I¡¯ve already decided to buy them.¡±


    Joseph, crossing his arms, paid no attention to the woman and addressed the salesperson directly,


    ¡°We¡¯ll take them.¡±


    The salesperson nodded. With a hint of embarrassment on her face, she turned to the woman. ¡°I


    apologize, miss. Can you please consider returning those shoes? We have other styles in our store


    that are equally beautiful. Let me show you some alternatives.¡±


    ¡°Nate, I thought you adored me. Since you two know each other, why don¡¯t you let me have these


    shoes? Why be so stingy¡­¡± The woman naturally saw Chloe as someone of her kind, someone who


    apanies these young ¡°princes¡± for pleasure. Since their statuses were equal, why should she give


    in to Chloe? We shall see who would receive more favor.


    Chloe took a deep breath, observing the woman tightly clutching onto the shoes, her grip causing the


    shoes to deform. At that moment, her eagerness to make the purchase waned. Joseph, too, noticed


    the situation, and his icy gaze swept over Nathan, resembling a chilling de.


    Nathan trembled, causing the smile on his face to instantly vanish. He forcefully snatched the high


    heels from the


    woman¡¯s hand and shouted coldly, ¡°Are you deaf?! Can¡¯t you understand what I just said?!¡±


    The woman froze, tears streaming down her cheeks, but her stubbornness remained. ¡°Nate, how could


    you say such things to me¡­ I¡¯m your favorite little sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Get lost, get lost! Don¡¯t bother me.¡±


    Little sweetheart? He referred to any attractive girl as his little sweetheart.


    The other woman beside her tugged at her sleeve and forcefully pulled her away. Seizing this


    opportunity, the salesperson swiftly packaged the shoes and handed them to Chloe.


    On their way home, Chloe joyfully linked her arm with


    Joseph¡¯s. Even though he had not uttered a single word during the altercation, she could sense that he


    was on her side.


    Suddenly, he received a text from an unknown number. The content was information regarding a flight


    with two lines attached to it.


    [Hope you¡¯ll pick me up. I miss you.]


    *


    During Ms. Wendy¡¯s vacation days, Chloe became busy. Time flew by, and before she knew it, a week


    had already slipped


    away.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    On a particr Friday, Chloe followed her routine of waiting until most of her colleagues had left the


    office before heading upstairs to find Joseph and leave together. Just as she stepped out of her


    department, a janitor discreetly pulled her aside, giving the impression that she had something


    significant to share.


    ¡°Miss, did you provoke someone?¡±

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189


    Chapter 189 Are You Jealous?


    Chloe¡¯s face registered astonishment as she responded, ¡°No. What did you hear?¡±


    She had briefly worked alongside the janitor when she first joined Fairlight but had since transferred to


    the marketing department. They would asionally exchange a few words when they crossed paths in


    thepany, gradually bing acquainted with one another.


    ¡°One of your department colleagues has been badmouthing you in the restroom for several days, and


    it¡¯s the same person every time.¡±


    A shadow of concern crept over Chloe¡¯s face as she inquired, Do you happen to know the name of that


    person?¡±


    ¡°I heard others calling her Ms. Nelly or Kelly or something like that,¡± the janitor replied.


    Chloe¡¯s mind quickly made the connection -the marketing department had only one person with a name


    that sounded like that, Ellie Miller.


    Coincidentally, as Chloe made her way to Joseph, she crossed paths with a high¨Clevel executive from


    another department who gave her a thumbs¨Cup and a smile. ¡°Good going, Chloe! On your way to see


    Mr. Joseph again?¡±


    She forced a smile, her body tensing slightly. ¡°I¡¯m just heading to the rooftop for some fresh air.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. Ellie already spilled the beans. You¡¯re pursuing Mr. Joseph, always heading upstairs to


    find him after work.


    TI


    Your boldness is admirable but let me give you some friendly advice, there¡¯s a limit to everything. Don¡¯t


    bother Mr. Joseph too much and risk getting fired.¡±


    In Fairlight, there was no shortage of women who fancied Joseph, but only a few had the courage to


    take action. First, they were well aware of their worthiness, and second, they also knew that Joseph


    was not an easy person to deal with. While there were no explicit rules, the employees understood that


    office romances were not encouraged within thepany.


    Considering Ellie¡¯s attitude toward Chloe, it was clear that the situation was far from being as


    euphemistic as it appeared on the surface. In the eyes of others, Chloe¡¯s behavior was not seen as


    courageous, but rather a disy of herck of emotional intelligence.


    ¡°To be honest with you, I recently had a minor conflict with Ellie. She has recently turned to making


    snide remarks about me. As a high¨Clevel leader such as yourself, it¡¯s important to be cautious about


    attracting unwanted attention. If someone with ulterior motives were to hear these potentially fake


    rumors from you, it might reflect poorly on your reputation.¡±


    The executive pondered for a moment, lost in thought. Chloe remained silent after conveying her point.


    She chose not to borate any further. This time, she genuinely went to the rooftop, not in search of


    Joseph, but to gather her thoughts. and prepare to call him, arranging a meeting in the


    underground parking lot.


    When she dialed the number, it was Lucas who picked up the phone. He cast a nce at the woman


    conversing with Joseph not far away and felt a tinge of guilt as he responded, ¡°Ms. Chloe, please head


    home first. Mr. Joseph is still in a meeting.¡±


    ¡°Should I still head home for dinner?¡±


    A momentary silence ensued as if Lucas was consulting Joseph. Finally, the response came, ¡°Mr.


    Joseph says he¡¯ll join you home for dinner.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Chloe frowned at her phone. Her woman¡¯s intuition was telling her that


    something was about to happen.


    Upon arriving at the vi, dinner was already prepared,


    punctually served at eight o¡¯clock. Chloe cast a nce at the darkening sky outside the window and


    furrowed her brows. Joseph had a good sense of time. They had known each other for some time now,


    and he had never beente before. This was the first time.


    It was not until ten o¡¯clock that Joseph returned. Chloe keenly noticed the faint creases on his


    impably tailored suit, as though someone had been clinging tightly to his arm. Her eyes flickered


    with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, and the first person that came to her mind was Xavia Larson.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Joseph said as he tossed his suit onto the sofa. He closed his eyes and massaged his


    temples.


    ¡°The food¡¯s gotten cold. I¡¯ll heat it up,¡± Chloe offered, making her way to the kitchen. ¡°Did you have a lot


    to drink during your meeting? Would you like me to make you some hamburger soup?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    As they sat at the dining table, Chloe noticed Joseph ate very little, barely touching the dishes in front


    of him. Curiosity got the better of her and she asked, ¡°Did you eat already?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have much of an appetite today,¡± Joseph said lightly, setting down his cutlery.


    ¡°In that case, you should go to bed early today. I¡¯ll take Toto for his night walk.¡±


    Joseph looked at her with his charming eyes. ¡°Are you showing me concern?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I? We share the same roof. What¡¯s wrong with caring about each other?¡±


    A touch of mncholy graced Joseph¡¯s handsome face as he extended hisrge hand, gently


    caressing Chloe¡¯s head. ¡°Good girl.¡±


    After Joseph headed upstairs, Chloe noticed that he had left his phone behind. She picked it up,


    intending to bring it to him. While making her way up the stairwell, the phone suddenly vibrated,


    indicating a new text message.


    Curiosity got the better of her, and she nced down,


    realizing that the phone was unlocked, granting her ess to the message. The sender¡¯s name caught


    her attention ¨C Xavia.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    [Joseph, thank you for sending me home. The medicine. helped, and I¡¯m feeling much better now.


    Goodnight.]


    Chloe froze, her long curledshes veiling the emotions in her eyes. Her beautiful face remained


    expressionless, giving no indication of what she was feeling. After a lengthy pause, a scoff escaped her


    lips. If it was a first love, then it was a first love. Why bother pretending to discuss business?


    She knocked on Joseph¡¯s bedroom door and handed him his forgotten phone with a calm expression.


    ¡°You left your phone


    downstairs. Oh, and Xavia sent you a message. Don¡¯t forget to reply.¡±


    Joseph, wearing a white t¨Cshirt after a refreshing cold shower, had slightly damp, neatly styled ck


    hair. He appeared rxed and approachable like he had shed some of his usual dignified, cold


    demeanor. If it were not for his eyes, he could almost pass for a male college student.


    Upon hearing Chloe¡¯s words, Joseph¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly. ¡°We ended things a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s truly over, then it¡¯s over. But sometimes old mes can reignite, you know?¡± Chloe replied. Her


    intention was to speak kindly, but her tone could not help but carry a hint of sarcasm. ¡°After all, first


    loves are often seen as rare and elusive, upying a special ce in our hearts.¡±


    Under the re of the lights, Joseph squinted, a hint of a smile ying on his lips as he pulled her


    confidently into his embrace. ¡°Are you jealous?¡±

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190


    Chapter 190 Was That a Confession, Jojo?


    These particr words immediately struck a nerve with Chloe, causing a surge of sensitivity within her.


    ¡°No¡­ No! Don¡¯t be absurd. You and I are simply colleagues with a superior-


    subordinate rtionship and are only roommates at best. Why would I be jealous?!¡±


    Unwilling to admit she had feelings for him, she vehemently denied it.


    Joseph sighed helplessly, his voiceced with rare patience.¡± Xavia returned to the country today and


    insisted on meeting me at Fairlight after getting off the ne.¡±


    But halfway through, Xavia had fainted and Joseph left after taking her to the hospital.


    ¡°Nonsense. You definitely went out for a meal together!¡±


    ¡°No, we didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s with the wrinkles on your sleeves?¡± Chloe pouted, assuming an attitude resembling a wife


    interrogating her husband. However, she seemed unaware of her own behavior.


    ¡°Xavia pulled on my sleeves when she fainted.¡±


    ¡°Swear it!¡±


    Joseph grasped hold of her ear and spoke in a drawn¨Cout tone, ¡°Are you pushing your luck?¡±


    ¡°I was just joking. You have no sense of humor. I¡¯m going to take Toto for a walk now. You should go to


    bed early,¡± Chloe


    pleaded. She managed to break free and hurriedly descended. the stairs, her footsteps noticeably


    quickening.


    While walking the dog, Chloe had a half¨Chour voice call with Emily. Emily¡¯s senses sharpened like a


    hawk spotting its prey when she learned about Joseph¡¯s first love returning. ¡°She didn¡¯te back


    earlier orter, but precisely after you two got married. She¡¯s most likely back to stir up trouble. Stay


    alert and don¡¯t let her take Joseph away. I¡¯m still counting on your support!¡±


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯te back, does that mean Joseph and I will end up together?¡±


    ¡°Why not? Even something as outrageous as getting a marriage certificate happened. Have some


    confidence in yourself.¡±


    Chloe muttered softly, ¡°But he doesn¡¯t like me, and I don¡¯t like him either.¡®


    Emily paused, then spoke seriously, ¡°I¡¯m certain that Joseph has feelings for you. For example, if he


    didn¡¯t care about you, when telling you about where he was tonight, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered.¡®


    ¡°Is that true¡­¡± Did he say it because he cared about her? Ripples stirred in Chloe¡¯s heart, and she


    inexplicably felt a sense of joy.


    ¡°Come on. He¡¯s the young and promising president of


    Fairlight. He¡¯s wealthy and handsome. Women from Aesper to Docwood are lining up to pursue him.


    Why would he bother telling you these things when he could be spending that time making more


    money? Why would he have nothing better to do than proactively share those matters with you?¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®but¡® me. The same goes for you. I know you. You have feelings for Joseph too.¡±


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not true!¡± Chloe reflexively refuted.


    Emily did not hold back as she pierced through with her words, ¡°You im not to have feelings for him,


    yet your demeanor when he meets his first love betrays your true emotions. Why did you be so


    gloomy and sullen, resembling a resentful woman?¡±


    Caught off guard by Emily¡¯s observation, Chloe could not deny the truth in her best friend¡¯s words.


    Reluctantly, she faced the reality she had been avoiding. Why did she allow herself to act like a


    resentful woman, questioning Joseph in such a grumpy manner and even demanding that he swear?


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Emily heard Chloe¡¯s silence and continued, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s only natural to develop feelings for someone


    you spend a lot of time with. Even a dog managed to capture your heart, let alone a remarkable man


    from Aesper.¡±


    Chloe contemted Emily¡¯s words while stroking Toto¡¯s fur. The thought of not seeing Toto for even a


    day tugged at her heart, reminding her of the attachment she had developed.


    Joseph had good looks, and he had been remarkably supportive of her. It was natural to develop some


    positive feelings toward him. Chloe had always been a fan of good looks, and she would often have a


    positive impression of any handsome stranger. However, the initial fascination would usually fade after


    a few days. With Joseph, it was probably the same, except his appearance was exceptional, so this


    sense of


    noveltysted a bit longer.


    ¡°If you have feelings for him, go for it. Don¡¯t wait until it¡¯s toote and regret it. Okay, I have to go now.


    I¡¯m still working overtime at the office. Take care.¡±


    Chloe pondered Emily¡¯s advice as she made her way home


    with Toto by her side. The following morning, as she sat beside Joseph in the car, her eyes wide as she


    asked, ¡°Will you be back home on time today?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She casually flicked her bangs and asked, ¡°Did the first love return to the country for something


    important?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, and besides, she¡¯s not my first love.¡± Joseph¡¯s answer was straightforward, indicating that


    he had not spent much time with Xavia yesterday.


    Curiosity getting the better of her, Chloe leaned closer and inquired, ¡°Is she your ex¨Cgirlfriend?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How many rtionships have you had?¡±


    ¡°One.¡±


    Chloe shrugged, feeling somewhat disinterested. ¡°First one, huh?¡±


    When an ex cries, the current one is bound to lose, especially when it was the kind of first love that


    most men can never forget in their lifetime.


    Joseph looked deep into her eyes and asked, ¡°And what about you? How many rtionships have you


    had?¡± With such a


    sweet mouth, it was impossible for her to have never been in a rtionship.


    ¡°The same as you.¡±


    ¡°Was that loser I met in the restroom your first?¡± His brows furrowed, disying his clear disgust.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. He was the campus heartthrob back in college.


    The atmosphere inside the car turned frigid.


    eyes narrowed, and a cold chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°Did myments about him hurt your feelings?¡±


    It was unclear where Chloe found the courage, but she blurted out, ¡°I was merely defending Jake. You


    and Xavia went out together.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Lucas in the driver seat involuntarily gasped. ¡®Ms. Chloe is so bold!¡® he


    thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t twist the facts.¡±


    Chloeughed in exasperation. ¡°So I¡¯m the one twisting the facts? It¡¯s clear that you have no regard for


    my feelings and that I hold no ce in your heart!¡± She realized she may have crossed a line and


    swiftly attempted to amend her words. ¡± Sob, sob. I¡¯ve fallen in love with a heartless man. I¡¯m so pitiful


    and miserable. I have to endure this suffering and keep it all to myself.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have you in my heart, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered exining myself to


    you at such lengthsst night.¡±


    As the words fell, the car fell into a hushed silence as their


    eyes locked in a gaze.


    Chloe¡¯s almond¨Cshaped eyes sparkled with rity and


    innocence. Suddenly, she burst intoughter, revealing a row


    of perfectly aligned, pearly whites. ¡°Was that a confession, Jojo?¡±


    Joseph felt a small lump rise in his throat as he faced her passionate and sincere gaze. Ufortably,


    he averted his gaze and replied, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡±


    ¡°No, you do have feelings for me,¡± Chloe said. Although she was talking to him, it gave people a feeling


    that she was talking to herself. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just admit it? Love should be boldly expressed!¡±


    Before he could respond, she pressed on, ¡°I also have a good impression of you!¡±


    She was not naive. She had noticed the changes in him. It was just that she had never considered it


    from that angle.


    At this moment, his reaction confirmed her suspicions. Joseph¡¯s face sank, his long legs crossedzily,


    and his cold gaze bore into Chloe. ¡°Just a good impression?¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t she supposed to be so deeply in love with me that she can¡¯t imagine her life without me?¡®


    Chloe lightly touched her nose, casting her eyes downward to conceal the fleeting sense of guilt. From


    a side nce, she looked like a wounded little white rabbit. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m


    worried that my love for you is too overwhelming and will only cause you to resent me. So, I can only


    reveal a glimpse of my affection, like the tip of an iceberg.¡±


    Since getting to know this guy, her acting skills had be even more refined. It would be a shame if


    she did not venture into the entertainment industry.


    Joseph raised his chin slightly, exposing his smooth and well- chiseled jawline. He sneered, ¡°You¡¯re just


    trying to hide the obvious.¡±


    Lucas, driving in the front seat, was left speechless. ¡®Seriously, Mr. Joseph? It seems to me that you¡¯re


    the one trying to cover up the obvious.¡®


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Chloe wrapped her arm around Joseph¡¯s and rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°Jojo, when did


    you start liking me? Or rather, when did you develop a good impression of me?¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I ask? How unforting of you.¡± Chloe pouted. Were you captivated by my good looks? What


    a coincidence, so was I by yours. Luckily, I was clever enough not to believe that you¡¯re impotent.


    Otherwise, we might¡¯ve missed each other! Ah-¡±


    Chloe¡¯s words were abruptly silenced by an unexpected kiss. Her eyes widened as she stared at the


    magnified handsome face before her. This man was unbelievably good¨Clooking, but


    How many times had they kissed in front of Lucas?!


    ¡®This is so embarrassing!¡®


    Joseph had only intended to silence her incessant chatter, but her lips held an addictive allure, each


    touch leaving him yearning for more. Her tender resistance, flushed countenance, and faint whimpering


    sounds captivated him. Though aware of her yful resistance, the more she held back, the stronger


    his desire to conquer her became as he yearned to exert his dominance upon her.


    If Chloe knew what Joseph was thinking, she would surely


    have bristled with rage. She was not ying hard to get.


    Rather, she fretted over the possibility of their colleagues witnessing them upon their arrival at Fairlight.


    As fate would have it, just as one hoped to avoid something, it would inevitably ur.


    Looking through the car window, she saw Ellie driving a Volkswagen toward them, also heading to the


    underground parking lot. Chloe quickly reacted and tried to push Joseph away. Unfortunately, he was


    too strong, and her rejection proved fruitless. She gritted her teeth, and a faint taste of blood filled her


    mouth.


    Joseph suddenly opened his eyes, anger shing across his face before delving deeper into their


    passionate kiss. Overwhelmed, Chloe struggled to catch her breath. Fortunately, Ellie did not notice


    them, and Joseph finally released her.


    Chloe cast him a resentful gaze, her petite face blushing intensely. It was more like a spoiled gesture


    than aint when she said, ¡°We almost got caught by a colleague.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth. ¡® Goodness, why did my voice sound


    so¡­¡®


    Joseph calmly adjusted his tie and smirked arrogantly. ¡°What difference does it make if someone


    sees?¡±


    ¡°But if someone sees us, there will be gossip.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fire those who spread rumors.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. ¡®Sure. You¡¯re the boss, you make the call.


    Chloe sessfully clocked in and entered the office, cing her sandwiches on her desk. She nned


    to grab a cup


    of


    water first and savor the sandwiches slowly. As she passed by her colleagues, she noticed their


    strange gazes. She furrowed her brows. ¡®Is Ellie backstabbing me again?¡®


    ¡°Chloe, why is your mouth swollen¡­¡± a colleague sitting next to her workstation questioned, clearly


    perplexed.


    She froze for a moment and hastily reached into her drawer to retrieve a small mirror.


    *


    ¡®D*mn it! My lips are all swollen because of that b*stard!¡®


    Chloe forced herself to appear calm. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I ate something spicyst night.¡±


    ¡°Are your lips swollen from kissing a man?¡± snidely remarked Ellie, who happened to pass by.

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191


    Chapter 191 Sincerity


    Joseph felt a small lump rise in his throat as he faced her passionate and sincere gaze. Ufortably,


    he averted his gaze and replied, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡±


    ¡°No, you do have feelings for me,¡± Chloe said. Although she was talking to him, it gave people a feeling


    that she was talking to herself. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just admit it? Love should be boldly expressed!¡±


    Before he could respond, she pressed on, ¡°I also have a good impression of you!¡±


    She was not naive. She had noticed the changes in him. It was just that she had never considered it


    from that angle.


    At this moment, his reaction confirmed her suspicions. Joseph¡¯s face sank, his long legs crossedzily,


    and his cold gaze bore into Chloe. ¡°Just a good impression?¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t she supposed to be so deeply in love with me that she can¡¯t imagine her life without me?¡®


    Chloe lightly touched her nose, casting her eyes downward to conceal the fleeting sense of guilt. From


    a side nce, she looked like a wounded little white rabbit. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m


    worried that my love for you is too overwhelming and will only cause you to resent me. So, I can only


    reveal a glimpse of my affection, like the tip of an iceberg.¡±


    Since getting to know this guy, her acting skills had be even more refined. It would be a shame if


    she did not venture into the entertainment industry.


    Joseph raised his chin slightly, exposing his smooth and well- chiseled jawline. He sneered, ¡°You¡¯re just


    trying to hide the obvious.¡±


    Lucas, driving in the front seat, was left speechless. ¡®Seriously, Mr. Joseph? It seems to me that you¡¯re


    the one trying to cover up the obvious.¡®


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Chloe wrapped her arm around Joseph¡¯s and rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°Jojo, when did


    you start liking me? Or rather, when did you develop a good impression of me?¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I ask? How unforting of you.¡± Chloe pouted. Were you captivated by my good looks? What


    a coincidence, so was I by yours. Luckily, I was clever enough not to believe that you¡¯re impotent.


    Otherwise, we might¡¯ve missed each other! Ah-¡±


    Chloe¡¯s words were abruptly silenced by an unexpected kiss. Her eyes widened as she stared at the


    magnified handsome face before her. This man was unbelievably good¨Clooking, but


    How many times had they kissed in front of Lucas?!


    ¡®This is so embarrassing!¡®


    Joseph had only intended to silence her incessant chatter, but her lips held an addictive allure, each


    touch leaving him yearning for more. Her tender resistance, flushed countenance, and faint whimpering


    sounds captivated him. Though aware of her yful resistance, the more she held back, the stronger


    his desire to conquer her became as he yearned to exert his dominance upon her.


    If Chloe knew what Joseph was thinking, she would surely


    have bristled with rage. She was not ying hard to get.


    Rather, she fretted over the possibility of their colleagues witnessing them upon their arrival at Fairlight.


    As fate would have it, just as one hoped to avoid something, it would inevitably ur.


    Looking through the car window, she saw Ellie driving a Volkswagen toward them, also heading to the


    underground parking lot. Chloe quickly reacted and tried to push Joseph away. Unfortunately, he was


    too strong, and her rejection proved fruitless. She gritted her teeth, and a faint taste of blood filled her


    mouth.


    Joseph suddenly opened his eyes, anger shing across his face before delving deeper into their


    passionate kiss. Overwhelmed, Chloe struggled to catch her breath. Fortunately, Ellie did not notice


    them, and Joseph finally released her.


    Chloe cast him a resentful gaze, her petite face blushing intensely. It was more like a spoiled gesture


    than aint when she said, ¡°We almost got caught by a colleague.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth. ¡® Goodness, why did my voice sound


    so¡­¡®


    Joseph calmly adjusted his tie and smirked arrogantly. ¡°What difference does it make if someone


    sees?¡±


    ¡°But if someone sees us, there will be gossip.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fire those who spread rumors.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. ¡®Sure. You¡¯re the boss, you make the call.


    Chloe sessfully clocked in and entered the office, cing her sandwiches on her desk. She nned


    to grab a cup


    of


    water first and savor the sandwiches slowly. As she passed by her colleagues, she noticed their


    strange gazes. She furrowed her brows. ¡®Is Ellie backstabbing me again?¡®


    ¡°Chloe, why is your mouth swollen¡­¡± a colleague sitting next to her workstation questioned, clearly


    perplexed.


    She froze for a moment and hastily reached into her drawer to retrieve a small mirror.


    *


    ¡®D*mn it! My lips are all swollen because of that b*stard!¡®


    Chloe forced herself to appear calm. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I ate something spicyst night.¡±


    ¡°Are your lips swollen from kissing a man?¡± snidely remarked Ellie, who happened to pass by.

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192


    Chapter 192 Help, I¡¯m So Scared


    ¡°Ellie, that was way out of line,¡± a colleague said.


    ¡°I was just joking. Don¡¯t take it so seriously,¡± Ellie said.


    ¡°Seriously, who jokes like that?¡±


    Chloe held onto her colleague¡¯s arm, shaking her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let her say what she


    wants. We¡¯ll just ignore her,¡± she said.


    After all, Ellie did speak the truth, and there was no way to argue against it.


    Ellie nced at Chloe and walked away.


    The rest of Chloe¡¯s day was a hectic one. She spent the morning organizing business data and


    conducting analysis in preparation for the afternoon meeting. She remained upied until the end of


    the meeting.


    Afterward, Ellie approached with an air of authority and instructed, ¡°Prepare the implementation project


    strategy for me by tomorrow. Make sure to include the cost, timeline, and projected results.¡±


    Chloe rubbed her stiff neck and questioned, ¡°Aren¡¯t these tasks supposed to be your responsibility? If I


    handle them for you, what will you be doing?¡±


    ¡®Standing around and looking important?¡® she added silently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll evaluate and analyze the proposals youe up with and make any necessary modifications. This


    is an excellent opportunity for you to get promoted, so you should be


    grateful,¡± Ellie said.


    ¡°Thanks but no thanks. We can divide the tasks equally and work independently,¡± Chloe responded.


    Ellie¡¯s eyes darted around as an idea formed in her mind. ¡°All right, that works, but you need to


    complete the project


    proposal by tonight. I¡¯lle by in the morning to add the cost and timeline.¡±


    Chloe agreed. Although the timeframe was tight, the division ofbor seemed fair within eptable


    limits. With a clear goal in mind, she quickly immersed herself in her work


    As the end of the workday approached, she informed Joseph that she would be workingte and he


    need not wait for her. When he asked how long it would take, she provided an estimated time, and the


    conversation came to an end.


    At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Chloe stretched and closed herputer, ready to leave. However, just


    as she stood up, the lights suddenly went out, plunging the office into darkness. Chloe¡¯s heart raced


    with panic as she struggled to maintainposure while groping for the switch on the wall. She could


    locate it based on her memory, but there was no response whatsoever despite pressing it multiple


    times.


    The security must have cut the power!


    Haphazardly navigating her way through the darkness, she stumbled and collided with cab corners,


    resulting in aching knees and piercing difort. Upon reaching the door, she discovered it was


    locked from the outside. Her heart


    skipped a beat, and she ced herst hope on her cell phone. After a busy day, she had forgotten to


    charge it, and it was now down to a single bar of battery.


    Chloe prayed fervently, urging her phone to hold on for a few more seconds. She found Joseph¡¯s


    phone number and dialed it. It rang once, but before anyone could pick up, it abruptly shut. down. She


    stood frozen, utterly frustrated, and on the verge of


    tears.


    At that moment, a bone¨Cchilling melody permeated the air. The song bore an eerie and haunting


    quality, blending the innocentughter of children with the sorrowful cries of a woman. In the silence of


    the air, it became unbearably grating, sending shivers down her spine. And the song seemed


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    incredibly close as if someone were pressing against the door, singing to her through the narrow gap.


    a


    Chloe startled herself with such thoughts, and she quickly retreated several steps. Unaware of what


    she bumped into, jumble of items ttered to the floor,nding on her feet and causing her excruciating


    pain. Yet, her fear of the darkness. eclipsed her physical agony.


    Consumed by terror, she rushed back to her workstation, desperately attempting to turn on her


    computer, hoping to seek help through the Inte. But with the power outage, there was no chance of


    getting online.


    The haunting melody persis!!


    outside, causing Chloe to cover her ears and hide in a corner. Her mind became a breeding


    ground for horrifying scenarios, reminiscent of the macabre scenes she had witnessed in horror


    movies.


    ¡°Help me¡­¡± she pleaded, her fear tangible and all¨Cconsuming.

 Chapter 193

    Chapter 193


    Chapter 193 I Want to See Your Business Empire


    Below Fairlight, a car was parked by the side of the road.


    Inside, Joseph furrowed his brow, staring at the missed call disyed on his phone screen before


    deciding to return the call.


    ¡°Hello, the number you dialed is currently unreachable¡­¡±


    Whenever Chloe¡¯s phone was switched off, it never boded well, even though today she was in the


    office.


    ¡°Stay here. I¡¯m going up,¡± he informed Lucas. He then opened the car door and stepped out.


    Lucas opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his gaze caught sight of an elegant figure. ¡°Oh


    no, it¡¯s her. Didn¡¯t this woman say she wouldn¡¯t bother Mr. Joseph anymore? Why is she here again?¡±


    Thoughts swirled in his mind as he discreetly observed Xavia from the car. As if everything had been


    meticulously


    orchestrated, she coincidentally encountered Joseph at the zebra crossing. She was wearing a


    delicate, pink V¨Cneck dress that entuated her slender waist and revealed her perfectly shaped legs.


    With each gentle gust of the evening breeze, her hair gracefully danced in the air, akin to the entrance


    of a


    heroine from a fairy tale.


    Xavia¡¯s eyes brimmed with uncontainable delight as she locked gazes with Joseph, but before she


    could utter a word, a series of coughs erupted from within her. One cough followed another. She looked


    as if she was about to cough out her


    internal organs. Even someone with clear eyes could tell it was


    no ordinary illness.


    Joseph¡¯s attention was drawn to the bag clutched in Xavia¡¯s hands, itsbel indicating it came from a


    public hospital


    situated adjacent to Fairlight. Pausing for a moment, he inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡±


    ¡°Just a minor cold, nothing serious,¡± Xavia momentarily ceased her coughing, mustering a faint smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to the office sote at night?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going back to pick someone up.¡±


    The only person who could make Joseph personally go to pick them up was the person he mentioned.


    Xavia¡¯s gaze dimmed with a tinge of sorrow as she forced a smile. ¡°Then go ahead. Don¡¯t keep her


    waiting for too long.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Joseph nodded and walked away with long strides.


    Xavia stared at his departing figure, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned pale under the


    pressure. On a sudden impulse, she called out, ¡°Joseph!¡±


    Joseph turned his head around, his face bereft of emotion as he looked at her indifferently.


    ¡°Can I apany you and visit Fairlight? I¡¯ve been by your side for two years, witnessing the time and


    effort you¡¯ve poured into it. Regrettably, I never had the opportunity to witness your sess firsthand or


    even offer my


    congrattions¡­ I want to see your business empire. May I?¡±


    As the memories of their shared past flickered in Joseph¡¯s mind, a furrow formed on his brow. ¡°Suit


    yourself.¡± With those words, he briskly stepped into the elevator, making his way to the marketing


    department to find Chloe.


    Xavia remained standing in the lobby, her gaze falling from one object to another. In her eyes, a fleeting


    glimmer of possessiveness shed past.


    *


    As Joseph arrived at the marketing department, he registered muffled cries emanating from inside. His


    heart clenched at the sound, and he pushed open the door in search of Chloe.


    Finally, he found her huddled in the corner beneath the table. Reaching out his hand, his voice carried


    a maic tone as he said, ¡°I¡¯m here now. Everything will be okay.¡±


    Chloe lifted her tear¨Cfilled eyes, her tears streaming even more intensely upon seeing him. With a deep


    sob, she threw herself into his embrace, abandoning all pretense of


    Joseph scanned the surroundings but found no signs of anything amiss. ¡°You scared yourself.¡±


    ¡°No, I really heard something!¡± Chloe imed, her eyes. reddened by her tears. ¡°By the way, the door


    was locked. How did you manage to enter?¡±


    ¡°The door wasn¡¯t locked.¡±


    Chloe was stunned for a moment, finding it hard to believe. Joseph personally led her to the door,


    confirming that everything was normal. Even the ess code lock was functioning properly.


    ¡°¡­Did I not use enough force when opening the door? But


    what about that song then?¡± she murmured to herself, her tear


    -streaked face resembling someone uttering nonsense.


    Joseph scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re scared just because of a power outage?


    Comparatively, Chloe maintained moreposure when Jane kidnapped her.


    Feeling dejected, Chloe uttered, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s the intangible and imagined things that


    have no physical form that can easily destroy one¡¯s sanity.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about it, we can check the surveince footage tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194


    Chapter 194 I Helped Pay 28 Million in Legal Fees


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it tomorrow. I¡¯m tired and just want to go home and rest,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°Sure,¡± he replied.


    ¡°But I thought you left. Why did youe back?¡± she asked while they waited for the elevator.


    Raising an eyebrow, Joseph responded, ¡°Who told you I left?¡±


    ¡°So you never left? You¡¯ve been in the office this whole time?¡±


    ¡°I was busy for a while, and by the time I finished, it was almost ten o¡¯clock,¡± he exined.


    In other words, he had been waiting for her.


    Chloe smiled mischievously, her eyes sparkling, ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡®He just refuses to admit that he was waiting for me!¡®


    Inside the elevator, Joseph slovenly leaned against the wall, his waist narrow and shoulders broad. He


    cast a cold nce at her and scoffed indifferently.


    Enchanted by his charm, Chloe stared at him nkly for a couple of seconds. Honestly, she had


    suspected that Joseph was not Jake¡¯s uncle when she first met him at the bar. After all, he was too


    good¨Clooking to be his uncle. Though doubts had arisen, she had pushed them aside.


    Ding. The elevator doors slid open.


    Chloe had not even had the chance to collect her thoughts


    when her gaze met Xavia¡¯s. The woman resembled her online


    photos, exuding elegance and poise, embodying the essence of beauty. She seemed to be around the


    same age as Joseph, but with a hint of maturity that was not present in the photos.


    Chloe¡¯s brain buzzed, and she was stunned. ¡®She just got back yesterday, and we¡¯re meeting today?¡®


    She was not foolish enough to think it was merely a


    coincidence. What was more, Xavia had appeared in Fairlight. It was Joseph¡¯s territory, so she must


    have gotten permission from him.


    Chloe dug her nails into her palm, maintaining aposed demeanor and straightening her posture.


    Xavia¡¯s initial reaction upon seeing Chloe was that she had a slight resemnce to Jane. Chloe


    possessed a youthful countenance, exuding radiance, and vitality akin to a freshly peeled apple,


    bursting with sulent juices at the first taste. She had a good physique as well.


    However, Joseph was not someone who judged by appearance alone. He admired the resilience and


    tenacity he saw in Chloe¡¯s eyes. Beneath her seemingly delicate exterior, nothing could destroy her.


    A strong sense of crisis arose within Chloe.


    Xavia slowly retracted her gaze and nodded slightly at Chloe. Hello, I¡¯m Xavia Larson. I¡¯m a close


    friend of Joseph¡¯s. Please don¡¯t misunderstand. I came to Fairlight simply to see how thepany we


    worked hard for all those years has flourished.¡±


    Chloe squinted, finding the statement rather amusing. ¡®Thepany that they worked hard for all those


    years? Is she referring to herself as the one who apanied him through


    all the hardships?¡®


    ¡°Hello,¡± Chloe responded nonchntly, seemingly oblivious. to the underlying implications.


    Turning to Joseph, Xavia asked, ¡°May I go upstairs to have a look?¡±


    ¡°Do whatever you want,¡± he replied.


    *


    Leaving thepany, Chloe remained silent, refraining from speaking.


    Sitting in the front seat, Lucas drove cautiously, making every effort to minimize his presence.


    ¡°Why are you so quiet?¡± Joseph nced at her, a hint of confusion in his eyes.


    With her arms crossed, Chloe responded, ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like talking.¡±


    He lowered his head and said, ¡°Xavia and I are over.¡±


    She smiled faintly but remained silent. ¡®If you two were truly over, then there¡¯s no need to maintain any


    form of friendship. A proper ex should be left buried in the past, instead of trying to assert their


    presence unnecessarily.¡®


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Growing increasingly perplexed by her continued silence, Joseph felt a surge of frustration. He


    asserted, ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t test my patience.¡± He had never been one to bow down before a woman, and


    providing an exnation already felt like a significant concession on his part.


    ¡°So not speaking is considered testing your patience?¡± Chloe


    chuckled exasperatedly.


    ¡°I want you to stay by my side, not to witness you disrespecting me,¡± he stated with an air of superiority,


    his words cutting through the air.


    Chloe furrowed her brow. ¡°Then why should I have to tolerate your foul temper?¡±


    ¡°Because I paid a staggering 28 million dors in legal fees on your behalf.¡±


    Joseph believed it was necessary to make her realize her ce. Otherwise, she would soon forget who


    was in charge of this dynamic.

 Chapter 195

    Chapter 195


    Chapter 195 The Big Shot in the Entertainment Industry


    Chloe¡¯s face froze, overwhelmed by a bitter and mncholic sensation that consumed her heart.


    Indeed, they were merely bound by a contractual rtionship. Even though there had been fleeting


    moments of sweetness that morning, their rtionship remained imbnced.


    ¡°Fine, my mistake. I won¡¯t say anything,¡± she admitted weakly.


    However, Joseph found no satisfaction in her meek apology. Instead, it only added to his mounting


    frustration.


    Lucas dared not intrude on the tense atmosphere and continued driving until they reached the vi.


    Chloe was the first to step out of the car and enter the yard. She went to take Toto for a stroll. Initially,


    Toto was overjoyed to see them return home, but now sensing the tension between the two, its ears


    drooped timidly and its dark eyes filled with unease.


    Joseph furrowed his brow and uttered, ¡°Don¡¯t vent your frustrations on the dog.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Wearing a fake smile, Chloe replied, ¡°Is this smile satisfactory for serving your beloved dog?¡±


    Joseph responded, ¡°Not enough. Make the smile even bigger.¡®


    Chloe was stumped. She certainly was not about to vent her frustrations on Toto since the dog was


    innocent. And of course, upon returning with Toto, she did not speak to Joseph.


    The next morning, she got up and prepared lunch boxes for


    the day. Joseph returned from his morning jog to find her dressed in a sleek professional suit, exuding


    the mature allure of a career woman. But instead of heading to work, she was here, cooking for him.


    The stark contrast hit Joseph, causing a ripple in his mind as he let out a soft chuckle. Upon hearing his


    laughter, Chloe froze, spat in hand, but did not turn around or say a word.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Stir¨Cfried zhini with eggs, braised beef with radish, and steamed jumbo prawns,¡± she replied, her


    back still facing him.


    Observing her figure, Joseph raised an eyebrow, his jubnt mood dissipating by half in an instant. He


    had taken the initiative to speak, indicating that he did not mind her mistake from yesterday, so how


    dare she give him the cold shoulder?


    Joseph¡¯s face sank and he said, ¡°I don¡¯t eat these. Redo them.¡±


    Chloe briefly furrowed her brow before rxing, then calmly asked, ¡°What would you like to eat


    instead?¡±


    ¡°Butter prawns, stir¨Cfried beef, and zhini soup,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Unexpectedly, she did not say much more, nor did she


    when he saw her being so quiet and devoid of her usual yful and entric demeanor.


    ¡®Very well.¡®


    With only half an hour remaining before they had to leave for work, it was evident that she would not be


    able to finish


    cooking in such a short time. Surely, she woulde seeking his assistanceter.


    Joseph went upstairs to shower and change. When he came


    back down, Lucas had arrived in the car. Joseph nced in the direction of the kitchen and asked


    nonchntly, ¡°Are you not finished yet?¡±


    ¡°No, you go ahead. I¡¯ll get a cab,¡± Chloe replied, her voice cold as she stirred the thick soup.


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, and without a word, he walked over and turned off the gas, pulling her


    along to leave. His grip was too tight, causing Chloe to stumble and stagger. Nevertheless, she could


    not help but taunt, ¡°The food isn¡¯t ready yet.¡±


    ¡°Leave it!¡±


    This was the first time Lucas had seen Joseph lose hisposure. He could not help but let out a


    chuckle.


    ¡°First, you wanted to eat, and now you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t,¡± Chloe grumbled with a hint of indignation.


    Joseph stopped in his tracks, turning back to stare at her with a cold gaze. A tempest brewed on his


    otherworldly handsome face as he asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to continue this topic?¡±


    Chloe only wanted to provoke Joseph. She did not want him to punish her, so she just meekly said,


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    The war silently came to an end.


    Meanwhile, in the South, Ava arrived at Jade Street. Perhaps due to the early hour, there were not


    many people in the shops. along the street. She could not find anyone to inquire about


    the news.


    Ava walked down the street, lowering her head to check the navigation on her phone, unaware of the


    road ahead. As she turned the corner, a Bentley approached from the opposite direction, seemingly


    about to collide with her. Luckily, the driver was skilled and managed to break in time, causing the tires


    to screech against the ground, and the front of the car hit a nearby tree.


    ¡°Are you crazy?! Are your eyes on top of your head?! Can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re going?!¡± the driver


    scolded Ava.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Why are you being so harsh?¡± Ava retorted.


    Ava was filled with pent¨Cup anger. She regretted her decision foring to this sh*t ce.


    The driver ignored her and inspected the front of his car. ¡°Give me 70 thousand to repair my car.¡±


    Ava was about toin about the exorbitant repair fee, but she could not say a word in argument


    when she turned to look at the car.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have money, but I have this diamond ne. Take a look and see if you want it,¡± she said.


    Her luck had been terrible ever since she left with that cursed thing belonging to


    Chloe¡¯ste mother.


    The driver¡¯s expression changed dramatically as he looked at the ne that was handed to him. His


    gaze suddenly filled with respect as he gazed at Chloe. ¡°Madam, please wait a moment,¡± he said


    urgently.


    He could not wait to take the ne and show it to his


    employer in the car.


    Calvin Norman carefully examined the ne inside and out, his excitement growing. ¡°Yes, this is


    Luciana¡¯s. I¡¯ll go down and meet her.¡±

 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196


    Chapter 196 Only an Idiot Wouldn¡¯t Take the Chance


    A man in his forties stepped out of the car, his square face exuding an air of dignity. He was dressed


    modestly, but around his neck sat a precious Blue Tiger¡¯s Eye ne.


    Ava recognized the man before her, and her whole being surged with excitement. He was the tycoon


    who controlled the entertainment industry, having established multiple film and televisionpanies.


    Many of today¡¯s hottest celebrities were nurtured under hispany¡¯s guidance.


    However, he seldom appeared in public. Why would such a prominent figure visit such an obscure


    ce?


    As Calvinid eyes on Ava for the first time, a hint of dissatisfaction flickered across his face.


    Involuntarily, hepared her to his daughter,menting that she had not inherited Luciana¡¯s favorable


    genes. Despite his initial disappointment, Calvin¡¯s expression softened considerably as he thought


    about the fact that this girl shared Luciana¡¯s blood.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked gently, his gaze filled with warmth.


    ¡°Mr. Calvin, I¡¯m sorry for what I did just now. I¡¯llpensate for the repair costs,¡± Ava replied, feeling a


    bit fearful and hesitant to reveal her name.


    ¡°No need to worry aboutpensation. Our meeting was destined. Please tell me your name. You


    remind me of someone I once knew,¡± Calvin reassured her.


    ¡°I¡¯m Ava Johnson¡­¡±


    Calvin¡¯s heart brimmed with joy. He was certain that the girl standing before him was Luciana¡¯s


    daughter. He also recalled that Luciana¡¯s useless husband was one of the Johnsons.


    Having missed the chance to take care of Luciana in the first half of his life, he was determined to


    protect her daughter in the second half.


    Realizing that although their first encounter was pretty


    abrupt, Calvin still spoke from the depths of his affection. ¡± Ava, I feel a connection between us. Would


    you be willing to be my goddaughter?¡±


    *


    Chloe had a rough night. She was scared and engaged in a silent war with Joseph. She did not have a


    good night¡¯s sleep, and she ended up dozing off with her head resting on the desk during lunch break.


    Ellie nced at Chloe, her cheekbones slightly elevated as a smug expression crossed her face. As


    though she had emerged victorious, she casually skimmed through the documents. Chloe had handed


    her before walking toward Chloe with exaggerated movements, intentionally creating a loud noise.


    Startled by the noise, Chloe lifted her head expressionlessly and nced at Ellie before going back to


    sleep. Ellie¡¯s pride took a hit as she sensed herself being ignored. In an attempt to regain attention, she


    forcefully mmed the folder onto the table, expressing her dissatisfaction. ¡°Take a look at how you¡¯ve


    written the project proposal. There are several inuracies. Fortunately, I discovered them in time.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Without lifting her head, Chloe replied impatiently, ¡°I double- checked it, and there are no mistakes.¡±


    Unyielding, Ellie persisted, ¡°Are there no mistakes because you said so? Who do you think you are?


    Have you forgotten that it was your negligence that caused Mr. Joseph¡¯s injuryst time? Do you want


    to make another mistake?¡±


    Chloe took a deep breath. She knew Ellie was trying to cause trouble but she suppressed her


    frustration, got up, and carefully read through the documents from beginning to end once again. ¡°There


    are no mistakes. The one who¡¯s wrong is you,¡± she reaffirmed.


    ¡°Hah! I¡¯ll go and discuss this with Mr. Joseph!¡± Ellie snatched the folder and hurried away.


    A colleague nearby remarked skeptically, ¡°Why do I feel like Ellie wants to take credit for your work?¡±


    ¡°As long as Joseph isn¡¯t blind, he won¡¯t fall for it,¡± Chloe replied, leaving her colleague looking


    bewildered.


    Surprised, the colleague asked, ¡°Why do you talk about Mr. Joseph like that? Do you dislike him?¡±


    Chloe paused for a moment before responding, ¡°No, I don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, then you shouldn¡¯t speak ill of him like that in the future. It mighte across as impolite.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    Ten minutester, Ellie returned triumphantly, holding a thick stack of money in her hands. ¡°I¡¯m treating


    everyone to coffee this afternoon!¡± she announced.


    Fairlight had clear guidelines when it came to rewards and punishments. Employees with good


    performance received bonuses, and they were always given in the form of money.


    Judging from the thickness of the stack in Ellie¡¯s hand, it was roughly 3 thousand dors.


    ¡°Ellie, did Mr. Joseph give you 3 thousand dors as a bonus? That wad looks so thick.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s stacked!¡±


    Shaking her head, Ellie yfully extended two fingers at them.


    ¡°Wow, apart from quarterly and annual bonuses, the only other person in our department who has


    received a bonus of 3 thousand was Ms. Wendy. It seems that Mr. Joseph highly values you, Ellie.¡±


    Ellie smirked coyly and said, ¡°Mr. Joseph is very satisfied with my revisions. He even personally told


    me to keep up the good work.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Congrattions on earning his appreciation. Don¡¯t forget about us when you achieve great


    sess,¡± eximed her colleagues, showering her withpliments and fueling her immense


    satisfaction.


    However, not everyone praised her blindly. There were those who stood up for Chloe, feeling it was


    unfair.


    ¡°Chloe was the one who wrote the project proposal. Even if you made suggestions for revisions, the


    bonus should be split evenly,¡± someone spoke up in Chloe¡¯s defense.


    Chloe, now wide awake, fixed her clear and sharp gaze on Ellie. ¡°Tell me exactly what you changed.¡±


    Ellie stammered and mentioned a few insignificant points, but as the conversation progressed, she


    could note up with any more, so she challenged Chloe, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me,


    go and confirm it with Mr. Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I will!¡± Chloe stood up, her face disying a mix of indignation and determination.


    Just when she was about to storm off to Joseph¡¯s office, a nearby colleague hurriedly grabbed her arm,


    speaking in a hushed voice, ¡°Don¡¯t act impulsively. Ellie¡¯s intentionally provoking you. If you fall for it,


    you¡¯ll be in trouble. Mr. Joseph is quite fierce. He might not listen to you.¡±


    ¡°I know she¡¯s trying to provoke me, but should I just let her take credit for my hard work?¡± Chloe


    retorted.


    The answer was no.


    While she could let it slide if no bonus were involved, the prospect of a bonus motivated her to fight.


    After all, turning down the opportunity would be foolish. She would rather


    endure Joseph¡¯s scolding than let Ellie take advantage of her efforts.

 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197


    Chapter 197 The Glorious View


    She would rather endure Joseph¡¯s scolding than let Ellie take advantage of her efforts.


    With determined steps, Chloe walked toward the elevator without looking back. Ellie hurriedly followed


    after her, looking as if she was trying to stop Chloe. However, she came to a halt in front of the elevator,


    observing as it came to a stop on a higher floor without emitting even a single sound. Witnessing this,


    she returned to the marketing department with a smug sense of satisfaction.


    A few colleagues approached her with worried expressions and asked, ¡°Ellie, did Chloe really go to see


    Mr. Joseph?¡±


    Sighing, she replied, ¡°Well, yes. I did try to stop her. I even told her that we could split the bonus in half,


    but she didn¡¯t care. She insisted on having the full 20 thousand.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ She¡¯s so greedy¡­¡±


    *


    Standing at the entrance of Joseph¡¯s office, Chloe confidently raised her hand and lightly knocked on


    the door. Without waiting for a response, she took a step forward and entered the room.


    Several department executives were taking turns reporting the situation of their respective departments


    to Joseph. Upon hearing the knock, they all turned their heads in unison to gaze at the entrance,


    meeting Chloe¡¯s defiant stare.


    Her arrogant demeanor waned under the scrutinizing gaze of


    the executives. A tinge of embarrassment colored her


    meticulouslyposed face, and she awkwardly said, ¡°Please continue. I¡¯ll wait outside ande in


    later¡­¡±


    With that, she promptly closed the door with a resounding ¡± thud.¡±


    The executives exchanged puzzled nces and discreetly observed Joseph¡¯s expression. He was


    sitting on a spacious leather chair, d in a tailored designer white shirt that entuated his perfectly


    proportioned physique. His legs, hidden beneath his trousers, were wlessly long, surpassing even


    that of a professional model.


    Lowering his gaze, his handsome, refined face exuded an alluring charm, and there was a subtle


    triumphant smile gracing the corners of his lips. ¡®Looks like the reverse psychology method works.¡±


    A few minutester, the executives emerged from the office, their nces toward Chloe tinged with


    curiosity and


    bewilderment. Chloe lowered her head with a hint of


    embarrassment and avoided eye contact with them, feeling as though she had be the center of a


    peculiar spectacle.


    Once they had boarded the elevator and descended, she slowly lifted her head, straightened her body,


    and marched into Joseph¡¯s office. Upon entering, she wasted no time and went straight to the point,


    her voice determined, ¡°The project proposal Ellie delivered was written by me.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Then why did you give her the bonus?!¡±


    ¡°She provided some valuable suggestions for the proposal,¡±


    he replied nonchntly.


    ¡°Even if her revisions were good, everything was built upon the foundation of my proposal. It¡¯s not fair


    to reward her and not me,¡± Chloe argued.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re right,¡± Joseph said, surprising Chloe as she thought he would criticize her.


    Chloe tried to read his true intentions through his deep, dark eyes, but she failed. She fell into a


    prolonged silence before finally speaking, ¡°May I know what are the revisions she suggested? If they


    were truly significant to the point where my proposal would be rendered obsolete without modification,


    then I¡¯ll ept this oue.¡±


    Joseph leaned back into his chair, maintaining aposed demeanor, and skillfully dodged her


    question, ¡°How much of a bonus do you desire?¡±


    Chloe hesitated, unsure of how to respond. ¡°Can I ask for as much as I want?¡±


    ¡°You can tell me. Who knows, maybe your dream wille true.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not greedy. I just want the same amount as Ellie.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Good answer.¡±


    After that, Joseph had Lucas bring over arge stack of money. It was aptly described asrge, as it


    could not be held by a single hand and required both hands to cradle. It contained at least 30 thousand


    dors.


    Lucas pushed the money toward Chloe and said, ¡°Ms. Chloe, this is your bonus and constion.¡±


    ¡°Constion?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he exined, ¡°We¡¯ve obtained surveince footage that reveals what happenedst night. It


    appears that someone deliberately orchestrated the incident.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, ¡°What? Who did it?¡±


    ¡°Ellie.¡±


    ¡°Then why would you still give her a bonus?!¡± Chloe eximed.


    ¡°Someone saw Ellie meeting with an executive from Baxon today. It¡¯s highly likely that she intends to


    leak confidential information about this project. We can¡¯t rm her at this moment, so we need to make


    her lower her guard,¡± Lucas said sternly.


    Chloe felt a shiver down her spine. She was well acquainted with Baxon¡¯s way of doing things. They


    prioritized their own interests above all else. If Ellie¡¯s connection with Baxon was exposed, Chloe would


    undoubtedly be the scapegoat.


    Joseph had the security office make a copy of the surveince footage, and he gestured for Chloe to


    come closer. ¡°Come take a look.¡±


    Chloe walked over, bending slightly at the waist as she stared at theputer screen. She was


    dressed in a professional suit today, and it had a low neckline.


    Although Joseph was seated in a chair, he still held a slight height advantage over Chloe, affording him


    a glimpse of her neckline. He took a deep breath, struggling to avert his gaze. ¡®D *mn it! She¡¯s trying to


    seduce me again!¡®


    ¡°Come sit over here.¡±


    Chloe looked around but did not see any extra chairs. ¡°Where should I sit?¡± she asked in confusion.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes were as dark as ink, and his voice carried a husky tone. ¡°On myp.¡±

 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198


    Chapter 198 Do You Love Money or Me?


    Chloe nced at Lucas awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just stand.¡±


    They were at the office right now, and it was necessary to maintain proper decorum, especially with


    others present.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze sharply swept across the room, and Lucas immediately grasped the signal. ¡°I¡¯ll be


    leaving now,¡± he said.


    Chloe was speechless. ¡®Oh well, guess I¡¯ll just go ahead and sit then. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s the first time


    anyway. I¡¯ll consider it a free cushion.¡®


    As she settled into Joseph¡¯sp and adjusted her position, a thought crossed her mind. She turned


    back to Joseph and remarked, ¡°Make sure not your belt doesn¡¯t poke me this time.


    A hint of crimson graced Joseph¡¯s handsome face as he retorted in a low voice, ¡°Shut up.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips. She had noticed that whenever Joseph could note up with a response, he


    resorted to telling her to shut up.


    He lightly clicked his mouse, and the surveince footage from outside the marketing department the


    previous night appeared on the screen.


    Around ten o¡¯clock, Ellie had stealthily made her way to the vicinity of the department. She brought her


    own lock to secure the door and took advantage of a moment when the security guard was on patrol to


    cut off the power in the office. In the darkness, she excitedly yed a song on her phone and took


    great pleasure in hearing Chloe¡¯s screams. Sheughed gleefully, taking great pleasure in Chloe¡¯s


    misfortune.


    *


    After watching the entire process, Chloe was infuriated, her teeth itching with frustration. No wonder


    she had a constant feeling that someone was lurking outside the door yesterday. It was not just her


    imagination. It was real. Ellie had been outside the department!


    Apart from theirpetitive rtionship, there were no personal grievances or conflicts between them.


    Chloe could not fathom why Ellie would do this to her. Fixating her gaze on Joseph¡¯s hand, she


    pressed her lips together. ¡°Could Ellie be the one who ced the safety pin inside the folder that time?¡±


    Joseph did not say anything, his eyes remaining calm and unwavering as he said, ¡°In any case, I trust


    you.¡±


    Being inherently naive and kind¨Chearted, Chloe was often the one who fell victim to exploitation. She


    was never someone who would take advantage of others.


    ¡®In any case, I trust you.¡®


    A warm feeling welled up within Chloe, and inexplicably, a fluttering sensation stirred in the depths of


    her stomach. The sensation of being trusted by someone was aforting one, and Chloe could not


    help but feel that this man had the ability to speak kind words, on asion.


    ¡°So what do you n to do with her next?¡± Chloe asked.


    nting safety pins and pretending to be a ghost were not grave offenses, but they were not innocent


    pranks either. Normal people would not engage in such actions. However, if


    Ellie were to disclose confidentialpany information, the consequences would be severe. It could


    lead to her being fired, substantial financial liability topensate for thepany¡¯s losses, and even


    legal disputes.


    But Ellie was not foolish enough to endanger herself for a minor favor from Baxon. In the whole of


    Aesper and even Docwood, Fairlight was among the few prestigious corporations offering fame and


    fortune. Remaining here and working diligently would pave the way for limitless opportunities. Chloe


    doubted Ellie had any intentions of seeking alternative employment.


    As such, Chloe was certain that Ellie was targeting her.


    Joseph enclosed Chloe within his embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder and yfully nuzzling


    against her neck. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. Just take the money and go back to work.¡±


    If Ellie harbored ill intentions, she would surely take action. upon seeing the money.


    Joseph¡¯s sudden movement brought them closer, his breath gently grazing Chloe¡¯s neck, creating a


    tingling sensation that tickled her. Her body tensed up as she tried her best to ignore this peculiar


    feeling.


    ¡°An eye for an eye?¡± she asked.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by not bad?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not that stupid after all.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    After freeing herself from his embrace, Chloe cast a nce at the pile of money on the table, her voice


    slow and hesitant as she asked, ¡°Is this money just for show, or is it a genuine reward for me?¡±


    Since Ellie had boasted after receiving 3 thousand dors, she would surely be infuriated when she


    saw Chloe returning with


    ten times that amount.


    With his ten fingers crossed over his chest, Joseph raised an eyebrow and yfully teased, ¡°Will you


    still act unreasonably in the future?¡±


    ¡®What does he mean by that? Does it mean that I can receive more money as long as I don¡¯t act out of


    line?¡®


    Chloe vigorously shook her head, her face beaming and her eyes shining with an almost dazzling


    intensity. She said, ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I promise. From now on, I¡¯ll follow your every word, Jojo. If you tell me


    to go west, I won¡¯t go east!¡±


    Joseph did not know why but he did not like this. His cold gaze fell upon her, his doubt evident as he


    asked, ¡°Do you love money or do you love me?¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t that obvious? Of course, I love money!¡®


    That was what Chloe thought deep down, but she looked at Joseph with sincere eyes and spoke in a


    sweet, obedient tone, Of course, it¡¯s you, Jojo. You hold a special ce in my heart. Nothing and no


    one canpare to you. My heart belongs to you and you alone.¡±


    ||


    ¡°Then why did your eyes light up when I gave you money?¡±


    ¡°Because this money is from you. It signifies your care and


    protection for me. You knew I was frightenedst night and feeling down, so youpensated me to


    make me happy.¡±


    Joseph found her answer satisfactory. He nodded slightly, expressing his approval. ¡°Good girl.¡± As long


    as she recognized his kindness, it was enough for him.


    Chloe clutched the stack of money before leaving, but then Joseph suddenly asked, ¡°Are you in need


    of money?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± She did notck money. What shecked was the money to pay him back. After she had


    earned enough money, she would stand on equal footing with him.


    ¡°What about the supplementary card I gave you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still with me.¡±


    ¡°If you need money, you can withdraw from that card.¡±


    Chloe shook her head and looked down at the money in her arms. ¡°It¡¯s different. This is money I earned


    through my own efforts. It gives me a sense of aplishment.¡± Besides, she could not possibly use


    the money from Joseph¡¯s


    supplementary card to repay him. It felt somewhat hical.


    With so much money in her hands and also carrying a folder, Chloe found it difficult to handle them all.


    Lucas offered to help her take them back to her workstation.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Along the way, Lucas carefully considered his words before saying, ¡°Ms. Chloe, I risk offending you by


    saying this, but there¡¯s something I really want to tell you.¡±

 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199


    Chapter 199 Once the Novelty Wears Off, She¡¯ll Lose


    ¡°Hmm? What is it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t allow Xavia toe between you and Mr. Joseph. Their chapter is closed, and you¡¯re the one


    who matters to him now. When you two had an argument yesterday, he was in a sour mood all


    morning. It wasn¡¯t until you arrived that he seemed to brighten up a bit.¡±


    Lucas had been working anxiously the whole morning as he was afraid of enraging Joseph.


    Chloe looked at Lucas, taking in his features. With his delicate facial structure and slightly tanned skin,


    he exuded a spirited demeanor. Aware of his good intentions, she calmly shook her head. ¡°You know


    that our marriage is fake, right? The contract will expire. We have no rtionship beyond that.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to fight for it?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°What do I have to fight with?¡± Chloe retorted.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph has shown interest in you. You have a chance,¡± Lucas encouraged.


    Chloe scoffed mockingly. ¡°He has never explicitly expressed any romantic feelings toward me. I¡¯ve


    tried, but the oue was far from satisfactory. I¡¯m the kind of person who prefers everything to be


    clear and straightforward, especially when ites to rtionships. I don¡¯t like being toyed with.¡±


    ¡°You know that Mr. Joseph is tough on the outside but a softie on the inside, right? I¡¯m sure he has


    feelings for you,¡± Lucas insisted.


    Chloe let off a dismissive chuckle. ¡°Are you referring to


    infatuation or mere attraction? It¡¯s natural for there to be a sense of novelty in a rtionship, but what


    matters is how things progress once that initial spark fades.¡±


    Lucas paused, momentarily at a loss for words. While he acknowledged the presence of novelty in


    rtionships, he understood the importance of what came after that stage.


    Seeing his hesitation, Chloe sighed and continued, ¡°Before Xavia appeared, I had naive thoughts just


    like you. But I understand now and have ced myself in the right position.¡±


    Perhaps Joseph had a slight interest in her now, but she did not have the confidence to believe that


    she would be an exception. Novelty was not synonymous with love, and once the novelty wore off, she


    would inevitably be the one left behind.


    She did not want to end up being the one who got left behind.


    It was crucial to know when to cut her losses and maintain her resolve. For her, securing her financial


    independence took precedence.


    Before Lucas could respond, Chloe interrupted, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. Please hand me the money.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The stack of money in Chloe¡¯s arms was eye¨Ccatching, attracting the attention of everyone as she


    stepped into the department.


    ¡°Oh my, did you go to the bank to withdraw money?¡±


    ¡°This must be tens of thousands!¡±


    ¡°Nope! These are bonuses andpensations from Mr. Joseph,¡± Chloe said, smiling bashfully.


    ¡°What? Then where¡¯s ourpensation?¡± one of Chloe¡¯s colleagues asked.


    Chloe exaggeratedly recounted the incident of being locked in the officest night, vividly describing


    the scene, leaving her coworkers startled.


    ¡°I was taken to the hospitalst night, and the doctor said I have neurasthenia. I have to go for regr


    check¨Cups from now on,¡± Chloe continued.


    In an instant, the envious gazes of her colleagues transformed into sympathy. They knew that good


    health was more valuable than any amount of money.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Chloe. It¡¯s probably just because you were overworkedst night and had hallucinations.


    Use thepensation money to treat yourself to some good food,¡± her colleaguesforted Chloe.


    However, in their hearts, they were already nning to visit the church to seek blessings.


    Chloe returned to her workstation with the money in her arms, feeling a malicious gaze piercing


    through her back. If looks could kill, Ellie would have murdered Chloe countless


    times over.


    ¡®Looks like I need to speed up the n.¡®


    After getting off work, Ellie arranged to meet with Maurice. ¡°I can give the data you¡¯re looking for, but I


    have one condition,¡± she said.


    ¡°What condition?¡± Maurice asked eagerly, ¡°As long as it¡¯s


    within my capabilities, I guarantee I¡¯ll fulfill it.¡±


    Previously, Fairlight¡¯s marketing department was under Wendy¡¯s management. She was a loyal and


    dedicated


    employee who staunchly refused any bribe, regardless of the price they offered. However, with Wendy


    now on maternity leave, an opportunity had arisen.


    ¡°In case something goes wrong, I need a scapegoat, don¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Ellie slid Chloe¡¯s personal information toward Maurice. ¡°She¡¯s mypetitor, always attempting to steal


    the spotlight from me. Find a way to arrange a meeting with her, and I¡¯ll take a few photos as


    evidence.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    If it were not for Chloe suddenly being transferred to the marketing department, Ellie would have been


    Wendy¡¯s top choice for promotion. But things had changed. It seemed to her that Chloe had somehow


    managed to gain favor not only with Wendy but also Joseph. In a matter of mere months,


    Chloe was on the verge of surpassing Ellie. Such an oue was uneptable. Chloe had to be


    removed.


    As Maurice¡¯s eyes fell upon Chloe¡¯s photo, an evil grin spread across his face, and his fingers lewdly


    brushed against her cheek in the photo.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s her,¡± he said.

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200


    Chapter 200 How Bold of Him to Pursue Joseph¡¯s Woman


    ¡°Do you know her?¡± Ellie asked.


    ¡°Chloe used to work at Baxon, and I had always desired a taste of her,¡± Maurice said.


    This caused Ellie to pause in surprise. She had never expected Chloe to have worked for Baxon, and it


    seemed to her that Maurice held a strong interest in her. ¡°Find a way to arrange a meeting with her


    quickly. I don¡¯t care what you do, but I need a few photos as evidence,¡± she said.


    Maurice replied, ¡°Arranging a meeting with Chloe won¡¯t be easy. She¡¯s wary of me.¡±


    ¡°You want me to help you?¡± Ellie questioned.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not frame it as helping or not helping. If you help me, you¡¯ll benefit too.¡±


    Ellie contemted for a brief moment, her mind filled with vivid images of a future where Chloe¡¯s


    reputation waspletely destroyed, leaving her unable to pose anypetition. A wave of pleasure


    surged through Ellie, engulfing her with a sense of satisfaction.


    ¡°All right then, but it¡¯ll cost you more,¡± Elie agreed.


    *


    Since the day Xavia appeared at Fairlight, several days passed without her reemerging. The Johnsons


    seemed to have


    vanished from Chloe¡¯s life as well. Life settled into a tranquil rhythm as if turning over a new leaf. Yet,


    an unsettling feeling lingered within Chloe.


    Xavia would not simply appear before her without reason, just as she would not genuinely withdraw


    from Joseph¡¯s life for no apparent cause. Even if Chloe tried to overlook Xavia¡¯s peculiar behavior and


    believe her words, she could not help but


    question why Xavia had not stayed away in the first ce. What purposey behind her actions?


    In addition, it had been more than a month since the Johnsons had stirred up trouble. They hade


    close to achieving their desired oues on two asions, only to have Chloe thwart their ns. If


    they were willing to show reason and ept responsibility for their actions, opting for a peaceful


    resolution, it would undoubtedly be a favorable oue.


    However, given Ava¡¯s cunning and treacherous nature, Chloe could not believe she would endure the


    humiliation of being showered with rotten eggs. Was it possible that Ava was brewing something


    behind her back again?


    Sitting in the VIP seat, Joseph nced below the stage.


    Whether it was deliberate or unintentional, Chloe fell precisely within his line of sight. She had her eyes


    cast down, lost in her thoughts.


    Today was the outdoorunch event for Fairlight¡¯s new project. The gentle breeze tousled Chloe¡¯s hair,


    and a few strands floated in the air. She had opted for light and natural makeup today, and her sky¨C


    blue round¨Ccor short dress entuated her delicate and charming appearance.


    She furrowed her brows at times, then rxed them. She shook her head, then nodded slightly, clearly


    lost in a daydream. She did not even notice when her pen fell from her hand, and it was a male


    colleague sitting beside her who


    helped her pick it up.


    When he returned her pen, his fingertips grazed her hand, and intentionally, he grasped her palm, as if


    examining her hand lines or engaging in palmistry. Chloe listened intently, while Joseph¡¯s expression


    darkened.


    His thin lips parted, and he uttered her name, ¡°Chloe.¡±


    The product manager came to an abrupt stop. He humbly looked at him, awaiting further instructions.


    Amid the crowd, Chloe was bewildered as she looked toward Joseph, pointing to herself with her finger.


    ¡®Was he calling me?¡®


    ¡°Don¡¯t drift off,¡± he responded.


    He did not lower his voice and it possessed a maic chill, carrying an undeniable aura of


    intimidation that sent a chill down everyone¡¯s spine. Suddenly, everyone in the room became hyper


    focused, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to their work. Whether in school or at work, being called


    out on the spot was always the most embarrassing situation.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Fortunately, Chloe had developed the resilience to handle such moments. While she wore an


    expression of embarrassment on her face, her response remained calm, ¡°Yes, Mr. Joseph.¡± Her ability


    to remain unruffled by praise or humiliation earned her admiration from the male colleague who had


    been reading her palm.


    ¡°Based on your palm lines, you¡¯re a woman destined for greatness!¡± he eximed.


    ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit,¡± Chloe replied modestly.


    Enthralled by Chloe¡¯s radiant beauty and joyful demeanor, the male colleague could not resist the urge


    to ask her for her


    contact information. Sensing an opportunity for further interaction, he proposed, ¡°Let¡¯s exchange


    numbers. I¡¯m from Tech downstairs.¡±


    Considering they were coworkers, Chloe saw no harm in


    exchanging numbers and agreed, ¡°Let¡¯s do it once the event is over.¡±


    ¡®Otherwise, that guy over there will call me out again,¡® she added silently.


    The project manager, having been interrupted, lost his flow. With a sense of urgency, he rushed


    through the remaining content, wrapping it up in about ten minutes, leaving the audience eagerly


    anticipating their chance to ask questions.


    As Joseph left the stage, he nced at Chloe exchanging numbers with her male colleague. His face


    instantly turned dark, and a faint aura of terror seemed to emanate from him. ¡± The one with the


    sses. Fire him,¡± hemanded, his voice dripping with fury.


    Lucas¡® body was drenched in a cold sweat as he followed


    Joseph¡¯s gaze, witnessing the man¡¯s audacity to pursue


    Joseph¡¯s woman while employed under him. He could not help but admire the man¡¯s remarkable


    courage in the face of such a risky endeavor.

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201


    Chapter 201 The Upper ss


    Lucas walked over, and right in front of Chloe, said to the man who was saving her number, ¡°You can


    go to Finance to get


    your this month¡¯s sry before you leave.¡±


    For a moment, the man could not understand. ¡°But today isn¡¯t payday.¡±


    Realization dawned on Chloe. She said fearfully, ¡°Is he fired¡­¡±


    Lucas was implicit. ¡°Pretty close.¡± He nced at the new number she recently added that appeared on


    her phone screen in silent advice.


    Chloe was instantly enlightened. She speedily walked in the direction Joseph had left.


    *


    ¡°We just exchanged numbers and didn¡¯t do anything. It isn¡¯t a big deal for colleagues to exchange


    contacts.¡± Chloe tugged at Joseph¡¯s sleeves and said tteringly, ¡°Could you please not fire him¡­¡±


    ¡®If not, I¡¯ll feel very guilty. That colleague looks to be my age. He most probably had to get past many


    difficulties after passing the interview in the recruitment process.¡®


    However, Joseph chuckled out of fury. He cracked a sinister smile. ¡°Are you begging for mercy on


    another man¡¯s behalf?¡±


    ¡°No, I simply find him innocent. I¡¯ll delete his number right now.¡± She took out her phone and quickly


    deleted the contact she had added in front of him. ¡°Look. I deleted it. Please don¡¯t


    fire him. You¡¯re so handsome and have such a nice figure. Of


    course, I don¡¯t have the heart to flirt with others.¡±


    Joseph nced at Chloe thoughtfully while she showered him with praises. Suddenly, his mood


    lightened. ¡°It¡¯s because you have good insight.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Jojo, you¡¯re right. Even if you doubt me, you


    can¡¯t doubt my insight.¡± Seeing that there was hope after all, she pushed her luck and hugged his arm,


    swinging it gently. Don¡¯t fire him. I¡¯m begging you. I promise not to add the numbers of colleagues from


    other departments from now on.


    Her voice was delicate and coquettish. It was as light as a feather as it slowly calmed the gloominess in


    Joseph¡¯s eyes. He then waved his hand. ¡°Lucas.¡±


    Seeing this, Lucas felt exasperated. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll deal with it now.¡±


    Chloe watched him leave before she heaved a sigh of relief. But her phone rang at that moment. It was


    a call from Icarus.


    ¡®D*mn it! I just pacified Joseph, and I don¡¯t want to have to do it again.¡®


    Thus, she resolutely rejected Icarus¡® call.


    A tinge of doubt shed across Joseph¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who was that?¡±


    ¡°An insurance agent.¡±


    She sounded calm and casual, so Joseph raised his eyes but inquired no more about that.


    The news conference was on the ground floor of thepany building. When Chloe was back at the


    scene, most of the people had left. She did not intend to call Icarus back, but he called her again after a


    while. After some hesitation, she


    answered.


    ¡°Chloe, where are you now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at work.¡±


    ¡°Look at the hot search now. Ava suddenly became a


    shareholder of a filmpany and she seems to be dating a popr male celebrity at the moment.


    There must be


    something strange about it. Be careful. I think she¡¯s going to find fault with you.¡±


    Feeling stunned, Chloe hurriedly hung up the call before she looked it up online. The first hot search


    query was ¡°90s Beautiful Woman Bes the Director of Summertainment Film,¡± coupled with a few


    photographs of thepany staff weing Ava.


    Knitting her brows tightly, Chloe pondered over this. For so many years, the Johnsons never had


    connections with the entertainment and film industry. Although Summertainment was not considered


    large in the industry, it was not small either. However, Ava came out of nowhere and became a director


    for such apany. Where did she get her shares?


    It was strange¡­


    ¡°Coco, it¡¯s been a while.¡± A sickeningly sweet voice came from not afar out of the blue.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Chloe scratched her head helplessly. ¡®Is Icarus some kind of prophet?¡®


    Ava stepped out of a flirtatiously pink luxury car with a handsome man beside her. She then walked to


    Chloe, her high heels clicking and exuding great glory. She nced at


    Fairlight¡¯s building arrogantly and stated sarcastically, ¡°Are


    you still working for others? Aren¡¯t you tired? Why don¡¯t you beg me? I¡¯ll let you have a supporting


    female role in films and join the lives of the upper¨Css people.

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202


    Chapter 202 I Like Hitting Women More


    Chloe nced at Ava in an aloof manner. ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. Aren¡¯t you afraid your mink coat will


    start to stink up in this hot weather?¡±


    ¡°What a bumpkin! Fashion doesn¡¯t depend on the weather. You know nothing.¡± The handsome man


    beside Ava spoke up for her, showing a disdainful expression.


    Since Chloe was standing close to them, she noticed that the handsome man had makeup on. He had


    put on foundation and lipstick. At a nce, he was pretty handsome but after taking a closer look, he


    appeared rather strange and androgynous.


    She did not want to talk to him. ¡°Spill it. Why are you here, Ava? If you¡¯re here to show off, I¡¯m sorry to


    break it to you that I¡¯m uninterested.¡±


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Ava threw out a business card as if she was giving alms. ¡°I¡¯m now the director of Summertainment. If


    you be mypany¡¯s celebrity, I can introduce rich people to you so that you¡¯ll achieve great


    sess and be filthy rich for the rest of your life.¡±


    During this period, Ava learned how an entertainment


    Of course, that was merely Ava¡¯s wishful thinking. After Chloe heard Ava¡¯s words, she rolled her eyes


    and turned to leave.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not done yet. Do I say you can go? Do you know how many connections I have now? All the


    elites from all walks of life address me as Ms. Ava respectfully when they see me. Don¡¯t you want this


    kind of dignity? Even the president of Fairlight has to serve me well as long as I beckon him casually.


    ¡°Tsk! Noisy people!¡±


    When that voice appeared, a chill permeated the air.


    Chloe was stunned before she abruptly turned around and looked over. At some point, Joseph arrived


    on the scene. Standing under the sunlight, he looked tall and sturdy. He rolled up a section of his


    sleeves and exposed his powerful wrists. At the same time, he was staring at Ava gloomily, which filled


    thetter with trepidation.


    Ava noticed the extraordinaryer as well as his perfect face. He had the kind of exquisite charms


    which she had never seen in the entertainment circle. After smoothing her hair briefly, she asked


    tenderly, ¡°Hello, may I know who you are?¡±


    Lucas revealed a light smile. ¡°Mr. Joseph is the one you imed has to serve you well as long as you


    beckon casually.¡±


    Awkwardness overwhelmed Ava. She then put on a gentle front. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was just joking. Let me


    introduce myself. I¡¯m the director of Summertainment Film. I¡¯m d to make your acquaintance.¡±


    However, Joseph expressionlessly looked at the hand she.


    extended before he tilted his head and ordered Lucas, ¡°Ask the security guards to deal with this. Get rid


    of the noisy people at the entrance of thepany.¡±


    ¡°You want to drive me out?¡± Ava was filled with disbelief.


    ¡°If not? Do you think you¡¯re not a person?¡± Chloe spoke up in time. Blinking herrge eyes innocently,


    she mocked Ava


    openly.


    Ava was so angry that she shuddered. ¡°Do you know who my godfather is?¡±


    ¡°Godfather? Isn¡¯t it just your sugar daddy? Well, it¡¯s rather impudent of us to ask such a private


    question¡­¡±


    ¡°You b*tch! Your thoughts are vulgar. What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you should just keep quiet and watch your tongue, you b *tch. What nonsense!¡± the man with the


    makeup echoed Ava¡¯s


    words.


    When Joseph heard them address Chloe as a b*tch, he


    narrowed his eyes and abruptly kicked the man¡¯s belly. He used great force, and the man was thrown a


    few meters away. He then covered his belly and wailed ceaselessly.


    Frightened, Ava was struck dumb on the spot. She widened her eyes in terror. ¡°How dare you beat him


    up! This is illegal!¡±


    Joseph absent¨Cmindedly smoothed the creases on his clothes and said wickedly and coldly, ¡°I like


    hitting women more. You may give it a try if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203


    Chapter 203 This Is Just Forey


    Faced with Joseph¡¯s cold gaze, Ava immediately ran away out of fear. She did not even stop to help


    the man on the ground.


    The man hid the hatred in his eyes when he saw Ava abandon him. He then started wailing even


    louder.


    Chloe was deeply frightened. She frowned and whispered, ¡± Should we call 911 for him? Don¡¯t hurt him


    too badly.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a coward.¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was icy. He then rubbed her head as if he was rubbing his dog.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about you. It¡¯s illegal to hit people. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll ckmail you.¡±


    He gave her a firm look with unclear emotions in his eyes. You don¡¯t have to worry about me. Just take


    good care of yourself.¡±


    ¡®Don¡¯t be so dumb and be bullied by others.¡®


    Chloe recalled how Joseph taught Ava a lesson just now. He gave her a great sense of security as if


    she could fear nothing as long as he was around¡­.


    At that moment, she enjoyed an unprecedented warmth.


    When the man on the ground saw them leave, he struggled to get up. He then took out his phone and


    snapped photographs of his injuries before he posted them on the Inte. However, he did not expose


    the identity of the culprit. He was an actor with some pull, and his post soon became a hot search. A lot


    of his fans defended him and rebuked the culprit, iming that the culprit should be locked up in prison.


    After


    that, he called Lucas and ckmailed them. He exposed his intention of making a big scene if they did


    not pay him


    ¡°D*mn! They¡¯re so shameless.¡± When Chloe heard this, she


    was struck speechless. As expected, birds of a feather flock together.


    However, Lucas smiled and uttered, ¡°Ms. Chloe, you don¡¯t have to worry about this. If it gets blown up,


    Fairlight¡¯s PR will deal with it.¡±


    Chloe was not worried about the public opinion on the Inte, but about the fact that Ava suddenly


    became the director of an entertainmentpany and about if someone was helping Ava in secret.


    After fancying such wild thoughts, she put them aside and said seriously to the man who was standing


    beside the French window and drinking coffee gracefully, ¡°Jojo, thank you for helping me.¡±


    When Joseph heard her thanking him, he furrowed his brows.¡® Why did she thank me? I was just


    protecting my woman.¡®


    ¡°Jojo, what would you like to eat tonight? I¡¯ll cook for you.¡±


    ¡°Am I a pig? Do I care about nothing else but food?¡±


    Chloe touched her nose helplessly. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know how else to thank you.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    But Joseph did not regard this seriously. He nced at her fair neck before his eyes turned dull.


    Suddenly, he thought of a way she could thank him.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    Chloe walked over obediently, eagerly staring at him with her clear and pretty eyes. She was like a


    kitten waiting for his next hint.


    Joseph gulped slightly before he ordered her with an attractive voice. ¡°Kiss me.¡±


    A look of amazement overwhelmed Chloe, and he burst out intoughter. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve never


    kissed before. You don¡¯t have to look so agitated.¡±


    At that moment, Lucas felt like he was an intrusion. He quietly retreated from the office and


    considerately closed the door.


    Chloe stood at 5 foot 5, but she was still shorter than Joseph. Thus, she was forced to look up at him


    before she gently stood on tiptoe and shyly extended her red lips. When her lips touched his lips, he


    held her slim waist with both hands and deepened the kiss.


    A rich and pleasant coffee scent spread through their mouths. Being kissed, Chloe felt quite light¨C


    headed. She felt as if she had drunk arge cup of coffee. While losing her breath, she lost her energy


    as her body turned soft. She could no longer stand on her toes.


    Joseph leaned his head on her shoulder and chuckled. His hot breath tickled her ear when he said


    something to her. Chloe moaned slightly before she asked in a coquettish tone, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    He then ced his hot, burning palm on her face, repeating himself slowly in a low voice. His tone was


    frivolous but charming in his unique way. ¡°I said, this is just forey, and you¡¯re already so soft.¡±

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204


    Chapter 204 A Date With Maurice


    Chloe was almost suffocated from the kiss, so she was dizzy now. For a moment, she could not


    understand his words.


    Joseph stared at her blurry eyes and smiled like a demon. He then bent down and made a purplish


    hickey on her slim and fair neck.


    Chloe did not feel much and thought he just kissed her on the neck. When she was back in her office,


    her colleague beside her asked her secretly, ¡°Did you get a boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Her colleague snickered but said nothing else.


    *


    ¡°Godpa, someone bullied me. Sob¡­¡±


    Ava sought out Calvin toin about what had happened, all while crying piteously.


    Calvin put away his work andforted her, ¡°Who bullied you? Tell me.¡±


    Ava avoided the major issues and dwelled on the minor issues, misrepresenting the truth. As a result,


    she painted Joseph as a senseless, violent man.


    Calvin frowned, ruminating over the matter carefully. ¡°I¡¯ve never met Joseph, but I don¡¯t think he¡¯s such


    a person. Was there some kind of misunderstanding?¡±


    ¡°Mark got beaten up and was hurt. Of course, there¡¯s no misunderstanding.¡± Ava pouted and behaved


    like a spoiled


    child before she showed him the photographs Mark Lewis posted on the Inte.


    Upon seeing the picture, Calvin said gloomily, ¡°I¡¯ll get


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    someone to deal with it. I can¡¯t let you be bullied for no reason.


    11


    He was going to return to Agosver after a while, so he could not just leave this unresolved.


    Hearing this, Ava agreed to it happily. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore, Godpa. Toodles.¡±


    ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± Calvin nodded. He then thought of something and stopped her. ¡°Ava, don¡¯t get too


    close to other celebrities since you¡¯re dating Wyatt now.¡±


    Ava¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡±


    Calvin asked someone to investigate the whole incident and learned that Ava went to Fairlight to meet


    Chloe and that Joseph had arrived halfway through their interaction.


    Calvin¡¯s subordinate reported, ¡°Chloe is Ms. Ava¡¯s younger sister. It looks like they¡¯re always been at


    odds with each other. Chloe moved out of their family home earlier this year. Various things have


    happened since then, and their rtionship is always very tense.¡±


    ¡°Ava¡¯s younger sister?¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t that the child the worthless piece of trash had with another woman?¡® Calvin thought.


    ¡°Yeah, Ms. Ava is one year older than Chloe, but it looks like Ms. Ava was the one who made this


    scene.¡±


    Calvin¡¯s square face sank. His impression of Chloe instantly soured. Only a few months after Luciana


    Sullivan passed away,


    Benjamin had married another woman. And it seemed that


    they had a daughter too. That b*stard might have even hooked up with Chloe¡¯s mother long ago. Of


    course, Chloe would not be a nice person given that her mother was such a shameless


    woman.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end this here. Tell Ava to stop getting in touch with


    Chloe. If not, she¡¯ll be influenced and might turn out for the worse.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    *


    Ellie finally made her move on Friday. She handed an invitation card to Chloe. ¡°Baxon has a forum in


    themercial district of the city tomorrow. Go and check out what their highlights and operations are.


    See if there¡¯s anything we can learn and apply flexibly.¡±


    Chloe hid the coldness in her eyes and pretended to be ignorant. ¡°Okay, but why don¡¯t you go instead?¡±


    Ellie was full of scorn. ¡°You are one of the many juniors in this department, and you guys don¡¯t get to


    see much of the world. But I¡¯m different. I¡¯ve attended countless forums.¡± She pursed her lips and faked


    a smile.


    At night, Chloe went home and told Joseph about this. He stared at the address on the business card.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can handle it on my own. If you¡¯re worried, you can ask Lucas to wait for me outside.¡± Chloe


    felt that Joseph¡¯s time. was precious. She did not want to waste his time on such a trivial affair.


    A deep sense of gloom emerged in Joseph¡¯s heart as sarcasm


    dawned on his perfect face. ¡°Why? Do you want to get rid of me so you can go on a date with


    Maurice?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just worried that you might be busy, so I don¡¯t want to trouble you¡­¡± Chloe noticed that her


    words might be taken the wrong way, so she immediately exined, ¡°It¡¯s best if you could go with me.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression became slightly better upon hearing this. He opened his thin lips to speak when


    he heard someone park a car in the yard. He looked outside and saw Xavia anxiously getting out of the


    car.

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205


    Chapter 205 Chloe, You¡¯re Getting Fired


    Joseph¡¯s face suddenly became gloomy.


    Chloe was facing away from the yard. When she heard the sound, she too turned around and took a


    look. Xavia, whom she had not seen in two weeks, appeared all of a sudden.


    While Chloe was still in a daze, Joseph stood up and went outside.


    ¡°Joe, Oreo was being naughty and ran out. It got hit by a car


    and is now at the vet. The doctor said Oreo needs a blood donation. Can I get Toto to help?¡± Out of


    anxiousness and worry, Xavia held onto Joseph¡¯s hand.


    Joseph pulled back his hand and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take Toto and go with you.¡± He then went to the back


    garden to look for Toto.


    Xavia stood on the spot and waited. Upon noticing Chloe, she exined in embarrassment, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I


    know I shouldn¡¯t disturb you guys but I don¡¯t know who to turn to for help other than Joe.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Chloe ate quietly before she asked with a smile, ¡°Is Oreo your dog?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, Oreo and Toto are from the same litter. Joe took Toto while I took Oreo.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Chloe guessed that Oreo might be rted to Toto.


    Otherwise, Xavia would have to search high and low for a dog with the right blood type.


    Before Joseph left, he patted Chloe¡¯s head briefly. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s calm expression became twisted in Xavia¡¯s eyes. She assumed that Chloe was fearless


    because she was favored. Xavia quickly lowered her head to hide her emotion.


    Chloe watched them leave, observing how enthusiastic Toto was toward Xavia. It was clear that Toto


    knew Xavia and had feelings for her. Chloe felt that the dog she took care of attentively for so long was


    suddenly retrieved by its former owner one day, and inexplicable annoyance engulfed her.


    After around two hours, Joseph returned with Toto. Toto appeared slightly weak, appearing like it had


    donated quite a lot of blood. Chloe felt very sorry for Toto and hugged the dog tightly. ¡°Is Xavia¡¯s dog


    badly injured?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, Oreo¡¯s condition is still unsteady at the moment. Oreo may need another donation from Toto.¡±


    Chloe frowned. ¡°But we can¡¯t let Toto be the only one donating blood.¡±


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± An unfathomable look shed across Joseph¡¯s face. This was not what he was


    worried about. Border Collies were smart dogs, and Oreo was much smarter than Toto. Oreo could


    understand traffic lights since young and knew how to avoid cars. Why would Oreo run out and get hit


    by a car?


    Chloe nodded and said nothing more. After all, Toto was not her dog, so she had no right to raise any


    opinion. The only thing she could do was cook healthy meals for Toto to help Toto recover quicker.


    Luckily, Xavia did not contact Joseph the next day, so Toto did


    not have to donate blood again.


    Half an hour before the forum started in the afternoon, Chloe was ready and arrived at the venue early.


    She casually sat on a vacant seat. Unexpectedly, Maurice was early too. He came after she had just


    arrived.


    At that moment, the scene was not crowded. Thus, Maurice saw Chloe at a nce. She was sitting in a


    corner.


    She was in an off¨Cshoulder ck dress, looking tall, slim, and curvy. Contrasting with her dark dress,


    her milky and tender skin looked even fairer and brighter. As a result, she emitted an extraordinary


    temperament.


    Seeing this, Maurice could not take his eyes off her. ¡®This girl has be so much prettier after


    leaving Baxon.¡®


    He gulped before he rubbed his hands together in excitement and walked over. ¡°Hey, Chloe, right?¡±


    Maurice pretended to be surprised as he went forward to strike up a conversation with her. He casually


    took the chair opposite her.


    Chloe then faked a smile and replied, ¡°I heard there was going to be a finance forum here. I happened


    to have an invitation card, so I came to check it out.¡±


    ¡°You should have told me if you wanted toe. I have a lot of invitation cards.¡±


    ¡°Thank you but I already have one.¡±


    Maurice asked the obvious. ¡°Where are you working now?¡±


    ¡°Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Fairlight? That¡¯s amazing. Yourpany recently came up with a new project. Didn¡¯t you guys


    hold a press conference


    a few days ago?¡±


    Chloe answered politely, ¡°Mm¨Chm, and there¡¯ll be another projecting up soon.¡±


    Maurice averted his gaze to avoiding off too strong and revealing his true goal. He first chatted


    with her briefly before turning the topic to the current forum. ¡°Baxon¡¯s board of directors invited a few


    foreign reporters for an interview today. It¡¯s not for the public. Are you interested in that?¡±


    Chloe appeared very surprised. ¡°Indeed I am. Thank you very much.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Maurice touched his chin and sized her up with ascivious gaze. ¡°It¡¯s a small favor. After all, we¡¯re


    friends. Come with me.


    Chloe followed him into the innermost lounge. On her way there, she spotted Laura out of the corner of


    her eye, using a phone to take secret shots of them while hiding in a corner.


    Suddenly, Maurice stopped and handed her the wallet in his hand. ¡°Could you help me hold this for a


    bit? My s

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206


    Chapter 206 I¡¯ve Never Held Baxon in High Regard


    The lounge was empty, devoid of any sign of people.


    Covertly, Chloe dialed Joseph¡¯s number and discreetly pressed the record button. Sporting a puzzled


    expression, she asked, ¡± Isn¡¯t there supposed to be an internal interview? Why are we here?¡±


    Maurice locked the door behind him, unable to contain his impulses as he lunged toward Chloe. ¡°It is


    an interview¨Can internal interview, a one¨Con¨Cone kind,¡± he replied.


    Chloe, who had prepared herself in advance, deftly sidestepped him, maintaining herposure. ¡°How


    much money did you give Ellie to persuade her to do this?¡± she questioned.


    Maurice was taken aback, surprised at how quickly Chloe had figured it out. He sneered and said,


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve already caught on, I won¡¯t pretend anymore. It wasn¡¯t much, just a few grand. But money


    isn¡¯t the point here. The point is that I promised to help her deal with you.¡±


    Chloe crossed her arms and beckoned him with a curl of her finger, a smile ying on her lips. It was a


    smile that held both innocence and provocation. ¡°You want to deal with me? What are you waiting for


    then? Bring it.¡±


    Even though Maurice had encountered countless women, he could not resist her deliberate seduction.


    He yearned to immediately overpower and possess her. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll ¡®deal¡® with you right now,¡± he


    responded, hastily removing his clothes.


    As he removed his final piece of clothing, the door was forcefully kicked open. Joseph stood there,


    silhouetted against the backlight, the soft light casting a gentle glow upon his slender figure. With his


    noble brows, captivating eyes, and an inherent radiance that seemed to adorn his entire being, he


    seemed to emanate a divine aura, as if a celestial being had descended into the room.


    Even though this moment had been orchestrated, Chloe could not help but be captivated by the sight of


    him for a few


    seconds. ¡®How dashing. These facial features, this physique¡­ Truly extraordinary in every way.¡®


    Joseph locked eyes with the naked Maurice, a tinge of disgust evident in his gaze. He removed his suit


    and ced it over Chloe¡¯s head, shielding her from the unsightly spectacle.


    The color drained from Maurice¡¯s face as he hurriedly covered his private parts, desperately trying to


    retrieve his clothes and get dressed. But before he could react, Lucas swiftly kicked the garments out


    the door.


    Maurice panicked and smiled obsequiously. ¡°Mr. Joseph, what are you doing? Chloe and I were willing


    participants. Have you misunderstood something?¡±


    Upon hearing the phrase ¡°willing participants,¡± Chloe pulled off the suit on her head, pouted, and


    retorted with disdain, You engage in such promiscuous behavior, and I¡¯m afraid of catching some filthy


    disease from you. Your so¨Ccalled ¡®willing participants¡® is a load of bullsh*t!¡±


    ¡°Why you¡­!¡±


    Joseph pulled up a chair and sat down, his voicemanding


    11


    and cold. ¡°Go and fetch Baxon¡¯s board of directors,¡± he


    ordered.


    Lucas nodded briskly. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Without dy, several directors from nearby hurried over upon hearing the news. As they made their


    way to the lounge, Lucas provided them with a brief exnation of the situation. When theyid eyes


    on the scarcely dressed Maurice, the forlorn figure of Chloe in the corner, and the fiercely protective


    Joseph, the assembled directors instantly grasped the situation. Their faces reddened, not from


    physical pain,


    but from sheer embarrassment.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, we offer our sincere apologies for today¡¯s incident,¡± one of the senior directors humbly


    addressed Joseph first before coldly addressing Maurice, ¡°You are hereby terminated. From this


    moment onward, you are no longer associated with Baxon. Collect your belongings and get out of our


    sight.¡±


    Maurice panicked, disregarding hisck of clothing as he clung to the director¡¯s thigh, wailing and


    pleading, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault! It was Ellie from Fairlight who asked me to do this!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with Ellie, but as for you iming that you did it because she told you to, would you also


    commit murder if she asked you to?¡± Joseph¡¯s words were sharp, his cold gaze sweeping over like a


    knife.


    Tormented by that piercing gaze, Maurice trembled and was rendered speechless, his lips quivering.


    After careful consideration, the senior director cautiously proposed, ¡°Mr. Joseph, let¡¯s handle this matter


    privately. It¡¯s not necessary to make a big fuss over a mere employee. We¡¯re


    all part of the financial circle, so I humbly request that you spare us from public embarrassment.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t recall indicating any intention to handle this privately.


    11


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to escte the situation over a minor employee. If this incident is exaggerated, it¡¯ll


    portray that Fairlight doesn¡¯t hold Baxon in high regard, and it could disrupt the harmony.¡±


    Terminating Maurice¡¯s employment was a trivial matter, and offeringpensation was a minor


    concern. However, the presence of numerous attendees at the forum today could not be ignored. If


    news of this disgraceful incident were to spread, it could inflict severe damage upon Baxon¡¯s


    reputation.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯ve never held Baxon in high regard.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, in business, it¡¯s wise to keep a path open and avoid extreme actions in all matters.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze remained indifferent. ¡°Maurice dared to steal Fairlight¡¯s technical data, and it¡¯s either you


    tacitly approved of it or you couldn¡¯t control him. Regardless of the reason, constantly seeking illicit


    gains instead of focusing on


    enhancing your own capabilities¡­ Baxon won¡¯t survive long in the financial world.¡±


    The directors of Baxon wore ashen faces, left speechless by his retort. Being mocked at their age was


    utterly embarrassing.


    Joseph could not be bothered to argue with these people any longer. He was ready to leave. Maurice


    remained kneeling on the ground, desperately clinging to a director¡¯s thigh, begging


    not to be fired. When Joseph walked past him, he paused. In the next moment, his shiny leather shoes,


    as cold as ice,


    Maurice cried out in pain, ¡°Mr. Joseph, please lift your foot! You¡¯re stepping on my hand!¡±Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Joseph looked down at him from a position of superiority, unmoved. He even pressed down a few more


    times with his foot as if he wanted to etch the word ¡°deliberate ¡± on his face.


    ¡°Ouch, ouch! It hurts, Mr. Joseph! Please stop!¡±


    ¡°If it hurts, then perhaps you should¡¯ve exercised better control over your filthy hands.¡±

 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207


    Chapter 207 The Sweet Affection Between Jojo and Me


    Maurice¡¯s mind froze as he suddenly realized the truth. Forgetting his pain, his face transformed into an


    expression of sheer astonishment as he gazed at Joseph, then turned his disbelieving eyes toward


    Chloe.


    These two individuals did not share a mere superior- subordinate rtionship. That foolish Ellie had


    unknowingly entangled him in this mess. It became clear why stealing data from Fairlight had never


    posed a problem in the past. Joseph had personally intervened this time because of his connection


    to Chloe.


    Maurice was consumed by despair as his life plunged into darkness. With Joseph¡¯s involvement, the


    despicable and vile actions of Baxon were exposed to the financial world, spreading like wildfire.


    Numerouspanies swiftly


    terminated their contracts with Baxon, causing their stock market value to plummet, pushing them


    dangerously close to the brink of bankruptcy.


    Ellie, likely aware of the unfolding events, was absent from work for several days. In the midst of this,


    Chloe received a call from Ms. Wendy inquiring about the situation. Chloe provided a thorough


    exnation, but all Ms. Wendy responded with was silence. It was evident that Ms. Wendy, who had


    yed a significant role in Ellie¡¯s career development, was deeply disappointed in Ellie¡¯s actions.


    One day, while Chloe was heading downstairs to join her colleagues for lunch, she noticed Xavia


    standing at the entrance of the Fairlight¡¯s building. Holding a handbag


    tightly, Xavia¡¯s eyes eagerly scanned the surroundings,


    searching for someone in the distance. Chloe could not help but inwardly roll her eyes, realizing that


    Xavia was likely


    waiting for Joseph.


    The allure of first love remained strong. Regardless of Joseph¡¯s exnations, a first love¡¯s hold on his


    heart seemed


    unshakeable. Just a few days had passed, and here they were, meeting again.


    Chloe, full of disdain for Joseph¡¯s efforts, locked eyes with Xavia, who took the initiative to greet her.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyebrows twitched, signaling her colleagues to go ahead and have lunch without her.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, I personally made these snacks for Toto. Also, I wanted to thank both of you for your help


    the other day. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have known who to turn to.¡±


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°The person you should thank is Joseph. It has nothing to do with me.


    A strange expression flickered in Xavia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you and Joe already married? Why is there a


    hint of unfamiliarity in your words?¡±


    With her reminder, Chloe straightened her back and finally assumed her role. ¡°I¡¯m ustomed to


    calling him by his given name in our daily life. It feels more personal. Joseph was the one who helped


    you that day, and I didn¡¯t do much.¡±


    ¡°Okay. By the way, how long have you two been married?¡±


    ¡°About half a year.¡±


    ¡°How long have you known each other?¡±


    Chloe paused briefly before responding, ¡°You seem pretty interested in our rtionship.¡± She narrowed


    her almond- shaped eyes, her smile carrying a deeper meaning.


    Xavia did not shy away from the topic. ¡°Joe can be a cold person at heart. Very few can truly warm him


    up. Our rtionship had its share of ups and downs in the beginning, so I couldn¡¯t help but be curious.¡±


    As she spoke, Xavia¡¯s expression remained sincere and open, making it difficult to discern any hidden


    motives.


    Chloe fell silent for a moment, delicately tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her small and


    pristine ear. She pondered her words carefully before responding, ¡°Is your rtionship with Jojo


    complicated? We didn¡¯t experience that. In short, I¡¯d describe our connection as love at first sight, with


    everything falling into ce naturally. Our love is deep and genuine, filled with mutual care and


    affection. Originally, I wasn¡¯t working at Fairlight, but Jojo insisted on me being here with him every day.


    He¡¯s always so attentive, and sometimes I even find myself tired of his constant affection.¡±


    A subtle twitch appeared at the corner of Xavia¡¯s eye, and the smile on her face faded slightly. ¡°Really?


    You two seem to have such a loving rtionship.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I can¡¯t help but envy you. You¡¯ve never had to deal with Jojo¡¯s constant pestering like I have.


    While I¡¯m immersed in work, I also find myself immersed in my love for him on the side.¡±


    ¡°Not bad. It seems like you have a fulfilling life,¡± Xaviamented, handing over a handwritten paper,


    interrupting


    their conversation. ¡°This contains all of Joe¡¯s dietary restrictions and preferences. It¡¯s for you.¡±


    Chloe nced briefly at the contents but did not reach out to take the paper. ¡°You have neat


    handwriting, but Jojo eats whatever I cook. So, this note isn¡¯t necessary. Thank you, though.¡±

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208


    Chapter 208 A Non¨Canswer Is the Answer


    Xavia¡¯s expression momentarily stiffened, but she quickly regained herposure thanks to her


    inherent good manners. Her gaze returned to its normal state, carrying a subtle sense of superiority


    that seemed ingrained in her. ¡°Joe has a sensitive stomach. His preference for the dishes you prepare


    indicates your culinary skill. I¡¯ll be counting on you to look after him from now on.¡±


    She spoke politely, but if one listened closely, it felt as though she was implying that taking care of


    Joseph was a privilege and something to be cherished.


    Chloe could not quite discern Xavia¡¯s true intentions behind her kind words, but she nodded in


    agreement nheless. ¡°I will,¡± she replied. It was merely the task of looking after a troublesome


    b*stard for three years. She did not need Xavia to tell her that she needed to fulfill her part of the


    contract. Chloe


    understood that much.


    Xavia offered a faint smile in response and fell silent. As an artist, her temperament spoke volumes¨C


    gentle and elegant. Her mere presencemanded the attention of many, drawing nces from men


    who often turned to gaze at her beauty.


    Meanwhile, Chloe¡¯s empty stomach growled, reminding her of the difort caused by her hunger.


    ¡°Feel free to make yourself at home. I have something to attend to, so I won¡¯t be able to keep you


    company.¡±


    She turned to leave, taking her first step forward when Xavia¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°Ms. Chloe, Joe


    and I have already ended


    our rtionship. You don¡¯t need to worry. I don¡¯t want to interfere with your feelings. However, in


    Aesper, Joe is the only friend I have. Sometimes, I just want to catch up with him. I hope you won¡¯t


    make it difficult for him,¡± reassured Xavia, her tone carrying a hint of assurance. ¡°And as for Joe, know


    him quite well¨Cthe circles he frequents and the friends he keeps. If there¡¯s anything you want to know,


    Ms. Chloe, feel free toe and ask me.¡±


    Tsk, if it started as a covert provocation, now it was a public showdown!


    Chloe was not angry, but she found it a bit strange. Her


    I


    intuition told her not to take the bait. So, without turning her head, she spoke in an innocent and


    harmless tone, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough! Ms. Chloe, why are you pressuring me? I only wanted to maintain a friendship with Joe


    and never intended to ruin your rtionship. Why did you say such harsh words?¡± eximed Xavia.


    A cloud of confusion enveloped Chloe as she thought to herself, ¡®What¡¯s going on? When did I say


    anything harsh?¡®


    She turned her head and saw Xavia clutching her chest and coughing violently. Her face quickly turned


    pale. Immediately after, Xavia grimaced in pain and copsed to the ground, unconscious.


    Chloe stood there in a daze for a few seconds, her concern evident. She was about to move forward to


    check on Xavia¡¯s condition when a tall figure swiftly scooped Xavia into his


    arms.


    Joseph furrowed his brows deeply and spoke in a serious tone,


    ¡°Wake up.¡±


    11


    Seeing no response, Lucas quickly dialed 911.


    Just two kilometers away from Fairlight, there was arge public hospital. The ambnce arrived


    swiftly, its siren wailing through the air. Xavia was carefully lifted onto a stretcher by the medical staff,


    and Joseph followed them into the vehicle.


    Everything happened so quickly, leaving Chloe feeling


    bewildered. Determined, she gritted her teeth and caught up, eager to exin to the stoic man beside


    her, ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke Xavia, nor did I say anything harsh. She suddenly fainted without any apparent


    reason.


    Joseph¡¯s tone remained icy as he responded, ¡°Are you suggesting that Xavia fainted for no reason?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mouth fell open slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression remained impassive, a flicker of disappointment passing through his eyes. ¡°Now is


    not the time to shift me.¡±


    He knew that Chloe loved him, and he could understand that love, but had Xaviae to Fairlight


    solely to deliver something to him without any hidden agenda. It was clear that Chloe¡¯s reaction today


    was excessive, but now there was a


    more pressing matter that needed immediate attention and resolution.


    Knowing how to stir up trouble but not how to resolve it. It felt as if a massive weight had been ced


    on Chloe¡¯s chest, making it hard for her to breathe.


    Sometimes, a non¨Canswer is the answer.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    After a few moments of silence, she took a deep breath. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s wait until Xavia wakes up.¡±


    An hourter, Xavia regained consciousness after receiving emergency treatment. The doctor held the


    test results and looked at them with an indescribable expression. ¡°Is there any family or close rtives


    of the patient? I¡¯d like to discuss the findings with them. Pleasee with me.¡±

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209


    Chapter 209 Leukemia


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened slightly as he inquired, ¡°Would a friend suffice?¡±


    ¡°Ideally, it¡¯d be better if it was a family member.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any rtives in Aesper.¡±


    ¡°All right,e with me then.¡±


    ¡°Are you with them? Pleasee and settle the payment.¡±


    The nurse handed a few forms to Chloe, who reached out to


    take them.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°The payment counter is located on the first floor.¡±


    *


    The doctor ced the test results in front of Joseph and spoke in a solemn tone. ¡°I regret to inform you


    that the patient has been diagnosed with leukemia, and unfortunately, the optimal treatment period has


    already passed.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Joseph¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted.


    ¡°The patient came for checkups in this hospital recently. Didn¡¯t she tell you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Given the current condition of the patient, she¡¯s highly susceptible to infections throughout her body. It


    is essential for you to attend to her emotionally and help minimize any emotional upheavals.


    Maintaining a positive mood is crucial


    for effective treatment,¡± the doctor advised.


    Inside the ward, Xaviay on the bed, her beautiful and gentle face slightly pale, yet retaining its


    captivating charm. Panic flickered in her eyes as Joseph entered the room with her test results in hand.


    She resembled a guilty child, fearing


    retribution. ¡°Do¡­Do you know?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He suppressed hisplicated emotions. ¡°When did you find out?¡±


    ¡°Half a year ago,¡± Xavia replied with a gentle smile. Despite being the patient herself, she sought to


    offerfort to others. ¡°The doctors abroad reached a dead end, so they suggested Ie back to


    Aesper for further consultation. I initially contemted giving up, but I thought it¡¯d be worthwhile to


    return and to see you. Little did I expect that you and Ms. Chloe had already¡­¡±


    She then paused, a tinge of regret in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was my mistake ining back here.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s memory jogged, prompting her to exin further. ¡± And about earlier, it was my fault. Please


    don¡¯t me Ms. Chloe. She cares for you and understandably doesn¡¯t want me near you.¡±


    Joseph pressed his temple, feeling somewhat annoyed. ¡°Focus on recovering and taking care of


    yourself. If you need any help, you can talk to Lucas.¡±


    Of course, he was aware of Chloe¡¯s affection for him, to the point of disapproving of any other


    individuals of the opposite sex approaching him. However, such matters held little importance to him.


    What bothered him was Chloe¡¯s


    negligence in promptly attending to Xavia¡¯s distress and then


    shifting me afterward.


    Xavia noticed the shift in Joseph¡¯s demeanor and calmly


    observed his reaction. Her eyes welled up with unspoken sadness as she struggled to speak, ¡°The


    doctor informed me that my current prognosis isn¡¯t optimistic¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze grew intense. ¡°Everything will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Joe, can you make me a promise?¡±


    ¡°Tell me what it is.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starting chemotherapy next week. Could you spare some time to be with me during the treatment?


    I heard that chemotherapy can be very difficult¡­¡±


    Outside the ward, Chloe, having returned after settling the payment, held her breath, her heart


    pounding with


    anticipation as she awaited Joseph¡¯s response. If he agreed, it would signify that Joseph was willing to


    let Xavia back into his life, to allow her to grow closer to him. It could even be seen as a sign of


    reconciliation.


    ¡°Chloe, why are you here?¡± Nathan¡¯s unexpected appearance startled her, causing her entire body to


    tense up.


    Chloe quickly turned around, her face flushing with the embarrassment of being caught eavesdropping.


    Her ears burned with self¨Cconsciousness. ¡°I came here with Joseph. What about you? Why are you


    here?¡±


    ¡°Xavia listed me as her emergency contact in the hospital records. The hospital called me,¡± Nathan


    replied, oblivious to any underlying tension. ¡°So, you and Joe are aware of her condition now?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Chloe was aware of the overall situation and stepped aside. ¡°I just went downstairs to settle the


    payment. You can go in and see for yourself.¡±


    Nathan nodded and entered the room. Chloe followed closely behind, eager to rify the situation


    before Xavia. She did not want any misunderstandings to persist.


    As they entered the room, they were greeted by the sound of Xavia¡¯s voice, brimming with excitement


    and joy. ¡°Thank you, Joe. Those words mean the world to me. I¡¯m truly happy to hear them.¡±

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210


    Chapter 210 Don¡¯t You Have Anything to Say to Me?


    Chloe followed the sound of the voice and witnessed Xavia tightly clutching Joseph¡¯s hand, tears of joy


    streaming down. her face.


    ¡®Did Joseph really agree to her request?¡® Chloe pondered, her heart throbbing with pain. She tightly


    clenched her fists, attempting to suppress her unwarranted emotions, but the effort was futile. The


    intertwined hands of the two felt like piercing thorns in her heart. Her vision blurred, and before the


    tears could escape, she hastily turned around and fled, her appearance disheveled and distressed.


    Nathan, sensing the tension in the room, realized it was not the right time to stay and offered a


    mischievous smile. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to it. Carry on then.¡±


    Earlier, Xavia had grabbed onto Joseph¡¯s hand before the door was opened. Joseph¡¯s attention was


    distracted at that moment. It took him a moment to realize what happened before swiftly retracting his


    hand, his tone distant. ¡°Rest well. I have some matters to attend to, so I got to go.¡±


    Nathan yfully held Joseph back, a mischievous smile on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should


    continue your conversation? You two seemed engrossed before I arrived. Maybe I


    interrupted something important.¡±


    Joseph gave him a brief nce and swiftly made his way out. without exining further. Nathan


    shrugged it off,


    ustomed to Joseph¡¯s reticence, and shifted his curious gaze to Xavia. ¡°So, did you two make up?¡±


    Xavia smiled bitterly and replied, ¡°No, I simply asked him to spend more time with me, but he declined.¡±


    Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Then why were you crying tears of joy just now?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s eyes softened, and a wistful smile touched her lips. ¡± Joe forgave me for leaving without a word


    all those years ago. The weight on my heart has finally been lifted.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ I thought¡­¡± Nathan paused, his words trailing off, as he studied Xavia¡¯s expression. There


    was a hint of longing in her eyes, a touch of sadness. He was quite surprised that Joseph chose Chloe.


    *


    Chloe returned to the office and spent the afternoon


    contemting Xavia¡¯s situation. By the time work was over, she had managed to adjust her state of


    mind and knew how to face Joseph.


    In the underground parking lot, Lucas sat in the front seat, waiting. He nced at Joseph through the


    rearview mirror and hesitated for a moment before he spoke, ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve reviewed the surveince


    footage outside Fairlight. It showed that Ms. Xavia suddenly fainted after Ms. Chloe and Ms. Xavia had


    already finished their conversation.¡±


    Joseph furrowed his brow, his handsome face reflecting his confusion. ¡°Are you defending Chloe?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, I¡¯m just concerned that this incident might lead to an argument between you and Ms. Chloe


    and affect your


    rtionship.¡±


    ¡°If she can provide a reasonable exnation, I¡¯ll let her off the hook.¡±


    Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing Chloe¡¯s usual


    behavior toward Joseph, it was likely that she would apologize and ept her mistake as long as


    Joseph did not intentionally make it difficult for her.


    Chloe walked at a snail¡¯s pace today, her gaze fixed on the ground. She opened the car door and sat


    next to Joseph. During the ride home, she remained silent, offering no exnation.


    Finally, Joseph could not contain his frustration any longer. He gripped Chloe¡¯s shoulders firmly, forcing


    her to meet his gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡±


    Chloe maintained a serious expression as she locked her gaze with his. After a few seconds of intense


    eye contact, she finally spoke, ¡°I do.¡±


    Joseph let out a cold snort, his tone carrying a hint of


    impatience. ¡°Then spill it out already.¡± He had hoped that she would provide a satisfactory exnation


    as he was willing to forgive her if she could justify her actions.


    ¡°I sincerely congratte you on reconciling with Xavia.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I overheard your conversation.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°What conversation? Stop being vague.

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211


    Chapter 211 Your Love Is Cheap


    ¡°Xavia wants you to spend more time with her during her chemotherapy.¡± Chloe said calmly, reciting the


    words she had rehearsed in her mind all afternoon ¡°I¡¯ll keep my distance from you from now on But


    don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll continue to y my part as your wife in front of your grandfather, and if necessary, I can


    even move out of your house But if you want me to do it fast, I might need your help in getting a new


    ce.¡±


    Joseph swiftlyprehended her message, his brow furrowing deeply. ¡°So, as long as Xavia needs it,


    you¡¯re willing to step aside and let me go without putting up a fight?¡±


    ¡®Aren¡¯t you deeply in love with me?¡±


    Sighing, Chloe said honestly, ¡°I want to maintain some of my dignity¡±


    She no longer desired to cling desperately to someone who no longer reciprocated her feelings. Once


    upon a time, she had been consumed by a burning desire for revenge against Jake, but now, she no


    longer needed to.


    Silence permeated the car, a coldness enveloping them from the tips of their toes to the top of their


    heads.


    Joseph suddenly released his grip on Chloe¡¯s shoulder, his voiceced with anger ¡°Your love is cheap.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe lowered her head, wounded by his words. She simply wished to protect herself from further pain.


    What was wrong with that?


    Lucas trembled in fear, rendered speechless as he nced at the drizzling rain outside, praying for a


    safe journey back home.


    Chloe pursed her lips and asked, ¡°So, should I continue to stay in your house or find a rental outside?¡±


    While the vi was not small, frequent visits from Xavia would inevitably create an ufortable


    atmosphere for all three of them.


    Joseph clenched his fists tightly, the sound of his knuckles cracking. ¡°You want to move out?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I just¡­¡±


    Like an enraged beast, Joseph kicked the car door open and bellowed, ¡°If you want to move out so


    badly, then leave now!¡±


    Dark clouds loomed above, casting a shadow over the sky as the drizzle intensified into a relentless


    downpour. The coldness quickly permeated Chloe¡¯s skirt, sending shivers through her She wanted to


    ask if she could move out tomorrow, but she held back. If he wanted her to leave.


    she would leave After all, all he cared about was Xavia now, and she was just an inconsequential figure


    who had unwittingly inserted herself into their long-standing rtionship


    Chloe stepped out of the car, instantly drenched by the pouring rain. It felt as if someone was


    continuously pouring cold water over her, chilling her to the bone. Braving the heavy rain, she took a


    few steps forward, attempting to create distance between herself and the person inside the


    car.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze remained fixated on her delicate silhouette, his anger mounting as he forcefully kicked


    the car door once more, venting his frustration with a string of curses. ¡°Drive!¡± hemanded.


    ¡°Sir, it seems like the car broke down. Let me check the engine,¡± Lucas said hesitantly.


    Joseph¡¯s forehead twitched involuntarily but he withheld his words, his unwavering gaze fixed upon the


    woman standing at the roadside. Chloe lifted her hand and wiped her face, but he was unsure if she


    was wiping off tears or rainwater..


    Chloe shivered from the cold and tried to hail a ride through a ride-hailing app. However, on this road,


    there were rarely any cars passing by, let alone on a rainy day like this. She waited for twenty minutes,


    even raising the fare to five times the usual amount. Yet, her request went unanswered. The rain grew


    heavier, apanied by biting winds.


    She nced back at the ck sedan behind her. The ring lights illuminated the road ahead and her


    own bedraggled figure. Her eyshes trembled as she stubbornly kept her head lowered, fixated on


    the ride-hailing app on her phone, trying to salvage what little of her dignity that remained.


    Lucas could not bear the sight and carefully said, ¡°Sir, maybe you should tell Ms. Chloe toe in. It¡¯s


    dangerous for her to stay outside in this heavy rain.¡±


    Given Joseph¡¯s prideful nature, such a suggestion was out of the question. He had already shown


    Chloe a modicum of mercy by staying put instead of driving away. A cold smirk yed upon his lips as


    he uttered, ¡°She needs to learn her lesson When she can no longer endure it, she¡¯ll get in on her own.

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212


    Chapter 212 That¡¯s Enough


    As the night grew darker, the rain persisted without any sign of relenting. Chloe stood in the biting wind


    for two hours, her delicate face growing ever paler from the cold. She knew now that getting a ride was


    out of the question and began to move forward, struggling against the elements one step at a time. 1


    ¡°Sir, it seems like Ms. Chloe intends to walk back,¡± Lucas reported.


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened. ¡®She would rather walk back thane back to me?¡¯


    ¡°Follow her,¡± hemanded.


    A deep sigh escaped Lucas¡¯s lips. It was evident that Joseph and Chloe had feelings for each other, yet


    neither of them was willing to set their pride aside.


    As the highway stretched toward Docwood, a bustling procession of vehicles hurried past, leaving


    behind trails of sshing water. In the middle of thismotion, a white sedan on the road. gradually


    decelerated, disying an exceptional level of courtesy as it approached Chloe.


    Chloe was oblivious to the car¡¯s presence. Shivering uncontrobly from the cold, her once rosy lips


    had now turned a faint shade of purple. Eventually, the white car came to a halt beside her, and the


    upant inside rolled down the window. A concerned young man peered at her with worry-filled eyes,


    his voice resonating clear and refreshing as he offered, ¡°Do you need help? I can give you a ride to


    your destination.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyshes were wet from the rainwater, softly brushing against her eyes and obscuring her


    vision. The young man before her appeared to be about the same age as Adam. He had fair skin and


    gentle features, resembling a rich young man from a prestigious family. Suddenly, a wave of irony


    washed over her. Even a stranger was worried about her, yet Joseph did nothing and just watched her


    walking in the rain.


    Taking a deep breath, Chloe inhaled a gust of cold air, and she had not had a chance to refuse before a


    coughing fit took hold of her.


    The concern in the young man¡¯s eyes deepened as he said, ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll take you wherever you want to


    go. I¡¯m a good person. There¡¯s no need to be afraid.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thank you,¡± Chloe replied after havingposed herself. She expressed her gratitude and


    continued walking forward.


    Lost in thought, the young man nced in Chloe¡¯s direction, then instructed his driver, ¡°Give her an


    umbre.¡±


    The driver hesitated for a moment beforeplying with the request.


    ¡°Miss, here¡¯s an umbre for you. With the rain pouring like this, it¡¯s best to find a ce to take shelter,¡±


    the driver said, stuffing an umbre into Chloe¡¯s arms before swiftly returning to the car.


    The young man watched as Chloe opened the umbre and held it over her head, then he ordered,


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Unable to contain his curiosity, the driver asked, ¡°Why did you give her the umbre, sir?¡±


    Was it out of pity? Maybe. The young man possessed apassionate heart, after all.


    Lowering his gaze to the book in his hands, the young man responded, ¡°Don¡¯t you think she bears a


    resemnce to Aunt Luciana?¡±Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    The driver pondered for a moment, recalling the photograph ced in the master¡¯s bedroom. He


    nodded, acknowledging the resemnce. However, he sighed inwardly when he thought of Luciana.


    The world regarded the Sullivans as the epitome of excellence in the jewelry industry, but little did they


    know that the family¡¯s lineage faced an uncertain future.


    Left without any heirs to carry on their family legacy, only two elderly figures remained as the guardians


    of their heritage. Fortunately, they had the young man by their side.


    Despite having the umbre, Chloe found herself unable to withstand the relentless onught of wind


    and rain. The icy chill prated her bones, making every step a tremendous struggle.


    The car behind her continued to follow at a steady pace. She was well aware that Joseph was waiting


    for her to surrender, to yield to his wishes. But why should she be the one to surrender? Why was it


    always her who had to give in? This time, she had done nothing wrong.


    She continued walking, unaware of how long she had been on the road until she reached the point of


    exhaustion. Her legs gave way, and she copsed to the ground.


    In the fleeting moment before darkness enveloped her vision, she caught sight of Joseph, who had


    dashed out of the car in a state of desperation.


    Joseph¡¯s face was dark as he rushed Chloe to the hospital. He emanated an ominous aura like a


    messenger from hell, constantly teetering on the edge of tage Those who passed by him kept their


    distance from him, not wanting to incur his wrath.


    Coincidentally, the doctor on duty in the emergency room was the same one who had attended to


    Xavia He nced up, looking at Joseph in confusion


    Joseph furrowed his brow ¡°The woman from this morning was my friend. This one¡¯s my wife.¡±


    ¡°Your wife is in a state of shock because her body is weak Was she subjected to some kind of cold


    conditions before this?¡± the doctor inquired.


    Joseph recalled when Jane had tied Chloe up and left her in the reservoir, and his heart clenched with


    a pang of pain. He should have waited until they got home before arguing with her.


    ¡°As long as she receives proper care and treatment, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues. It shouldn¡¯t


    affect her ability to conceive in the future,¡± the doctor said.


    ¡°This can affect her fertility?¡±


    The doctor responded with a hint of annoyance, ¡°Of course. She¡¯s weak. Do you think she can carry a


    baby in her current state?¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze and fell into a contemtive silence.


    Chloe slept for a day and a night. When she woke up, she found Joseph tightly holding onto her hand.


    Her eyes flickered, and she squirmed ufortably.


    Joseph was reviewing a document on his phone. When he sensed her moving, he raised his head


    23


    and his eyes glowed. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s voice was hoarse as she continued to struggle, attempting to release herself from


    Joseph¡¯s grip.


    He tightened his grip even more, raising an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s enough. My patience is limited.¡±

 Chapter 213

    Chapter 213


    Chapter 213 Want to See What She Looks Like?


    Chloe¡¯s parched throat burned. She had not had any water for a long time, rendering her voice hoarse


    and feeble.


    ¡°Water,¡± she croaked.


    In response to her plea, Joseph immediately released her hand and poured a ss of water for her.


    Chloe eagerly gulped it down, relieving the dryness in her throat and alleviating the stinging sensation.


    Then, she fell silent again.


    Joseph firmly held her chin,pelling her to meet his gaze. He emanated an imposing presence that


    exuded intimidation. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°And have you figured it out?¡±


    ¡°I have my guesses,¡± she replied. ¡°You¡¯re married, yet you¡¯re seeing another woman. While you want


    Xavia, you want me as well.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes bore into his, concealing a deep sense of disdain. He was the one who kicked her out of


    his car, and now he was pretending to be worried about her. He truly was a despicable man.


    Joseph sneered coldly. ¡°Are you jealous?¡±


    After a whole day, his anger subsided, and rationality reimed its dominion. Upon contemtion, he


    comprehended the reason behind Chloe¡¯s atypical behavior. She had been in love with him for so long,


    so she would not simply give him to Xavia without a fight. Her previous remarks were merely


    manifestations of jealousy.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Chloe looked at him with a bewildering expression for a moment. ¡°Do you think of me as some idiot


    who¡¯s obsessed with love? You abandoned me on the roadside, leaving me to be drenched in the rain


    for nearly three hours. Even if I had strong feelings for you, I should wake up by now, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    Her words struck a nerve, igniting the explosive emotions within both of them. Joseph¡¯s voice turned


    icy, tinged with profound irritation. ¡°If you couldn¡¯t bear it, why didn¡¯t youe back?¡±


    He had been behind her all along.


    At this point, the umted grievances in Chloe¡¯s heart burst forth, and her eyes immediately welled


    up with tears. ¡°Why should I go back when you were the one who kicked me away? Though I may not


    have money, I still have my integrity! Now that you¡¯ve reconciled with Xavia, I genuinely wish you


    welmmph-¡±


    Chloe¡¯s words were abruptly silenced as the man pressed his lips against hers. She stared wide- eyed


    at the man who kissed her, vigorously resisting his advances.


    ¡®Help! I didn¡¯t want to be a home wrecker!¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s desire to dominate Chloe was rekindled by her words. Driven by anger, he instinctively leaned


    down, silencing her incessant chatter with his lips.


    The world fell into silence, but Chloe continued to struggle against him. Unsatisfied, he firmly


    grasped the back of her head, deepening the kiss.


    Weakened by her illness, Chloe resisted for a while before sumbing to her fatigue, allowing him to


    take control. However, he was not willing to let her off easily. His hand ventured beneath the loose


    hospital gown, attempting to explore further.


    At the crucial moment, Joseph abruptly halted his actions. He cradled her face in his hands, forehead


    pressed against hers, his eyes exuding an irresistiblemand.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t reconciled with Xavia, and you can forget about giving me up that easily. I¡¯m a person, not an


    object. Understand?¡± he uttered, their breaths intertwined.


    Chloe¡¯s head spun, feeling somewhat breathless as she unconsciously repeated his words. ¡°You


    haven¡¯t reconciled with Xavia? But I saw you holding hands¡­¡±


    Joseph sighed in frustration. ¡°She suddenly grabbed onto me.¡±


    ¡°And Xavia wants you to spend more time with her¡­¡±


    ¡°I rejected her.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s cherry lips parted slightly, realizing that she had misunderstood everything.


    Joseph looked at her dumbfounded expression and chuckled as he pinched her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m not an


    indecisive person. Back at the hospital, I only forgave her for leaving without a word all those years


    ago. Besides that, I made no other promises.


    Chloe found herself at a loss for words. Not only had she misunderstood Joseph, but also ended up


    drenched in the rain due to her own actions. Although it was a misunderstanding, she now knew that


    Xavia had deliberately started a rift between her and Joseph.


    ¡°By the way, why did she suddenly disappear back then?¡± she asked.


    ¡°She fell ill,¡± he replied.


    Chloe blinked skeptically, finding it hard to believe that exnation. She was certain that Joseph did


    not believe it either, but that did not matter anymore.


    Chloe stayed in the hospital for a full week. When the doctor confirmed herplete recovery for the


    third time, he finally managed to persuade Joseph to agree to have her discharged.


    On the day of Chloe¡¯s discharge, Emily came to visit her and even bought her a dress, which she


    imed only both of them had. Chloe, tired of wearing the hospital gown, eagerly changed into it. The


    floral dress had a fresh and youthful vibe, making her look like a college student.


    Emily looked her up and down, rubbing her chin. ¡°Not bad, not bad. You look much better than


    that ¡®first love.¡±


    In the hearts of all girls, their best friend was the most adorable and beautiful creature in the world.


    Even though Emily¡¯s perception of Chloe was enhanced by rose-tinted sses, there was no denying


    that Chloe had remarkable looks and figure. If Chloe were to enter the entertainment industry, Emily


    was confident she would achieve great sess.


    Chloe twirled in front of the mirror and said, ¡°Want to see what she looks like?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡±

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214


    Chapter 214 What¡¯s Our Rtionship Now?


    Emily stared at the information about Xavia on Wikipedia, lost in thought. ¡°She is quite beautiful, but


    she gives off a keep-your-distance vibe. She doesn¡¯t look like someone easy to get along with, not like


    you.¡±


    Chloe responded with a smile, perceiving Emily¡¯s words as mere constion. ¡°Well, she¡¯s a renowned


    violinist, after all. She naturally carries herself differently from the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°Hah, she¡¯s just another poser.¡±


    At that moment, Chloe¡¯s phone rang, and Joseph¡¯s voice came through, informing her of his arrival.


    Joseph¡¯s car was parked by the hospital entrance. As Chloe and Emily approached, engrossed in their


    lively conversation andughter, Joseph could not help but notice Chloe¡¯s resplendentplexion and


    her vibrant energy. She seemed to emanate a vibrant aura as if she hadpletely recovered.


    A smile crept onto his face. It seemed to him that she had recovered well and that it would not affect


    her ability to conceive in the future.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drop you home, Emily,¡± he offered.


    Chloe opened the passenger door for Emily, gesturing for her to get in. Momentarily hesitant, Emily


    touched her face and asked, ¡°Is it okay? I hope I won¡¯t cause any inconvenience¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s tone remained indifferent as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble¡±


    A glimmer of excitement sparkled in Emily¡¯s eyes She had never experienced riding in such a luxurious


    car before. Without hesitation, she graciously entered and turned around, shing a radiant smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle!¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The words hung in the air, freezing both Chloe and Emily in their tracks.


    ¡°%


    Joseph raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Uncle?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ my uncle often picks me up. I¡¯ve grown ustomed to calling him as such, haha,¡± Emily


    exined, her voice tinged with embarrassment.


    ¡°Jojo, it¡¯s the weekend today. Shall we go out for a meal?¡± Chloe asked as shetched onto Joseph¡¯s


    arm, her eyes curved with a smile.


    Joseph¡¯s attention was drawn to her, and he yfully pinched her nose. ¡°All you think about is food.¡±


    ¡°All I¡¯ve been eating at the hospital is nd food. I want something spicy! Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°No spicy food, but everything else is fine.¡±


    ¡°Yay! You¡¯re the best, Jojo!¡±


    For the rest of the journey, Emily remained silent, sitting quietly like a child who had done. something


    wrong.


    ¡°Bye, Chloe.¡±


    13


    ¡°Bye!¡± Chloe reassured Emily with a nce, signaling that everything was fine.


    In the mall, Chloe pulled Joseph into a restaurant. Since Joseph did not allow her to have any spicy


    food, she had no other choice but to opt for other dishes. Though she felt a bit disappointed for not


    being allowed to have the spicy food, Chloe reminded herself of the close call with Emily and suddenly


    found the food before her appealing. If Joseph were to find out that she mistook him for someone at the


    bar, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    Joseph handed over the menu. ¡°Why are you spacing out?¡±


    Chuckling, Chloe replied, ¡°Oh, nothing. I¡¯ll order for us. What would you like?¡±


    ¡°Anything is fine,¡± Joseph said.


    As they finished their meal, Chloe happily patted her full belly. Joseph, on the other hand, had


    consumed little, busy serving her throughout the entire meal. Her stomach was full, and her heart


    warmed by the unexpected act of chivalry from the usually despicable man.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat more? Won¡¯t you get hungryter tonight?¡±


    Joseph looked at her with faint doubt and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. The food doesn¡¯t taste good, don¡¯t you. think?¡±


    ¡°So, you were serving me because you found it unappetizing?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I had nothing better to do,¡± Joseph nonchntly replied.


    ¡°Jeez¡­¡±


    Joseph asked indifferently, ¡°Are you full?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go get the bill. I have a coupon for this ce, 50 dors off for every 200 spent,¡± Chloe said as


    she stood up to head to the cashier.


    Joseph¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so frugal. The supplementary card I gave you has no


    spending limit.¡±


    If others were to find out, they might mistakenly believe he was mistreating her.


    ¡°No, we should save where we can and spend wisely. Money doesn¡¯te easy,¡± Chloe insisted,


    proceeding to the front counter with her wallet.


    Not long after Chloe left, a well-off woman approached Joseph, fluttering her eyshes seductively.


    ¡°Handsome, I have money too. I can afford anything you want. How about spending the night with me?¡±


    Joseph nced disdainfully at her and coldly retorted, ¡°Go away.¡±


    ¡°Hey, why are you being so rude? Even though I¡¯m not as young as that woman over there, I¡¯m


    definitely wealthier than her. As a mature man in this profession, shouldn¡¯t you be immune to others¡¯


    opinions?¡± the woman retorted.


    The woman mistakenly assumed that Joseph was an escort. It was understandable given the


    circumstances. Chloe was paying for the meal, and Joseph had spent the entire time serving her


    without eating much himself.


    To the woman, this seemed like a typical scenario of an escort being doted on by a woman. She could


    not fathom any other exnation for Joseph¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Get out of my sight. I won¡¯t say it a third time,¡± Joseph responded, his air of arrogance captivating the


    woman¡¯s interest.


    She haughtily pulled out a wad of cash from her purse, the muscles on her face twitching as she


    unted her wealth. ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, his anger on the verge of exploding. After all, he had no qualms


    about hitting a woman.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chloe angrily rushed back to the table, having overheard the woman¡¯s


    derogatory remarks. She stuffed all the cash on the table into the woman¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Put away


    your dirty money. No one cares about it. Besides, my husband is much wealthier than you. He owns a


    company, luxury cars, and even consecutive number tes. Do you have any of that?!¡±


    After saying that, she grabbed Joseph¡¯s hand and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.


    Joseph stared at her beautiful profile, feeling inexplicably pleased.


    Once they were outside the restaurant, Chloe continued grumbling, her lips in a slight pout from


    dissatisfaction. Joseph¡¯s smile widened, finding her protective nature adorable.


    ¡°Say ¡®husband¡¯ one more time.¡±


    Blushing, Chloe rolled her eyes at him and said, ¡°I refuse.¡±


    ¡°Are you shy?¡±


    He was right. Although she had a sharp tongue and could be fierce, she easily became embarrassed


    when it came to expressing her feelings.


    Suddenly, Chloe thought of something and fixed her clear eyes on him. ¡°I can call you that, but I have


    one question for you first.¡±


    Leisurely adjusting his tie, Joseph responded, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Between Xavia and me, you chose me, right?¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly to meet Chloe¡¯s gaze. There was a captivating


    maism in his voice as if he were destined tomand attention and inspire others. When he


    spoke with such earnestness, it was impossible for anyone to resist.


    ¡°Xavia hasn¡¯t been in my consideration for the past five years. Now, it¡¯s only you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly. ¡°Then, what¡¯s our rtionship now?¡±

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215


    Chapter 215 There Are Individuals Whom We Must Not Upset


    Joseph rubbed her head impatiently like he was stroking Toto. ¡°We¡¯re already married. What kind of


    rtionship can we have?¡±


    ¡°We signed a contract, a three-year term. After that, we¡¯ll get a divorce.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to get divorced.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    ¡°You want to get a divorce?¡± Joseph asked, his voicecing with anger.


    Chloe shook her head and spoke earnestly, ¡°We can separate both. Love is love, and a contract is a


    contract. Love develops over time. Once both of us feel that the rtionship is ready to progress


    further, we won¡¯t need that contract anymore.


    However, she would still pay him the money she owed him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe that our rtionship willst?¡±


    Chloe wanted to nod because their family backgrounds and social statuses differed greatly, and she


    feared that he was merely caught up in the novelty of their rtionship.


    However, she could not say that outright. She obediently shook her head and said, ¡°No, I feel that


    getting together with you so suddenly feels unreal. I¡¯m worried that you¡¯ll regret it once you. discover


    my ws. Let¡¯s give each other a buffer period, observe each other¡¯s behavior, and


    determine if we can be soulmates. Then, when the time is right, we can officially enter the


    realm of marriage. I still want to have a wedding ceremony and wear a wedding dress. A bit of


    ceremony wouldn¡¯t hurt, right?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression softened a little. He had heard from Nathan that women cared a lot about


    ceremonies. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Yippie! You¡¯re the best, Jojo!¡±


    Back at their house, Chloe received several phone calls while taking a shower. She nced at her


    phone and saw an unfamiliar number. Without thinking, she hung up, but it seemed that the person on


    the other end was not ready to give up. They would stop for about five minutes before


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    calling again.


    After blow-drying her hair, her phone rang once more. This time, she answered with impatience,¡±


    Who is this?¡±


    ¡°Hello, is this Chloe Johnson?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am, and who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Wyatt Fairchild. I¡¯d like to discuss a coboration with you.¡±


    ¡°Wyatt? You¡¯re that celebrity?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Let me get straight to the point. I¡¯m currently dating your sister. You¡¯re aware of this,


    right?¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    1/2


    ¡°I want to break up with her amicably, or rather, I want her to break up with me. I need your help with


    this, and I¡¯m willing to pay you 100 thousand dors as a reward.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯ve only been together for a short while, and it seems like you were the one who pursued


    her.¡±


    Chloe had seen the news about Ava being in a rtionship with the popr celebrity, and the


    comments section was filled with criticism. Wyatt¡¯s fans were dissatisfied with Ava and deeply doubted


    his judgment. Many of them even unfollowed him.


    ¡®It¡¯s only been a few days, and he can¡¯t take it anymore?¡±


    There was a bitterugh from the other end of the phone. ¡°I believe you know that Ava is a director in


    mypany. Some things are beyond my control.¡±


    Chloe understood. Celebrities might seem morous, but in reality, they were tightly controlled by


    capital.


    ¡°So how would you like me to help you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve inquired about your rtionship with Ava, and it¡¯s not pretty. She likes to take things away from


    you, including boyfriends. On the other hand, if there¡¯s something you dislike, she definitely won¡¯t be


    interested. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be shooting a scene below Fairlight. I want you toe down and say some


    disparaging words about me in front of Ava. That¡¯s it.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Won¡¯t your fans attack me for doing that?¡±


    ¡°No, the filming location will be closed off. We¡¯re renting Fairlight¡¯s ground-floor lobby. Only internal staff


    will be allowed in.¡±


    Chloe pondered for a few seconds and asked, ¡°I have one condition.¡±


    ¡°Please, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I want to know how Ava managed to be a director in thepany.¡±


    ¡°I can tell you that, but you need to keep it a secret. After all, considering the potential consequences,


    there are certain individuals whom we must be cautious not to upset.¡±

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216


    Chapter 216 Someone Pulling the Strings for Ava From Behind


    Wyatt¡¯s words unsettled Chloe, creating a sense of unease within her. She could not shake off the


    feeling that there was someone influential supporting Ava from behind the scenes. However, the


    substantial amount of money offered by Wyatt was too tempting to ignore.


    Besides, considering that her rtionship with the Johnsons was already strained, Chloe believed


    there was little to lose by assisting Wyatt. Therefore, she decided to help Wyatt. And as a show of


    sincerity, Wyatt transferred 50 thousand dors as a deposit immediately after hanging up the phone.


    Looks like Chloe was not the only one who found Ava detestable.


    With the 100 thousand dors, along with the money her mother had left her, she was getting


    closer to her goal of umting 280 million.


    On another note, Emily had recently sent over the jewelry her mother had left behind, but Chloe had


    not had the chance to sort it out properly.


    ¡®Well, I guess I should take them to a specialized counter for maintenance and careter.


    Just as Wyatt said, there was indeed a girl in the office who noticed that a celebrity was filming in the


    first-floor lobby. She asked if anyone wanted to go downstairs and take a look. Chloe raised her hand


    with a beaming smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    ¡°Great, let me touch up my makeup!¡± eximed the colleague excitedly.


    ¡°Wait¡­ Are you one of Wyatt¡¯s fans?¡±


    If her colleague was a fan of Wyatt, it would not be appropriate for Chloe to insult him in front of


    her.


    ¡°Nope. I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡±


    In the lobby on the first floor, several cameras had been set up in different corners. A few of the main


    cast were standing in the middle, touching up their makeup, and Wyatt was among them.


    Chloe had seen his photos online, so she immediately recognized him.


    Wyatt¡¯s gaze roamed around, searching for her. Chloe cleared her throat, signaling her presence.


    Wyatt caught sight of her and was stunned for a moment before nodding at her.


    During the intermission, Ava came in with several assistants, carrying a tray of coffee. ¡°I¡¯m treating


    everyone to coffee on behalf of Wyatt today,¡± she announced.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ava.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Ava is so generous and beautiful. Wyatt is truly lucky.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ava. We love you!¡±


    Ava¡¯s heart blossomed with joy. Just as she was basking in her triumph, she turned her head and


    locked eyes with Chloe, who wore a mischievous smile.


    Nervously, Ava caressed the diamond ne adorning her neck, feeling an unexinable sense of


    guilt. Although she had never questioned Calvin about why he acknowledged her as his goddaughter,


    she was confident that it had something to do with this ne. She sneakily took off the ne


    and put it in her pocket. After that, she swiftly grabbed a cup of coffee to bring over to Wyatt.


    Wyatt hesitated and said, ¡°I¡¯m trying to cut back on sugar¡­¡±


    Ava looked crestfallen and said, ¡°But I bought this specifically for you. If you don¡¯t drink it, It¡¯ll make me


    look bad¡­ You don¡¯t want our colleagues tough at me too, do you?¡±


    Wyatt¡¯s face turned pale. He gritted his teeth, and reluctantly took the cup to take a sip.


    ¡°By the way, let me introduce you to my sister,¡± Ava said.


    Wyatt pretended to be surprised and asked, ¡°Is your sister here today too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she works at Fairlight. She often changes jobs and recently started working here. She never


    listens to our parents, always hanging out with questionable people¡­ Oh well, let¡¯s not dwell on that,¡±


    Ava said, pulling Wyatt toward Chloe. ¡°She¡¯s over there. Let me introduce you.


    ¡°Chloe, let me introduce you to my new boyfriend, Wyatt. I believe you¡¯ve seen him on TV. He just won


    the Best Actor Award,¡± Ava said, unable to suppress her smugness and desire to show off.


    However, Chloe just looked Wyatt up and down with a particrly disdainful expression and


    commented, ¡°Your taste keeps getting worse and worse. This guy¡¯s even worse than Jake. He¡¯s as


    skinny as a monkey.¡±

 Chapter 217

    Chapter 217


    Chapter 217 Mr. Joseph, Please Advise My Sister


    Ava¡¯s ego balloon deted a little, but she maintained her smile. ¡°Are you jealous of me, Coco?¡±


    ¡°Why would I be jealous of you?¡± Chloe retorted.


    One of her colleagues tugged at her sleeve and said, ¡°Chloe, are you one of Wyatt¡¯s haters?¡±


    Chloe innocently smiled, ¡°Being a Wyatt hater is a waste of time.¡±


    Everyone was stumped.


    ¡°You¡¯ve be a director in an entertainmentpany, Ava, so why settle for someone of such low


    status? You should at least aim for someone on the level of ¡®Best Actor.¡±¡±


    Ava¡¯s eyes twitched, finding some truth in those words. Wyatt could not be considered exceptional in


    the entertainment industry, and given Ava¡¯s current position and status, she should have sought


    someone better.


    She nced at the man who could not even utter a word when insulted and felt a surge of disgust.


    Having achieved her goal, Chloe did not give Ava a chance to speak further and grabbed her


    colleague¡¯s arm before turning away.


    Ava stomped her foot in anger and red at Wyatt. ¡°Do you not know how to defend yourself?¡±


    Wyatt weakly replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to say¡­.


    ¡°Pathetic!¡±


    Wyatt lowered his gaze, disying a meek, submissive demeanor that only intensified Ava¡¯s


    frustration.


    Just then, Joseph and Alexander returned to Fairlight after concluding their business discussion and


    were heading toward Joseph¡¯s office to sign the contract.


    With a calcted gaze, Ava assessed the man steadily advancing toward her. She then shifted her


    attention to the paparazzi, lurking stealthily amid the bustling crowd, their cameras ready to capture any


    moment of significance. A devious n began to take shape in Ava¡¯s mind, as she contemted how


    to manipte the situation to her advantage.


    Yet, the memory of his past violent outburst remained vivid in Ava¡¯s mind, instilling a deep sense of fear


    within her. The celebrity who had apanied herst time ended up with a broken bone.


    That being said, someone like Joseph undoubtedly prioritized thepany¡¯s public image. Ava


    wondered if Joseph would still protect Chloe as an employee once he discovered what kind of person


    she was.


    With these thoughts in mind, a cunning smile crossed Ava¡¯s face as she confidently walked toward


    Joseph. ¡°Hello, Mr. Joseph. I have something I¡¯d like to ask you,¡± she said.


    Towering over Ava, Joseph stood with one hand casually tucked into his pocket and responded with an


    air of indifference, ¡°I don¡¯t believe I know you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know me now, but your employee is my sister, and you surely know her,¡± Ava retorted,


    determined not to back down..


    Lucas nced at Joseph¡¯s nonchnt face and approached Ava. ¡°If you have any inquiries, please


    contact the reception to make an appointment. Thank you for your understanding.¡±


    Ava refused to relent. ¡°I apologize, but I¡¯m talking to Mr. Joseph, not you.¡±


    Lucas was at a loss for words, concerned about Ava¡¯s intelligence.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, my sister has been working in yourpany for a considerable period and hasn¡¯t been


    home in quite some time. Moreover, I¡¯ve discovered certain issues in her personal life, which have


    deeply worried our parents. Could you kindly advise her and help her make better choices? Would that


    be possible?¡±


    Arching an eyebrow, Joseph inquired in a drawn-out tone, ¡°Issues in her personal life?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Ava paused, assuming the appearance of someone deeply concerned for her sister¡¯s well-


    being. ¡°She often frequents the luxurious car of a middle-aged man¡­ Please, I have to talk to her and


    prevent her from making further mistakes I beg of you.¡±


    Joseph chuckled lightly. ¡°What kind of luxurious cars?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ It was a Rolls-Royce driven by a man who appears to be in his forties or fifties.


    Lucas looked at Ava as if she were a fool. Who among the wealthy would drive themselves? Don¡¯t they


    all have drivers?


    It was apparent that even when someone achieved great sess and reached the pinnacle of their


    endeavors, their level of intelligence remained unchanged.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Hah,¡± Joseph responded, his demeanor exuding disdain as his piercing gaze remained fixed upon


    Ava¡¯s face ¡°So, you¡¯re jealous?¡±


    Instantly refuting his im, Ava retorted indignantly, ¡°Jealous? Who¡¯s jealous? I can afford my own car


    now!¡±


    Joseph pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°Yes, you couldn¡¯t afford it before, so you were jealous.

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218


    Chapter 218 Arranged Marriage


    Ava bristled at Joseph¡¯sment, feeling her nerves being rubbed raw. Indignantly, she hissed,¡± Is this


    how you train your employees?¡±


    Joseph did not even spare her a nce. He scanned the lobby, taking in the scene, and asked, ¡±


    What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Lucas turned his head and quietly exined the situation.


    ¡°Remove them from the premises,¡± Josephmanded.


    ¡°But they¡¯ve already paid for the location, and breaching the contract would require triple


    compensation¡­¡±


    ¡°Do we not have enough money to pay for it?¡± Joseph asked, his voice indifferent.


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Joseph.¡±


    After giving the order, Joseph and Alexander entered the elevator together.


    Lucas called the security guards to disperse the crew.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already paid for the location. You can¡¯t do this to us. It¡¯s against the rules,¡± the producer


    objected


    With a polite smile, Lucas responded, ¡°Ourpany willpensate for the location fee ording to


    the stipted penalty in the contract.¡±


    ¡°But we haven¡¯t finished filming yet. The actors and staff have put in tremendous effort. Let¡¯s try to


    understand each other now.¡±


    Lucas remained resolute and said, ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience, but there are certain individuals


    whom Mr. Joseph does not favor.¡±


    The producer¡¯s face turned livid, and he angrily turned his head to re at Ava, who was arrogantly


    lecturing Wyatt. He was so furious that he immediately called Calvin. Having been in the entertainment


    industry for many years, the producer had an impressive status and was not afraid of these starlets


    who relied on connections.


    Calvin received the call while he was with Noah Gunter, who gestured for him to answer the call. When


    he saw it was the producer calling, he thought it was work-rted and put the call on speaker.


    The producer briefly exined the situation, maintaining a rtively polite tone, but there was an


    underlying tone ofint. ¡°Mr. Calvin, there are so many people in my crew. It¡¯s not just my efforts


    that have been wasted. Money is a minor issue. The real problem is finding a suitable recement


    location on such short notice. This is really difficult to handle.¡±


    Calvin had interacted with this producer before and knew he was a straightforward man who spoke his


    mind without reservation. After understanding the situation, he immediately apologized on behalf of


    Ava.


    Calvin¡¯s sigh resonated with a sense of helplessness. ¡°Ava is nothing like Luciana,¡± hemented.


    Noah chuckled softly in agreement. ¡°Bringing her into the entertainment industry was a mistake.


    Grandpa and Grandma never favored suchplex environments.¡±


    Calvin could not help but agree with Noah¡¯s assessment, realizing the truth in his words. However, the


    realization came toote. Looking back, Calvin remembered how he had ventured into the


    entertainment industry, a decision that had caused Luciana¡¯s parents to view him as unreliable and


    reject his pursuit of her. And now, caught up in a moment of excitement, he had unwittingly dragged


    their granddaughter into the sameplex world.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Noah shook his head, unwilling to provide advice for him.


    ¡°Come on, I did share Ava¡¯s news with you. Don¡¯t turn your back on me,¡± Calvin pleaded.


    ¡°For now, I prefer not to see Ava,¡± Noah responded calmly.


    Calvin¡¯s square face hardened, appearing quite intimidating. ¡°Are you afraid she¡¯llpete with you for


    assets? Don¡¯t forget, you two were betrothed to each other since childhood. Why worry about such


    matters since you¡¯re family?¡±


    The rapid rise of the Sullivan family as the foremost jewelry merchant in Docwood within a span of just


    over twenty years wasrgely attributed to their encounter with a trustworthy partner- Noah¡¯s


    grandfather. Starting from working with raw materials to crafting exquisite jewelry and expanding their


    presence through physical stores nationwide, the two families had transcended numerous social strata.


    However, the good times did notst long. Noah¡¯s grandfather had tragically passed away in a car


    ident. To ensure his dear friend¡¯s peace of mind, Dominic Sullivan promised to raise Noah as his


    own and vowed that if they ever located his granddaughter, a marriage would be arranged between the


    two, binding them together as one family.


    And now, Noah held forty percent of thepany shares. As a young man in his early twenties who


    had not even graduated from college, he possessed wealth that ordinary people would not achieve in


    several lifetimes.


    Noah smiled, his clear and innocent gaze belying his mischievous words. ¡°I just feel that the


    granddaughter whom Grandpa and Grandma have been talking about for half a lifetime still needs


    some polishing. Listening to that earlier call, what stood out to me was her reckless actions and self-


    centered attitude. Can someone like that truly possess the ability to effectively oversee an entire


    company?¡±

 Chapter 219

    Chapter 219


    Chapter 219 He¡¯s Here¡¯to Cause You Trouble, Not Joseph


    Calvin was rendered speechless. ¡°So I¡¯m expected to educate Ava properly before introducing her to


    her grandparents?¡±


    Considering the circumstances, burdening the elderly couple once again would not be appropriate.


    ¡°I apologize for the trouble, Uncle Calvin,¡± Noah said, rising from his chair and smoothing out the


    wrinkles on his white shirt as he prepared to leave.


    As he approached the door, Noah suddenly halted and turned his head toward Calvin. ¡°During my


    journey to Aesper, I encountered a girl who bears a slight resemnce to Aunt Luciana.¡±


    ¡°There are plenty of people who resemble each other,¡± Calvin said, casually brushing it off.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re right.¡± Noah paused a little before continuing, ¡°I won¡¯t consider the arranged marriage


    between us. I¡¯m only twenty this year while Ava is three years older than me. Besides, it appears she


    currently has a boyfriend.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Calvin thought of Wyatt and felt a throbbing headacheing on. ¡°Fine, fine. Just make sure you


    rify the situation with Mr. Desmond.¡±


    He was just bringing it up out of habit, having no real intention of ying cupid between Noah and Ava.


    Noah appeared polite and mild-mannered on the surface, but in reality, he was stubborn and assertive.


    After bidding farewell to Noah, Calvin picked up his phone and casually nced at it, only to discover


    that Ava¡¯s name had surged in poprity on the trending articles list after her breakup with Wyatt.


    He was left speechless. It seemed strange to him that Ava had not inherited any traits from her mother.


    However, the producer had mentioned Ava¡¯s half-sister just now, and he felt it was time for him to meet


    her.


    After all, not just anyone was allowed to bully Luciana¡¯s daughter.


    In Aesper, the month of July marked the onset of the rainy season, bringing with it a seemingly never-


    ending drizzle.


    Chloe sat quietly in the coffee shop, patiently waiting for Wyatt.


    After five minutes, Wyatt walked in, sporting a cap that concealed his features entirely. He took a seat


    and offered an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte.¡±


    Ever since Ava announced their breakup three days ago, Wyatt inexplicably gained a surge in


    poprity. Several promising offers for endorsements came knocking on his door, keeping him. busy


    until now.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Both our time is precious. Please go ahead and speak.¡±


    ¡°Well, the reason Ava could be a director at Summertainment is because of a man named Calvin


    Norman. ording to my manager, Calvin is Ava¡¯s godfather. This seems to be a pretty


    recent development,¡± Wyatt exined.


    furrowed her brow in surprise. She was familiar with Calvin. He was a powerful figure in the


    entertainment industry who remained unmarried and childless. She pondered carefully before asking,


    ¡°Are you sure he really is her godfather and not something else?¡±


    Wyatt shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re not in that kind of rtionship. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t


    have allowed Ava and me to be together.¡±


    ¡°That does make sense.¡±


    After all, no men would allow their women to see another man.


    After concluding her brief conversation with Wyatt, Chloe decided to seek out Joseph and inquire about


    Calvin. Finding a spare moment during her work hours, she discreetly avoided her colleagues and took


    the elevator to the top floor.


    As she stepped out of the elevator, she encountered Lucas, who was carrying two cups of tea, on his


    way to the office.


    Chloe paused and asked, ¡°Are there guests inside?¡±


    ¡°Not really. But I¡¯m sure he¡¯s here to cause trouble.


    ¡°Huh? Who dares to cause trouble for Joseph?¡±


    Lucas looked at her with aplex expression ¡°He isn¡¯t here to cause trouble for Mr. Joseph. He¡¯s


    here for you, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Who is he?¡±


    ¡°Calvin Norman.¡±


    Chloe fell silent for a moment. She then said, ¡°Give me the tea. I¡¯ll bring it in.¡±

 Chapter 220

    Chapter 220


    Chapter 220 An Obsession Stemming From Unconditional Love


    Lucas hesitated for a moment before handing over the tea tray in his hands. ¡°I made two cups of


    chamomile. It¡¯s good for soothing nerves.¡±


    Chloe nodded, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice came from inside, causing a sense of security to wash over her. With him around, she


    did not need to be afraid.


    Chloe pushed open the door and stepped into the room. Joseph was seated behind his desk, wearing


    a sky-blue tie thatplemented his youthful and attractive appearance. As he caught sight of Chloe,


    his eyebrows arched in surprise.


    Calvin also noticed Chloe and immediately straightened his posture, his eyes fixed on her without


    blinking as he muttered to himself, ¡°You. You do look a bit like her.¡±


    ¡®In terms of appearance, the two of them share some resemnce, but it¡¯s mostly their temperament


    that¡¯s alike.¡¯


    Luciana was only slightly older than Chloe when she passed away. In Calvin¡¯s heart, his beloved


    woman had always retained a youthful and enchanting charm, much like the young girl standing before


    him now.


    ¡°Sir, is there something on my face?¡± Chloe questioned, feeling a mix of apprehension and confusion


    as she noticed Calvin¡¯s intense gaze fixed upon her.


    Calvin realized his behavior and quickly averted his gaze, dryly coughing a few times. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was


    reminded of someone from my past.¡±


    Hearing his exnation and seeing his good attitude, Chloe knew that he had not recognized her.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, the purpose of my visit today is to look for Chloe. If you insist on protecting her and not


    allowing her to see me, then I have nothing more to say. But let me remind you, if she mistreats Ava


    again in the future, don¡¯t me me if something happens,¡± Calvin said firmly.


    He resembled an elder seeking justice for the younger generation, rendering Chloe speechless.


    ¡®Sir, please open your eyes wide and take a good look. I¡¯m standing right before you. Your eyesight


    may be poor, but it seems your judgment is equally impaired. Every time, it¡¯s Ava who initiates trouble.


    So, who is truly mistreating whom?¡¯ she thought.


    Joseph rhythmically tapped his fingers on his desk, adopting a casual andposed tone. ¡°I -could


    extend the same reminder to you. I wouldn¡¯t mind teaching Ava a lesson on your behalf.¡±


    Calvin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, his square face looking rather intimidating. ¡°So, you¡¯re determined to


    oppose me?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Most of his business was in Docwood, and although he had some connections in Aesper, they were


    undoubtedly inferior to Joseph¡¯s. However, he had no intention of picking a fight today. He was here to


    reason.


    ¡°It¡¯s you who is unable to tell right from wrong,¡± Joseph replied sharply.


    Calvin¡¯s face turned livid. He instinctively wanted to defend Ava, but he also recalled Noah¡¯s words


    about Ava¡¯s personality. He calmed himself and said, ¡°How about you keep an eye on Chloe, and I¡¯ll


    watch over Ava? Let¡¯s not bother each other. But if I find that Chloe is deliberately causing trouble, I


    won¡¯t be lenient with her.¡±


    Joseph sneered. ¡°Likewise.¡±


    Calvin nodded. He knew Ava had a bad temper, but she would not intentionally bully others.


    They had reached an agreement.


    After Calvin left, Chloe said, sounding puzzled. ¡°It seems like he really is Ava¡¯s godfather.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze grew deep, and he suddenly said, ¡°Is Ava a few months older than you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Chloe gritted her teeth. ¡°Benjamin cheated on my mother while they were still married.¡±


    ¡°Is it possible that Calvin treats Ava so well because of her mother?¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s possible. Are you meaning to say that Karen might be cheating on


    Benjamin, and Ava is actually Calvin¡¯s daughter?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. When a man reaches his forties without being married or having children, typically there


    are twomon possibilities: either he¡¯s gay, or he carries a deep affection for someone in


    his heart.¡±


    Chloe seemed to grasp the idea. ¡°So, Calvin loves Ava because of his affection for Karen? In that case,


    why didn¡¯t Karen just choose Calvin? After all, Calvin is much wealthier than Benjamin.

 Chapter 221

    Chapter 221


    Chapter 221 I Don¡¯t Want to Hold Back


    Joseph enveloped Chloe in his arms and nestled his face near her neck. He then statednguidly,¡± I¡¯ll


    know after checking it out.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Chloe found his hug a bit too tight, so she struggled briefly. ¡°Let go. I can¡¯t breathe.¡±


    ¡°No. I won¡¯t let you go unless you kiss me.¡±


    Chloe grasped his handsome face, with both hands and gave him a peck on the lips before tilting her


    head and questioning exasperatingly, ¡°Can you let go of me now?¡±


    Enjoying the moistness on his lips, Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened before he bent down and put his lips


    against hers again, kissing her deeply.


    After a while, Chloe pushed Joseph away, looking flushed. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough. We shouldn¡¯t do such


    things in the office.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s sharp, bewitching eyes lit up happily and passionately. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll continue when we get


    home tonight.¡±


    Chloe knew what he meant, and her blush deepened. She stared at him bashfully. ¡°We just started -


    dating. You don¡¯t have to be in a rush to¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re dating now, and you expect me to still hold back?¡±


    ¡°Hmph! It¡¯s because you¡¯ve turned me down time and time again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m giving you a chance now, so you should cherish it. You¡¯d better put on that sexy negligee


    you wore the other day.¡±


    Chloe felt so embarrassed that she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She put her hands


    on her waist and red at him. ¡°Stop bringing that up!¡±


    The look in Joseph¡¯s eyes turned mischievous and yful. Even his chuckle had a jolly tone to it. He


    snorted. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see how well you do tonight


    After all, she did nothing but talk. In the face of the action-oriented man, it was too weak.


    In the afternoon, Chloe wanted to have a small meeting with her colleagues to discuss the recent


    market trend and toe up with a new strategy together. While she was gathering her colleagues,


    Ellie, who had been missing for some time, suddenly strode into the office.


    It had been a long time since she hadste to thepany.


    The employees of the personnel department imed that Ellie had long submitted a resignation letter,


    but they rejected it. They requested her to hand in her resignation in person or they would expose her


    bad deed to all the major industries so that no one would ever dare to hire her.


    When Ellie noticed that Chloe had taken over her position as team leader, she was full of hatred.


    ¡°What is it? Are you here to say sorry?¡± Chloe remained calm and ignored Ellie¡¯s burning gaze.


    Ellie gnashed her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Chloe picked her ears. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t you. Speak louder.¡±


    Not being the Virgin Mary, Chloe refused to be soft-hearted. If she had not seen through Ellie¡¯s plot,


    Maurice might have taken liberties with her.


    Sometimes, it was cruel to oneself if one was kind to others.


    ¡°Ms. Ellie, I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a person. We built the data with much difficulty and effort, but


    you sold it to Baxon for money. You¡¯re hical.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You even tried to nder Chloe. How outrageous!¡±


    ¡°You let us down!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and apologize before you leave. We don¡¯t want troublemakers like you in our department.¡±


    Ellie¡¯s face turned pale and livid at the same time. Under everyone¡¯s rebuke, she bent down and bowed


    before she said to Chloe again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Are you satisfied now?¡±


    Chloe replied lightly, ¡°Thanks for stopping by.¡±


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    After Ellie left Fairlight, her hatred intensified. She went downstairs to a convenience store, where her


    gazended on a fruit knife. She stood there and stared at it. After paying for the knife, she hid it


    behind her back and stood downstairs of the Fairlight building, waiting for Chloe to


    Chloe finished her meeting with her department colleagues and was back in her seat. She then found a


    new friend request on her Facebook. When she clicked on it and read through the person¡¯s


    biodata, she found that it was Xavia.


    She frowned but approved of the request nevertheless.


    After epting the request, Xavia soon sent her a message. Its contents were for Chloe to meet her


    downstairs of thepany building in half an hour.

 Chapter 222

    Chapter 222


    Chapter 222 Maybe Xavia Isn¡¯t That Wicked


    Chloe asked Xavia what it was about and asked if they could just discuss it over text instead, but Xavia


    did not reply.


    The appointed time Xavia fixed was an hour before Chloe got off work. After dwelling on it for a while,


    she decided to get up and took the elevator downstairs.


    It was just downstairs and was a very short distance. It would not take up much time.


    Outside the building, Xavia was silently waiting while holding an umbre. Herplexion was horrible.


    She was wearing a sweater so that one could only vaguely see her hospital gown underneath. It was


    clear she hade straight from the hospital.


    Chloe raised her brows. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you again.¡±


    ¡°Just get to the point.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been undergoing chemo in the hospital recently, so I have no time to take care of Oreo. I¡¯m


    worried about putting Oreo in boarding long-term, so can you and Joe please take care of my dog


    for a while?¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s first response was to turn Xavia down. If she let Oreo stay in the vi, she would be giving.


    Xavia more chances to see Joseph.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll visit Oreo at most once a week. When the first stage of my chemo is over, I¡¯ll take Oreo


    home. I promise not to step out of the line and disrupt your rtionship with Joe.¡±


    Staring at Xavia¡¯s extremely frank expression, Chloe¡¯s desire to turn Xavia down grew for an unknown


    reason. While having such a thought, she started to say, ¡°I think-¡±


    Suddenly, Xavia abruptly pushed Chloe.


    Being caught off-guard, Chloe staggered a few steps back as she witnessed Ellie, holding a fruit knife,


    stabbing Xavia¡¯s arm in a crazed frenzy.


    Ellie was unwilling to ept her failure. She quickly withdrew the knife from Xavia¡¯s arm and pounced


    on Chloe.


    Fortunately, Chloe reacted quickly. Besides, the security guards, who were on patrol, happened to be


    passing by. They soon subdued Ellie.


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. You ruined my life! If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d be the boss of Marketing when Ms.


    Wendy left. Do you know how long and how hard I worked to pass the interview and get hired? ¡°Now,


    not only did Fairlight fire me, but otherpanies are also refusing to hire me. I¡¯m the only one


    supporting my family. You just want to force me down a desperate end!


    ¡°Are you satisfied now?!¡± Ellie roared desperately andined about how unfair God was.


    ¡®I suffered so much and worked so hard while this b*tch got here less than half a year ago. How could


    she be on par with me?¡¯


    However, Chloe could not be bothered with Ellie right now. She took off her coat and draped it on


    Xavia¡¯s bleeding wound. With shaky fingers, she quickly called 911


    After the doctor¡¯s emergency treatment, Xavia¡¯s wound was pronounced non-fatal But she was a


    leukemia patient. Something might have easily gone wrong. Even a simple surgery took four hours.


    After Joseph learned about the news, he came to the surgery room and waited outside with Chloe.


    When the doctor came out of the surgery room, the doctor advised Chloe, ¡°The patient¡¯s condition is


    stable now, but you should¡¯ve taken care of her given that she¡¯s a patient with a special case. You


    should be more attentive toward her. What¡¯s more, she took a blow for you. No matter if you¡¯re friends


    or family, you should be grateful to her.¡±


    Chloe hung her head in guilt. ¡°Okay, I understand. Thank you, doctor.¡±


    Maybe she should not have thought so badly of Xavia.


    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Xavia today, the person lying in the surgery room right now would be me¡¯


    Joseph noticed Chloe¡¯s emotion and hugged her shoulder. ¡°You are not to me for this.¡±


    Chloe sighed, her feelingsplicated. ¡°I know that. But if it weren¡¯t for me, Xavia wouldn¡¯t have gotten


    hurt¡­¡±


    Joseph frowned slightly. His dark deep-set eyes blinked as he dwelled on some unknown. thoughts.


    Chloe held his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go and buy some food for Xavia. She can then have something to eat when


    the anesthesia wears off and she wakes up.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    While buying the food, Chloe told Joseph that Xavia had asked them for help in taking care of Oreo.


    Joseph remainedposed. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the decision to you.¡±


    Chloe chuckled and leaned her head on his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m d to have you with me¡±


    They bought some light dishes and nutritious soup for Xavia before returning to the ward.


    Xavia was already awake. She smiled weakly at them. ¡°You guys are still here. Aren¡¯t you busy with


    work? You guys can go back to the office now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t know your favorite, so I just randomly bought something.¡± Chloe put the takeout down


    and paused for a while. ¡°I got you a care worker. I¡¯ll also be fully responsible for the


    hospitalization fees and the subsequent recuperation fees. I¡¯ll pick Oreo up and bring Oreo home until


    your wound is fully recovered.¡±


    Xavia broke into a gentle smile. ¡°That sounds wonderful! Oreo will get to y with Toto again!¡±


    Chloe and Joseph went to pick up Oreo from the boarding house ording to the address Xavia


    provided


    The color of Oreo¡¯s fur, as well as its body shape, were simr to Toto¡¯s. The only difference was its


    gaze and weight. Oreo weighed 5 kilograms less than Toto. Moreover, one could tell at a nce


    that Oreo was a smart dog just by its gaze.


    At night, Chloe walked the dogs and bumped into Icarus in the neighborhood.


    Icarus was wearing gold-rimmed sses and a thin cashmere sweater. He appeared learned and


    refined, coupled with an elegant aura. Surprise permeated his voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to really bump into


    you here.¡±


    Chloe failed to hold in herughter. ¡°Were you trying to bump into me here on purpose?¡± Icarus gave


    her a ride home once, so he knew that she was staying in this neighborhood

 Chapter 223

    Chapter 223


    Chapter 223 Leave Joseph and Enjoy Your Life


    ¡°Of course not. That would be something a pervert does,¡± he teased before he exined seriously,¡± My


    friend lives here. I just had a meal at his ce beforeing out to get some fresh air. I also wanted to


    see if I¡¯d have the chance to bump into you. Well, it¡¯s proved that we¡¯re destined to meet.


    Chloe nodded. She found that the dogs had had enough now and decided to head home.


    Unexpectedly, a stray cat ran out of the bush, exciting both Oreo and Toto. They excitedly pounced on


    the cat to y with it.


    Consequently, Chloe was dragged and, losing her bnce, uncontrobly fell forward.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Icarus reacted quickly and grabbed her before asking nervously, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chloe patted her chest to calm herself. After some difficulties, she struggled out of his arms.


    ¡°Thank you. I would¡¯ve fallen t on my nose.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    After that, Chloe lightly smacked Toto and Oreo¡¯s hips to punish them. Oreo seemed to have


    understood this. Its ears drooped as it looked at her with its ck eyes pitifully. On the contrary, Toto


    thought that she was ying with it and twirled excitedly.


    Helplessly, Chloe pped her forehead and said to Icarus, ¡°I¡¯m going to head home now. I¡¯m done


    walking the dogs today.¡±


    Icarus nodded. ¡°Are you the owner of these two dogs, or is Joseph?¡±


    ¡°One¡¯s Joseph¡¯s while the other¡¯s his friend¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re taking care of two big-sized dogs along¡­ What about the helpers at home?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t hired any helpers for the time being ¡±


    Hearing this, Icarus became hesitant. He felt sorry for Chloe. ¡°You owe Joseph 28 million because


    of thatwsuit. So why do you stay with him and serve him so attentively?¡±


    Chloe became slightly stunned. ¡°How do you know the exact amount?¡±


    ¡°That incident is spread all throughout thew industry, so it¡¯s not hard for me to know.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ It was because of that sum and some other reasons in the past, but that¡¯s not the case anymore.


    I¡¯m officially dating Joseph now.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin. I know.¡± Icarus took out a bank card from his wallet and stuffed it into her


    hands. ¡°I have 28 million here. Leave Joseph and lead the kind of life you want.¡±


    ¡°No, you have it all wrong.¡± Shock overcame Chloe. She hurriedly wanted to return the card to him.


    Although Icarus was richer than ordinary people, that sum of money might be all the money he had.


    She could neither ept it nor take it.


    While they were pushing the card back and forth between them, it fell to the floor. Chloe was holding


    the leash of the two dogs, so it was rather inconvenient for her to move around. When she bent down


    to pick it up, Icarus swiftly left.


    Holding the card, Chloe helplessly watched him leave. She seemed to have underestimated how


    important she was to Icarus.


    She decided to return it to him the next day


    Atst, she had no choice but to head home with the two dogs and the hot potato in her hand.


    Joseph stepped out of the bath with a white towel wrapped around his lower half, leaving his upper half


    bate. His slick, short hair was still wet. His well-trained chest was strong, framed by perfect muscles,


    and exuded a powerful force.


    Seeing that, Chloe averted her gaze in slight abashment.


    Joseph simply arched his brows and grabbed a towel to wipe his hairnguidly. ¡°What took you so


    long?¡±


    Chloe unconsciously hid the bank card behind her and said nervously, ¡°I let the dogs y for a little


    longer.¡±


    For some unknown reason, Joseph yearned to tease her. ¡°Is that so? I thought you were having a tryst


    with another man.¡±

 Chapter 224

    Chapter 224


    Chapter 224 Uninterested


    Chloe¡¯s eyes went wide. When she noticed the teasing smile in his, she rxed and groaned, retorting.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who had a tryst with another man.¡±


    ¡°I have no interest in men ¡±


    After that, Joseph recalled the call he got from Lucas earlier, and his voice turned dull. ¡°Calvin and


    Karen don¡¯t know each other.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips. ¡°Then it¡¯s impossible that Calvin likes Ava because of Karen Does it mean that


    he truly likes her?¡±


    Many old people would adopt a child if they had no children. Although Ava was not very outstanding,


    she was great at acting, and Calvin might have a thing for scheming young women. ¡°This clue ends


    here but I found another one.¡±


    ¡°You found other clues?¡± Chloe widened her charming eyes and looked at him expectantly.


    Joseph answered slowly, enunciating every word he said, keeping her in suspense. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you if you


    do a good job.¡±


    She blushed vehemently and choked on her saliva before she started coughing. He patted her back


    calmly and smiled like a ruffian.


    ¡°Tsk! You don¡¯t have to be that excited. I¡¯ll give it to you since I¡¯ve given you my word ¡±


    Chloe started coughing even more violently. After a while, she stated, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a bath,¡± and


    ran off to the bathroom


    Joseph was in a great mood. He picked up a book and started casually flipping through it.


    Before long, Chloe came out after the bath. She walked to Joseph coyly and whispered, ¡°I can¡¯t find


    that negligee. Can I not put it on¡­¡±


    Joseph looked up and saw her fair and smooth skin, as well as her curvy figure under the bath towel.


    The light fragrance of her shower gel lingered in the air and stimted his nerves.


    He smirked before pulling her into his arms, nibbling on her fair and tender earlobe. His cold and


    indifferent voice was filled with irresistible desire. ¡°Please me.¡±


    Rosiness instantly crept up Chloe¡¯s face. She had never done this before. While responding to him


    unfamiliarly, she helped him to free the bath towel around his waist.


    As they gradually got into the mood and were about to take the leap¡­


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen and felt something hot rushing out of her privates. She


    abruptly pushed him away and ran toward the bathroom.


    After taking a deep breath, Joseph roared angrily, ¡°Chloe! Are you toying with me?!¡±


    After a while, she came out of the bathroom and returned to him with a pitiful look on her face.¡± I¡¯m


    sorry. This is such bad timing, but I just got my period.¡±


    Joseph was struck speechless.


    She gingerly hugged his arm. ¡°Let¡¯s do it next time, okay?¡±


    She assumed that he would re up in a rage given his bad temper.


    Helplessness inteced with Joseph¡¯s angry tone. ¡°Let¡¯s go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Are we going to sleep in the same room?¡±


    Don¡¯t te


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want to return to the second bedroom.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯d be better if I sleep there today. I often wake up in the middle of the night when I¡¯m on my


    period. I¡¯m afraid of disturbing your rest.¡±


    Joseph frowned, no longer in a good mood. Since the dumbo doesn¡¯t want to stay, it¡¯ll look like I can¡¯t


    bear to part with her if I urge her to stay by my side.¡¯


    ¡°Whatever,¡± he said.


    Chloe nodded and continued, ¡°You haven¡¯t told me what other clues you found.¡±


    Joseph sat up and snorted. ¡°Calvin and Karen aren¡¯t rted but that doesn¡¯t mean that Karen doesn¡¯t


    have a rtionship with another man. Ava may not be Benjamin¡¯s child.¡±


    ¡°So, is it possible that Benjamin¡¯s been taking care of another man¡¯s child for more than twenty years?


    He has no clue he has been cheated on for so long?¡±

 Chapter 225

    Chapter 225


    Chapter 225 Benjamin the Murderer


    Joseph answered, ¡°Pretty much.¡±


    Lucas found out that the month Karen gave birth to Ava was also the same month that Luciana got


    pregnant. Benjamin stayed by Luciana¡¯s side almost every day.


    The hospital staff recalled that a different man woulde to visit Karen from time to time, and they


    would always argue with each other. Their topic of argument was quite sensitive, discussing the fact


    that the man who had impregnated Karen was a married man. Hence, the hospital staff had a deep


    impression of that incident.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Chloe drew in a cold breath. ¡°Did you find out who that man was?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but we may get the answer tomorrow.¡±


    After learning about the affair, Chloe had a restless night. She was busy sorting out the current clues


    she had obtained.


    It was no wonder Karen chose to get back together with Benjamin that year. It was very likely that she


    wanted to find a father for her child. And it must be because of Karen¡¯s example that Ava was so


    cunning since childhood


    Chloe wondered if Benjamin would be driven mad when he learned about this.


    The next day.


    Lucas proved himself to be very efficient and quickly brought over the nanny who had attended to


    Karen the year she had given birth.


    ÑÔ


    Her name was Wren, now in her early fifties. The woman in in clothes borated honestly, The man


    who hooked up with Karen was named Diego Bailey. He seems to be from Docwood and has a family.


    He got to know Karen during a party. That¡¯s all I know¡­ Can you give me the money now?¡±


    Lucas looked toward Joseph before thetter waved his hand. After that, he took out a stack of cash to


    give to Wren.


    With trembling hands, Wren happily epted the money. ¡®Finally. I¡¯ve secured the money for my son¡¯s


    surgery.¡¯


    Lucas opened the door and was about to see her off when Chloe, who had been silent all this while,


    suddenly got up and stopped her. She asked in a fierce tone, ¡°Didn¡¯t you also work as a nanny for Mr.


    Johnson¡¯s family?¡±


    When Chloe mentioned that name, Wren averted her gaze. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± Chloeughed coldly and found an old family photograph on her phone. She pointed at a


    blurry figure in the photograph. ¡°Isn¡¯t this you?¡±


    When Chloe left the Johnson family, she took with her the only family photograph there was and took a


    picture of it so she could look at it when she missed her mother. Although the nanny¡¯s figure was not


    very clear in the picture, her face could be seen. Hence, Chloe was certain that not


    12


    only had Wren worked as Karen¡¯s nanny, but she also worked for Chloe¡¯s mother too.


    Chloe believed that this was not a coincidence.


    Wren screamed and did not dare to look at the photograph as if it had exposed her wrongdoing. She


    became scared and nervous.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes before he took Chloe¡¯s phone to make aparison between the two. After


    looking at it carefully, he affirmed that the figure in the corner of the photograph was not that much


    different from Wren. He exposed deep oppression Although his voice was not harsh, it was full of great


    momentum.


    ¡°You can either exin yourself here or at the police station. I¡¯m sure you know the pros and cons.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t be locked up in prison. My son is still waiting for me at the hospital. I have to go back with


    the money to save him. Please be kind and show mercy. Let me go. I¡¯m begging you. Please don¡¯t


    make things difficult for me.¡±


    However, Chloe would notpromise if it was rted to her mother. She dialed 911 in front of Wren,


    her face devoid of emotion.


    Wren broke down and screamed, ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡±


    It turned out that Wren had worked as a nanny for the Johnsons because Karen had rmended her


    to Benjamin. Besides that, Karen ordered Wren to monitor all of Luciana¡¯s actions, and if there was a


    chance, Wren had to sow discord between Benjamin and Luciana However, Luciana fell seriously ill


    before Wren got the chance.


    Wren also witnessed how Benjamin purposely drove Luciana mad until she fell sick. After that, he


    ignored her and went to Karen for a great time.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    While crying, Wren pped herself. ¡°I was out of options. Benjamin threatened me and prohibited. me


    from caring for your mother. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­


    ¡°I always dream of your mother. She hates me for not saving her and I¡¯ve never had one night of good


    sleep for the second half of my life. And now, my son has fallen ill. I¡¯ve already paid a price. for what I


    did. I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I wronged your mother.¡±


    Chloe was struck dumb on the spot. An endless chill engulfed her heart as her body trembled


    uncontrobly. She then burst into tears. ¡°My mother was driven mad and killed by Benjamin?¡±


    ¡®Mother didn¡¯t hesitate to cut off her rtionship with her family for the sake of her love, but atst, she


    died in Benjamin¡¯s hands In the past, I even dreamed of being spoiled by him. Of course, a murderer


    wouldn¡¯t feel anything for me. How ridiculous and pathetic!¡±


    Heartache shed through Joseph¡¯s eyes as he pulled Chloe into his arms. ¡°Benjamin will be punished


    for what he did. Trust me.¡±

 Chapter 226

    Chapter 226


    Chapter 226 Sir, That¡¯s My Phone


    Chloe¡¯s fists clenched tightly, her eyes bloodshot with a burning rage. Hatred consumed her as she


    uttered the words, ¡°Yes, let Benjamin suffer the consequences!¡±


    She wanted Benjamin to endure the same despair her mother had experienced before her untimely


    death.


    Lucas looked at Wren and asked, ¡°Sir, how should we handle her?¡±


    ¡°Send her back. We may need her as a witness at a crucial moment.¡±


    Chloe felt a heaviness in her heart, but to her surprise, Joseph canceled his morning meetings and


    devoted the entire day to being by her side. She clung to his waist affectionately, crying and finding


    sce in his presence until exhaustion overcame her. She unknowingly drifted off to sleep, tears


    staining her cheeks.


    When she woke up, it was already 2 in the afternoon. Her mood had calmed down considerably. Jojo,


    I¡¯m sorry for disrupting your work this morning.¡±


    Joseph interlocked his fingers, leaning back in a rxed demeanor. ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Chloe wiped


    away the remnants of her tears. Her gaze was determined and resolute. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to head back


    to Marketing. See you tonight.¡±


    The breakdown of an adult has its limits. Once the storm of emotions subsided, it was time to gather


    strength and tackle life head-on. Despair and tears never solved any problems.


    This time, Chloe was determined to fight back.


    In the afternoon, Chloe¡¯s newly written marketing copy and project gained traction. It went viral, the


    copy garnering high praise from major tforms in the finance industry. Bloggers. specializing in


    finance shared andmented on it, using sharpnguage and presenting novel perspectives.


    Instantly, Chloe started gaining poprity within the financial circle.


    To add more intrigue, someone discovered her photo and affectionately referred to her as the ¡±


    Sweetheart of Finance,¡± recognizing her as the most beautiful girl in the industry. As a result, in the


    following days, her colleagues yfully referred to her as the ¡°beauty icon of the finance. world.¡± Even


    Ms. Wendy, who had recently given birth, called to offer her congrattions.


    Chloe modestly replied, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your guidance, Ms. Wendy. I was aplete newbie when I


    first joined the department.¡±


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just your extensive work experience, but also yourmitment to continuous learning that has


    contributed to your achievements. You¡¯re still at the beginning of your journey, so keep up the good


    work. I have high expectations for you. I also heard about the incident with Ellie. Considering her


    challenging family background and asional extreme behavior, please beware of your safety and


    promptly report any unusual incidents.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±


    1/2


    Lucas prepared a cup of coffee for Joseph and brought it inside. Just as he was about to leave, his


    phone started beeping. Without thinking, he instinctively reached for his phone to check the notification.


    Half of Joseph¡¯s daily trivial matters were handled by Lucas, including tasks rted to the homeowners¡¯


    group. The notification was from the property manager who had suddenly tagged him andter sent a


    photo apanied by a mischievous emoji.


    [Mr. Joseph, may we print this photo formunity promotion? Of course, we¡¯d be happy to provide


    you with the image rightspensation. I identally came across it while reviewing the surveince


    footage yesterday. The image of you and your wife standing together is sol beautiful as if you were


    destined for each other.]


    The photo captured Chloe and Icarus, looking very happy together and two Border Collies obediently


    by their side. It perfectly depicted the ideal life that most people had in mind-lovers, pets, sunset, and a


    wonderful atmosphere.


    Other homeowners beganmenting.


    [Both of them have such high levels of attractiveness. Can having a dog enhance marital rtionships?


    I want one too]


    [Now that¡¯s good looks and talents. Utilizing them for promotion will definitely boost the sales of houses


    here.]


    [I saw this couple passing by yesterday. The dogs misbehaved, and the female owner smacked their


    butts. Hahaha]


    Lucas¡¯ hand holding the phone trembled. It was true that Ms. Chloe was the female owner, but Icarus


    was not the male owner.


    Joseph lifted the cup of coffee and took a sip, ncing at the stunned Lucas who was just standing


    there. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Trembling, Lucas stammered, ¡°There might be something else¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®might be?¡± Joseph¡¯s tone turned to one of displeasure. ¡°Be efficient in your work.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Joseph pinched his brow, his voice turning icy. ¡°Is there something or isn¡¯t there?¡±


    Lucas did not dare to beat around the bush and handed the phone to Joseph, cing it in front of his


    eyes. ¡°Sir, please take a look. Can we agree to use it for promotion?¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze, his eyes gradually turning cold as they fell on the photo. With a loud


    bang, the phone shattered into pieces. The screen waspletely ruined.


    Lucas dared not speak. He simply thought, ¡®Sir, that¡¯s my phone!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice was chillingly sharp ¡°Summon Chloe here now.¡±

 Chapter 227

    Chapter 227


    Chapter 227 The Master of Time Management


    When Lucas arrived at the marketing department, Chloe was organizing the data and marketing copy


    for the afternoon meeting. Lucas took her to a secluded spot and whispered, ¡°Ms. Chloe, did you run


    into Icarusst night?¡±


    She paused, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°The whole neighborhood is talking about it.¡±


    During the elevator ride, Lucas filled her in on everything that had transpired in the homeowners¡¯ group,


    emphasizing the gravity of the situation. ¡°Mr. Joseph is extremely angry, so when you go in, it¡¯s


    important not to confront him directly. Speak softly, exin clearly, and try to soothe his anger with kind


    words. I believe things can be resolved¡±


    Nervously, Chloe fidgeted with her fingernails, took a deep breath, and mustered the courage to push


    open the office door.


    ¡°Jojo, it¡¯s not what you think. Icarus and I just happened to bump into each other. He has a friend who


    lives in our neighborhood.¡±


    Seated on the sofa, Joseph nonchntly stretched out his long legs over the coffee table, his gaze


    piercing and frigid. ¡°Oh, what a remarkable coincidence. You seem to have a knack for stumbling upon


    extraordinary situations.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. I really am¨C¡±


    Her exnation was cut short by Joseph¡¯s biting sarcasm.


    ¡°The master of time management, right?¡±


    Who would have thought that a harmless joke would manifest into reality? Making time for flirtation


    while taking the dogs for a stroll.


    Chloe¡¯s delicate face contorted with hurt as she bit her lip, struggling to find the words.


    ¡°Speak up!¡± Joseph¡¯s impatience transformed into a stern reprimand. ¡°Did you resort to hitting the dogs


    because they interrupted your flirtatious encounter?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat or harm the dogs. I was simply afraid that you¡¯d misunderstand, so I didn¡¯t mention it.


    Toto and Oreo unexpectedly pulled me, and I lightly smacked them. Can you please refrain from


    thinking of me in this way and have some trust in each other? Moreover, in the photo, there was no


    inappropriate behavior between Icarus and me, right?¡±


    Joseph stood up abruptly. His imposing figure advanced toward her, closing the distance with ¨C each


    deliberate step. With a sneer on his face, he assumed a dominant position and said, ¡°There may be


    nothing in the photos, but who knows what the surveince cameras missed-the unseen angles nobody


    would know.¡±


    A surge of injustice washed over Chloe as she was backed into a corner. She mustered her courage


    and asked, ¡°Is this how you truly see me?¡±


    ¡°A person who thrives on lies is concerned about others¡¯ opinions?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡±


    1/3


    Lucas prepared a cup of coffee for Joseph and brought it inside. Just as he was about to leave, his


    phone started beeping. Without thinking, he instinctively reached for his phone to check the notification.


    Half of Joseph¡¯s daily trivial matters were handled by Lucas, including tasks rted to the homeowners¡¯


    group. The notification was from the property manager who had suddenly tagged him andter sent a


    photo apanied by a mischievous emoji.


    [Mr. Joseph, may we print this photo formunity promotion? Of course, we¡¯d be happy to provide


    you with the image rightspensation. I identally came across it while reviewing the surveince


    footage yesterday. The image of you and your wife standing together is so beautiful as if you were


    destined for each other.]


    The photo captured Chloe and Icarus, looking very happy together and two Border Collies obediently


    by their side. It perfectly depicted the ideal life that most people had in mind-lovers, pets, sunset, and a


    wonderful atmosphere.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Other homeowners beganmenting.


    [Both of them have such high levels of attractiveness. Can having a dog enhance marital rtionships?


    I want one too.]


    [Now that¡¯s good looks and talents. Utilizing them for promotion will definitely boost the sales of houses


    here.]


    [I saw this couple passing by yesterday. The dogs misbehaved, and the female owner smacked their


    butts. Hahaha]


    Lucas¡¯ hand holding the phone trembled. It was true that Ms. Chloe was the female owner, but Icarus


    was not the male owner.


    Joseph lifted the cup of coffee and took a sip, ncing at the stunned Lucas who was just standing


    there. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Trembling, Lucas stammered, ¡°There might be something else¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®might be?¡±¡± Joseph¡¯s tone turned to one of displeasure. ¡°Be efficient in your work.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Joseph pinched his brow, his voice turning icy. ¡°Is there something or isn¡¯t there?¡±


    Lucas did not dare to beat around the bush and handed the phone to Joseph, cing it in front of his


    eyes. ¡°Sir, please take a look. Can we agree to use it for promotion?¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze, his eyes gradually turning cold as they fell on the photo. With a loud


    bang, the phone shattered into pieces. The screen waspletely ruined.


    Lucas dared not speak. He simply thought, ¡®Sir, that¡¯s my phone!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice was chillingly sharp. ¡°Summon Chloe here now.¡±


    The Master of Time Management


    When Lucas arrived at the marketing department, Chloe was organizing the data and marketing copy


    for the afternoon meeting. Lucas took her to a secluded spot and whispered, ¡°Ms. Chloe, did you run


    into Icarusst night?¡±


    She paused, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°The whole neighborhood is talking about it.¡±


    During the elevator ride, Lucas filled her in on everything that had transpired in the homeowners¡¯ group,


    emphasizing the gravity of the situation. ¡°Mr. Joseph is extremely angry, so when you go in, it¡¯s


    important not to confront him directly. Speak softly, exin clearly, and try to soothe his anger with kind


    words. I believe things can be resolved.¡±


    Nervously, Chloe fidgeted with her fingernails, took a deep breath, and mustered the courage to push


    open the office door.


    ¡°Jojo, it¡¯s not what you think. Icarus and I just happened to bump into each other. He has a friend who


    lives in our neighborhood.¡±


    Seated on the sofa, Joseph nonchntly stretched out his long legs over the coffee table, his gaze


    piercing and frigid. ¡°Oh, what a remarkable coincidence. You seem to have a knack for stumbling upon


    extraordinary situations.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. I really am¨C¡±


    Her exnation was cut short by Joseph¡¯s biting sarcasm.


    ¡°The master of time management, right?¡±


    Who would have thought that a harmless joke would manifest into reality? Making time for flirtation


    while taking the dogs for a stroll


    Chloe¡¯s delicate face contorted with hurt as she bit her lip, struggling to find the words.


    ¡°Speak up!¡± Joseph¡¯s impatience transformed into a stern reprimand. ¡°Did you resort to hitting the dogs


    because they interrupted your flirtatious encounter?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat or harm the dogs. I was simply afraid that you¡¯d misunderstand, so I didn¡¯t mention- it.


    Toto and Oreo unexpectedly pulled me, and I lightly smacked them. Can you please refrain from


    thinking of me in this way and have some trust in each other? Moreover, in the photo, there was no


    inappropriate behavior between Icarus and me, right?¡±


    Joseph stood up abruptly. His imposing figure advanced toward her, closing the distance with each


    deliberate step. With a sneer on his face, he assumed a dominant position and said, ¡°There may be


    nothing in the photos, but who knows what the surveince cameras missed-the unseen angles nobody


    would know.¡±


    A surge of injustice washed over Chloe as she was backed into a corner. She mustered her courage


    and asked, ¡°Is this how you truly see me?¡±


    ¡°A person who thrives on lies is concerned about others¡¯ opinions?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡±


    She could not bear the weight of Joseph¡¯s baseless usations any longer and pushed him away. He


    took a step back, his waist colliding with the corner of a nearby cab, causing him to emit a stifled


    groan of pain.


    Filled with concern, Chloe hurried to his side, extending a hand to help. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t realize


    there was a cab there. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Just leave me alone!¡± Joseph¡¯s anger surged, and he impatiently pushed her away.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes dimmed with hurt, but sheposed herself. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll leave. I¡¯ll call Lucas toe


    and check the injury on your waist.¡±


    ¡°Come back!¡± Joseph forcefully grasped her wrist and questioned, ¡°Feeling guilty now?¡±


    His persistent attitude drained Chloe of both physical and mental strength. She had just managed to


    regain herposure earlier in the day after learning about what happened to her mother. And now,


    she felt herself sinking back into the depths of her emotions.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who asked me to leave, and now you¡¯re the one who won¡¯t let me go,¡± Chloe retorted,


    her voice tinged with frustration. ¡°I¡¯ve already exined myself, and if you still don¡¯t believe me, what


    else can I do?¡±


    Her voice trembled with a sense of powerlessness as she continued, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished organizing the


    data for the afternoon meeting I¡¯m going back to my desk.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze remained fixated on the red mark on Chloe¡¯s wrist, stark against her fair skin. A mixture


    of irritation and restlessness stirred within him.


    Lucas watched as Chloe left, cautiously entering the room. ¡°Sir, there was indeed no evidence of any


    inappropriate behavior between Ms. Chloe and Icarus in the photos. The angle of the shot may have


    created a misleading impression. After all, don¡¯t we often see celebrity scandals based on such


    misunderstandings in the media?¡±


    Joseph coldly lit a cigarette. ¡°Are you trying to defend her?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Lucas, aplete sycophant, awkwardly smiled. ¡°You¡¯re my boss, Mr. Joseph, not


    Ms. Chloe. I¡¯m simply analyzing the situation from an outsider¡¯s perspective.¡±


    Joseph maintained a fixed gaze, his silence permeating the room.


    Sensing the need to borate, Lucas continued, ¡°Moreover, Chloe only learned the truth about her


    mother¡¯s death this morning It has undoubtedly impacted her emotionally, and thus hermunication


    with you may not be asposed as before.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s tightly furrowed brows rxed slightly.


    Having said all that needed to be said, Lucas wisely refrained from further rambling. He quietly


    exited the room, his mind set on purchasing a new phone at the mall.


    As Joseph pondered the situation, he decided to make a video call to Nathan. On the other end of the


    call, Nathan, amid dim lights and a bustling atmosphere, was holding on to a woman.


    Joseph pressed his temple. ¡°It¡¯s too noisy.¡±


    Nathan gently motioned for the woman in his arms to step back, signaling for silence. He turned on the


    lights and inquired, ¡°What happened? Did you have another argument with Chloe?¡±


    Joseph sinctly recounted the day¡¯s events, then posed the crucial question, ¡°So, whose fault was


    it?¡±

 Chapter 228

    Chapter 228


    Chapter 228 My Parents Died Too. Does That Warrant Empathy?


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Nathan said, ¡°I think both of you are at fault.¡±


    Chloe was at fault for hiding the truth, and Joseph was at fault for not trusting her.


    Joseph¡¯s cold gaze pierced through Nathan, his eyes sharp as a knife.


    Sensing the intensity, Nathan quickly adjusted his stance. ¡°Although both of you share some me, the


    main issue lies with Chloe. Your fault is minimal.¡±


    ¡°Give me a solution.¡±


    ¡°Buy her happiness with money,¡± Nathan suggested, pausing for a moment before continuing, ¡°I can


    empathize with Chloe. It¡¯s devastating for a young girl to witness her seemingly perfect family being


    torn apart by a malicious woman, and now discovering that her biological father caused her mother¡¯s


    death. These are heavy blows to endure.


    ¡°However, Chloe lost control of her emotions for a brief period in the morning and managed to regain


    composure by noon, immersing herself in her work. Whether she¡¯s putting on a facade of strength or


    genuinely possesses inner resilience, you should try to understand and empathize with her more.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice remained devoid of emotion as he responded, ¡°Empathy, you say? My parents died too.


    Does that warrant empathy?¡±


    Nathan¡¯s breath caught, his expression shifting abruptly. The topic of Joseph¡¯s parents had always


    been a taboo one, a subject no one dared to broach for many years.


    He held his silence for a few seconds and wisely shifted gears, saying, ¡°But Chloe has a forgiving


    nature. If you provide her with a generous shopping allowance, she probably won¡¯t stay angry for long.


    No woman can resist the allure of shopping.¡±


    The correct course of action would be for Joseph to set aside his pride and offerfort to Chloe, but


    given his temperament, he would not bend easily. Handing over money seemed like a more practical


    approach.


    After ending the call, Joseph gave instructions to withdraw all the cash thepany used for employee


    rewards for the meeting.


    Twenty minutester, the department managers began to arrive one by one at the conference room.


    Chloe selected a seat at the back, filled with concern that Joseph might create a scene. Losing face in


    front of so many people would be utterly embarrassing.


    Sure enough, Joseph strode into the room, donning a ck overcoat that entuated hismanding


    presence. He paid no heed to Chloe, as if she were invisible, and took his ce without sparing her a


    single nce.


    Fury surged within Chloe, and she jabbed at her notebook with her pen, feeling a mix of anger and


    injustice. She diligently took care of walking the dogs whilst he lounged around at home. It was already


    painful enough to be doubted and misunderstood, but now he was tantly disregarding her presence.


    How could this manck any trace of conscience?!


    During the meeting, one of the senior executives made a pointed remark, stating, ¡°The marketing


    copy for the new project which was released by the marketing departmentst week was exceptional.


    Within a week, it garnered over three million views. Such talent deserves recognition.


    Several voices chimed in, expressing agreement. Then, another participant added, ¡°Indeed, I also


    noticed that. Was it Chloe who was in charge of the proposal?¡±


    Being suddenly called out, Chloe rose from her seat, feeling a mix of reluctance and humility. In a polite


    and modest tone, she responded, ¡°While I was responsible for drafting the proposal, the collection of


    data and information was a coborative effort of the entire department. I merely organized everyone¡¯s


    hard work. On behalf of Marketing, I express our gratitude for the recognition, esteemed seniors.¡±


    The senior executive nodded with satisfaction, adding a half-joking, half-serious remark directed at


    Joseph, ¡°Mr. Joseph, it seems fitting to reward this talented young woman with a generous reward.¡±


    Chloe shook her head vehemently, her voice resolute. ¡°Oh no, this is my responsibility, and the


    companypensates me through my sry. There¡¯s no need for any additional rewards. If there is to


    be any recognition, it should be for our entire department.¡±


    She dared not ask for any reward, feeling grateful enough if her phone had not been shattered during


    the outburst of that infuriating man. She could not fathom how Lucas had endured and remained by


    Joseph¡¯s side all these years.


    Lucas thought to himself, ¡°What else could it be? It¡¯s all about money and ability.¡±


    Joseph sat in the front seat, twirling an expensive pen between his fingers. His handsome face tilted


    slightly, entuating his sleek jawline, radiating an aura of elegance and refinement.


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    In the next moment, Lucas wheeled in a small cart typically used for deliveries,den with bundles of


    banknotes.

 Chapter 229

    Chapter 229


    Chapter 229 You Won¡¯t Find a Better Man Than Joseph


    Everyone was left in a state of shock, their jaws hanging wide open in astonishment, wondering what


    was going on. All eyes were fixed on Chloe, and a surprising notion began to take hold. Was this


    money intended as a reward for her?


    Lucas leaned closer to Joseph and spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°Sir, Finance only has 300 thousand in


    cash remaining. If it¡¯s insufficient, I can go to the bank right now and withdraw more.¡±


    ¡°Just give it to her,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡®She would surely save every penny she can get her hands on. What a chore.¡±


    Lucas pulled the small trolley until it was in front of Chloe, his smile beaming with warmth as he said,


    ¡°This is a reward from Mr. Joseph to you.¡±


    A big question mark slowly appeared on Chloe¡¯s face, her mind struggling to process the unexpected


    gesture. She remained momentarily lost for words.


    Sensing her confusion, Lucas leaned in and whispered in a hushed tone that only they could hear, ¡°Mr.


    Joseph is making an effort to win you over.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes glistened with tears, her emotions welling up inside her. Despite Joseph¡¯s seemingly


    arrogant demeanor, there was a flicker of affection in the tilt of his chin, softening his otherwise cold


    facade. Her heart was enveloped in a warmth and sweetness akin to savoring aforting bowl of hot


    soup.


    Lucas continued, ¡°Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph genuinely cares for you. His actions may be driven by


    jealousy, but it¡¯s not a deliberate attempt to cause strife. Please don¡¯t be angry anymore.¡±


    ¡®Because it¡¯s me who suffers when you two argue and go through conflicts,¡¯ he added silently.


    Chloe lowered her face, concealing the teardrops that welled up in her eyes. At that moment, she


    realized that there was someone in this world who cared about her deeply. Although she had not


    received the love she longed for from her parents, she had found love.


    A radiant smile spread across Chloe¡¯s face, causing her petite nose to turn slightly red. With a yful


    yet earnest tone, she expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Joseph. From this day forward, I belong


    to Mr. Joseph. I¡¯m Mr. Joseph¡¯s person in life. Even in death, I¡¯ll be Mr. Joseph¡¯s ghost. I¡¯ll never leave


    Fairlight.¡±


    One sentence, two meanings.


    Joseph¡¯s lips curled up imperceptibly, amused by the money-loving little fool.


    Rather than keeping all the money to herself, Chloe disyed her selflessness by dividing it equally


    among her colleagues in the marketing department. Each person received a share of 1.5 thousand


    dors. While they appreciated the unexpected bonus, they were well aware that it was intended as a


    reward for Chloe, not themselves. They did not want to take advantage of the situation and were


    content to bask in the warmth of the moment without pushing their luck.


    However, when Ellie received a significant bonus in the past, Chloe received an even more enormous


    sum. It was hard to ignore the pattern of clear and open favoritism that Mr. Joseph showed toward


    Chloe.


    Chloe deposited the remaining 250 thousand into the bank As she handled the transaction, her gaze


    fell upon the card Icarus had given her the night before It was best to return it to him sooner to avoid


    any furtherplications Lying always led to more lies, and the fact that she had not done anything to


    harm Joseph made the situation even more frustrating. It gave her a headache After depositing the


    money, Chloe walked out of the bank Today, Joseph had given Lucas half the day off, and he was


    sitting in the driver¡¯s seat with the car window partially open, his mesmerizing eyes on disy Her heart


    raced as she approached, excitement evident in her stride. Taking her seat beside him, she couldn¡¯t


    contain her enthusiasm Jojo, I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Okay. What would you like to eat tonight?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want. I¡¯ll cook ¡±


    Lately, with everyone in the department upied with preparations for the new projectunch, Chloe


    had not been cooking as ofte. In fact, it had been three days since shest prepared a meal for


    Joseph.


    ¡°Hot dogs, foie gras with red wine, mushroom soup, and steak.¡±


    Chloe yfully tapped her ear. ¡°Mixing street food with French cuisine, are we?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had French cuisine, and besides, you¡¯re not a fan of it.¡±


    Chloe paused for a moment, considering her suggestion ¡°How about we go out and have some today?¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow. ¡°Right now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, quickly opening the navigation app on her phone, feeling an overwhelming sense


    of urgency that they needed to go.


    Joseph mmed on the brakes, his expression stern as he confronted her. ¡°Are you deliberately


    refusing to cook for me?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not! I just thought that we always go to restaurants that I prefer. This time, to make


    things fair, I want to apany you to a ce you enjoy,¡± she exined earnestly.


    Joseph let out a cold snort, his skepticism apparent. ¡°I shall reluctantly believe you then.¡±


    However, he ignored Chloe¡¯s navigation and veered away from the cheap steak ce she was about to


    suggest. He did not want to eat cheap steak that cost less than 20 dors. Instead, he drove to a


    familiar French restaurant they had visited in the past.


    Tucked away in the heart of the city, the restaurant offered a serene ambiance amid its bustling


    surroundings. Housed in a charming vi, each floor featured private rooms, ensuring an intimate


    dining experience without any glimpse of other patrons.


    The vors of the dishes they ordered were truly exquisite. After savoring their meal for about forty


    minutes, they finished eating and prepared to settle the bill and depart. Just as they were about to


    leave, Chloe¡¯s phone buzzed with a Facebook message from Xavia. It was a lengthy message filled


    with greetings.


    Skimming through the message, Chloe gathered that Xavia was inquiring whether she found it


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    tiring to take care of two dogs at once. If Chloe felt overwhelmed, Xavia suggested the option of


    returning Oreo to the boarding house.


    Chloe, feeling a bit puzzled by Xavia¡¯s message, decided to call Xavia.


    ¡°I¡¯m managing Toto and Oreo just fine. It¡¯s not tiring at all. How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°The doctor says I¡¯m recovering well. In a few more days, I¡¯ll be able to have meals on my own.¡±


    ¡°Great. I¡¯lle visit you this weekend.¡±


    There was a hint of hesitation in Xavia¡¯s voice before she continued, ¡°Are you really not finding it


    troublesome to take care of two dogs? If you think it¡¯s too much of an inconvenience, I can take Oreo


    back anytime. Don¡¯t inconvenience yourself or the dogs.¡±


    The first half of the sentence seemed normal, but the second half took a sudden shift in tone. Since


    Xavia could now be considered a mutual friend of Chloe and Joseph, she put the call on loudspeaker,


    though their rtionship was somewhat peculiar.


    At that moment, Joseph¡¯s steps came to a halt, and his profound gaze fixed on Chloe.


    Speechless, Chloe spoke into her phone, ¡°If you have something to say, say it directly. No need to beat


    around the bush.¡±


    There was a moment of silence on the other end. Despite the hint of anger in Xavia¡¯s tone, the voice


    remained gentle. ¡°I saw the video of you walking Toto and Oreo online. Why did you hit them? And who


    was the man beside you? Why did he give you his bank card? You¡¯re already with Joe now. Don¡¯t you


    dare do anything to betray him! Joe is an exceptional man, and you won¡¯t find a better man than him in


    your lifetime.¡±

 Chapter 230

    Chapter 230


    Chapter 230 Embrace Your Role and I¡¯ll Grant You Wealth


    The flurry of damning questions left Chloe speechless on the spot. The only person besides Joseph


    who had given her a bank card was Icarus. She quickly reached a conclusion-the surveince footage


    from the neighborhood had been leaked online.


    The room seemed to grow colder, the atmosphere thick with Joseph¡¯s unspoken anger that hung heavy


    in the air. Chloe could sense a raging m¨¦ manifesting without even lifting her head.


    ¡°Jojo, wait, please let me exin¡­


    ¡±


    Joseph remained expressionless as he demanded, ¡°Hand over your purse.¡±


    Instinctively, Chloe protected her bag behind her and spoke in a soft tone. ¡°I can exin everything, or


    we can call Icarus and ask him about what happened¡­¡±


    Joseph observed her defensive actions, his eyebrows furrowing and his eyes narrowing. Without


    uttering a word, he forcefully snatched her bag and began rummaging through it until his hand seized


    hold of an unfamiliar bank card. His sharp eyes lowered, masking his emotions. His voice, now tinged


    with hoarseness, emanated an icy coldness as he asked, ¡°How much money did Icarus give you?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for it. He forced it on me. By the time I wanted to return it, he had already disappeared.


    ¡°Chloe¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke.


    ¡°How much money is on this card?¡± Joseph repeated the question, his anger bubbling to the


    surface.


    ¡°28 million¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Joseph sneered, abruptly gripping her chin tightly. ¡°So 28 million is enough for you to follow


    him?¡±


    ¡°No, he never said anything like that,¡± Chloe¡¯s voice quivered as Joseph¡¯s grip on her chin caused. her


    pain. Yet, she dared not resist.


    Joseph¡¯s bottomless ck eyes seemed to prate her very soul. His icy voice, devoid of any


    emotion, pierced through the air. ¡°So, 28 million is enough to make you leave me?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s back stiffened, her lips trembling. ¡°Icarus had no malicious intentions, and I never betrayed


    you¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s anger consumed him, his blood boiling. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool, Chloe Johnson?!¡±


    It was just a bank card. She could have easily returned it if she did not want it. In the worst-case


    scenario, she could have simply discarded it. There were numerous ways to handle the situation and


    he could have reimbursed her. However, she deliberately chose to keep it in her bag.


    Chloe had no idea how to exin herself anymore, feeling utterly drained. They had just established


    their rtionship recently, yet it seemed gued by constant arguments. This was not the kind of


    rtionship she had envisioned or desired.


    Seeing her silence, Joseph¡¯s fury intensified. He roughly picked her up and threw her into the car.


    Chloe cried out in pain as the impact rattled her, feeling as if her internal organs were about to be jolted


    loose.


    Joseph mmed his foot on the elerator, speeding back to the vi at an rming pace.


    Chloe desperately wanted to get out of the car on her own, but he gripped onto her wrist tightly, forcing


    her to stumble along in his hurried strides.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Please slow down,¡± she pleaded.


    Joseph remained silent, showing no signs of slowing down as he brought Chloe directly into the


    bedroom and firmly shut the door. From outside the closed door, his voice took on a sinister tone.¡±


    From now on, you¡¯ll be confined to this vi for eternity!¡±


    Fear and panic gripped Chloe as she frantically twisted the doorknob but to no avail. ¡°Joseph, please


    let me out!¡± she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.


    Joseph sneered, his voiceced with contempt. ¡°Let you out so that you can continue your seduction


    games with other men?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s voice trembled with desperation. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Please don¡¯t do this¡­ Let


    me out¡­¡±


    ¡°Every time you have the opportunity to interact with other men, you prove your inability to remain


    faithful. That¡¯s why I¡¯m imprisoning you here. You can forget about leaving for the rest of your life.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s tone grew colder and more usatory. ¡°Money is all you want, right? Embrace your role as a


    caged canary and I¡¯ll grant you wealth and splendor.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s pleas turned bitter as she desperately implored Joseph to release her. But in response, all she


    heard was the fading sound of his retreating footsteps.


    Joseph spent the entire night in the study, barely getting any sleep.


    Morning arrived, and the ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts.


    When Lucas arrived that morning, he noticed that neither Joseph nor Chloe stirred. He made his way


    upstairs and found Joseph alone without Chloe by his side.


    ¡°Sir, we should leave,¡± Lucas said.


    Standing by the window, his back turned to Lucas, Joseph said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Get me the property


    manager of the vi.¡±

 Chapter 231

    Chapter 231


    Chapter 231 She¡¯s So Troublesome


    ¡°I found the friend of the man in the footage. He¡¯s one of the homeowners of this neighborhood. I went


    to see him, but he had already deleted the video¡­¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    Since Xavia had achieved her goal, it did not matter if the video was deleted. Lowering her head, she


    said nervously. ¡°My emotions got the better of me when I watched the video yesterday, and I unjustly


    used Ms. Chloe. Joe, is Ms. Chloe at home right now? I want to apologize to her.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s jaw tightened, his expression cold as he sneered. ¡°No need to apologize. Didn¡¯t she hit the


    dogs? Did she not lie? What¡¯s done can¡¯t be undone. Since she made a mistake, she needs to be


    punished.


    After briefly pausing, Xavia agreed with Joseph, ¡°You¡¯re right. Lying isn¡¯t about the size of the problem


    but about one¡¯s fundamental attitude.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened, his countenance subtly changing with a chilling


    aura. ¡°Please see yourself out. I want to be alone for a while.¡±


    Xav¨ªa nodded silently and reminded him, ¡°Remember to take your breakfast. You have a weak


    stomach.¡±


    Joseph looked at the white bandage on Xavia¡¯s arm and suddenly became irritated again.


    Noon arrived.


    Joseph thought that Chloe would beg him to let her out, but he had not heard any movement from the


    bedroom. Frowning, he called out to her. ¡°Chloe.¡±


    There was no response.


    He twisted the doorknob and saw her lying in bed. Her face was pale and covered in cold sweat as if


    trapped in a nightmare. Her eyes were tightly shut as she muttered something helplessly.


    His heart skipped a beat, and he touched her forehead. ¡®D*mn it, she¡¯s having a fever.¡¯


    ¡°Wake up. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital¡±


    Joseph tried to wake Chloe, but she seemed to sense someone beside her and curled up in fear,


    resembling an abandoned little kitten.


    Joseph had no other choice but to carry her. However, as soon as he touched her, she screamed in


    panic.


    ¡°No¡­ It wasn¡¯t me¡­ Please don¡¯t hit me¡­


    ¡°Dad¡­ It really wasn¡¯t me¡­


    ¡°It was Ava. She¡¯s the one who did it. It wasn¡¯t me¡­¡±


    A pang of pain shot through Joseph¡¯s heart, and hisrge hand gently patted Chloe¡¯s back. soothing


    her emotions in the middle of the nightmare.


    In the end, he invited Harold¡¯s doctor to the vi. After a simple examination, the doctor said, ¡°Her body


    is weak, and her immunity system isn¡¯t in great condition, so she caught a cold. She just


    needs to take some cold medicine.¡±


    Once the doctor left, Joseph retrieved cold medicine from the first-aid kit, intending to feed it to Chloe.


    She tightly sealed her lips, refusing to take the medicine, causing most of the water in the cup to spill.


    Joseph frowned. ¡°You¡¯re so troublesome.¡±


    Without hesitation, he ced the medicine in his mouth, leaned down, and kissed Chloe¡¯s lips.


    Evening came.


    Chloe woke up in an exhausted state. When she saw someone beside her, she instantly became fully


    alert.


    ¡°Why are you in my bed?¡±


    Having slept for too long, coupled with menstrual difort and having a cold, Chloe felt weak all over,


    and her voice sounded soft and tender, resembling a spoiled child.


    Joseph, who had not been fully asleep, was awakened by her fuss. Putting his hand on his forehead,


    he replied irritably, ¡°This is my bedroom.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, recalling being forcibly locked in the room by him yesterday. Without


    hesitation, she uncovered the nket and got out of bed to return to her own bedroom.


    Softening his tone, Joseph spoke as if he was doing her a big favor. ¡°You have my permission to sleep


    here tonight.¡±


    Over the course ofst night, she should realize where she went wrong, and it was about time she


    apologized to him.


    ¡°Thanks, but no thanks.¡± Chloe put on her shoes without even a pause.

 Chapter 232

    Chapter 232


    Chapter 232 Are You Going to Lock Me Up Again?


    Joseph¡¯s brow furrowed, his voiceced with frustration as he asked, ¡°I¡¯ve already decided to forgive


    you, so what trouble are you stirring up again?¡±


    Upon-hearing the word ¡°again,¡± Chloe chuckled She turned around, her eyes shining brightly as they


    locked onto Joseph. ¡°What do you mean, again? What did I do? Did I cheat on you ormit some


    unforgivable sin?¡±


    The using tone in her voice did not sit well with Joseph, and his expression grew icy. ¡°You lied and


    still think you did nothing wrong?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever thought about why I lied?¡±


    Joseph was stunned. Before he could say anything, Chloe pressed on. ¡°That¡¯s because I knew that


    even if I had told you that I ran into Icarus, you¡¯d still be suspicious and angry. Speaking the truth or not


    would lead to the same oue, so why bother?¡±


    ¡°Even though nothing happened between you and Icarus this time, you shouldn¡¯t talk to him since you


    know he has a thing for you!¡±


    ¡°So, now I can¡¯t even talk to someone of the opposite sex?!¡± Chloeughed scornfully and emphasized


    every word that came out of her mouth. ¡°Joseph, I¡¯m a human being. I need social interaction. Even if


    you disapprove of someone in my circle, the right approach is to sit down and have a calm


    conversation with me. Not lock me away like a criminal¡±


    After finishing her words, Chloe did not give him a chance and turned around to leave. Fortunately, she


    managed to return to her bedroom in one piece. She flopped onto the bed, letting out a sigh of relief.


    She was terrified, absolutely terrified Thankfully, Joseph did not lose his


    temper.


    She had finally stood up for herself. Next time, she would strive to do even better!


    This time, she was confined for one night, but next time it could be a whole month. She could not


    let Joseph think that she was a pushover.


    Meanwhile, she realized that she had recovered a lot from her cold. She had not even taken any cold


    medicine, so she wondered how. Could it be that her immunity had grown stronger?


    Chloe stayed in her bedroom for a while, and then Joseph knocked on the door.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°What do you want? Are you going to lock me up again?¡± Her voice was cold, but her ears perked


    1.


    There was a moment of silence outside the door. ¡°My grandpa wants us to go to the family home for


    dinner. There¡¯s a party tonight.¡±


    Chloe pressed her lips together and said, ¡°But I need to go to the office to make some revisions to


    some documents. It¡¯ll take about half an hour.¡±


    ¡°Is your cold any better?¡±


    ¡°I felt much better once I returned to my bedroom.¡±


    ¡°Get ready to go to the family house.¡±


    1/2


    ¡°What about my work?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll stop by the office on the way and you can pick up yourptop.¡±


    Chloe finished her morning routine and rummaged through the wardrobe, selecting an outfit from the


    clothes Joseph had bought for her before. She opted for a knee-length skirt that struck the perfect


    bnce between sophistication and modesty.


    After that, she applied rosy pink lipstick to add a touch of vibrancy to herplexion.


    When she came downstairs, she found Joseph already waiting for her in the car. As she passed by the


    living room, her gaze briefly flickered over the breakfast on the dining table.


    ¡®Joseph¡¯s not in the habit of buying breakfast from outside¡­¡¯


    Chloe did not question it because she already had an answer in her heart.


    During the journey, she did not initiate any conversation with Joseph. The car quickly arrived at the


    underground parking lot of Fairlight. The on-duty security guard stepped outside to catch some fresh


    air. He recognized Joseph¡¯s car and took a few steps forward to greet him, but his eyes caught sight of


    Chloe sitting in the passenger seat


    The security guard paused, realizing that Chloe was an employee of Fairlight..


    He smiled and said, ¡°Miss, are you hitching a ride?¡±


    He found this quite unusual. After all this time, it was the first time he had seen an employee daring to


    hitch a ride with Joseph¡¯s car. It seemed to him that this youngdy had quite the nerve..


    ¡°Umm¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s face showed a hint of difort as she replied, discreetly poking Joseph, urging him


    to hurry up and leave.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes slightly, his intense gaze sweeping over her guilt-ridden face. The corners of


    his mouth curled into a wicked smile and said, ¡°She¡¯s not hitching a ride.¡±


    The security was stunned. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my wife. Can you call that hitching a ride?¡±


    Chloe was stunned.

 Chapter 233

    Chapter 233


    Chapter 233 My Daughter-In-Law Is Prettier Your Company¡¯s Celebrities


    The security guard¡¯s eyes widened, disying a perplexed expression as he struggled toprehend


    the situation. Meanwhile, Joseph expertly maneuvered the steering wheel, moving the car into the


    parking lot.


    ¡°What were you thinking, Joseph? Why did you reveal our rtionship to the guard?¡± Chloe asked, her


    voice raised and bristled like an enraged cat. She could not understand Joseph¡¯s reasoning behind his


    actions.


    Maintaining an air of nonchnce, Joseph casually responded, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted me to


    do?¡±


    ¡°I wanted you to hurry up and leave so that the guard wouldn¡¯t figure out our rtionship!¡±


    He shrugged, pretending innocence. ¡°I must¡¯ve misinterpreted your intention.¡±


    Chloe knew Joseph had done it deliberately, but shecked evidence to prove her suspicion. Never


    speak out of turn like that again in the future,¡± she said.


    Observing her indignant expression, Joseph swelled with a sense of satisfaction. ¡°It depends on my


    mood.¡±


    As Chloe made her way to her cubicle to retrieve herptop, a colleague nearby yfully remarked,


    ¡°Chloe, you took the day off today, and Mr. Joseph didn¡¯te into the office either. Some people


    might think you two nned this.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s hand trembled, causing her to nearly lose her grip on herptop.


    ¡°I was just joking. Look at how scared you got as if it were true,¡± the colleague quickly rified.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Chloeughed, though her expression held more sadness than joy. ¡°Who knows? Maybe one day it¡¯ll


    come true.¡±


    The colleague¡¯s smile froze, reced by a hint of surprise. ¡°You certainly have confidence in yourself,¡±


    hemented, subtly acknowledging her unwavering belief.


    It took about an hour to travel from Aesper to the Whitman family home. As Chloe wrapped up her work


    on the way and closed herptop, the car came to a halt, reaching its destination.


    Stepping out of the car, she nced at the numerous luxury cars parked outside the house. -Among


    them, a familiar white Maybach caught her eye. She paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Are


    there going to be a lot of people here today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Joseph nonchntly raised an eyebrow. ¡°Feeling nervous?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve been a part of grand events before. I¡¯m just curious about who Grandpa invited to such


    arge gathering.¡±


    ¡°There are family members and business associates.¡± Joseph paused for a moment. ¡°Diego is here


    too.¡±


    1/2


    The Whitmans¡¯ business was rooted in Docwood, and their connections primarily revolved around that


    region. The Baileys, on the other hand, made their fortune in the seafood industry, and thergest


    seafood market in Docwood belonged to them.


    ording to Lucas¡¯s finding, Diego was the second son of the Baileys, with a significant chance of


    competing for the inheritance. Prior to this, Joseph had no particr impression of this individual.


    When Chloe heard this name, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she clenched her fists


    silently. This man was indirectly responsible for her mother¡¯s death.


    Sensing the change in her mood, Joseph tightly wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered, ¡°Do


    you want revenge?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Chloe responded without hesitation.


    ¡°Then do as you wish today.¡±


    ¡°Today is your family event¡­ It could tarnish your family¡¯s reputation. It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll focus on seeking


    revenge against the Johnsons instead.¡±


    Diego may be an irresponsible scumbag, but the true culprits who caused her mother¡¯s death were


    Benjamin and Karen.


    Joseph chuckled softly, his handsome face suffused with a warm tenderness. How could he let this


    sensible woman bear grievances and suffer silently? 1


    The Whitman family home was vast, hosting many influential figures. Chloe and Joseph stuck by


    Harold¡¯s side as he introduced them to each important individual present. To their surprise,


    among the distinguished guests, Calvin was also present, apanied by a gentle and refined young


    man by his side.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes briefly flickered with surprise when she saw Calvin, but she quickly regained her


    composure and nodded lightly in his direction. She was astonished that she had the chance to meet


    this kind-hearted young man again after their encounter on the road.


    Unaware of the intricate connections between them, Harold pulled Chloe to stand beside Calvin and


    proudly proimed, ¡°This is my obedient granddaughter-inw. She¡¯s far more beautiful than those


    small-time stars in yourpany, isn¡¯t she?¡±

 Chapter 234

    Chapter 234


    Chapter 234 I¡¯m Married, and My Wife¡¯s Over There


    Calvin felt incredibly awkward, not knowing how to handle the situation. His square face turned red with


    embarrassment.


    On the other hand, Joseph had distanced himself from the family business long ago, opting to pursue


    ventures abroad. Despite his rebellious and detached demeanor, he possessed an exceptional aptitude


    for strategy and leadership, devoid of the typical deception often associated with businessmen.


    Recognizing these qualities, Harold held his grandson in high regard. However, Harold understood that


    bestowing the family business upon Joseph would be a narrow- minded decision, so he allowed


    Joseph to carve his own path and prove himself independently over the years. This decision did not sit


    well with the Whitmans¡¯ core members, who harbored a deep-rooted desire to keep Joseph overseas,


    fearing he would snatch away the opportunities they held.


    Given this environment, it was only natural that nobody made a deliberate effort to unveil Joseph¡¯s


    familial background prematurely. Alternatively, it could be attributed to Joseph¡¯s formidable presence,


    as many people, including Calvin, often overlooked the fact that he was one of the Whitmans.


    With a seemingly ambiguous smile, Joseph remarked, ¡°Uncle Calvin, we meet again. This is my wife,


    Chloe.¡±


    Disying gentlepliance, Chloe added, ¡°Hello, Uncle Calvin.¡±


    Calvin was at a loss for words and remained silent, He had never experienced such an awkward


    situation before in his entire life. It was only now that he realized the girl he met at Fairlightst time


    was Joseph¡¯s wife


    Suddenly, he found himself embodying the archetypal elderly viin that was often portrayed in movies.


    ¡°You two are already acquainted?¡± spected Harold. ¡°Have you coborated in business?¡±


    Calvin hastily changed the subject. ¡°Yes, yes. We had some minor business coborations. Speaking


    of which, Mr. Harold, let me introduce you to someone.¡± He shifted his body slightly, revealing the


    young man behind him. ¡°This is Noah Gunter, the grandson of the Sullivan elders.¡±


    Noah was dressed in a casual white shirt. His slightly disheveled hair fell gently over his forehead.


    Despite having a clean and charming youthful face, he looked more mature than his


    age. With warm, gentle eyes of hazel, he offered a weing smile and greeted, ¡°Mr. Harold. Mr.


    Joseph. Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Harold was aware of the things that happened to Noah¡¯s family. He felt deep sympathy and


    Noah chuckled and replied, ¡°Mr. Whitman, I¡¯m still pursuing my studies.


    Harold appeared momentarily surprised. ¡°Are you in your final year?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m currently a senior, and I intend to continue my education through postgraduate studies.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯smendable. However, it might be time to consider marriage. Your grandfather is a great


    man. I don¡¯t understand why he hasn¡¯t taken the initiative to arrange one for you.¡±


    Noah replied with a warm and gentle smile, ¡°I feel that I¡¯m still young, so there¡¯s no rush.¡±


    Harold agreed, ¡°You¡¯re right. Joseph only found a wife at nearly thirty.¡±


    Joseph, uninterested in the conversation, decided to lead Chloe to the refreshment area. Chloe¡¯s


    empty stomach grumbled with hunger, but after indulging in a piece of cheesecake, her satisfied


    expression brightened her entire being.


    ¡°If you¡¯re tired, feel free to rest,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Chloe understood that asions like these often involved drinking. She gestured toward the


    nearby vintage sofa and said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±


    Harold could not help but worry about Noah. There was not a trace of the typical businessman aura


    about him. Instead, he exuded the air of a schr. He pondered about Noah¡¯s future with a hint of


    concern.


    Calvin saw through the thoughts in Harold¡¯s mind and chuckled softly. ¡°The kid¡¯s quite shrewd. Just a


    few days ago, he enlightened me on a few matters.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Harold was surprised.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    While Noah appeared harmless and pure on the surface, beneath his facade, he concealed a cunning


    nature. It was not far-fetched to say that he was a wolf disguised in sheep¡¯s clothing.


    At this moment, Noah bid farewell to Harold and promptly left.


    Noah¡¯s driver quickly followed behind him. He sighed andmented, ¡°I can¡¯t believe that youngdy


    is Mr. Harold¡¯s granddaughter-inw. But her husband is so ruthless to her. If it were my daughter left


    stranded in the pouring rain, I¡¯d advise her to break up, regardless of their wealth. It¡¯s only been a short


    while since their marriage, and he¡¯s already treating her this way. She¡¯s bound to face further


    mistreatment in the future.¡±


    Noah chuckled softly, refraining from expressing his opinion.


    As the banquet reached its midpoint and the majority of the attendees had finished their meals, they


    started seeking out Joseph and the Baileys, hoping that they could form some sort of coboration with


    them.


    Diego, in his forties, donned a finely tailored suit that entuated his portly figure. His countenance


    was unremarkable, yet he exuded an air of superiority. However, in Joseph¡¯s presence, his sense of


    superiority noticeably waned.


    There was always someone who could outshine you in all aspects.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Diego stered a smile on his face and said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I didn¡¯t expect


    you to be so young.¡±


    With one hand in his pocket, Joseph casually nced at Diego and ignored him.


    Diego felt insulted. However, the thought of the Whitmans being the top among the Four Greats,


    combined with Joseph¡¯s formidable capabilities, made him swallow his pride. ¡°Mr. Joseph, you appear


    to be around the same age as my daughter. I wonder if you¡¯d be-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m married,¡± Joseph interrupted, looking toward the woman sitting on a nearby sofa. ¡°My wife is over


    there.¡±

 Chapter 235

    Chapter 235


    Chapter 235 Two Nicknames-¡°Jojo¡± When Happy, ¡°Joseph¡± When Angry


    Diego followed Joseph¡¯s gaze and was ovee by embarrassment. His daughter paled in


    comparison to the stunning youngdy before him. His daughter was always indulging in food,cking


    in the grace and elegance that this youngdy exuded.


    His daughter¡¯s figure was far from slender, and her features could notpare to the exquisite beauty


    of the youngdy.


    Diego did not press the matter further. His main objective was to strike a deal in private and secure an


    investment from Joseph. After all, with Joseph confident that money was never a concern for Joseph.


    eing in the financial industry, he was


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, are you interested in the seafood business? I have something else in mind that I¡¯d like to


    discuss with you. It¡¯s guaranteed to be profitable,¡± Diego proposed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not particrly interested in the seafood business,¡± Joseph replied nonchntly, ¡°But if you¡¯re


    looking for a suitable match for your daughter within the Whitmans, I wouldn¡¯t mind helping with the


    matchmaking. There are plenty of eligible candidates among the unmarried men of my family¡¯s


    branches.¡±


    Diego¡¯s eyes lit up. The hope of marrying his chubby daughter into the main Whitman family was


    dashed, but marriage to a branch family might still be possible. ¡°Which branch are you referring to, sir?¡±


    he asked.


    ¡°There are so many suitable candidates, I heard that your daughter has high standards,¡± Joseph¡¯


    remarked casually.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Nope. Not at all. She¡¯s a bit overweight,¡± Diego admitted.


    It was good to have some self-awareness Although men liked a full-bodied figure, she was indeed a bit


    chubby.


    Diego did not dare to lie to Joseph.


    ¡°Overweight?¡± Joseph frowned and feigned a faint perplexity that managed to deceive even Diego. ¡°I


    recall her being quite slim.¡±


    Diego burst intoughter. ¡°She weighs about 200 pounds. She isn¡¯t slim at all. Mr. Joseph, could you


    have mistaken someone else for her?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. Uncle Calvin told me that her name was Ava,¡± Joseph said, his pitch-ck eyes locked onto


    Diego, his tone drawn out. ¡°I was wondering why your surname is Bailey while your daughter¡¯s


    surname is Johnson Looks like I made a mistake.¡±


    Diego froze in ce, his face turning pale and then red. Finally, he pleaded in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Joseph,


    please don¡¯t mention this to anyone. If my wife finds out, she¡¯ll eat me alive.¡±


    Dealing with his wife was manageable, but his wife¡¯s family was a force to be reckoned with!


    Joseph chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about. If you¡¯re truly worried, why not ask


    Uncle Calvin about it?¡±


    N


    Diego pulled Calvin to a corner, but their conversation quickly escted into a heated argument. The


    more they argued, the louder it became, attracting the attention of the surrounding guests.


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Ava is my goddaughter and has nothing to do with you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care who she is to you, but she has nothing to do with me either. Stop spreading baseless


    rumors!¡±


    ¡°When did I spread baseless rumors? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s spouting nonsense here!¡±


    Feeling increasingly guilty and anxious as more people gathered around, Diego hurriedly slipped into


    the crowd without looking back.


    Chloe, who had been observing with interest, raised her head and admired the man beside her, her


    face filled with admiration. ¡°Jojo, you¡¯re so good at causing trouble for others!¡±


    Joseph had made them suspect and doubt each other, and then they would both go looking for trouble


    with the Johnsons.


    He looked at her smiling face and recalled a saying: ¡°A kid will only go to their parents when their car is


    having problems.¡±


    ¡®She calls me Jojo when in a good mood. When she¡¯s not, she calls me by my given name. She¡¯s been


    grumpy on the way here, and now¡­¡¯ When the thought surfaced in his mind, he chuckled. ¡® What a


    realistic woman.¡¯


    Chloe did not understand why he wasughing, but she did not voice her confusion.


    A mother and child approached them. They were dressed elegantly and carried themselves


    gracefully, their gaze fixed on Chloe without any reservation.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the woman Joe married without much consideration?¡± Octavia Thornfield said


    arrogantly to Chloe.


    Likewise, Jonathan Whitman unabashedly scrutinized her andmented, ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s as good


    as Xavia. After all, Xavia¡¯s an artist. What talents do you have?¡±


    ¡°Aunt Tavia, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I gave it careful thought before deciding to marry her,¡± Joseph


    responded with a smile, though his smile failed to reach his eyes. ¡°Not every woman is as impulsive as


    you, getting pregnant before marriage. My wife is rather traditional and far from being promiscuous.¡±


    This statement implied that Octavia was a woman of loose morals.

 Chapter 236

    Chapter 236


    Chapter 236 Think Twice Before Deciding on a Lifetime Commitment


    Octavia red at him fiercely ¡°How dare you speak that way to me I¡¯m your aunt!¡±


    Jonathan joined in the confrontation, his voice filled with aggression. ¡°Joe, my mother is only looking


    out for your best interests. How could you support a stranger?¡±


    ¡°If Chloe¡¯s a stranger, doesn¡¯t that mean that your mother is also a stranger?¡± Joseph retorted calmly,


    leaving Jonathan momentarily speechless.


    Realizing that engaging in further argument would be futile, Octavia took a deep breath and changed


    the topic. ¡°Enough of this discussion. Since you¡¯ve chosen her despite our concerns, there¡¯s nothing


    more to be said. You live your own life. However, we¡¯d appreciate knowing some basic information


    about her.¡±


    Joseph maintained aposed smile as he stood by Chloe¡¯s side.


    Unaffected by the tension, Chloe greeted Octavia respectfully, her voice filled with sweetness. Nice to


    meet you, Aunt Tavia.¡±


    Octavia found some sce in Chloe¡¯s respectful demeanor and her frustration was momentarily


    subdued ¡°As you are aware of the Whitman family¡¯s circumstances, there are countless women. vying


    to marry into our family. As the eldest grandson, Joe¡¯s wife must possess suitable qualities. You appear


    to possess some charm, so can you provide some information about your family background?¡±


    Chloe blinked innocently before replying, ¡°I am my only family, and I¡¯m self-sufficient. Aunt Tavia, rest


    assured I will not be a burden to the Whitmans.¡±


    In Chloe¡¯s heart, Benjamin was no longer her father.


    Octavia was taken aback by this revtion. ¡®Joe married an orphan? This is utterly uneptable! she


    eximed internally.


    The Whitmans held a prominent position, whether in Aesper, Docwood, or internationally. How could


    they allow an orphan without parents to enter their doors? This was clearly inviting


    misfortune to their family!


    Meanwhile, Preston Whitman came over, and Octavia turned to him. ¡°There are so many women


    who¡¯re more suitable than this woman to be Joe¡¯s wife, yet¡­ Honey, you need to say something.¡±


    After understanding the situation, Preston frowned ¡°Joe, I advise you to think twice before deciding on


    a lifetimemitment.¡±


    He and his wife had been traveling overseas for some time and had just returned a few days ago.


    Harold, his father, then informed him that Joseph had married someone without even having a


    wedding.


    Preston was certain that the woman was not someone they could proudly present to others. And now,


    seeing it for himself, it was indeed the case.


    Joseph remained calm, but his attitude was resolute. ¡°Uncle Pres, I have the right to make my own


    decisions in my own matters. I control my own life, and I have the ultimate choice in deciding whom I


    want to be with. You just need to manage our family¡¯s business well.¡±


    +


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Preston could not help but be more curious about Chloe when he saw how Joseph defended her.


    He paused for a moment and asked her, ¡°How did you meet Joe?¡±


    Chloe hesitated for a moment and replied, ¡°Through a social gathering.¡±


    ¡®It was at a bar where alcohol flowed freely, so it¡¯s totally okay for me to call it a social gathering, right?¡¯


    Preston nodded and pondered for a moment. ¡°Do you have any elders in your family who can make


    decisions? Let¡¯s arrange a time to sit down and have a chat.¡±


    Chloe responded, ¡°If you have anything to discuss, you can talk directly to me. I¡¯m an adult and can


    make decisions for myself.¡±


    Preston remained silent. What could he say? Of course, it was to advise her to leave Joseph, but could


    he say such words directly?


    Preston did not know what to say and decided to seek help from Harold. He hoped that Harold could


    sessfully help him in persuading Joseph. Little did he expect Harold¡¯s face to sink when he heard all


    this.


    Harold reprimanded him, ¡°Why do you meddle in other people¡¯s affairs? She¡¯s not pregnant out of


    wedlock. You¡¯re already a grown-up, why do you still discriminate based on family background?¡±


    Preston¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°Chloe¡¯s background is far inferior to ours. At the very least, Joseph


    should find someone of simr social standing Jane would be a good choice.¡±


    ¡°Social standing? What a load of nonsense! Other families engage in strategic alliances due to their


    own weaknesses, but our family is notcking in wealth. If the brat likes someone, let him. be with her.


    Why must love be entangled with self-interest? Is our family so poor that it can¡¯t afford to feed you?¡±


    ¡°Dad.. that¡¯s not what I meant. I just think that marrying a woman who has never seen the world would


    tarnish our family¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°Ourpany has been suffering losses every year under your management. Doesn¡¯t that tarnish our


    family¡¯s reputation? Instead of nitpicking on trivial matters, spend more time figuring out how to make


    money. Don¡¯t focus on useless things.¡±

 Chapter 237

    Chapter 237


    Chapter 237 Joseph Felt an Inexplicable Sense of Satisfaction


    After receiving a stern reprimand from Harold, Preston emerged from the room wearing a


    crestfallen expression, his lips sealed in silence.


    Jonathan quickly approached Preston, eagerly inquiring about the oue. ¡°Father, how did it go? Did


    Grandfather make any mention of expelling that woman?¡±


    With an air of self-satisfaction, Octavia chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, honey. At his age, he surely wouldn¡¯t


    lose sight of what¡¯s important, right?¡±


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Before Preston could speak, Harold descended from upstairs. His eyes, clouded yet piercing,


    resonated with authority as he asked, ¡°Have I ever lost sight of what¡¯s important?¡± Octavia chuckled


    awkwardly. ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I didn¡¯t say anything¡­¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Under Harold¡¯s intimidating presence, Preston took a deep breath and announced, ¡°From now on,


    Chloe is a member of our family.¡±


    Jonathan was stunned. He did not know what kind of magic Chloe had cast on Harold to make him so


    protective of her. Unwilling to ept it, he questioned, ¡°Grandpa, if you can embrace Chloe as family,


    why did you reject Xavia back then?¡±


    ¡°Xavia?¡± Harold scoffed dismissively. ¡°She¡¯s merely a cog in the entertainment machine. What makes


    you think she¡¯s deserving of joining our family?¡±


    ¡°Xavia is an artist and a renowned actress, not just-¡±


    ¡°Only dim-witted people like you could be deceived by her. Now, go amuse yourself somewhere else


    and stop bothering me,¡± Harold said, clearly displeased whenever Xavia¡¯s name was brought up. He


    had no interest in engaging with Jonathan and decided to join a group of old friends for a card game.


    Joseph¡¯s heart burned with dissatisfaction. ¡°Dad, Grandpa is being biased. He favors my cousin and


    pays me no heed.¡±


    Preston cast a scornful nce at him. ¡°It¡¯s simply because you fail to meet his expectations. You don¡¯t


    have a sessful career or a wife.¡±


    Jonathan grumbled, ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about getting a wife? Who knows, maybe the first great-


    grandchild of the Whitmans will be my child¡­¡±


    At night, Joseph and Chloe chose to spend the night at the family home.


    -They retired to their room.


    After finishing her shower, Chloe emerged from the bathroom and noticed Joseph engrossed in his


    work. He was dressed in a navy blue pajama, slovenly leaning against the headboard. His slender


    fingers rhythmically tapped on the keyboard, and the sharp angles of his profile


    resembled a masterpiece sculpted by the heavens,


    Blushing slightly, Chloe hesitated. ¡°Um, where am I supposed to sleep?¡±


    Joseph raised his gaze, disying a mix of arrogance and nonchnce as he looked at her.¡±


    There¡¯s only one bed, so what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Well, since there¡¯s only one bed, we¡¯ll have to make do and share it for the night,¡± she said, her tone


    reluctantly epting.


    But despite her reluctance, she wasted no time climbing onto the bed. After all, they were already


    together, and she had no intention of sleeping on the floor.


    A twitch formed at the corner of Joseph¡¯s mouth as he saw through her intentions. It made him


    question himself-was he really seen as so indifferent in her eyes?


    Initially feeling a bit uneasy, Chloe¡¯s exhaustion quickly overcame her, and she drifted off to sleep. It


    was two hourster when Joseph finished replying to his emails. He set aside hisptop and rubbed his


    temples, casting his gaze toward the peacefully sleeping Chloe by his side. Her flowy t shirt hung


    loosely on her body, and a few strands of her hair partially covered her face. Her sleeping posture was


    not particrly graceful, yet she exuded a carefree and somewhat amusing charm.


    A barely perceptible smile tugged the corner of Joseph¡¯s lips as he reached out to tuck a stray lock of


    her hair behind her ear. With gentle and deliberate movements, he opened his arms and embraced her,


    drawing her close.


    The faint scent of her body mingled in his nostrils, evoking an inexplicable sense of contentment in him.


    Nestling his face into the curve of her neck, the softness of her skin seemed to possess a magical


    quality, relieving him of the day¡¯s weariness.


    They slept deeply through the night. They were oblivious to the passing time, and as a result, missed


    breakfast the next morning.


    Chloe gradually awoke from her slumber, her body feeling rxed and rejuvenated. Stretchingzily,


    her fingers inadvertently brushed against the person beside her.

 Chapter 238

    Chapter 238


    Chapter 238 I Like Aunt Coco!


    Furthermore, Chloe discovered herself nestled in the curve of his arm, her legs draping over his well-


    defined waist.


    Joseph¡¯s brow rxed as he slept peacefully, unaware of the world around him. Such a sight carried an


    inexplicable sense of harmony.


    Concerned about arousing Joseph¡¯s anger, Chloe gingerly maneuvered herself out of his embrace,


    lifting the covers and tiptoeing to the bathroom.


    Soon after, Joseph woke up, and upon discovering her absence from his embrace, a surge of


    emptiness engulfed him, prompting a deep frown of discontent to etch across his forehead. He rose


    from the bed and passed by the bathroom, where the sound of rushing water reached his ears. A


    restless unease tugged at him, causing him to fidget with his cor.


    After freshening up, Chloe and Joseph made their way downstairs to the first floor of the house.


    On the first floor, Preston and his family were seated on the couch, engrossed in watching television


    Several other rtives were also present, and all of them were engaged in casual conversation.


    Chloe took the initiative to greet everyone, but Octavia responded with a sneering nce and a


    sarcastic remark, ¡°Do you know what time it is? You clearly have no sense of manners.¡±


    Chloe pressed her lips together, realizing that it was indeed inappropriate for her to oversleep on her


    first night at the family home. She shyly exined, ¡°I was tired yesterday, so I identally. overslept. It


    won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Jonathan chimed in, ¡°Exactly! Absolutely! In ancient times, as a granddaughter-inw, you would¡¯ve


    been expected to rise early and perform ceremonial tea-serving for the elders.¡±


    ¡°In ancient times, you¡¯d have to respectfully address her as ¡®Big Sister Chloe,¡±¡± Joseph said, his voice


    cold.


    Perhaps due to his excessive protection of Chloe, Jonathan exploded in anger. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you,


    Joe?! How could you help an outsider and not me? I¡¯m your cousin!¡±


    As if struck by a sudden realization, Joseph raised an eyebrow and continued, ¡°Ah, now I remember. In


    ancient times, you wouldn¡¯t even have had the chance to exist. You would¡¯ve been eliminated before


    entering this world.¡±


    Octavia¡¯splexion turned sour, her face shifting between shades of red and white.


    Preston¡¯s expression grew stern. ¡°Enough with the jokes. Be mindful of your words, Joe. There are


    children here.¡±


    Ginny was blowing bubbles next to them, her big watery eyes gazing at everyone innocently.


    Suddenly, Jonathan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he scooped Ginny into his arms. ¡°Ginny, this is your wife. Do you


    like her?¡±


    cousin¡¯s


    Ever since she was little, Ginny had dered that she wanted to marry Joseph. And after Jane


    1/2


    expressed her liking for Joseph, Ginny would throw a tantrum whenever she saw Jane Now that


    Joseph had married Chloe without telling anyone, he was certain that Ginny was likely to create a


    commotion when she found out


    Tilting her head and blinking her eyes, Ginny said sweetly. ¡°Yes! I do!¡±


    Jonathan thought Ginny misunderstood his question and patiently corrected her ¡°No, I know you like


    Joe, but I¡¯m asking if you like his wife, the one standing right in front of you¡±


    Ginny spoke with conviction, her head still nodding. ¡°I like her I like Aunt Coco!¡±


    After all, her sister inw had braided her hair beautifully. Her mother also said that her sister-in-w


    was pretty and talented-a perfect match for Joseph.


    Chloe smiled warmly ¡°Good girl. I like you too, Ginny


    Jonathan was taken aback. He instinctively rubbed his ear, questioning if he had misheard


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Ginny, what did you just say?¡±


    Ginny pouted ¡°Jon, your ears are like Grandpa¡¯s Are you getting old and can¡¯t hear us anymore?¡±

 Chapter 239

    Chapter 239


    Chapter 239 Happiness Lies in Contentment


    Jonathan felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he was criticized by a little girl.


    ¡®This doesn¡¯t make sense. Why would Ginny say she likes Chloe?¡¯


    In high-society marriages, it was customary for a prestigious family like theirs to seek a match from an


    equally well-established family-a wealthy and refined heiress, not someone like Chloe who had a


    humble background.


    How could his intelligent cousin, who usually made wise decisions, be so dumb when it came to


    women?


    Except for Ginny, everyone else sensed the subtle tension in the air. Their expressions varied, but no


    one said a word.


    Octavia concealed the envy that shed in her eyes and whispered to Jonathan, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.


    Let it be. If he¡¯s willing to choose such an insignificant person, it¡¯s an opportunity for you. Work harder


    and quickly find a suitable girlfriend. Have a child before they do, and then. your grandfather will


    naturally favor you.¡±


    If Jonathan had a son, he would stand to gain at least half of the Whitmans¡¯ assets.


    ¡°Okay, Mom, I understand. Just watch me. I¡¯ll make you proud!¡±


    Scoffing, Joseph briefly nced at Jonathan before turning to Chloe. ¡°Should we leave now or have


    breakfast first?¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°No need. Let¡¯s grab something downstairs near the office.¡±


    It was already close to eleven o¡¯clock, so if they were going to eat, it would be for lunch.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Joseph did not see Harold around and instructed Patrick to pass on the message that they had some


    urgent matters to attend to.


    Lucas did not apany them to this family gathering, so Joseph drove. Chloe sat in the passenger


    seat, rolling down the car window halfway, allowing the gentle breeze to caress her face. Her hair


    danced in the air, and she felt invigorated.


    ¡°Do you see it?¡± Joseph suddenly asked.


    ¡°See what?¡± Chloe paused, her expression filled with confusion.


    ¡°My family.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, trying to make sense of his words. ¡°What do you mean about your family?¡±


    ¡°What you¡¯ve witnessed is merely the tip of the iceberg,¡± Joseph said solemnly, ¡°The life of an


    esteemed household is darker than you could ever imagine.¡±


    Such a family could serve as a safe harbor, but it also concealed an invisible double-edged sword.


    While it brought advantages, it also brought undeniable harm from all directions. Even though they


    were bound by blood, his family members were also the ones who secretly


    desired his downfall.


    When Joseph¡¯s father passed away, Jonathan rejoiced behind his back. If Chloe was going to be


    his wife, she would have to bear these pains alongside him.


    Chloe fell into silence, seemingly lost in thought.


    Joseph¡¯s countenance turned icy, and he gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were


    turning white.


    After a brief pause, Chloe lifted her gaze, her eyes shimmering with determination. Her voice was soft


    but resolute as she said. ¡°Jojo, I¡¯ve made up my mind. Yes, I do.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s grip on the steering wheel abruptly loosened, his previously impassive expression. giving way


    to a softened demeanor, infused with a sense of relief. He wanted to praise Chloe, but before he could


    utter a word, she continued, ¡°You¡¯re rich, handsome, and abstain from vices like smoking and


    debauchery. What more could I possibly desire? True happiness lies in contentment!¡±


    ¡°What if I were poor and unattractive?¡± Joseph asked.


    Chloe shook her head, and spoke earnestly, ¡°Then I¡¯m sorry. You need to have one of those. qualities


    before I can do it.¡±


    The feeling of relief in Joseph¡¯s heart instantly vanished.


    ¡®What a realistic dumbo.¡±


    The two of them soon arrived at Fairlight. After parting ways, Chloe received a call from Icarus.


    ¡°Chloe, I received the bank card you sent me. Did Joseph force you to return it?¡± Icarus asked.


    Chloe smiled bitterly. ¡°Joseph arranged for someone to mail it, but even if he didn¡¯t, I¡¯d still return it to


    you. The card has 30 million dors inside, not 3 thousand. How could I unjustly take your money?¡±


    ¡°But¡­I felt really sorry for you when I saw you like that,¡± Icarus said.


    ¡°I appreciate your concern, but the situation between Joseph and me is not what you think. I willingly


    be his wife. I hope you can find your other half soon too,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Icarus paused for a moment and asked tentatively, ¡°Chloe, are we still friends?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we are.¡±


    Icarus had given her a job opportunity, and she would never forget that.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Friends should attend each other¡¯s birthday parties, right?¡± Icarus continued.


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, but she instantly understood what Icarus was about to say next. And


    as expected, Icarus invited her to his birthday party in the next second.


    ¡°My birthday is next Sunday. I hope you¡¯lle,¡± Icarus said.


    Chloe instinctively looked for an excuse to decline the invitation. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see Jake right now¡­¡±


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to see him, so I won¡¯t invite him. I¡¯ve only invited a few friends, and you know


    them too,¡± Icarus assured her.

 Chapter 240

    Chapter 240


    Chapter 240 I¡¯ve Decided to Pursue Mr. Joseph


    At this moment, Chloe found it difficult to turn down his invitation. She decided to agree for now and


    come up with an excuseter. Although she had no intention of attending his


    birthday party, she still intended to offer him gifts.


    Upon arriving at the marketing department, Chloe took notice of a recent addition to the team. Wendy


    was currently on maternity leave, and Ellie had been dismissed. The sudden shortage of staff left them


    overwhelmed with their workload. The HR department had initiated recruitment the previous week, and


    today marked the first day for the new employee.


    Sophia Reynolds exuded a keen sense of style in her attire. With a strikingly beautiful face and an


    alluring figure, rumors circted that she had recently returned from studying abroad.


    Exuding open-mindedness and enthusiasm, Sophia quickly formed connections with her colleagues


    within a single day.


    When Sophia saw Chloe, she cheerfully approached her. ¡°You must be Chloe, right? I¡¯m the new girl.


    Feel free to call me Fia.¡±


    Chloe nodded slightly. ¡°Nice to meet you, Fia.¡±


    Initially, Chloe did not pay much attention to Sophia until a situation arose where a document needed to


    be delivered to Joseph¡¯s office. Without hesitation, Sophia volunteered, setting aside her current task.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. I¡¯ll personally deliver the document to Mr. Joseph¡¯s


    office.¡±


    A colleague expressed their concern and asked, ¡°Are you sure, Fia? You just started and might not be


    familiar with the work¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I used to work in Marketing overseas, and I¡¯ve admired Mr. Joseph for a long time. This is my


    chance to see him in person. I¡¯ll be so excited tonight that I won¡¯t be able to sleep. Please trust me. I


    promise I won¡¯t mess it up,¡± Sophia pleaded in a sweet and charming tone.


    Reluctantly, the colleague agreed, repeatedly reminding her to deliver the document and not say


    anything unnecessary as Joseph detested chatty individuals.


    ¡°Okay, I understand!¡±


    Fifteen minutester, Sophia returned. Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked her colleagues,


    ¡°Do you know if Mr. Joseph has a girlfriend?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Chloe¡¯s fingers paused on the keyboard.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°He never mentioned having one.¡±


    ¡°As low-level employees, how would we know about Mr. Joseph¡¯s personal life? But I believe


    there¡¯s a 99% chance he¡¯s single.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s face lit up with a radiant smile as she confidently announced her decision, ¡°That¡¯s perfect. I¡¯ve


    made up my mind-I¡¯m going to pursue Mr. Joseph!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­but ourpany doesn¡¯t allow office romances¡­¡±


    ¡°Rules are meant to be broken,¡± Sophia said with unwavering confidence, ¡°Worst-case scenario, once I


    win over Mr. Joseph, I¡¯ll resign and enjoy life as a wealthy wife. That wouldn¡¯t


    be bad at all.¡±


    Her colleagues exchanged nces, masking their incredulity with polite smiles.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, after the house party, Calvin could not shake off an unsettling feeling that grew stronger


    with each passing moment. Why did Chloe bear such a striking resemnce to Lucianapared to


    Ava?


    Calvin held Luciana¡¯s photograph in his hands, studying it for a long while. An inconceivable thought


    emerged, but he swiftly dismissed it. ¡®It can¡¯t be. It just can¡¯t be! There¡¯s no way I¡¯d make such a stupid


    mistake!¡¯


    After careful consideration, he called Ava.


    ¡°Ava, what are you doing right now?¡±


    Ava nced at the nearby Karen and responded softly, ¡°Godpa, I¡¯m in the office reviewing reports. Is


    there something you need to tell me?¡±


    Since she broke up with Wyatt, Calvin had urged her to focus more on thepany and minimize her


    public appearances.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to ask if the diamond ne around your neck was left to you by your


    mother,¡± Calvin asked.


    Upon hearing this, Ava immediately became cautious. She anxiously sought help from Karen, who


    patted her back, signaling her not to panic.


    Karen silently mouthed a few words to Ava. While observing her lip movements, Ava answered, ¡°Yes, it


    was indeed left to me by my mother.¡±


    Calvin chuckled inwardly, realizing his own foolishness. After all, Ava and Chloe were of the same age,


    so there was nothing to doubt. He briefly expressed concern for her before ending


    the call.


    Ava breathed a sigh of relief and said anxiously, ¡°What should we do, Mom? Calvin only took me in as


    his goddaughter because of the ne. He must know that woman¡¯s mother.¡±


    If Calvin were to discover that the ne did not actually belong to her, he would certainly take back


    everything she had now.


    2/3


    Karen was much calmer than Ava, and she reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just keep saying that it¡¯s yours.


    Chloe doesn¡¯t know Calvin.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That b*tch doesn¡¯t know Calvin. As long as they don¡¯t cross paths and bring up the


    ne, who would know? Perhaps, all of this is rightfully mine!¡±


    With Ava settled, Karen checked the time and said, ¡°I¡¯m going downstairs to meet a friend. When you


    go home tonight, remember to talk to your father about Calvin and be careful not to let slip.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Who are you meeting, Mom?¡± Ava inquired.


    Karen¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°You don¡¯t know them. It¡¯s someone I met at the beauty salon.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Ava replied.


    In a secluded corner of the cafe, Karen red angrily at the man sitting across from her, struggling to


    contain her emotions. ¡°Why did you tell Calvin about our past?¡±


    ¡°That should be my question! Why did you shamelessly bring up our past? Aren¡¯t you worried that


    Benjamin will find out about us?¡± Diego retorted, seething with anger.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me!¡±


    There was no way she would expose anything that would ruin her reputation.


    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t you, then who else could it be? Me?!¡±


    Sensing the escting tension, Karen cautiously asked, ¡°So, who told you all this?¡±

 Chapter 241

    Chapter 241


    Chapter 241 Chloe Has to Die


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    ¡°I told you it was Calvin. How many times do you want to ask me that?¡±


    Diego did not dare to expose Joseph because Joseph was not a kind man.


    Joseph was cold, cruel, and resolute, and enjoyed a great reputation in the business field. Hence,


    Diego could not afford to offend Joseph. After all, he was now in conflict with Calvin. It was


    unnecessary to offend another person.


    Karen knitted her brows. ¡°Calvin adores Ava very much. I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t say this kind of thing to the


    others.¡±


    ¡°Does he?¡± Diego¡¯s eyes were full of sarcasm. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Ava is his daughter.¡±


    ¡®Did Karen ckmail me to cheat me out of my money?¡¯ Diego felt that Karen was capable of such a


    thing.


    ¡°Cut the crap! I don¡¯t even know Calvin.¡±


    ¡°Then exin to me why he¡¯s so nice to your daughter.¡±


    Karen threatened him, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. In short, I don¡¯t want anyone else other than us to


    learn about our past rtionship. If you expose it¡­ Well, I don¡¯t mind taking Ava back to the Baileys


    and letting her be reunited with her true family.¡±


    Diego smacked the table fiercely. He was so angry that his beer belly was shaking. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡±


    The thing he regretted the most in his life was being tricked by Karen twenty years ago and sleeping


    with her. She was most probably entangled with that fool Benjamin at


    that time.


    Karen did not care about his fury. She picked up the bag she just bought and left smugly like a noble


    lady.


    Diego did not linger there for long either. He left the cafe after Karen had walked far away, purposely


    putting some distance between them.


    Unexpectedly, that scene was snapped by a private detective who hid in the dark. He then sent the


    photographs to his employer, and in less than five minutes, arge reward was deposited into his bank


    ount.


    When Lucas received the photographs, he reported the incident to Joseph right away.


    ¡°Email them to Benjamin anonymously.¡±


    Lucas nodded and did as instructed.


    Benjamin saw the photographs in his email before Karen got home. At a nce, he recognized that it


    was Diego. When he was young, both he and Diego had beenpetitors. Atst, he won and gained


    the heart of the beautiful woman.


    When he saw these photographs, he became quite ill at ease. He immediately called Karen to


    interrogate her.


    Karen had been around when she was young, and her skills had not faded with time. In just a few


    words, she exined that she had met Diego by chance. Besides, they did not behave impudently in


    the photographs, so Benjamin believed her.


    After hanging up the phone, Karen felt that someone was secretly scheming against her, but she could


    not figure out who it was. She simply asked Ava to try her best to make Summertainment hers.


    Although it was a smallpany, its profits could reach 14 million


    every year.


    After Ava heard this, she drove over to meet Calvin. Surprisingly, Calvin agreed to it very


    straightforwardly. He stroked Ava¡¯s head and said kindly, ¡°I have no children. All my properties will be


    yours in the future. You can learn management with this smallpany


    now. It¡¯s fine even if we make a loss.¡±


    Incredulity washed over Ava. She curried favor with him coquettishly, ¡°Thank you, Godpa. I¡¯ll never let


    you down.¡±


    The properties under Calvin¡¯s name were a thousand times more than the Johnsons¡¯. With these


    properties, she would be the top nobledy in Aesper.


    ¡°There¡¯s a jewelry exhibition tomorrow. Here¡¯s the invitation card. I¡¯m heading back to Docwood, so you


    can grab this chance to learn about jewelry during this period. I¡¯ll then pick. you up and you cane


    back to Docwood with me.¡± After a pause, Calvin¡¯s face turned solemn. ¡°You¡¯d better stoping in


    contact with Chloe. I know you hate her but it¡¯s all in the past now. Yourte mother would want you to


    lead a better life. It¡¯s a waste of time to live in.


    hatred.¡±


    Shock dawned on Ava before she said tenderly, ¡°Godpa, did you like Mom?¡±


    Calvin recalled how Luciana looked when she was young. He soon felt mncholic. ¡°Ava, even if you


    laugh at me, I¡¯m fine with it. I too grew up on Jade Street. I have liked your mother since. that time, but


    unfortunately, she died young.¡±


    Ava clenched her fists tightly and suppressed the billowing emotions in her heart. The pain in her palms


    helped to force out some tears. She cried sincerely andmented, ¡°Mom¡­Mom was dealt a difficult


    hand.¡±


    She made up her mind after she came out of Calvin¡¯s residence. She could not allow Chloe to survive.


    Once Chloe was dead, her status would not be affected.

 Chapter 242

    Chapter 242


    Chapter 242 Jojo¡¯s Food Will Be Mine


    The next day, Chloe visited Xavia at the hospital with some fruits.


    Xavia looked behind Chloe. ¡°Joe¡¯s not here?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s busy with work.¡±


    Disappointment shed across Xavia¡¯s face. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true.¡±


    Chloe secretly observed Xavia¡¯s expression.


    Xavia then took the initiative to raise a topic and chatted with Chloe for a while. Before Chloe left, she


    suggested going to the vi to see Oreo for a day or two.


    Chloe agreed. ¡°Sure, but Jojo and I have an exhibition to attend tonight. We may get home a


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    bitte.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s eyes lit up, hiding the scheme behind them. ¡°I see. What time will you guyse


    home?¡±


    Chloe made a rough estimate. ¡°I think around nine.¡± Before leaving, she stared at Xavia and


    questioned, ¡°Did you deliver breakfast to Joseph a few days ago?¡±


    ¡°Umm, please don¡¯t misunderstand¡­ I just went there to see Oreo and bought it for Joe along the


    way.¡±


    Chloe smiled sweetly and teased Xavia, ¡°No misunderstanding here. I just wanted you to buy some for


    me too next time if you want to get breakfast. Otherwise, Jojo¡¯s breakfast will be mine. Wouldn¡¯t


    that be a waste of your kind intentions?¡±


    Xavia was struck speechless.


    Chloe then left without waiting for Xavia¡¯s response. She would keep Xavia¡¯s sacrifices in


    mind, but she would always be vignt toward her boyfriend¡¯s ex.


    Chloe went out during her lunch break. When she returned to the office, she bumped into Sophia, who


    was getting coffee downstairs.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, do you know what kind of coffee Mr. Joseph likes? I want to get him a cup.¡±


    Chloe asked, ¡°Do you really want to pursue him?¡±


    Sophia replied seriously, ¡°Of course. Mr. Joseph is a bachelor with exceptionally high qualities. I¡¯ll never


    meet another guy as good as him, so I have to grab this chance.¡±


    Chloe became slightly helpless. ¡°He has a girlfriend. Don¡¯t waste your time on him.¡±


    But Sophia did not believe Chloe. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that. Everyone says he¡¯s single.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever asked him?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Ask him if you get the chance.¡±


    ¡°You know him so well, Ms. Chloe. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re his girlfriend.¡±


    Sophia switched the conversation to another topic and stared straight at her.


    Chloe met her gaze. For a moment, she felt guilty. She even felt that Sophia might know something but


    soon regained her wits and replied calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t make jokes about this kind. of thing so casually. Other


    colleagues may easily get the wrong idea if they hear this.¡±


    Sophia chuckled and joked, ¡°Got it. But Ms. Chloe, you won¡¯t stop me from pursuing him if you¡¯re not


    his girlfriend, right?¡±


    Chloe blinked mischievously. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t. But you have to consider if you¡¯re capable or


    not.¡±


    Sophia did not feel embarrassed. Simrly, she behaved mischievously and stuck out her tongue.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see about that.¡±


    She would not have had the chance to get into Fairlight if not for the woman she had met while


    interviewing for a job here. That woman wrapped herself up in thick clothes, so Sophia had not seen


    her face. But after some serious observation, she noticed that the woman¡¯s arm was injured.


    The woman told her that she would be given arge reward as long as sheplied. Other than that,


    the woman would also help her be the head of the marketing department.


    The idea suggested by the woman was asking her to pretend to be pursuing Joseph and to ignore


    everything else. She would evenpensate Sophia if she was fired.


    Of course, Sophia found that a great offer and epted the woman¡¯s money. Now, she roughly got the


    picture-the woman wanted her to sow discord between Chloe and Joseph.


    Sophia was thus enlightened, guessing that the rtionship between Chloe and Joseph must be


    extraordinary.


    Holding the cup of coffee, Sophia went to Joseph. When she came back, the coffee was gone, albeit


    her expression was slightly worse for wear.


    Chloe frowned and parted her lips. But before she could speak up, another colleague beat her to it and


    asked like a busybody, ¡°D*mn, Fia! Did Mr. Joseph ept the coffee you bought him?


    Shyness was written all over Sophia¡¯s face, but she neither admitted nor denied it.

 Chapter 243

    Chapter 243


    Chapter 243 Joseph Is This B*tch¡¯s Backer


    The colleagues looked like they were enlightened. They naturally assumed that Joseph had epted


    Sophia¡¯s coffee.


    No, it was not just epting a cup of coffee.


    He had epted her.


    That afternoon, Sophia¡¯s colleagues were more enthusiastic toward her. She basked in the feeling


    before picking up her phone and texting that woman. [Your suggestion was great. Chloe is in a bad


    mood now.]


    The truth was that Joseph had not epted her coffee. She was intercepted by his assistant and did


    not even get to meet him. But she had done what the woman had instructed, and pretended to have


    given the coffee to Joseph regardless of whether it was epted or not. She would have reached her


    goal that way.


    The woman texted Sophia back. [Good.]


    When it was time to get off work, Chloe went to Joseph¡¯s car in the parking lot. She then got into the


    front passenger seat with her hands on her waist, ring at the man beside her indignantly. ¡°Was the


    coffee nice?¡±


    Joseph raised his brows lightly in confusion. He then recalled the coffee Lucas had made for him in the


    afternoon and answered absent-mindedly, ¡°It was so-so.¡±


    ¡°Why did you drink it if it was so-so?¡±


    ¡°I needed the energy boost.¡±


    But Chloe could not ept that. She muttered, ¡°Why do you feel you¡¯re in the right?¡±


    Joseph had on a white shirt that day. As usual, he rolled up half of his sleeves and exposed his strong


    wrists. He smiled because he did not understand a word the dumbo had said.


    Nevertheless, he found her very adorable.


    His handsome face was usually aloof and dignified, exuding an immensely strong attitude. However, he


    was now rxed and smiling faintly as he looked at Chloe. He did not even have to put in extra effort.


    One gaze from him was enough to bring a blush to one¡¯s face.


    As a result, Chloe¡¯s heartbeat quickened. She unnaturally tilted her head and looked out of the window.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let you off the hook this time. Don¡¯t drink the coffee others give you next time.¡±


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Joseph was still clueless. It was fine even if he did not have coffee, so he casually said, ¡°Sure.¡± Tea


    was fine too, as long as it could wake him up.


    The jewelry exhibition was held in the city center and it was full of unique items designed and


    manufactured by Exotic Star. It was said that thest showpiece was a priceless item that was out of


    stock. Kept as a treasure, it had a certain kind of value.


    This exhibition attracted a lot of rich businessmen.


    Chloe took out a rather formal outfit from her bag and changed into it in the car.


    ¡°Jojo, does this look okay?¡±


    Joseph turned to look at her before his handsome face sank.


    Chloe had swapped the loose T-shirt she wore for work for a white fishtail dress. The hem of the dress


    was short and tight, coupled with an unusuallyrge round cor. Although she was slim, this dress had


    clearly been tailored. It clung to her body tightly and perfectly,


    entuating her curvy and sexy body.


    She let her ponytail down, so a part of her hair hid the charms on her chest. They were vague now and


    partially hidden, which filled people with a greater desire to peek..


    Joseph then said in an icy tone, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel hot in such a tight dress?¡±


    ¡°It is a bit tight but the fabric is light and thin.¡± Chloe noticed his gaze, so she straightened her back and


    lifted her chin as if showing off. ¡°Did you notice that my chest has gotten a bit bigger? I¡¯ve been doing


    chest exercises recently.¡±


    She remembered very well that he liked women with ample breasts-D cups, to be exact.


    Joseph was struck speechless.


    When they arrived at the exhibition hall, Joseph stopped the car and handed the car keys to the valet


    who came over to wee them. He then picked up his suit coat to drape it over Chloe.


    ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± Chloe was baffled.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Why give me your coat then?¡±


    Joseph unconsciously clenched his fingers and bent over to rub his thin lips against her fair and tender


    earlobe. ¡°I don¡¯t like women with D cups. Yours is just nice.¡±


    Fury engulfed her. ¡°Nonsense! My figure is great, and I¡¯m not small at all!¡±


    He found her thoughts rather weird. She even argued with him on such a topic.


    Nathan¡¯s arrival put an end to that conversation. ¡°Have you brought Chloe here to pick out a gift?¡± He


    was all smiles, still as frivolous as ever.


    Joseph nodded. ¡°We¡¯re here to look around.¡±


    ¡°I heard that the young heir of Exotic Star will be here too. He seems to be a boy.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not young anymore. He¡¯s already twenty years old.¡±


    ¡°Have you met him before?¡± Nathan was curious.


    ¡°Yes, once.¡±


    ¡°What do you think? Do you n to cooperate with him?¡±


    ¡°Fairlight doesn¡¯t have such ns for the time being.¡±


    Nathan understood that even though Fairlight did not have such a n for now, they would


    consider it if Exotic Star was sincere.


    They chatted with each other as they walked into the hall.


    At a nce, Chloe spotted Ava, who was looking at the jewelry in the hall. The person who was with


    her was charming too and looked like an assistant.


    Chloe raised her brows, curious about what tactics Ava used to make Calvin willingly submit himself to


    her whims.


    Ava turned around and noticed Chloe too, and her eyes widened exaggeratedly. She found it hard to


    believe that this b*tch coulde to such an asion.


    Of course, Chloe knew very well what was on Ava¡¯s mind. She hugged the arm of the man beside her


    and nestled into him, smiling broadly at Ava as an inexplicable provocation.


    When Ava saw Chloe hug Joseph¡¯s arm, she remained calm as if she was used to it. However, she felt


    like she had received a great blow. She was bbergasted.


    ¡®What the hell? So, Joseph this b*tch¡¯s backer?¡¯

 Chapter 244

    Chapter 244


    Chapter 244 A Rich Man¡¯s ything


    Envy surged through Ava¡¯s heart but it was reced with fear when she looked at the


    handsome and tall man beside Chloe.


    At that instant, Joseph happened to spot Ava too, and looked at her indifferently. His indifferent gaze


    seemed to be extremely cold and fierce.


    A cold chill ran down Ava¡¯s spine. She decided to observe others¡¯ speech and behavior first. Today, she


    was here to appreciate the jewelry and the workmanship. She was nothing like that b*tch who came to


    attach herself to superior people. 1


    The pieces in the exhibition were limited nationwide. On top of that, they were sold through a bidding


    method. Only those with the highest offers gained the items.


    Before the exhibition officially started, Ava looked around as if she was looking for someone. She soon


    spotted a youth in casual clothes. Overjoyed, she walked toward the youth with her


    assistant.


    ¡°Mr. Noah, nice to meet you,¡± Ava spoke in a gentle voice, taking the initiative to greet Noah.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Noah looked at her and recalled how Calvin favored Ava because of Luciana, so he nodded lightly at


    last and revealed a soft smile as a form of response.


    ¡°Mr. Noah, I¡¯m the general manager of Summertainment. I heard you¡¯ve been looking for someone to


    endorse Exotic Star¡¯s products. I have a few suitable candidates in mind. Would you be interested in


    taking a look?¡± Ava took over a file from her assistant and handed it to Noah. ¡°This is the information of


    a few popr and highly professional actors or actresses of


    mypany.¡±


    Noah did not reject her. He read the information one by one before stating, ¡°I¡¯m sorry but


    none of them stand out to me.¡±


    ¡°Not even one?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°How about looking through them again? The worst among them are C-list celebrities. Some of them


    were even involved in jewelrymercials before.¡±


    ¡°None of them are suitable.¡±


    Ava¡¯s face stiffened before she asked again, unwilling to give up, ¡°What kind of style are you looking


    for?¡±


    Noah exined patiently, ¡°It depends on their likeability.¡±


    With great reluctance, Ava walked away. Her instincts told her that Noah found her repulsive, but they


    had never met before.


    1/2


    ¡°He¡¯s not young anymore. He¡¯s already twenty years old.¡±


    ¡°Have you met him before?¡± Nathan was curious.


    ¡°Yes, once.¡±


    ¡°What do you think? Do you n to cooperate with him?¡±


    ¡°Fairlight doesn¡¯t have such ns for the time being.¡±


    Nathan understood that even though Fairlight did not have such a n for now, they would consider it if


    Exotic Star was sincere.


    They chatted with each other as they walked into the hall.


    At a nce, Chloe spotted Ava, who was looking at the jewelry in the hall. The person who was with


    her was charming too and looked like an assistant.


    Chloe raised her brows, curious about what tactics Ava used to make Calvin willingly submit himself to


    her whims.


    Ava turned around and noticed Chloe too, and her eyes widened exaggeratedly. She found it hard to


    believe that this b*tch coulde to such an asion.


    Of course, Chloe knew very well what was on Ava¡¯s mind. She hugged the arm of the man beside her


    and nestled into him, smiling broadly at Ava as an inexplicable provocation.


    When Ava saw Chloe hug Joseph¡¯s arm, she remained calm as if she was used to it. However, she felt


    like she had received a great blow. She was bbergasted.


    ¡®What the hell? So, Joseph this b*tch¡¯s backer?¡¯

 Chapter 245

    Chapter 245


    Chapter 245 Joe Wants You to Have It


    Chloe was full of amazement. She whispered, ¡°Do you like the ring?¡±


    Joseph was at a loss for words. I¡¯m a man. Why would I like diamonds?¡±


    Nathan chuckled. ¡°Chloe, Joe wants you to have it.¡±


    Hearing this, Chloe immediately waved her hands. ¡°No, no! It¡¯s too expensive.¡±


    She already owed him 28 million and would feel very stressed if 14 million was added to it.


    Almost all the women present loved The wless Love, including Ava. Her mood worsened when she


    saw Joseph bid on the ring for Chloe. She becamepetitive and screamed out, ¡± 15.5 million!¡±


    Other than giving her apany, Calvin had given Ava a lot of spending money. Although she would


    have much less after purchasing the ring, she could consider it as a form of investment.


    The wless Love was a unique item so its starting price was naturally higher than that of the other


    items. Noah felt that 14 million was already the limit. Unexpectedly, it was surpassed.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the new general manager of Summertainment who came out of nowhere. I heard that she has


    an extremely powerful backer.¡±


    ¡°Seeing how she takes 14 million so lightly, she must be rich. She¡¯ll most probably be the


    owner of the wless Love.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be sure of that. Mr. Joseph likes the ring too.¡±


    Ava¡¯s action raised variousments from others as they began to enjoy the scene unfold.


    Chloe pressed Joseph¡¯s hands down and said hurriedly, ¡°Don¡¯t bid for it. It¡¯s too expensive and


    not worth it.¡±


    ¡®Yes, I do like it but not anymore if it costs 14 million.


    ¡®What family connections? If I put a diamond ring worth 14 million on my finger, people will rob me


    regardless.¡¯


    Sitting at the back, Nathan patted Joseph¡¯s shoulder and took up the mission from there. Without


    verbalmunication, Chloe did not see their actions. She was trying her best to keep Joseph¡¯s hands


    down for fear that he would bid for it.


    He then turned her hands around and held them in his hands, smilingzily. ¡°Okayl, I¡¯ll listen. to you.¡±


    Noah witnessed the entire scene as his gentle and charming eyes went up in a smile. He found


    1/2


    it slightly amusing.


    The sisters were vastly different in character. Chloe was clearly more likable than Ava.


    When Ava saw no reaction from Joseph, she panicked. 14 million was a bit much, and she


    inevitably became hesitant. Luckily, another man bid for it, so she could extricate herself from that


    dilemma.


    Atst, Nathan secured the wless Love at 21 million.


    Chloe was being all lovey-dovey with Joseph, so did not realize that it was Nathan who had obtained


    the item.


    After the exhibition was over, the staff handed the ring to Nathan. Consequently, Chloe¡¯s red lips parted


    in shock. She now saw Nathan as a filthy rich man.


    Ava glued her eyes to the ring in deep jealousy. ¡®How nice would it be if a man buys that for me!


    When Nathan looked up, he met Ava¡¯s gaze. He teased her. ¡°Do you want it?¡±


    Ava was stunned. ¡®Is he going to¡­¡¯


    Irrepressible excitement engulfed her but she pretended to be reserved. ¡°Of course, but unfortunately I


    wasn¡¯t the winning bid¡­ I¡¯m not so lucky to have it.¡±


    Nodding, Nathan echoed her words. ¡°You can look at it for now. I¡¯ll soon give it to someone else.¡±


    When Ava saw no femalepanions around him, she became more certain of her thoughts. She had


    fallen in love with the wless Love at first nce, but it was just too expensive. She simply wanted to


    put that sl*t down and decided to give up after she had achieved her goal.


    ¡®But this man started bidding for it when I stopped. He might have done it unintentionally just now, but


    he¡¯s now here to strike up a conversation with me.¡±


    Ava could not suppress her shyness. Since she was aware of the answer now, she asked, ¡°Are you


    giving it to your girlfrian

 Chapter 246

    Chapter 246


    Chapter 246 If Only I Could Be Jonathan¡¯s Girlfriend


    Nathan frowned, ¡°Why would I do that? It¡¯s meant for Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Chloe?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Nathan turned around and ced the wless Love into Chloe¡¯s palm. Since she and Joseph


    had officially decided to be together, he felt it was important to set a good example as a good friend.


    Chloe was confused, not understanding why she was being given such a precious gift. She looked at


    the man beside her in distress.


    Joseph¡¯s tone remained indifferent. ¡°ept a gift if it¡¯s given to you.¡±


    Nathan lowered his voice and teased, ¡°Consider it your betrothal gift.¡±


    Blushing, Chloe sincerely thanked Nathan. The approval of Joseph¡¯s close friend brought her more


    happiness than the valuable gift.


    Ava, on the other hand, was left hanging on the side, btedly realizing that Nathan had deliberately


    teased her. Her expression contorted into a mask of displeasure. She had grossly underestimated


    Chloe, that despicable woman. Not only did she have Joseph as her financial backer, but it seemed


    she had other men in her grasp as well.


    Ava was well aware of the chaotic nature of the upper ss, but she never anticipated Chloe¡¯s cunning


    ability to exploit opportunities and ascend thedder of luxury with such ease.


    She red fiercely at Chloe, mmed the door, and stormed off in a fit of anger. Consumed by her


    rage,


    she paid no attention to her surroundings as she walked. Just as she received her car keys from the


    staff, she collided head-on with Jonathan. ¡°Who do you think you are?! You need to get your eyes


    checked.¡±


    As he looked down at his coat smeared with foundation, Jonathan¡¯s displeasure was evident. ¡°I think


    your eyes are the ones that need checking. There¡¯s plenty of space on this wide road, yet you still


    managed to bump into me.¡±


    Ava was prepared to fire back with a sharp retort but was promptly stopped by her assistant. Please,


    don¡¯t act impulsively. That¡¯s Jonathan Whitman, the heir of the renowned Whitman family in Docwood


    City.¡±


    Calvin had brought this assistant to Docwood previously to work as a jewelry designer and


    assist Ava with her tasks.


    Ava¡¯s eyes instantly brightened upon hearing the name ¡°Whitman.¡± The Whitmans held a prestigious


    status, an aristocracy that she could only dream of. While their financial may have diminished in recent


    years, they still maintained an unattainable presence.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    power


    If she could be Jonathan¡¯s girlfriend, the entire Whitman family would be hers, and all


    the elites of Docwood would address her with the utmost respect-Madam Whitman.


    Ava¡¯s expression made a 180-degree transformation as she skillfully employed her charms. Two


    teardrops welled up in her eyes, and she timidly apologized to Jonathan, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, it¡¯s entirely my


    fault. I was harassed by a strange older man just now, and it¡¯s left me in a terrible mood. I identally


    dirtied your coat, and I feel absolutely awful about it. Please allow me to make amends by buying you a


    brand-new one. Just provide me with an address, and I¡¯ll deliver it to you tomorrow.¡±


    Back in the vi, Joseph stepped out of the shower, while Chloe busied herself with preparing food for


    Oreo and Toto. She had taken off the suit jacket but was still wearing the fishtail dress. Warm-toned


    light enveloped her, lending her an air of virtuousness and maternal love.


    However, the dress had a sexy silhouette, creating a stark contrast.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze lingered on her as soon as itnded on her. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he


    beckoned for Chloe toe closer with a crook of his finger. ¡°Come here,¡± he called out.


    Curious, she set the dog food aside and approached him, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Joseph pulled her onto hisp, his voice cold containing a touch of huskiness. ¡°Are you trying to


    seduce me?¡±


    Chloe blinked, her eyes filled with sincerity. ¡°No, not at all.¡±


    As she said that, she subtly shifted her buttocks, adjusting to a morefortable sitting position. But in


    Joseph¡¯s eyes, this movement confirmed in a veiled manner that it was an overt attempt at seduction.

 Chapter 247

    Chapter 247


    Chapter 247 I Have Some Unresolved Trauma in This Area


    Joseph took a deep breath and gently picked up Chloe in his arms, heading toward the bedroom.


    Chloe¡¯s initial surprise turned into a realization of his intentions, causing her body to tense up. She


    quickly voiced her protest, ¡°No, Jojo! We¡¯re both too exhausted today.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s footsteps halted, and a yful smile adorned his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he assured her.


    Chloe¡¯s almond-shaped eyes widened, her mind momentarily nk as her cheeks flushed with


    embarrassment. While she was unstoppable with her witty banter, she became timid like a turtle when


    it came to actual practice. Especially in this aspect, where men would naturally take the lead.


    Soon, her body felt weak, her resistance crumbling under Joseph¡¯s advances. Part of her wanted to


    give in, but in her state of confusion, the vivid image of Jake and Ava caught in bed shed through her


    mind. It jolted her back to reality, dispelling the haze of the moment.


    ¡°No¡­ Jojo, I can¡¯t do it right now,¡± Chloe said, pushing Joseph away, furrowing her brows as she


    refused.


    Sensing her sudden shift in emotions, Joseph wrapped his arms around her and spoke in a voice that


    was unusually gentle, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    After a few seconds of contemtion, Chloe made the decision to be honest. ¡°I have some


    unresolved trauma in this area.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyelid twitched, and his wless face turned serious. Unresolved trauma? Did that mean she


    had previous experiences with other men?


    Chloe noticed the shift in his expression and shivered involuntarily. She protested in a low voice, ¡°You


    have exes too. Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been intimate with Xavia.¡±


    Chloe found it hard to believe. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s great. You¡¯re still pure.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°I am!¡±


    Chloe sighed heavily as she recounted the incident of discovering her ex-boyfriend¡¯s Infidelity. Joseph¡¯s


    face grew even darker upon hearing it. He gritted his teeth and asked, You¡¯ve seen other men in the


    act?¡±


    ¡°Umm, it¡¯s not like I intentionally looked. It was just a coincidence,¡± Chloe replied defensively. Joseph


    looked at her with disdain and remarked, ¡°You certainly had poor taste in the past.¡±


    ¡°Well, people make mistakes sometimes. Now that I¡¯m with you every day, my eyes have been


    cleansed. Give me some time to process it, and then we can¡­ um, you know, take that step! Okay?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s fair and tender face turned crimson with shyness.


    It has to be said that sweet talk still has its effect.


    Upon hearing her cautiously coaxing him, Joseph felt his anger subside. However, he also felt a hint of


    frustration. It was both exasperating and endearing how easily dumbo could disarm him with just a few


    words. The key was that he secretly enjoyed it.


    Chloe tugged at Joseph¡¯s sleeve and suddenly thought of something. ¡°By the way, why didn¡¯t you and


    Xavia take your rtionship to the next level even though you were together for so long?¡±


    He paused for a moment and calmly replied, ¡°Our rtionship never reached that level.¡±


    ¡°Are we there now?¡±


    Joseph looked deeply into her eyes and said, ¡°You deliberately seduced me.¡±


    Chloe was puzzled and expressed her confusion, ¡°I did nothing of the sort. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m


    good-looking and have a nice figure. It was unintentional actions that made you have improper


    thoughts. I didn¡¯t n anything.¡±


    Such was the paradoxical nature of attraction. When one deliberately flirted, they failed, but when not


    doing anything, theynded the fish. What kind of world was this?


    Joseph remained silent.

 Chapter 248

    Chapter 248


    Chapter 248 Why Would You Steal My Dogs?


    Chloe nted a kiss on Joseph¡¯s cheek and changed into her pajamas. ¡°I¡¯m going to take the dogs for


    a walk. You can head to bed first,¡± she said.


    During her period, Joseph had taken care of walking the dogs. Now that she was feeling better, it was


    her turn to take them out.


    ¡°It¡¯s raining tonight. Let¡¯s postpone it to tomorrow,¡± he replied.


    ncing at the time, Chloe noticed it was already one hour to midnight. The dark clouds outside


    obscured the moonlight as if the night itself held lurking dangers, creating an ominous atmosphere.


    Feeling an unexined sense of unease, she nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The dogs were in the backyard and had the freedom to use it for their bathroom needs, so there was


    no urgency for them.


    Before retiring for the night, Chloe received a text from Xavia, informing her that she woulde to see


    Oreo tomorrow morning.


    Outside the courtyard, two professional dog catchers were stationed along the path that Chloe typically


    took to walk her dogs. However, even at one o¡¯clock in the morning, they failed to catch sight of Chloe.


    The two of them conferred and made the decision to contact their employer for guidance. A calm and


    soothing female voice answered the phone, ¡°She won¡¯t be walking the dogs tonight. Go home, get


    some sleep, ande back tomorrow morning. Remember to follow the route I


    provided.¡±


    ¡°Roger that, miss.


    The night rain brought with it a refreshing and delightful atmosphere the next morning. Chloe, who had


    not walked the dogsst night, woke up half an hour earlier to take Oreo and Toto out. Just as she set


    foot outside the vi with the two dogs, she received a call from Sophia.


    ¡°Chloe, I came to work early today, but the security guards at the entrance aren¡¯t here yet. Do you


    happen to know the password for the ground floor?¡± Sophia asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s six sevens. Why are you at the office so early?¡± Chloe inquired.


    ¡°Ipletely forgot to prepare the presentation slides for today¡¯s meeting,¡± Sophia confessed, ¡°Chloe,


    I¡¯m heading up. Can you tell me the password for Marketing¡¯s entrance?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same as the ground floor.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    Sophia then transitioned the conversation to work-rted matters and started asking a series of


    questions one after another. It seemed like she had no intention of ending the call with Chloe just yet.


    As it was work-rted and Sophia was still new to thepany, Chloe patiently addressed each


    question, providing thorough answers.


    Chloe was oblivious to the fact that the route she was currently taking was entirely different. from her


    usual path. Oreo and Toto, on the other hand, sniffed around in excitement, their tails wagging in


    anticipation. asionally, they stumbled upon freeze-dried snacks scattered on the ground, seemingly


    ced deliberately to guide them in a specific direction.


    It was more urate to say that it was Toto and Oreo pulling Chloe along rather than her walking the


    dogs.


    After ending the call with Sophia, Chloe¡¯s attention was drawn to her surroundings. She realized she


    had inadvertently walked into a secluded area, away from the view of surveince cameras. Theck of


    people in the vicinity raised her suspicions, prompting her to turn around and retreat, tightly gripping


    onto Oreo¡¯s and Toto¡¯s leashes.


    Suddenly, two men emerged from the bushes, catching Chloe off guard. Without uttering a word, they


    forcefully wrestled the leashes from her grasp. Fear gripped Chloe as she helplessly watched Oreo


    being taken away by the men. She resisted and tried to snatch Oreo back from


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    their clutches.


    ¡°F*ck off!¡± one of the men bellowed, forcefully shoving her aside.


    As Chloe fell to the ground, her foot twisted, eliciting a sharp intake of breath due to the sudden pain.


    Despite the difort, she summoned her courage and threatened loudly, ¡°Who are you?! Why would


    you steal my dogs?! I¡¯m telling you, this neighborhood is equipped with surveince cameras, and you


    won¡¯t get away with this!¡±


    The men maintained their silence, capitalizing on Chloe¡¯s fall to seize control of Toto as well. Swiftly,


    they secured a muzzle on Toto¡¯s snout and administered an anesthetic to both dogs. Toto let out a


    pained howl and made a futile attempt to resist. One of the men delivered a harsh p to Toto¡¯s head,


    causing the struggle to cease. Within moments, Toto¡¯s tongue protruded, unmoving.


    Oreo met the same unfortunate fate. Its jet-ck eyes brimmed with fear, yet it made no attempt to


    resist as if itprehended that any resistance would only invite even harsher treatment.

 Chapter 249

    Chapter 249


    Chapter 249 Do You Think I Intentionally Lost the Dogs


    The entire ordeal unfolded in a mere five minutes, a testament to the perpetrators¡¯ familiarity with such


    nefarious acts.


    Chloe¡¯s scalp tingled as she hobbled after them, desperationcing her voice. ¡°Who sent you?! I¡¯ll pay


    double the amount! Just give me my dogs back!¡±


    For a brief moment, the two men wavered, but they did not relent. They hastened their steps, leaving


    Chloe behind until they vanished from sight. Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Chloe fought back


    tears. Without her phone, her only recourse was to return home and seek Joseph¡¯s help. 1


    She fought through the agony, each step shooting a sharp pain through her bare skin. Along the way,


    she bumped into Xavia, who appeared confused. ¡°I went to your house looking for you. Joe said you


    went out to walk the dogs,¡± she said, noticing Chloe¡¯s empty hands. Concern etched her face as she


    asked, ¡°Where are Toto and Oreo?¡±


    Chloe felt like she had grasped a lifeline as her words rushed out anxiously. She exined that two


    unfamiliar men had taken Toto and Oreo to Xavia. ¡°You must have passed them on this very road.


    Hurry, inform the property management team. Maybe they can intercept them!¡±


    Xavia¡¯s expression turned peculiar. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anyone. Are you certain you didn¡¯t misinterpret the


    situation?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible. I witnessed it firsthand!¡± Chloe, sensing Xavia¡¯s skepticism, did not dwell on it and


    swiftly used Xavia¡¯s phone to contact the property manager. She also dialed Joseph¡¯s


    number.


    Joseph arrived first. Upon hearing the entire ount, his face grew rigid, maintaining aposed and


    inscrutable expression. In an upscale vimunity like theirs, it seemned inconceivable for


    strangers, let alone dog thieves, to operate so brazenly.


    ¡°It¡¯s highly unlikely for such an incident to ur within this neighborhood. They have round- the-clock


    security guards stationed at the entrance,¡± Xavia remarked, looking at Chloe with a perplexed


    expression. ¡°Are you absolutely certain there wasn¡¯t a misunderstanding or¡­ something else


    urred? I know it can be challenging for you to handle two dogs on your own.


    Chloe frowned, her voice tinged with annoyance. ¡°Do you think I intentionally lost the dogs?¡±


    Xavia bit her lip. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Then what did you mean?¡±


    Sensing the tension, Xavia decided to avoid further discussion on that topic. She lowered her eyelids


    and offered gentle words offort.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, once the property manager arrives, everything will be rified,¡± Joseph interjected,


    attempting to reassure Chloe.


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper, and she clenched her jaw, choosing not to borate any further.


    The property manager swiftly arrived after receiving the report about the missing dogs from Joseph¡¯s


    house. He promptly escorted Chloe to the security room to review the surveince footage.


    As they carefully examined the footage from start to finish, only Chloe appeared in every frame. There


    were no signs of the unfamiliar men she had described, and the recording abruptly cut off at the


    camera¡¯s blind spot. It did not look as if someone had stolen the dogs. Instead, it gave the impression


    that Chloe had orchestrated the entire incident herself.


    Xavia¡¯s eyes instantly welled up with tears, her gentle demeanor masking a hint of resolve as she said,


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, please return Oreo to me. I won¡¯t ask for your help in taking care of him anymore.¡±


    Chloe recoiled in shock, her voice trembling as she protested, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, it¡¯s highly unlikely for strangers to enter this neighborhood, and why would you walk into


    the blind spot of the surveince camera while simply walking the dogs?¡± The property manager¡¯s


    impression of Chloe remained tainted by the suspicion of her past actions, causing him to side with


    Xavia. He saw Chloe as someone who sneaks around and has secret meetings with other men behind


    Joseph¡¯s back.


    ¡°I was on a phone call with a colleague, and I happened to pass by that area,¡± Chloe exined.


    However, the exnationcked conviction and appeared weak. Sensing that her words were falling on


    deaf ears, Chloe nervously turned to Joseph, seeking his support and understanding.


    Recalling the encounter between Icarus and Chloe near the vi, Joseph¡¯s expression grew cold.


    Ignoring her pleading gaze, he walked away and made a phone call, instructing someone to investigate


    the matter.

 Chapter 250

    Chapter 250


    Chapter 250 She¡¯s Just Being Overly Dramatic


    Chloe¡¯s breath hitched as she struggled toprehend Joseph¡¯sck of trust in her. Meanwhile, a


    barely noticeable smile crept across Xavia¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Chloe said with determination, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll prove it to you. Those men may have


    avoided some surveince cameras in themunity, but they couldn¡¯t have eluded all of them. Once


    we review the footage, there will be undeniable evidence.¡±


    Chloe turned on her heels and began to walk away, determined to search for any traces of the two men


    outside. Despite her frail and delicate figure, her bare feet showed clear signs of redness and swelling.


    Each step was a struggle, causing her to limp along with a pitiful appearance. Yet, her resolute


    determination shone through, giving off an aura of unwavering strength.


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, his thin lips pressed together tightly.


    Xavia abruptly reached out and grabbed his arm, her voice urgent and assertive. ¡°Let¡¯s start by


    searching the neighborhood. If what Chloe said is true, I should¡¯ve encountered those men on my way


    here. But I didn¡¯t see anyone. It¡¯s highly likely that those two men are still in the area.¡±


    Joseph maintained his silence, his eyes fixated on Chloe as she moved farther away. Uncertainty


    clouded his handsome face, leaving his thoughts unspoken. Sensing his hesitation, Xavia cleared her


    throat a few times, discreetly covering her mouth, and adjusted her clothing, inadvertently revealing the


    white bandage wrapped around her arm.


    In the end, Joseph agreed to Xavia¡¯s suggestion.


    However, despite their thorough search, Joseph and Xavia found no trace of the unfamiliar men or the


    missing dogs. In that moment of disappointment, Joseph¡¯s phone pinged, indicating a new message


    from thepany group chat. With a sigh, he retrieved his phone and noticed that someone had


    identally tagged everyone in the chat.


    His


    gaze


    shifted upward, and Joseph¡¯s eyesnded on a photo posted by Sophia in the group chat. The image


    showcased a small dog, apanied by her query about bringing it to the office the next day as there


    would not be anyone at home. The human resource manager swiftly responded, stating, [For a


    temporary arrangement, you can seek approval from your department supervisor. However, long-term


    amodation for pets is definitely not allowed. 1


    Sophia replied, [Oh? I have to ask the department supervisor? Never mind then. Chloe already told me


    this morning that she doesn¡¯t like dogs. I better not go against the tide.] She appended a pitiful emoji to


    convey her emotions.


    Curious, colleagues from the marketing department inquired, [Why did you call Chloe so early


    in the morning?]


    [Oh, I forgot my password, so I reached out to her and ended up having a conversation,] Sophia


    responded.


    [Ah, I see.]


    In an instant, Joseph¡¯s face turned icy. He wasted no time and dialed Sophia¡¯s number.


    Sophia was pleasantly surprised to receive his call. Joseph got straight to the point, demanding, ¡°What


    did Chloe discuss with you this morning?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Not much, just a conversation about pets. Chloe expressed her frustration about the challenges


    of taking care of two dogs. She mentioned how she longed for an end to that life-¡±


    Before Sophia could finish her sentence, Joseph abruptly ended the call.


    Xavia¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have asked Chloe to help take care of Oreo.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You took a stab for her. What¡¯s the trouble with helping you take care of a dog? She¡¯s just being overly


    dramatic,¡± Joseph said angrily.


    ¡°But¡­ Now both Oreo and Toto are missing, and we have no idea how they disappeared,¡± Xavia said,


    her voice filled with worry and regret.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze turned cold, emitting a menacing aura. If Chloe was reluctant to take care of the dogs,


    she could have said so directly. He could have hired a nanny or taken them to the family home. The


    fact that she had schemed behind his back like this struck a chord of betrayal within him. What was the


    difference between her actions and those of women who sought power and wealth by any means


    necessary?


    Chloe finished watching all the avable surveince footage from the nearby shopping malls and


    supermarkets in the neighborhood but failed to find any trace of the two individuals. Something was


    definitely amiss. Someone within themunity must have intentionally aided them, allowing them to


    leave using vehicles from within the neighborhood and evading surveince so that they could vanish


    without a trace.


    However, strangers were not permitted to enter the neighborhood. Puzzled, Chloe¡¯s thoughts turned to


    Xavia.

 Chapter 251

    Chapter 251


    Chapter 251 Filled With Sadness


    However, she quickly dismissed the thought. After all, it seemed impossible. Even if Xavia did not like


    Toto, she raised Oreo herself. Oreo was not only her pet but also herpanion.


    Chloe returned to the vi with a heavy heart, eager to inquire about any progress they had made. But


    before she could utter a word, Joseph¡¯s icy gaze pierced through her. ¡°How could you be so cruel,


    Chloe?¡±


    Confused and bewildered, Chloe was unable toprehend what had transpired.


    Lucas rushed over and ced a photo on the table. His voice was filled with disbelief as he said, ¡°Ms.


    Chloe, this was taken by a passerby.¡±


    In the photo, the distinct figures of Toto and Oreo could be seen strolling along the middle of a busy


    street. Chloe¡¯s head spun, finding it unbelievable, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I saw them being sedated with


    my own eyes.¡±


    Joseph looked at her and said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°You saw it with your own eyes? I can¡¯t


    believe that you¡¯d still refuse to tell us the truth at this moment.¡±


    ¡°You¡­You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡°How can I believe you?¡± Joseph presented the chat records from their work group, cing them


    before her. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want to take care of them, you could¡¯ve told us honestly. Why pretend?¡±


    It took several hours for an animal to regain consciousness after being sedated, but it had only been


    two hours since Toto went missing. If Toto and Oreo were taken away by dog thieves, why would they


    let them go?


    Upon seeing the texts sent by Sophia, a chilling sensation ran through Chloe¡¯s body. ¡°I didn¡¯t


    Say


    Joseph interrupted her, ¡°You didn¡¯t say those words? Are you saying that Sophia made it up?¡±


    Her eyshes trembled, and she felt powerless. ¡°Whether you believe me or not, I never said such


    things.¡±


    ¡°Joe, let¡¯s not argue. Since someone has seen Toto and Oreo, I believe that if we search.


    wholeheartedly, we¡¯ll find them,¡± Xavia said. Then, she turned toward Chloe and continued.


    disappointingly, ¡°Ms. Chloe, if you have any dissatisfaction, you can just tell me directly. There¡¯s no


    need to bully the dogs. They haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Do you know how important Oreo and Toto


    are to Joe and me?¡±


    Faced with the usations, Chloe instinctively looked toward Joseph, hoping he would stand by her


    side. When she met his disgusted gaze, it felt like sharp thorns piercing deep into her


    heart.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. What was I expecting?¡¯


    If someone else were standing here today, Joseph might have sided with her. But the person before


    them was Xavia, Joseph¡¯s first love who had shared joys and sorrows with him. How could she be


    compared to her?


    A bitter expression crept over Chloe¡¯s delicate face, and she wryly curved her lips. In the end, she did


    not say anything.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Joseph furrowed his brows in annoyance and averted his gaze from her face. He could not understand


    why she was acting so pitifully in front of everyone when she was the one who did something wrong.


    ¡°Stay here and reflect on what you¡¯ve done. Without my permission, you¡¯re not allowed to take a single


    step outside.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the sight of Joseph walking alongside the gentle and charming Xavia.


    They seemed to match together perfectly, their figures harmonizing as they moved side by side. It left


    Chloe feeling lost as if she had never truly found her ce within Joseph¡¯s heart.


    Trust was the cornerstone of any rtionship, and yet he had never bestowed his trust upon her.


    Instead, he constantly met her with cold skepticism. If he thought so poorly of her, why


    had he chosen to be with her?


    Lucas remained by her side, offering words offort. ¡°Ms. Chloe, don¡¯t be too disheartened. Toto


    holds a significant ce in Mr. Joseph¡¯s heart. Since a citizen has provided us with leads, we should be


    able to find Toto soon.¡±


    Having experienced the love and attachment that came with caring for a pet, Chloe


    understood the depths of emotions involved. She could not entirely fault Joseph for losing his temper,


    yet a profound sadness settled within her.


    ¡°Thank you, Lucas. I¡¯ll go out to look for Toto and Oreo.¡±


    Knowing that there was strength in numbers, she believed that joining the search efforts would


    increase the chances of finding them. She was genuinely worried about their well-being.


    ¡°But Mr. Joseph said you are not to be allowed outside,¡± Lucas said hesitantly.


    ¡°If he wants to be angry, let him be,¡± Chloe replied firmly. She could not just sit idle and wait. It was


    something she could not bring herself to do.


    Armed with the photo, Chloe stepped out of the vi and swiftly hailed a cab to the presumed location.


    Ignoring the ache in her feet, she printed copies of Toto and Oreo¡¯s pictures and tirelessly distributed


    them to anyone she encountered, inquiring about any sightings of the dogs.


    The morning passed without any news, and Chloe found herself unconsciously standing outside


    Fairlight. Sophia, apanied by her colleagues, was joyfullying down the stairs


    to buy coffee.


    Spotting Chloe, who appeared slightly disheveled and limping, Sophia could not contain herughter.


    ¡°Chloe, you¡¯re a white-cor worker. How on earth did you end up like this? If I


    didn¡¯t know any better, I would¡¯ve thought you were a disabled person working as a flier distributor.¡±

 Chapter 252

    Chapter 252


    Chapter 252 The Ambiguous Rtionship Between Joseph and Chloe


    As Chloeid eyes on Sophia, her anger surged. ¡°Why did you spread false information in the work


    chat?¡±


    Sophia sneered. ¡°I didn¡¯t. How can you prove that I was making things up? Do you have any


    recordings?¡±


    Chloe stared at her intently, her voice cold as she interrogated, ¡°What¡¯s your motive for doing this?


    Who offered you benefits, or are you resorting to any means necessary to gain Joseph¡¯s attention?¡±


    A hint of panic flickered in Sophia¡¯s eyes, but it vanished in an instant. ¡°I was simply speaking the truth.


    I have no ulterior motives. Moreover, you shouldn¡¯t address Mr. Joseph so informally. It¡¯s impolite.¡±


    ¡°I can say whatever I want. Who are you to say otherwise? Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m your superior. I¡¯m the only


    one who can reprimand you.¡±


    ¡°You¡­You can¡¯t bully me like this!¡±


    Chloe chuckled with frustration. Who was truly the bully in this situation? She could not believe Sophia


    could tell such tant lies while maintaining an air of innocence.


    A colleague stepped forward, trying to mediate the situation. ¡°Okay, okay. Let¡¯s all take a step back. I


    believe Chloe wouldn¡¯t casually use someone. Sort out what you discussed this morning privately.


    However, Chloe, you shouldn¡¯t have addressed Mr. Joseph so informally. What¡¯s more, he recently


    rewarded you with a significant amount of cash. He¡¯s our provider, and we should show him respect.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s eyes darted, and sheughed. ¡°Are you jealous because Mr. Joseph epted my coffee? Is


    that why you¡¯re so mad?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s smile turned icy. ¡°Hmph, you don¡¯t even hold a ce in Joseph¡¯s heart. You¡¯re not worthy of


    making me jealous.¡±


    Sophia employed the same tactics that Chloe had used to win Joseph¡¯s affections, so no one could


    gauge


    gauge their potential effectiveness on Joseph better than Chloe herself. However, she opted to remain


    silent about it, convinced that a new employee would not pose a threat to their rtionship.


    Sophia picked up on something and asked eagerly, ¡°So, does this mean there¡¯s something between


    you and Mr. Joseph?¡±


    The colleagues beside them also sensed that the conversation was taking an inappropriate turn.


    Considering they were standing outside Fairlight, they threw nces at Chloe, silently signaling her to


    stop talking.


    In reality, Joseph¡¯s favoritism toward Chloe was evident, but apart from their professional interactions,


    they did not do anything out of line. So, they would only talk about it privately. Someone like Sophia,


    who openly brought up such matters, was clearly seeking trouble.


    Chloe knew exactly what she wished to hear, but she deliberately refused to say it. With a tilted head


    and a malicious smirk, she wore an expression that said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern.¡±


    Sometimes silence expressed more than words did, and understanding instantly dawned upon Sophia.


    She was awash with both excitement and filled with suppressed anger. It seemed that what that woman


    had said was true. There was an ambiguous rtionship between Chloe and Joseph.


    But the question lingered in Sophia¡¯s mind. She believed she was just as attractive as Chloe. Why


    would Joseph choose Chloe over her? Who in the world would not want an effortless shortcut?


    However, the reality was that Joseph did not even spare her a nce. He did not even give her the


    chance to deliver him a cup of coffee!


    ¡®No, I have to expose her true colors to the entirepany,¡¯ Sophia thought.


    Brimming with excitement, she grabbed her colleague¡¯s hand and eximed, ¡°Did you hear that? She


    admitted it. We can¡¯t allow someone like her to exist in our office! It¡¯ll negatively impact our working


    environment!¡±


    Her colleague was taken aback by the shocking scandal that had unfolded during a simple meal run.


    She did not want to have anything to do with it as she just wanted to observe quietly from the sidelines.


    Besides, she was well aware of Sophia¡¯s scheme. If things went wrong, she was certain that Sophia


    would bring her down with her.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She did not take the bait and forced out a few awkwardughs. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. Chloe didn¡¯t


    say anything. Don¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡±


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, then directed a smile toward her colleague.


    Sophia gritted her teeth in frustration. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a handsome figure. She


    remembered what the woman had instructed her, and a n formed in her mind.


    Without warning, she lunged at Chloe, who instinctively fought back. Little did she know that Sophia


    would make like she was without a skeleton, twisting her body and falling right at Chloe¡¯s feet.

 Chapter 253

    Chapter 253


    Chapter 253 Apologize to Xavia


    ¡°Even if you im that Mr. Joseph cares for you, you can¡¯t bully me like this. I¡¯m just at neer who


    knows nothing. The incident this morning was my fault, but you could¡¯ve just talked to me about it


    instead of resorting to violence,¡± Sophia pleaded.


    Chloe saw through Sophia¡¯s intentions at a nce and made no move to help her up. ¡°What are you up


    to this time?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives. I just want you to leave me alone!¡± Sophia cried out, her tears flowing


    uncontrobly. As she sobbed, she crawled toward the direction where Joseph stood. ¡°Mr. Joseph,


    you¡¯ve to help me.¡¯


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Observing the poised and indifferent woman in front of him, Joseph said in a cold tone, When a


    colleague falls in front of you, don¡¯t you think you should offer a helping hand?¡±


    Upon hearing his voice, Chloe turned her head abruptly. Then, she saw Joseph instructing Lucas to


    help Sophia up from the ground. He treated a new employee with such gentleness but remained cold


    toward her.


    Chloe pursed her lips and defiantly eximed, ¡°She intentionally threw herself to the ground! If I


    helped, it would¡¯ve disrupted her n!¡±


    Sophia¡¯s face turned pale, and she nervously looked up at the man.


    Joseph narrowed his dark, piercing eyes in disapproval. ¡°You think that


    everyone


    who gets


    hurt did so intentionally?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t misinterpret my words.¡±


    ¡°Your words directly imply that. Once you¡¯ve done something, you¡¯ve done it. Stop attempting to evade


    responsibility,¡± Joseph said, his words cold and piercing through Chloe cruelly. It felt like an invisible


    mountain pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.


    ¡®What does he mean by ¡°once you have done something, you¡¯ve done it¡±? Is he referring to now, this


    morning, or everything?¡¯


    Chloe looked at the familiar yet distant face in front of her and let out a bitterugh. ¡°Fine, if that¡¯s what


    you think, then I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±


    The sunlight was zing, yet everyone standing beside Joseph felt a chill down their spines.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, striding forward with long steps and entering thepany building.


    Sophia eagerly followed behind, secretly reveling in her triumph. When she reached them, she noticed


    Lucas looking at her with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked.


    Lucas¡¯ expression wasced with subtle amusement. ¡°Mr. Joseph was talking to Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s face stiffened for a moment. ¡°No way, Mr. Lucas. I¡¯m sure you must have misunderstood.¡±


    Lucas chuckled softly, ¡°I¡¯ve been by Mr. Joseph¡¯s side for many years. I think I understand him better


    than you do.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± a colleague interjected, providing Sophia with an escape route.¡± Lunch


    break is about to end, and we should get back to work.¡±


    Sophia watched as Chloe limped alongside Lucas into the exclusive elevator and decided not to


    comin. After all, she was currently working with that woman and had no expectations of capturing


    Joseph¡¯s attention. Perhaps that woman had feelings for Joseph as well, otherwise, why would she try


    to sow discord between Chloe and him?


    In the office, Chloe frowned the entire time. She had no desire to argue with Joseph and went straight


    to the point. ¡°In the morning, I printed out pictures of Oreo and Toto and distributed them to passersby.


    If anyone sees them, they¡¯ll contact me. Do you have any leads on your end?


    Joseph nced at her coldly. ¡°We already found them.¡±


    Chloe felt a glimmer of joy in her heart, but before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, she was


    drenched in an icy shower the next second, freezing her from head to toe.


    ¡°Go apologize to Xavia,¡± Joseph said, his voice devoid of mercy.


    Chloe¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, her voice trembling slightly, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°She took a stab for


    you, yet you lost her dog. Shouldn¡¯t you apologize?¡± he stated.

 Chapter 254

    Chapter 254


    Chapter 254 You Want to Break Up?


    Chloe stared at Joseph, her throat so constricted that she could not utter a word.


    The more Joseph met her gaze, the more agitated he felt, so he averted his eyes altogether. ¡± Xavia


    will be here soon. Wait here,¡± he instructed.


    Chloe let out a bitter smile and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll apologize as you wish.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Joseph¡¯s expression improved slightly. However, when his gaze fell upon her


    swollen and barefoot, his brows furrowed again. Yet, he remained silent. After all, he believed that


    asional discipline was necessary for her to understand how to conduct herself in the future.


    Ten minutester, Xavia arrived. She looked at Chloe and said, ¡°Oreo was found near the residential


    area. Ms. Chloe, you may not be happy with my sudden appearance, but I still believe that no matter


    the reason, we shouldn¡¯t resort to violence against dogs. They¡¯re innocent. I¡¯ll take Oreo back and take


    care of him. Thank you for your efforts over these past few days.¡±


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Oreo is your dog, and whether you decide to take him away or not is up to you. However, I still want to


    apologize. I bear some responsibility for the fact that those two dog thieves took Toto and Oreo away


    today,¡± Chloe said.


    Xavia frowned slightly as she corrected her, ¡°All the evidence shows that you lost them. It¡¯s obvious.


    There wasn¡¯t any sign of dog thieves throughout the whole incident. There¡¯s no need to shift the me.


    While Joe and I may be angry, we never med you.¡±


    Chloe chuckled. ¡°Is that so? Then I must thank you both.¡±


    ¡°Chloe, is this how you apologize?¡± Joseph asked, his voice stern.


    ¡°What else can I say? Admit to something I didn¡¯t do?¡±


    The veins on his temple pulsated fiercely.


    Xavia shook her head at Joseph. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Joe. It¡¯s normal for Chloe to struggle when taking care of


    two dogs alone. I¡¯ll leave now. You two can talk things out.¡±


    Chloe watched this scene with amusement. ¡®One¡¯s ying the role of good cop and the other bad cop.


    How interesting.¡±


    Xavia left as if she truly feared disturbing them. However, Chloe wondered if the truth was as it


    appeared.


    It was difficult for Chloe to believe that Sophia, who had joined thepany less than a week ago,


    harbored such animosity toward her. Was Sophia¡¯s true motivation solely focused on pursuing Joseph,


    or was there an underlying motive?


    1/2


    One thing was certain-Sophia¡¯s appearance in Fairlight was far from simple.


    The spacious office returned to silence. Joseph raised his gaze and observed Chloe, who stood


    motionless in her ce. Eventually, his heart softened, and he spoke with a slower, gentler tone,


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    ¡°I refuse,¡± Chloe replied firmly and decisively.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Joseph thought she was being stubborn again.


    ¡°I think we should seriously consider whether this rtionship is right for both of us,¡± Chloe expressed.


    She took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°Trust is the cornerstone of any rtionship, yet you


    continuously doubt me. I can¡¯t endure such a rtionship. It¡¯s draining and exhausting.¡±


    Although she had feelings for him, Chloe refused to keep sacrificing herself over and over. No woman


    could tolerate being the perpetual second choice while her partner¡¯s heart still belonged to his ex. As


    long as the ex remained present, all me would be ced on her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Choose your words wisely.¡± Joseph clenched his fists.


    A weighty, oppressive atmosphere permeated the air, fueling unease and fear within Chloe. But despite


    her apprehension, she realized that she no longer desired to be caught in the middle of Joseph and


    Xavia.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a break. Perhaps it¡¯d be easier for both of us to simply remain as contract spouses,¡± she


    suggested.


    Suddenly, Joseph rose from his chair. Consumed by anger, he approached her quickly. His tall and


    imposing figure cornered Chloe, leaving her no way to retreat.


    He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him, his words pronounced with each syble, ¡± Are you


    breaking up with me?¡±

 Chapter 255

    Chapter 255


    Chapter 255 Mixing Wine and Beer? You¡¯re Quite Something


    The grip on Chloe¡¯s chin was painful, but she maintained a bright smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it not


    eptable? After all, your heart belongs to Xavia, not me. I¡¯ll step aside and make room for her, and


    everyone will be happy.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed in anger, and a storm brewed in his icy gaze. ¡°Is offering an apology


    too much of an inconvenience for you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied.


    She had truly dedicated herself to taking care of Oreo and Toto, even going the extra mile to prepare


    homemade snacks for them. She treated the two dogs as her own and never scolded. them, even


    when they misbehaved. Despite being exhausted after work, she still made it a point to take them for


    walks. Yet, whenever something went wrong, it was all her fault.


    Could he not have given her the benefit of the doubt and waited for the truth toe to light? Must he


    embarrass her in front of his ex-girlfriend? She had feelings too, and his actions had wounded her


    deeply.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze shifted downward, his prating eyes scanning Chloe¡¯s unwavering


    determination. His anger reached its peak, causing his lips to tremble ever so slightly before curling into


    a derisive smile. ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to take a break. If you wish to break. up, then let¡¯s break up. I


    have no shortage of women.


    ¡°Remember, it was me who dumped you,¡± he added.


    Chloe¡¯s face turned pale, a profound sense of sorrow engulfing her. At that moment, she realized that


    she had never truly found her way into his heart.


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, please let go of me, Mr. Joseph. I have work to do,¡± she said.


    Without waiting for Joseph to react, she pushed him aside and turned to leave.


    Witnessing Chloe¡¯s departure from Joseph¡¯s office, Lucas assumed that they had reconciled. He picked


    up a cup of tea and prepared to bring it inside. But just as his right foot entered the office, he saw


    Joseph punching the wall, blood instantly streaming from between his fingers.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Joseph¡¯s voice boomed with


    anger.


    Lucas¡¯ hands trembled, and the teacup nearly slipped from his grasp. ¡®Goodness, gracious!¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It became evident to Lucas that the situation had escted significantly. Not only had they failed to


    reconcile, but Joseph¡¯s anger had also reached a boiling point.


    Lucas suppressed his fear and retreated with the tea, gently closing the door behind him. He stood


    there, contemting whether he should seek further information from Chloe. However, before he could


    make a decision, the sound of more objects being smashed Inside the office reached his ears,


    solidifying his belief that Joseph¡¯s anger was truly uncontainable this time.


    Trembling, Lucas quickly made up his mind to find Chloe in the marketing department.


    To his surprise, he was informed that Chloe had taken a leave of absence. Lucas realized that the


    situation was even more serious than he had imagined. Feeling helpless, he suddenly remembered


    that he had Emily¡¯s number. With his habitual efficiency in office matters, he swiftly took out his phone


    and sent a voice message to Emily.


    Right after Emily finished listening to the voice message from Lucas, she received a phone call from


    Chloe.


    ¡°Come out and have a few drinks with me,¡± Chloe said.


    Knowing the importance of friends during difficult times, Emily agreed. She casually threw on a coat


    and took a cab to the location Chloe gave her.


    The bar was closed during daylight hours, so Chloe found a restaurant and started drinking a bottle of


    strong wine, polishing off half of it alone. By the time Emily arrived, Chloe was already drunk, slumped


    over the table with a flushed face, continuously muttering curses directed unmistakably at Joseph.


    ¡°How are you so drunk after just half a bottle?¡± Emily could not believe her eyes as she nced at the


    half-empty beer bottle next to Chloe.


    Chloe reached under the chair and retrieved another bottle. Letting out a burp, she grinned, exposing


    her row of white teeth and looking silly. ¡°There¡¯s still half a bottle of wine left. I drank the wine first


    before the beer. The wine was too spicy, and I can¡¯t drink it quickly.¡±


    Emily sighed, ¡°Mixing wine and beer? You¡¯re quite something.¡±


    Helplessly, she helped Chloe up from the chair, settled the bill at the front desk, and stood by the


    roadside, trying to g down a cab. Before a car arrived, they unexpectedly ran into Icarus.

 Chapter 256

    Chapter 256


    Chapter 256 No More Interactions


    Seeing how drunk Chloe was, Icarus quickly took her from Emily¡¯s arms and gently ushered her into his


    car.


    Emily tried to speak up several times, but she hesitated in the end.


    Icarus sensed her concerns and took the initiative to say, ¡°Show me the way. I¡¯ll take you home. I


    promise I won¡¯t do anything inappropriate.¡±


    Emily touched her nose, feeling a bit awkward. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I just think that Coco and


    Joseph often have arguments. It¡¯s probably the same this time. Don¡¯t focus all your attention on Coco.


    You should get to know other girls.¡±


    Icarus shrugged and smiled gentlemanly. ¡°This isn¡¯t something I can control.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ You¡¯re right.¡±


    Chloe was in the same situation. Initially, she and Joseph were using each other for their own


    purposes, but she had now begun to view their rtionship in a new light. She invested herself


    emotionally and developed genuine feelings for Joseph.


    However, she was to be med as well. If she had not mistook Joseph for Jake¡¯s uncle, none of this


    would have happened.


    Emily cast a discreet nce at Icarus, carefully assessing his appearance. He wore a suit that fit him


    perfectly, exuding an air of refinement and elegance. Among ordinary men, he would undoubtedly be


    considered an excellent choice. However, whenpared to Joseph, he fell noticeably short. It was no


    wonder that Chloe had been drawn to Joseph¡¯s charm and appeal.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Emily had recently moved back into her parent¡¯s home, and since her parents had a negative


    impression of Chloe right now, they brought her to a hotel.


    Icarus gentlyid Chloe on the bed and made sure she wasfortable before tucking her in with a


    nket. Noticing her red and swollen foot, he promptly went out to purchase a cold spray to alleviate


    the pain.


    Returning to the room, he carefully applied the spray to Chloe¡¯s foot, ensuring herfort. With his


    taskplete, Icarus quietly left the room, allowing Chloe to rest.


    Emily stayed in the hotel, working on herptop that she retrieved from her bag while waiting for Chloe


    to wake up.


    At around 7 in the evening, Chloe opened her eyes drowsily and nced at Emily typing on the


    keyboard beside her. Subconsciously, she picked up her phone and checked it. There were three


    unread texts.


    As she read them, a wave of dejection washed over her, followed by a sense of amusement at her own


    naivety. She was the one who broke up with Joseph, so why was she still hoping for


    something?


    She sat up and quickly replied to the messages from Icarus.


    ¡°Hey, you finally awake?¡± Emily stretchedzily, tossing over the cold spray. ¡°Icarus bought this for you.


    Spray it three times a day, once now, and again before bedtime. What happened to your ankle? It¡¯s all


    swollen. Didn¡¯t Joseph take care of you? How did you end up arguing?¡±


    Chloe lowered her head, looking at the spray bottle in her hands, feeling a mix ofplex emotions.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t take care of me. He even made me apologize to Xavia.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Emily widened her eyes, her anger rising. ¡°He did such a thing? You were upset too when the


    dogs went missing. Besides, you didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡±


    ¡°He and Xavia both believe I did it on purpose.¡±


    Emily frowned, unable to ept it. ¡°In that case, you should definitely argue with him.¡±


    In the eyes of the current partner, the ex was always a forbidden presence, regardless of the


    circumstances.


    How could Joseph make Chloe apologize to Xavia? Could he not have said something himself?


    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t just a fight. We actually broke up,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°What?!¡± Emily eximed in surprise, her eyes widening, ¡°Are you serious this time?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I can tolerate his bad temper, but I can¡¯t handle his ex. I can¡¯t be friends with my boyfriend¡¯s ex,¡±


    Chloe exined.


    ¡°But she took a stab for you. Won¡¯t it make you seem ungrateful?¡± Emily said. However, she soon


    realized her words were inappropriate and quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m not implying that youck gratitude. I


    mean, others might perceive it that way.¡±


    Chloe had treated Xavia kindly. Although they were not particrly close, they maintained a cordial


    rtionship. After Xavia¡¯s injury, Chloe consistently prepared nutritious meals for her and visited her at


    the hospital. She also arranged for a caregiver and covered all the medical expenses. She even took


    care of Xavia¡¯s dog.


    Chloe sighed, ¡°I appreciate her kindness. I¡¯ve already informed the hospital and paid for another year of


    her chemotherapy fees as a gesture of goodwill, whether she needs it or not.¡±


    Most likely, they would not have much interaction in the future.


    Emily nodded in understanding. It seemed like a reasonable decision.


    They continued chatting for a while when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

 Chapter 257

    Chapter 257


    Chapter 257 She Loves Me to the Point of Obsession


    Emily went to answer the door, a perplexed expression on her face as she epted the takeout


    delivery.


    ¡°Did you order food, Coco?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± replied Chloe.


    ¡°Neither did I,¡± Emily said.


    At that moment, Icarus called.


    ¡°Chloe, I ordered some food for you guys. I¡¯m not sure if it suits your taste, but I heard that indulging in


    sweets can lift your mood when you¡¯re feeling down, so I got some for you,¡± Icarus exined.


    Chloe whispered softly, ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    ¡°No need to be polite with me. If you need anything, feel free to reach out anytime,¡± Icarus assured her.


    ¡°Okay, goodbye,¡± Chloe said before hanging up.


    Emily handed Chloe a cup of ice cream smoothie with a beaming smile. ¡°Since you¡¯ve ended things


    with Joseph, why not consider Icarus? I think he¡¯s quite decent.¡±


    ¡°I did break up with Joseph, but we still have a contract. If necessary, I¡¯ll still have to pretend to be his


    wife,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Hmm, if I recall correctly, you mentioned that you became his wife to deceive his


    grandfather. If he were to reignite his rtionship with his first love, wouldn¡¯t that grant you your


    freedom?¡± Emily asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Let¡¯s y it by ear,¡± Chloe replied.


    She had taken three days off from work. Firstly, her twisted ankle made it difficult for her to walk, and


    secondly, she did not want to see Joseph right now. Not having to take care of the dog or cater to his


    needs significantly improved her mood.


    During these three days, aside from Icarus visiting her every day, Joseph did not call her or send a


    single text. Such behavior aligned with his usual temperament.


    In the afternoon, Icarus brought some desserts to visit Chloe. After examining her ankle, he remarked,


    ¡°The swelling has gone down. You should be able to walk now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t feel any pain anymore. Thank you for the medicine you brought,¡± Chloe expressed her


    gratitude.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Icarus said as he adjusted the gold-rimmed sses on his nose bridge. ¡°Do


    you want to go to the beach?¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°I just want to be a couch potato for now.¡±


    It had been a while since she had the chance to rx. She was willing to go to the beach, but she did


    not want to go with Icarus. Since she had no intention of being with him, she should not give him any


    hope.


    Icarus expressed understanding. ¡°You can¡¯t refuse toe with me tomorrow night. It¡¯s my birthday,


    after all.¡±


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, and she pped her forehead in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I forgot. Send


    me the address.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow, don¡¯t worry. I have a gathering in the afternoon, but I¡¯ll swing by after,¡± Icarus


    said.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Icarus left, Chloe went to the mall. It would be inappropriate to attend a birthday celebration


    empty-handed. She was not sure what to buy, but she noticed that Icarus seemed to enjoy wearing


    suits, so she bought him a tailored suit jacket.


    This scene was observed by Samuel, who came out to discuss matters with a client. He had not


    expected to encounter Chloe buying clothes for Joseph. However, that brand of suit jacket would cost


    at most a few thousand dors, while Joseph¡¯s clothes were all custom-made. Would he even wear


    something like that?


    A trace of amusement flickered in Samuel¡¯s eyes. He found an angle and took a photo of Chloe paying


    for the suit jacket, then sent it to Joseph.


    [Look, she¡¯s buying clothes for you. Although, I think that¡¯s not a brand you like, right?]


    At Fairlight, the hundred-square-meter conference room was filled with people, yet not a sound could


    be heard. Just moments ago, the submitted project had been rejected, and Joseph flew into a rage.


    The senior executives from various departments trembled in fear, holding their breath.


    Over the past three days, Joseph had been exploding with anger at the slightest provocation. As his


    assistant, Lucas was the one who received the brunt of his anger. He was subjected to constant


    scoldings from morning till night, living in a state of constant pressure.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Everyone in the entirepany tiptoed around Joseph, afraid of angering him.


    The air in the conference room felt like it had frozen over when a short beep suddenly broke the


    silence. Joseph¡¯s gaze locked onto the illuminated screen of his phone, his brows furrowing. He picked


    it up and started flipping through its contents.


    The crowd sighed in sympathy, wondering who the unlucky person was.


    Only the side profile of the person in the photo had been captured. Herplexion was rosy, with long,


    curly eyshes. In her hand, she held a men¡¯s suit jacket, clearly bought for someone else.


    In an instant, Joseph¡¯s brows rxed, and his slender and handsome fingers casually tapped on the


    table. ¡®Tsk, this dumbo finally can¡¯t resist anymore and ising back to me.¡¯


    It was not surprising. She had always loved him with unwavering passion. How could she resort to such


    childish behavior and abruptly end their rtionship?


    Since she took the initiative to make amends, even though he did not like this particr suit jacket, he


    would still wear it a few times to preserve her dignity.


    After a while, he replied to Samuel, condensing his thought into five words: [It¡¯s none of your beeswax.]

 Chapter 258

    Chapter 258


    Chapter 258 Come Up With Something More Innovative


    ¡°We shall end today¡¯s meeting here. The proposal was rejected, and I expect you toe up with


    something more innovative,¡± Joseph announced firmly. With that, he rose from his seat and made his


    way back to his office, instructing Lucas to prepare a cup of coffee. However, he had a sudden change


    of heart and amended his request.


    ¡°Actually, make it tea instead,¡± he corrected himself.


    Lucas discreetly stole a nce at Joseph, observing that hisposed and icy demeanor remained


    largely unchanged. Nevertheless, there was a slight reduction in the intensity of anger in his eyes,


    suggesting that Joseph might have been in contact with Chloe.


    Lucas could hardly contain his excitement, feeling a surge of joy that made him want to burst out


    shouting that his good days wereing.


    As the evening progressed and the clock approached eight o¡¯clock, Joseph grew increasingly puzzled


    by Chloe¡¯s absence. Furrowing his brow, he decided to call her in search of answers. However, after a


    few rings, the call was disconnected.


    Joseph¡¯s handsome face darkened with a shadow of gloom, his brow creasing tightly. The frown was


    so deep that it could crush a fly. He mmed down his phone onto the genuine leather sofa with a


    resounding ¡°thud.¡±


    ¡°Foolish woman. Since she has missed this opportunity, she¡¯ll have to face the consequences herself.¡±


    After stepping out of the shower, Chloe turned on the television and began eating her takeout meal


    while watching whatever was ying. Later, as she prepared to go to bed, she picked up her phone


    and nced at it, catching sight of a familiar number.


    Her heart skipped a beat. Joseph had called her. She had left her phone in the room as she went to


    take a shower, causing her to miss the call. However, he had only made one call, so she concluded


    that it might have been an ident.


    If there was something important, he would continue calling.


    Despite the circumstances, Chloe made the decision to respond to him nheless. There was still a


    possibility that Harold might visit their house and uncover the truth, which could


    potentially lead to a favorable oue for them.


    She dialed back, but all she received was a cold, mechanical voice on the other end.


    ¡°Hello, the number you have dialed is currently switched off.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s


    gaze dimmed with disappointment. She put her phone aside and decided to go to turn in early. When


    asleep, she would not have to think about anything.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The following evening, Icarus arrived at the hotel as nned to pick up Chloe. She handed him the


    brand-new suit, saying, ¡°Happy birthday! I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s your taste though.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be just fine. I trust your taste,¡± Icarus replied. He took off his own jacket and put on the suit


    Chloe had bought for him. The well-crafted linen suit fit him impably, entuating his tall and


    refined stature.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s fantastic!¡± He smiled warmly, his tone sincere. ¡°Thank you for the gift, Chloe. I really love it.¡±


    Chloe blushed slightly and touched her nose awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it.¡±


    In truth, she had not put much thought into the selection. The entire process, from entering the mall to


    making the payment, had not taken more than half an hour. Yet, he appreciated the gift so much and


    generously praised it. Being friends with someone like him was truly a delightful experience, unlike


    someone else who wore a gloomy expression all day like he was the king of the underworld.


    Chloe apanied Icarus to his birthday party. Perhaps to prevent her from feeling ufortable,


    there were many people in attendance, including several of her ex-colleagues from Baxon. She rxed


    and soon engaged in lively conversations with them.


    One of Icarus¡¯s friends recorded a short video of the gathering and shared it on social media to


    celebrate Icarus¡¯ birthday.


    On the other hand, Samuel, who had just left thew firm, nced at his social media feed while


    waiting for the traffic light. When he saw the familiar figure in the video, and noticed Chloe¡¯s gift to his


    good brother being worn by another man, his face filled with astonishment.


    He parked his car by the roadside and immediately sent the video to Joseph. [What¡¯s going on, Joe? Is


    your wife cheating on you?]

 Chapter 259

    Chapter 259


    Chapter 259 Imbnced Contract


    Samuel stared at his phone. Five minutes passed, yet there was no response from Joseph. He decided


    to text Joseph again.


    [Are you busy working?]


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    [Seriously? Do people lose their wives because they¡¯re too busy with work?]


    [No wonder your wife wants to cheat on you,] hemented.


    Icarus¡¯ birthday party took ce in a secluded vi.


    Joseph stepped on the brake, his gaze urately locked onto Chloe through the nearby floor- to-


    ceiling windows. She held a ss of red wine, her face adorned with a charming smile as she


    conversed with Icarus. She did not look like a girl who had just broken up boyfriend.


    with her


    He felt himself a fool. He actually thought that she had bought the suit for him.


    Joseph¡¯s anger turned into a twisted smirk, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. He dialed a string


    of numbers on his phone and punched the call button. ¡°You have one minute toe


    out.¡±


    Inside the room, Chloe trembled at the voiceing from her phone. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Look outside the window.¡±


    Their eyes met, Joseph¡¯s gaze was cold and menacing, his features grim.


    Chloe averted her eyes in embarrassment. ¡°How did you know toe here?¡±


    ¡°Come out. Don¡¯t make me say it a third time, or should I go in and find you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. I¡¯lle out.¡±


    She did not know what Joseph was capable of when he got angry and she did not want to ruin


    someone else¡¯s birthday party.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have something to attend to. I¡¯m going to step out for a moment.¡±


    Icarus looked at her worriedly. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°No, don¡¯t worry about me. Enjoy your party.¡± Chloe did not say much. She simply pushed open the


    door and left.


    Icarus¡¯s gaze followed her all the way until he spotted Joseph, and his brows furrowed deeply.


    ¡°How did you find this ce?¡± Chloe looked at the man before her, her tone filled with


    confusion. She had not disclosed her ns for the day to anyone. Besides, she had just got here not


    long ago.


    ¡°Am I not allowed toe?¡± Joseph¡¯s eyes held a mocking glint. ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll spoil your good


    time?¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brows. Just when she was about to exin, she realized that they had already


    broken up. Deciding to ignore his cold and sarcastic remarks, she calmly asked, ¡°Is there something


    you want from me?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s nonchnt attitude was like a raging fire, burning away thest shreds of rationality in Joseph.


    He seized her wrist forcefully, yanking her toward the car, his actions brimming with aggression and


    devoid of any hint of gentleness.


    ¡°Come home with me.¡±


    Chloe winced from the pain of his grip, and her temper red up. ¡°I won¡¯t. We¡¯ve already broken up, so


    you have no say in my life!¡±


    Joseph sneered with disdain. ¡°Are you nning to vite our contract? If you breach it, you¡¯ll have to


    compensate me with billions. Are you sure you can afford that?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face paled. ¡°No¡­ This is unreasonable. It¡¯s an imbnced contract! Moreover, your


    grandfather isn¡¯t here right now. I don¡¯t have to go along with your act.¡±


    ¡°I hold the power of exnation, or would you like me to hire awyer and take this to court?¡± Samuel


    was the most renowned figure in the legal field. Setting aside exorbitant fees, given Joseph¡¯s


    rtionship with Samuel, it was impossible for him to help her fight thewsuit.


    Chloe took a deep breath, deciding not to confront him head-on. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back with you, but I want


    to inform Icarus first.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes took on a sinister glint. ¡°Shall we go in together and tell him?¡±


    ¡°¡­No, there¡¯s no need. Let¡¯s just go now.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Chloe has clearly expressed her desire not to go with you. Please release her,¡± Icarus


    interjected, rushing out of the room and gripping Chloe¡¯s hand firmly.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes fixated on Icarus¡¯ hand as a cold and menacing glimmer flickered through his chilling


    gaze. Suddenly,ughter escaped his lips. In the next moment, he viciously lifted his foot and delivered


    a powerful kick to Icarus¡¯ lower abdomen.

 Chapter 260

    Chapter 260


    Chapter 260 She Ran Away, How Could I¡¯ve Bullied Her?


    Caught off guard, Icarus was thrown to the ground but quickly got back on his feet, refusing to stay at a


    disadvantage. He swiftly retaliated, engaging in a fierce fight with Joseph.


    Amid the chaos, Josephnded a rapid and forceful punch on Icarus¡¯ face. Startled and panicked,


    Chloe let out a scream and rushed forward to intervene, attempting to break fight.


    up


    the


    The disturbance drew the attention of the people inside the room. They hurriedly separated the two


    men, with Icarus already bearing the marks of bruising on his face. However, as this was Icarus¡¯ ce,


    everyone present was on his side. Chloe anxiously apologized to Icarus and swiftly pulled Joseph into


    the car.


    She could not drive, so she repeatedly urged Joseph to leave.


    Joseph, calm andposed, nced disdainfully at Icarus through the car window, his thin lips curling


    into a malicious smile.


    On the highway, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, elerating to a staggering speed of 192


    kilometers per hour. Chloe tightened her seatbelt and pleaded, ¡°Slow down¡­ I get motion sickness


    easily.¡±


    Joseph nced at her through the corner of his eye and noticed that her face was pale. He was unsure


    if she was telling the truth or just lying to him, but he eventually lowered the speed.


    As they reached their residence without incident, Chloe¡¯s frazzled nerves gradually eased. But soon,


    anger overwhelmed her, and she confronted the man sitting beside her. ¡°Why did you hit Icarus?!¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t like him,¡± Joseph replied, narrowing his eyes, ¡°Are you going to defend him?


    Chloe was left speechless, finding his actionspletely unreasonable. She lowered her head,


    unbuckled her seatbelt, and made her way back to her room.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Did this brat make you angry?¡± an aged yet powerful voice echoed.


    Harold stood at the entrance of the living room, looking at the two with a mix of surprise and suspicion.


    Chloe¡¯s body tensed, and she looked at Harold, mustering up a dry smile. ¡°Grandpa, why are you


    here?¡±


    two


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist visited. I had some free time today, so I thought I¡¯d pay a visit.¡± Harold¡¯s


    aged eyes remained sharp, his gaze shifting between Chloe and Joseph. ¡°Did you have a fight?¡±


    Observing his grandson¡¯s enraged expression, it was evident that they had indeed fought.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes darted nervously as she desperately tried toe up with an excuse. ¡°No¡­ Grandpa, we


    didn¡¯t fight. Have you eaten? Let me cook for


    you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. Have you two?¡±


    ¡°We have.¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t.¡±


    Chloe and Joseph replied simultaneously, with Chloe wrinkling her pale face as she subtly gestured to


    Joseph with her eyes. ¡®Come on, let¡¯s get our stories straight! Do you want your grandpa to find out


    something?¡±


    Ignoring her silent plea, Joseph let out a cold snort. ¡°Not only have we not eaten tonight, but we haven¡¯t


    eaten this morning or afternoon either.¡±


    Harold raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you two fighting? Did you bully Chloe, Joseph?¡±


    Judging from what Joseph said, whatever it was seemed pretty serious to him.


    ¡°How am I supposed to bully her when she hasn¡¯t been home in three days?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice turned icy,


    laced with a hint of grievance, leaving Chloe at a loss for words.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Harold¡¯s face disyed a grave expression, and he sternly said to Chloe, ¡°Why did you run away


    from home after having a fight? If you¡¯re angry, just scold him, spend his money, or kick the brat out.


    There¡¯s no need for you to leave. It¡¯s not safe for a woman to be out and


    about alone.¡±


    Chloe was initially anxious, thinking she would be reprimanded. However, upon hearing Harold¡¯s


    words, she felt guilt and gratitude at the same time. She could not bring herself to tell him that she and


    Joseph had already broken up and that Xavia might be his granddaughter-inw in the future.


    However, as long as the contract was in effect, she had to maintain herposure. With a gentle


    smile, she assured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa. I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ll have someone prepare a meal for you. Go upstairs and rest. You¡¯ve had a long day at


    work, and you must be tired.¡± As he spoke, Harold used his cane to lightly strike Joseph, scolding him


    with a raised eyebrow, ¡°You should be more considerate of your wife. You¡¯re such a grown man, yet


    youckmon sense.¡±


    Joseph scoffed. ¡°I called her, but she didn¡¯t answer. And tonight, she went to a party alone.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 261

    Chapter 261


    Chapter 261 A Bastard Child


    Harold asked, ¡°She didn¡¯t bring you to the party with her?¡±


    Joseph nodded as if he wasining about it, but he did not notice his behavior.


    Harold gave Chloe a reproachful stare. ¡°Chloe, you guys are a married couple and are a team now.


    Your friends will get suspicious if you attend gatherings alone. You might even make a fool of yourself.


    If you two are having problems, talk it out in private.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Grandpa, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Chloe picked at her nails as she stood in the corner. She


    appeared like an obedient child who had made a mistake, but she was secretly cursing Joseph inside.


    Feeling worried, Harold told them off a while before he let them off the hook.


    While Chloe headed upstairs, she nned to return to her own room, but Joseph pulled her into the


    master bedroom. He then looked at her condescendingly. ¡°Are you that eager to let Grandpa find


    something amiss?¡±


    Chloe knew that she was in the wrong, so she muttered, ¡°Sorry, it was out of habit¡­¡±


    After silence fell, she looked around the room and sat down on a chair. The room was filled with


    Joseph¡¯s unique scent. As his ex-girlfriend, she inevitably felt uneasy.


    ¡®I think Grandpa will leave at night¡­ Otherwise, do I have to stay with Joseph for the night?¡±


    While dwelling on that, Chloe became flustered.


    When Joseph saw her lower her eyes to mull over something, he assumed that she was thinking about


    Icarus. He knitted his brows and exuded a sinister aura. His aura rose with great momentum, so it was


    hard to escape her notice.


    She looked up and suddenly noticed that the back of his hand was injured. The wound had stopped


    bleeding and was scabbed over. ¡°Did you hurt yourself in the fight just now?¡±


    Joseph was stunned. A tinge of uneasiness shed across his cold and handsome face.


    He had lost control of himself the day she broke up with him and identally tore open the wound


    when he exerted himself in the fight earlier.


    Chloe brought over a medical kit and attentively tended to his wound. Although they were no longer in


    a rtionship, they were still bound by a contract. Hence, she could not stand by and ignore it.


    Joseph did not turn her down either and arrogantly extended his hand to her. Slowly, he broke into a


    smile and was in a better mood. ¡®Well, looks like the dumbo still cares for me. Icarus is just n B at


    most.¡¯


    When Chloe was tending to his wound, Lucas texted him. [Mr. Joseph, I¡¯ve delivered all the


    1/3


    evidence to Benjamin. He¡¯s now forcing Ava to take a paternity test at the hospital.]


    Joseph threw the phone aside and pinched her tender face lightly. ¡°Are you in the mood for some fun?¡±


    Confusion washed over her. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Read the message.¡±


    She looked toward the phone he threw on the sofa. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she walked over


    and picked it up to have a look. After she read it, she widened her eyes in shock. How did you get


    evidence of Karen cheating on Benjamin with Diego?¡±


    Even the evidence had been delivered to Benjamin.


    Chloe had nned to seek out Benjamin over the next few days but she now had to postpone her n


    since Karen¡¯s love affair was exposed out of the blue.


    Joseph snorted. ¡°If one does something bad, people will inevitably hear about it.¡±


    He had let Benjamin see the photographs of Karen and Diego having a tryst but Benjamin decided to


    fool himself. Joseph, being left with no other option and having lost all patience to let the situation


    develop slowly, got someone to do a paternity test before delivering it to Benjamin. Karen would


    eventually expose herself if she was careless regardless if the paternity test was true or false.


    Chloe nodded firmly and said decisively, ¡°I want to go.¡±


    She would have ceased having any contact with the Johnsons if she had not discovered the truth of her


    mother¡¯s death. They were so cruel and had killed their mother using such a ruthless method.


    Chloe would be a coward if she did nothing about it.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When Joseph noticed the deep hatred in her eyes, he patted her back. Even his cold tone softened a


    little. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you there with me.¡±


    Harold, who was sitting downstairs watching TV, saw theme down at the same time. He became


    curious and was about to ask about it. However, Chloe beat him to it. ¡°Grandpa, Jojo and I are going for


    a walk. We¡¯ll be home in a bit.¡±


    Seeing this, Harold thought that they had made up with each other. He smiled and waved. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    At the door of a private hospital, Karen hugged Ava firmly without any intention to let cried and


    screamed, ¡°You doubt me just because of a paternity test that came from nowhere?! How do I show


    myself in front of our rtives and friends if words get out about this?!¡±


    ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t even mention my rtives and friends. If they find out I raised the bastard of


    She another man for more than twenty years, I¡¯ll be theughing stock!¡± Benjamin¡¯s face became


    hideous as he exerted a greater force to grab Ava¡¯s hair and pull her into the hospital.

 Chapter 262

    Chapter 262


    Chapter 262 Premonition


    ¡°Ah! Daddy! You¡¯re hurting me!¡±


    Ava was ignorant of the situation. Being pulled, she screamed. Although she was unaware of the


    situation, she understood one thing. Something, fishy must have happened to make her father so angry


    while her mother hugged her so tightly and refused to let go.


    Hence, she refused to enter the hospital with Benjamin, and for a moment, the three of them. were in a


    stalemate.


    ¡°Fine. You refuse to go in? Wait here then!¡± Benjamin anxiously strode into the hospital to ask for help


    from two doctors. They forcefully dragged Karen and Ava into the hospital while ignoring their struggles


    Chloe witnessed the scene from a cafe opposite the private hospital. She lowered her eyes to hide her


    emotion. ¡°How long does it usually take to get the results of a paternity test?¡±


    ¡°About a week. I think this kind of hospital that¡¯s specialized in doing paternity tests will be


    faster.¡±


    ¡°Then today¡¯s show is over?¡±


    Joseph smiled mysteriously ¡°Maybe Benjamin will get too impatient and opt for a blood test after going


    through the paternity test?¡±


    One could possibly tell if their children belonged to them or not by referring to blood types. too. Of


    course, Benjamin would be able to figure out Ava¡¯s blood type.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up ¡®Yes, getting the result of a blood test is much faster than a paternity test.


    Normally, the result of a blood test would be produced in half an hour.¡¯


    It was always the men who went out to work while the women stayed home to manage the household


    affairs in the Johnson household Thus, it would be very hard for Benjamin to discover it if Karen had


    done anything behind his back.


    An idea dawned on Chloe. She looked at the man beside her who had one hand in his pocket, looking


    composed. He was even sneering.


    She whispered, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Joseph raised his brows.


    ¡°Thank you for doing this for me. I¡¯m very grateful.¡±


    Her tone was sincere and her eyes were bright. Her pretty face was lively and attractive.


    Joseph averted his gaze as a tinge of awkwardness arose in his dark eyes. He raised his chin


    arrogantly. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for your sake. I just found Benjamin an eyesore. Don¡¯t tter


    yourself.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes turned gloomy. In the next second, she asked calmly. ¡°What would you like to drink? It¡¯s


    my treat.¡±


    ¡°Anything will do.¡±


    Chloe nodded before she went to the counter to order drinks. Since they wanted to wait there for a


    good show, they had to buy something from the cafe. She ordered a cappino and atte and


    brought them to Joseph to let him choose.


    Joseph questioned, ¡°Which one¡¯s yours?¡±


    ¡°Thette.¡±


    ¡°What a coincidence. I likettes too.¡±


    Chloe was rendered speechless.


    There was a university nearby, so the number of guests in the cafe was high. It was full of young


    people. A young woman walked into the cafe angrily with a man running after her.


    ¡°Dear, I¡¯m a real man. Why should I stay in a cafe with you all day long? Can¡¯t we go somewhere else


    for our date?¡±


    ¡°No, I like coffee. What¡¯s more, many men buy drinks for women.¡±


    While talking, the young woman looked at Chloe and Joseph. She became confident and politely raised


    a query. ¡°Mister, Miss. May I know if you two are a couple?¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re not,¡± Chloe answered.


    Joseph nced at her and exined lightly, ¡°Yes because we¡¯re married.


    Jealousy filled the young woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mister, do you always go to cafes with your wife?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll go with her anywhere she wants, but sometimes she isn¡¯t willing to let me tag.


    along.¡±


    Joseph seemed to have thought of something before a tinge of sadness appeared on his face.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched vigorously in silence.


    However, the young woman was confused. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she want you to tag along?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s going on dates with other men. She¡¯s afraid that I¡¯ll disturb them.


    Chloe became agitated as she covered his mouth. ¡°Stop talking nonsense!¡±


    ¡®He shouldn¡¯t be giving young people a wrong impression!¡¯


    Joseph nodded and said to the young woman, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you about it right now. My wife doesn¡¯t want


    others to know about this stuff.¡±

 Chapter 263

    Chapter 263


    Chapter 263 Divorce


    The young woman and her boyfriend felt sorry for Joseph.


    ¡°Things just keep getting worse.¡¯ Chloe clenched her fists tightly. She felt like teaching him a lesson.


    ¡®He must be taking revenge on me. Why did I not notice his pettiness in the past?¡¯


    The young woman gave Chloe a disapproving stare, showing contempt. ¡°Miss, you are very pretty and


    must have a lot of admirers, but you¡¯re married now. You should keep your distance from other men.


    What¡¯s more, your husband is a good catch. He¡¯s so handsome, and he¡¯s dressed like a sessful


    man. I hope you cherish what you have now. It¡¯ll be forever if you let him slip through your fingers.¡±


    Chloe tried to exin helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think¡­¡±


    The young woman¡¯s boyfriend snorted. Simrly, he wanted to seek justice for Joseph. ¡°Is it worse than


    our imagination? Mister, there are plenty of fish in the sea. If you hold on to the old, you get nothing


    new. My older sister is single. If you two can¡¯t make it work as a couple, I can introduce you to my


    sister.¡±


    Joseph turned down the offer. ¡°Thank you for your kindness but I only care about my wife.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes. ¡®Oh, please. Just shut up, you schemer. Stop pretending to be innocent and


    good!¡¯


    Joseph had long legs and was handsome. As a result, he would be the center of attraction no matter


    where he went. At this time, the other customers in the cafe noticed him too. When they heard his


    statement, they found Chloe ungrateful.


    ¡°Mister, why don¡¯t you look at me instead? I¡¯m a postgraduate student, and I¡¯m about your age.¡±


    ¡°Me too! Although I¡¯m a freshman, I¡¯ve always wanted a mature man like you.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we exchange numbers?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s exchange numbers.¡±


    Chloe, who was implicated, felt extremely innocent. She could no longer take it and got up to leave.


    Joseph came out after her. His handsome face was cold and distant as he raised his brows lightly.


    ¡°Tsk, are you jealous?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I just find that young people care too much about one¡¯s appearance. They believe


    whatever others tell them. They care about nothing else but one¡¯s physical charms!¡±


    Joseph chuckled and felt that she was just being stubborn. ¡®You are jealous. You¡¯re just holding


    it in.¡¯


    1/2


    After a pause, she tilted her head to nce at the man beside her. Actually, she could understand


    those young people. After all, this scumbag was indeed extremely handsome.


    They waited for a while by the road when a heavy downpour suddenly started. Soon, they were filled


    with a deep chill.


    July was the rainy season in Asper.


    The car was parked in the parking lot. If they returned to the car, they would not be able to see the


    situation in the hospital. Chloe simply took shelter at the bus stop since she was reluctant to return to


    the cafe.


    ¡°You can go back to the car or go straight home. I¡¯ll go home after theye out.¡±


    Joseph replied coldly, ¡°I like rainy days.¡±


    Chloe shot him a doubtful stare. ¡®All right. He can enjoy the rain while I enjoy the fun.¡±


    Soon she heard noise from the hospital.


    Benjamin grabbed Karen¡¯s cor and pushed her down at the entrance of the hospital. He spat out at


    her, ¡°I must have been very unlucky to have crossed paths with you. We¡¯ll get a divorce tomorrow


    morning!¡±


    ¡°Daddy, Mom has been your wife for twenty years even if I¡¯m not your child. You can¡¯t do this to her!¡±


    Ava came out. Water ran down her cheeks. It was unknown if it was rain or her tears, but she looked


    very sorry.


    Benjamin roared angrily, ¡°You¡¯re no nice woman either! Maybe you knew the truth long ago. and lied to


    me along with this wretch!¡±


    Karen¡¯s face was badly swollen. It appeared like Benjamin had started pping her in the hospital until


    they were outside. She fell into the puddles of rain, clearly beside herself. ¡°I did. lie to you but I had no


    choice! Ava is innocent. She knows nothing. You¡¯re her only father. The words you say will hurt her!¡±Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

 Chapter 264

    Chapter 264


    Chapter 264 Don¡¯t Let Calvin Down


    Benjamin yearned to beat Karen up and kill her. ¡°This bastard is no child of mine. We¡¯ll get a divorce


    tomorrow. She can take any man as her father. I don¡¯t want to be a gullible fool anymore.¡±


    After that, Benjamin left. He had no intention of having anything more to do with them.


    Being struck on the spot, Ava asked, ¡°Mom, am I not Daddy¡¯s child?¡±


    Karen gritted her teeth fiercely. ¡°I could¡¯ve hidden this affair forever, but someone purposely exposed


    us.¡±


    ¡°Someone exposed us¡­ Who?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we can¡¯t stay in the Johnson family any longer. You have totch onto Calvin fast and


    never let him down!¡±


    ¡°Are we going to have to give up the family property? Who else can he give it to if not me unless he


    donates it?¡±


    Karen held her swollen face, gloominess written all over it. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s that bitch, Chloe. She¡¯s his


    child at the end of the day. He¡¯ll go back to her after divorcing me.¡±


    She knew Benjamin too well. Naturally, she had relied on her wits to lead a safe and sound life for so


    many years.


    After a brief pause, Ava continued, ¡°Mom, do you think it was Chloe who emailed the paternity test to


    Dad anonymously?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not that capable.¡±


    ¡°What do you know?¡±


    They heard a sudden voice. When Karen saw the man and woman who appeared out of nowhere, she


    broke out in cold sweat from fear.


    ¡°You¡­ When did you get here?¡±


    Chloe and Joseph were sharing an umbre. They stood side by side in the dense rain, being close to


    each other, and had a very tacit understanding.


    A woman in the cafe had given Joseph that umbre and Chloe benefited from it too. Smiling happily,


    Chloe stared at Karen. ¡°I was here from the moment you guys were forcefully taken into the hospital for


    a paternity test until Benjamin pulled you out and hit you. In short, I saw all of your ugly looks.¡±


    Enlightened, Ava instantly went wide-eyed. She demanded agitatedly, ¡°It was you, You were the one


    who sent that email anonymously, right?¡±


    wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. I don¡¯t have to deal with such a trivial affair, isn¡¯t that right, Jojo?¡±


    Chloe gave Joseph an earnest look. ¡®Hurry up and echo my words!¡¯


    Joseph was slightly amused before he ced his hand around her waist. ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to do


    anything. You just need to¡­¡± After a pause, he leaned down slightly. His hot breath was sprayed on her


    fair earlobe, his tone extremely ambiguous. ¡°Please me.¡±


    Rosiness crept up her face but she did not expose her embarrassment in front of Karen and Ava. She


    even mischievously touched Joseph¡¯s strong chest. ¡°Okay, Jojo, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    Consequently, Joseph¡¯s body stiffened. His sharp eyes turned intense with desire as he looked at her


    full red lips. The urge to kiss her overcame him.


    ¡°I knew it! You shameless woman! Relying on men is nothing to be proud of!¡± Ava¡¯s face turned


    hideous. Although she made such a statement, she was extremely jealous. She too had recently


    hooked up with a superior and powerful man. He looked fine, but he could notpare to Joseph.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Chloe was indifferent. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you never do such things yourself. Isn¡¯t Calvin a man?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my Godpa!¡±


    ¡°Jojo is my man. We rely on our respective abilities. Why do you have so manyments?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s charming brows went up. He enjoyed the way she addressed him very much.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Chloe put on a sarcastic tone. ¡°Don¡¯t see yourself as noble. Even if I¡¯m bad, I¡¯m not a bastard


    child.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough! Don¡¯t fuss over small matters. You don¡¯t have to implicate Ava in the grudges of the


    previous generation!¡± Karen roared, still putting on the airs of an elder.

 Chapter 265

    Chapter 265


    Chapter 265 I Dislike Disobedient Women


    A coldugh escaped Chloe¡¯s lips. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that when you wrongly used me of stealing


    money back then?¡±


    It was more than that, and things were just getting started.


    Karen¡¯s face turned livid. If her gaze could kill, Chloe might have died a violent death.


    Chloe held Joseph¡¯s arm and said sweetly, ¡°Let¡¯s go. They¡¯re just crazy and noisy.¡±


    Unable to ept it, Ava shouted from behind Joseph, ¡°Chloe is a woman rejected by the Cooper


    family. She even hooked up with an old man before getting entangled with Jake¡¯s uncle. Aren¡¯t you


    worried about catching a disease?¡±


    When Icarus was mentioned, Chloe became nervous and anxiously stared at the man beside her.


    ¡°I¡¯d die for a beauty, but you¡­¡± Joseph sized Ava up and concluded lightly, ¡°You can¡¯t rely on men.


    You¡¯d better rely on yourself.¡±


    **


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Chloe heaved a sigh of relief. When she was back in the car, all the gloominess that had been hanging


    over her was dispelled. She thanked him joyfully. ¡°Thank you. You can expect full cooperation from me


    from now on when we put on our act.¡±


    Turning the steering wheel with his slender fingers, Joseph was unmoved. ¡°I don¡¯t need a verbal thank-


    you.¡¯


    Chloe bit her lips and inquired hesitantly, ¡°Do you want money then?¡±


    ¡®But I don¡¯t have much. Will he care about this bit of money I own?¡¯


    Joseph retorted grumpily, ¡°Have you forgotten what you said in front of Ava earlier?¡±


    When he brought that up, Chloe recalled something. She covered her chest with both hands. ¡± Are you


    serious?¡±


    Joseph just felt like teasing her but her guarded look upset him. She behaved like she was guarding


    against a pervert. ¡°I¡¯m just a regr man. Is it very weird to have needs in this aspect?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. But you have Xavia, don¡¯t you¡­¡¯


    ¡°She and I are not together anymore.¡± Joseph¡¯s voice suddenly turned cold. ¡°Stop bringing it up.¡±


    ¡®I took the initiative to contact you, so you should behave sensibly and patch things up me. I may have


    agreed.


    with


    ¡®Why did you mention Xavia again? She has even taken Oreo away.¡¯


    Chloe fell silent before she refused him clearly. ¡°No, I can¡¯t promise you that. Ask for something else.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I have to say it even if you find it unpleasant. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re with Xavia or not. It¡¯s at fact that you


    guys have an ambiguous rtionship. If I use my body to repay your kindness, what does that make


    me? Your mistress?¡±


    Joseph lost his patience. Impatience was his familiar friend now. ¡°Are you done? Stop upsetting me.


    Don¡¯t you know who you are to me?¡±


    Chloe replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m just a person who¡¯s bound to you by a contract.¡±


    ¡®If you truly liked me, you¡¯d have given me the most basic thing-trust. You wouldn¡¯t have refused to give


    me a chance to exin. Or, it¡¯s just like what Jane told me in the past. I never had that. I remember


    every word very clearly.


    ¡®It does look like Joseph treats Xavia differently. Maybe Jane was right. She didn¡¯t lie to me.¡¯


    Joseph stared at the woman who imed to love him. At that time, she behaved aloofly and cut off all


    ties with him. Her light voice created great turbulence in his heart. For a moment, he felt that all her


    love for him in the past was nothing but an act she put on.


    However, Joseph was a deeply arrogant man. Even if he disliked that word and illusion deeply, he still


    put up a superior front.


    ¡°ying hard to get is useless on me. There¡¯s an endless line of women who want to be with me. I


    won¡¯t help in situations like today again.


    ¡°You know very well that I dislike disobedient women.¡±

 Chapter 266

    Chapter 266


    Chapter 266 Your Woman Will Be Smitten With You


    Chloe nodded firmly, her determination evident. ¡°I can handle the uing matters myself. I won¡¯t


    trouble you anymore, and besides, I want to move out of the vi.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s irritation grew, the anger within him simmering dangerously. He reached out and casually


    picked up an object nearby, fully intending to hurl it with all his might. But just as his fingers grazed the


    item, he abruptly let go. His brows furrowed, realizing that he had almost failed to control his emotions.


    He despised the thought of losing hisposure for anyone.


    Finally, he muttered a few words under his breath and strode upstairs purposefully. ¡°No, Grandpa likes


    doing spontaneous checkups. You have to stay here.¡±


    When Chloe stepped out of the car and made her way upstairs, she discovered that Harold had already


    left. Relief washed over her, and she exhaled deeply before retreating to her small bedroom.


    Meanwhile, just a wall away in the master bedroom, Joseph was feeling increasingly frustrated as he


    typed a message into the group chat. [Why do women consistently doubt the true nature of our


    rtionship with other women?]


    Nathan: [Hehehe, because it¡¯s true.]


    Joseph: [I¡¯m referring to regr people, not you.]


    Samuel: [Treat others the way they treat you.]


    Joseph: [It¡¯s pointless.]


    Nathan: [Wow, Chloe¡¯s pretty brave. You need to be more vignt.]


    Samuel: [It¡¯s not just about being vignt. I saw it all today.]


    The message has been retracted.


    Nathan: [??? Why did you retract it? I want to know!]


    Samuel: [Call me Daddy and I¡¯ll message you privately.]


    Nathan: [Oh, fuck off. Getting back to the point, I think this phenomenon in women stems from their


    lack of security. The key is to create distance between yourself and individuals of the opposite sex. And


    here¡¯s a more straightforward approach, when she doubts your rtionship with someone, publicly


    disying affection in front of that person can work wonders. I guarantee your woman will be smitten


    with you.]


    Gabriel: [It¡¯s a habit ingrained in them. Women just love to eat, drink, and have fun. When they raise


    such doubts, you should just kick them away.]


    1/2


    Having made a decision, Joseph tossed his phone aside. He stood by the full-length windows, gazing


    at the forlorn figure of Toto in the garden. With Oreo gone, Totocked his usual excitement for food


    and y.


    Realizing he had neglected to take the dog for an evening stroll, Joseph swiftly changed into


    comfortable attire, descended the stairs, and leashed Toto. Together, they ventured along their usual


    path. However, something caught Joseph¡¯s attention-a few scattered remnants of freeze-dried snacks


    strewn across the ground.


    He continued walking, his gaze sharp as he meticulously scanned the surroundings. He discovered a


    few more scattered remnants of freeze-dried snacks along the path. While not immediately


    conspicuous, closer examination revealed an intriguing pattern-the distribution of the snacks led toward


    the blind spots of the surveince cameras.


    Chloe went about her work the following day,pleting a portion of her tasks before feeling the need


    to stretch and take a break. With azy yawn, she nned to head to the pantry for a well-deserved


    cup of coffee. Just as she was about to step away from her desk, her phone rang, disying an


    unfamiliar number with the area code of Docwood City.


    Curiosity piqued, Chloe felt a slight surprise. She did not know anyone from Docwood, and logically,


    she assumed it to be a sales call or something simr. However, against her better judgment, she


    found herself answering the call.


    ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Chloe Johnson?¡± a voice from the other end inquired.


    The voice that resonated through the phone was clear and melodious as if it were a pure spring flowing


    through the tranquil mountains. It took no time for Chloe to recognize the owner of this enchanting


    voice. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, a spark of recognition igniting within her. ¡°You¡¯re


    Mr. Noah from the Exotic Star jewelry exhibition.¡±


    He was the same young man who had selflessly offered her an umbre on that rainy day.


    Noah¡¯s chuckle reverberated through the phone. ¡°I¡¯m delighted that you still remember our


    encounter.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Well,¡± Chloe responded, ¡°With your striking good looks, it¡¯s hard for anyone to forget you.¡±


    Both Joseph and Noah were remarkable men, each with their own unique qualities. Joseph exuded an


    icy demeanor, while Noah emanated a warm and approachable attitude. Joseph also possessed a


    captivating charm that was undeniable, likely due to his maturity and experience, whereas Noah was


    slightly more youthful.


    ¡°Thank you for thepliment. The reason I¡¯m calling today is to inquire if you¡¯d be interested in


    bing Exotic Star¡¯s brand ambassador, Ms. Chloe.¡±

 Chapter 267

    Chapter 267


    Chapter 267 Weren¡¯t You So Affectionate Toward Karen


    ¡°Huh? But why did you choose me instead of a celebrity?¡± Chloe asked bluntly and without any


    hesitation. Big brands typically opted for celebrities as their brand ambassadors, making it umon


    for them to select an ordinary person like her.


    ¡°Because your temperament and image are more suitable to represent Exotic Star,¡± Noah exined in


    a calm and gentle tone. ¡°During the exhibition, our photographer captured a series of photos, and one


    particr shot featuring you caught the attention of our designer. It left asting impression, prompting


    his strong rmendation for you to audition.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s surprise turned into excitement. ¡°Was it the renowned designer Santiago Hart?!¡± she squealed.


    Santiago¡¯s name held immense weight in the fashion industry, known as a true titan with an entric


    personality and an exceptional eye for detail. To even capture his attention was a rare honor, typically


    reserved for a privileged few actors and models. In the fashion circle, there was a well-known saying:


    ¡°If Santiago Hart sets his sights on you, it¡¯s as if heaven itself is bestowing its blessings upon you.¡±


    ¡°If you pass the audition, the contract will be for three years, and there will be an


    endorsement fee of 30 million. You¡¯ll also receive a limited edition piece of Exotic Star jewelry every


    year,¡± Noah revealed.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she processed the staggering figure. ¡°I can audition, but I¡¯m just


    an ordinary person. I¡¯m not worth that much money.¡±


    Her straightforward words amused Noah. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t believe in yourself, don¡¯t you trust


    Santiago¡¯s judgment?¡±


    Chloe contemted his words and replied, ¡°You have a point.¡±


    Since she had already taken three consecutive days off this month, they scheduled the audition for


    Friday evening. Shortly after ending the call, Noah added her on WhatsApp.


    Chloe¡¯s mind raced with thoughts. If she passed the audition, she would finally be able to repay the


    money she owed Joseph in one fell swoop. Determined to aplish her tasks, she remained in the


    office even after regr working hours. She sent Joseph a text, notifying him that she would be


    workingte, before immersing herself in her duties once more.


    Upstairs, Joseph, who was supposed to conclude a meeting, briefly nced at his phone and


    composedly remarked, ¡°Keep working on finding solutions. If you can¡¯t resolve this minor issue, you


    might as well stay in the office.¡±


    The executives from different departments had no option but to press on.


    It was nine o¡¯clock in the evening, and Chloe had finally cleared her backlog of work. As she


    descended the stairs, she noticed Benjamin patiently waiting for her, unknown how long she


    had waited. She paused, a faint smile gracing her lips.


    Benjamin¡¯s face lit up with an awkward smile as he spotted Chloe. ¡°Why did you block my number?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she replied, ¡°I blocked you three months ago. Did you just notice it


    today?¡±


    Benjamin, knowing he was embarrassed, changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯ve divorced Karen, and I


    kicked Ava out as well. Why don¡¯t you move back in? I¡¯ll hand over thepany to you as well.


    ¡°I


    Chloe asked, her expression feigning surprise, ¡°Why? Weren¡¯t you so affectionate toward Karen?¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s face alternated between pale and flushed, indicating his fluctuating emotions, in a moment


    of frustration, he kicked the nearby tree trunk. ¡°Don¡¯t mention those bitches. Ava isn¡¯t even my


    daughter.¡±


    and


    ¡°Oh, I see. So, you¡¯reing to me now because you have no offspring and are worried about being


    alone in your old age?¡±


    ¡°Coco, how could you speak to your father that way?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it true? If Karen and Ava were still around, you wouldn¡¯t even spare me a thought.¡±


    ¡°The past is in the past. We share the same blood, and family shouldn¡¯t harbor grudges. While Fairlight


    is a decentpany, working for others can¡¯tpare to the potential of building a family business.


    Spare a thought for your father,e back to the Johnson Group, and I¡¯ll give you the position of


    manager.¡±


    Chloe lowered her gaze, concealing her underlying resentment. When she lifted her head again, a


    smile adorned her face. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, my dear father. If I return, does that mean I¡¯ll also be


    entitled to some of thepany shares?¡±

 Chapter 268

    Chapter 268


    Chapter 268 Joseph¡¯s Face Is Filled With Strangeness


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll grant you 10 percent,¡± Benjamin reluctantly agreed.


    Chloe remained firm. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. I want 20 percent.¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°20 is too much.¡±


    Undeterred, Chloe pressed on. ¡°Nevertheless, you¡¯ll have to give it to me eventually-to stop Ava from


    pursuing her intentions to im it.¡±


    Her directness struck a chord, and Benjamin, who had been deceived for two decades, surprisingly


    found her reasoning valid. Karen was not to be underestimated. In the future, she would try to extract


    as many assets from him as possible.


    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll arrange for that, but a portion of the shares is still registered under those bitches¡¯ names.


    We have to transfer them back before I can allocate them to you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s gaze flickered before responding, ¡°All right. Then, I¡¯ll remain at Fairlight for now. There are


    valuable connections here, and I can utilize them to benefit our family in the future. Oh, Dad, even


    though you¡¯ve divorced Karen, you still need to legally sever your father- daughter rtionship with


    Ava. That way, she won¡¯t have any grounds to cling onto the Johnson name.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it tomorrow. We can¡¯t let them have any advantage.¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s animosity toward Karen had reached its peak. Nothing infuriated a man more than being


    cuckolded for two decades. He had hoped for Chloe¡¯s return to the family, but she had refused with a


    justification for her decision. Since her attitude toward him seemed eptable, he did not dwell on it.


    As public transportation had ceased operating at this hour, Chloe nned to get a cab for her journey


    home. However, just as she was about to step onto the road, a nearby car suddenly switched on its


    high beams, flooding the street with its light.


    She assumed that Joseph had already left, but to her surprise, he was standing by the car. His broad


    shoulders and long legs showcased his sleek and clean figure, entuated by the tailored suit he


    wore. Joseph exuded an air of a top model-distinguished and elegant.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through all that trouble to secure the assets under your name,¡± Joseph


    remarked.


    Chloe¡¯s eyelid twitched, realizing that he had overheard her conversation with Benjamin. She


    responded, ¡°I find it more satisfying to let them fight among themselves like dogs.¡±


    The market value of the assets registered under the Johnsons was worth several hundred million, yet it


    fell short of being ssified as argepany.


    ¡®But the Johnson Group was built step by step through Mom¡¯s efforts. She invested money and


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    put countless efforts into it. I won¡¯t easily give it up or allow Benjamin to benefit from it cheaply,¡¯ Chloe


    thought to herself, her determination growing stronger.


    Joseph nodded slightly, seemingly unfazed by the Johnsons¡¯ situation. ¡°Get in. I want to take you


    somewhere,¡± he said.


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°A restaurant.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner? But it¡¯s almost midnight snack time now.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten. I had a busy day today.¡± Joseph leaned back in the rear seat and casually added, ¡°I¡¯ll


    take you to meet a few people while we¡¯re at it.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Chloe responded, ncing at Lucas, who was diligently working overtime in the driver¡¯s seat. It


    appeared that many people were workingte that day, including some department heads.


    The journey to their destination was rtively short, taking only ten minutes. They arrived at a private


    speakeasy that had garnered a following online. The establishment was known for its exclusivity,


    allowing entry to only a select few patrons each day. With its ndestine charm and hidden entrance,


    the speakeasy exuded an air of mystery and sophistication. As they stepped out of the car, the owner


    himself appeared to greet them and lead the way.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, pleasee in. Ms. Larson and the gentlemen have been waiting for quite some time,¡±


    the owner said, pausing at the entrance of a private room.


    Chloe¡¯s suspicion grew. ¡°Ms. Larson?¡±


    Could it be Xavia?


    Joseph remained silent, simply pushing the door open.


    As Chloe stepped inside, her expression shifted. Indeed, it was Xavia, apanied by Nathan and


    Samuel.


    ¡®What¡¯s going on? Did they reconcile and couldn¡¯t wait to share the good news with his buddies? And


    me being invited here was most likely not Joseph¡¯s idea. Is Xavia asserting her dominance?¡¯ Chloe¡¯s


    mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts and possibilities. Her palms became sweaty, and her heart felt


    as though it was being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, leaving her struggling to catch her breath.


    Lost in her own thoughts, Chloe remained oblivious to the fact that Xavia, seated in the chair, wore an


    equally displeased expression on her face.


    Nathan greeted them with a cheerful smile. ¡°Ah, Chloe, Joe! You guys are sote. I¡¯m starving to


    death!¡±


    Chloe mustered a smile and tugged at the corners of her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with work at the


    office.¡±


    Samuel flipped through the menu, voicing his frustration, ¡°Who isn¡¯t busy? I was summoned for an


    important discussion and ended up waiting for two hours. Maybe next time I should charge for the


    dy.¡±


    Joseph nced at him, his expression unchanged, ¡°Submit the reimbursement request to Nate. He¡¯s


    the one who orchestrated tonight¡¯s gathering.¡±


    Nathan chimed in, ¡°No, although I organized tonight¡¯s meet-up, my intention was simply to hang out


    with my buddies. Who would¡¯ve thought you had this in mind? Well, forget it. Let¡¯s just consider it an


    act of goodwill.¡±


    Xavia, quick to catch on, asked cautiously, ¡°What kind of goodwill are we talking about here?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing. By the way, how¡¯s your chemotherapy going?¡± Nathan abruptly changed the subject,


    causing a slight tension in Xavia¡¯s expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s been challenging, but I¡¯m managing,¡± Xavia replied, her voice carrying a hint of strain.


    ¡°Treatment is always tough. Just hang in there, Xavia. As long as the oue is positive, it¡¯ll all be


    worth it.¡±


    After the dishes were served, Joseph casually picked up a delectable piece of food and ced it on


    Chloe¡¯s te, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to the unexpected gesture.


    ¡°This dish is pretty good.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, her eyes widening in disbelief. It was as if she had witnessed a supernatural


    urrence. Joseph had always held a dismissive attitude toward such actions.


    In his opinion, eating was a personal affair, and relying on someone else to feed you or peel shrimp


    was a sign of being overly indulged. But coincidentally, he had reached for a dish that was slightly out


    of Chloe¡¯s reach.


    Only after he had finished the act did Joseph realize what he had done. At the same time, Chloe¡¯s


    surprise mirrored his own, her expression a mix of astonishment and confusion. An ufortable


    silence settled between them, broken by Joseph¡¯s cold question. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡±


    Chloe shook her head. There was nothing on his face, but it was filled with strangeness!

 Chapter 269

    Chapter 269


    Chapter 269 Joseph, Have You No Shame?


    Xavia maintained an unwavering expression, her delicate makeup entuating her brows and eyes,


    giving her a rosyplexion. However, her hands holding her utensils betrayed a slight whitening of


    the knuckles.


    Nathan let out a sigh and intentionally made a loud noise, ¡°Well, well. Miracles do happen. Joe actually


    knows how to take care of someone.¡±


    Chloe felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, leaving her unsure of the situation. She was at a


    loss for words, uncertain of how to respond.


    As they finished their meal, Joseph gently put down his utensils and turned his attention to Xavia. ¡°I


    discovered somethingst night. There were numerous freeze-dried snacks near the spot where the


    dogs went missing as if someone intentionally lured them there. It¡¯s highly possible that Oreo and Toto,


    just as Chloe mentioned, were deliberately enticed.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyshes trembled slightly, and her eyes glimmered with astonishment as she fixed her gaze


    on the man beside her. An incredible thought surged within her, ¡®Was today¡¯s gathering specifically


    arranged to discuss this matter, involving both me and Xavia?¡¯


    Xavia¡¯s hand trembled imperceptibly, and she lifted her head with a guilty tone. ¡°Ah¡­ It seems that


    we¡¯ve misunderstood Ms. Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    ¡°We acted too hastily and were confused. On Joe¡¯s behalf, I¡¯d like to say we¡¯re sorry.¡± Xavia sincerely


    extended her apology to Chloe.


    Chloe was not one to hold grudges and whispered softly, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Misunderstandings resolved. Fantastic!¡± Nathan eximed, raising his ss for a toast with Xavia. ¡°In


    the future, if you need anything, juste to me. We¡¯re friends, after all. Whether it¡¯s taking care of the


    dogs or anything else, count on me. Now that Joe is married and Mr. Harold is eager for grandchildren,


    we should give them some personal space, right?¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Xavia suddenly looked at him, feeling a bit aggrieved. ¡°Are you suggesting that I¡¯m disturbing Joe?¡±


    She knew Joseph long before Chloe even appeared. Why should the neer take precedence?


    ¡°Have you forgotten Mr. Harold¡¯s attitude toward you?¡± Samuel interjected, his expression cold. ¡°You


    often visit the vi, and if you happen to run into Mr. Harold, he¡¯ll surely specte further. We¡¯re doing


    this for your own good.¡±


    Upon hearing the name Harold, Xavia¡¯s arrogance instantly vanished, reced by a profound sense of


    resentment that flickered in her eyes. Five long years had passed, and she had waited impatiently


    throughout. Why was that old man not dead yet?


    13


    Chloe, observant as always, noticed the shift in Xavia¡¯s emotions and furrowed her brows in


    concern.


    She got up to make her way to the restroom and coincidentally bumped into Nathan as she exited.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, she mustered the courage to ask, ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Chloe. Go ahead,¡± Nathan responded with his usual charm, always willing to entertain the


    queries of attractive women.


    ¡°Has Xavia ever met Joseph¡¯s parents?¡±


    Nathan paused briefly, considering his response. ¡°No, Mr. Harold never allowed her to set foot inside


    the Whitman residence.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Chloe pressed, her expression now tinged with perplexity.


    Nathan¡¯s expression took on a subtle shade. ¡°Mr. Harold held the belief that a girl from the


    entertainment industry wasn¡¯t deserving of bing a part of the Whitman family. However, the


    primary concern was Xavia herself. Mr. Harold discovered that she had been involved with multiple


    men prior to being with Joseph, although these allegations were never substantiated. Following that,


    Xavia disappeared without any exnation.¡±


    Xavia even had a brief and peculiar rtionship with their mutual friend, Gabriel. Though, Gabriel had


    vehemently denied it.


    Inexplicably, Chloe began to sense a connection between Harold and Xavia¡¯s mysterious


    disappearance.


    Back in the private room, Samuel excused himself to make a phone call, leaving Joseph and Xavia


    alone. Xavia¡¯s eyes were red, indicating that she had likely been crying. Chloe discreetly avoided


    acknowledging it, while Nathan naturally maintained his silence.


    Soon enough, Samuel returned from his call, speaking in a casual tone, ¡°Gabe will be back soon. Our


    jolly group of brothers can then finally reunite.¡±


    Xavia looked up in astonishment and eximed, ¡°Didn¡¯t he just take over the family business? How


    does he have the time to return so soon?¡±


    Samuel


    grew suspicious and questioned, ¡°How do you know that he took over the family business?¡±


    She hesitated for a moment before responding nonchntly, ¡°I saw it on TV.¡±


    ¡°We have some coborations here to discuss,¡± Samuel said, looking at Joseph. ¡°How about setting a


    time?¡±


    ¡°Whenever,¡± Joseph replied casually.


    During the meal, Chloe had little appetite but was privy to numerous gossip. As they made


    their way back, she could not help but be astounded by the intricate dynamics of affluent families.


    However, Joseph¡¯s unexpected act of care during dinner lingered in her mind.


    Chloe¡¯s reflection appeared in the car window, and each expression yed out like scenes in a film.


    Joseph, his eyes narrowed with a dangerous intensity, felt a sense of disregard that fueled hist


    annoyance. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and swiftly delivered a firm p to the woman¡¯s


    tender buttocks. A crisp ¡°smack¡± reverberated in the confined space, leaving a tense silence in its


    wake.


    Chloe froze, and she slowly pivoted her head, her hand instinctively reaching to touch her buttocks in


    utter disbelief. Her eyes widened in shock as she confronted Joseph, her voice. filled with incredulity,


    ¡°Did you just spank me?¡±


    ¡®Again, on the buttocks! This marks the second urrence!¡¯


    Joseph met her furious gaze, a mischievous arch forming in his raised eyebrows. He taunted, ¡± Was


    the impact too feeble? Perhaps you didn¡¯t even feel it?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face instantly flushed, a mix of embarrassment and indignation washing over her. You have the


    audacity to admit it?¡±


    ¡®Joseph, have you no shame?¡¯

 Chapter 270

    Chapter 270


    Chapter 270 Just an Insignificant Gain


    Chloe suppressed her anger, realizing that engaging in a verbal battle or resorting to insults would only


    be futile. She stared at Joseph with a feeble re, her voicecking any trace of intimidation. ¡°If youy


    a hand on me again, you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    In the front seat, Lucas could not help but chuckle. The peculiar dynamic between Joseph and Chloe


    was uniquely endearing.


    Back at the vi, after Lucas parked the car and departed, Joseph remained seated inside. His cool


    gaze casually fell upon Chloe, who blinked in realization. She finally grasped the key point of the


    situation before and asked, ¡°You invited Xavia today specifically to discuss the missing dogs incident,


    didn¡¯t you?¡±


    He neither confirmed nor denied, his response carrying a subtle implication. ¡°If there¡¯s a


    misunderstanding, it needs to be rified,¡± he said.


    The incident involving Toto and Oreo going missing made him skeptical of anyone being audacious


    enough to orchestrate it. After reviewing the surveince footage, it seemed to indirectly validate


    Chloe¡¯s ims. He was a person who valued evidence. However, in his mind, it was just a matter of


    two dogs, and he did not perceive it to be asplex as dealing with business affairs.


    Upon hearing his words, Chloe could not help but feel a sense of injustice. ¡°Tsk, you unconsciously


    ce more trust in Xavia than in me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you do!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eye twitched, and his teeth clenched tightly. ¡°I won¡¯t do it again next time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so you admit that you trust Xavia more than you trust me.¡±


    ¡°Are you intentionally trying to provoke me?¡± His gaze returned to Chloe¡¯s delicate buttocks, and he


    lightly flicked his fingers. The lingering sensation from before brought a twisted


    satisfaction to him.


    Chloe shivered and quickly shielded her buttocks, giving him a sweet smile. ¡°I was just teasing


    you.¡±


    Finally feeling a sense of satisfaction, Joseph snorted and stepped out of the car.


    When Chloe finished tidying up and was ready to retire for the night, she noticed Joseph standing at


    the entrance of the master bedroom, his handsome face betraying a trace of impatience. ¡°Are you done


    cleaning up?¡±


    ¡°Just finished. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Sleep.¡± He pulled Chloe into the master bedroom, slipped off his shoes, and embraced her in one


    smooth motion.


    With a soft ¡°click,¡± the room plunged into darkness. In the absence of light, Chloe shifted and


    inadvertently collided with the warmth and solidity of the man¡¯s chest. Her heart raced, its rhythm


    quickening. ¡°Wh-What are you doing?¡±


    Were they really going to reconcile just like that?


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Joseph¡¯s arms encircled her slender waist, his voice exuding a maic allure.


    ¡°Or perhaps you have something else in mind?¡±


    Chloe immediatelyprehended, vigorously shaking her head like a tambourine. ¡°No, no, no!¡±


    He bestowed a gentle kiss upon her forehead, his cool voice infused with a touch of tenderness. ¡°Be a


    good girl and go to sleep.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyshes quivered, and her tranquil heart stirred once more. She closed her eyes. After an


    exhausting day at work, her mind had been drained of considerable energy. Before long, she


    sumbed to a deep slumber.


    The following day, Benjamin persistently called Chloe, inquiring about hering home. Having


    severed ties with Ava and now presented with an opportunity to transfer shares, he sought to expedite


    the process.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Chloe readily agreed and arranged a meeting with Benjamin to finalize the contract. She also took the


    opportunity to tour thepanies under the Johnsons in aprehensive manner.


    She found herself back in the samepany again after six months. Those colleagues who had


    previously looked down on her now wore artificial smiles, going out of their way to please her.


    A hint of mockery flickered in her eyes. She knew their behavior all too well-hypocrites like them always


    put on a show, fawning over whoever served their interests.


    Suddenly, Chloe felt disgusted with this environment. After exchanging greetings with Benjamin, she


    decided to make a swift exit. As she descended the stairwell, she found herself face to face with Ava.


    Ava¡¯s expression betrayed no surprise at seeing her there, and she sneered mockingly. ¡°So, the shares


    have finally been transferred to your name, huh?¡±


    Chloe smirked in response, her toneced with satisfaction. ¡°Just an insignificant gain. Feeling jealous,


    are we?¡±

 Chapter 271

    Chapter 271


    Chapter 271 If You Capture Joseph¡¯s Heart, I¡¯ll Congratte You


    ¡°Stop pretending. You¡¯ve been eyeing the shares for a long time.¡±


    ¡°So? Your purpose foring here isn¡¯t to get shares?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about this meager amount. Only a loser like you would find it appealing.¡± Ava


    raised her chin arrogantly and sneered.


    Chloe grinned and remained silent, waiting for Ava¡¯s next words.


    ¡°I want to sever ties with Benjaminpletely so that when I soar to sess, he won¡¯te and


    bother me anymore,¡± Ava gloated, her voice thick with triumph.


    Even without Benjamin, she still had her influential benefactor, who far surpassed Benjamin power and


    was about to take her to Docwood. But before she left Aesper, she wanted to get


    revenge on Chloe first.


    in


    her


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you already legally disowned him?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough. We need to sign a contract,¡± she said, brandishing the document victoriously in her


    hand before ascending the stairs.


    Chloe gazed at Ava¡¯s retreating figure, her eyes shimmering with curiosity. She grew increasingly


    intrigued by what Calvin saw in Ava. Was he nning to groom Ava as his heir?


    Before Chloe even stepped foot out of thepany, she heard Benjamin¡¯s furious outburst. from


    upstairs. She wanted tough. The people in this family were all selfish individuals. What was there to


    be angry about?


    Upon Chloe¡¯s return to Fairlight, she happened to encounter Sophia who was about to deliver coffee to


    Joseph.


    Sophia had been carrying out this routine every day since she took her leave of absence, leaving her


    workstation with a cup of coffee and returning empty-handed.


    Initially, Chloe found it believable during the first or second instance, but as it went on a few more


    times, doubts arose in her mind. ¡®Is Joseph interested in Sophia, or is Sophia fabricating the whole


    thing?¡¯ she thought.


    Chloe blinked and casually picked up a proposal from the table. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. I need to submit a


    proposal to Mr. Joseph.¡±


    Sophia was startled and nearly spilled the coffee in her hand, but managed topose herself. ¡°Then


    you go ahead. I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡±


    If they went together, Chloe would find out that she had been pouring the coffee down the toilet.


    Chloe tapped the coffee cup with her hand and asked, ¡°The coffee has gone cold. Are you sure you¡¯re


    not in a hurry?¡±


    Colleagues in the department sensed the tension and raised their heads, silently enjoying the unfolding


    drama.


    Chloe had a beautiful face, and she had been diligently applying face masks recently, resulting in a


    wless and delicateplexion akin to a freshly bloomed flower Moreover, her eyes exuded a


    captivating allure. Despite Sophia¡¯s beauty, she paled inparison to Chloe


    Sophia gazed at Chloe, her confidence waning Seeing that Chloe was not going away, she stiffly


    replied, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go together Just as long as you don¡¯t get jealous


    Chloe smiled ambiguously. ¡°No worries. If you¡¯ve truly captured Mr. Joseph¡¯s heart, I¡¯ll congratte


    you¡±


    They entered the elevator one after the other.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As the elevator reached Joseph¡¯s office floor, Sophia suddenly clutched her stomach, wearing an


    expression of pain. ¡°Oh, my tummy doesn¡¯t feel so good I need to go to the restroom first.¡±


    Chloe nced at the coffee in Sophia¡¯s hand. ¡°Should I help you take it to him?


    ¡°No need I can bring it in myself.


    Chloe frowned. ¡®She¡¯s going to take the coffee into the restroom? Isn¡¯t that disgusting?


    Afraid of being exposed, Sophia hurriedly made her way to the restroom.


    Lucas, who came out of the restroom, saw her and reached out to stop her.


    ¡°What are you doing here again?¡± he asked, his voice stern.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas I¡¯m here to use the restroom.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t we have restrooms downstairs? Why do youe to this floor every day? You don¡¯t just use the


    restroom, you also pour coffee into the toilet. The coffee sshes out of the rim, and the cleaning staff


    have told me about it several times.


    The cleaning staff thought it was him wasting the coffee and admonished him not to be wasteful

 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272


    Chapter 272 I Heard Everything


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Chloe frowned. ¡°You pour the coffee into the toilet? Doesn¡¯t all the coffee go to Mr. Joseph?¡±


    Lucas looked puzzled. ¡°Mr. Joseph hasn¡¯t had coffee for a long time.¡±


    ¡®He has been drinking chamomile tea before you two had your fight, and now he needs even more of it


    after you two reconciled.¡¯


    ¡°But Fia here has been delivering coffee to Mr. Joseph every day, and she said he epted them¡­¡±


    ¡°No, she only delivered it once, and I intercepted it. After that, she¡¯d just take a cup of coffee and head


    to the restroom every day.¡±


    As the conversation unfolded, Chloe understood the whole story. Sophia¡¯s face turned crimson red.


    Unable to bear it any longer, she rushed back into the elevator. Just as the elevator doors slid close,


    she saw Josephing out of his office. Hisrge hand casually came to rest on Chloe¡¯s slender waist


    as if he had done it countless times before.


    The coffee cup in Sophia¡¯s hand was crushed out of shape. ¡®It¡¯s true, Chloe and Mr. Joseph are sugar


    dating!¡¯


    Sophia could not wait to make a phone call to that woman to get further instructions from her. Some


    people simply could not stand seeing others doing better than them.


    Chloe wondered if Joseph had never really remembered Sophia.


    She asked, ¡°Do you remember Sophia? The new employee in our department?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Joseph replied indifferently.


    Chloe paused, her suspicions confirmed. ¡°Then why did she do all of this? Just to make me angry? It


    doesn¡¯t make sense at all.¡¯


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Fia seems to know about our rtionship.¡±


    Joseph sat on the sofa, casually propping his legs up on the coffee table. The sunlight from outside


    reflected on his face, highlighting his exquisitely sculpted handsome features.


    He shrugged nonchntly. ¡°So what if she knows? It¡¯s just as you wanted.¡±


    He knew that Chloe had long wanted to make their rtionship public.


    Chloe could not help but retort, ¡°What do you mean by just as I wanted? We¡¯re not allowed to engage


    in romantic rtionships in the office. You made the rules yourself, remember?¡±


    Joseph gazed at her deeply and said arrogantly, ¡°If I have the ability to make rules, do I not have the


    ability to change them?¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes at him, but she had to admit that what he said made sense. However, she had


    not made up her mind about whether to make their rtionship public yet. She would feel immensely


    pressured if it were to be exposed.


    When Chloe returned to her department, she noticed her colleagues¡¯ subtle nces and the


    mysterious atmosphere that pervaded the air. On the other hand, Sophia had a look of amusement on


    her face as if she was waiting for a good show.


    Every department had its gossipmonger, and the marketing department was no exception. Their voices


    traveled faster than the person themselves.


    ¡°Oh my, do you know? It¡¯s been confirmed that Chloe has a fling with Mr. Joseph. Someone actually


    saw him holding her waist as they entered his office!¡±


    ¡°I knew something was off between them. Which employee would receive a cash reward of 30


    thousand dors in one go? Clearly, there¡¯s something fishy going on.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing. I have some insider information, and it¡¯s absolutely true!¡±


    ¡°What is it? Tell me quickly!¡±


    ¡°The security guard at the underground parking lot personally saw Chloe getting into Mr. Joseph¡¯s car!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s concrete evidence! But I heard Chloees from an average family. It¡¯s probably just a fling.


    But let me tell you, I have some insider information too. Remember our former colleague who jumped


    ship to Baxon? He told me a while back that Chloe knew Mr. Joseph even before joining Fairlight.


    Rumor has it that Chloe used to work as a maid at Mr. Joseph¡¯s house at night!¡±


    ¡°Damn, this is exciting news! I have to share it with everyone!¡±


    Tania hurriedly rushed into the office, excitement etched onto her face. But before she could. retract it,


    she collided head-on with Chloe, causing her to choke on her saliva and cough frantically.


    ¡°Ms. Tania, are you all right?¡± Chloe gently patted her back, as if she had not heard anything.


    Tania¡¯s face turned red from coughing, feeling like her neck had expanded by a size. She was filled


    with uncertainty and spoke in a faltering manner, ¡°Chloe, you¡­ You didn¡¯t hear anything, right?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes were crystal clear, and under Tania¡¯s hopeful gaze, she shook her head slowly,


    enunciating each word as if she were a devil. ¡°I heard everything. Every. Single. Word.¡±

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273


    Chapter 273 A Dirty Whore


    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡±


    Tania let out a sharp breath, overwhelmed by a sense of embarrassment that made her wish she could


    simply disappear on the spot. She was merely a gossipmonger and had no ill intent toward Chloe.


    Being entangled in a scandalous affair was regarded as disgraceful, yet being entangled in a


    rtionship with someone as aplished as Joseph was seen as a rare privilege.


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ Chloe, I¡¯m sorry. Can you just let this slide once? I have children to support,


    and my husband is a gambler. I was just bbering to ease my boredom. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    ¡°Well, I am taking it to heart.¡±


    Tania was on the verge of tears. ¡°Please, I didn¡¯t mean any harm. Just consider it a passingment.¡±


    Chloe retorted, ¡°If someone said such things about you, would you dismiss it as if it were a passing


    comment?¡±


    Tania weakly responded, ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°I have a question for you, and you¡¯ll answer me honestly. I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡±


    ¡°No problem! Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Who told you about Mr. Joseph embracing me?¡±


    Without hesitation, Tania replied, ¡°It was Fia!¡±


    Since Sophia had just joined theirpany recently, Tania did not hold back when it came to sacrificing


    her.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Sophia was stunned for a moment and she stammered ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I saw it with my own eyes.


    Just because you have Mr. Joseph to back you up, does that mean people can¡¯t speak the truth


    anymore?¡±


    Undaunted, Chloe smiled at her and said, ¡°That is exactly what I mean. If you say another word, I¡¯ll tell


    Mr. Joseph and have you fired.¡±


    Sophia was momentarily stunned, not expecting Chloe to admit it so readily. Instantly filled with anger,


    she pointed at Chloe and cursed, ¡°You¡¯re ruining the integrity of the financial industry! Don¡¯t you have


    any shame, Chloe?¡±


    ¡°And what about you? Do you have any shame?¡± The smile on Chloe¡¯s face disappeared, and her


    delicate face turned cold. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s fine for you to unjustly target me like that for no reason?¡±


    1/2


    ¡°How am I targeting you? You¡¯re nothing but a dirty whore who got the job through underhanded


    means. You have no right to work with us. You¡¯re unworthy!¡±


    Chloe raised her hand and delivered a resounding p across Sophia¡¯s face. Some people were


    deserving of respect, but some would take advantage of any inch given to them.


    ¡°Oh God¡­¡±


    All of their colleagues were startled, but nobody dared to step forward to stop Chloe.


    Sophia let out a sharp gasp, and a red welt appeared on her cheek. Her eyes widened, trembling with


    anger. ¡°How dare you hit me! Everyone, did you see that? This filthy woman pped me first! All of you


    should bear witness for me. Such a person can¡¯t be allowed to stay in Fairlight!


    ||


    ¡°You brought this upon yourself. Firstly, I never said anything about hating dogs to you. Secondly, you


    unjustly yed the victim in front of Joseph and falsely used me. And thirdly, ever since you arrived


    at Fairlight, you¡¯ve been constantly picking on me. On what basis do you treat me like this?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t! I¡¯m innocent! You¡¯re just using your connections and relying on Mr. Joseph¡¯s favoritism toward


    you to bully a neer like me!¡±


    Chloe looked at Sophia and suddenly smiled. ¡°Be that as it may, what can you do to me?¡±

 Chapter 274

    Chapter 274


    Chapter 274 Being a Mistress Offers No Future Prospects


    Sophia was driven crazy by her shamelessness. ¡°Why you¡­ Have you no shame?¡±


    ¡°Shame? Yeah, I have no shame. I indeed entered Fairlight through the backdoor and Joseph does


    favor me. Just a few sweet nothings whispered in his ear, and he would have you fired. Smart people


    know to please me, but you resorted to scheming against me. How foolish can you be?¡±


    Infuriated and knowing that the rumors had already spread, Chloe decided to unleash herself. Joseph


    was far from being a middle-aged man. He possessed both striking looks and abundant wealth.


    Therefore, even if she were entangled in such a rtionship, it would hardly be a cause


    for shame.


    Lucas entered the department to announce some team-building matters, only to stumble upon the


    heated argument between Chloe and Sophia. He was momentarily taken aback and unsure whether to


    intervene or retreat.


    In her desperation, Sophia caught sight of Lucas and immediately grabbed him, pouring out her


    grievances. ¡°Mr. Lucas, Chloe pped me and even threatened to have Mr. Joseph fire me. She¡¯s


    spouting nonsense. I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Please help me!¡±


    Lucas discreetly distanced himself from her, wearing a professional smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but


    you have indeed been dismissed.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyelid twitched and deeply suspected that Lucas was ying along with her charade. In reality,


    it was not Lucas cooperating with her, but Joseph.


    Joseph had inquired about Sophia after she left. Upon hearing about her persistent coffee deliveries,


    he waved his hand, instructing Lucas to inform HR to terminate her employment. After all, someone like


    Sophia whose heart was not focused on work would only hinder. productivity if kept around, and the


    department members might even have to clean. up


    her.


    after


    Unfortunately, Lucas had not yet had the opportunity to notify the HR department of Joseph¡¯s decision.


    Sophia found this hard to believe. ¡°Mr. Lucas, you¡¯re joking, right?¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Pack up your belongings. Finance will settle your ounts.¡±


    Realizing further resistance was futile, Sophia refrained from causing any more trouble. Like a defeated


    hen, she hung her head in silence, gathered her belongings, and left.


    Lucas watched Sophia leave the marketing department and then proceeded to announce a team -


    building trip before leaving as well. Once he departed, the other workers cast curious nces toward


    Chloe, but no one dared to approach and inquire further.


    12


    Only one colleague, who had maintained a rtively decent rtionship with Chloe, cautiously asked,


    ¡°Chloe, were your words just spoken out of anger earlier?¡±


    Chloe paused, sensing the inquisitive gazes from all directions, and shed a radiant smile, ¡± Of


    course. Fia always intentionally targets me, and it¡¯s been getting on my nerves.¡±


    The colleague patted her chest and said, ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t that kind of person. Let me tell you, even


    though Mr. Joseph is rich, being a mistress offers no future prospects.¡±


    Chloe blinked. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    After leaving Fairlight, Sophia immediately dialed the woman¡¯s phone number. ¡°I got fired. You


    promised topensate me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± A gentle voice came through the phone. ¡°The money will be transferred to you shortly.


    Besides that, do you have any other useful information to provide?¡±


    With the promise providing a glimmer of hope, Sophia¡¯s spirits lifted slightly. ¡°I overheard. discussions


    in the finance department about apany-wide team-building trip. It appears they¡¯re nning a three-


    day, two-night vacation. Oh, and by the way, Chloe was offered an endorsement deal. It¡¯s scheduled for


    this Friday, but I¡¯m unsure if she¡¯ll attend.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s workstation was situated very close to Chloe¡¯s, so she could easily listen in to any phone calls


    or voice messages.


    There was a brief pause on the other end. ¡°What¡¯s the location of the team-building?¡±

 Chapter 275

    Chapter 275


    Chapter 275 You Can¡¯t Expose Yourself in Public So tantly


    Today was Tuesday, and everyone was overjoyed since they were all going on an all-expenses- paid


    team-building trip.


    Joseph was always generous to his employees, providing ample funds for the event. They had booked


    Graceville Estate which offered amenities such as hot springs, a horse stable, archery, and even a


    game room for entertainment.


    Everyone was excited, but some of them had family matters to attend to and stayed behind to work in


    the office. Those who went on the trip brought theirptops with them in case there were any urgent


    work matters to address.


    Chloe joined everyone in boarding the bus for the journey. On the way, ady from the administration


    department distributed the hotel key cards.


    Initially, it was nned for two people to share a room. However, when it was Chloe¡¯s turn, she was


    handed a key card for a single deluxe room. The staff member exined, ¡°We¡¯re out of double rooms,


    so you and another colleague will have to stay in separate rooms.¡±


    Chloe was delighted by the arrangement as she preferred to have a room to herself.


    Graceville Estate was spacious, and since it was not the weekend, there were very few vacationers.


    After locating her assigned room and finishing her unpacking, there was a knock on the door. Chloe


    thought it was a colleague of hers that she had made ns with on the bus to y card games


    together.


    ¡°Coming,¡± she called out, getting up to open the door only to find Joseph standing at the doorway.


    Dressed in a ck overcoat, Joseph exuded an air of elegance. His tall and well-proportioned figure,


    coupled with the corridor lights casting a noble and cool glow on his face, further enhanced his


    captivating presence.


    Chloe stepped aside to let him in and immediately told him about the Friday audition. ¡°You¡¯vee at


    the right time. I have to leave the trip early because I have something on Friday.¡±


    Joseph frowned. ¡°Are you talking about the audition?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for the position of Exotic Star¡¯s brand ambassador,¡± she said. After that, she briefly exined


    what Noah had told her about the role.


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph tly refused without leaving any room for negotiation.


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t expose yourself in public so tantly.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t do it often. Besides, there¡¯s no guarantee they¡¯ll choose me.¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t let you do it,¡± he replied as his brows furrowed. ¡°Even if I agree, Grandpa won¡¯t approve.¡±


    Chloe was resolute in her decision not to give up. The prospect of earning 30 million dors was simply


    too enticing for her to let slip away.


    She lightly sped Joseph¡¯s pinky finger and gently shook it, murmuring under her breath, Just this


    once. I¡¯ve already said yes, and it wouldn¡¯t look good to back out now. Santiago has high expectations


    of me. In the entertainment industry, there are only a handful of celebrities. who have earned


    Santiago¡¯s approval. This is a golden opportunity given to me by fate, and I must seize it. Otherwise, I


    won¡¯t receive any more favors in the future!¡±


    She knew that she could not be too forceful when negotiating with Joseph. Therefore, she adopted a


    soft and somewhat coquettish demeanor.


    Joseph coldly snorted in response to her twisted reasoning. ¡°I¡¯ll let you do it if you can convince


    Grandpa.¡±


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Her eyes lit


    up,


    and her gaze sparkled with enthusiasm. ¡°Really?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he affirmed.


    Harold had a strong aversion to the entertainment industry. When it came to someone entering his


    family, he did not care much about their background. What truly mattered to him was their character


    and temperament, which had to be pure and straightforward. However, most of those who made it in


    the entertainment industry were ambitious and crafty, and since he was so fond of Chloe, he might not


    allow it.


    Chloe was confident in herself. She took out her phone and headed to the corridor outside, dialing


    Harold¡¯s number. Ten minutester, she returned with a triumphant smile.


    ¡°Grandpa said yes!¡± she eximed.


    Josephzily raised his head and looked at her. ¡°How did you manage to trick him?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What do you mean trick him? I just had a sincere conversation with him,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Fine, since he agreed, I won¡¯t say anything else. But this is a one-time exception, and it doesn¡¯t set a


    precedent,¡± Joseph dered.


    Joseph kept his word and did not make things difficult for her. He decided to close one eye toward the


    matter because of the rtionship between the Whitmans and the Sullivans. He considered it a matter


    ofworking and maintaining goodwill.


    Chloe happily embraced Joseph, her face beaming with a smile. She nted a kiss on his cheek and


    eximed, ¡°Jojo, I knew you were the best!¡±


    He stared at the woman who was inches away from him, his eyes burning with desire, and his


    23


    Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down in his throat.


    Just when he was about to take the next step, the doorbell rang.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Chloe called out toward the door.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Chloe. We¡¯re about to start the game. Are you done unpacking?¡± her colleague replied.


    ¡°Oh¡­ um, you go ahead. I still have some things to sort out,¡± Chloe responded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you. We can go together. By the way, there¡¯s something I wanted to discuss with you.¡±


    Chloe sighed, knowing she had to open the door. She ced her index finger to her lips, signaling to


    Joseph not to speak.


    Joseph remained silent, raising an eyebrow in slight disbelief.


    Chloe opened the door slightly, looking at her colleague outside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Her colleague hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡±


    Chloe politely declined, ¡°Um¡­ My room is kind of a mess. Let¡¯s talk here.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Can I sleep in the same room as you? There are only two of us here from Marketing and we


    were assigned to separate rooms, but I¡¯m kind of scared of sleeping alone at night¡­¡¯


    Chloe stared at her colleague¡¯s innocent face and forced out a dry smile. ¡°I have terrible sleeping


    habits. I snore, grind my teeth, and¡­ Well, you get the idea. How about I help you switch rooms with


    someone else who wants to have a separate room?¡±


    ¡°That works too. Thank you, Chloe!¡±


    ¡°Not a problem-¡± Chloe¡¯s words trailed off as her voice abruptly stopped, and her entire body tensed up.


    Joseph had silently approached her from behind, interlocking his fingers with Chloe¡¯s and nting a


    kiss on her delicate, fair neck, sending a shiver of tingling sensation throughout her body.


    Thinking that Chloe was feeling unwell, her colleague asked, ¡°Are you okay? Do you feel sick or


    something?¡±

 Chapter 276

    Chapter 276


    Chapter 276 I¡¯m Fine


    Chloe suppressed her shivers and felt her face heating up.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine,¡± she managed to reply.


    Upon hearing her response, Joseph mischievously ced his other hand on her waist, slowly moving it


    upward while increasing the intensity of his kiss. Her delicate skin tingled at his touch, turning red and


    purplish under his lips.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Your face suddenly turned red¡­ Are you having a fever?¡± her colleague


    hesitated and expressed concern.


    Feeling a sharp pain on the back of her neck, Chloe could not help but let out a groan. Both she and


    her colleague froze.


    Chloe closed her eyes in embarrassment, wishing she could find a hole to hide in. ¡®Damnit! What the


    hell was that? Why would such a sounde out of my mouth? I felt a pain, and that came out of my


    mouth?! People might think I¡¯m having sex right now!


    Her colleague¡¯s face also turned red. Feeling a little scared, she stumbled for an excuse before


    hurrying away.


    Watching her colleague disappear from sight, Chloe pushed away the man behind her and eximed,


    ¡°What the hell were you doing?! Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?! She might think


    something¡¯s wrong with me!¡±


    Joseph gazed at the hickeys on her neck, which stood out prominently against her fair skin. A smirk


    formed at the corner of his mouth as he said, ¡°You¡¯re making me state the obvious. Do you want to go


    for another round?!


    ¡°No!¡± Chloe angrily grabbed her phone from the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m going to join my colleagues now. Goodbye!¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The workers were free to engage in any activities they wanted for the whole afternoon and would only


    gather for dinner in the evening. When Chloe arrived at the game room, her colleagues looked at her


    with peculiar expressions. She felt strange and wondered if someone had been talking about her


    behind her back again.


    ¡°Chloe, there¡¯s something on your neck¡­ You might want to pull up your cor,¡± one of her colleagues


    suggested.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    Curiously, Chloe went to the restroom to check. To her surprise, several vivid hickeys were imprinted


    on her neck.


    Her mind went nk, and a surge of embarrassment coursed through her entire body. However, the


    more intense it became, the more she had to pretend to be calm. Silently, she raised her cor and


    composedly said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Come, let¡¯s y cards.¡±


    The game room was located next to a hot spring, surrounded by ss windows that offered a view of


    the outside scenery. After ying for about two hours, Chloe¡¯s performance was mediocre, and she


    lost about 30 dors.


    As she raised her head, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing by outside-a graceful and


    elegant silhouette. Who else could it be but Xavia?


    Chloe froze, unsure if her eyes were ying tricks on her. She said to her colleagues, ¡°You guys


    continue without me. I¡¯m going out for a walk.¡±


    ¡°Hey, are you upset about losing 30 dors?¡± a colleague asked.


    She answered honestly, ¡°Yeah, a little.¡±


    The colleague was speechless.


    By the time Chloe exited the game room, Xavia was nowhere to be seen. The only direction this path


    led to was the hot spring. Chloe followed it and found Xavia sitting by the poolside, her back facing her.


    Although Xavia¡¯s arm was recovering well, she still could not enter the water for the time being. She


    simply sat by the edge of the hot spring, immersing her feet in the soothing warmth of the water. Her


    slender legs delicately swayed within the pool, a graceful motion that exuded a sense of tranquility.


    However, the toll of chemotherapy was evident, as her once vibrant figure appeared somewhat frail and


    her knee bones faintly peeked through her skin.


    As if sensing someone behind her, Xavia turned her head. A surprised expression overcame her face.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe? What a coincidence. I didn¡¯t know you were here.¡±


    ¡®Coincidence? Didn¡¯t know I was here? She¡¯s talking like she came here first.¡¯


    Chloe frowned, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°Mypany¡¯s having a team- building trip


    here.¡±


    ¡°No wonder I saw a lot of people when I checked in. Usually, there aren¡¯t many people here before the


    weekend,¡± Xavia remarked.


    ¡°What about you? Did youe here alone?¡± Chloe asked.


    Xavia smiled and replied, ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t have many friends, after all.¡±


    Chloe exchanged a few more words with her before ending the conversation. On the way back, she


    took the initiative to send a message to Joseph, informing him that she had run into Xavia.


    Joseph seemed to be free at the moment and instantly replied, [Did you go to the hot spring? Are you


    wearing a swimsuit? I forbid you from going out while dressed so skimpily.]


    Chloe was lost for words. But though she was left speechless by Joseph¡¯s response, she could not


    help but feel a sense of satisfaction that his attention was not directed toward Xavia.


    It was reminiscent of a question circting online: [If a guy encounters his ex in a hospital, and his first


    concern is her instead of his girlfriend¡¯s reason for being there, they are likely to have a fight.]


    ¡°Hey, beautiful. You¡¯re quite the looker. How about giving me your number?¡±


    A man suddenly blocked Chloe¡¯s path, his lecherous gaze wandering over her body.


    She felt disgusted and said, ¡°Buzz off.¡±


    ¡°Such a spicy temper, and I do love me a feisty girl. I¡¯m rich. Want toe with me to my room? You


    can name your price,¡± he persisted.


    ¡°Fuck off! I¡¯ll call for help if you don¡¯t get out of my way,¡± she threatened.


    The man¡¯s imposing stature and muscr build made Chloe hesitate to confront him directly.. The


    narrow path added to her unease as there was limited space for escape or assistance.


    She was aware of the unpredictable reactions some men could have when faced with rejection. Society


    had shown her that some individuals, when rejected, could respond with vulgarnguage, aggression,


    or even physical violence.


    Fortunately, the man she encountered had not crossed that line yet.


    ¡°I¡¯m the general manager of Exotic Star¡¯s branch in Aesper City. Look at this card. It requires a


    minimum spending of 7 million dors to get it, and my ount still has 1.5 mil dors. You can spend


    it as you wish,¡± the man bragged.


    Chloe furrowed her brow and responded, ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°Stop acting all high and mighty. I know all you women love jewelry,¡± he said. As he spoke, he reached


    out and suddenly touched her back.


    Chloe instinctively pushed him away while shouting angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±

 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277


    Chapter 277 Am I Just a Pretty essory?


    The man immediately flew into a rage upon hearing her words and forcefully grabbed her clothes,


    pulling her into the nearby bushes.


    Chloe screamed in fear, her voice echoing through the air. The colleagues ying cards nearby rushed


    to the scene when they heard her screaming.


    ¡°Hey! Who are you?! Let go of her!¡± one of the colleagues shouted.


    ¡°Get away from her! If you keep touching her, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± another colleague


    threatened.


    Seeing the growing number of people gathering, the man sneered dismissively. ¡°I just wanted to have


    some fun with her. Who knew she¡¯d overreact? Those hickeys on her neck prove that she¡¯s a loose


    woman.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s colleagues who were in the game room earlier grew restless when she failed to return, so they


    decided to step outside for a stroll. Unexpectedly, they had heard her cries for help.


    ¡°You sicko! Any normal person would assume that the hickeys on my neck are love bites from my


    boyfriend. Only people like you who hold such perverted views would say such things to conceal your


    own wicked deeds!¡± Chloe angrily rebuked the man.


    The man was unaffected by her verbal assault. The loose suit he wore clung to his body as if it were


    tailor-made, emphasizing his intimidating presence. A designer belt adorned his waist, adding a touch


    of style to his street thug persona. As he walked away, he cast onest nce at Chloe, seemingly


    telling her to watch herself as he had his eyes on her.


    This made everyone feel ufortable and inexplicably apprehensive, giving rise to an unsettling


    sensation throughout their bodies Chloe furrowed her brows tightly, and a shiver ran down her spine.


    Her colleagues recognized the gravity of the situation. ¡°I have a feeling this person holds grudges. For


    the next few days, try to stick with the group during activities and avoid being


    alone.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Seriously? I just recorded him harassing Chloe and uploaded the video online¡­¡± another girl


    said as she held up her phone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you don¡¯t have many followers. You¡¯re just an ordinary person, so it¡¯s fine,¡±


    someone reassured her.


    This brief incident soon passed. During the evening dinner, Lucas absentmindedly scrolled through his


    phone and stumbled upon a video everyone initially thought would have little attention. To his surprise,


    it had already amassed a hundred thousand views.


    He immediately sent the video to Joseph.


    ¡°Sir, it seems that Ms. Chloe was bullied.¡±


    When Joseph saw the video, a few directors were currying favor with him in his suite.


    In the video, Chloe fiercely resisted the man¡¯s advances. However, the man persisted, uttering vulgar


    and offensive words. If it had not been for the timely arrival of her colleagues, the consequences could


    have been unimaginable.


    When the man mentioned that he was a general manager of Aesper¡¯s Exotic Star, Joseph narrowed his


    eyes. Surrounded by a haze of smoke, his eyes filled with determination. He forcefully stubbed out his


    cigarette in the ashtray and muttered a curse under his breath.


    ¡®Why didn¡¯t that dumbo tell me about it when someone harassed her? What am I? A pretty essory?¡¯


    His voice, filled with frustration, echoed through the room, stunning the directors who were engaged in


    their ttery.


    Had they ttered him incorrectly? It seemed not.


    Joseph leaned back in his chair and announced in an icy cold tone, ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Get some rest, sir. I¡¯lle and get you when the dinner starts,¡± one of the directors. responded, and


    they quickly left the room.


    Once they were gone, Joseph called Noah.


    Noah was surprised to receive a call from Joseph and knew there must be a big reason for him to call.


    After all, Joseph was not a businessman who liked expanding his social connections.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, is there something you need from me?¡± Noah asked.


    ¡°Not really. I just want to inform you that Chloe won¡¯t be going for the audition,¡± Joseph replied.


    Noah paused for a moment. ¡°May I know if this is your decision or Ms. Chloe¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°I can make decisions on her behalf.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 278

    Chapter 278


    Chapter 278 Simply Put, She¡¯s My Wife


    ¡°It would be better for Ms. Chloe herself to inform me about this,¡± Noah said, his tone remaining


    confident and gentle.


    Joseph sneered, his voice solemn. ¡°Rather than seeking endorsements for promotion, I


    suggest yourpany focuses on its own employees. No amount of promotion can erase the


    discerning eyes of the public. Character is synonymous with value. Since you operate in the jewelry


    industry, where the majority of customers are women, shouldn¡¯t your employees show some respect


    toward women?¡±


    Noah narrowed his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, Mr. Joseph.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, you can go online and find the answers,¡± Joseph replied coldly.


    Due to therge number of employees at Fairlight, they could not fit everyone inside the dining hall, so


    the dinner was arranged to take ce outside. The evening breeze blew gently, and the lights created


    a pleasant atmosphere.


    When Joseph arrived, Chloe and the other employees had been waiting for more than ten minutes. His


    seat was at the front, and as he passed by a table, he overheard a group whispering among


    themselves, causing him to pause in his tracks.


    ¡°Did you hear that Sophia from Marketing got fired?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Sophia? I¡¯ve never heard that name before.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s that beautiful girl who joined our office not long ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. What happened to her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this is true or not, but I heard that she was spreading rumors about Chloe and Mr.


    Joseph having an affair. That¡¯s why she got fired.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a rumor. It¡¯s true.¡±


    A male voice suddenly interrupted their conversation. The group of chatters shivered and turned


    around in unison to see Joseph standing behind them. His hands were inside his pockets and he was


    looking down at them.


    His face was impably sculpted, each feature carefully carved to perfection. Every angle and contour


    showcased his striking masculinity, exuding an aura that captivated all who beheld


    him.


    Without waiting for their reaction, he walked to the stage.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I have an announcement to make. Fairlight is canceling the ¡®no office romance¡¯ policy and will be


    adopting an open management approach in this regard. Each department will decide on


    1/2


    such matters at their own discretion.¡±


    A silence so profound settled over the venue that one could hear a pin drop. People took a moment to


    process what was happening. Joseph then gestured toward Chloe and called her up.


    ¡°You,e here.¡±


    It was just a short distance, yet Chloe felt an unprecedented level of attention as she crossed it. Her


    palms grew sweaty as her nervousness mounted, yet her eyes sparkled like stars as they fixated


    unwaveringly on the tall and handsome man before her, her cheeks blushing a rosy hue.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chloe whispered to Joseph.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you guessed yet?¡± Joseph raised an eyebrow, his tone filled with amusement.


    Chloe knew what he was going to do, but she felt too shy to say it aloud, so she simply shook her head


    with a bashful smile.


    ¡°You dummy,¡± Joseph remarked, his eyebrows raised in yful exasperation.


    Chloe remained silent.


    Meanwhile, Xavia stood in the distance, observing the scene from the shadows. On the stage, the


    handsome man and beautiful woman exuded unparalleled harmony that appeared to transcend any


    imperfections.


    She clenched her fist tightly, her nails stabbing into her palm yet she did not feel the pain.


    ¡°Today, we have two pieces of good news,¡± Joseph announced, ¡°First, Ms. Wendy from Marketing has


    sessfully given birth to her son tonight. After working for many years and contributing greatly to the


    company¡¯s profits, she¡¯ll be promoted to a mid-level management position upon her return from


    maternity leave.


    ¡°Second, you may have heard some rumors about me and Chloe recently. First and foremost, she is


    my woman, but not in a transactional sense. Simply put, we are husband and wife.¡±


    Chloe raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes as her heart bloomed like a flower. No woman


    would not yearn for such a sense of security.

 Chapter 279

    Chapter 279


    Chapter 279 It Did Not Matter


    Joseph could feel Chloe¡¯s gaze upon him. He lowered his eyes and a smile yed at the corners of his


    lips. His icy gaze was filled with tenderness as he leaned down and whispered, ¡°Is this what you


    wanted?¡±


    To him, it did not matter whether their rtionship was announced or not. He just disliked having his


    private life scrutinized. But if it meant that Chloe would lose her sense of security and constantly bother


    him, he preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    Unable to contain herself, Chloe threw herself into his arms, her eyes filling with happiness. ¡± Jojo, you


    were so cool! I love you!!¡±


    The people below finally reacted, shouting in unison, ¡°Congrattions to Mr. Joseph and Ms. Chloe!¡±


    ¡°May you have a long and harmonious marriage!¡±


    Some bolder individuals hollered, ¡°Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!¡±


    People naturally loved to join in the excitement. With one person shouting, the second and third


    followed suit¡­ Eventually, all the employees joined in, creating a resounding and synchronized cheer.


    Chloe¡¯s face turned crimson. She looked at the man, who was looking at her intently, and shyly said,


    ¡°We should go down-¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Joseph¡¯s thin lips descended upon hers.


    Chloe widened her eyes, and her mind went nk. She felt incredibly embarrassed to kiss in front of so


    many people. However, his kiss was passionate, and she quickly became immersed in it. It felt as if an


    hour had passed before the kiss finally ended.


    Her breath grew heavy, and her gaze clouded with desire. Her plump and rosy lips glistened and


    appeared translucent by the moist kisses bestowed upon them. They seemed to beckon him, silently


    urging him for more.


    Joseph took a deep breath, forcing himself to avert his gaze. He knew that the foolish woman. was


    deliberately tempting him, but he still fell into her trap. From his initial disdain of her, he had


    unknowingly turned into someone who savored every moment with her, especially at this


    moment.


    With the way she looked, he really wanted to pin her down and thoroughly indulge himself.


    After they stepped down from the stage, Chloe did not return to her previous seat. Joseph led


    her to the front row where the board members were seated. The attitude of the board


    members toward her changed remarkably fast. After all, people who could reach such positions were


    skilled in the art of ttery.


    After enjoying a satisfying meal and drinks, Chloe sent a congrattory message to Wendy. Five


    minutester, Wendy replied, blessing her and Joseph with a lifetime of happiness together.


    As Chloe gazed at Wendy¡¯s wishes, her ears flushed with warmth. She had expected Joseph to


    announce their rtionship. What she had not expected was for him to reveal that they were husband


    and wife. The status of a wife held far greater weight than that of a girlfriend, especially considering the


    Whitmans¡¯ prestigious background.


    Throughout the night, Chloe felt her body and mind being enveloped in sweetness as if she had


    consumed honey. However, she could not shake off the persistent sensation of being


    watched.


    Every time she turned her head, all she saw was a patch of darkness engulfing the surrounding


    bushes. Frowning, she chose not to dwell on it, but that unsettling feeling of being watched refused to


    dissipate.


    After the dinner, Joseph had a few drinks. Chloe apanied him to the presidential suite, where she


    handed him a bottle of yogurt.


    ¡°Have some yogurt. It¡¯s good for your stomach,¡± she said, her face gentle and serene, resembling a


    qualified virtuous wife.


    Suddenly, Joseph recalled the first time he had brought Chloe to his family home. He had been


    drinking, and she had fed him yogurt in the same manner. It was hard to believe that so much. time had


    passed.


    Gazing at the woman in front of him, Joseph was overwhelmed by an unprecedented sensation of


    warmth. He chuckled softly, lowered his head, and took a few spoonfuls.


    Chloe ced the yogurt on the bedside table and nced at the time. ¡°You should get some. rest. I¡¯m


    going back to my room to sleep too.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Joseph frowned in displeasure. ¡°Let¡¯s both sleep here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s inappropriate¡­ Even though our rtionship is public now, we still need to maintain a low


    profile when we¡¯re outside.¡±


    ¡°Come here.¡± Joseph extended his hand.


    Chloe¡¯s actions were quicker than her thoughts, and before she could respond verbally, her hand had


    already reached out to meet his. She felt frustrated at her tendency to be drawn to attractive men.


    She could only me Joseph for being too good-looking. She could not get enough of him even after


    seeing him every day.


    With no opportunity for her to respond, Joseph swiftly shifted his position, pinning her beneath him.


    Radiating an inherent authority akin to that of a born leader, he spoke with


    2/3


    unwavering conviction, ¡°Stay with me tonight.¡±


    Their faces were merely inches apart, and their noses almost brushed against each other. Being an


    adult, it went without saying that Chloe knew what was going to happen next. Her cheeks zed with a


    heat that could rival a boiling kettle, yet this time she mustered the courage to express her refusal.


    ¡°Not tonight. I have an audition lined up at Docwood on Friday evening. Can you wait until I finish the


    audition and return?¡±

 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280


    Chapter 280 Feeling Loved


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to go for the audition,¡± Joseph said.


    Under the influence of alcohol, he began his advances like an ambitious predator.


    A chill ran through Chloe¡¯s body as she lowered her head, only to find her clothes torn. She felt a


    mixture of embarrassment and anxiety as she pleaded, ¡°Jojo, please! Give me a few more days!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s breath grew uneven. He caressed her face with hisrge hand as he gazed at her deeply,


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you long to have me? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t undressed in front of me before. Why the


    shyness?¡±


    Chloe felt the urge to burst into tears. The actions she had taken thus far were out of desperation,


    fueled by the mistaken belief that he was Jake¡¯s uncle. If she had been aware of the truth, she would


    never have allowed herself to engage in such behavior. 1


    Joseph ignored her and refused to stop. Chloe¡¯s struggles were futile, so she surrendered and let


    nature take its course.


    However, it seemed that something unexpected always happened during such moments.


    Joseph¡¯s phone began to ring, interrupting the moment.


    He furrowed his brow and his gaze turned cold, clearly annoyed by the untimely call.


    Seizing the opportunity while Joseph reached for his phone, Chloe managed to escape from his


    embrace.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I apologize for disturbing you sote,¡± Noah¡¯s gentle voice echoed from the other end.


    Most people would not mind ate call, but it only agitated Joseph further.


    ¡°If you know you¡¯re disturbing me, then why did you call?¡±


    Even though Noah was young, he had been involved in Exotic Star¡¯s business since a young age. He


    had participated in numerous business dealings, so despite Joseph¡¯s impolite tone, het remained


    composed and expressed his apologies once again.


    Joseph pressed his temple, his tone icy as he said, ¡°Get to the point.¡±


    ¡°Regarding the issue we discussed earlier, I¡¯ve thoroughly investigated the matter and even seen the


    online videos. I deeply apologize for what happened to Ms. Chloe. The manager in Aesper has already


    been dismissed, and we¡¯ll ensure that such incidents won¡¯t ur again.¡±


    Joseph sneered. ¡°That¡¯s what you should have done.¡±


    ¡°Then, we hope Ms. Chloe will attend the audition as nned.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not going.¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Chloe could not hear Noah¡¯s voice, but she faintly sensed that they were talking about her. She perked


    up her ears and openly eavesdropped on the conversation happening next to Joseph.


    Noah remainedposed as he said. ¡°This wasn¡¯t Ms. Chloe¡¯s idea, and I¡¯ve already discussed. this


    matter with Mr. Harold. He said he¡¯ll respect Ms. Chloe¡¯s decision. As Ms. Chloe¡¯spanion, you


    should also show her respect. Excessive possessiveness can have unintended. consequences, Mr.


    Joseph.¡±


    Noah always seemed to maintain an innocent and pure facade while delivering the sharpest


    remarks.


    Joseph scoffed disdainfully as he hung up the phone without hesitation.


    Blinking her eyes, Chloe said with determination. ¡°I want to go for the audition at Exotic Star.¡±


    She did not want to owe Joseph too much. While a woman could rely on a man, she also should


    possess the ability to earn her own money, especially when there was a long-term economic disparity


    between the two. It could inevitably affect their rtionship to some extent.


    She deeply understood that. Even if she were to sell her blood or her body, she would never be able to


    reach the same financial level as Joseph. However, she wanted to repay the money she owed him.


    With that, even if they were to argue in the future, it would not put her at a


    disadvantage.


    Joseph¡¯s shirt hung loosely on his body, entuating his broad chest and chiseled abdomen. His


    powerful physique caused Chloe to gulp nervously. However, he remained unmoved, resolute in his


    decision to not let her go.


    With her hands on her hips, Chloe red at him and pouted. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Grandpa about this!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Are you trying to force me?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just thinking of confiding in Grandpa and sharing my bitter tears.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± he interrupted her, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go, but only under certain conditions.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°What conditions?¡±


    ¡°You are going to stay and keep my bed warm tonight,¡± he replied.


    Having shared a bed together before, she readily agreed.


    Joseph gazed deeply at Chloe. It seemed to him that she did not fully understand what he


    wanted, so he added, ¡°To warm the bed, you need to remove all your clothes so that I can truly feel the


    warmth.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, overwhelmed by a rush of shame. But in order to make it to the audition, she


    reluctantly nodded as her face flushed red.


    Although this was supposed to be a team-building trip, Joseph and Chloe spent most of their. time


    together after Joseph publicly announced their romantic rtionship.


    On Thursday afternoon, one of Chloe¡¯s colleagues from the marketing department invited her to hang


    out in the game room. After a moment¡¯s thought, she agreed since she realized that she had not been


    in touch with her colleagues much these past few days.


    She nced at Joseph, who was sitting on the sofa dealing with his work, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be going to


    Docwood tonight, so I¡¯m going to go spend some time with my colleagues now.¡±


    Joseph had no objections as long as she did not go to the hot springs. If she wanted to enjoy a


    dip in a hot spring, he would rather buy a private resort for her.


    There was no need for her to be d in skimpy clothing and squeeze into a pool with strangers. It was


    unhygienic and dirty.

 Chapter 281

    Chapter 281


    Chapter 281 Tea


    Not long after Chloe left, a waiter came to serve tea.


    Joseph had given Lucas a holiday to rest, hence Lucas did not have to bother with such trifles.


    Chloe¡¯s colleagues were having a great time singing their lungs out at the karaoke lounge. The music


    red, affecting Chloe who soon got into the mood. She had a great time until nine o¡¯clock at night,


    almost forgetting about her audition.


    After she said hurried goodbyes to her colleague, she returned to her room to pack up her things.


    When she walked into the elevator, she recalled that she had yet to tell Joseph about her leaving.


    Hence, she pressed on button for the presidential suite floor and hurried there.


    Chloe had the keycard. When she entered the room, it was pitch dark and she could barely see a thing.


    She thought Joseph was not in the room and was about to leave when suddenly she felt a pair of hot


    handsing at her.


    After that, the person aimed straight for her lips.


    When Chloe smelled the familiar scent, she knew right away that it was Joseph. Hence, she slowly


    rxed her tense nerves. In the next second, he seemed to feel that it was not enough. Pressing his


    burning chest against her body, he started tearing off her clothes in a frenzy.


    In three seconds, Chloe lost everything that was protecting her modesty. She gaped in shock. Although


    Joseph was handsy with her, this was the first time he had been so rough and impatient.


    Gaping, Chloe failed to speak. When Joseph touched her tender skin, he was aroused.


    After an unknown period, Joseph fell asleep on the bed.


    Chloe was left in a pitiful state as she picked up the clothes scattered all over the floor. She felt great


    exhaustion, and her body ached all over.


    She was truly angry this time. Her eyes turned red as she cried aggrievedly. ¡®Joseph was out of the


    line. He promised to only do this kind of thing after Ie back from the audition, but he broke his


    promise.¡¯


    Enduring the difort, Chloe got into the car to head to Docwood. Although she was mentally and


    physically exhausted, she did not want to miss the audition.


    When she arrived at Docwood, she picked a random hotel to stay at. After all, she needed to be in her


    best form for the audition tomorrow.


    The next day, she woke up at first light. Although her physical difort had subsided, that


    bastard had not called her the entire night. Gloominess engulfed her and her grievance grew.


    ¡®Well, men stop appreciating their women after obtaining them. It¡¯s only logical.¡¯


    While she was fancying wild thoughts, Noah called her. He asked her about her address and told her


    that someone would pick her up very soon.


    As expected, a white Maybach stopped at the entrance of the hotel around twenty minutester. Noah


    lowered the car window and exposed half of his gentle face. He appeared quiet innocent and pure.


    ¡°Hope in, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be the one toe pick me up.¡±


    ¡°I happen to have something to do and this ce was along the way.¡±


    Hearing this, Chloe asked no more questions and climbed into the back seat. During their journey,


    Noah tenderly borated to her that it was just a simple audition and she need not worry. All she had


    to do was strike a few poses as the photographer instructed. Besides, she was the only one


    auditioning. If everything went on smoothly, she would get the job.


    Chloe regarded his words as mere civility and simply nodded in response. However, it was all slightly


    amusing to her. This man who was a few years younger than her spoke quite maturely. Both Noah and


    Adam were about the same age, but they were vastly different.


    ¡°I saw the incident where the general manager of Aesper harassed you. He¡¯lle today to apologize


    to you face-to-face.¡±


    Chloe was bbergasted. She had not expected him to think so highly of that incident.


    However, it was right and proper for that man to apologize to her. He should be made to pay the price


    after harassing her. Besides, apologizing was a much lighter punishment than being locked up in


    prison.


    Of course, Chloe epted it.


    The process of the audition was very short and ended in less than an hour. This was also due to the


    fact that Santiago was around. He set his mind on Chloe, but he did not speak to her. He simply looked


    Chloe up and down as if he was looking at a product, then told Noah, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go with her. She¡¯s


    very suitable for this. I like her face very much.¡±


    Noah naturally agreed to it as he had a pretty good impression of Chloe. Her face resembled Luciana¡¯s.


    The only regret he had was that Joseph was her boyfriend.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask Mr. Desmond for a final opinion.¡±


    After the audition, Noah left the scene with Chloe and entered an office-like ce.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the man?¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°He¡¯s inside. Should I ask him toe out now?¡±


    2/2


    Noah nodded.


    After that, the man who took liberties with Chloe at Graceville Estate appeared in front of them, looking


    ashen.


    Thud!


    When he saw Chloe, he got to his knees. Tears and snot flowed down his face. ¡°I was drunk. that day,


    and when I saw how pretty you were, I couldn¡¯t hold back from trying to get your number. I was a


    bastard! I was a fool!¡±

 Chapter 282

    Chapter 282


    Chapter 282 The Shocking Red on the Bedsheet.


    Chloe held that kind of excuse in contempt. ¡°So you¡¯re not to me just because you were drunk?¡±


    ¡®Is someone allowed to behave recklessly just because they were drunk? This man is just an immoral


    person who has no limits and a bad character.¡±


    Noah was wearing a white suit, making him appear young and lively. Smiling, he nced at Chloe


    before he ordered, ¡°Get rid of him.


    Chloe averted her gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now if there¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Are you going back to Aesper?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That Aesper general manager is the son of one of the headquarters¡¯s shareholders.¡±


    Chloe was enlightened. Turns out strings were pulled in that affair. No wonder that man managed to


    be the head of a branch given that he appeared like a convict who had just been released from


    prison.


    Noah took out a gift box and chuckled. ¡°Ms. Chloe, this is our new seasonal item. It¡¯s for you, as a


    symbol of apology from Exotic Star.¡±


    Chloe nced at the invaluable ne in the gift box before she shook her head. ¡°Mr. Noah, you


    handled this affair well and fast. I¡¯m very satisfied. This ne is very charming, and I¡¯m ttered, but


    it¡¯s too expensive. I can¡¯t ept it.¡±


    The smile in Noah¡¯s brown eyes deepened. He repeated himself, ¡°Take it. I¡¯ll be troubled by a guilty


    conscience if you don¡¯t. Besides, you¡¯re about to endorse Exotic Star¡¯s products soon. You have to own


    some jewelry from thepany.


    Since he had said as much, Chloe could not turn him down. She epted the ne and thanked


    him seriously.


    It was already noon by the time she stepped out of Exotic Star. The teambuilding group nned to


    return to Aesper at noon, and she needed more than two hours to get back to the estate. Hence she


    decided it was unnecessary and might as well return to Aesper straight away.


    While hailing a cab on an app, Chloe wanted to call Joseph. She then came across a post that Emily


    had posted to her social media saying that she had checked in at Docwood.


    At Graceville Estate.


    When Joseph came out from the bath, Xavia was still there. She was wearing hisrge shirt, smiling at


    him tenderly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t find my clothes, so I put yours on. Also, I don¡¯t


    me you for what happenedst night. I¡¯ll pretend it didn¡¯t happen.


    Joseph clutched his forehead, feeling a great headacheing on. He had felt ufortable after


    drinking that cup of tea the day before. His consciousness became blurry, and he seemed to¡­have


    slept with a woman.


    When he woke up at dawn, he saw Xavia crying beside the bed, naked.


    Xavia then adjusted her mood and calmed herself. She told him that she would forget about everything


    Last night was nice, but he could not behave like such a scumbag. He was with the dumbo, so he could


    not marry her.


    For the time being, Joseph had yet toe up with a solution on how to take responsibility for what


    happened.


    Xavia had a difficult life. After she was diagnosed with leukemia, she returned to her homnd. to cure


    her illness. Then, she took a blow for Chloe and was now being bullied by him.


    Knitting his brows tightly, Joseph¡¯s expression wasplicated. ¡°Why did youe to my room


    yesterday?¡±


    ¡°I got a bottle of good wine and wanted to give it to you. When I came, I found the door


    unlocked. After I came in¡­¡± Xavia found it too embarrassing to describe, so her pale face


    turned scarlet.


    Hearing this, he looked toward the bottle of red wine on the coffee table out of the corner of


    his eye. The crease between his brows deepened.


    ¡°Joe, I¡¯m going to head home first Rest well I¡¯m very tired, and I want to go home to rest.¡±


    Xavia was generally considerate and sensible. It appeared like she did not want them to embarrass


    themselves even after such an incident had happened.


    Joseph was left alone in the room. He seemed to recall something and pushed the nket aside. He


    then noticed a dark red spot on the white bedsheet.


    It was dazzling like a blooming rose.


    At the same time, it reminded him of his action the previous night, snatching a woman¡¯s most valuable


    thing. He narrowed his eyes abruptly and had a hunch that something was amiss.


    He dialed Lucas¡¯ number. ¡°Get me yesterday¡¯s surveince video from the fifth floor of the


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    hotel now.¡±

 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283


    Chapter 283 I¡¯m Going to Record This and Study Hard


    Lucas was stunned. He did not understand why Joseph was so impatient, but he quickly handled it.


    ¡°Right away, sir.¡±


    Lucas arrived half an hourter. He was at a loss for words when he saw the ashtray on the table that


    was filled with cigarette butts. Joseph would only smoke ceaselessly when he was under high


    pressure. Was thepany in some kind of difficulty? Was it about to go bankrupt?


    ¡°Where¡¯s the footage?¡±


    Lucas lowered his head slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. The lobby manager told me that the surveince system


    of this floor broke down a month ago and has yet to be fixed.¡±


    After a long period, Joseph took a deep breath and stated, ¡°Get out.¡±


    Chloe learned that Emily was having a business trip near Exotic Star. They discussed the time and


    decided to have lunch together.


    At the dining table, Emily smiled happily and said, ¡°Mypany just hired a new employee. He¡¯s a


    fresh graduate and is young and handsome.¡±


    Chloe stuffed a piece of meat in her mouth and chewed it slowly. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t tell me you like younger


    men now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. I like all handsome men. What¡¯s more, this young man is simple-minded. He¡¯s


    handsome but dumb. It¡¯s fantastic!¡±!


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Chloe spurted out some of her food andughed hysterically. ¡°What do you mean he¡¯s handsome


    but dumb? Stop criticizing people like that.¡±


    ¡°s, I think this is the influence of that scumbag. I think it¡¯s better to get together with a dumb man. At


    least he won¡¯t scheme against you,¡± Emily said seriously.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s true if you put it that way.¡±


    Both Chloe and Emily¡¯s ex-boyfriends were scheming but incapable. As long as there were any


    shortcuts, they would go down that path without any hesitation. If the men were dumb, one could give


    away if they harbored any bad intentions. Hence, women would easily gain the upper hand in


    rtionships with those kinds of men. O


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t suffer the same setback twice. You¡¯d better tell me how to flirt with men.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to either. I¡¯d been flirting with Joseph for such a long time, but he remained unmoved.


    I¡¯m unqualified to teach you.¡±


    ¡°Joseph is a slick man. Of course, he can¡¯t bepared with a young fresh graduate. It¡¯s more than


    enough to use the tricks you used on Joseph on a young, inexperienced man. What¡¯s more, I can


    bewitch him until he falls head over heels for me. Teach me!¡±


    Being rendered helpless, Chloe stated, ¡°Okay but I¡¯m unsure if it¡¯ll work. I found my tricks on the


    Inte.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Oh, hang on. I¡¯m going to record this and study it well at home.¡±


    Chloe was at a loss for words but she let Emily be.


    ¡°You must be shameless to pursue a man. Even if you dislike him, you have to show that you admire


    and love him. You have to do a lot of superficial things.


    ¡°Next you have to fit his fancy. For example, Joseph is a very picky eater, so I signed up for a cooking


    ss. Although the effect wasn¡¯t very significant, and he even regarded me as a house helper, it was


    fine. You need to build things up bit by bit. It¡¯s the same when ites to pursuing a man.


    ¡°And you must have a high tolerance and good acting skills. You need to have a sense of propriety. You


    must not overdo things in your pursuit.¡±


    Chloe described her messy experience. After Emily heard everything, she felt sorry for Chloe.¡± You had


    such a hard time pursuing Joseph. I thought you just said a few romantic words.¡±

 Chapter 284

    Chapter 284


    Chapter 284 Learning How to Pursue Men From Coco


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not that simple. Joseph is hard to deal with.¡±


    ¡°I thought it wasn¡¯t a loss for you even if Joseph isn¡¯t Jake¡¯s uncle since he ticks a lot of boxes. I finally


    understand your pain.¡±


    Chloe drank some water to quench her thirst. ¡°Yeah, I would¡¯ve been frank with him and gotten a


    divorce back then if I hadn¡¯t signed abor contract with him.¡±


    Back in those days, she felt as if she had chosen a road to ruin and could not see the end of it. And


    that bastard tortured her every day. Now, the hard times were over and happiness ensued.


    After the meal, they settled the bill and exited the cafe.


    Joseph then called Chloe. She snorted and picked up her phone, muttering unhappily, ¡°Finally thought


    of me?¡±


    Joseph was silent for a moment before he said hoarsely, ¡°I was busyst night. Where are you now?¡±


    Chloe assumed that he was busy with work. ¡°I¡¯m at Docwood and just finished my audition. not long


    ago. I even had lunch with Emily.¡±


    ¡°Send me the address.¡±


    ¡°Are youing here?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll text you the address.¡±


    After Chloe ended the call, Emily asked, ¡°Is Josephing to pick you up?¡±


    Chloe nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Come to a social gathering with me then. After all, it¡¯ll take him roughly two hours to get here from


    Graceville Estate. You¡¯ll be bored all alone. Also, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to close the deal with this


    client of mine today.¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Sure. If we knew this was going to happen, we didn¡¯t have toe for lunch.¡±


    They had to keep on eating even though they were full now.


    Emily winked at Chloe while teasing her. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your man to be so considerate. He¡¯sing


    from so far away just to pick you up.¡±


    A sense of sweetness engulfed Chloe. She decided not to argue with him over what happened. the


    night before since he wasing to pick her up.


    When they arrived at the restaurant, Chloe sent her location to Joseph and asked him to call


    1/2


    when he arrived.


    Unexpectedly, Emily¡¯s client enjoyed drinking and insisted on them drinking together before signing the


    contract. Left with not much choice, Chloe and Emily took turns drinking with the client, and as a result,


    drank a lot and became tipsy.


    Atst, the contract was signed.


    At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Lucas arrived at the destination. ¡°Mr. Joseph, we¡¯re here. This is the


    location that Ms. Chloe sent.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s handsome but cold face was reflected in the rear-view mirror. He pinched the spot between


    his brows before he called Chloe. However, no one answered his call. Luckily, she had told him the


    number of the private room too when she texted him the location, so he simply let himself in.


    The private room was filled with the smell of wine. Chloe and Emily both had their heads on the table,


    the former¡¯s face was red with her lips slightly ajar. She was sleeping soundly, looking quite charming.


    Emily was holding onto her phone and rambling endlessly. She was half unconscious.


    Lucas gaped in shock. ¡°Why are they so drunk in broad daylight¡­¡±


    Joseph frowned. ¡°Take her friend away.¡±


    Lucas nodded and went forward to carefully help Emily up. However, she was reluctant and struggled


    wildly. identally, she touched her phone screen, and a recording started to y. They heard Chloe¡¯s


    voiceing from the phone.


    The recording was pretty long. The more Joseph listened to it, the gloomier his face became. The veins


    on his forehead bulged as his eyes turned scarlet. Every word in the recording was a head-on blow for


    him, causing a fatal strike.


    He had felt guilty all night, thinking about how the dumbo loved him to the moon and back. If she


    learned that he identally slept with Xavia, she would surely be filled with heart- wrenching pain.


    In the end, he was proven the foolish one.


    Hearing the recording, Lucas was bbergasted. ¡®So, Ms. Chloe¡¯s feelings for Mr. Joseph are nothing


    but an act? She even mistook him for Icarus.


    ¡®Well, I can¡¯t take her side now.¡¯


    After the recording ended, Emily shouted some inarticte words, ¡°I want to learn. I want to flirt with


    young men. I want to have it all like Coco!¡±


    After making that statement, shey on the table again and dozed off.

 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285


    Chapter 285 Joseph Learned the Truth


    Joseph snatched Emily¡¯s phone and smashed it hard on the floor.


    Emily was awakened by the noise. When she opened her eyes and saw Joseph, she smiled foolishly


    as if in a trance. ¡°Uncle? Why are you here?¡±


    In a fit of rage, Joseph¡¯s fury twisted into a scornful smile, unveiling a wless set of pearly white teeth.


    ¡°Why are you calling me uncle?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re Jake¡¯s uncle.¡±


    ¡°Why does Chloe want to be with the uncle?¡±


    ¡°You silly! She wants to take revenge on that scumbag Jake, of course!¡±


    A tinge of sadness shed across Joseph¡¯s cold eyes before deep wrath engulfed him. It turned out


    that Chloe¡¯s target at the beginning was Icarus. No wonder she treated him differently.


    ¡®So, she settled for second best and chose me?¡¯


    Joseph could no longer stay there. He was afraid that he would do something extreme if he lost control


    of himself and proceeded to storm out of the room.


    Chloe was not worthy of him touching her. Even the thought of hitting her felt disgusting.


    Lucas hurried after Joseph and said with trepidation, ¡°Are we going to leave Ms. Chloe and her friend


    here? It¡¯s a bit dangerous for two drunk girls to be alone.¡±


    Joseph stopped in his tracks and said cruelly, ¡°What does her safety have to do with me? Or can you


    not bear to leave her alone?¡±


    Lucas immediately fell silent and did not dare to say anything anymore.


    Sitting in the car, Joseph uttered ¡°Vi¡± before falling silent.


    When he was back home, he went upstairs to fish out the contract. Without even looking at it, he


    ferociously tore it apart and threw it into the dustbin.


    Chloe was woken up by a waiter.


    ¡°Miss, our restaurant is going to close soon. Do you and your friend need help getting a cab?¡±


    Chloe looked at the darkening sky outside, wondering why Joseph had not arrived yet.


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll leave right away.¡± Clutching her dizzy head, she got up from the table. She then woke


    Emily who was beside her.


    However, Emily could not find her phone. She looked down and found her phone on the floor,


    smashed into pieces. Great heartache overwhelmed her as she thought of getting a new phone.


    They helped each other out of the restaurant. When the cold wind attacked them, Chloe soon. sobered


    up. After helping Emily to settle down, she hailed a cab.


    After getting into the car, she texted Joseph. But after she hit the send button, she got back a red


    exmation mark. She became dumbfounded. ¡®Did Joseph block me?¡¯


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Unwilling to ept it, she tried to call him. However, a cold mechanical voice greeted her, revealing


    that he had even blocked her number.


    All of this had happened too suddenly, so she could only ask Lucas about it.


    Lucas swiftly picked up her call, sounding much more indifferent toward her now. But Chloe did not


    care about that. She went straight to the point and asked if something had happened with Joseph.


    Otherwise, why would he block her for no reason?


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph learned of your purpose in approaching him.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her mind went nk and her lips trembled. ¡°How did it happen?¡±


    ¡°It was because of your friend.¡±


    Chloe roughly surmised the cause and effect. Joseph hade to the restaurant but Emily was drunk


    and had identally yed the recording. She knew that Joseph would learn about the truth one day


    but she had not expected it to happen now.


    And they had just made their rtionship public.


    The driver drove with a steady hand and they arrived at the vi half an hour in advance.


    ncing at the brightly-lit vi, Chloe became timid. ¡®I think Joseph will hate to see me now.¡¯


    When the driver saw that she had not gotten out of the car, he inquired, ¡°Miss, is it not the right ce?¡±

 Chapter 286

    Chapter 286


    Chapter 286 The Divorce


    Chloe paused for a moment before saying to the driver, ¡°Could you please take me to a nearby hotel?¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The next morning, Chloe woke up in the hotel room. Observing her reflection in the mirror, she noticed


    dark circles hanging heavily under her eyes, making her look like a panda.


    Throughout the night, she pondered her thoughts and gained rity. There was no denying that she


    bore responsibility in this situation. If she had made a mistake, she needed to face the consequences.


    Regardless of how Joseph treated her, she had to exin herself.


    After freshening up, Chloe returned to the vi, only to be surprised by Xavia¡¯s presence. Caught off


    guard, Chloe mustered a reluctant greeting toward Xavia. However, Xavia avoided making eye contact


    and appeared visibly uneasy.


    Joseph lifted his gaze, his expression icy cold as he delivered his words. ¡°This afternoon, we¡¯ll go to


    City Hall for a divorce, and I expect you to have your belongings cleared out before tonight.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face drained of color, leaving her speechless. Before she could utter a word, Xavia, appearing


    more flustered than the person directly involved, interjected, ¡°Joe, you don¡¯t need to bear any


    responsibility for me. Don¡¯t argue because of me.¡±


    Confusion clouded Chloe¡¯s mind as she questioned, her voice trembling slightly, ¡°What responsibility


    are you talking about?¡±


    Xavia, for some inexplicable reason, feltpelled to exin, ¡°Aren¡¯t you upset about the intimate


    rendezvous that happened between Joe and me on Thursday night?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s body trembled, her gaze fixed on Joseph in utter disbelief. ¡°Is what she said true?¡±


    For some unfathomable reason, Joseph took pleasure in witnessing her despair. A wicked grin formed


    on his lips as he casually uttered the most heartless words, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡±


    With that confirmation, a searing pain tore through Chloe¡¯s entire being, leaving her numb and


    breathless. She stood there, immobilized, struggling toprehend the magnitude of the betrayal.


    ¡°After I left?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Do you want to know all the sordid details? I can enlighten you.¡±


    At that moment, Xavia¡¯s face flickered with a hint of anxiety before swiftly vanishing, concealing her


    true emotions.


    Chloe gazed at the handsome man before her, her heart pierced with an intense pain that spread


    through every fiber of her being, even causing her fingers to tremble. But she could not contain it and


    burst into uncontrobleughter. Tears streamed down her face as she


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, and his tone turned harsh as he demanded, ¡°What are youughing


    at?¡±


    What was sheughing at? She wasughing at her own naivety, at how she had once again bestowed


    her love upon the wrong person.


    That Thursday night, she had surrendered herself to him for the first time, believing it was a moment of


    intimacy and connection. Little did she know that Joseph would seek sce with Xavia as soon as she


    departed. It made her question if this betrayal was a recurring pattern, a betrayal that had urred


    multiple times before.


    In a simr vein, Xavia¡¯s uncertainty betrayed her fear, dreading that Chloe would expose the truth.


    Joseph, despite his intoxicated state, had to have some recollection of the number of women he had


    touched and been intimate with. She was afraid that all her efforts would be in vain.


    Chloe took a deep breath, mustering the strength to hold back the pain raging within her. With tear-


    filled eyes, she locked her gaze onto his. ¡°I am a liar, and you, you¡¯re no better. You¡¯re nothing but a


    scumbag!¡±


    A bitter smile curved Joseph¡¯s lips, tainted with a hint of sarcasm at beingbeled a ¡°scumbag.


    ¡°And what gives you the right to use me?¡± he retorted, his voiceced with condescension.


    Chloe averted her gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right. I have no right to use you,¡± she admitted, her voiceced with


    resignation. ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce right now, so we don¡¯t waste any more of each other¡¯s time.¡±


    She was exhausted. The weariness seeped into every fiber of her being, leaving her drained. All she


    craved was a good night¡¯s sleep, a respite from the endless worries and turmoil that had


    consumed her.


    Joseph¡¯sughter evaporated, his gaze piercing into her with intensity. ¡°You were the one who


    persistently pursued me in the beginning. Now, you¡¯re the least qualified to talk about divorce.


    ¡°Did I suggest a divorce? It was you.¡±


    Joseph could not help but feel annoyed. He wanted a divorce, but should she not be begging him for


    forgiveness with tears in her eyes? Or perhaps she had already found someone else.


    Chloe did not try to guess what was on his mind. She turned around and went to her bedroom, taking


    out the marriage certificate. She then said to Joseph, ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡±

 Chapter 287

    Chapter 287


    Chapter 287 Go After Her if You Like Her


    Joseph stared into Chloe¡¯s eyes which held a resolute and pure conviction. This was Chloe Johnson,


    the same person who could tell lies without flinching, express love with a straight face, yet harbor no


    true feelings in her heart. She was the one who coldly watched him walk into a trap.


    As this thought shed through his mind, a mocking smile tugged at the corners of his


    mouth. However, he had never been short of women, and these despicable and vile tactics only


    disgusted him.


    Shifting away his gaze,


    gaze, his voice turned cold and distant, difficult to approach. ¡°Find your own. way to City Hall. You don¡¯t


    deserve to sit in my car.¡±


    Chloe nodded numbly, her steps heavy as she made her way toward the exit.


    Xavia¡¯s gaze flickered, her voice filled with concern. ¡°Joe, can¡¯t the two of you have a proper


    conversation? Your emotions are running high right now. Give each other some time to cool down.


    Maybe there¡¯s still a chance to reconcile.¡±


    ¡°Our matters are not your concern.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face stiffened, and she nodded silently and decided not to argue any further. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be here


    waiting for you toe back.¡±


    As she watched him walk away, Xavia reached into her bag and pulled out a spare mobile phone. She


    typed out a string of numbers and sent out a text.


    During the halftime break of his golf game with some friends, Icarus¡¯ phone emitted a ping, signaling a


    new message. He instinctively reached for it and nced at the screen. His eyes paused for a moment


    as he absorbed the contents. He then turned to his friends and said, Let¡¯s call it a day. I have


    something important to attend to.¡±


    Although he did not recognize the number, the urgency of the message indicated that the sender must


    know something. If there was any truth to it, Chloe would need support andfort in this difficult time,


    and Icarus did not want to miss the opportunity to provide that.


    ¡°Come on, stay a little longer. What¡¯s the rush?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this matter requires my immediate attention.¡±


    One of his friends could not resist teasing, ¡°Is it a multi-million-dor deal or something?¡±


    Icarus smiled knowingly and replied, ¡°No, it isn¡¯t work-rted.¡±


    Chloe exited the living room, and Toto eagerly approached her, seeking affection by rubbing


    1/3


    its furry head against her palm. She gazed at the oblivious dog, her eyes welling up with sadness. ¡°I


    won¡¯t be able to take care of you anymore. Be on your best behavior and avoid eating salty and oily


    foods.¡±


    As Chloe finished speaking, she let out a bittersweetugh and pat herself on the head. Why was she


    having this conversation with a dog that could not understand her?


    With a farewell gesture to Toto, she made her way to the street to g down a cab and made her way


    to City Hall where Joseph awaited. However, just as they were about to enter the building, Icarus


    arrived in his car and called out to Chloe.


    Chloe perceived it as a coincidental encounter and hesitated briefly before making her way toward


    Icarus. She inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s already somber and icy countenance took on an even more displeased appearance upon


    seeing Icarus, radiating an exceptionally chilling aura. His suspicions were confirmed. It seemed she


    could not wait to move on to her next target even before their divorce was finalized.


    At that moment, Joseph felt an urge to kill.


    Icarus cast a wary nce at Joseph, his expression on high alert. ¡°Is he bullying you?¡±


    Chloe mustered a bitter smile, but her words were cut short as a sudden surge of force gripped her


    wrist, causing her to flinch in pain. She found herself staring at Joseph¡¯s enraged eyes and clenched


    jaw.


    Joseph directed a scornful look toward Icarus and mocked, ¡°We haven¡¯t even finalized our divorce, yet


    you¡¯re already eager to be the backup n.¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brow, concerned that another argument might ensue between the two men. She


    attempted to exin in a calm andposed tone, ¡°We coincidentally bumped into each other here.¡±


    In the midst of their exchange, Icarus maintained a steady gaze, unaffected by Joseph¡¯s words. He


    responded with unwavering resolve, ¡°I¡¯m willing to wait for the divorce as long as you stick to your


    word, Mr. Joseph.¡±


    The office employees swiftly processed the divorce certificates, cing them in Chloe¡¯s and Joseph¡¯s


    hands.


    ¡°I still need to retrieve my belongings from the vi.¡±


    Annoyed by the documents, Joseph carelessly discarded them into the trash bin. ¡°Do as you please.¡±


    Icarus approached, his voice softer than before. ¡°Chloe, let me apany you.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll go get them myself.¡±


    Icarus understood her state of mind and refrained from insisting. ¡°What are your ns for the future?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I want to take a few days off and then make a decision.¡±


    Chloe entered the vi, paying no attention to the man seated on the sofa, and proceeded directly


    upstairs. She gathered all her belongings, filling an entire suitcase that she brought over when she first


    came here. Notably, she left behind the jewelry and clothes that Joseph had purchased for her,


    including the precious wless Love ring from Nathan.


    Joseph watched as Chloe vanished from his sight, and a surge of frustration propelled him to his feet.


    He stormed up the stairs, his footsteps heavy and determined. In the guest room, he swiftly rid the


    space of any trace of her presence. His jaw clenched tightly as he forcefully shut the door, creating a


    resounding crash that reverberated throughout the room.


    A few lightweight photos fluttered down to the floor, catching his attention. He stooped down, gathering


    them in his hands. The images captured moments of Chloe and him together, frozen in time. In one,


    she wore a radiant smile, yfully shing a victory sign against the backdrop of a bustling shopping


    mall.


    These were the very photos Joseph had taken while apanying Chloe on shopping


    excursions, naively assuming she would only send them to her grandfather. He never expected her to


    print them out.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze lingered on the photos, his expression twisted with a mixture of bitterness and


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    amusement.


    ¡®Did she purposefully leave them behind? Did she want me to witness her departure?¡¯ he mused to


    himself, ¡®She¡¯s such a cunning dumbo, always up to something.¡¯


    Despite his disdain, an unexinable hesitation lingered, keeping his hand from discarding the photos.


    Instead, he carefully returned them to their original position.


    Xavia walked in and saw his actions, giving Joseph a knowing look. She urged him, ¡°Joe, if you can¡¯t


    let her go, go after her.¡±

 Chapter 288

    Chapter 288


    Chapter 288 Unburdened by Debt


    ¡°You¡¯re overestimating her.¡±


    Joseph paused, his expressionplicated.


    ¡°Last night¡¯s incident was my fault, but there are no feelings left between us. Even if I were to marry


    you officially, it¡¯d be irresponsible of me and would be a waste of your life. If there¡¯s anypensation


    you desire, feel free to ask.¡±


    Xavia bit her lip, forcing a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t want anypensation. I just want to stay by your side without


    any official status, regardless of love. Please don¡¯t push me away. You know, you¡¯re the only friend I


    have left here.¡±


    Joseph nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take care of your daily needs and ensure you


    receive proper medical treatment.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of wasting my life, or are you unable to let go of Ms. Chloe?¡±


    ¡°Neither.¡±


    Chloe got a hotel room. With some savings in her possession, she could slowly search for a new ce


    to live. However, it was clear that she could not continue working at Fairlight and needed to find a new


    job. On top of that, there was the matter of the 28 million she owed. Joseph.


    Pondering her options, Chloe retrieved the jewelry her mother had left behind. After careful


    consideration, she chose a few pieces. Her n was to visit a jewelry store in the next couple of days


    to inquire about their value. If they held significant worth, she would use them as coteral to gather


    enough funds to repay a portion of what she owed him.


    In a daze, Chloe stayed at the hotel for a few days, gradually regaining herposure. Carrying two


    gemstone adornments and an imperial topaz ring, she walked into a jewelry store and politely inquired,


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯d like to know the potential selling price for these items.¡±


    The salesperson carefully examined the pieces from various angles but seemed unsure. Seeking


    guidance, they called the manager over. Even the manager appeared indecisive, until finally, the owner


    of the store intervened and swiftly offered a price.


    ¡°How about 150 thousand for one piece or 300 thousand for both? Does that sound fair to you?


    ¡±


    Chloe stood there, stunned. These two seemingly insignificant trinkets, which she considered


    to be of lesser value, were being appraised at 150 thousand each. If these items were worth this much,


    she wondered about the potential value of the other possessions her mother had left behind. Was her


    mother truly that wealthy?


    After a brief moment of consideration, Chloe ced the imperial topaz ring on the counter and inquired,


    ¡°And how much is this one worth?¡±


    The owner¡¯s eyes sparkled as he examined the ring. ¡°400 thousand.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Chloe maintained herposure. ¡°How about 450 thousand?¡± she countered as a smile yed on her


    lips.


    The owner clenched his teeth. ¡°500 thousand, and that¡¯s the highest I can go.¡±


    The store¡¯s essible cash was only 800 thousand.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment. ¡°I can sell it to you for 450 thousand, but let¡¯s consider it


    coteral. I¡¯ll buy it back when I have the funds.¡±


    The owner¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°You can¡¯t use all three items as coteral. Sell me at


    least two.¡±


    After some negotiation, the jewelry was sold, and the ring was used as coteral.


    ¡°Sir, may I ask how these items are priced in the market?¡±


    ¡°It depends on the quality, age, and craftsmanship. The items you brought would¡¯ve been worth several


    tens of thousands twenty years ago. Now, with rising prices, they have appreciated significantly.¡±


    After finishing these matters, Chloe found herself in need of some additional funds, so she approached


    Benjamin for help. Reluctantly, he agreed to provide her with the money.


    ¡°I heard from Ava that you are connected with Adam Graham. Please reach out to him and finalize the


    coboration. Our hopes for this quarter¡¯s recovery rest on the cooperation with the Graham family.¡±


    Chloe declined, stating, ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡±


    Benjamin expressed disbelief, saying, ¡°Thispany will be yours in the future. What harm is there in


    helping out now?¡±


    Chloe understood his perspective, but she knew that Adam only calls her ¡°sister¡± because of Joseph¡¯s


    influence. Now that her ties to him had been severed, the Grahams would no longer pay any attention


    to her.


    In the afternoon, Chloe transferred 30 million to Joseph¡¯s ount. Now unburdened by debt,


    she felt a profound sense of relief as she carried a lightness in her step. However, on the receiving end,


    Joseph¡¯s reaction was far from joyous after receiving the money. He picked up the documents from the


    marketing department on his desk and impatiently scanned through


    them.


    ¡°What is this? Take it back and revise it,¡± he eximed in frustration.


    Lucas shrank back and meekly responded, ¡°Sir, Marketing has already made over twenty revisions.¡±


    ¡°I demand results. If they can¡¯t get it right after over a hundred revisions, it¡¯s clear theyck


    competence.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ This proposal was actually handled by Chloe. It might be difficult for others to handle,


    Lucas exined.


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Tell Marketing to call her in and have her deal with it.¡±


    ¡®Leaving behind a mess, prioritizing personal convenience, and causing trouble for others.¡¯


    Chloe swiftly responded to her colleagues¡¯ call for help and arrived at Fairlight in a cab in less than an


    hour. Upon seeing her, her colleagues were immediately stirred up, bombarding her with questions and


    expressing their confusion over her abrupt resignation.


    ¡°Chloe, what are we going to do now that you¡¯re leaving?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t manage without you. Ms. Wendy still hasn¡¯t returned, and there¡¯s no one to handle the


    important meetings.¡±


    ¡°Are you going back to take care of Mr. Joseph¡¯s family and children?¡±


    The mention of Joseph pained Chloe, but she kept herposure. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss him anymore.¡±


    The others were taken aback, struggling to fullyprehend the situation.


    Meanwhile, Chloe took charge of the documents and began diligently making revisions, determined to


    address her neglected responsibilities. If she was going to leave, she wanted to ensure a smooth


    transition for the person who took over her job.


    After two hours of focused work, Chloe finished modifying the documents and delegated the remaining


    tasks to her colleagues before preparing to depart.


    ¡°Chloe, could you please deliver the documents to Mr. Joseph? We¡¯re all too afraid¡­ One of our


    colleagues went earlier today and was absolutely terrified. She returned in tears and wouldn¡¯t stop


    crying the whole day¡­¡±


    Chloe did not desire any interaction with Joseph, but witnessing the distress of her former colleagues


    was difficult to bear. Letting out a determined sigh, she reluctantly agreed.

 Chapter 289

    Chapter 289


    Chapter 289 If I¡¯m Heartless, How Did You Deceive Me?


    Lucas disyed little surprise upon seeing Chloe as he had anticipated the hesitancy of the marketing


    department colleagues who had been tormented in recent days.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph is currently avable. You may enter.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Chloe raised her hand and lightly knocked on the door. A displeased voice responded from within.


    ¡°Enter.¡±


    She silently pushed the door open and ced the documents on Joseph¡¯s desk. Her tone was


    respectful yet distant as she spoke, ¡°Mr. Joseph, the documents have been processed. Please. review


    them.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze remained fixed on hisputer screen and his lips remained motionless, treating her as


    if she were mere air.


    Undeterred, Chloe persisted, ¡°Mr. Joseph, the documents have been processed.¡±


    ¡°Why the rush? Is my time not as valuable as yours?¡±


    Chloe pressed her lips together, her frustration evident. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m waiting for you. Do let me know


    how much longer it will take.¡±


    Joseph smirked slightly, his response dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Almost done.¡±


    And so, the so-called ¡°almost done¡± dragged on for another two hours, leaving Chloe¡¯s legs numb from


    standing. She knew the man was doing it on purpose. But choosing to avoid unnecessary


    Finally, Joseph¡¯s gaze shifted away from the screen andnded on Chloe. She was dressed in a pale-


    yellow camisole paired with suspenders trousers, revealing her fair skin. Despite the divorce, she


    exuded youth and vitality, her beauty seemingly enhanced by the experience.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes gradually turned cold, his voice icy. ¡°Rewrite it.¡±


    Chloe frowned, taken aback by his immediate judgment. ¡°You haven¡¯t even reviewed it.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to review it. Yourck of focus on work is apparent, and I can already tell the


    document won¡¯t meet the required standards.¡±


    ¡°Joseph, don¡¯t pick a fight with me.¡±


    ¡°You have quite an inted opinion of yourself.¡±


    Chloe fixed her gaze on the man¡¯s face and softened her tone. ¡°The past is behind us now. The divorce


    didn¡¯t just hurt you, Joseph.¡± She, a young and beautiful girl, had lost her innocence and now found


    herself having to marry a second time. She had nowhere to vent her grievances.


    1/


    Joseph arched an eyebrow, his expression cold and his eyes piercing like knives. ¡°So I should


    apologize to you?¡±


    With innocence in her eyes, Chloe responded, ¡°If you can bring yourself to do it, I can ept it.


    After all, she had only deceived someone and was now exposed. But this despicable man had.


    engaged in infidelity, sleeping with two different women in one night. He was even worse than Jake!


    Joseph let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°You truly have no shame.¡±


    Chloe muttered under her breath, feeling a surge of indignation. ¡°And neither do you¡­¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. So, tell me, how should I revise it?¡±


    His slender and attractive fingers tapped rhythmically on the desktop, creating a nonchnt yet


    oppressive sound. Joseph opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, the office door


    was forcefully kicked open.


    ¡°You brat! We had an agreement to bring Chloe back to the family home for dinner yesterday and meet


    myrades. You stood us up without a single word. Today, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± Harold stormed


    into the room, his anger zing. He lifted his mahogany cane, poised to strike Joseph.


    Chloe¡¯s pupils contracted and her reflexes were quicker than her thoughts. She swiftly stepped forward


    and grabbed his arm. ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t act impulsively. We had something importantst night


    that prevented us from going!¡±


    Joseph observed her actions and narrowed his eyes. Was she genuinely concerned about him?


    In the next instant, he could not help but mock himself. She had always been skilled at acting, and now


    that the old man was here, she must want to put on a show to please him.


    Harold¡¯s expression underwent a dramatic change upon seeing Chloe. Instantly, his old eyes narrowed


    into slits. ¡°Ah, Chloe. You¡¯re here as well.¡±


    Chloe touched her nose. ¡°Yes, I came to deliver some documents to Joseph.¡±


    ¡®Joseph? Doesn¡¯t she usually call the brat Jojo?¡±


    Harold¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Chloe, tell me. Did you two have a fight since you two didn¡¯te


    back to the family homest night?¡±


    Chloe was suddenly agitated, instinctively looking toward Joseph for help. Thetter pretended not to


    understand her intention and lowered his head, leisurely sipping his coffee.


    Her mind raced, filled with nervousness. She realized that if she did not speak up now, she


    ??


    would have to continue pretending in the future. Since they had chosen to separate, it was important to


    be clear about their intentions. Indecision would only lead to further chaos.


    Chloe organized her thoughts and apologized sincerely to Harold ¡°Grandpa, in reality, Joseph and I


    have gotten a divorce I¡¯m grateful for the kindness you¡¯ve shown me during this time, but rtionships


    can be unpredictable, with separations and reconciliations


    Harold¡¯s expression underwent a drastic transformation, resembling that of someone who could not


    ept the truth. ¡°You¡¯re telling me it wasn¡¯t just a fight, but a divorce¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±


    Harold¡¯s eyes snapped shut as he clutched his chest, and momentster, he copsed, fainting


    abruptly


    In the hospital¡¯s emergency room, Chloe paced back and forth in the corridor, consumed by ancety and


    guilt. She berated herself for being too direct with Harold. The old man was fragile, and she had


    subjected him to such a sudden shock. It was all her fault What if something terrible happened? She


    immediately scolded herself for uttering such unlucky


    words


    Meanwhile, Joseph sat on a nearby bench, observing Chloe¡¯s worried and teary eyed expression. He


    could not help but find it somewhat amusing Adopting a magnanimous tone, he reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t


    look so despondent. He won¡¯t die ¡±


    This type of scene had unfolded countless times, if not innumerable times, within the Whitman family.


    The scene in the office earlier was clearly staged


    Chloe¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she eximed in a loud voice. ¡°Must someone die for it to be a


    serious matter? Grandpa is fragile at his age even the slightest bump or scrape could have serious


    consequences for his health. Don¡¯t you have a heart You re just standing here and making these


    sarcastic remarks!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyelid twitched, his gaze turning icy and deep like a frozen pool. ¡°If I¡¯m heartless, how did you


    deceive me?

 Chapter 290

    Chapter 290


    Chapter 290 A Promise for a Great-Grandchild


    Chloe instantly froze in ce, her face flushing slightly. It felt as if she were a high-level bitch.


    This statement seemed to trigger something within Joseph. His towering figure advanced toward


    Chloe, his eyes gleaming with sinister intensity. ¡°Your methods have always been. deplorable, and if I¡¯m


    being honest, quite foolish. Your intentions were written all over your face, and yet I fell for them. At the


    very moment you sessfully manipted me, were you secretly mocking me as a fool in your heart?¡±


    very


    After several days of tranquility, he reflected on their past encounters. From the beginning, she had


    audaciously seduced him, with the only noteworthy element being the sincerity in her eyes.


    Chloe found herself backed into a corner, her hands pushing against Joseph¡¯s chest as she frowned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t paint yourself as the victim here. Dig deep into your heart and ask if I haven¡¯t treated


    you well. Do you truly believe that I never genuinely cared?


    ¡°I¡¯ve never had the audacity to treat you the way you treated me. I¡¯d never utter all those hurtful words.


    I was afraid you¡¯d be angry and give me the cold shoulder.


    ¡°You prefer in food, so I have to apany you in eating such dishes every day. And when we


    asionally have something spicy, I¡¯m expected to be grateful and thankful to you for giving me the


    opportunity to taste it.¡±


    The more Chloe spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Tears streamed down her face. uncontrobly,


    falling to the ground with a soft pitter-patter. Her once-beautiful face was now adorned with tear stains,


    resembling a flower bud cloaked in rain and mist.


    Upon retrospection, she regretted ever crossing paths with him. If only they had never met, she would


    not be engulfed in such misery.


    Joseph observed her disheveled state, crying without concern for her appearance, and an


    indescribable irritation welled up inside him. He twirled his fingers, feeling the urge to wipe away her


    tears. However, he resisted the impulse.


    Stepping back, creating a distance between them, he spoke in a frigid tone, ¡°Enough with the


    pretending. If you want to put on a show, wait until the old man wakes up and perform in


    front of him instead.¡±


    Chloe maintained her silence, lowering her head as she discreetly wiped away her tears with her


    sleeve. The past few days had been arduous, and shedding tears had offered a brief respite.. Yet, an


    unexinable sorrow still weighed heavily on her heart.


    Certain things were irreversible.


    ¡°The patient has regained consciousness. Family members may now enter,¡± the nurse announced,


    opening the door.


    14


    Chloe and Joseph exchanged a nce before proceeding together toward the emergency room.


    Haroldy frail on the hospital bed, and Chloe¡¯s guilt intensified as she gazed at him. Her lips. quivered,


    and she fought to find her voice. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡±


    Harold offered her a gentle smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m okay. You and the brat haven¡¯t really gotten divorced,


    have you? You¡¯re just teasing me, right?¡±


    Chloe anxiously picked at her fingernails, unable to bring herself to reveal the truth this time.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    The doctor approached them and advised, ¡°Please avoid causing stress to the elderly. Don¡¯t you


    youngsters know that your grandfather has a heart condition?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re aware¡­¡±


    ¡°If you are, then why did you subject your grandfather to stress?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize to me. Heart disease, to be frank, worsens with each episode. Each urrence


    carries greater risks. You youngsters should discuss important matters privately before bringing them to


    light.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyshes quivered as she took a deep breath. It appeared that she had no choice but to resort


    to a less favorable option now.


    Grandpa. Jojo and I haven¡¯t divorced. We just had a small argument, and my words were spoken in


    anger. We¡¯ve already reconciled. I¡¯m sorry for worrying you,¡± she exined.


    Joseph arched an eyebrow and gazed at her intently with his cold, prating eyes. There was an


    inexplicable emotion on his otherwise indifferent face that even he could not decipher.


    Upon hearing her words, Harold let out a relieved sigh. He yfully raised his hand and lightly pped


    the man standing beside the bed. Then, he kindly said to Chloe, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Husbands and wives


    have their disagreements, but they always find a way to make up. Don¡¯t forget the promise you made


    me.¡±


    Chloe paused, her face slightly flushed as she recalled what he was referring to.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes and questioned, ¡°What did she promise you?¡±


    ¡°Chloe said that if I agreed to let her film the brand endorsement advertisement for Exotic Star, she¡¯d


    do her best to bless me with a great-grandchild as soon as possible.¡±


    Harold earnestly instructed Chloe, ¡°You mustn¡¯t break your word. You and that brat should pick up the


    pace.

 Chapter 291

    Chapter 291


    Chapter 291 Don¡¯t Judge a Book by Its Cover


    There was a brief silence as Chloe collected her thoughts.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze bore into Chloe, the contempt in his eyes zing. He was convinced that she was a


    stupid woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Unfortunately, there would be someone


    better, and Chloe¡¯s acting skills were inferior to those of Harold¡¯s.


    Exiting the ward, Chloe turned to Joseph and said, ¡°We can¡¯t let Grandpa find out the truth for now. He


    can¡¯t handle any more shocks.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Joseph replied, his hands casually tucked in his pockets, his demeanor cold and impassive.


    Chloe furrowed her brows again. ¡®He¡¯s your grandfather. How can you act as if it¡¯s none of your


    concern?¡¯ she thought.


    Speaking calmly, she proposed, ¡°I¡¯ll give you three months. Xavia can take my ce during that time,


    and after that, we¡¯ll go our separate ways. During these three months, I¡¯ll cooperate with you.¡±


    She was willing to persevere a little longer for the sake of Harold¡¯s well-being.


    Joseph clenched his jaw tightly, his eyes filled with a dark gloom. ¡®Does she really want to end


    everything between us like this?¡¯ he thought.


    ¡°Xavia will not be marrying into the Whitmans,¡± he stated.


    ¡°Huh? But why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Chloe recalled Samuel mentioning that Harold, for some unknown reason, did not like Xavia. However,


    she did not probe further and instead said, ¡°You should talk to Grandpa as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Why? Are you in a hurry to find a new husband?¡± Joseph replied coldly.


    She choked for a moment then retaliated, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to get in between. you and Xavia.¡±


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong with this guy? I¡¯m doing this for his sake, yet he¡¯s so ungrateful!¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± he asked.


    Well, it was only natural for her to regret it. After all, Icarus was not as great as him.


    Chloe was speechless and replied nonchntly, ¡°Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re right.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s mood improved significantly. However, regrets were useless, and he was not one to


    look back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you three months to deal with Grandpa,¡± he stated.


    ¡°And why should I?¡± Chloe questioned.


    ¡°Because you deceived my feelings,¡± he replied.


    ¡°But you cheated on me!¡±


    ¡°You deceived me first.¡±


    Besides, that night was an ident.


    Chloe was so infuriated that her chest heaved up and down heavily. She tried to calm herself and said,


    ¡°I can¡¯t handle this alone. You¡¯re Mr. Harold¡¯s grandson and thus have more opportunities to interact


    with him. There are certain things that only you can say. Let¡¯s both try our best to find solutions, all


    right?¡±


    Finally, Joseph nodded in agreement. But within the next second, he abruptly changed the subject,


    ¡°The 30 million dors you returned to me. Did Icarus give you that money?¡±


    She rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. ¡°It¡¯s my own savings. I asked for a bit from Benjamin as


    well. Don¡¯t assume everyone has such narrow-minded motives.¡±


    After she was finished speaking, she did not want to engage with him any further. With her canvas bag


    in hand, she stormed off.


    Originally, she had nned to wait for the endorsement fee from Exotic Star before paying Joseph


    back. But now, she did not want to wait anymore. She did not want to owe him


    anything.


    After leaving the hospital, Chloe received a call from Emily, inviting her to dinner.


    ¡°Not tonight. I want to go to the Johnsons¡¯ office and have a look at its financial situation,¡± she replied.


    If she wanted to inherit the assets, she needed to understand all of it.


    ¡°I see,¡± Emily responded, and then suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Joseph to have someone keep an


    eye on it for you?¡±


    From Emily¡¯s perspective, entering a wealthy family meant leading a life of leisure without having to lift


    a finger. She could just rely on nannies and housekeepers to handle all the chores, while she indulged


    in leisurely afternoon tea sessions with her besties.


    ¡°Joseph and I broke up,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°What? Are you serious?!¡±


    Chloe gritted her teeth, ¡°Yes! And it¡¯s all thanks to you!¡±


    Although they would have broken up anyway, Chloe was now painted to bepletely at fault.


    Emily, after being made aware of the full story, was so shocked that her jaw almost fell off.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! This is all my fault! One thing though¡­ I don¡¯t believe that Joseph would cheat on you


    and go as far as to sleep with two different women in one night. Could there be some sort of


    misunderstanding? He doesn¡¯t strike me as someone who would have such an active sex life¡­¡±


    ¡®Really?¡¯


    A thought crossed Chloe¡¯s mind, causing her face to flush. Irritated, she retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book


    by its cover.¡±

 Chapter 292

    Chapter 292


    Chapter 292 Struck a Chord


    ¡°But I don¡¯t think Joseph is that kind of person¡­¡±


    Chloe fell silent for a moment and asked, ¡°What makes you say so?¡±


    ¡°You see, Joseph is highly aplished. He possesses wealth, looks, and a prominent social.


    standing. With just a wave of his hand, women would flock to him. If he intended to engage in multiple


    affairs, I believe he wouldn¡¯t bother concealing it from you. Instead, he¡¯d more likely inform you


    beforehand. Something like, ¡®My dear, here¡¯s the amount I¡¯ll provide you and your ¡°good sister¡± every


    month. You two should get along well and take good care of my needs, Emily exined.


    ¡°What you¡¯re saying does make some sense¡­¡± Chloe reluctantly admitted.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I said it might be a misunderstanding. After all, considering that Joseph publicly dered


    your rtionship at the team-building trip, it¡¯s highly unlikely for him to sleep with Xavia after that. It


    simply doesn¡¯t add up,¡± Emily continued.


    ¡°Even if there¡¯s a misunderstanding, it¡¯s a fact that he had a rtionship with Xavia. He admitted it


    himself,¡± Chloe stated.


    Emily pondered intensely, her mind racing in search of a solution. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible. that Xavia


    orchestrated all of this?¡± she contemted.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Joseph is smart, so he wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Chloe hesitated, unsure if she shouldpletely


    dismiss the possibility given Xavia¡¯s maniptive nature.


    ¡°Listen to me. Find an opportunity for the two of you to sit down and have a proper conversation,¡± Emily


    suggested.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s useless. He won¡¯t forgive me for lying, and this is a matter of principle. I can¡¯t just let


    it go.¡±


    Both Chloe and Joseph held their share of responsibility in the situation they currently found


    themselves in. Perhaps the wrong choices made in the beginning had inevitably led to this unhappy


    ending.


    After ending the call, Emily was consumed by a profound sense of self-me. It had been no easy task


    for her best friend to find a wealthy and attractive man, and no, she had ruined it all.


    Even though Chloe hadbeled Joseph as a scumbag, Emily refused to fully believe it. She sprang up


    from the bed and made up her mind to go and talk to Joseph. Regardless of whether they could


    reconcile, she had to rify things for Chloe.


    Admittedly, Chloe¡¯s initial intention was to be Joseph¡¯s wife as a means of exacting revenge


    against Jake, thinking he was Jake¡¯s uncle. But as time passed, she developed genuine feelings for


    Joseph.


    Deciding to take action, Emily drove to Fairlight and approached the receptionist on the ground floor.


    ¡°Hello, I have something to discuss with Joseph.¡±


    The receptionist smiled and asked, ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Mr. Joseph is very busy. If you don¡¯t have an appointment, I can¡¯t let you go up, ¡°the


    receptionist politely informed her.


    ¡°Please pass along a message for me. Let him know that I¡¯vee to resolve things for Chloe, ¡°Emily


    requested.


    Hesitating for a moment upon hearing that Emily knew Chloe, the receptionist decided to make a


    phone call and inform Lucas about the situation. Lucas ryed the message to Joseph who did not


    even lift his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see her,¡± he said.


    If Emily was a friend of Chloe¡¯s, then she was also someone of questionable character.


    Lucas conveyed the message to the receptionist, who kindly declined Emily¡¯s request once


    more.


    Clenching her fists, Emily pressed on, ¡°What time does the office close?¡±


    ¡°We normally finish at six,¡± the receptionist replied.


    ¡®All right, six o¡¯clock it is. I¡¯ll wait for him until he gets off work,¡¯ Emily thought to herself.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    However, to her surprise, Joseph appeared downstairs a little after five, cutting short her waiting time.


    When Emily spotted him, she hurriedly approached him, determined to have at


    conversation.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I have something to tell you!¡± Emily eximed, trying to catch his attention.


    Joseph nced at her indifferently, his tone chilly as he said, ¡°I¡¯m not interested. There¡¯s no need for


    you to speak.¡±


    Emily hesitated for a moment but mustered up her courage and said, ¡°No, I have to tell you. The


    recording on my phone isn¡¯t what you think it is.¡±


    Joseph remained expressionless, his eyes filled with mockery.


    Despite the chill running down her spine under his piercing gaze, Emily gathered her strength and


    looked at Joseph seriously. ¡°Mr. Joseph, I admit that Chloe initially mistook you for Icarus at the bar,


    which led to her pursuing you. But that was just the beginning of everything. The real reason you two


    fell in love was because of the connection you share.¡±


    Joseph sneered. ¡°Go on.¡±


    2/3


    ¡®Go on with your lies.¡¯


    ¡°While it¡¯s true that Chloe deceived you, her feelings for you are genuine. She frequently boasted to me


    about your kindness, how you bought her clothes and bags, and even mentioned the favorable


    treatment she received from your grandfather. She expressed a genuine desire to be a part of the


    Whitmans if given the opportunity.¡±


    Emily erged a chat conversation on her phone screen for Joseph to see. The messages showed


    Chloe¡¯s excessive praise for Joseph, dating back about two months when he gave


    bonus.


    Joseph squinted slightly.


    her a


    ¡°You two should sit down and have a proper conversation,¡± Emily suggested, her voice tinged with


    uneasiness. ¡°I know there¡¯s nothing going on between you and Xavia. I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re that kind of


    person.¡±


    Her words struck a chord.


    Joseph¡¯s heart ached as his mind raced. Even her friend knew that his rtionship with Xavia was a


    result of a misunderstanding, yet Chloe hadbeled him as a two-timing scoundrel.


    Emily felt that she might have hit the mark when Joseph did not say anything. Her lips parted once


    again, determined to press on. ¡°Since it¡¯s just a misunderstanding, the two of you should clear things


    up. Don¡¯t wait until it¡¯s toote before having regrets.¡±

 Chapter 293

    Chapter 293


    Chapter 293 Come To My House Tonight


    As ifpelled by something, Joseph asked, ¡°Does she regret it?¡±


    ¡°Does she regret it? Yes, she does! She regrets everything immensely. She cried for days, her heart


    and mind consumed by thoughts of you!¡± Emily rambled, simultaneously offering a silent apology to


    Chloe.


    Although Chloe had not explicitly expressed her regret to Emily, she could sense Chloe¡¯s genuine


    concern for the rtionship. Hence, Emily felt it was time for her to step forward and


    take matters into her own hands.


    ¡°But what good is her regret now? It holds no significance,¡± Joseph retorted, his voice dripping with


    sarcasm.


    Emily blinked. ¡°Then go and talk to her. Win her back.¡±


    His face sank and he ignored her. ¡®Talk to her? Win her back? What nonsense. On what basis does she


    assume that I can¡¯t live without that dumbo?¡±


    Emily watched as the Rolls-Royce vanished into a swirling cloud of dust, leaving behind a lingering


    question mark in her mind.


    What did that mean? Did her efforts have any effect?


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Regardless of the efficacy of her endeavors, she had done everything within her power at this point.


    Whatever happens next rested solely in their hands.


    Once Chloe finished reviewing the financial reports at the Johnsons¡¯ office, she returned home with


    Benjamin. After spending the night there, she woke up the next day to the warm embrace of sunlight


    streaming through the window, feeling rejuvenated and invigorated.


    As she made her way to the dining room to get herself a ss of juice, she noticed something was


    wrong with Benjamin. His face was twisted in pain and he was crouched on the floor, seemingly


    searching for something underneath the wine disy cab.


    When Benjamin caught sight of Chloe, he gestured toward himself and then pointed beneath the


    cab, struggling to speak. ¡°The¡­The medicine¡­ It fell¡­under¡­¡±


    It was only now Chloe remembered that Benjamin suffered from severe asthma and relied on


    medication to manage his condition as it could pose a threat to his life if left unattended.


    ¡°I see,¡± Chloe responded in a detached tone as she ced the juice on the table. She knelt down and


    reached her arm under the cab, attempting to retrieve the medicine. After a few futile attempts, she


    came up empty-handed.


    By this point, Benjamin was drenched in cold sweat, gasping for breath, and unable to utter a


    3/3


    word. Chloe tried again but to no avail. Helplessly, she shrugged. ¡°It seems the medicine may be too


    far inside for me to reach. Do you have any spare medication?¡±


    Gasping for breath, Benjamin mustered all his remaining energy to weakly raise his hand and point


    toward the upstairs bedroom, using simple gestures to convey his message. Every ounce of strength


    within him was expended in that single act.


    Chloe nodded, her slender legs taking a few steps forward when a thought suddenly struck her and she


    paused. She turned back and gazed at Benjamin. ¡°Am I the only one who can save you now?¡±


    Benjamin could no longer speak, but the intense desire to survive zed in his eyes.


    With deliberate steps, Chloe walked back to Benjamin, her figure towering above him. She observed


    the shock that was etched across his face, her gaze unwavering. Her voice, now chillingly cold, pierced


    through the air as she spoke, ¡°Wasn¡¯t my mother in a simr situation before she passed away?¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s pupils dted, a mixture of shock, panic, and fear cascading over his features.


    ¡°My mother begged desperately, but you intentionally ignored her pleas. How desperate she must have


    been to cling to life. What did she do to deserve what she got? You were her legal husband, and what


    you did verges on deliberate murder!¡± Chloe¡¯s words sliced through the air,den with anger and


    usation. She shut her eyes tightly, unable to conceal her seething hatred as her voice quivered.


    ¡°Today, you shall experience the same torment.¡±


    Summoning hisst ounce of strength, Benjamin clutched onto her ankle, his face flushed, hist eyes


    pleading for forgiveness and brimming with the desperate desire to survive.


    Chloe called Karen and ced the phone in front of him. ¡°You can ask Karen for help. If she¡¯s willing to


    save you, I¡¯ll immediately go upstairs and get the medicine for you.


    Unfortunately, Karen did not pick up.


    Benjamin struggled to catch his breath, his face contorted with anguish. Deep down, he regretted it all.


    When he discovered that Ava was not his biological daughter, he was filled with remorse. He had


    hoped to make amends with Chloe, clinging to the belief that he still had a chance. Little did he know


    that Chloe had long been aware of the truth.


    In despair, darkness enveloped Benjamin and he passed out.


    Chloe wiped away the tears that welled up in the corners of her eyes and dialed emergency services.


    Though she desired revenge against Benjamin, she had no intention of viting thew in her pursuit.


    For now, she had a more important task at hand.


    After sending Benjamin to the hospital, she would inevitably have to report the incident to the police.


    With so many years having passed, the evidence was surely long gone. The only witness who could


    render Benjamin powerless was Wren.


    However, one hurdle remained. Joseph was the one who had discovered Wren had and Chloecked


    any means to contact her. To locate Wren, she would first need to find Joseph.


    The thought of their shattered rtionship caused a headache to gnaw at Chloe¡¯s mind. With no other


    choice, she mustered the courage to dial the man¡¯s number.


    ¡°Can you hand over Wren to me? I¡¯m nning to report what happened to the police.¡± In a distant yet


    polite manner, she conveyed her plea.


    The man responded slovenly, his voice tinged with arrogance, ¡°Beg me.¡±


    ¡°Please¡­¡± Chloe said reluctantly.


    ¡®What a despicable bastard!¡±


    ¡°You call that begging?¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips. ¡°Then what do you want in return?¡±


    There was a three-second pause on the other end before he replied, ¡°Come to my house and serve me


    tonight.¡±


    Chloe assumed that he meant by ¡°serve¡± was cooking for him, taking care of Toto, or handling some


    household chores. Without much thought, she readily agreed.


    ¡°Go and make the report now and send me the hospital address. I¡¯ll bring Wren to you,¡± he said.

 Chapter 294

    Chapter 294


    Chapter 294 Is Your Heart Made of Stone?


    An hourter, Joseph arrived at the hospital, followed by Lucas with Wren in tow.


    Joseph nced toward the hospital ward and asked, ¡°Have the police arrived?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and Benjamin has regained consciousness. They¡¯re questioning him right now,¡± Chloe replied.


    He nodded, knocked on the door, and entered the room. Benjamin had been incessantly arguing his


    case until Wren appeared before him. Instantly, his spirit withered, and he appeared dejected.


    Benjamin looked at Chloe and murmured, ¡°How long have you been nning this?¡±


    ¡°Not long. About the time you divorced Karen,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°And you manipted the paternity test report too?¡± Benjamin asked.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Chloe confirmed.


    With these words, Chloe shattered Benjamin¡¯s final illusion. He admitted his guilt and imed that


    Karen was the mastermind.


    Considering the seriousness of the crime, the police swiftly arrested Karen. At the time of her arrest,


    Karen was at a beauty salon with a friend, proudly boasting about Ava¡¯s imminent. marriage into a


    prestigious family in Docwood.


    Her friend was taken aback. ¡°Are you referring to the Whitmans?¡±


    ¡°Yes. In a few days, Mr. Jonathan will be bringing Ava home to meet his parents. I think they¡¯ll


    announce their wedding soon,¡± Karen gleefully shared.


    In Docwood, one could not stand firm without strong support. Thanks to Calvin who had been


    introducing Ava as his goddaughter to the outside world-even though his influence could not match the


    Whitmans, he could not be taken lightly either-Jonathan was quite satisfied with Ava¡¯s association with


    him.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Her friend inquired, ¡°Mr. Jonathan? The son of Mr. Preston?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s Ava¡¯s boyfriend,¡± Karen confirmed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should say this, but I remember he isn¡¯t the eldest grandson in the Whitman family. In


    families like the Whitmans, the first child typically inherits the family wealth,¡± her friend added.


    Karen cunningly smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve done my research. The eldest grandson


    of the Whitmans is usually abroad, and the family business is managed by Mr. Jonathan.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right! When Ava bes part of the Whitmans through marriage, your life will be


    filled with opulence andfort. When she bes Mr. Jonathan¡¯s wife, as your friend, I¡¯ll bask in the


    glory of your elevated status just by sharing this news!¡± her friend eximed with excitement.


    But before the words could fully sink in, several uniformed police officers burst through the door.


    ¡°Karen Smith? Based on a report, you are suspected of intentional homicide. We request that you


    apany us to the police station for interrogation,¡± one of the officers dered.


    Karen was dumbfounded by the sudden appearance of the police. ¡°O-Officers, y-you must have


    mistaken me for someone else,¡± she stammered in disbelief.


    ¡°There¡¯s no mistake,¡± the officer replied sternly, swiftly cing handcuffs on her wrists and forcefully


    escorting her to the police car.


    When Ava learned of her mother¡¯s situation, she initially considered seeking help from Calvin.


    However, fearing that he might uncover her true identity, she decided against it.


    In the end, she left the station alone. As she stepped out of the station, Ava¡¯s anger surged within her.


    ¡°That fucking bitch has already caused my parents to divorce, yet she still isn¡¯t satisfied, and now, she


    wants to send my mother to prison?!¡±


    Ava sought the guidance of awyer to gain aprehensive understanding of the situation. With the


    existence of witnesses and Benjamin¡¯s admission of guilt, the evidence against Karen was substantial.


    While her role as the mastermind was still being investigated, it was certain that she would be facing a


    minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison due to the gravity of the charges.


    ¡®Does she think I¡¯m a doormat she can just walk all over?!¡±


    Ava stormed into the Johnsons¡¯ office, forcefully kicking open the door to the general manager¡¯s office.


    Pointing her finger at Chloe, she shouted, ¡°Why are you so evil?! The family raised you for over twenty


    years, and now you want to send our parents to prison?! Is your heart made of stone?!¡±

 Chapter 295

    Chapter 295


    Chapter 295 Say No to a Woman Like Her


    Chloe slowly looked away from the financial report and fixed her gaze on Ava¡¯s face. She chuckled


    lightly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want others to know about it, then don¡¯t do it. As simple as that.


    Some actions came with consequences that had to be borne.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense. My mother was Daddy¡¯s first love. It was your mother who cameter


    and snatched her ce. In the end, she couldn¡¯t even take care of him due to her ailing body. My


    mother merely put her out of her misery!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression turned cold, and she swiftly picked up a cup of hot coffee from the table. and


    sshed it on Ava¡¯s face. The scalding coffee caused Ava to scream in pain and grimace, as if ready to


    lunge at Chloe in retaliation. However, Chloe swiftly sidestepped, evading her attack and leaving her


    falling to the floor in a clownish manner.


    With her face now sshed with the coffee, Ava¡¯s expression turned fierce as she menacingly


    threatened, ¡°Tell the police to release my mother right now or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    ¡°Oh? And how will I regret it?¡±


    ¡°Jonathan Whitman is my boyfriend. He¡¯s the heir of the greatest family in Docwood. With a mere wave


    of his fingers, he can make your life a living hell!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s gaze shimmered with intrigue. ¡®Isn¡¯t Jonathan Joseph¡¯s cousin? But that doesn¡¯t make


    sense.¡¯


    The impression he left on her during theirst encounter was that of someone who despised the less


    privileged. Why would he associate with someone like Ava, whocked any notable background? Was


    it because of Calvin?


    Observing Chloe¡¯sck of response, Ava assumed she had been intimidated and rose from the floor


    with an air of arrogance. Sneering, she uttered, ¡°Be sensible and go talk to the police soon. Tell them


    that you fabricated all of this and have my mother released. If I happen to be in a generous mood, I


    may choose to spare you.¡±


    Chloe smiled. ¡°Do you think the police are a bunch of idiots? Instead ofing to me, why don¡¯t you go


    find Wren and see if you can persuade her not to testify in court?¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Ava gritted her teeth and snarled, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to teach me what to do!¡±


    She knew very well that the most effective approach was to find Wren, but Wren had already been


    detained and she could not meet her. That¡¯s why she had no choice but to seek out Chloe.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re well aware of that, please leave. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware that although the Johnsons


    may not earn a lot of money, we do have plenty of security guards.¡±


    Ava felt a chill run down her spine as she worried that Chloe might resort to extreme


    measures. Choosing not to linger, she clenched her teeth and cursed, ¡°Your mother deserved to die


    early! With a daughter like you, she couldn¡¯t have lived long anyway. Just wait and see. I won¡¯t let you


    off the hook, you f*cking b*tch!¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brow, but in the next moment, a quick realization dawned upon her. If Ava had not


    actively provoked her, she could pretend to know nothing. However, since Ava chose the most


    offensive words to attack her, it was impossible for her to remain indifferent.


    After all these years, she finally understood that reasoning with Karen and Ava was futile. To deal with


    the devil, one must be the devil. The Whitmans had a private chat group, and Harold had added


    Chloe. The group consisted of a small number of members, totaling to six, including Jonathan.


    Chloe added Jonathan, and the eptance of her friend request came in the evening. In


    response, Jonathan promptly sent a question mark, asserting his presence and putting up a strong


    front.


    Chloe wasted no time and sent him the details of Ava¡¯s past misdeeds. Shortly after, Jonathan made a


    voice call, his tone filled with interrogation. ¡°How do you know so much? What evidence do you have to


    prove that Ava is such a person?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you believe me or not. Feel free to ask around,¡± Chloe replied calmly.


    Jonathan did not trust Chloe wholeheartedly. He turned to his mother and sought her advice. If what


    Chloe said was true, he would never allow such a woman to enter the Whitman family.


    measures. Choosing, not to linger, she clenched her teeth and cursed, ¡°Your mother deserved to die


    early! With a daughter like you, she couldn¡¯t have lived long anyway. Just wait and see. It won¡¯t let you


    off the hook, you f*cking b*tch!¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brow, but in the next moment, a quick realization dawned upon her. If Ava had not


    actively provoked her, she could pretend to know nothing. However, since Ava chose the most


    offensive words to attack her, it was impossible for her to remain indifferent.


    After all these years, she finally understood that reasoning with Karen and Ava was futile. To deal with


    the devil, one must be the devil. The Whitmans had a private chat group, and Harold had added


    Chloe. The group consisted of a small number of members, totaling to six, including Jonathan.


    Chloe added Jonathan, and the eptance of her friend request came in the evening. In response,


    Jonathan promptly sent a question mark, asserting his presence and putting up a strong front.


    Chloe wasted no time and sent him the details of Ava¡¯s past misdeeds. Shortly after, Jonathan. made a


    voice call, his tone filled with interrogation. ¡°How do you know so much? What evidence do you have to


    prove that Ava is such a person?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you believe me or not. Feel free to ask around,¡± Chloe replied calmly.


    Jonathan did not trust Chloe wholeheartedly. He turned to his mother and sought her advice. If what


    Chloe said was true, he would never allow such a woman to enter the Whitman family.


    ¦³

 Chapter 296

    Chapter 296


    Chapter 296 Stop Pretending to Be Innocent


    After the police took Benjamin away, the burden of managing the familypany fell squarely on


    Chloe¡¯s shoulders.


    Previously, it was Benjamin who assigned tasks to her, and she never interfered in internal matters.


    Although she had been more involved in recent days, she did not have enough time to take care of it.


    After getting back from the hospital, Chloe locked herself in the office. She was taken aback by the


    shocking truth she discovered-Benjamin had not lied to her. The office had experienced consecutive


    losses for two quarters, and if things continued like this, there was a risk of bankruptcy.


    The only project that could potentially turn the tide was the coboration with the Graham Group. Chloe


    felt overwhelmed by the situation. If she and Joseph had not divorced, perhaps the Grahams would


    have been willing to lend a helping hand to the Johnsons. But now¡­


    Chloe busied herself into thete hours of the night, racking her brain for ways to turn the situation


    around. She dismissed Benjamin¡¯s previous n as unfeasible and did not use it. As she was lost in


    thought, her phone that was ced on the edge of the table suddenly rang, startling her.


    She answered the call, and Joseph¡¯s cold voice came from the other end. ¡°How long do you expect me


    to wait for you?¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry!¡± Chloe pped her forehead in frustration. ¡°Ipletely forgot. I¡¯lle over right away.¡±


    After ending the call, Chloe hurriedly went downstairs and hailed a cab to the vi. When she arrived,


    she saw Joseph standing in the courtyard, grooming Toto¡¯s fur.


    Bathed in the soft moonlight, his silhouette possessed an elegance akin to a majestic pine tree. His


    countenance bore a cold and stern expression, while an aura of pride and nobility emanated from him


    as if he were a wless masterpiece brought to life.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat in an almost shameful manner.


    Joseph nced at her through the corner of his eye, his displeasure evident. ¡°What are you. standing


    there foolishly for?¡±


    She blinked and obediently nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get to work right away.¡±


    With that, she naturally took the brush from his hand and began grooming Toto¡¯s fur. The dog seemed


    delighted to see her and wagged its tail vigorously, asionally emitting a few grumbles as if


    comining about her absence for the past couple of days.


    1/2


    A pang of sadness tugged at Chloe¡¯s heart. Strangely enough, she found that she had grown attached


    to Toto. It was fascinating how humans could develop such peculiar emotions towards animals. It was


    pure and untainted. The precious affection she failed to experience with others of the same species as


    she was vividly manifested in her interactions with animals.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, observing how Chloe¡¯s attention waspletely focused on the dog. He


    lightly kicked Toto¡¯s backside and ordered, ¡°Go to sleep.¡±


    With a sharp turn of its head, Toto stared at him. But under the man¡¯s overwhelming dominance, the


    dog gradually submitted. Its perky ears drooped, and with a dejected air, it retreated back to its kennel.


    Chloe did notment on this. It did not look like Joseph had used a lot of force, and it was time for


    the dog to go to sleep. Which dog would not sleep at night?


    Setting the brush down, Chloe went to the living room to find other tasks to upy herself. But Joseph


    would not let her dawdle. ¡°Why are you bothering with these trivialities?¡±


    ¡°You asked me to serve you, so I¡¯m tidying up the house,¡± she innocently replied, her voice tinged with


    a hint of confusion.


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and he scoffed. ¡°Those are tasks for a housekeeper. Your duty is to


    warm my bed.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? That¡¯s why you called me here?¡±


    ¡°Hah,¡± he scoffed as he looked at Chloe sarcastically. ¡°Stop pretending to be innocent. Weren¡¯t you the


    one who used to eagerly offer to share a bed?¡±


    ¡°Fine, even if I misunderstood your intentions, could you please refrain from speaking so harshly?¡±


    Chloe responded.


    Joseph shrugged and replied, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You did indeed strip naked and try to get me into bed.


    There were many instances like that. You¡¯ve done it, so why are you afraid of being criticized?¡±


    Chloe raised her head, meeting his disdain-filled eyes. Her heart throbbed with pain, making each


    breath a struggle.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve done such things in the past, and not just once. But now, I realize how cheap andcking in


    respect they were. So please, don¡¯t bring up those matters anymore. If possible, forget about the series


    of submissive acts I¡¯ve done before,¡± she said as her head drooped, her voice barely audible and filled


    with a profound sense of powerlessness.

 Chapter 297

    Chapter 297


    Chapter 297 Sure


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as he reached out and grasped Chloe¡¯s chin, forcing her to look at


    him. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. I¡¯ll tell Icarus about all these things and make him understand how you


    used to worship me.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression turned bitter. ¡°Why bother? We¡¯re already separated. Why do you still have to


    degrade me like this?¡±


    ¡°I enjoy it,¡± Joseph replied coldly.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t!¡± Chloe protested.


    Anger surged through Joseph¡¯s heart as he leaned in and sealed her lips with his own. It was as if by


    silencing her, he would not have to hear the words he did not want to hear. For him to forget her in this


    lifetime was simply inconceivable.


    Chloe widened her eyes and pushed against him forcefully. Unexpectedly, this time she managed to


    push him away. But before she could catch her breath, he lifted her up in his arms and headed toward


    the bedroom.


    Chloe panicked and struggled to get down. ¡°What are you doing?! Aren¡¯t you afraid Xavia will find out?¡±


    Joseph paused for a moment, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips. ¡°You¡¯re going to warm my


    bed. What else do you think is going to happen?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face flushed with shame as she clenched her lips tightly, remaining silent.


    Joseph mercilessly threw her onto the bed and stared at her intensely. ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to


    tell you how to warm my bed, right?¡±


    Chloe shook her head and took a deep breath. ¡°Can we turn off the lights?¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow and reached for the switch on the wall. In an instant, the room plunged into


    darkness. Chloe endured the cold sts from the air conditioning as she undressed, silently cursing in


    her mind.


    ¡®D*mn it, he truly is a businessman. We had been together at one point, so what¡¯s wrong with helping


    each other out? Why must he ask forpensation? He¡¯s so petty!¡¯


    With her final article of clothing removed, she quickly slipped into the warm embrace of the nket. As


    she settled down, an enigmatic and unfamiliar fragrance danced its way to her senses, permeating her


    nostrils. It was a scent that belonged exclusively to Joseph.


    Before she could fully warm up, Joseph alsoy down, his hands circling her slender waist and drawing


    her closer to him. As his fingertips touched her smooth and delicate skin, he could not help but inhale


    sharply. Even someone as self-disciplined as him was on the verge of losing control in the face of her


    current appearance, not to mention Icarus and the others.


    The thought of other men possessing her in the future filled Joseph with uncontroble rage.


    Chloe¡¯s shame overwhelmed her, and she suddenly twisted her body, trying to escape.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want anything to happen tonight other than warming the bed, then it¡¯s best your don¡¯t


    move.¡± Joseph¡¯s warm breath brushed against her ear. His maic voice was husky, giving away his


    struggle to restrain himself.


    Chloe froze, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. She felt helpless and on the verge of


    tears as she said, ¡°Okay, okay¡­ I won¡¯t move¡­¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡±


    True to his word, Joseph did not make any further advances.


    That night, Chloe could not sleep.


    Uncertain whether the man beside her was asleep or not, Chloe hesitated for a moment, attempting to


    free herself from his grasp. However, her slightest shift triggered Joseph¡¯s hand. tond upon her


    curved and perched buttocks, producing a crisp and melodious sound that echoed through the silent


    room.


    ¡°What are you trying to do besides sleep?¡± he asked.


    Chloe suppressed the urge to strike back and clenched her teeth. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep!¡±


    ¡°Just close your eyes and force yourself to sleep,¡± he suggested.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Can you please stop spanking me in the future?¡± Chloe asked. Once the words left her mouth, she


    immediately wished she could take them back.


    Where did she find the audacity to speak of a future between them?


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph replied without hesitation,cking any signs of drowsiness. ¡°If you behave and obey, there


    won¡¯t be any need for that.¡±


    ¡°No. Why should I listen to you? Am I your mistress or something?¡± Chloe retorted.


    Joseph chuckled. ¡°Sure. We can discuss terms if you like.¡±

 Chapter 298

    Chapter 298


    Chapter 298 Why Don¡¯t You Be With Uncle Icarus?


    ¡°Are you insane? Aren¡¯t you afraid Xavia will find out?¡± Chloe eximed.


    ¡°How is it any of her business?¡± Joseph replied nonchntly as he swept up a lock of her hair and


    greedily inhaled its scent.


    Chloe remained silent.


    ¡®What a jerk!¡¯


    Aside from Joseph tightly embracing her and being nearly suffocated, nothing happened throughout the


    night. After enduring a night of humiliation, Chloe returned to her house the next morning and took a


    refreshing shower. Once clean, she squeezed a ss of orange juice and prepared to change into her


    work attire.


    Suddenly, Jake came knocking on the door.


    Chloe was surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°My mom told me that something happened to your family and that Benjamin and Karen were arrested.


    I was worried about you, so I came to check on you,¡± Jake exined.


    ¡°I was the one who got them sent to jail, not the other way around. What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Chloe


    retorted.


    Jake scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Ava will seek revenge on you.¡± After all, he knew Ava quite well


    and was aware of her vindictive nature.


    Chloe finished her ss of orange juice in one go and replied, ¡°I know, but I couldn¡¯t just sit back and


    do nothing.¡±


    Ava now had Calvin backing her, while Chloe was fighting alone. It would be untrue to im she felt no


    fear. She could only be cautious in her daily life and remain on guard at all times.


    Jake looked at Chloe with concern and spoke earnestly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you be with Uncle Icarus? Let him


    take care of you. That way, Ava won¡¯t be able to hurt you.¡±


    Although he desperately wanted to say those words himself, he no longer had the privilege to do so.


    Only Icarus was worthy of being by Chloe¡¯s side now.


    Chloe helplessly replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡±


    It was toote now. She had just ended one rtionship and did not want to hastily start another.


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Why do there have to be so many ¡®whys?¡¯ I have work to handle at the office. If there¡¯s nothing else,


    you should leave. Don¡¯t let your fiancee misunderstand me,¡± Chloe replied,


    remembering the conversation she had with Icarus about the arranged marriage between Jake and his


    new fiancee.


    Jake felt embarrassed. ¡°How¡¯s the current situation at the office? Is it running smoothly?¡±


    ¡°Not good. There are a lot of troubles,¡± Chloe responded.


    Jake made a mental note of her words and nned to discuss them with Icaruster.


    Chloe


    spent the morning typing away on her keyboard, working on a proposal. After careful consideration,


    she decided to pay a visit to the Grahams.


    ¡®Why not give it a try? Perhaps they would be interested in the new proposal?¡¯


    Maybe it was thanks to her connection with Joseph, Chloe had no trouble meeting with Alexander


    himself. After showing him the proposal, to her surprise, Alexander readily agreed.


    She hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°If I may be so bold, did you agree to coborate with the


    Johnsons because of Joseph? If that¡¯s the case, I want to say that I and Joseph-¡±


    Alexander interrupted her before she could finish her sentence and smiled. ¡°I know about your


    rtionship with Mr. Joseph. Even without him, I value the proposal you¡¯ve provided, Ms.


    Chloe.¡±


    Chloe forced out a dryugh, but she could not shake the feeling that Alexander still


    misunderstood her words.


    After seeing Chloe off, Alexander took a photo of the documents on his desk and sent it to Joseph,


    praising, ¡°Your wife is so young, yet possesses such strategic thinking. She¡¯s truly


    talented.¡±


    With the intention of building a good rtionship with Joseph, he pressed the send button.


    Five minutester, Joseph called him.


    Twenty minutester, Alexander expressed his change of heart to Chloe through a tactfully


    worded text.


    Chloe read the message, her mind in a daze. She immediately turned back, wanting to find Alexander


    to inquire about the specific reasons behind his decision.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 299

    Chapter 299


    Chapter 299 I¡¯ll Break up With Ava


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Chloe, but Mr. Alexander is currently in a meeting and can¡¯t meet with you.¡±


    Chloe pressed her lips together in a line and asked, ¡°Then may I know if he¡¯ll have time after the


    meeting? I can wait.¡±


    The secretary politely refused once again, ¡°Mr. Alexander¡¯s schedule is fully booked for the day.¡±


    In other words, he was not going to see her today.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s gaze filled with disappointment as she replied, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She naturally did not believe the secretary¡¯s words. However, continuing to pester would only annoy


    people. As for the reason behind Mr. Alexander¡¯s sudden change of heart, she needed to find out in


    order toe up with the appropriate response.


    Feeling dejected, Chloe walked out of the Graham Group office and caught sight of a shy pink sports


    car through the corner of her eye. She paused and looked over. Adam and a young, beautiful girl were


    sitting in the car, chatting andughing. The girl wore a Graham Grouppany badge around her


    neck.


    Apparently, she worked for the Grahams.


    Chloe stood in the shade of a tree and watched them flirt and joke around. Suddenly, an idea sparked


    in her mind. Since Alexander refused to see her, perhaps she could approach Adam and ask him to


    inquire about the reason. After all, she could not think of any other solution.


    She walked over and tapped Adam on the shoulder.


    Adam turned his head and his eyes lit up with surprise. ¡°Sis!¡±


    Chloe cleared her throat and said, ¡°I have something to ask you. I hope I¡¯m not bothering you.


    ||


    ¡°Not at all. What¡¯s the matter, sis?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just some minor work matters. The n I discussed with your father was suddenly rejected for


    some unknown reason. I just want to know the reason why, and I don¡¯t need you to intercede for me or


    anything.¡± Chloe smiled at him. ¡°Can you ask him about it for me?¡±


    Adam immediately agreed, patting his chest and saying, ¡°Leave it to me. I promise to find out the whole


    reason for you.¡±


    ¡°Great! I¡¯ll treat you to a meal another day!¡±


    After discussing the matter at hand, she left Adam alone. Around three in the afternoon, she received a


    message from him. He went straight to the point, sending a fewforting hug emojis first.


    He wrote: [Sister, I asked Dad about it.]


    She stared at the emojis on the screen, and a bad feeling rose up from her heart. [What did he say?]


    [It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t value your n, but Mr. Joseph said no to it.]


    Though she had already guessed as much, the reality presented before her eyes made her unable to


    resist cursing under her breath.


    Docwood City, the Whitman mansion.


    Patrick knocked on the door and respectfully said, ¡°Sir, I have gathered the information.¡±


    Putting down the newspaper, Harold asked, ¡°What did you find?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Xavia did return to the country and had a few encounters with Mr. Joseph. Ms. Chloe is also


    aware of her presence,¡± Patrick reported.


    Harold¡¯s face turned livid with anger. Just as he suspected, that cunning woman had returned, and he


    believed she had yed a part in the separation of his lovely granddaughter-inw and Joseph.


    Observing Harold¡¯s expression, Patrick wondered aloud, ¡°Although Ms. Chloe and Mr. Joseph have


    broken up, their connection hasn¡¯t beenpletely severed. Let¡¯s observe for a few days to see if


    there are any signs of reconciliation. As for Ms. Xavia, Ms. Joseph hasn¡¯t had many interactions with


    her.¡±


    Harold huffed in annoyance, his mustache twitching. ¡°Bring Xavia to me.¡±


    ¡®How dare shee back to the country. Has she forgotten her promise? What is she up to this time?¡¯


    Patrick nodded, sighing inwardly. Harold might be getting older, but he was still observant. Even the


    most well-crafted ns could have loopholes. They had not anticipated Joseph and Chloe¡¯s marriage


    to be a sham. But though the marriage was fake, Joseph¡¯s attitude toward Chloe gradually changed.


    This divorce dispute probably involved genuine feelings.


    Harold went downstairs to y with his pet birds, while Jonathan and Octavia stood by the pond,


    whispering to each other. Harold nced at them, his eyebrows furrowing involuntarily.


    Jonathan was inferior to Joseph. Not only was he less capable, but he also had the tendency to gossip


    like a woman, incessantly prattling on and offering unsolicited opinions.


    Harold did not bother with the mother and son. He figured that he should not get angry with them as he


    would only be staying in Docwood for a few days and then return to his own house.


    ¡°Listen to me, son. Ava was engaged to another man before, and this won¡¯t do. Women who


    marry into our family must be pure and untainted. You better break up with her quickly and find


    someone else,¡± Octavia expressed her dissatisfaction.


    Jonathan nodded emphatically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. Even if you didn¡¯t say anything, I would¡¯ve broken


    up with her.¡±


    In the past few days, he had deliberately ignored Ava. When she could not bear it any longer and came


    to argue with him, he would take the opportunity to initiate a breakup.


    Octavia grabbed a handful of fish food and threw it into the pond, a disdainful etched on her face. ¡°Also,


    Chloe is Ava¡¯s half-sister. I can tell she¡¯s not a good person either.¡±


    As dusk approached, the nted rays of the setting sun hung in the sky. The petite woman under the


    shade of the trees eagerly awaited, her gaze fixed on the exit of the underground garage.


    Finally, Joseph¡¯s car appeared.


    Lucas spotted Chloe early on, and since the car had just left the garage, it was moving slowly. Before


    they reached her, he slowly stepped on the brake and turned to look at the man sitting in the back seat.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Ms. Chloe is¡­¡±


    Joseph, who had been resting his eyes, opened them and followed Lucas¡¯ gaze.

 Chapter 300

    Chapter 300


    Chapter 300 A Unique Charm


    The petite woman had adorned herself with a touch of light makeup and was d in an elegant


    business suit that entuated her alluring curves. Holding a folder in her hand, she exuded a


    remarkable temperament that was captivating and beautiful.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze flickered, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as his eyesnded on her with a seemingly


    nonchnt expression.


    Chloe saw that he had noticed her and silently encouraged herself, donning a professional smile as


    she approached. She gently tapped on the car window, indicating that she had something to discuss


    with him. Joseph graciously rolled down the window, his gaze indifferent.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, if you have the time, I¡¯d like to invite you for a meal. I¡¯d also like your input on this


    proposal,¡± she said earnestly, devoid of personal emotions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe Fairlight has any coboration with yourpany, am I right?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, the proposal I presented was submitted to the Grahams this morning. You mentioned that the


    proposal wasn¡¯t eptable, and I¡¯d like to know specifically what¡¯s wrong with it and how I should


    modify it,¡± she replied, maintaining a smile that concealed her seething anger.


    Joseph casually dismissed, ¡°To be honest, everything written in that proposal is uneptable.


    He thought Chloe would be disheartened by this. Little had he expected her to confidently shake the


    folder in her hand and say, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve created a new one.¡±


    A flicker of surprise crossed Joseph¡¯s eyes, and a knowing smile yed at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°My time is precious. How do you n to show your gratitude?¡±


    Her petite face tensed, and she cautiously raised her hand in front of her chest. ¡°Treating you to a meal


    and drinks is fine, but not¡­that!¡±


    If he had special requests, he should seek specialized services.


    ¡°What do you mean by¡­that?¡± Joseph drew out his words, his handsome face filled with confusion as


    if he genuinely did not know what she was talking about.


    Chloe¡¯s face sank. She knew that he was feigning ignorance. Without a trace of hesitation, she turned


    to leave.


    Joseph¡¯s temple throbbed, and hemanded in a deep voice, ¡°Come back.¡±


    11


    Chloe halted her steps but did not turn around. ¡°How do you want me to express my gratitude?


    ¡°Cook a meal for me,¡± he replied.


    ¡°No problem,¡± she readily agreed, opening the car door and jumping into the front passenger


    seat.


    Lucas looked at Chloe speechlessly.


    Joseph¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Drive,¡± hemanded.


    Lucas looked at both of them speechlessly.


    ¡®Fine. If both of you won¡¯t say anything, I won¡¯t either. Let¡¯s all keep it to ourselves.¡¯Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Unaware of the strange atmosphere in the car, Chloe lowered her head and watched the passing


    restaurants. Silence enveloped them as the car moved forward. Joseph¡¯s phone vibrated, and he took


    it out to check. It was a message from Xavia.


    [Joseph, can you apany me for dinner tonight? Dining alone is so boring.]


    His slender fingers tapped on the screen as he replied.


    [I¡¯m not free tonight.]


    Chloe chose a Dai restaurant as their meeting ce.


    Joseph had a in pte, preferring Asven, Amer, or Estren cuisine, and disliked anything


    outside of these options. Consequently, if he did not like the meals, he would have more time to look


    over her proposal.


    The waiter brought all the dishes to the table, and Joseph picked up a wrap. His eyebrows furrowed as


    he ced it back on the te and never touched it again.


    Chloe handed over the proposal. ¡°Take a look at the new one I¡¯ve written.¡±


    Joseph did not reach out to take it. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you invite Mr. Alexander to join us?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a leader in the business world. Once you approve this proposal, Mr. Alexander will also


    approve it.¡¯


    ¡°Hah, are you trying to tter me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being honest.¡±


    She did not want to do this either, but who would expect Joseph to y dirty so openly? Whether


    Alexander cooperated or not, it all depended on his words.


    Joseph stared at Chloe¡¯s beautiful face, which concealed a hidden resentment. Suddenly, a smirk


    tugged at the corner of his lips, and a word emerged in his mind-doormat.


    ¡®An infuriated doormat who could not voice her anger.¡¯


    Looking at it from another perspective, he admired those who could suppress their temper for the sake


    of work.


    Josephposed himself, adopting a tone that a superior would use when questioning a subordinate,


    and said, ¡°I won¡¯t look at this proposal for now. First, tell me about the shorings of the document


    from this morning.¡±


    Chloe straightened her posture, her eyes bright and spirited as she said, ¡°First, there¡¯s the issue of


    costs. The costs are high, and the profits are substantial. However, these so-called profits for the


    Grahams are insignificant. They¡¯re optional and dispensable. Furthermore, if we want to increase the


    profits to over 7 million dors every quarter, it means we have to invest more. As a medium-sized


    company, the Johnsons can¡¯t afford such costs and can only rely on the Grahams to cover them.


    ¡°But the key is that once we decide to increase the profits to over 7 million dors every quarter, the


    operational difficulty will also rise, and the risks will be significant. I reviewed several aspects and


    devised ways to reduce operational risks this afternoon. Please have a


    look.¡±


    She spoke confidently, with a focused calmness that exuded a unique charm.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes


    flickered with surprise. He had only known her for her proficiency in Estren. He had not expected her to


    possess such quick and efficient problem-solving abilities too. Although there were still ws, she was


    already remarkably impressive considering her age.


    Finally, he picked up and viewed the documents ced on the table.


    Chloe anxiously gripped her hands, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Joseph. She resembled a student


    waiting for her teacher to grade her assignment.


    ¡°How is it? Is this n feasible?¡± she cautiously asked, her voice filled with anticipation.


    ¡°Mmhm,¡± he replied.


    ¡®Mmhm? What does he mean by mmhm? Does it mean that my n is good?¡¯


    Chloe beamed brightly and asked, ¡°Then, when will you help me talk to Mr. Alexander?¡±

 Chapter 301

    Chapter 301


    Chapter 301 You May Leave Now


    Joseph leaned back in his seatnguidly and superiorly. ¡°It depends on when you¡¯re going to cook for


    me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve been busy withpany affairs recently.¡±


    If she had to cook for him, she needed to cook three meals every day. She needed three hours total,


    and that was excluding the travel time.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when you¡¯re sure of that.¡±


    Chloe knitted her brows. ¡°No, the cooperation with the Graham Group can¡¯t be dyed any longer.¡±


    ¡°Cook for me for two days. Let¡¯s set it up for around the end of this month.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    After a brief hesitation, Chloe said, ¡°Deal.¡±


    Cooking for him for two days was eptable inparison to the number of profits she could gain


    from the cooperation with the Graham Group.


    Joseph lowered his eyes and hid the joy that shed across his eyes after seeding. He


    behaved like a child who had sessfully stolen a sweet. In his satisfaction, he was filled with a tinge


    of unconscious secret delight.


    Chloe had guessed correctly-Joseph disliked Dai food-and she got to eat almost all of the food on the


    table. Most of the time, Joseph simply watched her eat.


    She ate fast but not vulgarly. Her cheeks were stuffed, which made her appear like a hamster. This look


    of hers was vastly different from her other self-the strong business woman. At the moment, she looked


    adorable, which made him yearn to poke her cheeks.


    After bidding goodbye to Joseph at the restaurant, they went to their separate homes.


    Chloe, who was washing up, received a call from Alexander. He told her that he had nomand over


    what happened earlier. After she expressed her understanding, he told her that the cooperation would


    begin the next day.


    It looked like Joseph had called Alexander, and it had proven effective.


    For the subsequent week, Chloe was the first who arrived at the office and was thest to clock out


    every day. She was as busy as a bee.


    After the cooperation with the Graham Group was confirmed, she had a meeting with her employees.


    She informed them that they would be busy for some time toe.


    At first, she had decided to raise their sry after this busy period was over. However, she heard the


    dissatisfaction her employees had toward her while she was getting water.


    ¡°Tsk! I¡¯m so tired. We work overtime every day, and she doesn¡¯t even buy us coffee. It was better when


    Ava was around. At least she bought us desserts from time to time.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. Stopining. We get paid overtime if we work longer. We didn¡¯t get that in the past.


    All we got was our monthly sry. We were so poor.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t have overtime in the past, but we didn¡¯t workte much. It was just a few times every month.


    How rxing! I can¡¯t stand her telling us how to do our jobs all day.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re almost of the same age. Can¡¯t we have the same status even if she¡¯s the boss? She behaves


    like she¡¯s very capable but it¡¯s just her family property.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to go through all that suffering if you can¡¯t stand it.¡± Chloe walked over with her


    cup and stated lightly, ¡°Go and get your sry from Finance. You don¡¯t have toe in starting


    tomorrow.¡±


    The woman who criticized Chloe was shocked. After she regained her wits, she clicked her tongue.


    ¡°Okay, I won¡¯te. What¡¯s the big deal? Do you think I want to work here?¡±


    Chloe crossed her arms in front of her chest and lowered her head to sip her water. She then looked


    around. ¡°Anyone else want to quit? You may leave now.¡±


    Some people stood up and asked slowly, ¡°Will we get this month¡¯s sry?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    When they gained an affirmative answer, they went to the finance department in satisfaction. These


    people just wanted toy idle and did not want to work overtime every day or lead such an exhausting


    life.


    When Benjamin was around, thispany was just ordinary. They did not believe that Chloe would be


    able to make it big because she was just a woman in her early twenties. If she did not manage the


    company well, it would close its doors sooner orter. They felt that they might as well resign now and


    find another job.

 Chapter 302

    Chapter 302


    Chapter 302 Continue Hitting Her


    Three people wanted to resign, so there would be a shortage of staff from now on. However, it would


    not be very difficult as long as they worked together.


    Chloe stated gently but firmly, ¡°I know that we¡¯ll be very busy this month. Thank you very much for


    your hard work. I¡¯ll raise your sry after this busy period. The number of coffee and dessert breaks


    you¡¯ll get will be the same as in the past. We¡¯ll have it four times and have Finance pay for it.¡±


    An effective way for the boss to encourage their subordinates was to approve of them, giving them


    bonuses and raising sries. As for why Ava wanted to use her money to treat her colleagues, it was


    because she did not make any valuable contributions. She could only use small favors to win people


    over and gain a firm foothold in thepany.


    Benjamin and Karen were convicted of intentional homicide and were sued by the court. Karen was


    confirmed as the main culprit while Benjamin was her aplice. They were sentenced to twenty


    years and fifteen years in prison respectively, so they had to spend the rest of their lives in prison.


    Chloe did not go to visit them. She was fine with not seeing them again for the rest of her life. As


    Benjamin¡¯s legal heir, Chloe inherited Benjamin¡¯s property. She contacted a real estatepany to sell


    her family¡¯s vi and nned to buy a new house.


    After learning that Karen had been convicted, Ava continuously called Chloe just to curse at her. Chloe


    simply ignored her, unaware of what had happened the day before. Ava called her over a hundred


    times and sent a bunch of text messages, cursing her out. She felt that Ava¡¯s fury had reached its


    peak.


    When Chloe went to thepany the next day, Icarus came with two sponsors. She asked in


    bewilderment, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    ¡°These are my friends. They happen to be looking for projects to invest in. Jake told me that you have


    suitable developing projects, so I brought them here to check them out. Did wee at a bad time?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all. I have time now.¡± Chloe smiled broadly and led them into her office. She then secretly


    nudged Icarus with her elbow and whispered, ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll give you a cash rewardter.¡±


    Of course, she could tell that he was deliberately helping her. He probably had not informed her in


    advance because he was afraid of being rejected or hurting her dignity.


    Icarus was indeed a true gentleman. There was a vast difference between him and Joseph, who just


    loved to poke at her sore spots.


    When Chloe thought of Joseph, she felt gloomy. He always fussed over one thing or another when it


    came to her. She had to repay him even if he only did her a small favor.


    Icarus adjusted his sses. He recently started keeping a beard, so he looked particrly refined and


    mature. ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary, but I¡¯d like to have dinner with you tonight. Is that okay?¡±


    Chloe became stupefied. ¡°I¡¯m getting off from workte tonight¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I happen to be free today. I can wait for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you. How about you take a tour of thepany first?¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    Chloe had a very enjoyable talk with the two sponsors, and they quickly reached a deal. Since Icarus


    was waiting for her, she quickened her pace while working in front of theputer.


    Night fell, and the sky darkened. Nearing the end of her work, she got up to inform Icarus. When she


    got to the corridor, she saw no one. She heard him talking on the phone in the washroom nearby, so


    she turned around to return to her office.


    Suddenly, the corridor fell into darkness.


    Chloe thought that there was a power cut. But in the next second, she felt a sharp pain on the back of


    her neck as if someone had injected something into her. She became weak all over, and she fell


    unconscious within a few seconds.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Same as Chloe, Icarus too thought there was a power cut. He groped his way out of the washroom and


    heard footsteps that were growing fainter. The footsteps were heavy as if the person was carrying a


    heavy item. He could tell that it was a man.


    Anxiety washed over Icarus as he strode toward Chloe¡¯s office. The moonlight shone in from the


    window, lighting up the vacant office. He noticed that something was amiss, and as he called Chloe, he


    ran downstairs and out of the building.


    All the employees had clocked by now, so it could only be an outsider.


    Icarus spotted two burly men carrying a sack getting into a van at the back door of the office. After that,


    he heard a phone ringtone. His heartbeat quickened and he quickly retreated into a dark corner. When


    the ringtone was cut off, the van sped off.


    Icarus immediately hopped into his car and pursued the van. He put some distance between him and


    that van for fear of being noticed. At the same time, he called the police.


    The van drove out of Aesper and to a vige before it stopped in front of an old house. A man carried


    Chloe out of the sack and threw her on the ground. He then took out his phone to take a few


    photographs before giving Ava a video call and positioned his phone in front of Chloe.


    Being thrown on the ground, Chloe was woken up by the pain.


    ¡°Coco dear, I got you a big gift. Enjoy yourself.¡±


    The person shown on the phone screen was wearing thin silk pajamas, showing a smug expression.


    Chloe suppressed the pain that came from all over her body and cursed fiercely, ¡°Fuck off!¡±


    Ava¡¯s voice turned gloomy. ¡°You¡¯re still so stubborn even on the verge of death. Teach her a lesson.¡±


    After that, one of the men pped Chloe. Being pped, she felt a burning sensation on her face.


    Even her lip had split open.


    Ava continued, ¡°Continue hitting her. Don¡¯t stop.

 Chapter 303

    Chapter 303


    Chapter 303 One Dor


    The man pped her repeatedly. Chloe¡¯s limbs were tied up, so she could not resist. Hence, had to


    suffer brutal torture.


    Icarus was hiding in the bush, feeling deeply sorry for her. However, he knew that he could not step up


    now. He could not defeat four men alone, and he would lose the chance to ask others for help.


    Being pped over and over, Chloe¡¯s face became severely bruised. Her body was kicked several


    times too. Her internal organs were engulfed with pain.


    she


    Ava cracked a satisfied smile, looking at Chloe like a winner. ¡°These few ps are just appetizers. This


    is all because you¡¯re such a busybody. Why did you go to Jonathan and tell on me?¡±


    Jonathan had been ignoring her these past few days and even wanted to break up with her. After some


    interrogation, she learned that it was this b*tch Chloe¡¯s scheme. Chloe was the one who told Jonathan


    that Ava was once engaged to Jake.


    Consequently, Ava lost both her family and boyfriend. And if she had to suffer, she would not allow


    Chloe to lead a good life either.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve had enough fun. I leave it up to you guys now. Record everything. After that, scratch up her


    face.¡±


    The brutes looked at Chloe, who had fallen into a half-conscious state, with lewd gazes. Her face was


    swollen, but she had a good figure. Judging by her fair legs, they surmised that she would feel good.


    One of the men started to caress Chloe¡¯s cheek as he pouted his smelly mouth to kiss her.


    When Icarus saw this, he became infuriated and anxious. He could no longer stand it and rushed out to


    beat them up. After a fierce battle, he failed to fend off the men. He slowly fell into a disadvantageous


    position before they kicked him to the ground.


    Suddenly, they heard a police siren from afar.


    The brutes became anxious. They knew that they would not get a penny if they did notplete their


    mission. Hence, the leader made up his mind to take out a dagger and rush toward Chloe.


    When Icarus sensed the danger, he threw himself in front of Chloe, shielding her and taking the blows.


    After an unknown period, the brutes finally ran away when the police siren got nearer.


    It was Tyson who handled the case and he immediately called Joseph.


    When Joseph arrived at the hospital, he saw that Chloe had been greatly tortured, her fair skin spotting


    large bruises. His eyes narrowed and he found it hard to breathe.


    He raised his hand to touch her face, but when he touched her, she immediately frowned in fear. His


    teeth gnashed together and his sharp eyes turned red. He slowly retracted his hand.


    Tyson went up to Joseph and asked hesitantly, ¡°Do you know who she offended? My


    preliminary judgment is that the culprit is an acquaintance of hers.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes exuded deep wrath. Even his voice turned cold, filling others with terror. ¡± There¡¯s only


    one person capable of doing this if it is an acquaintance. You can cease your investigation.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    A cold chill ran down Tyson¡¯s spine. He knew that Joseph was serious now.


    Ava was staying in a vi under Calvin¡¯s name at some part of Docwood.


    She waited for two hours but those brutes did not send her the video. She just assumed that they were


    too caught up in the moment, enjoying it to the utmost. While imagining the scene of them bullying


    Chloe, she smiled and dozed off.


    In the middle of the night, a basin of cold water was poured over her head. She was startled as she


    woke up from her dream and jolted upright.


    ¡°Who the fuck?! Do you have a death wi¡­¡±


    Mid-curse, Ava saw Joseph, and her eyes contracted in fear. He looked like the god of death. She


    became so frightened that she retreated.


    ¡°W-Why are you here?¡±


    Joseph waved his hand expressionlessly before two tall and sturdy men in ck suits, who were


    standing behind him, pped Ava twice.


    ¡°Ah, help! Help! I¡¯m being harassed!¡±


    Ava screamed in pain. The men stepped forward and pped her twice again after she had just cried


    out. Soon, she became scared of the ps. She begged Joseph, ¡°Stop hitting me. I was wrong. I


    shouldn¡¯t have kidnapped Chloe¡­¡±


    Although Joseph did not tell her the reason for all this, Ava knew that he must havee for that b*tch.


    Joseph sneered indifferently. ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve made a mistake, you should be punished.¡±


    While talking, the men in ck tied Ava up and drove her to a seedy bar. Joseph handed Ava over to


    the bar owner.


    Nathan then walked over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡±


    ¡°1 dor.¡±


    Nathan became bbergasted. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t everyone have a chance to get her if the price is so low?¡±


    Joseph held a cigarette between his fingers. Through the swirling smoke, wickedness was written all


    over his face. ¡°Things will be more interesting this way.

 Chapter 304

    Chapter 304


    Chapter 304 She Missed Him Greatly


    Nathan shuddered before he ordered the owner to take Ava away.


    They dressed her up in a seductive and revealing costume before they locked her up in a gigantic iron


    cage. All her limbs were tied up before she was carried onto the stage for an auction as if she were an


    item.


    When the boss announced the price of 1 dor, the whole scene was thrown into a great frenzy. The


    first man who got Ava in the auction brought her into a lounge, and her screams followed soon after.


    Joseph pressed his temples and was about to leave when Nathan said, ¡°You¡¯re here now. Why don¡¯t


    you have some fun for a bit?¡±


    ¡°No, Chloe¡¯s still unconscious. I need to go back to her.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys get a divorce? What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t let her go?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes became dull as he replied icily, ¡°I just find her pitiful.¡±


    Nathan was rendered speechless. ¡®You¡¯re just stubborn.¡¯


    As Joseph drove back to the hospital, the sky was hazy and the sky was just getting dark. When he


    passed by a hawker selling milk and bread at the entrance of the hospital, he stopped and bought a


    set. Chloe had not eaten the whole night and must be starving.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    In the ward.


    Chloe handed a freshly peeled egg to Icarus. Looking at the hideous scar around his chin, her voice


    turned bitter. ¡°This happened all because of me. I got you into this¡­¡±


    Icarus patted her hand tofort her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m a man, so I don¡¯t care about my


    appearance. What¡¯s more¡­ I didn¡¯t protect you well.¡±


    It might be because he was covered in too many injuries the previous day, so he did not notice that his


    face had been shed.


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°No, you¡¯ve treated me very well.¡±


    She suffered merely physical injuries, while Icarus¡¯ face was ruined. Even his leg was broken. She had


    wronged him.


    Staring at them as they felt sorry for each other, Joseph clenched his fists tightly, veins. bulging. He


    then chuckled in self-mockery. He turned around and dumped the milk and bread into the dustbin


    before he left.


    It was as if he had never been there.


    Jake arrived at the hospital early the next morning. When he saw the scar on Icarus¡¯ chin, he was


    struck speechless for a long time. Feeling sad, he lowered his head. For a moment, he could not find


    the appropriate things to say.


    His uncle was a few years older than him, but he was much more mature than him. He was a figure


    that both the Cooper and Baker families were proud of.


    Now Icarus¡¯ face was ruined. His family would feel very sad when they learned of it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell the family,¡± Icarus ordered, ¡°I¡¯ll tell them when the moment¡¯s right.¡±


    Jake suppressed his bitterness. ¡°How¡¯s Chloe doing?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine but she got beaten up pretty badly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and see her.¡±


    Jake went to the neighboring ward to find Chloe looking out of the window in a trance. When he saw


    her that way, he was full of self-reproach. He found that he was useless. He had not taken good care of


    his family and beloved.


    Jake¡¯s arrival was something that Chloe had anticipated.


    ¡°Chloe, are you okay¡­¡±


    In front of him, Chloe forced a smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing very wellst night, but I¡¯m much better now. Icarus


    was more seriously injured than me¡­to save me.¡±


    ¡°He did that willingly.¡± Jake did not me her but he heaved a long sigh. ¡°Are you still going to reject


    him? He sincerely cares about you, Coco. Why are you hesitant? Do you still care about Joseph?¡±


    Chloe was slightly stunned but was soon enlightened. She had missed Joseph very much from the


    moment she woke up until now. She even dreamt of himst night. But when she woke up, she was


    alone in the vacant ward.


    Jake did not know if he was seeking justice for himself or Icarus in the face of Chloe¡¯s silence. Joseph


    is just a little richer than us. Rich people have lots of women. Don¡¯t fall into it. If he likes you, the person


    who saved youst night would have been him instead of Uncle Icarus.¡±


    Chloe answered calmly, ¡°It¡¯s not because of him. I¡¯m thinking about other stuff.¡±


    Jake did not seem to believe it. He reverted to his previous topic. ¡°Do you feel nothing for Uncle Icarus?


    Even his face is scarred now. He¡¯ll scare a lot of women, or¡­they might even despise him for it.¡±


    ¡°I get your point. I¡¯m very grateful to him, and I even wronged him. But in terms of a rtionship, I need


    to think it over properly.¡±


    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m not trying to force you¡­¡¯


    He just felt that his uncle treated Chloe very well, and every woman wanted a man who treated them


    well.

 Chapter 305

    Chapter 305


    Chapter 305 She Didn¡¯t Fit the Profile


    Chloe took a deep breath. ¡°I understand. Please, I¡¯d like some time alone now.


    After Jake left, shey in bed. Tossing and turning, she could not fall asleep.


    A young couple walked past the door of her ward. The man supported the woman who had just


    undergone surgery. He muttered endlessly in displeasure, but his tone was full of concern for


    her.


    Chloe blinked. She suddenly understood why she missed Joseph very much after she woke up. It was


    because, in the past half a year, Joseph would stay with her every time she got hurt and was


    hospitalized.


    At that moment, Joseph might have just woken up and was on his way out for his morning run. Or, he


    might be with Xavia. They were having breakfast and chatting about their daily trifles.


    Chloe suppressed the deep bitterness in her heart and pulled the nket over her head. She then


    snuggled into bed and forced herself to sleep.


    It was now morning but the people in the bar were having a frenzy with no concern for the time. Joseph


    had sses of wine one after another. However, the strong wine failed to pacify the anger in his heart.


    Nathan knitted his brows and pulled the bottle toward himself. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to work today?¡±


    Joseph ignored him, his gaze glued on a woman who was selling wine in the middle of the dance floor.


    Her figure and face were thin. At that time, she was dazedly looking at the various men in front of her


    with her charming eyes. Helplessly and timidly, she was promoting the


    wine.


    Nathan looked over and was stunned. ¡°That young woman looks a little like Chloe.¡¯


    The bar owner, who was drinking with them, noticed that both of them were looking in the same


    direction. Hence, he asked tteringly, ¡°She¡¯s new here. I¡¯ll call her over and introduce you guys.¡±


    The woman followed the boss and came over but did not dare to raise her head.


    Joseph said, ¡°Come here.¡±


    The owner urged the girl to sit down beside Joseph. She then raised her head fearfully. When she saw


    his impably handsome face, she was dumbstruck and rosiness dawned on her face.


    The owner urged her, ¡°Don¡¯t just sit there. Hurry up and serve Mr. Joseph wine.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay¡­¡± She poured out a ss for him.


    ¡°Why do you work here?¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes turned red as if her sore spot had been brought up. ¡°I was cheated when I went


    looking for a job. I lost my identity card and bank card. I don¡¯t have good academic qualifications either,


    so this ce is my only option.¡±


    Other men might feel sorry for her or even pity her when they heard this story but Joseph was bored.


    He parted his thin lips and uttered, ¡°Fuck off.¡±


    The woman gasped, not understanding where she had gone wrong. She cried softly in front of him,


    putting up a charmingly pitiful front. She was reluctant to give up such a rare chance.


    The owner was also quite baffled. ¡®Why is this man so unpredictable?¡¯


    Somberness then crept up Joseph¡¯s countenance before Nathan stuffed a stack of cash into her hands.


    ¡°Go. Don¡¯t be foolish.¡±


    The woman bit her lower lip and reluctantly returned to selling wine after she gained the cash. When


    she had left, Nathan leaned toward Joseph. ¡°Don¡¯t you think she looks a little like Chloe?


    ¡°Only in appearance. Chloe is smarter.¡±


    Although he liked to call Chloe a dumbo, she was not foolish. On the contrary, she was an ambitious


    and strong woman. Of course, her shoring was her fickle attitude. She was thinking about other


    men when she was not single.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nathan found it hard to understand Joseph¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Do you dislike that girl who sells wine just


    because she¡¯s dumb?¡±


    Joseph shot him a sidelong nce. ¡°If she was smart, would she have been cheated when looking for


    a job? Doesn¡¯t she know how to differentiate between right and wrong?¡±


    Speechless overwhelmed Nathan.


    ¡®I get it now. It¡¯s because she didn¡¯t fit the profile. Very well, I¡¯ll get him a woman who¡¯s like Chloe in


    terms of appearance, character, and intelligence.¡¯


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, that woman has fainted. Should we continue?¡±

 Chapter 306

    Chapter 306


    Chapter 306 She¡¯s Waiting for You Inside


    Joseph nonchntly remarked, ¡°Send her back to her ce.¡±


    ¡°Right away.¡±


    After handling Ava, Joseph took a shower and headed straight to Fairlight.


    At the office, Lucas approached him respectfully. ¡°Sir, Ms. Xavia is waiting for you inside.¡± Putting on


    his usual expressionless demeanor, Joseph pushed the door open and entered. Upon seeing Joseph,


    Xavia¡¯s face immediately brightened with affection. ¡°You¡¯re here. Did you¡­attend a business gathering


    last night? I smell alcohol.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± His voice was t and emotionless, his short ck hair still slightly damp. He adjusted his tie and


    took a seat in front of theputer. A sidelong nce revealed his well-defined jawline, reflecting his


    cold and aloof demeanor.


    Xavia¡¯s expression froze. ¡°Joe, are you in a bad mood?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s dark eyes, ck as ink, held a hint of bloodshot. He pressed his temples, disying a trace of


    restlessness. ¡°A little.¡±


    ¡°Is it because of work or¡­personal matters?¡±


    ¡°Work¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face softened. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I dealt with finance stuff. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be of much help


    to you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Joseph¡¯s gaze, difficult to decipher, met hers. ¡°Did you have something to discuss with me?¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯m nning to leave Aesper for a while.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I want to visit other cities. Being in the hospital all the time feels suffocating.¡±


    Joseph reached into a drawer and retrieved a card, handing it to her. ¡°Buy whatever you want. Don¡¯t


    skimp on yourself.¡±


    Xavia smiled and pushed the card back. ¡°I have savings that are enough to sustain me for a lifetime.


    You¡¯re busy, so I¡¯d best be leaving now.¡±


    Joseph frowned slightly but remained silent.


    As Xavia exited Fairlight, the gentle smile on her face vanished without a trace. She entered a sedan,


    and the man in the driver¡¯s seat attentively handed her a bottle of water. She red at him, her


    expression darkening. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your efforts on these useless gestures. If you can¡¯t meet the


    requirements within a month, don¡¯t ever expect to see me again.¡±


    That old man refused to let go of her and had even resorted to threats. She had initially intended to


    take things slow with Joseph, but now she had no choice. It was all because of Harold¡¯s coercion.


    Eustace Hubble eagerly nodded in response. Xavia was the goddess he had pursued for many and


    now he had the opportunity to be in such close proximity to her. It was a chance he was willing to make


    any sacrifice for.


    years,


    The mere thought of spending day and night with his goddess for the whole month filled him with


    undeniable excitement.


    In the hospital today, Chloe arrived to pick Icarus up. Her injuries had already healed, and she was


    ready to take care of him.


    Sitting in a wheelchair with a fractured calf, Icarus expressed his apology, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I need you


    to take care of me, Chloe.¡±


    She reassured him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s only natural for me to be here for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for a caregiver, but they won¡¯t be starting until tomorrow. I have an important


    forum to attend tomorrow, but I have difficulty moving my legs. Can you apany me?¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Chloe nodded without hesitation, replying, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be there with you.¡±


    In the afternoon, they arrived at the venue right on time. To Chloe¡¯s surprise, she noticed. several


    familiar faces among the attendees, all prominent figures in the financial industry. Her heart skipped a


    beat, fearing that Joseph might be among them. However, after scanning the room, she failed to spot


    him.


    As the forum progressed, the host suddenly announced with an excited expression, ¡°Ladies and


    gentlemen, today we have an unexpected surprise. Joining us is Mr. Joseph Whitman, the CEO of


    Fairlight Group. Let¡¯s give him a warm round of apuse!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched. Even before the man took the stage, she hastily found an excuse and slipped


    away to the restroom. She truly wanted to avoid encountering Joseph in such a setting. If he saw her


    with Icarus, she knew he would likely make sarcastic remarks once again.


    Joseph emerged from backstage, his gaze sharp as it fixed upon Icarus, a disdainful smile ying on


    his lips.


    Sensing Joseph¡¯s intent for being there, Icarus¡¯ grip on the wheelchair handles tightened but he


    remainedposed and courteous in his demeanor.


    Chloe was in the midst of washing her hands in the restroom when a strong grip seized her shoulder,


    forcefully turning her around. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in shock as she came face to face with


    Joseph. Before she could react, he pulled her into an embrace.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± She pushed and struggled desperately. ¡°This is the women¡¯s restroom. I¡¯m going to call


    for help!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Joseph responded calmly.


    Growing increasingly frustrated, Chloe opened her mouth and began shouting, ¡°Help! There¡¯s a pervert


    in the women¡¯s restroom!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eye twitched violently, and he leaned down to silence Chloe¡¯s scarlet lips with his. Chloe


    realized that her previous approach was ineffective. Knowing that a direct confrontation would not work


    on him, she needed to change her strategy.


    She nuzzled into his neck and gently kissed the corner of his lips. Her gaze became seductive and


    hazy. In a soft and enticing voice, she whispered, ¡°Not here. Let¡¯s find somewhere more private.¡±

 Chapter 307

    Chapter 307


    Chapter 307 He Wants to Spend More Time With Me?


    Joseph¡¯s breath was scorching, hisrge hands cupping her cheeks. He looked deeply into her eyes


    and whispered, ¡°Tell me, where do you want to go?¡±


    ¡°The car.¡±


    Joseph agreed and released his grip on her wrist.


    Seizing this opportunity, Chloe swiftly utilized the self-defense techniques she had learned in the past.


    With precision and speed, she raised her knee and delivered a fierce kick to Joseph¡¯s lower body.


    Caught off guard, he instantly turned pale, his handsome face contorted with at ferocious and grim


    expression as if he were ready to devour someone whole.


    Terrified, Chloe could not bring herself to look back and hastily pushed open the door, fleeing in a state


    of panic. As the forum reached its conclusion, Icarus noticed Chloe¡¯s flushed face and could not help


    but express his curiosity. ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to the restroom? Why are you so sweaty?¡±


    Chloe guiltily replied, ¡°The restroom was crowded.¡±


    Icarus nodded, but before he could inquire further, a group of men approached him and engaged him in


    conversation. Sensing an opportunity, Chloe discreetly moved aside, taking out her phone and using


    the front camera to adjust her slightly disheveled appearance.


    Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her petite face bore a hint of anger. The corners of her


    eyes were red and watery from the intense encounter. There was a vulnerable quality to her


    appearance, making her look especially pitiful. A discerning observer could easily sense that something


    out of the ordinary had just urred.


    As Joseph emerged from the restroom, he was confronted with this scene. The smoldering mes that


    had momentarily subsided now roared back to life within him. Chloe raised her head, and their eyes


    locked together in a charged gaze.


    The pristine state of Joseph¡¯s once neatly arranged shirt had been disrupted, bearing witness to certain


    misdeeds that had taken ce. The wrinkles on his shirt served as tangible evidence. of their


    encounter.


    Chloe¡¯s heart raced with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. It was the first time she had rebelled without


    fully considering the consequences, unsure of whether the man would go crazy.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Joseph closed the distance between them with firm steps, his presencemanding as ever.¡± Come


    with me,¡± he demanded.


    ¡°I refuse.¡±


    ¡°You made me a promise.¡±


    Chloe paused and quickly nced at the calendar app on her phone, confirming that today was already


    the 28th. With only two days remaining until the end of the month, she had no choice but to face the


    consequences of her dy.


    Observing Chloe¡¯s reluctant expression, Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed in clear displeasure. ¡°You want to go


    back on your word?¡± he questioned, his voice tinged with frustration.


    ¡°Taking advantage and then not being ountable? Is she a hypocrite? Hadn¡¯t she been by Icarus¡¯


    side all day long and attending to his every need? Isn¡¯t that enough?¡¯


    Chloe felt the weight of Joseph¡¯s gloomy aura pressing down on her, rendering her speechless.


    Reluctantly, she acquiesced, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go with you, but I need to drop


    Icarus off first. He¡¯s still recovering and has difficulty walking.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze turned frigid, a look capable of freezing the air. He suppressed his jealousy and


    responded curtly, ¡°Leave it to Lucas.¡±


    Without further dy, he seized her hand and dragged her outside.


    Back at the vi, Toto was the first to emerge, followed closely by Oreo.


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank as she noticed their presence. ¡°You¡¯re living together with Xavia?¡±


    Joseph responded with annoyance, ¡°I prefer living alone.¡±


    She could not help but feel a pang of guilt. She had been too quick to judge him, always ready to


    assume he was a scumbag. She had forgotten that he had only made one mistake and it was not his


    true nature.


    Chloe inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°And Oreo¡­¡±


    ¡°Xavia went on a trip.¡±


    ¡®A trip?¡¯


    ¡°Can her body handle it?¡±


    ¡®A cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy going on a trip? Wouldn¡¯t that hinder her treatment?¡¯ Chloe


    pondered to herself.


    At Chloe¡¯s reminder, Joseph also realized something was amiss. However, he did not see it as a


    significant issue. Some cancer patients felt a strong desire to explore the world and make the most of


    their time, seeking to avoid any regrets.


    After silently deciding to avoid discussing Xavia any further, it seemed as though both Chloe and


    Joseph understood the unspoken agreement.


    Feeling a sense of responsibility, Chloe headed to the kitchen. However, upon opening the fridge, she


    was greeted with emptiness. Perplexed, she asked, ¡°Did you not buy groceries this month?¡±


    Josephzily responded, ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Then what have you been eating?¡±


    He maintained his nonchnt demeanor. ¡°I eat at thepany.¡¯


    Since Chloe had moved out, Joseph found himself asionally cooking for himself. The taste of his


    meals was decent, but hecked the appetite to fully enjoy them. He could not shake the feeling that


    eating alone was not how it should be. He preferred the days when he had a partner to share meals


    with.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll go out and get some groceries then.¡±


    A skilled cook, and even the most talented housewife, were rendered powerless without


    essential ingredients.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips, her clear eyes fixed on the man.


    Why did she have a nagging feeling that he wanted to spend more time with her? Was it just her


    imagination ying tricks on her?

 Chapter 308

    Chapter 308


    Chapter 308 A Little Boost for You


    Joseph¡¯s face showed a hint of unease as he turned his head and reached for a change of clothes.


    ¡°While you¡¯re at it, make some snacks for the two dogs. If you can bring them back everything on your


    own, I¡¯m toozy to go with you.¡±


    ¡°Snacks for the dogs?¡± Chloe shook her head, earnestly calcting the items that needed to be


    purchased. ¡°It¡¯d be better if you came with me. I can¡¯t carry everything myself.¡±


    Just to cater to the culinary preferences of a certain someone, Chloe had to buy ingredients for two


    days, ensuring that each meal consisted of at least six different dishes without repeating ingredients.


    On top of that, there were chicken breasts and big bones required to prepare special snacks for the


    dogs. The shopping list was extensive, and it was clear that even the use of tworge bags would be


    insufficient to hold everything.


    Joseph casually smoothed down the wrinkles on his clothes, his expression disying a hint of


    annoyance. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re so troublesome.¡±


    Chloe had initially nned to visit the nearby wet market, but Joseph insisted on driving her to H


    Mart instead. The store was known for its exclusive imported products, and the prices reflected their


    premium quality, with even a small bundle of ten strawberries costing over 30 dors. Knowing that


    Joseph would foot the bill, she refrained frommenting.


    At H Mart, not only did the selection of ingredients change every half day, but the store also had


    dedicated staff members stationed in front of each shelf. These attentive individuals resembled elevator


    attendants, poised to assist customers by personally retrieving their desired items and cing them


    directly into their shopping carts. It was a level of service that left customers feeling pampered and


    catered to, without absolutely no need to lift a finger. Chloe carefully selected a cart full of ingredients,


    ensuring they had everything they needed. As they made their way to the checkout counter, the


    supermarket manager came up and inquired about their satisfaction with the establishment¡¯s services.


    Chloe nodded, inwardly noting that with the high prices they were paying, the least they could expect


    was excellent service. After all, a business charging premium prices should know how to meet


    customer expectations.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. At H, we strive to earn the approval of our customers. You two must be a


    married couple, right? We often have household helpersing for groceries as customers. You must


    be very affectionate with each other,¡± the managermented.


    In affluent households, daily affairs were typically managed by dedicated servants, and the


    homeowners themselves would frequent establishments like H to immerse themselves in a certain


    ambiance and experience the essence of life.


    Joseph, typically a man of few words, unexpectedly retorted, ¡°Our affection has faded. She no longer


    has feelings for me. We¡¯re having our final dinner together.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mind raced with confusion. ¡°The f*ck?¡¯ she thought, ¡®He didn¡¯t have enough drama at the cafe


    last time and is now continuing it here?¡¯


    The manager¡¯s expression shifted to one of surprise and confusion. ¡°Oh dear, you two look so good


    together. You¡¯re practically a match made in heaven.¡±


    A faint smirk yed on Joseph¡¯s lips, which was quickly subdued. ¡°Is that so? Unfortunately,


    our time together ising to an end very soon.¡±


    The manager, sensing Joseph¡¯s reluctance, earnestly advised Chloe, ¡°Madam, major decisions. in life


    must be carefully considered. Every rtionship that leads to marriage is hard-won.¡±


    ¡°Can I reload my card here?¡± Chloe asked.


    The manager replied, ¡°Certainly, pleasee this way.¡±


    Chloe proceeded to utilize Joseph¡¯s card to top up 15 thousand dors. The manager then offered


    advice againstpromising herself for someone she had no affection for and urging her to leave if


    necessary. Chloe had always been aware of the power of money, but this was the first time she used


    money that was not her own to p someone across the face, and it felt oddly satisfying.


    On their journey back, Joseph maintained a stoic silence, his countenance stern and unyielding. Chloe,


    sensing the icy barrier between them, hesitated to break the silence, fearing the frigid response that


    might await her.


    Upon reaching the vi, Joseph shouldered the burden of the groceries and exited the car. However,


    halfway to their destination, he abruptly turned his head and locked his gaze with hers. His voice


    carried a weight of confession as he uttered, ¡°That night with Xavia, I was drugged. She brought me


    drinks, and under the influence of the substances, I wasn¡¯t in control of my actions and had intimate


    rtions with her.¡±


    To be honest, that night held no significant meaning for him. In the haze of drug-induced confusion, he


    faintly recalled engaging in forceful acts with a woman, but the details remained elusive. If ending


    things amicably was what Chloe desired, he was prepared to be the one to offer an apology.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes dropped, her tone void of any discernible emotion as she asked, ¡°Have you identified the


    person who drugged you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    With the constant influx of people at Graceville Estate and the broken surveince equipment,


    conducting a thorough investigation had proven to be a challenging endeavor.


    ¡°Why should I trust you? All cheaters use the same tired excuse. Wouldn¡¯t the world be a harmonious


    ce if I just believed you and turned a blind eye?¡± Chloe retorted, her tone filled with skepticism.


    ¡°Is there a need for me to justify cheating?¡± Joseph had wanted to diffuse the tension between them.


    But faced with mockery, his eyes immediately darkened, an underlying storm brewing within his gaze.


    Chloe unyieldingly met his gaze. ¡°Evidence is necessary for any im.¡±


    ¡°Is this the extent of your trust in me?¡±


    She smiled wryly. ¡°Compared to your baseless suspicions of me and Icarus having an illicit rtionship,


    you and Xavia are the ones with concrete evidence.¡±


    The acknowledgment of this fact from both sides lingered in the air, adding to the weight of their


    confrontation.


    Joseph gritted his teeth. ¡°Icarus has ulterior motives toward you!¡±


    ¡°But we haven¡¯t slept together.¡± Chloe finished speaking and walked toward the kitchen, deep in


    thought. She started preparing a tray of oyster shooters for Joseph.


    Even though he maintained good health habits, engaging in intimate encounters with two women in a


    single night was undoubtedly physically demanding, especially considering his age. Certain aspects


    needed replenishing.


    Chloe admitted that she was a bit promiscuous, but the mere thought of Joseph spending the night with


    her and then going to Xavia¡¯s bed made her stomach churn, filling her with a nauseating sensation.


    In recent days, she had avoided dwelling on that particr night, pushing it to the recesses of her mind.


    But now that Joseph had brought it up, his condescending tone and dismissive attitude toward what


    seemed like a mere misunderstanding infuriated her.


    As Chloe worked in the kitchen, her anger simmered, causing her hands to tremble with frustration.


    She struggled to maintainposure, but her efforts were in vain. Having been through two


    rtionships in which her partners cheated on her, Chloe could not help but see the world as a grand


    farce that was filled with hypocrisy and deceit.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze fixed upon the tray of oyster shooters before him. His grip on the tray tightened, causing


    his knuckles to turn pale. He questioned with intensity, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning behind this?¡±


    Chloe maintained her innocent smile, her gaze meeting his with a touch of mischief. ¡°Just a little boost


    for you.¡±


    ¡®Boost?¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s captivating eyes bore into hers, his smile widening, showcasing his pristine teeth. With a


    deliberate motion, he raised two shot sses filled with oysters, tilted his head back, and downed them


    in one swift gulp.


    Chloe¡¯s mind raced with a ¡°whoosh¡±, trying to grasp the sudden shift in Joseph¡¯s demeanor. When did


    this insolent man transform into someone sopliant? Her thoughts spun in confusion, struggling to


    make sense of the situation. Before she could react, her world turned topsy-turvy as Joseph effortlessly


    hoisted her over his shoulder, striding purposefully toward the bedroom.

 Chapter 309

    Chapter 309


    Chapter 309 Satisfaction


    ¡°What are you doing?! Put me down!¡±


    ¡°Testing the effectiveness of the oyster shooters.¡±


    Chloe was shocked motionless, as if lightning had struck her, unable to move a muscle.


    Joseph tossed her onto the bed and pinned his entire body against hers, smothering her with an


    onught of relentless kisses.


    Shaking off her initial stupor, Chloe swiftly regained her senses, clutching her clothes protectively,


    refusing to let him advance any further. ¡°No, don¡¯t do this¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡±


    Chloe turned her face away, nibbling on her rosy lips. ¡°It was my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have provoked you.


    Please, let¡¯s not do this¡­ Please?¡± She reluctantly admitted to having cold feet now, and she regretted


    ever making him the oyster shooters.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°No¡­ Please don¡¯t do this¡­¡±


    A few hourster, it was finally over.


    Chloe retreated to the kitchen, seeking sce in the familiar embrace of cooking. She transformed her


    anger into a driving force, channeling it into the swift preparation of six


    delectable dishes.


    Outside the vi, a car came to a halt in the yard, and Gabriel Be sauntered in, his attention


    immediately drawn to Chloe. His eyes held a flicker of amusement as he lowered his head, indulging in


    a leisurely drag of his cigarette. Unabashedly, his gaze roamed over every inch of her form, from head


    to toe, as if he was assessing her value like a meremodity¡ªa possession to be appraised.


    Chloe furrowed her brows, expressing her clear displeasure. His prating gaze unsettled her, and


    she found herself instinctively disliking his appearance. With his androgynous features, an unnaturally


    fairplexion that surpassed most women, and the unsettling intensity in his slender eyes, he


    emanated an aura of sinister intentions, leaving her with a strong sense that he was not to be trusted.

 Chapter 310

    Chapter 310


    Chapter 310 Innocent Flower in Public, Serpent Behind Closed Doors


    Gabriel disregarded her displeasure, for in his eyes, Chloe was indeed amodity. Her pure allure,


    combined with her good figure, made her unique in the eyes of a man like him, who


    was gifted with exceptional talents and had encountered a multitude of beautiful women throughout his


    life.


    This encounter held the promise of surpassing his previous experiences, including those with Xavia.


    Joseph descended the stairs, fresh from his shower. The partially open bathrobe around him revealed


    water droplets sliding down his chiseled physique. Hisposed and distant countenance exuded a


    lingering satisfaction, arousing endless reverie.


    Witnessing this, Gabriel swiftly grasped the situation and smiled, remarking, ¡°Indulging in avish feast,


    I see?¡± He added to his subtle implication with a deliberate nce in Chloe¡¯s direction.


    Chloe averted her gaze, unwilling to confront such a look, and promptly retreated to the kitchen.


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying, and simply asked, ¡°Just arrived?¡±


    ¡°I arrived yesterday. I was bombarded by several developers who kept me upied all day.¡±


    Joseph gestured toward the sofa with a subtle lift of his chin. ¡°Sit.¡±


    Gabriel settled into the seat with an air of great swagger and touched his face, asking, ¡°So, what¡¯s


    going on between you and Xavia?¡±


    ¡°An ident.¡±


    ¡°Just an ident?¡±


    ¡°What else could it be?¡±


    ¡°Haha, not bad,¡± Gabriel responded with a hint of significance. ¡°That woman is exactly as your


    grandfather described-unfit to step foot into the Whitman family.¡±


    Acting like an innocent flower in public but truly a serpent behind closed doors. Donning a mask of


    innocence would never erase one¡¯s sins.


    The night Gabriel and Xavia engaged in a one-night stand, she had not gotten to know Joseph yet.


    Later, she became a famous violinist, meticulously cleaning up her past and skillfully concealing her


    secrets.


    Regrettably, Mr. Harold was not one to ept such promiscuity. He was well aware of that fateful night


    with Gabriel, and armed with that knowledge, Xavia chose to vanish, consumed by the fear of her


    meticulously hidden truth being exposed.


    Joseph possessed a haughty disposition, and given the strained rtionship he had with his family at


    the time, even if the truth wereid bare before him, he might not have believed it. Furthermore, this


    revtion would undoubtedly have some impact on him, prompting both Gabriel and Harold to opt for


    secrecy. However, to their astonishment, the matter unexpectedly resurfaced five yearster. How


    audacious.


    Joseph¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Watch your words. She has leukemia.¡±


    Gabriel hesitated briefly, then let out augh that echoed with the arrogance of a yboy.¡± Well, that¡¯s


    rather pitiful.¡±


    As the food was served on the table, Gabriel showed no intention of leaving. He extended his hand and


    calmly requested utensils from Chloe, remarking, ¡°You won¡¯t give them to me unless I ask, huh?¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes and returned to the kitchen to fetch another pair for him.


    Joseph said in a detached tone, ¡°Consider this meal a wee banquet for you. Finish quickly and


    buzz off.¡±


    Gabriel responded, ¡°¡­We just met, and you already want to kick me out?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t buy enough ingredients. It¡¯s not enough for three people.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just take a couple of bites. I¡¯m not really hungry, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Joseph firmly refused, offering no room for negotiation.


    Gabriel¡¯s eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost. ¡®When did my buddy be so possessive over


    food?¡¯


    Ignoring Gabriel¡¯s bewildered gaze, Joseph carried on eating with elegance. He turned to Chloe and


    calmly instructed, ¡°Bring the soup over.¡±


    Gabriel¡¯s gaze shifted between Chloe and Joseph. He nudged thetter yfully, saying, Women are


    just for fun. No need to take them seriously. They¡¯re all the same once you turn off the lights.¡±


    Joseph shot him a sidelong nce and countered, ¡°She¡¯s just a maid who cooks. Nothing more.


    His voice carried enough volume for Chloe in the kitchen to hear every word. Hershes drooped,


    revealing a hint of hurt in her eyes.


    Gabriel did not stick around for too long. He went back and delved into a thorough investigation of


    Chloe¡¯s personal information. When he stumbled upon the fact that she and her half-sister had been


    entangled with the same man, a scornful smirk adorned his lips.


    In his eyes, Chloe, much like Xavia, fell short of being a virtuous individual. To him, a wife was a


    strategic alliance, requiring a pristine family background and an untainted reputation. In his perspective,


    mutual benefits and shared interests took precedence.


    Chloe finished washing the dishes and prepared some snacks for Toto and Oreo. She settled onto the


    sofa, taking a moment to rx. Just then, a call from Noah came in to confirm the shooting schedule,


    which was ted for the day after tomorrow. He wanted to ensure Chloe was okay with the


    arrangement.


    ¡°No problem. Should I head to Docwood for the shoot?¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll arrange for a car to pick you up in Aesper.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±


    Afterpleting dinner preparations that evening, Chloe did not linger and promptly returned to her


    own home. The following day, she arrived at the vi punctually.


    Today, Joseph had gone to Fairlight and specifically requested that Chloe personally deliver three


    meals to thepany. Although Chloe found it a tad inconvenient, she decided to fulfill the task. After


    all, it was thest day.


    Joseph was engrossed in his work and had no intention of causing any trouble for Chloe. Dinner


    proceeded without any hups. Pushing the empty container aside, he turned to Lucas and gave him a


    directive, ¡°Apany her home.¡±


    Chloe shook her head, declining the offer. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    Raising an eyebrow, Joseph asked curiously, ¡°Has Avae looking for youtely?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The investigation into the previous kidnapping incident had hit a dead end. The police showed no


    interest in pursuing it, and Chloecked any evidence to link Ava to the crime. It seemed like this


    matter would remain unresolved.


    Joseph believed that after Ava¡¯s ¡°One Dor Auction,¡± she would not dare to trouble Chloe for at least


    half a year.


    ¡°In theing days, you¡¯ll apany me at Docwood. I¡¯ll call you to let you know the exact timing.¡±


    ¡°Will Grandpa be joining us?¡±


    ¡°No, he won¡¯t.¡¯


    IT


    Chloe stood her ground and spoke with determination, ¡°If Grandpa won¡¯t be there, then I


    won¡¯t go. If it¡¯s all just an act for his sake and he¡¯s not even apanying us, why should I go with


    you?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression contorted into a deep frown. ¡°How dare you!

 Chapter 311

    Chapter 311


    Chapter 311 Chloe Refused to Deliver the Meals


    Having learned her lesson, she turned around and muttered under her breath as she exited the office,


    ¡°We¡¯ll see if I dare.¡±


    Perhaps merely a product of her imagination, Chloe had a lingering sense of being followed as she


    made her way home. It was not until she reached the safety of her house that the feeling of being


    trailed faded away, leaving her to question if her worries had been excessive.


    The next day, Exotic Star¡¯s private car came to pick her up. Chloe brought herptop, intending to work


    during the journey. Noah informed her that if everything went smoothly, they could wrap up the shoot in


    three days.


    As a neer in the industry, Chloe initially took some time to adapt and understand the


    requirements. However, her quick wit and adaptability allowed her to grasp the demands swiftly, fully


    immersing herself in the shooting process.


    Two days passed, and despite a few minor obstacles, overall progress was satisfactory. With just one


    more day to go, they would sessfully conclude the project.


    Afterpleting her evening work and returning to the hotel, Chloe called Emily to express her


    amazement at how effortlessly one could earn money as a celebrity. In a mere three days, she had


    earned 30 million dors, while the Johnsons struggled to earn a fraction of that.


    After chatting with Emily on the phone, Chloe began the process of removing her makeup. Suddenly,


    Lucas called.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, are you busy right now?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not particrly. What¡¯s the matter?¡± she replied.


    There were some trivial matters in thepany that needed to be addressed. Of course, if there were


    urgent matters, the work could be put aside temporarily.


    ¡°In that case, can youe and cook a meal for Mr. Joseph? His stomach is acting up.¡±


    ¡°If his stomach is acting up, he should go see a doctor,¡± Chloe said.


    Lucas stuttered, knowing very well the reasoning behind her words. The problem was that he refused


    to go to see a doctor. He thought that if Chloe coulde and cook a meal, she could also persuade


    him to go to the hospital for a check-up. It had been several years since Josephst had a medical


    examination.


    These days, aside from when Chloe was present, Joseph barely ate on time. During other times, he


    managed with whatever was avable. He was currently in his office participating in a video


    conference.


    ¡°If it¡¯s about food, I can¡¯t help. But if there are other important matters, like going back to see Grandpa I


    can assist him. Just remember to schedule the time in advance,¡± Chloe said. After all, it would take


    some time for her to travel from Docwood back to her hometown.


    Lucas looked at the disconnected call, feeling utterly helpless.


    At that moment, Joseph emerged from his office, hunched over and clutching his stomach, his brows


    furrowed in pain. ¡°Go downstairs and buy me a bottle of painkillers,¡± he ordered.


    Lucas was taken aback. ¡°Did you finish the one you bought before?¡±


    His frown deepened. ¡°It¡¯s expired.¡±


    Lucas promptly agreed and hurried toward the elevator, his steps quick and determined. The screen of


    the mobile phone in his hand lit up, disying the call history with Chloe.


    Joseph¡¯s voice turned cold as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Lucas scratched his head and honestly replied, ¡°I noticed that your appetite hasn¡¯t been greattely, so


    I thought of contacting Ms. Chloe to see if she has time to cook a few meals for you.¡±


    Joseph always finished every meal that Chloe prepared for him, and Lucas noticed it.


    Joseph raised his eyebrows. His tone remained icy though his anger had abated. ¡°From now on, you


    are not allowed to contact her without my permission.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    After saying that, Lucas hurriedly went downstairs to buy medicine. Just as he was about to enter the


    elevator, Joseph called him back. ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Did Chloe mention what time she would deliver the meals?¡±


    Lucas hesitated for a moment and then awkwardly responded, ¡°Sir, Ms. Chloe didn¡¯t agree to my


    request¡­¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s expression instantly darkened. He was not sure if it was anger or if his stomach spasms had


    worsened.


    The final day of shooting stretched until nine at night. Since it was a bitte, Noah suggested returning


    to Aesper the next day. However, Chloe politely declined, ¡°I have a lot of things to take care of at the


    office and I can¡¯t afford to dy them.¡±


    She needed to keep a close eye on the coboration with the Grahams. Although she was the boss of


    herpany, she had yet to cultivate employees she could truly trust. In the past, any employee whoProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    had a good rtionship with her would find themselves targeted by Ava, resulting in the current


    situation.


    Noah seemed to have a fondness for incorporating traditional Asvand elements into his attire. On this


    particr day, he was donning a beige round-cor suit, which entuated his youthful face that


    glowed brilliantly in the twilight. Every strand of his hair could be distinctly seen, adding to his overall


    charismatic appearance.


    ¡°Are you busy at Fairlight? Exotic Star and Fairlight have jointly invested in a resort. I¡¯ll be going to


    Fairlight in a few days to discuss the specific details with Mr. Joseph. We¡¯ll have the chance to meet


    again then.¡±


    The proposal to invest in the resort hade from Desmond. He took notice of Fairlight¡¯s rapid


    development in recent years and believed that partnering with a strong ally would reduce many risks.


    Chloe smiled faintly and calmly replied, ¡°I no longer work at Fairlight, but if you wish to contact me, I¡¯m


    avable anytime.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why?¡±


    ¡°We broke up.¡±

 Chapter 312

    Chapter 312


    Chapter 312 Someone¡¯s in the Closet


    Noah¡¯s eyes flickered with slight surprise, a momentary shimmer of perplexity crossing his amber gaze.


    However, he swiftly regained hisposure and calmly responded, ¡°You¡¯ll find someone better.¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The man might not possess Joseph¡¯s wealth, but he would undoubtedly have a better temperament


    than him.


    ¡°Thank you, Noah,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get a car to take you home, but it¡¯ll take about half an hour,¡± Noah offered.


    ¡°No need to trouble yourself. I already called a cab. We¡¯ll meet again when the opportunity arises,¡±


    Chloe declined.


    Noah nodded. ¡°All right, until next time then.¡±


    Shortly after parting ways with Noah, that lingering feeling of being followed resurfaced within Chloe.


    She quickened her pace and suddenly turned her head. It was a long street ahead, popted by


    several individuals resembling office workers and a man wearing headphones, lost in his own world of


    music. Unable to discern anything unusual, she continued walking. toward the hotel.


    The room Noah arranged for Chloe was a deluxe suite with a spacious wardrobe in addition to other


    amenities. Chloe retrieved her luggage from the corner and began organizing her clothes. Just as she


    finished folding a piece and ced it in the suitcase, she sensed something was amiss.


    A man¡¯s breath, low and controlled, emanated from the wardrobe. Her nerves had been on edge for the


    past few days, and she instantly picked up on it. Someone had entered her room and was now hiding


    inside the wardrobe, patiently waiting for her return.


    Chloe¡¯s mind exploded with a buzzing sensation, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.


    Fear gripped her, causing her breathing to be rapid. She fought to maintain control, setting down


    the clothes in her hands, and swiftly sprinted toward the door. The moment she started running, the


    cab door was kicked open, revealing the face of a strange man who mercilessly seized her hair,


    forcefully mming her head against the wall.


    Thud!


    The intense pain spread through Chloe as fresh crimson liquid trickled down her head, instantly dyeing


    her vision a bloody red. She stopped struggling and copsed onto the floor, her entire body going limp.


    The man bent down, wanting to assess her condition. Chloe abruptly opened her eyes and mustered


    all her strength to deliver a punch directly into his eyes.


    Caught off guard, the man instinctively covered his eyes, cursing under his breath.


    Seizing the opportunity, Chloe quickly got up and attempted to run. Just as her hand touched the


    doorknob and before she could even make a move, the door swung open. Standing outside was the


    man with headphones from earlier.


    The man caught sight of his injured aplice on the floor and swiftly kicked Chloe in the stomach.


    She fell to the floor, clutching her abdomen in pain and whimpering.


    The man, seeing that she was still conscious, struck her across the head with a forceful p.


    This time, Chloe¡¯s eyes closed, and she truly lost consciousness.


    In the early morning, Icarus went to the Johnsons¡¯ office in the afternoon but did not find. Chloe there.


    He called her, but the call went unanswered. He then went to her house but still could not find her.


    Icarus thought the shoot had been dyed, so he waited for several hours. When he tried calling


    again, her phone was switched off. He realized something was amiss and immediately contacted Emily,


    only to learn that Emily had also tried calling Chloe the previous day, but received no response.


    Worried that something might have happened to Chloe, they called Noah, and the staff informed them


    that the shoot had ended the previous night.


    After some initial hesitation, Emily chose to report the incident to the police.


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been twenty-four hours yet. Come back when it is,¡± the officer responded.


    Emily was indignant. ¡°What if something happened to her earlier? Every second counts!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how the country¡¯s regtions work. Try to locate her yourselves first,¡± the officer insisted.


    Emily¡¯s anger surged, and just when she wanted to argue with the officer, Icarus grabbed her arm and


    said, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to search Aesper first. If there are no leads, then Chloe must be in Docwood. We


    can go directly to the police there.¡±


    Emily nodded, feeling lost and helpless.


    Meanwhile, Harold called Joseph and reminded him to attend their friend¡¯s birthday party in Docwood


    tonight. He also reminded him to bring Chloe along.


    Joseph rubbed his temples and sent a message to Chloe. After finishing his meeting, he waited for


    another two hours but did not receive a reply from her.

 Chapter 313

    Chapter 313


    Chapter 313 Chloe Is Missing


    Lucas thought for a while and said, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy. Should I call and ask?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face turned icy, and he almost crushed his phone in his grip. ¡°No need.¡±


    He had been overly lenient with her all this time. It was time for her to realize that there were plenty of


    women interested in him. Today, he wanted her to feel a sense of urgency and understand when to


    come back.


    Docwood, the Walker mansion.


    Joseph was d in an exquisite ck tailcoat, exuding amanding and refined presence akin to a


    noble prince. Seated beside him was Natalie Walker, the granddaughter of Arthur Walker. Their recent


    encounter on the dance floor had been skillfully captured by visiting journalists, and it would be no


    surprise if Chloe caught a glimpse of it on the news tomorrow. Natalie blushed and said shyly, ¡°Mr.


    Joseph, why did you invite me to be your plus-one? My grandfather said you were married, but I refuse


    to believe it.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face was strikingly handsome as he suppressed his impatience and replied, ¡°If I had a wife,


    would you refuse to be my plus-one?¡±


    ¡°No. As long as you¡¯re the one asking, I will unquestionably say yes.¡±


    During the event, numerous business associates extended olive branches to Joseph, but he responded


    with a cold gaze. ¡°Apologies, today is Mr. Arthur¡¯s birthday. I prefer not to discuss work matters.¡±


    These individuals sensed his displeasure and wisely chose to withdraw. However, Natalie assumed


    that Joseph did not want these people to interrupt them, so her smile grew event


    sweeter.


    After celebrating his birthday with family and friends, Arthur descended the stairs and saw his


    granddaughter seated with Joseph. A smile appeared on his face as he asked, ¡°Harold said you¡¯d be


    bringing your wife, Joseph. So, where is she?¡±


    Before Joseph could say anything, Natalie replied, ¡°Grandpa, Mr. Joseph doesn¡¯t have a wife. You¡¯ve


    misunderstood.¡±


    Joseph pressed his temple, choosing not to delve into the matter. ¡°Mr. Arthur, this is my gift. to you,¡± he


    stated simply as he presented the gift box he had ced behind him.


    Arthur possessed apletely different personality from Harold. He was an amiable old man. He did


    not pry further and simply said, ¡°Enjoy yourself today, and don¡¯t overthink things.¡±


    After Arthur left, Joseph¡¯s phone vibrated several times. It was a message from Lucas, stating that


    Emily had an urgent matter and wanted his phone number. Joseph simply sneered and ignored the


    message.


    After waiting for ten minutes, Lucas understood the answer when he received no response and


    declined Emily¡¯s request. A whileter, Joseph nced at his wristwatch and felt it was almost time for


    him to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Calvin.


    Standing beside Calvin was Ava, who exuded an air of elegance. She was dressed in this year¡¯s luxury


    fashion, her makeup on point. Though some time had passed, faint bruises on her


    knees were still visible.


    Walking beside Calvin, she adeptly exchanged greetings with the affluent businessmen and prominent


    families present. It was clear that Calvin intended to help Ava find a partner from among these


    individuals.


    As Calvin turned and noticed Joseph, a flicker of guilt briefly crossed his square face before being


    swiftly reced by anger.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixated on Ava as his expression turned gloomy.


    Observing this, Natalie pouted unhappily. ¡°Mr. Joseph, that woman isn¡¯t as beautiful as me. You


    shouldn¡¯t look at her.¡±


    At this time, Joseph¡¯s phone rang again. It was still Lucas.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Emily said that Ms. Chloe has been missing for two days. They¡¯ve searched everywhere


    in Docwood, but there¡¯s no trace of her. It is believed that she disappeared afterpleting Noah¡¯s


    endorsement shoot in Docwood.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s body tensed up, immediately understanding the meaning behind Calvin¡¯s earlier nce.


    ¡®Damn it! He can¡¯ty a hand on me, so he targeted that dumbo instead?!¡¯


    After hanging up the phone, Joseph walked toward Calvin and grabbed his cor, forcefully dragging


    him toward the restroom. Calvin was caught off guard and, coupled with Joseph¡¯s overwhelming


    strength, was unable to break free for a moment.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Several bystanders considered intervening. However, Joseph¡¯s piercing and fierce look discouraged


    them, and they quietly withdrew, refraining from uttering a single word.


    Soon, the sounds of a scuffle emanated from the restroom. After five minutes, Joseph kicked open the


    restroom door, dragging a bruised and battered Calvin with him into the car.


    The crowd quivered in fear as they witnessed the intense confrontation between Joseph and Calvin.


    Calvin could be considered Joseph¡¯s elder due to his age, so what did he do to evoke Joseph¡¯s fury?


    Ava¡¯s face turned pale, realizing that Joseph must have discovered that Chloe was in their hands. She


    was frightened and filled with resentment. ¡®Why does this perfect man care so much about that


    wretched model?¡¯


    Guided by Calvin, Joseph found the barely breathing woman in a dark and dismal room. Her hair was


    disheveled, her face pallid, and her body covered in numerous wounds, bothrge and small. Her once


    moisturized red lips were cracked, a sign that she had not had water for who knew how long.


    Most importantly, her clothes were disheveled, indicating she had been man-handled.


    A string snapped in Joseph¡¯s mind, and a glint of murderous intent shimmered in his eyes. What have


    you done to her?¡±

 Chapter 314

    Chapter 314


    Chapter 314 Grievances From the Past Few Days Burst Forth


    Calvin spat out the blood from his mouth and said, ¡°Rest assured. I¡¯m not as wicked as you.¡±


    He had initially intended to let Chloe have a taste of her own medicine, but her resemnce to Luciana


    made him hesitate in the end.


    Joseph¡¯s heart eased. He picked Chloe up in his arms and headed toward the exit. As they reached the


    doorway, he abruptly spun around, his eyes aglow with a bloodthirsty madness.¡± Do you honestly


    believe things will end this easily?¡±


    Calvin¡¯s brows knitted together in a disy of anger, his voice dripping with contempt. ¡°What else do


    you want? Don¡¯t forget, you were the one who made a move on Ava first! You even did such despicable


    things to her. Are you even a man?!


    In his heart, Chloe might be innocent, but Joseph had gone too far. Fortunately, Ava was strong-willed


    and did not do anything foolish. Comparatively, he had already shown mercy


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    toward Chloe.


    Joseph¡¯s face turned cold as he uttered, ¡°Ava brought it upon herself.¡±


    After the medical assessment, Chloe received four stitches on her head. The other injuries she


    sustained varied in severity, but none of them posed a fatal threat. However, the injuries. inflicted upon


    her constituted a cruel form of torment for any woman.


    Joseph sat vigntly beside her bed, feeling a deep ache in his heart as he witnessed the exhaustion


    and weariness etched on her face. He had underestimated the gravity of the situation. Merely


    punishing Ava was inadequate. He should have taken proactive measures to ensure Chloe¡¯s


    protection.


    Upon receiving the news, Emily hurried to the hospital without dy.


    However, when Icarus attempted to enter, Lucas blocked his way.


    Tears welled up in Emily¡¯s eyes as she witnessed Chloe¡¯s tormented condition.


    Annoyed, Joseph said, ¡°All right, stop it. She¡¯s not dead.¡±


    Emily sobbed uncontrobly, wiping her tears away as she said, ¡°Thank you. Coco will be so grateful to


    you when she wakes up.¡±


    At those words, Joseph¡¯s cold countenance softened. ¡°I know. You don¡¯t have to tell me. I¡¯ve arranged


    for someone to take care of her. You can go home now.¡±


    She nodded and obeyed his words. Being unfamiliar with Docwood, she deemed it better to entrust


    Chloe¡¯s care to Joseph rather than pretending to be strong. Besides, they might even mend their


    rtionship in the process and reconcile.


    Outside the hospital, Icarus, who had been waiting, rushed over to Emily. Anxiety was written


    all over his face. ¡°How is she? Is Chloe okay?¡±


    ¡°She has four stitches on her head and her other wounds are varying degrees of severity, but she¡¯s


    stable now.¡±


    Upon hearing about the stitches, Icarus¡¯s handsome face turned grim. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here to take care of


    Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go in. Joseph¡¯s there.¡± Emily said, touching her nose. ¡°I know you like Coco, but judging


    from their current situation, it won¡¯t be easy for them to break up.¡±


    Icarus furrowed his brows. ¡°Aren¡¯t they considered broken up after a divorce?¡±


    ¡°They can reconcile after a divorce, and besides, their marriage was a sham.¡±


    ¡°Their marriage was fake?¡±


    Realizing her slip-up, Emily quickly corrected herself. ¡°Never mind¡­ I was just talking


    nonsense.¡±


    Icarus¡¯ eyes flickered slightly. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone. Even if I give up, I don¡¯t want to give up without any


    reason, and after listening to what you said, I won¡¯t be able to let go of Chloe even


    more.¡±


    Emily paused for a moment. After a while, she sighed and spoke concisely, ¡°Fine. Coco and Joseph


    initially agreed to a contractual marriage for some reason, but they ended up falling in


    love with each other.¡±


    ¡°For some reason?¡±


    ¡°I only know this much. I¡¯m not clear about the rest¡­¡± Emily said, feigning ignorance.


    Fortunately, Icarus did not press further and stopped asking. He escorted Emily home before. driving


    back to his own ce. He sat in his study, looking at an unfamiliar number on his phone, and after


    much contemtion, he finally dialed it.


    ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s confident voice came through the phone as if she had anticipated his call.


    ¡°Yes, but I want to know your true identity.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Xavia hesitated. She intended to marry into the Whitmans and could not reveal herself too


    much. Staying low-key was the wiser choice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll remain in the shadows while you stand in the spotlight. It wouldn¡¯t be fair for me. As a token of my


    gratitude for providing me with the information about their divorce, 1 can share something with you that


    you might not know.¡±


    Xavia fell silent for a moment. ¡°Deal.¡±


    ¡°Their marriage wasn¡¯t real. It was a contractual arrangement.¡±


    The next day, at four in the morning, the effect of the anesthesia on Chloe¡¯s head wore off,


    and she woke up in pain. In the dark hospital ward, she licked her parched lips and spoke in a weak


    voice, ¡°Water¡­¡±


    A ss of water was ced in her hand. She eagerly took it and drank severalrge gulps before


    realizing there was someone in the room.


    She was stunned for a moment and then realized she had been saved. Suppressing her excitement,


    she cautiously asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Joseph replied, ¡°¡­Idiot.¡±


    With a click, the light turned on. Joseph stood with his arms crossed, and there were faint dark circles


    under his eyes. His neat short hair fell over his forehead. He looked somewhat exhausted, evidently


    having not slept all night.


    Chloe stared at him, her eyes bing watery. Her grievances from the past few days burst forth at


    this moment. She did not want to cry, so she bit her lip, holding back the tears.


    Unbeknownst to her, the facade of strength she tried to maintain only intensified his anguish. He


    yearned to embrace her tightly, to offer sce andfort within the shelter of his arms.

 Chapter 315

    Chapter 315


    Chapter 315 This Kind of Thing


    Joseph¡¯s expression turned dark, and he twirled his fingers to quell his inner urge. ¡°If your want to cry,


    go ahead. It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen it before.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s lips formed a slight pout as she looked at Joseph, her emotions tangled within.


    ¡°How did you find me?


    e?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.


    ¡°Emily called me, and I guessed it was Calvin.¡±


    Chloe recalled the things Calvin told her and she asked, ¡°Calvin said you got many men to assault Ava


    Is it true?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did,¡± he replied nonchntly, sending a shiver down her spine.


    This man was far more ruthless than she had imagined.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze intensified as he observed the subtle shifts in Chloe¡¯s expression. Leaning in closer, he


    ced his hands on either side of her, hismanding presence towering over her.


    ¡°Are you scared?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not at all. You did all that to Ava because of me,¡± Chloe said, her eyes locked with his. ¡°You came to


    rescue me. Does that mean you still have feelings for me?¡±


    If Joseph still held a ce for her in his heart, she would be willing to calm down and listen to his


    exnation about that night with Xavia.


    Confronted with her probing question, Joseph¡¯s pridepelled him to avert his gaze, his voice turning


    cold as he scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re simply deceiving yourself. I merely felt sorry for you. and nothing more.¡±


    A pallor washed over Chloe¡¯s face, and a touch of self-derision flickered in her eyes.


    In Joseph¡¯s heart, Chloe¡¯s presence may have been akin to that of Toto. He had a fondness for her, but


    it fell short of love. asionally, he would caress her like one would stroke a pet¡¯s fur, but it remained


    at that level.


    She realized how foolish she had been.


    ¡°For now, rest. We can discuss everything tomorrow.¡±


    Josephy on the other bed in the room. Chloe had injured her head, and insufficient rest could hinder


    her healing process.


    Chloe woke up at eight in the morning to find the other bed empty, indicating that Joseph had left at


    some point.


    1/3


    ¡°Good morning, madam. I¡¯m the caregiver arranged by Mr. Joseph. Please let me know if you have any


    needs,¡± a middle-aged woman humbly greeted her as she entered the room.


    Chloe paused, feeling a mix of emotions inside. She could not fathom Joseph¡¯s true intentions. Why


    had he chosen to appear before her in her most vulnerable moment? Was he oblivious to the fact that it


    could lead her to believe he still harbored feelings for her?


    Throughout the morning, apart from making a phone call to Emily and Icarus to let them know she was


    safe, Chloe spent her time assigning tasks in the work chat. Her body was covered in various bruises


    and injuries. Every slight movement caused her pain. As a result, she could only pass the time scrolling


    through her phone to avoid any significant physical exertion.


    As she essed her social media, a captivating photo seized her attention-a snapshot of Joseph and


    Natalie engaged in a graceful dance. Their bodies intertwined in seamless spins and twirls, conquering


    the center of the dance floor. The overhead spotlight silently celebrated their performance, bestowing


    imaginary apuse upon them.


    Chloe clenched her hand, her fingertips digging into her palm. A sensation akin to a heavy stone


    weighed down her heart, inflicting both pain and a suffocating feeling.


    Her fingers swiftly scrolled, unwilling to linger on that particr page.


    [Wyatt actively sought the attention of a board member in thepany, willingly taking on the role of


    her kept man, all in the pursuit of gaining ess to superior resources.]


    [Lannie Wurths has been taken away for investigation by the authorities on suspicion of tax evasion.]


    [Saydie Lanes has been exposed for undergoing over three hundred stic surgeries and multiple


    affairs with a famous hip-hop singer while being married.]


    [The stock of Docwood¡¯s most renowned entertainmentpany has experienced a sharp decline,


    putting it in the midst of a significant crisis.]


    Chloe gazed at the incessant stream of trending topics on her phone, feeling a mix of confusion and


    bewilderment. Something seemed amiss in the entertainment industry, as a sudden wave of trouble


    befell numerous popr stars. Driven by curiosity, she clicked into thement section, and her


    attention was immediately caught by the firstment that had hundreds of thousands of likes. It read:


    [Have you noticed that all the stars involved in these incidents are under Mr. Calvin¡¯s management?


    Did he offend some mysterious big shot?]


    Chloe¡¯s mind raced, connecting the dots between Joseph¡¯s rescue from Calvin¡¯s clutches and the


    unfolding events. Could Joseph be responsible for all of this?


    In the evening, Chloe finally had the chance to confront the man. She blinked and asked, ¡°Did you have


    something to do with the changes in Calvin¡¯s office?¡±


    The hospital ward fell silent. Joseph sat in a chair, his fingers interlocked across his chest as he asked,


    ¡°Do you think I went too far?¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, and then she instinctively said, ¡°No, I¡¯m just worried that it might affect your


    future and that Calvin might seek revenge on you.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t even need to take action if he retaliates. My grandfather will be the first one to make a move,¡±


    Joseph said.


    Their reputation as the leader of the Four Greats was not an empty title. Countless adversaries lurked


    in the shadows, yet they never shied away from direct confrontations.


    Chloe felt slightly relieved, her tone submissive as she said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Without Joseph, she might have truly been in mortal danger.


    ¡°Is this your way of showing gratitude?¡±


    ¡°In that case, shall I cook for you a little longer? I can be your housekeeper, tending to your needs and


    taking care of you and the dogs.¡±This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    This time, she was willingly offering her help. She did not want to owe him too much. Besides cooking,


    she could not think of any other way to express her gratitude.


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Again? What am I? A pig?¡±


    ¡°I only know how to cook. Oh, and I can also help you trante Estrenian documents.¡±


    ¡°No need. We have apetent trantor at Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Disappointment clouded her expression as she lowered her head.


    ¡°If you truly want to show your gratitude, there are many ways,¡± he stated.


    ¡°Tell me!¡± The words slipped out before she realized it. As she saw Joseph¡¯s yful and nonchnt


    gaze gliding over her, Chloe instantly understood.

 Chapter 316

    Chapter 316


    Chapter 316 I Won¡¯t Force You, Don¡¯t Define Our Rtionship


    ¡°No!¡± Chloe refused without hesitation.


    Joseph¡¯s expression twisted into a sneer. ¡°Would you be willing to do it if it were Icarus?¡±


    Deep furrows appeared on Chloe¡¯s forehead as she red at him. ¡°Who gave you the audacity to


    make such assumptions about me?¡±


    ¡°And yet, isn¡¯t that who you are?¡± Joseph retorted.


    ¡°Whatever. Suit yourself.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s frustration grew, causing her to avert her gaze and look out the window.


    Sensing an implicit admission in her reaction, Joseph was consumed by anger. He abruptly stood up,


    creating a resounding m as he stormed out of the room.


    The footsteps outside gradually faded until they disappeared entirely.


    Chloe curled up, hugging herself tightly. Her pale face bore an overwhelming sense of


    bitterness.


    After Joseph left, he did not appear again until she was discharged from the hospital.


    In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. The caregiver who had been taking care of her


    apanied her to Aesper and stayed at her house for two more days. Only when she saw that Chloe


    was moving around with ease did she finally feel at ease to leave.


    Before leaving, the caregiver said, ¡°Ms. Chloe, I hope you won¡¯t find this offensive. Mr. Joseph may


    seem cold, but he genuinely cares about your well-being. He calls every day to ask about your health.¡±


    Chloe froze. ¡°Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He was the one who asked me to apany you to Aesper. He instructed me to take good care


    of you. Today¡¯s myst day here, and I can tell that you both have feelings for each. other, so I don¡¯t


    want to witness the continued misunderstandings between you two. As a woman, I understand that it¡¯s


    not easy for you either.¡±


    Chloe lowered her head and let out a long sigh. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll talk to him properly.¡±


    Not long after the caregiver left, an unexpected visitor arrived.


    Jane, who had not been seen in a long time, somehow found her way there. She swaggered in and


    looked at the recently recovered Chloe,ughing provocatively. ¡°I told you that you¡¯d be kicked out once


    Xavia returned. And now Joseph doesn¡¯t want you anymore. Serves you right!¡±


    Chloe remained unfazed, smiling slyly. ¡°Joseph doesn¡¯t want me, but does he want you?¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¦£


    ¡°Why you!¡±


    ¡°Please leave my house, or I will call the police.¡±


    She believed it was necessary to move out quickly. Her house wascking security.


    ¡°Why are you so worked up? It¡¯s been some time since west saw each other. Don¡¯t you wanna


    chat?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to,¡± Chloe replied without any hesitation.


    Jane sneered and said, ¡°Xavia¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    Surprised, Chloe raised her gaze. ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern. Cherish the remaining time you have with Joseph,¡± Jane


    continued.


    Chloe was struck by those words like a bolt of lightning, impaling her heart with an invisible de and


    causing her body to tremble with anguish. Her mind went nk, and she stumbled, clutching the sofa


    as she sat down.


    At that moment, she understood the truth of the saying, ¡°There is no greater sorrow than a


    heart that is dead.¡±


    She could not believe that Xavia had gotten pregnant after just one night¡­ It must have been


    more than just one night.


    For the next two days, Chloe confined herself to her home, only making a phone call to Emily, while the


    rest of her time was spent in seclusion. On the third day, she had to go to the Grahams to discuss the


    progress of the project. She dragged herself out of bed, freshened up, and concealed her weary face


    with makeup.


    As she stepped out of the house, Icarus was waiting outside in the car. It seemed to her that he had


    been there for quite some time.


    ¡°Wh-Why are you here?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I happened to nce at your office¡¯s monthly schedule and snapped a picture, thinking I could be your


    driver,¡± Icarus said. He was impably dressed in a ck shirt and the glimmer from his gold-rimmed


    sses bestowed upon him an air of sophistication andpetence.


    Chloe wanted to smile at him, but she found even the simplest movement of curling her lips to be


    exhausting, so she gave up. Along the way, she noticed that the leaves outside the car window were


    showing signs of turning yellow. It seemed that Fall had arrived.


    These past few days, Chloe had been thinking about how to resolve the rtionship between her and


    Icarus. Summoning her strength, she said, ¡°I need to discuss something with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that the endorsement you did for Exotic Star? It came out to the market pretty


    20


    quickly,¡± Icarus said, seemingly not to have heard her. He pointed to the billboards on the side. of the


    road and praised, ¡°Chloe, you look stunning.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s train of thought was interrupted and she followed his gaze. In the city center streets, there were


    Exotic Star billboards every fifty meters, featuring her in a ck evening gown. Her slender neck was


    graced by a radiant diamond ne, while an irresistible aura of grace, elegance, and enchanting


    allure surrounded her.


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, never realizing she could be so beautiful. ¡°The photo editor is truly


    skilled!¡¯ Witnessing this scene, she suddenly remembered that Noah had her a message, and she had


    not replied all this time.


    payment


    Chloe took out her phone and found the conversation with Noah, confirming that he had indeed


    informed her a few days ago about the ad going on the market and that the would be deposited into her


    ount. At the end of his message, he expressed deep apologies, stating that on the day of the shoot,


    he should have arranged for someone to escort her back to Aesper.


    It seemed that Noah had also be aware of Calvin¡¯s act of imprisoning her.


    Chloe did not reply immediately. Instead, she checked her bank ount and found 30 million. dors


    had been added to it. Seeing this substantial sum of money, her mood finally improved


    a bit.


    In the end, one had to rely on oneself. If she had listened to Joseph and had not gone to the Docwood


    for the audition, she would have been left with nothing-neither money nor freedom.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Icarus announced as he parked the car in front of Graham Group¡¯s main building.


    Chloe reached out to unfasten her seatbelt and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me, Chloe. I hope you won¡¯t rush to define our rtionship. We can just be


    ordinary friends. You don¡¯t need to put pressure on yourself, and I won¡¯t force you either, all right?¡±


    Icarus said sincerely.

 Chapter 317

    Chapter 317


    Chapter 317 The Urge to Exin and Prove Himself


    Her hand froze in mid-air.


    ¡°I¡¯ve managed to secure an appointment with a renowned skin specialist in the country. In a few days,


    I¡¯ll apany you there, and I¡¯ll do my utmost to ensure that your face remains. unscarred.¡±


    Icarus clenched his fist,prehending Chloe¡¯s intentions. She did not want to owe him. anything.


    It appeared that there were other significant guests present in Alexander¡¯s office, so his secretary


    instructed Chloe to wait in the lounge for a while.


    ¡°All right,¡± Chloe said.


    After approximately fifteen minutes, the door swung open, revealing Lucas¡¯ face.


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡®So, the important guest that Mr. Alexander¡¯s secretary mentioned is Joseph?¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m here with Mr. Joseph. He¡¯s discussing work matters with Mr. Alexander,¡± Lucas exined.


    Chloe was rendered speechless. She felt as though Alexander had deliberately scheduled their


    appointments on the same day.


    Lucas found himself in a predicament and appeared visibly distressed. ¡°Ms. Chloe, could you please


    talk to Emily?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been bombarding me with text messages every day. I can¡¯t focus on my work,¡± Lucas


    confessed.


    ¡°Why is she bombarding you with messages?¡±


    Lucas looked embarrassed. ¡°Emily ims that Mr. Joseph is a scumbag, a heartbreaker who is


    involved with two women simultaneously. Not only that, but he also has gotten Xavia pregnant¡­¡±


    Chloe¡¯s memory came rushing back as she recollected their phone conversation from a few days ago.


    Emily had detected a hint of unease in Chloe¡¯s voice, prompting her to bring up Xavia¡¯s pregnancy. Yet,


    Chloe never anticipated that Emily would go to such lengths.


    ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I¡¯m with Joseph every day, and I have no knowledge of


    such news,¡± Lucas¡¯ voice faltered for a moment. ¡°And it was you who deceived Mr. Joseph first¡­¡±


    cing her hand on her forehead, Chloe interjected, ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on that. From now on,


    Joseph and I will go our separate ways.¡±


    Outside the lounge, Joseph and Alexander remained poised, yet to enter, when they were struck by the


    callousness of Chloe¡¯s words.


    Alexander was dumbfounded. He had kindly tried to create an opportunity for the quarreling couple to


    reconcile, but fate seemed to have yed an unfortunate trick.


    Joseph¡¯s face was cold and gloomy, devoid of any warmth. He pushed open the door, striding.


    purposefully toward Chloe. He leaned against the table in front of her, exerting an overwhelming


    presence. ¡°Did I agree for us to go our separate ways?¡±


    Chloe felt an overwhelming sense of oppression and a tinge of fear. However, Jane¡¯s words echoed in


    her mind, injecting her with a surge of courage. Straightening her posture, she retorted, ¡°If I don¡¯t step


    aside, do you expect me to disrupt your blissful family of three?¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Joseph tightly gripped her shoulders, causing her pain. Her face contorted in


    difort, further deepening her sense of injustice. ¡°Xavia¡¯s pregnant. Don¡¯t you intend to settle down


    and be a responsible father?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Who told you that Xavia¡¯s pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Jane did,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware that you aren¡¯t the brightest individual, but it appears that I¡¯ve greatly underestimated the


    extent of your naivety,¡± Joseph remarked with a touch of scorn in his voice. ¡°How could you possibly


    believe Jane¡¯s words? Has your mind been reduced to mush?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Are you saying Jane deceived me?¡± Chloe eximed, slowly grasping the truth.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he replied.


    She remained skeptical. After all, she had already divorced and separated from Joseph. Was there any


    reason for Jane to lie to her?


    Seeing Chloe¡¯s doubtful expression, Joseph decided to call Xavia right then and there.


    ¡°Joe?¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    On the other end of the line, Xavia¡¯s voice sounded excited and happy.


    ¡°Are you pregnant?¡±


    Chloe was stunned. She had not expected him to be so direct.


    Unbeknownst to Chloe, the moment Joseph heard her deration of going their separate ways, his


    years of cultivated rationality shattered instantaneously. Driven by instinct, he felt an overwhelming


    urge to exin and prove himself.


    After half a minute of silence, Xavia finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    Even if she were, it was not the right time to disclose it.


    Joseph was not surprised by the answer as he knew that Xavia getting pregnant after a single


    encounter was highly unlikely. After ending the call, he fixed his gaze on Chloe, his eyes filled with


    intensity.


    ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Fine, fine. This time is my fault,¡± Chloe conceded.


    ¡®But even if she¡¯s not pregnant, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that you slept with her,¡¯ she thought.


    ¡°Why did youe in?¡± Joseph turned to look at Lucas and asked, his gaze prating.


    Lucas, feeling a slight shiver run down his spine, stammered, ¡°Sir, I entered to check if Ms. Chloe


    needed anything. I was worried that she was thirsty or hungry¡­¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, recognizing Lucas¡¯ growing perceptiveness.


    ¡°I need you toe back with me to the family home today. Grandpa wants to see us,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Today?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He nced at Alexander. ¡°Wrap up the discussion quickly. We need to go home early today.¡±


    With that, Joseph found a seat and settled down. Meanwhile, Alexander wiped the sweat off his


    forehead, feeling the immense pressure of being under Joseph¡¯s scrutiny. He had the sensation of


    being watched by a hawk.


    Chloe, on the other hand, remained unfazed. During her time with Fairlight, she had often. presented


    entire ns in front of Joseph.


    Twenty minutester, the discussion concluded.


    As Alexander hurriedly departed, Chloe could not help but sigh at the challenges he faced. She


    realized he was likely rushing to the next meeting location, burdened with the responsibilities of a busy


    general manager.


    In contrast, Adam was unreliable, always chasing after women. He embodied the perfect epitome of


    what people referred to as a parasite.


    The two returned to the family home, and Chloe¡¯s face brightened with a sweet smile upon seeing


    Harold seated in the main position. She immediately went over to him and greeted him, ¡°Grandpa.¡±


    However, Harold looked at her sternly and said in a serious tone, ¡°I know that you and that rascal have


    been hiding things from me.¡±

 Chapter 318

    Chapter 318


    Chapter 318 Your Wife Is Leaving You, Do Something!


    Chloe¡¯s expression momentarily froze. She then stered on a smile as she attempted to deceive her


    way out of the situation. ¡°Grandpa, what are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Harold huffed, his mustache twitching with anger. ¡°Do you think just because I¡¯m old


    that you can conspire with that punk to deceive me?¡±


    He had long pondered over how Joseph managed to find a wife who was not only well- mannered but


    also remarkably beautiful. He had contemted various exnations, but he never anticipated that


    they would go to the extent of orchestrating a sham marriage to deceive


    him.


    Chloe stumbled over her words, bewildered by how she had unintentionally revealed herself when


    things were going smoothly.


    Observing her silence, Harold grew increasingly agitated and directed his anger toward Joseph, who


    sat calmly beside him. ¡°You¡¯re about to lose your wife. Do something instead of sitting there idly!¡±


    Joseph reclinedfortably on the sofa, crossing his long and slender legs. His hand rested on his


    forehead, while the other casually rested on the armrest. Radiating an aura of at distinguished


    gentleman, he coolly said, ¡°It was fake at the beginning, but it became real afterward.¡±


    Harold¡¯s aged eyes widened in anticipation as he looked at Chloe. ¡°Is that true?¡±


    It was a contractual marriage, yet it was not entirely based on a contract.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true, Grandpa.¡±


    Harold patted his chest, his anger subsiding slightly. ¡°You two should¡¯ve mentioned that earlier. I


    thought that this punk would end up-¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Chloe interjected, ¡°But we¡¯ve broken up now.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Harold felt as if he could not catch his breath as he suppressed his anger as much as possible. He


    could not afford to get angry. They needed to resolve this matter now.


    He would never let his amazing granddaughter-inw slip away.


    Chloe stared intently at Harold¡¯s reaction. God knew how much courage she had to muster to confess


    all this. She was worried that he might pass out likest time.


    ¡°Tell me everything else you¡¯ve deceived me about. Everything,¡± Harold demanded.


    Chloe turned her gaze toward theposed man beside her and innocently shook her head. ¡± That¡¯s


    the only one I¡¯m aware of, but I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s hiding anything.¡±


    Harold¡¯s face brightened with realization as he anxiously pped his thigh. ¡°Did you two


    1/2


    break up because of him?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze shifted to Chloe, who was trying to shift the me to him. His thin lips pursed lightly as


    he corrected, ¡°We both bear responsibility.¡±


    Chloe sneered inwardly. ¡®Yeah, yeah, yeah. All you did was just fall into the same trap that men all over


    the world have fallen into, and I am the one whomitted an unforgivable sin that brought an end to


    this rtionship.¡±


    Harold¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as his gaze flickered between the two. ¡°Chloe, go upstairs and rest. I


    want to have a few words with this scoundrel.¡±


    Chloe nodded, her mind racing with curiosity about who had revealed their secret to Harold. After all,


    only a handful of people knew about their contractual marriage, and not many had the opportunity to


    speak with Harold.


    She pursed her lips and raised her eyes, locking her gaze with Patrick.


    Patrick immediately expressed his loyalty and waved his hands.


    That¡¯s right. If Patrick wanted to expose them, he could have done it a long time ago. Why wait until


    now?


    Chloe returned to her room to rest, and it did not take long for Harold¡¯s resounding shouts to reach her


    ears from downstairs. After ten minutes, Harold seemed to have calmed down. Chloe cautiously


    opened the door a slit and peered out.


    Joseph held an exquisite blue and white porcin teacup, taking a sip of tea with a nonchnt attitude


    about him. He was engaged in a seemingly casual conversation with Harold, and Harold, rare as it


    was, appeared to be listening attentively, asionally nodding in agreement.


    It seemed as though Joseph was the wise elder, the oneing up with ideas, while Harold was the


    younger who would shout and panic at the slightest sign of trouble.


    Chloe listened for a while but did not hear anything significant, so she closed the door.


    After another five minutes, Patrick knocked on the door and called for Chloe toe downstairs, telling


    her that Harold wanted to discuss something with her.

 Chapter 319

    Chapter 319


    Chapter 319 All the Whitmans Are Great Actors


    Harold was downstairs, sitting upright, feeling somewhat out of his element when it came to dealing


    with the romantic issues of the younger generation.


    Chloe lowered her gaze and softly replied, ¡°Yes, Grandpa?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I assure you that Xavia will never appear in front of you again. You and Joseph should


    focus on living your lives well,¡± Harold assured her.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡±


    Having been a soldier all his life, Harold¡¯s face had been weathered by the sun, darkened to at deep


    tan. Being looked at like this, he blushed ufortably as he continued, ¡°That¡¯s settled then. The cat


    of arade of mine gave birth at home, so I need to go and take a look. Goodbye.¡±


    Despite it being an ident, it was undeniable that Joseph had made a mistake, leaving Harold in the


    awkward position of having toe to his defense. The level of embarrassment he felt at that moment


    was unparalleled by whatever else had happened his entire life.


    Chloe called out to him, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m grateful that you stand firmly on my side, but Joseph and I can¡¯t


    go back to how things were.¡±


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t say that. My heart can¡¯t take it, and I might faint!¡± Harold eximed.


    Chloe, well aware of Harold¡¯s temperament as well as Joseph¡¯s, turned pale with fear and dared not


    say another word.


    ¡°Chloe, I genuinely hope that you will continue to be my daughter-inw. Since you entered this


    scoundrel¡¯s life, he has undergone a remarkable transformation. He now knows how tough and to


    get angry. He has even be more vibrant and lively. He¡¯s no longer the cold. and distant person he


    used to be.¡±


    People always thought that being born into a prestigious family was wonderful, but they did not know


    the burden that came with it. It might seem like Joseph was only focused on Fairlight, but in reality, the


    entire Whitmans relied on him to thrive.


    ¡°Now, let me be clear. I don¡¯t like Xavia. I suspect that this so-called ident involving Joseph was


    most likely her scheming once again. As long as I¡¯m alive, she¡¯ll never set foot inside the Whitman


    estate. With me as your support, you have nothing to fear.


    ¡°And if this scoundrel hurts you again, you don¡¯t have to say anything. I¡¯ll let you go,¡± Harold


    added.


    Chloe¡¯s heart was filled with a mix of emotions, and she could not help but feel a twinge of sympathy


    for Joseph. Behind his seemingly morous facadey the untold hardships that nobody knew about.


    Furthermore, she had no idea that Harold held her in such high regard.


    She pressed her lips together, neither epting or rejecting his proposal. Instead, she tactfully


    changed the subject. ¡°May I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Who told you about our contract marriage?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Jonathan told me. He said his ex-girlfriend knows you,¡± he answered.


    A cloud of suspicion crept over Chloe¡¯s brow.


    ¡®Jonathan¡¯s ex-girlfriend? Ava?¡¯


    From a logical standpoint, there was no way she could have been aware of her contract marriage with


    Joseph unless someone had informed her. Almost involuntarily, she recalled the encounter with Icarus


    when she and Joseph were just about to enter City Hall. In hindsight, attributing it to mere coincidence


    seemed too far-fetched. It appeared more likely that someone had informed him.


    ¡®No wonder Joseph had misunderstood¡­¡¯


    Deep in thought, Chloe pondered for a while before sending a message to Icarus.


    [On the day of my divorce with Joseph, were you near City Hall for any specific reason?]


    It might take some time for Icarus to respond to her message, so she decided to wait. As she headed


    upstairs to the restroom, Chloe passed by the study and caught the rhythmic sound of keystrokes


    emanating from within. It seemed like Joseph was replying to emails again.


    At that very moment, Patrick happened to be carrying a tray of fruits and tea. Spotting Chloe, he


    contemted handing her the items. ¡°Ms. Chloe, why don¡¯t you take these inside?¡±


    ¡°No, you should handle it,¡± she promptly declined.


    She had no intention of continuing to serve Joseph. Though she felt a sliver of sympathy for him earlier,


    her own well-being took precedence.


    Faced with a sense of helplessness, Patrick opted not to insist and ced his hand on his. waist,


    feigning difort. ¡°Ms. Chloe, I¡¯ve pulled my back. The pain makes it difficult to walk, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help you,¡± Chloe agreed, swiftly taking hold of the tea tray. ¡°Go apply some medicated


    patches. If the pain bes unbearable, consider taking a break and going to the hospital with


    Grandpa. As one grows older, it¡¯s crucial not to dy tending to one¡¯s health. You should never take


    your body for granted.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Ms. Chloe. I¡¯ll be leaving then.¡± Patrick turned around and left. Although his gaitcked a


    sprightly bounce, there was no indication of a back injury. He could certainly be


    described as strong for his age.


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched. It seemed to her that everyone in the Whitmans, be they an adult or a child, were


    great actors. Not only was Harold adept at deceiving others, but even his entourage. was no less


    impressive.


    Feeling resigned to the situation, Chloe freed up one hand and rapped gently on the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± came Joseph¡¯s cool andnguid voice from inside, a voice that was pleasing and maic


    to the ears.

 Chapter 320

    Chapter 320


    Chapter 320 A Foreboding Sense of Dread.


    Chloe gently pushed open the door and entered the study. Joseph remained with his back. turned, his


    gaze fixed on theputer screen. His handsome face was dark and brooding, fueled by his intense


    frustration over the Whitman Group¡¯s recent months of losses. He had an irresistible urge to grab


    Jonathan and give him a good beating.


    He picked up his phone and called Jonathan, his voice carrying an obvious tone of frustration.


    Terminate all the projects you invested inst quarter immediately. Also, I want you to voluntarily step


    down from the board of directors. Focus on your role as the administrative. director and refrain from


    meddling in any senior-level projects.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She could not help but wonder just how much damage Jonathan. had


    caused the Whitman Group to provoke such anger from someone as influential and formidable as


    Joseph. The extent of the losses must have been significant for Joseph to be seething with such


    frustration.


    ¡°No! You can¡¯t do this to me, Joe! As a Whitman, it¡¯s only natural for me to be on the board unless


    Grandpa says otherwise!¡± Jonathan protested.


    Joseph sneered, ¡°Just wait for the notice.¡±


    Without waiting for Jonathan to spew any more nonsense, Joseph promptly ended the call, unwilling to


    listen to any further exnation from the other end. After all the talking, he felt at bit thirsty and turned


    around to reach for a ss of water on the coffee table.


    Chloe noticed his action and handed it to him.


    He looked up, and their gaze met.


    Chloe stood there, radiating with beauty. She donned a knee-length dress in a serene shade of sky


    blue, enhancing her appearance with a subtle touch of makeup. Her delicate features exuded an aura


    of grace, gentleness, and refinement, captivating all those whoid eyes upon.


    her.


    She met Joseph¡¯s deep, enigmatic gaze, her eyes shimmering. ¡°Patrick hurt his back, so he told me to


    bring this to you.¡±


    ¡°Did Grandpa say anything to you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No¡­ He didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Really?¡± Joseph raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°Grandpa told me to live my own life, and that I shouldn¡¯t care about how others think of me.¡±


    She chose not to tell Joseph everything that Harold told her.


    Joseph furrowed his brow slightly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him.¡±


    ??


    Chloe refused to back down. ¡°Then I guess I shouldn¡¯t listen to you either.¡±


    A malicious smirk tugged at Joseph¡¯s thin lips. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see.¡±


    ¡°What do you really want?¡± Chloe stared at him incredulously.


    ¡°Nothing. Since Grandpa loves you so much, you should stay and continue to be his granddaughter-in-


    law.¡±


    Joseph believed he had made his intentions clear and had given her enough reputation. He had made


    numerous concessions on her behalf. This was her final opportunity, and if she failed to seize it, the


    consequences would be solely her responsibility.


    Chloe could not believe what she had heard as she stared at him. ¡°Am I some kind of object? Just


    because Grandpa likes me, I¡¯m supposed to stay and be your wife? Joseph, you have a lot of nerve!¡±


    ¡°Watch your words when you¡¯re talking to me!¡± Joseph rose to his feet, his thin lips pressed into a


    straight line, his countenance cold and merciless.


    Chloe immediately covered her mouth, realizing her mistake. This was his territory, and she should not


    have been so reckless.


    Joseph moved closer to her, his tone dripping with condescension. ¡°Isn¡¯t it beneficial to be my wife?


    Here, you can have everything at your fingertips. Endless wealth, glory, and others can only dream of.


    Aren¡¯t these the very things women desire the most?¡±


    power that


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s true that women, and not just women, but people all over the world, are drawn to such a


    lifestyle. But if lifecks love and is only filled with materialism, I¡¯d rather remain in poverty forever!¡±


    She had experienced that feeling of being needed without being loved when she was with the


    Johnsons and refused to go through it again.


    Chloe¡¯s wordsnded like a heavy blow on Joseph, piercing deep into his heart and causing an intense


    ache. The realization that she did not love him stirred a tumult of emotions within him. Did this mean


    that her affections belonged to Icarus instead?Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Joseph¡¯s prating gaze fixed upon the woman standing inches away, his eyes carrying hidden


    anguish. He briefly closed his eyes, erasing any trace of lingering tenderness he had for her. When his


    eyes reopened, his demeanor turned cold and merciless.


    ¡°You¡¯lle to regret your decision.¡±


    An unexinable chill raced down Chloe¡¯s spine, apanied by a foreboding sense of dread in her


    stomach.

 Chapter 321

    Chapter 321


    Chapter 321 Begging Is Devoid of Dignity


    Harold prohibited Chloe from going home tonight and arranged for her to have her own room so that


    she was not forced to stay with Joseph.


    She hid in the room. After gaining Harold¡¯s approval, she felt much more rxed. She had not brought


    theptop from her office with her, so she could only scroll through her phone to relieve her boredom.


    At that moment, Icarus replied to her message.


    [I was ying golf with my friends nearby that day. When I was just heading home when I bumped into


    you.]


    Chloe opened the map application on her phone and searched the area around City Hall. True enough,


    there was a golf course nearby. She felt quite embarrassed to have thought badly of


    him.


    Icarus texted her again. It was a link to an article.


    [Chloe, I know that you¡¯ll see this sooner orter, so I thought it¡¯d be best to tell you earlier. There¡¯s no


    need to get upset because of me or these Inte trolls.]


    She clicked on the link and saw that someone had secretly taken photographs of Icarus giving her a


    ride to the Graham Group this morning. The advertisements she did for Exotic Star had. been released,


    so she had gained slight fame. That was the reason why these paparazzi targeted her.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The photograph captured the scar around Icarus¡¯ chin. It wasid bare under the sunlight, so it


    appeared pretty hideous. Theizens did not make very friendlyments about Icarus.


    [Hahaha! Are they the beauty and the beast?!]


    [Being honest, he¡¯s rather handsome if not for that scar. You losers have no right tough at him. Show


    me your photographs if you dare.]


    [I can¡¯t figure out why beautifuldies nowadays have such vulgar taste.]


    Chloe clutched her phone and trembled in fury. She then typed ament to retort to the negative


    comments, but after a pause, deleted it and rewrote it. Noah had told her that she needed to keep a


    good image for the three years that she was Exotic Star¡¯s ambassador or she would be viting the


    rules of the contract.


    She tried her best to keep herposure andmented that Icarus¡¯ face was scarred when. he had


    saved her. She even added something else at the end.


    [Scars are powerful armor. It¡¯s the twenty-first century. We can¡¯t have such a limited concept. of


    beauty.]


    The


    person involved stepped forward to retort to the negativements, and the article gained even more


    traction.


    [Hey, you¡¯re so cool!]


    [Yes, I agree with you. My husband is a firefighter, and his face was burned in the line of duty. But I


    don¡¯t find him ugly. On the contrary, it¡¯s a badge of honor.]


    Joseph read Chloe¡¯s reply and chuckled. The cigarette between his fingers was burning away. He


    recited word for word, ¡°Scars are powerful armor. Hmph!¡±


    He wanted to see how powerful it was.


    The next day, Chloe was woken up by Jake¡¯s repeated calls. Still dazed, she picked up, but after Jake


    spoke, her sleepiness was instantly dispelled. ¡°The foundation Icarus set up abroad was forced to shut


    down?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Uncle Icarus put all his assets into this foundation. It¡¯s all because of Joseph. No one else would


    do this, and no one else has such power either. Chloe, you have to stay away from this viin.¡±


    Jake had called Chloe to advise her, not expecting that Chloe was at the Whitman family home right at


    that moment.


    Chloe walked to the study and braced herself to ask, ¡°Joseph, are you in there?¡±


    Chloe and Joseph were separated only by a door.


    Joseph was standing beside the window. Heavy sarcasm etched into his handsome face.¡± Hmph! So


    eager to beg for your lover after you¡¯ve just woken up huh? This sort of rtionship makes people


    envious. And I gave you so many chances. I was indeed a fool.¡¯


    Chloe waited for a long time outside and really thought that Joseph was not in the study. When she


    was about to go back to her room, the door opened. Joseph was wearing dark blue home. clothing. A


    tinge of blue could be seen under his deep-set and bewitching eyes. There was chill and distance in


    them.


    When Chloe saw his heavy dark circles, she subconsciously wanted to grab some ice cubes to help


    soothe them. But on second thought, she felt that she did not have to worry about him at all. He had


    probably stayed up all night doing viinous deeds instead of sleeping. Otherwise, how could Icarus¡¯


    foundation be ruined in just one night


    Joseph deserved what he got.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Joseph nced at her expressionlessly.


    ¡°I wanted to ask you about Icarus¡¯ foundation-¡±


    However, he interrupted her as he leaned half of his body against the bookshelves. ¡°Yes, I did it. Are


    you here to beg for mercy on his behalf?¡±


    Stupefaction engulfed her and she sounded disappointed. ¡°There¡¯s no conflict of interest between you


    two. Why did you do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°I simply find him an eyesore.¡±


    She became helpless. ¡°Can you please let Icarus go?¡±


    ¡°So, are you begging for mercy for him?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Her firm attitude nearly sent Joseph into a great rage. He clenched his fists tightly but he remained


    composed on the surface. ¡°Do you remember what I said? You know what you have


    to do.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyshes fluttered slightly. ¡®Icarus¡¯ face is already ruined because of me. He can¡¯t lose his


    business too.¡¯ She suppressed her shamelessness as her face turned white.


    ¡°Fine, I agree.¡±


    After all, it would not be her first time. Sleeping with him again was not too big of a deal.


    The veins on the back of Joseph¡¯s hand bulged. She was willing to sink so low just to help. Icarus.


    ¡®Chloe, oh, Chloe! I¡¯ll grant your wish if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    He pushed everything on the desk to the floor and stood at the side. Hemanded cruelly,


    ¡°Lay here. We¡¯ll do it right here.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s legs trembled. ¡°In the study¡­¡±


    ¡°Begging is devoid of dignity.¡± Joseph sneered as he waited for her next move, looking calm.

 Chapter 322

    Chapter 322


    Chapter 322 Behave Well in the Sullivan Family


    As she looked at him, Chloe¡¯s gaze filled with bewilderment before turning to shame and fury. She


    finally fell into deathly stillness. In mere seconds, she had lost all hope.


    Like a robot, shey on the cold desk. Her fair and slim legs exposed themselves from under her silk


    pajamas. At the same time, her petite face was full of misery. Even so, she appeared extremely


    beautiful and bewitching. It was a kind of charm that came from extreme despair.


    Seeing her in that state, Joseph could not withhold his deep envy. He covered her from above and


    vigorously marked her body as his sole belonging. Men were born sensitive in this aspect.


    After a round, he pinched her soft cheeks. ¡°Isn¡¯t this your first time?¡±


    Chloe stopped breathing. She blinked and stared at him with her watery eyes. It was as if she had


    heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell if this is my first time or not?


    That action became a direct provocation in Joseph¡¯s eyes. He fumed with anger. His final tinge of


    rationality left him as he engaged her in violent love-making. His demonic and hoarse voice


    apanied his rough and violent moves.


    ¡°Who did you lose your virginity to?


    ¡°What else did you lie about to my face?


    ¡°Did you lose your virginity to Icarus or Jake?


    ¡°Were you this slutty when you were in their beds?¡±


    All his words were harsh and fierce, sending a surge of humiliation through Chloe. Helpless, she


    endured his wrath, cursing him, ¡°You bastard!¡±


    ¡®Why does he want to humiliate me so? When we were together, I never wronged him.¡±


    Joseph kissed her frantically. Their tongues intertwined with each other. He acted as if he wanted to


    grind her into his bones.


    He finally stopped after an unknown period. Looking down at the pale woman underneath. him, he


    could see her scarlet, blood-stained lips. The desk was a mess, a hard sight to bear.


    With her eyes closed, Chloe asked weakly, ¡°Are you done?¡±


    Joseph was about to say something when her eyes opened, filled with iciness and hatred. His heart


    skipped a beat, excruciating pain shooting through it.


    He put a hand around her neck ¡°You hate me? I bet you wouldn¡¯t hate it if I were Icarus.¡±


    She smacked his hand away, her eyes bloodshot. ¡°Yes, I hate you! Any other questions for me?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed before he let go of her. ¡°Get out.¡±


    Chloe struggled to get down from the desk. She picked up her clothes scattered across the floor before


    putting them on. Before she left, she reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about Icarus¡¯ foundation.¡±


    She opened the door and left, crossing paths with Harold, who was going upstairs. When he saw the


    state she was in, he immediately knew what had happened.


    His fury deepened as he rushed into the study to berate Joseph. Fuming angrily, he lifted his walking


    stick and hit Joseph with it. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done! I asked you to get along with Chloe, not bully


    her!¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Joseph raised his hands to block the blows. His slender and long eyshes hid the gloominess in his


    gaze, but he did not argue with Harold. He hurried downstairs and speedily drove away.


    In Sullivan Fort in Docwood, Calvin and Ava were in the rxed zone of the garden, waiting.


    Ava looked at the spacious castle with brightened eyes. ¡°Godpa, is this the Sullivan family¡¯s residence,


    the founders of Exotic Star?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Behave yourself when Mr. Desmond gets hereter.¡± Calvin looked at Ava with worry in


    his eyes.


    Noah had said that he could bring Ava here today. Hispany was in a crisis, and he could not


    resolve the problems with his efforts alone. He had a good rtionship with Exotic Star, and Noah had


    agreed to help, but they still needed to gain Desmond¡¯s approval before anything. If Desmond¡¯s first


    impression of Ava was good, Calvin could expose her identity. If not, she would have to go back and


    polish herself.


    After all, Ava¡¯s current reputation was not sparkling. If she were to reunite with the Sullivan family in the


    future, she would surely be in the limelight..

 Chapter 323

    Chapter 323


    Chapter 323 Noah Wants to Protect Chloe


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I will.¡±


    Ava started to scheme. At first, she had not understood why Calvin had brought her here. But now, she


    began to see the whole picture.


    Although Noah was a few years younger than her, they were about the same age. Other than pairing


    her off with Noah, what other reason could there be? Benjamin had done the same thing in the past.


    When two different parties came together to discuss business, they would. bring their children along. If


    their children fell in love with each other, they could have a business marriage.


    Ava recalled Noah¡¯s youthful and charming face. Although he was not her cup of tea, he was indeed


    handsome, and he had Exotic Star. She found him eptable.


    ¡°Mr. Desmond!¡± When Calvin saw the old man, he immediately went forward to support him.


    Desmond Sullivan was a man in his seventies, donning casual sports attire. His hair was white. but his


    body was still healthy and strong. He looked like a kind old man one met at the door of a neighborhood.


    Noah stepped to the side and let the two of them talk.


    ¡°Well, you just made it worse. Why did you ruin yourpany like this for no reason?¡± Desmond


    criticized Calvin.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t have let my emotions get the better of me.¡± He pointed at Ava. ¡°Mr. Desmond,


    this is my goddaughter.¡±


    Ava stood up and obediently smiled at Desmond. ¡°Mr. Desmond, my name is Ava. You look so young


    that I thought you were only in your sixties.¡±


    Desmond sized her up andmented lightly, ¡°You¡¯ve got a pretty sweet mouth.¡±


    Noah and Calvin looked at each other before the former shook his head slightly. Desmond did not


    recognize Ava, and he did not have a very good impression of her.


    Desmond then picked up a white jade teacup and used the cup lid to remove the floating tea leaves


    before he said slowly, ¡°I watched you grow up, and will thus help with yourpany¡¯s affairs. You¡¯re


    getting up there in age now so stop acting impulsively.¡±


    However, he was uninterested as to what caused the ruin of Calvin¡¯spany.


    Deep shame engulfed Calvin. Though he knew that Joseph was young, he had not expected Joseph to


    have such a bad temper.


    After chatting a bit, Desmond retreated to rest. Noah then chatted with Calvin.


    Ava could not find any chance to chime in after biding her time by the side. She felt that it was


    because Noah was young and was still in university that caused him to be shy.


    She then took the initiative to say, ¡°Let¡¯s exchange numbers.¡±


    Noah raised his brows but he agreed to it because of Calvin.


    Ava now confirmed to herself that he was shy. She then mischievously winked at him. ¡°I just


    got here, so I¡¯m not very familiar with Docwood. Can you be my tour guide and take me


    around the city?¡±


    Stupefaction got the better of him before his face was ovee by an indescribable expression. ¡°I¡¯m


    sorry. I don¡¯t have the time.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    After catching his gaze, she cracked a teasing smile. ¡®Is he still shy? What a dork!¡¯


    ¡°Uncle Calvin, pleasee with me.¡± Noah ignored Ava and addressed Calvin instead.


    Calvin was unaware of Ava¡¯s scheme. He just treated it like she was being friendly and loved to make


    friends.


    ¡°Ava, wait here. I¡¯m going to talk to Noah for a bit.¡±


    Ava nodded obediently. Though she had lost Jonathan she was satisfied with having Noah. She would


    teach Chloe a hard lesson for how Joseph humiliated her.


    Under the tree shade, the mottled shadow of the leaves fell on Noah¡¯s fair face. But it made his face


    gloomier, which was vastly different from his usual gentle and naive look.


    Calvin was baffled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Chloe is the new ambassador of Exotic Star. You can¡¯t touch her.¡±


    ¡°Are you protecting her?¡±

 Chapter 324

    Chapter 324


    Chapter 324 Grandfather and Grandson Unite


    ¡°If something happens to her, all of Exotic Star¡¯s adverts have to be canceled. Who will be responsible


    for these losses? What¡¯s more, you did something to her in the hotel. Did you ever stop to think about


    how it could¡¯ve affected Exotic Star? Will Grandpa help you if he learns about this inside story?¡±


    Calvin put on a cold front. ¡°It¡¯s because Mr. Desmond doesn¡¯t know how Joseph treated his


    granddaughter.¡±


    ¡°Then you should have gone to Joseph.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t afford to offend the Whitman family, can I?¡±


    ¡°Just stop.¡± Noah nced at Ava and said slowly, ¡°It takes two hands to p. And I think that Luciana


    would never have given birth to such a troublemaker. Are you sure you didn¡¯t make a mistake?¡±


    Ava did not even resemble Luciana. Inparison, Chloe looked a lot more like Luciana. Or perhaps¡­


    Calvin had been misled by their ages and ignored the most crucial thing. 1


    ¡°Watch your tongue. What do you mean she¡¯s a troublemaker? Ava was never afforded much. love


    during her childhood. We should protect her and take good care of her. I believe she¡¯ll gain Mr.


    Desmond¡¯s approval and favor.¡±


    However, Noah ignored him and revealed a meaningful smile.


    ¡®Making my own investigations is much more reliable.¡¯ i


    Chloe stayed in the bathroom for two hours, scrubbing herself clean beforeing out. Also, some


    stains could not be washed away. She could only put up her cor to cover herself.


    Harold had been waiting for her in the living room.


    Chloe averted her gaze before whispering, ¡°Grandpa¡­¡±


    Harold responded lightly before asking her to take a seat. ¡°Chloe, be frank with me. Do you have


    another lover?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s Joseph who has another lover.¡± She became agitated upon mentioning this and


    clenched her fists.


    Harold behaved like a lion protecting its cub as he gently patted Chloe¡¯s back. ¡°I know you¡¯ve suffered


    a grievance, but can you give that bastard a chance? It wasn¡¯t easy for you two to get together.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, Xavia isn¡¯t the only obstacle between him and me. I have a problem too. It isn¡¯t that easy to


    resolve¡­¡±


    1/3


    ¡°So just give each other a chance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over between us now. Joseph¡­doesn¡¯t like me. If I keep getting entangled with him, it¡¯ll be


    irresponsible for both of us. He slept with Xavia, so he should be responsible for her.¡±


    ¡°Chloe¡­¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s fine. After all, Joseph wouldn¡¯t have slept with Xavia if he cared about me. I understand


    your kindness.¡±


    ¡°I will never let Xavia be a part of the Whitman family.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s attitude was firm, but Harold¡¯s was firmer.


    Mncholy shed across her face. But since things had turned out this way, it was not something she


    should be worried about. She stood up and gave him a firm bow. ¡°Thank you. for your concern toward


    me during this time. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    Chloe turned around and left. She went to her room to change her clothes before hailing a cab to return


    to Aesper.


    After a few hours, Joseph had calmed himself. When he came home and saw the vacant bedroom, he


    inevitably frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Chloe?¡±


    Patrick walked over and stated, ¡°After you went out, she had a chat with Mr. Harold before she returned


    to Asper on her own.¡±


    His handsome face was filled with gloominess. ¡®Is she that impatient to go home and see Icarus? He¡¯s


    indeed her good lover.¡±


    ¡°By the way, Mr. Harold asked you to go to him after youe home.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Joseph was irate. ¡°I have something to do at Fairlight.¡±


    Patrick smiled. ¡°Sir, you¡¯d better go and see him. Maybe he¡¯ll suggest some ideas to you.¡±


    Joseph stopped in his tracks. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Both Mr. Harold and you like Ms. Chloe. As for Ms. Xavia, you can get her the best medical team or


    just throw some money at her if you don¡¯t like her. There are many ways topensate her. You have


    the right to choose¡­¡± Patrick changed the topic and adopted a mysterious tone. ¡°If you and Mr. Harold


    are on the same side, I¡¯m sure you can coax her.¡±


    Both of them wanted to coax Chloe and pull her to their side so that she would belong to the Whitman


    family. They were two cunning and experienced men facing a naive young woman. If they spent a little


    time and effort on it, victory would surely be on their side.


    As for whether Joseph wanted that or not, it depended on how much he valued Chloe.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Patrick. And you, you scoundrel. I guarantee that you¡¯ll get the beauty if you hurry up and


    work with me.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Harold walked in from the back garden, unknown how much of the conversation he had overheard, and


    proceeded to arrogantlymand his grandson.


    Joseph¡¯s fierceness subsided a little, though his face was still devoid of much expression. ¡°You think I


    want a woman who always lies to me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough! I don¡¯t want to listen to these fucking words anymore!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about my business.¡±


    Harold flew into a great rage. Hands to his mouth, he fell backward, skillfully falling onto the top of the


    carpet.


    Patrick appeared shocked on the surface but was not in a hurry to act. ¡°We should rush Mr. Harold to


    the hospital.¡± He turned to Joseph and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you inform Ms. Chloe about this? Mr.


    Harold really likes her. Maybe he¡¯ll get better after seeing her when he wakes. up.¡±

 Chapter 325

    Chapter 325


    Chapter 325 Wish You Luck in Finding a Lover


    Joseph¡¯s long eyshes kept the gloomy glint in his dark eyes hidden. At the same time, hist voice was


    extremely cold. ¡°She isn¡¯t worth me going through so much trouble.¡±


    ¡®Her body is filthy. I won¡¯t allow her toe back unless she begs me. I won¡¯t be so forgiving toward


    her as I was to her before, let alone make her the madam of the Whitman family.¡¯


    Harold, who was lying on the floor, was ovee by anger. Holding his heart, his expression. turned


    unpleasant before he fainted for real.


    He cked out because of his fury.


    When Chloe got home, she was physically and mentally exhausted. She fell asleep and only woke up


    at dawn the next day.


    She nced through her schedule and saw that she had promised to apany Icarus to go and see


    a doctor for his scar that day. She scheduled the appointment for the afternoon and then texted Icarus


    to remind him about it. That way, he would not forget about the appointment.


    Chloe was not that busy that morning, so she had a meeting with her employees to discuss their sry


    raise. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, she went to the hospital with Icarus.


    ¡°By the way, how has work beentely?¡± She pretended to raise the question casually.


    Icarus looked taken aback, his gaze gloomy under his gold-rimmed sses, but it disappeared as soon


    as it appeared. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I ran into some issues but they¡¯re resolved now.¡±


    She nodded. It seemed like he did not know it was all Joseph was doing. Perhaps it was for the


    better.


    The elderly doctor in sses read Icarus¡¯ skin report before stating, ¡°It¡¯s not very serious. We can make


    the scar less visible, but it¡¯ll be very difficult if you want to get rid of itpletely.¡±


    ¡°How long will it take?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t put down a definite timeline. It depends on the patient¡¯s level of cooperation.¡±


    Chloe nodded. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do our best.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    She then picked up a packet of ointment from the dispensary and handed it to Icarus. ¡°The instructions


    for the ointment are clearly stated on the boxes. Make sure to apply them on time every day.¡±


    Laughter escaped Icarus. ¡°Scars will slowly fade with time.¡±


    1/7


    ¡°That¡¯s true but at least this aids the process. If not, we can trysers. But we can¡¯t eliminate it fully, so


    let¡¯s use the easier treatment first.¡±


    Icarus nodded, determined to not make her efforts go to waste regardless of whether they were


    effective or not.


    They walked out of the hospital side-by-side when a woman in a sunhat and sunsses suddenly ran


    into Chloe.


    ¡°Are you blind? Why didn¡¯t you step aside when you saw meing in?¡±


    The woman immediately startedining though she was the one in the wrong. As she scolded


    Chloe angrily, displeasure dawned on Icarus¡¯ face.


    ¡°You were the one who knocked into her. What nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Are you standing up for her? Are you her lover?¡±


    When Chloe heard the familiar voice, she smacked away the finger that was almost poking at her face.


    ¡°Jane, are you stalking me?¡±


    Since she had been recognized so quickly, Jane took off her sunsses and stopped pretending. She


    cracked a sneer before shooting Icarus a sidelong nce. ¡°Is he your new lover?¡±


    ¡°Why? Are you lonely? Do you want me to rmend a few to you?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you. I can get whichever men I want.¡±


    ¡°All right, I wish you luck in finding a lover!¡±


    Chloe¡¯sposure infuriated Jane, and her neck flushed from fury. ¡°Why are you so smug? Joseph


    dumped you just like he did me.


    ¡°Hmph! I believe he never dumped you as you two were never together.¡±


    Jane was at a loss for words. She yearned to teach Chloe a hard lesson but was afraid of Icarus. who


    was tall and sturdily built. Besides, she had not brought along any bodyguards today, so she did not


    dare to p Chloe.


    After ring at Chloe, Jane turned around to leave, but Chloe grabbed her and coldly asked, Where


    did you get the news that Xavia is pregnant?¡±


    ¡°I have no obligation to answer your question.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s not. You just came to me to find a sense of existence.¡±


    Under stimtion, Jane¡¯s bad temper was easily triggered. Sheughed in mockery. ¡°Don¡¯t tter


    yourself. I saw Xavia heading into the OB-GYN department at Cloude Hospital.¡±


    Jane had spent a few months abroad when she got a skin allergy. When the ne touched


    717


    down at Cloude City, she went to see a doctor for her condition and spotted Xavia going into


    the obstetrics and gynecology department alone. After using some tricks, she got a hold of Xavia¡¯s


    medical field.


    Chloe became bbergasted before she admonished, ¡°Going to the OB-GYN doesn¡¯t necessarily mean


    that she¡¯s pregnant.¡±

 Chapter 326

    Chapter 326


    Chapter 326 She Had Upset Grandpa Once Again


    Jane haughtily lifted her chin and dered, ¡°Someone as insignificant as you wouldn¡¯t understand. I


    know the vice president of Cloude Hospital. Of course, I can find out about something like this.¡±


    Based on Jane¡¯s demeanor, it seemed unlikely that she was lying. However, if they were to assume it


    was true, there were numerous unexinable aspects such as why would Xavia have kept this


    information hidden from Joseph. Considering her current physical condition, pregnancy entailed


    significant risks. Also, why had she chosen to go to Cloude City? There weren¡¯t many tourist attractions


    in that small town.


    At that very moment, a young couple strolled past them.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you. I can¡¯t get an abortion if I¡¯m already six months pregnant. Are you trying to avoid


    paying the dowry?¡± the girl eximed.


    ¡°No, sweetheart. We will get married eventually, I promise I¡¯ll earn enough to pay the dowry


    in the future.


    ¡±


    As Chloe observed the young couple as they slowly disappeared from sight. A momentary spark of


    inspiration ignited within her, though it slipped away before she could fully seize it. Beside her, Icarus,


    who had been silent, revealed a fleeting glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.


    On their way back, Chloe received an urgent call from an employee, informing her about a problem at


    the project site. It appeared that the safety measures had not been properly implemented, resulting in


    someone falling from an upper floor.


    Without hesitation, Chloe hurried to the scene to address the situation. Thankfully, the injuries were not


    severe, and the patient¡¯s condition stabilized. It was crucial for the injured to rest and take proper care


    of their body for aplete recovery.


    After offering sce to the workers, providing appropriatepensation, and resolving at multitude of


    issues, the night had already grownte. The ongoing project, originally initiated. by Benjamin in the


    tourism industry, had a deadline set forpletion in the following


    month.


    Chloe reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of c, savoring the refreshing taste of the


    cool carbonated water that provided a much-needed respite from her fatigue. She switched on the


    television, sinking into the sofa, relishing the leisurely moments after a long day at work. Suddenly, her


    attention was caught by a news report.


    ¡°Could you please provide an update on Mr. Harold¡¯s health condition? It¡¯s been two days since he was


    hospitalized. Can you share any information on whether his condition has improved or worsened?¡±


    The hospital director, d in a white coat, politely declined the interview, stating, ¡°As


    healthcare professionals, we¡¯re bound by doctor-patient confidentiality and can¡¯t disclose any details.¡±


    Disappointed reporters had congregated near the entrance of the hospital, with some even


    broadcasting live from the scene. The news anchor continued, ¡°The elderly Mr. Harold remains in


    critical condition. It seems that a major upheaval is on the horizon for the Whitman family.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s hand, clutching the c, trembled uncontrobly. The voices emanating from the TV became


    merely a cacophony of noise as her mind was consumed by the news she had just received. Today


    marked the second day of Mr. Harold¡¯s hospitalization, indicating that he was admitted shortly after she


    left yesterday.


    A surge of guilt washed over her, causing her throat to tighten as if filled with cotton. She med


    herself, ¡®I upset Grandpa again.¡±


    Having endured a sleepless night, Chloe sat anxiously on the sofa, awaiting the break of dawn. After


    much contemtion, she mustered the courage to send a message to Jonathan, seeking vital


    information. [I need to know the ward where Grandpa is admitted. I want to visit him.]


    Knowing that the hospital staff would be reluctant to disclose such details to her, and unwilling to seek


    Joseph¡¯s assistance, she had to explore other avenues.


    Jonathan, aware of the strained rtionship between Joseph and Chloe, responded with a biting retort,


    [I¡¯m not telling you anything. If you¡¯re brave enough, ask my cousin to go with you.]


    Chloe defiantly replied, [Fine, I¡¯ll go with your cousin. Grandpa would be delighted to see him, and I


    believe he stands a better chance than you of winning Grandpa¡¯s favor.]


    Shortly after, Jonathan swiftly responded with a ward number, apanied by a contemptuous emoji,


    clearly expressing his disdain. Chloe patiently waited until around noon before embarking on her


    journey, assuming that he would likely be upied during lunchtime.


    There were not as many reporters gathered at the hospital entrance as there wasst night, but there


    were still a considerable number of them. Chloe managed to dodge them and entered the hospital,


    holding onto the food she had prepared.


    To visit a patient, it was necessary to register personal information at the nurse¡¯s station. Chloe nced


    ahead and noticed a handsome young man, diligently writing with a pen. She blinked her eyes in


    surprise and softly called out, ¡°Noah?¡±

 Chapter 327

    Chapter 327


    Chapter 327 Three-Month Buffer Period


    The young man lifted his head and nced at her, his eyes filled with the warmth of spring.¡± Ms. Chloe,


    are you here to visit Mr. Harold too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, are you here alone?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the elders of my family are busy.¡±


    ¡°Could you do me a favor then?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Just tell me what you need, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    ¡°First, go inside and check if there¡¯s anyone else in the ward. If it¡¯s empty, send me a message and I¡¯ll


    come in.¡±


    A smile gradually appeared at the corner of Noah¡¯s mouth. ¡°By ¡®other people,¡¯ do you mean. Mr.


    Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, Ms. Chloe. Wait for my message.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me Ms. Chloe. You can just call me Coco, or since you¡¯re younger than me,


    Sister Coco. Of course, I don¡¯t mean to take advantage of you or anything!¡±


    The young man smiled, his lips about to utter a response when a little boy holding an ice cream


    identally bumped into him from behind. The little boy quickly apologized to Noah, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,


    big brother. Please say it¡¯s okay!¡±


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s okay.¡±


    A speechless Chloe sighed and handed a wet wipe to Noah. ¡°Here. Use this to wipe yourself down.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    The ice cream stain was on Noah¡¯s back, making it a bit difficult for him to reach. Seeing this, Chloe


    took the initiative and said, ¡°Let me do it.¡± She bent down slightly and used the wet wipe to clean the


    stain.


    Noah turned to look at Chloe. Her profile had a gentle contour, and after being held captive by Calvin


    for a few days, the baby fat on her cheeks seemed to have disappeared, revealing at slender oval-


    shaped face. Her fair and beautiful skin had a natural radiance.


    It had been a while since someone had been this close to him, and his eyes flickered for a


    moment.


    ¡°Okay, all clean now, but it needs some time to dry. It¡¯s still wet.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Noah said, smiling. ¡°Thank you, Coco.¡±


    Chloe found a chair in the corridor and sat down, waiting. Five minutes after Noah went inside, he sent


    her a message, indicating that Joseph was not present. She breathed a sigh of


    relief.


    Half an hourter, Noah emerged from the ward, and Chloe stepped inside. Haroldy weakly on the


    hospital bed, his frail face appearing paler than ever, and his lips tinged with a hint of purple. His


    condition seemed to have deteriorated significantly.


    Tears welled up in Chloe¡¯s eyes. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡±


    Harold paused for a moment, looked toward the door, and grinned. ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re here.¡±


    A smile tugged at Patrick¡¯s lips, relieved to see Chloe. It seemed that the news deliberately spread by


    the media had seeded in bringing her to his side.


    ¡°Grandpa, how are you feeling? What did the doctors say?¡±


    ¡°The same old problem. As long as I don¡¯t get worked up, I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Feeling a pang of guilt, Chloe set the food on the table. ¡°I prepared this for you. If you haven¡¯t eaten,


    how about a few bites?¡±


    ¡°How could I settle for just a few bites of the food made by my wonderful granddaughter-in-w? I¡¯ll


    take a picture and send it to that brat. He¡¯ll be so envious.¡±


    Chloe forced a smile. ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t tell Joseph. He doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here to visit you.


    ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I have to tell him.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Grandpa, I can¡¯t be your granddaughter-inw. It¡¯s my unfortunate loss, but if you don¡¯t mind, I can


    come and visit you from time to time.¡±


    Harold¡¯s expression softened, and he said in a serious tone, ¡°You suddenly got together with that brat


    and then suddenly broke up. Even a normal person¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t bear it, let alone mine.¡±


    Chloe disregarded his words and silently lowered her head, appearing like an obedient child waiting to


    be lectured.


    Harold could not bring himself to me her either. Suddenly, a sly gleam twinkled in his eyes as he


    suggested, ¡°You don¡¯t have to reconcile with that brat, but don¡¯t break up so hastily either. I¡¯m growing


    old, at least grant me a little buffer period.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe was taken aback.


    ¡°How about a three-month cooling-off period? If, after that time, you still want to break up, I¡¯ll stop


    interfering.¡±

 Chapter 328

    Chapter 328


    Chapter 328 Well-Being


    Chloe expressed her skepticism, asking, ¡°Is that all?¡±


    Considering she no longer resided in the vi, she could easily ept a three-month buffer. Time


    would fly by quickly.


    ¡°Yes, but I have one condition.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression revealed her anticipation that it would not be as straightforward as she initially


    thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I simply want you to find some time to visit me and check on Toto at the vi. Toto has


    lost weight without your care.¡±


    Chloe found herself in a dilemma. This meant she could not avoid seeing Joseph. She did not want to


    see him at the moment, nor did she desire any form of contact with him.


    ¡°If you two fail to reconcile after three months, I¡¯ll give up. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to receive


    treatment peacefully while in the hospital. What if one day I suddenly pass away?¡±


    Harold¡¯s words filled her with anxiety. ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t say such ominous things!¡±


    ¡°Then do you agree?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡±


    Suddenly, Harold¡¯s violent coughing fit began, making him appear as if he had aged ten years in an


    instant. Chloe felt a wave of helplessness wash over her, desperately wanting to call for a doctor.


    Patrick stopped her, his expression grave. ¡°Mr. Harold has been like this for the past few days. The


    doctor has already examined him, and the situation is dire. If his condition continues to worsen, there¡¯s


    no telling¡­ he might not make it to next spring. Miss, can you bear to see Mr. Harold depart with


    regrets?¡±


    Depart with regrets¡­.


    These three words struck Chloe¡¯s heart with a heavy blow. She could not bring herself to imagine such


    a scene. Grandpa was one of the few sources of warmth in her world, even more caring than Benjamin


    who was her father.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll agree, but will Joseph?¡± She could notprehend that man¡¯s inner workings. He was an


    enigma, osciting between warmth and coldness, kindness and harshness.


    Harold¡¯s coughing subsided, and he spoke with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to that brat.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ I agree, Grandpa. Please don¡¯t worry about our matters anymore. You need to take


    12


    good care of yourself and prioritize your well-being.¡±


    ¡°Good girl. Now, I need to rest. You go ahead with your business.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Patrick watched Chloe leave and gave a thumbs-up to Harold. ¡°Sir, your acting skills are superb.¡±


    ¡°You also yed your part well.¡±


    Patrick expressed his concern, ¡°The key now is how to deal with Mr. Joseph. Your acting skills may not


    be enough to sway him.¡±


    Harold pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, ¡°It¡¯s time to bring out his father¡¯s suicide note.¡±


    Joseph received a call from Harold as he arrived at the hospital parking lot. Harold stated his terms and


    mentioned the bargaining chip, bringing up Joseph¡¯ste father in the process.


    At the mention of his father, Joseph¡¯s handsome face turned grim. After a brief moment, het replied,


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    That note was currently the thing he desired most. He needed to uncover the truth behind his


    father¡¯s death.


    Harold continued, ¡°Chloe left the hospital not long ago. She should be back at the office. Go and visit


    her when you have time.¡±


    Joseph had the urge to question why he should be the one to seek her out instead of the other. way


    around. However, as he raised his head, his gazended on a slender and tall figure.


    Chloe stood before him, dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt that entuated her best features. Her


    simple attire showcased her advantages to the fullest, and her long, well- proportioned legs possessed


    a captivating beauty that surpassed even that of international


    models.


    Joseph grew increasingly restless, his fingers fidgeting with his cor as he pressed the car horn with


    hisrge hand. The sudden, piercing sound startled Chloe, causing her almond- shaped eyes to re


    angrily at the culprit.


    ¡®Who¡¯s the rude imbecile?¡¯ she thought, ¡®Don¡¯t they know to keep quiet in a hospital?¡¯


    As their gazes locked, Joseph¡¯s eyes held a deep and mysterious allure. It was as if they possessed


    the ability to prate one¡¯s very soul, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Chloe¡¯s anger instantly dissipated, giving way to a sense of annoyance. Had this guy already found out


    about Harold¡¯s request so soon and thought it was her who suggested it,ing to settle the score?

 Chapter 329

    Chapter 329


    Chapter 329 An Unworthy Match, but There Are Lingering Attachments


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Get in.¡± Joseph¡¯s tone left no room for negotiation.


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank. Since she had said yes to Grandpa, she knew she would have to face it sooner or


    later. Taking a deep breath, she opened the car door and got in.


    ¡°Did Grandpa talk to you about it?¡±


    ¡°Min.¡±


    ¡°Three months starting from today. But don¡¯t expect me to forgive you,¡± Joseph said with a cold


    indifference evident on his dazzling face.


    Chloe offered a faint smile. ¡°Perhaps I should be the one saying those words to you.¡±


    ¡®A scumbag who slept with two women in one night can¡¯t be whitewashed.¡¯


    Joseph cast a sidelong nce at her, his lips curling in a mocking smirk. ¡°Then why did you say yes to


    Grandpa?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a human being with feelings and emotions. I appreciate the kindness Grandpa has given me thus


    far. What¡¯s wrong with agreeing to his request? Must we all be as cruel and heartless as you?¡± Chloe


    retorted, her voice filled with anger.


    Joseph let out a cold snort, seemingly convinced that she had hidden motives.


    Refusing to give him any more attention, Chloe crossed her arms and fixed her gaze on the passing


    scenery outside. As the car continued down the road, she btedly realized their surroundings and


    asked, ¡°Where are you taking me?¡±


    ¡°To the vi.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go there.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t stop on the highway. If you insist, you can jump out of the car.


    Chloe tightly clenched her fists, taking a deep breath. ¡®Endure it. Just endure it until we¡¯re off the


    highway.¡¯


    Joseph caught a glimpse of her shifting expression from the corner of his eye, and a faint smile yed


    on his thin lips.


    Halfway through the drive, Joseph¡¯s phone rang. Chloe, seated in the passenger seat, caught sight of


    the words ¡°Xavia Larson¡± disyed on the screen. Her eyshes fluttered, and she averted her gaze


    to the window.


    Being behind the wheel, Joseph opted to put the call on speakerphone.


    ¡°Joe, I saw on the news that Mr. Harold is seriously ill and is in the hospital. How Is he doing?¡±


    ¡°His condition has stabilized and he¡¯s currently doing well.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s disappointment etched onto her face as she listened from the other end of the phone. If the old


    man were to die now, it would be a perfect oue for her. It would relieve her of the burden of making


    a difficult decision if the pregnancy was discovered onlyter. However, now she had to wait until the


    child reached four months, which carried greater risks. This strategy was dangerous.


    While pondering these thoughts, Xavia offered her constion, ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news. Grandpa will


    surely have a long and healthy life. But Joe, please don¡¯t mention that I asked about his condition. We


    know how he feels about me. It would only make him


    angry.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as he responded, ¡°Don¡¯t belittle yourself. It¡¯s impossible for a person


    to be liked by everyone else.¡±


    ¡°Really? But you don¡¯t like me either,¡± she said, her voice filled with a sense of destion.


    Joseph paused, his thoughts swirling in contemtion. He came to the realization that his feelings


    toward Xavia had never truly been driven by genuine affection. Initially, he had been drawn to her for


    her impable propriety, her sensible nature, and her ability to navigate social dynamics with finesse,


    unlike those clingy young girls. He deemed her suitable to be hist wife based on these qualities.


    Furthermore, as she had remained by his side for two years, he felt it appropriate to grant her a certain


    status, and thus they became a couple.


    However, everything changed when he encountered the woman seated next to him. Unexpectedly, he


    discovered that genuine liking stemmed from an inherent fondness for someone, while suitability was a


    separate matter altogether.


    So, on that fateful night at Graceville Estate, Joseph never anticipated that events would unfold in such


    a manner. He firmly held his position, offering Xaviapensation for the upheaval caused, but he


    could not make promises of a future together. Because deep down, he knew that his true affectiony


    with Chloe.


    But now, he and Chloe were no longer a worthy match. Yet, strangely enough, he still found himself


    clinging to lingering attachments.

 Chapter 330

    Chapter 330


    Chapter 330 Getting Upset Over a Single Comment, How Melodramatic


    Joseph¡¯s well-defined hand rested on the steering wheel as his gaze shifted toward the passenger seat


    in the rearview mirror. He observed Chloe¡¯s countenance, a medley of distress and conflict etched


    upon her features. Her expressions shifted like the tides, leaving him. intrigued yet guarded.


    Arching an eyebrow, his lips formed a subtle, contemtive line. It was evident that Chloe had reached


    a pivotal decision, ready to unveil a matter of significance.


    ¡®If Grandpa¡¯s yearning for a grandchild is so strong, what if Xavia was truly carrying Joseph¡¯s child? In


    that scenario, she could enter the Whitman family through marriage, with the child serving as an


    undeniable connection. Even if Grandfather holds reservations toward Xavia, he wouldn¡¯t dare insist on


    an abortion, would he? This revtion would potentially nullify the need for the three-month cooling-off


    period.¡±


    Gathering her thoughts, Chloe began, ¡°I happened to cross paths with Jane yesterday.¡±


    The man¡¯s countenance remained stoic, his anticipation palpable for Chloe¡¯s forting words.


    ¡°Jane informed me that Xavia is pregnant,¡± she disclosed, her voiceden with a mix of uncertainty and


    intrigue. ¡°ording to Jane, she witnessed Xavia entering the OB-GYN department at Cloude Hospital.


    She even imed to have glimpsed Xavia¡¯s medical file.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s brow furrowed, a sign of his deepening concern. ¡°Were those Jane¡¯s precise words?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The atmosphere inside the car suddenly grew thick with tension. As they exited the highway, Joseph


    parked the vehicle by the roadside and promptly reached for his phone, making an urgent call.


    ¡°Verify if there are any existing medical records of Xavia Larson at Cloude Hospital.¡±


    The individual on the receiving end concurred, assuring a prompt response. Seizing this opportunity,


    Chloe swiftly arranged for a hired car with her phone.


    Within a matter of minutes after concluding the call, Joseph¡¯s phone rang once more. It was remarkably


    efficient, to the point that Chloe¡¯s covertly booked ride had yet to arrive.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯ve thoroughly checked the hospital records but found no trace of the you mentioned.


    Xavia has not sought any medical treatment at Cloude Hospital.¡±


    person


    Joseph directed his icy gaze toward Chloe, intensifying the tension in the car.


    Chloe clenched her fists tightly, her resolve unyielding. ¡°So you think I¡¯m fabricating all this?¡±


    ¡°Chloe Johnson, I thought you were intelligent. At the very least, you wouldn¡¯t fall for the


    1/3


    same deception twice. Yet, it appears that your days have grown monotonous to the point where you


    readily believe whatever others say.¡±


    Her agitation heightened. ¡°Jane seemed confident about it. I was concerned that Xavia might be


    concealing the truth from you, so I kindly informed you. And now, it seems I am the one to me?¡±


    ¡°Xavia isn¡¯t like you. She¡¯s a genuine person.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s breath hitched as if an invisible hand tightened around her heart, inflicting


    excruciating pain. In the past, she had been immune to his biting remarks, never letting them affect her.


    But this time, hisparison of her and Xavia hit particrly hard. She had sincerely wished to treat


    him well.


    Joseph observed Chloe¡¯s almond-shaped eyes turning red and her fiercely holding back tears,


    enduring all the grievances silently. He furrowed his brow, unaware of the impact his words carried.


    ¡°Getting upset over a simplement. How melodramatic.¡±


    Chloe fixed a steady and unwavering on him for a brief moment before a disdainfulugh escaped her


    lips. In her mind, she thought, ¡°There it is. The moment he heard about his first love, he immediately


    became defensive. He¡¯s truly protective of her. Perhaps I was being too sentimental. I shouldn¡¯t have


    said anything more.¡¯


    Just as Joseph was about to utter a response, Chloe abruptly undid her seatbelt and swiftly turned to


    exit the car. The door mmed shut with a resounding bang, reverberating through the air.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes fixated on Chloe as she entered the waiting hired car and swiftly vanished from his sight.


    A surge of irritation coursed through him-an intense urge to release his frustration through physical


    means. His temper had always been vtile, and when consumed by anger, restraint was a foreign


    concept.


    Arriving at Fairlight, Joseph cast a disdainful nce at the towering stack of documents adorning his


    desk, promptly dismissing them all for further revisions. Gabriel and Nathan entered the room, only to


    be met with Joseph¡¯s icy countenance as he wordlessly discarded the proposals, scattering them


    across the floor. The room fell into an uneasy silence as a wave of trepidation washed over the middle-


    aged executives, who now quivered in fear, bracing themselves for an imminent scolding.


    Nathan, with a contemtive stroke of his chin, sighed and quipped, ¡°Hey, who do these uncles belong


    to? Boy, life sure ain¡¯t no walk in the park.¡±


    Gabriel, taking charge, approached the scene and signaled for Lucas to escort the agitated executives


    out. ¡°This room feels suffocatingly crowded,¡± he remarked.


    Lucas, observing Joseph¡¯s tacit approval, nodded in understanding and promptly motioned for


    the executives to leave.


    ¡°What seems to be the problem? Is the project incurring losses?¡± Nathan piped up, his yful


    chuckle resonating through the room.


    Joseph took a drag from his cigarette, the ember casting an eerie glow on his face. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Gabe will be returning to Docwood tomorrow. Once Sam wraps up his cases, let¡¯s go out for a drink


    the four of us.¡±


    Gabriel responded with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°To drown our sorrows, I presume?¡±


    Having grown up together, Gabriel possessed an innate ability to see through the facade, whether it


    was work troubles or the uncertainties in their love lives.


    Joseph took a drag from his cigarette, the swirling smoke shrouding his face.


    Throughout history, alcohol had never truly solved sorrows. It only exacerbated one¡¯s troubles. When


    one¡¯s mood was already unsettled, alcohol would suddenly diminish one¡¯s tolerance.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    In the bar, Joseph sat with an empty liquor bottle before him. His perfectly groomed ck hair


    cascaded over his forehead, and his deep ck eyes, usually guarded and aloof, now shimmered with


    a hint of intoxication and restlessness. This version of him appeared more human as if a divine being


    had descended from the heavens, emanating a wide range of human emotions and desires that were


    uncharacteristic of his usual demeanor.


    The other three men in the private room felt it was about time to pop the question. Nathan leaned


    closer and asked, ¡°Did you have a fight with Chloe?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze shifted to Nathan, his expression revealing his turmoil. He recounted the heated


    argument he had with Chloe earlier that day, not holding back any details. As they listened, Nathan and


    Samuel immediately dismissed Jane¡¯s deceitful ims, convinced that Chloe had been deceived too


    easily.


    However, Gabriel¡¯s reaction was different. He sprang up from his seat, his voiceced with urgency,


    ¡°The hospital couldn¡¯t find any medical records for Xavia?¡±

 Chapter 331

    Chapter 331


    Chapter 331 Stay Put


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I have a feeling that Jane may be telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that Xavia really is pregnant?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡±


    Nathan¡¯s yful tone left his voice as he said in a serious manner, ¡°This isn¡¯t funny.¡±


    Lifting his head slightly, Gabriel spoke with a voice tinged with amusement, ¡°We can find out by


    checking the surveince footage. If she has been there, there will definitely be traces left behind.¡±


    Josephpsed into silence. If Xavia was indeed pregnant, he would have to give her proper status. This


    was something he never wanted to face or for to happen. He also did not want to delve further into the


    investigation either.


    any


    Everyone present was shrewd enough to understand Joseph¡¯s thoughts, and they unanimously


    decided not to pursue the topic any further, save for Gabriel.


    Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Gabriel sent someone to investigate the matter at Cloude


    Hospital after the outing. Within a week, he received the surveince footage from the obstetrics and


    gynecology department of the hospital.


    After watching it for a while, he grew impatient with the monotonous content. He decided to assign the


    task to two other individuals, instructing them to inform him promptly if they discovered any sightings of


    Xavia. Three dayster, the two had quickly finished watching all the footage and to their surprise, they


    did indeed spot Xavia in the recordings. They promptly informed Gabriel about it.


    Upon seeing the screenshots from the footage, Gabriel pondered for a few seconds. However, he


    chose not to disclose this information to Joseph. Xavia¡¯s medical records were scrubbed the day after


    Jane¡¯s conversation with Chloe. In other words, she had someone assisting her, so he decided not to


    make a move yet to avoid potential threats.


    Chloe diligently prepared homemade pet snacks, taking advantage of when Joseph was not around to


    bring them to his house. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. After repeating this several times


    and living together with Joseph for over half a year, Chloe quickly figured out the general pattern of


    when he was not home.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    On this particr day, she finished her work and arrived at Joseph¡¯s house. Just as she expected,


    Joseph was not home. She proceeded to divide the snacks between Toto and Oreo. With frantically


    wagging tails, the furrypanions enjoyed their treats, bringing a sense of


    joy and fulfillment to Chloe.


    If Joseph and Chloe had not broken up, she would have loved to prepare daily snacks for these two


    little creatures, especially for Oreo. Oreo always wore a cautious and endearing gaze, seemingly


    attuned to its owner¡¯s moods. Whenever it sensed any trace of unhappiness, it would immediately


    approach forforting cuddles, evoking a sense ofpassion within Chloe. She believed it must


    have endured hardships in the past.


    ¡°Bye-bye now. I¡¯lle to visit again in a few days,¡± Chloe said, picking up the sk ced on the


    nearby table.


    She still had to visit Harold at the hospital before proceeding to the banquet venue Noah had arranged


    for. It was rumored to be an exclusive event hosted by Exotic Star with even Desmond among the


    attendees, along with numerous other prominent business figures. She saw it as an opportunity to


    attract potential investments for her ownpany, and naturally, such an invitation was impossible for


    her to decline.


    The hospital courtyard was a picturesque scene, with fallen maple leaves scattered around. while the


    brisk autumn wind carried a chill. Chloe made her way toward the inpatient area and gently rapped on


    the door of the ward. But this time, it was not Patrick who opened the door, but Joseph.


    Their eyes locked in a moment of connection. Joseph stood before her, d in a sleek ck trench


    coat, his face an exquisite masterpiece crafted by Heaven. He leaned back with his arm against the


    doorframe, a hint of sarcasm evident in his brows and eyes. However, no one could tell if he was


    amused, angry, or something else altogether.


    Chloe paused for a moment, calmly ignoring him, and walked toward Harold.


    A chilling smirk yed at the corners of Joseph¡¯s mouth. How was this dumbo not feeling caught in the


    act at all? Did she really think that he would not notice her avoiding him for the past few days?


    ¡°Grandpa, I made you some butternut squash soup,¡± Chloe said, serving a bowl to Harold.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious. You make the best soups,¡± praised Harold generously, ¡°Do you have any ns for


    today? This punk is joining an event hosted by Exotic Starter, and he happens to need apanion.


    Why don¡¯t you apany him?¡±


    Chloe was stunned for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandpa. I too am attending the event. After all, I am the


    ambassador of Exotic Star and they invited me as well.¡±


    When Joseph heard her words, an inscrutable shadow cast over his


    eyes.


    ¡°Oh, right. In that case, why not go together?¡± Harold sald, oblivious to his grandson¡¯s changing


    demeanor. After all, he simply wanted to create more opportunities for the two of them to interact by


    any means necessary.


    Chloe managed a forced smile, concealing her inner sigh. It appeared that evading Joseph


    tonight was an impossibility.


    Before leaving, Harold urged Joseph, ¡°You should go too and give her a ride there.¡±


    Not wanting to disregard Harold¡¯s goodwill, Chloe obediently agreed. However, as they walked a short


    distance away from the ward, she paused and turned to the man by her side. ¡°I¡¯ll make my own way


    there. No need for you to give me a ride.¡±

 Chapter 332

    Chapter 332


    Chapter 332 Entertaining People


    Joseph¡¯s expression darkened. He tightly grasped Chloe¡¯s wrist and forcefully pulled her into the car.


    Lost in his own irritation, he paid little heed to his strength, leaving a visible red mark on her skin.


    She winced, her voice carrying a tinge of pain. ¡°Ouch! You¡¯re hurting me!¡±


    Upon hearing her words, he loosened his grip, but Chloe remained trapped in his firm hold, unable to


    break free. Reluctantly, she resigned herself to follow him into the car, hoping to minimize any further


    difort.


    ¡°Noah invited you, didn¡¯t he?¡± Joseph coldly questioned, his brow furrowing tightly.


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the problem?¡± Chloe replied, her voice tinged with defiance.


    His gaze shifted to her face, taking note of theyers of makeup adorning her features. Mockeryced


    his words as he sneered, ¡°The guests who receive invitations to such prestigious events are worth


    billions, and Noah wants an advertising spokesperson like you to grace the asion. Are you there to


    serve drinks or entertain guests? Isn¡¯t this no different from wealthy businessmen hiring celebrities to


    apany them for their amusement?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart tightened as she immediately grasped the significance of this event. Though she also felt


    unworthy, Noah had indeed extended an invitation to her. Noah did not appear to be someone who


    would do something like that. He was young, kind-hearted, and gentle.


    She furrowed her brows. ¡°I have the ability to judge right from wrong, so there¡¯s no need for you to


    meddle.¡±


    Joseph sneered, ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡®If you ended up being mistreated by those influential figurester, you better note crawling to me


    for help.¡¯


    The banquet hall of the Exotic Star event was located at the border between Aesper and Docwood. It


    was a private garden, to be exact, constructed by Exotic Star to cater to esteemed guests. As they


    followed the ushers inside, a magnificent and luxurious building came into


    view.


    The building boasted three floors, with most people gathered on the first for socializing. The second


    floor was reserved for dining, while the third floor served as a resting area for after


    meals.


    ¡°Sir, madam, it¡¯s warm inside. Would you like us to hold on to your coats?¡±


    Chloe could feel the warmth inside the venue and handed her coat over to the staff.


    For the event, she had adorned herself in a pale pink dress, elegantly showcasing a sheer back design


    that offered glimpses of her wless and velvety skin. The choice of such a delicate


    shade of pink was often a daunting feat, but her well-toned physique and fairplexion only


    enhanced her natural beauty, captivating all who cast their eyes upon her.


    When Joseph¡¯s eyes fell upon her attire, his anger was ignited. He pitched his voice low and asked,


    ¡°Who are you trying to entice this time?¡±


    Tired of being misunderstood, she scoffed coldly, ¡°Rest assured, it isn¡¯t you.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened once more. Even a man with such strong self-control like himself could not


    resist her provocative charm, let alone others.


    Feeling a bit uneasy under his piercing eyes, Chloe spotted Noah not far away and hurriedly walked


    over. ¡®I better distance myself from him. Who knows when he might lose his temper again.¡¯


    Noah was in the middle of a conversation with the CEOs who were a decade or so older than him. His


    manner of speaking exuded confidence and maturity, often causing people to overlook his young age.


    Upon spotting Chloe, he exchanged greetings with those around him and stepped aside.


    He carefully observed Chloe from head to toe with his eyes andmented, ¡°You look young and


    beautiful in this outfit.¡±


    ¡°Haha, thanks.¡±


    ¡°My grandfather wishes to meet you,¡± Noah said as he nced in Joseph¡¯s direction. ¡°Is that


    convenient right now?¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°Your grandfather?¡± she asked in surprise.


    ¡°Yes, the founder of Exotic Star.¡±


    Chloe felt honored and somewhat astonished. ¡°Of course. It¡¯d be my honor.¡±


    Noah led Chloe to the third floor and into a room. When Desmond caught sight of Chloe, he was


    stunned. Upon seeing the endorsement photos earlier, he had already noticed a striking simrity


    between Chloe and Luciana. And now in person, the feeling that this girl looked like his daughter grew


    even stronger.


    However, the girl standing before him possessed a strong spirit and determination that Luciana did not


    have during her younger years. He could not escape ming himself for showering Luciana with


    affection but neglecting to provide her with proper guidance. She had never faced the harsh realities of


    the world.


    As a result, she developed a strong sense of self in matters of love. Not only did she make a private


    commitment to Benjamin, but she also got hitched even though she knew he disapproved of having an


    out-of-town son-inw.


    Luciana had been even willing to sever ties with Desmond, her own father, in order to marry Benjamin.


    To this day, Desmond remained unaware of the true nature of his daughter¡¯s husband. However, he


    was certain that it could not be a virtuous individual. Over the years, he had


    traveled far and wide, encountering many faces simr to Luciana¡¯s. Each time, he would look into


    them, only to be disappointed by the results.


    Eventually, he became more epting of whatever came his way. However, this young girl standing


    before gave off this incredible sense of familiarity andfort.

 Chapter 333

    Chapter 333


    Chapter 333 Are You Bullying Ava Again?!


    However, anyone who could marry into the Whitman family was certainly no ordinary individual, so he


    felt there was no need for further investigation.


    ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Desmond. I¡¯m Chloe Johnson,¡± Chloe greeted Desmond calmly and


    confidently.


    Desmond found herposureforting and gestured for her to take a seat and enjoy a cup of tea.


    Unaware of his intentions, Chloe elegantly raised the teacup to her lips and took a sip, relishing the


    lingering fragrance and the exquisite taste. Although she knew little about tea, she could tell it was of


    the finest quality.


    ¡°So, you are married to Harold¡¯s eldest grandson?¡± Desmond asked.


    Chloe¡¯s face twitched slightly. ¡°I¡­I am.¡±


    He paused for a moment, then smiled kindly. ¡°It¡¯s normal for young couples to have arguments. Joseph


    is a remarkable talent of his generation. He¡¯s worthy of your trust.¡±


    Chloe could not argue with him and nodded awkwardly in agreement.


    For the next half hour, Desmond engaged Chloe in casual conversation, discussing various topics. By


    the time she left the room, her head was spinning. Do all these big shots have so much free time?


    Should they not be utilizing their time for business matters rather than indulging in small talk with an


    insignificant figure like me?¡¯


    Noah¡¯s gaze followed Chloe¡¯s departure from the room, and he lowered his eyes as he said to


    Desmond, ¡°I don¡¯t think Joseph is suitable for her.¡±Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Since the banquet was about to start, Chloe headed to the restroom where she bumped into Ava.


    Encountering Ava here, Chloe could not help but doubt the validity of Joseph¡¯s words.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Joseph say that all the guests here are worth billions of dors?¡± Chloe questioned herself,


    skeptical of Ava¡¯s ability to achieve such a status.


    ¡°You wretched woman. How dare you appear before me!¡± Ava shouted, her voice piercing through the


    air. The haunting memories of her encounters at the bar flooded her mind, intensifying her anger to its


    limits. Swiftly and without hesitation, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding p to Chloe¡¯s


    cheek.


    With the wall behind her, Chloe had no room to retreat. Despite her swift reflexes, her cheek still


    suffered a scratch from Ava¡¯s long fingernails. Thankfully, it did not draw blood.


    ¡°Have you gone mad?!¡± Chloe eximed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s mad, but you can be,¡± Ava retorted.


    It would be best if Chloe transformed into a disheveled madwoman, someone whom everyone would


    despise. That way, she would be the center of attention tonight. A sinister gleam. flickered in Ava¡¯s


    eyes as she shifted her strategy. Determined to ruin Chloe¡¯s appearance, she reached out in an


    attempt to grab her hair.


    Chloe winced in pain as Ava forcefully yanked her hair, pulling out several strands. The searing pain


    made her inhale sharply, and her anger surged like wildfire. Being a woman who valued her beauty and


    image, Chloe knew she could not allow someone toy their hands on her without fighting back.


    In a defiant disy, she flung her purse to the floor and gripped Ava tightly, forcefully ripping off Ava¡¯s


    false eyshes.


    ¡°Ah! My eyes!¡± Ava cried out in distress, ¡°Screw you, Chloe!¡±


    When Joseph and his group heard themotion and rushed over, the two women were locked in a


    tangled mess, their hair disheveled and their makeup smudged. It was clear that Ava was at a


    disadvantage, with Chloe straddling her, asserting her dominance.


    In the presence of influential figures from various industries, the sight of such a scene was bothical


    and embarrassing. Surrounded by a crowd of spectators, Ava felt her reputation crumbling before her


    eyes. Her mind raced, desperately searching for a solution.


    Suddenly, an idea took shape in her mind. Under the scrutinizing gazes of the onlookers, she slowly


    rose to her feet, her sobs uncontroble as she knelt before Chloe.


    ¡°Stop it! Stop! Please don¡¯t hit me anymore. Please stop bullying me. From now on, I¡¯ll listent to


    everything you say. If I see you, I¡¯ll take a different path and never hinder you again,¡± she pleaded, her


    voice filled with desperation.


    Calvin was the first to explode in anger. His stern face turned crimson with fury as he fixed a fierce


    gaze upon Chloe. ¡°Are you bullying Ava again?!¡±

 Chapter 334

    Chapter 334


    Chapter 334 Do You Not Trust Me?


    Chloe sneered contemptuously at the use of the word ¡°again,¡± finding it utterly absurd. People always


    had a tendency to sympathize with the weaker party and treat them with kindness. This inclination


    became evident as the onlookers witnessed Ava¡¯s pitiful state and directed their scolding toward Chloe.


    After all, they all were familiar with Calvin and had very little impression of Chloe despite finding her


    somewhat familiar. Mistakenly, they assumed Chloe to be a well-known celebrity.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone so beautiful is capable of such violence.¡±


    ¡°Looks can be deceiving. Many young girls put on a facade while behaving differently behind. closed


    doors.¡±


    ¡°Who invited her? She has quite the audacity to bully Mr. Calvin¡¯s beloved goddaughter.¡±


    As thesements rolled in, Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, his expression turning dark. He kept his gaze


    fixed on Chloe, waiting for her to beg him for help. However, Chloe paid him no attention.


    Unflinchingly, she maintained herposure, gently biting her rosy lips with her pearly white teeth.


    Despite her slightly disheveled hair and red eyes, she disyed no signs of distress. Instead, she


    evoked pity and sympathy.


    Then, with a deliberate motion, she slowly lifted her gaze, tears streaming down her face like glistening


    pearls. Choking on her words, she sobbed, ¡°I didn¡¯t hit her. I was merely defending myself. I only


    wanted to use the restroom. I have no idea what I did to provoke Mr. Calvin¡¯s daughter. She


    approached me and began berating me.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything because I know she¡¯s Mr. Calvin¡¯s daughter. I wanted to leave, but she


    relentlessly grabbed my hair. She even expressed her intent to make me theughingstock in front of


    everyone. I had no choice but to defend myself. The rest of the situation is already known to everyone.


    I couldn¡¯t foolishly allow myself to be beaten without putting up a fight.


    ¡°If anyone doubts my words, you can check the surveince footage in the hallway.¡±


    As she spoke, tears continued to cascade down her cheeks.


    Ava was well-versed in the art of feigning vulnerability, often shedding tears to appear pitiable, but


    Chloe was just equally as skilled.


    A faint, cool smile yed upon Joseph¡¯s thin lips as he watched her. With her exceptional acting skills,


    she skillfully manipted the situation to her favor, turning the tide of public


    opinion.


    Chloe sinctly expressed her thoughts with logical rity, providing a concise summary of the whole


    incident. This prompted many individuals to swiftly grasp the situation at hand.


    The act of ruining one¡¯s appearance was often employed bywful wives when confronting


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    1/0


    home wreckers. In their eyes, homewreckers used their allure to captivate and lead their


    husbands astray. Consequently, the initial course of action would involve hair pulling and face


    scratching a manifestation of their jealousy.


    In truth, everyone there perceived Chloe to be more attractive than Ava, and Chloe¡¯s exnation


    shifted the onlookers¡¯ perception of Ava. However, no one wished to offend Calvin, so they feigned


    ignorance and found reasons to depart.


    As the crowd dispersed, Chloe was left alone, making her feel cold and deserted. Her eyshes.


    trembled slightly, and her gaze settled upon Joseph. She pondered why he remained in ce. Was he


    going to assist her, or were her thoughts merely wishful thinking?


    Calvin¡¯s anger surged, and he did not care about the details. Even if it was Ava who had provoked


    Chloe first, Chloe deserved whatever she got. After all, Ava had already suffered enough grievances.


    ¡°Go ahead, don¡¯t hold back. Throw at her exactly what she gave you. I have your back,¡± Calvin said.


    A glimmer of determination flickered in Ava¡¯s eyes, yet she cast a cautious nce toward Joseph.


    ¡°Can I really do that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, go ahead and do it,¡± Calvin said confidently.


    Today, the Sullivans were the host, and Calvin¡¯s connection with them surpassed that of Joseph.


    Besides, he had heard the news that Joseph and his wife were now divorced. Even if Joseph wanted to


    intervene, he had no authority to do so.


    Ava felt a sense of relief, and a sinister smile crept across her face as she advanced step by step.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a chilling sensation coursed down her spine. She could not believe


    that Calvin would allow Ava to act this way in such a situation.


    The memories of her confinement flooded Chloe¡¯s mind, causing her blood to turn cold. Anxiously, she


    gulped. She took a step back, but there was no escape route behind her. She raised her head and


    looked at Ava and Joseph.


    In a decisive moment, she threw herself into Joseph¡¯s embrace. Temporarily setting aside her pride,


    she pleaded pitifully, ¡°Ava wants to hurt me. If you don¡¯t help me, I¡¯ll tell Grandpa!¡±


    It had been a while since they had any physical contact, and the tender and fragrant sensation


    overwhelmed Joseph, causing a hitch in his breath. His gaze grew slightly deeper, a look that Chloe


    failed toprehend. She thought he was unwilling to help her, so she held onto him even tighter.


    Observing the fear that flickered across her face, Joseph¡¯s heart ached. Her cunning demeanor was


    merely a facade to conceal her helplessness.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t Aesper, nor is it Docwood. Are you sure you want to step in?¡± Calvin asked.


    Joseph shielded Chloe behind him, casually rotating his wrist while wearing a mischievous smile. ¡°It¡¯s


    been a while since Ist hit a woman.¡±


    Ava¡¯s body trembled, and Calvin¡¯s expression turned grim. Despite Calvin¡¯s military background and


    consistent physical training, he could not match Joseph¡¯sbat skills.


    ¡°I have over ten bodyguards with me, while you¡¯re all alone. I¡¯ll give you onest chance to choose. The


    Whitman family holds a prestigious position, and it wouldn¡¯t bode well if this matter bes a


    spectacle,¡± Calvin dered.


    This ce provided the utmost privacy and security, so there was no need to worry about any


    information leaking to the outside world. Moreover, Calvin just wanted to teach Chloe a lesson. He was


    not going to escte the situation.


    Chloe lightly tugged at Joseph¡¯s shirt, whispering softly, ¡°Why don¡¯t I apologize to them? It wouldn¡¯t be


    worth it if you end up getting hurt.¡±


    ¡°Do you not trust me?¡± He spoke with a sidelong nce, his warm and moist breath lightly brushing


    against her earlobe, sending a tingling sensation down her spine.

 Chapter 335

    Chapter 335


    Chapter 335 He Found Ava to Be Unlikable


    Chloe instinctively tilted her head slightly and said, ¡°Be careful. If things don¡¯t go well, we¡¯ll make a run


    for it.¡±


    Observing Joseph¡¯s unwavering determination, Calvin summoned a group of burly bodyguards who


    menacingly closed in.


    Joseph¡¯s clenched fist disyed prominent veins, his back slightly arched like a poised leopard, ready


    to sink his teeth into his enemies¡¯ flesh at any moment.


    Calvin barked out an order, ¡°Teach him a lesson.¡±


    With those words, one of the bodyguards lunged at Joseph.


    A resounding ¡°thud¡± echoed through the air as Joseph swiftly and forcefully kicked the assant,


    sending him crashing into the bathroom door, which recoiled like a tightly coiled spring, producing a


    loud, reverberating sound.


    An eerie silence fell upon the hallway, with Calvin and the others remaining silent and still.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Furious, Ava berated, ¡°What are you all standing there for?! Get him!¡±


    More individuals swiftly joined the assault against Joseph.


    One, two, three¡­.


    Chloe anxiously observed the unfolding chaos, and in a critical moment, her eyes locked onto a young


    man descending the stairs. She urgently cried out, ¡°Noah, please help us!¡±


    Noah followed the voice and his face sank. Without a word, he forcefully intervened to put an end to the


    commotion. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, Uncle Calvin?¡± he questioned, his tone filled with


    usation.


    Calvin pulled Noah to a corner. His anger was palpable as he said, ¡°Joseph just allows Chloe to bully


    Ava. How can I let them off the hook so easily?¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten who nearly ruined your business?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t Aesper. If no one finds out, it¡¯ll be as if it never happened. What¡¯s wrong with teaching


    Joseph a lesson?¡± Calvin¡¯s voice lowered, his eyes turning red. ¡°You know about what happened to


    Ava when Joseph took her to that bar, don¡¯t you? Aren¡¯t you concerned for Ava?¡±


    Noah¡¯s gaze involuntarily shifted toward Chloe. Strangely, he felt a stronger sense of empathy for her


    than for Ava. After all, there was something about Ava that he found unlikeable.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Don¡¯t you want to stand up for Ava?¡± Calvin asked again.


    ¡°Uncle Calvin, you may have made a mistake,¡± Noah said, staring at Calvin.


    Calvin was momentarily taken aback. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Simply put, Ava may not be Aunt Luciana¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. When I first met her, she was wearing a diamond ne that Mr.


    Desmond made for Luciana Only Luciana could have had it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s indeed a genuine piece, but Aunt Luciana might have taken more than just that piece of jewelry


    with her.¡±


    Calvin¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°What are you trying to say here?¡±


    ¡°This month, among the jewelry that we recovered, I found another piece that might have been sold by


    Aunt Luciana a long time ago.


    Calvin¡¯s body swayed. He found it hard to believe.


    Noah lowered his voice and continued, ¡°If you want to confirm whether or not Ava is truly Aunt


    Luciana¡¯s daughter, ask her a few simple questions about her mother. As her daughter, she couldn¡¯t


    possibly know nothing about her biological mother.¡±


    Enchanting piano music filled the air, its harmonious notes resonating throughout the building as the


    dozen or so bodyguards withdrew, leaving behind one severely injured bodyguard who had to be


    carried off the scene Calvin led Ava upstairs and promptly shut the door tightly For some unknown


    reason, Ava inexplicably felt that Calvin¡¯s affection for her had suddenly diminished.


    ¡°Coco, are you hurt? Do you need me to call you a doctor?¡± Noah looked at Chloe concernedly.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Chloe shook her head and nced at Joseph from head to toe before adding, ¡°He¡¯s fine too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡±


    After speaking, she turned and entered the restroom. She looked pretty terrible. Her perfectly fine dress


    had been ruined, and it pained her.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze turned icy as he observed Noah. Though he wore a smile, there was no warmth in his


    eyes. ¡°You two seem pretty close.¡±


    During theirst encounter at the exhibition, Noah had addressed Chloe as ¡°Miss Chloe,¡± but now, it


    had changed to Coco.

 Chapter 336

    Chapter 336


    Chapter 336 He Disliked Her Treating Him Like a Nobody


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Noah tilted his head and replied calmly, ¡°I guess so.


    Joseph chuckled, his cold eyes seemingly prating all things.


    As the banquet proceeded, Ava and Calvin were nowhere to be seen. Chloe found this rather peculiar.


    After all, they had made the effort toe all this way, so it seemed strange for them not to show up


    just because of some incident. Given Calvin¡¯s seemingly special rtionship with the Sullivans, should


    he not be more concerned about this event?


    Desmond stayed for a moment, exchanging pleasantries with the others before turning to Joseph and


    asking about Harold¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s inevitable for people to be this way as they grow older. We worry about our children and


    future generations. Just like Harold, I¡¯m putting all my hopes on Noah now,¡± Desmond remarked.


    Joseph nodded. ¡°Now that our two families are cooperating, I¡¯ll take care of him in the future. Please


    rest assured, Mr. Desmond.¡±


    Unless there were any unforeseen circumstances, Noah would solely inherit the Sullivans¡¯ assets.


    Despite his young age and not having graduated from school yet, he had been involved in business


    from a young age.


    However, Desmond still felt that Noah needed someone to support him. Since the Sullivans had the


    intention of establishing a good rtionship with Joseph, he had no reason to decline.


    Desmond was satisfied with Joseph¡¯s response and shed a smile at him.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, Chloe engaged in a lively conversation with a real estate tycoon. The


    gentleman admired her courage and unique insights, leading them to exchange contact information.


    By chance, Chloe mentioned the ident involving construction site workers, and the gentleman kindly


    warned her, ¡°When idents happen at construction sites, it¡¯s often due to insufficient funds and the


    purchase of substandard safety equipment. Keep an eye out. There might be some misappropriation of


    funds.¡±


    No one would neglect their own life, especially those engaged in high-risk industries. Of course, there


    were also a small number of people who harbored a sense of luck and were too Jazy to use safety


    ropes.


    Chloe was taken aback by this revtion and nodded seriously. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    As the clock struck nine, the event came to a close. Everyone grew tired of toasting and exchanging


    pleasantries. Some headed to the third floor to rest, while others summoned their drivers to take them


    home.


    Chloe was prepared to leave. Before her departure, she scanned the hall but found no trace of Joseph.


    Noah was assisting Desmond back to his room. She did not want to bother them and so followed a


    staff member to the exit since the venue was vast and a little challenging to


    navigate.


    The attendant offered attentively, ¡°Miss, if you give me your car keys, I can bring the car around for


    you.¡±


    Chloe maintained herposure and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have a car. I¡¯ll get a cab. Is there a ce around


    here for me to get one?¡±


    The attendant hesitated briefly before regainingposure. ¡°Certainly. Allow me to escort you there.¡±


    After walking a few steps, her phone buzzed inside her purse.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± came Joseph¡¯s calm voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Come to the garage.¡±


    ¡°Why should I?¡± Her tone remained calm. Gone was the pleading Chloe.


    ¡°Stop acting ignorant. I helped you just now, so it¡¯s time for you to repay the favor,¡± Joseph said, his


    voice tinged with annoyance, ¡°If I don¡¯t see you in ten minutes, you¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡±


    As Chloe listened to the disconnected tone on her phone, she stood motionless for a few moments.


    Then, she turned toward the attendant and requested, ¡°Please take me to the garage. Thank you.¡±


    Joseph had exchanged his vehicle for a new sports car, emanating an aura of dominance with its


    commanding ck hue. Chloe possessed limited knowledge about cars, but she could sense that this


    one had impressive speed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± She cut straight to the point, her tone distant.


    Furrowing his brows, Joseph¡¯s gaze turned icy and something inside of him cracked. He disliked her


    calm demeanor as if she were treating him like a nobody.


    ¡°Grandpa is hungry and wants to eat a meal you¡¯ve prepared,¡± he replied.


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°Your grandfather is hungry thiste in the evening?¡±


    ¡°He got hungry again,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go home and


    a half.¡±


    prepare some food for him, but it¡¯ll take some time. About an hour and


    ¡°No need. Prepare it at my house,¡± he said.

 Chapter 337

    Chapter 337


    Chapter 337 Xavia Is Pregnant


    Upon arriving at Joseph¡¯s house, Chloe conscientiously changed into the disposable slippers typically


    worn by guests. She entered the kitchen and busied herself with the preparations.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze


    fell upon the white cartoon slippers inside the wardrobe, causing his brow to furrow once again.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing your original pair?¡± he asked.


    Chloe was caught off guard by his question while tending to her tasks in the kitchen. She froze for a


    split moment before replying casually, ¡°I didn¡¯t feel like wearing them. I¡¯ll throw them away when I


    leave.¡±


    ¡°Why would you throw them away?¡± Joseph stubbornly pressed, despite already knowing the


    answer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t live here anymore. Do you expect me to keep them as a keepsake?¡± Chloe responded. Her


    nonchnce marred his expression.


    Without a word, Joseph mmed the door and stormed into the study. Half an hourter, he emerged


    from the room and nced at the prepared meal in the kitchen. Picking up his fork, he began to eat.


    Baffled, Chloe¡¯s face contorted with confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t this meal meant for Grandpa?¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Patrick said he fell asleep and won¡¯t be eating,¡± Joseph replied.


    Chloe furrowed her brow. ¡°Are you messing with me?¡±


    Innocence washed over Joseph¡¯s handsome face as he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking


    about.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Chloe decided not to argue with Joseph, knowing he could be quite


    unreasonable. Meanwhile, she silently vented her frustrations in her mind, ¡®Go on then. Eat more. I


    hope you turn into a fat pig!¡¯


    As she changed her shoes and prepared to leave, she ran into Gabriel, who happened to be walking in.


    The man exuded an androgynous allure, captivating those whoid eyes on him. and leaving no doubt


    that he was not to be taken lightly.


    Without hesitation, he firmly grasped Chloe¡¯s arm and led her back to the living room.


    ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me!¡± she eximed.


    ¡°I came here because of business, so I don¡¯t have much time. To get straight to the point, Xavia is


    indeed pregnant,¡± Gabriel revealed, presenting a screenshot from Cloude Hospital to both of them.


    ¡°The problem is that Xavia intentionally had someone delete her medical records, which is highly


    suspicious. Why would she delete her records in the first ce?


    Moreover, she managed to do it before Joseph could investigate. In other words, someone


    must have informed her about our investigation. Besides Jane, have you shared this information with


    anyone else?¡±


    Noticing Chloe lost in thought, Gabriel nudged her. ¡°Hey, wake up.¡±


    Chloe felt a heavy difort in her chest and lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions.¡± Icarus


    knows about this too.¡±


    ¡°Icarus? Who¡¯s Icarus?¡± Gabriel asked, ¡°Does he know Xavia?¡±


    Chloe was no longer in the mood to answer his questions. She simply stated, ¡°I have family matters to


    attend to, so I have to go now.¡±


    Without giving either of them a chance to respond, she hastily left Joseph¡¯s house.


    Joseph, who had remained silent throughout, caught up to her and stopped her in her tracks. ¡± I¡¯m


    sorry. I was a fool for not believing you,¡± he said in a low, husky voice, burdened byplex and heavy


    emotions.


    This was the first time Joseph had apologized to Chloe, and it was because of Xavia.


    Chloe raised her head, gazing at the vast starry sky. Her eyes welled up with a burning sensation, yet


    she fought back the tears, refusing to let them escape. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I need to get home and get


    some sleep,¡± she said.


    Joseph set his jaw. ¡°Let me send you home.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Chloe said, looking into his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s end it here. I¡¯ll fulfill my duties to Grandpa as usual for the


    next three months, but we shouldn¡¯t contact each other anymore.¡±


    With those words, she turned and walked.


    away.


    There was a series of footsteps behind her. However, the sound of footsteps came to a halt. after about


    ten steps.


    Tonight, sleep refused toe to Chloe. And she was not the only one suffering from insomnia.


    Joseph too was restless throughout the night.


    The next morning, he called Xavia. Upon seeing the timing of his call, Xavia¡¯s heart skipped a


    beat.


    ¡°Morning, Joe,¡± she greeted, trying to soundposed.


    ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± he asked, his tone questioning yet filled with certainty.


    ¡°Joe, I can exin-¡± Xavia began, but Joseph cut her off.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk when you return to Aesper.¡±


    At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Xavia arrived at Fairlight.


    ¡°Joe, I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. I just haven¡¯t figured out how to handle the situation yet,¡± she


    pleaded.


    Joseph stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling traffic below. ¡°Have you figured it out


    now?¡± he asked, his tone cool and distant.


    ¡°Not yet¡­¡± Xavia¡¯s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Joe, how did you find out?¡±


    ¡°I want you to answer my question first. Why did you have someone delete your medical records from


    the hospital?¡± His voice was slow andmanding, devoid of anger yet. radiating authority.


    ¡°I saw Jane at the hospital. She likes you so much, and I was afraid she would tell you. I know what I


    did was wrong, Joe. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Xavia confessed.


    On the way there, Xavia had already devised a n. Despite appearing flustered, she was actually


    adept at handling unexpected situations.


    Joseph¡¯s silence persisted, hanging in the air like a heavy cloak of deathly stillness, casting an eerie


    chill upon Xavia.


    Testing the waters, she ventured, ¡°Now that you know, let¡¯s discuss how we should handle this child,


    shall we?¡±


    After a prolonged pause, Joseph turned, positioning himself against the backlight, obscuring his


    expression in an enigmatic veil.


    In a deep voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll respect your choice.¡±


    A surge of euphoria engulfed Xavia¡¯s being, nearly causing her to burst into delighted.ughter. She


    gripped her hand tightly to force tears into her eyes. ¡°If I choose to bring this child into the world, I want


    to provide them with aplete family. Your involvement is vital in this process. Will you respect and


    cooperate with me?¡±

 Chapter 338

    Chapter 338


    Chapter 338 Unless It Wasn¡¯t Xavia That Night


    Confronted by her hopeful gaze, Joseph averted his eyes and calmly said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until the fetus


    reaches four months and have an amniocentesis done before we make a decision.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s joyous and excited emotions had barely begun to soar before she was doused with a bucket of


    icy water from head to toe. Her voice raised sharply as she shouted, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    With an indifferent demeanor on his chiseled face, Joseph replied, ¡°Do you really want me to spell it out


    for you?¡±


    She was stumped.


    ¡®It¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way he could know. My n is wless. He must only be suspicious now.


    That¡¯s right. He doesn¡¯t have any evidence. I just need to stay calm.¡±


    With that thought in mind, Xavia tried to reach out for Joseph¡¯s hand, but he saw through her intention


    and subtly evaded her


    grasp.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. If you have any questions, just say it directly. We¡¯ve known


    each other for so long. Just say whatever is on your mind,¡± she said.


    At her words, Joseph suddenly let out augh, filled with irony and a chilling undertone. Indeed, they


    had known each other for so long, and he had just discovered how colorful her past had been.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just ask then.¡±


    ¡°Yes, go ahead,¡± she responded.


    ¡®Are you absolutely certain that you became pregnant after that night we spent together?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, I do find it incredibly coincidental, but since the child hase into this world, perhaps it¡¯s a


    twist of fate,¡± Xavia strained to maintain herposure, forcing atpassionate smile upon her face.


    ¡°Is something wrong? If you don¡¯t believe me, I can wait for the four-month mark and undergo


    amniocentesis.¡±


    The depths of Joseph¡¯s eyes resembled a pot of spilled ink, dark and imprable. He closed them


    briefly, and after the surge of anger, a miraculous calm settled within him. When he reopened his eyes


    and looked at Xavia once again, he seemed to be looking at an insignificant


    ant.


    He had given her a chance due to their past rtionship and her physical condition, but she still


    refused to tell him the truth. So, he would apany her and y this game until the end.


    Xavia did not have any friends in Cloude, so there was no way she could delete the medical records in


    such a short time. In other words, there must be someone helping her from the shadows.


    1/3


    He wanted to find out what her ultimate goal was.


    ¡°We have to get the amniocentesis done. It¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s requirement for me to marry you,¡¯ Joseph


    dered firmly.


    Xavia was shocked. ¡°You¡¯ve already spoken to your grandfather? Does he¡­approve of me?¡±


    11


    Suppressing the hint of scorn in his eyes, Joseph responded, ¡°Given that you¡¯re carrying our child, it¡¯s


    my responsibility to ensure you and the baby¡¯s well-being. However, his prejudice against you may not


    disappear immediately.¡±


    ¡°I understand. If I were in his position, I¡¯d probably feel the same way.¡± Xavia smiled, but her gentle


    gaze held a hint ofpromise, evoking a desire in man to console and empathize with


    her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go back to Cloude anymore. Settle down in Aesper. I¡¯ve purchased a vi next to the


    hospital. Lucas will take you thereter.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Xavia replied obediently, ¡°I¡¯ll get out of your hair then. By the way, was it Jane who told you


    about my pregnancy?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°No, it was Chloe who told me.¡±


    Surprised and angered, Xavia eximed, ¡°How could Jane try to sow discord between you Ms. Chloe?¡±


    and


    ¡°Chloe and I have ended our rtionship.¡±


    Xavia scrutinized Joseph¡¯s facial expression carefully. He appeared distant and cold, his eyes.


    reflecting a rational and detached nature.


    That¡¯s right. This was the Joseph she knew-a man who categorized everything based on personal gain.


    He adhered to the moral principles of an ordinary person butcked warmth and sensitivity.


    She vividly remembered the day Joseph agreed to be with her. She had naively believed that this


    wless man had genuinely fallen in love with her. However, her hopes were shattered when she


    discovered that he had only agreed to their union because she was the ¡°suitable¡±


    choice to be his wife.


    She suspected that Joseph saw Chloe in the same way-merely as a suitable candidate for marriage.


    Even though neither of them had truly captured Joseph¡¯s heart, she was more sessful than Chloe.


    At least, in the end, the woman standing by Joseph¡¯s side would be her.


    After Xavia left with Lucas, Gabriel emerged from the restroom in Joseph¡¯s office. Raising an eyebrow,


    he looked at Joseph and said, ¡°See? She¡¯s still pretending.¡±


    Last night, when he asked Joseph if he wanted to take care of Xavia, Joseph had unexpectedly


    answered yes. He even mentioned that she was a virgin before him and considering her poor health,


    he should take responsibility.


    2/3


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    His reaction startled Gabriel, and he immediately told Joseph that he had slept with Xavia before. Even


    if she was really pregnant, they should rely on scientific methods like amniocentesis to confirm whether


    it was his child.


    Joseph held a cigarette between his fingers, his chin sporting stubble that had grown overnight, giving


    him a slightly disheveled appearance, like a fallen deity who had lost some of his divine radiance. He


    sounded a little dejected as he said, ¡°I believe Xavia was truly a


    virgin that night.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just too noble and righteous. It¡¯s normal to be unable to distinguish such things,¡± Gabriel


    smirked. ¡°We grew up together, so do you think I wouldn¡¯t be able to tell?¡± After a slight pause, he


    teased, ¡°Unless it wasn¡¯t Xavia that night.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s head jerked up suddenly, his mind racing as hidden turmoil stirred within his eyes.

 Chapter 339

    Chapter 339


    Chapter 339 A Mystery Man Called S


    Xavia meticulously reported in detail what had happened at Fairlight earlier this morning to the person


    saved as ¡°S¡± in her phone.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    S: [You did well. Be careful not to expose anything and immediately cut off contact with Eustace.]


    Xavia: [I don¡¯t think Eustace will agree to a break up so easily. Also, what should we do if we have to do


    the amniocentesis?]


    S: [Don¡¯t worry. When the fetus reaches four months, I¡¯ll give you instructions. As for Eustace, now that


    he¡¯s no longer useful, find a way to get rid of him.]


    Xavia knew the meaning behind the word ¡°get rid,¡± and fear shed across her face.


    Chloe immersed herself wholeheartedly in her work, keeping busy to avoid being overwhelmed by


    chaotic emotions. She even turned down Emily¡¯s invitation to have a meal together.


    Emily decided to go to the mall instead and got a serving of Chloe¡¯s favorite crab cakes before heading


    to the Johnson Group.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself. If you need rest, take a break. You look exhausted,¡± Emily advised.


    Chloe furrowed her brow and pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Try not sleeping for a whole night. You¡¯d


    be tired too.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you sleep? Have you been thinking about that scumbag? Let me tell you, no matter


    how many skincare products you use, nothing beats getting enough sleep. Take that female tyrant in


    mypany for example. She¡¯s not even in her forties, but her skin looks like that of a sixty-year-old-¡±


    ¡°I think Joseph and Xavia will be getting married soon. Joseph and I have no ties anymore, so let¡¯s not


    mention him again,¡± Chloe interrupted, stating the facts.


    The footsteps that stopped abruptly yesterday served as proof. Joseph had made his decision


    at that moment.


    Emily fell silent, staring at her best friend, who seemed outwardly calm but harbored


    immense sorrow and destion in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chloe. I¡¯m so sorry¡­ If only I had urately pointed out Icarus to you at the bar, you


    wouldn¡¯t havee on to the wrong person and none of these would¡¯ve happened.¡±


    The recurring cycle of offering a sincere heart, only to be met with disappointment each time, was a


    sensation Emily understood all too well. The pain it caused was overwhelming.


    ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. Maybe I have a knack for attracting scumbags. But hey, I can always


    1/2


    be a wealthy woman and keep a younger lover.¡± Chloe smiled. ¡°Being by his side has brought me


    quite a few benefits. I can¡¯t say I got nothing.¡±


    Without Joseph¡¯s aid, she would have never been able to confront her father or secure the crucial deal


    with the Grahams. The substantial wealth she had acquired during her tenure at Fairlight was also a


    direct result of his guidance. She was well aware that without Joseph¡¯s aid, she would not have


    aplished any of these feats. Thus, it was not an entirely futile endeavor, right?


    Emily could see past the forced smile, sensing the underlying turmoil within her friend. This only


    deepened her sense of guilt. When she was threatened by her ex-boyfriend with those indecent


    photos, it was Chloe who helped her resolve the situation and even settled the score with Ava.


    This time, she was determined to stand up for her best friend!


    The following morning, Lucas parked the car in the underground garage at Fairlight. Unbuckling his


    seatbelt, he turned to Joseph in the backseat and said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m going to go buy breakfast. Please give


    me five minutes.¡±


    The ck circles under Joseph¡¯s eyes were even more prominent today. His handsome face showed


    signs of exhaustion, and he simply nodded. ¡°Mm-hm.¡±


    Shortly after Lucas left, Emily appeared, holding a ck stic bag. She walked up to the car and


    tapped on the window. When Joseph looked up and saw her, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.


    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Joseph. Can you roll down the window, please? I have something to tell you,¡± she


    said, raising a smile that seemed quite fake.


    Joseph remained unmoved, staring coldly at the bag in her hand. ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡±


    It smelled even worse than the shit Toto put out.


    Emily hesitated, not expecting him to be so cautious. Trying a gentle approach, she said, ¡± They¡¯re my


    sanitary pads. Supermarkets always pack them in ck bags for women. Please roll down the window.


    I really do have something to tell you.¡±

 Chapter 340

    Chapter 340


    Chapter 340 Finalize Your Marriage to My Son


    He paused for a moment, lowering the car window by a finger¡¯s width. ¡°Speak. What do you want?¡±


    Emily hesitated, unsure of how to respond.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lucas, who was returning with his breakfast, felt a sense of unease wash


    over him when he saw Emily.


    Lately, Emily had been bombarding him with text messages, and slowly, their rtionship had grown


    closer.


    Emily discreetly hid the ck bag behind her back and smiled. ¡°Nope. Nothing.¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    As Lucas skeptically opened the car door, Emily swiftly pushed him aside, forcefully flinging the


    contents of the ck bag toward Joseph. Reacting quickly, Joseph picked up a nearby newspaper to


    shield himself. Though he managed to block most of the spills from the bag, a small portion sttered


    onto his suit.


    Inside the car, the air became saturated with a repugnant and nauseating smell, a revolting


    combination of onion, blue cheese, and an unidentified gray liquid that emitted a pungent aroma. The


    noxious fumes permeated the space, eliciting an immediate and overwhelming sense of disgust.


    The fatigue on Joseph¡¯s face vanished, reced by a menacing expression as his temples throbbed


    with veins. Lucas¡¯ eyes widened as he shouted, ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?!¡±


    He did not utter curses or hurl insults at her. Lucas genuinely believed that Emily was deliberately


    seeking her own demise. Joseph had an extreme aversion to uncleanliness, and she had undoubtedly


    just triggered his wrath.


    Emily¡¯s heart raced with fear, but she summoned her courage and stood her ground before Joseph.


    She stared directly at him and delivered her words with conviction.


    ¡°If I could afford to pay for your car, I would¡¯ve already poured paint on it. This is the treatment that a


    despicable creature like you deserves! Having money doesn¡¯t give you the right to trample on other


    people¡¯s feelings. Those whomit adultery in a marriage deserve


    divine retribution!


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I once thought you weren¡¯t that kind of scum. Lucas, make sure that you prepare oyster


    shooters for this jerk every day to prevent the early onset of erectile dysfunction!¡±


    Lucas anxiously covered her mouth. ¡°Shut your mouth!¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­ mmm¡­¡± Emily struggled to express her indignation, but Lucas kept a firm cover on


    1/2


    her mouth, preventing her from speaking and making it difficult for her to breathe.


    While Lucas missed the key point, Joseph caught it. Hemanded Lucas, ¡°Take her to my office.¡±


    Inside Fairlight, Emily continued to mutter andin. ¡°You¡¯re just a ve to your boss. Whatever


    Joseph tells you to do, you do it. Whoever marries you in the future is one unlucky woman! Joseph¡¯s a


    scumbag. Birds of a feather flock together, so you¡¯re no good either!¡±


    Lucas could not help but feel a sense of powerlessness. He could notprehend why Emily had to


    behave so irrationally. After all, it was Chloe who had deceived Joseph in the first ce. Both parties


    had their share of me, and on top of that, Emily had been venting her frustrations for an entire


    month. Was that not enough?


    In the office, Joseph exuded a powerful aura, causing Emily¡¯s feigned courage to gradually fade.


    ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± she asked, her voice faltering.


    ¡°You were talking about n


    ¡°You were talking about me just now?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Who told you about it?¡±


    Looking at the towering man before her, Emily gritted her teeth and hissed, ¡°You¡¯ve betrayed your


    marriage! You¡¯re nothing but a despicable man with a chaotic personal life!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, and a thought that made his blood boil shed through his mind. He picked


    up his car keys and strode away. Although the likelihood of this possibility was minuscule, he could not


    wait to verify it.


    Concerned about Joseph¡¯s unstable emotions in recent days, Lucas hurriedly chased after him.


    Emily stood in ce, her face filled with regret as she called Chloe.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Emily cursed under her breath, filled with regret and embarrassment. How could she have let


    slip such humiliating and shameful words in front of Joseph? She berated herself for her impulsive


    outburst, realizing that the scumbag might even twist her words into a source of pride.


    The call connected, and she quickly said, ¡°Coco, I just scolded Joseph a moment ago and identally


    let something slip. He mighte looking for you now¡­¡±


    The Johnson Group.


    Icarus¡¯ mother scrutinized Chloe and said, ¡°My son was disfigured because of you. Since you just


    barely meet the standards of bing my daughter-inw, let¡¯s discuss the wedding date and finalize


    the marriage.¡±

 Chapter 341

    Chapter 341


    Chapter 341 You Have to Get Married


    ¡°Mrs. Regina, Icarus and I have met the best dermatologist. The scar will slowly heal. As for his


    marriage¡­ There¡¯s no rush,¡± Chloe stated politely.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯ll take a long time for his scar to heal, and he¡¯s already in his thirties. This can¡¯t be put off.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯ll take a long time for the scar to disappear,¡± Chloe said tactfully, ¡°But a rtionship can¡¯t be


    rushed.¡±


    Regina Martin discerned something from Chloe¡¯s words. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you looking down on my


    son?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Regina, that¡¯s not what I meant. I merely feel that we¡¯re unsuited for each other.¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re aware that you don¡¯t deserve my son. I¡¯m very gratified to see you have such a


    realization, but my family doesn¡¯t value one¡¯s social status much. You don¡¯t have to feel inferior. Just be


    with


    my son.¡±


    Chloe clutched her forehead and decided to tell the truth.


    Coincidentally, Icarus walked in. ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡±


    He highly disapproved of this. He was even wearing slippers at the moment, so it was indeed a sudden


    incident.


    1


    ¡°Your face was ruined because of a woman. Of course, I have toe and help you,¡± said Regina


    grumpily, ¡°You came just in time. Let¡¯s decide on the date of the wedding. I need to book a hotel and


    send out invitations.¡±


    ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? Chloe and I haven¡¯t reached that part yet.¡±


    Awkwardness engulfed Chloe. Seeing this, Icarus pulled his mother outside. ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m going to see


    my mother off. I¡¯lle backter and exin everything.¡±


    Chloe secretly heaved a sigh of relief before nodding. ¡°Okay.¡±


    She managed to calm down after seeing them leave the office. She dwelled on the phone call she had


    with Emily earlier. She had yet to ask Emily about it before Icarus¡¯ mother and was forced to hang up.


    She was about to call Emily back when she found a text on her phone. It was from Xavia.


    [Ms. Chloe, I¡¯m back. Joseph asked me to stay in his vi in Golden Wood because of my pregnancy.


    You cane here to find me if there are any issues. Thank you for taking care of Oreo. Can you send


    me a video of how to make the dog snacks? I¡¯ll let my helper know so that she can make them for


    Oreo. Thank you.]


    There was nothing wrong with Xavia¡¯s words, but they still brimmed with provocation. nheless. She


    was indicating that Chloe was no different from a house helper.


    Disgust overcame Chloe. Xavia had taken a stab on her behalf, so Chloe tried her best to not see


    Xavia as such a wicked woman. She wanted to believe that it was unintentional and


    coincidental.


    Joseph had just made a choice before Xavia stepped forward to call dibs on Joseph. It made Chloe feel


    as if Xavia blocking the attack for Chloe was all part of her n. Xavia did that just to eliminate Chloe¡¯s


    hostility so that she could unscrupulously keep getting close to Joseph.


    Chloe did not bother to reply to Xavia¡¯s text. Before she could call Emily, Icarus came back, and Joseph


    came in with him.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Icarus pushed his gold-rimmed sses before a dark glint shed across his eyes. ¡°Chloe, I saw my


    mother off. She won¡¯t urge us to get married again.¡± He looked at Joseph and said profoundly, ¡°Mr.


    Joseph, you and Chloe go ahead and talk. I¡¯m going home to change my shoes. I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡±


    His simple words easily made one misunderstand that he and Chloe had met his elders and were


    discussing their marriage.


    It was a state of mutual hostility.


    Fierceness arose in Joseph¡¯s eyes as he exuded horrible coldness.


    Chloe noticed something was wrong. She was afraid that they would get into a fight again, so she


    quickly told Icarus to leave.


    After he left, Joseph pinched her chin forcefully, looking angry. ¡°Are you guys getting married?

 Chapter 342

    Chapter 342


    Chapter 342 Her Initiative Was Meant for Icarus


    Chloe cracked a mocking sneer. ¡°So what if I¡¯m getting married? It has nothing to do with you.


    ¡°Answer me.¡± Joseph intensified his grip. At the same time, his expression was tense, aloof, and mean.


    ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my business. You¡¯re about to be a father soon. Isn¡¯t it impudent for touch me?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s fair chin soon became rosy. The pain made her frown.


    you to


    She knew the truth. He never tried to conceal it from her, or more like he never bothered to do so. If it


    was not his child, would he let Xavia stay in his vi?


    ¡°There¡¯s something fishy about this. I¡¯m waiting for the result of the amniocentesis four months from


    now.¡± He could not guarantee without evidence.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°So should I wait for you? For what?¡± Chloe raised her hand to wipe away her tears. She was no longer


    in the mood to talk to him. ¡°Can you please leave?¡±


    Joseph felt a sudden void in his heart when he met her tired and unconcerned gaze. It seemed like


    such a long time since hest saw her bright smile. In the past, she was bright, pretty, and shameless.


    No, something was wrong. Her smile and warmth were not for him. He was not the one she wanted to


    marry in the first ce. She took the initiative to gain his heart, but it was originally meant for Icarus.


    The most ridiculous thing was that he nearly forgot about this affair and was about to exin the


    ident that happened that night.


    ¡®So, what if it was her that night? She never cared about me.¡±


    When Joseph regained his wits, he calmed down. His deep envy and wrath were put out by a deep


    chill. His aloof face regained its usual ruthlessness, and he was even more indifferent than before. His


    sinister gaze marked him like a devil from hell.


    He slowly approached Chloe. A hint of vignce shed across her eyes before she subconsciously


    wanted to dodge him.


    Joseph pinned her down by the shoulders and forced her to look up at him. When their eyes. met, he


    snorted. ¡°Go ahead and marry Icarus, and don¡¯t forget to invite me. I¡¯ll give you a great gift.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. She sneered in the face of such a threat. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll thank you in advance.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes turned cold before he swiftly bent over and ced his lips on her slender and fair neck.


    With a calcted move, he picked up a lock of her hair with his teeth and bit down.

 Chapter 343

    Chapter 343


    Chapter 343 Do You Like This Sort of Present


    He used great force, and Chloe¡¯s body stiffened from the pain. She kicked him strenuously but he


    grabbed her ankle and easily gained control over her.


    He absent-mindedly gazed at the bloodstained teeth mark on her neck with enjoyment. ¡°Do you like


    this sort of present?¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Chloe could not ept this kind of humiliation, so she resisted him with all her might.


    Suddenly, Emily broke into the room with Lucas behind her. When they witnessed this scene, their eyes


    widened in shock. Emily angrily pulled Joseph away and shielded Chloe behind her.


    Joseph did not continue pestering Chloe, simply ncing at her coldly and left. Lucas then regained his


    wits and hurriedly followed Joseph. After they left, Emily sighed in relief before putting a ster on


    Chloe¡¯s wound.


    ¡°Is he a dog? Why did he do this?¡±


    Chloe held her neck with her head lowered. ¡°Stop talking about him.¡±


    Downstairs, Lucas drove in another car.


    Sitting in the back seat, Joseph leaned back. He shot his cold re at a sneaky-looking woman


    through the car window. She was trying to sneak into the Johnson Group building through the back


    door.


    Ava appeared dejected and depressed. She was vastly different from her previous appearance. She


    was now no longer the dignified, rich youngdy and instead looked like a miserable. person who had


    been abandoned. Her eyes were full of wicked schemes.


    ¡°Drive.¡±


    Joseph closed his eyes and nned on ignoring this. I¡¯ll let Icarus handle this mess since she¡¯s going


    to marry him.¡¯


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°But Mr. Joseph¡­ Ava seems to be holding a bottle of acid.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes instantly flew open, looking toward Ava. His subsided anger surged up again. ¡± Bring her


    here.¡±


    Lucas looked frightened before he got out of the car to bring Ava to Joseph.


    Ava was forcefully dragged to the car. When she saw the noble gentleman in front of her, fear was


    written in her eyes. ¡°M-Mr. Joseph, what do you want? I haven¡¯t done anything.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that in your hand?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just a drink¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, go ahead and drink it then.¡±


    Ava was so scared that her face turned pale. ¡°No, I won¡¯t ever do this again. I won¡¯t find trouble with


    Chloe anymore¡­¡±


    Joseph sized up Ava¡¯s outfit and harrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Why did youe back from Docwood?¡±


    ¡°I-I came back for a gathering with my friends.¡±


    He raised his brows. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re holding a drink?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Losing patience, Joseph snatched the bottle Ava tried to hide behind her, unscrewed it, and poured the


    liquid on her exposed thigh.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The deep corrosion sent excruciating pain through Ava. She screamed piteously, and the skin of her


    thigh turned ck. If that bottle of liquid had been sshed on Chloe, it would cause vehement harm.


    ¡°Why did youe back to Aesper?¡± Expressionlessly, Joseph raised another question.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Ava was in so much pain that her face became twisted. She exined intermittently,


    ¡°My¡­ My godfather disowned me and drove me away. I had no ce to stay in Docwood so I came


    back here.¡±


    Joseph was not surprised by this answer, and he did not even bother to ask for the reason.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, what should we do with her?¡± Lucas asked after a careful observation of Joseph¡¯s speech


    and actions.


    ¡°Send her to the police station.¡± Joseph held his chin with one hand. ¡°She won¡¯t have the chance to


    come out here and make a scene again. We¡¯ll eliminate a lot of trouble.¡±


    Lucas was enlightened. He did not know if they would really eliminate any trouble, but it would help


    Chloe in eliminating a lot of trouble.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to be locked up! Please don¡¯t send me to the police!¡±


    Feeling terrified, Ava hugged Joseph¡¯s thigh. Calvin had discovered her real identity. If she got locked


    up, the rest of her life would be ruined. And if she was to be doomed, she had to pull that bitch Chloe


    into the mess too.

 Chapter 344

    Chapter 344


    chapter 344 Car Crash


    Joseph kicked Ava away disdainfully before getting out of the car to go home and change his clothes.


    He ordered Lucas to go to the station alone.


    Chloe received a call from the construction site before night fell. Another ident involving a worker


    had happened. She immediately went there to assess the situation and was fuming with anger after


    learning what had happened.


    ¡°It¡¯s prohibited to use the tower crane on foggy days. It¡¯s justmon sense. idents happen easily


    when one can¡¯t see clearly. Don¡¯t you guys know that?¡±


    If it was a minor ident, it would just be a collision, but workers would be in a life- threatening crisis if


    it was a serious ident.


    ¡°This fog wasn¡¯t that severe at first but it suddenly became heavy,¡± the manager of the construction site


    said with embarrassment.


    ¡°You must put safety before everything.¡±


    ¡°We know, but Aaron wanted to finish things quickly¡­¡±


    Chloe became suspicious. ¡°Aaron Mitchell?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was Mr. Aaron.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it with him. Just work as usual.¡±


    Aaron was the investor in this project, and he knew Benjamin. But Chloe did not know much about him.


    She got Aaron¡¯s contact and called him. He promised toe immediately and asked her to wait at the


    site for a bit.


    In the meantime, Icarus called her. ¡°Chloe, where are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m handling work.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen at the construction site again?¡±


    She found this hard to handle. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯lle to you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can handle it on my own.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I trust your ability. I just want to wait until you finish work.¡± Icarus sounded like he was


    teasing her. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you about how to make things clear for my mother. Our rtionship isn¡¯t


    how she imagines it to be. You know that men aren¡¯t as meticulous as women. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t turn


    me down given that this is just a small favor.¡±


    Chloe exined, ¡°Of course not. But you know my family¡¯s condition. I don¡¯t have much experience


    getting along with elders.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. See you in a bit.¡±


    Aaron arrived soon enough. He exined that the work had to bepleted before the holidays


    because one could gain great profits in tourism during the summer and winter holidays.


    Chloe had no way to refute this. ¡°You¡¯re right, but we should put earning money second in the face of


    safety. As long as we n it well and promote it, I¡¯m sure people wille.¡±


    ¡°You must not know that Exotic Star and Fairlight have worked together to establish a resort. It¡¯ll be


    completed at the same time as ours. Their resort is superior and nicer. Inparison, who¡¯de to a


    remote ce like ours?¡±


    When Chloe heard of Fairlight, she thought of Joseph. She said seriously, ¡°Not everyone can afford to


    go to a high-end resort. We have our advantages. I¡¯ll make a proposal suitable for us. As for the


    construction, it has to be carried out ording to our original n. That¡¯s final.¡±


    Although Aaron felt indignant, he said nothing more.


    When Icarus arrived, Chloe had just finished her negotiation with Aaron and left the site. She sat in the


    front passenger seat before Icarus handed her a bottle of soda. ¡°Was it easy to handle? Let me know if


    you need my help.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can handle it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Chloe went straight to the point. ¡°I think you don¡¯t need any skills with Mrs. Regina. Just keep calm and


    sit down with each other to talk it out. Tell her your thoughts. That will do. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t make


    things too difficult for her son.¡±


    Icarus smiled gently. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes, be more patient with your family.¡± After a pause, Chloe suggested a few tricks to make one¡¯s


    elders happy.


    Icarus agreed with her suggestions. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with what you said.¡±


    After he said that, a car behind them hit their car as if out of control. Chloe heard a bang before a great


    shock enveloped her body and she cked out.

 Chapter 345

    Chapter 345


    Chapter 345 A Self-Directed y


    When Chloe woke up, it was to the sound of crying. Lying in bed, she looked at Regina in a daze. The


    latter was crying and wailing profusely. She asked with difficulty, ¡°Mrs. Regina¡­. Where¡¯s Icarus?¡±


    When Regina saw Chloe had awoken, she pointed at Chloe and screamed, ¡°My son nearly died to


    save you. They¡¯re still trying to save him in the surgery room right now!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s messy mind cleared a little. She asked in disbelief, ¡°But we had our seatbelts on¡­¡±


    Though they had gotten into a car ident, their injuries should not be so vastly different.


    Regina exined that the car that hit them was a tanker truck and could have exploded at any minute.


    They had to distance themselves from the truck quickly. At that moment, Chloe was trapped in her


    seat. Icarus¡¯ legs were injured, but he extricated himself and saved her.


    Consequently, he lost too much blood through his leg wound and might be disabled for the


    rest of his life.


    Chloe was stunned before she fell into pain and deep self-reproach.


    At six o¡¯clock the next morning, Icarus woke up after the anesthesia subsided. Other than a slight


    concussion and mere physical injuries, Chloe was fine. Hence, she took charge of taking care of


    Icarus.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Chloe, you¡¯re hurt too. Don¡¯t worry about me. The doctors are here. You should rest.¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Regina snorted. ¡°This is the self-awareness that you should possess. My son turned out this way


    because of you. If anything happens to him, you¡¯ll be responsible for it for the rest of life.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered but she said did not refute.


    ¡°Mom, stop.¡± Icarus furrowed his brows. He turned to Chloe and said, ¡°Chloe, go and buy some


    breakfast. Just get some fresh air.¡±


    your


    Chloe could tell that he did not want her to face his mother¡¯s rebukes and whispered, ¡°Okay.¡±


    After getting some buns and oatmeal, Chloe received a call from Noah. His voice was as pleasant as


    always, like a gentle spring breeze.


    ¡°Coco, are you free?¡±


    After a slight hesitation, she asked, ¡°Is it about the endorsement?¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s something else I¡¯d like to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Okay,e meet me at the hospital then.¡± She then told him the number of her ward.


    ¡°Are you sick?¡±


    ¡°No, I got into a car ident. It isn¡¯t serious.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s talk face-to-face.¡±


    Noah arrived at the hospital at nine o¡¯clock. He went upstairs based on the direction Chloe had given


    him. The number of Chloe¡¯s ward was 317. When he passed by Ward 316, he heard a man whispering


    about something.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the hospital and she feels very guilty now.


    ¡°Yes, correct. Don¡¯t force Chloe. Let herpromise and she¡¯ll give in when the time is right.


    ¡°Mm-hm, hurry up and deal with Joseph. If there are too many idents, people will get suspicious.


    ¡°Just keep an eye on Chloe. Don¡¯t let her go to Joseph. I¡¯m confident that I can marry her.¡±


    Noah smirked and quietly took a few steps back, hiding himself in the shadows. Everything was just a


    self-directed y, and it seemed like Chloe had been fooled.


    After dwelling on it for a while, he decided to tell Joseph that Chloe was hospitalized.

 Chapter 346

    Chapter 346


    Chapter 346 Young Yet Masterfully Cunning


    Noah took out his phone and snapped a photo of Ward 317 where Chloe was staying. He wasted no


    time in forwarding the image to Joseph, apanied by a message that said, [Coco got into a car


    ident and suffered some minor injuries. Would you like toe and see her, Mr. Joseph?]


    4


    However, hidden within the seemingly ordinary photograph was a subtle detail-a glimpse of Icarus¡¯ face


    in the lower right corner. Though the image was blurry, anyone acquainted with Icarus would easily


    recognize him upon seeing it.


    Maintaining aposed demeanor, Noah arched his eyebrows and casually leaned against the wall.


    Instead of immediately divulging the true identity of the man upying the neighboring ward, he aimed


    to exploit the situation to his advantage.


    If his investigations proved urate, he was more inclined toward a betrothal with Chloe rather than a


    marriage alliance,


    *


    Joseph¡¯s expression grew stormy as he read the text, his gaze fixed on the unmistakable figure of


    Icarus captured in the corner of the photo. Frustration welled up within him as he mused, How could


    Chloe have been so careless? It¡¯s as if she¡¯s constantly finding trouble. And this time she got into a car


    ident with Icarus. They seem to always be together.¡¯


    However, Noah¡¯s maneuvers were rather intriguing. Was he deliberately igniting the feud between


    Joseph and Icarus, with the intention of positioning himself as the ultimate beneficiary? Young, yet


    masterfully cunning, he possessed a mind beyond his years.


    ¡°Go buy a bouquet of white lilies and deliver them to Icarus.¡±


    Lucas¡¯ lips twitched involuntarily when he heard the request. ¡®White lilies aremonly associated with


    funerals and mourning the dead. Isn¡¯t it a sign of cursing someone to die?¡¯ he thought, ¡®I¡¯m not making


    such an asshole move. I should delegate this to someone else in thepany.¡¯


    Joseph tightly grasped his expensive pen, his face devoid of any emotion as he mechanically signed


    the documents before him. The delicate pages, however, suffered the consequences of his firm grip,


    tearing under the pressure of the pen¡¯s tip.


    Displeased with the oue, he nonchntly discarded the pen into the trash can. His voice turned


    cold and detached as he demanded, ¡°Reprint these. Are you using thepany¡¯s money to acquire


    subpar goods?¡±


    Lucas felt like whimpering and crying. What inferior goods? It was not the fault of the materials; it was


    simply the relentless force with which Mr. Joseph pressed down that caused the unfortunate oue.


    ¡°Are you sick?¡±


    ¡°No, I got into a car ident. It isn¡¯t serious.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s talk face-to-face.¡±


    Noah arrived at the hospital at nine o¡¯clock. He went upstairs based on the direction Chloe had given


    him. The number of Chloe¡¯s ward was 317. When he passed by Ward 316, he heard a man whispering


    about something.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the hospital and she feels very guilty now.


    ¡°Yes, correct. Don¡¯t force Chloe. Let herpromise and she¡¯ll give in when the time is right.


    ¡°Mm-hm, hurry up and deal with Joseph. If there are too many idents, people will get suspicious.


    ¡°Just keep an eye on Chloe. Don¡¯t let her go to Joseph. I¡¯m confident that I can marry her.¡¯


    Noah smirked and quietly took a few steps back, hiding himself in the shadows. Everything


    was just a self-directed y, and it seemed like Chloe had been fooled.


    After dwelling on it for a while, he decided to tell Joseph that Chloe was hospitalized.


    Young Yet Masterfully Cunning


    Noah took out his phone and snapped a photo of Ward 317 where Chloe was staying. He wasted no


    time in forwarding the image to Joseph, apanied by a message that said, [Coco got into a car


    ident and suffered some minor injuries. Would you like toe and see her, Mr. Joseph?]


    However, hidden within the seemingly ordinary photograph was a subtle detail-a glimpse of Icarus¡¯ face


    in the lower right corner. Though the image was blurry, anyone acquainted with Icarus would easily


    recognize him upon seeing it.


    Maintaining aposed demeanor, Noah arched his eyebrows and casually leaned against the wall.


    Instead of immediately divulging the true identity of the man upying the neighboring ward, he aimed


    to exploit the situation to his advantage.


    If his investigations proved urate, he was more inclined toward a betrothal with Chloe rather than a


    marriage alliance.


    Joseph¡¯s expression grew stormy as he read the text, his gaze fixed on the unmistakable figure of


    Icarus captured in the corner of the photo. Frustration welled up within him as he mused, ¡® How could


    Chloe have been so careless? It¡¯s as if she¡¯s constantly finding trouble. And this time she got into a car


    ident with Icarus. They seem to always be together.¡¯


    However, Noah¡¯s maneuvers were rather intriguing. Was he deliberately igniting the feud between


    Joseph and Icarus, with the intention of positioning himself as the ultimate beneficiary? Young, yet


    masterfully cunning, he possessed a mind beyond his years.


    ¡°Go buy a bouquet of white lilies and deliver them to Icarus.¡±


    Lucas¡¯ lips twitched involuntarily when he heard the request. ¡®White lilies aremonly associated with


    funerals and mourning the dead. Isn¡¯t it a sign of cursing someone to die?¡¯ he thought, ¡®I¡¯m not making


    such an asshole move. I should delegate this to someone else in thepany.¡¯


    Joseph tightly grasped his expensive pen, his face devoid of any emotion as he mechanically signed


    the documents before him. The delicate pages, however, suffered the consequences of his firm grip,


    tearing under the pressure of the pen¡¯s tip.


    Displeased with the oue, he nonchntly discarded the pen into the trash can. His voice turned


    cold and detached as he demanded, ¡°Reprint these. Are you using thepany¡¯s money to acquire


    subpar goods?¡±


    Lucas felt like whimpering and crying. What inferior goods? It was not the fault of the materials; it was


    simply the relentless force with which Mr. Joseph pressed down that caused. the unfortunate oue.


    However, he maintained his respectful demeanor and was just about to leave when he paused in his


    steps. ¡°Sir, Patrick called and informed me that your grandfather is being discharged from the hospital


    today. He requested you to pick him up.¡±


    Joseph massaged his temples, a clear sign of his mounting frustration. ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±


    It seemed that Harold had grown suspicious of Xavia. He had likely stumbled upon something that


    raised concerns and wanted to question him about it.


    On the other side, Noah did not wait for Joseph¡¯s response. He pocketed his phone and knocked on


    the door of the ward.


    ¡°Come in.¡± Chloe¡¯s voice came from within.


    As Noah entered, he found her seated by the bed. Her eyes fixed on him for a fleeting moment before


    a smile adorned her slender and delicate face. ¡°You truly resemble a wide-eyed freshman,¡± she


    remarked.


    Approachable and unassuming, devoid of the arrogance that often apanies privilege. His


    unassuming demeanor concealed the fact that he would one day assume leadership of Asvand¡¯s


    number one jewelry empire.


    Noah tilted his head, contemting Chloe¡¯s remark. ¡°I didn¡¯t actually graduate. My major had fewer


    sses, so I didn¡¯t need to be on campus all the time.¡±


    Chloe nodded, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Did youe to find me for a specific reason today?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Our advertisements received positive responses. Would you be interested in participating in a


    magazine interview?¡±


    ¡°An interview?¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°Yes, to share your views on jewelry and your personal growth story.¡±


    A tinge of sadness crossed Chloe¡¯s face as she contemted her personal journey. ¡°When ites to


    personal growth, there isn¡¯t much I can speak about. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to participate in this


    magazine feature.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes shimmered with intrigue. ¡°May I ask if you and Ava share the same mother but different


    fathers?¡±


    Chloe gently shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s the other way around. We have the same father but. different


    mothers. Unfortunately, my mom passed away at an early age due to illness.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity. You¡¯re so beautiful. I¡¯m sure your mother was equally stunning. If I ever get the chance,


    I¡¯d love to see a photo of her.¡±


    Chloe did not oppose this notion. In the past, within the Johnson family, Benjamin and Karen


    had never spoken of her mother. Anything rted to her was always tainted with curses and insults.


    Slowly, she too ceased to bring up the topic, but deep within her heart, she still missed her mother


    dearly.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t she?¡± Chloe retrieved the photo she had saved on her phone and extended it to Noah,


    a subtle sense of pride resonating in her voice.

 Chapter 347

    Chapter 347


    Chapter 347 Would Chloe Being Your Granddaughter Make You Happy?


    Noah¡¯s amber-like eyes widened in shock as he gazed at the woman in the photo. It was indeed Aunt


    Luciana. It meant that Chloe was his grandfather¡¯s granddaughter-the person he had been betrothed to


    in childhood. A rush of hidden excitement surged within him.


    ¡®Just as I thought. How could someone as foolish as Ava possibly be Aunt Luciana¡¯s child?¡¯


    ¡°Noah?¡± Chloe noticed his dazed expression and waved in front of his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°N-


    nothing,¡± Noah stammered. Realizing his momentary distraction, he quicklyposed himself and put


    on a shy smile. ¡°Your mom is truly captivating. I couldn¡¯t help but be entranced by her beauty.¡±


    Chloe chuckled at his yfulment. ¡°Are you just exaggerating?¡±


    ¡°Well, she possesses a unique beauty, much like yours, but with her own distinct qualities,¡± Noah


    analyzed earnestly. He added, ¡°She seems to embody the traditional type of woman,


    devoted and gentle.¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe paused momentarily, considering his words, and then raised her thumb in approval. ¡± Your


    analysis is spot on.¡±


    Her mother indeed had epitomized the idea of marrying and embracing the husband¡¯s ways as she


    never uttered a singleint about him, wholeheartedly embracing her role as a supportive wife.


    ¡°I noticed that the gemstone adornments on her hand are of remarkable quality. Are they heirlooms


    passed down in your family?¡± Noah continued his line of inquiry.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re specifically from our ancestors, but I do know that Mom received. them from my


    grandfather. But I recently needed some money, so I sold a few of them. Thanks for the reminder! I


    almost forgot about them. I¡¯ll make sure to repurchase the ones I sold in the next few days,¡± Chloe


    replied.


    A mischievous smile curved Noah¡¯s lips. Unbeknownst to Chloe, the entirety of Exotic Star rightfully


    belonged to her, and it could easily be handed over to its rightful owner.


    They continued their conversation for a while longer. A hidden sense of joy shimmered in Noah¡¯s clear,


    amber eyes. ¡°Rest well. I have some matters to attend to, so I have to go now.¡±


    His eagerness to return and share the good news with his grandparents surged within him- their long-


    awaited granddaughter had finally been found. And to their delight, she was an exceptionally


    remarkable individual.


    ¡°Take care. I won¡¯t be seeing you off,¡± Chloe said, cing her cup back on the table. The air


    conditioning chilled the room, causing her to adjust her cor. In that unintentional gesture, a


    bite mark on her neck became visible.


    1/2


    Noah¡¯s gaze fixed on the mark on Chloe¡¯s neck, and the smile in his eyes faded. Chloe trailed his gaze


    and realized what he had noticed. She swiftly adjusted her cor, feeling a tinge of embarrassment.


    Noah, sensing her difort, tactfully switched tracks. ¡°Is the person in the neighboring ward an


    acquaintance of yours? When I entered, I overheard him talking about you to someone.¡±


    Chloe assumed Icarus¡¯ mother was pressuring him to get married again and responded in a grateful


    tone, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my friend. He¡¯s the one who rescued me from the passenger seat.¡±


    ¡°Based on what you¡¯ve shared, it seems like he treats you well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he does.¡±


    Icarus truly treated her with kindness.


    ¡°I once had a friend who was incredibly kind to me. I never suspected their intentions, but in the end, I


    discovered that their kindness was merely a ploy to steal Exotic Star¡¯s confidential files.¡± Noah


    revealed, his brows furrowing with a sense of mncholy and his expression sincere. ¡°Coco, you


    should also exercise caution and don¡¯t trust others easily.¡±


    Not long after Noah departed from the ward, a delivery driver handed Icarus a bouquet of white lilies.


    Regina was taken aback and cursed the audacity of whoever would dare to curse her son in such a


    manner. Icarus, on the other hand, had a strong suspicion that Joseph was behind this. His eyes grew


    dark, and with a forceful gesture, he tossed the bouquet into the trash bin.


    In the afternoon, around one o¡¯clock, Noah entered Desmond¡¯s room, carefully holding a cup of


    chamomile tea. ¡°Grandfather, I brought you some tea,¡± he said softly.


    Desmond continued to wipe a family portrait with a tissue, not bothering to look up. ¡°Just set it down


    over there,¡± he replied in a t tone.


    Noah held the framed photo in his hand, his eyes fixated on the image of the woman who bore a


    striking resemnce to Chloe. ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t you think Chloe looks somewhat like Aunt Luciana?¡±


    Desmond nced briefly at the photo, acknowledging the simrity. ¡°Yes, there is at resemnce. But


    Chloe carries herself differently, exuding a sense of brilliance, unlike Luciana¡¯s gentle and timid nature.¡±


    ¡°Would Chloe being your granddaughter make you happy?¡±

 Chapter 348

    Chapter 348


    Chapter 348 She¡¯s Not Worthy


    Desmond looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. ¡°Certainly. I¡¯d be delighted.¡±


    Noah¡¯s mouth opened slightly. He wanted to speak further but Desmond interjected, ¡°Having such a


    clever granddaughter and bing, inws with the Whitmans would be truly wonderful.¡±


    Noah¡¯s inner joy abruptly halted, his voice growing t. ¡°Joseph doesn¡¯t treat Chloe well in the slightest.


    He left her outside in the pouring rain.


    ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯smon for young couples to argue. Who knows. Maybe it was Chloe who didn¡¯t want to get into


    the car,¡± Desmond replied.


    ¡°No, I saw Chloe today. Joseph mistreated her. There were bite marks on her neck,¡± Noah said.


    A flush spread across Desmond¡¯s face, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t pay close attention to such details, my


    child.¡±


    Noah subtly furrowed his brows. ¡°Grandfather, do you really believe Joseph and Chloe are a good


    match?


    ¡°They are well-suited in terms of social status and appearance,¡± Desmond replied.


    ¡°Well, if Chloe truly was your granddaughter, does that mean our childhood betrothal holds no weight?¡±


    Noali¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of obsession.


    Desmond chuckled. ¡°Chloe is a couple of years older than you. The two of you aren¡¯tpatible. Let¡¯s


    discuss these matters after you graduate next year.¡±


    Noah fell silent briefly before responding, ¡°Understood, Grandpa.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Desmond sensed that Noah was behaving unusually, ¡°Is there something you¡¯re unsure about


    regarding thepany?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Noah replied then departed. He did not utter a word about the possibility of Chloe being Luciana¡¯s


    daughter.


    Chloe was taking a nap when she heard her name being called out. Groggily, she opened her eyes and


    saw Harold standing before her.


    ¡°Grandpa, why are you here?¡± Chloe¡¯s mind instantly cleared and bolted upright.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about the car ident, my dear?¡± Harold patted her shoulder, urging her not to


    get too agitated.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to worry you.¡±


    ¡°Is that the reason?¡± Harold sighed and took a seat beside the bed. ¡°I¡¯ve brought that brat here too. I¡¯m


    well aware of the issues between Xavia and him. The Whitmans have truly let you down.¡±


    Chloe looked up and spotted the man standing at the door. His hand was tucked into his pocket, his


    eyes cold and menacing, his face devoid of emotion like a tranquil pond. The memory of the biting pain


    on her neck resurfaced, sending a shiver down her spine.


    ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, I won¡¯t allow Xavia to be part of the Whitman family. Chloe, can you


    consider giving this brat a chance?¡± Harold¡¯s words carried a sense of shame and a desire to retreat


    from the world. Despite living a lifetime without any wrongdoing, he now found himself in the position of


    seeking reconciliation for his grandson¡¯s marriage, facing the imminent loss of his dignity.


    Although the brat did not explicitly state it, based on his plot to carry out the amniocentesis n in four


    months, he knew that Xavia had orchestrated something behind the scenes. However, the brat had


    also fallen into the trap, and there remained a lingering uncertainty about whether the child was indeed


    his or not.


    Upon hearing this, Joseph sneered before Chloe could respond. ¡°This isn¡¯t a chance I need. She¡¯s not


    worthy.¡±


    Harold¡¯s fury surged through his veins, causing his body to tremble. In a fit of rage, he snatched the


    mug from the bedside table and flung it at Joseph, his voice filled with venom, You bastard!¡±


    ¡°1


    Joseph made no effort to evade the iing projectile, allowing it to strike him squarely. A dull pain


    radiated from his forehead as he gingerly touched the spot, feeling warm blood seeping through his


    fingers.

 Chapter 349

    Chapter 349


    Chapter 349 Is She Genuinely Concerned About Me?


    ¡°Grandpa!¡± Chloe¡¯s voice rose with a tinge of fear as she desperately tried to stop Harold. ¡°Our


    separation was not solely his fault. I deceived him too. Now that Xavia¡¯s pregnant, it¡¯s both his moral


    and logical responsibility. The situation is already set in stone. You don¡¯t have to go to such lengths for


    me. Please, let it end here.¡±


    ¡°If it were anyone else, I might let it go, but Xavia isn¡¯t a woman of good character. Even if she gives


    birth to a child, don¡¯t expect her to ever set foot in the Whitman family!¡±


    ¡°But if you shut her out, what about the child growing inside her? That would be your own flesh and


    blood. Your great-grandchild,¡± Chloe stated, her expression serious and her tone pleading.


    ¡°Furthermore, I understand Joseph¡¯s attitude. Constantly pressuring him now will only put further strain


    on your rtionship. He¡¯s the closest person to you, so please don¡¯t let him harbor resentment over our


    already broken rtionship.¡±


    Harold was deeply moved by Chloe¡¯s heartfelt words, realizing that she had made up her mind. He


    responded with aplex mixture of emotions, ¡°My dear, you worry about us in every aspect, but what


    about yourself? Have you considered how you will go about the days ahead?¡±


    With her mother deceased and her father in prison, Chloe carried the weight of all her burdens on her


    own. Such a life would undeniably be challenging. However, she shook her head and responded, ¡°I¡¯ll


    face it one step at a time. The days will eventually get better.¡±


    Seeing this, Harold made one final request. ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, then so be it. I can¡¯t do much. about it


    either. But since you¡¯re getting a divorce, Joseph should provide the appropriatepensation.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I have my own money to support myself.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no negotiation about this.¡± Harold then said sternly to Joseph. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside. If you


    dare mistreat this dear child, just wait to see how I deal with you!¡±


    After delivering his statement, Harold left the hospital room with Patrick. Patrick could not fathom that


    the venerable Harold would simply let the matter slide. In a hushed tone, he inquired, ¡°And what about


    Xavia¡­?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s being monitored. We can¡¯t allow her to continue her audacious behavior.¡± Harold¡¯s eyes


    sparkled with determination. ¡°I want to uncover her true motives for shamelessly returning to Aesper.


    Prevent her from having an abortion. If it¡¯s discovered after four months that the child doesn¡¯t belong to


    the brat, she¡¯ll face severe consequences.¡±


    Patrick found himself torn and questioned, ¡°But what if Mr. Joseph tries to intervene?¡±


    Harold sneered. ¡°Him? Intervene? If he pushes me too far, we won¡¯t even need to wait four months.¡±


    Patrick was secretly shocked butprehended the gravity of the situation. The


    granddaughter-inw of the most prominent family in Docwood was meant to be the matriarch of


    the entire Whitman family. While family background and appearance held some significance, character


    outweighed them all.


    Inside the hospital room, Chloe and Joseph locked eyes. His face bore harsh lines as blood trickled


    down his forehead, obscuring his vision. Coupled with eyes as icy as a raging blizzard, anyone would


    feel a chill down their spine.


    Chloe pursed her lips, put on her slippers, and rose from the bed. She opened the door, entreating


    Harold outside to summon the doctor and tend to Joseph¡¯s injuries. When Joseph heard her words, a


    flicker of emotion finally surfaced in his eyes.


    ¡®Is she genuinely concerned about me?¡¯ he thought.


    Harold outside the door emitted a cold snort but reluctantly gave in. The doctor, trembling from the


    charged atmosphere, swiftly attended to the wounds before hastily fleeing from the


    scene.


    Stains of blood were visible through the white gauze wrapped around Joseph¡¯s forehead. It was the


    first time Chloe had witnessed him in such a wretched state. She blinked, averting her gaze, and said


    in aposed tone, ¡°I don¡¯t require anypensation for the divorce.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s brows knitted together, his imposing figure advancing toward her. ¡°So now that Icarus is


    looking after you, you no longer wish to benefit from me?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Chloe¡¯s patience reached its limit, her body tensing up like that of an enraged cat. Is it too


    much to ask for you to speak with some decency?!¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it the truth though?¡±


    This dumbo who had always prioritized money above all else was most likely keeping her distance from


    him for Icarus¡¯ sake. She was even refusing an offer of money.

 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350


    Chapter 350 Unexpected Encounter With Xavia


    Chloe took a deep breath, determined not to let anger consume her. ¡°If you insist on giving it, then go


    ahead.¡± She would just perform her part perfectly and y along with him. She would return the money


    to him once Harold left.


    The corner of Joseph¡¯s mouth curled as he retrieved a ck supplementary card from his wallet and


    ced it on the bedside table. Chloe instantly recognized the card-it was the supplementary card he


    had given her before. When she had moved out of the vi, she had returned the card to him.


    There was no credit limit on this card, implying that as long as Joseph did not go bankrupt, she could


    continue to use it. They had once lived under the same roof, and back then, she had not felt anything


    odd about it. But now, using this supplementary card as divorce


    Chloe parted her lips as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately, she remained silent. Joseph


    assumed her silence was due to the staggering amount of money involved. His handsome eyebrows


    arched slightly, and a disdainful, arrogant smile formed on his face. He believed she ced love above


    all else, but it seemed she was merely putting on a facade.


    ¡®Ah, what a stupid woman. Still driven by her love for money,¡±


    Strangely, this realization brought Joseph a sense of satisfaction.


    Chloe¡¯s injuries were minor, and after three days in the hospital, the doctor gave her the news that she


    could be discharged. However, Icarus would need to remain hospitalized for a while longer.


    ¡°Be sure to visit me, Chloe. This ce is such a snooze.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Once I sort out the piled-up work at the office, I¡¯lle to see you.¡±


    Regina chimed in, her tone filled with nagging concern, ¡°You¡¯re bound to marry into the Baker family


    eventually. Why exert yourself so much at work? A woman¡¯s greatest skill lies not in her earnings, but


    in how well she tends to her husband and raises her children.¡±


    ¡°Mom, can you not say these things? Chloe and I are just ordinary friends,¡± Icarus responded, his tone


    tinged with annoyance.


    ¡°Ordinary friends don¡¯t go to such great lengths for each other. Who would be willing to marry you with


    potentialplications in the future?!¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Regina, I understand your concerns. I¡¯ll put careful consideration into my rtionship with Icarus,


    but I can¡¯t make any promises regarding marriage at this time,¡± Chloe


    interjected, lowering her gaze to conceal her emotions.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Icarus was filled with indescribable excitement. ¡°Are you for real, Chloe?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She owed Icarus so much, and she was willing to make an effort to fall in love with him.


    Icarus joyfully held Chloe¡¯s hand. ¡°Chloe, you¡¯re incredible. Everything I¡¯ve done has been worthwhile.¡±


    Regina pouted, disying her displeasure. ¡°This divorced woman carries herself with an air of


    superiority as if she¡¯s so noble.¡¯


    Chloe suppressed the urge to break free and forced a smile onto her face.


    After learning that Chloe was being released from the hospital, Emily arrived early in the morning to


    assist her with the discharge procedures. As she waited outside the ward, she unintentionally


    overheard the conversation between Chloe and Icarus.


    Muttering to herself, Emily pondered, ¡°Why does it seem like these mothers and sons are so perfectly


    in sync¡­¡±


    Just as she spoke, Chloe emerged from the ward, casting a puzzled gaze at Emily. ¡°What were you


    mumbling to yourself about?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing. Let¡¯s go grab something to eat.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t yet. I need to return Joseph¡¯s supplementary card to him.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s have our meal near Fairlight. There are tworge shopping malls there, and after we eat, we


    can explore them. You mentioned wanting to reward the exceptional employees in thepany. We


    could get them some gifts while we¡¯re there.¡±


    Chloe paused, considering the suggestion. ¡°That sounds like a good n.¡±


    Since it was mealtime, they decided to visit the mall first, enjoying their meal before. proceeding to


    purchase perfumes and skincare products for the female employees and electronic products for the


    males.


    After they finished their shopping and were waiting for the salesperson to bag the items, Emily¡¯s gaze


    fell to the adjacent women¡¯s clothing store. She caught sight of a figure that seemed oddly familiar, but


    she could not ce where she had seen her before.


    She gently nudged Chloe with her elbow, a curious expression on her face. ¡°Coco, ten o¡¯clock. Do you


    recognize that woman? Does she ring any bells?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s gaze followed Emily¡¯s indication and immediatelyid eyes on Xavia who wore a stunning,


    long, vintage, red dress. Exuding an air of elegance, Xavia¡¯s every move was reminiscent of a


    captivating oil painting brought to life. Her carefully applied makeup enhanced her features, further


    adding to her enchanting allure.

 Chapter 351

    Chapter 351


    Chapter 351 The Best Gift


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°That¡¯s Xavia. You¡¯ve seen her photos before.¡±


    Emily paused for a moment, then anger surged through her. ¡°That¡¯s her? She¡¯s the one who used


    pregnancy toe in between you and Joseph?¡±


    Those words, spoken loudly and apanied by a pointed finger, carried across the vicinity, catching


    the attention of the surrounding shoppers. They turned their gazes toward Xavia, their expressions


    filled with a mix of gossip and disdain.


    Xavia was trying on thetest fashions in a luxury boutique. Hearing the discussions, her expression


    remained unchanged, and she calmly walked over to greet Chloe


    ¡°Are you also here to buy clothes, Ms. Chloe? What a coincidence,¡± she said gracefully as if she had


    not heard Emily¡¯s insults With warmth and gentleness, she asked, ¡°I want to buy a gift for Joe to


    celebrate his uing fatherhood Do you have any suggestions, Ms Chloe?¡±


    Emily¡¯s anger red up, and sheshed out, ¡°Jeez, I¡¯ve never met someone as shameless as you


    What¡¯s there to be proud of as a homewrecker? Why unt it?¡±


    It seemed to her that Xavia had a lot of nerve to provoke Chloe in front of her.


    Xavia remained unruffled and said, ¡°I think there¡¯s some misunderstanding here When I was


    with Joe, Ms. Chloe was still just a student. Besides, we were naturally drawn to each other. How can


    you say I¡¯m a homewrecker?¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you think you¡¯re superior just because you¡¯re older? Does age give you the right to sleep with


    someone else¡¯s husband Emily pressed on, her confrontational spirit continued.


    to rise


    A flicker of sadness appeared on Xavia¡¯s face as she replied, ¡°If that¡¯s how you choose to see it, then


    there¡¯s nothing I can say But from what I¡¯ve gathered, Ms. Chloe values marriage greatly. I must


    acknowledge my share of responsibility for what happened between Chloe and Joe. Perhaps my


    decision to return to Aesper was a mistake in the first ce


    Emily could not help but roll her eyes, feeling a crackle of electricity run down her spine as she listened


    to Xavia insinuate that Joseph could not resist falling in love with her due to some supposed


    extraordinary charm upon her return.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I visited a churchst month and they gave me a token. After wearing it, not only did I conceive a new


    life, but I also found the man of my dreams Now, I want to give this token to you, Ms. Chloe I hope it¡¯ll


    bring you good fortune and guide you to your true soulmate¡±


    Chloe stared at the token, her smile turning cold as she said, ¡°No need. You can keep it for yourself.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Please ept it,¡± Xavia insisted, her toneced with a hidden meaning and her


    eyes gleaming with malicious mockery. ¡°I heard about your mother¡¯s unhappy marriage. Although it


    may sound superstitious, there are moments when one must have faith in


    something. Perhaps this token will improve everything for you. If you end up as pitiful as your mother in


    the future, I¡¯ll feel sorry for you.¡±


    Deep furrows formed on Chloe¡¯s forehead, and her eyes emanated a chilling aura.


    Unable to restrain herself any longer, Emily stepped forward to push Xavia, but Chloe stopped. her.


    Xavia was pregnant. They would be in big trouble if something were to happen to her.


    Emily could not contain her anger and snarled, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? She¡¯s doing this on purpose!¡±


    It went without saying that Chloe knew Xavia was doing it on purpose. She whispered softly, Whether


    Xavia is trying to provoke me or unt her situation, I have the means to retaliate.¡±


    After all, she was currently carrying Joseph¡¯s supplementary credit card, and there was only one such


    unlimited supplementary card.


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Chloe¡¯s almond-shaped eyes shimmered innocently as she looked at Xavia. ¡± You


    were asking for gift suggestions for Joseph, right?¡±


    Xavia nodded slightly, puzzled by Chloe¡¯s unexpected reaction. ¡°Yes, Ms. Chloe. Do you have any


    suggestions?¡±


    ¡°I do, in fact,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Since Joseph only wears custom-made clothes and isn¡¯t interested. in


    watches or cars, I believe the best gift would be the child in your belly. If you can confirm that it¡¯s his


    child, that would be the greatest gift of all.¡±


    Although Chloe was unaware of the truth, the fact that Joseph insisted on amniocentesis meant there


    was something suspicious about the child in Xavia¡¯s womb.

 Chapter 352

    Chapter 352


    Chapter 352 Something That a Single Man Can¡¯t Understand


    Xavia¡¯s smile froze on her face. ¡°What are you talking about? If it¡¯s not Joseph¡¯s child, who else could it


    be?¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Well, that¡¯s good,¡± Chloe replied calmly. Her gaze casually drifted toward a nearby suit, and


    she instructed the salesperson, ¡°Please pack this suit for me.¡±


    Xavia was perplexed. ¡°Who are you buying that suit for?¡±


    ¡®Is she buying it for Icarus? Did he already win her over? That¡¯s faster than I expected.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s lips formed an elegant smile, enunciating each syble clearly as she said, ¡°Joseph.¡±


    Xavia thought she must have misheard and repeated her question.


    ¡°I said I¡¯m buying this outfit for Joseph.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. ¡°Although we¡¯re


    divorced, we can still be friends. You wouldn¡¯t mind, would you?¡±


    After all, Xavia had done the same thing. She approached Joseph under the guise of friendship. She


    even went to lengths and helped Chloe endure a stab. One could not deny that this woman was


    ruthless and had a sharper mind than Ava.


    ¡°Of course, you can,¡± Xavia said after sheposed herself, veiling her sarcasm. ¡°It¡¯s just that Joseph


    never wears such cheap clothes. Ms. Chloe, your taste seems to differ from ours.¡±


    ¡°He may not like wearing them, but it¡¯s different when ites from me,¡± Chloe stated confidently.


    Then, right in front of Xavia, she pulled out the supplementary card to pay for the suit and instructed the


    salesperson to deliver it directly to Fairlight. She did not care whether Joseph. would wear the suit or


    not. All she wanted to do now was humiliate Xavia.


    As soon as Xavia saw that ck and gold supplementary card, she was stunned. She could not believe


    that Joseph had given his only supplementary card to Chloe. Even she did not receive such treatment


    five years ago!


    Xavia could not bear the stark contrast in treatment. While maintaining herposure and refusing to


    show her defeat, she forced a smile, found an excuse, and left.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re amazing, Coco! Just a few words and you managed to chase that bitch away. I thought


    we¡¯d have to fight her!¡± Emily said, looking at Chloe admiringly.


    ¡°People like Xavia can¡¯t be dealt with using primitive methods. She sees herself as an upper- ss


    person, and what does the upper-ss fear the most?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Bankruptcy?¡± Emily suggested.


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°While it¡¯s true that they fear bankruptcy, I can¡¯t make her go bankrupt. What


    they fear the most, apart from financial ruin, is losing face and being made inferior to


    another. After all, having enjoyed a life of superiority, they believe themselves to be extremely noble


    and consider themselves different from usmoners.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. And what about the suit? Are you really going to give it to Joseph?¡± Emily asked.


    Chloe paused momentarily, then asked the salesperson, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, can this item be returned? I no


    longer want it.¡±


    The salesperson put on a professional smile and replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dear. We only ept returns for


    quality issues at the moment.¡±


    ¡°Then please help me deliver this card to Fairlight as well,¡± Chloe said.


    This way, she would not have to make a trip to Fairlight anymore.


    ¡°Sure, no problem. Would you like me to add on a greeting card?¡± the salesperson asked.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Chloe replied casually. After all, she knew that the chances of Joseph wearing or even


    looking at the suit were highly unlikely.


    Having witnessed the events that unfolded, the salesperson assumed that Chloe waspeting with


    another woman for a man. After some thought, they decided to write a message on the greeting card


    commonly used by couples.


    Fairlight.


    Lucas collected the gift box containing the suit and supplementary card from the front desk and


    presented them to Joseph.


    ¡°Sir, Ms. Chloe sent these. There¡¯s also a card attached¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows went up slightly as he set aside his work. ¡°Give me the card and the box¡±


    Lucas handed over the greeting card, discreetly observing Joseph¡¯s reaction. Having already glimpsed


    the card¡¯s contents, Lucas struggled to fully grasp its meaning as he was a single man. He found it too


    cheesy!


    When Joseph opened the heart-shaped card, he found one sentence written on it: [My feelings you are


    like a body that can¡¯t be separated from clothes. I can¡¯t be separated from you.]

 Chapter 353

    Chapter 353


    Chapter 353 Joseph Would Think She Had Lost Her Mind


    Joseph¡¯s gaze descended, fixating on the words written on the card. The impable handwriting


    reassured him that it was not Chloe who had written the card. He then proceeded to unbox the gift,


    revealing a suit that barely met the standards of a proper fit. While it was not a luxurious item, there


    was an unexinable charm about it that caught his eye.


    Joseph¡¯s towering height of 1.86 meters bestowed upon him amanding presence, allowing him to


    effortlessly carry any garment with grace and charm. Each button on his white shirt was fastened and


    the shirt¡¯s hem was neatly tucked into his trousers. His well- defined waistline emphasized his strong


    physique, adding to the maic appeal of his poised and enigmatic demeanor.


    Thebination of his imposing stature, meticulous grooming, and confident demeanor captivated all


    those who beheld him.


    Lucas grinned. ¡°It seems that Ms. Chloe still holds you in her heart.¡±


    Perhaps she regretted her actions, wanting to reconcile but unable to swallow her pride. She hoped


    that by giving him this gift, Joseph would change his mind.


    Joseph casually rolled up his sleeves to reveal his forearms, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, his


    emotions were unreadable. He scoffed, thinking, ¡®Does that foolish girl truly hold any feelings for me?


    She¡¯s just weighing her options because she knows that I¡¯m far better.


    than Icarus.¡±


    Nevertheless, Joseph still felt a sense of satisfaction. However, this contentment was short- lived as an


    unexinable surge of anger washed over him. Memories of Chloe once giving Icarus a suit


    resurfaced, and now she was trying to use the same tactic to deceive him. She wanted both him and


    Icarus. Such people were skilled in feigning deep affection, yet they were inherently promiscuous. In


    Chloe¡¯s case, her heart belonged only to herself.


    Lucas also sensed that something was amiss and cautiously asked, ¡°Sir, do you intend to wear this


    suit? Shall I have it cleaned for you?¡±


    Joseph had a cleanliness obsession. No matter how spotless the clothes appeared, they always had to


    be cleaned before he would wear them.


    ¡°When have I ever worn such cheap junk?¡±


    As Joseph¡¯s gaze swept coldly over the suit, it sent a chill down Lucas¡¯s spine. He nodded in


    agreement and said, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll dispose of it for you.


    ¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes grew even colder as he replied, ¡°Did I say to throw it away?¡±


    Lucas, feeling wronged and unable toprehend his employer¡¯s thoughts, could only exit the room.


    After a while, as the time for the video conference approached, he went to remind Joseph and


    discovered that he still had on the clothes Chloe had gifted him.


    ¡®Who said he wouldn¡¯t wear such cheap junk¡­¡¯


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Chloe distributed the gifts she bought to her employees and spent the entire afternoon in her office


    going through documents. It was only at the end of the workday that she finally had a moment to check


    the time.


    It was approximately three o¡¯clock when a message arrived from the salesperson at the boutique,


    informing her that both the garments and the bank card had been delivered to the reception desk at


    Fairlight. Along with the message, a photograph was included, capturing the moment the gift box was


    received, with the pink greeting card boldly disyed atop the box.


    A


    surge of unease washed over her, prompting her to ask, ¡°What did you write in the greeting card?¡±


    As the evening settled in and Chloe returned home, having finished her meal and seeking sce on


    her plush bed, she received a response from the salesperson. As her eyes scanned the words, a chill


    coursed through her, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake.


    ¡°What? What the hell is wrong with this salesperson? A simple greeting would have sufficed. What¡¯s


    this line about ¡®My feelings for you are like a body that can¡¯t be separated from clothes, I can¡¯t be


    separated from you?!¡±¡±


    It was fine if Joseph did not read the message, but if he did, he would surely think she had lost her


    mind.


    Chloe promptly blocked the salesperson¡¯s number and vowed never to buy clothes from that store ever


    again.


    The clock struck 11 PM.


    Joseph, tuckered out by back-to-back meetings, made his way into his house. His footsteps echoed


    faintly through the stillness. When Xavia heard the noise, she emerged from the kitchen, her eyes filled


    with concern as they met his fatigued countenance.


    ¡°I prepared some butternut squash velvet soup for you,¡± she offered gently, her voice carrying a tinge of


    worry. ¡°Take a few sips. It¡¯ll ease the weariness from your body and mind.¡±


    Joseph threw her a sideway nce, his brows furrowing. ¡°You should stay at Golden Wood. Stop


    coming to my ce.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s view of Joseph¡¯s attire was hindered by the dimly lit foyer. It was only when he approached her


    that she could discern the clothing he was wearing. It happened to be the suit Chloe had purchased


    earlier in the afternoon. A profound sense of mncholy engulfed Xavia, leaving faint traces of sorrow


    etched upon her face.


    Without uttering a word, she silently ced a bowl of soup on the table. When Joseph emerged


    from the shower in a robe, his lips formed a tight line and his gaze was distant and icy, unmistakably


    conveying his reluctance to engage in any conversation.


    Xavia dug her fingers into the rim of the porcin bowl and set the soup before him. After a prolonged


    silence, it seemed as though she had finally made up her mind. She said, ¡°Joe, if you are unwilling to


    take responsibility for our child, just let me know. I¡¯m prepared to undergo an abortion or raise the child


    on my own. As you know, I¡¯m not one to revel in ambiguous entanglements.¡±

 Chapter 354

    Chapter 354


    Chapter 354 She Bought Me These Clothes to Spite You?


    Joseph delicately towel-dried his hair and spoke with an air of indifference, ¡°Can¡¯t you wait for four


    months?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of whether I can wait or not. It¡¯s that you don¡¯t trust me and don¡¯t want to be with me.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s my child, I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°I agree, and I¡¯m willing to do the amniocentesis. But after knowing each other for so many years, am I


    really so unworthy of your trust?!¡± Xavia¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes. glistening with


    unshed tears. She fought against their release, determined to keep them at bay.


    Joseph remained unmoved, his piercing gaze fixed upon her. ¡°Did you sleep with Gabe?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s scalp tingled as she froze. She had guessed correctly. Gabriel must have told Joseph the truth!


    ¡°Yes, I had a one-time encounter with him. But it happened before I met you. Can you say with one


    hundred percent certainty that you¡¯ve never made any mistakes in your life?¡±


    Confronted with her usations, Joseph remained calm andposed. ¡°Since it wasn¡¯t your first time,


    where did those bloodstains on the bede from that night?¡±


    Every fiber of Xavia¡¯s being tensed up, refusing to rx even for a moment. She understood the gravity


    of this question. She had to provide an impable answer.


    ¡°I was born in a rural area and entered an art academy at the age of 18. In order to improve. myself


    and enter high society, I admit that I¡¯ve made many mistakes. But I had no choice. I needed to survive.


    You know, back when I had no fame, the only way for me to earn money was by performing at


    restaurants! Later, I worked hard to get to where I am today and be a true violinist.


    ¡°After getting with you, I felt inferior and was afraid to tell you the truth. I made a foolish decision and


    underwent hymen restoration surgery.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Five years ago, I had to leave you because of an illness, and now, after five years, we¡¯re reunited and


    expecting a child. I don¡¯t want to miss this opportunity with you.¡± Xavia sobbed, tears streaming down


    her face. She tightly grasped Joseph¡¯s hand and continued, ¡°And what about you? Have you


    completely lost all feelings for me? Have you forgotten our early days of struggle and building our


    careers together?¡±


    Joseph lowered his gaze, his eyes falling upon her face as he slowly withdrew his hand. ¡°I haven¡¯t


    forgotten. I¡¯m grateful for yourpanionship, but I despise deceit,¡± he said with a measured tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of my mistake now. Can¡¯t you give me a chance? I understand that your grandpa


    doesn¡¯t like me. Whether I can be your wife or not doesn¡¯t matter to me. But I don¡¯t want my child


    to grow up without a father from the moment of birth!¡± Xavia said, emphasizing the


    word ¡°child.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face sank. The child was innocent.


    ¡°I won¡¯t abandon my child. But if I find out that you¡¯re deceiving me in some way,¡± Joseph said, his jaw


    tightly set as he nced at Xavia coldly. ¡°You¡¯ll know the consequences.¡±


    In other words, he would only ept the child.


    Xavia feigned ignorance and said, ¡°Joe, thank you for being willing to ept me. It¡¯s gettingte, and I


    won¡¯t disturb your rest. By the way, is the outfit you¡¯re wearing today the one Ms. Chloe bought? I


    happened to run into her this afternoon.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°You met this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Chloe even intentionally tried to provoke me, saying she¡¯d buy you a suit as a gift. I didn¡¯t


    expect her to actually do it.¡± Xavia sighed softly. ¡°It¡¯s partly my fault. If I hadn¡¯te back, none of this


    would¡¯ve happened¡­¡±


    ¡±


    Joseph¡¯s handsome face grew cold. ¡°She bought me these clothes just to spite you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. She even said that no matter how cheap the clothes were, as long as she gave them


    to you, you¡¯d definitely wear them,¡± Xavia said in a serious manner, ¡°I personally think there¡¯s no need


    to wear cheap clothes. They can cause skin allergies.¡±

 Chapter 355

    Chapter 355


    Chapter 355 Getting Together With Icarus


    After Xavia¡¯s departure, Joseph remained rooted in ce, his arms tensed and veins pulsating with


    anger. A bitter self-mockery tainted his enraged expression. He came to the realization that Chloe had


    not been attempting to bnce her affections between him and Icarus. Instead, she merely treated him


    as a pawn in her game, relishing in her triumph and unting it before. others.


    With a determined grip, Joseph retrieved the suit hanging in his wardrobe. As frustration surged within


    him, he forcefully hurled the suit into the trash bin.


    Meanwhile, autumn arrived, and Chloe wrapped herself in thicker garments.


    Ever sincepleting her university studies, Chloe had been immersed in the demands of her work,


    leaving her with little time to obtain a driver¡¯s license. After assuming control of her family¡¯s business,


    she recognized the inconveniences of relying on taxis for transportation. Determined to ovee this


    hurdle, she seized a moment of respite and enrolled in a driving school before heading to the office.


    Somehow, the moment Chloe set foot in thepany, she was greeted by an employee who


    presented her with a rose. In a dazed state, she epted the flower, only to receive another shortly


    after, followed by a third¡­ Each time, only a single rose was handed to her, and the givers would


    silently depart without uttering a word.


    Arriving at her office, Chloe found her hands overflowing with roses.


    At that very moment, Icarus appeared. Since his leg injury was still in the process of healing, he leaned


    on a crutch as he emerged. His countenance exuded a handsome and refined charm, adorned with a


    gentle smile that diverted attention away from his leg.


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in the hospital? Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I returned home this afternoon,¡± Icarus said as he pulled a whole bouquet of pink roses from behind


    his back and presented it to her, his eyes filled with affection. ¡°Chloe, I want to make at formal


    confession to you. Will


    you be


    my girlfriend?¡±


    The employees erupted in apuse, their voices echoing with enthusiasm. ¡°Say yes! Say yes!¡±


    The deafening sound made Chloe furrow her brows. She looked at the man who had sacrificed so


    much for her and nodded with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. ¡°Okay,¡± she said.


    Having made the decision to give herself a chance, she feltpelled to ept Icarus¡¯ proposal.


    Perhaps, through a different way of being together, she might develop feelings for him.


    ¡°This is wonderful, Chloe! We¡¯re finally together!¡± Icarus eximed, joyfully embracing


    Chloe.


    Chloe instinctively wanted to push him away, but considering the multitude of people around them, she


    did not want to embarrass him, so she epted his embrace.


    Icarus personally put on an expensive bracelet that had a small bell that tinkled with every movement


    on her wrist. Chloe looked at the bracelet and smiled faintly.


    The employees captured the confession process between Icarus and Chloe on video, and after editing


    it, they proudly sent it to her. Chloe forced a smile and offered a fewpliments.


    At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Emily sent her a video link: [What¡¯s going on? Are you together with


    Icarus?]


    Chloe was taken aback and clicked on the video to view it. As expected, the video had been. posted to


    Facebook, and Icarus had even enthusiastically shared it, unting their affection. She felt a surge of


    embarrassment and found herself at a loss for words. She did not like having her personal life exposed


    to the public eye.


    Just five minutester, she received a phone call from Noah.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Chloe, are you¡­.in a rtionship?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to stop you from dating, but I just feel-¡±


    ¡°I understand what you mean. I¡¯ll delete the video as soon as possible and make sure it doesn¡¯t have


    any negative impact on Exotic Star,¡± Chloe interjected, offering a sincere exnation.


    Noah paused for a moment, swallowing his unsaid words, and gentlyforted her, ¡°I¡¯m not ming


    you. Of course, deleting the video would be the best oue. You just separated from Joseph, so


    there¡¯s no need to rush into a new rtionship. Even if this person treats you well, you should take


    some time to assess him.¡±


    Choe blinked, sensing Noah was trying to tell her something.

 Chapter 356

    Chapter 356


    Chapter 356 Employee


    Upon reconsideration, Chloe realized that Noah did not even know Icarus, so she believed she was


    overthinking the situation. Expressing gratitude for his concern, she ended the call and immediately


    tried to reach out to the employee who had posted the video.


    Unfortunately, the employee was currently out on business and unable to answer the phone.


    Noah returned to school and settled into the ssroom. His neatly styled, chestnut brown. hair partially


    obscured his eyebrows, unveiling a pair of innocent and captivating eyes. Leisurely tapping his


    fingertips on the phone screen, he switched to his Facebook ount, located Icarus¡¯ profile, and


    opened the confession video. In thements section, he tagged Fairlight¡¯s official ount.


    Toward the end of the workday, the employee who had posted the video returned. Apologizing to


    Chloe, he promptly deleted the video while exining, ¡°Ms. Chloe, I forgot that you had an


    endorsement deal with Exotic Star.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Chloe waved her hand helplessly. ¡°You should go home now.¡±


    The video had already been shared, and there was no point in saying anything further. Icarus and


    Chloe had nned to have a meal together in the hospital cafeteria today. Since she had not visited


    him for two days, she agreed to meet him after work. With his leg injury, he was confined to the hospital


    and could not go anywhere else.


    As Chloe organized the materials for her copywriting, she stretched her body. Just as she was about to


    finish work, she received a call from Icarus.


    ¡°Chloe, you don¡¯t have toeter.¡±


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s some trouble at my workce, and I need some time to handle it.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank as she pondered something. Her voice turned stern as she asked, ¡°Is it Joseph?¡±


    Icarus remained silent for a few seconds. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    By not denying it, he practically admitted it. Chloe sat in her office, lost in thought. After a long while,


    she sent a text message to Joseph.


    [What do you want from me?]


    There was a reason behind his actions, and the only person he targeted was her.


    [Come to Fairlight].


    Joseph replied almost instantly.


    Chloe, filled with anger, chuckled and replied: [Coward!]


    [It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯te. I won¡¯t hesitate to acquire Icarus¡¯pany by force tomorrow.]


    Chloe took a deep breath, remained seated for five minutes, then went out and hailed a taxi to Fairlight.


    Along the way, she took out her phone and browsed through the. Although the video had been


    deleted, manyizens had saved and shamelessly reposted it. Perhaps it was the halo of being Exotic


    Star¡¯s ambassador, her poprity was on the verge of surpassing that of the current hottest


    celebrities..


    Chloe smiled bitterly at her first experience of what troubles were brought about by being at celebrity.


    She now understood why so many celebrities were driven crazy by intrusive paparazzi and crazy fans.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Fairlight¡¯s office was still buzzing with employees working overtime.


    Chloe took the elevator to the top floor. As the doors slid open, a powerful force yanked her out,


    propelling her into instant chaos.


    Before she could react, an intense and overpowering kiss seized her, leaving her breathless. and


    stunned. She resisted with all her strength, lifting her knee to strike the person in hisher regions.

 Chapter 357

    Chapter 357


    Chapter 357 Joseph Is Angry


    Joseph abruptly stopped in his tracks when he heard the ringing of a bell. He reached for Chloe¡¯s wrist,


    forcefully tearing off her bracelet. Precious gems and beads scattered across the floor, and his polished


    shoes inadvertently crushed one nearby. His gaze turned cold and filled with disdain as he remarked,


    ¡°What a tasteless essory. It¡¯s absolutely hideous.¡±


    Blushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment, Chloe spoke out, her voice trembling, ¡°Why won¡¯t


    you leave Icarus alone? He didn¡¯t provoke you. If you¡¯re displeased with me, you can juste at me


    directly!¡±


    Joseph brushed his fingertips against her swollen lip. His voice was husky and maic. ¡°It¡¯s simple


    really. I¡¯ll spare him once you break up with him.¡±


    Even if they had divorced, he would not allow any other man to touch the women he had once been


    intimate with. It disgusted him.


    ¡°You have no right to interfere in my life!¡±


    Joseph released his grip on Chloe, mocking her with a slight curl of his lips. ¡°Well, then you can leave.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered with determination. Walking away would not solve anything. She adjusted her


    disheveled bangs and caught sight of surveince cameras in the hallway. Her face tensed


    up, and she gestured toward the office. ¡°Can we talk inside?¡±


    Joseph observed her cautious demeanor but remained unfazed.


    ¡®Bing a brand ambassador has heightened her sense of privacy, hasn¡¯t it?¡¯


    In reality, there were only two people on this floor-him and Lucas-and the surveince cameras had


    long been turned off. However, he had no intention of revealing that to her.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment and tentatively reached out to grab Joseph¡¯s shirt hem, slowing her tone


    and speaking gently, ¡°I believe we can sit down and have a calm discussion. Whatever grievances you


    hold and whatever resentments I have, let¡¯sy them all out. Can we do that?¡±


    Joseph could see through her little scheme, but he reluctantly agreed to her softened approach. As he


    expected, as soon as they returned to the office, Chloe immediately let go of her grip.


    With a disdainful chuckle, Joseph reclinedzily on the sofa, exuding an air of superiority.¡± Say what


    you want to say,¡± hemanded.


    ¡°Can you please stop disrupting Icarus¡¯ career? He¡¯s innocent,¡± Chloe pleaded.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Small and medium-sizedpanies were particrly susceptible to setbacks, often facing the looming


    threat of bankruptcy after a few blows.


    ¡°Is this the attitude you adopt when seeking someone¡¯s help?¡± Joseph scoffed.


    Chloe nervously bit her lip. ¡°Then what do you want me to do?¡±


    ¡°Last time, you begged me for Icarus¡¯ sake. I don¡¯t need to instruct you on what to do this time, do I?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s words dripped with a mixture of condescension and amusement.


    Chloe was stunned, her teeth clenched tightly as she said, ¡°No way. If you want a woman, go ask


    Nathan. I¡¯m not amodity for sale!¡±


    ¡®Why does he always expect me to pay him with my body? Is he intentionally trying to humiliate me?


    Was his previous facade of dignity and restraint merely a cover-up for his real self?¡¯


    Upon hearing this, Joseph narrowed his eyes and grinned. He preferred her refusal over her


    compliance. After all, he did not want to see herpromise herself for the sake of Icarus.


    ¡°Come here.¡± Joseph beckoned with a crooked finger, a hint of amusement ying on his cold. and


    inscrutable face.


    Chloe could not decipher his intentions and hesitated and stood rooted to her spot.


    Supporting his forehead with one hand, Joseph reassured, ¡°I won¡¯t force you to do anything.¡±


    This time, Chloe hesitated for a moment before finally walking over to him. Seizing the opportunity,


    Joseph embraced her waist and pulled her onto hisp.


    Chloe lost her bnce, and instinctively, wrapped her arms around Joseph¡¯s neck. Just as she settled,


    her phone in her bag started ringing-it was Icarus calling. She could not help but feel. guilty, wanting to


    push Joseph away.


    Expressionless, Josephmanded, ¡°Reject the call.¡±


    Chloe knew she should reject the call, but instead of doing that, she thought it would be better to simply


    turn off her phone. If she imed her battery had died, it would suffice as an exnation if Icarus


    asked any questions. In this kind of situation, she could not guarantee. that the man beside her would


    not say something inappropriate.


    Just as her fingertips were about to touch the screen of her phone, Joseph suddenly kissed her lips,


    tightly intertwining them, leaving her no chance to speak.


    This kiss was even more intense than the previous one, and Chloe¡¯s intuition told her that Joseph was


    angry.

 Chapter 358

    Chapter 358


    Chapter 358 Her Face Flushed Red


    She could sense that he had been suppressing this anger for a long time. Was it because she was with


    Icarus?


    She had no idea how long the kisssted, and whenever she tried to struggle, Joseph would bite her


    hard. Fearful of the pain, she remained motionless, her clear eyes turning red, resembling a rabbit that


    dared to be angry but not speak, allowing him to take what he wanted.


    After what seemed like an eternity, Joseph finally released Chloe from his grasp. However, he left only


    her lips, his hands still tightly gripping her waist. She took deep breaths, her lips numb and sore.


    Without even looking, she knew they were swollen.


    Joseph yed with a strand of Chloe¡¯s hair, his voice low and haunting as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll say it onest


    time. Break up with Icarus or it won¡¯t be as simple as him going bankrupt next time. After all, Icarus is


    the only son of his family.¡±


    He looked down on Icarus and did not think he deserved his woman though he and Chloe had already


    broken up. In addition to that, he held disdain for Icarus¡¯ attempt to manipte Chloe


    through guilt.


    A chill ran down Chloe¡¯s spine. ¡°If you dare to do such a thing, I¡¯ll report you to the police!¡±


    ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Joseph paused, then his voice filled with a sneer. ¡°On the day of the car ident, the


    vehicle that caused the crash wasn¡¯t a tanker truck at all. Both of you fell into ata simultaneously,


    and Icarus didn¡¯t risk his life to save you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened, unable toprehend how he knew such details. Nevertheless, she shook her


    head with determination. ¡°I don¡¯t believe Icarus would lie to me.¡±


    He had helped her secure a job, provided resources to her family¡¯spany, and saved her even at


    the risk of disfigurement. Since they met, Icarus had never acted against her interests. He was like a


    caring older brother, always kind and trustworthy. He would never lie to her.


    Joseph¡¯s face sank. ¡®So she believes in Icarus instead of me? Very well then.¡¯


    Noticing the shift in his expression, Chloe grew anxious, fearing his loss of control. She swiftly changed


    her words and said, ¡°I¡¯ll look into this and uncover the truth. We¡¯ll rely on


    evidence to determine if it¡¯s true or false.¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The road where the ident urred was a main thoroughfare, making it easily traceable.


    Joseph¡¯s expression softened slightly, oblivious to the profound influence Chloe¡¯s every word and


    action had on his emotions. He willingly surrendered to this unexpected connection, reveling in the


    liberation it brought.


    A spark of inspiration ignited within Chloe¡¯s mind, and a glimmer appeared in her eyes. ¡°I can end


    things with Icarus, but in return, you have to spare Icarus¡¯pany for now while I


    1/2


    investigate and uncover the truth.¡±


    Realizing the importance of dealing with the immediate matter at hand, Chloe decided to prioritize it


    and leave the remaining details forter consideration. She could not let this chance go to waste,


    having already lost her advantage.


    ¡°How about this? Spend the night with me,¡± Joseph suggested.


    ¡°No,¡± Chloe replied, unwilling to be in hispany for an entire night.


    ¡°No?¡± he questioned.


    Her eyshes trembled slightly, and she lowered her gaze. ¡°Yes. My answer is no.¡±


    Joseph suppressed a smile, his pitch-ck eyes fixated on Chloe as if a hidden beast lurked


    within the darkness. ¡°Very well, then there¡¯s an alternative,¡± he said.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Chloe asked.

 Chapter 359

    Chapter 359


    Chapter 359 My Father Took His Own Life


    As the rain began to fall outside, dark clouds obscured the moon.


    Chloe was standing by the roadside without an umbre, waiting for a ride-hailing car.


    Five minutester, Joseph emerged from the underground parking lot. He rolled down the car window


    halfway to reveal his noble face. ¡°Get in. It¡¯s going to be a stormy night, and you won¡¯t be able to get a


    cab.¡±


    As Chloe nced at the ride-hailing order on her phone, she realized that despite the higher price, no


    driver had epted it. With the rain intensifying, she knew that finding a ride would be even more


    challenging. Without hesitation, she decided to get into his car and informed him of her destination.


    Having been to Chloe¡¯s house twice before, Joseph remembered the route and had no need to rely on


    navigation. For a while, neither of them spoke as Chloe looked outside. The rain soon intensified, and


    large drops of water sttered against the car window, obscuring their view.


    Chloe turned her gaze away, gathering the courage to ask the lingering questions in her mind. ¡°Why did


    you agree to Grandpa¡¯s three-month deadline?¡±


    With his temperament, Harold should not have been able to manipte him so easily.


    Joseph¡¯s profile had smooth lines as he replied in a subdued tone, ¡°There¡¯s no longer a three- month


    deadline.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I want to understand the reason behind your agreement,¡± Chloe said, her eyes filled with


    eager anticipation. Her curiosity could not be suppressed, and she longed to know how Harold had


    convinced him.


    Joseph remained silent for a while, appearing unwilling to answer. Chloe pursed her lips and decided


    not to push further.


    ¡°My father¡¯s suicide note is in my grandfather¡¯s possession,¡± he suddenly said, his voice as calm as


    stagnant water.


    Chloe was taken aback, falling into silence. During her first visit to Joseph¡¯s family home, she sensed


    something peculiar about his family when she first saw Harold. However, she never expected that his


    father had ended his life in such a tragic manner.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    They were born into a prestigious family and were ahead of the majority of people in the world.


    Joseph¡¯s father would have been the rightful sessor to the Whitmans¡¯ power if he had not died.


    Harold appeared kind-hearted, and although the rest of the Whitmans were not particrly likable, they


    still managed to get along.


    Aside from that, Joseph¡¯s father had him as an outstanding son. With elders and children to care for,


    what could have pushed him to abandon his family and be so desperate as to


    12


    take his own life?


    Chloe¡¯s heart clenched, and the light in her eyes dimmed as she felt a pang of sympathy for Joseph.


    She could empathize with the feeling of not having parents-theck of belonging, always alone. Even if


    she were to die the next second, no one would know.


    Poverty was not simply having no money. It was the absence of love and care.


    Soon, they arrived at Chloe¡¯s house.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she uttered and stepped out of the car.


    Returning to her bedroom, Chloe gazed out from the balcony, but Joseph¡¯s car had already


    disappeared into the night. She sighed silently and sent a text to Icarus, iming that her phone had


    run out of battery.


    She tried to sleep, but sleep would note to her. She tossed and turned in her bed, her mind


    wandering from thoughts about Joseph¡¯s family background to contemting Joseph¡¯s future


    with Xavia.


    ¡®I wonder what he¡¯s doing right now¡­ He was probably fast asleep as his daily routine resembles that


    of an elderly person with a healthy and regr lifestyle.


    ¡®No, it¡¯s more likely that he¡¯s by Xavia¡¯s side, gently caressing her belly and envisioning their future with


    their child¡­¡¯


    Now, Chloe was undeniably an outsider. The realization left her feeling a sudden tightness in her chest.


    She had been foolish to dwell on such thoughts.

 Chapter 360

    Chapter 360


    Chapter 360 Birthday Party


    The next morning, Chloe started her day by preparing a hearty breakfast. The kitchen was filled with


    the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. As she sat down to enjoy her breakfast,


    thebination of vors and textures brought a sense of contentment to her taste buds.


    She enjoyed her meal while reviewing her study materials. The questions for the driving test were


    rtively straightforward, requiring a strong grasp of theory rather than practical application. By nine


    o¡¯clock, she arrived at her office.


    In the lobby on the ground floor, a middle-aged man in his fifties looked around anxiously, clearly


    waiting for someone. As Chloe approached, she could not help but express her surprise. ¡°Patrick?¡±


    Patrick turned around and smiled. ¡°Ms. Chloe, I happened to be passing by and thought I¡¯d drop in.¡±


    Chloe did not buy his exnation as she was familiar with Patrick¡¯s way. She yfully teased, ¡°Just


    dropping in, huh?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, you¡¯re quite sharp. Nothing gets past you,¡± Patrick said, pulling out an invitation card and


    handing it to her. ¡°Mr. Harold¡¯s birthday party is tonight. He¡¯s been talking about you for several days.


    He hopes that you can attend the celebration.¡±


    Chloe did not reach out to take the invitation card. ¡°I¡¯ve already divorced Joseph. It wouldn¡¯t be


    appropriate for me to attend such an event, especially since he might bring Xavia¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Joseph is away on a business trip today. He won¡¯t be going, and the people invited by


    Mr. Harold are hisrades. They won¡¯t pry into the affairs of the younger generation,¡± Patrick assured


    her.


    ¡°But-¡±


    Patrick interrupted her and forcefully handed her the invitation. There was a tinge of sadness in his


    voice as he said, ¡°Stop with the ¡®buts.¡¯ No one would dare to bully you, and if anyone does, Mr. Harold


    would surely not let them off. Besides, you know the state of his health. After this year¡¯s birthday, who


    knows if he¡¯ll be able to celebrate next year¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you sure Joseph and Xavia won¡¯t be going?¡± Chloe asked.


    Patrick chuckled, his smile warm. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, my dear. I¡¯m getting old, but I wouldn¡¯t lie to you.


    ¡°All right,¡± Chloe said, ¡°I¡¯ll go tonight. Do you know what Grandpa likes, Patrick? I want to buy him a


    gift.¡±


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s from you, Mr. Harold will like anything,¡± Patrick replied.


    Chloe¡¯s eyebrows went into a yful arch and said, ¡°I¡¯m that important, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why you muste,¡± Patrick insisted.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Patrick was not lying. Joseph was indeed away on a business trip today, and it would take an afternoon


    to travel from Aesper to Docwood. As long as the weather did not take a turn for the worse, he would


    make it back in time.


    In Joseph¡¯s house, Xavia approached him and took the initiative to greet him. She distributed prepared


    pet treats to Toto and Oreo, then presented a beautifully crafted painting to Joseph.


    ¡°Joe, I recall that today is your grandfather¡¯s birthday. Can you help take this gift to him? He seems to


    be fond of this painter,¡± Xavia said.


    Joseph nced at the painting and replied nonchntly, ¡°He won¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Xavia asked, feeling a sense of grievance. She cautiously asked, ¡°Do you think the gift I chose


    isn¡¯t presentable? You don¡¯t have to mention that it¡¯s from me, just take it for me. I want to make


    Grandpa happy.¡±


    ¡°He dislikes this painter because of his unpatriotic actions. He now enjoys ying chess,¡± Joseph


    replied.


    Embarrassment shed across Xavia¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve checked¡­¡±


    ¡°After feeding the dogs, go to the hospital for your prenatal check-up. I need to go to the office,¡± he


    said. With that, he went upstairs to change his clothes, leaving her with a cold and distant back view.


    Xavia clenched her fists and kicked Oreo, causing it to yelp in pain. Its dark eyes filled with fear as it


    timidly approached her with its ears ttened, trying to appease her. But once again, she kicked the


    dog away with a swift kick.


    Oreo cowered and tucked its tail between its legs, losing all courage to enjoy the treats in its bowl. The


    dog curled up in a corner, resembling a remorseful chill and evoking a sense of pity.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 361

    Chapter 361


    Chapter 361 Abundant Gratefulness


    Toto could feel itspanion¡¯s fear and barked at Xavia. It sounded rather fierce, which lured Joseph


    out.


    Guilt shed across Xavia¡¯s face. ¡°I identally stepped on Oreo¡¯s tail, so Toto thinks I¡¯m bullying


    Oreo.¡±


    Joseph did not take it to heart. After all, Toto always barked recklessly. It was usually free and had


    nothing to do. It just needed a good beating.


    That trip to Docwood was to handle some trivial affairs of the Whitman Group. Jonathan knew that


    Joseph woulde today, so he waited anxiously. At eleven o¡¯clock in the morning, Joseph arrived at


    Docwood. All the executives came out to wee him.


    Jonathan walked over earnestly. ¡°Joe, here you are.¡±


    Joseph threw the former a sidelong nce but ignored him. Being ignored in front of people, Jonathan


    opened his mouth slightly to say something to retrieve his dignity but Joseph gave him no such chance,


    ordering Lucas to call the finance manager.


    many


    Hearing this, Jonathan became nervous. He followed Joseph and begged, ¡°Joe, I just failed a few


    times. Don¡¯t scold me in front of outsiders. Our family will be embarrassed.¡±


    Joseph red at Jonathan fiercely. ¡°You should know better than to invest wildly if you don¡¯t want to be


    embarrassed.¡±


    ¡°We all learn from our mistakes. I¡¯m now learning the basics of future profits.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have such capability.¡± Joseph did not do Jonathan the favor at all. If Jonathan could make a


    profit, he would have done that long ago.


    The director of the finance department was an idiot too. He made trouble with Jonathan by spending


    extravagantly.


    Jonathan was reluctant to give in. ¡°Joe, I¡¯m your cousin. You can¡¯t say that about me. When you were


    working hard abroad, my father and I supported the Whitman Group. You should thank us.¡±


    Ding!


    As the doors of the elevator slid open, Joseph narrowed his eyes and emitted a terrifying aura. Lucas


    knew that Joseph had been in a bad mood recently, so he inevitably retreated and dodged to the side.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, Joseph kicked Jonathan into the elevator. He then cracked a cold sneer and revealed his


    white teeth. ¡°How should I thank you? Should I kneel before you guys? Or should I thank you for


    ruining the millions I subsidized?¡±


    Jonathan, who fell on the floor, held his aching hips. He was struck dumb on the spot, ring at Joseph


    with a wide-eyed gaze. He was engulfed in fear.


    ¡°Or should I thank you for rejoicing secretly after my father passed away?¡± Joseph leaned over a bit


    and pped Jonathan several times. It appeared like he did not exert himself, but


    Jonathan¡¯s face became red and swollen. ¡°Hmm? Tell me. How should I thank you?¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to thank us. Joe, we¡¯re family.¡±


    Joseph savored the word in his mouth and scoffed. ¡°Family¡­¡±


    Yes, they were a family. They fought and schemed against him, hoping that he would die.


    As the person in power within the Whitman Group, Joseph kicked Jonathan out of the board of


    directors, making him an administrative director who held no power. As for the finance manager who let


    Jonathan act wilfully, he was fired. Joseph then put his man on that post.


    Octavia went to Harold toin about it with Jonathan during the birthday party at night.¡± Dad, Joe


    is out of the line. He¡¯s not the only one who owns the Whitman Group. Jon has some shares too. Even


    if he is to withdraw from the board, we need everyone¡¯s vote to decide on that.¡± Her face distorted with


    the overwhelming indignation she felt.


    Simrly, Preston said seriously, ¡°That¡¯s right. Joe even hit Jon. He¡¯s out of the line.¡±


    Harold was in a good mood at first but now it was ruined. He nced at Octavia disdainfully.¡± Why


    didn¡¯t you say this when you were investing? Jon should pay the price after making a mistake. You¡¯re a


    grown-up, so don¡¯t you know that?¡±

 Chapter 362

    Chapter 362


    Chapter 362 Jonathan Got a Hard Beating


    ¡°But Jon is a Whitman too. He¡¯ll slowly mature.¡± Preston sounded harsh. ¡°Dad, transfer him back to the


    board.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t meddle in this since I¡¯ve long left the Whitman Group in that brat¡¯s care. Tell him if you have any


    opinions.¡± Harold shirked responsibility because he did not want to meddle in


    this.


    ¡°Dad, you


    know Joe will disagree. That¡¯s why we came to you.¡± Octavia refused to give up.¡± You can¡¯t y


    favorites. Jon¡¯s hip is all swollen and red from being kicked.¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Go and make some achievements before youe bargaining. We can use money to help Jon grow


    up, but he has to have something to show for it.¡±


    Octavia fumed with anger. ¡®Fine, we¡¯ll make some achievements! My son is the best. He¡¯ll make some


    achievements soon and defeat Joseph!¡¯


    Chloe carried the birthday cake she made and a present she bought and walked into the Whitman


    family home. When she saw the dozens of luxurious cars parked in the yard, her lips twitched slightly.


    ¡®Patrick tricked me! But I¡¯m already here, so I can¡¯t just leave.¡¯


    Chloe submitted to her faith and walked into the house behind the helper. She prayed that she would


    not bump into Joseph and Xavia.


    The hall was meticulously decorated. The gifts were piled high up. It was both luxurious and


    extravagant.


    Chloe looked around. Other than Ginny, she saw Natalie and Noah too.


    Noah nced over. He was wearing a ck suit, which set off his fair skin. His handsome and youthful


    facial features, coupled with his rosy lips and white teeth, appeared bright and unique among the


    crowd. He was indeed prettier than girls.


    When their eyes met, he smiled at Chloe and walked over to her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t expect to see so many people here.¡± Chloe smiled helplessly and bitterly.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t want toe?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± She blinked and put on a serious expression. ¡°Do you think I shoulde given


    my current identity?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is indeed inappropriate,¡± Noah echoed her words before he nced at her slim wrist.


    She was not wearing the bracelet that Icarus gifted her.


    Jonathan, who fell on the floor, held his aching hips. He was struck dumb on the spot, ring at Joseph


    with a wide-eyed gaze. He was engulfed in fear.


    ¡°Or should I thank you for rejoicing secretly after my father passed away?¡± Joseph leaned over a bit


    and pped Jonathan several times. It appeared like he did not exert himself, but


    Jonathan¡¯s face became red and swollen. ¡°Hmm? Tell me. How should I thank you?¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to thank us. Joe, we¡¯re family.¡±


    Joseph savored the word in his mouth and scoffed. ¡°Family¡­¡±


    Yes, they were a family. They fought and schemed against him, hoping that he would die.


    As the person in power within the Whitman Group, Joseph kicked Jonathan out of the board of


    directors, making him an administrative director who held no power. As for the finance manager who let


    Jonathan act wilfully, he was fired. Joseph then put his man on that post.


    Octavia went to Harold toin about it with Jonathan during the birthday party at night. ¡± Dad, Joe


    is out of the line. He¡¯s not the only one who owns the Whitman Group. Jon has some shares too. Even


    if he is to withdraw from the board, we need everyone¡¯s vote to decide on that.¡± Her face distorted with


    the overwhelming indignation she felt.


    Simrly, Preston said seriously, ¡°That¡¯s right. Joe even hit Jon. He¡¯s out of the line.¡±


    Harold was in a good mood at first but now it was ruined. He nced at Octavia disdainfully. ¡± Why


    didn¡¯t you say this when you were investing? Jon should pay the price after making a mistake. You¡¯re a


    grown-up, so don¡¯t you know that?¡±

 Chapter 363

    Chapter 363


    Chapter 363 Insist on Being a Fickle Woman


    Chloe¡¯s outfit was not mboyant and rather casual. She had on a short sweater with a beret and a pair


    of jeans, exposing only a finger-width of her waist. She appeared young and lively. Standing next to


    Noah, they appeared like a couple.


    Joseph tugged at his tie and kept hisposure, but his cold look frightened people.


    Octavia, who had nned to find trouble with him, did not dare to approach him.


    Chloe spotted Joseph, bing slightly nervous as she tried to stick close to Harold.


    Joseph caught the change in Chloe¡¯s expression and anguish hit his soul, filling him with pain and


    gloominess.


    When the birthday party started, Harold saw the cake Chloe had gifted him. When he heard that she


    baked the cake herself, he grinned from ear to ear. He then showed it off smugly. Look! She baked it


    herself. The best presents are those that time is spent on.¡±


    ??


    ¡°Only poor people make the presents themselves to pretend to be attentive,¡± Octavia muttered softly.


    Harold was old andcked sharp hearing. He did not hear what Octavia said, but Chloe did.


    She nced at Octavia and smiled faintly. ¡°I did bring a present,¡± she said loudly, and the surrounding


    people looked over.


    Disdain engulfed Octavia¡¯s expression. ¡°What present did you bring? Show us.¡±


    ¡°I gifted it to Grandpa. It¡¯s a chess set.¡±


    Chloe had hurriedly gone to buy it this afternoon. Of course, it was nothing for rich people, but she had


    not bought a cheap item either.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I saw the chess set. The carvings are very nice. I have the same set at home.¡± Noah suddenly spoke


    up as if he was just making a casualment.


    Chloe looked up at him and knew that he was trying to get her out of the predicament. She now had an


    even better impression of him. She smiled as she looked at him.


    When Joseph saw the interaction between them, he clenched his fists tightly. Deep anger filled his


    chest. ¡®She¡¯s casting sheep¡¯s eyes at him and is being all intimate with him but she won¡¯t even stay with


    me for more than half a minute.¡¯ He chose to close his eyes. When he opened them, they were somber


    and without emotion. ¡®Forget it. She¡¯s the one who insists on being a fickle woman. I won¡¯t go easy on


    her again.¡¯


    Octavia was bbergasted. ¡®Why is this bumpkin so generous?¡¯


    The Sullivan family used the best things. Even when casually buying a chess set, it would surely be


    valuable.


    Harold coughed and frowned with annoyance. ¡°Okay, the gift is just a kind gesture. I like the


    cake more.¡±


    He then nced at Joseph because he thought that Joseph had failed him again. ¡®What¡¯s the matter


    with this brat today? His wife has been here for such a long time but he hasn¡¯t said a


    word.¡¯


    A few pianists were talking endlessly outside the house, wanting to enter the house. ¡°We were invited


    toe and perform here. We charge by the time. You¡¯re just a guard. Don¡¯t stop us from earning


    money.¡±


    Patrick faked a smile. ¡°We didn¡¯t invite anyone to perform today. Please leave.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. It was the young madam of the Whitman family who hired us to celebrate Mr.


    Harold¡¯s birthday for him.¡±


    Ronald Atkinson enjoyed great fame in the piano field. He could earn 100 thousand dors


    in a single show, which contributed to his arrogant behavior.


    Patrick was taken aback. ¡°The young madam of the Whitman family? May I know what her name is?¡±


    Ronald thought Patrick was scared, so he answered smugly, ¡°Xavia Larson.¡±


    Patrick had been working for a rich family for more than twenty years and understood Xavia¡¯s intent.


    She was trying her best to show her status and power, but unfortunately, she had taken


    the wrong step.


    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. We have no young madam in the Whitman family. Please take your


    leave.¡±


    Ronald became a bit anxious. He could not havee here for nothing, so he stopped Patrick and


    demanded rudely, ¡°Call over someone who can decide on things. You¡¯re just a guard and I don¡¯t trust


    you.¡±

 Chapter 364

    Chapter 364


    Chapter 364 He¡¯s Bloodthirsty


    Patrick was amused. ¡®I only came out here for some fresh air, and he thinks I¡¯m a guard. Are security


    guards so inferior nowadays?¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. I¡¯m more than enough to decide on this. If you don¡¯t trust me and insist on barging


    in, I¡¯ll then offer you some friendly advice. This is the Whitman family home. You cane in but it


    doesn¡¯t mean you can leave.¡± Patrick made an ominous statement before he turned around and


    refused to look at them again.


    Ronald was not a fool. He naturally knew the seriousness of barging into this house. Hence, they did


    not dare to enter the house even after such a long time.


    After being criticized by Patrick, Ronald¡¯s face turned gloomy. He learned that the Whitman. family did


    not take Xavia seriously at all and felt that he should not have promised toe.


    Patrick then entered the hall and whispered to Harold. Thetter sneered. He was more experienced


    than Xavia. How dare she try to y tricks on him? What a rude bitch!


    Chloe was in the hall, so she did not know what had happened outside.


    Being pestered by Natalie, frustration got the better of Joseph before he left the hall and went upstairs.


    Chloe and Noah chatted from time to time. When she noticed that it was about time, she


    up to go home. This was when Lucas came over to invite her somewhere.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, pleasee with me. Mr. Joseph would like to talk to you.¡±


    Chloe refused directly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Lucas became embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Joseph stated that if you don¡¯t go to him, he¡¯ll tell Icarus what


    happened in the officest night.¡±


    Rosiness crept up her face. She gnashed her teeth. ¡°What does he want?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t say. You¡¯ll know after going upstairs.¡±


    got


    Noah tilted his head and looked at Chloe before suggesting gently, ¡°I can take you away if you don¡¯t


    want to go.¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She did not want to drag others into this mess. If Joseph learned that


    she was close to Noah, he would get the wrong idea.


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± Noah¡¯s gaze was sincere. His fair skin was perfect and clean. ¡°I want to.


    Chloe was slightly stunned. Atst, she turned him down tactfully. She had burdened Icarus, and she


    did not want to trouble others. But she had other methods,


    She walked over to Harold and begged him to go upstairs with her to see Joseph. If Harold was


    around, that bastard would not go over the line.


    Harold agreed to it without any hesitation. Secretly, he said to Patrick, ¡°Contact all the ride- hailing


    companies. I hope that there won¡¯t be a single cab around the house tonight.¡±


    Patrick was enlightened and nodded before going to deal with it.


    In the bedroom, Joseph was swirling the ss of red wine in his hand. He was wearing a loose


    bathrobe at the moment, exposing his eight, strong abdominal muscles. When he looked at Chloe, he


    was not as indifferent and distant as before. On the contrary, he appeared aggressive


    and willful.


    Chloe averted her gaze and stopped looking at him. She thenined about it to Harold softly,


    ¡°Grandpa, look. He looks so bloodthirsty.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll make things right for you.¡±


    Joseph disrespected Harold and drove him away. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you toe.¡±


    ¡°You bra. Cut the crap! This is my house!¡± Harold winked at him. ¡°Why do you look so sullen? You¡¯re


    scaring her. Hurry up and give her a ride home. It¡¯ste. She should be going home. Your can talk


    another day.¡±


    Chloe quickly grabbed the chance. ¡°You don¡¯t have to give me a ride, I can call for a cab.¡±


    However, something strange happened. It was not raining tonight, but she could not seem to get a ride.


    Even when she doubled the fee, no one took her order.


    A sharp light was hidden in Harold¡¯s eyes. He said kindly, ¡°Chloe, just spend the night here if you can¡¯t


    get a ride.

 Chapter 365

    Chapter 365


    Chapter 365 What a Humiliating Gaze


    Chloe quickly waved her hand. ¡°No, I can get a ride.¡±


    She then doubled the fee again. After waiting for ten minutes, it still yielded the same result. She


    anxiously used another tform, but the results were still nil.


    Harold pretended to be helpless. ¡°It¡¯s veryte now and this house is pretty remote. It¡¯s normal that you


    didn¡¯t get a cab. Even if you do, it¡¯ll be dangerous if you bump into a wicked driver. He may try to rob


    you or take liberties with you. How dangerous is that?!¡±


    Chloe shuddered before she recalled the news of women being harmed after riding in a cab


    alone at night¡­ Atst, she decided to spend the night. She stayed on the same floor as Joseph but in


    different rooms.


    She stuck to her room. After washing up, shey in bed and texted Icarus. She thought he would be


    asleep by now but he called her.


    ¡°Chloe, why didn¡¯t you answer my video call? Are you still busy at the office?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I was celebrating an elder¡¯s birthday.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. I¡¯ll go with you next time when my legs have healed.¡±


    Chloe smiled awkwardly and changed the topic.


    ¡®Let Icaruse to the Whitman family with me? That would be treading a dangerous path.¡¯


    Before the call ended, she recalled Joseph¡¯s words.


    ¡®Did Icarus lie to me¡­¡¯


    ¡°Chloe, go to bed if you¡¯re sleepy. Goodnight,¡± he said gently and considerately, sensing that something


    was on her mind.


    ¡°Okay, goodnight.¡±


    She would question him about the ident, but she needed to get her facts straight before that. She


    remembered Icarus¡¯ car te number. If she logged into the traffic ident database, she could obtain


    records of the ident.


    Many things happened one after another over the past few days. First, Chloe had to go to the jewelry


    store to retrieve the jewelry she had pawned off the other day. She decided to resolve those two issues


    when she got back tomorrow.


    Nestling in bed, she nned her schedule. Suddenly, someone opened the door in the dark, letting in a


    ray of light from outside. Startled, she quickly sat up. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    The man stood there against the light, his figure tall and strong. His slender eyes were filled with


    gloominess. As he stared at the person in bed, his expression was unfathomable.


    Chloe used the nket to firmly cover her body. ¡°How did you get in? I locked the door.¡±


    ¡°Is this your house?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°So is it very difficult for me to get a backup key?¡±


    Besides, Harold had purposely thrown it his way.


    Chloe was stunned before she red up in rage. ¡°You can¡¯t barge in at will even if this is your house¡±


    Joseph ignored her interrogation and put his phone on the bedside cab. He then took off his


    bathrobe and naturally pushed the nket aside to get into bed. He pulled her into his arms and slept


    in the same bed as her


    Chloe¡¯s body stiffened, and her face was burning hot She could feel that he wore nothing else but his


    underwear. Inparison to the two times they had sex in agitation previously, this filled her with more


    helplessness and awkwardness. She pressed her hands against his chest and tried her best to


    distance herself from him.


    ¡°Get out now. If not, I¡¯m going to call Grandpa


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a nket in my room.


    onsense! I saw one just now.


    ¡°Grandpa took it away.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips. ¡°It isn¡¯t cold today. It¡¯s fine to sleep without a nket for one night.¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    He was strong and healthy. Even if he caught a cold, it was none of her business.


    Joseph¡¯s hands stiffened around her waist. His eyes turned even colder ¡°Are you sure this is the tone


    you want to take with me?¡°


    Chloeughed out of anger. ¡°We¡¯re no longer a married couple. You barged into my room but are


    prohibiting me from resisting¡±


    He gently nibbled her earlobe as he rubbed his cheek against her fair neck, but his voice was cold and


    harsh.


    ¡°Would you willingly ept if it were Icarus or Noah lying here beside you instead of me? Chloe, you


    tried all means to sleep with me back then. Why are you pretending to be pure now? You were so


    eager to throw yourself into Icarus¡¯ embrace after you broke up with me. Now, you¡¯ve even hooked up


    with Noah Why are you so fickle?¡±


    After that, Chloe felt a wave of cold hit her. Her pajamas were torn off, andrge parts of her body were


    exposed Feeling frantic, she wanted to use a nket to cover her body. However, Joseph did not grant


    her wish. He snatched the nket and stared at her naked body


    condescendingly.


    His gaze was extremely humiliating.


    Chloe¡¯s anger topped her humiliation. She met his gaze and coldly demanded, ¡°Are you done?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s anger subsided slightly at first but his eyes turned red when she behaved so brazenly. He


    gripped her cheeks as if he wanted to crush her jaw. He said maliciously, ¡°Why are you so shameless?¡±


    ¡®She doesn¡¯t feel any shame when I¡¯m seeing all of her. Did she treat other men this way when I wasn¡¯t


    around?¡¯


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a shameless woman. What¡¯s the big deal? Are you satisfied now? You just want to see me


    like this, right?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes turned red but she shed no tears. ¡°And you want to keep forcing yourself


    on me, don¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 366

    Chapter 366


    Chapter 366 Hatred Is Always Better Than Being Forgotten


    Joseph¡¯s chest burned with restless heat, a fervor that demanded release. The alcohol he consumed


    tonight was unusually odd, likely tampered with by the old man. Yet, at this moment, he could not spare


    a thought for that. His mind was consumed by vivid images of Chloe together with Noah, their hands


    intertwined.


    ¡®Why is she always so defiant? She had explicitly promised to end things with Icarus, but here she is,


    gravitating toward Noah. Does she truly believe she can¡¯t exist without a man by her side?¡±


    Overwhelming jealousy broke through hisst line of defense, and Joseph stared at her


    intently before impulsively capturing her lips in a forceful kiss. Chloe, never one to silently endure, was


    like a cornered rabbit ready to fight back.


    Smack!


    She delivered a resounding p across his face, sparing no mercy. The force of her strike turned his


    face to the side, rendering him momentarily motionless. Time seemed suspended as the aftermath of


    her action unfolded. The imprint of Chloe¡¯s hand marred his once wlessly handsome features,


    entuated by the still-healing wound on his forehead. A tinge of pity emerged from the depths of her


    heart as she observed the now reddened face before. her.


    Chloe gazed nkly at her own hand, feeling a tingling numbness resonate in her palm. She had not


    anticipated exerting such force. All she had intended was to teach him a lesson.


    As Joseph slowly turned his neck, his eyes mirrored the frigid essence of a solitary winter moon,


    brimming with a vtile fury. His expression was truly terrifying.


    Chloe trembled uncontrobly, her instinct driving her to leap off the bed and make a desperate attempt


    to flee. In the blink of an eye, he seized her waist with a firm grip, forcefully yanking her back into his


    clutches. Yet, this time, there was no gentle catch to soften her fall. His eyes bore an indifferent gaze


    as she crashed onto the bed, pain coursing through her entire being. Fear consumed her,pelling


    her to struggle and mber to her feet,


    desperately yearning for escape.


    Joseph exerted pressure, subduing her beneath his weight. He gazed at the woman, her body adorned


    with bruises and marks. His heart felt heavy with sorrow as he gently lifted her toward the bathroom.


    Wash. Wipe.


    Chloe screwed her eyes shut, resolute in her refusal to meet his gaze.


    Returning to the bed, Joseph¡¯s voice resonated with calmness, ¡°Open your eyes and look at me.


    Still, she remained unresponsive, her brows furrowing, a testament to her deep-seated emotions. Her


    disdain for him was palpable. She despised him.


    The veins on the back of Joseph¡¯s hand twitched, and he forcefully grasped her chin,pelling her to


    open her eyes. ¡°Do you dislike me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t just dislike you, I hate you!¡± Chloe screamed in a hoarse voice. As her eyes met with his,


    scalding tears streamed down her face andnded on his fingers. She sniffled, her words punctuated


    with determination. ¡°I regret the day I ever got close to you, and I regret marrying you even more!¡±


    ¡®If only none of this had happened, how wonderful it would be,¡¯ she thought, consumed by


    regret.


    Upon hearing the word ¡°hate,¡± Joseph¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. He spoke slowly, his voice tinged


    with resignation. ¡°Then hate me.¡±


    Hatred was always better than being forgotten.


    The night passed in restlessness as Chloe, unable to find sce, failed to find sleep.


    In the early morning, Patrick observed the two emerging from the room and offered a smile. ¡± Breakfast


    is ready. Have a meal before you depart.¡±


    ¡°No, I want to go home,¡± Chloe replied with a weary shake of her head, her eyes bearing dark


    circles.


    Patrick was taken aback as he looked at the man who had equally heavy dark circles, feeling puzzled.


    ¡®This shouldn¡¯t be happening. I measured the amount I put in the drinkst night. How is it possible that


    instead of improving their rtionship, it seems to have worsened? They¡¯re like enemies now,¡¯ he


    thought.


    Patrick pulled Chloe aside and cautiously asked, ¡°Ms. Chloe, regarding you and Mr. Joseph¡­¡±


    ¡°Forget about us being together. It¡¯s impossible,¡± Chloe replied, rubbing her temples. ¡°You and Grandpa


    need not concern yourselves any longer,¡±


    She had noticed Joseph¡¯s peculiar behavior the previous night, but even if the old man had not


    intervened, she believed he still would not let her


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    1.


    Patrick spoke earnestly, ¡°I can see that you and Mr. Joseph have feelings for each other.


    Someone like Xavia can never marry into the Whitmans. It¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°What does it matter if it¡¯s impossible? She carries a Whitman child in her womb. Even if her Identity


    isn¡¯t acknowledged, her child will call her mother. What¡¯s the difference?¡± Chloe


    sighed. ¡°Can Grandpa control everything indefinitely?¡±


    Stepping back, if Xavia gave birth to the child, even if Harold never agrees, considering Xavia¡¯s young


    age, she could endure and strive to achieve her desires in the end.

 Chapter 367

    Chapter 367


    Chapter 367 Fatal Consequences, Escorted to the Police Station


    Patrick was momentarily at a loss for words, contemting his response.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, you¡¯re right. Mr. Harold can only oversee things for a while and not for a lifetime. But what


    about you? Do you no longer have any feelings for Mr. Joseph?¡±


    Chloe froze, her eyshes quivering ever so slightly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± she admitted with a heavy sigh.


    Joseph was right, she should not have provoked him. She had only brought difort


    herself.


    upon


    Without bidding farewell to Harold, Chloe left the Whitman home. She knew he would


    continue to try and persuade her, but the decision had already been made, and there was no need to


    further prolong the inevitable.


    Upon her return to the office, the first order of business for Chloe was to investigate the records of the


    car ident. With Icarus¡¯ license te number in hand, she essed the traffic ident database.


    Her heart sank as she read the information that appeared on the screen.


    To her disbelief, the vehicle that collided with them that day was not a tanker truck, but a regr private


    car. Unable to ept this revtion, Chloe decided to visit the traffic enforcement department and


    make further inquiries. To her dismay, the information she obtained there confirmed the facts.


    Chloe experienced an inexplicable sense of unease. Why would Icarus lie to her when he had always


    been a kind-hearted person? Even if he did not lie, she had already considered being with him. She


    remembered all the good things about him.


    The sleepless night took a toll on Chloe, leaving her in a state of confusion and exhaustion. Upon her


    arrival at thepany the next day, the receptionist informed her that someone was looking for her and


    was waiting in her office. Chloe first thought it was Joseph, but then she heard the receptionist


    hesitating before providing a description. ¡°He appears to be around forty years old, with a square face. I


    think he¡¯s the CEO of an entertainmentpany.¡±


    ¡®Calvin Norman! But why is he here? Is he here to speak out on behalf of Ava again? It¡¯s been a


    while since Ist saw her¡­¡¯ Chloe wondered silently.


    With a nod in response, Chloe nervously made her way upstairs. There was something unsettling


    about Calvin¡¯s psyche. Why had he suddenly imed Ava as his goddaughter and treated her with


    such kindness and genuine care? It all seemed peculiar and out of ce.


    In the office, an air of awkwardness enveloped Chloe and Calvin. Thetter appeared uneasy as he


    said, ¡°I didn¡¯t grasp the situation correctly before, and as a result, I unintentionally caused you harm.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe was taken aback. ¡°You came all this way just to apologize to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Truth be told, I mistook Ava for a child of an old acquaintance, and that led me to


    shower her with excessive affection. And I often wrongly believed that you were mistreating


    her¡­¡±


    Chloeprehended his exnation. ¡°I see. So are you still her godfather?¡±


    ¡°No, no. I¡¯ve severed all ties with her.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    These past few days, a heavy sense of guilt had weighed on Calvin¡¯s conscience. When Noah shared


    the details of how Ava and Karen had bullied Chloe since their childhood, he had never felt more


    foolish in his entire life.


    Chloe graciously epted his apology. In her opinion, the past had already transpired, and apologies


    held little significance. However, she believed that epting the apology might offer some sce to the


    remorseful party.


    Calvin felt a sense of relief upon receiving forgiveness, yet a lingering bitterness still resided within his


    heart. He had wasted precious time, and to add to it, Ava turned out not to be Luciana¡¯s daughter. He


    would have to start anew, embarking on a quest within the vast sea of individuals to locate Luciana¡¯s


    daughter. It seemed easier for Noah to investigate since he had more information. Perhaps he would


    be able to find her.


    Then again, if Luciana¡¯s child were to return to the Sullivans, they would have to coborate with Noah


    in managing Exotic Star. Could he genuinely ept that deep down?


    Upon leaving the Johnson Group, Calvin made his way toward the parking lot. Suddenly, his attention


    was captured by the sight of uniformed police officers entering thepany premises, heading straight


    for Chloe¡¯s office. He stood rooted to the spot as Chloe was soon. escorted out by the police.


    Desperately, she exined her case to the officers, her words filled with urgency. ¡°I strictly adhere to


    building regtions. The matter of wage settlements falls under the responsibility of my partner, Aaron


    Mitchell. This has nothing to do with me!¡±


    ¡°Aaron Mitchell has absconded. The unpaid wages are a minor concern now. The primary issue at


    hand is the safety equipment at the construction site. There was an ident resulting in an unexpected


    fatality. The victim¡¯s family is filing awsuit against you, and you will be held legally ountable.¡±


    In one swift motion, Chloe swayed as she was forcefully ushered into the police car by two female


    officers.


    There was a significant distinction between a mere ident and one that resulted in someone¡¯s death.


    Calvin wasted no time in contacting Joseph to ry the news. Their top priority now was to secure a


    competentwyer who could effectively navigate the situation.


    At the hospital, the doctor held the prenatal examination report and addressed Joseph with a hint of


    disapproval, ¡°Despite the patient¡¯s significant health improvements due to


    chemotherapy, her condition still can¡¯t be equated to that of a healthy individual, particrly when


    considering the risks of pregnancy. Emotional stability should take precedence over everything else. As


    the father of the child, it was disheartening to see that you didn¡¯t visit herst night when she was


    admitted.¡±


    Xavia interjected in a gentle tone, defending Joseph, ¡°Doctor, he has been swamped with work. It¡¯s


    understandable.¡±


    The doctor let out a sigh but refrained from saying anything further.


    ¡°Joe, I-¡±


    But before she could finish her sentence, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the


    sound of a ringing phone. Joseph saw that it was a call from Calvin and raised an eyebrow before


    answering it.

 Chapter 368

    Chapter 368


    Chapter 368 Joseph Wanted to Take Advantage of You?


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    The call was not on speakerphone, but Xavia leaned in closer, catching a few keywords that piqued her


    curiosity.


    Chloe, police,wyer¡­


    The fragments of the conversation gave her an inkling that something involving Chloe had


    gone wrong.


    Joseph ended the call, his brow furrowed with concern.


    ¡°Joe, what¡¯s happened?¡± Xavia asked.


    Joseph¡¯s voice carried heavy weight as he replied, ¡°There¡¯s something I need to attend to. I have to


    go.¡±


    ¡°But¡­the doctor isn¡¯t finished yet. Aren¡¯t you worried about the baby¡¯s health?¡±


    His gaze fell on her still¨Ct belly. ¡°Contact Lucas if somethinges up.¡± With that, he stood up and


    left.


    Xavia¡¯s hands clenched tightly, her frustration and resentment boiling within her. ¡°They¡¯re already


    divorced. Why is she still trying to steal my man? What a two¨Cfaced bitch!¡±


    At the police station, Chloe was brought into the interrogation room. The situation was clear- cut. Aaron


    had disregarded her suggestion and continued to push the workers into overtime as he pleased. The


    purchase of necessary safety equipment was neglected, and the wages were dyed. Tragically, one


    of the workers lost their life due to issues with the safety rope.


    A chilling sensation swept over Chloe, her mind filled with regret. If only she had been more present at


    the construction site, perhaps she could have prevented such a tragedy. She had focused her energy


    on thepany, believing that minor idents were an unfortunate norm in the construction industry.


    She never anticipated such a severe incident that would lead to a


    loss of life.


    Soon after, the families of the workers arrived. Among them was a middle¨Caged woman, her eyes


    swollen from crying, apanied by a seven or eight¨Cyear¨Cold child. As her gaze met Chloe¡¯s, a mix


    of hatred and anger emanated from her. Chloe¡¯sposure shattered as the woman unleashed her


    fury, physically and verbally attacking her. Thankfully, the police. intervened swiftly, preventing any


    significant harm.


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank, consumed by unease. She contemted the woman¡¯s words, feeling the weight of


    her responsibility. ¡°Please, express your demands. I¡¯ll do everything in my power to fulfill them and offer


    compensation.¡±


    ¡°I want my husband back! Can youpensate for that?!¡±


    Chloe lowered her head, her voice filled with remorse. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±


    Both parties failed to reach a settlement, resulting in Chloe being temporarily detained.


    Coincidentally, Tyson was on leave that day but hurried to the station as soon as he received a call


    from Joseph. He instructed his colleagues to take special care of Chloe, emphasizing that she was his


    rtive.


    As Chloe sat there, a sense of helplessness grew within her. She felt that she could not simply wait


    passively and called out to a nearby officer, ¡°Excuse me, could you please return my phone? I need to


    contact mywyer.¡±


    The officer nced at her and responded, ¡°Hang on.¡±


    Shortly after, Tyson arrived at the station. ¡°Joe has contacted Samuel to be yourwyer. We


    just need to wait for updates from Samuel. Stay put. No one will dare to bully you,¡± he reassured Chloe.


    Chloe was taken aback, her heart filled with mixed emotions. ¡°Joseph¡­knows about my situation?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he called me this morning,¡± Tyson replied, unaware of their current circumstances. ¡± Don¡¯t worry


    too much. Just wait patiently for updates. Joe cares about you and won¡¯t let anything bad happen to


    you.¡±


    Chloe smiled bitterly. ¡°We¡¯re divorced.¡±


    Tyson was surprised. ¡°Just recently?¡±


    ¡®About two months ago.¡±


    He took the opportunity to ask inquisitively, ¡°Your half¨Csister was brought in not long ago. Are you


    aware of this?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Chloe looked up, a bit confused.


    Observing her reaction, Tyson decided to tell her everything. ¡°Ava went to your office with sulfuric acid


    intending to harm you. Luckily, Joe caught her in the act and had her brought here. She¡¯s currently


    detained for intention to cause bodily harm.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s almond¨Cshaped eyes widened slightly. ¡°When exactly was she brought in?¡±


    He pondered for a moment and provided her with the date.


    Chloe¡¯s fingertips trembled, and an indescribable sensation washed over her. It wasplex and


    overwhelming. What was her ce in Joseph¡¯s heart? He protected her, yet he also humiliated her.


    ¡°Can I see Ava?¡± she asked.


    Tyson hesitated for a moment. ¡°Let me consult with my superiors.¡±


    Chloe nodded gently in understanding. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Half an hourter, Chloe got the chance to see Ava. Thetter was dressed in a prison uniform, her


    hair cut short and appeared visibly thinner. Her face had be gaunt, with slightly


    protruding cheekbones, giving her a tattered appearance.


    The moment she saw Chloe, intense hatred burst forth from Ava¡¯s eyes as she eximed, ¡± What are


    you here for? To mock me?¡±


    Chloe silently looked at her, not uttering a word. All the past events flooded her mind as if they had


    urred just yesterday. So much had transpired throughout the year, altering the life trajectories of


    many individuals.


    After a pause, Ava¡¯s hands trembled as she pressed them against the cold ss partition, her face


    contorted with a mixture of remorse and desperation. ¡°I was wrong, Chloe. I never should have sought


    revenge against you. Can you find it in your heart to help me get out? After all, we grew up together.


    You wouldn¡¯t want to see me spend the rest of my life in a dark prison, would you?!¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve made a mistake, you should reflect on it and seek repentance, shouldn¡¯t you? There¡¯s no


    magic pill that can instantly erase regret in this world.¡±


    ¡®And even if such a magical remedy existed, it¡¯s clear that Ava doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡®


    Ava abruptly halted, her eyes bulging with disbelief. ¡°You came here just to ask me that?¡±


    ¡°I want to ask you, on the day Joseph brought you to the station, what did he say to you?¡±


    Ava shuddered at the thought of Joseph, not fueled by anger but by a genuine fear emanating from the


    depths of her heart. ¡°He attempted to vite me. I fought back, and he threw sulfuric acid on my thigh!¡±


    She rolled up her pants, revealing the gruesome scars burned onto her thigh.


    With a pained expression, she continued, ¡°That man¡¯s a lunatic. If you continue to be with him, who


    knows, one day he might go crazy and do the same to you. Please be sensible. Break up with him or


    your fate will be the same as mine.¡±


    Chloe was momentarily stunned. ¡°Are you saying that Joseph wanted to take advantage of you?

 Chapter 369

    Chapter 369


    Chapter 369 Chloe Is Preferred by All Men


    ¡°Yeah. Of course, heid his filthy hands on me. And in the end, he turned around and betrayed me.


    Out of anger and embarrassment, he used his connections to send me to prison!¡± Ava spewed lies with


    wide¨Copen eyes, unable to bear the fact that Chloe seemed to be preferred by all men.


    ¡®Once Chloe and Joseph separate, I¡¯ll find a way to deal with this woman once I get out of here!¡®


    Chloe¡¯s heart grew heavy as she sat there, observing Ava¡¯s remorseless face. At that moment, she


    found herself at a loss for words. Part of her wanted tough, while another part recognized that this


    person was beyond redemption. Taking a deep breath, she said with seriousness and helplessness,


    ¡°Stop lying. Joseph¡¯s standards aren¡¯t that low.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? You believe in a man over me?!¡± Ava shouted angrily, drawing reprimands from


    the prison guards.


    Tyson cast a sidelong nce at Ava and urged Chloe, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time on her. Joe is already at the


    Aesper City Police Department.¡±


    Chloe nodded, stood up, and followed him out.


    Ava stomped her feet in frustration. She was determined to find a way to escape and reim


    everything that rightfully belonged to her.


    In the interrogation room, the man sat in the chair, his long legs casually crossed. He extinguished the


    cigarette between his fingers in the ashtray, asking in an unhurried manner, ¡°Do you want to be set


    free?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyelid twitched. ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to get you out of here?¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she softly responded, looking at him calmly. ¡°What are your conditions?¡±


    She knew that Tyson was just showing respect to Joseph. If Joseph intentionally made things difficult,


    she might not even have the opportunity to hire awyer, let alone see Ava.


    The finger marks on Joseph¡¯s cheek had faded, and his face showed no emotion. His dark eyes were


    profound, carrying a trace of weariness. ¡°I have no agenda.¡±


    Chloe stared at him, a look of disbelief settling on her face.


    ¡°Heh.¡± Joseph chuckled, his face adorned with a cold smile.


    ¡®Do I need an agenda to treat her well?¡®


    Chloe could not fully grasp the situation, unsure of what she had said wrong.


    ¡°My father left behind a suicide note when he hilled himself, and it¡¯s currently in Grandpa¡¯s possession.


    He¡¯s fond of you, thus it¡¯s now your responsibility to retrieve it.¡±


    Chloe contemted for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±


    The oue of this unknown task was uncertain. While Harold treated her well, delving into the


    Whitmans¡® private matters was a different story altogether.


    Joseph slid Chloe¡¯s phone across the table, making his demand clear. ¡°Now, end things with Icarus and


    I¡¯ll get you out of here.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair! I only agreed to one condition!¡±


    He remained unfazed, his tone devoid of emotion as he casually responded, ¡°Fairness doesn¡¯t exist in


    this world. At the moment, you need me, not the other way around. I¡¯m offering you a chance to repay


    me.¡±


    Chloe bit her lip, her clear eyes staring at him unblinking. ¡°Then may I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°Why did you choose to help me today, and why did you intervene when Ava was about to harm me,


    leading to her arrest?¡±


    ¡®Is it because he genuinely cares for me? Is he worried about me?¡®


    Joseph¡¯s stoic face disyed a subtle shift, meeting her gaze. ¡°What do you think the reason is?¡±


    An answer formed in Chloe¡¯s thoughts, but she hesitated to voice it. He had inflicted so much pain on


    her, one hurtful action after another. If he harbored feelings for her, how could he bear to cause her


    such harm?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes instantly darkened. ¡®Yes, she knows nothing. She only knows how to flirt and evade


    responsibility.¡®


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath with meaningless words. Do you want to leave or not? The choice is yours,¡±


    he said, his tone abruptly turning cold, his patience wearing thin.


    Unaware of Joseph¡¯s internal struggles, Chloe asked quietly, ¡°If I break up with Icarus and help you


    retrieve your father¡¯s note, you won¡¯t interfere with Icarus¡® life anymore?¡±


    He clenched his mrs and his jawline hardened. At that moment, he realized that she still cared about


    Icarus. ¡®Such unwavering affection.¡®


    Chloe felt a shiver run down her spine as she met his gaze, her confidence wavering.


    ¡°As long as you agree to those conditions, it¡¯ll be as if I¡¯m seeing a dog whenever I see Icarus. I¡¯ll


    completely ignore him,¡± he dered.


    Chloe had noeback and remained silent. ¡®Why do his words carry a trace of jealousy? And why


    does he sound so childish?¡® she wondered, shaking her head. ¡®It¡¯s impossible. Joseph is cold and


    arrogant, like a block of ice. Such thoughts are out of the question!¡®


    She picked up her phone, collected her thoughts, andposed a breakup message to Icarus.

 Chapter 370

    Chapter 370


    Chapter 370 Is Joseph Bothering You Again?


    Chloe followed Joseph out of the station. But before they even, Icarus¡® call came in.


    Joseph calmly crossed his arms and said, ¡°Answer it.¡±


    Chloe whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to answer.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ll answer it for you then.¡± He snatched the phone and answered while pressing the speakerphone


    button.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Chloe? Why did you suddenly break up with me? Is Joseph bothering you again?!¡±


    Chloe was afraid that Joseph would get angry. She tiptoed and held onto his strong and powerful arm


    as she hurriedly replied into the phone, ¡°It has nothing to do with him. It was my own decision. That


    day, it wasn¡¯t a tanker truck in the ident, and you didn¡¯t risk anysting damage to save me. I


    despise deception. Don¡¯t contact me anymore.¡± She pressed the end call button and snatched back the


    phone.


    The entire sequence of actions flowed smoothly.


    Joseph smiled ambiguously. ¡°Lying without flinching, as always.¡®


    Chloe did not want to argue with him and wisely changed the topic. ¡°How does Samuel n to handle


    the situation with the victim¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°Standard procedure.¡±


    Chloe frowned. ¡°But they¡¯re not willing to settle¡­¡±


    ¡°If hecks the ability to negotiate, then he shouldn¡¯t be in this line. Being awyer requires


    professionalism and eloquence.¡±


    ¡°I can ask him to offer them morepensation. I have money.¡± Chloe offered, realizing that providing


    additional mary assistance was the only contribution she could make at the moment. For other


    matters, she was willing to go to great lengths if necessary.


    Joseph nced at her but did not offer a response.


    Along the way,


    Chloe noticed that they were heading toward the Whitman family home. She focused her gaze and


    inquired, ¡°Are we going to see Grandpa for the note now?¡±


    Joseph responded matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    She wanted to assess Grandfather¡¯s stance before delving into the matter. It puzzled her why the


    suicide note left by Joseph¡¯s father, meant for his son, was being withheld from him.


    In a private hospital in Docwood, Noah looked at the just¨Cawakened Eustace. He casually poured


    himself a cup of chamomile tea and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Xavia?¡±


    Eustace, the person he had unexpectedly saved, had been involved in an assassination attempt.


    Despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, none of them had hit any vital organs, allowing him to


    cling to life.


    The reason Noah decided to save Eustace was simple. He had found numerous photos of Xavia on


    Eustace¡¯s phone, all taken at close range, some of which were rather revealing. The timestamps on the


    images indicated that they were taken rtively recently. However, ording to Noah¡¯s knowledge,


    Xavia had recently be pregnant with Joseph¡¯s child. The timelines simply did not match up.


    Eustace gritted his teeth and remained tight¨Clipped.


    Observing his reaction, Noah suddenly erupted intoughter, revealing pointy canine teeth, which


    appeared adorable yet innocent. He carefully set the teacup aside and took deliberate steps toward


    Eustace¡¯s bedside,ing to a halt beside him.


    Eustace nced up at the young man, who bore a resemnce to a university student, with a


    perplexed expression, unsure of his intentions.


    Noah abruptly seized a handful of Eustace¡¯s hair and forcefully yanked him downward. Eustace was


    taken aback by the sudden brutality hidden beneath Noah¡¯s gentle and seemingly docile demeanor.


    Caught off guard, he was unable to react in time and found himself being forcefully dragged from the


    bed to the nearby bathroom.


    During the process, all of Eustace¡¯s wounds were torn open, and his hospital gown became soaked


    with blood. His scalp was almost ripped off his head.


    Noah did not give him a chance to respond, pressing his head down firmly into the filled bathtub.


    Eustace struggled desperately, but Noah showed no concern, allowing the water to ssh onto his


    face. With innocent eyes, he serenely observed as the person in the water weakened and struggled


    until bubbles emerged on the surface.


    Just as Eustace was on the brink of drowning, Noah pulled him out, gazing at the person slumped on


    the floor. He tilted his head slightly and casually stated, ¡°I saved your life, so your life now belongs to


    me. When I ask you something, you answer. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Ack, ack, ack!¡± Eustace coughed up water, his horrified gaze fixed on Noah. ¡°I understand, I


    understand¡­¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Now let me ask you again. What¡¯s your rtionship with Xavia?¡±


    Eustace hesitated for a moment, his desire to survive overpowering everything. With


    earnestness, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend.¡°

 Chapter 371

    Chapter 371


    Chapter 371 My Child Must Not Carry Another Man¡¯s Name


    Noah pulled out a box of mint candies from his pocket and casually popped two into his mouth. With an


    expression that blended innocence and curiosity, he resembled a diligent and inquisitive student.


    ¡°Xavia¡¯s your girlfriend? Then what¡¯s the deal between her and Joseph?¡±


    Eustace shook his head in a mixture of confusion and pain, his face reflecting anguish. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I


    don¡¯t know anything.¡±


    He had no clue why he was being hunted, let alone why Xavia suddenly talked about breaking up. He


    waspletely unaware of her involvement with Joseph.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°She¡¯s pregnant,¡± Noah said.


    ¡°I know that!¡± Eustace¡¯s spirits immediately lifted, his eyes brimming with overflowing happiness.


    With an interested smile ying at the corners of his mouth, Noah said, ¡°Oh?¡±


    Seeing Noah¡¯s disbelief, Eustace confidently said, ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend. How could I not know she¡¯s


    pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s your child?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯ve been together for the entire month.¡±


    They stayed together almost every day. They had sex often, so it could only be his child. However,


    Xavia also mentioned getting an abortion when she was breaking up with him, and since then, he could


    not reach her.


    Noah¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his refined face betraying wisdom and maturity that surpassed his


    youthful appearance. All the answers were on the verge of emerging, and the truth was right before


    their eyes.


    ¡®So she was just borrowing his sperm.¡®


    Eustace paused and asked anxiously, ¡°Do you know my girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you know¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wondering how I know about her affairs even though I don¡¯t know her?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know Xavia, but I know Joseph,¡± Noah said. His expression remained gentle, but his words


    were sharp as a de. ¡°It¡¯s because very soon, Xavia will proudly marry into Joseph¡¯s family with your


    child. Meanwhile, you can only hide in the shadows and do nothing. Once you show up before her,


    she¡¯ll eliminate you mercilessly.¡±


    Eustace froze, shaking his head like a rattle drum. ¡°Impossible¡­ That¡¯s impossible. She wouldn¡¯t do


    that to me.¡±


    ¡°And why are you being hunted?¡± Noah¡¯s tone stretched, filled with mockery. ¡°You¡¯re merely a tool for


    her to conceive a baby. Once the tool bes useless, it has to be discarded,


    especially when it¡¯s an unruly one like you.¡±


    Eustace had not fully grasped the situation and instinctively did not want to doubt Xavia. She was so


    beautiful and virtuous, an existence akin to a goddess. How could shemit such a heinous act as


    hiring someone to kill him? But if it were not for the purpose of conceiving a child, why would she


    suddenly say yes to him after giving him the cold shoulder for so many years?


    Noah rose to his feet, his gaze descending upon Eustace condescendingly. ¡°Do you want Xavia to


    regret her decision to leave you?¡± His voice was clear and indifferent, sending a profound tremor


    through Eustace¡¯s heart.


    ¡®Do I wish for her to deeply regret the decision of leaving me? Absolutely! It¡¯s my utmost desire¨Can


    aspiration that consumes me every single day! How dare she take advantage of me just because I love


    her! My child must not carry another man¡¯s name!¡®


    Eustace nodded profusely. ¡°Do you want me to tell Joseph the truth?¡±


    ¡°No, for now, you stay put,¡± Noah said, a mischievous grin ying on his lips. ¡°Since you consider


    Xavia as your idol, just imagine the spectacle when your idol is brought down from her towering


    pedestal at the peak of her glory. I assure you, it¡¯ll be a spectacle worth witnessing.¡±


    Furthermore, it was unlikely that Xavia could hire someone to kill Eustace. Shecked the means to do


    so. Additionally, she alone would not be enough to deceive Joseph. There must be someone aiding


    her.


    As for Joseph, they would have to bide their time. He needed Chloe topletely relinquish her


    attachment to Joseph and return to the Sullivans so that Desmond would approve the marriage


    between them.


    Patrick was pleasantly surprised to see Joseph and Chloe together. He quipped, ¡°Mr. Joseph, Ms.


    Chloe, what brings you here¡­¡±


    ¡®Have they reconciled?¡® he wondered. True to the old saying, a couple would make up in the blink of an


    eye after quarreling. He assumed that they hadpletely fallen out this morning.


    Chloe touched her nose and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Grandpa? I¡¯d like to see him.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Harold¡¯s in the study.¡±


    ¡°Is it convenient for me to go up and see him now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, go on ahead.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Chloe nced at Joseph and entered the nearby elevator. The study was on the third floor, and it was


    not that she waszy, but the soreness in her thighs had yet to subside. Walking was fine, but going up


    the stairs would be ufortable.


    Upon learning of Chloe¡¯s intentions, Harold¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Chloe, sometimes not


    knowing certain things is better than knowing them. That punk might not be happy to receive the letter.¡±


    ¡®So that¡¯s why Harold had been withholding the note all this time.¡±


    Chloe was stunned, and she pressed her lips together. ¡°Will the letter mention some unpleasant


    things?¡±


    Harold remained silent, nodding heavily. He was confident that Joseph would be deeply disturbed upon


    reading the letter. Their years of peace had note easily, and he did not


    want to shatter it.


    ¡°Will you give Joseph the note?¡±


    Harold let out a bitter smile. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know either. After all, it was left behind by his father,


    and it¡¯s only right and proper to give it to him.¡±


    ¡°In your opinion, when would be the most appropriate time to give it to him?¡±


    ¡°After he¡¯s married and has children.¡±


    With a wife and children, Joseph would be less likely to take reckless risks. He would cherish


    everything he had at present. Harold could not keep a constant watch over Joseph as he got older.


    Joseph had his own strong opinions, and at times, they could be quite extreme.


    Chloe fell into silence, unsure of what to say. Harold patted her shoulder. His tone wasforting as


    he said, ¡°I¡¯m not saying all this to force you into reconciling with Joseph. Don¡¯t feel burdened.¡±


    ¡°I know, Grandpa.¡±


    After easing her tension, she asked one final question.¡°If Xavia marries Joseph and they have a good


    rtionship, would you consider giving the note to him?

 Chapter 372

    Chapter 372


    Chapter 372 Instinctively Wanted to Rely on Him


    Harold flung his hands angrily, his face turning stern when Chloe mentioned Xavia.


    ¡°Hmph! That will never happen. She just needs to mind her own business!¡±


    Joseph slovenly lifted his head and nced at Chloe, who returned empty¨Chanded. It appeared


    he had anticipated this oue as he continued to leisurely read his documents.


    ¡°Grandpa refused to give it to me.¡±


    ¡°Keep trying.¡±


    ¡°He said he¡¯d only give you the letter if you get married and have a child.¡±


    Joseph froze, but he did not raise his head. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s highly unlikely that I can aplish this task,¡± she said dejectedly, her voice barely audible.


    ¡°Perhaps you can assign me a different one.¡±


    ¡®I should¡¯ve anticipated it earlier. If he couldn¡¯t handle it himself, how did I ever expect to


    seed?¡±


    Surprisingly, Joseph did not give her a hard time. He spoke lightly, ¡°I need to think about it.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°While I¡¯m considering options, you need to be avable whenever I call.¡±


    Chloe was speechless.


    Harold did not ask for Chloe to stay as he had realized that there was no hope for reconciliation


    between her and Joseph and that there was no point in struggling further.


    Joseph drove Chloe to the Johnsons¡® office. Lost in her thoughts, she did not say goodbye and simply


    walked away.


    His gaze followed her figure when something caught his attention. His gaze deepened, and he


    muttered a curse under his breath. Without hesitation, he swiftly unfastened his seatbelt and stepped


    out of the car.


    Chloe waspletely unaware of her surroundings. As she took a few steps forward, she suddenly


    found herself engulfed by a horde of journalists, wielding cameras and microphones at her from every


    direction.


    you


    ¡°How do intend topensate the deceased¡¯s family? How do you live with yourself knowing you¡¯ve


    neglected to provide safety equipment for the workers?¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°You vited building regtions and overstepped thew. You should have been held in


    1/3


    hapter 372 kristinctively Wanted to Rely on Him


    custody. Why were you released before the case was concluded? Did you resort to illicit means to


    avoid legal consequences?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a public figure as well as the ambassador for a luxury jewelry brand. ording to the


    information we have gathered, Exotic Star paid you an exorbitant endorsement fee of 30 million. Why


    didn¡¯t you utilize that money to pay the workers¡® sries?¡±


    ¡°There are circting rumors that you¡¯ve benefited from hical practices. How do you respond to


    these allegations?¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, Ms. Chloe? Can you provide us and the public with a reasonable


    exnation?¡±


    The blinding shes of cameras and the piercing barrage of questions were akin to an impending


    deluge, about to overwhelm Chloe at any moment. Surrounded by the crowd, she felt suffocated,


    making it difficult for her to speak. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me¡­ I didn¡¯t do it. It was Aaron¡­


    ¡°Aaron is your partner. It¡¯s impossible that you werepletely unaware of his illegal actions!


    ¡°Back off!¡±


    When Joseph arrived, he pushed aside the journalist in the front row and positioned himself as a shield


    in front of Chloe. His gaze, cold and brimming with anger, swept across the crowd, his sharp features


    reflecting his indignation. All the reporters instinctively silenced themselves,


    fear etched onto their faces.


    Joseph firmly held Chloe¡¯s hand. Looking at her bewildered expression, his tone softened


    imperceptibly. ¡°Come with me. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart was burdened with guilt, feeling uncertain about how to handle the situation. She nodded


    in a daze and instinctively clung to him. Observing their departure, a young journalist made a daring


    move, reaching out to intercept them as he focused the camera on their tightly entwined hands.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe,st week you made an official announcement about your rtionship with a man online,


    and now you¡¯re holding hands with Mr. Joseph. May I ask what kind of rtionship you two have?¡± he


    asked¨Cthe question sharp and piercing.


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows arched as he said, ¡°Want to find out? Shall we have a chat inside?¡±


    The journalist¡¯s face turned pale, rendered speechless by fear.


    Chloe¡¯s office was far from being as spacious as Fairlight¡¯s, with only two chairs and no other seating


    options. Joseph reluctantly took his seat and called Samuel.


    ¡°How did the news leak?¡±


    There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone before Samuel¡¯s voice came. ¡°You might find it


    hard to believe, but I¡¯ve already reached a settlement with the deceased¡¯s family. We¡¯ve been together


    this whole time. In simple terms, Chloe was set up.¡±


    Someone must have acquired the information and sold it to the journalists. Excluding Ava,


    who else would bear ill intent toward Chloe? Samuel was not familiar with her social circle, so he could


    not provide an answer.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened. He ended the call and asked, ¡°Have you offended anyone recently?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mood had already settled. ¡°No, I¡¯ve been at the office the entire time and haven¡¯t had any


    conflicts with anyone.¡±


    In the past, Calvin would have been the most likely suspect, but he had juste to apologize to her


    today, so it was unlikely that he would do something like that.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you home to rest. We¡¯ll leave through the back door.¡±


    Since the news had reached the ears of the media, it meant half of the city already knew about it.


    There was no way they could leave through the main entrance today.


    Chloe stood up and put on her coat. Her mind was in chaos, yet she did not feel any hesitation about


    letting him apany her. Perhaps, when she was at her lowest, she instinctively wanted to rely on


    this man who had once brought her warmth.


    Seeing Chloe obediently following his suggestion without refusing, Joseph¡¯s thin lips curled into a


    malicious smile. He suddenly felt that it would not be a bad idea to give her a little lesson. At least she


    now knew that he was the one she should rely on.


    The two of them exited through the back door. As they made their way to the car, Joseph¡¯s phone kept


    vibrating. He took it out and nced at it.


    It was a call from Xavia.


    He did not answer and chose to hang up. Not long after, the phone rang again. This time, it


    was a text.


    Xavia: [Joe, I slipped and now my stomach hurts¡­]

 Chapter 373

    Chapter 373


    Chapter 373 Did She Only Deserve a Mere Subordinate¡¯s Care?


    Joseph came to an abrupt halt and his forehead furrowed deeply. Chloe noticed something was amiss


    and also stopped in her tracks. Since they were walking side by side, it was easy for her gaze to shift


    and catch a glimpse of the contents on the phone screen. Her delicate fingertips, flushed with a rosy


    hue, tightly clenched her palm as a surge of pain jolted her back to reality.


    She looked at the man standing mere inches away from her, and the tension that had umted


    throughout the day suddenly shattered. How could she have forgotten? He already belonged to


    someone else. He and Xavia were meant to be together.


    Chloe lowered her head, concealing her emotions behind long, curledshes. She said softly, There¡¯s


    no need for you to apany me. Hurry and go see Xavia.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll get Lucas to-¡± Joseph¡¯s sentence was left unfinished as Chloe distanced


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can take care of myself. You should go take care of Xavia. She needs you right now.


    Joseph¡¯s dissatisfaction was evident as hisrge hand firmly sped Chloe¡¯s delicate wrist, asserting


    his control. His authoritative tone left no room for negotiation as he said, ¡°Let me make myself clear


    again: I will be the one to take you home. Is that understood?¡±


    She blinked, somewhat puzzled. ¡°But Xavia is experiencing stomach pains. Aren¡¯t you worried about


    the baby?¡±


    ¡°Am I a doctor? Is there any other use for me to be there besides standing around like a fool?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s handsome face wore a gloomy expression as he spoke with annoyance.


    Chloe knew he was right, but she believed thatpanionship could be a way to alleviate pain.


    Disregarding the thoughts swirling in her mind, Joseph pulled her toward the car. They sped along the


    road, the speedometer reaching 120 km/hour. In the meantime, Joseph took a moment to call Lucas


    and instructed him to go to the hospital and check on Xavia.


    Lucas, who was already lying in bed, felt speechless. He obediently said yes, getting out of bed and


    quickly getting dressed. Although he understood why Joseph refused to go and check on Xavia despite


    the fact that she was carrying his child, he could not help himself and cursed Joseph under his breath.


    Besides, Xavia wanted to see Joseph, so if he went, he definitely would not receive a warm reception.


    He felt utterly miserable.


    During the journey, Joseph drove so fast that it made Chloe nauseous and queasy. However, she did


    not voice her difort. She was certain that Joseph was driving so fast because he wanted to go to


    Xavia¡¯s side as soon as possible. After all, it was not his obligation to send her home, so it was best not


    to make any demands orints.


    1/2


    Throughout the entire journey, Joseph did not utter a single word as he was waiting for Chloe


    to speak first. For the first time, he experienced the taste of having his pride shattered so easily and


    feeling the difort of being ignored. He clenched his teeth, attempting to suppress a rising irritation.


    Twenty minutester, they arrived at Chloe¡¯s home. As soon as she opened the car door and her feet


    touched the ground, the vehicle swiftly sped off as if it did not want to be in this ce for a second


    longer than it had to be.


    Chloe stood there for a moment, not feeling sad but rather empty inside. Since he was in such a hurry


    to get to Xavia, why did he insist on sending her home?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you. Please leave,¡± Xavia said coldly to Lucas, her eyes closed.


    Lucas yawned sleepily. ¡°Mr. Joseph asked me toe,¡± he replied, implying that if it were not for work,


    he would not have bothereding.


    Xavia abruptly sat up in bed and angrily red at Lucas. She told Joseph that her stomach was in pain.


    She wanted him toe and keep herpany, so what did it mean for Joseph to send his assistant?


    Did she deserve nothing more than the care of a mere subordinate?


    She had underestimated Chloe. Not only did she manage to win over Joseph¡¯s attention by pretending


    to be pitiful, but she also got him to help her diffuse the harassment from that group of journalists. If S


    had not told her that Joseph had spent the entire day with Chloe, she would not have known about it.


    Lucas was here to work and would not confront Xavia head¨Con. He softened his tone and asked, ¡°Is


    there anything causing you pain?¡±

 Chapter 374

    Chapter 374


    Chapter 374 Did I Ever Say I¡¯d Marry You?


    Xavia took a deep breath. Just when she was about tosh out at Lucas, Joseph appeared at the


    doorway.


    A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes as she spoke with a choked voice, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just


    worried about our baby. If anything happens to them, I wouldn¡¯t know how to go on living.¡±


    ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± Joseph asked as he walked in. He adjusted his tie, and his eyes were


    devoid of any


    warmth.


    Lucas replied, ¡°Sir, Ms. Xavia is fine. She just needs to calm down and rest.¡±


    Joseph nodded and signaled for Lucas to leave.


    Lucas nodded and nced at Xavia before closing the door. He thought pregnant women would


    experience vtile emotions as she was berating him angrily just moments ago and now seemed so


    pitiful, but it turned out that she had spotted Joseph.


    ¡®Mr. Harold was right. She indeed is a scheming bitch.¡®


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    However, this had nothing to do with him since he was just working for Joseph. All adults were capable


    of maniption, and Chloe had yed many tricks when pursuing Joseph. He just hoped that Xavia


    would not go too far with her actions.


    Joseph sat in the chair by the bed, his intense gaze fixed on her. ¡°How did you fall?¡±


    Xavia sniffled. ¡°I tripped. I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    ¡°Has your chemotherapy ended?¡±


    ¡°It ended before I got pregnant.¡± She forced a smile, a hint of grievance in her voice. ¡°Joe, you¡¯re


    bing more and more indifferent toward me. It¡¯smon for husbands to apany their


    pregnant wives for check¨Cups. Could you please apany me next time?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he came to a realization. He acknowledged that he had not been


    providing the level of care and attention that Xavia deserved. However, deep down, he could not shake


    the feeling that hisck of emotional investment was justified. After all, he did not love her, so why


    should he prioritize her well¨Cbeing and show concern? The only thing he cared about was the child in


    her womb.


    ¡°I¡¯m very busy. If you need someone to apany you, you can hire someone.¡±


    Xavia could not help but blurt out, ¡°Are you too busy dealing with Chloe¡¯s troubles?¡±


    Joseph raised an eyebrow and gazed at her coldly.


    Suppressing her rising anger, she put on a smile and said, ¡°Joe, you know me well. I¡¯ve never been


    concerned about fame and fortune. But now that we have a child, regardless of your true


    1/2


    feelings toward me, shouldn¡¯t you consider my feelings in public?¡±


    He remained silent, gesturing for her to continue.


    ¡°When our child grows up and sees their father with another woman in the media, even if she is your


    ex¨Cwife, it¡¯ll hurt the child. Let¡¯s imagine the worst¨Ccase scenario. What if his ssmates and friends


    start making malicious jokes because of it? Would it not break your heart?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Joseph responded.


    Xavia felt a glimmer of joy. ¡°It¡¯s good to know that you understand.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± His sharp eyebrows revealed a hint of disdain as he said, ¡°Did I ever say I¡¯d marry you?


    Xavia¡¯s expression stiffened as she pretended not to mind. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t, I¡¯m still the mother of our


    child.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let him see you.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Considering your ¡®rich¡® past experiences, do you think it¡¯s appropriate for you to marry into the


    Whitmans or be the mother of my child?¡± He posed the question like a judge, indifferent and impartial.


    Xavia trembled. She had always known that Joseph was merciless in his words, but this tant


    mockery was something she could not bear.


    ¡°I¡¯ll provide you with a sufficient sum of money to ensure you a worry¨Cfree life,¡± Joseph impatiently


    stated, his gaze fixed upon her face. ¡°Rest well.¡±


    Thetter half of his statement contained concern, but it was also a warning.


    Sinking onto the bed, Xavia seized a pillow and forcefully hurled it in the direction Joseph had


    departed.


    ¡®Chloe must have said something to him. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t treat her this way while I¡¯m carrying


    his child.¡®


    Xavia attributed all the me to Chloe. She was so infuriated to the point that her fingers trembled as


    she dialed S¡¯s phone number.

 Chapter 375

    Chapter 375


    Chapter 375 The Perfect Couple


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    A mature and charismatic voice reached her ears. ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°Sir, can we get rid of Chloe? With her around, it¡¯s challenging for me to win Joseph¡¯s heart.¡±


    The man burst into heartyughter. ¡°Is that so? Five years ago, you still failed to conquer him even


    though Chloe wasn¡¯t around at that time.¡±


    ¡°Sir¡­ This time, I¡¯ll give my utmost effort. Joseph values the child I carry.¡±


    ¡°I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir!¡±


    Moonlight bathed the night as sleep finally came to Chloe.


    That night, she had a haunting nightmare. In it, the worker who had tragically passed away lunged at


    her with gnashing teeth and sharp ws as she sobbed and begged for forgiveness. However, the


    worker paid no heed, driven by an insatiable desire to tear her apart and drink her blood.


    At a critical moment, a man emerged and rescued her from the dire predicament. Together, they fled,


    desperately running, until she could no longer go on and pleaded for him to stop. With a sigh, the man


    cursed her foolishness. He bent down and allowed her to climb upon his back.


    Chloeplied, finding sce in the man¡¯s broad and sturdy back. She tried to look at the man¡¯s face,


    but his face was shrouded in darkness. They continued forward for a long time until the man suddenly


    set her down and said, ¡°I have to go home now. I can¡¯t apany you any longer.¡±


    Chloe asked, ¡°Can I go with you?¡±


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡±


    The words were not spoken by the man but came from Xavia, who had suddenly appeared nearby.


    Chloe was taken aback and turned her gaze to the man beside her, only to realize that it was Joseph


    all along.


    She watched helplessly as Joseph and Xavia walked away together. She did not know how, but she


    could see their affectionate interactions even after they returned home. They looked like the perfect


    couple, and the scenes yed before her eyes frame by frame.


    Beep, beep, beep¡­


    The sound of an rm clock filled the air as Chloe groggily opened her eyes, gazing at the ceiling.


    Chapter 375 The Perfect Couple


    The dream had been too vivid, leaving her disoriented upon waking up. She cursed under her breath to


    express her frustration. People often say that dreams reflect the thoughts and experiences one had


    during the day, and it seemed like the statement was true.


    She got out of bed and just as she was preparing to head, Samuel called to inform her about attending


    the worker¡¯s funeral today. She was advised to keep a low profile and avoid being caught by sneaky


    reporters, for they would surely use her of putting on an act.


    It was already nine in the morning.


    Chloe dressed in ck and arrived at the funeral. At the scene, she noticed a young man wearing a


    ck shirt as well. Their gazes met, and Noah also appeared surprised.


    ¡°Why are you here? Do you know this family?¡± Chloe spoke cautiously and guiltily.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but this incident is known toizens nationwide, so I had toe.¡±


    She regretfully smacked her forehead as she realized Exotic Star had also been affected by this


    incident because of her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. How about we terminate the contract? I¡¯ll return the endorsement fee.¡±


    ¡°If I do that, wouldn¡¯t it be adding insult to injury for you?¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s having a hard time. I can¡¯t ruin Exotic Star¡¯s reputation, can I?¡±


    Under the sunlight, the young man had a face as delicate as a gem, with half of it shaded and the other


    half shining brightly. His brows and eyes sparkled, exuding a vibrant and energetic


    aura.


    ¡°I believe in you. You¡¯re a victim too. If there are any difficulties, let¡¯s face them together. Don¡¯t give up


    on everything you have now without a fight.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes stung with bitter tears. ¡°Do you really believe in me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± he said shyly, ¡°I¡¯ve already talked to the deceased¡¯s family this morning. Exotic Star will


    provide them with enough money for the next fifty years. Even if her child doesn¡¯t get into college or


    struggles to find a decent job in the future, they cane to Exotic Star, and I¡¯ll make arrangements for


    them. On top of that, police investigations havee to the conclusion that the primary responsibility


    for the worker¡¯s death lies with Aaron. An official announcement will be made this afternoon.¡±

 Chapter 376

    Chapter 376


    Chapter 376 We¡¯ve Been Abducted?


    Chloe was truly captivated by theposure and calmness disyed by the young man before her.


    ¡°Any girl who bes your girlfriend in the future will undoubtedly be incredibly fortunate, ¡± she


    praised.


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re wealthy, handsome, reliable, and gentle,¡± she replied.


    Noah smiled subtly, a glint of innocence shining in his eyes. ¡°I hope so. But I¡¯m not fond of arranged


    marriages.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t men from prestigious families like arranged marriages?¡± Chloe asked.


    In such social circles, arranged marriages would serve as powerful alliances.


    Noah pondered for a moment and yfully remarked, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s their inherent rebelliousness or their


    desire to maintain control over their destiny.¡±


    After the funeral, Noah invited Chloe to sit down and discuss their strategy for managing public opinion.


    Although the police would soon rify the situation, there would still be onlinementators


    relentlessly criticizing her.


    Noah had his bodyguards with him, who also handled various tasks. The two of them found a coffee


    shop with excellent privacy, featuring secluded private rooms. One of the bodyguards went to the


    counter to order coffee.


    Since Chloe had no knowledge in this area, she attentively listened as Noah exined. After their


    conversation, she grasped the situation.


    ¡°So, what you mean is that if my personal matters are connected to Exotic Star, I don¡¯t need to worry


    because your team will handle them?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Ourpany has a dedicated department for handling such matters. They¡¯re more


    professional,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The arrangement brought her a sense of relief, and she saw no reason to refuse.


    Chloe nced at the time and raised her eyes to the entrance of the private room. ¡°There should be


    many people cing orders. Your bodyguard has been gone for over ten minutes and hasn¡¯t returned


    yet.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he went to the restroom,¡± Noah suggested.


    1/2


    She smiled sheepishly and said, ¡°How coincidental. I also need to use the restroom. Please


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    excuse me for a moment.¡±


    Noah nodded and smiled gently.


    After attending to her needs, Chloe walked to the side to wash her hands. In the fleeting moment as


    she turned on the faucet, she felt a stinging sensation on her neck as if a foreign substance had been


    injected into her body. She struggled to turn around and caught sight of a masked woman holding a


    syringe, smiling at her.


    Within mere seconds, Chloe¡¯s limbs weakened, and all her strength deserted her. Refusing to


    surrender to her fate, she made a desperate attempt to seek help, but the masked woman swiftly


    covered her mouth. The powder on the woman¡¯s palm infiltrated Chloe¡¯s nostrils, causing her eyelids to


    weigh down like lead and sumb to unconsciousness. 1


    When Chloe regained consciousness, she found herself inside a van with her hands and feet tightly


    bound. Noah was beside her, also in the same predicament, and was being restrained. The bodyguard,


    soaked in blood,y motionless nearby, his fate shrouded in uncertainty.


    When Noah noticed Chloe stirring, he immediately said in a low voice, ¡°Keep quiet. Conserve your


    strength and keep a clear mind. For now, there won¡¯t be anyoneing to rescue us.¡±


    Noah had sses to attend today, and ording to their itinerary, they were supposed to go directly to


    the school after the funeral. The bodyguard was supposed to be on vacation and at home. It would be


    difficult for their disappearance to be noticed.


    Chloe felt a pang of pain at the needle mark on the back of her neck, and she opened her eyes slightly.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Who are they after? You or me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Noah replied, his voice deep and his tone grave. ¡°But what is certain is that they are not


    ordinary people.¡±


    Noah¡¯s bodyguard was a retiree of special forces, and under normal circumstances, dealing with five or


    six thugs posed no problem. However, when he found the bodyguard, he was covered in injuries, each


    one potentially fatal. The assant had disyed an rming level of ruthlessness and precision,


    indicating a background in professional training.

 Chapter 377

    Chapter 377


    Chapter 377 He Won¡¯t Die, Will He?


    Chloe¡¯s face turned pale, and fear washed over her. She carefully reviewed recent events, realizing


    that she had not offended anyone and had conducted her business within the industry¡¯s boundaries, so


    who could be behind her abduction?


    At that moment, a masked woman sitting in the passenger seat turned to face them. Chloe¡¯s body


    tensed up as the mask revealed a pair of hawk¨Clike eyes. They sent a chill down her spine as the


    woman stared at her intently, reminiscent of a female ghost from a horror film.


    Noah, on the other hand, remained calm andposed.


    ¡°Are you after wealth or life?¡± he asked.


    The masked woman chuckled arrogantly. ¡°Both.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t possess wealth, but I can offer you mine if you release her.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. I want both.¡±


    ¡°I can give you both.¡±


    The masked woman understood that Noah was testing her, and she made no effort to conceal


    her intentions. ¡°I want her life and


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    your wealth.¡±


    Recognizing theirpanionship, the masked woman deduced that capturing them both would be the


    most advantageous move. With Noah being the future heir of Exotic Star, she saw the potential for


    extracting a hefty ransom from his wealth.


    Chloe shivered as a chill traveled down her spine, and her instantly heart sank. The masked woman


    might spare Noah, but the woman would kill her.


    Noah set his jaw tightly as he pressed on, ¡°What¡¯s the reason? Why do you want to kill her?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Why do you want to kill me?¡± Chloe¡¯s voice grew desperate. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve offended you.


    Even if I have, I¡¯m willing to apologize and make amends.¡±


    In the face of life and death, a mature woman could adapt andpromise. After all, the preservation


    of life often outweighed concerns about dignity and self¨Crespect.


    ¡°Apologies won¡¯t resolve anything. She simply wants you dead,¡± the masked woman replied.


    Chloe trembled upon hearing those words. She wondered what kind of deep¨Cseated resentment the


    masked woman held against her to the extent that she would want her dead.


    The masked woman enjoyed the look of fear on Chloe¡¯s face and chuckled. Ten minutester, the car


    unexpectedly broke down.


    ¡°Chloe, shall we give it a try?¡± Noah asked in a lowered voice as he gazed upon a dagger in the


    corner.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment, then nodded with determination. Since she was going to die, why not


    give it a try?


    There were a total of four people in the vehicle, in which two of them got out to fix the car. Chloe


    deliberately leaned against the man beside her, casting a pitiful nce his way. Unable to resist her


    seduction, the man sitting next to her smirked at the masked woman. ¡°Sis, this girl is really beautiful. I


    want-


    The masked woman gave him a sidelong nce.


    ¡°Just this once. I promise not to do it again!¡±


    ¡°Fine. Hurry up and finish quickly,¡± the masked woman said as she got up and got out of the car. Before


    leaving, she grinned at Noah. ¡°Kid, you haven¡¯t experienced the touch of a woman, have you? Take this


    opportunity to learn a lesson.¡±


    Noah remained expressionless as he silently undid the ropes binding his hands behind his back.


    The masked woman assumed that Noah had been scared silly and could not be bothered with him


    anymore. Chloe made no struggle, pretending toply, and smiled sweetly. ¡°Darling, could you


    please close the car door? I¡¯m feeling shy.¡±


    The man,pletely enthralled, eagerly agreed, ¡°Sure, sure.¡±


    The masked woman outside frowned as she saw him closing the car door, but she did not say anything


    since the hostages could not escape at this point anyway. When the car door closed, the man lunged at


    Chloe, but this time, a sharp dagger urately pierced his lower body from behind.


    The man¡¯s face twisted in agony, and the excruciating pain made him scream out. However, before he


    could finish his cry, Noah swiftly delivered another swift and ruthless blow to the same spot.


    The man convulsed from the pain and promptly lost consciousness. Chloe was taken aback, surprised


    by Noah¡¯s decisive actions. She had worried that someone like Noah, who had grown up sheltered like


    a delicate flower, would hesitate and be unable to act.


    Sensing Chloe¡¯s gaze on him, Noah¡¯s eyes flickered subtly. When he looked up again, his handsome


    face was filled with fear, and his voice trembled, ¡°He won¡¯t die, will he?¡±

 Chapter 378

    Chapter 378


    Chapter 378 What You Need Isn¡¯t Doctor but Woman


    Chloe paused for a moment and hurriedly reassured him, ¡°He won¡¯t. Even if he does, we were only


    defending ourselves.¡±


    During this time, the masked woman asionally nced inside the car but detected no signs of


    suspicion as the man remained pinned against Chloe. After ten minutes had passed, the repairs were


    done. When the masked woman tried to get in, she realized that the car door would not open.


    Noah, who had freed himself, waved goodbye to her with a smile. The masked woman¡¯s eyes widened,


    and she punched the window.


    It instantly cracked. Before it shattered, Chloe pushed the semi¨Cconscious man off her with all her


    strength and urged, ¡°Quick, start the car!¡±


    Noah immediately leaped into the driver¡¯s seat, stepped on the elerator, and sped away. Through


    the rearview mirror, they saw the furious masked woman hijack a passing car and chase after them


    recklessly.


    Chloe noticed that they were approaching the mountains up ahead.


    ¡°Was your phone confiscated too?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes. Check if that man has a phone on him,¡± Noah replied while driving.


    Chloe turned her head to search for one. ¡°Yes, got it! I¡¯ll call the police right now!¡±


    She tried to remain calm and provided the police with the information she knew. When she mentioned


    Noah¡¯s presence, there was a brief pause from the other end of the line. ¡°Noah? You¡¯re talking about


    Mr. Noah Gunter from Exotic Star?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Chloe confirmed.


    The police categorized the kidnapping case as extortion. They managed to trace their location and


    discovered that Chloe and Noah were about to reach the outskirts of Cloude, indicating that they had


    been unconscious for at least four hours. Given their current speed, it would take the local police at


    least an hour to get there. During this hour, Chloe and Noah would enter the mountains where the cars


    could traverse, leaving them in a dire situation.


    In this critical moment, the police remembered that the Whitmans owned a private ne.


    Just as the police expected, Noah and Chloe found their path obscured by a patch of lush forest after


    roughly half an hour. They were forced to abandon the car and flee into the woods. Fortunately,


    darkness had descended, so it would not be that easy for the masked woman to track them.


    The masked woman¡¯s face turned grim, and shemanded, ¡°After them!¡±


    The thorny bushes in the mountains scratched Chloe¡¯s legs, eliciting a pang of pain in Noah¡¯s eyes. He


    quickened his pace, walking ahead and using his hands to push aside the branches on


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    both sides.


    Despite their attempts to remainposed, they were just ordinary individuals without any wilderness


    survival skills. Compared to the cunning masked woman, they quickly lost


    distance, with the pursuer closing in on them.


    At that moment, a thunderous rumble echoed from afar, growing louder as a helicopter hovered in the


    sky and slowly descended.


    The masked woman¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°What do we do now? We need to run!¡± the masked woman replied.


    She nced at Chloe and warned her, ¡°Don¡¯t let me catch you again.¡±


    Chloe remained silent, keeping her guard up.


    As the helicopternded, the masked woman and her aplices had already made their escape,


    vanishing into thin air.


    Chloe initially thought that the person stepping out of the helicopter would be the police, but when she


    caught sight of the tall figure, she could not control herself any longer. Tears welled up in her eyes, and


    she had the urge to throw herself into his arms and pour out all the grievances of the day.


    She was about to approach him when Noah held her back. ¡°Coco, I sprained my foot. Can you help


    me?¡±


    In the dim night, she finally noticed that Noah¡¯s legs and hands were scratched and stained with blood.


    His pants and sleeves were torn as well.


    ¡°Does it hurt? Are you okay?¡± Chloe nervously reached out to support him.


    Noah shook his head, a hint of mischief flickering in his innocent eyes. He looked in Joseph¡¯s direction


    and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt. I feel much better now, but I need your help to walk.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that a woman¡¯s touch could heal wounds. It seems that what you need isn¡¯t a


    doctor, but a woman, Mr. Noah,¡± Joseph remarked.


    Noah looked puzzled and asked, ¡°Mr. Joseph, what are you talking about?¡±

 Chapter 379

    Chapter 379


    Chapter 379 Wild Beast


    ¡°All right, all right. Let¡¯s discuss thister when we get back,¡± Tyson intervened, urging everyone to


    board the helicopter. ¡°After all, we¡¯re in the middle of the wilderness. It won¡¯t be good if we run into


    some wild beasts.¡±


    Joseph clenched his jaw, resisting the impulse to embrace Chloe, and chose to remain silent as he


    turned toward the ne cabin.


    After providing statements and receiving basic first aid, the medical staff reassured them that their


    injuries were superficial and not serious. Upon hearing those words, Joseph felt a wave of relief wash


    over him. However, due to the anesthesia injection, they needed to undergo a blood test. The police left


    their contact information to notify them of the results tomorrow.


    Tyson cleared his throat and said, ¡°I¡¯ll apany Mr. Noah. Joseph, you take Chloe to our family


    home and ensure that Mr. Harold is informed about her safety. He¡¯s been extremely


    worried.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. ¡°Grandpa knows too? But his condition¡­¡±


    Tyson replied, ¡°That¡¯s why you need to inform him to put his mind at ease.¡±


    Chloe nodded solemnly, and Noah could not resist sneering.


    ¡®Reporting her safety? It¡¯s more like creating an opportunity for them to be together.¡®


    However, he refrained from voicing any objections. After all, he had no right to interfere in Chloe¡¯s


    personal matters now, and poking his nose into something he should not care about would not do him


    any good.


    At the Whitman family home, Patrick looked bewildered at Chloe. ¡°Ms. Chloe, what happened to you?


    You look so disheveled¡­¡®


    Her brows furrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Grandpa is unaware of everything?¡±


    Patrick became even more confused. ¡°Unaware of what?¡±


    ¡°Joseph, you lied to me!¡±


    ¡°The one who lied to you was Tyson, not me.¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t stop me!¡±


    Joseph nonchntly ced his hands in his pockets, his profile exuding a cool demeanor.¡± You


    yourself wanted toe here. Why would I stop you?¡±


    Patrick thought they were bantering and quickly found an excuse to slip away.


    Chloe smiled, but her smile did not reach her eyes. ¡°Are you intentionally trying to keep me here for the


    night?¡±


    1/3


    Joseph raised an eyebrow yfully, hisrge handnding on her pert bottom without warning and


    pping it. ¡°Yes. Freshen up ande to my bedroom. Understood?¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, her face flushing so red it appeared as if blood would drip from it.¡± You, you,


    you¡­ You¡¯re shameless!¡±


    ¡°You were the one who asked first.¡± Joseph closed the distance between them, calmly gazing into her


    eyes. ¡°It¡¯s only natural for men and women to enjoy each other¡¯spany. How can


    that be considered shameless?¡±


    Gritting her teeth, Chloe retorted, ¡°Go away!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, is that how you treat the one who saved your life?¡±


    She was stunned. ¡°That helicopter earlier¡­ It was yours?¡±


    ¡°How could the police have arrived so quickly otherwise?¡±


    Chloe fell silent, and a warm feeling welled up inside her. If the police had arrived ten minutester, she


    did not dare to imagine what would have happened to her and Noah. Joseph might have a sharp


    tongue, but he always came to her rescue whenever she was in trouble.


    Her tone softened significantly. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll do my best to help you obtain the note.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a different matter.¡± Joseph gestured toward the bathroom, his thin lips curling up. I¡¯ll be waiting


    for you.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes and ignored him.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    IT


    There were still clothes for her to change into at the family house. To be honest, she had always held


    indescribable feelings toward the Whitmans. However, she could not deny the fact. that the Whitmans


    had helped her a lot.


    She deliberately bided her time. When she was confident that Joseph had fallen asleep, she cautiously


    made her way to the bathroom. After a whole day spent outside, her body was soaked with sweat, and


    she could not bear not taking a shower.


    Feeling utterly exhausted, she quickly rinsed herself off and grabbed a towel to dry her hair. However,


    as soon as Chloe opened the bathroom door, she found Joseph standing at the entrance, his eyes


    filled with a deep desire.


    Herplexion was fair and porcin¨Clike as it gleamed under the light, while her cheeks. glistened


    with tiny droplets of water. Her alluring lips were gently parted as if tempting someone to savor their


    taste. She exuded a mesmerizing aura, casting a radiant glow that filled the entire hallway.


    ¡°You were really waiting for me???¡± she asked incredulously.


    He gulped hard and replied, ¡°I came out to get some water.¡®


    Chloe noticed the cup in his hand and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Oh, then go to bed early¡­mmm!¡±


    Joseph suddenly grasped the back of her head and forcefully kissed her lips, causing her to


    swallow the remainder of her words into the pit of her stomach.

 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380


    Chapter 380 Harold Wants to See Xavia


    Chloe was overwhelmed by Joseph¡¯s passionate kiss, perplexed by her inability to resist whenever he


    engaged her in such intimate moments.


    Joseph, well¨Cversed in such encounters, naturally took the lead, and soon they found themselves in


    the bedroom. As they sank into the soft bed, Chloe¡¯s mind suddenly shed


    back to her dream from the previous night, snapping her back to reality. Gasping for air, she forcefully


    pushed him away.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t touch me.¡±


    While previous instances might have been unavoidable, she now possessed the refuse, and she had to


    stand firm. She must not betray her principles.


    power to


    Joseph¡¯s gaze burned with intense desire. His slightly calloused fingers caressed her lips as he said,


    ¡°You should listen to your inner voice.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Chloe froze, trying to regain her breath. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Just moments ago, you were quite enthusiastic.¡±


    The mouth might lie, but the body would not.


    The tips of her ears blushed crimson as she red at him, turning her head away with a hint of


    shyness. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡±


    ¡°How can you give up halfway? Those who start the fire should put it out. Haven¡¯t you heard that


    phrase before?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s scorching gaze made no attempt to hide his desire for her. He also wondered why he was so


    captivated by her, and not just on a physical level.


    Chloe¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly under his gaze. ¡®What¡¯s going on with you, Chloe? Weren¡¯t you


    already done with him? Why did you still harbor these feelings?¡®


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, Mr. Noah is on the phone for you.¡±


    The maid¡¯s voice came from outside the door, snapping Chloe out of her daze. She swiftly broke free


    from Joseph¡¯s embrace and hurriedly left the room.


    Joseph listened to the conversation downstairs, his eyes chillingly cold. Noah was undoubtedly doing


    this on purpose. As soon as he kicked Icarus out of their way, another one stepped in. The fact that


    Chloe possessed a unique talent for seducing men could not be denied.


    ¡°Coco, were you resting? Did I disturb you?¡± Noah asked from the other end of the line, his tone gentle.


    ¡°No, I just finished taking a shower and was about to sleep. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    1/3


    ¡°I wanted to tell you that the bodyguard is safe now. However, he sustained severe injuries, so he won¡¯t


    be able to continue in this line of work.¡±


    Before parting ways, Chloe had asked Noah about the bodyguard¡¯s condition. It was not


    difficult to see that the kidnapping had primarily targeted her. The bodyguard and Noah had indirectly


    suffered due to her involvement.


    Upon hearing the news, she felt a mix of joy and worry. One¡¯s greatest asset was having a healthy


    body. Although his life was saved, his future was lost.


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much. Even though he can no longer serve as a bodyguard, Exotic Star offers a


    multitude of other positions. He won¡¯t be short of job opportunities. He can stay and work here until old


    age without any problem.¡±


    Chloe felt relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good. Please give him my regards.¡±


    ¡°Mhmm, you should go to bed early. Good night.¡±


    ¡°Okay, good night.¡±


    Chloe returned to the upper floor and found Joseph was no longer there. She breathed a sigh of


    relief and entered her own bedroom to rest.


    At daybreak, Chloe, having had a light sleep, woke up early. In the courtyard, she spotted Harold


    exercising. She approached him and gently called out, ¡°Good morning, Grandpa.¡±


    Startled, Harold¡¯s expression mirrored Patrick¡¯s from the previous day. ¡°Chloe? When did you get


    here?¡±


    ¡°Last night.¡±


    Chloe thought for a moment and decided to inform him about the kidnapping incident. After all, it was


    better to hear it directly from her than from someone else.


    Harold¡¯s heart skipped a beat as his face sank. ¡°This matter must be thoroughly investigated. I want to


    know who has the audacity to kidnap my beloved granddaughter¨Cinw!¡±


    To dare offend both the Whitmans and Sullivans at the same time, one must eitherckmon sense


    or be a brainless thug. However, thugs would be no match for professional bodyguards. It seemed


    more likely that a formidable force was lurking in the shadows, observing and nning. Regardless of


    whether they would strike again in the future, without a proper investigation, this incident was like a


    time bomb, ready to explode for the second time at any moment.


    Chloe nodded. ¡°The police are taking this matter very seriously.¡±


    Those individuals did not seem like ordinary troublemakers, and the masked woman¡¯s words before


    fleeing did not feel like an empty threat. There was a high chance they woulde back.


    Harold pondered for a few seconds. ¡°Sweetie, are you sure you haven¡¯t offended anyone


    recently?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she replied confidently.


    ¡°I see. Stay and have breakfast before you leave,¡± he suggested.


    Chloe could not bear to refuse and agreed, ¡°Grandpa, what would you like to eat? I¡¯ll cook today.¡± 1


    ¡°You decide. Anything you make is better than the house chef¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Grandpa, you really tter me.¡±


    As Harold watched Chloe enter the kitchen, the smile on his face instantly vanished. He called for


    Patrick and gave him an instruction.


    ¡°I want to see Xavia.¡±


    Patrick was puzzled. ¡°Xavia? May I know why?¡±


    ¡°Since Chloe hasn¡¯t offended anyone at her workce, it¡¯s only Xavia who might meddle in her


    personal life.¡±


    Patrick frowned. ¡°But does Xavia have the courage and capability to do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°Go and make the arrangements. Once I see her, I¡¯ll know.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡±

 Chapter 381

    Chapter 381


    Chapter 381 Tell Me if It¡¯s True


    Chloe prepared a table full of Asvand-style breakfast,plete with milk, pastries, fresh orange juice,


    vegetable sd, salmon, bacon, and coffee. Patrick would asionally join them, so she had cooked


    plenty.


    Harold ate the pastries one after another, seemingly having a great appetite. However, he wanted to let


    the two youngsters have some time alone. He asked the helper to deliver his breakfast upstairs to him.


    It had been a long time since Joseph ate the food Chloe made, so although he appeared elegant on


    the surface, he ate a lot.


    After Chloe sat down and took a few bites, her belly was suddenly engulfed with nausea. So, she put


    down her fork and went to the kitchen to get some fruit.


    ¡°Joe!¡±


    A female voice rang out before Natalie, dressed in a ballroom, ran in excitedly.


    Chloe was in the kitchen, holding a bowl of grapes she had just washed. She decided to fade. into the


    background and not leave the kitchen. After all, she was going to leave soon and did. not want to


    meddle in his affairs with his relentless admirers.


    Joseph looked up and stated indifferently, ¡°Spill it.¡±


    ¡°Wow, it smells so good.¡± Natalie took a sniff before she touched her t belly. ¡°I came in a rush this


    morning and I haven¡¯t had breakfast yet. Can I eat with you?¡±


    When Chloe heard this, her charming eyes sank slightly. She had cooked because Harold wast nice to


    her and Joseph saved her the day before. She put herself in their shoes and willingly cooked for them,


    but her effort was to be enjoyed by Joseph¡¯s relentless admirer, and Chloe


    was not that willing.


    However, this was the Whitman family home. If he was willing, she could not say much about


    1.


    Joseph rejected Natalie without any hesitation. ¡°No, you can¡¯t. Ask the chef to cook for you if you want


    to eat. You can¡¯t eat the food on this table.¡±


    Chloe blinked and smiled happily. ¡®Well, at least he has a conscience.¡¯


    Grievance washed over Natalie. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t eat it. Joe, did something happen to you yesterday? Tell


    me if you need help with anything.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I read in the upper-ss group chat yesterday that you flew a ne and went somewhere.¡± The


    Whitmans owned a ne, but they would not use it if it was not an emergency, especially


    1/2


    in this case where Joseph flew the ne himself. This had only happened twice up until now.


    ¡°Yeah, something happened.¡± Joseph held his chin with one hand and tapped on his empty ss with


    his slender finger. He then said to the woman in the kitchen. ¡°Get me some orange juice.¡±


    Natalie looked over and realized all toote that there was another person in the dining room. Chloe


    was wearing home clothing, and her bare face without makeup was clean and perfect.


    Natalie became vignt. Helpers would never appear in front of their superiors in pajamas, so this must


    be a guest. But on the contrary, an ordinary guest would not put on such casual clothes either.


    ¡°Joe, who is she? Why is she out and about wearing such clothes?¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes when Joseph purposely directed Natalie¡¯s attention to her. She then brought over


    a ss of orange juice. She ced it in front of Joseph and smiled charmingly at Natalie. ¡°Is this your


    house? I think what I wear is none of your concern, right?¡±


    She had some impression of the Walker family, and she had heard about Natalie. The Walkers were


    different from the Fox family. The Foxes merely had a superficial rtionship with the Whitmans but the


    Walkers and Whitmans were engaged in a sincere friendship.


    Natalie studied at a university abroad and had recently graduated before returning to her homnd.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Being questioned by Chloe sessfully sent Natalie into deep wrath.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes were brewed as he watched Chloe¡¯s reaction.


    Chloe raised her brows. ¡°Do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap already!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary person. Didn¡¯t you want to know why Joseph flew a nest night?¡±


    Chloe was all smiles while Natalie¡¯s expression was hideous.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°He went to meet you?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°Joe, tell me. Is this true?¡±

 Chapter 382

    Chapter 382


    Chapter 382 Yes, It¡¯s True


    Joseph shrugged and answered indifferently, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Joe, you¡¯re spoiling her so much!¡± Natalie blurted out in disbelief. She sounded like she had received a


    fatal blow.


    ¡®What kind of urgent affair was it that he needed to fly the ne? I¡¯m sure he likes this woman very


    much.¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s gaze turned a tad somber before he pursed his thin lips tightly. ¡°Who¡¯s spoiling her? I was just


    helping the police.¡±


    ¡°The police?¡± Natalie pouted. ¡°Joe, stop trying to hide it. You¡¯re not a kind and good citizen.


    Even if the police needed your help, you could¡¯ve just lent them the ne. If you didn¡¯t spoil her, why


    did you personally fly the ne?¡±


    Having the truth thrown back at him, Joseph found it hard to refute, which was rare. His face sank.


    ¡°Kids should never try to figure out the adults¡¯ thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t adore her. You just casually gave a hand and contributed to the country. You didn¡¯t do


    that for someone¡¯s sake.¡± Natalie¡¯s words were full of sarcasm. After that, she criticized Chloe. ¡°What¡¯s


    so special about you?¡±


    Chloe put on an innocent front. ¡°Nothing. I told you that I¡¯m just an ordinary person.¡±


    ¡®Tyson is a rtive of the Whitmans. Joseph would not ignore it if his rtive asked for help. Although


    Joseph might care for me a bit, it¡¯s not much.¡¯


    Natalie felt that Chloe was keeping something from her and dragged Chloe outside. ¡°Come with me. I


    have something to ask you.¡±


    Chloe felt that Natalie was an arrogant youngdy at most, but not a wicked woman. Hence, she


    helplessly went to the garden with Natalie.


    ¡°Tell me. How did you make Joe notice you? Spill the beans. I¡¯ll buy it with money!¡±


    ¡°Buy? How much can you afford to pay?¡±


    ¡°I have a lot of money. Any amount is fine if you can help me win his favor.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Chloe inevitably stated, ¡°But he has a child.¡±


    ¡°What child?¡±


    ¡°He has a child with Xavia.¡±


    Natalie failed to hold back her scream. ¡°That scheming bitch came back?¡±


    ¡°You know her?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I knew her a long time ago. When I was in high school, I went abroad to see Joe during the


    summer holiday but that scheming bitch sowed discord between Joe and me on purpose.¡±


    It was because of that incident Natalie did not go to see Joseph again when she was in university. She


    held herself back until she graduated and then only came to him. When she heard that the scheming


    bitch had gone missing, she was over the moon.


    Chloe spread her hands. ¡°But you don¡¯t stand a chance now.¡±


    Anger got the better of Natalie. ¡°No, we can¡¯t let that wicked woman ruin Joe. Let¡¯s team up. and stand


    against Xavia! By the way, I heard that he even married someone but he¡¯s divorced now. Is it true?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Do you know if he¡¯s still in touch with his ex-wife?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I think so.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Why are they still entangled with each other after the divorce? That woman must have pestered


    him.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing. It was their mutual decision to separate.¡±


    Natalie was full of incredulity. ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡±


    Chloe faked a smile. ¡°Well, it¡¯s because of cheating. Joe, who you admire so much, slept with Xavia


    while he was still married.¡±


    ¡°Damn¡­ It must be an ident. If he wanted to sleep with Xavia, it would¡¯ve happened five years


    ago.¡±


    Chloe was bbergasted to find that it was Joseph¡¯s first time, but she did not dwell too much


    on it.


    ¡°Maybe. What else do you want to ask? Make it quick. I¡¯m busy and need to go.¡±


    Natalie twirled her fingers and stared at Chloe. ¡°What about you? Are you one of his admirers too?¡±

 Chapter 383

    Chapter 383


    Chapter 383 Let¡¯s Deal With Xavia Together


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying. Joe wouldn¡¯t bring an ordinary friend home.¡±


    ¡°Even if I am, what are you going to do about it?¡±


    Was she going to retaliate in some way?


    ¡°No. Let¡¯s team up with Joe¡¯s ex-wife. We can all deal with Xavia together.¡±


    Chloe stared at Natalie for a long while before she suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Joseph¡¯s ex- wife


    won¡¯t agree to this.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t know if you don¡¯t give it a try.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to try.¡± Chloe patted Natalie¡¯s shoulders as a mischievous glint shed across her


    eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m his ex-wife.¡±


    Natalie was stunned for three seconds before she furrowed her brows. ¡°So you¡¯ve been doing this on


    purpose?¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong. I didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with you at first.¡±


    Chloe turned around to walk into the house. She wanted to change her clothes and leave.


    Surprisingly, Natalie followed her. She sounded solemn and serious as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s team up and get


    rid of Xavia. I won¡¯t try and snatch Joe from you.¡¯


    Chloe¡¯s hand stiffened. She was quite baffled. ¡°What do you want then?¡±


    Natalie revealed a naive smile. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied as long as Joe is happy.¡±


    If one truly loved a person, they would not care about the result. It was fine as long as he was happy


    and safe. It was unalterable.


    After a brief pause, Chloe exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry but it¡¯s over between Joseph and me.¡±


    Natalie did not believe her. ¡°No, it¡¯s not. If it was over, you guys would have nothing to do with each


    other. I saw you at Mr. Harold¡¯s birthday party the other day. If that was a coincidence, why did Joe


    anxiously go to youst night? How do you exin that?¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered before she said unnaturally, ¡°He just wanted to help the police.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s a nice and kind man? Were you not touched yesterday? Miss, you have to pursue


    your happiness. We can¡¯t let Joe marry that scheming bitch!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible between him and me no matter what. I no longer like him. Please stop.


    Frustrated, Chloe ended the topic. She was afraid that she would waver in the next second. She


    had feelings. While facing the man who once betrayed her, she was full of resentment, grievances, and


    reluctance that was buried deep in her heart. From the moment Xavia got pregnant, there was no


    turning back.


    Chloe grabbed her coat and left. Not having her phone, she had to stand by the roadside and g down


    a cab. Luckily, one came down from the highway and stopped beside her.


    She got into the car and told the driver her destination, paying the fare in cash. While watching the


    scenery outside the window pass by in a blur, her messy mind slowly calmed down.


    Yes, she would never forgive that scumbag. The fact that he slept with two women in one night could


    not be erased no matter how nice he was to her.


    In the Whitman family home.


    Natalie found herself in the midst of awkwardness and fear. ¡°Joe, did you hear all that?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes were dull as he nced at her coldly and quietly.


    Chloe imed that she no longer liked him. It haunted him, and he could not shake it off.


    ¡®That dumbo is so cruel.¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ I want you even if your ex-wife doesn¡¯t. Break up with Xavia. The Whitmans and Walkers can


    be inws and gain a strong alliance through marriage.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Natalie scampered off. ¡°This is the first time Joe is being rejected by someone. It seems like he feels


    quite embarrassed, so I better leave him alone.¡±


    At two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Harold asked Xavia to meet him in a cafe.


    Xavia came with a present and wanted to give it to him. ¡°Grandpa, I didn¡¯t attend your birthday party


    the other day. Here¡¯s the gift I bought for you.¡¯

 Chapter 384

    Chapter 384


    Chapter 384 A Gang


    Harold sneered. ¡°This reward is undeserved. I don¡¯t dare ept your gift.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an elder, so there¡¯s no such thing. I¡¯m giving you a gift to show my filial you.¡±


    ¡°Who are you? Did I ask you to do that for me?¡±


    respect for


    Holding the gift, Xavia¡¯s hands stiffened. She did not know if she should retrieve the gift and continued


    with this stalemate. She said in an aggrieved manner, ¡°Grandpa, I know you don¡¯t like me, but I was


    forced to do what I did before. I just wanted to survive.¡±


    ¡°The bastard isn¡¯t here. Stop trying to pretend to be pitiful. It¡¯s useless!¡± Harold snorted in annoyance.


    He would not ept this.


    A tinge of resentment shed across her eyes. She whispered and inevitably sobbed, ¡°I¡¯m not


    pretending to be pitiful¡­¡±


    She could not change the fact that she came from a vige and that she had no background no matter


    how good she was at her studies. Hence, she could only work hard to cater to the sessful people in


    the upper ss and eliminate her identity as a poor person who came from a vige. She strove so


    hard, so she felt that she should be praised instead of being criticized and scoffed at.


    Harold shot her a fierce re. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s behind Chloe¡¯s kidnap, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Someone kidnap Ms. Chloe?¡± Xavia appeared bewildered and asked anxiously, ¡°Why did that


    happen? How is she now? Is she safe?¡±


    Harold narrowed his eyes. ¡°Stop pretending. I know that it was you.¡±


    Xavia clenched her fists before she burst into tears. ¡°Grandpa, I know you don¡¯t like me but please


    don¡¯t use me blindly. I don¡¯t have the guts to do such an illegal thing.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to show you the evidence?¡±


    Feeling nervous, cold sweat broke out on her forehead. ¡®No¡­ This old bastard couldn¡¯t have gotten


    evidence. S wouldn¡¯t have exposed himself so easily. Harold must be trying to bluff me.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, so of course, there¡¯s no evidence.¡±


    Harold caught the change in her expression and interrogated sternly, ¡°If you tell me the identity of the


    culprit now, I¡¯ll consider letting you off the hook. Who helped you?¡±


    ¡°No, I did nothing!¡± Xavia became agitated all of a sudden. She abruptly got to her knees and cried


    profusely. She blurted out, ¡°I can understand that you don¡¯t want Joe to


    marry me, but you can¡¯t pin a groundless crime on me!¡±


    She cried loudly, and being in a rtively quiet cafe, she soon attracted the waiter.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. May I ask if there¡¯s anything you need help with?¡±


    Patrick stepped forward and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Leave.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ My belly is hurting. My baby¡­¡± Xavia suddenly held her belly and cried out in pain.


    The waiter thought that Harold had done something to the pregnant woman and wanted to call 911.


    Harold red up in a rage. ¡°Stop pretending! I didn¡¯t touch you!¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t upset a pregnantdy. It may cause a miscarriage!¡± the waiter shouted before he tried to


    soothe Xavia.


    However, Xavia refused to get up. She held her belly and knelt on the floor looking like she was in pain.


    ¡°Grandpa, I will have wronged the Whitman family if something happens to this baby. If this baby


    comes out safely, please give Joe and me a chance to take care of you together. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Harold asked as he stared at her angrily.


    ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t dare. I just hope that you can put aside your prejudice against me¡­ I love Joe with all


    my heart.¡±


    Patrick could not bear to listen to that anymore. ¡°We¡¯ll take you to the hospital now. You¡¯re going over


    the line if the doctor ims that you¡¯re fine.¡±


    When Joseph arrived at the hospital, the doctor had just produced the result. Xavia was indeed having


    miscarriage-like symptoms.


    Joseph stared at Harold. ¡°Why the hell did you meet her?¡±


    ¡°Why? I think she was the one behind it. She was the one who hired people to kidnap Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡±


    ¡°No, but her expression was strange. She must be guilty.¡±


    She must have been scared, so she experienced a miscarriage-like symptom.


    Joseph pressed his temples in frustration. ¡°Our society is ruled byw. We have to look at the


    evidence.¡±


    If there was evidence, he would not be bothered even if Xavia was sent to the police station.


    ¡°Why are you speaking up for her?¡± Harold shivered in fury. He was so angry that he felt like he could


    pass at any moment.


    ¡®Oh, shit! The brat¡¯s bewitched by this scheming bitch. How sinful!¡¯


    Joseph did not bother to exin. ¡°Patrick, take Grandpa home.¡±


    Harold was infuriated. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t meddle in your business. You¡¯re the one in charge of this family!¡±


    Patrick shook his head before he hurriedly followed after Harold.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Xavia dozed off in the ward. Joseph did not go in and sat outside smoking. He then took out his phone


    and typed a series of strange numbers.


    ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bitplicated. They¡¯re recidivists, and they¡¯re very good at counter-surveince. It¡¯s likely not


    as simple as personal retaliation.¡±


    ¡°Be more specific.¡±


    ¡°This looks to be the work of a gang.¡±


    Joseph held his cigarette lightly between his lips, his countenance turned murderous amid the smoke.


    He said coldly, ¡°Keep on investigating. Don¡¯t alert the enemies.¡±


    Lucas walked over and reminded him softly, ¡°Sir, we should go now. You have an appointment with Mr.


    Alexander.¡±


    Aaron had run away with the money and someone had died on the construction site. Chloe was not at


    fault but after the investigations, the project was found to have cut corners to save


    money


    and were in multiple construction vitions. Hence, the project was forced to suspend its work. It was


    an unfinished project rather than a suspension of work.


    After paying the workers their wages, Chloe had no more money or energy to dive into this project


    again. She wanted to shift her focus to the Johnson Group. She had to go to a golf course to negotiate


    a new project with a partner.

 Chapter 385

    Chapter 385


    Chapter 385 Retaliation


    Chloe was in a professional suit. When she arrived at her destination, she went to the changing room


    to change her outfit.


    The slim-fitting, short, ck, sports dress outlined the seductive lines of her tall and slim figure. Her


    shoulders were exposed, and therge parts of her fair and smooth skin were quite attractive.


    Chloe was quite satisfied after checking her appearance in the mirror. She was not very good at ying


    golf, but she would dress herself ording to the asion. She had to respect her partner¡¯s interest.


    When she exited the female changing room, she fell into a daze as she walked past the male changing


    room. She seemed to have seen Alexander. She stopped in her tracks. After waiting for a while, she


    saw Alexandere out with Adam.


    Revealing a smile, she was about to step forward to greet them before another man came out of the


    changing room behind them. Joseph was dressed neatly and carried a sense of innate nobility. When


    their eyes met, his ck eyes trembled a little before he calmly averted his


    gaze.


    Chloe blinked. Suddenly, she did not know if she should go forward and say hi. Alexander¡¯s gaze


    darted between the two before he spoke up first.


    ¡°Are you alone? Would you like to y with us for a bit?¡±


    ¡°No, I came with a business partner.¡±


    Adam asked with a smile, ¡°Which zone are you going to?¡±


    Chloe told him the zone she was headed to. After that, she did not linger and went to meet her


    business partner, a man named Ethan Katz.


    When Ethan saw her, his eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°You¡¯re indeed Exotic Star¡¯s ambassador. How


    beautiful!¡±


    Chloe showed a faint smile. ¡°You tter me. Should we talk about cooperation or should we y golf


    first?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re going to y golf first.¡± Ethan handed her a club. ¡°Do you know how to y?


    ¡°Yes, I do, but I¡¯m not very good at it.¡±


    ¡°Come. Let me teach you.¡± He positioned himself behind Chloe and embraced her from behind.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine!¡± Chloe pushed him away and took two steps back, maintaining a safe distance from him.


    Ethanughed and got straight to the point. ¡°Let me be frank with you. I like women like you. You¡¯ve


    lost a lot of money on your father¡¯s construction zone recently, right? Be with me a few times and give


    me five percent of yourpany shares. I¡¯ll then help you resolve it. What do you think?¡±


    A deep crease appeared between her brows. ¡°You¡¯re a married man. Do you think it¡¯s prudent for you


    to say such things? If you came to negotiate a business deal with me under this motive, you¡¯ve thought


    too highly of yourself.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Ethan had coborated with the Johsons a few times, but it was always who had been Benjamin in


    charge. Chloe had not had much contact with Ethan. And now seeing that the Johnsons were worse off


    than before, Ethan exposed his true nature and wanted to take advantage of Chloe¡¯s misfortune.


    He faked a smile and tried to approach her again. However, she would not allow it. She raised the club


    and whacked his feet with it.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Ethan held his leg and cursed in pain. Chloe did not want to waste time on him, so she threw


    the club aside to leave.


    Suddenly, a plump middle-aged woman rushed toward her and berated her. ¡°You¡¯re my husband¡¯s


    mistress, aren¡¯t you?!¡±


    Before Chloe could speak, Ethan made a false charge against her. ¡°She¡¯s not my mistress.


    She simply wants to seduce me!¡±


    Hearing this, the woman became even angrier. She waved her brawny arms to hit Chloe. Being caught


    off guard, Chloe was punched, and it hurt badly.


    ¡°Your husband is a sight for sore eyes with his round face and small eyes. You¡¯re the only one who


    cares about him. If it weren¡¯t for the business deal, I wouldn¡¯t even look at him. You¡¯re just a woman


    who finds fault with other women because you can¡¯t control your husband. How pathetic!¡±


    ¡°Why you!¡±


    Chloe clenched her fists and made the woman have a taste of her medicine. She punched the


    woman¡¯s arm. The woman became so angry that she screamed before she turned to rebuke Ethan.


    ¡°Why are you still standing there?! Hurry up and help me deal with this bitch!¡±


    Chloe did not wait for Ethan to react before turning around and speeding off toward the changing


    rooms. Unexpectedly, Ethan pursued her. He was about to run into the female changing room in pursuit


    of her when Adam came out from a corner and casually blocked Ethan¡¯s path.


    Ethan knew Adam, so his expression changed drastically. He said tteringly, ¡°Mr. Adam, hl-


    ¡°Get lost.¡± Adam interrupted him, his young face was filled with fierceness. ¡°Chloe is my sister. Do you


    have a death wish or something?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Why is she your sister¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, she is. Do I have to report that to you?¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Say sorry to my sister.¡±


    Gnashing his teeth, Ethan looked at Chloe. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it? Shouldn¡¯t you be bowing?¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not waste time on him.¡± Chloe waved and told Ethan to leave. After a pause, she nced at


    Adam. ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t you go to y golf?¡±


    He touched his nose. ¡°I came out to get my girlfriend.¡±


    Adam spotted Ethan running after Chloe earlier, so he asked Eleanor Collins to go to the course first.


    ¡°You got a girlfriend?¡±


    Chloe was shocked. A person like Adam had a serious girlfriend. And Alexander was here too. It meant


    that their parents were aware of this rtionship.


    ¡°Congrattions. I hope you guys have fun. I¡¯m going to go now.¡±


    ¡°No, please don¡¯t. My father introduced her to me, and I haven¡¯t met her many times before our families


    urged us to finalize things. I¡¯m quite annoyed because of this. Come with me. You girls will have more


    things to talk about.¡±

 Chapter 386

    Chapter 386


    Chapter 386 Why Are the Staff Here Dressed So Indecently?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. I don¡¯t know her,¡± Chloe protested, feeling ufortable with the idea, especially


    with Joseph present.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, she¡¯s quite easy to get along with. Let¡¯s go. I just helped you drive away that old man, so you


    can¡¯t turn me down now,¡± Adam insisted, half pulling and half dragging Chloe


    with him.


    Alexander and Joseph had just concluded their conversation. Seated beside them was a meaty girl


    with fair skin, standing about 165 centimeters tall and weighing about 55 kilograms. Herplexion


    radiated a noble elegance and refinement, characteristic of a privileged upbringing.


    Eleanor became nervous when she saw Chloe returning with Adam, intertwining her small hands


    together tightly and showing a vignt expression.


    There were two avable seats in the room, one next to Adam and the other next to Joseph. To avoid


    arousing suspicion, Chloe opted for thetter. As she settled down beside him, he cast a nce at her,


    his deep eyes seemingly bottomless, piercing into her own. Chloe¡¯s lips tightened, eager to speak, but


    he coldly averted his gaze before she could find the words. She chose to remain silent.


    During the subsequent discussion, Alexander and Joseph delved into project matters. Chloe had no


    authority to intervene in such discussions, though Alexander asionally sought her opinion,


    intentionally trying to involve her. Politely, she declined, acknowledging herck of resources,


    connections, and qualifications to enter this circle at the present moment. Alexander looked at Joseph,


    who seemed to have no intention of helping Chloe, and did not say anything further.


    The conversation continued for an hour, and besides being deliberately or unintentionally ignored by


    Joseph, Eleanor and Adam kept talking to her.


    ¡°I have this strange feeling that I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before. You look a lot like someone I¡¯ve met,¡±


    Eleanor remarked, holding her round face in her hands as she observed Chloe.


    ¡°Haha.¡± Chloe chuckled, unable to contain her amusement. ¡°Lately, many people have been. telling me


    that I resemble someone else as if I have a face that¡¯s quitemon.¡±


    ¡°No, really! It¡¯s Mr. Desmond Sullivan¡¯s daughter. I¡¯ve seen her pictures, and you look remarkably


    simr to her.¡±


    Intrigued, Adam chimed in, ¡°Do they really look alike?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly identical, but there are simrities in the eyebrows, eyes, and facial features,¡± Eleanor


    curiously inquired, ¡°Is it possible that you¡¯re distant rtives?¡±


    ¡®Distant rtives.¡¯ Chloe was taken aback. Her mother¡¯s family name was Sullivan too. Could it


    really be possible? She had instinctively dismissed the idea before, thinking that the Sullivans and


    herself were too distinct.


    If there was any connection between her mother and the Sullivans, Benjamin would surely do


    everything possible to exploit her mother¡¯s value, perhaps even dying her mother¡¯s death.


    As Joseph listened, a sudden realization shed through his mind. Calvin, Ava, the Sullivans, Noah. In


    the depths of his mind, it seemed like certain things were interconnected.


    ¡°You¡¯re familiar with the Sullivans?¡± Joseph¡¯s cool gaze locked onto Eleanor, his voice firm.


    Caught off guard by his direct question, Eleanor stumbled over her words, ¡°N-no, not really. I¡¯ve only


    visited the Sullivans twice with my family.¡±


    Her family had a fondness for gemstone ornaments and maintained some level of contact with the


    Sullivans.


    Joseph turned his gaze away and replied with a faint ¡°Hmm.¡± Since Eleanor imed they were not


    familiar, he saw no reason to pursue the matter further.


    After a round, it was $ o¡¯clock in the evening, and the sky had grown dark. Adam and Eleanor nned


    to have a candlelight dinner and extended an invitation to Chloe to join them. However, Chloe politely


    declined, not wanting to intrude as a third wheel.


    Alexander promptly excused himself, intentionally leaving Chloe and Joseph alone. This frustrated


    Chloe a little. ¡®Why does it feel like the whole world is trying to matchmake me and Joseph?¡¯ she


    thought.


    The staff members were preparing to escort them to the parking lot when Chloe interjected, ¡± I¡¯ll just


    take a cab.¡±


    The staff members hesitated, their eyes instinctively flickering toward the impassive man. Sensing his


    lack of intention to intervene, one of the staff members smiled at Chloe and said, Mr. Alexander is an


    esteemed VIP guest here, and we offer a special car service to our esteemed. guests. If you like, I can


    arrange a vehicle for you right away.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, that would be much appreciated.¡±


    ¡°Very well, please wait a moment.¡±


    The staff ryed a few instructions into his walkie-talkie. Within a mere three minutes, a muscr


    young man arrived, holding a set of car keys. Sweat glistened on his body, and his well-defined


    abdominal muscles hinted at a physique reminiscent of aic book hero.


    ¡°Hi miss, the car is waiting for you just ahead. Please provide me with your address, and I¡¯ll ensure you


    arrive home safely.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes briefly lingered on his abdominal muscles, but she quickly averted her gaze, slightly taken


    aback. She provided the muscr young man with her home address and readily followed him to the


    car.


    But before she could even take a step, Joseph grabbed her wrist. Confused, she looked at him,


    wondering about his sudden action.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    A sinister smile curved Joseph¡¯s lips. ¡°Why are the staff here dressed so indecently?¡±


    ¡®Dumbo¡¯s eyes were practically glued to that young man. What¡¯s so captivating about a muscle head?¡¯

 Chapter 387

    Chapter 387


    Chapter 387 Your Darling Is Waiting for You, Isn¡¯t He?


    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s not what you think. The weather today is simply too hot, and I¡¯ve been sweating a lot, ¡°the staff


    nervously exined.


    ¡°That¡¯s your problem.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ I apologize, sir.¡±


    Joseph firmly held onto Chloe¡¯s hand and started walking away. Chloe nced down at their


    intertwined fingers, her confusion growing as she wondered, ¡®Hepletely ignored me all afternoon,


    and now he¡¯s acting all strange again?¡¯


    Attempting to free her hand, Chloe pulled with all her strength, but Joseph¡¯s grip remained unyielding.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Escorting you.¡±


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t need you to escort me.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    Chloe was on the verge of speaking, but suddenly her stomach churned, and she immediately covered


    her mouth and began to retch.


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°Do I disgust you?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I just feel a bit nauseous.¡±


    His expression softened slightly, and he asked coldly, ¡°Is it an upset stomach?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    After fully moving out of the Johnsons¡¯ residence, Chloe found her life bing much more rxed.


    Even during busy work days, she would indulge in snacks, and her stomach problems had significantly


    improved. She rarely experienced any difort or pain since then.


    ¡°Should we go to the hospital for a check-up?¡± Joseph suggested.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m fine,¡± Chloe replied. She did not consider the nauseating feeling to be a


    serious issue. Perhaps she had simply eaten something that did not agree with her recently.


    Joseph remained silent, gesturing for Chloe to fasten her seatbelt. Though she could notprehend


    his hot and cold behavior, she could not resist him in the end and obediently let him drive her.


    During the journey, they passed by the jewelry store she had visited before, only to find it still


    closed. It had been closed during her previous visit as well. If it were operating normally, it would not


    remain closed for such an extended period.


    As they continued driving onto Concord Avenue, they came across a road copse that obstructed their


    path. Chloe took the initiative, suggesting, ¡°Let¡¯s stop here. I¡¯ll find an alternative route through a side


    road.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze fixated on the dark and dimly lit alley nearby. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, almost


    unnoticeable, as he responded, ¡°As you wish.¡± Having already amodated. her by driving this far,


    her safety was no longer of his concern.


    Chloe blinked, her gaze drawn to the arrogant tilt of his chin and enticing Adam¡¯s apple. Her palm


    itched with the desire to touch him. Although he was an asshole, his appearance was unparalleled.


    ¡°I remember the matter of the note. Give me some time to think of a solution.¡±


    Throughout the past year, she had been unable to do much to assist him. However, this one thing was


    something she was determined to handle well.


    ¡°Do you think I wanted to discuss that matter with you and that¡¯s the reason I volunteered to drive you


    home?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    He had maintained a furrowed brow throughout the drive, and his sudden offer to drive her home was


    likely because he did not want to bring up the subject in front of Adam and the


    others.


    Joseph gazed steadily at Chloe and sneered. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    At the entrance of the alley, a group of delinquent youths emerged. Their arms disyed prominent


    tattoos as they cast lewd nces at Chloe, assessing her figure and appearance.


    Chloe felt a bit intimidated, but she swiftlyposed herself. Taking out her phone, she held it to her


    ear, projecting an air of indifference to their presence, and continued walking further into the alley.


    ¡°Darling, I¡¯m out of the car. Are youing out?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re waiting for me at the alley exit?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡±


    Though Chloe did not believe they would dare to harm her, she took precautions nheless.


    Inside the alley, darkness engulfed her, with no streetlights in sight. The feeble light from her phone


    barely illuminated a meter ahead of her, rendering her surroundings shrouded in obscurity.


    Unknowingly, she hastened her steps. As she reached the halfway point, the sound


    of footsteps came from behind her.


    Chloe turned around, her eyes straining to make out the figure standing in the darkness. Her scalp


    prickled, and her immediate thought was that the masked woman and her gang had


    returned.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    A wave of intense fear surged through her, and her instinctive reaction was to flee. She sprinted as fast


    as she could, but the person behind her matched her pace effortlessly. With a few long strides, they


    closed the distance and unexpectedly grabbed her hand.


    Chloe screamed in terror, ¡°Help! Someone¡¯s trying to kill me!¡±


    ¡°Chloe, it¡¯s me.¡± Joseph¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly. He looked at the woman before him,pletely


    disoriented and shaken. His heart tightened at the sight. He reached out and enveloped her in a


    comforting embrace. His voice was instinctively gentle as he reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s me.


    You¡¯re safe.¡±


    One can only imagine the profound impact the kidnapping incident had left on her. She had concealed


    her fears and put on a facade of strength, but deep down, the vulnerability thaty beneath remained.


    Chloe found sce in the familiar embrace, her gaze meeting Joseph¡¯s blurred features. The rush of


    emotions, a mix of grievance and fear, washed over her like a tidal wave. Her small hands clung to his


    waist, her voice trembling, ¡°You scared me to death¡­¡±


    Joseph gently raised his hand, using his fingertips to brush away her tears, his eyes locked onto hers.


    ¡°Your darling is waiting for you at the alley exit, isn¡¯t he?

 Chapter 388

    Chapter 388


    Chapter 388 There Are Some Unusual Findings


    Chloe froze for a few moments before realizing what he was saying. She proudly tilted her chin up and


    asked, ¡°Well, am I clever or what?¡±


    Her almond eyes had just shed tears, giving them a slight redness. However, her mischievous and


    spirited nature remained evident, unable to be hidden.


    A suffocating sensation gripped Joseph¡¯s chest as he observed her. ¡®She shouldn¡¯t have to worry about


    her safety in life. She should live carefree, just like the shameless little vixen she used to be.¡±


    ¡°Let me find you a bodyguard.¡±


    A peculiar expression flickered across Chloe¡¯s innocent face. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Mh-mm.¡±


    She was taken aback, her eyes brimming with joy. But before she could fully embrace the moment,


    Joseph interjected with a sobering remark. ¡°If something happens to you, no one will be able to handle


    the old man for me.¡±


    ¡°¡­There¡¯s no need for that!¡±


    Joseph leaned in, cupping her cheeks with both hands, teasingly saying, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m


    worried about you?¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Feeling exposed, Chloe pushed him away in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. ¡°Of course not!


    You¡¯re overthinking things.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    Joseph elongated his tone, his eyes glinting with amusement. He apanied Chloe to the entrance


    of the vi area, and then they parted ways, each heading in their own direction.


    When Chloe arrived home, she was surprised to find Icarus waiting for her. His chin now sported a


    small beard, and he seemed less vibrant than before. Although his legs showed signs of improvement,


    he still relied on a cane, which added to his disheveled appearance.


    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯ve reflected on my actions over the past few days. The car ident was my fault. 1 shouldn¡¯t


    have deceived you for my own selfish reasons.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Her response was remarkablyposed. Indeed, upon learning that Icarus had deceived her, Chloe


    was not consumed by anger. She simply found it hard to believe.


    Thinking that Chloe was still angry, Icarus became even more sincere. ¡°I understand that I¡¯ve shattered


    your trust, but I sincerely ask for another chance. I¡¯ll do anything, and I¡¯ll ept any


    decision you make.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s really no need. Let¡¯s just leave it at this.¡± Chloe contemted the situation and decided it was


    best to endure a brief period of difort. She settled herself and said to him, As you know, feeling


    touched does not equate to love. I¡¯m now a divorced woman, and you. deserve someone who can offer


    you more. Your family will also be happier this way. Let¡¯s¡­just be friends. If you need anything, feel


    free to reach out to me. I¡¯ll do my best to help you.


    Icarus was unconvinced and furrowed his brow. ¡°Is it because Joseph pressured you again? Is that why


    you ended things with me?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t even look me in the eyes when you say that.¡± He felt a surge of heartache and said with


    determination, ¡°Chloe, let me take you away from this city. Let¡¯s start anew in a ce where Joseph


    can never find us. A ce where he can¡¯t meddle in your life.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback by his words, her expression filled with surprise. ¡°But what about your


    company?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll sell it and start over. I have some savings, and it¡¯d be like a challenge to myself,¡± he said. Who


    knows, in the next ten years, he might build apany that surpasses Fairlight.


    ¡°Let go of that idea. I won¡¯t leave Aesper. You should concentrate on running your currentpany.¡±


    Chloe did not want to ruin his future. She said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m going to bed now. You should go home


    too and get some rest.¡±


    Icarus watched Chloe¡¯s departing figure, his frustration building up. With a fierce strike of his cane


    against the ground, he thought, ¡®It must be Joseph threatening her, and he was probably the one who


    reported the car ident as well. I won¡¯t let Joseph have what I can¡¯t get!


    ¡®Disgusting. No, I won¡¯t give up so easily!¡¯


    The next day, Chloe received a call from Tyson. ¡°The blood test results are out¡­ There are some


    unusual findings. Let¡¯s meet and talk about it.¡±

 Chapter 389

    Chapter 389


    Chapter 389 You¡¯re One Month Pregnant


    Chloe agreed and quickly freshened up before heading out. Strangely, Tyson did not ask her to meet at


    the police station but instead suggested meeting at a nearby park.


    As soon as she saw him, she got straight to the point, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going? Did the


    perpetrator confess?¡±


    The man who had attempted to harm her had been severely injured by Noah¡¯s intervention and had


    lost a significant amount of blood. When he was apprehended, he had already lost consciousness.


    After receiving medical treatment, he had only regained consciousness yesterday.


    Tyson shook his head, ¡°He didn¡¯t confess. In fact, he even attempted suicide. But we will continue to


    follow up on the case until we obtain a confession.¡±


    Chloe let out a sigh. She had not anticipated the criminal¡¯s unwavering loyalty, willing to resort to


    suicide rather than disclose his aplices.


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you might think. His suicide attempt is likely driven by a sense of shame and disgrace as


    a man. Moreover, our investigation revealed that his family mysteriously


    disappeared on the day of his arrest.¡±


    ¡°Could the masked woman be using his family as leverage to manipte him?¡±


    ¡°Possibly.¡±


    ¡°But what could be their motive for targeting me?¡±


    Chloe shuddered. ¡®How did I get involved with such terrifying people?¡¯


    ¡°For now, we suspect it¡¯s an extortion scheme,¡± Tyson exined with a serious expression. We¡¯ve


    conducted an investigation into your personal rtionships, and the likelihood of it being a revenge plot


    is almost zero percent. Compared to Noah, who¡¯s the heir of Exotic Star, he had a higher chance of


    being targeted for kidnapping. The kidnappers sent a ransom letter to the Sullivan family demanding


    150 million. As for the masked woman¡¯s threat on your life, we can¡¯t determine its credibility at the


    moment and further investigation is needed.¡±


    Upon hearing this analysis, it started to make some sense. But if the kidnappers¡¯ primary target was


    Noah, why did the masked woman wait for her in the restroom?


    Tyson noticed her deep in thought and rephrased his statement, ¡°These would be our duty. The primary


    purpose of our meeting today is to inform you that we¡¯ve received the results of the blood test.¡±


    Chloe blinked and asked, ¡°The anesthetic shouldn¡¯t have anysting effects on my body, right?


    Besides experiencing asional headaches and nausea, she had not noticed any other unusua


    symptoms in her physical condition over the past few days.


    ¡°Anesthetics aremonly used drugs, but we discovered something else in your blood analysis.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Regarding you and Joe¡­ How long have you been divorced?¡±


    Chloe was confused by the sudden change of topic but still answered, ¡°A little over two months.¡±


    Tyson¡¯s expression becameplex. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    Chloe froze, her mind going nk. This would mean that the persistent nausea she had experienced in


    the past few days was not due to food poisoning, but because she was pregnant¡­


    ¡®No, this can¡¯t be true! I took contraceptives!¡¯


    ¡°Is there a possibility of an error? It can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no error. You should go to the hospital for a check-up as soon as possible. The anesthetic


    might have an impact on the baby in your womb.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Chloe felt a rush of anxiety and confusion. She nodded absentmindedly, grabbed her bag, and hurried


    to the hospital. As she walked away, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to Tyson.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell Joseph and Grandpa about this, please?¡±


    She was not sure if she wanted to keep this child¡­.


    Tyson understood her concerns. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t. It¡¯s your own private matter.¡±


    ¡®Furthermore, it¡¯s a child conceived after their divorce. It certainly isn¡¯t Joe¡¯s child. After going their


    separate ways, they shouldn¡¯t interfere with each other. As an outsider, I have no right to meddle,¡¯


    Tyson thought.


    At the hospital, in the obstetrics and gynecology department, the doctor broke the news to Chloe.


    ¡°You¡¯re one month pregnant, but the condition of the fetus isn¡¯t stable. You need to take extra care of


    your health as there is a risk of miscarriage.¡±

 Chapter 390

    Chapter 390


    Chapter 390 Getting Pregnant After the Divorce, How Ridiculous


    The doctor¡¯s words echoed in her ears, but she did not absorb them in the slightest. She muttered to


    herself, ¡°But I took contraceptives. I took them every time.¡±


    ¡°Contraceptive pills are not 100% effective,¡± the doctor kindly reminded her as he observed her


    expression. ¡°About the child, it¡¯s no doubt a significant decision, and it¡¯s important that you consider all


    your options. If you decide not to continue with the pregnancy, we can arrange for hospitalization and


    schedule an abortion as soon as possible. Just remember that time is of the essence as you may not


    be able to terminate the pregnancyter on.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°Take your time to think about it.¡±


    In a daze, Chloe walked out of the hospital. She absentmindedly raised her hand and gently touched


    her still-t belly, her mind engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions. Instead of hailing a cab, she opted to


    slowly walk back home. She began to ponder her situation, ¡®Being one month pregnant means that it


    isn¡¯t from the time at Graceville Estate. Getting pregnant after the divorce¡­ How ridiculous.¡¯


    On her way home, Chloe found herself walking alongside a middle-aged couple who were in the midst


    of a heartbreaking moment. Tears streamed down their faces as they held tightly onto their hospital


    reports, their cries echoing with despair. ¡°This is the fifth time. Our IVF attempts have all failed. What


    have we done wrong? Is God punishing us?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, my love. Maybe it¡¯s time we let go. I can¡¯t bear to see you suffer like this. I¡­I feel


    heartbroken for you.¡±


    ¡°But I want a child of my own¡­¡±


    ¡°Love, let¡¯s consider adoption. We can still have a beautiful family. Please don¡¯t cry.¡±


    The man embraced his partner, pouring out all his love and tenderness. Chloe observed this scene, her


    grip tightening on her own prenatal examination report. She quickened her pace, unable to bear


    witness to any more of their heartache.


    She needed to think rationally and not be influenced by the outside world. If she chose to proceed with


    the pregnancy, she pondered how she would confront Joseph. Should she demand that he cut ties with


    Xavia? Setting aside whether Joseph would even be willing to do so, there was also the matter of


    Xavia¡¯s unborn child. They were innocent in all of this. Asking herself to generously care for the child of


    her love rival was a daunting prospect. She doubted whether she possessed the strength of mind to do


    so, especially considering the painful fact that Joseph had cheated on her.


    Chloe¡¯s thoughts grew increasingly chaotic. In the midst of her turmoil, Emily called and extended an


    invitation for lunch. Unsure of what to do, Chloe epted, hoping to seek her


    best friend¡¯s opinion and guidance.


    Nearby, the masked woman lurked in a corner, her eagle eyes shimmering with a sinister gleam. She


    swiftly retrieved her phone and contacted S. ¡°Sir, I just saw Chloe entering the OBGYN department. I


    suspect she¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    A brief silence followed on the other end. ¡°Do not take any action against her.¡±


    ¡°Why? Why shouldn¡¯t we seize this opportunity to kidnap her and exploit both her and the child in her


    womb to threaten Joseph?¡±


    ¡°How are you certain that Joseph would care about her?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I believe Chloe possesses more value for maniption than Xavia.¡±


    ¡°Can you guarantee that nothing will go wrong?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°For now, let Chloe be. Allow her to proceed with her pregnancy undisturbed, and we¡¯lle up with a


    foolproof n in due time. Let¡¯s not forget that Xavia¡¯s pregnancy is only one month behind hers.¡±


    Revenge was not merely aboutmitting acts of violence. It was about identifying the other person¡¯s


    vulnerabilities, ruthlessly crushing them, and subjecting them to absolute


    humiliation.


    The masked woman appeared to understand his intentions. ¡°Boss, are you nning to execute. a


    switcheroo on the children?¡±


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    ¡°So, we won¡¯t take any action against Chloe for now?¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Focus on taking care of Xavia and, if needed, ensure our influence extends to the


    hospital.¡±


    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±


    Chloe and Emily arranged to meet at one of their favorite restaurants.


    ¡°Coco, you¡¯ve got to try the chicken wings. They¡¯re incredible!¡±


    Lost in thought, Chloe absentmindedly picked up a piece of meat from the te and took a few bites.


    ¡°Do you think a woman can raise a child on her own?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely! Men can do it, and so can women. We have all the necessary capabilities. Being self-


    sufficient and independent is empowering and really cool, you know?¡±


    ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re just saying that without truly giving it a thought?¡± Chloe


    questioned skeptically.


    Indeed, throughout history, raising a child has never been an effortless endeavor.

 Chapter 391

    Chapter 391


    Chapter 391 I Know You¡¯re Pregnant


    ¡°Hehe, you¡¯ve figured it out.¡± Emily yfully twirled a strand of her hair before adopting a serious tone.


    ¡°Actually, you can look at this matter from a multifaceted perspective. For example, you own a small


    company now. While you may not be filthy rich, you don¡¯t have to worry about your basic needs and


    you can afford to hire help and provide for your children. But now, imagine an ordinary working woman


    from an average family background, education, and job skills, who¡¯s in the midst of building her career.


    For her, being a single mother presents a tremendous challenge. Besides, don¡¯t you find nurturing a


    baby into an adult incredibly rewarding?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart softened as she listened, and her eyes gleamed. ¡°It¡¯s not just about finding fulfillment. It¡¯s


    about finding redemption.¡±


    With Emily¡¯s support, Chloe suddenly saw things in a new light. Since she could not bear to let go, then


    she would stay. After all, she had the means to provide for the child. Joseph was Joseph, and she was


    herself. Regardless of what transpired between the adults, the child was


    innocent.


    Witnessing Chloe¡¯s radiant smile, Emily leaned in curiously and asked, ¡°Are you pregnant?¡±


    Chloe blinked calmly. ¡°No.¡±


    Knowing Emily¡¯s inability to keep secrets and wanting to avoid another slip of the tongue, she chose


    not to disclose anything.


    ¡°Why are you suddenly asking about this, then?¡± Emily questioned.


    ¡°I saw a couple on the street who were in tears because of a baby, so I was curious,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Emily replied.


    Meanwhile, the waiter served the dishes, capturing Emily¡¯s attention. She could not help but divert her


    focus to the delectable food before her.


    After parting ways with Chloe, Tyson returned to the station and spotted Noah.


    Tyson¡¯s colleagues handed him the inspection report, and with a quick nce, he intended to head


    back to his office. However, out of the corner of his eye, he unexpectedly spotted a report in Noah¡¯s


    hands, causing his expression to change.


    ¡°What are you doing with Chloe¡¯s report?¡± he asked.


    His colleague seemed puzzled. ¡°He said he was a friend of Chloe¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°This is someone¡¯s private information. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Tyson¡¯s tone turned stern.


    ¡°Sir¡­ I-I won¡¯t do it again,¡± the colleague responded, realizing her mistake and lowering her head.


    Noah had such a gentle demeanor that she thought it would be fine to pass him the


    report. In the past, Tyson did not pay attention to such matters, but this time seemed


    different.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know about this rule.¡± Noah returned Chloe¡¯s report, a hint of guilt on his refined face. ¡°I


    haven¡¯t read it yet. Please take it back.¡±


    Seeing his amiable attitude, Tyson felt a hint of embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Noah offered a faint smile and went away with his own report.


    Some time passed, and while Tyson was going through the suspect¡¯s file, Joseph called to inquire


    about the progress of the case. They exchanged the information they had gathered during their


    investigations and chatted for a while.


    Then, Joseph shifted the topic and asked, ¡°Does anesthesia harm the body?¡±


    Tyson paused for a moment. ¡°Not really, but why are you asking? Is it because of Chloe?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened and he evaded the question. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t I ask?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ Since you two have broken up, you should move on. The road ahead is still long,¡± Tyson


    advised.


    Joseph¡¯s intuition kicked in, detecting a hidden message in Tyson¡¯s words. His voice grew low and


    intense as he questioned, ¡°What are you trying to tell me?¡±


    Tyson did not dare to say anything and quickly found an excuse to end the call.


    Joseph frowned deeply upon hearing the call-end tone from the other end.


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Go to the station and bring me Chloe¡¯s blood test report.¡±


    After finishing their meal, Chloe and Emily returned to the office. On the way, she bought some folic


    acid supplements.


    Not long after Chloe started working, Noah came to find her. Looking at the tall and poised young man


    in surprise, she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Noah walked in, his gaze sweeping over the folic acid tablets on the table, and his amber eyes briefly


    turned cold. Chloe also noticed the folic acid out on the table and quickly opened a drawer to put the


    bottle inside.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    Chloe did not say anything in return.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Is it Joseph¡¯s?¡±

 Chapter 392

    Chapter 392


    Chapter 392 Trying to Steal My Woman, You Little Brat?


    Chloe grew flustered, her face alternating between shades of red and white. ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°There can¡¯t be anyone else but him.¡± Noah shook his head determinately. ¡°You don¡¯t have feelings for


    Icarus.¡±


    Being with Icarus was an act of gratitude and appreciation, but it was not love. He would not have


    resorted to such despicable means to hold onto her if she truly had feelings for him.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°So I was right.¡± Noah concealed his emotions, burying them deep within his eyes. Taking on the role of


    an observer, curiosity tinged with heartache seeped into his voice. ¡°You and Joseph were already


    divorced a month ago. Did he force himself on you?¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s body tensed. ¡°Please don¡¯t ask. I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t interfere with your personal affairs. Some of the things I¡¯m about to say may not


    be pleasant to hear, but as a friend, I don¡¯t want you to be trapped in this situation. I must say my


    piece,¡± Noah said sincerely.


    ¡°Xavia has been taken to Joseph¡¯s private vi. It seems he¡¯s allowing her to give birth to his child. If it¡¯s


    a boy, he¡¯ll be the first great-grandchild of the Whitmans. It¡¯s likely that once Harold is pleased,


    he¡¯ll acknowledge her status. At that point, you¡¯ll bepletely irrelevant. It might be better to


    terminate the pregnancy now and start anew. Your life has just begun.¡±


    Chloe took a deep breath. ¡°I won¡¯t terminate the pregnancy.¡±


    This child may havee at an inopportune time, but she could not bring herself to kill her


    own flesh and blood.


    A shadow of darkness flickered across Noah¡¯s face, only to be swiftly reced by an innocent and


    benevolent expression. Yet, his words cut deep, striking straight at the heart. ¡°But if you don¡¯t terminate


    the pregnancy, Joseph will be the father of someone else¡¯s child.¡±


    Chloe clenched her fists, feeling immense pain in her body and soul. It felt as if countless shards of


    ss had pierced deep into her flesh, causing a bloody and agonizing ache.


    ¡°I¡¯ll raise the child on my own,¡± she dered.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be very difficult on you,¡± Noah said.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Hardship is a normal part of life. If there¡¯s hope for the future, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes fixated on Chloe as she gracefully settled into the chair, her slender frame exuding a


    delicate and petite allure. Her rosy lips and wless white teeth added to her


    captivating beauty, reminiscent of a flower blooming in the middle of the ruggedness of a stone. She


    seemed to possess an inherent strength and radiated vibrancy and resilience that appeared impervious


    to any trials that came her way.


    No man would say no to a woman like her.


    ¡°You take your time.¡± Noah rested his chin on his hand, feigning contemtion. ¡°If that¡¯s your decision,


    then I¡¯ll have my first godson. It¡¯d be an honor.¡±


    Chloe widened her eyes and teased, ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re friends, right?¡±


    Chloe could not deny that she had a good impression of Noah. Despite his young age, he had a


    pleasant temperament and carried himself well. It wasfortable to be around him. Such a person


    made a truly good friend. Subconsciously, she had dismissed the idea of a romantic rtionship due to


    the age gap between them. She did not believe that everyone was like Adam, indiscriminate in their


    choices.


    As Noah descended the stairs, he came face to face with Joseph. They caught sight of each other, with


    Noah smiling gently, but his smile did not reach his eyes. Joseph, on the other hand, exuded his usual


    aloofness, as if no one could enter his heart.


    ¡°Trying to steal my woman, you little brat?¡± Joseph raised an eyebrow disdainfully, his expression filled


    with contempt.


    ¡°I¡¯m no longer a child, Mr. Joseph. Besides, maybe it¡¯s not that I¡¯m too young, but rather that you¡¯re too


    old?¡± Noah retorted.

 Chapter 393

    Chapter 393


    Chapter 393 Are You an Idiot? I¡¯m Worried About You!


    Joseph¡¯s anger transformed into a mocking smile, his lips curling with derision. ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯m your


    senior.¡±


    Noah¡¯s expression stiffened, and he remained silent.


    ¡°What¡¯s the rtionship between Ava and Calvin?¡± Joseph asked, his eyes seemingly capable of


    peering into the depths of all things.


    Noah found this amusing and said, ¡°If you want to know, why don¡¯t you ask Calvin directly? What does


    it have to do with me?¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s Calvin, Ava, or even you, or perhaps the Sullivans, there must be a definite connection,¡±


    Joseph said, his tone brimming with certainty.


    Setting his jaw tightly, Noah replied, ¡°Then go ahead and investigate.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s smile turned enigmatic, and a glimmer of confidence flickered across his handsome face. ¡°I


    will.¡±


    He realized that Noah was hiding something and that this situation was moreplex than it seemed.


    It was crucial to conduct an investigation and warn Chloe. After all, a polished facade could be


    misleading, and he suspected that Noah might have ulterior motives for getting close to her.


    After Noah left, Joseph came.


    Chloe felt a sense of unease. ¡®Does Joseph also know about my pregnancy?¡¯ The calmness she had


    just regained was suddenly reced with inexplicable anxiety as the thought surfaced in


    her mind.


    ¡°You went to the station this morning?¡± Joseph sat on Chloe¡¯s chair, casually crossing his long, slender


    legs. His gaze swept over her with a chilling and oppressive aura.


    Upon hearing the question, Chloe tensed up. ¡°Tyson must have told him. Since they¡¯re rtives, it


    made sense that Tyson would tell him about it.¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s displeasure grew as she seemed lost in thought. He barked coldly, ¡°Speak up.¡±


    ¡°Since you already know, why are you asking me?¡± Chloe replied.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze fixed on her. ¡°Is there really something wrong with your health?¡±


    Lucas had gone to the station, but Tyson refused to disclose anything. Joseph did not know why Tyson


    refused to give him Chloe¡¯s blood report, and his initial reaction was that something had happened to


    her. He immediately canceled his afternoon meetings and hurried here.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°If I knew, why would I ask you?¡± Joseph¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her.


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m fine. Just a little anemic, nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    She dared not meet his gaze and forced herself to appear calm. ¡°Yes. What sick person would have a


    complexion as good as mine?¡±


    Joseph looked at her, asserting his dominance. ¡°Whether or not you¡¯re sick is for the doctors to


    determine. Let¡¯s go to the hospital for a check-up.¡±


    ¡°No! I have a lot of work to do. Why would I go to the hospital for no reason? You should go and take


    care of Xavia. She¡¯s having pregnancyplications.¡± Chloe¡¯s voice suddenly grew louder, her body


    tensed as every hair stood on end, resembling a vignt hedgehog on defense.


    He suspected that she had been involved with someone else before, and it would be natural for him to


    deduce that this child was not his. She was worried that he would force her to abort the child. Besides,


    even if he believed it was his, what would happen in the future? Compete with Xavia for his affection?


    She did not want that nauseating kind of life.


    ¡°Chloe!¡± Joseph¡¯s pitch-ck eyes flickered with wounded emotions. Abandoning all his pride, he said


    his next words earnestly, ¡°Are you an idiot? I¡¯m worried about you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart trembled upon hearing those words, and she was tongue-tied. She acknowledged that


    she was no saint, and even at this moment, she could not fully detach herself from the man standing


    before her. Yet, he was not the sole focus of her existence. She refused to orbit around him as if he


    were the sun, holding the center of her universe.


    After calming herself, self-mockery filled Chloe¡¯s heart. She raised her head and looked at Joseph


    defiantly, ¡°Worried about me? Can you handle two women?¡±


    She was certain that Xavia had said the same thing before.


    Joseph met her mockery-filled gaze, and suddenly all emotions vanished. Had he ever spoken so


    genuinely to a woman before? She was the first one, yet she was behaving ungrateful.


    He regained his indifferent demeanor. His thin lips curved in a cold and chilling smile as he said,


    ¡°Indeed, I can¡¯t.¡±Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 394

    Chapter 394


    Chapter 394 Toto Lying in a Pool of Blood


    Chloe¡¯s eyelid twitched as she helplessly watched him storm out and m the door behind him. The


    force of the door closing was tremendous, causing the frame to shake and appear on the verge of


    copsing. She felt a mixture of anger and amusement.


    She could not help but wonder, ¡®What the hell is wrong with him? Just because I spoke the truth, he


    couldn¡¯t handle it anymore? What a strange guy.¡¯


    After Joseph left, Chloe got the maintenance department staff to fix the door frame, which was on the


    brink of falling apart. Then, she settled down and busied herself with work. She kept herself upied


    until evening. Although she had initially nned to work overtime, she remembered the doctor¡¯s advice


    and decided to go home on time to rest. After all, rest was important during the first three months of


    pregnancy.


    Chloe grabbed dinner at a restaurant downstairs of the office building and returned home to wash up


    and sleep. In the middle of the night, she heard amotion as if a dog was barking incessantly. She


    drowsily opened her eyes and got out of bed to investigate.


    In the darkness, she saw Toto, looking pitiful and lost in the yard. Its big round eyes were filled with


    confusion and fear. As soon as the dog recognized her, it happily wagged its tail and affectionately


    nuzzled her hand with its fluffy head,


    Chloe was surprised as she looked out into the pitch-ck surroundings. There was no one around.


    ¡°How did you get here, Toto?¡± she asked.


    Without dwelling too much on it, she went to the bedroom to grab her phone and called Joseph. She


    dialed twice, but there was no answer. Most likely, he was asleep and had his phone on silent.


    Chloe bent down and petted the dog. ¡°Did you run away?¡±


    After their separation, Xavia once brought Toto and Oreo to her house under the pretext of learning


    how to make pet snacks. Chloe had no desire to teach her, but when she noticed that Oreo and Toto


    had lost significant weight, her heart ached. She personally prepared arge batch of pet snacks and


    told Xavia to take them back home. However, that was the only time they came.


    ¡°Did you memorize the way after just one visit?¡± she asked.


    Chloe was well aware that Border Collies were known for their intelligence, but besides that


    exnation, she could not fathom how Toto could have shown up in her yard in the middle of the night.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe gently stroked Toto¡¯s sleek fur and softly asked, ¡°Did you miss me and secretlye. here to


    see me?¡±


    Toto blinked its big, sparkling eyes and tilted its head, seemingly unable toprehend what


    she was talking about.


    ¡°Haha, okay, okay. I guess I¡¯ve given you too much credit.¡± Chloe chuckled.


    Although Toto was a Border Collie, it was not particrly bright. She was confident that Toto must have


    seized the opportunity of Joseph being asleep and sneaked out to enjoy some ytime. Unfortunately,


    it became disoriented and could not find its way back home. Guided solely by its memory, it eventually


    ended up at her ce.


    Chloe ced Toto in the yard, locked the gate, and decided to wait until the next day when Joseph


    woke up to give him a call to ask him toe and take the dog back.


    At eight o¡¯clock in the morning, Chloe woke up. Putting on her slippers, she descended the stairs and


    was immediately hit by a strong, pungent smell of blood. A sense of foreboding surged within her,


    urging her to quicken her pace. In the courtyard, she witnessed a distressing sight.


    Toto was lying in a pool of blood with a fruit knife sticking out of it. It had been severely injured, cruelly


    abused, and reduced to a pitiful state.


    Chloe¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she instinctively covered her mouth, tears streaming down her


    face. ¡°Toto, who did this to you¡­¡±


    Despite its pain, Toto struggled to wag its tail upon seeing Chloe cry, desperately attempting to get up


    and greet her.


    ¡°Stay still. I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡±


    She hastily wiped away her tears, her trembling fingers dialing for help. Meanwhile, Xavia and Joseph


    entered from outside. Both of them were d in their pajamas, and they looked anxious.

 Chapter 395

    Chapter 395


    Chapter 395 Do You Want to Be Labeled a Murderer?


    Chloe¡¯s heart raced as if she had grasped a lifeline. She urgently pleaded with Joseph, ¡°Quick! Take


    Toto to the vet hospital now!¡±


    Witnessing the scene before him, Joseph¡¯s face turned pale, and he immediately contacted the


    veterinarian. The knife was still embedded in Toto¡¯s body, and they could not simply move it around.


    Pointing at the fruit knife on Toto¡¯s belly, Xavia asked, her voiceced with disbelief, ¡°Chloe, isn¡¯t this


    fruit knife from your home?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s scalp tingled and a chilling thought took hold of her as she looked closely. It was indeed her


    own fruit knife. Someone had intruded into her house in the middle of the night and harmed Toto


    without her knowledge. But what if the intruder¡¯s real target was herself? Would she have met the same


    fate as Toto? Or perhaps, without Toto, the person lying in a pool of blood would be her¡­


    ¡°How could youmit such a heinous act?! If you hate me, that¡¯s one thing, but Toto is innocent!¡±


    Xavia shouted angrily, her eyes turning red as tears streamed down her face.


    However, Chloe caught a sh of satisfaction in her eyes. Suddenly, everything clicked into ce.


    Chloe stared at Xavia fiercely. ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The previous intentional visit with Toto and Oreo to her house was merely a setup for the current


    situation. Otherwise, why would Xavia make a special trip just to learn about pet snacks?


    Furthermore, the incident where Toto and Oreo were kidnapped by dog traffickers, and the deliberate


    cement of freeze-dried treats on the ground to lure them into a blind spot of the surveince


    cameras, indicated a premeditated n.


    ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense! Toto was harmed in your house, and the weapon belongs to you! Stop


    trying to shift the me!¡± Xavia retorted.


    ¡°Take those words to the police!¡± Chloe¡¯s voice was filled with determination.


    She had not touched the fruit knife, so it would surely carry the criminal¡¯s fingerprints.


    Chloe grabbed Xavia¡¯s hand and decided to report her to the police.


    Xavia¡¯s beautiful face shed with a sinister expression as she grabbed Chloe¡¯s hand and forcefully


    pulled it toward herself. Suddenly, she staggered backward, but Joseph swiftly caught her in time.


    Under Chloe¡¯s bewildered gaze, Xavia¡¯s demeanor shifted to one of fear and she anxiously said to


    Joseph, ¡°She pushed me so hard. If you hadn¡¯t caught me, she¡¯d have killed me and our


    child!¡±


    Chloe lowered her head, her hands pulled out in a manner that suggested a pushing motion.


    Xavia had her back turned to Joseph, so he failed to see what she had done.


    ¡®What a cunning woman she is!¡¯


    ¡°I didn¡¯t push her!¡± Chloe stubbornly stared at Joseph, her eyes containing a hint of hope, longing for


    him to believe her. Joseph silently met her gaze, his brow furrowing deeply. Chloe felt her heart ache


    like it was being pricked by needles.


    Once again, he did not believe her.


    ¡®So he believes that I harmed Toto and pushed Xavia?¡¯


    Even though she knew it would end up this way, she still felt a chill in her heart. She had cared for Toto


    for a time, and even though she had left his house, she would never take her frustration out on a


    helpless dog. How twisted must someone¡¯s mind be to do such a thing?


    Xavia regained herposure but remained nestled in Joseph¡¯sforting embrace. With teary eyes,


    she said, ¡°Ms. Chloe, regardless of whether you despise or envy me, I¡¯m now a pregnant woman.


    Setting aside the temporary mistreatment of Toto, do you really want to bebeled a murderer? I¡¯ve


    never provoked you, and I¡¯ve always shown you respect. I always wanted to build a good rtionship


    with you. If you have any grievances, direct them toward me, but please don¡¯t harm my child. If there¡¯s


    ever a next time, I¡¯ll show you what a mother will do when her kid is hurt!¡±

 Chapter 396

    Chapter 396


    Chapter 396 The Surgery Was Sessful, Toto Is Conscious


    With a cold expression on his face, Joseph was about to say something when the veterinarian arrived


    on the scene. He and the vet carefully moved Toto onto a gurney before leaving.


    Standing rooted to the spot, Chloe felt a wave of bitterness and difort wash over her. Despite this,


    she could not contain her concern for Toto and sent a text to Lucas in the afternoon, inquiring about its


    condition. Lucas told her that Toto was still in a critical condition and it remained to be seen if it would


    make it through the night.


    Upon receiving this news, a suffocating sensation gripped her chest throughout the day. However,


    there was another pressing matter that needed her attention. She had to move out of her current ce


    as soon as possible. She felt unsafe there as if she were being watched. If she did not leave soon,


    something bad might happen.


    She contacted a real estate agency that same day, and they rmended Oceanic Residence. It was


    conveniently close to her workce, with supermarkets and malls nearby, providing all the necessities.


    After a brief inspection of the apartment¡¯s interior and finding no major issues, she promptly paid three


    months¡¯ rent, called a movingpany, and had all her daily essentials transported to her new ce.


    Summoning a cleaning service, she had the entire house thoroughly cleaned inside and out. By the


    time these tasks werepleted, it was already evening. Chloe could not shake off her worries about


    Toto and texted Lucas again.


    Meanwhile, at the pet hospital, Lucas felt his phone vibrate and retrieved it to respond to Chloe.


    [The surgery was sessful, and Toto has regained consciousness.]


    Putting away his phone, he looked at Xavia, who was watching over Toto. He recalled the instructions


    given by Joseph before he left and said, ¡°Ms. Xavia, I¡¯ll take you home. The on- duty doctor will take


    care of Toto during the night.¡±


    Xavia nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay.¡±


    On their way back to Golden Wood, Xavia asked, ¡°Will Joee to my ce tonight?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You could ask him yourself,¡± Lucas replied.


    Joseph had returned to Fairlight to attend to his work as soon as Toto was out of danger.


    Xavia raised an eyebrow, dissatisfied with Lucas¡¯ response. ¡°Is he going to see Chloe?¡±


    Lucas firmly held the steering wheel and answered earnestly, ¡°You should ask Mr. Joseph about that.¡±


    ¡®How would I know where he¡¯s going after work? I¡¯m just his assistant, not his father.


    ¡°Back when Chloe married into the Whitmans, you didn¡¯t have this attitude, did you?¡±


    Lucas paused for a moment. ¡°Ms. Chloe didn¡¯t cause me any trouble.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°So are you saying that I¡¯m causing you trouble?¡± Xavia asked.


    Lucas smiled gently. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying.¡±


    Xavia took a deep breath. Once she became Joseph¡¯s wife, the first thing she would do was fire Lucas!


    In prison, Ava was sleeping soundly when she was abruptly awakened and shoved into a van. By the


    time she realized what was happening, they were already out.


    Breathing in the fresh air, she felt an exhration throughout her body. She had gotten out. She had


    finally escaped from that dreadful ce. ¡°Who are you? Why did you rescue me?¡± she asked the driver


    in a shy tone.


    The driver ignored her and drove the car to a farmhouse.


    ¡°Keep an eye on her and don¡¯t let her escape,¡± the driver instructed.


    The owner of the farmhouse was a plump woman in her thirties.


    ¡°What on earth¡­¡±


    ¡°Just keep an eye on her. You can do whatever you want with her.¡±


    The woman smiled brightly. ¡°Okay!¡±


    Coincidentally, she was in need of an ¡°entertainer.¡± After a satisfying meal and a few drinks, men


    always wanted to have some fun.


    Outside the door, Ava had no idea what awaited her. She thought she was simplying here for a


    meal.

 Chapter 397

    Chapter 397


    Chapter 397 I Want 60 Million Dors


    The driver left Ava at the farmhouse and returned to Docwood.


    ¡°Mr. Noah, I¡¯ve done as you instructed,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Noah replied nonchntly.


    He had gotten Ava out of sight, and the next target was Calvin. The person to unveil Chloe¡¯s identity


    had to be him. Not even Joseph stood a chance. After brief contemtion, he made a video call to


    Calvin.


    The man in question was berating his managers when he saw the iing call and waved them away.


    Moving his mouse, he clicked to answer.


    The face of a young man appeared on the screen, smiling as he looked at Calvin. ¡°I have something to


    tell you.¡±


    Calvin was curious. ¡°What is it?¡±


    He knew Noah had something up his sleeve, and he was curious to know what he had to say.


    ¡°It¡¯s about Aunt Luciana¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°You found her?!¡± Calvin could not hide his excitement and sat up straight.


    ¡°No.¡± Noah shook his head. ¡°The current issue is that Aunt Luciana¡¯s jewelry has appeared on the


    market. There¡¯s a possibility that it might be exploited by someone with ill intentions. You and I have to


    keep this matter confidential.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Calvin replied as his face turned serious. Exotic Star was one of the tops in the jewelry


    industry. If someone were to use Luciana¡¯s name for some ulterior motive or impersonate her daughter


    like Ava had, it could cause great distress to Desmond and his wife.


    The light reflecting off the mobile phone screen illuminated Noah¡¯s face, giving it a slightly sickly pallor.


    ¡°Make sure no one ever finds out about it. Don¡¯t say too much to anyone who asks. I¡¯ve gathered some


    clues on my end.¡±


    ¡°All right. Do you need my help?¡±


    ¡°No, I can handle it,¡± he replied casually before asking, ¡°Grandpa mentioned that Aunt Luciana


    changed her name after leaving the Sullivans, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she did.¡± Calvin sighed. It was precisely because of that change that he had been unable to


    locate her all these years.


    A peculiar gleam appeared in Noah¡¯s Innocent eyes. This was just as he wanted it. Even if Joseph


    were to discover something, it would be in vain if the name could not be matched.


    At Fairlight, Jonathan and Joseph were locked in a deadlock, the atmosphere chilling to its


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    core.


    Finally, Jonathan bowed his head and pleaded, ¡°Joe, the microchip research industry is a


    prominent force both nationally and globally. Justst month, I made an investment in an AI chip


    researchpany based in Ameria. If they manage to sell the chips, I¡¯ll receive a dividend of 15 million


    dors. I initially invested only 3 million, and the returns have multiplied several times over.¡±


    Joseph could not help but smirk, his mocking tone evident on his face. ¡°Man ns, and godughs. In


    recent years, with the declining demand in the chip industry and the concentrated. release of


    production capacity, it has be increasingly difficult to achieve remarkable results. What does it


    matter to be a leading industry when money can decide so much in a capital-rich environment? What


    makes a third-ratepany stand out among the numerous chip giants?¡±


    ¡°Joe, this isn¡¯t some third-ratepany. Everyone on the team is a top genius. They refuse to leave


    even after some of the big yers in the industry offered them exorbitant sries,¡± Jonathan said


    impatiently, ¡°You¡¯re in the financial industry, so you might not be familiar with the tech field. Their team


    is currently researching automotive chips, and if they seed, I can expect 300 million dors in


    return. But more importantly, my name will be known throughout the world.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Do as you please,¡± Joseph said coolly, unwilling to waste more words.


    ¡°But you


    have to provide me with 60 million dors as seed money. Once the project is a sess, I¡¯ll return you


    the money and an additional 15 million dors as interest.¡±

 Chapter 398

    Chapter 398


    Chapter 398 To Win Joseph¡¯s Favor Through a Dog


    ¡°What makes you think you can ask me for money? Am I your father?¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re my cousin!¡± Jonathan said exasperatingly, ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you always say that I haven¡¯t


    achieved anything? You have to support me this time.¡±


    Joseph sped his hands under his chin and looked at Jonathan deeply. Seeing this, Jonathan thought


    there was hope and continued to push his n.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about chip research.¡±


    ¡°Ah? Then what are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re going to leave.¡±


    Jonathan stormed out of Fairlight in frustration. At that moment, Octavia called him to ask if


    he had obtained the money from Joseph.


    ¡°Forget it. Joseph wouldn¡¯t budge an inch.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so selfish. The Whitmans don¡¯t belong to him alone. He refuses to let you join the board, and now


    he refuses to support you in your solo career. He doesn¡¯t deserve the position of power he has in this


    family.¡±


    ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not talk about him anymore. The most important thing right now is to secure the money.


    This project is a guaranteed profit.¡±


    Octavia paused for a moment. ¡°Jon, are you sure of that?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Even the richest man in Ameria has invested in this project!¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ What if we sold our properties? Once you earn the money, you can buy them back.¡±


    Since day one of Octavia marrying into the Whitmans, her family had been outmatched by Joseph¡¯s


    father. However, when his father passed away, Harold passed the position of power to Joseph. Now


    that her son had achieved something in life, she had to give him her fullest support.


    Jonathan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°But apart from the family home and the estate in Docwood, all the valuable


    properties are under Joseph¡¯s name.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one more under your grandpa¡¯s name.¡±


    ¡°You mean the one left by Joseph¡¯s father?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Since nobody lives there, we can just sell it. I¡¯m sure no one will notice.¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best.


    That property alone would sell for roughly 150 million dors. It all depended on whether there would


    be a buyer willing to take it off their hands.


    Little did they expect that as soon as the house went on the market, it was bought by a mysterious


    individual in less than a day.


    The moon in the middle of the month wasrge and radiant.


    After Chloe finished correcting thest document, she stretched in her seat and nced at the time-


    half-past eight in the evening. Lucas had told her that the vet hospital closed at ten, so it should be the


    perfect time for her to go. When she arrived, to her surprise, Xavia was also there, apanied by a


    mboyantly dressed woman.


    Chloe had an impression of this woman. She seemed to be a minor celebrity.


    Ignoring the two women, she walked over to Toto. The dog¡¯s fur had been shaved halfway, and it was


    sleeping on a cushion and hooked onto an IV drip. After a brief inquiry about the situation from the


    doctor, she felt relieved to hear that Toto¡¯s condition was stable. Although it was not her fault that Toto


    was harmed, it happened in her home, so she felt she held some responsibility. If something had


    happened to Toto, she would not be able to forgive herself. ¡°All right. Stop pretending. It isn¡¯t your dog


    anyway,¡± Megan Martinez said in a sarcastic voice. She was not standing up for her friend. Previously,


    when Exotic Star was looking for an ambassador, she had volunteered for nearly half a month, but in


    the end, Exotic Star chose someone from outside the industry. It was like a p in the face to her.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yeah. It isn¡¯t your dog, so you don¡¯t care,¡± Chloe replied as she looked at Xavia, wearing a fake smile


    on her face.


    Xavia chuckled, her voice was gentle but there was a hint of provocation in the edge of her voice. ¡°It¡¯s


    just a dog. What¡¯s there to care about?¡±


    As long as it had value and could be utilized, it was enough.


    ¡°Then why are you here with Toto?¡± Chloe pondered, stroking her chin. Suddenly, she had a moment of


    realization and said, ¡°Oh! I see now. You¡¯re just putting on a show, hoping to win Joseph¡¯s favor through


    his dog.¡±

 Chapter 399

    Chapter 399


    Chapter 399 We¡¯re Getting Married


    Xavia¡¯s face flushed when Chloe exposed her intentions. She had indeed used Toto to try and


    sabotage Joseph and Chloe¡¯s rtionship.


    But so what? As long as her objective was achieved, that was enough.


    ¡°h, h, h. You¡¯re the most noble and high-minded woman, but so what? What did you get in


    return? You can¡¯t even keep your man, and now you¡¯re getting all worked up over a dog? Is this dog


    your son?¡± retorted Megan exaggeratingly, using her fame to openly mock Chloe.¡± If that¡¯s the case, I


    offer my apologies to you. After all, I didn¡¯t know that you were a mother to a dog. Hahaha!¡±


    As Megan came to her defense, Xavia¡¯s expression improved slightly. She lifted her chin, eagerly


    waiting for Chloe to make a fool of herself in public. The pet hospital was currently empty, and no one


    paid much attention to their situation.


    Chloe, standing taller than Megan, looked down at her and said, ¡°Fuck off!¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°How dare you insult me!¡± Megan red at her fiercely.


    Chloe sneered and swiftly took out her phone, capturing several unttering pictures of Megan. She not


    only wanted to berate Megan but also expose her true face to her fans.


    Seeing what Chloe was doing, Megan immediately calmed herself and warned Chloe with an air of


    superiority, ¡°If you share those photos, be prepared to face mywyer.¡±


    Chloe remained silent. Of course, she would not be the one to share them directly. That would only


    invite more hostility. Such matters were better left to the paparazzi.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Ms. Chloe. Megan is just straightforward and speaks her mind,¡± Xavia interjected at


    the opportune moment, her beautiful face showing no trace of remorse.


    Chloe smiled, ¡°Really? I¡¯m the same.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, there¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure whether to say or not,¡± Xavia hesitated.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not sure whether to say it or not, then don¡¯t say it.¡±


    A viper would spit nothing but poison.


    After witnessing Toto¡¯s injury, Chloe finally glimpsed Xavia¡¯s true nature-dark, cunning, and willing to do


    anything to achieve her goals. It was no wonder Natalie had such a strong aversion to Xavia. Today,


    Xavia had harmed Toto to sabotage her rtionship with Joseph. Who knows what she might do next?


    Perhaps it might be something even more outrageous.


    Xavia gritted her teeth but she willed herself to calm down. ¡°Joe and 1 are getting married soon. I hope


    you¡¯ll stay away from him. As a woman, you should understand my feelings.¡±


    Chloe felt a sharp pang in her heart. ¡°You¡¯re getting married?¡±


    572


    ¡°Yes, after all, I¡¯m expecting a baby. Joe wants to give me a grand and romantic wedding before the


    delivery,¡± Xavia said, her face glowing a mixture of shyness and delight as if she were the happiest


    woman in the world.


    For a moment, Chloe struggled to tell if Xavia was lying or not. Her heart felt as if it were clenched


    tightly by an invisible hand, making it difficult for her to breathe. She turned away, refusing to speak.


    Toto slowly regained consciousness. Chloe noticed that its nose was dry and requested water from the


    doctor to give to Toto.


    Xavia gracefully remained seated on the bench. She showed no intention of leaving.


    Afterpleting her task, Chloe exchanged a few words with the doctor. Then, she picked up her bag


    and left.


    Xavia gazed at Chloe until she waspletely out of her sight. She got up and approached the doctor


    with a smile on her face. ¡°May I ask what that youngdy said to you


    earlier?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. She just told me to take care of Toto.¡±


    Xavia was skeptical as she nced at the barely conscious dog. She took out her phone and recorded


    a short video of the dog and sent it to Joseph.


    [Joe, Toto is awake. I gave it some water, and it seems to be in better condition today.]

 Chapter 400

    Chapter 400


    Chapter 400 Another Person¡¯s Fingerprints


    After pressing the send button, Xavia did not stay and left with Megan.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Approximately ten minutester, Chloe returned to the pet hospital.


    The doctor carefully ced a bloodstained fruit knife into a bag and handed it to Chloe.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said gratefully.


    The doctor smiled and said, ¡°A few assistants and I have touched this knife, so I¡¯m not sure if you can


    still extract fingerprints from it. You should hurry and send it to the forensics.boratory.¡±


    Having encountered people of all kinds in his line of work, he could easily discern those who genuinely


    treated dogs with sincerity.


    ¡°All right, goodbye,¡± Chloe replied.


    Earlier that morning, Chloe had already contacted the forensicsb. Now, she would deliver the fruit


    knife and await the results. If they got back some fingerprints, it would prove her innocence and help


    them identify the true culprit.


    Theb mentioned that the process would take three days and told her toe back then. Chloe


    agreed as she had a business trip out of town during these few days. Upon her return, she woulde


    back for the results. 2


    Joseph was busy well into the night, with many employees at Fairlight working overtime.


    Lucas was among them. He nced at the glowing sky outside the window. Realizing that dawn was


    only an hour away, he said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, leave the remaining trivial matters to us. You should go back


    and rest.¡±


    Rubbing his temples, Joseph picked up his phone, which had been sitting in the corner, and saw the


    video of Toto waking up. He then opened his chat conversation with Chloe, but there was no message


    from her.


    His thin lips tightened. ¡®How could this dumbo be so heartless?¡¯ he thought.


    Lucas caught a glimpse of the video Xavia had sent and hesitated over whether to inform Joseph about


    Chloe visiting Toto. On one hand, he felt guilty for secretly contacting Chloe. On the other hand, he was


    worried about getting scolded.


    After pondering for a few minutes, Lucas looked at the man exuding a strong aura and ultimately


    decided to keep it a secret. He could not quite grasp Joseph¡¯s thoughts, so it was best to act cautiously.


    Xavia got homete as well. She met up with Icarus and was shocked to learn that he was going


    abroad. He informed her that he had ns to go abroad for business, and the duration of his absence


    could range from six months to two or three years.


    She found it uneptable. After all, there was one matter that only Icarus could handle.


    Xavia gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to someone. You can do business with him. and I


    guarantee that you¡¯ll learn a lot from him.¡±


    Icarus firmly refused, ¡°I want to start my own business, not be someone else¡¯s worker.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe that establishing your own business is a simple matter? Even if things go well, it may


    take at least half a year to make a modest start. But what if things don¡¯t go ording to n? Do you


    think Chloe will continue to wait for you?¡±


    A hint of hesitation crossed Icarus¡¯ face. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°This is S¡¯s business card. You can choose whether or not to contact him. But you should understand


    that this is an opportunity,¡± Xavia said as she confidently patted his shoulder, her voice carrying a hint


    of mystery. ¡°His sess surpasses your imagination.¡±


    Three dayster, Chloe went to the forensic center to collect the report. Apart from the fingerprints of


    the veterinarian and his assistants, they also managed to get fingerprints belonging to one other


    person.


    Chloe felt a surge of joy, but she knew that she needed the assistance of the police to investigate the


    unknown¡¯s identity based on the fingerprints. With no other options, she decided to first bring the


    fingerprint results to Joseph and ask him to seek help from Tyson.


    As she made her way to Fairlight, she unexpectedly ran into Nathan, whom she had not seen in a long


    time.


    Nathan pulled up in his Maserati and whistled at her. ¡°Where are you heading, mydy? I can give you


    a ride.¡±


    She smiled at him and replied, ¡°Fairlight.¡±


    Nathan was taken aback, then casually brushed his bangs aside and said, ¡°Hop in.¡±

 Chapter 401

    Chapter 401


    Chapter 401 I Trust You Very Much


    Chloe blinked. ¡°Are you heading to Fairlight too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not out of the way. Don¡¯t be shy. Although you and Joe are separated, we¡¯re still friends.¡±


    Chloe nodded. ¡°I shall ept your offer then. I¡¯ll tip you if your service is good, Mr. Nathan.¡±


    ¡°All right. Buckle in and let¡¯s be on our journey.¡±


    ¡®Be on our journey? That was strange.¡±


    ¡°Why do you want to see Joe?¡± Nathan winked at her. ¡°Do you miss him?¡±


    ¡°Do I miss a married man with a child?¡± she teased andughed at herself.


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t married Xavia up till now.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean that they won¡¯t get married in the future.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Nathan muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t think Joe will marry her.¡±


    Gabriel had told them about Xavia¡¯s past. Naturally, she did not have the right to be a part of the


    Whitman family considering her circumstances.


    Chloe tilted her head to look at him. ¡°But Xavia told me that they¡¯re getting married soon and that


    Joseph wants to give her a grand and romantic wedding.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe whatever she says?¡± Nathan¡¯s gaze was weird. ¡°It¡¯s just a trick topete against you


    for Joe¡¯s favor.¡±


    The women around him always lied through their teeth to gain his favor. He had long gotten used to


    such tricks. However, Chloe would not discover it that easily because she was in the midst of it.


    Chloe narrowed her pretty eyes slightly. ¡°Are you telling the truth? Won¡¯t Joseph marry Xavia after she


    gives birth to the child?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. Otherwise, why haven¡¯t I heard about my buddy¡¯s uing nuptials?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Chloe may dislike Xavia, but Xavia would give Joseph a child. Naturally, he had to marry Xavia


    because of the child. 1


    Nathan did not want to gossip about Xavia¡¯s past because it was immoral and changed the topic. He


    smiled and asked, ¡°Why do you ask so many questions about this? You haven¡¯t forgotten about -Joe,


    have you?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true.¡± Chloe turned aside and refused to admit to it.


    Nathan was struck speechless.


    The two people who never spoke their minds got together.


    Soon they arrived at Fairlight. The moment Chloe entered the office, she saw Joseph on a video


    1/2


    conference. His delicate and impable face, coupled with his maic voice while he was talking in


    Estrenian, helped to set off his charms. That kind of person was a born hero.


    Chloe averted her gaze and sat on the sofa calmly. She waited until he finished his work. Nathan was


    sensible enough to not disturb him either.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze lingered on theputer screen, but out of the corner of his eye, he was observing


    someone. After more than ten minutes, the video conference came to an early end.


    Nathan tilted his chin at Chloe to ask her to talk about her affairs first.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I brought the fruit knife that was used to hurt Toto to an organization for fingerprint testing This is the


    result Chloe handed Joseph a folder Her voice was clear, and her words were well- organized ¡°There¡¯s


    a set of fingerprints belonging to another person on it other than the medical staff If there¡¯s no


    unforeseen issue, that¡¯s our culprit.¡±


    Joseph looked up and nced at the folder. He then said lightly, ¡°Do you want me to send the results to


    Tyson for further investigation?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt Toto.¡± Chloe looked into his eyes with a stubborn expression ¡°You¡¯re wrong to use


    me.¡±


    It felt bad to be wrongly used, let alone by someone she had once loved. She worried about Toto as


    much as Joseph.


    ¡°When did I ever say that you were the one who did it?¡± Joseph asked in answer.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you always think I¡¯m the culprit?¡±


    ¡°I trust you very much in this aspect.¡±


    Joseph could see how nice Chloe was to Toto. She would never do such an immoral thing.


    Chloe was stunned before she suppressed the grievance in her heart. She asked out of spite, ¡°You


    trust me? Then why did you not ask me about it?

 Chapter 402

    Chapter 402


    Chapter 402 His Superiority Appears Glorious


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with work,¡± Joseph exined helplessly.


    Nathan echoed his words. ¡°Yes, I can vouch for that. I called Joe several times yesterday but he didn¡¯t


    pick up.¡±


    Lucas came in with drinks. ¡°Mr. Joseph¡¯s been burning the midnight oil for several days. His


    subordinates have also been working overtime for a week¡±


    Chloe now realized that Joseph¡¯s face appeared slightly haggard and there were light circles under his


    eyes. She whispered, ¡°Okay. Go to Tyson when you¡¯re free.¡±


    Joseph looked up but was displeased with her attitude. She had not inquired about his well-being. But


    the words he uttered changed at thest minute. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go and see Toto?¡±


    ¡°But I did.¡± Chloe became grumpy. ¡°How else could I have gotten the fruit knife? Do I have to inform


    you every time I go there?¡±


    Joseph frowned and looked at Lucas.


    Lucas smiled bitterly. ¡®Mr. Joseph, you ordered me not to contact Ms. Chloe.¡±


    But he did not dare to reveal that. Someone had to take the me.


    ¡°Shall we go for lunch together?¡± Nathan tried to mediate the situation as he nudged Chloe with his


    elbow.


    ¡°No, I need to go back to the office.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to cease being my friend, Chloe?¡± Nathan appeared hurt. ¡°I wanted to talk business with


    you, but let¡¯s just forget it if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Business? What kind of business?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it over lunch?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The previous unfinished project had exhausted too much money and manpower. Although Chloe¡¯s


    company would not go bankrupt, it was still arge loss. It would take at least a year before the


    situation recovered. That was why she had been on business trips-to secure cooperation and earn


    more money.


    Nathan smiled cunningly before he winked at Joseph. ¡®You owe me a favor.¡¯


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    They went to a restaurant downstairs. Chloe and Joseph had gone there when they were still dating.


    Inevitably, they reminisce about their past when they were there again.


    Nathan handed Chloe the menu. ¡°I¡¯ll let you guys order. I¡¯m not very hungry.¡±


    ¡°Okay. How about you, Joe?¡±


    ¡°Whatever.¡±


    It was proved that Nathan had a deep understanding of women. All the dishes he would order were


    nd but delicate food. Women who watched their weight liked these kinds of dishes. But


    Chloe was no such woman. She wanted delicious food instead of pretty food. Although the lighter food


    tasted fine, she disliked them.


    Before all the dishes were served, Chloe stopped eating after taking a few bites. Joseph noticed this.


    He slowly wiped his mouth with his handkerchief, got up, and left. 1


    Nathan sighed. ¡°Joe has it tough. Not only does he have to manage Fairlight well, but he has to watch


    over the Whitman Group at the same time. You met Jonathan and his family, right? Well, it¡¯s hard to put


    into words¡­¡±


    Chloe lowered her eyes.


    ¡®I¡¯m aware. All the Whitmans are troublemakers. They rely on the achievements umted by their


    ancestors and lead an extravagant life. Joseph has a high position. It seems glorious, but only the


    people around him will know how hard it is for him.¡¯


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s eat.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    The silencested only for a few seconds before Chloe asked, ¡°What¡¯s the business you have in


    mind?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember a real estate boss with the surname of Reese? You guys met at the Sullivans¡¯


    house garden.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    It was that guy who told her that something might happen at the construction site, and it had indeed


    happened.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s my father.¡±

 Chapter 403

    Chapter 403


    Chapter 403 Ridiculous Sweetness


    Chloe widened her gaze. ¡°What a coincidence!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! This circle of ours isn¡¯t that big. Once you be a part of it, everyone will get to know each


    other eventually.¡±


    Chloe refuted, ¡°I just became a part of it temporarily.¡±


    She would never have met the Sullivans or be an Exotic Star ambassador if it were not for the


    rtionship she had with the Whitmans.


    ¡°You¡¯re funny. My father recalls that you¡¯re good at making proposals, but I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll ept or


    not. As for the fee¡­¡± Nathan extended his fingers to gesture a number. 1


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll ept it!¡±


    Chloe did not think that a president would fail to hire a person to make proposals. They were most


    probably testing her abilities. If she fulfilled their expectation, they might help her after. It was fine if they


    did not think highly of her. After all, she would gain the fee she deserved.


    Nathan was amused by her determined look. ¡°Are you short of money?¡±


    ¡°No, but I need chances.¡±


    The Johnson Group was worse off than some but better off than many. It was easy for this sort of


    company to crumble, and it was also hard for them to climb higher.


    After she said that, Joseph opened the door and came in. Nathan then told him what they talked about


    just now. However, Joseph seemed uninterested. He then changed the topic.


    ¡°Can I join your father¡¯s new project in Docwood?¡±


    Nathan was stupefied. ¡°How do you know¡­¡± His father had wanted to invite Chloe to join that new


    project. Joseph really had incredible foresight.


    ¡°Can I join?¡±


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll tell him when I get home.¡±


    Joseph gave a curt reply before a waiter knocked on the door and came in. A few spicy dishes were


    served.


    Nathan became confused. ¡°Did you order these?¡±


    ¡®When did he start liking food with strong vors?


    -¡°Mmhmm,¡± Joseph answered absent-mindedly before he looked toward Chloe. When he saw her


    stare at a bowl of chili and swallow, he secretly smiled.


    Chloe seemed to have noticed something so she looked up at him. When their eyes met, she caught a


    doting look that shed across his handsome face.


    Her heart skipped a beat. ¡®Did he order these dishes for me¡­¡±


    When this thought popped into her mind, she could not get rid of it. She instinctively wanted to deny it


    but this was the only exnation. Nathan and Joseph did not eat spicy food.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    An unspeakable feeling engulfed her. She was filled with bitterness and a tinge of ridiculous


    sweetness. She was pregnant, so she did not dare to eat too much spicy food. She just ate enough to


    satisfy her appetite.


    Nathan had something on his mind, so he did not notice this. He looked toward Joseph when


    Chloe had almost finished eating and asked heavily, ¡°Who¡¯s the one taking care of the real estate in


    your family?¡±


    ¡°Most of them are under my name, but Grandpa has a few.¡±


    ¡°How about that one yourte father stayed at?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes sank. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Nathan touched his nose. ¡°I saw someone put the house on sale online, and it was sold¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s brows knitted together tightly. The backs of his hands were full of bulging veins. The


    atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.


    He called Jonathan in front of them ¡°Come to Fairlight within twenty minutes. Otherwise, your father will


    cease to be a board member too.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank. She knew that a family dispute was about to break out. However, she was not in a


    position to meddle.


    She was about to grab her bag but Nathan beat her to it.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    Nathan lowered his voice. ¡°Joe¡¯s father passed away in that house. I¡¯m worried that he¡¯ll lose control


    and deal with Jonathan cruelly.¡±


    Joseph prohibited others from entering that house but Jonathan had secretly sold it.

 Chapter 404

    Chapter 404


    Chapter 404 Just Kill Me


    Chloe¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡®If Grandpa knew, he wouldn¡¯t want to see both his grandsons get into a


    fight. Just let them talk it out. If not, just let Joseph beat Jonathan to vent his anger as long as it¡¯s


    not out of the line.¡¯


    Atst, she agreed to stay.


    Jonathan, probably terrified of Joseph, reached in fifteen minutes. He even brought Preston along.


    ¡°Joe, Jon was insensible. Don¡¯t fight about it with him. When he has the means after a while, he¡¯ll


    repurchase the house.¡±


    ¡°Repurchase it now.¡±


    Joseph would not ept no for an answer. His ck eyes were cold without even a hint of warmth.


    Preston¡¯s forehead was full of cold sweat. ¡°We don¡¯t have the money right now. What¡¯s more, Jon


    wouldn¡¯t have sold the house if you had supported him in starting his business by giving him some


    money.¡±


    ¡°Quit the board or repurchase the house. Pick one.


    ¡°What are you talking about? How disgraceful!¡±


    Chloe and Nathan were sitting by the side, and Preston became displeased when embarrassed in front


    of others. Hence, he rebuked Joseph and acted like Joseph¡¯s elder.


    ¡°Joe, don¡¯t be so stingy. No one had lived there for so many years, and the buyer didn¡¯t despise it even


    after someone died there. The buyer offered a reasonable price. At most, I¡¯ll give you the money I got


    from selling the house after I earn back the money in a few months. I¡¯ll even give you 14 million as


    interest. That¡¯ll do, right?¡±


    Chloe inevitably frowned. ¡®What did he mean someone died in there? Isn¡¯t that person his rtive too?


    The house was kept as a memento. But Jonathan sold someone else¡¯s house and is acting like he was


    wronged.¡¯


    Joseph emanated a dangerous aura as he narrowed his eyes. He pushed Preston away, who was


    standing in front of Jonathan. ¡°Repurchase the house today. Do you understand?¡±


    Being forced, anxiety seized Jonathan. He roared, ¡°If you want money, I don¡¯t have it! If you want my


    life-¡±


    -But before he could finish his words, Joseph punched his face.


    Jonathan became dazed from the punch and felt something wet around his nose. He took out his


    phone and checked his appearance. His nose was bleeding.


    ¡°You punched me?!¡± he screamed furiously. ¡°I¡¯ll get you!¡± He rushed toward Joseph.


    The two broke out into a fight. Joseph was on top of Jonathan throughout the process, having the


    upper hand. He punched Jonathan repeatedly, and Jonathan¡¯s face became flushed and badly swollen.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    An unspeakable feeling engulfed her. She was filled with bitterness and a tinge of ridiculous


    sweetness. She was pregnant, so she did not dare to eat too much spicy food. She just ate enough to


    satisfy her appetite.


    Nathan had something on his mind, so he did not notice this. He looked toward Joseph when


    Chloe had almost finished eating and asked heavily, ¡°Who¡¯s the one taking care of the real estate in


    your family?¡±


    ¡°Most of them are under my name, but Grandpa has a few.¡±


    ¡°How about that one yourte father stayed at?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes sank. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Nathan touched his nose. ¡°I saw someone put the house on sale online, and it was sold¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s brows knitted together tightly. The backs of his hands were full of bulging veins. The


    atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.


    He called Jonathan in front of them. ¡°Come to Fairlight within twenty minutes. Otherwise, your father


    will cease to be a board member too.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart sank. She knew that a family dispute was about to break out. However, she was not in a


    position to meddle.


    She was about to grab her bag but Nathan beat her to it.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    Nathan lowered his voice. ¡°Joe¡¯s father passed away in that house. I¡¯m worried that he¡¯ll lose control


    and deal with Jonathan cruelly.¡±


    Joseph prohibited others from entering that house but Jonathan had secretly sold it.

 Chapter 405

    Chapter 405


    Chapter 405 Cheating and ident Are Different


    At that moment, she yearned to hug Joseph. She wanted to embrace him and give him warmth. Chloe


    extended her hands, but they stopped in mid-air. Their current identities prohibited them from having


    such intimate gestures with each other. She then forced a bitter smile and decided to maintain some


    distance from him.


    Suddenly, Joseph caught her off guard and hugged her. He then leaned his chin on her shoulder and


    said in exhaustion, ¡°Let me lean on you for a while.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips and patted his back to console him. ¡°Okay.¡±


    They hugged each other. At the same time, their scents mixed together in an inexplicable harmony.


    Chloe looked up at the moon in the sky. Since they were on the rooftop, the moon lookedrge and


    round. It seemed near but far at the same time.


    After taking a moment, Joseph regained hisposure but did not let her go. He buried his face


    against her neck and greedily took in her unique scent.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop arguing and get back together.¡±


    He sounded aloof. Every word he uttered was light as if he was murmuring. His thin lips touched her


    skin from time to time and it tickled.


    Chloe shuddered. ¡°What did you say¡­¡±


    He held her face with both hands and leaned the tip of his nose against hers. He then repeated himself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back together.¡±


    Chloe pursed her red lips tightly. ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°When have I ever lied to you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to because you cheated on me.¡±


    She was bothered by what happened that night, so she was reluctant to forgive him.


    ¡°That¡¯s an ident. Having an affair and an ident are two different things.¡±


    ¡°Was it an ident?¡±


    Scumbags always made such statements when they made mistakes.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to get Xavia toe over. We¡¯ll confront each other face-to-face.¡± Chloe stared at his


    passionate eyes as her heartbeat quickened. ¡°What if you are conspiring with her to lie to me?¡±


    Joseph pinched her ear and questioned with a smile, ¡°Would it do her any good?¡±


    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine then.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you bothered by the fact that I mistook you for Icarus?¡±


    ¡°Life is short. Why should we argue over the past? People are bound to make mistakes. It¡¯s fine as long


    as your feelings for me are real.¡±


    Chloe gaped in bewilderment. She never expected him to say such warm words since he was always


    so aloof. It was indeed strange.


    ¡°How do you know that my feelings for you are real? You never trusted me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a little fickle. But isn¡¯t my appearance and wealth superior to the useless Jake, Icarus who


    tried to seek your sympathy, and also that young, inexperienced Noah?¡±


    He had absolute confidence. As long as he turned around, he would still be the dumbo¡¯s first choice.


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°I¡¯m not fickle. Don¡¯t nder me.¡±


    Joseph chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll get Xavia toe.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t say yes,¡± shemented, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t marry her, what do you n to do with her


    baby?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s confirmed that the child is mine after the amniocentesis, I¡¯ll bring the child into my family, Joseph


    stated solemnly. He hoped that Chloe would be considerate toward him. ¡°After all, the child is


    innocent.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the child is innocent.¡± Chloe heaved a long sigh before she looked down at her belly with


    complicated feelings.


    He was right. Having an affair and an ident was different. If someone cheated on their partner, it


    was immoral and unforgivable. However, idents¡­were unavoidable.


    Chloe¡¯s mind became a mess. It might be because she could not forget about Joseph or she


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    yearned to know the truth of that night, so she agreed to let him call Xavia.

 Chapter 406

    Chapter 406


    Chapter 406 Have You Heard of Manufactured Fate


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°First, we need to make things clear. I haven¡¯t agreed to reconcile. Even if it¡¯s proven that the incident


    that night was an ident, we both need time to cool off and carefully assess the situation.¡±


    Apart from Xavia, there were many other personal factors between them.


    Joseph¡¯s lips curled into a smile as he nodded in agreement. ¡®Dumbo must be secretly delighted. while


    pretending to stayposed. Well, if she wants to put on a show, I¡¯ll join her in this y.¡± When Xavia


    received his call, she felt a surge of excitement and joy. She meticulously applied her makeup and


    slipped into a stunning white dress, eagerly making her way to the Fairlight to meet him.


    Meanwhile, in the office, Nathan, Jonathan, and the others had departed. Expecting Jonathan to not


    repurchase the house, Joseph instructed Lucas to contact the buyer.


    Chloe anticipated Xavia¡¯s imminent arrival. A sly glint sparkled in her almond-shaped eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll slip


    away to the restroomter. Don¡¯t let Xavia know I¡¯m here.¡±


    With Chloe¡¯s presence, Xavia would surely feel restricted and guarded. Joseph saw through the


    scheming nature of Chloe¡¯s thoughts and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Afraid that she might hold back?¡±


    Chloe shrugged, neither confirming nor denying his assumption.


    After approximately three minutes, the sound of the elevator¡¯s ¡°ding¡± resonated from outside. Chloe


    swiftly slipped into the restroom, leaving the door slightly ajar to discreetly observe the unfolding scene.


    Joseph let out a sigh, feeling as though he were a sneaky thief.


    ¡°Joe, you asked to see me?¡± Xavia¡¯s voice trembled with a hint of shyness as she entered. Her face


    was delicately enhanced with light makeup, and she donned a stylish coffee-colored windbreaker Her


    eyes sparkled with anticipation as they locked onto Joseph.


    It had been days since hest reached out to her, and the unexpected evening invitation left her mind


    wondering. ¡®Does he¡­.miss me?¡¯ Xavia silently pondered, her heart fluttering with hope.


    She had always held the belief that men could be categorized into two types: those who let their primal


    instincts guide them, and those who lead their lives with reason and control. Joseph, without a doubt,


    fell into thetter category.


    However, no matter how rational a man may be, he could notpletely resist the innate desires of the


    body. Just like that fateful night, if Chloe had not acted first, it would have been her in Chloe¡¯s ce.


    Now, with her pregnancy and the years of emotional connection between them, she -firmly believed


    that she would eventually win Joseph over.


    ¡®Is today the day?


    Joseph nced at Xav¨ªa casually, devoid of any emotions. ¡°Take a seat.¡±


    She nodded gently, gazing at him affectionately, awaiting his next words.


    ¡°That night at Graceville Estate, what time did youe to find me?¡±.


    Xavia¡¯s expression shifted as she was caught off guard by the sudden question. ¡°I believe it was


    around nine. I don¡¯t recall the exact time. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°That night, I had a terrible headache and wasn¡¯t feeling well, so I went to bed early.¡±


    ¡°Yes. When I entered, you were indeed asleep¡­¡± Uncertain of his motives, she chose her words


    carefully, fearing that he had discovered something. ¡°But you appeared sick as if you had a fever. Joe,


    could someone have drugged you¡­¡± She stared intently at him as she uttered those words, afraid of


    missing any subtle expression.


    He chuckled and countered, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Under normal circumstances, you¡¯re not that kind of person¡­¡± She waspletely


    uncertain, a trace of unease flickering in her eyes. ¡°Did you discover something?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    That day, Lucas was in charge of the tea, and with the surveince equipment outside the room.


    damaged, it was difficult to identify the suspect.


    A sense of relief washed over Xavia, and she felt her body rx.


    S was known for his reliability in handling delicate matters, and all the staff present at Graceville Estate


    that day were under his control. This n had been meticulouslyid out for over a year, making it


    difficult to trace back.


    ¡°Joe, let¡¯s leave the past behind us,¡± Xavia dered, rising from her seat and approaching him with a


    tender, loving gaze. ¡°Now that we¡¯re expecting a baby, it¡¯s a sign of fate.¡± Joseph¡¯s lips curled into a


    mocking smile. ¡°Have you ever heard of manufactured fate?¡±

 Chapter 407

    Chapter 407


    Chapter 407 Both Ears Perked Up


    Xavia was caught off guard, her face palling with surprise.


    ¡°Do you still have feelings for Chloe?¡±


    The person inside the restroom perked up both ears, straining to catch every word.


    Joseph leaned back, adopting a nonchnt posture, while his narrowed eyes emitted a chilling and


    sinister aura. ¡°Why do you persist in asking something you already know the answer to?¡±


    ¡°Joe, I¡¯m the only one who truly loves you. Hasn¡¯t Chloe moved on and started a rtionship with


    Icarus?¡±


    Upon hearing those words, Chloe could not bear it any longer. She kicked open the restroom door, a


    smile ying on her lips. ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re so concerned about my love life?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face paled, staring at Chloe in shock. ¡°What are you doing here? And why were you hiding in


    the restroom?¡±


    ¡®What in the hell is going on?¡±


    ¡°Who says I was hiding? I simply came in to use the restroom,¡± Chloe said, feigning seriousness.


    Xavia took a hesitant step back. ¡°Joe, what¡¯s going on here¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°But I just got here¡­¡±


    Joseph nced at his watch and signaled for Lucas to approach. ¡°Take her home.¡±


    ¡°Right away, Mr. Joseph,¡± Lucas responded with a subtle smile, motioning for Xavia to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving!¡± Xavia, being astute, quickly grasped Joseph¡¯s motive for calling her here. She felt her


    dignity being trampled upon and her anger surged. ¡°You called me here just so Chloe could see me


    embarrassed?¡± She refused to be a pushover. Even in a disadvantageous situation, she would fight to


    regain control.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t call you here to embarrass you. I was giving her an exnation,¡± Joseph responded calmly, his


    handsome face showing no emotions.


    Xavia inhaled sharply, her eyes welling up with tears. ¡°You would trample on my dignity just to give her


    an exnation?¡±


    He frowned, his sharp words carrying a hint of annoyance. ¡°It¡¯s not as extreme as you make it sound.


    It¡¯s just a matter of stating the facts.¡±


    ¡°And why is there a need to hide in the restroom to do that?¡± Sheughed at herself bitterly, her hand


    instinctively resting on her belly. ¡°You can treat me however you want, but shouldn¡¯t you consider our


    child in all of this?¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem if I hide in the restroom? Did I hide in your restroom? Can our child hear us right


    now? Stop using the child as a shield, would you?¡±


    Chloe was already feeling displeased while listening to them recall the events of that night while inside


    the restroom. She reached her breaking point and could not tolerate it any longer, and her


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    mouth spewed a barrage of angry retorts.


    Xavia¡¯s anger surged within her, yet her tone unexpectedly softened. ¡°Ms. Chloe, as someone who


    doesn¡¯t have a child, I don¡¯t expect you to fullyprehend the yearning a woman has for a family. Is it


    wrong for me to fight for it?¡±


    Fueled by anger, Chloe scoffed in response, ¡°You¡¯re right, but it¡¯s possible that your child may end up


    calling me ¡®Mom¡¯ in the future.¡± She was capable of striking where it hurts most too.


    Sure enough, Xavia swayed, almost sumbing to a fainting spell. Lucas, ever watchful, instinctively


    reached out to steady her. She forcefully pped his hand away, suppressing her anger and upholding


    her noble and graceful demeanor.


    ¡°If you genuinely love my child and are willing to embrace them as your own, then there¡¯s no issue. I


    desire to be with Joe solely for the purpose of providing our child with aplete family.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s smirk widened, unveiling a row of perfectly aligned white teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of raising


    other people¡¯s children, but if you beg me earnestly enough, I might consider it.¡±


    The more Chloe engaged with Xavia, the more she discerned the depth of Xavia¡¯s schemes and


    tactics. Xavia¡¯s reservoir of patience also surpassed that of an ordinary individual. If the same situation


    had urred to Ava, she would have erupted in anger long ago. It was easy to envision her resorting


    to tears, creating a scene, or even contemting self-harm.


    However, Xavia did not employ those methods. Instead, she exhibited remarkable patience, expressed


    her frustrations appropriately, and maintained aposed demeanor, avoiding beingbeled as a


    shrew. Such reactions felt more authentic and were less likely to elicit dislike from others.

 Chapter 408

    Chapter 408


    Chapter 408 Deception Will Only Last for So Long


    Xavia seethed with anger, dreading that if she remained any longer, she might lose control and unleash


    a torrent of curses at this bitch.


    She turned to Joseph and uttered, ¡°I¡¯m leaving. Don¡¯t forget to apany me for the prenatal check-


    up in a few days. The doctor mentioned that my condition requires special attention due to undergoing


    chemotherapy. It¡¯s best to have a family member present during the check-up in case of emergencies.¡±


    Joseph exchanged a nce with Lucas, clearly conveying his intentions. Lucas stepped forward,


    reassured, ¡°Ms. Xavia, I¡¯ll apany you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware that Mr. Joseph has numerous official


    matters demanding his attention on a daily basis.¡±


    Xavia mustered a smile that held more sorrow than tears, yet she fought to maintain herposure.


    ¡°That will do.¡± She swiftly made her way out, anxious that she might lose control and engage Chloe in a


    confrontation. In the blink of an eye, only Chloe and Joseph remained in the office.


    Joseph settled onto the sofa, propping up his chin with one hand. ¡°So, do you finally believe that night


    was an ident?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    Chloe was not the type to cling to something once it was exined clearly. Xavia was almost infuriated


    just a moment ago, and if it were not an ident, her reaction would have been


    different.


    ¡°Will youe to the family home with me tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°No, I have to go to work.¡±


    He furrowed his brow slightly and disagreed, ¡°Don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡±


    Chloe blinked her eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t about exerting myself. It¡¯s about striving for a happy life.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem for me to support you in everything, you know.¡±


    ¡°I never asked you to support me.¡± She knew very well that relying on others was not as reliable as


    relying on herself. After a pause, she added, ¡°We¡¯re in a cooling-off period. We should not interfere in


    each other¡¯s lives.¡±


    Joseph clicked his tongue and found it somewhat amusing. ¡°How could you be so oblivious to what¡¯s


    good for you?¡±


    Chloe snorted lightly, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡±


    She did not refuse as the misunderstanding had been resolved and the frustration in her chest had


    dissipated.


    ¡°I¡¯ve moved out of the Johnson residence and rented a new ce.¡±


    Joseph nodded, ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Gabe owns the apartment you rented. That whole street belongs to his family.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. ¡®So, this is the life of the wealthy¡­ However, the main point is that the real


    estate agent disclosed tenants¡¯ personal information. I¡¯m going to leave them a bad review!¡¯


    Filled with anger upon returning home, Xavia found herself restless and unable to sleep. She took out


    her phone and dialed Vanya Morgan¡¯s number.


    On the other end, Vanya removed her mask, revealing a pair of sharp eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Can we attempt to assassinate Chloe again?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Why not? Leaving her alive is a disaster!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. If the scene at Fairlight earlier could be considered a devastating blow,


    this revtion felt like a thunderbolt striking her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s Joseph¡¯s child?¡±


    Vanya¡¯s sneer intensified, her eyes narrowing like those of a sinister ghost. ¡°Whose else could it be?¡±


    Her words dripped with venom as she remarked, ¡°Look at how ambitious she is. She managed to


    conquer Joseph in less than a year. And you? Six years and zero progress.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s grip on the phone tightened, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation. ¡°What


    should I do? With this revtion, it seems like I have no chance of ever winning.¡±


    She had clearly sensed the different atmosphere between Joseph and Chloe tonight. Retreating


    seemed like the best course of action, but the addedplication of Chloe¡¯s pregnancy was causing


    her to break.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Chloe¡¯s pregnancy might actually work in your favor.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°S has devised a n to swap the babies. You see, Joseph is no fool. Even if the amniocentesis is


    tampered with, a paternity test will be conducted once the child is born. Deception will onlyst for so


    long. The truth remains the safest refuge.¡±Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 409

    Chapter 409


    Chapter 409 As Long as Joe Is Happy, I¡¯m Content


    Xavia felt her heart race, anxiety bubbling within her. ¡°Are you sure this n will seed? What if it¡¯s


    discovered?¡±


    ¡°It has to work. It¡¯s your only viable option. As per our initial n, you need to find a way to terminate


    the pregnancy within three months. Do you think it¡¯s still viable now?¡±


    ¡°Terminate the pregnancy?¡¯ Xavia¡¯s mind recoiled at the thought. She vigorously shook her head,


    realizing that if she followed through with that n, she would lose her reason to remain by Joseph¡¯s


    side, and things often do not go as smoothly as anticipated.


    Vanya smiled sarcastically. ¡°Well, the boss has done his part for you and paved the way for you. You¡¯re


    fully aware of the consequences if you fail.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to meet the boss¡¯s expectations and not disappoint him. But what if Chloe reveals to


    Joseph that she¡¯s also pregnant?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Just make sure to publicly announce that you¡¯re carrying Joseph¡¯s child. Let


    everyone assume it as a fact. The rest will naturally fall into ce.¡±


    Xavia nodded in agreement, confident in her ability to captivate and control the men she pursued.


    However, she acknowledged that Joseph and Gabriel stood on different levels. She did not need Vanya


    to exin the boundaries of her actions. She knew exactly what to do next.


    Today marked the official beginning of autumn. As Chloe strolled down the street, she marveled at the


    vibrant yellow leaves adorning the trees. A sudden gust of cool wind swept past her as she pulled up


    her cor and walked briskly into the Reese family-owned conglomerate firm.


    Nathan led her to meet his father and briefly discussed the project requirements. It quickly became


    evident that the task at hand was even more challenging and demanding than Fairlight¡¯s requirements


    but Chloe was not one to back down. No matter how difficult it seemed, she was


    determined to give it her best shot.


    After spending ten minutes conversing, Mr. Hugo, Nathan¡¯s father, abruptly excused himself to attend


    to other pressing matters. Left alone, Nathan and Chloe delved into the specifics of the project. She


    listened intently, her focus unwavering, as she meticulously jotted down


    in her notebook.


    every c detail


    Nathan sighed and could not help but admire the captivating allure of an independent woman. His


    admiration was genuine, devoid of any hidden motives.


    As their meeting concluded, Nathan nced at the clock and prompted her, ¡°Joe is waiting for you


    downstairs. If you have any questions, feel free to text me.¡±


    Chloe was surprised. ¡°Why is he here?¡±


    ¡°Must be something important,¡± Nathan chuckled and yfully rubbed his nose. ¡°Go ask him.¡±


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    She packed her notebook into her bag and went downstairs, where she saw Joseph waiting in a sleek


    ck convertible Maybach. From afar, he exuded an air of sophistication, his tailored suit


    1/3


    entuating hismanding presence. His gaze was lowered, carrying a hint of icy allure that


    surpassed mere handsomeness. He seemed like an unattainable deity, his looks possessing a lethal


    charm. Every time sheid eyes upon his face, it never failed to enchant her.


    Chloe tenderly caressed her belly, hoping that the baby inside would be a boy that would inherit his


    father¡¯s good looks. If he grew up and failed to excel in other aspects, his appearance alone could pave


    his way in life. As for a girl, she knew she would have to rely on her own talents, just


    like Chloe herself.


    She sat inside the car, fastening her seatbelt, and asked, ¡°Are you here for business as well?¡±


    ¡°No, just catching up.¡±


    ¡°With Mr. Hugo?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face wore a peculiar expression. ¡°You¡¯re catching up with Nathan¡¯s father¡­ Why do I suddenly


    feel like Nathan is of lower statuspared to you?¡±


    ¡°If Nathan is willing, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°To catch a movie. There¡¯s a new one that just came out.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re taking me to watch a movie?¡±


    ¡®Did the sun rise from the west?¡¯ Chloe thought to herself. ¡®In the past, whenever I wanted to go to,


    the movies, he needed Grandpa to push him to seize the opportunity. Is Grandpa urging him.


    again?¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Am I treating you poorly?¡±


    ¡®We¡¯re just going to watch a movie, and dumbo already has ¡°unbelievable¡± written all over her face.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± Chloe responded, ¡°But you rarely apany me on these small romantic gestures.


    You said they were a waste of time, like absorbing garbage, and that watching a movie was not as


    beneficial as reading financial news.¡±


    Joseph nced ahead, his expression indulgent andzy. ¡°If it¡¯s something you like, I¡¯ll make


    time to apany you.


    Chloe felt warmth spread through her chest and grinned, her almond-shaped eyes forming crescents.


    She adopted a slightly bossy tone, ¡°Well, not bad. Keep up the good work.¡±


    Lucas was the one who booked the movie tickets. But because there were very few bookings for the


    VIP couple rooms, the cinema stopped selling those tickets. As a result, he had booked tickets for the


    regr hall instead.


    Chloe did not mind, and Joseph did not care either. Joseph felt a tap on his shoulder as they settled


    into their seats. He turned his head and in the dim light, he saw Natalie¡¯s cheerful face. She spoke in a


    jolly tone, ¡°Joe, have you two made up?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Chloe responded first, smiling yfully. ¡°You still have a chance to pursue him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d to see that you¡¯re both on good terms now


    Inparison to Xavia, Natalie was more epting of Chloe. While Chloe may not have had the same


    privileged family background and features as her, at least Chloecked any scheming traits.


    ¡°You¡¯ve moved on from Joe so quickly?¡± Chloe found this young girl quite interesting and could not


    resist the temptation to tease her.

 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410


    Chapter 410 There Were Illegal Items in Your Office


    Natalie pouted. ¡°As long as Joe is happy, I¡¯m content.¡±


    In the past few days, Natalie had stayed home to ponder deeply about her feelings. She concluded that


    her feelings toward Joseph were not romantic in nature, but rather akin to the adoration of a devoted


    fan for an idol. In her eyes, from childhood to adulthood, Joseph excelled both in his studies and


    appearance.


    After graduation, he liberated himself from his family and single-handedly took charge of Fairlight,


    turning the tables and achieving a remarkable sess that the entire industry envied. Naturally,


    someone like him would always be the center of attention wherever he went, Everyone harbored


    admiration for extraordinary individuals, and she was no exception. However, it remained mere


    admiration. To truly love someone is to be selfish and incapable ofpromise. Joseph¡¯s handsome


    features softened slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up,¡± hemented


    Natalie smiled at him. ¡°Joe, if you happen toe across any remarkable men, remember to introduce


    them to me.¡±


    Chloe recalled the image of a young man in her mind and gently touched her chin. ¡°You know Noah


    Gunter, right? I believe you two would be quitepatible.¡±


    Despite the age difference and simr family backgrounds, both of them possessed lively and spirited


    demeanors.


    Joseph smirked mischievously. ¡°Yes, I agree. Noah suits you.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Noah Gunter? The one from Exotic Star?¡± Natalie looked confused. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of that name, but I


    can¡¯t recall any specific impression.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure you two get acquainted.¡±


    Natalie¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Thank you, Joe!¡±


    The movie began, and they turned their heads to focus on the film. They stopped engaging with Natalie


    as the film started rolling. The sci-fi genre appealed mostly to male viewers and children. Unfortunately,


    a child seated in front of them became restless, causing amotion. Despite the child¡¯s disruptive


    behavior, their parents found it endearing and paid no mind.


    Chloe¡¯s mind stirred as she leaned close to Joseph¡¯s ear and asked, ¡°If your future child behaved like


    that, what would you do?¡±


    ¡°Give them a good beating.¡±


    ¨C Order cannot exist without rules. Unfortunately, it is often the parents who indulge their children


    and contribute to the issues they face.


    ¡°In that case, do you still want a child now?¡± she asked abruptly, causing Joseph to fall silent for a few


    seconds.


    His gaze turned distant and uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s not the right time yet.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face tensed, her tone bing rigid. ¡°You¡¯re willing to ept the child Xavia is carrying, but


    when ites to my child, suddenly it¡¯s not the right time?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± he exined. ¡°Fairlight and the Whitman Group have two major projects


    coming up in the second half of the year that will run simultaneously. I¡¯ll be extremely busy. If you have


    a child during this time, I won¡¯t have much time to spend with you.¡±


    He could afford to neglect Xavia, but he could not neglect his wife. Ideally, he wanted to wait until Xavia


    had given birth, raise the child for a year or two, and gain enough experience before they prepared for


    their own child.


    Chloe could not grasp his thoughts and found his reasoning hard toprehend. In a subdued tone,


    she replied, ¡°I understand.¡±


    The movie came to an end. They had initially nned to go for a meal after, but to their surprise, Lucas


    called and informed them that he had contacted the buyer of the house, but they refused to sell.


    Joseph furrowed his brow. ¡°Even with a higher offer?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ve already doubled the price¡­¡±


    ¡°Send me this person¡¯s details.¡±


    ¡°Right away.¡±


    Chloe noticed how worried he was about this property and suggested, ¡°How about you go and handle


    this first? We can have dinner another day.


    ¡°No worries. I need to find out who this buyer is first.¡±


    While making their way toward the restaurant area on the fourth floor, Lucas forwarded the buyer¡¯s


    information-a forty-year-old Amerian man who had arrived in Docwood five years ago for business. He


    was suspected of being involved in illicit industries and had a worth of a few million at most.


    ¡®How could someone with a worth of a few million afford a house worth hundreds of millions and


    refuse to sell even when offered double the price? Can they resist such temptation? This doesn¡¯t seem


    normal,¡¯ Joseph thought, suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom.


    Sure enough, as they approached the restaurant, their path was blocked by six to seven fully armed


    police officers.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, we received a report that there were items of illegal nature stored in your office. Upon


    confirmation, we found this in the drawer under your desk. Pleasee with us to cooperate with the


    investigation.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyebrows knitted together tightly as she looked at the bag of white powder in the officer¡¯s


    hands. She was not foolish enough to think it was merely a bag of flour.


    It was evident that these officers were not Tyson¡¯s men either..


    Joseph¡¯s face paled, and his voice grew cold. ¡°Who made the report?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not authorized to disclose that information. We need to protect the privacy and safety of the


    informant.¡±


    ¡°I can go with you, but I insist on contacting mywyer.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Chloe quickly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll go get Samuel.¡±

 Chapter 411

    Chapter 411


    Chapter 411 To Feed Without Teaching Is the Father¡¯s Fault


    One hourter, Chloe and Samuel arrived at the police station. Only thewyer was allowed inside, so


    Chloe anxiously waited outside.


    Another half hour passed. Joseph and Samuel came out at the same time. Chloe approached them


    and asked eagerly, ¡°How did it go? Can we leave now?¡±


    Samuel let out a long sigh. ¡°Yes, everything is fine. The urine test came back negative, and they


    identified the person who ced the package through the surveince footage.¡±


    Her tightly clenched heart found relief, and she eximed indignantly, ¡°Who was it? How despicable!¡±


    ¡°It was Jonathan¡¯s subordinate, Isaac,¡± Samuel replied.


    In other words, Jonathan had orchestrated all of this. ording to the surveince footage, Isaac


    sneaked into Joseph¡¯s office this morning. Although the culprit was arrested, he refused to admit that


    he was acting on Preston¡¯s orders, but due to the evidence from the urine test and Isaac¡¯s incoherent


    statements, the police had no authority to detain Joseph.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Chloe was speechless.


    ¡®Is this retaliation for the altercation with Jonathan yesterday? Such foolishness and malice!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gloomy mood enveloped him, his imposing presence intimidating. He gently ruffled her hair


    and said, ¡°I need to go to the family home. Samuel will take you home.¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± 1


    Even if Preston and Octavia knew the truth, they would undoubtedly stand on Jonathan¡¯s side. Harold


    might favor Joseph, but there was little he could do since both sides were his


    grandchildren.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and his mood improved a little. How could he refuse when Chloe


    wanted to stand up for him?


    At the Whitman family home.


    After hearing the whole story, Harold¡¯s face turned livid with anger. He red at Jonathan and said,


    ¡°How dare you¡­ Don¡¯t you know how important that house is to Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m in need of money, and he refused to give me any. Why don¡¯t you me him?¡± Jonathan


    retorted.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Harold shouted, refusing to hear another word from him. ¡°You even got Isaac to frame Joe.


    Have you lost your mind?!¡±


    Chapter 411 To Feed Without Teaching Is the Father¡¯s Fault


    ¡°I didn¡¯t! It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Jonathan defended himself.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Dad. You can¡¯t just believe everything you hear. Even Isaac denied it. Why are you


    using Jonathan without evidence?¡± Octavia chimed in as she tenderly touched


    Jonathan¡¯s bruised cheekbone. ¡°Look at him. Jon¡¯s been in pain all night. Don¡¯t you feel sorry for him?


    How can you still me him?¡±


    Joseph closed his eyes and sank into the leather sofa he was sitting on. After a while, he said, So


    you¡¯re saying that everything is my fault?¡±


    Preston spoke solemnly, ¡°We¡¯re all family, and you two are cousins. It¡¯s not about who¡¯s right or wrong.


    But let me speak fairly, as the older cousin, you should support Jon¡¯s entrepreneurial endeavors.¡±


    ¡°Hah.¡±


    A short, mockingugh broke the tense and heavy atmosphere, igniting the fuse and quickly setting off


    an explosion.


    Hearing the chuckle, Octavia stepped forward and used, ¡°Chloe, if I remember correctly, you¡¯re no


    longer part of the Whitmans. You have no right to intervene.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Chloe looked at Harold with clear and innocent eyes. ¡°Grandpa, if someone doesn¡¯t wee


    me here, I won¡¯te again next time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. This is your home!¡± Harold said.


    Octavia was infuriated, her eyes rolling in exasperation. ¡®How could Dad not help his own family? He


    really has gotten old!¡¯


    ¡°Stop talking about these irrelevant matters,¡± Preston said, thinking that with Harold present, he could


    speak with more confidence than the previous night. ¡°Joe, look at what you¡¯ve done to your cousin. It¡¯s


    time to calm down. When will you reinstate Jon to the board?¡±


    Chloe again chuckled at this remark. ¡°You¡¯re talking about an unrted matter too. Why did he get


    beaten? And why was he kicked out of the board? He can¡¯t just whip out the victim card just because


    he made a mistake and was punished. That property was worth roughly 150 million, and he sold it. To


    put it more seriously, ording to thew, with such arge amount involved, are you aware of how


    many years Jonathan will end up behind bars? And do you really think Joseph doesn¡¯t have any


    method to force Isaac to speak the truth?¡±


    Joseph was powerful and intelligent. He had plenty of ways to deal with such individuals. He had


    returned here out of consideration for their kinship, and he wanted to lighten Harold¡¯s burdens. How


    could this family continue to take advantage of his kindness?


    Joseph opened his eyes and looked at Chloe, who was fervently defending him. Emotions flooded his


    deep and cold eyes. It felt as if a missing piece in his body had been filled. An indescribable emotion


    permeated his heart as if someone had traversed mountains and rivers to stand in front of him, offering


    the most precious warmth. It infused his once


    Chapter 411 To Feed Without Teaching Is the Father¡¯s Fault


    monochromatic existence with vibrant hues, overflowing with unbridled passion, and profoundly stirring


    his soul.


    ¡°They¡¯re cousins!¡± Octavia dered, her voice resonating with emotion.


    ¡°Even blood rtives have to settle their ounts.¡±


    Preston said, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Jon has made significant contributions to the Whitman Group over


    the years. He should be treated better than this.¡±


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s tally up his contributions and see how much he has actually done,¡± Joseph replied


    calmly.


    Preston fell silent.


    Joseph stood up, his gaze cold and detached as he swept it over Preston. He let out a low, sardonic


    laugh and continued, ¡°If Jon has generated profits of at least 100 thousand dors for the Whitmans, I¡¯ll


    heed your words and reinstate him onto the board. If he hasn¡¯t, it will reflect his inability to learn and


    your responsibility, Uncle Pres. To feed without teaching is the father¡¯s fault. I suppose you wouldn¡¯t


    feelfortable staying at the Whitmans Group any longer after that, would you?¡±


    Jonathan, feeling infuriated and ashamed, refused, ¡°No, I don¡¯t agree to this!¡±


    What did it mean to generate 100 thousand dors in profits?


    In a conglomerate like the Whitman Group, anyone with normal intelligence could achieve. that. It was


    not that hecked intelligence, but rather he had a propensity for taking reckless. risks, which resulted


    in greater losses.

 Chapter 412

    Chapter 412


    Chapter 412 Show Mercy to Jonathan


    Joseph red at Jonathan, his gaze as sharp as a de.


    ¡±


    Jonathan instinctively cowered. He lost his previous confidence, and softly protested, There¡¯s no need


    to go through all that trouble. If you don¡¯t want me back on the board, then I won¡¯t return. After all,


    you¡¯re the one in control of the Whitman Group. What right do I have to object?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one in control of the Whitman Group, but I¡¯m also your older cousin. Uncle Pres is right. I


    shouldn¡¯t always dwell on your shorings and should try to discover your strengths instead,¡± Joseph


    said, a smile ying on his lips.


    With that, he promptly contacted the board of directors, as well as the finance and project teams. In


    less than an hour, everyone arrived at the family home. In front of everyone, a meeting was held.


    Jonathan had been on the board for five years and had been involved in seven projects. Out of those,


    six projects incurred losses totaling about a hundred thousand dors. Only one project was profitable,


    but that project was requested by Joseph himself and


    could not be counted.


    When all the numbers were presented before everyone, Jonathan¡¯s face turned pale. His lips trembled,


    unable to utter a word. He had always known he was losing money, but he never expected the


    numbers to be so staggering.


    However, Preston still refused to back down even after the facts wereid out before them. It¡¯s normal


    to experience losses in business. The market hasn¡¯t been favorable in recent years. Do you really want


    to judge a person¡¯s lifetime achievement based on a mere three years? Jon is just starting to grow.


    He¡¯ll surely improve in the future.¡±


    Such shameless words even earned Harold¡¯s contempt, despite Preston being his son.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Joseph said.


    Preston¡¯s face improved slightly, a hint of relief shing through his eyes. He thought that Joseph was


    showing him some respect, but the next words that came shattered that glimmer of hope.


    ¡°So I should be the one to bear the cost of his trial and error?¡± Joseph asked.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Yes. You¡¯re Jon¡¯s cousin. You¡¯re his family,¡± Octavia spoke firmly, without a hint of shame.


    ¡°We¡¯re better off without family members who scheme behind each other¡¯s backs,¡± Joseph


    stated.


    Octavia trembled, a wave of fear washing over her. ¡®Is he being serious this time?¡¯


    Joseph turned to Harold, his tone neither light nor heavy but deeply unsettling. ¡°Mr. Harold, I will be


    removing Jonathan from the Whitman Group and expelling Preston from the board of


    directors. Do you have any objections?¡±


    Joseph rarely called Harold ¡°Mr. Harold.¡± When he did so solemnly, it indicated that something big had


    happened.


    Harold felt a twinge of sadness as Preston and Jonathan stared at him. He looked up at Joseph and


    noticed his icy expression. Harold was certain that if he dared to voice an objection, he would be


    expelled as well.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one in control of the Whitman Group. I¡¯ll let you decide,¡± Harold replied.


    ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t do this! I¡¯m your son. Have you ever heard anything as ridiculous as not having family


    members on apany board?¡± Preston pleaded.


    ¡°Grandpa, I want to remain in the Whitman Group. I don¡¯t want to leave. Please help me!¡±


    Joseph remained unperturbed. He took Chloe¡¯s hand and held it tightly as he walked away withrge


    strides.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A little.¡±


    ¡°Where do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s decide when we get home.¡±


    He nodded, ncing at her sideways. ¡°Which home? Mine or yours?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to yours.¡±


    It was closer to her ce by about half an hour, and she did not want to bother with the extra travel.


    Joseph noticed her exhaustion and asked, ¡°What do you feel like eating?¡±


    ¡°Are you okay with takeout?¡± she asked.


    Chloe knew that he had never been fond of ordering takeout.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll cook,¡± Joseph replied.


    Chloe was taken aback, her eyes welling up with tears.


    Just after having a falling out with his family, Joseph still cared for her and wanted to cook for her.


    Sobbing, she realized that even though he could be annoying at times, he could also be pretty great.


    On the way back, Joseph also bought some groceries.


    Chloe blinked. ¡°Besides pasta, do you know how to cook anything else?¡±


    ¡°I went abroad to start a business, not to experience the life of a rich kid. Is there anything!


    can¡¯t do?¡± Joseph said, wearing a proud expression on his face.


    ¡°Fine, I underestimated you,¡± Chloe replied.


    Soon, they arrived at Joseph¡¯s house. Oreo, who she had not seen in a long time, crazily rubbed


    against her, licked her, and rolled onto its back to ask for belly rubs. After ying with the dog. outside


    for a while, she entered the house and saw Joseph engaged in a phone call out on the balcony.


    Judging from the conversation, it was Harold calling, asking about the frame-up that Jonathan had


    done. He wanted to confirm if it was true.


    ¡°Do you want me to call the person from the drug side and confront them face-to-face?¡±


    Harold fell into silence.


    Infighting was a taboo within families. Once such a situation urred, the losses in terms of interests


    were minorpared to the loss of family unity. People might start to stab each other in the back, and


    that was the real issue. After all, internal strife was always a hundred times more terrifying than


    external enemies.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t show Jon any mercy.¡±


    ¡°Are you sending him to prison? I know that you¡¯re furious with Jonathan and he deserves the


    punishment, but it won¡¯t be good for our family¡¯s reputation if you send him to prison¡­¡¯


    Joseph gave no reply and hung up.


    The room was dimly lit, with moonlight shining through the window, casting a gentle glow on the floor.


    His tall and slender figure appeared lonely and deste. Chloe had never seen. Joseph like this


    before.


    In her mind, he was always confident and in control of everything. He was the one who revived Fairlight


    and the one in control of the Whitman Group. Everyone saw his glory, but they never experienced the


    burden he carried on his shoulders.

 Chapter 413

    Chapter 413


    Chapter 413 I¡¯ll Give It to You Tomorrow


    Sensing the weight of his burden, Chloe approached and embraced his waist.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I cooked for you. What do you feel like eating? Just tell me,¡± she said.


    ¡°I said I¡¯d cook today. Do you not believe me?¡± Joseph patted her hand, his handsome face returning to


    its usual calmness. ¡°Just wait.¡±


    She raised her head and looked into his deep eyes, offering him a smile. ¡°Okay.¡±


    It turned out that someone who could build and strengthen a business would also have great cooking


    skills. There was fruit sd, grilled fish, braised pig¡¯s trotters, stir-fried asparagus, and corn soup.


    The dishes were not only visually appealing but full of vor. Chloe could not wait and immediately


    popped a piece of pig¡¯s trotter in her mouth. It was tender, chewy, and melted in her mouth. It was so


    delicious that her toes curled up. It was only now that she knew why he did not like to eat takeout. With


    cooking skills that could rival a five-star hotel, anyone¡¯s taste buds would be demanding.


    Joseph noticed the admiration in her gaze, and his lips curled up. ¡°You¡¯re such a foodie.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a foodie?¡±


    As long as she could maintain her figure, the satisfaction of taste buds was easier to achieve


    than sess.


    After the meal, Chloe finished eating most of the food on the table and took the initiative to wash the


    dishes. As she finished washing thest dish and put it away, her phone in her pocket


    vibrated.


    It was a call from Icarus.


    Chloe looked at Joseph, who was watching TV in the living room. She did not want him to


    misunderstand anything, so she chose to reject the call. She nned to contact Icarus tomorrow after


    returning home, but her phone soon rang again. It was a text from Icarus.


    [Chloe, please answer my call. I have something important to tell you.]


    She lowered her gaze, hesitated for a moment, wiped her hands clean, and walked into the bathroom.


    At this moment, Icarus¡¯ second call came through.


    ¡°Did you move, Chloe?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, how did you know?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m outside your house right now. Can we meet tomorrow? I¡¯m leaving for abroad the day


    after tomorrow, and I¡¯m not sure when I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going abroad for business?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Which country?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Ameria.¡±


    ¡°What time do you want to meet tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Around noon. Let¡¯s go out for a meal.¡±


    Chloe agreed. Although Icarus had deceived her before, he had not harmed her and had helped her in


    many ways. From both an emotional and rational standpoint, she should go.


    After hanging up the phone, as soon as Chloe opened the door, she found Joseph standing outside, his


    handsome face clouded with indiscernible emotions.


    ¡°Stomach ache? You¡¯ve been inside for so long?¡±


    She instinctively hid her phone behind her back, her eyes flickering with anxiety. ¡°No¡­ Nope¡­


    He noticed her actions and furrowed his brows deeply. ¡°Then what were you doing inside here?


    After careful consideration, she took a deep breath and met his gaze candidly. ¡°Icarus called me, and I


    was worried that you¡¯d misunderstand, so I answered in the bathroom.¡±


    Surprisingly, Joseph did not disy the same level of distrust as before. He simply asked, ¡±


    And?¡±


    ¡°He said he¡¯s leaving the country the day after tomorrow and wanted to meet me for thest


    time tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°You agreed?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Chloe nervously exined, ¡°I agreed to meet him because we¡¯re friends, and he has helped


    me a lot. If you don¡¯t want me to go, I won¡¯t.¡±


    She sensed that Joseph was treating her better than before, and it would not be appropriate for her to


    quarrel with him again because of Icarus. Besides, he was not in a good mood today.


    ¡°You can go.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you an hour,¡± Joseph replied, a trace of displeasure lingering in his heart, but he managed to


    suppress it. ¡°Is that enough?¡±


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s more than enough!¡± she nodded vigorously. She asked curiously, ¡°You don¡¯t suspect


    me anymore?¡±


    Every time she had been with Icarus before, he would explode in anger.


    ¡°You informed me and asked for my opinion. What else is there to suspect?¡± Joseph sneered, his lips


    curling.


    Of course, it was not because of that. He simply could not stand Icarus. Now that Icarus was going to


    leave, there was no need to argue with an unworthy person like him.


    Chloe saw that he did not say anything more and did not pursue the matter. She could not help. but


    sigh at how much his personality had improved.


    After washing up, she went to the guest room. Everything inside remained the same. The only strange


    thing was that the bed sheets carried a faint unknown scent. It was refreshing and pleasant, exactly the


    same as the scent on Joseph¡¯s body.


    She stared at the bedding in a daze. ¡®Did hee to sleep in the guest room every day?¡¯


    Suddenly, the door opened. Joseph appeared fresh from the shower, his body glistening with droplets


    of water. He had a bath towel draped around his well-defined waist, entuating his strength and


    allure. As the droplets cascaded down his damp hair, tracing a path along his chiseled corbone and


    settling on his captivating abs, it was an enchanting sight that evoked a flush and a racing heart.


    He was truly a sight to behold.


    Chloe¡¯s cheeks turned rosy. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Looking at her as if looking at an idiot, he said, ¡°What else can we do at this hour besides. sleep?¡±


    ¡®What else can we do? No, no! The first three months are the most crucial! We mustn¡¯t be reckless!¡¯


    ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to do that. Stay away from me. We¡¯re in a cooling-off period, and you can¡¯t force me!¡±


    she eximed, her eyes filled with resistance.


    Joseph was slightly stunned, and he chuckled disdainfully. ¡°Then why are you reacting so strongly? Are


    you trying to cover up something?¡±


    He could not deny that he was addicted to her body. He had not touched her after such a long time, so


    it was impossible for him to show no physiological response. However, he was tired today.


    ¡°I did not!¡± she retorted. ¡°You¡¯re the one who dressed like this and tried to seduce me!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Joseph said while sitting down beside her, his voice cold but filled with


    indulgence. ¡°If you really want it, endure it for tonight. I¡¯ll give it to you tomorrow, okay?

 Chapter 414

    Chapter 414


    Chapter 414 Sullivan


    ¨C


    A Rare Family Name


    Chloe¡¯s cheeks flushed as she observed Joseph¡¯s serious expression. Hastily, she dove under the


    covers and wrapped herself up tightly. Only her clear eyes peered out to express her protest. ¡°Thanks


    but no thanks!¡±


    She felt unfairly judged as if she were some sort of hooker.


    ¡®Come on. I¡¯m a woman with integrity, all right?!¡¯


    The only time she hadpromised her principles was when she had impulsively pursued a


    rtionship with Jake¡¯s uncle, but that had been a result of a series of misunderstandings.


    Sensing her shyness, Joseph leaned down and ced a gentle kiss on her forehead, offering


    reassurance once more. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will definitely fulfill your desire tomorrow.¡±


    Chloe remained silent.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Both of them enjoyed a restful sleep, and even Joseph could not resist staying in bed until eleven in the


    morning.


    Chloe had a peaceful night¡¯s sleep, and her skin glowed today. Her naturally wless cheeks,


    untouched by makeup, were as delicate and smooth as a peeled egg, offering a luscious burst of


    freshness with each bite.


    She changed out of her pajamas into a well-fitted dress that entuated her graceful figure. With each


    step she took, she exuded elegance and charm, captivating everyone in her presence.


    Joseph nced up at Chloe as she descended the stairs, his gaze intensifying. If it were not for his


    impending need to go to the office, he would have been tempted to teach her a lesson for being so


    seductive before him.


    Seating herself on a dining chair, Chloe picked up a slice of bread and spread some jam on it. She


    stole a puzzled nce at Joseph, who stared at her intently. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there something on


    my face?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be finished with my work at the office in about three hours, and then I¡¯lle to pick you up,¡± he


    stated.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re done with your work doesn¡¯t mean I am,¡± Chloe replied, taking a bite of the bread


    coated in tangy, sweet strawberry jam. ¡°Besides, I want to go home.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°I cane to your ce.¡±


    He was aware of her current residence, but he also knew that Gabriel would only sell properties that


    did not meet his standards to the real estate agency. He could purchase afortable vi nearby


    instead. Apartments without a yard were inconvenient-giving off


    the feeling of a confining birdcage.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t invite you to my house.¡± Chloe blinked, unable toprehend Joseph¡¯s peculiar train of


    thought.


    It had only been two days since they had opened up to each other, seeking honesty and dispelling their


    doubts. Though their connection was growing, it did not mean they would rush into a rapid


    reconciliation.


    Chloe wanted to wait for the results of Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis before making any decisions.


    Joseph raised his head, his tone drawling out with a touch of arrogance. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s not your house.


    It belongs to Gabe.¡±


    Feeling belittled, Chloe did not feel like engaging in conversation with him and reached for the remote


    to turn on the TV. Noah¡¯s face, caught between youth and adulthood, appeared on the screen. The host


    asked him to assist in showcasing Exotic Star¡¯stest jewelry collection, and he responded with a warm


    smile, confidently discussing each piece. The shimmering diamond ne outshone the stage,


    captivating the host, who was instantly tempted to make a purchase.


    Chloe was not sure if it was just for the show¡¯s effect, but she had to admit that Noah seemed quite


    busy. In the background, Joseph caught snippets of the young man¡¯s voice, but he did not look up. He


    asked, his tone nonchnt. ¡°What¡¯s your mother¡¯s name?¡±


    The question caught Chloe off guard. When her mother passed away, she was still young and could


    not remember much. Whenever her father and stepmother mentioned her mother, it was often


    apanied by a string of profanities. They had never mentioned her name before. The only time


    Chloe saw her mother¡¯s name was on her tombstone.


    ¡°Luciana Sullivan,¡± she replied.


    Joseph paused for a moment, his gaze deepening. ¡°Sullivan? That¡¯s not amon family


    name.¡±


    ¡°Well, ording to Benjamin, there are quite a few people with that family name in the town. where my


    mother was born.¡±


    ¡°And which town was that?¡±

 Chapter 415

    Chapter 415


    Chapter 415 Go See Benjamin When You Have the Time


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Benjamin didn¡¯t tell me,¡± Chloe replied.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°You should find some time to ask,¡± Joseph suggested.


    She sensed something amiss. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Joseph set down his utensils and scrutinized the woman sitting in front of him, carefully examining her


    features.


    Desmond was old, so it posed a challenge to notice any resemnce between him and the twenty-


    four-year-old Chloe.


    Averting his


    gaze, Joseph said lightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    ¡°Do you also think I look like Mr. Desmond¡¯s daughter?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what his daughter looks like,¡± Joseph replied.


    He was not familiar with the Sullivans. In the past, Desmond was not the only Sullivan in his family. He


    had a brother named Dominic Sullivan. Dominic had a good rtionship with the Gunters, and it was


    through his introduction that Desmond got to know the Gunters. However, Dominic passed away a few


    years ago. Joseph had even attended his funeral.


    Chloe rested her chin on her hand. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her either.¡±


    To be honest, she really wanted to see Desmond¡¯s daughter and determine just how simr they


    looked. But for now, she was not particrly close with Noah, and it would be impolite to make such a


    request.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze returned to her face and he asked, ¡°Do you have a photo of your mom?¡±


    ¡°My mom?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    She took out her phone and searched through it, murmuring with some confusion, ¡°Why does everyone


    want to see my mother¡¯s photo¡­¡±


    First, it was Noah, and now, it was Joseph.


    ¡°What are you muttering about?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± She handed him the phone. ¡°Here. This is my mother.¡±


    In the photograph, a young woman with delicate features emanated an aura of elegance and


    charm, exuding the essence of ady from a wealthy family. Joseph studied the photo for a few more


    seconds andmented, ¡°You two look alike.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not as elegant as your mom, though,¡± he noted.


    ¡°Well, I admit that,¡± she replied.


    Her mother was the typical beauty, while Chloe¡¯s vibrant personality added a touch of liveliness,


    differing their temperaments from one another.


    In the afternoon, Joseph intended to apany Chloe to the meet-up venue. However, their paths did


    not align, and Chloe did not want to trouble him, so she decided to take a cab there.


    on her own.


    Outside the restaurant, a waiter greeted her and led her to a private room. Icarus had been waiting for


    some time and immediately stood up upon seeing her, graciously pulling out the chair for her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Chloe said, taking her seat. She noticed that the scar on Icarus¡¯ chin had faded, and his


    leg seemed to have healed. A smile graced her lips involuntarily. ¡°The scar on your face has improved


    a lot. It¡¯ll fade even more with time.¡±


    Icarus forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I don¡¯t have any ns to date at the moment.¡±


    She was briefly stunned but skillfully changed the subject. ¡°Have you ordered?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. The menu is on your right,¡± Icarus replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look then,¡± Chloe said casually. As she had ate breakfast, she was not very hungry and


    randomly selected two dishes before handing the menu to Icarus.


    ¡°You can choose whatever you like. Today¡¯s on me.¡±


    Icarus absentmindedly nodded and added three more dishes. His gaze wandered to the section. of


    beverages, his eyes flickering. He tightly clenched the menu, almost distorting it, and asked,


    ¡°Watermelon juice, orange juice, apple juice. Which one would you like to drink?¡±


    Chloe lowered her head to send a message to Joseph, unaware of his peculiar behavior. Absent-


    mindedly, she responded, ¡°Orange juice.¡±


    The dishes took a while to arrive, but the beverage was promptly served. After cing the order, a


    waiter brought a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice to the table. Icarus exchanged a nce with


    the waiter, who gave him a subtle signal, indicating that he could proceed.


    A determined resolve flickered in Icarus¡¯ heart as he stood up and said, ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m going to


    the restroom.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After five minutes, the door creaked open. Chloe assumed that Icarus had returned and turned her


    head, only to be met with the unsettling sight of a mysterious fox mask.


    Vanya giggled, ¡°We meet again, sweetie.¡±

 Chapter 416

    Chapter 416


    Chapter 416 Strip


    Chloe¡¯s pupils contracted in sudden terror, her face filled with fear.


    Vanya firmly grasped her shoulder, exerting an immense pressure that rendered her immobile with


    practiced ease.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid. Are you not worried about your friend?¡± she remarked, pping her hands.


    At that moment, Icarus was brought in, bound and gagged, with a gun pressed against the back of his


    head.


    Chloe took a sharp breath, and cold sweat formed on her forehead. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked,


    her voice trembling.


    ¡°Strip.¡± Vanya¡¯s eyes gleamed mischievously. ¡°I want you to take off all your clothes.¡±


    She bit her lip, unable to hesitate in the face of life and death. With trembling hands, she slowly


    removed her coat and shirt. However, when it came to her underwear, the overwhelming sense of


    shame overwhelmed her, freezing her in ce. Her eyes reddened with a mixture of fear and


    humiliation, but tears stubbornly refused to fall.


    Icarus¡¯ heart ached as if being torn apart. He struggled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t force her. Take me instead!¡±


    Impatience shed through Vanya¡¯s eyes. ¡®What an idiot.¡¯


    ¡°So, you¡¯re willing to stand up for her? Strip then.¡±


    Icarus was reluctant to do it, but the man with the gun moved in, and in a matter of moments, Icarus¡¯


    clothes were stripped away, leaving him with only his underwear.


    Like a mischievous child, Vanya pushed Chloe toward Icarus, causing the two of them to sit together in


    a suggestive position. To any unsuspecting onlooker, it would seem as if they were not having a meal,


    but rather in a hotel room.


    Vanya took out a camera and snapped a few pictures. Chloe¡¯s body remained stiff as if she were a


    puppet whose soul had been sucked out, allowing Vanya to manipte her at will.


    She consoled herself, reminding herself that Vanya was just taking pictures. As long as she did not


    cross the final line, she should not fight back. After all, staying alive was the most important thing.


    Icarus had a bitter feeling in his heart, silently vowing that once they were reunited in the future, he


    would treat Chloe better.


    Just as Vanya was admiring the photos, a sudden re of sirens could be heard from downstairs.


    Chloe¡¯s spirits lifted, and she desperately ran to the window, calling for help at the top of her


    lungs.


    ¡°Help! Help us!¡±


    Vanya cast a fleeting nce at her subordinate. After that, she feigned panic as she swiftly made her


    escape.


    Chloe¡¯s nerves were on edge and she copsed on the ground, her trembling hand pressed against her


    stomach. Her gaze fixated on Vanya¡¯s retreating bare feet, noticing a ck snake tattoo coiled around


    her ankle.


    Icarus approached her, his eyes filled with anguish as he tried to console her. ¡°Chloe, are you okay¡­?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯te any closer. Hurry up and put on your clothes.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The two of them hastily dressed, but there was still no sign of the police arriving. Chloe leaned against


    the window, her heart sinking as she noticed the police car had long since departed without stopping.


    With determination in her voice, she dered, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the station right now.¡±


    Since the masked woman had only recently fled, the police would surely be able to gather evidence by


    retrieving surveince footage from the surrounding area.


    Icarus¡¯ face flickered with guilt. ¡°Don¡¯t go. It wouldn¡¯t be good for you if those photos were leaked.¡±


    Chloe froze and she hesitated for a moment. After a while, she became even more determined to


    report to the police as she said, ¡°The police will keep it confidential. If they spread the photos around,


    it¡¯ll be toote for regrets.¡±


    Icarus had no choice. If he continued to refuse, it would raise suspicions. Reluctantly, he


    agreed.


    At the station, Tyson listened to the general situation and his body trembled upon hearing about the


    tattoo on Vanya¡¯s ankle. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Yes, it was a ck snake,¡± Chloe replied with certainty.


    Taking a deep drag from his cigarette, Tyson said in a serious manner, ¡°This is an important clue.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. ¡°How is it important?¡±

 Chapter 417

    Chapter 417


    Chapter 417 I¡¯m Determined to Expose Xavia¡¯s True Nature


    Chloe was stunned. ¡°Why is it important?¡±


    ¡°In the past decade, a group of ouws has emerged in the gray zone primarily controlled by Ameria,


    with Cloude as their secondary base. Their leader¡¯s nickname is Serpent, and his trusted associates


    often sport a snake tattoo on their feet. However, they seldom engage in activities within Aesper. Can


    you recall who you¡¯ve had recent conflicts with recently?¡±


    Chloe did not respond immediately but asked another question, ¡°Have you managed to retrieve any


    fingerprints from the fruit knife?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have some prior engagements today, but I n to deliver the results to Joseph tomorrow,¡± Tyson


    replied.


    ¡°Could you please show them to me first?¡± Chloe requested.


    Tyson nodded, instructing his colleague to take Icarus outside. He then ced a file before Chloe.


    ¡°After conductingparisons, the fingerprints belong to a man in his thirties with a criminal history.


    Most importantly, he was one of the individuals involved in the kidnapping incident that targeted you


    and Noah.¡±


    In essence, it was a meticulously nned criminal case.


    Unsurprised by such findings, Chloe¡¯s expression grew grave as she said, ¡°The only person. I¡¯ve had


    recent conflicts with is Xavia.¡±


    Chloe had a hunch that all of these perilous incidents happened after Xavia¡¯s arrival. Although they


    appeared unrted to her, no one else seemed to possess a motive except her. Especially when Toto


    was injured by a mysterious person, Xavia¡¯s inconsistent behavior in the presence of Chloe and Joseph


    almost confirmed their connection.


    After listening attentively to Chloe¡¯s detailed analysis, Tyson paused and said, ¡°You should discuss this


    with Joseph. The incident involving Toto could be ssified as trespassing and assault with a deadly


    weapon. If you decide to file a police report, we can summon Xavia for a thorough investigation.¡±


    Chloe pursed her lips, her pale face masking her emotions. ¡°Understood. I don¡¯t want Joseph to know


    about the photographs of me and Icarus together. Can you ensure confidentiality?¡±


    Tyson had no objections. ¡°Certainly, it¡¯s your privacy. As an unrted party to the case, Joseph will


    remain unaware of it. However, it¡¯d be wise for you to hire a bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡±


    Chloe left the station and received a call from Joseph. Other than concealing the fact that they were


    photographed, she recounted today¡¯s events to him in full detail.


    ¡°Wait at the station. I¡¯ll have Lucas pick you up,¡± Joseph instructed.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Soon, Lucas arrived with two strong men who appeared to be bodyguards. They provided full escort


    throughout the journey. Chloe arrived at Fairlight, where Joseph thoroughly inspected


    her.


    Her face was pale, but there were no signs of injury or blood. However, precautions needed to be


    taken, and bodyguards had to be arranged.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Joseph¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Do you think today¡¯s incident has anything to do with Icarus?¡±


    Chloe realized what he was talking about and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Icarus is just a businessman. How


    could he know these people?¡±


    However, Joseph did not share her opinion. urately pinpointing their location and controlling them


    without alerting the restaurant staff was a feat difficult to achieve even with prior surveince or


    tracking.


    ¡°People in business have deep scheming minds.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s put that aside for now. We should report to the police and have them investigate Xavia. I swear


    on my name that there¡¯s no way Toto¡¯s injuries are unrted to her.¡±


    Joseph remained silent, leaning back without giving a response.


    Seeing his reaction, Chloe frowned and she felt a suffocating sensation in her chest. ¡°You don¡¯t believe


    me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±


    ¡°Then what are you still hesitating for? Toto was lucky to survive this time, but what about next time?


    Can we rely on the same luck? Before Xavia came back, everything was fine between us. Now that


    she¡¯s back, our marriage is filled with arguments and setbacks. Even Toto¡¯s life. has be difficult.


    The dog¡¯s constantly being abducted and physically harmed! I don¡¯t care anymore. Even if you


    disagree, I¡¯m determined to expose her true nature!¡±

 Chapter 418

    Chapter 418


    Chapter 418 I Should Die to Give Way to You


    Joseph was caught between tears andughter. ¡°Xavia doesn¡¯t have that kind of power. I haven¡¯t said


    anything, so please don¡¯t assume what I¡¯m thinking.¡±


    Chloe gazed at him intently. ¡°It¡¯s not about her personal capabilities, but the people behind her.


    Besides, she¡¯s incredibly beautiful. What man doesn¡¯t desire a beautiful woman? They¡¯re attracted to


    her beauty, and she¡¯s enticed by their power.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, would they allow Xavia to bear


    my


    child?¡± Joseph questioned.


    Chloe fell into silence, unsure of how to respond. Joseph¡¯s reasoning made sense. Moreover, even


    though he did not explicitly say anything, he was clearly troubled by the fact that Xavia was carrying his


    child.


    The more Chloe pondered the situation, the more distressed she became. Deep down, she vehemently


    resisted the idea of her baby and Xavia¡¯s child sharing the same father. If that were the case, she


    would rather not have the child. She could just find another man with a clean background, marry him,


    and make him a Johnson.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any objection if you insist on filing a report, but I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s necessary,¡± Joseph said


    in a low tone, disying no hint of mercy toward Xavia. He believed that filing a report andunching


    an investigation would not yield results and would only alert the enemy.


    Chloe¡¯s mind raced with countless thoughts, and she lifted her head to stare at Joseph. ¡°I don¡¯t care


    what you think. I¡¯m filing a report.¡±


    Unraveling the truth became a secondary priority. At the moment, Chloe¡¯s main objective was to bring


    Xavia under control and make her stop whatever she was doing. That would be sufficient for Chloe.


    Joseph was speechless.


    Chloe wasted no time and went to find Tyson again.


    During a music concert where Xavia was performing, the police delivered a message to her and took


    her away for questioning. It was her first performance in Aesper since her return, and it instantly


    caused amotion among the audience.


    ¡°You¡¯re arresting me without any evidence! You better watch out! I¡¯ll sue you for abusing your power!¡±


    Xavia eximed angrily, her chest heaving with intense emotions as she sat in the interrogation room.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t taken any action against you. We just want to have a conversation, so rx,¡± Tyson said


    calmly.


    Xavia maintained a hostile expression as she looked at him. ¡°Did Chloe send you to arrest me?


    How could I, a chemotherapy patient and a pregnant woman, possibly sneak into her house in the


    middle of the night?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a suspect. We didn¡¯t say you were the one who did it. Lower your guard and cooperate with us.¡±


    Tyson looked at her intently. ¡°Where were you on the night of August 29th at 8 PM till 3 AM the next


    day? And what were you doing? Do you have any relevant witnesses?¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Xavia¡¯s gaze drifted, and the next moment, she choked up, ¡°I was at home the whole time. The nanny


    can testify. Chloe is just jealous that I¡¯m carrying Joe¡¯s child and deliberately causing trouble for me¡­


    This has nothing to do with me¡­ Haven¡¯t you already found fingerprints? Why are you still making


    things difficult for me? Did you ept her bribe too?¡± Xavia protested.


    Tyson frowned and signaled to his colleague before excusing himself. When the officer had


    connections with the person who filed the report or the suspect, they had to stay away from the case to


    avoid suspicion.


    Half an hourter, Xavia was released. As she caught sight of Chloe and Joseph, a flicker of


    resentment shed through her eyes, and she abruptly threw herself at a distant table. Although her


    action seemed violent, she controlled the extent of her force.


    Joseph quickly stood up and intercepted her. He grabbed her and admonished, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    With reddened eyes, Xavia¡¯s tears streamed down uncontrobly as she said, ¡°Ms. Chloe suspects me,


    and you¡¯re not helping me either! I don¡¯t know what to do. I¡¯m alone and helpless in this world. It¡¯s


    better to die so that you two can be together!¡±

 Chapter 419

    Chapter 419


    Chapter 419 A Live Stream


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You just need to cooperate with the investigation. Why the fuss?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Why the fuss?¡±¡± Xavia said, her voice trembling as she began to cry while


    covering her face. ¡°I was taken away by the police in front of so many people during my concert. How


    will my fans see me? How will the audience see me? Grandpa already had a poor opinion of me, and


    now with this incident, I¡¯ll never gain his approval.¡±


    Chloe frowned, finding Xavia¡¯s crying voice grating. ¡°Even without today¡¯s incident, you still wouldn¡¯t


    have gained Grandpa¡¯s approval.¡¯


    You reaped what you sowed. If Xavia had ever cared about Toto in the first ce, none of this would


    have happened.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Xavia¡¯s voice cracked, her eyes turning red around the rims. ¡°The police have already


    proved my innocence. Why are you still so harsh with me? You just want Joe, right? I¡¯ll give him back to


    you. I just want our child to be born safely. Please stop making things difficult for me.¡±


    In just a few words, she twisted the whole situation, portraying herself as the victim. The crowd looked


    at her with sympathy and pity as if she were the true victim.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe was so enraged that her face turned red. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any shame?!¡±


    Xavia struggled to stand up, wearing a deste expression and a sense of helplessness. ¡°Go ahead


    and scold me. As long as you don¡¯t make things difficult for me, anything else is fine.¡±


    Tyson came out and shook his head at Joseph, indicating that they had not found anything


    incriminating. Joseph did not seem surprised.


    Chloe could not help but roll her eyes. No one saw how arrogant Xavia was when she was looking at


    her. She was truly a skilled maniptor.


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t push your luck. Everyone makes mistakes, and once I catch you with evidence,


    you¡¯re finished!¡±


    Xavia, with a touch of resilience amid her pitiful appearance, replied, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re


    saying, but if you continue targeting me and my child, I¡¯ll fight back until the end.¡±


    Chloe sneered, ¡°Hah, likewise.¡±


    The reason she wanted to expose Xavia¡¯s true colors was that she was going to be a mother


    herself.


    ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s go,¡± Joseph said impatiently as he looked at Xavia.


    Xavia gazed at Joseph, her eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°Joe, can¡¯t you see what she has done to me?


    Aren¡¯t you going to do something about it? It¡¯s bad enough that you don¡¯t care about me,


    but how could you speak to me like that?¡±


    ¡°Cooperating with police investigations is the responsibility of every citizen. Stop being so dramatic and


    act like you¡¯re the one who got the short end of the stick,¡± Joseph replied.


    His words caused immense satisfaction to resonate within Chloe¡¯s heart. He had used her of being


    overly dramatic in the past, so hearing him say these words to Xavia felt particrly gratifying.


    Xavia¡¯s face tensed up, and she gazed at Chloe with resentment. She had initially wanted to avoid


    embarrassing Joseph, but now that things hade to this point, she found she did not have to hold


    herself back anymore.


    At nine o¡¯clock at night, a live stream began on an online tform. In the heartbreaking video, Xavia


    was in tears. Standing by the seaside, she poured out her deep sense of helplessness of being born as


    a human. Shemented her inability to provide a stable family for her child and her powerlessness to


    sway the father¡¯s decision.


    After saying her piece, she stepped toward the vast ocean, her beautiful face filled with despair, while


    netizens frantically tried to dissuade her.


    [Don¡¯t do it! I grew up in a single-parent household, and look at me now. Perfectly fine without any


    missing limbs.]


    [Wait a minute, isn¡¯t she a violinist? I remember attending one of her performances.]


    [Even someone as pretty as she can be abandoned by a scumbag?]


    By the time Joseph received the news and arrived at the scene, the water was already up to Xavia¡¯s


    chest. The firefighters and medical personnel were all ready and standing by.

 Chapter 420

    Chapter 420


    Chapter 420 I¡¯ll Treat Your Child as My Own


    The firefighter looked at him seriously and asked, ¡°Are you a family member or a friend of hers?¡±


    But before he got an answer, he quickly added, ¡°Regardless of your identity, your main purpose is to


    calm her down. Don¡¯t say anything that might upset her, understand?¡±


    Joseph furrowed his brow and nodded.


    ¡°By the way, can you swim?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good. Go ahead.¡±


    Step by step, Joseph walked toward the sea. The water soaked his suit, clinging to his well- built


    physique, emphasizing his broad shoulders and long legs. Despite being drenched, he and Xavia


    exuded an air of elegance and nobility as if they were a pair of fallen celestial beings.


    One of the people live-streaming with their phone said to Chloe, ¡°I have to admit. Even when all


    drenched, they make a really good couple.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Chloe felt a sense of difort but remained silent.


    ¡°Forget me, Joe. I¡¯m just a cancer patient. You have a long life ahead of you, so don¡¯t let me and the


    child hold you back.¡± Xavia smiled faintly. ¡°If there¡¯s another life, I hope we¡¯ll meet there.¡±


    ¡°Why are you talking such nonsense? When did I ever say I don¡¯t want this child?¡±


    ¡°But once this child is born, he¡¯ll be a source of contention between you and Ms. Chloe. I don¡¯t


    want the child to suffer such grievances, nor do I want to put you in a difficult position.¡±


    ¡°Chloe will ept him,¡± Joseph said, his voice firm.


    A cloud of worry appeared on Xavia¡¯s face as her gaze shifted toward the woman by the seaside. ¡°Are


    you sure? Unless she swears, I won¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Joseph did not immediately agree, his dark eyes flickering with hesitation.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes were clear as she fixed her gaze on the two people in the sea. Her slender figure looked


    frail as the hem of her clothes swayed along with the breeze.


    The firefighter overheard the conversation and shouted toward the shoreline, ¡°Is there a


    Chloe here?¡±


    Amid the searching gazes of the crowd, she stepped forward and dered, ¡°I¡¯m Chloe.¡±


    The firefighter approached her and said, ¡°Our main priority now is to calm her emotions. Just


    agree for the time being. We can discuss the restter.¡±


    Chloe stared at him intently. ¡°Are you asking me to agree first and then change my mind?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I mean.¡±


    ¡°With so many people live-streaming the scene, if I agree now and change my mindter, she might do


    the same thing again. At that time, those viewers will surely expose me online.¡±


    The firefighter had not anticipated her concerns. He reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll testify on your


    behalf. No one will expose you. Our immediate priority is to save her. Remember, she¡¯s pregnant, and


    any ident would result in two lives lost.¡±


    ¡°Yes, just agree already. It¡¯s just a matter of a few words,¡± urged the others.


    ¡°Exactly. Why are you dragging this out? She¡¯s pregnant, so stop being so selfish,¡± someone chimed in.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already taken her husband. Do you want the lives of the mother and child as well?¡±


    Chloe watched as everyone sided with Xavia, her fists clenched tightly. She suspected that Xavia was


    just putting on an act. This was all a performance to escte their conflict, providing the perfect


    opportunity to expose Chloe and make the public believe that Xavia was the true victim afterward.


    However, Chloe could not remain indifferent. She had to say something. Otherwise, she would be


    theplete viin in this situation. She closed her eyes briefly and said in a calm voice, suppressing


    her anger, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do.¡±


    Upon hearing her response, the firefighter handed the megaphone to Chloe. She suppressed rage and


    spoke with a calmness akin to still waters.


    ¡°Xavia, I promise that I¡¯ll ept your child. I pledge to treat your child as my own in the future.¡±

 Chapter 421

    Chapter 421


    Chapter 421 They¡¯re All Joseph¡¯s Kids


    When Xavia heard Chloe¡¯s words, she revealed an indiscernible but arrogant smile. The next second,


    she went limp and fell into Joseph¡¯s arms, who quickly brought her to the ambnce.


    Chloe clutched his arm and glued her gaze to him. ¡°If I¡¯m pregnant, will you send Xavia to somece


    else?¡±


    Joseph knitted his brows. ¡°What do you mean? Do you want me to send her child to somece else


    too?¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t want to harm the innocent child, but I just don¡¯t want to see


    her again.¡± She was greatly disgusted and upset with the oath she had just sworn.


    Joseph patted the back of her hand. ¡°Listen. I can¡¯t just ignore my child. I hope you can understand.¡±


    Chloe stared at him in a trance. ¡®That¡¯s true¡­ From Joseph¡¯s angle, regardless of who the mother was,


    the children would call him father¡­¡¯


    When the ambnce was ready to leave, Joseph gave her a peck on her tender cheek. ¡°Call Lucas


    and ask him to pick you up. I¡¯ll find you after I¡¯ve dealt with this.¡±


    Chloe watched him get into the ambnce and soon vanished from her sight. Slowly, the surrounding


    spectators left as well, leaving her all alone by the endless sea. Looking around the dark beach, she


    felt extremely gloomy and depressed.


    ¡®What does it have to do with me? That child is innocent, but what about me? Am I not


    innocent? It¡¯s Xavia who gets between Joseph and me.¡±


    Chloe did not call Lucas, simply wandering around aimlessly as if she was a homeless person.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Coco! I knew that you would be here!¡±


    A female voice came from afar. Chloe turned around and found Emily trotting over to her.


    ¡°Why¡­ How did you know I¡¯m here?¡±


    ¡°I watched the live streams. Did they save the scheming bitch?¡± Emily asked while panting.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Joseph? Did he leave with her?¡±


    ¡°She needs someone to stay with her.¡±


    Great wrath overcame Emily. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she drown at sea? She¡¯s acting so shameless just to be a


    part of a rich and aristocratic family. She used emotional ckmail on you in front of so many people.


    Ugh, it¡¯s so disgusting!¡± While she had watched the live stream earlier, she got a cab and rushed to the


    scene.


    Xavia was a famous rich, youngdy in the entertainment industry, so her live streams were popr.


    Many ignorant people tried to fight for justice on her behalf. The spectators were Indeed a group of


    fools who were easily influenced by others. They believed whatever others said.


    Chloe undoubtedly had a great friend. Although she was upset, she did not want Emily to worry about


    her, so she forced a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯m fine. You have work tomorrow, and should be in bed.¡±


    Emily was filled with disbelief. ¡°Are you fine?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am. Would you be satisfied if I cried my heart out instead?¡± Chloe questioned helplessly.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to see you cry.¡±


    Emily would be heartbroken to see Chloe cry, filled with deeper grief than if she was the one crying.


    Thinking that Chloe yearned to be left alone to ponder what had happened, she agreed and escorted


    Chloe home.


    At the hospital.


    All of Xavia¡¯s vital signs were normal but she was still unconscious. After a check-up, the doctor


    surmised that it was because of her agitated state. He shooed the nurses away so that Xavia could get


    some rest.


    Joseph ran into the doctor on his way back to the ward after settling the bills. With narrow eyes, he and


    the doctor walked into thetter¡¯s office. He parted his lips and asked, ¡°Can amniocentesis be


    performed at the three-month mark?¡±

 Chapter 422

    Chapter 422


    Chapter 422 All He Cares About Is Chloe


    The doctor shook his head. ¡°We have to wait until at least the sixteenth week, which is around four


    months. The patient isn¡¯t like an ordinary person. Being pregnant is a huge burden on her. We can only


    do the amniocentesis at month four at the fastest. If the situation isn¡¯t


    optimistic, we have to wait until month five or six.¡±


    Joseph frowned deeply and left the doctor¡¯s office. When he was back at the ward, he found Xavia had


    woken up at some point. Her eyes were red and swollen, casting an image of feebleness.


    ¡°Go home to Ms. Chloe. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m sorry for losing control tonight.¡±


    ¡°Why did you deliberately cause such a scene?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes were extremely dark and gloomy.


    Trembling, Xavia boldly met his gaze and said agitatedly, ¡°Chloe got the police to investigate for no


    reason. Joe, I¡¯m a public figure. Reputation is of utmost importance to me. I wanted to protect myself


    and stop those groundless rumors from tarnishing my innocence. And of course, I wanted to protect my


    baby!¡±


    ¡°Chloe isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s always targeting me. I wish that ident from that night didn¡¯t happen either, but I got


    pregnant. I don¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so suspicious.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she stared at him in disappointment. ¡°The police already released me.


    I¡¯m innocent. I knew that you¡¯d publicly side with Chloe, so I used that extreme method to protect


    myself. The public has sharp eyes. If I did something wrong, would I be bold enough to go through so


    much effort to seek attention?


    ¡°I don¡¯t me you but myself for failing to keep you by my side.


    ¡°Just go.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes turned dull as he stated calmly and aloofly, ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself. After the amniocentesis,


    I¡¯ll be responsible for the child if it¡¯s mine. Behave yourself from now on and don¡¯t make another scene.


    I don¡¯t have much patience, and I also don¡¯t want to fall out with you for real.¡±


    He had no interest in whether her suicide attempt tonight was a cry for attention or trying to use public


    opinion to suppress Chloe. At most, he only needed to wait for another two months. to clear the air. On


    the surface, Xavia appeared gentle and charming, but he knew that she was not someone who could


    be easily bullied.


    His patience was limited too.


    Xavia¡¯s eyes went wide with anger as if she felt embarrassed and furious now that her schemes were


    exposed. She thought that she could move him after saying all this and that his heart would soften for


    her.


    ¡°Yes, I admit I want to do everything I can to keep you. I don¡¯t know what I did wrong to make you hate


    me so much. When we were dating, I was always by your side while you tried to establish your


    business. Even when I got sick, I chose to leave for fear that I might burden you for the rest of your life.


    Why do you have to be so cold toward me?¡±


    Joseph recalled his past five years ago, and his eyes turned slightly gloomy. It was hard to forget one¡¯s


    companion, but it did not mean that he would miss them. He knew very well that Chloe was the one he


    cared about now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring the past again. Rest well.¡± He got up and left.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Watching his back, Xavia heaved a heavy sigh. Today¡¯s battle was neither a victory nor a loss.


    Although Joseph was suspicious, everyone in the world now knew that she was pregnant with


    his child.


    When Joseph exited the hospital, he found Lucas there and waiting. He got into the back and sank into


    the soft seat. ¡°Did you send her home?¡± Of course, he was referring to Chloe.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe didn¡¯t ask me to pick her up and went home with her best friend. I did ask her about it, and


    she¡¯s safely at home.¡±


    Rubbing the ce between his brows, Joseph fished his phone out to call Chloe.


    Oceanic Residence.


    Chloe and Noah were standing in the neighborhood and conversing. Thetter was wearing a cuffed


    gray shirt, exposing a small part of his wrists. His skin was fair and tender that one could see his green


    veins. When he smiled, his canines poked out harmlessly. At that moment, he presented a slim and


    upright physique.


    ¡°Hey¡­ Did you just move in here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. You stay here too?¡± Chloe appeared suspicious and unsure. After all, he should at least stay in


    a vi given his identity.


    ¡°Yes, my university is nearby, and this apartment is close.¡± Noah sounded joyful. His brown eyes were


    full of gentleness. ¡°Looks like our fate is written in the stars. We¡¯ll be neighbors from now on.¡±


    Chloe opened her mouth to say something but her phone rang before she could do so. But when she


    tried to answer her phone, it turned off because the battery died.


    Noah caught a glimpse of the name on the screen and offered her his phone. ¡°Here, use mine to call


    him back.¡±

 Chapter 423

    Chapter 423


    Chapter 423 A Bag Fanatic


    After a brief pause, Chloe shook her head. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll call him back when my phone is charged. It¡¯s


    probably nothing urgent.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Which unit do you stay at?¡±


    ¡°Fifth. How about you?¡±


    ¡°Sixth. Hey, our units are next to each other.¡±


    Chloe slowly widened her eyes. ¡°It really is written in the stars. I thought your university was at


    Docwood.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I studied my undergraduate course there, and I¡¯m about to start my postgraduate soon. I chose to


    study in Aesper.¡±


    Enlightenment dawned on Chloe. Postgraduate students started their semester around September and


    it was already August. If he had no ns to stay at the university, he would. have to rent a ce and


    must have gotten a unit in Oceanic Residence.


    They chatted with each other casually and said goodbye when they arrived at their respective


    units.


    When Chloe got home, she charged her phone and called Joseph back. ¡°My phone battery died when


    you called me. I just charged it.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s unique and maic voice came to her. ¡°You¡¯re home?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I am. How¡¯s Xavia?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine. I gave her an earful. This kind of thing won¡¯t happen again. You¡¯ve suffered today.¡±


    Hearing this, Chloe¡¯s slender and long eyshes lowered. ¡°So do I have to ept Xavia¡¯s child if we


    remarry in the future?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this after the result of the amniocentesis.¡±


    ¡°I want to know the answer now.¡±


    After a brief silence, Joseph heaved a sigh. ¡°That¡¯s not only Xavia¡¯s child but mine too. I don¡¯t want to


    be an irresponsible father, but I guarantee you that you won¡¯t have to see Xavia again.¡±


    Consequently, deep gloominess and despair overcame her.


    ¡°Okay, I understand. I want to go to bed now. Goodnight.¡±


    Staring at his phone after she hung up on him, Joseph found this issue hard to handle. When he was


    back at his vi, he contacted Nathan.


    Nathan was currently bored after enjoying some time at a nightclub. When Joseph summoned


    him, he bought some snacks and beer before eagerly heading to Joseph¡¯s vi. On his way there, he


    was inexplicably excited and curious. He felt that something must be troubling Joseph since he was not


    yet asleep at such ate hour.


    After Nathan learned about the situation, he tapped his chin in contemtion. ¡°Dude, this is a


    stalemate. You can¡¯t abandon this child. At the same time, Chloe is absolutely innocent.¡±


    Joseph rxed and leaned into the sofa, casually propping his legs on the coffee table and crossing


    them. He epted a bottle of beer and gulped it down. ¡°How should I resolve this?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no solution for this. Just be nicer to Chloe. Buy her cars and bags, and give her money.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Joseph shot Nathan a sidelong nce.


    ¡°Dude, I¡¯m a yboy, not God. I can¡¯t change something like that.¡±


    Nathan had long guessed that neither Xavia nor Chloe could not be easily trifled with. It would be very


    meddlesome regardless of whom Joseph chose. And as expected, that was indeed the truth.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡®Buy her cars and bags¡­ If I¡¯m not mistaken, the dumbo has no


    driving license., so I can only buy her bags.¡¯


    The next day, Chloe woke up early to go to the office. When she arrived, she was floored.


    At the ground floor entrance were more than ten trucks filled with branded bags. The drivers. and


    workers had never carried such items before and appeared slightly awkward. A man who looked like a


    mall manager was ordering them around, and the workers carried the bags into the building in an


    orderly fashion.


    Chloe walked over, clearly stunned. ¡°What¡­¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, right?¡±


    Chloe nodded in a daze. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, you¡¯re one lucky woman. These are all gifts that Mr. Joseph bought you. All the branded


    bags in Aesper are here. Some were even shipped here overnight from further locations.¡± 1


    Speechlessness overwhelmed Chloe. At that moment, Joseph texted her and asked if she liked the


    bags. She replied, (Umm¡­]


    When Joseph read this, he thought she disliked the bags. [Hurry up and get a driving license. I¡¯ll buy


    you cars instead.]


    Chloe did not understand what he was doing. Did he want topensate her for what happened the


    night before? Although she loved money, this sort of thing that went against


    her principles could not be resolved with money.


    At the same time, the rich, youngdies of Aesper red up in a rage. They posted on the Inte and


    made angry statements.


    [I booked the limited-edition bag over half a month ago, but someone stole my joy. I¡¯m so pissed!]


    [Me too. I happily went to buy the bag this morning, but then they told me that it¡¯s been sold.] [Same


    here. I heard from my besties that a bag fanatic appeared in Aesper. They bought all the bags from all


    the exclusive shops.]


    As Chloe gazed at the warehouse full of priceless bags, she felt sorry that she had to leave them there.


    If they were identally scratched, their prices would drop. She then decided to put them on a


    secondhand tform to sell them at ten percent off, taking photos of each bag before putting away a


    few for the outstanding female employees in herpany. She also kept two which Emily liked but


    could not bring herself to buy.


    Chloe posted the photos on the secondhand tform, and more than ten bags were sold within


    minutes. These richdies sure had a lot of money. The only question they asked was whether the bag


    was brand new before snatching them up.


    The money Chloe earned from selling the bags that morning was equal to herpany¡¯s monthly


    profits. However, she was not happy. She found that her social status was vastly different from


    Joseph¡¯s. 1


    At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, she had just finished writing half of a proposal when Joseph called and


    told her to meet him downstairs. They would go to the prison together to ask Benjamin about her


    mother.

 Chapter 424

    Chapter 424


    Chapter 424 A Slight Humiliation


    Downstairs, Joseph was driving himself, and when Chloe got into the car, seatbelt. ¡°Did you contact the


    prison?¡±


    she put on her


    ¡°We¡¯re scheduled to visit him at two o¡¯clock this afternoon.¡± He tilted his head and looked at her. ¡°Do


    you like the bags I bought you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but why did you buy so many? I can¡¯t possibly use them all.¡±


    ¡°You can just keep them.¡±


    Chloe replied, ¡°It¡¯s a waste to just leave them there. I kept a few that I liked and sold the rest on a


    secondhand tform.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Surprisingly, Joseph did not show much of a reaction. He felt that it was unnecessary to be indulgent


    and change one¡¯s bag every day. They were just containers for one to carry things


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    with.


    After passing a crossroad and the traffic started to disperse, traveling on therge road became much


    smoother and the car picked up speed.


    In the meantime, an executive of Fairlight called Joseph and asked about several matters. With his


    Bluetooth earpiece on, he easily taught his employee how to handle the issues. At the same time, his


    slender and refined fingers controlled the steering wheelnguidly, inexplicably managing to keep


    everything under control.


    After the call ended, Chloe questioned, ¡°Do you have unfinished work at thepany today?¡±


    ¡°Some.¡±


    ¡°I can go on my own.¡±


    Joseph frowned but did not respond. He drove to their destination. After parking the car neatly, he


    turned his bewitching dark eyes to her. ¡°Are you still mad at me?¡±


    Chloe tilted her face. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are.¡±


    She took a deep breath. Unable to hold it in, she suddenly raised her voice. ¡°What else do you want me


    to do? Do you expect me to just generously ept the child of you and Xavia? I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t do


    that!¡±


    That child would always remind her of what happened that night, and that was probably Xavia¡¯s goal.


    Even if she were not around, she would use the child to disgust Chloe.


    ¡°I know that I¡¯ve wronged you.¡± Joseph¡¯s handsome face was tense. He took out his phone and


    clicked on something before he transferred some money to her.


    Chloe¡¯s phone beeped. She knew that it was because of Joseph, so she took out her phone and looked


    at it with some doubt. When she saw the seven-digit figure, her lips twitched hard.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I want to coax you.¡±


    Chloe felt slightly humiliated. She sneered and demanded, ¡°Do you think I can be pacified with


    money?¡± She would be over the moon if he used that kind of method to pacify her if it was just their


    general quibbles, but he used the same method when it was a vition of her principles. She felt that


    he did not respect her.


    This was Joseph¡¯s first time lowering himself to please a woman, but the results were the opposite of


    his imagination. He failed to coax her, and on the contrary, she became even angrier.


    His handsome, perfect face sank. ¡°Chloe, is there something wrong with your hearing?¡±


    He had told her that he was trying to coax her.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s something wrong with my hearing. Are you satisfied with my answer?¡±


    Having been gloomy and upset for a few days now, Chloe now lost control of her temper, unbuckling


    her seatbelt and getting out of the car. Joseph grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. They


    were so close to each other that their breathing intertwined. Soon the atmosphere turned ambiguous.


    His hot breath was against her forehead, and his deep-set eyes were unfathomable. Chloe felt it really


    hot, so she leaned back to try and put some between them but Joseph grabbed her


    wrist and purposely stopped her from moving.


    ¡°When did you stop loving money?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s charming face was stupefied. As she looked into his dead-serious eyes, she smiled lightly. ¡°Put


    yourself in my shoes. Say I gave birth to a son of another man while I was still married to you and


    resolutely wanted to bring the child home. You disagreed, so I try to use my money to make you agree.


    Do you think that¡¯s the right way to handle it?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes instantly filled with wrath and the atmosphere turned freezing cold. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±

 Chapter 425

    Chapter 425


    Chapter 425 Find Ava


    Chloe found this very amusing. She uttered slowly, ¡°And yet, you¡¯ve dared to do so.¡±


    Joseph calmed down. After a pause, he said withposure, ¡°I understand.¡±


    She stared at his tall back as he walked in front of her. She wondered what he had understood.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The prison where Benjamin was locked up was located in the suburbs.


    At this time of day, the inmates were having group activities. Everyone wore prison uniforms and were


    standing out on the field. A prison guard called out Benjamin¡¯s inmate number before taking him to the


    visiting room.


    Benjamin was bald now, but he had a cunning look about him. ¡°Coco, what are you doing here? ¡°He


    appeared happy and surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask about my mother. Where did shee from? Are my grandparents still alive?¡±


    Benjamin¡¯s expression changed. He then fixed his intense gaze on Joseph. ¡°Get out of here if you want


    me to tell you anything. Regardless, I¡¯m your father. You surely can¡¯t bear to watch. me spend the rest


    of my life here, can you?¡±


    Chloe was stunned as she clenched her fists tightly. ¡°You won¡¯t tell me if I don¡¯t help you?¡±


    Benjamin looked guilty under her gaze of disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m only in my forties right now. Please be


    considerate. No one wants to stay here.¡±


    ¡°Did you forget why you¡¯re locked up here?¡± Joseph sounded icy.


    ¡°I know that I was wrong. Now, we¡¯re each other¡¯s only family. Can you bear to see me spend the rest


    of my life in prison?¡±


    Chloe shook her head emotionlessly. ¡°You¡¯re not my father. You¡¯re the murderer who killed my mother.¡±


    Not waiting for his reply, she stood up and said to Joseph, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She was clearly disappointed in


    Benjamin.


    Joseph stroked her head with hisrge hand. ¡°Wait outside. Let me talk to him.¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brows, not wanting him topromise and agree to Benjamin¡¯s requests. But after


    pondering it for a while, she realized that Joseph was not someone who was at others.


    mercy, so she walked out of the visitation room.


    Joseph spoke to the prison guard briefly. After hearing what he had to say, the guard¡¯s expression


    changed vastly before he rushed into the room with a few of his colleagues and taught Benjamin a


    brutal lesson.


    Chloe could hear Benjamin¡¯s piteous cries from outside.


    After ten minutes, Joseph asked Chloe to return to the room to question Benjamin again.


    Benjamin¡¯s face was badly swollen, and his gaze was full of fear as he looked at Joseph.


    Chloe raised her brows. ¡°What did you say to the guard just now?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Go on and ask him again.¡±


    Feeling doubtful, she asked Benjamin, ¡°Where did my mothere from?¡±


    ¡°T-The South.¡±


    Chloe touched her face. Someone hadmented before that she looked like a woman from the


    South.


    ¡°Where exactly?¡±


    ¡°Jade Street. Your grandparents are there too.¡± Benjamin looked at Joseph with fear and swore, ¡°I don¡¯t


    know anything else. She never told me.¡±


    Chloe muttered, ¡°Jade Street¡­¡± She had seen that town on TV more than ten years ago. The whole


    street was in the business of selling jade ware and was a famous tourist spot.


    Upon exiting the prison, Joseph lit a cigarette. Its scarlet fire lit zed and died down. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the


    female prison and find Ava.¡±


    Chloe blinked with confusion. ¡°But why?¡±


    Could she know any more than Benjamin?


    He looked at her, exuding a solemn and steady aura that he had gained from surviving in the field of


    power and money. His eyes gleamed with a frightening glint, which was biting cold. ¡°I have a feeling


    that she knows something.¡±

 Chapter 426

    Chapter 426


    Chapter 426 Her Name¡¯s Luciana Sullivan


    At the female prison, a prison guard fished out Ava¡¯s file. ¡°She was released on bail a while back.¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brows. ¡°It¡¯s that easy to bail her out?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. It was an order from higher up.¡±


    ¡°When exactly did this happen?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Early August.¡±


    Joseph tapped on the table and cracked a profound smile. That was the time he had met Noah at the


    Johnson Group.


    Chloe found it strange, but she thought there would be no useful clues to dig out of Ava. At the


    moment, she needed to find a day to go to the South. What piqued her interest more was what Joseph


    had said to the prison guard earlier. Why did Benjamin behave himself after that incident?


    ¡°I told the guard that Benjamin asked us to help him escape from prison.¡±


    Chloe was rendered speechless.


    Joseph then changed the topic and promised solemnly, ¡°I¡¯ll reconsider what to do with Xavia¡¯s


    child after the delivery. I promise to give you a reply that you¡¯ll be satisfied with.¡±


    For some reason, she wanted to believe him and looked up at him in silence.


    Pinching her cheek, he snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lie to me.¡±


    He pursed his lips and leaned down to touch her head. ¡°I won¡¯t. But didn¡¯t you do just


    that very same thing?¡± 2


    Chloe muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t hold grudges.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    She had lied to him once. Besides, she was also a victim. Emily had not pointed out clearly who Jake¡¯s


    uncle was.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the family home tonight.¡±


    Chloe was about to turn him down when he said in dissatisfaction, ¡°Have you forgotten about your


    task?¡±


    After a pause, she recalled that she needed to help him get the note. She smacked her forehead in


    frustration. ¡°I did forget about that. I¡¯ll find you after I finish drafting the proposal. I have another client


    coming in this afternoon.¡±


    She had been trying to get in touch with that client for a long while, but she got no response until this


    morning when the client called her. Although it was a little strange, the customer was king, and thus


    she could not refuse to see the client.


    After dropping Chloe back at thepany, Joseph called Calvin to meet up. Slight confusion overcame


    Calvin because of Joseph¡¯s invitation. After they agreed on the time, they quickly


    met up.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, nobody does things without a reason. May I know what I can do for you?¡± Calvin was an


    open-minded person, and people could adapt quickly to situations. In the past, they argued with each


    other because of some misunderstandings. After he apologized to Chloe, he texted Joseph to express


    his apology though Joseph gave no reply.


    Joseph picked up his teacup and blew on his tea. After that, he elegantly took a sip. ¡°I¡¯d like to know


    something about Mr. Desmond¡¯s daughter.¡±


    Calvin¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me?¡±


    Calvin recalled Noah¡¯s words and nodded. ¡°Yes, I have some concerns.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Just tell me her name.¡±


    After a slight hesitation, Calvin confessed, ¡°Her name¡¯s Luciana Sullivan.¡±


    When Chloe got back to the office, she worked for more than an hour before finishing the first edition of


    the proposal and emailing it to Nathan¡¯s father. As she was about to head


    downstairs to grab a cup of coffee, the receptionist called and informed her that the client had arrived.


    She immediately headed downstairs to receive them, but a crease formed between her brows when


    she saw the person.


    ¡®Why is it a woman?¡¯


    It was not that Chloe discriminated against women, but she recalled that the client should be a middle-


    aged man.

 Chapter 427

    Chapter 427


    Chapter 427 A Business Talk Bes a Matchmaking Session


    ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Chloe, right?¡± The woman sized Chloe up before extending her hand. ¡°Let me introduce


    myself. I¡¯m Amber Garcia, Kevin Garcia¡¯s wife. I¡¯m here today to discuss business on his behalf.¡±


    Chloe found this a little strange but remainedposed. ¡°Nice to meet you. Come, let¡¯s talk in my


    office.¡±


    ¡°No, I picked a ce-the cafe across from yourpany building.¡±


    This was beyond Chloe¡¯s imagination. ¡°Please wait. I need to grab the documents from upstairs.¡±


    When they got to the cafe, Chloe saw another man sitting there and waiting for them. He was about


    thirty-five years old and looked pretty ordinary but had on a Rolex watch. While staring at her, his gaze


    was intense and lustful.


    Chloe remained calm. ¡°Mrs. Amber, who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Let me get straight to the point. It¡¯s not easy for a girl to live alone and support herself. You¡¯re at the


    age at which you should be married. This is a friend of mine from university. He was married once, but


    don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s very well-to-do.¡±


    Deep bewilderment was written across Chloe¡¯s charming face. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, we¡¯re here to talk


    business, not for a matchmaking session, right?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I love Xavia¡¯s performances. I also feel greatpassion for her given the incident that


    happened to her. We¡¯re all women, and I hope you can understand her. Don¡¯t ruin others¡¯ marriages.


    It¡¯s immoral and against societal norms, You should understand this, right?


    Chloe was finally enlightened. ¡°You¡¯re fans of Xavia?¡±


    Thetter raised her head high. ¡°No, we¡¯re more than that. We¡¯re friends.¡±


    Amber had watched the live stream that day and felt very sorry for Xavia due to her own. unstable


    marriage with her husband all these years. There was even once when a shameless homewrecker


    came into their house.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    After that incident, she forgave her husband, but they had since be estranged. She even had


    early onset of menopause, and could only find sce in Xavia¡¯s performances. She then became


    Xavia¡¯s friend after attending thetter¡¯s performances often.


    Amber had overheard from her husband yesterday that thepany that had wanted to cooperate with


    them was founded by the homewrecker. Hence, an idea dawned on her.


    She felt that she should introduce a man to Chloe. It would help preserve Xavia¡¯s position as the first


    wife and could also move the homewrecker to tears.


    Chuckling, Chloe exined, ¡°I don¡¯t marry divorced men.¡±


    Hearing this, the man sitting there had a change of expression. Amber quickly tried to mediate the


    situation. ¡°Divorced men have more advantages than men who marry for the first time.. They know how


    to take care of people and handle their marriages well. The most important thing is that this


    gentleman¡¯spany is even bigger than my husband¡¯s. Your career will be much easier if you


    get together with him.¡±


    ¡°In that case, you can divorce your husband and marry this gentleman.¡± Chloe crossed her arms and


    leaned back on her heels, teasing Amber. ¡°After all, you guys are university mates, and this can be


    considered a university love affair. Isn¡¯t he much better than Mr. Kevin?¡±


    Somberness was currently the only emotion on Amber¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m introducing you to a good man, yet


    your words are so rude.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, a good guy?¡± Chloe¡¯s voice slowed. ¡°He¡¯s just a tiny bit wealthy but useless. He can¡¯tpare to


    Joseph Whitman in the slightest.¡±


    When the man heard Joseph¡¯s name, his expression instantly changed. He roared at Amber.


    ¡°Are you fucking trying to ruin me?! You¡¯re trying to set me up with Joseph¡¯s woman?!¡±


    Was she just trying to ruin him?


    Amber red at him. ¡°You know that she¡¯s Joseph¡¯s woman but not his wife.¡±


    Thetter felt this was reasonable, so he looked at Chloe again. She was fair and charming and had


    long legs. The most important thing was that she looked pretty without makeup. A woman like her was


    considered rare in Aesper, and he was enthralled. It was normal to have fun with a lot of women, so


    Joseph might have already broken up with Chloe.


    Amber spoke up again, saying arrogantly, ¡°Calm down. Let¡¯s sit down and talk. It¡¯s possible that we can


    strike up cooperation.¡±


    Chloe gripped the documents she had brought with her before an idea sparked in her mind. ¡± Yeah,


    sure, but you have to sign the contract first.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Amber presented a generous front. Small business like this did not mean much to her.


    Chloe cracked a faint smile. ¡°Please wait for a moment. I¡¯ll get someone to send me the contract.¡± She


    lowered her head and texted her subordinate. She ordered her subordinate to make minor


    modifications to the original terms for the breach of contract and the ratio of the interests.


    After that, she texted Joseph and sent him her current location. ¡°I¡¯m at this cafe. Come and pick me up


    after you¡¯re done with your work.¡±

 Chapter 428

    Chapter 428


    Chapter 428 The Nature Had Changed


    Chloe¡¯s subordinate soon delivered the contract. She took it and inspected it.


    After confirming that everything was in order, she handed it to Amber. ¡°Please read it. If everything is


    satisfactory, we should sign the contract first. If not, I¡¯ll be distracted as I¡¯ll be constantly thinking about


    work.¡±


    Amber picked up the document. She knew thenguage, but she could not understand the contents of


    the contract. However, she felt that a smallpany like Chloe¡¯s could not possiblye up with any


    big projects, so she looked down on it and directly signed it on Kevin¡¯s behalf.


    A broad smile graced Chloe¡¯s face as the sunlight shone in. It made her perfect and delicate face quite


    dazzling. The man was greatly charmed by her and gulped greedily. ¡®Joseph sure has a good eye. Her


    skin is so fair and tender, and she¡¯s so pretty. I wonder if she¡¯ll be equally as lovely in bed¡­¡¯


    ¡°What do you think? Are you satisfied with Ms. Chloe?¡± Amber looked at her old friend with disdain but


    she did not let her feelings betray her. She felt that neither of these two were good people, so they


    should be together and stop hurting others.


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡± He stared at Chloe intensely but was still cautious. ¡°Have you and Joseph broken up?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Joseph¡¯s wife is pregnant, so she has to break up with him,¡± Amber quickly chimed


    1.


    Chloe cracked a sarcastic sneer. Xavia had lied to so many people by relying on her act. Even her


    middle-aged fan was trying to seek justice for her. She might have a lot of kiss-asses. Given her skills,


    it would surely be no problem for her to be a top actress if she yed her cards well in the


    entertainment industry.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Are you free toe to my house?¡± The mansciviously touched Chloe¡¯s hand that she


    had ced on the table.


    Chloe quickly retrieved her hand and smiled lightly. ¡°Do you like divorced women that badly?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Chloe was more than a mistress. She was even married once.


    Amber was greatly shocked. She turned to re at Chloe. ¡°My friend doesn¡¯t hold these things in


    disdain. Why do you bring it up? You¡¯re just trying to make us feel awkward, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡®Did she purposely confess this to ruin the match? Dream on!¡¯


    Chloe turned to the man with a profound smile. ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±


    The man waved his hand in a show of generosity. I¡¯m just going to fool around with her anyway. If her


    background were better and she was still a virgin, I may have considered it, but I don¡¯t know how many


    men she¡¯s been with. Of course, I¡¯m not so foolish to want to marry her.¡¯


    At a nce, Chloe could tell his thoughts. Sheughed coldly and said, ¡°Trash.¡±


    Amber and the man were stunned. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Had she really just scolded them andbeled them as trash?


    Chloe blinked and said innocently, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. Is there some sort of mistake?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we must¡¯ve heard you wrong¡­¡± Amber smiled awkwardly. She did not believe that the shameless


    homewrecker would be bold enough to scold them in such a way.


    They then returned to the main topic. Amber discussed with the man enthusiastically and those who


    were ignorant would assume that they were fixing a wedding date.


    Chloe ignored everything while leisurely enjoying her dessert and waiting for Joseph¡¯s arrival. After


    bing pregnant, she had to visit the washroom more often. She elegantly picked up a tissue to


    wipe her mouth and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the washroom.¡±


    Amber stated impatiently, ¡°Come back quickly.¡±


    Chloe smiled faintly and nodded. After walking far, she found that she did not have her phone on her.


    She walked back to the table and saw from afar that the man had poured some


    transparent liquid into her ss of juice right in front of Amber.


    Amber watched him but did not try to stop him.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes turned icy. If drugging was involved, the nature of this affair had changed.

 Chapter 429

    Chapter 429


    Chapter 429 That Sinful Gaze


    After going to the washroom, Chloe returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.


    Amber and the man looked at the ss of orange juice in front of Chloe from time to time, but Chloe


    simply munched on her fries and raised a random topic for conversation. As expected, Amber


    enthusiastically chimed in when she heard Chloe ask about the man.


    Chloe selected a time and purposely shoved their car keys that were on the table to the floor as if it


    was an ident. When they bent over to pick up the keys, she quickly exchanged her ss with


    Amber¡¯s. Coincidentally, both of them had ordered orange juice and had not drunk much


    of it.


    After chatting for a while, Chloe picked up her ss and took a few sips under their gazes.


    Hidden smugness washed over Amber, but she was a little regretful. But on second thought, she felt


    that she did not have to show Chloe anypassion because Chloe was just a homewrecker who


    meddled in others¡¯ love affairs.


    Twenty minutes passed, but the woman before her appeared calm and normal. She talked andughed


    with good spirits. On the other hand, Amber felt a hot sensation grasping her. She took off her coat, but


    it did not eliminate the heat that engulfed her. 1


    The man was baffled too. ¡®Was it rendered ineffective after being in the drink for too long?¡±


    ¡°Are you done yet?¡±


    A male voice tinged with coldness came from afar.


    Chloe turned around and looked over. The man was wearing a light, ck shirt, standing at the door of


    the cafe absent-mindedly with a suit jacket on his arm. He was endowed with rxation and


    languidness as well as reckless wildness.


    When the man saw Joseph, he became terrified. He realized all toote that Amber had lied to him, so


    he did not dare to say a word, fearing that Joseph might find fault with him.


    Chloe had no intention of wasting any more time on them, so she smiled happily and waved at Joseph


    before saying, ¡°Bye now. By the way, there¡¯s no need to give me a ride. I noticed that there seems to


    be something wrong with Mrs. Amber. Please take good care of her.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    At this time, Amber¡¯s consciousness had be blurry. Rosiness crept up her cheeks as she


    unconsciously tugged at the fabric in front of her chest, revealing quite arge part of it.


    When the man saw this, he was stunned. ¡®Did she drink the orange juice that was drugged?¡±


    Chloe got into the shotgun seat and watched through the car window as Amber lost her sanity. Amber


    refused to let go of the man, touching him all over and making the surrounding people look at them with


    weird gazes. The scene became rather awkward.


    1/3


    Joseph looked over indifferently. ¡°That your handiwork?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I exchanged our drinks. If not, the person who would be behaving impudently now would be


    me.¡±


    A sense of darkness shed through his eyes as he reversed the car back to the cafe. Looking at


    Amber and the man, he asked, ¡°What are their names?¡±


    Chloe thought for a while before deciding to tell him.


    At the Whitman family home.


    Surprisingly, Jonathan was there in branded clothes. He appeared to be in good spirits, which showed


    that he led quite a good life recently.


    ¡°Joe, you¡¯re here.¡± He stood up and greeted Joseph. When he saw Chloe, he nced at her lightly


    before averting his gaze.


    Chloe was fine with this and went to sit with Harold to chat with him.


    ¡°Joe, my chip research center is proceeding smoothly. Many sessful men have invested in it. Are


    you sure you don¡¯t want to be a part of it?¡±


    Joseph gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Jonathan¡¯s face flushed. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±


    When he sessfully produced a new chip for cars, the whole world would be astounded. That would


    be the best time for him to make a name for himself and he would be the most outstanding


    person in the Whitman family, surpassing Joseph by leaps and bounds.


    Harold and Chloe ate and chatted leisurely. He thought that she and Joseph had made up, so he


    happily polished off a few sses of wine.


    Chloe had intended to ask Harold about the note, but he dozed off after drinking.


    It was now quitete, so she stayed the night there under Patrick¡¯s enthusiastic invitation. Naturally,


    she was arranged to be in the same room as Joseph. But she was pregnant, and they could only sleep


    and do nothing else.


    When she stepped out of the bath, Joseph was sitting in bed and reading documents, dressed in dark


    blue pajamas. It looked like he still had work to do.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep first,¡± she said before she yawned. Sleepiness overcame her, and without too much


    thought, she quickly dozed off after getting into bed.


    Chloe woke up the next morning. When she opened her eyes, she saw Joseph¡¯s erged handsome


    face. At that moment, he was withholding his desire as he stared at her amorously. He appeared like a


    wolf that had been hunting at night and was about tounch an attack at


    any minute.


    That gaze was sinful-the kind of seductiveness only adults understood. ]


    Chloe regained her wits. When she tried to move, she realized that she was nestled in his arms, her


    fair and slim legs hooked around his waist. They looked as intimate as an old married couple.

 Chapter 430

    Chapter 430


    Chapter 430 His Parents Had Been Very Loving


    ¡°You¡¯ve been asleep for a very long time,¡± Joseph whispered in Chloe¡¯s ear.


    When his hot breath sprayed past her earlobe, she felt ticklish and blushed. ¡°I was a bit tired


    yesterday.¡±


    While talking, she extended her hands to push him away. However, Joseph was quite strong and


    steady, refusing to budge.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since west had sex.¡±


    Chloe became bbergasted as she abruptly looked up at him but he appearedposed. His


    handsome and bewitching face was a perfect gift from God. He had just woken up, so there was not


    much fierceness in his ck eyes. But the words he said were quite vulgar.


    He had been suppressing his desires all night. When he saw her sleep soundly, he refrained from


    touching her.


    Chloe¡¯s fair and palm-sized face turned red. ¡°Who wants to do that with you? What kind of rtionship


    are we in? Who are you? Who are you to me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sleeping in my bed and in my arms. Tell me. What kind of rtionship are we in?¡±


    Chloe found it hard to refute him. ¡°But I have yet to agree to reconcile with you. We¡¯re still at the stage


    where we¡¯re still inspecting each other.¡±


    ¡°We can take what we¡¯re going to do now as a part of the inspection.¡±


    She then felt his hand sneak under her shirt and touch her body, climbing up her waist. She stiffened


    and quickly stopped him. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to do this.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Chloe repeated solemnly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this.¡±


    He stopped and stared at her closely. She thought he would be pinched her face and sized her up. ¡°Are


    you feeling unwell?¡±


    angry but


    but unexpectedly, he


    Chloe felt slightly stunned before she nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m feeling unwell.¡±


    ¡°Is it your period?¡±


    ¡°Period?¡± She was confused for a second before she was enlightened. She touched her nose.


    No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    Joseph knitted his brows. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your periode at the beginning of the month?¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°We lived under the same roof. I¡¯m not as slow-witted as you are.¡±


    ¡±


    Even if one was slow, anyone who was thoughtful would remember such a thing.


    Chloe¡¯s gaze became slightlyplicated as she looked at him. ¡®Well, this scumbag is much better


    than I thought.¡±


    ¡°Go wash up.¡±


    After he said that, he turned and got out of bed to go downstairs. Before long, he came back with a


    ss of hot milk.


    ¡°I¡¯m not on my period.¡± When Chloe saw the ss of milk, she became slightly stupefied.


    ¡°I know. But you can drink it before your period. You¡¯ll feel less pain then.¡±


    ¡°How do you know this?¡±


    Joseph appearedposed. ¡°I heard my dad say this to my mom when I was young.¡±


    A well of emotion inevitably surged up within her. That warmth was not something she could gain. It


    turned out that his parents were so loving to one another.


    Her doubt inevitably escaped her. ¡°What happened to your mom?¡±


    ¡®Did his mother fall ill and pass away like mine?¡¯


    Joseph¡¯s eyshes drooped. One could not fully discern the emotions in his voice, but it was clearly


    suffocating ¡°She took her life.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡®Both his parents took their lives¡­ This is abnormal.¡¯


    ¡°Drink this before it gets cold.¡± He pushed the ss of milk to her before he turned around to change


    his clothes.


    She sipped the milk slowly but was too absorbed in herplicated thoughts to taste it.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Harold had too much winest night so he did not wake up before they left. When Chloe and Joseph


    arrived at the crossroad, they separated as usual and made ns to visit Toto together at the animal


    hospital that night.


    Chloe immediately spotted the youth sitting in the waiting area the moment she entered thepany.


    He gazed out of the window while holding onto some documents and a box of candies. His clear eyes


    were filled with a tinge of gloominess that was indiscernible if one did. not look at him closely.


    This fact escaped Chloe. She called out, ¡°Noah?¡±

 Chapter 431

    Chapter 431


    Chapter 431 Noah Is Different From Those Subi


    Noah turned his head, skillfully concealing the sadness in his eyes while a gentle smile graced his fair


    face. ¡°I came to see you. This is a signature product named ¡®Palette of Emotions¡¯ from a famous candy


    store. They im that eating these candies will lift your mood.¡±


    Chloe epted the exquisite bag of candies, her brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Palette of Emotions?¡±


    ¡°I just watched the rey of the live stream from two days ago,¡± Noah replied calmly.


    Lately, he had been engrossed in working on a paper and had not spent much time on his electronic


    devices. Last night, as he surfed the inte afterpleting his paper, he stumbled upon a rey of


    Xavia¡¯s live stream. Despite Joseph¡¯s efforts to delete most of the


    ¡°You came here just to bring me some candy?¡± Chloe looked at him in astonishment.


    Noah maintained hisposure as he fabricated a lie. ¡°I went to buy something on West Street and


    happened toe across them.¡±


    Chloe thought she might be overthinking things. Noah was a kind-hearted person and not someone


    who had nothing better to do. He could not possibly be so concerned about her.


    ¡°Oh, you might not be aware since you just moved here, but West Street is infested with thieves. Be


    careful when you go there,¡± Chloe warned.


    ¡°You¡¯re a bitte with that warning. I already fell victim to a thief on my way here,¡± Noah said


    with a wry smile.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I lost my wallet. It was most likely stolen by a thief.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Was there anything important inside?¡±


    ¡°Besides my ID, there was also an old photo of me and my grandfather which holds great significance


    to me.¡±


    Chloe had some knowledge about Noah¡¯s background and pursed her lips. ¡°There will be a night


    market on West Street tomorrow, and some thieves might try to resell stolen items to secondhand


    vendors. If your wallet is valuable and luck is on our side, there¡¯s a chance the old photo might still be


    there.¡±


    Noah raised an eyebrow. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll try my luck.¡±


    Chloe nodded. ¡°If I finish work early tomorrow, I can go with you. We can split up and search, making it


    faster.¡±


    ¡®After all, he brought me candy. I have to do something for him as well.¡¯


    Noah looked up at her, his eyes drooping innocently, his tone half serious and half teasing as he asked,


    ¡°Have you made up with Mr. Joseph? Will he get angry if you go with me even though we¡¯re just


    friends?¡±


    Chloe had no idea why but a ssic line that was often used by unscrupulous women popped into her


    mind: we¡¯re just friends, please don¡¯t get angry.


    Sheughed at the gentle and handsome young man before her. She had let her imagination run wild.


    How could shepare Noah to those subi?


    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Noah asked in puzzlement as he raised his hand to touch his face. ¡°Is


    there something on my face?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Chloe quickly stifled herughter, waving her hands dismissively and choosing not to


    reveal her thoughts


    Noah did not press the matter, but he could not help but notice Chloe¡¯s eyes squinting with joy,


    resembling a contented little cat. It brought a genuine smile to his own face. It appeared that her inner


    strength was formidable, and she had not been swayed by Xavia¡¯s maniptive


    tactics


    Noah did not linger for long. After delivering the candies, he bid Chloe farewell and left. Turning the


    corner outside thepany, he came face to face with Lucas, apanied by a well-dressed woman


    in ck that gave off the air of a bodyguard.


    Lucas often stayed by Joseph¡¯s side and was aware of Noah¡¯s blossoming feelings for Chloe. Although


    the rtionship between Joseph and Chloe had not been officially established, once Joseph deemed it


    so, Lucas would wholeheartedly believe it. After all, his boss¡¯s judgment of


    people was never wrong.


    ¡°Mr. Noah, have youe to discuss business with Mr. Joseph¡¯s wife?¡± Lucas asked, deliberately


    emphasizing the word ¡°wife.¡±


    Noah smiled, his face innocent, as if he had not understood the hidden meaning behind Lucas¡¯ words.


    ¡°No, I came to give Chloe some candies, Girls love sweets, after all.¡±


    Lucas sensed his intention and issued a serious reminder. ¡°For the sake of the Sullivans, you should


    maintain your distance from Mr. Joseph¡¯s wife, wouldn¡¯t you agree, Mr. Noah?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Noah seemed to find something incredibly amusing as he burst intoughter. ¡°Isn¡¯t Xavia Mr. Joseph¡¯s


    wife? Are you implying that although Xavia is pregnant with his child, his real wife is Chloe? Hah, Chloe


    is truly fortunate.¡±


    ¡°This was an unexpected situation. Mr. Joseph is devoted to Ms. Chloe,¡± Lucas replied.


    ¡°If he¡¯s devoted to her, why did he knock up another woman?¡± Noah said in a slow and scornful tone,


    each word dripping with sarcasm.


    Lucas quickly realized that Noah was not as docile as he appeared, and when it came to Xavia¡¯s


    pregnancy, apart from exining it as an ident, there was no other way for him to respond.


    Therefore, he decided to go back and inform Joseph, urging him to deal with Noah.

 Chapter 432

    Chapter 432


    Chapter 432 Am I Her Punching Bag?


    Lucas knocked on the door of Chloe¡¯s office while Abigail stood beside him.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Chloe responded.


    Lucas entered the room, bringing Abigail before Chloe. ¡°Ms. Chloe, this is Abigail West, the bodyguard


    Mr. Joseph has arranged for you. She¡¯ll be by your side to keep you safe.¡±


    Abigail took a step forward, slightly bowing her head. ¡°Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s gaze shifted from theputer screen andnded on Abigail. The woman was tall, estimated


    to be around 5.9 feet, with ear-length hair and distinct facial features that gave her a masculine


    appearance. Standing next to her, Chloe, who was close to 5.7 feet tall, appeared


    small.


    ¡°Hello, but¡­you don¡¯t have to be with me all the time. Do you have days off?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Please rest assured, Ms. Chloe. I will keep to myself and won¡¯t appear within your line of sight unless


    called for,¡± Abigail replied.


    Lucas added, ¡°She will have two days off per month. If you wish to give her a day off, you can arrange


    it, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    ¡°All right, I understand.¡± Chloe blinked and looked at Abigail. ¡°Then whenever I go to Joseph¡¯s ce,


    consider it your day off. After all, it¡¯s very safe there.¡±


    Looking at the woman¡¯s face, Chloe assumed that they were about the same age. Honestly, having


    only two days off per month seemed too few for a demanding job like being a bodyguard.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Abigail replied.


    Lucas looked at Abigail in admiration and hoped that Joseph could be as understanding as Chloe.


    Leaving Abigail behind, he hurried to the hospital. He sought out Xavia¡¯s attending physician to inquire


    about her condition.


    ¡°The patient¡¯s condition isn¡¯t optimistic. It¡¯s unlikely that we can perform the amniocentesis on her next


    month. There will be risks.¡±


    Lucas pondered for a moment. ¡°Are there no other alternatives?¡±


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    The doctor shook his head.


    ¡°All right,¡± Lucas replied. He walked out, turned around, and entered the ward, acting as if nothing had


    happened. He said to Xavia, ¡°Ms. Xavia, if you have any requests, please let me know, and I¡¯ll try my


    best to fulfill them.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face remained expressionless as she grabbed the tissue box from the bedside table and threw


    it at him. ¡°Get out!¡±


    Lucas was caught off guard and felt a sharp pain grace his cheek. Perplexed, he asked, ¡°Why did you


    hit me?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re in such a hurry to perform the amniocentesis, why don¡¯t you just cut open my stomach right


    now?! Stop acting one way in front of me and another behind my back like a hypocrite!¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. It was Mr. Joseph¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Understanding dawned upon Lucas. ¡®She¡¯s using me as her punching bag.¡¯


    Setting aside his identity, he could not do anything to a pregnant woman. Lucas took a deep breath and


    lamented his bad luck. He would rather work overtime for a whole month than


    ¡°If you¡¯re frustrated, I can ask Mr. Joseph to buy you a few punching bags to vent your anger. If you


    have no other requests, I¡¯ll be taking my leave,¡± Lucas said before moving to exit the


    room.


    While Xavia elegantly peeled an apple, she spoke in amanding tone, ¡°Send me Joe¡¯s itinerary for


    the week.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Xavia, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that.¡±


    A hint of sarcasm appeared on her poised and beautiful face. ¡°Weren¡¯t you just asking me to make


    requests? Now you can¡¯t even handle such a trivial matter?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s in regard to Mr. Joseph¡¯s privacy. I don¡¯t have the authority to make that decision.¡±


    ¡°Fine, since I¡¯ve been lying in the hospital for several days, I¡¯ll go back to Farlight with you now. I¡¯ll ask


    him directly,¡± Xavia said.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But¡­I need to consult with Mr. Joseph first. There are many matters that need


    to be dealt with at thepany.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t bother Joe. Let¡¯s go,¡± Xavia said.


    As they spoke, Xavia got off the bed and casually grabbed a coat to drape over herself. She walked


    toward the exit, leaving Lucas standing inside the ward at a loss for words.

 Chapter 433

    Chapter 433


    Chapter 433 I¡¯m Willing to Risk Everything


    Fairlight.


    The towering skyscraper reached into the clouds. Fairlight Tower had over a hundred floors, with


    Joseph¡¯s office located on the highest level, almost touching the stars.


    Xavia stepped into the exclusive elevator belonging to Joseph, with Lucas following closely behind.


    Just then, a group of employees from the marketing department happened to pass by and saw them


    before the doors closed. Lucas recognized which department they were from.


    The group paused and looked at Xavia with mixed emotions. It was rumored that this woman had


    kicked Chloe away and was now carrying Joseph¡¯s child. Some imed that Joseph and this woman


    had known each other for a long time, and Chloe was just an unwee intruder. They were not privy


    to Joseph¡¯s personal affairs, but they did not perceive Chloe to be the type of person described online.


    Once the elevator doors closed, Xavia tidied her hair and asked, ¡°Do those people know Chloe?


    Seeing that she had noticed, Lucas did not hide the truth and answered, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°They worked in the same department?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve ordered coffee for the employees online. Although your performance is mediocre, you still deserve


    a share. The coffee will arrive soon,¡± Xavia said.


    Radiating grace and elegance, with a subtle tilt of her chin, she carried herself with the poise of an elite.


    It seemed as though she had already assumed the role of Joseph¡¯s destined partner.


    ¡®Is she here to exert her dominance?¡¯ Lucas thought.


    There was no denying that it was a clever move. She did not have to put in much effort, yet she made


    an impression on all the employees and gained their recognition. Even if Joseph found out, he would


    not me her.


    Upon seeing Xavia¡¯s arrival, Joseph paused what he was doing as a hint of displeasure


    appeared on his handsome face. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not toe here? Do you have nothing else to do?¡±


    Everyone in Fairlight had been extremely busytely. The city council had awarded Joseph a project


    without any bidding process. In a year¡¯s time, Fairlight would haveplete dominance over the


    market in Aesper. He could spare some time to apany Chloe, but it did not mean he had time to


    deal with others.


    Xavia smiled faintly. ¡°Of course, I do. I have something to discuss with you.¡±


    Joseph furrowed his brows. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I have two performances this month. The first one has already concluded, and the second one is in


    two days at a financial forum. I saw the forum¡¯s invitation list, and your name was on it.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all. If you don¡¯t want me to go, I won¡¯t go,¡± she said understandingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s your business. You decide on it,¡± Joseph replied coldly.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, then I¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°Can your body handle it?¡±


    ¡°A performancests at most an hour. I¡¯ll just consider it a stroll.¡±


    ¡°All right, it¡¯s up to you.¡±


    After saying that, Joseph lowered his head and began reviewing reports, effectively ending the


    conversation with an air of indifference.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Xavia tightly clenched her fists, but her face revealed no hint of emotion. In two days, she would make


    him hers. After leaving Fairlight, sheposed a text and attached a photo before. sending it to a


    number.


    [It¡¯s said that the bond between a couple deepens with each passing night, and we¡¯ve shared. more


    than just one night. The financial forum is in two days, and as you are one of the organizers, I have a


    small matter I¡¯d like to discuss. Would you be willing to talk?]


    In the photo, a woman and a man were lying on a bed, their faces flushed with desire. The mant was


    bare-chested, while the woman was adorned in a tantalizingce nightgown, its neckline plunging


    provocatively, teasingly offering a glimpse of her captivating and curvaceous


    silhouette.


    The recipient quickly called back, his voice filled with anger and desperation. ¡°I¡¯m getting engaged next


    month! How dare you threaten me?! I¡¯m willing to risk everything. I¡¯ll send this photo to Joseph. No one


    will have it easy!¡±

 Chapter 434

    Chapter 434


    Chapter 434 Forum


    ¡°Calm down, Mr. Scott. I know you can¡¯t bear to let go of this excellent marriage opportunity. After all,


    your fiancee is the daughter of a city councilman. How could you possibly let go of such a great


    opportunity?¡± Xavia spoke slowly and leisurely.


    Gone was the poised and elegant woman standing before Joseph earlier. She now exuded allure in


    every aspect.


    Scott Carson reminisced about the time he spent with Xavia and licked his lips, feeling a tinge of


    nostalgia. ¡°What do you need?¡±


    With the staff of Fairlighting and going nearby, Xavia remained vignt and said, ¡°I¡¯ll call you back


    in half an hour.¡±


    7 PM.


    Joseph finished his work on time and went to Chloe¡¯s office to pick her up. They then headed to the


    animal hospital together. Toto was steadily recovering, but the injuries this time were severe. It was


    laying limply in its cage, receiving intravenous fluids.


    ¡°If Toto¡¯s walking isn¡¯t affected, the treatment will continue for about a month,¡± the


    veterinarian said.


    Joseph crouched down, caressing Toto¡¯s head gently with hisrge. ¡°When can we bring Toto home?¡±


    ¡°Probably next month.¡±


    Chloe observed Joseph¡¯s expression and paused. ¡°When we bring the dog back, let¡¯s take it to your


    family home. The environment there is more rxed, and no one will dare to cause


    trouble.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I intend to do.¡±


    ¡®If possible, let¡¯s bring Oreo along too.¡±


    She always felt that Oreo and Xavia did not have a good rtionship.


    ¡°Oreo is Xavia¡¯s dog. We need her consent,¡± Joseph replied.


    Chloe sighed. She knew that Oreo was Xavia¡¯s dog, so they needed her permission to bring it


    away.


    In the evening, they arrived at a rooftop restaurant for dinner. The amnce was enchanting, with the


    soft glow of two flickering candles casting a warm light upon the table adorned with a vibrant bouquet of


    red roses. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of delectable food, enticing their taste buds and


    setting the stage for a memorable evening.


    As a result, Chloe ate a little more than usual and her belly swelled slightly. However, Joseph barely


    touched his food, setting down his utensils and gazing deeply at her.


    ¡°Are you full?¡± he asked, his voice filled with concern.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, her voice soft.


    Feeling a bit overstuffed, she stood up to stretch and move around.


    ¡°Those candies Noah gave you, were they delicious?¡± Joseph parted his thin lips and asked.


    Blinking her and immediately realized that Noah must have bumped into Lucas while on his way out.


    ¡°They were pretty tasty. That shop is a newly opened hot spot. If you¡¯d like to try them, we can go there


    now and get some,¡± she suggested.


    Joseph chuckled exasperatingly, rising to stand before her. His slender hand gently but firmly grasped


    the soft flesh of her lifted buttocks.


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush with me. You know what I want to hear,¡± he murmured. 1


    Apparently, Noah was quite good at seizing opportunities to curry favor with Chloe. However, what


    puzzled Joseph was when this little brat developed such feelings for Chloe. He was not entirely


    convinced that it was love at first sight. Even though Noah was young, he surely had encountered his


    fair share of women.


    They were not the only dining customers on the rooftop, and with such a sensitive area being pinched,


    Chloe¡¯s face blushed like a boiled shrimp. She red at him indignantly. ¡°Noah just. happened to pass


    by. Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°Just happened to pass by?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Yes. You don¡¯t seriously think he likes me, do you?¡± she retorted, her tone defiant.


    Joseph smirked, and his expression neither confirmed nor denied it. Besides liking her, there seemed


    to be another underlying motive.


    ¡°Come on. You¡¯re overthinking things.¡± Chloe sighed, feeling that he was being overly sensitive.


    Raising an eyebrow, Joseph decided to drop the topic. ¡°I have a forum to attend tomorrow,


    and I want you to apany me,¡± he stated.


    Chloe did not ask about the reason. Instead, she asked, ¡°What time?¡±


    ¡°Three o¡¯clock in the afternoon,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Sure, I can go with you.¡±


    With the conversation concluded, they stood together at the edge of the rooftop, enjoying the


    peaceful moment. Chloe gazed at the sky, where the moon and stars shone brightly as Joseph gazed


    at her. His eyes dazzled like gemstones, beautiful and clear.


    Sensing Joseph getting closer, Chloe turned her head to look at him. Their eyes locked, and hist thin


    lips brushed against her soft cheek, sending a slight chill through her. She held her breath, her heart


    pounding and her face turning red.


    In the next moment, he leaned in and kissed her.


    The surrounding diners tactfully turned their heads, giving the young couple space.


    After what felt like an eternity, Chloe pushed him away, gasping for breath. The blush on her cheeks


    deepened, and her voice carried a seductive tone. ¡°No¡­ We have to stop¡­¡±


    She had never been able to resist his kisses. If it were not for his supporting hand around her waist, her


    legs would have given way beneath her.


    Joseph¡¯s breath caught in his throat as his gaze remained fixed on her. His heart pounded with an


    intensity that felt like the sharp ws of a kitten scratching at his chest, causing a rush of restlessness


    and an undeniable surge of heat coursing through his veins.


    His voice became husky. ¡°You¡¯re really good at ying hard to get, little kitty.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 435

    Chapter 435


    Chapter 435 I¡¯m Pregnant


    It was already the early hours of the morning by the time they left the restaurant. Chloe


    thought for a moment and tugged at the man¡¯s sleeve beside her. ¡°The forum you mentioned earlier is


    in two days?¡±


    The clock had struck past midnight, marking the beginning of a new day.


    ¡°It¡¯s on Thursday,¡± he replied.


    ¡®So it¡¯s the day after tomorrow.¡±


    When they reached Oceanic Residence, Joseph followed her upstairs and entered her


    apartment. He scanned the interior, finding it to be modestly furnished with simple amenities. Living in a


    ce like this seemed a bit pitiful.


    Chloe looked at him suspiciously. ¡°Are you nning to stay overnight?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± he retorted.


    Chloe hesitated and asked, ¡°Can I say no?¡±


    Joseph turned his gaze toward her, his hand removing his tie and throwing it on the sofa.¡± What do you


    think?¡± he asked back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to stay, but you need to keep your distance from me,¡± she stated.


    ¡°Why?¡± He frowned, seemingly displeased. ¡°You weren¡¯t feeling ufortable today, and you even


    drank cold water.¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want to, and besides, you need your partner¡¯s consent if you want to do that kind of thing.¡±


    Chloe cast her gaze downward, her long, curlyshes concealing her discontentment, as her moist and


    full lips formed a pout that elicited sympathy. The sight of her in such a state would surely tug at any


    man¡¯s heart.


    Joseph could not escape that feeling either. Softening his voice, he pulled her into hisp, holding her


    chin up. ¡°You just don¡¯t want to?¡±


    Chloe forced herself to meet his gaze, and in the quiet of the night, she remained silent for a few


    seconds before finally saying, ¡°Do you want to know the reason?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant,¡± Chloe confessed.


    Joseph froze. Chloe clenched her fists nervously, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on the man before her.


    She hoped that he would receive this news with happiness and excitement.


    ???


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do it, then just say you don¡¯t want to. Do you really need to use such an excuse?¡±


    Joseph quickly recovered and burst intoughter, taking her words as a joke.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The gleam in Chloe¡¯s eyes slowly faded, her heart swelling with a sense of disappointment. It seemed


    that he truly did not want a second child. She got up from hisp and said in a muffled tone, ¡°I¡¯m going


    to take a shower.¡±


    Joseph did not stop her. He took out his phone and surveyed the surroundings, making a list of missing


    furniture. That night, he respected her wishes and did not touch her.


    The next afternoon, Chloe finished her work early and went to the night market with Noah.


    The night market would usually be lively after eight., but it was only five when they arrived, and


    the streets were sparsely popted. They decided not to split up and continued walking together along


    the roadside stalls, diligently inquiring at each one they passed. However, their efforts proved fruitless


    as they could not find what they were looking for.


    As they approached the end of the street, Noah shook his head. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s stop searching.


    ¡°There are still two stalls ahead. Let¡¯s go and ask. You never know,¡± Chloe replied, her expression


    serious. She was unwilling to give up.


    ¡°But those two stalls sell desserts.¡± Noah pointed out.


    Under normal circumstances, a second-hand wallet would not be found at such a stall.


    ¡°Then let me treat you to some macarons. Let¡¯s go,¡± Chloe suggested.


    Chloe purchased a box of macarons from the stall and asked the stall-keeper as she paid, Excuse me.


    Have you seen a gray-white wallet with a photo inside? The photo is of a young boy and an elderly


    person.¡±


    !!


    Upon hearing her question, the seller paused for a moment and looked up at Chloe. ¡°No, I


    haven¡¯t.¡±


    Chloe noticed the seller¡¯s expression and smiled. She pulled out a 100-dor bill from her purse and


    said, ¡°Well, if you can help keep an eye out and assist in finding it, I¡¯m willing to offer a reward of 100


    dors. The wallet itself doesn¡¯t matter. I just want the photo inside.¡±


    Fixing her eyes on the hundred-dor bills in Chloe¡¯s hand, the seller asked, ¡°Just the photo? You don¡¯t


    want the wallet?¡±


    That wallet was a high-end brand and could easily be sold for several thousand dors even as a


    second-hand item.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Are you sure you lost it on this street?¡± The seller pretended to ask. ¡°My youngest son often. runs


    around on the street, so he might have seen it.¡±


    Noah nodded. ¡°He might have.¡±


    ¡°Okay, wait here. Let me go and ask,¡± the seller said. After a short while, she came back, holding an


    old, yellowed photograph. She waved it in front of them. ¡°Is this the one? My son didn¡¯te across


    any wallet though.¡±


    Noah took a step forward, his gaze fixed on the photo in her hand. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one.¡±


    Chloe felt relieved and prepared to give the seller the one hundred dors when the seller shook her


    head. ¡°100 isn¡¯t enough. My son nearly got hit by a car while picking up this photo. He¡¯s still so shaken.


    Since it seems you¡¯re not short on money, how about giving me a thousand instead?¡±

 Chapter 436

    Chapter 436


    Chapter 436 No Woman Is Prettier Than Chloe


    Chloe frowned slightly but did not dwell on it. Swiftly taking the money back, she scanned the QR code


    on the countertop and deposited a thousand dors. The stall keeper, satisfied upon hearing the


    notification sound of the payment, handed the photo to Noah.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Thank goodness we came here. Otherwise, we would have missed it,¡± Chloe said, raising her


    eyebrows and smiling at him with a hint of pride. ¡°You see, trusting me was the right choice, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Noah held the old photograph in his hands, gently caressing it with his fingertips. ¡°You knew they were


    trying to pull a fast one on us, so why did you still give them the money?¡±


    ¡°Because this photo is important to you. It¡¯s priceless in your heart. And besides, recovering something


    lost and cherished is a joyful event. Since we had the means to do it, there¡¯s not point in getting upset


    over unworthy people,¡± Chloe said, her voice gentle and serene.


    Her unadorned face remained stunningly radiant. The scattered moonlight cascading upon her seemed


    to envelop her in a celestial glow as if she were an angel. Noah gazed at her, his mind. momentarily


    nk. Beautyy in the eye of the beholder, and the world was adorned with countless variations of


    beauty, Chloe was not the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but at this moment, he felt that no


    other woman couldpare to her.


    Sensing Noah¡¯s peculiar gaze, Chloe poked him teasingly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you


    touched?¡±


    He spoke honestly, ¡°A little.¡±


    She had managed to bring down the walls he had built around his heart. Those around him. might treat


    him well, but their kindness was often ttery and ttery alone.


    ¡°I too have an old photo of me and my mother. I¡¯d be devastated if I had lost it. I¡¯d spend not just a


    thousand, but five, or even ten thousand to buy it back. I understand how you feel,¡± Chloe empathized,


    fully experiencing the same emotions.


    She understood that everyone harbored a delicate part of themselves that yearned to protect, even if


    that part had long ceased to exist. But as long as someone remembered, they would


    exist.


    True disappearance urred when one was forgotten and no longer missed or needed.


    Noah¡¯s voice sounded muffled as if he were speaking to her and to himself simultaneously.¡± Chloe,


    we¡¯re the same kind of people.¡±


    ¡®People like us should be together.¡¯


    Chloe could not hear clearly and reached to clean her ears. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he replied with a gentle demeanor, smiling to reveal his yful charm. ¡°To


    repay you for the hefty sum of a thousand bucks, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal tomorrow. You can choose the


    venue.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I have something to attend tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be attending a forum with Joseph.¡±


    Noah raised his eyebrows slightly as he casually responded, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll discuss it another time then.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see when the timees.¡±


    Chloe did not think much of it and brushed it off as a casual remark.


    The next day arrived, and Chloe and Joseph attended the forum.


    Aware of the presence of numerous influential figures at the event, Chloe paid meticulous. attention to


    her appearance before setting out. She diligently applied a face mask to achieve a wless


    complexion, carefully applied her face with makeup, delicately curled her hair into elegant waves, and


    adorned herself with a subtle touch of perfume. She spared no effort in ensuring that every aspect of


    her appearance was perfect, leaving no detail overlooked.


    She wore a fitted red dress that entuated her figure and had cascading curls that reached her waist.


    She looked stunning, not in an ostentatious way, but rather exuding a captivating aura. As soon as she


    entered the venue, she caught the attention of everyone present.


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed as he cast a disdainful nce at the men who dared to eye Chloe with


    covetous intent. Hismanding presence alone was enough to make them avert their gazes,


    choosing instead to steal furtive nces at her.


    Meanwhile, Xavia, seated in the business car, wore an unpleasant expression upon witnessing this


    scene. She had no idea that Joseph was bringing Chloe with him, and she wondered how she was


    going to make her move now.


    Scott followed her line of sight and his eyes brightened. ¡°Ah, she¡¯s absolutely captivating.¡±


    Xavia curled her lips mockingly. ¡°She¡¯s the one who snatched Joe from me.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can understand why he would choose her over you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re attracted to someone like her as well?¡±

 Chapter 437

    Chapter 437


    Chapter 437 Joseph and Xavia Holding Hands


    ¡°I¡¯m attracted to every good-looking person, including you.¡±


    Scott possessed an attractive appearance, with a tall and well-built physique, and his captivating eyes


    had the ability to mesmerize anyone who looked into them.


    Xavia remained doubtful of his words but took the initiative to move closer, gently stroking his face. ¡°Do


    you want to indulge onest time before getting married?¡±


    Scott immediately grasped her intentions and declined her proposal. ¡°Assisting you is the limit of my


    involvement. Dealing with that woman is beyond what I¡¯m willing to do.¡±


    The only woman who could apany Joseph to a public gathering-apart from the one before him


    was the neer who had made her appearance today. Moreover, Scott¡¯s intuition told him that


    Joseph favored thetter more. He was not foolish enough to involve himself in unnecessary trouble.


    ¡°But besides Joe, no other man has touched that woman. Don¡¯t you want to experience it for yourself?¡±


    Xavia had applied a lightyer of makeup today, including a touch of lip balm, leaving her lips with a


    shimmering and ethereal quality. They appeared translucent, hinting at vulnerability and evoking a


    protective instinct within the hearts of those who beheld them.


    Scott could barely deny the temptation, but when confronted with the significant risks involved, he


    chose to refuse. ¡°You know me well. Prospects outweigh beauty.¡±


    Naturally, Xavia knew about this. If not for wanting to take a shortcut, why would he ever marry a petite


    nerd who was only 5 feet tall?


    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t push you. I¡¯ve given you the item, but make sure that Joe consumes it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try my best, but if he refuses to drink it, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Xavia nodded. Currently, that was not her primary concern. Her greatest worry was that Chloe might


    once again get in her way and sabotage her grand scheme. Although the dosage this time was not


    strong enough topletely overpower Joseph, Xavia could not help but think that there was nothing


    more impactful than having Chloe witness her and Joseph¡¯s intimate moments firsthand.


    The forum began. Chloe had apanied Joseph to simr events several times before when she


    was working for Fairlight, so she was familiar with the process flow. After listening to the host¡¯s speech,


    she suddenly felt difort in her stomach and decided to retreat to the private resting room that the


    organizers had arranged for Joseph.


    During the open discussion phase, a delightful melody of a violin echoed through the venue, causing


    Chloe¡¯s heart to skip a beat. She stood up and pushed the door open, wanting to see


    what was happening. To her surprise, it was Xavia and her team gracefully performing on the stage.


    Xavia¡¯s gaze was filled with affection as she locked eyes with Joseph amid the crowd, her expression


    daring and intense.


    A breath hitched in Chloe¡¯s throat, and she swiftly abandoned the idea of resting. She yearned to return


    to Joseph¡¯s side, fearing that Xavia might attempt another mischievous act. Just as she prepared to


    step forward, the neighboring resting room¡¯s door swung open, revealing Noah¡¯s presence.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth gaped open in surprise, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡®Does he know finance as well?¡¯


    ¡°My grandfather expressed that he wanted me to attend a forum and learn from senior figures in the


    business world. It was only after I arrived that I realized it was a financial forum,¡± Noah replied with a


    touch of astonishment, his expression not much different from Chloe¡¯s.


    ¡°Oh, I see. But I¡¯m in a hurry right now. We¡¯ll chatter,¡± Chloe responded.


    ¡°Is it that urgent? The performance is still ongoing. Why not finish listening to it before attending to your


    business?¡± Noah suggested.


    Chloe nced at the woman on stage and then shifted her gaze to Joseph, who was engaged in


    animated conversation with others. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she said, ¡°All right, that works too.¡±


    Joseph seemed busy right now, and it would not be appropriate to disturb him.


    Chloe and Noah engaged in a casual conversation. After a while, he went to the refreshment area and


    brought back a slice of blueberry pie for her, Chloe delicately held a small spoon, savoring each bite of


    the pie. The creaminess intertwined with the sweetness and tanginess of the blueberries created a


    delightfulbination of vors that pleased her pte.


    ¡°Is it delicious? There¡¯s also a strawberry pie. If you like it, I can-¡± Noah paused abruptly, his gaze fixed


    in the direction of the stage.


    Puzzled, Chloe followed his line of sight and noticed Xavia finishing her violin performance. It seemed


    that wearing high heels made it difficult for her to descend the stage, and at that moment, Joseph


    stepped forward, extending his hand to assist her.


    With a tender smile, Xavia interlocked her fingers with his in an affectionate and intimate manner.


    Although Joseph¡¯s expression remained concealed from Chloe, it was evident that he neither avoided


    nor rejected the gesture.


    Chloe felt her heart tighten, making it difficult to breathe.

 Chapter 438

    Chapter 438


    Chapter 438 I Can¡¯t Let Xavia Have Her Way


    The staircase leading down was approximately five meters long, a seemingly short distance that could


    be traversed in just a minute. However, for Chloe, each step Joseph and Xavia took together felt like an


    endless journey through time. Holding hands, their stride seemed to stretch across centuries,


    intensifying the pain in Chloe¡¯s heart with every passing moment. Overwhelmed by the scene before


    her, she could no longer endure it. Defiantly, she turned on her heels and walked away, hoping that


    Joseph would notice her absence ande searching for her.


    ¡°Chloe, stop,¡±


    A youthful voice rang out. It was not Joseph, but Noah.


    Feeling defeated, Chloe turned to face him. ¡°Why did you follow me?¡±


    ¡°I noticed you didn¡¯t look so good, and since I have nothing to do right now, I thought I¡¯d keep you


    company and talk,¡± Noah replied.


    She froze and said listlessly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Even an outsider like Noah could sense her unhappiness. But what about Joseph? Was he aware of


    her distress?


    ¡°In a situation like this, I¡¯m on your side. As a man, there was no need for Mr. Joseph to assist Xavia off


    the stage,¡± Noah expressed.


    Chloe nced at him through the corner of her eye. ¡°That¡¯s how you feel?¡±


    Noah nodded in agreement. ¡°Of course. With so many people present, even if Mr. Joseph didn¡¯t go to


    her aid, someone else would have.¡±


    Chloe fell silent, her lips tightly pressed together as a wave of sorrow washed over her.


    ¡°Also, since he brought you here with him today, shouldn¡¯t he maintain a certain distance from other


    women?¡± Noah added.


    ¡°Please, stop,¡± Chloe interjected.


    As Chloe listened to Noah, her frustration grew stronger with each passing word. She could not help


    but feel a surge of anger within her. Shifting her gaze toward her phone, she realized that half an hour


    had already gone by and yet Joseph had not made any attempt to call or message her.


    She furrowed her brows, realizing she could not let Xavia have her way. ¡®I have to go back there!¡¯


    Witnessing Chloe¡¯s resolute and determined expression, Noah found himself drawn to her slightly


    plump cheeks as if they were inviting him to yfully poke them. His lips curled ever


    so slightly as a mischievous thought crossed his mind.


    ¡®How satisfying it would be to give her a little pinch,¡¯ he thought.


    ¡°All right, I was just making an offhandment, but Mr. Joseph has his own difficulties, after all. Xavia


    is carrying his child. Let¡¯s go back,¡± Noah said, his words seemingly.


    With her gaze lowered and her lips tugged into a bitter smile, Chloe¡¯s heart sank. ¡®I¡¯m carrying


    his child too¡­¡±


    The two of them made their way back to the forum venue, where people gathered in small clusters.


    Chloe scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of Joseph or Xavia. She nced toward the direction


    of the rest area, and a strong sense of difort welled up inside her.


    If Joseph had taken Xavia into the rest area alone, she would not tolerate it.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Gripping the door handle tightly, Chloe pushed it open, only to find an empty room. Joseph and Xavia


    were not there. As she wondered where they could be, she was approached by a neatly dressed figure.


    Scott walked over and said, ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Chloe, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and


    you are?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the organizer of this forum, Scott Carson. You can address me as Mr. Scott. Are you looking for Mr.


    Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Do you know where he is?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in the conference room. Let me take you there.¡±


    Chloe hesitated, ¡°Is it appropriate for me to go there when he¡¯s busy?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s fine. Others have also brought theirpanions, and everyone is quite


    amodating,¡± Scott assured her.


    ¡°All right then, please show me the way,¡± Chloe agreed.


    As Scott took a step forward, he was halted by a voice from beside him. It was Noah.


    ¡°Can I go as well?¡±


    Scott nced at Noah, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall who he was. Just in time, Noah


    extended his business card. Upon seeing the words ¡°Exotic Star¡± on the business card, Scott¡¯s face lit


    up with a smile. ¡°Certainly, Mr. Noah. You¡¯re most wee.¡±


    After all, Exotic Star was the most prestigious jewelry maker in the entire country, and there was no


    reason to refuse Noah entry. It was just that he felt something was amiss. He did not recall inviting


    Noah to this forum¡­

 Chapter 439

    Chapter 439


    Chapter 439 Does He Think He¡¯s an Emperor?


    Chloe did not feel Noah¡¯s actions were anything out of the ordinary, assuming that he was carrying out


    Desmond¡¯s task to gain more exposure to the industry.


    Following in Scott¡¯s footsteps, they entered a conference dining hall. Many people were seated around


    arge round table, none of whom Chloe recognized except for Joseph. Xavia was


    present too, sitting by his side as if she were hispanion.


    Chloe¡¯s feet felt as if they were rooted to the spot. She could not move a single step forward and a self-


    deprecating expression spread across her face.


    Having achieved his goal, Scott intentionally spoke up, ¡°Mr. Joseph, Ms. Chloe is here. Mr. Noah,


    please have a seat wherever you like.¡±


    Noah nodded and found an empty chair to sit in.


    As Joseph caught sight of the two entering together, a slight frown darkened his handsome face.


    ¡°Come here,¡± hemanded.


    Chloe looked at the empty seat next to him. If she sat there, he would be sandwiched between. Xavia


    and her.


    ¡®Who does he think he is? An emperor? Why would he want to be surrounded by women on both


    sides?¡¯


    A sense of rebellion surged within Chloe as the thought crossed her mind. Ignoring Joseph¡¯s words,


    she chose to sit next to Noah instead, causing Joseph to furrow his eyebrows in disbelief.


    Everyone in the room could sense the tension that hung heavily in the air.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue then.¡± Someone mustered the courage to y the peacemaker, urging the meeting to


    proceed.


    Joseph did not speak much, only asionally offering sharp and incisive opinions. During the meeting,


    Scott brought over a pot of top-quality tea, and Xavia took the initiative to serve the tea to everyone.


    The others took this for granted, treating their femalepanions as mere essories to showcase,


    while the rest of their role was to serve them.


    Chloe was no novice in the professional world and did not feel much inside. After all, she had no


    intention of serving these men like a maid. Of course, unless there was a situation where


    she needed to seek a favor from someone.


    When it was Joseph¡¯s turn, no one knew if it was intentional or unintentional, Xavia left her V- neckline


    wide open, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her alluring cleavage. Joseph noticed this, but his gaze


    quickly shifted away, lingering on it for less than a second. His expression remained impassive,


    resembling that of a celibate saint.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Chloe let out a disdainful snort, barely satisfied with his reaction.


    Seeing Joseph¡¯s indifference, Xavia clenched her teeth but maintained herposed and graceful


    demeanor. ¡°Joe, have some tea. You must be parched,¡± she said.


    Joseph was indeed feeling a little thirsty and took a sip. Xavia watched as the tea entered his stomach,


    feeling a surge of joy inside her.


    In just twenty minutes, the effects of the drug would kick in. All she had to do now was wait quietly for


    Scott¡¯s next move. She left her seat and went to the restroom, intending to discuss the n with Scott


    and ensure nothing went wrong.


    The meeting concluded in fifteen minutes. Joseph walked over to Chloe¡¯s side and reached out to hold


    her hand, intending to lead her away.


    However, Chloe forcefully shook off his grip. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to hold my hand.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± he asked, bewildered.


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®What¡¯s wrong with me?¡±¡± Chloe retorted angrily, herughter tinged with sarcasm.


    ¡°You were the one who had Xavia sit next to you and even helped her off the stage. Now you suddenly


    care about me?¡±


    Joseph paused for a moment. ¡°She was wearing high heels and almost tripped. I was the closest, so I


    had to help her. And besides, it wasn¡¯t me who asked her to sit next to me. Someone appreciates her


    performance and brought her here.¡±


    He had purposely saved a seat for Chloe, and now she was ming him.


    ¡°Since she¡¯s pregnant, why is she wearing high heels?¡± Chloe¡¯s voice grew more intive. ¡± Didn¡¯t you


    see it at all? It¡¯s all part of her ruse. She did it on purpose.¡±


    Ever since finding out she was pregnant, Chloe had been wearing t shoes to prevent tripping or


    hurting herself while walking. Why did Xavia not understand suchmon sense?

 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440


    Chapter 440 Jake¡¯s Entanglement With Ava Oveps the Moment


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Joseph said, trying to avoid an argument with her. ¡°We can discuss this when we get


    home.¡±


    As soon as he could finish his sentence, Scott hurried over, his face filled with concern. ¡°Mr. Joseph,


    Ms. Xavia was harassed by a homeless man who broke in. She¡¯s quite frightened. Could you please


    check on her?¡±


    ¡°Come with me,¡± Joseph said firmly.


    This time, he forcefully pulled Chloe along, not allowing her to stay with Noah. After all, Noah was too


    scheming for his age.


    Chloe was interested to see what Xavia was up to. She said her goodbyes to Noah and followed


    Joseph.


    In the lounge, Xavia was in tears, her clothes torn and revealing a glimpse of her fair skin. When she


    saw Joseph, she emotionally threw herself into his arms.


    ¡°Joe, a homeless man nearly tore my clothes. I¡¯m so scared he might hurt our baby¡­¡±


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Joseph tried to push her away, but she held onto his sleeve tightly. Helpless, he could only take off his


    jacket and drape it over her.


    Chloe stood behind them,pletely unaware of Xavia¡¯s subtle gestures, and naturally assumed that


    Joseph was beingpassionate. It was an unexpected sight for Chloe to witness the man she had


    feelings for taking care of another woman. She felt dazed and did not even notice when a waiter


    entered the room. Only when she felt a sudden chill on her body did she look down, discovering arge


    wet stain on her stomach.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so clumsy. Please follow me and I will get you a change of clothes,¡± the waiter


    apologized.


    Joseph nced back and uttered, ¡°Wait for me a few minutes. I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°No need, I can handle it myself,¡± Chloe responded. She yearned to escape the suffocating room and


    her damp clothes, which could cause difort to the baby. It would be better to dry off as soon as


    possible for the sake of her health.


    Joseph watched her fade into the distance, his face stern.


    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling unwell, I¡¯ll get you a doctor. I need to check on Chloe,¡± Joseph offered.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just frightened,¡± Xavia said, her voice quivering and her eyes still betraying traces of


    fear. ¡°Just stay with me for ten minutes and I¡¯ll be alright. Or you can ask Lucas to stay.¡±


    ¡°Lucas is off today, so I¡¯ll stay,¡± Joseph said.


    In ten minutes, Chloe would likely have changed her attire. He could go look for her then.


    Suddenly, a wave of heat surged through his veins, engulfing his entire being. Despite having


    discarded his jacket, the searing warmth persisted, intensifying his difort.


    Xavia¡¯s eyes flickered with a triumphant spark as she subtly lowered her neckline, granting Joseph a


    tantalizing glimpse of her alluring cleavage.


    Meanwhile, Noah leisurely strolled into the lounge, preparing to depart with the chauffeur. As he


    passed the adjacent room, he noticed the partially closed door, granting a glimpse of the unfolding


    scene.


    A smile appeared on his face as a yful glint danced in his eyes. He decided to find a chair and sat


    down across from the room.


    Soon enough, Chloe returned, having changed her clothes and prepared herself mentally.


    Xavia should have called the police if she was harassed by the homeless man or sought medical


    attention if necessary. She should not have feigned vulnerability and cling to Joseph.


    Chloe noticed Noah sitting in the courtyard. Since her mind was preupied with something, she


    simply nodded at him and pushed open the door.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Xavia screamed, hastily wrapping the suit jacket around her partially exposed body. ¡°Ms. Chloe, it¡¯s not


    what you think. Please let me exin¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s handsome face took on a subtle flush, while a thin sheen of perspiration appeared on his


    forehead and nose, soaking his shirt.


    Chloe¡¯s mind went nk, and at that moment, the images of Jake entangled with Ava that night surged


    to the forefront of her thoughts. The painful realization sent shivers coursing through her body, causing


    her to tremble uncontrobly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± Joseph walked over and exined, the dizziness in his head clearing up. ¡°She


    said she was injured by the homeless man, and I was just helping her check her wounds.¡±


    Chloe bit her lip, her eyes zing scarlet. The mocking expression on her face made Joseph realize


    that she did not believe him at all. He looked toward Noah in the courtyard and said in a deep voice,


    ¡°The door was open just now, and Noah could see what happened inside. If don¡¯t believe me, ask him.¡±

 Chapter 441

    Chapter 441


    Chapter 441 Stop Being Suspicious of Everything


    Suddenly, all eyes turned to the young man. rity sparked in Noah¡¯s amber-like innocent look


    suggested he had yet to figure out the situation.


    eyes. His


    Joseph gritted his teeth, aware that the young man was pretending. He strode over with an expression


    so grim that it distorted his handsome face. ¡°Tell me what you saw.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    A faint smile yed on Noah¡¯s lips as he lowered his voice. ¡°Are you sure that I¡¯ll help you?¡±


    Joseph sneered, disdain filling his eyes. ¡°Kid, I¡¯m going to see your elders if you lie.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just old.¡± Noah¡¯s smile widened. Not a tinge of malice on his face after snatching one¡¯s beloved.


    ¡°Men should find partners who are older than them. Coco is merely three years older than me.¡±


    However, Joseph was unmoved. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing to have dreams.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Confidence is a good thing too.¡±


    ¡°Noah, tell us. What did you see?¡± Chloe took the initiative to ask since Noah did not reveal


    the truth.


    Simrly, Xavia looked at Noah anxiously, afraid of what he might blurt out.


    Noah averted his gaze and nced at Chloe. He pursed his lips and showed his hesitation.


    Taking a deep breath, Chloe forced a smile that was quite unpleasant to watch. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Spill it. You


    don¡¯t need to worry about my feelings.¡± She had mentally prepared herself for the


    truth.


    ¡°Tell us what you saw,¡± Joseph ordered coldly, emanating a superior and oppressive aura.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything.¡± Noah shrugged. ¡°Mr. Joseph and Ms. Xavia were just sitting there and not


    engaging in any inappropriate behavior. But a minute before you came back, Ms. Xavia called Mr.


    Joseph to her side. After that, her clothes¡­.were taken off.¡±


    Joseph exined nonchntly, ¡°She asked me to look at her wounds. As for how her clothes


    came off, I wasn¡¯t sure because I didn¡¯t touch her.¡±


    ¡°That homeless man tore my clothes, so the buttons were ruined¡­¡± Xavia exined in panic as she


    blushed, ¡°I have no idea how they fell off.¡±


    Chloe rolled her eyes at Xavia¡¯s words, ignoring the obvious fabrication. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She looked


    up at Joseph. ¡°What matters is you, a man, were in a room with her, a woman, checking her wounds.


    You¡¯re not a doctor, right? Why did you do that?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking,¡± Joseph confessed. At that time, the room was too hot, so his mind had been foggy.


    When Xavia imed she was in pain, he instinctively went to her aid.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to maintain a respectful distance from the opposite sex?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Mr. Joseph, you should have found a doctor for Ms. Xavia if she¡¯s unwell. Why start an


    argument with Coco over such a trivial thing?¡± Noah tried to mediate, though his bias toward Chloe was


    clear.


    Because of this, Chloe found herself admiring Noah more. She felt he was genuinely nice, not prone to


    nonsensical behavior just because he was threatened or oppressed.


    However, Joseph caught a flicker of joy in Noah¡¯s eyes, a sign that he was enjoying Joseph¡¯s


    difort. Veins were seen bulging on thetter¡¯s forehead as he softened his tone. ¡°Let¡¯s


    discuss this at home.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we talk it out here?¡± Chloe resisted. She did not want to let Xavia off the hook so


    easily.


    ¡°Stop being suspicious of everything.¡±


    At home, they could speak freely without prying eyes or unsolicited advice, especially from people with


    ulterior motives. A quiet environment was good for clear thinking.


    ¡®Why is she so stupid? Why must she let Noah enjoy our fight? Besides, I didn¡¯t say wouldn¡¯t exin


    the situation.¡¯


    that I


    However, Chloe interpreted Joseph¡¯s words differently. ¡®So he wants to protect Xavia¡­¡¯


    Disappointment filled her voice. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m suspicious of everything. It¡¯s my fault. We can stop this


    conversation right now!¡±


    With that, she turned on her heels and left, ignoring Joseph¡¯s attempts to call her back. She quickly


    walked to the roadside, hailed a cab, and left that distressing scene behind.

 Chapter 442

    Chapter 442


    Chapter 442 Easy Slut


    ¡°Joe, I¡¯m so sorry. Hurry and go after Ms. Chloe. You don¡¯t need to worry about me,¡±


    Xavia said gently.


    Joseph¡¯s face sank. ¡°I¡¯ve called you an ambnce. It¡¯ll be here soon. Bye, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Be careful.¡±


    Xavia watched Joseph leave, her haggard and feeble face slowly turning into a malicious. expression.


    Although her n had not gone wlessly, it could still be considered a sess. That was what she


    wanted to see. Bit by bit, she aimed to ruin their trust and drain their love. for each other. Over time, it


    would build up, leaving them deeply exhausted from endless. arguments. The building blocks of their


    love would then topple and fade no matter how strong


    their love was.


    Xavia slowly draped Joseph¡¯s coat over her body as if she had won the battle. She tidied her


    appearance and smoothed her hair. After that, she appeared graceful again. When she walked out, she


    found that Noah was still there, staring at her.


    She recalled that Megan was still vying to be Exotic Star¡¯s ambassador. If she could secure that¡­


    Chloe was Exotic Star¡¯s current ambassador, but usually, luxury brands would hire more than one


    person to endorse their products. Entertaining this thought, Xavia took the initiative to introduce herself


    to Noah.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Xavia Larson. Could I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance?¡±


    Noah looked up slightly with bewilderment on his handsome face. However, Xavia did not feel awkward


    at all. Noah appeared more mature and intelligent than people his age. It would be at piece of cake to


    handle him if he was not as slick and experienced as Joseph.


    ¡°I apologize if this is sudden. I just wanted to tell you that the designs and concepts of Exotic Star¡¯s


    jewelry are fantastic.¡±


    Most people, when ttered, tend to soften and show less hostility toward their admirers. However,


    Noah kept a calm expression and just said, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯d be delighted if I could be your friend.¡± Xavia did not conceal her intentions,


    confessing with a smile. Such a candid approach would make her more appealing than those who


    feigned modesty.


    Noah gaped before slowly uttering his sarcastic reply, ¡°Are you even qualified to be Easy slut.¡±


    my


    friend?


    Xavia was struck dumb on the spot as self-doubt hit her. She felt she had heard him wrong. After


    suppressing her anger, she asked, ¡°What¡­ Do you understand what you just said?¡±


    ¡°I said, you¡¯re a slut.¡± Noah got up from the chair and casually smoothed out the wrinkles on his


    clothes. ¡°No one has ever made such a weird request. If you want to hear it again, I can buy you a


    voice recorder.¡±


    ¡°Noah Gunter!¡± Xavia¡¯s voice was sharp with anger. ¡°Apologize this instant!¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you shouting about? You¡¯re so fucking noisy.¡± Showing clear disdain, he took out his


    earphones and put them on.


    Xavia tried to stop him from leaving, but she was blocked by a bodyguard secretly protecting Noah who


    roughly pushed her away.


    Noah frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. Be careful of the baby.¡± He wanted to use that child to make Chloe give


    up on Joseph. As for Eustace, he would y his roleter.


    Oceanic Residence.


    Chloe returned home and locked herself in her room as exhaustion overwhelmed her. She reluctantly


    reflected on things. ¡®Is it good for me to continue this way with Joseph? We¡¯re always arguing because


    of Xavia. A healthy rtionship shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    ¡°Chloe, open the door.¡± A man¡¯s cold voice came through the door.


    Hugging her knees in the corner, Chloe remained silent.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re in there.¡±


    Again, her silence was her only response to him.


    Joseph leaned against the door and took out his phone to call Gabriel. ¡°I need a key to Oceanic


    Residence.¡±


    Gabriel stated, ¡°No, the rented unit belongs to the renter. If you break in, I¡¯ll be held responsible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in a very bad mood right now.¡±


    ¡°Fine, give me a few minutes. I¡¯ll have someone deliver it to you.¡±

 Chapter 443

    Chapter 443


    Chapter 443 You Should Buy Her Flowers


    For over ten minutes, Chloe remained silent, eavesdropping. Joseph seemed to have left since it was


    now quiet outside. A chill pierced her heart. They had been dating for almost a year, but his patience


    toward her was still so low.


    Feeling disappointed, shey on her bed, shes of their past reying in her mind. There was


    happiness, anger, grief, sadness, and moments of feeling touched¡­


    Her mother passed away early, leaving her to face verbal and physical abuse in the Johnson family


    from time to time. Jake would sometimes bring her snacks or beautiful clothes. At that time, she was


    over the moon, feeling that he was the one. But he cheated on her. Emily then became the only person


    who treated her kindly.


    Slowly, Joseph became a part of her life. He spoke harsh words and was a fierce man, but sometimes,


    he was very nice to her. He gave her a job and avenged her. When she was filled with the deepest


    despair, he saved her repeatedly. Without him, Ava would still be safe and making quite a scene. The


    true reason for her mother¡¯s passing would remain hidden. However, he was also the one who caused


    her the deepest grief¡­


    Confusion and helplessness engulfed Chloe.


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was so unexpected that she jumped in fright, but her


    instinct told her it was not Joseph.


    ¡°Is anyone home? I¡¯m here to deliver furniture.¡±


    Chole was stupefied. ¡°I didn¡¯t buy any furniture. Do you have the wrong address?¡±


    ¡°Are you Ms. Chloe?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, I got it right then. It¡¯s to be delivered to this location. Please open the door. There¡¯s a lot of stuff,


    and they¡¯re blocking the corridor.¡±


    Chloe was very vignt. She put on her slippers and looked through the peephole. A middle- aged man


    in a set of work uniform was standing outside with a leather sofa, TV, dining chair, and other items


    behind him.


    She hesitated for a while. ¡°Can you tell me who ordered them?¡±


    ¡°Sure¡­¡± Rustling, he flipped open his notebook and replied, ¡°It was someone named Lucas Anderson.¡±


    Chloe was struck dumb on the spot. ¡®It was Joseph. He bought them¡­¡¯


    ¡°Miss, can wee in now?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Okay.¡±


    Chloe collected her scattered thoughts and immediately opened the door to let the workers in. They


    moved in essential items such as a sofa, coffee table, desk, and even a bean bag she really liked. After


    some time, her house looked brand-new. It was now neat, clean, and familiar. She recognized the


    brand of the furniture-it was the same as the ones in the vi.


    When the workers had finished and left, Chloe remained rooted to the spot, feeling upset. Her eyes


    turned watery. She walked to the bean bag and sat down, sinking into its soft sensation. At some point,


    she nestled there and dozed off.


    Some time passed before she was woken up by the sound of someone opening the door. As she


    opened her eyes, Joseph was standing in the doorway. Their eyes met.


    Chloe was moved. He was incredibly handsome as if he came out of a painting. He had long legs and


    a slim waist, and at that moment, he was holding a bouquet of roses, staring at her intensely.


    She found her voice and interrogated, ¡°Where¡¯d you get a key?¡±


    ¡°From Gabe.¡±


    Gabriel even told him that a man who was denied entrance should at least bring a bouquet of flowers.


    He could not show up empty-handed.


    Chloe said, ¡°I¡¯ll sue him.¡± As andlord, he had failed her.


    ¡°Are you still mad?¡± Joseph handed her the roses.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 444

    Chapter 444


    Chapter 444 Stop Being So Dramatic


    Chloe refused to ept them. Pouting, she asked the obvious, ¡°Why did you buy me flowers?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t women love flowers?¡± Joseph seemed genuinely confused.


    ¡°Oh, please. Many people are allergic to pollen. They wouldn¡¯t love flowers then.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll stop buying you flowers since you don¡¯t like them.¡±


    For a moment, Chloe was speechless. ¡®He only listens when it doesn¡¯t matter!¡¯


    ¡°Go ahead and ask me anything. I¡¯ll answer all your questions.¡± Joseph pulled over a chair and sat


    down. He temporarily set his pride aside, so his attitude could be considered good.


    Chloe stared at him before finally saying, ¡°I have nothing to ask.¡± Noah had made it very clear.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    She was angry because of Joseph¡¯s attitude toward Xavia.


    An indiscernible frown appeared on Joseph¡¯s face. He found it hard to understand her. She talked


    nonstop at the forum but refused to say a word now that they were home. He wondered why. Was it the


    environment that caused their fight?


    Joseph considered himself patient. At least, he had never shown such a good temper in front


    of any woman. Chloe was the first exception.


    ¡°Why did you buy me furniture?¡± Chloe suddenly changed the topic.


    Joseph answered truthfully, ¡°Because your living conditions were pitiful.¡±


    Chloe was bbergasted.


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong with wanting you to live morefortably?¡± Joseph snapped in his usual aloof


    tone, his temper getting the better of him.


    ¡°I¡¯m just renting this ce. I don¡¯t need any of this.¡±


    ¡°We can just ask Gabe to transfer it to your name.¡±


    It was just a unit. Of course, he could afford it.


    Chloe¡¯s lips twitched hard. She sighed again, finding the rich insufferably willful.


    Once she mmed up, Joseph took a moment to collect his thoughts. ¡°That whole business with Xavia,


    let¡¯s just drop it. Nothing will happen between her and me. It didn¡¯t happen five years ago, let alone


    now. Trust me. I¡¯ll handle it well. We all need time to sort things out, don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s ears seemed to perk up a bit. It seemed like she was convinced.


    Joseph continued, ¡°And please stop being so dramatic. You always make a fuss when you face an


    issue. Stay calm and use your head to think if it¡¯s sound.¡±


    If worse came to worst and he was tempted, he would never be so eager and do that kind of thing in


    the lounge. In short, there was something fishy about the whole incident. Too many things conveniently


    fell into ce. Even that lounge appeared suspicious. When someone entered it, they would feel hot all


    over. He thought about the possibility of being drugged, but he ate nothing and only had tea from the


    teapot, and he was not the only one who drank from


    1.


    Chloe¡¯s mood, which had eased slightly, darkened at hisst words. She grabbed a random pillow and


    chucked it at him. Joseph, who was lost in thought, failed to dodge it.


    ¡°Stop being conceited just because I¡¯m into you.¡±


    and


    When his expression changed, Chloe could not help feeling scared. She quickly got up sought refuge


    in her bedroom. She had changed the lock of her bedroom door to a password lock, adding another


    line of defense against unwanted visitors. She was afraid that someone might barge in. Unexpectedly,


    she would be using it against Joseph first.


    Joseph gave up trying to smooth things over. He picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and settled


    in. ¡®It¡¯s only six in the evening right now. She¡¯lle out when she¡¯s hungry.¡¯


    Elsewhere, as Xavia destroyed the teapot, she received Harold¡¯s order. He demanded her to


    immediately head to a private hospital for an amniocentesis.


    Xavia panicked. ¡®Is there a hospital that can do an amniocentesis when I¡¯m just a little over three


    months pregnant? There shouldn¡¯t be. That doesn¡¯t make sense.¡¯


    But she did not dare refuse, fearing she might give herself away. While promising him to go, she called


    Vanya for help.

 Chapter 445

    Chapter 445


    Chapter 445 The Final Chance


    Vanya answered her phone and listened to Xavia¡¯s frantic story, then cut her off, ¡°It¡¯s


    impossible to do an amniocentesis at three months unless they slice your belly open. Why are you


    panicking?¡±


    Xavia, taken aback by the rebuke, fell silent. ¡®Right, they can¡¯t do the amniocentesis yet. Four months is


    when it¡¯s safe. Plus, given my current condition¡­¡¯ Once she had calmed down, the panic lifted.


    ¡°All right, don¡¯t call me again unless it¡¯s something serious.¡± Vanya was as busy as a bee to fulfill the


    task S had given her. But all the items were moved in today, so she had aplished her mission.


    After hanging up the phone, Xavia arrived at the private hospital. The Whitmans invested in that


    hospital, so there was a floor dedicated to serving Harold.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She went to the obstetrics department with the nurse. Surprisingly, Octavia was there too.


    ¡°Mrs. Tavia¡­¡±


    Smiling, Octavia nodded. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡¯


    ¡°Umm¡­ Mrs. Tavia, why did Grandpa want me here? It¡¯s too early for an amniocentesis.¡±


    ¡°s, he¡¯s quite old now, so he does whatever he feels like,¡± Octavia replied, staring at Xavia¡¯s belly.


    ¡°You¡¯re nearly four months along. I¡¯m sure the baby has ears and eyes by now. Get an ultrasoundter


    and let me see.¡±


    The doctor at the side chimed in, ¡°We can do it now.¡±


    Being a private hospital, they usually clocked out at half-past five. There were no more patients, but the


    doctors worked overtime for the Whitmans.


    ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡±


    Harold was having a check-up upstairs and had not made his way down yet.


    Xavia did not sense any hostility from Octavia, so she obedientlyy on the bed for the ultrasound.


    Soon, a baby that was just starting to look like a little human appeared on the screen, albeit slightly


    blurry.


    Octavia leaned in for a closer look. ¡°Hey, the baby¡¯s very cute. Just a tiny little ball. You and Joe better


    hurry up and tie the knot or you won¡¯t fit into a wedding dress.¡±


    Xavia managed a bitter smile. ¡°Joe¡¯s not exactly eager to marry me.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about? You¡¯re pregnant, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Octavia felt that Joseph would never abandon Xavia and their child. Firstly, it would smear the


    Whitman name. Secondly, that was how she herself had be part of the Whitmans back then.


    Harold might not be on board yet, but once the baby was born and he got to hold his grandchild, he


    would surely ease up.


    ¡°Umm, Mrs. Octavia, can you help me¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do. Grandpa dislikes me, and Joe has a


    lover¡­¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯ve always seen you as Joe¡¯s wife. Chloe is just a shameless bitch. I don¡¯t know why Joe¡¯s


    into her.¡±


    Octavia readily agreed, seeing as Xavia was obedient and showed her respect. Besides, Xavia was


    nothing like Chloe. Thetter relied on Harold¡¯s favor and was out of control.


    She was well aware that Joseph loved Chloe, but she did not want Joseph to have it easy. Since he did


    not want to marry Xavia, Octavia wanted to do the exact opposite and help Xavia.


    There was a knock on the door. It was Patrick, announcing, ¡°Mr. Harold is here.¡±


    Octavia grabbed the ultrasound print and shoved it into Harold¡¯s hand, gushing, ¡°Dad, look at your


    great-grandson.¡±


    Harold¡¯s stiffened expression softened once he saw the tiny blurry ball on the ultrasound print.


    Xavia stood to the side and said gently, ¡°We don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a boy or a girl yet. It might be a girl.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of the gender, the baby is a Whitman.¡±


    Harold, who was nearly fooled, hardened his expression again. He shoved Octavia aside and said,


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to con me. We have yet to get the amniocentesis result, so the baby isn¡¯t a Whitman. Enough


    with this nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, she¡¯s barely over three months along, so she can¡¯t have an amniocentesis. Didn¡¯t Joe tell


    you?¡±


    ¡°Just because you can¡¯t find someone to do it doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t,¡± Harold retorted, an imposing aura


    about him as he red at Xavia. ¡°This is yourst chance toe clean. Once the results are out, you


    won¡¯t be able to handle the consequences.¡±

 Chapter 446

    Chapter 446


    Chapter 446 That Damned Old Man


    Xavia¡¯s body trembled, her lips quivering as she said, ¡°If you¡¯re already set on not believing me, no


    matter what I say, it won¡¯t change your mind. Even if the amniocentesis results say the baby is a


    Whitman, you might still argue that the results are false, right?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want others to know, don¡¯t do it. If you have nothing to hide, why the fuss?¡± Harold shot


    back.


    ¡°Will you stop doubting me if I agree to do it?¡± Xavia pleaded, her voice filled with hope.


    ¡°That remains to be seen,¡± Harold retorted dismissively, stroking his beard. Even after the


    amniocentesis, he wanted a paternity test after the baby was born. Who knows, Xavia might tamper


    with the results.


    Octavia could not stand to watch any longer and interjected, ¡°Dad, this is between Joe and his wife.


    Why are you hassling her like this?¡±


    ¡°Stay out of it,¡± Harold snapped.


    ¡°I get that it¡¯s not my business, but besides intimidating her, you can¡¯t do the amniocentesis, ¡°Octavia


    insisted, ¡°If you ask me, the fact she¡¯s here means she has nothing to hide. Plus, haven¡¯t you always


    wanted a great grandson? Well, looks like your wish came true.¡±


    A glimmer of relief shed through Xavia¡¯s eyes. ¡®So this old thing is just intimidating me.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Harold¡¯s face flushed crimson, fuming with rage at his n being thwarted. He roared, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Octavia trembled in fear, confused about why Harold was mad at her.


    ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t yell at Mrs. Tavia. This is all on me.¡± Xavia rushed to Octavia¡¯s defense. Octavia


    was the only one on her side, and she needed her in her corner.


    ¡°Starting today, you¡¯ll remain in this hospital until the amniocentesis is done. You¡¯re not allowed to take


    a single step outside,¡± Haroldmanded, forcefully waving his hand.¡± Someone, take her phone and


    ID.¡±


    Without dy, two bodyguards immediately seized Xavia¡¯s bag. Harold grabbed her documents and


    phone, stuffed them in a bag, and handed it to Patrick for safekeeping. He instructed the hospital


    director next to him, ¡°Keep her in your sight at all times.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Harold.¡±


    Havingpleted these tasks, he left with Patrick.


    It took Xavia a while before she came around to her senses. She turned to Octavia, seeking her help.


    ¡°Mrs. Tavia, please help me. I can¡¯t stay here!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Harold once he¡¯s cooled off in a few days,¡± Octavia assured her.


    ¡°What? Then what am I supposed to do now?¡±


    ¡°Just stay here. Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t hurt you.¡±


    Octavia did not dare to provoke Harold further. Besides, he was not that heartless.


    Xavia realized she could not rely on Octavia and quickly changed her strategy. ¡°Could I borrow your


    phone? I need to call my manager. She¡¯ll worry if she can¡¯t get ahold of me.¡±


    Octavia saw a younger version of herself in Xavia, having gone through her fair share of troubles and


    hardships to marry into the Whitmans. Without hesitation, she gave Xavia her phone.


    Xavia walked to a corner and called Vanya, her anxiety mounting with each passing moment. As she


    waited, a string of curses formed in her mind.


    ¡°That damned old man! Why does he always make things difficult for me? Why can¡¯t he just


    disappear?¡¯


    ¡°Beep beep beep. Hello, the number you have dialed is not avable¡­¡±


    Xavia¡¯s entire body went limp, but she refused to give up and dialed the number again. But


    after four or five attempts, it was still the same response. Given the circumstances, Vanya was likely on


    a mission, so any more calls would be pointless.


    ¡®Oh no¡­ I¡¯m trapped¡­¡¯

 Chapter 447

    Chapter 447


    Chapter 447 Turning His Father¡¯s House Into a Graveyard


    Chloe woke up to find it was the middle of the night. She grabbed her phone to check the time,


    discovering that it was 2 a.m. Having caught up on a full night¡¯s sleep, she wondered if she


    should sleep till morning or get up.


    After ten minutes of wrestling with her thoughts, her growling stomach made the decision for


    her.


    Joseph was still in the living room, fast asleep. With his eyes sealed shut, he appeared innocent. and


    tranquil. Even when he was lying on the sofa, he exuded an aura of refinement and elegance.


    Suddenly, Joseph cracked his eyes open and pulled Chloe into his embrace. ¡°Finally decided toe


    out?¡±


    Chloe was irritated. ¡°Were you pretending to sleep?¡±


    ¡°No, I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± He rested his chin on her shoulder and said slovenly, ¡°Are you hungry?


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Go to the kitchen.¡±


    Chloe looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Did you cook?¡±


    ¡°I had the chefe and prepare it.¡±


    ¡°Where did the chefe from?¡±


    ¡°The family home.¡±


    Entering the kitchen, Chloe was greeted by the enchanting aroma of simmering mushroom soup on the


    stove. Next to it, a loaf of fresh-baked bread was waiting to be devoured.


    After having a bowl of soup and some bread, Chloe felt satisfied and calm. When she returned to the


    living room, she realized that Joseph had closed his eyes again. This time, he was truly asleep, his


    long eyshes casting faint shadows on his cheeks.


    She poked him a few times with her finger, but he did not stir. She stared at him for a while, then went


    to grab a nket from the bedroom to cover him. She then went to the bathroom to freshen up and


    brush her teeth.


    The next morning, Chloe was up at six.


    Joseph was outside on a call. Despite his efforts to keep his voice down, she caught snippets of his


    conversation.


    It seemed to be about Jonathan¡¯s unauthorized sale of his father¡¯s house. Intrigued, Chloe put on her


    slippers and stepped outside to listen in.


    ¡°You keep an eye on things over there, I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Joseph said before hanging up. He then put


    on his coat, preparing to leave.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Chloe looked puzzled. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Emerald Heights,¡± Joseph replied. He paused for a moment and added, ¡°That¡¯s where my


    father¡¯s house is located.¡±


    Even though they knew the buyer¡¯s information, this person had yet to show up. He moved some stuff


    in yesterday, then disappeared.


    This morning, they got word that more stuff was being moved in. The items were quiterge, but the


    other end was evasive and did not provide a clear answer, so Joseph decided to go and see for


    himself.


    ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Chloe offered. Perhaps they might discover clues about the suicide note.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. ¡°All right.¡±


    Using GPS, Chloe found out Emerald Heights was a good forty-minute drive from Oceanic Residence.


    Foot heavy on the gas, Joseph sped towards Emerald Heights. Lucky for them, the Amer guy who had


    bought the house was still around when they got there.


    He possessed an imposing figure, towering over six feet, and had a menacing look about him. One


    could tell at a nce that he was not to be messed with.


    At that moment, he was directing six workers to unload cargo. The cargo was rectangr and covered


    with cloth, making it impossible to discern its contents. Yet, an eerie aura emanated from it, sending a


    shiver down Chloe¡¯s spine as she could not shake off the uncanny resemnce to a coffin.


    Joseph¡¯s expression remained stoic, his face as cold as the frost of midwinter. Ignoring the Amer¡¯s


    protests, he marched over and yanked the cloth off the rectangr object.


    Before everyone¡¯s eyes, a coffin was revealed. Whether it was upied or empty, nobody knew.


    Joseph¡¯s hand, hanging at his side, clenched tightly, veins popping on the back of his hand. Was this


    guy nning to turn his father¡¯s house into a graveyard?


    This enraged the Amer, who rolled up his sleeves and stormed towards Joseph.

 Chapter 448

    Chapter 448


    Chapter 448 The Mastermind Is Another Person


    Chloe felt a bit shaky in front of the hulk of a man before them. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash, Joseph,¡± she


    murmured, ¡°We¡¯re clearly outnumbered.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s fists clenched, his eyes filled with a chilling emptiness. Apparently, he wasn¡¯t hearing


    her.


    Anxious, Chloe instinctively shielded her stomach with one hand, the other slipping into her bag to grab


    a can of pepper spray from her bag, ready for whatever came their


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    way.


    The Amer buyer red at them, practically spitting with rage. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?!¡±


    ¡°Who gave you permission to bring coffins here?¡± Joseph spat back.


    Emerald Heights was a wealthy neighborhood and highly sought-after for its school district. Property


    prices had skyrocketed in recent years, making it tough for even the affluent to buy at ce. But this


    man, whose funds to purchase the house were questionable, had turned it into a graveyard. What was


    he thinking?


    ¡°It¡¯s my house! I can do whatever the hell I want! It¡¯s none of your-¡± His words cut off as Joseph¡¯s fist


    connected with his face.


    The man staggered backward, his face red and swelling. Enraged, he grabbed a nearby chair and


    swung it. Chloe quickly pulled Joseph back, trying to avoid the iing blow.


    Out of nowhere, Abigail appeared, delivering a beautiful spinning kick to the Amer¡¯s chest. Taking


    advantage of his disorientation, she snatched the chair from his hand and ruthlessly walloped him with


    it, subduing him within moments before dragging him over to Joseph.


    Chloe was left astounded. She never expected Abigail to possess such strongbat skills.


    ¡°Who told you to do this?¡± Joseph¡¯s expression turned icy, his shiny leather shoes pressing down on


    the Amer¡¯s face, arrogantly crushing him. ¡°Think carefully before you answer. You only get one shot.¡±


    The once arrogant and conceited man had now transformed into a tremblingmb. ¡°Someone paid me


    to buy this house, and she told me to bring the coffin. I¡¯m just a worker¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Everyone just calls her Van¡­¡± the Amer stuttered.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Describe her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ she¡¯s in her mid-twenties, pointed chin, sharp eyes. She¡¯s skinny and always has goons


    around her,¡± he replied.


    Chloe thought of the Masked Woman, and her brow furrowed. ¡°Does she have a snake tattoo on her


    foot?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I never paid attention¡­¡± he admitted.


    Joseph nced at the coffin. ¡°Are there more coffins in the house?¡±


    The Amer trembled as he stammered, ¡°She arranged it. It has nothing to do with me. it out for you. If


    you want the house, I¡¯ll transfer the ownership to you right away.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything in the coffins?¡± Joseph asked.


    The Amer understood his meaning and swore, ¡°No! They¡¯re all empty!¡±


    ¡°How did that woman give you the money?¡± Joseph pressed further.


    ¡°She gave me a card,¡± the Amer replied, promptly handing the card over to Joseph.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, what should we do to him?¡± Abigail asked respectfully.


    ¡°Take him toplete the transfer and give him some money,¡± Joseph answered.


    ????


    move


    Abigail understood his intention. They had to follow legal procedures for the transfer, and giving it as a


    gift could backfire and cause troubleter. Giving him some cash would make things smoother.


    Chloe and Joseph entered the house, where they indeed found another coffin inside.


    After getting someone to get rid of the coffin, Joseph had someone investigate the information on the


    card. Surprisingly, it was registered to a man, not a woman.


    Clearly, the mastermind behind the scenes had anticipated Joseph¡¯s investigation and had taken


    precautions to hide their identity.


    Chloe thought aloud with growing fear, ¡°Could it be the Masked Woman? But why would she do this?


    We¡¯ve never crossed her, so why would she go to such lengths¡­¡±


    Joseph took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke obscuring his handsome face. His voice was low as


    he stated, ¡°The Amer¡¯s contact might be her, but she¡¯s not the one pulling the strings.¡±


    The Masked Woman was likely just a pawn in the grand scheme.


    Chloe spected, ¡°Putting coffins in other people¡¯s houses seems like revenge. perhaps provoke


    someone in your business dealings?¡±


    Did you


    ¡°No one from my business would dare,¡± Joseph affirmed, crushing out his cigarette and putting an end


    to the conversation.


    Chloe looked at him, sensing that he had something on his mind but chose not to share them. Since he


    did not want to talk about it, she decided not to pry further. This matter was tooplex, and she


    probably wouldn¡¯t understand even if he exined.


    Just as she was about to explore the vi, Joseph got a call from Octavia.


    ¡°Your grandpa has Xavia locked up in the hospital. You have to do something about it.¡±


    Joseph froze, grabbing Chloe¡¯s hand as they walked outside.


    ¡°Which hospital?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The one our family invested in. Listen, Xavia is sick. You need to get her out safely. Don¡¯t let anything


    happen to her.¡±


    Earlier, Octavia had received a phone call. Seeing the number, she recognized it as the one Xavia had


    called yesterday.


    She shared the news with Xavia¡¯s manager, but thetter told her there was nothing she could do and


    suggested contacting Joseph. They believed if something happened to Xavia, the Whitmans would be


    held responsible.


    Hearing that they were going to see Xavia, Chloe wasn¡¯t thrilled. She pursed her crimson lips, reluctant


    to go. But she remembered her decision from the night before and ultimately agreed to go.


    With everything escting, all she could do now was wait for the amniocentesis results. As. long as the


    baby was Joseph¡¯s, she would leave.


    She hade to terms with it, realizing that a little pain now was better than suffering indefinitely. No


    matter how they resolved things, the child¡¯s existence was a fact she couldn¡¯t change.


    If the child was indeed Joseph¡¯s, then the next few months would be their final time together.

 Chapter 449

    Chapter 449


    Chapter 449 Promise Me That You Won¡¯t Leave Me


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    When they arrived at the hospital, they found Xavia was confined to a separate ward. Despite its small


    size, it had everything she could need. It was clear that Harold had simply locked her away without


    mistreating her.


    Seeing Joseph walk in, Xavia was quick to put two and two together. Vanya must have tipped. off


    Octavia.


    ¡°Joe, I can¡¯t stay cooped up here. The meds I need are only avable at Dahlia Hospital. You¡¯ve got to


    get me out,¡± she pleaded.


    Chloe blinked and watched the whole drama unfold, feeling a hint of satisfaction bubble up within her.


    She couldn¡¯t help but silently cheer Harold on, ¡®Way to go, Grandpa!¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joseph replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get you out of here,¡± He had to admit Xavia was right. This private hospital


    didn¡¯t have the variety of medications and equipment that Dahlia Hospital boasted.


    At his words, Xavia swiftly got out of bed and followed him out. Suddenly, as if she just noticed Chloe,


    she smiled warmly. ¡°Oh, Ms. Chloe, I didn¡¯t notice you there.¡±


    Chloe smirked a little but didn¡¯t bother to respond.


    As they made their way out, the hospital¡¯s director appeared, looking frantic. ¡°Mr. Joseph, your


    grandfather has made it very clear that Xavia shouldn¡¯t leave the hospital. Please, don¡¯t make this


    difficult for us.¡±


    ¡°And you think you can treat her leukemia here?¡± Joseph retorted.


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t. But her condition is stable at the moment, and she doesn¡¯t need chemo for now. Plus,


    your grandfather insisted on all her future check-ups being done here. I hope your understand our


    situation, Mr. Joseph,¡± the director exined.


    ¡°Well, she can have her check-ups here. But for now, I¡¯m taking her with me. If my grandfather has a


    problem, he can take it up with me,¡± Joseph said firmly, leading Xavia out of the hospital.


    Left with no alternative, the director hurriedly reported the situation to Harold.


    Once outside, Xavia nced at Chloe and spoke gently, ¡°I can get a cab back on my own.¡±


    Chloe didn¡¯t quite know how to feel about Xavia¡¯s stare, which caused her to furrow her brows slightly.


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± was all Joseph said.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, Grandpa still has my ID and stuff,¡± Xavia mentioned.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone deliver them to you,¡± Joseph assured her.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Without lingering further, Xavia hailed a taxi and was out of sight in no time.


    As Chloe settled into the passenger seat, she raised an eyebrow. ¡°Drop me at the office first, then get


    her ID from Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my men get it,¡± Joseph replied.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s grab some food first, then I¡¯ll drop you off,¡± he said. She had not had a decent meal. since


    yesterday afternoon.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll just grab something at the office,¡± Chloe countered. Earlier, she had received some


    feedback from Hugo¡¯s secretary and had a bunch of matters to sort out. She did not want to waste any


    more time.


    ¡°No, your stomach is weak,¡± Joseph insisted. With a firm grip on the steering wheel, he started the car.


    Letting out a sigh, Chloe gave in and decided to review some documents on her phone while Joseph


    drove.


    Meanwhile, Joseph interpreted her silence as sulking. ¡®Is she jealous because I went to see Xavia?


    Oddly enough, he wasn¡¯t annoyed but amused. He couldn¡¯t help but admire Nathan for managing so


    many women it was a skill in itself.


    When Chloe saw his smile, she found it strange. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯mughing because you¡¯re jealous,¡± Joseph admitted, sounding rather affectionate.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°I¡¯m not jealous.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you so quiet?¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like talking.¡±


    Joseph pulled over to the side of the road and, in a softer voice, reassured her, ¡°I asked you to


    apany me to the hospital today to put your mind at ease. I¡¯m still considering the matter regarding


    the child and trying toe up with a solution that works for both of us. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    Hearing him bring up the baby again, Chloe lowered her head to hide the sorrow welling up in her


    eyes. She forced a smile and said, ¡°Alright, no need to rush. Take your time to think it through.¡±


    Joseph had a weird feeling about this. Something felt off. He felt like they were drifting apart, like there


    was an invisible rift growing between them.


    2/3


    He held her hand tightly and said, ¡°Promise me that you won¡¯t leave me.¡±


    Chloe looked up, hesitating.


    Joseph keenly caught that hint of hesitation, and his heart ached. He took hold of her delicate chin and


    made her look at him. ¡°Look at me.¡±


    Chloe was forced to meet his gaze, and in her eyes, there seemed to be a trace of guilt, as if silently


    confirming something.


    The calmness that once enveloped Joseph had vanished, reced by a mix of anger and anxiety. He


    leaned in closer, his gaze dark and intense. ¡°Tell me, you¡¯re not nning on leaving me, are you?¡±

 Chapter 450

    Chapter 450


    Chapter 450 Don¡¯t Lie to Me


    Chloe had always been skilled at telling lies, and this time was no exception. She nodded, her lips


    forming a yful pout as she said, ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t leave you. Now let go. My chin¡¯s starting to


    hurt.¡±


    Joseph kept his eyes locked on her, his hand showing no signs of loosening. Instead, his grip got even


    tighter, causing his knuckles to pale slightly.


    Feeling the searing pain in her chin, Chloe pushed against his chest, trying to put some space between


    them. ¡°It really hurts. If you don¡¯t let go, I¡­ mmm!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Before she could finish her sentence, he abruptly leaned down and sealed her lips with his own. The


    intensity of the kiss was anything but gentle, as if he desired to possess every inch of her, to im her


    completely.


    Chloe found herself almost suffocating under the force of his kiss, barely managing to pull away. She


    tried to resist him, but that only made Joseph more intense. His strong hand firmly held the back of her


    head, leaving no room for escape. In the end, Chloe gave up trying to dodge and started to kiss him


    back.


    Joseph momentarily froze, his demeanor softening instantly.


    Encouraged by this, Chloe took the lead and wrapped her arms around his neck, turning the tide in her


    favor. Sure enough, he eased up, lightly kissing her lips and savoring the sweetness with gentleness.


    Finally, Chloe had a chance to catch her breath, but her whole being was enveloped by a slow- burning


    me of desire, making even her breath feel hot. His slightly calloused hand moved to her waist,


    skillfully slipping beneath her clothes, exploring the delicate skin beneath.


    ¡°Um¡­ stop.¡± She managed to intervene in time, her cheeks blushing and her gaze firm.


    Joseph stopped right there. Considering their location in the car by the roadside, he understood this


    was not the right ce. Instead, he held her face close, their foreheads touching intimately. His eyes


    still had that burning desire as he said, ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t lie to me.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Okay.¡±


    After having a meal, Chloe returned to the office and held a meeting with her employees, fully


    immersing herself in her work. She remained busy until the end of the day.


    When she finally picked up her phone, she saw a text from Icarus, letting her know that he had settled


    down in Ameria. She replied politely with a few sentences.


    In truth, she regretted how things had turned out between her and Icarus. If things had not gone sour


    from the beginning, she and Icarus could have be good friends.


    After finishing work and getting back home, Chloe received an invitation to a jewelry fashion show. It


    was sent by a designer from Exotic Star.


    Basically, they wanted her to model Exotic Star¡¯s jewelry on the runway. The pay was pretty good, but


    she was afraid of wearing high heels. So, she tactfully inquired about the clothing and footwear


    requirements.


    Designer: [The clothing brand will be chosen by another department, but for this show, the models will


    be barefoot. However, as our ambassador, you will be given the privilege of wearing shoes for the


    grand finale.]


    Chloe: [No, no, no, I can go barefoot too!]


    Designer: [Alright, if you insist.]


    The fashion show was tentatively scheduled at the end of the month, before Chloe¡¯s baby bump would


    be noticeable.


    Money was not an issue for Chloe, but she saw these events as an opportunity to expand herwork


    and maybe score valuable resources for her office. In the business world, apart from talent and skills,


    connections yed a crucial role.


    Docwood, the Sullivan estate.


    Desmond waved a servant over to pour a drink and smiled at Joseph, inviting him to take a seat. ¡°What


    brings you here, Boy?¡±


    Joseph kept his cool. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about renovating my house and heard you¡¯ve hired a foreign


    architect specifically for the renovations. I thought I might get some inspiration.¡±


    ¡°You want to take a look at my ce?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, have you built your own estate?¡± Desmond stood up and led him inside.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s being built on thend between Cloude and Aesper.¡±


    Joseph followed Desmond closely and casually remarked, ¡°The designer I hired also happens to be a


    Sullivan.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What¡¯s their name? I might know them.¡±

 Chapter 451

    Chapter 451


    Chapter 451 You¡¯re Pregnant, Aren¡¯t You?


    Joseph came to a halt, his gaze locked onto Desmond. ¡°Her name¡¯s Yelena Sullivan. Do you know


    her?¡±


    Desmond shook his head and replied without any hesitation. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Disappointment flickered in Joseph¡¯s eyes, and he swiftly changed the subject, avoiding the topic


    altogether.


    An hourter, he came out of the Sullivan estate. As he reached the entrance, he encountered Noah,


    who had just returned. Noah¡¯s steps were hurried, his face unusually tense. Upon seeing Joseph


    casually walking out as if nothing had happened, his heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°What brought you here today, Mr. Joseph?¡±


    Joseph squinted slightly, observing the beads of sweat on Noah¡¯s nose, and a faint smile yed on his


    lips. ¡°As a kid, you shouldn¡¯t meddle in adult affairs. Did you deliberately rush back home?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll go running to my grandfather and use me of trying to steal your wife.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t steal my wife,¡± Joseph said, his tone exuding arrogance and pride.


    Noah smiled faintly. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m pretty good at it. Are you sure you shouldn¡¯t be worried?¡±


    ¡°Tsk¡± Joseph clicked his tongue. A yful smile danced at the corner of his lips as he said, You


    approached Chloe pretending to be her friend, yet youck the bravery to reveal your true feelings to


    her. Why should I concern myself with a coward? Pathetic.¡±


    Noah remained unruffled. A peculiar glint shimmered in his innocent eyes as he said, ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± He


    eagerly looked forward to the day when the respected president of Fairlight realized that he had been


    raising someone else¡¯s child all along. It would undoubtedly be a captivating spectacle.


    Joseph scoffed in disdain. He ignored Noah and drove away.


    Noah entered the house and asked a helper, ¡°What did Joseph and Grandpa talk about?¡±


    ¡°Not much. Mr. Joseph just came to gather some inspiration for house renovations.¡±


    Noah clenched his fist. ¡°Did he go to Grandpa¡¯s room?¡±


    If Joseph saw the photo of Luciana hanging in Desmond¡¯s room, he would undoubtedly recognize her


    as one of the individuals in the family portrait.


    ¡°Nope. He didn¡¯t go into Mr. Desmond¡¯s room.¡±


    Noah breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°All right, you may go now.¡±


    ¡±


    On her way home, Chloe had a phone call with Emily.


    Emily was aware that she had moved and insisted oning over to visit.


    ¡°Okay, but don¡¯te empty handed. I haven¡¯t eaten yet. When you pass by the mall, grab me some


    grilled fish mildly spicy. It¡¯s been a while since Ist had that,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll take care of it. How about we also get some barbecue skewers and beers? We can


    have a drink together,¡± Emily suggested.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with having barbecue skewers but I won¡¯t be drinking,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°All the more beer for me then.¡±


    In the evening, the two of them sat on the sofa Joseph had purchased. They devoured an entire grilled


    fish and over fifty skewers.


    ¡°I can¡¯t eat anymore. I need to go relieve myself,¡± Chloe said, supporting her waist as she headed


    toward the restroom.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    The bathroom was next to the bedroom, and the bedroom door was open. There was a box of


    medicine casually thrown on the bedside table. Emily frowned and walked over to take a look.


    The words ¡°folic acid¡± caught her eye, and her fingers trembled slightly as she raised her voice, ¡°Coco,


    why are you taking, folic acid?¡±


    Chloe froze. ¡®Shit. I forgot to put it away after taking it!¡¯ she shouted inwardly, exasperated at her own


    carelessness.


    ¡°I¡¯mcking vitamins, and the doctor prescribed them to me,¡± she tried to cover up.


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Emily said, holding the medicine box in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, aren¡¯t you?


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Do you


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    think I¡¯ll believe you? You asked me a while back about being a single mother. You were already


    pregnant then, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    Since she was busted, Chloe reluctantly nodded with aplex expression.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Have you told him?¡±


    ¡°No, I tested him, and for now, he doesn¡¯t want a second child.¡±


    ¡°How could he do this?¡± Emily was furious. ¡°He¡¯ll ept Xavia¡¯s child but not yours? How c


    you tolerate this nonsense?!¡±

 Chapter 452

    Chapter 452


    Chapter 452 He¡¯s a Truly Remarkable Specimen Among Younger Men ¡°Even if I can¡¯t tolerate it, what


    can I do?¡±


    ¡°Tell him you¡¯re pregnant! He needs to know that he¡¯s the kid¡¯s father!¡±


    ¡°Even if he wants this child and asks me to keep it, I won¡¯t let my child share a father with


    Xavia¡¯s child.¡±


    Emily pursed her lips. ¡°Can¡¯t he let Xavia raise the child alone?¡±


    ¡°The kid is innocent.¡±


    ¡°And so are you,¡± Emily said with a choked voice as she embraced Chloe. ¡°I can be the child¡¯s


    godmother and help you raise them, but I still feel bad for you. You¡¯re kind and wonderful. Since


    childhood, Benjamin and Karen have treated you poorly, and now when they¡¯ve finally received the


    punishment they deserve, Xavia appeared and ruined your happy life. It¡¯s so unfair to you.¡±


    Chloe patted her shoulder and sighed. ¡°Life is unpredictable, but at least I still have you. Besides,


    things are much better now than before.¡±


    Apart from the difficulty of letting go of her feelings, there was not much else to worry about.


    ¡°Do you still love Joseph?¡± Emily asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy to let go,¡± Chloe answered honestly.


    ¡°What¡¯s your n then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for another two months. After Xavia undergoes the amniocentesis and it¡¯s confirmed that it¡¯s


    Joseph¡¯s child, I¡¯ll cut ties with himpletely.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you can do that?¡± Emily frowned.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, but I have no choice. Everyone has their Achilles heel.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­will Joseph let you go?¡±


    Chloe lowered her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    She held conflicting hopes, wishing that he would both hold onto her and let her go at the same time.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you reconsider Icarus? He¡¯s someone who you can rely on,¡± Emily suggested.


    ¡°I tried, but you can¡¯t force yourself to love someone you don¡¯t love,¡± Chloe replied with a sigh.


    ¡°All right, I respect your choice. But no matter what, I¡¯ll always stand by your side. If you ever go


    bankrupt, I¡¯ll support you. You can stay at home and take care of the child. Not having a


    man isn¡¯t a big deal. I¡¯ll always be your pir of support! And remember, you¡¯re amazing. You¡¯re


    beautiful and have a great figure and a kind heart. These two failed rtionships aren¡¯t your fault. It¡¯s


    just that they don¡¯t deserve you. Worst case scenario, we¡¯ll spend our lives. together.¡±


    Chloe listened to these words, and her heart melted. ¡°Thank you for staying by my side.¡±


    ¡°As your best friend, my duty is to be there for you. And I have no doubt that you¡¯d do the same for me


    if our roles were reversed.¡±


    Whether it was in matters of love or friendship, their journey together was a shared one from start to


    finish.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    That night, Emily chose to stay, and they reminisced about the cherished moments from their college


    days while sharing the same bed.


    The next morning, Chloe received a text from Noah. He had gone downstairs to buy breakfast and


    brought her a portion. He was currently in the elevator heading up. She readily epted the gesture.


    After all, there was no time to refuse, and he would probably arrive in about two


    minutes.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    At the three rhythmic knocks, Chloe approached and opened the door.


    ¡°Here. I wasn¡¯t sure what you liked, so I got you sandwiches, coffee, and Eggs Benedict,¡± Noah said.


    ¡°Thank you. Fortunately, my good friend is here, so she can help to finish it,¡± Chloe replied, gesturing


    toward Emily.


    Noah¡¯s gaze shifted to Emily, his handsome features adorned with a gentle smile. ¡°Hello.¡±


    Emily took a moment to fully observe Noah¡¯s appearance and found herself momentarily stunned. With


    visible shyness, she managed to respond, ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    Chloe keenly sensed her friend¡¯s unusual reaction and whispered softly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re smitten


    with him?¡±


    ¡°Yes! He¡¯s my type!¡± Emily eximed, her eyes sparkling. ¡°He¡¯s good-looking and has an innocent


    charm like a littlemb. He¡¯s a truly remarkable specimen among younger men!¡± Chloe stroked her chin


    thoughtfully and asked, ¡°Want his number?¡±

 Chapter 453

    Chapter 453


    Chapter 453 She¡¯s a Bad Woman


    Emily¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. ¡°Yes, please!¡±


    ¡°I give you his number, but the rest is up to you,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Both of them spoke in hushed tones, so Noah remained oblivious to their conversation. He handed the


    food to Chloe, and when he noticed the newvish furniture in the apartment, at knowing smile crept


    across his face. If Joseph knew that he stayed here as well, he probably would not have bothered


    purchasing new furniture for Chloe.


    ¡°Well, enjoy your breakfast. I have morning sses, so I have to go now.¡±


    Chloe subtly nudged Emily. ¡°You have work too, right? You can go downstairs together.¡±


    ¡°Right, right!¡± Emily quickly swallowed the sandwich she was chewing and cast a somewhat bashful


    nce at Noah. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Noah agreed.


    As they stepped into the elevator, Emily attempted to strike up a conversation. ¡°What year graduate


    school are you in?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in my first year,¡± Noah replied.


    ¡°I see. It¡¯s tough to find a job these days. Having a master¡¯s degree can give you a slight advantage,¡±


    Emily remarked.


    of


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but my area of study is pretty niche, so it may not be very practical for future job


    prospects,¡± Noah exined.


    Emily was confused. ¡°Then why did you choose to study it?¡±


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°For the sake of my interests,¡± Noah responded.


    Emily frowned. Pursuing a master¡¯s degree solely out of interest was umon. ¡®Is he a hidden heir of


    a wealthy family?¡¯


    After Emily and Noah exited the elevator, they bid farewell. At that moment, she took out the business


    card that Chloe had given her.


    She texted Chloe, [Is he from a wealthy family?]


    [Yes, he¡¯s the future sessor of Exotic Star. You better make the most of this opportunity!]


    [That¡¯s it. I¡¯m giving up. We¡¯re people from two different worlds. I¡¯m not going to text him.]


    In truth, she had not fallen in love with Noah at first sight. She was simply captivated by his charm and


    had an inclination to flirt with him. However, since he turned out to be the heir of


    1/1


    Exotic Star, it was an entirely different story. Setting aside the disparity in their backgrounds, she knew


    she could not handle theplexities that came with being involved with a


    prominent family.


    ¡®Wait a moment¡­¡¯ A sudden realization struck Emily, prompting her to swiftly send another


    text to Chloe.


    [Noah brought you breakfast and even thoughtfully bought separate portions. Does he like you?]


    [That¡¯s impossible. He knows I¡¯m carrying Joseph¡¯s child. He¡¯s not a fool.]


    In the afternoon, Lucas returned empty-handed. ¡°Mr. Joseph, Mr. Harold said that if Xavia wants her ID


    back, she should go and collect it herself.¡±


    ¡°Then inform Xavia to go to the family home to get her ID,¡± Joseph replied without lifting his


    head.


    ¡°But Mr. Harold wants you to go back as well.¡±


    Joseph froze, his handsome face filled with impatience. ¡°Go to the ready. I¡¯ll be down in a while.¡±


    garage and


    get


    the car


    Two hourster, Xavia and Joseph arrived at the family home. Patrick came out to wee them. ¡°Mr.


    Joseph, Mr. Harold is in the study. Please go on upstairs.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Joseph adjusted his tie and casually tossed his coat onto the nearby chair. Turning to Xavia,


    he said, ¡°Stay here.¡±


    Xavia watched him ascend the stairs, suppressing her excitement as she surveyed her surroundings.


    After five years, this was her first time setting foot into the Whitman family home. ording to rumors,


    only women who gained the family¡¯s approval were granted ess to the family home.


    She knew that Harold would not change his mind so quickly. However, he had no other choice but to


    compromise. For now, all she could do was wait.


    ¡°Naty, these stink bombs are so much fun! I want more!¡± Ginny eximed.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get you as many as you want.¡±


    Ginny happily smiled and nted a kiss on Natalie¡¯s cheek.


    Suddenly, Natalie halted her steps. She gritted her teeth as she stared at Xavia. ¡°Ginny, do you see


    that woman in the courtyard? She¡¯s the one responsible for your Uncle Joe divorcing your Aunt Coco.


    And now, she¡¯s trying to seize control of the Whitman family home!¡±


    Standing tiptoe, Ginny red angrily at Xavia. ¡°She¡¯s so wicked! She¡¯s a bad woman! Bad woman!¡±


    Now that Chloe was gone, no one was there to braid her hair anymore!


    ¡°What should we do when we see a bad woman?¡±


    ¡°We punish her!¡±

 Chapter 454

    Chapter 454


    Chapter 454 Bted Wedding


    ¡°Exactly. Come on, let¡¯s use your stink bombs to teach her a lesson!¡±


    Ginny nodded eagerly and swiftly made her way into the courtyard, hurling all three stink bombs in


    Xavia¡¯s direction.


    Xavia watched as the stic balloon-like objects rapidly inted. Then, with a loud ¡°pop,¡± they


    exploded, releasing a pungent and repulsive odor that permeated the air. For a moment, she felt as if


    she had fallen into a stinky sewer.


    ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re a stinky egg! Stinky egg!¡± Ginny mercilessly taunted, reveling in her


    mischief.


    Natalie had grown tired of Xavia¡¯s constant pretentiousness and her constant disy of a high -ss


    demeanor as if she were a wealthy youngdy despite being just a violinist. Now, Xavia¡¯s Image was


    completely tarnished. Even the passing house helpers showed expressions


    of disgust and kept their distance.


    Natalie could not help but cover her nose yfully, unable to contain her amusement. ¡°Xavia, you stink


    to high heavens! How many months has it been since you¡¯ve taken a bath?¡±


    ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m carrying a Whitman child! Isn¡¯t it too much for you to treat me like this?!¡± Xavia¡¯s face


    turned livid, her gaze fixed firmly on Natalie. If they were not in the family home, she would have


    pped the life out of this brat.


    ¡°Have you forgotten what you did to mest time?¡± Natalie shrugged indifferently. ¡°An eye for an eye.


    You brought this upon yourself!¡±


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    The sound of a vibrating phone broke the tense atmosphere. Natalie looked toward the suit jacket


    ced on the chair. The vibrating sound wasing from there.


    Quick as lightning, Xavia retrieved the phone from the suit jacket.


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t touch Joe¡¯s phone!¡±


    Xavia smiled yfully. ¡°What if it¡¯s something important? What if we miss it?¡± As she spoke, she


    nced down at the phone screen, which disyed the name-Chloe.


    Natalie also noticed the name and immediately tried to snatch the phone away. ¡°Don¡¯t answer! Chloe


    won¡¯t be happy if she hears you answering the call!¡±


    The smile on Xavia¡¯s face grew. ¡°No, she has a good temper. She won¡¯t find fault with me.¡±


    ¡°You shameless woman!¡±


    Natalie, petite in stature and wearing slippers, stood no chance against Xavia¡¯s height. Despite her


    efforts, she could not stop her from answering the call.


    With a smile tugging at her red lip, Xavia answered the call right in front of her. ¡°Ms. Chloe, is there


    something I can help you with? I can ry your message to Joe.¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brow deeply. ¡°Why do you have his phone?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re together right now,¡± Xavia replied.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Joseph?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s busy upstairs.¡±


    Chloe took a deep breath and abruptly hung up the phone. She did not believe that anything would


    happen between Joseph and Xavia again. They must have a reason to be together. Despite


    understanding this, she could not help but feel agitated and restless.


    After roughly ten minutes, Joseph called back. ¡°You called me?¡± he asked, his voice calm and cold.


    Chloe gripped the phone tightly. ¡°Yes. Why was it Xavia who answered?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa refused to return her ID and told her toe to the family home to retrieve it. I was upstairs


    discussing matters with him, and I left my phone downstairs,¡± he paused, then added, ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll


    keep my phone with me.¡±


    He had exined it clearly, and there was no need for Chloe to hold on to the matter. After all, it was


    not a big deal. Perhaps Xavia deliberately answered the call after seeing that it was from


    her.


    ¡°I want to take some couple photos. Will you do it with me?¡±


    Even if they were going to part ways, she wanted to keep a memento for herself.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just take wedding photos? It¡¯ll be a good opportunity to have a bted wedding


    ceremony.¡±


    Chloe was stunned for a few seconds, her gaze flickering. ¡°What did you say?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 455

    Chapter 455


    Chapter 455 Double-Standard Joseph


    ¡°I want to make it up to you. Let¡¯s have a wedding. I won¡¯t let you suffer the slightest grievance.¡±


    What other women had, his woman should have it too. Not only that, but it should be the grandest and


    most romantic wedding in the world.


    Her heart quivered. ¡°When did I ever mention marrying you?¡±


    ¡°Although we¡¯re currently in a cooling-off period, I¡¯m confident that we¡¯ll reconcile. Once we reconcile,


    the fake marriage we had before won¡¯t count. And naturally, we¡¯ll get married, have a wedding, and


    host a party.¡±


    Listening to these words, Chloe¡¯s eyes shimmered like precious gems, and she could not help but


    envision it. Every woman dreamt of wearing a wedding dress, and she was no exception.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go with what


    go with what you said.¡±


    She was going to follow her heart this time. Even if they were destined not to live together in the future,


    at least she could say she was once his bride.


    As Xavia came out with her ID card, she overheard Joseph and Chloe discussing taking wedding


    photos. She had to make an effort to control herself from breaking the card in her hand. Taking a deep


    breath, she calmed herself. ¡°Joe, I have my ID. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Joseph turned to look at her, his brows furrowing at the pungent smell. ¡°What did my grandpa say?¡±


    ¡°He said I must ensure that every prenatal examination and amniocentesis is done at the hospital he


    designated. He also mentioned some other things¡­¡± Xavia forced a smile. ¡°But those are just the


    teachings of elders¡­¡± She hinted at something, but Joseph ignored her.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s just how Grandpa talks.¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Joe!¡±


    Ginny stood at the courtyard entrance with Natalie by her side, waving her little arms at Joseph. Earlier,


    when Patrick came, they were afraid of being scolded and quickly ran away.


    Upon seeing Ginny, Xavia¡¯s face instantly contorted with anger, but she quickly regained her


    composure and feigned surprise. ¡°Joe, is that your cousin?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°No wonder she¡¯s just as aloof as you, I wanted to greet her earlier, but she threw a few stink


    balloons at me. The smell on my body is all because of that,¡± she said, her tone carrying a hint of


    helplessness mixed with a touch of grievance.


    Joseph¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and he squatted down to meet Ginny¡¯s gaze. ¡°Did you do that?¡±


    ¡°It was me, but it was an ident. Uncle Joe, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ginny said as she blinked her eyes innocently.


    Joseph gently patted her head and turned to Xavia. ¡°Children can be mischievous. A bath will wash


    away the smell. There¡¯s no need to make a fuss out of it.¡±


    Xavia forced a smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ming her.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Uncle Joe, give these stink bombs to Aunt Coco. If anyone bullies her, she can use the stink bombs to


    blow them up.¡±


    Joseph looked at the stic balloons in her hand that would expand with just a squeeze, and coldly


    refused, ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t stop ying with these things.¡±


    Xavia nced at Natalie as if trying to say that Joseph still cared about her.


    Natalie rolled her eyes in anger. ¡®What a scheming bitch!¡¯


    ¡°You can give her something else. These toys that rapidly inte and explode through a chemical


    reaction can be dangerous and could harm Chloe.¡±


    As Joseph finished his sentence, Natalie¡¯s face brightened, and she smiled like a blooming flower. He


    told Xavia that a stink bomb was harmless and that she should not make a fuss out of it, but he


    disallowed Ginny to give the stink bombs to Chloe because it might potentially injure her.


    Natalie did not know that Joseph could be so double standard, and she liked it.


    Although Ginny did not know why Natalie was smiling, she obediently agreed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give Aunt


    Coco my toys instead.¡±


    ¡®So that she can kick away that bad woman with the toy!¡¯

 Chapter 456

    Chapter 456


    Chapter 456 The Bitch Took Another¡¯s ce


    A rare smile appeared on Joseph¡¯s handsome and charming face. ¡°You¡¯re so nice to your cousin -in-


    law.¡±


    Ginny was a mischievous and spoiled child at home. She was always willful, and she was rarely kind to


    others out of her own initiative. This was her first time willingly giving her toys to someone. Hugging


    him, she muttered unclearly, ¡°Aunt Coco¡¯s so sad because she¡¯s homeless


    now¡­¡±


    ¡®This bitch took her ce!¡¯


    However, Joseph did not hear her clearly. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡±


    Xavia could feel Joseph¡¯s unobstructed bias toward Chloe, and a pang of bitterness hit her. A tinge of


    deep envy shed across her eyes. ¡®All of them bully me. I must make Chloe suffer in


    turn.¡¯


    She took her phone out and texted Vanya. [You¡¯re nearby, right? Can youe here now and help me


    snap a few photos?]


    At night, an entertainment magazine received an anonymous email. There were a few photographs of


    Joseph and Xaviaing out of the Whitman family home together. The photos were coupled with the


    information that they had once dated five years ago.


    At a nce, the reporter recognized that Xavia was the violinist who had swam out into the ocean the


    other day. That night, a hot search query rushed to the top with a conspicuous title.


    [The head of the Whitmans was seen taking his pregnant girlfriend home to meet his family. The


    destined couple was separated at first but ended up together again. Love indeed finds a way.]


    A lot ofizens soonmented on it.


    [Bless you.]


    [Help! Joseph and Xavia dated before!]


    [As expected, exceptional men can¡¯t forget their exes.]


    [Didn¡¯t she gain the position because of her pregnancy?]


    [So, what if she gained her position because she¡¯s pregnant? The rich have to be responsible too!]


    (Xa must have bought this hot search topic!]


    Emily gritted her teeth and typed thatment before she immediately called Chloe to


    ¡°Coco, did you see the hot search topic? That woman is so cunning. Her little stunt was most probably


    a self-directed scheme.¡±


    Xavia had walked into the ocean while on live stream before her pregnancy was exposed. After that,


    she went to the Whitman family home with Joseph. Based on that order, Joseph was painted as a


    scumbag who got someone pregnant and was forced to take responsibility out of


    pressure.


    After that, he would have to step forward to rify things. However, everyone would feel that he was


    merely lying through his teeth even if he did so since the truth had been exposed. But if Joseph did not


    rify it, he would have admitted to it tacitly.


    What a good scheme!


    Controlling the mouse, Chloe looked at herptop screen. ¡°Xavia¡¯s agent posted a statement on Twitter


    to rify things.¡±


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Ah? Did she rify it out of her initiative? What did she say?¡±


    ¡°She said that Xavia is suffering from cancer, so she doesn¡¯t want to burden Joseph. Xavia and Joseph


    will raise the child together. She even wishes Joseph a bright future and that he can lead a happy life


    with me.¡±


    Emily replied, ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to burden Joseph? It¡¯s because the Whitmans don¡¯t want her!


    ¡±


    The page was refreshed all of a sudden and the content posted by Xavia¡¯s agent went missing. It


    seemed that they had deleted it.


    Iciness crept up Chloe¡¯s eyes. ¡®She purposely exposed my name to the public. What does she want?¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now. Ask Joseph how to handle this. This has be quite a popr topic. Be careful


    not to get abused by theizens.¡±


    When Emily hung up the call, Joseph called her immediately after.


    ¡°Come downstairs now. I¡¯m waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Chloe got into the car, Joseph silently drove to a press conference. In that particr environment,


    she vaguely heard Harold¡¯s voice.


    Confusion dawned on her. ¡®Does he want to hold a press conference to rify things?¡±

 Chapter 457

    Chapter 457


    Chapter 457 Defending Her at the Press Conference


    Joseph held Chloe¡¯s hand and led her to the second floor. He then found a suitable spot and pressed


    down on her shoulders. ¡°Sit.¡±


    She obediently sat. When she looked over the first floor, she saw Harold in a suit, easily answering the


    reporters¡¯ questions.


    ¡°Firstly, Xavia will not be a part of the Whitman family. If you¡¯re interested in the details, you can ask


    her. Secondly, Chloe isn¡¯t a homewrecker. She¡¯s the granddaughter-inw I¡¯ve approved of though


    they¡¯re divorced now. Thirdly, I¡¯ll seek legal help and sue those who continue to nder Chloe. She¡¯s a


    good person. I¡¯m at such an age now, so I¡¯m quite experienced. I won¡¯t be mistaken.


    ¡°Even an honorable person has difficulties handling household affairs. It¡¯s the same case with my


    family, but the one thing I can guarantee is that I¡¯ll be responsible for it as long as it¡¯s a child of the


    Whitman family. I won¡¯t let them be a homeless child and suffer miserably.¡±


    As a result, Chloe¡¯s eyes turned watery. Harold was still talking, but she could no longer hear a word of


    what he said.


    ¡®Grandpa is holding a press conference to defend me and publicly take my side¡­ What did I do to


    deserve this kindness? I snuck into the Whitman family with a fake marriage, but he let bygones be


    bygones. He still treats me the same as before.¡¯


    Joseph wiped away her tears with his fingers. ¡°Are you satisfied?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s nose became rosy and her eyes were glistening with tears. ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°Stop crying. You look ugly.¡± He chuckled, which softened the iciness in his eyes. Even the sharp edges


    of his face turned gentler.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the family home and eat with Grandpa today.¡± She did not know how many times she could


    still go there.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Joseph kissed her lips. ¡°Whatever you wish.¡±


    Blushing, Chloe pushed him away because she could not take it. ¡°There are so many reporters


    down there. Don¡¯t do that¡­¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t see us. What¡¯s more, it¡¯s just a peck. Why are you blushing so much?¡± A mischievous light


    shed past his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    ¡°Nothing!¡± Chloe red up in a rage out of shyness. After crying, her watery eyes set off her


    pitifulness and charms. Even when she was angry, she appeared coquettish and pretty.


    Swallowing, Joseph¡¯s eyes turned dark. He forced himself to avert his gaze.


    On their way to the family home, Joseph received a text from Xavia.


    [Joe, my agent identally posted an announcement on Twitter to rify things. I found it out


    immediately and asked her to delete it.]


    After a nce, he threw his phone aside and did not reply to her.


    Chloe recalled the uing jewelry fashion show at the end of the week, so she brought it up.


    Joseph snorted. ¡°Did Noah invite you?¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°No, it was the designer of Exotic Star.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°Why do you hold such a great hostility toward Noah?¡± Chloe blinked.


    Joseph did not go straight to the point but beat around the bush. ¡°He has a conflicting personality.¡±


    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±


    ¡°While he¡¯s in the university, the Sullivans hand one-third of Exotic Star to him to manage, but he gives


    off a harmless and pure image. Isn¡¯t it contradictory?¡±


    It was the typical example of a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing.


    Chloe answered honestly, ¡°A little.¡±


    But she felt that it was normal. People were bound to possess some shrewdness.


    At night, Chloe ate two servings of pasta. She found that her appetite had increased a lot after her


    pregnancy. She surmised that she had to control herself. Otherwise, she would be much plumper at the


    later stage of her pregnancy.


    ¡°Chloe, are you full?¡± Harold asked her kindly.


    ¡°Yeah, I am.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that.¡± Harold looked at Joseph. After pondering over it for a while, he said, I discussed


    with Joseph about Xavia¡¯s child and came up with a rtively win-win solution.

 Chapter 458

    Chapter 458


    Chapter 458 The Neer Oppresses Others


    Chloe stopped what she was doing and said, ¡°I¡¯m all ears, Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°A child is a life. Since the child hase to this world, we have no right to snatch their life. If it¡¯s a


    Whitman child, the Whitmans should be responsible for the child, correct?¡±


    With her eyes lowered, Chloe managed to hide the emotion in her eyes. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But after all, the child isn¡¯t borne by a granddaughter-inw whom the Whitmans approve of. Hence,


    they have no right to inherit Joseph and the Whitmans¡¯ properties. Only your child has such a right.


    This is a guarantee for you.¡±


    The Whitman family would not starve the child but they would not invest too much in him either. That


    was the difference between a legal wife and a second wife since ancient times. However, Xavia was


    not even considered a second wife.


    Joseph held Chloe¡¯s hand. ¡°In short, our child is the first heir regardless of their gender.¡±


    Chloe looked at him and saw the sincerity in thetter¡¯s dark eyes. He meant what he said. At the


    moment, he was on her side. However, one¡¯s life was so long, and people¡¯s hearts would change. It


    was just like what happened to Benjamin back then. He changed just like that. In the end, he could not


    forget about his ex.


    After Chloe¡¯s mother passed away, Karen came with Ava. They led a happy life as a family of three. On


    the contrary, she became a child whom nobody wanted. Over the past twenty years, she had shared a


    father with another person. Hence, she knew that feeling all too well. She would never let her child


    suffer that kind of grievance.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Joseph pinched her cheeks anxiously. This was thergest


    compensation he could give her.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chloe put aside her emotions. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this after Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis. We¡¯re not in


    a rush.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s lips went into a thin line. He did not want to force her, so he stopped dwelling on the


    matter.


    Exotic Star in Docwood.


    After ss, Noah came to deal with the documents that needed his signature.


    A few employees who were working overtime in the office area gathered together to chat.


    ¡°Did you see the hot topic? Homewreckers nowadays are so capable. She even made Mr. Harold step


    forward to defend her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Xavia¡¯s five years and the child in her belly can¡¯tpare to the one-year Chlo


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    married to Mr. Joseph.¡±


    ¡°You must be joking. If she¡¯s incapable, she wouldn¡¯t have endorsed Exotic Star. She¡¯s just an


    amateur.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m going to vote for someone else. I can¡¯t bear to see a neer oppress


    another.¡±


    There was a rule in Exotic Star. They would ask for the public¡¯s opinion on their official website every


    time they looked for an ambassador to endorse their products. Exotic Star would be more inclined to


    cooperate with whoever got the highest votes.


    ¡°Ahem, ahem¡­¡±


    A cough interrupted them.


    ¡°Mr. Noah¡­¡± When the employees saw Noah, they got up and greeted him.


    Smiling, Noah took out an invitation card and put it on the table. ¡°Help me deliver this. invitation to


    Xavia when you have time.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After he left, they began to make guesses in confusion. ¡°Does Mr. Noah think that our products will be


    negatively influenced if Chloe is the ambassador? Does he want to cooperate with Xavia instead?¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡±


    Recently, Chloe had time to learn how to drive at a driving school. After more than a month, she finally


    got her driver¡¯s license. Holding it in her hand, she became eager when she passed by an automotive


    store. She wanted to buy a car, but herck of confidence in driving stopped her. She was a little timid.


    While brewing in herplicated feelings, she heard a honk. She turned around to see who it was.

 Chapter 459

    Chapter 459


    Chapter 459 She¡¯s Exceptionally Beautiful, Just Like an Angel


    Joseph got out of a luxury car and stuffed the car key into her hands. ¡°Give it a spin.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as she stared at the car. It was silvery white with a charming


    appearance and a feminine style. She had a slight impression of that car¡¯s logo, knowing full well that


    the price was a seven-digit figure. That bit of money was nothing much for Joseph.


    Beaming happily, Chloe revealed her neat white teeth, making her appear flirtatious and seductive.


    ¡°Thank you, Jojo.¡±


    Joseph ced hisrge palm on the wall behind Chloe and his gigantic shadow engulfed her. He


    uttered in dissatisfaction, ¡°Just a verbal gratitude?¡±


    His actions sent Chloe¡¯s heart pounding. She could feel his strong and unique demeanor enveloping


    her. Consequently, she blushed and pecked his thin lips.


    Warmth soon crept up his aloof gaze. He touched her head. ¡°You¡¯ll be the driver. I¡¯ll take the passenger


    seat.¡±


    Chloe gaped. ¡°Are we heading to the jewelry show like that? It¡¯ll take half an hour to get there. Do you


    trust me that much? Aren¡¯t you afraid of an ident and getting killed?¡±


    Joseph got into the car and leaned backwardnguidly. ¡°I belong to you. Naturally, my life is yours as


    well.¡±


    ¡°Did Nathan teach you that line?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°You never say nice words. Of course, you don¡¯t know any romantic words.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s handsome face turned dull before he scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s just romantic words.¡±


    His learning ability was greater than Nathan¡¯s. Of course, he managed to learn things that Nathan


    could do easily and casually. He looked down on romantic words in the past, but strangely, he felt now


    that they were not as cheesy and sickly as before. Naturally, he could put them into words.


    Under Joseph¡¯s guidance, Chloe drove at an extremely slow speed, and they arrived at the exhibition


    hall safe and sound.


    Joseph met an acquaintance as soon as he entered the hall. Chloe let him deal with his work as she


    went backstage for makeup.


    Joseph nodded. ¡°Call me after It¡¯s over.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    They went their separate ways. On her way backstage, she found that she had not brought her


    invitation along and returned to the car to get it.


    ¡°Take a nicer shot of me. This is a customized style, and it costs a few millions.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure a few million isn¡¯t much for your boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it. Even if someone is loaded, they can¡¯t get a customized unit.


    Only one customized car is produced per year. What¡¯s more, that fierce woman is strict on him.


    She¡¯s very stingy even if he asks for 100 thousand dors.¡±


    Two young models in skimpy clothes stood before Chloe¡¯s car, posturing and taking photographs.


    When they saw Chloe stand there motionlessly, they uttered impatiently,¡± We¡¯re not done yet. Step


    back. Don¡¯t get into the photos.¡±


    Chloe said, ¡°No, I just want to grab something.¡± She opened the car door and took out her bag under


    their bewildered and awkward gazes. ¡°Carry on.¡±


    The models were rendered speechless.


    Chloe had a private makeup room. The makeup artist behind her was putting makeup on her. She then


    looked up the car Joseph had bought for her on the Inte. The two young models. were right. It was


    a customized style. Even if one reached the requirements for the customization, one could only get one


    such car their entire life.


    Chloe felt touched. It was fine whether he showered her with romantic words or not. The most


    important thing was that he did things to show his love for her.


    ¡°Coco, how¡¯s it going? Are you ready?¡±


    Noah pushed open the door and came in. He was wearing a suit paired with a tie. In addition, his soft


    bangs werebed up. The youthful aura he emanated made him appear like a university student who


    had just stepped into society to work. Pureness and youngness permeated his being.


    Smiling, Chloe said, ¡°Pretty much. Has it started?¡±


    ¡°Soon. Are you nervous?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    She rehearsed once under the guidance of a professional coach. Besides, it was not very difficult.


    ¡°Come on. I trust you.¡± Noah smiled happily before he patted her shoulders,


    Chloe gave him an okay sign, telling him to rest assured. He had something else to deal with, so he left


    after lingering there for a while. Before leaving, he even thanked the makeup artist.


    While watching him leave, the makeup artist sighed, ¡°Mr. Noah is as bright and gentle as a soft breeze.


    He never treats nobodies like me differently.¡±


    Chloe chuckled. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because his family taught him well.¡±


    Noah was always gentle, but his gentleness was different from Icarus¡¯. Thetter was gentle because


    he had experienced many things and had finally settled down. On the contrary, Noah seemed to be


    born with a good temper.


    ¡°I think so too.¡± After the makeup artist finished putting makeup on her, she carefully took out a set of


    jewelry from the safe. ¡°I¡¯ll put them on for you now. You have to be very careful. The ne is the


    most expensive item, and the bracelet and earrings easily fall off. I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m being overcautious,


    but all of these pieces of jewelry add up to 14 million.¡±


    Chloe stiffened. She touched the diamond ne around her neck as pins and needles traveled


    through her. It was much more expensive than the one she had modeled the other day.


    The show began.


    Chloe waited backstage. At a nce, she saw Joseph sitting in a VIP seat below the stage. As


    well as¡­Xavia.


    The tall and slim models wore different kinds of gemstones and jewelry. They went onstage one by


    one. Twenty minutester, it was Chloe¡¯s turn. She took a deep breath. When the final model


    descended the stage, she stepped onto the runway.


    On therge screen behind her, everyone could see her short white gown. Although the gown looked


    simple, it was a global haute couture. Delicacy spread through the simplicity of her


    gown.


    Her exposed skin was fair, and the diamond ne around her slim and delicate neck shined and


    dazzled. She was exceptionally beautiful, looking like an angel.


    At that instant, she was gloriously radiant. Everyone glued their gazes to her. For a moment, they found


    it hard to discern the highlight of the show. Was it her or the jewelry?

 Chapter 460

    Chapter 460


    Chapter 460 A Gun Aiming At Chloe¡¯s Head


    Joseph fixed his gaze on Chloe. His long amorous eyes were full of extreme possessiveness. He had


    always regarded the dumbo as a charming woman, and now, he yearned to dig out the eyes of those


    who were staring at her intensely.


    While narrowing her eyes, Xavia looked at Noah sitting in the front row. ¡®I don¡¯t know why he invited


    me. Does he just want me to see that bitch Chloe show off?¡¯


    Noah seemed to have realized something. He turned around and smirked at Xavia. Then, he got up


    and walked backstage.


    Xavia received a text from an unknown number. [Come with me.] She hesitated for a few seconds


    before she hurried after Noah.


    In the corridor, Noah took out Eustace¡¯s phone. He smiled broadly. ¡°Does this look familiar?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face paled and her hair stood on end. ¡°Why do you have Eustace¡¯s phone?¡±


    ¡°I picked it up.¡±


    Incredulity, horror, and vignce got the better of her. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Was it your doing? The hot topic on the Inte?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡±


    ¡°You can sew discord between Chloe and Joseph. I won¡¯t bat an eyelid over it, but you can¡¯t hurt her.¡±


    Xavia was a smart person. She could tell something was amiss. ¡°Do you like Chloe?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    ¡°Why should I do what you say?¡±


    Noah looked up and smiled gently before he absent-mindedly switched on Eustace¡¯s phone, ying a


    recording.


    ¡°Vee, I¡¯m so cold down there. You and our child shoulde and be with me.


    ¡°Vee¡­¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Eustace called out her name as if he was a ghost haunting her and demanding her life. It sounded very


    strange and terrifying in the vacant corridor.


    Xavia¡¯s face turned livid. Even her lips started to tremble. ¡°Stop trying to bluff me. Eustace is long


    dead!¡±


    ¡°Maybe. But even if he is, he left a baby in your belly.¡±


    It was like a fatal blow, rooting her to the spot. She rarely lost herposure, but she had gone


    berserk during the two instances that she met Noah.


    ¡°What the hell do you want, Noah?¡±


    ¡°I told you. You can make them fall out with each other.¡± He nced at the time on the phone and said,


    ¡°The show is almost over. They¡¯re probably being all lovey-dovey right now. Aren¡¯t you jealous?¡±


    After Xavia took a deep breath, she reluctantly left. As she walked out, she saw a makeup artist helping


    Chloe back to the makeup room for fear that the jewelry on her would be damaged. Staring at the


    dangling earrings, an idea dawned on Xavia and she approached the makeup artist.


    ¡°What can I do for you?¡± Chloe asked calmly when she saw Xavia.


    ¡°I-¡±


    A word escaped her when a sudden piercing rm interrupted her.


    Soon amotion could be heard outside. After a few gunshots, silence was restored.


    Desmond called Joseph out to a pavilion outside the hall. When Joseph heard the noise, he soon


    realized that something was wrong, so he hurried there, but it was toote.


    The makeup artist flurriedly wanted to take off the diamond ne around Chloe¡¯s neck, but she


    became clumsy from her anxiety. Chloe tried to help her but someone abruptly kicked


    open


    the door as the makeup artist walked to the safe with the diamond ne.


    A tanned and slim man stood at the door. His gaze fell on the makeup artist.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    The makeup artist was shot twice and fell to the floor. The smell of blood spread through the air. The


    man then picked up the ne that had fallen to the floor and stuffed it into his pocket. However, he


    suddenly stopped as he was walking toward the door.


    Chloe broke out in a cold sweat, and she did not dare to breathe. Her palm-sized face was pale as


    blood drained out of her face. She recognized the man in front of her as a wanted criminal who had


    killed many people.


    Xa was no better. Her nerves were tense as great remorse engulfed her. She regretteding to


    the show.


    Suddenly, they heard sirens.


    ¡°Fuck! The police came quickly. Grab a hostage.¡±


    Chapter 460 A Gun Aiming At Chloe¡¯s Head


    The tanned, slim man agreed before turning to look at Chloe and Xavia again.


    ¡°Take her. I¡¯m pregnant, so it¡¯s hard for me to walk fast. I¡¯ll be a burden.¡±


    Deep fear engulfed her, so Xavia decisively put Chloe on the spot. She wanted to rely on her baby to


    turn the situation around, so nothing could happen to the baby.


    As expected, disdain filled the tanned, slim man¡¯s eyes. He pointed at Chloe. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Chloe clenched her fists tightly and refused to admit to her defeat. ¡°Sir, she¡¯s pregnant with Joseph


    Whitman¡¯s child. Do you know Joseph? He¡¯s the head of the Whitmans and the president of Fairlight.


    He¡¯s loaded. If you take her, you can get a great ransom from him. I guarantee that you¡¯ll earn more


    than that ne.¡±


    She could tell that these robbers came prepared. At first, she thought it was Xavia¡¯s scheme, but it did


    not seem like it at the moment.


    The man was stunned before he threw nces at Chloe¡¯s way. He felt that she was being reasonable.


    After all, they were taking a risk, so they might as well ckmail that man too.


    Xavia became anxious. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m pregnant with Joseph¡¯s child, but I¡¯m not favored. Even with this baby,


    I can¡¯t marry him. The favored one is Chloe. Joseph came with her today!¡±


    The leader of the robbers threatened the police to retreat as he urged the tanned, slim man to act


    quicker.


    Frustration engulfed the tanned, slim man as he raised the gun and pressed it against Chloe¡¯s head.


    ¡°Just you. Cut the crap!¡±

 Chapter 461

    Chapter 461


    Chapter 461 Just Kill the Bitch.


    Chloe stiffened. She obediently followed the man out before she hugged her head with both hands and


    got on her knees.


    It was a mess out there. Most of the attendants had run away by taking advantage of the mess. A small


    part of the crowd was subdued by the robbers, including Noah and Abigail.


    Abigail was the only injured person among them. Her thigh had been shot, and her face was beaten up.


    It looked like she had fought against them. However, physicalbat could not withstand the power of


    firearms.


    Too many people were being held there, so the police tried to negotiate with the robbers.


    ¡°Get me a van now. I¡¯ll give you three minutes. One of them will die with every minute that you¡¯rete!¡±


    The leader was a fierce and ruthless man. He pressed his gun against Chloe¡¯s forehead and gestured


    arrogantly. ¡°Tell Joseph Whitman to get me 75 million in cash. Otherwise, I¡¯ll blow up this bitch¡¯s head!¡±


    Tyson appeared toply, asking someone to get them a van.


    Noah watched as they tried to take Chloe away forcefully. Suddenly, he stood up. ¡°Let her go. I¡¯ll be


    your hostage. I¡¯m the heir of Exotic Star. I¡¯m more valuable than her.¡±


    Chloe was stunned as she looked at him firmly,plicated feelings surging through her. ¡®Wh -What is


    he doing?¡±


    Desmond had hurried to the scene with Joseph in a panic. When he heard this, his aging face turned


    pale. He wanted to rebuke Noah not to speak nonsense but he saw Joseph out of the corner of his eye.


    Joseph looked like a demon that had crawled out from hell at that moment, exuding great fierceness


    and coldness. Atst, Desmond remained silent.


    Tyson was afraid that Joseph would act recklessly, so he immediately lowered his voice and said,


    ¡°There¡¯s a tracker in the van. Keep calm. We need to get control over the situation first.¡±


    Joseph ignored him as he fiercely glued his gaze to Chloe. He appearedposed, but his back was


    drenched. His fingertips trembled slightly.


    The tanned, slim man had a strange expression. ¡°Kid, are you courting death? Do you know what it


    means to be a hostage?¡±


    Noah touched the dagger he had on him. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of death but can¡¯t let others die. Exotic Star failed


    in its security measures in today¡¯s jewelry show, so you guys had the chance to do this. Don¡¯t hurt the


    innocent.¡±


    After ncing at Noah, the tanned, slim man whispered to his boss, ¡°He¡¯s right. He is the heir of Exotic


    Star. Why don¡¯t we make a switch¡­¡±


    The jewelry they had stolen that day was enough for them to lead a worry-free life. If they


    could take Noah¡­


    But the leader pped the tanned, thin man. ¡°There must be something strange when things. go


    wrong. Businessmen are crafty. Don¡¯t listen to him!¡±


    Atst, the hostage remained the same. When they wanted to drive the car away, Joseph spoke up. ¡°I


    can give you the money, but I want you to swear that you will not harm Chloe. Otherwise, I¡¯ll find you


    and hack you to pieces no matter how far you run.¡±


    He sounded calm but his words carried a conspicuous fierceness. Even the leader shuddered in fear,


    feeling goosebumps pop up on his skin. ¡°Of course, but you have to give me 75 million in total.¡±


    They then put a sack over Chloe¡¯s head so she could not see anything outside. She could hear


    Joseph¡¯s voice though, and she sniffed as a sense of security engulfed her. Joseph always meant what


    he said. It was not hard for him to cough up 75 million. What was hard was to get 75 million in cash.


    The robbers drove off. The others at the scene hugged each other and cried piteously after surviving


    the disaster.


    Noah walked straight to Xavia, who was in a corner. He interrogated her condescendingly, ¡± There were


    three people in the makeup room. The makeup artist is dead, and Chloe was kidnapped. You¡¯re the


    only one who¡¯s safe and sound. Why is that?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face stiffened slightly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t control who the robbers wanted to take.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡± Coldness crept up his amber-like eyes, his tone overbearing.


    No one had ever seen this side of Noah. Joseph focused on the rescue n with Tyson, so he did not


    notice what was happening backstage.


    Desmond¡¯s eyelids twitched before ordering the driver to take Noah away, but thetter pushed the


    driver away and walked to Joseph. No one could discern any emotion on his pretty


    face.


    ¡°How much more do you need? I have the money.¡±


    Joseph red up in a rage and ignored him.


    Tyson wanted to tread cautiously, so he felt that they had to prepare the money. Besides, 75 million in


    cash was not a small sum. If Noah was willing to pay, they should ept his


    assistance. But atst, he did not mention this.


    Xavia did not step forward. She smirked with joy in the face of the mess. ¡®It¡¯s best if the kidnappers kill


    her. If she¡¯s dead, I¡¯m the only one Joseph will have left.¡±


    2/3


    The van drove for an unknown period before Chloe was taken to a vige.


    ¡°Stay here!¡±


    The tanned, thin man took off the sack on Chloe¡¯s head, and she could see again. She nced at the


    strange environment. It was clear that this ce had been abandoned for a long time.


    There were five robbers in total. They gathered to take ount of the jewelry they had gotten.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to be rich. We can¡¯t spend all of this in addition to the 75 million.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this woman to be so valuable. We should¡¯ve just kidnapped her and demanded a


    ransom instead of robbing a jewelry show.¡±


    ¡°We can sell the robbed jewelry to foreign rich businessmen. As for ckmailing, it¡¯s a bit meddlesome


    to deal with the hostage.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so meddlesome? When we get the money, we let the woman go.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°No one¡¯s going to hand over the woman to them,¡± the leader suddenly said after gulping down arge


    mouthful of beer.


    The others looked at each other in dismay before they lowered their heads in tacit understanding. After


    a few seconds of silence, a murderous intent suddenly appeared in the leader¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°We can¡¯t hand her over. Just kill the bitch!¡±


    It was better to avoid trouble. They should just get the money and flee.

 Chapter 462

    Chapter 462


    Chapter 462 I¡¯ll Take Her Down With Me


    A chill ran down Chloe¡¯s spine as she felt her blood run cold.


    The leader threw a knife at the tanned, thin man. ¡°We¡¯re out of bullets. Use this to get rid of her.¡±


    Thetter picked up the knife and walked toward Chloe.


    Blood drained out of Chloe¡¯s face. The door was locked, so she had no ce to run to. She screamed


    loudly to gain attention.


    ¡°Help! Is there anyone out there?! Please save me!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Stop screaming. This vige has long been abandoned. There¡¯s no one else except us.¡¯


    ¡±


    Chloe felt like she had fallen into an abyss. Thest bit of hope in her was ruined and reced with


    despair.


    When the man saw her charming face, he felt somepassion for her. ¡°Be good. Don¡¯t struggle. I¡¯ll


    do it quickly, so you won¡¯t feel any pain.¡±


    When Chloe saw the brick at the corner, she decided to risk it. Although the chances of winning were


    next to none, she had to do something in the face of impending danger. Under his gaze, her eyes


    turned watery. She pointed at the beer on the floor. ¡°Sir, can I have a sip? After I¡¯m drunk, I won¡¯t be


    scared anymore.¡±


    The man was stunned for a moment before he chuckled and looked at the leader. ¡°She fancies


    a swing of your beer.¡±


    The leader threw over a can of beer. ¡°Girl, don¡¯t me us for being cruel. You¡¯re just unlucky. Finish


    this can of beer and off you go.¡±


    After Chloe got the beer, she retreated to a corner. She seemed to be drinking beer, but she secretly


    stepped on the brick. She was wearing a very long windbreaker, so it hid her legs. Naturally, they could


    not see her actions. After gulping down half a can of beer, she pretended to be drunk as she slowly


    squatted. When the man saw that it was almost time, he walked over


    to her.


    Chloe met his gaze. After extreme fear hit her, she was filled with a deep desire to survive. She


    could not die. Her child had yet to see the world, and they could not die this way.


    The man narrowed his eyes and aimed at the throbbing artery around her neck. He raised his knife


    high and was about to sh her. The clean knife would have turned bloody, but


    someone¡¯s phone rang at that inappropriate time.


    Holding the knife, the man stopped what he was doing and turned to look at the leader.


    The leader asked the man to stop before he picked up his phone.


    ¡°The cash is ready. Where should I go for the deal?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone, biting cold and restrained.


    The leader was bbergasted, not expecting Joseph to have acted so quickly. It was clear that the


    Whitmans were as rich as a country. He gave Joseph an address and the deal would be carried out two


    hours from then.


    ¡°Record a video of Chloe every fifteen minutes during this period and send it to me. I want to know that


    she¡¯s safe.¡±


    The leader thought for a while before answering, ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t try to pull any tricks.


    Otherwise, I¡¯ll take this bitch down with me.¡± He then hung up the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t kill her. Keep her alive


    first.¡±


    Hearing this, Chloe rxed. Crystal-clear sweat could be seen on her forehead and she quietly put


    down the brick behind her.


    During the two hours, they contacted a ship to help them cross to a foreign country illegally. They


    wanted to run away under the cover of darkness. One of them was in charge of keeping an eye on


    Chloe.


    Although she was wearing a loose windbreaker, she was still wearing the gown she wore for the show.


    She was merely two months along, so her bump was indiscernible. When the night breeze blew at her,


    it sent her hair flying. She looked so thin and feeble as if she was a flower in the breeze, appearing


    pitiful and adorable.


    The man could barely resist it. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ll be leaving after this. How about we enjoy ourselves a little


    first?¡±


    A cold male voice suddenly came to them before the leader could speak.


    ¡°You¡¯re courting death.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± The leader immediately became vignt as he looked around.

 Chapter 463

    Chapter 463


    Chapter 463 My Pregnancy Will Be Exposed


    Suddenly, tear gas was thrown in from the outside and fell at the leader¡¯s feet. In the next second, it


    emitted a dazzling white light, causing temporary vision loss.


    Chloe immediately shut her eyes. She reacted quickly and took off her windbreaker to put it over her


    head for fear that she might inhale the gas, waiting to be rescued.


    Bang!


    The iron door was knocked open with a loud noise. A cold hand grasped hers. ¡°Keep your eyes closed


    and cover your mouth and nose. Follow me.¡±


    They had been lying in wait there an hour ago. However, they did not dare to act rashly for fear that she


    might be forcefully taken again. Hence, they could only lie in wait and wait for the right time.


    Surprise overwhelmed Chloe. It was Joseph. She inevitably sobbed. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Motherfucker! You can¡¯t leave!¡± The leader grabbed Chloe¡¯s other arm as if he wanted to break her


    into two halves. If she was gone, they would be doomed.


    Fierceness engulfed Joseph¡¯s eyes before he kicked the man¡¯s chest and sent thetter flying.


    Because of the tear gas, the robbers¡¯ fighting capacities dropped drastically. Their faces filled with tears


    as they coughed ceaselessly.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Arge group of armed officers rushed into the room with gas masks on. Soon, they subdued the few


    robbers.


    Joseph was worried that Chloe might inhale too much of the gas if she stayed there for long.


    Hence, he simply carried her and rushed to the car outside.


    ¡°How are you feeling? Are you feeling sick?¡±


    During those short four hours, she had suffered a life-and-death disaster. While looking at him, she


    finally failed to suppress her tears. It was not soft sobbing but uncontroble wailing and crying. She


    was filled with a deep fear that she might never see him again.


    When she had been greatly nervous, and was forced to calm herself. For an entire afternoon, she did


    not know what to do.


    Large droplets of hot tears fell on the back of Joseph¡¯s hand. It filled him with vehement fear and


    anxiety. For a moment, he wondered if she had identally inhaled the gas.


    ¡°Hold on. We¡¯ll be at the hospital soon.¡±


    When she heard the words ¡°hospital,¡± she stopped crying. With tears on her face, she shook her head.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡±


    If she went to the hospital, her pregnancy would be exposed.


    ¡°You have to go and get a full body check-up. Tear gas is harmful.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t inhale it. I was holding my breath, and I even closed my eyes.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, you have to get a check-up. It¡¯ll be quick.¡±


    When Chloe noticed him ying hardball, she knew that it was impossible to turn him down. Hence,


    she kept quiet. If she continued to argue with him, he might find something amiss. She had yet toe


    up with a reason to refuse to go to the hospital.


    They rode in a police car, so it was a smooth ride. They arrived at the hospital in half an hour. Joseph


    held Chloe¡¯s hand as they got out of the car.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Tyson stopped them from behind. ¡°Come to the station to give your testimonyter.¡±


    Chloe averted her gaze. ¡°I can go there and give my testimony now.¡±


    Tyson let out an ¡°Oh,¡± having yet to sort out his thoughts.


    ¡°Joseph insists on me going to the hospital for a check-up, but I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no need to waste time.


    Even if I want to get a check-up, I should wait for the specialists toe to work in the morning before


    coming on, right? It won¡¯t be toote then. What do you think?¡±


    Tyson fell silent for a moment. After some hesitation, he said, ¡°Yes, you should get a proper check-up.


    Come back tomorrow.¡± He looked at Joseph. ¡°This is a serious case. We should get her testimony as


    soon as possible.¡±


    Joseph scrutinized Chloe. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯lle back tomorrow then.¡±


    Chloe secretly heaved a sigh before she threw Tyson a grateful look. Thetter touched his nose with


    inexplicable guilt. He felt that he had sided with an outsider.


    The sun rose from the east, and the sky gradually brightened. Chloe was filled with exhaustion when


    she exited the station. Seeing this, Joseph felt sorry for her.


    ¡°Go home and have a hot bath before going to bed.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, you should get some sleep too. Don¡¯t go to the office today. Take the day off.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    When Xavia learned that Chloe was rescued, her anger got the better of her and she smashed her


    ss on the floor.


    Vanya raised a sarcastic remark. ¡°It seems like everyone cares for her.¡±


    ¡°Forget her. I don¡¯t know how Noah learned about Eustace. What should we do now?¡±


    ¡°What else can we do? He¡¯s dead. So what if Noah has his phone? It¡¯s fine as long as you don¡¯t


    admit to it.¡±


    ¡°What if he isn¡¯t dead?¡±


    Vanya¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I shot him several times.¡±


    ¡°But what if?¡±


    If Eustace was alive, their n would fail, and she would be pushed into an endless abyss.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go the whole hog and kill Noah¡­¡± Xavia glided her finger across her neck.


    Vanya red at the former. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s Eustace? Is he an ordinary man who¡¯s easily ignored?¡±


    If it was that easy to resolve, she would do that on her own.


    Awkwardness crept up Xavia¡¯s face. After a pause, she stated, ¡°Go and feel him out. See how


    much he knows about Eustace.¡±


    Vanya sneered. ¡°I¡¯m not under yourmand. Contact S. If he allows it, I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Xavia said, ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s too troublesome.¡±


    Joseph woke Chloe up by gently pushing her shoulders. His voice was maic and deep. ¡°Mr.


    Desmond and Grandpa are here.¡±

 Chapter 464

    Chapter 464


    Chapter 464 To Conceal Those Vulgar Thoughts


    Chloe sat up in a daze and checked the time. It was two o¡¯clock in the afternoon.


    Joseph got out of bed and picked up his clothes to put them on, buttoning his shirtnguidly. ¡± Go wash


    up. Don¡¯t bother with makeup. They¡¯ve been waiting downstairs for a while now.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Chloe washed her face with water to eliminate her sleepiness and wake herself up. She then checked


    her appearance in the mirror and found that her eyes were slightly bloodshot. It was most probably a


    result of her piteous cries the day before.


    In the tea room in the yard, Noah was wearing a simple white T-shirt and loose jeans. The bangs he


    combed up yesterday were now lying softly over his forehead. With his head lowered, he looked like an


    obedient child who had done something wrong.


    Joseph, who came downstairs, saw this scene and secretly scoffed. ¡®What a pretentious man!¡¯


    ¡°Chloe, are you okay?¡± Harold asked Chloe in concern as he took the lead.


    The police had suppressed the news, and everything had happened out of the blue. If Desmond had


    not gone to Harold, thetter would still be ignorant of the ident.


    ¡°Jojo and the police got there in time, so I wasn¡¯t hurt.¡± After that, she greeted Desmond, ¡± I¡¯m sorry to


    have kept you waiting.¡±


    Desmond waved his hand and appeared solemn. ¡°Exotic Star failed in our security measures yesterday


    and put a lot of people in peril. I came with Noah today to apologize to you.¡±


    He did not feel embarrassed since it was a life-and-death issue. Dignity and pride were vague and


    could never bepared to life-and-death matters.


    Noah timely looked up with deep guilt in his innocent eyes. He bowed to them deeply, his tone and


    expression were depictions of vehement sincerity. ¡°Mr. Joseph, Coco, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Chloe wanted to help him up, but Joseph stopped her. It was unknown if he did it intentionally or not.


    He smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. After all, idents are unavoidable. I¡¯m just curious why you asked them to


    take you as the hostage instead yesterday?¡±


    Harold¡¯s eyes flickered with a curious light. ¡®Did something like that happen?¡¯


    ¡°He¡¯s young, so he isn¡¯t very mature in handling things. I scolded him about it,¡± Desmond exined.


    ¡°I see.¡± Joseph nodded. The side of his face was handsome. He then said casually, ¡°I thought it was


    because you cared so much about her.¡±


    Chloe knitted her brows and discreetly yanked his sleeve to indicate that the two elders were around,


    so he could not speak nonsense.


    Unexpectedly, Noah nodded. ¡°Mr. Joseph, you¡¯re right. I cared very much about this affair.¡± Joseph


    raised his brows and looked at Noah.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°To be honest, the Whitmans are the head of the four families in Docwood and take great care of Exotic


    Star. My grandpa is old now, and I¡¯m inexperienced. I¡¯ll certainly need your help in the future,¡± Noah


    slowly borated. His face was full of shame, but his bright eyes were gentle and sincere. ¡°At that time,


    I thought of the fact that Coco is a very important person to you, Mr. Joseph. If anything happens to her,


    a conflict will ensue between the Whitmans and Exotic Star. Feeling anxious, my mind went nk and I


    wanted to take Coco¡¯s position.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Noah told me the reason when we got home yesterday. Ms. Chloe, we¡¯re very sorry,¡± Desmond


    echoed Noah¡¯s words in an unnatural tone.


    Beforeing here, he tried to figure out how to exin the hostage exchange. After dwelling over it,


    there was no other way but to tell the truth, but he could not im that Noah was worried about Chloe¡¯s


    safety. It would be openly trying to im that there was something fishy between Chloe and Noah.


    It was despicable and vulgar if Noah tried to save Chloe out of his own interest. After all, they had only


    met Chloe merely a few times.


    However, Joseph was greatly infuriated. In the end, they did not care about Chloe but about the


    rtionship between the Whitmans and Exotic Star. They said such colorful words to hide that bit of


    vulgar thought in them.

 Chapter 465

    Chapter 465


    Chapter 465 The Victim Is Guilty


    Noah met Joseph¡¯s gaze, looking very embarrassed. He then apologized to Chloe again.


    Chloe was fine with this exnation. She found his actions reasonable. She had no powerful


    background, and she was just an ordinary person who thought it normal for him to save her because of


    the Whitmans.


    Harold picked up his teacup and took a sip. ¡°Okay, we can¡¯t me Noah for this. They suffer a great


    loss in this show. What¡¯s more, Exotic Star¡¯s reputation was pulled down.¡±


    Although Noah imed that the Whitmans had taken care of Exotic Star, it was not the case at all. The


    Whitmans had suffered losses for several consecutive years. Of course, they could not help others. It


    was merely because the Sullivans thought highly of the former. 1


    Secondly, the Sullivans were humble and sincere. Hence, the Whitmans should let bygones be


    bygones. Harold asked Noah and Desmond to stay for dinner.


    Two old men went upstairs to y chess, and the young people stayed in the living room to chat.


    However, something got into Joseph. He behaved like he was injured as he asked Chloe to feed him


    grapes and water from time to time. He was not the least bit shy in front of Noah.


    On the surface, Noah wore no expression. He was as gentle and docile as a sheep.


    Before long, Octavia came with a group of nobledies. She had heard the news from Tyson, so she


    came under the guise of visiting Chloe. The others came with the same goal in mind as they brought


    along gifts.


    It became quite noisy because there were a lot of people, the atmosphere bing lively and noisy.


    Noah smiled broadly and suggested to Joseph, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go upstairs to y chess too?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes became profound. ¡°Sure.¡±


    When Octavia saw Joseph enter the chess room, the amiable smile on her face was gone in an instant.


    She said to Chloe, ¡°You¡¯ve been in the limelight recently. I think you should keep a low profile. Why did


    you join the jewelry show?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you should stay home to serve your man and be a good housewife. A woman¡¯s greatest


    responsibility is to take care of her man.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, don¡¯t be angry at us for criticizing you. Since Mr. Harold approves of you, you should stay


    home obediently. Don¡¯t show yourself in public. It serves you right to be targeted by the robbers.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying that I deserved to be kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You wore such a short gown yesterday. Of course, the robbers saw you at a nce.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying that women who are taken advantage of are because of that reason?¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Yeah. Otherwise, how could you exin why that happened to them instead of others?¡±


    Chloe was rendered speechless. They were all women. How could they im that the victims were


    guilty?


    ¡°We want the best for you. It isn¡¯t a good thing to be too showy.¡±


    Octavia raised her chin arrogantly, wanting to vent all her anger on Chloe after suffering so much


    because of Joseph.


    Chloe chuckled. Her clean face became bright and charming. ¡°I kept a low profile previously, but you


    were all up on my case that time too.¡±


    Although they rarely met each other, there would be people just as bad as Octavia whenever she was


    around. They would cooperate with her to put Chloe down1.


    Octavia was stunned. She immediately scolded Chloe, ¡°If elders scold you, it¡¯s because they want to


    help you. You¡¯re so insensible!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through so much trouble. I¡¯m no longer Joseph¡¯s wife now. At most, he¡¯s just my


    boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re aware that you¡¯re not his wife. Xavia is pregnant now. When the child is born, you won¡¯t


    hold a candle to her.¡±


    ¡°Go on and teach her. After all, you¡¯re experienced in this.¡±


    After Chloe made this statement, everyone fell silent. Getting pregnant out of wedlock was not a


    glorious thing in any era.

 Chapter 466

    Chapter 466


    Chapter 466 Older Men Are Greasy


    Octavia erupted in anger. ¡°I was simply chastising you, yet you¡¯re humiliating me like this?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t humiliate you. I just responded in kind. Why are you so agitated?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes turned cold.


    Octavia¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You¡¯re climbing over me even before getting remarried. If you and Joseph


    remarry, will you disrespect Harold too?¡±


    ¡°Disrespect him? Of course not,¡± Chloe quickly retorted, ¡°I¡¯ll honor and respect him with all my heart.¡±


    Octavia¡¯s face stiffened, unable to find aeback. She decided not to push the issue further and


    instead directed her focus and energy toward Xavia. The person standing before her was unworthy of


    her attention.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    After a sumptuous dinner, Chloe was ovee by an overwhelming drowsiness. Sympathetic to her


    condition, Harold allowed her to head to bed early.


    As she teetered on the brink of sleep, she faintly heard the door being pushed open. Recognizing


    Joseph¡¯s presence, she chose to ignore him and continued to drift off to sleep. However, he proved to


    be less than honest, quietly removing his shoes and joining her in bed, enveloping her in his embrace.


    A pleasant cold fragrance enveloped Chloe as she affectionately nuzzled against him, finding sce in


    the warmth of his chest. Joseph tenderly kissed her cheek a few times and then fell


    silent.


    Though Chloe continued to feign indifference, her drowsiness waned. No matter how hard she


    attempted to coax herself back to sleep, it eluded her grasp. She finally opened her eyes, only to be


    met with Joseph¡¯s prating gaze, his icy stare alternating with restrained desire.


    Chloe was momentarily taken aback, her cheeks flushing with heat. ¡°Why are you staring at me like


    that?¡±


    To her surprise, Joseph¡¯srge hand slowly slid from her waist to her chest and firmly grasped


    1.


    ¡°You¡¯re exposed,¡± he said.


    Chloe lowered her head. The low neckline of her nightgown,bined with her sideways position, had


    resulted in a rather provocative scene. Feeling the heat rising, she attempted to push his hand away.


    ¡°Stop it. Let go.¡±


    Joseph remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on her nightgown, his fingertips tingling with the desire to rip


    it apart. He yearned to see her body fully exposed before him, devoid of any


    clothing. His longing had grown overwhelming, heightened by the prolonged absence of physical


    intimacy.


    Chloe¡¯s entire being was aze, and she averted her gaze in difort. ¡°You promised you wouldn¡¯t


    force me.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything.¡± Joseph grasped her hand and guided it downward. He urged her in. a hoarse


    voice tinged with roughness as if it had been scraped against sandpaper, ¡°Come on¡­. Give me a


    hand?¡±


    Chloe felt his bulge, and her earlobes flushed crimson. ¡°You shameless bastard!¡±


    ¡®How many times has this happened already?¡¯


    The drawn curtains blocked out the moonlight and the bedroom¡¯s only source of light was a bedside


    lamp that cast a subdued glow. Joseph¡¯s handsomeness was undeniable. Even with her nightgown


    lifted and his hand firmly grasping her clean skin, urging her immodestly, his countenance still radiated


    an indescribable nobility.


    Chloe¡¯s cheeks flushed crimson, and her wrists began to ache.


    ¡°Hey, brat. Mr. Desmond is about to leave. Aren¡¯t you going toe down and bid him farewell?¡±


    Harold¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from outside the door, causing Chloe to panic. In her nervousness, she


    unintentionally exerted more pressure.


    Joseph let out a pained groan, and in a vengeful response, he tightened his grip even further as a form


    of retaliatory punishment. Chloe¡¯s emotions swirled between embarrassment and anger. She attempted


    to sit up, but he firmly held her down in ce. Then, he pressed himself against her, capturing her lips


    in a kiss.


    Harold called out once more. Then, assuming Joseph had already fallen asleep, he went downstairs to


    see Mr. Desmond off.


    After the ordeal, Chloe felt utterly drained and too fatigued to even raise her hand. Her nightgown had


    also been stained in the process. She red at him, her anger evident. ¡°This is all your fault. My


    clothes are now stained. I can¡¯t wear them anymore.¡±


    Joseph chuckled softly, wearing an indifferent expression as he put on his pants. ¡°Your hands are dirty


    too. Can¡¯t give them up, can you?¡±


    ¡°¡­Get lost!¡± eximed Chloe.


    The next day, Chloe finally caught up on some sleep. She looked radiant and had a glowing


    complexion. Having missed two consecutive work days, she felt a sense of worry and nned to go


    there after finishing breakfast.


    Joseph, dressed in a suit and standing tall, cast a brief indifferent nce at her. ¡°Hospital check-up


    today.¡±


    Chloe was left speechless. ¡®It¡¯s already been two days, but he still remembers!¡¯


    Luckily, she had a backup n. ¡°I know. I¡¯ve already made an appointment with the doctor. I¡¯ll go on my


    own.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to apany you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s prating gaze fixed on her. ¡°Then, who¡¯s going with you?¡±


    ¡°Em. She has a minor health issue, so we decided to go together.¡± As she spoke, she turned on her


    phone and showed him her chat conversation with Emily. Joseph nced through it briefly, his thin lips


    pressing together as if he had something to say.


    Just then, Lucas¡¯ call came in.


    ¡°Sir, the hospital has confirmed the time for the amniocentesis. When will you being by?¡±


    Joseph hesitated for a few seconds. ¡°Right now.¡±


    After the call ended, Chloe realized Joseph had something to attend to, and the suspense in her heart


    dissipated. She deduced that he probably would not follow her to the hospital.


    Sure enough, he drove her to the hospital, where she and Emily had appointments. As he watched


    them enter the building, he turned the steering wheel, executed a U-turn, and drove


    away.


    Parking the car in the parking lot, Joseph proceeded toward the elevator. Just then, two nurses in


    uniform engaged in casual conversation passed him.


    ¡°The new intern looks really young. He must be at least four or five years younger than us.¡±


    ¡°Three years at least. I do hope we get more interns like him. I love young and baby-faced


    men!¡±


    ¡°What? You have no interest in older men?¡±


    ¡°Please. Who likes older men these days? They¡¯re so greasy and full of themselves!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ageist, okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. So you¡¯re into older men?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like them. I love baby-faced guys, too, haha!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Cougar romances are all the rage right now!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face turned grim, and he interrupted their conversation. ¡°At what age is a man considered an


    older man?

 Chapter 467

    Chapter 467


    Chapter 467 Regardless of Parentage, the Child Should Be Born


    The nurses nced up and blushed at the sight of such a handsome man approaching them.


    One of them replied shyly, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Probably over 30¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s expression soured further. He just turned 31 this


    year.


    ¡°Sir, can we exchange numbers?¡± the nervous nurse asked.


    He let out a cold snort, ¡°I¡¯m already 31.¡±


    The nurse eximed, ¡°Oh? Please don¡¯t go!¡±


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong with being 31? Being handsome is more than enough!¡¯


    Inside the hospital, Xavia sat on a bench in the corridor, donning a delicate beige dress entuated by


    a gracefully draped shawl over her shoulders. Her choice of loafers revealed her slender ankles,


    adding a touch of vulnerability to her overall demeanor. Seated beside her was Megan Martinez.


    Joseph observed Xavia from a distance but refrained from approaching her. Instead, he entered the


    doctor¡¯s office where Lucas was already present.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, we¡¯ve conducted aprehensive examination on Ms. Xavia. Based on the results, the


    earliest suitable time for amniocentesis would be two months from now.¡±


    Joseph pondered, his gaze intense and contemtive. The child growing in Xavia¡¯s womb would be


    over five months old in two months.


    Lucas also pondered the matter, his brows furrowing with concern. ¡°Is it possible to terminate the


    pregnancy at five months?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ If there are any abnormalities or developmental issues with the child, it¡¯s possible to consider


    termination. However, for someone like Ms. Xavia, who¡¯s already in a fragile physical state, undergoing


    an abortion would pose significant challenges.¡±


    Lucas¡¯ frown deepened. In essence, it meant that regardless of parentage, the child should be carried


    to term.


    Joseph maintained hisposure and nodded calmly. ¡°Please pencil it in.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Joseph.¡±


    Xavia noticed him emerging from the office and rose from her seat, shing a coy smile. ¡°The doctor


    informed me that we still have two months before the amniocentesis.¡±


    Joseph stood, his hands tucked in his pockets, his sharp features distant. ¡°At five months


    pregnant, abortion is no longer an option. Have you made your decision?¡±


    ¡°I made up my mind the day I found out I was pregnant.¡± Xavia¡¯s eyes brimmed with a bitter sentiment.


    ¡°Joseph, it¡¯s incredibly insensitive of you to bring up amniocentesis right away.¡± Megan came to Xavia¡¯s


    defense.


    ¡°Let it go, Megan.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I say what¡¯s on my mind? You were also held hostage at the jewelry exhibition. Even though


    you managed to escape, it was nothing short of a miracle. But Joseph, there was not a single phone


    call or word of concern from you.¡±


    Xavia observed Joseph¡¯s expression through the corner of her eye as she said in a considerate tone,


    ¡°Chloe¡¯s condition was even more critical. Joseph did the right thing by prioritizing her.¡±


    Megan let out a sigh. ¡°You always put others before yourself. You were admitted to the hospital after


    yesterday¡¯s scare, but no one showed any concern. And now, they wake you up early for an


    examination. It¡¯s truly disheartening.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s leave the past behind.¡± Xavia shook her head at Megan, then turned to Joseph


    and asked, ¡°Is Ms. Chloe alright? Did those robbers harm her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. You should head back and take care of her. I can manage on my own,¡± Xavia said, trying


    to hide her disappointment.


    Megan, on the other hand, looked at Xavia with frustration as if she found her too understanding.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Joseph remained indifferent, his responsecking any warmth.


    Such an attitude was beyond Xavia¡¯s control. Her face stiffened, clearly sensing hisck of


    care. In theory, he should have shown some concern for her well-being, but his coldness was hard to


    ignore.


    Megan had been going along with Xavia¡¯s charade until now, but she could no longer keep up the act.


    She was incredulous and could not hold back her words. ¡°Mr. Joseph, she¡¯s carrying your child. How


    could you be so cold to her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just the carrier of my child, not the woman I love.¡±


    Those words had a devastating impact.


    Xavia¡¯s lips trembled and her back straightened. ¡°What have I done to deserve this?¡±


    Joseph shot back, his voiceced with bitterness, ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°What am I supposed to know¡­?¡±


    ¡°Since you deliberately pushed Chloe toward the robbers, why are you acting innocent now?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s pupils dted as she vehemently denied the usation. ¡°I didn¡¯t direct them toward Chloe! The


    robbers rejected me because I was pregnant and targeted her instead.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Tears welled up in Xavia¡¯s eyes, glimmering as they clung to her eyshes. Every movement


    seemed carefully orchestrated, blending a sense of vulnerability with unwavering determination. ¡°You


    only suspect that I¡¯ve wronged Chloe, but do you know that she manipted the robbers? She tried to


    manipte my position to appear more important to you than it seemed. If it weren¡¯t for the baby I¡¯m


    carrying, I could¡¯ve be their hostage. too!


    ¡°Yesterday, when I was held captive, my mind was consumed with thoughts of you. I was worried that


    you wouldn¡¯t have a chance to see our baby, worried that I¡¯d be killed right then and there. I never


    expressed these grievances to you¡­


    ¡°And I don¡¯t know where you heard all this nonsense. How can youe up and use me without


    evidence? Joe, I¡¯m no saint. I can feel sadness and pain too!¡±


    ¡°Noah was the one who ryed this so-called nonsense to me, word for word.¡± Joseph suddenly


    realized something, a chilling sensation enveloping him. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t tell me. He showed me the


    surveince footage from that day.¡±


    Even though the camera had been out in the corridor, the dressing room door was left slightly ajar and


    the people inside were standing near the entrance, granting them a clear view of everything transpiring


    inside.

 Chapter 468

    Chapter 468


    Chapter 468 A Wise Surrender Is Better Relentless Persistence


    Xavia¡¯s tightly wound string ofposure instantly snapped.


    ¡°You saw the surveince footage, so you should know the truth! The robbers rejected me because of


    my pregnancy and shifted their sights to Chloe! What¡¯s wrong with that?!¡± she eximed.


    ¡°Did the robber discover your pregnancy or did you voluntarily disclose it?¡±


    Given their slender frames, Xavia and Chloe could easily conceal their pregnancies, even at three


    months, especially when wearing loose clothing.


    She staggered, almost losing her bnce. ¡°So what? In the face of life and death, I want to live. Is


    there anything wrong with wanting to keep the baby in my belly alive? Besides, Chloe isn¡¯t that noble


    either.¡±


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Megan chimed in, ¡°Exactly. Their rtionship was already strained. You expect her to sacrifice herself


    for Chloe¡¯s sake?¡±


    Joseph remained calm. ¡°It¡¯s true that Chloe isn¡¯t particrly noble, but she didn¡¯t push someone into


    the way just to save herself.¡±


    ¡°I have a child in my womb, which means two lives at stake!¡± Xavia uttered these words through gritted


    teeth, her pale face showing a hint of redness from her intense emotions.


    ¡°That¡¯s not an excuse,¡± Joseph stated firmly. He locked eyes with Xavia and continued, Whose life isn¡¯t


    a life?¡±


    ||


    Xavia¡¯s face turned ashen, and she sneered bitterly. ¡°Joseph, you¡¯ve truly hurt me. This is your child-


    your own flesh and blood. And yet, because of Chloe, you do not care for us in the slightest?¡±


    ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with the moral maniption. My moralpass has always been weak,¡¯ Joseph


    responded, his eyes reflecting an unwavering resolve. In their depths, a calmness resided, giving off an


    unsettling chill.


    Megan fell silent for a moment, hesitant to confront Joseph directly. She murmured, Regardless of the


    circumstances, the child is what¡¯s most important. It¡¯s the only Whitman child at the moment.¡±


    Her statement was not unfounded. The child was undeniably important. However, the crucial aspect


    was that its paternity had not been confirmed, and moreover, Joseph felt no


    attachment to Xavia.


    He cast a cold gaze in her direction and responded curtly, ¡°Are you trying to force me to utter even


    harsher words?¡±


    Megan choked on her words, her frustration evident. She muttered in frustration, ¡°You have


    1/2


    no idea how to cherish a good woman. Xavia has been by your side for five long years. Even a heart of


    stone would¡¯ve softened by now.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s smile widened, his expressionced with mockery. ¡°It has been five years, and yet, I failed to


    see her true colors.¡±


    If it had not been for Gabriel, Joseph would still be in the dark. Gabriel made the difficult. decision to


    unveil the truth after a period of internal conflict. He was afraid that Joseph would not believe him,


    which could potentially strain their brotherly bond.


    Xavia dug into her n with her fingertips as she averted her gaze. ¡°Fine. If that¡¯s how you want it, let¡¯s


    not see each other for the next two months.¡±


    Megan was taken aback and quickly tried to reason with her. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash. Your health isn¡¯t in the


    best condition, and this is a crucial time for you and the baby. You need someone to take care of you,


    especially now.¡±


    Xavia looked at Joseph with a desperate expression in her eyes. ¡°Take care of me? In the past five


    years, or even these three months, when has he ever taken care of me? Let¡¯s just forget about


    everything.¡±


    After uttering those words, she straightened her cor and turned to walk away. Her figure, delicate and


    fragile, appeared as though a gust of wind could easily sweep her away. With one hand cradling her


    waist and the other clutching her bag, she appeared somewhat forlorn.


    Joseph¡¯s expression remained unreadable, his gaze distant and indifferent.


    Megan hurriedly caught up with Xavia, finding it difficult toprehend. ¡°Are you giving up so easily?


    Are you truly not going to see Joseph for two whole months?¡±


    A trace of malice appeared in Xavia¡¯s eyes. ¡°A wise surrender is better than relentless persistence.¡±


    ¡°But we can¡¯t just let them have their way.¡±


    That despicable Chloe had snatched away the endorsement opportunity that Megan had been longing


    for. To be frank, if Xavia had not exacted revenge on Chloe, she too would refuse to let Chloe have an


    easy life.


    Xavia nced at Megan and asked, ¡°Do you have any good ideas?¡±

 Chapter 469

    Chapter 469


    Chapter 469 Xavia Is a Pile of Dog Shit


    Megan shook her head and replied, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Xavia took a deep breath and said, ¡°Let¡¯s think it over. I have something to take care of, so I have to


    go.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Megan called out, ¡°What if we hire some online trolls to smear Chloe online?¡±


    Xavia rubbed her temples, ¡°Child¡¯s y.¡± If Chloe had such a weak mental fortitude, she would not


    have been able to hold her ground until now.


    ¡°Exotic Star¡¯s reputation has already taken a hit. If Chloe, the global ambassador, continues to disy


    inappropriate behavior, there¡¯s a possibility that Exotic Star might cut ties with her to protect their


    interests,¡± Megan suggested.


    Xavia¡¯s eyes brightened a little. ¡°It¡¯s worth a shot.¡±


    However, relying solely on inte trolls would not be enough. There was a high likelihood that Noah


    woulde to Chloe¡¯s defense.


    ¡°This could be an opportunity to release those photos¡­¡±


    Regarding Noah, Xavia could not quite ascertain his intentions, and neither did she know how much


    information he had in his hands.


    Chloe emerged from the ultrasound room. Emily, who had been waiting outside, immediately


    approached and inquired, ¡°How did it go? Is everything all right?¡±


    Chloe shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I didn¡¯t inhale any tear gas.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness you acted quickly and covered your mouth and nose. ording to Google, tear gas


    can have more harmful effects than one would imagine. It can cause tearing and sneezing in milder


    cases and prove fatal in severe cases!¡± Emily patted her chest, unable to conceal her relief.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s been two days and I haven¡¯t experienced any reactions.¡± Actually, she had not


    nned to visit the hospital today, but upon reflection, she chose to get checked for the sake of safety.


    After all, the life within her womb was delicate.


    Emily nodded, expressing her helplessness. ¡°Are you sure you want to continue keeping this a secret?¡±


    With each passing day, Chloe¡¯s belly was growingrger, making it increasingly challenging to


    conceal.


    ¡°Now that autumn has arrived and we¡¯re wearing thicker clothingpared to summer, hiding it for


    another one or two months shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Chloe pretended to smile


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    1/3


    nonchntly. ¡°Let¡¯s take it one step at a time.¡±


    Emily sympathized with Chloe but understood her stubbornness, so she refrained from saying


    too much.


    Chloe decided to visit Abigail at the hospital since she was also receiving treatment there. She bought


    a bouquet of flowers and a fruit basket as a gesture of care. Fortunately, Abigail¡¯s injury was not life-


    threatening, but recovering from a gunshot wound took time.


    During their journey back, Emily asked, ¡°Did Joseph introduce you to Abigail?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just feel like the two of you can¡¯t let go of each other, but there¡¯s an obstacle that¡¯s


    preventing you from being together, like a sudden pile of dog shit on the road. You both. want to move


    forward, but the unpleasantness of the obstacle makes it difficult, Emily exined.


    Chloe was taken aback for a moment before bursting intoughter. ¡°Are you implying that Xavia¡¯s a pile


    of dog shit?¡±


    Emily grinned mischievously. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. You interpreted it that way.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, you didn¡¯t say it. I conjured it up in my mind.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, you have quite the imagination.¡±


    Chloe pretended to re at Emily and then, at a turn, a middle-aged man appeared. She paused for a


    moment and quickly stepped forward to intercept him.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Chloe stared at the man, furrowing her brows.


    The man, feeling guilty upon seeing her, said, ¡°You must¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else. I don¡¯t


    know you.¡±


    ¡°How can you not know me? I pawned my jewelry at your shop with an agreement to buy it backter.


    Why did you close the store?¡± 1


    Every time Chloe passed by the jewelry store, she would stop by. Butst week, she discovered the


    store had changed hands the week before.


    The man scratched his head awkwardly before responding, ¡°Look. We only had a verbal agreement,


    and someone came along offering a higher price for it. I¡¯d be a fool not to sell.¡±


    ¡°To whom did you sell it?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who bought it. Even if I told you, there¡¯s no way you could afford to buy it back.¡±


    Chloe grew angry, a displeased look shing through her eyes. ¡°Tell me.¡±


    The man looked at her, his expression filled with helplessness. ¡°It was Exotic Star who purchased it.


    And now that I¡¯ve told you, there¡¯s still nothing you can do. They probably already had the pieces


    refurbished and altered.¡±

 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470


    Chapter 470 Leaked Photos


    Chloe¡¯s heart ached sharply at the mention of her mother¡¯s precious jewelry being refurbished and


    altered. Those pieces held sentimental value and were part of the dowry her mother had left for her¡­


    Emily stepped forward, trying to offer some reassurance. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Noah about it? Your


    mother¡¯s jewelry is of exceptional quality and craftsmanship. There¡¯s a chance that they haven¡¯t been


    subjected to any refurbishment or alteration.¡±


    ¡°I can only hope so.¡±


    Emily had taken a day off today, and her birthday was just around the corner. She had her eye on a


    particr handbag, and there happened to be one in the same style among the bags Joseph had given


    Chloe.


    Since Chloe had the idea of gifting it to Emily for her birthday, the two of them headed to the Johnson


    Group¡¯s warehouse to retrieve the bag. As Emily surveyed the warehouse filled with a plethora of


    branded bags, a vein visibly throbbing on her forehead. ¡°What a waste!¡± she eximed, her frustration


    evident.


    Chloe helplessly replied, ¡°I sold some of them on a second-hand tform. Otherwise, there would be


    even more.¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh my God, do you hear the wordsing out of your mouth? unting wealth will only bring you


    trouble!¡±


    ¡°You can choose whichever bag you like. Take as many as you can carry. It¡¯s no problem.¡±


    Emily¡¯s expression did aplete 180-degree turn, and she cheerfully grabbed Chloe¡¯s arm.¡± I take


    back what I said earlier, Coco. You¡¯re my best friend forever!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched as she was momentarily left speechless.


    The Johnson Group was a smallpany with a rtively small workforce. With business slowing


    down during the autumn season, there was a backlog of work that had piled up for over two days.


    Surprisingly, Chloe managed toplete it all within just two hours. Once she was done, she nced


    at Emily, who was still engrossed in choosing a bag. The indecisiveness of a Virgo was truly something


    to behold.


    Chloe ordered two cups of coffee and began browsing on her phone. Suddenly, a post grabbed


    her attention.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    [What is Chloe Johnson¡¯s true background?]


    Intrigued, she clicked on the post and was greeted with three key points.


    First, she allegedly stole Xavia¡¯s five-year love.


    Second, Harold went as far as holding a press conference to defend her.


    Third, Noah publicly suggested a hostage exchange.


    Past events, long forgotten, resurfaced with exaggerated and nonsensicalmentary.


    After reading through the irrational content, it became apparent to Chloe that the articlecked rity


    and coherence. It appeared to be a clickbait piece solely aimed at grabbing attention. Perhaps it was


    prompted by the morning announcement of the armed robbery at the Exotic Star jewelry exhibition,


    enticing individuals to capitalize on the publicity. Curiously, the post was gaining poprity, yet all the


    comments below were generated by bot ounts. This suggested that someone had hired a bunch of


    inte trolls for this post.


    However, Chloe remained indifferent to all of this and had no desire to be entangled in the online


    drama. She understood that the inte was a fickle ce where trends and controversies came and


    went within a matter of days. Octavia¡¯s words rang true-being too prominent could attract unwanted


    attention.


    Suddenly, her phone rang, signaling an iing video call from Icarus, who was currently far away in


    another country. ¡°Chloe, do you have a moment? I need to talk to you about something.¡±


    Chloe nced at his serious expression disyed on the screen, and a hint of unease crept into her


    heart. ¡°I have time. Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I stumbled upon these photos on some foreign websites¡­¡± As he spoke, her attention was diverted by


    a notification on herputer. Chloe set down her phone and reached for her mouse, clicking to open


    the new email that had just arrived.


    In the photos, she found herself seated on Icarus¡¯p, both of them scantily d in their underwear.


    The backdrop revealed a private room within a restaurant, evoking an indescribable sense of


    lasciviousness in their gestures and actions.


    Her thoughts spun in a chaotic whirlwind, leaving her rooted to the spot, frozen in disbelief.


    ¡°Chloe, these photos were leaked to certain foreign websites. Although they haven¡¯t circted widely


    within the domestic social scene yet, you need to be mentally prepared. There¡¯s a possibility that


    people around you mighte across these photos at any given moment¡­¡±


    After what felt like an eternity, Chloe managed to find her voice, albeit trembling. ¡°Send me the link.¡±


    Icarus fell silent for a moment before responding, ¡°Do you want to report this to the police?¡± She


    countered, ¡°Have you already reported it to the overseas authorities?¡±

 Chapter 471

    Chapter 471


    Chapter 471 Come Clean to Joe About the Baby


    Icarus froze for a moment before replying, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve reported it. I¡¯m currently waiting for the


    investigation results.¡±


    ¡°I need some time alone,¡± Chloe said in a low tone.


    Icarus replied solemnly, ¡°Okay. If you need someone to talk to, you can call me. I¡¯ll be here for you.¡±


    Chloe was in no mood to talk to him. Once she obtained the photo link, she quickly contacted Tyson.


    Upon learning of the situation, Tyson fell silent. After a short while, he said, ¡°Once something goes viral


    online, it¡¯s difficult to control. I¡¯ll try to coordinate with my colleagues in Cyber to intercept and prevent


    the further spread of these photos within the country.¡±


    Chloe set her jaw tightly, and some color returned to her pale face. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ What¡¯s the situation between you and Joe?¡± Tyson asked.


    ¡°Nothing happened¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I have to say. If you reconcile with Joe, you have toe clean to him. about your


    pregnancy. You need to rify who the father is and whether you have any current involvement with


    that person. You shouldn¡¯t keep him in the dark,¡± he advised.


    Whether Joseph epted it or not was his decision. As Tyson was family, he could not bring himself to


    sit by and do nothing.


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think¡­¡± Chloe said.


    The child¡¯s father was Joseph. She had never slept with any other man in her life.


    ¡°Then what is it?¡± Tyson asked skeptically.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything that would betray Joseph,¡± Chloe rified.


    ¡°I know,¡± Tyson replied.


    ¡®You got pregnant after your separation from Joe, so it can¡¯t be considered betrayal,¡¯ Tyson thought. He


    just never expected Chloe to get pregnant so quickly.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a pause, Tyson said, ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s pretend I


    didn¡¯t ask anything. I¡¯ll keep an eye on the photos and update you on the progress.¡±


    He had done his part by giving Chloe a gentle reminder. If he continued to pry and asked more


    questions, it would only cause embarrassment.


    ¡°Thank you for everything,¡± Chloe responded with gratitude.


    After Emily selected a purse, she spent time with Chloe before leaving.


    An hourter, Joseph arrived. His gaze fell upon Chloe. She was dressed in a hoodie and pencil pants,


    her hair up in a high ponytail, exuding a youthful vigor. In contrast, he was always d in formal attire,


    a monotonous palette of ck and gray that emanated a sense of oppression. Involuntarily, he recalled


    the conversation between the two nurses from earlier. His brows furrowed, and he felt a slight


    difort in his chest.


    ¡°Why are you here so early?¡± Chloe suppressed her feelings of unease and forced a smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to take the wedding photos,¡± he replied.


    She froze. ¡°You¡¯ve booked an appointment?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can go now,¡± Joseph said as he scrutinized her from head to toe. ¡°Have youpleted your


    medical checkup?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Fit as a fiddle. There¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± she replied.


    Joseph fixed his gaze on her, leaning in closer as hisrge hand caressed her cheek gently.¡± Then why


    do you look so pale?¡±


    Her expression appeared pitiful as if she had suffered some grievance.


    As she met his gaze, tears welled up in Chloe¡¯s eyes, and a lump formed in her throat. She tightly


    wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little heartbroken over


    Em taking two of my bags.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Joseph asked, his voice thick with skepticism.


    She remained silent for three seconds before nodding earnestly. ¡°Really.¡±


    ¡°Whenever you encounter any problems, tell me, and I¡¯ll help you solve them. You don¡¯t have to face


    them alone,¡± Joseph said. He had noticed her unusual behavior by now, and his voice softened


    considerably. ¡°Don¡¯t make me worry, and don¡¯t make me guess.¡±


    He could predict data presented at an international conference, but he could not fathom the twists and


    turns of a woman¡¯s mind.

 Chapter 472

    Chapter 472


    Chapter 472 I Know


    Chloe¡¯s gaze lowered, torn between the desire to confide in Joseph and the fear of his potential anger.


    She knew from past experiences that even innocent encounters with Icarus would infuriate him. Now,


    with those distasteful photos circting online, the thought of his


    reaction terrified her, and she could not bear to imagine it.


    Nevertheless, she summoned a delicate smile and assured him, ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. Let¡¯s just go ahead as


    nned.¡±


    He looked at her seriously and said in a deep voice, ¡°All right then.¡±


    sping her hand with his, they strolled toward the parking area. As their fingers intertwined, he could


    not help but notice how small and cold her hand feltpared to his. A frown appeared on his face as


    he tightened his grip, allowing aforting warmth to flow from his palm to hers, gradually thawing her


    icy fingers.


    Joseph had made an appointment at the most prestigious bridal store in Aesper. The store manager


    was aware of their visit and had rescheduled all other appointments. The whole staff


    team of the store was at their service.


    He had already bought Chloe a wedding gown from Estre. The gown was a vision of sparkling white,


    adorned with countless diamonds that shimmered like stars. It featured an off-the- shoulder neckline


    that showcased her delicate corbones. The gown¡¯s elegance and simplicity radiated an aura of


    grandeur and sanctity, perfectly befitting the momentous asion that


    awaited them.


    The custom-made dress fit her perfectly, and as a gentle breeze wafted in, the gown¡¯s hem billowed


    gracefully, leaving Joseph entranced by the sight. An indescribable feeling welled up inside of him


    seeing his beloved woman donning the wedding gown right before his eyes. It felt as if he was


    proiming to the whole world that she belonged to him.


    His eyes shimmered, and he said softly, ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡±


    Chloe loved the gown too and yfully blinked at him. ¡°You have good taste.¡±


    When it was close to 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, they hadpleted one set of photographs. The store


    manager asked, ¡°If we go to the beach now and get some shots under the night sky, it¡¯d look incredibly


    beautiful. Would you like to give it a try?¡±


    Chloe shook her head and declined, ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    She could not bear the thought of taking such a beautiful gown to the beach and possibly getting it wet.


    The mere idea pained her heart.


    The manager sighed, ¡°You and Mr. Joseph make such a perfect couple. We haven¡¯t photographed


    such a stunning pair in a long time.¡±


    Chloe blushed at the praise, her gaze turning to the dignified man beside her and her heart


    elerating into a gallop. She had always known that Joseph was handsome. Otherwise, she would


    not have noticed him at the bar with just one nce. She had evenpletely overlooked exceptional


    individuals like Icarus.


    One could only imagine how extraordinary Joseph¡¯s looks were.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok. If she doesn¡¯t want that, we¡¯re not taking it.¡± Joseph declined the manager¡¯s offer, taking out his


    vibrating phone and stepping aside to answer it.


    Seeing this, the manager did not insist, understanding that it was best not to force the matter. However,


    just the fact that Joseph brought his wife here for their bridal shoot would be enough to earn him some


    boasting rights among his peers.


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s something I need to discuss with you,¡± Lucas said on the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Make it snappy,¡± Joseph replied curtly.


    Seeing Joseph on the phone, Chloe decided to head to the fitting room to change. When she came out


    of the fitting room, he was still standing in the same spot. She walked up to him and held his arm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said.


    Joseph nced at her, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. ¡°I know,¡± he said.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Know what?¡± she asked.


    ¡°The thing that you¡¯ve been hiding from me.¡±


    ¡°How did you find out?¡± Her face froze. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. I just didn¡¯t know how to


    exin it and was afraid you wouldn¡¯t believe me¡­¡±

 Chapter 473

    Chapter 473


    Chapter 473 Way to Go, Brother


    Joseph firmly grasped her shoulders as he raised his eyebrows. ¡°What nonsense are your talking


    about? Why would I doubt you when it was just a baseless im?¡±


    Chloe was stunned, thrown off by his reaction.


    Joseph continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already instructed for those articles to be taken down.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what you¡¯re talking about¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he replied, his face growing stern. ¡°Wait¡­ Is there something else. you haven¡¯t told me?¡±


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°No, no!¡±


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. He sensed that she was hiding something, yet she kept her lips sealed. It


    seemed like he had pampered her too muchtely, and she had started lying again. He was infuriated,


    but he refrained from pressing further for the time being. He knew there would be time to address this


    later, perhaps after dinner.


    They had agreed that while spending time together, they would visit the family home and have meals


    with Harold. As they passed by a mall, Chloe remembered Harold mentioning at newly released


    traditional pastry from a certain store, and he seemed to like it a lot.


    Parking the car by the roadside, they entered the mall to make the purchase. The pastry was quite


    popr, and there was a queue. Joseph looked toward the nearby supermarket and said, Stay in the


    line. I¡¯m going to grab something.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chloe replied.


    After she had procured the pastries, he still had not returned. Curious, she went to the supermarket in


    search of him. There, she saw him choose something from the shelves and then approached the


    counter to pay for a box of L-sized condoms. The cashier looked


    up, wearing a look that seemed to say ¡°Way to go, brother.¡±


    Chloe felt a mix of embarrassment, wanting to find a hole to hide in. ¡®How could he purchase such a


    thing without any hint of embarrassment?! And we don¡¯t even need it right now!¡¯


    After the cashierpleted the transaction, he handed the condoms to Joseph and teasingly


    remarked, ¡°Your wife is one lucky gal.¡±


    Chloe expected Joseph to ignore the cashier¡¯sment, but much to her surprise, he responded, ¡°She


    is.¡±


    She could not stand it anymore and dragged him toward the exit. ¡°Why did you buy this?¡±


    ¡°To use it.¡±


    ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t touch me!¡±


    Looking down at her, Joseph¡¯s jaw tensed as he retorted, ¡°We¡¯ve taken our wedding photos, and we¡¯re


    about to remarry. Why can¡¯t I touch you?¡±


    ¡°But you made a promise!¡± Chloe replied, her frustration evident.


    ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind.¡±


    ¡°No! You can¡¯t just change your mind like that!¡±


    ¡°Then tell me what you¡¯re hiding from me,¡± Joseph said, his eyes narrowing with a hint of


    threat. ¡°Otherwise, I won¡¯t hesitate to use every single condom in this box tonight.¡±


    Feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment, Chloe shot back, ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I¡¯ll regret it?¡±


    It looked like the matter was serious.


    Joseph firmly gripped her waist and gave it a slight squeeze. ¡°Chloe, my patience has its limits.


    She winced from the pinch, feeling both pained and ticklish. Unable to bear it, she swatted his hands


    away, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the house and have dinner. We shouldn¡¯t keep Grandpa waiting.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but after dinner, you better tell me the truth, or you¡¯ll regret it,¡± he warned.


    Her cheeks blushed, and she feigned nonchnce as she said, ¡°Are you just teasing me?¡±


    Joseph smirked yfully. ¡°Teasing? You could say that. But if you don¡¯t tell me the truthter, you might


    find it difficult to get out of bed the next day.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face turned red. ¡®I might have trouble getting out of bed for a few days, but your kid might need


    to say goodbye to this world before they¡¯re even born.¡¯


    The day before, they were physically and mentally exhausted when they got to the family home, so


    they spent most of their time sleeping except for mealtime. As a result, Harold did not get a chance to


    chat with Chloe. Upon seeing her today, he greeted her with a big smile.¡± Oh my, who do we have


    here? Whose granddaughter-inw is this? You¡¯re so stunning!¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mood instantly eased, and she sat down beside him, yfully mirroring his tone. ¡± Yours, of


    course.¡±


    Harold¡¯s smile did not fade as he sighed in relief. ¡°I¡¯m happy that you two have finally reconciled. Just


    let bygones be bygones.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 474

    Chapter 474


    Chapter 474 Seeing the Photos


    Chloe froze for a moment and then hastily changed the subject. ¡°Grandpa, I bought you your favorite


    pastry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, my sweet. That brat has never bothered to get me anything,¡± Harold said.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never gotten you pastries. I merely took care of the mess in the Whitman Group that was


    worth over 100 thousand dors,¡± Joseph remarked casually as he descended the stairs.


    He had changed into his home outfit.


    ¡°Taking care of me and doing business are twopletely different things. Don¡¯t get them mixed up,¡±


    Harold retorted.


    ¡°All right then, from now on, I¡¯ll stop taking care of the Whitman Group¡¯s affairs and will focus solely on


    buying pastries for you,¡± Joseph replied. He was dressed in a navy blue silk pajama that softened his


    edges, making him more approachable.


    ¡°Shut it. Don¡¯t go saying things that¡¯ll upset me.¡±


    Chloe patted Harold¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Everyone has their expertise. Jojo¡¯s intelligent and a natural


    leader in the business world. Asking him to buy pastries is a waste of his talents. As for me, I enjoy


    shopping and buying things, so leave this task to me.¡±


    ¡°Listen to how well Chloe speaks. Yet you. You¡¯re always jabbing at people like a wasp. No one will like


    you if you don¡¯t change your attitude,¡± he praised Chloe, while simultaneously admonishing Joseph.


    Ignoring him, Joseph served a bowl of soup to Chloe and said, ¡°Eat up. It¡¯s good for your health.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± She took small sips of the soup, but halfway through, her face scrunched up and she tightly


    closed her mouth, trying to suppress the urge


    to throw up.


    ¡°Grandpa, go ahead and eat. I need to go to the restroom,¡± she said.


    Harold watched her leave and sternly admonished Joseph, ¡°Make sure to handle things properly. If you


    need topromise, then do it. A real man knows when to yield and when to stand firm. Don¡¯t seek


    temporary satisfaction and regret it for a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Joseph responded calmly, taking the words to heart.


    ¡°When you two remarry, I¡¯ll give you your father¡¯s note,¡± Harold added.


    Joseph looked up, his gaze deep and unreadable. ¡°You can give it to me now. Chloe and I will remarry


    sooner orter.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not. I won¡¯t give it to you until you two are remarried,¡± Harold asserted firmly,


    refusing to yield.


    Joseph shrugged nonchntly. Time was on his side, and all he needed was to know the


    contents of the letter.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Observing the scene from the sidelines, Patrick could not help but sigh emotionally. Chloe was truly a


    lucky star. In the past, Joseph visited Harold fewer times a year aspared to just this one month.


    Patrick hoped that such peaceful and uneventful days would stretch on


    indefinitely.


    Suddenly, a pleasant piece of instrumental music began to y, causing Joseph to stop his action. He


    turned his head and looked at Chloe¡¯s phone on the table.


    Craning his neck, Harold asked curiously, ¡°Huh? Why¡¯s Tyson calling Chloe?¡±


    Joseph frowned. ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°Then answer it.¡±


    Joseph looked briefly toward the restroom, then used a slender finger to swipe the screen of Chloe¡¯s


    phone to answer the call.


    ¡°We¡¯re lucky that you told me about it early. We intercepted some photos that were posted online from


    within the country. We traced the IP address, and we¡¯re on our way to apprehend that


    person now.¡±


    Tyson¡¯s voice came through, and there was noise in the background, faintly apanied by the


    sounds of traffic.


    Joseph did not put it on speaker, and Harold looked at him eagerly, ¡°What¡¯s Tyson saying?¡±


    Upon hearing the unexpected voice, Tyson fell silent for a few seconds before cautiously asking, ¡°Are


    you at the family home?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s in the restroom.¡±


    Tyson¡¯s voice trembled slightly. ¡°Joe?¡±


    Cutting to the chase, Joseph asked, ¡°What photos are you talking about?¡±


    Despite being the detective here, Tyson felt like he was being interrogated at that moment.


    ¡°Chloe didn¡¯t tell you, so I can¡¯t tell you either. It¡¯s rted to another individual¡¯s privacy. You know the


    law. Don¡¯t put me in a difficult position.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze turned cold, and his tone hardened. ¡°I¡¯m her husband. I have the right to know.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me¡­¡¯


    ¡°Okay, then. I guess I¡¯ll just have to drop by the station for a chat.¡± Feeling a headacheing on,


    Tyson sighed, ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll tell you.¡±

 Chapter 475

    Chapter 475


    Chapter 475 He Didn¡¯t Want Others to See the Photos


    After enduring a bout of nausea in the restroom, Chloe felt a bit better and decided to step out. But as


    she pushed open the door, Joseph was standing right outside, his eyes dark and swarming with a


    myriad of emotions.


    ¡°I saw the photos,¡± he said.


    Chloe stood there in a daze, and then she saw Joseph holding her phone tightly in his hand.


    ¡°I can exin. It¡¯s not what you think. Icarus and I are not-¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve disappointed me greatly,¡± Joseph interrupted her, ¡°I asked you many times today, giving you


    plenty of opportunities to tell me, yet you didn¡¯t say a word.¡±


    ¡®Am I truly that undeserving of her trust? Does she really prefer to carry this burden alone or seek


    Tyson¡¯s help rather than turning to me?¡¯


    ¡±


    As she heard his words, her heart tightened in her throat. Believing he was angry, she said, Please


    believe me. Nothing happened between Icarus and me that day. They forced me to take off my clothes.


    If you don¡¯t believe me, I can call Icarus right now to prove it.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Joseph gritted his teeth, cutting her off.


    Like


    any other man, he too felt furious upon seeing such photos. The irony was that the overwhelming rush


    of anxiety and fear overshadowed his anger. He dreaded the thought of those indecent photos falling


    into someone else¡¯s hands. It would cause irreparable harm to her and leave asting shadow on her


    life. Yet, she persisted in exining herself, afraid he would not trust her.


    Seeing her like this left a bitter feeling in Joseph¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Joseph¡­¡± Chloe softly called his name, unsure of what to say.


    ¡°Go to the room,¡± Josephmanded, taking a deep breath to calm himself.


    She took a step back and said, ¡°Can¡¯t we talk about this here?¡±


    The veins on his forehead pulsated. He firmly grasped her hand, leading her upstairs despite her


    resistance.


    ¡°Stay here. Don¡¯t go anywhere, and wait for me. I¡¯lle back and settle this with youter,¡± he


    instructed before storming off, mming the door shut behind him.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Chloe tried to open the door, only to find it locked. She looked around the empty room, her heart filled


    with sadness and a sense of grievance spreading within her. Why would he not believe her? Why did


    he not give her a chance to exin? She could have called Icarus and everything would be as clear as


    day.


    That night, she slept dreadfully, drifting between dreams and wakefulness.


    In the morning, Patrick brought breakfast to her room. She tried to leave, but he stopped her.¡± Miss, Mr.


    Joseph instructed that we are to wait for him to return before letting you out.¡±


    ¡°Where did he go?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but rest assured, miss. Whatever the issue may be, Mr. Joseph will take care of it,


    ¡°Patrickforted in a kind tone.


    ¡°Patrick, you don¡¯t understand,¡± Chloe said, a bitter smile dawning on her face.


    Joseph had zero tolerance when it came to such matters, and for him to trust her was a luxury in itself.


    It was true that Patrick did not fullyprehend the situation, but he could see that Joseph treated


    Chloe well. After what they had gone through, he hoped that they would not argue again this time.


    As Patrick prohibited her from leaving, Chloe could only stay in the room. Her phone was taken away


    as well. Worried that she would get bored, Patrick thoughtfully brought some books for her to pass the


    time.


    As the hours flew by and evening descended, there was still no sign of Joseph¡¯s return. Growing


    impatient, Chloe pounded on the door, yearning to be free.


    ¡°Miss, please be patient. Mr. Joseph is on his way back.¡±

 Chapter 476

    Chapter 476


    Chapter 476 Time to Help Dumbo Get Her Revenge


    Chloe¡¯s hand froze in mid-air, and after a brief pause, she slowly lowered it.


    ¡°How long do I have to wait?¡±


    ¡°About an hour.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    She let out a long sigh and walked to the window, opening it to take in the view of the backyard. Toto


    had been brought home, and at that moment, Toto was joyfully ying with Oreo.


    Suddenly, a thought struck Chloe. Since the time Xavia sent Oreo here, she had never bothered to visit


    or show any concern for the dog. The few times she came here were just to cause her trouble. This


    behavior led Chloe to suspect that even sending Oreo was part of Xavia¡¯s calcted scheme.


    On the highway from Cloude to Aesper.


    Sitting in a van, Vanya spoke respectfully as she reported to the person on the other end. Ten minutes


    later, she ended the call. The driver peered at the license te of the car in front of them and asked,


    ¡°Hey Van, up ahead. Doesn¡¯t this car belong to the guy who ruined Xavia¡¯s n?¡±


    Vanya leaned forward, trying to see inside the car, but Gabriel¡¯s tinted windows prevented her from


    doing so. She scrutinized the license te a few times and said in a peculiar tone, ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s


    Gabriel¡¯s car.¡±


    If it were not for him, Xavia might have taken Joseph down already, and they would not need to put in


    so much effort now.


    ¡°Should we teach him a lesson?¡±


    ¡°Can our vehicle handle it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been modified to be crash-resistant.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it after we get off the highway.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    Gabriel noticed that there was a van following them. He felt a bit suspicious, so he deliberately slowed


    down his speed, and the van did the same. A sense of unease crept over him, and he decided to turn


    off at a smaller road on the right. As expected, the van followed suit.


    He turned to Joseph and said, ¡°Someone¡¯s following us. What should we do?¡±


    Joseph opened his eyes and looked behind. His gaze fell on Vanya-the fox mask she wore proving to


    be particrly eye-catching. ¡°I¡¯ll take the wheel. Switch seats,¡± hemanded.


    Gabriel surveyed the surroundings, confirming the absence of surveince cameras. He thenplied


    with Joseph¡¯s order and moved to the passenger seat.


    ¡°Who are they? Do you know them?¡± Gabriel asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re from the Duskfall,¡± Joseph replied.


    Hearing this, Gabriel broke out into a cold sweat. ¡°Damn, they work fast!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unrted to today¡¯s incident.¡±


    From the moment the photos were leaked and reported to the cyber police to the


    apprehension of the culprit, only half a day had passed. Duskfall probably was not aware of it


    yet.


    ¡°So it¡¯s just a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°Most likely.¡±


    ¡°What do we do now? It seems like they want to attack us.


    ¡°Hold on to your seat,¡± Joseph said.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°In my opinion, those who strike first win.¡±


    ??


    It was high time to teach these people a lesson for trying to harm his dumbo.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, sharply turning the steering wheel as he stepped on the elerator, turning


    the car around. The two vehicles faced each other head-on, and he floored the elerator, charging


    straight at the van.


    Crash!


    The front of the van crumpled upon impact, and the entire vehicle was forced back several meters,


    teetering on the brink ofplete wreckage. The upants inside the van suffered no less.


    Caught in the overwhelming inertia, Vanya¡¯s body lurched forward, her forehead mming hard against


    the front seat. Her mask amplified the damage, and a trickle of red liquid streamed down her hairline.


    Fuming with anger, she tore off the mask and hurled it toward the driver, shouting, ¡°You useless fuck! Is


    this what you call crash-resistant?!¡±


    This was supposed to be able to withstand collisions with others? Ridiculous!


    The driver was too preupied to apologize. Wearing an astonished expression, he pointed toward the


    people in the other car with a trembling finger and said, ¡°Van¡­ It¡¯s not just


    Gabriel. Joseph¡¯s in the car too.

 Chapter 477

    Chapter 477


    Chapter 477 Have You Realized Your Mistake?


    Vanya was instantly petrified, unable to believe her eyes.


    ¡®Gabriel is with Joseph? This isn¡¯t good.¡¯


    Despite the chance to deal with Gabriel, Vanya knew she could not afford to confront Joseph at this


    moment. S had warned her that Joseph had initiated an investigation into their activities, making it a


    difficult time for any direct confrontation.


    Gritting her teeth, she ordered, ¡°Retreat!¡±


    Without dy, the subordinate stepped on it, the vehicle barely holding together after the collision.


    Inside, Vanya felt the lingering effects of the impact. Her head throbbed, and she was ovee by


    dizziness and nausea.


    Unable to contain her frustration, she growled, ¡°Stop these damn modifications!¡±


    Their van had already been professionally modified forfort and space, even though its outward


    appearance looked ordinary and aged. Yet, this fool had gone and modified it further, wasting all the


    good setups.


    Gabriel watched the departing van andmented, ¡°They just left like that? I hate to admit it, but their


    van is surprisingly fast.¡±


    ¡°We merely encountered each other by chance,¡± Joseph said, his voice deep and his face stern.


    ¡°Besides, it wouldn¡¯t be wise to get out of the car.¡±


    That masked woman was no easy opponent. If she was carrying a dagger or knife on her, acting


    impulsively would prove perilous. Moreover, they had already demonstrated their strength, making it


    clear that underestimating them was unwise, and for the time being, it should suffice.


    Joseph decided to bide his time, umting enough power before finally settling the score with them.


    Gabriel understood the underlying meaning of Joseph¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. I got a glimpse


    of that masked woman¡¯s face. Tsk, her looks truly match her merciless nature. She¡¯s a real femme


    fatale.¡±


    Last month, Gabriel had lost a lucrative deal to Briake from Cloude and vented his frustrations to


    Joseph. Sensing something amiss, Joseph dug deeper and discovered that Briake was being


    manipted by Duskfall.


    Gabriel had nned to confront the CEO of Briake today, but fortunately, Joseph had stopped him


    before that. Otherwise, who knows what insane things those people might have done?


    After Joseph returned to the Whitman family home, he instructed Patrick to prepare a guest room for


    Gabriel before striding into his own room.


    Chloe was seated in a bean bag by the window. Upon hearing the door open, she turned her head to


    meet his gaze. They looked at each other, but neither of them spoke.


    With furrowed brows and a deep voice, Joseph broke the silence, ¡°Have you realized your mistake?¡±


    Chloe tilted her head slightly and replied, ¡°I wanted to exin to you, but instead of listening, you


    locked me in this room all day. I haven¡¯t done anything wrong.


    Just as Joseph was about to explode in anger, she continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to hide it from you, but it¡¯s


    distressing to be caught in suchpromising photos.¡±


    Though her tone sounded somewhat sharp, beneath ity an undertone of grievance, apanied by


    a barely noticeable catch in her voice.


    Joseph¡¯s heart instantly softened. He approached and stood before her, but she avoided his gaze,


    keeping her eyes downcast. Her lowered eyelids and curledshes veiled the emotions in her eyes


    from his sight, but the pout of her rosy lips betrayed her anger.


    Even though she was throwing a tantrum, she exuded a captivating and endearing aura that quelled


    Joseph¡¯s anger and stirred a desire within him to embrace her.


    Reaching out, Joseph gently pinched her soft cheek, relishing in the delightful touch. ¡°You seem to


    have gained some weight recently,¡± he remarked.


    Confused about his intentions, Chloe remained silent.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± Josephmanded, leaning down and firmly grasping her chin to force her


    face toward him.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Without resistance, Chloe obediently turned her head to meet Joseph¡¯s gaze. It would be better to have


    a calm and rational conversation, but before she could utter a word, Joseph grasped the back of her


    neck with hisrge hand and ced his lips on hers.


    The kiss carried a mixture of dominance and punishment as if he was conquering every inch of her


    being.


    Chloe could not resist the intensity and responded with defiance.

 Chapter 478

    Chapter 478


    Chapter 478 You¡¯re Quite Daring


    Their intimate connectionsted for a long moment with them moving from the bean bag to the bed.


    Only when the atmosphere around them was fully charged with their desire did Chloe weakly push


    Joseph away.


    ¡°Where have you been all day?¡±


    ¡°I went to Cloude with Tyson. We found the guy who leaked your photos. All of them have been


    destroyed,¡± Joseph replied.


    Chloe was stunned. ¡°Who was it?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s with that masked woman, but he¡¯s just a low-rankingckey who doesn¡¯t know much.¡±


    Pressing her lips together tightly, Chloe fixed her gaze on him and asked, ¡°Why did you help me if you


    were mad at me?¡±


    ¡°Are those two things contradictory?¡± Joseph shot back.


    ¡°Then why did you lock me in?¡± she asked, her frown deepening.


    ¡°I locked you up so that you could reflect on your mistakes. When faced with a problem, why didn¡¯t you


    tell me immediately? As your husband, it¡¯s my responsibility to help you ovee any difficulties and


    protect you,¡± Joseph said with a displeased squint. ¡°You not only deceived me but also colluded with


    Tyson. You¡¯re quite daring, Chloe Johnson.¡±


    Chloe was slightly taken aback. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re angry about? Not because of the photos with


    Icarus?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Joseph threw the question back at her.


    There were few men in the world who would not be angered by the sight of their wives embracing


    another man in their underwear. At least, he was not one of them. If possible, he wanted to skin that


    masked woman alive.


    The bedroom fell into a hushed silence. Chloe looked at the man before her, feeling a warmth spread


    through her heart. She was not ungrateful. Now that she understood the cause of his anger and the


    misunderstanding was cleared, she embraced him.


    ¡°I promise I¡¯ll tell you right away if something happens next time,¡± she said.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time,¡± Joseph said through gritted teeth. One Icarus was enough to irritate him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, but I can¡¯t guarantee the masked woman won¡¯te after me again,¡± she replied. She


    could not help but wonder who exactly the masked woman was. Why was that woman alwaysing


    after her?


    Joseph furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing her words. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a new bodyguard,¡±


    he said.


    ¡°I think Abigail does a great job. Let¡¯s wait until she¡¯s discharged from the hospital,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°Fine. Until then, I¡¯ll personally pick you up from work and drop you off,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay. Do you have any impression of the woman? She can¡¯t be targeting us without any reason,¡± she


    asked.


    Joseph did not give a direct response and replied in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m not sure at the moment.


    Chloe thought it might be rted to business matters and did not press on the matter.


    The following day marked the grand opening of Fairlight and Exotic Star¡¯s jointly opened resort. Joseph


    felt that much had transpiredtely and decided it was the perfect time to take Chloe on a vacation.


    They settled on the schedule and nned to head to the resort that evening, intending to stay for two


    days and one night.


    However, at six in the evening, an issue arose with Fairlight¡¯s new project, demanding Joseph¡¯s


    immediate attention. He instructed Lucas to apany Chloe to the resort first. She agreed and


    returned home to pack for their trip.


    In the middle of her packing, Chloe received a series of urgent messages from Emily.


    [My mom¡¯s forcing me to go on a blind date!]


    [I don¡¯t want to go!]


    [How do I refuse her?!]


    [I heard the man is a teacher, and I¡¯ve been afraid of teachers since I was a kid. I don¡¯t want to relive


    my fear again!]


    [I¡¯ve tried everything, but my mom just won¡¯tpromise. Help me!]


    Chloe replied: [The best way to ovee fear is to face it head-on.]


    Emily: (You¡¯re the worst!]


    Chloe: [Bring him to the resort. I¡¯ll apany you on the blind date.]


    She was about to spend two days and one night with Joseph, essentially having at least twenty- four


    hours together. Chloe was anxious that he might discover her pregnancy. To create a cover, she invited


    Emily to join them.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    At eight in the evening, the resort bustled with activity. Its opening day was a booming


    sess.


    Lucas guided Chloe and Emily to a private room in the restaurant. The man Emily was going to meet


    was named Rob Jude, a man in his thirties. Upon noticing Emily apanied by Chloe, he politely


    handed them the menu and said, ¡°Order whatever you like. It¡¯s my treat.¡±


    Emily had not eaten yet, so she ordered some food for herself.


    ¡°Given that we¡¯re here on a blind date, let¡¯s be straightforward with each other,¡± Rob began.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the only child of my family. If we get married, you have to give me a son. Once the child is born,


    you can quit your job and stay at home to take care of the children and elders. I¡¯ll support you


    financially.¡±


    Chloe chuckled. ¡°How much is your monthly sry?¡±


    ¡°Three grand. I¡¯m a public school teacher, and there are many hidden perks thate with the job,¡±


    Rob replied, his wordsced with a sense of superiority.


    Outside the door, Lucas¡¯ mouth twitched.


    ¡°Three grand per month? Even a nanny earns more than that! And he expects to find someone who will


    bear him children, cook, take care of his parents, and, on top of it all, be hispanion in bed? Emily


    must be out of her mind to agree to a blind date with this man. He¡¯s even worse than me,¡¯ Lucas chided


    inwardly.

 Chapter 479

    Chapter 479


    Chapter 479 Lucas Did It on Purpose


    Emily held back the urge to roll her eyes and said, ¡°I have no intentions of bing a stay-at -home


    mom, even in the future, so let¡¯s not waste each other¡¯s time.¡±


    Rob smirked and consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t mind if you be an old hag. It¡¯s the inevitable


    path for women. All of you turn ugly as you age.¡±


    Offering Rob a fake smile, Chloe said, ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re being considerate?¡±


    ¡°Am I not?¡± Rob widened his mouth in surprise. ¡°Which man wouldn¡¯t like a young and pretty woman?


    But I can control myself. It¡¯s a matter of loyalty to the family.¡±


    ¡°No need for that. I make over six and a half grand a month, with additional bonuses at every month-


    end. My annual ie amounts to 78 thousand dors. I won¡¯t give up my job, and I don¡¯t need


    anyone to support me. Rob, let¡¯s end our date here.¡±


    Emily could not bear it any longer and had no desire to continue chatting with him. If it were not for her


    mother and Rob¡¯s parents knowing each other, she would have taught him how to behave properly.


    The food arrived just then, but Rob did not look too pleased. ¡°Sit down and eat. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t


    want to give up your job, but you¡¯ll have to use your sry to hire a nanny. My parents are getting old


    and can¡¯t look after the child.¡±


    ¡°And what about you? Where¡¯s your money going?¡± Emily asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to use it to support my parents,¡± Rob replied.


    ¡®Your parents?¡¯ Emily thought inwardly as she sneered, ¡°So my sry will be used to raise our child?¡±


    ¡®He expects me to bear him children with such an attitude? Dream on!¡¯


    Rob raised his chin arrogantly. ¡°I¡¯m a government employee, and after retirement, I¡¯ll receive a


    considerable pension. The entire family will rely on me.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t afford to raise a child with three grand, let alone talk about the future. Moreover, you¡¯ll


    probably only live a few more years after retirement. At that rate, my friend will have to support you for


    over forty years,¡± Chloe coolly chimed in, not bothering to hide her sarcasm.


    ¡°Emily and I are the ones on this blind date. You have no right to butt in.¡± Rob scowled at her.


    Chloe innocently turned to Emily. ¡°I¡¯ll keep quiet then.¡±


    Rob felt his pride had been insulted and his face turned pale. ¡°I¡¯ve made concessions again and again,


    but you keep pushing it. It seems you¡¯re not the kind of woman who genuinely wants to settle down.


    There¡¯s no need for us to continue this discussion.¡±


    ¡°Works perfectly fine for me. Waiter, please bring the bill,¡± Emily said. She did not want to


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    owe him anything.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a meal. I¡¯ll treat youdies,¡± Rob insisted.


    ¡°Sir, the total is 1,500 dors. How would you like to pay?¡± the waiter asked.


    Rob¡¯s face went pale. ¡°These few dishes cost over 1,500? What is this daylight robbery?!¡±


    That was half of his monthly sry!


    The waiter smiled apologetically, ¡°Sir, our prices are clearly disyed on the menu.¡±


    Rob felt that he had been deceived. ¡°Get your manager here. I want a word!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to pay. The meal is on the house.¡± Lucas walked in and gestured toward the


    restaurant entrance. ¡°Our establishment is quite spacious, and you might have trouble finding your way


    out. Let me have a server escort you.¡±


    ¡°I knew something wasn¡¯t right with your prices. I¡¯ll let it slide this time.¡± Rob did not realize the belittling


    tone in Lucas¡¯ words as he patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Your service is decent. Keep up the good


    work.¡±


    Lucas smiled, pushing away Rob¡¯s hand, ¡°It¡¯s not the pricing that¡¯s the problem. It¡¯s you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    ¡°You try to act rich when you don¡¯t have the means. But in the end, you can¡¯t pull it off because


    your wallet can¡¯t keep up,¡± Lucas said.


    Rob was exposed, and after a moment of shock, a surge of immense anger overwhelmed him. As he


    was about to erupt, Lucas called security, who promptly dragged him out.


    Emily rolled her eyes andmented, ¡°What kind of weirdo did my mom introduce me to?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Not only is he broke, but he also looks like a toad,¡± Lucas muttered under his breath.


    Chloe looked at them thoughtfully. Then she said, her tone firm, ¡°Lucas, you deliberately allowed the


    waiter to bring the bill to embarrass Rob, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Though the resort was not exclusively owned by Joseph, he was at least a major shareholder. On top


    of that, Lucas was always considerate. Whenever he was around, she never had to foot the bill.

 Chapter 480

    Chapter 480


    Chapter 480 Creating an Opportunity for Xavia and Joseph


    Lucas touched his nose. ¡°Yes, I did. You¡¯re always calling Mr. Joseph a jerk, Emily. I wanted to prove


    that he isn¡¯t.¡±


    Chloe could not quite understand. Lucas¡¯ help did not seem to affect Emily at all. Instead, he seemed to


    have helped her vent her anger.


    Joseph had not arrived. She sent him a message, but he said he needed another hour or two.


    Since they had to wait for him, Chloe and Emily decided to stroll around the other project sites.


    However, they crossed paths with Noah not long after they started off.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°This is perfect. I have something to discuss with you.¡±


    Noah had a clean and handsome face. He gave off the vibe of a gentle spring breeze, and he often


    carried a faint smile that made people feel warm andfortable.


    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡±


    Chloe exined the situation in detail, her tone earnest. ¡°That jewelry was left to me by my mother, and


    they¡¯re very important to me. I hope you¡¯ll help me find them.¡±


    Noah fell silent for a while then said in a voice that was clear and pleasant to the


    ears, ¡°We receive arge number of regr jewelry items every month, and they¡¯re all kept together.


    Besides the store¡¯s name, do you have any pictures of these specific pieces?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t, but I can draw sketches for you. I remember what they look like.¡±


    ¡°All right, draw them for me and I¡¯ll have my people look into it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Noah!¡± Chloe said earnestly, her voice rising with excitement and her eyes filling with hope


    and joy.


    Noah met her gaze but slowly averted his eyes. Unfortunately, the jewelry was destined not to be


    found, not for the moment at least. That could only be considered once she returned to the Sullivans.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be staying here for a few days, and there¡¯s a pen and paper in my room. If you have the time, you


    cane and draw the sketches for me now, and I¡¯ll see if they ring a bell.¡±


    Chloe hesitated. It was not appropriate for a man and woman to be alone together.


    As if he could read her mind, Noah said, ¡°My bodyguard will be there too.¡±


    ¡°All right then,¡± Chloe said before turning to Lucas, ¡°Can you send Em home?¡±


    Lucas nced at Noah through squinted eyes.


    Seeing Lucas¡¯ reluctance, Chloe sald, ¡°I¡¯ll tell Joseph about it. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to do


    something bad.¡±


    ¡°All right then,¡± Lucas said and took Emily away.


    Suddenly, Noah asked, ¡°Why did you sell the jewelry?¡±


    ¡°I needed money,¡± she replied truthfully.


    ¡°Society doesn¡¯t value integrity as it did in the past. Once something is sold, it¡¯s difficult to buy it back


    again.¡±


    Chloe felt regretful. ¡°I don¡¯t understand the nature of this business very much.¡± If she had known it


    would be so tricky, she would have rather shamelessly kept the 30 million from Joseph than sold the


    jewelry.


    ¡°Be more cautious next time. If you really need money, you can ask for a longer contract with Exotic


    Star,¡± Noah said with a hint of a smile, making it hard to tell whether he was serious or joking.


    Curious, Chloe asked, ¡°You¡¯re so young but are already managing such a big enterprise like Exotic


    Star. Isn¡¯t the pressure overwhelming?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s temporary, and Exotic Star isn¡¯t solely my responsibility.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°But as Mr. Desmond grows older, the burden will eventually fall on you alone.¡±


    Having run her ownpany, she deeply understood that being a boss was no easy task. To others, it


    seemed morous, but only they understood the suffering. She was confident that things would be


    even harder when it came to managing a conglomerate-level enterprise like Exotic Star.


    Noah stopped in his tracks and looked at Chloe, ¡°Apart from me, Exotic Star has another heir. We


    shoulder the responsibilities together.¡±


    Suddenly, Chloe felt a strange emotion welling up inside her. She had a feeling that he was talking


    about her.


    ¡®No, no, no. This is impossible. Such a dream is too good to be true!¡¯ Chloe shook her head, secretly


    mocking herself for overthinking things.


    The hotel of the resort had a total of ten floors and only two presidential suites. Lucas had booked one


    of them for Chloe, leaving the other for Noah. However, Octavia insisted on staying in the presidential


    suite and made a scene at the front desk.


    ¡°I am a Whitman, this resort belongs to the Whitmans, but you expect me to stay in a standard room?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. We can just stay in regr rooms,¡± Xavia intervened politely, trying to persuade Octavia.


    ¡°No, I have some friendsing in the afternoon. I can¡¯t let them witness such a joke!¡±


    Octavia insisted.


    Xavia had been with Octavia for the past few days, and upon hearing about the resort¡¯s


    opening, she naturally wanted to join the fun. Octavia did not refuse her request, as she knew that as a


    shareholder, Joseph would surelye today and she could create an opportunity for them to be


    together.


    Comparing Chloe and Xavia, Octavia felt that thetter was gentle, virtuous, and, most


    importantly, respectful toward her. Instead of waiting for Chloe to marry Joseph and annoy her, she


    would rather support someone she liked.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s not that we¡¯re unwilling to amodate you, but there really are no more presidential


    suites avable at the moment. Even the standard rooms are fully booked. Our managers had to


    vacate their own sleeping quarters to make space,¡± the front desk staff exined with a helpless


    expression and a humble tone. ¡°Alternatively, you could rest in the lounge for a while, and if any of the


    rooms be avable, I¡¯ll make sure to reserve one for you.¡±


    The resort had only one hotel, and all overnight guests would stay there. They could not possibly ask


    the other guests to leave. The front desk staffmented her bad luck for encountering such a situation


    on her first day.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me clearly? I want to stay in the presidential suite!¡± Octavia insisted, enunciating each


    word.


    ¡°But Mr. Joseph has reserved the presidential suite-¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t the only one,¡± Octavia interrupted, confidently holding onto her Herm¨¨s bag. ¡°This is my family¡¯s


    property. Do you think I¡¯m unaware of how many presidential suites there are?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying in the other suite. Are you trying to kick me out?¡± Noah¡¯s smile vanished, and his fair face


    lost its cid expression as he spoke with a hint of aggression.

 Chapter 481

    Chapter 481


    Chapter 481 Noah Feels Sorry for Chloe


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Chloe stood to the side, eager for a good show.


    Joseph imed that the resort was the joint property of both Fairlight and Exotic Star, but


    Exotic Star had a bigger stake in it. So, Octavia¡¯s statement would simply raise criticisms from Joseph.


    Octavia became tongue-tied upon seeing Noah, she did not want to be embarrassed in public either.


    She braced herself and blurted out, ¡°How are two suites enough? Why didn¡¯t you build more?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my business. If you want in, consider investing.¡±


    Octavia undoubtedly did not have the money to do this. Her face turned livid. ¡°I was just giving a


    suggestion. Young people these days don¡¯t even take advice from their elders.¡±


    ¡°Who are you to do so? I don¡¯t even know you. Why should I listen to anything you have to say?¡± Noah


    shot back, but he did not look mad. It looked like he did not know her at all.


    A lot of people came and went. Xavia felt awkward and was a little terrified of Noah, so she leaned in


    and whispered to Octavia, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait at the cafe as the receptionist suggested. Let¡¯s not cause


    trouble for Joe. We don¡¯t want people talking behind our backs.¡±


    Octavia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she shot Chloe a nasty look before heading to the cafe with


    Xvi


    When Chloe saw the mean look, she felt very aggrieved. She had remained silent the whole time. Was


    she not allowed to simply enjoy the show?


    Noah and Chloe got into the elevator. Suddenly, she noticed a strand of white hair on his head. and felt


    like touching it.


    Noah blinked. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°You have a strand of white hair.¡±


    ¡°Pull it out for me.¡± While talking, he moved closer and lowered his head.


    Joseph was swamped with work, so he did not check his phone. When he got into the car to go to the


    resort, his driver said to him, ¡°Sir, your phone rang a few times. I think someone texted you.¡±


    Joseph simply grunted in response, his eyes closed. After a few moments, he took his phone out of his


    pocket. He had two texts: one from Lucas and the other from Chloe. Both were saying the same thing-


    Chloe had gone to Noah¡¯s room to sketch designs.


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened. ¡®Noah¡¯s taking advantage of my absence to get close to her. Lucas


    eals Borry for Chios


    knows Noah is not a nice man, but he let the dumbo go anyway.¡¯


    ¡°Step on It. Get to the resort in half an hour.¡±


    The driver was torn. ¡°Sir, the journey usually takes an hour and a half.¡±


    ¡°You can either drive faster or get out and let me drive. Pick one.¡±


    The driver replied, ¡°I¡¯ll make it happen.¡± Of course, he did not want to lose his job.


    They arrived at the resort at nine, and Joseph stormed toward the presidential suite with only one goal


    in his mind.


    Bam, bam, bam!


    He banged on the door, not bothering to be polite.


    Noah slowly opened the door. He had expected to see Joseph, so he smiled faintly. ¡°Do you have to be


    in such a rush?¡±


    ¡°I could say the same about you.¡±


    Noah had been using every chance he got while Joseph was away to get close to Chloe.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. Coco was the one who came to me this time.¡±


    This infuriated Joseph. He pushed Noah aside and walked into the room. At that moment, Chloe had


    just finished her drawing. When she looked up, she was surprised to see Joseph there, causing her


    eyes to go wide. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Joseph raised his brows gloomily. ¡°Am I disturbing you? Didn¡¯t want me toe or something?¡±


    Chloe was taken aback for a moment. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? I was just asking.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Joseph was not going to take no for an answer, and he was not going to be nice


    about it either.


    Chloe frowned, recalling that he had some prejudice against Noah, so she tried to understand his


    behavior. She suppressed her emotions and said, ¡°Wait. Let me give the drawing to Noah.¡±


    ¡°Just leave it here. He can look at it himself.¡±


    But that was not the way to ask for a favor.


    When she insisted on it, Joseph could not tell if it was anger or jealousy, or both, that made his face


    even gloomier. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, trying to drag her out of the room.


    His grip hurt Chloe.


    Seeing her in pain, Noah felt sorry for her. ¡°Mr. Joseph, you should be gentler with women.


    ¡°Feeling sorry for her?¡± Joseph¡¯s face was impassive, but he radiated cold anger.


    That question brought a drastic change to Chloe¡¯s face. She gritted her teeth and said in a low voice,


    ¡°Joseph, shut up!¡±


    ¡®Don¡¯t embarrass me in front of someone.¡±

 Chapter 482

    Chapter 482


    Chapter 482 Pompous Words


    Joseph ignored Chloe¡¯s words, ring daggers at Noah, the vibesing off him ominous.


    Noah, with his fair skin and calm demeanor, said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we respect and take care of women?


    They¡¯re often at a disadvantage in our society.¡±


    Joseph simply gave him a frosty look. He did not believe in such pompous words.


    Caught between a rock and a hard ce, Chloe did not know how to diffuse the situation. It was getting


    so tense that neither she nor Noah could handle it. She bit her lip and said in a soft tone, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.


    Let¡¯s go grab something to eat.¡±


    Joseph shot her a sideways nce, but his expression was cold. Luckily, he did not refuse her.


    While watching them leave, Noah¡¯s gentle and calm facade started to crack. ¡®Coco seems to be having


    a rough time. Looks like I need to move up my ns.¡¯


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Chloe and Joseph walked into the restaurant without saying a word. She had not eaten anything while


    apanying Emily on the blind date, so when the food arrived, she was so hungry that she started


    wolfing down the food.


    Joseph was so angry that he sneered while watching Chloe. ¡®The dumbo still has her appetite at


    this time.¡±


    There was a delicious te of sd on the table, and Chloe had already polished off most of it. When


    she reached for some more, Joseph purposely moved the dish closer to him. She simply picked


    another dish since she could not reach the sd.


    Joseph pressed his lips into a line. ¡°Where was the bodyguard?¡±


    Chloe was stunned. For a moment, she was stunned.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a bodyguard in the room?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but she had to step out on some business.¡±


    Josephughed coldly. ¡®What a coincidence! The bodyguard was conveniently not around when I got


    there.¡¯


    Chloe narrowed her eyes and put down her fork and knife. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying?¡±


    After a brief pause, Joseph calmed down a little. He stated, ¡°Put yourself in my shoes. I know you don¡¯t


    like Xavia, but what if I was alone with her in a room by choice? What would you think?¡±


    ¡°We weren¡¯t alone. There was a bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°But when I got there, I didn¡¯t see this so-called bodyguard.¡±


    Joseph was sure that Noah had deliberately sent away the bodyguard to stir the pot. And the dumbo


    and Lucas fell for it. Of course, he was pissed. If the roles were reversed, Chloe too


    would be displeased if Joseph was alone in a room with Xavia.


    But Noah and Xavia were different. Chloe and Noah were just friends, while Joseph and Xavia were


    once in love.


    ¡°What were you drawing?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°The jewelry my mother left me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Sheid it all out for him, even sounding a bit indignant. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t in a hurry to repay you, I wouldn¡¯t


    have sold my jewelry.¡±


    Joseph felt a headache. ¡°I never asked you to pay me back.¡±


    But Chloe just snorted disdainfully. ¡°I¡¯d rather pay you back than have you belittle me from time to


    time.¡±


    Joseph fell silent but he did not refute her. ¡°I wasn¡¯t very attentive in the past.¡± He never had to worry


    about money his whole life. Naturally, he was proud and arrogant.


    ¡°That¡¯s the past. Just don¡¯t embarrass me like you did today ever again.¡± Chloe stared at him. seriously.


    ¡°I¡¯m no angel, and I can¡¯t make everyone like me. Noah doesn¡¯t have feelings for me. I can tell.¡±


    She was not slow in the love affairs between people. Noah had been careful around her since they


    met. Even when she was kidnapped, he only did what he did because of the rtionship between the


    Sullivans and the Whitmans.


    Joseph calmed down while tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. Chloe had given him a wake-


    up call. He could not let Noah keep ying the good guy. He had to find a chance to show her Noah¡¯s


    true colors.

 Chapter 483

    Chapter 483


    Chapter 483 Is Looking for a Woman


    Joseph calmed down and pushed the bowl of sd back to her.


    Chloe said, ¡°I¡¯m full.¡±


    He raised his brows. ¡°Do you want to go to bed or take a walk?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s past ten. By the time we wash up, it¡¯ll be almost midnight. Let¡¯s just go to bed. That way, we can


    wake up early and do something fun tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The cobblestones on the path gleamed in the moonlight. Under the streemp, their shadows stretched


    out.


    ¡°By the way, Aunt Tavia came with Xavia. Did you know?¡± Chloe suddenly remembered and filled him


    in.


    Annoyed, Joseph knitted his brows. ¡°I¡¯ll make them leave now.¡±


    But Chloe was not up for a confrontation. ¡°Isn¡¯t it toote now? Let¡¯s deal with it tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Fine, tomorrow it is.¡± He did not want to spoil his mood either.


    They walked a bit more and entered the hotel.


    Xavia emerged from a corner of the cobblestone path behind them. Her charming face twisted with


    spite as she clenched her fists. She had thought Chloe was kind, but turned out she was a hypocrite,


    comining about her and trying to influence Joseph.


    After standing there lost in thought for a while, Xavia felt she might be driven away the next day. She


    could not stop such an incident, and at the moment, Octavia had no power to resist Joseph. As her


    gaze darted around, an idea suddenly sparked in her mind. Octavia once mentioned that Harold


    usually went out and met his friends every Friday.


    She called Vanya and told thetter her n. She had ways to approach Joseph, and she was going to


    make the Whitmans respect her with this n. She assumed Vanya would ask permission from S, but


    surprisingly, she agreed to it right away.


    Xavia was confused. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to ask for permission?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Vanya replied, ¡°No, Harold¡¯s been keeping you out of the Whitman family. We might as well get rid of


    him. He just causes problems.¡±


    Xavia asked fiercely, ¡°You think so too?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hm, but we need to n this well. It won¡¯t be simple.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m free the day after tomorrow. Let¡¯s meet up and discuss the details.¡±


    ¡°No, that day won¡¯t do. I¡¯ve got a lead on something. I need to track down that person. How about three


    days from now?¡±


    ¡°Are you still looking for that woman?¡±


    Vanya replied yes, then added, ¡°We both have a long-term mission.¡±


    Xavia furrowed her brows. ¡°Who is that woman? Why is S so persistent?¡±


    Vanya was one of S¡¯s most capable subordinates. She was helping Xavia be part of the


    Whitmans, and she was all set to give Xavia whatever support she needed. It was clear that S was


    dead set on gaining control over the Whitmans, but no one knew what kind of grudge S bore them.


    The only thing they knew was that S was after a woman, and this woman had some ties to the


    Whitmans.


    Vanya simply said, ¡°Don¡¯t go asking questions that you shouldn¡¯t.¡±


    The next morning, Lucas asked Octavia to leave on Joseph¡¯s orders. As a result, Octavia flew into a


    rage and insisted on talking to Harold about it.


    When Joseph heard this, he said, ¡°Let her do it.¡±


    Harold was not someone to be trifled with. If Octavia wanted to bring trouble upon herself,


    Joseph was not going to stand in her way.


    At noon, they were enjoying lunch outdoors. It was a gorgeous day, and the cool breeze was


    refreshing.


    Emily took the shell off arge prawn and stuffed it into her mouth, slowly savoring its juiciness and


    freshness. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chloe shelling a prawn too. She raised her brows and


    started scolding Joseph. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re out with your girlfriend. Can¡¯t you do something nice for her? Every


    guy I know shells prawns for their girlfriends.¡±


    Hearing that, trepidation engulfed Lucas. He shot her a look and asked her not to speak nonsense.


    While putting on a pair of disposable gloves, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Chloe looked at Joseph, who was sitting there with his arms crossed, his strong features and sharp


    eyebrows entuating his masculine charm. He was still wearing the same white shirt from yesterday,


    and at that moment, the sun was hitting him just right, giving off a glimpse of his toned body.


    Meanwhile, a group of women at the next table were blushing and whispering, debating whether to ask


    for his number.

 Chapter 484

    Chapter 484


    Chapter 484 Harold Got Into an ident


    Chloe shook her head. ¡°Forget it. I can do it on my own.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s smoldering looks were certainly distracting. It just went to show, if one has great charms,


    these small issues could be ignored.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    After a brief pause, Joseph rolled up his sleeves and sat beside Lucas. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Lucas and Chloe were floored. They watched the usually refined man tackle a mundane task, yet, it felt


    oddly normal. This was Joseph¡¯s first time shelling prawns for someone else, but he was quick and


    nimble. The first prawn he shelled was a bit of a mess, but the second one looked much better. By the


    third, the prawn was peeled perfectly-practically a work of art.


    Emily was impressed that he took her advice to heart, so her opinion of him shot up. ¡®He clearly cares


    about Coco.¡¯


    Meanwhile, Chloe stared at the prawns on her te before she yfully took out some cash.¡± Here¡¯s a


    tip for you.¡±


    Joseph raised his brows in mock surprise as he epted it. ¡°Thank you, mydy, but that¡¯s kind of low.


    I charge 150 per prawn.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Why not just rob a bank while you¡¯re at it?¡±


    ¡°All the money in the bank is mine.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. Life sure was sweet for the filthy rich.


    ¡°Um, hello? I¡¯d like to hire you to shell prawns for me too. What¡¯s your rate?¡± A woman from the next


    table walked over and gave Joseph a shy nce, clearly having misunderstood them.


    Lucas jumped in. ¡°Sorry, we don¡¯t offer such services.¡±


    The woman blushed even more. ¡°I was hoping for other types of services.¡±


    Joseph was dumbfounded. Did he look like the kind of man who provided¡­those kinds of services?


    Chloe could not hold back herughter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but he¡¯s taken.¡±


    The woman¡¯s expression changed before she looked Chloe up and down. Chloe was pretty and young.


    The woman could not tell the brand of Chloe¡¯s clothes, but she had an undeniable presence. She must


    be filthy rich if she had this seductive man all to herself.


    Defeated, the woman left.


    Emily wasughing so hard she was crying.


    Lucas, affected by herughter, wanted tough as well, but he was not bold enough to do so.


    Trying to suppress hisughter, he turned red in the face and neck.


    Chloe casually fed Joseph a prawn before whispering, ¡°Did you notice that Lucas and Emily seem to be


    getting along pretty well?¡±


    They must have been seeing each other behind Joseph and Chloe¡¯s backs.


    Joseph watched them. His eyes flickered slightly, then nodded quietly. He never meddled in his


    employees¡¯ personal lives.


    The group chatted andughed,pletely absorbed in the lively and happy atmosphere.


    From a distance, Noah looked on. He looked gentle and friendly, but his smile did not reach his eyes.


    His driver asked, ¡°Sir, aren¡¯t you going to join them?¡±


    ¡°No, they don¡¯t want me there. Coco won¡¯t be able to enjoy her meal if I¡¯m around.¡±


    The driver was taken aback. Looking at Noah¡¯s slim, solitary figure, he felt an inexplicable pang of


    loneliness.


    ¡°Come. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Noah turned around and left, walking alone through the lively area. Everyone else was on a date or


    hanging out with friends, which made his solitude even more apparent.


    When they were nearly done with their meal, Lucas started packing their things. They were getting


    ready for a soak in the hot springs. Back in their room to change, Joseph got a call from Patrick,


    informing him that a metal bucket had fallen on top of Harold from up high.


    Joseph¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    Chloe overheard the call, and her heart skipped a beat. Harold was no spring chicken, so even a minor


    injury could be serious. Although she had only known Harold for a year, she had long regarded him as


    family.


    She panicked and prayed that he was okay.


    Aesper. A hospital in the heart of the city.


    ¡°Grandpa, Patrick said a bucket¡­¡±


    When Chloe saw Harold safe and sound in front of her, she sounded hesitant.


    Harold looked solemn. He frowned and exined, ¡°That bucket would have hit me, but Xavia stepped


    in and took the hit instead.¡±

 Chapter 485

    Chapter 485


    Chapter 485 A Staged ident


    Chloe felt a little tense. She nced sideways at Joseph.


    Joseph frowned deeply. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s getting an X-ray. The bucket hit her arm.¡±


    ¡°Was the bucket dropped on purpose or merely an ident?¡±


    Patrick came over to exin. ¡°We first thought it was an ident since no one was around.


    But after checking the nearby security footage and questioning a few witnesses, we found a suspicious


    worker. It could¡¯ve been staged.¡±


    Something heavy weighed on Chloe. She wished it was just an ident.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Did you locate the worker?¡±


    J


    ¡°We have people out looking for them.¡±


    Following that, Xavia was wheeled out by a doctor, arge bruise on her arm.


    ¡°She got lucky. The force was spread out, so no broken bones. She just needs an ice pack.¡±


    Xavia looked rather pitiful in her long white dress. With her pale and gentle face, she was the picture of


    vulnerable beauty.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes turned dull, and she looked down to hide her emotions.


    Joseph went straight to the point. ¡°Why were you on Peace Street?¡±


    Xavia appearedposed, but there was a note of defensiveness in her voice. ¡°After Lucas informed


    Mrs. Octavia and me to leave, we went our separate ways. I went to Peace Street because of the


    music concert there.¡± She took out a concert ticket from her bag, throwing Joseph a look filled with


    me and resentment. It was as if they were a couple having an argument, with the woman ming


    the man.


    Chloe felt like a third wheel. Xavia did not say much, but the atmosphere was making her brood.


    Joseph gave the ticket a cursory nce before he said in a business-like manner, ¡°Rest well. My family


    will cover your medical bills.¡±


    Xavia was struck dumb. ¡°But I-¡±


    ¡°Lucas.¡± Joseph cut her off.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Help Patrick track down that worker.¡±


    ¡°On it.¡±


    Xavia¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°I was there, and I didn¡¯t see anyone nearby. It was just an ident. And


    Grandpa¡¯s fine. There¡¯s no need to go through all this trouble.¡±


    Somberness appeared in Joseph¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in coincidences, especially when they involve


    metal buckets falling on Grandpa.¡±


    Harold pped and echoed Joseph¡¯s words solemnly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll live long and prosper.


    Someone must¡¯ve been trying to hurt me.¡±


    Chloe blinked, knowing that she could not stay silent. She said to Xavia kindly, ¡°You saved Grandpa.


    My family will keep that in mind. You¡¯re injured, so I¡¯ll hire you a caregiver.¡±


    Xavia took a moment before she thanked Chloe.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    ¡°My thoughtful granddaughter-inw is right. Let¡¯s get you a caregiver.¡± Harold was not as strict toward


    Xavia as before, but his tone was not much better either.


    Xavia gritted her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since Ist saw Oreo. Can I visit Oreo today?¡±


    Chloe cracked a mocking sneer. ¡®So this is what she¡¯s been waiting for.¡¯


    Xavia just risked her life and did the Whitmans such a great favor. After what she did, it would be pretty


    harsh to deny her this. Plus, Oreo was her dog.


    Sure enough, Harold did not reject her but looked at Joseph.


    After brief silent contemtion, he said, ¡°Your arm is hurt. Let¡¯s take a rain check.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. The doctor said it isn¡¯t serious. Besides, I can always use my other arm to y with Oreo.¡±


    Chloe suppressed her feelings. ¡°If you want to visit, juste.¡±


    At the Whitman family home.


    This was Xavia¡¯s second visit. She stood tall, walking next to Joseph, and subtly edged Chloe out until


    Chloe was forced to fall behind them. And so, Xavia and Joseph stepped into the living room at the


    same time.

 Chapter 486

    Chapter 486


    Chapter 486 Even Without the Whitmans, Joseph Is Still Joseph


    Joseph paused, a nagging feeling making him turn around. He gestured for Chloe to join him, saying,


    ¡°Come.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes shimmered like starlight as she eagerly took a few quick steps, reaching out for Joseph¡¯s


    hand. With him stopping and waiting for her, Xavia found herself walking in alone. Unfamiliar with the


    ce, she was unsure which door led to the garden.


    She tried to hide her embarrassment, casually asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Oreo? Can you show me the way,


    Joe?¡±


    Before anyone could respond, Lucas stepped forward and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    Xavia mustered a smile and maintained her friendly demeanor. ¡°All right. Sorry for troubling you.¡±


    Lucas noticed the strange look in her eyes. He understood Xavia¡¯s friendliness was only for show,


    mostly because Joseph was there. It would likely fade when thetter was not around.


    Just as Xavia left, Patrick returned with news.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found the worker, and he¡¯s in the next room right now,¡± he reported, pausing briefly before adding,


    ¡°I noticed Madam Octavia¡¯s car arriving too.¡±


    Annoyed, Joseph responded, ¡°Wait until she¡¯s gone before bringing the worker in.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you have to stand up for me!¡± Octavia¡¯s voice resonated through the room even before she


    entered. She stretched her words out, feigning a crying tone. Anyone who did not know any better


    would have thought something terrible had happened.


    Harold rubbed his ear, mirroring his grandson¡¯s annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m still alive. No need to mourn yet.¡±


    As Octavia rushed into the room and spotted Joseph, her body tensed and her cries grew even louder.


    ¡°The resort just opened for business and I went to show my support, but they didn¡¯t reserve the suite


    for me and even kicked me out. Is this how we treat family?¡±


    She added, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t take your frustrations out on me because of Jon. And stop picking on him.


    Didn¡¯t we already buy back the house? Joe didn¡¯t lose anything. Show some mercy!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s smile turned frosty, his words sharp and to the point. ¡°You say you were there to how your


    support, but firstly, you didn¡¯t pay a dime. Secondly, you caused trouble at the Iront desk, creating a


    negative impact on the resort. Andstly, I have only one wife, and that¡¯s Chloe. Why did you bring


    Xavia along?¡±


    iarold finally understood. ¡°So, you went there to take advantage of the situation.¡±


    Octavia did not like his words. ¡°Dad, how could you say that? Do I need to spend money to


    enjoy what¡¯s ours?¡±


    ¡°The resort is a joint asset between Fairlight and Exotic Star, not a Whitman property.¡± Joseph¡¯s


    expression turned cold and stern as he rified the situation. ¡°The Whitmans stand separate from


    Fairlight as independent entities. Even without the Whitmans, I can still manage.¡±


    The Whitmans held no sway over him. In recent years, Fairlight had been experiencing tremendous


    growth and sess. If there was any hindrance, it was a result of the Whitman Group¡¯s debts. Without


    the Whitman Group, Joseph could have achieved even greater heights.


    Harold nodded in agreement, his expression earnest. ¡°The brat is right. He has never relied on the


    Whitmans, but in the future, the Whitmans will have to depend on him. Also, he used his own money to


    repurchase that house. To put it bluntly, if the three of you could cause fewer problems, everything will


    be fine.¡±


    Chloe marveled at Harold¡¯s sharpness.


    Octavia¡¯s face lost all color as shame and embarrassment took over. She left quietly, burdened by her


    own disgrace.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡®May the heavens bless Jon and guide him to be the future beacon of light,¡¯ she thought, ¡± One


    day, my son will rise to be the star of the Whitmans, and Joe will have no choice but to look up at


    him!¡¯

 Chapter 487

    Chapter 487


    Chapter 487 The Difference Between Compassion and ying the Saint


    Octavia¡¯s voice carried far, and Xavia caught fragments of their conversation from the back garden just


    before Octavia left. Seizing the opportunity, Xavia stepped out.


    Joseph cast a brief nce at her. ¡°Patrick, bring the worker here.¡±


    Confused, Xavia asked, ¡°What worker?¡±


    ¡°It appears that someone intentionally threw the metal bucket,¡± Chloe responded, her eyes. locked on


    Xavia.


    Xavia¡¯s pupils contracted abruptly, and her feet seemed to freeze, causing her entire body to stiffen


    momentarily. But it onlysted a second and she quickly regained herposure.


    ¡®Whether Vanya acted independently or instructed someone else, she shouldn¡¯t have revealed my


    involvement in this incident. Besides Vanya, no one else knows about it. I was just a bystander-a


    victim! Even if they bring the worker here, they can¡¯t pin anything on me.¡¯


    With her face returning to normal, she put on a gentle smile. ¡°Since it¡¯s a worker, there¡¯s no need for


    compensation. Just find out the truth and let him go. I¡¯m a kind person and can¡¯t stand seeing others


    suffer.¡±


    Chloe withdrew her gaze, a smirk ying on her lips. ¡°This self-proimed saint, acting all


    compassionate and kind. Well, why is shepeting with me for my husband then?¡±


    ¡°Compensation isn¡¯t the issue here. The important thing is to find out if the bucket was dropped on


    purpose or if it was just an ident. Should we let him go just because he¡¯s pitiful? There are plenty of


    pitiful people in this world. Why not start a charity?¡± Joseph settled into arge round chair, paying no


    mind to Xavia. ¡°There¡¯s a difference between beingpassionate and ying the saint.¡±


    Xavia seethed with anger as her reputation was ruined in front of all the housekeepers. How was she


    supposed to establish herself as the madam of the Whitmans in the future? This was her own foolish


    mistake. Joseph had always despised meek and weak women, and she should not have made such a


    comment.


    Chloe propped her cheek on her hand and gave Joseph an encouraging nce. ¡®Well done. Keep it


    up.¡¯


    As for Harold, he felt a sense of satisfaction and made a mental note to treat Gabriel to a meal


    oon.


    The worker followed Patrick into the room.


    Xavia clenched her fist, overwhelmed with guilt.


    ¡°Tell us everything you know,¡± Harold and Patrick instructed.


    The worker avoided eye contact. Looking timid, he mumbled, ¡°I didn¡¯t throw the bucket. I was Just


    passing by. I don¡¯t know anything else. I don¡¯t know anything¡­¡±


    A gleam sparked in Harold¡¯s eyes as he perked up. ¡°What are you afraid of? Did someone threaten


    you?¡±


    Trembling, the worker replied, ¡°N-No one threatened me.¡±


    It¡¯s too obvious. Something¡¯s fishy about this.¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Chloe was getting a little uneasy and decided to try a gentler approach. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if you tell us what


    you know, we¡¯ll protect you and even give you some money.¡±


    The worker¡¯s eyes met Chloe¡¯s, a glimmer of hope flickering in them. ¡°You¡¯ll really protect me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we will,¡± Chloe reassured him, ¡°Go ahead and speak freely.¡±


    Navia¡¯s restlessnesspelled her to interject, ¡°Maybe it was all an ident. Let¡¯s not pressure him.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. I say one thing, and suddenly, I¡¯m the one pressuring him.¡± Chloe smirked, her voiceced


    with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Ms. Xavia.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Xavia replied, ¡°I was just saying, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Talk. Here¡¯s thirty grand,¡± Joseph urged, clearly losing patience as he put a bank card in front of the


    worker.


    The worker¡¯s eyes lit up. Thirty thousand was a huge amount, far beyond his usual pay. How many


    bricks would he have toy to make that much?


    ¡°You promise to give me the money and protect me?¡± the worker reiterated, seeking reassurance.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I promised.¡±


    I thout further hesitation, the worker blurted out the truth, ¡°I saw a woman wearing a mask drop the


    bucket. When she spotted me, she warned me not to say anything about it or she¡¯d kille.

 Chapter 488

    Chapter 488


    Chapter 488 Otto Sinir


    Chloe and Joseph exchanged concerned nces, their brows furrowing.


    Harold was stumped, wondering who the masked woman could be. He gave Chloe and Joseph a


    puzzled look, his aging face filled with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you two looking at each


    other like that? If you have something to say, just say it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Joseph replied, turning his attention to Patrick. ¡°Please help Grandpa back into the house


    and make sure he gets some rest.¡±


    Patrick swiftlyplied and Harold refrained from pressing further. He figured the young couple had


    their little secrets to discuss.


    Chloe and Joseph retreated to their room as well, leaving Xavia by herself.


    Relief washed over Xavia, and she let out a long sigh, trying to calm her racing heart. ¡®Vanya. really


    needs to be more careful. She should¡¯ve taken care of the witness when she had the


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    chance.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a property auction tomorrow, and Otto Sinir of Briake will be there. I¡¯m thinking of going


    to meet him.¡±


    Chloe quickly caught on. ¡°Otto is connected to Duskfall?¡±


    Joseph fixed his gaze on her.


    Confused and feeling a bit self-conscious, she touched her face. ¡°What? Do I have something on my


    face?¡±


    ¡°No. I just realized the nickname ¡®dumbo¡¯ no longer suits you,¡± Joseph¡¯s cold eyes softened a little.


    ¡°You¡¯re clearly a smart little one.¡±


    He had not explicitly mentioned the connection between Duskfall and Briake, yet Chloe had quickly


    connected the dots on her own. She was indeed his woman.


    Chloe snorted in amusement. ¡°Stop it. I¡¯ve always been smart. I¡¯ll go with you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Aren¡¯t you


    scared?¡±


    hese people have caused me trouble time and time again. If I don¡¯t have the guts to meet th, wouldn¡¯t


    that make me weak?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you are.¡± Joseph gently pinched her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    Joe Lesponded earnestly, ¡°I can handle things on my own, but you can help me sometimes.¡±


    ¡°..ly wife is amazing.¡± Joseph smiled, his handsome face full of affection.


    When they were at the hospital earlier and Xavia mentioned wanting to go to the family home to see


    Oreo, Chloe had assented, but Joseph could tell she felt wronged.


    Chloe rarely saw him like this, and it sent a tingling sensation through her. However, she maintained


    herposure and replied, ¡°Who¡¯s your wife? We haven¡¯t remarried yet.¡±


    ¡°We can remarry anytime,¡± Joseph said as he checked the time on his wrist. ¡°City Hall is still open.¡±


    Chloe stared at him for a while, hesitating, before finally asking, ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Joseph, looking as good as ever, raised an eyebrow and spoke gently, ¡°I¡¯ve always been serious about


    you.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback, her face blushing at his words. She could not help but be moved by them. It


    was often said that a man¡¯s words could be deceptive, but few could resist when they were taken


    seriously. In any situation, genuine favoritism and sincerity were lethal weapons, rare in this fast-paced


    era.


    But Chloe kept her wits about her and shook her head, turning down Joseph¡¯s offer. ¡°No.¡±


    With one and a half months remaining, she wanted to wait it out. She could not give herself fully just


    yet.


    Joseph¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t want to remarry?¡±


    Chloe turned her face away. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m just feeling a bit tired today. I don¡¯t feel like going out.¡±


    Joseph did not appreciate being fooled. He held her shoulder firmly and whispered, ¡°If you have


    something on your mind, you can tell me. Don¡¯t keep it all to yourself.¡±


    Chloe pouted and yfully shook his arm, trying to change the subject. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just have a habit


    of taking a nap at this time,¡± she said, trying to sound innocent. ¡°Can we just rest for a while?¡±


    sepi found it hard to resist her mischievous charm that was like a dainty little vixen. He gave in and


    pulled her into his embrace, whispering, ¡°Sure, we can sleep together.¡±

 Chapter 489

    Chapter 489


    Chapter 489 Cyrus Sinir


    Chloe btedly realized what he meant, her pretty face going a little pink. What was with this man? His


    mind was always in the gutter.


    Of course, Joseph was just messing with her. He was not so desperate as to get frisky in broad


    daylight.


    With the weather getting cooler, Chloe picked out long sleepwear, the soft cotton fabric loosely draping


    her delicate figure. The loose fit hid her pregnancy well, and she rarely experienced morning sickness.


    During her showers, her baby bump was noticeable, but once she got dressed, it waspletely


    hidden. She looked just like any regr person. Even now, lying in the same bed as Joseph, there was


    no way anyone could tell her secret.


    Joseph was not ustomed to taking afternoon naps, but the woman cuddled up next to him smelled


    so good and felt so soft-like a natural sleep aid. Before he knew it, he drifted to dreand.


    Out in the yard, Patrick was giving orders to the house helpers. ¡°Mr. Harold¡¯s meds are running low. Go


    find Dr. Spencer at the hospital on Monday and get a refill.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the helper affirmed, sneaking a peek at Xavia who was still standing around.


    Patrick noticed her and said in an annoyed tone, ¡°What is this? Didn¡¯t anyone call a cab for Ms. Xavia?¡±


    Without giving Xavia a chance to say anything, he went on, ¡°I apologize for the dy. It isn¡¯t easy to


    catch a cab out here. I forgot because I was busy with other matters. The helpers probably didn¡¯t notice


    either. I¡¯ll get someone to drive


    you.¡±


    Xavia had not even considered leaving, but since Patrick brought it up, she could not possibly stay.


    Reluctantly, she nodded and replied, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Patrick called on the driver and watched as Xavia left through the main gate, his hands behind his back


    and a look of disdain on his face. ¡°This woman has got some nerve. If I hadn¡¯t said anything, she


    would¡¯ve lingered around forever!¡¯


    In the car, Xavia watched Patrick through the rearview mirror, a cunning glint in her eyes.


    Monday, meds, refill¡­¡¯


    She had glimpsed a chance to mess with the old man and his medication.


    epii was jolted awake by his phone ringing in the afternoon. He rubbed his forehead, anced at the


    woman sleeping beside him, and quietly got out of bed, taking his phone with


    him as he left the room.


    ¡°Sir, we found an important lead.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°The mastermind behind Duskfall is as you suspected. It¡¯s Cyrus Sinir.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s body trembled violently as a surge of memories, long suppressed deep within him, came


    rushing back. The image of his father¡¯s death shed in his mind.


    ¡°Sir, are you listening? We also discovered that Briake¡¯s CEO always has thest name Sinir.¡¯


    Could they be rted?¡±


    The word ¡°Sinir¡± echoed in Joseph¡¯s ears, mixing with his darkest nightmares. His eyes turned a


    deep, ominous red, and in a fit of rage, he hurled his phone.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Crash!


    The phone shattered into fragments upon impact.


    Chloe rubbed her eyes and came out of the room, perplexed by the sight of the shattered phone on the


    floor. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Joseph quickly turned away, not wanting to scare her. ¡°I dropped it. I¡¯ll get someone to clean it up.¡±


    Chloe watched as he walked away, her face filled with bewilderment, unaware of what had just


    urred.


    Joseph reached the first floor and bumped right into Harold. The older man wore a grave expression.


    ¡°Did you send someone to investigate the Sinirs again?¡±


    Joseph neither confirmed nor denied it.


    ¡°Leave them be. The past is the past. He just can¡¯t stand to see us doing well.


    ¡°He had Chloe kidnapped, and now he¡¯s after you. How could I let that slide?¡± Joseph said in a low


    growl as he seethed with anger.

 Chapter 490

    Chapter 490


    Chapter 490 Their Tranquil Days Were About to Be Shattered


    Harold spoke up, and his voice was heavy with old memories. ¡°You know your mother had her reasons.


    Have you forgotten the phone call your father made before he passed? He wanted your to live a good


    life, to let go of the past, and to not let one incident ruin two generations.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s parents had fallen in love during their university years, their bond so strong and quick that


    they soon conceived Joseph. But their happiness was short-lived. A man who imed to be the fiance


    of Joseph¡¯s mother showed up and forcibly took her away from Joseph¡¯s father.


    The aftermath of their separation was devastating. Consequently, she spiraled into depression and


    tragically took her own life. Shortly after, Joseph¡¯s father did the same.


    Harold believed that Joseph¡¯s mother, who was engaged to another man, should have severed ties


    with Joseph¡¯s father. The aftermath was a massive tragedy a fate that was bound to happen.


    ¡°Was it wrong for my mother to pursue true love? Was she supposed to just stay because of an


    arranged marriage?¡± a


    Joseph was enraged. ¡®They loved each other that they had ended their own marriages. Why couldn¡¯t


    they be together?¡¯


    ¡°You promised your father that this matter would end here.¡±


    Cyrus¡¯ influence was intricate andplex. He was not just a simple businessman and was always


    dabbling in the gray areas. If they decided to go after him, Harold assumed that Joseph had more than


    just Fairlight up his sleeve. But hurting the enemy could potentially backfire, and that was not worth it.


    Over the past few years, Cyrus had stirred up a few minor issues, but they deemed them unworthy of


    their attention.


    Joseph closed his eyes, trying to get a handle on his emotions. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Cherish what you have now and prioritize Chloe¡¯s well-being. A peaceful and stable life is the


    est thing you can have.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes flickered, and he rubbed his temples. ¡°I¡¯ll give him onest chance. If he keeps messing


    with us, I¡¯ll settle all scores, old and new, once and for all.¡±


    Harold shook his head, sighing with regret. He had two sons. The eldest was intelligent, kind, and a


    quick thinker-his chosen sessor. But he had messed up his marriage and never got back on track.


    That was why he had ced his hopes on Joseph, and thankfully, Joseph was diligent and


    hardworking, often surpassing his expectations. But at some point, Joseph had be cold and


    distant, like an emotionless machine that had no interest in anything.


    As Harold grew older, the youngsters around him settled down and started families. But not his


    grandson Out of fear that Joseph would end up alone, he began introducing him to


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    potential marriage partners. However, one after another, they were all rejected, until Chloe came along.


    Harold knew that Joseph, the once rebellious boy, had made the right choice. But now, their tranquil


    days were about to be shattered.


    The following afternoon, Joseph took Chloe to the auction. Their stunning looks and matching coats


    made them the center of attention as soon as they walked in.


    Chloe nced around, her gazending on a man sitting in the front row. The man happened to be


    looking at her too, their eyes briefly meeting.


    The man had tanned skin, fox-like eyes, and a wicked and exotic vibe about him. When he looked at


    someone, he felt like a venomous snake, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Chloe furrowed her brows, her intuition telling her this person was anything but ordinary.


    ¡°That¡¯s Otto,¡± Joseph¡¯s voice whispered in her ear, prompting her to look at him.


    Chloe asked, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    His face remained expressionless, but his eyes betrayed intense hatred. ¡°There are names assigned to


    each lot on every table,¡± he replied, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

 Chapter 491

    Chapter 491


    Chapter 492 Joseph¡¯s Mother Is Alive


    A wicked grin adorned Joseph¡¯s handsome face as he said, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard the phrase.¡±


    ¡°What phrase?¡±


    ¡°Being too clever can be your own undoing,¡± he replied.


    Chloe was still unsure about this and asked, ¡°Are you absolutely certain about this?¡±


    Such matters seemed simple on the surface, but in reality, they required a profound understanding of


    human nature and the ability to discern the other person¡¯s mind.


    Joseph proudly lifted his chin and said, ¡°Just watch.¡±


    Seeing his confidence, Chloe began to wait quietly.


    ¡°Any other bids?¡± the emcee asked the audience, ¡°In that case, 150 million going once! 150 million


    going twice! 150 million going-¡±


    ¡°160 million!¡± Otto interrupted the host as he looked at Joseph challengingly.


    Joseph smiled gracefully. ¡°Very well. It¡¯s yours then.¡±


    Otto gritted his teeth, his fingers clenching tightly and his joints cracking audibly, showing signs of


    nervousness. His assistant tried to reassure him, ¡°It¡¯s all right, Mr. Otto. We¡¯ve already secured thend


    we nned to buy. We can treat this one as practice.¡±


    The emcee¡¯s gavel came down with a thud, and he announced loudly, ¡°The deal is sealed at 160


    million dors!¡±


    Otto felt a little displeased, but soon, a sinister smile crossed his face. ¡®Just wait, Joseph. The real


    show will begin after the auction.¡¯


    Finally, Joseph made his move and acquired thest piece ofnd near a school. His previous move


    had merely been bait.


    As the crowd gradually left the venue, Otto approached Joseph and casually said, ¡°Want to find a ce


    to sit and chat?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph replied coldly.


    Otto¡¯s smile turned malicious. ¡°I recently stumbled upon a photo that seems oddly familiar. Care to take


    a look? Perhaps you might recognize the person in it.¡±


    From behind, his assistant retrieved the photo and handed it to Joseph. The moment Joseph¡¯s eyes fell


    upon it, his pupils dted, and his face turned pale with shock. The woman in the picture was


    undoubtedly his mother, but she lookedpletely different from the image etched in his memory.


    Instead of appearing to be in her thirties, she now seemed to be in her forties.


    This could not possibly be a photoshopped image. Did this mean that his mother was still


    alive?!


    In a fit of desperation, Joseph seized Otto by the cor and shouted, ¡°Where¡¯s my mother?!¡±


    Chloe was standing beside Joseph, so she saw the photo. The woman in it had an elegant and regal


    demeanor, but her appearance looked worn, indicating that she had suffered from prolonged mental


    distress.


    The revtion that Joseph¡¯s mother was alive shocked her to the core, and the fact that someone had


    kept it hidden for over a decade only intensified the intrigue. She firmly believed that no mother in the


    world would willingly ignore or abandon their child for so many years. There had to be someone holding


    her captive or restricting her freedom.


    With a sinister smile on his face, Otto admired Joseph¡¯s hysterical state and shamelessly taunted, ¡°If


    you get your wife to spend a night with me, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, and hended a heavy punch on Otto¡¯s face. ¡°Do you wish to die?!¡±


    A red welt appeared on Otto¡¯s cheek from the punch. However, he seemed unfazed and said


    nonchntly, ¡°Go ahead. Keep hitting me. If you kill me, you¡¯ll never see Fleurette Gomez


    ever again.¡±


    Frustration creased Joseph¡¯s forehead as he clenched and unclenched his fists, struggling to control


    his anger.


    Chloe could not help but feel heartbroken, sharing in his distress. She held his hand and confronted


    Otto, ¡°A single photograph isn¡¯t enough to convince us. You have to present other


    evidence.¡±


    Otto shrugged nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe me or not. I¡¯m not forcing you. But I¡¯ll tell you that


    based on what I know, Fleurette once sent a letter to your family after your father¡¯s death. Harold


    probably never gave you that letter, did he?¡±


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Joseph froze, his eyes betraying a mix of anxiety and pain. ¡°Don¡¯t try to sow discord between


    us.¡±


    With a pitiful gaze, Otto looked at him and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t you go and ask


    Harold yourself? Why didn¡¯t he give you the letter? Maybe he¡¯s worried that if you find out Fleurette is


    still alive, you¡¯d go searching for her, and then you wouldn¡¯t have enough time and energy to manage


    the Whitman Group. After all, Jonathan is nothing but a useless piece of trash, and you¡¯re the only one


    he can trust to handle thepany.¡±

 Chapter 492

    Chapter 492


    Chapter 493 This Woman or Your Mother¡¯s Information, Your Choice


    Undaunted by the threat, Otto pointed at Chloe and continued, ¡°This woman might be one of Harold¡¯s


    spies who was deliberately nted to keep you under control.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s anger reverberated through her voice as she retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not!¡±


    Harold was pushing Joseph for an arranged marriage when they first met, so she was worried that


    Joseph would believe in Otto¡¯s nonsense.


    With a sly and cunning grin, Otto added, ¡°Have this woman apany me for one night and you¡¯ll


    receive information about Fleurette¡¯s whereabouts. The choice is yours.¡±


    ¡°Fuck you!¡± Joseph¡¯s anger reached its peak, and he kicked Otto in the chest.


    A fierce struggle ensued between the two, escting the situation beyond control.


    Chloe¡¯s first instinct was not to break up the fight but to help Joseph. She could not stand Otto¡¯s


    despicable behavior either, and he deserved to be taught a lesson. Gathering whatever objects she


    could find, she hurled them at Otto. This unexpected attack briefly caught him off


    guard, providing an opening for Joseph.


    Seizing the opportunity, Joseph pinned Otto to the ground and delivered one sharp p after


    another across Otto¡¯s face.


    Apart from some beatings from Cyrus in the past, Otto had never experienced such humiliation. He


    fought back, but it was futile.


    Eventually, the assistant called the security guards to intervene, and with great difficulty, they managed


    to separate the brawling duo. The guard looked at the two prominent figures before


    him and did not know what to do. He did not want to offend either of them and asked fearfully, ¡°Do you


    need an ambnce?¡±


    ¡°Fuck off!¡± Otto¡¯s face was swollen and bruised, and he red menacingly at Joseph, ¡°Seems like this


    woman is more important to you than your mother. You¡¯ll never find out where


    Fleurette is in this lifetime!¡±


    After venting his anger, Joseph regained hisposure. ¡°You don¡¯t know where my mother is. Stop


    pretending.¡±


    Knowing Cyrus¡¯ possessive nature, even if Fleurette were still alive, it would be impossible for her to


    escape his clutches. Otto and Cyrus were on the same team, and Joseph was certain that Otto had


    ulterior motives for revealing this information to him.


    While the revtion had the potential to sow discord, there was a genuine possibility that Joseph¡¯s


    mother had disappeared and Cyrus had been unable to locate her all this time. If Joseph learned that


    his mother was alive, he would stop at nothing to find her. Even if she was hiding from Cyrus, she could


    not hide from Joseph, and Cyrus only had to wait for the


    opportune moment to strike.


    Otto was surprised that Joseph managed to see through his ploy, but he maintained hisposure.


    Wearing an ominous smile, he said, ¡°Exactly. I don¡¯t know where she is. She¡¯s not my mother anyway.


    Taking care of her isn¡¯t my responsibility.¡±


    ¡°And my mother would never give birth to someone like you,¡± Joseph replied with at


    domineering tone.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! She would never give birth to something like you!¡± Chloe chimed in, elegantly supporting


    Joseph¡¯s stance.


    Otto¡¯s face twitched in anger.


    Chloe looked at Joseph and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t waste your breath arguing with him.¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Whatever you say,¡± Joseph replied.


    The assistant watched as the two of them faded into the distance, and asked cautiously, ¡°Mr.


    Otto, what should we do now?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Duskfall,¡± Otto replied, touching the injury at the corner of his mouth and wincing in pain.


    ¡®He was pretty heavy-handed. Nevertheless, my mission is done.¡¯


    At Duskfall, Otto stood before a screen, showing great respect as he said, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve informed


    Joseph that his mother is still alive.¡±


    ¡°How did he react?¡±


    ¡°He was furious. We ended up fighting at the auction.¡±


    ¡°His violent temperament is quite the opposite of his father¡¯s. His father was such a gentleman.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s one more thing. Chloe holds a significant ce in his heart.¡±


    ¡°That suits me just fine,¡± Cyrus replied as he leisurely sipped his tea. ¡°You¡¯ve done an


    excellent job. Let¡¯s wait patiently for good news.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your wise guidance.¡±


    Cyrus chuckled, ¡°This is of your own making.¡±


    There was a reason why he had set his eyes on Otto among all the children at the orphanage.


    In the


    garage, Chloe and Joseph had been sitting in their car for an hour now. She looked at Joseph and


    asked hesitantly, ¡°Have you made up your mind? Are we going back to the family home or our house?¡±


    If they went back to the family home, they would need to confront Harold about the letter.


    After all, given how confident Otto was, it was unlikely that he had made up a false story.

 Chapter 493

    Chapter 493


    Chapter 494 There Was No One by His Side in the Past


    Chloe¡¯s heart was filled with anxiety at the thought of a potential argument between Joseph and Harold.


    For Joseph, Harold was the only family he had left. Despite his indifference, Chloe knew that he cared


    deeply for his grandfather. Taking over the Whitman Group and looking after it was a testament to his


    love and responsibility toward Harold. If it turned out that his grandfather¡¯s affection for him was all a


    facade, Joseph would be shattered.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our ce,¡± Joseph said, his eyes red and exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the


    past few hours.


    Her heart ached for him, and she could not help but embrace him, gently patting his back. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll


    be with you no matter where you want to go.¡±


    Joseph hugged her back tightly, his voice hoarse as he asked, ¡°Can you stay with me forever?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be with you, always,¡± Chloe replied, unable to hold back her emotions. She did not want to


    think about Xavia right now. She just wanted to be with him, just like he was there for her during her


    most difficult times.


    Oreo and Toto had been taken to the family home, so it was unusually quiet at their house.


    Joseph seemed disheartened, and as soon as he reached home, he immersed himself in hisptop


    from dawn till dusk. Chloe knew he was investigating something possibly rted to


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Duskfall or Fleurette


    She got a ss of warm water and ced it before him on the coffee table. Then, she went to the


    kitchen and checked the refrigerator, finding enough ingredients tost them several days. She decided


    to cook a meal for him tonight, even though she had not cooked in a while, wondering if she still had


    the touch


    Reflecting on how she had taken cooking sses in the past just to impress Joseph and secure her


    position as his ¡°wife,¡± she found it amusing. Her rtionship with Jake hadsted three years without


    any mention of marriage, yet with Joseph, they met once and got married the


    next moment.


    Fate truly worked in mysterious ways.


    At night, Joseph tossed and turned in bed as sleep would note to him. He got up, went outside,


    and stood on the balcony, letting the cool breeze soothe his restless mind. He lit a cigarette and took a


    deep drag.


    During his childhood, he rarely spoke to anyone else apart from his father. Harold harbored some


    resentment toward Joseph¡¯s mother, believing she had yed an indirect role in his son¡¯s death. As a


    result, their rtionship was not as affectionate as in other families where grandfathers dote on their


    grandchildren. This created a constant atmosphere of oppression


    within the Whitman household.


    After Joseph¡¯s father passed, Preston began vying for control of the Whitman Group, subjecting Joseph


    to various forms of open and covert suppression. There was even a time when he attempted to seize


    the shares Joseph¡¯s father had left to his son. However, Harold intervened and secured Joseph¡¯s


    position as the leader of thepany.


    At that time, Joseph was merely in his early teens, standing alone without anyone to rely on. Harold¡¯s


    decision faced strong opposition, with many expressing their dissent. Yet, through his unwavering


    determination and support, Joseph eventually took control of the Whitman


    Group.


    Octavia¡¯s refusal to ept defeat led her to instigate Jonathan into pouring ice-cold water on Joseph.


    The incident urred during the harsh winter, and Joseph, dressed in frozen pajamas, was left outside


    for five hours. As a result, he fell ill, bringing him perilously close to death¡¯s door.


    Fortunately, Harold discovered Joseph in time and rushed him to the hospital. For several days, Joseph


    remained unconscious, and each time he woke up, Harold was there, his appearance marked by


    weariness and the weight of age, as though he had aged several years in just those few days.


    In those vulnerable moments, the young Joseph came to believe that he held a significant ce in his


    grandfather¡¯s heart. And this belief found support in his grandfather¡¯s actions, such as ordering the


    house help to keep a constant watch over him after his father¡¯s passing, fearing he might lose hope


    and follow in his father¡¯s footsteps. Furthermore, during every family gathering, Harold always made


    sure that the seat beside him was reserved for Joseph. During that period, Joseph¡¯s mindset


    underwent a profound transformation.

 Chapter 494

    Chapter 494


    Chapter 495 Changing Harold¡¯s Prescription


    After his discharge from the hospital, Joseph threw himself into relentless studying and handling the


    affairs of the Whitman Group despite facing ridicule and scorn from others. Eventually, he came to


    realize that simply running the Whitman Group well was not enough if he wanted to truly be


    powerful.


    To Preston and his family¡¯s joy, Joseph resolutely chose to venture abroad for


    entrepreneurship. He aspired to be an independent man, not merely one attached to the


    Whitmans.


    His endeavors bore fruit as he achieved recognition in the business world. Harold, both delighted and


    anxious, busied himself with arranging matters about Joseph¡¯s marriage. Joseph felt somewhat


    helpless, not wanting his life to be controlled by others, but he was willing to make concessions for


    Harold.


    It was precisely at this moment that Chloe appeared. She was like a sun, bringing warmth to his


    otherwise dull and mundane life. Despite doing things that often upset him, he found himself enamored


    with her, feeling genuine joy whenever they were together.


    As memories surged like turbulent tides, Joseph¡¯s eyes deepened in contemtion. He crushed the


    burnt-out cigarette in the ashtray, his mind reaching a decision.


    As night fell, a sudden downpour of rain began, apanied by the roaring sound of thunder. shes


    of lightning pierced through the dark sky, casting an eerie glow that revealed the world shrouded in


    darkness.


    Spencer was preparing to return to his dormitory with his colleagues after his shift. Walking along the


    pitch-ck road, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. Assuming it was his colleague, he turned


    back to greet them, only to find himself facing a chilling, ice-cold dagger against his throat.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a sound. Your wife and child are in my hands. If you resist, you¡¯ll never see them. again.¡±


    ¡°No! Please don¡¯t harm my family! I¡¯ll give you whatever money you want!¡±


    Spencer thought the person wanted to rob him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want money.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you


    you want?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Harold¡¯s attending doctor, right? From now on, you¡¯ll prescribe his medication ording to my


    instructions.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that! You can¡¯t dispense medication without proper medical qualifications.¡±


    ¡°Say again?¡± The intruder grew impatient, and with a slight force, the de cut into Spencer¡¯s skin,


    drawing fresh, red blood.


    Spencer winced in pain, his face turning pale. ¡°The hospital has regtions, and I don¡¯t have the


    authority to do that.¡±


    ¡°Regtions are made by people, and I believe you can find a way. Otherwise, your wife and


    child will suffer.¡±


    With those ominous words, the assant brought a phone close to Spencer¡¯s eyes. On the screen was


    a video showing a five or six-year-old girl crying out for her father while the woman beside her was


    covered in bruises, unconscious and motionless.


    Spencer could not bear it any longer and cried out, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll do whatever you say. Please,


    just don¡¯t hurt my family anymore.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Chloe woke up at nine the next morning to find the space beside her empty. She had no idea when


    Joseph had left. She picked up her phone and nced at it. There was a message from Joseph.


    [I¡¯m in Fairlight. Don¡¯t go to the family home for now. I have my own ns.]


    Chloe trusted that he could handle things, so she did not inquire further. She had her own career to


    focus on, after all.


    A few days ago, Hugo had called her back and expressed his satisfaction with her nning proposals.


    He then extended her an olive branch. Despite having the smallest share of the project¡¯s profits, when


    considering her investment, it felt like winning the lottery-a windfall that propelled the Johnson Group to


    new heights.


    As Chloe arrived at thepany, she spotted Noah. He seemed hesitant and had something to tell her.


    She was puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I don¡¯t know if I should tell you,¡± Noah said with a troubled expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. You can tell me.¡±


    Noah looked at her worriedly and said, ¡°When I went to the hospital with my grandfather this morning, I


    saw Mr. Joseph with Xavia. Do you know about it?¡±

 Chapter 495

    Chapter 495


    Chapter 496 I Swear Cliche Situation Like This Won¡¯t Happen


    Chloe was stunned but smiled and said, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t mistake him for someone else?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. Although we didn¡¯t greet each other since we were far apart, I saw his car in the


    parking lot.¡± Noah¡¯s eyes flickered with an unusual glint. ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Joseph say anything to you?¡±


    Chloe looked embarrassed. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Noah¡¯s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be too upset, Coco. Maybe Mr. Joseph


    has his reasons for not telling you. Find an opportunity to talk to him. Everything will be fine.


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯d never let such a cliched situation happen if I had a girlfriend. I¡¯d treat her well and never let


    her suffer from jealousy. However, I can understand that idents are beyond our control. Still, love


    should only involve two people. Having a third person involved is hard to


    stomach.¡±


    Thest sentence felt like tiny grains of sand, causing Chloe¡¯s whole being to ache. Doubt, grievance,


    and disappointment were emotions that clogged her throat, rendering her speechless.


    ¡®Joseph told me he was going to Fairlight an hour ago, so how did he suddenly end up at the hospital


    with Xavia? Is he there to apany her for a prenatal check-up? Did he not tell me about it because


    he was worried I¡¯d be upset?¡¯


    She unconsciously touched her stomach and felt a bitter pang filling her.


    ¡°Do you want to go to the hospital? I¡¯m heading to the library nearby, so I can take you there.¡± Noah


    offered in a friendly manner.


    Chloe clenched her teeth and replied, ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡®Instead of specting mindlessly, it¡¯s best to face it head-on and ask them for an exnation.¡¯


    Noah drove his white Maybach onward, maintaining a steady and unhurried


    pace.


    Chloe looked out of the window at the scenery. The more she thought about it, the more she felt


    Joseph had no reason to lie. He had only found out yesterday that his mother was still alive, so she


    was confident he would not have had the time to entertain Xavia.


    ¡®Even if it was an unexpected situation, he should have at least informed me, right? Could he not even


    spare a moment to text me?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    While appearing focused on driving, Noah discreetly observed Chloe¡¯s emotions from the corner of his


    eyes. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed and rxed alternatively while her face


    tensed as if she was lost in profound contemtion.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost three months pregnant now, right? Don¡¯t you n to tell Mr. Joseph?¡± Noah asked.


    Chloe lowered her head. ¡°I want to wait for the results of Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis.¡±


    He tilted his head, gazing at her profile. ¡°What about after the results?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s Joseph¡¯s child, I¡¯ll break up with him.¡±


    ¡°If Joseph finds out you¡¯re pregnant, he won¡¯t let you go so easily,¡± Noah said resolutely.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let him know that I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    ¡°You know you can¡¯t keep him in the dark forever.¡±


    ¡°My office is coborating with Mr. Hugo on a new project, and they need someone to oversee it in


    Estre. I can apply to go there.¡±


    As for the Johnson Group, she would do something about it. A few short months would not be a


    problem for remote management, especially considering the office had recently taken on very few


    external projects.


    ¡°A new project with Mr. Hugo?¡± Noah asked in surprise, ¡°Are you talking about Arcane Grove


    Ventures?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You know about it too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Joseph has joined that project too. Even if you go abroad, it might be difficult to avoid interaction,¡±


    Noah remarked.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened slightly, her thoughts bing jumbled. ¡°Joseph is a part of it, too?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Understanding dawned upon Noah as he continued hesitantly, ¡°Nathan and Joseph


    are friends. Did Joseph inform his father, and that¡¯s how you got involved?


    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t doubt your abilities, but your office¡¯s line of business doesn¡¯t align with real estate


    development, so it¡¯s not on par with the Reese Group¡¯s MO.¡±

 Chapter 496

    Chapter 496


    Chapter 496 I Swear Cliche Situation Like This Won¡¯t Happen


    Chloe was stunned but smiled and said, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t mistake him for someone else?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. Although we didn¡¯t greet each other since we were far apart, I saw his car in the


    parking lot.¡± Noah¡¯s eyes flickered with an unusual glint. ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Joseph say anything to you?¡±


    Chloe looked embarrassed. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Noah¡¯s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be too upset, Coco. Maybe Mr. Joseph


    has his reasons for not telling you. Find an opportunity to talk to him. Everything will be fine.


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯d never let such a cliched situation happen if I had a girlfriend. I¡¯d treat her well and never let


    her suffer from jealousy. However, I can understand that idents are beyond our control. Still, love


    should only involve two people. Having a third person involved is hard to


    stomach.¡±


    Thest sentence felt like tiny grains of sand, causing Chloe¡¯s whole being to ache. Doubt, grievance,


    and disappointment were emotions that clogged her throat, rendering her speechless.


    ¡®Joseph told me he was going to Fairlight an hour ago, so how did he suddenly end up at the hospital


    with Xavia? Is he there to apany her for a prenatal check-up? Did he not tell me about it because


    he was worried I¡¯d be upset?¡¯


    She unconsciously touched her stomach and felt a bitter pang filling her.


    ¡°Do you want to go to the hospital? I¡¯m heading to the library nearby, so I can take you there.¡± Noah


    offered in a friendly manner.


    Chloe clenched her teeth and replied, ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡®Instead of specting mindlessly, it¡¯s best to face it head-on and ask them for an exnation.¡¯


    Noah drove his white Maybach onward, maintaining a steady and unhurried


    pace.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Chloe looked out of the window at the scenery. The more she thought about it, the more she felt


    Joseph had no reason to lie. He had only found out yesterday that his mother was still alive, so she


    was confident he would not have had the time to entertain Xavia.


    ¡®Even if it was an unexpected situation, he should have at least informed me, right? Could he not even


    spare a moment to text me?¡±


    While appearing focused on driving, Noah discreetly observed Chloe¡¯s emotions from the corner of his


    eyes. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed and rxed alternatively while her face


    tensed as if she was lost in profound contemtion.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost three months pregnant now, right? Don¡¯t you n to tell Mr. Joseph?¡± Noah asked.


    Chloe lowered her head. ¡°I want to wait for the results of Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis.¡±


    He tilted his head, gazing at her profile. ¡°What about after the results?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s Joseph¡¯s child, I¡¯ll break up with him.¡±


    ¡°If Joseph finds out you¡¯re pregnant, he won¡¯t let you go so easily,¡± Noah said resolutely.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let him know that I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    ¡°You know you can¡¯t keep him in the dark forever.¡±


    ¡°My office is coborating with Mr. Hugo on a new project, and they need someone to oversee it in


    Estre. I can apply to go there.¡±


    As for the Johnson Group, she would do something about it. A few short months would not be a


    problem for remote management, especially considering the office had recently taken on very few


    external projects.


    ¡°A new project with Mr. Hugo?¡± Noah asked in surprise, ¡°Are you talking about Arcane Grove


    Ventures?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You know about it too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Joseph has joined that project too. Even if you go abroad, it might be difficult to avoid interaction,¡±


    Noah remarked.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened slightly, her thoughts bing jumbled. ¡°Joseph is a part of it, too?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Understanding dawned upon Noah as he continued hesitantly, ¡°Nathan and Joseph


    are friends. Did Joseph inform his father, and that¡¯s how you got involved?


    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t doubt your abilities, but your office¡¯s line of business doesn¡¯t align with real estate


    development, so it¡¯s not on par with the Reese Group¡¯s MO.¡±

 Chapter 497

    Chapter 497


    Chapter 497 Don¡¯t me Joe


    Chloe felt like her heart was in her throat, making her unable to articte her emotions. She had


    worked hard and earned recognition from her teacher for achieving excellent results, only to discover


    that Joseph had already spoken to the teacher and secured her a high score.


    She understood Joseph¡¯s good intentions but could not shake off her unease. She felt that all her


    efforts had been in vain. She had put so much heart into that proposal, yet Joseph seemed to doubt


    her capabilities.


    CC


    Noah watched her expression closely and retrieved a brochure. He passed it to her, saying, I¡¯ve set up


    an office in Estre, whichpliments your business quite well. We can coborate if you¡¯re interested.


    As for your family¡¯spany, we can explore a merger if you think it¡¯s viable.¡±


    Chloe was astounded. ¡°You¡¯re opening an office in Estre?¡±


    ¡°I like Estre, and my grandfather also wants me to gain some experience there.¡±


    ¡°But why me?¡±


    Noah scratched his head and smiled gently. Two dimples appeared on his cheek as he smiled.¡± Your


    proficiency in Estrenian and intelligence makes me believe you can handle this and help me ovee


    any difficulties. Besides, you¡¯re an outstanding individual. And let¡¯s not forget you¡¯re Exotic Star¡¯s


    ambassador. I see no reason why I shouldn¡¯t choose you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes welled up slightly, touched by his words. ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡±


    At that moment, she felt even more distraught. ¡®Even Noah has faith in my abilities and offered


    encouragement, yet¡­¡¯


    Soon after, they arrived at the hospital. Before leaving the car, Noah handed her a bag of candies, his


    bright eyes free of ulterior motives. ¡°I hope these treats will brighten your mood.¡±


    Chloe smiled and replied, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She found her way to the nurse¡¯s station and asked about Xavia.


    ¡°Ms. Xavia? Someone brought her here this morning. She¡¯s in Ward 5 on the right side of the third floor.


    You can go straight in.¡±


    ¡°All right, thank you.¡±


    ¡°I know that patient. The man who apanied her was so handsome.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s like a celebrity-no, more charismatic than a celebrity.¡±


    The nurses¡¯ whispers reached Chloe¡¯s ears, causing her to clench her fists and her steps to be


    heavy.


    1/2


    tensed as if she was lost in profound contemtion.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost three months pregnant now, right? Don¡¯t you n to tell Mr. Joseph?¡± Noah asked.


    Chloe lowered her head. ¡°I want to wait for the results of Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis.¡±


    He tilted his head, gazing at her profile. ¡°What about after the results?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s Joseph¡¯s child, I¡¯ll break up with him.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°If Joseph finds out you¡¯re pregnant, he won¡¯t let you go so easily,¡± Noah said resolutely.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let him know that I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    ¡°You know you can¡¯t keep him in the dark forever.¡±


    ¡°My office is coborating with Mr. Hugo on a new project, and they need someone to oversee it in


    Estre. I can apply to go there.¡±


    As for the Johnson Group, she would do something about it. A few short months would not be a


    problem for remote management, especially considering the office had recently taken on. very few


    external projects.


    ¡°A new project with Mr. Hugo?¡± Noah asked in surprise, ¡°Are you talking about Arcane Grove


    Ventures?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You know about it too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Joseph has joined that project too. Even if you go abroad, it might be difficult to avoid interaction,¡±


    Noah remarked.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened slightly, her thoughts bing jumbled. ¡°Joseph is a part of it, too?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Understanding dawned upon Noah as he continued hesitantly, ¡°Nathan and Joseph


    are friends. Did Joseph inform his father, and that¡¯s how you got involved?


    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t doubt your abilities, but your office¡¯s line of business doesn¡¯t align with real estate


    development, so it¡¯s not on par with the Reese Group¡¯s MO.¡±

 Chapter 498

    Chapter 498


    Chapter 498 I Hope Chloe Gets Run Over by Car


    Chloe suddenly calmed down. After all, she could not help but overthink things because she loved him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go outside and talk,¡± Joseph said, taking her hand as they left the ward.


    Xavia watched him leave without even a backward nce. She fiercely punched the pillow, her face


    contorting in anger. If she did not need the baby in Chloe¡¯s belly, she would have wished for the woman


    to get run over by a car.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t charge my phonest night. I received the caregiver¡¯s call when I arrived at the office and


    rushed to the hospital. I wanted to call you, but that¡¯s when I realized my phone had died,


    Joseph exined.


    Chloe looked at the phone Joseph had stuffed into her hands. Indeed, it was dead. She returned it to


    him, asking, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you ask Lucas toe?¡±


    ¡°Lucas is on vacation,¡± he replied somewhat helplessly, ¡°I can¡¯t squeeze work out of him during his time


    off, can I?¡±


    Chloe paused and said seriously, ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± She knew Lucas was facing enough pressure. Now


    that he finally had a few days off, they could not be so selfish and deny him his hard- earned vacation.


    A faint smile yed on Joseph¡¯s lips as he found an empty corner and wrapped his arms. around her


    slender waist. ¡°Are you jealous?¡±


    His direct question caught Chloe off guard, and her face flushed slightly. ¡°No, but there¡¯s something


    else I want to ask you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°Did you join Mr. Hugo¡¯s project?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Chloe furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about it?¡±


    Joseph tilted his chin and replied honestly, ¡°When the Reeses started the project, we hadn¡¯t reconciled


    yet. I just wanted to stay in touch with you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s cheeks blushed even more. It turned out she had misunderstood him. The more one


    loved someone, the more one cared about everything concerning one¡¯s partner. Still, that was


    how love worked-it allowed no room for doubts.


    ¡°So that¡¯s the reason you joined the project? Just like that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t bear to be without you,¡± Joseph said as he embraced her. His voice was pleasant to her


    ears, saying, ¡°By the way, how did you know I was at the hospital?¡±


    1/3


    ¡°Noah told me,¡± Chloe replied.


    Joseph¡¯s face immediately darkened. ¡°Why would he tell you these things?¡±


    ¡°He said he was apanying his grandfather to the hospital in the morning and saw you here,¡± Chloe


    said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you afraid of being supervised? Did you do something bad behind my back?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like him.¡±


    ¡°But Noah has done nothing to harm us. Hating someone requires reason,¡± Chloe said.


    Joseph grew even more irritated. ¡®A reason? What reason would I need? I can¡¯t say the little brat is


    trying to undermine our rtionship, can I?¡¯


    Noah had maintained such a good image that Chloe would not believe it even if Joseph spilled the truth


    now. He regretted not recording their conversation with a voice recorder back then. ¡°You¡¯ll find out the


    truthter,¡± he said curtly.


    In the ward, Xavia waited for a long time, but there was still no sign of Joseph returning.


    The caregiver brought breakfast and kindly fed her. ¡°Ms. Xavia, please have some.¡±


    ¡°Have you seen Mr. Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph has already left.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    She was admitted to the hospital, yet Joseph left with that bitch without saying anything?


    The caregiver did not understand the situation and offered her the soup. ¡°Ms. Xavia, please have it


    while it¡¯s still hot.¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡± Xaviashed out, flipping the hot porridge, instantly burning the caregiver¡¯s arm.


    Terrified, the caregiver hurriedly retreated from the ward.


    At this moment, Cyrus called Xavia to inquire about her progress.


    ¡°Mr. S, please give me more time,¡± Xavia said nervously.


    ¡°I see. You have made no progress, correct?¡± Cyrus said, his voice cold and piercing.


    Xavia shuddered. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I just haven¡¯t found the right opportunity yet¡­¡±


    ¡°The highest level of lies contains elements of truth. Since Chloe is pregnant, why don¡¯t you just tell


    Joseph about it?¡± Cyrus suggested.


    A glint of hope shed through Xavia¡¯s eyes as she quickly grasped the idea. ¡°I understand.


    Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Besides that, have you encountered any other difficulties?¡± Cyrus asked further.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Noah from Exotic Star seems to know that Eustace is the father of the child in


    Could you arrange for someone to deal with him?¡± Xavia requested.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 Chapter 499

    Chapter 499


    Chapter 499 Taking Sole Control of the Whitman Group


    Cyrus¡¯ voice remained indifferent as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t resort to killing to solve your problems. It¡¯s too


    bloody.¡± a


    Xavia swallowed her next words, thinking that he had done far bloodier things in the past, so why


    hesitate now?


    ¡°The Sullivan Group is a partnerpany of the Whitman Group and Fairlight, so don¡¯t touch. them.


    When I take over, I don¡¯t want these twopanies to be useless messes.¡±


    Not only did he not want to be the one to clean up the messes, but he also knew that Fleurette would


    feel heartache over such a situation.


    ¡°Okay¡­ But what if Noah tries to ckmail me with it?¡±


    ¡°Having more allies is better than having more enemies. Do you know what I¡¯d like to see?¡± Cyrus


    asked, his voice dripping with venom.


    ¡°I know¡­ You want to see the Whitmans isted and defeated on all fronts,¡± Xavia replied.


    From the other end of the phone came a low chuckle. That was right. Cyrus despised the Whitmans


    more than anything else in his life.


    About a weekter, Harold sensed something was amiss and called Chloe to ask why they had not


    come by the family home recently.


    Joseph was making coffee at that moment, and Chloe silently mouthed to him, ¡°What should I say?¡±


    Joseph wiped his fingers clean with a handkerchief and replied, ¡°Tell him we¡¯ll go this


    afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, we¡¯ll be stopping by this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll have the chef prepare it for you.¡±


    ¡°Anything will do. I¡¯m not picky.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Chloe asked cautiously, ¡°Have you figured out how to handle it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Joseph nodded. ¡°But I¡¯ll go back alone. You stay here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not taking me with you?¡± Chloe was surprised and frowned, feeling a sense of unease rising in


    her heart.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I have a n, and it¡¯s for your own good.¡± He walked to her side, tucking the


    stray hair falling on her forehead behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything. Don¡¯t worry, my


    dear.¡±


    He did not want to involve her in the mess because he did not want to put her in a dangerous situation.


    ¡°But I want to go with you.¡±


    ¡°I know, but it¡¯ll be easier for me to handle this alone. There are some things that I need to talk to


    Grandpa about,¡± Joseph exined.


    Chloe chewed her lip. She was still worried and said, ¡°Are you going to confront him? He¡¯s so old, and


    his heart isn¡¯t well. Please don¡¯t stress him too much.¡±


    Joseph sighed helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s not a small matter, and it¡¯ll undoubtedly upset him. Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s a


    family doctor at the family home who can provide emergency medical care.¡±


    ¡°You truly are considerate. I should thank you on behalf of Grandpa,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. Besides, he¡¯s a tough old man.¡±


    After finishing his coffee, Joseph put on his coat and left.


    When it gotte into the night, he still had yet to return. Chloe wanted to send him a message to inquire


    about his situation, but she was afraid of disturbing him.


    By the next afternoon, there was still no word from Joseph. Just as she was about to call him, a pop-up


    notification appeared on her phone from a live broadcast.


    [Joseph defies his grandfather and ns to take sole control over the Whitman Group¡­]


    When Chloe saw the explosive and sensational headline, her eyelids twitched as she immediately


    clicked on the link to watch the live broadcast.


    ¡°Please, we need your help. Despite already granting Joseph the position of power, he¡¯s insatiable and


    now demands that we relinquish all our shares and leave the Whitman Group. This is an act of great


    defiance and disrespect!¡± Preston¡¯s voice seethed with indignation as he


    faced the camera.


    While sobbing, Octavia echoed, ¡°And not too long ago, he viciously attacked my son and nearly broke


    his nose. The person you all believe him to be is far from the truth. We must expose his true nature!¡±


    The reporters were fuming, their anger palpable, ¡°Will Mr. Harold stand idle and let such despicable


    behavior go unpunished?¡±


    At the mention of Harold, Preston¡¯s face instantly became awash with tears as he hissed, Even my


    father¡¯s shares have been forcibly taken away. He¡¯s nothing but an unworthy


    scoundrel!¡±


    11


    The reporters were shocked, eximing, ¡°This is outrageous! We¡¯ll expose his ugly face to the public!¡±


    Next, they intercepted Joseph as he stepped out of his car. ¡°Mr. Joseph, please give us an exnation.


    Is it true what they¡¯re saying?¡±


    Joseph stood tall and straight in his suit, emitting apelling aura.


    ¡°I won¡¯t support a bunch of useless people,¡± he dered.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Joseph presented internalpany data before them. ¡°These are the projects undertaken by Preston


    in the past five years. Out of the total projects, only around ten percent or so had been. a sess,


    while the rest had met with miserable failure.¡±


    ¡°But even so, you shouldn¡¯t be so ruthless. After all, he¡¯s your uncle.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Joseph¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°That¡¯s why I left him with a 0.5 percent share. He¡¯ll receive regr


    dividends every year, and his life will remainfortable. Or can yourpany not stand him living in


    such a state and wish to take care of him?¡±


    The reporters were left speechless and unable to respond. Shaking with anger and realizing that he


    was losing the upper hand, Preston quickly brought up Harold. ¡°My father has treated you well, but why


    didn¡¯t you leave any shares for him?¡±


    ¡°They were meant to be mine eventually. What¡¯s the problem if he transferred his shares to me a little


    earlier?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a transfer! It was outright snatching! You¡¯ve driven Grandpa into the hospital with anger!¡±


    ¡°Then you should be at the hospital by his bedside right now instead of attempting to use public opinion


    to suppress me,¡± Joseph retorted coldly before turning around and striding into the Fairlight, paying no


    further attention to those people throughout the whole encounter.

 Chapter 500

    Chapter 500


    Chapter 500 They¡¯ve Fallen Out


    Preston¡¯s face became as dark as the bottom of a burnt kettle, and Octavia looked distressed. Was


    Joseph destined to kick them out?


    ¡°Tell Jon to get back here. How could he still be in the mood to go gvanting when we¡¯re about to lose


    everything we have?!¡±


    Octavia called Jonathan, but he told her some fantastic news.


    ¡°Mom, our chip research was a sess. I¡¯ll be receiving 300 million dors as a bonus.¡±


    Overwhelmed with excitement, Octavia could hardly speak coherently, ¡°This is great! You truly are


    wonderful, my son!


    Preston snatched the phone and said, ¡°Hurry up ande back. You¡¯re now our only hope of taking


    Joe down.¡±


    Octavia hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°But dear, 300 million dors is nothing to Joe.¡±


    ¡°You fool,¡± Preston berated her exasperatingly, ¡°With that much money, we can do a lot. We don¡¯t have


    to confront him head-on.¡±


    After watching the live broadcast, Chloe called Joseph. However, he seemed too busy to answer her


    call.


    Worried about Harold¡¯s condition, Chloe went to the hospital and saw Patrick.


    ¡°Patrick, where¡¯s Grandpa?¡±


    A hint of relief shed across Patrick¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°He¡¯s resting inside the ward right now.


    ¡°Can I go in and see him?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ Mr. Harold said he doesn¡¯t want to see you or Mr. Joseph for now.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡®Oh my¡­ It seems like they really have fallen out.¡±


    ¡°Actually, no matter how harsh Joseph¡¯s words were, he still cares about Grandpa. I¡¯ll give him


    a few days to calm down then bring him to see Grandpa.¡±


    Patrick hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t think you shoulde.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Is it that serious?¡±


    Patrick did not answer her question directly and said, ¡°Mr. Harold wants you to take good care of


    yourself. If you feel that Mr. Joseph is treating you badly, don¡¯t hold it in. If you need to vent, then vent. I


    have to go now. I need to take care of Mr. Harold.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes were filled with a tinge of bitterness as she watched Patrick walk away. She could not


    help but call out, ¡°When Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis resultse out next month, can I see Grandpa then?¡±


    Patrick pondered for a while before nodding. He wondered how far Joseph¡¯s n would have


    progressed by next month. Regardless, Harold would still show himself and witness the scene where


    Xavia would stay with or leave the Whitmans.


    Feeling lost and dejected, Chloe left the hospital. This scene was observed by Vanya hiding in the


    shadows, who then reported to Otto with satisfaction, ¡°Joseph and Harold had a big fight. Harold even


    refused to see Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. Keep an eye on the situation.¡±


    ¡°I know. Joseph¡¯s reputation has dropped significantly and everyone is criticizing him.¡±


    ¡°Hah, this is just the beginning.¡±


    After leaving the hospital, Chloe stood by the roadside as she gazed at the flowing traffic dazedly.


    Just a few days ago, they had been sitting together,ughing and chatting over a meal. How could


    things have changed so quickly?


    Did Harold not adore her? Why would he refuse to see her?


    Though she did not know what Joseph had said to Harold to cause such a drastic change in their


    rtionship, she was certain that most of what Otto had said that day was true-Joseph¡¯s


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    mother was still alive.


    Unconsciously, Chloe found herself standing in front of Fairlight. Reporters crowded the


    entrance, swarming her as soon as they spotted her, moring to get a piece of the story.

 Chapter 501

    Chapter 501


    Chapter 501 A Disgusting Rtionship


    Thankfully, Lucas got there in time and instructed the security guards to drive the away. He then led her


    to the safety of the elevator.


    reporters


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid those reporters won¡¯t budge for the day. You¡¯ll have to leave through the back doorter.¡±


    Chloe knitted her brows slightly. ¡°Got it. Is Joseph very busy today?¡±


    Lucas nodded firmly. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s been having meetings with the executives. Someone opposes the


    motion of dismissing Preston from the board. They think it¡¯s bad for Fairlight¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it kind of is,¡± Chloe replied honestly.


    Lucas gave her a strange look. ¡®I wasn¡¯t expecting her to be so kind. Octavia has targeted her many


    times, yet she doesn¡¯t hold a grudge against Octavia¡¯s family.¡¯


    ¡°Dismissing Preston is ideal but it¡¯d be better to do it quietly and not let everyone learn about


    it.¡±


    Preston and his family were ungrateful pests. They leeched off Joseph but never once showed


    gratitude toward him. Joseph might as well give up such rtives.


    Lucas was struck speechless. He felt that he had been overthinking.


    An idea suddenly popped into Chloe¡¯s mind. She inevitably murmured, ¡°Let everyone learn about it¡­¡±


    Given his intelligence, It was a piece of cake for Joseph to secretly drive Preston and his family out of


    the Whitman Group. Thisrge mess was undoubtedly created for outsiders to witness.


    ¡®So this is all a scheme to make Joseph fall out with Harold¡­¡¯


    Chloe calmed herself and walked to the door of the office. When she raised her hand to knock, she


    heard conversation within the office.


    ¡°You¡¯re heartless, Joseph. It¡¯s fine for you to dismiss Jonathan from the board, but now you want to get


    rid of Preston, your own uncle, too? Aren¡¯t you afraid of public condemnation?¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Are you here to seek justice for Preston?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ I thought you were here because you¡¯re angry about the loss of five points of interest.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I deserve. It¡¯s normal while doing business.¡±


    ¡°Does that include letting your daughter climb into Preston¡¯s bed?¡±


    Chloe gaped while eavesdropping outside. Preston had cheated on his wife.


    Edgar Cottrell looked like a sore spot had been brought up and shouted agitatedly,


    ¡°They like each other. What does that have to do with me?¡±


    ¡°She likes married men?¡±


    ¡°Stop putting up a noble front. You approved it when Hazel came to the Whitman Group to work as an


    intern. If she didn¡¯t look like Xavia, would you have agreed to hire her?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s head buzzed. She abruptly opened the door and stared at Joseph. ¡°What does that mean? You


    found a substitute?¡±


    That woman was his uncle¡¯s mistress. What a disgusting rtionship!


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense.¡± The veins on Joseph¡¯s forehead throbbed. He rebuked Edgar sternly,


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Upon seeing Chloe barge into the office, Edgar decided to throw all caution to the wind. He took out his


    phone and flipped through his photo gallery. ¡°See? This is Hazel Cottrell. During those years that Xavia


    went missing, Hazel came to the Whitman Group for an internship. Joseph didn¡¯t even look over her


    resume before approving her. I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t have to tell you the rest.¡±


    Chloe stared at the photograph closely. The woman in it was charming and adorable with facial


    features that slightly resembled Xavia¡¯s. But she did not have the temperament Xavia possessed-


    instead full of shyness and youthfulness. She looked very much like how Xavia would look back when


    Xavia was younger.


    Joseph snatched the phone, looking furious. ¡°Hazel no longer works in the Whitman Group. That¡¯s the


    past. I didn¡¯t read her resume, but the HR did.¡±


    Edgar raised a sarcastic remark. ¡°Yes, she didn¡¯t meet the recruitment criteria, but you still turned a


    blind eye to it and hired her.¡±

 Chapter 502

    Chapter 502


    Chapter 502 Calming Green Tea


    A stalemate ensued. Chloe could no longer hear Joseph¡¯s retorts. Subconsciously, she was


    enlightened-Edgar had been telling the truth.


    ¡°What are you waiting for, Lucas?¡± Gloominess spread through Joseph¡¯s eyes, his whole body exuding


    a cold aura. ¡°Drag this madman out!¡±


    Noticing that he had achieved his goal, Edgar sneered and left without any prompting from Lucas. The


    latter did not dare to linger either. He gently closed the door and hurriedly left the


    Warzone.


    Joseph wanted to take Chloe¡¯s hand but thetter shifted her body and dodged him.


    He said helplessly, ¡°That was all in the past. Just let it go.¡±


    ¡°But Xavia is still in our lives right now. She¡¯s not the past.¡±


    Chloe was irritated by the fact that Xavia would appear from time to time. She felt that Noah was right.


    A love affair should only concern two people, so why was there a third party?


    ¡°She¡¯ll be part of the past once she has given birth to the child.¡±


    Chloe stared straight at him. ¡°Will her child be a part of the past too?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already reached a consensus on that. Don¡¯t bring the child into the problem.¡±


    ¡°Did


    you never stop to think that Xavia wille to mind when I see the child she births?¡±


    Annoyance dawned on Joseph¡¯s face. He should have gone with Chloe to Docwood for the


    advertisement shoot. This mess would never have happened then.


    He lit a cigarette, and his handsome face could be vaguely seen through the smoke. Chloe could not


    discern his expression.


    They looked at each other but had nothing to say.


    Suddenly, a sense of disgust hit Chloe. Though she tried her best to suppress it, she knew she would


    never be able to tolerate this child. She yearned to be with Joseph forever and to stay with him during


    his most difficult times. If everything broke down and he became poor and powerless, she would still


    ept him, but she could not ept him having a child with another woman.


    ¡°You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you? What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll have Lucas get us some.¡± Joseph broke the


    silence.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Grandpa? Is it some kind of act?¡± Chloe ignored his question and


    raised her doubts instead.


    After a pause, he said calmly, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you about it, and I hope that you won¡¯t meddle in it


    either. I can handle it on my own.¡±


    Chloe took a deep breath. ¡°Why can¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°There are too many unknown dangers.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll talk about something else then. What that man said, was it true?¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    If Gabriel had not exposed Xavia, Joseph might be treating her much better right now. Maybe Chloe


    would not even be in the picture.


    It was reasonable. The image and temper Xavia crafted were in line with the standards of first love men


    yearned for.


    Joseph became slightly impatient. ¡°That happened a few years ago. You have an ex too. Even if I have


    a child with Xavia, you¡¯re the woman I love.¡±


    Chloeughed. ¡°So do I have to thank you for that?¡±


    ¡°Can you please stop messing around?¡± Joseph rubbed his temples in deep frustration.


    ¡°Am I? Is it messing around when I ask you about one thing?¡± Her face flushed from anger. You¡¯re the


    guilty one here. You can¡¯t condemn me and say that I¡¯m messing around. Was sleeping with another


    woman the right thing for you to do?¡±


    She brought up the past endlessly. It was not like he had done something wrong now.


    ¡°Joseph, you¡¯re a fucking bastard!¡± Chloe could no longer take it, running out the door and mming it


    shut behind her.


    The door nged against the frame loudly as if it was the effects of an earthquake. Joseph¡¯s lips


    twitched, noticing for the first time how strong she was.


    Lucas came in with a cup of green tea. ¡°Sir, please have some tea to soothe your nerves. I¡¯m sure Ms.


    Chloe hasn¡¯t gone far.¡±

 Chapter 503

    Chapter 503


    Chapter 503 Hazel Cottrell


    The deep crease between Joseph¡¯s brows slowly smoothed out. He picked up the cup of tea and


    gulped it down.


    ¡°Where did she go?¡±


    Lucas pointed at the back door fire escape.


    Joseph nodded before hurriedly going after her.


    Shaking his head helplessly, Lucas felt that Joseph should be so tough since he should be coaxing her.


    When Joseph reached the back door, Chloe was nowhere to be found. He frowned and decided to call


    her.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph.¡±


    He suddenly heard a gentle voice that sounded shy and surprised. He turned around and saw Hazel


    standing in front of him, her white T-shirt and pleated skirt setting off her pureness.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Hazel grasped the hem of her shirt and asked anxiously, ¡°Didn¡¯t my fathere to you?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Yes, he just left.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Joseph. Please allow me to say sorry on his behalf.¡± Her bow was sincere as she


    expressed her apology.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine as long as you stop him from making a scene here again,¡± Joseph stated emotionlessly, his


    face devoid of expression.


    Hazel bit her lip and said bitterly, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Joseph raised his arm to check the time.


    ¡°Sir¡­ I¡¯m not Preston¡¯s mistress. My father was talking nonsense.¡±


    She hesitated for a long time before abruptly blurting this out. Her tone sounded urgent too.


    Joseph raised his brows in silence.


    ¡°I was unwilling to be his mistress, so he fired me.¡± When Hazel brought up that mncholic. topic, she


    shed tears. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡±


    Joseph was surprised.


    Seeing that, she hurriedly added, ¡°I was drunk during the Whitman Group annual party three years ago.


    Preston then took me to a hotel. While he was taking a bath, I slipped away. It Isn¡¯t


    what


    you think.¡±


    ¡°Do you


    think I¡¯d believe you?¡± Joseph shot her a mocking re. ¡°Why would Preston give


    your father another five points of interest for no reason?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. My father secretly snapped a photo of Preston taking me to the hotel and


    threatened to tell Octavia about it if he didn¡¯t give my father more interest.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Joseph replied indifferently.


    Hazel questioned carefully, ¡°Sir, will you forgive me?¡±


    ¡°This concerns you and Preston. You don¡¯t have to seek my forgiveness.¡±


    Hazel¡¯s expression stiffened before she whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to see me as that kind of


    woman.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯re not.¡± Joseph¡¯s answer was rather perfunctory. ¡°I¡¯m busy. Bye.¡±


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll leave now. There are many reporters outside, so be careful.¡±


    Hazel¡¯s frown turned into a smile as she walked beside him. When she was almost at the door, she


    slipped and screamed as she fell forward.


    Joseph instinctively extended his arms to support her.


    Hazel smiled gently at him as fear lingered in her heart. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you two doing?¡±


    Chloe was standing at the back door with two portions of takeout in her hands. With her fists clenched


    tightly, she glued her gaze on them.


    Feeling horrified, Hazel quickly backed away from Joseph.


    Joseph found himself in a predicament. He patiently offered Chloe an exnation. ¡°She nearly fell, and


    I was just helping her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, this isn¡¯t what it looks like.¡±


    The corridor was dimly lit and Chloe could not see Hazel¡¯s face earlier, but now she saw thetter¡¯s


    face. Her blood ran cold as unprecedented wrath hit her. Even her voice turned shaky.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Hazel became confused. ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Hazel Cottrell.¡±

 Chapter 504

    Chapter 504


    Chapter 504 Dude, You¡¯re Being Sued


    Chloe closed her eyes. She then looked up at Hazel after a sh of understanding, her eyes ice- cold.


    ¡°Your father left, and then you came. What the hell do you two want? Are you done here?


    Hazel was frightened, so she exined timidly, ¡°I¡¯m here to exin. There¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Are you here to exin or to get close to Joseph? I¡¯m sure you know your own intentions.¡±


    Hazel was not a virtuous woman since she was entangled with a married man like Preston.


    Joseph was hit by a wave of displeasure. ¡°Watch your tongue.¡±


    ¡°Are you feeling sorry for her?¡± Chloe did not hide the sarcasm in her voice.


    ¡°Chloe¡­¡± he said her name slowly as anger and helplessness engulfed him. She was the only woman


    he cared about, but she still doubted him.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t fight because of me. I¡¯ll leave now,¡± Hazel hurriedly chimed in.


    ¡°Go, and don¡¯t just say that for show. Don¡¯t be trying to fish for hispassion.¡± With her arms over her


    chest, Chloe shot Hazel a fierce re as if she had seen through thetter¡¯s thoughts.


    The blood drained out of Hazel¡¯s face. She lowered her head and said to Joseph, ¡°Bye, Mr. Joseph.¡±


    With tightly pursed lips, Joseph replied lightly.


    After Hazel left, Joseph looked at Chloe, who was rooted to the spot. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡±


    Chloe erupted in anger. ¡°Far from it!¡±


    ¡°What more do you want?¡±


    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Her anger reached a boiling point as she burst into a peal ofughter. ¡°My


    husband was hugging another woman. Is it out of the line for me to rebuke her?


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t hugging her. I was just supporting her to keep her from falling. You¡¯re making a fuss out of


    nothing.¡±


    Joseph failed to see the seriousness of the issue and felt that Chloe was being unreasonable.


    The stic bag of the takeouts cut into Chloe¡¯s palms. She felt that she was too soft-hearted. She had


    managed to quell her anger after leaving. After some thought, she figured that he might not have eaten


    after being busy the whole day, so she got takeout for him while passing by a restaurant.


    10


    And what did she get in the end?


    She saw him being lovey-dovey with Xavia¡¯s substitute.


    Joseph strode toward Chloe and towered before her. When he noticed what was in her hands, his eyes


    lit up. He took them and asked, ¡°Did you get this for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I got it for you and Hazel. I¡¯m afraid you guys would be starving after being lovey-dovey for a long


    time.¡±


    Chloe had no intention of letting him off the hook as her anger grew.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯ve been patiently coaxing you for such a long time. What the hell do you want from


    me?¡±


    As they locked gazes with each other, the frustration in Joseph¡¯s eyes was clear, causing Chloe to flip


    out. ¡°Oh, thank you so much for coaxing me. Should I thank you humbly and kneel before you?¡±


    Her p back left Joseph speechless. He had never been so humble with any woman. As his dignity


    shattered, reluctance overcame him, and his charming face sank.


    ¡°Stop. Don¡¯t make me mad.¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Chloe felt like a fool. She stuffed the takeouts into his hands.


    ¡°You fucking bastard!¡±


    Before he could react, she stormed away.


    Holding the warm takeouts, Joseph was stunned. His anger soon subsided and he wondered if


    he had been too harsh.


    When Lucas saw Josephe back alone, he touched his face. He felt like asking but was not bold


    enough.


    After Joseph finished his meal, he was no longer angry. He nced at the GPS and found that Chloe


    had driven back to her apartment. He slipped on his zer and said to Lucas, ¡°Go home. Everything¡¯s


    done for the day.¡±


    But as soon as he made that statement, Samuel arrived.


    ¡°Dude, you¡¯re being sued. Jonathan and his family are getting awyer to sue you.¡±

 Chapter 505

    Chapter 505


    Chapter 505 Joseph the Scumbag


    Joseph tilted his head, his face expressionless and his gaze indifferent. ¡°Did they go to you for the


    lawsuit?¡±


    Samuel was Joseph¡¯s high school ssmate. After Joseph went abroad to establish his business, the


    Whitmans thought that he and Samuel had ceased contacting each other.


    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m too expensive for them to hire.¡± Samuel looked proud but a look of disdain. engulfed


    him soon after. ¡°Jonathan hired the second best-thatwyer who is always one level weaker than me.¡±


    In thew industry, Samuel sat in the top spot while Victor Cottrell was in second.


    Joseph tilted his head and snorted. ¡°Victor Cottrell?¡±


    ¡°Right on the money.¡±


    ¡°His father came here to make a scene today.¡±


    Samuel reacted. ¡°So, this family knows Preston? Are they on the same boat?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re the ones who will sink or swim together.¡±


    Samuel poured a ss of water and swiftly gulped it down. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡±


    Joseph shot his friend with a cold, scornful re. ¡°Can¡¯t you handle it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I can, but I¡¯m afraid that Mr. Harold will pester you about this.¡±


    After all, they were Harold¡¯s descendants. If his grandson and son got into a fight, he would suffer the


    most given that he was the grandfather as well as the father.


    ¡°What¡¯s Preston trying to sue me with?¡±


    ¡°Ungratefulness and disloyalty. He¡¯s even iming that you¡¯re upying family assets.¡±


    Joseph sounded rather absent-minded. ¡°I look forward to thiswsuit.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of bing a target of scorn?¡± Samuel clicked his tongue. ¡°The Whitmans. are the


    top aristocratic family in Docwood. It¡¯d be humiliating to bring such a mess to court.¡±


    Ordinary people cared about their prestige and image, let alone a rich aristocratic family like the


    Whitmans. Of course, this sort of family valued their reputation very much.


    ¡°Meet with Tavia when you have the time,¡± Joseph suggested.


    ¡°Why? Do you want her to stop Preston?¡±


    A malicious sneer appeared on Joseph¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Her husband cheated on her, and she has


    the right to know.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Bewilderment got the better of Samuel. ¡°Who¡¯s Preston¡¯s mistress?¡±


    Octavia had gotten pregnant with Preston¡¯s child before their marriage, and it had created quite an


    uproar. They imed that what they had was true love, but after two decades, that statement had been


    refuted-maybe even earlier.


    There were too few men in this world who had never cheated on their significant others.


    ¡°Hazel, Victor¡¯s younger sister.¡±


    Lucas became confused. ¡°But didn¡¯t Hazel just say that she didn¡¯t sleep with Preston?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s likely that he didn¡¯t manage to seal the deal, but that doesn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t want to,¡± Joseph


    stated coldly. There was no difference in either case.


    Samuel¡¯s eyes went wide. He never expected Victor¡¯s family to be such a mess. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a cafe and


    sit down to discuss this at length.¡± With this piece of gossip in hand, he felt that he could criticize Victor


    the next time they met.


    ¡°I¡¯m busy. Just do as you see fit. I need to go home to my wife.¡±


    Samuel watched as Joseph walked away and left. He then rubbed his eyes forcefully.


    ¡°Is that the same man who holds women in disdain? He¡¯s now a man who¡¯s afraid of his wife.¡±


    Joseph was heading home at five o¡¯clock in the evening. He clearly valued his woman more than his


    friends.


    Lucas whispered, ¡°The thing is, he bickered with Ms. Chloe earlier. He tried coaxing her all afternoon


    but failed.¡±


    Samuel was rendered speechless.


    Even pigs might even fly now. Joseph had learned how to coax people and was now no longer an


    insensible man. He had turned over a new leaf to be a warm, considerate person.


    Chloe rushed home in a fit of anger. She wanted to grab a bite, but after going around for a day, she


    was exhausted. Lying in bed, she unconsciously dozed off.


    After sleeping for three hours, she woke up. The sky had darkened, so the whole room was in shadow.


    She picked up her phone, but Joseph had not called or texted her.


    She had given him both portions of takeout and was starving now, and it was normal for pregnant


    ladies to be emotional.


    Feeling aggrieved, her eyes turned red. She scolded angrily, ¡°You¡¯re a fucking scumbag, Joseph!¡±

 Chapter 506

    Chapter 506


    Chapter 506 Men Can Utilize Their Sexual Charms Too


    ¡°Are you badmouthing me?¡±


    The bedroom door abruptly swung open, revealing a tall and handsome man exuding an air of dignity


    and aloofness. However, the sight of him holding adle in his hand seemed oddly endearing, creating


    a delightful contrast.


    Chloe¡¯s almond-shaped eyes widened as she stared at him, momentarily taken aback. ¡°When did you


    get here?¡±


    ¡°An hour ago.¡±


    ¡°Are you a ghost? How did you enter my apartment without making a sound?!¡±


    Joseph adopted an innocent expression. ¡°I saw you sleeping so peacefully, and I didn¡¯t want to disturb


    you. I never realized you¡¯re such a deep sleeper.¡±


    A flicker of emotion passed through Chloe¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted today.¡±


    Joseph felt his heart melt. Lately, he had been consumed by numerous responsibilities, leaving him


    with little time to be with her. And today, he had even upset her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared some dishes. Come out and eat.¡±


    Chloe did not refuse as she was famished. She took a seat at the table while Joseph brought out the


    meticulously prepared dishes one by one-five visually stunning tes emitting irresistible aromas. The


    scent alone hinted at their deliciousness.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth watered as she picked up her cutlery and indulged in a bite of the steak. The meat was


    tender, sulent, and infused with a delightful aroma, devoid of any excess grease. She found herself


    unable to resist, taking bite after bite, unable to satiate her appetite.


    They say the way to a man¡¯s heart was through his stomach, but that saying only held weight if the


    man in questioncked culinary skills.


    Joseph leaned in, resting his chin on his hand, and said with gentle affection, ¡°Slow down. No one¡¯s


    going to snatch it away from you.¡± As he uttered those words, he also served her aforting bowl of


    chowder, mindful of her well-being and worried she might choke.


    Chloe was a little embarrassed. In the past, she had been the one caring for him, and now the roles


    were reversed, which felt strange. However, the moment this thought emerged, she vigorously shook


    her head. ¡®No, there¡¯s nothing peculiar about it. Even if it feels that way, I must adapt! I refuse to be


    treated as amodity.¡±


    Chloepleted her bedtime routine and settled into bed. Joseph did the same, lying down beside her.


    She gently protested as her expression stiffened, ¡°Get off the bed. I never agreed to you staying over.¡±


    ¡°After working tirelessly for you all night, aren¡¯t you going to offer any form ofpensation?¡± Joseph¡¯s


    broad hand firmly wrapped around her slender waist, pausing momentarily. ¡°Hmm, you seem to have


    gained a bit of weight.¡±


    There appeared to be a slight increase in the size of Chloe¡¯s tummy.


    In the dim light, a hint of panic flickered across her face as she gently pushed away the hand on her


    waist. ¡°You¡¯re the one who gained weight.¡±


    ¡°I exercise every day and never put on weight. If you don¡¯t believe me, feel for yourself.¡± Joseph


    grasped her hand and guided it to his abdominal muscles. They were firm and well-


    defined.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    A blush crept onto Chloe¡¯s cheeks as she felt the warmth radiating from Joseph¡¯s skin. His flirting skills


    were undoubtedly improving.


    Joseph noticed her unusual reaction and a sense of delight washed over him. He held her hand, urging


    her to explore his body with her touch.


    Beforeing to her apartment, he had dialed Nathan¡¯s number and sought advice on seduction tips.


    Nathan stated that women could utilize their sexual charms and that men could do the same. Initially,


    Joseph dismissed the idea, but upon reflection, he realized it was his wife, not someone else, so he rid


    himself of all reservations.


    ¡°Enough.¡± Chloe couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and abruptly turned around, presenting him with her back.


    ¡°If you want to sleep, then sleep. Otherwise, get out.¡±


    A mischievous smirk tugged at the corner of Joseph¡¯s lips. ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry anymore?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± she replied bluntly.


    ¡°Then how can we move past this?¡±


    He could not quiteprehend the intricacies of a woman¡¯s thought process. After all, he had never


    done anything with Hazel, so why was Chloe so upset?


    ¡°I expect you to support me unconditionally and stand by my side if we ever face a simr situation in


    the future. Even if I call the other person a piece of shit, I want you to agree and back me up,¡± Chloe


    asserted.


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡±

 Chapter 507

    Chapter 507


    Chapter 507 Adding Fuel to the Fire


    Chloe¡¯s eyes turned red as she heard his response and a surge of emotions overwhelmed her. Tears


    welled up in her eyes, cascading down her cheeks with a gentle pitter-patter sound. Her once radiant


    and delicate face now resembled a rain-soaked lotus flower, evoking a sense of pity and mncholy.


    Her appearance alone had the power to melt anyone¡¯s heart.


    Even if Joseph were toply with her request, she knew deep down that she could not expect him to


    call Hazel a piece of shit. All she wanted was a clear and unwavering stance from him. Frustration and


    hurt surged within her, and she shouted at him, ¡°Get out! I don¡¯t want to see you anymore!¡±


    How could Joseph dare to leave her? He was taken aback by Chloe¡¯s outburst and tried to wipe away


    her tears, feeling flustered and confused. ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt you or scold you. Why are you suddenly crying?¡±


    Chloe forcefully pushed him away, her voice trembling with frustration. ¡°You never stand up for me. You


    took Hazel¡¯s side. She¡¯s probably your real wife, so go find her.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll stand up for you. She¡¯s just a piece of shit, okay?¡± Joseph sighed, but deep down, he


    worried that such words would tarnish Chloe¡¯s grace and demeanor.


    ¡°It¡¯s toote for that!¡± Chloe eximed, her wordsced with anguish. Without offering any further


    exnation, she pushed him out of the house. Her tears flowed from her eyes like a broken string of


    pearls, releasing all the pent-up unhappiness she had been carrying during this trying period.


    Joseph had never encountered such a situation in his life. He raised the set of keys he was holding, but


    then ultimately lowered them, a feeling of helplessness etched on his handsome


    face.


    ¡®Will that dumbo cry even more if I go back inside?¡¯ he pondered, his heart tightening. He gazed at the


    closed door for a moment, then made up his mind to turn around and look for


    Nathan.


    The autumn night in Aesper was deste, contrasting with the lively and bustling atmosphere of the


    bar, creating a stark contrast between the two worlds.


    After hearing the entire story, Nathan burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha, so you spent the entire night taking


    care of her and thought you were about to reconcile, but it all fell apart because of one sentence,¡± he


    remarked.


    Joseph¡¯s face darkened, his gaze sharpening like a knife as he fixed his eyes on Nathan.¡± Enough with


    the nonsense,¡± he retorted.


    ¡°Ahem, ahem¡­¡± Nathan cleared his throat nervously, quickly getting back on track. ¡°Tell me,


    what do you think of Hazel?¡±


    ¡°Nothing in particr.¡±


    Three years ago, when Hazel came for an interview at the Whitman Group, Joseph noticed her


    immediately because of her resemnce to Xavia. He had been in a rtionship with Xavia for several


    years, and though he did not love her, over time, he had inevitably developed some feelings for her.


    Back then, he was unaware of Xavia¡¯s true nature.


    Hazel did not pass the interview but was given another chance when HR arranged for her to try a


    different position. That was the extent of their interaction.


    At this point in time, Joseph had a clear understanding of his own heart, and the only person he loved


    was Chloe.


    Nathanforted him, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Just do what Chloe wants.¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Joseph furrowed his brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Send Hazel a text and tell her she¡¯s a piece of shit.¡±


    Joseph was taken aback, lost for words.


    Nathan set down his beer ss. ¡°Give me your phone. I¡¯ll do it for you. Don¡¯t drag this out.¡±


    Joseph asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t there any other way?¡±


    ¡°There are alternatives, but this method is the simplest and most effective,¡± Nathan said earnestly,


    locking eyes with Joseph. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that Hazel actually brings Xavia to your mind and you¡¯re


    reluctant to do it.¡±


    Joseph sneered. ¡°I feel more disgusted than anything.¡±


    ¡°In that case, send the text.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyelid twitched violently. ¡°Xavia is Xavia, and Hazel is Hazel. There¡¯s no need to attribute


    Xavia¡¯s mistakes to Hazel.¡±


    Nathan gave him a deep look. ¡°No wonder Chloe is angry. I would be too if I were her.¡± Trying to reason


    with an angry woman was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.

 Chapter 508

    Chapter 508


    Chapter 508 Confronting Preston in the Bedroom With a Cleaver


    Joseph could not understand. ¡°Will sending this text actually make Chloe happy?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, I guarantee it.¡±


    ¡°Then get me Hazel¡¯s number. I don¡¯t have it.¡±


    Although it seemed unnecessary, he was willing to do it if it would make the dumbo happy.


    At 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, Hazel received a message. As she read its contents, her face contorted in


    anger. She reassured herself, ¡®Chloe must be using Joseph¡¯s phone to send this! Joseph is a noble and


    cultured person. He would never utter such vulgar and indecent words.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    At this moment, Xavia learned that Hazel had gone to Fairlight to find Joseph. She delicately peeled off


    her face mask, revealing a sly smile as she softly chuckled, ¡°She wants a piece of the action too?¡±


    Vanya said, ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s overestimating herself. Even if I let her do as she pleases, she doesn¡¯t hold a candle to Chloe.¡±


    Hazel was a pawn that S had arranged for and deployed as bait three years ago. The purpose was to


    test Xavia¡¯s position in Joseph¡¯s heart and her suitability. She would be called into action only if she


    was deemed suitable.


    Hazel was not a member of Duskfall and was only paid to y a role. Nevertheless, her reappearance


    now was quite intriguing.


    Vanya observed the surroundings from the balcony through a pair of binocrs and said, ¡°We can


    ignore Hazel and let her wander around in front of Chloe. After all, she¡¯s just portraying your presence.¡±


    ¡°I think so too,¡± Xavia replied, taking a seat in front of the dressing table. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte and I want to


    go to bed. You should head on back.¡±


    After a brief pause, a look of disgust crossed Xavia¡¯s face as she added, ¡°Make sure to avoid that nosy


    old snoop¡¯s surveince. Ugh, it¡¯s so annoying.¡± Instead of monitoring her, it would be better if he just


    kicked the bucket already. Out of sight, out of mind, and much more convenient.


    Vanya nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t look for me tomorrow. I¡¯m meeting that guy Noah to see if he¡¯s interested in


    cooperating.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I also have to go for a prenatal check-up.¡±


    ¡°T-31 days. Once the amniocentesis is done, Chloe can fuck off!¡¯


    As evening fell, Lucas delivered the damning evidence of Preston¡¯s affair to Octavia. The moment she


    laid eyes on the incriminating proof, a torrent of emotions surged within her, giving way to an


    uncontroble rage. She rushed to the kitchen to grab a cleaver and stormed into the bedroom to


    confront Preston.


    The night was destined to be a sleepless one.


    Joseph woke


    up in his vi the next morning, greeted by a phone call from Patrick ¡°Mr. Joseph, it appears that Mr.


    Harold¡¯s condition has deteriorated. His spirits have been low, and he barely ate anything yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Make sure that the doctors conduct aprehensive examination. If there are no serious issues, bring


    him back to the family home. Don¡¯t let Preston and his family into the ward.¡±


    ¡°But¡­.Mr. Harold might feel sympathetic¡­¡±


    Joseph let out a sigh and said softly, ¡°Let him do as he pleases but make it clear that we won¡¯t provide


    any support or money. That¡¯s my bottom line.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll convey the message to Mr. Harold.¡±


    After a quick wash-up, Joseph set out to find Chloe. At Oceanic Residence, a group of people. who


    were out for some morning exercise were gathered together and discussing something animatedly.


    ¡°Talk to her respectfully. Why are you bullying a woman?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, be careful that we call the cops on you.¡±


    ¡°Why are you resorting to violence against a woman?¡±


    ¡°Let go of her!¡±


    The crowd¡¯s persuasion had no effect on Jonathan¡¯s enraged state. On the contrary, their words further


    provoked him. He aggressively pulled at Chloe¡¯s hair, causing her intense pain and nearly eliciting a


    scream from her.


    ¡°What do any of you know? This is the woman who ruined my family!¡±


    If Chloe had not married into the family, Jonathan and his father could have continued on peacefully in


    thepany. His parents could have enjoyed a good life without reaching the point of divorce. This


    despicable woman must have drugged Joseph and driven their entire family out, all in an attempt to


    seize the family fortune for herself.

 Chapter 509

    Chapter 509


    Chapter 509 Two ps for Jonathan


    Chloe seethed with anger. ¡°What does that have to do with me? Are you justifying your father¡¯s


    infidelity?¡±


    ¡®Jonathan doesn¡¯t have the courage to confront Joseph, so he¡¯s taking it out on me. What a coward!¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s normal for men to have affairs. It¡¯s not like they abandoned their family and children!¡±


    ¡®Father had only made one mistake that every man in the world would make.¡¯


    Despite the pain from her scalp being pulled, Chloe fought to raise her head. With defiance, she spat in


    Jonathan¡¯s face. ¡°Tch! You make me sick!¡±


    Since when was the minimum standard for a marriage that a man did not abandon his family


    considered the greatest act of kindness? Howughable.


    Jonathan¡¯s body tensed with anger. With a fierce and ferocious expression, he raised his hand,


    intending to strike.


    Chloe closed her eyes in fear, anticipating the blow.


    However, just in the nick of time, a cup of scalding hot coffee flew out from the crowd, hitting


    Jonathan¡¯s head with precise aim. He was scalded and hastily retreated to the side, his face contorting


    in pain as he held the burned area and wailed.


    Chloe nced at Noah, who had appeared among the crowd. Feeling slightly dazed, she asked, ¡°Did


    you throw that?¡±


    Noah handed her a basket of croissants. ¡°Stay behind me.¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s call Joseph and ask him toe deal with Jonathan.¡±


    In her eyes, Noah was nothing more than a gentle, younger-brother-like figure who would do his best to


    subdue Jonathan. She feared that he might get hurt in the process.


    Noah turned around, a warm smile on his face as he reassured her, ¡°I know Taekwondo. I¡¯m pretty


    skilled and can protect you.¡±


    ¡°Save your protection for someone else.¡± A chilling voice suddenly pierced through, and Joseph


    pushed his way through the crowd, his gaze icy as he locked eyes with Noah.


    Noah did not appear too surprised by Joseph¡¯s sudden arrival and gave him an ambiguous smile. ¡°If


    you can handle your little cousin properly, I would want nothing of this.¡±


    Joseph averted his gaze and focused on the deranged Jonathan, whose face was now red from the


    scalding coffee and contorted from the pain.


    As Joseph approached, Jonathan¡¯s momentum faltered, and he stubbornly imed, ¡°They


    attacked me first!¡±


    Rubbing her scalp, Chloe cursed, ¡°I was heading downstairs to throw out the trash, and you came out


    of nowhere to insult and humiliate me. Is it amusing to tell tant lies?¡±


    Jonathan retorted viciously, ¡°You deserve it!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±


    Was he using her simply because he felt inadequate?


    ¡°Apologize.¡± Joseph¡¯s voice turned cold as hemanded Jonathan.


    Jonathan stubbornly refused. ¡°Why? Did this bitch manage to brainwash you? Grandpa ended up in the


    hospital because of you. Pull your head out of the clouds. How could shepare to Xavia?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes darkened, and he raised his hand to p Jonathan.


    Smack!


    The impact sent Jonathan staggering backward, nearly causing him to lose his bnce. One side of his


    face quickly swelled, disying visible redness and five distinct finger marks.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Jonathan was stunned. ¡°You hit me in front of so many people over a woman?¡±


    Smack!


    Remaining silent, Joseph swung his hand once more. Now, both sides of Jonathan¡¯s face were


    adorned with finger marks, evenly distributed.


    Joseph¡¯s face disyed no emotion, yet it exuded a chilling and sinister quality. ¡°Do you believe that


    merely having the name ¡®Whitman¡¯ will shield you from any consequences?¡±


    Jonathan¡¯s face throbbed with excruciating pain, akin to the searing sensation of chili peppers being


    rubbed on his skin. The agony rendered him speechless, leaving him to stare nkly at Joseph.


    ¡°If


    you ever dare toy a finger on Chloe again, you won¡¯t get away after just two ps,¡± Joseph warned,


    his gaze cold and menacing. He then turned and walked toward the car with Chloe, leaving with a


    sense of grandeur.


    Chloe nced back at Noah, who remained standing there, concerned that Jonathan might seek


    revenge on him after they departed. ¡°Noah¡¯s still there. If we¡¯re going to leave, let¡¯s take him with us.¡±

 Chapter 510

    Chapter 510


    Chapter 510 Noah¡¯s Premeditated n


    Joseph paid no heed to her words as if he were deaf and stomped on the elerator.


    Chloe eximed, ¡°Hey, why are you speeding up?¡±


    Joseph shot back, ¡°Why was Noah at Oceanic Residence wearing pajamas?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s studying at a nearby university and stays there for convenience.¡±


    For a moment, Joseph felt the urge to punch the steering wheel. He gritted his teeth and asked, ¡°When


    did he move in?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Probably around the same time as me.¡±


    The air around Joseph turned oppressively dark, and the knuckles of his hand on the steering wheel


    whitened from the tension. ¡°You¡¯re moving back to the vi today.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Noah has ulterior motives toward you.


    Chloe chuckled helplessly and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your evidence?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it suspicious that he chose to live in the same apartment as you?¡±


    ¡°He moved there to pursue his postgraduate studies. I don¡¯t have the charm to control which university


    he attends.¡±


    Joseph asserted confidently, ¡°He had a premeditated n and made careful preparations.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. I can¡¯t reason with you!¡± Chloe grew frustrated and turned her face toward the window,


    feeling powerless.


    Joseph nced at her through the corner of his eye and pondered for a moment before. breaking the


    silence. ¡°I¡¯ve sent a text to Hazel as you requested.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyebrows twitched, recalling the screenshot Joseph sent her this morning. Apologies should be


    timely. If he had done that decisivelyst night, both sides would have been pleased. But now, after a


    whole night had passed, Chloe was no longer angry and felt that his actions had been unnecessary.


    Joseph noticed herck of response and felt perplexed. He could not understand why she was still


    unhappy.


    On their way to the Johnson Group, Chloe was lost in her thoughts. As they passed Fairlight, her


    attention was caught by a figure swiftly passing outside the window. Her spirit jolted.¡± Stop the car.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Joseph was puzzled.


    ¡°I saw Hazel entering Fairlight.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s she doing at the office?¡±


    ¡°And who should I ask for the answer? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s mypany,¡± Chloe hinted with a meaningful


    look.


    Joseph was at a loss for words in response to her question.


    The car came to a halt, and Chloe wasted no time rushing toward the direction Hazel had gone. True to


    their suspicions, she had indeed entered Fairlight. Joseph and Chloe exchanged nces, their faces


    filled with doubt. They observed her holding a folder and engaging in conversation with the receptionist.


    After a brief exchange, the receptionist instructed her to wait in the lounge area.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Soon, someone from the HR department came downstairs to receive her. It became evident that Hazel


    had sessfully passed an interview and secured a position at Fairlight.


    Chloe took a deep breath, lifted her head, and locked her gaze on Joseph, eager to see how he would


    handle the situation.


    Joseph approached and intercepted the HR executive. ¡°Leslie, what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    The executive appeared taken aback by Joseph¡¯s appearance. ¡°Mr. Joseph¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you not understand my question?¡±


    ¡°Oh! I just came downstairs to apany the new employee for the onboarding procedure.


    have any specific instructions, sir?¡±


    Do you


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed, and his gaze fixated on Hazel. ¡°So, you intend to work here?¡±


    Hazel, unaware of Chloe¡¯s presence behind her, appeared somewhat coy. ¡°Um, Mr. Joseph, please


    rest assured that my father and brother do not speak for me. I¡¯m determined to work hard and


    contribute to Fairlight¡¯s sess.¡±


    ¡°No need for that. Find anotherpany.¡±


    Hazel¡¯s face turned pale and tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Did I do something to upset you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then why-¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to know that,¡± Joseph replied. He then turned to the HR executive and


    instructed, ¡°Cancel the onboarding process. She can proceed with the resignation procedure.¡±

 Chapter 511

    Chapter 511


    Chapter 511 Hazel Shows up at the Johnson Group


    When those words were spoken, Hazel¡¯s crying intensified, her innocent and youthful appearance


    tugging at people¡¯s heartstrings


    Meanwhile, Chloe crossed her arms, her red lips slightly curved as she watched Hazel with a twinkle in


    her eye. She truly admired women like Hazel and Ava and wondered how they could shed tears on


    command. Could they have been faucets in their past lives?


    Looking at Hazel, Joseph became somewhat annoyed and said, ¡°Leslie,pensate her three months¡¯


    sry worth.¡±


    Hazel was stunned and she said in a hushed voice, ¡°Mr. Joseph, it¡¯s not about the money¡­¡±


    ¡°Then why are you crying?¡±


    They had met twice, and twice she had cried. Crying once could evoke sympathy, but crying repeatedly


    would only make people annoyed. Moreover, he disliked women who wept incessantly in the


    workce.


    ¡°I¡­I want to stay with Fairlight, and I promise to perform well. Please don¡¯t fire me, Mr. Joseph¡­¡±


    Hazel pleaded pitifully.


    ¡°Your brother is helping Preston sue us. We have every reason to suspect that he sent you as a spy.


    Other than that, your father is working with Preston to take advantage of us. From any perspective,


    we¡¯re on opposing sides. Why can¡¯t we fire you?¡± Chloe stepped out from behind Joseph, her articte


    reasoning leaving no room for discussion.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Each reason she presented seemed irrefutable. Haze¡¯s face turned white and red in turns.


    ¡®So this scheming woman was here all along? Did she deliberately hide herself so that she could enjoy


    my humiliation?!¡¯


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, I promise that my brother and my father¡¯s affairs won¡¯t affect me. I won¡¯t be influenced by


    them.¡±


    ¡°Let correct you. It¡¯s Mrs. Chloe, not ¡®miss.¡±¡± Chloe smiled faintly, staring at Hazel as she continued,


    ¡°And about the dismissal, we¡¯ve already provided the reasons and thepensation is adequate. We


    have other matters to attend to, so let¡¯s leave it at that for now. If you have any issues, feel free to


    follow legal procedures.¡±


    She did not want to waste any more time on this matter. The way Fairlight had handled it was


    appropriate, even payingpensation before employment. It could be deemed benevolent and


    generous, and Hazel could not possibly resort to legal action.


    But the crux of the matter was that Hazel did not want money. She wanted an opportunity!


    ¡°Is this how you feel too, Mr. Joseph?¡± Hazel asked.


    er Shows up at the Johnson Group


    Joseph met her expectant gaze, but his voice remained cold as ice as he said, ¡°I think my wife is right.¡±


    Hazel was left speechless.


    ¡°Mrs.Chloe, this job means the world to me. If this is because of what happened yesterday, I can


    apologize to you now.¡±


    Chloe blinked and looked at Hazel innocently. ¡°Did we meet yesterday? I¡¯m sorry, I must have


    forgotten.¡±


    Hazel was stumped, never expecting such an answer from Chloe. She could only watch


    helplessly as Chloe linked her arm with Joseph¡¯s-the two of them looking like a perfect couple


    -and stepped into the exclusive elevator, vanishing from her sight.


    She stomped her foot in frustration.


    ¡®No, I can¡¯t just give up!¡¯


    After having breakfast at Fairlight, Chloe promptly went to her office. About an hour after she immersed


    herself in her work, the front desk called and said, ¡°Ms. Chloe, someone named Hazel Cottrell is


    downstairs to see you. Shall I let her up?¡±


    Chloe froze for a moment. ¡°Sure, let here up.¡± She was curious to see what Hazel wanted.


    Hazel followed the receptionist into the office, her eyes scanning the space. When she noticed that the


    office was no more than twenty square meters, a hint of disdain crossed her face.


    ¡®Of course, she¡¯s relying on Joseph. What¡¯s she so proud of?¡¯


    Chloe noticed the shift in Hazel¡¯s expression and elegantly took a sip of tea. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    Hazel said in amanding tone as she flicked her ponytail, ¡°Give me 100 thousand dors and I


    won¡¯t join Fairlight.

 Chapter 512

    Chapter 512


    Chapter 512 Hazel Knows Xavia¡¯s Secret


    Chloe was stunned. She thought her ears or her brain were malfunctioning as she asked in disbelief,


    ¡°100 thousand dors?¡±


    ¡°Yes, 100 thousand.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not worth such a price.¡±


    ¡®She really should¡¯ve thought it over before putting the bite on me,¡¯ Chloe thought.


    ¡°I assure you that I¡¯m definitely worth it,¡± Hazel replied resolutely.


    Chloe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Give me a reason.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll save you a lot of trouble if I don¡¯t join Fairlight. The moment my face appears there, you¡¯ll feel a


    sense of crisis,¡± Hazel responded with full confidence.


    ¡°Fine, go ahead,¡± Chloe replied dismissively, lowering her gaze to theputer screen, unwilling to


    waste any more time on Hazel.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid in the slightest?¡±


    ¡°The fact is that you can¡¯t even get into Fairlight, so giving you 100 thousand would be pointless,


    wouldn¡¯t it? I¡¯m not an idiot,¡± Chloe said with a helpless smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m not finished!¡± Hazel roared in frustration.


    ¡°Fine, go on.¡±


    ¡°When I had an interview with the Whitman Group three years ago, it wasn¡¯t of my own intention.


    Someone paid me to apply there.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her brow slowly furrowed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who the woman was, but she gave me some photos of Xavia and asked me to dress up


    like her during the interview.¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°I think that woman is very likely associated with Xavia or working for her.¡±


    Chloe had long sensed that Xavia was not simple, but she never imagined that Xavia had set the stage


    years ago.


    ¡®Is she truly willing to go to such extreme lengths just to be Joseph¡¯s wife or is there a bigger story


    to all this?¡¯


    The thought sent chills down Chloe¡¯s spine.


    ¡°What did the woman look like? What was her name?¡± Chloe asked, trying to maintain a firm


    demeanor.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know her name, but I can describe her appearance. But before that, you have to give me 100


    thousand dors.¡±


    ¡°How can I trust that you¡¯re not just deceiving me?¡± Chloe retorted.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°I recorded the conversation,¡± Hazel dered with determination.


    Chloe was taken aback for a moment. ¡°What do you need the money for?¡±


    Hazel¡¯s eyes filled with sadness and resentment as she said, ¡°I wish to leave my family. They bully me,


    and I need to find a ce where nobody knows me and start a new life.¡±


    ¡°Who bullies you?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°My brother and father. There isn¡¯t a single good soul in the Cottrells.¡± Hazel wanted to point her finger


    at Chloe, but considering the uing coboration, she changed her focus.


    ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the illegitimate child of Edgar and a dancer.¡± Hazel¡¯s voice was steeped in bitterness.¡± When I


    reached adulthood, I was brought into the family, but I was never treated kindly. My father publicly


    announced that all his assets would go to Victor in the future and that I won¡¯t receive a single penny.


    Victor is even worse. He¡­He tried to vite me!¡±


    Anger and sorrow zed in Hazel¡¯s eyes. ¡°And just when I secured a job at Fairlight, you refused to let


    me stay.¡±


    ¡°Enough, stop,¡± Chloe said sternly, ¡°I wee and support every young person with dreams. to work at


    Fairlight, but the first and foremost requirement is to focus on the job and not have ulterior motives.¡±


    Hazel¡¯s gaze turned cold as she said, ¡°Wealthy individuals never limit themselves to one partner. I can


    simply be his mistress, and I won¡¯t disrupt your life. What more do you want?¡±


    Chloe sighed helplessly. ¡°Joseph isn¡¯t that kind of person, and also, if you want the money, don¡¯t let me


    hear such things.¡±


    Hazel choked a little. ¡°I want the money in cash.¡±


    ¡°I need time to prepare the money. Go home and bring me the recording,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°I too am worried that you¡¯ll trick me.¡±


    ¡°How about I transfer 30 thousand to your ount as a deposit? Once I receive the recording, I¡¯ll give


    you the remaining 70 thousand in cash.¡±


    After all, 30 thousand dors were nothing for her, and even if Hazel was lying to her, she had ways to


    make her spit it back out.


    After carefully sizing Chloe up, Hazel finally nodded.


    As soon as Hazel left, Chloe immediately called Joseph and informed him about the situation.

 Chapter 513

    Chapter 513


    Chapter 513 Hired Murder


    Joseph was stunned for a moment before saying, ¡°Hazel¡¯s probably talking nonsense. Xavia may not


    lead an upright personal life, but she doesn¡¯t have a strong background. Shees from a rural


    background, and there¡¯s no reason for her to have any connection with Duskfall. If there was even a


    slight possibility of that, I¡¯d have noticed it five years ago.¡±


    Chloe was a little annoyed. ¡°Thene over now and we can listen to the recording together.¡±


    ¡°Sure, let me finish up this document and I¡¯ll be there in about half an hour.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be waiting for you,¡± Chloe replied.


    Chloe estimated that it would take Hazel about half an hour to make a round trip. Fifteen minutester,


    Hazel called Chloe to let her know she was already back.


    ¡°That was quick. Didn¡¯t you go back to your house?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Of course not. I wouldn¡¯t leave such an important thing at home,¡± Hazel replied.


    Chloe thought her reasoning was sound. ¡°Thene up.¡±


    ¡°No, youe down. Let¡¯s meet in a public ce. There¡¯s a coffee shop right across the street from


    your office.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Chloe agreed without hesitation, thinking that the request was not


    unreasonable. If Hazel had any tricks up her sleeve, doing them in a public ce would not benefit her.


    Chloe picked up a zer from the cloth rack and walked out of the lobby. She spotted Hazel standing


    nervously across the street, her eyes darting around. Hazel waved at her, and Chloe nodded before


    crossing the road to meet her at the coffee shop.


    Suddenly, a ck sedan ran the red light and rushed straight toward Hazel. Upon impact, she flew into


    the air andnded on the ground with a heavy thud. The driver then ran over her, sealing her fate.


    Hazel¡¯s body sprawled lifelessly across the ground in a pool of blood. Even though there was no trace


    of life left in her eyes, there was a haunting shock and fear in them, frozen in time, as they stared right


    back at Chloe.


    The scene was horrifying.


    Chloe¡¯s whole body stiffened, her throat felt raw, and she struggled to take steps forward to inspect the


    situation. However, the arriving traffic police stopped her, disallowing any bystanders to approach. After


    a quick judgment, it was evident that Hazel had died on the spot.


    Chloe¡¯s scalp tingled. She had seen the ck car intentionally hit Hazel. When Joseph arrived, he


    found Chloe staring nkly at a pool of blood not far away. He sensed that something was


    wrong and instinctively hugged her.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Hazel is dead. She was hit by a car and killed,¡± Chloe replied.


    Joseph froze, then quickly looked toward the blood on the ground that was surrounded by several


    policemen.


    ¡°Did you get the recording?¡± he asked.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t get the chance to give it to me,¡± Chloe said with a trembling voice, ¡°I went to the police and


    asked for it, but they refused. They say it¡¯s evidence.¡±


    ¡°Wait here for a moment,¡± Joseph said.


    He walked over to the officers and exchanged a few words with them. After a moment of


    contemtion, an officer nodded slightly.


    Turning back to Chloe, Joseph said, ¡°We can¡¯t take the recording device for now, but we can follow


    them to the station and listen to the contents of the recording together.¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Before Chloe could respond, a Mercedes-Benz stopped nearby, and Edgar and Victor got out. They


    pointed at Chloe and shouted in anguish, ¡°Officers, that woman killed my daughter. Arrest her!¡±


    In an instant, several police officers turned to Chloe, squinting their eyes.


    Startled, she defended herself, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I was just standing here when the ident happened!¡±


    Edgar immediately retorted, ¡°Hazel and you had an argument at Fairlight earlier today, and many


    people witnessed it. There was no reason for her to visit your office. You established a false alibi and


    then hired someone to kill her. The 30 thousand dors you sent her is clear evidence of your


    coercion!¡±


    Victor chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right! Officer, please check Hazel¡¯s phone. There must be call records


    between her and Chloe.¡±

 Chapter 514

    Chapter 514


    Chapter 514 Chloe Bes a Suspect.


    Upon hearing these words, an officer nced at the pale-faced Chloe and gestured to hist colleague to


    look for the evidence. After a few minutes of searching, they found the call records between Chloe and


    Hazel and a notification of the 30 thousand dor deposit.


    ¡°Ms. Chloe, pleasee with us to the station and give us your statement,¡± one of the officers


    requested.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Chloe exined desperately.


    Edgar¡¯s voice boomed as he pointed usingly, ¡°This was you! You were envious of Hazel and feared


    that she would snatch Mr. Joseph away from you!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Joseph roared as he stared coldly at Edgar.


    Startled, Edgar trembled and begrudgingly kept his mouth shut.


    ¡°Calm down, Mr. Joseph. There¡¯s no need to get so worked up. Or perhaps you¡¯re feeling guilty?¡± Victor


    taunted sarcastically.


    Ignoring him, Joseph tightly held Chloe¡¯s hand and said to the police, ¡°We would like to call ourwyer.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, sir,¡± the officer replied.


    Edgar tensed up upon hearing that they were calling awyer.


    From inside the police car, Chloe asked worriedly, ¡°Do you believe me?¡±


    Joseph gently stroked her head and said, ¡°Yes, I know there¡¯s a misunderstanding. Once we have the


    recording, everything will be clear.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Chloe nodded. As long as they got the recording, it would prove she was not lying.


    Samuel and Tyson arrived at the police station at the same time.


    Since the incident with Hazel urred outside of his jurisdiction, Tyson could not officially take charge


    of the case and had simplye to provide guidance. After hearing about the situation, he felt it was


    not too serious. He stood up from his chair and said, ¡°Cooperate with the police and give your


    statement. I¡¯ll talk to them and see if we can get the recording as soon as possible.¡±


    Although he did not have close connections here, he knew a few people.


    Samuel also nodded and chimed in, ¡°Since Hazel showed up, it means she was mostly telling the truth.


    There¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡±


    Joseph lightly tapped the table, his handsome face dark and unreadable. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed


    something strange?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°ording to Chloe, Hazel asked her for 100 thousand to start a new life away from the


    Cottrells, so how did Edgar and Victor know about that?¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Samuel propped his chin, ¡°You¡¯re right. That is suspicious.¡±


    After a while, Tyson returned, his face stern. ¡°There¡¯s nothing on the recording.¡±


    Chloe cooperated with the police and gave a statement but was not immediately released. She had to


    anxiously wait in the dim interrogation room.


    Ten minutester, an officer walked in, holding a recording pen in his hand, ¡°Does this recording pen


    found on Hazel have any connection to you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Chloe replied truthfully.


    ¡°What kind of connection?¡±


    Chloe froze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What happened?¡±


    Looking at her, the police officer replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing on it.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± The officer ced the recording pen in front of her. ¡°You can listen to it yourself.¡±


    Samuel, acting as Chloe¡¯swyer, exited the interrogation room and shook his head at Joseph, ¡°Chloe


    is being held as a suspect. The police won¡¯t release her for now.¡±


    Meanwhile, Edgar approached them, his voice dripping with venom as he said, ¡°If the Whitman Group


    doesn¡¯t terminate the contract they have with me, I¡¯ll help get her out.¡±

 Chapter 515

    Chapter 515


    Chapter 515 Watch Your Back


    As someone who was a notorious money-grubber, even Samuel could not stand Edgar¡¯s audacious


    attitude. He sneered, ¡°Hazel¡¯s barely been dead for three hours, and you¡¯re already eager to profit from


    her death. It¡¯s a great sorrow to have you as a brother!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Victor retorted, ¡°Once a person dies, they can¡¯te back to life. If her death


    can serve a purpose, she would find it honorable in the afterlife.¡±


    ¡°Tigers never devour their own cubs, and siblings should never deceive each other. Keep in mind that


    karma has a way ofing back around. Victor, oh, Victor. Your father bestowed you with such a


    name, hoping you¡¯d always emerge victorious. But the truth is, you¡¯ve never once triumphed over me.


    Doesn¡¯t the name ¡®Victor¡¯ now seem like a cruel jest? Perhaps it¡¯s because your numerous


    transgressions are catching up with you, and now you¡¯re facing the consequences?¡±


    Victor was left speechless, his face turning red with embarrassment. ¡°Hmph! Do you still have the


    luxury to argue with us here? I bet you can¡¯t bear to see your beloved wife behind bars, right, Mr.


    Joseph?¡±


    Joseph stood tall, his chin slightly raised and his gaze cold as ice. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll never let that


    happen.¡±


    As he smirked, Edgar started to think of conditions to propose. But in the next instant, Joseph¡¯s voice


    changed as he said, ¡°I won¡¯t spare anyone who had a hand in this, so watch your back.¡±


    Edgar¡¯s face sank, and he retorted impolitely, ¡°Threatening me won¡¯t benefit you. Is it that hard for you


    to humble yourself? Or do you think that woman isn¡¯t worth as much as your reputation?¡±


    As far as he knew, Chloe held a significant position in Joseph¡¯s heart, and he would do everything he


    could to help her.


    Victor chimed in, even bursting with confidence as he began toy out conditions. In the past, the


    Cottrells would never dare to speak to Joseph in such a manner, but now, the situation was different. It


    was no longer just about business. Victor did not believe that Joseph was capable of bailing out a


    murder suspect from jail.


    A subtle smirk curved Joseph¡¯s lips, his smile sending shivers down Samuel¡¯s spine. Every time


    Joseph smiled like that, it meant he was about to take serious action.


    Joseph walked to the side and made a phone call. Edgar and Victor exchanged nces, feeling


    somewhat uneasy. But after some time, nothing happened. They began to feel relieved, thinking it was


    all just a bluff.


    ¡°Sir? Aren¡¯t you on vacation? Why are you here?¡± A young police officer sitting in a chair


    515 Was


    gaped at the middle-aged man who entered the hall. The man was dressed casually and appeared to


    be around forty years old.


    Nathaniel Harrison¡¯s face was stern as he ignored the young officer and strode into the interrogation


    room. After about ten minutes, a barrage of furious cursing could be heard from


    inside.


    At this point, the Cottrells sensed that something was amiss. Sure enough, the officer in charge of the


    case hastily rushed out and said to Joseph, ¡°Sir, please wait for a moment. Ms. Chloe just has to sign a


    few documents and she can be released.¡±


    ¡°What?! Are you kidding me?! Chloe is the prime suspect. How could you release her so quickly?!¡±


    Edgar questioned angrily.


    ¡°Chloe isn¡¯t the culprit. We¡¯ve already confirmed it,¡± the officer replied.


    ¡°Bullshit! Did you even investigate properly?! Chloe¡¯s motive for the crime is as clear as day!¡±


    ¡°Sir, please trust us.¡± The officer¡¯s expression turned grim. Without further exnation to Edgar, he


    turned around and went back toplete the formalities with Chloe.


    Edgar and Victor looked at each other, then turned their gaze to Joseph. They smiled at him awkwardly


    and said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, we were just joking with you.¡±


    Joseph parted his lips and said, ¡°Get out of my sight.¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Edgar and Victor had no other choice but to leave in frustration. Samuel looked at them and asked,


    ¡°Who did you ask for help?¡±


    He knew that Joseph had a team of his own, but it seemed that it was not deployed in this situation.


    ¡°I just informed my grandfather about Chloe¡¯s situation.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Nathaniel¡¯s father served under Grandpa back in the military,¡± Joseph replied tly,

 Chapter 516

    Chapter 516


    Chapter 516 News About Joseph¡¯s Mother


    Samuel was momentarily stunned. ¡°I forgot about it.¡±


    Harold had served in the military his entire life and achieved great sess. Though he had retired a


    few years ago and his official position was no longer active, his military rank remained.


    Chloe had notmitted any wrongdoing, so it was not hard to get her out.


    After knowing that she would be released, Chloe¡¯s heart filled with joy, and the lingering anxiety finally


    subsided.


    She followed the officer to sign the necessary documents. During the process, she noticed two other


    policemen escorting a woman, presumably someone who had just finished giving her


    statement.


    The woman possessed long, sleek tresses that shimmered with luster, reaching down to her waist. She


    kept her head down, her hair acting as a veil and concealing her identity. Though not in her youth, her


    remarkable demeanor gave off an aura of elegance befitting a wealthy


    woman.


    The officer filled his colleague in on the situation. ¡°Caught stealing in a public ce.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that prettymon? Why do you look so puzzled?¡±


    ¡°Stealing is normal, but what¡¯s abnormal is that she confessed to the victim and urged them. to report it


    to the police. It¡¯s like she wants to go to jail or something.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty bold.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Chloe overheard their conversation and shifted her gaze to the woman, but she was unable to figure


    out what was going on. Afterpleting the paperwork, she exited the station to reunite with Joseph.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked.


    Chloe shook her head, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    It had been a long day for her today, and her stomach was aching slightly. She was not sure if it was


    rted to the baby.


    Thinking that the police had overstepped, Joseph narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°Did they mistreat


    you?¡±


    ¡°No. I just feel a little unwell. I¡¯ll be fine after some rest,¡± Chloe said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver take you home,¡± Joseph said beforeing to a pause. A furrow formed


    on his forehead as his expression turned serious. ¡°There¡¯s news about my mother¡¯s whereabouts. I


    need to go check it out.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. She had not expected to receive news about his mother so quickly.


    ¡°Okay, go on then,¡± she said.


    She had been worried abouting up with an excuse to go to the hospital for a check-up alone.


    The two separated, and the driver took Chloe back to the house. After changing her clothes, she hailed


    a cab and went to the hospital.


    The doctor looked at the scan and asked, ¡°Hmm, this doesn¡¯t look good. Has there been any


    bleeding?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Chloe replied.


    ¡°There are signs of a threatened miscarriage,¡± the doctor said.


    Chloe became anxious, ¡°What should I do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe you some medication. Make sure to take good care of yourself. When you¡¯re pregnant, try


    to keep a calm mindset. You should take care of yourself not just for your own sake but also for the


    sake of the baby.¡±


    Chloe nodded firmly. ¡°Thank you, doctor. I will.¡±


    As she stepped out of the hospital with her prescription in hand, Noah suddenly called her.


    ¡°Chloe, I took your sketch to the relevant department, but they didn¡¯t find anything. The jewelry might¡¯ve


    been altered or refurbished.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes dimmed as a sense of disappointment overwhelmed her.


    ¡°Well, thank you for your efforts. Oh, there¡¯s one more thing I¡¯d like to ask you,¡± she said.


    Sensing her low spirits, Noah said gently, ¡°Ask away.¡±


    ¡°Since we can¡¯t retrieve the original piece, I¡¯d like to have a replica made based on the sketch- as a


    keepsake. Would that be possible?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check with the designer. Exotic Star doesn¡¯t have such a service, but I think it should be doable.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯ll get back to you when I have news.¡±


    As Chloe walked and talked to Noah on the phone, she failed to notice Patrick standing by the


    pharmacy entrance. He wanted to greet her, but she simply walked past him.


    Thinking that Chloe might be III, Patrick did not hesitate to inform Harold about the


    encounter. O


    Upon hearing the news, Harold mmed down his cup in anger and immediately called Joseph. ¡°You


    rascal! Where the hell are you when your wife is at the hospital?!¡±

 Chapter 517

    Chapter 517


    Chapter 517 Busted


    ¡°I¡¯m out handling some matters.¡± Joseph gripped his phone tightly, his tone growing stern.¡± Chloe¡¯s at


    the hospital?¡±


    ¡°What could possibly be more important than my sweet granddaughter-inw?¡± Harold questioned.


    ¡°Somebody saw my mother at Seawell za.¡±


    Harold fell silent. It took him a moment before he asked, ¡°Did you find her?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s possible they made a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Do you think that the Sinirs are merely spouting nonsense to trick you?¡±


    ¡°No matter what you think, I¡¯d rather believe that my mother is alive and managed to escape as


    opposed to that she¡¯s long gone.¡±


    Harold let out a long, heavy sigh. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I just want our family to be safe.¡±


    ¡°The safety of our family has nothing to do with whether my mother is alive or not. Back then, we just


    weren¡¯t strong enough.¡±


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ve lived to this age. What do I have to fear? I¡¯m only worried about you, cough, cough¡­¡±


    Harold began to cough uncontrobly before he could finish his sentence. His coughs came in rapid


    session, resembling a heavy burden on his heart, leaving him gasping for breath.


    Joseph¡¯s face sank and he quickly changed the topic. ¡°How do you know that Chloe went to the


    hospital?¡±


    ¡°Dr. Spencer said they ran out of medicine at my regr hospital, so Patrick went to another. hospital to


    fetch it, and he happened to see Chloe there.¡±


    ¡°Did Patrick ask her why she was there?¡±


    ¡°No. She was on the phone, so she probably didn¡¯t hear him.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t wander around with your oldrades for now. Stay home and rest.¡±


    ¡°You mind your own business. Go and check on Chloe, see if she¡¯s feeling unwell.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    On her way home, Chloe received a call from Joseph. She stared at the iing call on her phone,


    her face showing hesitation.


    ¡°Sir, please pull over to the side,¡± she instructed.


    ¡°Okay, miss.¡±


    She rolled up the car window, shutting out the noise from outside, and lightly tapped the answer button


    with her fingertip.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m with Em. What¡¯s wrong? Are you done with your business?¡±


    He stayed silent for a few seconds. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you home? Why are you running around outside?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Em¡¯s just feeling down and wants somepany,¡± Chloe replied calmly, ¡® Sitting at home


    is boring, so I thought I might as welle out for some fresh air.¡±


    This time, the pause on the other end was much longer. After a while, Joseph replied calmly and


    emotionlessly, ¡°I¡¯m heading home. I want to see you before seven o¡¯clock.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Just when she was about to test if he knew something, Joseph abruptly


    ended the call. Upon arriving home, she found him seated on the couch, still in the same expensive


    ck shirt and perfectly tailored trousers.


    His face was dark and stern.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Walking into the living room, Chloe nced at him and waved. ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    Joseph sat with his legs crossed and looked at her sternly. ¡°Come here.¡±


    ¡®Oh no. He must have found out something. Guess I¡¯ll have to y by ear.¡¯


    Chloe forced a dry smile, slipped on her fluffy slippers, and walked over to him. Feigning innocence,


    she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You have such a sour look on your face. Who offended you?¡±


    ¡°You,¡± came Joseph¡¯s concise and displeased reply.


    Chloe maintained her facade of innocence. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything¡­¡±


    ¡°Go on. Keep pretending.¡±


    ¡°If you have something to say, just say it.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you went to the hospital? Why did you lie to me?¡± Joseph coldly questioned her,


    having no intention of beating around the bush.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°How did you know I was at the hospital?¡±


    Joseph clenched his teeth. ¡°You¡¯d better give a reasonable exnation.¡±

 Chapter 518

    Chapter 518


    Chapter 518 Have I Spoiled You Too Much?


    ¡°Um¡­ I was there with Em. I didn¡¯t go alone,¡± Chloe blurted out, throwing all caution to the wind.


    After all, given Joseph¡¯s sharpness, any slight hesitation on her part would surely give away her deceit.


    ¡°You were there with Emily?¡± he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.


    ¡°Yeah. Em¡¯s been experiencing irregr menstruation and asked me to apany her to the hospital,¡±


    she exined, touching her nose as a hint of guilt crept into her voice. ¡°She was right beside me when


    you called, and you know how girls can be shy when ites to private matters like this. I couldn¡¯t talk


    about it with you.¡¯


    Joseph frowned. ¡°Irregr menstruation?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡®Sorry, Em. But as my good friend, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t mind helping me out, right?¡¯ Chloe thought.


    A moment of heavy silence enveloped them as thest rays of the evening sun started to vanish,


    throwing the room into darkness. Joseph seemed to merge with the darkness, emanating a chilling


    aura that sent shivers down Chloe¡¯s spine. Her heart thumped rapidly like a fluttering bird in a cage.


    She avoided his gaze and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± With that, she hastily fled.


    Chloe thought that Joseph would not let her go so easily, but this time, he did not say a word. It was


    highly unusual and left her feeling inexplicably anxious. Halfway through her shower, she suddenly


    remembered that she had left her phone at the entrance. She hurriedly dried herself and rushed


    outside.


    However, she was one step toote. Joseph was already at the entrance, holding her phone in his


    hand. Nervously, she snatched it back from him. On the screen was the call log showing a call from


    Noah five minutes ago, and Joseph had answered it.


    ¡®What bad luck! Why is everything so coincidental?!¡¯


    Chloe immediately started to exin, ¡°Noah called me to discuss the details of the customized jewelry.


    We didn¡¯t talk about anything else.¡±


    ¡°He said he was with you this afternoon,¡± Joseph interjected coldly.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. He wouldn¡¯t say that.¡± Chloe thought of Noah as a gentle and refined man. She


    could not imagine him doing such a thing. Perhaps Joseph was just trying to deceive her.


    ¡°Do you believe in him and not me?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I just feel that Noah wouldn¡¯t say such nonsense,¡±


    ¡°Answer my question. Do you believe in him and not me?¡± Joseph repeated, his brows furrowing with


    an air of obsession.


    Chloe pressed her lips together. ¡°I believe you.¡¯


    ¡°But you


    went to the hospital alone and insisted on lying to me. You told me you were with Emily. You im to


    believe me, yet you won¡¯t even tell me the truth.¡± Joseph¡¯s face turned icy, and he could no longer


    contain his anger.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened, unable to retort. All her words got stuck in her throat. She had assumed that


    Joseph only knew she went to the hospital but did not know who she went with.


    ¡®Does he also know that I¡¯m pregnant?¡¯


    On one hand, Chloe felt guilty for lying. After all, Joseph was the father of the child, and he had the


    right to know about the baby¡¯s existence. On the other hand, she felt that he was being heartless and


    did not value her. Which man would not be thrilled and overjoyed to learn that they were having a


    child? Or perhaps, Joseph was still unaware of her pregnancy?


    Her thoughts seemed to embark on a never-ending and convoluted journey, circling back on


    themselves repeatedly. She could not tell how much Joseph knew at this moment, so she was unsure


    of what to say..


    Joseph waited for a long while, yet Chloe offered no exnation. Heughed bitterly. ¡°Are you figuring


    out how to continue your evasions?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± she tried to exin.


    ¡°Chloe, have I spoiled you too much? There are limits to lying, and how many times have you done it


    already? When will this end?¡± Joseph¡¯s frustration grew evident. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to care about


    you, just tell me. There¡¯s no need for all these twists and turns.¡±


    Chloe felt wronged and could not bear such injustice. Why should Xavia¡¯s pregnancy be openly


    epted while hers had to be kept a secret? She was the one who always felt disgusted, and she did


    not want to live in secrecy anymore.


    Overwhelmed by emotions, she started to say, ¡°I¡¯m preg-¡±


    ¡°Stop. Enough with your lies. Take some time to reflect on yourself.¡± Joseph grabbed his car keys and


    stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    With Joseph gone, the vi fell silent.

 Chapter 519

    Chapter 519


    Chapter 519 Hand Over Hazel¡¯s Recorder and I¡¯ll Spare You


    Chloe remained motionless, her extended eyshes hiding the glint in her eyes as she let out a self-


    deprecating chuckle. She knew that this was her own decision and that she would have to face the


    consequences.


    The day had been long and draining, leaving her utterly fatigued and unwilling to utter a word. She felt


    tired. If she was asleep, she would not have to think about anything.


    Fortunately, this was the final month. Soon, there would be a resolution. Yet, amid a fleeting moment of


    relief, an even heavier burden settled upon Chloe¡¯s heart.


    Meanwhile, Joseph drove to the Whitman Group. His secretary gave him the enterprise project ns


    for thetter half of the year. To his surprise, he saw Edgar¡¯s office among the applications. He found it


    hard to believe that Edgar still had the nerve to apply for a project. with the Whitman Group.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Joseph¡¯s anger surged, and he grabbed a pen, forcefully crossing out Edgar¡¯s name and inadvertently


    tearing the paper in the process.


    ¡°Notify everyone that the Whitman Group will no longer engage in any business with Edgar Cottrell,¡± he


    ordered, ¡°Anypanies currently coborating with him will no longer have any opportunities with us


    as well.¡±


    The secretary was taken aback. It was evident that Joseph was determined to cut off all ties with


    Edgar. From this moment on, nobody in Docwood would help or work with the Cottrells any longer.


    Joseph looked at the secretary and said, ¡°Understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Joseph. I¡¯ll take care of it right away,¡± the secretary hurriedly replied.


    Within just a few hours, Edgar¡¯spany received numerous contract cancetions. All of its


    employees were now facing unemployment, and thepany was forced to dissolve.


    As Edgar witnessed the chaotic scene in hispany, he trembled and copsed to the floor. He could


    not fathom how Joseph could be so merciless. Making him lose billions was not enough. Joseph


    wanted to push him to the brink of destruction.


    Refusing to ept this dire oue, Edgar resolved to go to the Whitman Group and demand an


    exnation. However, fate had other ns for him. On his way there, he collided with an oing


    truck. Though he did not die instantly, the ambnce crew issued a critical condition notice.


    Joseph received this news while he was at Gabriel¡¯s vi.


    As Samuel enjoyed his salmon, he chuckled. ¡°Well, karma is truly a bitch.¡±


    Over Hazels Recorder and I Spare You


    As awyer, he had taken on many morally ambiguous cases. He felt the need to visit the church,


    confess his sins, and seek forgiveness. He dreaded meeting a fate simr to Edgar¡¯s.


    ¡°Is it just a coincidence or is there something more?¡± Nathan asked, finding it eerie. ¡°Two car idents


    involving the same family within one day. It¡¯s too strange.¡±


    Swirling his highball, Joseph replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence.¡±


    Perhaps it was merely the result of their own actions catching up with them.


    ¡°Damn it. That shameless Victor is calling me,¡± Samuel cursed.


    Just as he was about to hang up, Joseph interrupted, ¡°Answer it.¡±


    Samuel hesitated for a moment before answering.


    ¡°Tell Joseph that he¡¯s maliciously monopolizing the market and that my father got into a car ident


    while on his way to confront him. Moreover, concerning Hazel¡¯s death, he has to provide us with proper


    compensation. Otherwise, we¡¯ll escte the matter and ensure he loses the projects that Docwood City


    Council will grant at the end of the year!¡±


    The projects granted by Docwood¡¯s city council adhered to strict requirements, andpanies


    entangled in public controversies were strictly forbidden from participation. It had to be admitted that


    Victor was a little smarter than his father.


    ¡°Send over Hazel¡¯s voice recorder, and I may consider sparing your family,¡± Joseph responded coldly.


    ¡°The voice recorder is with the police, so why are you asking me for it? Besides, there¡¯s


    nothing on it,¡± Victor retorted impatiently, and his tone made it clear that he was not lying.

 Chapter 520

    Chapter 520


    Chapter 520 Chloe Is Mine


    Joseph squinted slightly and said to Samuel, ¡°Hang up.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Without hesitation, Samuel ended the call and tossed his phone onto the couch.


    ¡°You think someone swapped out the recorder?¡± Gabriel asked curiously. They were all aware of what


    happened with Hazel earlier today, and they all felt it somewhat mysterious.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead. There¡¯s no way for me to find out, so I¡¯m not sure,¡± Joseph replied, pinching his brow in


    frustration. He nced at his dark phone and felt annoyed.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡®She¡¯s pretty audacious. Not a word from her all night. I might have been too lenient with hertely.¡¯


    Sensing Joseph¡¯s sour mood, Nathan sat next to him with a drink in hand. ¡°Come on. We don¡¯t meet up


    often, so let¡¯s enjoy ourselves.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s mind was filled with Chloe. He had no interest in light-hearted banter and snapped coldly,


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°Is a woman worth all this trouble?¡± Gabriel was puzzled, his delicate and effeminate face showing


    bewilderment.


    He could not understand how his good brother had changed so drastically, and he did not see any


    charm in Chloe. She was just slightly prettier and had a better temperament. Was it not an


    acknowledged philosophy that women were like clothes while brothers were like limbs?


    Joseph dropped his proud demeanor and earnestly said in a low voice, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. When


    you get married, you¡¯ll understand that there should always be a woman in the family.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll never marry anyway, right, Sam?¡± Gabriel raised an eyebrow at the man who was throwing darts.


    ¡°We can keep each otherpany when the need arises.¡±


    ¡°Get lost. I¡¯m not into dudes,¡± Samuel retorted.


    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about Chloe, just call her,¡± Nathan advised helplessly, ¡°Most problems can be


    resolved if you just humble yourself a little.¡±


    Something flickered across Joseph¡¯s eyes. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have someone investigate why she went to


    the hospital.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to monitor her?¡±


    The word ¡°monitor¡± sounded harsh, and Joseph frowned. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I just want to


    know.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t do that. If she¡¯s unwilling to tell you and resorted to lying, it means she really doesn¡¯t want


    to share whatever it is. Everyone has the right to privacy. Don¡¯t make her feel oppressed.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed with possessiveness. ¡°She¡¯s my woman, and I should know everything about


    her. There can be no secrets between us.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll only push her further away by being like this, just like I did¡­ In the end, it cost me dearly,¡±


    Nathan said, his eyes welling up with tears as he reminisced about his past mistakes.


    Joseph was taken aback when he thought of something. His jaw clenched as he said, ¡°You should also


    settle down soon. Your father is getting old, and sooner orter, you¡¯ll take over thepany.¡±


    Nathan smiled nonchntly, but his eyes betrayed a glimmer of sorrow. ¡°I know. The dead can¡¯t be


    brought back to life.¡±


    Samuel and Gabriel exchanged nces, understanding each other without saying a word.


    In the end, Joseph let go of looking into the reason Chloe went to the hospital.


    After that, Nathan said that when most people were talking about what a friend had said, they were


    usually talking about themselves. This fueled Joseph¡¯s discontent, and he arranged for a renowned


    herbalist to visit Chloe the next day. He heard that irregr menstruation could affect future


    childbearing, and he wanted her to have a healthy body so that they could have a child together.


    At an estate in Docwood, Preston stared at the man before him. Beads of cold sweat formed on


    his forehead as if he were making a crucial decision.


    ¡°If you can make a copy of the confidential documents from the Whitman Group¡¯s safe and give them to


    me, I¡¯ll help you establish a new office. It¡¯s a foolproof deal, and you won¡¯t incur any losses. This is an


    opportunity you can¡¯t afford to miss,¡± the man urged.


    Preston gritted his teeth and firmly refused, ¡°I no longer have a security pass. I can¡¯t get in.


    Seeing through his hesitation, the man skillfully persuaded, ¡°I believe you have other ways to get in.


    The Whitmans have already cast you aside, so you need not feel guilty.¡±

 Chapter 521

    Chapter 521


    Chapter 521 Leave the Marriage With Nothing


    Preston abruptly shook his head as if wanting to prove himself. ¡°The Whitmans didn¡¯t


    abandon me. I¡¯m still living in one of the vis belonging to the family, and I still have some shares.¡±


    The man was amused. ¡°Shares? It¡¯s because Joseph wants to humiliate you. It¡¯s boring to lie to


    yourself.¡±


    For ordinary people, one percent of the Whitman Group shares was enough for them to lead a worry-


    free life. However, for a man like Preston, it was like falling into disfavor and he would. have no chance


    of turning the situation around.


    ¡°Don¡¯t confuse Joe with the Whitmans. I won¡¯t betray my family.¡± Preston turned the man down as he


    clenched his fists tightly.


    He wanted to thrive over Joseph, but he did not want to ruin the Whitman Group.


    Whitman Group was his, and Jonathan had a few billion now. Hence, Preston was not


    desperate enough to betray his family.


    The man remained calm. He handed Preston his business card. ¡°We¡¯re not in a rush. I believe you¡¯ll


    need me.¡±


    ¡±


    After that, he got up and left in a car.


    Preston stared at the name-Otto Sinir-on the business card before he picked it up and stuffed it into


    a drawer.


    Just then, Octavia came in with Harold with fierce momentum.


    ¡°Dad, you have to get justice for me. After marrying Pres, I diligently contributed to the family, but he¡¯s


    keeping a mistress and even wants to divorce me. I¡¯m so miserable!¡±


    After Octavia received the photograph of Preston taking Hazel to a hotel, she grabbed her chance and


    found that female university student whom Preston had been keeping as his lover for many years.


    When the woman first became his lover, she was only a freshman in high school.


    She was even one year younger than Jonathan. What a bastard Preston was!


    Harold¡¯s face became extremely gloomy. ¡°Is what she said true?¡±


    ¡°I want a divorce because Tavia nearly killed me with a cleaver in the middle of the night.¡±


    Preston was so angry that he shuddered. ¡°I, your son, nearly died, Dad. Ignore her. I have to divorce


    her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you should get a divorce,¡± Harold rebuked him.


    1/2


    ¡°Dad¡­¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡±


    Both Preston and Octavia spoke up in unison. One of them was confused while the other was horrified.


    Although Preston imed that he wanted to divorce Octavia, he could not bear to do so after being


    married to her for so many years. If Octavia could turn a blind eye to it in the future, he could force


    himself to forgive her.


    It was beyond Octavia¡¯s expectation that Harold would agree to it. She never really wanted a divorce.


    The Whitmans were the top aristocratic family, and they owned Fairlight. No other family in Docwood


    couldpare to them.


    In addition, Octavia was old and no longer charming. She would not find a better man if she left


    Preston. She decided topromise as long as he broke up with that slut.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Harold abruptly coughed heavily a few times. He used a white handkerchief to cover his


    mouth tightly. After a long while, he finally stopped coughing. He then raised his walking stick and hit


    Preston hard. ¡°Go and get the divorce certificate today. You have to leave the marriage without a penny


    to your name. Leave all your properties to


    Tavia and Jon. Don¡¯t even dream of getting a single penny!¡±


    Preston was stunned. ¡°Dad, what are you talking about?¡±


    It was fine when Joseph disrespected Preston. But now, even Harold refused to help him.


    ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Harold trembled. His unclear eyes gleamed with the light of disappointment. He felt


    that Preston had failed him as his son. ¡°This is what you deserve since you can¡¯t control your basic


    urges. You¡¯ve humiliated me to no end!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your son. You have to side with me,¡± Preston murmured helplessly but it was not convincing in the


    slightest.


    With eyes closed, Harold made up his mind and ignored Preston. He turned around and got into the car


    with Patrick¡¯s help.


    Sitting in the car, Patrick nced at Preston before he shook his head in disappointment. Harold was


    already being soft-hearted by not taking back the vi. Patrick sincerely hoped that Preston would


    repent.


    However, Preston did not think this way. His whole being was swallowed by hatred, and his sinister


    gaze fell on Otto¡¯s business card in the drawer.

 Chapter 522

    Chapter 522


    Chapter 522 The Smug Smile on His Youthful Face


    Chloe woke up naturally and had toast and hot milk for breakfast. She picked up her phone and


    nced at it, finding that Joseph had yet to contact her since their fight the previous day.


    Disappointment inevitably engulfed her, but she did not me him. She was the one lying,


    after all.


    She wondered if she should head to Fairlight and make it up with him humbly. Should she coax him as


    she did in the past when she tried to gain his heart?


    While pondering over it, someone suddenly rang, her doorbell. Her eyes lit up, thinking it was Joseph.


    She walked toward the door in light steps and opened it.


    ¡°Hello, are you Ms. Chloe?¡± An old energetic man stood at the door.


    ¡°Yes, 1 am. And you are?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph told me toe here to treat you. This is my professional certificate and my ID. Please


    take a look at them. If there are no problems, we can start right away.¡±


    Chloe became confused. ¡°You¡¯re saying that Joseph hired you to treat me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and it¡¯s okay. You just need to take some medicine for your menstrual disorder. Don¡¯t fret.¡±


    Blinking, Chloe was soon enlightened. ¡®So he thinks I¡¯m the one having irregr periods. instead of


    Em. Is he assuming that I lied to him because I¡¯m too shy to broach the subject, and that¡¯s why he hired


    a doctor toe here?¡±


    She found that it was possible, so she quickly waved. ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for any treatment. I¡¯m fine.


    Go home.¡±


    The doctor would surely find out everything as soon as he checked on her body. And of course, she did


    not dare to let him do so.


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯ve already been paid.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll tell Joseph about it.¡±


    The old man was doubtful, but since she refused to ept the treatment, he could not force her.


    After Chloe sent the doctor off, she called Noah.


    Noah seemed to be in ss, and she could vaguely hear the lecturer¡¯s talking in the


    background. He lowered his voice. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Coco?¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Chloe was slightly stunned. ¡°Are you busy? Should I call you backter?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go on. It doesn¡¯t affect the ss.¡± The youth sounded gentle and refined. If he had not


    lowered his voice, no one would expect that he dared to answer a call in front of the lecturer.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing actually. I just wanted to ask if you called mest night.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Mr. Joseph picked up. I was calling about the custom jewelry. Did he pass on the message to


    you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ Did you say anything else to him?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Did you guys get into a fight?¡±


    ¡°There was a bit of a conflict. I¡¯m dealing with it now. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°Was it because of me?¡± Noah sounded careful, and his tone was full of guilt.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a small misunderstanding between him and me. It¡¯s irrelevant to you. Don¡¯t keep it to heart.


    I¡¯ll leave you to your ss now. Bye.¡±


    Noah slowly broke into a smile as smugness shed across his youthful and handsome face. He still


    sounded tender and harmless. ¡°Okay, call me if you need me. I¡¯ll help you if I can.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After Chloe gained an affirmative answer, she hung up the call and rushed toward Fairlight.


    Joseph was having a meeting, so Lucas brought her to the office to wait. Feeling bored, she casually


    picked up the documents on Joseph¡¯s desk and helped him deal with them. Although they were difficult


    and tiresome, she could handle them.


    Twenty minutester, Lucas informed Joseph that Chloe was there.


    Expressionlessly, Joseph quickened his steps. At the same time, his gloominess dissipated a little,


    appearing youthful and bright.

 Chapter 523

    Chapter 523


    Chapter 523 Xavia Is Involved With Duskfall


    Lucas tried his best to keep up with Joseph as thetter walked swiftly. When they were almost at the


    door, his phone rang.


    He found that it was a call from Emily, so he stopped and said respectfully, ¡°Sir, I have to answer a call.


    Tell me if there¡¯s anything I can do for you. I¡¯ll be at the door.¡±


    Joseph ignored Lucas and pushed open the door, fixing his gaze on Chloe.


    She was sitting before the office desk, reading the datasheet seriously with a tight crease between her


    charming brows. With her pretty cheeks and small but tall nose bridge that formed a perfect arch, she


    was the perfect example of solemnity.


    As he looked downward, he noticed her soft red lips and yearned to kiss her.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes turned hazy. She seemed to have be prettier though they had only been separated


    for a few hours. She was not heartless after all and hade to him of her own initiative.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Hearing the noise, Chloe looked up. ¡°Are you done with your work?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    He was, in fact, not done. It was supposed to be a long day of meetings, and they would take up more


    than two hours, but he had ended them early.


    Displeasure crept up her face. ¡°Is that all you¡¯re going to say?¡±


    ¡°Get things straight here. You¡¯re the liar, not me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know.¡± On her way there, she had figured out what she wanted to say. ¡°I admit that the person


    who¡¯s suffering from irregr periods isn¡¯t Em but me. I was too embarrassed to tell you about it.¡±


    Hearing this, Joseph put away his grudges. He immediately asked, ¡°What about the doctor I hired for


    you? Didn¡¯t he go to you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he did. I got some medicine at the hospital, so I can¡¯t add on too many other medications right


    now. I didn¡¯t let him check me either.¡±


    ¡°The old herbalist is very famous. Just listen to his instructions. If it¡¯s ineffective, you can go to the


    hospital.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already started the medications. It¡¯s better to finish one full treatment course to see its effects.¡±


    Chloe did not want to dwell much on the topic. She then sald inadvertently,


    ¡°What did Noah say to you on the phonest night?¡±


    Joseph sneered. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡±


    But Noah¡¯s words were generally unreliable, and Joseph did not believe that Noah was with the dumbo


    the day before. He was just upset that they were keeping in touch in private.


    Chloe was rendered speechless. She did not know who to trust. After all, both of them did not look as if


    they would lie to her. Hence, she was engulfed with conflicted feelings.


    ¡°You still don¡¯t trust me?¡± Gnashing his teeth, he stared closely at her.


    ¡°I want to customize a few pieces of jewelry. He helped me ask the jewelry designer. We haven¡¯t


    contacted each other about anything else except this.¡± Chloe took the initiative to exin helplessly,


    ¡°What did he say yesterday? Is it possible to customize them?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph spoke concisely. He did not want to say anything more about Noah.


    Chloe did not want to bring contempt upon herself. ¡°Fine, got it. I won¡¯t ask you about Noah anymore.


    Did you find out who killed Hazel?¡±


    ¡°No, the car didn¡¯t have a license te, and the driver wore a mask and sunsses to hide his face.¡±


    ¡°His face was hidden¡­¡± Chloe murmured before she thought of Vanya¡¯s face. ¡°Was it someone from


    Duskfall?


    ¡°What does Duskfall have to do with Hazel? If she was killed because of a recording, doesn¡¯t it prove


    that Xavia has some kind of unspeakable secrets with Duskfall?¡±


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. He neither refuted nor echoed this statement.


    Chloe stared at him with her clear eyes. ¡°Do you still believe that Xavia is a pure white sheet and that


    everything that happened has nothing to do with her?¡±

 Chapter 524

    Chapter 524


    Chapter 524 You¡¯re the Liar, Not Me


    Joseph fell into a dilemma. ¡°We don¡¯t have any evidence to prove this.¡±


    He had been dating Xavia for so many years, so he was fully aware of her social and friend circles.


    Previously, he had his underlings investigate her, but there was nothing suspicious about her except


    those humiliating love affairs she had during her younger days.


    ¡°A woman¡¯s instinct is sometimes more urate than proof.¡± Chloe red up in a rage. She felt that


    Joseph was defending her, so she became stubborn. She had now forgotten why she hade here in


    the first ce.


    Knock, knock, knock


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Someone¡¯s knocking interrupted their argument.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Lucas entered the office. He nced at Chloe before saying to Joseph in slight embarrassment, ¡°Sir,


    was I interrupting something?¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯d like to ask for the rest of the day off.¡±


    Joseph looked up and scrutinized Lucas with his slender eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just get back from a long


    vacation a few days ago? What do you n to do now?¡±


    Chloe pitied Lucas who had been working tirelessly for a few years. ¡°Let him take a day off. I can help


    you if you¡¯re busy. He¡¯s constantly working long hours, so why can¡¯t he ask for the asional day off?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s responsible for some projects. If there¡¯s a problem, he has to be here to solve it.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I-I won¡¯t go far. I¡¯ll be in A-Aesper,¡± Lucas stammered.


    ¡°Just answer my question.¡±


    Joseph felt the need to get to the bottom of it if Lucas was trying to hide it. Lucas¡¯ rtives and friends


    were not at Aesper, and his only social circle consisted of the employees of Fairlight.


    ¡°Emily wants me to pretend to be her boyfriend and go home with her to cate her parents.¡±


    After suppressing himself for a few minutes, Lucas finally exposed the truth in one breath, his tanned


    face flushing red.


    Feeling stunned, Joseph looked into Chloe¡¯s eyes.


    After a moment of shock, Chloe became agitated. ¡°When did you and Em start dating?¡±


    She had noticed that their rtionship had changed slightly, but it had developed to this point


    quicker than she had anticipated.


    ¡°No, we¡¯re just putting on an act. Emily ruined her previous blind date, so her parents are unhappy with


    her.¡±


    Chloe did not believe him and thought it was just an excuse. The act might be real one day.


    Although Lucas was merely an assistant, he was exceptionally capable since he had managed to stay


    under Joseph¡¯s employment for so many years. On top of that, he was good-looking and had tanned


    skin and a slim body. His facial features were nice, making him look like a witty man.


    It would be fine if he and Emily ended up dating, but Chloe recalled that Emily¡¯s parents wanted a son-


    inw who was from the city. And it was best if he was a civil servant.


    Chloe said to Joseph, ¡°I¡¯ll go for dinner with Em tonight to ask her about it.¡±


    She did not mind it if Emily dated Lucas, but she knew that Emily was a fool when it came to love and


    might identally expose Chloe¡¯s pregnancy to Lucas, so Chloe had to take some. precautionary


    steps.


    Joseph nodded and pinched Chloe¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll find you once I¡¯m done dealing with these


    documents. Just send me your location.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Chloe contacted Emily, and they agreed to meet at the mall. They arrived there one after another. She


    was about to ask her best friend what was going on between her and Lucas when she heard a familiar


    voiceing from inside the maternity and baby products store beside her.


    ¡°Please pick out for me a few gender-neutral outfits for newborn babies. Oh, including shoes and caps


    too.¡± Xavia was wearing a simple, long blue sweater with a beige beret. She supported her waist and


    stood there gracefully.


    Emily shot Xavia a re. ¡°Come on, Coco. Let¡¯s go and get some clothes too.¡±


    ¡®She acts like she¡¯s the only one with a baby. She has yet to get the amniocentesis, and she¡¯s already


    buying clothes for the baby. She¡¯s so sure of her sess.¡¯

 Chapter 525

    Chapter 525


    Chapter 525 Fleurette Was Long Gone


    Chloe nced at Xavia coldly but said calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s ignore her.¡±


    ¡°But I get so mad whenever I see her.¡± Emily rubbed her fists together, eager to beat Xavia up.


    ¡°It¡¯s best to avoid trouble. I don¡¯t want to argue with her now. It¡¯s meaningless.¡±


    It was already the final month. She did not have to create trouble for herself and give Xavia a chance to


    make use of it.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Emily sighed with disappointment.


    ¡°Madam, I advise you not to buy too many clothes for the newborn. They grow up pretty fast. The


    clothes that fit them may no longer fit them after two months,¡± the salesperson advised Xavia out of


    responsibility. ¡°For example, these clothes are quite pretty, and theye in blue. and green. You just


    need to pick one. If you feel conflicted, you can call the baby¡¯s father and ask him about it.¡±


    Xavia touched the little clothes and inadvertently nced out of the store. ¡°You¡¯re right. Let me ask him


    about it.¡±


    Hearing this, Chloe stopped as she was just about to leave.


    However, Xavia did not make the call in front of the salesperson. While walking to the lounge, she took


    out her phone and was about to make a call.


    Emily pouted. ¡°Chloe, call Joseph too. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll bother to pick up her call.¡±


    Chloe agreed to Emily¡¯s suggestion. She then dialed Joseph¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello, the person you are calling is busy. Please try againter¡­¡±


    The mechanical voice hurt Chloe¡¯s heart.


    At the same time, Xavia came out of the lounge. She then pointed at the green baby clothes.¡± I¡¯d like


    this one. Bag it up for me please.¡±


    ¡°Okay, please wait for a moment.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Emily gaped in bewilderment. ¡°Damn it! Joseph picked up her call.¡±


    Chloe forced a smile and stuffed her phone back into her bag. ¡°It¡¯s normal for him to answer her call


    since it¡¯s about the baby.¡±


    Emily gazed upon Chloe with indescribable emotion. She was full ofpassion and heartache for her


    best friend.


    In the past, Chloe yearned for a pure love affair and would not tolerate any homewreckers. That was


    the reason why her heart had not gone easy on Jake and she left resolutely.


    Now, the current situation was hard to describe.


    As an outsider, Emily knew that there was no absolute right or wrong in this love affair. Both parties had


    problems, and they all contradict one another. Someone would get hurt no matter which choice they


    made.


    Xavia came out after settling the bill and saw that Chloe and Emily had left. She smiled before. she


    texted Vanya.


    [Did you manage to deal with Noah?]


    Vanya¡¯s reply came quickly. [He¡¯s proving to be very stubborn. I went to find himst Friday.]


    [What did he say?]


    [I didn¡¯t manage to see him. He avoided meeting with me, and the Sullivan estate is strictly guarded.]


    [Go to him when he¡¯s at university.]


    [I found out that he has a ss today.]


    [So are you going to find him today?]


    [Yeah, I¡¯ll go after I¡¯m done with my task here.]


    After a pause, Xavia¡¯s eyes brightened. [Did you find her?]


    [No, Fleurette was long gone when we got there. Maybe it was fake news.]


    [I thought¡­ Fine, I¡¯ll stop asking now.]


    Xavia was quite satisfied with this result.


    As long as Fleurette was not found, Joseph would not have peace of mind. That way, he would not pay


    attention to her, and her n could be carried out smoothly.


    As Chloe and Emily sat down at a restaurant, the former went straight to the point. ¡°What¡¯s the deal


    between you and Lucas? Why did you ask him to go home with you?¡±

 Chapter 526

    Chapter 526


    Chapter 526 Hazel Is a Habitual Offender, Chloe Was Deceived


    Emily raised her cup and took a sip of lemon juice, her mind filled with disbelief. ¡°Damn it! That blind


    date at the resort was an absolute disaster. Rob and the matchmaker exchanged a few words,


    insinuating that Lucas was my lover. Then, the matchmaker had the audacity to inform my parents.


    ¡°They pressured me into inviting Lucas over so that they could scrutinize and assess him. And I figured


    it¡¯d be wiser to shift the dynamics and just ask Lucas for a favor. That way, I can bid farewell to these


    dreadful blind dates and steer clear of the ensuing troubles.¡±


    Chloe interjected, her voiceced with reason. ¡°But your parents aren¡¯t particrly fond of Lucas.


    They¡¯ve met him once and were far from impressed.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Yeah, they didn¡¯t like him. But if they keep forcing my hand, I¡¯ll just tell them it¡¯s a done deal, ¡°Emily


    replied.


    Her parents had set their sights on a son-inw with a hefty sry and a prestigious government job-


    requirements that were contradictory. Given Emily¡¯s average qualifications and ordinary family


    background, finding a suitable match should have been sufficient. How could she dare to entertain the


    notion of a prince charming? Only her parents seemed lost in a perpetual daydream.


    Chloe blinked her almond-shaped eyes and fixed her gaze on Emily. ¡°Are you certain that¡¯s the only


    reason?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Chloe seemed to have further questions, but their conversation was interrupted by Joseph¡¯s arrival.


    Emily shifted her attention to Joseph and teased, ¡°You¡¯ve had a busy day.¡±


    Joseph responded with a cool and bewildered tone. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°We saw Xavia calling you,¡± Emily asserted firmly. How typical of a man to not admit anything. Men


    always had this frustrating w of being stubborn until confronted with evidence.


    ¡°And when was that?¡±


    ¡°About half an hour ago.¡±


    Joseph frowned. ¡°Xavia and I didn¡¯t speak on the phone.¡±


    Emily wanted to make a snide remark, but she felt intimidated by Joseph. Her lips quivered as she


    nudged Chloe with her elbow, urging her silently. ¡°Come on, say it! You saw it too. We can¡¯t let him off


    the hook!¡±


    Chloe possessed fair and translucent skin and had a subtle touch of makeup. Since bing


    pregnant, she had forsaken her form-fitting clothes and high heels, emanating a pure beauty


    untouched by worldly concerns. Beneath her calm exterior, a trace of suppressed jealousy lingered.


    ¡°I called you half an hour ago, but you were on another call.¡±


    Perhaps she would grow ustomed to Xavia¡¯s presence, but her heart would remain. unchanged.


    The numbness did not signify an absence of pain. It simply indicated the threshold had been reached.


    ¡°I was on a call.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you denying it?¡± Emily muttered softly, frustrationcing her words. ¡°We saw Xavia


    calling you.¡±


    Joseph settled down beside Chloe, retrieving his phone from his pants pocket and unlocking it. cing


    it on the table, he exined, ¡°I did receive a call this afternoon, but it was Victor who called. The


    conversation took ce half an hour ago.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment. Was it merely a coincidence? Had Xavia not actually called


    him? Or was it a situation simr to hers, where the call was engaged and could not go through?


    Emily also froze for a moment before swiftly regaining herposure. She sheepishly


    touched her nose, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding. It¡¯s all just a


    misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°What did you just say about Xavia?¡± Joseph¡¯s tone toward Emily held less forgiveness.pared to


    his interaction with Chloe.


    ¡°Not much. We just saw Xavia purchasing baby clothes at the maternity store on the lower floor of the


    mall.¡±


    His eyes flickered, and his response was swift. ¡°I haven¡¯t been in contact with hertely.¡±


    Observing his expression and response, Chloe experienced a sense of relief and asked, ¡°Why was


    Victor looking for you?¡±


    ¡°He discovered numerous recording devices in Hazel¡¯s room, and he ns to bring them over shortly.¡±


    Chloe was taken aback. ¡°Numerous recording devices?¡±


    ¡°Hazel most likely deceived you. It seems like she¡¯s a habitual offender,¡± Joseph said in a serious tone


    while holding her delicate wrist.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Could Victor be lying?¡±


    ¡°Edgar isatose at the moment, and Victor is destined to lose thewsuit against Samuel, The


    Cottrells have hit a roadblock. A few recording devices aren¡¯t enough to serve as leverage.


    Chloe could not believe it. ¡°But Victor was so arrogant¡­ His change in attitude is too sudden.¡±


    ¡°Samuel exposed his secrets within the legalmunity, leading to his termination from thepany.


    His prospects of being hired to handle cases in the future are bleak.¡±


    Chloe grasped the situation. ¡®So Victor is merely attempting to appease and ingratiate himself with


    Joseph? But I can¡¯t bring myself to believe that Hazel had deceived me.¡¯


    She possessed the ability to discern right from wrong, and the intense hatred she had witnessed in


    Hazel¡¯s eyes that day felt undeniably genuine and potent.

 Chapter 527

    Chapter 527


    Chapter 527 Do You Think So Too?


    Joseph¡¯s gaze fixed on Chloe with profound intensity, sparing any unnecessary exnations.¡± Victor


    will be here shortly. By now, hecks the audacity to fabricate lies.¡±


    Ten minutester, Victor entered, clutching a stic bag. His face bore wounds, and weariness exuded


    from him as if he had endured a rough time over the past few days.


    ¡°M-Mr. Joseph¡­¡± Victor stuttered.


    Joseph did not even raise his eyes, calmly slicing through the steak on his te. ¡°Where are the


    recorders?¡±


    ¡°Here.¡± Victor emptied the entire contents of the stic bag onto the table, revealing a minimum of


    thirty recording devices that closely resembled the one Hazel had brought that day.


    Chloe furrowed her brows deeply, selecting one of the recorders to listen to. She pressed the y


    button, only to be greeted by static noise. She patiently continued listening, but the static persisted for


    three minutes without any additional content.


    Undeterred, she picked up another recorder. Emily joined in the inspection, and together they listened


    to all the recorders present, yet their efforts failed to yield any useful clues.


    Victor spoke up, ¡°Hazel has always taken pleasure in deceiving others. She envies you for marrying Mr.


    Joseph and holds deep resentment toward you. Her intention was to deceive you. for money, and you


    fell for her trap.¡±


    Chloe expressed her displeasure, dismantling his words mercilessly. ¡°But that¡¯s not what you said back


    at the station.¡±


    ¡°I was coerced by my father into saying those things. I made a grave mistake without fully


    understanding the situation, but I have nowe to my senses,¡± Victor exined.


    Emily sneered. ¡°Did youe to your senses, or are you just desperate?¡±


    Victor was just like Benjamin. They were cut from the same cloth-sweet-talkers when they required


    something but would disregard the person once they were no longer needed. They were the epitome of


    selfishness and self-interest.


    Victor failed to recognize Emily as he had never encountered her in Aesper before. Sporting an air of


    arrogance, he retorted, ¡°What do you know? Our family affairs don¡¯t call for meddling.¡±


    your


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t meddling. I was simply mocking you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re utterly ignorant!¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re utterly worthless!¡±


    12


    Chloe interjected, feeling a growing headache, ¡°How can you be certain that these recorders belonged


    to Hazel?¡±


    Victor responded with confidence, ¡°They were discovered in her room. If they weren¡¯t hers, whose else


    could they possibly belong to?¡±


    ¡°What if¡­someone else nted them there?¡±


    ¡°Impossible. No thief has gotten into our house.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Joseph, who had remained silent for an extended period, furrowed his brows and said


    to Chloe, ¡°Since she¡¯s dead, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something suspicious about this entire incident. Let¡¯s assume that Hazel did purchase these


    recorders to deceive me. How do you exin the car ident?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so peculiar about multiple car idents urring on a daily basis?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true that idents aremonce, but what¡¯s unusual is that the driver was wearing sunsses


    and a mask. He was clearly prepared.¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Victor, adept at deciphering people¡¯s expressions, detected Joseph¡¯s reluctance to delve further into the


    issue. Sensing the situation, he cooperatively chimed in, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s simply a coincidence? Maybe


    you¡¯re overanalyzing things.¡±


    Chloe shifted her gaze toward Joseph. ¡°Do you think so too?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been preupiedtely, and I don¡¯t wish for this matter to drain my energy and time.¡± Joseph


    sighed helplessly, massaging his temples. ¡°Please try to understand my position, will you?¡±


    Since Otto revealed that his mother was still alive, he had been devoting half of his daily time to


    searching for her. Furthermore, Chloe¡¯s temper had be increasingly challenging to manage. His


    iming not to feel weary would be dishonest.


    Chloe tightly sped her hands beneath the table, lowering her head. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Joseph delicately ced the sliced steak on the te before her and said in a charming tone, Good


    girl.¡±

 Chapter 528

    Chapter 528


    Chapter 528 Can You Really Come Out Unscathed?


    After finishing dinner, Chloe made her way back to Oceanic Residence. Upon discovering the close


    proximity of Noah¡¯s and Chloe¡¯s units, Joseph¡¯s handsome face clouded over, and he immediately


    contacted a movingpany.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Upon arriving home, Chloe went straight to bed and, in a drowsy state, heard somemotion outside.


    Too fatigued to open her eyes, she assumed it was Joseph causing a disturbance and chose to


    disregard it.


    While the move was underway, Joseph stumbled upon a collection of herbal blends neatly packaged in


    heatable, ready-for-consumption bags. The outer packagingckedbels except for the name ¡°Central


    Hospital.¡± He squinted his eyes and picked up a bag, giving it a slight shake.


    Without dy, he reached out to the herbalist. ¡°My wife received some herbal blends for menstrual


    regtion from the hospital. Can you have them tested?¡±


    When it came to herbal remedies, Joseph ced his trust solely in the individuals he sought


    out.


    In a school located in Aesper, the graduate students resided in dorm rooms, typically shared by two


    upants. Today, Noah¡¯s roommate had left for home after sses, leaving him alone in the room.


    Vanya, without her fox mask this time, cleverly disguised herself as a delivery person and managed to


    infiltrate the premises. With her sharply defined features, an air of malice, and at pair of distinct eagle-


    like eyes, she possessed a presence that would be etched into the memory of anyone who had


    encountered her even once.


    Noah stared at the woman standing before him, his expression serious. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person. I


    didn¡¯t order any takeout.¡± With that said, he made a move to close the door.


    Vanya¡¯s gaze intensified as she used her foot to wedge the door open. ¡°I¡¯m being sincere with you


    here, and you¡¯re still not satisfied?¡±


    Noah crossed his arms. His features were perfect, and his fair skin was wless. He was undeniably


    handsome without appearing effeminate. He understood that her version of ¡± sincerity¡± meant revealing


    her true face, but he did not give a damn about it.


    Vanya¡¯s fists tightened, her knuckles audibly cracking as she struggled to maintain herposure.


    ¡°Could we have a chat?¡±


    ¡°Chat about what?¡±


    ¡°You like Chloe, and I can help you.¡±


    Come Out Im


    Noah stretchedzily, making no effort to deny it. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡±


    A cold smile spread across Vanya¡¯s face. ¡°By saying that, are you implying that you¡¯re willing to raise


    Joseph¡¯s child?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things. I¡¯m not currently involved with Chloe, so I don¡¯t consider myself qualified to


    be a stepfather,¡± Noah responded firmly as he simply would not do so. He would not tolerate Chloe


    bringing a child from another man into the Sullivan family.


    Vanya closed the door behind her and took a seat. Her expression turned eerie. ¡°I¡¯m aware that you


    have your own thoughts and ns, and I also know that Eustace is still alive and in your hands.¡±


    Noah¡¯s long eyshes trembled slightly, a touch of coldness entering his otherwise gentle eyes. ¡°Are


    you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°No, and why would I? Honestly, I¡¯d prefer to cooperate with you. After all, the enemy of my enemy is


    my friend.


    ¡°I believe you¡¯re capable of settling the matter of Chloe¡¯s child, but can you reallye out. unscathed


    without raising her suspicions? I can assist you with that. Even if the n fails and we¡¯re eventually


    discovered, I¡¯ll shoulder all the me on your behalf. I¡¯ll ensure that your remain the pristine and


    untarnished heir of Exotic Star.¡±


    Upon hearing the words ¡°pristine and untarnished,¡± something stirred in Noah¡¯s heart. He raised his


    gaze to meet Vanya¡¯s eyes and asked, ¡°How do you propose we cooperate?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. A few days before Xavia undergoes the amniocentesis, you take Chloe away, preferably


    out of Aesper-abroad, if you can manage it. And make sure she goes willingly.¡±


    ¡°Not a chance. Going abroad means facing Duskfall members in unfamiliar territory. I¡¯d be at a


    disadvantage and wouldn¡¯t feel at ease.¡± Noah swiftly rejected the idea. While he was open to


    cooperation, he needed to prioritize his and Chloe¡¯s safety.


    Vanya¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. ¡°When did you find out about Duskfall?¡±


    Noah¡¯s innocent face now disyed a street-smart cunning that belied his age. ¡°After being kidnapped


    by you and nearly losing my life, do you think I¡¯d remain indifferent and act as if nothing happened?¡±


    However, hecked Joseph¡¯s speed, and it was only recently that he had stumbled upon some clues.

 Chapter 529

    Chapter 529


    Chapter 529 Disrespecting Chloe


    Vanya refused to back down, saying, ¡°Going abroad is convenient. You have to trust Duskfall¡¯s


    influence.¡±


    ¡°Duskfall has nothing to do with me. As I mentioned before, my decisions are based solely on my own


    interests.¡± Noah smirked, dismissing her suggestion. ¡°Besides, you haven¡¯t proven yourself worthy of


    my trust.¡±


    Vanya stared at him, her expression masking her true thoughts. ¡°You¡¯ve surprised me,¡± she said. She


    had initially pegged Noah as just another pampered rich kid, but she now realized he possessed


    cunning and a hidden depth for maniption.


    She had attempted to ascertain if Eustace was truly in Noah¡¯s possession, but her efforts proved


    inconclusive. Not only that, Noah appeared to be well-informed about Xavia¡¯s actions toward Eustace.


    He had gathered a wealth of information and orchestrated everything from the shadows. Upon


    reflection, it became evident that dealing with this young man was no less challenging than dealing with


    Joseph.


    ¡°All right, you can choose the location. Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis is scheduled for the 10th of next month,


    so we have more than twenty days left.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination as he nodded, his gaze shifting toward the door.¡± Goodbye


    then.¡±


    Joseph waited for the herbalist¡¯s assistant to collect the medicine before showering. As he prepared to


    retire to the bedroom, his phone rang.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Mr. Nathan is drunk and is at the cemetery. Could you pleasee and pick him up?¡±


    Joseph instantly remembered that it was the anniversary of Daphne¡¯s passing and replied without


    hesitation, ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡±


    An hourter, he reached the cemetery and found Nathan in a state of heavy intoxication, clutching


    onto a tombstone. His eyes were bloodshot, and he alternated between bouts ofughter and tears,


    muttering incoherent words. It was challenging to decipher his speech.


    ¡°Mr. Nathan arrived early this morning and has been here the whole day,¡± the security guard at the


    cemetery said with a sigh, his gaze fixed on the photo of a girl on the tombstone. ¡°Mr. Nathan is a truly


    devoted lover.¡±


    It had been three years, and Nathan hade to visit every year on this day without fail.


    Joseph arched an eyebrow. ¡®A devoted lover? He doesn¡¯t strike me as one. He didn¡¯t cherish her when


    she was alive, only to regret it deeply after losing her. This woman had treated him like


    the world.¡¯


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Joseph assisted Nathan to his feet and guided him toward the car and drove thetter back


    to his house.


    After the whole ordeal was over, it was already four o¡¯clock in the morning. Joseph did not want to


    disturb Chloe¡¯s rest by returning to Oceanic Residence at such ate hour and instead opted to head


    straight to Fairlight and endure the few hours before the morning meeting.


    Chloe woke up and felt the emptiness beside her. It was cold. Confused, she wondered how early


    Joseph had left. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she ventured out of the bedroom and was greeted by an


    empty living room.


    She froze on the spot and after a brief moment of confusion, she hurriedly called Joseph. ¡°Someone


    broke into my house! They¡¯ve stolen everything in the living room!¡±


    ¡°¡­I had someone take your belongings to the vi.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Chloe¡¯s voice suddenly grew louder. ¡°Why? Why did you make that decision without consulting


    me?!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you living in the same neighborhood as Noah.¡±


    Chloe seethed with fury, her teeth grinding together. ¡°Joseph, you have no respect for me. What do you


    think you¡¯re doing? I¡¯m not your possession. I have the right to make my own decisions in life. Even if


    you¡¯re jealous, it doesn¡¯t give you the right to not inform me.¡±


    Did he have any idea what it felt like to wake up to an empty home after a night¡¯s sleep?


    Her erupting anger surged uncontrobly, and her fair little face flushed, adding a touch of allure to her


    appearance.


    ¡°If I had informed you, would you have agreed?¡± Joseph¡¯s tone remained calm as he twirled his pen


    between his fingers. Just by listening to his voice, one could sense his superiority, akin to a high-


    ranking individual who controlled everything.


    ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t have.¡±


    ¡°Then why should I tell you?¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you about it to avoid unnecessary


    arguments. In the future, I¡¯ll arrange a dedicated car and driver to take you to and from work.¡±


    Chloe felt a surge of frustration as she roared into the phone, ¡°Even with a driver, I¡¯ll still waste a


    significant amount of time on the road! It takes me an hour and a half to get from Fairlight to the


    Johnson Group. That¡¯s three times longer than the journey from Oceanic Residence! I could practically


    walk to work from my residence. You always expect me to understand you, but can¡¯t you try to


    understand me?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll purchase a house near the Johnson Group¡¯s office for you.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡±


    What she wanted was respect, not money. Buying a new house might address the current issue, but


    what about future conflicts? Simr situations would arise again.


    ¡°Am I wrong to buy you a house?¡± Joseph¡¯s handsome face took on a slight seriousness. ¡°Have you


    been deliberately picking fights with metely?¡±


    Chloe was incredibly frustrated. How did the situation suddenly shift to bing her fault?


    ¡°I-


    ¡°Chloe, I didn¡¯t get any sleepst night, and I have an important meeting to attend soon. Can we not


    argue right now? Let¡¯s talk in the evening when I¡¯m done with my busy schedule,¡± Joseph interjected,


    his tone softening.


    Hearing the weariness in his voice, Chloe pressed her lips together. While feeling empathetic for him,


    she also felt a bit aggrieved. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you to get home.¡±


    Continuing the argument at this point would onlye across as unreasonable and childish.


    Not long after ending the call, the assistant rushed to the clinic and presented the herbalist. with the


    bag of medicine Joseph had provided. ¡°Sir, Mr. Joseph requested that you examine the ingredients.¡±

 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530


    Chapter 530 Self-Deception and Wishful Thinking


    The old herbalist, busy examining a patient, nced at his assistant and replied, ¡°We¡¯ll handle it when


    we¡¯re less busy in the afternoon.¡±


    Having previously worked at the herb store in Central Hospital during his younger days, the doctor


    knew that the hospital prescribed only a limited number of medications for regting menstrual


    disorders. The prescriptions were likely the same ones that he had left behind and had not changed


    much since then. There was no need to rush the examination.


    Upon hearing this, the assistant moved on to other tasks.


    After tidying up, Chloe opened the wardrobe and found that Joseph had notpletely emptied it. He


    had left behind her daily necessities and a few articles of clothing.


    The weather outside matched the somber atmosphere, with fallen leaves scattered around the


    neighborhood, creating a sense of destion and loneliness. A chilly gust of wind seeped into. the


    room, causing Chloe to shiver involuntarily. She reached out to close the window and decided to


    change into warmer clothes.


    She was now in her second trimester, with her belly showing noticeable signs of protrusion. Thankfully,


    her limbs had not gained much weight, and she carefully chose loose-fitting clothes every day to


    conceal her growing bump. However, as she approached the midway point. of her pregnancy, the


    baby¡¯s growth would elerate, and it would be difficult to hide the fact. that she was pregnant in


    another month or so.


    After hastilypleting her preparations, Chloe was about to leave when a nagging feeling gnawed at


    her. She came to a sudden halt, furrowing her brow as she tried to recall what she had forgotten.


    Then, it hit her like a p on the forehead. She had yet to take her maternity herbal blends. today. She


    retraced her steps, rushing back to retrieve the herbal blends, only to discover that one packet was


    missing. Panic seized her mind as a thought crossed her, ¡®Could Joseph have taken it?¡¯


    With trembling fingers, she hastily dialed his number, pressing the buttons repeatedly in her anxious


    state before the call finally connected.


    Joseph was in a meeting, but when he saw it was Chloe calling, he answered without hesitation. The


    employees around him exchanged nces, holding their breath, aware of Joseph¡¯s usual seriousness


    and dedication to his work. Answering calls during meetings was a rarity for him. Curiosity sparked


    within them as they silently spected about the identity of the caller who held such influence to


    capture Mr. Joseph¡¯s attention during a meeting.


    A trace of tenderness softened his handsome face as he answered the call. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡®She just hung up a moment ago, and now she¡¯s calling again. Has she already started missing me


    after just one night apart?¡¯


    ¡°Did¡­Did you take the herbal blends from the cab?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I sent it to the herbalist to examine them. If they prove to be effective, you¡¯ll continue taking them.


    If not, we¡¯ll visit his clinic for further evaluation.¡±


    Chloe gasped, her voice trembling with nervousness as she asked, ¡°Did you already send the


    medicine? How long until we receive the results?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have. We¡¯ll probably hear back tomorrow.¡±


    Chloe fought back tears, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She struggled to maintain her


    composure, but her legs felt weak beneath her. She had endured so much, keeping her pain and


    frustrations hidden for far too long. They were on the verge of reaching the crucial stage of Xavia¡¯s


    amniocentesis, and now something had gone wrong. Why did it have to happen at this very moment?


    Joseph noticed something was amiss when he did not hear Chloe¡¯s response. Concerned, he asked,


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You go on with your work. I¡¯m heading to work too.¡±


    Before Joseph could say anything else, he heard the call drop tone, indicating that the call had been


    cut off. His expression instantly shifted from concern to frustration. This woman is growing bolder by


    the day. How dare she hang up on me.¡±


    Frustrated, he tossed his phone aside andmanded in a displeased tone, ¡°Continue with the


    meeting.¡±


    The employees exchanged nces, silently acknowledging their shared sentiment. They were nothing


    more than punching bags for Joseph¡¯s frustration.


    Chloe¡¯s mind was in turmoil, leaving her unsure of what to do. With a sense of confusion and


    helplessness, she walked out of the building. After much internal struggle, she made the difficult


    decision to let go. It appeared that no matter what actions she took, it would all be futile. Joseph would


    undoubtedly discover her pregnancy by tomorrow at thetest. Surrendering to fate seemed to be her


    only option. Whatever was meant to happen would happen.


    ¡®Perhaps the child in Xavia¡¯s womb isn¡¯t Joseph¡¯s¡­¡¯ Chloe desperately clung to a glimmer of hope,


    resorting to self-deception and wishful thinking as her only means of sce.


    Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice Noah approaching her, and the two collided head-on.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 531

    Chapter 531


    Chapter 531 Let¡¯s Make a Little Switch


    ¡°Oh my gosh! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Chloe quickly apologized as she covered her forehead and winced in pain.


    ¡°What are you so engrossed in?¡± a familiar voice of a young man asked.


    Looking up, Chloe saw Noah, d in a checkered shirt and carrying a ck backpack, smiling brightly


    with charming dimples on his cheeks.


    Feeling downcast, Chloe hung her head and forced augh that seemed sadder than tears. ¡°It¡¯s


    nothing.¡±


    Noah was slightly taller than Chloe. He gently lowered his head to meet her gaze as they talked.


    ¡°You¡¯re clearly bothered by something,¡± he said, his face filled with concern.


    Feeling the need to share her frustrations, Chloe could not hold back and confided, ¡°Joseph will soon


    discover that I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    Noah¡¯s expression changed imperceptibly, and he straightened his back. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Chloe exined the whole situation, her voice filled with helplessness. She was truly at a loss and did


    not know what to do next. On one hand, Joseph might be happy to know he was going to be a father,


    but on the other, he might be angry that she had kept it from him for so long. Everything she had


    nned was slipping out of her control, and she felt increasingly anxious.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Noah stared at Chloe for a while, then said, ¡°Those herbs that you got from the hospital, what did they


    look like?¡±


    ¡°It was in transparent packaging with each dose individually wrapped.¡±


    ¡°And what does the herbalist that Mr. Joseph hired look like?¡±


    ¡°Kind of thin, not very tall, he sports a beard, and is around forty years old.¡±


    ¡°Is it Dr. Frederick Hartman?¡±


    ¡°I think so?¡±


    ¡°I know who it is,¡± Noah said, nodding firmly. ncing at the time, he reassured Chloe, ¡°That old


    herbalist is quite famous. My grandfather has visited him before. I¡¯ll go check it out. Maybe they haven¡¯t


    started analyzing the herb packets yet.¡±


    Chloe remained stunned for a moment. ¡°If they haven¡¯t analyzed them, then what are we going to do?¡±


    Noah tilted his head. It was unclear whether he was joking or serious about his next words. We¡¯re


    going to make a little switch.¡±


    Knowing that Chloe¡¯s pregnancy would only strengthen Joseph¡¯s determination to keep her by


    his side, even if it meant he had to employ forceful means, Noah realized that a direct confrontation


    was not an option for them. That would also go against his grandfather¡¯s. wishes. Continuing to


    deceive was the most effortless method for now.


    ¡°What?¡± Chloe finally caught on. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡±


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work out, we¡¯ll consider it a joke.¡± As Noah got into a cab to head to the clinic, he rolled


    down the window and waved at Chloe, who looked shocked. ¡°You¡¯ll hear back from me


    soon.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go!¡± Chloe realized he was serious and tried to stop him.


    ¡°This is too tant! He¡¯s going to get busted!¡¯


    As the heir of Exotic Star, how would others view him if they witnessed him stealing?


    Chloe tried to call and message Noah several times, but he did not answer or reply. She could not


    believe he acted so impulsively.


    Upon learning about the situation, Emily excitedly pped her thigh. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it. Noah


    likes you.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense and help me think of a solution.¡±


    Otherwise, people who did not know the truth might think she had instigated Noah to do it.


    ¡°Trust me. He likes you. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d be so kind to someone for no reason. Unless he¡¯s a


    klepto, of course.¡±


    In movies, wealthy kids from privileged families often had various ¡°special interests.¡± Chloe was taken


    aback. ¡°Are you serious? He doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of person.¡±

 Chapter 532

    Chapter 532


    Chapter 532 Noah Is Quite Different From What Chloe Imagined


    ¡°Appearances can be deceiving. One should never judge a book by its cover. There¡¯s one young girl in


    my office who perfectly exemplifies this. At first nce, she appears petite and adorable. She can¡¯t


    even open a jar. But behind that facade lies a dark and disturbing side. She¡¯s secretly a cat abuser.


    Can you believe it?¡±


    Emily could not stop gossiping once she started, going on and on without end. However, Chloe had too


    much on her mind and could not focus. Coincidentally, someone from the office came to see her, so


    she had to hang up.


    In the herbal store of Central Hospital, Frederick was surprised to see Noah arriving alone. ¡± Mr. Noah?


    What brings you here today?¡±


    ¡°Dr. Frederick, I¡¯ve been having trouble sleeping recently. Would you mind doing a check-up on me


    please?¡± Noah politely asked while ncing around the room.


    The waiting area was crowded with other patients.


    ¡°Sure, but you¡¯ll have to wait. I have other patients to attend to first,¡± Frederick replied.


    ¡°Of course, I have no intention of cutting in line,¡± Noah replied with a gentle smile. He curiously


    observed the herbs cab in front of him and asked, ¡°May I take a look around?¡±


    ¡°Feel free, Mr. Noah. My ce is small, and I hope you don¡¯t mind it. Go ahead and take a stroll,¡±


    Frederick said.


    Noah walked up to the herb cab, observing the names written on each drawer while keeping an eye


    on his surroundings from the corner of his eye. Seizing the opportunity when no one was paying


    attention, he discreetly headed to the backyard where the herbal blends. were being prepared.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    In the backyard, there was only one assistant busy with the herb preparation.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken with Dr. Frederick. I¡¯m just taking a walk out of boredom. Carry on with your work,¡±


    Noah said to the assistant.


    ¡°Mmm, sure,¡± the assistant replied.


    Noah wandered around the yard, and eventually, his gaze settled on bags of herbs ced on a table.


    ¡°These are the finished herbal blends?¡± he inquired.


    The assistant answered, ¡°No, those are the ones brought in from outside for analysis.¡±


    A flicker of contemtion crossed Noah¡¯s eyes as he nodded thoughtfully. At that moment, Frederick


    called on the assistant, leaving only Noah in the backyard.


    He watched the assistant walk away. Without wasting a moment, he quickly took out a pre-


    prepared packet of herbs and deftly switched it with the maternity herbal blend on the table.


    After the earlier patients left, it was finally Noah¡¯s turn. Frederick asked, ¡°Besides Insomnia, do you


    have any other diforts?¡±


    ¡°Nothing else. Just prepare me some calming and sleep-inducing herbs,¡± Noah sald.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let me do a check-up on you?¡± Frederick asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯lle back next time,¡± Noah replied.


    The doctor nodded and went to the herb cab to fetch the requested herbs. As his gaze fell upon


    Noah¡¯s hair, he furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°When did you start getting white hair?¡±


    Noah was taken aback. ¡°I forgot exactly when, but I think it was this year.¡±


    ¡°You should find some time to go to the hospital for a full-body check-up, including X-rays of all your


    body parts.¡±


    Noah casually touched his hair and smiled nonchntly. ¡°I think the stress from my studies and the


    frequentte nights might be the cause.¡±


    Frederick looked at him deeply and advised, ¡°It¡¯s better to get it checked.¡±


    It was eleven in the morning when Noah arrived at Chloe¡¯s office. After enduring several agonizing


    hours, she bolted up from her chair when she saw him and scrutinized him from


    head to toe.


    ¡°You really went?¡±


    ¡°Yeap,¡± Noah replied.


    ¡°¡­ And you weren¡¯t caught?¡±


    Noah handed her the maternity herbal blend from his backpack and said in a rxed tone, ¡°It was a


    piece of cake.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled, and a look of admiration appeared on her face as she raised her thumb in


    praise. ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡±


    ¡®He actually pulled it off! It seems like I¡¯ve underestimated him.¡¯

 Chapter 533

    Chapter 533


    Chapter 533 Harold Is in a Critical Condition


    Noah¡¯s eyes glinted with amusement and his grin widened, showcasing a row of neatly aligned teeth.


    As Chloe released a long sigh of relief, his spirits inexplicably lifted as well.


    ¡°But¡­ Why did you help me?¡± Chloe recalled Emily¡¯s words and her mind went nk. She blurted out


    straightforwardly, ¡°Joseph says you have feelings for me, which I find hard to believe. But I just can¡¯t


    comprehend why you¡¯d go to such lengths to help me in such a situation.¡±


    Caught off guard by this question, Noah froze momentarily, leaving an awkward silence in the air.


    Chloe tightened her grip on the bag of herbs, her disbelief evident as she gazed at Noah.


    ¡®Could it be true? Was Joseph right about Noah¡¯s feelings for me? But that doesn¡¯t make sense! We


    rarely see each other!¡¯


    ¡°I actually didn¡¯t want to say this, but¡­¡± Noah appeared embarrassed as he struggled to find the right


    words, seemingly confirming that he did have feelings for her. However, his tone suddenly shifted.


    ¡°I have a bad habit. I enjoy the thrill of stealing,¡± he confessed..


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°My life is a meticulously crafted timetable. From what I¡¯ll eat to the path I¡¯ll take, every aspect has been


    nned out for the next ten years. One day, I witnessed someone slipping a loaf of bread into their


    pocket at a convenience store. It triggered an adrenaline rush, and I couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to


    imitate it. It felt like an intangible sword hanging over me, ready to strike at any moment-the thrill, the


    nervousness, the excitement-it stimtes every fiber of my being. I slowly found myself stealing more


    often and even got caught a few times, so I¡¯ve learned to be more cautious. Now, when I decide to


    steal, I always retrieve the items before pretending to forget to pay, only to returnter and settle the


    bill.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any romantic feelings for you. I¡¯m simply addicted to the thrill of stealing.¡±


    After his confession, Noah¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for embarrassing you.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Looks like Joseph was wrong and Em was right.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You did help me, and I should thank you. Besides, who am I to judge you?¡± she said, even


    though she found his method of helping her uneptable.


    Noah continued, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Chloe. ¡°When my newly established office


    has its grand opening next month, I really hope you¡¯ll be there. And, of course, I still hold onto the hope


    that you¡¯ll join us.¡±


    Duskfall¡¯s activities in Estre were intentionally kept limited to make them inconspicuous. Noah took a


    moment to reflect, acknowledging the wisdom behind the masked woman¡¯s suggestion. In some


    respects, conducting business overseas might be more convenient than


    1/2


    dealing domestically.


    ¡°In Estre?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty far away, but I¡¯ll try my best,¡± she replied. She refrained from making any definite promises in


    light of the considerable distance to Estre.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear it. I suggest you spend some time in Estre. At the four-month mark, Mr. Joseph will


    surely notice your growing belly,¡± Noah said, leaving Chloe speechless.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll give it some serious thought.¡±


    In the afternoon, without warning, Patrick came to pick Chloe up and take her to the hospital. On their


    way there, tears welled up in his eyes as he said to her, ¡°Mr. Harold fell down the stairs today and is


    currently in critical condition. If he doesn¡¯t make it through the emergency procedures¡­ I hope you can


    apany him during the final moments of his journey. Mr. Joseph is also rushing to the hospital.


    We¡¯ll probably arrive around the same time.


    ¡°Mr. Harold had his reasons for not keeping in touch with you. In his heart, you¡¯ve always been the


    Whitmans¡¯ granddaughter-inw. The past, present, nor future will change that fact.


    Chloe felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. She covered her mouth, holding back the tears that


    were threatening to burst out. She could not cry. Otherwise, her eyes would be swollen, and she


    was certain that Harold did not want to see her in such a state.

 Chapter 534

    Chapter 534


    Chapter 534 Someone Pushed Mel


    When Chloe arrived at the hospital, Joseph arrived as well.


    When her eyes met his, they saw the heavy concern in each other¡¯s gaze. After a long walt, the doctor


    emerged from the emergency room.


    ¡°Mr. Harold is stable for now, but falling from the second floor to the first floor caused a concussion and


    a fractured lower leg. During the emergency treatment, I also noticed signs of organ failure, mainly due


    to the fracture. He¡¯s very weak now and might only wake up in the evening.¡±


    ¡°Organ failure?¡± Joseph¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and his brows furrowed deeply.


    ¡°Yes, we have yet to identify any abnormalities in the test reports that could¡¯ve caused the failure. It¡¯s


    likely rted to his advanced age. I rmend that you talk to Dr. Spencer, Mr. Harold¡¯s attending


    physician. He¡¯s been closely monitoring Mr. Harold¡¯s condition.¡±


    Chloe timely interjected, ¡°Is Dr. Spencer currently here at the hospital?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. He was on the night shift yesterday, so he should have left at eight in the morning. But I


    saw him before I entered the operating room. You can try to find him.¡±


    ¡°Stay with Grandpa in the ward. I¡¯ll go find Dr. Spencer,¡± Joseph said to Chloe.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she obediently replied.


    Harold underwent aprehensive body examination every six months. Although his health. had not


    been great before, the simultaneous failure of multiple organs was rather unusual.


    Upon hearing the news that Harold was temporarily out of danger, Chloe¡¯s nerves rxed. However,


    she knew what organ failure meant for a person. If it was mild, it might be manageable, but if it was


    severe¡­ Considering Harold¡¯s age, it would be challenging to reverse


    the condition.


    Joseph inquired with the nurses on duty, and the head nurse said, ¡°Dr. Spencer? I just saw him.


    heading to the basement. See if you can catch him there.¡±


    ¡°All right, thank you.¡±


    In long hurried strides, Joseph stepped into the elevator. Sure enough, he spotted Spencer when he


    reached the basement level, making a phone call in a secluded corner with his head lowered.


    Joseph stepped forward and patted Spencer on the shoulder.


    The doctor looked up, and his face instantly filled with rm. He was so startled that he took a step


    back, almost letting out a scream.¡±M-Mr. Joseph!¡±


    1/2


    Suspicious, Joseph raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing.¡± Spencer hurriedly shook his head as he hid his phone behind him. ¡°Your steps were so


    light, and I didn¡¯t hear youing. You startled me.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was just my instinctive reaction¡­¡±


    Joseph carefully observed Spencer¡¯s actions and the shifts in his expression, then asked, ¡°Do you


    know that my grandfather had a fall?¡±


    Spencer shook his head profusely. ¡°I was on the night shift yesterday and just got off work this morning.


    I had no idea. Is his condition serious? Is it critical?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s unconscious right now.¡±


    ¡°Old people are prone to falls. I¡¯ll make sure the caregivers pay more attention in the future.¡±


    Looking at Spencer condescendingly, Joseph said, ¡°I want to discuss my grandfather¡¯s condition. The


    doctors in the emergency room mentioned he is experiencing multiple organ failure. Why have you


    never brought this up with me?¡±


    ¡°I-I wanted to, but you seemed really busytely and haven¡¯t been to the hospital in some time. I-1


    didn¡¯t want to disturb you¡­¡± Spencer stuttered as he avoided Joseph¡¯s gaze, ¡°B-But I did tell Patrick,


    and he said he would inform you. Anyway, I have to go now. My kid will be out of school soon, and I


    need to pick her up.¡±


    With that, Spencer hurriedly left, leaving Joseph gazing after his retreating figure with narrowed, cold


    eyes.


    Harold was expected to remain unconscious until the evening. However, he regained


    consciousness merely an hour after leaving the emergency room. His first words, which were uttered in


    anger, left Chloe fuming.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t fall down. Someone pushed me!!!¡±

 Chapter 535

    Chapter 535


    Chapter 535 What a Filial Grandson You Are


    ¡°Who pushed you?¡± asked Joseph, as he pushed open the door and entered.


    Standing against the light, his short hair looked like obsidian, emitting a faint glow. His well- defined


    features were inscrutable, making it hard to discern his thoughts at that moment.


    Simultaneously, Chloe focused her gaze on the elderly man lying on the hospital bed, eagerly awaiting


    an answer. She too wanted to know who would be so heartless to do such a cruel thing to an old man.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was just exercising by climbing up and down the stairs ording to Dr. Spencer¡¯s


    instructions. When I was halfway up, I heard someone behind me but didn¡¯t pay much attention.


    Suddenly, that person pushed me from behind, and the next thing I knew, I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°So you


    didn¡¯t see who it was.¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, but I can investigate,¡± Harold replied, mming the table in frustration, wincing as he


    inadvertently hit his injuries. ¡°I want to retrieve the hospital¡¯s surveince footage. I want to see who


    has the audacity to do such a thing!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± Joseph said coldly.


    ¡°Why?¡± Chloe asked, and then she paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Are there no cameras in


    the corridor?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, I¡¯ve already checked. There are no surveince cameras in that particr corridor.¡±


    ¡°You checked the cameras? But why?¡±


    Harold just woke up, so probably no one else knew he had been pushed.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Dr. Spencer¡¯s behavior was suspicious. I went to the spot where Grandpa


    fell and realized those stairs wouldn¡¯t make him lose bnce and fall, so I suspected


    someone was behind it.¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Chloe¡¯s mind raced, and a thinyer of cold sweat formed on her back. ¡°Did Dr. Spencer deliberately


    advise Grandpa to climb the stairs¡­?¡±


    There were many ways to exercise, but why did it have to involve climbing stairs? Harold was in his


    eighties and had a heart condition. Climbing stairs did not seem suitable for him.


    Joseph shot a quick nce at Patrick, who immediately understood and stood guard outside the door


    to prevent eavesdropping,


    Harold straightened his posture. ¡°Do you think it was Dr. Spencer who pushed me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What do


    you


    think?¡± Joseph asked back.


    1/2


    ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t be asking you,¡± Harold grumbled, his fiery temper undiminished even with a


    fractured leg.


    Unperturbed, Joseph pointed to the cuff of his sleeve. ¡°Look at this smudge.¡±


    Chloe followed his finger and asked, ¡°Is that¡­dust from a wall?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and Dr. Spencer had some on him too.¡±


    Apart from his suspicious demeanor, Joseph noticed that Spencer had traces of the same whitish dust


    on his back, which was a crucial detail. Moreover, during the time when Harold fell unconscious,


    Spencer seemed to have disappeared. He was supposed to finish his night shift and go home in the


    morning, so why was he lingering around the hospital?


    Considering all these factors, Spencer became the prime suspect.


    Harold¡¯s face turned livid with anger as he seethed, ¡°Bring him to me! I want to confront him face to


    face.¡±


    Though Harold was harsh with his own grandson, he nevercked courtesy when dealing with


    outsiders. He could notprehend what he had done to Spencer to provoke such harm from


    him.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the courage,¡± Joseph said calmly.


    Harold was taken aback and asked, ¡°Are you saying that¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Checking his wristwatch, Joseph continued, ¡°I don¡¯t think you should stay in the hospital any longer. Let


    Patrick take you home tonight. Stop taking the prescribed medicine for now. We don¡¯t want to alert the


    suspect.¡±


    At that moment, Preston rushed into the room. Seeing Harold¡¯s leg in a cast, he turned to Joseph with


    anger in his eyes. ¡°You want Dad to go home while in such a state? You¡¯ve earned so much money, but


    you aren¡¯t willing to cover the medical expenses? How can you be so heartless?¡±


    With a sly smile, Joseph raised an eyebrow and taunted, ¡°If I won¡¯t pay, will you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I will!¡± Preston responded without hesitation. He then nced at Chloe and continued,


    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten married and have forgotten about your family. What a filial grandson you are.¡±

 Chapter 536

    Chapter 536


    Chapter 536 The Last Chance for the Whitmans


    Chloe found herself speechless, unsure why Preston had to involve her in this mess.


    ¡°I¡¯m nothing like you. You have a wife and a mistress, living a life of pleasure that I can only dream of


    for the rest of my days.¡± Joseph sneered, a cold smile ying on the corner of his lips. Each word cut


    deeper than the preceding one.


    Preston could sense the disappointment in Harold¡¯s eyes, and his face turned red with embarrassment.


    However, Joseph paid no attention to Preston¡¯sints and left Patrick with some instructions


    before leaving with Chloe.


    As soon as Joseph left, Preston put on a false smile and said, ¡°Dad, just stay here and focus on


    recovering. Don¡¯t worry about the medical expenses. I¡¯ll take care of them.¡±


    ¡°I own half this hospital. Do you think I need your help?¡± Harold retorted.


    ¡°Dad, let me fulfill my duty as your son, all right? Your health hasn¡¯t been great recently, so let¡¯s not


    argue over trivial matters. I know having a mistress is wrong, and I¡¯ve already paid for my mistake.¡±


    Harold¡¯s anger abated a little as he asked, ¡°Have you divorced Tavia?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. After twenty years of marriage, how could I simply say ¡®Let¡¯s get divorced?¡±¡± Preston


    replied. On the outside, he appeared unwilling to part with Octavia due to their rtionship, but deep


    down, he simply was not ready to part with his assets and give them to


    her.


    ¡°Did you break it off with the other woman?¡± Harold asked.


    ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Preston replied.


    ¡°Well, at least you¡¯re not aplete fool. Apologize to Tavia properly and live the straight and narrow


    from now on.¡±


    At Preston¡¯s age, divorce would only bring mutual harm, and there would be no benefits for either party.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Preston agreed. Feeling that the moment was right, he continued, ¡°Dad, how about


    transferring your funds, properties, and assets to me? I¡¯ll take care of them for you, and you can focus


    on recovering.¡±


    Harold¡¯s heart skipped a beat and he nearly choked on his saliva. ¡°So this was your purpose foring


    today?¡±


    Avoiding his father¡¯s gaze, Preston said, ¡°Dad, your condition is worsening by the day. Instead of


    waiting until the end, why not give them to me now so I can maximize their profits and value?¡±


    ¡°Get out! Cough, cough, cough!¡± Harold shouted angrily, enduring severe coughing fits that caused


    pain throughout his body.


    He was not even dead yet, and his son was already shamelessly lusting after his wealth. He wondered


    what sins he hadmitted in his lifetime to end up with such a worthless son.


    ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t be upset. Let me be straightforward with you Considering your age and the vast


    fortune you possess, there¡¯s no point in keeping it all to yourself. Since I¡¯m your sole heir, it¡¯s only a


    matter of time before it bes mine,¡± Preston remarked nonchntly, ¡°Rest assured, Dad. If you


    entrust me with the inheritance now, I¡¯ll take care of you.


    ¡°Enough talk about inheritances. Mr. Harold is alive and well. Don¡¯t utter such ominous words!


    Patrick interjected, not able to hold back any longer


    ¡°Patrick, this is none of your concern. Stay out of our family affairs,¡± Preston retorted. scornfully,


    dismissing his words. ¡°As my father¡¯s rightful heir, I have every right to say what I did.¡±


    The reason he found himself in this situation, losing all his influence within the Whitman Group, was


    because of his father¡¯s excessive favoritism toward Joseph.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Harold grabbed the ss by his bedside and hurled its contents at Preston. The tea and tea leaves


    sttered onto Preston¡¯s head, dripping down his face and leaving him looking ferocious and utterly


    disheveled.


    ¡°You¡¯re no son of mine! Get out of here before I beat you to death!¡± Harold shouted.


    ¡°Dad, I hope you won¡¯t regret your decision


    This was thest chance he was giving the Whitmans


    ¡°Get out of my sight!¡±


    Preston nced at Harold with a disappointed look before storming away


    Late into the night, a figure stealthily entered the Whitman Group through the fire escape.


    With thirty floors to climb on foot, Preston was half dead from exhaustion by the time he reached the


    CEO¡¯s office where the confidential documents were kept.

 Chapter 537

    Chapter 537


    Chapter 537 Renovation for the Matrimonial Home


    The CEO¡¯s office had seen various upants over time. First Harold, then Joseph¡¯s father, and now


    Joseph himself held the position.


    Preston had never been given the opportunity to sit in that coveted seat.


    Although Joseph had taken over Fairlight, he seldom came to the office. Despite this, Harold still


    trusted him enough not to pass on the CEO title to Preston.


    Being told that hecked the necessary abilities was tolerable for Preston. He had never been. overly


    ambitious. Remaining within the Whitman Group and having a voice on the board of directors had been


    enough for him.


    Yet, Joseph did not appreciate it. Preston gave an inch, yet Joseph wanted a mile. After expelling


    Jonathan, Joseph proceeded to strip him of his board position..


    It was clear that Joseph intended to bring ruin to the family, and Preston knew he had to take


    action.


    He knew that the CEO¡¯s office had a doubleyered password, but he was not sure if Joseph had


    changed it or not. With a try-and-see attitude, he entered the password.


    With a click, the door opened.


    Preston peered into the office. It was pitch ck inside, impossible to see whaty ahead. It felt like


    sinister ghosts lurked within, and once he stepped in, there would be no escape.


    In spite of his apprehension, he pressed on, believing in the principle of ¡°an eye for an eye, and a tooth


    for a tooth.¡± He med Joseph for the troubles he faced, and he was not going to let Joseph enjoy an


    easy life while causing him misery.


    Preston knew the password to the safe. Harold had told him after Joseph¡¯s father passed, asking him


    to temporarily take over the Whitman Group. He smoothly obtained the


    documents from the safe. They contained various confidential data such as the chip project. that would


    be announced at the end of the year.


    He felt triumphant, never expecting Joseph to be so careless. He quickly copied the data onto a USB


    drive. While he could not take the chip with him or print it out, he took away the development team¡¯s


    data.


    When he finally left, he sent a text to Otto.


    ¡°I got it.¡±


    Early the next morning, the chief secretary of the Whitman Group discovered signs of


    Joseph¡¯s face sank as he responded calmly, ¡°Go to the security room and check the surveince


    footage. Find out who did it, report it to the police, and have them arrested.¡±


    The chief secretary hesitated and asked, ¡°Mr. Joseph, won¡¯t youe over personally?¡±


    After all, the situation was critical. The new project was about to beunched, and if the chip¡¯s


    information was leaked prematurely, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    With aposed demeanor, Joseph replied, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the matter in your hands.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s attitude remained aloof. He did not ask any further questions and ended the call decisively.


    The chief secretary muttered to himself while looking at the phone, ¡°It¡¯s over. Mr. Joseph is giving up on


    the Whitman Group¡­¡±


    It seemed to him that Joseph was giving up on the Whitman Group. In other words, he would lose his


    job soon.


    When Chloe woke up, she sat up, rubbed her eyes, and gazed at Joseph. He was dressed in navy blue


    pajamas, his hair was wet as he had juste out of the bathroom.


    He bent down and nted a kiss on her forehead. The refreshing scent of mint wafted over, making


    Chloe feel revitalized.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, who were you talking to on the phone?¡± she asked, vaguely catching words like ¡°police ¡± and


    ¡°arrest.¡±


    ¡°An employee of the Whitman Group,¡± he replied casually, ¡°Go wash up. I bought a vi near your


    office. Let¡¯s go take a lookter.¡±


    Chloe blinked. ¡°You¡¯ve already bought it?¡±


    In the past, she would have felt embarrassed about him spending money on her, but things had


    changed. If she did not spend his money, the Whitmans would probably suck him dry like


    a bunch of leeches.


    ¡°Yes, and we¡¯re starting the renovation on our matrimonial home this month. It should bepleted by


    month¡¯s end. We¡¯ll leave it empty for two months for the smell to dissipate,¡± Joseph said as he gently


    twirled her hair with his fingers, ¡°If you have any preferences or ideas. for the style of the house, just let


    me know.¡±


    ¡°A matrimonial home?!¡±

 Chapter 538

    Chapter 538


    Chapter 538 I Was Just Joking, I Don¡¯t Like D-Cup


    Joseph chuckled as he looked at Chloe. ¡°Why are you so surprised? Did you think we¡¯d continue living


    here after our wedding?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Chloe¡¯s gaze fell to her feet. Her voice was soft and hesitant as she said hesitantly, ¡°Living


    here is quitefortable.¡±


    ¡°This ce is pretty good, but there are no schools nearby. It¡¯d be inconvenient for our future. children


    when they have to go to school,¡± Joseph exined.


    Chloe¡¯s mouth parted slightly as understanding dawned upon her. She raised her head and stared


    directly at Joseph, ¡°Are you preparing for Xavia¡¯s child?¡±


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t done the amniocentesis yet. Until we have the results, I can¡¯t call it my child,¡± Joseph


    dered firmly, his determination shining through.


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s wait and see. What if it turns out to be your child? It¡¯s too early to start the


    renovations. After all, we don¡¯t know how many children¡¯s rooms we¡¯ll need,¡± Chloe retorted with a hint


    of sarcasm.


    She did not want to get caught up in the beautiful future he was weaving. She needed to stay acutely


    aware of the crisis between them and not forget Xavia¡¯s existence just because she had not appeared


    for a few days.


    Joseph did not realize the underlying message in her words and simply replied, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your


    lead. When the timees, you can n how many children¡¯s rooms you want.¡±


    Chloe replied with a hint of exasperation, ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡±


    ¡°No problem, as long as you¡¯re happy,¡± Joseph earnestly responded. It was clear that his perceptive


    instincts were a bit dulled when it came toforting women.


    He did not have an opinion about the matrimonial home. Any sized room was just a ce to sleep. As


    long as it was quiet andfortable, that was enough for him. But he understood. that he had to give


    his woman the best, so he would allow Chloe to n the house ording to her wishes and would not


    interfere with her decision.


    Chloe put on a fake smile, trying to pull her hand back, but Joseph held it firmly.


    ¡®I don¡¯t understand. Did this guy really not catch my sarcasm?¡¯


    Suddenly, Joseph¡¯s tall figure pressed down on her, and his gaze roamed freely over her body. Chloe¡¯s


    heart tightened, and she discreetly covered her lower abdomen with the nket. She was wearing a


    conservative nightgown, a warm and soft pale yellow set that exuded a sense of innocent charm.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gained some weight.¡± Joseph¡¯srge hand wrapped around her. ¡°This part has gotten bigger


    too.¡±


    Chloe was speechless. She blushed slightly and swatted his hand away. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze deepened as he leaned closer to Chloe. ¡°I could hold them perfectly with my hands in


    the past, but now, it¡¯s a bit hard to contain them. Are they still growing?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Chloe retorted with embarrassment, her cheeks flushed. She hurriedly got out of bed and


    searched for her slippers.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡®Grow my ass. I¡¯m just pregnant. That¡¯s why my breasts have berger.¡±


    ¡°Then why have your breasts gotten bigger?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been eating papayas and doing exercises. I might even get a breast augmentation. Are you


    satisfied now?¡± Chloe replied with annoyance.


    Joseph firmly grasped her ankle, his voice serious and solemn as he said, ¡°I was just teasing you


    before. I don¡¯t care about cup size. Don¡¯t mess around with your body.¡±


    ¡°But what size do you like?¡± Chloe inquired yfully.


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s you, an A-cup is more than enough,¡± Joseph said with a hint of dominance and pride.


    He liked her, and even if her appearance and figure were not outstanding, he still loved her. For those


    he did not like, even if they were famous models, they would not have a chance with him.


    He chose to start his own business abroad and take over Fairlight, striving to make significant


    achievements. What he wanted was not to rely on the Whitmans and to be the master of his own life.


    Chloe found this a bit amusing. She had never encountered someone so inept at sweet-talking. ¡°Get


    out of here. Don¡¯t jinx me.¡±

 Chapter 539

    Chapter 539


    Chapter 539 150 Million Dors for the Confidential Information


    Joseph raised an eyebrow and ced her slippers by her feet. ¡°Go wash up ande downstairs for


    breakfast. I¡¯ll drive you to workter. I have to go to Cloude for a bit tomorrow. Abigail has been


    discharged from the hospital, and she¡¯ll report to you in two days.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chloe replied. After a while, she thought of something and asked, ¡°I might also have to go on a


    business trip to Estre in a few days. There¡¯s a project I need to oversee.¡±


    ¡°For how long?¡± Joseph asked.


    ¡°About two weeks,¡± she replied. She intentionally downyed the duration while carefully observing the


    expressions of the man beside her from the corner of her eye.


    Joseph paused for a moment. ¡°That long?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ It¡¯s kind of long, but when ites to project investments, a thorough examination is


    necessary. Besides, I also want to learn and experience things in Estre. Given the circumstances, it


    might take some time.¡±


    This statement was a mixture of truth and deception. The part about examining the project and learning


    was true, but the real reason was that with her growing belly, it would be


    suspicious if they met each other every day. Noah was right. Perhaps it was better to take advantage of


    this opportunity and stay away for a while. She could return once the dust with Xavia had settled.


    Besides, taking some time apart could also provide both of them a cooling-off period. When things


    became uncontroble, cutting ties might not be as painful as she thought it would be.


    ¡°You can have Abigail go with you. Once I¡¯ve dealt with things here, I¡¯lle to Estre to find you,¡±


    Joseph suggested.


    He did not voice his objection. In fact, he supported Chloe¡¯s decision. After all, the Johnson. Group had


    been established for many years, and at the current pace of market development, it would soon be left


    behind if it did not make any progress. Learning and gaining experience was essential for its growth.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have toe. I know you have your own matters to attend to. Besides, Xavia will be


    undergoing amniocentesis soon. Stay here and keep an eye on things. Let me know the results as


    soon as possible,¡± Chloe said.


    Moreover, with Joseph around, Xavia might refrain from causing any more trouble.


    Joseph frowned. ¡°Then take Abigail with you. She¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    ¡°Does she speak Estrenian?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°Nope. Do you want me to find you an Estrenian-speaking bodyguard?¡± Joseph offered.


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s just leave it as it is,¡± Chloe decided. She would simply find a way to separate from


    Abigail when meeting with Noah.


    ¡°Have you bought the tickets?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. If you¡¯re leaving on your business trip tomorrow, I might leave the day after or the day after


    that.¡±


    Joseph pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Let Grandpa know before you go. Otherwise, he¡¯ll make a


    fuss when he doesn¡¯t see you for so long.¡±


    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go to the family home tonight.¡±


    When the chief secretary of the Whitman Group saw Preston appear on the surveince footage, he


    was dumbfounded. It took him some time before he came around to his senses and called Joseph


    nervously.


    However, it was Lucas who answered the call and he instructed calmly, ¡°Regardless of who it is, you


    just need to follow Mr. Joseph¡¯s orders. Report to the police and have the person arrested.¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ Will reporting to the police have a negative impact on the Whitman Group¡¯s reputation?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve reminded me of something. Mr. Joseph did mention one more thing.¡±


    ¡°What is it? Please tell me.¡±


    ¡°After reporting to the police, contact the press and spread this news. Let them broadcast the arrest


    scene live.¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    An eye for an eye had always been Joseph¡¯s principle. In the past, he tolerated Preston¡¯s family. solely


    out of consideration for Harold¡¯s feelings. But now, everything was different. If Preston intended to


    destroy the Whitman Group, Harold would be the first to beat the hell out of him.


    In a teahouse in Aesper, Preston cautiously handed a USB drive to Otto and said, ¡°Give me 150.


    million dors as the initial capital for my office. Give me the money, and I¡¯ll give you the USB


    drive.¡±


    Otto leaned back, resting his arms on the back of the chair. With a sinister smile, he said, Finn, give


    him the check.¡±

 Chapter 540

    Chapter 540


    Chapter 540 Preston Has Been Decelved


    Finn Harris handed a signed check to Preston and asked, ¡°Just a USB drive? Do you have other data


    or results?¡±


    Preston had nned to not give them everything from the get-go. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the bank to


    withdraw the funds first. I¡¯ll then give you the rest of the confidential files.¡±


    Finn frowned, and he looked at Otto. Thetter shrugged nonchntly.


    A mischievous grin adorned Otto¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Take your time. Go ahead and verify it. After all, he


    did not really care about it.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°All right, that¡¯s settled then,¡± Preston expressed his satisfaction with the response. It was a far


    cry from the usual disrespect he received from Joseph.


    Otto took the USB drive, got into his car, and drove away.


    Just as Preston was about to leave, arge group of journalists suddenly swarmed him, their cameras


    shing like countless stars and nearly blinding him. Before he could utter a curse, his wrist was


    mped by something icy cold. He looked down, and his eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡°Who put handcuffs on me!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re from the Docwood City Police Department,¡± said an officer sternly, holding the other end of the


    handcuffs as he pushed his way through the crowd of reporters. ¡°You¡¯re suspected of being involved in


    a theft case, and we¡¯re cing you under official arrest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a thief! I didn¡¯t do anything! I¡¯ll sue you for defamation!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph has already submitted the surveince footage of you infiltrating the Whitmant Group.¡±


    Preston was petrified, unable toprehend how he had been discovered when he had not alerted


    anyone. Trying to maintain hisposure, he retorted, ¡°That is mypany. What¡¯s wrong with me


    entering my ownpany?¡±


    The police officer continued firmly, ¡°You¡¯ve been expelled from the Whitman Group for a week now, and


    even if you weren¡¯t, it¡¯d still be considered theft.¡±


    Preston was at a loss for words.


    Shortly after, several other officers arrived, dispersing the journalists and escorting Preston into a police


    car.


    Preston clutched the check in his hand and made a quick decision. In the middle of the chaos, he


    discreetly ced the check under the table.


    Shortly after, Jonathan was notified by the police to report to the station.


    In a hushed tone, Preston informed Jonathan of the location where the check was hidden. He


    instructed, ¡°Take everything out and deposit it into the Suess Bank. Then, find your grandpa and ask


    him to pull some strings to get me out.¡±


    Jonathan¡¯s eyes gleamed with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Dad! You managed to get 150 million


    dors just like that.¡±


    ¡°Learn something from me,¡± Preston advised, ¡°Keep the money in your hands. What¡¯s the point of


    earning it if you can¡¯t ess it when needed?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, thepany¡¯s CFO told me I¡¯ll be able to withdraw my profits by the next quarter,¡± Jonathan


    said.


    Thepany was preparing for a stockunch and needed a significant amount of capital, so


    dividends were put on hold temporarily.


    ¡°Go and find your grandpa. Don¡¯t let any information slip. Just insist that I have nothing and that I was


    merely visiting the office,¡± Preston emphasized.


    ¡°I understand, Dad.¡± Jonathan nodded firmly.


    Many journalists were broadcasting the news, and within a short while, news of Preston¡¯s theft of


    Whitman Group¡¯s confidential files spread like wildfire in Docwood.


    On his way to the bank, Jonathan received pop-up notifications about the trending topic on his phone.


    He disdainfully nced at them and turned off his phone. He was about to get his hands on 150 million


    dors, and he could not care less about these public opinions.


    ¡°I want to cash this check¡±


    ¡°Sure, please wait a moment.¡± The bank teller took the check, examined it, and furrowed his brows


    slightly.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, but this check is invalid. It can¡¯t be cashed.¡±


    ¡°What? Take a good look again!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure of it. It¡¯s an empty check.¡±


    Jonathan stared at the check before him, and it was not long before he realized that Preston


    had been deceived. His breathing grewbored, and he copsed on the spot.

 Chapter 541

    Chapter 541


    Chapter 541 You¡¯re the Only One She Has


    In the office of Briake¡¯s president.


    Otto leisurely watched as the various rich men from different circles discussed Preston stealing


    confidential files in the group chat. Sarcasm filled the atmosphere, as he smirked with interest and


    reveled in it.


    Finn came in with a USB drive. ¡°Mr. Otto, the development team checked on the contents of the USB


    drive. They stated that this proposal is a work in progress and is in need of modifications. It isn¡¯t


    complete but the idea is very creative and practical. We need to change. its key points to integrate it


    with our products. Ourpany will surely secure the project. proposed by the city council next


    month.¡±


    A look of satisfaction dawned on Otto¡¯s face. He did not deny Joseph¡¯s talent in doing business. ¡°Ask


    them to speed up.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°And ignore Preston. Have our men in the cells take good care of him.¡±


    ¡°Got it. By the way, the doctor calledst night. He failed to kill Harold in the fall and nearly exposed


    himself. Joseph seems to be suspicious of him now.¡±


    Otto frowned in disgust. ¡°What a disappointing man. Give him another month. If the old man doesn¡¯t die


    by then, he¡¯ll never see his wife and child again.¡±


    At the hospital.


    When Dr. Spencer received the final warning from Finn, he was forced to increase the dosage. of


    Harold¡¯s medicine. He then instructed a nurse to send it to Harold but the nurse shook her


    head.


    ¡°Mr. Harold was discharged. Also, Patrick asked me to pass along a message.¡±


    Blood drained out of Dr. Spencer¡¯s face. ¡°What¡­ What did he say..


    ¡°He


    says that there are issues going on in the Whitman family, so Mr. Harold can¡¯t continue to stay in the


    hospital. He requests you to have someone deliver Mr. Harold¡¯s medicine to the Whitman family home.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°Yes. What¡¯s the matter, Dr. Spencer? You don¡¯t look well.¡±


    He wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡±


    +


    Chloe decided to go to Estre, so she informed Noah and bought a ne ticket for the day after


    1/2


    tomorrow. Noah had ss at the university on that day and would only be able to go the day


    after.


    At night, she had dinner at the Whitman family home Jonathan wanted toe too, but as Patrick had


    learned of Preston¡¯s immoral deeds, he easily guessed why Jonathan was visiting and was worried that


    Harold would suffer another heart attack, so he prohibited Jonathan from entering


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    After dinner, Harold asked Joseph to go into the study with him Chloe watched TV and had some fruit,


    but after some time, Joseph had yet toe out of the study. She got up to remove her makeup and


    brush her teeth When she walked past the study, she heard Harold¡¯s voice from within. It was not loud,


    but she could hear him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give your dad¡¯s note to Chloe She can give it to you whenever she wants. She looks docile but


    she¡¯s as stubborn as you Don¡¯t be harsh on her and be humble when you should. Don¡¯t go


    against her and treat her well.


    ¡°Her mother passed away early, and her father isn¡¯t any different from dead. You¡¯re the only one she


    has in the world now Sigh, I hope that you two will be good to each other. Don¡¯t be like Preston and


    make me worry.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you shouldn¡¯t have let Xavia¡¯s child stay with you even if it¡¯s yours On that note, Ginny¡¯s


    mother wants another child Unfortunately, she had surgery a few years ago and


    can¡¯t get pregnant anymore. How about


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± Joseph turned Harold down icily.


    The child was innocent. Joseph was unhappy while growing up with his own family, so he could not let


    the child be unhappy too If he could, he would let the child stay with him.

 Chapter 542

    Chapter 542


    Chapter 542 Giving Him the Note


    Chloe, who was standing outside the study, quietly lowered her head and bit her lip bitterly.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Harold coughed several times. ¡°Fine, whatever you want. But I have to remind you that this child will


    affect your rtionship with Chloe. You have to be mentally prepared.¡±


    ¡°Chloe agreed to it. She¡¯s magnanimous.¡±


    Harold red at Joseph, a storm brewing in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not that she¡¯s being magnanimous. She¡¯s


    justpromising because she doesn¡¯t have a choice out of her love for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be nicer to her and won¡¯t let her down.¡± Gloominess crept up Joseph¡¯s demonically handsome face.


    He pondered over it seriously. ¡°We¡¯ll have our own child in the future. It isn¡¯t bad for the two children to


    grow up together.¡±


    Harold became tired so he waved for Joseph to leave. ¡°Tell Chloe toe in.¡±


    Joseph agreed. When he opened the door, he found himself looking into Chloe¡¯s eyes.


    Thetter was just standing outside.


    Chloe shot him a cold gaze, her face was full of displeasure. She hated the situation of having the


    same father but different mothers. It might be fine when the children were young, but when they grew


    up and started to gain a sense of autonomy, they would naturallypete to be favored. It would be


    hard to maintain fairness.


    She could devote her whole heart to Xavia¡¯s child because she was well aware of this.


    ¡°Sweetie,e in.¡± Harold stuck his head out and waved at Chloe. He said kindly, ¡°I have something


    for you.¡±


    Chloe suppressed her frustration, straightened her back, and brushed past Joseph. She walked into


    the study as she beamed. She then mmed the door shut behind her.


    Bang!


    The harsh wind hit Joseph¡¯s face as if it were a quiet p. With two hands in his pocket, he stared


    gloomily at the tightly closed door.


    Harold fished out a faded envelope. ¡°This is the note Joseph¡¯s father left behind. I think it¡¯s time for you


    to have it. I¡¯ll only live for another few years at most.¡±


    It was hard to recover from organ failure, and he did not know if he could be cured. But he had entered


    his golden years, and he was fine regardless of how many more days he had left.


    ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t say such things. Listen to the doctor and actively cooperate with the doctor


    during the treatment. You¡¯ll recover.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll hold on. I¡¯m still waiting for you to give me a great-grandchild.¡±


    Chloe unconsciously touched her belly. ¡°But Grandpa, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to get pregnant. It¡¯s


    Joseph. He doesn¡¯t want another child for the time being.¡±


    Harold was stunned before he sighed. ¡°He¡¯s been under immense pressure recently. He has to handle


    both the Whitman Group and Fairlight. And there¡¯s the matter regarding Fleurette too¡­ It¡¯ll be fine after


    a while.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know.¡±


    Chloe left with the note. She hesitated for a while and wondered if she should open it and read it. After


    wrestling with her feelings for a few minutes, she decided not to open it. She went to the bedroom and


    put it on the bedside table beside Joseph.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s note.¡±


    Joseph had long known why Harold called Chloe into the study. His fingertips trembled as he looked at


    the envelope that was so close to him.


    Chloe took a few steps toward him and gazed down at him. ¡°Should I open it for you?¡±


    ¡°Are you curious?¡±


    ¡°A little. Aren¡¯t you?¡±


    He had been yearning to read this note for more than a decade.


    Joseph ignored her question and instead interrogated her in a hoarse voice, ¡°Why did you show me


    such a sullen expression at the door of the study earlier?¡±

 Chapter 543

    Chapter 543


    Chapter 543 It¡¯s Both Hate and Love


    Chloe knitted her pretty brows. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s the one question I thought about the most during


    my childhood?¡±


    Taken aback, Joseph asked, ¡°What was it?¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Why did I have to share my father with Ava.¡±


    Chloe walked to the window and nced at the starry sky outside. Her voice sounded soft as if her soul


    had returned to the distant past. She had suffered Benjamin¡¯s indifference, Ava¡¯s bullying, and Karen¡¯s


    hypocrisy. Although it was long ago, she still remembered it all vividly.


    Was her child destined to suffer the same fate as her?


    Joseph¡¯s body trembled before he pulled her into his arms. ¡°We don¡¯t have to tell the child the truth.¡±


    Chloe struggled out of his embrace and turned to look at him. ¡°Won¡¯t the child know even if you keep it


    a secret?¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s the big deal if the child knows? Xavia is reckless and has lost the right to raise her. child.


    Her child will only be grateful toward you.


    If Xavia had led an honorable life and never done those vulgar things, he might have let her raise her


    own child, but she had lost that privilege.


    ¡°That¡¯s your opinion.¡±


    ¡°I can guarantee that he won¡¯t disobey you and won¡¯t bully our child.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m unwilling!¡± Chloe¡¯s face sank. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be anyone¡¯s stepmother.¡±


    Joseph felt an ache in his temples. ¡°You¡¯re not a stepmother but a benefactor. Stop messing around.


    Didn¡¯t we already agree on this?¡±


    Chloe stared at him helplessly before she handed the note to him. ¡°Fine. Just read the note.¡±


    Joseph did not want to continue arguing with her either, so he epted the envelope and opened it.


    The handwriting was strenuous and written in forceful strokes. Most of the paper was faded and yellow


    with clear edges.


    At a nce, Chloe could tell that Harold had read the note and opened it many times. It was clear that


    Harold had taken his son¡¯s death pretty hard and could not let it go.


    After taking a deep breath, Joseph started reading it.


    [January 5, 2010. Cyrus took away Fleurette, my beloved wife. I failed to protect my wife and have thus


    failed her as her husband. As a father, I could not protect my son¡¯s mother and have also failed my son.


    As a man, I failed to protect my family. I¡¯m too ashamed to face my family,


    parents, beloved wife, and son. I can¡¯t hold on anymore¡­ Since I¡¯m a coward, only in death


    will I be free. Given the chance, I hope my son will grow to be strong and will protect those he loves.1


    After Joseph read his father¡¯s suicide note, his hands trembled and his blood ran cold.


    Hatred!


    There was only a message in the note resentment. His father hated his enemy, filled with resentment at


    seeing his wife being taken away and helpless to change it. But Joseph knew hist father was not such


    a man, let alone a coward His father must have many worries and concerns. And naturally, the greatest


    reason was Joseph.


    ¡°Grandpa didn¡¯t want me to read this note not because he was afraid that I would look down on Dad.


    He was afraid that I would want to avenge Dad after I learned the truth. Dad didn¡¯t dare to act fearlessly


    because of me. It was because of me that he was bound with shackles and


    couldn¡¯t be free. It was also because of me that he chose to take his life.¡±


    Clenching the note, Joseph¡¯s eyes turned red and his voice became hoarse.


    The hatred in the note was equivalent to love for him. His father loved him so much that he could not


    take revenge. It was also because of Joseph that he lived in self-denial and finally chose to take his life.

 Chapter 544

    Chapter 544


    Chapter 544 He¡¯s Going to Counterattack


    Chloe¡¯s eyes became watery. ¡°Grandpa loves you very much. He suffered in silence for so many


    years.¡±


    Harold had lost his eldest son and wife at the midpoint of his life. The schemes and fights in the family,


    as well as his disappointing second son, filled all his days with loneliness. His son took his life because


    of Fleurette, and consequently, there was no leader to handle the Whitman family.


    Being left with no options, Harold focused all his attention on Joseph. He was Joseph¡¯s grandfather as


    well as his father. He tried his best to raise and educate Joseph. 1


    Joseph did not disappoint Harold and became an exceptional man. However, the Sinirs came


    bearing news of Fleurette, iming that she was still alive. How could Harold bear to hand the note to


    Joseph?


    But he had pondered over many things during this period. Since the Sinirs had made a move, he felt


    that Joseph should not suffer in silence. At his age, Harold could not help Josep and could only let


    Joseph make his own decision.


    Clenching the note, Joseph¡¯s eyes turned to ice, the light within them taking on a dark quality. A


    bloodthirsty luster flickered across his handsome face. He wanted to make the Sinirs pay for causing


    him and his family pain.


    ¡®Cyrus. Otto. A game is about to start. Are you guys up for it?¡¯


    He wanted to make a counterattack.


    Over the next two days, Chloe settled the trivial affairs of the Johnson Group before it was the day for


    her to set off for Estre. After boarding the ne, she switched off her phone.


    It was a gloomy and cloudy day with light drizzle. The raindrops sttered on the ne¡¯s window,


    blurring the scenery outside. She felt that it was just like her fuzzy future.


    For an unknown reason, a sense of dread hung over her. Sitting beside her, Abigail was eagerly


    flipping through an Estrenian magazine.


    At a nce, Chloe could tell Abigail¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Do you want to visit those ces?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you reading about them?¡±


    A rare tinge of embarrassment shed across Abigail¡¯s usually aloof face. ¡°I don¡¯t have any friends.


    Whenever I have time off, I stay home and watch TV dramas. I love Estrenian dramas. I think that the


    landscape and scenery there are beautiful. What¡¯s more, the people there are


    1/2


    bold and enthusiastic in their love affairs. It makes one yearn for it.¡±


    Chloe patted her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll take you sightseeing when we get there.¡±


    ¡°No, my mission is to protect you.¡±


    When Chloe saw Abigail¡¯s resolute expression, she realized that those who worked for Joseph were


    responsible people, just like Lucas. Even when worked to the point of exhaustion, they stuck firmly to


    their tasks.


    When they woke up, they arrived at the romantic city.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Chloe and Abigail checked into a hotel.


    ¡°Have you been to Estre before?¡± Chloe asked while unpacking her luggage.


    Abigail shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never been abroad.¡±


    ¡°You should visit the Epal Tower, the Holy Heart Church, and the Cyen River.¡±


    ¡°My duty is to protect you, Ms. Chloe. I¡¯m not here for a vacation.¡±


    Abigail was loyal and firm in not crossing the boundary.


    ¡°Who said you were going alone? You¡¯re going with me.¡± Tilting her head, Chloe smiled mischievously


    at Abigail. ¡°I want to bring home some gifts, and I¡¯ll be very busy in a few days¡¯


    time.¡±


    Abigail nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go together.¡±


    After checking the time, Chloe found that it was between five and six in the evening. She decided to


    take Abigail to Cyen River, and they would have dinner there too. Chloe took a photo with Abigail


    beside the river before sending it to Joseph.


    Joseph was on his way back from a business trip. Sitting in the spacious back seat, he closed his eyes


    to rest.


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve got something on Dr. Spencer. It¡¯s been a long time since his daughter and wife


    have appeared in public. He ims that they were with his wife¡¯s family, but the investigation. shows


    that they¡¯re not,¡± Joseph reported thetest information he had received.


    ¡°Go on.¡±

 Chapter 545

    Chapter 545


    Chapter 545 Men Fall Prey to Their Loneliness at Night


    ¡°Patrick did as you instructed and epted the medicine Dr. Spencer prescribed as per normal.


    ¡°Also, Dr. Frederick has confirmed that the herbs Ms. Chloe has been taking are normal herbs. to


    regte her blood cirction. He says that she can go ahead with one round of the treatment and see


    how it goes.


    ¡°Lastly, Otto lied to Preston. He gave Preston an empty promise¡± When Lucas reached this point, he


    gave Joseph an admiring gaze. ¡°Thankfully, you long guessed that the Sinirs would start with


    Preston and made preparations by changing the documents in the safe. Otherwise, Preston would


    have ruined Whitman Group.¡±


    ¡®Mr. Joseph sure pulled off an awesome feat and nned ahead.¡±


    Joseph opened his eyes as he smirked. ¡°Did anyone in the family try to beg for mercy on Pres¡¯ behalf?¡±


    ¡°No one else but Jonathan. He came once but Patrick turned him away.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s noble face became unfathomable. ¡°Because of Jon, I¡¯ve long sensed something fishy.¡±


    Jonathan imed to have invested in a chip research center. Given his intelligence, there were only


    two possibilities that he would end up making money he either got lucky or was deceived.


    There were few centers doing, chip research within the country, and it was easy to find out the


    mastermind with a little investigation. Other than the Sinirs, others would not have meddled with the


    Whitman Group even if they had an ulterior motive.


    After some thought, Lucas said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell Jonathan about this?¡±


    ¡°Both parties were willing. There¡¯s no reason for me to stop him. What¡¯s more, Jon won¡¯t listen to me


    even if I told him to back down. I can¡¯t change who he is.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re allowing him to be entrapped when you know it¡¯s a trap. I¡¯m sure Mr. Harold will feel sorry


    for Jonathan if he finds out.¡±


    After all, Preston was useless now.


    ¡°We can¡¯t show others mercy. Do you think that useless Jon is Otto¡¯s real target?¡±


    Listening to Joseph¡¯s reminder, Lucas was enlightened. ¡°Is Otto trying to take you down. through


    Jonathan¡¯s hands?¡±


    Joseph did not deny it. ¡°Pres is a good example.¡±


    After a pause, a chill ran down Lucas¡¯ spine. He muttered, ¡°Sir, you have to be careful from


    now on¡­¡±


    Joseph ignored Lucas. When he felt his phone vibrate, he took it out and found the photo. Chloe had


    sent him.


    Her skin was fair and tender and her ck eyes shone brightly under her longshes. Donning a pink


    T-shirt, she and Abigail¡¯s arms were linked as she shed a peace sign in the photograph. They were


    standing by the Cyen River. The two rows of shady trees beside the river, as well as the sunset shining


    on the water¡¯s surface, made for a breathtaking sight.


    Joseph erged the photo until his phone screen was filled with Chloe¡¯s face. He smiled in satisfaction


    and quietly enjoyed her charms.


    After dinner, Chloe checked her phone and found that Joseph had texted her back.


    [The Cyen River isn¡¯t half as pretty as my wife.]


    Chloe was rendered speechless.


    ¡°This bastard sounds so cheesy when he says romantic words. But it¡¯s an improvement from always


    refuting me. I hope he¡¯ll behave and not be so aloof or cheesy.¡±


    Abigail took out her phone and snapped a lot of photos. Her usual aloof face was rxed as she


    revealed a hint of joy. She said solemnly, ¡°Ms. Chloe, thank you for bringing me here. I¡¯m very happy


    today.¡±


    She had sensed something on their way here. Chloe did note here to buy gifts. She just wanted to


    bring Abigail sightseeing.


    Chloe revealed a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. There¡¯s a shopping mall right across from us. Let¡¯s go there


    and take a look around. We¡¯ll get to tomorrow.¡±


    One should rx and be serious at appropriate times.


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Xavia knew that Chloe had gone abroad. Therefore, she dressed up and put on some light makeup.


    She then went to Fairlight to meet Joseph.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    During the night, men easily fell prey to their loneliness.

 Chapter 546

    Chapter 546


    Chapter 546 Only MS. Chloe Holds That Privilege


    When Lucas saw Xavia, he smacked his lips. His expression revealed a mixture of a hint of


    speechlessness and insight.


    ¡®Right after Ms. Chloe leaves, this onees sauntering in. The purpose behind her actions is clear to


    anyone with discerning eyes,¡¯ he thought.


    ¡°I want to see Joe,¡± Xavia stated inly, emanating an air of entitlement.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph is currently busy.¡± The underlying message carried a reluctance to meet her.


    Xavia arched an eyebrow and sneered coldly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you at least going to tell him I¡¯m here?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph requested not to be disturbed while he¡¯s working,¡± Lucas replied calmly.


    ¡°Not even by me?¡±


    ¡°Only Ms. Chloe holds that privilege.¡±


    Lucas intended to provoke Xavia and make her leave, but he underestimated her. Instead of getting


    angry, Xavia smirked and fell silent. She attempted to bypass him and enter straight


    into the office.


    Instinctively, he reached out to stop her. But as soon as his arm touched her, she fell to the ground and


    winced in pain. ¡°Was that necessary? Why did you push me when I¡¯ve only said a few words?¡±


    Lucas was left speechless, swearing that he had not used any force at that moment.


    Xavia¡¯s voice carried into the office, catching Joseph¡¯s attention. He opened the office door, furrowing


    his eyebrows as he nced at them, silently questioning the situation.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, Ms. Xavia came looking for you. I told her you were busy but she insisted on going in. I


    only reached out to stop her and¡­¡± Lucas exined.


    Xavia, still weak from the fall, supported her waist and nodded apologetically. ¡°Yes, Lucas didn¡¯t do it on


    purpose. I lost my bnce.¡±


    While Xavia took the me upon herself, there was also a subtle hint of her trying to shift the me


    onto Lucas.


    Xavia¡¯s action once again left Lucas speechless. ¡®Look at this woman. She¡¯s truly a master of deception


    with her innocent facade. I must admit, she has outdone herself this time. I can¡¯t outperform you. Are


    you satisfied now?¡±


    Joseph¡¯s narrowed, sharp eyes nced at Xavia, devoid of any me toward Lucas. ¡°Do you have


    something to tell me?¡±


    ¡°Well, actually, I don¡¯t have anything urgent. I was contemting whether I should schedule


    an earlier hospital stay this month considering the uing amniocentesis. The examinations can be


    time-consuming.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your decision. I¡¯llply with whatever you arrange for me.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and stay in the hospital then.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pack my things tomorrow,¡± Xavia responded, her eyes filled with anticipation ast she took out


    a small parenting book from her bag. ¡°I heard from other mothers that babies can hear their parents


    talking when they¡¯re four months in the womb.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been telling bedtime stories to the baby every night. And today, the baby kicked me a few times. I


    think the baby is tired of my stories and wants to hear the father tell them instead.¡±


    Joseph gazed at her protruding belly with an expressionless face. ¡°I don¡¯t have time. Maybe.


    next time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a very short story. It¡¯ll only take about ten minutes,¡± Xavia insisted, flipping open the parenting book


    and pointing to one of the stories. ¡°I want you to feel involved, Joe.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I can do it? I have some time right now,¡± Lucas chimed in, attempting to be clever while


    maintaining a serious expression. ¡°After all, the baby is still young and doesn¡¯t know who the father is.


    The same effect can be achieved if I read the story.¡±


    Xavia clenched her teeth and her frustration was evident. ¡°There¡¯s a telepathic connection. between a


    father and their child.¡±


    ¡°But Ms. Xavia, you haven¡¯t undergone the amniocentesis yet, so how can you be certain that the child


    belongs to Mr. Joseph-


    ¡°I "


    ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m deceiving Joe?¡± Xavia interrupted, her voiceced with tension.


    ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not what I meant. I was merely expressing a thought,¡± Lucas quickly rified, ncing at


    Joseph. ¡°Sir, I was just giving my unfiltered opinion. The final decision rests with you.¡±

 Chapter 547

    Chapter 547


    Chapter 547 Xavia¡¯s Amniocentesis Takes ce Tomorrow


    Joseph¡¯s gaze swept over Xavia, then settled on Lucas. ¡°You make a valid point. Let¡¯s proceed with


    your suggestion.¡±


    Xavia struggled to maintain herposure and forced a dryugh. ¡°Stop fooling around. We shouldn¡¯t


    deceive the baby like this.¡± But all she received in response was Joseph¡¯s indifferent demeanor and the


    sound of the door closing.


    Her face instantly contorted with a mix of emotions, but her malicious expression quickly vanished. She


    handed the parenting book to Lucas. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you tonight.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Lucas was taken aback.


    ¡®Is she really nning on going all out with this act?¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°If you¡¯re the one telling the story, then I have no reason to stay. Let¡¯s do a voice call when I get home. I


    want you to read the entire book,¡± Xavia said, her voice dripping with mockery.¡± I¡¯ll indulge your


    penchant for talking too much.¡±


    Lucas stood there dumbfounded, shaking the thick book in his hand. ¡°You want me to pull an all-nighter


    for this?¡±


    Xavia elegantly adjusted her scarf. ¡°Simply finishing the book won¡¯t be enough. I expect at remarkable


    performance that leaves me fully satisfied.¡± With that, she gracefully made her


    exit.


    Lucas tossed the parenting book aside, refusing to be manipted by her tricks. He refused to believe


    that Xavia wouldin to Joseph if he did not read it. And even if she did, Lucas. knew that he


    could rely on Chloe¡¯s support. Chloe would stand by his side, and Joseph would ensure no punishment


    befell him.


    He returned to his desk and resumed rearranging Joseph¡¯s schedule for the following month when his


    phone rang.


    Emily¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°Where are you? Are you at the office or at home?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at the office. What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m just helping Coco check on some things. By the way,¡± she chuckled, ¡°Did that


    person with thest name Larsone to bother Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ How should I put it¡­¡±


    ¡°Spit it out!¡±


    ¡°She dide, and then she left.¡±


    ¡°Ha! Shameless people really think they¡¯re invincible. She has some nerve!¡± Emily cursed and asked,


    ¡°Did Joseph pay her any attention?¡±


    ¡®Xavia timed her entrance for when Coco just went abroad. She¡¯s definitely up to no good,¡± Emily


    thought.


    ¡°No, Mr. Joseph didn¡¯t even allow her into the office.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! He handled it well. Okay, I¡¯m going to end the call now. I have to talk to Coco¡±


    ¡°Beep, beep¡­¡±


    Lucas listened to the end-call tone on his phone, feeling utterly helpless.


    Chloe received a text from Emily, and she was not surprised.


    ¡®After sticking to the shadows for so long, Xavia must feel incredibly frustrated. But as long as Joseph


    continues to ignore her, it¡¯s fine. No matter what she tries to do, it won¡¯t amount to anything.¡¯


    When Xavia got home and discovered that Lucas had notplied with her request to read the


    parenting book, fury surged within her, causing her face to turn red. Seeking sce, she vented her


    frustration to Vanya.


    Offering her sympathies, Vanya said, ¡°Just hold on a little longer. Once this month is over. that old coot


    will be long gone. Lucas is just an assistant, and by then, you¡¯ll have full control over how things are


    handled.¡±


    ¡°This month?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Otto can¡¯t wait anymore and requested the doctor to increase the dosage.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡± Xavia eximed joyfully, ¡°Once the old man is out of the picture and the


    amniocentesis results confirm that it¡¯s Joseph¡¯s child, I might be able to move into the Whitman home


    right away.¡¯


    ¡°Exactly. So, remain patient andposed.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be waiting!¡±


    Time flew in the midst of busy schedules.


    After spending two days studying in Estre, Chloe was joined by Noah. They made a mutual agreement


    to prioritize their individual tasks before visiting Noah¡¯s newly establishedpany. Chloe had


    previously assisted Benjamin with his business in Estre, which allowed her to build some valuable


    connections. And on this trip, she found herself unexpectedly facilitating several business deals.


    A month swiftly passed, and as the end of the month approached, Chloe found herself back in her hotel


    room. It was then that Joseph initiated a video call. He was seated in a magnificent


    mahogany chair, his long, straight legs casually crossed over one another. A small but


    picturesque courtyard served as the backdrop, reminiscent of the grandeur of the Whitman mansion in


    Docwood.


    She greeted him with a warm smile, ¡°I take it that you¡¯re currently in Docwood, Jojo?.¡±


    There was a subtle displeasure in his noble eyes as he responded, evading her question, ¡°It¡¯s been


    more than two weeks now. Are you not nning to return soon?¡±


    ¡°Very soon. I should be able to return in just a few more days.¡±


    ¡°Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis takes ce tomorrow, and we should receive the results in about at


    week.¡±


    Chloe paused, ¡°Will you be joining her tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best that you keep an eye on her.¡± Concern etched Chloe¡¯s face as she nervously adjusted her


    clothing. ¡°Just in case she causes any trouble.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s frown deepened, but he reluctantly agreed, ¡°Fine.¡±


    In reality, he had secretly ordered for the extracted amniotic fluid to be divided and a portion. sent to


    another hospital for testing. However, to ease Chloe¡¯s concerns, he went along with her request.


    ¡°One week is the earliest we can expect the results, right? Is there any way to expedite it?¡±


    ¡°That is the quickest timeline. Typically, it takes around three weeks.¡±


    ¡°One week¡­ That¡¯s neither too long nor too short.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of the oue, I promise I¡¯ll handle the situation appropriately. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    Chloe did not want to hear those words. Her anxiety filled the air as she paced back and forth in her


    room. Finally, she gathered the courage to ask the question that had been weighing on her mind. ¡°Can


    I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°If I were pregnant right now, would you still be concerned about Xavia?¡±

 Chapter 548

    Chapter 548


    Chapter 548 Unexpected Drowsiness


    Joseph took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding to Chloe¡¯s question. His gaze


    remained fixed on her, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of seriousness and determination. ¡°Do you want to


    hear the truth?¡±


    Chloe braced herself, already anticipating his response. Despite her worry, she was determined to


    know his honest thoughts.


    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± she affirmed, her voice unwavering, ¡°I want to hear what you truly think.¡±


    ¡°Considering Xavia¡¯s current physical condition and the fact that she¡¯s already six months. pregnant, it¡¯s


    impossible for her to undergo an abortion. If the child is indeed mine, I can¡¯t turn my back on them. I


    come from a background where my parents did not shield me from hardships. I faced many struggles


    growing up. I don¡¯t want my child to experience the same loneliness and neglect. I want to be a


    responsible father. Do you understand me, Chloe?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s frustration grew, feeling a sense of suffocation from Joseph¡¯s response. ¡°You im to want to


    be responsible, but what about our children? How will they feel about this?¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t reveal the truth to the child, they¡¯ll never know.¡±


    ¡°Joseph Whitman!¡± Chloe¡¯s anger boiled over, unable to contain her emotions any longer. Our children


    haven¡¯t even been born yet, and you¡¯re already nning to deceive them?!¡±


    Her disappointment was palpable. Joseph¡¯s cunning approach was directed at his own family.


    Joseph rubbed his forehead in frustration. ¡°Are you on your period? Why are you so irritable?¡± He


    missed the days when she was gentle and affectionate, always by his side, cooking for him, and


    eagerly seeking to please him like the dumbo she once was.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m irritable! Happy now?¡± Chloe hung up the phone in anger. While she understood. his


    reasoning, it was still immensely frustrating from her point of view.


    That night, Chloe found no sce in sleep as she tossed and turned, gued by a troubling nightmare.


    In her dream, Joseph and Xaviay on a bed together, their slumber undisturbed, while a baby rested


    peacefully between them. The scene projected an image of perfect. harmony and contentment.


    But then, in an eerie twist, Xavia¡¯s eyes flickered open. An unsettling smile appeared on her face as


    she approached Chloe. ¡°You see? Joe is mine. The coveted position of the matriarch of the Whitman


    family belongs to me. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a failure. who can¡¯t hold onto a


    man. Begone.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true¡­¡± Chloe desperately tried to wake up the sleeping Joseph, but he remained


    unresponsive.


    ¡°Shut up. Don¡¯t you dare disturb Joe¡¯s sleep!¡± Xavia¡¯s expression twisted, and sheshed out at


    M


    Chloe.


    Chloe¡¯s intense hatred toward Xavia drove her to engage Xavia in a fight. However, her


    pregnancy hindered her, and she found herself forced backward, teetering dangerously close to the


    edge of the staircase.


    Xavia¡¯s sinister and terrifying grin sent chills down Chloe¡¯s spine before she pushed her down the


    stairs. The sudden sensation of falling jolted Chloe from her haunting dream. She found herself lying in


    bed, staring up at the ceiling.


    She struggled to regain herposure. Gasping for breath, she realized that the sky outside had


    already brightened. After getting a grip on herself, she got out of bed and freshened up. She had an


    important meeting with Noah at hispany today.


    She gged down a cab and provided the cabbie with the address Noah had sent her.


    Chloe instructed Abigail, ¡°Wait for me on the ground floor. I¡¯lle down once I¡¯m done.¡±


    Abigail nced at the vacant office building ahead and her brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Ms. Chloe,


    are you certain this is the correct location? Why is there no one here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a newly establishedpany, so they haven¡¯t hired anyone yet.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ Well, call me if you need anything.¡±


    Chloe went up the stairs in search of Noah¡¯s office. Upon finding him, she observed his polished


    appearance. He had on a white t-shirt and ck pants, coupled with semi-rimless. sses that added


    an air of refinement and sophistication to his look.


    ¡°There you are.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± Chloe sniffed the air and asked, ¡°Did you go to the hospital? I smell disinfectant.¡± The scent


    reminded her of the distinct odor doctors carry, having been exposed to various medications and


    working in hospitals for extended periods.


    Noah paused briefly, using the motion of adjusting his sses to conceal the emotions in his eyes. He


    replied calmly, ¡°I was there recently and haven¡¯t changed my clothes. Would you prefer orange juice or


    lemonade?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any warm water perhaps?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t arranged for a water dispenser yet, but we do have some fruit juices that were purchased


    from nearby.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s okay then. I¡¯ll pass on the drink.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Noah¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of something as he retrieved about six documents and


    handed them to her. ¡°These are introductions to ourpany¡¯s future business expansions.


    Take a look.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Chloe began reading them attentively. Strangely, the font on the pages appeared unusually small and


    tightly spaced, causing her to feel drowsy after reading for a while. The roomcked air conditioning,


    but as the minutes passed, the warm sunlight streamed in, casting a cozy and inviting glow. Fatigue


    gradually overcame her, causing her eyelids to grow heavier and heavier.


    ¡°Could you please get me a ss of orange juice?¡± Chloe requested, realizing that she desperately


    needed a break to keep herself awake. The drowsiness was overwhelming.


    Noah¡¯s lips curled into a peculiar, faint smile. ¡°Sure.¡±


    Chloe picked up the ss and took a few sips, hoping to invigorate herself. However, a stronger wave


    of drowsiness washed over her as she resumed reading the documents. She struggled to keep her


    eyes open, but her efforts proved futile.


    Unable to resist any longer, sheid her head on the desk and sumbed to sleep.

 Chapter 549

    Chapter 549


    Chapter 549 Grandpa¡¯s Time Is Running Out


    Noah¡¯s gaze slowly shifted from theptop to Chloe¡¯s face, taking in her delicate features. Her skin was


    fair and rosy, and the gentle curve of hershes rested on her eyelids. She appeared obedient, her


    mature and casual attire slightly oversized to conceal her growing belly, making her outfit a little ill-


    fitting.


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin,¡± Noah announced, leaning back in his chair.


    A group of doctors in white coats emerged from the adjacent room and carefully carried Chloe into the


    neighboring room. Inside, ultrasound machines and an array of instruments were prepared for the


    examination. The doctors skillfully began their examination of her body.


    ¡°We can now extract the amniotic fluid¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Noah paused before continuing, ¡°Are you sure there won¡¯t be any needle marks when she


    wakes up?¡±


    ¡°There won¡¯t be any We¡¯re using thetest technology in prenatal testing from Ameria. With anesthesia


    and an incredibly small needle, it¡¯ll be difficult to detect anything with the naked eye,¡±


    Noah nodded, somewhat reassured, and gave his consent for them to proceed.


    Vanya stood beside him, and she said urgently, ¡°Is the ne ready? Once we have the amniotic fluid,


    we have to return to Docwood before evening Xavia¡¯s amniocentesis is scheduled for 5 pm. We have


    to stick to the schedule, not a minute more or less ¡±


    Failure to do so could jeopardize their n. Despite having control over the doctors performing the


    amniocentesis on Xavia, the undeniable truth could not be overlooked. Reality. would always be real


    and falsehoods would always be false. Only by obtaining Chloe¡¯s amniotic fluid could they ensure a


    safe resolution to the situation.


    ¡°The ne is ready on the rooftop. When will Coco wake up?¡±


    ¡°Soon. Should be within the next half an hour.¡±


    Noah returned to his office, opened the window to let the stagnant air out, then closed it. After half an


    hour, Chloe slowly opened her eyes and found herself locking gazes with Noah.


    ¡°Hey, sleepyhead.¡±


    She felt regretful, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I don¡¯t know how I fell asleep¡­ I suddenly felt incredibly drowsy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I dozed off for a while too.¡± Noah pointed at the essential oil diffuser on the table. This has a


    very calming effect. Perhaps that¡¯s what caused the drowsiness.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Chloe felt strange. She had not expected to doze off during work and felt it was


    impolite.


    Noah¡¯s expression softened, and he said in a concerned tone, ¡°Pregnant women often experience


    drowsiness. You¡¯re about four months pregnant now, and working every day can take a toll on your


    body. It¡¯s natural to feel tired and want to rest.¡¯


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    She blinked, realizing that his exnation made sense. After all, she had a restless night and had not


    slept well.


    At 5 in the evening, in Docwood, Xavia was escorted into an operating room. As Joseph waited


    outside, several doctors wearing masks and headgear entered the room. His gaze was sharp, and he


    coldly looked at the hospital director beside him.


    ¡°Why were the doctorste?¡±


    Since they were all wearing masks, the hospital director could not identify who those doctors were ¡°Mr.


    Joseph, please wait a moment. Let me go in and assess the situation.¡±


    Before the hospital director returned, Jonathan suddenly appeared and clutched Joseph¡¯s arm,


    pleading desperately, ¡°Joe, you have to save my father! He¡¯s on the verge of being beaten to death in


    prison!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes dropped, and he maintained a stoic silence Lucas swiftly intervened, stepping forward


    and prying Jonathan, who clung on like an octopus, away from Joseph. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, please consider


    your public image


    The hospital bustled with a constant flow of people. Being members of the esteemed Whitman family,


    causing a scene was highly inappropriate


    ¡°If your father is on the verge of death, would you still care about your image?!¡± Jonathan spat out


    without a second thought, venting all his anger toward him.


    Lucas¡¯ face turned grim. ¡°I was merely offering a friendly reminder.¡±


    Jonathan paid Lucas no attention. In his eyes, Lucas was nothing more than a sycophantkey.


    ¡°Joe, my father was just visiting thepany. He didn¡¯t take any confidential documents. You can¡¯t be


    so cruel as to send him to prison!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Joseph chuckled. ¡°Are you absolutely certain he didn¡¯t steal anything?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°You should be seeking assistance from the police. Why are you troubling me? I¡¯m not the one who put


    him in there.¡±


    ¡°If going to the police would¡¯ve helped, I wouldn¡¯t bother you¡­¡± Jonathan pretended to be sorrowful,


    doing his best to evoke pity.


    Joseph reached out and ced his hand on Jonathan¡¯s shoulder. The touch was not forceful, but it


    carried an overwhelming weight. His eyes turned gloomy and indifferent as he questioned, ¡°Tell me


    then, what about that 150 million empty check?¡±


    ¡°H-How did you know¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes widened in fear. He took a step back, his bulging


    eyes revealing his panic. Did Preston not say that as long as he firmly denied it, no one would. ever


    find out?


    Joseph was aware of the infiltration of the president¡¯s office, but how did he also know about the 150


    million check?


    ¡°I won¡¯t waste my breath on reproaches. The damage you¡¯ve inflicted upon thepany is irreparable.


    There¡¯s no turning back.¡± Joseph¡¯s gaze shifted to where Spencer was hiding and stated, ¡°Grandpa¡¯s


    time is running out. If you have a heart, go and spend more time with him.¡±

 Chapter 550

    Chapter 550


    Chapter 550 You¡¯re So Selfish, Joe


    Jonathan stood there in stunned silence for a while. ¡°Grandpa was perfectly fine just a month ago. How


    could this happen¡­¡±


    ¡°His organ failure has be severe.¡±


    ¡°This is all because you prevented me from seeing Grandpa a month ago. This is just swell, isn¡¯t it? I


    won¡¯t have many chances to see him anymore!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps if you had taken better care of Grandpa, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±


    Jonathan¡¯s anger surged, his eyes zing with fury. His teeth clenched tightly as if he wanted to bore a


    hole through Joseph. ¡°You¡¯re so selfish, Joe!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s demeanor remained indifferent, his voice calm. ¡°Don¡¯t force me to resort to violence.


    ¡±


    Goosebumps erupted on Jonathan¡¯s arms as he gazed at Joseph¡¯s expression which was devoid of joy


    or worry. There was an air of invincibility about Joseph as if nothing could bring him down. His


    commanding presence exuded an inherent imperial demeanor, making Jonathan feel like an


    insignificant ant, perpetually destined to be trampled underfoot.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Jonathan left in despair, determined to use his own abilities to save his father. He silently contemted,


    ¡®Grandpa always favored Joe Maybe after he passes, I¡¯ll face fewer troubles.¡±


    Meanwhile, the hospital director and several doctors emerged from the operating room. Upon closer


    examination, the director¡¯s forehead glistened with cold sweat, his lips had turned pale, and his


    previously slightly hunched back was now stiff and straight


    ¡°Mr Joseph, here¡¯s the amniotic fluid sample you requested,¡± said one of the doctors as he


    handed the sample to Lucas


    ¡°That was quick.¡± It had only been about fifteen minutes since they entered.


    ¡°Yes, amniocentesis usually takes around ten minutes. I brought some students to observe the


    procedure, but unfortunately, they werete I apologize for the dy.¡±


    Joseph directed a piercing gaze at the hospital director, who trembled in response. ¡°Yes¡­ A few


    students were being irresponsible. We¡¯ll inform you of the results one week from now.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his thin lips pressed tightly together, indicating that he was about to


    speak.


    Spencer, who had been hiding in the corner, stepped forward and interjected, ¡°Mr. Joseph, I¡¯ve been


    waiting for you. How has Mr. Harold beentely? Has he been taking the medications I prescribed?


    ¡°If you have the time, let¡¯s talk in my office.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s lips curled into a sinister smile as if he had a trick up his sleeve. He agreed to the meeting,


    ¡°Sure. Lead the way.¡±


    The hospital director watched helplessly as Joseph left, his face contorting in desperation as he


    struggled with the truth he was unable to reveal.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move, or my hand might slip!¡± a man dressed in a white coat behind him threatened in a low


    voice, pressing a knife against the director¡¯s back


    Joseph was being vignt. If their flight hadnded anyter, they would have been caught.


    ¡°I-I won¡¯t say anything. I-I won¡¯t¡­ Joseph¡¯s gone now. P-Please let me go¡­¡± the director stammered in


    fear.


    The man sneered. ¡°Let you go so you can expose us?¡±


    ¡°I swear that I won¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s your unlucky day. You stumbled in on us as we were switching the amniotic fluid. We can¡¯t


    take that risk. Come with us.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go with you!¡±


    Knowing that his life would be in grave danger if heplied, the director summoned all his courage.


    In a desperate move, he pushed the man behind him and ran in the direction Joseph had gone

 Chapter 551

    Chapter 551


    Chapter 551 Natalie and Noah¡¯s Arranged Marriage


    The man had no intention of letting the director go.


    As the director attempted to flee, the man grabbed him by the coat, covered his mouth, and dragged


    him into the fire escape. Encumbered by age and frailty, the director could not contend with the man¡¯s


    strength and was mercilessly dragged to the rooftop. Following a moment of shock and a piercing


    scream, the director crashed heavily to the ground and died.


    Later that evening, an announcement circted, dering that the director had leaped from the


    building due to the immense pressure of life. Spencer read the announcement, feeling fear, self-me,


    and unease flooding him.


    ¡®Will I be the next to die? Should I confess to Joseph? Maybe he¡¯ll forgive me and let me go¡­. No, no,


    it can¡¯t possibly be my turn. I¡¯ve always been obedient. My wife and children are still in their hands¡­ I


    can¡¯t back down.¡¯


    Three dayster, Chloe returned to the country. Upon touchdown, she texted Joseph.


    [The ne hasnded and I¡¯ll be out in about ten minutes.]


    She grabbed her luggage and boarded the shuttle bus. Upon exiting the airport, she instantly spotted


    Joseph. His towering height of 1.8 meters made him stand out from the crowd, while his handsome


    features exuded a frosty allure. When his gaze met hers, it instantly softened, and the rigid aura around


    him eased slightly. His finely sculpted eyebrows and captivating eyes made him the center of attention,


    drawing nces from women passing by.


    Chloe and Joseph had missed each other dearly after not meeting for about a month.


    Joseph opened his arms, his lips curling into an enchanting smile as he said, ¡°Come here and let me


    hold you.¡±


    Chloe was someone who loved a good-looking man. She felt her heart race and could not hide her


    excitement. She pushed her luggage to Abigail and threw herself into his arms.


    Joseph embraced her tightly, his voice carrying a maic huskiness as he asked, ¡°Did you miss me?¡±


    Chloe raised her head, her eyes clear as she met his gaze. ¡°I did. And what about you? Did you miss


    me too?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joseph said, teasing her.


    Upon hearing his response, Chloe¡¯s fair and delicate face wrinkled, and she reached out to pinch the


    flesh on his waist. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I meant that¡­¡± Joseph leaned in, closing the distance between them while fixing his intense gaze on


    her, In a voice that could drown someone, he softly murmured, ¡°I missed you very very much. Will you


    make it up to me tonight?¡±


    Chloe blinked, her soft earlobes turning red as she stuttered, ¡°N-No! I-I will not be making up for


    anything!¡±


    It had been over three months since they had been intimate, and it was only natural for a man to feel


    such desires. However, she could not make it up to him. The first trimester had passed and as long as


    both parties were careful, they could do the deed, but Joseph did not know that she was pregnant. He


    appeared refined andposed on the surface, but he was a beast between the sheets-unrestrained


    and insatiable.


    Joseph thought Chloe was joking and did not take her seriously. He chuckled and pulled her into his


    embrace, leading her to the car. Gazing at their intertwined hands, a certain young man¡¯s eyes burned


    with a myriad of emotions.


    The driver Noah¡¯s luggage and politely said, ¡°Sir, Mr. Desmond is waiting for you at home. Let¡¯s head


    back quickly.¡±


    ¡°Why is he waiting for me?¡±


    ¡°To arrange a meeting between you and Ms. Natalie.¡±


    Noah stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixed pointedly on the driver.


    The driver felt uneasy under Noah¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t my idea, sir¡­¡±


    ¡°Is she at the house?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He could not avoid the matter of the arranged marriage. Since he had to face it sooner orter,


    it was better to get there early and resolve it as soon as possible.

 Chapter 552

    Chapter 552


    Chapter 552 His Kiss Was Sudden and Passionate, Startling Her


    Within the Sullivan Estate, Natalie was adorned in an borate princess gown and impable makeup


    as she satposedly before Desmond. She chose her words carefully, ensuring the conversation


    remained on appropriate topics.


    Desmond was satisfied with her. If the Walkers and Sullivans were to form an alliance, he would ept


    it. The two children were of simr age and would be well-matched among their peers. He currently


    could not find a more suitable candidate than Natalie.


    ¡°Sir, Mr. Noah has returned,¡± the butler whispered in Desmond¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Okay, send him in.¡±


    Noah looked at the people before him, a gentle smile on his face as always. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. I just


    got back from my flight. Thank you for waiting.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Oscar Walker replied with a smile. ¡°We arrived not long ago ourselves. This is my


    daughter, Natalie.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Natalie greeted Noah politely as she boldly assessed him with her eyes. Unlike those yboys,


    he had a clean look and a good vibe.


    Noah nodded at her. ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Take Naty to the vineyard for a stroll, Noah. The adults would like to discuss some matters, and you


    two will probably get bored. Go and have fun,¡± Desmond said, creating an opportunity for them to be


    alone.


    Noah did not refuse andplied with Desmond¡¯s suggestion, taking Natalie to the backyard. They


    walked side by side, maintaining a polite distance between them. The vineyard was filled with a


    fragrant aroma, and there were small baskets in the corners to facilitate easy picking.


    Noah nced at Natalie and asked calmly, ¡°What do you think of me?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Natalie blushed, and she said embarrassingly, ¡°You¡¯re so direct¡­ I mean, you seem like a shy


    young man based on your appearance.¡±


    ¡°I think we should make things clear before it¡¯s toote.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. But we barely know each other. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too early¡­¡±


    Noah chuckled and said calmly, ¡°I think you¡¯ve misunderstood. What I meant was that we don¡¯t actually


    have to spend time together. Since it¡¯s the elders who want this union, we can find a reason to get by


    without actually getting close.¡±


    Natalie was taken aback. ¡°Are you suggesting I tell my dad we aren¡¯tpatible?¡±


    ¡°I can tell my grandfather the same.¡±


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Natalie furrowed her brow. ¡°I don¡¯t want to deceive anyone, and I think we should genuinely spend


    some time together before making any decisions. My first impression of you is decent enough.¡±


    With his appealing appearance and pleasant personality, coupled with the fact that he was the sole heir


    of the Sullivan family, Noah had the advantage of not having topete for inheritance like in other


    families. Marrying him would make her life within the family estate significantly more straightforward


    and uplicated.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Noah said apologetically as he sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in a romantic rtionship at the


    moment. My studies and work consume a lot of my energy. I hope you¡¯ll find someone better. As for our


    respective elders, we can simply tell them that we aren¡¯tpatible.¡±


    Their rtionship ended before it could even start.


    Natalie was dumbfounded. She never expected to be rejected on her first blind date. Perhaps it was


    Noah¡¯s considerate attitude, but she did not feel ufortable or angry.


    Having only one heir in the family had its advantages: there was nopetition for inheritance. But on


    the flip side, it meant that the sole heir carried a tremendous burden.


    Always having a line of suitors, Natalie was not put off and agreed with Noah. Apart from the setback


    she had experienced with Joseph, this was the second failed love attempt of her life.


    On their way home, Oscar asked Natalie how her conversation with Noah went.


    ¡°We¡¯re notpatible.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s too busy. He has to study and manage his family business, leaving no time for me.¡±


    ¡°What do you think of him as a person then?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s all right. His personality seems good,¡± Natalie said honestly, refraining from saying anything


    negative about Noah despite his rejection.


    Her father nodded with a hint of understanding, taking it as his daughter not actually rejecting the idea


    of getting to know Noah.


    Joseph and Chloe had a candlelit dinner at home.


    During the meal, Joseph indulged in a cabe. Chloe was suddenly struck with an idea and poured


    him ss after ss. She thought that if he got drunk, he would not think about touching her.


    To her surprise, Joseph had a high alcohol tolerance. Although he was slightly intoxicated, it


    did not affect his actions. When Chloe tried to push him away, he silenced her with a kiss.


    It was sudden and passionate, startling her. She became defenseless and copsed weakly into his


    embrace. Joseph freed his hands, intending to push aside her nightgown.


    ¡°Ugh, no¡­¡± Chloe protested as she covered her chest with both hands.


    Overwhelmed by the intensity of the kiss, her eyes turned slightly red, making her look like a cornered


    rabbit. Meanwhile, Joseph transformed into a ravenous wolf, longing to devour the helpless little rabbit.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who said you missed me? Is this how you express it?¡± His eyes glistened with


    desire and a hint of disappointment.

 Chapter 553

    Chapter 553


    Chapter 553 Joseph Notices Something Is Amiss


    Chloe¡¯s heart melted.


    ¡°Turn off the lights,¡± she said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joseph got up and flipped the switch, throwing the room into darkness.


    As he advanced on her, Chloe whimpered softly, ¡°Be gentle¡­¡±


    Droplets of sweat trickled down Joseph¡¯s forehead, sliding down his face, and finallynding on Chloe¡¯s


    corbone. His voice was hoarse and filled with desire as he replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Men were creatures of desire in bed, driven only by their instincts, especially after consuming


    alcohol.


    Joseph failed to notice anything unusual. He did try to be gentle, but even a light touch kindled a


    passionate me within him, not to mention that they had been separated for nearly a month. They


    indulged in their desire for a long time, and it was not until the bed sheets were soaked that they were


    finally depleted of their strength and drifted off to sleep.


    The next day, Chloe woke up feeling drained. Joseph felt distressed upon seeing her and insisted she


    took a few days off to rest, and she wholeheartedly agreed. There was not much happening at the


    Johnson Group that required her attention, so she decided to take a short


    break from work.


    Initially, Joseph had nned to finish work early and take Chloe to watch a horror movie. Since he had


    no interest in romantic films, a horror movie seemed like a good choice. However, his n was


    thwarted when the police informed him that Preston had been severely beaten by other inmates and


    was in a state of shock.


    Joseph showed no concern for the matter, so the police had no choice but to inform Octavia and


    Jonathan.


    Upon seeing Preston¡¯s battered and bruised state and the drastic weight loss he had experienced in


    just a few days, Octavia rushed to Harold, hoping that he would get Preston out of prison. Unaware of


    the misdeeds Preston had orchestrated, Harold fainted when Octavia exposed everything upon her


    visit.


    Joseph had no choice but to return to the family home.


    Harold resolutely announced that he would be disowning Preston. Joseph had no objections and began


    drafting agreements with awyer while taking care of Harold.


    Joseph was upied with these matters for three consecutive days. On the fourth evening, he finally


    returned home. Chloe was already asleep, and not wanting to disturb her, he went to the guest room.


    The next day, Chloe woke up and nced in the mirror. To her dismay, the hickey marks on


    her neck from a few days ago had not faded as she had hoped. With her fair skin, it was particrly


    noticeable in bright light.


    ¡°Joseph Whitman!¡± Chloe roared angrily as she pointed at her neck. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done. This


    isn¡¯t a good look.¡±


    ¡°If it bothers you so much, you can do it to me as well,¡± Joseph said nonchntly as he leisurely did up


    his tie, his eyes brimming with a yful glint.


    Chloe huffed in annoyance. ¡°Forget it. Don¡¯t try to take advantage of me in every possible way.


    Joseph finished dressing and walked toward her, embracing her from behind. But in the next moment,


    his brows furrowed as he focused on her waist. He noticed that something was amiss.


    Over the past few nights, she had been preventing him from touching her belly, even demanding that


    he be gentle.


    Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she pushed him away before running into the bathroom. ¡°I need to


    wash up. You should get to work. Don¡¯t wait for me. I¡¯ll get a cab.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s gaze deepened, and he reached out to open the bathroom door. At this moment, Lucas


    arrived and asked, ¡°Are you ready, sir? We should leave now. The meeting starts in half an hour.¡±


    ncing at the time and contemting for a few seconds, Joseph said through the closed bathroom


    door, ¡°Don¡¯t wander off today. I¡¯ll find you after work.¡±

 Chapter 554

    Chapter 554


    Chapter 554 Xavia¡¯s Kid Is Intellectually Challenged


    Chloe ignored him and continued brushing her teeth, feeling guilty inside.


    When Vanya received a call from Spencer, she was stunned.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Xavia¡¯s baby carries chromosomal defects. They may experience stunted growth.¡±


    Vanya was speechless. This would mean that the child may be intellectually challenged.


    ¡°What about Chloe¡¯s baby? Is that baby okay?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Chloe¡¯s baby is fine, just slightly undernourished.¡±


    ¡°You know what to do, right?¡± Vanya threatened.


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Spencer trembled with fear and his voice quivered. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it a secret and not disclose


    this information to anyone.¡±


    ¡°Attaboy,¡± praised Vanya.


    ¡°May I see my wife and kid?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck. Once Harold is dead, I¡¯ll set them free.¡±


    Spencer gritted his teeth and fell silent.


    Upon learning that her child might have an intellectual disability, Xavia froze in disbelief.¡¯


    How could I, someone with such high intelligence, produce an intellectually challenged child? Those


    ipetent doctors must have made a mistake!¡±


    She was a top scorer during her student life and was a renowned violinist throughout the country. This


    was an insult to her.


    ¡°We can¡¯t keep this child,¡± Vanya said decisively, her eyes cold and calcting. ¡°But we can¡¯t perform


    an abortion now. You have to give birth to the kid and let Chloe take over.¡±


    Xavia calmed down and suddenly found the idea intriguing. ¡°So that bitch¡¯s kid is going to call me


    mother?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Previously, they had considered swapping Chloe¡¯s kid for Xavia¡¯s, but the n had never been.


    finalized. Firstly, it was difficult and highly risky. Secondly, Otto did not want Joseph to have his own kid.


    Raising another man¡¯s child while his wife cheated on him¡ªthat was the ultimate


    revenge.


    ¡°Joseph will learn about the results of the amniocentesis soon. Get ready and dress up to meet him,¡±


    she said.


    Xavia nodded and took out a face mask, intending to apply simple makeup. She could not wait


    to see Joseph.


    Sure enough, at four in the afternoon, Joseph received a call from the hospital. They notified. him about


    collecting the amniocentesis report. His grip on the phones tightened as he looked


    at Lucas.


    ¡°Go and get it.¡±


    Lucas nodded solemnly. After witnessing everything that Joseph and Chloe had been through, Lucas


    could not help but have a malicious thought. If only Xavia would suffer a miscarriage, Joseph would not


    have to deal with theplications and Chloe would not have to suffer the bitterness of being a


    stepmother. They could live peacefully without all these troublesome issues.


    Of course, Lucas was just thinking about it. He knew he could not engage in illegal and sinful


    acts.


    At the same time, Joseph sent Chloe a message, asking her toe and look at the report with him.


    She arrived at Fairlight at the same time Lucas got back. When she saw the folder in his hands, she


    forced a smile.


    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll take it inside.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    Lucas added sincerely, ¡°Ms. Chloe, if I may, whether this child is Mr. Joseph¡¯s or not, it won¡¯t affect his


    feelings for you.¡¯


    Chloe¡¯s lip twitched. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s not like Joseph is the one suffering any grievances. Why should it


    affect his feelings for me?¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.

 Chapter 555

    Chapter 555


    Chapter 555 Xavia Wants to Share Good News With Joseph


    Lucas was speechless as Chloe had a point.


    ¡°All right. Don¡¯t worry about us,¡± she said lightly before walking into the office with the


    folder.


    Joseph was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window when she entered. He turned to look at her and


    said, ¡°Right on time.¡±


    Feigningposure, she handed him the folder. ¡°Go ahead. Open it and take a look.¡±


    Joseph¡¯s jaw clenched tightly as he pulled out the report. In just one nce, he knew the answer. His


    eyebrows furrowed deeply, and then he rxed them. ¡®Well, it¡¯s time to y by


    ear.¡¯


    Beside him, Chloe tiptoed to catch a glimpse of the report¡¯s contents.


    [DNA match rate: 99.9%, indicating a blood rtionship.]


    As if a string in her mind suddenly snapped, Chloe¡¯s heart was gripped with excruciating pain,


    rendering her incapable of rational thought. Although she had mentally prepared herself for this, the


    stark realityid out before her was still hard to swallow.


    Her footsteps became unsteady and she tottered. Theposure she had maintained up till now


    shattered into pieces.


    Joseph swiftly reached out to support her. ¡°Chloe¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Chloe fought to maintain herposure. ¡°Give me the report. I want to read it all.¡±


    Joseph understood her pain and tried to console her. ¡°Don¡¯t read it. There¡¯s nothing worth seeing. Are


    you hungry? Let me take you out for a meal.¡±


    ¡°Give it to me.¡± Her voice trembled but held firm determination.


    Seeing Chloe like this, Joseph opened his mouth but could not utter a word. Suddenly, everything was


    different from what he had imagined. He thought he had everything under control, but in reality, it


    seemed like he did not. He could not describe this feeling. He felt lost. and everything was spinning out


    of control. He disliked this feeling immensely.


    Suddenly, he remembered the words Harold had told him.


    ¡®Chloe isn¡¯t being magnanimous. Shepromises because she loves you.¡¯


    ¡°Give it to me!¡± Chloe repeated, her eyes bloodshot.


    Joseph met her gaze, feeling a sharp pang in his heart. In the end, he handed over the report in


    his hand.


    Chloe took the report. Seemingly falling into a trance, she meticulously read every word, over and over


    again. Her eyes became blurry from reading, but she could not find any loopholes. Her fingers


    loosened, and the report slipped from her hand, scattering all over the floor.


    Joseph reached out to hold Chloe¡¯s hand but she pushed him away. His face turned grim. ¡°If you¡¯re


    unhappy, you can express it. Don¡¯t throw a tantrum.¡±


    Chloe looked up at him, her gaze filled with disbelief. At that moment, she could not distinguish who


    was right and who was wrong.


    ¡®Am I throwing a tantrum? Should I never have agreed to this in the first ce? Now that I have, should


    I not get upset and just ept everything?¡¯


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Joe!¡±


    Someone with a lively and cheerful voice suddenly burst in. Xavia stood at the door, observing the


    obvious tension in the room. Despite her inner delight, she maintained aposed demeanor and


    hesitated before saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know you were here, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Chloe was unhappy at that moment and shot Xavia an unfriendly look. She retorted. sarcastically,


    ¡°Don¡¯t people usually knock before entering a room? Or do you knock when I¡¯m not here and act like


    this when I am?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t¡­ I was just so happy and wanted to share the good news with Joe,¡± Xavia exined.


    Joseph already knew what she meant by ¡°good news,¡± and his expression turned dark. ¡°I already know.


    Go home and take care of yourself and the baby.¡±

 Chapter 556

    Chapter 556


    Chapter 556 Leaving Joseph


    A flicker of sadness appeared in Xavia¡¯s eyes. She remained silent, merely nodding before. turning


    away, consumed by a sense of despair.


    As she walked to the doorway, she bumped into the corner of a table, causing her to bend over in pain


    and clutch her stomach. Seeing this, Joseph quickly approached her and asked, ¡°Are you okay?


    Should I take you to the hospital?¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xavia turned back to nce at Chloe, saying empathically, ¡°You and Ms. Chloe should talk.


    I¡¯lle to see you another time.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Joseph said while instructing Lucas to take Xavia home.


    Lucas pressed his lips together, reluctant toply but refrained from saying anything. He stole a


    nce at Chloe, whose eyes were red and lips were tightly pursed. Chloe did not want to appear a


    failure in front of Xavia, so she maintained a straight posture, struggling to contain her emotions. As he


    watched this unfold, Lucas felt a pang of difort.


    ¡°Thank you, Joe. I¡¯m sorry for all the trouble. I¡¯ll be more careful from now on. I¡¯ll watch my step and


    take good care of our child. I won¡¯t be so reckless anymore,¡± Xavia said, caressing her stomach like a


    gentle mother.


    Upon hearing the word ¡°child,¡± Joseph¡¯s cold gaze softened slightly. The feeling of bing a father


    for the first time was indescribably marvelous. If only this child were his and Chloe¡¯s, it would be


    perfect.


    Chloe witnessed this scene unfold before her eyes, and her heart felt as though it was being forcefully


    torn apart. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to prevent her tears from falling. At that point, she felt


    something inside her die


    Having aplished her objective, Xavia did not stay any longer and gracefully departed with Lucas.


    Back in the office, Joseph and Chloe were once again alone.


    He gazed at her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about whatever grievances you have. I¡¯m here to listen.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say. I want to go back to sleep,¡± Chloe replied calmly, her eyes devoid of any


    emotion.


    In an instant, Joseph¡¯s heart was filled with panic. He could notprehend what he had done wrong


    or why a sense of unease had taken hold of him.


    Ignoring his reaction, Chloe rose to her feet and headed toward the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you home.¡± Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as he kept pace with her.


    Chloe gave no response, neither agreeing nor refusing. She appeared listless as if her vibrant and


    radiant self had withered.


    After escorting Chloe back to the house, Joseph wanted to stay with her.


    ¡°I¡¯d prefer some time alone,¡± Chloe uttered, enveloped in the warmth of the nkets. She averted her


    face from him, her voice eerilyposed.


    Joseph could not fathom her thoughts. Always aloof and proud, he was now at a loss for words. He


    wondered if he should grovel and plead. Throughout the journey, he had been actively seeking topics


    of conversation. Was that not enough?


    He did not believe he had done anything wrong. The decision to keep the child had been made with her


    consent, and he had not acted without informing her first, so why was she mad?


    Despite his love for her, Joseph¡¯s pride prevented him from groveling. When his temper red, he


    forgot about the unsettling situation from this morning and promptly returned to Fairlight.


    Hearing the sound of the door closing, Chloe could no longer contain herself. Tears streamed down her


    face, soaking the pillow. It was not the heart-wrenching, soul-tearing sobbing she had imagined, but a


    silent and unassuming weeping.


    After two hours of crying, she had shed enough tears, and her mind began to clear. Following her


    innermost feelings, Chloe made a decision-she was going to leave Joseph. The Johnson Group could


    be managed remotely, and besides, she had no close rtives or friends. Just informing Emily would


    be enough.


    Chloe took a deep breath, lifted the covers, and got out of bed. In less than twenty minutes, her


    possessions were neatly packed into her luggage. She gged down a cab, left the courtyard, and


    found temporary amodation in a guesthouse.


    She then sent Joseph a breakup text.

 Chapter 557

    Chapter 557


    Chapter 557 How Dare She


    A wave of relief washed over Chloe as the message was sent. From now on, she did not have to


    compromise or ept that child. And she would not have to see Xavia anymore. She yearned to leave


    behind this unhealthy rtionship and pursue a normal life.


    greatest


    Curling up on the couch, she gazed out the window at the soaring birds in the sky, longing for the same


    sense of freedom. In the past, when the Johnsons had oppressed her, her dream was to earn enough


    money to travel across the country. But now that she had the money, she was carrying a child¡­


    Life was just never perfect.


    Chloe¡¯s mind was in turmoil, yet oddly clear at the same time. She sat quietly for a while before calling


    Emily to assure her that she was safe.


    ¡°What?! You broke up with Joseph?!¡± Emily¡¯s voice boomed through the phone, resonating in


    Chloe¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Yes, and lower your voice. My ear is ringing,¡± Chloe replied.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Sorry, I was just really surprised,¡± Emily apologized, ¡°You initiated the breakup?¡±


    ¡°Yes. After Xavia was confirmed to be pregnant with Joseph¡¯s child, she wasted no time in seeing him


    as soon as she received the amniocentesis results. She made quite a spectacle in


    front of me.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, does she have no shame? Is getting pregnant with someone else¡¯s husband something to be


    proud of?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her. I might turn off my phone for a while, so if you need anything, send me a text,


    and I¡¯ll reply when I see it.¡±


    ¡°Are you worried that Joseph will bother you?¡±


    Pinching her brow, Chloe said self-mockingly, ¡°Bother me? I¡¯ll be grateful as long as het doesn¡¯t get


    angry.¡±


    Given Joseph¡¯s terrible temper, it was unlikely he would tolerate being dumped. Maybe he would not


    even call her. She had been deluding herself.


    ¡°But it¡¯s his fault¡­¡± Emily grumbled in dissatisfaction.


    It took two to tango. Even if Xavia was problematic, Joseph was equally at fault too.


    ¡°I went back on my words too. I can¡¯t ept that kid.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself for everything. This isn¡¯t your fault.¡± Emily¡¯s voice carried strength as she


    reassured Chloe. ¡°Even if you¡¯ve lost love, you still have friendship. Whatever decision you make, I¡¯ll


    support you. Don¡¯t underestimate yourself, your prime years have just begun.


    Besides, it¡¯s cool to be a hot mom!¡±


    Chloe was touched, her eyes welling up with tears. People came and went in her life, but Emily had


    been there for her since the beginning and not left. This friendship was rare and precious.


    ¡°Yes, I will. I¡¯ll n my future life well,¡± Chloe replied.


    The two of them spent an hour on the phone, pouring out their thoughts and emotions. After ending the


    call, Chloe turned off her phone.


    At Fairlight.


    Several business partners smiled, their faces filled with wrinkles and their muscles tense.


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, please feel free to share any opinions you have about the project. We¡¯ll make the


    necessary changes to the contract until you¡¯re satisfied.¡±


    Joseph nced at them casually, twirling an expensive pen in his hand. ¡°Do you not


    understand the words that areing out of my mouth? I¡¯m not interested in real estate at the


    moment.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Joseph, please take another look. It¡¯ll only take a few minutes of your time. We¡¯re very sincere


    about this,¡± one of the men continued to plead, refusing to give up so easily.


    ¡°Sir, you have a message,¡± Lucas said as he came in with Joseph¡¯s phone.


    Concerned about missing a call from Chloe because of the morning meeting, Joseph handed his phone


    to Lucas for safekeeping.


    ¡°Give it to me,¡± Joseph said.


    ¡°Here you go, sir,¡± Lucas replied respectfully.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Joseph picked up the phone and read the message, his expression indifferent. ¡°Escort them


    out.¡±


    Understanding his intention, Lucas politely gestured to the developers. ¡°Please gentlemen,


    this way.


    ¡°We can¡¯t leave yet. Briake is targeting us from every angle. They want to monopolize the real estate


    market. We have no way out, which is why we sought Mr. Joseph¡¯s help.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the only person who can help us, Mr. Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Mr. Joseph, please lend us a hand.¡±


    They had heard that Otto and Joseph had an altercation at an auction event some time ago. They


    thought that there was only one person who could stand up to Braike, and that was the man before


    them.


    Upon hearing the mention of Braike, Lucas paused and looked toward Joseph. Thetter paid no


    attention to their words. A stunned expression dawned on his handsome face, and he even


    momentarily thought he was hallucinating. He stood there, dazed for a few seconds, before looking


    back at the text on his phone.


    ¡®It¡¯s true¡­ Chloe just broke up with me. How dare this dumbo break up with me!¡±

 Chapter 558 Unbelievable

    Chapter 558 Unbelievable


    Joseph''s face darkened. He gripped his pen so hard that it snapped in half.


    He found it difficult to believe that this was happening. Thinking back to Chloe''s silent demeanor


    from a few hours ago, he realized she had been nning to break up with him since then. No,


    maybe even earlier than that.


    As this thought coursed through his mind, his countenance grew even darker and the fury swirling


    within his chest pierced him like a thousand sharp des.


    Lucas perceptively sensed the changes in Joseph''s emotions. He carefully approached him and


    asked, "Sir, would you like to continue the discussion?"


    "Please give us a chance, Mr. Joseph. Having one more friend means having one more source of


    strength."


    "If Braike hadn''t overstepped, we wouldn''t be troubling you with this."


    The business partners thought they had a chance and expressed their sincerity one after another.


    Little did they know that their voices irritated Joseph even more.


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    Joseph''s sudden outburst reverberated through the room, his eyes aze with crimson fury and the


    veins on his forehead throbbing intensely. An eerie silence descended upon the space, and


    everyone froze in response.


    Lucas was puzzled and could not understand why Joseph would suddenly fly into a rage. His gaze


    landed on Joseph''s phone, and his pupils constricted, finally grasping the reason behind Joseph''s


    immense anger.


    ¡®How bold of you, Ms. Chloe¡­''


    Suppressing his fear, Lucas escorted the bewildered business partners out of the office. When he


    returned, the room was empty.


    Joseph sped back to the house, fury coursing through his veins. He disregarded the traffic rules and


    even received a fine from an officer. After that, although he still failed to reign in his emotions, he


    managed to restrain himself from any further outbursts or misconduct.


    "Chloe, I''ll count to three and you''d better be out of the bedroom by then. Otherwise, you''ll face the


    consequences," Joseph said, throwing his car keys onto the coffee table and casting a cold gaze


    upstairs.


    A terrifying silence hung in the air, with no response to his words. Joseph''s fingertips trembled


    slightly, sensing what might have happened. He strode toward the bedroom door and gave the door


    a gentle push.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    The wardrobe door was wide open, revealing an empty space where once Chloe''s clothes resided.


    Her absence confirmed that her heart held no trace of nostalgia. Joseph''s muscles tensed, his


    anger concealing a hint of unnoticed nervousness.


    He dialed Chloe''s number, hoping she would answer ande home. If she offered him an


    apology, he was willing to forgive her. The call went through quickly, but instead of hearing Chloe''s


    voice, he was met with a familiar, icy mechanical one.


    "Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter..."


    Joseph strongly suspected Chloe had blocked him. He called Lucas and asked him to try reaching


    out to Chloe. However, Lucas too received the same message of her phone being turned off.


    A strange sense of relief washed over Joseph. He sat down, took a sip of water, and then headed to


    the Johnson Group. The receptionist was puzzled upon seeing him. "Ms. Chloe went to Estre on a


    business trip and has yet to return."


    Joseph furrowed his brow, scrutinizing her face. The receptionist felt a chill down her spine, and she


    quickly defended herself, "I''m telling the truth."


    He sensed that she was not lying and thus wasted no time as he turned around and left. He knew


    that Chloe would not return to Oceanic Residence. So that left only two other options: the Johnson


    vi and Emily''s ce.


    Joseph instructed Lucas to find Emily while he went to the Johnson vi. When Emily saw Lucas,


    she pretended that she did not know anything and said, "Coco hasn''t contacted me. Joseph must


    have upset her again."


    "I don''t know. I''m just here to ask questions." Lucas stared at her. "Do you really not know where


    Ms. Chloe is?"


    "I don''t!" she asserted boldly, urging him to leave. "You have to leave now. I need to get back to


    work. This won¡¯t look very good to my superiors if they found out."


    Lucas had no choice. He did not want to disturb Emily, so he reported to Joseph about his finding.


    "What was Emily''s reaction when she heard about this?"


    "She seemed surprised¡­"


    Gritting his teeth, Joseph said, "She''s lying"

 Chapter 559 Looking For His Wife

    Chapter 559 Looking For His Wife


    Chloe had carefully nned her escape this time, and Emily was the only one trusted. She


    definitely would not want to worry Emily by not being able to reach her. On top of that, Emily''s


    indifferent response and not showing curiosity about the reason for all this was suspicious. After all,


    she had a strong affinity for gossip.


    "Umm... Should I continue questioning Emily?"


    "No need."


    "Okay."


    After ending the call with Lucas, Joseph arrived at Chloe''s family vi. The gate was tightly secured,


    and there was no trace of anyone inside. It became clear that she was not there.


    Joseph''s eyelid twitched, and he mmed his hand against the steering wheel. ''Is she ying a


    game of hide-and-seek with me? Does she truly believe that I can¡¯t find her?''


    He returned to his house and instructed the property management to investigate themunity''s


    surveince cameras. The footage revealed Chloe carrying a suitcase and getting into a cab, but


    the car¡¯s license te was blurred and difficult to read.


    The property manager offered his assistance, saying, "Mr. Joseph, I know people at the cab


    company. Shall I ask them for you?"


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Joseph was annoyed but did not refuse the offer. Half an hourter, the cab driver who had


    transported Chloe appeared before him.


    The cabby recalled the details and said, "I remember taking thisdy to Sunshine Street. She didn''t


    specify a particr destination and got off there. The street is bustling with numerous hotels and


    guesthouses, so it''ll be challenging to find one person among them."


    As soon as the cabby finished speaking, Joseph got up and left, leaving the others behind. The


    cabbymented, "Who is this important person he''s searching for? He seems to be in quite a


    hurry."


    The property manager smirked and replied, "His wife."


    "He¡¯s so rich, and his wife still argues with him? She doesn''t appreciate her good fortune. What a


    waste."


    "Maybe she¡¯s rich too. Anyway, who are we to judge."


    *


    As night descended, the air of Sunshine Street filled with bustling energy. Tyson unexpectedly


    crossed paths with Joseph while out on an investigation.


    "What are you doing here?" Tyson asked curiously.


    "Looking for someone," Joseph replied, his gaze falling on the police identification card hanging


    from Tyson''s chest. With a police ID, he could easily obtain the information he desired from every


    hotel.


    Instinctively, Tyson covered his ID with his hand. "Who are you looking for? Chloe?"


    Joseph''s eyes gleamed and he said, "Borrow me your ID."


    "I can''t do that. It''s illegal, and besides, the photo on the card is mine. It wouldn''t be of any use to


    you," Tyson reasoned.


    Joseph''s expression turned cold. "No one will notice."


    Tyson hesitated. "Can I refuse?"


    "No, you can''t."


    Tyson felt helpless. "Who are you looking for? I''ll apany you," he offered.


    "A dummy."


    There were over thirty hotels and guesthouses scattered along Sunshine Street. Joseph eliminated


    several establishments where Chloe was unlikely to have gone and swiftly began his search. After


    two hours, only one guesthouse remained unchecked.


    The two entered, with Joseph leading the way.


    The owner proved to be a young man, who froze briefly when he lifted his head and saw Joseph.


    He had a distinct feeling that this gentleman was not here for a stay.


    Joseph¡¯s refined aura was reminiscent of noble. Despite his restrained demeanor, it could not


    conceal the innate air of superiority that came with those of high status. A person like him would not


    stay in such a humble establishment.


    "Did a woman named Chloe Johnson check into your guesthouse today?" Joseph took Tyson''s


    identification and ced it in front of the owner.


    The owner paused, but the name struck a chord with him.


    "Yes, there was."


    After all, the young woman was quite pretty.

 Chapter 560 Don’t Defy Me, Chloe

    Chapter 560 Don¡¯t Defy Me, Chloe


    Joseph''s eyes narrowed slightly and he asked coldly, "Which room is she in?"


    The owner lowered his head to check the system. "Please wait a moment, let me check."


    Tyson took back his identification and nced at the man beside him silently.


    "Room 3, second floor," the owner stated.


    Joseph fished out a cigarette, lit it, and proceeded up the stairs. Tyson followed closely behind and


    asked, "Did you and Chloe have a fight?"


    Joseph remained silent, showing no intention of answering.


    "Have you two remarried? Have you obtained a marriage certificate? How¡¯s her health beentely?"


    Joseph turned his head to look at him. "Do you have something to tell me?"


    Tyson touched his nose. "No. Nothing."


    He just wanted to see if Chloe had terminated the pregnancy. Judging by Joseph''s reaction, it


    seemed likely that she had, but she probably did not inform him. Otherwise, how could he remain so


    composed? After all, a pregnancy would begin to show at four months.


    The guesthouse was notrge, and they reached Chloe''s room within a minute or two.


    Joseph and Tyson exchanged a few words, with the former instructing, "You should leave."


    "Okay, okay. I won''t intrude on your private conversation," Tyson responded understandingly, taking


    out his walkie-talkie and leaving to find his colleagues.


    Joseph raised his hand and rang the doorbell.


    "Who is it?"


    A familiar voice piped up, causing his brows to furrow tightly. He found it difficult to believe that


    Chloe would stay in a ce that cost only 10 bucks per night.


    ''Where¡¯s that card that I gave her? Does she not know how to use it?''


    Chloe had ordered takeout and assumed it was the delivery man, so she opened the door without


    any precaution. Before she could react, Joseph stepped inside.


    Chloe was momentarily stunned, looking up at him in a daze. Their eyes met, and sparks flew. She


    widened her eyes, wanting to push him out of her room, but Joseph''s tall figure remained unmoved.


    He firmly grabbed her shoulder and hissed, "Are you trying to push me out?"


    "This is my room, and you¡¯re barging in without permission. Why can''t I push you?" Chloe retorted.


    He took a deep breath, gripping her wrist and trying to lead her outside. "Let¡¯s go home."


    "No, I won''t. We''ve already broken up," Chloe replied.


    "You¡¯ve been at this for a whole day. Haven''t you caused enough trouble?"


    "I haven''t caused any trouble. I''m serious, Joseph. We¡¯re done." Chloe sneered.


    "I won''t be the stepmother of your ex''s child," she continued, "I don''t want to endure such


    grievances. It doesn¡¯t matter whether you think I''m untrustworthy or I''m just throwing a temper


    tantrum. In any case, I''ve decided to end our rtionship. Now, please leave."


    Joseph stared into her eyes, and a disdainful smirk spread across his handsome face. "Do you


    know the significance of simultaneously owning Fairlight and the Whitman Group? Our child would


    be born into a position of privilege, far superior to others. Xavia''s child on the other hand will be in a


    pitiful position. What more could you ask for?" he taunted.


    "I''m not ungrateful. I just can''t bear it!" Chloe exploded, tears shimmering in her eyes as she


    suppressed her pain. "I can''t sacrifice my dignity just to be with you!" The thought of raising his ex''s


    child together disgusted her.


    "In what sense would you be sacrificing your dignity?" Joseph pressed his temples, his gaze cold


    and impatient, each word piercing her heart. "You''re simply taking advantage of the situation.


    "Come home with me now. Don''t make me say it a second time," he demanded. He had made


    countlesspromises in this matter, only to receive her stubbornness and willfulness in return.


    "Fine, think of it as me taking advantage of the situation. Will you leave now?" Chloe retorted.


    "Chloe, don''t defy me," he warned.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Despite meeting his cold gaze and feeling a tinge of fear, Chloe mustered the courage to express


    her innermost thoughts. "Now that our rtionship is over, I have the right to stay wherever I


    choose. You can''t dictate my freedom."


    A malicious smile yed on Joseph''s lips. "Our rtionship isn¡¯t something you can end by simply


    calling it quits."

 Chapter 561 Let’s Part on Good Terms

    Chapter 561 Let¡¯s Part on Good Terms


    Chloe frowned and took a step back, trying to put some distance between them. However, Joseph


    grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms.


    He gazed down at her. "Will youe willingly, or do you need my help?"


    Heaving a long sigh, Chloe''s voice became light and helpless. "Please don''t force me. Let''s part on


    good terms, okay?"


    Joseph was infuriated by her suggestion. He pulled her out of the room without waiting for her


    refusal. He did not even give her time to take her daily necessities and luggage.


    Chloe struggled endlessly. On the one hand, she was reluctant to go back with Joseph. On the


    other hand, she was afraid of hurting her baby, so she did not dare to exert herself. Hence, her


    struggles were nothing but mere scratches to him, posing no danger.


    Joseph forcefully took her back to the vi.


    "Stay here and reflect on what you¡¯ve done. Give me a satisfactory answer tomorrow."


    He mmed the door shut and locked Chloe in the bedroom. Incredulity arose within her as she


    tried to turn the door knob but it was futile. He had locked it from outside. She trembled as


    disappointment dawned on her pale face.


    ''Will he continue to keep me here if I don''t yield tomorrow¡­''


    *


    Downstairs, Joseph was ill at ease. He nestled into the sofa, looking particrly pitiful. It was as if


    he was the innocent person who was driven out by his wife.


    They both had a sleepless night.


    At six in the morning, Joseph opened the door of the bedroom and looked at Chloe, who had woken


    up at some point. He said lightly, "Think before you speak."


    Dark circles were evident underneath Chloe''s eyes. She looked like a broken doll. Exhaustion was


    written all over her face, but she said stubbornly, "I won''t change my mind. We can''t be together


    since Xavia is between us."


    She had no way to change this fact, and the child was innocent.


    This was clearly not the answer Joseph wanted to hear after staying up all night. He looked at her


    condescendingly and frowned. "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to force Xavia to


    abort the child? Do you want me to kill my child? Is that what you want to see?"


    Speechlessness came over her. For a long time, she did not know what to say.


    "Do you think I''m such a wicked woman?"


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Though she hated Xavia, she knew that the child did not choose their birth. The grudges between


    them did not concern an unborn baby. It was such an easily understood issue. Any honorable


    person would never harm the innocent.


    When Joseph saw her sad eyes, he averted his gaze. "Fine. I''ll wait until you''ve reflected on your


    mistake properly." He closed the door again.


    Chloe had long foreseen this, but a wave of cold still hit her.


    Another day passed.


    A helper delivered food to Chloe. She had no appetite but her baby needed sustenance, so she


    forced herself to eat. Her phone had been confiscated, and she was on the second floor. There


    were no other exits.


    Her only contact with the outside world was aptop. There was a password, so she could not turn


    it on. After trying countless times, it was unlocked. It was not Joseph''s birthday or the date he took


    over Fairlight. It was also not Xavia''s information either. The password was simply 123456...


    She turned on theptop, but she needed phone verification to log into her WhatsApp.


    She also needed her phone if she wanted to use any other social media tforms.

 Chapter 562 You Have to Let Chloe Go

    Chapter 562 You Have to Let Chloe Go


    Left with no other option, she logged into her email with her password. Emily did not often check her


    emails, but this was Chloe''s only choice now.


    She emailed Emily about her situation and asked thetter to get her out. However, it had been


    many months since Emily had checked her email and did not see Chloe''s message.


    Chloe had always given Emily a heads-up, so she did not find it strange when Chloe did not contact


    her for a few days. She just assumed it was Chloe avoiding Joseph''s harassment.


    *


    Days passed, and Chloe did nothing else but sleep and eat while locked in the room. Joseph had


    not appeared since the day they fell out with each other. She touched her belly and felt that it was a


    good thing that he did note back. If he approached her, he would find out that she was


    pregnant. Then, she would never be able to leave him.


    When Chloe thought that she would never get a reply from Emily, a notification sound came from


    theptop. A friend request popped up on the website.


    [Hey Coco, it¡¯s Noah. Why did you move out of Oceanic Residence? I called you, but your phone is


    turned off. Are you in some kind of trouble?]


    *


    Joseph got a call from Harold at seven in the evening.


    "How could you lock Chloe up at home, you fucking bastard?! You drive me mad! Cough, cough,


    cough!"


    Gloominess shed across Joseph''s face. "Who told you?"


    "It''s none of your business. Is it true?"


    "Why should I tell you?"


    Harold felt it hard to breathe as he massaged his temples. "So you did lock her up. How many days


    has it been? Joseph, are you out of your mind? I asked you to get married to have children and start


    a family, not to bully your wife!"


    "I¡¯m not bullying her."


    "So why did you lock her up?"


    "She wants to break up with me."


    If he did not lock her up, he would have to let her go. He could not bear to do that.


    He had not been home in thest few days and spent the night at Fairlight. He did not want to see


    her leave. It caused him too much pain.


    Harold was silent for a few seconds. After calming down, he asked, "Is Chloe doing this because of


    Xavia?"


    He was aware of Xavia''s amniocentesis results. Although the results stated that it was Joseph''s


    child, he still felt that something was amiss.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "Yes.¡±


    After pondering over it for a while, Harold tried to persuade Joseph. "Don''t force Chloe. Let her go if


    she wants to go."


    Joseph turned Harold down without any hesitation. "Never."


    "You can either give up the child or respect Chloe''s choice. Pick one. She''s made up her mind.


    She¡¯ll only suffer if you make her stay, and I can''t bear to see that."


    Joseph gnashed his teeth. "Can you stand to see her marry someone else in the future?"


    Smugness crept into Harold''s tone. "I can take her as my goddaughter. So even if she marries


    someone else, we can still see her."


    "Not a chance."


    ''I¡¯d have to be that dumbo''s brother. You¡¯re such an idiot, Grandpa.¡¯


    "Then do your best to cate Chloe. If you fail, don¡¯t make things difficult for her. Put yourself in her


    shoes. She¡¯d have to be very generous to ept the child. I¡¯m sure you understand that you can''t


    always get what you want. Don''t me me for taking someone else¡¯s side instead of yours. You¡¯re


    the one who made a mistake.


    "I''ll call you againter at nine. Regardless of how your discussion goes, you have to let her go.


    Otherwise, I¡¯lle and deal with you personally!¡±

 Chapter 563 She’s Depressed

    Chapter 563 She¡¯s Depressed


    "I¡¯ll let her go, but you have to tell me how you learned about this."


    Chloe had figured it out after three days of reflection.


    "Noah told me." Harold said, "I¡¯d never have known how out of line you¡¯ve been acting if he hadn¡¯t


    told me."


    ¡®Joseph has locked Chloe up for a few days, but what about next time? Will he hold her captive


    indefinitely?¡¯ Harold knew he could not let Joseph have his way.


    Anger rose in Joseph''s eyes. "What did he say?"


    He had confiscated Chloe''s phone, so how did Noah contact her? He had even informed Harold of


    what was happening.


    "Don''t find fault with him. He just mentioned it in passing."


    "What else did he say?"


    "The Walkers wish to ally with the Sullivans through a marriage. The youngsters have met each


    other once. I watched Naty grow up, so Noah was asking me about some of her preferences."


    Harold sighed. ¡®Look at how patient and serious Noah is in trying to gain Naty¡¯s heart. In contrast,


    Joseph has a horrible temper. What an eyesore!¡¯


    Joseph soon understood Noah''s scheme. Noah hadined about Joseph while asking Harold


    about Natalie''s preferences. This aligned with his character and image.


    For the first time, Joseph understood how women felt about women who liked to scheme. He swiftly


    ended his call with Harold and called Natalie. Although Natalie had stopped pursuing Joseph, she


    still saw him as a handsome and excellent man. Since he was asking for her, she immediately got


    out of bed and instructed her driver to take her to Fairlight.


    Natalie walked into the office with Lucas. She asked happily, "What can I do for you, Joe?"


    "Have you been in touch with Noah recently?"


    "Yes, we met once. He told me that he doesn''t want to date, so we didn''t meet again."


    Natalie was a little naive and answered without any hesitation.


    "What¡¯s your impression of him?"


    "Hmm... He''s fine. I don''t find him annoying. I¡¯m willing to give it a chance."


    Some women might not fall in love with handsome men, but they would never reject a gentle and


    pure man.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph smirked. "Then you should go ahead and give it a try."


    "Hmm?" Natalie became baffled. "But Noah doesn''t want to date, so how could I possibly do that?"


    "Noah admires you, but he''s young and it''s his first time getting to know a woman. He doesn''t know


    the right words to say.¡±


    "Really?¡± Natalie appeared suspicious and baffled. "But how did you know this, Joe?¡±


    Joseph breathed out a ring of smoke. His attractive face appeared unfathomable. "He called my


    grandpa to ask about your preferences. I was even instructed to tell you that he wants to have lunch


    with you tomorrow."


    Natalie was stunned before she blushed. "Oh, my. Why is he so shy? I''m not a fierce woman."


    "Meet him at The Forest Moment tomorrow at noon."


    "Okay, got it." Natalie waved at Joseph shyly. "I¡¯m going home now. Help me pass on the message


    to him."


    Joseph nodded and watched her leave.


    "Lucas."


    "Yes, Mr. Joseph?"


    "Tell Desmond that Natalie agreed to Noah''s lunch invitation. Tell Noah to meet her at The Forest


    Moment at noon tomorrow."


    Lucas nodded and went to handle the matter.


    Joseph worked for a little while more before driving home at half past nine. When the helper saw


    hime home, she put down her work and said to him worriedly, "Sir, Ms. Chloe hasn¡¯t been


    eating much these two days. She didn''t even make a scene and asked to be let out. I''m afraid that


    she might be depressed."


    Joseph sneered. ''Depressed?''

 Chapter 564 Letting Her Go

    Chapter 564 Letting Her Go


    Chloe had not made a scene because she had found a helper. Otherwise, she would never stop.


    Joseph went upstairs and used a key to open the locked bedroom door. When Chloe heard the


    noise, she tried to stash away theptop, but Joseph beat her to it. She was caught in the act.


    She was wearing a loose andrge sleeping gown that was rather conservative. It reached her


    knees, so her slender calves were exposed¡ªfair and smooth. She looked rather awkward at the


    moment, presenting a rather innocent and lovely sight.


    With both hands in his pockets, Joseph stared straight into her eyes. "I know you went behind my


    back and contacted Noah."


    This was not what Chloe wanted to hear. "What do you mean I went behind your back? Am I


    supposed to do nothing when you have me locked up?" He made it sound like she had done


    something shameless.


    "Even if you want to leave, you shouldn''t have asked him for help. I¡¯ve told you many times that I


    dislike him."


    She was always forgetting about what he had said. She eagerly admitted to her mistakes, but she


    never changed. Unconsciously, he had tolerated her too many times.


    Chloe''s fury rose. "Yeah, it''s because you''re not the one being locked up. You''re free to go wherever


    and do whatever you want out there. I''m locked in here like a prisoner. You have no right to scold


    me!"


    Joseph calmly took off his coat and started changing clothes in front of her. He was tall. Though he


    looked different from the moment he came in, he exuded an unspeakable oppressiveness. It was as


    if something bad was about to happen.


    "Let me ask you onest time. Do you want to leave me?"


    They were so close that she could smell his familiar cold scent. Her heart skipped a beat before she


    looked up at him. "Yes."


    A crease formed between his brows before he quickly released it. "Are you sure?"


    "Yes."


    It was better to end things here instead of suffering in pain. They had different opinions on the issue,


    so it would be a lingering danger in their rtionship if she lied to herself right now.


    Joseph slowly clenched his fists. "Pack up and leave now."


    Chloe was stunned. He was letting her go so easily?


    "Why... Why have you changed your mind?"


    "I was giving you a chance. Since you don¡¯t appreciate it, we can just forget about it."


    Joseph changed into his home clothes before expressionlessly walking into the bathroom. He was


    soposed that it looked like his decision was just a trivial business deal.


    Chloe gaped as gloom engulfed her, unable to speak for a moment. She consoled herself that it


    was her wish to part on good terms with him.


    In a daze, she walked out of the vi and went to Johnsons¡¯ residence. Feeling an acute sense of


    loss, she realized that she truly had broken up with Joseph.


    *


    At nine at night, Harold called Joseph on the dot to check if thetter had fulfilled his promise.


    Joseph was upset, so he did not sound very polite. "Yeah, I did it."


    "And?"


    "And nothing."


    Harold became astounded. "You didn''t try to coax her and let her go just like that?"


    "How am I supposed to coax her? I locked her up, but she still insisted on leaving. What am I


    supposed to do? Kneel and beg her?"


    "You may look like a kiss-ass, but you could have done it."


    "I won''t. There are plenty of women out there who like me."


    There were a lot of women who would willingly marry Joseph. Starting today, he would make Chloe


    understand how popr he was throughout Aesper. When she regretted it, she woulde back to


    him.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Harold said, "I was just messing with you. You''re so serious¡­ Well then, since you''ve broken up


    with her, I¡¯d like to introduce her to someone. She¡¯s all alone and so pitiful. You won''t mind, right?"

 Chapter 565 Proper Exercise

    Chapter 565 Proper Exercise


    Joseph made light of this question. "Sure. Given your insight, I''m curious to see what kind of man


    you''ll get for Chloe."


    Harold cursed. They were used to arguing with each other, so neither of them took it to heart.


    "You know, I can help you take care of the baby after Xavia gives birth."


    Of course, it was a dilemma to insert the baby between the two of them.


    Joseph''s face turned dull. "Let''s talk about this another time."


    "Fine. I won¡¯t meddle in your business. Do whatever you want."


    "How''s your health been recently?"


    "Don''t worry, I won''t die yet," he then added after a pause, "Dr. Spencer delivered the medicine for


    next week today. The Sinirs just can''t wait to kill me, so I think we should up our n."


    Harold had lost his patience and felt it would be disadvantageous to the Whitmans if it was dyed


    any longer. He had been a soldier for more than three decades, so he might as well fight against


    them. They were undoubtedly wicked for always plotting against him.


    Joseph had on a pondering expression before a fierce light flickered past his eyes. "We''ll start next


    Tuesday."


    "Okay."


    After hanging up the phone, Joseph walked into the bedroom. He looked around the room that he


    had once stayed in with Chloe, the scent of her still lingered in the air. His eyes turned dull as he


    gripped the nket and covered himself with it, forcing himself to go to sleep. She was the one who


    insisted on leaving. If he missed her, it would be quite demeaning.


    However, he did not sleep soundly that night. He had vague illusions of Chloe still there sleeping


    beside him, but the vacant spot beside him knocked some sense into him every time he opened his


    eyes.


    *


    Chloe went back to how her life used to be.


    Upon waking at the Johnson residence, she checked her phone and found that she had not


    received any messages. Everything was so quiet that the only thing she heard was the sound of her


    breathing. It was as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.


    An inexplicable sense of oppression hit her. She shook her head and stopped her wild thoughts.


    She had to go to the hospital for a check-up today to assess her baby''s condition. She should be


    about just four months along now.


    When Chloe was about to head out, Noah texted her.


    [Hey, how are you doing? Has Joseph released you?]


    She smacked her head in frustration, realizing she had forgotten to reply to him the day before. It


    was because he had informed Harold about what was happening that she was released. She


    immediately replied to his message.


    [Yeah, he let me outst night.]


    [What''s your rtionship status with him now?]


    [We no longer have anything to do with each other.]


    [Don''t be upset. You''ll find a more suitable man.]


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    [I hope so too,] Chloe joked. Sitting in the car, she said, [Thank you forst night. I''ll treat you to a


    meal sometime. Now, I¡¯m about to drive to the hospital. Talk to youter.]


    Chloe was not very skillful in driving, so her driving speed was extremely slow. When she was


    waiting for the traffic light, the driver of a car next to her lowered his car window and looked at


    Chloe''s car in jealousy.


    "This is a limited-edition car. It''s an absolute beauty. Can I take a photo? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s even on


    sale locally yet."


    Chloe''s expression stiffened slightly before recalling that this was a gift from Joseph. Awkwardness


    shed across her eyes. She felt that she should not be using things he had gifted to her after


    breaking up with him, but on second thought, it was not her fault that they had broken up. She had


    given her heart to him and did not make light of his love. Hence, she reasoned that she should not


    feel awkward at all. It was what she deserved.


    "Go ahead,¡± she said to the man casually after sorting out her thoughts.


    "Thank you, beautiful."


    Unexpectedly, the person took a photo of the car and Chloe, posting it on the Inte to show off. [I


    bumped into a richdy today. I''m so jealous.]


    *


    Arriving at the hospital, Chloe took her phone out while waiting for her turn. She then got a text from


    Noah.


    [Would you like to meet up today? I don''t have a ss and I don¡¯t have any urgent business at


    Exotic Star. How about it?]


    After some thought, she agreed to it since she had nothing else to do this afternoon.


    Chloe had opted for VIP service and soon called in for her B-mode ultrasound. As the doctor


    scanned her tummy and looked at the image projection, he said, "Your baby looks good. Its


    condition is much stabler now. You can get some exercise such as taking a walk or swimming. It


    can help strengthen the cardiopulmonary and neurological functions of your body. Aim to improve


    your blood cirction and exercise the muscles around your waist, back, thighs, and pelvis to get


    your body in shape for delivery."


    Chloe blinked. "I can go swimming?"


    In the past, she had loved going for a dip when she had some free time. It was very rxing to


    immerse oneself in a body of water, and she could maintain her body shape at the same time.


    "Yes, you can exercise as long as you don''t overdo it."


    "Okay, thank you, doctor."

 Chapter 566 A Muscular Man Next to Chloe

    Chapter 566 A Muscr Man Next to Chloe


    After exiting the hospital, Chloe looked up nearby swimming pools on the Inte while sitting in the


    car and waiting for Noah''s reply. She found a private high-ss pool about seven kilometers away


    from her office that was ten times more expensive than public pools. She booked a time and


    decided to give it a try.


    She waited for around half an hour but Noah seemed to be missing in action. He had not texted her


    back. Feeling confused, she texted him again.


    [If you''re busy, we can meet up another time.]


    After about ten minutes, her phone rang.


    "I''m sorry. Something urgent came up. You go on ahead and eat. How about meeting up at five


    instead?"


    Chloe did not dwell much on it and agreed to it. She then picked out a random restaurant and had


    her lunch before going to the office.


    Thepany''s performance improvedtely. Half of their sess was due to the deals shended


    in Estre. The remaining half were the clients that Joseph had introduced to her. They gave her


    interest that was far more than the average price in the industry.


    Chloe told her marketing team in aplicated tone, "Let''s drop the clients that Joseph introduced


    to us."


    "But why? Those clients are of high caliber. If we don''t work with them, ourpetitors will swallow


    them up. It''ll be a great loss for us."


    "It''s the client¡¯s freedom to choose anotherpany. We can only me ourselves for not being


    exceptional. It''s not a long-term n to rely on connections either."


    "Oh..." Her employee could not understand her. She did not understand why they could not use the


    resources avable to them. Did she want to rely on herself instead of a man?


    "Do as I say."


    "Okay, understood."


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Chloe got down to work until a staff member of the swimming pool called her in the afternoon. She


    put her work aside and stretched her neck, then headed out to the pool.


    *


    At the swimming pool.


    The staff led Chloe, who had changed into a swimsuit, to the side of the pool and introduced, "This


    is the beginner pool that¡¯s specially designated for children and pregnantdies. We have more than


    ten coaches on standby to provide assistance at any time."


    Chloe nodded and bent down to stick her hand into the water to test its temperature. It was just


    nice.


    "Do you know how to swim?"


    "Yeah, I do."


    "All right, I''ll leave you to it then."


    The staff then went on to serve the next customer.


    Chloe was wearing a ck swimsuit, the thin straps tied into a charming knot behind her neck. She


    had done up her ck hair into a bun. Her slender and fair legs were on full disy. Her slightly


    bulging belly was obvious under the nicely cut swimsuit, making it clear that she was pregnant.


    She slowed descended into the pool with the help of the handrail and felt slightly nervous. It had


    been a long time since shest swam. With some encouragement from a coach, she slowly started


    enjoying herself and was soon happily swimming in the pool.


    It was beyond her expectation that Xavia had been watching her for a long time from behind.


    The staff asked, "Ma¡¯am, would you like to go in?"


    "Yes, but I have to inform my husband first. Can I take a photo?"


    "Sure, go ahead."


    Xavia took out her phone and took a photo of Chloe. When Joseph received the photo, he nced


    at it but was disinterested and barely looked at it. She texted him again less than a minuteter.


    Frowning, Joseph wanted to put his phone on silent. But when he habitually looked at his phone


    screen, his interest was piqued.


    [Joe, I bumped into Ms. Chloe. What a coincidence!]


    Joseph put down the document he was reading and studied the photo Xavia sent him. In it, Chloe


    had no makeup on. Her delicate face was wet, setting off her innocence, great charms, and


    wittiness. A man with eight abs was beside her, behaving intimately with her and coaching her


    gently.


    *


    After changing into her swimsuit, Xavia walked into Chloe''s area with the help of a coach. She was


    not a swimmer and this was the first time she was trying out swimming. She was a pregnant woman


    too, so she needed a coach to guide her. She picked two female coaches and practiced in a


    rtively shallow area.


    Chloe felt tired after swimming for a while and got out of the pool to rest. On her way to the lounge


    area, she spotted Xavia. Thetter was looking at her too.


    Disgust shed across Chloe¡¯s face. She felt that she was done here. The water in the pool was no


    longer as great as before.


    Xavia seemed to not have noticed Chloe''s disgust and behaved like she had met an old friend. "Ms.


    Chloe, you''re so good at swimming, unlike me. I just started learning.¡±


    "There¡¯s no one else here, so you can stop pretending." Chloe sounded cold and was not bothered


    to beat around the bush with Xavia.

 Chapter 567 Into the Water

    Chapter 567 Into the Water


    Xavia cracked a faint smile before taking off the scrunchie on her wrist andnguidly tying up her


    hair. "Calm down. I mean no harm."


    Chloe rolled her eyes. "You mean no harm? I truly admire your ability to lie through your teeth."


    Xavia always put on airs whenever and wherever she went. She behaved kindly and considerately


    as if she was notpetitive at all. Ignorant people might think that her character was as such.


    Seeing that Chloe was not fooled, Xavia turned around and put on a more serious act. She looked


    at Chloe tenderly but a look of provocation escaped her. "I''m about to give birth soon. I have to ask


    you and Joe to take good care of my child."


    Chloe raised her brows and stated aloofly, "Joseph and I broke up. You don''t have to ask me such


    things. You can do it yourself."


    Xavia was stunned since happiness hade to her in such a sudden manner. For a moment, she


    repeated in disbelief, "You guys broke up?"


    "Yes, just exactly as you wish." Chloe remained calm even while facing Xavia. She scoffed and


    uttered, "Maybe Joseph will pay you more attention when I''m not around. Oh, no¡­. That would


    have happened in the past, but I¡¯m not so sure about that now. After all, he thinks that you''re a fickle


    bitch."


    Chloe purposely increased her volume when she called Xavia a fickle bitch. The bystanders around


    them turned to look at Xavia.


    Xavia became livid but she could not refute what was said. She indeed had a lot more chances now


    that Chloe had broken up with Joseph, but a real break-up and a mere dispute were different


    essentially. She would know what it truly was after seeing Joseph''s reaction when he came byter.


    After calming down, Xavia crossed her arms and condescendingly stared at Chloe who was still in


    the water. "Aren''t youing up? Why are you still in the water? Isn''t it ufortable to be in there


    for so long?"


    "I''m not done swimming yet," Chloe replied calmly before she agilely dived into the water and swam


    in another direction.


    Frustration hit Xavia. She felt that her provocation had proven futile.


    *


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Chloe thought that Xavia would be gone by the time she finished swimming a fullp. She did not


    want Xavia to notice something when she got out of the pool. After all, her swimsuit was slim-fitting


    and did not hide her pregnancy.


    However, Xavia asked the coach to help her toward Chloe while thetter was on her way back.


    Chloe became vignt and her skin erupted in goosebumps. Although Xavia was assisted by a


    coach, a beginner would not learn how to swim so quickly. Chloe''s sixth sense told her that Xavia


    was about to make a scene.


    As expected, Xavia said something to her coach when she got closer to Chloe. After that, the coach


    helped Xavia to Chloe''s side before leaving.


    When Chloe got close to Xavia, thetter asked, "Can you teach me, please? My coach left."


    Chloe ignored her, wanting to get out of the pool and leave as quickly as she could. When Xavia felt


    that she was ignored, she narrowed her eyes and leaped into the water. In the next moment, water


    gushed into her mouth. She tried her best and struggled to stay afloat.


    Xavia extended her hand to Chloe and sought her help. "Please, I didn¡¯t have a firm grip on my


    board and slipped. Save me."


    Chloe was stunned. "You don''t know how to swim?"


    Xavia did not even have a chance to answer sinking below the surface.

 Chapter 568 Has She Grown Weary of Living?

    Chapter 568 Has She Grown Weary of Living?


    Chloe muttered ¡°What a jinx¡± under her breath and quickly dove into the water to save Xavia. She


    loathed the woman and even considered watching her drown without intervening, but her


    conscience would not permit such an act.


    The greatest distinction between good and evil lies in Chloe¡¯s capacity to restrain her inner demons,


    whereas thetter sumbed to greed and desire.


    Little did Chloe anticipate that the moment she grasped Xavia''s arm and exerted all her might to pull


    her up, she herself was forcefully yanked into the water. Water filled Chloe''s throat, but she


    managed to maintain herposure. As she opened her eyes, Xavia was right before her. Xavia¡¯s


    hair drifted in the water, her pale face adorned with a sinister smile as she stared directly into


    Chloe''s eyes.


    It was an eerie and chilling sight, akin to a ghost from a horror film. A shiver ran down Chloe''s spine.


    She had been deceived. Xavia knew how to swim and possessed considerable skills at that. Chloe


    berated herself for her naivety and soft-heartedness.


    Realizing the urgency of the situation, she promptly swam toward the pool edge. However, Xavia


    submerged herself and took hold of Chloe''s foot, intentionally impeding her progress.


    ¡®If my child suffers from intellectual disabilities because of this, this bitch will have to face my wrath!¡¯


    Chloe''s anxiety heightened, but her strength was waning. If the struggle persisted, her life would be


    at risk. Xavia was seriously trying to kill her.


    But she could not worry about that at the moment. She collected all her anger and kicked Xavia,


    causing her to wince in pain and release her grip. Chloe resurfaced quickly, shouting desperately,


    "Help! Help! I have no strength left! Save me!"


    The lifeguards heard her cries and swiftly plunged into the water, swimming toward the two figures


    locked in struggle. Another individual with a slender physique simultaneously plunged into the


    water, swiftly swimming toward them.


    The other patrons immediately fell silent, holding their breath and closely observing the unfolding


    scene, anxious that it might escte into something serious.


    "What''s happening? Is it a beginner?"


    "Doesn''t seem like it. They aren¡¯t in the shallow end."


    "It appears that more than one person is in distress. Could it be two people?"


    "What? Two people having idents at the same time? That''s absurd."


    "I heard them arguing earlier. One of them was cursing the other''s swimming ability. Could it be


    intentional?"


    "Intentional? Murder? Don''t joke around."


    The person immediately shut their mouth, recognizing that such remarks should not be made


    thoughtlessly.


    Chloe felt hands supporting her waist, guiding her toward the pool edge. She assumed it was a


    lifeguard. Exhausted, she allowed the person to assist her.


    ¡°Do you want me to call you an ambnce?" The drenched young man draped a towel over her,


    disying sincere concern in his tone.


    Hearing his voice, Chloe raised her head, gazing at Noah in astonishment. "When did you get


    here?"


    "A little while ago. I noticed you struggling in the water, so I jumped in."


    "But how did you know I was here?"


    Noah smiled helplessly. "I called you to discuss our evening ns earlier. You mentioned the name


    of the pool but you seemed upied. I assumed we were skipping dinner and going swimming


    together."


    It was then that Chloe remembered the conversation. Indeed, an employee had interrupted to report


    some work issues, and she briefly mentioned the pool before ending the call.


    "No¡­ That came out all wrong. I meant that I¡¯m going swimming before meeting you for dinner."


    "I see." Noah shrugged nonchntly. "Shall we go for dinner now?"


    "Sure." Chloe then paused, ncing around until her gazended on Xavia, who had also been


    rescued and was tightly clutching a towel. "Wait here."


    Noah already guessed what she intended to do, and his eyes turned cold. ¡®How dare Xaviay her


    hands on Coco. She just had the amniocentesis, and her brighter days are on the horizon now. Has


    she grown weary of living?¡¯This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 Chapter 569 What Do You Think You’re Doing?

    Chapter 569 What Do You Think You¡¯re Doing?


    Chloe walked to Xavia, who offered a soft apology with no trace of insincerity in it. "I''m sorry I can''t


    swim. I grabbed onto you out of panic. I hope you don''t mind it."


    "But I do mind."


    "Oh... Then, what do you intend to do about it, Ms. Chloe?"


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "I want to p you once."


    Xavia contained her anger, but before she could respond, Chloe had already raised her arm.


    Smack!


    A resounding crack filled the air as the forceful p connected. There was no mercy in Chloe''s p,


    and Xavia''s left cheek immediately disyed a red, swollen mark.


    "What do you think you''re doing, Chloe?!" Joseph''s voice boomed angrily as he stormed toward


    them in long strides. It was bad enough to see her flirting with strangers in public, but now she was


    even physically assaulting people.


    Chloe locked eyes with the man who had suddenly appeared, her expression distant and unfazed.


    "What am I doing? Can''t you see? I just gave her a well-deserved p. Would you like me to p


    her one more time so that you can witness it again?"


    Joseph furrowed his brows. "Watch your tone when you speak to me."


    "If you expect Chloe to speak nicely, then perhaps you should also adjust your attitude and refrain


    from interrogating her like a criminal, Mr. Joseph," Noah interjected at that opportune moment,


    projecting an air of calm and gentlemanlyposure in his every gesture.


    Joseph had not noticed Noah upon his arrival. Now, with his gaze fixed on him, the look in his sharp


    eyes grew piercingly intense. "This is our business. Why are you interfering? What gives you the


    right to stand here and speak? Are you one of Chloe''s admirers?"


    He fired three questions in rapid session, enough to overwhelm any ordinary person. But Noah


    maintained a gentle smile, his expression innocent and harmless. "Your business? Aren¡¯t you two


    already broken up?"


    Joseph grew furious, reaching out to grab Chloe''s ear and angrily using, "Just couldn''t wait to


    find a new partner, huh?"


    They had been separated for no more than three days, and not only did Noah know about their


    breakup, but it seemed like he was taking her out. She really moved on fast.


    Chloe winced in pain, pping the man''srge hand in an attempt to free herself. "Let go!"


    Joseph saw her ear turning red from his grip and reluctantly released her, feeling a twinge of


    remorse.


    "Joe, don''t me Ms. Chloe. I was careless and pulled her down into the pool with me. I almost


    drowned the both of us. It was my fault," Xavia said, covering her half-swollen face and forcing a


    smile. "I understand why Ms. Chloe got angry and hit me."


    "Why did you go swimming if you can''t swim?"


    "The doctor told me swimming is good for the baby..."


    "Nonsense! She can swim!" Chloe became agitated and refuted loudly. Xavia was like a deadly


    nymph in the water. How could she not know how to swim?!


    "Ms. Chloe, I really can''t. Why would I pull you down if I knew how to?" Xavia exined, her wet


    hair sticking to her face, eliciting a pitiful look.


    "Because you''re evil."


    "Ms. Chloe... Forget it, it was my fault. As long as you''re happy, go ahead and scold me all you


    want."


    Chloe took a deep breath, tightened the towel around her body and turned to leave. Engaging in


    further conversation with someone like Xavia was pointless. She just needed to vent her anger by


    pping her.


    Noah waved goodbye to Joseph. "We''re going for dinner now. Bye."

 Chapter 570 Exposing Chloes Pregnancy

    Chapter 570 Exposing Chloe''s Pregnancy


    Without waiting for Joseph¡¯s reply, Noah turned around to catch up with Chloe. Before leaving, he


    nced at Xavia, his gaze filled with intense warning. Xavia instinctively turned her head away,


    refusing to meet his eyes.


    Joseph watched helplessly as the young man and woman walked away together. Anger surged


    within him, and he vented his frustration by assaulting the armrest next to him, causing his palms to


    tear up.


    Xavia took a few steps toward him, feigning concern. "You should go after Ms. Chloe. I''ll be fine on


    my own."


    "Are you really fine?" Joseph instantly saw through her intentions, his gaze piercing and perceptive.


    "You orchestrated this drama and called me over to witness it, didn''t you?"


    "How could you think that of me... I had no idea Noah woulde." Xavia felt unjustly treated, tears


    glistening in her eyes. Thatst bit was true, the encounter with Noah was unexpected.


    "Enough. I don''t want to hear any more of this."


    "Joe, I need to go to the hospital, but I don''t have a car. Could you take me please?" Xavia said with


    a hint of desperation, fearing his refusal. "There''s a hospital nearby."


    Joseph pinched his brow. "Are you feeling unwell?"


    "Yes." Xavia ced her hand on her belly, hesitating for a moment. "And there''s something else, but


    I''m not sure if I should tell you."


    "What is it?"


    "It''s about Chloe, but I''m uncertain if it''s true or not."


    "Come on."


    *


    Inside the car, Joseph pushed the speed limit. After ounting for the time spent at traffic lights,


    they reached the hospital in mere fifteen minutes. His gaze remained distant and detached as he


    nced at Xavia, treating her like a mere stranger. "Speak up, what''s the matter?"


    Xavia chose her words carefully. "I noticed something peculiar about Chloe at the pool."


    A flicker of doubt passed his face. "What was peculiar about her?"


    "I''m not entirely certain if I saw it correctly but..." Xavia bit her lip gently, hesitating to speak.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Spit it out. No need to beat around the bush."


    "Fine." Xavia appeared to have reached a crucial decision and looked at Joseph with earnestness


    in her eyes. "Ms. Chloe¡¯s pregnant. Do you know about it?"


    Joseph''s expression stiffened momentarily, though he swiftly regained hisposure. His voice,


    however, carried a subtle note of tension, hinting at his underlying emotions. "What exactly did you


    see at the pool?"


    "I saw a noticeable bulge on Ms. Chloe''s belly, a clear sign that she¡¯s likely pregnant."


    "Are you certain you didn''t make a mistake?" Joseph tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his


    lowered eyshes masking the emotions churning within him.


    "I swear I didn''t. Based on my visual judgment, she appears to be three or four months pregnant.


    Maybe she just gained some weight?"


    "I understand. Get out and go to the hospital." Joseph''s voice was cold and distant, but a hint of


    pain lingered beneath the surface.


    Xavia smiled satisfactorily. The n could now proceed to the next stage. She would not foolishly


    y the role of matchmaker between Chloe and Joseph and have them reconcile. After exiting the


    car, she made an overseas phone call.


    "You shoulde back tomorrow. It''s time for you to make your appearance."


    *


    Joseph remained in the car as the sky outside shifted from bright to dark, seconds passing by with


    each tick of the clock. For the first time in his life, he felt adrift. The path ahead appeared foggy and


    unclear.


    These past few days, he had entertained the thought that Chloe might be pregnant. But too many


    things had been going on, and most of his energy was focused on finding his mother. And Chloe''s


    extended stay in Estre had contributed to his oversight. In retrospect, he realized there had been


    subtle signs all along.


    He had subconsciously believed that pregnancy was a good thing and saw no reason to make a


    fuss about it. Unless...


    Joseph shook his head, halting his train of thought. He firmly stepped on the elerator and sped


    toward Chloe''s residence. The child could not possibly belong to someone else. He had faith in her.

 Chapter 571 Joseph, You Heartless Bastard

    Chapter 571 Joseph, You Heartless Bastard


    At the Johnson vi, Chloe carefully retrieved the freshly washed clothes from the washing machine


    and hung them methodically on the balcony. The gentle glow of the sun bathed her in warmth,


    casting her as a virtuous wife attending to her household duties while eagerly awaiting her


    husband''s return. It was a warm and picturesque scene.


    Catching sight of her, Joseph''s heart skipped a beat. It had been a while since he had witnessed


    such a scene. He turned off the engine, stepped out of the car, and made his way into the yard.


    Chloe, who had just finished washing an apple and was about to take a bite, noticed the sudden


    and unexpected arrival. Her heart raced, and she hastily put down the apple and darted upstairs to


    change. The nightgown she had on at the moment revealed too much of her figure.


    "Stay right where you are!" Joseph''s deep voice resonated, demanding her attention.


    Despite hismand, Chloe panicked and hurriedly made her way upstairs. But with his long


    strides, Joseph quickly caught up and grabbed her by the wrist. Hisrge hand reached forward to


    touch her belly. His eyes grew dark, a whirlpool of emotions stirring within them. His confident tone


    carried a hint of surprise that was hard to miss. "You really are pregnant."


    Chloe was bewildered as to how her secret hade to light. Her heart raced with panic, yet she


    remained resolute, putting on a facade of denial, saying, "No, I just had a lot to eat tonight."


    "When did this happen? How far along are you? And why did you keep this from me?" Joseph


    interrogated her,pletely disregarding her stubborn denial.


    Chloe remained silent and kept her head down, fixing her gaze on her toes.


    "Tell me," Joseph demanded, lifting Chloe''s chin to force her to meet his gaze. The pressure applied


    was just enough to restrict her movements without causing any pain.


    "We''ve already broken up, so why should I tell you?" Chloe huffed, her frustration evident in her


    words. "Besides, it may not be yours."


    Joseph furrowed his brows, saying slowly and deliberately, "Can we please have a reasonable


    conversation about this, Chloe?" No man would tolerate such insulting jokes, especially when they


    came from the mouth of the person they loved.


    "It''s you who¡¯s being unreasonable. It''s you who chose Xavia''s child!" Chloe pushed him away, her


    eyes welling up with a mix of resentment and frustration. "You said it yourself that you didn''t want a


    second child at this time, and now you''re questioning me? I don''t want my child to have the same


    father as someone else. I don''t want their childhood to be like mine¡ªneglected and


    underestimated, growing up in a loveless family.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Clearly, the one who¡¯s in the wrong here is you, you heartless bastard!"


    Chloe''s anger intensified as she spoke. Her emotions were vtile during pregnancy, and the


    weight of the negative feelings became overwhelming. Once it erupted, she could not control


    herself. She cried as if she were a victim of mistreatment, feeling deeply wounded.


    "I want the baby. As long as it''s our child, I want it." Joseph embraced her tightly, his heart filled with


    tenderness. He gently reassured her, "I promise you that those things that you¡¯re concerned about


    will never happen."


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    When it came to Chloe, he felt powerless. If anyone else dared to deceive him, they would


    undoubtedly face the consequences they deserved. But when it came to Chloe, the only option he


    had was to surrender to her tears


    ''Am Ipletely at her mercy from now on?¡¯''


    Upon hearing Joseph¡¯s words, Chloe''s tears abruptly ceased. "You don''t want Xavia''s child


    anymore?"


    A look of dilemma crossed Joseph''s face. "She''s already six months pregnant. We can''t just


    abandon the child."


    "There can only be one of us in the Whitman family!¡±


    "We can let Grandpa take care of her child."


    Chloe paused, her eyes filled with curiosity. "What do you mean?"


    "Grandpa suggested that for the sake of our rtionship, he could raise that child so that they


    wouldn¡¯t affect us."


    "So the child will still carry your family name?"


    "Yes."


    Even if the child was raised by Harold, it still did not feel right. Having a sibling who was also your


    biological child? What kind of situation was that?


    "What difference would that make?" Chloe sighed helplessly. "When Grandpa leaves us, won''t the


    child stille back to our family? By doing that, we¡¯d only make the child resent us."


    Having a biological father nearby but being ignored by him was a truly heart-wrenching thought. It


    was a hundred times worse than beingpletely abandoned.

 Chapter 572 Do You Have the Heart to Abandon Me?

    Chapter 572 Do You Have the Heart to Abandon Me?


    "Let''s not discuss this right now." Joseph naturally did not want it to be like this either. Recognizing


    that the current situation could not be easily resolved, he chose not to dwell and decided to set it


    aside for the moment. He held Chloe''s hand and led her to the sofa, asking, "Were you serious


    earlier?"


    "What?"


    "Asking me to choose between Xavia''s child and you."


    Chloe stared into his deep eyes and remained resolute in her answer. "Yes."


    "Why?"


    "I have no space in my heart for unrted parties."


    She had tried but ultimately failed. If this child had been conceived before Joseph was with her, she


    would not feel such disgust. Unfortunately, the child was conceived during their marriage. Although


    it was a mistake that urred unintentionally, why should she take responsibility for a child


    conceived in such an unexpected manner? She could notprehend his actions, nor did she


    agree with them. Even a saint would not be capable of enduring such a thing.


    Joseph had not anticipated her unwavering stance. His heart constricted briefly, and a trace of


    anger red up. "Do you really have the heart to abandon me?"


    "I have no choice. You can''t be so selfish. You need to consider my position as well." He could not


    have everything his way.


    Joseph closed his eyes and changed the topic. "I''ll take you to the hospital for a prenatal check-up


    tomorrow."


    "There¡¯s no need."


    "It''s necessary. I haven''t seen the child yet."


    Chloe could not resist his influence either. "I''m going to sleep now. You can leave."


    "I''m the baby¡¯s father. I¡¯m not leaving."


    "Joseph, do you not have any shred of dignity left?"


    "I mayck dignity, but what good is it when I¡¯m on the verge of losing my wife and child?" Joseph''s


    expression remained unabashed, his dignified face taking on a brazen air at that moment.


    Chloe''s mouth twitched angrily. "You promised to let me go, and just a few dayster, you''re


    changing your mind?"


    "I did say I¡¯d let you go, but I didn''t say I wouldn''t look for you."


    "Fine, do as you please. I¡¯m going to bed. Don''t follow me. My bed is only big enough for one


    person."


    She went to her old bedroom in the vi, where there was a single bed. It would be a tight squeeze


    for two people to sleep on. Surprisingly, Joseph did not follow her upstairs. Not a peep came from


    downstairs throughout the night, and Chloe wondered if Joseph had left.


    In the morning, Chloe freshened up and made her way downstairs. At first nce, she spotted the


    man bustling around in the kitchen. He was dressed in a designer suit and a white shirt, holding a


    ladle in his hand, his gaze fixed on the simmering porridge in the pot. He appearedpletely


    different from his usual cold and stern self.


    Joseph was fully dedicated to the task at hand, his sharpness hidden away. It did not give off the air


    of the dominating force of the business world. Instead, he revealed a side that the world had never


    witnessed before, one that could easily make women''s hearts flutter.


    Chloe looked at him with a slight daze. "When did you get up?" She had risen early that morning,


    around six o''clock. By the time she finished showering, it was already seven. This man did not look


    like he had just woken up.


    Joseph turned to look at her. "A little after five. Grab some bowls and spoons. It¡¯ll be ready soon."


    "Oh..."


    "Oatmeal, toast, and fruit sd. I prepared these since your fridge is limited. Enjoy," Joseph said,


    presenting the breakfast spread.


    Chloe eagerly picked up her spoon and took a mouthful of the fragrant oatmeal. ¡®This is so good!¡¯


    she thought.


    Joseph observed her contented expression, a subtle smile ying on his lips. "Take your time and


    be careful not to burn yourself."


    Chloe had two bowls of porridge, two slices of toast, and a whole te of fruit sd. If not because


    she had to hold her urine for the prenatal check-up, she could have easily put away another bowl.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I''ll drive today," Chloe dered, retrieving the car keys from the drawer. She wanted to practice her


    driving skills before her belly grew too big.


    Joseph nodded in agreement. "Sure."


    "Just a moment. I need to grab my ID."


    Joseph went to the car to wait for her there. As he passed through the living room, his eyesnded


    on a beautifully packaged box sitting on the table. He opened it and found some exquisitely


    wrapped candies. His intuition told him that Chloe would not have bought these herself, and she


    was with Noah yesterday...


    ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯

 Chapter 573 Rotten Scumbag

    Chapter 573 Rotten Scumbag


    After dealing with Natalie in the afternoon, Noah went to the swimming pool too. That little brat sure


    knew how to keep busy.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    *


    Chloe grabbed the car keys and stepped outside, only to find Joseph ring at her coldly. Feeling


    puzzled, she asked, "What''s the matter?"


    "Those candies on the table. Who gave them to you?"


    "Noah."


    "Don''t ept anything from him. He has ulterior motives."


    "Fine, then don''t keep Xavia''s child." With the matterid out, Chloe''s indifference was evident in


    her words. She would say whatever pleased her, regardless of the consequences.


    "Come on," Joseph said, abruptly ending the conversation out of guilt.


    Chloe muttered under her breath, expressing her discontent, "Rotten scumbag."


    Joseph had no retort and reluctantly fell into silence.


    Chloe remained fully focused andposed as she drove. When someone overtook her, she


    handled the situation calmly. Joseph felt relieved. His dumbo was not the typical female driver.


    Suddenly, the car in front came to an abrupt stop.


    "Brake!" Joseph yelled.


    Chloe remained calm and responded, "Oh."


    In the next moment, Joseph felt his upper body lurch forward. If it were not for the seatbelt, his head


    would have collided with the windshield. Meanwhile, Chloe firmly gripped the steering wheel with


    both hands and yfully winked at him.


    "How was that? My driving has improved quite a bit, huh?"


    "I suppose¡­"


    Joseph could not bring himself to dampen her spirits, and Chloe wore a triumphant expression that


    said ¡°I knew it.¡±


    It took them an hour to reach the hospital from the Johnson vi. Upon arrival, Joseph fought down


    the churning sensation in his stomach and apanied Chloe inside. If he had to sit in her car for


    another ten minutes, he would definitely vomit his guts out. He quickly texted Lucas toe and


    drive the carter. He was determined to never let Chloe get behind the wheel again.


    After getting an X-ray and consulting with the doctor, Chloe was given a clean bill of health just like


    her previous visit. The doctor assured her and Joseph that everything was fine. As long as there


    were noplications, Chloe could rx and focus on having a good pregnancy.


    "Does she need to take any medication to stabilize the pregnancy?" Joseph asked in a gentle and


    polite manner, visibly happy. The doctor recognized Joseph and understood his temperament very


    well. Surprised by this treatment, the doctor stumbled over his words, "Th-That¡¯s not necessary. Just


    make sure toe regrly for check-ups."


    "Thank you." Joseph expressed his gratitude and supported Chloe as they walked out.


    Chloe was somewhat speechless. "My belly isn¡¯t that big right now. I can walk on my own."


    "No, the floor¡¯s slippery. What if you fall? Remember to inform me about your next check-up. I''ll


    come with you."


    "Joe..."


    Xavia, who had silently followed the couple and eavesdropped on their conversation, could not help


    but interject. Being six months pregnant herself, Joseph had never apanied her for a single


    check-up, yet he was now willingly apanying Chloe the moment he found out she was


    pregnant.


    The contrast between being loved and being disregarded was so striking.


    Joseph turned to look at her, instinctively furrowing his brows, "What are you doing here?"


    "The doctor had already left when you dropped me off at the hospital yesterday, so I had toe


    back today..."


    Xavia¡¯s deliberate mention of Joseph taking her to the hospital caught Chloe''s attention. She


    nced at the man beside her, thinking, ¡®So, he apanies different women for their check-ups


    day in and day out. No wonder the doctor recognized him.¡¯

 Chapter 574 Ahh, the Charm of an Ex, How Precious

    Chapter 574 Ahh, the Charm of an Ex, How Precious


    Joseph felt troubled. "She had something to tell me about you, so I agreed to give her a ride."


    "About me?"


    "About your pregnancy."


    Chloe''s expression darkened as she turned to look at Xavia. "How did you find out about my


    pregnancy?"


    "I saw your belly showing signs of protrusion when we were underwater at the pool yesterday.¡±


    Xavia shrugged.


    "Is that so?" Chloe sneered. "Normally, if someone can''t swim, they wouldn¡¯t be able to open their


    eyes underwater."


    Xavia shrugged and stated, "I don''t know how to swim, and Joe knows that. What good is there for


    me to deceive you?"


    "Xavia really can¡¯t swim." Joseph nodded, addressing the matter at hand.


    In the past, Xavia had never participated in any water-rted activities. There was even an incident


    where she fell off a boat and almost drowned.


    Chloe snorted sarcastically. "Yeah, right, You just seem to know everything, don''t you?"


    ¡®He offered no defense and instead chose to side with Xavia. Ahh, the charm of an ex. How


    precious,¡¯ she thought.


    Joseph felt helpless, acutely sensing Chloe''s vtile temper that was akin to a cat on the verge of


    exploding. She was easily provoked.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Ignored by Chloe, he could only watch as she turned her back and walked away. He caught up with


    her and offered a word of caution, "Slow down. Be careful with that child in your belly."


    "It''s fine. With a father like you, the child will be strong and tough from an early age."


    "Huh?"


    "Four months ago, you neglected your responsibilities as a father. And now four monthster, I don''t


    need you." Chloe''s voice trembled, her eyes turning red and her hands clenched tightly by her side.


    As Joseph looked at her, a strong urge to reach out and hug her welling up inside him. But he


    hesitated, unsure if it was the right thing to do. The dumbo had seemed more susceptible to tears


    lately, a side of her he had rarely seen. He questioned himself, ¡®Did I really make a mistake? If I


    transferred all my assets to our child, would it be enough to make amends?"


    With a heavy sigh, Joseph made up his mind. "I¡¯ll find a solution regarding Xavia''s child." The


    constant conflict between them was not a sustainable path. Compared to Xavia, he naturally cared


    more about his wife. He could not bear to see her suffer every day because of this matter.


    Chloe looked at him, her delicate face filled with puzzlement and doubt. Sensing her confusion, he


    did not provide any further exnation and simply said, "Let''s get you home."


    In the parking lot, Lucas was already waiting in the car. After the two got into the car, Joseph made


    a phone call to Tyson, arranging to meet him in the afternoon.


    *


    After finishing her examination and arriving back home, Xavia entered the residential area only to


    find a white Maybach blocking the road ahead. Cautiously, she took a step back, her eyes fixed on


    the young man who emerged from the car.


    "Why are you here?" she questioned, her tone wary.


    "No particr reason," Noah replied nonchntly. As he inched closer toward her, a dangerous


    glimmer flickered through his brown eyes.


    "Don''te any closer! I''ll scream!" Xavia resisted fiercely. She could not decipher Noah''s


    intentions, and he was too cunning for her to trust. He was like a smiling tiger¡ªdeceptive and


    dangerous. His gentle facade masked his true nature as a backstabber. Such people terrified her.


    "I explicitly told you that you could manipte Joseph and Chloe''s rtionship but not harm her.¡±


    "I didn''t harm her," Xavia stubbornly denied.


    "I saw you pulling her underwater."


    Xavia¡¯s anger surged up. Perhaps watching Joseph treat Chloe so differently at the hospital had


    triggered something in her. She shouted defiantly, "Yes, I wanted her to die! So what?!"


    ''Chloe took everything that rightfully belongs to me. Shouldn''t she pay the price? Even if she doesn''t


    die, her child in her belly should be intellectually challenged, just like mine!¡¯ she thought.


    Noah''s expression remained calm, devoid of any signs of anger. He tilted his head and fixed his


    eyes on her. A smile slowly spread across his face, revealing two charming dimples. "Come here."


    Xavia vehemently shook her head and swiftly turned around, determined to head toward a crowded


    area where she would be safer. However, Noah effortlessly caught up with her. He firmly gripped


    her hair and dragged her into a nearby alley.

 Chapter 575 Chloe’s Not an Aristocrat or Some Noble

    Chapter 575 Chloe¡¯s Not an Aristocrat or Some Noble


    Xavia could not contain her cry of pain as a sharp tearing sensation shot through her scalp. Fear


    gripped her as she said in desperation, "If you darey a finger on me, I''ll get Duskfall to kill you!"


    The next moment, a resounding sound reverberated through the air as a powerful p struck


    Xavia''s face. The strength behind a man''s strike was vastly different from that of a woman''s. While


    the p from Chloe the previous day had been painful, it was within her tolerance levels. However,


    the force of Noah''s p left her reeling, her face throbbing as if her skin had been torn apart.


    Xavia''s chest heaved uncontrobly. The intense pain twisted her features and she trembled with a


    mixture of anger and agony.


    "You hit me¡­ How dare you!" She seethed with fury, her anger overpowering her as she lunged


    toward Noah, ready to strike back.


    Noah remained calm andposed, not bothered to evade her oing attack. Seizing the


    moment, he firmly grasped her hair once more and delivered another forceful p.


    This time, Xavia was renderedpletely defenseless. Her cheek rapidly swelled to the size of a


    pig¡¯s. Noah released his grip on her, his once gentle demeanor giving way to icy coldness. In a


    chilling tone, he uttered, "Don''t even think about bullying Chloe. She''s not the kind of person that a


    piece of trash like you cany a finger on."


    Xavia could not fathom why Chloe, an orphan devoid of prominent family background or significant


    company, was considered untouchable. She was not an aristocrat or some noble, so what gave her


    the right to be untouchable?


    However, the pain in her face was so intense that it made it difficult for her to even open her mouth.


    *


    At three in the afternoon, Joseph arrived at the Reyes residence. Tyson, who was taking a break,


    stepped out to wee him. "You actually made time to visit? Do you need to borrow some


    documents again?"


    "I¡¯m not here to ask for something but rather to give you something."


    Tyson''s eyes widened with curiosity as he asked, "What is it?"


    Joseph hesitated, his gaze shifting toward the house. "Is your wife around?"


    "She''s in the bedroom. What''s going on? Is something important happening?"


    "Yes, it''s something significant."


    Upon hearing this, Tyson sat up straight and quickly responded, "I¡¯ll go get her."


    "Okay."


    Eloise Whitman had just managed to put Ginny to sleep. She followed Tyson downstairs.


    Joseph cleared his throat and began, "Grandpa mentioned that you guys desire a second child."


    The couple exchanged nces, and Eloise responded in a worried tone, "Yes, but you''re aware of


    my health issues from a few years ago, right? It''s nearly impossible for us to conceive again."


    "You''re also aware of Xavia''s pregnancy, correct?"


    "We are." Tyson''s eyes sparkled with a sudden realization. "Are you suggesting we adopt her


    child?"


    "Yes. Would you be willing? There''s no obligation here."


    "We''re more than willing. Though we belong to an extended branch of the Whitman family, and


    despite my personal feelings toward Xavia, the child she''s carrying is yours and carries the


    Whitman blood." Eloise smiled faintly and pushed a cup of tea toward Joseph. "Ty and I had been


    contemting adoption, but instead of adopting someone else''s child, it''d be better to raise one


    from our own family."


    Of course, Eloise had an ulterior motive. She desired Tyson to leave his job as a police officer and


    get away from the daily challenges, hardships, and dangers he faced. With her family''s significant


    assets, she believed it would be better for him to resign and venture into business. And recognizing


    Joseph''s influential position in the business world, she saw him as a powerful figure who could offer


    support and assistance in difficult times.


    Joseph''s thin lips pursed slightly, his handsome face concealed behind an inscrutable veil of


    darkness. Hepsed into silence for a few seconds before finally saying, "Then the matter is


    settled."


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    By doing so, even if he could not raise the child, he ensured that they would have a good home.


    Tyson detected an air of peculiarity in Joseph''s demeanor and inquired, "Why the sudden change of


    heart regarding the child?"


    "Chloe¡¯s pregnant, and she doesn''t want Xavia''s child to be a part of our family."

 Chapter 576 Otto Comes Looking For Chloe

    Chapter 576 Otto Comes Looking For Chloe


    Tyson stood there in shock, his face filled with astonishment. He blurted out, "Pregnant? So soon?"


    Chloe just had an abortion a little while ago. Only a month or two months had passed since then, so


    how was she pregnant again? How was that possible?''


    Joseph could be forgiven as he had no clue, but how could Chloe not know how to cherish herself


    as a woman? After all, her health shoulde first no matter what.


    Frowning, Joseph asked, "What do you mean by ''so soon?¡¯¡±


    "You don''t know?" Tyson spewed, "How many months has it been?"


    "Four," Joseph replied.


    Drawing upon his years of investigative experience, things started to make sense in Tyson''s mind. It


    seemed that Chloe did go through with the abortion and instead told Joseph that the child in her


    womb was his.


    ''My goodness¡­ Young people nowadays are bold. They''re full of lies.''


    "Do you know something?" Joseph''s gaze fixed upon Tyson, his eyes sharp and prating.


    Though his expression remained devoid of emotion, his stare held the intensity of amanding


    officer scrutinizing his subordinates.


    Eloise, impatient and agitated, urged, "If you have something to say, say it. Stop beating around the


    bush."


    Tyson took a deep breath and looked at Joseph with sympathy in his eyes. "It''s highly likely that the


    child in Chloe''s womb isn¡¯t yours."


    His words hit Joseph like a bolt of lightning, causing his heart to tremble.


    Eloise''s face turned pale with shock, and she cursed at Tyson, "What nonsense are you spouting? If


    the child isn''t Joseph''s, then whose is it?"


    "Let him continue," Joseph said.


    Tyson recounted the series of events in which Chloe had asked him for help in concealing her


    pregnancy.


    "Did she clearly tell you that the child isn¡¯t mine?" Joseph inquired.


    "No, she didn''t," Tyson replied.


    "The child is mine then. I believe in Chloe," Joseph said, his tone firm.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    He was willing to trust her. He would not question her as he had in the past. He would make an


    effort to learn how to love someone. Besides, they had engaged in sexual rtions four months


    ago.


    Tyson intended to say more, but Eloise stopped him with a shake of her head. After Joseph left, she


    red at him. "You should just zip your lips. Nobody will think any less of you. Who do you think


    Joseph is? His mind is as clear as a mirror. He doesn''t need your advice."


    "I was just trying to help... They were already divorced at the time. How could they have conceived


    a child together?" Tyson weakly countered.


    "Shut up. Just because they were divorced doesn''t mean they didn¡¯t have contact. Maybe they had


    a simple argument and acted passionately in the heat of the moment. Don''t meddle in matters that


    don''t concern you," Eloise admonished him.


    *


    At the Johnson Group, the receptionist called Chloe. "Ma¡¯am, someone is here to discuss a


    potential coboration."


    "I don''t recall having any appointments today," Chloe replied.


    "That''s what I told them too..."


    Chloe sensed a hint of unease in the receptionist''s tone and assumed that she was facing a


    dilemma. She sighed. "Never mind. What¡¯s the person¡¯s name and what kind of coboration are


    they proposing? If they meet the criteria, you can let them in."


    "H-He said his name is Otto Sinir."


    Chloe''s eyebrows sharply went up. "Tell all the guards to stop him. I''ming down right now."


    *


    As Chloe descended, she caught sight of Otto harassing the young receptionist. She snapped, "Get


    your grubby paws off her!"

 Chapter 577 Just One Night, I’m No Worse Than Joseph

    Chapter 577 Just One Night, I¡¯m No Worse Than Joseph


    Otto leaned slovenly against the reception desk, his cunning eyes narrowing as he locked his gaze


    on Chloe.


    "Grubby paws? She should be happy that someone as handsome as me is willing to touch her," he


    remarked.


    "I don''t care if you''re handsome or ugly. The only thing I see is your hands attempting to touch my


    employee, unsolicited," Chloe responded coldly, positioning herself protectively in front of the young


    receptionist.


    Otto shrugged nonchntly. "Calm down. I came to discuss business with you."


    "I won''t coborate with someone like you. Leave, now," Chloe dered.


    "Fine. I wanted to approach this diplomatically, but if you refuse to show me respect, I''ll go straight


    to the point then," Otto said with a bold grin.


    A sense of foreboding washed over Chloe, causing her nerves to tighten.


    Otto ced a business agreement in front of her and chuckled arrogantly. "I''ve acquired thend


    you''re currently standing on."


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Chloe quickly scanned through the agreement, her eyes widening in surprise as panic erupted


    among thepany''s employees.


    "Does this mean we''ll lose our jobs?"


    "Oh, God... What should we do..."


    "I don''t want thepany to dissolve. I want to stay here."


    "Don''t worry. Even if he purchases thend, Ms. Chloe will find another office space to rent. It''s just


    a minor setback," an older employee said.


    However, their concern was evident in their eyes as they nced at Chloe. Finding a suitable office


    space on such short notice was not the difficult part, but the problem was that Chloe was pregnant.


    Otto sneered. "I never said you had to move out. Stop panicking."


    "What kind of coboration are you suggesting?" Chloe asked, taking the initiative.


    "If you spend a night with me, I''ll tear up this agreement," Otto replied.


    Chloe locked her gaze on Otto, who had a sinister smile on his face, and said, "Are you even


    worthy? I can easily find another ce to rent. Do you think you can intimidate me with this?"


    "I''vee to discuss business, so let''s keep the conversation civil. Allow me to be honest. Briake


    has recently ventured into Aesper¡¯s real estate industry. I have every confidence that soon, the


    Sinirs will dominate the market, and all the avablemercial areas for rent will be under our


    control. So, just give me one night. Trust me, I''m no worse than Joseph," Otto retorted, emanating


    an air of insolence as his eyes roved over Chloe like she were an object, his gaze and words


    carrying an unsettling presence.


    "Mr. Otto, I''m pregnant. Just how desperate are you?" Chloe said, a sudden spark of realization lit


    up her eyes. "Or is this because you¡¯re envious of Joseph and are unable to measure up to him, so


    you resort to such despicable means to insult me?"


    Otto''s eyes gleamed, a teasing smile curling his lips. ''This woman¡¯s pretty smart. She even


    managed to maintain herposure in such a situation. She''s stronger than I had anticipated.''


    "Guys, go ahead and smash everything," hemanded.


    Chloe furrowed her brows in frustration. "My lease agreement hasn''t expired yet. You don''t have the


    right to touch anything! It''s illegal!"


    Paying her no heed, Otto replied arrogantly, "Illegal? That''s what I enjoy most. It''s so thrilling."


    With a wave of his hand, the people behind him began to violently destroy things in their path. The


    security guards attempted to intervene but were pushed aside, some even enduring aggressive


    kicks. Chaos erupted within thepany.


    Chloe cursed under her breath and quickly called the police.


    "ACPD! Freeze!"


    Suddenly, Icarus burst onto the scene with a group of police officers, swiftly apprehending Otto and


    his aplices. Chloe looked on in astonishment, her face disying confusion. "Icarus? When


    did you get back?"


    "I arrived fifteen minutes ago. I noticed some disturbance and immediately went to the nearby


    station to get help," Icarus said gently as he gazed at her affectionately. "I hope you won¡¯t me me


    for taking matters into my own hands."


    Chloe raised an eyebrow, sensing that his appearance was too convenient, but she maintained her


    composure and replied, "No, thank you very much.¡±


    Soon, the police escorted Otto and his group away for causing a disturbance.


    Icarus noticed the changes in Chloe''s physique and a glimmer of interest flickered in his eyes. "It''s


    been a while, and I wasn¡¯t expecting you to be pregnant. It seems you''re leading a happy life."

 Chapter 578 I Don’t Want the Child, I Want You

    Chapter 578 I Don¡¯t Want the Child, I Want You


    Chloe chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I¡¯m all right. Just getting by."


    "Do you have time for a meal?" Icarus asked.


    Setting her jaw, Chloe replied, "I''m sorry, I don''t have time right now. Let''s catch up next time.


    Joseph and I will treat you."


    A wave of disappointment washed across Icarus. "Are you still bothered by the fact that I lied to you


    before?"


    "Not at all. It''s all in the past. Now that I''m pregnant, it''s not good for others to see me alone with a


    man," Chloe exined sincerely.


    "Are you afraid Joseph will get jealous?" Icarus asked.


    Chloe smiled silently. She was not afraid of Joseph getting jealous. She simply did not want the


    trouble and could not be bothered to exin to him. After all, he would not believe her exnation


    anyway.


    Icarus did not press the matter and took a look at his watch. "You¡¯re still on the clock, right?"


    "Yeah. Why?"


    "I have something to give you. I''ll bring it overter," Icarus replied.


    "You don''t have to... You''ve already helped me today, and I haven''t even had the chance to treat


    you to a meal as a thank you. You don''t have to give me a gift," Chloe said.


    "It''s nothing expensive. You go ahead and continue with your work. I''ll leave the gift at the reception.


    You can pick it up when you get off," Icarus said, patting her shoulder and leaving.


    Chloe opened her mouth to call after him, but he was already far away. She shifted her gaze to the


    mess in the lobby, feeling the urge to drag Otto back and give him a good beating.


    After instructing the cleaning staff to tidy up, she called for a meeting with all the employees. They


    would need to find a new office space to rent. While Otto had not explicitly asked them to leave


    today, their lease agreement would expire next month, and they would face the issue of renewal.


    Chloe could not stand Otto''s smug face and had no intention of humbling herself to negotiate for a


    renewal. Besides, she was certain that Otto would not be keen on agreeing either.


    She recalled amercial building near Fairlight that seemed suitable, albeit a bit pricey.


    In the evening, Joseph arrived to pick Chloe up and learned about the disturbance caused by Otto.


    His face sank. ''How dare he bully my woman. He must be tired of living and wishes to end his life.¡¯''


    "Don''t worry about finding a new office space. Leave it to me," Joseph said.


    Chloe did not refuse. Being pregnant, she did not want to run around in the freezing weather to


    scout for office spaces either.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Dear, I have something to ask you." Joseph stared into her eyes, then repeated everything that


    Tyson had told him. "You were already pregnant at that time. Why did you hide it from me?"


    Chloe pouted. "What other reason could there be besides Xavia?"


    He choked and a pang of pain struck his heart. So, she had been nning to leave him from the


    very beginning. If he had known, he would have simply given Xavia''s child to Tyson. Even if it meant


    choosing between them, he would have unhesitatingly chosen her.


    He assumed that she would understand and empathize with him. He had made concessions in this


    matter and offered her assurances. After all, which woman in a wealthy family did not hope to have


    control over assets?


    Looking back, it was clear he had taken things for granted. Not everyone cared about money, and


    not everyone could bepensated with money.


    "I''m sorry. I was wrong." Joseph cupped Chloe''s face in his hands. His voice was soft and gentle. "I


    won''t bring Xavia''s child into our lives anymore. I only want you."

 Chapter 579 What’s More Important, Your Pride or Your Wife?

    Chapter 579 What¡¯s More Important, Your Pride or Your Wife?


    Chloe was stunned for a moment. "Are you for real?"


    He yfully pinched her nose. "When have I ever lied to you?"


    Rolling her eyes, Chloe retorted, "Well, you''ve never lied, but you always made direct


    announcements or gavemands."


    Joseph was stumped. In the long thirty years of his life, he was always surrounded by studying and


    work and had grown ustomed to such direct interactions. Directness and efficiency were his way


    of dealing with people.


    Chloe looked up at him and asked, "What about Xavia''s child?"


    "Tyson wants a second child, but they can''t conceive due to certain circumstances," Joseph


    exined.


    Understanding dawned upon Chloe. It would be eptable for Tyson to adopt the child. It would


    protect the child from being mistreated and also avoid direct contact between Joseph and Xavia.


    Seeing her remain silent, Joseph cautiously embraced her. "Is this arrangement okay with you?"


    "It''s fine, and you''re right. Xavia¡¯s already six months pregnant. I can''t ask her to abort the child


    now, especially considering her health condition," Chloe responded.


    Joseph felt a sense of relief and held her tighter. "Promise me that you won''t run away from me


    anymore, Chloe."


    "Pfft! Just a few days ago, you were the one who told me to leave, remember?" Chloe scoffed.


    "I was just trying to scare you. Then you suddenly started dating Noah," Joseph replied.


    Recalling that incident, his eyes glistened with resentment. He thought he had been ruthless


    enough, never expecting Chloe to be even more so. Going on a date with someone else while


    carrying his child was brutal.


    "Well, it''s because you locked me in the house. If it hadn''t been for Noah, I wouldn''t have gotten out


    so soon," Chloe said, shutting down herputer and teasingly handing her bag to him. "Help me


    carry my bag."


    Joseph''s mouth twitched uncontrobly. Refusing to be at Chloe''s beck and call, he declined. "My


    pride is valuable."


    Raising an eyebrow, Chloe questioned, "What''s more important, your pride or your wife?"


    "Wife..."


    In the end, Joseph reluctantly surrendered and shouldered the pink handbag. As they walked


    downstairs, the young receptionist immediately handed Chloe the gift that Icarus had sent. Chloe


    opened it and found a set of exquisitely cute baby clothes.


    "Emily sent this?" Joseph asked.


    "No, it''s from Icarus," Chloe replied.


    As soon as she said it, Joseph sneered dismissively. "He''s back?"


    "I guess so. He was the one who alerted the police earlier," Chloe exined.


    "Tsk, he really won¡¯t let go of any chance to show his devotion. If he had put the same effort into his


    work here in the country, he¡¯d have made significant progress instead of having to expand his


    business overseas," Joseph sarcastically remarked.


    Chloe ignored the jealousy in his tone and continued walking toward the parking lot.


    Joseph threw the clothes to the receptionist. "Keep it."


    The receptionist was bbergasted. "Mr. Joseph, I''m still single¡­"


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Halfway through, Joseph''s phone rang.


    It was a photo from Otto, taken from an unfavorable angle from what seemed like the inside of a


    car. Chloe and Icarus stood in thepany lobby, with Chloe looking grateful and Icarus gazing at


    her with affection.


    [Your wife seems to have such good luck with romantic encounters. Maybe you should consider a


    paternity test once the child is born. After all, there''s a chance that your wife is cheating on you.


    Hahaha!]


    Joseph almost crushed his phone in his hand, but he managed to control his anger and replied


    bluntly, [Get lost.]


    Unexpectedly, Otto immediately called him.


    Joseph answered, "What nonsense do you want to spout now, you green-eyed monster?"


    Otto paused for a moment before catching on to the meaning behind Joseph''s words. He held back


    his frustration and asked, "Are you that confident in that woman?"

 Chapter 580 Joseph the Boy Toy

    Chapter 580 Joseph the Boy Toy


    Raising his eyebrows, Joseph''s maic voice took on a chilling tone. "What are you trying to


    say?"


    "Haha!" Ottoughed, his voice cold and grating to the ear. "Nothing much. It¡¯s just a friendly


    reminder. Earlier today, I happened to overhear a man who went to see your wife saying, ''Let''s


    prepare some new clothes for our child.'' The word ''our'' is quite interesting, isn''t it?"


    Upon hearing this, Joseph hung up the phone without hesitation. He turned his gaze toward the


    trash bin at thepany''s entrance, and his face sank. After not hearing his footsteps for some


    time, Chloe paused and turned around, looking at him with a puzzled expression.


    The man stood bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. His nose was high and prominent, his


    gaze held a deep intensity, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together. From a side view, he


    exuded an air of indifference and aloofness.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "What''s the matter?" Chloe asked.


    Was throwing away the gift from Icarus not satisfying enough? Did he need to watch it a few more


    times?


    Finally, Joseph shifted his gaze, and itnded on Chloe. Backlit by the sun, his expression remained


    unreadable. "When was thest time you met with Icarus?"


    Chloe tilted her head and pondered for a moment. She said, "About four or five months ago. Why


    do you ask?"


    Joseph fell silent for a few seconds, then walked toward her. "It''s nothing. Let''s go. What would you


    like to eat tonight? I''ll have the chef prepare it."


    "Let''s have salmon," Chloe replied.


    "Okay."


    On the way back, Chloe insisted on driving to practice her skills. At a traffic intersection, a young


    man with blonde hair in a convertible car flipped his middle finger to Joseph. "Hey, boy toy!"


    Joseph''s face sank. "What did you say?"


    "I said you''re a boy toy!" The young man sneered before turning his gaze toward Chloe and saying


    in a friendlier tone, "Lady, I advise you not to support him anymore. He looks like a cunning fox who


    will exploit your money and harm you."


    Chloe could not help but burst intoughter. "Why do you say he''s a boy toy?"


    "Come on. You''re a wealthydy. How else could you afford such an expensive car?" The young


    man casually pulled up a photo from the inte. "Look. Photos of you and your car were posted


    online. There''s only one car like this in the country, and if he''s not a boy toy, why is he sitting in the


    passenger seat? Real men should be driving, not relying on women. He disgusts me!"


    Chloe saw the photos on his phone and realized it was the photos taken by that man a few days


    ago. She had not expected him to post them on social media, and they had drummed up quite an


    audience.


    Joseph''s face turned dark. Just when he was about to get out of the car to teach this ignorant young


    man a lesson, Chloe held him back. With a bright smile on her face, she said, "Come on. There''s no


    need to get so worked up over a kid like him."


    "I''m being mistaken for a boy toy, and you seem pretty happy about it." Joseph sighed in frustration.


    "Oh no, not at all," Chloe assured him with a yful gesture. "But if Fairlight goes bankrupt in the


    future, you can consider bing a model to make ends meet."


    Joseph''s expression became slightly better.


    ''A model?''


    He nodded confidently, knowing that his physique was more than suitable for the job.


    Chloe noticed Joseph''s agreement and a yful gleam sparkled in her eyes, causing her tough


    so hard that her stomach ached.


    Realization instantly struck Joseph. It urred to him that what Chloe talked about and what he


    understood were two different things.


    He felt a vein throbbing on his forehead. "How dare you, Chloe Johnson!" He would rather starve


    than engage in such disreputable activities.


    After this little incident, Chloe¡¯s mood improved significantly. Lately, it had been a dull period for her.


    *


    Joseph was highly efficient in handling matters. The next day, he found a suitable office space for


    Chloe, and she moved in with her employees on the same day.


    The new location was just a ten-minute walk away from Fairlight, and thend belonged to Reeses.


    Joseph purchased it from Hugo and transferred it to Chloe''s name. Swayed by her emotions, Chloe


    decided to have lunch with Joseph.


    Lucas noticed her arrival and greeted her, "Hey, Ms. Chloe."


    "Is Joseph busy? I brought lunch," she said.


    "Um... He''s not, but Ms. Xavia and her friend are in there with him," Lucas replied.

 Chapter 581 She Wants to Soar, Just Like Chloe

    Chapter 581 She Wants to Soar, Just Like Chloe


    Chloe took a deep breath. ¡®I¡¯m so tired of hearing that name.¡¯


    She handed the lunchbox to Lucas and forcefully kicked open the office door in frustration.


    Xavia let out a startled cry. She covered her face and hid behind Joseph while Megan looked Chloe


    up and down in disdain. "Why didn''t you knock? You scared me."


    "Why should I knock when I''m looking for my husband? Are you doing something inappropriate that


    you don''t want others to see?"


    "How dare you! O-Of course, not¡­" Megan retorted, stealing a nce at Joseph. It went without


    saying that she secretly wished she could engage in some secretive affair with him. That way, her


    life would have changed entirely, just like Chloe''s.


    "Are you here to have lunch?" Joseph looked at Chloe lovingly.


    However, Chloe locked her gaze on Xavia behind him, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Why are


    you covering your face? It''s not like you''re a ghost that¡¯s afraid of the light."


    "Xavia has suffered enough. Please choose your words carefully," Megan snapped.


    "She''s suffered enough?"


    "The swelling on her face is quite severe, and she might be left with scars," Joseph replied.


    Chloe paused. "What happened?"


    "She said it was Noah who did it."


    "What? Noah? That''s impossible."


    Noah and Xavia had no connection whatsoever. Besides, Noah was always gentle and polite to


    others. How could he be capable of violence?


    "I''m not making it up! It was Noah who hit me!" Xavia eximed as she stepped forward.


    Chloe got a good look at Xavia¡¯s face. Both of her cheeks were inmed and swollen, which stood


    out in stark contrast to her usual fair and attractive appearance. It appeared somewhatical,


    resembling special effects from a drama. Yet upon closer inspection, multiple ces where the skin


    had torn open were visible, clearly indicating the use of force rather than scratching with nails.


    The phrase "skin split open" came to Chloe''s mind, and she instinctively touched her own face as if


    she could feel the pain.


    "Do you know why Noah hit me?" Xavia continued, a fleeting look of hatred crossing her eyes.


    Chloe remained silent, staring calmly at the woman in front of her.


    "He said it was because I almost caused you to drown in the pool, so he pped me twice as


    punishment," she exined.


    "Do you have any evidence?" Chloe asked.


    "No, but I can confront him face to face," she replied.


    If there were surveince cameras in the alley at that time, she would have already retrieved the


    footage.


    "So what¡¯s your purpose ining here? Are you trying to get Joseph to help you?" Chloe asked


    calmly, elegantly sitting down on the sofa.


    "Damn right, she is! Noah beat Xavia, and we can''t let him off the hook so easily," Megan said,


    "She¡¯s carrying a child of the Whitmans. What if something happens to the baby? We have to rify


    the situation."


    Chloe smiled at her and said, "Is being pregnant with another woman¡¯s husband¡¯s child worth


    celebrating?¡±


    Xavia¡¯s face turned pale. "It isn¡¯t, but I have no choice. I don''t have the protection that you have. I''m


    all alone and can only turn to Joe for help. This time around, he pped me. I can''t imagine what he


    might do next."


    "Noah wouldn''t do something like that," Chloe firmly defended Noah, not wanting Xavia to cause


    trouble for him. Besides, even if it was indeed Noah who hit her, so what? She should be thankful to


    him. Even though the hits were harsh, they could notpare to the harm that Xavia had wanted to


    inflict upon her.


    Joseph''s jaw clenched, feeling a twinge of bitterness. ¡®Why do I feel like my wife¡¯s trust in me is less


    than what she gives that brat?¡¯


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Xavia shifted her gaze toward him. "What do you think, Joe? If you think it¡¯ll offend the Sullivans, I''ll


    pretend this incident never happened.¡±

 Chapter 582 Did Someone Order You to Do This?

    Chapter 582 Did Someone Order You to Do This?


    Chloe chuckled sarcastically. ''Afraid of offending the Sullivans? Trying to use reverse psychology,


    huh?'' She crossed her arms and looked at Joseph threateningly.


    Joseph met her gaze and groaned inwardly. To be honest, he really wanted to take this opportunity


    to teach Noah a lesson, and it had little to do with Xavia. "I¡¯ll call Noah over,¡± he said.


    Xavia''s face lit up, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Thank you, Joe. You''re so kind to me."


    Chloe scoffed. Her anger red as she retorted, "If you find trouble with Noah today, don''t expect to


    step foot in my room tonight."


    Joseph took Chloe''s hand and pulled her aside. He looked at her helplessly and said, "I¡¯m not


    helping Xavia. I just want you to see Noah''s true colors."


    Since Xavia dared to confront Noah, it meant she was speaking the truth. It would be perfect if he


    could expose his true nature in front of Chloe right now.


    "Even if it was Noah, so what? He was just helping me to get revenge. And what about you? Are


    you helping Xavia vent her frustrations?" Chloe challenged Joseph, her words logical and well-


    founded.


    Joseph fell silent. After a while, he said in a serious manner, "Noah isn''t as innocent as he appears


    on the surface. If he can be so ruthless toward Xavia, what guarantee do you have that he won''t


    treat you the same if you disagree with him? I know a person¡¯s true character is hidden beneath


    their facade. I''m just worried about you. Besides, I''m just calling him over. I won''t interfere or help


    Xavia."


    After all, he had to consider Desmond.


    Chloe blinked, her skepticism lingering. "Are you absolutely sure you won''t take any action?"


    Joseph gently caressed her silky hair and said, "I swear on my life that I won''t do anything. All I''m


    worried about is you."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Oh, stop it. Don''t think you can dismiss me with just a few sweet words," she yfully scolded,


    giving him a mischievous look.


    "I''ll have Lucas call Noah now."


    "Remember your promise. You said you wouldn¡¯t do anything to Noah," Chloe warned, yfully


    poking his solid chest. "If you help Xavia in any way, don''t expect me to stand by your side."


    "Fine, but can you stop openly favoring him like this?" Joseph expressed his discontent, his


    displeasure evident on his face.


    Ignoring him, Chloe turned to Xavia and said, "If you''ve wrongly used Noah, you should


    apologize to him."


    "Sure," Xavia replied confidently.


    *


    One hourter, Lucas pushed open the door and led a young boy into the office. He wore ck-


    framed sses, khaki pants, and a white T-shirt. Carrying a backpack, he looked like he had just


    finished sses.


    Noah scanned the room, then looked at Joseph. "You called me here for something?"


    Sitting in his chair, Joseph instructed Xavia, "Tell me the story again, and give me all the details."


    Xavia clenched her fists and approached Noah. She removed her mask, and her eyes were filled


    with intense hatred. "You dragged me to that alley and hit me yesterday. Look at my face! The


    doctor said there might be scars. We have no grievances between us, so why did you do this to


    me?"


    As she spoke, her eyes turned red and tears began to stream down her face.


    Megan chimed in, "Although Xavia''s livelihood depends on her hands, she has to present her face


    to her audience. You look young, but you¡¯re as evil as theye. Did someone order you to do


    this?"

 Chapter 583 Eustace Appears

    Chapter 583 Eustace Appears


    Noah reached up and took off his sses. He rubbed his eyes in confusion as he looked at Xavia.


    "May I ask who you are?"


    Xavia''s anger surged, her desire tosh out at him almost overwhelming. But now that she was in


    Joseph¡¯s presence, she forced herself to remainposed. With a sneer, she remarked,


    "Pretending not to recognize me?"


    "Sorry, that''s not what I meant." Noah gestured toward her face while smiling shyly. "Your face is so


    swollen that I can¡¯t recognize you..."


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Pfft¡­" Chloe could not hold back herughter.


    ¡®Good one, Noah.''


    What Xavia cared about most was her appearance. Hearing Noah say that her face was so swollen


    that he could not recognize her, Chloe was confident that Xavia must be infuriated.


    "Have you forgotten who you hit yesterday? Shall I remind you? There were witnesses who saw it.


    Should I call them over?" Xavia said, forcing each word out of her lips. Without preparation, she


    would not havee asking for Joseph''s help.


    Chloe stoppedughing and frowned. ''Seriously? Did Noah really hit her?''


    Megan triumphantly added, "The witness is downstairs. I can call them up right now."


    Noah remained calm andposed. He looked at Joseph as if an understanding had dawned upon


    him as he said, "Mr. Joseph, did you call me here today to stand up for Ms. Xavia''s injustice?"


    Upon hearing this, Chloe''s face sank. Even though Joseph imed to be doing it for her sake, in


    reality, he had called Noah here to seek justice for Xavia.


    Twirling his pen rhythmically between his fingers, Joseph sat in amanding position on the chair.


    "My reasons are none of your concern. You should be worried about how to exin yourself," he


    remarked.


    "I have nothing to exin. I did nothing wrong. Bring your witness."


    This was the moment Xavia had been waiting for, and she exchanged a knowing nce with


    Megan. Without dy, Megan descended the stairs to bring the witness up.


    As soon as she left, Noah rubbed his nose and sneezed. Then, he made a call in front of everyone.


    "Can you bring me the nasal spray for rhinitis from the car please?" he asked his assistant.


    Megan and his assistant entered the room together. When Xavia caught sight of Noah''s assistant,


    her mind froze momentarily and an icy chill ran through her veins. Her face turned ashen pale.


    Eustace cast an indifferent gaze upon her, his eyes clearly filled with affection as theynded on her


    belly. Xavia instinctively covered her stomach with her hand as if guarding her child from being


    snatched away.


    Unaware of Eustace''s identity, Megan failed to notice anything unusual. She smirked at Xavia and


    said, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and let the witness testify."


    Xavia trembled uncontrobly, ovee by intense fear that left her speechless.


    Eustace looked concerned and asked, "You seem to be feeling unwell. Are you all right?"


    She dared not look at Eustace and instead red fiercely at Noah. Her words refused to exit her


    throat.


    Joseph''s gaze shifted among the group, eventually settling on Eustace. "Is he your new assistant,


    Mr. Noah?"


    This question caused Xavia''s heart to leap into her throat.


    "No, he joined a few months ago," Noah replied. He pondered for a moment, then a hint of mockery


    appeared in his eyes. "Should be about six months ago."


    Joseph furrowed slightly as he sensed the implications behind Noah''s words.


    "Joe!" Xavia suddenly eximed, her face turning pale and her voice filled with urgency. "The


    person who hit me yesterday wasn''t Noah. I mistook him for someone else."


    Chloe could not bear to watch any longer and chimed in, "Noah has been standing here the whole


    time, and now you im to have made a mistake? Who would believe such absurdity?"

 Chapter 584 He’ll Protect Her Forever and Ever

    Chapter 584 He¡¯ll Protect Her Forever and Ever


    Joseph¡¯s lips pressed together tightly in silent agreement with Chloe.


    Megan was speechless. "Xavia, you were the one injured, so why are you scared?"


    Before they came here, they had agreed that one of them would y the good cop while another


    would y the bad cop. But now, Xavia had sabotaged their n at the critical moment. If it were


    not for her desire to seek revenge on Noah for not choosing her as the ambassador, she would not


    havee here with Xavia.


    Xavia ignored Megan. She deeply bowed to Noah, her voice filled with remorse as she said, "I''m


    sorry. I mistook you for someone else and caused trouble for you and Joe."


    Noah graciously epted her apology. "It''s fine. Do you need anything else?"


    "No." Xavia shook her head anxiously, her distress palpable.


    A faint smile yed on Noah''s lips as he nced at Joseph. "It''s a shame, Mr. Joseph. It seems


    you won''t be able to seek justice for Ms. Xavia this time."


    "Are you sure you mistook him for someone else?" Joseph squinted, his tone tinged with suspicion.


    "I''m sure. I''m really sorry. This is all on me. I shouldn''t have jumped the gun," Xavia said as tears


    began to well up in her eyes.


    Joseph pointed at Eustace, his gaze deep and inscrutable. "Then what about him? Don''t you know


    him?"


    The sudden shift in the conversation left Xavia breathless and caused her scalp to tingle with


    anxiety. Noah raised an eyebrow yfully.


    ''Oh ho, did he finally realize something after my hint?''


    Although Chloe was unaware of what had transpired, she could sense that something was amiss.


    In an instant, all eyes turned to Eustace. With a height of approximately 1.78 meters and


    distinguished features, he was considered above average among a crowd.


    Xavia could sense the intensity of Joseph''s gaze upon her, causing her to struggle for breath. Her


    nails dug into her flesh as she forced herself to stay calm. "I don''t."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Joseph remained silent. He turned his gaze to Eustace and asked, "And what about you? Do you


    know Xavia?"


    Joseph¡¯s question caught Eustace off guard. He did not know how to respond and instinctively


    looked toward Noah.


    With an innocent smile on his face, Noah replied, "How could you not know her? You do, don¡¯t


    you?"


    A flicker of astonishment crossed Eustace''s eyes, but he soon came around to his senses and said,


    "Yes, I know her."


    Xavia''s pupils dted, and her heart sank. She anticipated what was going to happen next and


    desperately tried to exin, "Joe, listen to me. I..."


    However, the moment the words left her mouth, her nervousness got the better of her. She


    suddenly cked out and copsed in front of everyone.


    Megan hurriedly went to support her, but she was at a loss for what to do. "What happened to her?"


    Joseph frowned and ordered Lucas, "Call an ambnce."


    "So you two know each other?" Chloe stared at Eustace.


    "Yeah, he knows her," Noah answered on Eustace¡¯s behalf before continuing calmly, "She¡¯s a


    renowned violinist. Who wouldn''t know her?"


    Chloe''s eyshes trembled, sensing that he might be lying.


    The ambnce arrived and took Xavia away. Lucas volunteered to apany her to the hospital


    for further examination. Joseph had a challenging day ahead of him tomorrow, so he needed to


    conserve his energy.


    Joseph nodded. "I''ll double your bonus for this month.¡±


    Lucas beamed. "Thank you, sir."


    Noah thought of something and asked, "Tomorrow is theunch of the Whitman Group''s new


    project, correct?"


    "Yes," Joseph replied indifferently.


    "Well, congrattions."


    Since his job was done here, Noah prepared to leave. Before he stepped out of the office, he


    nced at Chloe deeply.


    ''Just a little longer, Coco¡­''


    In a few more months, he would be able to bring her back to the Sullivans. She did not have to stay


    by Joseph''s side and suffer. Once she was back with the Sullivans, she would be loved by


    everyone, and he would protect her forever and ever.


    *


    After Noah left, Joseph called someone and instructed, "Help me to look into Noah''s assistant."


    "Sure, Mr. Joseph."


    As soon as he hung up the phone, Chloe went up to him. "Do you think that Xavia was acting


    weirdly too?"


    "Yes," Joseph replied.


    Xavia was a person who was very capable of controlling her emotions, but as soon as Eustace


    came in today, she appeared very flustered.


    A surge of relief washed over Chloe when she found out that Joseph felt the same way.


    "Would you like to go to the Whitman Group''s auction tomorrow?" Joseph asked gently as he held


    her in his arms.


    "Sure, I''ll go with you."


    "But Otto and Cyrus might be there too."


    "Cyrus is the one who imprisoned your mother?"


    Joseph''s jaw tightened. "Yes."


    "Then that''s all the more reason for me to go then. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of man


    he is to be so heartless."


    *


    The next day, the Whitman Group''s auction was held at the convention and exhibition hall in the


    center of Docwood, and all the dignitaries in the business world were in attendance.

 Chapter 585 They’re Deeply Disappointed in Joseph

    Chapter 585 They¡¯re Deeply Disappointed in Joseph


    It was a public event and there were a lot of people.


    Otto arrived wearing a coffee-colored windcoat. His distinctive appearance and slender figure made


    him stand out in the crowd. When Chloe noticed him seated next to the coborating party for the


    project, she squeezed Joseph''s hand and said, "Will he say something inappropriate?"


    "That''s exactly what I want," Joseph replied as he smirked, giving her hand a reassuring pat. "Don''t


    worry, today¡¯s our opportunity to strike back."


    Chloe nodded firmly, her eyes gleaming. "I believe in you."


    After Joseph took the stage, Icarus entered through the main entrance and settled in a seat behind


    Chloe. She noticed him after about five minutes but she was not too surprised. "I thought you had


    gone back abroad."


    Although Icarus was not as renowned in the financial industry as Joseph, he was considered a


    promising talent. It was appropriate for him to attend such arge-scale press conference.


    "No, I''ll be staying in Aesper for a while," he replied with a refined smile.


    *


    "Gentlemen, it''s been a while."


    The three business partners¡ªWinston, Murphy, and Ss¡ªturned to look at Otto and yfully


    remarked, "We heard that Braike has been flourishing and is developing plots ofnd one after


    another. You make us proud."


    "Us? This is all clearly because of Mr. Joseph."


    "Ah, you''re right. I''m such an idiot."


    "We''re merely investors. Mr. Joseph is the one in charge of the technology."


    Otto waved his hand dismissively. "We''re just lucky. It''s nothing worth mentioning. But I have heard


    some rumors regarding this project. I''m unsure if it''s appropriate to discuss them."


    "What is it? Just speak your mind."


    "Did you know that Preston is in prison?"


    Winston was taken aback. "I thought he was just removed from the board of directors. How did he


    end up in prison?"


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Otto''s expression turned mysterious as he lowered his voice. "It''s true that he was removed from


    the board, but do you know why?"


    "We don''t." They shook their heads.


    "It''s because Preston discovered that Joseph had giarized the project concept from a foreign


    company. He wanted to expose it but was instead framed and fell into Joseph''s trap, which then led


    to his imprisonment."


    "Mr. Otto, such words should not be spoken lightly," Ss said solemnly.


    The Whitman Group had an immense influence on society. Any allegations of copyright infringement


    or giarism would lead to a severe bacsh in the businessmunity. Even the three of them


    would be affected. If that happened, nobody would believe in them anymore and they would


    experience heavy financial loss.


    "Here are the documents from a foreignpany that developed a simr projectst week. Take a


    look." Otto handed the files to the three of them. "I feel that it bears striking simrities to the project


    Mr. Joseph will be unveiling today."


    When they had finished reading, they gasped in disbelief. It was not just simr¡ªit was an exact


    replica.


    They were disappointed in Joseph.


    When the press conference began, Joseph stood on the stage in a crisp suit. He was maneuvering


    the mouse to showcase the developed software on therge screen while speaking confidently. The


    expressions of the audience below were filled with admiration, thoroughly pleased with the progress


    of the unveiling.


    Winston was the first to stand up and interrupt, "Stop! Do not go any further!"


    In unison, Murphy and Ss joined him, their voices filled with anger.


    Sitting in the front row, Chloe furrowed her brows, but then she had a realization and rxed her


    expression. She remembered what Joseph had said that no matter what happened, she should


    trust that he could handle it.


    "Mr. Winston? Do you have a question?" Joseph asked calmly.

 Chapter 586 The Whitmans Hold the Patent, They’re the Creators

    Chapter 586 The Whitmans Hold the Patent, They¡¯re the Creators


    "Come down, then we''ll talk," Winston said, his expression turning sour. He did not wish to escte


    the situation.


    "You can just go ahead and tell me about it now."


    "Joseph,e down from the stage now! We know you giarized this project!" Ss, no longer


    able to bear, piped up. He wanted to y the victim card and exposed Joseph to protect himself.


    As soon as those words were spoken, amotion erupted throughout the audience. After reading


    the documents, a range of expressions surfaced¡ªdisdain, shock, doubt, disbelief¡ªall fixated on


    the man standing on the stage.


    With a sneer, Joseph asked, "Where did these documentse from?"


    "Mr. Otto was the one who gave them to us," Winston said, expressing gratitude toward Otto.


    "Yes, I''m the one who gave these documents to them," Otto openly admitted, his tone tinged with


    provocation. "I happened to stumble upon it. Mr. Joseph, I hope you won''t hold it against me."


    "No, I won''t." Joseph remained calm as he looked toward Lucas. "Show everyone the software


    patent we applied for a year ago."


    When Otto received the patent report, his face turned pale.


    ''How could Preston not have known about these basic details? What a useless idiot!''


    "So¡­ Who copied whom?"


    "Are you stupid? The Whitman Group holds the patent, so of course, they''re the owner of the


    software."


    "No wonder this otherpany only dares to operate overseas."


    With a strong andmanding presence, Joseph fixed his piercing gaze upon Otto seated among


    the crowd. His voice carried a tone of usation as he revealed the truth.


    "The Whitman Group¡¯s confidential files were leaked because Preston stole them and sold them.


    Nobody, not even the police, knows to whom it was sold or at what price. So, how did you manage


    to obtain such information, Mr. Otto?"


    Even though Joseph did not explicitly say it, everyone present was smart enough to read between


    the lines.


    Otto sensed the peculiar gazes directed at him. Filled with embarrassment and anger, he pushed


    aside the people blocking his path and stormed off. However, he did not get far before being


    intercepted by Tyson in his police uniform.


    A glimmer of anger flickered in Otto''s eyes. Having endured humiliation from Joseph, he retaliated


    fiercely by delivering a powerful kick to Tyson''s chest.


    *


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Inside the exhibition hall, the farce hade to an end.


    Joseph remained on stage while Chloe shifted in her seat, feeling the urgent call of mother nature.


    Little did she know that Icarus too stood up from his seat as soon as she left.


    Upon exiting the restroom, Chloe was confronted by two men sporting red-dyed hair, their gaze


    filled with lewd intent. The restroom was situated approximately a hundred meters away from the


    exhibition hall, so she might not be able to get help in time if any danger were to befall her.


    She furrowed her brows slightly but forced herself to calm down. Pretending not to notice them, she


    walked as close to the wall as possible.


    "Hey missy, you''re pregnant, aren¡¯t you? How many months along are you? I just love married


    women.¡± One of the men sneered.


    "Get lost!" Chloe retorted in disgust and anger.


    "Oh, you''ve got quite the temper. I like it," the man with red hair replied with ascivious grin.


    Without warning, he forcibly pulled her back into the restroom.


    Chloe stumbled and she struggled to regain her bnce. Before she could gather her thoughts, the


    two men lunged at her, tearing away her clothing and kissing her. A nauseating, humid breath


    entered her ear, apanied by the unsettling touch of wandering hands that made her feel


    disgusted and queasy.


    "You bastards! Get the hell away from me!" Chloe shouted, fighting back as hard as she could.


    But it was useless. The situation unfolded, and with the two men overpowering her and holding her


    down, all her attempts to break free proved futile.


    Suddenly, both of them released her.


    Thud! Thud!


    The two sounds echoed as the two men with red-dyed hair copsed to the ground in agonized


    cries. Opening her eyes, Chloe saw Icarus delivering punches to them. A shiver ran down her spine


    as she felt the chill in the air. It was at that moment she became aware that her clothes were torn in


    multiple ces and her chest was exposed.

 Chapter 587 Chloe Can Do an Amniocentesis

    Chapter 587 Chloe Can Do an Amniocentesis


    The red-haired men howled in pain, struggling and attempting to fight back. Icarus unleashed a


    brutal assault on one of them, relentlessly pounding him.


    "You monsters! How could you prey on a pregnant woman!"


    "What the hell is wrong with you?! It''s not like it''s your child!" one of the men retorted.


    "Who said it isn¡¯t?! It''s my child!" Icarus roared, increasing the intensity of his blows. He delivered a


    powerful punch to the head of one of the assants, rendering him unconscious.


    Icarus rose to his feet and noticed Chloe was covering up her chest with her tattered clothes and


    shivering from the cold. Without hesitation, he took off his own coat and draped it over her.


    "Are you okay?" he asked


    Chloe''s lips grew pale as she sniffled, still recovering from the shock. Her mind had not fully


    grasped Icarus'' words, but she had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. Just as she was


    about to speak, she lifted her gaze and saw Joseph standing at the entrance of the restroom,


    staring at both of them intensely.


    His expression was grim, exuding a chilling aura that sent shivers down her spine.


    Past memories shed through her mind, and she recalled the things Otto had said a few days ago.


    "Jojo, these two men wanted to...to harm me..." Chloe said, her grievances welling up inside.


    "Harm? I''m afraid they interrupted your little rendezvous, didn''t they?" Joseph said. His tone dripped


    with contempt and his handsome face contorted with anger.


    She was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"


    "If I hadn''t realized you were gone and found my way here, were the two of you nning to indulge


    in some illicit affair? Chloe, look at yourself¡ªyour chest is exposed. How could you still be such a


    slut while carrying a baby? The photos taken by Duskfall, concealing the pregnancy, and even him


    buying clothes for the baby... I can''t believe I actually believe in you through all of it."


    Chloe''s face grew pale as she reyed Icarus'' words in her mind, and suddenly, everything fell into


    ce. It all made sense now. Her mind went nk, realizing the reason behind Joseph''s anger.


    Icarus'' words had been intentionally misleading.


    "Mr. Joseph, you misunderstood me. I may not have expressed myself clearly in my haste. What I


    meant is that I''m willing to treat Chloe and your child as my own," Icarus exined, his face filled


    with apology.


    A cruel smirk appeared on Joseph''s face as he grabbed something nearby and flung it at Icarus.


    Holding on to his now bleeding forehead, Icarus winced in pain as blood seeped through his fingers.


    Chloe hurriedly stepped forward to stop Joseph. "Stop it! There''s been a misunderstanding! Let me


    exin everything to you when we get back."


    "Get away from me!" Joseph rudely pushed her away.


    Chloe slipped and collided with the sink. Panic gripped her as she felt a rush of liquid flowing down


    her legs. She pleaded, "Please take me to the hospital. My stomach hurts so badly..."


    Joseph''s gaze fell upon her bloodstained skirt and his pupils contracted. Subconsciously, he


    scooped her up and rushed toward the hospital. Once Chloe was admitted to the emergency room,


    he angrily punched the wall.


    ''Damn it! She cheated on me, so why do I still care about her so much? Why did I even bother


    bringing her here?''


    Since she had betrayed him, he felt it was best if she lost the child. He could not understand. Was


    he not good enough for her? He had evenpromised over Xavia, so why was she not satisfied?


    Upon receiving the news, Lucas immediately informed Emily. When she arrived, she broke into


    tears in front of the emergency room. Unable to control her emotions, she shouted at Joseph, "Is


    this how you take care of Chloe?! She''s pregnant!"


    Joseph sneered, "She may be pregnant, but she''s not carrying my child."


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Emily stood there with her mouth agape, unable toprehend his words. Lucas recounted the


    events that had just transpired.


    "That¡¯s impossible! Chloe would never do such a thing!" Emily could not believe it as she defended


    her close friend.


    They had known each other for over a decade, and Emily knew Chloe''s character very well. She


    was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. She would never do such a thing.


    While Icarus had a better temperament than Joseph, Chloe had fallen in love with Joseph, and


    nothing would not easily change that. Besides, engaging in such despicable acts during pregnancy


    was something that only people like Ava would do.


    Joseph''s anger zed, and he had no intention of listening to her words. They were best friends, so


    it was possible that Emily had known all along and helped Chloe keep it a secret.


    Emily met Joseph''s mocking gaze and wanted to say something, but Lucas pulled her back and


    whispered, "Don''t provoke Mr. Joseph for now. It''s useless to say anything without evidence."


    Joseph''s rage was beyond what they could bear.


    "What evidence do you need? We can have Chloe do an amniocentesis!" Emily retorted, refusing to


    ept it and arguing back.


    "It''s none of your business. Stop meddling in our affairs," Joseph said coldly, ordering Lucas to take


    Emily away.


    Lucas dared not defy Joseph¡¯s order. He did not want anything to happen to Emily, so he forcibly


    pulled her away.


    Joseph stood rooted to the spot, clenching his fist tightly. His eyes shimmered with a bloodthirsty


    glint as he called someone.


    "Get Icarus and send him to my house."


    He wanted Icarus to regret everything he had done. He wanted to make his life worse than death.


    *


    Two hourster, a doctor stepped out of the emergency room.

 Chapter 588 You Want to Kill Our Child?!

    Chapter 588 You Want to Kill Our Child?!


    "We managed to save the baby. There was minimal bleeding, but the patient''s body is particrly


    weak, which increases the risk of premature birth or miscarriage in theter stages. Mr. Joseph, you


    have to take good care of the patient from now on," the doctor reported.


    "The child is safe?" Joseph raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with piercing coldness. "Arrange for


    an abortion immediately."


    He would not allow her to birth the product of a union between her and another man.


    The doctor was taken aback. "Well... The patient is too weak at the moment, so we can¡¯t perform


    the surgery immediately."


    "When¡¯s the earliest possible time?" Joseph inquired.


    "It''s hard to say. Perhaps in about a week."


    Joseph closed his eyes and remained silent.


    The doctor left the room. The truth was, the abortion could be arranged as early as tomorrow, but


    Chloe had pleaded with the doctor in the emergency room, telling him that this was the first child


    she conceived with the person she loved dearly. She begged him to save the baby, as she could not


    bear the thought of losing it.


    Aside from Joseph, the child was Chloe¡¯s only family in this world. So when Joseph asked for an


    abortion, the doctor decided to lie to him. He hoped that within a week, Chloe and Joseph would


    resolve their conflicts and decide to keep the child.


    *


    Chloe woke up, and her eyesnded on the man in her ward.


    The first thing she did was nervously touch her belly. Thankfully, the baby was still there. She


    struggled to sit up and cautiously held onto the man''s hand. "Nothing happened between Icarus and


    me. The baby in my belly has nothing to do with him. I swear."


    "Is that so?" Joseph pressed his throbbing temple, his eyes burning crimson as he stared at her


    intently. "Icarus has confessed everything. Are you still going to deny it?"


    Chloe licked her parched lips.


    "Confess? Confess what?" she asked in confusion.


    Veins pulsated on the back of Joseph''s hand as he struggled to control his emotions. "He admitted


    to everything, every sordid detail of your affair. Continuing to deceive me is meaningless. It only


    disgusts me."


    Just half an hour before Chloe woke up, a call came in. Icarus had confessed everything from


    beginning to end. He even admitted that the child in Chloe''s belly was indeed his own.


    Upon receiving this news, Joseph was filled with doubts. He desperately wanted to believe Chloe,


    but unusual circumstances between her and Icarus had urred more than once. Despite


    everything, his love for her remained strong. He had envisioned a lifetime together, offering his


    heartfelt love, only to be met with betrayal.


    How could she do this to him?


    Chloe froze as tears fell relentlessly. "It''s impossible... How could Icarus say such things?" she


    mumbled, unable to believe it. "We never did any of those things. Why would he make such false


    usations about me? Why?"


    Anger, resentment, and unwillingness swirled in her heart, leaving Chloe overwhelmed. She


    murmured to herself, her face devoid of color. Beside her, Joseph looked on coldly, his eyes void of


    any emotion. He did not want to believe in her anymore.


    Meeting his mocking and disdainful gaze, Chloe could not hold back any longer. She shouted in


    anger, "Bring Icarus here! I want to confront him face-to-face!"


    "That''s not necessary."


    "What do you mean?"


    "He¡¯s probably already dead by now. If he''s lucky, he might have onest breath left."


    Chloe shuddered and yanked out the IV needle, stumbling as she tried to make her way out. She


    wanted to see Icarus and rify everything.


    Seeing her do this, Joseph thought Chloe was worried about Icarus'' well-being. Filled with rage, he


    forcefully dragged her back to the bed and grabbed a piece of paper from the table. "Sign it."


    Chloe looked at the words "Abortion Consent Form" on the paper and raised her head, ring at


    him. "You want to kill our child?!¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 589 How Can You Be So Heartless, Joseph?!

    Chapter 589 How Can You Be So Heartless, Joseph?!


    "How could you, Joseph?! How can you be so cruel and heartless?! If you force me to sign this


    paper, I''ll hate you for the rest of my life!" Chloe shouted at the top of her lungs, expressing her


    grievance.


    Joseph remained unperturbed. He pulled her hand and tightened it around the pen as her name


    was written crookedly and reluctantly in the designated space. At the final moment, Chloe exerted


    all her strength to break free from his control and stabbed him in the palm with the pen. However,


    he seemedpletely unaware and continued toplete the final stroke of her signature.


    In a state of despair, Chloe lowered her weary arm and let out a deste smile. "I''ll ask you onest


    time, Joseph. Do you truly refuse to believe me?"


    They had already reconciled and gotten rid of Xavia¡ªthe only obstacle in their rtionship¡ªso how


    did things suddenly turn out this way?


    With a sudden pang of inexplicable emotion, Joseph''s heart softened for a moment when he heard


    her choked-up voice. However, he simply uttered one sentence before resolutely turning away.


    "Icarus has already confessed. Your words mean nothing."


    Chloe helplessly watched his retreating figure, feeling as though a gaping hole had been torn open


    in her chest, making every breath painful. After stubbornly waiting for an hour, she believed that


    Joseph had truly abandoned her.


    She covered her face and wept in despair, her frail shoulders drooping in profound misery.


    *


    Feeling weak and helpless, Chloe cried herself to sleep. When she woke up the next morning,


    Abigail approached her and said, "Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph asked me to take care of you. If you feel


    unwell, please let me know."


    Upon hearing this, Chloe''s eyshes trembled. "Do you know where Icarus is?"


    "He''s currently at Mr. Joseph''s home."


    Abigail had overheard this when the team members were discussing their ns yesterday.


    Chloe threw back the covers and got out of bed. She had to confront Icarus directly. She could not


    allow herself to be unjustly used.


    "Ms. Chloe, you can''t go."


    Chloe raised her head to meet Abigail''s gaze. "Why?"


    "Mr. Joseph said you can''t leave the hospital, and he told me to take care of you."


    Stunned, it took Chloe a while before understanding struck her. "Take care of me? He ns to keep


    me here, doesn¡¯t he?"


    Abigail averted her gaze. Though she did not say a word, Chloe understood it.


    "Hahaha! He¡¯s going to keep me here until I can undergo an abortion next week, isn¡¯t he?" Chloe


    muttered. Herughter mixed with her tears as her eyes turned red, creating a stark contrast


    against her pallid face.


    Though Abigail had never experienced romantic love, she could sense Chloe''s pain. This was


    precisely why she had avoided any involvement with men. When things were good, it was like


    honey in a jar, but when things turned sour, it became like shards of broken ss that pierced the


    heart. It was excruciatingly painful.


    Chloe''sughter subsided, and she took a deep breath. "I want to see Joseph. Tell him toe


    here."


    Abigail remained silent for a moment and then responded, "I¡¯ll go ry your message." She exited


    the ward with her phone in hand. She returned after about three minutes. "I''m sorry, Ms. Chloe. Mr.


    Joseph is busy¡ª"


    "He isn''t. He just refuses toe, right?" Chloe interjected.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Abigail pressed her lips together in a tight line and said, "Maybe he¡¯lle by when he''s less busy."


    Chloe let out a bitterugh and turned her gaze away, nkly staring out the window. She no longer


    wanted to speak.


    In the afternoon, a doctor came to examine her. "Rest and take care of your well-being. Your


    emotional state is of utmost importance," he advised.


    Chloe did not have the energy to respond andy silently on the bed. The doctor paused upon


    observing her. "I saw the abortion request form you submitted. Have you thought it through?" the


    doctor asked.

 Chapter 590 Mr. Harold Has Passed Away

    Chapter 590 Mr. Harold Has Passed Away


    Her face turned pale, and she uttered destely, "Even if I haven''t, do you think I can say no in my


    current state?"


    "In theory, we should respect the patient''s decision," the doctor responded.


    A glimmer of hope flickered in Chloe''s eyes as she nced at Abigail, who stood outside the door.


    She lowered her voice and pleaded, "I''m being forced into this. Can you please let me go?"


    Feeling her helplessness, the doctor reminded her, "The hospital doesn''t restrict its patients¡¯


    freedom. If you have no other option, you can seek help from a friend."


    Chloe shook her head, knowing it would be futile. Emily was no match for Joseph. Moreover,


    Joseph had forbidden her from meeting Noah. However, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.


    Even if Emily could not meet Joseph, she could ask Emily to pass a message to Noah. The only


    question was whether Noah would be willing to help her. If he did so, it would mark the beginning of


    a real confrontation between him and Joseph.


    As soon as the doctor left, Abigail entered the room.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "I want to see my friend. It''s really boring being here alone," Chloe said to Abigail. "Her name is


    Emily Patel. Can you help me get in touch with her?"


    Joseph had confiscated her phone, so she had no means of contacting the outside world.


    Without hesitation, Abigail refused, "Mr. Joseph isn¡¯t allowing any of your friends to see you."


    "What is he trying to do?! Push me into my grave?!" Chloe exploded in a fit of anger. Fueled by her


    mounting frustration, she seized any and all nearby objects and furiously hurled them all over the


    room.


    Soon, the ward was in disarray. Witnessing Chloe''s emotional outburst, Abigail hurriedly tried to


    console her. "Okay, just hang on. I¡¯ll consult with Mr. Joseph."


    This time, it was highly likely that Joseph was genuinely upied as it was Lucas who answered


    the phone. After hearing Chloe''s request, he hesitated for a while but eventually agreed.


    After such a major upheaval, it was indeed necessary for Chloe to talk to a friend and vent her


    emotions. Emily could not rest easy after Lucas had escorted her away the previous night and had


    been staying at a hotel near the hospital.


    When Chloe and Emily met, Chloe recounted the whole situation and told Emily about how Joseph


    was pressuring her to have an abortion.


    Emily''s face flushed with anger. "He actually wants you to have an abortion?! What an idiot!"


    Chloe smiled bitterly. "Unless something unexpected happens, I''ll be on the operating table in a


    week."


    "Coco, do you want to terminate your pregnancy?" Emily asked after pausing for a moment. "If you


    do, you could leave Joseph and start over."


    "It''s not that simple," Chloe replied, "Even if I agree to the abortion, Joseph won''t let me go that


    easily."


    She knew him all too well. He was someone who would seek revenge for the slightest offense.


    "In that case, ask for an amniocentesis. Show him the results and prove your innocence. Wait for


    him to kneel and beg you," Emily suggested.


    "Amniocentesis huh¡­" Chloe felt conflicted. "If I have to prove my innocence through


    amniocentesis, then what''s the difference between me and Xavia? Am I just a vessel for the


    Whitmans to bring forth children too?"


    If she did that, she would lose all her self-esteem and dignity, so she instinctively rejected the idea.


    "But this is the only way to prove your innocence," Emily insisted.


    "Since we''ve reached a point where we distrust each other so much, it''s better for us to go our


    separate ways. Just remember, even if I prove that the child is Joseph''s, he won''t let me go," Chloe


    responded.


    She refused to continue her rtionship with Joseph.


    Emily''s face filled with worry as she said, "You''re right. Given his temperament, he¡¯ll definitely hold


    on to you and the child. But Coco... There''s one more thing..."


    "What is it?"


    "It was reported in today¡¯s news that Mr. Harold has passed away..."

 Chapter 591 Grandpa, I’m Sorry I’m Late

    Chapter 591 Grandpa, I¡¯m Sorry I¡¯m Late


    A wave of dizziness overcame Chloe. She asked as her voice trembled, "When...


    Emily could not bear to see her best friend in such a state. "Last night. To be more specific, it was


    this early morning."


    She had applied for an off day yesterday, which had been Monday. However, her bastard manager


    called her endlessly, forcing her to work overtime even though she was outside. After she was done


    with her work, it was already past one o¡¯clock midnight.


    Emily decided to watch some videos before going to bed. That was when she saw the news that


    Harold had died due to organ failure after the emergency treatment failed.


    Coldness prickled Chloe''s limbs as she turned to Abigail. "Is this true?"


    Thetter nodded silently.


    "I want to go to the family home to see Harold onest time,¡± Chloe said firmly as she put on her


    shoes and walked toward the door, her body trembling slightly.


    "Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph says you can¡¯t leave." Abigail went to stop Chloe as she tried to persuade


    thetter.


    Truth be told, Abigail too felt that Joseph had gone too far. He should not have imprisoned Chloe


    regardless of what had happened. If something went wrong in their rtionship, they should just


    break up with each other.


    Making up her mind, Emily took out a 100-dor bill from her bag and stuffed it into Chloe''s hands.


    After that, she abruptly hugged Abigail. "Run! I''ll stop her!"


    Abigail could easily overpower Emily, but she found this hard to do so since Chloe and Emily were


    women too. Besides, she pitied Chloe, so she did not push Emily away and allowed Chloe to get


    away.


    Chloe stuffed a paper strip into Emily¡¯s hands before she left. Once downstairs, she gged down a


    cab to the Whitman family home. After stepping out of the car, she walked into the house where a


    funeral was being held.


    Harold''s photo was ced before a coffin as the surrounding people mourned in sadness. Ginny,


    who was the youngest, felt the gloom that hung in the air. She hugged Eloise and cried ceaselessly.


    Tears welled up in Chloe''s eyes. The repeated blows almost drove her mad. Although Harold was


    not biologically rted to her, he was like family to her. She had not expected him to meet his end


    seeing as he was still healthy the previous month.


    She kneeled in front of the photograph and mourned. ''Grandpa, I''m sorry I''mte. I didn''t get to see


    you onest time.''


    "What are you doing here?" Joseph had on a ck suit. He swiftly made his way to her, grabbed


    her wrist, and pulled her out of the house.


    That useless Abigail had failed to keep an eye on Chloe.


    Currently, only Harold, Patrick, and Joseph were aware of Harold faking his death. Joseph had


    nned to tell Chloe about it after the press conference yesterday, but unfortunately, she had lost


    this privilege.


    "Let me go! Why didn''t you tell me that Grandpa passed away?! I couldn''t even see him onest


    time!" Chloe roared desperately at Joseph as her anger erupted. Her reddened eyes revealed her


    true feelings, touching others¡¯ hearts.


    Joseph remained expressionless. "He wasn¡¯t your grandfather."


    "He was!" she screamed stubbornly as her tears fell uncontrobly.


    Harold adored her. He had afforded her the kind of concern she had long yearned for. Of course, he


    was her grandfather.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Get her out of here," Joseph ordered cruelly. He was not moved by her emotions.


    "Joe, don''t get rid of Coco. Don''t be so fierce toward her..." Ginny rushed out and hugged Joseph''s


    legs firmly.


    Eloise could no longer take it. "Don''t involve Father in your couple fight. Let Chloe stay for the


    funeral."

 Chapter 592 Xavia, You Bitch

    Chapter 592 Xavia, You Bitch


    Joseph looked at Chloe condescendingly. He ultimately decided to agree with Ginny¡¯s request, so


    he kept quiet and left.


    Chloe kneeled before the coffin until almost everyone in the hall had left. She then got up and


    massaged her aching knees a little before continuing to kneel.


    Harold observed Chloe through a window on the second floor. He felt incredibly sorry for her. "Ask


    her to go home and rest. She¡¯s been on her knees for a long time. She must be suffering.¡±


    Patrick immediately carried out the order. "Ms. Chloe, it''s gettingte and cold. Please go home."


    He walked over and tried to get her to stand.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    With her head hung low in a downcast manner, she stated stubbornly, "I want to stay with Grandpa


    a little longer."


    "No, you don''t have to as you¡¯ll still have a lot of... No, what I¡¯m trying to say is that he¡¯s already


    gone. You can visit him at the cemetery once a year. I¡¯m sure he''ll be quite satisfied."


    "Patrick, please leave. I want to be here alone."


    A tinge of gratification flickered in his eyes when he saw Chloe''s resolution. ''She truly is a grateful


    person.''


    "Grandpa!"


    They suddenly heard a prolonged and mncholicment from afar.


    Patrick looked over and his gaze changed. "Who let you in?"


    Xavia was in a long ck dress with a white scarf around her neck. Her aura was elegant and cold.


    She had gone to the hospital for treatment, so her face was no longer as swollen as before but one


    could still discern the scratches and redness on her face.


    "Joe let mee."


    Knitting his brows, Patrick did not hide his disgust.


    "Bring Oreo here." Joseph, who came afterward, ordered coldly. After a pause, he said to Xavia,


    "Ask Lucas to give you a ride home after you¡¯ve seen Oreo."


    "But I want to stay for the funeral."


    Joseph side-eyed Chloe who kept her head low and remained silent. He then softened his voice.


    "No, it''s fine. Take care so that you don''t tire yourself out. You''re pregnant."


    Xavia agreed obediently, "Okay, I''ll take good care of our baby."


    An excruciating jolt of pain hit Chloe when she heard their conversation. However, she pretended to


    be aloof and unconcerned. When Joseph saw her calmness, he kicked over the dustbin in the yard


    and furiously stormed upstairs.


    Patrick went to the garden to look for Oreo. For a moment, Chloe and Xavia were the only ones left


    in the yard. After looking around, Xavia casually walked to Chloe¡¯s side and whispered, "Tsk, you


    can''t bear to part with the old bastard, right? How about going down to hell to be with him?"


    Chloe clenched her fists. "I don''t mind pping you again."


    "Come on. Hit right here." Xavia pointed at her belly before she cracked a malicious sneer. "Do you


    dare to hit me? I''m pregnant with the Whitman family''s only child. Joe won''t let you off the hook if


    anything happens to me."


    Chloe gnashed her teeth. "Bitch."


    "Women who scold me are just jealous of me." Xavia shamelessly walked toward the coffin and


    wanted to open it to take a look.


    Chloe noticed Xavia''s intention and got up to stop thetter. "Don''t open it!"


    "Fuck off, will you?"


    ''The old bastard is dead atst. Of course, I have to enjoy this moment.''


    Chloe pushed Xavia aside. "Are you stupid? Didn''t you hear me?"


    She had not exerted great strength, but Xavia¡¯s footing was unsteady and she fell over. Just then,


    Patrick came back with Oreo. Xavia acted like she had suffered a great grievance, burying her face


    in her arms as she cried.

 Chapter 593 Letting Xavia Stay

    Chapter 593 Letting Xavia Stay


    Patrick looked at Xavia suspiciously before ncing at Chloe. "What happened?"


    Xavia beat Chloe to it. "I wanted to see Grandpa onest time but Ms. Chloe prohibited me from


    doing so. She pushed me to the ground... Patrick, I don''t me her. She¡¯s probably upset because


    of her fight with Joe. I can understand her feelings."


    Chloe was too exhausted and weak to argue with Xavia so she stayed quiet. She was not expecting


    Patrick to speak up for her. After all, many people thought that her child was not Joseph''s.


    "You''re right," Patrick said slowly, "But there''s one thing you didn''t do well."


    Xavia became baffled. "What¡¯s that?"


    "You know that Ms. Chloe¡¯s fighting with Mr. Joseph, so why did youe here and


    disturb them? Are you trying to take advantage of the situation?"


    "I just¡ª¡± Xavia blushed and hurriedly tried to exin, but Patrick was not interested in hearing what


    she had to say.


    "Stop talking and stop dreaming. What you want is impossible. Mr. Harold drew up a will before he


    passed. One of the conditions is never to let you be a part of the Whitman family. You''d better


    behave yourself." He handed Oreo''s leash to her. "Only this dog here is rted to you. Leave after


    you¡¯re finished with your visit."


    Anger rose in Xavia''s heart. ''He''s that old bastard''s man through and through. He''s just as


    annoying.'' She touched her belly, deciding to drive him away after marrying Joseph.


    Chloe was touched and gazed at Patrick. Unexpectedly, someone was still willing to take her side.


    Xavia saying she hade here to visit Oreo was just a ruse. After being admonished, she became


    upset. She no longer wanted to stay and got up to leave.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Joseph, who had been watching from the second floor, called out to her, "Stay for a meal."


    He had been standing behind a one-way ss window, so he could see the situation outside while


    others could not see through the window. Its soundproofing was excellent too.


    From the side, Harold hit Joseph with his walking stick. "You¡¯re making me mad. I don''t like her. Get


    her out!"


    "You have to stay in the room for now, so you won''t see her. I''ll have Patrick deliver your food to


    your room."


    "You ungrateful grandson!"


    Joseph shrugged indifferently. "Are you going to continue scolding me? Otherwise, I''m leaving."


    "I believe that Chloe isn''t that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding between you


    two. Stay calm and talk it out with her. Or, you can ask her to do an amniocentesis like Xavia. It''s


    simple."


    Harold was aware of what transpired with Icarus yesterday. He would never believe Icarus'' words


    regardless of what he said and even if the truth was right before him.


    Although Joseph was a bastard, his intelligence, wealth, and charms were one of the best in the


    country. Icarus could neverpare to him, and Chloe was not a fool. Why would she want to cheat


    on Joseph with Icarus?


    Joseph snickered sarcastically. "If she dared to have an amniocentesis, would she have waited until


    now?"


    After a brief silence, Harold smacked the table hard. "I don''t care. In short, I don''t believe that she''s


    such a person."


    *


    Downstairs, Xavia was over the moon. She purposely said while in front of Chloe, "Okay, I''ll stay for


    a meal."


    Chloe narrowed her eyes and smiled bitterly. He did not have to behave brazenly even if he wanted


    to give her up. Besides, why was he not disgusted by the thought of being with Xavia? Or, could he


    make do with any woman as long as she was pregnant with his child?


    Patrick gritted his teeth angrily. He helped Chloe up. "Please stay for a meal too."

 Chapter 594 A Slut Who Cheated On Him

    Chapter 594 A Slut Who Cheated On Him


    Annoyed with Xavia, Chloe did not wish to see her any longer. "It''s fine, Patrick. I''m not hungry."


    "Let''s eat together. You need to stay with Grandpa for the second half of the night," Joseph said in


    an aloof tone.


    "Joe, I want to stay too and show my respect for Grandpa." Xavia sounded gentle as she looked at


    him eagerly, wishing that he would agree to it.


    "I told you to take care of the baby. You don''t have to tire yourself over anything else. We can just let


    Chloe deal with these sorts of things."


    Joy shed across Xavia''s face as she said shyly. "Okay, I''ll listen to whatever you say."


    Joseph nced indifferently at Chloe and ordered, "Patrick, take her upstairs."


    "I don''t want to eat. I¡¯ve lost my appetite after seeing you and her disgusting faces." Chloe sharply


    looked up and clenched her fists tightly. Disgust and hatred filled her eyes as she looked at Joseph.


    Disgusting faces?


    Joseph scoffed before he bent down and pinched her chin strenuously. "What right do you have to


    im that I''m disgusting? You''re the most disgusting one here. You¡¯re the fickle bitch who cheated


    on me."


    Chloe was stunned as she stared at the handsome man before her. Suddenly, she found that she


    did not know him at all. He always condemned her indiscriminately. She thought that he would


    change and trust her, but she was wrong. It was only a facade he had put up.


    Maybe it was because of the child that he had been gentle to her recently, tolerating her. Otherwise,


    he would never have asked her to stay after letting her go.


    Being stared at, Joseph felt ill at ease. He turned to the side and snorted. "Don''t look at me like that.


    I''m only telling the truth."


    "Sure. The truth." Chloe felt the urge tough as she grew more upset. Her pale face was filled with


    deep disappointment.


    ''Is he blind? I barely met Icarus in private, let alone contacted him. I came in contact with him the


    most when I was still working at Baxon, but that was so long ago.''


    Hearing this, Patrick frowned. He wanted to say something to Joseph, but he could onlyfort


    Chloe since Xavia was around. "Ms. Chloe, go upstairs and eat something. Your baby needs


    nourishment."


    Chloe took these words to heart. Yes, she could not give up. She needed to take care of her body


    and baby.


    The chef brought the dishes to the table. Xavia got some food for Joseph, but he simply frowned


    and did not touch it. Chloe, on the other hand, enjoyed a rather good meal across from him. She ate


    the food eagerly and was already on her second serving.


    Joseph felt his anger rise. ''Our love is ruined, but this fucking dumbo still has such a good appetite.


    She doesn¡¯t care about me at all!''


    He put his fork down and ordered Chloe icily, "Go and do the dishes."


    Chloe did not get up. "I''m not a servant."


    "You''re not a guest either."


    Simply put, she was just an outsider.


    Chloe took a deep breath. She knew that he was doing this on purpose, but she did not want to


    argue with him. She wiped her mouth and obediently cleared away dishes. She then rolled up her


    sleeves and started washing them in the kitchen. When she was done and back in the living room,


    she saw Joseph and Xavia resting on the sofa. Xavia even had her head on Joseph''s shoulder.


    What a harmonious scene.


    Chloe found the scene unbearable and refused to look at them. She returned to the hall to stay by


    Harold¡¯s coffin.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Joseph watched her out of the corner of his eye. When he noticed that she was unperturbed by his


    intimate action with Xavia, a sense of helplessness hit him. He pushed Xavia away in frustration.


    Xavia was dissatisfied with his sudden action, so she pouted and asked coquettishly, "What''s the


    matter?"

 Chapter 595 Chloe, You’re So Shameless

    Chapter 595 Chloe, You¡¯re So Shameless


    "You should go. Lucas is waiting for you at the door."


    "But I want to stay with you."


    "There¡¯s no need for that."


    Xavia gritted her teeth and ced Joseph''s hand on her bulging belly.


    Subconsciously repulsed, he quickly pulled back his hand and shooed her away expressionlessly.


    "Don''t make me repeat myself. Lucas isn''t your personal driver. He doesn¡¯t have any extra time to


    wait on you."


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Xavia''s face turned pale. She suppressed her reluctance. "I just want you to stay with the child a


    little longer. Don''t be angry. I''ll go now."


    After she left, Joseph did not know what to do and simply returned to his bedroom to sleep. In bed,


    he tossed and turned. Though the curtains were closed, the light from downstairs still entered the


    room.


    He put on slippers and went to the French window to look down at the woman on the first floor. She


    was tired from kneeling, so she was now sitting on a chair. It was rather cold as autumn was around


    the corner. She seemed to be talking to the coffin, and her usually rosy and tender lips had be


    parched and purplish. It looked like her clothes afforded her little warmth.


    Heartache quickly dawned on Joseph¡¯s hard features. It was so quick that even he did not notice it.


    He pursed his lips and said cruelly, "Serves you right."


    Harold was probably watching Chloe too as a few minutester, Patrick came with a nket and a


    small portable heater. Chloe felt much warmer and the long night became easier to bear.


    Early the next morning, Joseph took Chloe back to the hospital and prohibited her from leaving.


    Maybe because Abigail purposely let Chloe go yesterday, so now it was a stranger who was tasked


    with keeping an eye on her.


    "Joseph, you¡¯re forcing me to get an abortion, yet you still want to keep me with you?¡±


    Chloe raised the query when Joseph was about to step out of the ward. He paused in his tracks and


    turned around, cracking a mocking smile at her.


    "You''re so shameless."


    "Then why are you forcing me to get an abortion?"


    "I just don''t want this bastard toe into the world. Is there a problem with that?"


    Chloe glued her clear eyes on him. "Can I go after I abort the child?"


    "No." Joseph fumed with anger when thinking about how she always wanted to leave him. "You


    cheated on me with Icarus, so you sure prepare to be tortured for the rest of your life."


    He would never feel sorry for her for the rest of their lives. Never.


    His heart would never soften toward her again like in the past.


    For the past two days, Chloe had suffered great grievance for no reason, especially with the way he


    was treating her now. Excruciating pain gripped her heart and she felt utter despair. She could not


    take it anymore.


    "My baby is yours. I never slept with Icarus. This is thest time I''ll exin it to you. I''ll get an


    amniocentesis, and I want to leave you regardless of the result. I''ll prove myself to the people who


    doubt me, and I won''t forgive those who wrongly use me!"


    Joseph was struck dumb on the spot. In a daze, he imagined a world where he had lost her. But in


    the next second, he regained his wits.


    "The time it takes to get back the results of amniocentesis is a week. I know that you¡¯re just stalling


    for time to avoid the abortion."

 Chapter 596 Baby, Let’s Give Up on Your Father

    Chapter 596 Baby, Let¡¯s Give Up on Your Father


    "No, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m¡ª"


    Halfway through her sentence, Joseph left without so much as a backward nce.


    Bitterness engulfed her. Feeling aggrieved, she felt like crying again. She was nearly harassed by


    some thugs yesterday and nearly lost her child. She was the injured victim and needed someone to


    take care of her during this particr period, but all Joseph did was hurt her.


    Chloe caressed her belly gently. "Baby, let''s give up on your father, okay..."


    *


    Emily went to Exotic Star to find Noah ording to the instructions on the paper strip Chloe had


    given her.


    "So you''re saying that Coco doesn''t want to abort the child?"


    "Yes." Emily was worried that he would not help, so she pretended to be pitiful. She was full of snot


    and tears now, looking very miserable. "That fucking bastard is keeping Coco locked up in the


    hospital and prohibited her from seeing anyone. He treats her so awfully."


    "I understand." Noah sipped his coffee calmly.


    Emily frowned. ¡®You understand? Are you going to help Coco or not?''


    "Tell Coco that I can help her flee Asvand. Joseph has great influence and power within the country,


    so I''m not very confident here."


    Emily nodded excitedly. "Yes, she can go abroad or even to the moon as long as she can get away


    from that scumbag."


    *


    For three days, Joseph did not visit Chloe at the hospital.


    In a bar, Nathan and Samuel looked at each other. They seemed rather surprised.


    "This is the first time I¡¯m seeing him drunk."


    "Me too."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Even his face is flushed."


    "Yeah, and he''s been staring at the wedding photos for a few hours."


    "The photos came right on time."


    When they arrived at the bar earlier this afternoon, the photography studio owner hade by to


    deliver the photo album to Joseph, who promptly threw them into a corner without even looking at it.


    After he got drunk, he quietly picked up the album and put it on the table.


    "s, why was Chloe so dumb? Icarus is inferior to Joe."


    "I don''t think so. What we see may not be the truth." Samuel took his phone out to check the time.


    "Okay, it''s already three in the morning. We should go home and get some sleep."


    With one man on either side, they helped Joseph to his feet and gave him a ride back to his vi.


    After that, they left. Xavia, who had long gotten there, came out of the washroom. She watched the


    car drive away before heading to the master bedroom.


    Unexpectedly, Joseph was not asleep. He got up unsteadily and wanted to go downstairs.


    Xavia went forward to support him. "Joe, it''ste. Let''s sleep.


    "Go away." Dizziness engulfed him. His blurry vision made him unable to see the person before


    him, but he found the voice annoying.


    Xavia followed him and refused to give up. "Come back to bed, Joe. I''ll apany you to bed, all


    right? You need to wake up early for work tomorrow."


    Joseph ignored her and went to the garage. He wanted to drive.


    Seeing this, Xavia immediately tried to coax him. "You''re drunk. You shouldn¡¯t drive."


    Joseph threw the car keys at her and got into the passenger seat. "You take the wheel. I want to go


    to the hospital."


    Hearing this, a hideous look overcame Xavia''s pretty face. "Why do you want to go to the hospital?"


    "To see my wife," Joseph replied impatiently as he closed his eyes.


    "Joe, I''m your wife. I''m right here. You don''t have to go looking at the hospital."


    Joseph''s eyelids fluttered before he opened his eyes and stared at Xavia for a few seconds with his


    blurry eyes.


    "Nonsense. You''re not Chloe."

 Chapter 597 Xavia Will Drive Her Mad

    Chapter 597 Xavia Will Drive Her Mad


    It was beyond Xavia''s expectation that Chloe was firmly engraved in Joseph''s heart. He even


    missed Chloe when he was drunk.


    The deep envy sparked into a wicked thought in Xavia¡¯s mind. She floored the gas pedal and drove


    toward the hospital. Upon arriving there and about to get out of the car, she spotted the photo album


    in the backseat out of the corner of her eye.


    She turned and nced at the man who was half asleep beside her. She then lightly picked up the


    album and quietly got out of the car, throwing it into a trash can nearby.


    *


    Chloe was asleep. The person who was keeping an eye on her had set up a simple bed at the door


    and stuck to his position.


    Xavia got out of the car and helped Joseph into the hospital.


    The subordinate at the door instantly spotted Joseph. He got up and went forward, saying in


    confusion, "Sir?"


    "Joe¡¯s drunk. Tell the nurse to get us a vacant room."


    "Oh, okay."


    Xavia averted her gaze and pointed at a room casually. "Get the room next door. It¡¯ll make it easier


    for me if I need your help."


    "Sure."


    The subordinate immediately opened the door of the neighboring ward and let them in.


    Joseph was drunk, but at that moment, he smelled the disinfectant. He thought that he had reached


    Chloe and an unprecedented sense of attachment engulfed him. Feeling a sense of relief, he fell


    sound asleep.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe heard Xavia''s voice from inside the ward. She reflexively opened her eyes and sat up to


    listen closely. Yes, it was Xavia''s voice. But what was she doing here in the middle of the night?


    Chloe quickly got up to take a look. When she opened the door, the subordinate came back. "Ms.


    Chloe, where are you going?"


    Chloe remainedposed. "I need to use the washroom."


    "Okay, I''ll go with you."


    When she passed by the neighboring ward, the door was ajar. At a nce, Chloe saw Xavia and


    Joseph on the bed, hugging each other tightly. From her angle, she caught Xavia''s happy


    expression.


    Chloe felt like she had received a fatal blow. They felt it insufficient to simply humiliate her in the


    Whitman family home. Now, they were sleeping together in the ward next to hers. Upon spotting


    Xavia''s bare shoulders, she realized that they might have done vulgar things.


    Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her. She bent over and vomited. She felt like she had emptied her


    guts before she was able to stop.


    Xavia heard the noise outside. She got up and wrapped her clothes tightly around her before firmly


    closing the door. She then walked to Chloe and asked in concern, "Ms. Chloe, are you okay?"


    If Chloe was not pregnant and unsure if the people around her would help, she would have pped


    Xavia. She suppressed her urge to hit Xavia and quietly turned around to leave.


    At that moment, all her love for Joseph was gone. She should leave. If she stayed there any longer,


    Xavia would drive her mad even if she could escape from the abortion.


    Xavia narrowed her eyes. She had not expected Chloe to be so calm, but it was fine. After all, she


    had managed to get Chloe to believe that Joseph had slept with her.


    Chloe returned to her ward after going to the washroom. During that one minute, her past with


    Joseph reyed in her mind. They had gotten to know each other and fell in love. For more than a


    year, they had easily gotten into fights. No wonder she was exhausted.


    She had taken the wrong path from the day she mistook him for someone else. After being woken


    up, she could no longer sleep and simply closed her eyes.


    In the morning, two nurses came to check on her. One of the nurses looked at Chloe, who was lying


    on the hospital bed. She then heaved a long sigh and whispered to her colleague, "She''s so pitiful. I


    heard from a colleague on the night shift that her wedding album was dumped in the trash can."

 Chapter 598 What Love Potion Did That Dumbo Give Him

    Chapter 598 What Love Potion Did That Dumbo Give Him


    "Serves her right. It''s her fault for not appreciating such a good husband. She can''t me anyone


    else for this."


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "That''s true, but their wedding photos looked so beautiful. They were a picture-perfect couple. What


    a pity."


    "We shouldn''t pity someone whocks moral integrity."


    "Let''s not dwell on it. After all, Mr. Joseph is never short of women. He brought another onest


    night..."


    The nurses¡¯ voices slowly faded into the background, and Chloe felt her heart grow numb. Tears


    uncontrobly cascaded down her face, drenching the pillow in arge damp stain.


    *


    The sky was dimly lit as Joseph awoke with a terrible headache, the result of drinking too much the


    previous night.


    Xavia approached him, holding a ss of tomato juice. "Drink. It¡¯ll help alleviate your hangover,"


    she said in a gentle tone.


    Joseph refused the drink and furrowed his brow. "Why are you here?"


    "I went to see youst night and found you drunk, clutching that wedding album and stumbling


    around with the intention of driving to the hospital to find Chloe," Xavia exined, her expression


    filled with helplessness. "I couldn''t allow you to drunk-drive in the middle of the night, so I had to


    bring you here. Little did I know that you¡¯d fall asleep once we got here."


    Joseph pped his forehead in frustration. ''Damn it,'' he thought, ''What kind of love potion did that


    dumbo give me? I couldn''t forget her even when I cked out.''


    "You stayed here with me all night?"


    "Yes," Xavia replied, pointing to the chair beside her. "I sat there the entire time. I didn''t get on the


    bed."


    Joseph pinched his brows. "You should head back and get some rest."


    "Okay... Joe, do you remember bringing your wedding photos? The ones you took with Chloe?"


    Xavia asked, trying to gather more information.


    "Wedding photos?" He shook his head. In his memory, he recalled throwing the album away at the


    bar, but the events that followed were hazy.


    Xavia pursed her lips, feeling somewhat helpless. "Last night, you threw away the album... You


    threw it in the bin at the hospital parking lot. I tried to stop you multiple times but there was no


    stopping you. It''s my fault. You can me me for that..."


    Joseph froze, his mind racing with conflicting emotions as he pondered, ¡®I threw the album?¡¯ He


    recalled the moment of frustration at the bar when he impulsively tossed the album aside, but deep


    down, a part of him knew that he did not want to discard it.


    Xavia noticed the shift in Joseph''s expression and decided to provoke him further. "I¡¯ll check the bin


    at the parking lot for you. It was your first marriage after all, and I''m sure those photos hold


    significant meaning."


    "There¡¯s no need," he coldly rejected, his pride surging. He considered the idea of retrieving the


    photos beneath him, having been in a marriage with such a promiscuous woman.


    Suddenly, the person responsible for guarding Chloe knocked on the door to report. "Sir, Ms.


    Chloe''s friend hase to visit her."


    As Joseph stepped out, he spotted Emily leaning against the small window in the ward, making


    funny faces to amuse Chloe.


    "This isn¡¯t a circus. Please mind yourself."


    Upon hearing Joseph''s icy tone, Emily''s anger red up as sheid eyes on him. She shouted in a


    loud voice, "You scumbag! I''ve already reported you for uwful imprisonment. The police will be


    here soon. You better release Coco immediately!"


    She had been waiting for Noah to make a move, but as she saw Chloe''s face grow thinner day by


    day, Emily refused to passively wait for a dismal oue.


    "Do as you please. Let''s see if the police wille to arrest me or you," Joseph responded with his


    hands casually tucked in his pockets, exuding an air of arrogance.


    Chloe was well aware of Joseph''s influential connections. Filled with fear, she anxiously gestured at


    Emily to leave at once from behind the ss.

 Chapter 599 Complete Breakdown

    Chapter 599 Complete Breakdown


    "How dare you! I haven''t done anything!" Emily was scared, but the thought of her good friend


    suffering made her instantly bristle up and retort with determination.


    Joseph nonchntly dropped a charge on her. "Disturbing public order."


    "I¡¯ve done no such thing! There are witnesses on the scene. I won''t allow you to make baseless


    usations."


    He arrogantly curled his lips and sneered. "Let¡¯s wait and see."


    Ten minutester, several men in police uniforms appeared at the hospital. At first nce, Chloe


    recognized the person leading the way was Tyson. "Em, you have to leave! Those policemen that


    just came are connected to him!" she called out.


    Emily felt a momentary panic, but she could not bear to run away. ¡®Coco is suffering, and it''ll only


    get worse if I do nothing,¡¯ she thought.


    Tyson assessed the situation and quickly grasped what was happening.


    Emily wasted no time in lodging aint, addressing Tyson, "Officer, Joseph is illegally holding


    my dear friend hostage."


    Tyson, now fully aware of the situation, felt overwhelmed. He lightly tapped his colleague next to


    him. "Since you''re new to the job, I''ll let you take the lead." Pausing momentarily, he whispered into


    his colleague''s ear, "Be gentle with the young girl. Just ask her to leave."


    With that, Tyson turned and approached Joseph to talk. Unknown to him, his new young colleague


    misunderstood their rtionship, wrongly perceiving Tyson''s words as sarcastic. He mistakenly


    believed that Tyson''s subtle instruction to "be gentle" actually meant to confront her firmly.


    Tyson pulled Joseph aside to keep Xavia from overhearing, "We received a call from our superiors


    today. Otto has been released from prison."


    Previously, they had nned an ambush, and Otto had kicked him, prompting the other officers to


    swiftly rush in and take action. Following the attack, Otto was dealt with ording to thew and


    locked up in prison.


    Joseph was not surprised. "Teaching him this lesson will do." He knew it was unrealistic to believe


    that they could defeat the Sinirs with a single move.


    "Also, don''t ask me to handle personal matters in the future. We''re rtives, and it''s best to avoid


    any suspicion in public ces,¡± Tyson aired hisint.


    Dealing with family affairs made him feel ufortable. Mishandling them could have negative


    consequences for his reputation.


    "I didn''t call for you."


    This time, it was purely a coincidence.


    "Fine, say what you need to say." Tyson nced at the pregnant woman behind Joseph. "So are


    you nning to reconcile with Xavia?"


    Given their frequent contact, it seemed like a possibility.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Don''t talk nonsense," Joseph replied coldly, "Please take Emily away. She''s getting on my nerves."


    "That''s not going to happen. She hasn''t done anything wrong. You, on the other hand..."


    Joseph shot Tyson a cold stare, causing thetter to press his lips together and opt for silence.


    ¡°Aaaaah!¡±


    The tranquility of the early morning was shattered by a piercing scream. Joseph and Tyson turned


    their heads simultaneously. They witnessed the young officer forcefully pinning Emily to the floor.


    The impact of the fall caused her front teeth to collide with the steps, resulting in a profuse flow of


    blood that filled her mouth. The young officer wore a smug expression as he sought recognition


    from Tyson for his actions.


    Inside the ward, Chloe witnessed the scene unfolding and was consumed by a torrent of rage. In a


    fit of anger, she seized the ss from the table and hurled it, shattering the window. Her arm


    reached through the broken ss, stretching out just enough to reach the young officer''s head. In a


    frenzied state, she unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes upon him.


    Joseph quickly approached and pulled Chloe back, restraining her from taking further action. "There


    are shards of ss everywhere! Are you trying to lose your arm?!"


    "Make him release Em now!" Chloe shouted, her voice filled with desperation, teetering on the brink


    of aplete breakdown.

 Chapter 600 You Shouldn’t Treat Chloe This Way

    Chapter 600 You Shouldn¡¯t Treat Chloe This Way


    Without waiting for Joseph to speak, Tyson was the first to raise his voice sternly. "What the hell do


    you think you''re doing? Release her immediately!"


    The young officer was taken aback by Tyson¡¯s yell, causing him to loosen his grip and allow Emily


    to escape. She covered her mouth as she spat out a tooth stained with blood.


    Chloe felt overwhelmed with guilt at the sight before her. Fortunately, they were in the hospital. Her


    almond eyescked their usual warmth and her voice was devoid of emotion as she said to Joseph,


    "Open the door. I''m taking Em to see a doctor."


    Joseph was unustomed to the way she looked at him¡ªindifferent and icy¡ªas if she were


    looking at a stranger. "I''ll get Lucas to take her. You stay here."


    Chloe''s heart sank, and her pupils dted in disbelief. Joseph''s response stabbed at her like a


    dagger. It was iprehensible to her. "My friend is injured, and I want to apany her to see a


    doctor. And all of this is because of you, yet you want to deprive me of the right to go with her?"


    "You''re not a doctor. What''s the use of you going?"


    Chloe was rendered speechless. She knew Joseph had a questionable moralpass, but how


    could he disy such indifference when Emily had just lost her teeth right in front of him? Was he


    truly so heartless?


    She watched helplessly as Lucas took Emily away. She felt utterly powerless as if all her energy


    had been drained, leaving her in a state of despair. The person guarding Chloe noticed her distress


    and advised her to get some rest.


    Joseph opened the door to the ward and said in a cold tone, "If you hadn''t let your friende,


    none of this would¡¯ve happened. And even if shees, she can¡¯t get you out."


    Chloe raised her head calmly, her expression devoid of emotion except for deep-seated hatred. "By


    keeping me locked up here, you''re only fueling my hatred for you."


    She was determined not to terminate the pregnancy. She would give birth to the child and raise it


    with love and care. And she vowed that her child would never know they had such a heartless


    father.


    Joseph felt a sharp pang in his heart as her words pierced his conscience. ''Shouldn''t I be the one


    filled with hatred toward her?'' he thought, his emotions swirling like a turbulent whirlwind.


    Ignoring him, Chloe entered the ward and quietly settled by the window, her gaze fixed on the


    outside world as her mind wandered in deep contemtion.


    After reprimanding the young officer, Tyson patted Joseph''s shoulder with a serious expression


    before leaving. "In all fairness, you shouldn''t treat Chloe this way."


    Joseph''s long, darkshes quivered with a mix of emotions. "Why?"


    "You got Xavia pregnant, and now Chloe is carrying someone else''s child. Now, it''s evened out. You


    can''t expect to have everything your way while denying others the same.¡±


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Tyson''s words struck Joseph''s heart like a relentless hammer, each impact resounding deeply


    within him. He stood motionless, his mind momentarily empty. Realization washed over him that,


    despite his previous superiority, he now found himself standing in the same shoes as Chloe.


    In that fleeting moment, he grasped a glimpse of the pain she had endured. epting that the child


    of the person you love belonged to someone else was a heart-wrenching realization to endure.


    Yet, within a heartbeat, Joseph swiftly regained hisposure. "We''re different," he asserted,


    "Chloe and Icarus were aware and willing participants, while I wasn¡¯t."


    Tyson saw through everything. "Perhaps Chloe doesn''t like Icarus either. It could¡¯ve been an


    ident too. Otherwise, why would she choose to stay with you?"


    Joseph was rendered speechless. His face remainedposed, but his internalposure


    wavered slightly. "That''s enough. Icarus has already confessed."


    Tyson sneered, shrugged, and departed with his young colleague. Meanwhile, Joseph made his


    way to the fourth floor to inquire about Emily''s condition at the dental department.

 Chapter 601 She Was Truly Blind, Having Misjudged His Character

    Chapter 601 She Was Truly Blind, Having Misjudged His Character


    Emily lost one of her front teeth, and the dental department chief suggested, "The front teeth are an


    important part of a person''s appearance and should be carefully restored. I rmend getting a


    dental imnt. I suggest going to the hospital on Southgate Street. They have a dedicated


    department for dental care, and their facilities are superior to ours."


    "Thank you, doctor..." Emily''s speech was affected by her missing tooth, resulting in a lisp that was


    both amusing and pitiful.


    A barely perceptible furrow appeared on Joseph''s brow. "Lucas, take her there. I¡¯ll cover the


    expenses."


    Lucas nodded sympathetically, feeling sorry for Emily''s predicament. Losing a tooth must be painful.


    "I don''t want your money! Stop pretending!" Emily retorted, disying no interest in his offer.


    She chided herself for her naivety. When she first discovered Joseph the scumbag and Xavia had a


    one-night stand, she should have distanced Chloe from him. If she had not forgiven him, Chloe


    would not have had to endure this injustice. She was truly blind¡ªhaving misjudged Joseph¡¯s


    character. She had inadvertently caused harm to her dear friend.


    Joseph''s voice remained indifferent as he responded, "Don''t even think about taking Chloe away.


    It''s futile. Save your energy."


    Fueled by anger, Emily shouted back, "If you want to treat her like this, why don''t you just let her


    go?!"


    He paused for a moment, deep in thought. Why... He could not quite pinpoint the exact reason. It


    was not solely for the sake of revenge against Chloe... Definitely not. He had never been one to


    waste time on useless individuals. He thought that since he could not let go, perhaps they could


    continue to torment each other. It was better than having no connection at all.


    *


    Chloe slept for a whole day, or rather, she justnguished in bed. Through Lucas, she received


    word that Emily was doing well, which provided some relief to her anxious heart.


    In a dazed state, she found herself on the eve of the scheduled abortion surgery. But due to signs of


    a potential miscarriage, she had to undergo preoperative examinations. With the assistance of a


    nurse, shepleted the necessary tests and returned to her ward to rest.


    The doctor handed the examination results to Joseph. "Sir, your wife is showing symptoms of


    anemia, and based on the examination report, her condition is deteriorating. It¡¯d be risky to proceed


    with the surgery in her current state. If she wants to proceed, she should improve her health first."


    Joseph was caught off guard. "Anemia is amon condition, isn''t it? Does it really have such a


    significant impact?"


    "Yes, but the severity of your wife¡¯s symptoms is concerning."


    "What can we do to improve her health?"


    "I¡¯ll prescribe her some medication, but in addition to that, you could also explore herbal remedies


    for anemia."


    Joseph recalled the herbalist, Doctor Frederick, whom he had called on before. Without hesitation,


    he returned to the ward and took Chloe along with him to find the herbalist. Like a wooden doll,


    Chloe followed him with a vacant expression, devoid of any vitality.


    Joseph gently cupped her cheeks andpelled her to meet his gaze. "Aren''t you curious about


    where we''re going?"


    "Our destination won''t change whether I ask or not, so what''s the point of asking?¡±


    Joseph released his grip on her and let out a cold snort. "At least you¡¯re sensible."


    *


    At the clinic, Frederick measured Chloe¡¯s blood pressure. Before he could say anything, Joseph


    instructed Lucas to take Chloe back to the car. Chloe, too weak to specte on his intentions,


    silently followed Lucas.


    As he watched Chloe leave, Frederick remarked, "Her anemia is quite severe."


    "Please prescribe the medication," Joseph paused, "She¡¯s pregnant by the way."


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "I know. I¡¯ve already taken note of that. I¡¯ll make sure not to use any ingredients that pregnant


    women should avoid." Frederick looked puzzled for a moment and asked, "ording to the


    timeline, when you requested medication for menstrual pain through your assistant, she was


    already pregnant. Did you not realize it at that time?"


    "I believe she should¡¯ve noticed."


    "Ah, then why didn''t she inform me?"


    "I don''t know."


    There was no change in Joseph¡¯s expression as if they were discussing what to have for dinner.


    Frederick''s mouth fell open, sensing the sudden chill in the air. He felt a growing unease and


    avoided eye contact with Joseph. After a moment of silence, he let out a dryugh. "Perhaps she


    wanted to surprise you."


    Joseph did not continue the conversation as he waited to collect the medication.


    *


    Inside the car, with no one else around, Chloe nced around, pondered for a few seconds, and


    said to Lucas, "Could you do me a favor?"

 Chapter 602 Lose Her Life on the Operating Table

    Chapter 602 Lose Her Life on the Operating Table


    Lucas did not hesitate and guessed what she wanted to say in a second. "Are you asking me to let


    you go, Ms. Chloe?"


    Chloe was taken aback for a moment. "Not exactly, but it''s rted to that." She was alone and could


    not just sit here and wait for Noah to save her. Tomorrow was the day of the abortion, and she was


    filled with fear.


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t help you," Lucas firmly declined. He was loyal to Mr. Joseph, having worked


    with him since graduation. Though he was kept busy and had been exhausted every day for all


    these years, the knowledge and opportunities he had gained were thanks to Mr. Joseph''s support.


    He could not bring himself to bite the hand that feeds him.


    Chloe''s eyes dimmed. This oue was within her expectations. "Then can you tell me where


    Icarus is now and how he''s doing?"


    ¡®If what Joseph said was true, there might be no evidence to prove her innocence.¡¯


    Lucas hesitated before responding, "I was waiting outside that day and didn''t witness what


    happened inside, but¡­ I heard the sounds of a struggle. After Mr. Joseph came out, Icarus didn¡¯t


    appear..."


    Chloe''s heart sank. ¡®He didn¡¯t appear... If Joseph was telling the truth, then it''s highly likely that


    Icarus...¡¯


    She shuddered, realizing that now there was no evidence to prove her innocence. However, the


    important thing at the moment was not proving herself innocent, but escaping the impending


    surgery.


    Chloe took a deep breath, an icy coldness crossing her bright and delicate face. When a person


    was pushed to a dead end, extreme thoughts inevitably emerged...


    *


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Frederick carefully prepared the medicine, ensuring each package was adequatelybeled with


    clear instructions. "This is a three-course treatment. Finish them within a month. If she experiences


    abdominal pain or any other symptoms, seek immediate medical attention."


    "Thank you." Joseph handed his card to the apprentice.


    Suddenly, Frederick asked, "Which hospital are you visiting and which doctor is attending to you?"


    Joseph answered honestly, holding nothing back.


    Frederick''s expression subtly changed. Just as Joseph was about to take the medicine and leave,


    Frederick halted him. "I know that doctor. He specializes in performing abortion procedures. You''re


    not taking your wife there for prenatal care, are you?"


    Joseph''s handsome face remained impassive. His long eyshes drooped slightly, casting a small


    shadow under his eye sockets, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.


    Frederick felt a twinge of unease and regretted speaking so bluntly.


    "What are you trying to say?" Joseph asked.


    "That doctor must have already informed you that your wife is in no condition to undergo an abortion


    right now. She has to get better first. My guess is that there are some issues with the child in her


    womb, which is why you wish to terminate the pregnancy. But if you start the medication for


    conditioning now, you''ll have to wait at least a month. And after a month, your wife will be more than


    five months pregnant, approaching six months. It may be difficult to have an abortion at that stage.


    "I have a friend who¡¯s a specialist that offers unique targeted treatment for congenital infant


    diseases. I don''t believe it''s any major illness. You should consider continuing with the pregnancy.


    Medical technology is highly advanced these days."


    Frederick retrieved a business card and offered it to Joseph. Joseph nced at the card in his hand


    and let out a chuckle. "What if I wait for her to finish the three-course treatment and then proceed


    with the abortion?"


    That would be after a month, by which time she would be more than five months pregnant, nearing


    the six-month mark.


    "Well, it''s not entirely impossible," Frederick answered, "But undergoing an abortion at six months


    would pose significant risks to your wife, especially considering her current condition. If any


    complications were to arise during the procedure, she could lose her life on the operating table."

 Chapter 603 Blatantly Expressing Harold’s Amazing and Timely Death

    Chapter 603 tantly Expressing Harold¡¯s Amazing and Timely Death


    After Chloe returned to the hospital with Joseph, she anxiously awaited the passage of time. At 10


    the following morning, a nurse entered the room and said, "Please step outside for a moment."


    Chloe trembled, tightly holding on to the fruit knife hidden behind her back as she nervously asked,


    "Are you going to perform the surgery on me?"


    "No, it''s just for a check-up. You¡¯re being discharged."


    Chloe was taken aback. It was not until she walked out of the hospital with Lucas and the sunlight


    bathed her, providing a warm andforting embrace, did shee around. She felt a glimmer of


    vitality as if she had been reborn.


    "Ms. Chloe, please get in," Lucas said to her.


    "What about Joseph?"


    "Mr. Joseph is busy. I¡¯m taking you to the vi so that you can rest."


    Chloe was taken aback by the response. "So I don¡¯t have to do the surgery?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Mr. Joseph didn''t tell me the specifics, but it seems that you don''t need the surgery now."


    ording to the original n, the surgery was scheduled for 10 this morning, and it was already 11.


    It was evident that the procedure would not be taking ce today. Chloe blinked, feeling a wave of


    confusion washing over her.


    "Ms. Chloe, please get in. Mr. Joseph will join us once he¡¯s finished with work," Lucas said as he


    opened the car door for her.


    Chloe hesitated, her eyes scanning her surroundings.


    "Ms. Chloe, there''s no point in thinking about running away. You won''t even get past the main gate,"


    Lucas said with a hint of helplessness, gesturing toward a ck car behind them. "The men in that


    car are Mr. Joseph''s men. If you attempt to escape, they¡¯ll take action."


    Chloe furrowed her brows, unable toprehend Joseph''s intentions. Her intuition told her that


    something the doctor said had caused him to temporarily abandon the idea. Or maybe it was


    Noah''s influence...


    Regardless, Chloe had no other option but toply and return to the vi. It was much better here


    compared to the hospital. There were two helpers and four bodyguards at the vi, creating a


    suffocating atmosphere. Chloe felt constantly monitored, feeling it difficult for her to even take a


    breath.


    Suddenly, she spotted thendline phone in the first-floor living room. She wondered if the helpers


    would allow her to use it.


    *


    After dropping Chloe off, Lucas headed to Fairlight. Joseph was finished with his meeting and was


    rubbing his temples to alleviate his fatigue.


    "Sir, I¡¯ve sent Ms. Chloe to the vi."


    "You can go and attend to your duties now."


    "We received an email in thepany''s cooperation inbox..."


    "Handle it as you see fit. There''s no need to bother me with trivial matters."


    "It''s not work-rted. It''s from Briake..."


    Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Show me."


    Lucasplied, turned around, and brought theptop over. On the screen, a vivid shade of red


    caught his eye. As he scrolled down, an image featuring Harold''s picture in a somber setting


    appeared, adorned with gold ents and vibrant designs. It conveyed a subtle metaphor,


    symbolizing hints of good fortune. The bottom right corner was signed by Otto Sinir. The


    message tantly expressed Harold''s amazing and timely death.


    Joseph remainedposed and closed theptop.


    Lucas thought he was holding back and cursed, "Sir, the Sinirs are incredibly disrespectful. It¡¯s


    like they do not fear the consequences of their immoral actions!"


    Even after Harold had beenid to rest, they continued to stir up trouble. They were destined to be


    gued by their foul mouths sooner orter.


    Joseph''s tone remained indifferent as he said, "There''s no need to pay any attention to the words of


    such animals."


    "But the way they insulted Mr. Harold..."


    Joseph sneered. ''Insulted? Well, let''s see who will have thestugh.''


    "Sir, in addition to the email, Otto sent you an invitation. It says, ''See you at Crimson Oasis tonight


    at 8.¡¯¡±


    Joseph adjusted his tie, his eyebrows raised with a hint of wickedness. "We''ll leave at half past 7."

 Chapter 604 Trading Chloe for a Lead on Fleurette

    Chapter 604 Trading Chloe for a Lead on Fleurette


    Crimson Oasis of Aesper was a renowned nightclub bustling with people from all walks of life, each


    with their own unique character. Led by a waiter, Joseph made his way to the entrance of a private


    VIP room.


    "The gentleman has arrived," announced the two guards stationed at the entrance, one of them


    holding onto a ck bowler hat reminiscent of those worn during funerals.


    "Mr. Joseph, this is a gift from Mr. Otto¡ª" the man began, but his words were cut short as the man


    behind Joseph delivered a forceful p across his face. "Fuck! Who do you think you are? I''ll send


    you to your grave!"


    The guard was instantly hurled against the wall, and the hat in his hand convenientlynded on the


    head of hispanion. Lucas raised his thumbs at Vince Fiersen in admiration. "Bro, you truly live


    up to your name. You¡¯re fearsome and formidable."


    Mr. Joseph always brought this man to such asions. With his towering height of 1.9 meters and


    weight of 190 kilograms, Vince trulymanded attention.


    Joseph cast a nce at the other man guarding the door, who trembled nervously and swiftly


    opened it. "Please step inside..." he stammered, his voice filled with trepidation.


    In the private room, colorful lights flickered, dimly illuminating everyone present. A beautiful woman


    was perched on Otto¡¯s thigh, whispering to him affectionately. But the moment her eyes fell upon


    Joseph¡¯s figure¡ªhis slim waist, broad shoulders, and dignified demeanor¡ªshe was instantly


    captivated. Although Otto was handsome in his own right, he had a different stylepared to


    Joseph. She much preferred someone like Joseph.


    Otto smiled and said, "If you like him, go ahead and give him your best service."


    The beautiful woman beamed in response. "Thank you, sir."


    She swayed her hips as she approached Joseph, casting a flirtatious nce. "This is our first time


    meeting, Mr. Joseph. I''ve heard so much about you," she purred.


    Without Joseph uttering a word, Lucas stepped forward and sternly said, "Get lost." Though he


    could not overpower the bodyguards, he could still ward off these unwanted advances.


    The beautiful woman grew irritated and red at Lucas in anger, but she dared not say anything


    and reluctantly stepped aside.


    "Your subordinate is at fault here. Beautiful women are meant to be cherished, not scolded. With


    two pregnant women at home, haven''t you been suffocating these past few months?" Otto joked as


    if they were old acquaintances. He paused for a moment, then feigned realization. "Look at me, I


    forgot. Now there''s only one left. Chloe can no longer be considered part of the Whitmans. What a


    pity."


    Joseph casually sat down. "If you think it''s a pity, you can do a good deed and adopt a few


    fatherless children. Maybe from thedy beside you?"


    The beautiful woman became agitated and stomped her foot in anger. "I''m not pregnant!"


    "Don''t worry. Stay here a little longer and you eventually will be. Mr. Otto can then be a father."


    Otto''s face stiffened, sensing the mockery in Joseph''s words. "That''s enough. I didn''te here to


    exchange banter."


    "Get to the point." Joseph remained calm, his voice steady.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "To be honest, I quite like Chloe. Since she''s now considered to be defective goods, why not let me


    have some fun with her? And in return, I''ll provide you with information about your mother''s


    whereabouts."


    Joseph¡¯s hand holding the wine ss paused for a moment, and his sharp eyes remained fixed on


    Otto. "You''re giving me a lead? Aren''t you afraid of Cyrusing after you?"


    Otto leaned back, a wicked smirk on his face. "What''s the use of having a lead? I haven''t found her


    either. Many hands make light work." Deep down, he knew that even if the Whitmans found


    Fleurette first, they could just snatch her back.


    "There¡¯s no need," Joseph refused without hesitation.


    "Why? Chloe has already cuckolded you, but yet you''re still so reluctant to let her go? Do you even


    care about finding your mother?"


    Though it sounded like a jest, Joseph knew deep down that the Sinirs would destroy anything he


    held dear. Once his mother escaped, Cyrus would undoubtedly seek revenge and crush the entire


    Whitman family. Harold was merely the first victim.

 Chapter 605 Joseph Despises Promiscuous, Fickle Women Like You

    Chapter 605 Joseph Despises Promiscuous, Fickle Women Like You


    "Maybe I''ve been aware of your so-called lead for quite some time now."


    Otto replied with confidence, sneering, "That''s impossible."


    While Fairlight may hold some influence in the business world, itcked Duskfall¡¯s extensive reach


    and connections. The only organization that could rival Duskfall was Imperium. Joseph may have


    sought the assistance of someone affiliated with Imperium for tracking and investigation.


    The nature of Imperium was akin to Duskfall. Though Imperium was a rtively new organization


    established just two years ago, it had grown rapidly.


    "Tsk." Joseph settled into the plush leather sofa, casually swirling the wine in his ss. He


    unbuttoned his suit jacket, revealing a sleek ck silk shirt that entuated his handsome yet


    dangerous demeanor. "Whatever Duskfall uncovers, I¡¯m capable of discovering as well."


    "Do you think I¡¯d believe you?"


    "Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you," Joseph replied, motioning for Otto toe


    closer. "But I have something to share with you today as well."


    A hint of curiosity flickered across Otto''s face as he leaned forward, unable to resist his intrigue.


    "If there everes a day when you can no longer sustain yourself in Duskfall, remember that you


    cane to me."


    "Huh?" Otto was, after all, the CEO of Briake. Could he really be looked down upon so easily?


    And resort to Fairlight for handouts?


    Joseph met Otto''s puzzled gaze and spoke in a hushed tone audible to only the two of them. "Do


    you truly believe that you''re an orphan?"


    Otto''s eyes widened. "What do you mean?"


    With a faint smile, Joseph chose to end the conversation at that pivotal moment. Otto refrained from


    further questioning, but his shrewd eyes fixated intently on Joseph, attempting to unravel the truth of


    his words.


    "If you desire the answers, you know where to find me." With those parting words, Joseph exited


    the room with Vince and Lucas in tow.


    For a long while, Otto sat on the sofa in silence. Gradually, his senses returned, and a trace of


    disdain crept into his eyes. He contemted, ¡®Even if I¡¯m not an orphan, what difference does it


    make? Even if my parents are alive, what significance does it hold? We¡¯d be nothing more than


    strangers bound by blood.¡¯


    *


    Chloe fell asleep early, but she had been restlesstely and even the slightest noise would wake


    her. In the darkness, she heard footsteps outside that stopped near her door. Thinking it was a


    helper, she patiently waited for them to leave.


    However, the person did not leave. Doubt started to creep into Chloe¡¯s mind. Barefoot and swift, she


    tiptoed to the door and flung it open.


    Xavia, who stood outside, jumped in surprise at the sudden movement. She patted her chest,


    scolding, "Are you a spirit? You make no noise while you walk!"


    "And aren''t you skulking around like a mouse in the dead of night?" Chloe''s face remained devoid of


    emotion.


    "Why you...!" Xavia''s annoyance and embarrassment welled up. Her gaze shifted andnded on


    Chloe''s belly, causing her voice to escte, "Why haven''t you had an abortion yet?!"


    Chloe''s smile turned cold. "Disappointed, aren''t you? Even in this situation, Joseph still forgave me.


    Your hopes of marrying into the Whitmans are in vain."


    In truth, she had no idea why the operation was canceled, nor did she know if it would be


    rescheduled for another day. Saying those words was merely a means to provoke Xavia, whom she


    could not stand.


    "Don''t delude yourself. Joe despises promiscuous, fickle women like you," Xavia retorted, quickly


    regaining herposure and refusing to let herself be affected. After being together for five years,


    she knew Joseph''s temperament and boundaries. Even if Joseph had feelings for Chloe, he still had


    his pride.


    A glimmer of happiness graced Chloe''s delicate face as she gently caressed her growing belly. "Is


    that so? Then exin to me why it''s me who sleeps in the vi, not you."


    "While you''re confined to the vi, I have the freedom toe and go. Just stop struggling.


    Everything will soon be mine," Xavia responded.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Due to her dedication to her violin practice, Xavia still possessed slender, fair arms with graceful


    contours despite being six months pregnant. Along with her rosyplexion, she appeared far


    healthier than Chloe, exuding an aura of effortless elegance that surpassed Chloe''s, making her


    seem more like the truedy of the house.


    Chloe''s lips tightened into a line, and she was momentarily taken aback. The topic of being confined


    left her unable to feign happiness.


    Xavia took a step forward, intending to enter and casually inspect the surroundings. However, the


    nanny downstairs interrupted, "Wee home, Mr. Joseph."


    Hearing this, Xavia swiftly turned around and descended the stairs. Her tone was affectionate and


    filled with admiration as she asked, "Joe, are you hungry? I brought you some chicken noodle


    soup."


    Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed when he spotted her, forming small creases at the center of his forehead.


    "Why are you here again?"


    "I heard Chloe was discharged and was worried about how she''d be feeling after the surgery, so I


    dropped by for a chat." Xavia paused, her expression curious. "But turns out she hasn''t had the


    operation yet... Did something cause a dy?"

 Chapter 606 She’s Cold Toward Him

    Chapter 606 She¡¯s Cold Toward Him


    Joseph furrowed slightly and replied in a nonchnt tone, "There was a little ident."


    Xavia frowned and thought, ''A little ident? Was it an external factor or something personal?''


    External factors should not affect the development of the situation, but things would be different if it


    were personal. Although she nned to switch her baby with Chloe''s, she would rather that Chloe


    have a fallout with Joseph.


    "There''s nothing for you here. Leave. Stoping here," Joseph said with an air of dismissal.


    Xavia''s face turned pale. She gripped her clothes and forced a smile on her face. "I was just worried


    about Ms. Chloe, but I''m happy to hear from her that you two have gotten back together."


    Joseph paused in his tracks. Turning his head around, he gazed deeply at Xavia and asked, "Did


    Chloe really say that?"


    "No¡­ She said that¡­" Xavia stammered, then stopped. "Never mind, how it came about doesn''t


    matter. Let''s focus on the oue."


    "Speak," Joseph''s voice was icy,ced withmand.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "It''s nothing really. Ms. Chloe simply said that you love her and that you¡¯d still love her even if she


    were carrying someone else''s child. She ims your feelings for each other are so deep that they


    wouldn''t be affected by trivial matters..."


    "Trivial matters? Hmph." Joseph''s face sank as he squeezed out his words through clenched teeth.


    ¡®Does she truly believe I¡¯ll forgive her? How dare she assume something like that of me!''


    Xavia pointed upstairs. "Look, Joe. Ms. Chloe ising down."


    Joseph raised his head and spotted Chloe standing near the railing, her skirt swaying in the evening


    breeze. Her delicate form appeared as fragile as a piece of paper, and her eyescked their usual


    sparkle. She looked at him coldly and indifferently as if she were looking at a stranger.


    The anger that had just red up inside Joseph instantly dissipated, leaving behind an unexpected


    heaviness in his heart. It was as if he were the one who had made a mistake.


    Xavia smiled as she looked at Chloe. "You¡¯re so lucky that Joe loves you so much, Ms. Chloe. I''m


    so envious of you."


    Chloe ignored her. She averted her gaze, entered the room, and closed the door with a m.


    Xavia was taken aback. "Joe, she..."


    "She''s being unreasonable. Just ignore her," Joseph said in a frustrated tone, his mood sour.


    He had already done her a great favor by respecting her decision and not pressuring her into


    getting an abortion, but it appeared that she did not value his act of kindness. Instead of being


    grateful, she showed her discontent toward him. Did she really think that he would dote on her like


    he used to do in the past?


    ¡°I should spend more time chatting with Ms. Chloe. As fellow pregnant women, we have many


    common topics. I offer her support. Otherwise, it¡¯s easy to develop depression during this difficult


    time," Xavia said, her voice thick with concern.


    Joseph wanted to refuse but suddenly recalled what Otto had said earlier tonight. He fell silent for a


    moment, then said, "There¡¯s no need toe here. I need apanion for a conference tomorrow.


    I want you toe with me."


    Xavia was stunned for a moment, then nodded in surprise and agreement. "Okay... But aren''t you


    afraid that Ms. Chloe will be jealous?"


    "There are no connections between us anymore¡ªlegally nor sentimentally," he replied.


    Xavia was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions after hearing those words. She felt a mix of


    dizziness, excitement, joy, and exhration. All her hardships and struggles had finally paid off.


    Was Joseph implying that he was giving up on that wretched woman?


    Leaning softly against his shoulder, Xavia shyly asked, "Then, about us..."

 Chapter 607 What’s This? Some Sort of Abortion Concoction?

    Chapter 607 What¡¯s This? Some Sort of Abortion Concoction?


    A flicker of disgust crossed Joseph''s handsome face in response to Xavia''s actions, but he resisted


    the urge to push her away.


    "We''ll discuss thister," he said.


    He believed that impatience would not lead to a good oue, especially in critical moments when


    one must endure humiliation and carry burdens.


    After Xavia left, Joseph sat in his chair in contemtion. When Xavia apanied him to the event


    tomorrow, it would undoubtedly expose her to the public eye and divert the Sinirs¡¯ attention


    toward her. Considering Cyrus''s deranged personality, she would be put in an extremely dangerous


    position. He might even harm the child in her womb.


    Joseph could not understand what had driven him to make such a decision just now.


    Subconsciously, he wanted to protect Chloe, just like when he learned about the risks of the


    abortion procedure yesterday. The thought of her losing her life on the operating table made his


    heart bleed. However, he could not bear to let her birth Icarus'' child either. He just could not do it.


    He smirked, releasing a short, scornfulugh.


    Since meeting Chloe, he had been slowlypromising his principles, making one concession after


    another. Now, he felt as though he was standing at the edge of a precipice with no retreat in sight.


    Propping his legs atop the table, he leaned back in his chair as his mind became an entangled web


    ofplex thoughts that night.


    The next morning, a house helper brought Joseph breakfast as he prepared to head to the office. In


    a troubled tone, she said, "Sir, Ms. Chloe is eating very little and refusing to drink her herbal


    medicine."


    He frowned. "Bring the medicine to me."


    "Yes, sir."


    When Joseph entered the room, Chloe was reading a book. As if oblivious to her presence, she did


    not even raise her head. Being ignored made him feel greatly displeased. He snatched the book


    from her hands and threw it onto the ground.


    "What''s wrong with you?!" Chloe snapped.


    "Drink," Josephmanded, shoving the bowl of herbal medicine at Chloe''s mouth. His actions


    lacked gentleness, causing it to hit her teeth.


    "Am I going to get the same treatment as Em?" Chloe asked as she looked at him defiantly.


    "Drink," Joseph repeated, not wanting to exin that that incident was unintentional. Not even


    Tyson had anticipated that Emily would be shoved to the ground in that manner.


    Chloe''s eyes fell upon the porcin bowl and asked, "What¡¯s this? Some sort of abortion


    concoction?¡±


    Joseph was stumped. "No."


    "Then what is it?" Chloe clearly did not believe him, and her eyes filled with mockery and caution.


    "Last chance. Will you drink it or not?" Joseph leaned in closer, bridging the gap between them. A


    commanding presence radiated from him, causing the air around them to grow cold and stagnant.


    Chloe felt a shiver run down her spine as fear flickered through her eyes. Cowering in the corner,


    she protected her stomach with both hands. She was filled with panic over the unknown origin of


    the concoction.


    Her health may not be great but the child in her womb was healthy. And at this moment, Joseph


    saw the baby inside her as dirty and repulsive. Under such circumstances, he must be intending to


    harm her child. Therefore, she would do whatever it took to refuse the medicine, even if it meant


    risking her life.


    Seeing Chloe''s resistance, his gaze grew cold as he stared at her.


    Chloe felt a chilling sensation run down her spine. "What are you doing... Mmph! Stop!"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    In the following moments, Joseph took a mouthful of the medicine and pressed his lips against


    Chloe''s, forcefully administering the concoction into her mouth. The bitter liquid spread quickly,


    filling every inch of her mouth. She was engulfed by a fit of intense coughing and struggled to catch


    her breath. As she attempted to cough, he bit her lips hard, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth.


    Joseph watched as she grimaced in pain and was satisfied with the oue. He released her and


    calmly wiped the corners of his mouth with a tissue.


    Chloe trembled in fear. As she cried, she coughed over and over, desperately trying to expel the


    medicine. Seeing her struggle, Joseph took her hands and held them firmly. There was a mix of


    anger and frustration in his voice as he shouted, "It isn¡¯t an abortion concoction! Don''t throw it back


    up!"

 Chapter 608 You Think This Is a Blessing?

    Chapter 608 You Think This Is a Blessing?


    "I don''t believe you! You want to kill my baby¡­" Chloe sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Her


    eyes were red and filled with helplessness as she continued to struggle.


    Joseph had no other choice but to get the house helper to use some rope to restrain her to the bed.


    "Release her after three hours," Joseph instructed the helper before he left. Three hours should be


    enough time for the medicine to be absorbed.


    "Yes, sir," the helper replied obediently.


    Chloe lost track of how long she had been crying. Her disheveled hair clung to her damp cheeks as


    she remained bound to the bed, the coarse ropes leaving red marks on her delicate skin. She


    stared nkly at the ceiling as her heart filled with despair. As time ticked by, the pain she expected


    did note.


    After three hours, the helper finally came to untie her. ¡°Why do you have to make such trouble? Mr.


    Joseph is doing this for your own good. Every day, he asks if you have been eating properly. He


    cares about you. It''s a blessing," she said earnestly.


    Staring at the helper with her bloodshot eyes, Chloe replied, "He doesn''t trust me. He keeps me


    locked up, hurts me, bullies my friends, and ties me to the bed like I¡¯m an animal. He has taken


    away all my rights as a human being, and you think this is a blessing?"


    "Ahaha¡­ Y-You¡¯re really funny, Ms, Chloe," the housekeeper stammered in response. She was a


    little afraid of Chloe, so she quickly untied the ropes and left.


    Rubbing her wrists, Chloe descended the stairs, making her way to thendline phone on the first


    floor. The helper immediately tried to stop her. "Ms. Chloe, you aren¡¯t allowed to use that."


    "And what if I insist?" Chloe tilted her head, her gaze icy cold.


    "Mr. Joseph will surely scold me."


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Then I guess you¡¯re going to get a scolding."


    The helper noticed Chloe reaching for the telephone and instinctively moved forward to snatch it


    away. However, Chloe summoned a sudden burst of strength and forcefully shoved the helper


    away. "Get out!" she screamed.


    The helper was startled by Chloe''s sudden outburst. But upon seeing the bodyguards standing


    outside, she thought that even if Chloe called for help, it would not make a difference since no one


    could enter. Reluctantly, she left and reported the situation to Joseph.


    After being confined the first time following her attempt to break up with Joseph, Chloe became


    cautious and memorized Emily and Harold¡¯s numbers. She decided to call Emily first.


    "Coco?! Are you okay?" Emily sounded relieved upon receiving her call, thinking she had regained


    her freedom.


    Chloe replied bitterly, "No, he brought me back to the house.¡±


    "What? How? I spoke to Noah, and he said he¡¯d help you."


    Chloe¡¯s heart trembled, and Noah¡¯s handsome face appeared in her mind. "Noah agreed?"


    "Yes, he did. Didn''t he show up yesterday?"


    "No... But the operation didn¡¯t happen yesterday..."


    "That must be because of Noah''s help. You were kept in the ward, so you didn''t see what was


    happening," Emily said.


    Chloe contemted the possibility. Joseph''s sudden change of heart must have been triggered by


    some external factor. However, escaping one danger only to encounter another was not a relief at


    all. She could not continue taking that mysterious concoction. Just because nothing happened


    today did not mean there would not be any issues in the future. It could be a long-term medication


    with slow-acting effects.


    After ending the call with Emily, Chloe dialed Harold''s number. Although Harold was no longer alive,


    Patrick was still around. He held a certain influence within the Whitmans, and she had no choice but


    to seek his help.


    "Ms. Chloe? Why are you calling Mr. Harold¡¯s number?" Patrick answered, suspecting that Chloe


    might have learned something.

 Chapter 609 Pay in Blood

    Chapter 609 Pay in Blood


    ¡°Please Patrick¡­ Please save me¡­ Joseph is driving me mad. I can''t take it anymore," Chloe


    sobbed, her voice filled with despair.


    Her days had be unbearably painful, and she feared she could not hold on much longer.


    Patrick nced at Harold, who stood nearby with a serious expression. He hesitated before asking,


    "Have you and Mr. Joseph not reconciled yet?"


    "No, he doesn''t trust me, and I don''t want him to trust me anymore."


    Their rtionship resembled a mirage¡ªan illusory oasis in the desert. It seemed within reach, yet


    always slipped through their fingers. After the mirage disappeared, all that remained were incessant


    arguments and lingering doubts.


    Chloe felt exhausted. If they could not find a way to sustain their rtionship, perhaps it was time


    for them to let go. But unfortunately, even parting ways seemed like a luxury at the moment.


    Patrick was caught in a dilemma. He looked toward Harold and silently mouthed, "What should we


    do, sir?"


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ask Chloe if the child really is Joseph''s."


    Patrick was taken aback, finding it difficult to ask such a question.


    Harold rolled his eyes, annoyed by his hesitance. At such an age, being timid was ridiculous.


    After pondering for a minute, Patrick mustered up the courage and asked, "Please tell me honestly


    who is the father of the baby in your womb."


    Harold''s eyes widened in disbelief as he struggled toprehend the way Patrick had posed the


    question after all that contemtion.


    "If I say it''s Joseph''s, would you believe me?" Chloe said calmly though not really expecting much.


    Having spent so many years in the Whitmans, Patrick surely would lean toward believing Joseph.


    She only decided to answer his question out of respect for his position as an elder. That being said,


    she no longer had the same desperate longing for someone''s trust as before.


    Patrick looked back at Harold, awaiting his response.


    "Of course, I believe in you. I''ll talk to that scoundrel."


    "I believe in you, Chloe. I''ll talk to that scoun¡ª I mean, Mr. Joseph. I¡¯ll try to resolve the


    misunderstanding between you two," Patrick assured her.


    "Patrick, I didn''t call you today to act as a mediator," Chloe said firmly, "I want my freedom."


    "Of course, you''ll get your freedom. Once Mr. Joseph has everything figured out, he¡¯ll stop treating


    you this way," Patrick replied.


    "But that''s not what I want. I''m sorry if this hurts you, but I can''t stand to be with Joseph for even


    another day. I¡¯ve never met a man so heartless that he¡¯d harm his own child," Chloe said.


    She had felt a deep sense of despair when Joseph forced her to sign the abortion consent form. It


    was iprehensible to her how he could be so heartless and uncaring toward her. And the fact


    that he stood idly by while Emily got hurt only added to her disappointment. He knew very well that


    Emily was her only true friend, yet he allowed her to be mistreated.


    Patrick was at a loss for words. "But¡­ You''re very special to Mr. Joseph."


    "Special?" Chloe burst intoughter. "He brings Xavia to the vi every day to humiliate me. Is that


    what you call ''special?¡¯¡±


    Harold''s face turned livid with anger. How could that scoundrel go back to Xavia just because he


    thought Chloe''s kid was not his?


    "Maybe Mr. Joseph has his own reasons¡­" Patrick murmured, although he too was unsure of what


    Joseph was thinking.


    "You don''t have to say such things. Joseph and I will never get back together. I''m calling you


    because I hope you can persuade him to let me leave. Besides..." Chloe took a deep breath, her fair


    face tinged with thick disappointment. "I''m not a heartless person. I''ve forgiven him before."


    She could not imagine how much worse it would get if Joseph continued to let Xavia torment her.


    She despised him for giving her a glimmer of hope, only to plunge her into a bottomless pit of


    despair.


    If her child was truly gone, she would make sure those who ndered her paid the price in blood.

 Chapter 610 He Underestimated Joseph’s Love for Chloe

    Chapter 610 He Underestimated Joseph¡¯s Love for Chloe


    Harold could sense Chloe''s grievance through her voice. Waving, he said, "Don''t agitate her any


    further. Just say yes."


    Patrick nodded and replied, "I''ll do my best to persuade Mr. Joseph."


    Chloe''s heart blossomed with a glimmer of hope, and tears began to fill her eyes. "Thank you,


    Patrick. I won''t bother you anymore."


    *


    After hanging up, Patrick looked at Harold with a troubled expression. "Sir, it seems like things are


    really over between them."


    If Joseph was the father to the baby in Chloe''s womb, then his actions this time would be truly


    disappointing.


    Harold said as he frowned, "The biggest issue between them right now is the baby. If we want them


    to get back together, we need to first rify the child''s paternity."


    "Given Ms. Chloe''s current state of mind, she probably won''t agree to an amniocentesis."


    Harold¡¯s hands went around a cup, but he made no move to drink its contents. His eyes fixated on a


    mid-match chessboard, lost in contemtion.


    Knowing that he was deep in contemtion, Patrick did not disturb him and remained quietly by the


    side.


    "Arrange for a meeting between me and Chloe."


    "But if someone sees you, they''ll think you¡¯re a ghost. Are you sure about this?"


    Harold sighed. "I understand that, but I also have to help my grandson. I can''t just stand by and let


    him push his wife further and further away from him."


    "But your health isn''t in good condition either..." Patrick said, expressing his worries.


    Although Harold had narrowly escaped death, the toxins had seeped into his body. His overall


    health had deteriorated greatly, particrly the condition of his heart. He now depended on daily


    medication to keep himself going.


    "I''ll just go out and have a heart-to-heart talk with Chloe. What''s the worst that could happen?


    Death?" Harold urged, growing impatient. "Hurry up and make the arrangements. Otherwise, I won''t


    feel at ease."


    Patrick had no other choice but to do Harold¡¯s bidding.


    *


    On the other side, Emily attributed all the credit for Chloe not having to go through with the


    procedure to Noah. She prepared two portions of cheesecake, one to be delivered to the front desk


    of Exotic Star and the other to Lucas. She intended to express her gratitude to Noah while gathering


    information about Chloe from Lucas at the same time.


    When Noah''s driver arrived at Exotic Star, the front desk gave him the cake to bring to Noah.


    "Sir, this is from a girl named Emily, and there''s a card too." The driver handed over the card with


    both hands.


    Noah did not immediately lift his head, studying the sales data on the documents before leisurely


    looking up. His gazended on the card ced in the upper left corner of the table. It read, [Thank


    you forst Thursday. Coco didn¡¯t undergo the procedure and is at home resting.]


    He froze for a moment. Looks like he had underestimated Joseph''s love for Chloe. It was hard to


    fathom that someone as domineering as Joseph would repeatedly makepromises for Chloe.


    A dark light flickered in Noah''s eyes. His ns werepletely disrupted. Looks like bringing Chloe


    back to the Sullivans would take longer than anticipated.


    The driver scrutinized Noah''s expression and asked, "Sir, is there some sort of mistake with the


    delivery?"


    His employer had been in ss all of Thursday. He had not even stepped out of the campus


    grounds, let alone helped anyone.


    Noah ignored his driver''s question, his mind filled with annoyance at the idea of Chloe being


    pregnant with Joseph''s child. Why would she be so foolish to endure such hardship when Joseph


    was not treating her well?


    He empathized with Chloe''s situation and decided to return Emily''s call. Emily answered and once


    again expressed her gratitude to him.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Noah paused briefly before replying, "Don''t mention it. I''m just doing what I can do."


    He certainly would not deny the opportunity to improve his standing with Chloe. Besides, he had not


    refused Emily when she came asking for help that day.

 Chapter 611 Xavia Becomes Joseph’s Wife Because She’s Pregnant

    Chapter 611 Xavia Bes Joseph¡¯s Wife Because She¡¯s Pregnant


    "It''s no small favor. You saved Coco''s life. When she regains her freedom, she''ll definitely express


    her heartfelt gratitude to you," Emily said sincerely.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Noah frowned. "But didn''t you say she went home? Isn''t she free now?"


    "I''m not entirely sure. All she told me was that Joseph took her back to his house. For now, she and


    the child should be safe," Emily replied. Unbeknownst to her, Chloe had kept the incident of Joseph


    forcefully feeding her the herbal medicine a secret to spare her from worry.


    Noah quickly grasped Chloe''s current situation. "So apart from not undergoing the procedure, she¡¯s


    still confined much like before."


    "Yeah, but it''s slightly better than being in the hospital because she can make phone calls now,"


    Emily exined.


    "What does she use to make calls? A mobile phone?" Noah asked.


    "No, it''s andline," Emily answered.


    Noah nodded understandingly and got thendline number from Emily. Without continuing the


    conversation, he casually found an excuse to end the call.


    "Noah, I can help you pursue Coco, but you have to promise to treat the child well and not have any


    biases," Emily said, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    Chloe was beautiful, had her own smallpany, and could raise a child on her own after getting a


    divorce. Butpared to arge enterprise like Exotic Star Noah owned, there was still a significant


    difference. However, it usually took two to tango when it came to rtionships.


    Noah paused for a moment. "You¡¯ve misunderstood. I don''t have feelings for Coco."


    "Nonsense! I can tell!" Emily retorted. She had sensed it since their first meeting. However, she


    thought he was just shy and thus did not say it out loud.


    Listening to the call end beeping tone, Noah nced at the time. It was 4 p.m. Joseph should still


    be in the office, so Noah dialed the number that Emily had provided.


    "Hello? Who¡¯s on the line?" A middle-aged woman''s voice came from the other end of the line.


    Noah did not say a word and simply hung up. After contemting for a while, he asked his driver,


    "Will Grandfather be attending Mr. Harold''s funeral?"


    "No, Mr. Desmond went back to his hometown. He doesn''t know about recent events at the


    Whitman household," the driver replied.


    When Noah entered college, Desmond announced his retirement and rarely interfered with Exotic


    Star¡¯s internal affairs. He would only give his opinions when it came to major decisions.


    "When will he be back?"


    "I¡¯m not certain. Probably within the next day or two."


    "Please inform him that Mr. Harold has passed and ask if he wants to visit the Whitmans."


    *


    In the evening, Xavia apanied Joseph to the financial conference. Despite her prominent baby


    bump, she adorned an elegant dress. Throughout the event, she remained intimately close to


    Joseph and clung to his arm. The visible evidence of her pregnancy,bined with her reputation


    in the art world, captured the attention of the attending reporters.


    During the conference, they uncovered Xavia''s past rtionship with Joseph, making it the hottest


    gossip of the day.


    "What the hell? Didn''t Joseph get married a long time ago? I recall that this woman isn¡¯t his wife


    though."


    "Did he abandon his wife because this woman is pregnant?"


    "Don''t say that. After all, he and this current woman were together for five years before this. Who


    knows? Maybe Chloe was the one who got in the way of their rtionship."


    "I agree with the previousment. There is an order when ites to love."


    "Um... I work at a photography shop, andst month, Joseph and Chloe came to take their wedding


    photos. If we¡¯re talking about looks alone, Chloe is no less beautiful than Xavia. Joseph ordered a


    custom-made Estren wedding gown too. I think he really likes Chloe."


    "Who wouldn''t like a young and beautiful woman? If I had the money, I¡¯d form a harem with not just


    two women, but as many as possible."

 Chapter 612 What Position You Hold in Joseph’s Heart

    Chapter 612 What Position You Hold in Joseph¡¯s Heart


    A finance tycoon had been pursuing Megan recently, and she was also an attendee at the


    conference. She excitedly grabbed Xavia''s arm and eximed, "Congrattions! You''re about to


    be Mrs. Joseph Whitman!"


    Xavia smiled yfully and replied, "Don''t celebrate just yet. Chloe¡¯s still around."


    "What? She betrayed Joseph and yet she has the nerve to hold onto him? How shameless can she


    be?" Megan remarked, her eyes scanning their surroundings. She leaned closer to Xavia and


    whispered, "Who¡¯s this person that Chloe had an affair with? Is he wealthier and more attractive


    than Joseph?"


    "You don''t know him," Xavia replied.


    "Ah... So he''s an ordinary man? He definitely isn¡¯t as rich as Joseph. Be careful. What if Chloe


    comes to regrets..."


    A mysterious glint shed through Xavia''s eyes as she replied, "I know what to do."


    "By the way, Joseph gave Chloe a custom-made car that is limited worldwide. Even the hottest


    celebrities don''t have the qualifications to buy one. You should take me for a ride in that car


    someday."


    "It¡¯s not mine. I can''t ask Joe about it."


    "Then ask him to buy you a customized car too."


    "Each person can only have one custom-made car."


    "Yes, that''s what makes it valuable. Just imagine. If Joseph finds a way to get you another custom-


    made car, it¡¯ll prove that Chloe is just a thing of the past in his heart and that he now cares about


    you."


    Xavia''s gaze subtly shifted toward a man not far away. Amid the gathering of business moguls, his


    face was strikingly handsome, making him stand out from the crowd.


    "What do you think? Test him and figure out what position you hold in Joseph''s heart.¡± Megan


    motioned toward Joseph, her mouth watering at the thought of a custom luxury car.


    How could such a thing have been given to Chloe? It was such a waste!


    Xavia agreed with Megan and said softly, "You''ve hit the nail on the head. I was just thinking about


    getting a new car."


    *


    Chloe did not read theizens¡¯ments about her, but she did catch a glimpse of Joseph and


    Xavia appearing together at a conference on television. Her face remained emotionless as she


    watched the entire live broadcast, and afterward, quietly returned to her room to sleep.


    For several days, she was coerced to drink the herbal medicine. She resisted fiercely, but given the


    vast difference in strength between her and Joseph, she eventually sumbed and gave in. After


    drinking the concoction for three days in a row, she did not feel any difort. Instead, she felt like


    she was regaining her energy. Slowly, she came to a realization. If Joseph wanted her to have an


    abortion, he could have easily done it. Therefore, she decided to give up struggling.


    After taking the herbal medicine for a week, Joseph took Chloe to the herbalist for a follow-up


    examination. Likest time, after the doctor took her blood pressure, Joseph instructed Lucas to


    take Chloe back to the car.


    Ten minutester, Joseph came out and they headed back to the vi. Along the way, they passed


    by a cake shop. Lucas remembered Emily saying that Chloe liked the tiramisu from this shop. He


    believed that something sweet would improve Chloe¡¯s mood.


    He pondered for a moment, then stepped on the brake and respectfully sought permission from the


    man in the backseat. "Sir, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to buy. It¡¯ll only take a few minutes."


    Joseph, who had closed his eyes to rest, waved dismissively. "Make it quick."


    "Yes, sir."


    Chloe kept her gaze fixed on the window, refusing to engage in conversation with the person beside


    her. Her only hope now was to safely deliver her baby.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shed across the sky, followed by a deafening thunder that


    reverberated through the air. The raindrops, as big as beans, pelted against the car window, filling


    Chloe with a sense of foreboding.


    The street became sparsely popted due to the heavy downpour. Several men wielding baseball


    bats emerged from a van and started approaching them. Standing behind this group of men was a


    woman wearing a fox mask¡ªVanya.

 Chapter 613 Kill the Baby in Her Womb

    Chapter 613 Kill the Baby in Her Womb


    Chloe shook the man beside her. "It''s the masked woman!"


    Joseph had already opened his eyes. He said calmly, "Don''t panic."


    Unbeknownst to Chloe, their bodyguards were in a car right behind them. Upon realizing the


    dangerous situation, they immediately got out and engaged in a fierce fight with the attackers from


    Duskfall.


    Vanya crossed her arms, a sneer forming on her face. She then signaled to another group of


    people, effectively tripling the size of her group. Despite the fact that Joseph''s bodyguards were all


    highly trained elite soldiers, they found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of


    adversaries.


    Joseph''s eyebrows furrowed, and he decisively moved to the driver seat. "Buckle up."


    "Okay."


    The car sped down the road, with Vanya in relentless pursuit. Lucas, who had juste out of the


    cake shop, was momentarily stunned. He soon snapped back to reality and quickly contacted Vince


    for support.


    To shake Vanya off, Joseph skillfully maneuvered onto a winding mountain road. Chloe tightened


    her grip on the seat belt. Her palms were sweaty, and her heart raced.


    Seeing that they were about to be left behind, Vanya cursed her driver and leaned out of the van,


    aiming darts at Joseph''s car, attempting to puncture the tires. Their target was not Joseph but


    Chloe. Vanya wanted to eliminate Chloe so that there would be no obstacles to Xavia bing


    Joseph''s wife. As for Xavia''s baby... Joseph''s attitude toward her had changed significantly. If


    necessary, they could always have another child in the future.


    Previously, they had spared Choe because they wanted the baby growing in her womb. But now


    that the child could potentially be a game-changer, Vanya was determined to prevent its birth.


    She was determined to deny them the chance for an amniocentesis so that Joseph would never


    know that he was the father.


    Fortunately, Joseph''s car had been modified, and the darts could not prate the tires.


    Chloe''s heart pounded with fear as a sudden cliff ahead took her by surprise. "What do we do?!"


    she yelled, seeking guidance from Joseph.


    Joseph''s face hardened into an icy mask as he swiftly assessed the situation. Realizing that there


    was no escape, he made a bold and daring choice. With a sharp turn of the steering wheel, he


    pushed the elerator to the limit and headed straight for Vanya¡¯s van.


    Vanya''s eyelids twitched when she realized his intention. Startled, she quickly retreated back into


    the van. She wanted Chloe dead, not herself!


    "Turn around!" she shouted.


    "Van, the road is too narrow to turn around¡ª"


    "You useless piece of shit!" Vanya grabbed the steering wheel, attempting to take control.


    However, it quickly became apparent that the driver''s assessment was urate. Joseph''s car was


    rapidly approaching, barreling toward them, giving them no opportunity to change course. The


    narrow road offered no margin for error, and the slightest misjudgment could result in a devastating


    collision.


    Not willing to take the risk, Vanya yed a cunning move. She calcted the exact moment when


    the oing car would collide and made a swift decision. She jumped out of the vehicle and ranN?velDrama.Org ? content.


    toward a small hillside. The driver was not as fortunate. Without Vanya to guide him, he panicked


    and quickly hit the brakes, but it was toote.


    With a loud crash, the van was sent flying, tumbling down the cliff. In its descent, the vehicle


    collided with rocks before culminating in a fiery explosion.


    In the final second, Joseph managed to m on the brakes, causing the car¡¯s tires to screech


    against the road in a jarring cacophony. However, half of the car''s front end remained suspended


    over the edge, posing a perilous situation.


    The windshield had shattered, and shards of ss had cut open Joseph''s hands, staining the


    steering wheel with his blood. Though he maintained aposed demeanor, every muscle in his


    body was pulled taut and there was ayer of sweat on his forehead.


    He dared not make any sudden movements and turned to Chloe. "You get out first."


    "No, the car will lose bnce if I get out." Chloe remained still, forcing herself to stay calm and


    quickly engaging her mind to analyze the most advantageous course of action in their current


    situation.

 Chapter 614 He Surrenders

    Chapter 614 He Surrenders


    Sensing a slight movement in the car, Joseph''s eyes flickered as he turned to look at Chloe. Her


    face was pale, and her frail body was trembling with fear as she clutched tightly to her belly. It


    pierced his heart to witness this scene. Even in a life-or-death situation, she did not forget to protect


    the unborn child.


    Joseph tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning slightly white and images of


    their first encounter shed through his mind.


    "Excuse me, sir. Could you lend me your phone for a call? My phone is out of battery¡­"


    "Sir, I''m single too."


    "Don''t be so confident. What if you fall for me first?"


    "I...am...trying...to...seduce...you!"


    At that moment, he appeared to wrestle with something. He sank back into his seat as his hands


    loosened their grip on the steering wheel.


    He surrendered. At this point, all he wanted was for her to be safe. Nothing else mattered. She


    protected her child, and he protected her.


    Joseph made a decision and ordered firmly, "Get out of the car now."


    "No. If I get out, you''ll die!" Chloe''s train of thought was interrupted, her fists clenched tightly. "None


    of us should move. We should wait for someone toe to rescue us. As long as the car remains


    still, we''ll be fine."


    "You''re too naive. The car isn¡¯t that far out to jeopardize our safety."


    Her pupils contracted abruptly as she thought of a worse oue. "Is it the road that''s the


    problem?"


    "The road has copsed." Joseph took a deep breath and his face sank. "If you don''t get out now,


    neither of us will survive."


    Chloe froze, panic surfacing in her beautiful eyes. "If I get out, what will you do?"


    "I¡¯ll jump out."


    "Do you have enough time?"


    "I don''t know."


    He had to jump out before the car lost its bnce, but the problem was that once Chloe got out, the


    car would inevitably lose its bnce.


    Chloe felt as if there was a huge boulder weighing down on her chest, making it difficult for her to


    breathe. The uncertainty loomed over them, and even Joseph, who was usually confident in his


    actions,cked assurance. She dared not imagine the potential consequences.


    "I won¡¯t leave.¡±


    She could not abandon him to his fate no matter how fractured their rtionship was. Otherwise,


    guilt would haunt her for the rest of her life.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe tried to call emergency services, but her phone had no signal.


    "Do you have a signal on your phone?"


    "No." Joseph''s tone turned somber. ¡°If you stay, I won''t forgive you. We¡ª


    "Joseph," Chloe interrupted. She did not care if he would forgive her or not and said, "I''m staying


    because that''s what my heart tells me to do. Are you trying to sacrifice yourself to let me live?


    There''s no need for contradictory words at a time like this."


    Joseph''s intention was exposed, and he could not maintain hisposure. He retorted with a touch


    of arrogance, "You''re overthinking it. I''m also acting for the sake of my conscience."


    Moreover, the mere thought of losing her triggered something within him, instinctively driving him to


    protect her. If only one of them would survive, he would let this dumbo live.


    Chloe smiled wryly, "Do you even have a conscience?"


    He raised an eyebrow. "It''s you who doesn''t."


    Before they could continue their conversation, a loud crash interrupted them. The car edged further


    over the cliff as the road crumbled.


    To remain still meant certain death.


    Chloe held her breath, her face pale. She nced at the man in the rearview mirror. As their eyes


    met, a moment of mutual understanding passed between them. They both knew that they had tried


    to ease each other''s anxiety and silently prayed for help to arrive quickly. However, the situation


    was now too perilous. Their car might fall at any moment, and both of them could die.


    Chloe, overwhelmed by fear and nervousness, stuttered, "Wh-What should we do? Should we try


    reversing the car?"

 Chapter 615 Blood on the Back of His Suit

    Chapter 615 Blood on the Back of His Suit


    Joseph''s palms were sticky with blood. He casually wiped them on his clothes as he tightened his


    grip on the steering wheel.


    "Do you trust me?" he asked.


    Although he had contemted this option, he knew the odds of sess of this daring maneuver


    were slim. If it elerated the ground¡¯s copse, the consequences would be unimaginable. While


    he might be willing to take the risk alone, the situation was different when it involved both of them.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes," Chloe responded without hesitation, ¡°Back it up. We should try any option we have."


    Joseph''s gaze focused on the road ahead, his eyes filled with determination. "Close your eyes if


    you''re scared."


    Chloe protected her abdomen with both hands, her breathing becamebored. She kept her eyes


    wide open as she wanted to see the road ahead clearly. However, as the car jolted violently, the


    overwhelming sensation of weightlessness caused her to instinctively shut her eyes. Soon after, a


    deafening crash echoed through the air as the road gave way, apanied by the sound of rocks


    and debris cascading down.


    Joseph started the car, turned the steering wheel, and abruptly reversed. The ground beneath them


    cracked inch by inch, while cascading rocks stirred up clouds of dust and sshes of mud, creating


    a terrifying scene. He swiftly maneuvered the car without any hesitation, seizing every second he


    had.


    Fortunately, they managed to retreat to a safe position before the groundpletely copsed. But


    due to the narrow road, the rear of the car collided with the cliff wall with a loud thud.


    At the same time, the car engine stalled.


    Chloe looked around and asked in relief, "Are we safe now?"


    Joseph rxed his brow for a second before he suddenly saw something in the rearview mirror. He


    quickly unfastened his seat belt and climbed into the back seat, holding her in a protective embrace.


    Chloe did not know what was happening, but she reflexively looked toward the back. She saw


    Vanya standing on the hillside, lifting a stone and throwing it in their direction...


    *


    Outside, the rain continued to fall, enveloping the sky in a hazy mist. When Chloe regained


    consciousness, she found herself in an ambnce. Raindrops rhythmically tapped against the


    vehicle windows, echoing the pounding of her heart in her ears.


    She swiftly removed her oxygen mask and surveyed her surroundings. Then, her gaze fixed on


    Vince, who was huddled in a corner due to his bulky frame.


    "Where¡¯s Joseph?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.


    "He''s in the ambnce ahead," Vince replied honestly.


    "How is he? Is he okay?" Chloe recalled how Joseph had shielded her the moment the rock came


    crashing down. The stone Vanya had thrown was sizable and could cause severe harm when falling


    from such a height. If it had struck someone, it would have inflicted devastating injuries.


    "I don''t know... When we got there, we saw blood on the back of his suit. Thankfully, the car had


    been modified and could withstand the impact better than a regr vehicle. Otherwise, the situation


    would¡¯ve been much worse."


    Chloe''s breath hitched as she refused to think of the potential oue. She paused for a moment


    and reached out for her abdomen with trembling hands. A nearby nurse noticed her movement and


    reassured her, "The baby¡¯s fine. Your husband protected you well. You weren''t injured. You just


    passed out from fright.¡±


    Upon hearing those words, Chloe''s heart was filled with a mix of emotions.


    *


    At the hospital, Chloe underwent a thorough examination and was found to be in good health. There


    was no need for her to be hospitalized.


    After three hours of treatment, Joseph''s condition stabilized, and he was transferred to a regr


    ward.

 Chapter 616 Seems Like Joseph Doesn’t Love You That Much

    Chapter 616 Seems Like Joseph Doesn¡¯t Love You That Much


    After the doctor finished discussing Joseph¡¯s condition with Lucas, Lucas turned to Chloe and said,


    "He has a fractured rib and extensive back injuries, but overall, it''s nothing serious. It''ll take around


    two weeks for him to recover. But with Mr. Joseph''s constitution, he may recover even faster."


    Chloe let out a long sigh of relief and said, "Thank you so much, doctor."


    "We ran into the masked woman when we arrived," Lucas said.


    "Did she escape?"


    "She ran toward the mountain. Vince has already sent some people to look for her."


    The mountain was notrge, but it was slippery after the rain, making it difficult to traverse. With the


    approaching winter, even an ordinary person would struggle to endure a day, let alone Vanya. They


    were confident that she could only hold out for two or three days.


    Chloe was puzzled and asked, "Is Vince an employee of Fairlight or the Whitman Group?" She did


    not recall seeing him before.


    "He''s neither," Lucas replied.


    "Then he¡¯s¡­?"


    "I''m not very sure either." Lucas scratched his head. "I only handle Mr. Joseph''s work-rted


    matters. I don''t get involved in anything else."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe did not inquire further and said, "You stay here with Joseph. I¡¯m going to go."


    "Aren''t you going to wait until Mr. Joseph wakes up?" Lucas was surprised.


    "He''s out of danger now, and I''m not a doctor. There''s no point in staying."


    "But he was injured because of you," Lucas said, unable to understand Chloe''sck of empathy. In


    usual dramas, when a woman encounters a man who risks his life to protect her, should she not be


    deeply moved and burst into tears?


    "But without Joseph, I would never have gone through all that," Chloe said calmly.


    Lucas was momentarily taken aback and nodded thoughtfully. You''re right..."


    Chloe did not say anything further, simply turning around and walking away. This was a perfect


    chance for her to escape. She had no intention of waiting for Joseph to wake up and continue


    keeping her captive. She was not going to deny that without his protection today, there was a high


    possibility that she would have lost her child. But on the other hand, it was perfectly normal for


    Joseph to protect their child. Did he expect her to be grateful to him?


    Chloe epted his protective gesture without a hint of guilt.


    "Ms. Chloe." Xavia hade to the hospital when she heard that Joseph had been injured. She


    approached Chloe at the entrance, blocking her path.


    Chloe had no intention of paying Xavia any attention. She stared straight ahead as if she had not


    seen her.


    Xavia gritted her teeth and extended her arm to stop Chloe. "Stop ignoring me."


    "Are you some important figure that I have to respond to just because you called out my name?"


    Chloe''s gaze remained cool and indifferent as she looked at Xavia.


    "I just wanted to ask about Joe''s condition," Xavia said with a helpless expression, pretending to be


    hurt by Chloe''s words.


    "Do you not have legs or a mouth of your own?" Chloe retorted, sensing that Xavia was looking to


    stir up trouble.


    Xavia stared at Chloe and suddenly covered her mouth,ughing coyly. "Are you jealous because I


    came to see Joe?"


    Chloe could not help butugh at Xavia¡¯s words. She pointed at the woman with a serious


    expression on her face and said, "If anyone should be feeling jealous, it should be you. After all, I''m


    married to Joseph, whereas you...can only rely on your pregnancy to secure your position. How


    pathetic."


    There was no denying that this struck a nerve with Xavia. She and Joseph had known each other


    for seven years and were together for five, yet Joseph had never mentioned marrying her. On the


    other hand, Chloe and Joseph had gotten married only after one day of knowing each other. The


    swiftness of their marriage was truly incredible, and it was difficult for Xavia to fathom how someone


    as mature andposed as Joseph could have impulsively entered a marriage.


    "The process doesn''t matter. From a broader perspective, it doesn''t matter if he loved you before.


    What matters is who he loves now." Xavia took out a set of car keys from her bag and waved them


    at Chloe. "A single identity card can only get one customized car, and I have one too."

 Chapter 617 The World Will Know Her Innocence and Truth

    Chapter 617 The World Will Know Her Innocence and Truth


    ¡°I told Joe that I liked the car, and he got me one too. Seems like he doesn''t love you all that much.


    After all, I can easily get my hands on what you have."


    As Chloe looked at the car keys in Xavia¡¯s hand, she froze. A trace of emotion appeared on her face


    momentster. She felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation as a mocking voice echoed in her


    ears, taunting her with the words, "See? This is the man you loved, whose love is nothing more than


    a mere imitation."


    Xavia inched closer toward Chloe, her voice dripping with venom as she said in a low tone, "I¡¯ll let


    you in on a secret. It was me who manipted Icarus into defaming you. And to my surprise, Joe


    readily believed it. His feelings for you were merely superficial. Your rtionship is incapable of


    enduring even the slightest test."


    Chloe trembled as her eyes filled with hatred. "So it was you..."


    At that moment, she finally grasped the reason behind Icarus'' sudden actions. She should have


    realized it earlier. If she and Joseph parted ways, there was only one person who stood to gain¡ª


    Xavia.


    "That''s right. It was me. I was so happy to see you being wronged and your name being tarnished,"


    Xavia taunted, her smile radiant.


    People who knew no better would have thought that they were good friends. They would not believe


    that Xavia was capable of uttering such venomous words.


    Consumed by her rage, Chloe momentarily forgot about her pregnancy and lunged toward Xavia.


    "Ah!" Xavia panicked and dodged, pretending to be the victim as she fled. "Help! She''s crazy!


    Someone help me!"


    Upon hearing her cries, the security guards rushed over and quickly restrained Chloe.


    "Miss, please calm down."


    "Wouldn¡¯t you be angry too if you lost your rtionship, your home, and even the father of your child


    due to someone''s nder?!" Chloe shouted, her chest rising and falling with the intensity of her


    anger.


    She wanted Xavia dead!


    The guards were at a loss due to her outburst.


    From a distance, Xavia said through the crowd, "Guard, she''s pregnant and her emotions have


    been unstable. Maybe that''s the cause of her outburst. Can you take her to the psychiatric


    department to have her checked? I''ll cover the expenses."


    "That isn''t within the scope of my job," the guard said hesitantly.


    "Just look at her unstable emotions and potential for violent outbursts. What if she harms other


    patients? Just consider it as doing a good deed. I''m also pregnant. Otherwise, I wouldn''t bother you.


    She''s my friend, and I''m genuinely worried about her."


    As Xavia spoke, she wiped away a tear, appearing sincerely concerned.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Chloe felt a wave of nausea when she heard what Xavia said. "Shut up, you wretched woman!


    Everyone,e and take a look at her. She''s a homewrecker who climbed into my husband''s bed


    while I was away and the child in her belly belongs to my husband!"


    This effectively cast the attention of the people around them to Xavia, whose face turned pale. She


    quickly handed a fistful of bills to the guard and hurriedly left the scene to find Joseph.


    Chloe made great efforts tomunicate with the guard and rify the situation. Then, she turned


    back, determined to tell Joseph what had just happened. As she entered the VIP ward area in the


    elevator, she could not help but quicken her pace. The world would soon know her innocence and


    truth. At that time, she would no longer have to suffer in silence.


    At that thought, Chloe felt a tingling sensation in her nose, and her eyes became red and teary.

 Chapter 618 He’s Attached to His Ego, Not Our Relationship

    Chapter 618 He¡¯s Attached to His Ego, Not Our Rtionship


    Chloe stopped outside the ward and was about to push open the door when she heard voices from


    inside.


    "It''s good to see you awake, Joe. Have some water. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re parched. I heard everything


    from Lucas. That was so dangerous. From now on, make sure to bring more bodyguards when you


    go out. It''s so terrifying. If anything had happened to you, our baby..."


    "All right, stop crying. I''m perfectly fine," Joseph said in an emotionless tone.


    "I''m just worried..." Xavia pursed her lips. "When I came up, I ran into Ms. Chloe. She seemed to be


    in a bad state..."


    "What happened?"


    "She was highly agitated and kept saying that it was because of me that your rtionship with her


    turned out this way. She even mentioned something about me colluding with Icarus... Of course, I


    don''t me her. I just feel that she¡¯s been suppressing herself too muchtely. Pregnancy can


    easily lead to mental stress, and it seems like her mental state isn''t in top condition..."


    Joseph fell silent for a few seconds. "She hasn''t been in a good moodtely."


    "You¡¯ve noticed too¡­"


    They continued their conversation for a while until Joseph needed rest. As Xavia exited the room,


    Chloe was hiding around the corner. She watched Xavia leave with grace, her fingers tightly


    clenched but she could not feel any pain.


    After a long while, sheughed at herself in self-derision. She was foolish to have been so happy.


    Even if she revealed the truth to Joseph, he would choose to believe Xavia if she could not present


    any evidence.


    Xavia was carrying a Whitman child, while she was just a woman who disregarded her duties as his


    wife. He would never trust her? He would probably just lock her up again.


    Chloe walked out of the hospital in a daze and hailed a cab to go find Emily. Compared to men, her


    best friend was more reliable.


    *


    After Xavia left, Lucas entered the ward and said to Joseph, "Sir, Ms. Chloe has left. Do you want


    me to bring her back?"


    Joseph sat up in his bed, his upper body partially exposed. A white bandage was wrapped around


    his back, and his well-defined eight-pack abs were visible below his powerful chest. His eyes held a


    deep andplex radiance, while his voice resonated with a low and icy tone.


    "No."


    He had kept her confined for so long, and it would be good for her to go out and clear her mind. In


    this city, she had no other friends besides Emily. It would be easy for him to get her back.


    "All right, sir. They¡¯ve found traces of Vanya''s whereabouts. Vince isn''t at ease, so he went back to


    organize a search team," Lucas continued with his report.


    Joseph narrowed his eyes, looking like a predator hunting for its prey as he said with determination,


    "Catch her, whatever it takes."


    *


    Chloe found Emily, and they went out for dinner together before returning home to rest. Emily


    insisted on watching a horror movie together to prevent Chloe from overthinking things. Chloe


    understood her intentions and wholeheartedly agreed.


    The two of them nestled together on the couch and dimmed the lights. They enjoyed their popcorn


    while discussing how the ghosts in the movie did not seem scary at all and the special effects


    seemed pretty cheap. After the movie was over, Chloe felt much more rxed.


    "Does Joseph know that you came to my ce? Won''t he juste here and take you back?"


    Emily asked with concern.


    "I don''t know, but I don''t think so. He has Xavia now, so what''s the point of keeping me


    imprisoned?"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Maybe he''s unsure whether he should let go of this rtionship and is hesitating."


    "He¡¯s attached to his ego, not our rtionship."

 Chapter 619 Men Are All the Same

    Chapter 619 Men Are All the Same


    Emily nodded in silent agreement, munching on a handful of popcorn.


    Joseph was the kind of man who could lift you to the skies one moment and ruthlessly plunge you


    into the abyss of despair the next. The memory of him purchasing all the extravagant bags in


    Aesper and delivering them to Chloe in trucks felt as fresh as if it had urred yesterday. All men


    were the same. After they got the things they wanted, they stopped cherishing them.


    "What are your ns now?" Emily asked.


    "I don''t want to stay here anymore," Chloe replied, her eyes downcast and her expression sad.


    "But what about yourpany?"


    "I''ll sell it."


    She felt no sentimental attachment to the Johnson Group, and it was primarily a repository of


    painful memories. Now, it simply served as a tool for financial gain. During her year and a half of


    management, she had not focused on expanding its size, but rather on securing stable resources.


    Selling it would not pose any challenge.


    Emily became sad and said, "If you leave, we''ll be long-distance best friends, and it''ll be


    difficult to meet."


    "Don''t worry. I''lle back to see you," Chloe reassured her.


    "Why not go to Estre? Mypany is offering two spots to study there, and one of them is reserved


    for me. I haven''t decided yet."


    "Estre... Noah had invited me there for business."


    Emily pped her thigh excitedly, "Perfect! We can go together!"


    "Let me sell thepany first," Chloe replied.


    Going to Estre was an option, but before that, she wanted to visit the southern region. Benjamin had


    previously mentioned that it was her mother''s ce of origin.


    *


    The next day, Chloe did not spend time with Emily. Instead, she bought a new phone and got a


    temporary ID card. She took care of all the necessary recements, such as bank cards and SIM


    cards, using the temporary ID card. Then, she found a hotel to stay in.


    As soon as she connected her phone to the inte, various notifications about Xavia and Joseph


    started popping up.


    [Young prodigy, Joseph Whitman, and beautiful violinist, Xavia Larson, tie the knot.]


    [Joseph, CEO of Fairlight,vishly gifts a customized luxury car to his girlfriend of five years.]


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    [Joseph, CEO of Fairlight, hospitalized while his suspected-to-be-pregnant girlfriend prepares


    nutritious meals for him.]


    Inte users beganmenting on the articles.


    [Wow, that''s the kind of love I envy.]


    [Help! Xavia¡¯s my goddess. I hope Joseph treats her well and doesn''t disappoint her fans.]


    [I wish them all the happiness in the world!]


    [Sob, sob, sob¡­ I won''t forgive Joseph for stealing my wifey!]


    *


    Chloe surmised that Xavia had probably paid for these attention-grabbing articles to be published.


    She did not bother opening them and chose to ignore the notifications.


    At the hospital, Chloe got her regr prenatal check-up. The baby was already five months along


    and could be seen clearly on the 3D ultrasound. When she saw her baby''s head and tiny feet, her


    heart melted. She caressed her belly affectionately and silently vowed to safely bring her baby into


    this world.


    When she exited the hospital, she spotted Noah. He looked adorable, standing in the sunlight and


    waving at her, exuding a friendly vibe like a neighbor''s younger brother.


    Chloe was surprised. "What a coincidence. Are you here to get medicine for Mr. Desmond?"


    Noah grinned, revealing his two front teeth. "It''s not a coincidence. I called Emily and she told me


    you went to the hospital for a check-up. I wanted to discuss next year''s endorsement with you."


    Chloe was pleasantly surprised by his attentiveness and yfully smiled. "Thank you for giving me


    a chance, and also for what you didst time. How did you manage to convince Joseph?"


    Joseph had always disliked Noah, so it must have been difficult for Noah to get Joseph to agree to


    the request.

 Chapter 620 A Jealous Man Is a Terrifying One

    Chapter 620 A Jealous Man Is a Terrifying One


    A hint of surprise flickered through Noah''s eyes, but he soonposed himself.


    "It''s nothing. Just a few indecent words. The key is that Mr. Joseph came to his senses in the end,"


    he said.


    Chloe sneered. "Came to his senses? I wouldn''t give him such apliment."


    Noah changed the subject, "By the way, I read on the entertainment news that Mr. Joseph got back


    with Xavia?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe," Chloe replied, biting her lip and forcing a smile.


    "Don''t be sad. There are plenty of good men in the world. I''ll introduce you to someone if you like,"


    Noahforted her gently while patting her shoulder.


    "I don''t want to date for now. Being alone is fine... And currently, I have some things to take care of."


    Whether it was Jake or Joseph, both had proved that her judgment was poor. She should have


    learned a lesson from her failed rtionship with Jake, but she ended up getting hurt again.


    "What are you busy with? Work?" Noah asked.


    "I''m selling off the Johnson Group and am heading to the southern region."


    When Noah heard the word "southern region," he was stunned. "Where in the southern region are


    you heading to?"


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Jade Street."


    He furrowed his brow. "Jade Street? If memory serves me right, that ce was torn down.¡±


    "What?" Chloe was taken aback, "How do you know?"


    "I can¡¯t remember. I think I saw the news about it on TV. It was an old residential area, and there


    were safety issues. Besides, there weren¡¯t many people living there anymore.¡±


    A look of sadness crossed Chloe¡¯s eyes when she learned of this, and she felt disappointed. "I


    see..."


    In other words, her hopes of finding her grandparents were bleak.


    "I suggest you sell thepany and wait for your baby to be born before going to the southern


    region. It¡¯d be more convenient and safer for both you and the child that way as it¡¯ll be a long


    journey."


    "You''re right. It would be inconvenient to run around with a big belly," Chloe said.


    "Think it over carefully and let me know if there''s anything I can help with," Noah offered.


    With a wave, Chloe said, "No, no, no. I couldn¡¯t possibly trouble you any more than I already have."


    Noah smiled gently, his brown eyes reflecting her figure. "It''s fine."


    She was supposed to be the pampered princess of the Sullivan family, yet she was tormented


    beyond recognition by a toxic rtionship. Over the course of twenty years, she had endured


    unimaginable hardships. He wanted to help her in any way, other than reconciling with Joseph, of


    course.


    Across the street was a Rolls-Royce.


    Joseph observed as Chloe engaged Noah in cheerful conversation. Her face was adorned with a


    genuine smile, starkly contrasting her cold demeanor when speaking with him. Look at what she


    was doing when he gave her the chance toe out to rx. As soon as she was set free, she


    went looking for another man.


    Lucas touched his nose and said, "Sir, Vince is waiting for you."


    They had sessfully captured Vanyast night, but she remained tight-lipped despite all their


    effort to make her speak. With no other option, Vince had to seek Joseph for help. Fortunately,


    Joseph''s injuries were not severe, allowing him to move around freely as long as he took care of his


    health.


    "Unlock the door," hemanded as his eyes shot daggers at Lucas.


    Lucas shuddered in fear. A jealous man was clearly a terrifying one.


    As Chloe and Noah walked and chatted, a sudden shadow fell over them. She froze in her tracks


    and turned around to see Joseph towering behind her, his narrowed eyes fixed on her with an


    intense and prating gaze. A wave of fear clutched her when she saw him, prompting her to


    move closer to Noah as she feared being cut off from the outside world again.


    This subtle movement did not escape Joseph''s notice, and he felt a pang of pain shoot through his


    heart. Was she truly so afraid of him? Was it because she knew she had done something wrong?

 Chapter 621 Chloe Has Ways to Discipline and Bewitch Men

    Chapter 621 Chloe Has Ways to Discipline and Bewitch Men


    At the hospital, Joseph searched within himself for an honest answer upon waking. He thought


    about how to deal with this love affair. Although he wanted nothing more than to drive her away


    when he found out she had cheated on him, he could bring himself to do it.


    He missed her so much till his appetite had been non-existent. Even when faced with the issue of


    life and death, he did not hesitate to give up his chance of survival to ensure hers. What kind of


    charms did this dumbo possess? His principles were crumbling before her.


    Noah shielded Chloe. His indifferent expression was still gentle. "What do you want, Mr. Joseph?"


    "This has nothing to do with you, kid. Get lost." Joseph pushed Noah aside before he grabbed


    Chloe''s arm and dragged her to the car.


    "Let go of me! I don''t want to go back!" Chloe struggled vigorously. She hit him and identally


    touched his wound, eliciting from him a gasp of pain. She immediately stopped and tilted her head


    awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn''t mean to do that."


    "Yes, you did." Joseph covered his wound, a gloomy look on his face.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Fine, I did. But you deserved it!" Chloe retorted as her face flushed.


    She was tired of giving in to him. Despite not having done anything, she was rebuked and wrongly


    used. It was all because of hisck of trust in her that things had turned out this way and others


    could manipte the situation.


    Joseph looked at her condescendingly and gritted his teeth. "Is this any way to treat your savior?"


    "I''m sorry. You''re not my savior but my curse."


    Joseph was struck speechless.


    "Mr. Joseph, you heard her, didn''t you? Coco doesn''t want to go back with you." Noah stepped


    forward and looked at Joseph. He was neither servile nor overbearing. "I believe a big shot like you


    wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for a pregnant woman in public, right?"


    Joseph sneered. "I''m dealing with my family affairs. You''re the one who shouldn''t meddle."


    "I know that you guys never got back together after getting divorced. This is illegal, and you don¡¯t


    even have a certificate."


    "That isn¡¯t for you to decide, " Joseph said fiercely, refusing to back down.


    Lucas felt that Noah and Joseph werepeting for Chloe''s favor, which made for quite a sight.


    Setting prejudices aside, one would not find men as powerful as Noah or Joseph throughout


    Docwood.


    ''Wow¡­ Ms. Chloe has ways to discipline and bewitch men¡­''


    Noah¡¯s lips twitched. "Fine. We''ll let Coco choose for herself then."


    "That''s unnecessary." Joseph scoffed. "Mr. Desmond will never let a pregnant divorced woman be a


    part of the Sullivan family. You should just give up. If you argue against adults, you may get a


    spanking."


    His words humiliated both Chloe and Noah at the same time.


    Chloe became awkward and angry. "And what about you, Mr. Joseph? Why do you want me to go


    back with you? There are no ties between us."


    Joseph pointed at her heart and said, "It''s because you owe me, and you have to pay for it."


    "No, that''s wrong. It''s you who owes me." Chloe met his gaze. Her sparkling eyes were full of


    hatred. "But I don''t want you to repay me because I don''t care anymore."


    The past memories of their love should be erased. She believed that he would learn the truth of


    everything one day. That was the real revenge she wanted to take on him, and Xavia too.


    Persisting in causing evil would ultimately bring self-destruction. One day, Chloe would be


    powerful, and Xavia would suffer.

 Chapter 622 Ending a Good Marriage Badly

    Chapter 622 Ending a Good Marriage Badly


    When Joseph noticed the resoluteness in Chloe''s eyes, his words got stuck in his throat.


    ''Oh, Joseph. Why did you end a good marriage so badly¡­ I made up my mind to talk things out


    with her, so why are we falling out again?'' he thought.


    Chloe did not wish to see Joseph, so she took Noah''s hand and left with him.


    Joseph was frustrated as he stared at them walking away. Lucas got out of the car and said, "Sir,


    we should go. Vince is waiting for you."


    "Mm,¡± Joseph replied nomittally. He frowned and got into the car. He had to deal with business


    first. After he was done, he would look for Chloe again.


    Based on the GPS, Lucas drove out of the city and rushed toward the suburbs. "Sir, I read a lot of


    gossip about you on the Inte."


    Joseph became baffled. He was not a star, so why was there gossip about him?


    Lucas smiled dryly. "I found it strange and thought it was part of someone''s scheme, so I looked into


    it. My guess was right..."


    Joseph took out his phone, opened up the trending page, and immediately saw the gossip about


    him. He and Xavia were in the top seven trending topics.


    "Go on."


    Lucas exined, ¡°Many streamers imed that someone paid them to post those articles, and that


    person was a singer named Megan Martinez. She''s Ms. Xavia''s best friend."


    "Did Xavia have a hand in this?"


    "The streamers said no."


    Just then, Xavia called Joseph.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Joe, I''m sorry. My best friend paid for those public opinions to be posted on the Inte. I didn''t


    know about it either... I''ll try my best to remedy it. Can you please find trouble with Megan over


    this?" Her tone was weak and gentle, setting up a pitiful front that easily softened people''s hearts.


    Joseph said curtly, "It''s fine. I''m busy. Bye."


    Lucas was stunned and asked, "Sir, shouldn¡¯t we get rid of those articles?¡±


    It was not a serious issue and would not influence Fairlight, but if Joseph still loved Chloe, it would


    be bad if thetter read those articles.


    "No, it''s fine," Joseph said glumly, "The Sinirs are currently watching me and the people around


    me. These trending topics will serve to divert their attention. I''ll let them figure out if the articles are


    true or not."


    Lucas widened his eyes as he was enlightened. "I see. So this is so Duskfall won¡¯t know who you


    truly care about and won¡¯t know who to target.¡±


    But Xavia would then be burdened. She and Chloe would be on the same level.


    Joseph gave no reply and stared out of the window with aplicated gaze. This was one of the


    reasons why he wanted to lock Chloe up. He was afraid that Duskfall would harm her. Secondly, it


    was because of his own selfish motives.


    Harold was right¡ªhe would be forced to face these issues if he chose one of the two. When he


    compared Xavia''s child to Chloe, he knew whom he would choose if pushed toward a steep cliff. He


    would pay Xavia arge sum of money after she gave birth and would then never see her again.


    The child would then grow up healthy and happy after he gave the child to Tyson.


    *


    Duskfall.


    Xavia elegantly served some tea to a noble-looking middle-aged man before her. "Mr. Cyrus, please


    have some tea."

 Chapter 623 Chloe Is Seen With Noah

    Chapter 623 Chloe Is Seen With Noah


    Cyrus epted the cup, took a sip, and put it down. "Joseph apprehended Vanya when she tried to


    kill Chloe for you."


    Xavia looked up in shock. "Didn''t she run away into the mountains?"


    "Yes, she did, but she failed to escape."


    Xavia¡¯s voice went up an octave. "Will she expose us?"


    Cyrus'' hand stiffened. He then turned and stared at her. Xavia became nervous under his gaze. She


    quickly changed her statement. "I didn''t mean it that way, sir... It¡¯s just that Joe¡¯s attitude toward me


    has taken a drastic turn recently. If an ident happens now, all our efforts will be futile."


    Cyrus was currently in his forties and his white suit made him look sprightly. His bright and spirited


    demeanor marked him as a refined teacher. A smile slowly dawned upon his face, but it was cold


    and unreadable, sending chills down Xavia''s spine.


    "Are you saying that Joseph has fallen in love with you?"


    "I''m not sure about that... He has been treating me much better than before. He even bought me a


    car." Xavia trembled in fear. She kept her head low and did not dare to look at the man. "I was


    careless with my words. Please don¡¯t be mad.¡±


    "Tell me. What was Vanya''s mission?"


    Xavia replied obediently, "She was supposed to help me get rid of Chloe."


    "Well then, why is Chloe safe and sound while Joseph suffered a broken rib?"


    When he mentioned this, Xavia quickly came to a realization. "It¡¯s because Joe protected Chloe!"


    Vanya had meant to hit Chloe with that stone, but Joseph took the hit for that bitch. He had been so


    nice toward Xavia recently that she had ignored the obvious signs. This made her feel ill at ease as


    she could not figure out what Joseph was thinking.


    Cyrus saw through her thoughts. He put the teacup aside and said, "There are two possibilities. It


    might be that he¡¯s pretending and using you as bait to protect Chloe, or it could be that his attitude


    toward you has changed but he still can¡¯t forget about Chloe."


    Xavia could not ept either of those possibilities. Why should she be the bait to protect Chloe?


    "You are to rescue Vanya," Cyrus ordered.


    Xavia had a change in expression and her lips trembled. "Sir, I don¡¯t think I can manage that, and


    Joe may catch on to me."


    What she had now was hard-earned. It was too risky for her to rescue Vanya, and she did not want


    to take the risk.


    Cyrus got up and patted her shoulder. "Use this chance to test his feelings for you. See if they''re


    genuine or fake."


    *


    Joseph was a fierce man. Although she was a woman, he had no intentions of going easy on her


    since she nearly killed him. But she vehemently refused to say a word. Even after fainting from


    being electrocuted, she remained tight-lipped about Duskfall.


    Vince approached Joseph and asked eagerly, "Sir, what should we do? Should we continue


    interrogating her?"


    "Keep her alive for three days. If she refuses to talk by then, throw her into the ocean.¡±


    "Okay. She is a wicked one, after all. We''ll be doing the world a favor.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Joseph took a white handkerchief and meticulously wiped his hands clean. He then asked,


    "Where''s Chloe?"


    Although he had not contacted Chloe for the past two days, he had secretly ordered bodyguards to


    tail her. Hence, he knew everywhere she went.


    "Ms. Chloe is currently at a cafe with Mr. Noah," Vince answered.

 Chapter 624 You Think Coco Is a Disgrace

    Chapter 624 You Think Coco Is a Disgrace


    Joseph''s expression turned icy. "Get me the phone."


    *


    Noah and Chloe were at a food alley near his school. They were hashing out future entrepreneurial


    ns at Estre for the next few years.


    Chloe listened attentively and was interested in all he had to say. She felt him an excellent business


    partner, and based on her current understanding of him, he was rich, responsible, and had a strong


    background. All these attributes were rare to find in one person.


    This was her first time establishing her own business and she felt inexperienced and not very


    confident. She did not want to be a burden to others.


    "That''s all I can think of at the moment. Do you have any good ideas?" Noah looked at Chloe


    tenderly.


    Chloe was about to say something when his phone rang. She smiled and said, "Go ahead and


    answer it."


    Noah went to a corner to answer the call. He put his phone to his ear. "Grandpa? I''m in a business


    discussion ¡­ You''re back? Okay, I¡¯ll be home in a bit¡­ But I can''t leave now, Grandpa¡­ Okay,


    don''t get angry. I''lle home right now."


    Noah ended the call. When he was back in his seat, he said to Chloe apologetically, "I''m so sorry


    but I have to go. My grandfather came home unexpectedly."


    Chloe did not dwell on it. "It¡¯s okay, go ahead. See you next time."


    Putting away his displeasure, he smiled at her sweetly and said softly, "See you."


    *


    Chloe grabbed her bag and exited the cafe. Abigail, who had been loitering around, went up to her


    and greeted her respectfully.


    When Chloe saw the ck-d bodyguards around Abigail, she soon got the whole picture. She


    asked coldly, "How long have you been following me?"


    "All this while."


    Chloe took a deep breath. The iing oppression suffocated her, but she knew that she could not


    resist and was helpless over what was about to happen. She obediently got into the car with them.


    She made up her mind to talk this out with Joseph.


    *


    When Noah got back to the Sullivan estate, Desmond was sitting at the head of the dining table,


    trying his best to suppress his anger. He said sternly, "On your knees."


    Noah remained standing and stared straight at his grandfather. "What did Joseph say to you?"


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Tell me. You like Chloe, don''t you?"


    Noah¡¯s expression remained steady, calm, and resolute. "Yes, I do, and I want to marry her."


    Even though Desmond had a good temper, he could no longer hold it in. He picked up the mug on


    the table and threw it on Noah.


    The mug hit Noah on the shoulder and dropped onto the wool carpet. Hot coffee spilled all over him


    and burned his skin, but he still held fast. "Grandpa, I want to marry Coco. I don''t want an arranged


    marriage with Natalie. I''m sure you''lle to like Coco in the future. She''s far better than all the


    women in the world."


    "You bastard!" Desmond erupted in anger as he sprang to his feet. He then poked Noah''s forehead


    with a finger, scolding Noah for failing to live up to expectations, "Has all that studying made you


    crazy? Does Chloe deserve you? Why do you want to marry her?"


    If Joseph had not called him today, he would not have known that Noah was shamelessly trying to


    snatch another man¡¯s woman.


    "We''ll know whether she deserves me or not when we get together."


    "She''s Joseph''s wife." Desmond calmlyid out the situation for Noah. "Though they''re separated


    now, they''re still entangled with each other. They''ll probably get back together. Why do you want to


    meddle in their affair? Natalie¡¯s a pretty good woman, and you two are of simr age and


    experience levels. On top of that, her family is on par with ours. You should put away those


    impudent thoughts of yours."


    Noah asked, "You think Coco is a disgrace since she¡¯s divorced and pregnant, don''t you?"

 Chapter 625 Chloe Gave Joseph a Polite Bow

    Chapter 625 Chloe Gave Joseph a Polite Bow


    Desmond¡¯s gray brows furrowed as he sighed and did not deny this. "She''s Joseph''s wife."


    "Grandpa, they divorced a long time ago. It''s the twenty-first century now. What''s wrong with me


    trying to gain the heart of the woman I like?" Although Noah did not want Chloe to return to the


    Sullivan family with Joseph''s child, he could not do anything to wrong her.


    "Her disgrace makes it hard for her to be a part of Sullivans. As your grandfather I need to consider


    certain things.¡±


    Noah was the grandson of Desmond''s friend, and that friend had entrusted Noah to him more than


    ten years ago. Desmond felt responsible for looking after Noah. Marriage was a big issue, and he


    could not let Noah take the wrong path out of ignorance. As an elder, he admitted that he did not


    hate Chloe. He pitied her, but it was impossible for her to marry Noah.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Noah looked at Desmond and asked seriously, "If Chloe was your granddaughter, will you still think


    of her as a disgrace?"


    Desmond was taken aback. Reconsidering the whole picture from that angle, he would feel very


    sorry that his granddaughter was a divorcee who had to single-handedly raise a child. He would


    teach anyone who called her a disgrace a hard lesson. It was pretty double standards, but everyone


    adored their descendants.


    s, Chloe was not his grandchild, but Noah was albeit adopted. Desmond had no desire to


    answer such hypothetical questions. He waved and said, "Go to the hall and reflect on your


    mistakes for three days. Come out after you''ve figured it out."


    Noah chuckled. "Grandpa, I''m afraid you''ll have to retake the reins of Exotic Star then. I¡¯ll be in the


    hall for a very, very long time."


    *


    At the vi, Chloe was patiently sitting in the living room and waiting for Joseph toe home.


    Joseph had nned to go to the hospital, but on second thought, he ordered Lucas, "Let''s head


    back to the vi first."


    "Okay, sir."


    At six in the evening, Chloe heard a car being parked outside. She got up, walked to the door, and


    came face to face with Joseph. He was wearing a slim-fit dark blue suit. With his tall and handsome


    figure, he looked dazzling in the light of the setting sun. Gazing at him, she fell into a trance for a


    brief moment, transported back to the moment they first met.


    He was a star that was born to shine.


    Joseph waved in Chloe¡¯s face. "What''s wrong?"


    Chloe caught her mind wondering . She quickly averted her gaze. "I''m fine."


    Joseph nodded. "Let''s go to the living room."


    "Okay."


    They sat on the sofa, and they both spoke up at the same time.


    "There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to talk about."


    ¡°I want to discuss something with you."


    Joseph¡¯s brows went up. He crossed his legs and said, "You first."


    "Our rtionship is currently in a bad state. You can''t keep me locked up, and I don''t want to be


    callous with you. It''s exhausting."


    A gentleness dawned his face. He had missed her past self¡ªthe woman who was charming and as


    bright as the sun. Hence, he had nned to pour out all his innermost thoughts. Compared to losing


    her, he was willing to try everything.


    "Please let me go. If you think I''ve in any way wronged you, I¡¯m willing to apologize." Chloe got to


    her feet and gave him a polite bow. It was a gesture full of humbleness.


    Joseph''s expression stiffened. "Is there nothing else you wish to say to me?¡±

 Chapter 626 Getting Back With an Ex Is a No Go

    Chapter 626 Getting Back With an Ex Is a No Go


    Chloe thought that he was dissatisfied, so she pouted and offered, "I¡¯ll post a public apology on the


    Inte and admit that this is all my fault given our past rtionship. And none of it has nothing to


    do with you or Xavia. I''m just reaping what I¡¯ve sown. Will that be enough?"


    She would do anything as long as he was willing to let her go. Even if she had to say that she had


    cheated on him, she would do it. She was too exhausted to continue arguing with him over what


    was right. She was ready to ept her loss in this battle.


    A coldness enveloped Joseph. For the first time, he realized that a gentle woman like Chloe was


    capable of such harsh words. She could not be bothered to struggle anymore. He closed his eyes


    briefly before grasping her chin and forcing her to look at him.


    "So you''re okay with ruining your public image just to break up with me?" he questioned.


    Chloe rolled her eyes andughed bitterly. "No one wishes to nder themselves. I¡¯ve just decided


    to go with it since I can''t change anything."


    She could simply ignore it if it was merely one person ndering her, but she would suffer greatly if


    a lot of people did it.


    Joseph paused as a look of annoyance shed through his eyes. "I haven¡¯t figured things out yet.


    Give me some time."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    It was hard for any man to ept that his beloved woman was pregnant with another man''s child.


    "Forget it. You don¡¯t have to force yourself, and I don¡¯t have to either." Chloe pushed his hand away,


    feeling a sense of helplessness that was like a familiar friend now.


    Love was supposed to be selfless, but she could not ept Xavia''s child and he did not trust her


    wholeheartedly.


    "Chloe¡­" Joseph looked glum and furious as he stared at her. "I¡¯ll never let you leave me."


    Chloe''s gaze wavered. "Are you asking me to stay with you?"


    Joseph did not answer directly, but instead held her shoulders and stared into her eyes. "What if I


    said yes?¡±


    "But I don''t want to be with you,¡± Chloe said nonchntly and without a hint of hesitation.


    There was no point getting back together with an ex. It was bitter and pathetic.


    Joseph suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Are you breaking up with me?"


    Chloe shook her head and found his words amusing, but tears escaped her control and burst forth.


    "This is the second time you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t want me!"


    He had done it the first time for Xavia''s child, and now solely because of Icarus'' testimony. Chloe


    felt desperate. She did not want to experience this feeling a third time.


    "I want you." Ignoring his back injuries, Joseph enveloped her in a hug. "I''ve figured it out. Let''s just


    go back to how things were and put everything behind us."


    Tyson was right. Chloe was pregnant with Icarus'' child, but he had identally knocked up Xavia.


    He had no right to me Chloe.


    "No, I¡¯ll never trust you again," she muttered, "Maybe I''m just a woman that attracts scumbags. Jake


    slept with Ava, and you slept with Xavia. Looks like it¡¯s just hard for me to find a normal


    rtionship.¡±


    When Joseph heard her statement, he was ovee by grief and found it hard to breathe. How


    could shepare him to a scumbag like Jake? But he could not refute it. He had slept with Xavia.

 Chapter 627 Shouldn’t Have Allowed Xavia to Keep the Pregnancy

    Chapter 627 Shouldn¡¯t Have Allowed Xavia to Keep the Pregnancy


    "Just go and think about my offer. I''m willing to cooperate."


    Before Joseph could react, Chloe went to the bedroom and crawled into bed. Her breathing soon


    evened out as if she had fallen asleep.


    Joseph stood at the doorway and watched her rising and falling back for a long time. He wanted to


    tell her that he never intended to push her away. He had been angry with her but he never intended


    to harm her. Unexpectedly, Chloe told him that his neverending suspicion and the choices he made


    had chiseled away her feelings until there was nothing left.


    Love was selfish and was a game meant for only two people.


    *


    Samuel took on a case for the Whitman Group, so he came to the vi to discuss the details with


    Joseph. As they spoke, he sensed that his friend was not himself. As he gazed at Joseph, he


    sincerely hoped to help resolve the situation and asked Joseph about his woes. He found that he


    had no remedy for the situation as he did not understand love. He then decided to call on Nathan,


    the man experienced in love.


    "Ah, your issues with Chloe are still unresolved?" Nathan grabbed an orange as he sat down,


    peeling it and stuffing it into his mouth.


    Joseph rubbed the spot between his brows. "I wanted to put it all behind, but she doesn¡¯t want to."


    "Are you really going to put everything behind?" Nathan failed to hold back his retort and spurted


    out a mouthful of orange. Samuel, who was sitting across from him, was forced to suffer.


    The orange juice dripped down Samuel¡¯s face. He grabbed some tissues and furiously wiped his


    face. He said disdainfully, "Don¡¯t talk with your mouth full. Be a man of culture will you?"


    Nathan ignored Samuel and leaned toward Joseph eagerly. "Are you sure you¡¯re okay with being a


    stepfather?"


    Joseph took a deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled. The smoke enveloped his face. He said


    gloomily, "Principles are nothing in front of the one you truly love." He had only learned of his true


    desires when he was on the verge of death.


    Nathan was stunned. "What happened to you?"


    Samuel red at Nathan. "Don¡¯t you know that Duskfall made a move?"


    "No, I don''t. I''ve been kind of busy."


    "Stop frequenting the bars. You''ll tire yourself out."


    "I wasn¡¯t at the bar. I recently got to know a woman. She looks very much like..." Halfway through


    his sentence, Nathan returned to the topic at hand and looked at Joseph. "Isn''t it a good thing that


    you''re willing topromise? What did Chloe say?"


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "She doesn¡¯t want this love anymore. She asked me to let her go."


    Nathan''s heart skipped a beat. "That''s it?"


    "Mm-hmm." Joseph thought himself a joke. He finally overcame his principles, but she had not


    agreed to it.


    Nathan put down his orange and pondered, his hand cupping his chin. He dwelled on it for a long


    while. "I think Chloe has given up."


    "What do you mean?" Samuel asked.


    "Only those who have given up have no desires or requests."


    When Joseph heard that Chloe had given up, he shook. "What did I do wrong?"


    Nathan fell silent. "You shouldn''t have allowed Xavia to keep the pregnancy."


    Joseph covered his face in frustration and remorse. Nathan was right. Joseph had wanted to have


    his cake and eat it. That was the reason his rtionship with Chloe was now beyond repair.


    Samuel could tell that his friend was having a hard time. He heaved a sigh and felt that it was better


    to stay single. They sat up talking untilte into the night, so Joseph asked Samuel and Nathan to


    spend the night.


    Chloe was sleeping in the master bedroom, so Joseph slept in the room she upied when she


    first moved in. Her scent lingered on the nket, and itforted him into a rare night of fitful sleep.

 Chapter 628 Joseph Was an Asshole, but He Was Generous

    Chapter 628 Joseph Was an Asshole, but He Was Generous


    The following day, the three men left the house one after another until Chloe was the only one left in


    the spacious house. She had expected to be confined to the room once again, but to her surprise,


    she was given the freedom to move around so long as she allowed the bodyguards to apany


    her.


    She could notprehend Joseph''s sudden change in behavior and did not understand why he


    was acting so differently. Now, she was allowed to use her phone and even had a video chat with


    Emily for a while.


    "How about Ie to visit you? I''m on vacation and have nothing to do."


    Chloe hesitated, "You want toe to the vi?"


    "Yeah. It must be boring for you to be all alone. It¡¯d be kind of awkward to meet outside with all


    those bodyguards trailing behind us. If we stroll around town with all those guards protecting us,


    people might think we''re the daughters of some mafia boss.¡±


    "Okay, doe over then." Chloe calcted the time, estimating that Joseph would not be back for


    at least another hour and a half.


    Forty minutester, Emily arrived with an enormous bag of snacks. She had a proud grin on her


    face as she lifted her chin at Chloe. "I bought a ton of snacks, and I made sure to check if they''re


    safe for pregnant women."


    Chloe blinked, her eyes welling up with tears. She embraced Emily tightly and whispered, "You''re


    the one who treats me the best."


    "Okay, okay. If you want to get all emotional, at least let me into the house first so I can be part of it.


    These things are heavy."


    "There¡¯s no need for you to carry them. Just put them down." Chloe called over the house helper


    who was keeping an eye on her. "Take these to my room on the second floor."


    The helper refrained from objecting, but muttered softly as she picked up the bag of snacks, "I was


    hired to clean and cook, not be aborer."


    "Well then, how about you focus on doing your job well and don''t try to take over the bodyguard''s


    job? Staring at me all day won''t earn you a higher sry."


    The nanny fell silent and her eyes narrowed. She nced at Chloe a few times and made some


    judgments in her head. She wondered how her employer could be interested in such a


    confrontational woman.


    With Emily around, Chloe''s mood improved greatly. They engaged in lively conversation, discussing


    various topics¡ªfrom their former college mates to their bosses¡ªand vented all their frustrations.


    "By the way, when I entered earlier, I noticed a stunning statue on disy on the first floor. It¡¯s a


    masterpiece by Master Zaman, right?"


    ¡°It is. Joseph and I purchased it at a charity auction and just casually decided to ce it in the living


    room."


    Emily tugged at Chloe''s sleeve, the excitement in her voice evident. "Can you take me downstairs


    to see it? I saw photos of it on Twitter. I never expected to see it in person."


    "Sure." Chloe paused before continuing, "Actually, if you really like it, you can take it home with you


    today itself."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    The statue was not too expensive, and it was within her means to buy it from Joseph.


    Emily''s eyes widened in surprise. "Why would I do that? I just want to admire it. I never said


    anything about taking it. Besides, won''t Joseph be upset if I took it?"


    Chloe smiled and reassured her friend. "Trust me, he won''t be. I don''t think he even cares about


    that statue. He¡¯s probably already forgotten that it''s even in the house."


    Chloe took the matter into her own hands. She headed downstairs to retrieve the small statue and


    then stuffed it into Emily''s canvas bag.


    Emily, in turn, felt anxious and hesitant. "I think it¡¯s best we forget about this. I''m starting to feel a


    little scared."


    "It''s fine, just take it!" Chloe insisted, her expression serious. She pushed the small statue back into


    the bag. "Oh, there are many more of Master Zaman¡¯s works stored in the basement, but some of


    them are prettyrge. You probably won¡¯t be able to move them on your own. When the opportunity


    arises, I''ll arrange for someone to help you transport them."


    She was not sure about many things, but the one thing she knew for certain was that although


    Joseph was an asshole, he was generous when it came to money. He surely would not get angry


    over this small gesture, and Emily''s tooth was worth just as much, if not more, than these statues.


    Chloe¡¯s reasoning managed to cate Emily, and realizing it was gettingte, she prepared to


    leave. Downstairs, the helper had informed Joseph of what Chloe had done. Emily averted her gaze


    from the man who suddenly appeared at the doorway and nervously clutched her canvas bag.


    Joseph, with his hands in his pockets, took the initiative to say, "So you''re a fan of Master Zaman?"


    Emily''s face tensed, and she quickly retrieved the small statue from the bag, saying, "Not really.


    Actually, I don¡¯t like him all that much."


    "What I meant was that there are two more of Master Zaman¡¯s statues in the basement. If you''re


    interested, I¡¯ll get Lucas to help you move them."

 Chapter 629 It Was Every Man for Themselves

    Chapter 629 It Was Every Man for Themselves


    Emily was stunned, and she unconsciously reached up to rub her ears."What did you say?"


    Was Joseph truly this generous?


    "If you''re a fan of Master Zaman, you can have them all. They''re just taking up space here." Joseph


    said, turning to address Lucas who stood behind him. "Help her move the artwork in the basement."


    Lucas nodded and proceeded toward the basement to move the pieces.


    Joseph put on his shoes at the entrance and turned his gaze toward the bewildered Emily. He


    paused for a moment and continued, "I acted impulsively at the hospitalst week.¡±


    After some time, Emily realized that Joseph was apologizing to her. Feeling guilty about taking the


    statue without permission, she followed suit and epted his apology. "It¡¯s fine, I ept your


    apology..."


    Joseph''s deep eyes shifted toward the direction of the bedroom. "Spend more time with Chloe when


    you have the chance. I¡¯m sure she gets bored being here alone.¡±


    Emily did not like hearing this. "Why don''t you set her free then?"


    "Not right now," Joseph responded firmly. It was too dangerous with Duskfall lurking about. They


    might harm her.


    "What about in the future?" Emily asked sarcastically.


    "Not in the future either," Joseph replied with resolve, his voice tinged with stubbornness.


    Seeing that reasoning with him was futile, Emily decided not to waste any more words. She snorted


    and approached Lucas, returning the small statue with great determination. "I don''t want the


    possessions of a scumbag!" She had thought of taking advantage of the situation, but she refused


    to let others look down on her.


    Lucas, panting heavily, struggled to bring up two statues as tall as full-grown adults. Upon hearing


    Emily''s words, he quickly covered her mouth. "But you have to take them. I can''t move them back.


    I''m tired as hell." Without waiting for her response, he pulled her away.


    *


    When Joseph emerged from the shower, the helper had prepared the brewed herbal blend intended


    for Chloe. Joseph stated, "Give it to me."


    "Let me handle it. When Ms. Chloe sees the herbal drink, she bes quite emotional. It wouldn''t


    be ideal if it affects you."


    "It''s not a problem."


    The helper nced at the closed bedroom door and reluctantly passed the herbal soup to him. "You


    treat Ms. Chloe too well." So well that she was spoiled rotten and had no regard for moderation.


    Joseph took the herbal drink and pushed open the door to the bedroom. As soon as Chloe saw


    what he held in his hand, a look of rejection shed through her almond-shaped eyes. Her gaze


    then shifted to Joseph, and her eyes slowly hardened.


    Joseph felt a pang in his heart. "It isn¡¯t an abortion concoction."


    Chloe remained silent, but a mocking smirk formed at the corner of her mouth. "If it''s not, is it a


    medicine to aid pregnancy then?"


    "No, it''s meant to nourish your body."


    Her delicate brows furrowed, expressing her confusion and skepticism. "Why do I need to drink


    this?"


    "The hospital diagnosed you with anemia, so you need to replenish your iron levels," Joseph said,


    taking a seat beside the bedside. His handsome face carried a trace of helplessness. "I may have


    been angry with you, but the truth is that I¡¯ve never done anything to harm you. Can you please stop


    doubting me at every turn?"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    At that moment, he experienced the bitter taste of making wrong decisions andmitting one


    mistake after another.


    Chloe''s eyes flickered as she lowered her gaze to the pale blue veins on the back of her hand. It


    was true that she had been anemic since childhood. Her mother''s frail health had passed on to her,


    making her inherently weaker than other children.


    And her life turned for the worse when Benjamin brought Karen home after her mother¡¯s passing. In


    that household, it had been every man for themselves.


    Chloe let go of her concerns, took hold of the small porcin bowl, and swiftly downed the herbal


    drink.


    "Is it bitter?" Joseph asked.


    In the past, she would have acted coy and soughtfort from him, pretending to be cute. But now,


    she simply shook her head, her expression indifferent.


    Joseph pursed his thin lips, unsure whether to offer the piece of candy in his hand or not. In the end,


    he decided to give it to her. "Here, have some candy. I remember that you like this brand."


    Chloe gazed at the candy in his hand. It was wrapped in exquisite packaging, which seemed


    strangely familiar. After a moment of contemtion, she recalled that this was the same candy


    Noah used to bring her.

 Chapter 630 The Dread of Growing Old Alone

    Chapter 630 The Dread of Growing Old Alone


    Chloe stared at Joseph, her expression filled with mixed emotions. Thinking she was touched by his


    gesture, Joseph hurriedly exined, "I invested in their brand because I noticed how much you


    liked it. There''s a newly opened store next to the Johnson Group."


    Just then, a message from Emily popped up on Chloe''s phone.


    [Guess what? I snooped around, and guess what I found? That scumbag Joseph opened a


    franchise store for you two, and get this, it''s called J&C! The initials of your names!]


    Chloe was at a loss for words.


    Joseph cleared his throat. "The brand added that as a gesture of gratitude."


    "Joseph, just stop trying."


    His heart sank. "What''s wrong?"


    "I won''t forgive you," Chloe finally spoke the words that had been weighing heavily on her chest.


    Her eyes, devoid of any sparkle, remained as calm as still water. A shattered mirror could never be


    repaired, just like how she would never be able to trust him again.


    Marriage was supposed to be a lifelongmitment, yet their first year together had been filled with


    misery. What kind of future did that indicate? What about in another year? Two years? Ten? Once


    the initial excitement faded, what would there be left for her? She dared not even think about it. A


    lifetime was too long, and she was afraid she would be sacrificing her lifetime of happiness.


    A faint smile froze at the corners of Joseph''s mouth. "What exactly do you want me to do? Do I not


    treat you well enough?" He had epted her past with Icarus and epted her and Icarus¡¯ child.


    Just like her, he had done it, so why was she still unsatisfied?


    "Your so-called good toward me doesn''t even begin to outweigh the harm you''ve caused," she


    stated firmly. It was like receiving a p and then being offered a sweet. She had reached her limit.


    Joseph took a deep breath. There was pain etched across his face. "And what about you? Haven''t


    you hurt me too? Since we''ve both made mistakes, why can''t we find it in our hearts to forgive each


    other?"


    Chloe suddenly lifted her head as she said defiantly, "It has always been you who has wronged me!


    I haven''t done anything wrong!"


    Joseph''s gaze fell on her swollen belly, his sharp eyebrows and eyes conveying unspoken thoughts.


    He knew that pregnancy made women more emotional, prone to being sensitive and suspicious.


    Stirred by his unusual gaze, Chloe''s voice grew louder, her words choked with emotion. "Get out!"


    Joseph fell silent, choosing not to engage her in an argument.


    Chloe grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it, shouting in anguish, "Just go away! I don''t want to


    see you anymore!"


    Joseph averted his gaze, catching the pillow that hit him and calmly cing it back on the bed.


    Then, he opened his arms and tightly embraced her. "But I want to see you."


    "Don¡¯t you have any shame?" Chloeughed in anger.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    A self-mocking expression appeared in Joseph''s beautiful eyes. "No. What good is my pride if I lose


    the person I love?¡±


    She trembled all over, turning her face away. "Are you crazy?"


    "Yes, I am crazy. I went crazy the moment we were pushed to the edge of the cliff, and again when I


    saw Vanya almost crush you to death. I was scared out of my mind. I was so afraid that you¡¯d die.


    That dread of growing old alone¡­ The fear of facing days without you¡­ That''s why I want to keep


    you tightly locked by my side¡ªto ensure your safety and shield you from any harm."


    Chloe paused, realizing that his transformation was driven by this very reason. At that moment, a


    wave of emotions surged within her, making it difficult for her to articte her feelings. Her eyes


    involuntarily welled up with tears.


    In truth, on that day, she had also been consumed by the fear that he might have died. In the days


    since then, she had been gued by nightmares. The image of him being crushed by boulders


    would repeatedly invade her dreams, causing her to wake up in tears every time.

 Chapter 631 Otto’s Greatest Pride Was Being Cyrus’ Child

    Chapter 631 Otto¡¯s Greatest Pride Was Being Cyrus¡¯ Child


    Joseph lowered his gaze and noticed Chloe''s reddened eyes. She resembled a small rabbit, her


    eyes glistened with tears, a few shimmering droplets clinging to her curlyshes. It was a sight that


    would soften any man''s heart and ignite a strong desire tofort her.


    "Why are you crying?" He hurriedly wiped away her tears, a deep distress evident in his expression.


    He could not fathom what could have caused her to shed tears. He had not mistreated her. What


    could be the reason behind her sorrow?


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Don''t touch me." Chloe pped his hand away. She hastily wiped her tears and adamantly refused


    to acknowledge him.


    Joseph sighed. His hand hung in the air for a moment before gently patting her back, attempting to


    offer sce. Slowly, Chloe regained control of her emotions and the tears ceased. She turned her


    gaze toward the window, feeling a wave of drowsiness wash over her. With heavy eyelids, she


    sumbed to sleep. Joseph remained by her side, eventually dozing off himself.


    Before long, Vince called to report that Vanya refused to cooperate. Joseph got up and went outside


    to answer the call. "Gather a few men and bring Vanya to the docks. I''ll join you shortly."


    Vince hesitated. "Sir, are you really going to feed her to the fish? She¡¯s so skinny that there¡¯s hardly


    any flesh on her bones. Fish don''t eat bones, you know?"


    "You talk too much."


    Vince replied, "Okay, sir. See you soon.¡±


    Joseph hung up and retrieved Otto''s contact details. Heposed a brief message and hit the


    send button. Then, he got into his car and headed to the docks.


    As soon as Otto received the message, he immediately verified its authenticity with Cyrus. He


    remained stunned for a long while, finding it difficult to believe the words Cyrus had conveyed. On


    the way to the docks, he video-called Xavia and unleashed his frustration. "Why didn''t you do


    anything to save Vanya?!"


    Xavia appeared aggrieved and sulky. "I had no idea where they were keeping her, so how could I


    possibly save her? It''s not easy when Joe is always watching our every move."


    "You''re useless shit! Why do I even expect anything from you?!" After trying to seduce Joseph for so


    long, the little progress she made ended up with her getting pregnant with someone else.


    "If you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t you save her?"


    "Vanya has been assisting you with various operations so that your identity is kept hidden. You''re


    the most suitable person to rescue her!" Otto eximed, his frustration mounting. "If we wait until I


    meet up with Joseph, he''ll have the upper hand. How the fuck are we supposed to save her then?!"


    Xavia frowned. "I did have a n, but I didn''t anticipate Joe to act so quickly. Find a way to stall him,


    and I''ll quickly figure out where Vanya is being held."


    "It''s already toote."


    "What do you mean by ''toote?¡¯"


    "Joseph 300 million in exchange for Vanya. My father would never agree to that kind of money!"


    Otto''s anger and grief surged within him. "I¡¯m only going there to collect Vanya''s body!"


    Although he imed it was to collect her body, his true intention was to confirm with his own eyes


    that Vanya was genuinely dead and incapable of revealing Duskfall''s secrets to Joseph.


    Xavia stood there in stunned silence. ¡°Are you just going to let Vanya die, Mr. Otto?"


    "It''s not a matter of letting her die. She holds no further value and there''s no need to save her."


    Three hundred million... That¡¯s a sum that even Briake can¡¯t earn in a year.¡±


    A chill ran through Xavia as she processed Otto''s words. "Are you saying that if any of us loses our


    value, we could meet the same fate as Vanya?"


    "Don''tpare me to you. Our positions are different."


    For over twenty years, Otto''s greatest pride was being Cyrus'' child. He firmly believed that his father


    would never treat him the same way he treated Vanya. No, that would never happen.


    *


    Otto and Joseph arrived almost simultaneously at Port Nazure.

 Chapter 632 A Useless Person Holds Little Value in Duskfall

    Chapter 632 A Useless Person Holds Little Value in Duskfall


    When Otto saw Vanya, he noticed her broken leg, paleplexion, and the multitude of injuries that


    marred her body. Her already slender frame appeared even more emaciated than usual, resembling


    a bag of bones.


    Vanya¡¯s eyesnded on Otto. A faint change flickered across her face, revealing a glimmer of hope.


    He unconsciously looked away, avoiding eye contact with her.


    Vince fetched a chair and positioned it beside his employer. Joseph, donning a ck overcoat, wore


    a cold and stern countenance. As always, he emanated an air of superiority.


    Silence prevailed between the two parties.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    d in a padded jacket, Vince resembled a formidable Tibetan Mastiff. His gaze fixed fiercely on


    Otto as he demanded, "Where''s the money?"


    "My father says to consider Vanya a gift," Otto retorted, ¡°A worthless person holds little value in


    Duskfall.¡±


    As the words fell, Vanya''s head snapped up and her pupils dted. In a voice hoarse from thirst, she


    shouted, "That''s impossible! Cyrus would never treat me this way!"


    Ignoring her outburst, Otto turned his gaze to Joseph and said, "Do it."


    "I wonder if Cyrus will say these same words to you in the future.¡± Joseph smirked, unsurprised by


    this oue.


    Otto reiterated, "No, he wouldn''t. I¡¯m his child, unlike Vanya."


    "Ha! Who the hell are you to be called his son?"


    "Are you going to y pretend or should I do it for you?"


    Otto''s annoyance grew, fueled by his guilt toward Vanya and his inability toprehend Cyrus''


    heartless decision. He was well aware of his father''s ruthlessness, but Vanya had spent ten long


    years in the Duskfall. Even with a dog, one would surely develop feelings after a whole decade.


    Leaningzily back into his chair, Joseph raised an eyebrow and said arrogantly, "Vince."


    "Aye!" Vince seized Vanya by the cor and hoisted her off the ground. Beneath themy a vast


    expanse of frigid water. Even if she were not tied up, with a broken leg and this freezing weather,


    her chances of survival were slim to none.


    Vanya fixed her gaze on Otto, still unable to fathom that Cyrus had forsaken her. She remained


    motionless, her expression stunned and vacant. It was as if her voice had been shed, leaving her


    unable to utter a single word.


    Joseph rose to his feet, nonchntly smoothing out the creases on his attire. He turned to Otto and


    remarked, "Let¡¯s send her off, shall we?"


    Otto turned his head, saying, "There¡¯s no need to waste time. I don''t¡ª"


    But before he could finish his sentence, Joseph''s icymand cut him off. "Release, Vince."


    Vince nodded in acknowledgment. Without hesitation, he loosened his grip and Vanya plummeted


    downward with rming speed. A resounding ssh followed as she hit the water, causing a


    massive spray to shoot into the air.


    Otto trembled involuntarily, and his limbs felt as heavy as elephants. Hecked the courage to even


    approach the edge of the pier. He had known Vanya for over ten years, training and growing


    together since childhood. He had envisioned a life of triumph and shared old age with her.


    "G-Go¡­" Otto pointed at one of his subordinates, stuttering as if deprived of oxygen. After a few


    pauses, he managed to continue, "Go and take a look."


    The subordinate swiftly walked to the edge of the pier and surveyed the surroundings. He returned


    to deliver his report. "I didn''t see anyone on the sea surface. Looks like she sank."


    A fierce spasm coursed through Otto''s facial muscles, leaving his entire body numb. "Let¡¯s go."


    *


    Vince''s gaze followed Otto''s departing car, then he turned around and waved toward the sea.


    Immediately, a man emerged from the water, dragging an unconscious Vanya toward the shore.

 Chapter 633 A Shocking Thought Coursed Through Her Mind

    Chapter 633 A Shocking Thought Coursed Through Her Mind


    ¡°Sir, will this woman really appreciate us for doing this?"


    Joseph''s gaze swept dismissively over Vanya, her disheveled appearance resembling a drowned


    rat. "We don''t need her gratitude. We only have to ignite the hatred in her heart."


    As an insider of Duskfall, Vanya possessed valuable knowledge that Joseph was determined to


    extract. He would not allow her to die without revealing the secrets she held, for her demise would


    be in vain otherwise.


    *


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe had slept for an extended period of time. When she opened her eyes, it was already dark


    outside. She reached out and felt the empty space beside her. It was devoid of warmth, signaling


    that Joseph had departed long ago. She went downstairs to have her meal, but halfway through it,


    Patrick arrived.


    "Heat up this lentil soup."


    "Fetch me the woolen sweater Mr. Harold left in the basement.¡±


    Patrick swiftly assigned tasks to the helpers, gesturing for them to hasten their efforts. They


    obediently set about their assigned duties without dy.


    Chloe went into the kitchen and grabbed another set of bowls and cutlery. She turned to Patrick and


    expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the lentil soup. Sit down and have a meal with me."


    "I''m not here to eat. I came to discuss an important matter with you today."


    "Isn¡¯t the purpose of your visit to deliver soup?" Chloe''s spoon trembled slightly, almost causing the


    soup to spill.


    Patrick quickly scanned the surroundings to ensure the helpers were upied before focusing his


    attention back on her. "A car wille to pick you up at noon tomorrow. Get in and I''ll take you to


    meet someone."


    Confusion clouded Chloe''s eyes. "Who am I meeting?"


    "You''ll find out when you meet them," Patrick replied with a hint of amusement in his tone. "It''s


    someone you''ve been longing to see."


    "Someone I''ve been longing to see..." Chloe muttered softly. "But the people I long to see are no


    longer in this world." Her mother, Harold¡­ The only two people who treated her kindly had left.


    Patrick smiled again. He said reassuringly, "Once you get there, everything will be clear. I can''t


    divulge too much right now."


    "But will Joseph allow me to go?"


    "With me providing you cover, there''s no need to fear him."


    Chloe was stunned. Patrick did not have such authority unless someone was backing him up... A


    shocking thought coursed through her mind. It felt as if she had been struck by a jolt of electricity.


    She considered the possibility she had long dismissed. Could it be true? Was that person she


    longed to see still alive?


    After a moment of contemtion, Chloe nodded excitedly. Her face lit up with apliant smile,


    saying, "Okay, I¡¯ll be there tomorrow."


    *


    Inside a secluded vi, Xavia received the news of Vanya''s death. A chilling sensation ran through


    her body. She let out a long sigh that was a mix of relief and apprehension. With Vanya gone, there


    was one less person who knew about the switching of the amniotic fluid. It would be best if


    everyone who knew died, ensuring Xavia¡¯s safety for the rest of her life.


    However, Vanya''s death had both advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage was that


    Xavia would have to clean up messes on her own in the future. Being pregnant limited her ability to


    handle certain tasks, and she could not rely on Megan as thetter was dim-witted and slow. The


    key was that Megan was unaware of her secret.


    Seated in front of her elegant dressing table, Xavia gently ran her hand over her smooth


    complexion. Despite her growing belly, her facial features remainedrgely unchanged. If anything,


    pregnancy seemed to have enhanced her natural beauty, giving her a radiant and rosy glow.


    Finally, she retrieved a list of numbers from a cklist and dialed a particr number. "Eustace, can


    we meet? I miss you, and our unborn baby longs to be with you too."

 Chapter 634 These Small Favors Would Not Move Her Anymore

    Chapter 634 These Small Favors Would Not Move Her Anymore


    Eustace remained silent for what felt like an eternity, suspending Xavia in a state of unease. She


    cautiously called out to him once more, her voice filled with uncertainty, "Eustace, are you there?"


    "What do you want?"


    "I want to talk to you. Can we meet? Do you have time to meet up?" Xavia felt a glimmer of hope


    upon hearing his reply.


    "Are youing to kill me again?"


    "No, you''ve misunderstood me... I just want a chance to exin everything properly. I was coerced


    into it..." Xavia pretended to choke up, inserting a hint of desperation and sorrow into her voice.


    "Are you being forced to climb into Joseph''s bed too?"


    "Umm..." Xavia''s sobbing intensified as she struggled to find the right words. "Please. Let''s not


    discuss this over the phone. I¡¯m begging you to hear me out in person. I''ll exin everything¡ªthe


    whole story and its cause and effect."


    "I''ll consider it."


    Xavia grew impatient. It used to be him who longed for her attention. He was her devoted follower.


    But now, the tables had turned, and he seemed like an unattainable figure. This exemplified the


    saying "Fortune is a fickle mistress, ever-changing with the tides of time."


    Yet, Xavia''s rationality reminded her that the future still stretched out before her. Impatience had the


    potential to unravel even the grandest of ns. At present, Eustace posed the greatest threat. If she


    were to back down now, all the efforts she had invested throughout her life would be rendered futile.


    "Okay, take your time to think it over, but do call me back tonight..."


    *


    The Winter Solstice hade and gone, and a chill hung in the air. Snow had fallen throughout the


    night, covering the world outside with a pristine white nket.


    One early morning, Joseph apanied Chloe to the mall to purchase a plethora of winter


    maternity clothes. The mall was a short distance from the outdoor parking lot, and by the sidewalk


    stood an ice cream truck. Chloe stopped before the stall, and Joseph instantly understood her


    thoughts.


    "What vor would you like? Chocte or strawberry?"


    "Chocte."


    "Give me two choctes please."


    Chloe raised her gaze to meet his. "I can only eat one."


    "Put it in the freezer and have it in the afternoon."


    After living together for such a long time, Joseph hade to understand Chloe''s preferences,


    especially when it came to food. She had a tendency to stick to the same choices until she grew


    weary of them and ventured into new territory.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Chloe simply replied with an "oh" and fell silent. These small favors would not move her anymore.


    They were nothing significantpared to what he had done.


    Joseph handed arge banknote to the vendor, instructing him, "Keep the change."


    The vendor recognized Joseph''s higher status as he received the money excitedly, showering him


    with well-wishes. "Thank you, sir. I wish you good fortune and the madam a healthy baby. May your


    family be happy and blissful."


    Chloe''s eyelid twitched and she instinctively looked to Joseph to observe his reaction. The man''s


    profile exuded gracefulness, and he remained unfazed. She breathed a sigh of relief, peeled off the


    wrapper sticking to the ice cream, and took a bite from the top. The sweetness filled her mouth, and


    the ice cream''s rich vor tantalized her taste buds, causing her mouth to water.


    Joseph stopped walking and observed her intently. The petite woman was d in a long, tangerine,


    down coat and a thick scarf that obscured half her face. Only her delicate, upright little nose and


    striking ck-and-white eyes were visible. Perhaps due to the coldness of the ice cream, her small


    face wrinkled into aical expression.


    Joseph''s eyes softened with affection as he chuckled. "If it''s too cold for you, you don''t have to eat


    it."


    Chloe paused, locked eyes with him, then took another bite of the ice cream. She swallowed it


    without any visible reaction as if it had no impact on her.


    Joseph''s smile became mischievous. "Since you''re fine with it, finish it off before we get in the car.


    We wouldn¡¯t want it to drip all over the car.¡±

 Chapter 635 Harold Eavesdropped Intently on Their Conversation

    Chapter 635 Harold Eavesdropped Intently on Their Conversation


    Chloe remained silent. She was unsure if Joseph had deliberately nned this andcked any


    evidence to support her doubts. After finishing the whole ice cream, her teeth ached from the cold.


    Noticing her difort, Joseph thoughtfully handed her a thermos cup filled with warm water. She


    eagerly drank more than half of it, finding relief from the difort in her mouth.


    After returning to the vi, Joseph lingered for a short while before hurrying off to the office.


    Chloe did not go upstairs to take a nap. She sat on the sofa in the living room and waited anxiously.


    Patrick arrived just as the clock on the wall struck one. Her eyebrows went up as a visible


    expression of joy dawned on her face. "Patrick!"


    He smiled warmly and waved in response. Chloe wasted no time and followed him out of the vi.


    As they entered the yard, the bodyguards made no attempt to intervene, allowing Chloe to calmly


    get into the car Patrick had arranged.


    Patrick stood by the car and held the door open for her. "I won''t be joining you. It''s a crowded ce


    with too many prying eyes. When you arrive, head straight to Private Room No. 2."


    Chloe nodded. "I understand."


    The passing scenery outside shed by as the car began to move. Chloe clenched her hands


    tightly, a mixture of happiness and nervousness coursing through her. She was mostly likely right¡ª


    Harold was still alive.


    *


    Serenity and privacy permeated the air of The Whispering Willow, a secluded restaurant known for


    its exclusivity. Each private room had a small garden attached to it, making them independent


    oases. Although separated from their neighbors by mere walls, they werepletely unaffected by


    one another.


    Followingst night¡¯s snowfall, the restaurant had arranged coffee tables apanied by moka


    pots and stoves in the gardens. Customers could savor their coffee while taking in the beauty of the


    snow, basking in a delightful atmosphere.


    Xavia stood on the snowy ground, attempting to grasp the arm of the man beside her. However,


    Eustace skillfully avoided her and sidestepped away.


    "Don''t touch me," he said icily, keeping his distance.


    Xavia clenched her teeth. "I was forced into this. I don''t have any feelings for Joe. Otherwise, I


    wouldn¡¯t try to please him while carrying your child. I just want you to be a part of this rtionship."


    "Maybe it¡¯s Joseph that doesn''t have any feelings for you." Eustace sneered, his anger tinged with


    resentment.


    "How could he not like me? I was the only girlfriend he actively pursued. During the five years I was


    away, he did not have contact with any other women. If it weren''t for the Whitmans pressuring him,


    Chloe would have never had a ce in his life."


    Xavia presented her case with reason and supporting evidence. As her emotions intensified, tears


    welled up in her eyes, adding to the persuasiveness of her argument.


    Eustace skeptically furrowed his brows. "Is that true?"


    "Of course, it''s true! I love you. When you suddenly disappeared, I fell into depression. I thought of


    you every day. When you appeared by Noah''s side, I was surprised. I was also afraid that you¡¯d be


    put in harm''s way when those around me discovered you weren¡¯t dead. That''s why I urgently asked


    you to meet with me. You have to leave Noah and go abroad. Once everything settles down and it''s


    safe again, you cane back for me. How does that sound?"


    As Xavia spoke, she leaned into Eustace, and this time, he did not push her away. Unsure whether


    it was done intentionally, her shawl slipped off and revealed her bare shoulder underneath her thin,


    ck blouse. The snow-white roundness was partially covered, exuding allure.


    Xavia hooked her arms around Eustace''s neck, her eyes seductive. "What about you? Did you miss


    me?"


    Eustace''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he shifted his gaze away. "Don''t be like this. You''re pregnant


    right now."


    "It''s okay. We''ll be careful."


    Of course, Eustace held back in the end. He picked up the fallen shawl and gently draped it over


    Xavia''s shoulders. "I came to see you for the sake of our child. It doesn''t mean I forgive you. I have


    other matters to attend to. Let''s end this here for today."


    With those words, he turned and walked away. Eustace was unaware that the door to the


    neighboring room was partially open, revealing an old man standing in the private garden of Room


    No.2.


    Just a single wall away, Harold eavesdropped intently on their conversation. His aged face


    contorted with anger the more he listened.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

 Chapter 636 She Felt Oddly Familiar

    Chapter 636 She Felt Oddly Familiar


    After Eustace left, Xavia stood in the courtyard and shivered from the cold. Refusing to let him have


    his way, she tightened her cor and followed after him.


    Harold was standing inside the room next door when Xavia passed by. She caught a glimpse of him


    and felt a sense of familiarity. Curiosity got the better of her and she halted her steps. She gently


    pushed the door open to take a closer look, but before she could see clearly, Harold raised his cane


    and swung it toward her.


    Xavia narrowly dodged the hit, but her movements were restricted due to her pregnancy and she


    got hit on the arm. She let out a sharp scream of pain and was left stunned when she fixed her gaze


    on Harold.


    ¡®What?! How was this decrepit thing still alive?!''


    "That child in your womb isn''t Joseph''s! How dare you deceive all of us, you vile witch!"


    He had sensed that something was amiss long ago but had not managed to find any evidence.


    However, everything was now crystal clear. Xavia had actively sowed discord between Joseph and


    Chloe, inserting herself between them and wreaking havoc in their lives. But she had not stopped


    there. She deceitfully imed to be carrying Joseph''s child, inflicting even more injustice upon


    Chloe.


    In the end, it was all just a scam.


    "That¡¯s not true, Grandpa. I am carrying Joe''s child. You must have heard it all wrong since you''re


    old," Xavia said, attempting to deceive her way out. She glued her eyes on Harold, while also subtly


    surveying her surroundings for any surveince devices. "Didn¡¯t you pass away a while ago?"


    "What does that have to do with you?" Harold''s face turned stern, his voice seething with anger.


    "And don''t call me Grandpa. You¡¯re not my granddaughter. You have no ties to the Whitmans.


    You''vemitted an immoral act, and you should prepare to face the consequences."


    Refusing to say another word to her, Harold turned to head back to his room to call Joseph and


    reveal the truth. Behind him, a malicious intent crossed Xavia''s mind. She looked toward a nearby


    flower vase before lowering her head to study her gloved hand, her gaze growing increasingly dark.


    A loud noise echoed throughout the room as the vase shattered, its shards now sttered with


    blood.


    Harold trembled and his phone slipped from his hand, dropping to the ground as blood began to


    trickle down his forehead. He stiffly turned around, locking eyes with Xavia.


    "If you want to me someone, me yourself for meddling in my affairs and crossing paths with


    me here today."


    Harold felt dizzy, his lips parted in disbelief as he pointed at her, unable to fathom her heartlessness


    and deranged behavior. But before he could utter a word, he copsed to the floor.


    Xavia showed no signs of panic. Knowing that the probability of Harold''s survival was minimal, she


    quickly fled the scene. Given his age, a fall like that could easily be fatal, and considering his


    already frail health, being struck on the back of his head would likely be the end of him.


    Havingmitted the act without any fear, Xavia felt exhrated and excited. She had discovered


    Harold''s big secret of faking his death and was eager to report it to Cyrus so that they could


    transform his staged demise into an actual one.


    *


    As Chloe arrived at her destination, she stood before Private Room No.2 and raised her hand to


    knock on the door.


    There was no response from inside.


    She knocked again, "Is anyone there?"


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Still no answer.


    Was she here too early?


    Chloe hesitated for a few seconds before gently pushing open the door. The strong smell of blood


    instantly assaulted her, and she was met with a pool of crimson on the floor. Her gaze followed the


    trail upward, where she found Harold lying unconscious on the floor. Her mind went nk, and she


    reached out with trembling hands to check his breath. Though weak, she was relieved to find that


    he was still breathing.


    She had fallen asleep on her way here, and being her first time in this area of concealed, winding


    paths, she was worried that she would not be able to urately convey her location to emergency


    services and potentially hinder the rescue efforts. Immediately, she got up and decided to seek


    assistance from the staff to confirm the exact position.


    As Chloe rushed out of the room, she collided with a womaning her way. She felt like she had


    caught a lifeline and quickly took out her phone to dial emergency services. Meanwhile, she asked,


    "Excuse me, is this themercial district in the northern region?"


    Upon seeing Chloe, the woman smiled. Chloe stared at the woman and her brows slowly knitted


    together. Even though she had never met this woman before, for some reason, she found the


    woman¡¯s face oddly familiar as if she had seen it a thousand times.


    "Yes, this is themercial district in the northern region. What''s the matter?" the woman asked.


    Chloe''s mind was preupied with worry for Harold, so she momentarily set aside her puzzlement


    about the woman and urgently dialed emergency services. "Hello, my grandfather is injured and I


    need an ambnce."


    The woman froze for a moment. She took a few steps forward, and upon seeing the scene inside


    the private room, she screamed in fright.


    "What happened, baby?"


    When Nathan heard Amelia''s cry, he rushed out from the adjacent private room to check on her.


    Amelia pointed anxiously at Private Room No.2, then shifted her gaze toward Chloe. Nathan was


    surprised to encounter Chloe here but first went to check on Room No. 2. The scene that greeted


    him left him horrified.


    "What''s going on, Chloe? How is Mr. Harold..."


    After calling emergency services, Chloe replied, "He was already like this when I came in."


    Nathan''s brows furrowed deeply, and he did not say anything more. Instead, he immediately


    contacted Joseph. When the ambnce arrived, he went with them as they rushed Harold to the


    emergency room, where Joseph arrived at the same time.

 Chapter 637 She Resembles the Late Serenity

    Chapter 637 She Resembles the Late Serenity


    Chloe anxiously recounted the events to Joseph. "I asked the staff, and they said there are no


    surveince cameras inside to protect their customer¡¯s privacy. Hurry up and call the police. I''ll stay


    with Grandpa."


    Joseph''s expression was grim as he said, "I already called the police. They went to the restaurant to


    secure the crime scene and gather evidence. Did you notice anyone acting suspiciously?"


    "No..." Chloe replied.


    "Why didn''t you tell me that you were meeting him?" Joseph asked.


    "I was worried that you wouldn''t agree. Besides, you didn''t tell me that he''s still alive."


    Joseph nced at Amelia and pulled Chloe aside. Staring at her, he said in a serious tone, "I just


    don''t want you to get into a dangerous situation. That''s why I didn''t tell you about it."


    He did not want her to get entangled in the same situation as he was, where dangers lurked around


    every corner.


    Chloe smirked. "You just don''t trust me, do you?"


    Joseph was stumped. He now understood why people always said that trust was like a piece of


    paper¡ªonce crumpled, it could never be restored to its original state.


    The police arrived quickly, and everyone present gave their statements. Soon, it was Amelia''s turn.


    "What did you see at the scene? Was the door to the private room closed or open?" the officer


    asked.


    Amelia hesitated for a moment, "The door was half-closed, and I saw..."


    "What did you see?"


    "I''m too scared to say..."


    "It''s okay, just tell us what you saw. We¡¯ll protect you."


    With trembling lips, Amelia nervously said, "I saw Chloe inside the private room, wiping down the


    shards of the broken vase..."


    The officers exchanged nces with their colleagues nearby before asking again, "Are you sure


    you aren¡¯t mistaking someone else for her?"


    To most people, preserving the crime scene and keeping any potential evidence was crucial as it


    could help identify the culprit. Wiping the vase to destroy evidence was indeed suspicious.


    "I''m certain. Also, Chloe stayed inside the room for about five minutes beforeing out to seek


    help."


    "How do you know she was there for that long?"


    "I went to use the restroom, and she was already in there when I passed by the room. The door was


    half-closed, and I heard sounds of arguinging from inside. When I came back from the


    restroom, she was justing out. That puts it around approximately five minutes in total."


    "All right, thank you for your cooperation."


    Since the vase was clearly the weapon, the results came back in less than an hour. However, the


    report indicated that besides bloodstains, there were no fingerprints found on the vase. As of now,


    the police considered Chloe a suspect and informed Joseph of this development, but he found their


    finding nonsense.


    "Chloe has a good rtionship with my grandfather. She would never do such a thing. Have you


    sealed off the crime scene and investigated other customers?" Joseph furrowed his eyebrows,


    dissatisfied with this oue.


    The officers sighed. "Mr. Joseph, many A-list celebrities visit The Whispering Willow for dining and


    recreation. They take great measures to conceal their identities, making it nearly impossible to


    distinguish one from another. On top of that, the restaurant doesn¡¯t have a surveince system. It''s


    quite challenging to get everyone to cooperate with the investigation, so there''s no way we will be


    able to conclude the investigation today."


    "So what do you suggest then?"


    "We need Ms. Chloe toe with us to the station for questioning."


    "Not going to happen. She''s pregnant and physically vulnerable. She can''t handle such stress,"


    Joseph coldly refused, leaving no room for negotiation.


    The officers could only nod in resignation and said nothing further.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    The clock on the wall struck four. It had been two hours since Harold was rushed into the


    emergency room. When Joseph returned, Chloe asked, "How¡¯s the investigation going? What did


    the police say?"


    Joseph patted her shoulder, but his sharp gaze was fixed on Amelia with a curious glint. Amelia had


    a typical oval face adorned with delicate features, exuding the charm of traditional beauty. Though


    not considered a stunning beauty, her appearance had a certain allure that made people naturally


    want to protect her.


    He sighed as he noticed the striking resemnce between Amelia and thete Serenity. Aside from


    the different sparkles in their eyes, the two bore a striking resemnce in their appearance.


    "Who¡¯s this?" Joseph asked.


    Nathan''s usual carefree expression vanished as he introduced in all seriousness, "Guys, this is my


    girlfriend, Amelia Madison. I n to marry her."


    Amelia smiled gently, "Hello, Mr. Joseph. Nathan often talks about you."


    "Nice to meet you," Joseph replied before bringing the conversation back on track. His eyes,


    beneath his neat short hair, appeared deep and inscrutable as he continued, "The police mentioned


    that you witnessed an argument between Chloe and my grandfather inside the private room."


    Chloe frowned as soon as she heard this statement. She took a few steps forward and confronted


    Amelia, "When did you see me arguing with Grandpa? When I got there, he was already


    unconscious."


    Frightened, Amelia retreated to Nathan''s side and hesitantly said, "Yes... I saw it. I saw you wiping


    the vase shards on the floor."


    Chloe was stunned. She found it hard to believe that a stranger would falsely use her.


    Nathan could not believe it either and asked, "Are you sure you didn''t mistake her for someone


    else...?"

 Chapter 638 Why Don’t You Just Die, Chloe?

    Chapter 638 Why Don¡¯t You Just Die, Chloe?


    Nathan could not believe it either and asked, "Are you sure you didn''t mistake her for someone


    else...?"


    After all, Chloe was not that kind of person. But on the flip side, Amelia had no reason to lie.


    Amelia looked at Nathan in disbelief and said, "You don''t trust me?"


    "It''s not that. How could I not trust you? I just thought you might¡¯ve been working too hardtely and


    your eyes might have yed tricks on you."


    "Providing false testimony is against thew," Joseph stated, his gaze cool and his voice firm.


    Knowing that Nathan supported her, Amelia refused to back down and responded with equal


    determination, "Mr. Joseph, your grandfather is your family while Ms. Chloe is your ex-wife. I


    understand that it isn¡¯t easy for you to handle such a situation emotionally, but I spoke up because


    of the years of friendship between you and Nathan. I revealed everything I knew to help. Please


    don''t take offense. I¡¯ll swear on my life that everything I said is true.


    As Chloe listened, her anger turned into amusement. She often encountered people who liked to


    spread rumors and had always restrained herself from giving them a good p. After all, she could


    not be bothered with barking dogs. However, one thing puzzled her¡ªwere she and Amelia truly


    meeting for the first time? Was it normal for someone to make such wild usations about a


    complete stranger?


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Nathan was taken aback by Amelia''s ims. He pulled her closer and whispered, "All right, you''ve


    said enough."


    "But I''m doing this for Mr. Joseph''s sake," she replied, looking aggrieved.


    "There''s no need for that. I can make my own judgments," Joseph replied calmly, his enigmatic face


    showing no signs of anger or impatience. However, everyone could sense that he was defending


    Chloe.


    As her heart trembled slightly, Chloe instinctively looked toward him.


    Amelia clenched her fists, and a sh of jealousy crossed her face.


    Sensing that the situation might get even moreplicated if they stayed, Nathan turned to Joseph


    and said, "I¡¯m going to take Amelia home. Call me anytime if you need anything."


    Joseph nodded before shifting his gaze toward the emergency room and waiting anxiously. He had


    guessed that Harold had invited Chloe to meet to act as a mediator between them. Choosing to


    meet in the northern part of the city had been a calcted move as the private restaurant there


    provided strong secrecy.


    But as the saying went, "Man proposes, God disposes." Life was full of uncertainties, and that


    secrecy had now be a double-edged sword that served to cut them.


    At seven in the evening, the doctor finally emerged from the emergency room. Chloe rushed


    forward, anxiously inquiring about Harold''s condition. Even though Joseph maintained his


    composure, he had a serious expression on his face as he stood up from the long bench, his gaze


    fixed on the doctor.


    "I''m sorry, but we did our best. Mr. Harold''s injuries are severe. There is a possibility he might wake


    up after tonight, but there''s also a high risk of him entering aatose state," the doctor reported.


    Chloe''s heart sank and her breath hitched. "If he doesn''t wake up tonight, you mean he won''t wake


    up at all? Or..."


    "If he doesn¡¯t wake up, you should prepare for the worst."


    Chloe''s shoulders trembled as she covered her face and cried in agony. If she had arrived a few


    minutes earlier, she might have been able to prevent the tragedy from happening. Yet, she was too


    late.


    Joseph''s eyes turned bloodshot as a sense of powerlessness engulfed him. He had meticulously


    nned for Harold to fake his death, hoping it would grant him a life free of the Sinirs'' threats.


    But now faced with grim reality, he questioned the purpose of all his efforts.


    Deceiving the Sinirs had been a triumph, but it had not altered the course of fate. The


    unfortunate oue was that Harold ended up in a vegetative state, something he had always


    detested. The old man refused to be bedridden and entirely dependent on others. For him,


    such an existence was not living, but merely an existence without dignity. He felt that his old


    comrades would surely mock him.


    "This is all your fault! You''re a curse! You turned our once peaceful family into this mess! Why don''t


    you just die already?!" Jonathan and Octavia arrived after receiving the news and jointly berated


    Chloe.


    In their eyes, ever since Chloe married Joseph, misfortune had followed them like a dark cloud.


    They saw her as the cause of all their troubles and unleashed their anger and frustration upon her.

 Chapter 639 She Could Not Depend on Anyone

    Chapter 639 She Could Not Depend on Anyone


    Chloe had no energy to deal with Jonathan and Octavia. She wiped away the tears from her face


    and quietly entered the hospital ward, sitting quietly by Harold''s side.


    Octavia became even angrier when Chloe ignored her. She grabbed Chloe by the cor and shook


    her forcefully. "Why are you pretending not to hear me when I''m talking to you?!


    ¡°Don''t think you can avoid responsibility by ignoring us. We''ve heard what the police said. You


    attempted to kill Dad, and we''re here today to make you turn yourself in," Jonathan chimed in, his


    tone full of disgust and hatred.


    Both of them were convinced that Chloe was the culprit behind what happened to Harold. After all,


    even the police considered her the prime suspect. They simply could not fathom why Joseph


    continued to protect her. It was as if he was blinded by something, making him unable to see who


    his real family was.


    "That''s enough!" Joseph roared, his gaze sharp as a knife. "If you want to argue, do it outside. Don''t


    cause trouble here."


    "But Joe, we''re not causing any trouble. We just want Chloe to face the consequences of her


    actions,¡± Jonathan said.


    "I know what I''m doing. You should stay out of this."


    "If you know what you''re doing, then why don''t you hand her over to the police?"


    "The police don''t have enough evidence. They can only detain her for 24 hours at most. I''d rather


    keep her here and conduct my own investigation," Joseph said, looking at his cousin with a cold


    gaze.


    As Chloe nced at Joseph, a sense of confusion overwhelmed her. He had shown trust in her in


    front of Nathan, but he was now saying such words in front of Jonathan. She could not tell which


    side represented the truth and which side was the lie. Yet, considering their situation, the truth did


    not matter anymore.


    Jonathan was taken aback, "You want to conduct a private investigation? Are you serious?"


    "Are you questioning me?" Joseph asked, his tone grim.


    Jonathan felt a chill down his spine. He shook his head frantically and gulped. "No, no. I believe in


    you, Joe."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "We¡¯re just worried about Dad¡¯s safety and don¡¯t want the culprit to escape. Why are you scaring


    Jon like this... We have yet to ask you about why you concealed from us that Dad is still alive¡­"


    Octavia grumbled indignantly.


    "Do you think I can''t see through your schemes?"


    "We''re just worried about Grandpa!"


    "Hah, you''re just worried that if Grandpa dies, you won''t be able to plead with him to get Preston out


    of prison, right?"


    Octavia had not expected Joseph to see through her intention. She retorted, "You can''t me me.


    Every family needs a man to lead them, after all."


    "Even if he''s a cheater?"


    "Why you...!" Octavia was so enraged that she choked. In an instant, tears mixed with snot


    streamed down her face as she lost all sense ofposure. "What am I supposed to do? Ever


    since I got married, I stopped going to work. Nopany out there wants to hire a middle-aged


    woman like me. Besides, you guys share the same family name while I''m just an outsider at best.


    Without Preston, all of you would just ignore me!"


    "Mom, please stop crying. We can''t make a scene in the hospital." Jonathan looked at her with


    disdain in his eyes.


    Octavia''s mouth hung open, unable to let out the wailing sorrow that got lodged in her throat.


    "Preston was the one who had an affair. He''s the one who made a mistake. As long as you behave


    yourself, you won''t have to worry about your livelihood," Joseph continued.


    Octavia wiped away her tears and whispered, "I just want to start my own business¡­"


    As a member of the Whitman family, Octavia had once relished afternoon teas and beauty


    treatments with other wives from prestigious families. But ever since Preston was removed from the


    Whitman Group''s board of directors, her former friends had turned their backs on her, sneering and


    ridiculing her in secret.


    As for her son, he seemed to think that his father had made a small mistake that any man in the


    world would make. It was not worth blowing the matter out of proportion and causing Harold to lose


    all hope in Preston.


    Octavia realized that she could not rely on anyone. She had to depend on herself. Her husband, her


    son, and even Xavia¡­ None of them could be counted on.

 Chapter 640 Harold Falls Into a Coma

    Chapter 640 Harold Falls Into a Coma


    Joseph stood up to pour a ss of water while keeping his back to Octavia. "If you want to start a


    business, go ahead and do it," he said calmly.


    Harold had instructed him to help Octavia wherever possible if it did not affect his own interests.


    Regardless of her personality, it was a fact that Preston had cheated on her.


    "Why are you¡ª" Octavia started to ask.


    "When you¡¯ve achieved something in your business, I will consider helping you if you encounter any


    difficulties," he replied.


    Octavia fell silent, and her tears stopped flowing. As she gazed at the impassive Joseph, memories


    of his childhood resurfaced. She remembered how unkind she had been to him when he was


    younger. He had always been stoic, cold, and unfriendly to everyone, making him quite unlikeable.


    In the past, she had tried to undermine Joseph multiple times to ensure that Harold would focus on


    nurturing Jonathan. Even now, she held the belief that Harold favored Joseph more than her son.


    But despite her initial denial, she could not ignore the fact that Joseph''s achievements had far


    outshined her son''s throughout the years. This realization made her question if she had been on the


    wrong side all along.


    Octavia''s behavior changed, and she transformed into a different person. After deeply reflecting on


    the past twenty years of her life, she finally came to a profound realization. Meanwhile, Jonathan


    could not get Chloe to be sent to the station and left dejectedly. As he walked away, he med his


    mother for everything.


    Silence fell over the ward.


    Joseph took Chloe''s hand and said softly, "The Sinirs have had their eyes on Jon for a long time.


    The things I said earlier weren''t true. I believe that you¡¯d never do such a thing to Grandpa."


    Joseph had learned his mistake from what happened with Preston.


    Chloe lowered her gaze, her voice soft as she replied, "It''s okay." After all, she did not care


    anymore.


    "How about I get the driver to take you home while I stay here with Grandpa?" Joseph suggested.


    "No thanks, I don''t want to go home," Chloe replied. She knew that if she went home, she would not


    be able to fall asleep as Harold''s life hung in the bnce.


    As Joseph looked at her pure, makeup-free face, the peach fuzz on her skin visible, his eyes


    softened with tenderness. "I''ll ask the nurses to prepare the neighboring room for you. If you feel


    tired, you can rest there."


    "Okay."


    Time passed minute after minute. Late into the night, the doctor came to check on Harold multiple


    times, but there were no signs of him waking up. Joseph and Chloe became increasingly worried.


    At 6 in the early hours of the winter morning, the long nights and short days added to the somber


    atmosphere. The darkness outside cast an oppressive gloom over everything. Chloe could not stop


    pacing back and forth outside the ward, trying to release her pent-up anxiety and restlessness.


    The doctor remained vignt, keeping an eye on the monitoring data. He came after attending a


    morning meeting. Deciphering the readings on the medical equipment, the doctor''s previously


    furrowed brow eased slightly, "Mr. Harold is stable for the time being."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe''s eyes brightened and welled up with tears of gratitude, "Really? Thank you so much, doctor"


    "But there isn¡¯t much hope of him regaining consciousness in the short term," the doctor said.


    Joseph''s brow furrowed, "Are you saying he has fallen into aa?"


    "Yes."


    "What are the chances of him recovering?"


    "It''s hard to say. Given his age, his organs and physical condition can''t bepared to that of a


    young person. The fact that he has survived this far is already a miracle."


    "Doctor, is there anything we can do to help his condition?" Chloe asked proactively, refusing to give


    up.


    "You can hire a few caregivers to assist with the daily tasks that need taking care of. And talk to him


    as much as you can. Although he''s in aa, he might still be able to hear sounds from the outside


    world."

 Chapter 641 Booking a Postnatal Care Center for Xavia

    Chapter 641 Booking a Postnatal Care Center for Xavia


    "Okay, we¡¯ll do that," Chloe replied.


    After staying up all night, they returned home to rest.


    Chloe slept until the afternoon to replenish her energy. She took a bath, allowing the warm water to


    wash away her fatigue. Whilethering up, she overheard Joseph on a call discussing something


    about booking a postnatal care center.


    She could not help but entertain a ridiculous hope as she looked at her growing belly. After her


    shower, she still heard Joseph''s voiceing intermittently from the other room. She stopped in her


    tracks and eavesdropped.


    "Go ahead and choose any postnatal care center you want."


    "Sure, you can discuss it with Lucas."


    "I can''t go today. Go on your own."


    "Okay, bye."


    Once the call ended, Chloe knew exactly whom he had been talking to. After all, there were only


    two pregnant women around¡ªherself and Xavia. After not having been sleep deprived for a long


    time, her exhausted mind struggled to process the situation clearly. Surprisingly, she did not feel


    anger. Instead, a slight sense of disappointment crept in, which strangely felt like a normal response


    after everything she had been through.


    Joseph''s newfound kindness toward Xavia had be apparent in the past few days. He even


    took the initiative to book a postnatal care center for her.


    Chloe''s heart had grown numb from the pain, leaving her indifferent to both joys and sorrows. With


    her emotions in check, she decided to go back to sleep. Just as she settled under the covers,


    Joseph entered the room.


    Refusing to acknowledge his presence, she pulled the nket over her head.


    Joseph''s expression darkened upon seeing her reaction. "If you''re awake,e downstairs and


    eat. You can go back to sleep after that."


    "I''m not hungry."


    "Even if you''re not, you have to eat. Don''t be stubborn."


    Chloe threw off the nket and sat up, locking her gaze with his. "So not wanting to eat means


    being stubborn?"


    She had gained a few pounds as her pregnancy progressed, and her cheeks had be chubby.


    Despite her attempt to look angry, the softness of her cheeks only added to her charm.


    Joseph''s heart melted at the sight. He said, "I''m afraid of you falling ill if you go hungry."


    Chloe was perplexed by the man in front of her. Did he like having the best of both worlds, keeping


    everyone close to him? Earlier he was on the phone with Xavia, and now he was hereforting


    her?


    Baffled by her silence, Joseph asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Stop pretending. I heard you on the phone with Xavia." Chloe did not want to waste her time


    ying along with his act.


    "You''re talking about the postnatal care center?" Joseph asked.


    "Yes."


    "I can exin¡ª"


    "I don''t need your exnations," Chloe interjected, her hands covering her ears as if trying to block


    out his words. Unknown to her, her actions appeared more like jealousy.


    Joseph smiled yfully as he sat on the bedside and gently took her hands away from her ears.


    Teasingly, he asked, "Are you jealous?"


    Chloe feigned a smile. "No, I have severe morning sickness. I''m afraid I might throw up if I hear any


    more of your words."


    Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Chloe, please. There''s only so much I can tolerate. You can''t keep


    behaving like this.¡±


    "Oh, are you getting fed up with me?" Chloe smirked yfully and then thought of something. She


    paused momentarily and said, "If you really want to talk to me, how about sharing some personal


    information about Nathan''s girlfriend? Like where she''s from, her age, and how they met."


    Her sixth sense told her that something was off with Amelia.


    "I haven''t investigated her," Joseph replied. Nathan was his close friend, and it was not wise to


    secretly dig into the background of his close friend¡¯s girlfriend.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "I''d like to know. Can you have someone look into it?" Chloe inquired.

 Chapter 642 Investigating Amelia

    Chapter 642 Investigating Amelia


    Joseph lowered his head and met Chloe''s gaze. "Okay."


    Chloe was taken aback. She had not expected him to agree so readily.


    "But you''ll have to cook tonight."


    It had been several months since Joseph had tasted her cooking. His intention these days when


    eating was merely to fill his stomach as he had no real appetite.


    Chloe rolled her eyes and thought, ''I knew it. Good things don''t just fall from the sky.''


    "I''m pregnant, so I can''t stand for long periods," she protested, deliberately cing her hand on her


    waist.


    "Then don''t stand for too long. Just two dishes will do."


    Joseph remained undeterred as he was well aware of her act. Cooking would take at most a little


    over an hour, and pregnant women should not stay in bed too long either. They needed some


    moderate activity.


    "...Fine!" Chloe gritted her teeth and cursed in her heart, ''I hope you choke to death, you scumbag!''


    Satisfied, Joseph smiled triumphantly. He reached out and tucked her loose strands of hair behind


    her ear. "Good girl."


    "Now, go look into Amelia," Chloe urged, unable to contain her impatience. She was eager to find


    out why Amelia had lied with her eyes wide open. Was she bribed?


    Chloe brushed aside the thought as soon as it crossed her mind. After all, the Reeses were


    prominent yers in Aesper¡¯s real estate field. If Amelia was Nathan''s girlfriend, financial concerns


    should not be an issue for her.


    She just could not shake off the strong familiarity she felt from Amelia.


    Joseph left and went to his study. He did not immediately start the investigation on Amelia. Instead,


    he called Nathan.


    "I was just about to call you. How¡¯s Mr. Harold? Is he out of danger?"


    "He''s stable for now, but it''ll take some time before he regains consciousness,¡± Joseph replied.


    "Regain consciousness?" Nathan sensed something amiss. "Has Mr. Harold fallen into aa?"


    Joseph closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "Yeah."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Nathan let out a long sigh too. "Have you found out who''s behind this?"


    "Not yet," Joseph replied. He paused for a moment before continuing, "By the way, how did you


    meet Amelia?"


    "She''s a new employee at my dad''s office. I felt an instant connection the moment Iid eyes on


    her."


    "An instant connection? Would you still feel that way if she didn''t resemble Serenity?" Joseph


    mocked without holding back.


    "Well, that might be part of the reason, but I will say that Amelia is quite charming in her own right.


    She''s caring, gentle, and understanding. I genuinely like her."


    Men always remember their first love. It represented the inception of a tender and beautiful


    romance. Moreover, Serenity passed away when Nathan was unequivocally in love with her, leaving


    behind a pain that was difficult to erase. One that would haunt him throughout his life.


    "Have you looked into Amelia''s background?"


    "No, but I believe she''s innocent. She doesn''t strike me as someone malicious."


    "I''ll look into it for you," Joseph said calmly.


    Nathan knew that Joseph was just informing him, so he thought for a while and said, "Okay, go


    ahead and do that."


    He too was enraged at the person who severely injured Harold. Besides, the testimony given by


    Amelia yesterday needed to be verified. He trusted her, but he also trusted Chloe. Perhaps Amelia


    had misunderstood something.


    Investigating an ordinary person''s background would only take about an hour to yield results.


    In the evening, Chloe served the dishes and soup she had prepared and stretched out her hand


    toward Joseph. "Give me Amelia''s information."


    Without looking at her, Joseph gracefully brought a bite of food to his mouth and said, "Let''s talk


    after dinner."

 Chapter 643 Amelia Had Plastic Surgery

    Chapter 643 Amelia Had stic Surgery


    Unwilling to ept his attitude, Chloe let out a dissatisfied harrumph. She sat down and ate,


    determined not to let someone else gain all the benefits of her hard work. Although she ate a fair bit,


    most of the food ended up in Joseph''s stomach.


    "I''ve checked Amelia''s personal information, and there don''t seem to be any problems," Joseph


    said, looking at the stack of documents on the corner of the table.


    Chloe fell silent, then picked them up to take a look.


    Amelia was 25 years old. She studied abroad for four years, returned to the country this year, and


    secured a job in the Reese Group¡¯s finance department. Her father managed a supermarket and


    her mother was a homemaker. The documents also included photos of Amelia during her


    elementary, junior, and high school years.


    As Joseph had said, there seemed to be nothing unusual about her background. She seemed like


    an ordinary person. But having the keen senses of a woman, Chloe noticed that Amelia''s


    appearance had changed between the time she went abroad and her return. An idea sparked in


    Chloe''s mind, and she excitedly tapped the table. "Give me a few photos of Serenity."


    Immediately sensing her intention, Joseph''s voice turned cold as his expression hardened. "You


    suspect Amelia got stic surgery to look like Serenity?"


    "Yes!" Chloe pointed at one of the photos of Amelia from her high school days. "Look at her nose.


    It''s slightly different from what I saw yesterday. Amelia''s nose is narrower, but in this photo, it looks


    less refined. It''s more natural and doesn''t look artificial here."


    If Amelia now bore a strong resemnce to Serenity, then it must have been less noticeable before.


    Joseph looked at where Chloe was pointing. Upon closer observation, he indeed noticed some


    subtle differences.


    "But changes happen as people grow up. These variations you mentioned aren''t surprising.¡±


    "That''s why I want a few photos of Serenity and Amelia that aren¡¯t retouched.¡±


    Over the course of a few years, a person would undergo changes and transformations. They could


    be more stylish, and they might learn to dress up and apply makeup. But if their facial features


    also underwent significant alterations, it probably meant they had gotten cosmetic surgery.


    "Let''s consult a stic surgeon to be sure."


    If Amelia really had undergone cosmetic surgery to look like Serenity, then things would be highly


    suspicious. At this point, Joseph and Chloe stood united.


    "Okay, I''ll handle it," he said.


    It was easy to find photos of Serenity and Amelia as Nathan had plenty of them on his phone. The


    next morning, they obtained the results from the cosmetic surgeon. It confirmed that Amelia had


    indeed undergone stic surgery.


    Joseph told Nathan about this, who was shocked at first, but quickly tried to find excuses for


    Amelia''s actions. "It''smon for girls to pursue beauty through cosmetic procedures these days.¡±


    Chloe piped up, "But Amelia was already very attractive, so even if she had surgery, why would she


    choose to look like Serenity?"


    Nathan tried to brush it off with a weak exnation. "Maybe it''s just a coincidence. They already


    looked simr in the first ce, so I''m sure you two must be oveplicating things."


    Chloe''s expression turned serious. "It''s your choice whether to believe us or not. We''re just giving


    you the information," she said firmly.


    Joseph cast a sidelong nce at her, surprised by her resolute stance to not pursue the matter.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Something flickered across Chloe''s eyes as she said calmly, "Once Grandpa wakes up, we¡¯ll find


    out the truth and everything will be revealed."


    Nathan and Joseph were friends, and Chloe''s words went beyond stirring up their rtionship. It


    seemed as if she wanted to create conflict between Nathan and Amelia as well. To her, being


    framed and facing usations was nothing new. She had grown used to it and had experienced


    such situations before.


    However, Joseph had a different perspective. He could not shake the suspicion that Amelia had


    meticulously nned her approach to get closer to Nathan. First, she underwent stic surgery,


    and then she got a job at the Reese Group. What was her true intent?


    He knew he needed to be cautious.


    After ending the call, Nathan contemted Joseph''s words. Should he ask Amelia about her stic


    surgery? If he asked and she refused to tell the truth, how would he handle the situation? And if she


    told the truth, would he have to tell her about him looking into her?


    Amelia, who had been eavesdropping outside the door for a while, tidied her hair and knocked on


    the door.

 Chapter 644 Honey, There’s Something I Haven’t Told You

    Chapter 644 Honey, There¡¯s Something I Haven¡¯t Told You


    Knock, knock, knock.


    ¡°Darling, are you in there? I made you coffee.¡±


    Nathan swiftly closed the pictures Joseph had sent him and replied, "Come in."


    Amelia entered with a cup of coffee. She ced it in front of him with a sorrowful expression and


    said, "Honey, there''s something I haven''t told you."


    "What is it?" Nathan asked curiously.


    "I overheard your phone call with Mr. Joseph. I was afraid of disturbing you, so I didn''te in."


    Hearing this, Nathan looked a little awkward. "Let me exin, they meant no harm. It''s just that you


    look remarkably simr to a friend of mine."


    "You mean your first love?"


    "How did you know?" Nathan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise "I never told you about that."


    "I guessed it. You were so excited the first time you saw me, and even mistook me for someone


    else. Anyone with a brain could figure it out," Amelia said, hugging him and pouting yfully. "But I


    don''t mind those things. Just keep in mind that I''m your one and only now, okay?"


    "Of course, why would I be with you otherwise?" Nathan said, nting a kiss on her cheek. "What''s


    the thing you haven''t told me about?"


    "I...had a car ident in my senior year of high school. I collided head-on with a truck and spent


    half a month in the hospital. While my body was fine, my face was scarred. When I went abroad for


    university, I faced ridicule because of my face. I couldn''t bear it and saved up money for stic


    surgery. I had my nose, eyes, and chin done..." Amelia choked up as she cried. "I never meant to


    hide it from you. I was just afraid you''d mind that I had surgery¡­ You know, I¡­I just love you so


    much¡­"


    Nathan could not stand seeing a woman cry, especially not the one he loved. His heart ached, and


    he moved in tofort her. At that moment, he realized that it did not matter whether she had


    undergone stic surgery or not as his feelings for her remained unchanged.


    *


    Soon, Joseph learned that Amelia had stic surgery due to the car ident, but Chloe remained


    skeptical. She believed that men in love were often not the most rational beings.


    Chloe noticed that Joseph was heading out and said, "I¡¯d like to go out for a walkter."


    "Sure. Be back before noon. You have a follow-up appointment at the hospital," replied Joseph as


    he adjusted his tie in front of the mirror.


    He had a tall and imposing figure. The cor of his ck coat was slightly open, revealing a glimpse


    of the white shirt underneath. The wire-rimmed sses he had on this morning rested on his nose,


    adding to his air of sophistication and intellect.


    Holding a cup in her hand, Chloe asked, "What''s the follow-up for?"


    "Your anemia," Joseph replied.


    "Oh..."


    *


    Chloe arranged to meet with Emily at a coffee shop.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Pointing toward a high school across the street, Chloe lowered her voice and said, "See that


    school? There''s a teacher named Rosalia Tucker who works here. Find her and ask if she had a


    student named Amelia Madison in her ss of ''23, and whether Amelia had a car ident during


    her senior year that damaged her face."


    "Why don''t you ask her yourself?" Emily asked.


    ncing at the imposing group of bodyguards behind her, Chloe sighed and smiled wryly. "If I


    could, I would¡¯ve gone already. I wouldn''t ask for your help."


    Emily entered the school and returned after twenty minutes. She sat down and chugged arge


    ss of water. "The car ident involving Amelia was real," she said.


    Chloe''s shoulders slumped as she lowered her head in disappointment.


    "But her teacher said that the ident caused Amelia severe fractures and that she had to use a


    wheelchair to get to her college entrance exams. That left a deep impression on the teacher."


    "Only fractures?" Chloe asked in surprise.


    "Yes, her face wasn''t injured."

 Chapter 645 Youre Ava

    Chapter 645 You''re Ava


    Chloe felt like she had entered a mistybyrinth, making it difficult for her to see the path forward.


    As they were about to leave, a woman from the school approached them.


    "Excuse me, are you two rted to Amelia Madison?" the woman asked.


    Chloe stared at the woman but did not answer directly, "What''s it to you? Do you need something?"


    "I mean no harm. I''m Amelia''s high school ssmate. After graduating from college, I returned to


    the school to work as a teacher. I overheard this youngdy inquiring about Amelia''s whereabouts


    in the office earlier," the woman paused for a moment, then continued, "Are you friends with


    Amelia?"


    "Yes," Chloe replied.


    "Have you...noticed that something¡¯s off about Amelia?" the woman hesitated.


    Chloe and Emily exchanged nces before sitting back down.


    "Yes, we have. If you have time, we can sit down and talk in detail," Chloe suggested.


    The woman nodded gratefully. "Yes, I''ve noticed it too. After Amelia came back from abroad, she


    seemed like apletely different person. She''s forgotten many things and even looks different


    from before. It''s quite strange, don''t you think so?"


    At this point, Chloe had confirmed her suspicions. The Amelia beside Nathan was not the real


    Amelia. Before parting ways, Chloe and Amelia''s former ssmate exchanged numbers.


    In the afternoon, Joseph brought Chloe to the hospital for her follow-up checkup. The doctor


    mentioned that her condition had improved slightly but they had yet to achieve the expected result


    since her medication had to be cut back due to her pregnancy.


    As they were leaving the hospital, they bumped into Xavia, who was there for her regr prenatal


    checkup. It had been a few days since Xaviast saw Joseph. When she spotted him, a trace of


    guilt flickered through her eyes. She immediately ced her hand on herrge belly and walked


    toward him.


    "Why are you at this hospital for your prenatal checkup?" Joseph asked, furrowing his brow upon


    seeing her.


    "Have you forgotten, Joe? You booked me a postnatal care center nearby, so this hospital is more


    convenient," Xavia exined while walking toward him.


    "I''m going to head to the car first." Chloe ignored Xavia and walked away.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Xavia was taken aback and forced out a smile. "Looks like Ms. Chloe still doesn''t like me."


    Joseph did not want to waste his time on Xavia either. While checking the time on his wristwatch, he


    said, "I have to go to the office. You go ahead with your checkup."


    Xavia watched as Joseph left, then turned to look where in the direction they hade from¡ªthe


    Internal Medicine department. She was puzzled, as she thought Joseph and Chloe were here for


    prenatal check-ups. She walked into the hospital and overheard two nurses chatting.


    "I saw a really good-looking couple earlier. They look just like celebrities. But unfortunately, the wife


    who¡¯s about six months pregnant has been diagnosed with anemia. She might not carry to term."


    "Why would they terminate the pregnancy when the child is that far along?"


    "I don''t know. The head doctor guessed it might be due to fetal abnormalities, but they didn''t give


    many details. Otherwise, who would terminate a pregnancy at this stage?"


    Xavia fell silent.


    ¡®About six months pregnant, a good-looking couple¡­ They must be talking about Joe and Chloe.


    So, it turns out it''s not that Joe doesn''t want to terminate the pregnancy, but it''s because Chloe''s


    current condition doesn''t allow it. I knew it! I knew Joe wasn''t that kind of man. There''s no way he


    would tolerate Chloe having another man''s child.''


    *


    In the evening, Nathan and Amelia suddenly sent out invitations to celebrate their engagement at a


    restaurant. Chloe volunteered to go with Joseph. When they arrived at the restaurant, they saw


    Amelia standing next to Nathan. She was wearing a white dress and had put on some light makeup.


    That feeling of familiarity washed over Chloe again. This time, she finally understood why Amelia


    seemed so familiar. It was because she looked exactly like Ava!


    Amelia smiled sweetly. She told Nathan she needed to use the restroom, and Chloe followed her.


    When Amelia noticed Chloe, she did not show any signs of surprise, simply nodding slightly and


    continuing to wash her hands.


    Chloe tensed up when she noticed a red birthmark on Amelia''s exposed arm, which was identical to


    the one Ava had.


    "You¡¯re Ava!" Chloe pointed at the birthmark. Like a beast ready for battle, her hair stood on end.


    Amelia noticed her gaze and turned her head slowly. With a smile on her face, she said, "That''s


    right, I am Ava. So what? What can you do to me? I remember everything you did back then. This


    time, I will have my revenge."


    Chloe protected her belly and quickly retreated, wanting to return to Joseph. Ava smirked coldly and


    did not move to stop her. Instead, she turned around and smashed her head into the sink. Enduring


    the pain, she deliberately messed up her hair.


    Upon Chloe''s return with Joseph and Nathan¡¯s group, Ava was lying on the floor with a red welt on


    her forehead. They all stood frozen, and memories of Serenity''s death flooded their minds.


    Serenity, too, had been lying on the floor, motionless, like a sleeping beauty as blood flowed from


    her head.


    Nathan acted swiftly, pushing the crowd aside and cradling Amelia in his arms as he desperately


    rushed toward the hospital.

 Chapter 646 Take Me Away

    Chapter 646 Take Me Away


    At the hospital, Chloe struggled to find the right words. "It wasn''t me¡­ I didn''t do anything¡­"


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Enough! Just shut up!" Nathan stood up abruptly, his eyes reddened. "When Mr. Harold fell into a


    coma, you gave the same exnation. And now, when Amelia is facing this situation, you''re using


    the same excuse again. Do you think we''re fools?!"


    A lump formed in Chloe''s throat, and before she could speak, Gabriel interrupted her. "Since you


    appeared, everyone around you has gotten hurt¡ªJoe, Mr. Harold, and now Amelia. You keep


    saying others are trying to harm you, but who are the real victims here?"


    "But I''m not lying. It''s the truth¡ª"


    "Why is it that whenever someone gets hurt, it''s always someone else, but you remain unscathed?"


    Chloe nced at Joseph whose brows were deeply furrowed. Her lips turned pale, and a wave of


    sadness washed over her. As long as there were no visible physical injuries, everyone assumed


    she was unharmed. If that were the case, she would much rather endure the pain of external


    wounds than bear the torment of false usations and malicious words that wounded her soul.


    "It wasn¡¯t me. I didn''t push her. Go ahead and choose whether you want to believe me or not. She¡¯s


    Ava, and she''s here to deceive us. She had a purpose for getting close to you."


    "The patient has regained consciousness,¡± a nurse informed them. Nathan paid no attention to


    Chloe''s words and quickly entered the ward to check on Amelia, followed by the others.


    Chloe stood rooted to the spot, looking down at her toes as if she had be a true culprit.


    Joseph looked at her and asked, "Why did you follow Amelia to the restroom?"


    Chloe froze. She asked in a daze, "Do you also suspect me?"


    "You shouldn''t have followed her."


    In a broader context, even if there were suspicions about Amelia''s behavior, confronting her directly


    would not be appropriate considering Nathan''s presence and theck of concrete evidence.


    Chloe felt her words lodge in her throat.


    "You should go home first."


    Nathan''s emotions were running high, so it was impossible to discuss this calmly with him right now.


    Chloe returned to Joseph''s house with the bodyguards in tow. Even as the sunlight outside the


    house shone on her, she still felt shivers running through her entire being. She turned on the heater


    and crawled under the covers, yet there was no improvement. Her hands were ice-cold, and her


    fingernails had a slight bluish tint.


    Her physical condition had worsened since bing pregnant. Maybe because there was nothing


    worth celebrating, she thought she had grown ustomed to it, but it seemed she had not.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was a call from Xavia. Chloe did not


    want to answer, so she pressed the hang-up button. However, Xavia persisted and called again.


    Chloe felt annoyed and picked up. "You have one minute."


    "Do you naively think Joe won''t force you to get an abortion?"


    "Just get to the point. I don''t have time to go in circles with you."


    "You have severe anemia and can''t undergo the abortion procedure, so he wants you to recover


    before proceeding."


    "Impossible!" Chloe shouted, her voice bing high-pitched and sharp.


    "Tsk, go ahead and don¡¯t believe me. By the time you''ve recovered, your unborn child will probably


    be seven or eight months old. They''ll remove the fully formed baby and toss them into a garbage


    bin. The baby will be covered in blood, and no one will pay any heed to their cries as they slowly


    sumb to their fate. Hahaha, it''s such a thrill."


    Those words made Chloe''s mind explode, and she could not stop imagining the gruesome scene


    Xavia described. She lost control and shouted, "Shut up! Stop talking!"


    After saying those words, she hung up. She hugged her belly and curled up under the covers,


    seeking some semnce of safety. However, those horrifying images continued to haunt her mind.


    After Xavia had revealed the reality to her, all those panic-inducing fears buried deep within her


    came rushing out, dismantling the courage she had painstakingly built.


    ''Is he really going to give up on our kid?''


    She did not have an answer to the question.


    Recalling what Gabriel had said today, they believed that her appearance had marked the


    beginning of their misfortune. Was she truly a harbinger of bad luck as he implied?


    Chloe held herself tightly, reying the words others had spoken to her in her mind one by one.


    Suddenly, she felt a gentle kick from her baby. She lowered her head in confusion, gazing at her


    belly as tears fell out of her eyes.


    ''Are youforting me, baby?''


    Chloe felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, and her sadness intensified. Tears streamed


    down her cheeks without restraint. She could not fathom what her life had turned into, and the


    weight of everyone''s me burdened her heart. Not knowing what to do, she closed her eyes,


    wiped her tears with the covers, and called Noah.


    "Let''s start a business together. You take 90 percent and I take 10. But I have one condition¡ªtake


    me away from Aesper."


    *


    When Amelia woke up, Nathan was beside her. After Joseph and the others left, he asked her, "Did


    Chloe push you?"


    Amelia remained silent, tightly holding onto his hand.


    "There''s only you and me here. You can tell me anything. It''s all right," Nathan reassured her.


    Amelia smiled faintly and said, "She didn''t do it on purpose."

 Chapter 647 She Dared Not Defy Joseph Any Longer

    Chapter 647 She Dared Not Defy Joseph Any Longer


    Nathan''s face sank. "I''m sorry."


    Ava had to stay in the hospital for observation, and Nathan needed to work. He went home to pick


    up hisptop before heading back to the hospital to apany her.


    When no one was around, Ava sent a text to an unknown number. [Chloe has discovered my


    identity. What should I do?]


    The reply came swiftly. [What do Nathan and the others think?]


    Ava replied, [Everyone else believes me.]


    The response came, [Then there''s no need to panic.]


    *


    Joseph arrived home in the early hours of the morning. He had matters to handle at the Whitman


    Group, so he went to Docwood after leaving the hospital. After resting briefly in the living room, he


    headed to the office for a meeting just as the sky began to brighten.


    After the meeting, Lucas brought breakfast and ced it on the coffee table. "Sir, please eat.¡±


    There were two ck circles around Joseph''s eyes, and he sounded weary as he said, "I''m fine.


    Has Chloe contacted me?"


    Lucas took out his phone and checked if there were any unread messages. However, there were


    none. He shook his head slowly. "No..."


    Joseph gazed at the ceiling above and said, "Yesterday, she insisted that Nathan''s fiancee is Ava,


    her half-sister."


    "What? That''s impossible! They look nothing alike," Lucas said.


    He had met Amelia and could not find any resemnce between her and Ava.


    "What if she had stic surgery?" Joseph asked.


    "Seriously?!" Lucas replied, his voice thick with disbelief. But after considering the current


    technology in the beauty industry, he cautiously added, "Well, it''s not entirely impossible. Many


    people change their appearance drastically through stic surgery..."


    Joseph took a deep breath. "Go to the prison and get some blood or hair samples from Karen.


    Fingernails will do too. Just get whatever you can."


    "Sir, are you nning to do a maternity DNA test between Karen and Mr. Nathan''s fiancee? Will he


    agree to it?"


    "Who said we''re asking him? Just find the right timing to get what we need."


    "Okay.¡±


    However, Joseph underestimated Nathan''s protectiveness over Amelia. He could not arrange a


    meeting with him for the next half a month. He knew it was because Nathan was still upset about


    what happened.


    In reality, Nathan''s protectiveness was not because of Amelia, but because of his lingering regret of


    losing Serenity who had died in a car ident right before his eyes.


    *


    After returning from the hospital, Chloe became extremely obedient. She no longer sarcastically


    confronted Joseph and behaved like an emotionless doll. He thought she had realized her mistakes


    and regretted her impulsive actions, so he nned to take her out to brighten her mood.


    But as Christmas approached, his work piled up. Numerous tasks from Docwood and Aesper that


    required his attention came knocking. He was so busy that he had to put the matter regarding


    Amelia to the back of his mind.


    On Christmas Day, Chloe found herself alone at the dining table, surrounded by a feast of dishes.


    As she looked at the empty chairs around her, a self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips.


    Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye. Xavia was about to give birth, and


    Chloe was nine months along. The hospital determined Chloe¡¯s due date to be on the tenth of the


    next month.


    In recent days, Chloe pretended to follow the prescribed schedule for the herbal medicine. As soon


    as the maid left, she secretly poured the medicine into a flower pot. She did not dare to let her body


    recover fully, fearing that she might wake up one day to find herself on the operating table.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    On this particr afternoon, she had arranged to meet with Emily at Joseph''s house to share her


    n with her. But before Emily arrived, chaos erupted outside the house. It was as if more than a


    hundred people had flooded in at once, chattering incessantly and creating a ruckus with their non-


    stop talking.

 Chapter 648 Two Options—Leave or the Station

    Chapter 648 Two Options¡ªLeave or the Station


    Chloe frowned and looked outside. "Who''s here?"


    Themotion outside grew intense. The house helper, who was cooking in the kitchen, looked


    outside and eximed, "Oh, it''s Mr. Jonathan!"


    "Jonathan?"


    "And a bunch of other people," the helper added.


    Before Chloe could react, Jonathan and numerous members from the Whitman family''s main and


    side branches stormed in like a swarm of bees. Taking the lead, he approached Chloe and grabbed


    her by the cor, dragging her outside.


    "What are you doing?!" Chloe shouted, attempting to break free from his grip.


    "You hurt Grandpa, so we''re taking you to the police station!" Jonathan said arrogantly.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Gone was the submissive man he used to be. He had done his homework well beforeing here.


    He knew that Joseph was away on a business trip today, so he could not help this woman.


    "It wasn''t me! I didn''t harm Grandpa!"


    "All the evidence points to you. Your lies won''t work. Everyone present today is a senior member of


    the Whitman family, and we''ve been fed up with you for a long time.¡±


    Chloe gazed at them warily. "What do you want?"


    An elderly man stepped forward, stroking his beard. "You have two options. Leave the Whitmans of


    your own ord and nevere back, or we''ll hand you over to the police."


    Chloe raised her eyebrows.


    "What are you talking about? We can''t let her off the hook so easily!" Jonathan protested anxiously.


    The elder''s face sank as he lowered his voice. "Letting her leave is the best option. Joe is right.


    Sending her to the station only makes her a suspect. We don''t have strong evidence to do anything


    to this woman. Besides, even if we''re seeking revenge for Harold, we can''t do it here. You have to


    think about your cousin. He¡¯s the pride of the family. We mustn''t let this matter tarnish his name."


    Jonathan nodded and reluctantly agreed with the old man''s suggestion.


    Chloe had been yearning for the opportunity to leave, so she naturally chose the first option. She


    quickly packed her belongings. The group of bodyguards wanted to stop her, but the Whitmans held


    them back. There was nothing the guards could do as they could not strike or scold these old and


    arrogant folks.


    Chloe did not hesitate. When she left the ce, she ran into Emily.


    "Coco? How did you get out?"


    "Now isn''t the time to talk. I''ll exin everythingter," Chloe replied while searching for a high-end,


    secure hotel on her phone. She knew that even though Jonathan wanted her to leave the


    Whitmans, he would not make it easy for her to do so.


    Not having Joseph¡¯s protection had its pros and cons.


    "What do we do next? Should we go overseas right now and wait for your child to be born?" Emily


    asked, "I''ve already submitted my application to thepany, and it should be approved within


    these two days."


    "Let''s discuss it once we get to the hotel."


    *


    In a distant city, Joseph was at a business press conference. Sitting in the front row, his striking


    features caught everyone''s attention. As the emcee extended the microphone to Joseph to say a


    few words, thetter¡¯s phone vibrated.


    "Sir, one of the bodyguards stationed in your house is calling," Lucas whispered, holding the


    vibrating phone.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed, knowing that something must have happened.


    "Sir, could I get you to say a few words on stage?" the emcee repeated as he bowed slightly,


    extending the microphone to Joseph as he thought he had not heard what Lucas had said.


    "I''m sorry, I have something urgent to attend to," Joseph politely declined as he stood up.


    The emcee looked at Joseph''s departing figure with a tinge of regret.


    Inside the car, Lucas handed an invitation card to Joseph. "Sir, this is from Mr. Nathan."


    Joseph furrowed his brow and nced at the date on the card. Nathan and Amelia''s wedding was


    scheduled for the 8th of next month.


    Leaning back into the leather seat, he pondered for a moment. "Contact Nathan and tell him I have


    a set of ruby jewelry that needs measuring. There will be a professionaling tomorrow morning


    to take the measurements at my ce."


    Lucas paused for a moment, then he understood. "Are you nning to take Amelia¡¯s measurements


    and get her¡­¡±

 Chapter 649 The Calm Before the Storm

    Chapter 649 The Calm Before the Storm


    "Get someone to handle the task," Joseph said.


    ¡°Yes, sir."


    *


    Two hourster, Joseph returned home and learned about what had happened. Though the


    bodyguards failed to stop Chloe, they held Jonathan back. After all, why should they take the me


    when he was the one responsible?


    However, Joseph just looked at Jonathan coldly and said, "Fuck off."


    Jonathan was taken aback.


    ¡®Does he no longer care about Chloe? He''s letting me go so easily?'' Jonathan wondered.


    "So I can leave? I hope you won''t be angry at us, Joe. We did it for your own good," Jonathan said


    cautiously, "My father is about to be released, and I''ll bring him here to apologize to you. We¡¯re still


    family, after all."


    Joseph chuckledzily. "Did your chip investment fail?"


    Jonathan was stumped. "There have been some issues."


    Initially, he could have withdrawn both the principal and the profits. However, there were some


    malfunctions with the chip.


    "Okay." Joseph was not interested in Jonathan''s matter. He waved, signaling for thetter to leave.


    Feeling a sense of relief washed over him, Jonathan viciously spat at the bodyguards who had


    stopped him and swaggered away.


    Joseph watched Jonathan¡¯s departing figure and scoffed nonchntly. After that, he turned to


    Lucas and asked, "Have you located Chloe?"


    "Yes. She just checked into the Gemlight Hotel," Lucas said while sliding the screen of a tablet. "Ms.


    Chloe is quite cautious. The hotel is right next to the police station."


    "Let''s go." Joseph got up and headed toward his car.


    *


    When Joseph found Chloe, she and Emily were enjoying takeout and watching TV in the hotel


    room, looking quite content. Before Chloe could say anything, he grabbed her by the wrist and


    silently pulled her outside.


    "I''m not going back.¡± She struggled, not wanting to return to that ce that felt like a prison. She


    knew that Joseph would eventually find her as it was difficult topletely escape from his clutches


    without Noah''s help.


    "You have to go back whether you like it or not," he said coldly, a note of anger apparent in his


    voice.


    "I don''t want to go back, and you can''t make me," Chloe retorted, her voice defiant despite his cold


    demeanor.


    ¡°You''re mine. You''re my woman, and you have to listen to me!"


    "Do you think you''re a king or something? You juggle between imprisoning me and arranging a


    postnatal center for Xavia. Do you think you can control everything?" Chloe replied with a mocking


    smile.


    Joseph felt a pang in his heart when he saw her expression. "I¡¯m imprisoning you." He had done


    everything to protect her, but she seemed eager to break free from him. Did she have no feelings?


    "Fine, I''ll pretend to believe you." Chloe shrugged nonchntly, maintaining her air of casualness.


    Taking a few deep breaths, Joseph said, "Let''s go home first. We''ll talk then."


    "If you don''t love Coco, then please don''t hurt her," Emily said as she looked at Joseph earnestly,


    trying her very best to persuade him. "Both of you are at fault for having reached this point. Can''t


    you let each other go?"


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Upon hearing those words, Joseph wanted to say that he loved Chloe deeply. No one loved her


    more than he did, but he had no other choice. He had to pretend not to care about her in front of


    others to keep her safe.


    Harold had fallen into aa, and Amelia had been injured. Nobody believed in Chloe, but he did.


    However, he had to maintain a certain attitude in front of everyone. Before all the mysteries were


    unraveled, any favoritism from him would only invite disaster upon her.


    However, no one could predict what the future held, not even Joseph who considered himself a


    master of maniption. Little did he know that within a few days, their lives would undergo a


    profound and earth-shattering transformation.

 Chapter 650 Life Is Meaningless

    Chapter 650 Life Is Meaningless


    "Mind your own business," Joseph said and dragged Chloe away.


    Emily stomped her foot in frustration. ''Jeez, he''s so unreasonable!''


    In the car, silence hung between Joseph and Chloe as they exchanged nces. Chloe turned to


    stare out of the window. Joseph felt a sense of sadness at being ignored. Sitting at the front, Lucas


    tried his best to minimize his presence, hoping not to incur either of their wrath.


    After a while, Joseph said afterposing himself, "We''ll get the maternity DNA test results for


    Amelia and Karen the day after tomorrow."


    Chloe turned back to him. Her voice shook with emotion as she asked, "You believe me?"


    "When did I ever say I didn''t?"


    "You never once believed me and always doubted me," she retorted.


    Her words stung him. His face sank, and he decided to stay silent.


    The sky darkened, and they slowly left Aesper, heading toward the direction of Docwood. As she


    watched the passing scenery, Chloe asked, "Aren''t we going home?"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Joseph replied calmly, "No, we''re going somewhere else."


    "Where?"


    "Our marital home," Joseph continued, his gaze softening slightly. "It''s located at the boundary line


    of Docwood and Cloude. The renovations are done and the ce has been furnished. We''ll be


    living there from now on."


    ''The boundary line of Docwood and Cloude¡­''


    This meant that Emily would not be able to visit Chloe, and thetter did not know anyone in that


    area. It would be a lonely ce with only herself forpany. Chloe''s shoulders slumped in defeat


    like a withering flower losing its vitality.


    Sensing something amiss, Joseph grabbed her shoulders and asked, "What''s wrong? Are you


    feeling unwell?"


    "Are you trying to push me into my grave?"


    He was taken aback and stared at her incredulously. "I''m trying to push you into your grave by


    taking you to a safer ce? Is that how you see me?"


    Lucas could not help interjecting, "Ms. Chloe, you''ve misunderstood Mr. Joseph. You can''t stay in


    your original home since it''s no longer safe. Besides, we''re going to your marital home. You¡¯ll be


    living there in the future."


    Chloe let out a soft, bitterugh. Although it was barely audible, one could sense the deep despair


    in it. "That ce isn¡¯t a marital home. It''s a prison with no freedom."


    "Ms. Chloe, please don''t think like that. This is only temporary. You don''t know all the difficulties Mr.


    Joseph has gone through for you¡ª"


    "Please, I beg you. Please let me go," Chloe pleaded, interrupting Lucas, "I can''t bear another day


    with you. If this continues, I''ll lose my mind."


    Every day, she feared being forced to have an abortion and taking herbal medicine. She had no


    ess to fresh air and was frequently bothered by Xavia. Her lifecked peace. Now, in this new


    ce, she was unsure if her n would work out.


    If her n failed, she might be stuck here forever.


    Joseph stared into her eyes. "Being with me makes you miserable?"


    "Yes, it''s agonizing. I''m so tired. I feel that life is meaningless," Chloe cried, pouring out her heartfelt


    words.


    "And who gives your life meaning? Icarus?" He continued to stare at her, his gaze prating.

 Chapter 651 Joseph’s Eyes Turned Red

    Chapter 651 Joseph¡¯s Eyes Turned Red


    "No... I don''t like Icarus."


    Her face was covered in tears. Even her curlyshes were decorated with dewy drops, making her


    a pitiful sight.


    "If you don''t like him, why are you unwilling to stay with me?"


    "I no longer love you."


    Chloe closed her eyes and allowed her tears to escape her. As she made that statement, she was


    in so much pain that she could not breathe. All the past scenes of them shed past her mind. She


    recalled how nice he was to her, but even a great love would be washed away by overflowing


    disappointment.


    Now, all she wanted was to give birth to the child and raise the child well.


    Joseph seemed to have received a great blow. He clenched his fists tightly as the gloominess in his


    heart attacked him fiercely. Every word she said caused him pain. It was as if she could lead a


    better life without him. In the past, she had shamelessly fawned over him. But now, she regarded


    him with disdain after gaining his heart.


    Joseph¡¯s gaze went nk. The humiliation hit him hard. And it did nothing to stop the excruciating


    pain that was tearing him apart.


    Lucas looked into the rearview mirror and noticed that Joseph''s eyes had turned red. Was it


    because he was infuriated or was it because he was sad?


    Lucas would never know.


    "Stop the car!¡± Joseph said furiously.


    Lucas floored the brakes. ''Oh no! Is Mr. Joseph going to chase Ms. Chloe out of the car?''


    He looked out the window and saw the dark sky outside. A strong wind was blowing, and they were


    currently in the suburbs. It would be difficult for her to get a cab if she got off here.


    Chloe was pregnant and weak, so of course, she could not take such strain.


    After dwelling on it, Lucas braced himself and said, "Sir, please calm down. Just talk this out when


    you guys get to the house..."


    "Shut up!" Joseph shot Lucas a re. Thetter shuddered in fear and stopped talking. "Take her to


    the mansion."


    "Huh?" For a moment, Lucas did not understand the situation.


    Joseph was upset and could not be bothered to repeat himself. He got out of the car and let the


    cold wind hit him. He then strode off into the darkness. He wanted to be alone. If he stayed any


    longer, Chloe would drive him mad.


    Lucas looked at Joseph through the window as thetter walked away. A long sigh escaped him. It


    turned out that Joseph wanted to get out of the car.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Suddenly, Lucas was upset. Joseph was an expert at controlling his emotions. He was generally


    calm and full of self-restraint. He had never seen Joseph suffer such great emotional upheavals.


    Chloe''s words had clearly hurt Joseph very much today.


    Lucas started the car. After a long hesitation, he said, "Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph has had a very hard


    time over thest few years. He has to single-handedly handle the Whitman Group and Fairlight¡ª


    tworge corporations. He wakes at six in the morning and arrives at Fairlight by seven to deal with


    his work. At noon, he has to go to the Whitman Group in Docwood for meetings. His time is limited,


    and any free time he gives to you."


    Chloe''s eyshes fluttered but she pretended not to hear him.


    Lucas ignored her reaction as he continued, "Mr. Joseph booked Xavia into a postnatal care center


    not because he likes her. He may have bought her a customized car, but he never rified his


    rtionship with her to outsiders. Everything he did, he did for you."


    Besides, that customized car was bought under Samuel''s name. Joseph did not hesitate when it


    came to spending on Chloe.

 Chapter 652 Nearly Choked to Death

    Chapter 652 Nearly Choked to Death


    Chloe raised a question. "How is all that for me?"


    "Duskfall wanted to kill you that day. Although you managed to escape, Vanya isn¡¯t the only member


    of Duskfall. They have hundreds of killers. Cyrus is a crazy man. He failed to locate Mr. Joseph''s


    mother, so he''s taking his anger out on Mr. Joseph.


    ¡°You''re Mr. Joseph''s lover, so it''s inevitable that Duskfall will target you relentlessly. To outsiders, it


    looks like Mr. Joseph is indifferent toward you and is inparison nice to Xavia. It''s just to confuse


    Duskfall and protect you.


    "Mr. Joseph has tried his best to be nice to you."


    Chloe touched her face and felt tears on her face. "It doesn''t matter anymore." She no longer cared


    about who Joseph truly loved.


    When Lucas saw her calm expression, he frowned slightly and stopped talking.


    Chloe arrived at the marital home Joseph had mentioned. In the dark, the mansion appeared


    spacious, and she could not see the end of it. Even with its many lights, she felt no sense of


    security.


    She sincerely felt scared in the strange environment.


    Luckily, the few servants who had worked at the vi were here. They were familiar with the


    mansion, so they wanted to take her on a tour.


    Chloe was not in the mood to listen to them. "Where''s my room?"


    "Madam, this is the marital home of you and Mr. Joseph. Don''t you want to look around?"


    "No."


    "Don''t you think that¡¯s a disrespect toward Mr. Joseph''s efforts?"


    "How about you respect him then?"


    Chloe ignored them and opened the door to a bedroom and crawled into bed. She stayed up,


    nkly staring straight ahead of her with a wide-eyed gaze. She was not the least bit sleepy in the


    strange environment.


    She then overheard voices.


    "Tsk! She''s reckless because she''s favored. She''ll no longer be so haughty when Mr. Joseph loses


    interest in her one day."


    "All right, let''s not discuss our employer¡¯s family affairs."


    "I''m angry because she remains unmoved when Mr. Joseph is so nice to her!"


    "Pipe down. You may get into trouble."


    "It''s a woman¡¯s great luck to marry a nice man."


    *


    Joseph went to Imperium. When the night watchman saw him approaching, he rubbed his eyes and


    happily went up to him.


    "Sir, it''s rare to see you here."


    "Cut the crap."


    The watchman was taken aback. He could tell that Joseph was in a bad mood. "Sir, why are you


    suddenly here? Did Duskfall make another move?"


    "No," Joseph said coldly as he looked around. ¡°I¡¯m going to spend the night here."


    ¡°Okay, I''ll prepare a room for you."


    "No, it''s fine. Where is Vanya being held?"


    "Room 5. She''s very hard to serve. She neither ate nor drank the first few days she came. She


    wanted to starve herself to death, but Vince stuffed the food into her mouth. She didn''t starve to


    death, but she nearly choked to death."


    Joseph remainedposed. "What about now?"


    "It''s been getting better. She''s willing to eat, but she doesn''t allow anyone to discipline her. She''s a


    feisty one."


    "Keep her locked up. You don''t have to give her any special care. We just need her alive."


    "All right, it just so happens that no one wants to serve her."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    As the two talked, they reached Room 5. The room was equipped with nothing but four walls and a


    small window above the door. It looked just like a prison cell. The guards opened the door with a


    key, revealing Vanya cowering in a corner with her head down.


    Joseph kicked her. "Stop pretending. Get up."


    When Vanya heard his voice, she looked up and was stunned for a second. She said quickly, "I can


    tell you whatever you want, but you have to let me go."


    She would tell him all of Duskfall¡¯s secrets and everything about Xavia, Ava, the amniocentesis, and


    Noah...

 Chapter 653 Would She Ever See Him Again?

    Chapter 653 Would She Ever See Him Again?


    Vanya looked at him in disbelief. "Will you let me go?"


    "What do you think?"


    "I can''t trust you wholeheartedly unless you offer me something in return."


    "You have no right to negotiate terms with me."


    Vanya gritted her teeth. "Well then, I¡¯ve changed my mind!"


    She would be doomed if she told him everything and he broke his promise. By not saying anything,


    she could hold on to her worth.


    Joseph lost his patience with her and turned to leave. He felt that Vanya would tell him the truth


    sooner orter. It was just a matter of time before she exposed everything.


    *


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    At the mansion, Chloe was gued by nightmares from sleeping in an unfamiliar ce.


    In her dreams, she stood at a busy crossroads. She had no idea where to go. Suddenly, a small and


    blurry figure approached her and addressed her as ¡°mother.¡± Inexplicably, she felt that this baby


    was hers. She lovingly picked up the baby and patted his back gently tofort him.


    "Aaaahh! Mommy, don''t leave me. Please don''t leave me. Mmph..."


    For an unknown reason, the baby in her arms seemed frightened as he burst into tears. This was


    Chloe attempting to pacify a baby. She coaxed him tenderly, "Are you hungry?"


    "No, I don''t want to leave you. I don''t want to..."


    The child said nothing else and repeated that sentence over and over.


    Chloe was taken aback as the baby''s body gradually became transparent. He was slowly


    disappearing. He wailed and cried, holding onto her sleeves tightly and refusing to let go. She


    panicked as she tried to save him, but it was futile.


    The baby disappeared.


    Chloe panicked as she searched the streets for the baby. She looked for him from day till night but


    found no sign of him. She cried and wailed helplessly, wanting to find the baby.


    "Madam, breakfast is ready."


    A sudden knock awakened Chloe. She slowly opened her eyes and found that her pillow was


    drenched in sweat. That nightmare had been all too real¡­


    After washing up and having breakfast, she went to the room and saw that the helpers were busy.


    She decided to call Noah.


    "Coco?" Noah''s clear and pleasant voice came from the other end.


    "It''s me. I''ve moved. I''m not staying at the vi anymore."


    "Where are you now? Send me your new location."


    "I''ll text you. I''ve never been here, so I don¡¯t know this ce."


    "Okay, how have you been? Are you okay?"


    Chloe replied nonchntly, "I''m fine. What about you? Is your grandfather still angry?"


    She could not imagine that the good-tempered Noah would make a mistake that would cause him to


    be punished by his elder.


    "Yeah, I''m still in the hall, but I should be able to leave soon. When I get out, we can start our n."


    "Okay."


    *


    After ending the call with Noah, Chloe called Emily.


    "I contacted a business partner and arranged to meet him this afternoon. I¡¯ve cooperated with him


    previously, and he took a fancy to the Johnson Group. I''ve discussed the basics with him. Just help


    me sign the contract."


    "Are you sure you want to sell thepany?"


    Although it was an asset passed down by Benjamin, Chloe had spent a lot of effort on it. It would be


    a pity to sell it.


    "Yeah, it''s been a long time since Ist went to thepany. Things can¡¯t go on like this. I might as


    well sell it and let someone with the energy to manage it."


    She had cooperated with that man before, so he was a suitable candidate. The most important thing


    was that he was offering a higher price for thepany.


    "Fine. It''s good that you''ve thought it through. Text me his number. I''ll go meet with him this


    afternoon."


    "Okay, by the way, go there early if you can. Help me apologize to the staff. Tell them I¡¯ll be giving


    them three months'' sries as terminationpensation. Tell them to find new jobs as soon as


    possible."


    "Got it. Take care."


    *


    After that, Chloe thought of Harold and decided to call Joseph. "I want to see Grandpa.¡±


    Joseph was silent for a few seconds before answering, "I''ll pick you up."


    "Okay."


    Half an hourter, Joseph arrived at the mansion. Chloe needed some help getting into the car


    because of her pregnancy. He adjusted the seat and got out of the car to help her. Once they were


    both inside, she noticed that he was still wearing the clothes fromst night. His dark eyes were


    bloodshot too. She pursed her lips slightly and knew that he did not sleep a wink at all.


    Joseph was still fuming with anger, so he did not say a word. They arrived at the hospital in silence.


    Harold was lying on the hospital bed with many tubes inserted into his body. The machine made a


    rhythmic sound as if it had worked for a long time without rest.


    Chloe felt upset to see him in this state. He would not have suffered and nearly died if he had not


    met her. Besides, she and Joseph had finallye to this step, tearing down Harold''s painstaking


    efforts. The Whitman who treated her the best was Harold, and she had let him down.


    She did not know if she would ever see him conscious again.

 Chapter 654 What Nonsense Is This

    Chapter 654 What Nonsense Is This


    As she sat beside the hospital bed, Chloe asked the doctor about Harold''s condition.


    "Will Grandpa not get any better soon?"


    "It¡¯s hard to say. It¡¯s unknown if an unconscious person will wake up or how long it takes for them to


    wake up.¡±


    The doctor was helpless too. Harold was now in his eighties. He was lucky to have survived a blow


    to the head. Most old folks could not take such a trauma.


    "How¡¯s his body condition?"


    "Not very good. He can survive for three to four years if nothing goes wrong."


    Chloe''s eyes turned dull. Three to four years. That was three New Years...


    Joseph was silent. It was clear that he was aware of what this meant.


    She looked up at him. "Can I please talk to Grandpa in private?"


    He remained silent, then turned around and went outside, closing the door behind him.


    Chloe took a deep breath and put on a smile. She then said to Harold in a rxed tone, "Grandpa,


    I''m going abroad soon. You stay here and get well soon. Wait for me. I¡¯lle back one day and


    bring your grandson back to see you.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Grandpa... I''m sorry. I know that you want to see me get back together with Joseph, but our


    rtionship is beyond repair. Please don''t me me..."


    She was out of options. No average person would take such a step. She had once dreamed of


    having a family with Joseph and to be with him forever, but there were too many unexpected


    incidents.


    This was all rather ridiculous. One year ago, she had sworn to trick Jake''s uncle into loving her, but


    all she got was a divorce certificate. She was now a divorcee with a baby.


    *


    As Chloe gazed at Harold, she knew she had settled all her affairs. All that was left was to wait for


    Noah.


    Instead of heading back to the mansion, Joseph drove toward a mall.


    "Let''s grab a bite and buy something before we go back to the mansion."


    Chloe nodded.


    "What do you want to eat?"


    "Anything."


    Joseph frowned. He disliked it when she needed nothing from him. Where did the naive and pure


    woman go?


    He walked into a restaurant, and Chloe trailed behind him. She remained quiet and did not order


    anything. Joseph ordered a few dishes based on her preferences. When they were served, she did


    not react much and ate anything that was ced before her.


    Joseph intentionally put a slice of fatty meat onto her te. She simply nced at it before picking it


    up to eat it. Joseph pushed away the meat and interrogated her coldly, "You dislike fatty meat, so


    why are you eating it?¡±


    "There are many things I dislike, but I can''t always have what I want."


    "Why not?"


    Chloe looked up and gave him a firm look. "Regret apanies every second that passes. These


    regrets will soon be part of the past. We can make up for them, but we can''t put them aside


    and start over."


    There was an underlying meaning to her words.


    They locked eyes, and Joseph¡¯s grip around his fork tightened until his knuckles turned pale. He


    was suppressing some kind of emotion¡ªan unspeakable one. It was as if the woman he loved


    would disappear at any time and he would never see her again. He felt that he was watching the


    sand slip through his fingers. He could not hold onto it no matter how hard he tried. A sense of


    helplessness overwhelmed him.


    After a long while, Joseph put a slice of lean meat onto her te. "Eat."


    After the meal, he sent Chloe back to the mansion. His phone then rang.


    "Mr. Joseph, the test results are out early. Thepatibility is ny-nine percent. They''re mother


    and daughter."


    Joseph''s aura turned cold. "Email me the report."


    "Okay, please give me a moment."


    Joseph floored the gas pedal. When he arrived at the Reese Group, Nathan and Hugo were


    discussing the details of the marriage that was to take ce in three months with some rtives


    around them. Of course, Amelia was there too.


    Joseph nced at Amelia. She was wearing a pink gown. When her gentle countenance met his


    gaze, she said in a surprised tone, "Mr. Joseph, what are you doing here?


    "Daisy, get another chair. Greta, the tea is cold. Fetch another pot."


    She was ordering the helpers around nonchntly as if she were the hostess of the ce.


    Nathan was curious too. "Hey Joe, you didn¡¯t send word that you wereing.¡±


    Joseph did not wish to expose Amelia in front of so many people, so he waved at Nathan. "Come


    with me. I have something to tell you."


    "What''s wrong? Why are you being so mysterious?"


    "Amelia is Ava."


    Nathan was shocked. He thenughed dryly. "What nonsense is this?"


    Was Ava not Chloe¡¯s half-sister? He had met that vain woman before.

 Chapter 655 Yes, I Lied, but I Didn’t Hurt You

    Chapter 655 Yes, I Lied, but I Didn¡¯t Hurt You


    Joseph simply went to the office desk and turned on theputer. He then opened his email and


    brought up the test results. "Take a look at this."


    Nathan stared at theputer screen. At first, there was skepticism on his face, which was slowly


    reced by bewilderment. A few minutester, he was filled with resentment and fury upon realizing


    he had been yed.


    He did not ask how Joseph had gotten the test done, and neither did he care about what means


    Joseph had manipted. He knew that Joseph had done this to protect him. Of course, he could


    differentiate right from wrong.


    "I''m going to resolve this right now!" Nathan erupted in anger.


    "Send your rtives off before you do that," Joseph advised, "Don''t humiliate yourself."


    Nathan gnashed his teeth and stormed out of the room. When Hugo saw Nathan rejoin them, he


    immediately noticed Nathan¡¯s sullen and fierce expression.


    ¡®What happened? Did he have some sort of falling out with Joseph?¡¯


    "Ladies and gentlemen, this family meeting will end here. I''ll inform everyone of the wedding details


    later. It''s gettingte. I''ll have the drivers give you guys a ride home." Nathan suppressed his anger


    and used thest tinge of his rationality to make arrangements for his rtives.


    His rtives did not object. They had discussed almost everything about the wedding, after all, and


    it was normal for the Reeses to be busy given their big businesses.


    After everyone had left, the ignorant Ava gently held Nathan''s arm. "Have you finished your


    discussion with Mr. Joseph?"


    Nathan withdrew his hand and looked at her aloofly.


    A bad feeling grabbed hold of Ava''s heart. "What''s the matter, honey?"


    Smack!


    Nathan had never hit a woman before, but this time was different. He would never be able to let go


    of his anger if he did not p her.


    Ava reeled from the strong force, unable to think clearly.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Hugo and his wife, Ivy Keller, were shocked. He pulled Nathan to the side. "Why did you just p


    your wife?"


    "She''s not my wife," Nathan said aggressively, "She''s a liar. She''s not the real Amelia Madison!"


    "What nonsense are you saying?"


    "That¡¯s right, Nate. Hurry up and say you¡¯re sorry. You can''t p Amelia." Ivy tried to protect Ava.


    She thought her son had gone mad.


    At this moment, Joseph appeared and handed a printed document to Nathan''s parents.


    "She¡¯s Ava Johnson. She''s twenty-six years old and was sent to prison six months ago for


    intentional assault. But before her sentence ended, someone broke her out of prison, and she went


    missing. Half a yearter, she had stic surgery to change her face. She used Amelia''s identity to


    sneak into the Reese Group and approach Nathan. The maternity test result you¡¯re seeing is a


    comparison between her and her mother¡¯s hair sample."


    His words filled everyone with great shock, especially Ava.


    "This is nder. I don''t know who Ava is... Honey, you have to trust me. That test result isn¡¯t mine. I


    know nothing about it and have not been to a hospital." Her eyes filled with tears as she tried to put


    up an innocent and pitiful front.


    "Don''t call me that. I¡¯m disgusted by the thought of you actually being Ava!" Nathan gnashed his


    teeth, his eyes full of hatred.


    Hugo bit his lip and turned to Joseph. "Other than this test, what other evidence do you have?"


    This was not an interrogation. He just wanted to further confirm the matter. After all, he knew that


    Joseph would not do anything he was not confident in.


    Joseph shot Ava an icy re. "I contacted Amelia''s parents. They said that she died in a car


    ident two years ago and they moved abroad. Those other people who imed to be Ava¡¯s


    parents are paid actors."


    After that, he yed a video sent by Amelia''s parents and showed it to Hugo and Ivy.

 Chapter 656 Xavia Is Going Into Labor

    Chapter 656 Xavia Is Going Into Labor


    When Ava realized she was about to be exposed, she knew she could no longer keep up the


    pretense. She was so angry that she trembled. "Yes, I''m Ava, but I came to the Reese Group to


    earn a living. What''s more, I sincerely like Nathan. Why do you and Chloe insist on seeing me


    suffer?"


    She was just about to be blessed with a lifetime of bliss, but Chloe had stepped forward to stop that.


    "Who''s helping you?" Joseph ignored her anger and went straight to the point. Knowing Ava¡¯s


    strength, she could never have broken out of prison alone.


    "No one helped me. I''m all alone and have no ulterior motives." Crying and shouting, Ava clung to


    Nathan''s thigh. She begged piteously, "Although my identity is fake, I''m sincere toward you. We''re


    about to get married. Please give me another chance. I won''t lie to you ever again."


    The veins on Nathan''s forehead bulged. He kicked her away. "Call the police and have her


    arrested."


    "No! Don''t call the police! Didn''t you say you love me? Why aren''t you willing to give me a chance? I


    did lie to you but I didn''t hurt you."


    She had not done that at least. She dreamed of bing a rich and nobledy. Now, she was just


    one step away from her dream and was unwilling to give up.


    "What I liked was your face," Nathan said hatefully and cruelly as he pinched her chin. "If you didn¡¯t


    look like Serenity, I wouldn¡¯t give you the time of day.¡±


    His good impression of her was built upon her looks which were very much like Serenity''s. When


    the filter was shattered, the affection he had was naturally washed away.


    When Hugo and Ivy heard Serenity''s name again after so many years, they averted their gazes.


    Ava''s face burned from the p. Nathan¡¯s statement had humiliated her greatly, and she looked like


    she was suffering excruciating pain.


    Joseph raised a brow but was not surprised at Nathan''s action. Some men might fool around with


    women, but they cherished their first loves deeply. They would never forget about their first loves


    even after decades had passed.


    After Hugo confirmed that his family had been fooled, he was filled with humiliation for needing


    Joseph¡¯s help to settle his family¡¯s affairs. He immediately called the police and admonished


    Nathan, telling him to go to their rtives and exin what had happened. Nathan looked tense as


    he kept his gaze lowered.


    Joseph watched as the police took Ava away. The rest concerned only the Reeses, so he was not


    interested in meddling. As he was about to leave, Nathan stopped him.


    "Joe."


    "Yeah?"


    ¡°Please tell Chloe that I¡¯m sorry."


    *


    When Joseph got back to the office, he dived into his work.


    During his afternoon meeting, the hospital called to inform him that Xavia was about to go intobor.


    It was a few days earlier than the expected date of childbirth.


    *


    In the evening, Chloe went downstairs to get water. Having done their work, the house helpers were


    gathered together and chatting away.


    "I read on the Inte that Mr. Joseph''s mistress went intobor and that he rushed to the hospital. I


    think he¡¯ll being home tonight."


    "Although he likes Ms. Chloe, he can''t forget about his child. Surely, he wants to see his child."


    "Yeah, and Ms. Chloe is about to give birth soon too. It''s a double blessing."


    "Tsk! You don''t know?"


    "What?"


    "Ms. Chloe isn''t pregnant with Mr. Joseph''s child."


    "Ah... No wonder they¡¯re always arguing. If Mr. Joseph''s mistress gives birth to a son, Ms. Chloe will


    be in a very dangerous position."


    Thud!


    A ss fell and rolled across the wool carpet.


    The helpers stopped talking and looked up at the second floor.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 657 Bloodstained Pajamas

    Chapter 657 Bloodstained Pajamas


    Chloe blinked to hide her bitterness before calmly bending over to pick up the ss. But her belly


    was toorge, and she could not reach the ss no matter how hard she tried.


    "Madam, allow me." A sensible helper immediately helped her pick it up. "This ss is dirty now. Let


    me get another for you."


    The helper grabbed a new ss of water for Chloe, who epted it and went upstairs.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Another helper hurriedly said, "Madam, we didn''t mean what we said. Please don''t take it to heart."


    "Yes, we¡¯re wrong for saying all that nonsense after what we read online.¡±


    "Tsk! You''re so cowardly. So what if we said all that? Mr. Joseph is at the hospital with Ms. Xavia


    right now."


    Some of the helpers were terrified, but some were full of disdain. After all, Chloe would not be smug


    for much longer, and they felt that they did not have to be afraid of her.


    Chloe acted like she had not heard the helpers and simply stared at them. After a few minutes, she


    nodded, then said in self-mockery, "You¡¯re right."


    It was not strange for Joseph to be with Xavia while she was giving birth.


    Chloe turned and slowly ascended the stairs as she supported her back. Walking up the stairs was


    tiring when her belly had be so big. There was an elevator, but she did not want to use it.


    Halfway up the stairs, she took her phone out and looked up what the servants had been talking


    about, and they were right. The media managed to snap a photo of Joseph as he walked into the


    hospital. The timestamp of the article was from this afternoon.


    In the photo, he wore a suit and leather shoes. Although it was merely a photo of his back, who else


    could it be except Joseph given this noble and charming aura? At the same time, Xavia had posted


    a selfie on her social media. She was wearing a special wristband meant for pregnantdies who


    were going intobor.


    Chloe touched her belly. She said vaguely, "Congrattions, Joseph. You''re about to be a father,


    just as you wanted."


    She stood there for a while and stared nkly ahead of her. Despite the growing darkness, she did


    not turn on the light. The moonlight shone in, and she felt that it was much warmer than where she


    was standing.


    Unconsciously, her eyes started to water. She then continued upstairs and went into the bathroom.


    The servants had just cleaned it, so she could detect the pungent smell of disinfectant in the air.


    She sshed her face with cold water that served to sober her up. She looked at herself in the


    mirror and forced herself to smile. However, her smile was hideous and stiff. She gave up and gave


    up trying to smile, opting to be emotionless instead.


    Chloe moved to head back to the bedroom, but she failed to notice that the floor was wet. She


    stepped on a particrly wet spot, lost control, and fell to the floor with a loud thud.


    The helpers downstairs heard the noise upstairs before they heard Chloe''s pained moans.


    They looked at each other in horror. They recalled something and were stunned.


    "Oh no. I forgot to dry the floor after mopping it."


    "I''ll go upstairs and check on her. Call Mr. Joseph."


    The former was hesitant. "I don''t dare to call him. I''m scared..."


    "He¡¯ll be angrier if you don''t tell him. Forget it. I''ll call him."


    One of the helpers went upstairs to assist Chloe.


    Chloe looked terribly pale, and her pajamas had been dyed red with blood.


    The helper who went upstairs was scared out of her wits. Trembling, she took her phone out to call


    911.

 Chapter 658 Pain Throughout Her Entire Being

    Chapter 658 Pain Throughout Her Entire Being


    Chloe''s forehead glistened with cold sweat. The intense pain in her lower abdomen clouded her


    senses. She could only observe as several helpers hurriedly scurried about, unsure of what to do.


    When she regained consciousness, she struggled to open her eyes even halfway. The pain in her


    lower abdomen had not subsided. On the contrary, it had intensified. It was as if shards of ss


    were relentlessly crushing and grinding together inside of her, causing aches throughout her entire


    being. Yet, shecked the strength to cry out. Helpless and surrounded by a cacophony of voices,


    she watched as figures in white coats moved about around her.


    "Did you get through?"


    "No, Mr. Joseph''s phone is turned off."


    "Try calling his assistant."


    "I don''t have the assistant''s number."


    "I have it saved. Let me find it."


    "Hurry up, the patient''s condition is critical. We have to proceed with the surgery now, and we need


    a family member toe and sign this."


    "Mr. Lucas, Ms. Chloe was in an ident. She fell from the second floor. Can youe to the


    hospital? We can¡¯t reach Mr. Joseph as his phone is switched off."


    Lucas, who was workingte in the office, was startled. He quicklyposed himself and said,


    "Take her to Hyacinth Hospital. I''ll make my way there immediately."


    Joseph had switched off his phone, so of course, they could not reach him. But he had left the


    moment he learned that Xavia was going intobor. He should have gone to the hospital to


    apany Xavia, and her delivery was taking ce at Hyacinth Hospital.


    If Joseph was there, they would surely be able to reach him immediately.


    *


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Chloe remained in a semi-conscious state, aware of her surroundings but unable to respond or


    communicate. It felt as if her soul had detached from her body, drifting away from the situation.


    The ambnce quickly arrived at the hospital. The doctor handed the critical condition notification


    letter to Lucas and said, "Sign it. We have to proceed with the surgery now."


    Lucas swiftly signed his name as his brows furrowed in concern. "How serious is her condition? Is it


    critical?"


    "It is. The patient is experiencing significant bleeding, and both the mother and child are at great


    risk. You¡¯d do well to prepare yourselves."


    Lucas was taken aback, and his hands trembled, causing the pen to slip from his grasp. He quickly


    called Joseph, but the cold automated voice repeated the same message, "The number you have


    dialed is currently switched off. Please try againter."


    Panic rising within him, Lucas dashed to the nurse¡¯s station and inquired, "Excuse me, may I know


    where the patient Xavia Larson is?"


    "Xavia Larson... She has been taken to the delivery room. Head to the sixth floor and take a right


    after exiting the elevator."


    "Okay, thank you."


    Lucas followed the directions until he arrived at the entrance of the delivery room. Spotting a nurse


    coming out, he hurriedly approached her. "Excuse me, are there any family members visiting the


    patient named Xavia Larson?"


    The nurse thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, there is."


    Anxiously, Lucas asked, "Where are they?"


    "The restroom I think."


    Lucas hurriedly toward the restroom. Just as he got there, he collided with Megan, who had just


    finished using the toilet. She eximed in surprise and annoyance, "Watch where you''re going! Did


    you purposely bump into me, you pervert?"


    Lucas, not wanting to engage in an argument, tried to brush past her and enter the restroom to find


    the person he was looking for.


    "Hey, where do you think you''re going?"


    "To the restroom, obviously. Can''t you see?" Lucas responded, his temper ring up.


    "This is the women''s restroom. The men''s restroom is downstairs. You were trying to take


    advantage of me."


    Lucas nced up and realized his mistake. He saw that it was indeed the women''s restroom.


    Megan had recognized Lucas long ago and rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Where''s your boss?


    Xavia has already entered the delivery room, and he''s nowhere to be seen."


    Lucas was taken aback by the news. "Mr. Joseph didn''te here?"


    "I haven''t seen a trace of him. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you. Where is he?"

 Chapter 659 The Surgery Was a Success

    Chapter 659 The Surgery Was a Sess


    Lucas fell into silence, his mind working rapidly to figure out Joseph''s whereabouts if he was not at


    the hospital. However, he failed toe up with any answers. Besides the hospital, where else did


    he have to be at this crucial moment?


    Lucas was confused. He dialed Vince''s number, who informed him that Joseph had not reached out


    to him either. In the end, Lucas¡¯ only option was to return to the operating room door, sitting there


    feeling helpless as he waited.


    The surgery carried on well into thete hours of the night. Megan approached Lucas, stifling a


    yawn as she instructed him, "Get Xavia some food. She¡¯s tired from all that baby birthing."


    "Why don''t you get it?¡±


    "I have to stay with Xavia. Besides, you''re not the child''s father. Will the nurses allow you inside?"


    Megan flicked her hair arrogantly. "And, I''m a celebrity. I can''t just go outside and show my face in


    public."


    Lucas felt irritated. "I can''t leave either. Find someone else."


    "No, you have to go. You have to pay. That''s your job."


    Her loud voice drew disapproving nces from the doctors.


    "This is a hospital. Keep it down. If you want to argue, do it outside."


    Lucas felt inexplicably dragged into the situation, and his impatience showed on his face. "Fine, just


    stop talking. I''ll go and get it."


    "Good, that''s settled then. Saves me from wasting my breath." Megan hummed and walked away,


    swaying her hips.


    Lucas hurriedly made his way to the supermarket downstairs, hoping to buy something as quickly


    as possible. Unfortunately, the supermarket was closed, so he had to venture further in search of an


    open store.


    *


    Inside the operating room, Chloe''s eyes fluttered open. Her vision was filled with the blinding white


    light above her head. She cried out in pain and her hand instinctively reached out for something,


    anything that would provide a sense of sce.


    The doctor noticed her waking up. He lifted his gaze from his work and offered reassurance, "Don''t


    worry. The surgery was a sess. Both you and your baby are safe, but your baby is premature


    and will need to stay in the hospital for observation.¡±


    "My baby..." Chloe murmured, attempting to sit up.


    The nurse approached andforted her, "Don''t worry. You''ll see your baby once the surgery is


    over. Please remain still. Any movement may disrupt the wound closure."


    Coupled with her weakened state, the nurse''s gentle voice had a calming effect on Chloe. She


    wanted to express her gratitude to the medical staff, but she was devoid of strength. Her pale lips


    trembled slightly as her thoughts drifted back to the ambnce, where the helpers had been unable


    to reach Joseph¡¯s phone. Why was his phone turned off? Had he really chosen to be with Xavia


    during her childbirth?


    It felt as though something had sunk its teeth into her heart. Initially, there was no pain. But as the


    wound grew deeper, it consumed her entire being. The agony spread to all of her nerves,


    incessantly tormenting her even when she remained still. The pain she felt was reminiscent of the


    ache from when she gave up on her rtionship. Though it had been some time since then, it still


    lingered and affected her deeply.


    After ten minutes, the doctor cheerfully said to Chloe, "The surgery isplete. Get some rest. The


    nurse will bring you to your wardter."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Chloe remained immobile, unable to express her gratitude to the doctor. Just then, another


    individual entered the room and engaged the doctor in a brief conversation. After that, the doctor


    departed with the individual, leaving only the nurse to attend to Chloe.


    Weighed down by the sedative¡¯s effects, Chloe felt drowsiness wash over her, prompting her to shut


    her eyes.


    *


    Unknown to Chloe and those in the operating room, a silent peril loomed closer. Alcohol, along with


    various elerants, seeped into the room from under the door. In thesete hours at the hospital,


    weariness had ovee the nurses and doctors, dulling their sensitivity to scents.

 Chapter 660 The Final Encounter

    Chapter 660 The Final Encounter


    The nurse that was dozing off beside Chloe, was roused by the diforting scent of the spreading


    alcohol beneath her feet. Just as she was about to investigate the situation, faint footsteps from


    outside the operating room reached her ears. But before she could look into it, a towering me


    measuring two meters in height erupted. The mes engulfed the door of the operating room,


    transforming it into a fiery barrier.


    The nurse stood frozen in shock as she witnessed the rapid progression of the fire. It quickly


    spread, following the alcohol on the floor. Within mere three minutes, the lower half of her body was


    consumed by the mes.


    She screamed in agony, frantically searching for anything to put out the fire with, but the fire spread


    too quickly due to therge amount of elerant present. Before she could effectively extinguish


    the mes, she had transformed into a zing figure of horror.


    "Aaahhh! Help! Save me! I¡¯m on fire! It hurts! Help me!"


    Chloe woke up to the nurse''s screams. The hazy operating room greeted her with a thick cloud of


    smoke, causing her to cough uncontrobly as she regained consciousness. Each breath felt like a


    struggle as if her lungs were being weighed down by an immense stone. Her gaze fixated on the


    horrifying sight of the nurse covered in fire, leaving her frozen with terror.


    Boom!


    In an instant, a deafening crash filled the room as an iron structure fell from the ceiling, crashing


    down on the nurse. She instantly fell silent. Only the crackling of burning flesh and skin could be


    heard.


    Chloe''s eyes widened in horror, her entire body trembling uncontrobly. The excruciating pain in


    her lower abdomen served as a stark reminder that the terrifying scene before her was not a


    nightmare. She pulled out the needle on the back of her hand and mustered all her strength to climb


    off the operating room bed.


    Just this one movement caused her intense pain and left her drenched in a cold sweat, but she


    could not afford to rest. The smoke was thick, stinging her eyes and making them teary. She


    grabbed the nearest towel and covered her mouth and nose, desperately searching for an exit.


    There were no windows in the operating room, and the only exit was blocked.


    She crawled into a corner and desperately threw things around, hoping to create enough noise to


    draw attention from outside. There was no time for her to ponder whether this cmity was an


    idental or a deliberate act. Tears blurred her vision, streaming down her face and evaporating


    instantly in the blistering heat of the raging fire.


    As the mes grew fiercer, the towel she used to shield herself became ineffective. The searing


    smoke seemed to infiltrate every crevice, causing her to cough uncontrobly. With each


    movement, the incision from her cesarean section reopened, resulting in a steady flow of blood


    loss.


    The frail Chloe was nearing her breaking point, but she clung to life with every ounce of strength.


    She had no intention of dying, not in the slightest.


    In that desperate moment, her thoughts turned to the child she had brought into the world but never


    had the chance to meet. If she died, how would Joseph treat their child? Would he think of the child


    as Icarus'' child and deliberately mistreat them?


    On the other hand, if Xavia''s child was born, they would instantly be the center of attention.


    No, she could not let her child bear this undeserved suffering. Her child became her sole source of


    belief and hope amid the chaos and uncertainty.


    Chloe removed the towel and desperately shouted out for help. She quickly covered her mouth and


    nose again, attempting to shield herself from inhaling too much toxic fumes. But at that moment, the


    hospital seemed eerily silent as if it had abandoned her to her fate.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    With each passing moment, her pleas for assistance grew weaker, drowned out by the surrounding


    chaos. The encroaching fire drew nearer, its fiery glow reflecting in her eyes. The mes cast a


    blood-red hue upon everything as if it were ready to consume her.


    Gasping for breath in the suffocating air, Chloe''s vision started to blur. Amid the raging inferno, her


    thoughts turned to Harold. Little had she known that their recent encounter would be theirst. She


    also thought of Emily, her closest friend. When that idiot found out that she was dead, Chloe hoped


    that she would not find trouble with the hospital. She was too weak, and the hospital surely would


    bully her.


    Lastly, her thoughts turned to Joseph. What was he doing at this very moment? Was he joyfully


    embracing the arrival of new life with Xavia? Or was he anxiously pacing outside the delivery room,


    assuming the role of a devoted father?


    Truth be told, long ago, she had envisioned such a scene. She never anticipated that she would not


    be the leading actress at that moment, but rather, it was Xavia taking center stage. And in this now


    dire situation, she would not be in the delivery room either. Perhaps she would never have the


    chance toy eyes on her own child.


    Before Chloe sumbed to unconsciousness, the relentless fire crept closer to her feet. She


    instinctively backed away, but she was too exhausted and fell forward instead. She no longer felt


    any pain, allowing the mes to climb up the ends of her hair and burn rapidly.


    Shecked the strength and will to resist any longer. All she yearned for at that moment was to


    surrender to the embrace of sleep. She gave up struggling as she closed her heavy eyelids. She


    hoped that by doing so, she would find sce in the darkness to alleviate her suffering, if only for a


    fleeting moment.


    *


    Lucas returned from his shopping errand and noticed a fire truck stationed at the hospital entrance.


    Without pausing to question the situation, he clutched his shopping bag and pressed forward. He


    had initially nned to take the subway, but a firefighter intercepted him.


    "Sorry, but due to a fire at the hospital, subway services are currently suspended."


    Lucas nced at the unassuming facade of the hospital and casually asked, "Where¡¯s the fire?"


    "The operating room on the sixth floor."


    Lucas''s mind went nk. His grip on the shopping bag loosened, causing it to tumble to the ground.


    "Are there any casualties?"


    "One fatality, and looks like it was a patient. The exact details are unclear but given the presence of


    highly mmable liquids and the intense heat, it''s possible that the person was reduced to ashes."


    The sixth floor housed the gynecology department, and as the fire spread, all the pregnant women


    were swiftly evacuated. The timely arrival of the firefighters prevented the mes from engulfing


    other floors.


    At that moment, Lucas'' phone rang. Awkwardly, he fumbled to retrieve it from his pocket. The


    screen prominently disyed the name ¡°Mr. Joseph.¡±

 Chapter 661 Not One, but Two Lives Lost

    Chapter 661 Not One, but Two Lives Lost


    It waste at night, and snow began to fall. Therge, fluffy snowkes appeared eager to nket


    the scene of the fire. When Joseph arrived at the hospital, a few snowkesnded on his long


    eyshes, softening his typically sharp gaze. His eyes held a glimmer of moisture, revealing an


    uncharacteristic absence of aggression and a touch of sorrow.


    Lucas struggled to find the words to say. His voice trembled with emotion. "Sir, Ms. Chloe¡­is gone."


    "What do you mean ¡®gone?¡¯"


    "Ms. Chloe had an ident at the mansion. She fell and was immediately brought to the hospital.


    The doctors discovered severe internal bleeding. While they were performing the surgery, a fire


    broke out. And despite their efforts, they couldn''t save the baby or her..."


    Joseph froze, his senses dulled by the weight of the news. It felt as if darkness had enveloped him,


    robbing him of sight. He could not see the figures before him or the path stretching ahead. All he


    could hear was the haunting echo of Lucas'' words¡ªChloe was gone.


    After just one night away, everything had turned into a nightmare. Chloe had been perfectly fine


    when he left...


    Joseph frenziedly sprinted toward the sixth floor. As he drew nearer, the acrid stench of burning


    materials invaded his nostrils, intensifying his anguish. The thought of Chloe being engulfed in


    those mes filled him with dread. His eyes reddened and his face contorted with grief that


    unnerved the firefighters at the scene.


    "Are you a family member of the patient? This is all we could find of her remains. The fire was too


    intense, and retrieving the body was impossible."


    Joseph¡¯s hands trembled as he stared at the small box before him. He took the box and held it in his


    hands. A metallic taste rose in his throat, and in the next moment, he coughed up blood.


    "Are you okay? Should I get you a doctor?" the firefighter expressed concern.


    Joseph pushed the firefighter aside and rushed into the ravaged operating room. Chaos reigned


    within. All the equipment had been reduced to unrecognizable ruins and the scent of charred flesh


    hung heavy in the air.


    Disregarding his disheveled appearance, Joseph frantically scoured every corner, desperately


    hoping to find any shred of evidence that did not belong to Chloe.


    Suddenly, his foot made contact with something on the floor. He looked down and saw The wless


    Love buried among the clutter. Once radiant, it has now lost its original luster. He knelt, retrieved the


    diamond ring, and carefully wiped it clean. As he cleaned it, his vision became blurred.


    The wless Love was the token of love he had given to Chloe. He remembered how much she


    had loved the ring, treasuring it like a precious gem. Joseph brought his hand to his eyes and felt


    the tears on his cheek.


    Lucas stood at the door, unsure of how to console Joseph. He understood that any words offort


    would fall on deaf ears at this moment. He too was bewildered at Chloe¡¯s sudden and tragic death.


    Emily quickly arrived after receiving Lucas¡¯ call. Her eyes fixated on the box clutched tightly in


    Joseph''s hands, and a sense of foreboding crept over her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood


    on end.


    "Where¡¯s Coco?"


    Lucas'' lips quivered as he tried to form the words. "There was a fire¡­ She''s gone."


    Emily pointed at the box in Joseph''s arms, her face turning pale. "Is that what he''s holding? Coco''s


    remains?"


    "Yes..."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Emily''s entire body trembled, her eyes burning with anger and grief. In a surge of fury, she rushed


    toward Joseph and delivered a resounding p across his face. "Y-You murderer! It''s because of


    you that Coco is dead!"


    If he had not kept Chloe locked up, she would not have died at such a young age. Chloe¡¯s child had


    not even had the chance to experience the world. Joseph was responsible for not only Chloe¡¯s


    death but also the death of their child. Not one, but two lives were lost because of him.


    Lucas was taken aback by Emily''s sudden aggression toward Joseph. He quickly stepped in


    between them, shielding Emily. His voice trembled with fear as he said to Joseph, "Sir, Emily didn''t


    mean it. It was just a moment of impulsiveness."

 Chapter 662 His Longing for Her Was Overwhelming

    Chapter 662 His Longing for Her Was Overwhelming


    Unexpectedly, the p did not elicit any visible reaction from Joseph. He remained transfixed on the


    diamond ring in his hand, repeating Chloe''s name over and over in a sorrowful whisper.


    ¡®Did she truly choose death over bing my wife?¡¯


    Everything was burned down, leaving only the diamond ring. Perhaps he should not have tried to


    protect her in his own way, but he could not let go of her. He wanted to be a good husband. He


    wanted to cherish her, love her, and take responsibility for his past mistakes. But now, he would not


    have the chance to do so.


    Lucas could not bear to see Joseph this way. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m so sorry for your loss.¡±


    Joseph clenched his heart, and suddenly, the scene before his eyes transformed. In the zing


    operating room, Chloe was trapped in a corner and her body was slowly being consumed by the


    mes. She struggled in pain, but no one came to rescue her. She watched as her body burned to


    ashes in the raging mes. Finally, she seemed to see him and cried out helplessly, "Joseph, it


    hurts so much¡­ Save me..."


    Joseph could not bear to witness the scene. He closed his eyes and slowly lowered himself to the


    ground. "I seem to feel Chloe¡¯s pain," he said to Lucas as he pointed at his chest. "It hurts right


    here. It¡¯s as if a piece has been taken away and disappeared with her."


    This was the first time Lucas had seen Joseph like this. He cried, and the tears wet his eyshes.


    Emily walked over and tried to snatch the box containing Chloe¡¯s ashes from Joseph''s protective


    grip.


    His gaze turned icy cold. "Fuck off!"


    "No! I want to take Coco away. I refuse to let her be trapped by you even in death!"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Joseph froze. ¡®Trapped... Was I truly trapping Chloe...¡¯


    In the midst of Joseph''s inner turmoil, Emily seized the opportunity and swiftly fled with the box. His


    initial instinct was to give chase, but a sudden wave of dizziness overwhelmed him. His vision


    blurred, and without warning, he lost consciousness and copsed.


    *


    The news of the hospital fire and the unfortunate death of a patient quickly spread online, eliciting a


    range of reactions fromizens. While some initially expressed sympathy, the discussions soon


    took a negative turn.


    [This woman was the mistress who stole the violinist Xavia''s first love. Only she died in such a big


    hospital. Karma caught up with her.]


    [Exactly. Even her child died. Ordinary people wouldn''t receive such punishment.]


    [Let''s shift our attention to happier things, like celebrating new couples and blessings.]


    [Some of thesements are going too far. Regardless of the circumstances, a life was lost. It''s


    important to rememberpassion and empathy.]


    In the evening, the snow continued to fall. Joseph woke up and immediately rose to his feet,


    determined to return to the mansion.


    Vince, who had been faithfully by his side throughout the day, quickly caught up with him. "Sir,


    where are you going? If there''s anything you need, please allow me to assist you."


    "You can''t assist me on this. I''m going home."


    "Huh? Why are you going home?"


    Xavia had just given birth and Chloe had tragically passed away. The house now stood empty. What


    was the point of going back there?


    Joseph came to a halt and cast a sidelong nce at Vince. "I had a dream... In that dream, Chloe


    was engulfed by a raging fire, and nothing remained of her body. I want to go to the mansion to see


    her." His longing for her was overwhelming.


    Vince paused, his next words hung heavy with solemnity. "Sir, it wasn''t a dream. Chloe really died in


    a fire."


    Joseph turned pale. He seemed to be speaking to Vince, but also murmuring to himself. "How could


    she die? She can''t die. Why do you all say she''s dead..."


    "Sir, Chloe¡¯s dead," Vince stated inly. Witnessing Joseph''s emotional breakdown for the first time,


    he was uncertain of how to console him.


    "Then what about her child?"

 Chapter 663 Seeing Her From Afar Would Suffice

    Chapter 663 Seeing Her From Afar Would Suffice


    Vince replied, "The hospital informed us that the baby did not survive either."


    Joseph''s eyshes trembled, and his thin lips remained sealed.


    Not wanting Joseph to dwell in this state, Vince attempted to divert his attention. "Xavia has given


    birth to a son. Would you like to go and see them?"


    "Get me the hospital''s surveince footage."


    "We failed to retrieve them. The fire was too intense and it affected the circuits andwork."


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Joseph''s brows furrowed as he said hoarsely and stubbornly, "Find a way to retrieve it."


    Vince nodded, though he held little hope. Lucas had gone to retrieve the surveince footage


    immediately after the fire, but the equipment had beenpletely burnt beyond recognition.


    After Vince left, Joseph recalled that Emily had taken away Chloe''s ashes. He took out The


    wless Love from his pocket, feeling a numbing ache gripping his heart. He could note to


    terms with Chloe''s death andcked the courage to go to the hospital. The mere idea of standing in


    the very ce where Chloe had lost her life was more agonizing than taking his own life.


    Joseph went to the mansion and entered the bedroom Chloe had stayed in. Everything inside


    remained the same. The slightly crumpled bed sheets, the soft glow of the deskmp, the books


    scattered on the table... These remnants bore witness to Chloe''s presence just a day ago. But now,


    they were separated by the chasm of life and death.


    He slipped off his shoes and got into the bed, feeling the lingering warmth Chloe had left behind. In


    an instant, all his senses were amplified. Within the soft embrace of the nket, her delicate


    fragrance lingered, permeating the air.


    In the midst of this bittersweet realization, he could almost feel her beside him. He extended a


    trembling hand, yearning to reach out and touch her. But like a mirage, her figure dissolved into


    nothingness. No matter how desperately he grasped, his efforts were futile. She had vanished


    without a trace.


    At that moment, the harsh reality struck Joseph with an undeniable force¡ªChloe was gone.


    In the depths of the night, enveloped by solitude, an overwhelming wave of grief swept over Joseph.


    Regret erupted from the depths of his heart, threatening to consume and suffocate him. In the


    confines of his bed, he curled into a ball, unleashing a primal roar of anguish. For the first time in his


    thirty years, he felt utterly defeated. He had failed to protect the woman he loved, and now she was


    forever beyond his reach. He was powerless to remedy the situation, and he could not hold on to


    her either.


    He was struck with a profound realization of the despair Nathan must have experienced when


    Serenity passed away. He now understood the anguish of losing Chloe at the very moment he loved


    her the most.


    With tears clouding his vision, Joseph summoned the strength to rise from the bed. He proceeded


    to tenderly gather the belongings Chloe had left behind, delicately cing them in the transparent


    cab in his study. It was as if by preserving these mementos, he could feel her presence every


    second of his days.


    *


    Three dayster, Joseph solemnly conducted Chloe''s funeral.


    Emily arrived at the scene with Chloe¡¯s ashes. She approached the weary-looking man with caution.


    "Remember. We agreed that once the funeral is over, you''ll return Coco¡¯s ashes to me."


    Joseph''s face was marred by unkempt stubble. His eyes, cold and bloodshot, betrayed the


    sleepless nights he had endured. "Yes, I¡¯ll let her go."


    He refused to make Chloe unhappy anymore. If she wanted to leave, then he would grant her that


    freedom. Seeing her from afar would suffice.


    The funeral held a somber atmosphere, with only a small gathering in attendance. Alongside the


    employees of the Johnson Group, Lily from Baxon, Noah, and Xavia were also present.


    Emily seethed with anger at the sight of Xavia. "Get out! Coco wouldn''t want to see you here!"

 Chapter 664 Woke up From a Deep Dream

    Chapter 664 Woke up From a Deep Dream


    Xavia had a sessful delivery, and after a few days of rest, she appeared to be in good spirits.


    Dressed in a ck gown and a small hat, she exuded elegance and beauty.


    As Emily angrily reproached her, Xavia let out a sigh of sadness and responded, "I simply wish to


    pay my respects to Ms. Chloe. There''s no need for you to be so worked up."


    "Joseph! If you let her stay, I¡¯ll take Coco away!" Emily''s face flushed with anger as she shouted at


    Joseph.


    Joseph slowly looked up and briefly nced at Xavia, but he quickly averted his gaze. The duration


    of their eye contact did not evenst three seconds.


    Xavia clenched her hands hidden in her sleeves. From the moment she had given birth until now,


    this man had barely spared her a nce. Instead, he had sent Tyson to check on the baby. What


    was he thinking?


    But it did not matter. Now that Chloe was no longer around, Xavia knew she would soon have better


    days ahead. She had an ulterior motive ining here today. Did they really think she had willingly


    come to such an inauspicious ce?


    Lucas was adept at reading people''s expressions and immediately understood Joseph''s intentions.


    He approached Xavia and politely said, "Ms. Xavia, please leave."


    "I don''t have any other intentions..." Xavia feigned innocence. "I was surprised and saddened by


    Chloe''s death. I just came to pay my final respects. If there was anything I did in the past that


    caused her unhappiness, I genuinely hope she can find it in her heart to forgive me."


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "If you truly seek her forgiveness, then go and apologize to her in the depths below," Noah suddenly


    interjected, breaking his silence. His brown eyes emitted a cold and chilling aura as if he could see


    through her thoughts.


    Xavia''s expression froze for a moment, followed by a flicker of annoyance. Speaking in a voice


    audible only to the two of them, she asked, "Tell me. Did Chloe really die? Did you go to the hospital


    to save her?"


    On the day of the fire, Xavia caught a glimpse of Noah as he hurried through the hospital. She was


    certain she had not mistaken it. That person had been him.


    But by that time, the fire had spread extensively. Xavia could distinctly hear the cries of agony


    coming from the operating room. The thought of that bitch finally disappearing from her life brought


    her immense joy. If it was not for the fear of being overheard, she would have burst intoughter to


    celebrate.


    She listened intently from outside the operating room for a long time, but the cries of agony ceased


    before the firefighters arrived. It was highly likely that Chloe had died. Even if Noah had arrived, it


    would have been toote to save her. But for some reason, Xavia could not shake off her lingering


    worry.


    Noah''s typically gentle and kind face now appeared exceptionally cold and indifferent. Leaning


    forward, he lowered his voice and said, "Do you remember what I told you?"


    "What?"


    "I explicitly warned you that while you could manipte Joseph''s and Coco¡¯s feelings, you must not


    cause her any harm. How could you forget?"


    "It wasn''t me. It was Mr. Cyrus," Xavia quickly retorted, feeling a chill deep within her heart as she


    shifted the me away from herself.


    "You neglected to tell me about it." His thoughts were crystal clear, and he had no intention of letting


    Xavia off easily.


    Xavia felt unjustly used, but she certainly could not tell him the truth. She had eagerly waited for


    Chloe¡¯s death. Moreover, she belonged to Sinir and could not betray him. But seeing Noah so


    angry, she was afraid that he might utter something inappropriate. Reluctantly, she nced in


    Joseph¡¯s direction, then turned away.


    The funeralmenced, with Emily and Lily shedding the most heart-wrenching tears. They could


    not believe that a living person could vanish from their lives just like that. Joseph knelt before the


    urn, his cold fingertips gently caressing it as his eyes filled with immense tenderness. If someone


    was close enough, they would be shocked by the shimmering tears in his eyes. The man who could


    control the business world could not control his tears in front of the woman he loved.


    After the funeral, Joseph did not leave. He continued to gaze at the photo affixed to the headstone,


    unable to snap out of his trance. The woman in the picture wore a radiant smile, her almond-shaped


    eyes forming gentle crescents. Her infectious smile embodied the same mischievous and vibrant


    spirit as the day they first crossed paths.


    It was Chloe''s WhatsApp profile picture that had been taken two years ago.


    Joseph suddenly felt like he had woken up from a deep dream. His eyes appeared hollow,


    resembling those of a hundred-year-old man. So many irreversible things had taken ce in two


    brief years. Looking back, he now understood the depth of his regrets. He shut his eyes, yet Emily''s


    voice rang in his ears.


    "Where were you during Coco¡¯s ident?"


    "Do you also think I was at the hospital with Xavia?"


    "Where else could you have been?"

 Chapter 665 The Madness of Longing, Transcending Life and Death

    Chapter 665 The Madness of Longing, Transcending Life and Death


    ¡°I wouldn''t have just stood by and watched as Chloe burned to death if I had been at the hospital."


    Joseph''s voice remained steady, yet the paleness of his fingernails betrayed the intensity of his


    emotions. How could he have let her die if he had known? He longed to build a life with her, to


    create a haven where they could find sce.


    Emily''s eyes were swollen from crying, and her hatred was unconcealed. "Then where were you?"


    Joseph hesitated for a moment, then let out a bitterugh. "There''s no use discussing that now."


    Chloe would never know the truth, forever.


    Emily was filled with disappointment as she believed that Joseph was just making excuses and


    could not provide a proper answer. She said sarcastically, "Now that Coco is gone, you can openly


    be with Xavia. Will youugh yourself to sleep at night?"


    "I don''t have any feelings for Xavia."


    Emily remained unconvinced and smiled coldly as she strode away. As she exited the cemetery,


    she spotted a white Maybach parked across the street. Suddenly, the car window rolled down,


    revealing Noah''s youthful and fair face. He went straight to the point, saying, "Do you have a


    moment? There are some matters I¡¯d like to discuss with you."


    "Okay."


    After Emily left, Joseph was the only one who remained in the lonely cemetery. Time lost its


    meaning as he sat there.


    When Lucas arrived at Fairlight the following morning, he discovered the files on Joseph¡¯s desk


    were untouched. As the scheduled morning meeting approached, Joseph still had not made an


    appearance. Thepany''s top executives anxiously awaited his arrival, growing increasingly


    concerned. After an hour had passed, Lucas made the decision to visit Joseph''s residence to check


    on him. Whether it was the vi or the newly constructed mansion, there was no trace of Joseph to


    be found. Lucas sensed that something was amiss, and an unimaginable thought crossed his mind.


    Without hesitation, he swiftly drove to the outskirts of town.


    The winter days were short, and the nights were long.


    Lucas made his way to the cemetery, a ce that felt detached from the bustling city. The entire


    area was shrouded in a thick white fog and devoid of sunlight, casting a somber and gloomy


    atmosphere. He immediately spotted Joseph among the scattered new graves.


    In addition to Joseph, surrounding Chloe''s grave were several men dressed in regalia engaged in a


    discussion about rituals and prayers. Their voices resonated through the quiet air, creating a solemn


    atmosphere.


    Lucas rushed over. He noticed the frost on Joseph''s eyshes and eyebrows and the slight purple


    hue in his thin lips. Lucas was at a loss for words, pausing for a moment before finally asking, "Sir,


    didn''t you go homest night?"


    Joseph''s brows furrowed, and after a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "I did."


    "Then why are you here?"


    "I couldn¡¯t sleep."


    As soon as he closed his eyes, the vivid image of Chloe being consumed by the mes flooded


    Joseph''s mind. Her cries of pain echoed in his ears, haunting him relentlessly. He had heard the


    belief that those who died a tragic death would not be granted reincarnation, but instead, they would


    relive their past suffering. Was his dear Chloe condemned to endure the torment of fire even in the


    afterlife?


    He did not know what to do, so he hired a group of shamans to perform funeral rites for her. It was


    his hope that through these sacred ceremonies, Chloe would be spared the anguish she had


    experienced in life.


    Joseph was unaware that it was all a figment of his imagination. He had not actually dreamt of


    anything. Having gone without sleep for several consecutive days, his body''s self-repair mechanism


    had kicked in after enduring intense mental turmoil. Deep within him, he felt apelling urge to do


    something for Chloe. Perhaps it was for his own peace of mind, or perhaps it was for her.


    At that moment, Joseph was unexpectedly consumed by thoughts of not wanting to live anymore.


    He never knew that longing could torment one to the point of madness, even transcending the


    boundaries of life and death.


    Lucas remained unaware of Joseph''s innermost thoughts, but as an observer, he knew that Joseph


    could not sleep simply because he could not let go of Chloe. Without uttering another word, Lucas


    retrieved his phone and texted the work group chat group that the early meeting for that day was


    canceled.


    He apanied Joseph through the solemn rituals, then drove Joseph back to the vi at the


    latter¡¯s request. He expressed a desire to return to the vi as there were more warm memories for


    him there.


    Joseph sumbed to illness. In the middle of the night, a fever overtook him. His body temperature


    steadily climbed until it reached a peak of 39 degrees. Joseph was then swiftly transported to the


    hospital, where he was given IV fluids to alleviate his condition.


    Tyson came to the hospital. His gaze was filled with a mixture of emotions as he uttered, "I''ve seen


    the child, and he bears a striking resemnce to you." As he spoke, he presented a photo taken a


    few days prior.


    Joseph looked at the picture of the newborn baby, and his cold eyes flickered for a moment.


    The baby, pure and untainted, beamed with joy as its wide eyes stared into the camera without a


    trace of fear or rm. It bore a striking resemnce to the Chloe he had firstid eyes upon, akin to


    a radiant little sun. There were also features that were very much simr to his, so he did not think


    too much about it.


    Tyson contemted for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps we should get Xavia to bring him


    over.¡±


    Joseph neither agreed nor declined, and Tyson took the initiative to contact her.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Xavia swiftly arrived, bringing the child before Joseph in under half an hour. She gently patted and


    caressed the child, radiating a maternal glow. "Look, Joe. He''s so adorable. I haven''t chosen a


    name for him yet. Why don''t you give him one?"


    Tyson chimed in, his words carrying a deeper meaning, "Yes, give him a name. Innocent children


    have the power to mend our wounded hearts. It¡¯d be good for him to be by your side."


    The key point was that Joseph was deteriorating, and Tyson was worried that something would


    happen if things continued this way. Introducing a child as a means to divert his attention seemed


    like a viable strategy.


    Joseph''s silence persisted as he averted his gaze, fixating on the view beyond the window. His eyes


    turned frigid and detached as if impervious to any emotional disturbance.


    Sensing his indifference, Xavia squeezed the baby''s hand. The room was immediately filled with the


    infant¡¯s piercing cries.

 Chapter 666 Chloe Is Alive

    Chapter 666 Chloe Is Alive


    Joseph''s gaze was drawn toward the wailing baby. Frowning, he asked, "What''s wrong with him?"


    "Maybe he''s hungry. I''ll take him next door to feed him," Xavia said as she patientlyforted the


    baby.


    She stepped out of the room, and Tyson ceased trying to persuade Joseph. Instead, he remarked,


    "Sometimes, a new life can bring us good luck."


    "Good luck?" Joseph scoffed, "My luck has been so rotten that it couldn''t possibly get any worse."


    Tyson fell silent, unable to refute or find the right words to say. After a while, he left, but Xavia


    stayed by Joseph''s side until evening. She sat by the bedside and rocked the baby in her arms. She


    did not say much to Joseph as he did not give her the chance to speak, so she spent most of her


    time taking care of the baby.


    "Joe, I need to use the restroom. Can you watch the baby for me?" Xavia said, her smile looking


    somewhat stiff after maintaining it for an entire day.


    Joseph''s eyes softened as he looked at the baby lying on the sofa. The baby was different from


    what he had imagined, but he could not quite pinpoint what made it so.


    A few nurses passed by the ward, whispering in a mysterious manner.


    "Do you know where Braylin went? I haven''t seen her for days. I asked the head nurse but she says


    she doesn¡¯t know either."


    "You didn¡¯t hear? Braylin''s parents came to the hospital, and the director had to talk them out of


    something. It seems like something has happened to Braylin."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Huh? What happened to her?"


    "She was on duty in the operating room that night when the fire broke out."


    "So¡­Braylin¡¯s dead?"


    "I think so. Otherwise, why would she suddenly disappear?"


    "But the police only found the remains of one person..."


    "Exactly. That''s the strange part."


    Suddenly, the door of the nurse''s station swung open. Ignoring the two nurses, Joseph stormed into


    the director''s office. After spending half an hour there, he proceeded to the archive room.


    The director followed behind Joseph as he said, "Mr. Joseph, everything I said is the truth. Braylin


    was in the operating room that night, but we can''t be sure whether she escaped or not because the


    surveince footage was destroyed."


    Joseph came to a halt and stared at the director. "Then where is she?"


    "I don''t know¡­"


    "And who was the person who died in the operating room?"


    "I''m certain it was Ms. Chloe."


    A healthy person had a higher chance of surviving a firepared to someone who had just


    undergone major surgery and was still under anesthesia.


    Joseph was standing close to the window. As a cold breeze swept in, he felt his exposed skin break


    out in goosebumps. Surprisingly, the chill cleared his mind. He had to admit that the director''s words


    held some truth. Chloe was weak at the time, so her chances of escaping the fire were extremely


    slim.


    After reviewing all the files in the archives rted to everyone working on the day of the fire, he


    found that the director had not lied. However, once certain thoughts took root, they could not be


    easily rejected.


    Joseph then proceeded to check the hospital''s surveince from other angles and spotted Noah in


    them. ''If only ashes could provide DNA¡­'' he thought.


    *


    Joseph was discharged from the hospital the following day. Lucas came to pick him up and was


    astonished to see that Joseph had transformed back into the decisive andposed man he


    usually was. His eyes were calm, and his prating gaze seemed capable of discerning the


    deepest secrets of the soul. He looked as if he had been meticulously sculpted by the hands of a


    divine creator to embody the epitome of perfection.


    In his shocked state, Lucas wondered how Joseph had managed to recover so swiftly. However, he


    was also relieved that Joseph was able to recover from his pain.


    Joseph first went to Fairlight, efficiently handling the files stacked on his desk one by one. In the


    afternoon, he did the same at the Whitman Group. Patrick happened to be there, and he suggested


    that Joseph visit Harold at the hospital.


    "Cherish those around you. After all, the deceased can¡¯te back. We should cherish the living,¡±


    he advised.


    In a firm but soft voice, Joseph dered, "Chloe¡¯s alive."


    His words carried a sense of conviction that captured everyone''s attention.


    As Patrick looked at Joseph, he found himself at a loss for words. He thought Joseph had snapped


    out of an inability to cope with losing Chloe.


    Lucas, who was standing nearby, wore a simr expression. "Mr. Joseph, there are no urgent


    matters at thepany right now. Why don''t you go home and rest for a few days?"


    "There¡¯s no need." Joseph nced at his wristwatch. "Get the car ready. We''re going to pay the


    Sullivans a visit."

 Chapter 667 Chloe Hates You to the Core

    Chapter 667 Chloe Hates You to the Core


    Stunned, Lucas asked, "Why are we going to the Sullivan estate?"


    Joseph looked into the distance, his gaze deep and his face unreadable. "I''m going to confirm


    something."


    The evening sun bathed the Sullivan estate in a warm golden hue. Desmond sat in the courtyard,


    leisurely savoring his hot tea while relishing the serenity of the moment. Just then, a butler hurriedly


    approached him and said, "Sir, Mr. Joseph is here."


    Desmond''s hands trembled as he recalled the disrespectful words his unruly grandson had said to


    Joseph. He was aware of Chloe''s death, and since then, Noah had been holed up in his room. It


    was unlikely that he had any contact with Joseph recently.


    With these thoughts in mind, Desmond calmed himself and said, "Please let him in."


    Joseph followed the butler through the estate and finally took a seat beside Desmond. Before the


    latter could speak, Joseph stated, "Mr. Desmond, I''vee to see Noah."


    Desmond was taken aback. It appeared that Joseph had discovered Noah''s attempt to woo Chloe.


    He felt a bit embarrassed as he asked, "Why do you want to see him? He''s grounded."


    "I have some questions to ask him," Joseph replied, seemingly calm. But upon listening closely, one


    would detect a tinge of nervousness and anticipation in his voice.


    Desmond was well aware that Joseph''s visit was not for a friendly conversation with Noah.


    However, he could not find a valid reason to refuse, especially since they were on the Sullivan


    estate. Even if Joseph harbored ill intentions, he would not dare to act out of line here. Thus,


    Desmond instructed the butler to take Joseph to Noah¡¯s room.


    Inside, Noah was deeply engrossed in his calligraphy practice. When he looked up and saw


    Joseph, his expression froze in a look of surprise. He had not anticipated Joseph to notice


    something so soon.


    The butler led Joseph to a seat and discreetly closed the door upon leaving. Joseph strode forward,


    grabbed Noah¡¯s pen, and threw it on the floor. The ink sttered everywhere, staining both their


    clothes.


    Grabbing Noah by the cor, Joseph said with conviction, "Chloe¡¯s alive, isn''t she?"


    Noah froze for a moment before looking into Joseph¡¯s eyes, saying, "She was burned to ashes.


    What do you think?"


    "What were you doing at the hospital that night?" Joseph questioned sternly, bringing up the


    hospital''s surveince footage of Noah on his phone.


    "Getting a check-up."


    "And what about those phone calls every three days before the fire? Just exchanging pleasantries?"


    Joseph''s tone was firm. Though his face remained impassive, the creases in his forehead revealed


    the brewing jealousy he had been holding back. Not only had he reviewed all the surveince


    footage from the hospital, but he had also gone through Chloe''s phone.


    The phone number Noah used to contact her was a new one, and without investigation, Joseph


    would never have known it was Noah. But the problem was that why did they call each other every


    three days?


    He had a feeling about the answer, but he did not want to ept it.


    Noah showed no sign of embarrassment upon being exposed. Instead, a twisted smile spread


    across his delicate face as he burst into manicughter. "Yes, we had ns to run away! Coco rued


    every second she was near you. She found you repulsive because you ruined her life. She hates


    you from the depths of her soul!"


    Pow!


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    With rage in his eyes and a crimson flush on his face, Joseph punched Noah in the face as he


    snarled fiercely, "Shut up!"


    "I won''t shut up. Can''t you feel her hatred toward you? If you could bring her back, she¡¯d surely


    choose death over you." Noah''s voice was soft, but each word that escaped his lips stung like a


    venomous arrow. "Do you want to kill her twice?"

 Chapter 668 Confined to Endless Arguments

    Chapter 668 Confined to Endless Arguments


    Deeply stung by the word "hate," Joseph wrapped his hands around Noah¡¯s neck and red at him


    intently. "Where¡¯s Chloe?"


    Noah''s breath momentarily caught in his throat. His face flushed red, but he remained fearless. He


    retorted defiantly, "She''s dead! And you''re the one who killed her!"


    "I did not! I was protecting her!"


    He was going to set her free once he had settled everything. But no one, not even him, could


    predict what fate had in store for them.


    Struggling to breathe, Noah said with difficulty, "Stop denying it. She didn''t need your protection. To


    Coco, your love was like a prison. Do you honestly believe you loved her and that everything you


    did was for her sake? You were just torturing her. And who are you trying to impress now? Can she


    see this or hear about this now? You''re just doing this to alleviate your guilty conscience!


    ¡°One moment, you''re in an ambiguous rtionship with Xavia, and the next, you''re entangling


    yourself with Coco. Even if the former is an act, you didn¡¯t seek Coco''s consent. Do you think the


    world revolves around you and everyone should bend to your desires?"


    Joseph''s pupils contracted upon hearing Noah¡¯s words. He fell silent and simply continued staring


    at Noah. Neither of them showed any sign of backing down as they locked eyes. The tension


    between them was palpable and sparks flew in the charged atmosphere.


    Seizing his opportunity, Noahunched a fierce counterattack. In response, Joseph executed a


    shoulder throw, mming Noah onto the cold, hard floor. Noah groaned in pain as the skin on his


    back tore and cuts opened up all over his body. Unwilling to give in, he summoned all his strength,


    rising up to deliver a sneak attack. Joseph had just recovered from his illness and had already


    expended much of his strength, allowing Noah to sessfully deliver a heavy punch to Joseph''s


    abdomen.


    In the end, both of them bore injuries, but it was evident that Noah was in a more critical condition.


    Leaning against a wooden pir, Noah wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and said,


    "Coco¡¯s dead, and everything between you and her is now in the past. Time stops for no man, and


    everyone now believes that you and Xavia are a couple."


    Though he understood the implications of Noah''s words, Joseph refused to relent. "Chloe and I


    aren¡¯t over. I never agreed to that."


    "Both legally and in Coco''s heart, you and her were no longer connected since you didn¡¯t remarry


    after the divorce. To start a rtionship, consent is needed from both parties, but its end can be


    decided by one person.¡± Noah sneered.


    Joseph closed his eyes, feeling as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over the mes


    burning in his chest. Suddenly, he found himself at a loss for words. He recalled thest time he had


    seen Chloe. Their interactions were seemingly confined to endless arguments. He knew that this


    constant strife was exhausting for both of them.


    Noah stood up, his gaze falling on the man lost in memories.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "It would be disrespectful for you to disturb her further," he said.


    After all, continuing like this could push someone to the brink. A person who had already


    experienced death once might not fear facing it again.


    Joseph remained silent, his eyshes trembling slightly.


    Noah turned and summoned the family doctor. Both men had suffered injuries of varying degrees,


    and the atmosphere during the treatment was quiet and tense, leaving one breathless.


    Once the family doctor had treated their wounds, Joseph got up to leave.

 Chapter 669 You’re Harming Her Too

    Chapter 669 You¡¯re Harming Her Too


    Joseph picked up his suit jacket from the floor and made his way toward the exit. Noah raised an


    eyebrow in perplexion as he was unsure of Joseph''s intentions.


    As Joseph reached the doorway, he paused and turned to face Noah. "You''re not so different from


    me."


    "What do you mean?" Noah asked.


    "In the name of doing good for her, you''re causing harm as well," Joseph replied.


    Noah furrowed his brows. He was about to test Joseph and see if he had learned anything, but


    Joseph left before he had the chance.


    Joseph sat in his car until the early hours of dawn. As the sun rose, the first ray of morning light


    pierced through the hazy clouds, brightening the world. He was not certain of Chloe''s fate, but he


    held onto the hope that she was still alive.


    *


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Joseph''s car remained parked outside the Sullivan estate, and the butler informed Noah about the


    situation. "Mr. Joseph just sat in his car all night and left after sunrise."


    "Sunrise?"


    Noah gazed toward the sky where the sun had reached halfway up its daily path. All the living


    things below seemed to eagerly await its touch as if it were their unwavering source of hope. At this


    moment, Noah understood Joseph''s thoughts. If Chloe was alive, she would always look forward to


    the next day''s sun. And he was willing to step back for now, allowing her the time to heal her


    wounds.


    *


    After leaving the Sullivan estate, Joseph returned to his usual self. Besides pouring all his time into


    work, nothing else changed. This situation left Lucas, who already had limited personal time, in a


    difficult position. He now found himself busier than ever. In the quiet of the night, he often yearned


    to share his troubles with someone.


    Thinking of Emily, he called her, only to receive a mechanical voice response. Lucas strongly


    suspected that Emily had blocked him because of Joseph, and the frustration weighed heavily on


    him. After several more unsessful attempts, he decided to stop trying and decided to cut off


    contact with her.


    *


    Five yearster, Chloe stepped out of Docwood Airport. Noah smiled upon seeing her. He took her


    luggage from her hands and said, "Let''s go. The car¡¯s nearby."


    In the car, Chloe removed her sunsses and closed her eyes. Noah understood that she must be


    exhausted after several hours on the ne, so he did not disturb her.


    The busy streets buzzed with life and excitement, and a massive screen adorning the front of a


    towering skyscraper showcased a picture of a young boy. Beneath the image was a long banner


    that read, "Happy fifth birthday, my son. I will always love you, Mom."


    Noah was stunned when he saw the boy. He instinctively looked toward Chloe, who had already


    opened her eyes and noticed the picture as well. Despite his tender age, the boy''s features were


    surprisingly striking. His eyes were like stars, and his face had a refined elegance akin to that of a


    little prince. He exuded a mature temperament that belied his years.


    Chloe suddenly felt a pang in her heart as a sense of familiarity surged through her.


    "That boy¡­"


    "That¡¯s Jasper Whitman, Xavia and Joseph''s son.¡±


    Noah had matured considerably over the years, and the youthful exuberance that once adorned his


    face had given way to a more refined demeanor. Wrapped in a beige overcoat and a gray


    checkered scarf, he exuded an air of schrly elegance.


    Chloe was momentarily dazed. She thenposed herself and said, "If my child were still alive,


    he¡¯d be around the same age."


    "Yeah¡­ Life sure is unpredictable," Noah replied calmly, "Joseph invited the Sullivans to his son''s


    birthday party. Do you want to go? I''ll apany you."


    "No, I would like to see Grandpa first," Chloe declined.

 Chapter 670 Marrying Noah

    Chapter 670 Marrying Noah


    At the Sullivan estate, Desmond had been waiting for Chloe for a long time. Since learning that


    Chloe was his granddaughter three years ago, he had wanted to announce this joyful news to the


    world and transfer one-sixth of Exotic Star''s shares to her. Chloe had declined the offer, stating that


    she wanted to wait until she returned to her home country.


    Apart from being Exotic Star¡¯s ambassador, she was unfamiliar with the other aspects of the


    company¡¯s business. Secondly, Noah had been the one managing Exotic Star all these years, and


    she did not want to reap the rewards without contributing to its sess. She did not want Noah to


    feel like she was meddling in his interests. He had helped her too much, and she did not want to


    take advantage of him.


    As Chloe stepped out of the car, Desmond waved at her with a smile. "You must be tired from the


    flight. I did instruct our private ne to pick you up, but you said it was too troublesome."


    "Grandpa, I''m not delicate," Chloe said, chuckling. Besides, she was going to give a certain group of


    people a surprise, so she had to stay low profile.


    "That''s right, Grandpa. Chloe knows what she wants. Besides, the time taken wouldn''t be much


    different," Noah chimed in, unconditionally supporting her decisions.


    Noticing the affection in Noah''s eyes as he looked at Chloe, Desmond pondered for a moment and


    made up his mind.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Chloe, can I have a minute with you?"


    "Okay."


    In the study, Chloe took a seat. She noticed a te of green grapes on the table and casually


    popped one into her mouth. "What is it, Grandpa?"


    She had been away from Aesper for the past five years, and Desmond had asionallye to


    visit her in Estre after learning of her true identity. Yearning for family affection, she naturally


    weed his presence.


    Desmond contemted for some time before saying, "Noah''s grandfather and I had agreed on a


    marriage between you and Noah. The matter was put on hold because we couldn''t find you. Now


    that you''re back and have experienced so much hardship, you can stay in the Sullivan estate if you


    marry Noah. You two can manage Exotic Star as a married couple."


    Chloe blinked yfully and chuckled, "Grandpa, I''m a divorced woman, and I''m a few years older


    than Noah. Are you sure he''ll ept me?"


    "I''m sure he will. Besides, it''s normal for young people to experience a few failed marriages. What


    truly matters is that you support each other and lead a happy life together."


    Desmond had a hunch that Noah had been harboring feelings for Chloe for a long time yet was


    hesitant to confess his love. Since he had kept his emotions hidden all this while, he probably would


    not make any moves. But that did not mean Desmond could not lend a helping hand. And Chloe


    was right. If Noah was willing to marry her, she would not be the one getting the short end of the


    stick.


    Desmond had watched Noah grow up. He trusted him to take care of his granddaughter, even


    though he suspected that Noah had found out about Chloe''s true identity long ago and intentionally


    did not tell him.


    Seeing that her grandfather was serious, Chloe straightened her back and said earnestly, "I''ll give it


    some serious thought, but right now, I have more important things to do."


    Although Noah had never explicitly expressed his feelings for her, they had spent time together for


    five years, and even the densest of people would notice his feelings through the details. She was


    simply unwilling to confront it. But upon careful consideration, Desmond''s words made sense. Being


    with Noah was a choice with countless benefits and no harm.


    "No need to rush. Sit on it," Desmond said. He did not press on the matter as he did not want Chloe


    to feel pressured.


    A house helper showed Chloe to her room. The spacious bedroom covered one hundred square


    meters and was adorned in a pink color scheme. The walk-in closet housed a vast collection of


    limited-edition clothes and bags, all perfectly tailored to her style. The room exuded a delightful and


    girlish charm.


    Chloe''s heart warmed as she felt clearly valued and treated with importance.


    She unpacked her belongings, organized them neatly, then took a rxing hot bath before resting


    on the bed. Since today was Xavia''s son''s birthday, she assumed that there would not be anyone by


    Harold¡¯s side.


    Throughout the years, she had never once stopped worrying about Harold.


    *


    When Chloe arrived at the hospital, Harold was lying quietly on his bed with an oxygen tube ced


    under his nose. Due to being in aa for a long while, his limbs were emaciated and his


    cheekbones protruded from his face. He disyed no signs of vitality.


    Tears welled up in Chloe''s eyes as she gazed at the bustling and lively scene outside while realizing


    Harold had been left all alone. How could Joseph be so heartless? It seemed like he had forgotten


    about his grandfather after gaining a son. Had he even bothered toe and visit his grandfather


    lately?


    "Who are you?" A high-pitched voice suddenly came from behind Chloe.

 Chapter 671 You’re Daddy’s Fling, Aren’t You?

    Chapter 671 You¡¯re Daddy¡¯s Fling, Aren¡¯t You?


    Chloe raised an eyebrow, recognizing that the voice belonged to a child. She remainedposed


    as she turned to look at him.


    When Jasper saw her face clearly, he was shocked. "It''s you!"


    Chloe frowned and asked, "You know who I am?"


    "Yes, I do," Jasper replied, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Oh? How do you know me?" she asked curiously.


    ¡®Did Xavia bad-mouth me to her kid?''


    "You had a fling with my daddy, right?" Jasper asked in a serious voice.


    "A fling... Your mom told you that?" Chloe''s mouth twitched, realizing she had hit the nail on the


    head. Xavia indeed talked ill of Chloe to her kid.


    "But I don''t believe it," Jasper said earnestly, "I think you¡¯re a good person."


    "Huh? But why?"


    "Because you came to see Greatpapi. Daddy says Greatpapi loves you very much, and you¡¯re here


    to see him, so that proves you''re a good person. You treat Greatpapi better than Xavia does."


    Chloe was stunned. "Why do you call her by her first name?"


    This kid had inherited his father''s bad traits. He was as disrespectful as his father.


    Jasper did not answer her question. Instead, he locked his gaze on Chloe and asked, "Aren''t you


    supposed to be dead?"


    "What does that have to do with you?" Chloe countered as she smiled.


    She did not dislike this child. In fact, she quite liked him, but it did not mean she would share


    everything with him.


    "Nothing, but will you being to visit Greatpapi in the future?" Jasper asked.


    "Does it matter to you whether I will or not?"


    "It doesn''t matter to me, but it matters a lot to Greatpapi."


    Despite Jasper''s young age, he moved agilely. He swiftly climbed onto the bed and started skillfully


    massaging Harold''s legs. It was evident that he had done this many times before.


    "The doctor said that Greatpapi''s condition has been improvingtely, and it''srgely because I


    massage and talk with him regrly. He really likes you. If you cane more often and talk to him,


    it''ll surely speed up his recovery and wake him up sooner," Jasper exined.


    Chloe''s gaze softened, and she nodded gently. "I can do that, but I have one condition."


    "Do you want money? I have money."


    Without waiting for Chloe¡¯s reply, Jasper took out a check from his backpack. He waved it in front of


    her with an air of dominance. "How about 50,000 dors per visit?"


    "That''s not necessary," Chloe said.


    Even though it seemed foolish to pass up on such a lucrative opportunity, she had her principles.


    She could not bring herself to take money from a minor. Most importantly, she had enough money


    now.


    Thepany she co-founded with Noah in Estre specialized in women''s products, and the sales


    were quite impressive. They had initially agreed to a profit split of 9 to 1, which Noah did not


    oppose. Once thepany started generating profits, the ratio was altered to 6 to 4. Nheless,


    she still earned a substantial amount.


    To Jasper''s surprise, Chloe passed his test. Despite Xavia''s im that Chloe had approached his


    father for his wealth, it did not appear to be the case from his perspective.


    For the next two hours, Chloe and Jasper stayed by Harold¡¯s bedside. She then got a text from


    Noah. She said to Jasper, "I have to go now."


    "Will youe again?" Jasper asked as he looked at her expectantly.


    Chloe''s heart melted. "As long as you keep it a secret."


    "No problem. Let''s exchange numbers," Jasper replied. He was satisfied with her answer and took


    out his phone to jot down her number.


    After reciting her number, Chloe thought of something and asked, "Isn''t your birthday party today?


    Why are you here?"


    Shrugging nonchntly, Jasper replied, "I don''t like those sorts of meaningless activities."


    At that moment, Chloe saw a shadow of Joseph within Jasper.


    *


    After Chloe left, Xavia appeared. With an angry face, she asked, ¡°There are many people waiting at


    the restaurant to celebrate your birthday, but you just up and left without a word. Don¡¯t you think


    that¡¯s disrespectful?¡±


    Jasper looked up at her and said matter-of-factly, "If I had told you, you wouldn''t have let me leave."


    "Of course! It''s your birthday party. By leaving, you''ve ruined the whole event!"


    "I never wanted a party in the first ce. It was you who forced me into it."


    Xavia''s face turned livid. "I did it for you!"


    "For me?" Jasper stared at her. "It''s more about pleasing Daddy and showing off how much effort


    you¡¯ve put into me."


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Throughout his life, Jasper experienced many discrepancies in the way his mother treated him.


    When Joseph was present, she treated him kindly, but when he was absent, she would scold and


    belittle him. This inconsistent behavior led Jasper to develop a sense of independence, and he no


    longer liked to address her as ¡°Mom.¡± In his mind, a mother should not treat her child in such a


    manner.


    Jasper''s keen observation exposed the true nature of Xavia''s intentions, and she could not bear the


    humiliation. A blend of anger and embarrassment shed across her face, but she quickly


    composed herself and suppressed her emotions. Lately, Joseph had been treating her coldly, so


    she needed to reign in this little brat first.

 Chapter 672 Are You Going to Hit Me Again?

    Chapter 672 Are You Going to Hit Me Again?


    Xavia put on a gentle smile and said, "Don''t overthink it. No mother in the world would not love her


    child. I just want your daddy to pay more attention to me so that our rtionship will improve. Don''t


    you want your parents to have a better rtionship?"


    Jasper tilted his head and replied coldly, "What your rtionship is your business. If it''s not working


    out, then get a divorce. Being with someone you don''t love is like being trapped in hell."


    This was something his school teacher had said. Several students in his ss had parents who


    were divorced, and the teacher had tried to console them with these words. He found it quite


    reasonable. He did not like Xavia anyway, so her rtionship with his father was of little concern to


    him.


    Xavia froze for a moment, thinking that Jasper was implying that Joseph did not love her. Unable to


    control her emotions, she grabbed Jasper and threw him to the floor. "I went through so much pain


    giving birth to you and I''ve endured countless hardships. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to support me, but


    how dare you mock me!"


    Sitting on the floor, Jasper endured the pain and clenched his fists. He looked at her coldly and


    asked, "Are you going to hit me again?"


    "Disrespectful children need to be taught a lesson," Xavia dered, raising her hand high in the air.


    But before she couldnd a blow, a knocking on the door interrupted the tense moment and a nurse


    came in.


    Xavia hastily lowered her hand and said to the nurse gently, "We''re here to visit Mr. Harold."


    The nurse did not notice what Xavia was doing as she was focused on Jasper. "Oh dear, why are


    you sitting on the floor? It''s cold. Come on now. On your feet."


    Xavia forced a smile. "He was being naughty."


    Jasper had grown ustomed to Xavia¡¯s deceitful behavior. He dusted himself off, grabbed his bag,


    and swiftly fled the scene. Xavia hurriedly chased after him. The nurse wanted to update them on


    Harold''s condition, but they had left before she had the chance. She sighed and decided to wait for


    Joseph''s next visit to talk to him about it.


    *


    With the boundless energy of a child and an intellect beyond his peers, Jasper outpaced Xavia who


    sported high heels. Once out of the hospital, he gged down a cab and headed to Fairlight.


    Everyone at the office knew him, and when Lucas received the call from the front desk, he put aside


    his work and went to bring him up.


    "Is my dad here?" Jasper asked.


    "Mr. Joseph is in a meeting right now. You can wait for him in his office."


    Jasper shook his head. "I have something very important to tell him, so I need to see him now."


    Lucas froze. "Did you have a fight with your mom?"


    "It''s not about that."


    "Did you get a scolding from your teacher?"


    "No."


    "Did you fail your exams?"


    Rolling his eyes, Jasper retorted, "Hello? It¡¯s the weekend right now.¡±


    Moreover, he always ced first in the ss, so how could Lucas doubt his abilities?


    "Oh yeah, it is. It slipped my mind." Lucas sighed dejectedly. He had been so busytely that he had


    not realized it was the weekend.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Caring little for the troubles of an adult, Jasper ignored Lucas¡¯ words and instead whispered, "I met


    the woman whom my dad was in a rtionship with earlier today. If Daddy wants to know the


    details, tell him to end the meeting ande to talk to me now."


    Lucas was shocked. His mouth hung agape. "You mean Chloe?"

 Chapter 673 The Chloe Who Was Killed in the Fire

    Chapter 673 The Chloe Who Was Killed in the Fire


    Over the years, Joseph firmly believed that Chloe was still alive. He never gave up on his


    investigation into Chloe and the fire incident, but Lucas was unsure of the results of the


    investigation.


    There was one thing. Joseph had discovered Xavia in the surveince footage of that incident,


    which added further cracks to their already strained rtionship.


    "Yes, it was her," Jasper replied resolutely.


    Lucas, without a second thought, turned around and knocked on the door of the meeting room.


    *


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    By the time Joseph reached the hospital, Chloe had already left. Not bothered to search for her, he


    went straight to the surveince room. After adjusting the timeline on theputer, a woman


    appeared on the screen. His gaze glued to her as a wave of emotion overwhelmed him.


    In the video, Chloe sported a short hairdo and a pencil dress. The sleek leather jacket over her


    shoulders entuated her exquisite and alluring figure. She exuded a blend of charm and elegance


    that captivated those around her, and her makeup-free skin was smooth and fair like that of a young


    woman.


    Lucas'' jaw dropped as he eximed, "Ms. Chloe is really alive!¡±


    Then who was the person that had died in the operating room that night?


    "Check all the recent international flights," Josephmanded in a deep voice.


    "Okay, sir," Lucas quickly responded, "By the way, will you be attending the Walker party tonight?¡±


    "Yes," Joseph answered promptly, but his gaze remained fixed on the image of Chloe in the


    surveince footage.


    Noah had rejected Natalie a few years ago, causing the potential marriage alliance between the


    Sullivans and the Walkers to fall through. The Sullivans were regretful over what happened, and


    after Chloe''s supposed death, Exotic Star appointed Natalie as their new ambassador. Both families


    were reasonable, and even though Noah and Natalie did not marry in the end, it did not affect the


    rtionship between the two families. Noah would surely apany Desmond to the party tonight,


    and if Chloe had returned, Joseph had a feeling that she would also be in attendance.


    As Lucas adjusted Joseph¡¯s afternoon schedule, thetter went to visit Harold. A passing nurse


    muttered, "Why are theying in groups? Do they have a schedule or something?"


    Joseph gazed at the elderly man lying on the bed, his gaze filled with a myriad of emotions. "Looks


    like you¡¯re more important to Chloe than me."


    Before Joseph left, Harold''s attending doctor approached him and said, "The patient''s condition is


    improving and there¡¯s a good chance he¡¯ll wake up soon. It¡¯d be best for family members to visit him


    regrly."


    "Okay, doctor."


    *


    At 7 in the evening, the Royal Hotel was filled with people from all walks of life. They hade to


    extend their blessings to the Walker family. The union between the princess of the royal family and


    the eldest son of the Walkers, Quentin Walker, had greatly boosted the Walker family¡¯s prestige.


    This caused the guests to shower the Walkers with a constant stream of ttery andpliments.


    Chloe and Noah walked arm-in-arm, presenting themselves as the representatives of the Sullivan


    family in congratting the Walkers on this joyous asion. As they ascended the stairs, Noah


    gently lifted Chloe''s dress out of her way to avoid her from tripping.


    Tonight was Noah¡¯s first public appearance since returning to the country. His presence quickly


    caught the attention of many, but people''s focus soon shifted to the woman walking next to him. She


    wore a red custom-made gown that entuated her alluring figure. Her shoulder-length hair framed


    her delicate corbones and her face was truly mesmerizing, radiating a beauty that was beyond


    comparison.


    Everyone wondered when such a beautiful woman had emerged in Docwood. All the make male


    guests were utterly captivated, exchanging whispers about the identity of the mysterious woman.


    Suddenly, someone in the crowd recognized her and eximed, "That¡¯s Chloe Johnson! The


    woman who was killed in that hospital fire five years ago!"

 Chapter 674 Why Do the Men I Like Like You?

    Chapter 674 Why Do the Men I Like Like You?


    "That¡¯s Mr. Joseph''s ex-wife? Surely, you must be mistaken.¡±


    "No, I''m a hundred percent sure about this! That¡¯s Chloe!"


    Megan had made significant progress in life over the years, having managed to bag a wealthy


    businessman from Docwood. She took out her phone to capture a photo of Chloe for Xavia.


    In response, Chloe elegantly swept her bangs behind her ears and warned, "You''re not allowed to


    circte my photos without my consent. I will sue you for viting my image rights."


    Chloe''s words confirmed Megan''s suspicions and a shiver traveled down her spine. She asked with


    uncertainty, "Who are you? Are you a ghost or..."


    "What do you think?"


    In a panic, Megan cried out for help. "Security, get her out of here!"


    "Chloe is my plus-one, and you don¡¯t have the authority to kick her out," Noah said, shielding Chloe


    while giving Megan a warning gaze.


    Turning to those around her, Megan pleaded, "She really is Chloe. We need to chase her out of


    here!"


    "She does look like Chloe¡­"


    "But I thought she was dead. Did shee back to life?"


    "Oh please, there''s no such thing asing back to life. She must''ve survived the fire, though I am


    curious as to how.¡±


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Is it possible that she simply resembles Chloe?"


    "That''s easy to verify. Mr. Joseph is here today, and no one would know better than him."


    As they spoke, many gazes fell upon the dominating man sitting in the corner.


    Joseph was dressed in a simple suit that did nothing to hide his striking appearance. Time had


    etched its mark on him, adding a touch of maturity to his well-defined features. Still, he remained as


    captivating as ever, like a masterpiece skillfully crafted by the heavens.


    Since Chloe had shown up, his gaze had never once left her. However, the light rendered his


    expression unreadable.


    Chloe could not ignore Joseph''s presence, but she resisted giving him any attention. She turned to


    Noah and said, "Let''s go inside."


    Noah nced at Joseph nonchntly and provocatively. He affectionately draped his coat over


    Chloe and said, "The air here is pretty chilly. Don¡¯t catch a cold."


    Chloe naturally understood his intentions and smiled at him radiantly. "Thank you."


    Everyone around them gasped at their interaction.


    "I can''t believe it! Chloe is truly something else! Five years ago, she was Mr. Joseph''s wife, and now


    she''s with Mr. Noah from Exotic Star. Impressive!"


    "Come to think of it, something was off between Chloe and Noah even five years ago. Otherwise,


    why would Exotic Star choose an ordinary person like her to be their ambassador?"


    "You''re right¡­"


    "Putting everything else aside, anyone who can captivate high-status men like Joseph and Noah


    must possess qualities that ordinary women can''tpare to," someone remarked.


    Hearing these words, Natalie felt a twinge of difort. She quickened her steps and caught up


    with Noah. Embarrassment and anger surged through her as she snarled, "Now that Chloe¡¯s back,


    does that mean I will cease being the Exotic Star¡¯s ambassador?"


    "No, you''ll retain your position," Noah replied politely, then added, "Though we might consider


    adding a few more ambassadors."


    To be frank, Natalie was not the most suitable choice for jewelry endorsements. Noah was willing to


    sacrifice one ambassador position to alleviate the tension between the Sullivans and Walkers, but


    he had to take business interests into ount as well. Relying solely on Natalie was not ideal since


    international audiences typically favored a different imagepared to an innocent and delicate


    one.


    Natalie looked at Chloe and pouted. "Am I that horrible? Why do all the men I like always end up


    liking you instead? Look at both Joe and Noah.¡±


    Chloe pondered for a few seconds and replied sincerely, "You''re not horrible. On the contrary, you''re


    outstanding. It''s just that you haven''t met the right person. I''m sure you''ll find an even better man in


    the future."


    "Even better than Joe?"


    Chloe subconsciously nced at the man in the corner and smiled faintly. "Absolutely. And it will be


    a man that¡¯s at least ten times better than him."

 Chapter 675 Was This Feeling Any Different From Betrayal?

    Chapter 675 Was This Feeling Any Different From Betrayal?


    Natalie did not dare entertain such extravagant thoughts and quickly waved them away.


    "No, no! I''d be more than satisfied with a man who¡¯s half as good as Joe."


    Chloe chuckled and did notment on this.


    Natalie pointed at Noah and asked, "Are you guys dating now?"


    "Nope. We''re just friends," Noah exined, saving Chloe from an embarrassing situation.


    Chloe nodded. The consideration Noah showed her was something Joseph had never done.


    "I see¡­" Natalie replied and tactfully ended the conversation.


    Chloe followed Noah to greet and congratte Quentin. The man of honor had been busy attending


    to other guests and had yet to notice Chloe. When they met, he was stunned, but he did not say


    anything to her.


    Quentin was an outstanding individual¡ªcourteous in his interactions and a highly capable person.


    His marriage to the princess was proof that he was deserving of being the Walker heir.


    After chatting for a while, Noah presented the gift he had brought while smiling innocently. "This is a


    limited-edition ne from Exotic Star. I hope the princess will like it."


    Chloe could guess Noah¡¯s intention. The gift was not just a token of congrattions, but also an


    opportunity to have the princess endorse it for free. Exotic Star''s sales would surely soar once those


    in their circle caught wind of what the princess was wearing.


    "Thank you. This design hasn''t been released to the market yet, right?"


    Noah nodded, "That''s right. It will only beunched next month."


    "Eli loves the jewelry from Exotic Star, and I believe she''ll be thrilled to receive this," Quentin said.


    Noah smiled. "I''ll be very happy if she likes it. If there are any future collections that the princess is


    interested in, you can contact our team and we''ll have them delivered to you."


    Quentin nodded and shifted his gaze toward Chloe. He wanted to say something but was


    interrupted by the arrival of the next group.


    Following Quentin''s gaze, Chloe spotted a middle-aged man leading the group.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Quentin''s eyes lit up, and he said to Noah, "Please excuse me."


    Chloe could tell from Quentin''s reaction that the middle-aged man held a significant status. He


    exuded an aura of authority, unlike the other businessmen who were busyworking and


    socializing. Leaving his entourage behind, the man found an empty seat and sat down. Interestingly,


    he was seated quite close to Joseph.


    "Who is he?" Chloe asked.


    "That¡¯s Callum Gillingham. He''s the husband of one of the royals and is considered Quentin''s elder,"


    Noah exined.


    Chloe raised an eyebrow understandingly. However, she did not pay much attention to him as there


    were many powerful figures at the party. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was an unknown number. The


    venue was a little noisy, so she found a quiet corner in the hallway to answer the call.


    "Hello? Who¡¯s this?" Chloe asked.


    "C-Chloe?" Came Xavia¡¯s tentative voice from the other end.


    Chloe frowned and instantly ended the call. There was no need to guess. It was evident that it was


    Megan who had told Xavia about Chloe.


    While abroad, Chloe had gotten a new number. Upon returning to Asvand, she discovered that her


    old SIM card was still functional, so she decided to continue using it. That was how Xavia had


    reached her so quickly. Xavia called again and again, but Chloe ignored them and eventually


    blocked the number.


    When Chloe was leaving the party, a tall figure stood in her way. As she looked up, she found a


    familiar face staring down at her. His expression was dark, and she could see the deep pain in his


    gaze.


    "I knew you were still alive. Why did you lie to me?"


    Not only was she alive, but she was also with Noah now. She seemed to be doing well, while he


    had been tormented by memories of the past for thest five years.


    Was this feeling any different from betrayal?

 Chapter 676 Leaving Flowers at My Grave?

    Chapter 676 Leaving Flowers at My Grave?


    "How would I have been able to get away from you if I didn''t deceive you?" Chloe¡¯s voice was calm,


    though tinged with sarcasm.


    "How could you be so heartless?"


    "And what about you? How could you imprison me and force me to have an abortion? You even


    tried to make me ept you being with Xavia."


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "I can exin that. It''s not like what you think."


    "Sorry, I''m not interested. I have to go," Chloe said coldly. She averted her gaze and tried to leave.


    Unwilling to let her go, Joseph reached out to grab her hand, but Chloe deftly dodged his grasp.


    "Mr. Joseph, please mind your manner." Noah came just in the nick of time, positioning himself


    between Chloe and Joseph.


    Chloe and Noah stood close to each other, suggesting their intimate connection. Upon seeing this,


    Joseph''s anger red up.


    Heshed out, "Fuck off."


    "Mr. Joseph, I believe Coco made herself very clear. Please step aside," Noah said, his calm


    demeanor a stark contrast to Joseph''s anger.


    "Come here," Josephmanded, ignoring Noah''s words while fixing his gaze on Chloe.


    When their eyes met, Chloe suddenly smiled. "Do you feel it unfair because I''ve kept you in the dark


    all these years?" she questioned.


    Joseph''s eyebrows furrowed. He admitted that he had felt such emotions. Most importantly, he


    believed that Chloe was just like him, that they were both waiting for each other and had not


    forgotten about each other. Her departure was merely a means to find a new ce to heal her


    wounds. It did not mark the end of their rtionship.


    "Have you ever experienced the despair of being engulfed in mes? A fire that sears your skin and


    tries to consume all of you?"


    A flicker of guilt crossed Joseph''s face when Chloe brought up the fire. "That was an oversight on


    my side."


    "An oversight? Yeah, it was just an oversight. And the consequence was that I was nearly killed and


    my child is dead!"


    "I can apologize for that, but that one mistake doesn¡¯t erase all the good I''ve done for you.¡±


    He was well aware of the loss Chloe had suffered in that fire, but he was absent that day because


    he was working toward their future.


    "Do you think I need your apology?" Chloe chuckled. "Can an apology bring my child back to life?"


    Joseph felt a lump forming in his throat. His voice was hoarse with emotion as he said, "I¡¯ll make it


    up to you."


    "I would¡¯ve turned into ashes if it weren''t for Noah, so what right do you have to question why I lied


    to you? If I hadn''t, I would¡¯ve remained a prisoner! And how are you going to make it up to me? By


    leaving flowers at my grave every year?"


    "Chloe, you know how much I love you. Why must you do this to me? Why must you trample on our


    rtionship?"


    "I''m sorry, but I''ve already moved on," Chloe said firmly, smiling brightly at Joseph.


    The smile on her face told Joseph that he was the only one deluding himself. He remained silent for


    a long while before taking a deep breath. "You can''t be with Noah."


    Chloe was taken aback for a moment, but then her smile deepened. "You have no say in what I do.


    If you still want to use imprisonment and coercion to force me, feel free to try it."


    Noah chimed in, saying gently, "Mr. Joseph, try looking at this from a different perspective. Not


    every rtionshipsts, and not every person is right for you."


    Joseph''s gaze intensified, and though his words were for Chloe, his eyes were on Noah. "Whatever


    I did in the past, I did them all openly, unlike some people who are skilled at wearing masks¡ª


    presenting one face in public and another in secret. Can you be sure Noah hasn''t harmed you?"

 Chapter 677 It’s Not Worth It

    Chapter 677 It¡¯s Not Worth It


    Noah lowered his head to mask the anger in his eyes. However, his voice sounded innocent as he


    asked, "Are you talking about me, Mr. Joseph?"


    "Who else could it be if not you?" Joseph sneered.


    "Coco, are you of the same opinion?" Noah asked.


    "Don''t worry. Even if you did harm me, it¡¯d neverpare to what he has done." Chloe scoffed. She


    did not believe Joseph''s words and saw them as nothing more than desperate attempts to deflect


    responsibility.


    Upon hearing this, Noah smiled as he nced and shrugged at the man across from him.


    Joseph felt a pain of pain course through him and a throbbing sensation in his temples as he found


    the situation increasingly irritating. "In that fire, he was either the one who started it or was involved


    in it," he said with immense frustration.


    The fire that erupted in the hospital caught everyone off guard, including the firefighters who could


    not reach the scene in time. Given the sudden and unforeseen nature of the incident, it seemed


    improbable for Noah to have saved Chloe so promptly unless he had advance knowledge of the


    fire. Such circumstances led to doubts and raised suspicions about Noah''s role in the incident. His


    ulterior motives could have been to seek Chloe''s trust and gratitude.


    Furrowing her brows, Chloe said, "I think you''re missing the point here. No matter what you say, it''s


    all meaningless. I can''t forget the hurt you¡¯ve caused me.¡±


    "I''m merely advising you to open your eyes and see the truth about those around you," Joseph


    retorted.


    "Hah, how amusing!" Chloe chuckled. "You''re so quick to point fingers at me, but have you forgotten


    about how you tried to convince me to ept Xavia''s baby which led to our breakup? Now that you


    have what you wanted and are with Xavia, youe to badmouth Noah. Quite the irony, don''t you


    think?"


    Joseph¡¯s jaw clenched tightly. He could not refute these ims because he had indeed done those


    things. However, he refused to admit the part about being with Xavia. Breakup or arguments, he


    never truly considered parting ways with Chloe.


    Yet, his reaction seemed to confirm Chloe''s suspicions, cementing in her mind that he was indeed


    with Xavia. A feeling of intense disgust welled up in her heart. Despite having already obtained what


    he desired, he remained dissatisfied. While others led happy lives, he could not stand it and sought


    to ruin their happiness.


    "Joe?"


    Suddenly, a man''s voice came from behind them. Instinctively, they all turned to look.


    Callum stood a short distance away, observing the tense confrontation between the two men and


    one woman. He could easily guess what had transpired. Waving to Joseph, he said, "Come over


    here. I finally found the time to talk with you, and here you are hiding. What''s going on?"


    Joseph found himself at a loss for words. His throat felt constricted, and he could not bring himself


    to reveal that he hade to reconcile with Chloe, only to face her scolding.


    Noah''s gaze shifted between the two men and frowned slightly.


    Chloe did not know the middle-aged man, but she still courteously greeted him. She then pulled


    Noah away from the scene, leaving Joseph alone with the man.


    As she disappeared, Joseph could not tear his gaze away from her.


    Callum chuckled, "Is she your ex-wife?"


    Joseph remained silent, his eyes burning with anger.


    "All right, stop this. It''s not worth it."


    "What do you want to talk about?"


    "I want to talk about Imperium."


    "Let''s talk in the car."


    Callum nodded. After all, there were too many people around, and it was not a suitable ce for


    them to discuss such a sensitive matter. As he followed Joseph, he felt something was off with


    Joseph.


    Once they got into the car, Joseph started the engine and quickly drove out of the parking garage.


    As they reached an intersection, they spotted a red Maserati waiting at the traffic light.


    Noah had had a few drinks, so Chloe took the wheel. She sported a pair of sunsses and nced


    at Joseph, yfully flipping her hair and smiling at him teasingly. "Quit tailing me. Go home and


    spend time with your wife and child."


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Although it was an unkind remark, Joseph just could not get angry at her.


    As the traffic light turned green Chloe stepped on the gas pedal, leaving him far behind.

 Chapter 678 Drunk Driving Is Illegal, Let’s Call the Police

    Chapter 678 Drunk Driving Is Illegal, Let¡¯s Call the Police


    Seeing that Joseph was about to follow Chloe, Callum firmly held onto the steering wheel and said


    irritably, "I''ll lose all respect for you if you go after her."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Frowning, Joseph replied, "I can''t let her go with Noah."


    "Then you need a new approach. Your previous methods won''t work. You can''t be forceful when it


    comes to wooing women."


    Joseph managed to calm down and regained some of hisposure. "What''s the matter with


    Imperium?"


    "Nothing."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Fine, it''s about Cyrus."


    Joseph''s face sank. "Does he know about our rtionship?"


    "No," Callum replied, lighting up a cigarette. "Besides, we''re just friends. Imperium is yours and


    yours alone."


    Joseph did not pursue that topic further and asked, "Did Cyrus approach you?"


    "Yes. He wishes for Otto to marry my daughter."


    Understanding instantly dawned upon Joseph. The Sinirs had a long history in the underworld.


    However, they recently turned to legitimate businesses, with the political arena being the only realm


    they had yet to touch. Marrying Callum''s daughter would be a way to officially step into that domain.


    "What do you think about it?" Joseph asked.


    "I don''t really care. It depends on my daughter''s view of Otto."


    "Aren''t you worried he''ll take advantage of her?" Joseph asked.


    "Do you think he has the guts to do that?"


    While it was true that Cyrus would not dare to do it now, who knew what would happen years from


    now when Callum was no longer around? People like Cyrus had plenty of patience.


    *


    On their way back to the Sullivan estate, Chloe asked, "Did Joseph drink tonight?"


    "Probably."


    "Drunk driving is illegal."


    Understanding her intention, Noah cooperatively took out his phone and dialed the emergency


    number. "We should report it."


    A yful smile appeared on Chloe''s lips as she put on a light-hearted song and hummed to the


    melody.


    Once home, Chloe sat on the bed with herptop. She shared the news of Joseph''s drunk driving


    with the paparazzi and meticulouslyposed a lengthy three-thousand-word expos¨¦ on social


    media. She recounted the entire saga of her rtionship with Joseph¡ªfrom their marriage to their


    eventual divorce.


    In her detailed ount, she did not shy away from shedding light on Xavia''s nefarious ns to


    harm Toto and Oreo, as well as revealing how she got pregnant with Joseph''s child. To top it all off,


    she also exposed the fact that Xavia had shamelessly tried to garner more attention through live


    streaming her suicide attempt.


    With a click of the send button, Chloe stretched and prepared to rest. Just then, her phone on the


    bedside table rang. It was Jasper calling. She knew she should keep her distance from Xavia''s child


    but she somehow found the kid interesting and adorable.


    Without much hesitation, she answered the call. "Children shouldn''t stay upte. Otherwise, they


    will never grow tall."


    "It''s only half past ten. It''s notte at all."


    "Huh? What child stays up till half past ten?"


    "Plenty. My ssmate is still up ying games."


    Chloe was speechless.


    "Do you want to visit Greatpapi together tomorrow?"


    "No, I have something to do tomorrow."


    Chloe had to familiarize herself with Exotic Star¡¯s business as soon as possible so that she could


    share the burden of managing it with Noah.


    "I''ll wait till you¡¯re done."


    "No. After I''m done, I''ll be exhausted and need to rest."


    "Daddy told me that Greatpapi has shown signs of waking up soon."


    Chloe was shocked. "Well then, let me know when he does wake up."


    "No. If you don''te with me to see Greatpapi, I won''t tell you anything about him."


    "What time tomorrow?"


    "Anytime is fine. I get out of school at half past five, so we can go at six."


    "Fine, see you then."


    "Make sure to save my number," Jasper said assertively.

 Chapter 679 How Could You Call Your Son Unapproachable?

    Chapter 679 How Could You Call Your Son Unapproachable?


    Chloe yawned and replied nonchntly, "All right, all right. Goodnight."


    "Bye, and don''t bete tomorrow," Jasper said.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    After ending the call, Chloe put on an eye mask and drifted off to sleep.


    *


    Meanwhile, as soon as Joseph and Callum parted ways, a police car pulled Joseph over.


    "Mr. Joseph, we received a report that you¡¯re drunk driving. Please cooperate with our


    investigation."


    Joseph furrowed his brow slightly. "Who told you that?"


    He only had one ss of red wine tonight. It was not enough to make him drunk, so it was unlikely


    that anyone would have noticed.


    "Sir, please don''t make things difficult for us..."


    "Fine. I''ll ask your superior then."


    "Wait, wait. It was an anonymous report from a woman. Apart from us, the media has also been


    informed."


    A group of paparazzi were hiding nearby and sneakily taking photos. To be honest, they did not


    want to be involved in this matter either.


    Joseph chuckled, knowing exactly who the anonymous reporter was. He made a call to someone,


    and the officers quickly left on the grounds of being assigned to other tasks. Since nothing


    happened, the paparazzi left in disappointment.


    Unexpectedly, one of them saw Chloe''s article on social media that was gaining poprity as they


    boarded thest bus. Seizing the opportunity, the paparazzo reposted the article. After it gained


    some attention, they considered their taskpleted.


    After arriving back at his ce, Joseph parked the car in the yard and went inside. After taking a


    shower, he went to check if Jasper had gone to bed. Right at that moment, Xavia came home.


    Joseph nced at Jasper''s room, then turned and quietly descended the stairs.


    ¡°Is Jas asleep?" Xavia asked as she reached the entrance.


    "He should be. Don''t disturb him," Joseph said.


    "I''ll talk to him tomorrow then. Are you hungry? I¡¯ll fix you a snack," Xavia said as she took off her


    coat and hung it on the rack. She wore a tight-fittingce dress with a U-shaped neckline that


    showcased her alluring figure as she walked.


    Joseph nced at her but quickly averted his gaze. "Don''t dress like this when youe here in


    the future. You have one minute to get out if you don''t want to hear anything bad from me.¡±


    Xavia''s steps faltered, and she bit her lip, trying to hold back her surge of emotions. "Am I no longer


    allowed to see Jasper?"


    She thought that after Chloe''s death, she would naturally be part of the Whitmans and marry


    Joseph. However, he treated her as if she were invisible and even more coldly than before. She


    could not understand why she was treated this way when she had done no wrong.


    Joseph sat on the couch. With one hand supporting his chin, he looked at Xavia and said, "Jas


    doesn''t like gatherings, so why did you insist on throwing him a birthday party?"


    "I...I just wanted him to make more friends. His teachers said that he''s too introverted," Xavia


    replied hesitantly.


    "Is that so? His teachers said that?" Joseph''s gaze locked onto hers, and Xavia knew she could not


    deceive him.


    Annoyed with herself for acting too hastily, she had no choice but to tell the truth. "Fine, no. But I


    came up with the idea to have a party because Jas is unapproachable¡ª"


    Shatter!


    Joseph smashed the teacup set atop the table on the floor. His voice was icy andmanding as


    he said, "As a mother, do you think it''s appropriate to call your son unapproachable?"


    Xavia was startled by Joseph''s sudden outburst. She turned pale and stammered, "I-I didn''t mean it


    that way..."


    Joseph remained silent, his prating gaze making her feel nervous.


    Just as Xavia tried to find the right words, he changed the subject and said in a chilling tone, "On


    the day of the fire, you were in the operating room. Why didn''t you ask for help?"

 Chapter 680 The Little Bastard Who Dragged Her Down

    Chapter 680 The Little Bastard Who Dragged Her Down


    Xavia felt a chill run down her spine when she heard Joseph''s words. Even someone as cunning as


    her did not know how to respond to this unexpected turn of events.


    "B-Because I didn''t hear Chloe''s voice. I thought it was one of the nurses..." she stammered.


    "Hah." Joseph''s eyes bore into her as he pressed on, "So you weren¡¯t hoping for Chloe to die so


    that you can take her ce?"


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Xavia''s first instinct was to deny ande up with an excuse, but when she looked up and met


    Joseph''s icy gaze, her blood turned cold. At that moment, she realized why she had been losing


    favor with him over the years. It was clear that Joseph had restored the hospital¡¯s surveince


    footage. He had tolerated her maniptions and schemes only because of Jasper. Her only stroke


    of luck was that she had not been involved in the fire.


    Taking a deep breath, Xavia calmed herself and said, "You can''t think of me that way. If I wanted to


    get in between you and Chloe, I had plenty of chances to do so, but I never did."


    "There¡¯s no need for you toe here and take care of Jas anymore."


    "No. Jas is my son. He needs me."


    Xavia panicked and gripped the hem of Joseph''s shirt. Without Jasper, their connection would be


    completely severed.


    "I won¡¯t repeat myself. Leave. Now."


    Joseph''s tone was calm and his face stern as the final bit of his patience finally wore off. Xavia


    dared not to provoke him further, but she was anxious. It had been five years with no progress, and


    she did not want Cyrus to discard her like a useless pawn.


    She pleaded, "Can¡¯t we talk about this, Joe? I''ve been by your side for so long, and honestly, there¡¯s


    no one more suitable for me than you. I can ept all of you¡ªthe good and the bad. I''ve never


    criticized you, and I won''t abandon you like Chloe. And Jas needs his mother. We¡¯re a real family,


    aren''t we?"


    Joseph''s brow twitched, and the image of that alluring and mboyant woman shed through his


    mind. Her every gesture and smile were captivating, but the thought of her being with Noah and not


    him tormented him.


    Without even looking at Xavia, Joseph went straight upstairs and changed all the ess codes to


    the house, including Jasper''s bedroom. In short, once Xavia left, she would never have the chance


    to step foot in that ce again.


    Xavia felt like a clown. The high heels she wore, the tight-fitting dress she had chosen, and the


    effort she had put into maintaining her alluring figure now all seemed utterly ridiculous to her. She


    gritted her teeth, resenting Jasper to the core.


    ''That little bastard must have been put here to drag me down. If he had behaved himself, my


    rtionship with Joe wouldn''t have fallen so far.''


    Xavia thought that her day could not get any worse, but then she saw the article Megan had


    reposted. She read every word of it, and her frustration boiled over. She mmed her hands


    against the steering wheel and let out an angry scream.


    She knew she had to do something to salvage the situation. She could not let Chloe seed. But


    facing the harsh reality, she realized that no matter what she said or did, it would be futile and only


    make matters worse.


    *


    The next day, Noah and Chloe arrived at Exotic Star together.

 Chapter 681 You Can Get Rid of the Bullies

    Chapter 681 You Can Get Rid of the Bullies


    During the morning meeting, Noah introduced to all the executives, "Everyone, this is Chloe


    Johnson, my international business partner. Starting today, she''ll be temporarily taking on the role of


    marketing manager."


    Chloe, dressed in a business suit, stood up and smiled, maintaining herposure. "Ladies and


    gentlemen, nice to meet you. I''m sure you have your doubts about me, and I can ept that. But I


    assure you that if you give me a chance, I''ll bring many surprises to thispany."


    She had discussed the marketing manager position with Noah beforehand. Other than the core


    technology, one of the most important aspects of a jewelrypany was its sales. Secondly, Exotic


    Star was arge corporation. Its design concept was ingrained into thepany, so she would not


    meddle in it without permission. She would only consider taking a higher position once she made


    some achievements.


    "Not all, Ms. Chloe. We''ve long heard of the great developments made in Estre. It''s our honor to


    be your colleague."


    "That¡¯s right. I hope we¡¯ll all work together to bring up Exotic Star¡¯s standing."


    "Marketing is in need of a capable and young talent such as yourself."


    "Yes, we should have a gathering after work today to introduce you to the staff."


    All the executives were smart people. Of course, they knew what they should say.


    Yesterday, Noah had identally exposed that his foreign business partner would be starting work


    today, so they were well aware of it. Although they had doubts about Chloe, they remained calm on


    the outside.


    After the meeting, Noah walked Chloe to the marketing department. He whispered in her ear,


    "There are a few difficult individuals in Marketing. You don''t have to suffer in silence if they slight


    you. Just go ahead and fire them."


    Chloe blinked. "What if they¡¯re the top salesperson?"


    "If they bully you, we can get rid of them even if they''re our cooperative partners. We can do without


    their tiny bit of money,¡± Noah said gently.


    After a pause, she nodded firmly. "Okay, I''ll make them pay instead of suffering in silence."


    Everyone in the group knew that Chloe had a special rtionship with Noah because of the


    morning meeting. Besides, she was Exotic Star¡¯s product ambassador. The moment she walked


    into the marketing department, a swarm of people started introducing themselves. One bootlicker


    even hooked an arm around hers and addressed her intimately.


    It was rather sickening and made one¡¯s skin crawl.


    Chloe forced out augh and retracted her arm. She sent them off and closed the door to her office,


    then went through the department members¡¯ information. The person who had held her arm earlier


    was Dulcie Thatcher, the number two salesperson. The number one was a middle-aged woman


    called Frieda Berlin who had ignored Chloe. The others were ordinary people with ordinary


    characters and achievements.


    She did not care much about these people and spent the afternoon drafting a new marketing n.


    She then posted it in the department''s group chat. Not many people replied to her message


    because it was nearly time to get off work. Deciding to go over the n with the department the next


    day, she set off for the hospital.


    Jasper was already there, leaning against the door of the ward. He wore what was clearly the


    uniform of a private academy. ncing at his wristwatch, he said aloofly, "It''s five minutes past six.


    You''rete."


    "It¡¯s better to not fuss over small matters."


    "Hmph! Greatpapi will be mad when he wakes up and learns that you''re tardy." Jasper lifted his


    nose in the air and scoffed, then strode into the ward.


    "No, he won''t."


    Chloe was certain of it because Harold adored her very much. She knew he would not be angry


    over such a small matter. Jasper had never interacted with Harold and had only heard from others


    that Harold was a very person, so he made such assumptions.


    *


    Harold was lying on the bed quietly. Nothing had changed. Chloe took out her tab and put on


    Harold¡¯s favorite, military shows. She then turned up the volume and put it on the bedside table.


    Jasper looked at her with slight hesitation.


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe stretched. "Say whatever you want to say."


    "Daddy argued with Xavia yesterday. You can take advantage of the situation."

 Chapter 682 He Can Tell Who’s Kind or Mean

    Chapter 682 He Can Tell Who¡¯s Kind or Mean


    Chloe''s lips twitched before blurting out, "Only Xavia would do that kind of thing.¡±


    After saying that, she recalled that Jasper was Xavia''s child, and a tinge of awkwardness hung in


    the air between them.


    Jasper stared at her with his clear eyes. "So why did you post a longint on the Inte


    yesterday if you had no such intention?"


    "Now that¡¯s silly. Are you saying that I should just continue to suffer in silence since I''ve done it for


    five years?"


    "But you didn''t provide any evidence. It''s just your one-sided statement."


    "I don''t need evidence. Your mother knows more than anyone if I''m right or wrong. And from


    another point of view, she didn¡¯t provide any evidence to refute my words.¡±


    Jasper fell silent and furrowed his brows. Chloe thought he was unhappy about her criticizing Xavia.


    But regardless, she was the victim here. She turned away and ignored him as thetter remained


    silent, staring out of the window as if pondering something.


    Chloe apanied Harold in watching an episode. After about an hour, she packed up the tab and


    walked toward the door without saying a word to Jasper.


    "I think you''re right,¡± Jasper said just as Chloe was about to step out of the room.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    From the time he started remembering things, he already knew his mother was a bad person. He


    was young, but he could tell who was kind-hearted and who was mean-spirited. Otherwise, he


    would not have understood why his father disliked his mother.


    The truth might be what Chloe had said, or there could be another reason. He found Chloe very


    friendly and familiar the first time he met her¡ªdifferent from others¡ªbut he could not pinpoint what


    it was.


    Chloe turned to look at Jasper reaching out to touch his forehead. "You''re not having a fever. Why


    are you talking nonsense?"


    No children would believe an outsider instead of their mother.


    Jasper angrily smacked her hand away. "I trust you. Just forget it if you don''t trust me."


    Chloe was at a loss for words. ¡®What the¡­ He strikes back? What a haughty child.''


    "Okay, enough for today. Go home and do your homework. I''m going home too."


    "Will you fight Xavia for Daddy?"


    "No."


    Surprisingly, a pang of disappointment hit him when he heard her answer but he did not reveal it.


    "Why?"


    Chloe smiled brightly. "I don''t like him anymore. I don¡¯t have to be with someone I don''t love."


    A man happened to be standing outside the word, and he heard her every word. He hung his head


    and felt at a loss after the brief heart-wrenching pain subsided. He usually had full control over


    everyone and everyone. Whatever incident happened, he resolved it with ease.


    Chloe was the exception and always had been.


    *


    Chloe exited the hospital and quickly sped off in her car. Joseph stood by the window and stared out


    of it. Long after the car was gone, he slowly looked away.


    Jasper jumped down from his stool. He said straightforwardly, "Daddy, you like her."

 Chapter 683 Show Him How Happy You Are

    Chapter 683 Show Him How Happy You Are


    Joseph wore no expression. "Kids shouldn''t meddle in adults'' affairs."


    "I can help you capture her heart."


    "You don¡¯t have enough homework, do you?"


    Joseph was used to Jasper''s strange way of thinking. He did not give much of a reply before asking


    some people toe in.


    Jasper pouted and muttered reluctantly, "Chloe¡¯s willing to meet me instead of you. You shouldn¡¯t


    doubt my power."


    These words hit Joseph in the gut. He massaged his temples and decided not to be mad at Jasper.


    A few doctors in white coats soon entered the ward. Joseph nced at the sleeping man on the


    bed, and his expression became unfathomable. "Take him away."


    *


    When Chloe was back at the Sullivan manor, Noah went up to her with a solemn expression. "We


    got a call from the prison."


    Chloe was a little dumbfounded. "The prison?"


    "Yes, the prison where Benjamin is locked up."


    "Oh. What''s the matter?"


    Benjamin had disappointed her greatly five years ago. Chloe would have forgotten that she still had


    a father if his name was not brought up.


    "He has cancer and only has another month to live." Noah was worried that she might be upset and


    almost could not bear to say this to her. "He wants to see you onest time."


    Chloe was stunned for a moment. "I don''t want to see him."


    What was the use? Did he want to express his regret and apologize? She found it unnecessary and


    meaningless.


    "The prison staff told me that he has something important to tell you."


    A crease formed between Chloe¡¯s brows. She could not figure out what he possibly had to say.


    Noticing her hesitation, Noah smiled gently and suggested, "Just go. We''ll waste only an hour at


    most. You can show him how happy you are now."


    Half an hourter, they arrived at the prison. After going through the formalities, the warden


    arranged for Chloe and Noah to meet with Benjamin. He was soon brought in. Despite being only in


    his fifties, he walked with an unsteady gait. His hair had turned white, coughed with every step he


    took, and had be extremely thin.


    Chloe nearly failed to recognize him. A slight sense of difort hit her.


    Benjamin was over the moon when he saw her. "It¡¯s good to see you, Coco."


    "What do you want to tell me?" Chloe went straight to the point.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Benjamin''s face stiffened, finding it hard to speak.


    Noah said coldly. "Did you lie to get Coco toe here?"


    "No, I''m already in this state, so why would I lie to you guys?" Benjamin mocked himself and smiled


    bitterly. "I don''t know where to start."


    "You don''t have much time," the warden reminded him.


    "Fine, I understand." Benjamin rubbed his hands together and heaved a long sigh. "It wasn''t


    because of Karen that I fell out with your mother."


    "So, you asked me toe just so you could prove Karen''s innocence?"


    "No, listen to me. When your mother and I decided to elope, we went home to pack our belongings.


    When we met up, I found her at a hotel. I noticed something was amiss."


    Chloe felt that there was an underlying meaning to his words. "Go on."


    "Someone had taken liberties with her. I never showed you love because you''re not my child."


    Chloe felt like she had been hit in the gut.


    Noah rarely exposed his true feelings, but he too found this unbelievable. Wrath overwhelmed him


    and he grabbed Benjamin by the cor and punched thetter''s face.


    "What fucking nonsense are you talking about?!¡±

 Chapter 684 The Shame of Her Life

    Chapter 684 The Shame of Her Life


    Benjamin''s face became badly bruised from the punch, but he had no chance to retaliate. As


    expected, the warden pulled them apart.


    "I''m not lying. There¡¯s a watch back in the vi that the man left behind. It''s in the basement."


    This revtion filled Chloe with extremelyplicated feelings, and she found it hard to say


    anything.


    Noah regained his wits. His eyes turned icy as he said, "How do we know if you''re lying or not?"


    "Go ahead and do a paternity test." Benjamin started coughing and his breathing becamebored.


    He suggested intermittently, "I¡­I¡¯m running out of time. We¡­We should expose the truth to¡­the


    public."


    Benjamin could admit that he had cheated on Luciana first, but this was the true reason he disliked


    Chloe. Before he was imprisoned, he had always thought of her as filthy since she was not a true


    Johnson. s, people only gained epiphany on the verge of death. Although she was not his child


    by blood, Chloe had seen him as her father. He had failed to cherish those days.


    The warden took Benjamin away.


    Chloe felt rather dizzy. She did not want to believe him, but her desire to go to the Johnson vi


    betrayed her true thoughts. Noah did not stop her. Simrly, he doubted Benjamin''s words.


    They drove to the Johnson Vi. Following Benjamin''s story, they found an old watch in the


    basement. Noah studied it carefully and realized that it was an invaluable watch.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Thises from a brand that''s been globally popr for twenty years. Only three of these yearly-


    commemorative watches were ever sold. Benjamin could not have bought it during that particr


    year given his past financial level."


    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat. It had been a long time since she had felt so helpless.


    Noah could understand her feelings. He patted her head. "These watches were sold out that year. It


    won¡¯t be hard to find who the buyers were."


    Exotic Star was one of the top luxury goods brands, and Noah had been immersed in this circle


    since his childhood. He should be able to quickly find out the original owner of this watch.


    Chloe nodded. That was all they could do at that moment.


    *


    Xavia paced back and forth in an apartment not far away from the vi. She had received word that


    Harold had been discharged from the hospital. Of course, it must have been done with a reason.


    After eliminating the possibility that he was transferred to another hospital, the only other possibility


    was that Harold was about to wake up.


    Fear engulfed her when she thought of the second possibility.


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Xavia reflexively shuddered before slowly walking over


    and looking through the peephole. Eustace''s face appeared in her vision. She felt her breath hitch.


    How had he found this ce?


    "I know you''re home. Open the door if you don''t want a scene."


    Xavia gnashed her teeth and let him in.


    Eustace sized up the apartment and smiled casually. "It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯vest visited


    the child and me."


    Xavia clenched her fists and tried her best to suppress her anger. "We made a deal¡ªI¡¯d give you


    the child, and you¡¯d stop disrupting my life."


    "Did you do that willingly? Would you say that if Mr. Noah hadn¡¯t found the child you dumped in the


    trash?" Eustace red up in a rage. A deep coldness engulfed him as he brought this up. "No


    matter how cruel you are, how could you bear to kill your own child?!¡±


    "She isn''t my child! She''s a stupid girl who''s mentally challenged!" Xavia became agitated too. She


    stared at him angrily and argued, "I refuse to admit I birthed such a child. She¡¯s the shame of my


    life!"

 Chapter 685 You Insist on Courting Darkness

    Chapter 685 You Insist on Courting Darkness


    Eustace erupted in anger. He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her out of the apartment to a car


    downstairs, indifferent to how she resisted and struggled. He then let her go and carried a girl out of


    the shotgun seat.


    The girl was pretty, with fair and tender skin. Her eyes were round andrge and her hair done up in


    two braids. However, her eyes were unfocused, signaling she was different from others of her age.


    "Aggie, say hi to Mommy," Eustace urged the girl tenderly.


    The girl seemed to understand him as she looked toward Xavia and said, "Hi, Mommy."


    "Aaaahhh! No!!!" Xavia broke down and screamed as if she had been punched. She then pped


    the girl. "Get out of here!"


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    The little girl, Angelina Hubble, made no response as if she did not feel the pain of the p. She


    was still in a daze. Everything seemed to remind Xavia that Angelina was a mentally challenged


    child, and the girl was her child.


    Xavia''s face twisted in rage. Unable to let go of her anger, she pped Angelina again. The two


    ps were clear and sudden, and they were beyond description.


    Eustace finally snapped out of his shock. He pushed Xavia away and enveloped Angelina in his


    arms. He scolded Xavia, his voice filled with excruciating pain, "Are you out of your mind?! You¡¯re a


    monster! Aggie¡¯s your daughter!¡±


    "No, she''s not! I don''t know who you two are! Stop harassing me!¡±


    Xavia ran away after delivering those cruel words. Eustace lost thest shred of hope he had for her


    after witnessing what just happened. Some people would never regret what they had done.


    Noah walked out of a dark corner. His expression was unfathomable as the cloudy sky overhead.


    "You have a bright future, yet you insist on courting darkness.¡±


    The child would never invoke Xavia''s conscience and motherly love because the woman was


    inhumane. All she ever thought about was fame and vanity.


    Eustace hugged Angelina tightly as tears rolled down his cheeks. Engulfed by a deep chill, he said


    hoarsely, "I know what I should do now."


    It then started drizzling. Holding up an umbre, Noah looked at the girl in Eustace''s arms. He then


    said lightly, "I''m going to pick Coco up. You go home first."


    Eustace immediately said, "And how are you getting there? The rain¡¯s getting pretty heavy."


    "Exotic Star is not far from here, and Coco has a car. I¡¯ll go home with her."


    *


    Chloe introduced her proposal to the department staff, but they did not seem very enthusiastic upon


    hearing it.


    "This won''t work in our country. In Asvand, we need innovation, exaggeration, hot topics, and


    rity." Freida hit the nail on the head and pointed out where the problems were, mercilessly


    exposing the ws of Chloe''s n.


    Chloe was about to refute when the other employees echoed Freida''s words.


    "Freida is right. Of course, I''m not saying that your n is bad, Ms. Chloe. It''s just a matter of


    cultural differences.¡±


    "Yeah, Ms. Chloe. I suggest you familiarize yourself with Asvand¡¯s environment first."


    "That''s right. Marketing is making some great achievements right now, so there¡¯s no need to rush


    anything.¡±


    Chloe became vexed as she stared at the n in her hand. She wondered if there was now a gap


    between her and these people because she had stayed abroad for a long time.


    Noah, standing at the door of the office, gently knocked on the ss. He smiled and said, "It''s time


    to get off work."


    Chloe waved helplessly and sent the staff on their way.


    Before leaving, Freida walked past Chloe. "I can send you a few sessful cases for you to


    reference from."


    Chloe was struck speechless, feeling like Freida was trying to be the leader here. Despite how she


    felt, she suppressed her feelings and nodded. ¡°Sure, thanks."


    "I have one condition," Freida stated.


    "...What?"


    "I want an invitation to Fairlight¡¯s finance research forum happening at the end of this month.¡±


    Chloe frowned suspiciously. "And what do you n on doing there?"


    Freida lowered her eyes and gave a bogus-sounding exnation, "I''m interested in the field."


    A glimmer appeared in Chloe¡¯s eyes as she looked the middle-aged woman up and down. Paige


    looked ordinary, donning in clothes and simple sses, but her long and shiny ck hair


    elevated her demeanor.

 Chapter 686 This Is My Territory

    Chapter 686 This Is My Territory


    In a daze, a fleeting thought, too swift for her to fullyprehend, raced through Chloe''s mind. She


    felt a faint sense of familiarity in Frieda as if they had crossed paths before.


    Chloe did not dwell on it for long, though. Leaning back, a mischievous glint danced in her eyes as


    she said, "A few sessful cases won''t cut it. I want you to assist me in crafting our next strategy."


    Upon hearing this, a smile tugged at the corner of Noah''s lips.


    Frieda readily agreed, her response swift and confident, "No problem."


    After she departed, Noah reached for a pen and twirled it between his fingers. "You were testing


    Frieda," he remarked.


    Chloe shook her head. "Not entirely. To have be number one in sales, she must be special.


    She just seems familiar to me, and I wish to use this opportunity to get closer and see if it jogs my


    memory."


    Noah remembered how Frieda had impressed the interviewers when she applied with thepany


    several years ago. Despite her seemingly nk resume, she disyed a profound understanding of


    the luxury goods industry, especially in understanding the psychology of wealthy shoppers. It was


    this expertise in navigating their buying mentality that garnered her exceptional recognition during


    the recruitment process.


    *


    Upon arriving home, Frieda wasted no time in sending a few sessful case studies to Chloe''s


    email and sharing her thoughts on the new proposal. And in a not-so-subtle reminder, she said not


    to forget the invitation to the conference.


    Upon receiving the email, Chloe promptly sent an invitation letter to Frieda via a local courier


    service. To her surprise, Frieda called on the day of the forum to say that she had misced the


    invitation and hoped to receive another one.


    Chloe hesitated and did not respond immediately.


    Frieda quickly added, "I promise a performance increase of 10% next month."


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Send me your location. I''ll send it over."


    Surely Chloe personally delivering an invitation letter was a joke, but she had to show her thanks to


    her benefactors. Frieda''s performance numbers were double of the entire departmentbined.


    The ability to earn money reigned supreme, and leaders relied on their subordinates to provide for


    them. Delivering an invitation was a trivial task.


    Chloe located an extra invitation letter, hopped into her car, and sped off. She found Frieda waiting


    at the entrance of Fairlight. Frieda had on makeup, a beige trench coat, and fashionable leather


    shoes. It was a stark contrast to her usual style. She was meticulously groomed, emanating an air


    of sophistication befitting an aristocrat. Chloe faltered for a moment, and a thought crossed her


    mind¡ªa notion she swiftly suppressed. It was impossible, utterly impossible.


    Judging by her age, Frieda could be Joseph''s mother.


    Shutting off the engine, Chloe stepped out of the car and walked toward Frieda. She handed over


    the invitation. Just as she turned to leave, she bumped into something solid.


    "Are you blind? Don¡¯t you see someone standing right here?" Chloe mumbled through her pain,


    clutching her forehead.


    "This is my territory," a male voice retorted,ced with a subtle chill and an unmistakable air of


    dominance.


    Chloe momentarily froze. Her head then snapped up to meet a strikingly handsome face standing


    just inches away from her.


    "What''s your problem? Why are you standing so close to me?" Chloe said in surprise. Disdain filled


    her eyes as she instinctively took a step backward.


    Observing her reaction, Joseph grew frustrated. He sarcastically remarked, "You''re the one


    standing at the entrance of mypany, yet you question me? Are we ying a game of cat and


    mouse here?"


    "Heh, you''re really funny. I''ll leave then. Happy?" Chloe rolled her eyes, taken aback by his


    shamelessness.


    "It''s toote. You¡¯re not leaving without my permission."


    Joseph disregarded Chloe''s reaction as he forcefully gripped her hand and marched into Fairlight.

 Chapter 687 The Source of Joseph’s Endless Torment

    Chapter 687 The Source of Joseph¡¯s Endless Torment


    Joseph exerted considerable force, leaving red marks on Chloe''s wrist. Annoyance shed across


    her face as she said, "Who cares abouting here? If it weren''t for something important, I would


    nevere here for the rest of my life."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Joseph''s face turned pale with anger and responded by tightening his grip. He seemed intent on


    punishing her. Chloe winced in pain and took a quick step forward, viciously stomping on his shoe


    with her pointed heel a few times. Yet, Joseph remained surprisinglyposed and side-eyed her.


    "Had enough?" he asked.


    Seeing him seemingly unaffected, Chloe''s interest quickly waned. "What''s with the tough act? It


    should hurt unless you''re dead."


    "You''re right.¡±


    Joseph''s fingertips hid the red marks on Chloe''s wrist. She forcefully pulled away, throwing him an


    indifferent expression. "Are you done, Mr. Joseph? Not every woman is like Xavia who throws


    themselves at any man they see. I''m only here today to deliver something to an employee of mine."


    Joseph''s gaze intensified as he shifted his attention to Frieda who stood a few meters away. Their


    eyes met, but the distance prevented them from discerning the expression in each other''s eyes. The


    trembling of Frieda''s lips hinted at something unusual, but she quickly averted her gaze, lowered


    her head, and straightened her back.


    Meanwhile, Joseph continued to gaze deeply at Frieda. He asked Chloe, "That woman over there¡¯s


    the employee you mentioned?¡±


    "Yes, and I have no reason to lie to you. I have no interest in ying games with you.¡±


    Chloe had seen through him. She understood that beneath his striking exteriory a former shell of


    himself. Inner beauty was the true symbol of beauty.


    Joseph chuckled and shifted his approach, yfully pinching her slender waist as he leaned closer.


    "But you did pursue me five years ago, didn''t you?"


    Chloe''s memories resurfaced. She blinked, but her expression remained indifferent. "People make


    mistakes. Can you guarantee a hundred percent return on investments?"


    "So now you''ve set your sights on Noah," he stated, more as a certainty than a question.


    Chloe raised an eyebrow and did not deny it. "So what if I have? Noah is wealthy and younger than


    you. Why not seize the opportunity?"


    Joseph''s expression suddenly stiffened and his blood rushed to his head. Age was evidently a sore


    spot for him. Noah was currently in his youthful prime, the epitome of trendy, young heartthrobs.


    Chloe noticed the change in Joseph''s icy demeanor and sneered. She shook the car keys in her


    hand to signify her intent to leave. However, her keen peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure


    in the distance.


    Her eyes shed, and she chose to go on the offensive instead of retreating. She looked eyes with


    Joseph as she hooked her fingers around his tie. Her voice turned soft and coquettish like a yful


    kitten. "Oh, are you jealous? Don''t like the idea of me being with Noah?"


    Chloe carried a faint fragrance, and what struck Joseph the most was that this scent was exactly


    the same as it was five years ago. It was the source of his endless daily torment. In seconds, his


    gaze flickered and his heart thumped fiercely. It was as if the person standing before him was not


    human but an enchanting seductress.


    Hisposure crumbled and was torn apart by an internal struggle, and his mouth acted faster


    than any other part of his body. He longed to confess to her that yes, he did not like her being with


    Noah. He had been waiting for her to return, so how could she be with someone else?


    "I¡ª"


    "Chloe! Let go of Joe!"


    Xavia''s voice reverberated with anger¡ªsharp and loud. It unsettled all those who heard it. Her


    interruption cut Joseph''s words short.


    Chloe smiled brightly, unafraid in the slightest. "What''s the matter?"


    "Aren¡¯t you ashamed of touching Joe in public? Are you still trying to cling to him?" Xavia''s anger


    surged, she pointed her finger usingly at Chloe as she berated her.


    Chloe nonchntly shrugged off the usations. "All that I''m doing now, you did them five years


    ago, so don''t act like you¡¯re better than me. I know exactly what kind of person you are."

 Chapter 688 Frieda’s Personal Information

    Chapter 688 Frieda¡¯s Personal Information


    ¡°At least I''m not seducing men in public." Xavia gritted her teeth.


    Chloe simply shrugged and concurred, "Of course not. You''re just exceptional at putting on a


    facade."


    An innocent flower in public, a scheming serpent in private.


    Xavia sneered. "You''ve been ying this act for five years now. No need for ttery." She had


    hoped to at least remain by Joseph''s side, even if she could not win his heart. But with this slut¡¯s


    return, her chances were now even slimmer than before.


    Tucking her hair behind her ear, Chloe casually remarked, "It has been five years, and you two


    haven¡¯t made anything official. How embarrassing."


    This had caught Chloe by surprise. She assumed that after posting online, Joseph woulde to


    Xavia¡¯s defense. But to her astonishment, theizens instead ridiculed Xavia and pointed out that


    she was not married into the Whitman family. Joseph remained single to this day and had distanced


    himself from Xavia. But although she was not a good person, he was not any better.


    "Shut up!" Xavia was stung by Chloe''s words, her face alternating between shades of red and white.


    She turned to Joseph and said, "Joe, I came to find you today because of the online rumors. The


    students at Jas¡¯ school are using it to attack him. We have to suppress the rumors."


    Joseph did not care for Xavia, but he cared for his son. Moreover, he saw Jasper as an


    extraordinary child, valuing and respecting his son¡¯s opinions. When public opinion had been


    brewing, he had sought Jasper''s input. Jasper''s response was that he did not care about other


    people''s opinions. Besides, intentionally suppressing trending rumors could be seen as "Where


    there''s smoke, there''s a fire.¡±


    "I''ve already told you that you no longer need to interfere in Jas'' affairs. As for custody rights, I''ve


    consulted with awyer and drafted up an agreement. If you have any objections, we can meet in


    court," Joseph coldly said.


    Xavia was taken aback, forcing out a smile as she kindly reminded him, "Joe, that''s not what we''re


    talking about right now."


    "There''s no need for us to discuss anything else."


    Her expression froze, unable to believe that Joseph would embarrass her like this.


    Lucas intervened right then. "Sir, the forum is about to start."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Having seen enough of themotion, Chloe waved to Frieda. "I¡¯m heading off now."


    Frieda nced at Chloe, then at Joseph. After a brief pause, she suggested, "Ms. Chloe, why don¡¯t


    youe with me? They say the forum will be very insightful."


    As a strange expression crossed her face, Chloe declined the invitation. Perhaps Frieda realized


    the awkwardness of the situation, so she smiled in embarrassment and entered the venue alone,


    clutching the invitation letter.


    Chloe started the car and hit the elerator, skillfully maneuvering the vehicle out of its parking


    space. Suddenly, a small figure stood in front of her car, extending their arms to block the way.


    With a raised eyebrow, she remarked, "Filling in for Xavia, are we?"


    The son appeared barely after the mother left. He must have been lurking in the shadows,


    observing the situation for quite some time.


    Jasper did not respond and instead got into the passenger seat. He then brought up a location on


    his phone¡¯s navigate app. "I want to take you somewhere."


    Chloe responded, "I don''t want to go, thanks."


    "Aren''t you curious about where we''re going?"


    "Nope, not all."


    Jasper remained unaffected by her indifference, calmly taking a sip of water before clearing his


    throat. "If you refuse to go with me, I''ll report you for attempting to kidnap a minor."


    "...Being as despicable as your father at such a young age isn¡¯t a good look," Chloe retorted.


    Jasper simply shrugged, appearing unfazed. "Let''s go then."


    *


    After Frieda entered Fairlight, Lucas quickly escorted her to the office. Before long, Joseph walked


    in, holding a file containing Frieda¡¯s personal information.

 Chapter 689 Is Xavia Aware of How You’re Treating Her?

    Chapter 689 Is Xavia Aware of How You¡¯re Treating Her?


    "Exotic Star''s interviewers had no idea you''ve been to prison, do they?" Joseph ced the file in


    front of Frieda.


    Frieda''s expression changed, but she did not disy panic. Instead, she looked calm and admitted,


    "Yes, I''ve been to prison."


    Joseph squinted and cast a dark gaze upon her as he remained silent. Frieda maintained her


    composure, keeping her eyes lowered to conceal her emotions.


    "Are you interested in finance?"


    Frieda pondered for a few seconds before replying, "Yes."


    "Lucas," Joseph called out.


    "Yes, Mr. Joseph?¡±


    "Arrange for Frieda to sit in the front row."


    A little perplexed, Lucas assumed that Joseph was doing this out of consideration for Chloe. He


    then led Frieda to her designated seat.


    Frieda gazed deeply at Joseph with hidden affection within her eyes. "Chloe isn¡¯t with Noah yet,¡±


    she said before walking out, her words implying that he still had a chance.


    Lucas quickly grasped the situation. Thisdy was indeed someone close to Chloe, and Joseph


    was looking for an opportunity to use her.


    Joseph looked back at Frieda, their eyes locking for the second time. It was an intimate gaze


    unrted to gender attraction. It felt as if they were familiar and close to each other for some


    reason.


    An incredible thought surged through his mind, leaving him momentarily absent-minded. But on the


    surface, Joseph remainedposed. He understood that all the concealment was necessary for


    the time being. All he could do now was cooperate and patiently wait for the next opportunity to


    meet alone.


    *


    Following the navigation Jasper had provided, Chloe drove to where the Johnson Group used to be.


    A hint of doubt appeared in her eyes. "Are you sure the navigation¡¯s correct?"


    "Yea, it''s here." Jasper pointed out a spot not far from the building. "This candy store, do you


    remember it?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Chloe followed his gaze. The two abbreviated letters on the sign reminded her that Joseph had


    opened this candy store because he despised Noah buying her candy. The store was named after


    both her and Joseph.


    She was surprised. "It¡¯s still open?"


    "It can go bankrupt anytime now, but Daddy¡¯s a major client and invests in them heavily every year.


    You¡¯re now able to enjoy their candies as soon as you''re back."


    "Oh, that means this store still has value."


    Jasper took a deep breath. "Are you allergic to love?"


    "Just allergic to him."


    "You were flirting with him earlier. I saw everything."


    Chloe tilted her head. "Did it make you angry to see that?"


    "You were exchanging insults, but you didn''t get physical," Jasper said earnestly.


    "You''re right."


    A few insults would not do much harm.


    Jasper then took out a carefully written letter from his backpack and proceeded to read it in a


    serious tone.


    "My daddy still has feelings for you. He repurchased thepany you sold, and it''s now being


    managed well. He only meets with Xavia asionally to discuss things about me and maintains a


    superficial rtionship with her even in private. It''s Xavia who keeps bothering him, so you don''t


    have to worry about that.


    "As for you and Daddy reconciling, you don''t need to worry about that either. Just make sure to pay


    child support on time. To reduce my presence, I¡¯ll stay at the school dorms. And when you two


    decide to have your own children, I won''t fight for the family assets, but I do expect a share.


    "That''s all I can think of for now. If there''s anything missing or unclear, I hope you¡¯ll consider it


    carefully."


    Chloe found it hard to believe that a five-year-old had said such mature and reasonable words. After


    marveling at his wisdom, she asked, "Is Xavia aware of how her biological son is treating her?¡±

 Chapter 690 Sincerity Begets Sincerity, Even With Parents

    Chapter 690 Sincerity Begets Sincerity, Even With Parents


    Jasper remained expressionless. "So what if she knows? I believe in treating people well if they


    treat me well. Sincerity begets sincerity, even with parents."


    Xavia gave him life, but it was not something he asked for. Since she made the decision to have


    him, she should be responsible for him. It should not be constant scolding and treating him like an


    enemy.


    He had reflected on himself many times, questioning if his grades were not high enough or if he was


    not obedient enough... He had tried to do better, yet she still did not like him. He could not


    understand it, but he firmly believed he was not at fault.


    Chloe observed Jasper attentively. He appeared to be a cool and indifferent child, unaffected by


    anything. However, upon closer observation, one would notice the hint of sadness in his dark,


    shining eyes whenever Xavia was mentioned.


    A pang of heartache washed over Chloe. She empathized with the feeling of not being recognized


    by elders. She let out an inaudible sigh before asking, "Does Joseph treat you well?"


    "Yes, Daddy respects me and loves me, so I hope that he finds happiness," Jasper said,


    maintaining direct eye contact with her. "Can you make my daddy happy?"


    "No," Chloe rejected decisively, reaching out to ruffle his little head. "Adult matters aren¡¯t your


    concern. Just remember that it''s impossible between your father and me. Come on, I''ll take you


    home."


    Jasper furrowed his brows. "I¡¯ll help Daddy win you back."


    Chloe smiled in amusement, finding his innocence charming.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    While driving, she realized that the car was running low on fuel. As they passed a gas station, she


    said to Jasper, "Wait a moment. I need to refuel."


    Jasper did not respond and followed her out of the car to get some fresh air.


    "Mommy, that boy over there is the first of our ss.¡±


    A young girl''s innocent voice came from nearby. Busy paying for fuel, Chloe did not pay much


    attention to it. The girl''s mother looked at Jasper with delight.


    "Hello, young man. I often see the teacher praising you in our ss group."


    Jasper maintained a distant expression. "Hello."


    "I hear that you have excellent grades in all subjects. Who are the tutors your family hired for you?"


    "I don''t have tutors," he replied truthfully.


    The mother''s smile wavered. Her expression bore a hint of suspicion. "Does your family not allow


    you to talk about it? It''s okay, you can tell me. I promise not to tell anyone."


    Jasper''s impatience grew. "I¡¯ve never had tutors. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."


    "You sure have an attitude! You expect me to believe that you don''t have a tutor and yet your


    grades are so impressive? Liese out of your mouth so easily despite your young age.¡±


    The woman scoffed. Her own daughter had tutoring sses three days a week and attended


    extracurricr sses, yet her grades barely made it to the top five. It was incredibly hard to


    believe that this child could achieve such good grades without any tutoring.


    "Do you have any evidence to prove that I''m lying? Or are you simply maliciously attacking my


    achievements out of jealousy?" Jasper''s displeasure was evident on his cold and stern face.


    The woman sneered. "Your anger is the best evidence."


    "Don''t you get angry when others doubt you? Should we remain as emotionless as a log? You¡¯re as


    dumb as theye," Jasper retorted, no longer interested in entertaining this boring woman.


    As he turned to head back to the car, the furious woman grabbed his arm. Shemanded in a


    voice dripping with malice, "Apologize right now, or you''ll regret it."


    How dare this boy curse at her. Was he looking for trouble?


    The woman¡¯s grip hurt Jasper, and he retaliated by biting her hand.


    "Ow, ow!"


    The gas station filled with the woman''s pained shouts. They echoed like the sounds of a pig being


    ughtered.


    Chloe, just having paid, returned and spotted the crying woman as the bystanders scolded Jasper.


    She pushed through the crowd and looked at him sternly. "What happened?"

 Chapter 691 Does It Feel Good to Be Mistrusted?

    Chapter 691 Does It Feel Good to Be Mistrusted?


    Before Jasper could speak, the woman jumped in andined, "Your son bit my hand. You have


    topensate me."


    Chloe examined the bite marks on the woman''s hand and then turned to Jasper. "Is that what


    happened?"


    "She scolded me first. She also pinched me, so I bit her," Jasper said truthfully.


    "Nonsense! This child only knows how to lie. Why would I, an adult, hit him?" the woman


    vehemently denied. Pulling her daughter close, she asked, "Did you see me scold him?"


    The little girl, with her mother fiercely winking at her, said softly, "Mommy didn''t hit him or scold him."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Jasper could not believe that his ssmate would sell him out.


    The woman, having achieved her goal, smugly extended her hand and demanded, "You heard her.


    Compensate me."


    Chloe stood her ground and pointed toward the gas station''s surveince camera. "I''m willing to


    compensate you, but first, let''s review the surveince footage together. If your ount matches


    what actually happened, I''llpensate ordingly."


    The woman''s face changed. She pulled her daughter¡¯s hand and started walking away. "If you don''t


    want topensate me, then don''t. What a pretender."


    Chloe rolled her eyes at the woman''s theatrics, then turned to reassure Jasper with aforting


    look. "Stay here. I''ll get the surveince footage just in case she causes more trouble."


    Fifteen minutester, Chloe sent the surveince video to Jasper. Staring at the phone, he


    murmured to himself, "You believe in me more than her."


    Every time something happened, that woman would immediately put the me on him and never


    give him a chance to exin. He had only known Chloe for a short time, yet she had stood up for


    him, and it felt nice.


    Chloe raised an eyebrow teasingly. "You''re too easily moved."


    With his emotions exposed, Jasper disyed some uneasiness. He cleared his throat and turned to


    look out the window as if trying to conceal something.


    Soon, Chloe arrived at the vi. After watching Jasper go inside, she turned the car around to leave


    as someone in a red car made their move. They suddenly elerated and headed for the rear of


    Chloe¡¯s car. Having long noticed the car, she quickly swerved to avoid the collision. The oing


    car spun out of control and crashed into a nearby road sign, creating a loud noise upon impact.


    Chloe refrained from getting out of her car and instead quickly grabbed her phone to photograph the


    red car''s license te. She then immediately made a call to report the incident to the authorities. As


    she exined the situation to the 911 dispatcher, a woman stumbled out of the red car. She red


    in Chloe''s direction and quickly disappeared from sight.


    Chloe smiled. Something about that woman''s figure reminded her of Xavia.


    *


    At 8 in the evening, Chloe stormed into Joseph''s presence and mmed the photos she had taken


    onto the table. "Control Xavia and don''t y with fire. You¡¯ll end up harming yourself and others."


    Josephced his fingers over his chest, adopting a superior posture, and replied, "I''ve checked the


    license te number. That isn''t Xavia''s car."


    "I know. It belongs to Megan, a good friend of Xavia''s. Shouldn''t you use your brains before


    showing bias?" Chloe felt exasperated, and her face filled with disdain.


    Whether intentional or not, a smile tugged at Joseph''s lips. "You expect me to believe you just


    because of a license te?"


    "Fine, forget the whole thing if you don''t believe me," Chloe replied with a hint of frustration.


    She had only wanted to warn Joseph about Xavia, concerned about her current state of mind and


    her ability to take care of Jasper properly. But if he was going to y dumb, there was no point in


    continuing the conversation.


    As she stood up to leave, Joseph gripped her arm. His intense gaze bore into hers as he asked,


    "Does it feel good to be mistrusted by others?"


    "Are you crazy?" Chloe snapped.


    Wasting no time, Joseph presented a set of blueprints. "These are the floor ns of the hospital


    where the fire happened. There''s a secret passage in the operating room where you were. Even the


    current hospital director is unaware of its existence. Care to guess how Noah managed to rescue


    you so timely?"

 Chapter 692 No Wonder He Was Feeling Inexplicably Hot

    Chapter 692 No Wonder He Was Feeling Inexplicably Hot


    Chloe took the blueprints and examined them carefully. After a moment, she calmly returned them


    to Joseph. "Even if Noah knew all of this, I wouldn''t care."


    She realized that if Noah had intended to harm her, she could have easily be a victim. In fact,


    he not only saved her but also helped uncover her familial roots and brought her back to the


    Sullivan family. The Sullivans possessed immense wealth, and with Noah being involved with them


    since childhood, it was natural for people to suspect him of having ulterior motives. But Chloe felt in


    her heart that Noah had no hidden agenda. She felt that he genuinely cared for her and treated her


    with kindness.


    Joseph noticed her high regard for this man, and his expression darkened. "Noah is cunning.


    Sooner orter, he¡¯ll deceive you and leave you nothing. You''ll regret not believing me."


    "Well, I believed you once, and we all know how that turned out." Chloe smiled brilliantly, but her


    eyes held mockery. "Mr. Joseph, handle the car ident properly. If I don''t get a satisfactory result,


    I won''t hesitate to make a scene over it."


    With that, she emptied the contents of her wine ss and left the scene.


    *


    Joseph stormed toward Xavia¡¯s apartment, impatiently kicking the door open to vent his anger.


    Xavia was sitting at the dining table, preparing children''s snacks. When she saw him, a hint of panic


    shed through her eyes. "Joe, why are you here¡ª-"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Apologize to Chloe," he cut her off, leaving no room for refusal.


    Xavia forced an awkward smile. "For what?"


    Joseph''s patience wore thin. "You used Megan''s car to track Chloe, then attempted to cause an


    ident and harm her. Do I need to spell it out for you?"


    To be honest, Joseph was skeptical when he first heard the news. He knew Xavia was jealous of


    Chloe, but he did not believe she would be so bold to take such extreme actions. Megan was


    currently an artist rising in poprity, and she cared deeply about her reputation. Despite their


    friendship, it seemed unlikely that she would go to such lengths.


    "It wasn''t me. I was home all afternoon," Xavia denied, putting on a fake concerned expression.


    "Maybe Megan identally hit Chloe. Don''t be angry. Let''s call her and confirm it, okay?"


    "Is calling necessary? You probably already coordinated your story in advance. Are you sure you


    want to keep trying to deceive me?" Joseph¡¯s brow furrowed and he felt deeply disappointed. He


    suddenly understood why Jasper never liked his mother.


    Xavia was left speechless. She lowered her eyes, and a few tears dropped to the ground. "If you


    believe it''s me, I have nothing more to say. Let me change my clothes and I''ll go with you."


    As he silently watched her head to the bedroom, a cold light grew in his eyes.


    At the Sullivan manor, Chloe had just taken a shower. She emerged with an airy, strapless, mini-


    dress. Water droplets adorned her face, entuating her fair and beautifulplexion. The floor


    heating provided ample warmth, and aside from the few house helpers who asionally came up


    to clean, nobody came up here. Not even Noah or Desmond. This entire floor was her private


    space, so she dressed as she pleased.


    Joseph suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs. "What are you wearing?¡± His gaze was dark and


    wolf-like as it fixed on her.


    Chloe was startled and then blushed. "Who let you in?"


    "I''m asking, what are you wearing? Aren''t you afraid of freezing in this cold weather?" Joseph''s tone


    was cold and tinged with a hint of jealousy. Had she seduced Noah and won him over with this


    method?


    "Dude, there''s underfloor heating here. It¡¯s really warm. Besides, it''s none of your business what I


    wear."


    Joseph paused and tugged at his cor in annoyance. No wonder he was feeling inexplicably hot.

 Chapter 693 He Had Never Truly Let Go of Her

    Chapter 693 He Had Never Truly Let Go of Her


    Seeing that Joseph made no move to leave, she smiled sarcastically. "Have you had your fill?"


    A hint of desire shed through his eyes as he turned away. "Change ande downstairs."


    "For what?¡±


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Xavia¡¯s downstairs."


    Chloe raised an eyebrow, the teasing evident on her face. "Duly noted."


    Today was Exotic Star''s board meeting, and Desmond and Noah were still at the office. Chloe was


    unsure when they would get back. If she ran into them dressed like this, it would be an awkward


    encounter. Indeed, she should change.


    During the wait, Joseph''s mind filled with images of Chloe''s alluring figure. He had never truly let go


    of her. The temptation was strong, and it left his typically cold and charming face looking somewhat


    absent-minded.


    Xavia tried to speak to him several times but failed to elicit a response from him. Seeing him in such


    a bewitched state, she clenched her fists in anger. She should havee here alone to resolve


    things so as to avoid increasing the chances of Joseph and Chloe running into each other.


    Chloe casually put on a bathrobe andzily made her way downstairs. She satnguidly in a wide


    teakwood chair and said indifferently, "Let''s get started."


    Even though Xavia had countless objections, she had no choice but to lower her head. "My friend


    Megan identally hit you earlier, Ms. Chloe. I¡¯d like to apologize on her behalf."


    Upon hearing this, Joseph''s brows furrowed deeply.


    Chloe sneered. "Your friend? But what I saw was clearly your silhouette." As she spoke, she


    brought up the photos on her phone andpared them to Xavia''s face, pretending to be puzzled.


    "Height, figure... Ah, even the shoes are the same."


    Xavia turned pale and felt her legs shake. She held onto the edge of the table as if she were the


    victim. "The shoes were a gift from Megan. She has a pair herself. I came here sincerely to seek


    your forgiveness on Megan¡¯s behalf. There''s no need to assume the worst of everyone."


    "Okay, fine, I ept your apology." Chloe surprisingly did not give Xavia a hard time. She waved as


    if dismissing an unimportant person, "You may leave now. I want to sleep."


    Chloe was not a magnanimous person, but now was not the best time to settle scores. In two days,


    a certain someone would be having a concert. That would be the perfect time to execute her ns.


    Xavia was just getting started with the tears, not expecting the whole ordeal to be over so quickly.


    She looked a little dazed as she stared at Chloe.


    Joseph pondered for a few seconds and said seriously, "If you have any requests, you can make


    them. But Xavia is Jas¡¯ mother, so let''s not blow this out of proportion and burden the child."


    "Wow, you actually remember that she''s a mother." Chloe could not help defending Jasper. "Has


    she ever cared about her child? Do you guys even know if Jasper is happy at school?"


    "I do know. Jas is doing well in his studies and gets along with his ssmates. These are personal


    matters you have no right to inquire about."


    Xavia became agitated when Jasper was mentioned. Upon closer inspection, one would detect the


    guilt and fear in her eyes. She was afraid that the secret would be exposed.


    "You''re right. I have no right to interfere. It''s time for you to go. I won''t see you out." Chloe stared


    straight at Joseph. After pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and continued, "Whether it''s


    adults or children, outstanding individuals will always face jealousy from those around them."


    As soon as Chloe blurted out these words that were weighing on her, she immediately regretted it.


    She did not know what hade over her. Though the child belonged to someone else, she cared


    deeply for him.


    "It''s normal for children to be rowdy. You don¡¯t have to worry about it, Joe. Jas is a role model


    among his peers, and I¡¯m well aware of his situation at school," Xavia said calmly, contradicting


    Chloe and implying that she was making a big deal out of nothing.


    "Is that so?" Joseph remained expressionless, but his serene and unfathomable eyes seemed to


    see through everyone¡¯s thoughts, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    Xavia forced herself to appearposed. "Of course, I''ve asked the teachers in private many


    times."


    *


    Upon exiting the Sullivan manor, they encountered Noah returning from the office. His gaze fell on


    Joseph and Xavia, and his pupils contracted. He quickly approached them and questioned, "What


    brings you here sote at night, Mr. Joseph?"

 Chapter 694 A Helpless Woman With No One to Rely On

    Chapter 694 A Helpless Woman With No One to Rely On


    Joseph met Noah''s gaze and smiled mockingly. "What are you afraid of?"


    Noah remainedposed and smiled. "Come now. If someone breaks into your house in the


    middle of the night, wouldn''t you be afraid?"


    "Is that even possible? Did someone shout ''thief¡¯ or something?"


    Noah''s smile faded slightly, and annoyance flickered across his face. "Maybe Coco didn''t satisfy


    you enough, so you''re now bothering me?"


    Radiating displeasure and coldness, Joseph was clearly in a bad mood. Besides Chloe, who else


    could have caused him such difort?


    Joseph was unwilling to say more, simply remaining silent and looking Noah over coldly. He then


    drove away, leaving Noah and Xavia in the front yard.


    Xavia watched the car speed off into the distance, gritting her teeth in dissatisfaction. He had left


    her in the dark, leaving her to make her own way home alone.


    Joseph was an emotionless hunk of rock.


    Noah, however, had his eyes fixed on the third floor of the manor. A light was on in Chloe''s room,


    and the bright light reflected off his tall and elegant figure, making him shine like a guiding light on


    the road ahead. He slowly withdrew his gaze. His eyshes covered up the possessiveness in his


    eyes.


    "Five years have passed and you''re still making no progress?"


    Xavia had failed in conquering Joseph¡¯s heart. Now, she had also failed to gain Jasper''s favor. A


    valuable chess piece was wasted just like that.


    "How dare you say that. You haven''t won over Chloe either," Xavia retorted.


    "Rest assured, I haven''t failed as miserably as you."


    He had not won over Chloe yet, but that was because he had never made his intentions clear.


    Currently, he and Chloe were much closer than ever before, but he understood her personality and


    realized that rushing things would only push her away. Patience was key, and he was willing to wait


    for the right moment.


    Xavia''s face flushed with frustration at Noah''s words. "Keep Eustace in check and don''t let him


    come near me," she demanded firmly.


    "Don''t bother Coco anymore," he said calmly. He then considered for a moment before suggesting


    innocently, "Or you could disappear from this city altogether."


    He believed there was no hope for her rtionship with Joseph as his heart was already upied


    by Chloe. On top of that, Xavia''s presence might only lead to more encounters between Joseph and


    Chloe.


    Xavia was taken aback. "Are you nning to kill me?"


    "Tsk, I¡¯m not as ruthless as Duskfall. It was just a figure of speech. Consider moving to another city.


    After all, Joseph will never show interest in you anymore."


    Xavia was infuriated. Grinding her teeth, she said, "Don''t even think about it! We''re in the same


    boat!"


    She felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction¡ªa genuine unwillingness to ept the facts. Why did all


    the outstanding men in the world gravitate toward Chloe? They even mistreated her just to please


    Chloe. She was a helpless woman with no one to rely on.


    Noah chuckled. "I''ll bestow you a handsome sum of money if you do. Give it some thought."


    *


    Chloe was reading in her room when she heard a knock on the door. She put down her book and


    subconsciously nced at the blueprints on the bedside table. After a moment of contemtion,


    she responded, "Come in."


    The door opened, and Noah entered. He had not bothered to change beforeing here, looking


    impressive in his formal attire. From afar, he looked like a handsome and robust young man.


    "Oh, has the meeting ended?" Chloe blinked, curious about his sudden appearance.


    "Yes, we had a few matters to discuss, so it dragged on a littlete. Grandfather¡¯s staying the night


    at the vi near the office. He doesn''t feel like traveling back right now."


    "Yeah, spending the night there should be good for him. Get the driver to pick him up tomorrow."


    Noah pulled out a chair from under the table and sat down, asking casually, "Why did Josephe


    to see you?"


    Chloe shrugged and recounted what happened today.


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Noah stood up and looked over her from head to toe. "Did you get hurt?"


    "No, I sensed something was off early on and was prepared."


    "That''s good. Did Joseph mention anything else? I bumped into him when I got back, and he


    seemed off."


    Chloe clenched the book in her hand and fell silent for a few seconds. "There is another thing."

 Chapter 695 You Rescuing Me Was Premeditated

    Chapter 695 You Rescuing Me Was Premeditated


    Noah noticed her little gestures and softened his voice, gently coaxing, "What''s wrong? Did Joseph


    bully you again?"


    Chloe paused. A hint of emotion flickered across her fair face. She hesitated for a moment, knowing


    deep down that Noah was the one who treated her well. She then took out the blueprints and


    handed them to him. "Actually, it''s nothing. He just gave me this."


    Noah walked over and examined the blueprints. He quickly recognized them as the structural ns


    of the hospital where the fire had taken ce.


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe stared into Noah''s eyes and said, "Joseph told me that your rescuing me was premeditated."


    Noah looked up. His eyes looked clear and honest. "Do you believe that?"


    "I don''t," she replied decisively. Some individuals and situations were known only to oneself, and


    she had a clear opinion in her heart.


    Noah calmly continued. "I''ve been aware of the unique design of this hospital for quite some time.


    The architect behind it is the father of one of my high school ssmates. We used to spend time


    together, and I came across the designs by chance. The secret passage was in use back then, but


    as time passed, with fewer emergency situations and changes in leadership, fewer people came to


    know about it."


    "I see." Chloe picked up a ss and took a sip of water, her smile retaining its warmth. "I knew I


    could trust you not to lie to me. Joseph just can''t stand to see others doing well."


    Noah gazed at her radiant smile and flexed his fingertips. He then looked away, saying, "He''s just


    concerned about your well-being and is afraid that you might be tricked."


    Chloe let out a tired yawn. "Don''t defend him."


    If he really cared about her, why had he waited until now to show it?


    "Okay, okay. You must be tired so get some rest. You have to go to work tomorrow."


    "Mhm, goodnight then."


    Noah chuckled softly as he helped turn off the lights. "Goodnight."


    *


    For two consecutive days, life was peaceful. But on this particr day, after getting off work, Chloe


    made her way to Xavia''s recital. The venue was filled with an audience mainlyposed of middle-


    aged men and young art enthusiasts, all drawn to Xavia''s particr style.


    Chloe found her seat and sat down.


    "This ticket from a scalper cost me three times the original price. It wasn''t easy to get it."


    "Be content that you even managed to score a ticket. Three times the price isn''t too bad."


    "Yeah, I agree. It''s a pity that Xavia¡¯s already married. Otherwise, she¡¯d be even more popr right


    now."


    "Hmph, I never liked that Joseph guy. He''s just a little rich and a little good-looking. What''s so good


    about him? He¡¯s a divorcee."


    "Exactly! I don''t understand why Joseph''s ex-wife just doesn¡¯t reconcile with him. She just had to


    bring trouble to Xavia."


    "Then why did she bring trouble to me?"


    A sudden clear and bright voice sliced through the noisy atmosphere like lightning on a summer''s


    day. Nearby fans were stunned, their attention now drawn to the center of the audience seats.


    There sat a slender and tall woman. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and a striking fiery red dress.


    The brim of the hat concealed most of her face, leaving only a pair of captivating, fiery red lips


    visible. Those lips looked as if they held the power to enchant the entire world.


    At that moment, the lights above dimmed. Xavia, dressed in a pristine white gown, gracefully took


    the stage. However, Chloe had clearly stolen the spotlight, outshining even the main performer who


    was in a designer dress.


    Fans suddenly felt that Xavia''s performance wasckluster as she had a tendency to favor in-


    colored dresses. While elegant, itcked a certain element of novelty, causing the audience to grow


    somewhat disinterested and tired of it.


    Though Xavia sensed theck of enthusiasm from the crowd and felt confused, she remained


    composed as she began to y. As the piece came to a close, the response from the audience was


    tepid at best and the apuse was sparse. Just as she began to question if her skills had somehow


    declined, the cameraman''s focus shifted to the audience, and Chloe''s image appeared on the big


    screen.


    Xavia instantly noticed Chloe. Her hands holding her violin trembled and she abruptly stopped


    ying. Her face disyed shock, panic, anger, and a sea of other emotions.


    Chloe lifted the brim of her hat to reveal her face as she gazed at Xavia with a look of amusement


    as if watching a y.


    The orchestra beside Xavia continued to y. Somewhat puzzled, they whispered to Xavia, "Keep


    going. Don''t stop."

 Chapter 696 Disappear or Ruin Xavia Completely

    Chapter 696 Disappear or Ruin Xavia Completely


    Xavia clenched her fists. Her fingernails dug into her palm. Ignoring the pain, she calmed herself


    and restarted the performance. However, it was far from satisfactory. Even the non-musicians in the


    audience could tell that something was amiss.


    This was undoubtedly a significant mishap in her career.


    "What''s going on? Is there something wrong with my hearing?" someone wondered aloud.


    "Her performance is so¡­ It''s even worse than my nephew," another voice said.


    "Maybe Vee isn''t feeling well today. Let''s cut her some ck," a sympathetic voice offered.


    Finally, her manager backstage decided toe out and apologized on behalf of Xavia and her


    team. "We are terribly sorry about today¡¯s performance. Vee has been battling a cold for several


    days, and she¡¯s not at her best. We''ll refund all the tickets for today''s show."


    Agitated, Xavia asked, "What? You''re refunding all the tickets?"


    "Yes. You''re the one who messed up the performance, so you need to clean up the mess," the


    manager said.


    Frustrated, Xavia said, "But someone did this to me!"


    "We¡¯ll talk about thatter. The most important thing right now is to appease your fans. You


    understand the difference between a one-time loss and a lifelong loss, right?"


    Taking a deep breath, Xavia forced a bitter smile and began apologizing to the audience


    remorsefully, and her fans responded with understanding and support. Just when it seemed that the


    tables had turned, Chloe took out her phone and sent a message. The next second, Xavia''s photos


    from before she became famous appeared on therge screen on the stage.


    In the photos, she was seen intimately posing with various wealthy businessmen, some even


    suggested involvement in inappropriate activities. Acquiring these photos had been challenging. If it


    were not for one businessman facing bankruptcy, he would not have sold the pictures.


    Chloe stood up from her seat, relishing the sight of Xavia breaking down. She had nned it all


    from the beginning. It was either she disappeared or ruined Xaviapletely. In the past, she might


    have chosen the former. But she now had the power to take revenge thanks to the support of the


    Sullivans, so why should she hold back?


    Her recent post online was just an appetizer. This time, she would make sure to push Xavia deep


    into the abyss.


    "Did I make a mistake? Is that Vee in the pictures?" someone questioned in disbelief.


    "I must be seeing things. This must be a dream. I can''t believe what I just saw."


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ugh, what an eyesore. I thought she was a puredy who loves only music."


    "This is tant deception! She cheated our feelings! I want a refund!"


    Overwhelming waves of condemnation flooded in one after another, and Xavia''s face turned pale.


    She staggered backward, her face contorted and eyes bloodshot. She pointed at Chloe and


    shouted, ¡°You! You did this, didn''t you? You had someone hack the backstage equipment. You¡¯re a


    snake! How could you expose me in public? Are you trying to push me into my grave?!"


    The manager panicked and yelled, "Security, get her out of here!"


    "What''s the rush? We haven''t presented the flowers yet."


    Noah walked out from backstage and pped his hands. Several staff members carried over a


    white wreath and ced it before Xavia. When everyone saw the items, some froze in silence while


    others screamed in fear.


    Xavia''s face turned ashen as she stared at Noah. Her throat felt raw, and she was unable to utter a


    word. At the same time, the photos on the screen gave way to a picture of Xavia scolding Jasper at


    a party.

 Chapter 697 Why? Did Someone Make You Do This?

    Chapter 697 Why? Did Someone Make You Do This?


    Xavia''s face was pale as she stared at the white wreath in front of her. Through the corner of her


    eyes, she caught sight of a fruit knife on the table in the backstage resting room. Suddenly, she was


    overwhelmed by the feeling of tearing Noah and Chloe to pieces.


    Her manager did not notice the changes in her demeanor. He nervously pointed at Noah and


    stammered, "M-Mr. Noah, we never slighted you in any way. Why are you treating us this way? Did


    someone make you do this?"


    Before Noah could respond, Chloe walked up to the stage and sneered. "We''re just telling the truth.


    I have the right to let her fans know the truth, don''t I?"


    "Oh my gosh. Is all that real?"


    "I can''t believe I thought Vee was a faithful woman. Joseph must''ve discovered her true nature a


    long time ago."


    "That short-haired woman¡¯s Chloe. She''s Joseph¡¯s ex-wife, right? She did Vee one dirty. Today is


    supposed to be Vee''s concert, but she presented Vee with a wreath. How wicked."


    Stop calling her Vee. It''s sickening. She''s a whore. Those wealthy businessmen must beughing at


    us for treating her like a treasure."


    When these discussions reached Xavia''s ears, her blood turned cold. She never expected Chloe to


    expose her past so publically. How would she continue on in the musical world after such a


    revtion? The image she had painstakingly maintained for years had been shattered in an instant.


    Her manager was no better off. He did not want to face Noah head-on, so he aimed his anger


    toward Chloe and said, "Aren¡¯t private matters better discussed in private? You deliberately picked a


    "Sure, let''s see each other in court then," Chloe replied nonchntly.


    The manager was infuriated. He called for security once again, hoping to end this farce.


    Xavia remained frozen in ce. Her blood boiled as immense embarrassment engulfed her. She


    was on the verge of exploding as she stared daggers at Chloe.


    "Who are you to criticize me? Do you think you''ve won just because you managed to find a few


    photoshopped pictures? I don''t even know those people in the pictures. I''ve seen these sorts of


    tricks many times. And why are you trying to involve my child in this? Do you think you can get back


    to Joe through Jas? You¡¯re so naive! Jas my son!"


    Listening to Xavia''s string of usations, Chloe chuckled. "You''re right. I am naive, but I think


    you¡¯re even more so. Naive enough to keep lying when the evidence is right before your eyes. Do


    you want me to show everyone the video?"


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Anyone with a sane mind would be able to guess the nature of the video. At this point, everyone


    knew that Chloe was right. Inparison, Xavia''s defense appeared utterly unconvincing.


    The manager was dumbstruck. The photos had already caused quite a ruckus. If Chloe released a


    video too, the situation would escte beyond control. He could not handle it anymore and dragged


    Xavia away with him. Noah looked at Chloe, but she shook her head to indicate that there was no


    need to stop them.


    As Xavia walked past Chloe, thetter smiled brightly and flipped her the finger. Filled with rage,


    Xavia struggled to catch her breath and copsed on the stage. The chaotic event concluded with


    her being taken away in an ambnce.


    Once Noah was done, Desmond found out about their shenanigans and called him to inquire about


    the situation. Chloe swiftly snatched the phone and used her charms to deceive him, and


    sessfully got away with it.


    Noah sighed helplessly, "Someone must¡¯ve told Grandpa. There¡¯s no way he could have found out


    so quickly."


    Just as Chloe was about to say something, her phone started ringing. She assumed it was


    Desmond, but to her surprise, it was from a certain scumbag ex-boyfriend.

 Chapter 698 He Might Go After Chloe

    Chapter 698 He Might Go After Chloe


    Noah craned his neck to look at her phone. "Joseph?"


    Chloe rejected the call and said, "Yeah. Who else would be so concerned about Xavia?"


    Chuckling, Noah continued, "He won''t give up so easily."


    In the next second, Chloe''s phone rang again. It was the same number. She did not answer, nor did


    she block his number. While Xavia had messed with her rtionship, the person who truly


    disappointed her was Joseph. Though she could not do anything to him, she would strive to make


    his life a living hell.


    *


    In a private lounge, Samuel scrolled through the news on his phone andughed uproariously.


    "Hahahaha, this isedy gold. Look at Xavia. She¡¯s as pale as a corpse."


    Nathan chuckled. "Yeah, this is the first time I''ve seen her lose herposure like this. Chloe really


    went all out this time. She has a different vibe about her now.¡±


    Chloe was incapable of such ruthlessness in the past.


    Stroking his chin, Samuel nodded in agreement. "She cut her long hair short. But Joe, it''s better to


    find a way to suppress this news. It may not affect you much, but Jas is just a child. He might be


    overwhelmed when he reads thements. After all, Xavia is still his mother. Seeing these photos


    of her might make him react impulsively and go after Chloe."


    Joseph raised his head and said, "Jas has never told anyone that Xavia is his mother."


    Samuel fell silent for a moment before saying, "That''s different. Even if he doesn''t acknowledge


    Xavia, it doesn''t change the fact that she¡¯s his mother and people might use that against him."


    Being awyer, he had a keen understanding of the darker aspects of human nature. People in


    positions of power were particrly vulnerable. Every action they took could be exploited by those


    who were jealous.


    "I know what I''m doing," Joseph replied, "How would this behavior be treated legally?"


    "It depends on how we handle the situation. But even if someone sued Chloe over this, she''ll


    probablye out of it unscathed. She has the Sullivans at her back and Noah is involved as well.


    They won''t leave her hanging."


    When Joseph heard Noah''s name, his face sank.


    Nathan thought of something and interrupted, "How¡¯s Harold?"


    "He hasn''t woken up yet."


    "What about those people?"


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "There have been a few suspicious people spotted near the family house recently."


    "Are they from the Duskfall?"


    "Probably."


    ¡°Then can we confirm that Duskfall was behind what happened?" Nathan concluded.


    "Yes." Joseph furrowed his brow and replied, "We¡¯ve already found out the identities of the people


    who visited The Whispering Willow. They aren¡¯t from Duskfall, but Duskfall did interfere several


    times during the investigation. Moreover, there are two individuals who are quite suspicious."


    "Two?" Samuel asked, "Who?"


    "Xavia and Noah''s assistant."


    It was clear to him that Xavia and Eustace had been up to something in the room. However, he did


    not care about what it was. He just needed concrete evidence.


    Samuel was surprised but soon regained hisposure and said disdainfully, "Xavia hasn''t


    changed."


    She felt lonely after failing to capture Joseph''s attention, so she flirted with someone else.


    *


    When Chloe woke up the next morning, the first thing she saw on her phone was a statement from


    the Whitman Group.

 Chapter 699 Taking Action Before Consulting Her

    Chapter 699 Taking Action Before Consulting Her


    Chloe was half awake as she nced at her phone. She suddenly saw something that caused her


    to spring up from the bed. As her mind gradually cleared, she looked at her phone again before


    setting it aside to freshen up.


    During breakfast, Desmond frowned and said, "I saw the announcement from the Whitman Group.


    Joseph seems to be siding with you."


    This was not a good thing. Rather than siding with Chloe, Desmond hoped that Joseph would fall


    out with them. After all, the Sullivans were a powerful family. It would save Chloe and Noah a lot of


    unnecessary trouble when they got marriedter.


    Taking a bite of her sandwich, Chloe said nonchntly, "Is it possible that Joseph isn''t taking my


    side, but rather, he has been wanting to cut ties with Xavia for a long time? Besides, this will benefit


    his son too."


    The press release stated three points. First, Joseph and Xavia were never married and their child


    was raised solely by Joseph. Second, both parties never interfered in each other''s rtionships and


    were independent individuals. Third, this agreement was reached five years ago. It was not made in


    the spur of the moment.


    The statement clearlyid down the line between Joseph and Xavia. However, the articles about


    Xavia had disappeared, and it was obvious who was behind it. While he was cutting ties with her, he


    helped her to clean up her mess. Chloe wondered if he was doing this because of Jasper or


    something else.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Desmond did not argue with Chloe''s viewpoint. After contemting for a while, he said, "Chloe,


    come to my study after you¡¯re done with breakfast."


    "Okay."


    Noah had been sitting there quietly. His eyes gleamed with understanding as he turned his gaze


    toward Desmond.


    Inside the study, Desmond looked at Chloe and asked, "What do you think of Noah?"


    "He''s good. In terms of character, appearance, and family background, he''s outstanding among his


    peers.¡±


    "I think you two are quitepatible. If you two get married, you''ll have more time to spend with


    me," Desmond said.


    Chloe froze and understanding dawned upon her. She replied, "Grandpa, Noah treats me well, but


    compared to a romantic rtionship between lovers, weck that spark."


    "Isn''t treating you well good enough?" Desmond countered, "Feelings can be cultivated. Will you


    find someone more suitable than Noah to marry?"


    At the beginning of a rtionship, there might be novelty and love, but as time went on, love


    transformed into familial affection. That was where the real test began. Rather than finding someone


    she loved, it was better to find someone who loved her.


    Chloe lowered her gaze and pondered. Desmond was right. It would be challenging for her to find


    someone more outstanding and suitable than Noah. Besides, she had learned to enjoy being single


    and did not have a strong desire for a romantic rtionship.


    Watching her contemte in silence, Desmond took a sip from his teacup and said, "There¡¯s a good


    date at the end of this month. You and Noah can get engaged then. We can discuss further details


    later."


    "Grandpa, I¡ª"


    "It''s decided then. Trust me, all the choices I make are in your best interests," Desmond said.


    Before he passed away, he wanted to find someone who his granddaughter could rely on.


    *


    After leaving the study, Chloe went to Exotic Star with Noah. He did not ask anything, and she did


    not volunteer any information. But as soon as they arrived at the office, they ran into Nigel Hall.


    He smiled at them and said, "Congrattions, guys. I''ll prepare a big gift for you by month¡¯s end."


    "How did you know?" Chloe was surprised. She had not even told Noah yet.


    "Mr. Desmond told us. He said the invitation will be sent out this afternoon. Don''t be shy, Ms.


    Chloe."


    Chloe covered her face. She had not expected Desmond to take action before consulting her.

 Chapter 700 Did You Sell Yourself?

    Chapter 700 Did You Sell Yourself?


    And it was not only the members of the board who knew. Exotic Star¡¯s official website had even


    made an announcement. Noah was the sole inheritor of thepany, and this was good news. All


    the jewelry under the brand was having an 88% discount. Soon, not only the internal staff but


    everyone in Docwood knew about it.


    Desmond had left no room for Chloe to back out.


    "How could you not tell us this, Ms. Chloe? We''ll have to address you as Mrs. Chloe soon."


    "That''s right. Mr. Noah¡¯s a good man. Many women in the office tried to woo him, but he just gave


    them the cold shoulder. I''m sure he''ll treat you well after you guys are married."


    "You''re engaged to Noah?" a voice interrupted.


    Chloe nced at Frieda, who had a puzzled expression on her face. Chloe raised her eyebrows


    and asked, "Yeah? Anything wrong with that?"


    "I''m just asking."


    "Well, I believe you¡¯ve already heard everyone talking about it, right?"


    After Chloe¡¯s confirmation, Frieda''s brow furrowed even tighter and a hint of concern appeared in


    her eyes. She blurted out, "Don''t you like Joseph anymore?"


    Chloe was stunned. Even her colleagues looked at Frieda suspiciously. They did not understand


    why she was so invested in Chloe¡¯s personal life.


    Frieda realized that she had overstepped her boundaries. She calmed herself and said, "I''m just


    curious. I hope you don¡¯t mind my words."


    "I don''t think we should be discussing my personal life in the office. Let''s get back to work. Anyone


    who manages to seal a deal can im a gift from meter," Chloe said, ending the conversation.


    She waved at the crowd and dismissed them.


    Throughout the morning, Frieda anxiously nced toward Chloe''s office several times. As


    lunchtime approached, she finally went into the restroom and called someone.


    Meanwhile, the high-level executive of Fairlight watched Joseph''s face turn dark upon receiving a


    phone call. They looked at each other, wondering who had called Joseph and what they had said.


    They even began to contemte the possibility of Fairlight going bankrupt.


    "Lucas," Joseph said through gritted teeth.


    "Yes, Mr. Joseph?"


    "Cancel all my afternoon meetings."


    Lucas was taken aback but he did not voice his objection. He simply nodded andplied with the


    order.


    Joseph felt as if there was a huge boulder sitting on his chest. He loosened his tie and threw it on


    the table, saying coldly, ¡°Today¡¯s meeting is over.¡±


    *


    At noon, Chloe went downstairs to buy lunch. When she received the takeaway box from the vendor


    and was about to get her wallet, a tall figure appeared and loomed over her. She did not mind it as


    she thought it was another customer. After handing the money to the vendor, she nced to her left


    and looked eyes with Joseph. He was staring at her angrily, while she maintained an innocent


    expression.


    "What''s going on between you and Noah?"


    "It''s none of your business."


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t push your luck, Chloe."


    If it were not for their past connection, he would not be bothered to care for her at all.


    Chloe was speechless. "We no longer have any ties to each other, so what gives you the right to


    speak to me in this usatory tone?"


    Joseph''s face sank. "Do you like Noah?"


    "Of course, I do. He''s handsome, sessful, and single. He''s far better than you in every aspect.


    Why wouldn''t I hold onto him tightly? Why should I wait?" Chloe retorted.


    The anger inside Joseph burned brighter. He took a step closer to her and his voice turned icy cold.


    "Did you sell yourself to get the marketing manager position?"

 Chapter 701 She Slapped Joseph

    Chapter 701 She pped Joseph


    Chloe stared at Joseph for a while before chuckling. "Oh,e on. If you still like me, just say it. No


    need to say such offensive words. Your intimidation won''t work on me."


    "I''m intimidating you?"


    "Yes, that''s exactly what you''re doing. You''re using disapproval and demeaning tactics to satisfy


    your ego, aiming to make me feel inferior and achieve your purpose," Chloe replied.


    "I''m not that despicable," Joseph retorted.


    "Well then, where did you get the idea that I relied on Noah to get into Exotic Star? Even if I did,


    what''s wrong with that? I got the man and the job. It''s a win-win situation. If you genuinely care for


    me, you should bless me instead of nitpicking and making me feel like you still have lingering


    feelings for me."


    Joseph fell silent and his furrowed brows slowly rxed. Had she finally figured it out? If he had let


    her go, why would he care about her rtionship with Noah?


    Chloe tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes sparkled as she teased, "Oh? Did I hit the


    nail on the head?"


    "What do you think?" Joseph asked. He assumed that Chloe understood his feelings and got


    engaged to Noah as a means of getting back at him.


    "Well¡­" she drawled as a sarcastic smile yed on her lips. "It''s normal that you like me since I''m


    so pretty, but I don¡¯t backslide. Especially not to my ex-husband who¡¯s an old man."


    Joseph''s face sank as he red at Chloe. What did she mean by calling him an old man? So Noah


    was young enough for her?''


    Sensing danger, Chloe grabbed her food and tried to escape. But Joseph was not about to let her


    off the hook so easily and locked his arms tightly around her waist.


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Refusing to back down, Chloe yelled, "Help! He vited me!"


    The area was filled with people. As Chloe caused amotion, the passing office workers stopped


    to see what was happening. In just seconds, countless eyes fixed on the two of them.


    Taking advantage of the situation, Chloe continued to y the victim and sobbed. ¡°Someone please


    call the police. I don''t know this man! I think he¡¯s a pervert and a human trafficker!"


    "What? Don''t worry, miss, I''ll call the police right away!" a passerby said, reaching for their phone.


    "Yes, we¡¯ll all be your witnesses. Karma will take care of him!" someone else said.


    "Human traffickers should have their family lines cut off!" another chimed in.


    "Is this what you want to see?" Joseph asked.


    Chloe smiled and whispered, "This is just the beginning."


    "I vited you?"


    "Yes, you were. You hugged me without my consent. If that isn¡¯t a vition, then what is?"


    Gritting his teeth, Joseph fixed his gaze on her lips and chuckled. A bad feeling washed over Chloe,


    but before she could react, he gripped her head and nted his lips on her. Wide-eyed and


    blushing, she tried to push him away, but his grip was too strong.


    The onlookers were stunned into silence.


    "What''s going on? Are perverts this brazen these days?" one person whispered.


    "Maybe they''re just having a lovers'' spat," another spected.


    "I agree. What pervert would be this handsome?"


    Joseph had intended to only give Chloe a small punishment, but her lips were so soft and he got


    lost in the moment. After what felt like an eternity, he worried he would lose control and reluctantly


    let go of her.


    Smack!


    The crisp sound of a p filled the air. Joseph''s face reddened and swelled up. The haze in his


    eyes vanished as he turned to look at the woman who struck him.


    "You hit me?" he said in an ice-cold tone.


    Chloe wiped her mouth and said, "You kissed me without my consent. Don¡¯t I have the right to hit


    you?"

 Chapter 702 Caught in a Compromising Situation

    Chapter 702 Caught in a Compromising Situation


    Joseph was stumped. His anger red up. "Didn¡¯t you do this too when you flirted with me in the


    past?"


    "I did this? Oh please. Have you run out of ideas, Mr. Joseph? You keep repeating the same lines.


    Aren''t you tired of it?" she mocked.


    She did not wish to waste any more time with Joseph, and more importantly, she should not


    provoke him any further. She decided to end the charade and dashed off.


    "Chloe!"


    "Goodbye, Mr. Joseph."


    *


    When Chloe stepped into her office, she found Noah sitting inside and her deskden with her


    favorite dishes.


    His gaze fell on the takeaway box in her hand. He chuckled. "There¡¯s no need for you to go out and


    buy lunch from now on. Just let me know what you want to eat and I''ll get my assistant to take care


    of it."


    "That''s too troublesome. Getting food from downstairs is more convenient."


    "That works too. Let''s go together from now on. I''lle look for you during lunch break."


    "Okay."


    Suddenly, Noah noticed something. He paused for a few seconds on her red lips and frowned.


    "Your lipstick¡¯s smudged. Do you want to touch up your makeup?"


    Chloe instantly blushed. She replied in a soft voice, "Oh, okay¡­ You go ahead and eat first."


    She rushed off to the restroom. Looking at her reflection, she saw that her lipstick had smeared. For


    some reason, she felt caught in apromising situation and felt inexplicably embarrassed.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®Wait a second¡­ Why should I think like that? I''m the victim here!'' Chloe thought.


    After a while, sheposed herself and the blush on her cheeks faded. Since she was about to


    have lunch, she decided to remove the remaining lipstick.


    In the afternoon, work on the first marketing n started. It involved getting a well-knownedian


    to shoot a short promotional video that was to be posted on theedian¡¯s social media. In simple


    terms, the n was to pay celebrities and inte influencers to promote their products. The


    comedian they had hired was not only talented but also young and handsome. He had arge


    fanbase of young girls and wealthy women.


    After a while, Michael Dawson arrived at the studio. Chloe had written the script for the promo


    video. It included showcasing the jewelry and diamonds. Theedian was also required to reveal


    his abs and corbone.


    "What do you think of the script? If there''s anything inappropriate, we can discuss and make


    changes," Chloe said.


    Sitting in front of the dressing table and having his makeup done, Michael¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing


    Chloe. She had light makeup on, and her lips were bare, she still exuded a charming and lovely


    energy. She wore a ck sweater matched with pencil pants. It was a simple attire, yet it perfectly


    showcased her slim legs.


    Michael felt delighted. She was exactly his type, so he asked eagerly, "Are you one of the actresses


    they hired?"


    "No, I''m the marketing manager. Are you okay with showing your abs and corbone as mentioned


    in the script?"


    "Sure! I''m fine with that! Other than eight-pack abs, I also have back dimples. I can show them too if


    you like."


    "That''s not necessary."


    "Can I perform something in the video? Maybe sing a song? I can even do a live stream. It''s trendy


    these days for celebrities to sell products together with their clients."


    Chloe was a little overwhelmed by his enthusiasm, but she would not refuse anything that would


    benefit Exotic Star. The filming started, and she noticed Michael looking right at her the whole time.


    Thinking it was just her imagination, she decided to focus on the camera instead.


    Meanwhile, Joseph told Lucas to bring a few pretty women into his office. They stood in a line and


    looked at him shyly.


    Expressionlessly, Josephmanded, "Take off your clothes."

 Chapter 703 I’ll Listen to Every Word

    Chapter 703 I¡¯ll Listen to Every Word


    ¡°What? Do all of us need to take off our clothes?" one woman asked.


    They had not expected Joseph, who looked reserved and aloof, to be into this kind of thing.


    Impatiently, Joseph nodded. "Yes, all of you." He refused to believe that he was indifferent to any


    woman other than Chloe for the rest of his life.


    Though the women felt a bit shy, they did not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and


    began to undress.


    Ten minutester, Joseph growled, "Get out!"


    Lucas sighed. He knew things would turn out this way. He went inside and escorted the women out.


    Carefully assessing Joseph''s expression, Lucas asked, "Sir, did you find them unsatisfactory?


    Should I find a few more?"


    "No."


    There was only one person in Joseph¡¯s heart. Regardless of how stunning other women might be,


    they were all just a piece of flesh. None of them could stir any emotion in him.


    But Chloe was now engaged to Noah, so he had to make a choice¡ªshould he continue or let go? If


    he chose to continue, would he not be no different from Noah?


    Joseph gazed at hisputer screen, where Exotic Star¡¯s official website disyed a promotional


    image of Noah and Chloe together, smiling sweetly as if they were husband and wife.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    He closed his eyes, feeling utterly defeated.


    "Daddy, are you busy? Can Ie in?" Jasper asked respectfully.


    Joseph rubbed his temple and turned off theputer. "Come in."


    Jasper was wearing his school uniform. He looked handsome, and his neat short hair added a


    touch of maturity that did not match his age.


    "What are you doing, Daddy?"


    "I''m working."


    "But I saw severaldies in very revealing clothesing out of your office. Did you bully them,


    Daddy?" Jasper asked as he blinked curiously.


    Joseph paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "That was Lucas'' doing. It has nothing to do with


    me."


    "I see¡­ Did theye to you asking for help?"


    "Yeah."


    "Cut it out, Daddy." Jasper sighed. "I''m not a three-year-old. I''m five this year. Stop lying to me. If it


    was Uncle Lucas, he wouldn''t have let theme in."


    Joseph was speechless.


    "Daddy, I don''t have homework today. Can you take me to Imperium as you promised a long time


    ago?"


    Having no intention of staying in the office any longer today, Joseph picked up his car keys then


    Jasper and headed to the underground garage.


    *


    One hourter, they arrived at Imperium. This was Jasper¡¯s first time here. He looked excited as he


    ran around, checking out everything around him.


    "Sir, Vanya¡¯s awake. She has something to tell you."


    Five years ago, Joseph''s rtionship with Chloe underwent earth-shaking changes after Vanya was


    locked up in here. He had ignored Vanya since then. It was only recently that he remembered her


    existence. However, she had fallen seriously ill as she had a chronic poison in her body. If she did


    not take the antidote on time, she would spiral into insanity. It was Cyrus who had poisoned Vanya.


    She knew many secrets about Cyrus, so Joseph had not given up on treating her over these years.


    Putting aside his thoughts, Joseph nodded solemnly and said, "Take me to her."


    The small room had nothing aside from a bed. Vanya was staring nkly at the ceiling. When she


    heard the sound of the door locking, she struggled to sit up and looked toward the entrance.


    Joseph walked in and looked down at her. "How do you feel?"


    "I can''t describe the feeling. It''s like I''ve been asleep for a very long time."


    Long enough that she was cut off from the outside world and was unaware of any activity beyond


    these walls.


    "You can thank Cyrus for that."


    Vanya smiled bitterly. "I know everything, and I understand your purpose in saving me. I''ll tell you


    everything, one by one."


    Joseph''s tone was cold and indifferent as he said, "I''ll listen to every word.¡±

 Chapter 704 Painful Misunderstanding

    Chapter 704 Painful Misunderstanding


    ¡°I want you to promise me something," she said with little confidence. A hint of unease flickered in


    her eyes. "I want to stay alive. I don''t want to lose value on both ends."


    During hera, Imperium had expended a lot of effort on her, not to mention that they had much


    better medical facilities than what can be found outside. Before seeking revenge, she wanted to


    cleanse herself and fully recover. And since Joseph was going to learn everything he wanted to


    know soon, there was no point for him to keep her here. Even if he let her go, how long could she


    survive outside?


    "You go first," Joseph said.


    Vanya knew she had captured Joseph''s attention, but she did not try to push her luck.


    "Icarus was working with us. We nned that whole scene in the restroom between him and Chloe.


    And your mother did escape from Duskfall. Cyrus intended to use you as bait to lure her out. As for


    Noah, he likes Chloe and cooperated with us."


    She shared what she knew carefully, trying not to give away too much. After all, Joseph was a


    shrewd person. Once he confirmed certain things, he could easily follow the clues and uncover the


    truth. She just hoped that she would recover before then.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Joseph already knew about thest two pieces of information, but the first caught him off guard.


    Even after all this time, the scene of that day was still vivid in his mind. He remembered how hurt,


    lost, and disappointed Chloe looked.


    The scene reyed like a movie in his mind, piercing his heart.


    "Icarus and you nned it all?"


    "Yes, we did.¡±


    "And the child in Chloe''s womb was mine?"


    Vanya was unsure of Xavia''s current situation or if she would be useful in the future, so she gave a


    vague answer. "Maybe. You should know that better than anyone else."


    *


    After Joseph left Vanya¡¯s room, Jasper skipped and hopped over. From a distance, she could see


    the vague outline of the young boy. She was surprised by the striking resemnce he had with his


    father.


    She waved at him and called out, "Little boy,e over here."


    Jasper looked at her and asked, "Why should I listen to you?"


    He was certain that Vanya was not a good person since she was locked up.


    Vanya was stunned, but she did not give up and asked, "Is Joseph your father?"


    "Yeah," Jasper replied, feeling like this was not a secret.


    "What about your mother?"


    Jasper''s face sank as he replied indifferently, "I don''t have a mother."


    Vanya was taken aback by his response. She wanted to ask more questions, but Jasper had


    already run away. Had Xavia failed her mission and been abandoned by Duskfall, or was she


    involved in another task?


    *


    The sky grew dark and night descended.


    As Joseph drove along the highway, the trees on either side shed by in a blur. He rolled down the


    windows to let in the cold air, hoping it would clear his mind. However, instead of calming him, it


    filled him with even more thoughts of Chloe. Thinking about how he had misunderstood her all


    those years ago, he felt an intense pain that made his fingers tremble.


    "Daddy, I''m cold¡­" Jasper mumbled sleepily from the back seat where he was curled up in a ball.


    Joseph looked at his son through the rearview mirror and furrowed his brows. "Sorry, I''ll close the


    windows now."


    "Are you okay, Daddy?"


    "I''m fine."


    "Okay¡­"


    "Once we''re back home, you head off to bed first. I have some things I need to do.¡±

 Chapter 705 If Xavia Doesn’t Like Him, He’ll Eliminate Her

    Chapter 705 If Xavia Doesn¡¯t Like Him, He¡¯ll Eliminate Her


    Rubbing his eyes, Jasper sat up and asked, "Daddy, are you going to find Ms. Chloe?"


    Joseph froze for a moment and asked, "Why do you say that?"


    "I saw photos of her and another man on my phone. The news said she''s getting engaged."


    Joseph fell silent for a few seconds.


    With a serious expression, Jasper cupped his chin. "If she really liked the other guy, she would¡¯ve


    married him a year or two after knowing him. It''s been five years now, so I don¡¯t think Ms. Chloe


    likes that man all that much."


    Stopping the car, Joseph turned to look at his son. "And how do you know all this?"


    Joseph knew Jasper had the habit of putting all his effort and energy into something that he was


    interested in. He began to wonder if Jasper had a crush on a little girl at school. Even though he


    was more mature than his peers, romance and rtionships were not things a child his age should


    know about.


    "There''s nothing I don''t understand. In this day and age, there''s so much information avable. If


    one reads books, newspapers, or even the stuff online, it''s hard not to know these things," Jasper


    exined matter-of-factly.


    The 21st century was filled with a constant flow of new information, and everyone was forced to


    keep up with it.


    Joseph sighed as he suddenly realized that if Jasper were to be mischievous, Jasper would


    be harder to handle than he had been at Jasper¡¯s age.


    "Daddy, you have to try your best. Do everything you can to not feel regret for a second time. But


    you also need to change your bad habits. Whatever caused Ms. Chloe to leave you back then, you


    can''t make the same mistakes now," Jasper urged.


    "Do you really want her to be your stepmother?"


    "Why not? It''d be difficult to find someone who dislikes me more than my own mother. If they didn¡¯t


    know, outsiders would think I was adopted." Jasper shrugged nonchntly.


    Jasper had a say in this family. Since Xavia did not like him, he was determined to kick her out of


    his family.


    Joseph''s brows furrowed and fell into a pensive silence.


    Jasper misunderstood his silence and said, "Daddy, rx. There''s now saying you can''t pursue a


    woman who''s already engaged. At most, it''s just not morally decent. But your reputation isn''t that


    great, so let''s not worry about the details."


    Joseph was speechless upon hearing Jasper''sment about him.


    *


    The next morning, Joseph arrived at Exotic Star at 7 in the morning. He often appeared on financial


    talk shows, so the receptionist recognized him. He did not disclose his true purpose and simply


    mentioned that he wanted to discuss business. The receptionist was a fresh graduate and failed to


    see through his intentions, thus respectfully escorted him to Chloe''s office.


    At 9, Chloe stepped into the building. She had a restless night filled with nightmares and was not


    feeling so great. Little did she know that a father and son had set their eyes on her.


    "Ms. Chloe, you have an important guest waiting for you in your office."


    "An important guest?" Chloe asked in confusion. She did not recall having any appointments today.


    "Yes, you should hurry and meet him."


    Not wanting to appear disheveled, Chloe decided to apply some lipstick. As soon as she pushed


    open her office door, she was dumbfounded. Joseph was sitting in her chair, dressed in a simple


    white shirt and ck trousers that made him look professional.


    He looked up at her, who was in a daze, and emotions surged within him. "Coco¡­"


    "What did you just call me? Don¡¯t getfy with me.¡± Chloe frowned, feeling nauseating.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Joseph knew she was angry, so he cut to the chase and exined, "Do you still remember the


    woman with the fox mask?"


    Chloe hesitated for a moment and said, "Yeah. What about her?"


    "I have a recording here. I¡¯d like for you to listen to it," Joseph said.


    He had recorded the conversation he had with Vanya yesterday. As he pressed the y button,


    their voices filled the office.

 Chapter 706 You’re Not Just Nearsighted, You’re Blind

    Chapter 706 You¡¯re Not Just Nearsighted, You¡¯re Blind


    Fifteen minutester, the recording finished ying.


    Joseph kept his eyes fixed on Chloe. On the surface, he appeared expressionless, but internally he


    was extremely nervous. He was like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting for


    punishment. Though he was a prideful man, he had to admit that the pain he surely caused Chloe


    was immense for misunderstanding her and Icarus.


    After the initial shock, Chloe quickly calmed down. She had remained expressionless throughout


    the entire recording and seemed indifferent to the truth.


    "I don''t need to listen to all of this. I already know," she said.


    Chloe had personally gone through the whole ordeal. No one knew the excruciating pain better than


    herself. Joseph thought he was doing her a big favor by revealing the truth, but to her, it was like


    pouring salt over her wounds. Luckily, she did not care anymore.


    Clenching his jaw, Joseph said, "I¡ª"


    A knock on the door interrupted them.


    "Are you in there, Ms. Chloe? I need a word," Michael called out.


    Chloe nced at Joseph and said, "If you came here just to y me this recording, then you can


    leave. I need to get to work."


    "I¡¯m not done speaking yet."


    "Sorry, but I prefer working and making money over chatting with you." Chloe stood up and opened


    the door, smilingly weing Michael inside.


    "The short video we shot yesterday is done. Take a look and see if there are any changes needed."


    "You can just get your assistant to show it to me. There''s no need for you toe here in person."


    "Working with you brings me joy, so I''m more than willing toe here," Michael said, smiling


    gently at Chloe.


    He was admittedly charming and gave off a different vibe from what was shown on TV.


    "I''m equally delighted to encounter a partner as cooperative as yourself," Chloe replied with a smile.


    Unable to contain his anger anymore, Joseph swept the documents on her desk to the floor,


    creating a loud noise in the process. Michael looked behind Chloe and noticed there was another


    person in the office.


    Michael¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Joseph?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Joseph snorted, not bothering to look up.


    "I''m sorry for not seeing you earlier. I''m a bit nearsighted," Michael exined, not minding Joseph¡¯s


    attitude.


    "I think you''re not just nearsighted, you¡¯re blind," Joseph replied, his tone icy and filled with menace.


    Michael was taken aback. He looked toward Chloe and understanding struck him. He had heard


    some rumors about Joseph and Chloe online.


    Upon hearing Joseph''s impolite remark, Chloe''s anger surged and she punched him in the chest.


    "Mr. Joseph, please leave."


    He winced in pain. "And what if I don''t?"


    "I''ll call security. You''re disrupting my work," she responded firmly.


    "Go ahead. Let''s see who dares to throw me out of here," Joseph said, his gaze cold and his face


    filled with jealousy.


    Stepping forward, Michael tried to mediate. "Guys, let''s all calm down. It''s my fault for intruding. Mr.


    Joseph is here so early, so it must be important business. I was the one who interrupted your


    conversation." He was good at reading the atmosphere and knew when to advance and when to


    retreat.


    "Then what are you still waiting for? Get out," Josephmanded with a frown.


    People in the entertainment industry were not always the most trustworthy. They often showed one


    face in public and another behind closed doors. There were not many good individuals among


    them.


    However, Chloe stood in front of Michael and said firmly, "You''re the one who should leave, not


    Michael."


    Gritting his teeth, Joseph hissed, "Are you asking me to leave because of him?"

 Chapter 707 Icarus Is Dead

    Chapter 707 Icarus Is Dead


    Putting on a fake smile, Chloe said, "Is it that hard to understand?"


    Joseph was livid. "I just want a chance to talk to you properly. Is that wrong?"


    "It is.¡±


    "Don''t twist the truth here. Where did I go wrong?" he said, refusing to admit his mistakes.


    "Did I ever say I wanted to talk to you? Did I ever say I wanted to listen to that recording?


    Everything you do is based on your own assumption. I don''t want to relive those days of unbearable


    pain. It''s no different from being killed all over again!" Chloe shouted at the top of her lungs.


    No one knew if she was truly angry or if she was just putting up an act. However, her eyes were


    filled with tears and she looked pitiful.


    Joseph could not bear to see her cry and immediately surrendered. "Please don''t cry. I just wanted


    to exin things. I won¡¯t hurt you again."


    "You''re just selfishly trying to prove your innocence. You don''t care about how I feel at all!"


    "I¡¯ll never do it again. I''ll change," Joseph promised sincerely, his eyes filled with affection as he


    gazed at her.


    Chloe pushed him away. "It''s toote. I''m Noah''s fiancee now."


    Why should he have the privilege to exin himself and erase all the pain he had caused with just a


    few words? It was unfair.


    Joseph froze. Although he knew that she would not forgive him easily, it still pained him when he


    heard her say she was Noah''s fiancee.


    Chloe noticed the change in his expression and felt a small sense of pleasure. However, it did not


    last long as she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did Icarus really die?"


    Joseph looked at her and replied, "Yes, he did. I was the one who collected his body."


    Frowning, she asked, "Did you¡­"


    "It wasn''t me."


    "Then who?"


    "Duskfall. After I beat him up, I threw him out onto the road. A car then ran him over."


    Chloe gasped, realizing the terrifying power the Sinirs held. They treated life as if it was nothing


    and killed anyone they wanted. Suddenly, she did not want to seek revenge on Xavia anymore. She


    had always felt that Xavia was somehow connected to Duskfall. If she caught their attention, the


    cost would be too high.


    "That¡¯s why I didn''t do anything. It was to find out the truth. Will you please give me a chance to


    make up for my mistakes?" Joseph asked, looking like a boyfriend trying to appease his girlfriend''s


    anger.


    Michael, who was standing in the corner, felt quite speechless. It had been hard enough for him to


    come across a girl he was interested in, yet this one seemed to have so many identities. One


    moment, she was Joseph''s ex-wife, and the next, she was Noah''s fiancee. He did not want to


    offend either side, yet he did not want to give up on her so easily.


    After contemting for a few seconds, Michael voluntarily left Chloe''s office. It seemed like he was


    giving them space, but as soon as he stepped out, he went to find Noah.


    Noah was surprised to see Michael as he knew about Chloe''s new marketing n. "What''s the


    matter, Mr. Michael? Is there something wrong with your contract?"


    "No, there''s nothing wrong, but there are some things I want to talk to you about. I''m not sure if I


    should though¡­" Michael said, sounding hesitant and unsure.


    Noah put down the pen in his hand and said, "It''s all right, go ahead."


    Michael continued, "Mr. Noah, did you and Ms. Chloe recently get engaged?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Yes, we did."


    "Well, here''s the thing. I was in Ms. Chloe''s office discussing work earlier when Mr. Joseph came to


    see her. They talked about the past and emotions started flying. Perhaps you¡¯d like to go over there


    and check on them?"

 Chapter 708 Her Tears Were Spent

    Chapter 708 Her Tears Were Spent


    Noah squinted and assessed Michael. After a while, he said, "Thank you for telling me."


    "You''re wee."


    After seeing Michael off, Noah went to the reception to ask about the situation. After confirming that


    Joseph was in the building, he immediately instructed security to head to Chloe''s office.


    Meanwhile, inside, Chloe said firmly, "Stop this. I trust Noah, and even if he had any past


    connection with Duskfall, I''m willing to forgive him."


    Noah pushed the door open. All of the security guards were standing in a corner, looking cowed and


    defeated.


    Frowning, Noah said, "Mr. Joseph, as a gentleman, you shouldn''t force ady to fall in love with


    you. Your rtionship with Coco has ended, so why must you do this to yourself? It''s so unsightly."


    Joseph red at Noah. "You know best why Chloe and I parted ways. I''ll reveal everything you''ve


    done one by one. Just wait."


    He knew Noah was involved in more than one thing, thus he still had hidden cards up his sleeve.


    Vanya had been cautious not to reveal everything, but he had a way to force her to spill the beans.


    Noah''s gaze fell on a recording pen on the desk. He asked Chloe gently, "Can I listen to it?"


    Chloe hesitated for a moment before replying, "Sure."


    After listening to the recording, Noah heaved a silent sigh of relief. As long as it was not about


    Chloe¡¯s child, he could still find a way to justify himself.


    But before he could say anything, Chloe said gently and understandingly, "The past is in the past.


    Regardless of the truth, I won''t get mad at you. Just promise me you won''t hide anything from me in


    the future."


    Five years ago, Noah was still a student. He was inexperienced in a cutthroat world and had


    probably fallen victim to Duskfall''s schemes.


    Noah was slightly taken aback. He said, "Okay, I promise I won¡¯t."


    The difference in treatment Chloe showed him and Noah caused Joseph''s breath to hitch and his


    fists to clench tightly.


    "Are you sure you want to forgive him? Vanya did not specify whether it was just one instance or


    multiple instances," he said in a sarcastic tone.


    Annoyed, Chloe pushed Joseph out of her office and said, "Stop talking. I''m not interested in


    hearing it."


    Seeing the door close in his face, Joseph kicked it. "You¡¯ll be the one to cry in the future!"


    "Not going to happen. My tears were spent when I was with you, " Chloe said sarcastically.


    Noah dismissed the security guards. Once only two of them were left in the office, he picked up the


    recorder. "Chloe, I¡ª"


    "I know what you want to say, but I don''t want to bring up the past," Chloe interrupted, "Just tell me


    how many times you''ve lied to me and worked with Vanya."


    Noah''s throat tightened. After a while, he mumbled, "Only once."


    "When?"


    He hesitated for a moment, then let out a long sigh, looking somewhat dejected. "I don''t know how


    to tell you. Can you please give me some time to organize my thoughts?"


    Chloe did not want to make things difficult for him. ¡°All right.¡±


    Noah clenched his fists and tried to change the subject. "I found the buyer of the watch your mother


    left behind."


    "Who is it?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Would you like to meet them?"


    Chloe was taken aback, surprised that he had already arranged everything.


    "Yes," she said.


    She wanted to know if Benjamin was telling the truth or not, and whether this person had done


    wrong by her mother.

 Chapter 709 Save Up and Buy Yourself a Coffin

    Chapter 709 Save Up and Buy Yourself a Coffin


    They arrived at a high-end nursing home in Docwood. Noah located the supervisor and said, "Hello,


    I¡¯m Noah Sullivan. We spoke on the phone?"


    "Oh, Mr. Noah, I''ve been expecting you. Please,e with me," the supervisor said and led them to


    the visiting lounge. Pointing to an elderly man ying card games not far away, he said, "The one


    gentleman in the brown jacket is the person you''re looking for."


    Chloe spotted a silver-haired man in his early sixties. He looked energetic and kind, but the


    shrewdness in his eyes told her that he was not someone to trifle with.


    Raising an eyebrow, Noah said, "This person used to work for the royal family."


    "What about now?"


    "He hasn''t appeared around the royal family for many years. He must have retired."


    "Should we talk to him?"


    "Of course."


    Noah turned to the supervisor and said, "Could you bring him to us? We need a quiet ce to talk."


    *


    Felix Pierce followed the supervisor into the chess room. When he saw Noah and Chloe, he


    frowned skeptically.


    "Please take your time. I''ll give you guys some space."


    After the supervisor left, Felix asked, "And you two are?"


    "Hello, Mr. Felix. We''re from Exotic Star. We¡¯vee to discuss something with you." Noah smiled


    lightly as he extended a hand.


    Felix nced at him but did not shake Noah''s hand. Instead, he took a seat and said cautiously, "I


    don''t know you."


    Chloe and Noah exchanged nces. Since Felix was not too friendly, they decided to get straight


    down to the business. Chloe took out the watch and ced it on the chessboard. "Did you buy this


    watch?" she asked.


    Felix was stunned by the sight of the watch. He then stared at Chloe and asked, "Who are you?"


    "I''m Luciana''s daughter," Chloe said matter-of-factly, "Did you give this watch to my mother?"


    "No, it wasn''t me," Felix instantly denied. But after a pause, he said, "Wait, let me take a closer


    look."


    After carefully examining the watch for a few minutes, he said in a serious tone, "I was wrong. This


    watch is mine. I know why you¡¯re here. I¡¯m sorry for everything that happened.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "If you feel sorry, why have you been missing all this time?" Chloe pressed.


    "I''m a jerk. I didn''t know how to face your mother," he said as a fleeting feeling of shame washed


    over him. He soon reverted to his serious demeanor and said, "I''ll do my best to make amends. Are


    you doing well now? Are you married?"


    "Make amends? What can you do to make amends? You ruined my mother''s entire life!" Chloe


    growled. She red at Felix, and it took her all her strength to calm herself. After a moment, she


    continued, "Because of your mistake, my mother endured years of me and humiliation. She died


    in despair before the age of thirty. And here you are enjoying your life!¡±


    Felix looked embarrassed, but he did not fight back. "I''m sorry. I''m willing to atone for my sins. You


    can scold me however you like."


    After all these years, he was now willing to atone? What horseshit. If he truly harbored any guilt, he


    would not have disappeared for so long. Calling it a case of bted action would be generous.


    Luciana had been dead for so many years, and though he said he was willing to atone, all he could


    offer now were empty words and polite gestures. It was hard to believe he felt any true remorse.


    A person with even a hint of guilt would not have stayed hidden for so long.


    Chloe''s eyes welled up with tears, feeling deep anger and injustice for her mother. She looked at


    Felix and said, "Save up and buy yourself a coffin. After all, you won''t live much longer to atone for


    your sins."


    She firmly believed that evildoers would face the consequences of their actions sooner orter.


    Chloe did not want to say more, fearing that she would lose control of her emotions. Understanding


    her feelings, Noah took her hand, and without giving Felix another nce, led her out of the nursing


    home.


    After they were gone, Felix sped off to the royal castle. As soon as he entered, he saw Joseph


    sitting on the sofa. When he nced around but did not see the person he was looking for, he


    asked, "Mr. Joseph¡ª"


    "He''s upstairs on the phone," Joseph said, cutting Felix short.

 Chapter 710 Chloe Could Only Have One Husband

    Chapter 710 Chloe Could Only Have One Husband


    Hearing urgent footsteps, Callum poked his head out to see who it was.


    "Mr. Callum, there¡¯s something urgent I need to talk to you about."


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "What''s the matter? Why are you in such a rush? Did you get run over by a car or something?"


    Callum asked.


    "A car running me over would¡¯ve been much better than what actually happened," Felix replied, "Is


    the madam home?"


    "No, she''s not here. Go ahead and tell me whatever you have to say," Callum said, puzzled by


    Felix''s anxious demeanor.


    "Some people came to find me today. They gave me this." Felix showed Callum the watch in his


    hand. "I''ve examined it. It''s the one you bought years ago."


    Although Callum was the one who had bought the watch, he had not purchased it in person. The


    watch was registered under Felix''s name, thus Chloe mistook him for her father. Felix thought it was


    better this way. He had been single all his life and had no fear. Callum was different. He had a


    family and held a high position in society. If something went wrong, it would affect many people.


    Callum stared at the watch in Felix''s hand, his brow slightly furrowing. "Are you sure that person is


    her daughter?"


    "Most likely," Felix replied.


    "What did you tell her?"


    "I was afraid she might try to ckmail you, so I told her that the watch belongs to me."


    "How did she react?"


    "She was pretty emotional, but she refused any form of reparations. She also said that Ms. Luciana


    passed away many years ago and didn''t have a good life."


    Callum''s eyes filled with sorrow as he looked into the distance. After a while, he sighed deeply. "I


    never expected her to have left so early.¡±


    "You were tricked. You didn''t mistreat her. You offered to take care of her but she refused you," Felix


    said.


    "Get me information on Luciana¡¯s daughter."


    Knowing what Callum was about to do, Felix¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Sir, you don''t mean..."


    "I owe it to her."


    About an hourter, Felix and Callum came downstairs. Joseph looked at them and said, "You took


    pretty long to change."


    "I ran into some issues. Mr. Callum was helping me resolve them. Sorry for making you wait, Mr.


    Joseph," Felix said.


    Joseph epted Felix''s exnation. He did not ask any further as his mind was fully upied by


    Chloe.


    Callum instructed the driver to bring the car around and said, "Let''s go and get back early."


    "Okay."


    *


    At the resort, Callum stared at the bullet hole in the ground. He carefully observed the surroundings


    and said in a serious tone, "This should be Duskfall¡¯s doing. Was anyone injured?"


    "No, this property doesn''t belong entirely to me, so they wouldn''t go too far."


    Callum squinted at him and asked, "You''re in business with your rival?"


    Joseph did not deny it and said, "Keep an eye on things here. I need to handle something inside."


    After a while, he returned with several documents.


    Curious, Callum asked, "What are these?"


    "Share transfer documents. I acquired the shares of a few minor shareholders."


    "Between you and your rival, who currently holds more shares?"


    "Me."


    Callum chuckled. "Are you trying to get Chloe toe look for you?"


    "I won''t give up anything that allows me to have even the slightest connection to her."


    Even if he could not mend their rtionship, Joseph was not going to let Noah have Chloe. He just


    could not bring himself to wish them well.


    Jasper was right. He was a selfish man, not a righteous one. Even if he pretended not to care,


    Chloe belonged to him. He could not hide his love for her. Therefore, he decided to shed away all


    pretenses. In this lifetime, Chloe could only have one husband, and that person could only be him.


    Anyone else who tried to approach her would have to prove they were worthy. Besides, Noah was a


    hypocrite.


    Callum shook his head. "You''re so persistent."


    His phone then rang. It was a message from Felix. He knew without looking that it contained


    information about Luciana''s daughter, and he felt nervous.

 Chapter 711 Harold Is Going to Wake Up

    Chapter 711 Harold Is Going to Wake Up


    The sunlight shone on Callum''s face, and Joseph noticed the changes in his expression. "Did you


    uncover something?"


    "Just some family matters."


    "Has Otto started contacting your daughter?"


    "I have no idea. I''ve been pretty busy with some other stuff recently, but I did warn her."


    Callum did not divulge to Joseph the information he just received. He calmed himself and patted


    Joseph''s shoulders. "How about giving up on your ex-wife and giving it a go with my daughter


    instead?"


    Although it would be Joseph¡¯s second marriage, he was exceptional in various aspects. If he got


    together with Callum''s daughter, she would not be losing out.


    Joseph''s face stiffened. He replied seriously, "Mr. Callum, you know that I only care about Chloe."


    Hearing this, Callum knew that Joseph had made up his mind. He simply chuckled and said nothing


    else.


    On his way home, Joseph received a text. He opened it and found a brief but encouraging


    message.


    [Sir, Mr. Harold reacted. He should be waking up tomorrow night at thetest.]


    *


    The resort shareholders had a group chat. The next day, Noah noticed a few shareholders leaving


    the chat. He felt something amiss, so he called them and asked about it.


    "Apologies, Mr. Noah. We sold our shares to Mr. Joseph. He bought them at ten times the market


    value. We just couldn''t resist. Please be considerate. We''re only in small businesses, after all."


    Noah''s voice turned icy. "You guys came to me several times and begged me to buy the shares.


    Now, you sold them so casually. You guys are indeed businessmen who put profit before everything


    else."


    "Mr. Noah, don¡¯t say it like it¡¯s such a bad thing. We don''t own as many properties as you. We have


    to earn a living somehow."


    "All right then. There¡¯s no need for us to work together in any respect rted to the Sullivans in the


    future since you decided to end the cooperation."


    Noah then hung up since he could not bother to say much more.


    Chloe had heard most of the conversation. "Does this mean Joseph has more influence regarding


    the resort now?"


    "Yes, logically speaking." Noah smoothed her messy bangs, thenforted her, "It''s fine. It''s just a


    resort. We don''t have to care about it too much."


    "I know but I don''t want to be at his mercy. He''s aiming for me. If we just let him do what he wants


    with the resort, he''ll pull something even more outrageous next time."


    Noah pondered. "What do you want to do then? Tell me."


    "It¡¯s better for us to attack instead of being passive."


    Noah¡¯s brows knitted together. "No, let¡¯s just drop it and pretend nothing happened." He did not like


    the thought of her meeting Joseph again. The more they interacted, the more likely it was for the


    past to be exposed.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    However, Chloe ignored him and formted a n. She did not want someone to be burdened


    because of her.


    *


    When Callum got back to the royal castle, he sought out his wife, Carolina Musgrave. He then told


    her about everything that had happened between him and Luciana.


    Hearing his story, Carolina''s face paled. "You have a child with another woman?"


    "Yes, but this all happened before I got to know you. I promise I didn¡¯t cheat on you."


    Carolina extricated herself from his embrace. No woman would be at ease to learn that her husband


    had an illegitimate daughter. She braced herself and asked, "You found the child?"


    "Yes, I did. Felix sent me the information but I haven¡¯t read it yet. But if you don''t want to


    acknowledge her status, I''ll have Felix give her an exorbitant sum to keep quiet."


    Carolina knew that it was not Luciana''s fault and that she was just a victim, so she found it hard to


    make a decision. "Let''s read the information first."


    Callum simply nodded as he was not hard-pressed for an answer. He then opened the file Felix had


    sent him.

 Chapter 712 The Home Visit

    Chapter 712 The Home Visit


    The tall and slim woman in the information sported shoulder-length hair and had delicate facial


    features. There was a hint of wit in her bright, charming eyes.


    Carolina was amazed by the photograph. She could guess how beautiful the woman her husband


    bedded had been.


    "How old is she? Is she married?"


    Callum was bewildered and his words failed him. It was Joseph''s ex-wife¡­ Chloe was Luciana''s


    daughter!


    "Hubby?" Carolina looked at him in confusion.


    Callum was filled with pain and gloominess. "I know this woman."


    Stunned and confused, she asked, "How?"


    "It¡¯s a long story,¡± he said as he put his phone down.


    *


    At the Whitman family home, Jasper was eagerly watching Harold, who wasying in bed. "Daddy,


    when will Greatpapi wake up?" He wanted to be the first person Harold sees upon waking up.


    Joseph had ordered for his office desk to be relocated to Harold¡¯s room. With his head lowered as


    he flipped through his business documents, he said, "The doctor said tomorrow night at thetest.¡±


    "Ah, I still have to wait until tomorrow then. That¡¯s so long..." Jasper muttered unhappily.


    "You have to go to school tomorrow, so go to bed early. It''ll be about time for him to wake when


    sses are done."


    Jasper snorted. "Daddy, you forgot again. I''m not going to school tomorrow. The teacher ising


    for a home visit."


    Joseph''s hands stiffened slightly. "It¡¯s fine. I''m free tomorrow."


    "The teacher requests that both parents be around for the home visit though."


    Joseph looked up at Jasper. "Our family is a special case. We''ll ask your teacher to make an


    exception."


    Xavia had not visited recently. She had not evene looking for Jasper, and her whereabouts


    were unknown, let alone asking her to attend a home visit. Even if she coulde, Joseph did not


    want to see her.


    Jasper smacked his forehead, finding his father such a blockhead. Chloe cared about Harold very


    much. If Joseph told her that Harold was about to wake up, he could trick her intoing for the


    home visit. They could even deepen their rtionship then.


    Jasper left the room and hid in a corner. ¡®Forget it. I¡¯ll just do it myself,¡¯ he thought as he dialed her


    number.


    Chloe had just finished a meeting with her team when her phone rang. She immediately picked up.


    "What¡¯s the matter, Jasper?"


    "Ms. Chloe, the doctor said Greatpapi will wake up either tonight or tomorrow. Pleasee over.


    Let¡¯s witness this miracle together!" Jasper sounded enthusiastic and excited.


    Chloe said happily, "Really? You''re not lying to me, right?"


    "Yes, I swear I¡¯m telling the truth. My test results will plummet if I''m lying."


    Chloe dwelled on it for a few seconds before swiftly promising to visit. She wanted to talk to Joseph


    about the resort anyway. She yearned to see Harold and asked him who had hit him and caused


    him to fall into aa. She then drove over to the Whitman family home. It had been five years


    since she had been there but she still remembered the route.


    Patrick, who was watering the flowers, spotted Chloe from afar. He was rather old now, so he had


    bad eyesight. He only realized who it was after watching her for a while.


    Feeling surprised, he immediately went upstairs to inform Joseph.


    "Mr. Joseph, Ms. Chloe is here."


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph stiffened before he stood up and rushed to the yard.

 Chapter 713 He Never Said It, but He Thought It

    Chapter 713 He Never Said It, but He Thought It


    Chloe had just parked when Joseph came out. Their eyes met. His eyes fixed on Chloe as she got


    out of the car and walked toward him. He was one head taller than her, but her demeanor was no


    less imposing than Joseph''s after five years of improving herself.


    She looked up at him and said calmly, "I''m here to see Grandpa, and to ask you something about


    the resort."


    It was just as Joseph had anticipated. He smiled cunningly as if he had gotten what he wanted.


    "Why, of course. Please,e in."


    Annoyed with his smug look, she coldly averted her gaze and followed him to the living room.


    Jasper''s ck eyes lit up when he saw her. "Daddy, I was the one who invited Ms. Chloe."


    "I figured. What reward would you like?"


    Jasper pondered over the matter and answered solemnly, "I want a mother who loves me."


    He had more than enough money and toys. Inparison to other children, the only one hecked


    was a loving mother.


    Joseph pouted, then ruffled Jasper''s hair. "Okay, you''ll get a mother who loves you. I''ll work hard for


    it."


    Chloe stayed by Harold''s bed for half an hour. Upon seeing that he showed no signs of waking up


    just yet, she decided to discuss things with Joseph first. On her way to the study, Jasper ran out of


    his bedroom and blocked her path.


    He said pitifully, "Ms. Chloe, I''m starving."


    "Go and get something to eat then. There are plenty of helpers around to cook you something."


    "I want to try your cooking. Daddy told me that your cooking¡¯s great. He ims you¡¯re even better


    than the chefs in five-star restaurants," Jasper praised. He looked at her firmly, so he came off as


    very convincing.


    Chloe cocked an eyebrow. "Really now? He never said such words to me."


    "He may never have said them out loud, but he had always thought so in his heart."


    She was rendered speechless.


    For some strange reason, Chloe did not think this child had a glib tongue. On the contrary, she


    thought that he had high emotional intelligence. He would be greatly favored in the future, unlike


    Joseph who had a vicious tongue. And even more surprisingly, she felt very gratified about this.


    Jasper then recalled how his ssmates had acted coyly with their mothers. He then copied them


    and hugged Chloe''s arm, swaying it gently. A pleading look crept up his cool face, and his eyes


    even turned watery.


    Chloe looked down at the child who was pretending to be pitiful. She said exasperatedly, "Fine, I''ll


    cook for you. But it¡¯ll just be pasta. I won''t make anyplicated dishes."


    Jasper smiled broadly. He said in a childish and loud voice, "Yahoo! You''re the best, Ms. Chloe!"


    The Whitman family home had not changed much, and in less than fifteen minutes, Chloe managed


    to cook up a te of sausage pasta. Joseph detected the delicious scent from his room. When got


    to the dining room, he saw his son eating a te of pasta as Chloe sat beside him, exuding a


    motherly aura.


    Joseph''s eyes lit up. Strangely, he found the scene harmonious. This was what they should be like.


    Chloe was his woman, and they were a family. Noah was just a nobody who should stay far away.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    As he ate Jasper nced at Joseph and said nonchntly, ¡°Oh, hey, Dad.¡±


    Joseph grunted in reply before peering into the kitchen. Unfortunately, he did not see any extra


    pasta. Chloe had only cooked one portion. Joseph had not had dinner, so he was hungry too. When


    he saw that Jasper had eaten half the te, he firmly stated, "You shouldn¡¯t eat anymore. It''s not


    good to overeat."


    "But I''m not full yet..."


    "Kids should only eat until half full."


    "Do you want some pasta too, Daddy?"

 Chapter 714 I Could Have Protected Her

    Chapter 714 I Could Have Protected Her


    Joseph looked embarrassed. He coughed drily. "Nonsense. I''m just worried about your health."


    Jasper was just a child, after all. When he saw his father''s stern expression, he obediently put down


    his fork and said, "Okay, I''ll stop eating. Good night, Ms. Chloe. I''m going to go to bed."


    Chloe leaned back in her chair. "Good night. I''ll wake you when Grandpa wakes up."


    "Okay."


    Jasper went upstairs, so only Chloe and Joseph were left in the dining room.


    Chloe yawnedzily before ncing at Joseph. She then got up and went toward Harold''s room.


    She had no ns to stay there with him.


    Joseph remained where he was, scrolling through his phone. He only looked up a few seconds after


    Chloe walked into Harold¡¯s room. He then nced at the half-eaten sausage pasta on the table.


    His belly failed him and rumbled loudly. After some slight hesitation, he pulled the te toward him


    and started eating the pasta. The taste was familiar¡ªsimple food that he had been missing for


    years. During the countless nights that he returned home after workingte in the office, he yearned


    to go back in time, to when the woman who loved to cook for him still stayed in this cold house.


    Joseph ate fast but elegantly and finished the pasta in less than three minutes. As he picked up a


    napkin to wipe his lips, he heard someone behind him chuckle.


    Chloe crossed her arms and smiled. "And I assumed you¡¯d hate leftovers. How odd!"


    Joseph''s eyebrow twitched. He lied through his teeth, "I just don''t like wasting food."


    "Tsk, I''ll pretend that I believe you." Chloe shrugged. She beamed as she approached him. "Just tell


    me if you like the food I cook. I¡¯ll cook for you."


    He met her gaze. "Stop beating around the bush."


    "How about we make a deal? You give me three percent shares for every meal I cook for you."


    Josephughed out of anger. "That¡¯s an exorbitant price and wishful thinking. Was it Noah who


    taught you to be so shameless?"


    "Hmph! If you don¡¯t want to, forget about it then.¡± She had other means to regain the majority share


    of the resort.


    "Did I say no?"


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed. She knew that Joseph had twelve percent more than Noah. If he agreed,


    she only needed to cook him four times at most. Everything was going too smoothly, and she could


    not help wondering if it was a trap. After all, Joseph was a cunning man.


    "I¡¯ll agree to it but not at the rate of three percent to one meal. I want one meal for every one


    percent instead.¡±


    Chloe pondered over it, then happily agreed to it. Twelve percent meant twelve meals. Even the top


    chefs of the world did not enjoy such good treatment. Of course, it was not a loss for her. She


    immediately drafted an agreement for Joseph to sign, and he readily signed it.


    The contract then came into effect.


    After securing the contract, Chloe returned to Harold''s side. Joseph''s office desk was in the room


    too, so they were once again in the same space. Chloe got bored while waiting and started


    watching some videos. Xavia, who had been missingtely, popped up on her screen. It was a


    video of Xavia standing with a man. Curious, Chloe decided to click on it.


    "Mr. Keh, it¡¯s rumored that you¡¯ve been trying to gain Ms. Xavia''s heart. Are you aware that she


    has a child?"


    "Of course, and I don''t think it''s a shoring. The only thing that bothers me is that I didn''t meet


    Vee sooner and failed to protect her. She has suffered greatly."Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 715 No One Is Perfect for Each Other

    Chapter 715 No One Is Perfect for Each Other


    Chloe looked up at Joseph, looking at thetter with a profound gaze.


    Xavia truly had her ways. When she was not causing a scene, she was hooking up with another


    man, and this man was either rich or noble given the reporter''s attitude.


    As expected, Joseph¡¯s brows furrowed. "Give me your phone."


    Chloe scoffed and handed it over. When Joseph saw the man in the video, his frown deepened.


    Thinking he was jealous, Chloe cracked a faint smile. "Oh, are you upset?"


    "I know what you''re thinking but I assure you that I don''t care who Xavia''s with."


    "Oh yeah, you don''t care at all," she drawled, echoing his words.


    Gritting his teeth, Joseph pointed at the man on his phone and hissed, "That¡¯s Keh Gillingham,


    the prince of the royal family. In a few years, he''ll be contending for the throne. His father and I are


    close friends and business partners."


    Chloe was stunned. After understanding theplicated rtionship, she suddenly burst into


    laughter. It was the first time she hadughed so genuinely in his presence since meeting again


    after five years.


    She was a pretty woman with a pleasing face. Her charming eyes were round and bright and her


    nose bridge was bnced with her other features. When sheughed, the world seemed to light up


    too.


    Chloe did not notice the gentle quality Joseph''s eyes took on. When she was doneughing, she


    straightened up and said, "How wonderful! Maybe you''ll even be her elder!"


    Of course, it was easy to figure out the crux of the matter. Xavia and Keh had appeared in


    public together, and that meant that they had been in contact with each other for some time. There


    was the possibility of taking revenge on Joseph.


    "Do you want only the worst for me?"


    "Of course not. You''re overthinking it," Chloe casually replied.


    Joseph stopped arguing with her. He then wrote a menu. "Cook these tomorrow."


    "Think it over carefully. You have only twelve meals. If I cook tomorrow, you''ll only have eleven


    times left."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I know how to do Math, thank you very much."


    Chloe snorted. "I''m just worried you''ll break your word."


    Joseph gave her a determined look and said, "I won''t."


    He wanted to turn over a new leaf and change his old habits¡ªbe less despicable, less greedy, and


    let go of his extreme sense of insecurity. He wondered if Chloe hated him for failing to protect her


    and their child. It would be reasonable if she did, but it was not a big deal as long as he loved her.


    No one was perfect for each other. And more often than not, people built bonds over time, just like


    how they had gotten to know each other.


    Not being able to read Joseph''s mind, Chloe bowed her head and continued watching the interview.


    Keh was an okay-looking man. Although he was not a very handsome man, his thick eyebrows


    andrge eyes marked him a righteous one. When he looked toward Xavia, his eyes were full of


    pity and adoration.


    Xavia, on the hand, kept her gaze lowered and spoke in a gentle voice. It was obvious to Chloe that


    she was pretending. Rolling her eyes, Chloe clicked on the video¡¯s dislike button.


    Suddenly, Harold''s fingers twitched, and there were some fluctuations on the ECG beside him.


    Joseph noticed something and looked over from his pile of documents. He observed Harold for a


    while before immediately calling for the doctor who was on standby.


    Chloe realized that Harold was about to wake up. She became so anxious that sweat dripped down


    her forehead. She was even more nervous than Harold''s own grandson.

 Chapter 716 What a Shame

    Chapter 716 What a Shame


    After checking on Harold, the doctor smiled. "Mr. Harold is about to wake up. Try your best not to


    agitate him once he does. We don¡¯t want to stimte him and cause a second injury to his brain."


    Joseph looked at Chloe beside him, figuring that she was impatient to know who had hurt Harold.


    She noticed his gaze and quickly said, "Don''t worry. I want to know the truth, but I can wait. I''m


    worried about him as much as you are."


    About half an hour after the doctor left, Harold slowly opened his eyes. After taking a moment to


    adjust to the lights, his eyes started to focus.


    Joseph took a step forward. "Hey Grandpa, how are you feeling?"


    Harold remained quiet. Having been in aa for so long, he felt that his brain was foggy. Chloe


    was worried and called for the doctor. After the check-up, the doctor pronounced that Harold was


    fine and just had yet to fully recover.


    "Mr. Joseph, you guys should get some rest. I''ll watch over him."


    Joseph had personally chosen this doctor, so he was not worried to leave Harold in his care.


    Besides, he would be of no help even if he stayed.


    "All right." He then looked at Chloe. "You should get some sleep too."


    Chloe wanted to refuse him but he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room.


    "Mr. Joseph, please mind yourself. I''m engaged." Chloe shoved his hand away as she solemnly


    warned him.


    Joseph''s eyes turned cold. "Really? No one''s here to see anything."Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°That doesn''t give you the right to do it."


    "Fine, I won''t tell Noah. Go to bed. Now."


    Chloe was struck speechless. Why was he saying it like she had done something shameless with


    him?


    Joseph gave her the bedroom next to Jasper''s. Finding everything familiar yet not, she had a


    restless night. In the morning, a knock on her door woke her. She climbed out of bed and opened


    the door.


    Jasper was standing outside, staring at her excitedly. "Greatpapi is awake. He wants to see you."


    Chloe¡¯s head cleared. She threw on a coat and went with Jasper to Harold¡¯s room. Other than the


    doctor, Joseph and Patrick were also there. When Harold saw Chloe, he smiled and waved at her


    just like always. His voice sounded hoarse since he had not spoken for a long time.


    "Chloe my dear,e. Sit here."


    Chloe''s eyes turned red as she smiled. "Yes, Grandpa."


    The doctor sensibly took his leave. But before that, he wanted to go over a list of precautions with


    Joseph. When they exited the room, Harold turned to Chloe.


    "I know that you two are divorced. While I was in thea, I could asionally hear you guys talk.


    Josephcked parental love, so he never learned what love was. Though the methods he employed


    hurt you, I promise that he was only ever sincere toward you. But it''s toote to say all that now. My


    family has wronged you."


    "Grandpa, please stop. Regardless, you''ll always be my irreceable family."


    Harold sighed and turned to look at Jasper. He felt a little upset. "This kid..."


    The child was sensible and obedient. What a shame¡­


    Chloe did not notice the undertone in his voice. "Jasper is a good child. He thought about you a lot


    and frequently visited you at the hospital."

 Chapter 717 How Did She Falsify the Paternity Test

    Chapter 717 How Did She Falsify the Paternity Test


    Harold opened his mouth, but then closed it and decided not to broach the topic in front of Jasper.


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Jasper, could you ask the chef to cook me some oatmeal please?"


    "Okay, Greatpapi." Jasper was more than happy to take care of his great-grandfather who had just


    woken up. He sped down the stairs to look for the chef.


    Chloe knew that Harold was deliberately waiting for everyone to leave. She asked anxiously,


    "Should I close the door?"


    "Yes."


    She nodded and got up to shut the door. "Go ahead, Grandpa."


    A tangled web of memories washed over him, making his head hurt. For a moment, he did not know


    where to begin. Upon noticing her short hair, he felt sorry for Chloe. "You must¡¯ve suffered a lot


    alone for the past few years."


    Chloe chuckled. "No, I didn¡¯t. I made lots of friends while abroad. My best friend, Emily, was there


    with me too. I had a great time."


    "Then why did you cut your hair?"


    She paused for a moment before answering calmly, "My hair was burned in the fire. It was hideous,


    so I cut it. It doesn¡¯t matter, many hairstyles fit me just fine."


    Harold then realized that the fire had left Chloe scarred. Joseph really was a bastard. How could he


    trust others so easily and wrong Chloe so greatly? He was brilliant in doing business but a fool in


    matters of love.


    "Grandpa?" Chloe probed.


    Haroldposed himself and said emotionally, "Chloe, that bastard and Xavia are innocent. Jasper


    isn''t their child."


    A little taken aback, she replied, "I understand, Grandpa, but it''s over between me and Joseph. It''s


    been so many years, and I have a new life now..."


    "I''m not trying tofort you or trick you into rejoining my family. I¡¯m saying Xavia conceived Jasper


    after sleeping with another man. Given what had happened to Joseph that night, I suspect that


    everything was a setup.¡±


    Based on Joseph''s statement, he only slept with Xavia once. And ording to Xavia¡¯s own words,


    Harold could confirm that Jasper was not Joseph''s child, though he wondered how she had falsified


    the paternity test.


    Chloe stared at Harold in shock. "What are you saying, Grandpa?"


    "I know a lot more than you guys. I''ll ask Joseph to take Jasper for another paternity test."


    Harold had nned on exposing Xavia the moment he woke up but failed to do so when he met the


    extremely sensible Jasper and looked into the child¡¯s pure eyes. He just could not bring himself to


    say it.


    Strangely, Jasper resembled Joseph''s younger self. Was it just a coincidence? But that did not


    make sense. There was something questionable about the whole affair. Had Joseph lied about


    sleeping with Xavia more than once or was Xavia lying?


    Chloe did not believe that Xavia could pull off such a huge deception. After a slight pause, she


    asked, "Could there be a spy around Joseph? I have a feeling that Xavia has something to do with


    Duskfall."


    Harold frowned. "Duskfall is dangerous. Do not go near them, let alone investigate them, do you


    hear me?"


    "Yes, I hear you. I''m not that brave either." Chloe had just regained her peaceful days and did not


    wish to court trouble. She then recalled something. "Grandpa, if you remember everything, do you


    remember who knocked you out?"

 Chapter 718 The Teacher Calls Her Jasper’s Mother

    Chapter 718 The Teacher Calls Her Jasper¡¯s Mother


    At the mention of this, Harold seemed a little hesitant. He was silent for a long while before he said,


    "It was Xa¡ª"


    "Your oatmeal¡¯s here!"


    A child¡¯s voice interrupted him.


    Jasper carefully carried a bowl of oatmeal into the room. "Greatpapi, it''s a little hot. Blow on it before


    you eat."


    Harold looked at Jasper and said, "I will, thank you."


    "You''re wee." Jasper turned to tug at Chloe''s clothes. "Ms. Chloe, my teacher is here. Can you


    come downstairs with me?"


    "Where''s your father?" Eager to find out the truth, Chloe wanted to turn Jasper down.


    "Daddy''s downstairs but the teacher told me to get my mother. If you don''te, I''ll have to tell the


    teacher I don''t have a mother." Jasper looked down sadly and let go of her clothes.


    A pang of pain hit Chloe in the chest. Harold just told her that Jasper might be the product of Xavia


    and another man, but she still found it hard to say no to him. Harold felt the same way too. He had


    always wished for an obedient great-grandson. The boy before him was just as he had imagined,


    and the boy did not take after Joseph¡¯s character.


    What a shame...


    Chloe hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to cross her boundaries. "How long will it


    take?"


    She just could not bring herself to refuse or hate Jasper. And besides, Harold was awake now. She


    could ask about the incident anytime. The home visit was only once a year, and she had caused


    Xavia''s well-deserved downfall.


    "About half an hour to an hour at most," Jasper quickly answered. His eyes lit up. "It won''t take up


    much of your time."


    "Fine, but only this once."


    Downstairs, a woman in a business suit was chatting with Joseph while simultaneously taking down


    notes. Jasper trotted over and introduced Chloe to the woman, "Miss, this is my mother. Sorry, we''re


    late."


    The woman extended her hand to Chloe and said in a friendly tone, "Hello, I''m Jasper¡¯s homeroom


    teacher."


    Chloe shook hands with the teacher enthusiastically. "Hello."


    Having got what he wanted, Jasper winked at his father smugly. Joseph understood and smiled,


    giving his son a thumbs-up. An understanding had been established. Jasper distracted the teacher


    with chatter to buy time for Joseph.


    The warm sunlight shone down on the trio, making them look very much like a harmonious family.


    Even Joseph''s sharp and aloof gaze had a touch of warmth to it. The teacher addressed Chloe as


    Jasper''s mother, and though Chloe was not used to it at first, she soon gotfortable with the


    role. If her child was still alive, they would be like Jasper.


    At noon, the teacher left. Chloe instantly put away her smile and nced at Joseph coldly. She then


    turned to go back upstairs to Harold¡¯s room.


    Joseph stopped her. "Let''s eat before going up."


    "It''s fine, I''m not hungry."


    "Be good now.¡± Although Joseph said this gently, he grabbed her waist and hugged her.


    Chloe elbowed him fiercely. "Let go of me. I know you and Jasper are working together. He


    pretended to be all pitiful to fool me. I did him a favor, but it has nothing to do with you."


    Of course, she had been able to tell that Jasper was trying to put them together.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Joseph smiled wickedly. "How long have you known me and how long have you known Jas? Why


    would you do him any favors? I know it''s all just an excuse. There''s nothing to be embarrassed


    about."


    Chloe sighed at his shamelessness and whispered, "Don''t tter yourself. You should talk to


    Grandpa. Xavia might have cuckolded you.¡±

 Chapter 719 It All Came Down to Her Heart

    Chapter 719 It All Came Down to Her Heart


    Joseph frowned. "What are you talking about?"


    Chloe spotted Jasper studying them curiously and decided against saying hateful words to Joseph.


    "Ask Grandpa and you¡¯ll find out."


    His frown deepened as he strode upstairs. Jasper wanted to follow his father but Chloe stopped


    him. "Are Oreo and Toto around? I¡¯d like to see them."


    Jasper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "You know Oreo and Toto?"


    "Yeah, I even took care of them for a while. Well, I did stay in this house longer than you."


    When she said that, she felt strange. She had sounded like Joseph for a moment there. Jasper did


    not notice this small detail and hurriedly led her to the dogs. As he was walking down the stairs, he


    almost tripped and fell.


    Chloe hurriedly held his hand. "Be careful. Walk slowly. You don''t want to sprain your ankle, do


    you?"


    Looking at her hand that was holding onto his, he blushed. ¡®Ms. Chloe''s hand is so warm.¡¯


    Xavia had never been intimate with him, let alone hugged him. Only in front of Joseph would she


    pretend to hold his hand. Once Joseph had left, Xavia would disdainfully push him away.


    Jasper looked up at Chloe''s gentle and delicate face and tears welled up in his eyes. ¡®It¡¯d be great if


    only Ms. Chloe was my mother! I would then be loved like all my ssmates.''


    Toto and Oreo were averagelyrge dogs. They were already eight years old and were considered


    rather old. Luckily, the Whitmans were rich, and both dogs were well taken care of. They were fine


    but not as energetic as before.


    They did not recognize Chloe when they saw her, but when she got nearer, they detected her


    familiar scent. They wagged their furry tails excitedly and whimpered as ifining why she had


    note to see them in such a long time. Chloe was touched that they still remembered her.


    After ying with the dogs for a while, Joseph came out of the room and stood on the balcony. With


    a cigarette hanging between his lips, his expression was unreadable as he gazed into the distance.


    Although he remained silent, one could feel the gloominess and oppressioning off of him.


    A sense of helplessness engulfed Jasper. "Daddy¡¯s in a bad mood..."


    Chloe patted his shoulders. "It''s okay. They''re not on good terms with each other, so they might¡¯ve


    argued a little. Go and do your homework."


    "Okay, Ms. Chloe, but please help me mediate the situation."


    "I will."


    Chloe walked to the balcony and asked in a low voice, "Did Grandpa tell you everything? What''s


    your n?"


    "I''ve arranged for a paternity test. They''ll being byter to take the blood sample. I''ll get the


    results tomorrow." Joseph took a drag, and the white smoke concealed his face.


    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat. "Will you continue to raise Jasper if he isn¡¯t your child?"


    "I don''t know."


    "I¡¯ll take care of him if you don''t want to!" Chloe uncharacteristically said without any hesitation.


    Joseph looked at her in confusion before touching her forehead. "Are you having a fever?"


    She wanted to raise Xavia¡¯s child? Was that not being too kind?Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''m serious here! Jasper is a good child. He shouldn¡¯t be burdened with his parents'' grudges."


    Chloe did not know what was wrong with her either. She just simply could not stand to see Jasper


    suffer. It all came down to what her heart told her to do.


    Joseph stared at her for a long while before saying forlornly, "I won''t abandon Jasper. Doing the


    paternity test is just so that I have conclusive results."


    He was at a loss. How would he face Jasper from now on?


    "As long as you don''t give him up. Did Grandpa tell you who hurt him?¡±


    "No."


    "No? You didn¡¯t ask or he didn''t say?"


    "He didn''t say. He told me to handle Jasper first because of some other things we discussed."


    Chloe was baffled. She could not understand the link between those two affairs. Just then, her


    phone rang. It was a call from Noah. She had not told him that she was at the Whitman family


    home. After ncing at Joseph, she decided to head to a corner and answer the phone.


    "What''s wrong? Don''t dare to pick up your fiance''s call in front of me?" Joseph mocked. He had


    seen the caller ID.

 Chapter 720 I Smell a Bitch

    Chapter 720 I Smell a Bitch


    Chloe smirked and smiled brightly. "Mr. Joseph, you tter yourself."


    "Really?" Joseph sneered. "Go ahead and pick it up here then. The helpers¡¯ rooms if you go forward


    and behind is the garden. The call will end by the time you get upstairs to the guest room."


    Hearing his words, Chloe did not back down. Not wanting to appear scared, she picked up the call.


    "Coco, are you still with Emily?" Noah¡¯s voice was gentle and pleasant.


    Chloe unconsciously picked at the railing. She replied calmly, "Yeah, we stayed over at a hotel. I''ll


    head home in the afternoon.


    "Okay. Grandpa asked me if you''reing home for dinner. I promised I¡¯d call and ask about it."


    "The top chef from Estre will being over tonight, so of course, I''ll be there. It''s been a long time


    since I had seafood."


    Joseph listened in on her conversation. She was not as distant as when she was with him, even


    sounding soft and coquettish. She used to be like that with him in the past.


    "Okay, I''ll be waiting for you."


    Noah then hung up.


    Chloe put away her phone, then turned around and left without looking at Joseph. He did not go


    after her and instead called Callum. He wanted to tell Callum that Xavia had hooked up with his


    son. Callum, on the other hand, told him a great secret.


    *


    Chloe went to Harold but found that he had dozed off.


    The doctor whispered, "You cane and talk to him again tomorrow. He just woke up, so we


    shouldn¡¯t ask him to recall the past too much. The most important thing for him now is to rx."


    Chloe was disappointed but she understood. Thus, she wasted no time in sticking around and


    returned to the Sullivan manor.


    It happened to be the weekend and the rush hour right now, so the roads were congested. The


    stuffy atmosphere in the car made Chloe lower the window to get some fresh air. After a few


    minutes, the SUV beside her also rolled its window down.


    Megan''s disdainful face appeared before Chloe. She leaned out the window and took in the scene.


    She then said absent-mindedly, "Why do I detect the scent of a bitch? Oh, there''s the bitch."


    Chloe remainedposed as she said nonchntly, "Are you referring to yourself?"


    "Hmph! Cut the act! Vee will be part of the royal family soon and will generously leave Joseph and


    Noah to you."


    "Amazing! But I heard that it was Joseph who dumped Xavia, so she had no choice but to go to


    Keh. In short, she was the one who was abandoned. I guess it''s because she''s dirty. You


    should take her for a bath when you have the time to help scrub off her filthiness."


    Megan''s expression became furious as she rebuked, "How dare you talk bad about Vee! I''m going


    to make you suffer!"


    She had her own selfish motives. If Xavia became the princess, she would easily gain many good


    resources in the entertainment circle. Xavia vehemently hated Chloe, and since Megan had


    bumped into Chloe, she wanted to avenge Xavia and gain a better foothold.


    Chloe lifted her chin. Her hair swayed with the wind as she smiled charmingly. "Do you have the


    guts?"


    Megan''s face turned red. She was popr in the entertainment circle now and was used to putting


    on airs. Of course, she could not bear the taunting. She got out of the SUV and rushed toward


    Chloe.


    Chloe did not retreat. Opening the car door, she let Megan in and grabbed thetter by the hair.


    "Ah, you bitch! Let go!"


    "But things are just getting started!"


    "Help! Help me!" Megan shouted at her assistants in the SUV.


    They hurriedly got out of the car and ran over.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 721 I’ve Vented My Anger by Hitting You

    Chapter 721 I¡¯ve Vented My Anger by Hitting You


    When the driver saw what was happening, he got scared. "Please don''t fight in the car! I''ll be held


    responsible if anything happens!"


    Chloe pinned Megan''s arms behind her back. She then said, "Lock the doors."


    The driver did as she asked. At least, they would be out of danger for the moment. Besides, the


    road ahead was about to be clear. Megan¡¯s assistants smacked the car but they could not get in.


    They could only watch as Chloe pped Megan fiercely and mercilessly.


    "My face! Don''t hit my face!"


    The hot burning pain made Megan scream and cry in fear. The most valuable thing about a celebrity


    was their face. Megan spent more than a hundred thousand dors every year on her skincare.


    Chloe, being a devious woman, knew what Megan cared about the most. She stopped and said, "I


    may have pped you, but you tried to kill me."


    "You¡¯re getting things all wrong. When did I ever try to kill you?"


    "A few days ago, you drove your car right into mine. You would¡¯ve crashed into me and killed me if I


    hadn¡¯t dodged."


    Megan was stunned. "No, I didn''t."


    Chloe averted her gaze. She had guessed as much. She showed Megan the photos she had taken.


    "Is this red car yours?"


    "Yes, it is..." Megan was taken aback. "But I was on set that day. I didn''t drive my car out."


    "You''re lying. Xavia even apologized to me on your behalf."


    Megan was confused. She did not believe it at first but was soon ovee by anger after learning


    about what had happened. Megan then recalled Xavia had borrowed her car. She had


    impersonated Megan to stalk Chloe. Xavia then shifted the me to Megan after she was caught


    red-handed. Megan even wanted to teach Chloe a lesson on Xavia''s behalf.


    That ungrateful Xavia!


    "It wasn''t me that day. Xavia impersonated me. There¡¯s a whole group of people to prove that I was


    on set that day."


    After sowing discord between Megan and Xavia, Chloe released Megan. "Go and talk to Xavia then.


    After all, I¡¯ve already hit you and avenged myself. I won''t find fault with her."


    Megan erupted in anger. Wanting to interrogate Xavia immediately, she hit the door. "Open the


    door!¡±


    Chloe made sure there were no cars behind them so Megan would not be run over. "Sir, let her out."


    Megan was surrounded by her two assistants the moment she got out of the car. They expressed


    their desire to beat Chloe up.


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Have I not been embarrassed enough?" She covered her face and wrapped her clothes tightly


    around herself. "Let''s go. We don¡¯t want anyone spotting us."


    Chloe watched Megan''s sorry back and slowly put away her smile.


    *


    At the Sullivan manor.


    When Chloe got home, it was time for dinner. The chef had given the nest part of the salmon.


    Desmond smiled and said, "You''re just in time."


    "It¡¯s because you guys were waiting for me."


    Noah put a peeled prawn on her te. "Why didn''t you bring Emily over? It''s been a long time since


    I¡¯ve seen her."


    "She''s busy with her new job. I''ll ask her toe over when she''s free."


    Noah lowered his eyes and casually said, "Something rather interesting happened this afternoon."


    "What happened?" Chloe asked.


    "Someone beat up a famous star on the streets."


    Chloe''s hands trembled slightly. The cab she had taken had taken a different route from where her


    trip with Emily had been. She forced out a smile and said, "That is interesting."


    "Look. It seems like it was Xavia''s friend." Noah showed her his phone.

 Chapter 722 The Prince and the Pauper

    Chapter 722 The Prince and the Pauper


    Chloe¡¯s neck stiffened. She then looked up at Noah, but he appeared gentle and harmless. Maybe


    they were so close to each other, she felt like running away. She turned and looked at the phone.


    Luckily, the photos on the Inte were vague. Besides, she had stayed in the car, so most of the


    scenes featured only Megan.


    She inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. After she confirmed that Noah was his usual self, she


    immediately changed the topic. "Michael''s video will be posted tomorrow. If the feedback is good,


    we can invite him for a live show."


    "Forget the live show," Noah said.


    "Why?"


    "We have far more suitable candidates for that. Michael just isn¡¯t cut out for it."


    Chloe simply nodded and did not ask further. She trusted his judgment.


    Desmond looked at the pair and cleared his throat. "Let''s not talk about work while at the dinner


    table."


    "Okay, Grandpa," Chloe agreed obediently. She then asked, "Grandpa, do you know a person


    called Felix Pierce?"


    "Felix Pierce?" Desmond had a vague impression of him. "I believe he¡¯s a confidante of the royal


    family and came to Exotic Star¡¯s exhibitions several times."


    "I see."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Something the matter?"


    Chloe nced at Noah. He nodded and indicated that she could broach the topic.


    She dwelled on it for a long time. "It seems that my mother knew him, and their rtionship wasn''t


    simple. Benjamin ims that my mother slept with another man."


    Desmond was old, but he could still think fast. He quickly understood what she meant. He then


    chuckled. "I think you¡¯ve misunderstood something. Felix¡¯s body isn¡¯t working right."


    "His body isn¡¯t right?"


    "I went for a check-up many years ago and bumped into him at the hospital. I identally saw his


    diagnosis tests." After some slight hesitation, he exined, "It''s very difficult for him to produce a


    child."


    It had been a private hospital that served VIPs. The doctors there were very warm, and Felix¡¯s


    attending doctor had consoled Felix for a long time. Hence, Desmond still remembered that incident


    to this day.


    Chloe frowned. "Are you sure, Grandpa?"


    Felix was infertile? Then how did Chloee along?


    "100 percent positive. Felix wouldn''t have anything to do with your mother," Desmond concluded.


    Chloe and Noah became suspicious. Did something go wrong in their investigation? But Felix had


    admitted to it.


    Chloe lost her appetite. Confused, she retired to the bedroom.


    Noah lost his appetite too. He decided to investigate the matter again.


    *


    The next day, Lucas walked into the Whitman family home and handed a report to Joseph. "Sir, the


    results of the paternity test are out."


    Joseph took the file. After a brief silence, he opened it. He ignored the dense data and analysis and


    went straight to the final results. His gloomy eyes filled with disbelief before a sense of cold


    engulfed him.


    Jasper was his son, so why was Harold iming that Xavia had an affair with another man? He had


    only slept with Xavia once in thest five years, and he remembered it vividly. It was like he could


    not hold himself back or bear to part with her. But after that, he never touched her again.


    Joseph drummed his fingers on the table, pondering over something. He then brought the report to


    Harold. As Harold read it, Joseph was attracted to The Prince and the Pauper ying on the TV.

 Chapter 723 Her Once Brilliant Life Had Been Completely Shattered

    Chapter 723 Her Once Brilliant Life Had Been Completely Shattered


    Joseph fixed his gaze on the TV screen. Something then flickered through his mind. But before he


    could fully grasp the thought, Harold''s voice interrupted him.


    "This is impossible. I distinctly overheard Xavia talking about sleeping with another man."


    Joseph''s emotions quickly settled. Besides being slightly shocked by Xavia''s cunning and


    decadence, he did not feel much else about the matter. "Jas is my child. That¡¯s the only thing that


    matters."


    Harold was quite puzzled, but it was still good news. The little boy seemed intelligent and worthy of


    carrying on the Whitman lineage.


    "Have you had any conflicts with Duskfall in recent years?"


    "Hardly.¡±


    After a pause, Harold asked tentatively, "And your mother..."


    Joseph toyed with a flower on the nightstand, his fingertips tracing its delicate petals. His face had a


    deep and charming expression as he said, "There are some leads."


    Harold was stunned, and he struggled to sit up. He murmured, "She really is alive."


    Having escaped from the clutches of Cyrus and the Sinirs, she must have shown incredible


    perseverance and determination.


    Joseph clenched his fist, suppressing years of resentment. "Yes, Mother is still alive, but she has


    suffered a lot and lookspletely different from what I remember."


    She now donned an exceedingly ordinary face of a passerby, concealing the former radiance she


    once possessed. She used to care about her appearance and lived a carefree life of luxury after


    marrying his father. She had now forsaken her looks and changed her identity to that of a


    salesperson who wore a constant smile. With determination, she worked hard to secure business


    deals. Her once brilliant life had beenpletely shattered, and she should never have had to


    endure such hardships ever again.


    Harold sighed. He empathized with the hardships and heartaches Joseph''s mother had endured. If


    not for the sake of this brat, she probably would not have managed to endure all those years.


    "When will you bring her home?"


    Joseph shook his head. "Cyrus must have nted spies around me. I''m biding my time.¡±


    Cyrus'' possessiveness over his mother was insane. If he discovered her whereabouts, she would


    undoubtedly suffer a second time. Joseph did not fear Cyrus, but he knew his mother did not want


    to confront him.


    At one in the afternoon, Joseph left the house. He had important matters to attend to. Before he set


    off in his car, Lucas sent him a short video.


    [Sir, Ms. Chloe picked this artist for a marketing promo. Her department will start a live stream this


    afternoon. Would you like to show your support?]


    Joseph sent a voice message in reply, "Purchase all the showcased jewelry."


    "You are truly magnificent, sir. But I suggest not letting Ms. Chloe find out about this. Sometimes,


    good intentions can backfire.¡±


    "Do I need you to teach me how to handle things?" Joseph replied arrogantly.


    Money was one thing he nevercked. If he had won Chloe over with it, perhaps they would not be


    stuck in this current stalemate.


    Lucas fell silent. He thought, ¡®If only you had realized this earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have driven Ms.


    Chloe away, sir.¡¯


    *


    At the Seaside Mariner, Callum''s expression turned serious. "Chloe¡¯s my daughter. I''m absolutely


    certain about it."


    Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Aren¡¯t you going to even consider a paternity test?"


    "Whether we do it or not doesn''t matter," said Callum as guilt flickered in his eyes. "Felix offered


    Chloe reparations, but she doesn''t want anything. It''s unlikely for a person who seeks nothing to


    have ulterior motives.¡±


    Joseph stared at Callum for a moment before giving his evaluation. "To be honest, you and Chloe


    don''t look alike."


    "Maybe she takes after her mother." After so many years, he retained only a vague shadow of her


    appearance.


    "Have you told your wife about this?"


    "Yes, she supports me."


    "Good. Then I''ll help you arrange a meeting with Chloe."


    Callum paused for a moment and chuckled skeptically. "You think you can arrange for a meeting


    with her?"


    "Of course. Not only can I arrange a meeting, but she¡¯ll also cook for me."


    At Exotic Star, Chloe was in the livestream room watching the host enthusiastically introduce the


    company¡¯s jewelry. The sales data in the background soared to unprecedented levels, leaving her a


    little stunned.


    ¡®Is everyone so rich nowadays?¡¯ she thought, ¡®These products range from hundreds to thousands.


    Even several tens of thousands. Although they weren''t limited editions, they weren''t cheap twenty-


    dor items either. Are people really cing orders so casually, without even thinking twice? Do


    they not stop to consider at all?¡¯


    The host was ted, having never experienced such a surge of decisive viewers during her live


    stream before. By her estimations, themission she would earn tonight would be enough to buy


    a car.


    Thements poured in.


    [What''s going on? Why can''t I grab a single order?]


    [Yeah, I can¡¯t add anything to my cart.]


    [Since when did jewelry live streams be so popr?]


    [I must buy something! Host, pleaseunch some new products!]


    After the live stream ended, the marketing department decided to celebrate with a grand feast.


    Meanwhile, Chloe received a call from Joseph.


    "Sure, I¡¯ll cook, but not right now. How about in two hours?"


    The celebration took ce at avish five-star hotel. Chloe and her team were dining on the first


    floor when she noticed Keh and Xavia walking in together.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 724 Ignite Jealousy and Change His Mind

    Chapter 724 Ignite Jealousy and Change His Mind


    Xavia was dressed in a pastel pink jacket paired with white knee-high boots. Her face mask


    concealed most of her features. Only her exquisite and mysterious eyes that enticed curiosity could


    be seen.


    Keh felt a surge of concern for her and remarked, "Your eyshes are frosted over. Cover


    yourself up more next time."


    "It¡¯s all right, I''m fine. We were in the car the whole time, and I''m wearing a down jacket. It''s not that


    cold.¡±


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Okay, next time I''ll stop the car closer so that you don''t have to walk so far.¡±


    Xavia started tearing up as she looked at him. Keh panicked and quickly handed her a tissue.


    "What''s wrong? Did I say something wrong?"


    "No one has ever treated me this kindly. You''re the first.¡±


    Keh paused for a moment, then responded with overwhelming tenderness, "I''ll always treat you


    this way, Vee."


    "Really?"


    "Of course, I promise.¡±


    Xavia blushed and gently linked her arm with his, saying, "Let''s eat."


    "Sure," Keh smiled, nodding as they followed the waiter to the table next to Chloe''s.


    Xavia did not notice Chloe at first, but as she put down her bag, their eyes met.


    Chloe greeted her with a mischievous grin and said, "Hi."


    Xavia¡¯s eyes widened, and her gentle voice turned sharp as she squeaked, "Why are you here? Are


    you following me?"


    "I''m not. Who has time for that?"


    "Nonsense. You must have nned this."


    "Believe what you want. Not everyone thinks the same way as you do."


    Xavia''s face twisted in a mix of guilt and resentment as her palms grew sweaty. She had received a


    scolding from Megan yesterday for no reason. In her mind, everything was Chloe''s fault.


    Keh intervened, his expression serious and imposing like a true royal. "Vee, who¡¯s this?" He


    had read about rumors of Chloe online and wanted to speak up for Xavia.


    Chloe''s smile deepened as she casually replied, "Oh, I''ve known your Vee for many years. We met


    when she was together with Joseph."


    "That¡¯s all in the past. I hope you won''t bring it up again and try to drive a wedge between Vee and


    me, Ms. Chloe. I won''t go easy on you just because you¡¯re a woman."


    "Apologies, but I''m not interested," Chloe calmly retorted, facing him head-on.


    Keh''s tone turned icy, "If you weren''t interested, you wouldn''t cause a scene."


    "As a prince of the royal family, isn''t it a bit unsightly for you to be speaking this way?" Frieda stood


    up, her voice strong and resolute. She stared at Keh without flinching.


    The others were surprised by Frieda''s unexpected support for their manager. What was going on?


    Frieda was standing up for Chloe?


    Chloe paused for a moment, feeling a little dazed but grateful that someone was speaking up for


    her.


    "Frieda, don''t worry about me. Please, have a seat and enjoy the meal," Chloe assured her,


    knowing that Keh''s social status was different from ordinary people''s. She did not want to


    burden Frieda.


    "How about we find another ce to eat?" Xavia suggested to Keh, ¡°It doesn¡¯t bring any good


    to cause a scene in public. I wouldn''t want to put you in an awkward position.¡±


    And she could not risk Chloe suddenly revealing something that might tarnish her reputation.


    Completing the task and not disappointing Cyrus was crucial. Moreover, she entertained the


    possibility that if Joseph saw her with Keh, it would ignite his jealousy and potentially change


    his mind.


    Keh was reluctant to let the matter slide so easily, but when he saw Xavia''s pleading eyes, he


    could not bear to push the matter further and agreed to leave.


    As the pair left, Friedaforted Chloe, "Don''t mind them. You did nothing wrong."


    Nodding while savoring her steak, Chloe replied, "Of course, I know I did nothing wrong. Frieda,


    please eat. The dishes are getting cold."


    Xavia''s presence had not affected Chloe¡¯s mood, and she was not foolish enough to confront Xavia


    in front of Keh. She simply wanted to provoke her a little.


    After dinner, Chloe drove to the cafe where she had arranged to meet Joseph. In a private room,


    Callum heard a knock on the door and immediately got up to answer it. She gazed at the middle-


    aged man before her, his gentle smile capturing her attention. She then nced at Joseph with a


    look of puzzlement on her face.

 Chapter 725 How Do You Plan to Bribe Me?

    Chapter 725 How Do You n to Bribe Me?


    Joseph nonchntly looked up and said, "Come in then. Are you afraid I''ll gobble you up or


    something?"


    Chloe remained vignt and remained by the door. "Didn¡¯t you ask me to cook? How can I do that


    here?"


    "Why not?"


    Impatiently, she retorted, "This is a cafe."


    Joseph reached for the curtain behind him and lifted it, revealing a small antique-styled stove


    complete with vegetables and meat.


    "...I don''t know how to use that." Chloe sighed in frustration.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "The appliances here are all modern," Callum said, "He didn''t call you here to cook. He''s just


    teasing you."


    Chloe looked puzzled. "If I''m not here to cook, then I¡¯m going to leave. Please be clearer next time.


    I''m not obligated to apany you two for idle chatter."


    Today had been a tiring affair for Chloe, handling two gigs in one night. All she wanted was to wind


    down while ying some board games with her colleagues.


    "We have serious business to discuss," Joseph said as he poured a cup of hot tea and ced it in


    front of an empty seat. He gestured to the chair. "Sit. You''ll want to hear this."


    For others, this might have sparked curiosity. But in Chloe''s eyes, it was just a cheap trick. She


    calmly said, "Goodbye,¡± and walked away, closing the door of the private room behind her.


    Joseph frowned in frustration. He got up and caught up with her. "Come back to the room."


    "No thank you. Didn¡¯t you hear me? I''m not interested. Are you deaf?"


    "Don''t you want to know who your biological father is?"


    Chloe frowned. "I already know, There¡¯s no need for you to tell me."


    Joseph looked down at her and said, "It''s not Felix."


    "Then who?"


    "The man you just saw in the cafe."


    *


    Callum had held a high position all his life and had long cultivated a calm andposed mentality


    for facing challenges. However, as he sat across from Chloe, he felt a little uneasy.


    "And that''s what happened. It was an unfortunate ident that happened many years ago. That


    traitor deceived me and I unintentionally hurt your mother. Felix is my subordinate and has been


    loyal to me throughout his life. Now that I have a family, he took it upon himself to shoulder the


    responsibility without my knowledge. I only found out the day before yesterday. I deeply apologize


    for all this."


    Chloe''s brows furrowed, and she asked, "Can you prove that everything you said is true?"


    Callum nced at Joseph with a hint of embarrassment. He then awkwardly revealed, "Your mother


    had a red birthmark on her back."


    With a swift motion, Chloe stood up, picked up her tea cup, and threw its contents at Callum''s face.


    "You old pervert!"


    Joseph looked at Callum, who now had tea all over his face. He could not help but smirk. In a


    maic tone, he remarked, "You really are an old pervert. How could you reveal such private


    information?"


    "Aren''t you supposed to help me avoid such things?"


    "You didn''t ask me to."


    Callum wiped his face and said, "Yes, I didn''t explicitly ask you to, but I gave you a ncing hint."


    "Is that so? I didn''t get the message."


    "Do you have anything else to say? You didn''t call me here just to tell me the truth, did you?" Chloe


    forced herself to calm down, and her eyes were icy cold.


    This man was Joseph¡¯s friend, and furthermore, a member of the royal family with great status and


    power. Her mother had been an ordinary woman with no authority or influence. She could only


    endure the mistreatment. It had been so many years¡ªover twenty years¡ªand Callum had been


    nothing but reckless and unscrupulous. She refused to ept him just because he suddenly had a


    newfound conscience.


    Perhaps knowing that Felix had an undisclosed ailment and that there was a risk of it bing


    known to others, Callum decided to step in and offer her more significant benefits to smooth things


    over.


    Callum nodded. "You''re right. I do want to make amends. But first, please calm down. I mean you


    no harm."


    "Of course, you mean no harm. You just want to make up for your wrongdoings," Chloe replied


    sarcastically, "So tell me, how do you n to bribe¡ªoh, I mean, make it up to me?"

 Chapter 726 I Don’t Want to Have a Lovestruck Brother

    Chapter 726 I Don¡¯t Want to Have a Lovestruck Brother


    "No, I swear that¡¯s not what I meant."


    She simply smiled in return, not believing in him in the slightest.


    Callum felt helpless and turned to look at Joseph. Chloe was overly cautious. She was nothing like


    her mother, and he had no idea how to get close to her.


    Joseph did not want to get involved. His own rtionship with Chloe was strained. If she learned of


    his true connection to Callum, she might resent him even more. However, he found it difficult to


    ignore Callum''s cue.


    After a few seconds of contemtion, he said, "In terms of blood rtions, you are Mr. Callum¡¯s


    daughter. But morally speaking, he never raised you or fulfilled his fatherly responsibilities.


    However, you can look at the bigger picture.¡±


    Meeting Joseph''s gaze, Chloe said calmly, "So you want me topromise and gain benefits from


    the rtionship?"


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph did not respond or refute. Instead, he took a puff of his cigarette and listened attentively.


    Chloe took a deep breath. She did not want to waste time on this matter and decided to make her


    stance clear. "Well, I guess you''re going to be disappointed then. I don''t have any great demands


    for power or money. Even if I did, I¡¯ll strive and work hard to achieve it myself. I can''t just forget the


    pain my mother suffered for benefits, and I''ll never use her humiliating past as a stepping stone. No


    normal person would do that, right? Honestly, you guys sicken me."


    Callum had hoped that Joseph could help him mend his rtionship with Chloe, but he fell into a


    contemtive silence after what she said. He did not rush to speak or refute. Instead, he calmed


    him and carefully considered his strategy.


    He had oversimplified things. Chloe was different from his own children, who had been showered


    with love from a young age and had never experienced the harsh realities of the world. When others


    treated them well, they would reciprocate the same kindness. Chloe, on the other hand, was like a


    vignt cat. She would immediately extend her ws to try and scare off her attacker at the first


    opportunity.


    Joseph stared at Chloe intently and persuaded, "Yes, I admit that what you said is true, but I don''t


    think Mr. Callum wants to buy you. He simply feels guilty and wants to do something for you. He


    wants you to depend on him so that no one will bully you anymore."


    Chloe could not tell if his words were true or false. She lowered her head to conceal the changes in


    her expression.


    Callum had figured out most of Chloe''s personality and knew that they would not make any


    progress today. He took out a business card and handed it to her. "I want you to be my daughter.


    Not just in terms of blood, but officially."


    Chloe froze for a moment. She slowly raised her head and chuckled. "I don''t want a love-struck


    brother, so thanks but no thanks."


    Callum was taken aback. What did Keh do? Was there some misunderstanding between them?


    *


    Callum did not follow entertainment news, not to mention he had a busy schedule recently. He had


    not heard anything about Keh and Xavia. As he entered the castle, he began searching for


    Keh. When he could not find his son, he asked the housekeeper who informed him that


    Keh had gone out.


    "Mr. Keh has been going out alone every day. It looks like he¡¯s been going out on dates.¡±


    "Dates? He has a girlfriend?"


    ¡°Yes, he does," the housekeeper confirmed.


    "What''s the girl''s name?" Callum pressed.


    "A violinist named Xavia Larson."


    Callum closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "Get Keh back here."

 Chapter 727 Vee Is the Same Inside Out

    Chapter 727 Vee Is the Same Inside Out


    The housekeeper did not know what happened, but seeing how angry Callum was, he nodded


    respectfully and went to do his bidding.


    At half past ten in the evening, Keh drove into the garage.


    "Mr. Callum seems to be in a bad mood. be careful and choose your words wisely, Mr. Keh," the


    housekeeper advised him.


    Keh paused in his tracks and asked, "Is it because of my sister again?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    His sister was spoiled and stubborn, Even the most harmless ofments from others would upset


    her.


    "Mr. Callum didn''t mention anything. I think it¡¯d be best if you talked to him."


    "All right."


    In the living room, Callum¡¯s face sank when he saw Keh. He asked, "I heard you found yourself


    a girlfriend?"


    "Yes, I nned to tell you and Mom next week," Keh replied.


    "Her name is Xavia?"


    "Yes. Vee is a very gentle woman. Although we¡¯ve only known each other for less than a month and


    know that she has a child, surely everyone makes mistakes. I''m not someone who cares about


    other people''s opinions."


    Callum was stumped for a moment. He could not suppress his anger and pped Keh over the


    head. "You want to be with a slut?! Are you blind?!"


    "Dad! Vee isn''t what you think. You don''t understand the whole story. She was a victim," Keh


    said, trying to defend Xavia. He did not understand why his gentle and refined father would say


    such harsh words.


    "Stop this! Break up with her now and don''t make me repeat myself!"


    "Why? You and Mom have been urging me to get married, and now that I found the love of my life,


    you want to stop me?"


    "I won''t ept her into the royal family. Her background isn''t clean, and her social connections are


    complicated. Some people aren¡¯t as simple as they appear on the surface. Haven''t you seen


    enough of the ugliness and filth within the royal family?"


    "Dad, why won¡¯t you believe that Vee isn''t that kind of person? I can prove it to you. She''s the same


    inside and out."


    Callum was annoyed by the sight of his son. He let out a sigh and said, "Just go to your room."


    Keh furrowed his brows, opened his mouth to say something, but then decided against it. "Fine.


    Good night, Dad."


    *


    That night, the Sullivans held a family meeting. Chloe recounted every detail of the incident


    involving Callum.


    Noah was in a set of cotton pajamas. He brought two cups of hot milk to the table and his eyes


    glinted coldly as he said, "Grandpa, I think Chloe did the right thing. We don''t need to grovel for


    Callum''s favor. There''s no need to pander to them."


    Desmond furrowed his brows in contemtion. "For now, we don''t have any ties with the royal


    family, but what if we form a tie with them in the future?"


    As far as he knew, Callum was a good man. And it would be beneficial to have someone to take


    care of his two grandchildren.


    "Grandpa, I know what you''re thinking, but we can deal with the future when ites. Having you


    by my side is enough," Chloe said as she gripped her mug. Under the warm lights, her curlyshes


    and soft facial contours made her look as delicate as a princess.


    "I''ll think about how to handle this. You both go to bed," Desmond replied, avoiding further


    discussion on the topic.


    Noah and Chloe exchanged nces, sensing that Desmond had other ideas in mind. He had not


    explicitly stated anything, so they did not feel it was appropriate to ask further.


    As they parted ways, something crossed Noah''s mind, prompting him to stop Chloe.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I have a friend who works as a talent manager. He suggested that we should stop working with


    Michael," Noah said.


    Cocking her head, Chloe asked, "Does he have a scandalous history or something?"


    The corridor was dimly lit and the darkness shrouded Noah''s face. "He acted as some man''s lover


    to get better resources. If thises to light, it might not reflect well on us. In any case, we don''t


    have to work with him anymore. I''ve already settled his appearance fees with the finance


    department."

 Chapter 728 You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

    Chapter 728 You Can¡¯t Judge a Book by Its Cover


    Blinking, Chloe asked, "A man''s lover? You mean the kind I''m thinking of?"


    "Yes. A man," Noah replied calmly.


    Her lips twitched, and she seemed puzzled. "Seriously? He doesn''t strike me as that kind of person.


    How could he..."


    She had read some reports about Michael. He came from a wealthy family, and his journey to fame


    was inspirational. It was hard to believe that he wouldpromise himself like that.


    Sensing Chloe''s doubt, Noah continued, "Some people are like that. You can''t judge a book by its


    cover."


    "Maybe you''re right." Chloe shrugged. "Xavia¡¯s that way too."


    She did not hold much attachment to Michael and was simply curious about it. He was just Exotic


    Star''s cooperative partner. If things did not work out with him, they could rece him.


    Noah watched Chloe return to her bedroom before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. The


    large mirror reflected a sophisticated and gentle young man with impable features and a warm,


    amiable demeanor. But upon closer scrutiny, the smile on his face appeared somewhat forced and


    lacked genuine warmth.


    *


    Early the next morning, Chloe went to work as usual. Shortly after the morning meeting, Michael


    showed up. She was surprised and had her secretary bring two cups of coffee.


    "I watched the live stream yesterday. Why didn''t you let me appear on camera? Did I do something


    wrong?" Michael humbly inquired.


    Chloe recalled what Noah saidst night and felt a little embarrassed to look into Michael¡¯s eyes.


    "After some discussion, Exotic Star decided to use our in-house livestreamer. Suddenly changing


    hosts might not sit well with the audience. So, we¡¯ve decided to stick with our in-house


    livestreamer."


    "I see. Well then, if there''s a chance, I''d like to give it a try. After all, I''ve been a livestreamer before


    and I won''t charge any fees," Michael said, not willing to give up on the girl he had grown fond of.


    He hoped to build a rtionship with her through work. Besides, there were two other high-quality


    men around her, so he had to seize every opportunity he could.


    Feeling the sincerity in his words, Chloe found it difficult to reject him outright. After all, he was a


    well-known celebrity who was humble and easy to work with. If it were not for Noah''s instructions,


    she might have agreed. But in the end, she found a reason to turn down his kind offer.


    Michael did not continue to pester her, but he did sense a change in how she treated him. As soon


    as he stepped out of her office, he called his agent to ask if he had left a bad impression on anyone


    at Exotic Star.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    From a corner, Noah was chatting with a designer when he looked up and saw Michael walking out


    of Chloe''s office. He narrowed his eyes and raised his hand to interrupt the designer. "Wait here for


    a moment."


    "You have plenty of othermercial performances scheduled, if Exotic Star doesn''t work out, we


    can switch to another agency. It''s not like we can''t earn money elsewhere,¡± Michael¡¯s agent said.


    "You don''t understand. It''s not about money," Michael replied.


    "What do you mean?"


    "There''s a girl at Exotic Star that I quite like. My family is pressuring me, and I would like to get


    married."


    "Who is she? I have to assess her. I can''t let you be with someone with aplicated background."


    "You don''t have to worry about that. I¡¯ll make my own decisions regarding my private life."


    After hanging up the phone, Michael felt a sudden chill behind him. He turned around to look, but


    there was nothing there. Assuming that he was overthinking things, he went to his car.


    *


    At 6 in the afternoon, after a long hard day of work, office workers turned to their phones to watch


    some entertainment videos. Suddenly, a pop-up about Michael being the secret lover of a wealthy


    businessman appeared on their screens. There were also a few blurry photos attached at the end of


    the article, and it instantly became the most trendy topic of the day.


    Chloe also saw the pop-up. She erged the photos and stared at them but could not clearly


    identify whether the person in them was Michael. However, severalizens analyzed the photos


    extensively and some imed to have witnessed Michael staying at a hotel with an overweight


    man.


    She felt something was amiss. Noah had mentioned this justst night, and today, it was suddenly


    exposed so quickly. It all seemed too coincidental.

 Chapter 729 That’s Unfair, Frieda

    Chapter 729 That¡¯s Unfair, Frieda


    Michael was attending a variety show when this news came out. His agent urgently halted the


    filming and pulled him backstage. "Have you offended anyone recently? Someone is out to get you."


    "No, I get along well with people. You know that. Who would want to target me? Are you sure you''ve


    got the right person?"


    "Bullshit! It''s all over the Inte right now!" his agent retorted.


    Michael was taken aback. "Let me see."


    He showed Michael the blurry photos and the article. Michael took a closer look and said, "Damn it!


    That guy isn''t me!"


    "I know it isn¡¯t, but the guy in the photos looks simr to you. That''s why I said someone has


    deliberately set you up. Can you remember who you offended? We need to visit and apologize to


    them to resolve this scandal."


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Dumbfounded, Michael said, "I really haven''t offended anyone. Who should I apologize to?"


    "I''ll give you some time to think while I investigate who¡¯s behind this. This news was released by


    several major entertainmentpanies simultaneously. In other words, the person behind it is


    powerful. We can''t confront them directly, so it''s best to handle it privately."


    Feeling annoyed and worried about the negative impact on Chloe''spany, Michael thought


    carefully and finallyposed an apology message for her.


    *


    Chloe was swamped with work and did not have time to check her phone. In the evening, the entire


    department stayed behind for overtime, and Noah was out entertaining a client. Chloe did not even


    have time to have dinner, and her stomach rumbled several times. When her colleague offered to


    help order food, Frieda put aside her work and quietly left the office.


    In less than ten minutes, she returned with a warm takeaway box and ced it quietly on Chloe''s


    desk. "Eat. This is the only food the convenience store downstairs had left."


    Chloe was smart and could sense the subtle change in Frieda''s attitude. If the incident in the


    restaurant before was considered a coincidence, this was definitely not. However, she had just


    taken on her new responsibilities and had many tasks to handle, not leaving her much spare time to


    interact with Frieda. She did not give her any special treatment even though Frieda was the top


    salesperson.


    Thinking that Chloe did not like the food, Frieda said, "I have some snacks in my drawer. I¡¯ll get


    them for you."


    "No, it''s okay. This is enough."


    Chloe quickly shook her head and opened the box, devouring the food inside. It was just a simple


    meal, but she looked as if she was enjoying a delicious feast, and her colleagues became hungry


    just watching her eat.


    "That''s unfair, Frieda. We all haven''t eaten."


    "Yeah, we''re starving."


    "Ah, our top salesperson is so smart. She always gives us the cold shoulder, yet she''s so nice to the


    manager."


    Chloe red at them and said, "Enough nonsense. If you''re hungry, go home. Everyone has


    worked hard today. I''ll treat you all to coffee and snacks tomorrow."


    Everyone stopped teasing Frieda. They all packed up their stuff and headed home. Chloe, too, shut


    down herputer and grabbed her bag before heading downstairs. It was almost 9 now, and there


    were only a few people left on the streets.


    Chloe tightened her cor and walked toward the parking garage.


    "Ms. Chloe."


    She heard someone calling her and stopped in her tracks. She turned and saw Lucasing out of


    a ck sedan. He approached her and said respectfully, "Ms. Chloe, Mr. Joseph asked me to pick


    you up to make ate-night snack tonight."


    Chloe looked at him and said, "Do you hear what you''re saying? Is it appropriate to ask me to go to


    his ce sote at night every time?"


    Lucas smiled awkwardly. "Mr. Jasper went out with his ssmates today and came homete, so


    Mr. Joseph would like you to make some food for him."

 Chapter 730 A Special Drink

    Chapter 730 A Special Drink


    Chloe nced at Lucas and then checked the time. "It''s toote. I won''t be going."


    She was unsure if Callum would be waiting there again, and she had no time to apany him in


    another repentance session.


    "There''s no one else at the house. Only Mr. Harold and Mr. Jasper," Lucas said as if he knew what


    she was thinking. "Mr. Joseph promised that it won''t be likest time."


    Still, Chloe insisted, "No, please make sure to schedule the cooking in advance next time. I''m busy,


    and I''m the Whitmans hired cook.¡±


    Lucas hesitated, knowing Joseph would punish him severely if he gave up.


    Refusing to waste her time, Chloe yawned and walked away.


    "Wait, Ms. Chloe."


    "I already said that I won''t go."


    "It''s not about that. I just want to know if you''re still in touch with Emily. If yes, can you please share


    with me her new number?¡±


    Chloe stopped in her tracks. She looked at Lucas curiously and asked, "Do you like Em?"


    Lucas was stunned for a few seconds. He had not expected such a direct question. He blushed as


    he replied, "I don''t know. I just want to keep in touch with her."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll give you her number."


    Chloe quickly provided Lucas with Emily''s phone number. Her friend had been single for so many


    years, and it was about time for her to find a boyfriend. Although Lucas was Joseph''s assistant,


    Lucas was of good character. She would be very happy if Emily could start a rtionship with him.


    "Thank you, Ms. Chloe," Lucas said gratefully as he jotted down the number, wondering how to


    persuade Chloe. Just as Chloe was about to mention thest digit of the number, he bit the bullet


    and said, "Ms. Chloe, pleasee to the house with me. Mr. Joseph said that this one meal can be


    counted as two."


    Chloe was taken aback, "Wait, let me record that on my phone. Repeat what you just said. I¡¯ll y it


    for him in case he goes back on his word."


    Lucas was speechless.


    *


    Soon, they arrived at the Whitman family home.


    Two cars entered the garage simultaneously. Chloe nced sideways and met Joseph''s gaze. His


    gaze was intense with emotions as he locked eyes with her. Chloe averted her gaze and got out of


    the car. Lucas had given her the menu earlier, and the refrigerator was stocked with fresh


    ingredients. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work.


    When Joseph walked in, he emotionlessly nced at her. After that, he took off his tie and sat on


    the sofa. Upstairs, Jasper and Timothy Gabel were hiding in a corner, discussing in hushed voices.


    "My dad hasn''t reconciled with Ms. Chloe yet. He''s so slow."


    Sucking on a huge lollipop, Timothy said, "My daddy used to work overtime a lot and had no time to


    apany my mom. She got angry and gave him a drink. They made up after sleeping together


    that night, and everything was fine the next day. Do you want to give your dad this drink too?"


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "What kind of drink had such an effect?" Jasper asked, his voice filled with puzzlement.


    "It''s from a small bottle. I''ve never seen it in the supermarket. My mom keeps it in her bedroom, and


    thebel¡¯s in a foreignnguage, so I can''t read it."


    "Your parents went out of town today?"


    "Yeah."


    Jasper peered at the two downstairs who were not talking to each other. "Can you give me a bottle


    of this drink?"


    Timothy nodded innocently, "Sure, I''ll bring one for you tomorrow."


    "No, that¡¯d be toote," Jasper said seriously, "Let''s go to your house now and get the drink."

 Chapter 731 A Drink to Foster Relationships

    Chapter 731 A Drink to Foster Rtionships


    Shaking his head, Timothy said, "No, we can''t do that! We can''t enter my parents'' room without my


    mommy''s permission."


    Jasper crossed his arms in front of his chest and said, "Then I won''t let you copy my answers in the


    final test."


    "What? But¡­my mommy¡¯s really fierce. I''m scared."


    "Fine," Jasper cocked an eyebrow. "Then I¡¯ll tell Christy tomorrow that you like her and that you''ve


    been hiding her hair ties."


    This tactic worked like a charm, and Timothy''s face turned bright red. He stuttered, "No! Please


    don''t tell Christy! Fine, let¡¯s go¡­"


    With his goal achieved, Jasper¡¯s expression softened. He patted Timothy on the shoulder and said,


    "I¡¯m just curious about the drink. I won''t take it without permission. We''re still good friends, and you


    can copy my homework. I''ll help you pursue Christy too."


    Timothy breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest. "That''s good. If my mom finds anything


    missing, she''ll punish me. But how do we get to my house?"


    Jasper looked around and pulled Timothy to the side to avoid the helpers. "Hush, keep your voice


    down. We¡¯ll take a cab."


    *


    Timothy''s house was only three kilometers away, and they got there in ten minutes.


    He entered the bedroom''s passcode, tiptoed into the bedroom like a thief, and quickly retrieved a


    bottle from under the bed. He handed it to Jasper, who carefully examined it. He had never seen


    this brand of beverage in the supermarket. Thebel was written in Amerian, and although his


    Amerian was excellent, he could not fully understand what it said. He only recognized a few words.


    "Fosters the rtionship between men and women¡­ Huh¡­" Jasper murmured.


    He seemed to understand what it was used for and hesitated. However, given that his father was


    still single despite his age, he feltpelled to do something to help him. Moreover, Timothy''s


    parents reconciled after his father took the same drink, so Jasper was eager to give it a try. Since


    this thing was sold legally, it should be fine. He would just get his dad to try it first. If there were any


    problems, he wouldn¡¯t give it to Chloe.


    As Jasper contemted, Timothy urged, "Let''s go. My grandma wille up as soon as she


    finishes her drama."


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Jasper took a few photos of the bottle with his phone and dragged Timothy to the supermarket.


    The shopkeeper chuckled, "Kid, you¡¯re buying this for your parents, aren¡¯t you? We¡¯re a


    supermarket though and don''t sell these kinds of things. For that, you need to go to the adult store


    across the street. They have it there."


    *


    When Jasper and Timothy got back to the house, Chloe had just finished preparing the meal. The


    spread mainly catered to Jasper, consisting of healthy dishes designed for children, not to mention


    that they were also aesthetically pleasing.


    Timothy''s eyes widened with excitement and he eagerly asked, "Wow, this looks delicious! Can I


    have some?"


    "Go ahead,¡± Jasper replied absentmindedly.


    Clutching tightly to the item in his pocket, he hurriedly made his way upstairs, saying he was going


    to wash his hands. He thought nobody had noticed what he was doing, but Joseph spotted him.


    Joseph¡¯s jaw clenched as he put down his phone.


    "My task here is done, so I''m going to leave now," Chloe said.


    Joseph turned to look at her. She had on an apron over her business suit, which showcased her


    curves. Coupled with her stunning facial features, she looked irresistible.


    Seeing his intense stare, Chloe crossed her arms defensively. "Don''t look at me like that. I''m here to


    sell my culinary skills, not my body."


    Joseph was not upset though Chloe had seen through his thoughts. "Whether I look or not while


    you stand there is my freedom," he said.


    ''So he isn''t even going to hide his intentions anymore?'' Chloe thought while smiling at Joseph.


    "You must be tired from cooking, Ms. Chloe. I got you some orange juice. Take a break before


    leaving." Jasper''s voice echoed from afar as he approached, holding two sses of orange juice.


    He ced them on the coffee table and looked at Joseph. "Daddy, I also got you a ss. Here."


    Getting only his father orange juice would be too obvious, but with two sses, it was less likely to


    raise suspicion.

 Chapter 732 You’re an Idiot, Chloe

    Chapter 732 You¡¯re an Idiot, Chloe


    Joseph turned his head and met Jasper''s gaze. Seeing the gleam of expectancy in his eyes, he


    said, "No."


    Refusing to back down, Jasper pushed the ss of orange juice toward him. "It''s freshly squeezed


    and very delicious. It''ll replenish your Vitamin C."


    Joseph leaned back on the sofa and crossed his arms over his chest. "You¡¯ve never been such a


    good son before."


    Jasper was stumped. He began to suspect that Joseph had noticed something. But to Chloe, she


    felt that Joseph was being unappreciative. After all, Jasper was offering him orange juice. All he had


    to do was drink it. Why make things difficult for the kid?


    "It''s okay, Jasper. If he doesn''t want to drink it, I will," she said, taking the ss from Jasper and


    boldly taking a few big gulps. It tasted sweet and sour, but there was an unknown vor that


    lingered on her tongue.


    Jasper was stunned. "Ms. Chloe¡­"


    Joseph immediately stood up and took the ss from Chloe. He frowned coldly and said, "Why did


    you drink it?"


    "Why can''t I ? Jasper got me a ss too," Chloe retorted, displeasure written across her face.


    Children neededpanionship and encouragement, and their parents needed to be patient with


    them. She could not believe how heartless he was. Jasper was his son, and he should stop treating


    him like a subordinate.


    Joseph pinched her cheek, feeling both angry and amused. "You haven''t changed one bit. You¡¯re


    still such an idiot."


    Chloe pped his hand away, ring at him as she replied, "Right. I''m the dummy, and you''re the


    smartest person in the world. Your son is so unlucky to have you as a father."


    "Do you really think Jas means well?"


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "What do you mean?" Chloe asked.


    Joseph turned to Jasper and said, "Tell her what you did."


    Jasper lowered his head, feeling uneasy as he tugged his clothes. "I didn''t do anything, Daddy¡­"


    "Then what did you hide upstairs?"


    "I didn''t hide anything¡­"


    "Really?"


    With thingsing to this point, Jasper could not keep it a secret anymore. He whispered, "Come


    with me, Daddy..."


    Joseph nced at Chloe and realized that her face was slowly turning red. He sighed and


    instructed, "Wait here, and don''t go anywhere."


    "Hmph!" Chloe harrumphed and turned to leave.


    Lucas hastily stopped her and said, "Ms. Chloe, you should wait for a bit. In case Mr. Joseph gets


    angry and beats Mr. Jasper, you need to calm things down. Besides, I just checked, and Mr. Harold


    hasn''t slept yet. Why don''t you go upstairs and see him?"


    "Joseph has beaten Jasper before?" Chloe felt a pang of pain in her heart. However, she knew that


    children could be mischievous at times, and lecturing them once in a while was fine.


    Lucas was just trying to keep Chloe here. He knew Joseph would not beat Jasper, so he exined,


    "No, no¡­ Mr. Joseph doesn''t scold Jasper often. Although he''s cold toward others, he treats Jasper


    well. Let me take you upstairs to meet Mr. Harold, okay?"


    Chloe nodded. She still had a lot of questions, after all. She thought Harold had gone to bed when


    she came, so she did not n on disturbing him. When she got upstairs, she found Harold


    enthusiastically watching a matchmaking program for elderly people. When he saw here in, he


    peeled his gaze away from the television and beamed at her.


    "Look who''s here! Come. Sit and chat with me. I can''t sleep right now."


    "Okay. How have you been feeling recently?"


    "I''m doing well. The doctor said I¡¯ll live for another ten years!"


    "That''s great, Grandpa. By the way, who was the person who injured you five years ago?"


    Harold''s smile froze for a moment and his expression turned serious. "Chloe, I won''t tell you who it


    was."


    Frowning, Chloe blurted out the question that had been bothering her for years. "Was it Xavia?"

 Chapter 733 I Won’t Touch You

    Chapter 733 I Won¡¯t Touch You


    Harold froze, and Chloe caught the fleeting expression of shock that flitted across his eyes.


    Chloe took a deep breath and clenched her fists. "Is Xavia working for Duskfall?"


    Harold remained silent. After a long while, he sighed wearily and said, "Chloe, please don''t concern


    yourself with this anymore. Duskfall is a force to be reckoned with. Both you and Joseph are still


    young. Xavia won''t bug him anymore, so you can rest assured. You still have a long life ahead, and


    since it''s already over, you shouldn''t get involved again."


    He had always charged ahead while serving in the military in his younger days. But after an


    unforeseen family incident, he came to appreciate the value of a peaceful and ordinary life. He


    understood that things beyond his control were best left untouched. It was not about cowardice. He


    just did not want to lose those he held dear anymore.


    "So we''re going to do nothing and let them bully us?" Chloe looked at Harold in a daze. "They


    caused harm and cost us everything. They should pay for what they did. They should make


    amends."


    If it were not for Duskfall, she would not have lost her child and they would have grown up like any


    other child.


    "Aren''t you scared?" Harold asked.


    "Of course, I''m scared," Chloe replied with determination, "But no matter how scared I am, I''ll never


    forget the pain they caused me."


    If Duskfall was the mastermind behind everything and Xavia''s appearance was all nned, then


    those seemingly coincidental events began to make sense. Chloe could not afford to be fearful. She


    had to avenge her child, even if it meant sacrificing her own life.


    Harold stared at Chloe for a long time before saying in a serious tone, "Your power is too


    insignificant. It¡¯s like hitting a rock with an egg. You can''t touch Duskfall."


    Chloe smiled back. "I''ll do what I can."


    She could not stand idly by after learning the truth. She had to do something.


    Before leaving, she asked, "Does Joseph know that Xavia is a member of Duskfall?"


    Harold frowned. "I haven''t told him. He already has too much on his te."


    "Okay.¡±


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Instead of leaving immediately, Chloe decided to calm herself in the restroom. She washed her


    face, but the cool water could not extinguish the anger in her heart. Instead, it seemed to fuel the


    mes even more. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed and her


    delicate ears had taken on a faint pink hue. Suddenly, she felt really hot. Removing her coat, she


    stepped out and saw Joseph walking toward her.


    "I''m leaving now," Chloe said, bidding farewell to Joseph.


    Having just received the answer she sought, she felt drained and her tone was no longer as cold.


    Joseph locked his gaze onto Chloe, observing her from her head to her toe. "You should stay here


    tonight," he said.


    He understood that driving in her situation could be dangerous. And what if Noah took advantage of


    her when she returned?


    Chloe naturally would not agree to such a proposition. She had initially nned to fiercely retort, but


    her body seemed to have a mind of its own. Unconsciously, her expression softened as she said,


    "No way. I''vepleted my task."


    Joseph''s gaze grew more intense and his Adam''s apple bobbed. "Be good now. You can sleep in


    the master bedroom. I''ll drive you home tomorrow."


    And he silently swore and warned himself not to touch her.

 Chapter 734 Who’s Being Tormented? Chloe or Himself?

    Chapter 734 Who¡¯s Being Tormented? Chloe or Himself?


    Chloe nced at Joseph with a puzzled expression, "Are you trying to take advantage of me


    again?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Joseph smirked mischievously, offering no response. After all, who would be trying to take


    advantage of whom was still uncertain.


    Chloe insisted on leaving and clumsily made her way downstairs, but she tripped over her own feet


    and almost tumbled forward. Luckily, Joseph had been following her closely and he caught her in


    his arms. She instinctively hooked her arms around his neck, feeling weightless as she fell into his


    embrace.


    She sighed in relief and murmured, "What happened to my legs?"


    Joseph looked down at her, feeling the softness of her touch. His heart skipped a beat and he


    leaned closer to her ear. His voice was husky as he whispered, "Are you offering yourself to me?"


    When his warm breath brushed against her neck, it sent shivers down her spine. It was as if all her


    strength had been drained and she melted into his arms. Her eyes reddened at the sensation, but


    she mustered the strength to push him away. "I''m doing no such thing."


    Joseph held her hand, feeling the coolness of her touch sh with his own warmth. Suddenly, she


    stopped resisting him. In fact, she wanted to get closer to him.


    "Stay here for the night, okay?"Joseph said, petting her head while trying his best to keep the


    monster inside him in check.


    The item Jasper had brought back should be harmless, but he could not guarantee anything. He


    needed to call a doctor to watch over Chloe for the night.


    As desire clouded her mind and Chloe felt her body heat up. She could not think straight anymore


    and just nodded. "Okay¡­"


    Joseph picked Chloe up and carried her to the bedroom, gently cing her on the bed. He then


    went to the bathroom to get a wet towel. He gently and attentively wiped her down.


    Jasper was standing at the door, his eyebrows deeply creased. "Daddy, how¡¯s Ms. Chloe?"


    "Go to your room," Joseph said without turning his head.


    "I''m sorry, Daddy. I shouldn''t have done this¡­"


    That drink was a scam! How were they supposed to foster their rtionship if they were asleep? He


    should not have trusted Timothy. He was always foolish. Maybe hanging out with Timothy had made


    him dumber too.


    "Do you realize your mistake now?" Joseph got up and stood in front of Jasper.


    Jasper nodded heavily and his eyes were filled with regret. "Yes. I''m sorry, Daddy."


    He should have listened to the supermarketdy and bought the brand she rmended.


    Joseph could not tell what was going on in Jasper¡¯s mind and sighed. "I know you want us to get


    back together, but you can''t rush it. I hurt Chloe in the past. I can''t expect her forgiveness without


    making any efforts to make amends."


    Wide-eyed, Jasper asked, "Then what should you do to get Ms. Chloe to forgive you?"


    Joseph was stumped. He patted Jasper''s head. "It''s not something you should worry about. Now,


    go to bed."


    "Okay."


    After Jasper left, Lucas brought the doctor into the room.


    After examining Chloe, the doctor said, "She''s fine. Although it''s a foreign product, its safety falls


    within local standards. It shouldn''t cause any issues when consumed normally. If she feels


    ufortable, you can cool her down with a wet towel or an ice pack."


    "Okay. Lucas, please see the doctor out," Joseph said.


    It was alreadyte at night and Lucas could finally go home. He smiled and thought, ''Finally, I can


    go home! But when will these overtime days end?''


    *


    Chloe felt muddled and disoriented as if she had fallen into a zing furnace. She pulled at her


    clothes, trying to find some relief. Suddenly, she felt the presence of something cool and soothing


    nearby. Unable to resist, she moved closer and wrapped her arms and legs around the object,


    sighing in relief as if she had found a remedy.


    "Tsk¡­" Joseph clicked his tongue as he looked at Chloe rubbing against him.


    It had been five years since he had sex. There was no way he could resist such a temptation. He


    could not tell if the tormented person was Chloe or himself.


    Despite that, Chloe continued to moan in difort. She moved her hand over his white shirt and


    touched his abs.

 Chapter 735 I Won’t Find a Wife Like My Dad!

    Chapter 735 I Won¡¯t Find a Wife Like My Dad!


    Desire was clearly written all over Joseph''s eyes. After a moment of internal struggle, he finally


    pulled Chloe''s hand away and said in a hoarse voice, "Stop touching me and go to sleep."


    Chloe''s eyebrows furrowed slightly. She seemed dissatisfied, but she stopped pestering him.


    Just when Joseph was about to leave, a branded on him. It was white and carried a faint


    fragrance. He nced sideways and noticed that the nket Chloe had covered herself with had


    fallen onto the carpet. Her fair and smooth skin under the dim light presented a fatal temptation.


    In the next moment, Joseph strode to the door and mmed it shut.


    The night was dark, and the atmosphere in the room was electrifying. He seemed skilled in this


    task. Even though he had not done it in five years, he was still able to control the pace and led


    Chloe into the spiral of desire.


    Chloe had no idea what had happened during the night. All she knew was that when she woke up in


    the morning, her throat was hoarse and her body bore many love bites. Taking a deep breath, she


    red angrily at the half-naked man before her.


    "You set me up? How could you be so shameless?"


    "It wasn''t me," Joseph replied slovenly. He looked satisfied.


    "Bullshit! I know it was you!"


    "Then tell me, how did I set you up?"


    "How would I know?"


    "Has it never crossed your mind that there was something wrong with the orange juice you drank?"


    "What?"


    "Think carefully. Did you drink anything else besides that ss of orange juice?" Joseph asked


    before putting on a bathrobe and walking into the bathroom.


    Joseph had presented the truth before her, but Chloe refused to believe it. After all, Jasper was still


    a kid. There was no way he was capable of such a sordid n. After getting dressed, she took out


    thirty dors and threw it on the bed. She wanted him to know that he was just her booty call, not


    someone she slept with out of genuine feelings.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When she was leaving, Jasper stopped her. She looked at him coldly and asked, "What do you


    want?"


    Jasper blinked and said slowly, "I''m sorry, Ms. Chloe. I can exin what happenedst night."


    "No need. I don''t want to hear it."


    "Please, you have to listen!" Jasper held her hand, looking at her with remorse as he said, "It has


    nothing to do with Daddy. It was all my idea. I gave him that ss of orange juice. I didn''t expect


    you to¡ª


    Chloe interrupted, "Stop making up stories. This is all a nned act between you and your father,


    isn¡¯t it?"


    "I swear that if I''m lying, I''ll never find a wife like Daddy!" Jasper swore earnestly as he raised his


    hand.


    She looked at him expressionlessly. "Only an idiot would believe you."


    Like father, like son. She should not have lowered her guard against Jasper just because he was a


    kid.


    Chloe left the Whitman family home and went to the roadside to g down a cab. She pulled out her


    phone to check it and was shocked. Noah had called her almost every ten minutesst night. He


    even continued calling up until an hour ago. She chided herself for forgetting to inform Noahst


    night. She knew that he must have been worried sick, thinking that something bad had happened to


    her throughout the night.


    Noah called again, but at the same time, a cab arrived. In a hurry, Chloe hailed it and got in. At this


    point, her phone battery was running low and she had given all her cash to Joseph. She was


    worried that she would not be able to pay the driver if her phone died, so she did not answer the call


    and decided to exin everything to Noah in person when she got back instead.


    Little did she know that Noah was nearby. He not only saw her leaving the Whitman family home but


    also spotted her hanging up his call.

 Chapter 736 Everyone Uses One Another to Achieve Their Goals

    Chapter 736 Everyone Uses One Another to Achieve Their Goals


    When Chloe got back to the Sullivan estate, Desmond was exercising in the courtyard.


    She pulled up her cor and greeted him, "Morning, Grandpa."


    When Desmond heard her voice, he stopped and looked at her worriedly. "Where have you been?


    Noah has been up waiting for you all night."


    "I was just hanging out with some friends," Chloe replied, her gaze shifting toward the house. "I¡¯ll


    exin everything to Noahter. Where is he?"


    "I have no idea. He was gone by the time I woke up. Maybe he went to the office¡­"


    Before Desmond could barely finish his sentence, Noah appeared.


    Chloe felt relieved and immediately started exining, "I am so sorry. I thought I woulde back


    last night, but something came up and I got dyed. I''m sorry for not telling you."


    "I''m not worried. I believe you didn''t encounter any danger. You were just having fun and got home


    late," Noah said gently, but his voice had a cold edge to it.


    Chloe did not notice it. She let out a sigh and nced at her watch. "It''s almost time for work. Let''s


    have breakfast before heading to the office."


    "I''m not hungry. You go ahead," Noah replied.


    "No, you have to have breakfast. It''s good for your stomach," Chloe insisted, reaching out to grab


    Noah. As her fingers brushed against his clothes, she noticed something unusual and furrowed her


    brows.


    On closer examination, she noticed that his clothes were slightly damp and there was frost on his


    hair tips and eyshes. His eyes remained emotionless as their eyes met, and his face retained its


    usual air of dignity and elegance. She could not see through his true emotions.


    Chloe asked, "Why are your clothes wet?"


    Noah nced down at his clothes and replied calmly, "Maybe the housekeeper didn''t dry them


    properly."


    Chloe found this strange, but Noah did not give her the chance to ask further. "There are some


    urgent documents I need to review. Find me in the garage once you¡¯re done with breakfast."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Okay¡­"


    Chloe suppressed the doubts in her heart as she watched Noah leave. Despite feeling that


    something was wrong with him, she was too exhausted and hungry to dwell on it.


    Desmond ced a strip of bacon on her te. "Have some more."


    "Thank you, Grandpa," Chloe said as she devoured the food. When she was half full, she wiped her


    mouth and said, "I''ve made up my mind. You''re right, Grandpa. I should use Callum to my


    advantage."


    Desmond was taken aback a little. "You''ve made up your mind? You''re not really using him. He


    owes it to your mother, so it''s only right for him to treat you well."


    "He doesn''t genuinely want to be good to me. He just wants to ease his guilt," Chloe replied.


    Desmond did not refute or agree. After all, no one could truly understand human nature. Everyone


    was just using one another to achieve their own goals.


    After finishing breakfast, Chloe went to the garage and got into the car¡¯s passenger seat.


    "Tell me honestly. Did you go out looking for mest night? Your clothes don''t look like they weren''t


    dried properly. We¡¯ve been with each other for five years. There''s no need to tell lies."


    Listening to her words, Noah''s fingers on the steering wheel trembled slightly. ¡°I went out in the


    morning because I was worried. Where did you gost night?"


    Chloe looked out the window and replied, "I was at the house of a former colleague."


    "Next time, don''t stay out overnight. It''s not safe."


    Next time? There would not be a next time! She would not be fooled by that father and son ever


    again!


    The journey to the office was silent. As soon as they arrived, Noah pulled out the contract regarding


    the resort and handed it to his assistant. "Sell it."

 Chapter 737 He Was Helping Joseph Get His Wife Back

    Chapter 737 He Was Helping Joseph Get His Wife Back


    The assistant¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "You''re going to sell it?"


    The resort was one of the top three attractions in Docwood. Although its annual ie was no


    match for Exotic Star''s, it was still an enviable asset. Selling it would be a huge loss.


    "Yes."


    "Are you sure about this, Mr. Noah? It''s not a wise decision to sell it now. We won¡¯t be able to get a


    good price."


    Noah raised his head and looked at his assistant coldly. "Are you questioning me?"


    The assistant shivered and replied, "N-No, I''ll make the arrangements right away."


    During lunchtime, Chloe looked over the live streaming data and her brows furrowed in confusion.


    "All these were delivered to the same location? Could it be one buying all the items? Who would be


    so bold to purchase so many? Do they n on opening a store? It doesn''t make sense," she


    muttered.


    Chloe found the customer¡¯s number and dialed it. At first, no one answered. When she was about to


    hang up, someone picked up. A deep and powerful voice came from the other end.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Who''s this? Who are you looking for?"


    Chloe was stunned and felt the voice somewhat familiar.


    "Who are you? If you''re not going to talk, I''m going to hang up," Vince urged impatiently.


    "Hello, I''m representing Exotic Star''s after-sales customer service. Have you received the jewelry?"


    After a brief pause, Vince finally remembered what Chloe was talking about. ¡°Oh yeah, I got them.


    They¡¯re all in order. Is there anything else you need? I''m busy."


    "Well, we just wanted to know if you¡¯re nning to open a store with the jewelry or are you giving


    them away?"


    "Nope."


    "Then¡­"


    "I''m just doing a good deed to make someone happy."


    In other words, he was helping Joseph to get his wife back.


    Chloe pondered Vince''s words, but she could not make sense of them. What the hell was he talking


    about? He was not even answering her question.


    "All right, I''ve answered your questions. I''m going to hang up now, and please don''t bother me with


    after-sales calls in the future. It¡¯s annoying."


    He hung up and brought Vanya her meal. Her condition was deteriorating, and the prescribed


    medications seemed to have little effect. She spent most of her time unconscious. It was clear that


    they had underestimated Cyrus¡¯ determination to end Vanya''s life.


    Vince sighed, leaving the food and walking away.


    *


    Chloe did not take Vince''s words to heart and brushed them off, assuming he was just an


    uncooperative customer making up stories.


    Later that afternoon, she contacted Callum. Upon hearing her words, Callum was delighted and


    immediately dropped what he was doing to meet her at a coffee shop.


    "Do you want me to forgive you?" Chloe asked expressionlessly, her face giving nothing away.


    "Yes, I¡¯m so sorry for what happened to your mother, Chloe. I''ll try my best to fulfill your wishes,"


    Callum replied.


    "Remember what you just said," she told him.


    "Of course.¡±


    Chloe raised an eyebrow and stirred her coffee. "Are Xavia and your son dating?"


    Being a wise man, Callum knew that Chloe would bring up Xavia. "Yes, they are, but I''ll put a stop to


    it. I won''t let her marry into the royal family."


    "No. You don''t have to stop them."


    He looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    Chloe smirked coldly. "You don''t have to stop them for now. Instead, invite Xavia out the day after


    tomorrow. I''ll send you an address, and have your sone along too.¡±

 Chapter 738 Serves You Right!

    Chapter 738 Serves You Right!


    Callum did not agree immediately. Instead, he pondered for a moment before saying, "I know you


    hate Xavia, and neither do I condone Ken marrying her, but you have to tell me the purpose of


    inviting Xavia out. I''ll help you get your revenge, but not now."


    "Oh,e on. You''re just afraid that your son can''t handle the blow, so you want to take it step by


    step. Truly, I can''t sense your sincerity at all.¡¯ Chloe sneered.


    After researching Callum online, she discovered that he held the prestigious title of count from a


    young age and had married the most favored princess of the royal family. They had spent thest


    twenty years together and were blessed with a son and a daughter. It seemed unlikely that he would


    willingly recall the past and the mistreatment her mother had endured.


    Chloe had met Keh once, and even without knowing him well, she could see how much he


    cared for Xavia. With Callum''s status, Xavia was not worthy of his attention, but he cared about his


    son''s feelings and was unwilling to force them apart so mercilessly. Sooner orter though, Callum


    would take action against Xavia, regardless of whether Chloe had made this request today.


    "You''re right. I won¡¯t deny that I care about Ken, but I care about you too," Callum said with a frown


    as he sipped his coffee. "Xavia is Ken''s first love, and he''s smitten with her. If something happens to


    her, the first one he¡¯ll think to look for is you."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    In other words, Keh might cause trouble for Chloe.


    "Perfect. You''re his father, so you can handle him," Chloe said tly as she gazed straight into


    Callum''s eyes, causing him to chuckle helplessly.


    This willful behavior was actually a test. Though he had not raised Chloe, she was still his child at


    the end of the day. He would never favor one child over the other, especially after what he did to her


    mother.


    "If you¡¯re unwilling to do it, then forget everything I said today," Chloe said impatiently.


    She no longer wanted to waste her time on Callum. She hade to meet him today just to gauge


    his attitude. And as expected, he disappointed her.


    "I''ll meet you at Dawnstar at noon tomorrow."


    Chloe froze, then continued walking.


    *


    The next day at noon, Chloe arrived at Dawnstar Restaurant as scheduled. Noah pulled out a chair


    for her and looked around.


    "Why did you choose such a faraway ce?"


    "Just stumbled upon it online and read that the food is good," Chloe replied while discreetly


    scanning the faces of everyone in the restaurant.


    Soon, her eyesnded on a woman sitting near the window. Xavia was wearing a beret and dressed


    in a casual, light pink outfit. She was clearly going for a cute and youthful look.


    Perhaps because Chloe''s gaze was too intense, Xavia sensed something and turned to look in


    Chloe¡¯s direction. As Xavia¡¯s face twisted in bewilderment and shock, Chloe smiled mischievously.


    Chloe chuckled and looked away. After ordering two dishes, she said, "I''m going to the restroom."


    As soon as she stood up, Xavia followed closely behind her. Chloe quickened her pace and hurried


    into the restroom. Emily, who was waiting there, exchanged a nce with Chloe. At the next


    moment, she sshed the water she was holding onto Xavia.


    "Ah!!!"


    Xavia shouted at the top of her lungs. Her winter clothes were soaked and she was chilled to the


    bone. Her makeup was ruined, leaving her a pitiful mess.


    cing her hands on her hip, Emily said smugly, "Serves you right!"

 Chapter 739 How Are You Still Alive?

    Chapter 739 How Are You Still Alive?


    Xavia shivered against the biting cold. Her face turned pale, and she raised her hand to strike Emily.


    Chloe acted quickly and pulled Emily aside, causing Xavia to hit the door frame with a muffled thud.


    Chloe mocked, "Yikes, that must¡¯ve hurt."


    "What the hell do you want?! Why won''t you leave me alone?! Are you jealous because I''m about to


    marry into the royal family?!" Xavia screamed, wishing she could tear Chloe apart.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, "It''s not really jealousy. I''m just curious


    how someone as wicked as you isn¡¯t dead yet."


    Xavia was momentarily taken aback. She gazed at Chloe maliciously. "Rest assured, I won''t die that


    soon. I''ll live a life far better than yours."


    "Is that so?" Chloe responded.


    Xavia thought of something and instantlyposed herself. She tucked her hair behind her ear and


    said arrogantly, "In the near future, I''ll be a noble princess. And you, you''ll forever remain a


    lowlymoner."


    Emily rolled her eyes and taunted, "Oh, whoop-dee-doo! What''s so great about that? You''re just


    looking for a recement because you couldn¡¯t get Joseph."


    With the connections and resources the Whitmans held, even the royal family would not dare to


    slight them. If they were to face off with each other, it was uncertain who woulde out on top.


    Xavia clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. However, she forced her confidence and


    said, "I have a child with Joe. What do you have, Chloe?"


    "Your child?" Chloe tilted her head and looked at Xavia mischievously as if asking if Xavia was


    certain that Jasper was her kid.


    "What are you trying to say?"


    Xavia felt inexplicably nervous under Chloe¡¯s gaze. Did Chloe find out about something? But Xavia


    soon dispelled the thought. There was no way Chloe would find anything. If everything had been


    exposed, Joe would not have remained silent and done nothing.


    Chloe did not respond immediately. As if she was interrogating a prisoner, she gracefully paced


    around Xavia, her voice deliberately measured as she began, "The fire at the hospital, my child,


    Harold¡¯s ident, and even Toto¡­ Do you think you can just leave it all behind and move on with


    your life? Harold is just an old man. How could you do such a thing to him? Aren''t you afraid of


    karma and retribution? You even have the audacity to y the loving wife and caring mother in front


    of Joseph."


    Despite the seething anger boiling inside her, Chloe kept her tone in check as though recounting a


    distant tale. Only she knew how she struggled to control her emotions. An overwhelming hatred


    threatened to consume her, and the fleeting thought of eliminating Xavia crossed her mind.


    However, she knew that acting on impulse was not the solution, and simply exposing Xavia''s


    deception would not suffice. She wanted to inflict upon Xavia a lifetime of fear and dread, ensuring


    she paid for her sins till the very end.


    A sudden hush enveloped the room. Only the sounds of breathing lingered in the air. Xavia''s hair


    stood on end as she held her breath, her mind reying Chloe''s words over and over again. The


    thought of Chloe exposing her misdeeds to Keh made her anxious.


    Thud¡­


    Suddenly, Xavia fell to her knees, gazing up at Chloe with a pitiful posture as she pleaded, "I know


    I¡¯ve wronged you in many ways, but I had no choice. If I refused to do as Duskfall instructed, they''d


    kill me. You can hit or scold me as you wish. I promise not to fight back."


    Emily was startled and instinctively took several steps back. "Damn it. Don''te near us."


    Chloe was unfazed by Xavia''s pleas. She knew that Xavia was just ying the victim to protect


    herself. So, she would let Xavia have her way. Otherwise, how would she continue her n?


    "If you truly regret what you did to Harold, then show it through your actions," Chloe said with a calm


    gaze.


    Xavia froze as a bad feeling surged inside of her. "What do I have to do?"


    Chloe chuckled. "An eye for an eye. I want you to do unto yourself what you did to Harold. Sounds


    fair?"

 Chapter 740 Are You Having an Affair?!

    Chapter 740 Are You Having an Affair?!


    Upon hearing Chloe''s words, Xavia trembled in fear. She shook her head and said, "I can''t do it. It''ll


    scar my face¡­"


    "It''s just a scar. You won''t die," Chloe said coldly, her face devoid of emotion.


    Xavia pressed her lips tightly together as if having made a decision. " Fine. If I do what you say, will


    you spare me?"


    Chloe responded truthfully, "It depends. I¡¯ll consider it."


    A sh of hatred flitted past Xavia''s eyes. That was more than enough for her. When she saw Cyrus


    later this evening, she would ensure that Chloe never sees the light of day ever again.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Feeling uneasy, Emily whispered to Chloe, "Are you sure about this?"


    She did not care if Xavia died or not. She just did not want to get into trouble. After all, there were


    cameras everywhere, and escaping unnoticed was nearly impossible. Even the lightest


    investigation would surely expose them.


    Chloe tapped her temple and said, "Do you think she''ll actually harm herself? It''s Xavia we''re talking


    about here."


    Xavia was sharp. She would always assess the situation before making any decision. Otherwise,


    how could she have found her second chance so quickly? She would never allow herself to be in a


    disadvantageous situation.


    "Huh?¡± Emily was dumbfounded.


    Meanwhile, Xavia had assessed the surroundings and realized escaping was impossible. She took


    a deep breath, found the right angle, and lunged toward the basin with a loud crash. When she


    raised her head, blood streamed down from a wound on her forehead. Her face turned pallid, and


    she looked pitiful.


    "Is that enough?"


    Chloe''s gaze shifted to Xavia''s wound. She stared at it silently for a few minutes, her expression


    devoid of any emotion.


    Xavia clutched at her forehead, feeling disdain over Chloe''s calm demeanor. She regretted not


    killing Chloe back at the hospital. If she had managed to kill her back then, it would have saved her


    a lot of trouble. But even though she was kneeling before Chloe now, she still triumphed over her.


    After all, Chloe¡¯s son called her mom.


    Chloe let out a yawn and said in a slow and leisurely manner as if she had grown tired of watching


    TV, ¡°Okay, you can go now."


    Xaviaposed herself and nodded meekly. Supporting herself with the wall, she left the restroom.


    "Coco, you''re letting her go?" Emily asked in disbelief.


    "For now."


    "Do you have other ns?"


    "Yes."


    Suddenly, Emily pointed at Chloe''s neck. "Did you have sex with Noah?! I can see a hickey on your


    neck!"


    Chloe froze, then realized what Emily was talking about. She blushed slightly and said, "No. Even


    though we''re engaged, we haven''t done anything like that."


    "Then what¡¯s this? Are you having an affair?" Emily pressed.


    cing her hand on her forehead, Chloe said, "No! I just fell into some scumbag''s trap."


    "Ah¡­ Well, just be careful next time. If you didn¡¯t take any protective measures, it''s best if you go to


    the hospital and get a check-up. There are too many people with STDs nowadays. At my office,


    there was this guy who had an affair and ended up contracting a disease from his mistress. He then


    passed it to his wife. It was such a mess."


    After this brief conversation, Chloe pondered as she watched Xavia walk away. She was not sure if


    Joseph had slept with many other women, but Xavia definitely had slept around. It was a good idea


    to get herself checked.


    Xavia left through the back door directly from the restroom. When Chloe returned to the dining hall,


    Keh was seated before a table full of dishes, talking on the phone. Shortly after hanging up, he


    got up and left.


    After having her fill, Chloe noticed a message on her phone.


    "I''ve arranged bodyguards for you. They''re waiting for you at the entrance of the restaurant."

 Chapter 741 You Should Reconsider the Relationship

    Chapter 741 You Should Reconsider the Rtionship


    Chloe stared at the strange number but did not look surprised. She knew exactly who it was.


    Noah settled the bill and picked up her coat. "The weather''s nice. Let''s go for a walk."


    "No, we should hurry back to the office. It''s thest quarter of the year. We should strive to earn as


    much as we can.¡± Chloe then walked out. She had to go for her check-upter this afternoon and


    could not miss it.


    Their car was parked outside the restaurant, and something dazzled Chloe¡¯s eyes when she got in.


    She turned and spotted two men in suits standing opposite the car. The dazzling light was a


    reflection of the dagger in one of the men¡¯s hands.


    She narrowed her eyes at the men. They were probably the bodyguards Callum had mentioned.


    And as expected, they got into an SUV after Noah started the car and followed behind them.


    The scenery outside passed in a blur. Chloe was hit with a myriad of emotions. Callum had


    assumed that Xavia would try to take revenge on Chloe, and so had arranged for bodyguards.


    *


    When Chloe got back to the office and was about to dive into work, someone informed her that


    Michael was arguing with the receptionist.


    Chloe was stunned. "Michael?" She then recalled that he had texted her a few days ago. She had


    forgotten to text him back because she had been very busy.


    "Yeah. The receptionist told him that he could note in without an appointment but he refused to


    listen and insisted oning in. The security guards are trying to stop him."


    "Did they ask what he came here for?"


    "I don''t know the details. It¡¯s causing quite the scene and even attracted the paparazzi."


    She murmured, "That¡¯s not right. Michael¡¯s a celebrity and had even cooperated with us. Even if he


    didn''t make an appointment, he wouldn''t be stopped at reception."


    Her colleague shook her head. "I don''t know what went down either. I think the guards are being a


    bit strict today."


    Chloe frowned as she pondered. "I¡¯ll go find out what¡¯s going on."


    Neither Michael nor the security guards were anywhere to be seen at Exotic Star¡¯s entrance lobby.


    Everything was already back to normal. Chloe looked around. Not seeing Michael anywhere, she


    decided to give up and went to buy a can of coffee before returning to her work.


    "Ms. Chloe." Michael, sitting in the corner of the convenience store, called out to her.


    Chloe turned in surprise. "You¡¯re still here?"


    "Yeah, still here." Michael was touched. "Did youe down to look for me?"


    "Yeah, I wanted to ask if there''s something urgent you need."


    Suddenly, Michael looked a little embarrassed and awkward. "It''s nothing important. It was just a


    spur-of-the-moment thing¡­"


    When he learned that the person who had plotted against him was Noah, he could not hold back.


    Yes, he fancied Chloe, but he had made no moves on her, let alone seduce her. Noah had gone too


    far.


    "A spur of the moment? What do you mean?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Let''s put that aside for now." Michael decided not to reveal it.


    After all, he and Chloe had only known each other for a few days whilst Noah and her had known


    each other for a few years. It was clear who she would believe, and he was not about to court


    contempt.


    "Are you sure? I can help you if you need something."


    "It''s fine, though I¡¯d like to say something, and I hope you won''t think I''m crazy."


    "What is it?"


    "I think there''s something wrong with your fiance. You should reconsider the rtionship."


    Noah¡¯s strong possessiveness did not match his gentle facade. Michael had met this sort of person


    before, those who hid well and had a dark mind.

 Chapter 742 Do You Have No Self-Respect

    Chapter 742 Do You Have No Self-Respect


    Chloe was baffled. She asked hesitantly, "What makes you say that?"


    "My gut," Michael said with a solemn expression. "He''s not as simple as he looks."


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Joseph had once said a simr thing.


    Michael felt awkward when Chloe gave no response. He had expected her to disbelieve him, but he


    was still upset when things turned out this way. He forced out a smile. "It''s fine. I just felt like I had to


    say it. Maybe I was overthinking it."


    Chloe narrowed her eyes and changed the topic. "Did you manage to resolve your scandal?"


    "No. And all my jobs for the month have been canceled.¡±


    "How about next month?"


    "I don¡¯t know. My agency might help me. We¡¯re waiting for this to be old news before rifying


    anything."


    "That''s good."


    Chloe subconsciously thought it was all just a misunderstanding and did not delve deeper into the


    matter. Her instincts told her that Michael would not rely on others to get a higher position. And


    besides, he had no reason to nder Noah.


    *


    After Chloe parted ways with Michael, she called a private hospital to arrange for a check-up. She


    paid so that she could get the results sooner and waited at the hospital for them toe out.


    "Mom, listen to the doctor and get plenty of rest. Don¡¯t worry about the money. I have quite a bit in


    savings. It''s enough for your retirement."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "You worked hard to earn that money. I won¡¯t live for many more years even if I¡¯m cured. You should


    keep that for your marriage instead."


    "Don''t say that, Mom. I''m not an ungrateful son. I won''t do that to you."


    Lucas frowned unhappily. Suddenly, he caught sight of someone out of the corner of his eye. He


    stopped in his tracks and focused on the person. He sounded surprised when he said, ¡°Ms. Chloe?


    Why are you here? Are you unwell?"


    Choe had been looking down at her phone. When she looked up and saw the middle-aged woman


    behind Lucas, she paused and decided against making sarcastic remarks. "No. I''m just here for a


    routine check-up."


    "Oh, would you like me to give you a rideter?"


    Although Chloe had not reconciled with Joseph, Lucas still regarded her as his boss''s wife and was


    respectful toward her.


    "It''s fine. I drove here. You go ahead and take your mother home.¡±


    "All right, so long then."


    When Lucas exited the hospital, he reported to Joseph that he had bumped into Chloe. A reply


    came in just momentster.


    [Which hospital?]


    [The one on Eastriver Street.]


    Joseph turned on his GPS and sped off down the road. When he found Chloe, she was just


    breathing a sigh of relief after reading the results the nurse had given. Luckily, she had not


    contracted any diseases.


    Chloe was about to get up and leave when someone snatched away her report. When she saw that


    it was Joseph, she was furious. "What are you doing? Why are you always pestering me?" She


    knew that it was Lucas who told Joseph where she was. She regretted talking to him so nicely.


    Joseph remained silent and read the report thoroughly. The veins on his forehead bulged.


    "Why are you taking a test for STDs? Who did you get in bed with?"


    "Someone dirty."


    "Who? Chloe, do you have no self-respect?" Joseph wore a sinister look, yearning to kill the man


    she was talking about.

 Chapter 743 Seeking Clarification From Noah

    Chapter 743 Seeking rification From Noah


    Chloeughed. When she was about to respond, Joseph¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He


    grabbed her shoulders and seemed to be holding something back. "Did someone force himself on


    you?"


    Though Noah was around, foreign countries were not as safe as their homnd of Asvand. He


    might have failed to protect her. At that moment, Joseph did not think that he too might be sick too if


    Chloe was indeed infected. All he could think about was her safety.


    Chloe shoved him away disdainfully. "You''re overthinking it. You''re the one who¡¯s always forcing


    himself on me."


    Joseph was taken aback. "So, that dirty person you were talking about is me?"


    "Who else could it be?"


    His head throbbed from the anger felt. He interrogated her, "Are you afraid of catching a disease


    from me?"


    He was a man of integrity. Despite already being in his thirties, Chloe was the only woman he ever


    slept with aside from that ident. She was cruel to say such a thing.


    Chloe chuckled. "Find it hard to ept? You know how much of a slut Xavia was in the past. Stop


    kidding yourself."


    "I never touched her," Joseph said as he clenched his jaw.


    "But the paternity test proved that Jasper is your son. Are you going to deny that?"


    Although Harold had said as much, Joseph was undoubtedly his grandson. It was possible that he


    had lied to her because he wanted her to get back together with Joseph.


    Joseph red up in a rage. He inched closer to her. "You''re afraid after contracting a disease from


    me, huh?"


    "Yes." She did not notice the iciness in his eyes, instead bing frustrated as she recalled all his


    schemes. "I won''t go to your ce to cook for you again. Just transfer the resort shares to me.


    Otherwise, I''ll sue you for viting me."


    Sleeping with him once was enough to cover cooking for him eight times.


    "Fine, I''ll transfer them to you."


    Chloe looked up at him. Before she could say a word, he nted an overbearing kiss on her. The


    nurses and doctors passing by averted their gazes. They seemed busy with their work but were


    secretly ncing at Chloe and Joseph.


    Chloe had been caught off guard. She wanted to push him away but he held onto her firmly.


    Hopelessness engulfed her.


    ''Fuck! He''s so much stronger than me!''


    The kiss finally ended only when Chloe''s lips were swollen. Feeling her legs turn to jelly, she leaned


    against the wall and slowly slid down as he held onto her by the waist.


    "Didn¡¯t Noah tell you that he sold the resort?¡± He touched her cheeks and sounded certain. There


    was a strange hoarseness in his voice.


    Chloe¡¯s eyes went wide. "He sold it?"


    "Yes, just yesterday."


    "You''re lying."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I¡¯d never lie to you."


    "But why didn''t Noah tell me?"


    It was impossible and illogical. Noah had promised to let her handle the resort.


    Joseph said slyly, "I told you he''s not as simple as you think."


    Chloe was frustrated from having heard the same thing twice today. "Let me go. I want to leave."


    She staggered upright, snatched back the report, and walked out of the hospital. She nned to


    ask Noah about the resort regardless if they were telling the truth or not.


    "Let me give you a ride," Joseph offered.

 Chapter 744 Chloe Can’t Be Allowed to Live

    Chapter 744 Chloe Can¡¯t Be Allowed to Live


    As Chloe wiped off her smudged lipstick, she asked helplessly, "Why do you and your assistant just


    love giving people rides?"


    Both Lucas and Joseph had offered to drive her. Did they have that much free time on their hands?


    Joseph nced at her. "You should be honored."


    "No, thank you. I think that honor suits Xavia far better."


    "I never slept with Xavia after we separated, and neither do I like her. You¡¯re the only person who


    could possibly be Jas'' mother."


    Chloe turned to look at him with shining eyes. "Are you saying that you like me?"


    Joseph met her gaze. He knew her following words would be unpleasant, but his heart skipped a


    beat nheless. A deep passion arose in his icy eyes but he knew he could not say yes and be


    bewitched by her. He would only be cing himself in a disadvantageous position.


    He averted his gaze and opened the car door, saying coldly, "Get in."


    "Why should I? I have a fiance." Chloe raised her chin arrogantly and ignored his kindness.


    Joseph did not want to waste time, so he picked her up and shoved her into the passenger seat.


    Seeing that she was about to leap out of the car, Joseph snorted. "I''ll kiss you again if you get out.


    And I won''t stop so quickly this time."


    Chloe blushed and kicked at his groin. Joseph reacted quickly and grabbed her ankle. He then


    gently put it down. "Stop it. I have to drive."


    She snorted and stopped struggling. Joseph nced at her cheek. They were close enough that he


    could see her peach fuzz. She pouted to show her dissatisfaction and looked very adorable.


    Joseph clenched his fists and held back his urge to pinch her cheeks. He swore he would have


    fallen for her even if they had not met back then.


    As she cast her eyes downward, Chloe found the atmosphere quite romantic. She sneered


    sarcastically. Does he actually like me? What a joke!¡¯


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph gave Chloe a ride back to Exotic Star and got out of her hair. His experience told him that


    she would not believe whatever he said. She would be more convinced once she found out the truth


    herself.


    "Where''s Noah?"


    "He''s having a meeting in the conference room, Ms. Chloe."


    "When will it end?"


    "It just started. I think it''ll take about an hour. Is there anything urgent?"


    Chloe shook her head and said to the secretary, "I''ll be in my office. Tell him toe see me when


    he''s done with the meeting."


    *


    At Cyrus¡¯ house in Cloude City.


    Xavia was hunched over and trembling as she stood in front of Cyrus, exaggerating what Chloe had


    done today. Her forehead injury was unbandaged. She even sobbed pitifully.


    Gripping tight to his pen but remaining seated, Cyrus said without looking up, "Chloe knows about


    everything we but hasn¡¯t told Joseph?"


    Xavia was full of hatred. "Yes, my guess is that she wants to slowly torture me with it."


    "We can''t let Chloe live."


    These were the exact words Xavia was waiting to hear. She clenched her fists as her eyes lit up. "I''ll


    do as you do."


    "Has Keh taken you home to meet the royal family?"


    "Not yet. He said he''ll take me next week."


    "Next week¡­" Cyrus finished hisst stroke and said gloomily, "It''s still too early right now. You can


    handle another task first."


    "What, sir?" Xavia was confused.


    Cyrus sneered and pped. A few beefy-looking men came in. "They¡¯ll help get rid of Chloe, but


    before that, you have to serve them well."


    Xavia''s expression fell before her lines went into a hard line. "I don''t get it, sir."


    "It doesn''t matter. Just do your part well." Cyrus nced at the eager men and said calmly, "Don''t


    touch her face."

 Chapter 745 Calling off the Marriage

    Chapter 745 Calling off the Marriage


    The men nodded. "We know the rules."


    Some within Duskfall relied on their brawns, while others relied on their brains. They knew that


    Xavia was part of thetter, and since she had failed her mission, they could take liberties with her.


    Xavia¡¯s eyes went wide with fear. She crawled toward Cyrus and clung to his thigh. "Sir, I''ll soon be


    a part of the royal family. Please don''t do this to me."


    ¡°They¡¯re going to help you get rid of Chloe. Shouldn¡¯t you reward them?" Cyrus got up and smiled.


    His poker face never failed to inspire fear.


    "Sir, I''m still useful. Please show me mercy. I¡¯ve worked hard all these years."


    "If you were useful, you would¡¯ve secured Joseph''s favor a long time ago. But now, Chloe has even


    managed to make a counterattack against you." Cyrus gazed down at her, looking like he was


    educating her patiently. ¡°Worthless people just love thinking they''re useful. Be good now and


    cherish thisst chance."


    Cyrus pulled her hands away from his thigh and left the room, carrying his tea with him. Xavia


    copsed on the floor in despair. A sense of disgust arose in her as she looked at the eager men.


    "Stop crying. It''s no big deal. Serve us well and we''ll be nice to you."


    "Yeah, this is going to be my first time having this much fun in a group.¡±


    "We all work for Mr. Cyrus. It''s just that the mission is different this time around. It''s not a big deal.


    Those women working in clubs are okay with handling such tasks."


    "I''m not one of those women!" Xavia roared angrily. She hunched her body and tried her best to


    stay away from them.


    "Yeah, you''re not, but you''re a member of Duskfall. What do you think will happen to you if you


    disobey Mr. Cyrus?"


    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Xavia trembled and soonposed herself. She was unwilling to serve these men. Although she


    had led a carefree life in the past, those she hadid with were elites and handsome men. It had


    been a kind of enjoyment for her.


    However, she had no choice but to submit. Once she had gotten through this day, Chloe would die.


    At that thought, excitement overwhelmed her. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears.


    She then leaned toward one of the men.


    "I''m fragile. Please be gentle with me."


    *


    When Noah came out of the meeting, his secretary informed him that Chloe had been looking for


    him earlier. He handed her documents to her and said, "I¡¯ll go find her now."


    "Mr. Noah, don''t you want to have lunch first? It¡¯s been sitting there for some time and is getting


    cold."


    "It''s fine. I''ll eat when I get back." Noah strode toward the elevator.


    The secretary sighed. "He¡¯s so nice to Ms. Chloe. Rich and loyal men are so rare." On top of that,


    Noah did not despise Chloe for being a divorcee.


    *


    Noah gently knocked on the ss door of Chloe¡¯s office. His dimples popped as he teased


    adoringly, "Ms. Chloe, you¡¯re still hard at work despite it being noon already? Looks like I¡¯ll have to


    give you a raise.¡±


    "Not as hard as you. You''re always in a meeting or another," Chloe replied seriously, "Have you had


    lunch?"


    "Not yet."


    "Let''s eat together then."


    Noah smiled and sat down. "Okay."


    "By the way, did you sell the resort?" Chloe stuffed a piece of vegetable into her mouth before


    looking up at him with a questioning gaze.


    Noah was a little taken aback. He met her eyes and answered, "Yeah, I sold it."


    "Why? It brings in millions in profit per season."


    He put his fork down and exined solemnly, "I don''t want you to have any more contact with


    Joseph. Selling the resort is worth it if you can cut off contact with him.¡±


    Chloe was dumbstruck. She broke out in a cold sweat. "I never contacted him."


    "Coco, stop lying to me. I know everything."


    "What do you know?"


    Chloe did not want to admit it, holding out hope. Their engagement had been arranged regardless


    of her feelings toward Noah, but she still felt guilty and awkward when interrogated this way.


    Noah''s eyes turned dull and his knuckles turned pale. After a brief pause, he released his fists and


    said gently, "I know it''s him pestering you. It''s not your fault. Just stop seeing him from now on."


    Chloe blinked rapidly as her guilt deepened. She said with difficulty but sincerity, "Noah, we have


    yet to officiate our rtionship. I think you deserve someone better."


    She did not fancy Noah and merely thought of him as a younger brother. Desmond was the one


    who had made this sudden decision. She was forced to agree to it before she could figure out how


    to refuse him. Many years had passed, and Noah and Chloe had never brought up such matters.


    Noah treated her the same as he always had.


    She knew that she could not dy it any longer. She had to make her feelings clear.


    Noah looked crestfallen. "Are you calling off the marriage?"

 Chapter 746 Unless I Drop Dead

    Chapter 746 Unless I Drop Dead


    "No, it''s you who¡¯s going to call off the marriage."


    After all, she was a divorcee, and Noah had a good reputation. He should be the one to call off the


    marriage.


    "I refuse." Noah shot to his feet. His eyes turned gloomy. "Is this because of Joseph?"


    "No, of course not," Chloe denied, her agitation and disdain clear. "I just don''t want to hold you


    back."


    She would never go back to her ex. Vulgar and despicable men did not deserve second chances.


    "Stop. The marriage will happen unless I drop dead."


    Noah¡¯s unfamiliarly cold and gloomy expression stunned Chloe. This was her first time hearing such


    extreme words from him. She got all tongue-tied and could not even begin to imagine what he knew


    about that night.


    Feeling frustrated, Noah lowered his head to hide his coldness. He knew that he should not lose his


    patience, but he just could not hold back his anger at her suggestions of calling off their marriage.


    He had been so nice to her and had kept herpany for five years, assuming that this would


    touch her heart. Unfortunately, it failed.


    Why did she insist on seeing Joseph after knowing full well what kind of person he really was?


    Noah could not figure it out or ept it, choosing to pretend that it never happened, though there


    was a limit to his patience. He did not know how to confront her. He was afraid that he might fail to


    control his temper.


    Noah took a few deep breaths and calmed himself. When he looked up again, he had regained his


    gentleness. He held her hand tenderly. "Stop contacting Joseph now that we''re engaged. Grandpa


    will not let you marry anyone else unless I''m dead. I''ll always be his first choice."


    Chloe stared at him for a while before she retracted her hand. "But¡ª"


    ¡°No more buts. I¡¯m confident you''ll grow to like me. You''re just not used to our new rtionship yet."


    Chloe hesitated. "But I don''t want to string you along and waste your time."


    "It isn''t a waste of time since I''m willing." After a pause, Noah sensibly changed the topic. "Xavia is


    dating the prince. Grandpa ns to hold a conference soon to reveal your identity as the heir of


    Exotic Star. This way, Xavia will be afraid of you and she won''t easilye after you even if she''s


    part of the royal family. Secondly, you and I will then be equals. I don''t want others looking down on


    you."


    Chloe nodded. "Callum will probably announce my royal identity too."


    Noah narrowed his eyes. "Is he nning to take you back to the royal family to reunite with his


    family?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe.¡±


    Although Callum had never said this outright, he had hinted at it.


    "Okay, we''ll give him a week then."


    Being part of the royals would offer more benefits than disadvantages.


    *


    When Noah stepped out of Chloe¡¯s office, he saw Frieda squatting down and gently speaking to a


    little boy. This was a rare sight. He thought the little boy was her family and nned to ignore them,


    but the boy suddenly said, "I want to see what Father''s love rival looks like. Please take me inside,


    Grandma."


    Noah stopped in his tracks and frowned. He made a guess at the boy''s identity, but how did he


    know Frieda? He had even addressed her as Grandma.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Frieda, who¡¯s this?"


    The sudden question stunned Frieda. She whipped around and saw Noah standing in the corner,


    staring at Jasper oppressively.

 Chapter 747 The Truth Has Come to Light

    Chapter 747 The Truth Has Come to Light


    Jasper frowned. He felt that Noah was being hostile toward him, but he could not tell why. They had


    never met before.


    Frieda, familiar with what evil looked like, instantly noticed that there was something wrong with


    Noah''s gaze. She shielded Jasper behind her and nodded politely. "Mr. Noah."


    "Is this your grandson?" Noah took a few steps forward. His eyes were glued to Jasper as if Frieda


    was not there.


    "No," Frieda denied, "He came looking for someone. Since I''m free, I¡¯m taking care of him."


    "Who¡¯s he looking for?"


    Frieda was uncertain how much of the conversation between her and Jasper Noah had overheard.


    After some hesitation, she replied, "Ms. Chloe."


    He would be suspicious if she hid anything.


    "That¡¯s Joseph''s kid,¡± Noah stated matter-of-factly as his eyes turned dark. No wonder he had hated


    Jasper at first sight.


    "Yeah, Joseph¡¯s my father. And you are?" Jasper asked fearlessly as he stepped forward.


    Noah smiled faintly and said calmly, "I''m Coco''s fiance, the love rival you wanted to see."


    Jasper widened his eyes and looked Noah up and down. He soon concluded that Noah was much


    younger than Joseph. He then extended a hand toward Noah and said formally, "Hello, I''ve heard


    much about you."


    Noah looked down at Jasper and could discern Chloe''s traits on Jasper''s childish face. He said


    expressionlessly, "Coco isn''t here. Go home."


    Jasper looked at Frieda silently as if questioning thetter. ¡®But Grandma said that Ms. Chloe is in


    there.''


    Frieda could tell that Noah was annoyed. Afraid that Jasper would get in the line of fire, she echoed,


    "You heard Mr. Noah. Go home. Your driver is waiting for you downstairs."


    Jasper could not tell if Noah was lying or not, but he had to be careful in other people¡¯s territory


    since he could not win. He obediently bade Frieda goodbye and strode into the elevator.


    Noah, on the other hand, had no ns to leave. He absent-mindedly nced at Frieda. "Have you


    gotten a house in Docwood?"


    "Not yet. I live alone, so it doesn''t matter if I get a house or not."


    "Alone? Don''t you have kids?" Noah said slowly as if chit-chatting with her.


    Frieda hung her head. "No, I don¡¯t."


    "You should get back to work now."


    "Okay."


    Noah stared at Frieda''s back thoughtfully. Suddenly, he recalled what Vanya had once said. At first,


    he found it impossible but then realized that Frieda exuded an extraordinary aura even though she


    was not particrly charming. She also possessed unique viewpoints about jewelry.


    She always kept her distance from everyone, and that was fine since some people disliked making


    friends. But that did not line up with why she was so warm toward Jasper upon meeting him for the


    first time. Besides, Jasper would not casually ask anyone about Chloe''s whereabouts.


    He then recalled the woman Vanya had talked about many years ago, and his interest was instantly


    piqued. It would be interesting if Frieda was the person Duskfall was looking for.


    Noah pretended like nothing had happened. He did not even tell Chloe that Jasper hade to see


    her and went to the HR department to get Frieda''s information. He found a statement about Frieda''s


    criminal offense in her files, which turned out to be theft. He frowned, finding something fishy about


    it. He then asked someone to contact the shopkeeper and instruct him toe to Exotic Star.


    The shopkeeper quickly arrived. When Noah showed the shopkeeper Frieda''s photo, the man just


    scratched his head and said, "No, that¡¯s not her. Although that woman wasn¡¯t young, she was


    beautiful."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Noah was stunned and enlightened. The truth hade to light. Joseph''s mother was still alive.


    ''Well, well. Looks like I''ve gained a huge bargaining chip.''


    *


    It was a cold night, and the streemps lined the road. Chloe stood beside her car on the ground


    floor of Exotic Star, the light making her cast a long shadow.


    ¡®That¡¯s weird. Why is my tire suddenly leaking?¡¯ Chloe wondered if she should go upstairs and ask


    for Noah''s help to change the tire. But he was still working overtime and she did not want to disturb


    him. ''Forget it. I¡¯ll just grab a cab home.''


    Just then, a cab pulled up. The driver lowered the window and asked, "Do you need a ride, miss?


    It''s myst ride for the night.¡±

 Chapter 748 I Won’t Be Stingy

    Chapter 748 I Won¡¯t Be Stingy


    "Yes, thank you." Chloe got into the car without any hesitation.


    As soon as she was in, the driver locked the car. At the same time, a cold knife pressed against her


    neck. "Move and I¡¯ll end you.¡±


    Chloe stiffened, thinking it was a robber. She steadied her breathing and said cautiously, "Sir, I have


    money. How much do you want? Please don''t hurt me."


    The manughed. "How much do you think your life is worth?"


    "Staying alive is most important. I won''t be stingy if I can afford it."


    What a joke! Of course, money was not as important as one''s life. Nothing else mattered if one was


    dead.


    "Such a pity, but we don''t want your money."


    A sense of foreboding swept over her. "What do you mean?"


    In the next second, someone covered her head with a ck bag. Her vision was cut off as the knife


    at her neck pressed deeper. The deep pain caused her breathing to hitch. She could feel the men¡¯s


    murderous intent.


    She quickly came to the conclusion that this was not a simple robbery. Xavia had most probably


    informed Duskfall, so they sent assassins after her. Callum proved to be unreliable, his bodyguards


    nowhere to be found at this critical moment.


    The car made its way toward the city center. "There are traffic cops up ahead. What should we do?"


    "It''ll be fine. Drive as per usual and don¡¯t arouse suspicion. We''ll turn off the road after this


    intersection."


    Chloe clenched her fists and knew that this might be her only chance to get help. The results would


    be unimaginable if she missed it. She struggled to focus as sweat rolled down her face. She slowly


    put her hand into her pocket and found her personal rm. At the same time, she kept an ear on


    the sounds outside.


    She had always bumped into drunk men while abroad and got used to carrying an rm on her.


    Though she was now back in her homnd, she still carried it around. And once the car entered the


    busy roads, the cops would surely hear the rm.


    As the traffic grew louder, Chloe prepared to risk it. But suddenly, a heavy impact caught her off


    guard and sent her flying. Her head buzzed and her body ached. Before her mind cleared, her


    surroundings became noisy.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Fuck! Someone hit our car. The cops areing toward us."


    "Ignore them. Just turn around now.¡±


    As the driver said this to his aplice, their car was hit again.


    "What the hell? It''s like they¡¯re doing this on purpose."


    ¡°It¡¯s the royal family¡¯s bodyguards!"


    Chloe could not see anything but she still boldly pressed on her rm. The loud piercing noise


    shocked everyone. Feeling the person holding her being startled and letting go of her, she quickly


    fumbled for the door handle and tried to escape.


    "Ah!"


    She had managed to get the door open, but the driver grabbed her hair and held her back. Even


    though the ck bag, she felt like her hair was being ripped off.


    "You¡¯re not getting away, bitch!¡±


    Chloe was in too much pain to speak. Her eyes became teary as despair and fear overwhelmed


    her.


    The car started speeding forward recklessly. One of the men grabbed her rm and threw it out of


    the car. As the traffic cops were left behind and Chloe felt that all hope was lost, the car that had hit


    them earlier took a detour and caught up with them.


    Shatter!


    The car window broke.


    Chloe shuddered, and in the next second, she smelled gunpowder. She quickly bent to get out of


    the way upon realizing what was happening. The person beside her started cursing and firing back.


    After what felt like a long time, her surroundings fell into silence. She smelled blood in the air as her


    heart beat wildly. She took off the bag on her head and scanned her surroundings.


    "You look terrified, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Two men in ck hats appeared before her. Joseph stood beside them, both hands in his pockets.


    Chloe was stunned and confusion overcame her. "Why are you with Callum''s men?"


    "You should address him as your father." Joseph cocked an eyebrow at her.


    She sneered. "I think you should handle your own family affairs before sticking your nose where it


    doesn¡¯t belong."


    Joseph was baffled.


    "Xavia¡¯s the mastermind of what happened tonight."

 Chapter 749 The Person He Thought He Knew Duped Him

    Chapter 749 The Person He Thought He Knew Duped Him


    Joseph squinted as his voice contained a hint of uncertainty and hesitation, "What are you talking


    about?"


    "Grandpa hasn''t told you, huh?" Chloe straightened up as she narrated the facts nonchntly,


    "Xavia¡¯s working for Duskfall. She¡¯s the one who orchestrated all the twists and turns."


    Chloe did not wish to meddle in other people''s affairs, but neither did she want to owe anyone


    favors, especially not to someone as arrogant as him.


    Joseph froze, his brows deeply furrowed. "How could Xavia possibly be involved with Duskfall? And


    if she is, why would she still pester me after Grandpa has woken up?"


    "That''s why she has been getting close to Keh."


    Not wasting too many words, Chloe yed for Joseph a recording taken at Dawnstar. In it, Xavia''s


    tone shifted from furious roaring to desperate begging. The whole ordealsted no more than ten


    minutes, but the extent of her evil deeds was enough to be unforgivable for a lifetime.


    A dark shadow took over Joseph¡¯s face as he emitted a chilling aura. The person he thought he


    knew had duped him for years. She had even used Jasper to seek attention. His heart ached as he


    grasped the extent of the harm he had caused Chloe, and this was just the tip of the iceberg. The


    atrocities hidden in the darkness, concealed from the light, might be more than he could ever


    imagine.


    When Chloe decided to leave Aesper with Noah all those years ago, she must have been


    heartbroken.


    Chloe calmly looked at Joseph, then nced at the two bodyguards beside him. "But Duskfall and


    Xavia probably don''t know about your rtionship with Callum."


    Xavia was trying her best to climb her way up to Callum¡¯s side, unaware that Joseph and Callum


    were friends. This dynamic was...rather intriguing.


    Joseph stared at her as he asked in a tense voice, "If you knew all along, why didn''t you tell me?"


    Chloe rolled her eyes. "I mentioned before that Xavia is problematic and that she might be


    connected to Duskfall. You¡¯re the one who didn''t believe me."


    Though theycked concrete evidence at the time, they were husband and wife. He should have


    trusted her unconditionally, but he had let her down.


    Joseph''s throat tightened as he fell silent, unable to find the right words to respond.


    A gleam of satisfaction shed through Chloe''s eyes. She adjusted her cor and said, "I suggest


    you think before you act. Go home and have a chat with Grandpa first. Don''t let your emotions cloud


    your judgment and upset him."


    Joseph''s brow was tightly furrowed, his expression cold. After a moment of silence, he took off his


    coat and draped it over her. "Even if Xavia is connected to Duskfall, certain things still can¡¯t


    proceed. Be wary of Noah."


    *


    Late at night, at Duskfall, a loud crack echoed through the room.


    Crack!


    A whip with sharp spikes struck Xavia''s tender skin, causing it to split open. She trembled in pain


    and blood flowed out of the cuts. It was onesh, and this one pushed her the limits of her


    endurance.


    "S-Sir, I didn''t know that Chloe and Callum were acquainted."


    Cyrus'' face was cold as he gripped the whip tightly. "ording to my investigation, Callum''s men


    have been secretly protecting Chloe for several days. You didn''t notice anything?"


    "N-No¡­ I didn''t know. If I had, I would have informed you immediately."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "You useless piece of trash! Chloe snatched away what was supposed to be yours, and now she


    has a rtionship with Callum. Yet, all you¡¯re capable of is seducing Callum''s son. Is there any way


    you can fail more miserably?!"


    Cyrus'' words of anger cut like a sharp de. His usual calm temperament was now reced with


    coldness mixed with a hint of terror.


    Xavia said through parched, cracked lips, "Sir, are you saying that Chloe and Callum are having an


    affair?"


    Cyrus scoffed at her naivety. "You''re an idiot whose head is filled with nothing but romance. Do you


    think rtionships between men and women are only limited to sex?¡± He knew Callum''s


    temperament and knew he would not be swayed by a young woman in her twenties.

 Chapter 750 You’re Like a Butterfly, the Mate-Seeking Kind

    Chapter 750 You¡¯re Like a Butterfly, the Mate-Seeking Kind


    Xavia could notprehend it. How could Chloe, someone who had no rtions, be connected to


    Callum? Apart from finding her attractive, what other reason could there possibly be for him to be


    interested in her?


    Cyrus nced at Xavia and disdainfully threw the whip aside. He took a handkerchief that Otto


    handed him to wipe his hands as he asked, "Have you discovered anyone suspicious hanging


    around Joseph these few months?"


    Xavia blurted out, "No, I remember the photos you gave me. I haven''t seen that woman."


    Cyrus narrowed his eyes. "No one resembling her at all?"


    Xavia trembled. She would not dare lie. "No..."


    "Father, there might be another possibility," Otto interjected.


    Cyrus looked at him. "Go on."


    "Is it possible that she had stic surgery?"


    Did she not escape Duskfall to reunite with Joseph? After so many years, it was unbelieve that


    Joseph had not met her even once.


    "We¡¯ve looked into this a long time ago. There hasn''t been any suspicious woman with stic


    surgery around Joseph."


    "Maybe she¡¯s just secretly observing Joseph while in a crowd, disguised as a passerby. Perhaps


    that''s why we haven¡¯t noticed her."


    Cyrus was slightly taken aback, then suddenly smiled. A few wrinkles appeared around his eyes,


    making him look gentle again. "Look into it."


    "Yes, Father."


    "And take her away. The room reeks of blood," Cyrus instructed, waving his hand in Xavia''s


    direction. Just as she thought she was off the hook, he suddenly said, "Continue to reel Keh in,


    and don''t forget that Jasper is still your son for now."


    When push came to shove, Joseph might throw aside all his rtionships, including the kid.


    *


    For the next few days, Chloe felt very unsettled. She wanted to wholeheartedly believe in Noah,


    but... Maybe Joseph was deliberately calling Noah out, but what about Michael?


    When Desmond returned from his exercise session, he saw Chloe downing a bowl of oatmeal with


    a troubled expression on her face. He put away his golf clubs, sat down across from her with a


    smile, and asked, "What''s wrong? Feeling down?"


    "Not down, I¡¯m doubtful," Chloe replied honestly.


    "It''s simple. If you have doubts, just ask and seek rification. Doubts aren¡¯t scary. It¡¯s the act of


    keeping everything inside that leads to grudges.¡±


    Chloe fell silent. She then asked, "Grandfather, do you know what I''m talking about?"


    "Of course. At this current moment, who else besides Noah is worth your worries? I can tell that you


    have feelings for him.¡±


    Chloe blinked a few times. Feelings? Of course, she had feelings, but they were not the romantic


    type. She cared for him, but that did not mean it had to be a romantic kind of care.


    Desmond encouraged her, "Go and ask, my child. Don''t twist yourself into knots. Your engagement


    banquet is the day after tomorrow. You two should be harmonious."


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    When the engagement was brought up, Chloe hesitated to speak.


    "Chloe, you should be content. Not everything has to be perfect. After being together for a long


    time, beingfortable is more important than love."


    Desmond, who had lived half a lifetime, only wanted his granddaughter to be well taken care of. He


    wished for her to be a carefree little princess and not be burdened with handling things herself for


    the rest of her days. In his eyes, Noah was the most suitable person for her.


    "Okay, I understand. Have you eaten? Want some oatmeal?" Chloe changed the subject.


    "No, I''m good. I''m going to meet some friends for tea. I should go."


    "Okay,e home early."


    Chloe finished her oatmeal and then sat at the dining table for a while. She decided to meet with


    Michael to talk things through.


    *


    In the studio.


    "Take a look. Don''t I look dashing in this outfit?" Michael''s voice brimmed with excitement as he


    enthusiastically woke up his manager from his slumber.


    The manager rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, you look great. Though you look a bit like a butterfly.¡± The


    mate-seeking kind. The outfit was too shy.

 Chapter 751 Noah Has Always Been a Gentle Young Man

    Chapter 751 Noah Has Always Been a Gentle Young Man


    Michael huffed indignantly, then turned back to the mirror and grinned foolishly. "You don''t


    understand fashion. This is a limited edition, a one-of-a-kind piece that''s hard toe by."


    "Are you going for a photoshoot? Isn''t that scheduled for the afternoon?" The sleepy-eyed manager


    nced at the wall clock in confusion.


    "No, I''m going on a date."


    "With whom?"


    "Ms. Chloe from Exotic Star." Michael smirked. "I guess she wants to ask about Noah."


    The manager''s facial features twisted in disbelief. He sprang up from the sofa, looking startled. "Are


    you serious?¡±


    Because of that guy''s interference, Michael¡¯s schedule was pushed back for a whole month. Does


    he really want to stir up trouble again? Does he want to ruin his career?


    Michael nonchntly fixed his hair. "Well, I finally found someone I''m interested in. If she wants to


    meet up, how am I to refuse?"


    "Just be careful not to say anything inappropriate, and definitely don''t try to meddle in Chloe and


    Noah¡¯s rtionship. This is a crucial time for your career. Don''t get involved in unnecessary drama,"


    the manager advised, feeling his work being jeopardized as well if Michael was left unchecked.


    Michael shrugged and chuckled. "No worries. I can go home to help my dad raise his livestock.


    After all, there''s no one to take over the ranch."


    The manager sighed, feeling exasperated. ''Rich kids are a different species. They¡¯re so


    troublesome!'' he thought.


    *


    In a cozy cafe, Chloe arrived to find Michael already seated with coffee on the table. As soon as he


    caught sight of her, a warm smile spread across his face. He gantly pulled out the chair next to


    him and said, "Have a seat, Ms. Chloe."


    "I¡¯m sorry for inviting you out of the blue and disturbing you today."


    "No problem at all. I was free anyway, and it''s nice to get some fresh air." Michael pushed the coffee


    toward her. "I wasn''t sure what you liked, but I saw a new item on the menu¡ªCoconut Latte. I


    thought you might enjoy it."


    "Thank you." Chloe picked up the cup and took a sip. She looked up and sincerelyplimented,


    "It''s delicious."


    Michael''s heart raced as he met her gaze, savoring the moment of her sincere thank you. ¡®This


    must be what love feels like,¡¯ he thought, feeling a sense of enchantment. He wished he had met


    Chloe much earlier.


    "I already exined the reason for inviting you out on the phone. If you''re notfortable revealing


    it, it''s okay. I understand¡ª"


    "I''m willing to tell you," Michael interrupted, his voice tinged with anxiety. "I¡¯m just worried that you


    won¡¯t believe me."


    In matters of love and reason, and as someone who was about to take her vows with Noah at the


    altar, Chloe believed she should understand his true personality. She nodded, maintaining a polite


    distance, "Please, go ahead."


    "Noah was the one who spread those rumors about me. He hired a gay man who resembled me to


    pose for those photos so that even if someone investigatester, they can¡¯t prove that the pictures


    were photoshopped."


    If this had happened to an unknown D-list celebrity, their career would have been over, ruined in an


    instant. Fortunately, Michael had connections and influential backers, allowing him to barely


    ovee this crisis.


    Chloe frowned, looking puzzled. "The reason being?"


    Michael pressed his lips together. "Possibly because we worked together and he got jealous."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Chloe was taken aback. "What?"


    Noah? Jealous? And vindictive, on top of that? Chloe found this difficult to ept. In her heart,


    Noah was a gentle young man who would rescue stray cats from the roadside. How could he


    possibly scheme against others?


    "If you don''t believe me, you can verify this with the boss of the entertainment media. Here''s his


    business card. Alternatively, you can check Noah''s bank ount. There should be a payment made


    to a mediapanyst month."

 Chapter 752 Noah Was the Person Pulling the Strings

    Chapter 752 Noah Was the Person Pulling the Strings


    After parting ways with Michael, Chloe spent some time alone. The essence of the matter was not a


    big deal for her, but it all became different once deception was involved, especially when Joseph


    used that all-knowing gaze of his to openly remind her all the time. It made her ufortable.


    Clutching the business card Michael had given her, she hesitated for a moment before decisively


    crumpling it and tossing it into the nearby trash bin. She did not need to rely on others to learn


    about Noah. She was determined to uncover the truth herself.


    Thepany''s ounts and Noah''s private ounts were kept entirely separate, but Noah had


    always been open with Chloe about his financial matters. essing his bank ount was a


    straightforward task.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Sitting in her car, Chloe retrieved theptop from the back seat and ced it on herp. Her fingers


    danced across the keyboard as she logged in to Noah¡¯s ount. His expenses appeared to be


    simple and minimal, which made it easy for her to investigate further.


    She discovered that a substantial transfer had been made to a mediapanyst month. Michael


    was telling the truth. Noah was the person pulling the strings behind the scandal all along.


    Staring at the screen for a long time, Chloe''s brows furrowed tighter and tighter. She briefly


    wondered if she had misread something, but the numbers on theputer screen confirmed the


    truth. Noah was as despicable as Michael had said.


    Afterposing herself, Chloe organized her thoughts and promptly headed back to Exotic Star.


    *


    "Coco?" Noah was looking over project reports when he heard someoneing up. His eyes lit up


    when he saw her. "Aren''t you supposed to be off today?"


    Chloe went straight to the point, her expression tense and her tone serious. "Why did you give


    money to a mediapanyst month?"


    Noah''s brows and eyes twitched almost imperceptibly, then he quickly regained hisposure.


    Instead of answering her question, he gently asked, "Did someone say something to you?"


    "Answer me. Did you or did you not pay the mediapany?"


    His eyes flickered, but he calmly replied, "I did. Is there a problem?"


    Chloe was left speechless, her eyes filled with disbelief. How could someone nearly ruin another


    person''s future and speak about it so casually, then have the audacity to ask if there was a


    problem?


    "How did you find out?" Noah appeared curious, unaware of Chloe''s emotional changes. "I talked to


    the media about a coboration to generate some exposure for Exotic Star. Your department will be


    having a live broadcast next month, and I thought of promoting it early."


    "...What do you mean? So, that money wasn¡¯t used to frame Michael?"


    Hearing this, Noah''s face disyed a hint of coldness before quickly adopting a smile. "How could


    that be possible? Why would I ckmail him?"


    Chloe hesitated, unable to utter the words ¡°Because you¡¯re jealous.¡±


    "If you were promoting Exotic Star, why did you use your private ount?"


    "I wanted to help you achieve better results without burdening you. If you mind it, I''ll discuss it with


    you first next time," Noah exined in a gentle voice, tinged with a hint of unease as he apologized.


    Chloe felt conflicted, not knowing how to feel. Something seemed off. Michael had seemed


    confident, and she detected no signs of him lying. After all, he had no reason to.


    "Coco, Michael is part of the entertainment circle. He may say one thing in front of someone and


    then another behind their back. He was sidelined by thepany recently, which might have


    prompted him to act out."


    Noah''s exnation was logical and convincing, providing reasons that were difficult to refute. At this


    moment, Chloe found herself uncertain about whom to believe. She furrowed her brows, not


    knowing what to say.

 Chapter 753 Fearlessly Dropping Accusations? How Bold

    Chapter 753 Fearlessly Dropping usations? How Bold


    Noah gazed at her, his eyes flickering with sadness as he sighed, "Don''t you trust me?"


    Chloe shook her head. "It''s not that. I just find it too coincidental."


    Both sides held their ground. Under normal circumstances, she would not even entertain the


    thought of doubting Noah. To her, Michael was an insignificant figure. Noah was different. He had


    been a constant pir of support, rescuing her from the most difficult of situations. She was not sure


    if she could have made it through that tough period without him. But having endured numerous


    hardships, from an unfortunate family background to an ill-fated rtionship, Chloe had be


    increasingly sensitive to such matters.


    The atmosphere was delicate, akin to thin ice on the verge of shattering with the slightest touch.


    "Coco¡­" Noah gently held her shoulders, his eyes showing a hint of restrained bitterness. "Rumors


    are dreadful. After all this time we''ve spent together, don''t you know what kind of person I am?"


    Chloe met his gaze, her heart trembling as she saw a glimpse of her past self. There was a time


    when she too, was distrusted by Joseph this way. Feeling deeply troubled, she lowered her eyes


    before responding, "I know what kind of person you are, and I believe in you."


    Besides Noah, who else could she trust? Joseph? Michael? The former was indecisive and


    responsible for shattering a once-happy family. Thetter was just an acquaintance with minimal


    connection.


    "We trust each other, so let''s not be influenced by outsiders," Noah consoled softly, "I know people


    in the media. If you want to help Michael, we can try to assist him."


    Chloe shook her head resolutely. "No need. It''s not my concern." Having decided to ce her trust


    in Noah, she would no longer have any contact with Michael.


    The deep hue in Noah''s eyes gradually faded as he twirled the pen between his fingers, lost in


    thought. ''Michael, huh? Fearlessly dropping usations. How bold.''


    *


    A few dayster, Michael received a notice from his agent, informing him that thepany had


    arranged for him to participate in a wilderness survival show.


    "Oh my. Why did they invite Michael when all the other participants are professionals?"


    "Maybe it''s to heighten his publicity? After all, there was a bigmotion surrounding him


    recently..."


    "Hahaha, to showcase his manliness?"


    "I don''t know if he''ll be able to showcase it or not. But one thing''s for sure¡ªhe''ll be exhausted to the


    bone."


    Chloe was not familiar with the details of the survival program, but she knew it was a popr show.


    She naively assumed Michael had sessfully ovee his difficulties.


    "Miss, please close your eyes. Your makeup will be done soon," the makeup artist said in a gentle


    tone.


    "Okay." Chloe put her phone aside and closed her eyes.


    Today was the day of her engagement to Noah. Due to Desmond injuring his leg while dining with


    his old friendsst week, he had insisted on postponing the event. After much persuasion, she


    eventually agreed.


    Perhaps it was true that Noah, the person that treated her the best, was the most suitable person


    for her. Rejecting him again would be ungrateful. She also did not wish to see Exotic Star split up.


    This was the main reason she had agreed to this.


    Fifteen minutester, the makeup artist admired the reflection in the mirror. "Ms. Chloe, you¡¯re so


    beautiful."


    Wearing a snow-white off-shoulder gown that entuated her slender figure and waist without


    overemphasizing her curves, Chloe looked elegant and graceful. Her already exquisite features


    were further enhanced by the professional makeup artist¡¯s skills, making her skin appear smooth


    and glowy.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe smiled and asked, "Have all the guests arrived?" Except for Emily, all the guests were invited


    by Noah and Desmond. Chloe did not have many rtives or close friends.


    "They¡¯re here. The engagement ceremony is about to begin. Let me escort you outside," the


    makeup artist said, concerned that the gown''s hem might trip Chloe.


    Chloe nodded as she stood up and gracefully entered the packed, spacious hall. Some of these


    people were from Exotic Star, while others were familiar faces but mostly casual acquaintances.


    "Coco, you look stunning, just like a bride! If you wear a wedding dress, Noah will be absolutely


    enchanted." Emily beamed with joy, genuinely happy for Chloe. After enduring so many hardships,


    she felt that her best friend deserved to enjoy the life of a wealthy wife.


    Though Emily did not fully support Chloe marrying someone she did not truly love, Noah was


    undoubtedly a better choicepared to Joseph. At least, he did not have a maniptive,


    scheming ex like Xavia.


    Thinking of Joseph, Emily leaned forward and whispered, "By the way, I think I saw Keh here."


    Chloe''s expression fell slightly, taken aback by the mention of Keh¡¯s name.


    "He came with a man and a woman," Emily continued, scanning the crowd and discreetly pointing.


    "Over there."


    Chloe furrowed her brows, gazing at Callum, Keh, and a young girl in her twenties, whose


    innocent facial features suggested she was likely Callum''s daughter.


    Ophelia Gillingham handed the hors d''oeuvre she was holding to Keh, muttering something


    about them tasting horrible. Keh shook his head and finished the remaining half of the food.


    Chloe blinked, feeling emotion welling up within her. She felt an inexplicable tinge of envy.

 Chapter 754 Accepting Chloe as Her Lackey

    Chapter 754 epting Chloe as Her Lackey


    Ophelia''s gaze also fell on Chloe. Their eyes met, and Ophelia boldly scanned Chloe up and down.


    Unfazed by the scrutiny, Chloe held up her gown with elegance and continued walking gracefully


    toward the crowd.


    Keh noticed Chloe as well. His gentle and indulgent expression instantly turned gloomy. He


    swiftly positioned himself to shield Ophelia, as if he were afraid of Chloe going off the rails.


    Chloe caught his actions in her peripheral vision and smiled in slight amusement. She was aware of


    Xavia''s tendencies to act pitiful, and it seemed like she had done it again.


    Noah immediately put down his wine ss and approached Chloe as she stepped out, taking her


    hand as his eyes disyed tenderness and affection. "You took pretty long to get ready. Are you


    hungry? Sit down and have something to eat first."


    "I''m a little hungry, but also tired," Chloe replied. She had spent three long hours sitting still in front


    of the mirror, getting her makeup and hair done. And that was discounting the time spent getting


    dressed.


    "It¡¯ll be over soon. We just need to go on stage and say a few words. There¡¯s no need to waste


    time.¡±


    As Noah finished his sentence, Desmond ascended the high stage with the help of a few helpers.


    His once pallidplexion now glowed with a rosy hue, and he looked remarkably well. The past


    few days had been kind to him and his smiles had be more frequent, adding a touch of warmth


    to his countenance. A few gentle wrinkles could be seen around his eyes, making him appear even


    more joyous and benevolent.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    It was Chloe and Noah¡¯s turn on the stage next, but Desmond still did most of the talking. As Chloe


    nced at the people below, the realization that this engagement would soon lead to marriage


    washed over her. Though she appeared calm and serene, there was a subtleck of joy in her eyes.


    Then, at an unexpected moment, Chloe''s gaze locked onto a tall figure at the back¡ªJoseph!


    Why was he here?


    Her eyes remained fixed on the figure at the back, and her hands clenched unconsciously. Neither


    Desmond nor Noad would not have invited Joseph, so how did this guy get in?


    "What are you looking at?" Noah lowered his head and followed her gaze, his breath brushing


    gently against her face.


    Chloe took a step back and looked again. Joseph had already disappeared as he had nothing more


    than an illusion.


    "Coco?"


    "Huh?" She sounded puzzled, her eyes still searching for Joseph throughout the hall. With her


    grandfather present today, she could not let that obnoxious man ruin the engagement banquet.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Chloe hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Noah. The young man''s slightly tousled hair


    and elegant attire, along with his clean and well-defined features, made him look incredibly poised.


    His innocent, brown eyes fixed on her, seemingly inquisitive but also hinting at a subtle


    interrogation.


    She suddenly faltered. "N-Nothing. I must¡¯ve made a mistake."


    "Is that so?"


    "Yeah..."


    She could not tell him that she might have seen Joseph. An encounter with his enemy would only


    complicate things.


    "Go and take a seat. The Exotic Star employees are seated at the table on the right." Fortunately,


    Noah did not press further and allowed her to take a rest.


    Chloe sat for a while, chatting casually with Emily.


    "Hey, shall we get to know each other?" Unexpectedly, Ophelia sat down beside Chloe. Her tone


    was natural, devoid of any awkwardness.


    Chloe frowned and replied coolly, "Is there something you need?"


    Seeing Chloe''s coldness, Ophelia''s smile instantly disappeared, "Do you not wee me?"


    "I don''t know you, so why should I wee you?"


    "But I know you. You¡¯re my father''s illegitimate daughter, born from an affair with his mistress."


    "Shut up," Chloe retorted, her voice tinged with anger. Her mother was her sensitive spot, and she


    would never allow anyone to trample on her name.


    "What? Don¡¯t dare to own up to the facts?" Ophelia taunted loudly, deliberately drawing attention


    from those nearby.


    Ophelia had intended to ept Chloe as herckey if she behaved well. She had not expected


    Chloe to be so ungrateful and unappreciative of the opportunity.

 Chapter 755 Chloe Has a More Justified Stance

    Chapter 755 Chloe Has a More Justified Stance


    "Get lost before I lose my temper. And stop embarrassing your father," Chloe retorted, her


    demeanor cold as ice.


    Ophelia chuckled tauntingly, "You''re so naive. I''m the delicate flower your father has pampered for


    over twenty years. Do you really think he''ll take your side? That¡¯s never going to happen."


    Chloe''s jaw tightened as she picked up the wine ss from the table and sshed its contents on


    Ophelia.


    Ophelia froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing with anger as she looked down at her expensive


    dress now stained with wine. "How dare you ssh wine on me!"


    Weremoners not supposed to be subservient and obedient? How was this woman so


    audacious? Does her father secretly support her from behind?


    "What else am I supposed to do? Tolerate you?" Chloe''s voice remainedposed. She stood tall,


    exuding an unwavering aura. "Is it standard practice for royals to cause trouble at other¡¯s


    engagement banquet?¡±


    Ophelia felt her throat tightening, unable to refute yet unwilling to back down. "Your mother was the


    one who was a mistress. Why are you ming me?"


    She knew full well that an engagement banquet only happened once in a lifetime. Under normal


    circumstances, she should not ruin it with ill intentions. But the person in question was Chloe, the


    daughter of a mistress!


    "I''m two years older than you, correct? When your father met my mother, you weren¡¯t even born yet.


    Maybe your mother was the mistress.¡±


    "You''re spouting nonsense! My mother is a dignified princess! She¡¯d never do such a thing!"


    Chloe retorted in an equally aggressive manner, deliberately choosing unpleasant words, "These


    are the facts, and it doesn''t matter what you say. In terms of seniority, you still have to acknowledge


    me as your big sister."


    Ophelia''s taunting came to an abrupt halt as she broke down, bursting into tears. The realization


    that Chloe was her elder sister was humiliating. She found herself unable to continue the argument


    as it became clear that Chloe had a more justified stance.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Callum and Keh rushed over to Ophelia''s side when they heard themotion. Upon seeing


    the red wine stains on Ophelia''s dress, Callum''s expression fell, but he did not say anything.


    However, Keh exploded with anger "What''s going on?! Did you bully my sister, Chloe?! You


    crazy woman! If you have issues, go see a doctor. Don''t take it out on Leah. You''re not worthy!"


    "Ken," Callum scolded gently as he frowned, "Watch your words. Don''t jump to conclusions before


    understanding the whole situation."


    "Are you taking her side, Dad? Did she drug you or something?" Keh could not believe it. His


    father, who had always doted on his sister, seemed to have changed.


    "Chloe has always been a gentle person. She wouldn''t act impulsively unless provoked."


    Noah had been drinking quite a bit. He appeared a little tipsy and his eyes had a tinge of redness


    around them. He looked harmless, but the coldness in his eyes sent shivers down one''s spine.


    Pausing for a moment, he softened his tone and said to Chloe, "Leave this to me. Go on upstairs."


    "There¡¯s no need, I¡ª"


    "Listen to Noah, Chloe,¡± Desmond urged. Through his eyes, he implied that she should not act


    recklessly.


    Chloe hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. "Okay." They were doing this for her own good,


    and she trusted that neither of them would harm her. She decided to follow their advice.


    As she turned around, the crowd automatically made way for her. She took a deep breath and


    apologized to everyone before making her way to a less crowded spot. However, the sounds of fast


    but steady footsteps reached her ears from behind.


    Chloe raised an eyebrow but did not turn to look. "When did the finance tycoon decide to be a


    sneaky thief?" she quipped.


    "I became a thief willingly," Joseph whispered into Chloe''s ear, embracing her tightly. His beautiful


    thin lips pressed against her delicate skin as he teasingly said, "After all, it¡¯d be troublesome if Noah


    found out about our one-night affair, right?"


    ¡°You seem quite clear about our status, knowing it was just a one-night affair. Yet, you still came


    looking for me?"


    "I¡¯m here to pass you some medicine."


    "What medicine?"


    "I saw your medical report that states you¡¯re having some swelling," replied Joseph. He stared at


    her with his deep eyes, a mischievous smile ying on his lips.

 Chapter 756 Xavia’s Our Target

    Chapter 756 Xavia¡¯s Our Target


    Upon realizing what Joseph meant, Chloe blushed with embarrassment and red at him irritably.


    "No thanks."


    She did not realize that her anger appeared more like shyness. Joseph was only intending to tease


    her, but her reaction reminded him of the intensity of their encounter that night. He gulped,


    suppressing the urge to dominate her, and returned to the topic at hand. "I''m serious. This


    medication will speed up your recovery. Theher region is a delicate area, regardless of whether


    it''s a man or woman."


    It had been years since he had been with anyone, andbined with Chloe taking the initiative, he


    had not been able to control his strength properly. He wondered why Chloe did not ask the doctor


    for some medication.


    Chloe took a deep breath and willed her embarrassment away. "Didn¡¯t I pay you enough? Have you


    come to ask for more?"


    Without giving him a chance to respond, she sized him upnguidly and added, "You''re right. With a


    body like yours, it must cost an arm a night, right? 30 dors isn¡¯t enough."


    Joseph was not offended by Chloe''s retort and calmly replied, "There are reasons for high prices.


    One must provide good after-sales service to secure returning customers."


    "Once is enough for me. I''m already engaged, so be a gentleman and stop disturbing me."


    It was clear that Chloe was hinting at something else. Joseph''s face sank as he gazed at her. After


    a long pause, he said, "You¡¯re abandoning your old lover not that you¡¯ve found a new one?¡±


    "Heh, old lover?" Chloe repeated his words with a strong tone of sarcasm.


    "Does it not count? Shall we ask others about it?" Joseph replied matter-of-factly, "Whether it''s one


    day or one year, it all counts, right? To be honest, I''m quite curious. If Noah knew we slept together


    just a few days ago, would he still want to be engaged to you? Should we test it out?"


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened as she blushed again. "Are you threatening me?"


    If Joseph spilled the beans, it would cause irreparable damage to the Sullivans'' reputation even if


    she could exin it clearly and Noah believed in her. After all, the older generations valued nothing


    more than their reputation.


    "No." Joseph shook his head and sighed. Gazing at her affectionately, he said, "I¡¯d never treat you


    that way.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Though he had various means to stop today¡¯s engagement, he knew he owed her. He wanted to


    make up for it properly, and thest thing he wanted was to upset her.


    A glimmer shed through Chloe''s eyes. "How did you get in here?" She had instructed security to


    not let anyone without an invitation in. She had not invited those with no connections to the


    Sullivans.


    "I just walked," Joseph answered nonchntly, clearly having no intention of telling her the truth.


    "Fine," Chloe harrumphed and turned around to leave.


    "How about we form an alliance?" Joseph suggested.


    She stopped in her tracks and looked at him skeptically. "What are you talking about?"


    "Xavia¡¯s our target, not each other."


    "No, my targets are Xavia and you, you blind fool."


    Joseph frowned, and a hint of grievance crept into his cold voice. "No, our true target is the Duskfall.


    I''m also a victim."


    With his wife leaving him, his grandfather getting injured, and his close rtives acting like buffoons,


    Joseph felt helpless and had no other choice but to fight back. At the same time, he admitted that


    he did not understand how to love someone.

 Chapter 757 Noah Had Deceived Her

    Chapter 757 Noah Had Deceived Her


    Upon hearing this, Chloe fell silent for a moment. "I may not be able to handle Duskfall."


    That organization was too dangerous, and even though she knew their objectives, she dared not to


    provoke them easily.


    "I''ll be by your side." Joseph paused, then added, "By the way, Vanya¡¯s still alive."


    The image of a sinister fox mask took shape in Chloe¡¯s mind, sending shivers down her spine. Her


    nerves tightened as she asked, "What?"


    Joseph briefly exined Vanya¡¯s capture and the deal she made with Cyrus. Chloe was shocked to


    discover that Joseph had kept Vanya captive all these years, and even more shocked to learn that


    the Sinirs had so heartlessly abandoned Vanya.


    "I don''t need you to do anything. I have my ns, and they¡¯ll eventually pay for their


    transgressions," Joseph said calmly, but Chloe could sense the raging hatred beneath his surface


    composure.


    She pursed her lips. "Is Vanya important to your n?"


    "Yes, she''s well-informed of Duskfall''s secrets."


    "Then ask her about their secrets."


    "Cyrus fed her with a slow-acting poison, so she¡¯s now severely ill and often unconscious. To cure


    her, we need to get Dr. Z."


    This doctor did not work for any specific country and was difficult to track down. Few knew her true


    identity, making it near impossible to seek help from her.


    "Dr. Z?" Chloe''s eyes lit up. "I can try to reach out."


    She had always felt that her baby''s death was suspicious. The baby had been born safely but


    perished in the fire? Though she had no clue why, she suspected that Duskfall was pulling some


    strings, and Vanya must know the details.


    Joseph raised an eyebrow and a glimmer of surprise shed through his eyes. "You know Dr. Z?"


    "I do, but whether I can get Dr. Z toe here is uncertain. But before that, I want to meet with


    Vanya first," Chloe said. She did not agree immediately as she knew that this matter would be


    challenging. She would never give empty promises just to make herself look good.


    A faint smile appeared on Joseph''s face as he said gently, "Sure. I''ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon


    at three."


    Chloe nodded and waved, implying that he could leave now. She dared not let Joseph stay at the


    Sullivan estate for too long because of what happened that night. It made her feel like she was


    meeting a secret lover.


    However, Joseph did not leave immediately. He looked toward the hall with a meaningful look and


    ced a pen drive in her hand. "Here, your engagement gift.''"


    *


    Chloe went to her bedroom and plugged the pen drive into herputer. There was only one video


    that contained a secret recording of a private room. She recognized one of the men in the video as


    the CEO of a media and entertainmentpany.


    The man looked intoxicated, holding onto a ss of wine as he slurred, "Michael, you¡¯re a valuable


    artist, but unfortunately, you offended Exotic Star¡¯s Mr. Noah. He ordered a nket ban on you, and


    I can¡¯t reject him."


    The night breeze blew in through the open window, and Chloe felt a chill in her heart. She had


    chosen to believe Noah, yet he had deceived her.


    *


    Downstairs, with Callum watching over Ophelia, she did not dare to cause a big scene no matter


    how wronged she felt. Eventually, Keh took Ophelia away. They sat in the car, but even the


    pleasant music from the radio could not drown out the sounds of her sobbing.


    "How could Dad scold me because of Chloe?" Ophelia cried bitterly.


    "There, there. Stop crying. I didn''t expect Dad to take Chloe''s side either," Keh consoled.


    "He scolded me!"


    "I know. We¡¯ll talk about it with Mom when we get home and see if she can do anything about it.¡±


    "Dad scolded me!!!" Ophelia shouted at the top of her lungs as if she had been grievously wronged.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Keh felt the need to redirect his sister''s attention and cleared his throat. "I heard you call Chloe


    a mistress. Whose rtionship did she interfere with?"


    Ophelia stopped crying and turned to look at her brother. "Not Chloe, her mother. She interfered in


    our parents'' rtionship. Chloe is Dad''s illegitimate daughter."


    Keh mmed on the brakes. A stunned look dawned upon his face and his voice went up a few


    notches. "What did you just say? Please don¡¯t scare me like this."


    "I''m not scaring you. Dad didn''t tell me, but I overheard their conversation. He told me not to tell you


    for now."


    "So, like mother, like daughter!"


    Ophelia immediately understood Keh''s implication and smacked him. "Don''t get things mixed


    up. Chloe was married to Joseph at the time, so no matter what, Xavia¡¯s the one at fault. She''s not


    a good woman, and that''s an undeniable fact. You''re the one who¡¯s confused and is believing in the


    wrong person."

 Chapter 758 Michael Doesn’t Deserve Such Severe Consequences

    Chapter 758 Michael Doesn¡¯t Deserve Such Severe Consequences


    "Leah, how could you be like Father and not take my side?"


    "Why did you insist on marrying a controversial woman?" Ophelia retorted, "Ordinary people would


    have reservations about marrying divorcees, let alone an actress. Besides being pretty, she doesn''t


    have any other merits. She¡¯s ill-suited for you, and she''s not up to our standards."


    "If she''s controversial, it only means that people are jealous of her. If Vee wasn''t outstanding, why


    would people be discussing her?" Keh said in Xavia¡¯s defense. "You''re still young and don''t


    understand these things."


    Ophelia, who was originally upset with her father, now directed her anger at her brother. She stared


    at Keh as if he were an idiot and said, "I can''t believe how stupid you be when in love."


    "How could you say that to me, Leah? I¡¯ve never said such words to you when you were dating


    someone." Although he disliked Otto, he had not stopped his sister from getting to know him. Why


    was it different now that he was in a rtionship?


    "I agreed to date Otto because he''s good-looking. It''s just a way to pass the time. He''s definitely


    unsuitable to be my husband. All the men within the royal family are too serious and boring. Otto''s


    fun, he''s handsome, and he knows how to please me, so why can''t I y with him for a while?"


    Ophelia said.


    Keh corrected her, "Leah, you can''t y with other people''s feelings like that. It''s not right."


    "Oh please. It''s tiring talking to you. It isn¡¯t right for you to get into a rtionship with a mistress


    either. Anyway, I''m going shopping. Don''t bother me."


    Annoyed, Ophelia unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, mming the car door shut and walking


    toward the nearby mall. Keh watched her walk away, feeling hesitant to speak. At that moment,


    Xavia suddenly called him.


    "Are you busy right now? There¡¯s something wrong with the lights in my house. Can youe over


    and fix them for me?"


    *


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Noah was kept busy untilte at night. By the time he saw all the guests off, it was already an hour


    to midnight. Dealing with guests had been more tiring than he had imagined, but he was happy.


    After all, he was about to marry the woman he loved, and the thought of waking up to Chloe''s


    beautiful face every morning filled his heart with joy.


    After changing into a fresh set of clothes and confirming he did not reek of alcohol, Noah went to


    knock on Chloe''s door. "Are you asleep?"


    Though there was no response from inside, he heard faint footsteps and the door opened. Chloe


    had calmed herself after a few hours, and her face showed no signs of distress. However, Noah


    noticed the pen drive on the table and his heart skipped a beat.


    "Are you working?"


    "It''s not work."


    "Then what is it?"


    "Joseph gave it to me. Do you want to see it?"


    Chloe stared directly into Noah''s eyes, trying to detect any signs of deception. However, his eyes


    remained as pure and clear as water. Despite being in the professional world for many years, they


    still held a hint of innocence, making him look like a fresh upstart. No matter how she looked at it,


    he did not seem like someone who would y tricks.


    Noah rubbed his hands together. He sobered up as he understood what she meant. "All right, let''s


    watch it."


    Chloe raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling a sense of confusion. She just could not understand him.


    Nevertheless, she reinserted the pen drive and clicked y. The video was short and it ended in


    just a few minutes.


    Noah remained calm throughout the entire video and sighed deeply, "Yes, it''s true. I did it."


    Chloe''s heart trembled, "But why? Michael never did anything to us."


    "Because he likes you. He was willing to forgo any reward just to work with you. To eliminate future


    troubles, I chose to crush that idea in its infancy. I did nothing wrong."


    It served Michael right for trying to sow discord between him and Chloe, and for deliberately


    informing him about Joseph''s arrival. If Michael had wanted to avoid trouble, he should not have


    messed with his rtionship.


    "What are you talking about, Noah?"


    As an adult, Chloe was aware of Michael''s excessive enthusiasm toward her, but it did not mean he


    deserved such severe consequences. There was a high probability that Michael''s feeling toward her


    was just a fleeting infatuation. Using such an extreme approach to deal with him was unjust.


    Seeing the shock in Chloe''s eyes, Noah''s brows furrowed. "Chloe, don¡¯t look at me like that."


    "You casually destroyed someone''s future with millions of dors. Tell me, how should I look at


    you?"

 Chapter 759 She Had Been Impulsive and Arrogant

    Chapter 759 She Had Been Impulsive and Arrogant


    Noah chuckled softly. His voice was somewhat hoarse as he said, "You''re criticizing me because of


    an outsider? If it were Joseph, would you call off the engagement?"


    Clenching her jaw, Chloe said, "It doesn''t matter who it is. Let''s focus on the issue at hand. I¡¯ve


    promised to be with you, so please stop bringing up his name."


    "Sure, I¡¯ll stop, but why did you go and see him in secret?"


    Chloe was stunned. As their eyes met, she noted the restrained anger in his gaze.


    Noah took a few determined strides forward, closing the distance between them. "You said you


    were with Emily, but the truth is you spent the whole night with Joseph. Even then, I forgave you


    and pretended like nothing happened. But now, after just a few words from Joseph, you turn the


    tables and criticize me? Chloe, I''ve treated you well all these years, can''t you see that? In the end,


    who should be questioning whom?"


    Chloe was stunned and her heart hitched in her throat. "You knew about that night..."


    Noah took a deep breath, his face tinged with resentment and self-derision. "I waited outside his


    house the whole night, naively hoping you wouldn''te out. I thought you¡¯d never lie to me..."


    He had wrestled with himself mentally for so long, but she was oblivious to it all.


    "I¡­" Chloe was stumped as overwhelming guilt engulfed her. She realized that Noah had known all


    along that she had not been with Emily. He knew that she had lied, but he chose not to confront her


    in front of his grandfather and silently endured it.


    "I really wanted to go in and find you that night, but I was afraid of seeing an unbearable scene. I


    couldn''t handle it, so I just sat in the car all night. And the next morning, I saw youing out of his


    house."


    Noah¡¯s voice was low and his expression stormy. His gaze turned cold as the pent-up anger in the


    depths of his heart finally exploded. The air around them seemed to freeze, sending a chill down


    Chloe''s spine.


    She stood there, feeling lost and overwhelmed. She knew she was in the wrong. As someone about


    to be engaged, going to a man''s housete at night was a dangerous thing to do. She had been


    impulsive and arrogant. Now, she could not hide the truth any longer.


    "I''m sorry. Something unexpected happened that night. I just wanted to get back the shares of the


    resort. That''s why I went to his house¡­"


    Noah trembled as his eyes shed with a hint of pain. "That¡¯s why I sold the resort. You don''t have


    topromise anymore. Without Joseph, we can live a good life."


    Chloe''s eyes welled up with tears. She choked up as she made a decision. "Let''s call off the


    marriage. You deserve someone better."


    Though the whole thing had been an ident, she could not forgive herself.


    "No!" Noah grabbed Chloe''s shoulders tightly, his grip so strong that it made her wince in pain.


    "You¡¯re my woman, and I will never let you go back to Joseph!"


    Chloe was fragile, like a delicate porcin doll that would shatter at the slightest touch. She


    grimaced in pain and said, "Let go. It hurts..."


    His eyes turned red, and he appeared somewhat obsessive, "Say that you won''t leave me."


    Feeling ufortable, Chloe wanted to end the conversation quickly and reluctantlypromised.


    "Fine, I won¡¯t."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Noah released his hold on Chloe and pulled her into a tight


    embrace. She thought about pushing him away, but her hand hesitated in mid-air before dropping to


    her sides.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t you despise me?" she asked.

 Chapter 760 A Mistake to Be Erased

    Chapter 760 A Mistake to Be Erased


    Noah''s eyes turned red and a twisted smile spread across his face. "No, I don¡¯t. We¡¯re the perfect


    couple. You and Joseph were just a mistake." He added silently, ¡®A mistake to be erased.¡¯


    Chloe froze and sighed inwardly. "I''m tired. Let¡¯s go to bed," she said.


    Noah slowly regained hisposure and gently cupped her face. "Can you promise me not to see


    Joseph anymore? I don''t want any trouble."


    "Not for now," Chloe replied in a serious tone, "Vanya¡¯s still alive, and maybe my child too. Duskfall


    might be hiding him somewhere."


    Though the possibility was slim, she did not want to give up. She had woken up on countless nights,


    ming herself, preferring she was the one who had died rather than her child.


    Noah frowned as he said in a low voice, "Joseph¡¯s trying to trick you. Vanya¡¯s a core member of


    Duskfall. Even if she falls into his hands, Duskfall will make sure that she never says a word."


    "Regardless, we have to try. By the way, you know Dr. Z, right? Will you please get Dr. Z to treat


    Vanya?" Chloe asked.


    "No, I won¡¯t," Noah refused. Sensing Chloe''s strange gaze, he paused and asked, "Have you seen


    Vanya?"


    "No, but Joseph said he''ll take me to see her tomorrow."


    He fell silent for a moment, then said, "I''ll go with you."


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe hesitated before agreeing, "Okay, but promise me you won''t argue with Joseph."


    If she wanted Noah to help her get Dr. Z, it was logical to confirm that Vanya was still alive.


    The night was quiet, but many people had trouble sleeping that night. Chloe tossed and turned until


    she finally dozed off in the early hours of the morning. Uncharacteristically, Noah did not work that


    night. Instead, he tried to contact Xavia, but her phone went unanswered.


    His face sank and he angrily threw the phone to the ground.


    *


    In the early morning, Chloe got up to wash and applied a face mask before having breakfast.


    A helper brought her a dress and said, "Ms. Chloe, Mr. Noah sent you this new dress. He said to


    wear it today and apany him to an exhibition this afternoon."


    "Okay," Chloe replied absentmindedly, ncing at the dress before shifting her gaze away.


    After breakfast, she changed into the dress that had been tailored to fit her perfectly. The waist was


    adorned with hand-embroidered flowers, giving it an elegant and graceful appearance reminiscent


    of thedies from the eighties.


    As Chloe descended the stairs, Noah was waiting for her. He was dressed in a suit the same color


    as Chloe''s dress. Although there were no flowers on his suit, it was clear that it was a couple''s


    outfit.


    Her eyes fell on Noah''s attire, and a hint of light shed through her eyes. "Let''s go," she said.


    Noah nodded. "Grandpa had these outfits specially tailored. They were just delivered this morning.


    The dress fits you perfectly."


    Chloe blinked. "I thought it was you who ordered them."


    He smiled and did not dwell on the topic. As he nced at the scenery outside the window, his


    expression was gentle. "I contacted the media''s CEO this morning. They¡¯ll continue to work with


    Michael."


    "Okay¡­"


    Michael was a great celebrity. He was true to his original intentions and did not take shortcuts. It


    was believed that he would be a top star in the future.


    Thirty minutester, they arrived at Cloude. Apart from Joseph, Vince was there too. After many


    years, Vince had be much stronger and looked like a powerful weightlifter.


    He scratched his head, sounding puzzled as he asked, "Sir, why did Ms. Chloe bring someone with


    her?"

 Chapter 761 People Tend to Show off What They Lack

    Chapter 761 People Tend to Show off What They Lack


    When Joseph saw them, he narrowed his eyes and sneered. "That''s her fiance."


    "What?"


    Vince was stunned and looked at Joseph with a sympathetic gaze. "Don¡¯t be upset, sir. There are


    beautiful women everywhere. You¡¯ll find another."


    "Shut up!"


    Vince was unperturbed. Joseph just got rejected and was now angry and embarrassed. This was


    not surprising since his boss had always possessed a strong sense of self-esteem. Now, Chloe had


    brought her new love interest right before him. Anyone would feel ufortable, let alone someone


    like his boss who was a prideful man. His only worry was that Joseph would take his anger out on


    him, so he kept his distance.


    Surprisingly, when Chloe exined the situation, Joseph calmly epted Noah¡¯s presence and


    simply smiled. "Since you''re already here, you''re my guest too."


    Chloe blinked, secretly relieved that Joseph and Noah had not got into an argument.


    Noah also remained calm as he took hold of Chloe¡¯s hand. "Lead us to Vanya. It''s a bit cold out


    here. I¡¯m worried Chloe will catch a cold."


    She was slightly stunned when he held her hand, but she did not shake him off.


    Looking at their intertwined hands, Joseph sneered. "With just that thin dress, of course, she''ll catch


    a cold."


    "Our grandpa got this outfit for us, so we couldn''t refuse. It''s my fault for forgetting to bring an extra


    coat," Noah patiently exined.


    Chloe was speechless. She was not cold in the slightest and could not understand why the two men


    were discussing clothes.


    Vanya''s room was in the heart of the ce, and this was Chloe''s first time here. She noticed that


    many people lived here, and everyone showed exceptional respect toward Joseph. She knew that


    he held other roles besides his surface identity as a ruthless capitalist, but she had not been able to


    determine exactly what they were. Judging from the atmosphere of this ce, she hazarded a


    guess that it was something akin to Duskfall.


    Noah was also observing the people and surroundings, carefully taking in everything he saw. It


    became apparent that he had yet to be powerful enough.


    Finally, they arrived at Vanya''s room. A frail womany on a simple bed inside the small wooden


    cabin, her consciousness fleeting and her breathsbored.


    "Don''t go inside." Joseph extended an arm to stop Chloe, his expression solemn. "There are no


    doctors in the country who can cure her or even determine her exact illness. We can only provide


    medication to ease her condition. As the illness progresses, it may be infectious."


    Chloe shuddered at the severity of her situation. "It¡¯s that serious? Can she stillmunicate


    normally?"


    "What do you want to ask?"


    "A lot."


    Joseph sighed and replied, "She¡¯s aware sometimes, but most of the time she''s confused and her


    memories are in disarray. Let''s just wait for now."


    Hearing this, Noah let out a sigh of silent relief as he pondered about something else.


    Chloe nodded. "In that case, I won''t go in. Describe Vanya''s condition in detail so that we can


    contact Dr. Z and have her administer the appropriate treatment."


    "All right."


    The whole affair ended smoothly. Chloe thought she had oveplicated the situation.


    Seeing their car drive away, Vince asked, "Sir, are you giving up just like that?"


    "What do you think?" Joseph responded.


    "I think you''re not the kind to give up easily.


    Joseph chuckled and tapped his temple with his finger. "Do you think that Desmond had arranged


    for the dress Chloe had on?¡±


    Vince tilted his head naively and asked, "But why would Noah lie about that?"


    Joseph nced at him and replied impatiently, "People tend to show off what theyck."


    "Oh, I see. It''s like when a kid gets a new toy.¡±


    *


    Inside the car, Noah contacted Dr. Z. The call was quickly answered, and a charming and mature


    voice came from the other end.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hello, who''s this?"


    "It''s Noah."


    "...Wow, you finally decided to call me?"


    "I need your help to treat someone. Where are you?"


    Zoelle Elsher clicked her tongue, sounding amused as she said, "You¡¯re always ignoring me. Can''t


    we catch up a bit before you ask for favors?"


    "I''m getting married soon. I¡¯ll invite you to my wedding."

 Chapter 762 She Was Seeking Her Own Death

    Chapter 762 She Was Seeking Her Own Death


    Zoelle eximed in a yful tone, "Seriously? With that girl you¡¯re always hanging around?"


    Looking at the woman beside him, Noah gently replied, "Yes."


    "Not bad. Looks like you''ve achieved your goal. I¡¯ll definitely be there for your wedding. As for


    treating this person, I''ll have to take a look at their condition first. Email me the patient''s information


    and I''ll take a look."


    "Okay."


    Chloe did not hear the contents of their conversation and stared at him with anticipation. "How did it


    go? Did Dr. Z agree?"


    "Most likely."


    "Thank you so much. If not for you knowing Dr. Z, Vanya would be as good as dead and we won''t


    be able to get anything useful out of her."


    A sharp glint shed through Noah''s eyes as his eyebrows went up.


    How could sewer rats be given the chance to see the sunlight? Vanya knew a lot of secrets and was


    destined to die. Instead of lingering in agony, she had managed to find a glimmer of hope. Little did


    she know she was about to meet her demise.


    *


    In the afternoon, sunlight shone through a window onto two figures on a bed.


    Keh gazed at the naked woman in his arms, recalling the passion he and Xavia had indulged in


    last night. His face turned red as he chided himself for hisck of self-control. He came here to


    change a lightbulb, yet he had acted like some kind of sex-crazed man. They were not even married


    yet and he already could not resist making love to her, which was inappropriate morally and


    logically.


    As he pondered about how to get his parents to approve of Xavia and speed up their rtionship,


    the phone on the coffee table rang. He lifted the covers and went to turn the phone off.


    When he was halfway there, Xavia woke up and asked with a drowsy voice, "Mm? Who''s calling?"


    Keh''s eyes met hers, his eyes tracing her graceful figure under the covers. His face turned red


    again as he stammered, "I-I''ll go check. Hmm, there¡¯s no name. it just says EH."


    Xavia trembled and jumped out of bed, snatching the phone from Keh. He instinctively averted


    his gaze away from her unclothed body, failing to notice her unusual behavior. He said, "I¡¯ll get you


    some clothes so that you won''t catch a cold."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Her fingers trembled as she hung up the call, then noticed that Noah had called her twicest night.


    It was probably Noah who instructed Eustace to call her.


    "What''s wrong? You look really pale," Keh asked as he draped a shawl over her, finally sensing


    that something was off.


    Xavia hid the phone behind her back and forced a smile. "I-I''m fine."


    "Was I too roughst night? Did I hurt you?" He was inexperienced and relied on trial and error. He


    was certain that he must have hurt herst night.


    She lowered her head and said with a sob, "It''s not that... I¡¯d never force you to do anything. Is that


    what you think of me? Do you think I¡¯d sell my body to enter the royal family?"


    "I didn''t mean it that way. I was just giving you a promise. I swear I won''t let you down."


    "That''s all that matters."


    Keh felt his heart melt at Xavia¡¯s care and gentleness. He said, "I love you, Vee, and I promise


    you will not suffer in the future."


    Nestling into his embrace, Xavia nodded softly. "Okay."


    *


    A little whileter, Keh left to return to the pce to discuss the marriage with his mother. When


    he got downstairs, he saw a man standing there with a little girl who looked about five years old.


    Eustace looked at Keh and smiled with a hint of mockery on his face.

 Chapter 763 Noah Knows Where Joseph’s Mother Is

    Chapter 763 Noah Knows Where Joseph¡¯s Mother Is


    Keh was puzzled but ignored Eustace, choosing instead to leave and drive away.


    Five minutester, Xavia came out in her pajamas. She ignored Angelina and shouted at Eustace,


    "Stop calling me if I didn''t pick up! I''ll answer when I have the time! There¡¯s no need to pester me!"


    "Busy sleeping with a man?" Eustace''s face turned cold. He had long lost any affection for her.


    Xavia smiled charmingly and replied, "Don''t be jealous that it¡¯s not you."


    "Vanya¡¯s still alive," Eustace stated matter-of-factly.


    "What? That''s impossible!"


    "Inform Duskfall. Also, Mr. Noah knows where Mr. Joseph''s mother is." Done speaking, Eustace


    promptly left with Angelina.


    Xavia was shocked and could not believe what she had just heard. Without wasting any time, she


    went to report to Cyrus.


    *


    Exotic Star, at the marketing department.


    "Wow, Ms. Chloe looked particrly beautiful that day. Her skin was so fair, like a princess from a


    fairy tale!"


    "I saw her too. She''s so stunning."


    "Forgive me but I''m a food lover. I was just busy eating throughout the entire event. The dishes in


    that upscale restaurant were absolutely amazing!"


    "Hey Ms. Frieda, why didn''t you attend the engagement party?"


    Flipping through customer information, Frieda answered, "I had something to attend to."


    "That''s a shame."


    Chloe walked out and joked, "Maybe Ms.Frieda was busy closing a deal. Do you think bing the


    sales champion is that easy?"


    Frieda paused and replied sheepishly, "I wasn¡¯t meeting a client. I had family matters to attend to."


    "Well, familyes first and work second," Chloe said understandingly before walking toward her


    office.


    Days passed, and Chloe worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk. After three days, Zoelle replied to the


    email, stating that she would be flying in that night. Having just returned from Sanshea, she was


    without any warm clothes and requested Noah to get her a thick coat.


    "Go to the mall and buy a coat," Noah instructed his secretary.


    "I¡¯ll go get it. What''s Dr. Z''s style preference?" Chloe asked with a smile. "Dr. Z¡¯s an important guest,


    and we should pay attention to the details."


    Zoelle had a unique taste and not everyone could grasp her style. After some pondering, he said,


    "She prefers something chic and elegant."


    "Dr. Z¡¯s a woman?"


    "Yes. She''s a few years older than you."


    Chloe¡¯s eyes went wide. "I thought Dr. Z would be an old man with a long white beard. If she''s about


    my age, finding a coat will be easy. I have a good eye for clothes."


    Noah instructed the driver to take Chloe to the nearby shopping mall. She strolled around and soon


    spotted a ck, faux fur coat front and center of a window disy. It was a fitting cut, a prelude to


    how stylish and alluring it would look when worn.


    "I''d like to try on that coat please," she said to the store attendant.


    "Sure, please wait a moment."


    "This coat has such a queenly vibe. It''s perfect for you, Ms. Xavia," ra Mooreplimented


    enthusiastically.


    Before the store attendant could react, ra demanded that they take the coat down for them.


    The store attendant apologetically responded, "I''m sorry, but another customer asked for this coat


    first. I have to let them try it first."


    ra clicked her tongue and looked toward Chloe standing next to the store attendant. "Has she


    paid? If not, I can¡ª" She stopped midway through her sentence.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Not recognizing ra, Chloe raised an eyebrow at her.


    When Xavia showed up, ra hurriedly approached her and whispered a few words into the


    former¡¯s ear. From her expression, it was evident that she was gossiping about something.

 Chapter 764 You Can’t Hold On to It

    Chapter 764 You Can¡¯t Hold On to It


    Crossing her arms, Chloe turned her gaze back to the faux fur coat and nodded at the store


    attendant. The attendant understood and immediately took it down and handed it to her.


    "Wait a moment," Xavia suddenly said, raising her hand to stop the attendant. "Has anyone paid for


    this coat yet?"


    The store attendant hesitated. "Not yet, but¡ª"


    "I''ll buy it then. I''ll pay by my card," Xavia said decisively.


    "But¡­" The attendant was caught in a dilemma, not knowing what to do.


    Chloe shrugged. "Do you really have to snatch everything I¡¯ve set my eyes on?"


    "What are you talking about? I just happen to really like this coat. Besides, this coat wouldn¡¯t suit


    your figure," Xavia said, maintaining a gentle smile.


    "Fine, if you like it so much, you can have it. After all, though I¡¯m giving it to you, you might not be


    able to hold on to it," Chloe replied nonchntly with a hint of disdain in her voice.


    Xavia froze as ra shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting? Ms. Xavia will soon be marrying


    into the royal family. She wouldn''t bother snatching your stuff!"


    "And you are?" Chloe raised an eyebrow.


    ra held her head high and proudly dered, "I''m part of the royal family. Mr. Keh entrusted


    me to watch over Ms. Xavia, so don''t even think about bullying her."


    "Oh, so you''re a maid of the royal family," Chloe remarked.


    "I''m not a maid! My dad has been Mr. Keh¡¯s chauffeur for over a decade. We¡¯re all like family,"


    ra retorted.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "Haha, you can just admit you¡¯re a maid." Chloe burst intoughter. This woman was even lower in


    status than Megan.


    Xavia nced toward the entrance of the mall, a calctive look in her eyes. She noted the timing


    and took a step forward. "Chloe, hurtful words can be damaging. People these days can¡¯t


    distinguish between nobles andmoners."


    ra nodded gratefully. "Thank you for speaking up for me, Ms. Xavia. You''re beautiful, kind-


    hearted, and generous. You shouldn¡¯t lower yourself to this woman¡¯s level. Hey girl, give us the


    coat.¡±


    Biting her lip, Xavia hesitated for a moment and said, "I¡¯ll be the bigger person and let you have the


    coat instead. Although it doesn¡¯t suit you, I shouldn''t deprive you of the right to try a new style."


    Chloe was dumbfounded. Xavia was getting better and better at turning things around. She did not


    want to waste her time with such people and looked away from Xavia. She shouldered her bag and


    strode forward. After a long day of work, she was exhausted and thest thing she wanted was to


    engage Xavia in an argument.


    "Ms. Xavia was talking to you! Don''t y deaf!" ra''s voice raised, trying to get Chloe''s attention.


    Chloe ignored her and continued walking away. When she passed Xavia, thetter said in a voice


    so soft that only Chloe could hear her, "There''s something you¡¯re unaware of, Ms. Chloe."


    Pausing in her tracks, Chloe looked up at Xavia.


    "Mr. Cyrus is about to make a move, and you''re about to be in big trouble."


    "Mr. Cyrus?"


    "The mastermind behind Duskfall," Xavia replied, her expression unreadable.


    Chloe was puzzled by Xavia¡¯s words, unable to make heads or tails of their relevance to her. The


    person who was in big trouble should be Xavia as her misdeeds andck of value to Duskfall had


    been exposed. It was uncertain whether Joseph could go up against the royal family head-on, and if


    he failed, Xavia might try to pull some strings with Keh¡¯s help. However, based on Callum and


    Joseph¡¯s rtionship, it was more likely that Callum would support Joseph.


    Seeing Chloe''s confused expression, Xaviaughed and attempted to hand the fur coat to her.


    Naturally, Chloe did not reach out to ept it, but Xavia suddenly tumbled and fell.

 Chapter 765 How About We Make a Deal?

    Chapter 765 How About We Make a Deal?


    In the next moment, hurried footsteps approached and Keh rushed to Xavia''s side like a gust of


    wind. "What did you do, Chloe?!"


    "I didn''t do anything, and there are clearly no obstructions on the ground," Chloe replied innocently


    and honestly.


    "Don''t try to y innocent! Are you saying that Vee pretended to trip?"


    "Yeah."


    "You¡¯re unreasonable! Apologize to Vee!"


    "It''s all right, I don''t me Ms. Chloe," Xavia intervened, shaking her head. "We both liked the same


    coat. Imented that the style might not suit her and she probably got a bit upset.¡±


    ra chimed in, "Exactly. This woman got angry over a little friendly advice. She has a horrible


    temper."


    Keh''s anger rose as he shouted, "What do you want? Money or fame? I can give you both, but


    you have to disappear from Docwood."


    He was appalled by Chloe''s repeated bullying and found herck of manners and upbringing


    uneptable. He could not fathom how someone like her could be associated with the royal family,


    let alone be a rtive of his.


    Chloe was stunned for a moment, then said, "I don''t want anything. If you¡¯re really angry, you can


    call the police."


    She sighed at Callum''s bad luck at having a fool for a son. At over thirty years old, Keh was still


    naive and could not see through such a simple scheme. He was blinded to the true colors of


    someone like Xavia.


    "You¡¯re beyond redemption. Don''t think you can do whatever you want just because of my father,"


    Keh snarled.


    "Oh really now? I happen to enjoy the treatment he gives me, and what can you do about it?" Chloe


    smirked. "I advise you to take good care of Xavia. She keeps tripping over so easily. It¡¯s a good


    indicator that her physical condition isn¡¯t suitable for pregnancy. It¡¯d be quite a challenge for her to


    rely on getting pregnant to improve her status, wouldn''t it?"


    Without giving Keh a chance to respond, she continued, "She might have to resort to IVF. But


    even if she went through all that trouble to get pregnant, she might have fertility issues due to her


    age. And let''s not forget about her history of leukemia. So, even if she manages to achieve a


    luxurious lifestyle, her health might not be able to keep up and could go downhill."


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Xavia''s face turned pale as she swayed unsteadily.


    Keh''s expression turned livid. Just as he raised his hand to p Chloe, a middle-aged man''s


    elegant voice said, "Young man, men should never hit women."


    Upon hearing his voice, Xavia''s blood turned cold. She looked toward Cyrus with a mixture of


    reverence and fear in her eyes.


    Keh had never met with Cyrus before. He frowned and asked, "Who are you?"


    Fiddling with the rosary in his hand, Cyrus smiled and looked toward Xavia.


    She was taken aback and clung to Keh''s arm. She put on a pained expression and pleaded,


    "My foot kind of hurts. I must have twisted it. Can you take me to the hospital to have it checked


    out?"


    Seeing her grimace, Keh was startled, thinking she was truly injured. He bent down and picked


    her into his arms while handing the car keys to ra. Soon, only Cyrus and Chloe remained at the


    scene.


    For some reason, Chloe felt a strong sense of unease from the moment Cyrus had appeared.


    Furrowing her brows slightly, she decided not to linger and walked away.


    "Ms. Chloe, let''s find a ce to talk."


    "I''m sorry but I don''t know you," she replied, keeping her guard up.


    "Your kid is still alive and I know where he is."


    This bombshell left Chloe stunned. Despite dreaming of a small, blurry figure for many nights, she


    had never dared to hope that he was truly alive. All this time, she had been left to specte and


    had to lie to herself.


    Chloe tried to calm herself down and clenched her fists. "Who are you and how do you know that?"


    "How about we make a deal?" Cyrus proposed.

 Chapter 766 Her Kid Is Still Alive

    Chapter 766 Her Kid Is Still Alive


    Instead of agreeing, Chloe said, "But I don''t know you. Youe up to me out of nowhere and want


    to make a deal with me? That¡¯s pretty suspicious, isn''t it?"


    Cyrus knew she was testing him, so he said calmly, "Joseph must¡¯ve told you about me."


    Her scalp tingled, and she instantly guessed the identity of the man before her. "You''re a Sinir...


    Otto is your son?"


    "For the past five years, I''ve been well aware of how your child is doing, whether it''s a boy or a girl,


    and where they are now. I can return the child to you, as long as you agree to my conditions."


    Chloe''s heart leaped into her throat as she stared at the elegant and amiable man in front of her.


    She tightly clenched her fist and asked, "My child...has been with you all this time?"


    Cyrus smiled faintly. "No. He has been living quite a happy life."


    She let out a sigh of relief but knew she could not fully trust him. She knew to keep her distance


    from such a dangerous person, but she was worried about her child''s well-being. What''s more, she


    was curious about the deal Cyrus mentioned.


    "Let''s find a cafe to sit down and talk, shall we?"


    If they were in a public ce, he would not be able to do anything to her.


    "We can talk right here. There¡¯s no need to waste time," Cyrus replied reasonably.


    Chloe was taken aback. "What¡¯s the deal then?"


    "Find this woman and provide me with information," he said as he handed her a stack of photos.


    As Chloe went through them, her brows furrowed. There were over a hundred photos, all showing


    Joseph''s mother from different angles¡ªsome candid, some posed. In every single one, she wore a


    numb and lifeless expression. Upon closer examination, there was a hint of disgust and aversion on


    her face.


    She recalled Joseph saying that Cyrus was obsessed with his mother. She knew too well the feeling


    of being imprisoned, so she returned the photos to him and said, "I haven''t seen her. I can''t help


    you."


    "Yes, you have. She''s somewhere around you," Cyrus said as a sinister expression crossed his


    benevolent face. "She had stic surgery."


    "Have you seen what she looks like after the surgery?"


    "No."


    "Then how can you be sure she went under the knife?"


    "Do you want to make a deal or not?" Cyrus answered her question with another question,


    maintaining his upper hand.


    After pondering for a few seconds, Chloe replied, "I don''t think I can find her."


    "I''ll provide you with clues."


    While Joseph¡¯s mother¡¯s appearance had changed, her habits and some physical characteristics


    could not be altered unless she changed she had gotten apletely different body.


    "I won''t do it." Chloe shook her head firmly.


    Cyrus narrowed his eyes and said, "That''s fine, I won''t force you, but then I won¡¯t guarantee that


    your child will survive till the day you find them."


    "Don''t bother with trying to trick me. You probably don''t even know where my child is," Chloe


    retorted.


    Unfazed, Cyrus gave her another photograph. "You¡¯ve never seen your child''s face, have you?"


    Her gaze fell on the picture, and her breath skipped a beat. It depicted a man holding a newborn


    baby, with the hospital where the fire had urred in the background.


    Her kid was still alive.


    *


    Chloe rushed to the airport after buying the coat. Since it had taken her some time to talk to Cyrus,


    Noah was already there by the time she arrived. He was chatting andughing with an attractive


    woman.


    As soon as he noticed her, his gaze softened as he called out, "Over here, Chloe."


    "Sorry, there was heavy traffic along the way," Chloe apologized.


    "It''s fine, the doctor just got here too. Chloe, this is Zoelle. You can just call her Dr. Z," he


    introduced.


    Zoelle extended her hand with a charming smile, "Hello, Noah¡¯s future wife."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "Hello, I''m not sure if the coat I bought is suitable." Chloe forced out a smile.


    Surprised by the cold sweat on Chloe''s palm, Zoelle instinctively reached out to feel her pulse. "Are


    you feeling unwell?"

 Chapter 767 He Looks Like a Big Silly Dog

    Chapter 767 He Looks Like a Big Silly Dog


    Chloe quickly withdrew her hand and smiled dryly. "It''s just kind of cold. I''m fine."


    As if she heard a joke, Zoelle chuckled. ¡°Cold weather doesn¡¯t cause your heart to beat faster."


    "Is something bothering you?" Noah asked in concern.


    Chloe hung her head and clutched at the photo in her pocket. "No. Must be because of the red light


    I ran while making my way here."


    Zoelle and Noah exchanged nces but did not press further.


    Inside the car, Zoelle took a selfie in her new faux fur coat after applying some red lipstick. She


    exuded the charm of a mature woman with every curve of her lips. "Thank you for the coat. I really


    like it," she said.


    "You''re wee," Chloe replied politely.


    She looked Zoelle up and down, wondering how she and Noah knew each other. Zoelle reminded


    her of Xavia. Xavia appeared to be a gentlewoman on the surface, but unfortunately, it was all an


    act.


    Since Cyrus had approached her, did that mean that she was currently more valuable to him than


    Xavia? Could Xavia have misunderstood Cyrus'' intentions when she threatened Chloe earlier?


    Though unable to figure it out for the time being, Chloe guessed that Xavia held the same status in


    Duskfall as Vanya had. If Xavia could not sessfully marry Keh, Chloe was certain that Cyrus


    would abandon her without any hesitation.


    They had given Joseph notice before Zoelle arrived. By the time they arrived at Imperium, it was ten


    at night. From afar, they saw him standing at the entrance, dressed in a ck coat that entuated


    his broad shoulders and long legs. His high nose bridge and tightly set lips gave his face an aura of


    otherworldly charm as if he transcended the mortal world.


    In contrast, Vince was wrapped in a military coat. His hair was disheveled and wore a curious and


    dazed expression. He looked as if he had just gotten out of bed.


    "Oh, what a handsome man. I like what I see." Zoelle whistled before looking at Vince. "Why does


    that one look like a big silly dog?"


    Chloe could not see very well, and at first, she felt that Zoelle''sment was inappropriate. But


    upon getting closer and seeing Vince clearly, she found that he did resemble a silly dog.


    Vince stepped forward to greet and scan the three people. After that, he stuck his head into the car


    and looked around. "Where''s Dr. Z?"


    "Silly dog," Zoellemented before getting out of the car.


    Vince stuck his head inside the car and looked again. "You brought a dog too? Where is it?"


    Chloe sighed and said, "That woman who just got out of the car is Dr. Z."


    "Huh? But she''s so young, and she''s a woman,¡± Vince said, disbelief thick in his voice.


    A hint of skepticism crossed Joseph''s eyes, but he did not say anything and led everyone to Vanya.


    She was awake, albeit her eyes were nk and dull. But when she spotted Noah and Chloe, her


    expression momentarily froze before returning to a state of confusion. It was as if she had


    remembered something, only to promptly forget it again.


    Though Imperium had their own medical equipment, they could barely keep Vanya alive. After


    examining Vanya, Zoelle¡¯s expression turned serious.


    "The bad news is that her condition is severe. She¡¯s suffering the effects of an ancient poison that


    has prated into her bone marrow over the years. Besides taking medication to alleviate the


    symptoms, there''s no way to cure herpletely."


    Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as it can be alleviated, that''s enough."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She was not a saint, and how long her enemies would live was of no concern to her.


    Joseph squinted. "What''s the good news?"


    "How did you know there was good news? You¡¯re handsome and smart," Zoelle teased, giving him


    a charming smile. "The good news is that I developed an antidote for this poisonst year."


    "That''s fantastic. Let''s start the treatment right away," Vince said excitedly.


    Noah piped up, "Zoelle¡¯s my friend. If we are to proceed with the treatment, I''ll need to take Vanya


    with me."

 Chapter 768 She Was Jealous of Chloe’s Seemingly Effortless Success

    Chapter 768 She Was Jealous of Chloe¡¯s Seemingly Effortless Sess


    Joseph was not surprised by Noah''s condition. On the contrary, he simply raised an eyebrow and


    asked, "If she goes with you, can I visit her anytime?"


    He saw this as an opportunity to improve his rtionship with Chloe. Since the chance had


    presented itself, he would not refuse.


    Noah hesitated and pondered for a moment. "All right, sure."


    He knew that only by keeping Vanya close to him could he haveplete control over the situation


    and prevent her from leaking unnecessary information. He could also guess what Joseph was


    thinking.


    "Okay, let¡¯s do it then," Joseph agreed. Vince then got two men to take Vanya to the location Noah


    had arranged for.


    Zoelle took out a diamond-encrusted business card from her designer handbag and handed it to


    Joseph. "Would you like a new friend, handsome?"


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "No thanks," Joseph replied calmly.


    "How about a new wife then?" she flirted boldly.


    A little-known fact about Zoelle was that she liked collecting handsome men from around the globe.


    Once she obtained them, she would vanish without a trace. If in a good mood, she might keep them


    around a little longer.


    Joseph''s gaze lingered on Zoelle for three seconds before shifting to Chloe. As a flirtatious smile


    tugged his lips, he said, "Wives and mistresses are all the same to me. After all, I enjoy the


    excitement."


    Chloe''s face flushed red. Of course, she understood what he was implying. He was practically


    stating it outright!


    A hint of displeasure crossed Noah''s face, but he maintained his cool. After all, Chloe was now with


    him. Joseph was clearly just provoking him.


    Zoelle''s eyes lit up at Joseph''s response. She chuckled. "I feel the same way. Call me if you have


    the time."


    Joseph remained silent and tucked away the business card. Zoelle blew a kiss at him before closing


    the car door with a satisfied smile.


    Staring at the departing car, Vince asked skeptically, "Sir, are you really going to see that foxy


    lady?"


    "Huh? Foxydy?"


    Vince spoke solemnly, "Absolutely! She''s alluring and beautiful, just like a fox."


    Joseph was stumped, though he had to admit that Vince was right.


    *


    Exotic Star''s seasonal fashion show was just around the corner, and Chloe was kept busy with


    work. She had not heard from Cyrus since then, and surprisingly, Joseph had not asked her much


    about Vanya either. Maybe he had contacted Zoelle in private.


    "Ms. Chloe, there''s an invitation for you to attend a party. It seems to be from Princess Carolina.


    Here, I brought it up with me," Frieda said as she ced an invitation card on Chloe¡¯s desk.


    Chloe nced at it and she froze. "Carolina? Callum''s wife?"


    She recalled that a few luxurious limited-edition items had remained unsold this year, and her initial


    n was to invite a popr young actor to promote them at an exclusive event. However, she


    heard that royals were fond of jewelry.


    ''Maybe I should go. After all, it''s something I¡¯ll have to face sooner orter,'' she thought.


    The next day, Chloe put on a mint-green dress to attend the party. The fresh colorplemented


    her fair and delicate skin, and the pearl ne around her neck added a perfect touch. The


    moment she stepped foot in the venue, she attracted everyone''s attention.


    When Callum spotted Chloe, he brought Carolina with him to greet her. With aposed


    demeanor, Carolina weed Chloe by saying, "Please, have a seat. Some guests have yet to


    arrive."


    "Thank you, Mdm. Carolina."


    As one of the housekeepers guided Chloe to her seat, she saw that Joseph had arrived.


    He patted the seat beside him. "Sit."


    She observed him for a moment before ultimately taking the seat he offered.


    When a handsome man and a beautiful woman were together, they often attracted extra attention.


    From the shadows, ra stared at Chloe resentfully. "Why does the illegitimate daughter get to sit


    at a table while I can¡¯t?" she cursed under her breath.


    ra had served the royal family for more than ten years, and evenpared to Xavia, she was


    even more jealous of Chloe''s seemingly effortless sess.


    "Wow, she''s gorgeous. And I think she isn¡¯t even wearing makeup. I haven''t seen someone like her


    in a while," Chad Wilsonmented as his lewd gaze lingered on Chloe. He nudged ra and


    asked, "Who¡¯s that?"


    "The illegitimate daughter."


    "Oh, she''s the one? I thought she¡¯d be a in-looking girl."


    ra''s eyes darted around before slyly saying, "Are you thinking of pursuing her? I can help you


    with that."


    Chad was a well-known yboy within the royal family. ra too had fallen victim to his advances


    when she just came of age. However, he shamelessly abandoned her and refused to take


    responsibility for his actions. If Chloe''s reputation was tarnished, she might not be able to marry into


    the Sullivan family.


    He stroked his chin and asked, "Is she favored? I don¡¯t want Calluming after me."


    "If she were favored, they''d have epted her into the royal family long ago. Why would they wait


    until now?" ra offered her analysis. "I''m sure Mdm. Carolina would be delighted if you helped her


    solve her problem."


    Chad yfully pinched ra''s buttocks and said, "You''ve got a point. So, how are you going to help


    me?"


    ra grinned coldly. "Just wait and see."

 Chapter 769 I Do Love Him

    Chapter 769 I Do Love Him


    Chad was skeptical of her enthusiasm. "Since when did you be so helpful?"


    He recalled her always giving him the cold shoulder as if he had mistreated her. To him, what


    happened between them back then had been consensual, and he never made any promises to be


    responsible for her. There was no way he would marry the child of a mere chauffeur and be


    the subject of ridicule.


    Smirking, ra replied, "I''ve always been helpful.¡± She leaned into Chad''s ear and whispered


    something to him.


    *


    Seated side by side, Joseph and Chloe could catch each other''s familiar scent. Their close


    proximity created an ambiguous atmosphere.


    A waiter brought two cocktails and ced them before the pair. Joseph nced at them and said in


    a deep voice, "Rece them with fruit juice. She doesn''t drink alcohol."


    "Right away, sir."


    Chloe chuckled and rested her cheek on her hand. "Are you pretending to be a caring soul now?"


    All men were the same. They only regretted the things they had after losing it. He could have


    cherished the rtionship while they were together instead of letting it slip away.


    "I''m just concerned for you," Joseph replied sincerely.


    "Hah." Chloe clicked her tongue.


    "How¡¯s Vanya?"


    "She needs to be on a continuous IV drip for a week to expel the toxins. Don''t you have Zoelle''s


    number? Why don¡¯t you just ask her directly?"


    Joseph''s eyes sparkled. He leaned forward, narrowing the distance between them, and asked, "Are


    you jealous?"


    Staring at his stunningly handsome face that was right in front of her, Chloe found herself at a loss


    for words. Under normal circumstances, a mere nce from him would send tingles down her entire


    body, and now, with his affectionate gaze boring into her, she felt even more entranced.


    She remained silent for a while before leaning backward and replying, "Is that a joke? It¡¯s not funny."


    Why would she be jealous? After all, in her heart, he was barely worthy of being called an ex-


    husband.


    Joseph¡¯s thin lips pressed together as he gripped Chloe''s cheeks, forcing her to look at him. "I''m not


    joking. Chloe, after all this time, have you not thought about me at all?"


    He refused to believe that their feelings for each other had truly disappeared. If that were the case,


    why did she only get engaged to Noah after five years? Why did she reluctantly agree to it only after


    returning to the country?


    Meeting his gaze, Chloe smiled brightly. "I only feel hatred toward you, so stop deluding yourself."


    His pupils contracted. He knew that she was telling the truth. An uncontroble pain surged within


    his chest and spread throughout his entire body.


    Chloe arrogantly raised her chin as she stared at him, but her satisfaction was short-lived and soon


    left her devoid of any real happiness.


    "Hating me is only natural. I deserve it," Joseph said as he lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag, and


    the embers flickered. He chuckled self-mockingly and continued, "I''ll spend my whole life making up


    for my past mistakes. If you don''t like Noah, then don''t marry him. Marrying someone you don''t love


    won''t lead to happiness."


    "I do love him," Chloe lied.


    Joseph¡¯s hand trembled and some ashes from the cigarette fell onto him. He pretended not to


    notice, maintaining hisposure as his jaw tightened. Chloe felt the atmosphere bing stifling


    and oppressive, so she got up to promote Exotic Star¡¯s wares to the wealthydies.


    "Sit down." Joseph pulled her back and snatched her purse from her.


    "That¡¯s mine! Get your hands off it!"


    Upon seeing the precious jewels inside, he guessed her intentions andughed out of frustration.


    While he was trying to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her, her mind was fully upied with


    business matters.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Do you think I can''t afford these?" Joseph took out one of the pieces. It was arge purple diamond


    with a dazzling luster that even ayman could tell was no ordinary item.


    Chloe stared at his hand. The diamond seemed to be a perfect essory in his slender fingers.


    Suddenly, an ingenious idea shed through her mind.


    "You said you want to make it up to me, right? Well, actions speak louder than words, so how about


    some action?"


    Joseph''s face sank. "I''m a businessman, not an actor."


    "Who says a businessman can''t also be a model? As long as it holds value, it works," Chloe urged.


    Joseph might be despicable, but there was no denying that his looks overshadowed many popr


    actors. If he became a salesman, his performance numbers would undoubtedly soar.


    "You¡¯d best forget about it. I¡¯m not¡ª"


    But before Joseph could finish his sentence, Chloe pulled him toward a group of wealthy royals. As


    he lowered his gaze, he felt warmth radiating through his palm. His mood brightened, and all his


    earlier frustrations vanished. He willingly followed her as they weaved through the crowd.

 Chapter 770 His Love for Her Grows Deeper

    Chapter 770 His Love for Her Grows Deeper


    Since Chloe had yet to agree to join the royal family, Carolina had not publicly disclosed her identity.


    Many people were meeting Chloe for the first time, but they recognized Joseph. And since they


    were seated together, everyone assumed that she was Joseph''s plus one.


    She charmed the wealthy women effortlessly, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere. One of


    the womenplimented, "Chloe, the ne you''re wearing is quite exquisite."


    Chloe''s eyes lit up as she sped her hands. She grabbed Joseph, who was visibly annoyed, and


    said, "It''s pretty, isn¡¯t it? I absolutely agree with you. I have other designs too."


    Joseph stood tall and without expression. He wore a men¡¯s ne around his neck, showcasing


    its unique craftsmanship and its longer-than-usual style. Chloe intentionally pulled down his cor to


    reveal a glimpse of his well-sculpted corbones.


    The wealthy women''s eyes glowed as they looked Joseph up and down. "The design is beautiful.


    What brand are these nes from?"


    "They¡¯re from Exotic Star. I brought two other designs as well. Please feel free to take a look at


    them," Chloe replied, cing two boxes on the table. "If you don''t like these, I have pictures from


    the designer. These are limited-edition pieces from around the world."


    "I prefer the one that Mr. Joseph is wearing."


    "Me too."


    Chloe smiled as she discreetly tugged at Joseph''s sleeve and whispered, "You know how to handle


    this, right?"


    These women were clearly not interested in the item. They were captivated by the model.


    Joseph sighed, his jaw clenched as he said, "I''ve never worked in sales a day in my life."


    He refused to stoop and serve these people as it went against his pride. Besides, it might lead


    people to think that Fairlight was facing bankruptcy.


    "Please, Jojo? I know you''re the best," Chloe pleaded, her voice soft and filled with expectation, her


    sparkling eyes brimming with hope.


    Because of his guilt toward her, his heart instantly melted upon hearing her plea. His icy expression


    thawed a little as he looked at the group of middle-aged women and said against his will, "Any


    design you choose will look stunning on you."


    All of them were delighted to hear this and eagerly ced their orders. Chloe sessfully sold


    some of thepany¡¯s most expensive jewelry without much effort. She looked overjoyed and


    seemed to appear more at ease in Joseph''s presence.


    Joseph nced at her and felt content. In the past, he had wanted her to belong to only him. Now,


    he felt happy just seeing her smile. His love for her grew deeper with every passing second.


    They stayed on at the party for a while, surrounded by indulgence and extravagance. Chloe sipped


    on her orange juice. After some time, she decided it was time to return to the Sullivan estate. As


    she was about to stand up, something came to mind.


    She pursed her red lips and asked, "How has Jasper been recently?"


    "He''s fine. He keeps wanting to see you."


    "Why doesn''t hee to me then?"


    Joseph sneered coldly and said, "He tried to visit once, but Noah kicked him out."


    Chloe was stunned and replied, "I''ll make time to visit him soon."


    She could not resist the little guy¡¯s charm. He was simply too adorable.


    "I''ll tell Jas when I get home. He''ll be thrilled," Joseph replied.


    "Okay. By the way, have you found your mother after all these years?"


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing her question, Joseph gazed at her deeply.


    Feeling a little guilty, Chloe averted her eyes and muttered softly, "If you don''t want to talk about it,


    it''s fine."


    "Yes, I found her."


    Joseph''s response was simple, yet Chloe felt like a bombshell had been dropped on her head,


    leaving her feeling uneasy. Cyrus had not lied to her. Joseph''s mother was in Docwood.


    "Do you want to meet her?"


    "I...I don''t know."


    "I can introduce you to her."

 Chapter 771 How Pure and Chaste Is Chloe?

    Chapter 771 How Pure and Chaste Is Chloe?


    Chloe abruptly looked up. "Are you already nning to reveal her identity?"


    "Not yet. It''s not the right time, and neither does my mother want that right now. She¡¯s enjoying her


    current life and identity."


    His mother was upied by her sense of aplishment.


    "Aren''t you afraid of Duskfall finding out if you introduce her to me?"


    "It¡¯ll be fine as long as we keep it on the low," Joseph said mysteriously, "You might have even met


    her before."


    Chloe''s heart beat faster. Cyrus was truly capable of having guessed all this. The answer was now


    right in front of her, but she hesitated. She was stuck between her child and her principles.


    Joseph noticed something was off with Chloe. Frowning, he asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Chloe weighed her words thoughtfully. "I¡¯ve met your mother before?"


    "Maybe."


    "Are you sure?"


    "I¡¯ll never hide anything from you anymore.¡±


    Chloe gazed at the serious expression on his face. What was the most valuable thing in the world?


    Sincerity, of course. She wanted to look away, but somehow, her eyes met his as if she was


    bewitched. Subconsciously, she did not want to believe anything he said. But at the same time, she


    was curious as to whether he was telling the truth. Had he gotten better at lying?


    Joseph stared back at her, gulped, and bent down to kiss her. Chloe, who was still busy pondering,


    was helpless when he nted his lips on her. She quickly tried to pull away, but he grasped the


    back of her head and leaned in closer to deepen the kiss.


    Her lips, tender and soft, drowned him in ecstasy.


    While struggling to breathe, Chloe tried to push him away as she looked around them, afraid that


    someone might see them. But held onto her firmly and refused to be pushed away.


    "Oh my!"


    The thing Chloe was worried about finally happened. One of the wealthydies who had bought the


    jewelry earlier walked past, saw that scene, and eximed out loud. The other guests turned and


    looked over.


    "Mr. Joseph, behave yourself!¡±


    "Yeah, there are so many people here. This makes the atmosphere rather ufortable."


    With those words, Joseph finally released Chloe and said politely, "I''m sorry."


    Chloe blushed fiercely and hid behind Joseph. She hid her face as she berated, "You jerk!"


    Joseph shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I couldn''t help it."


    Infuriated, Chloe clenched her fists. She then pinched his leg, but he barely flinched and said


    nonchntly, "Be nice."


    Unable to stand it anymore, Chloe sprung to her feet and stormed off to the washroom. She needed


    time to calm down andpose herself. She decided she had to find out where her child was. This


    was what Joseph owed her.


    Seeing Chloe walk into the washroom, ra, who was conspiring with Chad, put up a cleaning sign


    on the door. That way, nobody would suspect anything.


    "I can¡¯t wait any longer. I¡¯m going in." Chad eagerly barged into the female washroom to find Chloe.


    Greatly aroused by the sight of Joseph kissing Chloe earlier, he wanted to do the same too.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ra leaned against the door frame, her expression filled with disdain. "The washroom is small.


    You''ll find her."


    Chad rubbed his hands together lecherously as he opened the doors of the stalls, looking for Chloe.


    "Prettydy, where are you? I''ming for you."


    Disgust dawned on ra¡¯s face. "Aren''t you afraid Noah wille after you?"


    "No. She¡¯s just a woman, after all.¡±


    Chad had never seen rich people taking women seriously. At most, he would just give Noah another


    woman. Judging from how intimate Chloe was being with Joseph earlier, Chad knew that she was


    not a virtuous woman. Besides, he was not ugly and had some power. Many women dly threw


    themselves at him.


    How pure and chaste could Chloe possibly be?

 Chapter 772 Go Play With Your Mommy

    Chapter 772 Go y With Your Mommy


    ra echoed his words, saying sarcastically, "Yeah, just a woman. Well, enjoy yourself. I¡¯ll get out


    of your hair."


    Chad ignored her. As he reached thest stall, he gulped.


    "Prettydy, you''re in here, aren''t you?"


    When he opened the door, Chloe stabbed him in the eye with her heels.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "Aagh!" He covered his eyes as he staggered backward.


    Barefooted, Chloe exited the stall and red at him. "Get lost. Otherwise, you''re going to suffer."


    She had overheard their conversation, and she had been right. The royal family was full of schemes


    and evil. If a driver¡¯s daughter had the galls to set her up, what more of the royal children? She now


    realized that she should ept Callum''s suggestion.


    Chad steadied himself and stared at the stubborn Chloe. He said defensively, "Come on, we''re


    alone now. y with me, won¡¯t you? Stop pretending to be all pure."


    "Go y with your mommy. If not, I''m going to scream."


    Chad''s beaten eye was bloodshot, which made him look frightening and hideous. "Don''t turn me


    down."


    He then rushed at Chloe, and though she was prepared, she could not fend him off given the


    difference in their strength. He pinned her underneath him andughed maniacally. Excitement


    raced through his heart as he tore off her clothes.


    Chloe panicked and screamed, "Help!"


    "Shut up, bitch!" he said while looking around, trying to find something to stuff her mouth with.


    As Chad was distracted, Chloe kicked him in the groin. He shouted in pain and fell to the floor. She


    hurriedly scrambled for the door, but Chad proved to be stubborn. He grabbed her hair and


    mmed her back down. All he wanted to do now was put his mark on her. He wondered how she


    would look after he was done. When she was forced to appear in public with her clothes all ruined,


    the Sullivans would surely find her a humiliation. She would then be at his mercy.


    Chad fished out from his pocket the sex toy he had specially prepared to keep someone under


    control. When Chloe saw it, she became nervous and struggled to stand up.


    "Stop squirming. No one¡¯sing to save you. I''ll be nice to you if you serve me well."


    "Are you worthy of such a thing?" a cold voice suddenly said.


    Joseph appeared at the door, Callum, Carolina, and a few others standing behind him. Chloe


    trembled and stared at him in a trance. Her eyes welled with tears as a wave ofplicated


    feelings overwhelmed her.


    Chad was scared out of his wits. "This isn¡¯t what it looks like¡­ Let me exin¡­"


    ra stepped out from the crowd and used, "I saw Chad drag Ms. Chloe into the washroom."


    "Nonsense! This was all you!" Chad panicked. "You urged me, so I¡ª"


    Before he could finish talking, Joseph interrupted, "Vince, take him away."


    "Yes, Mr. Joseph."


    Vince lifted Chad by the cor. "Sir, what should we do to him?"


    Joseph replied icily, "Since he can''t control his urges, it¡¯s best if he¡¯s castrated."


    Callum wore a cold expression but did not refute. After all, this was a world governed byws, and


    Chad had to be punished even if he was a member of the royal family.


    Carolina could not ept this. "Why don¡¯t we just forget about all this?"


    Joseph smiled. "Mdm. Carolina, are you saying someone like him should be allowed to remain a


    part of the royal family? Is he allowed to keep hurting other women?"


    Carolina was struck speechless. She wanted to say that people could change their ways, but she


    knew it was pointless.

 Chapter 773 He Can’t Be Her Escort

    Chapter 773 He Can¡¯t Be Her Escort


    Callum gripped Carolina''s hand, signaling to her not to meddle. Chad had ruined the reputation of


    the royal. Making him pay the price would set an example to others.


    Atst, Carolina turned away and ignored Chad''s pleading look. When Chad realized that he was


    about to be abandoned, he tried to crawl forward to plead for help, but the strong Vince dragged


    him away without much struggle.


    Vince and the royal family guards carried out the task. Vince waved a sharp scalpel at Chad and


    said wickedly, "This is going to hurt, just like what the eunuchs went through during ancient times."


    Chad soiled himself. He trembled and pleaded, "No! Please let me go!"


    "It''s toote. You offended someone you shouldn''t have."


    Vince then made the cut.


    "Aaaaaahhhh!"


    It all happened so fast. As Chad screamed in anguish, the pain overwhelmed him and he fainted.


    Filled with hatred toward Joseph, he swore he would get his revenge.


    The party soon resumed. As Chad was just a branch member of the royal family, no one took him


    seriously. Chloe was too exhausted to stay and went to tell Callum that she was leaving.


    He said, "I¡¯ll get someone to give you a ride home."


    "I¡¯ll do it," Joseph offered.


    Chloe shook her head. "No, I don''t want others to get the wrong idea."


    She did not wish to create any more of a mess. She was now Noah''s fiancee, and if she hung


    around her ex-husband, others might start gossiping.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Callum shot Joseph a profound gaze and teased, "Looks like you won¡¯t get to be her escort."


    Joseph calmly stared at Chloe before he took her wrist and said, "Come with me."


    "No."


    Unfortunately, her words fell on deaf ears. He dragged her out of the venue


    The roads were quite clear, so Chloe insisted on driving to keep some distance from him.


    Joseph lightly touched her lips as his unfathomable gaze became gentle. He then


    threatened, "Do you want Noah to find out what happened tonight?"


    "You scheming jerk!" Chloe blushed and ced her hands on her waist. "Are you threatening me?"


    "Duskfall is getting restless, so it''s dangerous for you to be alone." Joseph opened the car door and


    caressed her face. "Just listen to me and get in the car, all right?"


    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat when she saw the passion in his eyes. She was hit by a tinge of guilt.


    He was worried about her safety, but she wanted to manipte him to find her child''s whereabouts.


    She stared at him for a while before she got into the car.


    "Did Chad hurt you?"


    "No."


    Other than a few bruises and a few lost hairs, she was fine.


    "I suggest you set up a spy camera in Vanya''s room."


    "Why?"


    "Noah¡¯s up to no good, and this way, you can see it all for yourself."


    Stunned, Chloe went wide-eyed. "Are you saying that Noah is rted to Duskfall?"


    Joseph had always spoken ill of Noah, but she never thought Noah would do such a thing.


    "Yes. Make sure the camera is connected to your phone."


    Joseph realized that it was better for her to find out the truth for herself instead of having others tell


    her about Noah''s true colors. This was why he had agreed to let Noah take Vanya.


    Chloe bit her lips while her thoughts churned. "No¡­ Noah isn''t like that."

 Chapter 774 He Could Better Protect Her Now

    Chapter 774 He Could Better Protect Her Now


    Joseph leaned back into the seat, leisurely controlling the steering wheel. But his grip tightened


    when he heard Chloe''s words and snorted. "I look forward to the day that you find out the truth."


    "What else do you know?"


    "A little. Vanya told me some other things when she was conscious."


    Her heart skipped a beat. "Did she tell you anything about our child?"


    "No." Joseph paused. He stepped on the brakes before turning toward her. "The child is gone."


    "No, they¡¯re still alive." Chloe became agitated and stubborn.


    "Did you hear something from somewhere?"


    Chloe was stunned. "No, it''s just a gut feeling."


    Joseph stared at her with an unfathomable gaze. He stopped asking for fear of giving her a harsh


    blow. He then started the car again.


    "Could I meet your mother sometime?" Chloe said out of the blue as she grabbed her seatbelt.


    Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed. When he stopped at the red light of the next intersection, he said, "Okay,


    let''s meet her this weekend. She''s busy with work during the weekdays."


    "Okay." Chloe looked straight ahead and tried to remain calm. "I''ll let you decide on the time and


    ce." When they were almost at the Sullivan manor, she questioned, "Why aren¡¯t you asking me


    why I want to meet your mother?"


    Judging by how fast he had agreed, was he already suspecting something?


    "You can meet her if you want to. I trust no one else but you."


    His words silently tortured Chloe.


    "Bye." Barely able to bear the guilt, she opened the car door and dashed off.


    *


    Joseph watched her away while tapping on the steering wheel rhythmically. ¡®What are you hiding


    from me, Chloe?''


    Instead of returning to the Whitman family home, he called up Imperium¡¯s investigation team. "Look


    into who Chloe hase into contact with recently."


    Now that Imperium had gotten stronger, he could better protect her.


    *


    Chloe expected Noah and Desmond to question why she was home sote, but they happened to


    be attending a gathering themselves.


    Noah was housing Vanya in a three-floor independent wing in the innermost part of the estate.


    Vanya upied the top floor while the servants upied the second. Zoelle, who asionally


    tended to Vanya, would stay on the first floor, but she had note by today.


    When Chloe stepped out of the bath, Noah had yet toe home. While toweling her hair, she


    stared at the spy camera on her table. After applying a face mask, she called one of the house


    helpers over. "Is Noah home yet?"


    "Not, miss."


    "Okay, you may go now."


    After the helper left, Chloe picked up the camera and went to the wing. She would have fully trusted


    Noah if Michael had not told her otherwise.


    *


    The next day, Zoelle dressed to the nines and went to Fairlight. One nce at the charming Zoelle


    and the receptionist assumed Zoelle was well-acquainted with Joseph, so they quickly informed


    Lucas of Zoelle¡¯s arrival.


    Lucas had put the call on speaker. He looked at Joseph, who kept his eyes on his work, and asked,


    "What do you think, sir?"


    "Let here up."


    Lucas was surprised. "Okay."


    Zoelle had exhausted a great time dressing up today. After all, to win the favor of a man as


    exceptional as Joseph, she had to put in the work.


    "Sir, Ms. Zoelle is here.¡±


    "Okay, you can go back to your work," Joseph instructed without even looking up.


    Lucas frowned deeply and gave Zoelle a sidelong nce. She was indeed charming, but Joseph


    was not a man who judged a book by its cover.


    Zoelle knew what Lucas'' gaze implied. She covered her mouth with a red-manicured hand and said


    charmingly, "Why are you staring at me? Did you think your boss was a gentleman who abstains


    from women? Did he let you down?"Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 775 And Now, I’m Saving You

    Chapter 775 And Now, I¡¯m Saving You


    Lucas, whose thoughts had been exposed, wanted to refute. But in the end, he decided against it


    since it would be unsightly. "I''ll be leaving now, sir."


    When there were only two of them in the office, Zoelle casually threw her coat onto the leather sofa


    and strode toward Joseph in her high heels. She pushed her hair to the front of her chest and bent


    over. Her hair brushed past his cheeks, carrying with it a light, pleasant fragrance. "Will you


    apany me for a meal? I didn¡¯t eat beforeing here."


    Normal men would fail to hold back in the face of such flirting, but Joseph simply leaned backward


    to put some distance between them. He then said nonchntly, "I ordered some food delivery. It¡¯ll


    be here soon."


    Zoelle was stunned before she said smilingly, "Are you that impatient?"


    "Yes, I think our time is valuable."


    "You are correct..." Zoelle then looked around. "But since it¡¯s our first time, we at least need a bed,


    right?"


    She was meticulous in this aspect. She wanted handsome men she found charming, not yboys


    or tterers. If the atmosphere was bad, it would affect her mood.


    Joseph raised his brows as he looked up. "This isn''t a booty call."


    His directness made Zoelle feel awkward and humiliated though she was experienced in such


    matters. But she suppressed her feelings as a sarcastic smirk crept up her face. "Then why did you


    call me here?"


    "You''re a doctor. Why do you think I called you?"


    Zoelle''s expression stiffened. She took a deep breath, grabbed her coat, and walked toward the


    door.


    "Name your price."


    She sneered. "Do I look like I need money?"


    Joseph said calmly, "How about 7 million dors?"


    "No." Zoelle stared at him arrogantly. "I¡¯ll only do it if you give your body to me."


    Many rich people all over the world dreamed of having her treat them. She was only treating Vanya


    to repay Noah for saving her in the past. She looked down on 14 million dors, let alone 7 million.


    "I have someone I love, so I won''t bed another woman."


    Zoelle frowned. "You''re married?"


    "You could say that." He had been married once, after all.


    Zoelle was curious about the woman who managed to win Joseph''s heart and make him so loyal.


    Was she a fairy or something? But she did not bother to ask and simply continued walking. "Forget


    it. I''m leaving."


    "It just so happened that I got my hands on a very particr herb." Joseph looked solemn as he


    said slowly, "People call it cajoper."


    Zoelle abruptly turned around. "You have cajoper?" Her master had looked high and low but failed


    to find this herb. If she managed to secure it, she would be fulfilling her master''s wish.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Oh yes, I do."


    Knowing oneself and the enemy was the key to victory in all battles.


    "Fine, I''ll ept the job. Bring me the patient."


    *


    Otto hung up the call, utterly confused. Had Joseph just invited him to see a doctor? Was Joseph


    trying to curse him in some way? It did not sound like it though. But Otto was no coward. After only


    a brief hesitation, he instructed his driver to drive him to Fairlight.


    When Zoelle saw the handsome and dark-skinned Otto, her eyes lit up. But as a doctor, she


    remained professional as she performed a check-up on him.


    Otto was stupefied by the whole affair. He stared at Joseph suspiciously. "Are you out of your


    mind?"


    Joseph had actually hired a doctor. People simply did not hire doctors for their enemies.


    After having treated Vanya for some time, Zoelle soon confirmed that Otto was poisoned with the


    same kind of toxin. But he was also fed medicine to suppress it, so his body showed no signs of the


    toxin.


    Hearing this, Ottoughed skeptically. "Joseph, do you think I¡¯d believe you just because you got a


    woman here to spout nonsense?"


    "Have you been taking some sort of lemon-vored medicine for a long time?" Zoelle asked


    nonchntly.


    Otto stoppedughing and became anxious. "How did you know?"


    "Hmph!"


    Joseph yed a video of Vanya''s treatment as he stared at Otto coldly. "Your future looks exactly


    like hers. You''ll lose your mind and memories before you slowly be paralyzed and die as a


    crazy man."


    When Otto saw Vanya on the screen, his eyes narrowed abruptly. That long-lost sense of


    oppression hit him again, and his face turned pale. "Vanya¡¯s alive?"


    "Yes. I faked her death and saved her. And now, I¡¯m saving you."


    Otto''s fingers trembled, clearly understanding why Joseph was doing this. He was asking him to


    betray Duskfall.


    "I''ll give you a day to think about it. No rush." Joseph knew what was going on in Otto¡¯s mind and


    did not push him.


    *


    When Chloe was finished with her work at Exotic Star, she recalled that Noah had note in to


    work today. He was probably resting at home. Wondering if he would go to the wing, she turned on


    her phone to bring up the surveince feed from the spy camera she had nted.

 Chapter 776 The Pain Got Worse

    Chapter 776 The Pain Got Worse


    Vanya was in the room, looking much betterpared to a few days ago. She still could not move


    around on her own and needed someone to feed her food and water, but she was better. Her gaze


    was no longer as vacant as before.


    Chloe picked up the banana Frieda had given her earlier and peeled it. While eating the fruit, she


    watched the screen. After the helper finished feeding Vanya her lunch, thettery in bed


    motionlessly. After some time had passed, just as Chloe thought that Noah would not be going to


    the wing today, a slim figure suddenly came into view. She threw the banana skin into the bin and


    watched the screen attentively.


    When Vanya saw Noahe in, her eyes went wide as she curled into a ball and stared at him


    fearfully.


    "Why are you so nervous? I got you out of there. Shouldn''t you be thanking me? If not for me,


    Joseph would¡¯ve kept you locked up forever."


    "No¡­Noah," Vanya mumbled as she tried to back away. It looked like she was facing a ferocious


    monster.


    Noah smiled at her. Ignoring her response, he sat beside the bed. He asked tenderly, "What''s the


    matter?"


    "You¡­" Vanya found it hard to speak as her throat had suffered heavy damage. Although she could


    barely speak, it was clear that she was terrified.


    Joseph and Noah wanted to know the truth. She could only choose one of them, and the other


    would surely kill her.


    Noah tilted his head as his eyes sparkled. "Still can¡¯t speak?"


    Zoelle was a little slow in her treatment.


    Vanya then thought of something. She put her palms together and waved from time to time, asking


    for something. She indicated that she would be obedient and would not speak recklessly.


    Noah smiled wickedly. "Do you think I''d believe you? Why would Joseph agree to save you if you


    haven¡¯t told him anything?"


    She had not betrayed him yet, but it would happen sooner orter.


    Vanya stood stock-still as she stared at him with wide eyes.


    Soon, Noah¡¯s expression softened again. "Don''t worry. I took you back with me, so I promise you¡¯ll


    recover. You should know what to do, don''t you?"


    Vanga nodded, though it was unknown if she was sincere or not.


    Noah smiled and asked the two helpers at the door toe in. "Set up two surveince cameras on


    the third floor and make sure there are no blind spots. For the first and second floors, set up one on


    each.¡±


    "Yes, Mr. Noah."


    It was sunny outside, but Chloe was engulfed by a chill. She turned off the surveince video and


    got up to get a cup of hot water. But her hands were trembling so much that she identally


    sshed herself with the burning water. As her skin turned an angry red, she simply stared at it,


    showing no response to the pain.


    Vanya had not said anything in the video, but Chloe was no fool. Noah must have threatened her


    into hiding how he was rted to Duskfall. Half of Joseph''s words had proven to be true. It was


    unimaginable what would happen if Noah had caught her nting the spy camera the night before.


    Chloe¡¯s mind was full of unspeakable feelings¡ªmostly shock and anger. She found it hard to ept


    and was stuck in a trance. Shey on the table and recalled her past with Noah, the pain getting


    worse the more she dwelled on it.


    Frieda noticed Chloe¡¯s demeanor as she passed by Chloe¡¯s office. A confused look dawned on


    Frieda¡¯s face. It was rare to see Chloe in such a way as she usually finished her work regardless of


    how tired she was. But now, she looked so dispirited. Had she suffered some kind of blow?


    Frieda texted Joseph when she got back to her desk but he was upied and did not notice the


    text immediately. When he finally replied, he found that Chloe was already back at the Sullivan


    manor.


    Joseph was confused but did not link Chloe¡¯s attitude to the spy camera. He did not think that Noah


    would not give himself away so fast. He then called Chloe, but as expected, she did not answer his


    call.


    *


    Chloe handed her car keys to a helper at the Sullivan manor. "Is Noah in his room?"Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 777 If He Used His Power to Commit Crimes

    Chapter 777 If He Used His Power to Commit Crimes


    "No, miss. Mr. Noah¡¯s in the rear garden." After a pause, the helper added, "Ms. Zoelle is with him."


    Chloe frowned. "When did she get here?"


    "About an hour ago. She just visited the wing. I think they''re discussing something right now."


    ¡°Okay. Thank you."


    Chloe went to her bedroom balcony and looked down. She could see the whole rear garden from


    there, but it was hard to hear any conversation because of the height.


    Zoelle threw some herbs onto the round table and gave Noah some instructions.


    "Okay, I''ll have the helpers deal with it."


    Zoelle then sighed absent-mindedly and unhappily.


    Noah poured her a cup of hot tea. "What''s wrong? Can''t get used to life here in Docwood?"


    "No, I travel all year round, so I can adapt easily."


    "Why did you sigh then?"


    "This is the first time any man has turned me down. I¡¯ve failed to capture Joseph''s heart." Zoelle felt


    upset, defeated, and reluctant. "He remains loyal to his wife. What does she look like? Do you


    know? Can you show me a picture of her?"


    Noah paused, then turned to stare at her. "He has an ex-wife, not a wife. He¡¯s just deluding himself."


    "Do you know her? Show me."


    "It''s unnecessary. Do you like him?"


    "Of course not." Zoelle waved nonchntly. It was true that she had no feelings for him. She just


    could not ept that he had refused her. She had met many handsome men, so she was not easily


    dazzled.


    She decided to stop dwelling on the matter. She picked up a grape and bit into it, savoring its taste.


    "Your major in college was psychology, right?"


    "Yeah."


    "Do you know hypnosis then?"


    "A little."


    When he left Docwood, he had not given up on his studies. He studied hard and graduated. If not


    for the family business, he would have be a psychologist.


    Zoelle leaned back into her chair with her arms crossed. She said with interest, "I never tried


    hypnosis. I want to give it a go."


    She heard that those who underwent hypnosis would feel refreshed as if they had entered into a


    new world.


    Noah smiled. "Sure. Let me grab something."


    Five minutester, he came back with a pocket watch.


    "Look at this, try to blink as little as possible, and just rx,¡± he said in a pleasant and gentle voice,


    which sounded quite bewitching.


    Slowly, Zoelle closed her eyes following his instructions. After some time, she slowly opened her


    eyes. The sunlight was not as bright as before she had gone under. Stunned, she took her phone


    out to check the time. She had slept for three hours.


    Suddenly, she had a new outlook on Noah. She was a vignt person and had never slept so


    soundly. Noah was proved to be proficient in hypnosis. It would be terrible if he used that power to


    commit crimes.


    *


    Chloe observed them for a while before closing the blinds. She had to think. She wondered if she


    should make things clear to Noah now or wait until she gained concrete evidence. As shey in bed


    and stared at the ceiling thoughtfully, someone knocked on her door.


    "Coco, are you home?"


    It was Noah.


    Chloe sat up. After the initial shock, she calmed down and said, "Yes, I''m here. Give me a minute."


    When she opened the door, Noah came in with a te of grapes, beaming at her. "These were


    shipped in from abroad today. Have some. I know you like these particr grapes."


    Chloe chewed on her lip. "Okay."


    Feeling a little aggrieved, Noah asked, "Are you feeling unwell? You didn''te to see me when


    you got home."Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 778 Nobody Would Question His Love for Her

    Chapter 778 Nobody Would Question His Love for Her


    As Chloe gazed at Noah''s handsome and kind face, scenes of him being by her side filled her mind.


    Her heart ached, and she dared not imagine his possible connection to Duskfall. She even more so


    dared not delve deeper and question if he was involved in what had happened five years ago.


    Despite the warmth of the room, Chloe still felt goosebumps erupt on her skin.


    "What''s wrong? You seem lost in thought," Noah asked, his expression unreadable. A flicker of


    probing could be seen in his eyes.


    "I''m just a little under the weather," Chloe answered as dug her nails into her palm, using the pain to


    maintain her calm and rity. "I think I overate during lunch."


    "The new products areunching soon. You must be under constant pressure at work. How about


    you take a few days off at home while I help keep an eye on your department?"


    "It¡¯s fine. I''ll just go to bed early tonight and sleep in a little tomorrow. I¡¯ll go to work in the afternoon."


    Noah bent down and looked at her gently, saying in a tone like one would use when coddling a


    child, "You work so hard, Coco. You¡¯re a shoo-in for the top employee spot next quarter."


    Chloe wanted to respond with a smile but found shecked the strength to lift the corners of her


    mouth. Surrendering to her fatigue, she replied lightly, "Thank you, and remember to give me a big


    bonus."


    Noah noticed the change in her demeanor, but neither of them revealed the other''s facade. "Sure,


    I''ll give you however much you want. What''s mine is yours. Also, you have an appointment for a


    wedding dress fitting tomorrow, right? Shall we go together?"


    Chloe turned to look at him, unable to fathom how this man who had treated her so well had spun


    such a big lie. Overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, she sighed heavily. "You go ahead with


    your own ns. I can manage."


    "Well, I do need to get a suit."


    Chloe averted her eyes, her tone nonchnt as she said, "Then let''s go together some other day.


    I''m busy with work at the moment. I''ll speak to Grandfather about it."


    She did not wish to marry someone she could not trust. Though there was no love between them,


    what she truly wanted was a life free of deception. She refused to allow anyone to fool her any


    longer.


    Noah''s face showed a hint of concern as he tried to hug her. However, Chloe skillfully dodged him


    and gently asserted, "I¡¯d like to rest now."


    His arms hovered in mid-air. He lowered his gaze, concealing the dark glint in his eyes as he asked,


    "Have I done something to upset you?"


    Chloe took a deep breath, her gaze filled with unspoken emotions. "Have you been hiding


    something from me?" This was thest chance she would give him toe clean. If he confessed,


    she was willing to listen to him.


    A flicker of confusion crossed Noah''s face as he replied, "No. Why do you suddenly ask?"


    Her nails dug deep into her flesh as she stiffly shook her head, trying topose herself. "Just


    asking."


    "Well, there is one thing I¡¯ve been hiding from you."


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe''s clenched hands rxed a little as she asked, "What is it?"


    "It¡¯s about Michael," he said with a bitter smile. "I was too impulsive, and you''re right. Issues can be


    discussed properly. I shouldn''t have destroyed someone''s future out of jealousy. I''m really sorry."


    Chloe''s lips parted but her throat felt as though it was stuffed with cotton. She suddenly did not


    know what to say.


    "Promise me something, Coco. Don''t let nonsense from others affect what we have. I would never


    hurt you. Nobody is without ws and everyone has their imperfections. I¡¯m willing to make changes


    in response to the issues you raised. So, shall we go dress shopping tomorrow? The designer was


    specially invited from abroad, and I know you¡¯ll like his style."


    Noah, wearing a ck t-shirt and ck pants, was illuminated by the warm rays of dusk. His eyes


    shone brightly, containing a kind of affection only revealed when facing a loved one. At that


    moment, the whole world could feel his sincerity. Nobody would question his love for her.

 Chapter 779 You Finally Believe Noah Isn’t Innocent

    Chapter 779 You Finally Believe Noah Isn¡¯t Innocent


    Chloe wrestled with her thoughts. Did Noah truly love her? If he did, why had he gotten involved


    with Duskfall and deceived her? There was something unspeakable and unexinable about the


    whole situation. Exotic Star had always conducted its business through honest and upright methods


    and would never collude with an entity like Duskfall. The only possible exnation was that this


    involvement was rted to personal matters.


    She could not make sense of it, and she did not want to.


    Feeling exhausted, Chloe rubbed her temples. "Let''s talk about this tomorrow, okay? I''m tired and


    want to sleep."


    Noah looked at her silently for a moment, then put his smile back on. "Okay, rest well. If you feel


    unwell, just call me."


    After leaving her room, he went straight to the wing. "Has Chloe been here in the past few days?"


    One of the helpers in charge of caring for Vanya respectfully replied, "She came by yesterday."


    Noah''s expression changed, and his usually gentle voice suddenly turned cold, "Why didn''t you


    inform me?"


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Startled, the helper stuttered, "Y-You didn''t instruct us on that..."


    "How long was she here?"


    "Not long, about ten minutes. When she got here, Vanya had just taken her medicine and was fast


    asleep. I don''t think they spoke."


    Noah''s expression softened. "Are you certain?"


    The helper quickly affirmed, "Yes, Mr. Noah. I was cleaning the windows on the second floor at the


    time. This ce isn''t soundproof, and I didn''t overhear any conversation."


    "Inform me immediately if Chloe everes here again."


    "Yes, sir."


    Noah nced in the direction of the third floor but did not ascend. Even if Vanya was brave, she


    would not be so brave as to make a scene on his turf. Striding into the kitchen, he instructed the


    helpers on how to prepare Vanya''s medication.


    "The note I gave you at noon earlier contains an error. Reduce the daily medication to half the


    original amount."


    *


    Chloe struggled to find any peaceful sleep that night. She was gued by a haunting nightmare,


    caught between wakefulness and slumber. In her dream, she was transported back to the dreadful


    night the hospital had caught fire. She screamed and pleaded while clutching her child tightly, but


    her cries fell on deaf ears. The relentless mes crept toward her and onto her body until they


    engulfed her precious child, leaving behind only ashes.


    "Ahh!" Chloe bolted upright, her heart racing and her eyes filled with terror. She gasped heavily,


    completely oblivious to the fact that her face was soaked in tears.


    ¡®My child... I must find my child.¡¯


    *


    The next day, Chloe left the Sullivan manor early. She did not bother informing Noah and simply left


    a note for Desmond. The note stated that she wanted to postpone the wedding date and did not


    wish to rush into a marriage.


    At Fairlight, as soon as Joseph stepped into the building, he spotted Chloe in the waiting area. He


    put his hands in his pockets and the corners of his mouth went up, not the least bit surprised to see


    her.


    When Chloe saw him, she went straight to the point. "I have some questions."


    "You''re more than wee to ask whatever you like."


    Chloe looked around the office which had not changed much in five years. Their wedding photo still


    sat on his desk. She was momentarily dazed when she saw it.


    Joseph noticed her gaze and instinctively picked up the picture frame. "You haven''t changed," he


    remarked. She remained as dazzlingly beautiful as she was five years ago.


    Chloe lowered her eyes. She remained silent for a moment before finally speaking up. "I installed


    the spy camera. Noah is acquainted with Vanya."


    "Yes, I know. Now you finally believe me?"


    She managed a bitter smile. "Tell me everything you know."

 Chapter 780 Help Needed: How to Comfort an Upset Girl?

    Chapter 780 Help Needed: How to Comfort an Upset Girl?


    Joseph noticed the dark circles under Chloe''s eyes, evidence that she had not slept wellst night.


    He said in a solemn tone, "I don¡¯t know everything, but I can assure you that it was Noah and


    Duskfall that had nned that hospital fire five years ago.¡±


    Chloe was stunned and her eyes zed. "He¡¯s one of my child¡¯s murderers?"


    "Yes."


    "But... why..."


    Noah had always treated her with such kindness. He had helped get her overseas, apanied


    her, and even brought her back to the Sullivan family. He gave her a home she had always dreamed


    of. Joseph''s eyes shed with a hint of regret, but he still revealed to her what he had discovered.


    "On the day of the fire, the lines to the fire department were tied up for twenty minutes. This dy


    had allowed the fire to spread. As for Noah, he arrived within ten minutes after the fire started.


    Regardless of whether he¡¯s familiar with the hospital''syout, and unless he was already nearby


    and within a kilometer of the hospital, he couldn''t possibly have saved you. Exotic Star is ten


    kilometers away from the hospital, not to mention the Sullivan manor. They aren¡¯t in the same area."


    Given the premeditated nature of the whole n and the perfect timing, there were no other


    possibilities.


    Chloe''s face turned pale as she stumbled a few steps backward. She was greatly shocked. She had


    trusted Noah wholeheartedly and never doubted his intentions. But now that trust had shattered,


    and she saw things in a different light, and she suddenly saw all the signs that she had missed.


    Joseph gently patted her back, his tone was uncharacteristically soft as he said, "Go ahead and cry


    if you want to. It''s good to let it all out."


    "Do you think Duskfall could have forced Noah somehow?" Chloe''s eyes filled with tears as she


    stubbornly tried to deceive herself. She was still unwilling to ept the harsh reality.


    After all, whether it''s friendship or love, how many five years of friendship does a person have? Who


    could have epted this?


    Joseph''sforting hand paused. His expression involuntarily turned cold as a surge of jealousy


    erupted in his chest. "What kind of love potion has Noah fed you?"


    He found it hard to believe that Chloe was still holding out hope of Noah''s innocence. Why had she


    not extended the same level of trust to him?


    "I need some time alone," Chloe said, her eyes dull and lifeless.


    Joseph clenched his fist, turmoil surging swirling inside him as he stared at Chloe. His emotions


    tore him apart but he ultimately could not bring himself to be harsh with her. He exited the office and


    went to the rooftop topose himself, mming the door on his way out.


    Once he had calmed down, Joseph sought out Lucas and asked, "How do youfort a girl when


    she''s upset?"


    Lucas pondered for a long time but could note up with anything, "Sir, I''m as single as a slice of


    cheese. I don''t understand these things."


    Joseph frowned and instructed, "Gather all the female employees for a meeting."


    *


    Lucas distributed a survey sheet to all the female employees. On it was the question: if you¡¯re


    feeling upset, what would you want your husband to do?


    "I hope everyone fills it out sincerely. There will be a reward for this survey."


    The employees looked puzzled, but upon hearing the word "reward," they all began writing


    enthusiastically, each more excited than the next. Half an hourter, Lucaspiled all the


    responses and summarized the data. The answers mainly revolved around money, nice meals,


    gifts, flowers, and a heavy emphasis on patientmunication.


    Joseph nced at the report summary and gave a firm order, "Get everything that''s listed on here."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Right away, sir."


    In no time, a delightful array of food, elegant designer bags, and a bouquet of fresh flowers were


    delivered to Chloe. Overwhelmed with emotions, she finally could not hold back and cried her heart


    out. After her tears subsided, her shoulders felt much lighter.


    She looked at Joseph in bewilderment. "What''s all this? Is someone importanting?"


    Joseph''s eyes remained clear and cold as he arrogantly raised his chin, saying, "You idiot. They¡¯re


    for you."


    Chloe was stunned, her pale face turning a shade of pink. "For me?"


    "Don''t you like them?"


    Chloe found herself at a loss for words, and an awkward silence settled in the air. Joseph thought


    she was dissatisfied, and his brows furrowed tighter. Lucas, who was standing off to the side, felt


    the temperature suddenly drop. His brain worked quickly, devising numerous ways to get out of this


    sticky situation as fast as he could.


    "Daddy!"


    A child''s sweet voice broke the deadlock.


    Jasper strutted into the room with his little backpack. He had not seen Chloe in a while, and his


    ck eyes sparkled with excitement as he asked, "Hey Ms. Chloe, why are you here?"


    Chloe refused to let her emotions affect the child, so she forced a smile and replied, "I had some


    questions for your dad."


    "Oh..." Jasper thenined, "I went to your office to find you a while back, but your fiance


    kicked me out."

 Chapter 781 She Might Be In Grave Danger

    Chapter 781 She Might Be In Grave Danger


    Chloe had heard about this from Joseph, but hearing it from a child gave off a different feeling.


    Children were naturally innocent and incapable of lying.


    At that moment, her impression of Noah changed again.


    Jasper was clever and quick-witted, and he knew the progress of Joseph and Chloe''s rtionship.


    Since Chloe showed up at Fairlight, it proved her heart was leaning toward his dad.


    He rolled his eyes and pinched his thigh, forcing himself to squeeze out two drops of tears. He said


    pitifully, "Your fiance also told me I should stop looking for you. Ms. Chloe, do you not like me? If


    you don''t like me, I¡¯ll stop bothering you.¡±


    Lucas'' eyes widened in shock. Was this the same little devil he knew, now whining and acting cute?


    Why was he being such an obedient child in front of Ms. Chloe?


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Of course, I like you.¡± Chloe''s heart melted. She hurriedly bent down to wipe his tears


    andforted him softly.


    Jasper nodded earnestly. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t, Ms. Chloe, so it must be your fiance who dislikes


    me.¡±


    Chloe was stunned. She looked up and locked eyes with Joseph. Thetter shrugged and said,


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. These are Jas¡¯ heartfelt words.¡±


    "I''m not ming you." Chloe exhaled a long sigh. "But what should we do now? If Vanya continues


    to stay in the Sullivan manor, I''m afraid she...she¡¯ll be in grave danger.¡±


    "We can''t alert Noah right now."


    "Do you expect me to just sit back and wait for something bad to happen?"


    "No.¡± Joseph looked at her deeply. "Tell the truth as it is. Continue suspecting that our child is not


    dead. This is the only way. No matter what you do, it¡¯ll be justified."


    Chloe seemed to understand. "I see. So we can''t show our hand right now?"


    "No. Firstly, there''s no concrete evidence. Second, Zoelle is a strange one. If we take Vanya away,


    she probably won''t cooperate. Lastly, by holding our cards close, we maintain an advantage. This is


    an opportunity to pressure Vanya into revealing the truth."


    Vanya was currently staying at the Sullivans. If Noah sensed something unusual, he would refrain


    from eliminating this threat too quickly, partly because Chloe was present. There needed to be a


    process.


    Chloe''s eyes bore a determined look as she steeled her resolve. "Okay, I know what to do."


    Joseph nced at her. He said in a tone tinged withplexity, "Also, don''t get your hopes up too


    much for the child." He knew that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.


    She remained silent, her mind set on the matter. The moment Cyrus had taken out that photo, she


    came to believe in the mother-child connection. She was certain she was not fantasizing. Her child


    was alive. She had never believed in anything so strongly.


    Not long after Chloe left Fairlight, someone from Imperium''s information department called Joseph


    to deliver a report.


    ¡°Sir, we have the results.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Chloe''s schedule for the past week has been mostly normal, except for five nights ago when she


    went shopping and encountered Xavia. During that time, she also had a brief chat with an unknown


    man.¡±


    ¡°An unknown man? Can you describe his appearance?¡±


    ¡°The details have been sent to your email, sir.¡±


    Since this all happened in a mall, the information department easily found this information. They


    hacked into the mall''s surveince system and sent Joseph the video of Chloe chatting with Cyrus.


    He opened the email, and upon seeing the middle-aged man in the video, his brows furrowed


    deeply.


    What exactly did Cyrus tell Chloe?


    Suddenly, he remembered Chloe¡¯s desperate desire to meet his mother a few days ago. Tomorrow


    would be the day they had agreed on.


    *


    Chloe went to the office and found Desmond waiting for her. He asked calmly, ¡°Did you and Noah


    have a fight?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 782 Don’t Take Your Good Fortune for Granted

    Chapter 782 Don¡¯t Take Your Good Fortune for Granted


    "Grandfather, you should''ve told me you wereing." Chloe was not surprised. Given the note


    she had left for him this morning, hising and questioning her was well within her expectations.


    Desmond remainedposed. "Well, tell me then."


    Chloe took a seat. "What do you think of Noah?"


    "In what respect?"


    "In terms of character."


    Desmond gazed at her, stating earnestly, "If Noah¡¯s character was problematic, I would not have


    given him full control of Exotic Star. Coco, you know that I''ve always treated him like my own


    grandson, so you don''t have to worry about these things."


    "But people change."


    "Speak directly. You don''t need to beat around the bush with me."


    "I''vee to realize that I don¡¯t understand Noah. Despite knowing him for so long, I feel like I¡¯ve


    barely scratched the surface. He appears gentle, polite, and impably perfect. Doesn''t he have


    any ws?"


    Desmond chuckled lightly, suddenly understanding something. "Of course, everyone has ws, but


    we tend to present the best versions of ourselves to those we love."


    Chloe shook her head, realizing her words were not getting through to him. Noah was his ward, and


    he probably had more of a blind spot for Noah than for her. And without evidence, he would not


    believe anything she said. She decided to express her concerns directly.


    "Grandfather, can we please postpone the wedding for a while?"


    "No. The invitations have already been sent out. Coco, please try to understand." Desmond''s face


    turned stern. "Don¡¯t take your good fortune for granted. I¡¯ve witnessed how well Noah treats you."


    In Desmond''s eyes, Noah''s history was much simpler than Joseph''s. At least he did not have a


    woman like Xavia hanging around him. Women sought stability when they married, and Noah had


    never been a yboy.


    Feeling helpless, Chloe expressed, "Please just give me some time. Don¡¯t you remember that my


    mother left home because she didn''t like you controlling her life? I hear your suggestion, but at the


    same time, I''m an adult and have my own opinions."


    When she brought up her mother, Desmond''s expression fell slightly and his hand holding onto the


    teapot trembled slightly.


    Chloe did not really want to upset him, so she quickly came up with an excuse. She took his arms


    and coaxed, "I''ve been feeling a bit anxious about the weddingtely, and I don''t really like the


    wedding dress I picked. I want to custom-make a new one, so can we please postpone the wedding


    by two weeks? Grandfather, please try to understand me..."


    Desmond agreed, ¡°Fine, but only two, and no changing your mind again. Also, I want to announce


    your identity before the wedding."


    She had grown used to calling him ¡°grandfather.¡± But he, being her maternal grandfather, had not


    formally settled into the role yet.


    "All right, as you wish," Chloe replied, thinking that she should, in fact, reveal her identity soon. Most


    of Exotic Star''s assets were currently under Noah''s name. Once her identity was announced, it


    would naturally fall under her management.


    *


    As soon as Desmond left, Noah arrived. He jiggled his car keys as he beamed, showing off his


    dimples. "I figured the most hard-working employee would get to the office early. Come on, you''re


    getting the day off. Let¡¯s go try on wedding dresses."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "There''s no need. I''ve chosen a style I saw online and have contacted the designer. The dress is


    currently being made. It¡¯ll take about two weeks." Chloe employed her earlier tactic and maintained


    her nonchnt expression. "I''ve already discussed it with Grandfather."


    Noah was not Desmond, and he saw right through her excuse. A wounded look shed across his


    eyes as he asked, "Why didn''t you discuss it with me first?"


    "I''ve been really busytely and forgot to mention it."


    "What''s really going on with you?"


    "Nothing. Now, I have to hold a meeting with the employees. You should go about your business."


    With that, Chloe disappeared with her documents, leaving Noah alone. As his gaze turned somber,


    he decided to retrieve the route history of Chloe''s car.

 Chapter 783 These Would Raise Anyone’s Suspicion

    Chapter 783 These Would Raise Anyone¡¯s Suspicion


    Sure enough, she had visited Fairlight this morning.


    *


    In the evening, Chloe left work early as she did not wish for Noah¡¯spany. As she parked the car


    at the manor, she noticed the house helper responsible for making Vanya¡¯s medicine about to


    discard a bunch of perfectly good herbs.


    "Hey, wait! Why are you throwing away these herbs? They¡¯re still usable, aren''t they?"


    The helper put down the tray and exined in a respectful tone, "This was Mr. Noah¡¯s instructions.


    He said they''re no longer needed."


    Her brow twitched as she inquired further, "But the patient hasn''t fully recovered yet. How could


    they not be needed?"


    The helper seemed perplexed. "I''m not sure. You could ask Mr. Noah when he returns."


    Chloe hurriedly went to check on Vanya, who had visibly deteriorated without her daily medicine.


    She recalled Zoelle saying that the medication should not be discontinued during treatment as it


    could lead to setbacks and possibly even adverse reactions.


    Feeling increasingly restless, Chloe could not shake the thought that there was some mistake or


    misunderstanding. She immediately called Noah. Her heart pounded, and the phone rang twice


    before he finally picked up.


    "Vanya''s treatment is being discontinued. What''s going on?"


    "Nothing."


    Chloe bit her lip, detecting something unusual in his tone.


    "Coco, I got Zoelle to treat Vanya solely for your sake. You know very well that I''m willing to do


    anything for you. But if you''re just using this as a way to reconnect with Joseph, then I don''t see the


    point in continuing Vanya''s treatment. I''ve made my stance clear and will not tolerate exceptions.


    Did you ever listen to a word I said?¡±


    Chloe''s grip on her phone tightened as she asked, "Have you been following me?"


    He chuckled bitterly from the other end. "No¡±


    "Then how do you know I''ve been seeing Joseph?"


    "Not wanting to try on wedding dresses, dying the wedding¡­ These unusual behaviors would


    raise anyone¡¯s suspicion, wouldn''t they?"


    Chloe paused, contemting his words. "Can youe home?"


    "I¡¯ll be there in half an hour."


    As Chloe waited, she grappled with various thoughts and considerations. cating Noah was the


    most reliable approach for now as the other options carried certain risks.


    A white sedan slowly pulled into the garage, and Noah stepped out of the driver''s seat. His fair skin,


    complemented by a high-bridged nose and ck-framed sses he wore for work, gave him the


    appearance of a recent graduate. But without a smile on his face, there was a morbid aura about


    him. The gloomy light in his eyes pierced through those sses.


    Noah was visibly angered and did not initiate the usual conversation with Chloe. Instead, he


    watched her quietly, making her feel unsettled. It was terrifying to see someone who was usually


    good-tempered suddenly so angry.


    After a long silence, his thin lips parted. "Did you tell me toe home to ask me to continue


    treating Vanya?"


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Chloe struggled for a moment before making a decision. She had to lower his guard first. "No, I


    wanted to discuss the wedding dress trial and the wedding date with you."


    Noah''s expression remained stoic. He managed to muster up a smile that did not quite reach his


    eyes. "What did Joseph tell you this time?"


    "It''s not because of him. I just got cold feet before the wedding," Chloe said, lowering her head as


    large teardrops fell to the ground. "You know how much myst rtionship affected me. I''m


    scared... I was being impulsive today. Let''s stick to the original wedding date, okay?"

 Chapter 784 Give Me a Kiss

    Chapter 784 Give Me a Kiss


    Noah stared intently at Chloe, not uttering a word. His eyes dissected her, trying to assess the truth


    of her words. After what felt like an eternity, he leaned toward her with an unreadable expression on


    his face. "Coco, how about you tell me the truth?¡±


    Putting in so much effort to remainposed, Chloe did not notice the cold sweat seeping down


    her back. She met his intense gaze, attempting to hold her ground as she retorted, "This is the truth.


    Don''t you trust me?"


    "You''re not the kind of person to backtrack unless you encounter an unexpected issue while


    executing your ns."


    "Isn''t fear of marriage an issue?" Chloe looked at him with a hurt expression, keeping her voice soft


    and delicate, evoking his urge to protect her. "If Grandfather can''t understand me, at least you


    should..."


    Noah¡¯s heart ached as he embraced her. His tone had visibly softened as he asked, "Then why did


    you go to Fairlight this morning?"


    "I went to see Joseph about arranging a time to visit Harold before getting married. Harold has


    always been good to me and treats me like family. It''s only right to let him know about the marriage."


    Chloe leaned stiffly against his chest, feeling utterly ufortable. She had no choice but to use


    Harold as a cover, even though it sounded far-fetched.


    "Why didn¡¯t you just call Harold directly?" Noah''s eyes darkened slightly.


    "He doesn''t have a phone, and I''ve long deleted thendline number for the mansion." Chloe then


    changed the subject. She pretended to be curious and asked, "I heard from Jasper that he came to


    Exotic Star to visit me?"


    "Yes.¡± Noah did not deny it. "A little child couldn''t possibly havee on his own. I presumed it was


    Joseph''s doing, so I refused on your behalf to avoid trouble." His words were rational, considerate,


    and thoughtful.


    "Will you please have the helper continue preparing medicine for Vanya?¡± Chloe''s eyes sparkled.


    "Saving a life brings good karma. Though she hasmitted grave sins, she has paid the price. If


    we help her, it¡¯ll serve as an opportunity for us to umte good karma."


    Noah pondered for a few seconds before a mischievous smile crept onto his lips. "Before I do that,


    give me a kiss."


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Stunned, Chloe''s fair cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She froze, unsure of how to react.


    "I..."


    "Don''t you want to?"


    "I''m not sure I¡¯m ready for that... I''m sorry."


    Seeing her reaction, Noah''s eyes darkened. He lowered his head and nted a soft kiss on her


    cheek. As his lips grazed her skin, she quickly backed away. She nearly stumbled, her panic


    reaching its peak.


    "You''re that averse to me, huh?" Noah''s voice was tinged with disappointment.


    Her eyes went wide as she covered the spot he had kissed, unable to find the words to say. She


    wanted to say she was not and that it was just her instinct reflexes.


    "Forget it. I have my answer. You don''t have to exin anything," Noah said as he turned and


    walked away, his slender figure resembling that of a pitiful wounded animal.


    Chloe felt a fleeting moment of guilt before quickly regaining herposure. What was most


    important right now was finding out the truth. If she had misunderstood him, she would make


    amends. But if her suspicions were proven true, she would not hold back.


    *


    When Chloe got to her room, she received a message from Joseph.


    [9 tomorrow morning at the breakfast joint near Jas'' school. See you there.]


    She sat on the edge of the bed, pondering over the message for a long time. Should she go? For


    the sake of her child, she wanted to be selfish but Joseph¡¯s mother had spent over a decade trying


    to escape Duskfall¡¯s clutches. She knew she would be jeopardizing everything, potentially causing


    Joseph¡¯s mother to repeat her tragic past. Joseph woulde to hate her, and so would Jasper.


    The image of Jasper''s face surfaced in Chloe''s mind, stirring up ripples in her heart.

 Chapter 785 She Still Cared for Him and the Whitmans

    Chapter 785 She Still Cared for Him and the Whitmans


    The next morning, the skies were clear and bright. Jasper stood on tiptoes, peering into the


    distance with a puzzled expression. "Daddy, why isn''t Ms. Chloe here yet?"


    They had agreed to meet at nine, but it was now already half-past.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph squinted, trying to hide his disappointment as he replied in a steady tone, "She''s not


    coming."


    "Why?" Jasper¡¯s little face fell.


    Just then, Joseph''s phone pinged. Jasper quickly leaned in to read the message. As expected, it


    was from Chloe.


    [Something came up. I won''t be able to make it. Sorry.]


    He tilted his head in confusion, then looked at his father. "Daddy, how did you know? Did Ms. Chloe


    tell you beforehand?"


    "No."


    "But then why¡ª"


    "Kids shouldn¡¯t ask so many questions." Joseph''s words were icy, but his usually cool lips carried a


    faint smile.


    Jasper blinked, his eyebrows knitting together in skepticism. "Your expression is off. Are you hiding


    something from me?" Who in the world would be happy instead of angry after being stood up?


    Especially his father who was well-known for his icy countenance.


    Joseph ruffled his son''s hair, appearing to be in a good mood. "Her noting is a good thing," he


    said.


    This suggested that this woman still cared for him and the Whitmans. Chloe knew well that once


    Cyrus learned about his mother''s whereabouts, a storm of blood and grudges would surely befall


    the Whitmans and Duskfall. It would undoubtedly be a battle to the death.


    Jasper was still too young toprehend these deep implications. He felt a little disappointed as he


    looked down at his tailored suit, thinking, ¡®So I dressed up for nothing?¡¯


    Though he was let down, he could not bring himself to hate Chloe. Strangely enough, he and his


    father share a strict sense of timekeeping and gave no second chances to tardy fellows. But when it


    came to Ms. Chloe, Jasper was not as upset.


    Joseph swiftly buckled Jasper into the backseat, then called Frieda after starting the car. "She won''t


    being today."


    Frieda, who was inside the breakfast joint, took a pause before promptly exiting through the shop''s


    back door with the breakfast she had bought. She headed toward the nearby residential area, her


    actions smooth and natural, just like the other breakfast patrons. Even if Cyrus'' people were around,


    they would not have detected this inconspicuous incident.


    *


    As the days had grown warmer, Chloe had on a pair of jeans and a simple white T-shirt while


    watering the flowers in the backyard. Her attire gave off a fresh vibe, and the sunlight shone down,


    illuminating the fine fuzz on her face and the particles in the air. The scene looked almost like a


    painting.


    Zoelle emerged from her abode. As she witnessed this scene, her gaze lingered on Chloe. ¡®Not


    bad,¡¯ she thought, ¡®Noah has good taste.¡¯ She then wondered if Joseph''s ex-wife was as beautiful


    as Chloe. Otherwise, he must be utterly oblivious to have let go of such a breathtaking beauty that


    was delivered right to his doorstep.


    At that moment, Chloe noticed Zoelle''s presence. With her watering can in hand, she approached


    Zoelle. "How¡¯s Vanya doing?"


    "Vanya¡¯s okay. She''s slowly regaining consciousness and self-awareness, but her recovery is


    slower than I expected."


    Chloe''s eyes brightened at the news. Keeping herposure, she suggested, "Let''s take her


    outside to enjoy the sun. It might help with her recovery."

 Chapter 786 I Am Crazy, so Talk or Die

    Chapter 786 I Am Crazy, so Talk or Die


    There were surveince cameras in Vanya¡¯s room, so she could only ask Vanya questions once she


    was out of there.


    It had been three days since Chloe had stood Joseph up. Since then, she and Noah had gone to


    the bridal shop to finalize the wedding dress. She offered no opinions on other wedding matters.


    ording to the scheduled date, the wedding would take ce on May 6th, and today was April


    20th.


    In other words, she had another 16 days.


    Chloe was running out of time, and the unknown loomed over her like a guillotine. She did not know


    when the de would fall, and she was uncertain if the person beside her was with or against her.


    Anxiety and bewilderment merged into a tidal wave, pushing her toward the brink. To get everything


    ready and make sure that Noah would not be suspicious, she had not gone to work.


    Zoelle shrugged indifferently and said, "If you like. My job is just to watch over the patient."


    "Could you help me tell the helpers that I''m going to change my clothes first?" Chloe smiled and


    tugged at her clothes which were damp from watering the nts.


    "Sure," Zoelle replied without any hesitation.


    Suppressing her excitement, Chloe hurried off to her bedroom.


    "Wait," Zoelle called out to her, causing a chill to run down Chloe''s spine.


    After a few moments of pause, Chloe turned around and looked at Zoelle calmly. "Yeah?"


    "Do you know who Joseph''s ex-wife is?" Zoelle asked, her lips curving into a yful smile. "Who¡¯s


    more beautiful? Me or her?¡±


    Chloe was slightly taken aback. She had not expected Zoelle to ask such a question but still said


    sincerely, "You''re more beautiful."


    Nodding in satisfaction, Zoelle hummed a tune as she went to do as Chloe requested.


    Seeing the helper bring a wheelchair to the third floor to bring Vanya down, Chloe steeled her


    resolve and went to change her clothes as quickly as possible. When she came back, Zoelle had


    already left.


    Meeting Vanya''s gaze, Chloe took the wheelchair from the helper and said, "I¡¯ll do it."


    The helper stepped aside but did not leave.


    "You can go about your business. I feel kind of bored. I''ll call for you when I return."


    The maid nodded, not suspecting anything. "Okay, miss."


    Chloe pushed Vanya into a rtively secluded corner and then fixed a sharp gaze on her.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "You know what I¡¯m going to ask, right?"


    "Yes." Vanya coughed. She was calm as she knew that there was nothing Chloe could do to her.


    Meeting Chloe''s gaze, she said, "But I can''t tell you." She believed Noah would do as he had said.


    Frowning, Chloe delivered a forceful p to Vanya¡¯s face. The impact of it left her hand stinging.


    Given Vanya''s current condition, she would have fallen to the ground if not for the wheelchair.


    Vanya stared at Chloe in shock, her eyes widening with disbelief. Her voice trembled as she


    eximed, "Are you crazy? Why did you p me?"


    "Why yes, I am crazy," Chloe retorted coldly as she grabbed Vanya by the neck. "If you refuse to


    talk, prepare to face the consequences."


    Chloe had made up her mind. She could not betray Joseph. Regardless of what had transpired


    between them, the Whitmans were innocent. Joseph''s mother had never harmed her and Harold


    treated her with sincerity. Her conscience would not allow her to do such a thing.


    Vanya''s face turned red from the suffocation and her breathing became increasinglybored.


    Realizing that Chloe was being serious, she saidboriously, "And how are you going to exin my


    death to Noah?¡±


    Chloe''s grip tightened. A triumphant smile appeared on her face as she replied, "I¡¯m not worried.


    Noah won''t turn against me because of you. Perhaps he also hopes for your death."


    Vanya was stunned. "Let me go¡­ I''ll tell you everything¡­"


    "Is my child still alive?"


    "Yes¡­"


    Suppressing her excitement, Chloe asked, "Where is my child?"

 Chapter 787 Lightning Will Strike Me if I Lie

    Chapter 787 Lightning Will Strike Me if I Lie


    ¡°I have no idea¡ª"


    Chloe tightened her grip and said impatiently, "You¡¯re still lying to me at this point? Seems to me like


    you don¡¯t wish to live anymore.¡±


    "Ack¡­ Ack!"


    Being suffocated caused Vanya to gag uncontrobly. Her pale face had turned from red, then to


    purple. It would not be long before she ran out of air. She struggled with all her might, but her frail


    body failed her. However, she understood that her current greatest valuey in not Duskfall or


    Noah¡¯s secrets. It was in Chloe and Joseph''s child. If she told Chloe the location of her kid, Noah


    would not spare her.


    Since death was inevitable either way, whypromise now?


    Chloe had underestimated Vanya. Though Duskfall had abandoned her, Vanya gritted her teeth and


    kept her silence, refusing to utter a single word.


    Seeing this, Chloe''s impatience grew and her anger consumed her. She clenched her teeth and


    said, "Fine, I''ll fulfill your wish."


    They were each waiting for the other to give in.


    Chloe''s eyes turned bloodshot. A shadow of evil was screaming wildly in her mind. She truly wanted


    to kill Vanya. If it were not for the Duskfall, she would not have separated from her child.


    Vanya''s breath grew shallow, and her forehead became dotted with beads of sweat. Fear gripped


    her, but she had no choice but to take the risk. Out of Noah, Joseph, and Chloe, Chloe was the only


    one who could sway the other two''s decisions. If she could manage Chloe, the other two would just


    follow Chloe''s lead.


    She was running out of oxygen and her vision was turning ck. She was reaching her limit. If


    Chloe did not let go of her, she would die.


    "Wee home, Mr. Noah."


    A helper''s voice rang out in the distance and Chloe''s hand trembled. Thest shreds of her


    rationality pulled her back, and she released her grip on Vanya.


    Gasping for air, Vanya stared anxiously at Chloe. Fearing that Chloe might make another move, she


    hastily said, "While I can''t tell you exactly where the child is, I can reveal another secret to you."


    After a pause, she said in a low voice, "Your child is being raised in a healthy and joyful family


    environment."


    Chloe stared into Vanya¡¯s eyes, yet was unable to determine the truth behind her words. She


    nced at Noah, then took a few steps to ensure they could not be seen from his angle. She then


    looked down at Vanya and asked, "What secret?"


    "I''ll tell you, but you have to help me leave the country," Vanya replied.


    "You haven''t told me anything and you¡¯re already negotiating with me? What gives you the nerves?"


    Chloe chuckled, frustrated by Vanya''s evasiveness.


    Vanya set her jaw tightly and her eyes glinted with determination. "The fire at the hospital five years


    ago was Noah''s idea. We executed it together. Also, Xavia has an illegitimate child with a man


    named Eustace Hubble. Eustace is under Noah''s control. I haven''t shared any of this with anyone


    else but Joseph, but he only knows part of it, not the whole story. Is this enough to show my


    sincerity, Ms. Chloe?"


    The news hit Chloe like a ton of bricks, leaving her feeling as though she were the one struggling for


    breath. "So why are you telling me?" she asked calmly.


    Although Chloe appearedposed, her eyes betrayed the hidden well of emotions inside her.


    Vanya could glimpse the tumultuous thoughts and conflicting feelings that churned beneath Chloe''s


    calm facade.


    Confidently, Vanya said, "Because they love you. As long as you say the word, neither Joseph nor


    Noah will make things difficult for me."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "They love me?" Chloe burst intoughter, unable to stop even when tears streamed down her face.


    "Noah loves me? If he did, why would he destroy my marriage? Why would he hurt my child? Why


    would he inflict such pain on me?"

 Chapter 788 Harmonious on the Outside, Rotten on the Inside

    Chapter 788 Harmonious on the Outside, Rotten on the Inside


    Vanya was concerned over drawing Noah''s notice, thus she maintained a vignt watch on the


    courtyard. Fortunately, he simply gave his car keys to the helper and went upstairs.


    She let out a sigh of relief and continued, "If you ask Noah to treat me and send me abroad, I''ll tell


    you of your child''s whereabouts. How about it?"


    Chloe stared at Vanya. "I want to know which city my child is in right now."


    Gritting her teeth, Vanya revealed, "He''s in Docwood. Lightning will strike me if I¡¯m lying to you."


    *


    The helper sent Vanya back to her room, and Chloe went to wash her face. When the cold water


    sshed onto her skin, it brought with it a surreal sensation of stinging. Leaving the bathroom, she


    slipped under her bed covers. Though it was warm, she felt cold.


    When Noah went to call her for dinner, he discovered that she had a high fever. An unusual redness


    had spread across her fair skin and her lips were slightly cracked. Curled up in bed, she resembled


    an injured little animal.


    He looked at her worriedly and asked gently, "Why didn''t you tell me you were having a fever?"


    Chloe opened her eyes, but her vision was misted. She wanted to know why Noah had changed.


    Was it to seize Exotic Star? But there was no need for that. Even if she was here, no one would


    take thepany away from him. Was all his kindness toward her an illusion, or had she never truly


    understood him?


    Noah gazed into Chloe''s eyes and thought she was feeling unwell. Worried, he turned and went to


    find the family doctor. After checking on her, the doctor said, "Mr. Noah, Ms. Chloe just has a cold.


    She''ll be fine after taking some medicine."


    "No need for an IV?" Noah asked.


    "No. After taking the medication, she should recover by tomorrow.¡±


    Holding the medication the doctor had left, Noah gently helped Chloe sit up. She pushed away his


    hand, took the medicine, and swallowed it in one gulp.


    Noah was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Are you hungry? I can get you something from


    the kitchen."


    "No thanks. I just want to sleep. Please leave," she said.


    The cold made Chloe¡¯s voice hoarse, making her sound like she was throwing a tantrum. Noah sat


    by the bedside for a moment, contemting whether he had been working too muchtely and had


    neglected her. After a while, he went downstairs, then came back with a ss of honey water and a


    slice of cake.


    cing them on the table, he said, "Have this if you get hungry. I¡¯lle back and check on you


    tonight."


    Chloe covered herself with the nket. As she heard the door close, she got out of bed and threw


    the cake into the trash bin. The exquisitely crafted cake was now a mess as if symbolizing their


    past. Everything looked harmonious on the outside, but the inside was all rotten.


    After her outburst, Chloe copsed wearily onto the floor. Retrieving her phone from beneath the


    pillow, she began looking through various tforms for information on Eustace Hubble. After


    scrolling through page after page, she finally stumbled upon the name among the employees of a


    certainpany. She also found the name of the legal representative of thispany somewhat


    familiar.


    The man was Noah''s secretary.


    She swiftly used the online information to locate Eustace''s personal social media ount. Starting


    five years ago, his posts contained daily life snippets and pictures of his daughter. There were


    hardly any personal photos of himself. The majority of his daughter''s pictures showed her from


    behind, but amid them, Chloe managed to find a front profile of the little girl.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Staring intently at the features of the young girl''s side profile in the photo, a sudden realization


    struck Chloe.

 Chapter 789 Xavia Is Pregnant

    Chapter 789 Xavia Is Pregnant


    Chloe scrolled through Eustace''s profile. She did not learn much about him, and the only thing


    suspicious was his daughter''s appearance. Following what Vanya had said, she believed that this


    little girl was likely Xavia and Eustace''s daughter. And judging by the photos, the girl was about six


    at most.


    Xavia had been with Joseph for over five years...


    Next, Chloe operated secretly and reduced her interactions with Noah by avoiding going to the


    office. She made an excuse, saying that she wanted to have a bachelorette party, and had Emily


    come to the Sullivan estate to take her out for a few days. Chloe reported her daily schedule to


    Noah. But after three days, she figured that Noah would drop his suspicions.


    After she and Emily had lunch, they headed to Eustace''s house. The residential area had strict


    security and they needed an ess card to enter. Emily and Chloe staked out in their car for quite a


    while before finally spotting Eustaceing out with his daughter to buy snacks.


    "I''ll go down and snap a photo for you," Emily said.


    "Put these on.¡± Chloe handed Emily a cap and sunsses.


    Eustace had been seen around Noah only a handful of times, but he still might recognize them.


    Emily nodded. She got out of the car and found a hiding spot. While Eustace was choosing snacks


    for his daughter, she quickly took a few photos with her phone. She returned to the car excitedly


    and said to Chloe, "That little girl really does resemble Xavia. She looks innocent and pure, but she


    does seem a little slow."


    Chloe quickly examined the photos Emily had taken. The child did not look as bright as a normal


    child. Instead, her expression was unfocused as she nibbled on her finger.


    She hesitated for a moment before saying, "The girl seems a little off¡­"


    Emily nodded. "I think so too. Let''s go ask Eustace directly and see what he has got to say."


    "No, we can''t do that. If we confront him now, it''ll alert Noah."


    Considering Vanya''s rate of recovery, she needed to wait for a few more days before taking any


    action.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are we just going to give up on this lead then?"


    Chloe propped her chin up. "Let me think."


    Suddenly, her phone in her bag vibrated. Retrieving it, she found a message from Callum. There


    was only one short sentence, but its content stunned Chloe to the core.


    [Xavia is pregnant.]


    "Xavia is pregnant again?" Chloe mumbled.


    "What? Again?" Emily eximed, "Why does she always conveniently be pregnant at the right


    moment? Does this mean she''s going to achieve her goal again?"


    "No. I won''t let her have her way," Chloe said, "Didn''t we already discover Eustace? We can use


    him as our pawn."


    "But how? Are we going to tell the royal family about this?" Emily asked.


    "Yes, but we need to confirm one before that."


    After all, she was not going to immediately expose Xavia. Instead of delivering a swift blow to Xavia,


    she wanted Xavia to experience living in constant fear.


    "What¡¯s that?" Emily asked.


    Narrowing her eyes, Chloe said, "We need to confirm whether Xavia¡¯s pregnancy is genuine or a


    ruse."


    "What?" Emily gasped. "She''s dealing with the royal family. Would she actually dare to deceive


    them?"


    "Given her audacity, it''s not impossible."


    When Chloe arrived at the royal pce, Xavia was surrounded by a group of people. Keh stood


    by her side, lovingly caressing her belly.


    As Ophelia entered the hall, she spotted Chloe and frowned. "Herees another troublemaker.


    What bad luck."

 Chapter 790 It Might Be Her Third or Fourth

    Chapter 790 It Might Be Her Third or Fourth


    Chuckling, Chloe said, "Xavia isn''t someone you can describe with just the words ''troublemaker.''"


    Ophelia ignored Chloe. In her mind, Xavia and Chloe were cut from the same cloth. One was after


    her father while the other snatched her brother. Both of them were detestable.


    "I''m only 2 weeks along. I''ll be fine," Xavia said as she shook her head at Carolina. She then took a


    gift out and said gently, "I heard you haven¡¯t been feeling welltely, but I didn¡¯t know what to bring


    since you have everything in the royal pce, so here''s a simple herb. I hope you''ll like it."


    Perplexed, Carolina nced at Keh for a moment before epting the gift.


    Seizing his chance, Keh said, "Mom, Vee has held on to this herb for several years. She even


    refused to take it during her chemotherapy."


    "Geez, it''s just a herb. It''s like the radishes in the kitchen, not the stars in the sky. Is it necessary to


    praise it so much?" Ophelia scoffed sarcastically.


    Keh felt embarrassed. "It¡¯s not about money. This is about Vee''s kind gesture."


    "Yeah, sure. She''s trying to marry into the royal family with a herb and the baby in her womb. It''s


    quite a shrewd move, to be honest."


    Xavia nibbled on her lower lip. With her eyes brimming with tears, she looked quite pitiable.


    There were many members of the royal family around, and Carolina did not want her own family to


    be theughingstock. She turned and said to Ophelia, "Please leave us for a moment, Leah."


    Ophelia was reluctant to go, but she did not want to deal with Xavia either. She snorted and


    aggressively bumped into Xavia with her shoulder before walking away without a backward nce.


    She went looking for Callum but could not find him anywhere. She now understood why her brother


    had chosen this moment to bring Xavia to the pce.


    "Do you have a minute?" Chloe appeared behind Ophelia with a smile on her face.


    Crossing her arms, Ophelia raised her chin. "Is there anything for us to talk about?"


    Maintaining a smile on her face, Chloe replied, "You might want to ept me as your big sister from


    now on."


    "Never! I''ll never do that!"


    She would rather die than acknowledge amoner like Chloe as her sister.


    "Since you''re so annoyed by me, how are you tolerating Xavia?"


    Ophelia knew what Chloe was getting at and rolled her eyes. "You want me to help you get rid of


    Xavia?"


    "No. We will work together to get rid of her," Chloe said, "I won''t be here often, but you''re going to


    see Xavia every day. Isn''t that annoying?"


    Ophelia frowned. Xavia was pregnant, so her brother would undoubtedly move her into the pce.


    Besides, her mother did not seem to object to the whole affair.


    Chloe remainedposed as she sat on a chair. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. You don''t


    have to give me an answer today. Take your time to think about it."


    "What''s your n?" Ophelia asked, looking inquisitively at Chloe.


    "We''ll give her what she wants by helping her marry into the royal family."


    "Did you hear what you just said? What kind of stupid n is that? If we let her marry into the royal


    family, she''ll be over the moon."


    "I''m sure you understand Keh more than I do. Only by confronting the deepest wounds and


    facing the harshest trials can one be reborn from the ashes. We need to open his eyes toward


    Xavia''s true nature. It''s only when he''s deeply hurt and unable to forgive her that he¡¯ll let her go.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Tell me the details of your n," Ophelia said.


    Chloe quicklyid out the n and showed Ophelia the photos taken earlier.


    Ophelia''s face turned red from anger as she said, "This little girl looks exactly like Xavia! How could


    she do this to us? What does she take us for? Monkeys in a circus?"


    From the looks of it, this was not Xavia''s second marriage. It might be her third, or even fourth.

 Chapter 791 He Needs to Learn the Hard Way

    Chapter 791 He Needs to Learn the Hard Way


    Chloe shrugged and said, "For now, we can''t say for certain if she''s Xavia''s daughter, but the odds


    are pretty high."


    As for whether it was a second marriage, she believed that Eustace should know that better than


    anyone else. In any case, her first marriage was definitely not to Joseph.


    "Bullshit. Look at the kid. She''s a splitting image of Xavia. Anyone with eyes could tell that!"


    Ophelia¡¯s fury grew the more she thought about it. She snatched Chloe''s phone and said, "I can''t


    wait anymore. I have to reveal Xavia''s true colors to Ken."


    Chloe was taken aback by Ophelia''s sudden actions. By the time she realized what had happened,


    Ophelia had already disappeared from sight. Her brows furrowed, but she soon rxed as a


    thought crossed her mind.


    Meanwhile, Ophelia led Keh into a room. She showed him the photos on Chloe''s phone and


    said, "Take a good look. That¡¯s the daughter of your beloved Vee. You didn''t know about it, did


    you?"


    Keh took a good look at the photos. The girl did resemble Xavia and he recalled the strange


    expression on Eustace''s face from back then.


    "What does this mean?"


    cing her hands on her hips, Ophelia said mockingly, "It means what it means. Xavia isn''t as


    innocent as she appears. Don''t fall for her deception. She''s bedded so many men, and Joseph is


    just one of them. She''s a slut, and only an honest man like you would fall for her act."


    "Leah."


    "What?" Ophelia raised her head and was stunned when she saw Keh''s furious gaze.


    "Vee is carrying my child. From now on, she''ll be a part of our family, your sister-inw. I hope you


    will show her some respect instead of causing her trouble. I''m thoroughly disappointed in you. Also,


    this is Chloe''s phone, right? Are you sure you can trust everything she says?"


    Ophelia opened her mouth and a hint of sadness crept into her eyes, "Ken, I''m your family. Why are


    you raising your voice at me?"


    "You are my family, and so is Vee. Stop pushing me, Leah."


    With that, Keh mmed the phone onto the table and strode out of the room. Ophelia stared


    dazedly after Keh, injustice overwhelming her. As she cried, her resentment toward Xavia grew.


    *


    Half an hourter, as Chloe finished off a bowl of cherries and a ss of lemon juice, Ophelia


    returned with her head hung low.


    "Your phone."


    Chloe looked up and asked teasingly, "So, what happened?"


    Ophelia slumped onto the sofa, too tired to argue with Chloe right now. Sighing in resignation, she


    said, "Perhaps you''re right. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." In light of her brother''s


    stubbornness, it was clear that he needed to learn the hard way,


    "All right then, let''s proceed with the n. You just need to convince your mother and inform your


    father about the n so that he¡¯ll cooperate."


    "Are you sure my father will agree to this?"


    Most older people loved little children. There was a chance that Callum would behave as Carolina


    had after learning that Xavia was pregnant.


    "Don''t worry. He will," Chloe replied calmly.


    Whether or not Callum''s elevation from amon man to a noble had anything to do with


    Carolina''s helping hand, one thing was clear¡ªCallum was no fool.


    Ophelia shared the n with Callum that night, who had no objections and readily agreed to it. In


    less than a week, with Ophelia''s assistance, Keh brought Xavia to the pce to live with him,


    marking her first steps into the realm of the royal family.


    Meanwhile, Chloe and Noah''s wedding was just around the corner.


    At the same time, something happened. Vanya was not recovering as fast as they had expected.


    Growing anxious, Chloe turned to Zoelle and asked, "Can''t we increase the dosage of Vanya¡¯s


    medication?"


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Zoelle rubbed her chin and contemted for a while before saying, "It''s not entirely impossible. I''ll


    give it a try."


    "Coco, these matters are beyond our expertise. Let Zoelle make the decision," Noah interjected, his


    gaze intent as he locked eyes with her. "Are you that desperate for Vanya to recover?"


    "Yes. I want to know where my child is," Chloe replied readily.


    "I can take you to see her now. Her condition has improved quite a bit, and you can ask her your


    questions," he offered.


    Upon hearing this, the rm in Chloe''s mind rang. Vanya might not tell her the truth and work with


    Noah to mislead her. Once that happened, he would deem Vanya useless and might get rid of her.


    Chloe scolded herself inwardly for acting rashly, but then an idea struck her.


    ''Joseph! I can ask for Joseph''s help!''

 Chapter 792 The True Judgment

    Chapter 792 The True Judgment


    Standing up, Noah fixed his gaze on Chloe and tilted his head in confusion. "Don''t you want to know


    where your child is? Let''s go ask Vanya then."


    Chloe gulped and forced herself to calm down. "Okay, let''s go."


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Zoelle sized up the pair, then took the lead. "Let''s go. I''ll report on the results of the treatment as


    well."


    Chloe blinked and cautiously asked, "Are you nning to leave Docwood?"


    "I don''t know yet. Since things are wrapping up on your end, I''m considering where to go next."


    Vanya''s illness was no ordinary ailment. It was a chronic intrusion that required careful


    management. Complete recovery would take up to three years, during which she would need


    constant medication to maintain proper bodily functions. If Zoelle was to apany every patient


    throughout their entire treatment, she should switch careers and be a caregiver instead.


    On the top floor, Vanya sat in a chair, her gaze fixed on the TV in front of her. Chloe followed her


    line of sight to the screen. The TV was ying footage from the red-carpet premiere of a movie Otto


    had financed. He stood in the middle of a row of actors and crew members as they took a group


    photo.


    It was said that Otto''s film investments had been quite sessful in recent years, raking in


    substantial profits and enjoying great poprity. Thinking of this Vanya''s eyes zed with anger.


    She should be standing right beside Otto, but look at where she was now¡ªone foot into her grave.


    "Stop feeling resentful. We saved you, so we''re not your enemies," Zoelle said nonchntly.


    Vanya was surprised to see them. She then looked at Noah as if waiting for him to speak.


    Emotionlessly, Noah said, "You owe Chloe your life. She has some questions for you, so I hope


    you¡¯ll answer her honestly."


    A shiver ran through Vanya''s body. Noah''s tone was perfectly calm, but she could discern the threat


    in his eyes. It was as if a dagger was poised right at her heart, ready to plunge in with her next


    breath, and it chilled her to the core. Although he looked harmless, like an innocent and naive


    college student, his ruthlessness was beyond imagination.


    Vanya calmed herself and said, "The kid is dead."


    Noah lowered his head slightly, satisfied with Vanya''s response. As he turned his head, he put on a


    sorry expression and looked at Chloe. "I''m sorry, Coco"


    "I don''t believe it. You''re making it up," Chloe firmly denied.


    "It''s true. The child died that night at the hospital. We failed to save the baby," Vanya said, a mix of


    helplessness and fear in her voice.


    "You must be hiding something from me. Tell me the truth right now or I''ll stop your medication!"


    "No¡­ I didn''t¡­"


    "Is it Duskfall that''s preventing you from speaking? Tell me honestly and I''ll release you right now.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyebrows went up as he fixed his gaze on Vanya once more.


    Lowering her head, Vanya smiled bitterly. "I''d like to get out of here too, but your child is dead. You


    need to ept reality."


    Chloe''s eyes welled up with tears. Even though it was just an act, hearing about the child being


    dead still caused her a twinge of pain. Chloe carried on with her tirade, but Vanya remained


    steadfast in keeping her silence before Noah.


    When Zoelle could not bear it any longer, she nudged Noah. "Get Chloe out of here. If this


    continues, she might cry herself into shock."


    Noah nodded and patted Chloe''s shoulder, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Okay, it¡¯s time to leave.


    Your eyes are all swollen."


    Chloe exhaled a disappointed sigh. She kept her head low as her footsteps faltered while she went


    down the stairs. Meanwhile, Vanya remained tense. She stared fixedly at Noah, preparing to face


    the true judgment. Though it looked like she was on Noah''s side, she could not tell if he had noticed


    anything.

 Chapter 793 I’d Be Enchanted by You

    Chapter 793 I¡¯d Be Enchanted by You


    Once they exited the room, Zoelle wrote down Vanya¡¯s prescription and left. She told them she


    would make one final visit in three days.


    Chloe nced at the prescription as Noah casually set it aside. Instead of immediately handing it


    over to the helper responsible for preparing the medicine. he embraced Chloe tenderly. He gently


    patted her back as his eyes filled with worry.


    "How about catching a movie to lift your spirits?"


    It was clear that he was in a good mood.


    Chloe did not push Noah away and responded warmly, "I¡¯m not feeling up to it. I haven''t been to the


    office for several days, so I¡¯d like to go check on how the sales areing along."


    "That works too."


    "I''ll go on my own. You spend time with Grandpa. You two haven''t yed chess together in a while.


    He brought it up with me a few times already."


    "Sure, I can also go over the details of the press conference with him."


    The public announcement of Chloe being Desmond''s biological granddaughter was scheduled for


    the following week. It was three days before the wedding, which was to take ce the Wednesday


    after next. The reason they had scheduled the press conference before the wedding was that they


    wanted the world to know that Chloe was not marrying Noah to climb up the socialdder and to


    affirm her status as one of the Sullivans.


    Mixed expressions shed across Chloe''s face. She wondered how displeased Desmond would be


    if she ended up not marrying Noah. Would he reject her just like he had rejected her mother?


    But her mother had refused topromise, and neither would she.


    Chloe forced out a smile and said, "Sure. We have to let everyone know that you''re the one


    marrying into my family and that I¡¯m not the one who seduced you."


    "Honestly, with your beauty, so what if you seduced me?" Noah said with a glint of amusement in


    his eyes. "I¡¯d be enchanted by you regardless."


    *


    Chloe changed out of her casual home attire, and without bothering with makeup, put on a deep


    blue knee-length dress and went to Exotic Star. During the drive, she sent a voice message to


    Joseph, informing him of the potential danger Vanya was facing and urging him to find a way to get


    her to safety. Upon arriving at her office, she nced at her phone and realized that Joseph had yet


    to respond to her message.


    Suspicion crept into her mind. Was he considering abandoning Vanya? Just as she pondered over


    Joseph''s intentions, Frieda knocked on the office door.


    "Come in," Chloe answered as she put down her phone. Looking at Frieda, she asked, "What''s the


    matter?"


    A smile graced Frieda''s face as she said, "Someone¡¯s waiting for you at the fire escape."


    "Huh?"


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    With a mix of suspicion and curiosity, Chloe got up and headed toward the fire exit. She knew that


    Frieda was not someone who yed jokes.


    Creak¡­


    As she pushed open the door, the motion-activated lights lit up the passage. The lights shined onto


    Joseph, giving him a halo of light. Even in his in ck clothes, he looked stylish and refined,


    giving off a strong and impressive vibe.


    Chloe was stunned. "What are you doing here?"


    Before Joseph could say anything, an idea snapped into ce as her eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Frieda and you are¡­"


    "Yes, you''re right," Joseph replied calmly.


    Chloe was taken aback. "Frieda¡¯s your mother?"

 Chapter 794 I’ll Visit Mr. Desmond Tomorrow

    Chapter 794 I¡¯ll Visit Mr. Desmond Tomorrow


    Joseph heaved a sigh as he said, "I was as shocked as you are when I found out."


    Under the assumption that his mother was dead after having disappeared from his life for more than


    a decade, she suddenly came to him with a new appearance. It was a strange feeling, yet he felt joy


    that his mother had finallye home.


    Thinking back on all her interactions with Frieda, Chloe realized that Frieda had some unique


    qualities that distinguished her from the average person. She had in-depth knowledge of luxury


    items, yet was not attracted to them. She wore affordable brands, but still exuded an air of elegance


    and nobility. While the two aspects were not contradictory, cultivating such a refined demeanor


    required time and financial investment. She reckoned that Frieda was a formerly wealthy person


    who had fallen on hard times and was now working out of necessity.


    To Chloe, being around Frieda felt quite extraordinary, like standing next to a movie star.


    She wondered, "Why did your mother choose to work at Exotic Star instead of Fairlight or the


    Whitman Group?"


    "Being too close to me might¡¯ve drawn Duskfall¡¯s attention," Joseph exined.


    Chloe blinked and felt relieved that she had turned down Cyrus¡¯ offer. Joseph¡¯s mother had been


    imprisoned for countless years and forced to live in seclusion. After enduring countless hardships to


    escape, it was only natural for her to be extremely cautious and avoid showing even the slightest


    opening.


    Seeing Chloe''s expression, Joseph knew what she was thinking. "Has Cyrus not contacted you


    since then?"


    Chloe was stunned for a moment, then quickly feignedposure. "Who''s Cyrus, and why would


    he contact me?"


    ¡°Drop it," Joseph said as he reached out to pinch her nose. "You were nning to tell Cyrus about


    my mother when you asked to meet her that day, am I right? Why did your conscience suddenly


    kick in?"


    "You knew all along?"


    "Of course."


    Chloe felt her ears burning as she was overwhelmed with embarrassment. However, to live happily,


    one should not hold too high moral standards.


    "Since you already know, I won''t say much. In the end, I didn''t betray you, right?" She raised her


    head, looking him square in the eye.


    "I''m not ming you. I''m just worried about you. Cyrus is cunning, and dealing with him is


    dangerous."


    Hearing this, Chloe fell silent for a moment before changing the subject. "How do you n to get


    Vanya out?"


    Narrowing his eyes, Joseph tucked his hands into his pockets and said calmly, "I¡¯ll visit Mr.


    Desmond tomorrow."


    "Okay. Make sure you go tomorrow."


    If they dyed any longer, Vanya might not leave the Sullivan estate alive.


    Suddenly, Chloe realized something and looked at Joseph embarrassingly. "I¡¯m going to go now.


    Let''s justmunicate through the phone in the future, all right?"


    She did not know why but she felt like they were having a secret meeting. Could he, a prominent


    financial figure, be more straightforward? If someone were to find out, she might not be able to


    exin it.


    Joseph took out a cigarette and lit it. As it glowed between his fingers, a wisp of smoke spiraled


    upward and partially veiled his face. In the empty stairwell, his deep voice carried a captivating


    allure as he said, "I wanted to see you."


    Chloe rolled her eyes at him. Without giving him a response, she turned around and left. But as


    soon as she grabbed the handle, she felt something flowing out from between her legs. Her


    expression fell and she stood frozen in ce.


    ''Damn it! Why is my period early?!¡¯C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 795 Are They Reconciling?

    Chapter 795 Are They Reconciling?


    Joseph narrowed his eyes as he noticed her strange behavior. He walked up to her and asked,


    "What''s the matter?"


    Looking a little awkward, Chloe said, "Can you get Ms. Frieda for me?"


    "Are you not feeling well?" he asked, his voice thick with concern. When he saw her cing her arm


    over her stomach, he continued, "Are you having a stomach ache? I''ll take you to the hospital."


    "No, no. Just get Ms. Frieda for me," Chloe urged impatiently.


    "I can''t. I need to know what''s going on with you," Joseph insisted. Even though his face remained


    cold and emotionless, his heart clenched with worry.


    "Why you... Fine, fine. I''ll tell you," Chloe blurted out in frustration, ring at him. Why could this


    stupid guy not pick up on her cues?


    Before Joseph could respond, pain shot through her lower abdomen. Chloe''s face turned pale and


    she bit her lip. The first day was always painful, and she needed painkillers to ease it.


    Joseph was stunned. Without waiting for Chloe to say anything, he draped his coat over her waist


    and picked her up in his arms.


    "What are you doing?" Even though Chloe resisted such an intimate gesture, she refrained from


    moving. Though she was tall, she appeared delicate and small in his arms.


    "I''m taking you to the car. You can''t appear before your employees like this," Joseph replied calmly.


    Chloe subconsciously reached behind, "Is my skirt¡­"


    There was nothing on her skirt. But to avoid potential staining from walking, Joseph nodded


    knowingly and said, "Yes, quite arge spot."


    Chloe froze. She obediently waited for Joseph to contact Frieda and bring her a sanitary pad.


    The car''s interior was pleasantly warm. Sitting in the driver''s seat, Lucas excitedly observed the


    close interaction between the pair as they entered the car. ¡®Are they about to reconcile? This is so


    sudden though¡­'' he thought.


    Joseph threw a nce at Lucas. When he was about to speak, Lucas said, "You want me to get out


    of the car, right, Mr. Joseph?"


    Joseph raised his eyebrows and replied, "Yeah."


    "I understand. I''ll get out now. You take your time."


    As he spoke, Lucas unbuckled his seatbelt and smiled at them suggestively before getting out of


    the car. Chloe was speechless. After he got out, Joseph followed suit not long after. Lucas'' heart


    raced. ''Oh no, did they have a fight again? Was it a false rm? Dear god, please help them!''


    In the years since Chloe left Aesper, Joseph had a habit of using work to numb himself, and as his


    assistant, Lucas had to follow him around working.


    Fortunately, Joseph quickly returned with a bag in his hand. Crouching in the roadside bushes,


    Lucas let out a silent sigh of relief. It seemed there was hope.


    *


    "Sanitary pads and some chamomile tea," Joseph said as he handed the items to Chloe. "Bought


    them from a nearby mall. I''m not sure if they''re suitable, but you don''t have any other choices right


    now."


    Looking at the item before her embarrassingly, Chloe asked, "Did you buy these yourself?" She


    thought he might find it embarrassing to buy pads.


    "Yes," Joseph replied matter-of-factly.


    "I..." Chloe hesitated for a moment, then clenched her teeth and said, "I''ve dirtied your car. How


    much is the cleaning fee? I''ll pay for it."


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Joseph was a clean freak, and she knew that he detested anything getting on his car seats. She


    was certain that even though he did not voice it out, he must feel repulsed on the inside. In the past,


    she might only be able to offer to wash his car, but now, she had the means topensate him


    generously. In any case, just for today, she owed him a great deal.


    "Do you think you''re rich?" Joseph chuckled sarcastically. At the same time, he ced his hand on


    her abdomen and massaged it gently.

 Chapter 796 Tried Every Method to Crawl Into His Bed

    Chapter 796 Tried Every Method to Crawl Into His Bed


    As he gently massaged her abdomen, it eased some of her pain, but also made her face turn red


    with embarrassment. Her lower back was sore and her hands and feet were cold and mmy. At


    this moment, she was surprised to find herself seeking thefort he provided.


    ¡®This is embarrassing!'' she thought.


    That being said, she did not push him away and said, "I''ll pay for your car and shirt."


    Joseph continued to massage her with a smile on his face. The chill in his gaze began to melt away,


    reced by warmth and affection. After being massaged for a while and with the car temperature


    just right, Chloe began to feel better.


    Seeing this, Joseph got out of the car and said, "Go ahead and change. If you need anything, just


    give me a call. I also picked up some underwear for you. No need to feel embarrassed and just


    make sure to change into it. Don''t worry if you get the car dirty."


    Chloe nervously clenched her hands, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude for his


    thoughtfulness. "Thank you," she said sincerely.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    While Joseph imed to have bought the outfit casually, the size and style were a perfect fit for her.


    Even the brand of sanitary pad was the one she often used. She found it incredulous that he still


    remembered all these details after five years. A warmth settled in her chest. While money was


    important to everyone, not everyone paid close attention to details.


    *


    Seeing a nearby pharmacy, Joseph remembered that the female employees at hispany would


    take pain relievers if they experienced severe menstrual cramps. While he did not want Chloe to


    develop a dependency on medication, he also did not want her to be in pain.


    He entered the pharmacy and scanned the shelves for pain relievers. There was a pharmacist


    organizing the medicines on the shelves. When she saw Joseph, her eyes lit up. Approaching him,


    she asked eagerly and shyly, "Can I help you find something, sir?"


    Joseph pondered for a moment and then said, "I''m looking for medication to relieve menstrual pain.


    If possible, give me one that has fewer side effects.


    The pharmacist was stunned, then her eyes glowed even brighter. "I¡¯d suggest this one. It¡¯s milder


    compared to regr pain relievers and has almost no side effects."


    "Okay, I''ll take it."


    After Joseph left, the pharmacist gazed at his receding figure with her hands cupping her face. She


    let out a sigh and murmured enviously, "When will I ever meet such a wonderful man? Not only is


    he handsome, but he''s considerate too¡­"


    Back in the car, Joseph handed the pain relievers to Chloe. "If you''re still in pain, take this. Or I


    could take you to the hospital."


    Chloe looked at the box and lowered her head to conceal the emotion in her eyes. "I feel a lot


    better. I need to go back now."


    "All right."


    "Bye."


    As she was about to close the car door and leave, Joseph asked, "Do the clothes fit well?"


    She replied honestly, "Yes, they do."


    "All of them?"


    "Huh?" Chloe was puzzled for a moment, then lowered her head to check her clothes.


    "Yes, they¡¯re a good fit. What''s the matter? Has your hearing started to go with age?" Chloe said.


    Leaning back into the seat, Joseph smiled mischievously and said, "I wasn''t talking about


    outerwear. I remember that you likecey intimates, so I bought a simr style."


    Chloe stared at him nkly for a moment before understanding dawned upon her. Her face flushed


    red with embarrassment. He was talking about her undergarments.


    At that time, she mistakenly thought he was Jake''s uncle and tried every method to crawl into his


    bed so that she could be his wife.

 Chapter 797 Cyrus Call

    Chapter 797 Cyrus'' Call


    Clenching her teeth, Chloe forced out a smile and said, "They fit, but I''m not intoce anymore.


    Cotton is just morefortable. If you get the chance next time, buy me ones with cartoon


    characters. Or maybe it¡¯s best you don¡¯t. You''re not that young anymore and buying underwear with


    cartoons might make the salesperson think you have some special preferences."


    Joseph''s face sank. It was evident that Chloe''s tongue had gotten sharper over the years.


    Chloe''s mood improved upon seeing the smile vanish from Joseph''s face. She then turned to say


    bye to Lucas, who was squatting in the bushes like he was taking a dump.


    Lucas was taken aback, but his face soon lit up with a smile, and he wondered if they had made up.


    His mother had been wanting to introduce him to some girl from the neighboring vige recently.


    She had mentioned it so many times, and he nned to take a day off tomorrow and have a serious


    discussion with that girl so as not to waste each other''s time.


    Just when he got back into the car and was about to speak, he noticed Joseph''s gloomy expression


    through the rearview mirror. He swallowed his initial words and asked instead, "Sir, shall we head


    back to the office now?"


    Without lifting his head, Joseph replied coldly, "Where should we go otherwise? Your ce?"


    "Understood, sir."


    "Lucas, am I that old?"


    "What? Of course not. You''re in the prime of your life and you''re charming," Lucas said honestly.


    Joseph was in his thirties. Even though he was not as youthful as Noah, he definitely had the charm


    of a mature man.


    His brows rxed a little, but he still sounded irritated as he asked, "Do all women like pretty boys


    these days? If not, then why does Chloe keep saying I''m old?"


    "Not really. Everyone has their preferences. Maybe Ms. Chloe¡¯s just joking with you," Lucas replied.


    "Hmph." Joseph snorted coldly. "She better be."


    He might not have a youthful appearance, but he was fit enough to handle her.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The weather turned gloomy and it started to rain. Summer in Docwood was always unpredictable,


    and the pattering raindrops masked the sounds of the traffic outside the car.


    After pushing through andpleting her tasks, Chloe felt particrly drained due to her period, so


    she contacted the Sullivan family driver to pick her up. It was likely that the driver informed Noah, as


    he ended uping instead.


    Noah got out of the car and draped his denim jacket over Chloe. "Weren¡¯t you wearing a skirt when


    you left this morning?¡± he asked.


    Chloe remainedposed and replied softly, "I got my period and my skirt got stained, so I bought


    this at a nearby store."


    "You should rest at home if you''re not feeling well. Anyway, this is my fault. I should''ve noticed it


    earlier," Noah said, his voice thick with concern and his eyes filled with remorse.


    Chloe gazed at him, and suddenly, her eyes grew teary. She could not understand how everything


    had turned out this way. Noah was so nice to her, so why would he work with Duskfall to inflict pain


    upon her?


    "Let''s go," Noah said.


    Chloe sniffled and lowered her head so that Noah would not notice her emotions. During the ride,


    she stared nkly at the passing scenery. Just then, her phone rang. She picked it up and nced


    at the screen. Her fingers trembled slightly and she hurriedly hung up the call.


    ''Oh no, it''s Cyrus. He must be calling me to ask me about my progress!''


    Noah nced at her and asked, "Who is it?"


    "A real estate agent."


    "Real estate agent? But you didn''t answer the phone, so how did you know it was a real estate


    agent?"

 Chapter 798 The Mystery Man

    Chapter 798 The Mystery Man


    Chloe clenched her fists and stayed calm. "The guy called me a few times before, so I remember


    the number."


    Noah took his gaze off Chloe and turned the steering wheel. "That number doesn''t seem like a


    sales call. Maybe someone has an urgent matter. Why don''t you call back to check?"


    "That''s fine. If it''s important, they''ll call again."


    As soon as she finished speaking, her phone started ringing again, causing a chill to run down her


    spine. She would surely be busted if she answered Cyrus'' call in front of Noah, but what excuse


    could she use to reject the call?


    The vibrating of the phone felt like the music of death¡ªrelentless and continuous.


    Noah stepped on the brakes, bringing the car to a stop by the roadside. He looked at Chloe and


    said, "Go ahead and pick it up. It might be something urgent."


    At this point, Chloe had no choice but to answer. She reluctantly retrieved her phone from her bag,


    hoping it would stop ringing. s, her wish was not granted. As she held the phone, it continued to


    buzz.


    She looked at the screen and found it was the same number. Under Noah''s watchful gaze, she


    reluctantly answered the call. She took the initiative and coldly asked, "Hello, who¡¯s this?"


    There was a pause on the other end, followed by barely audible breathing. A chill ran down Chloe''s


    spine. She knew that Cyrus was doing this on purpose. He was like a predator lurking in the dark,


    testing his prey''s limit.


    Noah leaned into Chloe, and in this confined space, he could hear everything the person on the


    other side of the line said. Chloe froze as her mind raced. The next second, the voice on the other


    end said, "Hi, I''m Lauda from Riverside Homes. Would you be interested in buying a property


    here?"


    When the sweet and charming voice reached Chloe''s ear, she froze. She pulled her phone away


    from her ear and rechecked the number on the screen. It was Cyrus'' number.


    Seeing how distracted she looked, Noah took her phone and asked, "Where is Riverside located?"


    "The Chandile district. If you''d like toe and take a look, I can drive over and pick you up."


    "That¡¯s not necessary. I''ll head there when I¡¯m avable."


    "All right then, thank you for your time."


    As the call ended, Chloe put on a smile as she put her phone away. "See? I told you it was that


    annoying real estate agent."


    Noah restarted the car and saidnguidly, "Chandile is pretty close to Exotic Star. After we get


    married, we do need a ce to call our own. Getting a ce there wouldn''t be a bad idea."


    Chloe was stunned for a moment before she replied, "Okay."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    When they got back to the Sullivan manor, Chloe went to her bedroom. While Noah was talking to


    Desmond downstairs, she called Cyrus back.


    "I''m sorry. Seems like I called at a bad time earlier." Cyrus chuckled politely.


    Gritting her teeth, Chloe said, "I know you did it on purpose. Are you watching me from


    somewhere?" She did not believe in coincidences. That call was meant to assert his dominance,


    implying she had better get her act together.


    "I wasn''t watching per se, but I did happen to see you and Joseph meeting privately," he replied.


    "I''ve made up my mind. I''m not going to work with you."


    "Wow¡­" Cyrus whistled. "You¡¯re going to sacrifice your own child for your love? Impressive."


    "It''s none of your business. Nobody gets to tell me what I have to do," Chloe said angrily and hung


    up the call. Duskfall was the source of her suffering, so how dare he mocked her?


    Fortunately, Cyrus stopped calling her.


    Soon, the day of the press conference arrived. Reporters and journalists from well-known


    magazines and various media outlets gathered outside Exotic Star. They all carried with them their


    cameras and equipment and engaged in lively discussions.


    "Do you know what they¡¯re going to announce today?"


    "Not sure, but ording to my insider, Desmond¡¯s going to formally introduce someone today."


    "Is it his heir? Wait, that''s not right. Noah is his heir, and Desmond never had any children."


    "We''ll find out soon. It''s about to start."


    Fifteen minutester, before Desmond could lead Chloe onto the stage, a mysterious person


    sneaked into the scene and whispered something to one of the reporters.


    The reporter widened his eyes in shock. "Are you sure?"


    Grinning from ear to ear, the mystery man said confidently, "I''m telling the truth. Chloe is the royal


    family''s illegitimate child."

 Chapter 799 She’s an Illegitimate Child

    Chapter 799 She¡¯s an Illegitimate Child


    The reporter was skeptical and pressed, "Where''s your evidence? If you can''t show me any solid


    proof, I won''t report it."


    A scandal about the royal family would surely capture far more attentionpared to Exotic Star¡¯s


    press conference. It would be a sensational bombshell of a revtion.


    The mystery man handed over a recording pen and said, "You''ll know if I''m telling the truth after


    listening to this."


    The reporter frowned and yed the recording. There was not much on it, but the things that


    Ophelia said captured the reporter¡¯s attention. She repeatedly mentioned "illegitimate child" and


    even specifically mentioned Chloe. Everyone knew who Ophelia was. She was the apple of


    Carolina''s eye and would not casually say something like that without strong reason or evidence.


    Excitement spread across the reporter''s face, and he immediately ryed this information to his


    superiors, securing the front-page headline for the day. He then signaled his colleagues toe


    over and discussed charging up to confront Chloe before the press conference even began.


    Some hesitated, while others were eager to try. Security at Exotic Star was tight but they were not


    afraid of the police since they often engaged in simr hical activities. They had more people on


    their side, and in the worst-case scenario, the police would just give them a scolding.


    Suddenly, everyone in the hall fell silent. Dressed in formal attire, Desmond walked onto the stage


    with slow, powerful steps. His aged face was adorned with gentle lines and his eyes were


    exceptionally bright. Anyone could tell how happy he was today.


    "Today, I have gathered everyone here to announce some great news. Rumors about me not having


    any children are untrue. It''s just that my daughter, unfortunately, ran away from home many years


    ago and hasn''t appeared in the public eye since. Now, my granddaughter hase of age, and I


    wish to introduce her to everyone on this asion."


    With that, he turned around and waved gently at Chloe. "Come here, Coco."


    Picking up the hem of her dress slightly, Chloe walked to the middle of the stage, revealing her


    graceful, slender legs slightly with each step she took. She had a light smile on her carefully


    makeup-adorned face, and her light blue gown fitted her well, lending her an elegant air.


    Chloe had a love for elegance, and she had put extra effort into her outfit today, hoping to make a


    good impression on the public. After all, once the press conference was over, she would officially


    co-manage Exotic Star with Noah.


    Everyone was astonished when they saw Chloe. They had interviewed countless celebrities, so


    they could easily tell who were natural beauties and who were artificially enhanced.


    Chloe possessed a natural elegance. As time went on, her charm and feminine qualities grew


    stronger. Her presence had reached a point where a single nce at her would etch her image into


    a person¡¯s memory, making it no surprise that despiteing from the same family, Ava paled in


    comparison.


    However, amid their excitement, the reporters did not lose sight of their main purpose. Having


    admired Chloe''s exceptional beauty, their enthusiasm grew. Chloe was not only Desmond''s


    granddaughter but also an illegitimate child of the royal family. Did this mean that Desmond''s


    daughter was a homewrecker?


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Desmond and Chloe frowned uneasily when they saw the excitement on the reporters¡¯ faces. Their


    eyes were gleaming with anticipation and excitement as if a pack of wolves had spotted their prey.


    "Any questions from the floor?" Noah stepped forward to break the silence. Meanwhile, he gave a


    subtle signal to the nearby bodyguards to stay alert.


    "Yes, yes! We have questions!" Journalists and reporters suddenly surged forward, pointing their


    microphones at Desmond.


    "Is it because of your daughter''s role as a homewrecker that you didn¡¯t publicly acknowledge Chloe


    all these years?"

 Chapter 800 I’d Choose Her if I Were Joseph

    Chapter 800 I¡¯d Choose Her if I Were Joseph


    Desmond''s face sank. "Who told you that?"


    "So it''s true that your daughter was a homewrecker?"


    "We received a recording pen. I''m sure you recognize the voice of Princess Carolina''s daughter,


    right?"


    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat as understanding dawned upon her.


    Noah''s face turned icy as he waved his hand. A few bodyguards quickly surrounded Chloe and


    Desmond, whisking them out of the hall.


    Desmond was furious and refused to leave. He stared at the reporter holding the recorder and said,


    "Think twice before you act. If you tarnish the Sullivans¡¯ reputation, you better be prepared as you


    might shoot yourself in the foot!"


    He was saying this to the owner of the recorder through the reporters.


    Chloe frowned. She could not tell who was behind this. Under normal circumstances, it might have


    been Ophelia, but they had reached an agreement, so it was unlikely that she was her doing.


    In the end, the reporter released the recording, and coupled with today''s press conference, Chloe''s


    reputation skyrocketed. Previously, she had only been associated with Joseph Whitman of Aesper,


    but now her name made waves across the country and even internationally. There were tons of


    discussions online, and they showed no signs of slowing down even after three days. Although the


    media outlets were silenced through pressure from the Sullivans, the gossip-hungry public


    remained uncontroble. As a result, Chloe''s private details, including her school graduation


    pictures, were revealed on the Inte.


    [I have to say, Chloe is really good-looking. She''s been a beauty since she was little.]


    [I agree. She''s prettier than Xavia. If I were Joseph, I''d choose Chloe too.]


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    [That¡¯s not aparison at all. Xavia¡¯s a talented violinist, while Chloe is just an illegitimate child.


    They''re not on the same level.]


    [No, that''s not urate. Chloe is equally exceptional. She won numerous awards in school and


    went on to establish her own brand abroad. Though she did receive help from Noah, for a young


    woman in her early twenties, she¡¯s definitely outstanding.]


    [Exactly, I agree. Many rich young men have failed in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Chloe can be


    considered a sess among her peers.]


    [I think she''s a good match for Noah. If they get married, they won''t have to worry about their family


    assets being divided.]


    The buzz not only brought rumors and gossip but also increased Exotic Star¡¯s exposure. Company


    stocks, jewelry sales, and profits all multiplied several times the usual figures.


    And strangely enough, even Fairlight was affected by this incident.


    *


    Chloe felt a headacheing on as she read thements. In the end, she decided to take it easy


    and stick to her usual routine while waiting for the storm to settle down.


    ording to the investigation, the recorder came from the royal family. However, Ophelia


    vehemently denied any involvement and even swore an oath. Callum was not around, so Carolina


    promised to exin things to Chloe once he returned.


    After Joseph returned from his business trip, he went straight to Fairlight. He was unaware of the


    recent events in the country. When he reviewed the financial reports, he noticed a significant


    changepared to the previous weeks.


    "Have the finance directore to my office," he said, cing the report on the table with an


    expressionless face.


    Lucas had followed Joseph abroad, so he did not know what had happened.


    Soon, the finance director stepped into Joseph¡¯s office.


    "What happened? How did our performance increase by three percent in just a week?" Joseph


    questioned.

 Chapter 801 Joseph the Lovestruck Fool

    Chapter 801 Joseph the Lovestruck Fool


    It was a simple question, but it sounded worlds different to the finance director. He trembled and


    nearly fell on his knees. "Sir, it''s not my fault. We weren¡¯t trying to ride Ms. Chloe''s poprity. The


    netizens have been talking about her, and surprisingly, our sales improved too."


    The finance director was a long-time employee of Fairlight, so he was well aware that Joseph was


    once married to Chloe. But for some unknown reason, they got a divorce. During the years she had


    been away, no one in Fairlight dared to mention her name. It became a forbidden topic.


    Joseph looked up with even deeper confusion in his eyes. "What are you saying?"


    The finance director was surprised. "Don''t you know, sir?"


    "What am I supposed to know?"


    The finance director brought up the trending news page on his phone. ¡°Take a look at this, sir."


    Joseph took the phone. The screen was filled with photos of Chloe from when she was in


    elementary school up until she entered the working world. The helpfulizens had even organized


    them into a timeline.


    He touched the screen gently and ignored the meanments. As his gaze was glued to Chloe''s


    photos, the coldness in his eyes was reced with tenderness. Her face had been a little smaller


    back in elementary school, and it was so chubby.


    She looked a little silly but she had won a lot of trophies. And she had learned the piano during


    middle school. No wonder she yed so well. She then became stunning during high school and


    university. Even when she wore no makeup, her confidence was as clear as day.


    There was a photo of Chloe¡¯s ssmates and her celebrating her birthday together. Her face was


    smeared with cake, but her smile was as bright as ever as she held up a peace sign to the camera.


    Her youthfulness enticed Joseph to linger on the photo. How nice it would be if he had gotten to


    know her back in school. There was no doubt he would have tried to win her over then. He would


    protect and give her all his love. After that, they would get married after graduation.


    After waiting for an hour, the finance director asked, "Sir, may I know if you are done..." His legs


    were numb from standing.


    Joseph erged Chloe''s photos and looked at them a little while more. He then turned off the


    phone and handed it back. "Email those photos to me."


    The finance director was rendered speechless. Joseph looked like he was addressing the air. When


    did he be such a lovestruck fool?


    Joseph instructed Lucas to print the photo of Chloe at her birthday party and put it in a photo frame


    on his desk. He could then just look up and see her whenever he was at work.


    *


    Joseph held off going to the Sullivan manor for a few days since there were some problems with his


    overseas business.


    Noah, busy handling public opinion, ignored Vanya.


    At seven o''clock at night, a Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped at the entrance of the Sullivan manor.


    Joseph had called Desmond earlier to inform thetter about his visit. The security guards had been


    informed, so they let Joseph in.


    Joseph bumped into Noah after he got out of the car.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Noah stopped in his tracks and looked Joseph up and down. He then faked a smile and asked,


    "Why didn''t you tell me you wereing over?"


    Joseph chuckled and smoothed his clothes. He replied calmly, "The elders are going to talk. It''s


    none of your business."


    A sense of gloominess invaded Noah''s eyes. "You contacted Grandpa?"


    "You cane up and listen if you''re so curious." Joseph started walking away.


    Noah nced at Chloe''s bedroom. After three seconds, he followed Joseph.

 Chapter 802 Lead a Good Life

    Chapter 802 Lead a Good Life


    Joseph was a few steps quicker, and Noah was stopped outside the room. He knocked on the door


    and a house helper answered.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Noah?"


    "Am I not allowed inside?"


    "Not at the moment. Mr. Desmond ordered it so."


    Noah faked a smile and did not leave. "Why Joseph is in there, why can''t I go in?"


    The helper could feel Noah''s intimidation, and he bowed his head. "Please don''t make things


    difficult for me. I can¡¯t read Mr. Desmond''s thoughts. Please just wait. Don''t worry, he surely


    wouldn¡¯t side with an outsider."


    Noah had always been this way. The usually gentle Noah would turn into a whole different person


    when it came to Chloe.


    Noah''s expression softened slightly. "Okay, I''ll wait downstairs."


    Fifteen minutester, Joseph and Desmond came out of the room. Noah got up and walked to


    Desmond to show his support to thetter. "Grandpa."


    Desmond gave him a reproachful look, and the atmosphere became inexplicably dull.


    "I''ll be taking her then, Mr. Desmond." Joseph waved at Vince.


    Desmond pursed his lips and grunted his approval.


    Noah watched as Vince walked toward the detached wing. Stunned, he asked. "Grandpa?"


    "Let them take her. Our family mustn''t have anything to do with Duskfall."


    "No!" Noah refused, bing deeply unhappy. "Things do note for free in this world."


    As soon as Vanya was cured, Joseph came to take her away. His timing was simply impable.


    Joseph scoffed. "Isn''t she only here temporarily? Is there any reason she should stay?"


    The living room was pin-drop silent.


    Noah stared at Joseph fearlessly andughed. "You''re good at shifting me, Mr. Joseph. The next


    time you need help, I won''t be there.¡±


    "Do you have some sort of ulterior motive for doing this?"


    "No, I only value Chloe in everything I do."


    Noah appeared calm and innocent. Everyone would believe his generosity and sincerity just based


    on his gaze. They would think his love for Chloe was real.


    Joseph was experienced and had met many wolves in sheep''s clothing. Despite being so young,


    Noah was so shrewd and could act his way out of so many doubtful situations. He was one-of-a-


    kind, truly talented in this aspect.


    Just then, Vince brought Vanya over. Joseph, not wanting to waste time on Noah, nodded at


    Desmond. "Sorry for troubling you today."


    Desmond remained silent, a frown on his face. He then dismissed them with a curt wave. Noah


    extended his arms to stop them but Desmond smacked Noah on the head with a teapot.


    "What are you doing? Why are you trying to keep such a dangerous person in our home?"


    "Grandpa, you don''t understand. Vanya knows a lot of secrets."


    "So what? They have nothing to do with our family. Stop bringing up the past. Just spend the rest of


    your life well together with Coco."


    It had been a long time since Desmond had asked about what was going on in the family. He had


    allowed the two youngsters to deal with the household affairs. During his free time, he would go on


    trips or go out drinking. He did not know there was another person living in his house. Even when


    he saw Vanya, he thought she was a friend and had not dwelled much on it. If he had known that


    Vanya was a former member of Duskfall, he would never have allowed her to stay under his roof.


    He did not know when Noah had gotten so bold.


    Noah was stunned. He had done what he had to. The question was whether Vanya would work for


    him or choose to be gotten rid of. He would not be at ease with such a huge threat atrge. He hid


    the darkness in his eyes and stared at Joseph¡¯s receding figure.


    Desmond was frustrated over what had happened that night. He wondered how Noah could have


    harbored a member of Duskfall. Throwing the expensive teapot in his hand onto the table in a huff,


    he said. "Your grandfather named you ¡®Noah¡¯ because he wanted you to value care andfort. He


    wished for you to lead a good life. I hope you won¡¯t let him and me down."

 Chapter 803 Lock Her up as Joseph Did

    Chapter 803 Lock Her up as Joseph Did


    It was unknown if Noah took Desmon¡¯s advice seriously. He kept his head low and took a step back,


    letting the shadows hide his expression. He whispered, "I understand."


    Desmond shook his head helplessly. "You''ve always been smart and could differentiate between


    right and wrong. You should lead Coco forward and forget about the past. There¡¯s no need to fill all


    of Coco''s requests. Do you understand?"


    Being nice to someone was no guarantee that the person would treat you in kind.


    "That¡¯s what I want too, Grandpa."


    "I know, so you have to be the one to pull Coco out. Men should put up a strong front when the time


    calls for it. You''re just too docile. You shouldn¡¯t always listen to Coco. You guys are about to get


    married. How about you two go on a trip and not let the recent events affect you? And don''t worry


    about thepany. Exotic Star won''t go downhill just because of public opinion."


    One was his granddaughter and the other was his adopted grandson that had grown up with him.


    He cared about them very much and did not want to speak harshly about either of them.


    Noah looked up at Desmond with a strange look. "Okay."


    ''A strong front... Do I have to lock her up as Joseph did so that she won''t forget about me?''


    Desmond was deeply worried, so did not detect the change in Noah''s gaze. The Sullivans were


    wary of Duskfall, and Desmond shared Harold''s sentiments¡ªthat they were old and could only rely


    on their descendants in the future. Hence, they did not want to get into trouble unless absolutely


    necessary.


    *


    Chloe had kept in touch with Joseph. When she learned that Vanya had been taken away, she


    twirled around her room happily and cheered like a happy kid. ¡®I¡¯ll surely learn of my child''s


    whereabouts soon. This is amazing!¡¯


    She was so excited that she could not sleep that night and texted Joseph several times. She told


    him to ask Vanya about the child. However, Vanya did not trust Joseph and requested to speak


    face-to-face with Chloe instead.


    "Are you asleep?"


    Noah¡¯s voice suddenly came from her doorway. Chloe held her breath and pretended to be asleep.


    Noah sounded a little off. Aside from when he was mad, he would usually address her before talking


    to her.


    Chloe became anxious. ''Did he find out I¡¯m still in touch with Joseph? Is he here to interrogate me?''


    She stared at the door of her bedroom. After a few minutes, she heard him leave. She heaved a


    sigh of relief and rxed.


    Noah went downstairs as he observed the light shining through from under her door. An iciness


    crept up his face. Their imminent marriage brought him no joy.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    *


    Early the next morning, Callum returned to Docwood. After learning about what had happened


    recently, he asked his subordinates to issue invitations for a birthday party in his name. All those of


    influence in the city were invited. The purpose of the party was clear¡ªhe supported Chloe.


    Xavia and Keh were on the guestlist, and Otto would also be there as he was dating Ophelia.


    Tonight was going to be a lively night.


    When Chloe got to Exotic Star, everyone in the office looked at her with admiration.

 Chapter 804 Setting up One’s Public Image

    Chapter 804 Setting up One¡¯s Public Image


    ¡°Wow, Ms. Chloe. We had no idea you were a real-life rich, nobledy."


    "I''m sure you''ll be a part of the royal family after tonight''s party."


    "You¡¯ve reached the moon before even hitting thirty, and you¡¯re so pretty and capable. I''m so


    jealous of you!"


    "All right, that¡¯s enough. This isn¡¯t just because she¡¯s lucky. It¡¯s because she¡¯s hard-working too."


    Chloe smiled and sent her colleagues off before sitting down to work. After they left, Frieda came in


    and consoled Chloe, "Don''t be nervous. Tonight¡¯s your show. Lead it and show those who look


    down on you what''s what."


    "I''m not nervous. I just feel like I¡¯m being put on the spot."


    Chloe originally had no wish to be associated with the royal family, but now, she had to rify her


    stand. If she admitted her rtionship to Callum, she might have no choice in bing part of the


    royal family.


    Frieda smiled. "You have the choice to decide if you want to be a part of the royal family or not."


    "Are you saying that I can rify things without bing a part of the royal family?" Chloe hung


    her head dispiritedly. "Will Callum agree to that? It¡¯ll be like I¡¯m treating the royal family as a


    stepping stone."


    "It does depend on Callum, but he was the one who wronged you, right? Second, you can use this


    chance to prove your mother''s innocence to the public. Also, you can also prove that you''re not vain


    and that you kept on living your life the way it was after learning that Callum is your father. You''re


    not blinded by power and know what you want."


    Chloe blinked and said wittily, "Frieda, are you telling me how to set up my public image?"


    "I guess so. All those public opinions must have affected you. If you maintain a good public image,


    it''ll be of great help when you take over Exotic Star in the future."


    On the surface, it was Desmond''s decision whether Chloe could take over Exotic Star, but Noah''s


    contribution to thepany over the years was well-established. If he wanted, he could pull some


    strings and get the shareholders to stir up trouble. It would then be hard for Chloe to manage the


    company.


    Chloe nodded firmly. "That''s reasonable." She had met too many vulgar and unspeakable people in


    her life. It was time she looked out for herself.


    Chloe then suddenly thought of something and looked at Frieda hesitantly. "Are you giving me


    advice because of Joseph?"


    Frieda was usually quiet, her distant personality resembling that of someone else Chloe knew.


    When Chloe asked this question, Frieda smiled. "Of course not. The only thing I can say is that Joe


    gained something in return. Otherwise, we¡¯d never have reunited with each other.¡±


    ¡°I just happened to give you guys a chance. The main thing is that you¡¯ve suffered in silence and hid


    yourself well." Chloe looked at Frieda with admiration.


    Frieda had been imprisoned for over twenty years, not just twenty days. She was separated from


    the world and had no one to rely on. Her not turning into a madwoman was a testament to her


    strong will. And she managed to escape. Frieda truly was unwavering.


    Chloe and Noah arrived at the party at eight o''clock that night. Chloe wore a pair of high heels and a


    sequined, champagne slip dress. Her long hair was let loose and reached to her waist. She looked


    sexy but not ostentatious.


    She had on light makeup. Her pink lips looked naturally plump, and the graceful and neat makeup


    entuated her delicate features. Her slender neck looked sensual, especially paired with her


    curvy figure.


    Chloe looked like had stepped out of a painting, devastatingly beautiful.


    Noah was adorned in a suit of the same color in an attempt to make them look like the perfect


    match, but he was simply too young. They merely looked like a pair of siblings.


    Chloe held onto Noah''s arm as they entered the hall. While walking down the red carpet, everyone


    around watched them intently. They were jealous, amazed, and curious, and there was one cold


    re that was too obvious to be ignored.


    Chloe did not have to look up to know that it was Joseph.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Wow, your eyes are glued to her," Otto, dressed in a tailcoat, teased Joseph.

 Chapter 805 You Guys Are Bolder and More Open-Minded

    Chapter 805 You Guys Are Bolder and More Open-Minded


    Joseph clenched his wine ss so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He shot Otto with a fierce


    re. "Shut up."


    Otto smiled fearlessly. "This is the first time I¡¯m seeing such a vivid expression on that poker face of


    yours. You''re jealous. How interesting!"


    Joseph¡¯s deep possessiveness over Chloe made him yearn to ruin all the men who evenid their


    eyes on her.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Otto tried to keep his wild thoughts at bay. His father had picked the wrong person. It would have


    been great if he had sought out Chloe instead. Xavia was simply noparison.


    Joseph calmed down and a scorn spread across his face. "I think you should worry about yourself


    instead. After all, you might just drop dead one day."


    Otto became unruffled. "It''s a slow-acting drug. I won''t die. Vanya had managed to survive all these


    years, right?"


    "Let¡¯s hope you''re as lucky as her," Josephmented lightly before entering the hall.


    Otto froze, then scanned the party attendees. Unfortunately, he did not see Zoelle anywhere. He


    asked the person beside him, ¡°Where is she? Did she note?"


    "She should being. Dr. Z epted the invitation card. When I asked if they would being,


    Dr. Z said..."


    "What? What did Dr. Z say?"


    "Dr. Z said...yes, and that she¡¯d being to hook up with a rich guy..."


    The veins on Otto''s forehead bulged. If he had not looked into it and found that Zoelle was the


    elusive Dr. Z, he would never have believed that Dr. Z was a woman.


    Ophelia walked over and followed his gaze. "Are you looking for someone?"


    "Yeah." Otto smiled seductively and hugged her. "I was looking for you, my dear."


    Ophelia red at him but did not push him away. "Enough, be serious. Come on, let¡¯s go inside."


    "Sure."


    Keh saw this scene and whispered to Xavia, "Wait here. I¡¯m going to speak to Leah for a


    moment."


    Xavia said okay but secretly peeked into the hall and gritted her teeth in hatred. However, she had


    to pretend to be unconcerned. She had watched as Chloe got out of the car earlier.


    ¡®How does this bitch always turn a desperate situation in her favor? How does she always get the


    support of the big shots? First, it was Joseph, then Noah. Even Desmond and Callum are taking her


    side. She somehow managed to make a greateback as if she¡¯s the heroine of a story!¡¯ Xavia


    thought, raging with jealousy.


    If Chloe was not in attendance at today¡¯s party, Xavia would have been in the limelight. Now that


    Chloe was here, everything had changed. Xavia desperately tried to think of ways to pull Chloe


    down from her pedestal.


    Keh was unaware of Xavia¡¯s thoughts. He instead walked toward Ophelia and scolded her,


    "Leah, you and Mr. Otto may be dating, but you two shouldn¡¯t be hugging in public."


    "Please mind your business. The only person you should be concerned with is your dear wife.¡±


    Ophelia always had a short temper and she had had enough of Xavia.


    "I think you¡¯ve got it all wrong here. We¡¯re only doing what any normal couple would do. s, Xavia


    got pregnant before you guys are even married," Otto teased Keh, his sarcasm evident. "You


    guys are far bold and more open-minded then us."

 Chapter 806 That’s Chad’s Mother

    Chapter 806 That¡¯s Chad¡¯s Mother


    Keh frowned. He found Otto frivolous and unsuitable for his sister.


    Ophelia was not bothered with chatting with him though. "Come on, Otto, let¡¯s go inside. The party''s


    about to start."


    "Yeah, let¡¯s go inside. You can speak to Leah in private about these matters. She''s not a child


    anymore, and you should show her some courtesy." Xavia stepped in just in time to mediate the


    situation, putting up a gentle and considerate facade.


    Keh pursed his lips and, although unhappy, agreed to let it go.


    Unknown if Carolina was doing it on purpose, she brought Chloe around with her and introduced


    her to the other members of the royal family. And Chloe did not embarrass Carolina, greeting


    everyone amiably.


    "Mdm. Carolina, you''re too kind to the girl. Her mother is just amoner. What''s more, she hasn¡¯t


    been given a noble title. You don''t have to care so much about her." A grandly-dressed woman


    looked at Chloe in disdain.


    Carolina frowned and whispered, "Stop this nonsense at once."


    "I''m only stating the truth. Back in the day, she was known throughout Aesper as an ass-kisser."


    Chloe frowned and became hostile. She said boldly, "Excuse me, but do we know each other? Did


    you investigate my past or something?"


    The woman''s face fell and stared at Chloe silently. Though she was quiet, Chloe could feel the


    strong resentment radiating off of the woman.


    Carolina lowered her voice. "That¡¯s Chad''s mother."


    When Chloe heard this, she became anxious. She wondered if it was Chad who had released that


    recording pen to the reporters. He certainly had the motive and means to do so.


    "Where¡¯s Chad?"


    When Chloe raised this question, the woman became nervous. In the next second, she burst into


    tears. "You¡¯ve hurt my son to the point that he can no longer have children, and you¡¯re still refusing


    to let him go?"


    When this scene broke out, the people who knew the inside story looked over.


    "Ms. Chloe, this is unnecessary. Chad is in a miserable state now. How about you forgive him?"


    "Yeah, you shouldn¡¯t fixate on things."


    "The Wilsons are having a hard time right now as they only have one son. And you¡¯ve wounded


    him..."


    "You''re fine now, aren''t you? Maybe Chad just wanted to be friends with you. Why did you take such


    extreme actions?"


    "I¡¯m sure Chloe didn''t do it on purpose. It''s hard to stay calm and fearless when something like that


    happens,¡± Xavia suddenly piped up. She smiled and acted like a gracious host, saying some nice


    words on Chloe¡¯s behalf, "Let¡¯s not gather around here. Many influential people are in attendance


    today, so let''s not make fools of ourselves."


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Carolina looked at Xavia quietly and admiringly. She thought Xavia sensible, being able to put aside


    her grudges and ce the interests of the whole above herself.


    Hearing her words, the crowd did Xavia the favor and stopped spewingments.


    Chloe crossed her arms but hid her sneer. ''So Xavia wants to use me to please Madam Carolina,


    huh? She must be winning over these peopletely.''


    Xavia whispered in Chloe''s ear, "That¡¯s right. On the outside, Mdm. Carolina treats you well but I¡¯m


    the one she likes best."


    "Hmph, what¡¯s there to like about you? An ugly woman who refuses to let Keh go?"

 Chapter 807 He’ll Mistake Her for His Beloved

    Chapter 807 He¡¯ll Mistake Her for His Beloved


    ¡°Whatever. After all, I''ll be part of the royal family while you''ll always be a shameful bastard child."


    "Good luck."


    Chloe could not be bothered with Xavia and turned around to look for Noah. Her indifference filled


    Xavia with annoyance.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Just then, Chloe locked eyes with Joseph. She tucked away a few strands of her hair behind her


    ear and looked away calmly as if he was just a stranger. Joseph clenched his fists tightly and texted


    her. She nced at the text, the few words he typed out clearly showing his unhappiness.


    [Come to the backyard.]


    Chloe put away her phone and snorted. ''Dream on.''


    Before long, Callum appeared. And as Frieda had anticipated, he led Chloe to the center of the hall


    and solemnly and formally introduced Chloe as his daughter. He also said that he had yet to get to


    know Carolina at the time so, as his legal wife, she had nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone had


    surmised as much, so they were not very surprised.


    "From this day forth, Chloe has my full support. If anyone bullies or challenges her, I''ll forgo all past


    friendships in dealing with those people."


    "Yes, Chloe¡¯s our daughter and a member of the royal family from now on." Carolina''s eyes were full


    of gentleness. "Coco, I want to put your name in the royal family tree. Do you want that?"


    "Madam, thank you for epting me, but I''m very happy with my ce in the Sullivan family and


    my grandfather. So, please forgive me as I turn down your kindness."


    Carolina was hit by bewilderment. She had not expected Chloe to refuse her.


    "The royals live good lives, but I like the ordinary life better. I believe that my mother would have


    thought the same." Chloe then looked at Callum.


    He smiled at her as if he had long foreseen this. "All right, we¡¯ll respect your wishes but promise to


    come to me if you face any difficulties. The royal family will forever be your strongest shield."


    He said these words to Chloe, but it was more of a warning to the guests.


    Chloe nodded and promised she would. She then returned to her seat.


    Noah handed her a ss of lemonade. "I haven¡¯t seen you drink much today. Here, have some."


    Chloe epted the ss and took a few sips. Suddenly, she spotted ra sneaking toward the


    back of the hall. She then recalled that it was ra''s scheme that had led to what happened with


    Chad the other day.


    "I''m going out for some fresh air."


    "I¡¯ll go with you."


    "No need. All the guests here are influential people, so it¡¯s better if you stay here. You never know,


    we might get a few offers."


    Callum had already expressed his stand earlier, and these people were shrewd. They would surely


    try to please Chloe and Noah.


    "But..."


    Noah was about to speak when Otto sat down.


    "Can we have a chat?"


    Chloe nced at Noah. "I''ll be right back. She then walked in the direction that ra had left.


    *


    Chloe hid among the bushes in the garden.


    "Where is he? Didn''t you say that Joseph was here?" ra interrogated the other helper standing


    before her as she looked around.


    "He''s over here. This ce isn''t big, so you¡¯re sure to find him. Well, I¡¯ve provided you with


    information. Hurry up and pay me."


    ra gritted her teeth and unwillingly took out a bank card.


    The helper snatched the card and asked curiously, "Is that thing you have that potent? Will men


    really lose control of their urges when they smell it?"


    ra took out a small spray bottle. While spraying it, she looked for Joseph and said smugly, "He''ll


    lose control and be delusional, mistaking me for the woman he loves most."


    He would then sleep with her, and she could rely on this to gain wealth.


    ra had gotten someone to buy this for her from Dand, and it was said to be one hundred


    percent effective. There were not many good men left. Xavia had Keh and Chloe had Noah, but


    Joseph was still single.


    ra was charmed by the thought of Joseph''s handsome and tall figure. Although he was once


    married, his capital and face still made him desirable. She felt that he was worthy of her.

 Chapter 808 What Dirty Things Are Thinking Of?

    Chapter 808 What Dirty Things Are Thinking Of?


    The conversation made Chloe agitated. ¡®My God! She actually dares to drug Joseph?¡¯


    ra was unscrupulous when it came to gaining wealth, which made her even bolder than Xavia.


    At least, Xavia advanced orderly and tried to use a baby to bind Joseph to her. ra was on a


    different level. She was trying to manipte her body.


    But did Joseph look like a man who could be seduced through bodily charms? How naive!


    This was going to be a good show.


    Chloe wanted to watch the whole thing y out and enthusiastically texted Joseph to ask him


    where he was.


    "I''m right behind you."


    Feeling his cold breath on the back of her neck, she was stunned. She whipped around and found


    him standing within inches of her. They were so close that she could feel his breath and smell his


    unique scent.


    A little startled, Chloe took a step back and almost slipped and fell. Fortunately, Joseph managed to


    catch her by the waist and held on to her.


    "Coward." His cold voice was filled with a strange note of adoration.


    Chloe stiffened, feeling his firm grasp around her waist. Wearing such a thin dress, she could feel


    the heat of his skin. His heartbeat was fast and strong, making her heart beat wildly too.


    All at once, the summer night air was filled with an indescribable passion.


    With a quickened breath, Chloe struggled to get free. But she was worried that she might alert


    ra, so she only pushed him gently. "I''m fine now. You can let go."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Unexpectedly, her gentle push made him hug her tighter. He yearned to take her there and then, so


    why would he ever let her go?


    Joseph¡¯s silence made her look up at him in confusion. He lowered his head and stared at her. He


    gulped, engulfed by his desire, torn between his urges and restraint. Of course, Chloe could read


    his thoughts.


    She blushed and chided, "What dirty things are you thinking about?"


    "I¡¯m thinking about ravishing your lips.¡±


    He said such impudent words in a hoarse tone, but he maintained aposed look as if he was


    asking a sincere question. His shamelessness struck her speechless as she tried to wiggle out of


    his arms.


    "Since you aren¡¯t saying no, I¡¯ll take it as a yes." He sped her chin and lowered his head.


    "No! You¡­Mmph!"


    Chloe''s unspoken words turned into a whimper. He deepened the kiss and fervently enjoyed the


    sweet taste of her mouth. At the same time, he put his hand under his dress to touch her skin. As


    he inched his way up, he teased her sensitive spots.


    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat as she flushed. Even the tips of her ears had turned red.


    "No... Don''t..." Chloe tried to stop him from going any further, but she felt weak and her fingers


    trembled.


    Joseph kissed her neck gently. "No, I won''t." He could not bear the thought of doing it with her here,


    but he just could not control himself.


    A few feet away, ra was holding a torchlight in search of Joseph.


    After about ten minutes, Chloe bit down hard on Joseph''s tongue. The pain caused him to let go of


    her. The first thing she did after escaping his grasp was p him.


    "You bastard!"


    A metallic taste filled his mouth. He then touched his face as his eyes turned dark. "That didn¡¯t hurt


    one bit.¡±

 Chapter 809 Mr. Joseph, Don’t You Feel Lonely?

    Chapter 809 Mr. Joseph, Don¡¯t You Feel Lonely?


    Chloe suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, wondering how she had never noticed his


    shamelessness. "Shut up. ra will be heading this way soon."


    "Even better if she does." Joseph adjusted his clothes, showing a trace of cold indifference.


    Chloe blinked and pointed to the side. She said with a touch of mischief in her tone, "I''ll be right


    over there enjoying the show."


    A faint smile yed on Joseph''s lips. "Good girl."


    Chloe tiptoed to the side and crouched down.


    "Oh, you¡¯re here, Mr. Joseph!" ra''s surprised voice soon rang out.


    "Yes? You¡¯re looking for me?"


    "No, we just happened to bump into each other. Fate must¡¯ve brought us together." Despite


    Joseph''s silence and refusal to acknowledge her, ra feigned care and continued, "There can be


    many mosquitoes around here at night. Here, let me spray some mosquito repellent on you."


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Joseph nced at ra indifferently and did not stop her. Chloe could tell he was holding his


    breath to avoid inhaling the spray.


    "I''ll spray it." Joseph suddenly grabbed the spray bottle, directed its nozzle toward the unsuspecting


    ra, and squeezed.


    "Ah!" ra let out a startled cry, unable to evade the spray. "Don''t spray it on me!"


    Concealed by the darkness of night, Joseph''s frigid demeanor was less noticeable as he gazed at


    ra with icy detachment. "What¡¯s with the panic? Did someone ruffle your feathers?"


    Quickly covering her mouth, ra shifted to a coquettish expression. "No... It''s just that the stuff in


    the spray bottle is a little cold. I don¡¯t want to catch a chill."


    Joseph must have breathed in a little of the spray. A little exposure should not hurt her. It might even


    make both of them more involved. ra mused over the matter, lost in her fantasies as she


    unconsciously leaned closer to the man before her.


    Joseph raised his hand in a gesture of refusal, asking, "What are you trying to do?"


    The drug''s effects coursed through ra''s veins rapidly, causing her body to flush with a desperate


    yearning for release. In her heightened state, she imagined that he must be experiencing something


    simr. She cast aside all her inhibitions. "I want to be with you, Mr. Joseph. Don''t you feel lonely?"


    Joseph''s expression turned into a frown, a sh of repulsion crossing his features. "Do you


    genuinely wish to be with me?"


    "Yes!"


    "Then wait for me in that room over there, Room 1."


    ra epted the key card he handed to her, recognizing that it was for one of the guest rooms


    prepared by the royal family for tonight''s party attendees. As sheprehended his intent, her gaze


    filled with flirtatiousness. "Sure, but hurry. Don¡¯t keep me waiting."


    Men were all the same. They just could not control their desires. But at least he was thoughtful


    enough to not make love outdoors where it would not be safe.


    As soon as ra left, Chloe emerged from the shadows. She covered her mouth and nose, wary of


    inhaling the lingering spray. "Why did you lure her into the room?"


    "I¡¯m granting her wish, thepany of a man."


    Chloe was taken aback, "With whom?"


    Joseph''s lips curved into a mischievous smile, "Chad Wilson."


    "...But he hardly qualifies as a man now, right?"


    "That''s what makes it amusing.¡± He nced at Chloe. "It was Chad who gave the recording to the


    paparazzi."


    Chloe was stunned and a shiver ran down her spine. "So it really was him."


    "Yes, usually, the outside world isn¡¯t allowed to investigate the royal family, and he exploited that


    loophole."


    "It¡¯s no wonder we came up empty-handed despite mobilizing many connections."


    Chad had managed to conceal himself effectively, leaving behind no trace. Besides confirming that


    the culprit had the voice of a man, nothing else could be discerned.


    "Chad¡¯s here too."


    Chloe gaped at Joseph, surprised. "You got him toe here?"

 Chapter 810 Check if Xavia’s Pregnant or Faking It

    Chapter 810 Check if Xavia¡¯s Pregnant or Faking It


    Chloe was fairly certain that a man who just recently had his reproductive organs removed would


    not readily expose himself to the public and subject himself to critical stares from strangers.


    "It wasn''t me. It was Callum."


    Investigating the royal family could lead to interception. While he had ways to avoid being


    intercepted, time was a constraint.


    Chloe fell into contemtive silence, nodding without furtherment. She chose not to


    excessively dissect Callum''s intentions toward her at this point. Whether his kindness was genuine,


    feigned, or a mere facade, time would eventually unveil the truth.


    *


    Before returning to the hall, Chloe made a detour to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. Her


    lipstick, in particr, was an absolute mess.


    When she got back, Noah and Otto were still engrossed in their conversation. As she approached


    them, Otto''s words tapered off. Noah''s demeanor remained unchanged as he ced a piece of fish


    before her. "You were gone for a while."


    "I got lost," Chloe lied without even skipping a beat.


    Noah paused, then looked at her with a prating gaze. "There''s a bodyguard stationed just about


    ten meters away from here. How could you have gotten lost unless you deliberately sought out the


    recreational area and hid there?"


    A perplexed crease formed on Chloe''s forehead as she set down her fork. "Are you using me of


    something?"


    To be honest, Chloe had been unaware of the recreation area. No wonder ra chose that area¡ªa


    private ce from prying eyes.


    "No, it was just a question." Noah''s tone remained even as he cocked his head, looking at Chloe


    with an odd expression. "Is something bothering you, Coco? You appear quite flustered."


    "Perhaps she¡¯s feeling guilty.¡± Otto offered a half-joking, half-serious smile as he narrowed his eyes.


    Chloe''s fists clenched as a touch of nervousness crept up, but she quickly countered with a snort.


    "Hmph, the moment I enter, you two go silent. I think you¡¯re the ones who are acting suspicious."


    Otto and Noah exchanged nces. Noah took a sip of his tea, leaving the response to Otto. It was


    fine since the man had a favor to ask.


    "Business matters. If you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you."


    "Let''s hear it then."


    "We''re discussing investing in neers in the entertainment industry."


    Chloe snorted, a hint of disbelief in her expression.


    Otto looked toward Noah to observe his reaction. He had nned to borate, but his attention


    immediately shifted away as Zoelle entered the room dressed in red, exuding an alluring grace.


    Chloe waved. "Over here."


    Zoelle plopped herself into a chair and chugged down a ss of water. "I sat in a cab for over an


    hour to get here. I¡¯m beat. If it weren''t for the handsome men here, I wouldn''t have," she grumbled


    andined.


    "There really are many handsome men about, but first, you have to help me with something


    important," Chloe said.


    "No problem. Where''s the person?"


    Chloe threw a doubtful nce at Otto, who wanted to butt in but never got a chance. She took


    Zoelle''s arm and suggested, "Let''s talk somewhere else."


    Otto and Xavia were from Duskfall. What if they overheard the n and gave her up?


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    After walking to an empty and quiet corner, Chloe subtly motioned with her chin. "Keep an eye on


    that woman in the beige dress at your four o''clock. She''s Joseph''s long-standing entanglement from


    years ago. See if you can find a moment to check if she''s pregnant or faking it."


    She had approached Zoelle yesterday with a try-and-see attitude, hoping Zoelle woulde with


    her to today''s party. It was all part of the n to verify Xavia¡¯s pregnancy. And to her surprise, Zoelle


    had agreed without hesitation.

 Chapter 811 If Joseph Dies, We Benefit in Every Way

    Chapter 811 If Joseph Dies, We Benefit in Every Way


    Zoelle followed the indicated direction, assessing Xavia from head to toe. "So, she''s his first love


    but not his ex-wife?"


    The mention of Joseph¡¯s ex-wife made Chloe nervously adjust her hair. "Aren¡¯t you curious about


    the woman who managed to conquer Joseph? He was entangled with his first love for over five


    years, longer than his ex-wife."


    "That makes sense," Zoelle agreed, not harboring any suspicion.


    "By the way, how did you manage to get in without an invitation?"


    ¡°Otto gave me an invite.¡±


    "Otto?" Chloe''s eyes widened. "Why would he give you an invitation?" Royal invitations were not


    easy toe by, and these two had only met once.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Zoelle retrieved her lipstick and applied it with great allure. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who needs me.


    I''m in quite high demand, don¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°What does he want from you? Did he ask you to treat someone?¡±


    ¡°I''m not telling you.¡±


    Chloe let out a sigh, looking somewhat forlorn. ¡°I thought we were close. I just wasn¡¯t expecting you


    to be so close to others as well.¡±


    ¡°Enough, I won¡¯t fall for that.¡± Zoelle tapped her temples. Her eyes sparked, exuding an irresistible


    charm. ¡°I might¡¯ve been interested if you were a handsome guy.¡±


    Chloe pouted, deciding to let the matter go. If Zoelle refused to share, she would not get any


    answers through pushing. However, her curiosity remained. It made sense for Otto to get involved


    with Zoelle, but why was Noah also a part of this?


    As the banquet came to an end, Callum took the stage again. ¡°Those of you who are tired may


    retire to your rooms which the royal family has prepared for you. The younger guests who aren''t


    tired can join the bonfire party.¡±


    After speaking, a butler approached to inquire, "Mr. Joseph, you¡¯re in Room No.1. Would you like


    me to show you the way?"


    "I''ll be there in a bit. Please draw me a hot bath," Josephzily instructed.


    "Yes, sir," the butler answered and led the other guests who were retiring to their rooms.


    Meanwhile, Xavia stood at the entrance to the courtyard, her eyes radiating resentment. She had


    once believed that she would spend her life with this man and had even been willing to raise the


    child of that despicable woman with him. But after five years, Joseph told her he did not love her


    and would never marry her, and thus, she came to harbor a deep hatred for Chloe. Countless times,


    she had wished for Chloe to be hit and killed by a car, but fate seemed to favor this wretched


    woman in unexpected ways.


    The guests left the hall, albeit still engaged in conversation andughter, clearly enjoying


    themselves. Noah and Otto were thest to exit, and Chloe and Zoelle were at the forefront of the


    crowd. A physical gap separated the two pairs, rendering their voices inaudible to each other.


    As the crowd dispersed, Otto lowered his voice and his eyes glimmered. "Take your time to think


    about it. An alliance would be advantageous for both of us. If Joseph meets his end, I can cure


    myself and im the leadership of Duskfall. You¡¯d be eliminating potential future problems and


    securing the woman of your dreams. What''s not to favor in this arrangement?"


    Making Joseph submit was never feasible, and Otto could acquire the antidote on his own. He


    would tolerate his father for the time being, knowing that Duskfall would ultimately be under his


    control. At present, the most beneficial course of action was to convince Noah to serve as an


    intermediary and persuade Zoelle to provide treatment.


    The tall and slender Noah, exuding an air of delicacy and perfection, gazed at Otto. His


    countenance was clouded with uncertainty. But instead of an outright refusal, he said, "Let''s put a


    halt on this conversation for now."


    "Absolutely, there''s no rush." Otto paused as if struck by a sudden realization, and his mischievous


    grin deepened. "I wonder if you noticed that Joseph and your fiancee departed the scene at the


    same time..."


    Noah''s gaze instantly sharpened, muddled by the slight haze cast by the few drinks he had


    consumed.


    *


    "Ah!"


    Suddenly, a panicked cry echoed from one of the guest rooms. Amid everyone''s puzzlement, the


    butler who had gone to prepare Joseph¡¯s bath burst out of the room. He stumbled out, looking as if


    they had encountered something horrifying.

 Chapter 812 Comically Bizarre and Horrifying

    Chapter 812 Comically Bizarre and Horrifying


    At that moment, all eyes were fixed on the butler.


    Callum''s brows knitted in irritation. "Why do you look so shocked? Speak clearly."


    "There are people inside..." The butler struggled to regainposure, his face turning beet red.


    "ra and Mr. Chad are inside..."


    "Nonsense! Why would they enter the guest rooms? Get them out here at once." Callum did not


    realize the seriousness of the situation, thinking that the two were merely cking off.


    The butler quivered, hisplexion shifting from red to purple. He stammered, "I-I dare not enter...


    It¡¯s better if you see it for yourself, sir."


    Before anyone could step into the guest room, sporadic moans and a man''s pained screams


    reached their ears from a distance. The sounds were suggestive of something indecent, yet they felt


    something oddly amiss. Why would a man experience such agony during sexual intercourse?


    Callummanded the butler to unlock the door. As it swung open, the assembled spectators were


    left dumbfounded and a stunned hush fell. Faces registered various degrees of shock and


    disturbance, with some quicker-witted ones hastily shielding their eyes and averting their gaze in


    embarrassment.


    Chloe involuntarily took several steps back, not out of bashfulness, but because the scene was truly


    unsettling. Imagine a naked, disheveled woman chasing after a man with a maniacal and unhinged


    expression, resembling a vengeful spirit poised to im a soul. Chad''s garments had been torn


    away, leaving him only in his underpants. He fought for survival, and his body was adorned with


    crimson scratches. He dashed around the room in a frenzied panic, clutching desperately at his


    conspicuously empty crotch.


    The scene wasically bizarre,ced with a touch of horror.


    "You¡¯re still looking? Aren''t you ashamed?" Joseph gritted his teeth and discreetly pinched her


    slender waist.


    "What''s there to be ashamed of? I''m not some innocent maiden," Chloe replied, her delicate face


    disying a sense of naturalness. She craned her neck to continue watching, looking like someone


    who enjoys a good spectacle.


    Joseph was left speechless at her answer.


    The woman who had been targeting Chloe at the banquet earlier was terrified by the scene. Her


    face turned pale and she said to Chad, "What are you doing, son? You¡¯re not well and shouldn¡¯t be


    engaged in such acts!¡±


    "I didn¡¯t want this, Mom! Ah, I can''t exin right now. Just get this madwoman away from me!"


    Chad sounded anxious and afraid, struggling to form coherent sentences. In his distraction, ra


    pounded on him and knocked him to the ground. A pig-like scream came from his mouth, and a


    momentter, they saw that ra had grabbed ahold of his lower half.


    ra''s face was flushed red and herughter contained a note of derision, making her look like a


    perverted seductress. "Mr. Joseph, why are you hiding from me? My figure is so much better than


    Xavia''s. You can feel me if you don''t believe it."


    Everyone then understood what was happening. It was now clear why ra had appeared in


    Joseph''s room. She had intended to ambush him, but Chad had inadvertently stumbled into the


    situation.


    Numerous pairs of eyes discreetly looked toward Joseph and Xavia, searching for any signs of


    emotions. Joseph retained hisposure, his handsome countenance unchanged. It was as


    though he were impervious to anything around him.


    Xavia''s expression was strained, her efforts to project a dignified demeanor evident. She turned to


    Callum and suggested, "Sir, ra might be unwell. We should get her a doctor. How is a woman


    supposed to find a husband if she¡¯s seen running around naked like this?"


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Before Callum could respond, ra yelled upon catching Xavia''s words, "It''s the truth! Don''t let


    Xavia¡¯s polished appearance fool you. Her body can¡¯t hold a candle to mine after bearing a child.


    Keh¡¯s an idiot who chose an old woman because he has never savored the allure of a young


    one."

 Chapter 813 Announce the Answer

    Chapter 813 Announce the Answer


    "Pfft..." Chloe inhaled sharply, struggling to contain her glee.


    Was ra not supposed to be Xavia''sckey? Yet, it seemed like she had been ying two roles¡ª


    one for the public eye and another behind the scenes.


    At that moment, Xavia quivered as if she had been struck by an intense force. She appeared as


    delicate as a sheet of paper on the brink of crumbling. She swiftly bolted out of the door, fleeing as if


    desperate to escape the scene.


    As the crowd grewrger, Chloe was struck with an idea. She subtly nudged Zoelle with her elbow,


    and thetter instantly grasped her thoughts. As Xavia rushed past them, Zoelle extended her foot.


    Consumed by anger, Xavia failed to notice this subtle motion and tripped. As she headed face-first


    to the ground, Zoelle quickly caught her by the waist.


    "Oww, are you okay? You should watch where you¡¯re going.¡±


    Xavia, not wanting to be here, swiftly shook Zoelle off and continued running without a word in


    response.


    "So? Did you manage to feel anything? Was the contact too brief?" Chloe asked anxiously. The


    interaction had hardlysted for more than five seconds.


    Zoelle threw Chloe a reproachful look, "Do not equate me withmon doctors. Besides, this isn''t


    anything extraordinarily difficult.¡±


    Only amateurs would find such a thing impressive.


    "And the result? What did you find?" Chloe inquired in a hushed tone, her eyes shimmering with


    anticipation. "Is she pregnant or not?"


    "You should show some respect. That woman is putting on a grand spectacle while naked, so we


    should watch till the end," Zoelle replied, turning back toward ra. She continued watching with a


    wickedly gleeful expression on her face.


    *


    Callum''s face turned ashen as he barked orders to the guards, "What are you waiting for? Get her


    out of there now!"


    The bodyguards, caught off guard by the situation, quickly closed their dropped jaws and


    responded, "Yes, right away, sir."


    ra fiercely shielded Chad, preventing anyone from reaching him. Faced with no other option, the


    guards covered her with some clothes and then knocked her unconscious before carrying her away.


    Carolina, already in bed, waspletely unaware of the chaos that had unfolded.


    Frustrated and annoyed, Callum left the chaotic scene for Keh to manage.


    Keh was just as irritated as Xavia, and his anger burned fiercely. His thoughts were consumed


    by concern for his beloved. He firmly asserted, "Father, this situation is far too strange to be


    ignored. We can¡¯t allow it to be swept under the rug. We have to conduct a thorough investigation


    and uncover the person behind it."


    "Silence!" Callum snapped coldly, "Is this whole fiasco not shameful enough already?"


    "But Dad..."


    "Enough!"


    Ignoring Keh¡¯s further protests, Callum called for the guests to move on to the bonfire. He then


    turned to Joseph. ¡°I¡¯ll have a new room prepared for you.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Joseph replied indifferently, "Sure."


    "Is this your doing?"


    "Not exactly."


    Callum instantly grasped the situation. It was clear that ra had attempted to seduce Joseph but


    was discovered red-handed. In the end, her n backfired on her.


    Joseph''s attention shifted to Noah, who had approached Chloe and gently taken her hand. As if


    sensing an underlying tension, Noah nced backward and locked eyes with Joseph. His gaze was


    cool and unyielding as he silently issued a caution.


    Joseph averted his gaze and rolled up his sleeves. "Let''s go. I have no interest in witnessing a


    spectacle put on by two monkeys."


    Callum was left speechless. The royal family never kept pet monkeys, but the way ra and Chad


    had acted certainly qualified as monkeys making fools of themselves.


    *


    "What were you whispering about with Zoelle? Why didn''t youe to me?" Noah''s voice was


    gentle, tinged with a touch of sadness.


    Chloe did not hesitate to share with him about Xavia''s situation. "I was asking Zoelle to help confirm


    whether Xavia is pregnant."


    "And did she manage to find out?"


    Chloe pulled Noah toward Zoelle, who was walking ahead of them, and ryed Noah''s question,


    "So? Is Xavia pregnant or not? It''s time to announce the answer."

 Chapter 814 But...Someone Saw You With Joseph

    Chapter 814 But...Someone Saw You With Joseph


    Zoelle shed a mischievous smile and yfully inquired, "What do you think? Are you hoping that


    she is?"


    "I think she is. She and Keh seem like a good match."


    Most importantly, even if Xavia were pregnant, Callum would not let her truly marry into the royal


    family.


    Zoelle smiled and nodded. "Nah, wrong. I think you shouldn¡¯t y guessing games."


    "Xavia isn''t pregnant?"


    "Nope."


    Chloe narrowed her eyes in contemtion, murmuring to herself, "So how did she deceive them?"


    The royal family possesses a dedicated medical team and the most advanced medical equipment.


    Keh must have brought Xavia to the royal castle for examination. The chances of Xavia


    hatching a n with the medical staff within a month seemed unlikely.


    Zoelle shrugged and responded, ¡°I don''t know, but I can confirm she shows no signs of pregnancy."


    On top of that, Xavia¡¯s period had just ended.


    "Colluding with the medical staff is unlikely, but she might¡¯ve colluded with someone else," Noah


    said as he spotted a busy, pregnant house helper.


    Chloe followed his line of sight and instantly grasped his thought. "You''re suggesting she switched


    out her test results with someone else''s to deceive them?"


    "She must¡¯ve used the urine of someone within the royal castle who¡¯s already pregnant."


    Within the royal castle, as long as there was mutual consent, such exchanges were entirely


    possible.


    Chloe''s eyes brightened as she came to a conclusion. "That''s reasonable. I''ll have Ophelia look into


    all the pregnant women in the royal castle and identify who has been in contact with Xavia recently."


    Noah nodded, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Once the distraction that is Xavia has been dealt


    with, we can move forward with our marriage ns, right?"


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Chloe hesitated, considering briefly whether to pretend to agree. However, her genuine reaction


    surfaced instead. "Let''s not discuss that at the moment."


    "Why?" His eyes were slightly reddened at the corners from drinking. It gave him a somewhat fragile


    appearance. "Or do you have no intention of marrying me at all?"


    Her gaze involuntarily shifted away as she calmly said, "No, it was just a passing remark. Let''s just


    focus on enjoying the bonfire and chatting with everyone tonight. We''ve been so tensetely, so


    let¡¯s kick off our shoes for today and not dwell on things."


    "I wish I could avoid overthinking it, but...someone saw you with Joseph."


    Noah''s eyes lowered, his long eyshes fluttering like butterfly wings. He then looked up again. His


    intense gaze struck straight at Chloe''s heart, and she involuntarily shivered.


    ¡®Did he see us? It can''t be. That ce was built for privacy. And even if he did see, I was coerced


    into it,¡¯ Chloe thought. Regardless of future ns, she understood that engaging in intimate


    behavior with another man while engaged was wrong.


    "I did meet him in the garden, and we exchanged a few words," she offered, straddling the line


    between truth and lie.


    Noah quietly listened to her exnation. His gaze traversed her face, inch by inch, before settling


    on her neck. A faint pink mark rested there, barely noticeable without close examination.


    Even with Zoelle¡¯s expertise in romantic affairs, she could not identify if the mark was a love bite or


    not as the sky was already dark and the mark was barely even there. Also, her attention was on an


    entirely different matter.


    "Chloe and Joseph..." she asked incredulously.


    "Coco is Joseph''s ex-wife," Noah blurted out.


    "Damn!"


    Zoelle realized that after all the trouble she had gone through, this youngling had pulled a fast one


    on her.


    "Would you believe me if I said I never deliberately kept this from you?" Chloeughed awkwardly. It


    was just too embarrassing.


    Zoelle angrily ced her hands on her hips and red at Chloe. "And you use me of not treating


    you like a friend. You used me as a friend to deal with Xavia. I think you''re even more cunning than


    her.¡±

 Chapter 815 Seeing the Bonfire or Seeing Joseph?

    Chapter 815 Seeing the Bonfire or Seeing Joseph?


    Chloe could not argue with that statement as it was true. She was no longer the naive and trusting


    girl she once was, no longer willing to leave herself vulnerable to others. It seemed wiser to deceive


    others than to be deceived herself. However, she genuinely did not believe this to be a big deal. If


    Zoelle cared that much, she would be honest about it.


    Observing that Chloe had no intention of borating, Zoelle let out a heavy snort and pressed on, "I


    don''t know what happened between you and Joseph, but you''re engaged to Noah now, who


    happens to be my good friend. I won''t tolerate any betrayal from your end. If I get so much as a


    whiff, I won''t be so quick to forgive you then."


    "I don''t¡ª"


    "Enough. I¡¯m going to engage thepany of some handsome men."


    "Shall we go to the bonfire or head home?" Noah asked tly as he watched Zoelle walk away.


    Chloe looked toward him, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "The bonfire," she replied. She had


    yet to inform Ophelia about Xavia''s fake pregnancy.


    "Do you want to see the bonfire or do you want to see Joseph again?"


    "I have no such intentions. Don¡¯t overthink things." Chloe responded with a sigh, a touch of


    annoyance in her voice.


    "Your actions make it impossible for me to fully trust you." Noah''s slender fingers slowly caressed


    Chloe''s neck, then suddenly pressed down onto the red mark. His fingernail scraped against her


    delicate skin.


    "Oww, that hurt!" Chloe''s face contorted in pain.


    "You know the feeling of pain, so why don''t you learn from it? You never put any weight to my


    words," Noah said with a smile on his lips. However, his eyes were bloodshot, frightening to behold.


    Chloe pped his hand away. She was a little scared. "I don''t understand what you''re saying."


    Noah closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths to suppress his rage before saying, "Let''s go


    home. I don''t want to lose my temper here."


    He had been too kind to her, allowing her to hurt him without restraint. What if they were alone?


    Would he be unhinged?


    "I''m not going home. I have something to do here," Chloe refused, and her attention shifted away. "I


    need to find Ophelia and tell her the truth about Xavia."


    "I''ll send someone to deliver the message. Let¡¯s go home now."


    "No!" Chloe shook off his hand, her brows furrowing in annoyance.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    This impatience wounded Noah deeply. He suddenly recalled Desmond''s words about not indulging


    Chloe too much and being assertive when necessary.


    "I''m speaking to you kindly, yet you''re unwilling to listen to me?"


    Chloe did not wish to talk to him anymore and started to move away. "I don''t know what''s gotten into


    you. Let''s talk when you''re calm, okay?"


    "Come home." He grabbed her wrist, leaving no room for debate.


    "No! Let go of me!"


    Noah paid no heed to her reluctance and dragged her away. Chloe stumbled and she fell, her knee


    scraping against the cobblestone path. Arge piece of her skin was torn off, her elbow was


    bruised, and her entire body ached.


    Tears filled her eyes as she blew on her wounds, her expression one of pitiful injustice. Noah turned


    back, and noticing his injuries, his boiling anger cooled and was reced by remorse. Just as he


    was about to speak, Joseph''s fist smashed into his face.


    Thud!


    The fierce punch tore Noah¡¯s skin and caused blood to spill from his mouth.


    Joseph suppressed his anger and bent down to scoop Chloe into his arms.


    Noah looked up, seemingly undeterred by the pain. He threatened menacingly, ¡°Put her down, and


    don''t make me repeat myself."


    "You expect me to put her down after you¡¯ve hurt her?¡±


    Noah¡¯s leg then swung out. Joseph, having anticipated this, swiftly sidestepped to evade the blow.


    He understood that Noah would not allow their escape without resistance, so he kept his guard up.


    He gently ced Chloe on a stone chair and gently reassured her, "Wait here. I''ll take you to the


    hospital soon."


    Chloe was worried. "Don''t be rash. I''m fine."


    The pain was manageable, and she could endure it. This all felt so absurd to her. From Joseph


    taking advantage of her to Noah suspecting her, she had yet to aplish what she had set out to


    do.


    "It''s fine. I¡¯m just teaching an unruly kid a lesson."

 Chapter 816 So What if I Get Injured?

    Chapter 816 So What if I Get Injured?


    The enraged Noah threw himself at Joseph.


    Joseph, knowing Noah was well-versed in fighting, knew that simply dodging would not work. He


    chose the right moment and delivered a powerful punch.


    They quickly broke out into a full-on fistfight.


    Chloe watched as her heart pounded. For a moment, she forgot her own pain and hobbled forward,


    wanting to find someone to pull Joseph and Noah apart. But there was no one within their vicinity,


    so hoping someone to pass them was hopeless.


    Noah and Joseph started sporting bruises as they threw punches at each other.


    With determination, Chloe spread her arms apart as she positioned herself in between them. She


    shouted angrily, "Stop fighting!"


    At that moment, Joseph had already thrown his punch and could not retract it. He quickly changed


    direction, and the punch that was headed for hernded on the wooden column of a pavilion. The


    impact between flesh and wood produced a loud thud, sounding rather painful.


    Chloe''s face turned pale with fright. She hurriedly checked his hand and said, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry..."


    She had only wanted them to stop fighting, not having anticipated things to turn out this way.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Joseph was not seriously hurt, but seeing her concern for him elicited a warm feeling within him. He


    deliberately furrowed his brow and said, "It''s fine. It¡¯s a little painful but nothing serious."


    Chloe looked around for Vince and urgently said, "Where''s your assistant? Have him take you to the


    hospital, quickly.¡±


    Surface wounds were a minor issue. She was more concerned about any potential damage to his


    muscles and bones, but she failed to locate Vince.


    Joseph gazed at Chloe. Her skin was fair, and her nose was slightly upturned. Her beautiful eyes


    resembled stars that shined brightly in the night sky. At this moment, they were filled with concern


    for him. A wicked thought crossed his mind. If sustaining a few injuries meant holding her attention,


    he was more than willing to endure a few more.


    Meanwhile, this scene caused Noah, who had finally calmed down, to start fuming again as anger


    washed over him like hot waves. Noticing a brick on the ground, he bent over to pick it up. Chloe


    nced back at Noah and her eyes widened in puzzlement at his actions. But this sense of


    puzzlement did notst long and was quickly reced by fear.


    She shouted angrily, her voice trembling, "Put that down!"


    "Are you going toe home with me?" he asked as he stared at Chloe.


    An overwhelming sense of terror swept over Chloe. ''Is he going to hit Joseph with that brick...? But


    that could kill him!'' she thought.


    "Are youing home with me?" Noah repeated himself, taking steps closer.


    Chloe stared at him with her mouth agape. It took her a while to find her voice. "Y-Yes... I''ll go home


    with you..."


    She dared not imagine what might happen next if she refused. Joseph was injured, and she could


    not stop Noah on her own.


    Frowning, Joseph said, "If you don''t want to go with him, don''t. I''ll protect you."


    "No, I want to go. It''s time for me to go home anyway," Chloe said. She was worried that Noah


    might do something crazy.


    Before Joseph could say anything else, Chloe followed Noah away and got into the car.

 Chapter 817 Who Is He to Her?

    Chapter 817 Who Is He to Her?


    On the road, Noah threw nces at Chloe seated in the passenger seat. He seemed deaf and blind


    to everything else around him as he mechanically turned the steering wheel. His mind was filled


    with images of Chloe worrying over Joseph. It was like an erged photo constantly shing before


    him, and he felt as if his heart was tearing into two.


    He could not understand why Chloe still chose Joseph over him after everything he had done. Was


    his five years of feelings for her worth nothing?


    Noah had never felt this miserable before. Throughout his life, things he worked hard for would


    eventually yield results. Achieving excellence in his academic endeavors, devoting himself to Exotic


    Star, diligently preparing for his graduate exams¡­ He thought it would be the same with Chloe. He


    thought that by being by her side day after day, bringing her favorite foods, buying delicious


    candies, and building their careers together, she woulde to like him one day.


    But today, he realized how pathetic he had been. Chloe had never gotten over Joseph, but then


    what about him? What ce did he have in her heart?


    The car came to a stop at the Sullivan manor. Noah remained motionless, his hands gripping the


    wheel tightly. His gaze was dazed and vacant as he stared straight ahead.


    The summer night was quite warm, and the stars were scattered across the sky.


    He looked beside him, only to find the passenger seat empty. Chloe had already gotten out of the


    car. In the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of his injured profile¡ªthe blood at the corner of his


    mouth starting to dry up. Throughout the entire ordeal and the whole ride home, Chloe had not


    shown an ounce of concern for him.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Noah froze, then a disappointed smile crossed his face. He clenched his teeth, his eyes turned red,


    and his body trembled. His grandfather was right. Gentleness could not keep a woman. He had to


    use force.

 Chapter 818 He’s a Bag Full of Cats

    Chapter 818 He¡¯s a Bag Full of Cats


    Ophelia searched around the bonfire but could not find Chloe anywhere. She handed her wine


    ss to Otto and said, "I''m going to make a call."


    He wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled. "Who are you calling?"


    "Chloe. We made ns to deal with Xavia today, but Chloe¡¯s nowhere to be found."


    Otto narrowed his eyes slightly. "Don''t bother looking for her. Once we''re married, I''ll take care of


    Xavia for you."


    Ophelia pushed him away and sneered. "You? I''ll be grateful as long as you don¡¯t turn our family


    upside down."


    "I¡¯d never do that to you," Otto said affectionately, but there was a hint of cunning in his eyes.


    "Darling, what''s mine is yours. Once I take over Duskfall, you can handle Xavia however you want."


    The roles were well-defined in Duskfall, and nobody was to interfere with each other''s tasks.


    Although he was not very clear on what tasks had been assigned to Xavia, he would not help Xavia,


    nor would he stop Ophelia. If Ophelia was willing to use the royal family''s power to help him ascend


    the ranks, then Xavia''s life and death would no longer be his concern. After all, it was her fault for


    not being able to secure Joseph''s heart.


    "Stop it. I''m not a gullible fool like my brother," Ophelia said as she raised an eyebrow


    mischievously. "I know what you''re thinking. Don''t say things I don''t want to hear, or I might start


    disliking you."


    Otto was stumped. Hemented. "Darling, you''re hurting my feelings. Why do you doubt my love for


    you?"


    "What a smooth talker. I¡¯m going to make the call now, so behave yourself," Ophelia teased with a


    smile on her face.


    As soon as she left, Otto''s smile faded. He looked toward Xavia, who was ying the violin by the


    bonfire. The beautiful music, the dancing firelight, and the soft breeze that lifted her skirt and


    revealed her legs ever so slightly, made for a captivating sight. It gave her a pure, unapproachable


    quality, lending her an ethereal quality. Everything about her was perfect.


    Keh was gazing at her affectionately. Seeing the admiring nces of the people around them,


    he felt a great sense of satisfaction. To him, what ra said was definitely out of jealousy as Xavia


    was unmatched in this world.


    Everyone was immersed in this outdoor concert, unaware of the smugness in Xavia''s eyes. With


    Chloe''s absence, she was determined to steal the spotlight she had lost in the first half of the party.


    While Otto was mulling over the matter, his phone buzzed. He did not wish to check it, but since


    Ophelia was noting back anytime soon, he reluctantly looked at the message. Upon reading it,


    he immediately sat up straight. It was a message from Noah. However, he had not agreed to work


    with him. Instead, Noah wanted to meet Cyrus directly.


    Otto chuckled yfully. It seemed that Noah was getting bold and that was looking down on him. He


    replied, [My father is busy, and besides, I can provide you with what you want. Young man, don¡¯t


    bite off more than you can chew.]


    It did not take long before Noah replied, [What if I know the whereabouts of Joseph''s mother?]


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Otto stared at his phone for a long moment, feeling an inexplicable chill down his spine as he


    recalled Noah¡¯s innocent, clean face. It looked like he should not underestimate someone who could


    compete with Joseph for a woman.


    After all, Noah was clearly a bag full of cats.


    *


    When Chloe woke up, she habitually reached under her pillow to grab her phone. After fumbling


    around for a while, she realized it was not there. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and lifted the pillow,


    only to find her phone was not there. She assumed it had fallen off the bed, but after searching


    around, it was clear that was not the case.


    Sitting at the edge of the bed, her gaze fell on the sandwich and hot milk on her bedside table. She


    frowned, and her first reaction was that someone had entered her room and taken her phone. And


    that someone must have been Noah.


    Chloe got out of bed and put on her shoes, having every intention to question him about it. But


    when she reached the door, she found herself unable to open it despite turning the doorknob


    vigorously. She realized that not only Noah had taken her phone, but he had also locked her in.

 Chapter 819 If He Wants Me Dead, Don’t Come Home

    Chapter 819 If He Wants Me Dead, Don¡¯t Come Home


    Chloe was taken aback. Her thoughts were still foggy from just waking up. She recalled only


    drinking a ss of water that a helper had brought overst night, so how had she slept so


    soundly? If someone had entered her room, she should not have beenpletely oblivious to it.


    She pondered over the matter, and an answer slowly formed in her mind. Someone must have


    spiked her water. And other than Noah, she could not think of anyone else who would have done


    so.


    Chloe¡¯s anger surged, and she pounded on the door with all her might. "Open the door!" The palms


    of her hands turned red from the force.


    After a few minutes, a helper came by. She cautiously approached the door and said, "I''m sorry, Ms.


    Chloe, but I don''t have the key. I can''t open the door."


    "Get me Noah then!" Chloe shouted.


    "Mr. Noah isn''t here. He went to work."


    "What about Grandpa?"


    "Mr. Desmond left for an overseas trip this morning as arranged by Mr. Noah. He''s not here either..."


    Chloe''s pupils contracted. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Clenching her fists tightly,


    she said, "One hour. Tell Noah that if he doesn''te to see me within the hour, I''ll set this ce on


    fire. If he wants me dead, then tell him not to bother withing home."


    She could not fathom why Noah would want to lock her up and send Desmong away. Was he


    copying Joseph in holding her captive? Whatever the case, she was not the person she was five


    years ago, and she would allow anyone to trap her ever again.


    The helper panicked. "Please don''t say such scary things, Ms. Chloe. Mr. Noah simply wants you to


    rest. If you need anything, just let me know. Please don¡¯t harm yourself."


    The helper had worked for the Sullivans since she was young, so it was only natural for her to follow


    Noah''s orders. But silence fell over the entire third floor as Chloe did not respond, and the helper


    could sense Chloe¡¯s determination through her silence. Terrified, the helper scampered downstairs


    to call Noah.


    Chloe quietly stood on the balcony of her room, counting each second as she waited anxiously.


    Gazing downward, the Sullivan manor featured a timeless garden design featuring white walls, dark


    tiles, sloping eaves, and intricate Asvinian carvings. It looked just like the residence of an ancient


    noble.


    The spacious courtyards featured artificial mountains, long corridors, and elegantly designed


    pavilions. Along with ponds adorned with lotus flowers, this created a poetic, but also somewhat


    dull, atmosphere.


    When Chloe first moved in, they had renovated a specific area and crafted a garden in the Estre-


    style, adorning it with an expanse of blooming flowers so that she could adapt to the manor quickly.


    During warmer days, she could see an unending expanse of flowers from her window, their


    enchanting scent an irresistible allure for any girl.


    Yet, her current gaze upon the sea of flowers was devoid of the joy that once made this ce feel


    like home. Desmond had so much faith in Noah that he went on a trip abroad without even notifying


    her. If he knew of Noah¡¯s true nature, he would likely be even more disappointed than she was. The


    child he had nurtured with his own hands had strayed from the right path.


    After some time had passed, Chloe spotted Noah''s car pulling in. She sat down in the chair, her


    face expressionless as she waited for him to enter the room. After a few minutes, Noah pushed the


    door open and walked.


    He looked at her and asked, "Why haven¡¯t you had breakfast? Aren''t you hungry?"


    Chloe jumped to her feet. Her eyes were devoid of warmth as she demanded, "Give me back my


    phone."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "I can sense that you¡¯ve been really tiredtely, so I took your phone away," he said calmly, "Our


    wedding is just a week away, so stay home and rest. Don''t worry about anything else. I''m right


    here."


    "I don''t want to stay at home, and you have no right to take my phone away."


    "I already did, so you have no choice."


    Furious at his indifference, Chloe stopped responding. She decided she would leave until Desmond


    returned.

 Chapter 820 She’s Saving Herself

    Chapter 820 She¡¯s Saving Herself


    Blocking the doorway, Noah said as he stared at her, "Coco, please don¡¯t provoke me. The


    consequences could be severe."


    "Putting sleeping pills in my water, taking my phone, locking me up, and sending my grandfather


    away¡­ Who¡¯s the one provoking whom?!"


    "And do I not have reasons to do all this?" Despite his soft chuckle, Noah¡¯s teeth clenched tightly.


    "Do you want me to say out loud the things you and Joseph were up tost night? Don''t you find it


    embarrassing and disgraceful, or are you just used to it already?"


    Noah and Chloe had publicly acknowledged their rtionship. Even before their engagement, they


    were already known as a couple. And while in that role, she maintained a questionable rtionship


    with her ex-husband, causing him embarrassment on multiple asions. The first time he


    discovered them doing such things, he believed she was forced and forgave her. But what about the


    second time? And the third? Did she not know how to say no? Why would she refuse to cut off


    contact with Joseph? Was this because she did not know how to reject him or that she simply did


    not want to?


    Chloe was stunned, and her nails dug into her palm. ¡°Yes, I am everything you¡¯ve just said. Are you


    satisfied now?" If this could make him dislike her and cancel their wedding, so be it. She did not


    care about carrying an unsavory reputation. It was not the first time for her anyway.


    Noah felt his heart being torn apart and his face fell. "Are you trying to make me call off the


    wedding?"


    Chloe nodded. "Yes. I don¡¯t want to get married."


    "Joseph nted this thought in your mind."


    This was not a question, but a statement.


    Chloe did not agree with his statement. Her gaze dimmed and her expression was tinged with


    disappointment as she said, "Stop bringing him up. Why don¡¯t you take a look at yourself and


    realize your own ws instead?¡±


    As rage overwhelmed Noah''s rationality, he failed to sense that something was amiss. He assumed


    Chloe was just making excuses and roared, "That''s enough! I will marry you, no matter if you want


    to or not!"


    As long as she remained here, there was a chance her heart would lean toward him one day. He


    was determined to keep her by his side by any means necessary, even if it meant keeping her


    locked up forever. Besides, he did not believe for a second that he was inferior to Joseph. He had


    even considered making Joseph disappear.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    If Joseph was gone, there would be no one to fight him for Chloe''s affection.


    "Noah, don¡¯t¡ª"


    Chloe¡¯s words were cut short as Noah mmed the door shut and left. He could not stay any


    longer, unable to bear the pain. It felt like his bones were being wrenched apart, his flesh was being


    ripped open, and his heart was about to bleed dry.


    But what could he do? It was clear that she felt no pity for him.


    Chloe stared at the tightly closed door, her eyes slowly filled with tears. Grievance surged through


    her, making it hard for her to breathe. She had originally agreed to spend the rest of her life with


    Noah. She followed her grandfather''s advice and was willing to marry Noah and manage Exotic Star


    together. However, after discovering Noah''s secret and seeing his dark side, she could not pretend


    that nothing had happened. She could not let her child die in vain.


    Tears streamed down her face, and the thought of being confined to this small room like all those


    years ago choked her. She felt like she was going to go crazy.


    Chloe suddenly shot to her feet and swept the food tray off the bedside table, sending porcin and


    food across the floor. She walked barefoot across the broken ss, seemingly numb to the pain.


    Retrieving a lighter from her desk drawer, she lit up the curtains with a vacant gaze.


    The mes swiftly crawled up the corner of the curtain, spreading to the carpet within a matter of


    minutes. The scorching heat enveloped the room, making Chloe''s face flush red. She stared around


    the room as if she had been transported back to that desperate evening five years ago.


    The difference was that this time, she was saving herself.

 Chapter 821 She’s in Trouble

    Chapter 821 She¡¯s in Trouble


    At Fairlight, Ophelia stormed into Joseph''s office. Ignoring Lucas, she shouted, "Where¡¯s Chloe? I


    have a few choice words for her!"


    Chloe disappearedst night, and Ophelia could not reach her. Chloe did not answer her calls, nor


    did she reply to any of her messages. They had agreed to cooperate, but Chloe suddenly went off


    the grid.


    Ophelia could not tolerate the frustration, especially after watching Xavia preen like a peacock and


    y the violin all night. It annoyed her to no end. The worst part was that the uncultured


    commoners around her thought that Xavia had yed well.


    Even after calling again today, Ophelia¡¯s calls still went unanswered. She did not want to lose her


    temper, but she could not hold back anymore. She would not tolerate such disrespect.


    Joseph lifted his gaze from the pile of documents on his desk. His expression was calm as he


    asked, "Why are you looking for her?"


    "Something urgent, of course. Just tell me where she is."


    "Don''t you have her number?"


    "I do, but she isn¡¯t answering. Otherwise, would I bother withing to you? I went to the Sullivan


    residence, but she was not there. She¡¯s not at Exotic Star either."


    Callum had mentioned that Joseph was Chloe''s ex-husband. And seeing as he was still infatuated


    with her, he should know everything about her.


    Joseph''s eyebrows furrowed and his face became serious. "You can''t reach her?"


    "Yeah. You can try if you don''t believe me."


    ¡®Did she oversleep maybe? She often sleeps in until the afternoon," Joseph wondered. But he soon


    dispelled the thought after seeing it was already three in the afternoon. It was impossible that she


    had not woken up yet.


    He suddenly realized something, and his face sank. "She¡¯s in trouble."


    *


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    At the Sullivan manor, smoke billowed out of the windows. The first person to notice this was a


    gardener tending to the flowers in the courtyard. He hurried inside to inform the house helpers.


    When Noah arrived at Chloe¡¯s room, the fire had already engulfed half the carpet, but fortunately,


    the fire had not spread too rapidly.


    Thick smoke filled the air, and Chloe¡¯s figure could be barely seen through the haze. She was still in


    her sleepwear, and her feet were bloodied, giving her the appearance of a vulnerable young girl.


    But her eyes held a resolute determination that could only have been forged through facing life''s


    hardships and challenges.


    Noah''s heart trembled, and he quickly walked over to carry her out. Once they were outside, Chloe


    immediately tried to get away from him.


    "Let go of me."


    "No, your feet are injured. You shouldn¡¯t be walking."


    Chloe struggled with all her might as she did not want to stay in his arms. Her actions stung him, but


    at the moment, he cared more about her well-being.


    "You can hit me and curse at me, but please don''t make light of your body. Grandpa would be


    heartbroken if he knew about this," Noah said gently, trying to reason with her and convince her to


    prioritize herself.


    "Isn''t this all a result of your doing?" Chloe said, gazing at Noah mockingly. She distanced herself


    from him, standing barefoot on thewn. The soft grass felt like sharp des, aggravating the


    wounds on the soles of her feet.


    Bewildered, Noah asked in disbelief, "Locking you up in your room means that I''m forcing you? This


    is your home. Do you think I¡¯d just stand by and watch you seek out Joseph?"


    Chloe was too exhausted to exin herself any further. Weakly, she shook her head. "Think


    whatever you want. Cancel the wedding. I¡¯ll exin things to Grandpa."


    "Never!" Noah immediately rejected and ordered all the house helpers to surround her. "Don''t even


    think about leaving. Since you¡¯re so stubborn, take this time to reflect on yourself until youe to


    your senses."

 Chapter 822 You’re Involved in My Child’s Death

    Chapter 822 You¡¯re Involved in My Child¡¯s Death


    As soon as he had finished speaking, the helpers surrounded Chloe and unceremoniously pushed


    her into a room, leaving her with no opportunity to think or resist. This time, Noah had decided to


    lock her up in his room.


    Chloe felt perplexed as she stared at the helpers standing before her. As they followed Noah¡¯s


    orders in such a respectful manner, she wondered if they had been brainwashed. She felt like an


    intruder in her own house.


    "Coco, the fact that I managed to save you five years ago means that I have the power to lock you


    up again," Noah said. He sat next to her and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. His


    movements were gentle, yet the words that came out of his mouth chilled Chloe to the bone.


    A wave of unprecedented nausea washed over Chloe. She pushed him away and said, "Have you


    finally decided to shed your pretense?"


    Hearing the word "pretense," Noah''s face sank. "You see my kindness toward you as an act? Coco,


    I''m disappointed in you."


    "Was killing my child also a kindness?" Chloe blurted out.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    At her words, he froze and stared at her. After calming himself a little, he said through trembling lips,


    "You''re talking crazy. Your child¡¯s death was an ident. Didn''t Vanya already tell you the truth?"


    "That''s because you threatened her!"


    Noah''s heart skipped a beat. He felt the air around him thinning as unsettling emotions surged


    within him. "So you knew all along?"


    Chloe simply stared at him silently with cold eyes that were filled with disgust.


    Clenching his fists, Noah took a few deep breaths and said, "I did it for your own good. Keeping that


    child would¡¯ve been a burden to you."


    Chloe burst intoughter. She jabbed her finger into his chest and hissed, "And what gives you the


    right to make any decisions about my child?¡±


    So ording to his logic, should she be thanking him for taking her child away?


    "Aren''t you happy now? You have a family, a career, and a reputation that others envy. If you kept


    that child, you would never be able to sever your ties to Joseph. You''d be a divorced single


    mother struggling to survive and would face prejudice at every turn. It was me who made the right


    choice for you."


    "That''s what you think. It''s not what I wanted," Chloe said, emphasizing each of her words as she


    stared into his eyes. "You. You¡¯re one of the culprits involved in my child¡¯s death. When Grandpa


    gets back, I''ll tell him everything. Whether he allows you to remain in this house, I won''t object to it,


    but I¡¯ll never marry you."


    Once she had revealed everything, Chloe felt a heavy weight being lifted off her shoulders. The


    enormous burden that had been weighing her down vanished, leaving only a sense of relief. She


    did not have to pretend anymore.


    Seeing the determination in Chloe''s eyes, Noah''s gaze flickered and he started to panic. He was


    not afraid of Desmond knowing the truth, but he feared Chloe leaving. The meticulously nned


    actions he had taken to clear the obstacles in her path had transformed him into a viin in her


    eyes. For him, that was simply not true. He was not at fault. It was Chloe who could not see the


    truth.


    An idea popped into his head. Noah''s face sank and he said, "Coco, I have no other choice now.


    Please don''t hold this against me."


    Chloe stared at him, her neck hairs standing on end as she sensed danger closing in.


    *


    After leaving the room, Noah was approached by a helper who urgently informed him, "Sir, Mr.


    Joseph and Princess Ophelia are here. They wish to see Ms. Chloe."


    "Take me to them."


    "No need. I¡¯ming upstairs."


    Joseph rounded the staircase. d in a trench coat, he exuded a powerful presence.

 Chapter 823 Are You Planning to Hang Out Here?

    Chapter 823 Are You nning to Hang Out Here?


    From behind Joseph, Ophelia grumbled, "Why not install an elevator? Climbing stairs is so


    exhausting."


    Noah signaled to a nearby helper through the corner of his eye and thetter immediately


    positioned themselves at the doorway. "Ms. Chloe isn''t feeling well and is asleep right now. Allow


    me to show you to the next room for some tea."


    "She''s sick? What a coincidence. It just so happens that I brought a doctor with me," Joseph said.


    He pped his hands and a man in a white coat promptly appeared.


    Putting on a fake smile, Noah continued, "We have our own doctor, so your service isn¡¯t needed.


    Coco has fallen asleep, so let''s not make a ruckus here and wake her up. The tea is ready. Please


    follow me."


    "I don''t have time for tea. I have something important to ask Chloe. Go wake her up," Ophelia said


    as she looked at her watch impatiently.


    "Xavia''s not pregnant."


    Ophelia''s eyes brightened. "Really? Is it confirmed?"


    "Yes. Anything else you want to ask?"


    "No, but where''s the evidence?"


    "I don''t have any. You can investigate further if you want. Check the pregnant women in the royal


    household and see if any of them are helping her."


    Understanding dawned upon Ophelia. There were indeed a few helpers in the royal household who


    had recently be pregnant. It urred to her that one of them might be helping Xavia.


    ¡°Understood. Bye-bye now."


    Having gotten the information she wanted, Ophelia left without so much as a backward nce,


    leaving the two men behind.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Joseph looked at Noah, and thetter sneered back. "What''s the matter, Mr. Joseph? Aren''t you


    going to leave? Are you nning to hang out here?"


    "I''m going to stay until Chloe wakes up," Joseph said firmly. He wanted to wait a bit longer and


    make sure that she was safe.


    "You''re quite devoted, but what''s the use? Coco¡¯s about to be my wife." Noah smirked, his


    eyes filled with mockery. "I¡¯m going to go inside and keep Cocopany. Mr. Joseph, please make


    yourself at home."


    Joseph furrowed his brows but did not respond. He then pulled up a chair and sat down, positioning


    himself in a position that he could easily spit Chloe from if she emerged. He could not rashly enter


    her bedroom as it would be inappropriate. Although he cared not for Noah''s opinion, he had to


    consider Desmond as he was Chloe''s grandfather. And with Desmond around, Noah surely would


    not do anything to harm Chloe.


    If it was true that she was resting as Noah imed, it would mean that he was being oversensitive,


    but he was fine with that. He hade to understand that power, money, and fame were nothing.


    Humans were born without these things, and they could not be brought with them to the afterlife.


    Even if one appeared sessful in the eyes of others, a life without someone to share it with was


    meaningless and hollow. Being with a loved one filled life with joy andughter. And in this life, the


    only person he owed an apology to and he had reservations about letting go of was Chloe. He


    cared nothing for his reputation anymore.


    "By the way," Noah said, "Chloe already knows about my connection to Duskfall."


    Joseph was taken aback and he stared at Noah. "What do you mean?"


    "Literally. I confessed to Chloe. She forgave me, and you don''t stand a chance anymore. She says


    that everything that happened in the past stems from you. Though I''ve made mistakes, she has


    epted them as she has long regarded me as family."


    Joseph felt a lump form in his throat. He had been holding back his emotions, but suddenly, all his


    strength seemed to drain away. His imposing stature looked like it could copse at any moment as


    helplessness overwhelmed him. He knew that Chloe was still upset with him. Compared to Noah,


    he truly had made many mistakes, and he was the root of all of them.

 Chapter 824 He’d Do Anything to Keep Her

    Chapter 824 He¡¯d Do Anything to Keep Her


    Noting the change in Joseph''s expression, a hint of a smile yed on Noah¡¯s lips. He opened the


    bedroom door and entered.


    At five in the evening, Chloe had yet toe out of her room. Joseph had contemted multiple


    times to just barge in and rify things. Seeing how unforgiving she was toward him, she surely


    would not forgive Noah either.


    With that thought in mind, Joseph calmed himself. Holding onto hisst hope, he briskly walked up


    to the door. He hoped that Chloe would not wholeheartedly believe Noah just because of his


    confession. He raised his hand to knock on the door, but before his knuckles made contact, he


    heard Chloe''s voice from inside.


    "Of course, I love you. Whenever I see Joseph, the only things I feel are disgust and nausea. We''re


    about to get married, so stop talking about him, all right?"


    "Alright, I¡¯ll stop, but he''s outside right now and has been waiting for you for a long time. Won''t you


    go out and see him?"


    "No, I''ve already said that I don''t want to see him. I want to leave the whole past behind. That


    marriage brought me too much pain. If I could start over, I''d rather have never met him."


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Okay, then I''ll talk to him."


    After a series of footsteps, Noah opened the door and stuck out his head, but Joseph was nowhere


    to be seen. The smile on his face widened as he looked at the voice recorder pen in his hand. He


    had gotten someone to imitate Chloe''s voice, and the resemnce was absolutely remarkable.


    Without listening carefully, anyone would mistake the voice for Chloe¡¯s.


    Noah turned to look at Chloe, who had fallen asleep due to being sedated, and his smile slowly


    faded. He was willing to go to any lengths to keep her by his side, and anyone who stood in his way


    would pay the price.


    "Bring all the psychology books from the study to my bedroom," he ordered.


    "Yes, sir," a helper replied.


    ncing at the time, Noah estimated that Chloe would be asleep for several more hours. He then


    made a call to a renowned psychology professor in Docwood.


    "Professor, are you busy? I''d like to ask you a few questions in person."


    *


    Inside a VIP private room in an upscale club, Gabriel sipped on his drink as he held a woman in his


    arms. He said, "I told you, being alone is fun. Look at Joe. He''s downed over ten bottles of beer


    already."


    Samuel pushed his sses up his nose and snorted. "Stop making fun of others. At least he has a


    son. What do you have?"


    "I have a son too."


    "Don''t talk nonsense. When did you gain a son?"


    Gabriel pushed away the woman and yfully hooked his arm around Samuel''s neck. "Little


    Sammy, call me Daddy and I''ll buy you some candy."


    The veins on Samuel''s forehead popped as he hissed, "Fuck off!"


    "Okay, okay. Chill," Gabriel said as he rolled his eyes. He clinked his ss with Joseph''s and said,


    "In my opinion, whether Chloe forgives Noah or not, at least there''s closure between you two. Not


    every rtionship has a conclusion. Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t becking in women. I''ll get my lovely


    friend to find you a few."


    Before Joseph could respond, Gabriel called over the club owner and described Chloe''s


    appearance. "My buddy has a very specific type," he added.


    The owner gave Joseph a knowing look, and surprisingly, she was rather efficient. She brought over


    five girls that resembled Chloe, and one of them was especially close. Gabriel and Samuel


    exchanged nces, then simultaneously pointed at her.


    "This one. She stays."

 Chapter 825 It Shattered His Dream

    Chapter 825 It Shattered His Dream


    The girl followed the club owner''s instructions and sat next to Joseph. She was both excited and


    scared. After all, the man before her was Joseph Whitman, the unrivaled figure in Docwood''s


    business world. If she could please him, her status would undoubtedly rise. She might not be able


    to marry him, but bing his kept woman was always an option.


    "Let''s drink, Mr. Joseph," the girl said as she leaned into Joseph.


    Joseph looked up, his icy gaze falling on her face like a de. But suddenly, he looked stunned,


    and his gaze lingered on her for a few moments.


    The girl felt a rush of excitement and said, "Mr. Joseph, my name¡¯s Guinevere. You can just call me


    Gwen."


    Joseph opened his mouth and said, "Get lost."


    Guinevere was taken aback. She rested her wine ss on the table and asked, "Did I do something


    wrong? Please tell me. I can change."


    "You made a mistake the moment you said such disgusting words with that face," Joseph said, his


    face dark, "You''re not emting her. You''re insulting her."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Chloe had never once made such servile expressions. She was yful and lively, like a


    mischievous little elf. She would never behave so vulgarly.


    Frightened, Guinevere¡¯s fingers trembled, sending her winess ttering to the floor and its


    contents onto Joseph''s trousers.


    "I-I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to..."


    Joseph''s brows furrowed and he hissed menacingly, "Are you going to leave voluntarily, or do you


    want me to personally throw you out?"


    Guinevere was on the verge of tears. "I-I''ll leave. No need to trouble yourself."


    When the club owner told her that she had been chosen to entertain Joseph, she thought her life


    would change. But judging from the situation, she should just be grateful that he was not personally


    tossing her out of the room.


    The other hostesses were paralyzed by this scene. Gabriel found this unamusing and asked


    everyone to leave. The girls were relieved and quickly rushed out of the room.


    "Tsk, was there a need to be so fierce?" Gabriel asked.


    Without looking at him, Joseph said, "You get lost too."


    "What? But you¡¯re the one who invited us out for drinks."


    Samuel sighed. "If you like her, just chase her. After all, she''s not married yet."


    Joseph downed the contents of his ss and closed his eyes. "She¡¯ll never forgive me."


    He hoped more than anyone that he and Chloe could mend their rtionship, but after hearing her


    disdain for him, her aversion toward him, and even her regret at ever getting to know him firsthand


    this afternoon, his fragile hopes had shattered. Though he knew Noah was evil, he could not force


    her to be with him.


    Joseph was afraid of repeating the tragedy from five years ago.


    "Chloe actually forgave Noah? It''s really strange," Samuel mused. Being a skilledwyer, he found


    this whole thing off. "Wasn''t she about to investigate the matter of her child thoroughly? Why would


    she suddenly give up just because Noah confessed to her?


    ¡°Even if we assume that Noah really confessed and that the child is dead, with her strong feeling for


    her kid, it''s impossible for her to be as calm as you''re describing. At this moment, whether the child


    is still alive or not is unknown, and she wouldn¡¯t have cut off contact with you since Vanya is being


    kept at your ce."


    Listening to Samuel¡¯s analysis, Joseph''s mind, which had been in a state of chaos all afternoon, felt


    like it had been struck by lightning. The piercing words from Chloe earlier had hit him so hard that


    he had overlooked the details he should have paid attention to. Upon reflection, he realized that


    Chloe''s tone and attitude while talking to Noah this afternoon had been different.


    As Samuel continued to ponder, Joseph abruptly stood up. With his tall stature, he exuded an


    overwhelming sense of oppression as he stood there silently.

 Chapter 826 I Have a Three-Part Plan

    Chapter 826 I Have a Three-Part n


    "You''re right," Joseph said as his eyes were tinged with self-me. "I wasn''t in the right frame of


    mind and didn¡¯t think things over carefully."


    Given how much Chloe valued the child, it was unlikely that she would give up just based on Noah''s


    one-sided words. Even if she disliked Joseph, she would at least rify things with Vanya.


    "Really? You finally noticed something¡¯s fishy?" Samuel''s eyes lit up. "Give me 7 million as a


    consultation fee and I''ll continue analyzing the case for you."


    Gabriel grinned. "I''ll give you a discount, 6 million dors. I can analyze the case too, and I''m


    equally as good as Sam."


    Birds of a feather flock together, after all, meaning that these men were as intelligent as the next. It


    was just that Samuel used his brain on cracking legal cases while Gabriel used his in more¡­


    personal pursuits.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Joseph side-eyed his two friends, his cold gaze chilling the atmosphere. It was clear that their


    attempt at lightening the mood had failed. Seeing his reaction, they wisely cut the crap and returned


    to the topic at hand. "So, what''s your n?"


    Chloe and Noah''s situation was unique. The former, although possessing blood ties to the Sullivans,


    had only recently returned to the family fold. Thetter had no blood ties to the family, but he did


    have a deep rtionship with the Sullivans. If Desmond were to interfere, no one had any idea who


    he would side with.


    "I have a three-part n," Joseph said with determination. He stood as straight as a soldier at


    attention, his expression solemn. Those who knew him well could easily sense he was anxious.


    "If you need our help, just say the word," Gabriel said in a serious manner.


    "Not for now." Joseph pulled out his phone and dialed Vince¡¯s number. "I¡¯m giving you an address.


    Find Zoelle and ask her about what happened between Noah and Chloest night. If she refuses to


    say, figure out a way to bring her to me. Worst case scenario, take back the cajoper we gave. I¡¯m


    sure she''llpromise then."


    He had already sent the herbs but Otto had yet to agree, so he had not taken them back.


    Furthermore, Chloe was with Zoelle apart from the time she was with himst night, so Zoelle


    should notice if there was anything unusual yesterday.


    Joseph then called Lucas in and ordered, "Have Emily go to the Sullivan manor and ask for Chloe.


    Tell her that Chloe might be in danger."


    "Yes, sir." Lucas nodded and immediately went out to look for Emily. Fortunately, he knew her home


    address. She might not answer his call otherwise since it was currently the middle of the night.


    After giving instructions to the two, Joseph sent urgent orders to Imperium to monitor the Sullivan


    manor. He told them to find out if Desmond was home and to make sure Chloe was safe. He did not


    dare to show up in front of Chloe openly. Not wanting to annoy her, he knew he had to do things


    carefully.


    Their failed rtionship left not only Chloe with scars. Joseph was scared too. He feared he would


    take the wrong step, worried that her resentment toward him would grow instead of diminish.


    In the years since Imperium''s establishment, the only time he had given such an urgent order was


    when he was searching for his mother. Today marked the second time. Those who worked within


    the organization had been meticulously selected from special forces, possessing top-tier obedience


    and efficiency. Barring any unexpected urrences, there would likely be news before dawn.


    Two hourster, Vince brought Zoelle, who had been partying in a bar, before Joseph. She looked


    reluctant but she did not bolt. She plopped onto the vintage green leather couch and said, "Hurry up


    and ask your questions. I want to get to the next party."


    Joseph raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised at Vince''s efficiency.


    Vince grinned and said, "Someone in the bar was about to spike her drink. I saw and helped out."


    Zoelle had been stumped. She had seen her fair share of drugging, but encountering someone from


    the fighting world was a first for her. Based on the muscles on his arms, he was capable of crippling


    her with a single punch, so she had not dared not make any reckless moves. She never expected


    Vince to easily subdue the man in a matter of moments either.


    While Zoelle maintained her outwardposure, she was very grateful for his intervention. His


    imposing size indeed provided a sense of security.


    "Did Chloe have some sort of conflict with Noahst night?" Joseph asked as he stared at Zoelle.


    She shrugged nonchntly. "I had a conflict with Chloe too."


    "Huh?" Joseph was taken aback.


    "But it''s not important," she dismissed, "After all, we''re not that close anyway. As for her and Noah¡­


    Are you seriously asking me?"


    Joseph''s face sank. "Just tell me."


    Zoelle wrinkled her nose disdainfully and said, "Well, you and Chloe sneaked around in the


    courtyard behind Noah¡¯s back that night. Do I need to say more?¡±

 Chapter 827 He Couldn’t Let Her Suffer Anymore

    Chapter 827 He Couldn¡¯t Let Her Suffer Anymore


    Joseph¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line and his fists clenched in frustration as the answer came to him


    ¡ªNoah must have witnessed their intimate moment. But it was never Chloe¡¯s intention to do such a


    thing, so both of them harbored resentment. In a fit of anger, they must have confronted each other.


    The door to the private room swung open, and Lucas entered with Emily. They were both panting


    heavily.


    "Sir, they refused to let us in,¡± Lucas said.


    "Noah didn''te out, and the house helpers said they were asleep. The helper also said Noah¡¯s


    going on a business trip tomorrow morning and told me toe back another day," Emily reported


    anxiously, her face flushed. "What happened to Coco? Did something happen? She¡¯s at the Sullivan


    manor, so she should be safe¡­"


    Joseph looked at Vince. Receiving Joseph''s signal, Vince tugged at Zoelle''s clothes as he said


    slyly, "Come on, I''ll take you back to the bar and we¡¯re going to party it up."


    "It''s almost dawn. The bar¡¯s closing soon, you silly dog," Zoelle retorted. She knew Joseph did not


    want her listening in on their conversation, so she pretended to yawn and said nonchntly, "Just


    send me back to my hotel. This ce is so remote. It¡¯ll be hard to get a cab."


    She was pretty certain that Joseph and Noah were fighting for Chloe''s affection, but she had no


    interest in discussing this with Noah. After all, that guy may appear mild and affable on the surface,


    but he was quite shrewd beneath it all.


    As Zoelle left, Emily urged Joseph, "What''s going on? Tell me!"


    He replied gravely, "Noah might be controlling Chloe somehow.¡±


    "What? But that¡¯s impossible. He wouldn''t dare to do that with Mr. Desmond around."


    Just as Emily finished speaking, Joseph''s phone rang. It was from Imperium.


    "Sir, Desmond isn''t home. Chloe¡¯s been in her room the whole time. She might be asleep or


    pretending to be asleep."


    Hearing this, Emily let out a long sigh of relief and patted her chest. "Thank goodness. I was so


    afraid that something had really happened."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "I went there yesterday afternoon and Noah said Chloe was asleep. So she''s been sleeping since


    yesterday afternoon?" Joseph frowned, staring at his watch. "Is she really that exhausted?"


    "It¡¯s not impossible," Emily said, recalling a few times when Chloe had worked overtime and slept


    for more than ten hours straight.


    "That''s not all. Yesterday, Noah had set out to make it seem like Mr. Desmond was at home."


    Emily fell silent. She then called Chloe, but the mechanical voice told her that Chloe¡¯s phone was


    turned off. The atmosphere grew tense as all the signs pointed to something unusual going on. At


    first nce, it might not seem like a big issue, but with a bit of thinking, everything was just too


    coincidental. From Noah''s reactions to the helpers'' behavior, it was as if an intricate web had been


    woven to obscure the truth.


    Deciding to infiltrate the Sullivan manor, Joseph gathered a few elites of Imperium. But before he


    could leave, Gabriel stopped him. His face bore a look of disapproval. "I think you should contact


    Mr. Desmond first and inform him about this."


    After all, the Sullivans'' influence in Docwood was extraordinary. While the Whitmans had the


    strength to stand their ground and would not necessarily lose, barging in without prior notice would


    be impolite and disrespectful.


    Joseph pushed Samuel away, his eyes shing with determination. "I can''t care about that right


    now. If something happens to Chloe, I will kill Noah."


    Chloe had endured so suffered greatly in the first half of her life. By the time he realized this, it was


    already toote. He could not let her suffer anymore.

 Chapter 828 Chloe Falls Asleep

    Chapter 828 Chloe Falls Asleep


    In the Sullivan manor, all the curtains in Noah''s bedroom were tightly drawn, preventing even the


    smallest ray of light from seeping in. He and Chloe were lying on their sides facing each other in the


    same bed. Chloe''s hands and feet were bound, and her body felt weak. Her eyes were wide open


    as she red at him.


    "Let me go!"


    She was not sure what had happened this afternoon. During their argument, she suddenly felt a


    stabbing pain in her waist before she fell unconscious. Her guess was that one of the helpers had


    administered her a sedative.


    Chloe was determined to make all these events public and eliminate the hidden threats around her


    when Desmond returned.


    "You''ll run away if I let you go," Noah said calmly, his gaze fixed on her. "You''re disobedient."


    "Fine, keep me tied up. Let''s see how you exin this to Grandpa when he gets back," Chloe said


    resolutely while ncing at the bedside table. She rarely entered Noah''s room, but she knew there


    was a pair of scissors in one of those drawers. If she could reach them after Noah left the room...


    "Grandpa will probably just give me an earful. You¡¯re the one who wants to call off our marriage, so


    you¡¯re the one to me here," he said, his eyes concealing suppressed anger. Something crossed


    his mind and he blinked in an eerie manner. The anger faded quickly, reced by a gentle smile.


    "But you''ll soon forget about Joseph. We¡¯ll be happy, have children, and grow old together."


    Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed. Backing into a corner as her danger sensors went off, she stared at Noah


    like a startled kitten bristling with fear. Noah merely stared at her deeply, then leaned down to nt


    a kiss on her forehead. The scent of an unfamiliar man overwhelmed Chloe¡¯s senses, and she


    instinctively turned her head to evade his kiss.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Noticing her reaction, Noah became annoyed. He gripped her cheeks and turned her face toward


    him. His voice grew gentler, but there was a tinge of madness in it.


    "You can''t escape me. We''re meant to be together. Your rtionship with Joseph was a mistake.


    You and I were destined to get married before we were even born. I am the husband fate chose for


    you. People should respect themselves and not waste time on past rtionships. Besides me, who


    else would tolerate your back-and-forth with your ex-husband?"


    Noah looked fragile, but he was quite strong. And although he was restraining himself, the pressure


    from his fingers still left red marks on her cheeks.


    Chloe was in pain, yet she stubbornly red at him. "Even if Joseph didn¡¯t exist, I would never like


    you."


    If Noah had remained gentle and kind, she might havepromised and married him. She would


    even think that Noah marrying her would be a sacrifice on his part. However, his true nature


    contradicted his facade, and his lies permeated every facet of their interactions. She could not


    tolerate it.


    Noah covered his ears as if doing so would make him deaf to her words. He felt his heart being


    ripped to shreds, causing enormous pain that had never been so vivid before. Even the Heavens


    seemed to be mocking him.


    "You wouldn¡¯t like me if Joseph wasn¡¯t around? Really? I''m going to test that then."


    Noah pulled out a liquid-filled syringe. Though his eyes were crimson like those of a child who had


    cried himself to exhaustion, his words and actions were filled with menace.


    Chloe backed away as far as she could. She shook her head in fear as tears welled up in her eyes.


    "No... please..."


    "Be a good girl and sleep for a while."


    The sharp needle pierced her skin and the liquid flowed into her veins. Her eyelids grew heavy as


    sleepiness quickly engulfed her. She could not resist and her eyes closed.


    Noah caressed Chloe''s cheek, his gaze filled with adoration. "After dawn, you¡¯ll belong to me."

 Chapter 829 Seal Away Her Past

    Chapter 829 Seal Away Her Past


    At a psychology research institution, Noah ced Chloe on a bed.


    Upon seeing Noah, Ste said excitedly, "I''ve heard so much about youtely, Mr. Noah!"


    Ste Turner was Noah''s junior, and they had met a few times on campus. She had followed in his


    footsteps, majoring in psychology, and hadnded a job in this research institute after he


    rmended her. Although the process was tough, she managed to get hired. Unfortunately, Noah


    did not stay with the institute for long before going abroad, and sheter heard about his marriage


    to Chloe.


    Noah nodded. "Where''s Professor Alfred?"


    "He''s in the next room. I''ll go get him," Ste said. When she saw the person on the bed was


    wearing a mask, she asked curiously, "Is this the patient you mentioned?"


    "Yeah."


    "Okay, please wait here for a moment," Ste said before turning around and leaving.


    Five minutester, Alfred Hatz walked in. He was a man around sixty years old with a head of gray


    hair. Though his eyes were squinted, he looked to be gentle in nature.


    "You brat. You¡¯ve finally decided toe visit me?"


    "Apologies, Professor Alfred. There''s been a lot going on at the office. I sent you a wedding


    invitation and hope you¡¯ll make the time to attend."


    "Of course, I''ll be there," Alfred said as he sat down and shifted his gaze to Chloe. "Is this the


    patient you mentioned? The one deeply affected by love and unable to move on?"


    "Yes."


    Alfred waved his hand at Ste. "You can leave now."


    Before working on patients, they needed to ensure a quiet and private environment. Ste nced


    in Noah''s direction and nodded. She exited the room and closed the door behind her.


    "Wake her up. She can¡¯t be lying down."


    "She was too emotionally agitated, so the doctor gave her a sedative, Professor."


    Alfred was taken aback. He stood up and removed the mask from Chloe''s face. He eximed, "Isn''t


    this your fiancee?"


    "Yes." Noah lowered his gaze. "You''re from Aesper, so you should know about her past with Joseph


    Whitman, right?"


    "I do, but they¡¯ve been divorced for five years. She still can''t move on?"


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Yes. Joseph''s power and influence were overwhelming while Coco was just an ordinary woman


    back then. She suffered tremendous emotional trauma and lost a baby. She fantasizes that the


    baby is still alive, and this has trapped her in a cycle of self-me. Joseph''s asional harassment


    also adds to her suffering. Watching all this pains me, and I hope that you can help her."


    A sympathetic expression crossed Alfred''s face. Many women who lose a baby often be


    depressed and develop psychological abnormalities. After enduring immense self-imposed


    pressure, it wasmon for them to imagine that the child was still alive.


    "All right, I can see her for counseling therapy, but the process will be lengthy and her recovery will


    depend on her cooperation," Alfred said, "Although you haven''t formally be a psychologist,


    you''re sufficiently knowledgeable in the field. Have you tried engaging in some psychological


    therapy with her?"


    "There¡¯s no need for counseling."


    Alfred was puzzled. "What do you mean? Is she resistant to it?"


    "Not exactly. I just want to use hypnosis to seal away her painful memories."


    Alfred fell silent. After a while, he declined, "It''s not that I don''t want to help you, but using hypnosis


    without the consent of the person involved is illegal. You''re aware of that, right?"


    Noah smiled. "Of course. Don¡¯t worry, Professor. Coco gave her consent, but due to her current


    mental state, she can''t fully wake up. I never intended to make things difficult for you when I


    approached you. I just need your guidance. I''m concerned that something unexpected might


    happen during the process. After all, you''re a professional in this field."

 Chapter 830 Joseph Is the Scum of the Earth

    Chapter 830 Joseph Is the Scum of the Earth


    Alfred still hesitated. But he then thought about the countless young women drowning in the misery


    of failed rtionships, gued by nightmares day and night, wasting their youth on mental and


    emotional torture. He realized how tragic it all was. Saving a life was important, and doctors were


    meant to rescue them.


    "Simple hypnosis isn¡¯t risky, but deep hypnosis that induces selective forgetting of the pastes


    with risks. Are you prepared to handle that?" he asked.


    ¡°Professor, I¡¯ve managed to hypnotize others, so I¡¯m confident in this.¡±


    Noah had been wanting to do this to Chloe ever since he had sessfully hypnotized Zoelle. He


    had conducted numerous experiments with other people, and without any external factors, Chloe


    would never want to see Joseph for the rest of her life. In her mind, Joseph would be the scum


    of the earth.


    "All right, let''s begin then," Alfred agreed, handing a pocket watch to Noah.


    Noah said, "Professor, my description of Joseph might be biased to some extent, but my intention is


    to help Chloe move on, nothing more."


    "I understand."


    In psychology, there were specialized techniques to stimte healing under desperate


    circumstances. He was certain that Noah must be at his wit''s end.


    Noah walked over to Chloe and gently shook her awake. Due to the effects of the medication, her


    consciousness was fragile and her head throbbed painfully. Slowly, she opened her eyes in


    confusion.


    "Coco, look at the pocket watch and listen to me carefully," Noah said softly, "Joseph is the person


    you hate. He cheated on you with Xavia while still married to you. He showed no concern for you


    during your pregnancy and caused you to have a miscarriage. He also nearly caused you to die in


    that fire¡­"


    *


    By the time Joseph arrived at the Sullivan manor, Noah was already gone.


    Vince pushed past the house helpers and a few security guards swarmed forward, some even


    brandishing weapons. He exchanged nces with hispanions behind him and said, "You guys


    handle this. I''ll go in with Mr. Joseph to find them."


    The people he had brought along were among the most formidable in Docwood in terms ofbat.


    There was no way they would be defeated.


    Joseph headed to Chloe''s bedroom, only to find it empty. He then hurried to Noah''s room. It was a


    short journey, yet his hurried footsteps were apanied by beads of cold sweat on his forehead.


    Even his usuallyposed face was visibly flustered. He hoped that Chloe was fine as he had yet


    atoned for his past mistakes.


    He gripped the doorknob, and with downward pressure, the door swung open. His heart sank when


    he saw the room was empty. Noah had already moved Chloe somewhere else.


    "Sir, there''s no one here..." Vince''s voice trembled, his anxiety evident as he scoured every corner.


    "Keep searching!"


    "But is there enough time?"


    No matter how fast they moved, if Noah wanted to harm Chloe, even a few seconds would be


    enough, let alone half an hour.


    Joseph''s face was clouded with anger as he hissed, "I want to know where Noah is in half an hour."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    *


    At 8 in the morning, the area around the psychology research institute was bustling with youngsters


    dressed in sharp suits. A security guard was patrolling the area diligently, but suddenly, his eyes


    widened and his brows furrowed as he sensed something bad was about to happen. He grabbed


    his walkie-talkie to report, "There''s a suspicious group of people on the first floor heading toward the


    building¡ª"


    But before he could finish his sentence, Vince snatched the walkie-talkie from him.


    The security guard grew anxious. "Hey, what are you guys doing? You need a pass to enter this


    ce."


    "Young man, we''re in a hurry. This is my boss''s business card. If there''s an issue, contact the


    Whitman Group."


    Before the guard could react, Joseph stepped out of the car and strode into the building, heading


    straight for Alfred''s office.


    At that moment, Noah and Chloe stepped out of the office, and they collided with Joseph.

 Chapter 831 He Openly Protects Her

    Chapter 831 He Openly Protects Her


    Joseph looked past Noah and looked at Chloe.


    She was wearing a baggy home attire, and her short hair that draped casually over her shoulders


    was tucked behind her ears. Her skin was pale, making her look unhealthy. She stared at him


    nkly.


    Joseph felt like he was frozen as she looked at her firmly and gloomily.


    "Are you sick?


    ¡°Don''t be scared. Tell me."


    The first question was out of concern. The second statement sounded like an indication but with a


    clear meaning. He would risk everything and take her away if she told him to.


    Noah was all smiles and looked quite charming. "Mr. Joseph, are you blind? Isn''t Coco standing


    before you safe and sound?"


    Joseph ignored him and continued staring at Chloe. His love was clear for anyone to see. After she


    returned from abroad, he kept a distance from her in public. He behaved prudently to prevent her


    from being the center of gossip. However, he could not control his feelings in private. He exposed


    them and repented sincerely.


    It was the first time he wasying everything on the table recklessly. He did not want her to suffer.


    That would hurt deeper than if he was stabbed.


    Noah was not angry. His smile deepened. He was a cunning and schematic wolf in sheep''s clothing.


    His smile brought a frown to Joseph''s face. Joseph inexplicably felt something wrong, but for the


    moment, he could not pinpoint it.


    "Coco, tell me. Do you want to go with him?" Noah said as he looked at Chloe, the sarcasm in his


    light tone obvious.


    Chloe blinked slowly. She looked up at Joseph in a daze. Thetter had his eyes glued on her.


    "Coco, Mr. Joseph is asking you if you want to go with him," Noah whispered in her ear gently.


    His statement roused her. Her dazed eyes became clear as she answered, "Why would I want to go


    with him? Am I supposed to let him hurt me a second time through Xavia?"


    Joseph gaped. For the first time, he appeared helpless. He immediately exined humbly,


    "Chloe... I¡¯ll never hurt you again."


    "I won¡¯t trust you, you scumbag." Chloe sounded indifferently. She said to Noah, "I want to go home.


    I don''t want to see this person."


    "Okay, I''ll take you home." Noah nodded tenderly.


    Afraid that Noah would hurt Chloe, Joseph hurriedly grabbed her hand. "Don''t go with him."


    "Should I go with you instead?"


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    He was stunned, and a look of joy lit up his cold eyes. "Yes."


    Chloe sneered and shook away his hand. She patted the ce he had touched disdainfully. "Do you


    take me for a fool?"


    Joseph was rendered speechless.


    "One should never go back to their exes, and you''re a scumbag. I had enough of you being


    entangled with Xavia. It took me five years to get rid of you. Why would I throw myself into the


    abyss again?"


    Chloe thought she must have been out of her mind. She had fallen in love with one scumbag,


    Joseph, to take revenge on another scumbag, Jake. What did she do that for?


    Joseph did not refute her. "Yes, I was wrong but Noah isn''t right for you."


    "And who is right for me? Don''t say that it''s you ¡®cause that¡¯s not funny." Chloe rolled her eyes and


    walked off without looking back.


    Joseph was struck speechless. Excruciating pain hit him. "Don''t you want to see Vanya?"


    Noah looked flustered and unconsciously clenched his fists. He anxiously looked toward Chloe.

 Chapter 832 Mr. Joseph, Stop Disturbing Us

    Chapter 832 Mr. Joseph, Stop Disturbing Us


    Chloe stopped in her tracks. She said hatefully and firmly, "The child died in the surgery room that


    night."


    "But the whole thing is highly suspicious. Give me some time. Maybe I can find some clues."


    "Don¡¯t bother. I don''t want to live in the past." Chloe strode away.


    Noah nced at Joseph before he smiled and said to Vince, "Your boss looks crestfallen. I think


    you should console him, but don''t let him do this again. Coco and I are a couple now."


    Vince was enraged. He scolded, "Don''t be so smug. Hmph!¡± He then turned to Joseph. "Sir, what


    should we do? Did Ms. Chloe forgive Noah?"


    This was the only possibility. Although Chloe hated Joseph in the past, she had never made it this


    obvious.


    Joseph watched them leave. The pair were wearing the same style of clothes as if they were a


    young couple who had just woken up ande out to get breakfast. It was quite a romantic look.


    They had never presented such a harmonious scene.


    Joseph closed his eyes and suppressed his swirling emotions. "Stop them."


    Vince''s eyes lit up. He said excitedly, "On it, sir."


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Annoyed by Noah, Vince was itching to fight Noah to vent his anger.


    *


    Chloe got in the passenger seat and gazed at the scenery out the window. She felt dizzy. She could


    not pinpoint the source of her feelings, but she felt frustrated and disappointed.


    "I instructed the housekeeper to tell the chef to cook us something. We can eat once we get home,¡±


    Noah said. Joy was written all over his face.


    "Okay..." Chloe said hesitantly, "Did I faintst night? I don¡¯t remember anything.¡±


    "Yes. You aren¡¯t in the best health and have been very busy with work recently, so you fell sick."


    "Why did wee and see a psychiatrist though?"


    Noah said naturally and earnestly, "It''s because your previous love affair caused you great harm.


    You¡¯ve been suffering from delusions recently. You fell sick yesterday, so I took you there for


    treatment."


    Chloe nodded, though still in a daze. She pressed her temples. "My head hurts so bad."


    "It''s fine. You just need to rest when we get¡ª¡±


    Before Noah could finish his sentence, he abruptly stepped on the brakes. Blocking their path was


    Vince on a motorbike. It was arge motorbike and it looked sturdy. Vince posed himself like an


    obstacle on the road.


    "I have something to tell you." Joseph knocked on the window.


    Chloe looked into his eyes. She did not want to lower the window but her hands moved faster than


    her mouth, and she pressed the button to lower the window. Stunned, she stared fingers, surprised


    by her reflexive reaction.


    "I have a question. You know that Noah conspired with Duskfall and caused our child to burn to


    death, and you still forgive him?"


    Joseph knew her well. Chloe was a sensitive person, sincere toward others, and could not tolerate


    betrayal. He did not believe that Noah had gained her forgiveness in just one night.


    Chloe frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"


    Noah was a kind man. He would never have anything to do with Duskfall.


    "It¡¯s not nonsense. Let me take you to Vanya."


    "Mr. Joseph, just stop disturbing us." Noah beat her to it. His gentle expression turned icy.

 Chapter 833 We’re Here to Visit Mr. Alfred

    Chapter 833 We¡¯re Here to Visit Mr. Alfred


    "Chloe, answer me." Joseph stared at her as he ignored Noah.


    She murmured, "Vanya... Why should I see her..."


    "She may know where our child is."


    "But the child is dead."


    "No, you¡¯re the one who said the child isn¡¯t dead. We can¡¯te to a conclusion before everything


    is sorted out. You told me that."


    Chloe wanted to refute this and imed that she had never said such a thing. Suddenly, something


    shed through her mind. She tried to grab ahold of this thought, but when she tried, her head hurt.


    Joseph noticed her pain. He asked concernedly, "What''s wrong? Are you hurt?"


    "My head¡­ It hurts..." Chloe held her head with both hands. Her voice was shaky and her face


    paled.


    Before Joseph could do anything else, Noah quickly pressed the car window button. "Mr. Joseph,


    stop being a busybody. Coco¡¯s head hurts because you¡¯re forcing her. Please let go and stop


    disturbing us if you want her to be happy."


    Joseph''s eyes turned dark as he clenched his fists tightly. ''Is it really because of me?''


    Noah steeled his jaw and pressed forward though Vince was blocking them. Thankfully, Vince


    reacted quickly and barely got out of the way. He was briefly stunned. When the car was no longer


    in sight, he shouted, "Fuck! Why did he drive so fast?!"


    He went to Joseph¡¯s side. "Sir, what should we do now? Should we pursue them?"


    "No, it''s fine. It''s good to know that Chloe¡¯s safe. You and the others can head back and get some


    sleep."


    Vince looked at the deep circles under Joseph''s eyes and the stubble on his face. He said


    hesitantly, "Sir, you should go home and get some sleep too."


    Joseph¡¯s spirits did not seem any better than theirs.


    "Leave me be."


    "I''ll stay with you," Vince said in a firm and loyal tone.


    "I¡¯ll stay too." Lucas walked toward them. He spoke carefully, afraid that Joseph would get mad.


    "Everything at the office is going smoothly, so I came here."


    Joseph looked at them quietly before turning and walking back into the research institute.


    Ste was walking through the corridor with a stack of books in her arms. She became nervous


    when she spotted Joseph. She pointed at them and stammered, "I-I''m warning you. D-Don''t make a


    scene here. Otherwise, I''m going to call the police."


    At first nce, the two people behind Joseph looked like trouble.


    "We''re here to visit Mr. Alfred." Lucas put on a friendly but prudent demeanor. He knew how to


    control this kind of situation.


    "He won''t see you if you don''t have an appointment."


    "Please make some leeway. Mr. Joseph will leave after saying a few words. We won''t waste too


    much of his time."


    "No, and stop trying to force us. I loathe businessmen like you. Don''t assume that you can do


    whatever you want just because you''re rich."


    Ste felt that Noah was far more polite.


    Seeing Joseph frowned, Lucas knew what to do. He smiled and said, "Miss, since you¡¯ve said so,


    we''ll use money to get what we want." He then called the dean of the research institute in Joseph''s


    name.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    In less than ten minutes, the dean arrived and scolded Ste. Her face flushed out of anger, but she


    did not dare to say anything else and obediently led Joseph to Alfred''s office.

 Chapter 834 Desmond Won’t Ignore This

    Chapter 834 Desmond Won¡¯t Ignore This


    In the office, Alfred watched as the dean poured Joseph a cup of coffee. He remained calm. "Mr.


    Joseph, I know why you¡¯vee here, but we can''t give out patient information. I''m sorry."


    Lucas was prepared for this. He said politely, "Mr. Alfred, I¡¯ve found that Ms. Chloe isn¡¯t registered


    to this institute, so she isn¡¯t your patient. It''s fine if you tell us about her."


    Alfred frowned in annoyance while Ste snorted in disdain. These people had even pried into other


    people¡¯s privacy. How disrespectful. She knew she would choose Noah if she were Chloe.


    Hearing this, the dean red at Alfred for being such a disappointment. "Don¡¯t be stubborn. There''s


    nothing you can''t say. Mr. Joseph is worried about his friend. Just tell us about her condition."


    "Ms. Chloe has depression." Alfred stared at Joseph, signaling with his eyes. "Her marriage to Mr.


    Joseph five years ago caused her great trauma. My student brought her here for treatment."


    A bitter feeling invaded Joseph. "And you¡¯re sure she had depression?¡±


    Alfred paused briefly. Although he had not inspected Chloe, he could see that she was in bad


    spirits. Noah was one of his top students whom he was very proud of, so his judgment should be


    right.


    "Yes, she has severe depression. Mr. Joseph, you should leave her alone if you want the best for


    her."


    Vince was enraged when he heard this. Why was Alfred saying the same thing as Noah? He


    whispered to Joseph, "Sir, this old man must be on Noah''s side. He has to be lying."


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Joseph hung his head and recalled Chloe¡¯s pained expression. He frowned and wished he could


    suffer the pain in her ce.


    "I''m sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Alfred." He got up to leave despite not having asked much.


    Vince followed after him and asked doubtfully, "Sir, shouldn¡¯t we interrogate them further? That old


    man must be hiding something from us."


    "Remember that Mr. Joseph knows that better than you," Lucas reminded Vince.


    Joseph must have another n in mind.


    "That''s true... He is much smarter than me."


    Joseph stood at the entrance of the institute and looked resolutely in the direction Noah had taken


    Chloe. "Give me a piece of paper and a pen."


    Lucas lowered his head to fish out the items from his briefcase. He asked, "Sir, are you writing an


    emergency contract?"


    "No, I''m writing Mr. Desmond a letter."


    Chloe was Desmond''s granddaughter whom he had finally found after looking for her for many


    years. She was a true descendant of the Sullivan family, and if Noah harmed her, Desmond would


    not ignore it.


    *


    Due to her severe headache, Chloe slept when she got home.


    A helper sought Noah out and handed him a photo. "Sir, I found this while cleaning Ms. Chloe''s


    room."


    He saw that it was the photo Cyrus had given Chloe previously.


    "It''s useless. Burn it."


    "Okay, sir." The helper then thought of something and added, "Also, Mr. Desmond will being


    home tonight."


    "Right, thank you."


    When Noah got back to the room, he found Chloe awake. He quickly went up to her and asked


    concernedly, "How are you feeling? Does your head still hurt?"


    "What are you burning?" Chloe asked in a daze. She had caught snippets of the conversation


    earlier.


    Expressionlessly, he answered, "Nothing. Just some waste paper. Grandpa will being home


    tonight. Go ahead and sleep some more. We''ll have dinner togetherter."


    "Okay.¡±


    At seven at night, Desmond stepped out of the business ss section of the ne. His employee


    respectfully handed him a letter. "Sir, there''s an urgent letter for you."


    Desmond was confused. He had not gotten a letter since retiring, and it was an urgent letter. He


    asked his man to hold on to it first. When he got into the car, he opened the letter and read through


    it.


    The handwriting was strong and smooth, just like the letter writer. Though it was only half a page


    long, everything written on it was crucial.


    The originally rxed Desmond straightened up in his seat and tensed up as he read the letter.


    Frowning deeply, he folded the letter and put it aside. He then called the manor¡¯s majordomo.


    "Get me the surveince videos of the manor over thest two days. I want to review them when I


    get home."

 Chapter 835 Sir, the Footage Is Corrupted

    Chapter 835 Sir, the Footage Is Corrupted


    It was now July, and the temperature in Docwood during nighttime was around 37 degrees. The air


    outside was hot and stuffy, but the inside of the car was about 20 degrees. The driver drove with a


    steady hand, so it was no different from being at home. But over the usually one-hour car ride,


    Desmond repeatedly urged the driver to hurry up. The driver became quite anxious and sweated


    profusely.


    Forty minutester, as Desmond stepped out of the car, he spotted Chloe and Noah standing side


    by side at the entrance to wee him home. This scene looked normal.


    Desmond''s tense face eased a little. He supported himself with an expensive-looking walking stick


    and walked over to them.


    "Did you enjoy your trip, Grandpa? When I saw the photos you posted on your social media, I felt


    like taking a break from thepany and taking Coco on a trip,¡± Noah asked as he went forward,


    smiling happily.


    "It was all right.¡± Desmond then pivoted and asked, "Are you and Coco ready? The wedding will be


    in three days. Don''t ruin it and embarrass me."


    "Everything¡¯s ready. We''re just waiting for the day to arrive. The invites have been sent and the


    venue is ready."


    Desmond nodded before looking toward Chloe. ¡°What about you, Coco? Have you sorted out your


    feelings?"


    Chloe bit her lip and looked down. "Yes, I have."


    "Why do you seem upset?¡±


    "I..." After a brief hesitation, she replied, "My head kind of hurts, and I don''t know why."


    "Did you not go see a doctor?"


    "No, but I did sleep the whole afternoon."


    Desmond touched her forehead tenderly and asked Noah, "Why didn''t you take Coco to the


    hospital?"


    Noah put on a gentle expression. "Not right now. I''ll do it tomorrow."


    "Other than the headache, I''m fine, Grandpa. It¡¯s already subsided."


    For some reason, Chloe did not want to be in the same space with Noah alone, feeling an


    inexplicable sense of oppression.


    "You have to go to the hospital if you''re sick. Do you understand?" Desmond advised solemnly.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Mm-hm, I understand. Come, let¡¯s eat." Chloe changed the topic and took Desmond¡¯s arm to head


    to the dining room.


    After dinner, the majordomo came to Desmond''s room and reported hesitantly, "Sir, the footage is


    corrupted."


    Desmond looked up and shot the majordomo with a sharp re, looking quite menacing. "What do


    you mean? Why didn''t you tell me that when I called you?"


    "I didn''t notice it at the time..."


    "Now that¡¯s a coincidence. George, I may be old but not muddle-headed yet."


    Desmond then smashed his teacup on the floor and it broke into pieces. The scalding tea spilled on


    the back of George Stevens'' hand. George¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon being burned and a shiver


    ran down his spine.


    "Mr. Desmond, I..."


    He was not trying to keep things a secret, but these were Noah''s orders. If he said anything, he


    would offend both Noah and Desmond.


    Desmond nced at George coldly and narrowed his eyes. Despite not having smoked in a long


    time, he took out a cigar from a drawer. "You''ve been working here for more than ten years, correct?


    You''re old now. Pack up and retire."


    "Sir, no, please. I''m only in my fifties. I can work for a few more years."


    He earned 100 thousand dors a year working here by just handling the helpers every day. He


    would not find such a job anywhere else.


    Desmond knocked the table calmly.


    George gritted his teeth. "Sir, it was Mr. Noah who ordered me to say this... It has nothing to do with


    me."


    When Desmond recalled the contents of Joseph¡¯s letter, his eyes turned dark. He ridiculed George,


    "Are you guys conspiring with each other to keep things from me just because I''m old?¡±

 Chapter 836 Joseph Locks Himself in the Room

    Chapter 836 Joseph Locks Himself in the Room


    "No, sir... Mr. Noah ordered me to do this. I''m just a housekeeper and dare not ask too much about


    my master¡¯s private affairs."


    Knowing what was going on, Desmond did not believe George''s excuse. "Collect your sry from


    finance for this month and leave."


    George''s expression fell, never having dreamt of such serious consequences. He got on his knees.


    "Sir, please give me a chance to turn over a new leaf. I''ve been working here diligently for more


    than ten years."


    "You¡¯ve taken the wrong person as your master. I can''t keep you." Desmond lost his patience. He


    waved to signal George to get out.


    George trembled, but he did not dare to say anymore. Looking at the old man, he felt as if he had


    ruined himself through the mistake he had made. Desmond''s reputation made others assume he


    was a kind old man. They forgot that he was the one who single-handedly established his business


    in traditional jewelry in Ameria in his younger days.


    Desmond did not deal with Noah right away. He instead informed the executives of Exotic Star to


    prepare for a board meeting that would take ce tomorrow morning. He did not know why Noah


    was lying but it was undoubtedly wrong. Noah had made a grave mistake in trying to conceal


    something from Desmond with all the helpers of the manor.


    It had been a long time since Desmond had disciplined Noah, which was now turning out to be a


    bad thing. If he did not step up, Noah might bully Chloe in the future.


    *


    Joseph had locked himself in his study for a whole day, either eating or drinking. Jasper carried over


    a te of pasta and said in a mature tone, "Are you still not going to eat? Despite being an adult


    now, you simply refuse to listen to others."


    Harold, sitting in his wheelchair, and snorted. "Ignore him. He won''t starve to death in just a day."


    "Greatpapi, don''t you care about Daddy?"


    "I don¡¯t. I¡¯m fine with him not talking. He¡¯s much more likable this way."


    Harold was dressed neatly as if he was heading out.


    Jasper said curiously, "You look like you¡¯re about to handle some business."


    "I''m going to meet Desmond. Do I look good?"


    Joseph had failed to win Chloe back, but as his elder, Harold could help him. He could fight for it.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "You look good." Jasper averted his gaze. "I want to go too. Please take me along, Greatpapi."


    "No, the adults are going to discuss some matter. Don''t stick your nose in this."


    "Please take me along. I want to see Ms. Chloe''s grandfather."


    Jasper rarely acted coquettishly, and Harold was persuaded. "Fine, I''ll take you. Go get changed."


    *


    The executives of Exotic Star were discussing softly with one another in the conference room.


    "What''s going on? Why did Mr. Desmond suddenly call for a meeting?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe he wants to announce his retirement?"


    "He has long retired. We haven¡¯t seen him around for a couple of years now."


    "That¡¯s different. He may not be here, but he still holds shares."


    "You¡¯re right, and he is thergest shareholder. I wonder who he''ll transfer them to. He cares so


    much for both of them."


    "I think Chloe will most probably be the recipient. After all, she¡¯s his biological granddaughter."


    "Don¡¯t be too sure about that. Chloe is just a middle-level employee here."


    "Hush, keep your voice down. Here theye."


    Chloe and Noah entered the room at the same time. This was her second time attending an


    executive-level meeting. The first was when she joined thepany.


    "Why is Grandpa suddenly holding a board meeting?" Chloe was stunned when she learned of this


    this morning.

 Chapter 837 Desmond Supports Chloe

    Chapter 837 Desmond Supports Chloe


    Noah¡¯s eyes narrowed. "I''m not sure."


    After dinnerst night, Desmond said he was tired and returned to his room to rest. He did not


    discuss anything with Noah.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Chloe was shocked. It meant that Desmond was hiding this from everyone else. Was he about to


    announce something big? He had even kept this hidden from the two of them.


    She sat next to Noah while the seat at the head of the table was Desmond''s.


    After some time, Desmond walked in.


    "Everyone, sorry to keep you waiting. I met an old friend on my way here and was dyed." He put


    his walking stick down and took the main seat.


    "Don¡¯t worry, we haven¡¯t been waiting long.¡±


    "It¡¯s rare for us to see you, sir. It''s worthwhile no matter how long we wait."


    "Yes, it''s our honor to see you. Mr. Desmond, have you had breakfast? I got this for you. It''s the bun


    from the restaurant downstairs you used to love.¡±


    Everyone fawned over Desmond. The pretentious executives smiled from ear to ear. Worried that


    he would be displeased, they tried their best to curry his favor.


    "No, thank you." Desmond waved. He then instructed his assistant to turn on the screen. "Let''s


    begin with the profits and losses over the past three years.¡±


    Everyone fell silent. They knew this was not the main point of the meeting but an unnecessary


    process. Demond would surely bring up the main topic at the end of the meeting.


    An hourter, Desmond''s assistant turned off the PowerPoint presentation and, "Sir, that¡¯s all I have


    to report."


    "All right." Desmond stood up and looked at Chloe. He smiled. "I''m sure you all know that Chloe is


    my granddaughter."


    Chloe stood up too, though she did not know what Desmond was getting up to.


    Before anyone could answer, Desmond continued, "I¡¯ve decided to hand over thirty percent of my


    shares to Chloe as a wedding gift. I''ll keep ten percent and collect the dividends as my retirement


    fund."


    "Oh wow..."


    Everyone gasped. If Chloe owned thirty percent of the shares, she would be on par with Noah. And


    the ten percent Desmond held onto was a pretty sizable sum. It would make Chloe or Noah the


    head of the board depending on who Desmond transferred the remaining ten percent to, making


    that person superior to the other.


    No one needed ten percent shares as a retirement fund. 0.1% of shares was enough to buy more


    than ten nursing homes, let alone ten percent given Exotic Star''s yearly profits. Noah''s thirty percent


    of the shares had been umted over time. At first, he had only twenty percent. Through


    transferring thirty percent to Chloe, Desmond expressed his support for her.


    Chloe''s eyes welled up with tears as she was moved. Desmond was not an eloquent-spoken


    person and rarely expressed his love toward her, but this gift made things clear as day.


    Desmond smiled kindly at her, then turned to the executives, who were shocked. "Today''s meeting


    ends here. You may leave now." Before he left, he looked at Noah, who showed no expression and


    kept his feelings hidden well. "I fired George."


    Noah''s brows jumped. He finally realized what the problem was.


    Desmond was knocking him down a peg.

 Chapter 838 Going to See a Doctor

    Chapter 838 Going to See a Doctor


    Noah was silent for a few seconds before saying, "There¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you about."


    "Perfect timing. I am free right now." Desmond turned to his assistant. "You can leave. I¡¯m putting


    you in charge of finalizing the share transfer contract. I¡¯ll sign it with Coco today."


    *


    Inside therge office, Desmond sat in an antique chair, toying with the white chess pieces before


    him. His expression was as calm as a gentle breeze. "Sit and tell me about it."


    Noah remained standing with his head lowered, "I did something wrong and have upset you. I¡¯ll


    stand."


    Desmond was not surprised by Noah''s earnest attitude in admitting his mistake and asked, "What


    happened?"


    "I had a fight with Coco and was worried that you would see it when you got back, so I rashly had


    George delete the surveince footage."


    "Fights between husband and wife are inevitable. There shouldn¡¯t be any need to delete the


    footage."


    Noah looked up and met Desmond''s piercing gaze. As he trembled, his thoughts began to weave


    together like a dense, quickly formting a response.


    "I can¡¯t hide anything from you. This fight was no small matter. Coco wanted to end our engagement


    and return to Joseph. Things were spiraling out of control. I had no choice but to take desperate


    measures."


    The chess piece Desmond was twirling between his fingers came to a stop. He thought back to


    Harold''s plea from earlier this morning, urging him to carefully consider Coco''s marriage.


    Noah silently observed Desmond''s expression. Detecting no suspicion, he continued his


    exnation, "I didn¡¯t want to let Coco leave, so I locked her in the room. But she was insistent on


    leaving, and her mental state appeared to be unstable. I then coaxed and deceived her into meeting


    a psychologist.


    "The psychologist said it was necessary to administer her a sedative. When we got home, she


    began to make a scene again. She left me with no choice but to subdue her. After that, I bared my


    soul to her and persuaded her to abandon the idea of calling off the wedding.


    ¡°Grandfather, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask Chloe about it. But I worry that if you question


    her, she may be distressed again. And in all this haste, I made a mistake and instructed


    George to delete the footage."


    Noah¡¯s words rang with sincerity, and his eyes revealed conflicting emotions. It was a mixture of


    regret and love for Chloe.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Desmond''s brows knitted together. After a moment of silence, he said, "You may leave now."


    Noah asked hesitantly, "Should I call Coco here?"


    "No need."


    In the office, Chloe''s ten fingers tapped away at her keyboard. Suddenly, she slumped in her chair,


    staring nkly and feeling deted. All this was strange to her. She had obtained thirty percent of


    Exotic Star''s shares, and logically, she should have been happy. It was a triumph many would envy,


    but her heart felt empty as though she had lost something important. Yet, there was not a hint of


    sadness inside her.


    ¡®Why do I feel this way?¡¯ Chloe wondered. But every time she began to think about it, her head hurt


    and she had to stop.


    At that moment, Emily''s call interrupted her thoughts.


    "What happened to you, Coco? I tried to call you yesterday but you didn¡¯t pick up. Did Noah hurt


    you?"


    "I was unwell, so I was sleeping," Chloe replied, her voice tinged with confusion. "Why would Noah


    hurt me? He''s been nothing but kind to me."


    "Umm..." Emily hesitated, then sighed. "Forget it. Everything¡¯s fine as long as you¡¯re safe. How are


    you feeling today?" She found it hard to exin, knowing that Noah constantly doted on Coco.


    "Better. I''m generally fine, but my head hurts when I try to think about things too much."


    "You should see a doctor. I¡¯m near your office. Would you like me to go with you?"


    Chloe thought this was a good idea and agreed. ¡°Okay, send me your location. See you in a bit.¡±

 Chapter 839 What Do You Think About Eliminating Joseph?

    Chapter 839 What Do You Think About Eliminating Joseph?


    Chloe wrapped up the small tasks she had on hand and tried to slip out of the office. But in the


    elevator, she ran into Frieda.


    Upon recognizing Chloe, Frieda''s face filled with concern. "Are you okay, Coco? Joe told me


    everything."


    "Huh? What happened to me?" Chloe asked, confusion creasing her brows.


    Frieda studied Chloe''s weary face and dry lips, sensing that her usual vibrant spirit was subdued.


    Compassion welled within Frieda. "You¡¯re a good girl, Coco. Whether you end up with Joe or not, I


    hope you¡¯re blessed with health and happiness. Don''t force yourself to be with someone you don''t


    love."


    Chloe nodded but misunderstood Frieda''s intentions. She responded with solemn assurance,


    "You''re a good person too, different from Joseph. I have no ties to him anymore. I''ll treat you as any


    other employee at work and won''t make things hard for you because of a certain person."


    Frieda''s expression froze. She was unsure how to reply. Chloe''s words were not wrong, but they


    struck her as odd, almost jarring.


    Ding.


    The elevator doors slid open. Chloe adjusted her hair and stepped out. Unknown to her, her every


    move was captured by the surveince camera overhead. Noah stared at his phone, watching the


    feed transmitted to it, before tossing the phone onto the table. He closed his eyes and leaned back


    into his chair, gathering his scattered emotions. He did not wish to harm the innocent, but some


    people were ticking time bombs¡ªunhelpful and perpetually at risk of betrayal.


    "Frieda, you only have yourself to me for your misfortune," he muttered.


    Noah opened his eyes as a newfound resolve took hold of him. He had already secured Cyrus''


    number. However, he had not had the opportunity to meet him because of the issue with Chloe over


    the past few days. But now, the time was right.


    As Chloe departed from Exotic Star, Noah set up a meeting with Cyrus at a cafe situated close by.


    "Father, are we simply going to stand idly by while that brat tries to manipte us?" Otto grumbled.


    The frustration in his voice was evident as he poured himself a coffee. "What if he knows nothing


    about the madam''s whereabouts and is just using us to handle Joseph?"


    Cyrus responded with an air of indifference as he counted his rosary beads. "We''ll know once we


    meet with him. Why are you being so impatient? Have you put it in the coffee?"


    "Done," Otto confirmed, a hint of concern shing through his eyes as he sprinkled a mysterious


    powder into the coffee pot. "So if Noah has information about the madam, are we really going to kill


    Joseph?"


    Cyrus smiled, a sh of cruelty in his eyes. "A snake in the grass is dangerous if left to slither.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    This was a good opportunity to cut off her fanciful thoughts. Once captured, she would not be able


    to run away again.


    Otto nodded, his expression turning sinister as he stirred the coffee, making the powder


    undetectable.


    To cooperate with Duskfall, merely knowing the madam''s whereabouts would not be enough. They


    needed to assess their capabilities. Would they work together to crush Joseph or would Noah


    be subservient to Duskfall?


    Knock, knock, knock.


    Otto got up to answer the door. As if weing a guest to a routine business meeting, he greeted,


    "Mr. Noah. Please,e in."


    Noah¡¯s eyes swept over Otto¡¯s insincere smile. He then turned to look at the middle-aged man in


    the room. He was almost 2 meters tall and dressed in casual white attire. His neat hair was


    peppered with a few white strands. He had a narrow face, with many fine lines at the corners of his


    eyes. At first nce, he looked benevolent, but prolonged observation revealed the unsettling


    quality within him. It was particrly pronounced in his smile and instilled fear.


    "Mr. Cyrus?" Noah inquired, breaking the silence.


    Cyrus offered a nod, motioning for Noah to take a seat.


    Acknowledging the gesture, Noah dispensed with formalities and delved directly into the matter at


    hand. "I trust that Otto has spoken to you. Our goals align, so what do you think about eliminating


    Joseph?¡±

 Chapter 840 Capture This Moment Well, Especially His Face

    Chapter 840 Capture This Moment Well, Especially His Face


    ¡°I like the idea of eliminating Joseph, but the more important question is how do we do it?¡±


    "I found out that in two days, Joseph will be heading to Skyreach Memorial Park on Harold¡¯s behalf


    to pay tribute to Harold¡¯s formerrade. The memorial park is built on a mountaintop, essible


    only through a single mountain road. The area is sparsely popted and has poor signal reception.


    Even if outside were called upon, it¡¯d take some time to get there."


    This n to take action at Skyreach Memorial Park was foolproof.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Cyrus took a sip of his coffee and smiled. "Are you in a hurry because of your impending marriage


    to Chloe in three days?"


    Noah''s eyes flickered but he did not refute this. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he had considered all


    the factors. Now was the most appropriate moment to deal with Joseph.


    "And how will you repay me?"


    "Once Joseph is dead, I''ll personally deliver the person you''re looking for right into your hands,"


    Noah dered, full of confidence.


    Frieda had filled out her basic information when she joined Exotic Star. Although her personal


    details were iplete, her address could be found with some effort. It was not a difficult task.


    Most importantly, Joseph probably believed that he had kept Frieda hidden well and that nobody


    knew her real identity.


    It was a pity, but to keep something hidden, one should not act in the first ce. Perhaps the


    heavens had grown weary of observing and were now turning things around.


    Cyrus¡¯ face was inscrutable. He pushed a cup toward Noah and said, "Pleasure doing business with


    you. There¡¯s no wine, but we could toast with coffee."


    Noah gazed at the excellent ck Ivory Coffee before him as its fragrance wafted toward him. He


    picked up the cup, clinked it lightly with Cyrus¡¯, and answered, "Pleasure doing business." However,


    he did not immediately drink it. He watched as Cyrus consumed half his own cup before taking a


    small sip himself.


    After discussing the details of the n, Noah got up to leave. But when he got to his feet, a sudden


    wave of dizziness overtook him. His face, usually pale, flushed a rosy pink. He staggered back into


    his chair as he shot a furious re at Cyrus.


    Cyrus had also drank coffee, but Noah had neglected to take note if it had been poured before or


    after his arrival. Everything was clear now. Cyrus¡¯ coffee had been poured before he entered, so it


    must be the coffee pot that had been drugged.


    Ottoughed slyly, patting Noah''s chest like a close friend. "Why the angry look? I didn''t poison


    you."


    Noah closed his eyes, struggling to suppress the inexplicable heat surging within him.


    Cyrus tapped on the adjoining wall. "Come in," hemanded.


    A masked woman entered the room. Noah''s eyes narrowed, his pupils contracting as he anticipated


    what was toe. Looking into the slits of the woman¡¯s mask, he recognized her eyes.


    It was Xavia¡¯s eyes.


    Noah¡¯s eyes bore into Xavia¡¯s as she bit her lip. This was her first time feeling the sting of betrayal,


    the taste of being utterly trampled upon. Among the myriad of women in Duskfall, they had chosen


    her to seduce Noah. This was more difficult for her than spending the night with a fat old geezer.


    "My young friend, coboration is an elusive concept for me. More often, others simply follow my


    lead," Cyrus said, his voice dripping with condescension. He signaled to Otto, who promptly


    whipped out a camera. With a violent flourish, Cyrus tore away Xavia''s clothes to reveal her bare


    flesh. Left with only her undergarments, she was exposed before the three men.


    Noah was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned his head away.


    Cyrus¡¯ voice took on a teasing tone, filled with malicious glee. He said, "Tell me. If photos of you and


    Xavia were to adorn the big screen during your wedding to Chloe, would she still take your hand in


    marriage?"


    Noah''s silence was his only reply. His body betrayed him as a wave of heat washed over him,


    blurring his vision and clouding his thoughts.


    Cyrus¡¯ eyes narrowed, and he signaled Otto again. "Make sure to capture this moment well,


    especially his face."

 Chapter 841 She Dared Not Provoke Noah the Terrifying Madman

    Chapter 841 She Dared Not Provoke Noah the Terrifying Madman


    "I understand, Father. Leave it to me."


    Cyrus stood up, smoothed the creases on his clothes, and departed with light steps. It was as if the


    dark and sickening affairs within the cafe were unrted to him, and he was left untouched.


    Watching him leave, Otto positioned the camera and sneered at Noah. "You''re still resisting? Xavia,


    make your move already.¡±


    Duskfall never offers a nurturing hand without expecting something in return, and to enjoy the


    benefits it offers, one must be willing to obey. Xavia would probably be nothing more than a wealthy


    man''s mistress if she had not chosen Duskfall, and her dreams of bing a renowned violinist


    would remain unfulfilled. Xavia was well aware of all this as the moment she entered Duskfall, her


    first lesson was one on gratitude.


    With a deep breath to calm her nerves, Xavia approached Noah with small, measured steps. She


    pressed her fair skin against Noah''s arm, a delicate touch meant to soothe.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she whispered, her voice tinged with understanding. ¡°I know you''re suffering.¡±


    Noah''s head remained lowered, the shadows obscuring his expression. His hand gripped tightly


    onto the table''s edge, the veins on it bulging. He felt a heat in his nose as blood dripped onto the


    floor, formingrge spots that resembled blooming flowers.


    Otto was taken aback, and a fury overwhelmed him.


    "Are you mad? Are you seriously going to endure it?" Otto scoffed, "It''s just sex, not murder or


    arson."


    Xavia became afraid, her mind upied by the terrifying thought that Noah might die, leaving


    Cyrus'' task unfulfilled. She hurriedly began to unbuckle Noah''s belt, desperately seeking a swift


    resolution to the disturbing situation.


    Noah abruptly raised his head. The veins in his wild eyes stood out like crimson threads, a reflection


    of his internal emotional torment. "Fuck off," he growled, the words dripping with venom and


    despair.


    Xavia stumbled backward, trembling as she turned to Otto for help.


    "Why the stubbornness?" Otto asked. "As long as you obey, we¡¯ll help you kill Joseph."


    "You¡¯re not helping me! There isn¡¯t fucking mutually beneficial!" Noah exploded in rage.


    He would rather die than touch a woman he disliked. The very thought was repulsive to him.


    Otto''s expression turned serious. He paused, then gestured for Xavia to continue. Her skin broke


    out in goosebumps as she pleaded, "I''m scared..."


    "Try again. If it still doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll drop it," Otto whispered to her.


    Her eyes brightened at his words. "You¡¯ll help me, Mr. Otto?"


    "Yes."


    With Otto''s assurance, Xavia gathered her courage and once again approached Noah. This time,


    before she could react, Noah grabbed her hair and pulled out a dagger. The tip hovered


    dangerously near her eye, poised to puncture.


    "I won''t kill you right away," he threatened, his voice dripping with contempt. "First, I''ll blind you.


    Then, I¡¯ll carve scars into your face. It will destroy your proud violin career, and when you''re devoid


    of all your worth, I trust Duskfall will assist me in ending you."


    Xavia froze, watching the de as her scalp tingled. "N-No... D-Don''t..." she stammered, her voice


    a fragile whisper. Even if it meant being punished by Cyrus, she no longer dared to act. She dared


    not provoke this terrifying version of Noah who was akin to a madman.


    Suppressing the metallic taste in his throat, Noah¡¯s voice was hoarse and his breath was hot. His


    somber aura was overwhelming as he growled, "Then get the fuck out here right now.¡±


    It was better to die on one''s feet than to live on one''s knees.


    Noah stared at the woman before him in revulsion. Even if he was choked to death, he would not


    give in. He was on the cusp of marrying Chloe, and he would not allow anything to destroy that


    chance, especially not at thest moment.


    "I''ll leave... I''ll leave..." The utterly terrified Xavia nodded frantically. She knew Noah was no angel,


    but she had not expected him to be the devil.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Noah violently chucked Xavia aside. He then turned the de, and without hesitation, stabbed his


    own palm. The cold de was stained with bright red blood, and the sharp pain that spread through


    his body stimted his nerves. This act cleared his clouded consciousness a little.

 Chapter 842 No! Chloe and That Bastard Should Die Together!

    Chapter 842 No! Chloe and That Bastard Should Die Together!


    Otto¡¯s body tensed as he took a step forward, all the while keeping a safe distance from Noah.


    "What are you trying to do?"


    Was Noah about to strike out like a cornered mouse? Despite Otto¡¯s ability to defend himself, the


    situation still sent a chill down his spine.


    Noah sank the de further into his palm. The intensified pain nearly consumed him, washing away


    the unwee desire that had gripped him. His pale face glowed with a sharp, cold light. "Do you


    want me to enter the abyss and serve Duskfall like a ve just like you?"


    Otto''s mouth twitched. The implications of Noah''s words were not lost on him. "Is it not possible? Do


    you think you can take on Duskfall single-handedly?¡±


    "I might not be able to, but I refuse to be their puppet. If we can cooperate, then we''re friends. If you


    refuse and wish to destroy me, know that I''ll drag you all down to hell together with me. I''ve already


    contacted the media. Should I fail to leave the cafe unscathed, if I''m found dead or even injured, the


    media will instantly call upon the police and bury you in andslide of public outrage."


    Otto''s corporation, already tangled in illegal activities, served as Duskfall''s sole legitimate revenue


    stream. If these affairs were to be thoroughly investigated, the fallout would be catastrophic. Noah''s


    gambit was a dangerous game of self-sacrifice, enduring a thousand wounds to inflict a fraction of


    that pain onto his enemy. If they would not let him off easy, he would be sure they lost a few limbs


    too.


    Otto''s eyes widened as he reassessed the young man before him, his expression a blend of shock


    and bewilderment. It was clear now that not only he but also his father had grossly underestimated


    Noah.


    Noah''s palm had been pierced almost all the way through. The act of cutting one''s own flesh was


    not something an ordinary person could do. They had to be cruel enough to themselves, possess


    strong willpower, and know clearly what they wanted. Through boldly and openly snatching a


    woman from Joseph and almost seeding, Noah demonstrated both ability and courage.


    Xavia peered out the window and saw a swarm of reporters outside, their cameras aimed right at


    the cafe. She hastily closed the curtains. The panic was evident in her voice as she asked, "What


    do we do? They can''t see me like this. Keh will surely abandon me!"


    Her only ace was her uing marriage. She had carefully orchestrated every move and could not


    afford any disruption at this vital juncture. Her ns to be a princess, join the royal family, and


    demean Chloe were allid out. She aimed to prove to Joseph that she had far better options than


    him. But before she had even barely begun that life, Noah was threatening to ruin it.


    ¡®If he is to die, he should die alone. No! Chloe and this bastard should die together!¡¯ Xavia thought.


    Otto massaged his temples, clearly annoyed. "Quiet down. We''re safe for now. Nobody outside has


    discovered us yet."


    "I don''t care how but you must find a way to hide me. We can¡¯t afford to be spotted by anyone."


    Otto took a moment to survey the chaotic room, his eyes drawn to the grisly bloodstains on the


    floor. He had grossly underestimated Noah, mistaking his reserve for weakness. This error in


    judgment weighed heavily on him.


    Seeing Otto lost in thought, Xavia''s anxiety gave way to urgent pleading. "I know there''s an antidote


    for this drug. We have to give it to him. Dying any further is pointless!"


    Reluctance flickered in Otto''s eyes, but he knew he had no other choice. Carrying on was far too


    perilous. He retrieved a packet of powder from his pocket, mixed it with some coffee, and slid the


    cup toward Noah. "Here''s the antidote."


    Thankfully, he had brought it with him. Otherwise, this brat might have continued his resistance.


    Taking Otto at his word and assuming no foul y, Noah downed the cup¡¯s contents.


    ¡°Will you ask the media to leave now?" Xavia asked as she hurriedly donned her mask, eager to


    escape the troublesome reporters.


    A cooling sensation spread through Noah¡¯s body, signaling his rapid recovery. He shot a death stare


    at Otto as he dialed a number on his phone andmanded, "I''m leaving now. Have the media


    disperse." He hung up the phone. "They¡¯re gone.¡±


    Otto''s previous casual demeanor vanished and was reced by a serious tone. "A pleasure


    cooperating with you."


    Noah''s eyes masked a hidden darkness as he gripped the table for support, slowly rising to depart.


    *


    At the hospital, Chloe and Emily were waiting for the diagnosis.


    "Ms. Chloe, there¡¯s nothing majorly wrong with you. Your body is just a little weak. You should take a


    few days off to rest at home,¡± the doctor instructed, extending her report to her.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Emily''s confusion was evident as she said, "Really? But Coco¡¯s been having constant headaches,


    something she¡¯s never experienced before."


    The doctor looked over the report again. He paused for a moment, then cautiously proposed,


    "Headaches might stem from something psychological. It would be wise to consult a specialist."


    Emily''s eyes widened in shock. "Doctor, are you saying Coco could have psychological issues?


    That can''t be right. She should be as fit as a fiddle."


    Chloe found herself torn betweenughter and tears. She just had a headache. It was not that


    serious.


    The doctor quickly reassured them, "Not necessarily. It''s just a theory. If you believe there to be no


    issue, there''s no need to see a specialist. Headaches can be triggered by a wide array of factors,


    including stress and the environment."


    "Okay, thank you, doctor."


    Chloe took Emily''s arm, and they left the hospital. Since it was not a physiological problem, it might


    be as Noah said. The problem might indeed lie in stress and work. Perhaps all she needed was to


    rx.


    "Hey, beautiful. Wait up," a man''s voice called out from behind them.


    Chloe turned to face the stranger, an eyebrow arched in question. "Who are you?"

 Chapter 843 I’m Getting Married

    Chapter 843 I¡¯m Getting Married


    "I''m a psychiatrist, and I overheard your conversation with the doctor. Why don''t we exchange


    numbers? If you visit me at my office, I''ll examine you," the man offered.


    The man was bald and had a greasy face. His frivolous eyes scanned her up and down as if he


    were bestowing some great favor upon her.


    "No need. My mind is fine," Chloe replied with a polite but clear refusal, her difort apparent.


    "Don''t be ungrateful," he snapped, his tone bing unpleasant. "Do you have any idea how many


    people line up just to get an appointment with me every day? I''m offering this to you for your own


    good. Don''t wait till you¡¯re sick in the head before youe and beg me to examine you.¡±


    "You call yourself a doctor when your mouth is as foul as a toilet bowl? My friend isn''t sick, so don''t


    you dare curse her!" Emily responded, her anger bubbling over. Her words were sharp, and she


    clearly picked up the man''s malicious intent.


    "You¡¯re in a hospital, so aren¡¯t you sick?" the sleazy man mused, stroking his chin and tutting in


    disapproval. "Could it be some kind of dirty infection from your promiscuous activities?"


    "Repeat yourself if you dare¡­" Chloe challenged, her eyes narrowing as she stared at him fiercely.


    Fueled by her headache, her anger was ignited. Normally, she would dismiss such a person without


    a second thought, but today she refused to back down. The more she thought about his words, the


    angrier she became.


    "Repeat myself? Sure, I''ll repeat it," the man taunted, his voice dripping with scorn. "I think you''re


    selling your body. At such a young age, you''re already carrying an LV bag. What else could you


    have possibly relied on if not men¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Chloe''s high heels mmed down on his foot. He howled in


    pain and raised his hand to strike her. Chloe, having anticipated this reaction, grabbed Emily and


    turned to flee, only to run into a warm chest.


    "Fuck off now. I don''t want to have to get rough with you," Joseph warned, his eyes icy as he


    protectively shielded Chloe in his embrace.


    "You¡­ You¡¯re going to fight in a hospital? I''ll call security and have you thrown out!" the man


    threatened, defiance mixing with the fear in his eyes.


    "Shoo, shoo! Go and call them. Stop disturbing my father." Jasper peeked out from behind Joseph,


    his young face showing clear contempt.


    The man snapped back as he felt his dignity challenged by a child, "Just wait. My uncle is the Dean


    of this hospital. I''ll have you all kicked out!"


    "You''re a grown man tattling to his elders? How shameless." Jasper sneered, his voice dripping with


    disdain. He then turned to Chloe with a cool, self-assured smile. "Long time no see, Ms. Chloe. Are


    you feeling unwell? My dad just happens to be here too. Looks like you two are fated.¡±


    Chloe nudged Joseph, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes. "You can let go of me now. Thank you."


    Feeling her gentle touch, Joseph reluctantly released her. "What''s wrong? What brought you here


    for a checkup?"


    "Just a headache. It¡¯s nothing serious," Chloe replied, putting a respectable distance between them.


    ¡°Daddy has a headache too, from insomnia. He hasn''t slept for days, and the doctor warned that


    he''s on the brink of copse. Ms. Chloe, could you please convince him to get some rest?" Jasper


    pleaded as the innocent look in his eyes masked his slyness.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Chloe softened as she looked at the child and her earlier anger subsided. "I¡¯m justcking rest,


    nothing more."


    "Lack of rest?" Joseph questioned, his concern apparent. "Did Noah really not mistreat you?"


    "Why would he mistreat me?" Chloe countered, a puzzled look in her eyes.


    Joseph was momentarily stunned. He frowned. "With everything you know, he''d surely want to keep


    you close."


    "I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. All I know is that I''m doing well right now."


    "Do you truly not understand or are you just pretending? If you have other ns, tell me. We can


    work on them together."


    "There''s nothing to discuss. I''m getting married in three days, so don''t specte any further. Let''s


    end things between us," Chloe said calmly. She did not want to dredge up past conflicts, especially


    in front of the child, and her grace was evident in her poise.

 Chapter 844 Longing to Rekindle His Old Flame With Her

    Chapter 844 Longing to Rekindle His Old me With Her


    Chloe''s indifference greatly displeased Joseph. His voice suddenly grew sharper. "No, I have to


    protect you. I don¡¯t feel safe while you stay with Noah."


    He could not fathom what Noah had done to make Chloe act as if she had been afflicted with


    amnesia,pletely disregarding the truths that they had uncovered together. He also could not


    stand idly by and watch her slowly sink into peril. Of course, he had his own selfish motives, longing


    to rekindle his old me with her, even though the possibility seemed slim.


    Chloe''s lips curved into a faint smile. "Would I be safe by your side then? You didn''t treat me kindly


    back then either."


    "I..." He found himself at a loss for words, his mind drifting back to the events of five years ago. But


    who had not stumbled during their youth? He was wrong for not understanding how to love


    someone properly, but he was not as despicable as Noah. Noah was a man who acted one way in


    public and another in private. He constantly presented himself as an innocentmb while engaging


    in secret, unsavory dealings.


    Jasper''s patience wore thin, and he tugged at Chloe''s clothes. "Don''t be angry, Ms. Chloe. My dad¡¯s


    just bad with words."


    Emily''s mouth twitched uncontrobly. In her mind, the idea of Joseph being bad with words was


    utterly impossible.


    "It''s okay," Chloe reassured them, ncing at her phone to look at the time. Her tone softened as


    she said, "I have to go now, Jasper. See you next time."


    Jasper''s panic led him to pinch his arm to force out a few false tears. He suddenly burst into


    uncontroble sobs. "Ms. Chloe, don''t go. Don''t leave."


    Chloe stopped in shock, squatting down tofort the crying boy and wipe away his tears. "What''s


    wrong?"


    He flung himself into Chloe''s arms, his little face flushed with embarrassment. "My arm hurts..." His


    shame was palpable as lying was something he despised. Now, he had to abandon his values for


    his father''s sake.


    ''Sigh, what would my father do without my unwavering support?'' he thought.


    "Let me see." Chloe rolled up his sleeve and was met with red swelling. Her face turned white with


    anger. "Who hit you?"


    Jasper blinked innocently and said, "I fell and hurt myself, Ms. Chloe. It''s been so long since Ist


    saw you. Will you please have dinner with me? I''ll treat you with my pocket money. My dad''s always


    working, so I usually eat alone. My ssmates make fun of me for it."


    Chloe stared at Joseph reproachfully. "No matter how busy you are, you should make time for your


    child. You brought him into this world, so you should be responsible for him."


    Joseph was rendered speechless. He was having lunch with Jasper every day at Fairlight.


    However, he was willing to cooperate since Jasper was helping him keep this little woman around.


    "An overseas project is going public soon, so I can''t make time. There''s no way around it," he said,


    his expression unchanging.


    Chloe''s anger red. "Being busy isn¡¯t an excuse. You''re being irresponsible."


    "You take responsibility then."


    "If I have to, I will." Oblivious to his provocation, Chloe angrily took Jasper''s hand and headed to a


    nearby restaurant.


    Emily''s face took on a serious expression. Why did it seem like Chloe still harbored lingering


    feelings for Joseph? No ordinary woman would show suchpassion for her ex-husband''s child.


    Chloe brought Jasper to a fried chicken joint and ordered him a kid¡¯s meal. The waitress nced at


    Joseph who was following behind them and politely asked, "Ma''am, we¡¯re having a promo at the


    moment. If you take a family portrait, we''ll give you some free spicy chicken wings."


    "A family portrait?" Chloe asked, surprised and confused.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Yeah. Isn''t the gentleman behind you your husband?"

 Chapter 845 You’ll Have a Mother Someday

    Chapter 845 You¡¯ll Have a Mother Someday


    Chloe turned her head and locked eyes with Joseph. Her face was devoid of expression. Her eyes


    narrowed slightly and her lips parted, but Jasper quickly interjected, "No, Ms. Chloe isn''t married


    yet. She''s not my mother."


    The waitress smiled awkwardly. "I''m sorry. I thought you two were a couple.¡±


    This included Jasper, who was dressed in a formal khaki green shirtplete with a small bow tie,


    looking obedient and handsome. He looked like a miniature version of the man behind him,


    seemingly destined to grow up to be a heartthrob.


    "It''s okay. I''m used to this since I don''t have a mother," Jasper said in a serious tone.


    His words caused Chloe''s heart to seize up. On impulse, she found herself wanting to take a family


    portrait with Joseph. Though Jasper had not requested spicy chicken wings, she could see a desire


    hidden deep in his eyes. She did not know that what he longed for was not the insignificant chicken


    wings but the profound need for motherly love and a harmonious family.


    Emily silently tugged at Chloe¡¯s sleeve and shook her head, signaling her not to be impulsive. Such


    a photograph could end up being used in the store''s promotionally ads and disyed prominently.


    As Chloe was about to marry Noah, it would be inappropriate.


    Catching her friend''s meaning, Chloe¡¯s brows furrowed before rxing. She then bent down and


    gently told Jasper, "You''ll have a mother one day in the future. She''s just a little dyed."


    Jasper nodded his head in agreement, but in his heart, he did not want any other woman to be his


    mother. Just like his father, he wanted only her.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Having not indulged in fast food for quite some time, Chloe ended up ordering a box of nuggets, two


    cups of coffee, and some fries. She sat down with Emily to dig in, and for Joseph, she ordered


    nothing for him. She believed a man of his taste would surely disdain fast food and consider it a


    waste.


    Joseph did not make a fuss and snorted arrogantly. He had no desire to eat these things as nuggets


    contributed to weight gain and instant coffee was known to be unhealthy. He needed to maintain his


    figure if he wanted to be better than the younger men.


    Though he abstained from eating, Joseph''s posture was rxed as he propped his chin up with one


    hand. Hezily watched the passersby outside the window. He seemed to be apanying the


    child, but closer inspection would reveal that none of the people outside caught his interest as his


    attention remained fixed on Chloe. His narrow, cold eyes were filled with profound affection and


    cautious love.


    Chloe, on the other hand, was absorbed in helping Jasper unpack his food. She gently inquired


    about his school life, behaving like a mother with her child. The warm sunlight filtered in through the


    window, illuminating her beautiful profile and making her glow.


    Joseph''s mouth curled into a small smile. The simplicity of sitting down for a peaceful meal was a


    longing of his. Sadly, this moment of tranquility was abruptly shattered.


    "Uncle, that¡¯s the guy who caused themotion at the hospital earlier. He scared away my


    patients and even threatened to hit me," the sleazy male doctor from the hospital used as he


    pointed menacingly at Chloe''s group.


    Not in the mood to argue, Chloe rolled her eyes and mmed her card onto the table as though


    unting her wealth. "Are you trying to frame me? Just tell me how much you want and I''ll consider


    it charity to a beggar."


    "Since thedy is so generous, I won''t beat around the bush. For damaging medical equipment,


    disturbing the order at the hospital, and causing mental distress to the doctor, the totales to


    125 thousand dors," the sly Dean said, producing a POS machine. "Will that be on credit?"


    "Uncle, since she has the money, let¡¯s round it off to 150 thousand dors," the doctor whispered,


    his eyes gleaming with greed.

 Chapter 846 The Appointment Is for Me

    Chapter 846 The Appointment Is for Me


    Emily scoffed. "I''ve heard of private hospitals ripping off their patients, but I''ve never heard of part-


    time scams. This is ridiculous.¡±


    Chloe remained expressionless. Her delicate and beautiful face turned serious, making her look


    quite intimidating. She had only intended to spend some money. Little did she know that they would


    make aplete mockery out of her.


    "I do have 150 thousand dors, but words are just words. You haven''t presented any evidence of


    wrongdoing, so why should I pay you?" she said as she nced at the time on her phone. "Here''s


    the deal. I know that medical equipment is costly, so let¡¯s call the police to determine if this is a


    scam or not. I don''t mind solving this through legal or private means."


    "Sure, no problem," the doctor readily said and squinted at the hospital Dean with a sly grin. "Let¡¯s


    call the police right now. I was starting to worry about the hospital''s profit for the month. A fat sheep


    coming to us for the ughter sure is a wee sight."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    The doctor stared at Chloe, swallowing his saliva as he anticipated the prospect of getting both


    money and pleasure out of this situation. After all, even the wealthiest individuals feared getting


    involved with the police. Chloe was young and wealthy, and he assumed she was someone''s


    mistress. If things escted, she would probably get scared.


    Chloe picked up her coffee, pondering whether she should contact someone too. She recalled the


    Sullivans having some connections within the police station.


    "Leave it to me," Joseph said, his voice turning chilly as he smirked condescendingly.


    "Yes, let''s leave it to Daddy. He and I will protect you,¡± Jasper said with determination as he patted


    Chloe¡¯s back earnestly in constion.


    Chloe smiled and nodded as her heart filled with warmth. She sighed inwardly, imagining how


    wonderful it would be if Jasper were her child. Having a child with such good looks, emotional


    intelligence, and smarts would be like winning the jackpot.


    Joseph, whom Chloe ignored, took a deep breath and gazed at her with a smile that did not quite


    reach his eyes. He wanted her to see that Jasper was all talk. When push came to shove, it was he


    who took action.


    Why could she not look at him instead? Did he really be less attractive because he was older


    now?


    Joseph''s handsome face darkened slightly, and he sent a text message to Lucas.


    [Book me a maintenance appointment.]


    [Sure, Mr. Joseph. May I ask which car you''re bringing in for maintenance?]


    [The appointment is for me.]


    Lucas rubbed his eyes and read the words on hisputer screen over and over to make sure he


    was not mistaken.


    ''Mr. Joseph wants to schedule maintenance for himself? I''m not dreaming, am I?''


    *


    Fifteen minutester, a group of police arrived at the fried chicken joint.


    The leader of the group and the sleazy doctor looked somewhat alike. Chloe instantly understood


    why he dared to call the police. Turns out it was the whole familymitting crimes together.


    ''Hmmm... Law enforcement shields fraudsters and engages in uwful acts themselves. What''s the


    appropriate punishment for this?'' she thought.


    "Uncle, there was trouble at the hospital. You have to help us."


    "What''s going on?"


    "These people caused trouble at the hospital. I kindly offered to treat them, but they attacked me."


    "Miss, do you want to solve this legally or privately?"


    "You haven''t even taken statements from both sides and you''re already making a judgment? Who


    taught you to do this?" A casually dressed Tyson pped the middle-aged man who had spoken.


    "No... That''s not what I meant." The man''s thoughts raced, and he nced at Joseph before looking


    at Chloe. He immediately changed his approach and yelled at the sleazy man, "How many times


    have I told you to not ask me to cover up for you? You will face the consequences of your actions.


    Apologize to thisdy now!"

 Chapter 847 I’m Getting Married, Would You Like to Come?

    Chapter 847 I¡¯m Getting Married, Would You Like to Come?


    "What are you talking about? We¡¯re the victims here..."


    "Move." Annoyed, Tyson pushed the sleazy doctor to the side, intending to leave him forst.


    This kind of thing has happened many times before. Previously, he was upied with major cases


    and rarely paid attention to trivial matters like this one. However, he happened to be free today


    when Joseph messaged Tyson. Even though Joseph had not told him the whole story, he had a


    general idea of what happened after seeing his colleagues and him heading to the same location.


    Tyson looked at the man and sighed at his ipetence despite all the years the man had worked


    as a police officer.


    "Uncle, who is he? Why are you so scared of him?" the sleazy doctor asked cautiously.


    "I don''t know, but he''s not someone to mess with."


    "That¡¯s Joseph Whitman, the CEO of the Whitman Group," a younger police officer said, "You''re in


    trouble now."


    The sleazy doctor and his uncles exchanged nces as their legs went weak and their faces turned


    ashen. They thought Joseph was nothing but a paper tiger since he had remained silent the entire


    time. It was said that Joseph ruled over Docwood as if he owned the city, leading them to believe he


    would explode at the slightest provocation. Little had they expected that he would tolerate them for


    so long.


    They failed to realize that Joseph was not refraining out of fear, but rather he valued his chance


    meeting with Chloe. He did not wish to waste time on them. The fates of these men were sealed as


    they had gone up against the wrong person.


    "You''ve been transferred to Docwood?" Chloe asked as she looked at Tyson curiously, feeling a hint


    of nostalgia from meeting with an old acquaintance.


    "Yeah, I got promoted after solving a major case two years ago," Tyson said as he red at the


    men from the hospital. "How are you? They didn''t do anything to you, did they?"


    Patting his chest, Jasper said confidently, "With my dad and me around, nobody cany a hand on


    Ms. Chloe!"


    "Good boy."


    "They¡¯re using the hospital to pull off scams. Might I suggest you shut them down for rectification


    and investigation," Joseph said, his tone cold and contemptuous as he raised his eyebrows slightly.


    Tyson scratched his nose and said, "You''re right, we''ll have this looked into."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    As Chloe wiped away the tomato sauce at the corner of Jasper''s mouth, she said, "I believe you


    should be able to handle this. I''m sorry if I''ve caused you trouble." Tyson had been nice to her in the


    past, so she gave him an easy way out.


    Tysonughed. He liked to deal with Chloe better since she was soft-spoken and less intimidating.


    "Have the two of you... reconciled?" he asked.


    When he entered, he saw the three sitting by the window like a happy family.


    "No," Chloe replied with a calm expression. "I''m getting married the day after tomorrow. Would you


    like toe? I''ll send you an invitation."


    "Huh?" Tyson was stunned. "Who are you marrying"


    "His name is Noah."


    Tyson fell silent. ''Isn''t Noah the one who fought with Joseph for Chloe''s attention five years ago?


    Looks like he''s seeded.'' He turned to nce at Joseph. The word "displeased" was written


    clearly all over his chiseled and defined icy face.


    Tyson hemmed and hawed a few times before saying, "Chloe, can I have a second with you? I have


    something to tell you."


    Joseph tapped on the table and said, "You can say whatever you have to say here."

 Chapter 848 If Miss Chloe and Daddy Have a Child

    Chapter 848 If Miss Chloe and Daddy Have a Child


    "Mind your own business," Chloe said coldly before turning to Jasper and smiling. "I have to go now.


    See youter."


    "See youter, Ms. Chloe. Take care of yourself."


    Joseph watched Chloe walk away until her graceful figurepletely disappeared from his sight.


    Then, he lowered his gaze to the small hand gripping his thigh tightly. "So why aren¡¯t you letting me


    chase after her?"


    "No reason. I just think there''s something more important right now."


    "Such as?"


    "That woman named Vanya is locked up in our house. Ask her where Ms. Chloe''s child is and


    whether they''re alive or dead. Get the answers and then arrange to meet Ms. Chloe again. Isn''t that


    a better n?"


    Joseph froze. "You know about this?" He had been keeping this from Jasper, not expecting him to


    be so observant.


    "Yeah, I overheard your conversation with Sir Callum," Jasper said as he looked at Joseph


    earnestly. "I hope to have another friend, a younger sibling, and it doesn¡¯t matter to me if it¡¯s a sister


    or a brother. Then, I''ll have another friend besides Timmy."


    Most importantly, if Chloe and Joseph had a child, the chances of them reconciling would increase.


    *


    Emily and Chloe went in different directions. Emily took a cab while Tyson escorted Chloe back to


    the Sullivan manor in his car. Knowing Tyson wanted to say something, Chloe kept silent throughout


    the ride and waited patiently.


    "Joe is a good man, Chloe. He may look cold on the outside but he truly has a kind heart. After that


    fire years ago, he didn''t sleep for days. He couldn''t bring himself to believe you were gone."


    Blinking, Chloe asked, "Are you trying to help him in reconciling with me too?"


    "No, please don''t get me wrong." Tyson shook his head and sighed heavily. "I just don''t want to


    have a horrible image of Joe. I''m just telling you the truth."


    Over the years, the Whitmans had seemed prosperous, but nobody knew the hardships they had


    gone through. Harold had been unconscious, while his only legitimate heir had betrayed them and


    ended up in prison. Joseph had to uphold the Whitman Group and Fairlight on his own, and as a


    result, working until the wee hours of the morning was amon urrence. The only constion


    was that Jasper had grown up healthy.


    "All of that is in the past. We should always look to the future."


    "Yes, but Joe still loves you. He has never really let go," Tyson said.


    He paused momentarily, then continued, "Do you know that Joe even reported you missing to the


    police? He firmly believed you were alive. He continued investigating and only stopped when he


    found clues overseas.


    "He probably found out that you were with Noah, and he couldn''t ept it. Hepletely ignored


    Xavia''s advances. At family gatherings, he would get drunk and mutter your name over and over."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Chloe froze for a moment but quickly regained herposure. "No matter how well he treats me


    now, it can''t make up for what he did to me."


    Tyson dropped the topic. Whether Joseph and Chloe got back together or not was not something


    others could make happen through mere words. It ultimately depended on themselves and their


    destiny.


    *


    After finishing her nightly routine, Chloey down in bed. Suddenly, the things Tyson had said to her


    earlier in the day resurfaced in her mind. She vigorously shook her head, trying to shake off the


    jumbled thoughts. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to go to sleep.


    In the deep of the night, Noah entered her bedroom and lightly sat down on her bedside. He gazed


    affectionately at Chloe. Unable to resist, he reached out and gently touched her face. Suddenly, she


    started to mutter in her sleep, her brows furrowing. She said a few words, and although she was


    mumbling, Noah caught a name clearly¡ªJoseph.

 Chapter 849 Can I Sleep Here Tonight?

    Chapter 849 Can I Sleep Here Tonight?


    Noah''s hand came to a halt as his pupils dted. He burst into mockingughter.


    Half-asleep, Chloe opened her eyes and saw Noah. She sat up and said, "You''re home."


    Suddenly, he embraced her, greedily inhaling her fragrance. His grip was rough as if he wanted to


    fuse her to him.


    Chloe¡¯s mind cleared, and the strong smell of alcohol entered her nose. "Have you been drinking?"


    "Hush, Coco. Just let me hold you for a while."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    She blinked, then said, "You should go to sleep. It''s quitete."


    "Are you saying I can''t hold you?" A warm breath brushed against Chloe''s neck, carrying a


    diforting chill that made her hair stand on end.


    "It''s gettingte, and you''ve been drinking. You should get some rest. Did something happen at


    work? Tell me about it. We can figure it out together. Talking about it will make you feel better."


    Chloe did not know how to answer so she evaded it. She wanted tofort him, but she also did


    not want to be physically close to him.


    "Are you resisting me?" Noah asked, his gaze held no emotion as he saw through her.


    "What? Of course not," Chloe replied in a flustered manner, "You''re my fiance. Why would I resist


    you?"


    Noah tightened his embrace, and his suppressed desires became even more pronounced. "I don''t


    want to go to my room tonight. Can I sleep here?" He wanted to be Chloe¡¯s husband now. He


    wanted to enjoy marital intimacy even before the wedding. By possessing her fully, maybe she


    would stop thinking of Joseph.


    Chloe''s body stiffened, and she pushed him away. She asked, "What are you talking about?"


    "I want to be with you. Right here, right now," Noah said, holding onto her waist and pressing


    himself against her.


    "No... Noah, don''t," Chloe resisted, her eyes filling with panic. Her face was full of confusion like a


    deer caught in headlights, making her look adorable.


    She was by no means a conservative person, especially since she had been married before. It was


    just that she did not want to engage in such acts with Noah from the bottom of her heart. She knew


    that this was not fair toward Noah, but she could not control her feelings.


    Conflicting emotions yed on Noah''s face and a glint of coldness gleamed in his eyes. He knew


    her words would hurt him, but his emotions got the best of him, urging him to press further. "Why?


    We''re getting married the day after tomorrow. What''s the difference between giving yourself to me


    now orter?"


    "I''m not ready yet... Please give me a little more time."


    Noah paused for a moment. His tone suddenly became gentle as he said, "It''s been five years,


    Coco. You should be ready by now. I need you. Just help me out, okay?"


    Chloe''s lips parted slightly, her ears turning hot as she recalled that Noah had attended numerous


    social events and could not avoid going to entertainment venues recently. Some men enjoyed


    seeking out young women to apany them at clubs, and although Noah''s appearance was


    youthful, it did not mean he was inexperienced. Could he have been exposed to some inappropriate


    scenes that triggered him?


    Lost in her thoughts, Chloe found it difficult to make a decision. Noah was right. The wedding was


    only two days away, and this happening a little earlier would not make much of a difference. He had


    been by her side throughout the years, and she knew how considerate he was. Not only that, but he


    was also the one who brought her back to the Sullivans.


    Cupping Chloe''s cheeks in his hands, Noah moved his thin lips closer. "Just rx."


    She took a deep breath to calm herself and nervously closed her eyes.

 Chapter 850 The Struggle to Hold Back or to Act

    Chapter 850 The Struggle to Hold Back or to Act


    As Noah''s lipsnded on Chloe''s cheek, she was startled and abruptly pushed him away.


    "I''m sorry. I''m still not ready..."


    Her words came out in a rush. She did not understand what was happening to her. She knew she


    was being selfish, but she could not control it.


    Noah''s expression darkened, a mix of anger and disappointment swirling within him. His


    suppressed frustration erupted like a volcano. Something inside his head snapped as he threw


    himself at her, tearing away her flimsy sleepwear.


    "I heard you saying Joseph¡¯s name in your sleep! Am I really that detestable in your eyes?! After


    five years, do I still have to force my way in?!" Noah shouted, his words filled with a vtile mixture


    of emotions.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Chloe''s pupils dted, and she instinctively covered her exposed chest. "No! Please don''t! I didn''t


    reject you intentionally!"


    She could not exin why Joseph had appeared in her dreams. Also, she understood why Noah


    had suddenly changed. It turned out she had unintentionally hurt him.


    "Not intentional? Then why are you resisting me? Tell me!" Noah snarled, his eyes turning crimson


    and his demeanor bordering on madness. He was obsessed with extracting a clear answer he was


    fully aware of.


    The once gentle young man had vanished entirely.


    A tremor ran through Chloe''s heart, her face showing a hint of self-me. Noah''s transformation


    was partially her fault.


    "I won''t resist you anymore. You''re right. We''ll eventually be husband and wife."


    With those words, Chloe ceased struggling. Her eyes reddened as she gazed at him, looking both


    pitiful and innocent.


    A pang struck Noah''s heart. He did not want to obtain her in this way, but he was truly furious. No


    man could ept their fiancee calling another man''s name in her dreams. It was a grave insult.


    Under the influence of alcohol, Noah tore thest of Chloe''s clothing apart, leaving her supple body


    exposed to the air and making her shiver involuntarily. Meeting her eyes, he battled his desire to


    hold back and his stronger urge to dominate her.


    He was a normal man, so he had his desires. epting this fact seemed to give him a legitimate


    reason. He leaned down to embrace her, savoring her exquisitely smooth skin beneath his


    fingertips.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    "Are you in there, Mr. Noah?"


    As Noah was about to take the next step, the sudden knocking on the door shattered the


    atmosphere of the room. Chloe hurriedly wrapped herself in the nket, her face pale as she


    huddled in a corner.


    Noah frowned and asked, "Yes. Anything?"


    "Mr. Desmond heard some noise from upstairs and asked me toe up and check."


    "We''re fine."


    "Okay, sir. Mr Desmond wants you both to rest early and not to stay upte."


    "Got it. I''ll be going to bed now," Chloe quickly responded. She was grateful that her grandfather


    hade in the nick of time. Otherwise, she might not have escaped this situation tonight.


    Though displeasure flickered across Noah''s face, he nodded nheless. "You should go to bed


    early, Coco. I''m sorry about this. I had too much to drink, and my emotions got the better of me. I


    hope I didn''t scare you."


    Joseph would be gone for good by tomorrow. As long as he died, what harm would it do to wait a


    few more days?


    Chloe pressed her lips together and sighed in relief. "Goodnight."


    *


    At the Whitman family home, Joseph ordered Vince as he tucked Jasper into bed, "Bring Vanya to


    me."


    "Okay, sir."


    Vanya had been left to her own devices since she was brought back here and her mental state had


    improved quite a bit. Now, she could manage a few steps without relying on a wheelchair. She


    followed Vince into the room.


    As she nced around the room, a hint of surprise shed across her face. "Where''s Chloe? I


    thought she¡¯s the one who cared most for her child''s well-being?"

 Chapter 851 He Would Take Her Away if She Wanted

    Chapter 851 He Would Take Her Away if She Wanted


    Joseph replied emotionlessly. "She didn''te."


    Vanya was taken aback. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Why not? Doesn''t she want to


    know about her child''s whereabouts?"


    "Does that concern you?"


    Vanya choked, but she soon came around and replied sarcastically, "Of course it concerns me.


    What if you two have a falling out? What if you break your promise after I tell you everything?"


    Compared to Joseph, she trusted Chloe more since she knew how cold-blooded Joseph was. If he


    was a kind man, he would not have locked her up at Imperium for five years.


    Joseph gave her a meaningful nce and pulled out a stack of items from the drawer under his


    desk. He ced them on the table and said, "Here¡¯s the visa for you to leave the country, some


    cash, and an ID. You have ten minutes to decide whether you''ll talk or not."


    Vanya was shocked. She hurried over to pick them up, but she stumbled and nearly fell to the floor.


    She steadied herself and trembled as she picked up the coveted ID card with apletely new


    name written on it.


    It was a name entirely her own. With this new name, she could bid farewell to her past and start


    anew. She thought she would never get this chance in her life, but it was now presented right before


    her.


    Tears welled up in Vanya''s eyes. With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, she said, "I''ll tell you,


    but you have to arrange a flight for me to leave the country. I''ll tell you everything I know before I


    board the ne."


    Honestly, she did not think Joseph would agree to her request. After all, their rtionship had never


    been one of cooperation. If it were not for her knowledge of those secrets and that she had worked


    for the Duskfall, Joseph would not have let her survive until now.


    "Okay," Joseph swiftly agreed.


    At present, he had more important matters at hand. Chloe and Noah''s wedding would be held in two


    days. He wanted to get answers and would meet Chloe again tomorrow. As long as she wanted it,


    he would wholeheartedly take her away.


    Even though there was a chance that Vanya might deceive him, it did not matter as he had plenty of


    ways to handle it.


    Vanya was surprised by Joseph''s attitude. She observed his expression for a long while and


    realized that he was serious. A smile spread across her face and said, "I''ll tell you everything."


    Ignoring her, Joseph called for Lucas and instructed him to arrange for the earliest overseas flights.


    These meticulous tasks were beyond Vince¡¯s job scope.


    Lucas was efficient and booked a flight for the next noon. "Sir, you have to go to Skyreach Memorial


    Park tomorrow morning to visit Mr. Harold''srade''s grave," he reminded.


    "I remember. You and Vince will take Vanya to the airport. Record everything she says with a voice


    recorder before she boards," Joseph instructed.


    "Yes, sir."


    After hanging up the phone, Joseph immersed himself in tomorrow''s work.


    *


    After a sleepless night, Joseph departed at six the next morning. He drove himself to the memorial


    park. Before leaving, Harold handed him a bottle of fine wine from his collection and said, "Take this


    to myrade. He loved drinking this."


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "Sure," Joseph responded, looking at Harold''s graying hair. He paused for a moment and continued,


    "I¡¯ll pay my respects properly. Stay home for the next few days. I''ve reinforced the security


    measures and arranged for more bodyguards around the mansion."


    "I can barely walk a few steps without running out of breath. Where could I possibly go?" Harold


    grumbled with some dissatisfaction. His tone then turned serious as he said, "When are you going


    to deal with Xavia? The situation I''m in now is all because of her. Otherwise, why would I need you


    to go on my behalf?"

 Chapter 852 The Scene Was Horrifying as if From a Movie

    Chapter 852 The Scene Was Horrifying as if From a Movie


    Joseph raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "I can do it anytime."


    ¡°Are you treating me like a child?" Harold''s eyes widened in anger as he huffed. If he could deal


    with her anytime, then why drag it out until now?


    ¡°Chloe¡¯s nning something as well, and it''s halfway done."


    "I see. So you''re waiting in line huh¡­" Harold nodded.


    Since Chloe was going to teach Xavia a lesson first, he felt he could wait. After everything was


    settled, he would step in and wrap things up. He wanted Xavia to know that just because he was old


    did not mean he had forgotten everything and did not care.


    When Joseph heard the word "in line," his lips twitched. "I''m going to go on."


    "Be careful on the road. The path up the mountain is rough. Don''t drive into a ditch."


    Joseph twirled the car keys in his hand and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Without looking back,


    he said, "I will."


    As Harold watched Joseph¡¯s receding figure, his heart pounded. He did not know why but he felt


    anxious and breathless.


    Patrick noticed this and hurriedly brought an oxygen tank to Harold. "Are you all right, sir? I''ll get the


    doctor right away."


    Harold took a few breaths from the oxygen tank, his pale eyebrows furrowing together. He paused


    and said, "It''s nothing. Maybe I''m just getting old, so I tend to think and worry too much."


    Joseph had always been reliable. He got his driver''s license as soon as he reached the legal age,


    and he had been driving for over a decade now. He was just going to pay his respects, so nothing


    should go wrong.


    *


    It was a Saturday, and it took forty minutes to reach the city center from the family home.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    After passing the toll, the cars on the road thinned out and Joseph sped up. Suddenly, he spotted


    an SUV following him through the rearview mirror. He nced at the driver''s seat. It was a man.


    Including the driver, there were probably four people in the car.


    Throughout the journey, besides them, there were no other cars on the road.


    Joseph slowed down and moved to the side of the road. The car followed suit. His jaw tightened, his


    expression showing no emotion. Suddenly, he stepped on the gas and elerated.


    The speeds between the two cars had been fairly close, but now, he opened up a significant gap.


    The car behind him was stunned for a moment, then immediately elerated. Since there were no


    other vehicles on the mountain road, they quickly caught up with him.


    Just as the car behind was preparing to go all out and press down on the gas pedal to catch up,


    Joseph suddenly made a turn at a fork in the road. The car behind did not react quickly enough and


    overshot.


    Switchingnes, Joseph positioned his car behind the SUV, turning from being followed to the


    pursuer.


    The road ahead led all the way to the top of the mountain with no side roads. Joseph smirked as his


    eyes gleamed coldly. He floored the gas pedal and rammed into the back of the SUV. A massive


    collision echoed as sparks flew. In the blink of an eye, the SUV was pushed back around ten


    meters, with half of its front end precariously perched on the edge of a cliff.


    "Damn it! You two, get out of the car and take him down!" the driver shouted angrily, wiping the cold


    sweat from his forehead and carefully maneuvering the car backward to a safer position.


    The two people in the back seat had not anticipated that Joseph would detect them so quickly. They


    grabbed knives from the glovepartment, got out of the car, and went for the wheels of Joseph''s


    vehicle. With knives in their hands, they charged toward him.


    The scene was horrifying as if ripped straight from a movie. They knew that once they got Joseph


    out of his car, the rest would be easier to handle. No matter how skilled a single person was, they


    would struggle against multiple attackers.

 Chapter 853 Chloe Was His Lucky Star

    Chapter 853 Chloe Was His Lucky Star


    Joseph narrowed his eyes. He swiftly turned the steering wheel and reversed his car.


    When his pursuers were unable to catch up, they whistled sharply and numerous people emerged


    from all directions.


    Their positions had been carefully nned out. Some of them stood in front of Joseph¡¯s car while


    others stood behind it. The closest ones were about five meters away. They had darts in their


    hands, and their goal was to puncture the car tires, and then get rid of him.


    Fortunately, the car that Joseph was driving today had been specially modified for durability. The


    first dart did not pierce through and was deflected. The second and the third darts had simr


    oues. However, as they switched to sharper and more lethal darts, Joseph''s brow furrowed.


    Pop! Fssh!


    The sound of detion echoed as a tire burst. The darts pierced through the tire, causing it to lose


    airpletely.


    Joseph tightened his grip on the steering wheel and quickly dialed Vince¡¯s number.


    "Joseph, I advise you to surrender now. We''ll give you a swift end," the leader taunted, a cigarette


    dangling from his mouth in a boastful manner.


    Apart from their elite members, Duskfall had also contracted foreign special forces Noah had


    provided. No matter how formidable Joseph was, it would be difficult for him to escape from so


    many people. They were determined to end him today.


    Joseph scoffed coldly, "You think you can handle me?"


    "Don''t y tough." The leader saw Joseph reach for his phone and shrugged indifferently. "There''s


    no signal here. You won¡¯t be able to make any calls. Forget about calling for reinforcements and


    save your energy."


    They had chosen this location and were naturally fully prepared. The signal here was practically


    nonexistent, so there was no hope of making a call. Joseph either had to reach Skyreach Memorial


    Park or turn back the way he came.


    Judging by the situation, neither route seemed feasible.


    "Is that so?" Joseph looked at them tauntingly and shook the satellite phone in his hand. "I''m sorry


    to disappoint you but I already got through."


    He intended to tell Chloe about the news of the child at the first opportunity. However, the signal on


    the mountain was poor and there was no Inte connection here, so he had switched to a satellite


    phone before leaving home today to easily contact her. He had not expected it to be his


    lifesaver.


    Chloe was his lucky star.


    "Sir, did something happen?" Vince''s voice rang out from the phone.


    "I ran into Duskfall on my way to Skyreach. Bring some guys over," Joseph replied.


    The group was stunned when they saw that Joseph was using a satellite phone. One of them


    shouted at the driver, "Quick! Ram his car! He has to die today!"


    As the words fell, a deafening roar echoed, followed by the SUV elerating rapidly toward


    Joseph. Joseph''s car had its tires punctured long ago, leaving him with no chance to escape.


    Fifty meters¡­ Thirty meters¡­. Twenty meters¡­ Ten¡­ Five!Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    As the SUV got closer and closer, Joseph''s expression became serious as he jumped out of the car.


    With no road ahead and a cliff behind him, staying in the car would only result in him being crushed


    like a sandwich.


    Bam!


    A tremendous impact echoed through the valley as both vehicles suffered varying degrees of


    damage. Thick ck smoke billowed and steam hissed. Even the people in the SUV were cut and


    were wounded. If Joseph had been inside his car, he would have been severely injured.


    Nheless, he was still in a dangerous situation.


    The leader was not angry. Instead, he grinned and waved, leading the others as they approached


    Joseph. He sneered, "Still not going to surrender? You¡¯ll meet a very unpleasant end shortly."


    Joseph was well aware of his current situation. Without hesitation, he took off his suit jacket for


    better maneuver and assumed a defensive stance. Determination was written all over his face. He


    was not afraid of death, but he feared never seeing the woman he loved ever again. So no matter


    what, he had to hold out until Vince arrived.


    *


    After receiving the call, Vince appointed a trusted member of his team to apany Lucas. He


    himself immediately led his men toward Skyreach. On the way, he called Joseph, but no one picked


    up.

 Chapter 854 I Don’t Remember

    Chapter 854 I Don¡¯t Remember


    Vince''s fingers trembled as he called Joseph again but to no avail. He shook his head and pushed


    away the thoughts inside his head. He convinced himself that Joseph was just too busy to answer


    his call.


    As Vince calmed himself, he honked the horn several times and rolled down the car window to yell


    at the vehicle ahead that was blocking the way. "It''s a green light! Are you blind?! If you don''t go


    now, I''ll get a tractor to tow you away!"


    "Damn you!" A voice of protest came from the car ahead, and Zoelle''s face appeared out of the


    window. "You''re the blind one here! Can''t you see that there¡¯s traffic ahead?!"


    "It¡¯s you." Vince was taken aback.


    Zoelle froze for a moment and chuckled. "And it''s you, Mastiff.¡±


    Vince was anxious and did not have time to chat with her. He stared at the road conditions ahead.


    Sensing something unusual from his tense expression, Zoelle asked seriously, "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing," Vince replied. However, he realized that taking a doctor with him might be a good idea


    since Joseph might get injured fighting alone.


    "Can you do me a favor?"


    "What favor?" She raised an eyebrow, recalling how Vince had protected her at the bar previously.


    "My boss might¡¯ve been in a car ident. We''re not sure about the extent of his injuries, but he


    might need your help," Vince said, withholding from her the whole story.


    Hearing his words, Zoelle remembered the fight between Noah and Joseph a couple of days ago


    because of Chloe. She nonchntly said, "Sure. Where did your boss get in an ident? Take me


    and I¡¯ll take a look at him."


    Considering Joseph''s status and position, he should have a professional driver who has undergone


    specialized training. The probability of having a car ident was rtively low. She knew that the


    real situation was not as simple as Vince had said.


    "It''s not necessary for you to trouble yourself right now. I''ll go first. If the doctors there can''t handle


    it, I''ll contact you," Vince said.


    When he saw that the traffic jam ahead was dispersing, he hurriedly urged Zoelle to make way.


    Zoelle turned the steering wheel and moved to the side. Seizing his chance, Vince stepped on the


    gas and disappeared.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Zoelle turned on her phone and looked at the e-wedding invite Noah had sent out this morning and


    stroked her chin. "His love rival gets into a car ident the day before his wedding? Interesting,"


    she mused.


    She then turned the steering wheel and beelined to the Sullivans manor. To be honest, she was a


    little worried about Noah. After all, Joseph was not someone to trifle with. Since Chloe had agreed


    to marry him, there was no need to confront Joseph head-on as it might not be worth the trouble in


    the end.


    *


    "Where''s Noah?" Zoelle asked one of the house helpers as she pulled into the manor.


    "Mr. Noah left early this morning, but Ms. Chloe is here."


    The helper had just finished speaking when Chloe, already dressed and ready for work, spotted


    Zoelle as she was about to leave for Exotic Star.


    "Good morning, bride-to-be," Zoelle greeted Chloe with a smile.


    Chloe nodded slightly. She said in a distant tone, "Noah isn''t here. You can find him at Exotic Star.


    He should be there."


    "What''s wrong? Are you upset?" Zoelle took out her lipstick and started touching up her makeup.


    "Don''t me me. After all, you and Joseph went out together for so long at the party that day. It''s


    normal for people to have suspicions. Noah¡¯s my friend. Who should I help if not him? You?"


    Chloe frowned in confusion.


    "Seriously? You''re still angry?" Zoelle raised an eyebrow when she noticed Chloe was not


    responding, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction as she continued, "I''m not going to argue with


    you anymore. You lied to me too. Let''s just call it even."


    "No, I..." Chloe shook her head. "I don''t remember what happened at the party.¡±

 Chapter 855 Xavia Was Pregnant, but She Swapped the Kids

    Chapter 855 Xavia Was Pregnant, but She Swapped the Kids


    Chloe had no recollection of the things that Zoelle mentioned, and she only had a vague memory of


    Zoelle. She could not even remember how they knew each other.


    "Huh? Are you pulling my leg?¡±


    It had only been two days since, and Chloe had forgotten everything?


    "I''m not. Anyway, I have to go to work now. Bye," Chloe replied coolly. She had a meeting to attend


    this morning, and she had to get there on time.


    Zoelle frowned and said, "Joseph was in a car ident. It seems quite serious."


    Chloe froze and then she replied calmly. "Then I wish him a speedy recovery."


    Zoelle''s frown deepened. Something did not seem right to her, but Chloe''s reaction did not appear


    feigned. Not only had Chloe forgotten about her, but she also disyed such indifference toward


    Joseph. He was her ex-husband, after all. Even mockery would be better than this lukewarm


    attitude.


    *


    Chloe soon pushed the things Zoelle said to the back of her mind. In fact, she found it quite


    puzzling. When she arrived at Exotic Star, she reviewed the recent sales data and then held a


    meeting with her department staff. At noon, she grabbed some takeaway for lunch and went to look


    for Noah.


    His secretary looked surprised and said, "Oh, Mr. Noah didn''te to the office today. Don¡¯t you


    know?"


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Chloe frowned slightly and said, "No, I don''t.¡±


    The secretary looked at her awkwardly and continued, "I think you should call Mr. Noah instead."


    "Okay."


    Finding a quiet spot, Chloe put down the takeaway and called Noah.


    "What''s up, Coco?"


    The warm and gentle voice of the young man came through the phone, apanied by


    background noises as if he were in an open space where the wind was blowing loudly.


    "Where are you?"


    Noah paused for a moment before replying, "I''m at the airport. I just got off the ne. I''m heading


    out on a business trip today and will be back tonight."


    "Why didn''t you tell me about this?"


    "You hadn''t woken up yet, and I didn''t want to disturb you. Besides, it''s just a day trip. What''s wrong,


    Coco?" Noah asked gently, "Is someone causing trouble for you at thepany?"


    "No, everything¡¯s fine. Go ahead and take care of your work."


    "Okay, see you tonight."


    "Oh, by the way, which city are you in for your business trip?"


    "Fennelville."


    At Docwood Airport, Lucas pushed a wheelchair and escorted Vanya to the boarding gate. He took


    out a recorder and asked, "Shall we start now?"


    Taking a deep breath, Vanya said, "Okay. Let''s get started."


    They had reached this point, and it was impossible for Joseph to deceive her any longer. It was time


    for her to fulfill her promise.


    Lucas nced at the time and turned on the recorder.


    "I didn''t lie. Joseph and Chloe''s child did not die. He''s been alive all this time and he''s doing well,"


    Vanya said.


    Lucas suppressed his excitement and asked, "Where¡¯s the child now?"


    "Right in the Whitman family home," Vanya replied with aplex expression.


    Lucas could not quite grasp the situation and became a bit confused. "Exin clearly. Don''t beat


    around the bush."


    "Jasper Whitman is Chloe and Joseph''s child," Vanya continued, "Xavia''s pregnancy was real, but


    she swapped the kids."


    Lucas felt like his brain cells had been zapped by lightning. He stood stunned for a moment, gazing


    at the clouds that stretched endlessly across the sky. Then, he pped himself hard.


    Smack!


    It hurt a lot, and the sound was loud. This was not a dream.

 Chapter 856 The Devastated Vince

    Chapter 856 The Devastated Vince


    As Vanya revealed the truth, the heavy burden in her heart lifted. Over the years, she hade to


    acknowledge the countless wrongs she hadmitted and the sins she had umted. Although


    her body was ruined, the fact that she could escape with her life was an unexpected oue. In


    the end, Chloe proved to be kind-hearted.


    "Do you have any way to prove what you¡¯re saying?" Lucas asked, rubbing his face that still stung


    from the p.


    "They can do a DNA test."


    Lucas hesitated for a moment, realizing that a test would indeed provide rity. He felt foolish for


    even asking such an obvious question.


    "Find me a piece of paper and a pen. I''ll draw theyout and structure of Duskfall."


    Knowing Joseph would inevitably confront Duskfall in the future, it was crucial to be well-prepared.


    Familiarity with the enemy''syout could be the key to victory. However, she was uncertain whether


    the mechanisms within Duskfall had changed in the five years that had passed.


    "Sure."


    Fifteen minutester, Vanya handed the sketched diagram to Lucas. Her eyes were filled with


    gratitude as she said, "Thank you."


    Lucas cast a sidelong nce at her and stowed away the paper. "It''s about time to board. Go


    ahead."


    He could notpletely trust this information. There was a possibility that Vanya had malicious


    intentions and had provided incorrect facts about the mechanisms. It was dangerous and he could


    not afford to be careless. After all, the dangers of Duskfall were far greater than he could imagine.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, your flight is about to take off. Please take your seats promptly," the sweet


    voice of a flight attendant rang out.


    With anticipation in her heart, Vanya boarded the ne and waved at Lucas. "Goodbye."


    *


    Once outside the airport, Lucas immediately called Joseph, but he remained unreachable. Lucas¡¯


    heart skipped a beat and a sense of unease began to creep over him as he remembered how


    hastily and anxiously Vince had left.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Lucas had an unwavering trust in Joseph. He believed that there was nothing in the world that could


    truly trouble Joseph. Joseph looked like a born ruler, always inplete control of everything. But


    when Vince called him, Lucas knew that something grave had happened to Joseph.


    "I can''t find Mr. Joseph. The scene is in chaos. There are two wrecked cars. I suspect Duskfall''s


    people were trying to destroy evidence," Vince said, his rough voice choking as if he were a child.


    "Right now, we can only assume the worst as the site is at the edge of the cliff.¡±


    Lucas'' mouth hung open, his mind a nk te. He wanted to console Vince, but he knew that


    there was no way one could survive falling off a cliff while injured, especially on a secluded


    mountain road where malicious acts could easily bemitted.


    After a long silence, Lucas finally regained his voice and asked, "Have you searched every inch of


    the mountain road? Could there be some areas you overlooked?"


    "There''s not a single trace of anyone here." Vince stood at the edge of the cliff, tears streaming


    down his face. "I''m useless. I failed to protect Mr. Joseph."


    His hair was tousled by the wind and he felt an urge to jump down. If he could not protect Joseph,


    what was the point of living?


    "We should focus on positive possibilities. Mr. Joseph is lucky and resilient. Maybe he''s just badly


    injured and hiding."


    "Yes... You''re right¡­" Vince sniffled, trying to hold his tears back. "I''ve already informed Mr. Callum


    about the situation. He advised you to make arrangements within thepany and not let outsiders


    detect anything."


    "I understand. I''ll head back to thepany now."


    Lucas calmed himself and headed back to Fairlight. Upon his return, he was greeted by two familiar


    faces that had not been seen in years. Preston and Jonathan were sitting boldly in the CEO''s office.


    They were shouting at the finance director. "Give us 1.5 million dors now! We need it!"

 Chapter 857 News of Joseph’s Death Made the Headlines

    Chapter 857 News of Joseph¡¯s Death Made the Headlines


    The finance director sighed in relief when Lucas appeared. "Mr. Lucas, they are...¡±


    "Leave this to me."


    The finance director turned and hurriedly left. "Sure, thank you!"


    "It''s useless even if you''re here. You''re just Joseph''spdog." Preston sneered. "Stop wasting time and give me the money. If I''m in a good mood, I


    might let you stick around.¡±


    Frowning, Lucas replied, "You were just released from prison not too long ago, right? Have you already forgotten the instructions Mr. Joseph gave


    you?"


    After sellingpany secrets, Preston was sent to prison and spent several years behind bars. As for Jonathan, he became an unwanted person,


    avoiding public attention and hiding in various ces. He had not shown himself for a long time.


    As soon as the past was brought up, Preston''s face turned dark with anger. "Who do you think you are?! How dare you talk back to me!"


    ¡°I''m certainly not a big shot, but you''ve been disowned by the Whitmans. What makes you think you cane to Fairlight and demand money?"


    "While I''ve been disowned, my son wasn''t. Besides..." Preston grinned maliciously as if he had encountered the happiest news, "The Whitmans only


    have two legitimate heirs. Since Joseph is dead, someone has to take over the family business, right?¡±


    Lucas¡¯ mind buzzed but he forced himself to calm down. "Mr. Joseph isn''t dead. If you don''t leave now, I''ll call security.¡±


    "He''s not dead?" Jonathan arrogantly pulled out a photo of the car explosion on the mountain road. ¡°Look at this photo and tell me otherwise. Are you


    sure he''s not dead?"


    "Where did you get this?" Lucas asked as he red at him suspiciously.


    "That''s none of your business. Anyway, from now on, Fairlight and the Whitman Group will be under our control. You can go wherever you please."


    Lucas gritted his teeth but there was nothing he could do. Ultimately, he was just an outsider and could not interfere in the Whitmans¡¯ family matters.


    But when it came to work, he was determined to do his best. After all, he had been with Fairlight for many years. He did not believe that there was


    nothing he could do.


    He did not waste his time talking with Preston. He turned and left the office, immediately instructing the various department managers in the work


    chat group to continue working as usual and not to believe any words from anyone other than Joseph.


    Noted from Sales.]


    Noted from PR.]


    Noted from Management.]


    Noted from Production.]


    Noted from Finance.]


    In less than a minute, all the major departments had responded.


    Lucas felt relieved. Even though


    Joseph did tot interact closely with


    his employees, he treated them welt


    ow, the¡®only person who could =>


    stop Rreston and Jonathan was


    Harel, but he worried about _


    Harold¡¯ s condition. Contentbe ongs


    to  4


    Suddenly, he recalled the recorder and wondered if he should pass it to Chloe first.


    While Lucas hesitated, Preston


    released the Shotos of Joseph''s


    ident, instant y causing a huge ~


    uproar beth in the business world¡¯


    and the-entertain ment industry¡±


    withie-twenty minutes, news that


    Joseph Whitman, the prodigy of


    fiance, had passed away-at a


    young age hit the headlines. Content


    belongs to


    Emily read this news earlier than Chloe, but she did not take it seriously. She thought it was some hical media spreading fake rumors to attract


    attention.


    "Buzz, buzz, buzz..."


    She closed''the webpage, and her


    phone orcthe table started ringing:


    When ste saw it was Lucas calting,


    she was so startled that she nearly


    tossed her phone. Could Joseph


    reatly be dead?


    NovelDrama.Org -Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    With a nervous heart, she answered the call. "Lucas? Is there something wrong?"


    "I''m fine, but Mr. Joseph is in trouble. I have something to discuss with Ms. Chloe. Could you arrange for her ta meet me please?¡±


    "What?!" Emily took in a sharp breath of cold air and said, "A person who has passed away can''t be brought back to life. Please ept my


    condolences.¡±

 Chapter 858 Joseph’s in Grave Danger

    Chapter 858 Joseph¡¯s in Grave Danger


    ¡°Mr. Joseph isn''t dead yet, but how did you hear about this?"


    ¡°Huh? I read about it online.¡±


    Lucas¡¯ heart sank. He quickly turned on theputer beside him and the headline popped up. The disyed photos were the same as the ones


    presented by Preston and Jonathan


    Lucas felt disgusted. He did not need to think to know that Preston and his son were the ones who had released this information. They wanted


    everyone to know that Joseph had died so that Jonathan could take over.


    "He''s not dead?" Emily asked, "Is this just a false rumor spread by the media?¡±


    "It''s not the media. It''s Preston,¡± Lucas said as he pinched his brows, "I don''t know why he and Jonathan suddenly returned, but someone must''ve


    tipped them off. Maybe Mr. Joseph''s ident is rted to them."


    Emily felt a shiver run down her spine. This looks like a trap specifically for Joseph. How''s he doing now?"


    Lucas sighed heavily, ¡°Not well. Vince went to look for him but has still yet to find him. He''s now searching the bottom of the cliff."


    Emily pressed her lips together and asked, "So why are you looking for Coco?"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "There''s something I need to tell her."


    "What is it about?"


    Lucas hesitated for a while and said, "It''s something very important.¡±


    "If you don''t tell me. I won''t help you,¡± Emily said. After all, Chloe had been illtely and Emily did not want to trigger her again


    Smiling bitterly, Lucas said, "Are you worried that I''ll harm Ms. Chloe?¡±


    "It''s not that, but if you want my help, I need to know the whole story. Coco¡¯s my best friend, and I just want to protect her."


    "All right," Lucas said. After some contemtion, he continued, "I just want to tell her about her child."


    ¡°Huh? You know where her child is?"


    "Yes, Mr. Jasper is Mr. Joseph and Ms. Chloe''s kid, but we have to conduct a paternity test to confirm this."


    Emily was taken aback. ¡°Is this some kind of joke?"


    It had been five years. They thought Chloe''s child was somewhere far away, but in reality. he had been right before them the whole time.


    Lucas understood her reaction. After


    all, he towhad been quite shocked


    when he learned about that. "Car


    you please contact Ms. Chloe for


    me?"  _


    -


    Emily thought for a mament and said, "Let me call her.¡±


    "Okay, thank you for your help.¡±


    Emily hung up the phone and


    nced I at the time. It was half past


    one. Chloe should be on her break at


    the mement, soitwasa good+time


    for achat. However, Emily could not


    make up her mind. Content belongs


    to¡° -


    Firstly, Chloe was about to get


    married tomorrow. Learning this


    news now might affect the wedding,


    but the childwas important to


    Chloe. Added to the fact that = >


    Joseph''sife hung in the ba anceat


    the moment, if Chloe wanted te:


    regain custody of Jasper, Harold


    would likely oppose it. And¡®Desmond


    wy


    Fy


    might not necessarily agree to it


    either. After all, Noah was


    considered a part of the Sullivans.


    Divorce and raising a child from a


    previous marriage was a tricky


    situation.


    NovelDrama.Org


    Emily leaned over her desk, tangled in her thoughts for a while, and finally decided to make the call.


    "Coco, are you busy?¡±


    ¡°Not really. What''s up?" Chloe stopped typing on her keyboard and picked up a watering can to water the pink roses that Noah had sent over.


    "If, and I''m just saying if, if you and Joseph had a child, would you bring that child back to the Sullivan family?"


    "I don''t know, but most probably.¡±


    It was difficult to let someone else take care of her own flesh and blood, even if that person was the child''s biological father.

 Chapter 859 Are You Marrying Noah Out of Love?

    Chapter 859 Are You Marrying Noah Out of Love?


    ¡°Then what about your wedding?"


    ¡°It''ll proceed as nned."


    "Will Noah agree to it though?"


    "Well..." In Chloe''s mind, Noah was as warm as the sun, and he treated her nicely. However, when it came to this topic, she felt inexplicably uneasy


    and could not bring herself to discuss it with him.


    Emily sensed the hesitation in Chloe''s voice and asked again, "Are you marrying Noah out of love? For example, if you had to choose between the


    child and Noah, who would you choose?¡±


    These questions confused Chloe. "Why are you suddenly asking me this?"


    "Just answer my question," Emily urged.


    . I don''t know..." Chloe did not want to face these questions, especially questions about her and Joseph''s child. It made her think of that man¡¯s


    arrogant face.


    "Coco, you need to think it through. It''s possible that you might face these problems in the future."


    "But the child is already gone," Chloe said, suppressing the pain in her heart. ¡°The child died in that fire on the first day he came to this world.¡±


    "There are many miracles in this world. Nothing is absolute, and you didn''t witness the child''s death firsthand,¡± Emily said vaguely.


    Chloe bit her lip, determination shing in her eyes. "Noah has been very good to me. He''s been by my side for so long and has not asked for


    anything in return. I can''t abandon him because of the child. Likewise, the child is my flesh and blood. I won''t cut ties with him for the sake of


    marriage. I''ll... I''ll try to persuade him."


    She did not mention whether she loved or wanted to marry Noah. After all, she did not know the answers. All she knew was that a voice deep inside


    her reminded her constantly that if she did not marry Noah. she would be disappointing her grandfather.


    Her mission in thetter half of her


    life was to take over Exotic Star and


    to build a happy family with Noah. -


    She believed that she must be in ~


    love wits him. Otherwise, why \ would


    she weht to marry him? She was not


    thekind of woman who would marry


    semeone ona whim just because


    she wanted to thank him. Content


    belongs to


    Emily took a deep breath and


    steeled herself. She decided to tell


    the news toChloe after the wedding.


    She could hot ruin Chloe''s wedding


    over uncertain matters. She smiled,


    trying rx as she said,


    ¡®Tamorrow¡¯ s your big day. aren¡¯ t you


    gaing to have me as your=


    bridesmaid?"


    "I want it to be simple, so it''ll just be a family dinner."


    In recent years, there have been so


    many news stories about


    bridesmaids get ing bullied at ¡°


    wedding&, and Chloe was worried


    that Erjity might get bullied. Though


    the Sulll ivans were well- mannered


    andthe chances of that happening


    W¨¦re slim, she did not wafit to risk it.


    "All right then. I''m sure you''ll be the most beautiful bride in the world tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Did you call just to say these things?¡± Chloe asked with a smile.


    "Exactly, that¡¯s all. My best friend is getting married, so I wanted to express my feelings. Okay, my lunch break¡¯s over. I have to get back to being a


    workhorse. See you tomorrow."


    "See you tomorrow.¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    After ending the call, Chloe turned her gaze back to theputer screen, but she could not focus no matter how hard she tried. She decided to get


    up and go to the bathroom, hoping that washing her face would help her feel more awake.


    When the cool water sshed onto her face, it made her feel refreshed


    "Oh my god, have you seen the news?"


    "Of course. I read it while using the restroom. I''m just curious if it''s true."

 Chapter 860 Why Is She Sad?

    Chapter 860 Why Is She Sad?


    ¡°Of course, it''s true. The photes were provided by the Whitmans themselves. How could it be fake?"


    "What a pity. Joseph is my type.¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "In your dreams. He''ll never be yours. Hahaha!¡±


    "But Chloe is marrying Mr. Noah tomorrow, and her ex-husband died today. I wonder how she''s feeling.¡±


    "Who knows


    The employee speaking suddenly looked up and saw Chloe staring at them with a shocked expression. Her mouth hung wide open, but no words


    came out.


    "What are you talking about?" Chloe questioned, her forgotten wet hands dripping water onto the floor.


    "Oh, nothing. Just some idle chat." the employee exined awkwardly, "Please don''t take it seriously. Most things on the Inte are fake anyway.¡±


    Chloe was now on par with Noah in terms of shares and was a prominent figure in Exotic Star. In other words, she could fire anyone she liked


    "Answer my question. What were you talking about?¡± Chloe suddenly said in a raised tone, startling the employee.


    "I-I read about it online. Th-The media is saying that Joseph died in a car ident."


    Chloe widened her eyes in confusion. She felt suffocated as if there was a cotton ball blocking her airway, making it hard to breathe. She


    mechanically repeated, "Joseph died?"


    "That''s what the online sources say. I don''t know for sure.¡±


    The media would not provoke someone as influential as Joseph. Doing so would be to walk into their own graves.


    Chloe had no idea how she got back to her office. She sat there nkly, staring at her darkputer screen which reflected her pale face. Upon


    closer inspection, her eyes were rimmed red.


    She raised her hand and touched her


    face. Her fingertips came away


    damp. She did not Know when shex


    had start¨¦d crying. She hurriedly


    lookedfor tissues to wipe away her


    tearssbut they flowed endlessly. No


    matter how much she wiped, they


    W¨¦uld not stop. Content Belongs to


    She hated Joseph to the core.


    Should she not be celebrating his


    death? Why:was she so sad? She ~


    felt as if She were on the brink of >


    death,Sverwhelmed by despair-and


    fearDid that obnoxious manyeally


    die?-No, she did not believein such


    cdincidences.


    "Chice?! Chloe! Wake up! Hang on, I''ll get you to the hospital!"


    Chloe opened her eyes to find Frieda''s worried face.


    Frieda sighed in relief and furrowed her brows. "What happened?" She hade in to deliver some documents and found Chloe lying on the floor.


    Chloe blinked, her mind racing with thoughts. She suddenly stood up, ignoring the sharp pain in her head. She turned on herputer and stared


    fixedly at the screen.


    The headlines had not changed. It was still about Joseph''s death.


    She was not dreaming. Everything was real.


    "Joseph is dead..." she murmured. She sounded like she was speaking to herself but also asking Frieda at the same time.


    Frieda frowned and said, "I''m not sure either...¡±


    Chloe turned to look at her, and a glimmer of hope slowly ignited in her eyes. "Not sure?¡±


    "Yes, the photos are real, but they haven''t found his body."


    Frieda did not dare to take any reckless actions. There were likely spies from Duskfall lurking around the Whitman family home. If she contacted them


    now, she would be exposing herself.

 Chapter 861 Did He Suffer Too?

    Chapter 861 Did He Suffer Too?


    Chloe gazed at the drizzle outside the window. She was in a bad mood, and she became a little tense. Joseph was not dead but his safety was


    uncertain. Is that jerk truly that unlucky?


    "Chice, you look sick and crestfallen.¡± Frieda looked at Chice sadly.


    "I know. I¡¯m going to the hospital." Chloe walked out determinedly.


    She wanted to see a doctor as there was something wrong with. She must be sick. The private hospital she went to the other day must be unreliable


    because they did not find anything wrong with her.


    Her mind was inexplicably upied by Joseph, and she had to divert her attention.


    "Let me go with you.¡± Frieda put the document down and followed Chloe. If her son was around, he would surely want her to take good care of Chloe.


    Chloe nced at Frieda but did not stop her. She did need someone with her in case she fainted again


    Chloe and Frieda arrived at the hospital. Chloe registered at the emergency room and got a brain scan. When the doctor saw the results, he shook


    his head.


    "You''re fine. Just go to bed early and don''t stay upte. And take only light meals.¡±


    Chloe held her head in confusion. "I''m fine? But I''ve been having severe headaches recently."


    "Maybe you should visit the psychiatry department then," the doctor suggested.


    Many people suffering from depression or uncontroble rage would have headaches. Every person had different signs.


    Chloe gaped in shock. "You think there''s something wrong with my mind too?"


    "You''ve visited the psych department of another hospital?" The doctor stopped flipping through the medical case and became serious. "Then it''s


    highly likely that you''re suffering from a psychological illness. I''ll page Psych and see if they can squeeze you in.¡±


    Chloe felt like she had received a fatal blow. She shot to her feet. "No! There''s nothing wrong with my brain!¡±


    Before the doctor could speak, Chloe turned and left.


    She was fine. She had a meeting with her employees this morning and replied to all her work emails. How could she be a nutcase? For a moment,


    she could not ept it.


    As she hurried down the stairs, she was not paying attention to her footing and tumbled down the steps. Her clothes became muddy and wet. clinging


    to her body. She looked miserable.


    Suddenly, twaears nearby skidded


    and collidedwith each other due to


    the rain. People screamed at the =>


    horrifics seene. Onlookers pulled t the


    d ivergyout of their cars. Their faces


    had-been scratched up by ss


    shards. It looked bloody and painful.


    Chloe was hit with a bout of excruciating pain. She wondered if the same thing had happened to Joseph. Did he suffer that much pain too?


    Frieda caug htwp with Chloe and


    helped her ui: Feeling sorry for


    Chloe, she.consoled, "You shouldn''t


    be so sehsitive about visiting a


    doctarl suffered from moderate


    depression in the past too, but I''m


    . " ?


    fin¨¦now.¡±


    on


    "Is there any news about him?"


    Frieda took her phone out, but she had no new messages.


    "No."


    Chloe kept her head low and whispered, "Is he dead?"


    "I believe my son won''t die so easily.¡± Frieda sounded very calm whilst standing in the rain. "He has to avenge me."


    Chloe closed her eyes. She too wished he was alive. At least. he should not die yet. He could only die after witnessing her lead a happy life.


    "Ms. Chloe? You''re caked in mud that I almost didn''t recognize you,¡± an elegant voice said, full of ridicule.


    Chloe look¨¦d over and saw Xavia


    standing.in the rain with her helper


    holding-up an umbre for her. Xavia


    looke¡é- beautiful, and her belly~


    prottuded slightly. She looked like a


    winner.


    -


    Chloe looked away and ignored Xavia.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

 Chapter 862 You’re Just Wearing Silicone Piece

    Chapter 862 You¡¯re Just Wearing Silicone Piece


    Xavia gritted her teeth when she gained no response from Chloe. She said, "Did you see the news? Joe got into a car ident and is probably


    dead."


    A tinge of pain shed across Chloe''s eyes. She stared at Xavia coldly. ¡°What are you trying to say? Spill it and stop beating around the bush.¡±


    "Nothing. I¡¯m just feeling lucky that neither of us is married to Joe."


    "You failed to gain his hand."


    Xavia''s face turned livid. "I''m justmenting. You don¡¯t have to be so harsh.¡±


    "What for? Are youmenting that you aren''t a widow?"


    "No one wants to be a widow."


    Xavia loved Joseph. No man couldpare to him in terms of power, looks, and aura. His only shoring was his bad taste. He liked Chloe


    instead of her. If Joseph had agreed to be with her, he would have a happy family of three.


    Duskfall would not have acted so quickly.


    She felt like she had the means to decide one''s life and death if she was with them. She stood upright from the realization.


    ¡°There are more willing women than you think. Joseph is wealthier than the royal family. Last year, Fairlight invested tens of billions of dors in the


    royal family projects."


    Chloe wanted to ignore Xavia, but since thetter insisted on infuriating her, Chloe decided to bare her fangs and vent her anger on the woman


    Xavia smiled calmly. ¡°No matter how rich he is, it¡¯s useless since he can''t enjoy it. You''re marrying Noah, and I''m marrying Keh. Life is pretty


    good. We shouldn''t be so stubborn. It''s right to let nature take its course."


    After all, Duskfall would seize all of Joseph''s property after he died. It was useless even if he was rich.


    Chloe was unmoved as she locked at Xavia''s belly. "Do you really think Keh will marry you?¡±


    "Of course, we have a baby together." Xavia rubbed her belly lovingly.


    "A baby? You''re just wearing silicone piece.¡±


    Xavia was stunned, and terror dawned on her. ''How does this bitch know?!¡¯N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Chloe chuckled and left with Frieda.


    Xavia left Chloe. and did not


    interrogate.A ker. She consoled herself


    that it wasJtist a coincidence. Her->


    n waswless. She had even


    managed to fool the royal family,


    afterall, so the only possibility was


    that Chloe had made a wildguess.


    But when she steppedintothe


    hos pital, fustace suddenly cam


    mind. Now that Joseph was deat


    Eustace and that child posedhe


    biggest threat to her. Content


    belongs to  ~


    Xavia wondered how she should go about eliminating them


    While in the car, Chloe reluctantly clicked on today''s news headlights. It had yet to be removed or rified


    Frieda nced at Chloe¡¯s phone out of the corner of her eye and was gratified. She was d that her son''s love did not go unreciprocated.


    Chloe clenched-her phone tightly


    and unblocked Joseph''s number.


    After parting ways with him the =>


    other dayyshe had decided to cutoff


    ties with the Whitman family and


    blocked the number of everyone


    refated to him.


    4


    "Hello, the person you call is unavable. Please try againter.¡±


    Her heart sank, and she felt helpless


    Ring, ring, ring...


    Chloe''s phone rang, casting a light over her face. Subconsciously thinking it was Joseph, she quickly picked up without looking at the caller ID

 Chapter 863 Am I a Curse?

    Chapter 863 Am I a Curse?


    ¡°Ms. Chloe... Can you pick me up please?¡± Jasper sobbed, his tears breaking Chloe''s heart.


    She asked worriedly, "Where are you? Did someone bully you?"


    "I don''t know where I am. Can I send you my location, Ms. Chloe?"


    "Sure."


    When Chloe received the location, she sped off toward it.


    Frieda did not tag along for fear of exposing her identity. It was already considered a great help if she did not add to Joseph''s troubles.


    She told Chloe about Preston and Jonathan''s visit, advising thetter to be careful. They must have something evil nned.


    When Chloe arrived at the destination, she found herself at a deserted park. She bent down toward Jasper and asked, "How did you get here?¡±


    "Great Uncle Pres brought me. He told me my dad was here."


    Jasper was wearing a private school uniform, its dark blue color gave off a noble and refined air. He also had a backpack on his shoulder. Worry and


    insecurity were etched into his frown lines.


    Chloe did not know what to say. After some hesitation, she asked, ¡°Have you read the news?¡±


    "Yes." Jasper raised his head and looked at her anxiously. "Is my dad dead?¡±


    "No."


    ¡®Is he alive?"


    Chloe did not answer as she did not know. Although Jasper was smarter than others of his age. he was still a child. It was a miracle that he did not


    throw a tantrum after reading about his father''s death


    He was skeptical about it, and Preston took advantage of this.


    Jasper''s eyes welled up with tears at Chloe''s silence, but he refused to let them fall.


    Chloe patted his back and looked upset toa.


    "Did Preston leave you here?"


    "Yes, I looked around but couldn''t find my dad."


    Jasper¡¯s legs were numb and swollen from all that walking.


    "Silly boy. He lied to you.¡±


    Jasper lowered his head and cried..


    His tears Yell to the ground, ¡ª


    dampening it. "I know..." Though¡¯ the


    chantes were slim, he had refused


    ta. give up on it.


    -


    "Come on. I''ll send you home. Harold will protect you, okay?¡± Chice tenderly wiped away his tears.


    As the only descendant of the Whitman family, Jasper was now in great danger.


    "I don''t want to go back. I''m afraid of losing my dad, Ms. Chloe. Will you help me look for him?"


    "Jasper¡ª"


    "I promise I''ll be good from now on. I''ll stop lying to you to get you to marry him. I just want my daddy."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The little boy failed to hold back his tears as fear overwhelmed him. He had already lost his mother. He did not want to lose his father too


    A bitterness filled Chloe''s heart and,


    her eyes turned watery. She mugged


    him and consoled him tenderly; ¡®I


    don''t know where to find hin either."


    "What should I do? I''m afraid Daddy will die if I don''t save him.¡±


    "No, he won''t. God always blesses good people, and no news is good news."


    "Really?" Jasper stopped crying


    "Yes," Chigeforted him though.


    she knewsit was a lie. "Let''s get ins


    the car. Youll catch a cold in this


    rains Joseph will be upset when he


    cofhes home and finds you sick."


    "Okay."


    After getting into the car, Chloe toweled off his wet hair. He kept quiet and lowered his head obediently.


    He looked up at her. "Ms. Chloe, am I a curse? Anyone who gets close to me is struck with bad luck.¡±

 Chapter 864 He Regrets It Now

    Chapter 864 He Regrets It Now


    Chloe was taken aback. She clenched her fists. "Who told you that?¡±


    Jasper hung his head and did not answer her question. He said in a deste tone, "I think I am."


    He had been motherless since young and his grandfather had been in aa. And now, his father had gotten into an ident not long after his


    grandfather woke up. He was just five years old, but all he brought them was misery.


    Jasper believed he was a curse.


    "No, you''re not a curse,¡± Chloe said gently, "Every child is a gift God picked out with great care, and only the luckiest people receive these gifts. Your


    family''s life became wonderful and interesting after you came along. Simrly, they only became a true family after you came."


    Jasper''s eyes lit up, making him look naive and pure. ¡°Really? I''m a gift God picked out? I''m not a curse?"


    "Of course, you¡¯re not. Sometimes, the best news is no news. I''m sure Joseph managed to escape from the danger." Chloe smiled and smoothed the


    boy¡¯s messy hair.


    Jasper nodded firmly and said sweetly, "Thank you forforting me, Ms. Chloe.¡±


    Aside fram Joseph and Harold, Chice was the person who was nicest to him. He regretted promising to stop trying to get her and Joseph back


    together.


    "No, that''s not what I''m doing. We''re just having a heart-to-heart chat." Chloe then asked again, "Can you tell me who called you a curse?¡±


    "It was Great Uncle." Jasper did not hold back.


    Chloe frowned as a fierceness flitted through her eyes. "It''s getting dark. Let''s get you home.¡±


    Jasper would be in danger if he stayed with her. She could not protect him. Besides, it was her wedding tomorrow, so it was inappropriate for her to


    stay with him.


    "Okay. Thank you, Ms. Chloe." Jasper, now calmed, obediently agreed


    Harold was nervously talking into his phone in the Whitman family home.


    "Joseph is at your ce?¡±


    "Yeah, and don worry. I only


    contacted your now because there¡¯ Ss


    no signalxan the mountain. If my =


    disappointing grandson hadn''t told


    me that this was what caused the


    hugemotion, I wouldn''thave


    known what happened.¡± Content


    b¨¦longs to  <>


    "The Inte is too advanced these days. People have no privacy."


    "The mountain is quiet, so it''s much better up here. When are you going toe here to visit me?"


    "I don''t know how much time I have left. We''ll talk about it if I manage to stay alive and when my body is stronger.¡±


    "All right. I think Joseph will wake up tonight and should be hame by tomorrow."


    Harold could finally rx. After chatting with the caller about former times, he hung up the call.


    Just then, Preston and Jonathan kicked the door open


    "You bastards! Have you forgotten your manners?!"


    "Stop worrying over these small affairs, Dad. We have to quickly handle the serious stuff.¡±


    "Yeah, Grandpa, The Whitman family


    Owns a hugesusiness and many


    assets. Itean''t survive without a


    leader. We''re very sad that &


    someting happened to Joe, but Wis


    havet move on. My dad is back


    now, so how about you make him


    th¨¦ leader?¡± Content bfigs to


    Jonathan was beaming though he imed he was sad. His schemes were as in as day.


    "Get out!" Harold raised his walking stick in a threat to hit Jonathan. "Don''t make me hit you!¡±


    Preston''s face turned gloomy. "Dad, do you intend for the little kid to inherit the assets?¡±


    "So what if I give it to Jas? It''s better than giving it to an outsider like you. You''re no longer a Whitman and have no right to order me around."


    Harold exuded.the mighty aura of a


    patriarch. Heawas not surprised by


    Nal fatherand son''s sudden arrivals


    The lesscapable ones always tiedContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    onegwere not around, thougirhe


    wandered who had told them the


    r¨¦ws.


    NovelDrama.Org


    Duskfall would surely not have meddled in this. If Joseph truly had perished, the Whitman family would go down with me. Duskfall would not have to


    pull such a move.

 Chapter 865 We Weren’t Bullying Grandpa

    Chapter 865 We Weren¡¯t Bullying Grandpa


    ¡°Then what about Jon? He''s a Whitman. I won''t object to it if you make him the new leader."


    "Are you trying to force my hand?! Stop ttering yourself. I''m far more experienced than you. How dare you y these tricks on me! I may have one


    foot in the grave, but I can still punish you and make your lives in Docwood difficult!" Harold shouted. Although he was scolding them, he was telling


    the truth.


    Preston had been in jail for several years, but he had not suffered much on ount of the family. Preston would havenguished in jail if Harold had


    been serious about punishing him then.


    Though he was outraged, Preston did not dare to make a scene. He gave up and sat in an armchair. "I don''t give a damn. I''ll just be frank. Only Jon


    or I can be made the leader. Don''t even dream of giving the position to someone else."


    Trying to curry favor with Harold, Jonathan massaged Harold''s shoulders. ¡°Grandpa. we only wish to help you shoulder the burden. We need


    someone to manage thepany. You''re old and shouldn''t overexert yourself, and it¡¯s unrealistic to rely on your five-year-old grandson."


    "You''re so eager to get the position when it''s uncertain if Joseph is alive or not."


    Harold had quit smoking many years ago for his health, but after failing to reach Joseph since yesterday, he had lit up a few cigars out of frustration.


    There was currently a cigar between his fingers, and smoke hung in the air, making his emotionless wrinkled face look terrifying.


    Jonathan shrugged and looked to Preston for help


    Losing his patience, Preston said fiercely, ¡°You stubborn old man. I may not be able to talk any sense into you, but you can forget about naming that


    kid as your heir.¡±


    Preston decided to dy it if he could not persuade Harold otherwise. After all, with Joseph no longer around, the boy was an easy fix.


    Harold noticed something, so he smacked the table. "What the hell did you do to Jasper?!"


    "Greatpapi, I''m fine."


    Jasper overheard the sounds of an.


    argumenting from the study


    when he got home. Without >


    knocking, he trotted in to telk Harold


    he. was safe. Content belongs ite)


    -N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Chloe came in with him. She shot


    Preston and Jonathan a re before


    then asked Harold nervously, ?


    "Grandpa, are you okay?" Shey


    wondered if they had bullied him.


    Harold quickly tossed away his


    cigar. He put on a weak front ands


    said, m fine. I''m just d Jasper is


    safe.¡± _ ~S


    Swnovel =


    Preston''s eyes widened in shock at Harold''s swift change.


    Jonathan rified, "We weren''t bullying Grandpa. We were just having a discussion.¡±


    "If it''s just a discussion, why does he look so frightened?¡±


    Preston and Jonathan were struck speechless. Harold was not scared, so why was he showing fear now?


    "Jasper, why are you home sote?" Harold asked


    The little boy looked toward Preston and received a threatening look from thetter.


    "Maybe his sses went on longer than usual," Jonathan gave a made-up excuse.


    "Really now? It''s okay, Jasper. You can tell me."

 Chapter 866 I’ve Never Met Anyone So Shameless!

    Chapter 866 I¡¯ve Never Met Anyone So Shameless!


    Jasper looked toward Chloe as she bent over and whispered to him. He was never scared, but when he saw her protect him unconditionally, an


    unfamiliar warmth spread through him.


    He lowered his head to hide his tears. He shook his head. "It was Great Uncle. He took me with him to look for Daddy. He then dumped me in a


    deserted park.¡±


    Jasper¡¯s voice was soft and not as cheerful as usual, invoking the protective side of those who heard him.


    ¡°You''re an outsider here. You have no right to speak." Jonathan panicked. He pointed at Chloe and said agitatedly, ¡°You and Jas probably cooked up


    a scheme together while on the way here. Stap falsely using my dad."


    "That''s right. Leave now or we''ll beat you up."


    Preston had long found Chloe an eyesore. She had stirred up such a hugemotion in the Whitman family in the past. And though she and Joseph


    were now divorced, she still refused to leave.


    Is she here to grab Joseph''s wealth after finding out he¡¯s dead? Yeah, that¡¯s probably it. Geez, I''ve never met anyone so shameless!¡¯


    Jasper stood before Chloe and shielded her. Though he was small, he carried a great power. Looking at them coldly, he challenged, "Try it and see


    what happens to you.¡± Since his father was not around, it was his duty to protect Chloe.


    Harold, who had been ying dumb, was now satisfied. Jasper was an exact younger copy of Joseph, and making him the heir was a possibility. He


    was at least much better than the two idiots before him.


    Preston was livid, and he yearned to swing his fists. ¡°You''re a Whitman, yet you¡¯re siding with an outsider? Since your father isn''t around, I''ll teach


    you a lesson on his behalf. you ungrateful bastard!¡± He picked up a feather duster and waved it at Jasper.


    But before Preston couldnd a hit on Jasper, Chloe grabbed hold of the feather duster, leaving Jasper unharmed.


    "Why you... This is my family¡¯s affair! Get out of the way!" Jonathan roared angrily. He harbored hatred for Chloe too.


    Chloe lifted her chin. Her eyes were cold as she said, ¡°And if I refuse, what are you going to do about it?¡±


    Preston threatened, "I won''t be nice to you either.¡±


    "What?" Chloe questioned fearlessly, "Are you going ta do something illegal?"


    Preston sneered hideously. "Why? You scared?¡±


    "Oh yeah, Im really scared. Is that


    the only way you know howto <>


    resolveproblems? You''re just a


    vio ent meathead. You already-have


    one-foot i in the grave, yet here you


    are-trying to mooch off your elder."


    u


    ~


    Chloe then recalled sometning and


    added, "Wait,no. You''re mooching


    off your own father and your own.


    nephew.You nearly ruined the x


    Whitmer Group that Joseph toited


    over for more than ten years, and


    you Have the nerve toetere


    ard take the family assets? Aren''t


    you ashamed of yourself?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.OrgContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    NS


    Her words rang with reason and truth, and Preston was struck speechless. His face turned flushed as his mouth opened and closed soundlessly. His


    actions made him look rather hrious.


    Harold nearly burst intoughter at


    the sight-of this satisfying scenez


    Chloe nced at him, and he quickly


    pretended to be weak and pitiful


    agaity, adding in a few fake coughs


    forgood measure. Contentibelongs


    to¡°NovelDrama.Org ¡°


    "Chice, I''m d you¡¯re here. Otherwise, they''d bully me too.¡±


    Jonathan''s lips twitched. "Grandpa, please don¡¯t say such nonsense. We only have respect for you.¡±


    Chloe''s anger rose at these words. "Stop lying through your teeth! Look at how scared Grandpa is! Do you think I''m blind?!¡±


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!