"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 accused 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."Xavia nodded silently and reminde
Joseph's brow furrowed, his voice laced 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 or commit some unforgivable sin?"The accusing 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 outcome, 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?!
The security guard's eyes widened, displaying a perplexed expression as he struggled to comprehend 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 relationship 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 nonchalance, 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 relationship!"He shrugged, pretending innocence. "I must’ve misinterpreted your intention."Chloe knew Joseph had done it deliberately, but she lacked 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 cub
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 prematurel
Diego followed Joseph's gaze and was overcome by embarrassment. His daughter paled in comparison to the stunning young lady before him. His daughter was always indulging in food, lacking in the grace and elegance that this young lady exuded.His daughter’s figure was far from slender, and her features could not compare to the exquisite beauty of the young lady.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 being in the financial industry, he was confident that money was never a concern for Joseph."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 particularly interested in the seafood business," Joseph replied nonchalantly, "But if you're looking for a suitable match for your daughter within the Whitmans, I wouldn't mind helping with the matchmakin
Octavia glared 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 a composed 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 solace in Chloe's respectful demeanor and her frustration was momentarily su
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 outcome. "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..."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 accept it, he questioned, "Gr
Furthermore, Chloe discovered herself nestled in the curve of his arm, her legs draping over his well-defined waist.Joseph's brow relaxed 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 collar.*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 relatives were also present,