Nathan frowned, "Why would I do that? It’s meant for Chloe.""Huh? Chloe?""Yeah." Nathan turned around and placed the Flawless 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. "Accept 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, belatedly 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 othe
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 playful smile adorned his face. "Don't worry," he assured her.Chloe's almond-shaped eyes widened, her mind momentarily blank 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 flashed 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 a
Chloe planted 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.Glancing 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 unexplained 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 would come 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. H
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, desperation lacing 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.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 explained that two unfa
Chloe's breath hitched as she struggled to comprehend Joseph's lack 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 surveillance cameras in the community, 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 Ch
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 her companion.Chloe returned to the villa 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 to comprehend what had transpired.Lucas rushed over and placed 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 thi
As Chloe laid 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 blatant lies while maintaining an air of innocence.A colleague stepped forward, t
"Even if you claim that Mr. Joseph cares for you, you can't bully me like this. I'm just a newcomer 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 glance 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 uncontrollably. As she sobbed, she crawled toward the direction where Joseph stood. "Mr. Joseph, you've to help me."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 he