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
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 occasional discipline was necessary for her to understand how to conduct herself in the future.Ten minutes later, 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.""Oreo is your dog, and
The grip on Chloe's chin was painful, but she maintained a bright smile. "What's wrong? Is it not acceptable? 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 to come 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 pen
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 relationship in a new light. She invested herself emotionally and developed genuine feelings for Joseph.However, she was to be blamed as well. If she had not mistook Joseph for Jake's uncle, no