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 her composure comforting 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 conversati
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 these comments 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 her composure, gentl
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 displayed 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 assailant, 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.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 o
Noah tilted his head and replied calmly, "I guess so."Joseph chuckled, his cold eyes seemingly penetrating 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 to come all this way, so it seemed strange for them not to show up just because of some incident. Given Calvin's seemingly special relationship 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 become 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 sol
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 nonchalance marred his expression.Without a word, Joseph slammed the door and stormed into the study. Half an hour later, he emerged from the room and glanced at the prepared meal in the kitchen. Picking up his fork, he began to eat.Baffle
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 plan is flawless. 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
Xavia meticulously reported in detail what had happened at Fairlight earlier this morning to the person saved as "S" in her phone.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 flashed 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 advi
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 relationship had grown closer.Emily discreetly hid the black bag behind her back and smiled. "Nope. Nothing."As Lucas skeptically opened the car door, Emily swiftly pushed him aside, forcefully flinging the contents of the black 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 splattered 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