Joseph glared at Jonathan, his gaze as sharp as a blade.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 shortcomings and should try to discover your strengths instead," Joseph said, a smile playing 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 dollars. Only one project was profitable, but th
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 salad, grilled fish, braised pig's trotters, stir-fried asparagus, and corn soup.The dishes were not only visually appealing but full of flavor. 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 become demand
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 had compromised her principles was when she had impulsively pursued a relationship with Jake's uncle, but that had been a result of a series of misunderstandings.Sensing her shyness, Joseph leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, offering reassurance once more. "Don't worry. I will definitely fulfill your desire tomorrow."Chloe remained silent.*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 flawless cheeks, untouched by makeup, were as delicate and smooth as a peeled egg, offering
"I don't know. Benjamin didn't tell me," Chloe replied."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 resemblance 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 relationship 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 he
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, clapping 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 place. 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 s
Chloe was stunned. “Why is it important?""In the past decade, a group of outlaws 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 plan 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 placed a file before Chloe. "After conducting comparisons, 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 incide
Joseph was caught between tears and laughter. "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
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 place, 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