"Just go and think about my offer. I'm willing to cooperate."Before Joseph could react, Chloe went to the bedroom and crawled into bed. Her breathing soon evened out as if she had fallen asleep. Joseph stood at the doorway and watched her rising and falling back for a long time. He wanted to tell her that he never intended to push her away. He had been angry with her but he never intended to harm her. Unexpectedly, Chloe told him that his neverending suspicion and the choices he made had chiseled away her feelings until there was nothing left.Love was selfish and was a game meant for only two people.*Samuel took on a case for the Whitman Group, so he came to the villa to discuss the details with Joseph. As they spoke, he sensed that his friend was not himself. As he gazed at Joseph, he sincerely hoped to help resolve the situation and asked Joseph about his woes. He found that he had no remedy for the situation as he did not understand love. He then decided to call on Nathan,
The following day, the three men left the house one after another until Chloe was the only one left in the spacious house. She had expected to be confined to the room once again, but to her surprise, she was given the freedom to move around so long as she allowed the bodyguards to accompany her. She could not comprehend Joseph's sudden change in behavior and did not understand why he was acting so differently. Now, she was allowed to use her phone and even had a video chat with Emily for a while."How about I come to visit you? I'm on vacation and have nothing to do."Chloe hesitated, "You want to come to the villa?""Yeah. It must be boring for you to be all alone. It’d be kind of awkward to meet outside with all those bodyguards trailing behind us. If we stroll around town with all those guards protecting us, people might think we're the daughters of some mafia boss.”"Okay, do come over then." Chloe calculated the time, estimating that Joseph would not be back for at least ano
Emily was stunned, and she unconsciously reached up to rub her ears."What did you say?"Was Joseph truly this generous?"If you're a fan of Master Zaman, you can have them all. They're just taking up space here." Joseph said, turning to address Lucas who stood behind him. "Help her move the artwork in the basement."Lucas nodded and proceeded toward the basement to move the pieces.Joseph put on his shoes at the entrance and turned his gaze toward the bewildered Emily. He paused for a moment and continued, "I acted impulsively at the hospital last week.”After some time, Emily realized that Joseph was apologizing to her. Feeling guilty about taking the statue without permission, she followed suit and accepted his apology. "It’s fine, I accept your apology..."Joseph's deep eyes shifted toward the direction of the bedroom. "Spend more time with Chloe when you have the chance. I’m sure she gets bored being here alone.”Emily did not like hearing this. "Why don't you set her free t
Chloe stared at Joseph, her expression filled with mixed emotions. Thinking she was touched by his gesture, Joseph hurriedly explained, "I invested in their brand because I noticed how much you liked it. There's a newly opened store next to the Johnson Group."Just then, a message from Emily popped up on Chloe's phone.[Guess what? I snooped around, and guess what I found? That scumbag Joseph opened a franchise store for you two, and get this, it's called J&C! The initials of your names!]Chloe was at a loss for words.Joseph cleared his throat. "The brand added that as a gesture of gratitude.""Joseph, just stop trying."His heart sank. "What's wrong?""I won't forgive you," Chloe finally spoke the words that had been weighing heavily on her chest. Her eyes, devoid of any sparkle, remained as calm as still water. A shattered mirror could never be repaired, just like how she would never be able to trust him again.Marriage was supposed to be a lifelong commitment, yet their fir
Joseph lowered his gaze and noticed Chloe's reddened eyes. She resembled a small rabbit, her eyes glistened with tears, a few shimmering droplets clinging to her curly lashes. It was a sight that would soften any man's heart and ignite a strong desire to comfort her."Why are you crying?" He hurriedly wiped away her tears, a deep distress evident in his expression. He could not fathom what could have caused her to shed tears. He had not mistreated her. What could be the reason behind her sorrow?"Don't touch me." Chloe slapped his hand away. She hastily wiped her tears and adamantly refused to acknowledge him.Joseph sighed. His hand hung in the air for a moment before gently patting her back, attempting to offer solace. Slowly, Chloe regained control of her emotions and the tears ceased. She turned her gaze toward the window, feeling a wave of drowsiness wash over her. With heavy eyelids, she succumbed to sleep. Joseph remained by her side, eventually dozing off himself.Before lo
When Otto saw Vanya, he noticed her broken leg, pale complexion, and the multitude of injuries that marred her body. Her already slender frame appeared even more emaciated than usual, resembling a bag of bones.Vanya’s eyes landed on Otto. A faint change flickered across her face, revealing a glimmer of hope. He unconsciously looked away, avoiding eye contact with her.Vince fetched a chair and positioned it beside his employer. Joseph, donning a black overcoat, wore a cold and stern countenance. As always, he emanated an air of superiority.Silence prevailed between the two parties.Clad in a padded jacket, Vince resembled a formidable Tibetan Mastiff. His gaze fixed fiercely on Otto as he demanded, "Where's the money?""My father says to consider Vanya a gift," Otto retorted, “A worthless person holds little value in Duskfall.”As the words fell, Vanya's head snapped up and her pupils dilated. In a voice hoarse from thirst, she shouted, "That's impossible! Cyrus would never tre
“Sir, will this woman really appreciate us for doing this?"Joseph's gaze swept dismissively over Vanya, her disheveled appearance resembling a drowned rat. "We don't need her gratitude. We only have to ignite the hatred in her heart." As an insider of Duskfall, Vanya possessed valuable knowledge that Joseph was determined to extract. He would not allow her to die without revealing the secrets she held, for her demise would be in vain otherwise.*Chloe had slept for an extended period of time. When she opened her eyes, it was already dark outside. She reached out and felt the empty space beside her. It was devoid of warmth, signaling that Joseph had departed long ago. She went downstairs to have her meal, but halfway through it, Patrick arrived."Heat up this lentil soup.""Fetch me the woolen sweater Mr. Harold left in the basement.”Patrick swiftly assigned tasks to the helpers, gesturing for them to hasten their efforts. They obediently set about their assigned duties witho
Eustace remained silent for what felt like an eternity, suspending Xavia in a state of unease. She cautiously called out to him once more, her voice filled with uncertainty, "Eustace, are you there?""What do you want?""I want to talk to you. Can we meet? Do you have time to meet up?" Xavia felt a glimmer of hope upon hearing his reply."Are you coming to kill me again?""No, you've misunderstood me... I just want a chance to explain everything properly. I was coerced into it..." Xavia pretended to choke up, inserting a hint of desperation and sorrow into her voice."Are you being forced to climb into Joseph's bed too?""Umm..." Xavia's sobbing intensified as she struggled to find the right words. "Please. Let's not discuss this over the phone. I’m begging you to hear me out in person. I'll explain everything—the whole story and its cause and effect.""I'll consider it."Xavia grew impatient. It used to be him who longed for her attention. He was her devoted follower. But now,