Noah stared at the staircase, his fists clenched and his jaw tightly set. "There's no need for a fight. Just hand over my wife.""Wife? There’s no marriage certificate or wedding ceremony, so how is she your wife?" A cold, deep voice rang out. Given the circumstances, it was a rare sight to find anyone other than Joseph who could maintain such composure.Harold glared at Joseph, torn between exasperation and delight upon witnessing his grandson’s unwavering confidence. He hoped Joseph would be more humble and respectful toward Noah and Desmond, yet he recognized the echoes of his own past self in Joseph's confident demeanor.When Desmond saw Joseph, he shot to his feet, his face livid with rage. "You have a lot of nerve to set fire and abduct my granddaughter in broad daylight!”"I admit my mistake, and I sincerely apologize. If you want to scold or hit me, feel free to do so. I won't fight back.""If you know it's wrong, then why do you do it?" Desmond asked."Because Chloe
When it came to the issues of their relationship, discussing things privately was indeed the better option.Desmond fell silent as his gaze shifted back and forth between Joseph and Noah. Seizing his chance, Harold said, "Come. Let's go to the chess room and sit for a while. We should leave the young folks to resolve their issues.""The reputation of the Sullivans and the safety of my granddaughter is also at stake," Desmond corrected coldly."Yes, yes. You're right. We Whitmans would never shy away from the responsibilities that we have to uphold," Harold said with a smile on his face as he knew that they were in the wrong today.Seeing Noah's persistence, Desmond lapsed into contemplative silence. He remembered that Noah had returned home last night. Though Noah told him that he had gone on a business trip, another thought emerged—the news of Joseph's car accident.With that in mind, Desmond decided to leave with Harold to give the two men some time to talk.Joseph took a seat.
Noah did not stop. He landed punch after punch on Joseph's body, deliberately targeting his wound. Despite his seemingly slender build, Noah possessed great strength. His eyes were red around the rims and his punches were heavy, filled with anger and guilt.‘Why is Joseph still alive?! If he had died, none of this would have happened. Coco and I could have had a smooth wedding and a peaceful life. I just don’t understand why Joseph wants to ruin everything! It was he who had rejected Chloe and mistreated her. All I want is to give Coco happiness. She can’t learn that Jasper is her kid as everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve will be ruined. I’ve done nothing wrong!’ Noah thought.Grabbing a glass from the nearby table, Joseph smashed it onto Noah's head. Glass shards littered the floor, and both men stopped fighting. Blood trickled down Noah's forehead, but he endured the pain without batting an eyelid. His eyes remained fixed on Joseph as he reached for a vase beside him, ready
Joseph's words pierced Noah's heart like sharp knives. He clenched the vase in his hand, his eyes filled with determination. Something in him snapped, and he truly wanted Joseph gone at this moment.The tension in the room was palpable as they stared at each other with bated breath. Suddenly, a rough, worried voice broke the standoff. A muscular man rushed over, his steps creaking the wooden floor. He nervously helped Joseph to his feet and asked, "Sir, are you okay?"Joseph was not in a good shape. He had not had a proper rest for two consecutive nights, and he had rushed to the Sullivan manor after briefly tending to his wounds."I'm fine," Joseph replied.Vince then cast a hostile glance at Noah and asked, "Did he do this to you, sir? Let me teach him a lesson." He advanced toward Noah, his anger flaring. He could not believe that Noah would be so shameless as to take advantage of Joseph's weakened state and attack him. Half-reclining on the couch, Joseph watched Vince march
"Okay, but if Coco wants to come back with us, you have to publicly apologize to the Sullivans," Desmond said.He had faith in Chloe. He believed that she would make a fair judgment and would not be blinded by love like her mother did. Harold cleared his throat and continued, "Sometimes, when you sense something is amiss, don't rush to find answers. Investigate slowly and trust no one but yourself. These days, people's hearts are unpredictable, no matter who they are."Desmond narrowed his eyes. He knew that Harold was talking about Noah's visit to Fennelville the previous evening. There was just no evidence to prove what Noah had done. *When Noah saw Desmond, he stopped kicking the door and said anxiously, "Grandpa, Chloe is in there."Harold looked at Joseph and urged, "What are you waiting for? Open the door."Joseph was not surprised. He stood up and unlocked the bedroom door. Chloe had been crying. Her face was stained with tears, and she was both physically and emotiona
"Nothing," Chloe replied, her face pale as she shook her head.Noah's gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds. He still could not shake off the uneasy feeling that was nagging at him.'What recording could it be? Joseph wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal the truth to Chloe himself. He must’ve done it through someone else…' he thought. Then, Noah immediately thought of Vanya. At that moment, his phone vibrated. He had received a text message from Otto. [Vanya’s dead. My father eliminated her.] Noah's fingertips tapped the phone screen, replying with a simple question mark. [My guess is that Joseph sent her abroad, but my father's overseas network intercepted her. I never expected Joseph to be so kind to her.]Noah put away his phone. As he gazed at Chloe in her wedding dress through the rearview mirror, understanding dawned upon him. It was not Joseph who was kind. It was Chloe who had promised Vanya before she was hypnotized. The recording Harold mentioned must have be
All of them thought Joseph had been killed in a fatal car accident, and they wondered if he had become a vengeful spirit after learning his ex-wife was about to remarry. All of them fixed their gaze on Joseph and Chloe, their imaginations running wild as if they were the protagonists of today's drama."Oh gosh, where's the priest? We need to exorcise him!""Exorcise your ass! Can't you see his shadow on the ground?""Don't you think Joseph looks awfully pale? Something's definitely not right with him…""Yeah, but I believe in science. There's no such thing as vengeful spirits.""Stop it! My grandson is lucky enough to have survived that car accident. Stop talking as if he's dead," Harold scolded, directing his irritation at the gossipy onlookers.They promptly sealed their lips, but their eyes still betrayed fear. It was not surprising that they reacted this way. Joseph had always projected an image of pride and aloofness. However, his suit was currently stained with blood and
Ophelia sounded exasperated, and her eyes brimmed with jealousy. Her mother and brother had been neglecting her in favor of Xavia. That woman had absorbed all the attention and affection that rightfully belonged to her.Stunned, Callum fell silent for a moment. He contemplated that Xavia might really be pregnant."Okay," he said, "We can discuss these matters later. Today is a day of joy for Chloe. Let's not spoil it.""But I'm not the one causing trouble. It's Joseph," Ophelia argued."I can't control Joseph, but I can control you," Callum replied sternly.Ophelia grumbled in frustration and said, "How could you treat me this way? I don't like you anymore. Even Otto treats me better."Callum's mind was elsewhere, so he ignored her complaints. He said a few comforting words before leaving to find Joseph.The wedding ceremony proceeded with all the traditional elements: flower girls, the exchange of rings, the bride in her beautiful gown, the groom in his sharp suit, and the hear