Joanna pushed the door open and stepped into Gus's office. He didn't even lift his head, coldly stating, "I'm not eating your food today. You really pissed me off. Who said you could ignore my calls?" Joanna paused while holding her lunchbox, her expression shifting to one of hurt. "Gus, did you mistake me for someone else?" At that moment, Gus looked up and realized it was Joanna. A hint of panic crossed his face as he quickly stood up to greet her. A dull ache settled in my chest. Was it possible to feel heartache even after death? Every day, I used to bring Gus lunch, driven by concern for his gastric issues. At first, he wouldn't eat it and would throw it in the trash right in front of me. Then he would just ignore it, pretending it wasn't there. Eventually, he would glance at the food, weighing his options before deciding whether or not to eat. But I was dead now—how could I still deliver lunch to him? To comfort Joanna, Gus picked up his utensils, preparing to eat.
Gus finally arrived at my house with a gift in hand, but just as he did, he caught sight of my mother firing a maid.In the past, because I had feelings for Gus, my parents had always treated him well. But Gus mistakenly believed it was his charm that endeared him to others. He stepped forward, attempting to intervene. "Mrs. Clark, may I ask why you're dismissing this maid?"Following his gaze, I realized the maid in question was Joanna's mother.My mother didn't even glance up. "Do I need to report to you now about my household matters?"Gus froze for a moment, his posture rigid. "I didn't mean to overstep. I'm close to her daughter, so I just thought—"Before he could finish, my mom interrupted him. "If you're so close to her daughter, why not take her home to be your maid? You can certainly afford the salary."With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Gus standing there, stuck between a rock and a hard place.For some reason, seeing him flounder brought me a flicker of
Joanna's mother had been Fuzzy's caretaker, so luring Fuzzy away was a walk in the park for her. Watching Fuzzy being stuffed into that tiny cage, I felt a surge of rage so intense I could almost envision myself beating Gus up. How could he do this? He knew just how much I loved Fuzzy. I had found Fuzzy abandoned on the side of the road when he was just a month old and sick. The vet had even said he wouldn't survive. But I couldn't bear to let him go. I set alarms to feed him every two hours, gave him a special milk formula, and slowly nursed him back to health. Honestly, in my heart, Fuzzy was like my own child—aside from not being born to me, he meant the world to me.Later on, as my focus shifted to Gus, I even hired a caretaker specifically for Fuzzy. But now, he was trapped in a cramped cage, whimpering softly. At that moment, I was ready to kill Gus. Oblivious to my death, Gus continued texting me. When he didn't get a reply, he shot a message to Suzie. [Tell Gen
"When I arrived, Genevieve was already dead. The doctor said it was organ failure. You thought she was fine, but in reality, you shattered her insides!"Gus crumbled, clutching his head, his face twisted in agony. "That's impossible!"I watched him unravel without a hint of emotion.What did he mean, "That's impossible"? Was it impossible that I would die, or was it impossible for that accident to have killed me? But Suzie wasn't concerned about Gus's suffering; she only wished he was in more pain. With a mocking tone, she said, "My poor Genevieve. Back then, she threw her life away to save you from being kidnapped, driving straight into the kidnappers' car. She loved you so much, but too bad, you don't deserve it!"The words "You don't deserve it" echoed in Gus's mind. After a long pause, he finally came to his senses. "You're saying it was Genevieve who saved me back then?" He seemed caught in a torturous struggle, hammering his fists against his head. "But when I wok
After a heated argument with Joanna Gordon, Gus Harding was in a foul mood and insisted that I accompany him for a reckless joyride. The result was a catastrophic accident. The front of the car slammed hard into a tree, causing the airbag on the passenger side to deploy violently. I felt like my insides were crushed. Turning to check on Gus, I was relieved to see he was unharmed. He dragged me out of the car and propped me against the tree trunk. I managed a silly grin and said, "Does this count as us going through tough times together?"Gus smirked and was about to respond when his phone suddenly rang. "Don't worry. I'll be there soon," he said, anger radiating from him as he turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he abruptly remembered that I was heavily injured. "Genevieve, just head back by yourself. Joanna's in trouble with some thugs, and I need to go save her." "But it's the middle of nowhere—" My desperate protest was cut off. "Genevieve, don't add to my trou
That birthday party was the worst event of my life. Gus strolled into the grand hall with Joanna by his side, her white dress flowing elegantly around her. He announced loudly, "Genevieve, let's break off our engagement. I've found someone I truly love." I stood there frozen, utterly dumbfounded. All of my parents' business associates were present, there to celebrate me. Knowing I was a fake heiress, they had thrown this extravagant party to prove that, despite not being their biological daughter, my parents still cared for me and that my status would remain unchanged. But Gus had shattered all of that. Under the glaring lights, whispers and snickers surrounded me like a swarm. "After all, she's just a phony. So what if the Clarks acknowledge her? The Hardings don't." "I think the Clarks went all out for this birthday bash just to silence the critics. They didn't want to be labeled as cold-hearted for rejecting their daughter after raising her for twenty-two years." "Th
After dropping Joanna off at her place, Gus firmly rejected her hints about staying the night. That was unusual for him. In the past, when Gus and I traveled to the neighboring city to meet clients, it took us five hours by car. Even if we wrapped up at 1:00 AM, he would stubbornly insist on returning home to Joanna. "Every time I go on business trips with you, Joanna won't be able to sleep if I don't go back," he would say. Gus kept his eyes downcast. His face was shadowed by the darkness of the car, making it impossible for me to read his expression. The atmosphere in the vehicle was heavy and stifling. Finally, the driver broke the silence. "Mr. Harding, should we head to the hospital?" It was then that Gus realized something was off. In this latest fight, I hadn't rushed to his side to protect him, nor had I tenderly cleaned his wounds. He shook his head, his reply succinct. "Take me to Genevieve's." Indeed, it seemed that only when he needed something did Gus remembe
Gus's body tensed up at Suzie's words, but it lasted only a heartbeat before a mocking smile broke through. "Suzie, why are you lying for Genevieve now? Tell her that if she tries any more tricks, she'll never see me again." Suzie roared back, "Gus, you'll regret this!" The call ended abruptly, leaving Gus even more frustrated. "Head home," he told the driver, but then shook his head as if trying to shake off dark thoughts. His grip tightened around his phone, the veins in his hand standing out. "This is just Genevieve's manipulation, just her tactics…"When the car stopped outside Joanna's building, Gus hesitated to get out. "Just keep driving," he murmured wearily, rubbing the bridge of his nose in silence. The driver, wary of his mood, didn't dare ask where he wanted to go next and instead drove back to my place. But when Gus opened his eyes to see the darkened room, fury erupted. "What are we doing here? Genevieve's ignoring me. Am I supposed to beg her to talk t
"When I arrived, Genevieve was already dead. The doctor said it was organ failure. You thought she was fine, but in reality, you shattered her insides!"Gus crumbled, clutching his head, his face twisted in agony. "That's impossible!"I watched him unravel without a hint of emotion.What did he mean, "That's impossible"? Was it impossible that I would die, or was it impossible for that accident to have killed me? But Suzie wasn't concerned about Gus's suffering; she only wished he was in more pain. With a mocking tone, she said, "My poor Genevieve. Back then, she threw her life away to save you from being kidnapped, driving straight into the kidnappers' car. She loved you so much, but too bad, you don't deserve it!"The words "You don't deserve it" echoed in Gus's mind. After a long pause, he finally came to his senses. "You're saying it was Genevieve who saved me back then?" He seemed caught in a torturous struggle, hammering his fists against his head. "But when I wok
Joanna's mother had been Fuzzy's caretaker, so luring Fuzzy away was a walk in the park for her. Watching Fuzzy being stuffed into that tiny cage, I felt a surge of rage so intense I could almost envision myself beating Gus up. How could he do this? He knew just how much I loved Fuzzy. I had found Fuzzy abandoned on the side of the road when he was just a month old and sick. The vet had even said he wouldn't survive. But I couldn't bear to let him go. I set alarms to feed him every two hours, gave him a special milk formula, and slowly nursed him back to health. Honestly, in my heart, Fuzzy was like my own child—aside from not being born to me, he meant the world to me.Later on, as my focus shifted to Gus, I even hired a caretaker specifically for Fuzzy. But now, he was trapped in a cramped cage, whimpering softly. At that moment, I was ready to kill Gus. Oblivious to my death, Gus continued texting me. When he didn't get a reply, he shot a message to Suzie. [Tell Gen
Gus finally arrived at my house with a gift in hand, but just as he did, he caught sight of my mother firing a maid.In the past, because I had feelings for Gus, my parents had always treated him well. But Gus mistakenly believed it was his charm that endeared him to others. He stepped forward, attempting to intervene. "Mrs. Clark, may I ask why you're dismissing this maid?"Following his gaze, I realized the maid in question was Joanna's mother.My mother didn't even glance up. "Do I need to report to you now about my household matters?"Gus froze for a moment, his posture rigid. "I didn't mean to overstep. I'm close to her daughter, so I just thought—"Before he could finish, my mom interrupted him. "If you're so close to her daughter, why not take her home to be your maid? You can certainly afford the salary."With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Gus standing there, stuck between a rock and a hard place.For some reason, seeing him flounder brought me a flicker of
Joanna pushed the door open and stepped into Gus's office. He didn't even lift his head, coldly stating, "I'm not eating your food today. You really pissed me off. Who said you could ignore my calls?" Joanna paused while holding her lunchbox, her expression shifting to one of hurt. "Gus, did you mistake me for someone else?" At that moment, Gus looked up and realized it was Joanna. A hint of panic crossed his face as he quickly stood up to greet her. A dull ache settled in my chest. Was it possible to feel heartache even after death? Every day, I used to bring Gus lunch, driven by concern for his gastric issues. At first, he wouldn't eat it and would throw it in the trash right in front of me. Then he would just ignore it, pretending it wasn't there. Eventually, he would glance at the food, weighing his options before deciding whether or not to eat. But I was dead now—how could I still deliver lunch to him? To comfort Joanna, Gus picked up his utensils, preparing to eat.
The next morning, when Gus opened his eyes, he was surprised to find Joanna nestled in his arms, looking sweet and innocent. Her long lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. As their gazes met, Joanna's eyes filled with tears, making her look heartbreakingly vulnerable. Gus's heart twisted at the sight. "Gus, I couldn't sleep last night. My arm hurt, and you weren't around…" Her words sent a jolt of regret through him, his heart aching. "I'm sorry, Joanna. It's all my fault." He gently kissed away her tears, and her face lit up with a smile, though she playfully chided him, "Did you go back for Genevieve last night?" Gus's expression darkened, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Why would I? That heartless woman? There's no way I'd go back to her." "What if something happened to her on the highway? She was alone out there…" "Then she deserves it!" Gus spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Let's not talk about her anymore; it ruins our mood. We should do som
Gus's body tensed up at Suzie's words, but it lasted only a heartbeat before a mocking smile broke through. "Suzie, why are you lying for Genevieve now? Tell her that if she tries any more tricks, she'll never see me again." Suzie roared back, "Gus, you'll regret this!" The call ended abruptly, leaving Gus even more frustrated. "Head home," he told the driver, but then shook his head as if trying to shake off dark thoughts. His grip tightened around his phone, the veins in his hand standing out. "This is just Genevieve's manipulation, just her tactics…"When the car stopped outside Joanna's building, Gus hesitated to get out. "Just keep driving," he murmured wearily, rubbing the bridge of his nose in silence. The driver, wary of his mood, didn't dare ask where he wanted to go next and instead drove back to my place. But when Gus opened his eyes to see the darkened room, fury erupted. "What are we doing here? Genevieve's ignoring me. Am I supposed to beg her to talk t
After dropping Joanna off at her place, Gus firmly rejected her hints about staying the night. That was unusual for him. In the past, when Gus and I traveled to the neighboring city to meet clients, it took us five hours by car. Even if we wrapped up at 1:00 AM, he would stubbornly insist on returning home to Joanna. "Every time I go on business trips with you, Joanna won't be able to sleep if I don't go back," he would say. Gus kept his eyes downcast. His face was shadowed by the darkness of the car, making it impossible for me to read his expression. The atmosphere in the vehicle was heavy and stifling. Finally, the driver broke the silence. "Mr. Harding, should we head to the hospital?" It was then that Gus realized something was off. In this latest fight, I hadn't rushed to his side to protect him, nor had I tenderly cleaned his wounds. He shook his head, his reply succinct. "Take me to Genevieve's." Indeed, it seemed that only when he needed something did Gus remembe
That birthday party was the worst event of my life. Gus strolled into the grand hall with Joanna by his side, her white dress flowing elegantly around her. He announced loudly, "Genevieve, let's break off our engagement. I've found someone I truly love." I stood there frozen, utterly dumbfounded. All of my parents' business associates were present, there to celebrate me. Knowing I was a fake heiress, they had thrown this extravagant party to prove that, despite not being their biological daughter, my parents still cared for me and that my status would remain unchanged. But Gus had shattered all of that. Under the glaring lights, whispers and snickers surrounded me like a swarm. "After all, she's just a phony. So what if the Clarks acknowledge her? The Hardings don't." "I think the Clarks went all out for this birthday bash just to silence the critics. They didn't want to be labeled as cold-hearted for rejecting their daughter after raising her for twenty-two years." "Th
After a heated argument with Joanna Gordon, Gus Harding was in a foul mood and insisted that I accompany him for a reckless joyride. The result was a catastrophic accident. The front of the car slammed hard into a tree, causing the airbag on the passenger side to deploy violently. I felt like my insides were crushed. Turning to check on Gus, I was relieved to see he was unharmed. He dragged me out of the car and propped me against the tree trunk. I managed a silly grin and said, "Does this count as us going through tough times together?"Gus smirked and was about to respond when his phone suddenly rang. "Don't worry. I'll be there soon," he said, anger radiating from him as he turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he abruptly remembered that I was heavily injured. "Genevieve, just head back by yourself. Joanna's in trouble with some thugs, and I need to go save her." "But it's the middle of nowhere—" My desperate protest was cut off. "Genevieve, don't add to my trou