"I don't understand, but I respect your opinion." Joey was always straightforward. She had never experienced the loss of a daughter, so it was hard for her to empathize fully.Moreover, she didn't like Yvonne. "It's okay if you don't understand. Just remember what I'm about to say."You must proceed with the design. It's for your own good."Consider it carefully. If you insist on doing things your way, don't blame me," Emily ordered like a commander.Joey couldn't help but chuckle. "Ms. Lane, thank you for being blunt with me."After saying this, she directly hung up the phone.Joey's actions infuriated Emily. She thought she sounded very authoritative, but Joey wasn't afraid at all.After hanging up the phone, Joey's expression unconsciously turned cold.When she arrived at the studio, she saw Hanson at the door. Henry was staring him down with a cold expression."Joey," Hanson called out when he saw her.Joey gave him a small nod. "You're here so early?"Hanson looked
At noon, Joey instructed the finance department to transfer a sum of money to Zachary.The amount far exceeded what Zachary spent on gifts, and the transaction took place via their respective companies' accounts.Zachary couldn't help but laugh at the way Joey handled things.What was meant to be a simple gift had turned into a formal business transaction. Did she really want to distance herself from him like this?He contemplated calling Joey to inquire about her intentions. But then he thought better of it, realizing that making the call would only invite trouble.He foresaw a lack of explanation and a barrage of hurtful words.Zachary sighed and set his phone down.Just then, Shane entered and whispered, "Cyrus is here to visit.""Let him in," Zachary replied calmly.After Shane left, Cyrus, holding a gift box, entered the room.Zachary got up from his desk and gestured for Cyrus to sit. "What brings you here, Mr. Quartz?"Cyrus placed the gift on the coffee table, a slig
News of Lawrence and Cyrus becoming brothers spread rapidly through Imperia's social circles.Yvonne was equally surprised when she got the call."What on earth are you doing in Eldeville? I haven't seen you visit Joey's grandmother at all."Are you waiting for the truth to unfold before taking action?" The woman on the other end of the line questioned with restrained anger."Come on, don't be so impatient. It's not as easy in Eldeville as it was back in Imperia. I need to find a way out first—a cover."How else am I supposed to make a smooth exit?" Yvonne's tone was calm, with no urgency whatsoever."Don't tell me you're thinking of marrying Zachary and deliberately trying to please his grandmother." The woman couldn't resist a sarcastic comment.Yvonne chuckled, but her eyes turned icy. "Is it a crime for me to marry him?"The woman on the other end suddenly fell silent.Yvonne gazed at the night scenery outside and spoke slowly, "Let Kenneth have your daughter. I'm choosing
Show TV extended an invitation, but her rejection ended up offending a significant number of people.She realized the program team had a strategic approach. They wouldn't be bothered by her refusal as they had various tricks up their sleeves.Joey couldn't help but let out a sigh after hanging up.She made another call to Show TV's representative and finalized the contract signing date. That pretty much sealed the deal for their first round of collaboration."Ms. Linton, don't worry. The show won't air immediately. It's scheduled to broadcast after the TV series, so there won't be any impact on the TV series' popularity," Show TV's representative assured Joey.Joey gave a brief acknowledgment, but she was well aware that it was just smooth talk.If they truly weren't concerned about the TV series' popularity, why hold off on the broadcast? It appeared they were being cautious, prepared to distance themselves and avoid airing the program if any issues arose with the series.After
Joey held back her anger and asked, "Yvonne, what's the situation with Mr. Gray Senior being poisoned?"Yvonne responded defensively, "How should I know? Even if you're mad, you can't just blame me, can you?"Shifting from irritation to a hint of hurt, she added, "I get it, my tone sucked earlier. But that's because I was getting irritated trying to reach you."Do you have any idea how many times Grandpa tried calling you?"Joey hadn't received any calls. She checked her phone several times, and there were no missed calls from Harold."How's Grandpa doing now?" Joey's voice softened a bit."He's still getting his stomach pumped. We're not sure if he'll make it. If we had been a few minutes late, Grandpa might not have made it." Yvonne's tone also softened."I'll be at the hospital soon," Joey said calmly, though her skepticism toward Yvonne lingered.It was evident that Yvonne had a clear agenda for coming to Eldeville. Despite her insistence on innocence, Joey couldn't bring h
Joey let out a heavy sigh. Her gaze lingered on the window as she attempted to shake off the frustration from the phone call.Upon reaching the hospital, she sought an update on Harold's condition."He's currently undergoing stomach pumping surgery. You can wait in the operating room on the third floor until it's completed," the doctor on the other side of the window explained."Alright, thanks," Joey said, heading for the stairs.As Joey ascended to the second floor, she unexpectedly ran into Yvonne at the stairwell.Looking down, Yvonne observed Joey's weary expression with a touch of disdain."Joey, Mrs. Bennet Senior wouldn't want to see you here. Get out of this hospital before you give her a heart attack, or Zachary won't forgive you."Joey retorted with a detached tone, "What does my presence here have anything to do with the Grays? Or is this hospital exclusively for them, and everyone else is unwelcome?"Yvonne chuckled, casually making her way down the stairs toward J
Joey sensed trouble the moment Yarwood's mushrooms were mentioned. Moreover, it happened to be mushroom season right now."Take me to see that doctor!" Joey's voice turned serious all of a sudden.Monica jumped. "What's wrong?""Mr. Gray Senior was seriously poisoned. He's in the hospital getting his stomach pumped. If we don't sort things out before Zachary comes back from abroad, we'll be in deep trouble."Joey took Monica's hand and led her out."But I had some of the mushrooms, too, and I'm totally fine. Is there some sort of misunderstanding?" Monica's eyes widened in fear."You had what she gave you the first time. The batch you handed to Mr. Gray Senior the second time is different…""No, on the second time, I split the mushroom soup into two portions. I drank one, and I sent the other to Harold. There's really nothing wrong with it."If it were poisonous, wouldn't I be in the hospital by now? And the mushrooms she gave me weren't poisonous," Monica explained frantically
Zachary turned his eyes away. A pang of resentment crept in as he speculated that Joey was probably blissfully lost in a carefree slumber.At that moment, Henry entered the hospital room.Upon entering, Henry promptly lowered his head to relay the situation."Ms. Linton dropped by yesterday afternoon. However, a conflict arose between her and Ms. Ziegler. Mrs. Bennet Senior witnessed it, kicked her out, and she hasn't been back since."He went on, "Mrs. Linton Senior shipped mushrooms to Mr. Gray Senior using a courier. It appears the package was swapped along the way.""Henry, you can skip the specifics. Frankly, the truth holds little importance for me," Zachary remarked, glancing up with a cold, piercing stare.Henry was a bit lost for a moment. His eyes showed confusion as he tried to figure out what Zachary meant.When it came to dealing with anything, they had a habit of searching for evidence to absolve Joey, hoping it would earn her appreciation. However, Zachary consist
Joey shot him a cold glance. "You and he are both the same, so neither of you should be laughing at the other."Zachary nodded. "You're right, but I've turned over a new leaf now.""Let's go. Enough about him," Joey said. She was annoyed whenever Henry was brought up.He had a great girl willing to be with him, yet he was still unhappy. Any other man would have been grinning from ear to ear.They arrived at the restaurant, and while Joey ordered the food, Zachary sent a message to Henry."You should think about this. Joey and Grandma just want you to have someone by your side in the future, which is why they're saying these things."Don't give up on her just because of what her parents said. Having someone who genuinely likes you is rare."From Zachary's perspective, Henry had a pretty good start. Tessa didn't mind his circumstances, so what was he dissatisfied with?Henry quickly replied, "I know. I'll think about it carefully."In truth, Henry found it all a bit troublesome.
Henry was immediately startled and started stammering, "O-Okay."As soon as Joey hung up the phone, she turned to see Tessa, who was crying pitifully, and handed her a tissue.Tessa took the tissue and sobbed without saying a word.Monica had prepared some desserts for her and looked at her with compassion. "Henry has never been in love before. Plus, he's straightforward and doesn't know how to talk properly. There's no need to cry."Joey thought that Henry just didn't love Tessa enough. Otherwise, how could he say such things?Tessa's eyes were swollen and red. Her tears continuously streamed down. "I know he doesn't like me. Maybe he just agreed to the relationship because I pursued him."Joey patted her shoulder. "In love, if one person is too proactive, the other will seem passive. The fact that you dared to love already makes you braver than many.""What's the point? He doesn't care about me at all." Tessa sniffled."Here, eat something," Monica said. "Feelings like love d
No one tried to persuade Henry further, but Zachary continued to say to him, "Come with me to choose a location for the security company. It's worth doing."Henry was a bit speechless. "I'm not even pursuing the relationship anymore. Why should I still think about the security company?"Zachary responded, "Do you plan to cling to Joey's coattails your whole life? Once the business is set up, you can have apprentices teach others, and you can become a hands-off boss in a year or two."With that, Zachary headed out.After they left, Monica sighed in disappointment. "And I here I thought Henry had found someone good for him.""I think it's quite normal. Finding a good woman isn't easy," Joey said.Henry was indeed a good person, but with one eye missing and his job as a bodyguard, it was inevitable that Tessa's parents would worry."How disappointing," Monica murmured repeatedly.Joey didn't know what else to say and could only comfort her. "There's still a chance. What if Tessa d
Joey snorted. "You looked down on me and thought I had no opinions back then."Zachary pulled her into his arms. "Joey, do you like the person you are now or the person you were before?""What about you?" Joey asked him."I liked you from the beginning. Do you think I would have pursued you for so long if I didn't? I never thought you were serious about the divorce. At first, I was angry, but now I just think I was too slow to react."Joey was genuinely angry back then, but he had thought she was playing hard to get.The two of them sat close and watched the movie together.Selena hadn't returned yet, so Joey guessed that she wouldn't be coming back."Selena probably won't return. Hanson is cunning by taking her away with just a movie," Joey said.Zachary turned off the projector and was still savoring the moment as Joey left his arms."They're in love. Otherwise, Selena wouldn't go with him so easily," Zachary remarked.Selena must really like Hanson. Otherwise, she wouldn't
Zachary squeezed her hand tightly. "You're just like an exquisite and beautiful flower."Joey couldn't help but laugh. She pulled her hand back with a little force. "Even though we just had a heartfelt conversation, I haven't thought about being your girlfriend.""I get it. You're Chloe, and countless people are lining up to pursue you," Zachary said in a voice tinged with jealousy.If she wasn't so focused on her work, she probably would have found a new boyfriend by now. For example, Kenneth was an excellent person. If Joey had accepted him back then, Zachary thought he wouldn't stand a chance now.When they got back to Emmen, Joey freshened up and got back to work.Zachary couldn't help but say, "Can't you take a break?""I've gotten used to this over the past year. When I can't sleep at night, I'll work. I find it hard to relax now," Joey said while reading a document intently.Without her dedication and hard work, Emmen wouldn't have grown so quickly.Zachary beckoned her
Zachary felt a heavy weight on his chest as he looked at Joey.She continued, "Even if I accept you again, and we try to rebuild a family, I know things can never go back to the way they were. I gave you my best years, and I don't feel like I owe you anything."During those three years, you ignored my true feelings and neglected me. Do you think it's possible to go back to the past now?"Zachary said, "I'm truly sorry.""I want to fully accept you, but I can't. You all think that the many hurts inflicted on me are something I can just get over, let go of, and move forward from. But I can't."I realize now that people are complicated and hold grudges. I constantly revisit every wrong done to me. If I didn't care, it would mean I don't care about any of you at all."Joey rarely opened up to Zachary like this, but she felt it necessary to make this clear.Zachary watched her silently and felt as though it was his first time knowing what she actually thought."It's like how I don't
Selena readily agreed, "Alright. It's not fair for you to handle everything alone."Her relationship with Hanson was intense and passionate at the beginning, but now that the initial fire had burned out, Selena felt less attached to Hanson. But after dinner, she was still dragged by Hanson to watch a new movie.Joey was exhausted from work and didn't want to move, so she sat at the dining table with Zachary to enjoy the peace."Shall we head back soon?" Zachary asked after a long while.Joey hummed, exhausted. "Let's sit a bit longer.""If you don't want to walk, I can carry you," Zachary said with a smile.Joey snorted. "Do you want Grandma to scold me? Have you even recovered?""Probably not. These wounds don't heal so easily," Zachary admitted honestly. He wanted to please Joey but had forgotten that his health was no longer as robust as before."Let's sit for another half an hour," Joey said as she leaned back in her chair and replied to messages on her phone."You're work
Selena felt that what Joey said made sense and immediately nodded in agreement. "Then I won't consider marriage."Zachary glanced at them and thought that Selena was a bad influence on Joey. Even if they were married, couldn't they still have fun? What was the difference?Around noon, Hanson and Tessa arrived at Emmen together.As soon as Tessa saw Henry, she ran to him and grabbed his arm. "I got out of class early to see you. You're not mad, are you?"Henry was taken aback, but seeing Tessa clinging to him so sweetly filled his heart with joy."Not at all. Why didn't you tell me? I could have picked you up," Henry said.Tessa held his hand. "Why do you have to pick me up? I know where you work, so I can come to find you."Henry nodded dumbly."Tessa, have you eaten?" Monica stepped forward with a gentle smile."No, but my parents want to invite him to dinner tonight. I've already arranged it with them," Tessa said with a smile.Joey thought this wasn't just a regular dinner
Henry had a smile on his face, looking quite pleased with himself. "Of course, she fell in love with me at first sight."Selena laughed. "Impressive! But your cosplay style probably appeals to most young girls, right?"Henry may have only one eye, but he was still very handsome. He was like a cosplayer you'd see on the street.He simply smiled and picked up his phone to check in with Tessa.After chatting, Henry grinned like a fool. "She asked me out to lunch. She said she doesn't have classes this afternoon and wants to take me to her place."Joey felt a bit envious. "You're incredibly lucky. You need to cherish this."Henry nodded as Monica looked at Henry with a smile."What is your girlfriend studying in grad school?" Selena asked curiously."Something related to Eldelish language studies I think," Henry replied, unsure.Joey nodded. "That sounds good."After finishing his meal, Henry sat nearby, playing on his phone.Selena couldn't help but tell Joey, "Is he just going