Chapter 3: Calm before the storm

Mr. Adonis explains to Joyce why he is welcoming Ula and her child into the house.

"Miss Ula is currently ill. The doctor says her condition may not be curable. Her biggest concern now is Celina. When she passes away, the little one will have nowhere to turn to."

Without waiting for her father to finish, Joyce voiced his thoughts, "So that's why you want to marry her out of compassion, to legally take care of the daughter in her place. What if I don't agree?"

Joyce understood that his question was meaningless, as once their father decided, he wouldn't require his agreement. If their father could consider the well-being of his mother and him even a little, it would be better, and he wouldn't hold any resentment against him.

If you can't bring about change, why do you have to make a fuss like an immature child? You're grown up now and have your own way of thinking. Therefore, you'll make your father feel hurt by caring for him; that's the only way to punish him.

Joyce's calm demeanor was so composed that Mr. Adonis couldn't perceive his inner thoughts. Adonis knew he had hurt his son, but he had no other choice. He had tried for years to be a good father. Now was the time for him to live a little for himself. He couldn't bear to see his loved one suffer from the illness until death and not have peace of mind leaving his daughter alone. At least he could have Ula take care of the daughter, providing her a better environment.

"You think I'm being selfish, and that's understandable, but I can't leave her alone at this time," Adonis said earnestly.

"I wish you had done the same for Mom," Joyce said almost sarcastically. He stood up, before leaving he added, "It's all in the past now. Just do what you want, don't worry about me."

"Joyce, can you help me take care of Celina?" With their similar ages, Adonis wanted Joyce to become a better person through this experience.

"Joyce, can you help me take care of Celina?" With their similar ages, Adonis wanted Joyce to become a better person through this experience.

"Don't worry, Dad. If I'm here, I'll take good care of the stepdaughter." Joyce's eyes revealed a hint of cruelty, his emotions masked by resentment.

Leaving the living room, Joyce noticed Ula and Celina still sitting there. He approached them, his tone gentle, "You and Celina have been waiting for a while. From now on, let's live together harmoniously."

Seeing this, Adonis smiled as he walked out. Celina was surprised by how easily Joyce accepted the situation; she had expected him to be angry and opposed. When she saw her mother and Joyce's stiff expression, she wondered if Adonis had said something to him for him to agree.

But no matter what, it's good that Joyce has accepted your mother and you. Maybe you're overthinking things.

"Well then, let's have dinner." Adonis spoke up, looking at the clock and realizing it was mealtime.

"Everyone go ahead and eat, I have something to do outside," Joyce said.

"Where are you going at this hour?" Adonis asked, not being familiar with his son's schedule due to their infrequent interactions.

"I have an important basketball game that I can't miss. I'll be back once it's over." The man known as his father, but even Joyce didn't really know him. This gave Joyce even more reason to resent his father.

"The game against that man, Duncan, right?" Celina heard that the man's name was Duncan, a competitor of the company. They had a basketball match scheduled with Joyce the other day.

"That's right. Did your 'little sister'... come along?" The phrase "little sister" was uttered by Joyce with a clear hint of sarcasm.

Adonis and Ula were both surprised to learn that their children knew each other beforehand. Ula gently asked her daughter, "How do you know Joyce, Celina?"

Celina nodded, "We work at the same company. He's my supervisor."

"Really? Even I didn't know that," Adonis said, surprised. Personnel matters were under a manager's jurisdiction, so he wasn't aware of this issue.

"Now maybe Dad should pay more attention to his little sister. Otherwise, if you keep bullying her, Dad won't even know," Joyce said, half serious and half joking.

Joyce didn't want to linger and disrupt their happiness any further, so he added a few more words before leaving. He was driving away when Celina blocked his path, lowering her car window slightly to ask if there was something wrong. It was a stark contrast to her demeanor earlier.

At that moment, Celina realized that Joyce was putting on an act in front of everyone, and she felt a sense of loss as she stepped back a few paces.

"Are you going home for dinner or eating out?" Celina asked softly.

Not even a word and you already think you're the boss here? Well done, Celina. I want to see what other tricks you've got up your sleeve.

Joyce opened the car door, got out, approached Celina, and gently pushed her into the car, saying, "I don't like eating alone."

Joyce's swift and firm actions caught Celina off guard, and before she could react, he had already closed the passenger door and returned to his seat.

After fastening his seatbelt, Joyce was about to press the accelerator when he noticed Celina hadn't buckled up yet. He thought for a moment, then approached Celina's seat and reached for the seatbelt, helping her secure it before returning to his own seat.

Joyce's sudden action startled Celina, causing her to inhale sharply and shift back slightly, even though there was no more room to move. Seeing her reaction, Joyce intentionally slowed down, bringing his face closer to Celina's.

"Why so scared? I'm not going to eat you," Joyce said with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I'm not scared, it's just a bit cramped in this small space," Celina replied bravely, even though her insides were churning with anxiety.

Joyce maintained his posture, saying, "You're about to become a stepsister, so what's there to be afraid of? I'm just curious if you knew about this in advance, that's all."

It's unlikely they would have encountered each other so frequently within a short period of time unless planned. Moreover, this girl must have known Joyce's personality to deliberately engage with him from the start. Joyce has never backed down from a challenge, so even though Celina managed to grab his attention, the outcome remains the same.

There's a saying "calm before the storm," so you should enjoy this moment. There will be challenges ahead, and Joyce doesn't want the game to end before it even begins.