Natasha glanced at him. The smile that was always on her lips was nowhere to be seen. All she wore on her face was an indifferent stare.Joshua suddenly found Natasha's gaze piercing. How could her eyes be so cold?In the past, Natasha was always smiling at him. Even if she was not smiling, she was gentle and considerate.Ella had once told him that Natasha was famous in the wealthy circles of Oceanville for being as beautiful as a fairy.On top of that, she had a good personality. She had never scolded the maids for their mistakes, which made many other families' maids envy those of the Grayson family.Her cold stare made Joshua feel very uncomfortable.A strange emotion he had never experienced bubbled within him. It wasn't discomfort or regret, but Joshua couldn't describe it.However, one thing was certain—he hated this feeling. He hated being controlled by emotions."Do you have anything else to say?" Natasha looked at him coldly, her tone flat.For some reason, Joshua su
Natasha smirked. "Well, I'm sure that's true."Then, she turned her head to look at Joshua again. Fiercely, she said, "Let go!"Joshua finally released his grip.After smoothing her clothes, Natasha looked at Joshua and called his name. "Joshua."Joshua lowered his gaze.Natalie gritted her teeth again, wondering what Natasha was up to again.She had just made Joshua let go, yet now she was calling his name so affectionately. What a cunning vixen!Standing tall, Natasha said firmly, "Aren't we already divorced, Joshua?"Joshua's gaze darkened at her words, and his expression was unreadable."I hope you'll be more mindful in the future, or else I might start to think that the esteemed Mr. Grayson is quite cheap."With that, Natasha walked away, leaving the Velvet Lounge without looking back.Her high heels made a crisp sound as they hit the floor, each step sounding resolute and unyielding."You're the cheap one!" Natalie shouted at Natasha. How dare a lowly woman without
Natalie was stunned. Did Joshua just scold her because of Natasha? She couldn't believe it. "Josh, I—" But before she could finish, Joshua interrupted her.He strode to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling streets below.During the rush hour in Oceanville, the roads were filled with people and cars. The lanes of cars slowly inched forward in the heavy traffic.Watching the flashing lights and the intoxicatingly glamorous and bustling Oceanville, he asked, "Why can't Natasha be Professor Nancy's assistant?""I didn't say she couldn't be her assistant."Natalie was more cautious this time, choosing her words carefully to avoid angering Joshua."It's just that Natasha didn't graduate from a prestigious university, nor has she studied pharmaceuticals. So, how could she possibly be Professor Nancy's assistant?"She may be another professor's assistant, but this is Professor Nancy we're talking about."Many people are eager to get that position, and even many
Natalie poured her heart out, saying, "I've been doing everything for the Graysons."Her words carried a mix of bitterness and frustration. She couldn't help but sigh deeply to let it all out.Yet, Joshua seemed unresponsive to her sentiments. He stood firm by the window, observing the bustling streets below without a glance in her direction.Ignoring Natalie's somewhat plaintive tone, he remained indifferent."Doing it for the Graysons? Is that your excuse for lying?" He spoke calmly, but Natalie could pick up on Joshua's emotions at that moment."If Zack hadn't rejected you back then, would you have kept this from me? If Natasha hadn't spoken up, you would have kept making things difficult for her, wouldn't you?"He wasn't oblivious. Everything Natalie said and did seemed like a deliberate effort to stir up trouble for Natasha.Natalie loathed Natasha because she held the position of the Grayson Corporation's first lady. She hoped Joshua would divorce Natasha soon.He was wel
The waitress was kind of shocked when Joshua's face suddenly changed. She quickly asked, "Mr. Grayson, is everything okay?"She was merely conveying Malcolm's message. But she was puzzled by the unusual anger from one of Gwen Restaurant's S-grade members, Joshua.S-grade clients held a prestigious status reserved for the exceptionally wealthy. She couldn't afford to upset such a significant customer.To be honest, she was a bit scared to deliver the message at first. But with the decent tips from Malcolm, she had to do the job.Gwen Restaurant was a regular venue for Joshua's business dealings. Any negative occurrence here could potentially damage Gwen Restaurant's reputation.Suppressing his anger, Joshua regained composure, saying, "It's nothing. Just remember the task I assigned you. Ms. Sullivan's expenses at Gwen Restaurant should be charged to my account from now on.""Got it, no problem. You can count on me," the waitress assured with a series of nods.Joshua didn't even
So, practically everyone in Oceanville's elite circle could instantly recognize Joshua."Natalie, why aren't you walking with Mr. Grayson? Did you guys have an argument or something?" Lydia asked, sounding genuinely worried."Oh… nah, we didn't argue," Natalie responded nonchalantly, clearly having lost focus and her thoughts elsewhere.The driver had already pulled over, waiting, and Joshua was just a few steps from the car.Feeling anxious, Natalie hastily made that statement and walked away, leaving Lydia and Xenia standing there.Lydia, who had only spoken half of her sentence, had to stop when she saw Natalie's hurried footsteps."Are you not paying attention at all?" Xenia squinted and commented as she watched Natalie leave.Lydia blinked, sounding confused as she said, "How am I not paying attention?""When I passed by Mr. Grayson just now, I could totally tell he was upset—his face was all cold, and he radiated this icy vibe," Xenia said."Upset? Did they fight?" Lydia
Natasha quickly gathered herself, returning to her usual composed state as if the recent events hadn't occurred.Observing Natasha's regained composure, Malcolm struggled to express his concern. After a moment, he softly uttered, "Alright.""So, any ideas on how to deal with this?" Natasha raised an eyebrow, looking at him.Malcolm pressed his lips together. It was evident that Joshua intended to cut off all financial connections with the Toussaints and coerce them into a contract with Grayson Corporation.Plus, Malcolm's recent behavior was practically daring Joshua. Given Joshua's personality, he wouldn't easily forgive the Toussaints.Clearly, Malcolm was unsure about how to handle the situation.The air suddenly became still, only the sound of the wind whistling through the ears breaking the silence.Seeing Malcolm's lack of response, Natasha understood the situation. She quietly contemplated a strategy while tapping the car door."Professor, are you going against Joshua?"
"I'm back, Grandma. It's late. You should get some rest." Though Malcolm was somehow scolding his grandma, Natasha could still sense his caring tone.Audrey nodded. As she was about to head upstairs, she spotted her grandson with a woman. "Ms. Sullivan?""Greetings, Madam Sullivan," Natasha politely greeted.Audrey widened her eyes, looking back and forth between Natasha and her grandson.Could it be…Audrey quickly pulled her grandson aside. "Malcolm, why did you bring Ms. Sullivan to the Toussaint residence? You've never brought anyone here before!""Ms. Sullivan is here to…" Malcolm's words were cut off."Are you interested in Ms. Sullivan?" Grandma squinted at her grandson, with a hint of gossip in her eyes.Malcolm flatly denied, "No, go to sleep. It's late already."His tone was noticeably stiff.Natasha stood in place, unable to eavesdrop on the conversation as the grandmother and grandson had their backs turned. Not one to pry into others' affairs, she simply shook
He didn't know where this sense of loss came from, but it hung over Joshua like a low-pressure system and seemed impossible to dispel. His expression visibly darkened. Yet, he seemed to want to maintain his dignity and didn't want Natasha to discern his sense of loss. So Joshua pursed his lips, forcefully suppressing the feeling and putting on a blank expression. He seemed indifferent to Natasha's proposed condition."How about it? Does Mr. Grayson need more time to consider?" Natasha sat calmly in her chair, tilting her head slightly. She was confident this time that Joshua would definitely agree. Although she felt a bit uneasy about using Philip's life as leverage against Joshua, she believed it was the best option at the moment. Given Joshua's personality, using trivial things as leverage wouldn't pose any threat to him. Besides family members' lives, everything else was insignificant to him. She had no other choice.As Natasha spoke, her eyebrows furrowed lightly, and her
As soon as Joshua heard Natasha mention there were conditions, he instantly had a bad feeling. Although Natasha didn't explicitly state the conditions, Joshua understood that they definitely wouldn't be easy."What conditions are you talking about?" He propped his chin up with his hand, looking at Natasha seriously.Natasha smiled and raised her lips. "What are the conditions? You should know."Joshua was slightly stunned. He knew what the conditions were?He furrowed his brows earnestly, trying hard to figure out what conditions Natasha was talking about.Could it be…"Are you trying to make it a condition to drive Natalie away from the Grayson Villa?" Joshua raised an eyebrow. Considering recent events, Joshua couldn't think of any other conditions.As soon as this was said, Natasha was momentarily dumbfounded.What was he talking about?Natasha tried to find a word to describe Joshua's thoughts, but after a long time, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Joshua's train of
Natasha blinked her eyes. It seemed that Joshua was anticipating her rejection in advance."Since you can enter the Sullivan residence, your relationship with them must be extraordinary."It's not like people with Joshua's and Natalie's status could enter. But Natasha could, which undoubtedly indicated that she still had something to hide from him."Since you have this relationship with the Sullivans, helping Grandfather should be a simple matter."As soon as these words came out, Natasha sneered, "Simple matter?""Although I do have some connection with the Sullivans, it's not to the extent where I can freely arrange the Sullivans miracle worker's schedule."The position of the Sullivan's miracle worker is well-known. Since you are aware of it, you shouldn't say such things. You're overestimating me."Natasha was blatantly lying and trying to deceive Joshua."Someone with the status of the Sullivan's miracle worker would only save someone if he wanted to. If he doesn't have th
As soon as Joshua said the name "Jacob", Natasha felt like her throat was being choked, and was unable to breathe properly.Her breathing became somewhat erratic."What's wrong? Do you know him or not?" Joshua spoke, narrowing his eyes. His pupils contracted, and he looked sharp and almost menacing.It seemed like any slight movement from Natasha couldn't escape his gaze."I…" Natasha began.She seemed a bit hesitant but also seemed not at all. Finally, she calmly spoke, "I don't know him.""Don't know him?" Joshua raised an eyebrow.He seemed somewhat incredulous, repeatedly confirming, "You really don't know him?"Natasha nodded, her expression very firm. "I don't know him."She looked somewhat puzzled, her tone confused as she asked, "Who is Jacob? Is he also from the Graysons?"Joshua stared at Natasha motionlessly, as if trying to find a flaw on her face.But Natasha remained calm. Her expression was very normal and without any flaws.Joshua stared for a long time. Eve
"Please help us remove all these dishes and replace them with some new ones." Natasha pointed to the dishes on the table.The waitress was startled, instinctively asking, "Is there any problem with these dishes? Please point them out, and we will correct them immediately."Natasha smiled gracefully. "No, there's nothing wrong."It was just that these dishes accidentally touched Joshua's nerve."Is it because the dishes don't suit your taste?" the waitress continued to inquire."Not really." Natasha shook her head.Although, she hadn't even taken a bite. She didn't even know if these dishes were good or not.If Joshua's gaze hadn't been so intimidating, she would have tried them so as not to waste them.Next time, she had to bring Austin to try the dishes at this restaurant."So what's wrong with these dishes? We can convey your feedback to the kitchen, or we can replace them with new dishes for you free of charge. Would that be acceptable to you?" the waitress asked.The wait
Joshua had been the president for a long time, and his whole demeanor was daunting, seemingly suffocating others with his pressure.Natasha sat in her seat. Even if she deliberately avoided looking up at Joshua, she could still feel the scalp-tingling sensation.His gaze was just too sharp. She couldn't ignore it even if she wanted to."Uh… Didn't you just say you don't like these dishes? Do you want them all removed?" Natasha awkwardly changed the subject."I'll listen and remove it now. I'll call the waiter in to take them away." After saying that, Natasha lowered her gaze and pressed the button on the table to call the waiter outside on standby.Joshua remained silent. His gaze fixed on Natasha without wavering.It made Natasha feel even more trapped.Her mind was already in a mess at the moment. She regretted that she had spoken too hastily earlier without thinking.She had never let slip of anything during her time in the Grayson Villa.What was happening now? Just a few
She was trying hard to change the subject.But Joshua looked at the dish, his mind filled with the image of Jacob's face and the various rejections he had faced during his youth.This made him very uncomfortable."I won't eat it. Take it away," Joshua said coldly with disdain."This dish… actually tastes very good. You can try it. Don't have a prejudice against it." Natasha tried to calm Joshua's mood.But he clearly had little patience. He roared angrily, "Take it away!""I don't want to see this dish!"The sound made Natasha's hand tremble as she held the plate."Alright, alright, I'll take it away. Why are you so fierce?" Natasha bit her lip, took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her rising anger, and then withdrew the dish of delicious cheese curds."Then have some other dishes." She gestured to the several dishes on the table.But unexpectedly, Joshua's face turned even worse. His gaze swept over the dishes on the table, his brows deeply furrowed, looking very dissati
Joshua's tone sounded casual and his expression indifferent, as if discussing something unrelated to him. Yet, it gave the impression that he was talking about his own affairs."Is it worth it?" Natasha murmured, repeating the question.Perhaps because Joshua exuded a melancholic air, Natasha stopped in her tracks and earnestly answered the question. "If this mother is willing to do it, then it must be worth it."Upon hearing this, Joshua looked at her, his melancholy seeming to deepen."Is that so? Do you also think that everything this mother does is worth it?"The sorrowful expression in his eyes seemed so thick that it was unbreakable.Natasha was surprised to see Joshua like this. She didn't understand why Joshua had suddenly changed."A parent's love for their child involves careful planning. Every mother who selflessly sacrifices for her child is great…"Natasha considered her tone carefully. "A mother who wholeheartedly loves her child would do this, wouldn't she?"Bef
They were different people.In a flash, Natasha instinctively pushed him away.She stood up straight, her tone serious as she said, "Joshua, please behave yourself." Her gentle fingers brushed against Joshua's shirt, seemingly carrying her fresh fragrance with it.The sudden push caught Joshua off guard.Looking up, he found Natasha wanting to keep her distance from him as if he were a ferocious beast.This look even made Joshua doubt himself. Was he that bad to warrant such a reaction from her?Before he could come to a conclusion, Natasha had already picked up her bag, seemingly ready to leave."If Mr. Grayson has nothing else to do today, I'll be taking my leave first."Joshua's behavior just now caught her off guard.Anyway, from the looks of it, he probably wouldn't agree to a divorce.Since Joshua had made up his mind, it was pointless for her to linger here. It was better to go home and avoid hearing any more of Joshua's "seductive" words."Wait," Joshua called out