Chapter 28 I Like You Very Much Chloe woke up with a start and quickly pulled the blanket tightly around herself. “I’ll be out soon!” Although her foot was a little sore from last night’s fall, it did not affect her walk. After a quick shower, Chloe appeared in front of Joseph wearing a delicate […]
Chapter 26 How Did You Find Me? Chloe remained expressionless as she said, “Your mother’s a homewrecker, yet she can still hold her head up high in front of everyone.” Ava responded with a smile instead of anger. She gently stroked the wardrobe and replied, “Do you remember? This used to be mine but I
Chapter 25 If You Two Get Caught in Bed Together Joseph paused for a moment, then gave some instructions to the person on the other end of the video call and ended the meeting. Crossing his legs, he calmly asked, “What’s the reason?” “No idea. HR says Ms. Chloe sent a message close to the start of her shift saying she won’t be coming, and that was the end of it.” Joseph recalled how happy Chloe looked in front of the mirror this morning. He propped up his chin with one hand. “Did they call her?” “Yes, but her phone is switched off.” Joseph furrowed his brows slightly, clearly dissatisfied with her behavior. She was the one who had applied for the job, yet she was also the one who did not show up for work. Lucas could not quite decipher his boss’s thoughts from his expression. He took out his phone and displayed the top trending news to Joseph. “There’s another thing. It seems that William, who we fired, isn’t happy and has been stirring things up online.” Joseph briefly glanced through the article, hardly reading a tenth of it before shifting his gaze away. is “Could Ms. Chloe have been influenced by this article and decided not to come? The manager considering sending someone to her house for some counseling. After all, this matter started because of Fairlight.” “Fairlight needs an Estrenian translator, not her,” Joseph said, his voice cold. He even snorted. lightly through his nostrils and continued, “We already gave her a second chance. If someone gives up a job opportunity because of a few comments from irrelevant people, it means they can’t handle the stress. They’re likely to be overly sensitive in the workplace in the future.” Nowadays, people tend to get carried away with their achievements. “So we don’t need to do anything about this?” Lucas asked hesitantly. “Yes. Just handle it the usual way.” Joseph’s gaze remained fixed on the computer screen. Later that day, with not much to do at the company today, Joseph left on time and returned to his villa. The empty house was completely silent, and he glanced at the woman’s house slippers placed neatly on the shoe rack with a snort. ‘She hasn’t been home all day, yet she claimed she’d cook for me every day.‘ Joseph was not hungry, so he went upstairs and took a shower. He grabbed a book and lazily sat in his chair reading. As time passed, the sky grew dark, and Chloe had yet to return. Joseph took out his phone and called her. He was ready to admonish her for not keeping her word, but before he could even say anything, a cold, mechanical voice interrupted him. “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…” Joseph paused, recalling Chloe’s demeanor from this morning. He remembered how her eyes sparkled with eagerness and enthusiasm. At first, he assumed that she had rejected the offer because she found a better opportunity, but upon further reflection, he realized that it was highly unlikely. Joseph did not like to meddle in other people’s affairs, but Chloe was currently his legal wife. It was almost the weekend and it was time for them to visit his family home. He did not want any unexpected incidents. After all, dealing with his grandfather was exhausting. It was 10 o’clock in the evening at the Johnson residence. Ava used her spare key to open Chloe’s bedroom door, wearing a gift that Jake had bought for her. quickly closed the window and sat on Smooth. When Ava entered the room, she did not As soon as she heard movement outside the door, Chlo the bed. Her movements were quick notice anything unusual. Chloe’s eyes immediately fell on the bracelet on Ava’s wrist. It was the same brand that Jake had bought a gift for her from previously. Seeing that Chloe had noticed the bracelet, Ava raised her chin and maintained her usual gentle disposition. Yet, there was a trace of sarcasm in her voice as she said, “I advise you to break it off with that old man you’re seeing sooner rather than later. If you two were to get caught in bed together by his wife, the whole family won’t be able to hold our heads up high in Aesper.”
Chapter 24 MS. Chloe Didn’t Come To Work Today “It’s precisely because I know what you’re capable of that I asked you to resign. How could our small company possibly compare to a leading enterprise like Fairlight? You’re overestimating yourself.” Chloe froze, clutching her phone and unsure of what to say. Despite being accustomed to Benjamin’s treatment toward her, at this moment when everyone was misjudging her, she could not help feeling sorry for herself when he chose to align with those online bullies. Throughout her childhood, her father had only ever shown care and concern toward Ava, while toward her, he treated her as if she were a complete stranger. Seeing that she remained silent, Benjamin looked at her with disdain and snatched her phone from her. Chloe tried to retrieve her phone but was forcibly held down by the bodyguards. In the middle of her resistance, Benjamin found Fairlight’s HR contact information on her phone, composed a rejection message, sent it, and then shut off her phone. “You’re my father. Can’t you stand to see me doing well?” Chloe could no longer bear it and her voice trembled. “Enough! What I can’t stand is seeing you disgrace yourself!” Benjamin shouted in anger. Turning to the bodyguards, he ordered, “Take her home and lock her in the room. Don’t let her out.” Then, he got out of the car. Chloe started panicking. She tried several times to jump out of the car but to no avail. Half an hour later, they threw Chloe into her bedroom upon reaching the house and locked the door to prevent her from running away. As soon as Fairlight’s HR received the text message, they immediately tried to contact Chloe, but her phone was switched off. “Cecelia, if she doesn’t come, she doesn’t come. She has the ability to get rid of Mr. William, so why bother worrying about this?” one of the employees joked. “Yeah, who knows? She might even become our supervisor one day,” another chimed in. “Hahaha, that would really make those old–timers in the company lose their minds,” someone said with a laugh. The HR personnel for Fairlight was a mature woman called Cecelia Ross. She glanced at her colleagues and said sternly, “Don’t speak like that. William’s conduct was inappropriate, so it was just a matter of time before he was dismissed by the company.” Her colleagues sneered and went back to their respective workstations, quieting down. After thinking it over, Cecelia decided to report the matter to her manager. The manager reviewed Chloe’s interview materials. It was normal for people not to show up after passing an interview, but this situation was rare at Fairlight. He had also seen the trending news today, but he was unsure if Chloe had chosen not to come to work because of public pressure. Coincidentally, Lucas passed by the HR department with a tray of breakfast in his hand and was heading upstairs. The manager immediately put down his cup and hurried over to tell him about the trending news and Chloe’s rejection. “Mr. Lucas, should we send someone to Chloe’s house for counseling? Although companies like ours often face public pressure, this situation has generated a great reaction online.” Lucas glanced at the trending news and replied, “Just handle it normally. You don’t need to worry about her.‘ He decided to consult with Joseph before making any further moves. After all, he was not sure of Joseph’s intentions. Although he was confident that Joseph would not open the backdoor for Chloe, it was never wrong to consult him. At that moment, Joseph was in a video conference. Lucas quietly placed the breakfast on his desk and mouthed the words, “Ms. Chloe didn’t come to work today.“
Chapter 23 The Shady Things You’ve Been up To After the people around them heard their conversation, they sized Chloe up with looks of disgust on their faces. It was as if she was the person who caused trouble with her father over property and being unreasonable. Chloe’s face sank as she bit her lip. “I can set up an appointment with the lawyer for later.” “No, they don’t have so much free time to wait around for you,” Benjamin replied with an impatient tone. “Since you don’t have time, I’ll temporarily take care of it. I’ll give it to you when you get married in the future.” “No! I’ll go with you…” She quickly changed her mind and followed Benjamin off the bus. Although work was important, the things her mother had left behind were the only things in this world that she could not give up. She was well aware that Benjamin was threatening her. If she did not retrieve them this time, it would only be more difficult to do so in the future. She thought for a moment and decided to explain the situation to the HR department at Fairlight, requesting a postponement of her start date to be for the following day or later that afternoon. If they did not agree, she could not blame anyone but herself she was the one who could not keep up her end of the bargain. Benjamin got into a car parked by the roadside and glanced at the phone in Chloe’s hand. “The lawyer is waiting for us at home. Let’s go home and talk there.” Chloe looked at the guards standing on both sides of the car and felt it a little strange. “Why did you bring bodyguards with you?” she asked. “It’s nothing. We just happened to be going out. Hurry up and get in. Don’t waste time,” he replied. Chloe did not think much of it. Benjamin might not like her, but she was certain that he would not do anything to harm her in broad daylight. “Okay,” she said and got into the car. But just as she settled in, the car sped off and she nearly lost her balance. After settling down, Chloe asked about her mother’s inheritance, but Benjamin remained silent. A sudden realization hit Chloe, and she quickly realized that something was wrong. She turned to the driver and said, “Stop the car! I want to get off.” The driver, seeming to have received orders, ignored her request. “Where are you taking me?” Chloe looked at Benjamin warily. “I want you to inform Fairlight that you will not be working there,” he ordered. “Why?” she asked. How did he know that I got a job at Fairlight?‘ Benjamin sneered, “Do I really need to spell out what shady things you’ve been “I don’t understand,” Chloe replied, clearly at a loss for words. “Just look it up online and you’ll understand,” he said. up to?” With trembling fingers, she opened her phone and the first search result with an offensive headline popped up. [Famous Company Makes a Scandalous Decision for the Sake of a Beautiful Woman!] The article talked about the fight between her and the interviewer who was fired by Fairlight, insinuating that she had some kind of backing from a powerful figure. It even included a photo of her being escorted out by security guards after the confrontation. The comments below the article were even worse. [She’s just a useless pretty face with no skills. It was bad luck on that poor interviewer for coming across her.] [She looks like a homewrecker. She’s probably a mistress kept by some wealthy man.] [I heard from someone inside Fairlight that the top executives were impressed by her and set up a special interview just for her. She passed and is supposed to start working in the next couple of days.] [Well, well, well, it seems like she’s more than just a pretty face.] [I know her. We went to the same school and had a good reputation. Her family is quite well- off too and they own a company in Aesper City. I think something must’ve happened to her family that forced her into this situation.] Chloe’s knuckles turned white as she gripped her phone tightly. She spoke up, her voice clear and loud as if she were speaking out against injustice, “They’re making this up. I didn’t do any of these things.” Benjamin’s gaze was full of mockery, thinking to himself that how could someone ride in a luxury car without relying on a man? Even though she was rejected by Fairlight, she managed to get another
Chapter 22 Don’t Get Too Immersed in the Role Joseph did not bother explaining that there was no cook in the first place. After some brief contemplation, he went upstairs to grab a bank card. Then, he handed it to Chloe. “This is my supplementary card. You can use it for household expenses or if you want to buy clothes or something.” Chloe was about to say that groceries would not cost much, but she suddenly remembered that she was currently unemployed, and not wishing to appear stubborn, she accepted the card. “Okay.” “Go to Hola Mart if you want to grab something. Their stuff is fresher.” “But that’s an international supermarket that sells imported goods and the stuff there is pretty expensive. A tiny head of lettuce could cost up to 15 dollars, whereas you can get the same item for just a few bucks at the local market. Moreover, the produce at the local market is freshly picked from the farm, making it healthier and more affordable.” “I’m telling you, not discussing with you.” Joseph finished his meal and set down his utensil. “Your job is to help me fool the parents, not to be a virtuous wife. Don’t get too immersed in the role.” Chloe held back the urge to roll her eyes. ‘What’s so special about an international supermarket? Are foreign goods really that good? Will eating them make you immortal?‘ She took a deep breath and sighed. “I just want to help you save money.” “I don’t need you to save money. You can spend it freely,” he replied coolly as he gave her a once–over. “Take some time to buy a few sets of clothes. We’ll be visiting my father this weekend.” Chloe fidgeted with the hem of her dress and asked, “Can’t I just wear what I’m wearing now? I’ll have you know, I spent a few thousand dollars on this dress.” “It’s inappropriate to wear last year’s fashion to an important occasion.” Chloe chuckled, though her smile did not reach her eyes. “Fine.” After all, it was his reputation on the line and his money being spent. It would be a waste if she did not buy some new clothes. After washing the dishes, Chloe had just returned to her room when she heard a notification 1/2 sound from her computer, indicating an email in her inbox. She eagerly checked on it and found that it was a job offer from Fairlight, informing her that she had passed the interview and was to start work the very next day. Chloe was so thrilled that she could not sleep all night, drifting off only in the wee hours of the morning. When she woke up, she looked in the mirror and regretted staying up late. There were faint dark circles under her eyes, though her skin remained clear and radiant. ‘Fortunately, I have good skin. I can just cover up the dark circles with some foundation,‘ she thought. As she was admiring herself in the mirror, Joseph walked by and saw her. She was wearing a white, elbow–length–sleeve, button shirt and black pencil pants that hugged her curves perfectly, emphasizing her slender legs in a way that was both graceful and sexy. He quickly averted his gaze and adjusted his tie before leaving the house. The villa was not far from Fairlight, so Chloe took the bus after getting ready. As she looked out the window, she breathed a sigh of relief that she had managed to land a job. Otherwise, she would have to tighten her belt next month. As the bus approached Fairlight, Benjamin suddenly boarded with two burly men who Chloe recognized as Artron’s security guards. She furrowed her brow and asked, “What are you doing here?” “Get off the bus with me. I need to talk to you,” Benjamin replied in a stern tone. “I can’t. Today’s my first day at work. I can’t be late,” she retorted. He looked around the crowded bus, a look of annoyance crossing his face. Suddenly, his expression softened as he said with a smile, “I’m going to talk with you about the money your mother left you. It can be retrieved from the bank safe two months from now. A lawyer came to the house today and needs you to meet with him. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” He pressed on. “Did you come out to find a job because you’re mad at me?”
Chapter 21 I’m Not Eating Any Food You Prepare A satisfied smile crossed Ava’s face as she hung up the phone. Under Ava’s guidance, Melody quickly reached out to a paparazzo and even went as far as to hire a team of internet trolls. In the afternoon, Chloe was learning how to cook by following a tutorial on the Internet. When Joseph came home and saw her in the kitchen wearing an apron, listening to instructions on her phone, and putting various spices into the pot. He said, “If you can’t cook, stop pretending. Food is meant to be eaten, not wasted.” He did not want to eat takeout or poorly made food again. Chloe turned to look at him, and a bashful smile appeared on her face. “Don’t worry. I think I did a pretty good job this time.” Joseph glanced at the food she called “pretty good” and chuckled, “You can eat it. Remember to call an ambulance in advance if you do.” “Come on, just give it a try. I promise I’ve gotten a lot better than last time!” “No thank you,” Joseph replied as he took off his coat and hung it on the rack. “As I said, I won’t give you anything except money.” Chloe froze for a moment. “I know that. But I had your spaghetti yesterday, so I decided to cook for you today. It’s just a matter of courtesy.” “Suit yourself,” Joseph said. There was no emotion on his handsome face as he climbed the stairs. As the orange lights of sunset crossed the sky, the final beams of sunlight shone through the window onto Chloe’s face. A bitter expression pulled at the corners of her lips as she muttered, “Hmph. If you don’t feel like eating, then fine. I’ll just eat it all myself and let you starve!” After an hour, she placed the three dishes and soup she had made on the dining table. Looking at the tightly closed door of the study on the second floor, she wrestled with herself for a moment and ultimately decided to knock on the door. “Dinner’s ready. Would you like to come and have a bite?” Silence answered her. Not a peep came from inside. “Are you asleep? Jojo?” As Joseph’s hand reached for his forehead, he rose to his feet and opened the door, gazing down at Chloe. Their eyes met, and she could not help but feel a bit uneasy. “I said I’m not eating the food you make. Why won’t you understand?” “I’m worried you’ll be hungry…” 1 Joseph fell silent, staring at her with his piercing gaze. It had only been a few seconds, but Chloe felt like an eternity had passed. Feeling at a loss for what to do, she impulsively grabbed his hand and said, “Come on, let’s go. The food’s getting cold.” To her surprise, Joseph’s hand was not as cold as she expected. It was big, warm, a sense of reassurance. and gave her She did not dare to turn around to see the expression on Joseph’s face. She just silently prayed inside her heart and hoped that he would not get angry at her. Joseph obediently followed her downstairs and sat at the dining table for some inexplicable reason. Chloe’s heart pounded as she put a piece of steak on Joseph’s plate. She looked at him with hopeful eyes and said, “Try it.” Joseph unconsciously wiggled his fingers as if he was feeling the warmth that Chloe had left on him. “Eat up.” Chloe watched nervously as he took a bite. She then raised three fingers and made a solemn promise. “If it doesn’t taste good, I swear I won’t force you to eat my cooking anymore!” With time on her side, she was determined to master the art of cooking and win over Joseph’s heart and stomach. After that, she would exact her revenge. Under Chloe’s earnest gaze, Joseph leisurely picked up a piece of steak with his fork and put it in his mouth, savoring it. The meat was succulent with a crispy outer layer. It was a culinary achievement worth praising for a beginner. Joseph’s eyes flickered with surprise, and he paused before saying, “Not bad.” “Right?! I also think it’s pretty good. It’ll be even better after I’ve tried a few more times!” Chloe’s eyes sparkled with a hint of pride on her delicate face, making her look adorable. Joseph looked up and asked, “You plan to cook every day from now on?” “Yeah. You always come back late from work, and it’s inconvenient for the cook to come over all the time. I can cook at home anytime, anywhere. Isn’t it more convenient?” In addition to securing her position as Joseph’s wife, Chloe also did not want to rely on takeout 2/2 food. Besides, she would feel embarrassed about constantly mooching meals.
Chapter 20 Chloe Is Despicable The previous security guard had been replaced by two honest and kindly–looking young men. Spotting Chloe looking around, they thought she had lost her way and approached her. “No, no, I’m not lost. I’m here for an interview,” she explained. After a short pause, she continued, “I didn’t see you two yesterday when I came for an interview. Do you work on a shift system?” “I was taking care of the warehouse yesterday and just transferred here today,” one of the guards replied. “What about the guard who was previously in charge of this area?” Chloe asked out of curiosity. The man on the other side hesitated for a moment, scratching his head and struggling to find an answer. Chloe suddenly realized what had happened and was somewhat shocked. It seemed that he had been fired. Initially, she had come for the high salary Fairlight offered, but now she felt that the company’s management was willing to own up to their mistakes instead of covering up for their own people. After yesterday’s commotion, a few people had been called back for a second interview today so the entire process was swift. Chloe easily passed the written test and went directly to the interview area. By the time the interview was over, it was already afternoon. “Ms. Chloe, we’re glad you came to interview with Fairlight. This meeting is now concluded and we’ll inform you of the results tomorrow by email.” “Okay, thank you,” Chloe replied. She walked out of Fairlight and breathed out a huge sigh of relief. This was a proper interview process for a big company. It was completely different from the chaos yesterday. In the high–rise office building, Joseph stood in front of the floor–to–ceiling window. He was wearing a coffee–colored trench coat that accentuated his tall and slender figure. His white shirt was buttoned all the way up and his fitting black slacks showed off his straight, long legs. The deep–set eyes under his bangs made him look unapproachable. He gazed down at the tiny human figures below and took a sip of water from the glass handed to him by his assistant. “Mr. Joseph, Ms. Chloe has finished her interview and HR says that her qualifications are good. They’ll notify her tomorrow morning that she has passed the interview,” Lucas reported. “Good,” Joseph replied with indifference. He was not surprised by this outcome. He had taken a look at Chloe’s resume. Even if Fairlight did not hire her, other companies would. Lucas, who was watching from the side, assumed that he had made a correct guess. Joseph just wanted to give Chloe a second chance because he valued her talent. But did this not mean they would have to work together in the future? Joseph glanced at Lucas and understood what his assistant was thinking. He sneered, “Even if she joins the company, we will never cross paths.” This was something that would only happen if she made it into high–level management. Lucas scratched his head and laughed foolishly, “You’re right, sir.” When William learned that Chloe had passed the interview through his ex–colleague, he called Melody and berated her harshly. Melody was stunned. She did not know why William was scolding her but she dared not to talk back. “Don’t be angry, Uncle William. I know how to get it back at that b*tch.” “How?” he asked. “Just wait and see. I promise you won’t be disappointed.” Melody called Ava and told her that Chloe had been accepted into Fairlight. “I’ll give you the business card of a paparazzo. Add him and send him the video of Chloe at the interview site. It’s likely that it’ll go viral tonight.” “But what if something goes wrong?” Melody hesitated, not wanting to shoulder the blame. “What could possibly go wrong?” Ava burst out laughing. “Chloe is just a homewrecker, and honestly, I think she’s even worse than that. Do you really expect the old man behind her to come to her defense?” Then, her tone changed. “Honestly, it’s kind of a pity.” “What’s the matter?” Melody asked. “If you could get into Fairlight, with your looks and figure, you could easily land a golden bachelor. Even the mysterious person behind Fairlight might fall under your spell. But now… “Sigh, my little sister is just despicable.” Melody felt a slight ache in her heart as she realized how her dream had been shattered. She gritted her teeth. “I’ll contact the paparazzo right now.”
Chapter 19 Another Interview “A security guard?” Lucas had not told Joseph that a security guard had been involved as well. Chloe nodded, and as she recounted the incident, she felt aggravated. Rolling up her sleeves, she showed him the scratches. “This is what he did to me. There’s a wound on my calf too.” The two scabs on her fair skin looked like damage on a priceless piece of artwork, and the sight was jarring. As she continued to complain about Fairlight, his expression grew increasingly dark. Chloe only noticed something was amiss with Joseph’s expression after she had finished venting. She cautiously prodded him with her finger and asked, “What’s the matter?” ‘Is he a friend to the CEO of Fairlight?‘ “Nothing,” Joseph replied. “Okay…” Joseph lowered his gaze and suppressed his emotions. “Go to bed early, and please wash the dishes.” “Sure,” Chloe said readily. She did not find any issue in taking care of the dishes since Joseph was the one who cooked. The lights were still on at the Johnson residence late at night. Sitting on the couch, Benjamin asked doubtfully, “The interviewer at Fairlight was fired because of Coco?” Ava, who was sitting beside him, grabbed his arm. “It’s true. What other reason could there be? Such things don’t just happen by coincidence. Coco must have found someone better than us. “Do you think she’s really capable of doing that?” Benjamin scoffed. “Those with power aren’t idiots.” It was within the norms of high society for men and women to have a secret lover without their family’s knowledge, and Benjamin was convinced that Chloe was being kept as a mistress by the man in question. “Daddy, we can’t just watch Coco go down the wrong path. You should call her tomorrow and ask her to come home,” Ava said. “Indeed, society can be unforgiving, especially to those who try to benefit from the wealth of the influential without paying a price. Rumor has it that a young girl was caught by the wife of the man she was seeing and had her face disfigured. It ruined her life. Despite Coco’s strong personality, she’s still a Johnson and would do well to avoid any kind of scandal. Any negative publicity would have severe consequences for both Coco and the Johnsons as a whole,” Karen chimed in. After listening to what Karen said, Benjamin patted her shoulder and let out a long sigh. “She treats you so rudely, yet you’re still trying to help her.” Karen smiled. “No matter what she does, she’s still my child. I’m just afraid that Coco won’t come home.” up the “She doesn’t have a choice. She doesn’t want to come home because she messed contract. If she refuses to come home tomorrow after I call her, she can say goodbye to the assets that her mother left for her.” He had originally planned to give Chloe a tenth of her mother’s assets, but now he was reconsidering it. At his words, Ava hugged his arm and asked sweetly, “What about me, Daddy? Where’s my share?” Benjamin’s expression softened and a smile spread across his face. “My dear, every single thing in the family belongs to you. I’ll make sure your wedding is the grandest there ever was.” After overindulging in the pasta Joseph had cooked, Chloe did not sleep well and woke up at dawn to the faint light of morning. She continued to lay in bed, listening as the occupant in the next room turned on the lights, went into the bathroom to freshen up, and then headed out the door. She could not help feeling envious of Joseph. Unlike her, he had a job. Chloe received an email at precisely nine in the morning, which is the customary time for many companies to start working. As she read through the message and reached the last line, her eyes widened in utter disbelief. Before she could even recover from her shock, a phone call came in. “Yes, I’m Chloe. “Huh? The interviewer from yesterday was fired? “Yes, I’d love to.” After scheduling another interview in the afternoon, Chloe hung up the phone. She clutched her phone tightly with both hands and spun around several times. She felt indescribably happy. Chloe still found it hard to believe when she arrived in front of Fairlight. Then, she noticed that the security guard who had thrown her out yesterday was nowhere in sight.
Chapter 18 You’re the Best, Jojo It was nine at night by the time Joseph got home. The villa was dark and quiet. He changed into his house slippers at the entrance and walked past Chloe’s room, stopping for a moment before raising his hand to knock a few times. Chloe’s hoarse voice came from inside, “Just a moment.” As she spoke, a ray of light shone through the crack under the door. After a few seconds, Chloe got to the door. Following a brief pause, she turned the handle and the door creaked open. However, her usual beaming expression had vanished, replaced instead by puffy, reddened eyes and nose, a clear indication that she had been crying for quite some time. Looking at Chloe in this manner was unsettling for Joseph. She appeared disheartened, akin to a drooping flower drenched by a storm. “Have you been crying?” he asked. Chloe sniffled and turned her face to the side. “No.” “I’m not blind,” he replied calmly. Chloe was in no mood to argue with him and asked weakly, “What do you want?” Joseph froze for a while and replied, “Nothing. I’m about to have dinner. Would you like anything?” She shook her head, believing that he was merely being courteous. At the same time, she chided him inwardly, ‘Working under a capitalist surely isn’t easy. It’s already ten at night and he still wants the chef to come over and cook for him.‘ Without uttering a word, Joseph went back to his room, leaving Chloe alone. She shut the door and climbed into bed, clutching the teddy bear her mother had given her as a child. As she held it tightly, she whispered to it about how much she missed her mother. Slowly, Chloe drifted off to sleep. She did not know how long she had slept when she was aroused by the smell of food. In the darkness, her stomach grumbled loudly. After wrestling with herself for a bit, she gave in to her hunger and rose from bed to head downstairs. In the kitchen, Joseph was wearing casual clothes, sprinkling chopped fresh parsley onto a plate of steaming lemon parsley pasta. He lifted his eyes to glance at the person peeking from the corner of the stairs and his lips curled up slightly. Chloe gulped as she watched him skillfully toss a salad. ‘Wow, he can cook? Even though it’s just pasta, it looks incredibly delicious!‘ Joseph took the pasta to the table, changed the channel on the TV to a finance program, and ate gracefully while watching the report. He appeared to be quite satisfied. Chloe thought he would offer to share with her, but he did not. ‘What a rude man! I even thought of taking cooking classes to learn how to cook for him, can’t be bothered to share his food with me.‘ yet he 1 She walked over to the TV and stood in front of it, intentionally blocking Joseph’s view. Then, she made a pouting face and said, “I’m hungry too.” “I thought you said you weren’t hungry,” Joseph said in a flat tone. “I thought you were going to call a chef over and didn’t want to trouble someone so late at night,” she explained. The moment her sentence ended, the air between them became charged with tension. Wearing a fake smile on his face, Joseph looked at her and asked, “So you’re fine with troubling me?” “Hehe, no, not really. I wasn’t hungry at the time, but now I am. And most importantly, I really want to taste your cooking!” “There’s more in the kitchen. Go get it yourself.” His tone was still chilly, but there was a slight hint of softening in it. ” Chloe froze for a moment, then peeked into the kitchen and saw another plate of pasta on the table. Delighted, she brought out the plate and thanked Joseph with a twinkle in her eye. You’re the best, Jojo!” “Don’t call me that.” “Okay, Jojo!” Joseph was exasperated and gave up on trying to correct her. Chloe had not eaten anything all afternoon and was now eating with great gusto. The pasta was hot so she blew on it carefully before putting it in her mouth. Joseph looked at her face expressionlessly and asked, “Had a bad day today?” “Yeah… I went for an interview this afternoon and had an unpleasant experience.” “What happened?” ‘Are you worried about me?” Chloe lifted her head and met his gaze, her bright eyes brimming with joy. She had not expected such a gesture from Joseph at all. “Is it that hard to tell the difference between curiosity and concern?” Joseph leaned back slightly.