Chapter 146

Chapter 146 How Did It Suddenly Turn Out Like This?

Chloe jolted from her daydream and swiftly closed the web browser with a guilty conscience.

“Coming,” she replied.

On the first floor in the living room, Joseph had also changed into his home attire. His navy blue long-

sleeved shirt and long pants softened his demeanor, making him appear less distant and more

approachable. However, his scrutinizing gaze in his eyes seemed unfriendly.

“What were you doing holed up in your room?” he inquired.

“I was just changing,” Chloe replied, her gaze on his clear but distant face. She recalled Jane’s

remarks, but she suppressed the sudden surge of sourness and kept a composed smile. ” Different

rules for the mighty, right?”

Chloe and Joseph shared something in common. Upon returning home, they would change, taking off

the ones they had worn outside for the day. Wearing outside clothes indoors felt unclean to them.

Joseph smirked and responded, “It only takes five minutes to change. You’ve been in there for forty-two

minutes.”

His sarcastic and petty comment eased some of the sourness in Chloe’s heart. Being liked by Joseph

was not something to be desired. She could not believe she had felt upset about

becoming his backup plan.

She had fallen for Jane’s trap.

“I was just tired and wanted to rest for a while. You can’t be that hungry, can you?”

“Your attitude is a problem,” Joseph said, grabbing Chloe’s shoulder and forcing her to look at him.

“What did Jane say to you?” He clearly sensed that something was off with her ever since Jane’s

departure.

Chloe hesitated to address the issue, but since he brought it up, she seized the chance to sarcastically

taunt him, “It’s not a big deal, honestly.”

Pausing for a moment, she cast a quick glance at him before continuing, “She just mentioned your first

love.”

Joseph furrowed his brow, “First love?”

“Yeah. Xavia.”

Chloe’s gaze lingered on his face, attentively observing his every reaction. Joseph’s eyebrows went up

slightly upon hearing her words, but his response remained subdued.

“She’s not my first love,” he retorted.

Chloe’s almond-shaped eyes widened ever so slightly. “That’s it?”

“What do you want to hear?” he snapped, his tone unfriendly. “A tale of our undying love? An account

of our inseparable past perhaps?”

“Th-Tthere wasn’t any of that?” Chloe replied, her voice trailing off.

The presence of a figure by Joseph’s side, someone even Jane was aware of, held significant

importance. Though they were not romantically involved, it was evident that they shared a special

connection.

“No, there’s nothing like that.’

“Then what’s your relationship with her?”

Joseph’s eyes flickered, a barely noticeable curl forming on his lips. “Do I sense a hint of jealousy?”

“No, just curiosity,” Chloe denied, shaking her head.

She refused to admit it.

Joseph reached out and gently pinched her cheek, savoring its soft and smooth texture. Surprisingly,

his voice held a touch of gentleness. “Now, go and cook. I’m famished.”

Chloe assumed that he did not want to talk about it, deliberately concealing the truth. A wave of unease

washed over her, and she swatted his hand away before making her way to the kitchen.

As she sat at the dining table, ready to indulge in her meal, Chloe’s phone buzzed, drawing her

attention. Simultaneously, Joseph’s phone rang as well.

She picked up her phone and saw a message from Samuel, informing her about the court hearing

scheduled for the 27th at the end of the month. The Johnsons should have received the same

notification today.

“Did Mr. Samuel text you as well?” Chloe asked as she looked up.

“Yes.” Joseph nodded, continuing to eat gracefully.

“Do you think Mr. Samuel is confident about this case?”

To be honest, she had some doubts, not about Samuel, but about Benjamin and Ava. Their

receiving court summons would surely only make things worse.

Joseph’s tone turned cold. “Don’t worry. Samuel isn’t a kind person. As a lawyer, one can’t afford to be

compassionate.”

A twitch formed at the corner of Chloe’s mouth. “That’s reassuring.”

As it was a weekend the next day, Chloe prepared some delicious desserts and paid a visit to Emily

who was heartbroken.

Emily had not left her house for several days, and her home was in disarray. She greeted Chloe with

rat’s nest hair, then climbed back into her bed, appearing lifeless.

“That’s enough. This isn’t worth it for a scumbag like him,” Chloe said.

Emily stared at the ceiling and forced a bitter smile. “I accepted the fact that he cheated a long time

ago.”

“Then gather yourself and don’t let him see you as a joke.”

“Sigh… What’s bothering me is something else.”

Chloe tilted her head, her hands pausing on peeling the orange she held. “What could be more serious

than being cheated on?”

Emily sat up, propping a cushion behind her back. “Lucas took a few photos of that jerk in the cinema

and sent them to me. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became, so I

forwarded the photos to his company.

“Was he fired?”

“Yes, and the woman he was with at the cinema was his colleague. They were both fired.” Emily

sighed. “He knew that I reported him and sent me a bunch of nasty messages.”

As Emily stared at those hurtful messages, memories of their past flooded her mind. The way he had

pursued her with sweet words and charming smiles. How did it suddenly turn out like this?

Chloe pursed her lips. “Do you feel like you’ve been blindsided? Like you’ve misjudged him?”

“Yeah,” Emily replied, her voice filled with disappointment.

Chloe let out a sigh, a tinge of melancholy in her expression. “I know that feeling all too well. I felt it too

when I discovered Jake’s affair. Try to see it from a different perspective. Yes, you lost a few months of

your life, but it’s better to cut your losses now.”

Emily forced a smile that was even more bitter than tears. “Join me for some drinks?”

“Sure.”

At the bar, Emily downed a few drinks. She cried and cursed, releasing her pent-up emotions.

Chloe offered her a tissue. “I need to answer nature’s call. Clean your tears. Your makeup is smudged.”

She then got up from her seat and made her way toward the restroom. However, to her surprise, she

spotted Ava who had been missing in action for a while.