Chapter 176

Chapter 176 Do You Know What I’m Going to Do?

“No,” Chloe replied.

“Okay, let me rephrase the question. Did Joseph have something to do with you falling into the water?”

Icarus persisted.

The question threw Chloe for a loop. She was unsure of how to respond, so she said, “Please stop

asking. He didn’t expect such a thing to happen either. It’s not his fault.

It was Jane who had gone too far. However, Icarus

misunderstood Chloe’s words and thought she was covering up for Joseph. His brow furrowed even

deeper as he continued, “Chloe, listen to me. You need to leave him. I’ll help take care of any debts

you owe him. I don’t want to see you treated unfairly.”

“No, you listen to me. If you help me, yes, I may no longer owe Joseph, but I’ll owe you instead.”

“But you don’t have to pay me back. I just want you to have a better life.”

Chloe hesitated, locking eyes with him as he stared intensely at her. A feeling of discomfort washed

over her, causing her to avert her gaze. “Don’t invest your time in me. We can’t be together.”

She had once put in great effort to marry Jake’s uncle as a way to seek revenge, but now she had

made her peace with it.

Samuel became increasingly incredulous as he listened. Seriously? This guy’s trying to steal Chloe

away despite

knowing she’s Joe’s wife? No, I can’t allow that to happen. I have to do something!‘

Joseph had not paid him yet, and if the relationship between him and Chloe were to end now, based on

what Samuel knew about Joseph’s temperament, he would not receive a single penny. He had to find a

way to prevent that.

“Ms. Chloe, could you come with me, please? There’s something I need to discuss with you regarding

the case,” Samuel said.

Chloe looked at Samuel and nodded in agreement. “All right, I’ll be right with you.”

Samuel did not bother to hide his scrutinizing gaze as he looked at Icarus. “Sir, you don’t have to wait.

It’s going to be a long conversation.”

Icarus sensed Samuel’s hostility, but he was unaware of the underlying reason. However, since Chloe

had other matters to attend to, he did not want to disrupt their conversation. With a slight nod, he took

his leave with Jake.

Just a few minutes after they left, Joseph arrived.

In the lounge, Chloe proceeded to recount the entire court proceedings to Joseph, her eyes brimming

with admiration and her voice filled with happiness. “Jojo, thanks to you, I was able to get a skilled

lawyer like Samuel. And when did you persuade the lawyer the Johnsons hired?”

Joseph raised an eyebrow, finding the sequence of events somewhat perplexing. Nevertheless, he

acknowledged Samuel’s considerable contribution to the case. As for the

lawyer representing the Johnsons, he had no knowledge of

what happened.

“It wasn’t Joseph. It was Gideon who chose to go against the Johnsons on the spot,” Samuel said.

“Huh? But why?” Chloe asked, puzzled.

Samuel chose not to delve into the details and deftly changed the subject. “Is that bespectacled

gentleman also a classmate of yours? But he appears to be a few years older than you.”

“No, he’s just a friend.”

As Chloe concluded her words, she sensed Joseph’s gaze fixating on her, and a surge of exasperation

flooded through

her.

‘Oh god, not again…‘

“A bespectacled gentleman? Icarus?” Joseph asked.

“Yeah…‘

“Why was he here?”

“I don’t know either. Perhaps he came to witness the downfall of the Johnsons. As you know, the

Johnsons and the Coopers are no longer on amicable terms.”

Joseph shifted his gaze, directing a cold stare at Samuel. “Tell me what happened.”

Samuel was speechless.

“I suppose he was here to offer his congratulations to Ms. Chloe for winning the case,” Samuel mused.

He was not one to interfere in the affairs of others, but when it came to his good friend, he felt it

necessary to offer a gentle reminder.

Chloe could sense her impending doom.

“I have another case this afternoon, so I have to go now. You guys take care,” Samuel said. While

passing by Lucas, who was waiting by the door, he gave his shoulder a pat and added, Remember to

transfer the payment to my account within three days. Thank you.”

*

With only the two of them left in the lounge, Chloe tugged at Joseph’s sleeve and suggested, “Let’s

leave too.

He lowered his gaze, his smile fake. “Are you feeling guilty?”

“No, it’s just that we’re in a courthouse. If we have something to discuss, it’d be more appropriate to do

so at home, don’t you think?” Chloe was in a good mood, her tone exceptionally gentle and soothing as

if trying to pacify a child.

However, in Joseph’s eyes, it seemed as if she were hiding something from him. She offered no

explanation, no defense. Did this not imply that there was something suspicious going on between her

and Icarus?

As the thought surfaced in Joseph’s mind, his face turned darker and darker with every passing

second, and the dark, sinister gleam in his eyes sent shivers down Chloe’s spine.

‘She’s complimenting me while cozying up to other men. Hah, she really knows how to keep herself

busy.‘

Chloe could feel her hair standing on end under his gaze. What…What’s wrong?”

‘I…I didn’t do or say anything wrong, did I? So why is getting angry at me again?‘

“Follow me,” Joseph ordered, striding purposefully toward the parking lot.

Chloe cautiously followed behind and got into the car. Just as she was about to explain herself, Joseph

suddenly encircled her waist and forcefully made her sit on his lap.

Joseph tugged at his tie, his voice dripping with emotion as he said, “Do you know what I’m about to

do?”

As their bodies pressed closely together, a deep blush spread across Chloe’s face.

In her nervousness, she blurted out, “You’re not thinking of… that, are you?”