Chapter 190

Chapter 190 Was That a Confession, Jojo?

These particular words immediately struck a nerve with Chloe, causing a surge of sensitivity within her.

“No… No! Don’t be absurd. You and I are simply colleagues with a superior-

subordinate relationship and are only roommates at best. Why would I be jealous?!”

Unwilling to admit she had feelings for him, she vehemently denied it.

Joseph sighed helplessly, his voice laced with rare patience.” Xavia returned to the country today and

insisted on meeting me at Fairlight after getting off the plane.”

But halfway through, Xavia had fainted and Joseph left after taking her to the hospital.

“Nonsense. You definitely went out for a meal together!”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Then what’s with the wrinkles on your sleeves?” Chloe pouted, assuming an attitude resembling a wife

interrogating her husband. However, she seemed unaware of her own behavior.

“Xavia pulled on my sleeves when she fainted.”

“Swear it!”

Joseph grasped hold of her ear and spoke in a drawn–out tone, “Are you pushing your luck?”

“I was just joking. You have no sense of humor. I’m going to take Toto for a walk now. You should go to

bed early,” Chloe

pleaded. She managed to break free and hurriedly descended. the stairs, her footsteps noticeably

quickening.

While walking the dog, Chloe had a half–hour voice call with Emily. Emily’s senses sharpened like a

hawk spotting its prey when she learned about Joseph’s first love returning. “She didn’t come back

earlier or later, but precisely after you two got married. She’s most likely back to stir up trouble. Stay

alert and don’t let her take Joseph away. I’m still counting on your support!”

“If she doesn’t come back, does that mean Joseph and I will end up together?”

“Why not? Even something as outrageous as getting a marriage certificate happened. Have some

confidence in yourself.”

Chloe muttered softly, “But he doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him either.‘

Emily paused, then spoke seriously, “I’m certain that Joseph has feelings for you. For example, if he

didn’t care about you, when telling you about where he was tonight, he wouldn’t have bothered.‘

“Is that true…” Did he say it because he cared about her? Ripples stirred in Chloe’s heart, and she

inexplicably felt a sense of joy.

“Come on. He’s the young and promising president of

Fairlight. He’s wealthy and handsome. Women from Aesper to Docwood are lining up to pursue him.

Why would he bother telling you these things when he could be spending that time making more

money? Why would he have nothing better to do than proactively share those matters with you?”

“But…”

“Don’t ‘but‘ me. The same goes for you. I know you. You have feelings for Joseph too.”

“No! That’s not true!” Chloe reflexively refuted.

Emily did not hold back as she pierced through with her words, “You claim not to have feelings for him,

yet your demeanor when he meets his first love betrays your true emotions. Why did you become so

gloomy and sullen, resembling a resentful woman?”

Caught off guard by Emily’s observation, Chloe could not deny the truth in her best friend’s words.

Reluctantly, she faced the reality she had been avoiding. Why did she allow herself to act like a

resentful woman, questioning Joseph in such a grumpy manner and even demanding that he swear?

Emily heard Chloe’s silence and continued, “Actually, it’s only natural to develop feelings for someone

you spend a lot of time with. Even a dog managed to capture your heart, let alone a remarkable man

from Aesper.”

Chloe contemplated Emily’s words while stroking Toto’s fur. The thought of not seeing Toto for even a

day tugged at her heart, reminding her of the attachment she had developed.

Joseph had good looks, and he had been remarkably supportive of her. It was natural to develop some

positive feelings toward him. Chloe had always been a fan of good looks, and she would often have a

positive impression of any handsome stranger. However, the initial fascination would usually fade after

a few days. With Joseph, it was probably the same, except his appearance was exceptional, so this

sense of

novelty lasted a bit longer.

“If you have feelings for him, go for it. Don’t wait until it’s too late and regret it. Okay, I have to go now.

I’m still working overtime at the office. Take care.”

Chloe pondered Emily’s advice as she made her way home

with Toto by her side. The following morning, as she sat beside Joseph in the car, her eyes wide as she

asked, “Will you be back home on time today?”

“I will.”

“Oh.” She casually flicked her bangs and asked, “Did the first love return to the country for something

important?”

“I’m not sure, and besides, she’s not my first love.” Joseph’s answer was straightforward, indicating that

he had not spent much time with Xavia yesterday.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Chloe leaned closer and inquired, “Is she your ex–girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“How many relationships have you had?”

“One.”

Chloe shrugged, feeling somewhat disinterested. “First one, huh?”

When an ex cries, the current one is bound to lose, especially when it was the kind of first love that

most men can never forget in their lifetime.

Joseph looked deep into her eyes and asked, “And what about you? How many relationships have you

had?” With such a

sweet mouth, it was impossible for her to have never been in a relationship.

“The same as you.”

“Was that loser I met in the restroom your first?” His brows furrowed, displaying his clear disgust.

“Don’t say that. He was the campus heartthrob back in college.

The atmosphere inside the car turned frigid.

eyes narrowed, and a cold chuckle escaped his lips. “Did my comments about him hurt your feelings?”

It was unclear where Chloe found the courage, but she blurted out, “I was merely defending Jake. You

and Xavia went out together.”

Upon hearing her words, Lucas in the driver seat involuntarily gasped. ‘Ms. Chloe is so bold!‘ he

thought.

“Don’t twist the facts.”

Chloe laughed in exasperation. “So I’m the one twisting the facts? It’s clear that you have no regard for

my feelings and that I hold no place in your heart!” She realized she may have crossed a line and

swiftly attempted to amend her words. ” Sob, sob. I’ve fallen in love with a heartless man. I’m so pitiful

and miserable. I have to endure this suffering and keep it all to myself.”

Joseph’s lips twitched. “If I didn’t have you in my heart, I wouldn’t have bothered explaining myself to

you at such lengths last night.”

As the words fell, the car fell into a hushed silence as their

eyes locked in a gaze.

Chloe’s almond–shaped eyes sparkled with clarity and

innocence. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, revealing a row

of perfectly aligned, pearly whites. “Was that a confession, Jojo?”

Joseph felt a small lump rise in his throat as he faced her passionate and sincere gaze. Uncomfortably,

he averted his gaze and replied, “You’re overthinking it.”

“No, you do have feelings for me,” Chloe said. Although she was talking to him, it gave people a feeling

that she was talking to herself. “Why don’t you just admit it? Love should be boldly expressed!”

Before he could respond, she pressed on, “I also have a good impression of you!”

She was not naive. She had noticed the changes in him. It was just that she had never considered it

from that angle.

At this moment, his reaction confirmed her suspicions. Joseph’s face sank, his long legs crossed lazily,

and his cold gaze bore into Chloe. “Just a good impression?”

‘Isn’t she supposed to be so deeply in love with me that she can’t imagine her life without me?‘

Chloe lightly touched her nose, casting her eyes downward to conceal the fleeting sense of guilt. From

a side glance, she looked like a wounded little white rabbit. “Of course not. I’m

worried that my love for you is too overwhelming and will only cause you to resent me. So, I can only

reveal a glimpse of my affection, like the tip of an iceberg.”

Since getting to know this guy, her acting skills had become even more refined. It would be a shame if

she did not venture into the entertainment industry.

Joseph raised his chin slightly, exposing his smooth and well- chiseled jawline. He sneered, “You’re just

trying to hide the obvious.”

Lucas, driving in the front seat, was left speechless. ‘Seriously, Mr. Joseph? It seems to me that you’re

the one trying to cover up the obvious.‘

“Hehe.” Chloe wrapped her arm around Joseph’s and rested her head on his shoulder. “Jojo, when did

you start liking me? Or rather, when did you develop a good impression of me?”

“Shut up.”

“Can’t I ask? How unforthcoming of you.” Chloe pouted. Were you captivated by my good looks? What

a coincidence, so was I by yours. Luckily, I was clever enough not to believe that you’re impotent.

Otherwise, we might’ve missed each other! Ah-”

Chloe’s words were abruptly silenced by an unexpected kiss. Her eyes widened as she stared at the

magnified handsome face before her. This man was unbelievably good–looking, but

How many times had they kissed in front of Lucas?!

‘This is so embarrassing!‘

Joseph had only intended to silence her incessant chatter, but her lips held an addictive allure, each

touch leaving him yearning for more. Her tender resistance, flushed countenance, and faint whimpering

sounds captivated him. Though aware of her playful resistance, the more she held back, the stronger

his desire to conquer her became as he yearned to exert his dominance upon her.

If Chloe knew what Joseph was thinking, she would surely

have bristled with rage. She was not playing hard to get.

Rather, she fretted over the possibility of their colleagues witnessing them upon their arrival at Fairlight.

As fate would have it, just as one hoped to avoid something, it would inevitably occur.

Looking through the car window, she saw Ellie driving a Volkswagen toward them, also heading to the

underground parking lot. Chloe quickly reacted and tried to push Joseph away. Unfortunately, he was

too strong, and her rejection proved fruitless. She gritted her teeth, and a faint taste of blood filled her

mouth.

Joseph suddenly opened his eyes, anger flashing across his face before delving deeper into their

passionate kiss. Overwhelmed, Chloe struggled to catch her breath. Fortunately, Ellie did not notice

them, and Joseph finally released her.

Chloe cast him a resentful gaze, her petite face blushing intensely. It was more like a spoiled gesture

than a complaint when she said, “We almost got caught by a colleague.”

Just as she finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth. ‘ Goodness, why did my voice sound

so…‘

Joseph calmly adjusted his tie and smirked arrogantly. “What difference does it make if someone

sees?”

“But if someone sees us, there will be gossip.”

“I’ll fire those who spread rumors.”

Chloe was speechless. ‘Sure. You’re the boss, you make the call.

Chloe successfully clocked in and entered the office, placing her sandwiches on her desk. She planned

to grab a cup

of

water first and savor the sandwiches slowly. As she passed by her colleagues, she noticed their

strange gazes. She furrowed her brows. ‘Is Ellie backstabbing me again?‘

“Chloe, why is your mouth swollen…” a colleague sitting next to her workstation questioned, clearly

perplexed.

She froze for a moment and hastily reached into her drawer to retrieve a small mirror.

*

‘D*mn it! My lips are all swollen because of that b*stard!‘

Chloe forced herself to appear calm. “It’s nothing. I ate something spicy last night.”

“Are your lips swollen from kissing a man?” snidely remarked Ellie, who happened to pass by.