Chapter 289

Chapter 289 If I’m Heartless, How Did You Deceive Me?

Lucas displayed little surprise upon seeing Chloe as he had anticipated the hesitancy of the marketing

department colleagues who had been tormented in recent days.

“Mr. Joseph is currently available. You may enter.”

“Thank you.”

Chloe raised her hand and lightly knocked on the door. A displeased voice responded from within.

“Enter.”

She silently pushed the door open and placed the documents on Joseph’s desk. Her tone was

respectful yet distant as she spoke, “Mr. Joseph, the documents have been processed. Please. review

them.”

Joseph’s gaze remained fixed on his computer screen and his lips remained motionless, treating her as

if she were mere air.

Undeterred, Chloe persisted, “Mr. Joseph, the documents have been processed.”

“Why the rush? Is my time not as valuable as yours?”

Chloe pressed her lips together, her frustration evident. “That’s why I’m waiting for you. Do let me know

how much longer it will take.”

Joseph smirked slightly, his response dripping with sarcasm. “Almost done.”

And so, the so-called “almost done” dragged on for another two hours, leaving Chloe’s legs numb from

standing. She knew the man was doing it on purpose. But choosing to avoid unnecessary

complications, she refrained from urging him again.

Finally, Joseph’s gaze shifted away from the screen and landed on Chloe. She was dressed in a pale-

yellow camisole paired with suspenders trousers, revealing her fair skin. Despite the divorce, she

exuded youth and vitality, her beauty seemingly enhanced by the experience.

Joseph’s eyes gradually turned cold, his voice icy. “Rewrite it.”

Chloe frowned, taken aback by his immediate judgment. “You haven’t even reviewed it.”

“There’s no need to review it. Your lack of focus on work is apparent, and I can already tell the

document won’t meet the required standards.”

“Joseph, don’t pick a fight with me.”

“You have quite an inflated opinion of yourself.”

Chloe fixed her gaze on the man’s face and softened her tone. “The past is behind us now. The divorce

didn’t just hurt you, Joseph.” She, a young and beautiful girl, had lost her innocence and now found

herself having to marry a second time. She had nowhere to vent her grievances.

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Joseph arched an eyebrow, his expression cold and his eyes piercing like knives. “So I should

apologize to you?”

With innocence in her eyes, Chloe responded, “If you can bring yourself to do it, I can accept it.

After all, she had only deceived someone and was now exposed. But this despicable man had.

engaged in infidelity, sleeping with two different women in one night. He was even worse than Jake!

Joseph let out a humorless chuckle. “You truly have no shame.”

Chloe muttered under her breath, feeling a surge of indignation. “And neither do you…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. So, tell me, how should I revise it?”

His slender and attractive fingers tapped rhythmically on the desktop, creating a nonchalant yet

oppressive sound. Joseph opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, the office door

was forcefully kicked open.

“You brat! We had an agreement to bring Chloe back to the family home for dinner yesterday and meet

my comrades. You stood us up without a single word. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Harold stormed

into the room, his anger blazing. He lifted his mahogany cane, poised to strike Joseph.

Chloe’s pupils contracted and her reflexes were quicker than her thoughts. She swiftly stepped forward

and grabbed his arm. “Grandpa, please don’t act impulsively. We had something important last night

that prevented us from going!”

Joseph observed her actions and narrowed his eyes. Was she genuinely concerned about him?

In the next instant, he could not help but mock himself. She had always been skilled at acting, and now

that the old man was here, she must want to put on a show to please him.

Harold’s expression underwent a dramatic change upon seeing Chloe. Instantly, his old eyes narrowed

into slits. “Ah, Chloe. You’re here as well.”

Chloe touched her nose. “Yes, I came to deliver some documents to Joseph.”

‘Joseph? Doesn’t she usually call the brat Jojo?”

Harold’s expression turned serious. “Chloe, tell me. Did you two have a fight since you two didn’t come

back to the family home last night?”

Chloe was suddenly agitated, instinctively looking toward Joseph for help. The latter pretended not to

understand her intention and lowered his head, leisurely sipping his coffee.

Her mind raced, filled with nervousness. She realized that if she did not speak up now, she

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would have to continue pretending in the future. Since they had chosen to separate, it was important to

be clear about their intentions. Indecision would only lead to further chaos.

Chloe organized her thoughts and apologized sincerely to Harold “Grandpa, in reality, Joseph and I

have gotten a divorce I’m grateful for the kindness you’ve shown me during this time, but relationships

can be unpredictable, with separations and reconciliations

Harold’s expression underwent a drastic transformation, resembling that of someone who could not

accept the truth. “You’re telling me it wasn’t just a fight, but a divorce”

“Yes”

Harold’s eyes snapped shut as he clutched his chest, and moments later, he collapsed, fainting

abruptly

In the hospital’s emergency room, Chloe paced back and forth in the corridor, consumed by ancety and

guilt. She berated herself for being too direct with Harold. The old man was fragile, and she had

subjected him to such a sudden shock. It was all her fault What if something terrible happened? She

immediately scolded herself for uttering such unlucky

words

Meanwhile, Joseph sat on a nearby bench, observing Chloe’s worried and teary eyed expression. He

could not help but find it somewhat amusing Adopting a magnanimous tone, he reassured her, “Don’t

look so despondent. He won’t die ”

This type of scene had unfolded countless times, if not innumerable times, within the Whitman family.

The scene in the office earlier was clearly staged

Chloe’s eyes welled up with tears as she exclaimed in a loud voice. “Must someone die for it to be a

serious matter? Grandpa is fragile at his age even the slightest bump or scrape could have serious

consequences for his health. Don’t you have a heart You re just standing here and making these

sarcastic remarks!”

Joseph’s eyelid twitched, his gaze turning icy and deep like a frozen pool. “If I’m heartless, how did you

deceive me?