Chapter 372

Chapter 372 Instinctively Wanted to Rely on Him

Harold flung his hands angrily, his face turning stern when Chloe mentioned Xavia.

“Hmph! That will never happen. She just needs to mind her own business!”

Joseph slovenly lifted his head and glanced at Chloe, who returned empty–handed. It appeared

he had anticipated this outcome as he continued to leisurely read his documents.

“Grandpa refused to give it to me.”

“Keep trying.”

“He said he’d only give you the letter if you get married and have a child.”

Joseph froze, but he did not raise his head. “What are you trying to say?”

“I think it’s highly unlikely that I can accomplish this task,” she said dejectedly, her voice barely audible.

“Perhaps you can assign me a different one.”

‘I should’ve anticipated it earlier. If he couldn’t handle it himself, how did I ever expect to

succeed?”

Surprisingly, Joseph did not give her a hard time. He spoke lightly, “I need to think about it.”

“Okay.”

“While I’m considering options, you need to be available whenever I call.”

Chloe was speechless.

Harold did not ask for Chloe to stay as he had realized that there was no hope for reconciliation

between her and Joseph and that there was no point in struggling further.

Joseph drove Chloe to the Johnsons‘ office. Lost in her thoughts, she did not say goodbye and simply

walked away.

His gaze followed her figure when something caught his attention. His gaze deepened, and he

muttered a curse under his breath. Without hesitation, he swiftly unfastened his seatbelt and stepped

out of the car.

Chloe was completely unaware of her surroundings. As she took a few steps forward, she suddenly

found herself engulfed by a horde of journalists, wielding cameras and microphones at her from every

direction.

you

“How do intend to compensate the deceased’s family? How do you live with yourself knowing you’ve

neglected to provide safety equipment for the workers?”

“You violated building regulations and overstepped the law. You should have been held in

hapter 372 kristinctively Wanted to Rely on Him

custody. Why were you released before the case was concluded? Did you resort to illicit means to

avoid legal consequences?”

“You’re a public figure as well as the ambassador for a luxury jewelry brand. According to the

information we have gathered, Exotic Star paid you an exorbitant endorsement fee of 30 million. Why

didn’t you utilize that money to pay the workers‘ salaries?”

“There are circulating rumors that you’ve benefited from unethical practices. How do you respond to

these allegations?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Ms. Chloe? Can you provide us and the public with a reasonable

explanation?”

The blinding flashes of cameras and the piercing barrage of questions were akin to an impending

deluge, about to overwhelm Chloe at any moment. Surrounded by the crowd, she felt suffocated,

making it difficult for her to speak. “It wasn’t me… I didn’t do it. It was Aaron…

“Aaron is your partner. It’s impossible that you were completely unaware of his illegal actions!

“Back off!”

When Joseph arrived, he pushed aside the journalist in the front row and positioned himself as a shield

in front of Chloe. His gaze, cold and brimming with anger, swept across the crowd, his sharp features

reflecting his indignation. All the reporters instinctively silenced themselves,

fear etched onto their faces.

Joseph firmly held Chloe’s hand. Looking at her bewildered expression, his tone softened

imperceptibly. “Come with me. Don’t be afraid.”

Chloe’s heart was burdened with guilt, feeling uncertain about how to handle the situation. She nodded

in a daze and instinctively clung to him. Observing their departure, a young journalist made a daring

move, reaching out to intercept them as he focused the camera on their tightly entwined hands.

“Ms. Chloe, last week you made an official announcement about your relationship with a man online,

and now you’re holding hands with Mr. Joseph. May I ask what kind of relationship you two have?” he

asked–the question sharp and piercing.

Joseph’s eyebrows arched as he said, “Want to find out? Shall we have a chat inside?”

The journalist’s face turned pale, rendered speechless by fear.

Chloe’s office was far from being as spacious as Fairlight’s, with only two chairs and no other seating

options. Joseph reluctantly took his seat and called Samuel.

“How did the news leak?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone before Samuel’s voice came. “You might find it

hard to believe, but I’ve already reached a settlement with the deceased’s family. We’ve been together

this whole time. In simple terms, Chloe was set up.”

Someone must have acquired the information and sold it to the journalists. Excluding Ava,

who else would bear ill intent toward Chloe? Samuel was not familiar with her social circle, so he could

not provide an answer.

Joseph’s gaze darkened. He ended the call and asked, “Have you offended anyone recently?”

Chloe’s mood had already settled. “No, I’ve been at the office the entire time and haven’t had any

conflicts with anyone.”

In the past, Calvin would have been the most likely suspect, but he had just come to apologize to her

today, so it was unlikely that he would do something like that.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home to rest. We’ll leave through the back door.”

Since the news had reached the ears of the media, it meant half of the city already knew about it.

There was no way they could leave through the main entrance today.

Chloe stood up and put on her coat. Her mind was in chaos, yet she did not feel any hesitation about

letting him accompany her. Perhaps, when she was at her lowest, she instinctively wanted to rely on

this man who had once brought her warmth.

Seeing Chloe obediently following his suggestion without refusing, Joseph’s thin lips curled into a

malicious smile. He suddenly felt that it would not be a bad idea to give her a little lesson. At least she

now knew that he was the one she should rely on.

The two of them exited through the back door. As they made their way to the car, Joseph’s phone kept

vibrating. He took it out and glanced at it.

It was a call from Xavia.

He did not answer and chose to hang up. Not long after, the phone rang again. This time, it

was a text.

Xavia: [Joe, I slipped and now my stomach hurts…]