Ch. 1671..1680
Chapter 1671
For some inexplicable reason, Joan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Dustin’s answer. Phew!
Thank God they haven’t had an altercation without my knowledge, and it seems that my relationship
with Larry hasn’t deteriorated further!
But was this the end of things? After she had gotten an answer from Dustin, she spun around to leave.
Other than Larry, she currently wasn’t in the mood to think about anything else.
“He’ll never allow you to find him so easily!” Dustin called out behind her.
Without a backward glance, Joan asserted in a voice that was only audible to him, “Even if he doesn’t
want me to find him in this lifetime, I’ll still search for him until I breathe my last.”
Perhaps such a remark was too melodramatic, but it was undoubtedly a sentiment that came from the
depths of her heart at that very moment.
“Larry, from the second we both fell in love with each other, we’re destined to torture each other…”
Meanwhile, Larry had turned off his cell phone after leaving Caspian’s house. After struggling with
himself for several days, he decided that he needed to put everything aside and find a place where no
one knew him to lick the wounds caused by the person he loved most.
He settled everything at the office, ensuring that Norton Corporation would be able to operate as usual
without him for a few days. He had been battling the despondency within him throughout the past few
days, so he was truly worn out. Amidst his loneliness, he couldn’t help but recall the beach that had
kept him company during his childhood and the sea that was filled with beautiful memories of his
mother’s chatter.
Instead of driving, he took a bus there. He opened the window in the bus, but the towering buildings
obscured half the sun. Later, the setting sun gradually tinted the clouds in the distance light orange.
Throughout it all, he felt an indescribable sense of helplessness and disconcertment flooding him like a
tidal wave, hammering at him like torrential rain on a stormy night, and engulfing him in a deluge of
bitter frost…
After alighting from the bus, he quietly lit a cigarette. In the hazy cloud of cigarette smoke, his thoughts
drifted. He recalled his adorable child… and Joan who once loved him deeply. It seemed as though a
beautiful mask had been removed from the past familiar to him, revealing the entirely foreign present.
Dustin. That was a name that lingered in his mind, haunting him like a terrible nightmare. Those
heartbreaking photos were a sharp tool that shattered the beauty of everything between them. He
wanted to believe in his wife’s innocence, but he was defeated by reality. Are you really betraying me,
Joan Watts?
Betrayal… All of a sudden, he felt that something was amiss. For a moment, he forgot about the lit
cigarette in his hand, and the smoke went straight down his throat to his lungs. However, he couldn’t be
bothered about that, merely coughing a few times.
Have I been obsessed with the possibility of an affair between them? The rumors, photos… everything
was from other people’s mouths and hands. Joan has never defended herself against all that, yet I
arbitrarily made up my mind that she was tacitly admitting to it and betraying me?
Because of the rumors and photos, he had been questioning Joan relentlessly. Subsequently, he
misunderstood her silence on the matter as a tacit admittance when he never heard any explanation
from her. All this while, they had been trapped in the endless cycle of relationship problems, hurting
and torturing each other.
Isn’t Dustin Silverman the person who benefits most from it? After all, when two people fight, it’s often
the third party who stands to benefit! The person who has been pursuing Joan relentlessly is probably
smirking triumphantly now. He thought that he could destroy our relationship without expending any
effort, and indeed, my fight with Joan as well as the disintegrating relationship between us seems to be
gradually moving according to his plan!
In truth, my target should be Dustin Silverman who covets Joan every second of every day! Recalling
the punch he landed on Dustin’s face at the hospital that day, regret pervaded him. He regretted not
having hit him harder so that the malevolent man would never again be able to think of any ploys to
ruin his relationship with Joan.
As the azure waters lapped against the reefs along the coast, they set off wave after wave, each higher
than the other. The waves danced in midair slightly before falling again, returning to the embrace of the
sea.
Chapter 1672
Larry had never seen the coast at night. When he was young, he only strolled along the beach with his
mother in the afternoon or early morning. Back then, he was always morose and griped that he had no
dom and rights, so his mother coaxed him by saying, “Everything you’re learning now is helping you lay
your path to make it easier in the future.”
Having heard that too many times, he naturally found it irritating and couldn’t be bothered to listen to
her anymore. Thus, his mother came up with an idea—whenever he was downcast, she would bring
him here to look at the sea and amble along the beach with him, leaving rows of neat footprints.
“There are many things in this world, but there is only one sea. Regardless of whether it’s the present
or the future, the sea we behold will be the same sea. Everything in this world will change, but not the
sea. As long as you want to see it, it’ll always be here.”
His mother’s words had been keeping him company for many years, bringing him through the barren
desert and biting winter… leading him to the oasis time and again. She had grown old and could no
longer walk the beach with him, but the sea she spoke of had always remained here.
Avoidance was never the answer to any problem. Nevertheless, he hadn’t been in contact with Caspian
and Nancy these few days though they were the ones who dragged him back from the bar in the
middle of the night. As for Joan, he hadn’t seen her in a long time either. At that time, I said I was going
to the office to handle some matters, but I haven’t gone back to see her in ages. What would she think?
And there’s Leslie as well. With so many things happening, he’s the person I owe most. As a child with
both parents alive and he should be loved and pampered by all having been born in a harmonious
family. But no thanks to the conflict between his parents, he was placed in a child care center. It was a
compromise that Joan proposed, but no one ever considered whether it was fair or otherwise to him.
He’s merely a child who still doesn’t understand the world, but he’s now paying the price for the conflict
between his parents. Actually, neither Joan nor I am good parents. We can’t even handle our own
problems, so how are we going to raise a child? How are we going to make him happy when we
ourselves aren’t happy?
Joan, on the other hand, had been mulling over the meaning of Dustin’s remark. Dustin said that Larry
won’t allow me to find him easily. He also claimed that Larry merely wants to clear his head, but I’ve
already searched all the places in Marsingfill that he might go to, yet I didn’t see any sign of him.
At a loss, she went to Finnick and Vivian. She purposely bought supplements for them both so that her
visit this time would appear sincere.
Actually, Finnick and Vivian were very fond of Joan. But ever since she and Larry got into a row, she
rarely came over to visit them. For that reason, her visit this time came as a surprise to them.
Thinking that they had already made up, Finnick asked, “Why didn’t Larry come with you, Joan?”
At that, Joan flashed him an awkward smile. “He’s swamped with work recently, so he can’t make it.”
As she said that, she stepped forward and tugged at Vivian’s arm affectionately. “Vivian, he’s too busy
recently, so I’m thinking of taking him on a trip. But then, we’ve basically explored all of Marsingfill, so I
simply can’t think of any good places…”
In the end, that was the excuse she came up with to surreptitiously inquire about the places Larry loved
to visit in the past without arousing their suspicions.
Meanwhile, Gabriella’s fruit stall business was still booming, and she was busy like a bee. Ever since
she went to the café with Joan back then, she had been working harder than before. On the one hand,
she indeed needed the money to better support the son she had with Carl. On the other hand, the
server’s contempt toward her that day and Joan’s disdain motivated her to do the best she could.
Chapter 1673
During the lunch break, Gabriella simply spread out a piece of newspaper on the ground and sat there
while hugging her knees. As the weather was growing increasingly hot, she opened a big plastic
umbrella that had the words “Cola-Cola” printed on it and placed it beside her.
At this time, a man in his early twenties sauntered up to her fruit stall. He looked very much like a
ruffian with a black baseball cap on his head. While the style of the cap was very simple, someone with
a discerning eye would be able to tell that it was a luxury accessory of the upper-classes at a single
glance.
Dipping his head, the man glanced at Gabriella, who had no image to speak of, before snagging an
apple from her stall and started tossing it.
As the red apple was tossed back and forth between his hands, the sound of it hitting his palm had
Gabriella jerking her head up to meet the man’s gaze.
“Put it down at once if you’re not going to buy it!” she roared at him.
The corners of Jory’s mouth curved into a flippant smile. “It’s just an apple. Even if you sell it, how
much money would you make?”
Upon hearing that, Gabriella saw red. “Give it back to me!” After saying that, her hand shot out to
snatch it back from his hand.
However, Jory dodged her hand with a nimble swivel and tossed the apple even higher. “I wonder if
Landon Ward would feel that all his pride throughout the past fifty years and counting is all but
obliterated if he were to learn that his biological daughter is selling fruits by the roadside.”
All at once, Gabriella’s heart jolted. She had deliberately picked this spot to set up her fruit stall to keep
a distance from Ward Group. Despite having told herself time and again not to concern herself over her
father’s pride, a bolt of fear inexplicably struck her when someone said that.
He’s aware of my identity? I don’t remember telling anyone about my past or identity, and I’ve never
seen this man before me ever. So, who is he?
“Did he send you here? Well, are you here to see how I’m reduced to making a living on the streets?”
She then glared at him. “I’m earning money and supporting myself with my own capabilities, so how is
that embarrassing to him? Instead, it’s the other way around. Even wild beasts don’t devour their own
cubs, yet he abandoned his biological daughter. It’s his behavior that’s shameful and humiliating!”
Thereafter, Jory flung the apple behind him and applauded her with a smattering of applause as he
grinned widely. “Excellent! I loved it! You’re truly someone to be admired for her spunk! You’re not
wrong, for the one in the wrong is your father who disowned you!”
His speech had Gabriella bewildered. If he’s sent here by Landon Ward, he should have mocked me
when I said such unpleasant words. Moreover, the people my father employs have always been old
and experienced. This man before me is at most twenty-one or twenty-two years old in addition to
having a temperament that is extremely unpredictable, so he’s probably not sent by him.
“Buzz off if there’s nothing else. I don’t have time to talk nonsense with you here. I’ve still got to run my
business…” Glimpsing the stark disdain and contempt in his eyes as he looked down at her, her
impression of him instantly fell to rock bottom.
She then started arranging the wares at her stall. At that precise moment, Jory took a step back and
whipped out a thick stack of bills from somewhere or other before brandishing it in front of her. “I know
you’ve now fallen from grace, and I’m also aware that money is the most important thing to you. Once
upon a time, millions or tens of millions is a drop in the bucket to you, but now, it must be difficult for
you to even come up with forty or fifty thousand, no?”
People who did business, especially small businesses, were exceedingly sensitive to money. Before
she was kicked out of the family, she had never thought that there would one day in her life that she
would be so worried about money. Thus, she was inevitably tempted when greeted by the sight of the
stack of bills in his hand.
“This stack of bills is enough to buy half a month of your fruits, yes?” Smug triumph flooded Jory when
he noticed her gaze pinned intently on the money. Hah! There isn’t a single person I can’t convince.
After all, isn’t life a pursue of status, fame, and reputation? Putting it bluntly, it’s all for the money! ”I
don’t mind giving you this money, provided you do me a favor. When the matter is settled, I’ll naturally
keep my word.
Chapter 1674
“I just knew that you won’t be giving it to me without any strings attached,” Gabriella muttered softly.
At that, Jory leaned close to her and brandished the bills in his hand. “Well, that’s because there’s no
lunch.”
“Well? Spit it out! What do you need from me?” Gabriella urged impatiently.
At the side, Jory hooted with laughter. “Alright, since I’m the one asking for your help, I’m naturally on
the lower end.” At that, he tugged at the cap on his head. “Are you not acquainted with Joan Watts?”
“Yeah,” Gabriella answered. “I’ve got an irreconcilable grudge against her.”
In truth, the latter half of it was merely a half-hearted remark. After all, Joan had lent her a hand when
she was at her lowest. And though her pitiful life at present was all thanks to her, she had also done a
number on her when she was high and mighty in the past.
Hence, she felt that they were even.
“What a coincidence! I hate her quite a bit as well,” Jory commented. “So, we should ally ourselves and
work together!”
Hearing that, Gabriella’s guard instantly went up. “What do you want me to do to her?” In the past, it
was because she had wanted to eliminate Joan that she had gotten herself into hot water. Otherwise,
she wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state.
Jory then took out a tiny and thin metal device from his jacket pocket before saying, “You only need to
find an opportunity to affix this to Joan Watts’ cell phone.”
Gabriella took the metal device from his hand. “What is this? And how am I supposed to affix it to her
cell phone?”
“You need to find an excuse to get her cell phone. Then, you just need to open the back of it. This
device can be adsorbed into her cell phone, so she won’t notice anything. As for what exactly it is, you
don’t need to know the answer to that.”
Gabriella then pocketed the tiny device. “Are you really going to give me a sum of money when I’ve
accomplished this?”
At that, Jory arched an eyebrow. “Do I look like I’m strapped for cash to you? I’ll keep my word to you,
but I hope that you’ll also settle the matter you promised me.”
“How am I to look for you after having done that?” Gabriella questioned.
“You don’t need to look for me. I’ll come and look for you instead.” After saying that, Jory spun around
coolly to leave.
“Hmm… I remember that I used to bring Larry to the beach whenever he was dejected back when he
was young. After some time, he started badgering me to go instead.” Vivian’s eyes were filled with
nostalgia toward the past, lighting up like flickering candles.
“The beach?” Joan murmured. Ever since I got acquainted with Larry, he had never brought me to the
beach. If that’s his favorite place, why didn’t he share it with me?
Vivian then took her hands, passing a steady stream of warmth from her palm to hers. “Yeah, to behold
the sea. When you look at the vast sea that extends infinitely, you’ll find that the problems that
appeared gigantic and aggravating are actually very insignificant in front of the boundless sea.
“Perhaps he has bidden farewell to his troubles and afflictions after making acquaintance with you and
having you by his side. Because he’s happy every single day when he’s with you, he is no longer
morose and wanting to look at the sea anymore, unlike his younger days.” She then led her to the
balcony by the hand. As greenery surrounded them, everything seemed utterly relaxed.
“Actually, Joan, we know that there are problems between the two of you, especially when you both
had such a huge row when we were at the hospital that day despite it being such a public place. While
Finnick and I hadn’t said a word, it doesn’t mean that we’re truly ignorant. “Joan, fights and
misunderstandings between couples are inevitable. No matter how close two people are, they are still
different entities at the end of the day. The interaction between husband and wife is a process of
learning and adapting to each other. Whether two people can live happily for a long time depends on
whether they can ameliorate their shortcomings and rectify their mistakes…” Vivian said to Joan
earnestly.
Chapter 1675
“Joan, don’t feel embarrassed because of your conflict with Larry and bottle it up without sharing it with
us. Sometimes, when you can’t bear it alone, you should tell me and Finnick about it. We’re both your
elders, so we understand life better than you do. The two of you should learn from our life experiences
so that your life will be better.”
Vivian’s words almost had tears streaming down Joan’s face. It had been a long time since an elder
had placed herself into their shoes and looked at the problem from their perspective, let alone given her
some many nuggets of wisdom.
Thus, she was undeniably moved. While her expression remained unchanged, she had already hugged
Vivian multiple times in her heart.
At times, she found herself to be very selfish as well. Just because she wanted to see Leslie, she
proposed sending him to a child care center. She seemed to consider only her gains, yet never once
considering things from Finnick and Vivian’s perspective and taking into account their anguish at not
getting to see their grandchild in their golden years.
Inwardly, she resolved to pick Leslie up and bring him here for them to take care of him. Then, she
wanted to go to the beach and ascertain whether Larry was still there. If he were, she would definitely
rush forward and hug him tightly before sincerely declaring, “Let’s make up, Larry!”
Subsequently, she grasped Vivian’s slightly coarse hand, a mark left by time. In the eyes of all children,
that was the most beautiful mark that belonged only to their parents.
“Are you sure you want to terminate our contract?” That was the third time the receptionist had asked
Joan that particular question. The fees for this child care center were exorbitant, and back then, she
had paid a year’s payment for Leslie at one go. But since she had changed her mind, the contract
between them should end here.
“Yes. I know all payment that has been received can’t be refunded in the event of a breach of contract,
but I’m here today specifically to take my son back. As for the payment, I won’t request a refund since
I’ve already signed the contract back then,” Joan enunciated. I never knew that terminating the contract
would be so troublesome. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have sent Leslie here no matter what!
“Please wait for a moment, then. We’ll process it right away.” Flashing her a smile, the receptionist
picked up the phone and said a few words before hanging up. Then, she turned to back to her and
said, “You can now pick your child up.”
It had been more than a month since she last saw Leslie. A child of his age was at the peak of growth,
seemingly changing every single day. However, she felt very blessed, for she believed that she
wouldn’t miss any stage of his growth.
The receptionist led her through a long corridor before pushing open a blue door. Leslie was lying in a
crib with a teddy crib mobile. Perhaps he had a telepathic sense, for the moment she walked in, he
giggled.
She carefully picked him up and swung him in an arc. Leslie loved being picked up, so he was
particularly thrilled every time someone did so. His tiny yet chubby hands flailed in the air as he
babbled nonsensically. Having picked him up, she was gripped by the urge to never put him down
again.
She cradled him while humming to him. Suddenly, she glimpsed his pillow out of the corner of her eyes
and noticed that something seemed to have been shoved underneath. There was a bulge that
appeared very much out of place.
Following that, she d one of her hands and flipped the pillow over. In the next moment, she was
greeted by the sight of a quality piece of jade that was engraved with a lopsided “Joan” on it.
She recognized it at a single glance as the unmarked jade that Larry had presented to her back when
they had just gotten married and suggested that they engrave it together.
At that time, she was still analyzing the company’s design drawings, so she merely brushed him off
with a lukewarm reply when he came to her enthusiastically, saying, “I’m not doing any engraving. I’ve
got to work.
Chapter 1676
Never had she expected that Larry would engrave the jade on his own in the dead of the night. Now
her name ‘Joan’ had been specially and ingeniously inscribed on this expensive jade.
The crooked and unsightly inscription was nothing like Larry’s elegant handwriting. Larry must have
tried his best to control the graver, but how could one compare between writing with a pen and a
graver? That was how this one-of-a-kind jade came about.
As her finger stroked the uneven surface of the engraving on the jade, millions vivid images of Larry
flashed across her mind. Other than the happy memories of him, she recalled his enraged face and the
times when they got into a serious fight. The last image that came into her mind was Larry sitting at his
desk, holding a graver while looking out the window at the night sky, and his forehead was drenched in
sweat.
The man had never shown her the engraved jade, but in the end, it somehow ended up in Leslie’s and
her hands.
Larry visited Leslie before he went missing. I believe he’ll definitely come back, because he’s still
holding onto many people and things. He’ll never abandon me and Leslie just like that.
When Finnick and Vivian saw Joan bringing Leslie to them, their eyes misted over right away. Turning
around in silence, Joan blinked back her tears and hailed a cab to the beach.
Regardless of whether she could find Larry, she wanted to give it a try. A man would be constantly on a
woman’s mind if she cared deeply for him, wanting to set foot in every place he had been to before.
People usually took the things they had for granted or even despised them. Only when they lost
something would they remember the goodness that they once had or the people who they cared for,
and that would become the most precious part of their memories.
The waves crashed against the shore unceasingly, glimmering as the sunlight hit the surface of the
sea. Only a handful of people were on the beach. Joan was worn out as she had been to various
places over the past few days. But the scenery of the endless ocean and the relaxing rhythm of the
waves calm her down, and her anxiety ceased.
She sat by the reefs on the beach, but Larry was nowhere to be seen. Leaning against a huge rock,
she listened to the sound of the waves and gradually drifted off. Just as she was about to fall asleep,
her phone rang suddenly. The piercing sound of her ringtone broke the peaceful silence on the beach
like an off-key note in the midst of a melodious symphony.
Taking out her phone, she saw Vivian’s name on the screen, so she quickly swiped to answer the call.
The woman’s loud and anxious voice echoed on the other side of the phone, “Joan, where are you?
Come back now! Something’s wrong with Leslie!”
The news was like a gigantic, heavy rock on her heart, making her feel out of breath.
“I’ll be right there!”
As a mother, these words were the only response she could give now. On her way back, she kept
calling Larry, hoping that he would finally answer one of her calls for the first time since he disappeared
days ago.
The ringback tone went on, but she never heard the familiar voice sounded on the other side of the
phone. Joan had never felt so despondent in her entire life, trying vainly to reach Larry while worrying
about Leslie’s condition. A serious complication has already happened when I secretly took Leslie out,
but now…
She dared not to think further about it. “Please drive faster. I’m in a hurry,” she urged the driver.
Fortunately, there was no heavy traffic on the road at night. The driver hit the pedal and sped all the
way to the destination, while Joan was on pins and needles, squirming nervously in her seat. I guess
this is how being in a terrible fix feels like.
Stepping into the hospital, she had lost count of the number of times she came to the hospital recently.
I guess no one comes to the hospital as frequently as I do.
Chapter 1677
In a familiar corridor in front of the ER, Finnick wrapped his arm around Vivian’s shoulder, comforting
her in a gentle tone. Beside the couple on a bench, there was a conspicuous, towering figure with his
back facing her.
“Larry?”
Her voice was soft, yet he heard it. Just like a slow-motion scene in the movie, the man turned around
and looked at the misty-eyed woman. The sorrow and grievance in her heart were replaced by
excitement the moment she saw him.
Larry smiled warmly at her. How can he still smile in such a situation? Is he really Leslie’s biological
father? As the woman was finding fault with him, she blamed herself too. Hold on. How can I be in the
mood to find fault with him at a time like this?
The two stood rooted to their spots, staring at each other. None of them took the initiative to walk closer
to the other person. At the moment, time seemed to have stood still, and both their watches and the
clock on the wall stopped ticking. They could see no one else other than each other.
A doctor in a white cot came out of the ER while taking off his mask.
“Who is the family of Leslie?”
“It’s me!” Joan and Larry answered in unison.
They glanced at one another before Larry stepped forward to sign the document.
“The child is suffering from acute gastroenteritis. But don’t worry, this illness is rather common among
children. It can be caused by the child’s eating habits, the amount of nutrients he received when henoveldrama
was in his mother’s womb, and genetic inheritance. Once it’s been triggered, it’s impossible for the
child to be completely healed of this illness. However, it’ll be under control as long as you pay attention
to his diet and take good care of him.”
Afterward, the doctor made some arrangements regarding his hospitalization before he waved at them
and said, “Don’t worry, he’ll be discharged tomorrow morning.”
Initially, Finnick wanted to stay back to visit his grandchild, but Vivian shot him a look, hinting at him to
give the young couple some space. Later, the two left hurriedly, using the excuse that they were going
to pay for the admission and leaving Larry and Joan alone.
“You…”
Unexpectedly, they spoke at the same time again. The two broke into a fit of giggles, though none of
them knew why they were laughing. Perhaps that was the thoughtfulness they both had after going
through such a conflict and the tacit understanding between a husband and a wife.
“You go first,” Larry said.
Joan did as he asked. “Are you still going to question me about my relationship with Dustin?”
Without hesitation, the man shook his head.
“Why?”
Right after asking that, she couldn’t help but laugh with amusement. The woman added, “I shouldn’t
ask you why. I’ve been in deep contemplation over the past few days. If we’re really going to stay
together for a lifetime, we have to overcome all our incompatibilities, distrust, and misunderstandings.
My mindset, beliefs, values and perspectives must be in line with yours.”
“These thoughts have been running through my head these few days as well. When that incident
happened, I kept questioning your fidelity. However, after I simmered down, I realized I should ask
myself whether I trust you and agree with your viewpoint, instead of demanding a satisfying explanation
from you. So what if I get it? I should believe in you even without an explanation from you.”
“Trust is crucial in a marriage. We should understand, tolerate, and trust each other in all things, big or
small. So Mr. Norton, are you willing to trust and tolerate me and face every obstacle coming our way
together?”
During their sacred wedding ceremony, he made a vow to love and cherish her until death did them
apart. She had imagined many romantic episodes that they might go through, but she didn’t expect to
experience a heart-warming moment under such a circumstance.
Chapter 1678
“Yes, I will.”
Instead of saying the usual ‘Yes, I do’, he gave her a firm and definite answer. In Larry’s eyes, having
willingness didn’t guarantee that he would do it. Hence, saying ‘I will’ showed that not only was he
willing to take up his responsibilities, but he also was going to keep his words.
The couple was so in sync with one another that Joan understood him right away. Without a second
thought, she wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear, “Larry, I will do the same as
well.”
It had only been a few days, but his hair already appeared disheveled, unlike his usual clean and neat
style. There was a whiff of tobacco smell on him. As stubborn as Larry was, it must have been tough
for him to change his mentality, despite days of efforts. His trust in her was like a caterpillar that was
struggling to break out of its cocoon, and it would soon emerge as a ravishing butterfly.
As for Joan, she had been running around looking for him, skipping meals and not resting well. The
exhaustion caused her to lose weight. Larry’s heart ached at the sight of her slim frame. When he first
met her, the man liked pinching her face, teasing her with a smile, “You are so chubby.” Without him
realizing, her cute and round face became a pretty, oval-shaped one.
Early in the next morning, the two went home with Leslie. It was during rush hour when everyone was
on the way to work. Much to their surprise, they couldn’t hail a cab in the bustling city. Having no other
choice, Joan suggested taking the subway.
“Why didn’t you drive?” Joan questioned him and plastered on an irritated face.
Larry didn’t style his hair today, and his shirt was slightly crumpled. Holding Leslie, he actually looked a
little comical. With an aggrieved expression, the man explained pitifully, “If I had driven my car, Caspian
could’ve quickly tracked me down using my car registration number. There’s no way I would let you
guys find me so easily.”
His words wiped the smile off Joan’s face. He nudged her with his elbow and asked in a low voice, ”Is
there anything wrong with Caspian?”
“When I couldn’t find you that day, I went to Caspian’s place to find out your whereabouts. However, no
matter how I knocked and shouted at the door, he and Nancy just refused to let me in. I guess they
must have misunderstood me.”
A look of realization crossed his face. “Oh, right. Speaking of misunderstanding, you owe me an
explanation. Why have photos of you going out with Dustin been taken? Someone even sent them to
me.”
Joan was baffled. “What photos are you talking about? What did you see?”
Letting out a snort arrogantly, Larry ignored her and marched toward the subway station with Leslie in
his arms. The woman swiftly kept up with him and grabbed his arm. “Okay, okay, I remember now.
Dustin saw that I hadn’t eaten for a few days, so he invited me to his house for a meal. Then, we went
grocery shopping together. You said someone sent you those photos, but I don’t get it. What’s so
interesting about buying groceries? Why did the person send them to you?”
“He did that just so I would blame you, and that would drive a wedge between you and me.” Larry
reached out to poke the tip of Joan’s nose gently. “Silly girl.”
“Who is that? How could he ruin our relationship for fun and create misunderstandings between us?”
Joan said furiously. I’m going to punch that person if I ever see him face to face.
Nonetheless, she became dejected the second she thought of Caspian again. “But why did Caspian
ignore me? And Nancy too! I still can’t believe that they shut me out. Aren’t friends supposed to talk it
out whenever they misunderstand each other? Yet, they didn’t even give me a chance to do any
explanation.”
Chapter 1679
Larry recalled the day he got drunk. It took Caspian and Nancy tremendous efforts to bring him home.
Thinking of the misunderstanding between them, he heaved a sigh. “Maybe he just cares too much
about me.” The relationship between Larry and Caspian had gone beyond just comrades-in-arms. They
were as close as blood-related brothers, cherishing each other with all their hearts.
She remained silent, adjusting Leslie’s clothes carefully as Larry held the boy in his arms.
Later, Joan knocked on the door of Caspian’s house the second time. Just like her previous encounter,
she was kept out once again. But this time, before Caspian could close the door, Larry stretched his
arm and held the door.
“Are you going to shut me out too?” Larry questioned.
Caspian shuddered at his question. A few seconds later, he couldn’t help quivering as he said, “Boss,
you’re back.”
Amused, Larry chuckled. “Who else could it be? Or do you think that the one who’s standing right in
front of you is a clone?”
“Boss, since when did you like joking around?”
Larry let out a cough. “We can’t keep standing here. Why don’t you let us in?”
Caspian swiftly opened the door. Even so, when Joan was walking in, the way Caspian stared at her
was as though he were looking at a disgusting cockroach.
She could tell that the man was absolutely reluctant.
Even so, the woman still went into his house.
“Caspian, why isn’t Nancy around today?”
As soon as she asked, the man rolled his eyes at her. It was obvious that he wasn’t going to answer
her question.
Larry stretched his leg out to kick Caspian’s calf, looking daggers at him. The latter was quick-witted,
flashing Joan a flattering grin right away. “She went to her parents’ place today, so she isn’t at home,
my dearest Joan.”
What a hypocrite! Despite his malicious gaze, he still speaks as Larry wants him to. He could have
killed me with the look in his eyes. She smiled in embarrassment.
“Speak properly!” Larry was unwilling to speak harshly to Caspian and Nancy, as he was indebted to
them for taking care of him before. But this time, Caspian had jumped to the conclusion too quickly.
“Boss! Have you forgotten about the photos and what you said at the bar the other day?” Caspian grew
agitated suddenly. “Are you going to tell me that those photos have been photoshopped again?”
Joan clarified hurriedly, “Caspian, stay calm and listen to me. I don’t know where you saw the photos,
but I want to tell you that they’re real, not photoshopped…”
“Then, what else do you have to say? You!” He stood up promptly from the couch, startling Joan and
Larry.
Larry knocked on the glass coffee table with his knuckles. For some reason, the sound made the man
appear dignified and imposing all of a sudden. “What are you doing? Sit down!”
Caspian pursed his lips with displeasure, but he still sat down indignantly. “If it’s not true, why would
someone send the photos to you anonymously?”
“Anonymous?” Joan was taken aback. “What anonymous?”
“Someone named ‘S’ stored the photos he took secretly in an email…” Caspian answered without
glancing at her.
“What? Who’s that freak? I’m going to call the police!” Joan jumped to her feet at once.
Larry held her arm. “Calm down.” He then turned to look at Caspian. “What’s the big deal about the
anonymity? Just check it out now, and his IP address will be exposed.”
“How could I not think of the IP address? I looked into that much earlier, but this man is so cunning. He
sent every photo with a different IP address. I guess he must have altered them. Since he’s done that,
we won’t be able to find out his actual IP address.”
Chapter 1680
“Oh my! What a guileful man!” In utter disbelief, Joan shook her head exasperatedly.
Holding her hand, Larry caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. Caspian snorted coldly. “But I
believe we should never sin if we don’t want to get caught.”
Just when he was about to say something else, Larry lifted his foot and stepped on the man’s slippers.
With a smile on his face Larry said, enunciating every word. “Shut your mouth.”
Clearing her throat, Joan answered him solemnly. “Caspian, we’ve been friends for years, and our
relationship is comparable to that of siblings. If there’s any misunderstanding, we should talk it out, so
that the one who is at fault can make things right. But now I don’t even know why you’re mad at me…”
Right after she spoke, Larry added, “Caspian, you’re usually very cautious. Why don’t you give this
incident some thoughts? Why did S send those photos to me on purpose? Don’t you think that the
anonymous person has an ulterior motive?”
Right then, someone opened the door, and a sweet voice sounded, “I’m back! Did you miss…”
Nancy didn’t expect to see Joan and Larry here. The woman was dumbfounded the moment she saw
the couple sitting on the couch. The handbag that she held up in the air dropped onto the floor.
“Why? Are you shocked to see us again after a few days?” Larry joked.
Nancy could tell that situation had changed. “No, I’m excited to see you and Joan.” With much
enthusiasm, she skipped toward them and held Joan’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Joan. I shouldn’t have
treated you that way previously…” The woman gave Caspian a death stare. “It’s all Caspian’s fault. He
mistreated Joan.”
In the meantime, Caspian was seething with rage. Larry’s fury was replaced by a smile at the sight of
his irritated face. “Alright, let bygones be bygones. Misunderstandings are inevitable between friends.
It’s good that we’ve cleared the air. Don’t worry about it. We’re still buddies.”
“Hmph! Did you hear that? Larry is the best. Oh, by the way, I heard that Leslie was sick and
hospitalized last night. How’s he doing now? Was it very serious?”
Joan recollected herself and replied, “Nothing too serious. It was just acute gastroenteritis. He’ll be fine
after some time if we take good care of him.”
Nancy’s eyes curled into a crescent shape. “Okay. Since we’re on good terms again, I’ll treat all of you
to dinner tonight at Paramount Hotel, except him.” She pointed at Caspian while speaking.
As Joan and Larry exchanged glances, they understood each other and smiled meaningfully in unison.
Meanwhile, Jory was watching a footage of the surveillance camera at the entrance of Caspian’s place.
Closing the laptop in front of him forcefully, he punched the wooden table with his fist.
When Dustin walked in with two cups of warm tea, Jory was lying on a couch with a pillow over his
face.
“What happened? Why are you so annoyed?”
He took the pillow away from his face. “I’ve never failed before. Yet, my plan boomerangs, and it
actually works out well for them. They had a stroke of luck and escaped it too easily.”
Dustin took a sip of the warm tea silently. Looking at the man’s calm face, Jory became all worked up.
“Aren’t you angry? How can you not lose your cool?”
“What’s the point of getting angry? Rage doesn’t solve any problems. I won’t give up on my loved one,
and I believe that God has a plan,” Dustin said impassively. However, he was the only one who felt the
raging emotions and indignation within him.
Glancing at the contact on his phone, he made up his mind to speed things up to reach his goal. On his
phone screen was a text from Gabriella. He didn’t even try to hide it.