Ch. 1791..1800
Chapter 1791
“Caspian?” Nancy called out gently.
Still, Caspian did not respond. Nancy slowly made her way to the bedside.
“Ah? Oh, Nancy, you’re back. When did you come back home? Are you hungry?” Caspian set his back
straight and looked at the woman before him.
What is the matter with him today? Why is he in a daze?
Bemused, Nancy regarded Caspian.
However, Caspian was still contemplating whether he should tell Nancy about what happened between
him and the woman in the hotel.
Maybe we would get divorced if I told her, and maybe Nancy wouldn’t forgive me her whole life. But if I
don’t, then this will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Man, what should I do…
“Um, Nancy, are you tired? What did you do today? Do you want to eat something? I can make
something for you…” Caspian was trying to appease her.
What is the matter with Caspian today? The longer he’s acting like this, the more uneasy Nancy felt.
“Um, Caspian, please don’t act like that. I’m not tired. Don’t worry, I’m all good.” Nancy managed an
awkward smile.
Caspian felt a pang of guilt as he looked at his wife.
What should I do? Should I just tell him everything and explain it to him?
Meanwhile, Nancy was debating with herself.
What they did not know was, the two of them had the same thing in mind. Caspian had no idea if he
should be honest to Nancy either.
“Caspian, there is something that I need to tell you..” Nancy spoke all of a sudden.
What is she saying? Does she already know about it?
Caspian suddenly felt apprehensive.
“Nancy, I have something to tell you today too…” Caspian looked at the woman with a stern look on his
face.
Caspian looked more handsome than ever that day.
“Why don’t you go first?” Nancy said.
“No, ladies first. You should go first…” Caspian passed the ball back to her.
Nancy hesitated for a moment but decided to just tell Caspian about herself and Jory.
She would have to tell him sooner or later anyway. It was just a matter of time. At least she would feel
better if she had told him right then, and she would be more at ease whenever she was together with
Jory.
“Caspian, I don’t know if you’ve noticed it. But I think something is missing between us, don’t you think
so?” Nancy looked at her husband.
Yes, what they lacked was love.
They were from different worlds, and yet somehow had been forced to come together. It was obvious
that they would not be happy together.
“Caspian, I am really grateful for the way you cared me about this whole time. Really, you’re the best
man I’ve come across, but don’t you think there’s no chemistry between us? It’s like, there’s no love.”
Nancy knew that Caspian had been giving his best ever since they had gotten married. He was trying
his best to be a good husband and a good man to her. However, that was not what Nancy wanted. She
wanted to feel herself being in love, but that’s something she hasn’t felt when she’s together with
Caspian. There was no romance nor love.
She had thought about just living the rest of her life that way, but then Jory came along, and she knew
she could no longer go back to the way it was. Jory had awakened and renewed her faith and longing
for romantic love.
“So, let’s get divorced.” Nancy kept her head low.
Caspian was thunderstruck.
The man had not expected that the woman was asking for divorce not because of him, but because of
herself.
Everything seemed too absurd to be true. So my wife has another man out there, and she’s the one to
break the vow of our marriage.
Caspian snorted. So what? I’ve cheated on my wife too.
How ludicrous can our marriage get?
“Who is the man?” Caspian asked coldly.
“Caspian, please listen to me. It has nothing to do with the man. It’s all my fault…” Nancy was almost
begging him.
Chapter 1792
“Is it Jory Synder?” A cold glint flashed across his eyes.
“What is the man’s name?” Caspian demanded in fury.
Yes, they had both cheated on each other, but the nature of it was starkly different.
Nancy had cheated on him both mentally and physically, falling for a man when she was still wife to
another man, consciously. On the other hand, Caspian’s mistake was an unconscious and unintended
one, when he was drunk out of his wits.
“Caspian, please calm down. Please…” Nancy clutched the man’s hand, afraid that he might dash out
to seek revenge on Jory.
“Nancy, tell me! Did he force you into it? Tell me!” Caspian snapped at the woman before him.
He felt like killing Jory right then.
Caspian could not tolerate, let alone accept her mistake.
She was consciously falling for that man.
Caspian was not a sophisticated man, but he knew exactly what she meant.
“Caspian, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Please calm down…” Nancy stopped him in his tracks.
“Caspian, I thought you had something to tell me? Please, tell me. I’m listening…” Nancy reminded the
man, hoping to stop him.
Caspian was suddenly reminded of the thing that he was about to tell his wife.
Yes, it was the same story, but it was a difference of night and day.
Caspian went silent all of a sudden.
“What’s the matter, Caspian? What is it that you want to tell me?” Nancy looked at her husband
expectantly.
All of a sudden, Caspian dashed out of the room like a madman.
“I will tell you later!” The sentence hung in mid-air and left her all alone in the room.
Nancy started to get apprehensive after her husband had left.
She took out her phone and called Joan.
“Joan, something bad happened, Caspian…” Nancy stuttered.
“What’s the matter with Caspian? Calm down and tell me.” Joan sprung up from her bed.
Something must have happened to Caspian for Nancy to lose her cool like that.
“Joan, Caspian… he dashed out of our house. I told him everything. He…”
Nancy’s face fell.
So is Caspian going after Jory? Nancy nudged at Larry who was just beside her.
“What’s the matter?” Larry rubbed his eyes.
“Did you mention Jory at all?” Joan asked in a hurry.
“I did not mention his name, but Caspian guessed it right. Joan, what happens if Caspian goes after
Jory? You know how he is, he’s not going to let Jory off the hook…” Nancy’s voice was shaky.
She was right. Given Caspian’s personality, he would not let Jory off easy, even if Nancy had not
specified that it was him.
“Okay, Nancy. You need to stop crying. I’ll get to your place with Larry right now. We’ll look for Caspian
together, alright? Don’t panic…” Joan coaxed her friend.
The two women hung up the call after Joan calmed her down.
Nancy looked for Jory’s contact and called him afterward.
“Where are you right now?”
“At home. Are you coming over?” Jory asked.
“Um, you’d better stay at home and don’t head out. Remember that, okay?” Nancy reminded him.
Stay at home and don’t head out? What does she mean?
Jory was puzzled.
Why can’t I head out?
“Nancy, what’s the matter with you? Did something happen? Why do you sound like you’re in a rush?”
Jory frowned.
Something must have happened. Otherwise, the woman would not have said something so odd.
“Nothing. Um, a fortune-teller told me not to head out of the house tonight. I’m just asking for you to
stay home too.”
Chapter 1793
Jory was skeptical of Nancy’s advice. He was befuddled as to why the woman suddenly believed in
fortune-tellers, but he knew for sure that something must have happened.
Larry drove Joan to go look for Caspian.
“Quick, call him,” Larry egged her on.
However, no matter how many times Joan tried calling Caspian, the man just would not pick up.
“He didn’t answer.” Joan looked exasperatedly at her husband.
They had no idea where Caspian would be right then, and could only look for him like headless
chickens.
Larry and Joan went everywhere they thought Caspian would be, but there was no sight of him.
In the end, they thought there was only one place the man could possibly head to – Jory’s place.
However, to their knowledge, the man did not know where Jory’s house was.
“Hello, Nancy? Do you know if Jory is home?” Joan decided to call Nancy and ask.
“I know. He is. Joan, would you guys come to pick me up? I need to be with you guys. I don’t want
anything to happen to the two…” Nancy said with a shaky voice.
Larry immediately turned his car around to pick Nancy up.
However, right then…
“Come out! Come out, you bstrd! You coward! Come out right now!” Caspian berated in front of Jory’s
door.
“Jory Synder, you’d better get your *ss out here right now!”
Jory was furious to hear the degrading commotion out his door.
Who has the audacity to reprimand me right in front of my door, and at this hour?
The man headed for his window upstairs and noticed a furious man downstairs at his door.
He did not know the man.
“Jory Synder! You get the hell out of there right now! You had the guts to seduce my wife and yet you
don’t have the balls to admit it? Huh!” Caspian shouted.
Seduce his wife? Jory furrowed his brows.
He finally knew why Nancy had called to ask for him to stay at home.
“Synder! Get the hell out of there right now! Damn it!”
So, he is Caspian.
“Get out, you coward!” Caspian did not appear like he was going to give it up.
Jory thought he would have to face the music sooner or later.
He clutched his fist tight.
Ding… It was Nancy calling.
“Jory, please don’t head out there… Please don’t…” Nancy was almost begging him.
“Nancy, why shouldn’t I head out there? This has to be dealt with sooner or later,” Jory said as he
looked at the man banging on his door downstairs.
“No, Jory. Please don’t go out first. I’ll talk to him later.”
Boom!
A heavy downpour ensued after a deafening sound of thunder. However, despite Caspian’s continuous
bawling, the man inside the house did not seem to be bothered by it.
“Hey! Will you shut the hell up? Look at the time, you idiot!” An aunty upstairs shouted at Caspian.
Onlookers passing by looked at Caspian like he was a freak, but there were some who cheered him on.
requesting him to continue berating.
“Caspian!” All of a sudden, Nancy called out after him.
At the same time, Larry and Joan got off the car.
Nancy had not expected Caspian to really go after Jory like this.
“Larry, why are you here?” Caspian was dumbfounded to see Larry.
“What are you doing here?” Larry asked in a cold tone.
He knew that Caspian was a straightforward man, but there were civil ways of dealing with things, and
this was not one.
“I’m here to look for that Synder man! He took advantage of Nancy. I’m here to seek justice for her!”
Caspian said in a resolute tone.
He took advantage of Nancy?
Larry looked at Nancy, then at Joan. He knew that the woman were keeping secrets from him.
“Caspian, it’s really late now. Let’s talk about this later. You’re disturbing other people…” Larry looked at
the surroundings and said.
Caspian could not care less even if he was tearing the neighborhood down. So what if the cops come?
I’m not the only one who’s done something wrong here!
“I’m not afraid! Synder! You bstrd! Come out right now if your balls are still attached to you! Get the hell
out of there! You have the balls to do it but no guts to admit it huh!” Caspian continued to scream and
shout.
Chapter 1794
“Caspian, it’s not what you think. Let’s go back and talk. I’ll explain everything to you…” Nancy clutched
at Caspian’s arm as she pleaded earnestly.
Meanwhile, Joan cast a glance at Larry, and the woman was at a loss for words. Yes, she had kept the
fact that Nancy was cheating on Caspian from him, and Larry seemed to have sensed it as well.
“There’s no need to head back. I can give you an answer right now if you’re still keen to listen.” Jory
appeared all of a sudden.
“Jory!” Nancy was surprised at the sight of him.
The man looked like he was ready for a confrontation.
He was not afraid, and he did not feel like there was a need to be.
It’s either you’re in love, or you’re not. Why complicate things and drain everyone’s energy with your
ridiculous notion of what love is?
“Jory, you bstrd!” Caspian hurled his fist at the man as he bawled.
Jory did not try to dodge the punch. Instead, the man managed to hold his fist with just one hand.
“Do you know what kind of man Nancy dislikes? She dislikes men who only know to resort to violence
to solve his problems,” Jory replied impassively.
Caspian glowered at the man before him. I should have hit harder.
“Caspian, let’s just go back now, okay? I’ll explain everything to you. This has nothing to do with Jory.
This is all my fault…” Nancy’s voice was shaky.
Judging by what was happening before his eyes, it became clear as day to Larry what was going on.
So, it was not just Caspian. Nancy had an affair too.
Larry sighed at the revelation.
All of a sudden, he cast a wary glance at Jory.
Perhaps what happened to Caspian had something to do with Jory?
Any man would have caved in front of a woman he loved, including Caspian, despite how strong-
headed he was.
In the end, Caspian relented as he could not bear to upset Nancy further. “Okay, it’s already late. We’ll
talk tomorrow. Jory, man up and face me tomorrow!” Caspian demanded.
Jory snorted. He had never been one to chicken out.
“No problem, I’ll be there tomorrow!” A cold glint flashed across Jory’s eyes.
He had heard a lot about Caspian, and he finally got to meet the man. Just as rumored, he was a
simple, yet stubborn man. No wonder Nancy did not like him.
It was destined that their peaceful lives would come to an end. From then onward, it was doomed that
Nancy and Caspian would never be able to keep up appearances as a happy couple, no matter how
hard they tried to.
“You already know about Nancy and Jory. Why didn’t you tell me?” There was a hint of disappointment
and even fury in Larry’s voice.
“Larry, I didn’t intend to keep it from you. I had only known about it just recently anyway. I didn’t tell you
because Nancy promised me that she would come clean to Caspian as soon as possible, and I was
afraid about you telling Caspian. You know how he is…” Joan lowered her head in an admission of
guilt.
“Joan, what’s the matter with you? I’m really close to Caspian, but I know to toe the line. Do you think
I’d have no sense in what to tell him? Now that Caspian has known everything, how are we supposed
to calm him down?” Larry snapped, as he pressed down hard on the steering wheel.
A pang of guilt hit Joan hard right then.
She was just keeping a secret for Nancy because she was keeping a promise for her friend.
“Okay, I’m sorry for flipping out on you like that. I shouldn’t have put you in a difficult position. But you
have to promise me, Joan. Please don’t keep this kind of thing from me ever again, okay? We need to
be mentally prepped to deal with a bombshell like that…” Larry circled her into his embrace.
He knew he acted rashly just now. However, it was out of his fear that Caspian might have acted out of
impulse.
“But Larry, what should we do now?” Joan looked at her husband helplessly.
“We can only see how things go tomorrow…”
Back in the house, Nancy sat by her bed and stared blankly out at the night sky, tears brimming in her
eyes. Meanwhile, Caspian sat in the living room, his gaze empty. Larry hugged Joan in her embrace,
all of them lost in their own thoughts respectively.
Chapter 1795
All of them had a sleepless night.
The next day, warm rays of sunshine shone through the window and into the room. However, the room
felt oddly frigid to Joan.
“Let’s go and have a look. They’d better not make a scene,” Larry put on his clothes and said.
They had booked an entire café for the confrontation.
Caspian, Nancy, Jory, Larry, and Joan were there early as well.
If it wasn’t for Nancy holding Caspian back, the man would have hurled a fist at Jory.
“Jory, aren’t you going to explain yourself?” Caspian threw daggers at the man before him, trying hard
to suppress the urge to throw a punch at Jory.
“Explain? Caspian, it seems like you do not understand love at all. There is no logic in love, only
feelings. And Caspian, Nancy simply doesn’t feel that way about you. Why don’t you just do her a favor
and let her go?” Jory cut to the chase and said.
He was right. Every moment with Caspian was excruciatingly unbearable for Nancy while every second
with Jory was spent in bliss and contentment. It was a difference between night and day.
“You don’t have the right to butt your nose in our business, Synder!” Caspian smacked the table in
exasperation.
Jory sneered at Caspian who was opposite to him.
“My goodness, who is that? The café is fully booked? Did you guys buy this place or what?” All of a
sudden, Gabriella showed up at the café with a woman and mocked the group.
Caspian was stumped at the sight of them.
The woman whom Gabriella brought along was the woman whom Caspian had slept with.
“Why are you here?” Caspian cast a dubious look at the woman.
Gabriella looked at Caspian, then back at the woman behind her, and an evil smirk flashed across her
face.
The others were dumbfounded by Gabriella’s presence as well. Nobody had expected that the woman
would show up here. But what they did not know was, Gabriella was actually the mastermind behind
the elaborate plan.
“I couldn’t contact you. I’m really afraid that you’d just abandon me,” the woman behind Gabriella said
sheepishly before she rushed to clutch Caspian’s arms.
Nancy was flabbergasted at the sight before her.
One look at Gabriella, and Larry knew that nothing good could happen when that woman was around.
“Didn’t I ask you to stay at the hotel? Why are you here?” A frisson of annoyance fleeted across
Caspian’s face.
Larry’s face fell at the events unfolding before him. He knew that things were not as simple as it
appeared to be. Larry knew he had to stop things from spiraling out of control.
The man gave Joan a look, and she immediately knew what he meant.
“Nancy, my stomach hurts. Could you accompany me to the hospital?” Joan clutched at her stomach
and appeared to be in agony.
“Huh? Joan? What happened to you? Why would you have stomachache all of a sudden?” Nancy
rushed to Joan’s side.
“Maybe I ate something wrong yesterday. Could you accompany me to the hospital?” Joan looked at
her friend expectantly.
Nancy turned around to look at Caspian, then at the woman who was clutching Caspian’s hands. Then,
she hurriedly steadied Joan out of the place.
“Hey, why are you guys leaving? The good show’s just about to start. Don’t leave…” Gabriella chided.
A good show? Larry snickered at her words.
You’ve arranged all of this, haven’t you?
“Nancy, please take Joan to the hospital first. Let us deal with this on our own.” Larry looked solemnly
at Nancy.
Nancy turned to look at Joan, to which she replied with a firm nod.
“Okay, I’ll take Joan to the hospital,” Nancy muttered in a low voice.
“Hey, Nancy, don’t leave just yet. Your husband has some explaining to do… How could you leave right
now…” Gabriella was obviously trying to sow discord between the couple.
Chapter 1796
Gabriella was indeed a troublemaker who couldn’t bear to see other people happy.
“Nancy, you have to believe in me and Larry.” Joan grabbed her friend’s hand to reassure her.
The two women did not linger and headed out of the café.
“Okay, we need to lay everything on the table, be it Nancy or Caspian. I think you guys are well aware
that now is no time to bicker. We need to come up with a solution to sort out this mess. Violence will get
us nowhere,” Larry spoke up with a stern look on his face.
Caspian turned to look at Jory, then back at Larry.
He believed in Larry. He’s like a big brother to me.
“How do you plan to sort this out, then?” Jory asked as he sipped on his coffee.
All of a sudden, Larry dragged Caspian to one side and looked straight into his eyes.
“Caspian, what happened between you and Nancy? Is there any way you guys can go back to the way
it was?”
Caspian lowered his head, the glint in his eyes turned dull.
The look on his face was a roaring statement. Of course, Larry caught onto his friend.
“Okay, Caspian. Do you know what love is?” Larry asked.
“Love is when you hope to see the woman you love finds happiness. You will be happy if you see her
smiling…” Larry explained.
Caspian knew what his friend meant, he just did not know how to express himself.
“Larry, I’ll listen to you,” Caspian said suddenly.
Larry patted his shoulders and gave him a slight smile.
He was relieved to have someone like Caspian as his best friend.
“Caspian, if you wish to see Nancy happy, then you should let her live the life which is possible for her
to find happiness.”
It was clear as day what Larry was trying to say.
“And you’ve been framed for the affair. It’s not Nancy, it’s Gabriella. As to why she’s doing this, we’ll talk
when we get back,” Larry said in a hushed tone.
Caspian clenched his fist tight.
“Mr. Norton, how do you have the heart to worry about other people when you haven’t even solved your
own problems?” Gabriella said derisively.
She still remembered that Larry had sent her to the hospital after she was drunk, and how he had
ruined her carefully thought-out plan.
“I will deal with my own problem. There’s no need for others to worry about me,” Larry retorted coldly.
Jory sat aside and transfixed his gaze at Caspian. He could not care less what happened between
Larry and Gabriella.
“Mr. Synder, Caspian is like a brother to me. But he is Nancy’s husband, at least as of now he still is.
Don’t you have a bit of explaining to do about that woman?” Larry snapped as he pointed at the woman
whom Gabriella brought along.
Jory eyeballed the woman and snickered in response.
“What does it have anything to do with me?”
A cold glint flashed across Larry’s eyes.
“Nothing to do with you? To my best knowledge, Caspian has a very high alcohol tolerance, but he was
so drunk that he had sex with the woman that night. I think Gabriella should know about this better than
anyone else,” Larry said as he cast a sideways glance at Gabriella.
Yes, I’m involved in this, but what can he do? His company is in turmoil, and he already has enough to
deal with. Yet, he still has the time and energy to clean up after Caspian. Is Larry out of his mind?
With the thought in mind, Gabriella fumed with fury.
Actually, Larry was not even sure if it had anything to do with Gabriella. However, he trusted his
instincts. That was the reason he asked Joan to take Nancy away.
“Why should I know anything about it? I didn’t do it.” Gabriella denied Larry’s accusation.
Jory cast a glance in the woman’s direction, thinking that things might not be as simple as he thought
they would be. Given how Caspian felt toward Nancy, it was very unlikely that he would cheat on her.
The only possibility would be that he was framed by someone else.
“Good. We’re going to find out if it has anything to do with you,” Larry snickered.
What is he up to now? Gabriella could not help but wonder as she looked at the man before her.
He has nothing against me. Only the woman and I know about this.
Chapter 1797
Ding! Larry’s phone pinged.
It was a video sent by Joan.
The video clip clearly showed Gabriella meeting up with the woman, and everything that happened in
the hotel.
“This is the truth,” Larry said as he handed over the phone to Caspian.
So, I was drugged that day.
I was framed all along.
“Now it’s clear that Caspian had been set up by someone. As for what happened between Nancy and
Jory, well, I think you guys know more than I do,” Larry said as he looked in Jory’s direction.
“What did you say? Caspian was framed?” Nancy widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked at Joan.
“Yes, given how Caspian is, it’s impossible that he would cheat on you. Nancy, Caspian really loves
you. Aren’t you going to reconsider?” Joan looked at Nancy with a worried look.
She was not worried that Jory might mistreat Nancy, because she knew that the man loved her.
However, she just could not bear to see Nancy and Caspian getting divorced.
A family was falling apart just like that. Nobody would have liked to see that happen.
“Joan, there is really no love between me and Caspian, but it’s different between me and Jory. We are
in love. A marriage without love is just an empty shell, and nobody is going to be happy.” There was a
hint of sorrow in Nancy’s eyes.
Even though she was disheartened to part ways with Caspian, Nancy knew there was no point keeping
up with a marriage that simply didn’t work anymore.
“Okay, since you’ve already thought this through, I’m not going to say anything further. I just hope that
you don’t regret your decision in the future.” Joan patted Nancy’s shoulders and decided to just support
and respect her friend’s decision in the matter.
Not long after, Caspian and Nancy got a divorce.
The two of them were no longer a couple, but they stayed friends.
Even though Caspian’s thing was settled, everything remained a mess in Larry’s company, and that left
him feeling more and more anxious as days went by. Joan felt her heart ached when she noticed Larry
being tense all the time.
“Larry, don’t you have a better way to deal with this?” Joan asked as she lay in the man’s embrace.
“Alpire Group had taken over the subsidiary company of the Norton Corporation. Unless they are willing
to hand it back to me, I really don’t see another way out of this,” Larry sighed.
Joan’s face fell after listening to him.
“Joan, I will be really busy recently. Why don’t you take some time off and head overseas?” Larry
carefully regarded the woman in his arms.
He knew she wouldn’t agree to it. She would have chosen to get through this hurdle together with him.
However, he really could not find the time to deal with everything at once. The problems at the
company had already taken a big chunk of his attention and time, and Larry knew he would not have
the energy to deal with other things, not especially if anything should happen to Joan. He thought that it
might be better for her to take some time off rather than him ignoring her from being too swamped with
work.
Joan lifted her head to look straight into the man’s eyes, and she caressed his hair gently.
“Okay.” Joan nodded her head.
Did she just say yes? Really?
“I will go find you as soon as the matter at the company has been dealt with, and then we will go on a
trip together.” Larry looked lovingly at the considerate woman.
Joan knew he was just coaxing her. She knew there were a lot of uncertainties about resolving his
problem at work. However, she believed that her man would pull it through like he always had. Even
though Gabriella coveted him, Joan believed that Larry was a loyal man and that he would not just
abandon her.
She knew he was between a rock and a hard place. Larry just didn’t want me to worry about him.
Joan started to pack after they had planned everything out.
“Joan, are you really leaving?” Nancy cast a curious look at her.
“Yes, Larry is really busy these days. I don’t want to weigh him down.” Joan managed an awkward
smile.
How she wished she could help him out with the company matters.
Joan lifted her head to look at the sky, and a wave of helplessness washed over her.
Only Larry, Nancy, and Caspian knew that Joan was heading overseas. As a result, Dustin and Jory
were kept in the dark about the matter.
Chapter 1798
Chapter 1798 Why Are You Here
After Joan had gone overseas, the house felt empty to Larry every time he went home. Hence, the two
of them would be engaging in sweet-talking on the phone for over two hours every day, just like any
other couple in a long-distance relationship. Moreover, they had endless topics to talk about.
Not long after, Dustin had gotten the news on Joan being overseas and gave the latter a call.
“Where are you right now?” Dustin asked in a low voice.
“Why are you looking for me?”
Joan thought it was better for her to keep some distance from Dustin, lest Larry might overthink.
The distance made the heart grew fonder, but also more space for each of them to feel insecure.
“Nothing, I’m just asking. How are you doing lately?” Dustin asked.
Joan found his questions odd. She hung up the call after brief exchanges. Who knows what is on the
man’s mind?
Ding…
Dustin looked at the caller ID, and picked up right away.
“I’ve figured it all out. You can head there right away. Joan is there alone because Larry is busy with
work.”
Dustin was overjoyed to hear the news.
So Joan was all alone. Does it mean that I’m finally getting my chance?
Dustin hurriedly packed his luggage and booked a flight overseas.
Larry, if you’re too busy to take care of her, then let me do the job. A wicked grin flashed across his
face.
Meanwhile, Joan was laying on an armchair and enjoying the sea breeze.
Sometimes, enjoying a little sea breeze was enough to make one feel contented and blissful.
Ding…
Joan cast a glance at the caller ID, and tossed her phone aside.
Despite her ignoring her phone, the calls just kept coming in.
Joan picked up her phone and put it on the speaker phone out of frustration.
“Joan, I’m hurt right now. Could you come pick me up?” Dustin said deliberately.
Joan panicked.
What’s the matter? Why is he hurt? And why is he calling me?
“You should go to the hospital if you’re sick,” Joan said as a matter-of-factly.
What is he calling me for if he’s hurt? Besides, I’m not even in the country.
“No, I just got off the plane, and I can’t walk. Please come pick me up,” Dustin replied.
What did he mean by he just got off the plane? Is he… here?
“No, Dustin. What do you mean? Where are you right now? Did you say you’re just getting off a plane?”
Joan thought her ears were playing a trick on her.
“Joan, could you stop with the nagging? I’m really hurt and it’s so painful. Just come pick me and my
luggage up.” Dustin pretended as if he was in a lot of pain.
Joan was a kind-hearted and innocent woman. Naturally, she was deceived by Dustin’s words.
Joan rushed to the airport, and yelled his name out loud, “Dustin! Dustin!”
“Hey, Joan! I’m here!” Dustin waved at the woman with all his might.
Finally, I get to see her again. It’s okay that you refuse to tell me where you are. I can figure it out on
my own.
“How are you? Where are you hurt?” Joan rushed to the man’s side.
Dustin could no longer hold it in and burst into a chuckle.
Joan knew that she had been deceived once again when the man broke into a chuckle.
“Dustin, do you think this is funny?” Joan was getting mad.
However, she was mostly surprised seeing him there. She had not told him her whereabouts and was
befuddled that he could still find her nevertheless.
“Hey, why are you here?” Joan asked.
“I’m here on a holiday. I’ve been too busy recently, and I need to take some time off.” Dustin replied
coolly.
Isn’t the timing too convenient for him?
What will Larry think if he knows about this?
Joan’s face fell at the thought.
No, I cannot possibly let Larry know about this. Otherwise, I’m never going to hear the end of it. I
should just stay away from him.
Chapter 1799
“Okay, now that you’re alright, just find yourself a place to stay. I’ll get going first.” Joan turned on her
heels to leave.
“Joan, where are you staying?” Dustin asked warily.
I’m out of my mind if I tell this man where I’m staying.
“Just, someplace. Alright, I have something on. I need to leave.” Joan turned around to leave right after.
It was time for her and Larry’s daily phone call. Even though they were physically apart, the distance
was not a problem for them to keep in contact with each other every day.
This has to be love.
However, deep down, Joan felt like there was something wrong somewhere. She just did not know
what it was. Waves of insecurities would just hit her with no apparent reason sometimes. It all started
after she had gone out of the country.
“Larry, are you eating properly? You’ve lost weight,” Joan teased as she looked at Larry on the screen.
“No worries. I’m alright. What about you? Are you doing alright then?” Larry stared longingly at the
woman on his screen.
“I’m doing good. The air is really clean out here. This place is really suitable for a vacation. I’m always
out for the sea breeze,” Joan said mischievously.
Joan would only show her carefree side to Larry, as she knew she could be herself in front of him.
“Larry, be honest with me. Are women chasing after you while I’m gone?” Joan asked deliberately.
He was Larry Norton after all. Tall, handsome, charismatic, gentleman, all in all – the perfect
wholesome package. Women flocked to him like bees going after honey. Besides, she was not by his
side, and those women might start getting some ideas, especially Gabriella. The woman was coveting
Larry more and more, even after being rejected multiple times by him.
“No, there are no women. There is only one woman, however, and it’s you.” Larry grinned.
Larry had not even thought about another woman after getting together with Joan.
“Okay, it’s getting late. You have to get some sleep.”
The two of them uttered good night to each other after a few brief exchanges.
Joan would always be the one to hang up first because Larry could not bear to hang up on her.
However, Joan did not hang up today. She wanted to see what the man was up after saying good night
to her.
Joan could see from the screen that Larry had turned to another side and started to flip through a
magazine.
Her lips curled into a contented smile when she saw the man’s gentle and humble manner.
He’s still my Larry. My handsome, charismatic man.
Joan felt her life was complete with him.
Her face beamed with a delightful smile.
She hoped that she would be able to live the rest of her life with the man, never to be separated from
him.
“I’m done washing up. Larry, it’s your turn.” A woman’s voice rang the second Joan tried to end the call.
What is happening right now? Why is there a woman’s voice coming from his end?
Joan looked at the screen, frantically trying to search for some clues.
Alas, a woman’s face appeared on the screen.
“Larry, what are you looking at? It’s already so late, stop. Let’s sleep earlier.” A woman in a sleeping
robe circled around Larry’s neck.
Joan recognized her. It was Gabriella.
However, why would Gabriella appear at their home, and why did Larry let her in? Besides, she was
wearing a sleeping robe. And… And she circled around Larry’s neck?
Thunderstruck, Joan felt her brain going blank.
“Larry, you should wash up now. Come, let me help you.” Gabriella was about to unbutton his shirt.
Joan could no longer continue watching and closed the video.
Chapter 1800
Were my eyes fooling me just now?
Joan suddenly felt tears brimming in her eyes.
She had not expected that Larry would cheat on her as soon as she had gone overseas. No wonder he
would always be the one to say good night first every day.
So had he been together with that Gabriella all this while? Did he and Gabriella already…
Joan stopped herself from going further down the rabbit hole. She was afraid that she might not be able
to accept the bitter truth.
The woman desperately hoped that her eyes had played tricks on her just now. There was no
Gabriella, and the woman was not circling her arms around Larry’s neck.
At the same time, Gabriella broke in a cackle at the sight of the tablet not far from her.
“Gabriella, don’t go overboard and just leave after you’re done changing!” Larry shrugged her off and
continued to flip through the newspaper.
“Larry, do you really hate me so much?” Gabriella asked indignantly.
She did not consider herself beneath Joan Watts. In fact, she was prettier, had a better figure, and was
smarter than that woman. Why did she get to keep Larry while I had to suffer the man’s contempt?
Needless to say, Gabriella felt indignant at her fate.
“Do you want to know why? Let me tell you because Joan always knows what she’s after, and she’s not
going to stoop to despicable ways to get what she wants despite that! As for you, you are not even
worthy to be compared to her,” Larry spat out his words in despise.
Gabriella was infuriated.
“Oh, you think she’s so innocent and pure! Do you think she’s serious about you? Then what about that
Dustin guy? Larry, don’t be deceived by her!” Gabriella said aloud deliberately.
She wanted to slander the woman, and for her to disappear from his sight forever!
“Gabriella, are you done? Who gave you permission to put on the sleeping robe? Change into your
clothes and get lost!” Larry did not even bother to lift his head and said.
Is he asking me to leave? Don’t you know it’s already late now, Larry?
The woman should have seen me circling my arms around Larry’s neck. I’m sure that she’s not that
generous to let other women touch Larry like that.
Actually, she was just coming in to change out of her wet clothes because of the heavy downpour.
“You should leave now,” Larry threw a frigid look at Gabriella and said. The cold, hard stare sent chills
down her spine.
He would never treat Joan like this.
You’re overseas right, Watts? Why don’t you stay right there forever?
A contemptuous look filled Gabriella’s eyes.
“Larry, it’s raining heavily out there, and I didn’t bring an umbrella. Why don’t you just let me stay the
night here…”
“No, you need to leave!” Larry slapped the woman with a blatant rejection even before she finished her
sentence.
Larry Norton, I’ll make sure that you regret your ruthlessness today!
Bang! Gabriella slammed the door shut behind her.
Meanwhile, Joan stared blankly out at the darkness outside, akin to the abyss in her empty heart.
Maybe my eyes had fooled me just now? Joan kept repeating that statement in her head, over and
over again, reluctant to believe that Larry would cheat on her.
Why is Larry cheating on me? Why would he treat me like that?
Joan finally managed to close her eyes after a long, long time.
The next day, warm sunshine filled the room as Joan stretched out her body. She opened her eyes
slowly.
Ring… Joan peered at the caller ID, and it was Larry.
“Hello?” Joan sounded weary on the line.
“Good morning.” Larry gave her a morning kiss through the phone.
However, her mind was filled with the images of Gabriella hugging Larry.
They chatted for a bit before they hung up.
After Joan had gone overseas, they would call each other in the morning, and again at night.
Unknowingly, it had become a habit between Larry and Joan.