Ch. 1521..1530

Chapter 1521 Whipped

Xylia was telling Ysabelle about the day he ran into Timothy and his wife at the mall. "Timothy tried to hold her hand, but she wouldn't let him and even gave him a cold look. When have you ever seen Timothy like this?"

"No way!" Ysabelle couldn't believe it. "Timothy is quite arrogant."

Ysabelle and Xylia were having a great time together. When Xylia was dating Timothy, he shared a lot with her. Moreover, Ysabelle also understood what kind of person Timothy was.

"Why would I lie to you?" Xylia asked. "Think about it, did I ever upset your cousin when we were dating? If I frowned and refused to hold his hand, he would be angry with me in a heartbeat."

Ysabelle frowned and asked, "What's so special about that woman? Why is Timothy so obedient to her?"

"She must be some sort of love guru, and I've heard a few things..." Xylia leaned toward Ysabelle, whispering a few words into her ear.

Ysabelle was taken aback. "Really?"

"Seriously, I've met Timothy's stepmother before." Xylia pulled out a photo to show her, "If they weren't mother and daughter, how is it possible they look so alike?"

Ysabelle seemed to understand something and sneered. "No wonder Timothy got married without telling us who he married. His mother is crafty, and the daughter is truly the apple that doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Ysabelle, it's your wedding day today. Don't let those things upset you." Xylia said softly, "I only told you because I couldn't hold it in. I know you've always had a thing for Timothy, and you're much prettier than that woman. I wish you could be my cousin-in-law." Ysabelle squinted her eyes and snorted lightly. "After all, Timothy is my cousin. I won't let him be led around by the nose by that woman."

Xylia said, "Don't mess around, or Timothy will be upset."

"I know my limits, you go ahead and sit down first." Seeing that a guest had arrived, Ysabelle stopped chatting with Xylia.

Xylia entered the banquet hall in high spirits, carrying her bag. She got along well with Ysabelle, who was also considered family. The table to which the waiter led her, designated for family members, happened to have Timothy and Johanna.

Upon entering, Xylia saw Timothy meticulously peeling grapes and placing them in Johanna's small bowl. The sight made Xylia's eyes sting.

When this man was kind to others, his gentleness could be overwhelming.

"Timothy, Mrs. Jensen," Xylia greeted the two before moving to pull out the chair to the left of Timothy, intending to sit down.

Timothy didn't even lift his head as he said, "What did I say? Hmm?"

The man's tone wasn't threatening, yet it sent a shiver down Xylia's spine. She mumbled, "Ysabelle is my best friend. She arranged for me to be at this table."

After finishing his sentence, Xylia swiftly went over to the other side of the table to find a seat.

A moment later, Xylia picked two grapes from the fruit plate, casually remarking, "These are called 'crystal grapes'. They're seedless and have particularly thin skins. Eating the skin is good for beautifying and nourishing the complexion."

"Eat more fruit peels if you like them, and stop talking." Timothy's tone was full of impatience.

Xylia fell silent, seemingly upset.

Timothy, in an attempt to please Johanna, said, "The wedding ceremony will take a long time to finish. Jojo, why don't you have some of the grapes I've peeled for you? They're especially sweet. Would you like some cantaloupe? I can have them bring a plate over."

"No more." Johanna popped a grape into her mouth, still looking down at his phone.

Xylia pouted, silently criticizing Johanna for her unwarranted arrogance. And Timothy, he was like a giant husky. The only thing missing was him wagging his tail at his wife.

Do men really listen to their wives like this?

Fifteen minutes before the wedding ceremony began, Johanna made a trip to the restroom.

As Johanna emerged from the corridor leading to the restroom, a server, in a hurry and carrying dishes, accidentally bumped into her on his way to the banquet hall next to her.

Before Johanna could even think of dodging, the waiter spilled the entire dish of glazed salmon on her expensive dress.

Chapter 1522 Love Her The Way She Is

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," the waiter quickly apologized, looking utterly flustered. "Let me take you to the restroom to clean your dress."

Johanna said, "This is formal attire. It cannot get wet."

Even if the formal attire was black, and the grease stains could be wiped off without a trace, the fishy smell was hard to wash away. She had to wear it back to the banquet hall, and all the guests would be able to smell the fishy odor on her dress.

The waiter bowed his head in apology to her once again. "I'm really sorry. We've been too busy. Let me cover the cost of your dress."

"I didn't even say much, and you're already talking about paying compensation. Seems like you're quite wealthy." Johanna glanced at her uniform, "Even considering depreciation, this uniform should cost around one hundred and eighty thousand."

Looking at the waiter's vacant gaze, Johanna took a ballpoint pen and wrote a card number in her hand, "Call me within ten minutes.'

Before returning to the restroom, Johanna spotted some roses in the basket by the door. She picked five or six of them and took them with her.

Seeing Johanna go to the restroom, Xylia couldn't help but strike up a conversation with Timothy, "Mrs. Jensen is too much. You peeled a whole bowl of grapes for her, but she didn't even show any appreciation."

"Can't I just enjoy her being overly attached to me?"

Xylia gritted his teeth, angrily saying, "Timothy, I'm only looking out for you. You can't spoil a woman too much. The more you spoil her, the more outrageous she becomes. Has she bewitched you? You're always the one making efforts while she remains indifferent."

Timothy's face darkened as she stared at Xylia unhappily. "Say one more word to me, and I'll kick you out of the banquet hall."

Xylia didn't dare to make a sound. Seeing her phone light up, she picked it up to read the message.

After reading the message sent by Ysabelle, Xylia felt much relieved. She couldn't help but gloat at Johanna's misfortune, thinking that if Johanna dared to come back, she would definitely be humiliated.

Even Timothy's reputation was at stake.

As the appointed time arrived, the emcee announced the bride's entrance. Immediately, the lighting technician directed the only spotlight toward the banquet hall's entrance. Dressed in a floor-length wedding gown, Ysabelle gracefully made her entrance.

Everyone turned their gaze toward the door when suddenly someone exclaimed, "So beautiful!”

Xylia was currently recording a video with her phone.

Upon hearing the exclamations, she initially thought the guests were complimenting Ysabelle's beauty, but unexpectedly, she noticed a figure lurking behind Ysabelle.

The woman's skin was as white as snow, her slender figure wrapped in a black off-the-shoulder dress. Intense red roses cascaded from her chest to the hem of her dress as if they were growing right out of the fabric.

The vibrant red made her black dress seem more mysterious, transforming her into an enigma that could captivate anyone with just a glance.

Johanna stood under the light for just a second before she sidled into the banquet hall. The lighting technician instinctively shone the spotlight on her, watching as she made her way to the gift table and took a

seat.

Timothy never expected that Johanna's long skirt before going to the restroom would turn into a short one when she returned.

His head was spinning from her beauty.

Timothy draped the suit jacket over Johanna's legs. Before he could speak, Xylia bluntly said, "Mrs. Jensen, today is Timothy's cousin's wedding. Are you intentionally trying to ruin it?"

"I've returned from the restroom, and I'm not allowed back into the banquet hall?" Johanna's voice was gentle and composed.

Xylia said, "Even if you want to enter, you have to wait until the bride comes in first. But you came in as soon as the spotlight hit her. Who would believe it wasn't intentional?"

"So what if it was on purpose?" Timothy's face was filled with displeasure. "Is it your place to lecture my wife?"

Seeing Timothy so biased toward Johanna, Xylia was furious. "Timothy, this is your cousin's wedding. Aren't you embarrassed that she's stealing your cousin's thunder? Louisa will say you have no manners."

Timothy chuckled nonchalantly. "With such a beautiful wife, I'm too delighted to even have time to worry. What face do I have to lose?"

"So what if it's my cousin's wedding? Is there a rule that says her guests can't be more beautiful than her?"

Timothy spoke, lifting his eyes to glance at Xylia, "If you don't want to steal Ysabelle's thunder, wouldn't it be better to wear black? Why are you wearing such a flashy dress?"

Chapter 1523 The Right To Compare

Knowing Timothy's temperament and after being repeatedly rebuked by him, Xylia pursed her lips and chose not to speak again.

The wedding processional had concluded, and the crystal chandeliers in the banquet hall were lit up again. At that moment, a slightly overweight man in a suit approached Johanna's table.

The man politely greeted her and handed over his business card, "I'm Waylon Saafield, the editor-in-chief of Mode, and I was sitting at the table by the entrance. When you first came in, I noticed you were wearing a long black velvet dress from Chanel, but later it turned into a short version. Did you have the short version custom-made by a designer?"

"No," Johanna said with a faint smile. "I'm a fashion designer. When I came out of the restroom, I accidentally dirtied the dress, so I cut off the dirty hem."

Waylon was sitting at the entrance, so he could see all the guests coming in and out. Due to Johanna's exquisite beauty, he paid more attention to her.

Upon hearing this, Waylon carefully examined Johanna's dress. "I remember you went out about fifteen minutes before the wedding. Did you alter it into a short dress in just a few minutes?"

Moreover, she did not just shorten the skirt but also sewed red roses onto it. The dress exuded an air of mystery and romance while also being fashionable.

Johanna hummed nonchalantly. "Being able to alter a piece of clothing within a certain time frame is a fundamental skill for a designer."

As a renowned editor-in-chief of a local magazine, Waylon frequently interacted with designers from major clothing brands and understood the ability to alter clothes was an essential skill for a designer.

However, in a short time, Johanna not only altered a piece of clothing but also managed to create something eye-catching. This was something only a handful of designers could achieve.

Waylon exchanged a few more words with Johanna.

Upon learning that she was not a designer for a well-known brand and had just started a design studio, Waylon did not show any less respect. He took out his business card and handed it over.

"If given the opportunity, I hope to collaborate with your studio, Ms. Joule," he said.

"Absolutely." Since the business cards Johanna had ordered were still being printed, she added Waylon on WhatsApp.

Xylia did not expect that the editor-in-chief of Mode would also attend Ysabelle's wedding banquet.

Mode was one of the most prestigious and influential women's fashion magazines in the country. Only top-tier female celebrities could grace their covers. The others could only dream of such an opportunity, and it all depended on whether they caught the eye of the editor-in-chief.

Xylia reckoned that Waylon must have a good relationship with Ysabelle's husband. If Ysabelle knew such a renowned person, she could not possibly be unaware of it.

While Waylon and Johanna were busy adding each other on WhatsApp, Xylia leaned over and initiated a conversation with the editor-in-chief. "I've always admired you, Mr. Saafield. It's such a coincidence to meet you today. Ysabelle and I are friends and schoolmates. We get along really well." She directly revealed her friendship with Ysabelle.

"Hello." Waylon merely nodded politely in response.

While taking out her phone, Xylia continued with a smile, "I'm an artist under Beluga Media. Hugh Cabot is my boss. You should know him. Let me add you on WhatsApp."

"Do you have an unusual relationship with your boss?" Waylon suddenly asked.

Xylia froze momentarily before replying, "No."

"I know your boss, but you're not his wife, so why should I add your contact?" Waylon stated bluntly, "If I agreed to add everyone who asked me on WhatsApp, my account would be overloaded."

Xylia paled and questioned defiantly, "But why did you add Mrs. Jensen? Is she somehow special?"

Before Waylon could respond, Timothy remarked in an irritated manner, "My wife runs a design studio, and she's skilled with her hands, so isn't it natural for the editor of a magazine company to want to collaborate with her? What can you do? All you know is to cry and make a fuss. You've been in the entertainment industry for so long, yet, you still haven't made a name for yourself."

He then called a waiter over and instructed him to escort Xylia out.

Xylia was both upset and annoyed. Upon noticing Ysabelle's mother coming over, she quickly approached her and grabbed her hand. "Mrs. Steele, please help me out here. Timothy is trying to kick me out."

Chapter 1524 Not At All Exaggerated

Ysabelle had turned around and told her mother the gossip that Xylia had shared with her at the entrance earlier.

Naturally, Louisa would side with Xylia since she had issues with Johanna in the first place.

She pulled Xylia over to sit down. "Timothy, today is your Ysabelle's wedding, and Xylia has purposely taken time off work to attend her wedding. For my sake, could you please let go of your anger?"

Just as Timothy was about to respond to her last sentence with sarcasm, his shin was suddenly kicked. He glanced at Johanna and did not utter another word.

Listen to your wife. If she says to let it go, then let it go.

Louisa wanted to help Xylia get Waylon's WhatsApp, but the latter had already left. So, she reassured Xylia, "Since Mr. Saafield is a guest invited by my son-in-law, I'll talk to him when I get home."

"Thank you, Mrs. Steele," Xylia said, flashing a faint smile. She then took the initiative to pick up her fork and pile food on Louisa's plate.

"What's there to thank for? You get along so well with Ysabelle, and you're such a beautiful and well-behaved girl," Louisa complimented her. "If I had a son, I would surely approve of you becoming my daughter-in-law."

Timothy ignored them and leaned over to ask Johanna, "What would you like to eat, Honey? I'll get it for you."

"Help yourself. I can serve myself."

Louisa initially thought Xylia had exaggerated her words, but after seeing it for herself, she felt it was not at all an exaggeration. What kind of man behaves like this? He completely disregards his dignity to coax his wife, yet, his wife still ignores him.

Unable to stand it any longer, she placed her cutlery on the table and said, "Timothy, I have something to discuss with you."

It seemed as if Timothy did not hear her as he scooped a bowl of stew and placed it next to Johanna.

Louisa was not upset and continued speaking. "Ysabelle isn't just coming back to get married. The couple also want to work in the capital. That way, they'll be nearer to our home and her husband's family's home. With you being Ysabelle's cousin, I'll feel more at ease if she works at your company, knowing you're there to look after her."

"That's where you're wrong, Aunt Louisa," Timothy drawled. "Since she's married now, it should be her husband taking care of her. I need to look after my wife and child."

"I just want you to look after her at work," said Louisa.

Timothy took a leisurely bite of his food. "Even though it's not the recruitment period at Forlisle Group, she is my cousin, in any case. Very well. Have her send her resume to the Forlisle Group's HR department."

After being dumbfounded for a few seconds, Louisa persuaded gently, "As your cousin, does she really need to apply to work at your company? You could just bring her in straight away. I'm not asking you to pull strings, but your cousin is a top graduate from Merania University and exceptionally capable. You could just arrange an executive position for her."

Timothy chuckled in amusement at her words. "It's true that my family owns shares in Forlisle Group, Aunt Louisa, but I don't have the final say in the company. I can't just appoint someone as an executive. It doesn't work like that."

"Timothy, you're being biased." Louisa's expression turned cold.

"Who doesn't know that after the Benson family went bankrupt, Mr. Benson's eldest son and daughter joined the Forlisle Group, and they became executives as soon as they joined. You treat outsiders so well. Don't you care about your cousin?"

Timothy scoffed and said, "You know they became executives at Forlisle Group. Yet, you forget that when Benson Corporation was still around, Mr. Benson's eldest son was a company director, and his second daughter was the vice CEO. They could easily become CEOs at other major companies. For them to join Forlisle Group as general managers is beneath their abilities."

He added, "Also, I didn't pull any strings to get them in. They went through the proper channels and got in through interviews."

Louisa's expression turned icy when she heard that. "So, you're saying you don't want to arrange a job for your cousin?"

"She's thirty, not twenty. If you, as her mom, want to worry about her job, that's your business," Timothy drawled. "Of course, it's not my place as an outsider to interfere."

Louisa could not help but lose her temper. "Timothy, your mom and I are biological sisters."

"So what if you're sisters? Did Old Mrs. Wenstein ever show her affection?" Timothy retorted, his eyes devoid of any humor. "Ask yourself, Aunt Louisa. Did you ever show affection to your younger sister when you were children?"

As Timothy's eyes bore into her, filled with an intimidating chill, Louisa felt a shiver run through her body, leaving her unable to utter a single word.

Chapter 1525 Keep Your Opinion To Yourself

Timothy toyed with his cup, his voice indifferent. "If only you had been kinder to my mother when you were young, I'd even be willing to give your daughter shares in Forlisle Group, not to mention arranging for her to work at the company, Aunt Louisa."

At the side, Johanna turned and glanced at the man.

She could seemingly understand why he never visited his uncles and aunts during the new year or allowed Asel to come over.

Not long after, Ysabelle came over after changing into another gown for the toast session.

She noticed her mother's grim expression and asked what was wrong. Xylia quietly explained, "Mrs. Steele asked Timothy to arrange for you to work at Forlisle Group, but he disagreed and even snapped at her."

Upon hearing that, Ysabelle said to Timothy while suppressing her temper, "My mom and Aunt Aubrey are sisters by blood. How could she possibly treat Aunt Aubrey poorly? Never mind if you don't want me to go to Forlisle Group. There are plenty of big companies in the country, and I'm not particularly keen on Forlisle Group either. But my mom is also your aunt. Don't you think you were a bit too rude to her?"

"Wasn't I just having a normal conversation with her? How was I being rude?" Timothy countered in puzzlement.

"You said my mom doesn't treat Aunt Aubrey well." While speaking, Ysabelle pointed at Johanna. "And what kind of wife did you marry? She didn't bother to greet her elders. When I was making my entrance during the wedding earlier, she even deliberately stole my thunder."

Since it was her own wedding and all eyes were on her, she had been curbing her temper instead of blowing up because of the matter just now.

"I was the one who told her not to greet anyone. If you have an opinion about it, keep it to yourself," said Timothy.

At his rudeness, Ysabelle flushed bright red with rage. "Don't you think you're being ridiculous, Timothy? You're a grown man, yet you're disdained when you take your wife's hand. Did Xylia ever embarrass you like that when you dated her?"

Timothy's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze emanating a terrifying aura as he swung it at Xylia. The latter guiltily hung her head while Ysabelle stood protectively before her.

"Xylia only told me all that because she cares about you."

Then, Ysabelle continued, "Don't be manipulated by this woman, Timothy. Her father is a gambling addict, even willing to sell his wife for money to gamble. Don't you know who her mother is?"

Timothy forcefully slammed his cup onto the banquet table, making a startlingly loud bang. His voice turned grave as well. "Can you just shut up?"

Ysabelle was so frightened that she trembled all over and nearly fell down.

Louisa hurriedly supported Ysabelle, her expression unchanged as she said, "Don't be angry, Timothy. Ysabelle merely doesn't want to see you being toyed around by a woman. After your mother passed away, your father remarried not long after. But he didn't marry someone decent. She was only after his money. Look, she even had you marry her daughter later."

She glanced at Johanna, who had been silent all along, before adding, "Her mother is just trying to trap both you and your father."

At that, Timothy chuckled. "You sure know a lot, Aunt Louisa."

"The Joule family used to be quite well-known in Jadeborough. I even shared a meal with her mother at the same table once." Louisa lifted her chin slightly. "We all know the kind of person Mrs. Joule is—"

Before Louisa had finished speaking, Timothy suddenly lifted his hands and flipped the banquet table over.

Plates and wine bottles crashed onto the floor, startling everyone at and around the table. Louisa took two steps back, looking utterly terrified.

Wiping his hands with a tissue, Timothy uttered nonchalantly, "Aunt Louisa, ever since I arrived, I've been quite polite to you and Ysabelle. But the two of you won't stop buzzing in my ear. Since you've shown my wife no courtesy, I see no reason to afford you any respect."

Louisa's lips quivered. She wanted to say something, but Timothy coldly interrupted, "The kind of people my wife's parents are, is none of your business! This is the last time I'm having a meal with you. Wait until Old Mrs. Wenstein passes away before you inform me next."

After he finished speaking, he took Johanna by the hand and left. Louisa was so livid that her chest heaved violently. She almost burst a blood vessel.

Chapter 1526 Console Himself

After leaving the banquet hall, Timothy led Johanna to the hotel's parking lot without a word.

It was not until he had driven the car out of the parking lot and warm sunlight streamed into the vehicle that he glanced at Johanna in the passenger seat. "Why didn't you say anything when they picked on you just now?"

"What they said was true," Johanna said calmly. "My mother did marry your father for his wealth, hoping for a better life."

Timothy pulled over at the side of the road, unbuckled his seatbelt, and turned to Johanna.

"What are you trying to say? After all these years, do you still think that marrying you was my way of getting back at your mother? Shouldn't you have refuted them? What if I was dragged somewhere to talk and wasn't there? Were you going to allow Aunt Louisa to give you a hard time?"

Johanna revealed, "A server bumped into me when I came out of the restroom and dirtied my dress. She was just a hotel server yet could fork out hundreds of thousands to compensate for it."

Understanding promptly dawned upon Timothy. "Ysabelle was behind that? So, you deliberately stole her spotlight?"

"It's her wedding today. Aside from you, I don't know any of the other guests," Johanna uttered nonchalantly. "Your ex-girlfriend and Ysabelle are best friends, so she must have shared everything with her."

When she entered the banquet hall, she overheard Ysabelle complaining to Louisa about her lack of manners.

If Xylia had added fuel to the fire in front of Ysabelle and said that she ignored Timothy, Ysabelle would definitely be annoyed and come up with a way to mess with her while also helping her best friend vent her frustrations.

Seeing that Johanna retaliated, Timothy was finally relieved. He said, "They picked on me too, yet you never helped me."

"You had quite the silver tongue, refuting two people with ease. Did you need my help?"

"Thus, you merely sat there and watched?" Timothy asked, clearly frustrated. He sat back down, fastened his seatbelt, and restarted the car.

Johanna turned to look at him. The man's face was taut with anger, his profile cold and hard.

After a moment of silence in the car, Johanna broke the silence. "I had no idea about the issues between you and your relatives. I was afraid to speak in case I made things worse."

Timothy countered, "Then, couldn't you have proven to them that we were very much in love when they said that you're indifferent to me?"

Johanna pursed her lips and said nothing.

Timothy became even more upset, feeling that she might as well have kept her mouth shut. But after his anger subsided, he began to console himself.

She doesn't want to love me anymore in the first place. Hence, she has been avoiding me and treating me indifferently. I've got to coax her gently and help undo the damage so she'd continue loving me. If I were to get mad with her, wouldn't that be hastening our divorce? Wooing a wife is a task comparable to climbing a mountain.

After comforting himself, he took the initiative to explain, "My uncle died of an illness when he was one year old. When Old Mrs. Wenstein was pregnant with my mother, Old Mr. Wenstein had a mistress and never came home every night. She felt that he wouldn't have behaved in such a way if she were carrying a son. Therefore, she hated my mother. She only gave birth to my mother, but she never loved her since young. Whenever there was something to be distributed, she would give them to her other daughters but never my mother."

His voice was indifferent, devoid of emotion. He continued, "She doesn't care for my mother. Neither does Old Mr. Wenstein. For the banquet back then, he initially wanted to bring Aunt Louisa. But at that time, she was dating the general manager of a jewelry company and didn't want to go. He needed to bring a daughter for his reputation's sake, so he brought my mother instead. It was at that very banquet that my father met my mother. He was smitten with her at first sight, and they hit it off right away..."

Seeing him pause, Johanna asked, "Old Mrs. Wenstein sabotaged things?"

"She disliked my mother since childhood, so she naturally wanted to save such a good son-in-law for her third daughter," Timothy said with a sneer.

He elaborated, "She went to see my father, telling him that Old Mr. Wenstein didn't bring Aunt Louisa back then because she had something to do. She wanted to play matchmaker between Aunt Louisa and my father, but my father paid her no mind. She couldn't persuade my father, thus turning to pressuring my mother. She emphasized how my mother wasn't meant to attend the banquet, so the good fortune was meant for her sister. That aside, she threatened my mother by saying that the family wouldn't back her up if anything happened if she dared to marry my father."

Chapter 1527 Waiting for You

Johanna thought that being thrown abroad to live alone at the age of ten by Vanessa was tough enough. She never imagined there could be such cruel people in the world.

It was clear that the child wasn't at fault, yet they faced indifference. Born but not nurtured.

Johanna thought of the child. The child was innocent, and so was she. If she had known that the child was not hers and Timothy's, she definitely wouldn't have given birth to the child.

She was deceived by Zephyr.

Therefore the child's survival had nothing to do with her, and she didn't need to feel sympathy.

Johanna said, "Thankfully, your mom didn't back down."

"Yes. Thankfully, she didn't listen to Old. Mrs. Wenstein." Timothy smiled. "Perhaps heaven couldn't bear to see my mother unloved, so it sent my father to her side. After their marriage, my father made up for all the affection she didn't receive from her own parents. It's a pity she didn't get to enjoy it for long." He sighed and continued, "She fell ill unexpectedly, and my father tried everything but couldn't save her. Because I was too young and needed someone to take care of me, my father remarried."

The couple had been married for several years, and she had never asked about Timothy's parents. But now, she knew everything.

Johanna said, "Actually, my mom just didn't want to live a hard life. If she hadn't immorally intervened in your parents' relationship, our relationship would have been so overly melodramatic."

"Have you forgotten all the things your mother did for you?" Timothy said unhappily, "You always defend her as if I'm the only one holding a grudge, preventing her from being with my dad as if I'm the villain."

"I haven't forgotten." Johanna pursed her lips. "I just think she's not that bad."

Even though Vanessa was solely focused on her own luxurious life, she did genuinely care for Johanna when the latter was a child and spent a considerable amount of money to send Johanna abroad for studies.

Johanna asked, "Why do you think I only remember her good qualities? Was I manipulated by her?"

"I don't think so, but I think you're manipulating me." Timothy's voice was tinged with resentment. "You're nice to everyone, just not to me."

Timothy spoke, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "See, the moment I mention this, you feign ignorance."

"Take me to the studio." Johanna abruptly changed the topic. "My store is opening for business tomorrow, and there's still a lot to be arranged in the shop."

"You haven't seen Asel for a few days, and she misses you a lot, so let's go home." Timothy drove toward the mansion. "I'll go to the studio with you later tonight or tomorrow morning."

On their way back, Timothy took Johanna to a high-end supermarket to do some shopping.

Seeing him skillfully selecting seafood, Johanna was somewhat surprised. "Have you mastered the art of cloning? You even know how to grocery shop?"

"If I do, there will be another person to compete with me for your affection. I'll never do that," said Timothy. "You're busy, and I can't disturb you, so I can only bring Asel to buy snacks. Besides, anyone with eyes can do the grocery shopping."

He took the bag of priced prawns, and gazed down at Johanna, asking, "Jojo, would you like some braised pork? I can make it for you tonight."

"Anything is fine. I'm not picky."

Timothy stared at Johanna for a while before muttering, "Forget it." Then, he turned around and picked a piece of fresh pork belly from the refrigerator for the staff to weigh.

After finishing their grocery shopping and exiting the supermarket, Timothy suddenly said, "Jojo."

"What?" Johanna glanced at him.

Walking side by side with her, Timothy spoke in a deep voice. "Actually, men can be quite wicked, especially those with power and influence. But my father never fooled around outside. He deeply loved my mother, do you understand?"

Johanna hummed in agreement. "I can see that."

"Why are you agreeing? You don't understand anything," Timothy said to her. "Whether two people can stay together for a long time depends on whether their love for each other is strong enough, just like my father."

"Old Mrs. Wenstein had always tried to keep my mom and dad apart, and there was also a disparity in their family backgrounds. My grandfather wasn't too pleased with my mom, but my dad was determined to marry her. My mom never let my dad down. She loved him deeply until the day she passed away. People as deeply affectionate as my dad are rare," Timothy said. "No wonder he and my mom were able to have such an outstanding child like me."

Johanna couldn't help but laugh. "Before we got to know each other, I could hardly imagine you as someone who loves deeply."

"Yes. That's because I've been waiting for you all along."

"All right. Let's go home." Ever since they left the hotel, he hadn't stopped showering her with sweet nothings. Johanna was almost overwhelmed by his constant affection.

Chapter 1528 Apple Juice

They had been out and about for quite a while, and by the time they returned to the mansion, it was already past four o'clock.

Asel hadn't seen Johanna for several days. Upon seeing her, she excitedly rushed over to hug her mother's leg, batting her big eyes coquettishly. "Mommy, stay with me, don't stay with Daddy. Daddy is naughty."

"You're an ungrateful child." Timothy bent down and gently rubbed her daughter's cheeks. "If I had known, I wouldn't have called your mom over."

Johanna accompanied her daughter to the living room to play while Timothy carried the ingredients into the kitchen.

After he entered the kitchen, he took out his phone and sent a voice message to Cooper, "Ask which bartender at the bar is good at mixing drinks, and send me his number."

Timothy's preparation of the traditional braised pork dish took quite a while. He used that time to "study" other recipes in the kitchen.

Around six o'clock, Timothy finished preparing dinner and called Johanna and Asel to come and eat.

Before he could even pick up his fork, Asel seemed to anticipate his move. She scooped up a piece of braised pork with her spoon and placed it in Johanna's bowl, saying, "Mommy, you eat."

"Thank you, darling." Johanna kissed her forehead.

Timothy was amazed at how quickly his daughter was picking up things, but he didn't compete with her for attention. "Jojo, I've also learned how to mix drinks. Would you like to try one with dinner?"

"Aren't you too busy with work?" Johanna amusingly asked. "How do you still find time to learn all these?"

Timothy said sincerely, "I learned these to relieve stress. You know how smart I am. I learn everything quickly. This is the first cocktail I've mixed. Don't you want to try it?"

"All right," Johanna agreed.

Asel didn't know what a cocktail was, but seeing her mother and father chatting so happily about it, she wanted to try it too.

After dinner, Timothy immediately made a glass of apple juice for Asel.

After taking a couple of sips of the apple juice, Asel looked up, her big eyes full of confusion. "Daddy, this doesn't taste any different from the apple juice the housekeeper poured for me."

"There is a difference," Timothy said seriously. "Because this is squeezed by your dad, it's called 'Dad's Brand' apple juice."

"Oh."

Timothy's antics with Asel left Johanna both laughing and crying. She sat at the table, resting her cheek on her hand, watching Timothy clumsily mix drinks. She had no idea if the cocktails he was making were even drinkable.

A few minutes later, Timothy pushed a glass of light orange cocktail in front of Johanna. Tentatively, Johanna took a sip.

The liquor wasn't strong; all that lingered on the tip of the tongue was the sweet and sour taste of oranges.

She drained her glass in one gulp, a clear affirmation of Timothy's cocktail-making skills. "Pretty good," she commented.

"Is that so?" Timothy curved his lips into a smile.

Johanna enjoyed the drink, so Timothy mixed several cups for her. Then, he took out a few cans of Sprite from the refrigerator, along with a deck of playing cards.

"Jojo, it's boring if only you're drinking. I want to drink too. Let's play a game."

Timothy was talking about a common drinking game often played at the drinking table. Everyone would take turns inserting a playing card under the pull tab of a Sprite can. Whoever popped open the pull tab while inserting their card had to drink a predetermined number of shots.

Timothy said, "You can insert as many cards as you want at once, but if you pop the pull tab, you'll have to drink a glass of cocktail."

He pointed to the row of specially mixed cocktails.

"Okay."

The cocktail, which didn't have much of a taste of alcohol, was something Johanna found herself wanting to drink. She first picked a few cards and tucked them under the pull tab.

The two of them took turns sliding cards under the pull ring. In no time, dozens of playing cards were crammed under it, causing the ring to tighten. With great care, Johanna slipped another card into the pile.

In the midst of the action, there was a sudden pop, and the pull ring had been pried open.

Johanna was fully engrossed in the game, yet to her surprise, she still lost. She grabbed a cocktail and downed it in one gulp, expressing her discontent, "Let's play one more round!"

Chapter 1529 Can I Kiss You

As it was getting late, Timothy instructed the housekeeper to take Asel upstairs for a bath and bedtime.

Meanwhile, he continued to play card games with Johanna.

Johanna was very careful each time, yet it was always her poker card that tipped the pull tab. Soon enough, she finished the entire row of light orange cocktails.

Even though the cocktail didn't seem to have much of an alcoholic taste, Johanna gradually began to feel dizzy.

Her eyes reddened from the alcohol she had consumed. Seeing the pile of poker cards on the table, she was reminded of her utter defeat. Sniffling, she cried out to Timothy, "Timothy, you're bullying me..."

She continued, "You must have tampered with the Sprite can. How could I keep losing otherwise? You're such a big meanie."

Timothy realized that the bartender was absolutely right. The cocktail was essentially pure vodka; a few glasses were enough to easily knock out someone with a good tolerance for alcohol.

He knew that Johanna would reveal her true nature when she was drunk.

Timothy stifled a laugh and replied innocently, "I swear I didn't. It's just your bad luck, Jojo."

His words made Johanna cry.

Seeing that she was really crying, Timothy hurried over to comfort her, "There, there, I admit I tampered with the Sprite can. I wanted to get you drunk."

"Why did you get me drunk?" Johanna glared at him.

Her sweet, drunken demeanor was irresistible to Timothy, who couldn't help but lean in to kiss her. His voice was husky as he said, "Because I don't like it when you're too polite to me. I want you to scold me and glare at me like this."

"Jojo, it's not convenient for you to go home drunk. How about you stay here for the night?" Timothy coaxed her.

Johanna responded vaguely with a hum.

She lazily draped her arm over Timothy's shoulder, her voice sweet and slightly tipsy as she cooed, "Timmy."

"I'm here," Timothy responded. The nickname was rapidly turning him into putty in her hands.

"Won't you carry me upstairs?"

"As you wish." Even if Johanna hadn't said anything, Timothy would have carried her anyway. After all, who would let their drunk wife climb the stairs by herself?

After carrying her to the bedroom, Timothy remembered something.

He settled Johanna onto the couch before turning on his phone's voice recorder, ensuring that every word they spoke was captured.

After placing his phone on a nearby table, Timothy said chidingly to Johanna, "Jojo, you know you can't hold your liquor well, so why did you drink so much?"

"The cocktail is good..." Johanna mumbled, "I want to drink more."

"No more drinks. Isn't your shop opening early tomorrow?" Timothy squatted beside Johanna, asking with concern, "Jojo, can you manage to take a bath by yourself in the bathroom?"

Johanna was trying to sober up while lying on the couch. When she heard Timothy's voice, she lowered her gaze to see who was speaking.

Seeing the affectionate gaze from his charming eyes, she found herself captivated. She raised her hand to touch his cheek. As she did so, her fingertips gently brushed against his lips.

Timothy gently removed her hand. His voice was filled with discomfort as he said, "Jojo, this isn't right. We are living separately now."

"I want to touch it," Johanna declared defiantly, sitting up from the couch. Not only did she reach out to touch Timothy's face, but she also closed the distance between them, so close that her breath now fell on his forehead.

She lowered her head and gently kissed the corner of Timothy's eye. "Timmy, you're so handsome."

Johanna planted kisses across Timothy's cheek and his high, proud nose. Finally, she stopped on his thin, soft lips.

The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, like an itch in Timothy's heart that he desperately wanted to scratch by pressing his lips fiercely against her cheeks.

Timothy swallowed hard, tilting his head back to look at Johanna. "Jojo, I didn't mess around. You're the one who's touching me."

"Mmm, yes, I'm the one making the moves," Johanna admitted. Her slightly cold hands cradled his face as she asked coquettishly, "Timmy, do you love me? Do you like it when I kiss you?"

Timothy deliberately paused for a while, then asked, "What do you think?"

As the liquor went to Johanna's head, she mistook his deliberate refusal to respond as a sign that he did not love her. At that moment, she felt wronged, and her eyes welled up with tears. "Why don't you love me? Timmy is a big bad guy."

Chapter 1530 What Are You Waiting For

"Timmy, please don't leave me, okay?" Johanna clung tightly to Timothy's neck, her nose red from crying, looking utterly wronged.

Timothy simply adored the pleading look and babyish voice of his wife.

He suppressed the urge to coax Johanna, remaining silent. He wanted to remove her hand from around his neck, but Johanna refused to let go and leaned her body into his embrace. Johanna choked back her sobs and wailed, "Timmy, please don't leave me. How can I live without you?"

"All right, if you don't want me to leave, then of course I won't leave," Timothy said, feigning helplessness. He turned his head to find Johanna's lips and kissed her.

The taste of oranges lingered in her mouth. It was a sweetness akin to a refreshing spring that left one yearning for more.

After a deep kiss, Timothy stepped back to give Johanna time to catch her breath.

He gently pulled her hand down and placed it over his silk shirt. His voice was low and enticing as he offered, "Honey, besides my face, you can touch other places too."

Johanna appeared to be bewitched by him. Her fingers began nimbly undoing the buttons of his shirt.

Timothy's muscles were taut and pleasing to the touch. Johanna's fingers traced along his lean waist, pausing at the slight protrusion of his Adam's apple.

She smiled and leaned close to Timothy's lips. "Timmy, you're just like a piece of cream cake. I really want to eat you up."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Timothy couldn't wait for her to have her way with him.

Timothy carried Johanna back to the couch, his thin lips leaving a trail of moist kisses on her neck. His body was burning with desire, and he was waiting for Johanna to extinguish the fire. When he next looked up, Johanna had actually fallen asleep out of exhaustion.

"Honey, don't fall asleep," Timothy gently patted her cheek, coaxing her softly, "Didn't you say you were going to eat me? I'm waiting. How about you eat first, then sleep?"

Johanna brushed away the hand that was patting her and replied tiredly, "Let's do it tomorrow. I want to sleep."

Timothy wanted to coax Johanna a little more, but she was too exhausted. She immediately fell into a deep sleep after her words, leaving a bare-chested Timothy kneeling on the couch, his gaze filled with silent reproach.

If only he had known earlier, he wouldn't have let Johanna drink so much. Drinking too much was a problem, too.

Once Timothy's breathing had steadied, he carried Johanna to the bathroom. He helped her bathe and wash her hair, then removed her makeup. After that, he carried her out to dry her hair. Once her hair was dry, he gently placed her on the bed.

When Timothy finished his bath and came out of the bathroom again, he picked up his phone from the table and realized it was already past three in the morning.

He turned off the recording and went to sleep.

Johanna seemed to have caught a whiff of Timothy's scent and sleepily leaned in to wrap her arms around his waist.

Seeing her actions, Timothy's gloomy mood lightened considerably. It seems that despite our separation, my wife still misses me.

He lowered his head and gently kissed Johanna's forehead. "We'll settle this score next time."

Anyway, I have a recording. Johanna can't deny it.

Timothy had not been asleep for long with Johanna in his arms when he was suddenly awakened by the urgent ringing of his phone.

His eyes were so heavy with sleep that he could barely keep them open. He fumbled for his phone on the bedside table. He accepted the call and held it up to his ear.

"Who is it?"

"Mr. Jensen, I'm the one who sold you the house before." A confident male voice drifted over the receiver. "I just received a call from a neighbor. Your wife's shop seems to have been vandalized." Upon hearing this, half of Timothy's drowsiness instantly left his body. He sat up on his bed and asked, "Can you clarify what's happening?"

"I'm not entirely sure either. I'm in Baykeep," said the landlord. "Gertrude from across the street was setting up her stall this morning and found out the shop I rented to you was vandalized. There's red paint splashed all over the entrance. Gertrude didn't know your phone number, so she called me."

He continued, "Someone must be out for revenge, taking advantage of the early morning when no one's around. You and your wife should hurry over and check the situation."

"All right, thank you." Timothy hung up the phone.

Johanna was already awake when Timothy was on the phone. She caught bits of his conversation, but she wasn't fully awake yet. She asked groggily, "Was my studio trashed?"

"It seems so. I'll go and check." Timothy hadn't expected it to be bright out already when he had only slept for a short while after lying down.

He let Johanna continue to sleep while he went to the walk-in closet to change his clothes. However, Johanna also wanted to see the damage to the shop, so she followed Timothy to the walk-in closet. The two quickly freshened up and hurriedly drove to the old street.

After sitting in the car for a while, Johanna was fully awake. She turned her head and shot Timothy a confused stare. "Shouldn't my landlord have called me if my shop was smashed? Why did he call you?"