Ch. 121..125: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 121-125

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 - What If It’s a Bomb

Alex opened the door while Joanna nervously covered herself with the duvet. What were the Kings up to this time?

"There’s no one here," Alex said. Joanna panicked and replied, "I heard a knock, or was I dreaming?"

"I heard it too," Alex clarified, looking down as he saw a duffle bag on the floor. "I think the person dropped something."

About to pick it up, Joanna was by his side, wearing his shirt. Alex wondered when she even rose up from the bed.

"Don’t. What if it’s a bomb or something?" She questioned with fear in her eyes, recalling such scenarios from movies. Alex chuckled.

"My family might be crazy, but trust me, I’m the last person they would want to get rid of."

He thought about Logan suspecting he was Salvador and wondered what hints he left behind for Logan to think so.

Rubbing Joanna’s shoulder protectively, he assured her, "Don’t worry. You are safe with me."

Picking up the duffle bag, he went inside with her and closed the door. Upon opening it, he noticed a note and what appeared to be decent clothes.

’The rider will be there in thirty minutes to take you back. Congratulations, and we hope Mrs. King is already pregnant,’ the note read.

Alex frowned and tore the note, piquing Joanna’s curiosity. "What does it say? You didn’t even let me see."

The first time, she was drunk and hadn’t paid much attention, but this time, she was alert.

"It’s nothing of concern, but at least we have decent clothes now, and it’s time for us to return to our normal lives," he said in a stiff voice. Joanna smiled.

Alex did not address her question from the previous night, but it was evident that he had feelings for her.

It was his commitment to the woman in his life that prevented him from opening up to her about it.

After showering and changing into the pants and shirts sent to them, Alex made sure to pick up the wedding gown but left his personal belongings behind, except for the cameras.

Joan, thank you for your companionship. I’ve learned to make a toast, sandwich, and scrambled eggs at least," he said. Joanna chuckled.

"Sadly, I won’t get to see you make more." Another knock sounded on the door, and just as Alex was about to open it, Joanna embraced him.

Alex hugged her back and reminded her, "Don’t forget we still have to keep up the act because we have many meetings and dinners to attend together."

Joanna smiled and pulled away. "At least I know you’ll never go back on your word."

The same camel rider from before was waiting for them, this time with a smile on his face, but neither Joanna nor Alex paid him any attention.

Joanna’s outfit made it easier for her to move around this time, and she was grateful for it.

After the camel journey ended, the hot air balloon pilot was waiting, and as soon as they boarded, it took off, landing back at the hotel where a limousine was waiting with Ike as the driver.

Alex smiled at the sight of Ike. "It’s good to see you again."

Ike smiled politely and replied, "You are most welcome, sir and madam."

Upon arriving at the mansion, Alex was stunned to see Grandpa, Dean, and his wife waiting for them.

Joanna was instantly deflated as she had planned to meet up with Violet as soon as she arrived.

"Grandpa," she smiled and approached the old man, who stood up and embraced her.

"Adelaide, you don’t look tired. Are you sure you enjoyed your honeymoon?" Grandpa asked curiously, leaving Joanna confused.

He had expected her to look somewhat tired, but she appeared too energetic, which he did not anticipate from a woman who had been on continuous releases, especially considering their abrupt departure.

The camel and hot air balloon were not comfortable for sleeping, so there had been no rest on the journey.

"Grandpa, how did you expect to see my wife? Besides, I was more cautious than usual because of the cameras planted in our cabin."

Nervousness clouded Agnes’s face as Alex used the situation to his advantage. This was enough to divert grandpa’s attention.

"Excuse me, what do you mean by cameras in your cabin?" Grandpa asked, looking upset as he glared at Dean and his wife.

"Agnes, the honeymoon was your project, so can you start talking or should I demote you?" Grandpa’s demotion included a salary reduction, so nobody wanted that.

Agnes quickly refused. "Grandpa, it’s not what you think. The cameras were to ensure their safe arrival," she lied smoothly, but Alex stared at her with mischief in his eyes.

"So for our safety, you planted cameras in the bathroom too? Don’t worry. I brought them along, and I demand that grandpa allows me permission to have cameras installed in your bedroom for one year," Alex demanded. Agnes smiled.

They had other houses they could move into, so this wasn’t a big deal. Okay, if that’s acceptable compensation, why not?" Agnes shrugged.

Alex stared at her and replied, "Good. I will have cameras installed in every angle of your master bedroom for one year. If you don’t spend a single night there, you will be suspended from hosting any of the King family occasions."

Agnes paled instantly. "Alex, that’s unfair. What do you even want to see?"

"It doesn’t matter what I want to see. Since you agree to it, that’s how it will be," Alex responded.

Realizing he was serious, Agnes humbled herself and apologized. "I went too far. I’m sorry."

Alex, considering her connection to the family, decided to make an exception. "Alright, just this once. But there is still one condition."

Agnes, Duke, Joanna, and Grandpa were all curious. "What condition?" Agnes asked nervously.

With Alex no longer in a wheelchair, the situation could change, and Agnes needed to be cautious to avoid trouble.

Alex then revealed his condition, knowing that Agnes and Duke’s presence was not ordinary. "Well, on the condition that you don’t spend the night here at my house," Alex revealed, and Agnes felt saddened.

She had heard rumors about Joanna and Alex sleeping in different rooms and had come to prove it to grandpa, but now her plans had failed. Nevertheless, she could make grandpa stay behind.

"It’s okay. I will leave, Alex," Agnes said.

Alex smiled as she stood up, hooked her arm with her husband’s, and they sauntered out of the mansion.

"Adelaide, how was your honeymoon?" Grandpa asked after Agnes and Dean left. Joanna forced a smile. "Great, grandpa."

"I’m glad. Since you are back, let’s eat and go to bed. I will sleep in the room next to yours, Alex," grandpa said. Joanna stiffened. That was her room.

Chapter 122: Chapter 122 – I will treat you as my wife

Joanna was about to claim the room as hers, but Alex beat her to it, addressing Grandpa instead. "Alright, I will have the maids prepare that room while we enjoy dinner. It hasn’t been used in a while and should be tailored to your preferences."

Joanna felt uneasy at the thought of sharing a room with Alex again, especially since she had yet to fully recover from their honeymoon.

Without waiting for her response, Alex whispered something to Betty, who nodded and summoned a few maids.

When Joanna realized her belongings would be moved to Alex’s room, she felt disorganized.

"Grandpa, I’ll go freshen up and change into something more comfortable before dinner," Joanna said, flashing a smile at Alex, who seemed to catch the underlying message.

He also chimed in, "Grandpa, I’ll freshen up as well. You know how the desert sand sticks to everything, even my hair." Grandpa smiled, teasing the young couple,

"You two can’t get enough of each other, but I understand. You’re both young with insatiable libidos. Go ahead, I won’t take any more of your time."

Joanna, feeling uneasy, knew it was pointless to explain things to the old man. Instead, she decided it was best to let him believe what he wanted about their relationship.

Alex put his arm around her waist, and they both smiled as they headed upstairs. The maids, including Betty, greeted them with smiles, happy to see the couple looking so in love.

Betty, in particular, was relieved to see Alex up and about again. They had all watched the wedding on TV since they weren’t allowed to attend.

As things were being moved from Joanna’s closet, she and Alex entered. Alex instructed the maids,

"Excuse us while you move things. Make sure they are well arranged in my closet before you return to set up this place."

He mentally calculated the time he would spend talking to Joanna, thinking that once they were ready, they could both freshen up in his room.

After sharing a bed with her in the cabin, Alex had no reservations about sharing his room with Joanna. Everything about Dion had been securely locked away since the last time Joanna had barged into his room, so there was nothing to hide.

"Alex, we can’t share the same room. You have to find a way to tell Grandpa about it," Joanna insisted.

Alex, slightly disappointed, assured her, "Don’t worry. As soon as Grandpa leaves, you won’t see me around."

Joanna was taken aback by the news, not understanding why. "You won’t be around? Where will you be then?" she asked, knowing they had reached a point where she could question his movements.

Alex didn’t dwell on it, feeling that the least he could do was provide her with a clear explanation. I already told you I had someone, and I hadn’t seen her because of the wedding. I will spend two months with her after my handing-over ceremony, as well as yours. However, you can reach me at any time, okay?"

Joanna’s eyes widened, feeling a strange loss inside her, but this was the reality. Alex had been honest with her from the beginning, so if she refused to guard her heart by allowing it to fall for Alex, then the only person to blame was herself, not him.

"So, assuming I want to see you for something urgent, will you come?"

Alex did not want to make a promise he could not keep and replied, "I intend to increase your bodyguards to three. With them around, you won’t need me for anything."

Joanna was hurt, but seeing Alex, it seemed like he was guarding himself against something.

"I understand, and I wish you well," she conceded, but her demeanor saddened Alex. He said to her, "You know I will always be by your side when you really need me, right?"

Hope shone in Joanna’s eyes, and she smiled, but before she could respond, he extinguished whatever spark had ignited in her eyes earlier. It’s in the contract that I will treat you as a wife, except for sex, so even if no one can reach me, you, as my wife, would."

Joanna almost felt special, if not for his mention of the contract. "I would like to freshen up," she finally said before recalling something and asking,

"Violet will be coming over, and I would like to share a room with her when you are not around."

She knew she couldn’t welcome Violet to Alex’s room hence the question, sending the hint that she might need to return to her room after Grandpa’s departure.

However, Alex did not like the idea. He already had it in mind for her to move to his room after the wedding but just hadn’t told her.

When Grandpa made the move, Alex took advantage of the situation. Nevertheless, he understood Joanna’s intentions and replied,

"You are a married woman, so until the contract ends, you can no longer share a bed with anyone, male or female, except me," he said possessively, but Joanna was greatly upset.

"Alex, you’re not being fair. How could you..." He pulled her abruptly into his arms and silenced her with a kiss. Joanna was about to pull away, but upon hearing footsteps, she found herself responding to the kiss.

"Sorry, sir and madam. I will come back later," Betty said as Alex and Joanna separated.

"It’s okay, Betty. Carry on with your tasks. My wife and I will retire to our room now," he said casually. Joanna forced a smile as they made their way to his room.

To her surprise, Alex’s room had been completely transformed from the last time she had seen it.

Recalling how he had quickly instructed Betty to move her belongings to his room, suspicion crept into her mind. "Alex, please don’t lie to me. Did you plan for us to share the same room all along?"

For the first time, Alex was at a loss for words. He didn’t want to deceive her, but how could he reveal the truth without seeming like he was taking advantage of her more than she had agreed to?

Chapter 123: Chapter 123 – Joanna’s Solution

"Isn’t that what married people do?" Alex asked, leaving Joanna speechless.

Little did she know that his absence was his way of protecting himself from her. If he stayed close to her, he might compromise his own principles.

Joanna chose not to say anything more and casually made her way to his bathroom, which turned out to be much larger than hers.

Alex followed her in and began to undress in front of her, prompting her to tightly shut her eyes. "Can’t you wait for me to be ready first?" she protested.

Alex chuckled. "Haven’t you noticed? This place was designed to accommodate all needs. There are two shower rooms." He then pressed a button, causing a blind to roll down and shield the glass partition between them, which Joanna had not previously noticed.

"Wow," she whispered in awe, never having encountered such advanced technology before.

After her shower, Joanna found Alex already dressed and waiting for her in the closet. He greeted her with a smile. "You took so long."

Naturally, he picked up a hairdryer and began to help with her hair. "Alex, you don’t have to," Joanna panicked, preferring him to keep his distance, but he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

His gentle actions sparked a fire within her, even as he loomed over her with his tall, attractive presence.

"There, much better than before," he said, checking the side of his closet where her clothes were arranged and picking up a casual outfit for her. "This will look good on you."

Joanna was confused by his actions but accepted the dress, expecting him to excuse her, but he didn’t.

"Alex, this marriage is not real," she reminded him, and something dimmed in his eyes. It was soon gone the moment he smiled at her.

"The rule says that the only thing we can’t do is have sex. If I break that rule, then you have every right to stop me."

Indirectly, he wasn’t going to leave, but she noticed him facing the opposite direction, dropped the towel, and quickly put on the casual dress he had picked for her before wearing a panty underneath.

As she tried to zip up the dress, she realized her hand could not reach it.

"Alex, please help me with this," she said. Alex turned to face her. "Didn’t you insist before that I leave?"

His tone sounded teasing as he helped her with the zip. Their gazes locked for a moment, and he was tempted to feast on those soft lips again before coming to his senses.

"Tomorrow at the event, you are not allowed to leave my side no matter what, do you understand?"

Joanna stubbornly shook her head. "No. Violet will be there, so I will spend some time with her as well."

Alex was not liking this, though he didn’t know what had gotten over him to be so possessive of her.

"Do you want your little friend to disappear?" There was a darkness in his eyes and voice that made her shiver.

"I will be with you, but I hope you allow us some time after the event," she said politely, eager for the five months to pass quickly.

Her only mistake was proposing to a random guy in a wheelchair. Who knew he had not only a complicated but also a sophisticated life?

"That would depend on how things go. Now, let’s not keep Grandpa waiting." They walked hand in hand out of the closet and into the dining room where the chef was serving the food.

"Why are you back so early?" Grandpa asked as soon as the chef left, looking annoyed. Alex and Joanna exchanged glances.

They spent close to an hour, if not more, talking and getting ready, but the old man seemed to be referring to something they couldn’t pinpoint.

"Grandpa, how long does it take to have a shower?" Alex asked irritably as he pulled out a chair for Joanna. The old man smirked.

He already knew Agnes and her husband’s intention for bringing him here, and though Agnes had a different motive for everything, grandpa was determined to fulfill the good part.

You spent nearly thirty minutes chatting in my room before heading to your own room. As newlyweds, you should take advantage of every opportunity," he remarked, causing Joanna’s face to flush with embarrassment as she never expected the old man to be so forward.

"Grandpa, you’re the reason we hurried out, and now you’re complaining," Alex retorted, placing the blame on him.

"If that’s the case, don’t worry about me. Take all the time you need," the old man reassured Alex. Joanna felt uneasy throughout the conversation, trying to think of a way to politely ask the old man to leave.

"You don’t understand. As long as you’re here, my respect for you prevents me from being intimate with my wife. What if you’re startled by her screams?" Alex inquired, making Joanna even more uncomfortable as she searched for a way to change the subject and end the conversation.

"Dinner will get cold," she announced. Grandpa stared at her with interest. "How can a married woman be so shy around intimate things?" he asked. Joanna forced a smile.

Who knew the main tormentor would be the same person who protected her before? "You already won, and the Bakers Corporation will be yours in the next two days. Shouldn’t you be happy and celebrating?"

Grandpa Aristotle’s questions made both Joanna and Alex uncomfortable, but since Alex had been the one defending so far, Joanna took the mantle this time.

"Well, I’m very happy but just exhausted from our honeymoon. All I want now is some food as fuel before some insatiable beast begins to break me again."

Alex was amazed by her words, and Grandpa had a satisfied look on his face, especially when he saw Alex’s hand on Joanna’s thigh under the dining table.

"Okay, let’s eat. Just to let you know, I will be leaving tomorrow after the handover. For dinner, I don’t plan to stay long to give Alex time to get to know the new businessmen."

Grandpa’s presence would overshadow Alex’s, as he had been the face of the business for over forty years.

"Thank you, Grandpa. I won’t let you down, I promise," Alex assured him, earning a warm reply.

"I believe you," the old man said confidently, and Joanna smiled satisfactorily.

Both of them were so tired by the time dinner was over, and the bed was so large that they didn’t struggle to sleep as before. Joanna lined the middle of the bed with pillows to separate them.

Alex was too exhausted to argue, knowing that the next day would be significant. However, he didn’t expect to be awakened by a call early in the morning.

"Hi, dear brother. I have enough information to prove that you are Salvador. What will happen if I tell Joanna about it?" Logan asked excitedly over the phone.

 

Chapter 124: Chapter 124 – Our Wife

As Alex rose to a sitting position, he felt a weight on his thighs, regretting answering the call. Joanna’s head lay peacefully on his right thigh, and he was amazed.

The pillows that had divided them were nowhere to be found, scattered on the floor.

On the small bed in the cabin, they would hold each other and sleep peacefully, yet this time she had created a distance between them. It was ironic considering she had claimed not to want any bodily contact between them.

In his pajamas, Alex walked to the bathroom and closed the door before responding to the call.

"Logan, what is wrong with you?" he tried to contain his fury, but Logan seemed to revel in it.

While Alex was on his honeymoon, Logan had been scheming, and a roar of laughter sounded from the other end of the line.

"I guess you were trying to distance yourself from our wife so she wouldn’t know you are indeed Salvador," Logan taunted, causing Alex to inhale deeply. It seemed that what he had heard the first time was correct.

If only Logan were not of the same blood as him, things might have been different. If you were half the gentleman I am, you would know how rude it is to receive a call next to a sleeping woman," Alex retorted, debunking Logan’s suspicion.

"And if you dare refer to my wife as ’ours’ again, you won’t live to tell the tale," he warned sternly.

"Why is that?" Logan taunted over the phone, echoing his earlier message. "Is it because you are Salvador? I did some digging and discovered that Salvador’s men killed her younger sister, making you the prime suspect," Logan pointed out.

Though not afraid of Logan, Alex needed to protect his reputation. Salvador had been misunderstood, and Alex knew that revealing his true identity would complicate things for him.

Pretending indifference, Alex asked, "What does that have to do with me?" Irritated, Logan chuckled.

"I have enough evidence to prove you are Salvador, and I will expose it at the event unless you divorce Joanna and let her go untouched."

Alex chuckled sarcastically, feeling as though he was hearing absurd things from Logan’s guts.

"I don’t know which side of the bed you woke up on, but I hope your evidence of me being Salvador is strong enough. Otherwise, you might not make it to the party," Alex hinted.

Logan shivered slightly at the end of the line but remained convinced that the investigation report, while inconclusive, was true and that Alex was indeed Salvador.

This was Logan’s ticket to regaining everything Alex was about to receive. "If you’re trying to scare me, it’s not working," Logan replied solemnly, which upset Alex.

"Well, I will never divorce Joanna, and what do you mean by ’returning her untouched’? She’s my wife, and we have to satisfy each other, if you catch my drift," Alex retorted.

Logan sounded bitter this time, realizing that Joanna was not treating Alex the same way she treated him in terms of intimacy. "I dated her for months and never got intimate with her, so how could you?"

Alex chuckled, not wanting to answer the question but did so to mock Logan.

"You had many women even when you were dating her, so I guess they filled the void where she refused. And don’t forget, I married her. There’s a significant difference. Also, she mentioned that she was the one who prevented you from being intimate with her. It seems she never loved you enough to share her body with you."

"Alex, I’m going to kill you," Logan roared. "I’ll have the FBI after you for revealing your secret identity, and Grandpa will know that I should be the rightful CEO of Kings Multinational."

Alex’s tone and expression hardened as he replied, "I’ll be waiting for your so-called proof. How did you become so foolish when we were both raised by Grandpa?"

Logan was deeply hurt by the insult but retorted, "That’s because you killed our father. It seems you lack a conscience."

Alex was furious. "You should be thankful that Grandpa is alive; otherwise, you would be in the grave."

"Fuck you, Alex. Today marks your end," Logan yelled, threateningly ending the call before Alex could react to the knocking on the door.

Recognizing Joanna, he hesitated to open the door, his expression darkening as he muttered, "It would have been more effective if you caught me off guard. Now that you’ve warned me, you won’t be attending the party." He swiftly sent a text message to Dario.

’I want Logan King kidnapped, his memory partially erased, and subjected to some torture. Release him only after Alexander King assumes the role of CEO at King’s Multinational.’

A prompt reply came back, ’Noted, Salvador. However, the finance team informed me that the release order for Mrs. King on her wedding day was unpaid. You’ll need to authorize the payment if you’re doing a favor for Alexander King.’

Realizing the need for his signature, Alex quickly responded, ’Due to his wedding, I overlooked the payment. It will be settled shortly.’

Using his corporate account under the name Alexander King, he initiated a transfer of both payments, to which Dario responded instantly, ’Payment received.’

Alex received the confirmation on his personal line before another notification came through on his disguised number, ’Alexander King has made the payment, and our men are on the way. Update will be sent.’

As Alex was about to respond, he heard another knock on the door. "Alex, are you in there? I need to pee."

Quickly unlocking the door, Joanna expressed her suspicion, "Do you always lock yourself in there? There are two toilet bowls, and what took you so long?"

Alex, caught off guard, brushed off her questions, "Hurry up. I have a surprise for you," before casually brushing his teeth and heading into the shower.

Upon descending the stairs, Joanna was taken aback by the unexpected guests waiting for her.

 

Chapter 125: Chapter 125 – You have ten minutes to get my Angel ready

It never occurred to her when Alex picked out a casual dress for her that he had something like this planned.

This was just for show, but once again, Alex tried to bring out everything in her to make the occasion very beautiful.

Joanna hurried to embrace Violet, surprised to see her. "Violet, Jay, what are you doing here?" She asked as she pulled away from Violet’s embrace.

Alex had said he was going to make Violet disappear if Joanna gave her too much attention, but he went ahead to arrange her, so what exactly was he up to?

Joanna’s mind couldn’t hold the details of the suspense as Jay explained his part while unzipping the dress bag in his hand.

"Alex texted me to come prepare you for the special event," Jay said, and Violet took an interest in the dress.

"This dress will surely make a statement at your wedding, which has been making headlines. Let Jay do your makeup after you put on the dress. I need to make a call."

Joanna frowned and asked, "What’s going on?" This was the first time Violet’s attention had shifted when they were together.

She would usually ignore calls when with Joanna, but now she was making some.

It wasn’t that Joanna was jealous, but she was eager to catch up on what had been happening in Violet’s life during her time away.

Violet whispered, "I think I have a boyfriend." Joanna was stunned, but before she could inquire further, Alex’s voice interrupted.

"You have ten minutes to get my Angel ready," he said.

Joanna blushed at Alex’s romantic gesture. While Angel wasn’t exactly romantic, she appreciated the nickname, especially after Alex’s explanation of why he called her that.

"I doubt we can make it in ten minutes with Jay here," Joanna hinted as she focused on the stunning dress. She decided not to ask about the cost of the dress to avoid feeling guilty about wearing it.

Alright, let me know when you are ready, but I have to see you first," he said and walked back upstairs as elegantly as he did when they descended the stairs.

Joanna couldn’t help stealing glances at him. He was so good-looking, and she was shy to have shared a bed with him several times. By the time Jay finished Joanna’s makeup, Violet’s jaws dropped.

"Joan, what’s your secret?" The way Joanna’s appearance was constantly transformed even with just a little makeup was something she couldn’t comprehend.

Sometimes, it made her feel strange, though she was happy for her best friend. Joanna sighed, feeling nervous about meeting the media again, but she went directly to show Alex her outfit.

He was on the phone, but at the sound of the door opening, he lowered the phone and turned around. "Wow. It’s perfect, just as I imagined it."

Joanna’s brows raised. "Wait, do you mean you had an image in mind before inviting Jay over?" Alex chuckled and decided not to hide it from her.

"I sent the style to Lily for her to work on, and had Jay pick it up and have your makeup done."

Joanna stared at him, unable to blink. "I can’t believe you had time to do this. You could have let me handle it," she proposed. Alex laughed, and looking at him, he looked so handsome.

"Have you do it? You are too frugal for my liking," he shrugged. He didn’t understand why she wouldn’t spend his money.

The last time he checked, her monthly allowances were still untouched. That was the reason he couldn’t increase or even give her more.

Joanna was lost for words. "Alright. We should head out now."

She reached the door, but Alex hadn’t moved, his gaze still pinned on her, making her uncomfortable.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" She asked. Alex’s smile broadened. "I thought you were going to ask why I chose this style of dress number one, and number two, why I told you to meet me here after you are done."

Thinking through his words, Alex could have just met her downstairs or even waited, but instead instructed her to meet him here, which was indeed questionable.

"Why did you choose this dress?" Joanna asked. Alex sighed and replied, "Maybe you should learn to close your eyes more."

"Why can’t you be straightforward for once?" Joanna asked in a slightly irritated tone. Alex walked to the closet door and pressed a button that Joanna had never noticed before.

He didn’t want her to see it before but then, he trusted her enough to marry and share his room with her so what could go wrong?

A new interface was revealed, similar to a smartphone, allowing Alex to enter some digits.

A new door appeared with multiple compartments. Joanna was stunned as Alex reached into one of the compartments and brought out a glass box.

"Most of the Kings’ heirlooms are here, but you are the third person to know about it aside from me and grandpa, so if anything goes missing, you are a prime suspect," he said, Joanna paled.

"I didn’t ask you to show me," she retorted, her heart thumping hard.

It was too late to back out of this sham marriage, but every day, she felt that things were getting deeper and more complicated than they were meant to be.

When Alex opened the box he had picked up earlier, Joanna was almost overcome with emotion at the sight of the necklace.

"Well, I already did," Alex said as he walked towards her. "Turn around," he instructed.

Joanna couldn’t take her eyes off the necklace in his hand.

She knew the significance of this jewelry as it was a masterpiece crafted by a renowned Chinese artist.

The necklace boasted a total of 383.4 carats of precious stones, with the main colorless diamond alone valued at $35 million.

It also featured 72 white mutton fat jades, 114 icy green jadeites, 600 pink diamonds, and 19 more colorless diamonds, making the total weight of the necklace half a pound.

"Isn’t this the Heritage in Bloom worth over $200 million?" She asked, her eyes dulling with disapproval.