Ch. 61..65: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 61-65

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 – Are you sure about this?

Logan’s unexpected act took Alex aback. It was not strange that they both wanted each other dead, but Alex expected Logan to learn his lesson after what transpired earlier.

"Last words, I don’t have it in my dictionary," Alex shrugged, seemingly unfazed by the barrel of a gun pressed against his head.

Logan could not help the confusion clouding his mind. He wondered what Alex was up to, not begging Logan not to shoot him.

"Pull the trigger if you have the balls, but watch closely. I’m not the one in the wheelchair," Alex said.

The layer of confusion in Logan’s mind doubled as he glared at the man in the wheelchair.

Was he dreaming? The moment he shut his eyes tightly to confirm it, all he felt was a force not strong enough to push him down, but when his eyes opened, Alex was not in the wheelchair.

With the house brightly lit, all he saw was a balled figure somersaulting into a parked Bentley. The car door opened before he reached it, and a man stepped out and helped him inside.

Logan wondered what had just happened, nervousness taking over his mind.

Was Alex really crippled? It was two things. Either he was completely paralyzed, unable to use his legs again, having him use his upper body to somersault, or the man was never crippled to begin with.

Then again, if Alex’s legs were fine, he wouldn’t have needed his driver to open the door for him, right?

Logan was so lost in thought and did not realize it when a punch sent him to the floor, the gun fell from his hand. A strange man bent down and picked up the gun.

"You are lucky to be Alex’s brother," his deep voice rang deep in Logan’s mind.

Then he held the wheelchair Alex left behind and turned it around, ambled to the boot of the Bentley, and dropped the wheelchair before he opened the back and entered. As soon as he closed the door, the car sped away.

Logan slowly rose to his feet, understanding that there was no way he would be able to defeat his elder brother.

Alex was not alone, but as Logan pieced it all together with his grandpa’s voice ringing in his mind, he could not help but guess one thing. ’Is Alex Salvadore Black?’

The question gave Logan something to hope for. ’If I could investigate and prove he was the one, then that would be something great, right? Salvadore is wanted for so many crimes after all.’

Logan wiped his chin with the back of his hand, feeling excited to begin something new on his brother.

In the Bentley, Aiden worriedly asked, "That was a risky move. Are you injured?"

Alex’s expression was dark. The only person who constantly got on his nerves and got away with it was Logan, just because they shared the same DNA, and for the sake of Grandpa.

When it comes to Logan, Alex would just have to cage his anger, something that was usually very hard for him to do.

"I just dislocated an arm," he replied through clenched jaws. Aiden grabbed the injured arm and pulled hard, earning a cracking sound from Alex’s bones.

"Ouch," Alex groaned in pain.

"Sorry, is it better?" Aiden asked worriedly. Alex nodded and straightened himself. "Yeah, thanks."

Aiden was still worried and asked him, "Why did you leave him with a gun?" Knowing Alex, he wouldn’t have taken that risk.

"I didn’t. The Fixers cleared everything, so I wonder where he got that."

Salvadore’s Cleaners, known as the Fixers, were the best in the game but also worked independently and were good at disposing off evidence.

That was the reason Alex used them. No one would suspect they worked for Salvadore.

"Do you think he would try to attack you again? I understand you can’t harm him, but I don’t think your threats are working enough," Aiden explained his observation. Alex nodded.

Indeed, there was no way he would kill his brother. That would be too much for his grandfather to take. The heart condition Aristotle King suffered started on the day Alex’s father died.

Alex was just eighteen by then, and that was his first manslaughter. When the old man saw no remorse in his grandson, he feared worse things, but Alex proved him wrong, and after realizing the reason for Alex’s action, the old man could not blame him much.

"I guess I underestimated him. I just have to be careful next time."

Subtly, this was not over, and Alex would get back at his brother, even if it wasn’t to kill him.

Graciously, he got five percent of Logan’s shares. Something he wasn’t expecting. Well, if Logan, the black sheep of the family, continued like that, Alex might just take all his shares.

Alex dropped off at the mansion, instructing Ike after the latter helped him to his wheelchair, "Take Aiden home and go to bed."

Ike lived in the mansion with him, so that was a code name for no more jobs for the night. However, Aiden remembered something and told Ike, "Stop the car."

He alighted from the car and ran to Alex before he reached the door. Alex turned the wheelchair around when he heard footsteps approaching him.

"Aiden, what is the problem?" Worry laced his voice, but Aiden smiled a little.

"How are you going to explain the blood on your shirt? Quick, let’s change." He began to unbutton his shirt, as he wasn’t wearing a blazer like Alex, so the latter removed his blazer before his shirt and gave it to him.

"Thanks, I owe you one."

Aiden took the blood-stained shirt and wore it. "I must look out for you."

The truth is, Alex had not cared about the bloodstain because of his plan to get home before Joanna, but from the way things turned out, it was obvious she must have arrived before him, and the moment he entered the living room, he was gladdened by what Aiden did.

Joanna was seated at the dining table waiting for him. "I will go shower," he said, wheeling himself to the bedroom downstairs before she spoke a word.

Alex came out after around twenty minutes in white pajama pants, being the first time Joanna had seen him casually dressed.

He looked fresh and attractive, making him lower her head slightly. Wheeling himself to the dining table, he dropped the documents in front of her.

When Joanna read the heading, her gaze dulled. "Are you sure about this?

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 – Friends with Benefits

Alex settled into the chair, tucking the wheelchair under the table. He made a conscious effort to avoid meeting her eyes.

"This is what we should have done from the beginning. We communicated verbally but never put it in writing."

Joanna read the words, now printed in black and white, repeatedly.

’You must never fall in love with me, never question my movements or decisions, and you can never break this contract before the end of the six months, or I will sue you for a hundred million for breach of contract.’

Other incentives included her weekly allowance and protection. Her job description was not included, as neither of them knew the times they would be required to make appearances except for the wedding.

It was evident that this resulted from the morning’s events, and although she already knew the rules, she couldn’t understand why it hurt so much to read them on paper.

"And the favor?" Joanna asked with a forced smile, slowly accepting that the man was serious and wouldn’t change his mind or let her into his world, not to mention how Alex insisted on not helping Violet for free.

"Read the second document. If you go against the rules again, I will take it out on your best friend or whoever she is to you."

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Joanna’s lips. Alex had found a way to trap her.

The second document focused on the second rule: not to question him and his decisions, or Violet would have to pay for it.

Alone with Joanna, she might not have taken the second rule seriously, but with Violet involved now, she had to be very careful. Alex had already signed both documents.

"So, this is it? You don’t even want us to be friends?" Her voice almost cracked at the end, but Alex wouldn’t look at her, and he wouldn’t change his mind.

"I don’t keep friends with benefits. The day after tomorrow is the weekend, so make room for the wedding planner."

There were no maids or even Betty present, as it was evident that the madam and sir were having a private conversation. Alex casually opened the food container.

Joanna was still reading through the documents, determined this time to strictly abide by them. If this was how Alex wanted it, then that was how it would be.

Alex was only a few bites into his dinner when his phone rang. Checking the caller ID, it was Aiden, so he frowned slightly.

"What’s going on?"

Aiden spoke hurriedly. "Alex, Nancy is in the reporting room."

Alex stiffened immediately. He was supposed to have that meeting a few days ago, but Nancy’s school had made it difficult, and Dario had included it in his written report.

However, he couldn’t miss the opportunity. "Alright, just a minute." He wheeled himself to his room.

There, Alex connected to the virtual room, catching a view of the girl who bore a striking resemblance to a young Monica.

However, she appeared tougher, with her hair tied in a ponytail. Dario was not in the reporting room, but Alex knew he was nearby.

"Beauty," Alex called out, and the girl looked around curiously, growing nervous at the mention of her name until her eyes settled on the LED screen before her.

"Salvatore?"

"That’s right. I just want to ask you some questions. Do you mind?"

She shook her head, unable to connect the robotic voice to the questions. "No. Dario already told me that his boss wanted to talk to me."

Alex was grateful that Dario had made things easier for him. "That’s good. So, who do you think Salvatore is?" He asked, trying to see if she trusted him enough to open up.

"There are rumors that Salvatore is death itself. No one knows his identity, and he has men who kidnap and kill people, but Dario said they are all lies."

"So, do you believe the rumors or Dario?" Alex inquired, the girl could only see the questions displayed on the screen in relation to the voice but couldn’t see the face.

"I believe Dario because if the rumors were true, then Dario should also be a bad person for working for you all these years or should be dead."

Alex was impressed by her level of intelligence. "So, who is Dario to you?"

"A father?" She said it more as a question, and Alex asked her again. "Has he told you who he is to you?"

Nancy nodded. "Yes, he said he adopted me after my father was killed."

Alex observed her closely through the cameras in the reporting room, and throughout the meeting, her facial expressions remained neutral, without any changes.

"Do you want to know who your mother is?" He asked, fearing the answer. If Nancy wanted to know her mother, she had the right to do so since she wasn’t a prisoner.

All that was denied her must be rightfully returned to her.

"Yes and No," she answered. Alex was confused, wondering why her level of maturity exceeded her age.

"Care to explain?"

Nancy chuckled and explained. "If I know who my mother is, there is a chance that I would want to be with her, but I’m also afraid I can’t adjust to her because I want to be like Dario, so I want to be with him."

Clearly, Dario had explained the rules to her. If she chose her biological family, then he would have to cut ties with her after she promised not to reveal anything about him.

"So, have you thought about your other sibling?" Alex asked curiously. Nancy chuckled.

"If my sibling has been able to live without me for all these years, then I would rather not interrupt his or her life."

Alex wondered if it was right to reveal more about her family to her because she didn’t know the pain her disappearance caused them. "You have a sister. Do you want to see her?"

Nancy’s response disappointed him, though it was to his advantage. "No."

"But your family will be happy to see you." It couldn’t be that Nancy had embraced Dario’s lifestyle, right?

She seemed to prefer the rough life to the peaceful one, but Alex was glad she didn’t skip school and was among the best in her class.

"I told Dario that I wanted to be like him, but he explained that it came with a price."

"And you are willing to make that sacrifice? You don’t even want to meet your family from afar?" He could arrange for Nancy to see them before deciding whether she wanted to continue living with Dario.

Even if she stayed with Dario for now, they would have to revisit this conversation when she turned eighteen but her answer was something he never expected in his wildest dream.

Chapter 63: Chapter 63 - My mind is already made up

"Yes, I am willing to do whatever it takes. I want to be strong and not vulnerable like other girls," Nancy said seriously.

Alex realized she had already chosen her path, and there was nothing anyone could do to change her mind.

However, Alex did not want to give up just yet. He wanted to give it a try.

"There are many ways to do that. You don’t necessarily have to be with Dario," he pointed out. But she was quick to respond,

"But I don’t want to leave him. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Alex welcomed her, and she asked, "Is it true that you are just a robot?" If that were the case, she wouldn’t expect him to understand her stand.

A chuckle escaped Alex. Salvadore had been called all sorts of names, but the best decision he ever made was not showing his face. "No."

Hope resonated in Nancy, and the next question soon followed.

"Then can I see your face, please? It has been my dream from the moment I began hearing the rumors."

Alex did not want to dim her hope and could let her see him without her knowing he was Salvadore. But would his guilt allow him?

It was due to one of his men that another was innocently killed, and his daughter was taken away from her family, who missed her every day.

He wanted to do the right thing, but she kept making it hard for him by her unwillingness to leave Dario.

"I’m afraid you can’t unless you are willing to not see Dario again."

If she agreed to that option, it meant reuniting her with her family and her knowing him as Alex. She would still not connect him with Salvadore, but he would have indirectly granted her wish.

It might be difficult, but there were always ways around such things. Nancy went into deep thought.

Not only had she come to love Dario as a father but she had also come to admire him.

Because of him, she could not be bullied by even the toughest boys in school and has always been an inspiration for her.

It would also mean that her dream of becoming one of Salvadore’s ’men’ would have to be crushed.

"If that is the case, then I can never have that dream fulfilled."

Alex was relieved and informed her, "I’m ending this chat, but you still have the opportunity to change your mind. You shall be invited again next year. So take all the time to think about what we just discussed."

By next year, he and Joanna would not be together, but should the need arise, he would be glad to reunite her with her sister.

As it stands now, Monica thinks that Nancy is dead, so technically, Nancy does not exist in her life.

However, if Nancy agreed to go back, then that would complicate issues. A lot of questions would be asked about her whereabouts and how she has been faring.

Alex had no idea for how long she would be able to keep their secrets.

Nancy had already made the decision for all of them. "There will be no need for another discussion concerning this matter. My mind is already made up."

Alex did not say anything more before ending the call but still watched from the video as Dario appeared at the entrance.

Nancy embraced him with teary eyes, as they exchanged a few words before leaving the report room.

After signing himself out of the report room, Alex was devastated. Nancy did not want to return to her mother, and what if Joanna regained her memory?

The thought of it was overwhelming, and as much as he wanted to assure himself that everything was going to be fine, the heart-wrenching truth that things were more complicated could not be avoided.

The next day, Joanna was ready for the office, having her breakfast with the documents from last night beside her.

She confirmed that Alex had not left yet, so if he didn’t come out by the time she finished breakfast, she might leave the document with Ike for him on her way out.

Sipping her last coffee, the man in the wheelchair appeared, but his appearance was like that of someone who had not had a good sleep.

As much as Joanna cared to ask him about his night, she brushed it aside due to the texts of the contract.

Whatever did not involve their pretense must either be overlooked or thrown under the carpet.

"Morning, Alex. These are your copies," Joanna pushed the documents towards him, stood up, and left without another word.

Alex felt strange. Had it come to this? That they couldn’t even have breakfast together? Why were women always like this?

Well, Joanna was saving herself from trying to get too inquisitive to cause any trouble, but her quick departure caused Alex to lose his appetite.

Joanna had a call from Violet on her way to meet her first client.

"Joan, thank you."

Violet was so excited from the end of the line, far from anything Joanna ever saw in her.

"For what?" Joanna asked, multitasking by double-checking the document she was supposed to get signed to close the deal.

She had met this client once, but his interest at the signing stage was dragging.

"Logan called. He’s no longer interested in us getting back together, and our shares are also stable," Violet explained. Joanna smiled. Alex indeed did his part, so it was good she was doing hers too.

"That is wonderful."

"Yeah, I feel like I owe you, but what price did you pay?" Violet asked, still unable to get over the feeling that Joanna must have sacrificed something dear to her.

Joanna could not tell her she had to compromise on her relationship with Alex. Before then, her thought about her not wanting intimacy was correct, that enforcing the rules was something she didn’t expect.

"Nothing. Everything is fine."

"So can we do lunch?" Violet asked, trying to find a way to make it up to her. Joanna thought for a while. Lunch would have been a great idea except for the plans she had headway.

"I’m having some client visitations, so I’m only open to taking a client out for lunch."

At the end of the line, Violet contemplated, not wanting to miss the opportunity because of something important she had in mind.

"Okay, we can make it another time, but who is your first client?"

Joanna did not deem it right to expose her client’s details, but Violet was not a threat. "Doctor Mont, the CEO of Passion Airlines."

"Alright, let’s meet over the weekend," Violet succumbed. Joanna was about to agree before remembering her meeting with the wedding planner, but then Violet was her maid of honor and could come along.

"That will be great. We can meet the wedding planner together."

The call ended, and Joanna made it to the CEO’s office on time, met with the greatest shock of her life.

Chapter 64: Chapter 64 – The best deal

A few minutes ago, Violet rushed out of her office to another. The middle-aged man was in the middle of a meeting with his secretary, but at the sight of his daughter, the secretary was dismissed.

"Let’s discuss this later," his attention focused on his daughter. "What is the problem, V?"

Violet smiled and sat in front of her father. She had no idea about this bid until Joanna mentioned it, so this was her chance to do something in return.

"Do you have a meeting with a representative from Baker’s corporation?"

A frown creased her father’s face, but that was expected. The middle-aged man never smiled much anyway.

"Yes, that girl Joanna has been very persistent, but I’m just not sure about allowing them to handle our insurance. Their image as a company is falling with all the scandals."

The news about Mr. Troy had gone viral, so Violet knew what he was talking about, but with Joanna, she was sure that things would turn around with her strong support.

"Then let me help you."

Her father shook his head, not willing to involve her in this matter, especially when it involved a different department he took over from.

"I think you should rather focus..."

Violet did not allow him to finish his sentence before cutting in. "Okay, let me sit here and not say a word."

She sat in front of her father like a good girl, her gaze unrelenting, making the middle-aged man suspicious.

"It seems to me that you are up to something; out with it."

Violet was about to explain when a knock was heard. "Come in," Doctor Mont said, knowing that he already confirmed an appointment.

Violet already showed interest in being here, so there was no need to counter it.

Joanna walked in, shocked to see Violet in Doctor Mont’s office, and tried to be courteous by avoiding Violet’s gaze, focusing on the middle-aged man before her.

His reading glass and grey suit gave him an unwelcoming look, but the smile on the face of the woman beside him forced him to smile as well.

"Good morning, Doctor. Mont, your secretary let me in," Joanna said, feeling awkward and confused, as she could not perceive the relationship between Violet and Doctor Mont, having no idea of how to address the situation since she had no idea that Violet would be there to begin with.

"Cut the crap, he’s my father," Violet burst into laughter, Joanna was a little embarrassed.

Having been on the phone with Violet a while ago, it would have been nice for the latter to tell her this little detail when Joanna mentioned the name of the client.

Also, she never knew this was the Company she sought Alex’s help to save.

"Your dad? Why didn’t you tell me before?" She glanced at the middle-aged man once again before Violet.

Amusement laced Violet’s lips, loving the irony and confusion on the face of her good friend. "That’s because I wanted to surprise you."

"V, what is the rule about not mixing business with friendship?" Doctor Mont asked, understanding that Violet was looking for a favor for Joanna because they were friends, but Violet made a stunning revelation.

"Dad, she’s the one who saved our stocks."

Joanna was looking everywhere except to look Doctor Mont in the eyes. Violet held no resemblance with her father, and Joanna wondered why she didn’t take a doctorate degree program like her father.

It was not as if money was a problem in this family. "I..." she wanted to deny it, but Violet’s voice cut in fast.

"Dad, not even Travis could pull this one off," Violet reminded him. No one knew the plummeting of the stocks was her fault, so it was very easy for her to rub it in.

Violet was not the one handling this deal and already knew her father was adamant because of other companies bidding for the same tender.

For what Joan did for her, one good turn deserves another.

Doctor Mont seemed to be in deep thought as Violet offered Joanna a seat.

Their relationship at this moment was formal, but someone entered the office and halted at the sight of Joanna.

"Joanna, right?" It was Travis, Violet’s brother, still unable to get over the fact that Joanna was married.

"Yes, it’s me, Joanna," Joanna nodded, increasing their father’s insecurity at giving up the company’s insurance to one they termed as a friend.

"You know her too?" He asked suspiciously, his gaze questioning through his reading glasses. "I hope you two are not trying to favor her," he warned.

To him, these types of relationships were not healthy for the workforce. Partnerships should center greatly on merits and not favor.

Travis was happy to see Joanna for a different reason, though knowing she was completely out of his league, but Violet explained everything.

"Dad, if it wasn’t for her, our stocks would not have stabilized." She could not give the details, hoping that her father wouldn’t ask, but he did.

"I don’t get it."

Violet thought carefully. This would be more to their advantage than Joanna’s, especially when Joanna had someone like Alex behind her.

"Dad, the best deal Passion Airlines would have would be to sign this deal," Violet said seriously, the middle-aged man stared at his son and got a nod.

"She’s right, Dad," Travis added his voice. It all cleared up in Joanna’s mind that the middle-aged man never meant to sign the deal with her. If not for Violet, she would have lost this one.

Turns out they were even, except that Joanna was still paying the price by not being able to have Alex’s friendship.

"Since this is over, can we have lunch?" Violet asked out of the blue, everyone was shocked. It wasn’t even lunchtime, and yet, the COO of Passion Airlines was ready to eat.

It’s still morning," Joanna reminded her curtly, a forced smile stretching her lips. Somehow, Doctor Mont’s curious glare was still on her.

"Brunch it is then," Violet emphasized, not willing to give up. Both her dad and brother had confused expressions on their faces, but Joanna, having two more clients to meet, was eager to save time, though Violet made this meeting easy for her.

"Can’t it wait till tomorrow?" She asked worriedly, but the look in Violet’s eyes spoke greater volume than words.

There was something she wanted to tell Joanna that could not wait, and somehow, Joanna relented. "It’s alright. Let’s have brunch together."

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Chapter 65: Chapter 65 – My Sucking Life

When they arrived at the restaurant, Joanna couldn’t bring herself to make an order. She urged Jack to order first and then turned her attention to Violet.

"Are you going to tell me, or do I have to force it out of you?" Her tone was serious, sensing that Violet was holding something inside that she wanted to share.

Violet was relieved that Joanna picked up on the underlying issue. "Have you ever felt like you had sex with a ghost?"

Her question caught Joanna off guard, causing her to spit out the water she had just sipped before regaining her composure.

"Thanks to my sucking life, I haven’t had sex yet," Joanna admitted, feeling a sense of unease.

She wondered if she had been intimate with Colton and simply couldn’t remember. With Logan, their relationship always felt off, giving her a reason to resist him.

"Yes, I remember you mentioning that," Violet said, lowering her gaze, feeling that Joanna might not be the best person to confide in at that moment. Someone more experienced might understand better.

Joanna noticed Violet shivering, her face creased with a frown. "Is this about the random man you slept with?"

Violet nodded. "I thought he might have been a gigolo," she confessed, and Joanna had a hunch where the conversation was headed.

"Just forget about him," Joanna advised, although she knew it was easier said than done. Violet forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"It’s not that simple."

"What do you mean?" Joanna asked, her voice filled with concern. Violet had been in multiple relationships, so what made it so difficult for her to forget a man she had only slept with once?

That seemed to be the crux of the issue. "After you left last night, I went to the club. Not to drink, but just in case I could see him again. He wasn’t there, and I wanted to get a picture of him to track him down or something."

Joanna was now thoroughly confused as to why Violet would go to such lengths to find this man.

"What makes him so special?" Joanna inquired. "Why do you want to find him?"

Violet didn’t have a clear answer. "I don’t know. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Okay, get to the point," Joanna urged.

Violet forced another smile. "I got the footage, but he wasn’t in it."

"I don’t understand," Joanna remarked, puzzled by the situation and starting to entertain the idea that perhaps the man was indeed a ghost.

Violet showed her a video on her phone. "This is the footage. We entered the room together, but it only shows me going in."

Joanna could see Violet in a short, black, glittery dress in the video, finding it odd as Violet expressed her frustration. "How did I even balance myself like that? I was leaning on him at that point."

Violet’s body was bent over, but no visible person was supporting her. "Is that why you think he’s a ghost?" Joanna asked, a teasing smile forming on her lips.

"Do you have a better explanation?" Violet retorted, unable to hide her annoyance. Joanna smiled and suggested, "Someone must have edited it."

The realization hit Violet hard, and she felt embarrassed for not considering that possibility. "But why?" she asked.

Joanna shrugged. "Maybe he doesn’t want to see you again."

The harsh truth saddened Violet. This was the first time she had encountered something like this.

Usually, she was the one to end things or disappear, so being on the receiving end was painful.

"I don’t remember much from that night, but I left him two hundred dollars. Do you think that was too little?" Violet confessed, causing Joanna’s eyes to widen.

"Are you sure he was a gigolo? If not, he might have felt insulted," Joanna observed, not needing the experience to recognize the potential offense. Violet suddenly felt that might have been the reason.

"Maybe," she sighed. "Thank you for your help. You’re a lifesaver. But what’s going on with you and Alex and the wedding?" she asked, feeling like she had found answers to her own questions.

The weight of thinking she had slept with a ghost lifted, but Joanna’s response saddened her.

"It’s just a contract, and in about five months, we’ll go our separate ways."

"Are you sure?" Violet didn’t see it that way. Things seemed more complicated than they appeared.

"What do you mean?" Joanna inquired.

"It’s the way you talk about him. You like him," Violet pointed out, and Joanna didn’t deny it.

"Yes, I like him because he’s different. It’s just..." Joanna’s thoughts were clouded, unsure of how she should feel.

"What?" Violet pressed.

"His rules," Joanna recalled bitterly. "He keeps insisting that I shouldn’t fall in love with him. It’s like he’s hiding something." She signaled for the waiter and placed her order.

Violet did the same before asking, "You wouldn’t care if you didn’t love him, right?" The fact that Joanna was concerned about the rules indicated her feelings for Alex. She didn’t deny it.

"He cares for me, so it’s natural for me to care for him," she admitted.

Violet laughed and offered her own advice. "Wake up. It’s just a contract, and he’ll be gone."

"Then why don’t you wake up? You won’t find that mysterious man," Joanna retorted, and they both laughed as Violet continued to speak with a smile.

"If you love him, then tell him. He’s in a wheelchair, after all. I don’t think you’ll have any competition."

Joanna didn’t think so, especially after her experience at Grandpa Aristotle’s house.

"Being in a wheelchair doesn’t matter. He puts on this tough facade, but deep down, I know he’s kind. And just to clarify, I want him to be happy," Joanna explained.

She didn’t believe there was anything more, especially the word ’love,’ but Violet disagreed.

"You love him."

"No, I don’t," Joanna denied, never having considered that possibility. "He already has a woman, but he won’t tell me more," she recalled as the waiter brought their orders to the table.

"His silence speaks volumes. It means to stay away. Can you do that?" Violet advised, not wanting to see Joanna get hurt.

Joanna couldn’t help but agree. "I think so. And thanks for helping me with your dad."

Violet shook her head, feeling that they had both helped each other, so there was no need for thanks. "Let’s eat then."

Joanna went to meet her second client after their extended brunch turned into lunch due to their conversation.

When she saw the person waiting for her, tears welled up in the corner of her eyes.