Ch. 81..85: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 81-85

Chapter 81: Chapter 81 – I will either choose to lie or not answer it

The setup in the dining room was rather romantic, with no servants around. The lights were dimmed, but Joanna could see the cold man sitting in a wheelchair by the dining table.

It could be mistaken for a man eagerly waiting for his lover’s return, but Joanna knew not to harbor such thoughts.

"I thought to formally congratulate you for being on the path to CEO," Alex said as soon as their eyes met. Joanna found it hard to contain the joy in her heart.

This man was so many things she could not understand. Why candles when they weren’t even friends? Alex never ceased to amaze her.

"The candle?" Joanna asked when she sat in front of Alex. He poured a glass of red wine for her, his movements elegant and refined.

Still clad in his suit, Joanna could tell he had just returned as well, but this action touched her greatly.

However, candles were rather romantic, so she wondered about his reason for adding them to the occasion.

"Candles add beauty, that is all," Alex said firmly. Joanna was slightly disappointed, not knowing exactly what she wanted to hear from him.

It was not as if anything could spark between them, but she couldn’t help the feeling.

"They are indeed beautiful," she confirmed. Alex pulled a bouquet of roses from nowhere and gave them to her. Her heart skipped in appreciation as she accepted them.

"Thank you."

"So, are you thinking of hiring me when you become CEO? I’m a great IT officer," Alex said teasingly as he poured her a glass of wine. Joanna was amazed to see this side of him.

It was the first time he had been so casual with her to the extent of cracking such jokes. She giggled. This deal felt like it was made in heaven, as she hadn’t sweated like she did with her other deals.

"You are funny, but thanks for this. I planned on celebrating with the domestic workers."

The gratitude in her heart was exceptional and genuine. Alex teasingly asked again,

"Why celebrate with them when I’m here?"

Joanna laughed, sipping her wine. "I have to be honest, your actions convey the wrong messages," she pointed out. Alex chuckled.

"Why do you think I gave you rule number one? Eat up and don’t let your food get cold."

Joanna nodded. Alex might seem difficult sometimes, but he had a soft side, just like what he had just shown.

In that case, she would be careful to obey the rules. Digging in, she could tell that the food was special.

Alex’s thoughtfulness brought inexplicable joy to her heart. "This is delicious."

"I’m glad you like it. So, when are you going to inform Grandpa?" Alex asked. Joanna froze in the middle of her meal.

It was indeed great to inform the old man, but she knew that Cole and his family would still not go down without a fight.

In that case, she needed to have a free mind to go through the wedding before worrying about anything else.

"The contract is still under processing because of how huge it is, so I will focus on the wedding for now."

Alex was satisfied with her response, a smile lingered in the corner of his lips.

Joanna took the contract seriously, and just as he helped in securing what was hers, she also had to help in securing his.

"Yes, that is very important."

Joanna continued eating, speaking through mouthfuls. "The food is really good. Why don’t you taste it?" She asked, saddened by his not partaking in the special dinner he organized for her. Alex smiled.

"I already did, and I don’t like it much."

Joanna was stunned. The food was so good, and yet he didn’t like it much. Then what was the assurance that he was going to enjoy his order tomorrow?

"Do I have the right to be worried about you? Food is fuel, and you get little to nothing of it."

She spoke jokingly but meant every word of it. Alex did not seem offended by her picking on his eating habits once again, though it was a matter he never liked to talk about.

His eating habits were just like his sleeping habits.

"I get your point, but what the body needs are nutrients," he hinted. Joanna frowned a little, correcting him.

Supplements aren’t food."

Now Alex knew she had misunderstood his point. "Who is talking about supplements?"

"How do you survive then?" She asked directly, grateful for the opportunity to have this casual chat with him.

With their wedding in a week, Alex decided to open up a little about himself to her, explaining it the best way he could.

"I do eat, but not much. I eat at least five times a day but in very small quantities."

It was understandable as Alex hardly emptied a plate. The only times Joanna saw him eating were during breakfast or supper together, and even then, he ate very little.

"I hardly see you eating even once a day," Joanna remarked.

Alex laughed and replied, "So, you want me to call you whenever I have a meal in front of me? ’Joan, hey, I’m eating today.’" He mimicked a funny voice that made her laugh.

"Hahaha, you are so funny."

Alex found himself enchanted by the sound of her laughter. It was something he couldn’t quite explain, but he knew he wanted to hear it over and over again.

"Can I ask you a question?" He suddenly asked. Joanna pushed her empty plate away, and Alex called out for Betty to clear it, adding, "You can ask one in return, but I will either choose to lie or not answer it."

Joanna smiled bitterly, sensing that he might not answer the question she had in mind.

"Then don’t ask me any questions."

Eagerly, Alex told her, "It’s the same rule. You can either choose to lie or not tell me."

This calmed Joanna. She sipped another glass of wine that he poured for her and stared into his eyes. "Fine, what do you want to know?"

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 – I’m going to lie to you

Alex thought carefully and asked seriously, "If Logan were in a wheelchair after you two got together, would you have loved him the same or considered marrying him?"

He had a special reason for asking the question, hoping for Joanna’s honesty.

She frowned, wondering about the reason for such a question, but she had an answer ready, so there was no point in overthinking it.

"Yes, I loved him for who he was. I didn’t even know he was your brother, and I wouldn’t have cared if he had any disabilities."

The kindness Logan showed her in the beginning left a lasting impression, leading her to love him unconditionally, regardless of any challenges he might face.

But he knew he was just an asshole, two-timing, and disrespecting women?

Something flickered in Alex’s eyes, but Joanna couldn’t quite grasp it before it vanished as he replied, "I understand."

His response seemed too brief for her liking, as she expected more questions that never came.

"Can I ask my question now?" Joanna inquired seriously, eager to learn more about his life, even if it was just a glimpse.

"Yes," Alex agreed, keeping his promise.

"Who is the woman in your life, and why aren’t you marrying her?" Joanna asked, prompting a change in Alex’s expression.

However, he didn’t want to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere. "I’m not going to answer that truthfully."

If Joanna was okay with his lie, he would share, but if not, he preferred to remain silent on the matter.

Joanna valued honesty and didn’t want to be deceived. "Fine, don’t answer."

Alex felt a twinge of guilt but stood firm in his decision not to discuss the topic further.

"You should rest. You have work tomorrow, and you owe me an order," Alex reminded her, signaling the end of their conversation. Joanna smiled and got up.

The pleasant evening had come to a close, and she knew Alex wouldn’t say more. "Good night, Alex. See you in the morning."

When Alex woke up the next morning, his order was waiting for him, and the sight of it made his heart thump.

Joanna was excited for his review, but without tasting the food, Alex asked her, "How do you do it?"

Confusion sat on Joanna’s face as she pondered the meaning and reason for his question. "Do what?" she asked.

Alex took a deep breath before explaining vividly. "I’ve seen you prepare three dishes, and they are all..." his voice faltered at the end, catching both Joanna’s interest and concern.

"Are you going to complete the question or what?" she asked eagerly, but Alex suddenly changed his mind.

"Don’t worry about it."

They were just simple pancakes, but the presentation was so familiar that it brought back childhood memories pushed for a time to the corner.

Somehow, he hoped the taste would be different, but Joanna liked the eagerness with which he took the first bite.

She waited in anticipation as his brows creased. "It’s the same," he murmured, and Joanna frowned. "I don’t understand. Same what?"

Alex could not explain it to her. How was it possible that her food looked and tasted just like that of his late mother?

He did not respond to her, instead taking another bite, and another, and another again.

Joanna watched in anticipation as slowly but clearly, the plate was emptied.

Her heart stopped. This was the first time she had seen him eat this much ever since they engaged in this contract.

"Do you want more?" she asked. Her question seemed to have brought him to his senses as he stared at the empty plate in front of him, feeling upset with himself.

How strange for him to not be able to control it and not raise any suspicions?

The last time he ever ate like this was the morning of his mother’s death. Alex was finding it hard to keep it all together.

Joanna had no idea he would like the food and had not made much, but she was still surprised to see the empty plate.

Alex wanted more, but he also wanted some pressing answers. "Where did you learn to cook?" he further asked, deepening Joanna’s confusion.

Is there a problem with the food? Is it bad for your stomach?" she asked, thinking that would be his only reason for asking.

Alex forced a smile, unsure of how to explain it to her. "Please tell me how you learned to cook."

Joanna couldn’t understand him but answered the question. "For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed watching my mom cook. I decided to surprise her a few times with the things I learned from her."

Alex was confused. Monica had previously mentioned that his mother was bad, and Alex himself knew it. So, Monica wouldn’t know, right?

How could two rivals cook food that tasted the same? Alex knew where to find his answers.

"Alex, are you alright?" Joanna asked when she received no reaction to her earlier response.

Alex was wheeling himself as he spoke. "Thanks for the food. I’ll see you on the day before the wedding."

Joanna’s eyes dulled. Last night had been fantastic, and suddenly, Alex’s mood changed again. She couldn’t understand what was causing all these changes but knew one thing for sure.

Even if she asked him, he wouldn’t say. And now, he was leaving until the day of the wedding. Why did that make her uncomfortable?

After some thought, she decided to invite Violet to live with her until after the wedding.

Alex was going to the only place he was certain to get the answers he needed, saying to Ike, "To Grandpa’s mansion."

Ike was surprised, as Alex always found ways to avoid the old man, but today, he was going there without being summoned.

Upon reaching there, Grandpa was sitting on the patio with a glass of fruit juice, reading a newspaper.

"Don’t you have work? What are you doing here?" Grandpa asked, appearing displeased by his visit.

 

Chapter 83: Chapter 83 - It’s Far From That

Alex reached for the glass of fruit juice in front of Grandpa, but Grandpa beat him to it, lifting it to his mouth before Alex could reach it.

He never liked to share his fruit juice during his quiet time like this, and Alex knew it. He shook his head and casually beckoned one of the maids. "Bring me a drinking glass."

As the maid went to get the drinking glass, the old man removed his reading glasses, placing them safely in a case after setting down his half-empty glass.

Alex’s behavior this morning was strange, deserving the old man’s complete attention.

"What makes you think I’m going to share my juice with you?" Grandpa asked sarcastically, and Alex waved dismissively.

"You can’t drink all that sugar alone." He was teasing the old man but due to the seriousness in his tone, the old man rather took it seriously.

Furrowing his brows, he was slightly annoyed. "This is natural. I made it myself. Why would you drink it when you hate sugar?"

That was where the problem lay. Alex would usually turn to alcohol in the midst of challenges, but today, he was taking it on sugar.

Alex was surprised the old man prepared his own fruit juice when he had dozens of maids to attend to him but did not delve into the matter since he had a pressing one on his chest.

"Just for the same reason. It’s from fruits," Alex shrugged, pouring himself a glass of fruit juice as soon as the maid arrived with the drinking glass, and drank it in one gulp.

The old man became even more suspicious due to this casual action. "You haven’t tasted anything sweet since your mother’s passing. What is going on?" he observed, thinking it was work.

Alex had a lot on his shoulders, so it would be natural for him to break down sometimes.

"Grandpa, it’s about Joanna," Alex reported bitterly. The old man lowered his drinking glass, speaking seriously. "Don’t tell me you want to divorce Adelaide."

"It’s far from that," Alex forced a smile as he adjusted his wheelchair, making it easy for him to help himself to an empty chair.

The closeness allowed him to speak in a low tone, so a maid or a random person would not hear what he was saying.

To his amazement, the old man was not as surprised as he expected. "Oh, that."

"You know?" Alex was glad to get some answers to what was bothering him but was disappointed by his grandfather’s response.

"No, but I guessed why." He chuckled and poured himself another glass of fruit juice.

"And that is?" Alex asked with his last shred of hope.

Grandpa relaxed and emptied the rest of the fruit juice, into Alex’s glass before calling the maids for a refill.

The jar was replaced before he spoke again. "Have you checked your mother’s stuff? She has a cookbook written by Monica."

"How is that possible?" Alex was stunned since both women were rivals. This was too much for him to digest, but the old man was patient in his explanation of the matter.

"When your father broke up with Monica for your mother, he still missed Monica every day. Due to that, he went there to eat most of the time until Monica stopped him from coming anymore," he recalled.

"It wasn’t right for the man who dumped her for another woman to constantly come to her house for food, not forgetting how old flames could spark again."

Alex had a lot of questions, but since his grandfather was not done, he listened attentively as the old man continued to explain.

"You also know how he had multiple mistresses, but none of them could satisfy him like Monica. When your mother found out, she did the wisest thing to save her marriage."

Alex watched with interest as the old man drank another glass of fruit juice, but this time, he sucked on a lime after indulging in the sweetness of the drink.

"And what is that?" Alex inquired, not wanting the old man to cut the conversation short. His mind had indeed wondered, as he began to miss his son but Mathias was still alive in Logan.

This was the reason why the old man was so soft towards his wayward grandson.

"She managed to persuade your father to obtain Monica’s recipes. Since Monica no longer wanted to see your father in her life, she personally wrote down the recipes for most of the meals she used to prepare for him."

"How generous of her," Alex acknowledged. It was uncommon for a woman to want her rival to succeed, but Monica seemed to want her rival to be happy, even though she was in pain.

Alex’s mother had even attempted to harm Monica, a fact that Grandpa may have forgotten.

"Monica was aware that Mathias visited her house frequently because of her cooking. She believed that if his wife could replicate the same dishes, he would stop coming. That recipe book is the most detailed one I have ever seen, and it was what prompted your father to share this story with me," Grandpa concluded.

Alex was left in deep thought. "I see." But Grandpa suddenly remembered something and quickly said,

"That was another reason your father wanted you to marry Adelaide. No matter what, he wanted that marital bond between both families."

Alex felt strangely guilty because of his plans for the marriage. It wasn’t supposed to last for more than six months, and he wasn’t going to go back on his words.

Maybe if Grandpa understood his reason later, he would understand the reason for the divorce when it’s finalized.

"Thank you, Grandpa, I should be leaving now."

"Why so soon?" The old man was just beginning to enjoy his company when he wanted to leave, but Alex already supported himself back to the wheelchair.

"This is the only reason I came, and there is a lot to do before the wedding."

As he was about to wheel himself, Grandpa said something that caused him to freeze.

 

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 – Sweetheart, do you miss me?

"Be careful and keep Adelaide safe," Grandpa Aristotle said casually, but Alex could already sense something suspicious.

There was no way his grandfather would make a joke like that, which raised Alex’s concern.

Grandpa Aristotle had many enemies but couldn’t disclose much without being biased. However, he had faith in Alex’s abilities and could only offer a warning to his favorite grandson.

"Is there something you want me to know?" Alex inquired, unable to conceal the worry evident on his face, especially when it involved Joanna.

Grandpa shook his head and replied, "No. Let me see how far they will go."

His response heightened Alex’s anxiety, prompting him to ask again, "What are you talking about?" Knowing his grandfather, whatever was looming must be significant to warrant such a caution.

"You are not a man who needs to be spoon-fed. You are too old for that," the old man responded nonchalantly.

Evidently, some adversaries were scheming against Joanna, and Grandpa was aware of it but chose not to divulge further details.

The King family was not for the faint-hearted, so if Alex was deemed fit to be the CEO, he should be capable of handling such minor issues.

"Thanks for the hint," Alex expressed genuine gratitude.

He left his grandpa’s house, giving Dario instructions through a secret code.

"You are to protect Miss Joanna Baker, even though her husband already has a bodyguard for her."

Jack alone might not be able to protect Joanna in case of an attack by a gang, so it would be wise to have some of Salvatore’s men keep a watchful eye from the shadows.

Upon arriving at the office, he was surprised to find Aiden waiting for him. "I never knew you to be late for work," Aiden teased, and Alex sighed.

"I went to see Grandpa," he replied.

Aiden’s eyes widened. "On your own? I thought you didn’t like seeing him. Is everything okay?"

Alex wheeled himself to his desk and settled into his executive swivel chair.

"I went to get some answers, and it turns out my late mother was using Monica’s recipes. That’s why Joanna’s food tasted like my mother’s."

"Tasted? You mean you tried it?" Aiden’s excitement doubled, and despite Alex’s desire to keep some things to himself, he couldn’t resist sharing with Aiden.

"It’s strange how I’m craving more of it. It’s as if my mother has returned and is right beside me."

Aiden was uneasy about the last point raised. "Joanna will be in danger if she comes back from the dead," he pointed out.

Alex clenched his fingers into a fist. His mother’s strong dislike for Monica would likely extend to Joanna as well. Furthermore, his mother was unaware of the agreement between his father and Monica.

"Things are fine the way they are."

"So, can you just pretend this marriage is real? Joanna..." Aiden started to say, but Alex’s expression quickly turned angry, cutting him off.

"Enough, Aiden. My relationship with Joan is just a contract that will end soon. There will be nothing more."

"It’s clear you had a good meal today. Your ability to control your anger is evident, or else you would have punched me by now," Aiden remarked, shrugging.

Alex’s eating habits concerned Aiden, and he was relieved to see the man finally eat a substantial amount of food.

Hopefully, his sleeping pattern will improve as well. "Forget about me. Why are you here? You look like you haven’t been sleeping," Alex observed.

Aiden forced a smile, unwilling to admit defeat. "I’m fine."

Alex shook his head. "I know you, Aiden. Is it about that girl?" Aiden blinked twice.

"Is it that obvious?"

Alex wouldn’t care about him unless he opened up to him, so he asked, "So, what brings you here?"

"Everyone wants to see Salvadore. I’ve been given an ultimatum to reveal your identity," he said with his head lowered, but Alex remained unmoved.

"I saw it coming and I have a plan. However, you may not like it."

"What is this plan of yours?" Aiden asked, feeling worried. If Alex said he wouldn’t like it, then he probably wouldn’t.

"Pretend to be Salvadore," Alex revealed, causing Aiden’s face to drain of color.

Joanna arrived at the office early, still concerned about how Alex had reacted after emptying the plate.

She then remembered that he wasn’t going to return home until a day before the wedding and decided to call Violet.

"Hey, would it be too much to ask if you could stay with me until after the wedding? I’m trying to clear my workload today at the office, but if I can’t finish, I might need to come back tomorrow to complete it."

"Of course, come pick me up when you finish work tomorrow," Violet agreed without hesitation, warming Joanna’s heart.

"You’re such a darling," Joanna said with a smile before ending the call. Her office colleagues were very happy for her.

Joanna, I’m going to enjoy the wedding because we exceeded our target," Julliet said excitedly. Joanna smiled.

This was the first time they had reached that threshold, but they had to keep everything to themselves until the final processes were over. "Sure, enjoy it to the max."

During lunch, Alex had food delivered as usual, but Mia was still missing in action, making Joanna wonder what her half-sister was up to.

She made sure to follow up on the processing of the closed deal and realized that Mia was not aware. The finance team would not inform Cole until the transfer and everything else had gone through.

When Joanna reached home that day, she was tired and had no intention of having dinner.

However, at the dining table, Alex was waiting for her. "Alex? You said you weren’t going to return home tonight." Excitement laced her voice as she went to sit in front of him.

Alex forced a smile, slightly ashamed to make his request but did so anyway. "Perhaps I want to place another order, and this time, I want to choose the menu."

Joanna was about to answer when his phone rang, interrupting the moment.

As he saw the caller ID, his expression turned sorrowful, but he spoke with such warmth that was foreign to Joanna.

"Hello, sweetheart, do you miss me?" Alex asked whoever was at the end of the line. Joanna felt a strange pang in her chest.

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Chapter 85: Chapter 85 - Dion

"Hello, sweetheart, do you miss me?" Alex asked the person on the other end of the line. Joanna felt a strange pang in her chest.

Her eyebrows raised, amazed by Alex’s facial expressions and the words he spoke.

Although she couldn’t hear the response from the other side, something inside her felt a sense of loss when Alex settled back into his wheelchair, tilting his head to support the phone on his ear.

Without a word to Joanna, he excused himself. She was pained, her appetite ruined, as she hurried to her room, unable to understand her emotions.

He had already mentioned that he had a woman he wanted to marry, but the reason behind his marriage to her remained unclear. Despite her efforts, things didn’t make sense, leaving her entangled in this contractual relationship.

Why was she the only one feeling hurt when Alex seemed to have everything figured out?

He usually wouldn’t stay the night, and Joanna sensed that something had caused him to change his plans to return home, possibly related to the woman he was speaking to.

Curled up on the bed, she wrapped herself in a duvet and sobbed.

In Alex’s room, he continued the call, his voice gentle. The woman on the other end did not respond to his earlier comment but instead accused him.

"I told you not to marry that woman. I found your wife."

Alex stiffened but soon relaxed as that had been the plan. Everyone believed Dion was dead, and Alex had no intention of revealing the truth until she regained her sanity, which hinged on his marriage to the woman Dion had chosen for him.

"You did?" He wasn’t as excited as before but was relieved to have given those documents to Joanna, who had already signed them.

In that scenario, no one would be harmed by the divorce, but Dion was kept far away from the city. How could this woman find her way there?

Alex had some doubts and asked, "How is that possible?" She wouldn’t have been so serious if it weren’t.

Dion had been through a fire that had affected her mentally. Every day, the only person she longed for was the young woman who had risked her life to save her.

Waking up without that young woman by her side caused Dion to lose her mind, as the woman had promised to be there for her.

"She has also been searching for me to ensure I’m okay," Dion’s voice was clear, confirming the woman’s identity.

"Is she there?" Alex asked, appearing frustrated. This woman had been the subject of his search for years, guided by the clues Dion provided, yet he couldn’t find her.

Their connection must have been strong for her to locate Dion in the secluded place where Alex had hidden her.

The dilemma was that it was too late to back out of his agreement with Joanna, as the extended family and even his grandfather were aware.

Complicating matters further, Joanna was the woman his late father wanted him to marry, and his grandfather was determined to see it through.

The situation was incredibly complex, leaving Alex with no choice but to proceed with the wedding.

Had this woman appeared before Joanna’s introduction to Grandpa and the extended family, things would have been different.

"Yes, so when will you come over? You have to marry her, you made a promise," Dion’s accusatory tone pierced Alex’s heart, knowing he couldn’t marry the woman immediately.

Even though he felt nothing for her, as long as Dion was content, he would manage.

"Yes, I did promise, but I will see you in a month." By then, the wedding would be over, and he could keep his involvement with the woman discreet until his divorce from Joan was finalized.

He had already psyched her out, but unfortunately, Dion was not taking the news well, already in tears.

"Why? You have to call off the wedding," she pleaded.

Alex felt helpless, unsure of how to explain the situation to her. Dion was the youngest but also the smartest among them.

It was not surprising that she was targeted, and Alex was not as tough or experienced back then to see through the plot.

It was too late for him to realize that he had been deceived, and the real target was Dion. When he finally arrived, the room where Dion was being held was engulfed in flames.

He was unable to enter but was surprised when an ambulance arrived.

Someone had called 911, and the fire department arrived also. Dion was found with minor burns, murmuring, "Please don’t go. Stay here."

Whoever rescued her from the fire was the one Alex vowed to find.

After realizing the plot against his only sister, Alex declared her dead by faking the record before sending her to his secret hideout.

"Don’t you miss Grandpa and Logan?" Alex asked softly, realizing that Dion was not as okay as he seemed.

"Grandpa? Logan? Who are they? Are you talking about Mom and Dad?"

Tears welled up in Alex’s eyes. To keep her mental health balanced, Alex asked, "Tell me about my wife. What’s her name?"

His question excited her, and she giggled before saying, "I won’t tell you. You have to come and see her now."

Dion was not too far from him. With a chopper or private jet, it was just a three-hour journey, but Alex knew he was being watched because of the wedding invitations sent out.

His enemies would look for things against him, so what if he was tracked to where Dion was hidden?

"Dion, a lot is going on right now. I can’t travel yet," Alex said.

Perhaps he should not have said it so directly because Dion was furious and began yelling from the end of the line.

"You liar. You lied to me."

It was not just her yelling but the crashing of items could also be heard. Taking a deep breath, he began to do the only thing he knew to calm her down.