Chapter 64
“I won’t come often. But Joshua, just hear me out this once, okay? Let me finish what I have to I’ll leave. Please?” Wendy pleaded, her voice trembling with urgency.
say, and then
Joshua remained silent, his gaze sharp as it rested on her. Let’s see what pearls of wisdom she can spit out now, he thought bitterly.
“Joshua, the SATS are just around the corner. You need proper nutrition to keep up! The doctor said you’re anemic and malnourished. I–1 made some soup for you to help with that.” She gestured toward the lunchbox in her hands, her tone both nervous and insistent.
His eyes flicked to the box. For a brief moment, he froze, recognition dawning on him. The container looked oddly familiar.
Noticing his reaction, her cheeks flushed faintly, embarrassment creeping in. “I remember you used to make soup for me all the time, though I was always too busy with work to drink it. This is the same lunchbox you used back then. This time, I made the soup for you instead,” she said softly.
Joshua let out a sharp laugh, and a sardonic smile played on his lips. “Is this another one of your pranks? What did you put in it this time? Don’t tell me you’re actually trying to poison me now.”
Wendy’s expression changed, and she hurriedly protested. “How could you think that? I’d never want to hurt you. I just… I just thought you needed this. I’m worried about your health, Joshua. I’m scared it’ll affect your SATS!”
“Don’t! Just stop right there!” he snapped, his tone laced with mockery as he shot her a cold, disdainful smile. “You and your whole family are absolutely filthy!”
He paused, letting the venom in his words sink in before continuing. “Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been up to lately? You’ve been digging into my life, haven’t you? Showing up at my school, cutting off my living expenses, and even dragging the police into it to track down where I’m staying. I know exactly what you’re trying to do!”
His gaze sharpened, and he added, “Wendy, I’m not some helpless victim waiting to be cornered.”
Her face drained of color upon hearing his words. “Joshua,” she said, her voice cracking. “I didn’t realize how much you cared, how much effort you put into making those soup for me. I was wrong-”
“Stop spouting nonsense,” he interrupted coldly. “We both know exactly what you’re after. Poison me? You’d have better luck trying another tactic.” He sidestepped her, trying to leave.
Panic flashed across Wendy’s face. She reached out desperately, grabbing his arm. “Joshua, wait! Please, just listen to me–just this once!”
“Let go!” Joshua snapped.
“Listen to me first!” she said hurriedly. “It was my fault before. I didn’t understand your good intentions! I was wrong, Joshua. I’m just worried about your health, that’s all!”
“I don’t need your concern!” He shook off her hand and said coldly, “Spare me the crocodile tears. If you have so much free time, why not worry about your own life instead of meddling in mine?”
Wendy could feel her throat tighten, and her eyes turned red, but she pushed forward. “Joshua, with your health like this, can you really endure the stress of the SATS? There’s only a month left. How will you manage?”
“That’s none of your business!” he shot back, his voice sharp and impatient. “I’m doing just fine. If you’ve got nothing better to say, then just leave me alone already!”
“Joshua, please,” she pleaded, her tone tinged with desperation. “Why don’t you come to my company?
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Chapter 64
Wouldn’t you like to see it? You’ve always said you wanted to visit. Let me take you there!”
Her suggestion made him pause mid–stride. He turned his head and laughed. “Wendy, you never give up, do you? Even now, you’re still trying to play games with me. What is it this time? Are you hoping to humiliate me, maybe even have your security guards beat me again? I know how rotten your heart is. Don’t even think about it!”
Before she could respond, he spun on his heel and strode off.
“Joshua?” she called after him, her voice trembling with disbelief.
However, this time, he did not stop. He walked away quickly without even glancing back at her.
Wendy’s eyes reddened the moment she saw it. She bit her lip and sniffled, trying to hold back the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, but it was futile. Tears pricked at her eyes, and before she knew it, they spilled over, sliding down her cheeks.
She watched his figure grow smaller and smaller until he disappeared around the corner of the street.
With trembling hands, she clutched the lunchbox she had brought for him and slowly trudged back to the car before finally sinking into the driver’s seat.
“Wendy, I knew this would happen. Don’t let it get to you,” Shirley said softly from the backseat. Her face was a little pale.
Wendy felt that she couldn’t stop crying. Her voice trembled as she replied, “I’m just worried about him. He’s not eating properly, and the SATs are so close! And besides, he still remembers those things!”
Shirley let out a soft sigh. “How could he possibly forget? He left home because of them!”
“Shirley, you should apologize to him too,” Wendy said, turning to face her with a serious expression.
The suggestion caught Shirley off guard. She stiffened, falling into a heavy silence.
“I know exactly what you did,” Wendy continued as she stared at Shirley. “You might not think it was a big deal, but I do. It was cruel. Even that sports car of yours, you wouldn’t even let him touch it, let alone take it for a drive.”
Shirley said nothing as a wave of discomfort welled up inside her. She had no idea how to handle this situation.
In the past, she had only ever thought of Joshua as an embarrassment, a shameful presence in the family, someone better forgotten. She couldn’t even bring herself to acknowledge him as her younger brother. When her friends or close–knit circle mocked him openly, ordering him around like a servant, she had remained silent. Not once had she defended him.
As she reflected on the last four years, she realized her mistreatment of Joshua went far beyond a slap or
two.
During his time with the Frasers, he lived as if he were invisible. Even when he was slapped, he would force a smile and greet them warmly, brushing it off as if it didn’t bother him at all.
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