Chapter 11 A Man’s
Protective Instincts
A sharp pain shot through Joanna’s wrist, the force nearly throwing her off balance.
She stumbled back, her eyes landing on Mathew, who had positioned himself in front of Norene like a human shield.
He turned to Norene. “Go first,” he said urgently, then spun to face Joanna, fury twisting his expression. “Last time, you
slapped Norene. What are you planning to do now?”
The sheer contempt in his eyes cut deeper than any insult.
Joanna met his glare, her voice cold and trembling slightly. “So in your eyes, I’m just some irrational woman who attacks
people for no reason?”
Mathew scoffed. “Aren’t you? You tried to hit Norene in the hallway, then nearly ruined her face a few days ago. And now,
instead of reflecting on your actions, you have the nerve to question me? I’ve never seen anyone more shameless.”
Each word struck Joanna like a lash, reopening wounds she had convinced herself were numb, yet the ache in her chest
proved otherwise. How many more times would he need to humiliate her before she finally accepted the truth? Mathew
didn’t just stop loving her–he despised her. Enough. She couldn’t take it anymore.
Joanna’s silence unsettled Matthew. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” he asked.
Slowly, Joanna lifted her face, the emotion in her eyes vanishing like a snuffed–out flame.
“What do you want me to say?” A faint, detached smile curved her lips. “That yes, I slapped your girlfriend? Or that every
time I see her, I wish she’d disappear?”
“You-” Mathew groaned, stunned, his hands curling into fists. “You vile woman.”
“If that’s what you think,” Joanna said sharply, “then tell your girlfriend to watch her mouth. If she spreads lies about me
again, I swear she’ll never be able to speak another word.”
Mathew’s face darkened. “What the hell does that mean?”
Joanna let out a bitter chuckle. “Ask your precious girlfriend yourself.” And with that, she turned and left.
She stepped through the back entrance into the golden afternoon light, but Joanna barely felt its warmth.
Exhausted, she sank onto the steps, setting her resume beside her.
Then came a gust of wind. The papers lifted into the air, scattering like autumn leaves.
Joanna lunged to grab them, but they slipped through her fingers, carried away in every direction.
She stood frozen, watching helplessly as they disappeared. A lump formed in her throat.
Why? Why did she have to keep enduring this? She had done nothing wrong, yet even something as small as keeping a job
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felt impossible.
Her vision blurred. One tear slid down her cheek. Then another.
At first, she wiped them away quickly. But soon, they fell faster, harder.
She covered her face, shoulders trembling as the dam finally broke.
Then, a slow, mocking chuckle rang out.
Joanna stiffened. Through tear–filled eyes, she turned toward the sound–only to see a familiar figure leaning against the
wall under the eaves. It was Owen. His presence alone carried a weight of authority, but his expression held nothing but
amusement and disdain.
“Crying over a few lost resumes? Do yourself a favor and don’t tell anyone you’re supposed to be my future daughter–in–law.”
Why did he always appear when she was at her lowest? “You never planned to acknowledge me as your daughter–in–law
anyway,” she muttered.
For once, Owen didn’t have an immediate response.
His eyes flickered over her tear–streaked cheeks, lingering on the redness in her eyes.
He wouldn’t admit it, but Joanna had the kind of face that triggered a man’s protective instincts. Especially when she cried.
Without a word, he reached up and plucked a resume from where it had caught on a tree branch. He skimmed over it,
eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise.
The credentials were impressive. Even more so than some of the candidates applying to be his secretary.
“Still haven’t found a job?” he asked.
“No,” Joanna answered honestly. Then, realizing how it might sound, she quickly added, “But don’t worry, I know my place.
I won’t apply to Harvey Group.”
Owen raised an eyebrow. She had fought tooth and nail to marry into the Harvey family, yet now, when she actually needed something, she was deliberately distancing herself?
Then it clicked–this was just another tactic, a calculated move to lure him in by playing hard to get.
Immediately, he lost interest.
“Good that you know.” Without hesitation, he tossed the resume into a nearby trash bin and strode away.
Joanna observed his actions, a sharp pang of bitterness tightening in her chest. So that was it. To him, her resume was
worth less than a piece of waste paper.
With only half a day left before the campus recruitment fair ended, Joanna knew she couldn’t afford to waste any more time. She quickly printed out fresh copies of her resume and made her way to the recruitment fair at a neighboring school.
Qakvale wasn’t a massive city, but it wasn’t small either. There was no way Norene could have blacklisted her from every
company.
And she was right. At the neighboring school’s fair, she managed to secure a job.
Though the university wasn’t as prestigious as Qakvale, and the companies recruiting there lacked big names, she didn’t hesitate. She signed with a small, up–and–coming firm.
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But it was a job. And right now, that was enough.
With the contract signed, she gathered her things and prepared to head back to school.
As she approached the gate of her school, she spotted a familiar figure scanning the area, his eyes darting as if searching
for someone. It was Rhys!
Forbidden Lust: A Night With My Husband’s Father
