Chapter 6 Quite A Low Price
The revelation hit Joanna like a blow to the head, leaving her dazed and unsteady.
She stumbled back, eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at the father and son standing before her.
The man she had slept with last night… was Rhys‘ father.
Joanna had always prided herself on staying composed, but right now, she was completely thrown off balance.
This was ridiculous.
As she struggled to process the situation, Rhys casually wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her forward. His grin was boyish, full of excitement as he introduced her.
“Dad, this is Joanna Powell—my fiancee! The one I told you about the other day.”
Owen was shocked, but he immediately regained composure. His eyes settled on Joanna, sharp and assessing. “I wasn’t aware the Powell family had someone like you.”
Joanna, still reeling, struggled to speak. “I live with my mother, but I am Liam Powell’s daughter.”
“Ah. The mistress‘ daughter.”
Joanna blushed with embarrassment.
“Dad!” Rhys cut in, frowning. “Don’t be so harsh. Joanna is a woman and is sensitive.”
Owen’s patience thinned as he kicked Rhys lightly. “Already rushing to defend her? Just how long have you two known each other?”
Technically, this was their first meeting.
But Rhys had already decided–Joanna was exactly what he wanted.
Even if she was an illegitimate daughter, she was stunning.
The moment Julissa had shown him her picture, he had been hooked.
So when Norene tipped him off about Joanna attending the party last night, he had seized the opportunity. The plan was simple: get Joanna drunk and sleep with her.
But the server Norene had bribed turned out to be a complete idiot!
Instead of leading Joanna to his room, the server had sent her somewhere else, leaving Rhys waiting all night for nothing.
Seeing her now, in person, only confirmed his instincts–she was even more breathtaking than her photos. And tonight, he wouldn’t let anything get in the way.
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Chapter 6 Quite A Low Price
Of course, he kept his real thoughts to himself, putting on an innocent front as he said, “Dad, do you believe in love at first sight? When I saw Joanna, I knew I wanted to protect her forever.”
Owen had heard enough. With an irritated sigh, he kicked Rhys again. “Go inside. I need to talk to her.”
“Alright.” Rhys pouted but obeyed, casting Joanna one last reluctant glance before retreating into the villa.
As soon as he was gone, the air grew heavier.
Owen’s expression turned cold. “Fresh out of a breakup and already cozying up to my son? You don’t waste time, do you?”
Joanna stared at him, stunned. He had just found out he’d slept with his son’s fiancee, and this was his response? Was he seriously questioning her this casually?
Owen’s face darkened. “No excuse? Cat got your tongue?”
Joanna forced herself to speak. “You’ve got it all wrong. I never agreed to this engagement willingly.”
A frown crossed Owen’s face.
Joanna fixed him a sincere stare. “If you’re willing to give me three hundred thousand dollars, I’ll walk away right now. I promise you’ll never see me or hear my name again.”
For a moment, Owen thought he had misheard. She slapped him, and now she had the nerve to ask him for money?
Then it clicked. The Powell family had paid her three hundred thousand for her to marry Rhys.
Disdain flickered in his eyes. “You sold yourself for a mere three hundred thousand? That’s quite a low price.”
The words hit Joanna like a slap. The faint hope in her eyes withered, replaced by something hollow and brittle.
She wanted to argue, to tell him it wasn’t just about the money. It was her mother’s life–saving surgery.
But her throat closed up, and when she tried to speak, the words came out in broken fragments, too weak to defend
herself.
She clenched her jaw, blinking rapidly, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. The only thing she had left was her
dignity.
The sorrow in her eyes was undeniable–tears clung to her lashes, making her look fragile, almost delicate.
Owen’s frown deepened. No. He wasn’t about to fall for that act. “You walked into this situation yourself. What’s with the
tears now?”
Yes… She had made this choice. She had no one to blame but herself. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and
steadied her voice. “Then tell me what do I have to do for you to let me go?”
It was obvious Owen despised her and didn’t want her anywhere near Rhys.
Owen let out a dry chuckle, torn between labeling her as foolish or just plain naive. “Because of this marriage, the Powell family took a hundred million dollars from me. And now you want to leave? Who’s going to pay me back?”
The amount hit Joanna like a truck.
A bitter smile flickered in her eyes. So she was actually worth that much…
Owen studied her pale, expressionless face, irritation creeping in for reasons he couldn’t explain.
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His voice softened slightly. “Rhys likes you. As long as you don’t disappoint him, we won’t treat you badly.”
Joanna fell silent. They wouldn’t treat her badly? What did that even mean? The moment she stepped into this house, one
foot was already trapped in a life she couldn’t escape. Once she married Rhys, the other would follow
Owen saw no reason to continue the conversation and turned to head into the villa.
Just then, Joanna raised her face. “Mr. Harvey!”
There was a slight hesitation in her tear–streaked face as she looked at him from a few feet away. If she used the one–night stand as a bargaining chip… would it change anything? Would he see things differently?
