Chapter 22
Howell glanced at his phone before answering the call. Whatever was said on the other end made his expression tense. “Stay where you are.
After hanging up, he turned to Joanna. I have to step out
osten out for a bit
I’m on
Joanna let out a mocking laugh. “Let me guess–Margot? It was always her.
Howell hesitated for a moment before explaining. “Her car broke down on the way home. She panicked and didn’t know what to do, so I’m just going to check on her. I’ll be back soon”
Joanna scoffed. “You don’t need to explain yourself. I’m not your keeper.
A flash of disgust crossed her face. Just the thought of Margot
at made her stomach turn, like she had swallowed a fly. She wanted to cut ties with them both, once and for all
d nothing more than
Howell had been about to say more, but when he saw her expression, his face darkened. Without another word, he turned and left.
Not long after, Joanna told the butler she had somewhere to be and walked out as well
She didn’t have the heart to tell Dominic herself–she didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes. She thought, “Let that bastard explain it instead
Since she had come in Howell’s car, she called Isabella to pick her up.
After hearing what had happened, Isabella exploded. That shameless bitch Margot! Always pretending to be so sweet and innocent, but deep down, she’s pure evil. And Howell–he’s even worse, Those two are absolutely disgusting”
“No kidding” Joanna said casually. “But after tonight, I doubt I’ll ever have to see them again erased Howell from her life.
again. Her voice was eerily calm, as if she had completely
Jubella could tell she wasn’t in a great mood, so she quickly changed the subject. But in her heart, she was cursing Howell and Margot into the Freund
sitting in her car, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
Howell rushed to the location Margot had given him and found her sit
The moment she uw him, her tears spilled over. “Howell, you’re here… I don’t know what happened. My brakes just stopped working all of a sudden. I barely managed to stop the car by scraping against the guardrail..”
She looked pitiful–fragile, helpless, the kind of damsel in distress that could tug at anyone’s heartstrings
“You’re not hurt, are you?” Howell frowird.
Margot shook her head.
“As long as you re
okay. I’ll call someone to low th
to tow the car. Let me take yo
you hone hist.”
Okay. Thope I’m not troubling you too much,” she said hesitantly
“To fine Let’s go.” His tone was distant, unreadable.
By the time Howell returned to the Buckley family estate, Joanna was already gone.
He pulled out fus phone and dialed her number, only to hear, “The number you are trying to reach is currently turned off”
➡clenched as far slæmined his fut against the door. He thought. That darn woman…..
Meanwhile, Joanna had already returned home, powered off her phone, and gone
straight to bed.
The next morning she got up as usual, determined not to let anything disrupt her routine.
She thought, II that bastard lowell refuses to sign the divorce papers, so be it. Two years of separation, and the marriage would be dissolved automatically. Let’s see who can outlast who
With that thought, she opened her laptop and headed off to a
meeting
Chapter 22
With Joanna taking charge, the company had finally gotten back on track, and operations were running smoothly again.
After wrapping up her meeting, she had just stepped back into her office when her phone rang. It was Philip..
“Morning, Philip” she answered cheerfully,
“Morning” His voice was warm as always. “Have you been exhausted these past few days!”
“Not at all, I feel great.”
“Glad to hear it. Oh, by the way, our hot spring resort in the northern district is opening this weekend. You should come spend a couple of days there–I’ve invited a lot of people to celebrate”
“Really! That’s amazing! Congratulations Philip, Joanna said, pride swelling in her chest. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world”
She wanted to see his success firsthand. Philip had always been a business prodigy, and she was genuinely proud of him.
She thought. ‘Oh, right–his birthday is coming up in a few days, too. I should get him a gift. Maybe after work, I’d stop by the mall and find something
With that thought in mind, Joanna refocused on work
At Howell’s offer, he was restless. All day, he had been distracted, his mind replaying the events of the night before.
He had no idea how Joanna was doing–she wasn’t answering his calls, and his messages had gone unanswered.
Hanley stepped in and noticed his boss lost in thought. Hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke.
Howell snapped out of it and frowned. “What is it?”
“Uh_ Mr. Buckley, the Menzie Group’s hot spring resort in the northern district is opening this weekend. We received several invitations–would you like to attend?
Howell pressed his lips together. He thought, ‘So, the resort is finally opening! That is fast.
He had been interested in the project himself, but Philip had beaten him to it. He had to admit, Philip was a business genius–someone even he had to respect
But another thought crept into his mind. Will Joanna be there! Even though she has moved out of the Menzie family home, is she still in touch with Philip
His jaw tightened. ‘No. I have to go. Not just for the event–but to see her. To clear up the misunderstanding between us.
“Leave the invitation on my desk. I’ll see if I have time,” he said flatly, unwilling to reveal his true intentions.
Hanley quickly placed the invitation down and left the office.
Howell picked it up, his expression turning even colder.
After work, Joanna headed straight to the most upscale shopping district in Osland City.
The luxury mall was lined with high–end brands, filled with dazzling displays that could overwhelm even the most seasoned shopper. She wondered What should I get for Philip? Philip already had everything he could possibly need, so she wanted to find something practical Then it hit hier–le wour suits all the time. A pair of cufflinks would be perfect. She often saw him wearing them, so it would be both thoughtful and
With that in mind, she walked into an exclusive boutique specializing in handcrafted men’s suits. The store carried a range of premium cufflinks- horn, inrtal, wood, and even diamond encrusted designs, each more luxurious than the last.
She picked up a pair of diamond
‚ examining them closely.
She actually knew a thing or two about men’s accessories. Hack when she was with Howell, she had taken the time to learn his style, carefully chousing gifts ilusi suited his tastes
2/3
12:00 PM
Chapter 22
But back then, she had been overly cautious about spending money in the Buckley family, and since everything Howell owned was custom–made, her efforts had gone to waste.
Finally, she had a reason to put that knowledge to use. She wanted to pick out the best pair for Philip.
Just as she was admiring the cufflinks, a sharp, mocking voice rang out behind her.
Ms Osborne, are you sure you’re in the right store! This is a men’s boutique. You and Howell are getting divorced–who exactly are you shopping for? Oh, wait… silly me. You must be buying them for Philip, right?”
