Chapter 60

Raymond was going to say something to her but someone held his hand. He turned and looked at Joanna's face. He knew that she had seen everything and even though the both of them were not really married, he knew that she had every reason to be angry. At least, they do not know that they are not married. Of course she should be angry. He was actually expecting Joanna to yell at this cousin of hers, but she did not do it. She actually acted as if she did not see her at all. He was starting to feel more and more that Joanna is a completely different person now.
He looked down at his and and that was when he realized that she was still holding on to him. This is the second time that she is doing something like this. And this is the second time in the past eleven years that he did not have the urge to push a woman who is holding on to him like this away. What really happened to him? Why does he have this reaction to know Joanna? And how on Earth did she end up changing this much? Is this woman in front of him really Joanna? "Let's just leave" she said.
Raymond did not want to be here for much longer anyway. The both of them walked out.
Lydia could only watch as they walked away. She was really angry! She really wanted to smash something into Joanna's face! She could see that Raymond wanted to say something to her when she asked them to come back for dinner but Joanna stopped him! What does she think that she is doing? Does she think that she is doing her a favour? She knew Joanna really well, she is a terrible woman and right now she is putting on an act for Raymond! She knew that she will never be nice to her if it wasn't for that man! Allen found this Joanna even more annoying that before! Who does she think she is? Does she really think that she is better than her?!
Lena came to pick up Allen the next day. As she said, she had been doing everything to keep away from Raymond. She did not want to get involved with him at all. She could not get what Rita had said to her out of her mind. If he finds out that he is being played and decieved by her, he won't let her off at all! She can't afford that. She has to finish this ruse in one piece so that she can go back to her grandmother. She did not want to get too involved in the lives of these people. And after what she saw last night, she was even more determined to keep away.
Lena kept glancing over at Allen. She had something that she wanted to ask her. Yesterday she had gone to Joanna's place right? Since she could not go with her yesterday because of Raymond she wanted to know what happened. She wanted to be sure that Allen did not make any mistakes. The last people who should know that Joanna is missing should be her family. Those people, she knew how much they hated Joanna. They won't spare any efforts to use this opportunity to destroy her completely.
She finally found a way to bring up the topic. "Allen, you and Raymond went to Joanna's place right? You met her family right? Did they say anything to you? You...you did not make any mistakes yesterday right?" Lena asked. She knew that Joanna wasn't exactly a good person she she also knew that her family is completely horrible. They've never treated her well and they make it clear in many ways that they completely hate her. If they hold on to anything, it won't be good to them at all.
Allen pursed her lips. She thought about those people that she met yesterday. Her so called uncle that had asked her to ask Raymond to save his company, making it clear that he had sold his neice because of his company. And Lydia, thinking about that woman, she found herself getting angry. No matter what, Raymond is her cousin's husband, how can she do that? She doesn't even know that they are not really married, what kind of a family is that? Seeing thier attitude last night, she could tell that was how they usually treated Joanna.
How can they be that way to thier family member? How did Joanna survive all these years with those people? She said that she wasn't going to get involved but she could not help getting curious. Just how has Joanna lived her life these years? Allen looked at Lena and saw that she was waiting for an answer from her. "Joanna's family? I met them yesterday. Raymond met them with me too. He wasn't going to to but well..he ended up going inside with me" Allen said. She had an innocent look on her face.
Lena sighed. That wasn't what she wanted to know. She wanted to know if they had said anything specifically to her. Maybe if she knew how she responded she would be able to tell if she made a mistake or not and if they have been able to figure out something or not. "That is not what I meant Allen. Did you talk about anything particular with them? Did you talk with Peter? What did you talk about? You didn't say anything to them right?" Lena asked. She needs to know everything that really happened last night.
Allen shrugged. Well, she doesn't have any reason to hide it anyway. She is just going to tell them what really happened. "Well, when I got there, Peter said that he wanted to talk to me. He asked me to talk to Raymond, to ask him to invest in his company. He also said that this is the reason he let Joanna get married to Raymond. From his words yesterday, it seemed like he was threatening me. Well, that's what happened" Allen said. That family, it seemed like she was wrong about them. Thier hate for Joanna really runs deep for her after all.
Lena looked at her. She had already guessed that Peter was going to tell her something like this anyway. He really doesn't like her anyway. He had always hated Joanna and she was always like a tool for exchange for him. But did Allen say anything to him? He just hoped that she did not anything that she shouldn't say to him. "And what did you say to him? You did not say anything that you should not have said right?" Lena asked. She knew that she was being quite over bearing but she just could not help herself. No matter how many times she looked at Allen's face, she could not help feeling a chill. How can they be so alike?
Allen knew why Lena was asking so she did not get angry. She was being over bearing right now but she has a reason to do all of that so she tried her best to not get angry with her. No matter how much she looks like her she is not the real Joanna anyway. "I really did not say much. You said that I just have to agree with whatever they say if they ask me anything right? That's what I did. I told him that I'm going to talk to Raymond and get him to help out" Allen said. Talking about that person again, Allen could not help shuddering. She knew for sure that she won't be telling her.
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Raymond and Ryder were sitting in his office. Raymond looked at Ryder with expectation in his eyes. Since he came to see him on his own like this it means that he already found something right? Who knows? Maybe if he tried a little bit harder he would be able to find her before the six months are over. If that happens, he would be free from Joanna before the six months are over right? Thinking about Joanna, he suddenly did not know what to feel anymore. He was sure that he really hated her when he first met her, but now, he did not know what to feel.
He had noticed that ever since last night, she had been doing everything to avoid him. He did not know why but he just could not figure her out this time. He used to be able to tell what she was thinking but he could not do that anymore. Well, he won't have to deal with her anymore once he finds who he is looking for right? "So, have you doing anything Ryder? Did you find out anything about her? What happened after the accident eleven years ago?" Raymond asked. He really wanted to find her.
Ryder sighed. He did not know what to say to him anymore. It was as if anything he said to him did not get to him at all. Right now, he was trying to find that girl not because he believed that she was still alive but because he wanted to help his friend get over her completely. If he finds proof that she is no longer alive he will be able to let go her of completely right? Thinking about it now, he felt sorry for his friend. He is so bent on finding someone who is probably already dead.
"I'm trying to find her Raymond but I haven't gotten any important leads right now Raymond. The accident happened over eleven years ago. The doctors who treated you said that it was a miracle that you were able to he saved from that river that day. It's highly unlikely that someone would be able to survive that. I know that you still believe that she is alive and I'm doing this to help you but you should be prepared. I really can't promise you anything" Ryder said. He knew that Raymond did not want to hear it but he could not help but tell him about it.
Raymond knew what Ryder was trying to tell him. He was trying to tell him to give up that she is already dead. But he knew...he knew deep down that she wasn't dead. There wasn't any way that she would be dead. He believed that firmly. "I know what you are trying to say Ryder. I know that you are trying to get me to give up since it's already been so long but I know that she is not dead. There is no way that she would be dead. We just need to keep trying. I'm sure that we are going to get something soon" Raymond said. There is no way that she won't be alive.
Ryder sighed. Well, since he chose to believe this firmly, he knew that since he believed that she was alive, nothing would change his mind. He just had to find some kind of proof that she really died. That is the only way that Raymond would be able to come to terms with this. Sometimes, Ryder wished that she was alive too. He really wanted to see this person who is able to make Raymond like this. "Of course. I'm going to keep trying. I don't think that there will be any hope but I am ready to do it for you" Ryder said. To make him give up completely.
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Allen had just finished filming. She was walking back to her dressing room when she saw someone up ahead of her. It was that woman again. Sonia. Allen wanted to turn back but the woman already saw her. Allen really did not know what to say to her. She remembered what she had said to her yesterday. she could not help thinking, what is Joanna really like? Why does she have so many people who doesn't like her?
[2/1, 5:59 PM] Sonia: