Chapter 165
"Her understanding of everyone's awkward stares finally clicked into place.
Moments later, with a basin of washwater in hand, she stepped out and chided, ""This is all your fault. Look at what you've done to my lips. How am I supposed to face people now?""
Joseph glanced over and, despite the satisfaction he felt inside at his handiwork, he winced with a pale, feeble face and said, ""I'm sorry. I wasn't attentive enough. The pain was too much last night, but tonight I'll endure it myself and won't trouble you.""
His vulnerable appearance made it impossible for Cassie to continue her reproach.
Alright, he was in pain; there was nothing she could do about it.
So, when Walter and Collins came by around nine o'clock, they were both taken aback to see Cassie wearing a mask. ""Cassie, why are you wearing a mask?""
""There’s a lot of foot traffic in the hospital, better safe than sorry,"" she explained with utmost seriousness. ""I've heard the flu is going around pretty badly.""
""Oh, then you should give me one too. I don’t want to catch it,"" Collins quickly donned a mask as well.
Joseph, lying in the hospital bed: ""...""
------------
At the Peace Group's corporate offices, when a lawyer’s letter was delivered, Robert summoned Olivia Brooks and gave her an earful:
""What kind of operation are you running? I've worked hard to secure this new property from those old timers, entrusting it to you so the Brooks family could profit handsomely. But you blunder right after taking charge. With my directorship position at stake by year's end, can you please avoid dragging me down?""
""Sorry, Dad. I just couldn’t stand Cassie and wanted to teach her a lesson,"" Olivia Brooks pouted defensively, “but I didn’t expect Joseph would come to her rescue.”
""Joseph again!"" Robert grumbled, his annoyance clear, ""How on earth did Cassie get mixed up with a guy like that?""
""He must've been a cozy companion,"" someone scoffed.
Olivia Brooks sighed, ""I've looked into it, and people like Joseph—you can't even lure them with a fortune, let alone a powerless Cassie.""
Robert's face twisted in disgust, ""Despicable.""
""Dad, Joseph's screwed us over time and again. Now he's brazen enough to demand a king's ransom. Should we teach him a lesson?"" Olivia clenched her teeth in frustration, ""After all, he's just a lawyer, an out-of-towner at that.""
""Don't be rash,"" Robert warned with a stern look, ""Joseph's a bit of a mystery.""
""But what does it matter if he's a mystery? He's a lawyer; he's bound to have made enemies over the years... someone out there must be looking to get even..."" Olivia's voice trailed off, a hint of scheming in her tone.
Something clicked in Robert's mind. After a moment, he gave her a complicated look, ""Then dig into his past cases. And the development deal — is everything squared away?""
""Don't worry. I've paid off the sales rep and the workers. It's all going down as a construction accident. But the compensation..."" Olivia's voice faltered.
""Pay it. We can't let Joseph blow this out of proportion,"" Robert said begrudgingly. ""And quit obsessing over Cassie. Since breaking it off with Arthur Lewis, keep an eye out for other eligible aristocrats.""
""Okay,"" Olivia said, a shy smile curling her lips, ""I've been hanging out with Charlotte Jones a lot lately. Her brother Andrew keeps showing up, and it seems like he's taken a liking to me.""
Robert's eyes lit up. Andrew was the heir apparent to the Jones family — a fact set in stone, and not just any contender like Arthur Lewis.
The Jones family's fortunes had soared in recent years. A marriage alliance with them would be ideal.
""Good, that's my girl. You've got to snag Andrew,"" Robert beamed with a hearty laugh.
---
The next day.
In the hospital room.
The Vice President of Peace Group personally delivered two checks."
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