Chapter 446
The name echoed in her mind, causing her heart to race as she pressed the answer button. His voice, as alluring and magnetic as ever, came through. "Why aren't you here yet?"
"I'm almost there," she replied.
"Alright."
The call ended, and Cassie tried to steady her heart, struggling to keep her emotions from spiraling out of control. Perhaps the staff had misunderstood. After everything they had been through, she should trust him more.
Three minutes later, she spotted Joseph and the others spread out on the lawn. They were four in total—three men and a girl. Joyce Ray, who had previously blended into the crowd, was now donned in Fendi's latest spring collection. She had transformed from a sparrow into a phoenix—poised, elegant, and graceful.
Joyce Ray and Joseph stood side by side before the grill, while Michael joked and laughed with them. Lucas, on the other hand, casually sipped his drink, a soft smile playing on his lips. It was a warm, comforting scene, no matter how one looked at it.
Cassie froze in her tracks. Despite being married to Joseph, she had never shared such cozy, congenial moments with his friends—aside from a slight acquaintance with Noah Collins. As a wife deeply in love with her husband, who wouldn't want to be a part of her spouse's circle? But before she had the chance, Joyce Ray seemed to fit in even more quickly.
Joyce Ray, a nurse who had arrived just half a month ago, was the one who irked Cassie. It was as if a thorn had pricked her eye.
"Cassie..." Lucas was the first to notice her and waved. Joseph turned around, reaching out his hand. Cassie forced a smile and walked over to take his hand, "When did you decide on a barbecue for tonight?"
"Do you like it?" Joseph asked casually with a smile.
"What if I said I'm not too keen on it, could we change plans?" She teased, a playful glint in her eyes, tinged with a hint of seriousness.
Joseph remembered switching from French cuisine to barbecue just moments ago and now the thought of changing again... Rubbing his temples, he felt a headache creeping in, swiftly addressed by Michael, "Everything's ready already, why bother switching? It's too much of a hassle."
"If there's something you're craving, just let the kitchen know, they’ll make it for you," Joseph said, affectionately squeezing her fingers. "Michael's brought in one of the world's top ten chefs; he can cook up anything."
"I'm just kidding," Cassie shrugged, "I can go for barbecue. What do you feel like eating? How about shrimp? You usually love those."
Joseph hesitated, about to respond, when Michael interjected, "No need for shrimp, Joyce Ray already grilled over a dozen skewers for Joseph."
Cassie glanced over at Joyce Ray, who was holding skewers of shrimp and beef—Joseph's favorites. Her expression faltered.
Joyce Ray looked flustered and unsure, "I'm sorry, Rosalind. I didn't know when you were coming. Why don't you come over?"
Her anxiety seemed to irk Michael. "What's the fuss about? It's just a few skewers of shrimp. You're his caretaker; there's no need to make a big deal out of this."
"When did I make a fuss?" Cassie's gaze turned icy as she glared at Michael. She never liked him, and now her disdain deepened.
Michael felt a ripple of annoyance under her scrutinizing gaze. "You look dissatisfied, and even Joyce Ray seems intimidated by you."
"Michael, I'm not," Joyce Ray said softly, almost in a whisper. "Rosalind has always been kind to me."
"Then why do you seem so afraid of her?" Michael challenged.
"I'm not afraid," Joyce Ray quietly added, her voice timid. "It's more like... respect."
"What's there to respect? You're a nurse, and you're paid for your work," Michael always stood up for Joyce Ray.
Cassie bristled inexplicably. "Michael, the way you're speaking, it's as if I rule over everyone at home. Whenever Joyce Ray is there, I've never treated her harshly."
"Rosalind, Michael, please..." Joyce Ray interjected anxiously.
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