The man was in his mid-twenties, handsome and well-dressed, with a roguish smile playing on his lips. His gaze fixed on her, unable to look away. "Joyce, you're even more beautiful than before."
The receptionist saw they were acquaintances and discreetly excused herself.
"Mr. Griffin, long time no see."
"I can't believe you actually remember me." He was visibly thrilled. "Joyce, I don't think we've seen each other since you went abroad."
'Your girlfriend just got a drink thrown on her by me last night, so how could I not know you? If it weren't for this scumbag, I wouldn't be tangled up with someone like Ina Sutton, who treats me like her mortal enemy.'
"Mr. Griffin, we're not that close. You can call me Miss Monroe or Monroe."
"Last night was your birthday, and Ina Sutton was deliberately targeting you because of me. I feel really bad about it, so I wanted to come and apologize," Julian Griffin said with a smile.
"Apology accepted. If there's nothing else, Mr. Griffin, please see yourself out. I'm very busy with work."
After speaking, Joyce Monroe turned to leave.
Julian Griffin quickly stepped in front of her. "Let me buy you dinner, as an apology."
"No need."
"Then how about a cup of coffee? We were classmates, after all."
"If you're really this free, why don't you go keep your girlfriend company? I heard she ran into some trouble last night."
"You've misunderstood. She and I aren't really boyfriend and girlfriend, just regular friends. The one I'm really into is you…"
Joyce Monroe had no desire to hear any more and cut him off. "I'm not interested in your relationship with her. Now, please leave."
Naturally, Julian Griffin didn't want to go, but Joyce Monroe's attitude was firm.
Before leaving, he even said to Joyce Monroe, "My feelings for you are real. I won't give up on you."
Joyce Monroe was left speechless.
'Back when they were in school, the very first time Julian Griffin pestered her, she had made herself perfectly clear.'
'If she hadn't gotten a boyfriend later, he probably would have never given up.'
Graymoor was only so big, and word of Julian Griffin seeking out Joyce Monroe in private quickly reached Ina Sutton's ears.
She was still in the hospital for a check-up, and she trembled with rage.
She called Joyce Monroe to demand an explanation.
The caller ID showed an unknown local number. Joyce Monroe had just answered with a "hello" when the person on the other end exploded:
"Joyce Monroe, you little bitch! Seducing my boyfriend while I'm in the hospital?"
"Ina Sutton?" She had thought it was a client.
"How can you be so shameless? No wonder you got dumped. Even your own father doesn't love you, and you're not half the person your stepsister is. Let me tell you, Julian Griffin will never like you!"
"I heard you were dumped in the middle of nowhere last night?"
"That's not true! Who have you been listening to? Believe it or not, I'll sue you for slander!"
"Then go ahead and sue."
"You…"
"Brainless idiot."
"You're the one who's brainless."
"If you had a brain, you wouldn't always be digging through the trash for men. I wouldn't even look twice at that kind of garbage. Since you treasure him so much, you'd better keep a tight leash on him and stop him from constantly harassing me!"
Ina Sutton was choking with rage, but before she could say another word, the call was disconnected.
When she tried calling back, it showed that she had been blocked.
She was so furious she threw a huge tantrum in the hospital.
The Sutton Family hadn't dared to publicize what happened last night. They had investigated privately and found no connection to Joyce Monroe, but Ina's sixth sense told her that Joyce was definitely involved.
***
Joyce Monroe treated the incident as a minor interruption and got busy with her design drawings. After work, she went to buy some daily necessities for Silas Thorne. He was a considerate man who even gave her a monthly living allowance; she couldn't neglect him.
So, she sent a message to her brother, asking about Silas Thorne's preferences and habits.
His reply was surprisingly:
[I don't know.]
[Bro, you've known him for over twenty years, and you don't know his preferences?]
[I know what he likes to eat, but how would I know what brand of toothbrush he likes? Besides, I'm just his friend and brother-in-law. I've never dated him—you're his wife!]
[I've been abroad all these years; I haven't lived with him either.]
[You've got a mouth, don't you? Go ask him!]
[…]
[You had the nerve to pounce on the guy, but now you're too shy to ask his preferences? You want me to ask for you?]
Joyce Monroe was stunned and replied stubbornly: [Pounce on him? Who's been spreading rumors!]
The next second,
her phone buzzed continuously as several photos came through. They were snapshots of the moment she pounced on Silas Thorne last night.
She had been drunk last night and couldn't remember the details. Only now did she see that she had been grabbing his tie, her entire body practically pressed against him.
'Damn it all.'
'Who took these pictures?'
'And they even sent them to my brother.'
[Bro, I drank too much last night.] Joyce Monroe typed back through gritted teeth.
[You were drunk but could still find your own husband that accurately? Are you sure you were drunk and not just doing it on purpose?]
Joyce Monroe was at a complete loss for words. 'Afraid of being found out for hiring the male models, her focus had been entirely on Silas Thorne all night. There was no way she would have mistaken him for someone else.'
[I've known Thorne for many years. He's a good guy. Even though it was an arranged childhood betrothal, you still willingly married him. Before, you had just broken up and were studying abroad, so we didn't rush you. Now that you're back, you two should get along and cultivate your relationship.]
[Got it.]
...
'Her marriage to Silas Thorne was a childhood betrothal combined with a business alliance; both their families understood this.'
'They had chosen to keep the marriage a secret so it wouldn't affect her studies.'
'But the two of them had signed a private agreement: the marriage would last for three years. Their families didn't know about this. Now, there was less than a year left until she would be free again.'
'Cultivate their relationship?'
'It seemed unnecessary.'
'Besides, he already had someone in his heart. How could he possibly fall for her?'
'And also…'
'Who on earth took those pictures?!'
**
The next day, Joyce Monroe arrived at her studio at eight o'clock as usual, but the receptionist told her that someone had sent her flowers.
A bouquet of white poppies.
"Which suitor sent these?" Lily Kennedy teased with a smile. "And they even know you like poppies?"
"It's nothing. Get back to work."
"If you get a boyfriend, you have to tell me."
Joyce Monroe gave a sheepish smile:
'What am I going to do?'
'It's not that I got a boyfriend, I got married.'
'The wedding had been sudden. Lily Kennedy had been busy graduating and looking for a job, but she had told her that she was married.'
Lily Kennedy had just said, "You just broke up with your ex. Are you trying to copy those people who have whirlwind marriages?"
"It was a childhood betrothal, a business alliance of sorts."
"And then? Marry first, love later? Pop out eight kids at once?"
"…"
'She had even sent a picture of her marriage certificate back then, but since it was a secret marriage, she had covered up Silas Thorne's photo and personal information. Lily Kennedy's only response was, "Joyce, in that case, can you discuss it with your husband? Have a few extra kids and give one to me."'
'In any case, Lily Kennedy simply hadn't believed her.'
Joyce Monroe held the poppies. 'Silas Thorne said he'd send me flowers often, and here they are already. He works fast.'
It was the same for three consecutive days.
But on the fourth day, Joyce Monroe was in a meeting with her staff and didn't notice her phone. This led to the receptionist knocking and bursting in directly. "Mr. Monroe, there's a problem."
"What is it? Why are you in such a panic?" Lily Kennedy asked with a frown.
"There's a woman here with a few people. Sh-she's claiming Mr. Monroe seduced her boyfriend and is threatening to trash our studio."
A person instantly popped into Joyce Monroe's mind.
'She's like a lingering ghost!'
Lily Kennedy also guessed who was causing trouble and shot to her feet angrily. "She ruined your birthday, and now she dares to come to the studio? The absolute nerve of her!"
She was fuming, looking like she was about to go pick a fight.
Joyce Monroe shot a look at her employees, signaling them to hold Lily Kennedy back. "Lily, you continue the meeting with them. I'll go take a look."
Lily Kennedy had a bit of a temper.
"She's already at our door, what's the point of having a meeting!" Lily Kennedy naturally knew what Joyce Monroe was thinking. "Ina Sutton has been spoiled rotten by her family. Over the years, she's dealt with any girl who's gotten involved with Julian Griffin."
"Treating a piece of trash like a treasure, really…"
"In a dog's eyes, even shit smells sweet."
Joyce Monroe coughed twice, signaling for her to watch her language. There were so many people around.
Lily Kennedy cleared her throat. "I don't feel right letting you go alone. I have to go with you."
"Then control yourself. Don't get physical!"
"Don't worry, I know my limits."