Chapter 105
Chapter 105
At the Haynes’s house.
Roxanne called Bruce more than ten times, but no one answered.
Ingrid watched anxiously from the side and said, “How is it? Is the call connected?”
Roxanne said dejectedly, “No. Bruce has been refusing to answer
my calls.”
Upon hearing that, Ingrid looked even more anxious. She said, “Oh no, this is going to be
troublesome.
“Listen to me. Hurry up and go to his office to look for him.”
“Mom, I don’t want to go!” Roxanne said.
Ingrid looked displeased. “You have to go even if you don’t want to!” she said. “If you don’t want to go
alone, I’ll go with you!
“Let’s go. Hurry up and change your clothes.”
Roxanne pounded the sofa impatiently. “Mom, can you not be like this?” she said. “You’re giving me a
lot of pressure!
I’m annoyed. Do you know that?”
“I’m doing this because I’m worried about you,” Ingrid said. “If your marriage with Mr. Everett falls
through, think about how our family will live in the future. How will others see you and the Haynes
family?”
Upon hearing that, Roxanne leaned back and lay on the sofa.
She was on the verge of a breakdown and felt helpless.
Bruce had already ignored her. She did not know what else she could do.
Even more so, she did not know how to win his heart back.
“Get up quickly.” Ingrid said. “Why did I give birth to such a useless daughter like you?”
“Mom, can you leave me alone for a while?” Roxanne said. “I’ve got intense mental stress now!”
“No, I can’t, Ingrid said. “It’s a critical situation right now, and you still don’t have a sense of crisis!”
Ingrid stepped forward and grabbed her daughter’s arm, trying to pull her up.
Roxanne pounded her head hard. She glared at Ingrid with teary eyes and said, “Mom, can you stop
forcing me?
“If you force me again, I’ll die in front of you! I’m serious this time around!”
Upon hearing that, Ingrid was so frightened that she felt a tightness in her chest. She did not dare to
nag Roxanne anymore.
Her tone softened. “Alright, alright, alright,” she said. “I won’t force you anymore, okay?”
As she spoke, she could not help but mutter quietly, “Sigh, why am I so unlucky to have such a useless
daughter?”
When Shaun heard the two of them arguing, he quickly came down from upstairs. “What are you two
arguing about again?”
he asked.
Ingrid rolled her eyes and said, “What else can we argue about?”
As soon as Shaun heard that, he knew that they were arguing about Roxanne’s marriage. He said, “Oh
my, marriage is predetermined from one’s past life!
“If they are not fated to be husband and wife, then they might as well not get married.
“It’s not like our family can’t afford to provide for Roxy. There are so many worry about not being able to
find a suitable match for her?”
young men in Greyport. Why should we
Ingrid was instantly enraged upon hearing that. “You make it sound so easy,” she said. “That’s the
Everett family! If one can marry into the Everett family, one will be successful for the rest of one’s life!
“We’re at the most crucial juncture now, and you are not urging Roxy to try harder. Instead, you are
making things worse! What kind of father are you?”
Shaun was most afraid of quarreling with Ingrid. Whenever they quarreled, Ingrid would be like a strong
fighting rooster, pecking him until he retreated continuously. “Alright, alright, stop quarreling!” Shaun
said. “Let nature take its course.
“Don’t give Roxy too much pressure. It’s not like our family is so poor that we have to rush for her to
marry into the Everett family…
Without waiting for Shaun to finish talking, Ingrid had already placed her hand on her waist and pointed
at Shaun’s nose as she started to argue. “Hmph, do you really think the Haynes family has a lot of
money?” she said. “We’re just living off our past earnings!
“You’re no longer the chairman of the Haynes Group. Our entire family has been chased out of the
Haynes Group! Now, all of our expenses rely solely on the meager dividends and rent.
“The rest can only rely on our savings! How long can that last?
“When I attend banquets with those rich ladies, they are no longer interested to talk to me anymore. It’s
only after Roxy gets engaged that I can get back into their circle.”
When Shaun heard this, he sighed with a frown. “Why are you always so vain?” he said. “You haven’t
changed at all in all these years!”
Ingrid got even more intense and aggressive in arguing back. She pointed her finger at Shaun’s head
and said, “Hmph, do you regret it now? Why didn’t you say you regretted it when you were with me
back then?
“I have spent half of my life with you. I gave birth to your children, and I take care of a lot of household
chores for you! And now you despise me for being old and unattractive! Tell me, are you seeing NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
another woman outside of our marriage?”
Shaun took a few steps back in defeat and said, “Jeez, what are you talking about? I’m already at this
age, you know?”
“Hmph, you men, as long as you can still breathe, it’s impossible not to think about women!” Ingrid said.
“Don’t assume I don’t know. You’re fooling around behind my back!”
Roxanne was feeling very annoyed and fretful from listening to her parents‘ argument. She then raised
her voice and shouted at them. “Dad, Mom, can’t you just stop arguing?” she said.
Ingrid lowered her voice and said, “What’s wrong? Can’t you argue with your father?
“If you ask me, it’s all because of that damn Joanna! If she hadn’t come back, we wouldn’t have had
any of these problems!
“The moment she comes back, she’s the bane of our family! Hubby, I’ve told you to disown her, but you
refuse to listen!”
Shaun was so frustrated that he slammed the table in anger. “You’re doing it again!” he said. “What you
said is impractical! Joanna is my daughter. This is a fact that can’t be changed in this lifetime!
“Even if I announce that I am cutting off my father–daughter relationship with her, does that mean she’s
no longer my daughter?”
Ingrid stomped her foot hard and said, “Mr. Everett ignores Roxy. Who knows, maybe he’s with Joanna
that despicable woman right now!
“Hubby, hurry up and call your good daughter! Warn her not to get too close to Mr. Everett!”
“Sigh. I’m really scared of you!” Shaun said. He was so scared that he did not dare to speak up.
“What are you waiting for?” Ingrid said. “Hurry up and call! Are you waiting for them to get together
before figuring out a
solution?
“Don’t forget that she was the one who seduced Bruce six years ago!”
“Stop accusing Joann.” Shaun said. “What happened six years ago was not because of Joann!”
“Okay, okay,” Ingrid said. “Why wasn’t it because of her? If it wasn’t because of her, would Mr. Everett
and Roxy’s marriage be delayed for so long?”
Ingrid was used to throwing tantrums and treating Shaun harshly.
Shaun was dejected. He did not have the strength to argue anymore.
Ingrid said, “Hubby, if Mr. Everett and Roxy’s marriage fails, what will you do?
“Don’t just stand there. Quick, call Joanna!!”
Roxanne could not stand it anymore. She was further annoyed by the argument. “Do whatever you
want,” she said. “I’ll go upstairs first!” As she said that, she stood up and ran upstairs.
Shaun had no choice but to pick up the phone and call Joanna..
Beep, beep, beep!
Inside the office, Joanna was arguing with Bruce when the phone rang.
Joanna took a look and picked up. “Hello, Dad, what’s the matter?” she said.
At the other end of the line, Shaun sighed dejectedly. “Um, I want to talk to you on the phone,” he said.
Joanna was stunned. “Dad, what’s the matter?” she said. “Just say it!”
“Did you meet Bruce these past few days?” Shaun asked.
Joanna was left speechless. She was stunned upon hearing that. She found herself glancing
involuntarily at Bruce, who was
beside her.
Bruce clearly heard the voice on the phone as well. He frowned and listened quietly.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Shaun said. “Did you meet him?”
“Dad, I… Joanna wanted to say something but hesitated. She did not know what to say.
“Roxy has been unable to eat or sleep well these days, and she has lost a lot of weight,” Shaun said.
“My heart aches for her.”
“So?” Joanna said.,
Shaun paused and let out a deep sigh. Then, he said, “So, Roxy has depression, and she can’t handle
any more stress.
“You’re the elder sister and have always been resilient. But I still want to advise you not to get too close
to Bruce.”
Joanna said, “Dad, I don’t want to get too close to him either…”
Before Joanna finished talking, Bruce snatched the phone away and said, “Hello! It’s me!”
Shaun was stunned when he heard Bruce’s voice. He involuntarily looked at Ingrid. “Bruce, are you
with Joann?” he said.
“Yes!” Bruce said.
12
Fri, 23
Shaun was left speechless. He was stunned. Ingrid’s eyes instantly widened. She held her breath and
listened quietly.
“Bruce, what’s wrong with you now?” Shaun said.
“Sorry,” Bruce said. “Roxanne and I…” Bruce wanted to explain the reason to Shaun directly.
When Joanna heard that Bruce’s tone was not right, she hurriedly tugged at his sleeve, indicating that
he should not say too
much.
Bruce was stunned for a moment. He was about to say something, but then stopped himself from
saying it.
Roxanne had depression and had just harmed herself not long ago. If he said that he wanted to break
up with her, she would probably not be able to take the blow again.
“It’s nothing.” Bruce said. “Joanna and I were discussing work. We’re done with the work discussion
now.”
When Shaun heard this, he heaved a sigh of relief. He then said, “Oh. Everything is fine between you
and Roxy right…”
Bruce pondered for a few seconds before he said, “Tell Roxy that I’ll pick her up and have dinner
together tonight. I’ve got something to tell her.”
“Oh, sure thing!” Shaun said.
“Then I’ll hang up first!” Bruce said.
“Oh, okay,” Shaun said.
Shaun sighed and hung up the phone silently.
“How is it?” Ingrid said. “Is Bruce with that bitch Joanna again?”
“They were discussing work,” Shaun said. “You’re overthinking.
“Hmph, discussing work?” Ingrid said. “What work do the two of them have to talk about? A man and a
woman talking about work, huh? You expect me to believe that? No way!
Joanna the bitch must be trying her best to seduce Bruce again!”
Shaun frowned and said, “Let’s not talk so much. Bruce said that he’ll have dinner with Roxy tonight!”
“Oh really?” Ingrid said. “Then I’ll hurry up and urge Roxy to dress up!”
As Ingrid spoke, she quickly went upstairs with a clattering sound.
Ingrid said. “Roxy, open the door!
“Mr. Everett just said on the phone that he’s picking you up for dinner tonight. Quick, get dressed up.”
Roxanne did not believe her at all. She replied impatiently, “Mom, stop annoying me!”
“It’s true,” Ingrid said. “Why didn’t you believe me?
“Hurry up! You look terrible now! If you don’t dress up, you’ll scare people!”
In the office, Bruce hung up and returned the phone to Joanna.
Joanna said, “Bruce, let’s not continue to be entangled in this complicated situation anymore…”
Without waiting for Joanna to finish talking, Bruce suddenly pulled her into his arms.
“Uh.”
*
Bruce kissed her deeply and tightened his arms around her a little bit more.
He wished he could merge her into his body.
Joanna was instantly frightened. She pushed and hit Bruce with all her might
Fortunately, Bruce only kissed her and did not do anything else.