Chapter 380

Howard hooked up his gaze with Josiah’s. “Josiah, I’m having a hard time alone. I need your help.”

Josiah’s lips parted slightly, his heartbeat quickened, and his mind was in turmoil. “But…”

Howard understood his concerns and sighed. “Grandma is old and needs time to accept everything. Just give her some time. But with my brothers… that will never change.”

Josiah frowned deeply, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Howard, let’s talk about it later.” He honestly didn’t know if he should agree. He thought, I’ve already been kicked out of the Flynn family by Miranda. Can I still shamelessly cling to the Flynn Group? “Alright,” Howard said, not pressing further. He lowered his head; the apple in his hand was now fully peeled.

“Thanks,” Josiah said, extending his hand.

But Howard gave him a sidelong glance, cut a piece of the apple, and popped it into his own mouth. “You haven’t agreed to help me yet, so you don’t get to eat this. We’ll talk later.”

Josiah was speechless. Sienna probably wouldn’t come tonight. The clock on the wall pointed to nine o’clock. Unable to hold back, he sent her a message: Still filming!!

He didn’t get an immediate response. A knock came on the hospital room door; a nurse entered for Josiah’s evening treatment, accompanied by Zach.

“Mr. Flynn,” Zach said, holding a laptop and a stack of documents.

Josiah understood a lot had likely piled up during his absence. He nodded and indicated a chair. “Have a seat.”

“Alright.” As Josiah’s assistant, Zach was familiar with all aspects of his business affairs, including those outside the Flynn Group. “These are the market trends from the last couple of days.”

“Okay,” Josiah nodded, taking the documents and the laptop. After reviewing them, he gave Zach instructions.

After hearing him out, Zach was somewhat surprised but didn’t ask many questions. “Got it.”

Josiah said, “Alright, you can go.”

“Sure thing.” Leaving the room, Zach sighed inwardly, thinking Josiah was ready to take on anything. Others might not know, but Zach knew better than anyone: Josiah’s other identity was as Jelacrity’s iron-fisted financial manipulator, a rising star in the financial world feared even by veterans. Zach respected Josiah’s capabilities and talent, having witnessed them firsthand. He had also recently discovered that Josiah wasn’t actually a member of the Flynn family but the son of the Evans family. Josiah’s talents likely came from his biological father—Jelacrity’s finance mogul, Andy. Fate had played a cruel trick; now, Josiah had to use these inherited talents against his own father.

Indeed, Josiah felt this way. With few familial ties and nothing to his name, his only asset was his own talent. His phone buzzed with a message from Sienna: Still filming. It’s going to be late tonight. I’ll come to the hospital first thing in the morning. Josiah let out a breath of relief. Though she couldn’t come, her message soothed his frazzled nerves. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

Josiah woke groggily, seemingly to the sound of Sienna’s voice. She was talking to the nurse, asking about his condition the previous day. The nurse replied, “He’s been doing well overall. His temperature spiked a bit but didn’t go over 100.” That was good news. Sienna nodded, thinking he was recovering quickly due to his relatively good health. When she turned around, Josiah was awake, watching her with a wide grin. “You’re here? So early?”

“Yeah,” Sienna said, walking over. “Do you want to sleep a little more?”

“No,” Josiah shook his head, propping himself up. “I need to use the bathroom.”

“Perfect,” Sienna said. “You can freshen up too; I brought breakfast. Let’s eat together.”

Josiah’s smile widened. “Alright.” By the time he came out from washing, Sienna had already laid out breakfast. Hearing his footsteps, she waved him over. “Come sit.” Josiah sat across from her. She added, “Add some vinegar.”

He replied, “Got it.”

Josiah enjoyed her care, feeling a warm glow in his chest. “How’s Joyce doing these days?”

Sienna replied, “She’s doing well.”

“When I’m discharged, I’ll take her to…” Bringing up their daughter softened Josiah’s expression, and he had endless things to say. Sienna listened quietly, occasionally acknowledging him.

When they were almost done eating, Josiah handed her a napkin. “Here you go. Need help?”

“Thanks,” Sienna said, ignoring his teasing and wiping her mouth. Then she looked him directly in the eyes. With a serious demeanor, she said, “Josiah, this is the last time I’m coming to see you. From now on, I won’t be coming anymore.” She had wanted to say this yesterday but had held back because his condition was still unstable.

As she finished speaking, Josiah’s smile froze, looking shocked and disbelieving. His cheeks twitched, forming a twisted expression. “What… what are you saying? I don’t…” His panic was evident. Sienna, however, remained calm and continued. “Honestly, I could have skipped this visit, but I wanted to make things clear so we don’t have to keep getting entangled.” By this point, there was no trace of a smile left on Josiah’s face. His eyes were filled with confusion as he stared at her. “You still don’t believe in my feelings for you?”

He suddenly stood up, walked over to Sienna, and knelt before her, wrapping his arms around her knees. Looking up at her, he pleaded, “Sienna, I truly like you.”

Sienna didn’t push him away, nodding. “I believe you truly like me.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so persistent. He wouldn’t seek her out when his true identity had been revealed, in his most vulnerable state, refusing to…

“Then why?” Josiah couldn’t understand.

Sienna’s expression remained calm, and she asked him back, “Back then, I liked you so much, constantly circling around you. Why didn’t you like me?”

Josiah was at a loss for words. Is Sienna bringing up old grievances?

“I’m not bringing up old grievances,” Sienna shook her head. “I’m just telling you that just because you like me doesn’t mean I have to like you or accept you.”

“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe you don’t like me at all.” Josiah’s hand trembled, his eyes faintly red. “You’re obviously nervous about me and care about me.”

Sienna remained unhurried and composed. “That’s because seeing you now reminds me of my past self. The feeling of being at someone’s mercy is terrible. You must have had a hard time all these years.” She paused and sighed. “This is sympathy, pity, empathy, not love.”

Josiah thought, Not love. Sienna doesn’t love me! His heart felt like it was being torn apart. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, wetted lashes framing them. His thin lips moved with difficulty as he spoke, “What about Joyce? Have you forgotten her? Are you going to abandon her?”