Chapter 86

Thomas and Yosef exchanged looks, unable to resist a shared complaint. “What’s wrong with you guys today? You rushed to the restroom one after another before even starting to drink!”

“Feeling unwell, Josiah?”

“Haha…”

Cedric hadn't gone to the restroom. He intended to go backstage to see Sienna. “Cedric!” Josiah’s voice startled him from behind.

Cedric turned, feeling inexplicably guilty. Josiah, feigning ignorance, put an arm around Cedric’s shoulder with a smile. “Lost your way? You’ve been here so many times. Still can’t find the restroom?”

Guiding Cedric with his arm, Josiah steered him in another direction. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

“Uh, alright.” Cedric, having no other choice, followed him into the restroom.

The two men, of the same height, stood side-by-side. Josiah suddenly broke the silence. “Cedric.”

Cedric, surprised, turned his head. “What’s wrong, Josiah?”

“I know you were trying to find Sienna backstage,” Jonah said calmly, without looking at Cedric. “But she didn’t come today.” The unexpected words made Cedric break out in a cold sweat. Josiah, without looking, could practically see his expression.

“You…” Cedric swallowed hard. “How do you know?!”

Josiah turned to face him. “Cedric, promise me not to see Sienna anymore. You two aren’t right for each other. Just… forget her.”

“Why?” Cedric was reeling from one shock to the next.

Josiah’s eyes widened, a look only another man could understand. He resembled a predator, full of hunting hostility. He articulated each word clearly: “She’s mine.”

Cedric blurted out, “But you guys got divorced!” This couldn't be faked. He’d been around them, aware of their affairs. Josiah had planned the divorce for four years, and they’d finalized the settlement as soon as Sienna returned!

Josiah raised an eyebrow. “That was the past. Different times call for different actions. We’ve reconciled.”

Cedric thought, What? Reconciled? Impossible! He frowned. “But a few days ago, Mrs. Flynn was still encouraging me…”

“Well,” Josiah sneered, interrupting, “we only reconciled a couple of days ago.” He added, with a knowing smirk, “It was solely my decision. As long as I wanted it, Sienna would change her mind sooner or later.”

Cedric gaped, speechless.

“Any other questions?” Josiah’s tone was friendly, but the hostility in his eyes hadn't lessened. “I have time now, so go ahead and ask. I’ll answer everything.”

Cedric remained silent. Under these circumstances, what else could he say?

Josiah, remembering something, touched his brow. “By the way,” he said, “you asked how I knew she wouldn’t be here tonight!” A joyful chuckle escaped him. “Not just tonight, she won’t be here anymore.” He turned and left Cedric stunned. Cedric knew Sienna wouldn't need to work hard now that Josiah had reconciled with her. He could provide for her, but Cedric was too late.

Cedric's silence was unremarkable, so Yosef and the others didn't notice anything unusual. After a short while, Josiah glanced at his watch. “I’ve got something to do, so I’ll leave first.”

“So early?”

“Yeah, someone’s waiting for me.” Josiah stood.

Yosef smirked playfully. “Yvette?”

Josiah’s face darkened instantly. Seeing Thomas, eager for a spectacle, Josiah adopted an unprecedented seriousness. “I’ll say this only once. Yvette is my sister-in-law. That's our relationship. Don’t joke about me and her in the future, okay?”

What happened? Why is Josiah suddenly so serious? They had made those jokes countless times, yet Josiah had never reacted so strongly. Both Yosef and Thomas sensed his seriousness. Further provocation would definitely break their friendship.

Yosef said, “Oh, got it.”

Thomas said, “I see.”

Josiah, looking considerably calmer and content, said, “I’m leaving.”

“Hey, who are you going to meet? Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Bring her to meet us!”

“I agree.”

With his back to them, Josiah waved. “Maybe next time!”

“Is he really seeing someone?”

“No wonder he didn’t want us to mention it. It turns out he cares about his girlfriend now.”

In the corner, Cedric raised a glass of wine to his lips.

A knock came on Sienna’s door. She was busy searching for a job on her phone. After losing her job at Maze, she desperately needed a new one. “Who is it?” She put down her phone and rushed to answer.

Josiah stepped inside, a bag in hand, tossing his suit jacket to her. Sienna scrambled to catch it, wondering, Why is he here again?

Josiah walked straight in, placing the bag on the small table. Sienna usually ate, read, did her makeup, and everything else on this table. “Come here,” he said, starting to unpack. “Why didn’t you go out? What have you been doing by yourself?”

Sienna, annoyed but holding back her retort, glared at him. “Nothing much, just watching TV.”

The apartment had an old TV provided by the landlord. After turning it on, Sienna hadn’t really been watching; it was just background noise.

“TV?” Josiah glanced at it. It was a variety show featuring a row of male guests in swim trunks. Josiah’s face immediately darkened. Was she watching this just now? he thought.

“Interesting,” Josiah squinted.

Sienna, oblivious to the trouble brewing, nodded casually. “Yeah, it is.”

The TV zoomed in on one male guest, showcasing his well-defined chest and abs. “He’s in such good shape,” she commented.

Josiah’s eyes widened in disbelief. She actually dares to look at another guy and thinks he's good-looking. And even complimenting him? His fiery temper urged him to smash the TV, but he refrained, fearing he might frighten Sienna. He raised his hand, cupped her face, and forced her to look at him. “Stop looking!” he said unhappily.

Sienna blinked and turned her face away, avoiding his touch. Josiah didn’t mind her breaking free, pointing to the table. “Sit down and eat.”

“What?” Sienna asked, confused, looking down.

“Para primavera,” Josiah said with a bashful, exaggerated smile. For such an arrogant man, his flattering expression was almost comical in its humility. “I bought it for you. Go ahead and eat it.”