Chapter 1303 +25 BONUS

Hearing Crystal’s question, Joseph’s gaze suddenly grew unfocused. “Right now, I don’t know either.”

“Don’t give me that crap!” Melvin slammed the table. “Now you come running to me for help? When I handed you the branch, I made it clear that no matter what happens, don’t come looking for me. You’re already an adult. You come here now, what is it you expect me to fix for you?”

A flicker of shame crossed Joseph’s face, but he still pressed on. “But with the company, I truly can’t manage anymore. Father, I have to admit, my ability only goes this far. Even if you force me to do things I don’t want to do, I still won’t have a way. I’m not asking for much. I just hope you can lend me a hand, help me with this company. I really can’t hold on any longer.”

If Judy’s name hadn’t come up, it might have been different. But now that it had, his mind was filled with nothing but her.

Even under Melvin’s furious glare, he said it outright. “If possible, you can take back the power in my hands. I want to go abroad.”

Joseph had come to understand–he couldn’t compete with Aurora anymore. What he needed now was to adjust his mindset. He felt it clearly, that his mentality had shifted.

Melvin glared at him coldly. “Are you serious about this?”

Under his father’s disbelieving stare, Joseph nodded and spoke without hesitation. “Since I’ve made this decision, it means I’ve already thought it through. I really can’t stay at the company anymore. Do with it as you see fit, but for now, I just want to go overseas and rest for a while. I’m really exhausted.”

Joseph knew this made him seem weak and useless. But right now, it was as if he were sick. Not only had he lost all interest in projects, he no longer had the will to fight Aurora either. And yet, when Crystal mentioned Judy just now, a fierce thought had surged inside him—he wanted to find her.

Melvin slammed the table again. “How could I have such a useless, spineless son?”

“But you can see it yourself. In my current state, I really can’t stay in the company,” Joseph spoke the truth in his heart and felt his whole body relax. “If I keep going like this, it’ll only waste more time.”

Crystal looked into Joseph’s eyes, now so detached from the world, and suddenly wondered if she had cared too little for her child. Joseph had never said things like this before, and there had always been a spark of determination in his eyes. But now, he seemed indifferent to everything, even calm to the point of detachment.

This son of hers felt like a stranger, someone she had never seen before. Crystal opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end swallowed the words back.

In this family, she relied completely on Melvin. If she said something he didn’t like, he could very well throw her out, and she knew that all too clearly. Here, the only person she could still speak to was Joseph. Only with him could she use the words “I’m your mother” to keep him in check.

Chapter 1304