Chapter 397

Still, he couldn’t shake that lingering sense of frustration. And with his father’s repeated warnings, Joseph didn’t dare act recklessly.

He had this nagging suspicion that someone was backing Aurora from behind the scenes. Otherwise, how could she have risen so far, so fast? After all, the Walton Corporation and Hunt Enterprises were evenly matched in strength. If one had to come out on top, Walton only held an edge in a few specific projects.

With that in mind, Joseph honestly didn’t know how to respond to Judy’s question. Judy could see his hesitation, but inwardly, she was still scheming and doing her best to push Joseph into going after Aurora. That way, it would save her a great deal of time, and she could focus her energy on improving herself. No matter what, her feud with Aurora was far from over.

Joseph finally opened his mouth after some thought. “You know the state my family’s in right now. My dad’s keeping a tight watch on me. If anything unusual happens, he’ll find out immediately. I need to play it safe for now.”

Joseph kept studying Judy’s expression, but she didn’t show any visible reaction. Her face remained calm and composed. What he didn’t see, though, was her fingernails digging deep into her palm.

This man was always full of excuses. No matter the situation, he only looked out for himself. Even after everything Aurora had done to him, he still couldn’t let her go. And now he was even using his father as a shield. How convenient.

“Alright, I understand. I really do,” Judy said, smiling with even more sweetness than before, her voice soft and agreeable. She looked like she had no temper at all, exactly the kind of demeanor that fed Joseph’s inflated ego.

He pulled her tightly into his arms, utterly content, his face glowing with satisfaction. He truly hadn’t expected this, like stumbling upon a treasure—a woman who depended on him so completely.

“Don’t worry,” Joseph said confidently. “Once this period blows over, I’ll make sure Aurora gets what’s coming to her.”

But Judy responded sweetly, “It’s alright. As long as it doesn’t put you in a tough spot, that’s enough for me. I just felt a little indignant on your behalf. After everything she’s done to you… if you can endure it, that’s all that matters.”

Hearing that made Joseph fall silent. To be honest, he had thought Aurora’s treatment of him wasn’t all that terrible. After all, it wasn’t the first time she’d sent him to prison. But hearing Judy say that made him wonder—had he been too forgiving toward Aurora? She’d thrown him behind bars, and he was still willing to tolerate her? Maybe he really had been too lenient.

“Judy, I…” Joseph started, trying to say something reassuring, but Judy had already had enough of his pitiful act.

“Shh. I understand.” She gently placed her fingers over his lips. Her innocent face was full of sympathy. “I know what’s weighing on you. I know what you’re thinking. That’s why I won’t push you. This is your business, after all. I’m just an outsider. All I can do is support you without reservation.”

She smiled faintly. “But I do want to stand by your side as soon as possible. I want us to start thinking about our future.”