Chapter 455

Her reaction caught Joseph off guard and left him wounded. After everything he’d gone through for Judy, he hadn’t expected her to push him away the moment she saw him. He stared at her, disbelief written all over his face. “Judy, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Did you mistake me for someone else? Look at me, really look. Do you even know who I am?”

He pointed to his own face, as if that would somehow remind her. Judy, however, couldn’t help feeling a twinge of disgust at the sight of him–unkempt and scruffy. And the flicker of affection she’d felt earlier? She regretted every bit of it. What had she been thinking?

She must’ve been starving to even consider this man appetizing. Compared to the Joseph of the past, this version had lost every ounce of charm. “I know exactly who you are. Just calm down,” she said coolly.

These past days had opened her eyes. She’d seen a bigger world, realized there were always higher mountains and better people. Joseph? He no longer measured up. At the end of the day, he was nothing more than a leech living off his family’s name. And if he was already this pathetic after such a short time, what would become of him without that “Mr. Hunt” title? Judy didn’t want to think about it, and she wouldn’t. She had always been clear about one thing: Joseph was just a stepping stone. When the time was right, she’d dump him without hesitation and build her own future.

Joseph, still not understanding, frowned. “If you know who I am, then why push me away?”

Judy cleared her throat and quickly came with an excuse. “Alright, don’t be upset. You saw it yourself–this is my studio. I just think… doing something like that here isn’t appropriate. There are so many people outside.”

Joseph looked puzzled. “What kind of impact?”

“We’re in a relationship. Why would we care what others think?”

Hearing that, Judy let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Then tell me, what exactly is our relationship?”

“We’re obviously…” Joseph started, but when it came time to say the last two words—a couple—he couldn’t say them. Because deep down, he knew they weren’t. Not officially, not truthfully. Harsh as it was, they were nothing more than a secret affair. If he wanted to sugarcoat it, maybe he could call them soulmates. But in reality? He hadn’t even given her a proper title.

Judy didn’t say a word. She just stood there, watching him quietly. From the look on his face, she could tell that he was finally starting to understand. They weren’t anything. He hadn’t introduced her to his parents. They’d never even acknowledged her existence. And Joseph himself hadn’t once confirmed their relationship publicly. If even he wouldn’t claim her, what was left?

“Can’t say it, can you?”

Judy couldn’t help but feel a deep, biting amusement rise from her chest. What had she been thinking before? Falling for a man like this? Even now, when the truth was staring him in the face, he couldn’t bring himself to admit what they were. That alone made her heart go cold.

Joseph looked embarrassed, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Judy, I…”

“Enough. Don’t bother.” She cut him off before he could finish. “I know what you’re going to say. But honestly, I don’t think it matters anymore.”