Chapter 535
Sometimes, Judy honestly couldn’t figure out how Joseph’s brain worked. She really had to wonder what went wrong in there.
“Think about it,” she said. “Aurora’s in a coma right now. Doesn’t that mean Walton Corporation just lost its core strength? So wouldn’t this be the perfect chance for Hunt Enterprises to step in?”
Joseph froze, clearly not having thought of it that way. He stood there stunned, as if the idea had never even crossed his mind before. Judy, reading his reaction, rolled her eyes inwardly but kept her expression supportive.
“Alright, maybe you hadn’t considered it before. But now that you know, if you take it seriously and do it right, there’s no reason it shouldn’t work.”
She smiled. “And honestly, with Aurora out of the picture, what better time could there be? If your family’s company can push Walton Corporation down, do you really think your dad would still be against us? Once you prove yourself, he’ll come around. I’m sure of it.”
Joseph suddenly looked as if he’d just seen the light. Everything Judy said made perfect sense. For the first time, he realized how much sharper she’d become since they parted ways. She wasn’t the impulsive girl he used to know; she thought things through from every angle.
His gaze burned hotter with admiration. “Judy… you’ve really changed.”
That caught her off guard. “Changed? I’m still me.”
Joseph gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah, but now you seem more decisive and attractive. I don’t know, just… not at all like before.”
Judy blinked at first, then realized exactly what he meant. Because the woman she was now didn’t believe in relying on a man—she was determined to do it all on her own. From launching her studio to now building connections with high-profile clients, every step had been hers and hers alone. She hadn’t leaned on Joseph’s family, not even once.
What she believed in was female independence—standing on her own two feet, not holding out her hand to anyone. That was real strength. Rely on others, and they’d eventually let her down. Counting on herself was the only guarantee that lasted.
Looking at who she was now compared to the girl who once went begging Joseph for money—it really did feel like a lifetime ago. She almost couldn’t recognize that version of herself.
Sometimes she wondered what had sparked this change. Was it her envy of Aurora? Or was it simply the need to break free from Joseph?
But even now, she hadn’t fully gotten revenge on Aurora, and she hadn’t completely cut Joseph out of her life either—he still dropped by the studio from time to time. Maybe that was why she sometimes felt uncertain.
But the way her studio was growing, little by little, reminded her of one thing—this was where her power truly lay. The studio was her future. Joseph wasn’t. His family had always disapproved of her. Even if they did get married someday, it would never end well. A marriage without a family’s blessing? In her eyes, that was nothing more than a house built on sand.