Chapter 536

There was no unity and sense of cohesion. Even if they somehow ended up together, it would be a black hole of endless conflict—an emotional void with no resolution in sight. But Joseph never seemed to understand that. So, Judy could only keep trying to guide him gently, saying the right things, hoping something would click. She needed him to stop dreaming about their relationship and start focusing on something real, like ambition, growth, purpose. Because a life built on just love, with no drive behind it, had no future. They were still young.

They should be striving, pushing boundaries, chasing a bigger world—not just staying stuck in this quiet little city. Judy looked at him, her gaze steady and firm. “I’ve shown you the direction. I’ve laid out the steps. Now I need you to work harder—really put your energy into something. If you can do that, maybe we still have a chance. Maybe your parents won’t look down on me the way they do now.”

Joseph was moved. The way he looked at Judy now held nothing but admiration. Gone was the arrogance and entitlement—now, there was something close to reverence. He no longer saw her as a plaything. If anything, he was starting to rely on her. And Judy saw that clearly. That was exactly the leverage she needed. She would use it to steer him toward action—to get him to take on Walton Corporation instead of spending his time clinging to her. Because as things were now, neither of them was moving forward.

“Joseph, I want you to grow. I want us both to have something better—to build a future we can actually be proud of.”

Joseph couldn’t hold back. He pulled her into a tight embrace. “You’re incredible. I mean it. I’ll treasure you. I’ll treat you better from now on. And I won’t let Walton Corporation off easy.”

Judy nodded, showing she understood. This time, she didn’t push him away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a gentle pat on the back. “It’s because I understand how you feel that I ache for you,” Judy said softly. “That’s why I haven’t forgotten how Aurora sent you to prison twice. She never treated you like a real person. So why are you still being soft with her? There’s a saying—strike while your enemy is weak. This is the moment. You can’t keep hesitating.”

Joseph nodded, his expression firming. “Alright, Judy. I’ll head back to the office now. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to my dad about it right away.”

Judy gave a small nod. “Take care of yourself too. Look at you, you’ve lost weight.”

Chapter 530

The words lost weight hit him like a gut punch. Since joining the company, not only had his father shown little understanding, even his mother had grown distant. Only Judy still noticed whether he looked thinner or worn out. In that moment, she meant more to him than his own family. The thought only strengthened his resolve.

As for Aurora? After what she did to him, if the company went down because of what he was about to do, so be it. She brought it on herself. She got sick at the worst possible time and he wouldn’t be wasting that opportunity. His eyes darkened with a sharper, colder edge.

Watching him walk away, Judy finally let out a sigh of relief. She’d finally gotten him out of the studio. God, that took way too much effort. Why hadn’t she realized before just how clingy Joseph had become? It was like he needed to be glued to her for every decision he made.

Chapter 537