Chapter 537
Judy rubbed her arms, feeling a chill run down her spine as if goosebumps were crawling over her skin. Something about the whole exchange left her uneasy. Clearly, she needed to stop saying so many kind words to Joseph. Otherwise, he’d keep misreading the situation and getting the wrong idea.
Using his parents as a convenient excuse was actually working. At least it kept him from clinging to her too much. Crystal probably never imagined that her one, whom she doted on like gold, was seen by someone like Judy as nothing more than an immature, forgettable man. She was just exhausting.
Judy looked around at her steadily growing studio and felt a deep sense of peace settle over her. Her assistant glanced over, grinning with curiosity. “Judy, that guy who keeps showing up here–what’s his deal? Is he trying to win you back or something?”
Judy gave a casual smile. “Nothing important. Just a piece of trash I couldn’t shake off in the past.”
There was a cool confidence in the way she said it–every movement and word radiated power and independence. She was no longer that clinging vine who needed a man to survive. This was her life now–on her own terms. She had no intention of orbiting around Joseph ever again. Since realizing that, the smile on her face had only grown more effortless.
The assistant was caught off guard but didn’t press. She’d been with Judy from day one, had watched her build this studio from the ground up. There were moments she genuinely admired Judy. After all, the business had started with no backing or name. Judy had gone out, met people, dined with investors, and pulled in every penny through grit and charm. The partnerships and deals–every single one was the result of her negotiation skills and relentless drive. The success of the studio was entirely Judy’s doing, and everyone around her knew it. So really, who was she to judge Judy’s choices? Even if Judy was seeing more than one man at the same time, it wasn’t anyone else’s business. Everyone had their own way of living.
With that in mind, her assistant grinned and teased, “Judy, you can’t blame the guy. You’ve got too much charm. Sure, he’s a bit of a mess now, but he’s still got a good foundation.”
Judy’s thoughts drifted to Joseph three years ago. Back then, he really had been effortlessly attractive–lounging in a bar with a cigarette between his fingers, exuding that careless, magnetic vibe.
When she was younger, she’d fallen for that exterior. He was, admittedly, the best-looking man she’d ever dated. But everything changed when she left to study abroad. Not long after she left, Joseph had moved on to Aurora. It had stung at the time. Seeing how he treated Aurora afterward and how little he’d valued her made Judy realize some painful truths.
Depending on a man would never compare to depending on herself; otherwise, her ending would’ve looked just like Aurora’s. At least Aurora had Walton Corporation to fall back on. Judy, on the other hand, had nothing but herself. Everything she had now–every inch of progress–had been built from the ground up through her own effort.
The smile on her lips turned slightly bitter. “Lina, let me give you one piece of advice–never spend your money on a man. Spend it where it actually matters.”