Chapter 10

"Mommy's still in a meeting," Joanna said. "You need to go home. I'll be back with you afterward. Is that alright?"

Davian stuck his hands in his pockets, his face serious. "Mommy, Irvin, and I are worried you might be bullied. We're going to stay here and protect you!"

Joanna smiled. "My dears, thank you, but Mommy really needs to finish this meeting! You'll distract me."

"Well… sure, you go to the meeting first, Mommy, and we'll wait for you here! I'll take care of Irvin and not make any trouble!" Davian, though only three, was unusually intelligent. "Yeah, we're not going anywhere, Mommy!" agreed Irvin, a sharp, observant child whose personality differed greatly from his older brother.

While the boys were on their phones, they read online posts attacking their mother. This worried them, prompting their protective visit. They wanted to identify those targeting their mother. "No one bullies Mommy! Mommy's Supergirl!" Joanna said, smiling. She always comforted her children, shielding them from trauma. Motherhood had profoundly changed her. She had to be strong for her three children.

Jaydon smiled gently, patting Joanna's shoulder. "Don't worry, Joanna! I'll stay here with Davian and Irvin!"

"Oh… all right! Thank you so much!"

"You don't have to thank me. Just focus on your meeting. Let me know if you need anything."

"Sure!"

With Jaydon there, Joanna felt protected.

Hidden in the corridor, Bruce eavesdropped, feeling uncomfortable; he felt Joanna had betrayed him. It was humiliating. They had been together for two years without conceiving, yet she seemed to have two children so soon after their divorce. What would people think? Some might believe he, Bruce Everett, was physically incapable.

"Time's up!" Bruce said sourly, striding toward them. "Are we having this meeting or not? This is a company, not a playground! If you'd rather be a housewife, go home with these boys!"

He strode between Jaydon and Joanna. His anger remained. "Joanna Haynes, I'll make you regret this! How dare you cheat on me! And those two bastards as well! I'll teach them a lesson," he thought furiously. Their divorce was a fact, but the urge to possess Joanna again consumed him; he considered her his property.

Bruce bumped Joanna, causing her to nearly fall in her high heels. Jaydon quickly caught her.

This further enraged Bruce. How dare they act affectionately in front of him?

He would make them all pay. (Remove the FindNovel.net advertisement)

"Are you okay, Joanna?"

"Mommy! Are you okay?" Davian and Irvin rushed to her.

Irvin, thoughtfully, knelt and massaged Joanna's ankles with his chubby hands. Joanna smiled. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"How about your ankle?" Jaydon supported Joanna's waist, bending to check her ankle. "It's okay," Joanna said, giving Bruce a disgusted look.

"What are you looking at? Let's get to the meeting! My time is precious!" This infuriated Davian. "Stop right there!" he shouted.

Bruce raised an eyebrow, looking down at the small boy.

Davian pointed angrily. "Yes, you! You have to apologize to my Mommy!"

Bruce sneered. No one in Greyport dared speak to him like that. However, it was a child, so he merely snorted.

"You're a bad guy! And I won't let go of bad guys who bully my Mommy!" Davian's face flushed as he grabbed Bruce's trousers.

"Get your hands off me, you little shit!"

"I'm not shit! You are! You're a big piece of shit!"

Bruce's face darkened. "Joanna, control your son! I won't blame children for rudeness, but if parents don't teach them better…"

Joanna quickly scooped up Davian. "Davian, listen to Mommy. I'm fine. Go back with Irvin."

"Let's go, Davian. We can't bother Mommy now! Let's go back to the hotel," Irvin whispered, pulling his brother away.

Davian, calming down slightly, shouted at Bruce, "This isn't over, you bad man!" Then to Joanna, "Bye, Mommy, we're going back." "Yeah, be careful."

Jaydon said, "I'll drive them back. Call if you need anything."

Joanna nodded. "I will. Thank you, Jaydon."

"Davian, Irvin, let's go! Say goodbye to Mummy."

"Bye, Mommy."

"Bye, boys."

Jaydon smiled. Hand in hand, the three left for the elevator. "Let's get back to the meeting!"

Bruce returned to the conference room, followed by Joanna.

"Now, have you thought it over? Are you ready to sign this agreement?" (Remove the FindNovel.net advertisement)