Chapter 145

Roxanne knew Bruce had visited the Haynes Group that day.

Bruce paused. "I'll see how it goes tonight."

"Bruce, I'll be scared if you don't come back!" Roxanne said.

"There are many servants at home. What's to be afraid of? If you're afraid, call your mother to come with you," Bruce replied.

"Bruce, I want you to come home with me!" Roxanne pleaded softly.

Bruce frowned. "All right. I'll go home tonight!"

Roxanne was overjoyed. "Then I'll cook for you!"

"There's no need," Bruce said.

"I want to. I'll buy groceries and cook. Then I'll wait for you," Roxanne insisted.

"Let the servants do it. You don't need to tire yourself," Bruce said.

The more virtuous Roxanne became, the more uneasy Bruce felt.

"Bruce" Roxanne began, but Bruce interrupted.

"I'm in a meeting. I'm busy. I'll talk to you later. We can talk more tonight!"

"Okay," Roxanne said, ending the call.

Less than five minutes later, Ingrid called. Since Roxanne moved into the Everett mansion, Ingrid had called three times a day. Roxanne answered immediately.

"Hello, Mom!"

"Hello, Roxy!"

"Mom, is something wrong?" Roxanne asked.

Ingrid's voice was concerned. "Roxy, what are you doing?"

"Nothing!" Roxanne replied.

"Then why don't I come over?" Ingrid asked.

"All right," Roxanne said.

Bruce was fastidious and disliked visitors in his private residence. Roxanne had been living there for over ten days, but Ingrid hadn't visited once.

An hour later, Ingrid arrived, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the mansion.

"Oh my, Bruce lives alone in such a big place? This house is too big! It's much better than ours! After you and Bruce get married, Mom will move in with you!" Ingrid exclaimed, excitedly touching everything.

Roxanne frowned. "Mom, don't touch those things. Bruce doesn't like people touching his belongings."

Bruce collected porcelain and jade artifacts. A whole wall of cabinets was filled with them, each piece extremely valuable.

Ingrid looked longingly at the porcelain. "What's wrong with that? You're going to marry him! I'm just looking! I'm not taking them home!"

"Mom" Roxanne said, annoyed.

"Okay, okay! I won't touch them," Ingrid said, sitting on the leather sofa.

Roxanne sat beside her, looking unhappy.

Ingrid asked, concerned, "What's wrong? You look unhappy."

Roxanne frowned. "Nothing!"

"How are you? Is Bruce treating you well?" Ingrid asked.

Roxanne replied softly, "Good but also not good."

"He either is or isn't," Ingrid said.

"I don't know how to say it. He buys me gifts and shows concern. But" Roxanne hesitated.

"But what?" Ingrid asked.

Roxanne's cheeks flushed. She found it difficult to say that Bruce hadn't touched her. Since moving into the Everett mansion, they'd slept in separate rooms, making her uneasy.

Ingrid, sensing the problem, patted her daughter's shoulder. "Don't overthink it. You've moved into the Everett mansion. You can't move out! You have to stay, no matter what!"

"Mom" Roxanne said, resting her head on Ingrid's arm.

Ingrid stroked her daughter's head. "Goodness, you've lost weight! That matter is in the past. Don't think about it. As long as Bruce doesn't mention it, don't bring it up. It will be over soon!"

"But I can't pretend it didn't happen. I know Bruce minds it!" Roxanne sobbed.

Ingrid sighed. "Don't cry. You have to get over it. You have to endure what others can't, to rise above everyone else."

Meanwhile, at Porash…

Joanna and Jaydon visited the factory.

Jaydon looked at the factory with interest. "So this is the new factory?"

Joanna nodded. "Yes, the equipment has been imported. After renovations, it will start operating in a few days!"

Jaydon smiled. "That's great!"

Joanna sighed. "I was careless, and you were impulsive!"

"It doesn't matter. The factory is built. We'll build our client base slowly. Everything will be okay," Jaydon said.

Joanna nodded. "I know."

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. Once we overcome this, everything else will be fine," Jaydon said.

Joanna smiled. "I hope so!"

"It's almost noon. Let's have lunch," Jaydon suggested.

"Sure!" Joanna said.

Jaydon asked, "Are you tired?"

Joanna smiled. "Not at all. There's nothing nice to eat here. We should drive downtown!"

"All right. Get in the car," Jaydon said.

As Joanna was about to get in, Bruce's car arrived. He emerged, his face dark, backlit by the sun.

"Joanna!" Bruce called.

Joanna's heart sank. "Bruce, why are you here?"

Bruce lit a cigarette. "Why? Surprised?"

Joanna was surprised, especially that he knew where she was.

"Bruce, what do you want?" Jaydon asked, his expression gloomy.

Bruce sized Jaydon up disdainfully. He glanced at Joanna. "Looks like you didn't heed my warning!"

Joanna's face paled. "Bruce, don't be so overbearing!"

Bruce said, "I'll give you one last chance! Leave Jaydon, or I'll ensure you both have a tragic ending!"

Joanna exchanged glances with Jaydon. "Bruce, you're domineering! Jay and I will never break off our friendship! You have no right to make demands of me!"

Bruce suppressed his anger. "Fine. You have guts. I gave you a chance. You didn't cherish it! You'll soon know the consequences!"

Joanna frowned. "We have no enmity. Why are you targeting me? I don't owe you anything!"

Bruce gritted his teeth. "I'll make you regret this! You'll be crying and begging me!"

Joanna said coldly, "At most, I'll start over. Even if I go bankrupt, I won't beg you!"

"Fine! You have guts! Just wait!" Bruce snarled.

"Whatever. I'm not afraid of you!" Joanna replied.

Bruce sneered, got back in his car, and sped off.

"Joanna!" Jaydon said worriedly.

"Jay, I'm fine" Joanna said.

Bruce, in his car, his face twisted with anger, ordered Andy, "Return to Greyport. Inform Shaun that I want to buy his shares, and those of Mr. Roger and Mr. Paul!"