Chapter 153

"What do you want to eat?" Jaydon asked gently.

Joanna smiled. "Anything. You decide."

"Shall we have Flech cuisine?"

"Sure."

They chatted and laughed as they walked past Bruce's car. Inside, Bruce's face was contorted with rage. His possessiveness over Joanna made it impossible for him to accept her flirting with another man.

"Joanna, I will make you beg," he muttered, remaining in the car. He slammed the accelerator, speeding past Joanna and Jaydon.

"Be careful!" Jaydon and Joanna scrambled out of the way. The car's near miss sent them reeling.

Jaydon supported Joanna, cursing at the departing vehicle. "That driver's crazy! Does he know how to drive?"

Joanna noted the license plate number, her heart sinking. It was Bruce's car. Fortunately, he had only given them a warning.

"Joanna, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Let's go!"

"Okay!"

During lunch, Joanna was distracted and in a daze. She remained uncertain about Bruce's potential for revenge.

Jaydon noticed her distress. "What's wrong? Why are you so quiet?"

"It's nothing. I'm just uneasy."

"Uneasy about what?"

Joanna sighed, unable to articulate her fears.

"Are you worried about Bruce?" Jaydon's face darkened.

Joanna sighed again. "He's very vengeful. I'm worried he—"

"Worried about what? About him taking revenge?"

Joanna nodded weakly. Her unease stemmed not just from potential revenge against herself, but also against Jaydon.

"What are you thinking? Do you still want to be with him?"

Joanna frowned. "How is that possible? I want nothing to do with him."

Jaydon pondered. "You might not be able to escape him in Greyport. We'll go to Mossbourne. I doubt he'll follow us that far."

"I hope so."

"Hurry up and eat."

"Okay."

"What are your plans this afternoon?"

"What is it?"

"Let's leave earlier for Venturas to pick up Davian and Irvin."

"Okay. Let's leave at five o'clock."

"Okay, I'll go with you."

Roxanne, feeling aggrieved, called Ingrid. Ingrid's phone rang. Recognizing Roxanne's number, she signaled her cousins to be quiet.

"Hello, Roxy!"

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"I'm… playing poker."

Roxanne impatiently replied, "Why are you playing poker again?"

"What is it? Tell me!"

"What else could it be? I tried what you suggested!"

Ingrid was surprised. "It still didn't work?"

Roxanne sighed. "Mom, do you think he's really impotent?"

Ingrid comforted her. "Even if he is, we can only accept it. If the medicinal cuisine fails, we'll try the pills."

"Will that work?"

"We need to be patient. We can't rush it."

"Got it."

Ingrid muttered, "He looks so healthy. How did he get this? Is something wrong with his mind?"

Roxanne rolled her eyes. "If he's mentally ill, the medicine won't help!"

Roxanne hesitated, then timidly asked, "Mom, do you think he despises me?"

Ingrid, fearing further anxiety, quickly reassured her. "Roxy, don't overthink it. Take it slow. There will be opportunities. Don't rush!"

Roxanne sounded anxious. "But he didn't come home last night. I wonder if he went to see Joanna again?"

Ingrid paused. "With the wedding approaching, it's best to ignore it. We'll wait until after the wedding."

"Yes, I understand."

"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up."

"Okay."

Roxanne hung up, frustrated. Ingrid, after hanging up, wore a gloomy expression.

"Have you decided?"

Oscar and Wallace frowned. "We've decided. We'll agree to your terms. We'll take care of Joanna."

Ingrid smiled viciously. "Good. Here's the $400,000 advance payment. Once that slut Joanna is dead, I'll transfer the rest to your overseas accounts."

"Alright. It's settled."

Ingrid added cautiously, "Be smart and professional. Don't get caught."

"Got it!"

"Good. I'll leave now." Ingrid grabbed her bag.

Wallace stopped her, smiling. "Still not in the mood? It's been a while."

Ingrid rolled her eyes. "You're in your forties or fifties. You can't do that every day. Get what's important done!"

"Alright!"

Ingrid left, spitting at the door after exiting. She despised them and preferred the company of a handsome young beautician.

"What should we do, Wallace?" Oscar asked.

Wallace frowned, thinking. "I heard that slut Joanna invested in a factory in Mossbourne and visits often. Since we can't do anything in Greyport, let's go to Mossbourne and hire some thugs to kidnap her."

"Some thugs?"

"Are you stupid? We can't do this ourselves. If we fail, we'll spend the rest of our lives in jail!"

"What should we do then?"

"Ingrid gave us $2 million each. Let's take $100,000 each, $200,000 total, to hire a professional assassin in Mossbourne."

"Yes, yes. I'll listen to you."

"Prepare your passports. Once the money is transferred, we leave for Pedrana. $4 million is enough to live well there. We don't need Ingrid anymore!"

Wallace embraced Oscar, who reciprocated the affection. The "cousins" were lovers, using Ingrid for money.

That night, at the Haynes' house, Ingrid returned home exhausted.

"Where were you? You're back so late," Shaun said unhappily. Since stepping down as chairman of Haynes Group, he spent most of his time at home, managing investments and collecting rent. He wished Ingrid would travel with him, but she was constantly out playing poker, shopping, or at the salon.

Ingrid, putting down her bag, said wearily, "I went to the salon."

Shaun glanced at her rosy, well-nourished face, but muttered, "You go to the salon every few days. It makes no difference."

"How can there be no difference? I'm in my forties. I have to take care of myself. Dehydrated skin leads to wrinkles."

"Roxy's getting married. Focus on that. Don't go out every day for no reason."

"Oh, okay. I know." Ingrid replied casually, hurrying upstairs. Shaun, now having free time, was increasingly suspicious of Ingrid's activities.