Chapter 46

Hearing her groans of agony, Bruce quickly released her.

"Joanna"

He wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't come.

Joanna gave him a cold look. "It's past three in the morning. What the hell are you doing here?"

Bruce wore a thick white bandage on his head, and half his face was swollen. He was also in a hospital gown. He looked, indeed, rather creepy.

"I just came to see you!"

"You must be crazy! If you don't leave, I'll call the police."

"Then call them!"

Joanna was furious. She swallowed, frowned, and asked, "What the hell do you want?"

Bruce's thin lips quivered as he looked at Joanna with a gentle, yet complicated expression. "I don't want anything. I just wanted to see you."

Seeing the gentleness in his eyes, Joanna inexplicably got goosebumps.

Bruce would never look at me so gently! This vicious, violent man must be planning another trick! she thought, growing wary.

"This is my house. Get out! Haven't you done enough harm? You almost got yourself killed, and you almost got me killed! Bruce, please, leave me alone! I don't want to see you!"

"Joanna" Bruce instinctively took a step forward, reaching out. He wanted to hug her but hesitated.

Joanna's heart clenched. He always called her name coldly. Never so affectionately. It was baffling.

"Talia, call the police. Tell them a psycho is trespassing!"

"Joanna, please! I have something to say."

Joanna folded her arms and glared. "All right, I'm listening. What is it?"

"I," Bruce stammered.

He couldn't bring himself to apologize. Subservience to women wasn't in his nature. Women had always flocked to him, vying for his attention. A slight gesture was all it took. [Remove the website reference here]

Asking such a proud man to humble himself before a woman felt like a death sentence.

"Come on. It's past three! Even if you're not sleeping, others are. Go home. If you have something to say, we can talk tomorrow."

"No, I need to talk to you now!"

"Then do it, Mr. Everett. Hesitation isn't your style!"

He was always sharp-tongued, bitter, sarcastic, or roaring. This calm tone was unprecedented.

Joanna's patience was wearing thin. "If you're not going to say it—"

"I'm hungry!"

Joanna was speechless.

"Can you make me something to eat? I haven't eaten all day."

Bruce looked at Joanna pleadingly.

Joanna was taken aback. She thought she misheard.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm hungry. I want to eat."

Joanna scrutinized his expression, searching for an explanation. She used to cook for him almost daily when they were married, but he'd never tasted her food. Now, he'd shown up in the middle of the night, hungry.

"Bruce, what's your game? If you don't leave, don't blame me for drastic measures!"

Joanna tried to push him out, but he stood firm.

"I'm really hungry," he said, patting his stomach.

Joanna was speechless.

"So, what do you want to eat?"

"Anything!"

Joanna paused, then headed to the kitchen. Buttered noodles wouldn't take long. She'd fill his stomach and get rid of him.

She boiled the pasta, drained it, and mixed in butter, cheese, salt, and pepper.

Ten minutes later, she placed a plate of buttered noodles on the table.

"Eat up and get going!"

It was simple, but it smelled delicious, filling the room with the aroma of butter and cheese.

Bruce, always a picky eater, devoured the noodles. He finished the entire plate.

"Are you finished?"

"Yeah, but I'm still hungry. I want another plate."

Joanna was furious. This man almost got me killed, and now he's here to torture me?

"I'll call Andy to come get you!"

"No! I don't want to go!"

Joanna was at her wit's end.

"May I lie down on the couch?"

"Bruce, what are you trying to do?"

His sharp eyes held gentleness. "I'm here to protect you."

Joanna nearly choked. As long as he's not here, I'll be safe! she thought.

"You're ridiculous. Lie down if you want."

She turned and went to her room, unable to stop him.

Bang!

She slammed the door. Exhausted, she just wanted to sleep. She didn't have the energy to argue or consider his motives.

After Joanna went to her room, Talia went to Lilia's. Bruce was alone in the living room.

He felt a pang of sadness. How could she be living in such a terrible place? The living room was tiny, smaller than his bathroom. He decided to help her find a new house the next day, to make amends.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Joanna?" Bruce sank onto the couch, his heart heavy. How could I have made such a mistake, been in love with the wrong person for over ten years?

The next morning, Bruce's bodyguards were in a panic. "Mr. Everett is missing!"

"Call him immediately!"

"He didn't bring his phone! His car's GPS puts him in the area, but we can't find him!"

"What are you even paid for? How could you lose him?"

"You know Mr. Everett's temper. If he doesn't want to be followed, who dares to follow him?"

"What do we do? Where could he be? How do we tell Old Mrs. Everett?"

"Oh my god! Has he been kidnapped?"

"What should we do?"

"Find him before it's too late!"

The bodyguards panicked. Their job was 24/7 protection.