Chapter 75

Many employees were queuing for food in the canteen. Joanna took a stainless steel plate from the disinfection cabinet, went to the kitchen window, ordered a staff meal, and sat down to eat. She knew Bruce was a picky eater and wouldn't touch staff meals. As expected, he sat beside her, watching her eat.

Joanna used her stainless steel spoon to mix the dishes, then ate the concoction, one spoonful at a time. Bruce frowned, his face a mask of disdain and shock. To him, it was akin to feeding pigs. How could anyone use stainless steel cutlery?

The usually lively canteen was unusually quiet. Joanna and Bruce's presence intimidated everyone else.

"Is it good?" he asked.

Joanna rolled her eyes, unbothered. She wasn't as fussy as he was; eating was simply about filling her stomach. After quickly finishing her meal, she made coffee, adding four sugar cubes and two milk capsules.

Bruce frowned even deeper. "Don't tell me that's fit for human consumption!"

Joanna coldly rolled her eyes, swirling the cup tauntingly before taking a few sips. Appalled, Bruce involuntarily gulped. His obsessive-compulsive disorder and mysophobia couldn't tolerate such a diet. "Aren't you afraid of getting fat with all that sugar and milk? It's very unhealthy!"

"So?" Joanna retorted.

Bruce was stunned. Joanna hadn't drunk coffee before; the caffeine stimulated her nerves. Even occasional coffee was limited to the finest Blue Mountain, without sugar or milk. The copious amounts of sugar and milk were undeniably unhealthy. However, her depression was worsening, and she suffered from hypoglycemia and malnutrition; she disliked bitter tastes. The sugar and milk stimulated dopamine, inducing a feeling of happiness.

"You can't eat like this anymore! You have to change your eating habits!" he exclaimed. "I remember you used to eat very healthily. Why are you so negligent now?"

"Mr. Everett, don't you think you're being too nosy?" Joanna snapped. Only she knew how she'd survived the four years since their divorce. It had, however, cured her of her past fussiness and cowardice.

"You can't let this junk food into your body! You can't drink this anymore!" Bruce tried to snatch the cup, but Joanna ignored him and finished her coffee.

"Mr. Everett, I'm going back to work! Your office is ready at Haynes Group; please use your own office in the future."

Just as she was leaving, her phone rang. It was Jaydon. He'd called dozens of times in the past few days, but she hadn't answered; she didn't know how to explain the situation, let alone face him.

Seeing her hesitation, Bruce's face darkened. "Who called?"

Joanna pocketed her phone. "What's it to you?"

"Give me the phone!" He reached for it.

Panicked, Joanna clutched her phone. "You're crazy! Let go!" His frustration grew with her resistance. He snatched the phone, immediately recognizing Jaydon's name on the caller ID. He answered without hesitation.

"Hello, is this Jaydon?"

Jaydon was stunned, recognizing Bruce's voice. "Why is it you? Where's Joanna?"

Bruce sneered. "Joanna is with me. Don't call her again!"

Speechless and bewildered, Jaydon could only listen as Bruce continued, "Joanna is my woman now. If you dare harass her again, I won't be polite."

Joanna jumped up to retrieve her phone. "Bruce, that's enough! Give me the phone!"

"Joanna, did something happen? Where are you? I'll come find you" Jaydon began, but Bruce hung up.

"Bruce, are you done? What are you trying to do?" Joanna demanded.

"I've already said, you're my woman now! You can't date anyone else. Break up with Jaydon."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"You know the consequences if you don't."

"Ha, you still want to kill me?"

"Are you kidding? We're in a society governed by law. I can't just kill people. But those who get too close to you will pay a price more painful than death!"

Joanna was near tears. "Crazy bastard! Can you stop acting like this? We're divorced! There's no possibility between us! I beg you to stop harassing me!"

Bruce sneered. "Impossible. As long as you're in Greyport, I won't let you go! You are my woman. Anyone who dares to pursue you is defying me! If you don't want anything to happen to Jaydon, keep your distance from him! If I find out you're secretly seeing him you know what I'm like, Joanna."

Joanna gasped, her eyes bloodshot with hatred and helplessness. She knew Bruce's nature: he got what he wanted. If he wanted to harm Jaydon, he would. His methods were insidious and ruthless; Jaydon could disappear without a trace. He was impossible to guard against.

"Bruce, I'm begging you! Please don't be like this!"

He stepped forward, cupping her chin. "Joanna, I'm warning you for the last time! Be my lover, and I'll treat you well! Everything but a marriage license. Why are you still dissatisfied?"

Joanna laughed coldly. "Hmph! Bruce, haven't you always hated me? Thought I was scheming? What's this about?"

Bruce smirked slyly. "I don't mean anything. I just like sleeping with you."

"Let go of me! If you keep this up, I'll call the police!"

"Go ahead. Let everyone in Greyport know you're my woman!"

"You lunatic, let go…"

Meanwhile, Ingrid stormed into the company lobby. "That bitch Joanna, where is she?"

"Mrs. Haynes, this is a company!" a receptionist responded.

"Get Joanna out here! That shameless bitch! She seduces men all day long. Why her sister's man?"

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