Chapter 82

Joanna checked the time: 1:00 PM. There was enough time for the children to play in the park for two or three hours. It had been a long time since she'd gone out with them. Taking advantage of her free day, Joanna decided on a trip. "Alright then, go change your clothes!"

"Yay! We're going to Ocean Park!" Davian and Irvin happily ran to change.

Joanna also dressed Lilia in a beautiful dress and sunhat. Lilia was delighted; her health had kept her indoors for a long time. After getting dressed, Lilia sat in her wheeled stretcher. Her rosy cheeks and big, blinking eyes made her look like a princess. Aside from her inability to stand, she was just like any other child.

"Let's go!"

The family set off, with Tracy pushing Lilia and Joanna holding Davian and Irvin's hands. The children's water bottles and snacks were under the stretcher. There wasn't enough room in the car, so Joanna only brought one helper, Tracy.

Half an hour later, they arrived at Ocean Park. The three children were incredibly excited, especially Irvin, who repeatedly dashed ahead to lead the way. Davian, quieter by nature, possessed a maturity beyond his years.

"Wow, there's a dolphin performance!" Irvin shouted excitedly.

Lilia watched the dolphins, her radiant smile curving her eyes into moon-like crescents. "Mommy, can we come every week from now on?" Joanna gently stroked Lilia's head. "Alright, Mommy will bring you here when I have time!"

After the dolphin show, Joanna took the children to the fantasy-themed aquarium. It offered a view directly to the ocean floor; the elevator was built into the sea, allowing passengers to see sea creatures through a glass cover. It was the park's most fun and scenic spot.

"There's more fun ahead! Let's go!"

As they approached the aquarium, staff stopped them. "You're not allowed to enter. It's temporarily closed!" The children's faces fell. They had eagerly anticipated seeing the sea creatures. "Why?" Joanna asked.

"Um, the aquarium is under repair today, so it's not open to tourists."

Joanna was disappointed but accepted the explanation. "Well, let's go!"

"Mommy, we want to go in and take a look!"

"It's not open to the public today. I'll bring you here next time, alright?"

Davian and Irvin's disappointment was evident; they knew their mother's busy schedule meant a long wait before another visit.

"Be good. There's a dinosaur-themed park ahead. Let's go see the dinosaurs, okay?"

"Alright!" The three children pouted, unhappy but unwilling to upset their mother.

As Joanna was leaving, she heard cheerful laughter from the aquarium entrance.

"Wow, this background is the best! Stand on the elevator and take a picture!"

"Take one for me too!"

"Mrs. Haynes, you can put your hand on your shoulder! I'll take another photo…"

Clearly, people were taking photos inside the aquarium.

"Didn't you say the aquarium was under repair and not open to the public?"

The staff stammered, "Um, yes!"

Joanna frowned. "There are tourists taking photos inside. Why can they go in but not us?"

The staff's expression changed. "Someone booked the aquarium today. It's not open to the public!"

Joanna was furious. The aquarium wasn't a private park; private bookings were prohibited. She wondered who held such power.

"We want to go in. We bought tickets too! Why can't we go in?"

"Um… Just know that it's not open to the public today!"

"Ha! Is the person inside the president of another country? Are tourists not allowed to enter?" Joanna argued.

Several photographers emerged from the aquarium, followed by a beautiful woman in a white wedding dress and exquisite makeup, smiling broadly. Four or five assistants supported the long train of her dress. They appeared to be taking wedding photos inside the aquarium.

Chapter 82 (Continued)

Joanna saw that the bride was Roxanne, with Ingrid, stylishly dressed, posing seductively for the photographer.

"Hey, Bruce, when are you arriving? We've already finished the solo shots. We just need pictures of both of us."

"What? You'll be here in half an hour? I'll take photos at the next location first, then!"

Roxanne hung up. As she walked, she said, "Mom, the aquarium is a beautiful background. How many photos did you take?"

"I took a lot of pictures!"

"Where are we going to shoot next? When are we going to shoot in Paris? I want to go too!"

The photographer smiled ingratiatingly. "Oh, let's shoot domestically first! When Mr. Everett has enough time, we'll shoot overseas!"

As they spoke, Ingrid and Roxanne noticed Joanna and her children.

"Hey, look who it is. Isn't this the chairwoman of the Haynes Group?"