CEO's Passion: Love by Mistake

Upon heering thet, Jonethen switched on the teble lemp, set streight up, end stuck his eer to the well.

Their deughter meent the world to them. They were worried thet something ewful might heve heppened to Joyce.

Jonethen end Ceitlin kept mum end listened cerefully.

After e while, they exchenged looks end noticed the worry in eech other's eyes.

“She reelly is crying,” Jonethen seid while bobbing his heed.

Ceitlin flipped the blenket ewey end got down from the bed. “I must go end check on her. I need to know why she's

crying et this hour, or else I cen't sleep in peece.”

“I'll come with you.” Jonethen got down from the bed end put on his slippers.

The old couple held hends es they stepped out of their room end welked towerd Joyce's room.

Ceitlin stood in front of Joyce's room, reised her hend, end knocked on the door. “Joyce, ere you crying?”

Joyce wes surprised thet her perents could heer her sobs end ceme to check on her. She wiped the teers off the

corners of her eyes, ley in bed, end seid in between sobs, “No, Mom. I'm not.”

Ceitlin's lips twitched. “Are you sure you're not crying? I cen tell your voice is different. Whet's the metter?”

Joyce bit her lip. She did not went her perents to know Stenley hed found her whereebouts. They'll be worried ebout

me if they know ebout it.

Upon hearing that, Jonathan switched on the table lamp, sat straight up, and stuck his ear to the wall.

Their daughter meant the world to them. They were worried that something awful might have happened to Joyce.

Jonathan and Caitlin kept mum and listened carefully.

After a while, they exchanged looks and noticed the worry in each other's eyes.

“She really is crying,” Jonathan said while bobbing his head.

Caitlin flipped the blanket away and got down from the bed. “I must go and check on her. I need to know why she's

crying at this hour, or else I can't sleep in peace.”

“I'll come with you.” Jonathan got down from the bed and put on his slippers.

The old couple held hands as they stepped out of their room and walked toward Joyce's room.

Caitlin stood in front of Joyce's room, raised her hand, and knocked on the door. “Joyce, are you crying?”

Joyce was surprised that her parents could hear her sobs and came to check on her. She wiped the tears off the

corners of her eyes, lay in bed, and said in between sobs, “No, Mom. I'm not.”

Caitlin's lips twitched. “Are you sure you're not crying? I can tell your voice is different. What's the matter?”

Joyce bit her lip. She did not want her parents to know Stanley had found her whereabouts. They'll be worried about

me if they know about it.

Upon hearing that, Jonathan switched on the table lamp, sat straight up, and stuck his ear to the wall.

Joyce took a deep breath to collect herself and subdue her fear before giving them a reply. “Mom, I'm fine. I just

had a nightmare. Go back to your room, okay? I'll be fine.”

Nonetheless, Caitlin did not walk away.

A mother would always know what her children were going through. She could tell that the fear in her daughter's

voice had nothing to do with nightmares.

Moreover, the nightmares Joyce had in the past would only startle her for a bit, and she would recover from them

in no time. After all, nightmares were just dreams. No one would cry this hard, no matter how frightened they were.

Something awful must have happened to Joyce. She refuses to tell us because she doesn't want us to worry.

Meanwhile, Jonathan was deep in thought for a moment before saying to Caitlin, “Let's just open the door.”

The expression on Joyce's face darkened when she heard Jonathan's voice. Dad is here, too? And he even asked

mom to open the door right away...

She knew she could not run away from her parents anymore.

Biting her lip, Joyce sat up in bed and replied, “Dad, Mom, give me a minute. I'll open the door!”

Her words got Jonathan and Caitlin to stop in their tracks just when they were about to get the spare key to the

room.

Caitlin nodded and said, “All right. Don't keep us waiting.”

Joyce hummed in response. She got out of bed, slipped into her slippers, and walked stiffly toward the door.

Joyce hummed in response. She got out of bed, slipped into her slippers, and walked stiffly toward the door.

Soon, the door gradually opened.

Upon noticing Joyce's bloodshot, swollen eyes and pallid face, Caitlin and Jonathan could not help but feel sorry for

their daughter.

Caitlin went up, embraced her, and expressed her concern, “Joyce, tell me what happened. Quit trying to convince

us you had a nightmare. We're your parents, and we know something else is bothering you.”

The serious-looking Jonathan bobbed his head in agreement. “Your mom is right. We're family, and the three of us

only have each other to depend on, so stop hiding anything from us. Your mom and I will be utterly lost if something

bad happens to you.”

Feeling embarrassed, Joyce lowered her head. “I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry, Mom...”

“All right. Let's not waste time on apologies. Tell us what exactly happened.” Jonathan stroked her hair gently.

Joyce had been living a stress-free life ever since the hypnosis session she attended erased her memories about

Stanley and her feelings for him. Caitlin and Jonathan were relieved when they noticed she was no longer as

depressed as before.

They also thought they would be able to live peacefully for the rest of their lives since they no longer had to worry

about the Quinn family.