Chapter 526 After settling the matter, the Yamin family invited the Turner family couple to stay for dinner. However, they politely declined, citing their intention to return and report back.
Angie made a jest, and Emma thankfully expressed that they would dine together once her son returned.
The Yamin family gathered at the door to bid farewell to the Turner family and the Roberts family, displaying an abundance of enthusiasm.
In the car.
Grace assumed the driver role while Daniel occupied the back seat, engrossed in sending a message to Joseph. [The Yamin family has approved the marriage, but the formal engagement gift requires Christina's confirmation.] Daniel was aware of the situation’s sensitivity and opted not to call his son at that moment, avoiding any potential disruptions.
At that moment.
Joseph was enjoying a peaceful nap in the sunroom with Christina nestled in his arms when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Groggily, he retrieved it to discover a message from his father.
Joseph extended one hand from the blanket and replied, [Okay, I'll discuss it with her when she wakes up].
However, Daniel refrained from responding, feeling awkward about inquiring if they were asleep.
Christina in his arms stirred like a little cat rubbing against him, and Joseph softly asked, “Are you awake? Are you still tired?” Still in a drowsy state, Christina mumbled under the blanket, “Let me clear my head. Your phone keeps buzzing.” “Yes, it's probably from Ava. She's likely inquiring about our situation,” he replied.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtChristina weakly replied, “Did you tell her?” Joseph seemed to state it like an everyday matter, “Well, I've taken care of your shareholders’ meeting for you.” “Okay.” As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that something was amiss.
She was taken aback by his mention of a shareholders’ meeting.
The next moment, Christina abruptly opened her eyes and gazed at him with disbelief. She realized this shareholders’ meeting referred to a family gathering, not a corporate shareholders’ meeting. “You're serious? You called them?” Her enchanting eyes brimmed with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. They widened as she leaned forward on his chest and excitedly craned her head. Joseph gently pushed her hair away from her face and explained, “While we were sleeping, my parents hurried over to your house to propose.” He replied, “So, does that mean Aunt and Uncle have already consented to our marriage? Is Ms. Yamin having second thoughts about it?” Christina was left speechless.
Christina was so astounded that she found herself momentarily at a loss for words. She finally managed to stammer, “Ms. Yamin, please tell me you're not having second thoughts about commitment. I'm someone who takes relationships very seriously. Once I've crossed a certain line, I'm dedicated to life. So, Ms. Yamin, are you committed?” His words carried a concern as if he feared that Christina might reconsider, yet his tone remained tender and gentle.
“Joseph, I've realized that you're quite the cunning wolf. You strike when least expected,” Christina quipped, playfully teasing him. “And you leave no room for counterattacks. You're wicked.” All because she had fallen for him.
Hearing this, Joseph smiled. There was no anger on Christina's face. Instead, there was mockery. He hugged her tightly under the blanket and pulled her into his arms. “That's because you're a good person. | had no choice but to do it. Ms. Yamin, can you be my Mrs. Turner now?” In this situation, both parties in the relationship have reached a significant level of involvement. Christina found herself in a difficult position where she felt compelled to accept the responsibilities of this heightened commitment. The pressure to do so stemmed from Joseph's reminders and insistence, creating a sense of obligation. From her perspective, it might have seemed that she had no alternative but to comply with these demands. The fear of refusing and the potential consequences of doing so weighed heavily on her, as it could have led to a negative perception of her character within the relationship, ultimately portraying her as someone who avoids or evades responsibilities rather than actively participating and contributing to the partnership.
Witnessing her willingness to cooperate, Joseph let out a sigh of relief. He knew there was a certain level of risk involved in this situation. Nonetheless, Joseph made the conscious decision to take a chance. He was anxious that further delays might lead to complications, so he wanted to prevent Christina from having too much time to reconsider her choices.
He had forced her.
Joseph smiled and said, “I'll accompany you back to Athana tomorrow. The contract has been signed. I'll bring you back to meet your in-laws.” “Are you worried about the Yamin Group or our long-distance location?” Looking at Christina in his arms, thinking about something, Joseph guessed why.
Christina said truthfully, “Both. Chris doesn’t want to take over the company, so we might have more long-distance locations in the future. Can you accept that?” “Call me like you did last night. Don’t use your surname. Our relationship isn’t suitable for such an unfamiliar address.” She wondered how she had addressed him the previous night. Perhaps he had wanted her to call him Joseph.
Joseph continued, running his hand gently along her back through her clothes. “For the Yamin Group, | can find someone to help you manage it, guaranteeing your satisfaction. | can also handle your brother's marriage matters. It will be a sure success, no room for failure.” Christina narrowed her eyes once more, sensing a hidden agenda. “You're not planning something unconventional, are you? You're not joking, are you?” Joseph smiled and said thoughtfully, “I have a girl under me born into a poor family. Her family background is not very good, but she is more motivated and hardworking. She relied on herself to climb to the position of general manager step by step. She is more serious in her work, but she admires the profession of a doctor. She might like your brother.” Christina was inexplicably interested. “Is she also from the Sapphire City?” “No, it's a village on the edge of Athana that migrated here. Currently, the entire family lives here.” Joseph continued to bewitch her, seeing she was interested. “The Turner Corporation's business director has recently been sick and resigned. | wonder if Ms. Yamin can join.” Christina smiled. This had been arranged long ago. There were many coincidences. Most coincidences between adults were intentional.
After dinner, they returned to the presidential suite. Joseph went to take a shower. The phone by the bed rang. Christina didn’t want to look at it. After all, it was Joseph's private phone, but it kept ringing.
She put on her slippers and took a look. The phone had stopped ringing. A message came in. Joseph’s phone was not locked. It was still in the chat world before entering the bathroom.
An ambiguous message stimulated his eyes. [Joseph, are we meeting today or tomorrow? We agreed on today, but you stood me up again. I'm unfortunate.] Coincidentally, Christina was instantly frozen by a magical power.
The tenderness and intimacy on the rooftop carried a subtle irony, and she hesitated about whether to inquire However, the presence of that contact in his phone, shining brightly, and the freedom to send such messages made it a distinct presence.
Given Joseph's personality, he wouldn't allow such messages to be sent without reason, and saying that it didn’t bother him was likely untrue. At this moment, Christina's heart felt like needles were pricking it.
She had thought that adult love was not as complicated as television s, but it seemed that it was not much different.
Indeed, it was true. A remarkable individual like Joseph was unlikely to have just one person who loved him. It was highly probable that he had numerous admirers, given his wealth and looks, making him a top choice for many women.
Unconsciously, the red nails of her hand dug into her palm, leaving a deep imprint, but she didn't feel any pain. Instead, it brought her clarity.
Another message came in. It was powerful. [Joseph tomorrow night at the latest. If you stand me up again, I'll be angry.] Christina continued to avoid looking at Joseph's message as it seemed pointless. Constantly checking a man’s phone would be exhausting. She almost felt like being single would be easier.
She had long passed the age of crying when she encountered trouble. She kept comforting herself as if she had found a short- lived lover. She would explain to her parents when she returned.
At this moment, Christina had just taken a shower and was wearing a red dress pajamas. Without a word, she took the pajamas from her suitcase and went to the guest room to change into them. She chose the conservative type.
When Joseph came out, Christina was nowhere to be seen. The phone screen on the table had already turned black. He wiped his wet hair and looked for her. When he walked to the living room, he still did not find Christina.
He saw that the door of the guest room was tightly shut. He wondered why she had gone to the guest room. He stood at the door and wiped his hair with one hand while knocking on the door with the other. “Christina, are you in the room?” When the door opened, Christina had already changed into her pajamas. His heart ached when she saw the handsome Joseph and recalled the two ambiguous messages. It was as if someone had grabbed her neck. She felt suffocated and smiled stiffly.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“I'm fine. | felt a little cold, so | changed into pajamas.” “Can you turn up the temperature a little? Are you feeling unwell?” Joseph was subconsciously concerned, thinking she had caught a cold while sleeping on the roof.
He raised his hand to touch her forehead, but Christina immediately took a few steps back. He realized that his reaction was too big. “Im sorry. | might have caught a cold. | don’t want to infect you. I'll sleep in this room tonight.” The smile on her face was blinding. Joseph's hand froze in midair, and his eyes turned cold. He was investigating the sudden change in Christina. He pondered what had exactly happened during his shower. In the afternoon, she even agreed to return to Athana to see her parents tomorrow.
Joseph could feel the resistance and change in Christina's heart. He looked at her inquisitively, wanting to find the reason.
“Okay, I'll get you some medicine. Take your temperature before you go to sleep.” He was still worried.
However, at this moment, his gentleness made Christina wonder if he was always so gentle to all women. She subconsciously thought about it and gradually entered a state of letting her imagination run wild.
“No need. | don’t take medicine when | catch a cold. I'll recover after a nap. Good night.” Joseph stopped wiping and said, “Good night, Sweet Dream. Call me if you need anything.” Christina smiled again and closed the door. However, she did not lock the door. This suite was originally Joséph. Locking the door made her look petty. She was already past the age where she would block people if they disagreed.
After closing the door, she didn’t immediately move but leaned against it, standing at the entrance for a long time. It was so long that her feet grew numb. In her mind, all she could see were the moments and memories of her encounters with Joseph. from their first meeting to being together. Every scene was vividly etched in her memory. He had always been gentle, and as she contemplated these memories, a tear, no bigger than a bean, fell.
Outside the door, Joseph didn’t leave, nor did he dry his hair. He stood there silently, guarding the entrance. With just one door separating them, it felt like two entirely different worlds now separated the two once inseparable people.
After a brief pause, Joseph returned to his room. The door wasn’t shut completely. As he sat on the bed, he grabbed his phone to message Christina to inquire about her response to their plans in Athana the next day.
As soon as he opened the phone, the chat interface appeared. He conversed with someone labeled as Quinn before he went in to shower. Since Christina wasn't a stranger, he hadn't bothered to close his phone. Seeing two ambiguous messages, Joseph's brows furrowed.
He was perplexed by the messages he had received and wondered if this individual was deliberately attempting to create problems.
Without a doubt, this was the reason. After coming down from the roof, they went for dinner and didn’t go anywhere else. It could be said that when they entered the room, the two of them kissed before taking a shower.
Joseph replied in the chat. [Next time you send a message, could you include a subject and a predicate? Please avoid being so ambiguous. I've told her I'll bring her to see you.] Quinn replied. [It's all because you never respond to my messages. Would you bring her to see me if | don’t give you something to think about?] Joseph replied impatiently. [You'd better find your second love, or you'll be too free.] Quinn reacted. [Enough of changing the subject. If you stand me up again, you'll face the consequences.]