Chapter 494 There Was No One by His Side in the Past
Chloe’s heart was filled with anxiety at the thought of a potential argument between Joseph and Harold.
For Joseph, Harold was the only family he had left. Despite his indifference, Chloe knew that he cared deeply for his
grandfather. Taking over the Whitman Group and looking after it was a testament to his love and responsibility
toward Harold. If it turned out that his grandfather’s affection for him was all a facade, Joseph would be shattered.
“Let’s go back to our place,” Joseph said, his eyes red and exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the past few
hours.
Her heart ached for him, and she could not help but embrace him, gently patting his back. “All right. I’ll be with you
no matter where you want to go.”
Joseph hugged her back tightly, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Can you stay with me forever?”
“Yes, I’ll be with you, always,” Chloe replied, unable to hold back her emotions. She did not want to think about
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtXavia right now. She just wanted to be with him, just like he was there for her during her most difficult times.
Oreo and Toto had been taken to the family home, so it was unusually quiet at their house.
Joseph seemed disheartened, and as soon as he reached home, he immersed himself in his laptop from dawn till
dusk. Chloe knew he was investigating something possibly related to
Duskfall or Fleurette
She got a glass of warm water and placed it before him on the coffee table. Then, she went to the kitchen and
checked the refrigerator, finding enough ingredients to last them several days. She decided to cook a meal for him
tonight, even though she had not cooked in a while, wondering if she still had the touch
Reflecting on how she had taken cooking classes in the past just to impress Joseph and secure her position as his
“wife,” she found it amusing. Her relationship with Jake had lasted three years without any mention of marriage, yet
with Joseph, they met once and got married the
next moment.
Fate truly worked in mysterious ways.
At night, Joseph tossed and turned in bed as sleep would not come to him. He got up, went outside, and stood on
the balcony, letting the cool breeze soothe his restless mind. He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
During his childhood, he rarely spoke to anyone else apart from his father. Harold harbored some resentment
toward Joseph’s mother, believing she had played an indirect role in his son’s death. As a result, their relationship
was not as affectionate as in other families where grandfathers dote on their grandchildren. This created a
constant atmosphere of oppression
within the Whitman household.
After Joseph’s father passed, Preston began vying for control of the Whitman Group, subjecting Joseph to various
forms of open and covert suppression. There was even a time when he attempted to seize the shares Joseph’s
father had left to his son. However, Harold intervened and secured Joseph’s position as the leader of the company.
At that time, Joseph was merely in his early teens, standing alone without anyone to rely on. Harold’s decision faced
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmstrong opposition, with many expressing their dissent. Yet, through his unwavering determination and support,
Joseph eventually took control of the Whitman
Group.
Octavia’s refusal to accept defeat led her to instigate Jonathan into pouring ice-cold water on Joseph. The incident
occurred during the harsh winter, and Joseph, dressed in frozen pajamas, was left outside for five hours. As a
result, he fell ill, bringing him perilously close to death’s door.
Fortunately, Harold discovered Joseph in time and rushed him to the hospital. For several days, Joseph remained
unconscious, and each time he woke up, Harold was there, his appearance marked by weariness and the weight of
age, as though he had aged several years in just those few days.
In those vulnerable moments, the young Joseph came to believe that he held a significant place in his grandfather’s
heart. And this belief found support in his grandfather’s actions, such as ordering the house help to keep a constant
watch over him after his father’s passing, fearing he might lose hope and follow in his father’s footsteps.
Furthermore, during every family gathering, Harold always made sure that the seat beside him was reserved for
Joseph. During that period, Joseph’s mindset underwent a profound transformation.