Chapter 140: The Clever Woman
Ava was completely dazed, she could only tilt her head back and endure his forceful kiss.
Ava finally understood why Hayden couldn't get on the elevator - because he would get in the way of Joshua doing bad things.
Joshua would even abandon his own brother just to do bad things.
The elevator went all the way down to the parking garage before Joshua slowly let her go.
Ava clutched his clothes tightly, shyly lowering her head. Her heart was racing, but Joshua pulled her back into his embrace.
"Do you know how long I've been holding back this kiss?"
"What?"
"I'm really afraid that if I let go of your hand now, someone will steal you away."
First Gilbert.
Then Timothy.
And tonight, Bruce!
One after another, why did Ava make them all like her so much?
But it didn't matter. Ava was his, she had to be his, and no one could take her away.
Joshua held Ava as they got in the car and asked, "Did you know Thea was going to frame you tonight?"
"No, but she likes you, so I kept my guard up."
"What?"
Ava slowly explained, "When a woman loves a man, and there's another woman by his side, that woman becomes a thorn in her eye. How could she pass up any chance to humiliate her?
I've seen enough of women's jealousy and scheming to understand it."
Joshua's lips curved up, "You're smart."
Ava smiled, "Thanks for the compliment."
"Back to the Thomas Villa?"
Ava shook her head, "No, back to my own place."
"The Thomas Villa is also your home. Finn and Cleo are still at Grandpa's." Joshua looked at Ava seriously.
"I feel like Grandpa has been circling around Finn and Cleo lately." Ava didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Yes, Grandpa adores the two kids. He wishes he could keep them by his side every day."
Victor was getting old, so naturally he liked children, and these suddenly appearing children were even more precious to him.
Recently, because of Ava, Finn, and Cleo, Victor even looked at him more favorably.
Hayden came running over, panting heavily. He opened the car door himself and plopped down in the back seat without ceremony, complaining.
"Joshua, you're so heartless. Adding me to the elevator wouldn't make it overweight, but you just left me behind?"
Joshua glanced at him coolly through the rearview mirror, "Drive yourself back."
Hayden looked devastated, "Joshua, I came in your car. Give me a ride back, right Ava?"
Ava was really amused by these two. In wealthy families, people fought tooth and nail over inheritance and such, but these two didn't compete over anything and had an unusually good relationship.
One liked to bully, and the other wasn't afraid of being picked on - he'd still come back next time with a smile.
Ava smiled helplessly, feeling a bit sorry for Hayden who could be abandoned by Joshua at any moment, "Let's go back together, it's on the way anyway."
Hearing Ava speak up, Hayden gained confidence and instantly became cocky, "Joshua, did you hear that? Ava's the one who's good to me."
So touching.
Joshua started the car with a straight face and drove toward the Thomas Villa.
As soon as they got home, Ava saw Finn playing chess with Victor, Cleo being held by Ursa watching TV, and Xavier sitting nearby reading the newspaper, occasionally letting out hearty laughs. It was a scene of harmony.
After all, they were blood relatives, and Finn and Cleo weren't resistant.
Ava looked at this scene with a gentle smile on her face.
"Mommy." Finn and Cleo immediately rushed into Ava's arms.
"You're back. Did the party go well?" Victor asked.
Ava nodded, not mentioning the small incident, "It went well."
Ava took Finn and Cleo's little hands, "Finn, Cleo, we need to go home now."
"Mommy, can we wait until Grandpa and I finish this game of chess?"
"Of course, go ahead."
Finn sat back in his seat and said to Victor, "Grandpa, let's continue."
Victor said happily, "Okay."
These two children were really smart, especially Finn. He only explained the rules of chess to him once, and he figured out the tricks. After a few games, he could already play against him.
"Ava, don't leave tonight. Stay at the Thomas Villa. It's too late, it's not safe to go back." Ursa spoke up.
"Right, Ava, just stay at the Thomas Villa. Going back is too much trouble." Victor also tried to stop her, "Just stay here with me. I'm happy to see you every day."
"Right, Ava, Grandpa's not happy when he sees me and Joshua." Hayden lounged on the sofa.
Victor snorted, "You two get out."
"See, see the different treatment."
In the end, Ava stayed at the Thomas Villa.
Joshua went back to his study. Ava couldn't sleep yet, so she sat beside him reading.
Joshua sat in front of the computer, focused and busy.
Then Samuel knocked and came in.
"Mr. Thomas, we've found out about the matter." Samuel glanced at Ava on the sofa.
Ava was perceptive. They needed to discuss business, so Ava got up to leave.
Joshua's eyes moved from the computer and said to Ava, "You don't need to leave." Then he glanced at Samuel, "Speak."
"We found the people who burned the Wilson Villa. They're from a mysterious organization. The leader is called Ryan. Eight years ago, he was the one who sent people to kill Mr. Thomas."
As soon as Samuel finished speaking, the book in Ava's hand fell to the floor.
Ava froze, lifting her head as her eyes met Joshua's deep gaze directly.
Joshua raised his hand to signal Samuel to stop. He got up and walked straight to Ava's side, bent down, and ruffled her hair, "Tired?"
Ava's body stiffened. She nodded along, "Yes, I'm tired. I'll go to sleep first. Don't work too late."
Joshua kissed her forehead, "Go ahead."
Ava picked up her book and left, her steps a bit hurried. Joshua didn't miss the panic in her eyes at that moment.
He frowned.
Ava returned to her room, her mind a bit chaotic. Ava knew the Thomas family had three children, and Zach had died young in some chaos.
But what did this have to do with Ryan?
He sent people to burn the Wilson Villa, and eight years ago he sent people to kill Zach!
What was going on!
Ava's mind was full of confusion.
Joshua sat back in his chair, and Samuel continued, "Mr. Thomas, how should we handle this?"
The key was that this person had strong influence and was in Astoria. They didn't have much power in Astoria. If they really fought, they definitely wouldn't have the upper hand.
Joshua's slender fingers rhythmically tapped the desk as he frowned in thought.
"Go teach him a lesson."
Samuel had been by Joshua's side for so many years, so naturally he understood what this "lesson" meant, "Yes. Also, regarding Ms. Davis's drowning incident, it was Mia who dragged Ms. Davis into the water with her."
Joshua's eyes turned cold, "Where is she now?"
"She was rescued by Will Howard. Mr. Thomas, do we need to go get her back?"
Joshua raised his hand, "No need. Falling into a madman's hands, how good can she have it? Don't bother with her."
"From today on, you take people to protect Ava at all times. Remember to follow from a distance, don't let her notice. She doesn't like it."
Samuel immediately said, "Yes."
......
When Mia woke up, she saw a man in front of her. Although the man's face was handsome, there was a deep scar between his left eyebrow, and combined with his murderous eyes, it added a sinister air.
Mia trembled with fear, "Who, who are you?"