Chapter 24
In the car taking Joshua away, Brian couldn't help but speak up, "I think those two kids are quite likable. What a shame!"
He deliberately sighed, hesitating as if he wanted to say more.
Joshua was feeling frustrated. He suddenly asked, "What's the shame?"
Brian said nervously, "It's a shame that Mrs. Thomas wants a divorce. After she divorces you, she'll take those two with her. Who knows, maybe Aurora and Dorian will really amount to something when they grow up."
Besides, he noticed the two children looked quite similar to Joshua. But they couldn't possibly be his children. Aurora and Dorian were only two years old. By the timeline, they were born two years after Ella went abroad. So they had nothing to do with Joshua. Before Ella went abroad, she probably hadn't been with Joshua either, right? Brian felt he was probably overthinking it.
"I'm the one divorcing her. What right does she have to divorce me?" Feeling completely humiliated, Joshua corrected him coldly, then said angrily, "A woman like her, what kind of accomplished children could she possibly raise? Those two kids are just like their mother—only know how to sweet-talk and please people."
No matter how much those two children tried to please him, he would never accept them. After Aiden died, he would make Ella get as far away as possible.
Seeing Joshua angry, Brian didn't dare say more and wisely drove toward Tranquil Villa.
At the estate, Aurora and Dorian walked to the kitchen, calling out pitifully, "Mommy, we're sorry. Dorian and I scared father away."
Ella was busy making food for Joshua. Hearing the children say this, she stopped what she was doing and came over, crouching down in front of them. "That man left?"
Aurora and Dorian nodded, their big eyes blinking.
Ella breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, touching the children's heads. "It's okay. It's better that he left." The main thing was that Joshua didn't call her to leave with him. This meant she could stay tonight to be with the children.
Aurora frowned, looking upset, "Maybe I didn't control it well and scared him."
Dorian also said, "Aurora, it's not your fault. It's because I wanted father to accept us too much that I scared him away."
Though Dorian was young, he was very responsible. Joshua being scared away—he felt it was his problem.
Before Aurora could say more, Ella touched their little faces and said gently, "Neither of you did anything wrong. It's that man's own problem, so don't blame yourselves, okay?"
Dorian was still a bit unhappy and asked Ella, "Mommy, why doesn't father like us? Is it because we're your children with someone else?"
Ella didn't know why such young children would have these worries. Shouldn't they be innocent, happy, and carefree? Why would they care whether someone liked them or not?
Ella patiently told the children, "Don't call him father. It's mommy who doesn't like him. You two are wonderful, and mommy loves you very much. You don't need to go out of your way to perform in front of him."
"But mommy, it's so hard for you to earn money to support us all by yourself." Dorian felt sorry for his mother. The brightness in his big eyes from a moment ago had dimmed considerably.
Ella's heart ached. Before, she had regretted giving birth to them. After all, they were the children of a rapist. With them around, she could never forget that night four years ago. That was her nightmare.
But seeing them grow day by day, so well-behaved, obedient, and sensible—Ella was glad she had kept them.
Ella hugged the two children close, stroking their heads, her voice becoming hoarse, "Mommy isn't tired at all, and mommy is very capable. Supporting you two is no problem. If you see that man again, don't try to please him anymore, okay?"
"Okay!" Aurora and Dorian had to answer according to Ella's wishes.
Ella hurried to make food. After having dinner with the children, she taught them to read and write. She thought she definitely wouldn't have to leave this evening, so she felt at ease sleeping with the children.
But who knew that in the middle of the night, Brian's call came again. He said helplessly, "Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas wants you to come back to Tranquil Villa."
Ella looked at the time—2 a.m. She couldn't help wanting to curse, but in the end just held it in and said unhappily, "Look what time it is. What am I supposed to do there? Can't I come early when it's light out?"
Brian insisted, "No, Mr. Thomas has to see you now. He's drunk, and there's nothing I can do."
Ella didn't know what Joshua was going crazy about again. Didn't he not want to see her before? Wouldn't it be better for them to stay apart now? Why torture her in the middle of the night?
Though she felt uncomfortable, Ella knew very well she had to obey Joshua. Looking at the two sleeping children beside her, she got out of bed quietly to change clothes so as not to wake them. Then she went to tell Patricia before going out.
She didn't expect Brian to be waiting for her at the door. Brian personally opened the car door for Ella, then drove away.
On the way back, he said unnecessarily, "Mr. Thomas has been in a bad mood since he got back from here. He drank several glasses by himself. It's probably still because of Aurora and Dorian. When you take care of him, be patient."
After all, your own wife suddenly showing up with two children she had with someone else—no man could accept that, right? Especially someone as noble and proud as Joshua.
Ella nodded. For the sake of her two children, even if it meant being a slave by Joshua's side, she would work without complaint.
After arriving at Tranquil Villa, Karen's soup had just finished cooking. Ella took it and went straight to the master bedroom.
As soon as she entered, she saw Joshua bent over the bed, vomiting. In his dark silk pajamas, even though he looked somewhat disheveled at the moment, he still had an attractive charm about him.
Ella approached him and asked, "Are you okay? Do you want some soup?"
Joshua looked up at her, his eyes hazy with drink. The light illuminated his handsome, cold features, adding a touch of melancholy and pain. He seemed not to recognize Ella, just staring at her blankly without saying a word.
Ella thought he was quite drunk and brought the soup to his lips. "Drink it. You'll probably feel better after drinking it."
Joshua seemed to recognize Ella's voice. He raised his hand and swatted it away, knocking the bowl aside. Caught off guard, Ella watched as the bowl fell to the floor, soup spilling everywhere.
Furious, she couldn't help raising her voice, "Joshua, what's wrong with you? Karen made this for you late at night!"
Joshua reached out with his long arm again and suddenly pulled Ella over, pressing her onto the bed. He stared at her, his eyes turning red. "Ella, don't you love me? Why did you have children with someone else?"
And gave birth to two such cute and smart little ones. Joshua didn't deny that those two children were quite likable. But they were someone else's children. He couldn't and wouldn't be able to accept keeping them around.
Ella, not paying attention again, found herself pinned under Joshua. She didn't struggle, just lay there looking at Joshua's somewhat crazed appearance and said coldly, "From the moment you broke off our engagement, I stopped loving you."
"I don't believe it." Joshua was really quite drunk. Right now, he wasn't thinking about Ella having children with someone else. Instead, he wanted to prove whether Ella still loved him or not.
He held Ella down and leaned down to kiss her lips forcefully.