Chapter 10
Before losing consciousness, Joanna pulled out her phone and randomly dialed a number.
"Help... help me..."
She didn't hear the voice on the other end before completely falling into darkness.
When she woke up again, Joanna found herself lying in a hospital bed. Her throat hurt terribly, and she couldn't make a sound. She didn't know if being strangled had damaged her vocal cords.
"You're awake?"
A somewhat familiar voice sounded in her ear. Joanna turned her head to look and saw Angelo pouring her a glass of water.
So the call she made before passing out yesterday had been to Angelo.
After Joanna drank the water and her throat could produce a slight sound, Angelo asked, "Your vocal cords are a bit damaged. They'll recover after a few days of rest. What exactly happened yesterday? Who hurt you like this?"
Joanna pressed her lips together and reached up to touch the marks on her neck.
Come to think of it, she should actually thank Cynthia for that phone call. Otherwise, she probably would have been strangled to death by Chris.
Joanna was silent for a moment. "When I got to the bar, Chris had already taken the surveillance footage. He ambushed me and tried to force me to apologize. I refused, so he got angry and started choking me. If Cynthia hadn't called, saying she was in danger, I might have really died."
Angelo clenched his fists, his chest feeling tight.
When he arrived yesterday, Joanna was lying on the ground. Her clothes showed signs of tearing and struggling, and the bruises on her neck were shocking to see.
At that moment, he really regretted not insisting on going to the bar with Joanna.
"A man who harms a woman isn't worth your time—you made the right choice leaving him."
His words reminded Joanna that today was also the day for the divorce.
She found her phone and checked the time. "There's still time. I'll head to the courthouse now to get a divorce."
"I'll take you there." Angelo was worried she might suffer again.
"Okay."
Joanna sent messages to both Chris and Matthew on her phone, reminding them not to be late, but got no reply.
Joanna didn't think too much about it. She first completed the discharge procedures, then went to the courthouse with Angelo.
They waited for two hours—right through noon—but Chris never showed up.
Joanna was so angry that she made several calls, but he didn't answer at all.
She had to call Matthew instead. "Where's Chris? Does he even remember that today is the divorce day!"
Matthew sounded a bit awkward. "Yesterday, Cynthia's address was leaked, and someone came to vandalize it. Today he canceled all his schedule to help Cynthia choose a new house specifically. Why don't you schedule another time?"
"I made this appointment a week in advance. Why should I give way for Cynthia? You tell him he must come divorce me today!"
Joanna was really angry. Yesterday, Chris left her on the roadside, nearly strangled to death, all for Cynthia's sake. Today, he broke the appointment and made her waste several hours here, all because he was helping Cynthia choose a house.
Was Cynthia the only important person in this world?
Matthew glanced at the man gently patting Cynthia's back, paused the call and walked over. "Mr. Cooper, Mrs. Cooper is looking for you. Today is the day you're going to court to apply for divorce. She wants you to go there right now."
Divorce! Divorce! Why was Joanna thinking about divorce all day long now!
Just because things got heated yesterday—was it really worth making such a big deal out of it?
Chris looked up impatiently. "I said I've canceled all my schedule today. Cynthia's matters are most important. Tell Joanna that if she keeps making a fuss, she can forget about the surveillance video. I don't mind destroying a useless USB drive!"
Matthew had to relay the message to Joanna word for word. Afraid of being scolded, he hung up immediately after finishing.
"Chris," Cynthia said smoothly, having watched the whole scene unfold, "with how upset Joanna is... maybe helping her brother's case would ease some tension?" She paused meaningfully. "My situation here is minor. It's nothing Matthew can't handle on his own."
Chris said with a cold laugh, "All the more reason to let her stew. And her brother could use a reality check too. Once your matter's sorted, if she comes groveling back, maybe I'll help her."
Cynthia smiled. "So that's what you're thinking. Then I won't interfere with your decision. Thank you, Chris."
Chris waved his hand and asked her, "Have you chosen a house?"
"Nothing suitable. I like the security and layout of Heaven Heights, but there are no houses for sale there."
Heaven Heights?
Chris pondered briefly. He remembered he had a house there. It was a wedding gift his mother bought for him when he and Joanna got married.
But he was used to living at Hillside Villa, and Joanna didn't need to go out to work, so that house had always been vacant.
"I have a house there. I'll have Matthew handle the transfer procedures right away and help you move this afternoon."
"That's not really appropriate, isn't that your wedding gift?" Cynthia pretended to decline.
"I have many houses. Your safety right now is what's most important!" Chris settled the matter directly.
At the courthouse, Joanna received Matthew's notice. Before she could say anything more, Matthew hung up, and no matter how many times she called back, she couldn't get through.
Joanna was furious.
She didn't understand why Chris refused to divorce her. The one he liked was clearly Cynthia, wasn't it?
Angelo had heard Matthew's conversation with Joanna. His eyes darkened. "If he won't come, you can mail him divorce papers. That way, you don't have to contact him, and your personal safety can be guaranteed."
"I guess that's the only way," Joanna said helplessly.
"I'll have Peter draft divorce papers for you. Do you have any thoughts about the division of property?"
Hearing Angelo ask this, Joanna paused.
Originally, she wanted to give up all claims to property in exchange for Chris helping with her brother's case, but he had refused.
But later, Chris deliberately pushed her out to deal with the reporters, took the surveillance footage, and nearly strangled her to death.
Since he was being so ruthless, she shouldn't hold back either.
Joanna raised her head, her mind made up. "Let's start by claiming half the property normally. He has an inappropriate relationship with the company's design director. If he pushes too hard, I'll collect evidence of his affair and take him to court."
Angelo nodded and called Peter.
That evening, while caring for her mother, Joanna received a call from Peter.
"Miss Jones, your brother's case will go to court in three days. Without the surveillance footage, our chances aren't great. But don't worry. Once we get new evidence, we can appeal again."