Chapter 117 Getting Married
Hospital.
When Chris saw the dashcam footage, his first instinct was to question it: "How convenient that some vehicle's dashcam just happened to capture this? The quality is so dark and blurry you can't see anything clearly, and it's all pieced together. How do I know you didn't use editing techniques to manipulate the video to make me suspect Cynthia?"
Peter was somewhat speechless: "This video can be authenticated by professional agencies. If you're unwilling to believe it, even if the police showed you this video saying Miss Jones is innocent, you still wouldn't believe it. But Cynthia should know best what actually happened, right? Why don't you explain?"
Cynthia felt awkward.
She hadn't expected that despite planning everything carefully, evidence would still be found.
If she admitted Joanna did nothing wrong, it would mean she had been falsely accusing Joanna. She could only try hard to distance herself.
"I don't know... everything happened so suddenly yesterday, I don't remember what happened. But I'm willing to believe Joanna wouldn't hurt me—this must be a misunderstanding. I just feel sorry for Chris and my baby. The miscarriage has damaged my body too, and I don't know if Chris and I will ever have another child..."
As Cynthia spoke, her eyes reddened.
Her fragile, wronged appearance stirred Chris's sympathy.
Chris immediately shooed Peter away impatiently: "Alright, I know the truth now. Joanna just doesn't want to take responsibility, right? No matter what, the Coopers' first child is gone. At the very least, she needs to come apologize to Cynthia and take responsibility for her care!"
Peter frowned: "My client did nothing wrong and doesn't need to apologize or care for the patient."
"Just tell her directly—unless she and the Joneses can withstand the Coopers' retaliation, she'd better come to the hospital and take care of Cynthia!" Chris interrupted, not wanting to hear Peter's reasoning at all.
Peter had no choice but to relay the message to Joanna.
Joanna was both angry and amused, but she did seriously consider the matter.
If she didn't care for Cynthia, the Jones family's company probably couldn't withstand Cooper Corporation's attack.
After much thought, she reluctantly agreed to pay Cynthia's hospital expenses but refused to accept responsibility for caring for her.
Peter also felt this was the most appropriate solution and went to continue negotiations with Chris.
Perhaps because Cynthia felt guilty, she accepted the medical expense compensation plan and didn't actually make Joanna come care for her.
But while Joanna didn't have to come, Chris was forced by Nicole to come care for Cynthia every day.
It was his first time caring for a patient, especially a postpartum woman weakened after a miscarriage.
At first, he didn't even know about nutritious meals, making Cynthia suffer quite a bit. Only later did Chris gradually figure out how to care for someone.
But the process was undoubtedly frustrating.
For the first time, he realized how annoying he must have been when he used to fake illness and demand Joanna's care.
Moreover, whenever Joanna was sick or uncomfortable, she never told him.
In his memory, Joanna seemed like a superhero who never got sick and never needed him.
No wonder she could leave so readily, without any attachment to those three years of marriage.
The clearer Chris's thoughts became, the more painful his heart felt. He became even less able to face Cynthia than before.
Because whenever he saw Cynthia, he thought of Joanna.
In the past, he unconsciously compared the two women. Now, seeing either one made him uncontrollably think of the other.
After a few days of caregiving, Chris dumped everything on Nicole, using the excuse that he was very busy, and escaped to the company.
On his first day back at the office, he saw the divorce certificate placed on top of all his documents.
Opening the cover, the photo inside was still the same one from their marriage certificate.
Joanna's expression showed shyness and joy, her eyes curved in a smile that was both eager to please and gentle.
Chris closed his eyes, feeling very uncomfortable inside.
After Joanna learned this matter was resolved, her worries lifted.
She returned to her previous life, often staying at the hospital because surgeries weren't finished, rarely even going back to her apartment.
Every day after work, she could see a familiar car at the hospital entrance.
Joanna ran over somewhat embarrassed: "Angelo, didn't I say you don't need to pick me up? I drove my own car."
Angelo explained with a smile: "It's on my way, don't be so polite with me. Get in."
It was raining outside, drizzling on the car body. Joanna's shoulders also got wet.
She had no choice but to get in the car, planning to drive her own car back tomorrow.
Angelo adjusted the seat heating for her and handed her a towel: "Dry yourself off."
"Thanks."
The towel carried the same vanilla scent as Angelo's clothes. Joanna felt somewhat nervous and careful using it.
Her relationship with Angelo seemed to be becoming more natural and close, but had she really accepted this emotional connection in her heart?
Joanna didn't know and didn't dare respond.
But not responding made her worry about wasting Angelo's time.
Joanna was caught in this dilemma every day.
Although Angelo could tell, he didn't say anything.
He was afraid that if he scared Joanna off, she'd avoid him completely, not even giving him a chance to be near her.
"I heard from Dr. Bruce that your mother's recovery is going very well. After two more surgeries, she might be able to leave the hospital?"
Joanna nodded. "This is all thanks to Angelo introducing the new drug treatment, and Dr. Bruce's medical skills are excellent too."
Angelo drove while saying: "Weren't you the one who had your mother try the experimental drug? Joanna, you should thank yourself more."
Joanna was stunned, then laughed shortly after: "Yes, I'm very grateful to myself too."
Grateful that she had said goodbye to that unhealthy relationship from the past, and grateful that she could meet good friends like Angelo and Luke.
Back home, Joanna saw it was still early. After a simple dinner, she immersed herself in designing her charity project.
This project was nearing its deadline, so what remained was just refining details. When the hospital wasn't busy, she needed to share her progress with Teacher Linda in real-time.
While concentrating on her design, her phone suddenly rang. It was Fiona calling.
"Joanna, my wedding is next Friday, you must come! I've even saved a bridesmaid spot for you."
Only then did Joanna remember that Fiona was getting married.
Although they'd had an unpleasant encounter during the wedding dress fitting, she sincerely wished her friend well in finding happiness.
"But Fiona, I'm divorced now, so I might not be suitable as your bridesmaid. However, I will definitely come witness your happiness."
Joanna still declined the bridesmaid idea.
Fiona didn't insist, respecting her opinion. She just told her the wedding time and location before hanging up.
Joanna understood—when you're just getting married, you're very busy with no time for idle chat.
After all, when she was preparing for her own wedding, she'd been busy selecting wedding dresses, arranging the venue, comparing wedding hosts' abilities and hosting styles, and choosing bouquet styles and ring designs...
That period had been sweet yet exhausting.