Chapter 34 Do You Still Care About This Family
Joanna never expected that the million dollars she got—after being drugged and nearly raped by Chris again—would turn out like this.
Her first reaction was to find it funny. "So how did you guys find out about this?"
Henry felt her reaction was off and wasn't satisfied. "His buddies got drunk and called just to mess with him! After Chad heard, he lost it—wanted to grab a knife and go after them. I barely held him back. I couldn't let him out, I was scared he'd actually hurt someone or do something crazy!"
He even showed Joanna the arm Chad had injured.
Joanna felt terrible inside. Henry was always so devoted when it came to his son's issues. But at least this time, he'd made the right decision.
"Alright, now you know what's going on. Hurry up and talk some sense into your brother!"
Joanna didn't say anything. She looked around, then went and removed the hose from the lawn sprinkler. There was a water container by the door. She filled a basin with water, then said to Henry, "Open the door."
Henry's eyelid twitched. He wasn't comfortable letting Joanna do this. "You're not going to hurt your brother, are you?"
Joanna glanced at him. "If he keeps swinging that knife around in there by himself, he might end up hurting himself!"
Hearing this, Henry immediately opened the door.
When Chad saw the door open, he was about to rush out with the knife, but Joanna quickly splashed the basin of water on him. The ice-cold water poured from his head down to his feet. He froze, and when he saw it was Joanna, he got even angrier. "What are you doing here?"
Joanna asked, "Have you calmed down? If not, keep shouting about killing people, and then the neighbors will hear and call the police to arrest you!"
The water really did wash away Chad's murderous rage. He angrily accused her, "Are you even my sister? Do you know they tricked me first and made me a cuckold!"
Joanna calmly asked back, "So what?"
With both father and son looking unhappy, Joanna calmly explained, "Need I remind you—even if the baby wasn't yours, you're the one who took Judy to that shady clinic for an abortion. Just for that, her family could press charges and get you locked up. That million you got back from Chris? That's hush money so they won't go to the cops!"
Joanna threw down the water container and looked coldly at Henry. "If you want them to sue and send Chad to prison, then adding a murder charge won't make much difference. Go ahead! No lawyer or money's gonna get you out of that!"
Chad's face darkened, but at least he stopped waving the knife around threatening to kill. He didn't want to go to jail, and he didn't want to let those people off easy either!
Henry quickly stepped forward, took the knife away, and went inside to hide it.
Without a weapon, Chad calmed down a bit. He said bitterly, "So you just want me to sit here and take it? Let everyone think I'm some loser?"
Joanna said with a cold laugh, If you'd actually done something with your life and joined Jones Corp after college, you'd be dating women with real class. You think you'd end up with someone like Judy?"
Though he didn't want to admit it, Chad knew Joanna was right. He stopped talking, sulking.
Just then, Henry finished hiding everything that could be used as a weapon and came back, smiling awkwardly, inviting Joanna inside. "Since you're already here, come in and rest a bit? You can talk to Chad some more."
Joanna actually didn't want to stay, worried about a repeat of the previous two incidents.
She was about to refuse when Henry deliberately came out and pushed her inside. "Come on, if you have something to say, say it inside. Don't let others see us as a joke."
Once the door closed, Joanna couldn't leave even if she wanted to. But she still gripped her purse strap tightly and said calmly, "We have nothing to talk about. I'm going back."
With that, she headed for the door.
But Henry called out to her. "Joanna!"
He took out a piece of blueberry jam bread and placed it on the table in front of Joanna. Henry's usually straight back was somewhat hunched, and his voice sounded weary as he asked, "Are you mad at me?"
This sudden show of weakness caught Joanna completely off guard. She looked at the bread warily, with no intention of eating it.
Henry smiled bitterly. "You and your mom used to love this. I'm your dad—of course I remember. There's nothing weird in it, you don't have to worry."
He even gave a piece to Chad. "Chad, you've been making a fuss for so long and haven't eaten. Have something to tide you over."
Only after Chad ate his piece without hesitation did Joanna's tense emotions relax a bit. She looked at the bread, her eyes stinging a little. Even though she knew Henry wouldn't be nice to her for no reason, this tiny bit of fatherly love created a small crack in her cold heart. "Just say what you want to say."
Henry sighed with difficulty. "It's about the company. We're at a critical stage for financing. We've been relying on the Coopers' investment to barely survive, and they haven't sent the payment for the new quarter yet. That's why I was so desperate before and used some underhanded methods. Joanna, the company is my life's work. Can you understand me?"
Joanna didn't speak. She had a vague idea of what was coming, but didn't want to personally tear away this ugly veil of warmth.
When Henry saw his daughter wasn't saying anything, he forced himself to go on, "This time I won't force you. I'm begging you, okay? Just for my sake, for Sandra's surgery fees, for your brother. Go back and apologize to Chris, ask him not to give up on us, okay?"
Just as she thought.
The hope that had just risen in Joanna's heart fell again.
She thought Henry, as a father, had finally realized how much he owed his daughter.
Turns out, it was still about profit.
Joanna's back felt cold as she calmly refused, "Chris and I have already signed the divorce papers. Didn't you see the photos that made the news last time? He cheated! You still want me to forgive him?"
"He's a man," Henry shot back. "Men have needs, especially with the kind of pressure he's under. As long as he didn't get someone else pregnant or move a mistress into your face, why make such a big deal out of it?"
Joanna hadn't expected her dad to take her side, but hearing his words still hurt more than she thought it would. She could almost hear her heart breaking.
She laughed at herself mockingly. "No matter what you think, we've already signed the papers. After the cooling-off period, we won't have any relationship! Whether you accept this or not, Chris won't care about us anymore!"
Henry tore off his disguise and became completely angry. "Joanna! Do you even care about this family? I'm asking you nicely, and it's not enough. Do you need me, your father, to kneel down to you!"