Chapter 63 Back to the Coopers
Sandra fell silent for a moment, then said, "The company is men's business. Although Chad and your father aren't particularly capable, they haven't let the company go bankrupt all these years and have managed to keep our family fed. Joanna, business tactics can be really nasty. You're a woman, and you'll need to have children and take care of your husband - you won't have that much energy."
"It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't want you to be so exhausted. Why not let your father and brother run the company? If they have nothing to do, what will they live on in the future?"
Joanna glanced at Henry and finally understood why he'd come to the nursing home today.
She gave a self-mocking smile, straightened her back, and spoke slowly, "I left them five percent of the shares. They'll get dividends every year, which is enough for both of them to live on. Mom, if they could manage the company well, they wouldn't have needed to sell me out to Chris over and over again to get what they wanted."
Hearing this, Sandra looked stunned. "Your father used you to make deals with Chris?"
From her surprised expression, Sandra clearly didn't know about this.
Joanna felt slightly comforted. "The company matter won't change no matter who comes. He personally signed the equity transfer, the lawyers have reviewed it - there's no going back now."
Henry said anxiously, "Why would I want to go back on it? All the company's problems are waiting for you to solve. Why would I cause trouble at a time like this? It's just... I've been short on cash lately. Sweetie, you must still have some money, right?"
This was his real purpose for coming today.
He wasn't in a hurry to get the company back - he just wanted Sandra to know about this so he could pressure Joanna to hand over the company later.
What mattered most right now was that he had no money to spend, couldn't even go on vacation.
Joanna didn't want to deal with it, but under Sandra's pleading gaze, she still transferred five thousand dollars.
"Use it carefully. Once the company gets through this crisis, the dividends will come."
Henry wasn't satisfied with five thousand dollars, but afraid of pushing Joanna too hard, he reluctantly stayed by the hospital bed chatting with Sandra for a long time.
Joanna didn't want to listen. After watching Sandra finish the chicken soup, she left.
She hadn't wanted Henry to see Sandra before because she worried these two would do something bad to her.
But Sandra missed them too. Even if she didn't say it to Joanna's face, she'd call Chad privately to ask if he was eating well, if he was too cold or too hot.
This was a mother's love for her children. Joanna couldn't stop it.
So she might as well just not see it.
Leaving the nursing home, Joanna went back to work at the hospital.
In the blink of an eye, Christmas arrived. Every household was celebrating together, but Joanna felt lonely alone in her apartment.
This wasn't her first time spending the holidays alone. Chris didn't come home often before either. She'd just watch some TV with the servants, then go to sleep.
When Chris came home drunk in the middle of the night, she'd have to help him sober up and bathe him. By the time she finished cleaning up and went to bed, it was usually dawn.
This year was good though - she'd become brave again, even though it caused a lot of trouble.
Joanna cooked some food and brought it to the nursing home.
Sandra had gotten some color back in her face these past couple days. Seeing her, she smiled and asked, "Why do you always come alone? Is Chris still away on business?"
"No..." Joanna had almost forgotten about Chris. Fortunately, Sandra didn't ask her to bring Chris along to put on a show of happiness.
"You two are trying to have a baby - you can't keep being apart like this. Hurry up and call him. When you cook something, you should bring it to him too."
Sandra's concern made Joanna's body stiffen. She didn't want to make that call, but the next moment, her phone rang.
She breathed a sigh of relief as if she'd been rescued, but when she looked down and saw it was Chris calling, her face fell again.
"Joanna, why haven't you moved back yet? The house is so empty - does it feel like a holiday at all? Are you really going to leave me alone at home!"
Chris's questioning voice was quite loud - even Sandra heard it and looked at Joanna in surprise.
Her look seemed to ask: Why are you sleeping separately?
Joanna lowered her head and first responded to the phone: "I never said I was moving back. You haven't forgotten that we're... getting divorced, have you?"
She said the last sentence very quietly, making sure Sandra couldn't hear but Chris could.
Chris's dissatisfied voice came again: "Didn't we talk about this last time? You cheated too, so let's just say we both made mistakes and nobody mentions divorce again. Joanna, you should be grateful. I'm temporarily reluctant to give up your care and obedience, but if you keep making trouble, the Coopers won't tolerate a daughter-in-law like you!"
Joanna really wanted to snap back at him like usual.
But Sandra was right there. She couldn't personally tear apart the lie she'd woven.
So Chris just kept talking while Joanna didn't say a word back, even wanting to hang up.
But Sandra reached out her hand, her eyes determined.
Joanna had no choice but to hand her the phone.
"Chris, Joanna's just been taking care of me. Don't be mad at her. I'll have her come home tonight. Aren't you two planning to have a baby? She's just shy - she's been like that since she was little. Be patient with her. Get along well, and please don't fight."
Chris, who'd been holding in his anger and hadn't finished scolding her, suddenly heard Sandra's voice. He raised an eyebrow, understanding why Joanna hadn't been talking.
He cleared his throat and said, "We're not fighting. Tell her to come home early. My mom's waiting to hold her grandchild."
Sandra smiled. "Of course, I'm waiting to hold my grandchild too."
Their conversation was very peaceful, like they were really family, even giving off a faint warmth.
After hanging up, Sandra tapped something on the phone before returning it to Joanna.
Joanna didn't notice what she'd just done, just smiled stiffly and said, "Mom, having a baby depends on fate."
Sandra gave her a reproachful look. "Yes, it depends on fate, but if you two sleep separately every day, how can fate bring you a baby? Are you expecting to pick one up off the street?"
"That's not impossible." Joanna touched her nose.
Sandra immediately glared at her. "Enough. I'm fine here. Go home now, and you must video call me when you get there. If you're not with Chris, I won't let you off!"
Joanna left reluctantly.
She had a feeling this lie was about to fall apart. She couldn't really go back and sleep with Chris, could she?
She dragged her feet getting to Hillside Villa, and before she could even sit down, Sandra's call came.
Joanna immediately went to find Chris, searching from the first floor to the second, finally spotting the freshly showered man in the bathroom.
Water droplets slid down his firm chest muscles, dripping onto his towel.
His broad back gave a sense of security - it was what Joanna used to love holding most in bed.
But thinking that other women had touched it too, Joanna's eyes instantly turned cold.