Chapter 64 Abandoned Once Again
"Why do you even need to watch me shower?" Chris mocked, yet his hands showed no courtesy as he handed her the towel for drying hair. "Help me dry it."
This used to be Joanna's favorite thing to do.
Now the towel felt like it was burning her hands, and she wanted to throw it away.
But her phone kept ringing. Joanna had no choice but to quickly open the video call, showing the bathroom and both their hands in frame as they reached for the towel.
Then she hung up and sent Sandra a message: [Chris is too tired, he needs to shower and sleep! You rest well, don't stay on your phone too long.]
Sandra immediately replied: [I bought you guys something, it'll arrive soon, get it right away!]
Joanna looked confused. When did her mom buy anything?
But before she could ask, a large hand snatched her phone away.
Seeing the conversation on screen, Chris leaned in smugly. "Taking secret photos of me? Joanna, if you want it, just say so. Why act like you're having an affair? We're not divorced yet. Fulfilling our marital duties is what we should do."
His gaze traveled from top to bottom, landing on Joanna's waist.
That look was too intense. Feeling embarrassed and annoyed, Joanna pushed him away. "Don't flatter yourself! My mom just hasn't seen you in a while, so she asked me to take a couple photos. Alright, I should go. You sleep by yourself."
She'd already planned her excuse on the way over and had no intention of actually staying at the villa.
With that, Joanna immediately turned and headed downstairs.
Just then, the housekeeper was also at the door collecting a delivery and walked toward her. "Mrs. Cooper, your package has arrived."
Joanna frowned and reached to take it, but failed to catch it. The item fell to the ground, revealing lace trim and sheer fabric.
Joanna's face instantly turned red!
She never expected Sandra to prepare this kind of clothing!
Chris happened to be coming down from upstairs. With his excellent vision, he saw the item and sneered. "Joanna, what are you playing coy for? You already bought lingerie, what's there to be embarrassed about?"
The housekeeper fled awkwardly.
Joanna kept her head down, hurriedly stuffing the items away. As she was about to leave, Chris caught up and pulled her into his arms.
They were very close, able to smell each other's natural scent.
Chris grabbed Joanna's hand and pressed it against his chest. "Stop making a fuss. The company's been too busy lately, I'm exhausted..."
He leaned down close, his voice seductive. "And I miss you."
Joanna's body stiffened, and the lace in her hand fell to the ground again.
Before she could push him away, Chris's phone rang.
"Chris... I, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault, causing problems for the company..." Cynthia's drunken, sobbing voice came through intermittently, with what sounded like several men's sleazy laughter in the background.
Chris's expression changed. He immediately pushed Joanna aside and went to grab his clothes.
"Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. Just stay there and wait for me, don't hang up. I'm coming right now!"
Like a gust of wind, he threw on his clothes and rushed out, not sparing Joanna another glance.
Her face, which had been somewhat flushed, felt like someone had violently splashed it with ice-cold water.
Joanna's fingertips trembled as she watched that figure disappear into the night, running frantically. She stood silently and stepped on the lace on the ground.
Almost forgot—the one you like now is Cynthia. In front of her, anyone and anything can be abandoned, including me.
She took a deep breath and made a phone call. "Chris went to find Cynthia."
On the other end, the private investigator she'd contacted quickly set out. "Don't worry, Miss Jones. We'll do our best to get you the evidence you need!"
"Good."
Joanna threw the lace into the trash, then tidied herself up in the mirror before walking out of Hillside Villa.
Cynthia had handed her this opportunity on a silver platter. If she didn't seize it, she'd be letting down that torn-up divorce agreement.
Back at her apartment, Joanna took a shower. When she came out, she'd already received photos from the investigator.
Chris was holding Cynthia in his arms, helping her into the car and taking her to a hotel. After that, he never came back out.
Joanna transferred the investigator's service fee, saved the photos, and prepared to sleep.
But an unknown number called. After three seconds of hesitation, Joanna answered.
On the other end was only some rustling noise, mixed with an unclear "Chris."
Instantly, Joanna knew who was calling. She wanted to record it, but the call had already ended.
Looking at the call that had only lasted five seconds, Joanna didn't call back. She went to sleep feeling irritated.
But this night was destined to be sleepless.
The next day at the nursing home, Sandra's teasing gaze kept waiting for Joanna to share details about last night.
Joanna kept her head down, pretending to be shy.
Sandra simply asked directly, "Did you use what I prepared for you guys?"
Joanna bit her lip and said stiffly, "He didn't like it. Mom, don't interfere with us next time."
Sandra scratched her head, somewhat doubting herself. "That doesn't make sense. Don't all men like this kind of thing? Or have you guys already tried it before?"
Getting bolder with each word, Joanna quickly fed her a strawberry, blocking whatever Sandra was about to say next.
Sandra probably noticed Joanna's embarrassment and stopped asking.
After visiting Sandra, Joanna also checked on the patient Angelo had referred. The surgery was very successful, and the care at the nursing home was excellent.
At least she'd been able to help Angelo with something.
"Dr. Jones, you must take this money. If it weren't for you, my husband might have been bedridden for life."
The patient's family member pushed a card toward her.
Joanna immediately stepped back two paces and explained, "Angelo already paid for the surgery. I can't take this money."
Angelo had transferred the fifty thousand dollar surgery fee to her account from the start.
After receiving her bonus, Joanna had returned the money and explained her thinking. "Angelo, you've helped me so much. It's just one surgery—consider it my way of repaying you! Though I originally asked you to help arrange this surgery, now that the Jones family's problems are solved, I don't need this money anymore. My salary from Grace General Hospital is enough."
After a long back-and-forth, Angelo finally stopped insisting.
Now Joanna definitely couldn't accept this money from the patient.
After crediting Angelo with the success, she quickly returned to work at Grace General Hospital.
She'd taken too many days off recently. The hospital had admitted many new patients—some from car accidents, others transferred from elsewhere.
Joanna stayed busy for several days until she saw a photo from Cynthia, which reminded her of that night.
What Cynthia sent was a pregnancy test report, more convincing than the pregnancy test stick Joanna had bought.
The report showed Cynthia was one month pregnant. Calculating from the timeline, it should have been around when she stole the design drafts.
Joanna closed her eyes. Her hands trembled, but she still quickly saved the photo.
[I'm pregnant, and Chris knows. You and Chris couldn't have a baby in three years. Shouldn't you be sensible and divorce Chris soon?]