Chapter 172
Joshua called Emily, wanting to ask what she'd like for breakfast so he could bring it to her.
No one answered the phone.
Joshua drove straight to Emily's place. As he stepped out of the elevator, he vaguely heard arguing.
Getting closer, he confirmed the arguing was coming from Emily's apartment.
His heart tightened. He strode forward and pressed the doorbell.
When the arguing inside stopped, the door opened.
Joshua saw Carson and was surprised.
Looking inside, Nola was glaring at Emily with fury, while Emily's face was covered in tears.
Joshua walked in and saw the marriage certificate on the floor. Seeing Nola's hateful eyes fixed on him, he knew this was about him.
Joshua walked toward Emily and stood beside her. Seeing her red eyes as she held back tears, he faced Nola. "I'm very sorry that Emily and I got married without your consent."
"You know to be sorry?" Nola now had major issues with Joshua. "I'll say it straight - I'm not satisfied with you."
Joshua wasn't being confident about himself; he just didn't understand why their attitude toward him had changed.
"I know," Joshua said, assuming they were angry that he and Emily had just gone and gotten their marriage certificate.
Nola sneered. "I know you have money, but this isn't something money can fix. I'll be honest with you - we found someone for Emily. We came here to take her back."
Joshua glanced at Emily. Emily's tears were streaming down, her heart dead as ash.
Facing parents like these, even the strongest heart couldn't hold up.
"I'm afraid that won't work," Joshua said calmly. "Emily and I are already registered. Legally, we're husband and wife. She can't have a romantic relationship with anyone else."
"That's why I want you two to divorce." Nola got angry just thinking about it. She should have come earlier yesterday - then she could have stopped them from getting married.
Joshua said without changing expression, "I'm sorry, but I have no intention of divorcing."
"What kind of person are you? You're just a driver - what gives you the right to marry my daughter?" Nola finally couldn't hold back and said what was in her heart.
The light finally returned to Emily's eyes. Through her tears, she shouted at Nola, "What do you mean 'just a driver, what gives him the right to marry your daughter'? Do you think your daughter is so great? Him marrying your daughter - that's your daughter marrying up!"
"You..." Nola was stunned by Emily's outburst.
Emily took a deep breath. She picked up the marriage certificate from the floor, grabbed her phone, and took Joshua's hand. "Let's go."
"Emily, you..."
Emily slammed the door shut. She didn't even take the elevator, pulling Joshua toward the stairs instead.
After going down a few floors, Emily let go of Joshua's hand. Finally unable to hold back, she sat down on the steps and buried her head, crying.
The stairwell was quiet. Her crying was suppressed, but it made Joshua feel terrible.
Joshua walked to her side and raised his hand. After hesitating, he gently placed it on top of her head, stroking softly.
Emily looked up and hugged his waist, pressing against him as she sobbed.
Her tears soaked through Joshua's shirt, burning his body and piercing his heart.
The things her parents said - they'd probably said them to her before.
Whatever her reasons were for marrying him, right now she was crying so sadly, and he bore some responsibility for that.
Joshua quietly stayed with her. After a long while, the crying stopped, but her shoulders still shook - her emotions not yet settled.
"I'm sorry." Emily lifted her head, wiping her eyes. Her voice was hoarse. Seeing his waist area soaked through, she felt apologetic.
Joshua looked down at the tears on her face. "Want to cry more?"
Emily sniffled. "No."
"Hungry?"
"A little."
"Let me take you to breakfast." Joshua extended his hand to her.
Emily gave him the marriage certificate, now sticky with sweat from being clutched. "Keep this with you for now."
Joshua took it and put it straight in his pocket.
Emily stood up, and Joshua gave her a hand.
"Thank you."
"No need to be so polite."
Joshua let go of her hand, pushed open the safety door next to them, and they entered the elevator from there to go downstairs.
After breakfast, Emily's eyes were swollen. She asked her boss for the day off - there was no way she could go to work.
Joshua saw her looking for hotels on her phone. "Come to my place."
Emily looked up at him.
"Stay at my place for now." Joshua was afraid she'd misunderstand. "I'm going on a business trip this afternoon. I won't be back for several days."
Emily thought about it and agreed.
Joshua drove home.
This was the first time Emily came to his place.
A single man's home was very simple. Aside from necessities, there was absolutely nothing extra, making the already large house seem even bigger.
"Make do with it." Joshua knew that where girls live is different from where men live. His place was too bare.
Emily nodded. "It's fine."
Joshua saw she was in slightly better shape than before, but still asked, "Need me to stay with you?"
Emily shook her head.
"Alright. Call me if you need anything." Joshua left her the space.
"Okay."
Joshua walked to the door, and Emily called out to him again.
"Don't tell Sophie about my situation." Emily didn't want her messy problems affecting her friend.
"Okay."
After Joshua left, Emily lay alone on the brown sofa. She stared at the light overhead, tears silently flowing out.
Matthew came out of his office and saw Joshua still there. He knocked and walked in. "Working overtime right after getting married?"
"Leaving soon." Joshua shut down his computer and stood up.
The two entered the elevator together.
Matthew asked him, "Getting used to being married?"
"Yeah."
"Emily's a good person. Treasure her."
"I will."
Matthew was long used to Joshua being a man of few words.
Because Joshua and Emily got married, Sophie specifically mentioned to Matthew that if someone didn't absolutely have to be sent, don't make Joshua do it.
The two got in their respective cars. Matthew left first, with Joshua behind.
Matthew called Sophie, saying he'd left the office and would be there in ten minutes.
Ten minutes later, Matthew parked in the hotel parking lot.
His dark eyes held a smile, and he walked with a spring in his step - clearly someone whose life was going well.
He arrived at the room Sophie mentioned and rang the doorbell.
No one opened the door.
He called Sophie. "Open the door."
"Already? Go back down to the hotel entrance and wait a bit. I ordered takeout - go get it and bring it up."
"Just have them deliver it up." Matthew's hand was still lightly tapping the door. "Open the door."
"No, you go get it!" Sophie insisted he go.
Matthew's hand dropped, and he turned back. "What is it?"
"You'll know when you go look." Sophie was being mysterious.
Matthew was helpless but also obedient.
Walking to the hotel entrance, he didn't see a delivery person, but he did see Joshua's car pulling in.
When the delivery person came, Matthew took the bag from them. He didn't wait for Joshua and got in the elevator first.
Joshua had a home and was newly married - even if they weren't living together, there was no reason for him to stay at a hotel.
Matthew wasn't a nosy person. Since Joshua didn't say anything, he wouldn't ask.
If he and Emily had any problems, Emily would definitely tell Sophie.
Matthew rang the doorbell again, and this time Sophie finally opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, before he could ask why she hadn't turned on the lights, a slender, fair hand grabbed his collar and pulled him inside.
The door closed, completely cutting off the light from the hallway outside.
Matthew didn't know what game she was playing, but he went along with it, his tone light and amused. "Playing around with some romance?"