Chapter 134: Remarriage
This thing is a must-go.
Ava refused.
Joshua had a dark expression, standing off with Ava in the doorway.
"Samuel." Joshua's voice was low.
Samuel rushed over to witness this bizarre scene. Could it be that Joshua and Ava were playing some kind of... kinky game?
"...Mr. Thomas."
"Take the door frame off."
Joshua wasn't joking at all. Clearly, this remarriage was happening today no matter what.
Ava said, "This is a big deal. Let's talk it through properly. We both need to think it over carefully to avoid regretting it later."
Joshua didn't hesitate, "I'll never regret it."
He'd said it before—he'd already decided she was the person he'd spend his life with.
Recently, he'd realized even more that Ava's influence on him was beyond imagination.
What was there to think about?
She was his, had to be his. No need to think.
"Don't be so sure. Let's both compromise and give each other some time. Let's try."
"Try what?"
"...Dating, I guess." Basically, couples should date and observe each other before entering the marriage hall.
Before, Ava married Joshua just because she liked him, he needed a wife, and Grandpa doted on her and arranged their marriage according to her wishes.
There was no process.
Obviously, a marriage without an emotional foundation crumbled faster than expected.
Now for Ava to marry him again—whether it was right, whether there was love, whether they could make it work—these were all factors to consider.
Ava didn't deny that Joshua's recent behavior had forcefully shaken her inner defenses.
So she wanted to give him a chance and give herself a chance too. Finn and Cleo also needed a father.
The Thomas family knew about Finn and Cleo's existence, and with the kidnapping incident, the Thomas family would never let her take the children away alone again.
Joshua frowned slightly, "Dating?"
Clearly this was a process Joshua had never considered.
He loved her, so he'd decided on her.
He wanted her, so she had to be his.
"I've already compromised."
If he still didn't agree, Ava wouldn't back down any further.
"Fine, let's date. How do you want to do it?"
Ava struggled a couple times, broke free from Joshua's embrace, lifted her chin to look at him, her tone casual, "You figure it out yourself."
Joshua stood there thinking hard. As Ava turned away, the corners of her mouth curved up into a beautiful arc.
Finn and Cleo had to go to school today. After missing so many days, it was time to go back.
As soon as Ava came downstairs, she heard cheerful laughter. Thea was sitting on the sofa chatting with Ursa, occasionally speaking gently to Finn and Cleo.
Finn would politely respond once in a while, but Cleo was completely in her own world, nestled beside Finn, ignoring everyone.
Ava frowned slightly. The moment Finn and Cleo saw Ava, they smiled, "Mommy."
"Ava." A barely noticeable shadow crossed Thea's serene, smiling face.
Ava nodded politely at her.
Although she didn't know her well, Ava didn't dislike her, but just couldn't bring herself to like her from the bottom of her heart.
Thea always smiled, but there was a knife hidden in her smile.
"Finn, Cleo, let's go. Time for school." Ava called to the two kids.
Seeing this, Thea stood up to stop them, "Ava, Cleo is still in psychological treatment. I've made a new treatment plan for Cleo. It's better if Cleo doesn't go to school for now."
Cleo understood what Thea said and immediately scrunched up her little face in protest, raising her hands to signal Ava to pick her up.
Ava doted on Cleo and picked her up. Cleo hugged Ava's neck tightly, burying her little head in the crook of Ava's neck.
Seeing Cleo so resistant, how could Ava bear to hand Cleo back to Thea?
Seeing this, Thea's expression stiffened, looking somewhat awkward.
"Cleo, let's have Thea take a look, okay? Thea is a very good doctor who can cure Cleo's condition." Ursa was worried seeing Cleo resist treatment.
But when Cleo refused, she refused. She wouldn't even lift her face out, resisting very firmly.
"Mommy, if Cleo doesn't want to see the doctor, can we not do it?" Finn didn't want to see anyone force Cleo to do anything.
Ava felt conflicted—on one hand hoping Cleo would get better soon, on the other not wanting to force Cleo.
"If Cleo doesn't want to, then forget it." Joshua's voice came from behind Ava.
"Joshua, but..." Thea frowned.
Ursa also felt they shouldn't avoid treatment.
Cleo was the family's treasure, and it was fine for everyone to dote on her, but they couldn't just go along with everything the child wanted and always follow the child's emotions.
"Ms. Ellis, I'm sorry, but since Cleo doesn't want treatment right now, let's rest for a while."
Joshua and Ava clearly didn't want to force Cleo, and their attitude was already clear.
Thea sighed somewhat sadly, lowering her head, looking a bit helpless, "Joshua, Ava, since you insist, then let's rest for a while."
Thea had originally wanted to handle Cleo first, but didn't expect Cleo to be so stubborn. For now, Thea could only find another way.
"Joshua, Grandpa is throwing me a welcome home party tonight. Bring Ava and Finn and Cleo. A lively environment will be good for Cleo's condition too."
Joshua didn't answer immediately, instead turning his head to look at Ava.
Clearly asking for Ava's opinion.
Ava blinked. Someone asks you, and you look at me? When someone says that, wouldn't it be rude not to go?
She had no objection and nodded.
Only then did Joshua nod, "Okay."
"Weren't we going to school? Let's go, or we'll be late."
Joshua, as usual, took the child from Ava's arms into his own.
Ava's gentle embrace suddenly empty, the child being carried by Joshua kicked her little feet stubbornly a couple times, then was held by her bottom and pressed into Joshua's arms.
Although Joshua's embrace had more security, it wasn't as soft as Ava's. Cleo angrily kept a straight face glaring at Joshua, her body leaning toward Ava.
Joshua said, "Your mommy can't carry you."
This meant she was heavy!
"Can you bear to make her work so hard?"
Of course not. She couldn't tire anyone, especially not Ava. Well then, she'd reluctantly let Joshua carry her for a bit.
Ava held Finn's hand, and the four of them walked out. "Joshua, don't pick Cleo up like that next time. Can't you hold her with both hands?"
"I'll listen to you."
"Cleo is a girl. Be gentler with her."
"Okay."
Watching the figures gradually walk away—the man holding his daughter, going along with the woman beside him, showing his extreme favoritism toward the woman everywhere, the woman holding her son's hand, all four laughing and talking, as if no one could insert themselves between them, warm and pleasant beyond words.
Thea clenched her teeth, her expression almost breaking.
She had originally thought Joshua's kindness to Ava was just because of the children, but everything yesterday and today told her it wasn't.
She had never seen Joshua so accommodating to anyone, with such extreme favoritism and indulgence even in his eyes.
She knew all about Mia and Ava's situation. She'd been paying attention from abroad. Two women fighting over a man—she hadn't taken either of them seriously at all.
Who was Joshua? The most distinguished man in Silverlight City. How could he possibly be interested in these two women who couldn't even make it on stage?
She watched coldly, letting them fight all they wanted, preferably until they were both miserable and destroyed.
But she was wrong. After these few days of observation, she realized that Mia was useless. That wasn't even a fight with Ava—it was Ava unilaterally crushing her.
And Ava was the successful one. Gone for five years, yet able to win back the trust of everyone in the Thomas family in such a short time. Ava was not to be underestimated no matter what.
Thea gripped her hands tightly.