Chapter 128
Joshua has feelings for her?
Hearing this, Ella's attempt to smile seemed so pale and powerless.
He had feelings for her, yet he could watch Aurora die with his own eyes and marry another woman.
And he had said so many humiliating things to her.
Did Joshua have amnesia or something? Had he forgotten how he used to humiliate her?
Ella wanted to slap him awake, to make him remember what he had done to her back then.
But what would be the point?
Revenge wasn't about rejecting someone's advances on the spot.
It was about waiting until he naively thought she would choose to be with him, when he was happily planning their future together, and then turning around to marry someone else.
Thinking about how she still needed Joshua's support to get into the company, Ella didn't want to break things off with him.
She maintained that friendly demeanor and told Joshua, "You have feelings for me, but that doesn't mean you want to restrict my freedom and claim me as yours?"
Joshua stared at her. Perhaps sensing hope, his heart was clearly stirred, "What do you want me to do?"
Ella smiled, "Has Mr. Thomas never pursued a woman before?"
Joshua suddenly understood.
Ella wanted him to put in the effort to pursue her like normal couples do.
So she wanted that kind of romance.
What was wrong with that?
Joshua agreed without hesitation, "Okay, as long as you're willing to give me a chance, I'll start pursuing you from today."
Ella kept her head down eating, her movements elegant and composed, graceful and proper, as if becoming the Lewis family's young lady had elevated her entire demeanor.
She told Joshua softly, "My agreeing to give you a chance doesn't mean I'm agreeing to be with you. I hope you won't interfere with my freedom, and don't suppress others from getting close to me."
Ella looked up at him with a charming smile, "After all, I'm young, not bad-looking, and have a good personality. Plenty of people are pursuing me. I hope you can compete fairly with them."
Hearing this, Joshua became somewhat unhappy, "There are others pursuing you?"
Ella didn't deny it, her expression serious yet sad, "You treated me that way before, and you were the one who forced me to divorce you. I don't have much sense of security with you. If you prove better than the others, I'll naturally choose you. After all, I did love you once."
It was true that she had once loved Joshua.
But her love for him had long since disappeared completely.
Ella now only wanted to secure the CEO position and see Scarlett in prison.
Except for Zachary, any man around her would become a stepping stone on her path to success.
Joshua still felt uncomfortable.
But thinking it over, what Ella said wasn't wrong.
Ella was beautiful and young.
Now she had also become the Lewis family's young lady. It was normal for such a woman to have men coveting her.
If he truly loved her and wanted her back by his side, he naturally needed to work harder.
Joshua agreed too, "Okay, I'll do everything your way."
Ella smiled and raised her juice to toast with him, "Then here's to a pleasant relationship going forward. After we eat, if Mr. Thomas has time, could you come back to the company with me and continue teaching me about business?"
Joshua clinked glasses with her, truly feeling that Ella had suddenly become much more mature and charming.
But some of her forms of address didn't sound right to him, so he corrected her, "You should still call me by my name. Calling me Mr. Thomas seems too distant."
Ella smiled sweetly, "Okay, Joshua, here's to a pleasant cooperation."
After lunch, the two returned to the Lewis Group together.
All day, Joshua stayed in Mason's CEO office teaching Ella the business.
Ella studied seriously, unwilling to miss any detail.
Her mind was full of learning quickly so she could replace Mason.
But Joshua kept unconsciously moving closer to her, smelling her body's fragrance, and within moments his face would flush red with desire.
But thinking of what Ella had told him earlier, he forcibly suppressed the desire in his heart and taught her properly.
In the afternoon, he even personally drove Ella back to the Lewis Villa.
After Mason finished arranging the rental apartment outside, he picked up Scarlett to move in together.
It was an old building with no elevator and poor conditions.
When they walked up to the third floor, Scarlett's face already showed undisguised disgust.
She stopped and questioned Mason, "This is the new home you told me about?"
Mason didn't deny it and went forward to unlock the door with his key, "You know I gave everything to Ella. Now I have nothing. We can only live in a place like this temporarily. Don't worry, I'll work hard to make money and get you back to a good life as soon as possible."
Although Mason had lived for over thirty years, he had never suffered like this either.
But to test Scarlett's loyalty to him, he could only come to a place like this.
Scarlett stood in her high heels, wearing designer clothes, looking around in disgust, afraid to touch the dirty walls.
Seeing Mason open the door, she stood at the entrance looking in, unwilling to enter.
"Mason, are you crazy? How can we live in a place like this? Why were you stupid enough to give everything to Ella?"
She couldn't live in such a run-down place and struggle from the bottom with Mason.
Even without the Lewis family, with her looks and education, she could make money anywhere.
She'd have to be crazy to suffer like this with Mason.
Mason had already entered the apartment.
Seeing Scarlett unwilling to come in, he said patiently, "We're only living here temporarily. It won't be long. Once I get my first month's salary, we'll move out, okay?"
"Not okay. If you want to live here, live here yourself. I'm going to a hotel."
Scarlett didn't care at all about Mason's opinion. Without even entering the door, she turned to leave.
Mason hurried out to stop her, his words tinged with anger, "Scarlett, can't you compromise a little for me? I broke off with my parents to protect you. If I didn't feel bad about you being alone outside, I wouldn't have moved out either."
Scarlett couldn't endure such hardship. Mason not saying anything would have been better, but once he said it was for her, she flew into a rage and couldn't help questioning him, "You knew I hated Ella. Even if she's your sister, why did you give her everything? I think you deliberately want me to suffer with you."
"And if it wasn't for you back then, I would have already become Mrs. Thomas. If you want to live in this place, live here yourself. I'm not staying."
Scarlett stormed off angrily, shaking off his hand.
Mason felt his heart twist in pain.
Watching her back, he asked sadly, "So you wanted to marry Joshua from the beginning and never thought about being with me, right?"
Scarlett stopped in her tracks. Whether Mason was pretending to be poor to test her or not, she no longer had the heart to play along.
She turned to look at Mason and answered frankly, "That's right. I've only ever loved Joshua. I was going to give you a chance for treating me well, but you gave everything to Ella. You say you love me, but you want me to suffer like this with you."
"Mason, your love is too cheap. Rather than living this kind of life with you, I might as well work hard on my own."
Scarlett left coldly, without looking back.