Chapter 18
Early the Next Morning.
Knowing Joshua didn't want to see her, Ella didn't appear in front of him.
She went to the garage by herself, picked out a car, and drove to the suburban estate where the children lived.
She had to see the children every day, otherwise she'd worry about them, and they'd worry about her too.
But this time when she arrived, she was stopped by the guard at the gate.
No matter what Ella said, they wouldn't let her in.
Left with no choice, she pulled out her phone to call Brian, hoping he could help her out.
But on the other end of the line, Brian said, "Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas says you can only see the children once a week."
"Look, at this hour you're not at the company yet, and you haven't done your job properly. If you're not doing your duty, you can't see your children."
Ella stood at the estate entrance.
Her children were just dozens of feet away.
But she couldn't even catch a glimpse of them.
Ella softened her tone and begged Brian, "Since I'm already here, can you let them let me in? I'll go to the company right after I see my children, okay?"
Brian still refused, "These are Mr. Thomas's orders. You'd better get to work quickly, or if Mr. Thomas gets angry, you might not see those two children for another month."
Brian hung up, not daring to say more.
Ella was furious.
That damn Joshua.
How could he be so heartless?
What right did he have to separate her from her children?
What gave him the authority to stop her from seeing her own kids?
Angry, Ella put away her phone and drove to the company.
When she arrived, ready to storm into the office to confront Joshua, Brian stopped her.
Using a voice only the two of them could hear, he leaned down and whispered in Ella's ear. "Mrs. Thomas, actually Mr. Thomas is quite reasonable. If you soften up, admit your mistake, and apologize to him, maybe he'll let you see the children."
Ella hesitated.
Actually, from Joshua's attitude toward her children, she could tell that Joshua wasn't as heartless as he claimed to be.
Maybe softening up really could earn his forgiveness?
Ella agreed and first went to the break room to make Joshua a cup of coffee.
Then she pushed open the office door.
Seeing Joshua sitting in front of his computer, focused on work, Ella set down the coffee and stood beside him holding the tablet Brian had given her.
She began reporting today's schedule.
"There's a meeting at ten, and a dinner at six this evening."
Today's schedule was quite light.
After Ella finished speaking, she saw Joshua still bent over his documents, not responding at all.
Remembering Brian's reminder, she gathered her courage and spoke, "Honey, I'm sorry. I apologize for hiding from you that I have two children. Can you forgive me this once?"
After speaking, Ella lowered her head, her nerves completely on edge.
This was also the first time she'd called him honey.
Ella knew that this kind of pleasing might not work.
No man could possibly accept that his wife had two children.
But to see her children, she had to try every method.
"What did you call me?"
Joshua stopped what he was doing and looked up at Ella.
His tone was as cold as winter. "Do you deserve to? Don't you feel disgusted saying it?"
Last night she'd said she found him disgusting.
Now why was she trying to please him?
Whatever the reason, he would never forgive her.
Ella felt extremely embarrassed.
Meeting Joshua's gaze, she stopped pretending and demanded, "What right do you have to only let me see my children once a week? Joshua, if you can't accept that I have two children, then let's get divorced."
He wouldn't divorce her, yet he restricted her from seeing her children.
What exactly did Joshua want to do?
Was he trying to get revenge on her?
Whatever his purpose was, she would fight him to the end.
"I will divorce you."
Joshua couldn't be bothered to look at her, his face dark as he said, "I told you, when you finish paying back what you owe, that's when I'll divorce you."
"But you can't stop me from being with my children."
She would work hard to earn money and pay him back. What right did Joshua have to stop her from seeing her children?
Sometimes she really couldn't understand—this Joshua clearly wasn't that heartless, so why did his words cut like blades, stabbing straight into people's hearts?
"Get out."
Joshua really didn't want to argue with Ella.
It was always endless.
First thing in the morning and she was already ruining his mood.
Ella stood firm, stubbornly saying, "You can't stop me from seeing my children. They're still so young, they can't be without their mother."
Not seeing them this morning, Ella was worried sick.
She was really afraid the children weren't eating or sleeping well.
Joshua had lost his patience. He lowered his head, seemingly calm, but his words were shockingly threatening.
"If you don't get out now, you won't see them for a month."
Ella gritted her teeth.
She really wanted to pick up the coffee cup and smash it on his head.
But for the sake of her children, she had to swallow her dissatisfaction and leave first.
For the afternoon dinner, Brian was busy with other matters.
Ella drove Joshua to the destination.
She thought she was just a driver.
But Joshua still called her to the dinner table.
In the spacious, luxurious private room, various business tycoons had gathered.
Ella looked around—a dinner party of over a dozen people.
The tycoons were in suits, composed and proper.
They were just all older, looking to be in their fifties or sixties, with only Joshua being the youngest.
And each man had brought a secretary, all young and attractive.
She didn't know if in these tycoon circles, secretaries were shared around.
As soon as the old men sat down, they started ordering the secretaries beside them to please other men.
Ella sat next to Joshua, really disliking this atmosphere.
She looked at Joshua, about to speak and find an excuse to leave.
A man in his fifties came over with a wine glass, smiling obsequiously at Joshua.
"Thank you, Mr. Thomas, for agreeing to attend this dinner. I see our secretaries don't compare to the one beside you, so I won't embarrass myself. Mr. Thomas, I toast to you."
Joshua, in his expensive suit, casually leaning back in his chair, gave off an incredibly noble and elegant feeling.
He didn't give the flattering man a pleasant look, his handsome face dark.
"I haven't been feeling well lately and shouldn't drink. Let my secretary keep you company."
Hearing this, though the man's expression changed slightly.
He didn't dare say much, immediately raising his glass to Ella with a smile. "Young lady, then we'll have to trouble you."
Even though Ella was a mother of two and 24 years old.
Because she had a round, delicate face and wasn't dressed in professional secretary attire, she looked like a fresh, pretty college student.
Men in their fifties and sixties naturally called her "young lady."
Ella looked at Joshua with difficulty. "I can't drink."
And she was afraid of alcohol too.
Four years ago, it was because of one drink that she was...
Ella didn't dare think about what happened four years ago.
But Joshua was pushing her into the fire pit, getting up and saying, "Do as you please. If you need anything, you can find my secretary. I'm going to the restroom."
He strode out of the private room.
Leaving Ella alone, surrounded by over a dozen old men, with no escape.