Chapter 214

Later that afternoon, Joshua arrived at the Lewis Group on time to pick up Ella.

Samuel told him that he'd found a really skilled Sable, requesting he take Ella home so Sable could take a look at her.

He slid the door open and stepped into Ella's office, noting she was still busy with work.

Joshua walked over to where she sat, speaking softly, " Still glued to work, huh?? I could help, if you let me."

Ella looked up, meeting his eyes.

She could still remember how he'd left silently this morning without even saying goodbye.

Annoyed, she gestured, "Kneel down!"

Joshua thought he'd heard wrong. In his neat suit, standing tall with his long legs, he remained motionless.

"Give the work to Mason. Can we go home first?" he suggested.

"I said kneel down!" Ella glared at him, reminding him one more time in a serious tone.

This time Joshua heard clearly.

Ella was telling him to kneel.

Why would she make him kneel?

At home, he could tolerate whatever she did—for the child's sake, he could endure it all.

But this was the office.

The secretary, assistant, or Mason could walk through that door at any moment.

What would it look like if people saw him, the CEO of a major company, kneeling on the floor?

Was she about to make him look like a man with no dignity?

"If you can't even realize what you did wrong, then forget it. I'll buy a plane ticket immediately and leave first thing tomorrow morning. If you dare try to stop me again, I'll..."

That instant Joshua dropped to his with a thud. Looking up at Ella, his eyes reflected the hurt and gloom he felt within.

"I'm sorry. Aurora and Dorian had exams this morning. You were sleeping so soundly that I couldn't wake you. I know I was wrong."

In his expensive black suit, kneeling there with his head lowered, his natural nobility made him look both restrained and tempting.

It made her want to torment him.

Ella didn't know why she had the urge to torture him.

It seemed as though she could only feel satisfied by abusing him.

She lifted a foot toward him. "I went out to inspect work at noon, and stressed my legs in the process. My feet hurt. Massage them for me."

Joshua didn't dare refuse. He took her ankle, gently removed her shoes and socks, then he started to give her feet a soothing massage.

Ella leaned deeper in her office chair, enjoying the sight of the man kneeling before her massaging her feet.

Her posture was elegant, like a noble queen.

Just then, Mason pushed the door open.

Seeing the scene before him, he was stunned, unable to believe his eyes.

Realizing he shouldn't be there at that moment, he turned to leave.

But Ella called out to him, "What brought you here?"

Mason stopped but didn't turn around. "I have a project here that requires your signature." he said.

Ella pulled back her foot, sitting upright at her desk. "Bring it over."

Mason had no choice but to turn back now.

He glanced briefly at Joshua kneeling on the floor, feeling his heart break out in cold sweat.

He even felt some sympathy for him.

Joshua had once been such a proud man. Still, many in the business world couldn't stand to compete with him

Yet here he was, kneeling on the floor massaging Ella's feet?

He looked nothing like a proper man.

Mason sighed with relief, glad that Vida didn't punish him like this.

Still kneeling, Joshua felt embarrassed, he was about to push himself up when Ella glared at him. "Did I tell you to get up?"

Joshua, slowly recurled, maintaining his former position. He lowered his head, too ashamed to face anyone.

At least it was only Mason.

It didn't matter if he lost face in front of Mason.

He was just afraid word would get out, and then make him lose his reputation.

Seeing he was kneeling obediently again, Ella took the project proposal Mason handed her. After reviewing it, she looked up at Mason and scolded, "How long have you been working on this project? Is this all the progress you've made? What do you do all day?"

Mason, who had just been sympathizing with Joshua, immediately snapped back to attention to explain, "This is the fastest progress. Besides, we need to ensure everything is covered properly. We can't just cut corners and rush..."

"Still making excuses!" Ella blurted, glaring at him. "If you can't do it, then I'll find someone to replace you. Why so many excuses?"

Mason was unhappy, but seeing Joshua still kneeling beside him, he remained mute, letting Ella scold him.

As long as she didn't make him kneel.

"You men are all useless. Just go!" After signing, Ella tossed the project proposal to Mason, her expression showing disgust.

Mason picked up the project proposal and patted Joshua's shoulder briefly before leaving.

Worried that people outside might see Joshua in that embarrassing position, he made sure to shut the door completely behind him.

In the office, Ella maintained her superior attitude. She looked him down. "Do you feel humiliated?"

No matter how uncomfortable Joshua felt, he wouldn't dare defy Ella.

He stared at her, feigning a smile, "What's there to be humiliated about? Whatever you do is right. I was wrong in the first place."

"Good thing you are aware. Keep kneeliing then! After an hour, I could decide to go home with you."

Ella resumed her work and ordered, "Come over here and massage my feet."

Joshua wasn't angry, annoyed, or resentful.

She was carrying his baby, and that's already hard enough.

Besides, during the three years he was in a coma, Ella had tirelessly massaged him.

What did it matter if he suffered a little now?

He walked forward with his knees and continued massaging her feet.

The position made his tight suit pants cling to his skin, revealing contours that were both sexy and tempting.

Ella looked down at him from time to time.

His fingertips grazed the skin on her feet, gently pressing and kneading, making waves of warmth spread through her, leaving her whole body tingling.

The person in her mind was clearly Michael.

She was also firmly convinced she would go find Michael, yet her body couldn't help but lean toward Joshua each time.

She didn't understand what was wrong with her. It felt like two completely different personalities were tearing at each other.

Unable to focus on work, Ella reminded him, "Put them back on. Let's go home."

Joshua granted her wish, helping Ella put her shoes and socks back on before standing up like an attendant, respectfully escorting the queen out.

On the way home, the driver was at the wheel.

In the luxury car, a partition separated the front and back, giving the passengers in the rear more privacy.

Ella proactively lay down on Joshua's lap, closing her eyes and demanding, "My head hurts. Massage it."

Joshua could only comply.

His hands gently stroked Ella's head, his thumbs lightly pressing her temples.

Fortunately, after learning Ella was pregnant, he'd studied online how to care for pregnant women.

Sometimes pregnant women experience swelling, drowsiness, dizziness, and mood swings.

All of these could be eased with the husband's help.

Now, watching Ella lying on his lap, his movements were gentle and careful, not wanting to disturb her rest while helping relieve her headache.

His movements were gentle and focused, hoping to ease her discomfort.

Suddenly, she snapped her eyes open, peering at him.

"Joshua, don't you care that I have someone else in my heart?"

He met her gaze, his heart sour with jealousy, but he answered without evasion, "I care."

"Then why are you still stuck with me?"

"I love you."

Ella beamed, staring intently at his handsome, spirited face, a cunning flash in her eyes.

"You love me? Will you really do whatever I ask?"

Joshua nodded in agreement.

"Then kiss me now."

He looked around—they were still in the car.

He didn't know what was going on with Ella these past few days, why her desire was so strong.

The baby in her belly wasn't even three months gone yet. One wrong move could be very dangerous.

He was somewhat reluctant.

Seeing his hesitation, Ella's face instantly darkened. She sat up, grabbed her phone, and dialled Michael.

Michael answered, and Ella deliberately said, "Michael, I miss you."

However, hearing this, Joshua couldn't hold back any longer. He snatched the phone from her, pulled her close, and kissed her intensely.

Only then did Ella relax.

The phone still tossed aside, reverberated with Michael's voice.

But without the speakerphone on, neither could hear what he was saying.

Michael, however, could only hear the heavy breathing of the duo rising and falling.

The driver on the wheel didn't dare make a sound, he continued the journey steadily and slowly.

That day, Aurora and Dorian had exams and had finished early, so the butler had picked them up first.

Joshua and Ella had no need to visit the school.

When they arrived home, Ella's face was flushed, her lipstick slightly smudged from kissing.

Joshua helped her wipe it clean before getting out of the car.

Then he opened the back door and offered his hand to Ella.

As she stepped out of the car, she was slightly panting, still caught in the moment. She pulled away from Joshua's hold and walked ahead.

Joshua caught up with her, reminding her, "A doctor came over when you weren't around. Can you cooperate and let him examine you later?"

Ella glanced at him. "I'm fine. Why see a doctor?"

"Just consider it a favor to me. Please cooperate, and afterward I'll do whatever you want."

If Ella really had been hypnotized...

Then with Sable there, it should be fixable.

Once it was fixed, Ella would return to normal.

If she was normal, wouldn't she stop wanting to find Michael?

To get Ella to cooperate, Joshua reached out to hold her hand, his tone soft and pleading. "Do that, okay? It'll only take a few minutes."

Thinking of Joshua's good performance earlier, Ella agreed.

When they got into the house, she indeed saw someone sitting on the living room sofa.

It was a woman who looked extremely mature and charming, probably in her thirties.

She didn't pay much attention and walked the stairs to take a shower, and also get a change of clothes.

Joshua, however, walked toward the living room to discuss some matters with Sable Thompson first.

Afterward, he brought her upstairs to the reception room, asking Ella one more time to cooperate with the treatment.

Ella had no idea they were checking for hypnosis.

Whatever they asked her to do, she did.

She sat properly in the chair, staring at the metal ball in Sable's hand for a while, and soon she fell asleep.

While she was asleep, Joshua asked, "What's the situation? Is there any sign she's been hypnotized?"

Sable glanced at Joshua. Her conclusion was: "She has been hypnotized, but the effect isn't significant. Her consciousness is clear. No need to break it—just some psychological intervention will do."

Joshua didn't quite understand. "So are you trying to say that the hypnosis is not the reason for her strange behaviour?"

Sable asked him, "Can you tell me what exactly she's been doing?"

Joshua studied Ella, who had already fallen into a deep sleep. Thinking of her behavior recently, he found it really hard to talk about.

But to make Ella wake up and return to normal, he had no choice but to tell Sable the truth.