Chapter 14
Looking at Joshua's face leaning closer, Scarlett deliberately moved in to kiss him.
This scene happened to be caught by Ella, who looked up at that moment.
She really didn't expect they could go this far right in front of her.
Even though she knew she had no right to care, hiding the children from Joshua was her fault.
But Joshua, while still not divorced, was acting like this with someone else - where did that leave her dignity as his wife?
Ella couldn't bear to watch her husband being intimate with another woman right before her eyes.
Her heart ached terribly. She stood up and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The sound rattled Joshua, making him irritable. He abruptly pushed away Scarlett beside him.
Scarlett looked confused, yet coyly wrapped her arms around his, acting cute.
"What's wrong, Joshua?"
Joshua was honest. "I'm married to Ella."
But this marriage - he would divorce her sooner or later.
"What did you say?"
Scarlett was shocked, unwilling to believe what she'd heard.
"Are you joking? You don't even like her. How could you marry her?"
Joshua explained, "My family forced me, but I will divorce her. If you're willing to wait, then wait."
He knew very well that four years ago, drunk, on a dark and lonely night, he had taken Scarlett's innocence.
It's just that four years ago, after he brought Scarlett to Aiden to break off the engagement, Ella made a fuss about going abroad.
Aiden was furious and refused to let him be with Scarlett no matter what.
Later, Scarlett also went abroad.
Joshua thought she wouldn't come back.
So under pressure from the seriously ill Aiden, he took the initiative to ask Ella to come back and marry him.
They'd only been married a year when Scarlett came back.
Coming back was one thing, but she also wanted him to celebrate her birthday.
Thinking of the harm he'd caused Scarlett back then, Joshua threw her a grand birthday party.
Consider it compensation for her.
But now, he was very clear that he wanted to divorce Ella.
If Scarlett was willing, after the divorce he would fulfill his promise from years ago and marry her.
Scarlett still couldn't quite accept it and covered her face, crying.
"Your family forced you to marry Ella and you did it, so how would they agree to let you divorce her and marry me?"
Damn it, she'd still come back too late.
But all these years she was abroad, her brother Mason Lewis told her every day that Joshua had no women around him.
Why did he suddenly marry Ella?
She worked so hard abroad to improve herself, wasn't it all to be worthy of Joshua?
And he actually married Ella.
Scarlett was unwilling to accept it.
Joshua's handsome face darkened. Feeling really irritated inside, he had no patience to comfort anyone.
He sat there, still maintaining his noble posture. "I married Ella because of my grandfather's wishes. My grandfather is seriously ill and won't last much longer."
"A few months at most. After he dies, I'll divorce Ella immediately."
Hearing she only had to wait a few months, Scarlett felt it wasn't too long after all.
Besides, she was better than Ella in every way. Joshua would definitely keep his word.
Wiping away her tears, Scarlett pretended to be wronged and nestled into his arms.
"I'm willing to wait for you, but don't let me down, okay?"
Joshua still felt uncomfortable and pushed her away.
But he agreed to what she asked.
Ella hid alone in the bathroom, tears falling uncontrollably.
She wanted to hold back her emotions, not to shed a single tear for such a heartless man.
But she couldn't control herself.
Her heart felt like thousands of ants were crawling on it, tearing at it. That heart-wrenching feeling made Ella wish she were dead.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
Outside the bathroom door, someone called out, "Secretary Garcia, Mr. Thomas is calling for you."
Ella had no choice but to pull herself together. For the sake of her children, she washed her face and returned to Joshua's office.
But Scarlett was no longer in the office.
Instead, there was Joshua in his suit, sitting nobly and steadily at his desk, focused on work.
Ella walked over, her eyes still red.
Her voice was somewhat choked up. "Joshua, can we get divorced first?"
After the divorce, whoever he wanted to be with was his business - she definitely wouldn't care.
But being lovey-dovey with someone else while still married - as a wife, Ella simply couldn't accept it.
Joshua looked up at her.
Seeing her obviously tear-stained appearance, even her eyelashes still somewhat moist.
Joshua's chest tightened inexplicably, yet he kept his handsome face stern, his voice like ice, "What right do you have to ask me for a divorce?"
Ella's heart felt pierced by needles. She lowered her head, trying hard to control her emotions and not cry.
"I did hide from you that I have two children, but after getting our marriage certificate, I never did anything to wrong you."
"And this past year, I've been sincere with you. If you're going to be with Scarlett without getting divorced, I won't accept it."
Joshua might never understand what it felt like to watch the person you love be with someone else.
Anyway, she couldn't face it.
Either divorce, or let her go.
She would never allow her husband to mess around with another woman right in front of her.
Joshua looked at Ella with eyes cold as ice.
Violent emotions surged inexplicably.
"If you'd really been sincere with me this past year, you wouldn't have kept hiding your past from me."
"You could give birth to someone else's children and feel perfectly fine being my wife, so why can't I cross the line in this marriage and be with the person I like?"
Ella met Joshua's gaze, her small face flushed with anger.
"You said yourself that was my past, but what you're doing now is cheating - that's a moral issue."
Joshua laughed, avoiding her gaze, his handsome face appearing so calm and indifferent.
Yet deep inside, turbulent waves were rising.
"What's the difference between deception in marriage and cheating? Stop accusing me. I will divorce you, but not now."
"If we're not divorcing, then you're not allowed to be with Scarlett."
Ella was both ashamed and angry.
Having not slept all night, her delicate, refined face was full of exhaustion.
Joshua didn't take her seriously and ordered her around like a servant again.
"Clean yourself up and get out of my sight. Stop being an eyesore."
Ella glared hatefully at Joshua, then sensibly went to finish cleaning up the trash she hadn't finished earlier.
In the afternoon, seeing there were no more appointments for the day, Joshua was about to leave work.
She quickly ran up to him to remind him, "I need to see my children."
Joshua acted as if he hadn't heard, walking past her out of the office.
Ella hurried after him.
Seeing colleagues outside who would stop and nod in greeting when they saw Joshua.
Ella didn't dare mention the children again, just silently followed behind Joshua.
Seeing him enter the elevator, no one else dared to go in.
But she rushed in with her head down, then pressed the close button.
The next second, Joshua's cold voice sounded above her head.
"Who said you could come in? Get out."
This was the CEO's private elevator.
No one below the level of executive assistant could use it.
Ella ignored him, looking up at Joshua with wide, angry eyes. "If you won't let me see my children, I'll just keep following you."