Chapter 33
Little did Joshua know that everything he did would get back to the Thomas Manor.
Someone as sharp as Aiden, how could he not know about Ella having two children outside?
Realizing it was his own fault, Joshua didn't argue back and knelt there, letting Aiden punish him.
Aiden was furious at his failure to meet expectations, and struck Joshua hard with his cane again.
"Look at you. Ella is so good to you. She married you at such a young age. What more could you want? Not only were you unfaithful during marriage, but you also bullied Ella like this."
"If I don't beat you to death today, who knows how you'll bully Ella in the future."
Aiden stood up. Despite being seriously ill and extremely weak, he forced himself to stand firm, determined to teach Joshua a lesson for Ella's sake.
Seeing that Aiden could barely stand, Ella quickly got up to support him.
She also hurried to stop the cane from striking Joshua again.
Ella pleaded, "Grandpa, please stop. If you really care about me, why don't you let him divorce me?"
She knew it wasn't the best time to bring this up.
But divorce would be good for both her and Joshua.
Aiden really couldn't stand any longer. His legs trembling, he fell back onto the sofa, looking at Ella with heartache.
"Ella, don't be afraid. Grandpa's got your back. You don't need to pity him."
Then he looked at Jasper beside him and ordered, "This is your son. You deal with him yourself. Right in front of me, beat him until he admits his mistake."
Jasper was in a difficult position and quickly signaled to Joshua.
"Hurry up and apologize to your grandfather and to Ella."
Joshua had never liked Ella.
If it weren't for fulfilling Aiden's wish, he wouldn't have married Ella.
Knowing Joshua had been wronged, but not daring to disobey Aiden's words, they could only ask Joshua to endure it a bit longer.
Joshua never expected that Ella would actually dare to bring up divorce in front of Aiden.
Seeing that Aiden didn't take her divorce request seriously, he had no choice but to admit his mistake.
"Grandpa, please don't be angry. I won't do this again."
Aiden glared at him disappointedly. "Shouldn't you apologize to Ella?"
Joshua had to turn his gaze to Ella.
Although he felt humiliated, for the sake of family harmony, he had to compromise.
"Ella, I'm sorry. Give me one more chance. I promise I won't make the same mistake again."
Ella remembered how proud, domineering, and overbearing Joshua had been in front of her before.
Now watching him kneel before her, admitting his mistake and apologizing, she felt a bit gleeful inside.
If she didn't take this chance to get back at him, would there ever be another opportunity?
Ella looked away and said sweetly to Aiden. "Grandpa, I still want to divorce him."
This was a test.
To see how Aiden would react.
If he really didn't want it, she would endure a bit longer.
If Aiden was willing, she could escape from Joshua soon.
But Aiden still didn't take it seriously and struck Joshua's leg with his cane again.
"Did you hear that? Ella's still not satisfied."
Joshua endured the pain, glaring coldly at Ella.
Finally, he had to suppress his anger and say gently, "Ella, I really know I was wrong. Give me one more chance. I promise to stay far away from Scarlett from now on, and I promise to have eyes only for you."
"Please forgive me, okay? Don't be angry anymore."
Ella knew that all good things come in threes.
If she brought up divorce one more time, Aiden would definitely punish Joshua even more severely.
Then if Joshua couldn't take it anymore and revealed the truth about her children and that he couldn't do without Scarlett, Aiden would definitely be devastated.
The Joshua she knew - being able to endure this much was already quite something.
But she couldn't forgive him so easily either!
After thinking, Ella said, "Then promise in front of Grandpa that if you ever bully me again, you'll kneel outside for three days and nights."
Joshua glared at her, as if saying: Ella, don't push your luck.
But Ella refused to acknowledge his threat, holding onto Aiden's arm with a somewhat triumphant look on her face.
Aiden took over, "What kind of punishment is that? How about this - if Joshua goes looking for that Scarlett again in the future, I'll agree to your divorce, but he must leave with nothing."
Everyone was shocked by these words.
Jasper and Ava opened their mouths to say something, but Aiden waved them off.
"You two don't need to speak up for him. If a man in the Thomas family can't even maintain his own marriage, he doesn't deserve to inherit the business I built."
Then Aiden said to the butler behind him, "Have the lawyer draft an agreement later for them to sign."
"Grandpa, isn't this too biased?"
Joshua finally couldn't help but object. "If I leave with nothing, will you let her inherit everything? She doesn't know anything. She doesn't have that ability."
Aiden could actually be biased to this extent.
He had really underestimated Ella's position in this family.
"Even if Ella doesn't understand and squanders all of the Thomas family's wealth, I'd be happy with that."
Aiden steadied his breathing, trying to stay calm.
"You should know that if it weren't for Ella's grandfather back then, I would have died long ago. I wouldn't have had the chance to come back and build what the Thomas family has today."
"You ungrateful thing, if you dare bully Ella again, you won't get a penny from the Thomas family."
Joshua suddenly felt that Aiden's words made sense.
He glanced at Ella beside him.
Seeing her still reluctant expression, no matter how angry he was, Joshua had to compromise.
"Fine, I promise to live well with her from now on, absolutely won't bully her again, and won't go looking for Scarlett."
Ella was stunned, not knowing what to say.
Aiden's kindness to her really made her feel extremely ashamed.
Thinking about how she had already given birth to two children but had to keep hiding it, she felt so terrible.
At this moment, she really wanted to come clean to the elders.
Just as Ella opened her mouth to speak, Joshua seemed to guess what she was about to say and immediately stood up to pull her over.
"Ella, hurry up and say you forgive me."
Joshua threatened her with his eyes not to say too much, or she'd face the consequences.
Only then did Ella come to her senses and had to swallow her words.
She couldn't take the risk, or it would upset Aiden.
Then she had to cooperate with Joshua and nodded in agreement, "Okay, I forgive you."
To reassure Aiden, Joshua forced himself to hold Ella in his arms and kissed her.
Seeing that under his threats and promises, he had finally reconciled the two of them, Aiden was quite pleased.
"Since Ella has forgiven you, you two can go home now. Remember to try for a baby and have a child soon."
Joshua looked at Aiden, almost in tears. "Didn't you tell us to come back for dinner? You're sending us away without even eating?"
Aiden couldn't hold on much longer and didn't want the younger generation to worry, so he scolded, "Would you have come back if I hadn't said that? Hurry up and leave. Go eat at your own home."
Joshua had no choice but to take Ella's hand and leave the Thomas Manor looking dejected.
When they got in the car, he asked Ella, "Are you happy now?"