Chapter 120 He Made a Mess of It
Joanna was completely speechless.
She said angrily, "You and Cynthia aren't getting married today. I think you're just deliberately looking for trouble!"
"So what if I am? You caused Cynthia's miscarriage, and you haven't even apologized once from beginning to end. Joanna, who's the one who should really be apologizing?" Chris said coldly, his expression arrogant and contemptuous.
Joanna almost laughed from anger. How could there be such a stubborn person in the world?
"You're being completely unreasonable! Anyway, we've already paid for this banquet hall. Either come up with a compensation plan, or we're not backing down! Chris, if you're really a man, come to me with whatever complaints you have. Don't take it out on my friends!"
With that, Joanna turned and left. She was so angry she didn't even want to eat.
But this was her friend's wedding. She couldn't let one annoying person ruin such a sacred and beautiful moment.
Joanna took a gulp of wine and calmed herself down before Fiona came to ask what happened.
"I heard from the manager that we don't need to give up the banquet hall anymore. Joanna, what's going on?"
Joanna said, "I ran into some unreasonable people. Don't worry about them for now. Your wedding is more important. The ceremony is about to start, and there's no way we're leaving the banquet hall at a time like this. Your happiness is what matters most."
Fiona was so moved she hugged Joanna.
"Thank you, Joanna. I'll give you a party favor later—I prepared it especially for you. Don't leave too quickly, okay?"
Joanna nodded, then watched with the other guests as Fiona ran toward her happiness.
Though the ceremony was simple, you could tell the groom and his family really loved Fiona.
As Joanna watched Fiona appear in her wedding dress, her mind drifted back to herself years ago.
She lowered her eyes and clapped hard in celebration.
When she turned her head, she saw Chris through the gap in the doorway, wearing a custom-tailored suit, his expression complicated as he looked at the specially decorated, dreamlike stage.
Joanna smiled sarcastically. She actually saw guilt in Chris's eyes.
How rare!
After the ceremony, Fiona gave her a gift—a perfume Joanna usually couldn't bring herself to buy. It was expensive.
She knew it was Fiona's heartfelt gesture and didn't refuse.
Under the gift box was a photo.
Her younger self, smiling brightly with a tennis racket, from her now somewhat blurry teenage years.
Joanna was a bit surprised. "How do you have this photo?"
Fiona's face was a bit flushed from drinking, but she spoke clearly: "You probably don't remember me, but we didn't actually meet in college. In middle school, I was overweight and really envied you back then. So I worked really, really hard to catch up. I studied medicine too, went into the same field as you. I've made peace with it now. I realized you're not as happy as I imagined. But Joanna, I don't mean to be jealous or mock you. I just hope you can find that version of yourself again and keep being happy."
Joanna really couldn't remember Fiona from middle school.
But these words warmed her heart.
She put the photo away carefully and said seriously, "You used to envy me, now it's my turn to envy you. You met such a great boyfriend and built a happy family. Fiona, you must be happy. If you ever feel down, you can always talk to me."
Fiona's eyes turned red as she hugged Joanna.
Since she still had other guests to attend to, Joanna left on her own.
She'd had some wine, so she called for a designated driver.
But before the driver arrived, she saw Chris standing by her car.
Joanna walked over calmly. "If you still want to argue, go talk to my lawyer. I did nothing wrong today, and I won't apologize to you and Cynthia. Don't think I'll thank you for giving the banquet hall back to my friend. My friend paid for it in the first place."
Chris lit a cigarette, noticed Joanna's nose wrinkle—she didn't like the smell—and put it out.
Leaning against the car, he asked, "At our wedding, were you as happy as she was?"
Joanna stayed silent, not wanting to answer.
Even if she was happy three years ago, could that make up for three years of coldness after marriage?
Chris already knew the answer.
Because no matter what Joanna felt when she married him, he had no memory of that wedding. So naturally, the Jones family members who had to watch his mood wouldn't have dared look too happy either.
"Cynthia's parents won't accept that the baby was lost accidentally. Be careful lately."
Chris's warning surprised Joanna.
She asked tentatively, "Are you telling me this because you care that they might hurt me, or because you're afraid I'll be rude to her parents and use legal means to protect myself?"
Chris didn't really see much difference between those two answers. He was surprised at himself for saying it.
In the past, he probably would have pretended not to know.
He only wanted to escape situations that might lead to conflict.
But Joanna's questioning attitude made him feel his goodwill was being rejected, which annoyed him.
"I hope you'll leave each other some dignity and not go too far! Joanna, you're really different from before. Sometimes I feel like I'm meeting you for the first time."
Joanna's expression was calm. Seeing the designated driver approaching in the distance, she waved him over.
"I've always been me. Before, I just lost myself because of my expectations for marriage. You feel uncomfortable because I was always accommodating you. Now even if you wanted to accommodate me to maintain the marriage, there's no chance. Because we're divorced. Please, Mr. Cooper, don't meet with me alone anymore. I'm afraid your wife will misunderstand."
If Cynthia deliberately created another incident to frame her, she might not be lucky enough to explain it away next time.
Joanna just wanted to stay far away from these two people.
Chris pressed his lips together, standing there watching the driver get in the car and take Joanna away.
His phone kept vibrating in his pocket. Cynthia had called several times urging him to come back.
Chris suddenly felt exhausted.
When he was with Joanna before, he had maximum freedom and never needed to accommodate anyone.
But Cynthia had a different personality from Joanna and wasn't his ideal wife either.
He'd made a mess of everything. There was no going back.