Chapter 176: Making Up for Regrets

After breakfast, Joanna planned to go to the hospital to stay with her mother.

As soon as she reached the entrance, she saw her mother looking terrified, tears streaming down her face.

Joanna froze for a moment and quickly walked over. "What happened?"

Dr. Bruce and a nurse also rushed over anxiously, with sweat still on his face.

"Ms. Jones, I'm afraid the nursing home isn't very safe either. When the nurse checked the ward this morning, she found someone secretly drawing your mother's blood. That person wasn't one of our nursing home staff."

Those criminal forces had already infiltrated to this extent?!

Joanna felt scared inside but forced herself to stay calm and not faint from fear.

"This isn't your fault. We don't know what kind of people are watching my mother. But this probably won't be the first time something like this happens - there will be more trouble ahead."

Dr. Bruce understood this too.

But the nursing home's security was already at its best. If even this place wasn't safe, then having Sandra recover at home would only be more dangerous.

Angelo frowned and suddenly suggested, "Joanna, maybe we should get engaged first."

Joanna's mind was in chaos with no time to think things through. Hearing this, she thought Angelo had gone crazy.

"Angelo, since I agreed to your proposal, I definitely won't run away. But now isn't the time to talk about this. My mother's situation is more important."

Angelo knew Joanna had misunderstood and quickly explained, "Joanna, that's not what I meant. Many people are after Aunt Sandra. We don't know their identities, but if both Aunt Sandra and you are under Smith Group's protection, then out of respect for the Smith family, they'll think twice about making a move."

Smith Group could at least keep those people in Austin City in check.

As for those ruthless criminal forces, Angelo would have to find other solutions.

Joanna's mind was in turmoil. She nodded, agreeing to Angelo's suggestion.

"I'm sorry, Angelo. I misunderstood you."

Angelo shook his head and gently comforted her. "It's okay, you're just too panicked. Leave it to me, Joanna. Don't be afraid, I'll be with you."

He pressed Joanna's head against his chest, gently stroking her hair.

"This is indeed a good idea. Let those people watching Ms. Jones know that they're Mr. Smith's family - maybe they'll back off a bit." Dr. Bruce also agreed with this plan.

He didn't disturb the family's reunion time too much and soon left with the nurse to arrange security work.

Angelo also quickly called home to explain about announcing the engagement.

The engagement party was both grand and quick.

Angelo felt guilty the whole time and spent an entire week making sure every detail he could think of was perfect.

The engagement party was set up at the estate.

Joanna had been staying at the nursing home with her mother and hadn't paid attention to these details.

Angelo truly didn't need her to worry - he handled everything.

Since Sandra couldn't leave the nursing home yet, she wouldn't be attending the engagement party.

The day before the engagement, Joanna came to the nursing home in her dress to visit her mother.

"Mom, I've thought about it over and over, and I feel like my engagement party can't be without you. So today is an engagement ceremony just for you to witness."

Sandra's eyes filled with tears as she watched her daughter pin up her hair and place her hand in Angelo's palm.

Her daughter was smiling, but her eyes showed guilt about Sandra not being able to attend in person.

Sandra's hand trembled as she reached out through the air, tracing the image of her daughter getting married.

"Mr. Smith, do you take Joanna before you as your wife? To love her, protect her, and respect her for a lifetime, whether in poverty or sickness - do you?"

Sandra's voice was weathered and trembling, but full of blessings for her daughter.

Joanna almost cried.

She suddenly realized that three years ago, her marriage had lacked her mother's witness.

But she had been too naive then and hadn't realized the problem.

Today's gesture made the marriage feel more real to her.

"It's my honor - I couldn't ask for more."

Angelo didn't just say "I do." His gaze was sincere as he took Joanna's hand, knelt on one knee, and pressed the back of her hand to his forehead.

Like a devoted believer.

Joanna felt the back of her hand burning hot, but Angelo held it firmly - she couldn't pull it away.

She felt embarrassed doing such an intimate gesture in front of her mother.

Sandra smiled and nodded, then asked Joanna, "Then, my daughter, do you take Mr. Smith as your husband? To never leave him, to accompany him until your hair turns white, to have children together - do you?"

Joanna nodded. "Of course, I do."

The two embraced, and the simple ceremony was over.

Sandra raised her hand to wipe her tears, her eyes red as she said, "Today should be a happy day. I shouldn't be sad."

Joanna said nothing and stepped forward to hug her mother again.

This was their little understanding between mother and daughter.

Actually, Joanna didn't feel much about the engagement.

This was also her first engagement. Her previous marriage to Chris had been too hasty.

There had been no ceremony at all - they had just simply gotten the certificate, not even holding a banquet.

But with Angelo, she received respect and recognition.

"By the way, Chad's phone hasn't been going through lately. Is he hiding somewhere?" Sandra was a bit worried.

After Joanna called last time, Chad hadn't come back.

Joanna had just assumed he decided to stay home.

"He can't be reached lately?" Joanna felt uneasy.

Because she was disappointed in this brother, she wouldn't actively contact him unless something came up.

She hadn't expected that while busy with her mother's situation, she had actually forgotten about Chad.

Sandra nodded.

Joanna immediately took out her phone to call Chad.

But after ringing a few times, the call was hung up.

She frowned and first reassured Sandra, "It's fine. Maybe he's having too much fun with friends and didn't notice his phone. Angelo and I will go home later to check. Don't worry."

Sandra nodded.

She didn't pay too much attention to this matter either.

After all, this wasn't the first time Chad had gone missing.

Boys like to have fun and often get so caught up they don't come home.

Now that Chad was an adult, she didn't need to keep watching him all the time.

After leaving the nursing home, Joanna went to the Jones house and knocked on the door for a long time without seeing Chad.

Finally, a neighbor lady came out and recognized her. "Is that Joanna? There's no one home. Don't bother knocking. Did you forget your key?"

After marrying Chris, Henry had been afraid Joanna would back out and had thrown away the keys long ago.

Joanna didn't explain to the neighbor lady. She just asked, "Have you seen Chad come back? He's been out somewhere lately and we can't reach him."

"Chad?" The neighbor lady was getting on in years and thought for a long time before saying, "I think he did come back a few days ago, but then he wasn't home anymore."