Chapter 6
Joanna was so shocked that she forgot to react when Angelo approached her.
It wasn't until Angelo's warm fingers touched Joanna's cheek that she snapped back to reality and stepped back.
But Angelo had already hooked the strap of Joanna's mask and pulled it off her face.
"Joanna, you had no problem blocking me back then. Now you are afraid to face me?" Angelo's voice carried a hint of amusement.
Joanna could tell from his tone that he wasn't angry, and suddenly she felt less nervous.
"It's been a while. Let me buy you dinner." Joanna took the initiative to invite him to eat.
She owed much of her current success to Angelo's help, so she should treat him to this meal.
Angelo didn't refuse and took Joanna to a restaurant near the hospital.
The restaurant was an upscale place Joanna would never have dared to spend money at before. But today, after finishing the surgery for Angelo's uncle, the final payment had been made. She now had over $ 400,000 in her pocket, putting her in a much better financial position.
"Why did you suddenly come out to take on surgeries? Didn't you say before that you wanted to be a full-time wife?" Angelo asked, taking a sip of red wine.
"I'm getting divorced." Joanna felt a bit embarrassed saying this.
Not because of the divorce itself, but because this was the marriage she had given up her dreams and broken ties with Angelo to enter, and now it was ending this way.
"So you found out about Chris and Cynthia," Angelo spoke bluntly.
Joanna was surprised. "How did you..."
She and Chris had a secret marriage; only their two families knew about it.
Angelo smiled. "Joanna, I investigated you when I was sponsoring you. I also knew when your father formed a marriage alliance with the Coopers."
Only then did Joanna vaguely remember that the person sitting across from her was Angelo, the current CEO of Smith Group. It wasn't hard for him to find out anything he wanted to know.
"I must seem ridiculous, right?" Joanna gave a self-mocking smile.
"Everyone misjudges people sometimes. That's not ridiculous. On the contrary, you realized you took the wrong path and turned back in time. That kind of courage deserves praise."
Joanna was deeply moved, and her eyes reddened.
She wanted to say something grateful, but a phone ringtone interrupted everything.
She answered, and Henry's booming voice came through. "Joanna! Your brother beat someone to death, and they're going to sue him. Hurry up and get Chris to contact his lawyer friend Sean to get your brother out!"
Henry's voice was so loud that in such a quiet restaurant, Angelo definitely heard it.
Joanna immediately felt embarrassed. She smiled apologetically at Angelo, then walked aside to take the call.
"How could Chad beat someone to death?" The whole mess of family issues made Joanna feel fed up.
"This is all your fault! I told you to have Chris take care of Chad's room fees, but you wouldn't, and his classmates made fun of him! Said he was lying, that there's no way Chris could be his brother-in-law. Chad got mad and fought with them! He was standing up for you! Now get on the phone to Chris, have him call that lawyer. If you don't save your brother, you'll be in for it too!"
Although Joanna was angry at Chad's behavior, she still cared about him as her brother. She returned to her seat and apologized to Angelo. "Sorry, family emergency. I have to go. I'll pay the tab."
After leaving the restaurant, Joanna hailed a cab. She actually didn't want to go find Chris, especially since they were about to divorce.
But just as Henry said, only Chris could save Chad, so in the end, she still went to Cooper Corporation.
Angelo watched Joanna leave. He understood from her phone call. Joanna's brother had beaten someone to death and now needed to fight a lawsuit.
He thought for a moment, then made a phone call. "There's a case. I need your help."
On the way, Joanna sent Chris messages and called him, but he didn't respond.
When she arrived at Cooper Corporation, the front desk wouldn't let her go up.
She had to make an appointment to see her own husband, just because no one knew her identity as Mrs. Cooper.
She had to call Chris's assistant. "Matthew, I need to see Chris now. It's urgent."
Matthew didn't dare delay and immediately reported to Chris, who was in a meeting.
Chris almost couldn't help laughing during the annual budget meeting. This morning at the hospital, she was being stubborn about getting divorced and spraying him with a fire extinguisher. Now, she was running here to apologize.
He thought Joanna could hold out for a week this time.
"Have her wait in the reception room."
"Should I push back your next meeting?" Matthew asked thoughtfully.
"No need, move it up."
Chris twirled the pen in his hand. Joanna wanted to be tough? Then let her wait!
Joanna was arranged in the reception room. From the moment she sat down, her phone kept buzzing with messages from Henry, urging her:
[No matter what Chris says, you must get Sean. He's the most famous lawyer in Austin city and never loses a case. Only Sean can save your brother!]
[Why haven't you sent anything? What did Chris say? You must find a way to get Sean!]
Joanna waited anxiously. Matthew said Chris was in a meeting, so she couldn't just barge in.
Two hours later, Chris finally finished the meeting. As department managers came out of the conference room, Joanna hurried in.
"Chris, can you do me a favor and contact Sean? My brother beat someone to death at a bar. The other side provoked him on purpose, but the family insists he go to jail. If Sean takes the case, my brother still has a chance of winning."
Chris originally thought Joanna had come to apologize, but instead, she had come for her useless brother again. His expression immediately soured.
"Why should I help you? Didn't you say at the hospital that you don't need my help? If it wasn't for you, how would I have failed to even meet Dr. J!"
Joanna knew that given how things were between them now, it really wasn't appropriate for her to come to Chris. But Chad was her brother after all, and she couldn't just watch him go to prison.
"If you help my brother, I can take on David's surgery." Joanna felt this was the only thing she could give Chris in return.
Chris was very shocked when he heard this and looked at Joanna.