Chapter 9
"Who took it? Do you remember what he looked like?"
Knowing that Joanna was that rich kid's sister, the bar owner's attitude wasn't. "So many people come here every day, how could I possibly remember? If you've got nothing else, just leave. I can't even do business because of your brother. I'm being nice by not asking you to pay me back!"
Joanna wanted to explain more, but looking at the obviously struggling bar, she felt too guilty to say anything.
She rummaged through her bag, saw she still had five hundred in cash, and put it on the bar counter. "It's all I've got right now—hope it helps. If you hear anything at all—just let me know."
The owner wasn't impressed—the bar easily pulled in over ten grand a night—but he took it anyway.
Joanna left the bar.
It was hard to get a taxi around here, so she had to walk for a bit first.
As she walked, she thought about her brother's case. Who would come to take the surveillance footage at a time like this?
She hadn't gone far when she entered a dark alley.
Before Joanna could react, her mouth was covered, and she was pulled and pressed against the wall.
"Joanna, you're really something!" Chris's voice came through gritted teeth by her ear. "Where's that man? Why didn't he come with you? Weren't you going to divorce me and go after him? Looks like he doesn't care about you that much after all."
Joanna didn't expect to run into him here. She opened her mouth and bit Chris's palm. When the hand moved away from her mouth, she said angrily, "I don't understand what you're talking about. Let me go!"
"You know damn well! Outside that law firm—how he was shielding you? Anyone could see there's something going on. Three years married, and I never knew you had someone like that in your life. Is he the one who gave you that hundred grand?"
Chris was furious. He admitted that when he saw the surveillance footage, he was livid.
Joanna still wasn't divorced from him. How could she be involved with another man? And he couldn't be sure whether, without his knowledge, Joanna and that man had even hooked up together!
The more Chris thought about it, the angrier he got, his eyes practically shooting fire.
Joanna struggled, feeling angry herself. "He did give me that money, but what's it to you? You wouldn't help my mother and brother, but someone else would!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Chris pressed down on her violently, trying to bite her lips. But Joanna saw through his intention, struggled hard, lifted her leg and stepped on Chris's foot, escaping from under his arm.
Chris glared at her viciously. "Did you sleep with him? Joanna, how can you be so cheap! Don't forget, we're not divorced yet!"
Right, the divorce was supposed to be tomorrow.
Joanna had been so stressed about her brother's situation that she'd almost forgotten.
She gritted her teeth. "Who's the one who cheated? I don't need to remind you, do I? The day I left the villa, Cynthia's underwear was thrown on the floor. You brought her home, and you have the nerve to call me cheap!"
"So you're jealous and deliberately getting back at me." Chris suddenly understood, and his anger subsided a bit. He pulled out a USB drive. "Joanna, as long as you admit nothing happened between you two, and you're willing to come back and be a good housewife, I'll give you the bar surveillance footage."
Joanna had been angry, but hearing Chris say this, she almost broke down. "Chris! So you're the one who took the footage! You knew how important it was to me. When I begged you, you wouldn't help. When I gave up and wanted a divorce, you wouldn't agree. But with Cynthia, you have a completely different attitude. I know you like her. I'm backing out, I'm giving her the position of Mrs. Cooper! Isn't that enough!"
Everything that had happened made her already messy heart shatter into pieces.
Joanna's voice trembled with accusation—each word thick with hurt and bitter resentment.
Chris felt a tightness in his chest, too. He didn't know why, but didn't look into it.
"Cynthia and I aren't what you think—and as for being Mrs. Cooper? Don't worry, I'm not asking you to step aside! Someone as driven as Cynthia has bigger career goals anyway. You? Honestly… staying home fits your skills better."
He frowned at her resentful expression and gripped her chin firmly. "Joanna, honestly—I never took you for the jealous type who'd twist everything in her head and drag this out for so long. Behave yourself—that's how this works. You play nice; I provide the support."
Joanna almost laughed from anger. She didn't want to say anything more to Chris and turned to leave. But he caught up, grabbed her wrist, using his strength to overpower her, and dragged her into the car.
This time, he got even closer, his breath falling on Joanna's ear.
Joanna felt humiliated. "What will it take for you to let me go!"
"Please me." Chris's lips curved up. "I don't like your attitude these past few days. Be like you used to be in bed. Joanna, make me happy, and you can have the surveillance video."
Joanna reached around blindly for something, grabbed a hard object, and raised it to hit Chris on the head. "You're thinking with your dick. You've completely lost it!"
Her struggling only hurt Chris just enough, but not seriously.
After being cursed at, Chris got really angry. He reached out to grab Joanna's neck and tightened his grip. "Why can't you just learn to be obedient! You did so well these past three years of marriage!"
Chris was really annoyed by Joanna's resistance. He didn't understand why the always sweet and understanding Joanna had become like this! "Joanna, why can't you just be good? If you were just like before, the position of Mrs. Cooper would still be yours!"
"Pfft!" Joanna spat in Chris's face. "Mrs. Cooper? Who cares! Whoever wants it can have it!"
Chris was enraged and pressed harder.
Joanna's vision went black from being choked, struggling to breathe. Fear rose in her heart.
Chris really was going to kill her!
In her despair, Chris's phone rang.
"Chris, I'm scared... there are... there are so many people outside! They say they want me to pay for that dog's life!" Cynthia was crying.
On the phone, the loud banging on the door and cursing made Chris anxious. "Don't be afraid, I'm coming right now. Lock the door."
Chris looked at Joanna gasping for air, feeling even more annoyed. If she hadn't insisted on fighting with him, how would he have hurt her?
He dragged Joanna out of the car, then threw some money at her. "Get yourself checked out—don't expect me to take you," he snapped before slamming the door and speeding off.
Joanna lay on the ground, watching the car gradually disappear from her view.
Three years of marriage... and this is what it came to...