Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Phillips Star Group.

I sat at my desk looking down at documents, but Henry kept coming over to mock me with sarcastic remarks.

I was already annoyed, and now there was a fire burning in my chest.

If this were before, I definitely would have rushed up to James, grabbed his ear, and demanded loudly, "Why are you being so intimate with another woman!"

But now...

My face went pale as I forced a bitter smile.

What right did I have?

While I was mocking myself, Henry came to my desk again.

"Anna, if you ask me, you should consider Joshua. Forget everything else—if it were him, I'd bet my life he wouldn't get caught up in scandals!"

Henry's eyes were shining as he said this.

I looked at him wearily, my tone flat, "Are you that bored? Your brother just called me and specifically asked if you wanted to personally participate in company projects."

Henry's expression changed instantly. Without another word, he turned and strode away.

Watching his almost panicked retreat, my mood finally improved a bit.

I stayed busy until the end of the workday. Thinking of my mom in the hospital, I immediately gathered my things to leave.

But just as I picked up my bag, I saw Henry coming out of the elevator.

It was already quitting time—why hadn't he left yet?

That thought had barely crossed my mind when I saw someone following behind Henry.

Unfortunately, it was an old acquaintance.

Joshua.

Henry had originally tried to set me up with him.

I looked away, instinctively wanting to leave.

If I ran into Joshua now and James found out later, wouldn't he tear the house apart?

But Henry wouldn't let me have my way.

"Wait, you're just leaving? Did I say you could?"

Henry frowned at me and strode toward the office, "Mr. Joshua Smith has business to discuss with our company. Go make some coffee."

Though unhappy, I could only put down my bag and head to the break room.

Soon, the rich coffee was ready.

I brought the coffee to the office and looked up at Henry, "Mr. Phillips, my mom is still in the hospital. I can't stay too long—I need to go see her."

Henry frowned, "Who's the boss, you or me?"

I pressed my lips together, but before I could finish, Joshua spoke first.

"It's fine, we don't need you here. Go ahead with what you need to do."

His gaze swept over my face, his smile especially gentle.

I paused for a moment, didn't think much of it, thanked him quietly, and left quickly.

Rather than dealing with all this drama, I'd rather get off work early and spend time with my mom at the hospital.

What I didn't know was that the moment I left, Henry glared at Joshua angrily.

"What's going on with you? Didn't you say you were interested in her? I brought her right to you and you let her go?"

Joshua's gaze had been following my retreating figure until I completely disappeared.

He glanced at Henry casually, his tone indifferent, "What would a playboy like you understand? A guy who changes women like he changes clothes—your dad was asking me when you'd bring a girlfriend home."

"Alright, alright!"

Henry clearly didn't want to discuss the Phillips family matters and waved his hand impatiently.

He brought the conversation back, asking curiously, "Tell me, do you have some other plan?"

Joshua chuckled and shook his head, "No plan. I just wanted to let her go see her mom first."

Henry rolled his eyes, mocking, "You say that so naturally—why don't you try calling him dad?"

"Get lost."

Joshua punched Henry.

He tossed the documents he'd brought onto the desk, his expression becoming more serious.

"Look at this project. It's pretty good."

Henry just glanced at it and nodded repeatedly.

"Nice. Will you come inspect the work at the company yourself?"

Henry winked at him.

Joshua shook his head, "I'll come in a few days. You handle the other projects first—I don't want to clean up your mess."

With that, Joshua got up to leave.

"Deal!"

After leaving PhillipsStar Group, Joshua pondered Henry's words.

He really didn't have any particular plan for me.

At first, he simply wanted to take me away from James to make him suffer, but later?

He didn't know when it started, but he gradually became genuinely attracted to me, always thinking about me.

Until three years ago when James's business failed—he had secretly pressured him, forcing me to leave.

He had a hand in all of it behind the scenes.

As for Henry's company...

Joshua's lips curved into a cold smile.

Just a fence-sitter. No big loss if it's gone.

At the hospital.

I sat by the bed, head down, peeling an apple for my mom.

I had carefully probed my mom, and only after confirming she didn't know about James and Lucy did I quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

If mom found out, she'd definitely get upset.

"Anna, what's wrong with you today? Why do you keep looking at me so strangely?"

Mom looked at me with surprise.

My heart jumped, but I forced myself to stay calm and smiled as I handed her the apple.

"I just want to look at mom more. Is that not allowed? You're so stingy, mom."

Mom's smile was indulgent and helpless, "You child, still so clingy even after getting married. What's so interesting about mom? I'm just lying in a hospital bed all day. You should look at James more—so many girls used to like him."

Mom was joking, but her words pierced my heart like a sharp thorn.

Yes, countless girls liked James.

Both before and now.

All of them had a chance to become James's lover—everyone except me.

After all, in James's eyes, I abandoned him three years ago when he was at his most difficult.

Dense pain spread through my chest, bitterness spreading all the way until even the root of my tongue tasted bitter.

I sighed inwardly. Not wanting mom to worry, I joked with her a bit and naturally changed the subject.

When the doctor came to remind us the patient needed rest, I reluctantly left.

Coming out of the hospital, the smell of disinfectant around my nose was instantly replaced by fresh air.

I looked up at the gloomy sky and murmured softly, "It's going to rain..."

"It's going to rain, and you're still not going home?"

Someone picked up my words.

Joshua approached me with an elegant, considerate smile on his lips.

My expression changed slightly, and I ignored him.

But Joshua didn't leave. Instead, he continued, "You've suffered a lot at James's hands, haven't you? I heard you've been to the hospital several times. Anna, for a man who enjoys tormenting you, it's not worth it."

I calmly withdrew my gaze from the sky and started walking.

"Whether it's worth it isn't for you to say. If I think it's worth it, that's enough."

But Joshua followed behind me, continuing unhurriedly, "Anna, you probably don't know yet—Lucy is now the most popular star under Smith Corporation, and tomorrow she'll be accompanying James to a charity gala."

My heart went into chaos, and I wasn't watching my step, nearly tripping on the stairs.

Joshua quickly caught me.

"No..."

I instinctively tried to pull away from his hand, but unexpectedly Joshua pulled me tightly into his arms.

My whole body stiffened, and my voice turned cold.

"Mr. Joshua Smith, please mind your boundaries. I'm your sister-in-law!"