Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“Okay,” Cynthia agreed before hanging up the call and sending him the time and place via WhatsApp.
Just as she finished sending the message, there was a knock at the door, accompanied by Joshua’s voice. “Open up. I need to talk to you.”
Cynthia tossed her phone on the bed, walked over to open the door, and spoke without the gentleness she once had, only displaying indifference and detachment. “What is it?”
Joshua handed her his phone. “Grandpa wants to talk to you. He said he couldn’t reach you because you were on a call.”
Cynthia paused, guessing it might be because she had just been on the phone with Mitchell. She took Joshua’s phone, and her voice softened, “Grandpa.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you by calling so late,” he said.
“No, not at all.”
“I just remembered that I forgot to tell you when you left earlier that the unfinished chess game you left for me last time, I still haven’t solved it…”
The two of them chatted on the phone.
Joshua did not bother listening to their conversation, noticing that ever since his grandfather became close to Cynthia, the old man sought Joshua’s company less and less frequently. His grandfather would often say things like, ‘Cynthia is definitely more capable than you,‘ or ‘Your chess skills are not as good as Cynthia’s. How could I have such a foolish grandson?‘
Cynthia had become his grandfather’s ‘beloved granddaughter ‘, while Joshua found himself increasingly dismissed by the old man. With these thoughts in mind, Joshua’s gaze involuntarily fell on Cynthia, who was speaking to his
grandfather with such tenderness and patience. He had once been the recipient of that warmth for two years.
As he was thinking about this, Cynthia’s phone, which was lying on the bed, vibrated. Joshua instinctively looked over, but before he could see the message’s content, Cynthia quickly picked up her phone and turned off the screen. The entire process took less than a second, too fast for anyone to react.
“I’m done talking to Grandpa. Here’s your phone,” Cynthia said calmly as she handed Joshua his phone back.
Joshua did not take it. His eyes were still fixed on the phone Cynthia held behind her back. Although he had not seen the message clearly, he thought he had seen the word ‘Mitchell‘.
“You don’t want it?” Cynthia maintained her posture, offering the phone.
Joshua’s eyes darkened, and he did not take the phone. “Who sent you a message just now?”
“That’s my business,” Cynthia replied candidly.
“I’m your husband,” Joshua blurted out.
Cynthia remained silent, simply looking at him. At that moment, he was wearing only a white shirt, appearing more elegant than usual. With his sleeves rolled up, revealing a
portion of his fair–skinned arm, he had quite the handsome face. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Joshua understood her gaze. “As long as we haven’t gotten our divorce certificate, I have the right to know who you’re in contact with.”
Cynthia withdrew her hand, still holding the phone. “You might not be familiar with the law. Even if you are my husband, you don’t have that right without my consent.”
“Cynthia.” Joshua’s tone grew cold.
He knew who Mitchell was. Although they were not in the same circle, Joshua was aware that he was a ruthless man who never left people any room to maneuver. If Cynthia became involved with him, she would not even know if she was being
tricked.
“Give me your phone.”
“No.”
“Are you forcing me to take it myself?” Joshua’s eyes darkened.
“I’m not against giving it to you,” Cynthia did not want to fight with him, so she came up with a reason. “You have to let me see your phone too, if you want to see mine.”
Without much thought, Joshua, eager to see if Mitchell was the one Cynthia had been communicating with, agreed. “Fine.”
“I’ll look at your chat history with Jayleen,” Cynthia said, providing a reason for him to refuse.
Joshua’s lips tightened into a thin line, and after a brief moment of consideration, he inevitably refused. “No.”
“Then I won’t give you mine either,” Cynthia’s stance was
clear.
After she said this, Joshua fell silent for a long time. His deep, pure black eyes were fixed on Cynthia as if trying to discern something from her face. In the end, he simply left with his phone, saying, “Do whatever you want.”
The two parted ways on unhappy terms.
Cynthia did not pay any attention to Joshua’s anger. She closed the door and went to bed after cleaning up. The next day, they did not talk much. Joshua made a phone call at noon and then went out while Cynthia went to meet Mitchell.
They arranged to meet at a restaurant. When she arrived, Mitchell was already there. Mitchell and Joshua were completely different people. Joshua had an aloof and cold air about him, while Mitchell maintained a polite smile for everyone. No one could guess what he was thinking behind that smile. He was dubbed ‘Mitchell the Fox by Jimmy and others. However, he was exceptionally kind to Cynthia.
“Why are you here so early?” Cynthia asked with a relaxed and natural expression when she saw him in the private room.” Didn’t we agree at twelve–thirty?”
“You tell me.” Mitchell smiled, the handsome and refined face was wearing glasses and a casual gray suit, making him look like the perfect older brother next door.
Meanwhile, outside the private room in the hallway, Joshua was walking along with two men. One had a wicked, lazy
demeanor, and the other was gentle like the wind, both strikingly handsome.
“Joshua, wasn’t that your soon–to–be ex–wife who just went
in?” The wicked–looking man teased with a hint of
playfulness. “If I remember correctly, the one who reserved that room is Mitchell, the heir of the prominent Cyrus family and a rising star in the legal world.”
Joshua stopped in his tracks. He looked back at the man,
his eyes darkened. “Who?”
“Mitchell,” the wicked–looking man repeated.
and
Joshua’s gaze locked onto the door, and without any hesitation or thought, he strode toward the private room. Images of Cynthia and Mitchell being intimate flood his mind.
She was really mingling with Mitchell!
“Aren’t you going to stop him?” the gentle–looking man
asked.
“Why stop him when there’s a good show to watch?” The wicked–looking man replied and his eyes were full of interest with hands in his pockets.
Joshua entered the private room, radiating coldness. He saw Mitchell sitting close to Cynthia, looking quite friendly. The noise at the door caught their attention, and they both looked over, seemingly in sync. Seeing Joshua, Cynthia hesitated and asked, puzzled, “Joshua?”
Mitchell looked over as well.
Joshua avoided his gaze, maintaining his usual indifference as if he had not seen anything. He closed the door again, saying, Sorry, I entered the wrong room.”
Was Cynthia dumbfounded at his lame excuse?
“Aren’t you going to explain that?” Mitchell asked slowly.
“There’s nothing to explain. If you meet him later, don’t reveal my identity. To him, I’m just an ordinary person, Cynthia said nonchalantly, having given up on Joshua.