Chapter 653: Do You Really Care About Your Mother?
Chapter 653: Do You Really Care About Your Mother?
Joshua’s subordinates had been watching Daniel in secret, but Daniel didn’t do anything now, so Joshua didn’t know what to do next.
When Hazel walked into the study, she found Joshua thinking with a grave expression.
“What are you thinking about?” She went to him and put a glass of milk on his desk.
Suddenly she saw an invitation on the desk.
“The Bryant family will throw a party?” She picked up the invitation and said with somewhat surprise.“They invited you?”
He nodded.“Yes.”
“Do they know Cynthia is missing?” she asked, slightly frowning. Why did she think that their invitation was not simple?
“They should know now,” he said quietly.
“Then why are they still in the mood for throwing a party and inviting you?” She frowned tightly.
“This invitation must have been sent by Daniel’s brother, Michael Wayne,” he said.
“... Why is his brother’s last name Wayne?” She was speechless.
He calmly explained, “ The current master of the Bryant family had a crush on a woman from Country Z when he was young, but unfortunately, she died unexpectedly. Then he married a woman to make the Bryant family stronger, but whenever he saw women who looked like his lover, he had sex with them and fathered illegitimate children.
“Michael Wayne is one of them. He is identified, but he has been named after his mother. Cynthia’s face is the most similar to that woman’s, so she is much loved by this family.”
“Did his father allow him to use his mother’s last name?” She was surprised.
“Yes,” he said lightly, “because the woman he liked from Country Z happened to be Wayne.”
She was speechless. The internal strife of big families was really an eye-opener. This so-called behavior of keeping one’s surname must also be a kind means of contending for the favor.
“So he invited you because he wanted to demonstrate goodwill to you?” she guessed. “Are you going?”
“No,” he replied lightly.
“You’re wise,” she said and nodded. “It’ll be awkward if you go.”
He cocked an eyebrow and said with resignation, “I won’t go, just because it would be not interesting if we directly talk about things. Besides, he only sent the invitation, but the host of the party is the current master, who cares about Cynthia, his daughter.”
She understood instantly. “I see. So the Bryant family is trying to show off their strength to you while Michael is trying to demonstrate goodwill?”
“Yes.” His eyes sparkled. “It’s a good idea to use Michael to pin down Daniel. At least Michael is a little capable.”
Suddenly, Joshua’s phone rang.
It was Ted. Looking at the screen, Joshua frowned.
In the end, he still answered the phone.
“What do you want?” asked Joshua lightly.
“Don’t go to the Bryant family’s party,” Ted said in a serious tone.
“I won’t go even if you don’t remind me.” Joshua looked as calm as ever.
“Do you realize you’ve really pissed off the Bryant family?” Ted felt helpless.
“Yes,” Joshua said calmly. “Mr. King, this is the conflict between only me and the Bryant family. I suggest you be wise to protect yourself and leave me alone.”
On the other end, Ted sighed. “Joshua, you’re my son.”
Joshua gave a mocking chuckle.
“Joshua, I’ve thought about it.” Ted finally said, as if he had made a firm decision, “In a few days, I’m going to throw a party for you and Hazel, so everyone knows who you are. Will you… come?”
Joshua’s eyes flickered, and he said, feeling a little surprised. “Mr. King, are you making concessions?”
Embarrassment flashed acrossTed’s face, but he took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and added, “The Bryant family has no proof, but they'll definitely do something to both of you. When I throw a party, I can warn them not to do anything to you.”
Joshua’s face was calm. Ted might be stubborn and reluctant to admit mistakes, but his willingness to do so was a sign that he was willing to make compromises.
Ted’s willingness to acknowledge Hazel’s identity meant he no longer objected to her being with Joshua.
But Joshua didn’t need it now.
“Mr. King, it’s too late.” Joshua said calmly.“Both I and Hazel have already been deeply disappointed in you. We’re not going to your party.”
“You.” Ted clenched his teeth. He rarely gave in to Joshua, but Joshua actually refused? Ted was really dying to drop the phone!
The Bryant family’s party would definitely be a hostile one, and Ted’s party would also be unkind.
Joshua would certainly not take Hazel to take the risk. After going through so many risks, even Hazel couldn’t believe Ted’s purpose was simple.
“Why can’t you believe me once?” Ted felt powerless.
“Ask yourself,” said Joshua lightly. “Are you doing it for my mother? It’s said that her condition is getting worse, isn’t it?”
Ted looked slightly embarrassed. He looked as if his fig leaf had been removed, and he could not speak.
Indeed, he threw the party not just to protect Joshua or to demonstrate goodwill to them but because Stacy was getting worse. No matter how badly he scolded the doctors, it was helpless.
The doctors could only tell him that Stacy needed someone she knew well and felt safe to be around her.
Hazel was the only one.
Even if Ted didn’t want to, he’d have to find a way to deceive them into going back to the manor and accompanying Stacy.
“If you are doing this for my mother's illness, I suggest you send her to me,” Joshua said calmly.
“No way!” Ted flew into a rage instantly. “Joshua, if you have your mother in your heart, you bring Hazel to the manor to see her!”
“Aha,” said Joshua, with a slight chill in his voice. “Then what? Give you another chance to give Hazel an oxytocin injection?”
“... I told you it wasn’t me who asked the butler to do that,” Ted said feebly. “Also, he was killed by you. Have I ever criticized you?”
“We have nothing to talk about.” Joshua narrowed his eyes. Ted still stubbornly refused to accept the fact that there were spies around him.
“Do you really care about your mother?” Realizing Joshua was about to hang up, Ted was worried.
“... My mother was already killed by you,” he said coldly, with a hint of chill in his eyes.
The phone went dead, and Ted got cold feet. Joshua didn’t even care about Stacy anymore because he said Ted had killed Stacy.
But Ted found he couldn’t argue because he knew very well that Stacy would really die because of him if he stuck with the status quo. His heart suddenly filled with pain because he had to make a hard choice.
