Chapter 1: The Unfaithful Wife Today was Fiona Cooper's birthday.

Reflecting on the countless humiliations he had endured over the past three years, Joseph Wilson had little affection for his wife, Fiona Cooper. However, as husband and wife of three years, it was her birthday today, so Joseph Wilson still bought a bouquet of flowers, intending to pick her up from work at the entrance of Cooper Group.

It was laughable that, as a live-in son-in-law for three years, his wife in name had never looked him in the eye. They had always slept in separate rooms, and he had never even touched Fiona Cooper's hand.

Fiona Cooper never allowed Joseph Wilson to appear at the company, so every time Joseph Wilson came to pick her up from work, he would stand far away and wait for her to come out. This time was no exception.

However, what Joseph Wilson did not expect was to see his wife walking out of the Cooper Group building, arm in arm with a man.

"Charles, why are you back so suddenly?"

"I finished my business abroad and missed you so much. As soon as I returned, I came straight to find you..." As he spoke, Charles Martin's hand had already impolitely groped Fiona Cooper's buttocks.

"Hmph, you were abroad for so long and still remember me. I suppose you have a bit of a conscience..."

The two walked arm in arm, intimately entering the InterContinental Hotel next to the Cooper Building.

Joseph followed Fiona and the man all the way into the InterContinental Hotel until he saw the two of them unable to resist kissing in the corridor.

The man's hands had already slipped inside Fiona's clothes, wantonly kneading her breasts.

Joseph Wilson couldn't help but clench his fists, his anger uncontrollable.

"Darling, wait a moment... to the room... ah..."

Witnessing with his own eyes his wife being embraced by a strange man and entering a hotel room, they were so urgent that they completely forgot to close the door.

Through the crack in the door, Joseph saw his originally aloof wife stripping off her clothes and kneeling in front of the strange man, tilting her head back and opening her mouth...

"You little slut, your oral skills are still as good as before... ah..."

"Slut, I can't resist the urge to ejaculate... ah..."

"Oh~ darling, your cock is so big..."

"Slut, get on the bed, spread your legs, I'm going to fuck you to death..."

"Ah... ah..."

...

Never in his wildest dreams did Joseph imagine that his successful wife, who always had an icy demeanor, would be so lascivious at this moment. Recalling the past three years, Fiona Cooper had never smiled at him. Joseph had long understood that Fiona didn't love him.

But she was still his wife in the legal sense. He never expected such a repulsive debauchery to lie beneath her aloof facade.

Endless anger, regret, and pent-up emotions kept assaulting Joseph Wilson. He couldn't help wanting to rush into the room to confront this adulterous couple.

Looking around, Joseph directly removed a knight's sword from the decorative cabinet in the corridor of the InterContinental Hotel.

Boundless rage engulfed Joseph Wilson's senses. Taking the knight's sword and unsheathing it, with this half-meter long sword in hand, Joseph was ready to charge into the room, stab the stranger's belly a few times, and then cut off his disgusting cock.

However, the instant Joseph touched the blade of this knight's sword, it was as if familiar objects awakened lost memories.

In Joseph's memory, there had always been a large blank. Joseph could only remember what had happened in the three years since he married into the family. As for the memories before that, no matter how hard Joseph tried to recall, he couldn't remember anything. It was like a barrier separating everything from three years ago.

The faint bloody smell on this knight's sword that had been sealed in the decorative cabinet for who knows how long, this scent of blood, the smell of the battlefield, Joseph was all too familiar with it. Combined with his infinite anger, it finally allowed Joseph Wilson to break through that barrier.

Countless memories frantically flooded into Joseph Wilson's brain, causing him to involuntarily drop the knight's sword in his hand, clasp his head with both hands, and crouch in the corner of the corridor, his whole body twitching uncontrollably. This was a side effect of the brain being unable to process the vast amount of information in time.

After ten minutes, the pain in his brain gradually subsided, and Joseph opened his eyes. However, the dullness and numbness originally in these eyes were gone, replaced by endless sharpness and powerful confidence.

Joseph Wilson stood up, looked at the knight's sword on the ground, and recalled his anger just now and his reckless impulse. He couldn't help but show a trace of self-mockery.

That woman who didn't love him and whom he had never loved, why should he kill for her sake and bring himself endless trouble?

Joseph Wilson calmly turned and walked into the elevator of the InterContinental Hotel. Behind him, the faint moans of the woman and the man's wild roars could still be heard...

Joseph calmly returned to the Cooper family villa. Opening the door, he saw Heidi Cooper sitting cross-legged on the sofa, eating snacks and watching TV.

In the three years since marrying into the Cooper family, in the eyes of others, he was just a useless, spineless live-in son-in-law. The only one who treated him like a human being was Heidi Cooper. Not only did she not despise him, but she was also very close to him, always affectionately calling him brother-in-law.

Joseph didn't pay attention to Heidi and prepared to go straight to his room.

Seeing that Joseph had returned but didn't speak to her, Heidi looked at Joseph, "Brother-in-law, you seem distracted today. Did you hear some bad news?"

"What bad news?"

Joseph was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses from his chaotic thoughts.

"My sister's childhood sweetheart is about to return from abroad. Are you afraid that my sister will divorce you and marry another man?"

Heidi grinned, looking gleeful.

Hearing these words, Joseph Wilson fell silent. So it was her childhood sweetheart...

Quickening his pace, he returned to his room.

After calming his emotions, Joseph Wilson came to his master's portrait and looked at his master's photo.

"Master, you are my only family."

"Three years ago, in an accident, you were seriously injured trying to save me, and I also lost my memory. You arranged for me to marry into the Cooper family before passing away from your serious injuries. It's a pity that Fiona Cooper and I have no feelings for each other and are destined not to stay together for life."

"Now, three years have passed. Most of my strength has recovered, but only a small part of my memory has returned. I want to know what exactly happened three years ago."

"Regardless, I have to leave the Cooper family. I don't know where to go. But I know I can't stay with the Cooper family."

After saying this, Joseph Wilson's hesitant gaze became firm.

"Buzz buzz buzz..."

At this time, Joseph Wilson's shabby phone rang. Joseph saw that it was Fiona calling and answered.

"Joseph Wilson, come pick me up at the company now."

A cold voice came from the other end of the line.

"Okay."

Joseph responded swiftly.

"Don't park the car at the company entrance. Park a bit further away. I'll walk over myself. I don't want my colleagues to see you." Fiona continued.

"Okay."

Joseph responded. Before he finished speaking, the other end had already hung up.

...

Chapter 2: Divorce Joseph drove towards Cooper Group.

The Cooper Group belonged to the Cooper family, the biggest family in Nova City. Three years ago, it wasn't, but in these three years, the Cooper family had developed very rapidly, leaping to become Nova City's top family.

After about half an hour, Joseph Wilson finally arrived near the Cooper Building. He parked the car in front of a secluded alley and called Fiona Cooper.

"Fiona, I'm here, at the usual place."

Joseph Wilson said after the call connected.

"I know. How many times do I have to say it? Don't call me Fiona. Call me Fiona Cooper."

Fiona Cooper's disgusted voice came from the other end.

"Okay, Fiona Cooper. I'm here, waiting for you at the usual place."

Joseph Wilson repeated his words.

The other end immediately hung up. Joseph was used to this. Moreover, he had already made up his mind. It was time to leave.

About ten minutes later, Joseph saw a tall, beautiful, fair-skinned woman walk out of the Cooper Group building. The woman was naturally Fiona Cooper.

Laughably, she should have come out of the InterContinental Hotel next door. Was she afraid of me discovering her infidelity? Did she deliberately return to the company early from the InterContinental Hotel?

Fiona was wearing a plain white long dress today, her face expressionless and icily cold.

"Go home."

Fiona Cooper's tone was indifferent.

"Okay."

The two returned to the villa. As soon as Joseph pushed open the door and walked in, he saw Fiona's father Stephen Cooper and mother Maria Long sitting in the living room, as if waiting for something.

"Joseph Wilson, sit down!"

Fiona sat down first, then pointed to the spot opposite her and said.

Joseph sat across from Fiona. For a moment, the atmosphere felt a bit strange.

Fiona looked directly at Joseph and said solemnly, "Joseph Wilson, let's get a divorce!"

"Okay."

Joseph replied swiftly, almost without hesitation.

Upon hearing his response, Fiona furrowed her brows deeply. She had not expected Joseph to agree so readily. As a useless son-in-law, shouldn't he be begging her not to abandon him?

Joseph's answer clearly left Fiona very dissatisfied.

"Joseph Wilson, when Fiona divorces you, you won't get a single penny from this family. All these years, you've embarrassed the Cooper family enough," Fiona's mother, Maria Long, said with an extremely unpleasant expression.

"Can I take my master's memorial tablet from my room?" Joseph asked.

"Yes, you can," Fiona answered curtly.

"Thank you." Joseph responded blandly, then headed towards his room.

Moments later, Joseph walked out carrying his master's memorial tablet. He bowed once more to everyone, then left, cradling the tablet in his arms.

"Fiona, I think he's just a fool. All these years, he did whatever he was told, like a robot," Maria Long remarked acidly.

"Never mind that. We've finally gotten rid of this deadweight. Our Fiona will never be ridiculed by others again," Stephen Cooper sighed with relief, as if a great burden had been lifted.

However, at this moment, Fiona's brows were slightly furrowed. For years, she had dreamed of getting a divorce day and night, but Joseph's straightforward agreement to the divorce left her somewhat displeased.

With this thought, she turned and retreated to her room.

Walking out of the Cooper family's door, Joseph glanced back at the place he had lived for three years, feeling little attachment.

He walked towards the road ahead, aimlessly. He didn't know where his next stop would be after leaving the Cooper family, but anywhere was better than staying with them.

However, as he reached the intersection, a Maserati was already waiting by the roadside.

Next to the Maserati, a white-haired old man and a young girl stood under a large tree at the intersection. The girl was wearing a fitting long dress, looking refined and extremely beautiful, with the air of a girl next door.

At first, Joseph didn't pay much attention, but as he drew closer, the old man and the girl actively approached him.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Wilson?" the old man spoke first.

"That's right. Who are you?" Joseph asked, his face full of bewilderment. His gaze lingered on the girl for a moment longer, as she was simply too stunning.

"Then there's no mistake. Mr. Wilson, it seems today is the day you leave the Cooper family. I hope I'm not late. I've come to pick you up." The white-haired man smiled.

"Pick me up?" Joseph frowned.

"I am an old friend of your late master, Blake Morgan. Your master knew long ago that you would choose to leave the Cooper family. At his behest, after you left the Cooper family, I was to provide you with some assistance to the best of my ability. Oh, and this is my little granddaughter, Alice Morgan, eighteen years old this year, currently studying at Nova University." The white-haired man answered with a smile, incidentally introducing the graceful girl beside him.

"Hello, Mr. Joseph!" The girl greeted him sweetly. Joseph merely nodded slightly.

"The one who understands me best is still my master," Joseph said with a bitter smile, then frowned. "But who am I? What kind of person was I before?"

"Why don't we discuss this in the car?" Blake Morgan smiled and gestured invitingly.

Joseph looked at them, sensing no deceit, and dove into the car. He didn't know where to go now anyway, so he might as well trust them this once.

Now that some of his strength had recovered, even if these people had ulterior motives, they wouldn't necessarily be able to do much to him.

Joseph got in the car and sat in the back with Alice Morgan. The Maserati drove off.

"Mr. Wilson, what do you think of my granddaughter?" Blake Morgan asked as his first question.

Hearing this, Joseph was somewhat surprised and instinctively glanced at Alice Morgan beside him.

Sensing Joseph's gaze, Alice lowered her head, a blush appearing on her pretty face.

"She's very good," Joseph simply said.

"Mr. Wilson is not young anymore. It's time to start a family," Blake Morgan laughed heartily.

"I just got divorced," Joseph was full of doubts. What did this mean? Telling him to marry his granddaughter?

"Hahaha... What does that matter? The women of the Cooper family are not worthy of Mr. Wilson at all," Blake Morgan laughed again.

"Where are we going now?" Joseph felt Blake Morgan's words carried hidden meaning, so he deliberately changed the subject.

"To my home. Your master left some things with me to pass on to you," Blake Morgan replied.

"Okay," Joseph responded. He frowned slightly, wondering what his master could have possibly left for him.

"Mr. Joseph, divorce is not a big deal. You shouldn't be too heartbroken. The Cooper family was blind. If not for you, how could their family business have reached today's scale?" Alice glanced shyly at Joseph, then lowered her head slightly, as if not daring to meet his gaze.

"Is that so? Then, you know a lot about me?" Joseph looked at Alice.

"Alice, don't speak out of turn," Blake Morgan glanced at Alice, the warning in his tone obvious. Alice lowered her head upon hearing this and didn't say much more.

Chapter 3: The Master's Arrangement Thereafter, the three chatted idly. Joseph was full of questions, but he didn't get much useful information from Alice Morgan and Blake Morgan.

After about half an hour, Blake Morgan's car drove into a luxurious villa neighborhood and stopped in front of a detached villa.

"Mr. Wilson, please," Blake Morgan got out of the car and personally opened the door for Joseph.

The three entered the villa's hall. The interior decor of the villa could be said to be quite extravagant. At first glance, even Joseph was shocked.

It was clear from this that Blake Morgan's identity was quite extraordinary. However, Joseph couldn't remember his master having a friend named Blake Morgan at all.

"Mr. Wilson, now that you have left the Cooper family, following your master's instructions, I will provide you with whatever assistance I can. Is there anything you need help with?" Blake Morgan poured Joseph a glass of water and asked meaningfully.

"I need a job and a place to live, that's all. Of course, if possible, I hope you can tell me everything about my master and me," Joseph took a sip of water and replied calmly.

"About that, Mr. Wilson, according to your master's instructions, I cannot tell you about the matters concerning you and your master. He said to let nature take its course and allow you to slowly recall on your own, which would be better for your physical and mental well-being," Blake Morgan frowned, looking somewhat troubled.

With that said, he walked to a cabinet and reverently took out a wooden box.

"Mr. Wilson, this box was left by your master before he passed. He said that if you left the Cooper family, I should give this box to you. I don't know what's inside either."

Seeing the box, Joseph paused for a moment, then furrowed his brows.

"These are my belongings. I can sense it."

As Joseph opened the wooden box, he discovered a dagger inside, its blade wrapped in linen cloth, revealing only the handle.

Joseph carefully unwrapped the cloth, exposing the dagger's gleaming white blade. The light reflecting off the blade was somewhat dazzling, carrying an awe-inspiring aura.

He gripped the dagger, feeling a warm sensation emanating from the handle. It was a familiar feeling—this dagger originally belonged to him. As he touched this weapon once more, he experienced a sense of intimacy, as if they were one.

"Mr. Wilson, according to your master, this was your personal self-defense weapon," Blake Morgan added.

"Self-defense weapon?" Joseph frowned slightly and shook his head. "If it's a self-defense weapon, why is the murderous aura so strong?"

Hearing Joseph's words, Blake Morgan was stunned for a moment. He couldn't sense any murderous aura, but he did feel uncomfortable upon seeing the dagger.

"Since this is a gift from my master, I can take it with me now, right?" Joseph asked.

"Of course. Also, there's a letter in this box. Mr. Wilson, please take a look." Blake Morgan reverently handed over the letter. Joseph glanced at him before opening the envelope, his brows furrowing slightly as he read.

"Teacher?" Joseph appeared quite surprised after reading for a while.

"Teacher? What teacher?" Blake Morgan asked in confusion. Joseph was a very composed person. For him to show such a surprised expression, he must have seen something extraordinary. At this moment, Blake Morgan was extremely curious.

"My master wants me to go teach at Nova University after leaving the Cooper family." After a moment of silence, Joseph casually handed the letter to Blake Morgan.

"Nova University? Isn't that the university I'm currently attending?" Alice spoke up for the first time, her beautiful eyes gleaming.

"This... Mr. Wilson, Nova University is the top university in our country. The teachers and professors there have at least a doctoral degree. Even the cleaning ladies have bachelor's degrees. The principal, Geoffrey Harris, is a leading figure in the medical field." Blake Morgan knew Joseph's identity was extraordinary, but no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't imagine Joseph teaching at a place like Nova University. It was too unbelievable.

"I also feel it's not quite suitable," Joseph said with a wry smile.

"Joseph, your master must have his reasons for arranging this. It wouldn't be bad for you to be a physical education teacher at Nova University." Alice's gaze wandered, her mind pondering unknown thoughts.

"Alice has a point. Your master must have his reasons for this arrangement."

"Coincidentally, I have some connections with the principal of Nova University. I'll take you there tomorrow to see what the situation is. It shouldn't be a problem for him to arrange a position for you." After a moment of contemplation, Blake Morgan made a decision.

"Very well, thank you both for now. Next, I'll need a place to stay..." Joseph hesitated. Others had already helped him so much, and he felt it wasn't quite right to make more requests. However, he had no other choice at the moment.

"About that, Mr. Wilson, you can live with us. Alice's parents aren't in Nova City, so it's just me and Alice at home. You can move in as well." Blake Morgan's words surprised Joseph once more.

"Mr. Morgan, that wouldn't be appropriate. It would be fine if you could find me a studio apartment or something."

"Ah, a studio apartment..." Blake Morgan found it difficult upon hearing this. He had originally wanted Joseph to live with them, giving his granddaughter more opportunities to interact with him.

"Joseph, you can stay at the place where I live while attending school. The environment is quite nice, and I only occasionally go there. Most of the time, I'm at my grandfather's place." Alice's pretty face blushed slightly. That place was her private space, and no man other than family members had ever entered.

"That could work. When I earn money, I'll pay you rent," Joseph said after some thought.

"No need, no need. You really don't have to pay rent." Alice waved her hands repeatedly upon hearing this.

"Then it's decided!" Joseph didn't allow Alice to refuse.

"Mr. Wilson, how about this? Alice is studying alone at Nova University, and I'm not at ease. As long as you protect Alice's safety and take her to and from school every day, we'll cover all your living expenses in exchange." Blake Morgan stroked his chin, hatching a plan. This way, his granddaughter and Joseph would spend more time together, and then...

"That works as well." Joseph paused for a moment, carefully considered, and agreed.

"It's settled then. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to meet Principal Geoffrey Harris at Nova University. For now, you and Alice can go take a look at the place you'll be staying." Seeing Joseph's agreement, Blake Morgan was quite pleased.

"Alice, take him there and help him settle in." Blake Morgan looked at Alice and instructed.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. Leave it to me. Joseph, let's go!" Alice chuckled charmingly, somewhat delighted. She grabbed Joseph's arm and dragged him out.

Helpless, Joseph could only let Alice have her way.

Watching the two leave together, Blake Morgan's face revealed a satisfied smile.

He knew a bit about Joseph's identity, but not much. However, how could the disciple of that person be ordinary?

If his granddaughter could find such a perfect husband, it would simply be too wonderful.

With this thought, he dialed a number.

"Hello, is this the secretarial department? Notify all major departments to terminate any cooperation with the Cooper Group that can be ended. Also, retrieve all the profits we previously conceded to the Cooper Group."

"From now on, cooperate with the Cooper Group as regular business partners. Be professional, and non-cooperation is also acceptable."

"Downgrade the cooperation level with the Cooper Group to normal." Blake Morgan's tone was cold.

"Chairman, are you serious?" The person on the other end of the line was clearly stunned upon hearing this.

"Of course. Haven't you always felt that we gave up too many benefits in our projects with the Cooper Group? Well, now everything will return to normal. Our Morgan Group will earn all the money we deserve."

"Also, I will arrive at the group headquarters within half an hour. An hour later, convene a meeting of the management. All senior executives and managers must attend." Blake Morgan said with certainty.

"Understood, Chairman. I will notify the department heads right away." The person on the other end repeatedly acknowledged. After a few more instructions, Blake Morgan hung up the phone with satisfaction.

Chapter 4: Lace Lingerie After leaving the villa, Joseph was pulled by Alice to the underground parking garage.

The garage housed dozens of cars, the least of which were luxury vehicles like Maseratis, demonstrating immense wealth.

"Mr. Joseph, you seem quite unhappy. Experiencing marital changes in middle age is indeed difficult to accept. But someone as outstanding as you will surely meet a better woman in the future." Alice held Joseph's arm, her breasts intentionally or unintentionally brushing against it, making Joseph feel out of place.

He had never had such close contact even with his wife in name.

"Thank you. I'm fine," Joseph said with a wry smile.

"Joseph, I have a question I want to ask you." Alice released Joseph's arm, her demeanor and tone somewhat restrained.

"Hmm? What question?" Joseph instinctively asked.

"Do... do you think I'm pretty?" Alice bit her lip, mustering her courage to speak. As she uttered these words, her face flushed crimson, and she tightly grasped the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with trepidation.

She was not an assertive person by nature, yet at this moment, she asked such a question.

Upon hearing this, Joseph turned to Alice, observing her restless and bashful appearance. He suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

"I think you're an exceptionally beautiful girl. Any man who marries you would certainly be very fortunate," Joseph said with a frank smile, not hesitating to offer his praise.

"Then are you willing to be that lucky man?" Alice asked almost instinctively.

"Of course," Joseph laughed in astonishment.

"Really?" Alice instantly became somewhat excited.

"I only see you as a little sister. You've been very kind to me, and I'm extremely grateful. But you only met me a few hours ago, and you don't know much about me. I'm afraid my good fortune might bring you misfortune."

"Moreover, I don't even know who I am, and I've forgotten many things," Joseph said with a wry smile.

"Joseph, you've simply forgotten. Many years ago, you visited our home with your master. We knew each other back then."

"At that time, you were sunny, confident, cheerful, and loved to laugh. You were also great at making people happy." As Alice spoke, a smile appeared on her face, as if she had recalled some beautiful memories.

"So that's how it is. I'm sorry, I truly can't remember many things," Joseph said, suddenly enlightened, followed by another bitter smile.

"Hehe, it's alright. No matter how you change, the you in my memories will always be perfect. You'll remember everything in the future," Alice chuckled and once again intimately held Joseph's arm. At first, this action made her feel somewhat shy, but now it felt increasingly natural to her.

Because when she was little, she would always affectionately hold Joseph's arm like this.

As they talked, they got into the car. Joseph naturally sat in the driver's seat.

Alice helped Joseph set up the navigation, and Joseph started the car, driving out of the underground garage.

"Since we've known each other for a long time, you should know me quite well, right?" Joseph remembered something and asked.

However, upon hearing this, Alice shook her head.

"When we were little, you and your master would usually stay at our house temporarily. Sometimes it was for a day or two, sometimes for ten days to half a month. The longest stay, as I recall, was about half a year. As for your matters, Grandpa and we never pried, and he wouldn't let others inquire either. It all seemed quite mysterious," Alice answered truthfully.

"Is that so?" Hearing this, Joseph didn't continue asking.

"Joseph, can you promise me something?" Alice fastened her seatbelt and remembered something.

"Hmm? What is it?" Joseph asked.

"From now on, can you not see me as a little sister anymore?" Alice's pretty face blushed slightly.

"Hmm? Why?" Joseph glanced at Alice while driving.

"Because... because I've grown up, and it's different from before. We don't have a blood relationship, so how can we be siblings?" Alice bit her lip and forcefully explained.

"Without a blood relationship, we can't be siblings? I've never heard of such a thing," Joseph pretended to be somewhat surprised.

"Anyway, just don't be my brother..." Alice lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito's, her face already flushed crimson.

"Then you're not my little sister. It feels strange to suddenly have an extra sister anyway," Joseph said with a smile. This little girl's words were a bit odd. What exactly had happened between them in the past?

It seemed like she really liked him, which made Joseph somewhat perplexed.

"Hehe, that's good," Alice was quite happy with Joseph's answer.

The two chatted and laughed along the way. The car entered another luxurious neighborhood, which was very large and had a great environment.

"Joseph, it's just ahead. The detached apartments nearby all belong to our family!" Hearing this, Joseph found a parking spot where Alice pointed and stopped the car.

"Let's go, I'll show you the house." As soon as she got out of the car, Alice grabbed Joseph's hand and headed towards the detached apartment.

This intimate action made Joseph unsure whether to break free or not.

"This apartment has two floors in total, with a rooftop terrace where you can sunbathe and drink coffee when you have time. There are five rooms inside. One has been arranged into a study, one has been converted into a gym, so there are three rooms left," Alice introduced as she walked with Joseph.

"This is my room. I've also decorated it quite nicely. Come take a look." Without giving Joseph much time to think, Alice pulled him into the room.

As soon as he entered, the fragrance of a young girl greeted him.

"What do you think? Not bad, right?" Alice asked.

Joseph instinctively looked around, but his gaze finally landed on the bed, because at this moment, a set of sexy, lace-trimmed women's underwear was lying on the bed.

Joseph was completely stunned.

"Joseph, why aren't you saying anything?" Alice asked when Joseph remained silent.

However, when she turned to look, she found Joseph staring at the bed. Following his gaze, she spotted the clothing on the bed.

"Ah!" Alice let out a soft cry, her face instantly turning red. With swift eyes and hands, she grabbed the clothing and stuffed it back into the wardrobe.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mr. Joseph. I'm too sloppy," Alice covered her face, feeling utterly ashamed.

"Ahem, it's quite nice, quite pretty," Joseph coughed lightly, somewhat sanctimoniously.

"Ah?" Alice was momentarily stunned. What did he mean by 'quite nice, quite pretty'?

"I mean, your room is decorated quite nicely, quite beautifully," Joseph explained, realizing his words had some ambiguity.

"Umm... let me show you your room!" Alice pulled Joseph and left her room.

"Joseph, this is your room! When my grandpa or father come over, they stay here. Now you can stay. My father is in Metropolis City all year round, and my grandpa doesn't visit often, so it's usually just me here," Alice led Joseph into a room, which was fully equipped with various items.

"Then I'll stay here for now," Joseph nodded upon hearing this.

"Mm-hmm!"

"Later, we'll go out together to buy some daily necessities and a few sets of clothes for you. Finally, we'll have dinner outside," Alice nodded vigorously, then chattered on. She was a girl of few words, and it was only in front of Joseph that she talked so much.

Neither her classmates nor relatives and friends had ever seen such a talkative side of her.

"Sounds good, but I don't have much money on me. We can just eat something simple outside, and we don't need to buy any non-essential daily items," Joseph said with a smile upon hearing this.

Chapter 5: Unexpected Encounter "Joseph, what are you talking about? Money isn't an issue. Grandpa said to take good care of you, especially when it comes to money."

"Joseph, you don't want Grandpa to blame me for not taking care of you, right?" Alice pouted her lips and said with a grin.

"Um, alright then!" Joseph felt somewhat speechless upon hearing this.

"I'll go tidy up the room, and then we can go out together. I do have some things I need to buy," Joseph said after a moment of hesitation.

"Okay, I'll tidy up my room too." At the mention of tidying up the room, Alice's pretty face blushed slightly. If she had cleaned her room properly earlier, Joseph wouldn't have seen that scene.

Would Joseph think she was an improper girl? With this thought, Alice felt somewhat uneasy.

Joseph agreed and left. Entering a girl's room felt a bit strange, but since Alice had pulled him in earlier, he had no choice.

It was also funny to think that despite being married to Fiona Cooper for three years, he had never even entered her room.

Therefore, he had no real feelings about this marriage.

He just couldn't understand why his master had insisted on him marrying into the Cooper family.

Moreover, he had a feeling that because of him, the Cooper Group had received many benefits and conveniences over the years, to the extent that the Cooper family had now become one of the top families in Nova City.

Fiona Cooper's position in the Cooper Group was also pivotal and highly valued.

Thinking about this, Joseph shook his head. Pondering over these matters made his mind feel a bit fatigued.

After Joseph left, Alice closed the door and locked it.

Then she opened the wardrobe and took out that set of sexy lingerie again, staring at it in a daze.

"Why was Joseph staring at this intently just now?"

"Could it be that Joseph... likes this style?"

Alice muttered to herself. As she uttered the last sentence, her face instantly turned red.

It was too embarrassing. How could she have such a shameful thought?

Even if Joseph liked it, could she wear it for him to see?

"It seems... it's not impossible. Joseph isn't an outsider. He just wants to take a look, is that so wrong?"

Alice unconsciously mumbled to herself.

A moment later, she carefully put away that set of sexy lingerie and placed it in the wardrobe, as if preparing it for a rainy day.

Afterward, she took out a photo frame from the cabinet and sat down on the chair in front of the desk.

The frame held a slightly worn photo.

In the photo, a mischievous seven or eight-year-old girl hugged the leg of a big boy, looking towards the camera.

That big boy, facing the camera, had a sunny and somewhat delicate appearance, looking about ninety percent similar to Joseph.

"You've finally returned to my side. I thought you would never come back in this lifetime."

"I hope you can remember soon. You promised to marry me when I grow up."

Alice slowly lay on the desk, gazing affectionately at the photo, murmuring to herself.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound outside the door.

"Ahem... Miss Morgan, are you ready? Can we leave now?"

It was Joseph's voice.

"Coming, coming."

Alice hurriedly put away the photo and opened the door.

"Miss Morgan, shall we go?" Joseph suggested.

"Let's go! We'll head downstairs now."

The two of them spoke and went downstairs.

"Joseph, can you not call me Miss Morgan? It's too awkward," Alice said with a bit of disdain after getting in the car.

"What did I call you before?" Joseph asked with a smile.

"You used to call me Ali or Alice. You can call me that now too."

At the mention of the past, Alice seemed to become somewhat excited.

"Then I'll call you Alice from now on," Joseph replied.

"Hehe, okay."

"Let's go to Westfield Shopping Centers nearby. You can buy everything there," Alice suggested.

"Alright," Joseph agreed and started the car, heading towards Westfield Shopping Centers.

Westfield Shopping Centers was the largest shopping mall in Nova City, not only bustling but also covering a vast area.

The two of them drove for less than ten minutes and arrived at their destination.

In the next hour or so, Alice kept dragging Joseph around for shopping.

Although Alice was buying daily necessities for Joseph, he was completely unable to curb her shopping desire.

"Joseph, what else do you think you need?" Alice asked earnestly, even though Joseph's hands were already full of bags, having bought quite a few things.

"Ahem, we've bought everything necessary and unnecessary," Joseph coughed lightly.

"Really? Let me think!"

"I remembered, we haven't bought shaving supplies."

"Joseph, put the things you're carrying in the car first. It's too tiring to hold them like this. I'll go buy shaving supplies for you, and then we'll meet at the clothing store up ahead," Alice scratched her head, finally remembering, and then instructed.

"Alright," Joseph said and turned to head towards the parking area.

After a few minutes, Joseph finally arranged all the items neatly in the car. The trunk couldn't fit everything, so he had to put some in the backseat. Fortunately, the car had ample space.

After everything was organized, Joseph was about to turn back, but suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure hurriedly heading towards the shopping center.

This familiar figure was none other than his ex-wife, Fiona Cooper.

Joseph instinctively turned around and only went in after Fiona had entered.

Since he had already left the Cooper family, he didn't want to have too much interaction with the Cooper family members. More importantly, there was no need for them to meet.

"Joseph, I bought it. I don't know if you like it, but it should be the most expensive one in that store," Alice came to meet Joseph as soon as he entered the shopping center, holding a shaving kit in her hand.

"As long as it's usable, it's fine," Joseph said with a smile.

"Next, let's go buy you some nice clothes."

"Come on, let's go in and take a look."

Alice held Joseph's hand and entered a clothing store that looked very high-end.

The store sold name-brand items, some of which Joseph had never even heard of. Even an ordinary shirt cost over a thousand dollars.

"Joseph, you take a look around here first. I'll go over there and pick out a couple of outfits for you to wear to work. If you see anything you like, just buy it directly. My grandpa said we'll cover all the expenses," Alice instructed as they entered the store, then hurried off to the other side.

The clothing store was quite large, and one couldn't see the end at a glance.

Joseph looked around, feeling somewhat helpless. The clothes here were all too expensive.

If he really bought a few sets, wouldn't he become a kept man again?

"Hmm? Joseph?"

Just at this moment, an abrupt voice sounded.

Hearing this voice, Joseph smiled wryly. It was Fiona Cooper's voice.

Chapter 6: Sister or Girlfriend? "Joseph Wilson, what are you doing here?" Fiona walked over upon seeing Joseph.

"What a coincidence. I'm here to buy a couple of outfits!" Joseph said with a faint smile.

"Buy clothes? Do you know what kind of place this is? The shirts here start at $1,000. Can you afford the clothes here?" Hearing Joseph's words, Fiona's gaze became even more disdainful. She had previously thought this man was just mediocre, but she didn't expect him to be such a braggart.

During the three years in the Cooper family, Joseph either did housework at home or went elsewhere to do odd jobs to earn some pocket money.

But the little money he earned was definitely not enough to afford the clothes here.

"Ahem... Miss Cooper, we're already divorced. Whether I can afford it or not doesn't seem to have anything to do with you," Joseph coughed lightly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Joseph, stop pretending. I don't even want to point it out. You're stalking me, right?"

"Joseph, let me tell you, we're already divorced. Don't pester me. We're impossible. I can't even look up to someone like you. We're not from the same world," Fiona said sharply.

"I'm not. You're overthinking it," Joseph said helplessly, shrugging his shoulders. This woman had too high of an opinion of herself.

She did have some good looks, but he wouldn't go as far as to stalk her.

"You're not? Joseph Wilson, you dare to do it but not admit it. What kind of man are you?" Fiona said furiously.

"Joseph, what do you think of this set? I feel like you'd definitely look handsome wearing it," Alice came back at this moment, happily holding two sets of clothes.

But when she arrived in front of Joseph, she noticed a woman standing with him.

"Heh, Joseph Wilson, no wonder you signed the divorce agreement so readily. It turns out you had a woman outside even before we got divorced."

"Joseph Wilson, I didn't expect you to be so good at being a kept man," Fiona said, apparently somewhat surprised upon seeing Alice.

This young girl's appearance was not inferior to her own, but she had the advantage of youth. Youth was a woman's capital.

"She... she's my sister!" Joseph said, feeling somewhat speechless.

However, Alice was unhappy hearing Joseph say this.

"What sister? Clearly your girlfriend! Didn't you say last night that I was your only little darling? You even said you wanted to marry me and have a child," Alice grabbed Joseph's arm, pouted her lips, looking very dissatisfied with Joseph's answer.

"Joseph, I really didn't expect you to have such capabilities," Fiona glared at Joseph furiously.

"Little girl, let me give you a piece of advice. Don't be fooled by a man's sweet words."

"If he could get involved with you before the divorce, who knows if he'll get involved with other women in the future," Fiona said to Alice, looking like she was giving sincere advice.

"I won't trouble you with that. If I were a man and had a nagging shrew at home with a sour face every day, I'd go out and find women every day," Alice said, seeming unconcerned.

"What did you say?" Fiona frowned, evidently getting angry.

"Women from the Cooper family are indeed not worthy of my Joseph," Alice said, raising her head slightly, confronting Fiona.

"Ahem, Miss Cooper, why don't you say less? I didn't intend to interact with you in the first place. And I really came here to buy clothes, not to stalk you. You're really overthinking it," Joseph also looked like he was giving sincere advice. He wasn't someone who easily got angry. Moreover, he didn't want to continue entangling with Fiona Cooper, who was the real adulterer.

"Buzz buzz buzz..."

Suddenly, Fiona's phone rang. She answered the call directly.

"What's the matter?" Fiona asked.

"Fiona, there's a problem with dozens of cooperation projects between the company and the Morgan Group. The family wants us to go back immediately. I can't explain it clearly over the phone. Come back right away, and we'll go together," Maria Long's anxious voice came from the other end of the line.

"What? How could this happen? I'll return immediately," Fiona hung up the phone in a hurry.

"I hope you behave yourself!"

"And you, Joseph Wilson, I don't want to see you in Nova City again in the future," Fiona left a few words for Joseph and Alice, then hurriedly left.

Seeing this scene, Joseph could only feel helpless. Fiona used to be just cold to him, but now it seemed she harbored hatred, because of Charles Martin?

"Joseph, you've endured this woman for three years. It must have been quite hard," Alice said, feeling somewhat distressed.

"It's alright. Anyway, we weren't really husband and wife. Those things were all arranged by my master. I don't know why he arranged it that way," Joseph said with a bitter smile.

"Joseph, take a look at this outfit. Come with me. Besides this one, there are a few more sets I want to buy for you," Alice pulled Joseph's hand and went to another area.

In the end, under Alice's persuasion, they spent nearly ten thousand dollars on clothes, basically buying clothes for the next few years.

The feeling of a woman spending money on him felt very strange to Joseph.

"Um, I'll pay you back when I have money in the future," Joseph said after Alice got in the car at Westfield Shopping Centers.

"Joseph, what are you saying? This little amount of money is nothing. Grandpa gives me a lot of pocket money every month. I can't spend it all by myself. I still have quite a bit saved on my card," Alice shook her head upon hearing this.

"Ahem... Your Morgan family may not lack money, but as a man, spending a girl's money always feels a bit odd," Joseph said somewhat awkwardly.

"What does it matter? I'm happy to spend money for Joseph. If possible, I'm willing to spend money on Joseph for a lifetime," Alice chuckled, sticking out her tongue, looking a bit mischievous.

"Alright then! Why don't we not eat out? Let's go back, and I'll cook something delicious for you," Joseph suggested.

"Great, great! I haven't tasted Joseph's cooking yet. Hehe, I'm so looking forward to it!" Alice was as happy as a lark upon hearing this.

"Then let's go. On the way back, we'll buy some ingredients," Joseph started the car.

Nearly an hour later, Joseph parked the car in front of the apartment.

"Joseph, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to buy you something very important. I'll go out and buy some first. There's a convenience store in the neighborhood. You go up first, and I'll go buy it for you now," Alice said to Joseph after getting out of the car.

"Huh? What important thing?" Joseph looked at Alice and asked.

"Don't worry about it. You'll know when I buy it. You go up quickly. I'll be back soon," Alice's pretty face blushed slightly. After gently pushing Joseph, she left as if escaping.

Naturally, such details didn't escape Joseph's eyes.

"What is she buying? So secretive? Even her face turned red!" Joseph muttered softly, seeing Alice's departing figure, but still went upstairs.

Chapter 7: The Bold and Proactive Girl Joseph went upstairs and started cooking. This was the first meal he cooked for himself in three years. In the Cooper family, he had been merely serving others for the past three years. Although Fiona didn't treat him as a husband, Joseph believed he had done everything a man should do, and even more than what an average man would do.

Soon, half an hour passed, but Alice hadn't returned yet. Joseph took out his phone, thinking of giving Alice a call, but realized he didn't have her phone number. He had been busy with his own matters all day and even forgot to ask for Alice's number.

Considering that Alice only went to buy some things in the neighborhood, he thought there shouldn't be any issues. Moreover, when he entered this neighborhood, he didn't notice any potential dangers. Perhaps for some special reason, Joseph was very sensitive to danger, though he himself didn't know why. Maybe he knew the reason before but had forgotten it now.

Just as Joseph was busy, he heard the sound of someone coming back outside, which must be Alice returning.

"Joseph, I'm back," Alice's voice came from outside after a moment, just as expected.

"What did you buy?" Joseph asked while busy in the kitchen.

"I'll give it to you in a moment," Alice replied, walking towards the kitchen. When Joseph asked, her pretty face blushed slightly, and she instinctively hid the things in her hands behind her back. Joseph noticed this subtle movement but didn't inquire further.

"Joseph, what delicious food are you making?" Alice poked her little head into the kitchen and asked with anticipation.

"I can't make anything particularly delicious. Just cooking something casually," Joseph smiled and said nonchalantly.

"I remember you like cheese steak the most, right?"

"Joseph, you've forgotten everything, but you still remember what I like to eat!" Hearing these words, Alice's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"I also find it strange. I can't recall some things, but some memories are very vivid," Joseph smiled helplessly.

"Joseph, you're truly wonderful. That woman from the Cooper family must be so blind to have missed out on you," Alice felt a bit regretful, yet also a sense of fortune.

"What do you mean by 'missed out'? We're just not suitable for each other. I prefer someone with more warmth and human touch," Joseph shook his head and chuckled.

"Hehe, I'm very warm. If Joseph doesn't believe it, you can feel it for yourself," Alice giggled, feeling happy in her heart. From what Joseph said, it seemed he liked girls like her more.

"Huh? How do I feel it?" Joseph asked instinctively.

"How would I know? It depends on how you want to feel it. Joseph can do whatever you want," Alice blushed at Joseph's question, suddenly thinking of some embarrassing things.

"Ah! No more talking. I still have some things to do. I need to call my grandpa," Alice left as if escaping, realizing the conversation was getting out of her control.

"Alice, can you give me your phone number? I don't have it yet," Joseph raised his voice.

"Okay, wait a moment. I'll change my clothes first," Alice's voice came from afar.

After a while, Alice walked into the kitchen again. This time, she had changed into casual clothes - a pair of light shorts, revealing her snow-white long legs, and a small, exquisite sleepwear top that perfectly showcased her stunning figure.

"Joseph, give me your phone. I'll input my number for you," Alice came to Joseph's side.

"I can't free my hands now. The phone is in my left pocket. Can you take it out yourself?" Joseph said while busily cooking.

"Okay." Hearing this, Alice reached into Joseph's left pocket. As a result, the two were very close. Joseph could smell the delicate fragrance of the young girl on Alice, while Alice could feel the manly aura from Joseph. Alice kept her hand inside for a long time without taking it out.

"Ahem, did you get it?" Joseph felt something was off.

"Joseph, aren't we too intimate? Is it a bit inappropriate for me to do this?" Alice suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Joseph was dumbfounded. Was this girl a bit foolish... or was she doing it on purpose?

"But your hand is already inside and has been there for a long time."

Girls nowadays are so mischievous, bold, and proactive.

"Oh, sorry. I got it, hehe." After fumbling around for a while, Alice finally took out Joseph's phone with satisfaction.

"Joseph, why are you still using this kind of phone?" Alice was a bit surprised after taking out the phone. Joseph's phone was too old and worn out - a Nokia from more than ten years ago.

"As long as it can make calls, it's fine," Joseph smiled wryly.

"How can that be? With a phone like this, you can't even use F******k. We have many phones at home. I'll change one for you," Alice looked at the decade-old Nokia in her hand and shook her head.

"It's fine as long as it works," Joseph said the same thing.

"No, I'm going. I'll change it for you. Don't worry, I'll help you." With that, Alice left and returned to her room, starting to tinker with Joseph's phone. She first removed the SIM card and then began fiddling with various things.

Meanwhile, Joseph was busy cooking in the kitchen. It was around 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening.

In Nova City, at the Greenfield Villa, due to Fiona continuously securing big projects for the family in recent years, the development of the Cooper family could even be described as advancing by leaps and bounds. Fiona's status in the Cooper family had also risen with the tide.

Two years ago, Fiona and her family moved into a villa in Greenfield Villa. At this moment, a BMW X5 stopped in front of the villa. Fiona Cooper got out of the car in a hurry, wearing high heels, and walked into the villa.

"Dad? Mom? What happened? Our relationship with Morgan Group has always been very good. Why did they suddenly stop our project?" Fiona asked anxiously as soon as she entered.

At this time, Maria Long and Stephen Cooper were sitting at opposite ends of the table, lost in thought. There were dishes on the table that were about to get cold, but they had no appetite.

"Fiona, you're back!" Maria Long only reacted when she saw Fiona coming in.

"Fiona, we don't know the specific reason. Your grandmother said there's no use being anxious. Morgan Group isn't answering calls or responding to messages. You need to go there in person tomorrow to find out. After all, you've been the one leading the projects with Morgan Group," Stephen Cooper said in a dispirited tone.

Hearing this, Fiona looked at the time. It was past 7 o'clock.

"They're not answering calls or replying to messages, probably because they're off work already. I can only go there tomorrow," Fiona sat down and sighed softly.

"Fiona, you don't need to worry too much. Our cooperation with Morgan Group has always been pleasant, and you have a good relationship with them. You can definitely solve the problem by talking face-to-face tomorrow. Hasn't Morgan Group been on good terms with us all these years?" Maria Long served Fiona a bowl of soup and comforted her.

"Your mom is right. Let's eat first. At 10 o'clock tonight, your grandmother wants us all to go over for a meeting. This matter can't be delayed. We'll discuss then and see how to handle these issues," Stephen Cooper also comforted, but Fiona still had no appetite.

"Brother-in-law, Dad, Mom, Sis, I'm back. What's up with brother-in-law? He's not answering calls or replying to messages, making me take a taxi back by myself," at this moment, a pleasant voice came from outside. It was Heidi returning. Heidi walked in impetuously.

Chapter 8: Brother-in-law, I'm Worried About You However, upon entering, Heidi Cooper noticed Maria Long, Stephen Cooper, and Fiona Cooper sitting at the dining table, staring at each other. The atmosphere felt a bit off.

"Um, what's going on? Why isn't anyone talking? Where's brother-in-law?" Heidi sat down cautiously, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

"What brother-in-law are you talking about?" Maria Long asked with a displeased expression.

"What? Joseph Wilson, my brother-in-law," Heidi was momentarily confused.

"He's not your brother-in-law anymore," Maria Long said with disdain.

"What? How is he not my brother-in-law anymore?" Heidi was completely baffled.

"I divorced him. He's already left," Fiona said coldly.

"What? Divorced?"

"Sis, are you crazy? Why did you drive him away? What did he do to offend you?" Heidi was perplexed.

"He and I are from two different worlds. I, Fiona Cooper, look down on men like him," Fiona said with indifference.

"No, I don't know how he falls short. He's always been diligent, honest, and humble."

"You don't want to marry that Charles Martin, do you? Sis, you've gone mad. Charles Martin is not a good person," Heidi said, utterly bewildered.

"I never said I wanted to marry anyone. Eat your food," Fiona said emotionlessly, poking at her rice bowl.

"Calling him brother-in-law all day long, what's so good about that loser? Eat your food. Do you need to manage your sister's affairs? Why do you care so much about that Joseph?" Maria Long said irritably.

"Enough, let's all eat. Stop discussing that outsider," Stephen Cooper finally spoke.

"You..." Heidi was momentarily speechless.

"Enough, stop talking. Just eat!" Maria Long gave Heidi a turkey leg, trying to shut her up.

Heidi had nothing to say. She instinctively took a bite, but as soon as the food entered her mouth, she spat it out with a disgusted expression.

"Pfft... Pfft! What the hell is this? Why is the food so awful today? What's going on?" Heidi looked miserable.

"Awful? How is it awful? Your mom was busy today, so your dad cooked. Just make do with it!" Maria Long glared at Heidi.

"Mom, you have no self-awareness about your culinary skills. Your cooking is even worse than Dad's. I'm not eating. This life is unbearable. I'll go eat instant noodles by myself." Heidi stood up and returned to her room in a huff.

"Hey, you..." Maria Long was helpless seeing this.

"Is it really that bad?" Maria Long couldn't quite believe it.

"It's a bit unpleasant," Fiona had already eaten some. Although it was bearable, the food couldn't compare to what Joseph cooked.

Maria Long also tasted a bite.

"Pfft, pfft..." As soon as the food entered her mouth, she spat it out.

Stephen Cooper watched this scene with an innocent expression. His cooking skills were poor, but Maria Long's were even worse. Fiona took after her mother, with a similar level of skill.

"Stephen Cooper, what are you doing? You can't even cook a few dishes properly. Is salt free?" Maria Long exploded in anger.

"You've all gotten used to that loser's cooking. Besides, as a grown man, I can't spend all day studying how to cook, right?" Stephen Cooper said, a bit exasperated.

"I'm full. I'll go back to my room first," Fiona stood up and left for her room.

Maria Long and Stephen Cooper sat at the table, both in a bad mood.

"We can't go without eating in the future. Let's hire a housekeeper," after a long while, Maria Long finally spoke.

"That's the only way," Stephen Cooper also had a sullen expression, looking at the table full of dishes, feeling quite helpless.

Heidi returned to her room, still full of resentment.

"What's the big deal? Who does she think she is? She really considers herself a goddess? You're so high and mighty, you're so great, no man in this world is worthy of you," Heidi tossed her things on the bed, grumbling incessantly.

After taking off her outer clothes, she lay directly on the bed and took out her phone. She found Joseph's phone number and called him right away.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later," the voice prompt indicating the phone was off came from the other end.

"What's going on? Why is it switched off?" Heidi tried calling several more times, but the message remained the same.

Left with no choice, she could only send messages.

"Brother-in-law, where did you go? Why is your phone switched off?"

"Brother-in-law, what's wrong? Are you okay? Reply to me when you see the message!"

"Brother-in-law, you're not thinking of doing something stupid like committing suicide, are you? Don't do anything foolish. If you need any help, just tell me..."

"Brother-in-law, can you at least reply? You're making me really worried about you..."

"Brother-in-law?"

"..."

Heidi sent many messages in a row. She lost count of how many she had sent.

Previously, Joseph's phone was always accessible 24/7, and he would reply to messages instantly. He never disappeared like this and was basically available whenever needed, always responding to everything.

After sending numerous messages, she finally stopped.

Perhaps brother-in-law was heartbroken and didn't want to see anyone from the Cooper family anymore. It made sense. All these years, this family had always treated him as an outsider.

Thinking this way, Heidi stood up, took her cup, and went out to get some water.

"Joseph Wilson? Joseph Wilson? Get me a glass of water. Also, I'm going to wash my feet. Prepare the foot bath water for me," at this moment, Fiona's voice came from her room. Hearing these words, Heidi was a bit exasperated.

"Joseph, are you deaf or dead? Can't you hear me talking?" When there was no response, Fiona stormed out of the room.

"Sis, are you crazy? What Joseph? Didn't you drive Joseph away?"

"From now on, get your own foot bath water. Or see if Charles Martin, whom you'll marry in the future, is willing to get foot bath water for you," Heidi shook her head and sighed.

Hearing these words, Fiona remembered that Joseph had left and felt awkward.

"I... forgot," Fiona opened her mouth, but in the end, only uttered this sentence.

"He's a man, after all. Don't keep ordering him around. People have dignity. Serving you all day and getting scolded. He must feel liberated now. You're on your own!" Heidi took a sip of water and slowly walked back to her room.

Hearing Heidi's words, Fiona rubbed her forehead.

"Am I going crazy? Joseph is gone. Why am I calling for him? What an exhausting day," Fiona sighed, shook her head, and also returned to her room.

Back in the room, Fiona sat down and wearily slumped over the table.

A few minutes later, she took out her phone and stared at it, lost in thought.

"Did I... go too far?" After a long while, Fiona murmured this sentence.

Chapter 9: If Only It Could Last Forever After much inner struggle, Fiona finally dialed Joseph's number. Over the years, she had never taken the initiative to call Joseph unless there was a particularly important matter she needed him to handle.

However, after dialing, the voice prompt indicated that the phone was switched off. Upon hearing this, Fiona put down the phone and continued to rest her head on the table with her eyes closed.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated again. Startled, she immediately opened her phone, only to feel a sense of disappointment when she saw it was a F*****k message from her best friend, Hannah.

Fiona suddenly felt a bit ridiculous. What was she expecting? For Joseph to come back and beg her not to divorce him?

Thinking this way, she still opened F*****k and read the messages from Hannah.

"Dear Fiona, congratulations on regaining your freedom and getting rid of that loser!"

"So, when shall we meet up and celebrate?"

Hannah sent two messages.

"Let's forget about celebrating. I'm busy these days. I have company matters to attend to tomorrow," Fiona replied, politely declining.

"In a couple of days, I have a scheduled course at Nova University, a rather important lecture."

"Ah? Okay, okay. Let me know whenever you're free. This time, to celebrate your rebirth, we sisters will treat you."

"By the way, I heard your childhood sweetheart is back from abroad, a returnee with a doctoral degree, and will be teaching at Nova University. Do you want to bring him along so we sisters can help you out?" Hannah sent another message.

"What returnee with a doctoral degree? He's just a childhood playmate. I don't have any feelings for him. You're all too gossipy," Fiona replied, feeling a bit exhausted by what had happened at the Cooper Group today. Moreover, she didn't want to expose her relationship with Charles Martin.

"Let's not talk about it for now. I still have things to take care of tonight. I'll take a nap first."

"Okay, okay. Let's keep in touch in a few days then." Hannah had to leave it at that.

Fiona put down her phone again and lay back in her office chair, resting with her eyes closed.

Meanwhile, in Emerald Estates, Nova City, Alice was still in her room, fiddling with Joseph's phone. She first inserted Joseph's SIM card into a new phone, then helped him register for F*****k, adding her own and her grandfather's F****k and phone numbers.

She also changed Joseph's note for her to "Ali."

Finally, she saved Joseph's phone number in her own phone.

After doing all this, Alice noticed that Joseph's phone had received quite a few messages and missed calls, but she didn't look at them. After all, that was Joseph's privacy.

At this moment, a delightful aroma of food wafted in from outside, making one's appetite soar. She simply tossed aside Joseph's phone and went out directly.

"Wow, Joseph, you made so many delicious dishes!" Alice was a bit shocked seeing the table full of food.

"There are two more dishes. They'll be ready soon. You can start eating first," Joseph's voice came from the kitchen.

"Great, great. Then I won't stand on ceremony. Hehe..." Alice was overjoyed. She picked up the utensils, ready to dig in.

However, at this moment, she thought of something and stopped.

"No, no. Such a visually appealing and aromatic feast must be photographed and shared first." Alice took out her phone and started snapping pictures of the dishes on the table.

Then, she selected the nine most perfect photos and captioned them: Joseph's perfect culinary skills. If only I could enjoy such delicious food for a lifetime!

After doing all this, she was about to post it but felt like something was missing.

"It would be perfect if there was a photo with Joseph," Alice muttered to herself. With this thought in mind, she immediately went to the kitchen.

"Joseph, look at the camera." Joseph instinctively turned his head.

Click! The sound of the camera shutter went off, capturing a selfie of Alice holding her phone with Joseph cooking in the kitchen.

"Okay, you can continue cooking." Alice looked at the photo, obviously very satisfied.

Hearing this, Joseph could only chuckle and continue with his work.

Alice placed the photo with Joseph in the most prominent position in the center, then hit the publish button, posting what she thought was a perfect update.

But then, she felt it wasn't enough. She wanted to send these food photos to her university dormitory mates group to make them envious.

"Hehe, have you all eaten? If not, take a look at my dinner," Alice said in the dormitory mates group.

Dormitory mate Faith: "..."

Dormitory mate Evelyn: "??!"

Dormitory mate Rebecca: "Ali, haven't seen you back in the dorm for several days. Where did you go to feast on such delicacies? Missing you. Big sis hasn't been able to hug you to sleep for many days. Miss you."

Alice was very satisfied with everyone's reactions.

"It's my brother Joseph's culinary skills. How is it? Doesn't it look delicious?" Alice was quite smug.

"Tsk, tsk. So it's made by the man of your dreams whom you always talk about. No wonder you're showing off like this," Faith said sarcastically.

"Alice, are you in a relationship? Did you finally win over that man? @Alice," Evelyn also tagged Alice.

"Hey, can you not be in a relationship? If you're in a relationship, does that mean big sis won't be able to hug you to sleep anymore?" Rebecca seemed very regretful.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Nothing is certain between him and me yet!" Alice's pretty face turned slightly red.

"Tsk, tsk. Not certain? I think it's almost certainly certain. Tell us, when will you bring him out for us sisters to see?"

"Yeah, yeah. Let us sisters take a look for you. Our judgment of men is top-notch."

"I'm really curious. What kind of man has our silly girl so infatuated?"

"..."

The dormitory mates group started discussing animatedly.

"Alright, alright. Stop it. What are you all in a hurry for? You'll have plenty of opportunities to meet him in the future," Alice replied, unable to withstand the teasing from her gossipy dormitory mates.

"Okay, let's not talk about it. I'm going to eat now." Alice chose to close the chat group.

However, she then sent the food photos to her family group.

"@Grandpa, Grandpa, Joseph made these. They look delicious, right? You won't get to taste them today."

Soon, she received a reply from Blake Morgan.

"Next time, I'll go over too. Let him cook for me personally. It looks quite flavorful." Blake Morgan seemed a bit impatient between the lines.

"@Blake Morgan, Dad, what's going on? How can you let Alice live alone with a boy? It's too unsafe," Alice's father, Mason Morgan, spoke up at this point.

Chapter 10: I Like All Your Ways "What does it have to do with you?" Blake Morgan was the first to reply.

"Grandpa is right. What does it have to do with you?" Alice also replied in the group.

Seeing their responses, Mason Morgan was speechless and could only send a series of question marks in the group to express his astonishment.

"Dad, although you have the final say in Alice's matters, and I trust your judgment, I should at least know what kind of man my daughter is going to marry, right? I'll find time to go over and take a look after a while. There are too many things going on here in Metropolis City at the moment. @Blake Morgan," after a long time, Mason Morgan sent another lengthy message.

"Do as you wish. It's not like you can change anything anyway," Blake Morgan said rather domineeringly.

"Dad, you're overthinking. It's only just beginning now!" Alice was obviously a bit exasperated too.

After replying, Alice put down her phone.

"Why aren't you eating yet?" At this moment, Joseph also came out from the kitchen. He placed the last dish on the table.

"Ah? I was waiting for you! I thought about it and felt it wasn't quite right to start eating alone," Alice was slightly stunned, then answered.

"Try it. No need to be so formal," Joseph picked up a piece of cheese steak for Alice, making her feel a sense of bliss.

"Thank you," Alice expressed her gratitude, then took a bite.

However, after just one bite, her expression changed, and she instantly froze.

"Um, how is it? Not tasty?" Joseph noticed Alice's unusual expression and asked.

However, Alice didn't answer. Instead, she picked up two more pieces and started eating.

"If it's not tasty, don't force yourself. Try something else?" Joseph blinked and suggested.

"Joseph, what are you saying? What do you mean by not tasty? It's too delicious! How can it be so delicious? This is the most delicious cheese steak I've ever eaten. It's simply too good."

"I won't talk to you anymore. I'm going to eat first. It's too delicious," Alice couldn't wait to start eating. She was already a bit hungry, and with such delicacies in front of her, she found it even harder to control herself.

"This is delicious!"

"Oh, this is delicious too."

"This one, this one, even more delicious."

"Wow, this is the most delicious. It's too good."

As she ate, Alice kept praising Joseph endlessly.

Hearing this, Joseph felt a bit unreal. Was it really that delicious?

"Isn't this just an ordinary home-cooked meal? Is it really that delicious?" Joseph smiled awkwardly. Was this girl just teasing him?

"Joseph, you're being too humble. Whew, even the top chefs in my family can't make dishes as delicious as yours."

"Joseph, be more confident. You're really amazing and awesome," Alice continued to praise him while not stopping her hands from eating.

Joseph smiled and started eating too.

Alice ate more dishes, while Joseph ate more rice. Since childhood, Joseph had always had a huge appetite.

After about an hour, Alice was finally full. Although Joseph had a large appetite, he was already full at this point.

"If it's not enough, I can make more for you," Joseph noticed Alice's lingering desire for more.

"Ah? No, no. I can't eat anymore. Really can't eat anymore," Alice quickly responded.

She seemed to have been eating a bit like a wolf just now, not very ladylike. Would Joseph dislike her?

Thinking about this, Alice felt a bit uneasy.

"That's good then," Joseph smiled.

"Joseph, I don't usually eat so unladylike. Do you prefer gentler girls?" Alice asked tentatively.

"You just need to be the way you like. It doesn't matter what kind of girls I like," Joseph chuckled.

"How can that be? That's too casual," Alice shook her head.

"Then let me put it another way. I like all your ways," Joseph said with a smile.

"Ah? Are you serious?" When Joseph said this, Alice's pretty face instantly turned red. She turned around and fled back to her room.

Joseph watched Alice's departing figure and just laughed. She was already eighteen years old, yet still like a child.

After Alice left, Joseph began to clean up.

Back in her room, it took a long time for Alice's burning heart to cool down.

"So, Joseph likes me too. Does that mean we have mutual feelings?" Alice lay on the bed, hugging her big plush doll, talking to herself.

Suddenly, she thought of something, grabbed her phone, dialed Blake Morgan's number, and called.

Before long, the call was answered.

"Hello, Alice. How is it going? Have you arranged everything?" Blake Morgan's voice came from the other end of the line.

"Of course. It's not a difficult task. I've settled Joseph in," Alice replied.

"So, what's the matter? Calling grandpa so late?" Blake Morgan asked again.

"There's nothing in particular. I just wanted to tell you that Joseph's cooking skills are really good, much better than those top chefs in our family," Alice couldn't stop praising Joseph's culinary skills.

"Hahaha... Is that so? Now I want to taste it even more."

"However, I can't fully trust your opinion on it being delicious because, in the eyes of someone you love, even their flaws are virtues," Blake Morgan couldn't help but tease.

"What do you mean by 'someone you love'? My relationship with Joseph is not certain yet!" Alice said this, but her heart was happy.

"I remember three years ago, when Joseph married into the Cooper family, someone in our family hid and cried for a day and night, with swollen eyes."

"She even said Joseph Wilson had promised to marry her and that Joseph wasn't a man of his word," Blake Morgan teased again.

"Grandpa, you... Always teasing people. I won't talk to you anymore," Alice's pretty face turned slightly red, unable to keep a straight face. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Blake Morgan, she hung up the phone.

After hanging up, Alice opened F*****k and found that her update had exploded with 99 comments.

Moreover, when she opened it, she saw that all 99 comments on the update were from the food photos she had just posted, mostly from boys.

"Alice, who is this man? He's not your boyfriend, is he?"

"Alice, are you in a relationship? Which family's young master is this?"

"Joseph? Who is Joseph?"

"Fuck, if he becomes your boyfriend, I'll kill him..."

"Hehe... Don't let me see this guy in Nova City. Every time I see him, I'll beat him up twice..."

Alice read the comments for a while. They were all a mess.

Chapter 11: Buying This for a Boy for the First Time Due to the overwhelming number of messy comments, Alice couldn't read them one by one. More importantly, there was no need to do so.

With her pure and beautiful appearance and good family background, naturally, many people pursued her at school. The wealthy young masters of Nova City's affluent families, without exception, were all her ardent admirers.

However, in her eyes, these were all just frivolous playboys. From a young age, her heart had only been filled with her Joseph. Her entire youth was occupied by beautiful memories related to Joseph.

Alice opened her phone, thinking of replying in the comment section to clarify her relationship with Joseph to avoid any misunderstandings. But after thinking about it, she stopped and deleted the entire line of text she had typed.

Why should she clarify? If she deliberately clarified, would Joseph be unhappy? But if she didn't clarify, many people would be displeased, right?

However, what did other people's displeasure have to do with her? As long as Joseph was happy, that's all that mattered.

With this thought, Alice put down her phone.

"Knock, knock, knock..." There was a knocking sound from outside.

"Alice, can I have my phone back?" Joseph's voice came from outside. Only then did Alice remember that Joseph's phone was in her room.

"Ah? Right, I forgot to give you the phone," Alice looked at it, grabbed Joseph's new phone, and opened the door.

Joseph was waiting at the door.

"Joseph, this is your new phone. It used to be my spare phone. This is your old phone. I'm giving them both to you."

"Also, I registered F******k for you and added my and Grandpa's contact information."

"By the way, quite a few messages came in just now. I guess someone was looking for you. Don't worry, I didn't read the content. I know to respect your privacy," Alice handed the two phones to Joseph and explained everything carefully and patiently.

"Okay, thank you," Joseph thanked her with a smile.

"Joseph?" Alice looked at Joseph with a slightly aggrieved expression, which Joseph didn't quite understand.

"Um, what's the matter?" Joseph asked.

"Don't say thank you, okay? Why are you still so polite with me? What's mine is yours. If you want anything, just tell me."

Hearing these words, Joseph felt touched in his heart. Since his parents passed away, the grandfather and granddaughter of the Morgan family had been the kindest people to him.

He had thought he would be alone for the rest of his life, but now, having a girl who was good to him seemed not bad.

However, over the years, he had completely forgotten about others, which made him feel somewhat guilty.

"Then I won't thank you," Joseph smiled.

"Hey, you... Alright, you've been busy all day. Go take a shower and get some rest. I have classes tomorrow afternoon," Alice sighed, feeling a bit exasperated. Her Joseph was a bit too straightforward.

However, even the straightforward Joseph was adorable.

"Okay," Joseph agreed, but then thought of something.

"No, wait a moment."

"Hmm? Joseph, is there anything else?" Alice was about to close the door but was stopped by Joseph.

"What did you go downstairs to buy for me earlier?" Joseph asked curiously.

"Um..." Alice was stunned for a moment, her pretty face turning slightly red as she recalled something embarrassing.

"That... I'll go get it for you. Wait here!" Alice, with a flushed face, went back to her room and closed the door behind her.

"Why so mysterious?" Joseph became even more puzzled.

Before long, Alice's door opened again, and Alice came out holding something, but she hid it behind her back, so Joseph couldn't see what it was.

"Umm, Joseph, could you please close your eyes? Close your eyes, and I'll give you the thing," Alice's pretty face was flushed, her head slightly lowered, looking enchantingly beautiful.

"So mysterious?" Joseph was stunned again.

"Alright then, I'll close my eyes," saying this, Joseph closed his eyes.

"Don't open your eyes. Only open them after I'm back in my room," Alice reminded him again.

"Okay," Joseph could only agree.

Subsequently, Joseph felt something soft being placed in his hands.

"Okay... Okay, I didn't know about the sizes and all, so I bought two of each size for you," after saying this, Alice fled back to her room and closed the door tightly.

After Alice returned to her room, Joseph opened his eyes and discovered that he was holding several pairs of men's underwear.

"Oh... So that's what it was!" Joseph was stunned for a moment, muttering to himself. After realizing what it was, he chuckled.

Then, holding his intimate clothing, he left.

After returning to her room, Alice buried her head tightly in her pillow. It was simply embarrassing to death. It was the first time she had bought such things for a boy. She had originally wanted Joseph to buy them himself.

But then, she felt that doing this had a special meaning.

After calming her excited emotions, Alice opened her F*****k chat window with Joseph.

"Umm, Joseph, I've never bought such things for anyone before. I really don't know much about it. See if you like the styles."

"Whew... I squatted outside the convenience store for twenty minutes before mustering the courage to go in!" Alice typed rapidly and sent two messages to Joseph.

"What's there to care about styles for these things? It's not like you girls!" Joseph replied with a message, accompanied by a smirking emoji.

"Ah ah ah! Joseph, you're so knowledgeable! Did you buy them for your ex-wife before?" Alice asked tentatively.

"No. She and I weren't husband and wife, not even friends."

"I won't talk to you for now. I'm going to take a shower and take care of some things," Joseph replied briefly.

With that, Joseph started checking the 99+ messages on his phone.

Upon opening them, he found that they were all from Heidi, inquiring about his whereabouts.

During these few years in the Cooper family, only Heidi treated him as a family member, although she also liked to order him around. But she sincerely considered him her brother-in-law.

Additionally, he discovered that he had dozens of missed calls. After a quick glance, except for one from Fiona, the rest were all from Heidi.

It seemed that Heidi was quite worried about him. He should call her back; otherwise, it would be too heartless to ignore her good intentions.

However, just as Joseph was about to call Heidi, Heidi's call came in. Joseph was slightly stunned and pressed the answer button.

Chapter 12: She Doesn't Cherish You, But I Do "Hello? Brother-in-law? Is that you, brother-in-law?" Upon discovering that the call had connected, Heidi's anxious voice came from the other end.

"Um... Heidi, it's me, Joseph," Joseph calmly replied.

"Brother-in-law, what are you doing? Such a grown man, not answering calls, not replying to messages, disappearing for an entire day. Do you know how worried I was about you?"

"I called many neighbors and relatives, and they all said they hadn't seen you. I was so anxious that I was about to call the police."

"Do you have any idea how concerned I was that you might have jumped into the river in despair?"

"..."

Without letting Joseph say much, Heidi started scolding him.

Hearing all this, Joseph could only smile helplessly.

After thoroughly reprimanding Joseph, Heidi finally stopped, feeling much more at ease.

"Are you done?" Joseph asked with a smile.

"I'm done. Don't do this again next time. And I'm serious, don't think of doing anything rash," Heidi continued.

"I just didn't have my phone with me temporarily, so I couldn't answer the calls. I've been cooking this whole time," Joseph felt it necessary to explain.

"Whew... Speaking of eating, I haven't eaten yet. I'm starving to death," upon mentioning this, Heidi sounded so aggrieved that she was about to cry. When Joseph was around, he never let her go hungry. Today, with Joseph gone for just one day, she was already starving.

"What's going on? It's already almost 9 o'clock. Hasn't dinner been prepared at home?" Joseph asked casually.

"Brother-in-law, you have no idea. My dad's cooking skills are so bad that even dogs wouldn't eat what he makes," Heidi said.

"Of course, if my mom cooks, it's even more terrifying."

"The things they make are simply inedible. I took a bite and completely lost my appetite. I can only eat instant noodles now," when it came to food, Heidi rambled on and on.

"Before I left at noon, I put some prepared dishes in the second layer of the living room fridge. There are vegetables, meat, and even a steak. You can take them out and eat. It's enough for one meal."

"When your dad was cooking, he probably didn't open the living room fridge, so he didn't see the food inside," Joseph said offhandedly.

"Ah? Really?" Hearing this, Heidi was overjoyed.

"Go take a look, and you'll know. Just heat it up, and it'll be ready to eat," Joseph said with a smile.

"I'll go check," Heidi immediately took a bowl and chopsticks from the kitchen and hurried to the living room. She opened the second layer of the fridge and found that there were indeed five or six dishes inside, including her favorite cumin lamb chops. Heidi instantly had tears in her eyes.

"Whew, it's really here. Brother-in-law, you're truly too kind. You're the best brother-in-law in the world," Heidi directly took action, scooping a large portion of the lamb chops into her bowl, and secretly returned to her room.

Back in her room, she started eating.

"Wow, it smells so good. My dad's cooking skills can't even compare to yours," Heidi couldn't stop praising.

"Be careful eating it cold. You might get an upset stomach," Joseph reminded her helplessly.

"I can't be bothered about that now. I'm starving. Without you, I really don't even have food to eat," Heidi said.

"Brother-in-law, I miss you. I don't know how I'll live in the future. Do I have to eat out every day?"

"Brother-in-law, where are you staying now? Should I move in with you? That way, I can eat your cooking every day."

"..."

Heidi kept talking while eating.

"Right now, I'm staying at a friend's place. I don't have money to rent a place. When I have money, I'll see if I want to rent a house," Joseph said casually.

"Ah? Is that so? Then can I come over and freeload meals? I can pay for my share of the food. I have pocket money," Heidi said.

"Oh, right. Brother-in-law, you must be short on money now. I'll transfer some to you later."

"When you have money to rent a house in the future, I'll move in with you."

"By the way, about you and my sister getting divorced, don't be too sad. There are plenty of good women in this world. If my sister doesn't want you, it's her loss. One day, she'll regret it."

"If you really can't take it, I'll marry you in my sister's place. She doesn't cherish you, but I do," Heidi's words became more and more unrestrained.

Pfft! Joseph, who had just poured himself a glass of water and taken a sip, spat it out upon hearing Heidi's shocking statement.

"What do you mean by marrying me in your sister's place? Don't talk nonsense, okay? Can such a thing even be substituted?"

"Are you trying to sell yourself to me for a mouthful of food?" Joseph almost collapsed on the spot. This girl's way of thinking was truly bizarre.

"What's wrong with that? What's wrong with doing it for a mouthful of food? You're much better than those hypocritical jerks. Brother-in-law, why don't you consider it?"

"I'm very easy to support. As long as I have food to eat, it's enough. My monthly allowance is also not bad, but I never buy branded clothes or makeup. I basically spend very little each month," Heidi said solemnly.

"Stop talking nonsense. Eat your food properly. Don't you have school tomorrow?" Joseph laughed, not taking Heidi's words to heart at all.

"I do! Whew... In the future, no one will drive me to school, and no one will cook for me! When I'm sick, there won't even be anyone to buy medicine for me," upon mentioning school, Heidi immediately became sorrowful.

"Alright, you're an adult now. You need to learn to take care of yourself. If your stomach feels uncomfortable after eating cold food, there's medicine in the medicine box in the living room. I've written clear instructions on how to use the medicine," Joseph took the opportunity to remind her again.

"You're still the most considerate one, brother-in-law. You're such a good person, the best," Heidi felt touched in her heart. It was difficult to find another man in this world who was so meticulous and caring.

"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now," Joseph saw that they had been chatting for quite a while.

"Wait, brother-in-law. Have you figured out what work you'll do in the future? Is there anything I can help with regarding work?" Heidi suddenly asked.

"As for work, my friend should have arranged it for me," Joseph scratched his head, a bit uncertain.

"What do you mean by 'should have arranged'? Has it been arranged or not? What kind of work has your friend arranged for you?" Heidi was a bit exasperated upon hearing these vague words.

"If there are no issues, I should be going to work as a teacher," Joseph answered with some uncertainty.

"A teacher? An elementary school teacher? Or a kindergarten teacher? If it's an elementary school teacher, that's okay. Although the pay isn't high, it's stable," Heidi said knowledgeably.

"Not an elementary school teacher. A teacher at Nova University," Joseph explained.

"What? A teacher at Nova University?" Upon hearing Joseph's words, Heidi was startled. She suspected that she had misheard or that Joseph had made a mistake.

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The mag-lev train screamed past overhead, its shadow swallowing me whole as I crouched behind the InterContinental Hotel’s marble pillar. My knuckles whitened around the hilt of a knight’s sword ripped from the wall display—half a meter of cold steel meant for decoration, now trembling in my grip. Inside Room 1207, moans echoed through the cracked door. Fiona. My wife. On her knees. Another man’s hand buried in her hair.

I hadn’t touched her in three years. Not once. And now she was gagging on some stranger’s cock while whispering filthy promises.

Rage burned behind my eyes. I wanted to kick the door open. To slice him open from navel to throat. To make her watch.

Then my fingers brushed the blade’s edge—and something snapped inside my skull.

A flood of images: blood-soaked dojos, a dying old man clutching my wrist, a mountain peak wreathed in storm clouds. My name wasn’t just Joseph Wilson. It was something older. Darker.

The sword fell from my hand with a clang.

When I looked up, the sounds had stopped. The door creaked wider.

They were coming out.