Wrong marriage and sweet love (Joyce and Luther) novel Chapter 1707

Chapter 1707: Hiding Something from Me?

He clenched his fists, his expression turning sinister.

"They're both dead, yet they still refuse to admit it. Felix kept boasting that he had evidence to prove Luther's innocence, but he could never produce the evidence. In my opinion, he was just talking nonsense. Felix, he was Luther's friend, but wasn't he mine too? We had been close since childhood, our families were intertwined. Lives were at stake, so why did he always side with Luther?"

"So, you cut ties with Felix later?" Joyce put down her cup. "Vicki has been working for Nightfall. Is it related to all this?"

"Yes," Christian nodded. "I've always wanted to find the evidence Felix mentioned. I wanted to know if he was fabricating stories or if such evidence truly existed."

"And you never found it, did you?" Joyce asked again.

"Let it go. I don't want to bring up the past anymore," Christian's enchanting eyes narrowed, reflecting an unusual light.

Joyce carefully observed the changes in Christian's demeanor.

Something felt off to her.

"Thank you for telling me all this. I didn't intend to disturb you, but it's better to resolve conflicts than let them fester. I'll do my best to provide you with an explanation for your doubts," Joyce finished her tea and made a promise.

Christian looked at her, it had been a long time. She was even more beautiful and charming than before, radiating an irresistible aura. It was evident that she was doing well.

He felt a bit displeased. "Why would I need you to explain things to me?"

Looking him up and down, he asked, "Is he treating you well?"

Before Joyce could answer, he continued, "If he's not treating you well, you're welcome to return to my side. You know, I don't mind your past. I respect your choices." With that, he even opened his arms, gesturing as if to embrace her.

Darrin nearly choked on his own saliva. He didn't expect Christian to be so explicit. He felt uneasy, avoiding eye contact, not knowing where to look.

Joyce glared at Christian speechlessly.

Such words, Christian had said them before, always half-serious and half-jokingly, and she never took them seriously.

But today was different.

She carefully examined Christian, his dark eyes almost solidified, calm and devoid of any playful elements. On the contrary, his expression was serious.

"Heh," Joyce smiled, "Mr. Ballard, as usual."

She paused. "I'm sorry for what happened to your sister. I didn't expect you to have such a painful past. Thank you for telling me. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."

Standing up, she gave a slight nod of gratitude to Christian.

Suddenly, Christian stood up and grabbed Joyce's wrist. "Wait."

Joyce looked at him, puzzled.

"You know about Luther's first love and the despicable things he did. Why don't you react at all? I thought you would at least feel disappointed or heartbroken. Knowing that he once had someone else in his heart, aren't you even a little bit upset? Doesn't it hurt?" Christian pulled Joyce closer, scrutinizing her gaze.

From her clear eyes, he couldn't see any panic or fluctuations.

He couldn't understand.

If you deeply love someone, how could you not mind?

Joyce replied, "What has happened cannot be changed. We can only strive for the future, besides..."

She didn't continue.

He struggled for a moment but ultimately didn't reveal the fact that Athena hadn't died.

He wanted to handle the matters concerning the Ballard family himself.

Whatever Athena wanted to do, it was the responsibility of the Ballard Group to stop her. If she wanted to harm Joyce, he would do everything in his power to prevent it.

"No," Christian denied, "I'm not hiding anything from you. Joyce, take care of yourself, and contact me if anything happens."

Joyce's gaze lingered on Christian for a moment, and she nodded gently. "I will. I'm leaving now. We'll see each other again sometime."

With that, she and Darrin left together.

Christian didn't see them off. After they left, he turned to look outside the window. It was pitch black, and only the gnarled branches trembled in the night wind, creating an eerie sight.

His mood grew even heavier. Joyce had suspected something. If she had approached him about the past, it meant she had caught on to some clues. He didn't want anything to happen to her, and he would never allow Athena to harm her.

He had to protect her, just like four years ago.

With that in mind, he picked up his phone and ordered his subordinates, "Keep a close eye on Athena, observe her daily activities. And spread the word, she is not allowed to use the influence of the Ballard family. No one should follow anyone's orders except mine."

After hanging up, he took a deep breath. His once intense obsession with Athena seemed to have faded with time. Even when he saw Athena wake up and stand up again, he couldn't muster any excitement.

All that remained was the heartache caused by Athena's deception.

Now, he was unsure of his own feelings.

The image of Joyce sitting in front of him, serene and poised, emerged in his mind. Unconsciously, a smile appeared on his lips.