Chapter 9 Another Man
692 Words
Liam hesitated before answering, "Mr. Molan Denvers."
Joseph was surprised. "She knows Molan?"
Liam was equally perplexed as he saw Yolanda and Molan enjoying their dinner together.
If he hadn't just happened to walk past that restaurant, he wouldn't have noticed.
"Shall I call him over and explain this," Liam suggested.
Joseph agreed, prompting Liam to make the call.
About twenty minutes later, Molan arrived at the office.
Upon entering, he began, "Just in time. I happen to need to talk to you..."
"You know Yolanda?"
His words were cut off by Joseph's interruption. Startled, Molan nodded, "Yes, she's my junior. Joseph, could you possibly be a bit nicer to her?"
Joseph raised an eyebrow, reclining casually, a sign to those who knew him well that he was deep in thought.
Were Molan and Yolanda so close that he would defend her so considerately?
Somehow, Joseph just found an inexplicable sense of unease within him.
In a deep, measured tone, he asked, "Are you defending her? What exactly is your relationship?"
"We're just alumni from the same medical school. She was two years junior to me. Back at school, I heard her dad had a mistress and didn't treat her or her mom well. She had to work part-time during school to pay her tuition. Quite a pitiful girl, if I must say," Molan spoke on behalf of Yolanda, hoping Joseph would reconsider and not jeopardize her job.
"That's why I've been looking out for her. We're close friends. Joseph, given that she has a sick mother who needs expensive medical treatment, can you forgive her this once? She can't survive without a job."
Molan pushed on. "I don't know what she did to upset you, but could you possibly do me this favor?"
Joseph's expression remained unchanged, but internally, he was a slight tug at his emotions.
It did sound rather pitiable.
Yet, that alone wasn't enough to sway him.
He lounged back even more leisurely, his tone teasing, "If it's my forgiveness she's after, she'll have to come and ask for it herself."
Molan realized Joseph's reluctance and explained, "She wouldn't have come to me if she wasn't desperate."
He knew Yolanda hated to burden others.
Joseph scoffed. Desperate?
If it were true, why hadn't she come straight to him?
She wasn't that desperate yet!
"Joseph..."
Molan tried again to plead Yolanda's case, but Joseph was not in the mood to listen. "I've already said, she needs to come to me herself."
His tone indicated that he was becoming increasingly impatient.
Molan knew their further discussion would be pointless. "Then at least don't be too harsh on her. After all, she once treated your injuries."
Joseph shot him a sharp look. "Do you like her?"
Why did Molan keep defending her?
Were they really that close?
Could Yolanda's lover be him?
Molan quickly clarified, "No, it's not like that. I mean, I like her. No, I admire her, actually. She was quite popular at school, having a lot of followers. But she's such a principled girl that she rejected them all. If I wasn't already interested in someone else, maybe I really would like her, haha..."
Joseph looked at Molan mockingly. Principled? Was he serious?
How could a principled girl sleep with another man on her wedding night?
How could she cheat on him?
This painful memory darkened his mood.
It seemed that Yolanda had messed with more men than he had expected.
Molan was oblivious to Joseph's irritation, sighed internally but felt powerless.
After leaving the Sutton Group, he stood at the entrance and called Yolanda.
*****
After parting ways with Molan, Yolanda headed to the hospital to visit her mother.
On her way, however, Molan called to inform that he had failed to convince Joseph.
Knowing Joseph's stubborn nature, she said, "It's okay. Don't sweat it."
Yolanda knew she couldn't avoid their meeting any longer. She pulled out her phone to contact Joseph, prepared for whatever might come, only to realize she didn't have his number.
She'd have to go back to the villa first.
Yet, at the doorstep, she spotted Joseph's car.
He was at the villa?!
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