Book 2 : She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement

Chapter 62

Chapter 796: Joel’s Redemption

After hanging up the phone, Joel sat on the sofa and looked quietly into the distance, his heart a little heavy.

Nora often came back to have dinner with the Smith's after she started staying with the Hunt's but Ian had never specially informed him about it before. Ian’s solemn behavior regarding her coming over this time gave Joel the feeling that he might have found out about what had happened.

When Mindy handed him his schedule for today, the sharp Joel had discovered the problem.

He’d already stated long ago that he would not be seeking information from that account anymore, yet as part of his itinerary that day, Mindy had still arranged for him a meeting with a certain person. This showed that Mindy hadn’t given up yet.

Joel knew that those few subordinates of his had never actually given up on the account.

After all, an account like that would allow them to create their own legendary era of the Smith's!

He could understand his nine subordinates’ feelings.

They had been with him since their college days. Even when they went abroad for further studies, it was all for the sake of better assisting him upon their return. They rose and fell together with him.

If Joel’s authority among the Smith's fell, their status in the company would also fall along with his. They were loyal and dedicated to him.

This was especially the case for Mindy. Being the lone woman among the nine, she was exceptionally capable. Although he had told them not to take any action, it was highly likely that she had already done something to Nora.

Joel also roughly knew what she had done.

Mindy was not like Quentin, she wasn’t capable of big moves like assassinating someone. The most she could do was just create a bit of trouble to annoy Nora.

To be honest, Joel knew that Mindy should be dealt with, but he still wanted to protect her.

After all, she’d been working for him for so many years. Even if she hadn’t contributed anything meritorious, she had nevertheless done a lot of hard work. Besides, Mindy had never made any mistakes, and even the one time she did was for his sake…

Originally, Joel wanted to cover up the incident.

But when Ian suddenly asked him to come home for dinner, Joel understood at once that he wouldn’t be able to cover it up anymore.

Besides, he also owed Nora an explanation.

With that in mind, Joel took a deep breath.

At noon, Tanya suddenly came.

A mildly surprised Joel looked at Tanya. “Why are you here?”

Tanya raised the lunch box in her hand. “To bring you lunch.”

Tanya was not a housewife but a woman who ran her own business. She had opened a dance studio in New York that taught dancing to children. By right, she should have been very busy today.

Joel watched her “virtuously” lay out the food on the table. While doing so, her actions were a little too rough and she accidentally spilled a bit of the soup. In addition, when she was laying out the food, the bite-sized fried chicken caught her eye and she peeked at him. When he pretended to be reading a document, out of the corner of his eye, he saw her secretly take a piece of fried chicken and stuff it into her mouth.

Joel: “…”

Although it seemed like she had become much more even-tempered, her temperament had never actually changed. She was still as rash as she had been in her youth. Joel let out a low laugh and stood up.

After walking over, the two sat facing each other. Tanya poured him a bowl of soup. She had obviously prepared it for him, yet she gave herself a taste of it first. Then, because she found it delicious, she naturally placed the bowl in front of herself and started to drink spoonful after spoonful of soup.

Joel, who was waiting for her to hand him the bowl of soup, could only pick up another bowl in resignation and fill it with soup himself. At the same time, he also gave Tanya a refill.

Then he asked, “Aren’t you busy?”

“Totally! I’m swamped!”

Tanya spoke with contentment as the delicious soup flooded her mouth. Then, she looked at him and added, “But no matter how busy I am, I should still visit my husband, right~? Are you feeling kinda down today?”

Joel: “…”

He put down the spoon, cast his eyes down, and heaved a sigh. His smile disappeared little by little and he asked, “How did you know?”

“Tsk,” Tanya continued to drink her soup and then said, “I know you too well. The moment you lift your butt, I already know what kind of gas you’re gonna fart…”

The corners of Joel’s lips spasmed. “Can’t you be a little more refined in your speech?”

Tanya pouted. “Isn’t it because Mia isn’t here right now? I’m already close to suffocating to death from acting like a prim and proper lady in front of Mia all the time. Now that there is no one else here, why can’t I be a little cruder?”

Joel held his forehead. “Alright.”

He didn’t realize that even though his smile was not as bright as the one before, the fake smile on his face was gradually being replaced by a genuine one.

“So, what happened? Tell me about it!” Tanya said.

When Joel was about to speak, Tanya waved and said, “If you’re gonna say it, then tell me the truth. You have always been sensitive, withdrawn, and needy since you were a child. You may look high up in the air, but deep down, you are terribly fragile. I stopped looking at you through rose-tinted glasses a long time ago, so there is no need for you to put up any pretenses. You can just say it as it is.”

When Joel heard her, he lowered his head and thought for a while. Then, he said, “Dad has an account, the Smiths’ true inheritance. You can get a lot of useful financial news and information there.”

With just a couple of simple sentences from him, Tanya got it right away. “Dad gave the account to Nora?”

Joel nodded and then said, “It seems that the info about the gold prices came from there, but I’ve only just rejected Dad’s offer and told him to give Nora the account last night. However, Nora was already aware of this information three days ago.”

Tanya nodded again. “I see, you suspect that Dad already gave Nora the account long ago yet he kept it from you and even probed you about it yesterday?”

Joel nodded again.

He hesitated for a moment before he said, “Dad is not someone like that. If he wants to give me something, he will do so straightforwardly. If he doesn’t want to, then he will tell me clearly that he doesn’t want to. He has never tried to sound me out. Has Dad noticed my sneaky little thoughts?”

Tanya rolled her eyes. “Who wouldn’t? You always act so calm and collected as though such things don’t bother you, but in fact, what you lack the most is a sense of security. You don’t care about that account at all; what you care about is Dad’s feelings towards you.”

That one sentence of hers had hit Joel’s deepest self.

However, Tanya then said, “To be honest, this is very normal. Think about it, children never want a second child in the family, because once a second child appears, they will take away part of their parents’ love.”

Joel shifted into listening mode. Suddenly, he felt like his sneaky little thoughts didn’t seem that serious anymore. He asked, “And then?”

Chapter 797: Who Gets The Account?

Tanya laughed. “Then the children cry and kick up a fuss, of course! As they say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so those who complain the loudest get the most attention. This is very simple logic. It’s normal for you to think like this. Even if you were Dad’s real son, you would still be jealous, much less when you aren’t!”

Joel: “…”

He denied it. “I’m not jealous.”

“Yes, yes, you’re right, you’re not jealous at all.” Tanya laughed. She raised her head to look at him and then said solemnly, “You don’t need to feel embarrassed about it, any normal person would feel the same way. You will slowly adapt and get used to it. Usually, in families with more than one child, the eldest will eventually also grow to love their siblings. You will find that you’ve just gained one more family member who loves you, that’s all.”

Joel: “….”

Why did Tanya sound as though she was coaxing a child?

Joel lowered his head and started to eat.

Tanya looked at him. “Hey, did I manage to comfort you or not?”

“Yes, you did.” Joel offered her a piece of fried chicken, upon which Tanya immediately pursed her lips and said, “I’m a dancer, you know. Am I supposed to eat such greasy food? Why are you so careless…”

Despite saying that, she secretly picked up a French fry.

Joel: “…”

Why didn’t he see her being so self-disciplined when she was sneaking the fried chicken into her mouth?!

The smile at the corners of his lips deepened. He said, “I will talk it out with Nora later at night. As for Dad, I was too narrow-minded. I understand his actions and I also understand that to him, Nora is ultimately still different.”

How could one’s feelings for their biological and adopted children possibly be the same?

Tanya, however, said, “It’s also different between the children they raised and children they didn’t! Didn’t you see that news some time ago? The child’s biological parents found and approached him after he grew up, but the child was only close to their adoptive parents. You were raised by Dad, and Dad has a very good relationship with you! Considering Nora’s personality—besides, she doesn’t know how to wheedle for attention either Dad will definitely find her too aloof!”

Joel: “…”

Tanya smiled after she spoke. “Therefore, to Dad, there’s no difference between you and Nora. The two of you are the same to him!”

Everything she said beforehand was for the sole purpose of saying this last sentence. Joel suddenly became enlightened. “Yeah.”

After the two ate and Tanya was about to go home, Joel suddenly stood up. “I’ll go home with you!”

Tanya was surprised. “What’s wrong?”

Joel smiled and replied, “My subordinate did something bad to Nora. As her elder brother, surely I have to apologize to her in person, right? Why don’t I cook for you guys today?”

Tanya laughed. “Okay! Then make me some beef steak! You know how I like it done the best! Eating beef at night helps lose weight!”

Joel: “…”

The two went downstairs together and got ready to go home.

After they left, Mindy appeared at the door. When she overheard Joel saying “My subordinate did something bad to Nora. As her elder brother, surely I have to apologize to her in person, right?”, she clenched her fists.

She lowered her head, aware that what she did had displeased Joel.

Moreover, it had even nearly destroyed their familial harmony.

Then, she thought of how she had only been able to go to school because of Ian sponsoring her studies. It was just that the old man had never taken the credit for himself.

Mindy took a deep breath. She knew that she had really made a mistake this time!

However, she wasn’t going to apologize for it anymore-because Mr. Smith had already shouldered the blame for her. The only thing she could do now was never to take the liberty to act without permission again, and also never to make trouble for Ms. Smith again!

Joel returned home.

Even Ian, who was basking in the sun in the living room and staring out the window along the way, was a little surprised to see him. “Why are you back so early?”

Joel smiled and replied, “Isn’t Nora coming for dinner? I’ll cook.”

Ian was dumbfounded. “What are you cooking for? It’s not like we don’t have a chef. Come over and sit with me for a while instead.”

Joel sat next to Ian.

Ian, who was warm and comfortable from the sun, slowly said, “Joel, I want to thank you.”

Joel was taken aback. “Dad, what’s the matter?”

Ian said, “Do you remember the day when your dad… I mean, my brother hit you, and you ran over and put your arms around my leg?”

Joel nodded.

Ian smiled and said, “That day, I actually didn’t want to live anymore.”

Joel’s expression suddenly became serious.

Ian continued to speak. “But the look in your eyes was simply too pure and innocent. Because you looked at me like that and treated me as your last hope to cling to, I had suddenly found a reason to live.”

His words astounded Joel.

Since he was a child, what his uncle had said to him the most was that he must excel and take over the Smith Corporation. And once he inherited the company, Ian would give up on living.

For Joel, that was the most psychologically tormenting period of his life.

He’d thought that his uncle had nothing to live for anymore because the Smith Corporation, the company that his uncle cared about the most, had found a successor.

But as it turned out!

He was the one whom his uncle had cared about?

While he was thinking about it, Ian said, “Later, I handed over the Smith Corporation to you. Seeing how you’d grown up and your ability to stand on your own, I felt that there was no reason for me to live anymore.”

“Dad!”

Joel’s eyes suddenly reddened.

Ian said, “Then, Nora came back. It was only when she told me that there are a lot of people after her life and she may not have much longer to live anymore, that I finally found another reason to live. Even then, I still didn’t know how to treat her well. I’d never taught her, never watched her grow up. I didn’t know what she liked or disliked, either…”

Joel thought of how Ian had accompanied him as he did his homework in the past. When he couldn’t complete his tasks, Ian would reprimand the tutor for giving him too much homework.

When he was playing, although Ian didn’t play with him, he always sat nearby. Sometimes, he did work in the study instead, but when Joel occasionally glanced over, he would see Ian standing in front of the window looking at him.

In the past, he’d felt that his uncle was too cold and aloof and only cared about his work. But in this instant, it was as though he was suddenly looking at those memories from a different perspective, allowing Joel to see what was truly on the other side.

He held Ian’s hand.

Ian said, “Joel, I’ll ask you one last time, have you given careful thought to that account? You are a sensitive and introverted child who’d always rather make himself suffer just to make me happy. I want to hear the truth from you now!”

Joel gave a wry smile.

He understood now, Ian hadn’t given Nora the account. He might have just told her the information from the group instead. He was clearly among the people whom Ian cared about.

Joel’s expression became resolute. “I’m sorry, Dad, I misunderstood you. Let’s give that account to Nora! I’m saying this with full sincerity. Neither you nor I was with Nora when she was growing up. This is the only thing we can give to her now. With this, hopefully, she will have an easier journey in the future.”

Ian frowned. “Are you sure? If you give it to her, the Smith Corporation may never reach the height you aspire to bring it to.”

Ian understood Joel.

He was an ambitious and capable man. Under his leadership, the Smith Corporation had prospered day by day and become even more brilliant than when it was still in the hands of Ian.

Joel wanted even greater glory and wanted to create his own business empire, so he had been working hard all these years.

He would only succeed with the help of the account.

Joel smiled. This time, his smile was happy and reassured, and also liberated and determined. “Yes, I’m very sure.”

He knew exactly what he had given up.

As soon as he said that though, Nora walked into the living room and asked hesitantly, “What are you so sure about?”

Chapter 798: Grandpa, Come Watch My Live-Stream!

As soon as Nora spoke, Ian and Joel looked at each other. Joel was about to reply when a young and tender voice piped up. “Is there any for Cherry?”

The three children entered one after another, all of them looking at Ian and Joel eagerly.

Ian: “…”

Joel: “…”

There was only one account in the family, but there were three of them. How were they going to split it?

Joel didn’t think that much, though. He was about to speak when Ian coughed and said, “Of course there is. I was saying that I plan to give your mother a villa. If you want one, then you kids can have one each!” In front of the children, Ian didn’t want to seem like he didn’t have enough to spare, so he decided to have a private chat with Nora alone later instead. He wasn’t going to tell the children about the account.

Besides, if possible, Ian wanted Nora to eventually give Pete the account.

It wasn’t that he was partial to Pete-his personal favorite was most definitely Cherry. After all, he was still watching her live-streams every day!

He was the number one patron of Cherry’s live-streams!

However, he didn’t want Cherry to be a businesswoman. It was too tiring. As a girl, she should just relax and make money without doing anything. It would do as long as she was happy.

Hard and tiring tasks like running a business should just be left to Pete. After all, Pete was brought up by Justin, so he definitely had the talent to do business.

As for Xander… Ian didn’t have much of an impression of him yet, so he didn’t know what he liked or disliked, or what he was good at. They still had a lot of years to come, though, so he would just wait and see.

When Ian interrupted Joel, after a moment’s thought, the young man immediately understood that Ian didn’t want his image of an almighty grandfather to be ruined in front of the children, so he simply changed the subject altogether. He said, “You’re finally here, Nora. Why don’t you spend some time chatting with Dad? I’ll go to the kitchen and make you guys my signature beef steak. Nora, how do you like your steak?”

Nora was silent for a moment before she said, “I prefer Hamburgs.”

“Then I’ll make you Salisbury steak.”

After saying that, Joel really went into the kitchen.

Nora stared at him from the back. When she thought of what Celine told her in the company, the corners of her lips rose a little, seemingly having realized something.

While she was thinking about this, over at the other side, Cherry was already sitting on Ian’s lap and was in the midst of another crazy bout of flattery. She said, “Grandpa, why do you look so young? If you go out with us, people would easily believe me even if I say that you’re my daddy!!”

The corners of Xander’s lips spasmed a little. He couldn’t stand Cherry being a bootlicker at all, so he said dryly, “Why don’t you just call him your elder brother?”

Cherry pouted. “No way, how old would Mommy have to be for her to give birth to someone who’s Grandpa’s age?!”

Cherry loved her mom the most, so she absolutely must not make Mommy look old just to make her grandfather look young!

Xander: “?”

Pete couldn’t help but hold his forehead, feeling like his sister was quite an unbearable sight to behold.

Ian, however, laughed out loud and patted Cherry’s head. He said, “I don’t need to look as young as your father, either. I’m alright with just being the youngest-looking grandfather! My little Cherry is so adorable, she will definitely be the belle of the ball when she grows up!”

Cherry nodded. “Of course! I look a lot like Mommy. Since Mommy is so pretty, I definitely won’t look bad, either!”

Nora, who had never participated in their chat but was constantly a part of it: “…”

That little bootlicker.

Nora made a dry remark inwardly. Then, she got up and entered the kitchen.

Joel was slicing the beef. When he saw her, he smiled at her. In those usually-smiley eyes behind the glasses was a smile a little more sincere than usual.

Nora said, “Joel…”

Before she could finish, Joel said gracefully, “Nora, nice timing. I happen to have something that I wanted to apologize to you for.”

He straightened his back and said, “Mindy, my executive assistant, has probably created some trouble for you. How much damage did she do? I’ll compensate you for it. Has Mindy’s mistake reached the point of no return, though? If it hasn’t, then on my account, can you forgive her this once?”

Nora was a little dumbfounded.

She had been planning to cautiously and indirectly warn Joel about his subordinates after all, since the day she had first met him, there had always been a sense of distance between her and her elder brother.

Moreover, Joel kept his thoughts so deeply hidden that sometimes even she couldn’t tell what her elder brother was thinking.

Unexpectedly, he was being so direct and straightforward with her today?

The surprise rendered her speechless for a while. This wasn’t quite what she had been expecting!

It felt as if Joel had been hiding behind a plastic film the whole time, but he had now stepped out and was truly standing in front of her.

Joel misunderstood Nora’s hesitation. He asked, “Are the losses very heavy? Or did you lose some talented people? If it is very serious, then I definitely won’t cover it up for her.”

Nora hurriedly replied, “No, it’s nothing.”

Mindy’s actions hadn’t actually done her any harm. On the contrary, it had made Celine develop a sense of guilt and loyalty to her. For Nora, this was just a trivial matter.

When she briefly recounted the incident with Celine, Joel sighed and said, “Mindy likes to engage in psychological warfare. Don’t worry, if she ever dares to do it again, I definitely won’t let her off easily. This time, let me make amends with this steak instead!”

Nora found Joel rather strange today.

However, she liked this feeling very much, so her almond-shaped eyes curved a little and she said, “Then you’d better make it delicious, Joel.”

Joel looked up at her. As the two of them looked at each other, they both started laughing. After that, when Tanya and Mia returned home from school, the family enjoyed a pleasant dinner together.

While eating, Xander kept looking at Mia.

The small and frail Mia, who was dainty even when she ate, asked in a small voice, “Xander, why do you keep looking at me? Is there something on my face?”

“No,” Xander answered seriously, “It’s just that Pete keeps talking about you, so I wanted to see what you look like. It’s not like you’re cuter than Cherry!”

Mia: “…”

Thwack!

Nora gave Xander a light pat on the head. “Watch what you say, young man. It’s not very gentlemanly telling a girl she isn’t cute!” Xander stuck out his tongue. “She looks okay, it’s just that she’s not quick-witted enough and she looks very listless. Of course she’s not as cute as Cherry!”

The shrewd and clever Cherry stuck out her tongue. “Stop talking, Xander. Mia is just more modest than me! Isn’t that right, Pete?”

Pete was eating calmly. He glanced at Mia she was not used to being in the spotlight, she was staring at them timidly with her doe-like eyes. He immediately changed the subject and said, “Yeah, you’re too lively. Cut down on dissing people when you play games tonight.”

At the mention of her games, Cherry immediately looked at Ian and said, “Grandpa, I’m having a live-stream tonight! Come and watch!”