"Mr. Parker, I apologize for my poor management, which allowed such an ignorant person to offend you. Please don't hold it against me," Owen said, bowing deeply with an overly fawning expression. Sweat rolled down his forehead as his voice trembled.
"Where's the money?" Cyrus raised one simple question.
"Oh! Here it is!" Owen hurriedly handed Cyrus a card.
"Mission accomplished!" Cyrus smiled and passed the bank card to Josephine.
Josephine's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. She hadn't expected collecting the debt to be so easy, and Owen seemed absolutely terrified of Cyrus.
Owen stood beside them with a flattering smile and said, "Mr. Parker, if you ever need anything from me in the future, feel free to tell me."
Cyrus didn't even glance at him. Taking Josephine's hand, he said, "Let's go."
As they walked out of the Jackson Group building, Josephine was in a rather good mood.
"You're not an ordinary person at all, right? Why was Owen so afraid of you?" Josephine pouted, clearly annoyed. She was convinced Cyrus was hiding something from her.
"Because I'm a miracle doctor, and he needs me to save his life," Cyrus lied. He couldn't reveal his true identity because his enemies were powerful figures at the pinnacle of the world, and he feared they might target Josephine.
"Fine." Josephine reluctantly accepted, still pouting. "Let's hurry back and give the money to my grandfather. Then he'll let me marry you!"
In the living room of the Thompson Villa, a young man's voice sounded.
"Are you sure you want me to marry Josephine? She's a disabled freak. I wouldn't want such a woman even if she threw herself at me!" Benjamin Anderson sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, his eyes full of contempt and disgust.
Everyone in Millbrook City knew about Josephine, who was ugly and disabled. Just looking at her could give them nightmares for days.
"Mr. Anderson, once you see Josephine, you'll definitely like her. She's become very beautiful now," William said with an ingratiating smile, bowing deeply. His fawning manner was nauseating.
"Are you sure? Has Josephine returned to normal?" Benjamin asked, looking at Hudson, who was sitting across from him.
Benjamin frowned, his eyes full of doubt. His gaze shifted between Hudson and William as if judging whether their words were trustworthy.
"Yes, my daughter has recovered and become a beauty," Hudson said confidently.
"Alright, let me see her." Benjamin leaned back on the sofa. His grandfather was killed yesterday, but rather than feeling sad, he was happy. With his grandfather gone, his father Lance could take over the Anderson family, and his own status would rise as the heir of the Anderson family.
At that moment, Cyrus walked in with Josephine.
Everyone in the living room immediately turned their attention to them.
Josephine's face radiated confidence, while Cyrus remained calm and composed.
When Benjamin saw Josephine, his eyes widened. His mouth fell open and froze for a long time. His previously contemptuous and disgusted expression was instantly replaced with amazement.
William's fawning smile froze briefly when he saw them enter, but it quickly grew even broader as he said, "Oh, Josephine, you're back. Let me introduce you—this is Benjamin, the son of Mr. Lance Anderson."
"Come here, Josephine. Marrying into the Anderson family will bring you endless wealth and prosperity!" Hudson said, already fantasizing about the bright future.
"Hello, Josephine. You're truly beautiful now!" Benjamin quickly uncrossed his legs and stood up, wild desire burning in his eyes. Josephine was more beautiful than any woman he'd ever been with, and the thought of sleeping with her excited him. Just imagining their s*x scenes made him feel hot.
"Ugh!" When Josephine saw Benjamin's gaze, she showed obvious disgust. Rather than marry such a man, she'd rather spend the rest of her life alone.
"Dad, I already have Cyrus. We're already married, and I won't marry anyone else. I'm not a commodity. I'm a person!" Josephine shouted, her voice trembling with emotion, her eyes reddening with tears.
"Josephine, how can you be so stubborn?" Hudson's eyes widened with disbelief and anger. "You'll destroy the entire Thompson family!"
"I don't care!" Josephine roared. "All I know is that I love Cyrus and want to be with him. None of you can separate us!"
William quickly tried to mediate. "Josephine, don't be rash. This concerns the future of the Thompson family!"
"All you care about is the Thompson family's future!" Josephine screamed at the top of her lungs. "You've never once considered how I feel!"
Cyrus held Josephine protectively and said, "Josephine, don't be afraid. I'm here."
Hudson's face darkened as he said, "Cyrus, don't be ridiculous. Do you even understand the status of the Anderson family? Stop flattering yourself."
William chimed in from the side, "Exactly. What kind of life could Josephine have with someone like you?"
Regaining his composure, Benjamin stood up and said, "Josephine, if you agree to marry me, I promise you'll live a wealthy life."
Josephine glared at Benjamin and snapped, "Dream on! I'd rather spend my life alone than be with someone like you."
At that moment, Elena walked in, supporting Aaron.
Elena's cheeks were flushed as she nervously glanced at her husband, while Aaron looked pale, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
"Grandpa, I've gotten back the forty million. You promised me if I got the money back, you'd approve my marriage to Cyrus," Josephine declared, throwing the bank card onto the table.
Aaron paused briefly, his gaze falling on the bank card before looking up at Josephine and Cyrus. He said slowly, "Josephine, I know how you feel about Cyrus, but your marriage..."
"Grandpa, you can't go back on your word," Josephine interrupted, tears welling up in her eyes.
Elena approached Benjamin and said, "Mr. Anderson, are you satisfied with my daughter? If you agree, you can spend the night with Josephine and make her yours as soon as possible."
Josephine stared at Elena in disbelief, tears streaming down her face as she cried out, "Mom, how could you do this? I'm your daughter!"
"Josephine is my wife. Did any of you ask me before deciding to marry her off to Benjamin?" Cyrus said darkly. If it weren't for Josephine, he wouldn't have wasted his breath on these people.
"Who do you think you are, punk? Josephine should consider herself lucky that I'm even interested in her," Benjamin said arrogantly, looking Cyrus up and down with contempt.
Cyrus's eyes turned cold as he said, "Benjamin Anderson, don't be so full of yourself. Josephine will never marry someone like you."
Benjamin sneered, "How dare you challenge me? Do you even know how powerful the Anderson family is?"
Cyrus stood his ground and replied, "So what if you're powerful? Josephine loves me, not you. And isn't your grandfather dead? Instead of attending his funeral, you're out here chasing women, huh? What a good grandson."
"What did you just say, you *sshole?" Benjamin's eyes blazed with fury.
The Thompson family members were stunned that Cyrus dared to bring up such a sensitive matter in front of Benjamin.
"Do you want to bet that one phone call from me can take your life?" Benjamin shouted.
"Do you want to bet that one phone call from me can make your father step down and beg me for mercy?" Cyrus's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unmistakable confidence and determination.