Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
But now, left to grapple with his injuries in solitude, the full extent of the pain crashed over him like a relentless tide. It surged through his muscles, gnawed at his joints, and seared through his flesh, engulfing his entire being in a wave of torment.
“The pain is killing me.”
He gritted his teeth as tears continued flowing down his face. He looked extremely pitiful.
“Jonah. I miss you. I miss you so much.”
Was he crying because he had just been beaten up? Or was he crying because he missed Jonah?
But what Julien didn’t know was that Jonah was right by the back door to the Lovelace residence. He was standing firmly in the cold wind. Tears started to well up in his eyes without him even realizing.
At the end of the day, he couldn’t hold back. He took out his phone and dialed Julien’s number.
All he heard was the automated message saying that the receiver’s phone was turned off. Jonah’s chest tightened.
However, he thought it was for the best. There would only be bad consequences if he were to persist over something that would never come to fruition.
Julien’s entire body was trembling as he removed his torn shirt and changed into a set of clean pajamas.
He was a clean freak. Yet, he wasn’t even able to take a shower because of the injury on his back. He could only use a damp towel to wipe the dirt off his body while forcing himself to withstand the immense pain.
At this moment, Julien was truly happy for Mandy.
She was able to live with the Taylors. They were such a warm and compassionate family. This was something that he didn’t even dare to dream of.
“In the future… Never again…” Julien stuttered through his chapped and pale lips. He swung his towel into the water basin, making water splatter everywhere.
“Never again, my foot!”
He didn’t want to give up.
So what if Jonah were to reject him? If Jonah took ten steps back, he would just need to take eleven steps forward. Wasn’t it that simple?
All in all, he didn’t want to be part of the Lovelace family anymore. He didn’t care about anything in Mosgravia any longer. He only wanted to be with Jonah.
He had saved so many lives. He prayed to God to grant his wish this one time.
Julien was in so much pain that he couldn’t fall asleep. So, he ended up opening the window on his balcony. He felt the cool, night breeze against his body.
The cold helped to relieve some of his pain.
“Tonight’s moonlight is so beautiful. It’s as beautiful as Jonah.”
Julien looked at the bright moon in the sky. He had a silly smile on his face. His thoughts were filled with Jonah’s charming looks.
He recalled a poem that Mandy often used to recite when he was young. He had been away from home for too long. As a result, he could only remember one line from it. It suited this current mood.
“No matter how far we are.”
Jonah, who was downstairs, was also looking up at the moon. It was as if they were telepathic at that moment. He uttered the subsequent line, “We can always share the moon and stars.”
He let out a deep sigh. He lowered his head, turned around, and started walking toward his car.
In that moment of solitude and pain, Julien’s gaze inadvertently drifted downward, drawn toward the enveloping darkness of the night.
Jonah’s steely figure was something Julien could recognize even from miles away.
Julien’s heart raced. He grabbed onto the railing tightly. He kept leaning his body forward to get a better view. He wished that he could just jump down at this moment.
Jonah’s posture was one of a kind. He was absolutely drawn to him. It couldn’t have been anyone else other than Jonah!
“Jonah… Jonah! Jonah!” Julien yelled.
Unfortunately, the distance between them was too great.
Coincidentally, a strong wind started to blow.
Julien was already heavily injured. It was already difficult for him to breathe in the first place. His weak voice was simply lost in the wind. Jonah couldn’t have heard him at all.
“Jonah! Can’t you hear me? Turn around. Turn around! I’m right behind you.”
His voice became hoarse as he yelled. He could barely be heard toward the end.
Julien watched as Jonah got into his black-colored sports car. In the blink of an eye, Jonah’s car zoomed away and disappeared into the night.
“What a jerk! Couldn’t you have just waited a little longer for me?”
Julien looked as if his soul had left his body. He plopped himself on the floor angrily. He burst out in tears.
“Jonah, why didn’t you wait for me? I wanna leave with you.”
It was deep into the night.
In the study, Joseph was on the phone with Edgar. He updated him about Julien’s current situation.
Edgar was clearly unhappy to find out that Joseph had given Julien corporal punishment. Although he didn’t give Joseph a roasting, it was obvious that he sounded upset.
“Julien’s medical skills are pretty good. He is a renowned doctor in the field of neurology in Mosgravia! Even I know about his achievements. Don’t tell me that you haven’t heard about them?”
Through gritted teeth, Joseph replied, “Of course I’ve heard about them too. But Dad, what Julien did this time was against our family’s principles.
“He put our family to shame. That’s absolutely outrageous. If I don’t serve him a severe punishment, who knows what other ridiculous deeds he will be up to next time? We would become a laughing stock.”
Edgar cleared his throat. “There are other methods that you could’ve used to punish him. It’s not necessary to injure him physically.”
Edgar spoke sternly, “I only have two grandchildren¡ªAidan and Julien. You have brought Aidan up to be a businessman. He has completely given up on the medical profession.
“As for you, it has been over a decade since you performed a surgery. You’ve been managing the pharmaceutical factory, the biomedical research center, and the hospital. You have been thriving in the business world.
“Hence, Julien is the only one who can really take over my position. If you beat him up until he becomes a disabled man, the Lovelace Group will not have a successor. If that happens, we no longer deserve to be known as a family of doctors!”
“But Dad…”
“I’m well aware of the reason why you’re targeting Julien like this.”
Edgar’s voice became deep. He spoke with a sense of warning, “So many years have passed, Jo. Are you still feeling resentful?”
Joseph’s expression froze. “Dad, what is there for me to be resentful about? Even if that were so, it’s because my kids have grown up. They have spread their wings and are ready to fly. They’re not willing to be disciplined anymore. I’m just afraid that they’d cause trouble for the Lovelace Group.”
“No matter how much I despise Winston, my precious daughter still ended up choosing him. They also ended up having children together. Their children are successful people.
“Also, she has been with the Taylor family for over 20 years. All this while, I have never heard anything about her not getting along with Winston. Thus, I know that Winston has been treating her very well.”
“Dad.
“I know that you’ve always fancied Mandy.”
Edgar’s words pierced the deepest part of Joseph’s heart, which he had kept hidden.
He pursed his lips. He clenched his fists by his side.
“You are my adopted son. You are not biologically related to Mandy. But ethically, she will always be your sister. Whether in the past or in the current times, things would be impossible between the both of you.”
20 years ago, Joseph’s feelings for Mandy had already been “sentenced to death” once. This time, Edgar had just declared the same sentence over him.
“I’m already 80. After a bout of illness, it’s all clear to me now. There may have been grudges from the past. But I can’t be bothered to be ensnared in all that anymore.”
Edgar coughed a few times. He continued in a strong voice, “Moving forward, stop reprimanding Julien because of Mandy and the Taylors. It is fine as long as our family doesn’t make it apparent that we are associated with the Taylor family.
“The KS Group dominates Belbanks. Winston’s children are also starting to go places. I heard that he has a precious daughter. She’s called Alyssa or something.
“She is already discussing marriage with the president of Walsh Group in Solana City. If their families end up having a marriage alliance, no one will stand a chance of going against them.
“If you provoke the Taylors, even if Winston turns a blind eye to you, his other children and Mandy might launch an attack against you. I have been toiling my whole life. I do not wish to spend my declining years witnessing fights between families. Let’s just leave this matter as it is.”
Edgar hung up.