Upon receiving Yvonne’s call, Rosalie was in the middle of arranging some workers to change the interior decorations of her villa.
Credence had granted her this villa as an engagement gift. It was located in a residential area where all the wealthy people in Talco City gathered. The price of it was quite expensive.
Once Rosalie had received the property ownership certificate, she had started to devise the layout of the design and even supervised the workers in person. She vowed that she would transform it into the warmest and most romantic love nest ever.
Her plan had long since crystallized. Once Credence agreed to marry her, she would use this as their wedding room and live a happy life with him. For him, she would give birth to two adorable children and make herself the biggest winner in life!
After all, the car accident that Credence had been involved in six years ago was all part of her special arrangement. That was the reason Credence only loved and cared about her.
Surrounded by her beloved man’s love, Rosalie felt that life was a bed of roses. The fact that Dorothy had disappeared six years ago had long slipped past her mind.
Who knew that Yvonne would suddenly tell her that she had seen Dorothy and Juelz together and she was even incredibly certain that it was them. What did all that mean?
It meant that Dorothy had popped out from nowhere, and there was no telling when she would take back Credence’s heart and soul and ruin everything she had planned for so long.
Standing at the din of the decoration site, Rosalie’s face remained expressionless. She raised her hand and rubbed her temples. After a while, for the slightest of moments, a vicious look appeared on her lightly-caked face.
She had a hunch that the reason behind Dorothy’s sudden appearance in Talco City was Credence. As for her purpose, she could not figure it out for the time being.
The person-in-charge of the internal design looked around and walked over to Rosalie. He smiled and asked, “Miss Fisher, the living room is almost done. Would you like to take a look to see if there’s anything else that needs to be improved?”
In his opinion, the overall appearance of the villa was based on an elegant and minimalist style. If he had been given the rights to decide the interior, he would have done his best to integrate the elements of mother nature into the house by blending the outdoors with the indoors, making them congruous as if one.
However, he could not call the shots. Rosalie had denied his designs immediately after a mere glance. She had wanted to change the place into a palace-style house she had personally designed. It looked completely different and incompatible with its external appearance.
“No, just follow my plans. If you have any opinions, keep them to yourself. Since I’ve already spent so much money, I have the final say at any time.”
The person-in-charge dared not raise any more concerns and only nodded in submission.
As gentle and beautiful Rosalie looked, deep down, she was difficult to get along with. She was aloof and had invariably adopted this holier-than-thou attitude.
Rosalie snorted and walked into the bedroom, slamming the door shut. She looked down and quickly made a phone call.
She needed to make preparations for the incoming storm. She needed to find out the goal of Dorothy’s return as soon as possible so that she could concoct a way to counter her.
…
Dorothy followed Juelz into his office and saw that it was well decorated, a testament to his status as a successful person. She could not help but nod and praise, “Not bad, you look more and more like those presidents in novels now.”
“Eh, I’m faring alright.”
With Belle in his arms, Juelz sat on the black leather chair behind a large table. He raised his eyebrows and smiled evilly, “What do you think? Do you have any special thoughts about me, a dashing president? Say, perhaps you want me to be your one and only?”
Dorothy glared at him, “Let’s just get down to business.”
The smile froze on Juelz’s face. He peeled a bunch of grapes and put them into Belle’s small hands. He settled her on the big chair and stood up straight. He skirted the office table and stood in front of Dorothy, meeting her gaze with sincerity.
He said, “Dory, I’ve said this many times in the past six years, but I’ll still repeat myself today. Will you marry me?”
“After all, I’m not the only man in the Sherman family. You don’t have to worry about bearing my children nor do I want to force you to. I only want you and Belle, and that’s enough.”
Juelz’s words were deep and meaningful, enough to flutter the hearts of every woman.
However, Dorothy was not part of that group of women.
Over the past few years, Juelz had quit the habit of being an ignorant and incompetent good-for-nothing man. He had possessed the ability to manage enormous international companies, and he was improving day by day. As he was honed to be more and more excellent, Dorothy felt more and more ashamed of herself and did not dare to delay his lifelong happiness because of her troubles.
His elegance and handsomeness deserved to be spent on a better woman!
Therefore, although Juelz had never grown tired of proposing to her every single time, she would just stubbornly turn him down every single time.
“Juelz, stop messing around. You clearly know the reason I’ve returned to Talco City.”
Helpless, Dorothy pushed away Juelz from in front of her. She stared at the tiny jagged stubble under Juelz’s clean chin. Thinking of Belle’s condition, she felt an ache in her heart. She said, “You know that apart from Belle, I don’t have any other thoughts to spare. Juelz, I’ve told you many times that we’re good friends and I have always treated you as my own brother. In this world, how could a sister marry her brother?”
What was she talking about? That was only a justification for her lack of romantic interest towards him.
Faced with Dorothy’s refusal and exasperation, a hint of sadness appeared in Juelz’s eyes.
To him, he wanted nothing more than this woman to be his. He wanted to protect her for the rest of his life and give her joy. He wanted her to never feel sadness anymore.
He liked her, so he only wanted to pamper her.
Six years ago, Credence’s ruthlessness had pushed her into the abyss.
Although Juelz admired Credence’s extraordinary abilities in business, he hated Credence for constantly hurting Dorothy’s body and mind by dallying with Rosalie.
He had long reached a conclusion in his heart. Dorothy had saved his life, so he owed her one. Whether she accepted him or not, no matter who she would marry in the end, he would help her for the rest of her life.
As a man, he should not be finicky over such matters.
He shrugged his shoulders and made an utterly helpless gesture with his hands spread out. He grinned cheekily and said, “Alright then, Dory. I’ll just stay where I am and wait for you patiently until the day you finally return my feelings!”
When faced with Juelz like this, apart from staring at him, what else could she do?
After they finished discussing their personal affairs, it was time to talk about official business.
He stretched his long legs forward, hooked a black executive chair over towards him, and sat down in an imposing manner. His handsome face held a trace of coldness. “Miss Fisher, we’ll be having a social meetup with the upper echelons of the Scott Group this evening. You’re required to attend it with me.”
Upon hearing him, Dorothy’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Juelz was one to switch his personality in a heartbeat, wasn’t he?
However, she still tangoed along with Juelz’s solemn attitude. With a smile that was all teeth, she replied, “Yes, Mr. Sherman.”
After leaving work at half-past five at night, Dorothy called Germaine and asked her to come to pick Belle up. After that, she changed into an elegant baby blue evening dress and accompanied Juelz to the venue of the banquet.