Chapter 15
It was Isaac Lowe, Joseph’s father, who returned from abroad to rescue Lowe Group when the company was teetering on the brink of collapse. Joseph had drawn considerable disapproval from shareholders and the public alike, which allowed Isaac to easily remove him from his executive role. Thus, Joseph was stripped of everything apart from his shares in Lowe Group.
Joseph, however, remained unfazed. He promptly flew to Havenport in pursuit of Winona. Having lost all contact avenues with her, Joseph couldn’t reach her by phone, leaving him no choice but to stake out the Chapman residence daily. His persistent efforts, however, were in vain, as he never saw Winona, and every gift he attempted to give was promptly rejected and discarded by the Chapman family.
He remained unconcerned, though. He felt confident that, given enough time, he would be able to win her back. He had no pressing matters back in Brightwood anyway, so he opted to settle at Havenport, thinking that it might increase his chances of running into Winona.
It seemed that the Chapman family had somehow spread the word across Havenport, because every property Joseph considered was inexplicably snatched up or taken off the market. He was ultimately left with no choice but to acquire a neglected, dilapidated villa in the remote northern outskirts, far from where the Chapman family lived.
His troubles weren’t limited to real estate. He also found himself struggling in all other areas. He had tried enlisting old acquaintances to set up a meeting with Winona, but anyone who had been warned by the Chapmans simply wouldn’t entertain him. He had even tried to purchase gifts for Winona locally, only to be turned away from every single jewelry shop.
Having exhausted all other avenues, he resorted to having gifts delivered from Brightwood every day. He had dedicated immense time, wealth, and heartfelt effort to the endeavor, yet the Chapman family continued to give him the cold shoulder.
He was in the middle of choosing another round of gifts on his phone when Isaac’s call interrupted him. The call had been brief and to the point. Isaac told him to return to Brightwood for a blind date.
Isaac had explicitly stated that, despite Joseph’s current perceived uselessness, the Lowe family still needed an heir to carry on the line. Thus, Joseph was compelled to marry and start another family immediately.
There weren’t many women who were willing to marry him after what happened back then. The only willing party was an heiress recently returned to a certain family from the countryside. They weren’t of high standing, but it was still deemed a suitable arrangement.
Moreover, with Isaac’s advancing age, the task of cultivating a new heir became a matter of utmost urgency.
Joseph, on the other end of the line, closed his eyes, desperately attempting to quell the surge of frustration within him.
He was well aware that he lacked the power to challenge Isaac, so he painstakingly composed himself before answering, “I will not marry and have children with any other woman, Dad. You ought to know that my wife could only be Winona, and she alone would be the mother of my children.”
Isaac, however, simply dismissed his refusal with a scoff, saying, “I don’t give a damn about your feelings. If you’re not back within a month, then I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”
Having ended the call, Joseph’s grip on his phone tightened. He had been gripping it so hard that his knuckles had turned pale. He refused to let Isaac manipulate his life anymore.
He then tossed his phone aside, his gaze settling once more on the main gate of the Chapman residence through the car window. His eyes hardened with determination as he vowed to win Winona back.
Isaac’s call seemed to ignite something in Joseph, making his efforts to win Winona back far more aggressive. In the past, he had merely sent gifts and sought favors from others, but now, he was actively finding ways to approach Winona.
He even subjected himself to business cocktail parties, which he had always detested, just to see her. He once commanded all attention the moment he arrived, but now, no one even spared him a glance. He paid it no mind, though. He simply held his champagne in a quiet corner, his gaze sweeping the room for Winona.
