Chapter 33
Joy glanced around Joanna’s apartment before cautiously stepping closer and calling her softly. “Joanna.”
Joanna, engrossed in The Codex of Change, looked up at the sound of her name.
“You probably haven’t had lunch yet. Come sit and eat with me,” she said, setting the book. aside and standing up with a warm smile.
Joy glanced toward the dining area, where steaming dishes were laid out on the table.
Though she wanted to join Joanna for lunch, she thought about her boyfriend, Nathan Cross, waiting outside. Shaking her head, she said, “Thank you, Joanna, but my boyfriend. is waiting for me outside. I’ll skip lunch.”
“You’re leaving now? With your boyfriend?” Joanna asked, looking at her.
Joy nodded, her expression brightening with a sweet, blissful smile. “My boyfriend knows about how my mom and brother tried to force me to sell my uterus. He was furious and said he’d protect me. He’s taking me back to his hometown, and we’ll never return to Clementson City.”
“Really?”
Joanna wasn’t sure whether to feel happy for her or not. Although the ten years she spent loving Jeremy brought her nothing but heartache, it didn’t mean true love didn’t exist in the world.
“Yes!” Joy nodded firmly, her face full of happiness and hope. “My boyfriend treats me so well. He says we’ll get married and build a good life together in his hometown.”
Seeing Joy’s unrestrained joy and sweet anticipation, Joanna nodded. “Then I wish you all the best.”
“Thank you, Joanna, for saving me. I’ll never forget your kindness.” Joy bowed deeply in gratitude.
Joanna smiled and helped her up. Turning to Janet, she said, “Janet, please go to my study and bring five thousand dollars in cash.”
“Ms. Thompson, what are you…” Jannet looked puzzled.
Joy’s eyes, however, lit up with expectation as she looked at Joanna,
“Joy and I share a fateful connection. Consider this money my wedding gift to her,” Joanna explained with a smile.
Janet glanced at Joy and hesitated briefly. But in the end, she did as she was told. She returned with the money and handed it to Joy.
Chapter 31
Joy accepted it with a look of delight. “Joanna, you’re so kind to me. Thank you so much! I’ll never forget your generosity.”
Joanna smiled softly. “As long as you live a happy life, that’s all that matters.”
Joy nodded enthusiastically, thanking Joanna several more times before leaving with Janet.
Janet escorted Joy downstairs, watching as Joy left with Nathan, before turning to head back upstairs.
When she returned, Joanna was eating her lunch. Janet’s cooking suited her tastes perfectly.
“Did you see Joy’s boyfriend? What did you think of him?” Joanna asked casually as Janet washed her hands and brought her some soup.
Janet responded honestly, “He doesn’t seem like a good person.
She had exchanged glances with Nathan, whose eyes darted away quickly, as if he had been caught doing something wrong. His shifty demeanor had left a bad impression on her.
“Ms. Thompson, you shouldn’t have given Joy that five thousand dollars, ” Janet added. Joanna smiled. “Five thousand isn’t much to me, but for Joy, it gives her confidence. I just hope she’ll make something of herself and build a good life with her boyfriend.”
Janet sighed but didn’t press further.
After finishing her lunch, Jonna spent some time studying The Codex of Change again. Eventually, she grew tired and dozed off on the chaise lounge.
She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when her phone, resting on the small round table beside her, started ringing.
