CHAPTER 3 : CRACKS BETWEEN THE RAIN

"Do you think I'm having an affair?"

On the way home, Joyce asked expressionlessly. Her voice was calm, but cold, like the rain that had just stopped outside.

Fernando, who was sitting behind the wheel, did not answer immediately. He stared straight at the road with gloomy eyes. His tone was flat when he finally said, "I had that thought when I opened the door earlier. But I quickly erased that thought. I know you're not that kind of person."

Joyce turned her head, looking at her face in the street light. "Then why did you say something like that to me?"

Fernando let out a long breath. "Because I felt... I didn't deserve you. I didn't want people to laugh at you just because of me. You're a good woman, Joyce. As for me, I'm just a loser."

Joyce looked out the window, seeing the shadows of the streetlights dancing on the wet glass of the car. "Then, if you think so lowly of yourself, you should try to change it. Don't just give up. If you keep putting yourself down, I'll end up hating you even more."

She had wanted to divorce Fernando many times. But every time she saw him, her heart wavered. Three years together had instilled something in him, a pity, or perhaps an attachment that he couldn't explain. After all, Fernando had been part of the Nagel family for three years.

Fernando looked at Joyce silently, then said firmly, "I'll try my best to change. Give me time, Joyce. I'll make you see another side of me."

He knew he was useless, the tendons in his hands and feet had been broken, leaving him unable to do heavy work. But now, after three years, his body was recovering. If he worked hard, he was sure he could stand up again.

Joyce just snorted softly. "Just focus on driving."

To her, Fernando's words were nothing more than empty promises. Three years had passed, and she no longer held any hope for him.

When they arrived home, the living room was packed with relatives.

"Joyce, you're finally home!" exclaimed Xiomara, Fernando's mother-in-law, carrying a piece of paperwork.

"Hurry up and sign the divorce papers, and get it over with!"

Joyce furrowed her brow, restraining herself from arguing too loudly. "Mom, I don't want a divorce just yet."

"What?" Xiomara's face instantly hardened. "You still want to stay with him? We're all rooting for you to divorce him! You don't even have a physical relationship with this man. It's useless to maintain such an empty marriage! Once you divorce, many men will come to propose to you."

"Mom..." Joyce could only sigh. She was tired of explaining.

But before she could say anything more, a young man stood up. Lucas, her uncle's son, looked at her coldly.

"Joyce, you still have to get a divorce. The Nagel Group is now on the verge of bankruptcy because of you. The only way to save it is to marry Mr. Watson. Otherwise, the company will collapse, and the entire family will be ruined."

Joyce gave her a sharp look. "What do you mean, broke because of me?"

Lucas snorted sarcastically. "Everyone knows the truth, too. How long have those 100,000 gold steel bars been piling up in the warehouse? The price dropped twenty percent! We lost a lot of money, and you still say it's normal?"

Joyce held back. "In the world of investment, there are profits and losses. That's no reason to accuse me of this."

"But the company's loans are up!" Lucas said sharply. "We owe fifty million to the bank and several other companies. They come to the factory every day demanding repayment! If you don't pay up soon, they'll confiscate everything in the warehouse. Now all the employees are panicking, waiting for the announcement of when the company will go bankrupt!"

"You..." Joyce was speechless.

Fernando, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Lucas, you're talking too much. Joyce has worked hard for the company for the past two years. You're the ones who've done nothing, but still enjoy the dividends every year. Now when the company is in trouble, you blame her. It's not fair."

Lucas looked at him sarcastically. "Who are you, how dare you speak here?"

Fernando looked at him calmly. "You're just a manager, Lucas. But you dare to accuse the president director in front of everyone. Why can't I speak?"

Lucas snorted loudly. "I'm a member of the Nagel family! I own shares! I have more right to speak than a loser like you!"

Fernando didn't flinch one bit. "If you're so good, why didn't grandfather make you president of the company?"

"Because grandfather was blind!" Lucas shouted without thinking. "If he'd seen my abilities, he wouldn't have chosen Joyce! With her abilities, she doesn't even deserve to be a manager!"

Fernando smiled slightly. "Ha... so you're saying your grandfather was blind? It's a good thing he didn't appoint you. Otherwise, you'd have insulted him in front of everyone as soon as you got the position."

Lucas fell silent. His body stiffened. He slowly turned his head, and his face turned deathly pale when he saw the old figure at the end of the room.

Their grandfather stood there, staring at Lucas with knife-sharp eyes.

"Grandpa, I..."

"Kneel." The grandfather's voice was flat, but deadly.

Lucas immediately fell to his knees on the floor. "Grandpa, I was wrong! Don't be angry! It's all because of Fernando, he provoked me to say that!"

"Shut up!" snapped the grandfather. "Slap yourself until I say stop!"

Lucas froze, but finally slapped himself on the cheek. "Plak! Plak! Plak!" The sound of the slap echoed in the living room.

Joyce covered her mouth with laughter. Ever since she became president, Lucas had always been against her. Seeing him slap himself like that was so satisfying.

Fernando just stood beside her, calm. Seeing Joyce smile, his heart warmed. All he wanted was to make her happy, if only for a moment.

"That's enough," his grandfather finally said. "Go and think about your mistake. If you don't come to your senses in three days, I'd rather find someone else to be president director than give you another chance."

Lucas was silent, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Did his grandfather... mean to remove Joyce as CEO?