Chapter 7

Jeremy arrived home at Clementson Bay Villa. No one was there to greet him except for Polly.

Polly dutifully took his coat and grabbed a pair of home slippers for him to change into. After that, she got him a glass of lukewarm water and handed it over respectfully.

She had recreated every step that Joanna would do for Jeremy, but he wasn't satisfied with it somehow. His irritation grew with the minute.

When he took the stairs, his eyes accidentally swept past the photo of him, Joseph, and Joanna. His mood tanked even more.

The photo was taken at Anthea's Sable Ridge Villa eight years ago. Just 16 years old, Joanna stood between Joseph and Jeremy but was visibly closer to Joseph. Even her eyes, which shone joyfully with the light of a thousand stars, were fixed on Joseph.

Why did Joseph die? If he were still alive, Joanna would have been together with him now. They would have made a happy couple!

Feeling abnormally irritated, he loosened the tie around his neck. He yelled, "Polly!"

Polly came running upstairs when she heard him calling her name. She cautiously asked, "What's wrong, Mr. Hansen?"

"Remove all the photos." A deep frown was etched on his forehead. "I want all of Joanna's photos put away."

Polly stole a quick glance at Joanna's photo on the wall before agreeing to it. Only then did Jeremy make his way to his bedroom.

His phone started to ring as soon as he set foot in his room. He picked up the call upon seeing it was from Nadine.

"Jeremy, I… I have a stomachache. Can you come over?" Nadine's voice was barely audible; she sounded feeble.

A soft frown crept onto his face. "I'll have someone get you to the hospital right away."

"No!" Her tone turned tearful and incredibly aggrieved. "Jeremy, you know I hate going to the hospital the most."

"Alright. I got it. I'll be there right now." He hung up and descended the stairs.

…

After Joanna washed up and lay in her bed in Maplewood Residences, she took a glimpse at her phone to check for any new messages—a habit before she slept.

Indeed, she received a new follower request on Instagram. To her surprise, Nadine had sent the request. In the background of Nadine's profile photo was the blurred-out figure of a man.

The man stood tall under the halo of the sunlight. The camera captured his figure from afar, framed by a heart-shaped gesture.

Others might not be able to recognize the man, but it only took Joanna one look to realize he was Jeremy.

She approved Nadine's follower request. Almost immediately, she saw the Instagram story Nadine posted 10 minutes ago.

It was a photo taken from behind Jeremy, unlike the one in Nadine's profile photo. This time, the camera was closer to the subject, and Jeremy looked much more sharp in the photo.

Dressed in a shirt with rolled-up sleeves and pants with his fair, muscular forearms on full display, he stood before the stove in the kitchen. Head slightly lowered, he was intently focused on his task.

Nadine's caption read, "You're my one and only God. Being taken care of by a deity—what more could a woman ask for?"

Judging from the photo and its caption, Jeremy was probably making a meal for Nadine. Joanna was shocked to see Jeremy, who had never lifted a finger in his life, cooking for Nadine.

Tears welled up as she stared at the screen. His love or lack thereof could be proven through a simple act of service. Why was she blind to the truth until now?

Eyes closed, she put away her phone and calmed herself down before lying down and falling asleep.

…

The next morning, as usual, Jeremy searched for the starry night cufflinks that Joanna gifted him after he had washed up and picked out his clothes.

As expected, he could not locate the cufflinks. He called for Polly.

Polly reported, "Mr. Hansen, I couldn't find the starry night cufflinks you mentioned. By the way, a few pieces of jewelry that Mrs. Hansen often wears have gone missing."

She had searched high and low on Jeremy's orders, but she failed to find the starry night cufflinks he had described.

Stealing a look at his sour expression, she whispered, "Ms. Kinsey was the one who arranged to pack up Mrs. Hansen's belongings. She might know something about it."

The veins bulged on Jeremy's forehead in anger. He called Marie to the house right away.

"Mr. Hansen, I didn't see your cufflinks that day, nor did I remember the jewelry that Polly mentioned. If they are missing, there is one possibility…" Marie shot him a cautious look as she deliberated.

"What is it?" He demanded to know.

Marie replied, "Could Ms. Thompson have left the house with them?"

A glint appeared across Jeremy's eyes when Marie introduced the notion. A smirk played on his lips the next moment. "Oh, is that so? We should get her to return the stuff."

…

Joanna and Elliot were having breakfast at her place on the 38th floor of Maplewood Residences. He had offered her the service of Janet, his housekeeper of many years. Janet had been making breakfasts for him until she was asked to work for Joanna.

As such, Elliot had no choice but to show up at Joanna's place every morning for breakfast. At the same time, he discussed work matters with her.

The doorbell rang just as they were finishing their breakfasts. Elliot turned to Joanna with a curious expression. "Who's visiting this early?"

Few people knew that Joanna had moved to Maplewood Residences.

Joanna shared the same doubt.

Janet hurried to answer the door but stopped in her tracks, stunned by the sight of the visitor.

Joanna's identity as Mrs. Hansen was a well-kept secret, but the name Jeremy Hansen was recognized not just in Clementson City but across the nation.

"A-Are you Mr. Hansen of the Hansen Group?" After a short pause, Janet inquired, "Who are you here for?"

Joanna frowned softly in the dining room when she overheard their voices from the hallway. In comparison, Elliot appeared more agitated than she was.

Pushing his chair out of the way in a loud screech, he dashed toward the entrance as Joanna watched him, at a loss for words.