Chapter 73

Joseph stared intently at Melissa, wrestling internally, weighing his options. Would she become even more willful and arrogant if he no longer monitored her every move? "I know what you want to say." she said with a self-mocking tone "you just want to use Granny as an excuse. Since I've already promised you that I'll keep her happy, I'll never arouse her suspicion, even if I get up to all sorts of shenanigans behind her back. I'll keep them from her, all right? Are you satisfied now?” She sneered, knowing that this was exactly how he saw her. "Melissa, you're going too far!" he exclaimed, his face stern and his tone icy. His gaze appeared as if he wished he could pulverize her. "I'm not your employee. I don't need to follow your orders, and you don't need to act high and mighty. I've no interest in seeing your sour face!” As they seemed to be heading towards a stalemate, Alvin and Alvina didn't dare to interrupt. Joseph had never before encountered such a stubborn and obstinate woman who refused to listen to reason. A sharp glint flared in his dark eyes. He was tempted to tell his grandmother the truth, to drive her and her two children out of the Clarkson family. "Dinner's ready, Second Young Master, Miss Austin!" The voice belonged to Sister Sarah, who was helping Grandma Julia on their way to the dining room, and she took the opportunity to call upstairs. Joseph coldly glanced at Melissa before descending the stairs alone. Alvin held his mother's hand and gave it a slight tug. "Mom, let's go downstairs for dinner too!" "Let's go!" Melissa hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Together with Alvin and Alvina, Melissa descended the stairs. Upon arriving at the dining room, she found Joseph and Grandma Julia already seated. On the table was a flat induction cooker with a big hotpot on top. Assorted vegetables, seafood, and meats surrounded the hotpot, indicating that they would be having hotpot for dinner. Normally, Melissa loved hotpot, but now, she had no appetite. Both Alvin and Alvina sat on either side of her, each propping their chin in thought. Joseph leaned silently against the back of the chair, unable to suppress his anger upon sight of Melissa. He tried his utmost to repress the fury within himself. Tony and Aunt Sarah were helping to serve the dishes, and Grandma Julia seemed to notice that all four children were somewhat moody. She let Tony and Aunt Sarah go and have their dinner. She needed to offer some guidance to Melissa and Joseph. "Joseph, I've been feeling rather stifled at home recently. I want to go out and relax. This weekend, why don't we all go out and stroll around the ancient town in the alley? What do you think, Melissa?" Grandma Julia suggested they all go out together to lift their spirits and strengthen their bonds. Upon hearing about going out, Alvin and Alvina's eyes lit up. They looked at Melissa with anticipation, hoping their mother would agree immediately. "I’m fine with it. I’ll listen to Grandma." Melissa repressed her unhappiness and gently spoke to Grandma Julia. The moment Melissa finished her sentence, Joseph interjected "Grandmother, I have a lot of things left unfinished at the office this week, and I might need to work overtime this weekend. I'll arrange a driver to take you guys there." "No, you must participate too." Grandma Julia immediately put on a stern face, acting as if she was very angry. "Grandmother, I really have something else to handle." Joseph, not daring to disrespect his grandmother, made one last struggling plea, his tone filled with helplessness. "What other important business could you have? It's not like the company can't function without you for a day or two. You're always busy and never take the initiative to interact with them when you come home from work. Joseph, tell me truthfully, did you get entangled with another woman? No wonder Melissa doesn’t want to deal with you." Grandma Julia stood by Melissa, constantly offering her support. In her eyes, there was no better daughter-in-law than Melissa. Joseph could only sigh helplessly "Grandmother, you're overthinking." "Well then, join us for a two-day trip to the ancient town in the alley. It's settled." Grandma Julia clapped her hands gently, kindly addressing the four children. "The dishes and meat are ready, eat quickly!" Melissa served some of their favorite food to Alvin and Alvina, while Joseph was helping his grandmother get some food. Grandma Julia gestured to Joseph, reminding him to serve some delicious food for Melissa. After understanding his grandmother's intentions, Joseph served a few slices of beef to Melissa. From one side, Alvina cleared her throat and softly reminded Joseph. "Daddy, the third rule!" Joseph felt like he was being cornered from all sides, yet he couldn't go back on his promises to his two little ones. With no emotion, he finally said to Melissa. "Baby, eat more beef." After that, Joseph could almost feel three black lines appearing on his forehead. Melissa was incredulous that Joseph, the dignified President of Clarkson Group, had been pressurized to say such awkward words of affections like "Baby" under Alvina's insistence, and she almost burst into laughter. Watching the amused scene, Grandma Julia was also cheerful. She served Melissa with a couple of crispy bamboo shoots and then started to enjoy her food. "By the way, Melissa, how's your good friend doing now?" Grandma Julia casually asked, remembering Melissa had spent the afternoon with Amy. While Melissa was savoring the savory beef that had been dipped in sesame sauce, she replied half-consciously. "Ah? Which friend?" "The girl named Amy, is she still afraid to stay at home alone?" Being the caring old lady she was, Grandma Julia was always concerned about everyone. "She has overcome her fear, and this afternoon she just wanted to chat with me because she had no class. We used to hang out a lot. As I don't have siblings, I treat Amy as my own sister." With a casual smile, Melissa responded, while Joseph calmly listened. Secretly, he brooded over Melissa's lie and how smoothly it came out. He thought who would dare to keep such a woman by their side if they knew her true nature? "That's fine, all of you are good-hearted children. When you have time, invite Amy also to come to our house for a visit." Grandma Julia sincerely suggested, the thought of having the three girls, Nancy, Melissa, and Amy together guaranteed a splash of young energy to the mansion. "Alright, I'll speak to Peter when I have a moment." Melissa replied with a smile. She understood her grandmother's kind intentions. Her grandmother wanted to carefully attend to the close friends and family around Melissa, all for the sake of Joseph. After dinner, Alvin and Alvina went to play video games, while Grandma Julia leisurely sipped tea on the sofa with her eyes closed, resting. Joseph stood alone by the large glass window in the front hall, silently gazing into the distance with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, darling, was your meal tough to swallow?" Melissa leisurely strolled over, a brisk smile on her face as though she were a fearless heroine, her arm slung over Joseph's right shoulder. "Take your hand off me" Joseph slightly turned his head, his aloof gaze icy as he made his demand. Melissa lightly lowered her arm, laughing self-deprecatingly, "Just how much do you loathe me in your mind?"