Chapter 8 Did you want to kill me, Joseph?
1089 Words
Ada anxiously waited for Joseph's reply for nearly half an hour, but he was probably already fast asleep with Isabella by his side. The dried blood on her hands made her uncomfortable, so Ada hurriedly went to the bathroom to wash it off with cold water that sent chills down her spine.
Returning to the room, she reached for the painkillers and anti-cancer drugs. Peter had provided her with potent painkillers that contained anesthesia, which she only resorted to when the pain became unbearable. Emptying the pills from their original container, she transferred them into an ordinary bottle and stashed it away in a drawer. Joseph was no longer a concern to her, despite the six years they had spent together, four of which as a married couple, and the good times they once shared.
As dawn broke, Ada woke up and immediately dialed her lawyer's number to initiate the drafting of a divorce agreement. Andrew, the trusted legal advisor of the Smith family, was the one she turned to for this matter. She requested his presence to discuss the agreement's details and her will.
Ada hesitated for a moment and asked Andrew if he had time to come over. He said yes, so she sent him her address and sat in front of the dressing table. Even if she wasn't going out, she still put on makeup to make herself look a little better.
Ada prepared breakfast for Andrew, but he had already eaten. They moved to the living room to have their discussion. When Andrew learned of Ada's intention to transfer a significant portion of the Smith family's shares to Joseph, he was taken aback. He reminded her that the Smith family assets were her pre-marital property, and her husband had no legal claim to them. Furthermore, considering the substantial value of the company, her father would not approve of such a decision.
Ada was aware of these, which is why she had planned to discuss her will with Andrew. However, just as she was about to start the conversation, the doorbell rang. Ada had to excuse herself and go answer the door.
"Hold on, I'll get the door."
As she opened the door, a dark figure suddenly appeared before her eyes, sending a chill down her spine. Instinctively, Ada took a step back.
Looking up, she asked Joseph, "Why are you back?"
"Didn't you ask me to come back?" Joseph's once piercing black eyes now appeared slightly bloodshot. As someone who had long held a position of power, he exuded an aura of authority that was both imposing and self-assured.
Joseph demanded an explanation for the message Ada had sent him the previous night, and it dawned on her that he had returned because of the divorce. She couldn't help but sneer at him, thinking about how he had insulted her for not coming back last night, only to be so eager to return upon hearing about the divorce.
Noticing her sarcastic laughter, Joseph frowned and quickly surveyed the room. His eyes locked onto a pair of men's leather shoes placed by the shoe rack, and a malicious glimmer flashed in his eyes. Already in a foul mood, Joseph became increasingly agitated, feeling the urge to lash out. He had always had a volatile temper and didn't bother to hide it.
He forcefully grabbed Ada's wrist, examining her face. Despite her makeup and a cold smile, he could sense something was off. "Why do you suddenly want a divorce? Have you found someone else? Am I not enough for you?"
Ada's heart tightened, her brows furrowing. "Joseph, what on earth are you talking about?"
"You asked me to come back today because you planned to meet some other guy, right?" Joseph dragged Ada into the living room, gripping her wrist so tightly that it felt like he was crushing her bones. He threw her onto the sofa and pinned her down, his hand closing around her throat.
"I didn't..." Ada's voice trembled as she struggled to comprehend Joseph's intense gaze. She felt a mix of confusion and unease wash over her, leaving her paralyzed. Every breath became a struggle as her chest tightened, as if the air was being squeezed out of her lungs.
Betrayal was something Joseph despised more than anything in his life. Even though he didn't love Ada, he had used her, and the mere thought of someone else touching her ignited a furious rage within him. The idea that Ada might be secretly harboring another man in their own home made him want to kill her right then and there.
Ada's neck throbbed with pain, and her chest constricted. She desperately tried to pry Joseph's hand off her wrist with her trembling fingers, but her strength was no match for his grip.
Just as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, Andrew rushed forward and grabbed Joseph's shoulder. "What the hell are you doing, Joseph?"
Joseph turned to face Andrew, his anger still smoldering. "Are you the man Ada is hiding?"
"No, no, you've got it all wrong. I'm here today solely to assist both of you with the divorce agreement," Andrew quickly clarified, showing Joseph his business card as proof.
Joseph loosened his grip on Ada's throat, and she gasped for precious air, curling up on the sofa, shivering uncontrollably.
Andrew let out a sigh of relief as he witnessed Joseph release Ada. Nervously, he suggested, "Joseph, perhaps you should discuss the division of assets with Ada as part of the divorce proceedings."
As soon as the word "divorce" left Ada's lips, Joseph's demeanor turned icy once again. He couldn't understand why he was so enraged, but the anger consumed him nonetheless. Andrew felt the weight of Joseph's intense gaze and stood there awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.
After a brief silence, Joseph finally spat out, "Get out." Andrew swiftly turned on his heels and left, not even bothering to retrieve his laptop from the meeting room.
Ada's body felt even more frail than before. The force of Joseph's choke left a red mark on her delicate neck, contrasting against her fair complexion. It took her a while to regain her composure and breathe normally.
She realized just how sick she was. While Joseph had made threats to choke her in the past, it had never escalated to this level of intensity. For a long moment, she found herself unable to move.
"Joseph, were you trying to kill me just now?" Ada's voice quivered as she mustered the courage to ask the question.
- Writer
