"No, no..." Fiona stood up, closing the space between them again. She reached for Joanne’s hands, this ti pressing them to her chest, over her heart.
"You’re his family," she said quietly. "You were all he knew for so many years. I know things aren’t the sa anymore. I know it’ll be awkward at first. But, Joanne... I don’t want to hold onto this hatred anymore." Her fingers tightened slightly. "I want to grow our family. I want to be happy with the man I love. I want to give him every bit of happiness he deserves."
She swallowed, her other hand drifting instinctively to her abdon.
"I want you to be part of our family too."
Joanne’s breath caught.
She stared at Fiona, trying to decipher her true intentions.
Was this another ga? Another power move?
She scoffed, forcing a smirk. "Part of your family?" Her tone was sharp. "And what, you think I won’t steal your husband?"
But Fiona didn’t flinch. She didn’t glare, didn’t bristle, didn’t react the way Joanne expected her to.
She just smiled.
Not smugly.
Not pityingly.
But softly.
There was confidence in her expression—a quiet certainty that spoke louder than any words.
She trusted Liam.
She trusted Joanne.
She didn’t even need to address the absurdity of Joanne’s question, because in Fiona’s mind, it wasn’t even a possibility.
"Talk to Liam," she said again, simply.
Joanne’s throat tightened.
And she didn’t know why, but at that mont, she felt an odd sense of connection with Fiona—of all people.
Like they had finally arrived at so unspoken understanding.
Like sothing heavy had been lifted from her heart.
JD arrived just in ti to witness sothing unexpected.
Joanne and Fiona, who had been at each other’s throats a few minutes ago, were now holding hands. Their hostility had lted away, replaced by sothing almost... affectionate.
He exhaled, relieved. There was even a faint smile on Joanne’s face. Looks like she made a friend.
This was exactly why he rarely interfered in won’s fights—their emotions were too unpredictable. One mont, they were enemies, and the next, they were practically best friends.
Deciding to give Joanne a little more ti to collect herself, JD stayed hidden.
Joanne, anwhile, stood on the porch, watching Fiona leave. There was a skip in Fiona’s step as she walked to her car. Before getting in, she rolled down the window and waved.
"Let’s talk more!" she called out before driving off.
Joanne let out a deep breath, still struggling to make sense of what had just happened. Had she really just... befriended Fiona Sullivan?
She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had other things to take care of.
But she wouldn’t lie—she didn’t mind taking Fiona up on her offer. She liked being around people, and if they liked her? Well, that was always a bonus.
As she turned to go back inside, she nearly crashed into a tall figure.
She winced. "Ah, JD! What are you doing here?"
JD smiled knowingly. "Looks like you made a friend..."
Joanne quickly changed the subject. "What are you up to today?"
"I’m in talks with the truck dealership about the new batch we’re buying," JD said. "I did so digging, and another dealership is offering a bigger discount. I was just about to—"
"Co with ." Joanne cut him off. "I’m getting you a proper suit."
JD blinked. "But I—"
"You can handle that on the phone, right?" she said, already walking to her truck. "There’s an Italian tailor in the next town. No one makes suits like him. You’ll need at least one good suit to represent our company properly."
JD sighed but followed. She has a point.
Besides, he missed wearing Italian-tailored suits. They were the best—his grandfather had always sworn by them. He just hoped she’d pick one in silk or pure wool. He hated polyester blends, but unfortunately, that was all he could afford these days.
As they drove, JD suddenly realized where they were headed.
Jonathan’s town.
Joanne’s photography appointnt was there. When they arrived, she wasted no ti, asking JD’s opinion on poses for the company website and even making the photographer collaborate with him to adjust her positioning.
The photographer wasn’t thrilled about taking instructions from JD, but with a high-profile client like Joanne, he had no choice.
JD, on the other hand, knew she didn’t need much direction. With her perfectly symtrical face, she would photograph well in any pose. He adjusted her hair slightly, and—voilà.
Even the photographer looked impressed when he checked the shots.
Joanne bead as she scrolled through the pictures. "I knew bringing you with was the right call," she said, satisfied.
JD smirked. "So... does this an the new suit is my tip?"
Joanne stopped mid-paynt, her fingers hovering over the extra 50% tip she was leaving the photographer.
She turned to him, brows fluttering in thought.
Sothing about his joke unsettled her.
Did he think she was treating him like an employee?
Because he wasn’t.
He was more than that. More than just a friend, even.
JD saw her hesitation and quickly backtracked. "I was just kidding."
Only when she saw that he truly ant it did Joanne feel at ease again.
JD rubbed his chest, feeling an unfamiliar warmth bloom inside him.
For the first ti, it felt like he was sothing more to Joanne—not just a paying guest, not just an employee. Soone important.
But that happiness shattered the mont he saw her rummaging through the back of her truck.
"What now?" he asked.
"The pie I made," she said, her smile bright and effortless. "I’m going to give it to Jonathan."
She held it up proudly, her excitent clear.
JD’s stomach twisted.
"I haven’t told him, so it’ll be a surprise," she added, a soft blush dusting her cheeks.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened. Did she really fall for Jonathan?
Joanne didn’t notice his expression. She was already walking toward the factory entrance, effortlessly gaining access as if she belonged there. Even the security guard saluted her—like she was the boss’s woman.
JD sat in silence, watching her from the truck.
She adjusted her clothes, then stopped by a window to fix her hair, smoothing down a few strands. She even touched up her lips.
His heart clenched.
Why was he still sitting here, watching this? Watching her go to him?
He should just leave.
JD turned up the volu of the radio, hoping to drown out his thoughts. But fate had a cruel sense of humor.
"Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you..."
Richard Marx’s ballad filled the cabin.
JD cursed and smacked the radio off. Was the whole damn universe laughing at him?
Frustrated, he shoved the door open and stepped out, inhaling the crisp air.
He just needed a mont.
But deep down, he already knew—no amount of fresh air would fix the ache in his chest.
----
Joanne however t with hostility the mont she entered the office.
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