While the two kids were still at school, Joanna called Mr. Q on the way ho.
"What’s the matter?"
Mr. Q was surprised by Joanna’s sudden call.
"I have a situation. Where are you now?"
"?" Mr. Q paused briefly before answering, "I’m dealing with sothing at Carmine Pawnshop."
"Is that so? When are you free? Can you co over to my place?" Joanna sounded a little anxious. It seed she had sothing important to discuss with him.
Mr. Q could hear Joanna’s anxiousness and answered in a deep voice, "Give a mont. I’ll co over now."
"Sure. I’ll be waiting."
Joanna started packing the daily necessities for her and the children as soon as she went ho. About an hour or so later, Mr. Q arrived as promised.
"You’re finally here."
Joanna felt an indescribable calmness as soon as she saw him.
Mr. Q had not accompanied her and the children for long, but his presence gave them the warmth of ho. Before she realized it, she had considered this notorious man as one of her own.
Even if a woman was strong, soone still had to be the man in the family. A reliable man and a warm person could play this role.
Mr. Q glanced around the room coldly. When he saw her packed suitcase, he raised his eyebrows slightly."Are you... moving?"
"No, no. We’ll be away for a week..."
"Where are you going?"
"Well..." Joanna scratched her head. She felt a little embarrassed, unsure how to explain her situation to him.
In the beginning, Joanna and Mr. Q agreed that they were just playing around. However, they seed to have developed so kind of affection for each other during the ti they spent together.
Joanna wondered what would happen if she had told him where she was going. He would certainly be angry, right?
"Let guess..."
Mr. Q curled his lips into a slight smile and said slowly, "You probably made up with your ex-husband, so you’re going to take the kids and move in with him. While you have a happy family reunion with him, a standby lover like has to return to where I ca from, right?"
Joanna tightened her hands in silence. She said coldly, "Don’t sound so bitter. I’m staying with Ace, but only for a week. It’s only because of special circumstances! The kids and I aren’t going to reunite with him. At least not . I can’t reconcile with him!"
Certain cracks could never be healed. She knew this very well.
"And you," Joanna raised her eyes and t the man’s gaze. "You’re not a backup."
In their intertwined relationship, the two knew they were more than just playing around. However, no one had taken a step further. Such unspoken feelings were often the most deadly.
"Ace already knows about the two children. With the way he is, he won’t let them go so easily. He told to either remarry him or give him the kids..."
Joanna confessed to Mr. Q about her entanglents with Ace. She felt he had a right to know about it, regardless of their relationship.
"I guessed as much." Mr. Q was not surprised. He nonchalantly asked with a smile, "So, have you decided?"
"I won’t remarry him, let alone give him custody of the two kids."
Joanna looked determined and gazed at the man in front of her intently. She took a deep breath and said with courage, "So, I decided to get married to you!"
Mr. Q remained stoic to her answer. He said indifferently, "Tell why you chose . You just want to keep custody of the two kids, right?"
Joanna fell into a short silence. Then, she shook her head and said solemnly, "I think it’s more than that. I’m marrying you for way more than the kids."
"Well, that’s odd..." Mr. Q smiled with interest and leaned closer to Joanna. He reached out to caress her cheek.
"Could it be... Are you attracted to ?"
"I don’t know." Joanna did not refuse Q’s touch. She bit her lips lightly and felt very torn inside. Her feelings were so complicated that even she herself could not understand her real feelings for him...
"I wouldn’t say I’m in love with you. I wouldn’t say I’ve fallen for you. I just think being with you makes feel stable and at ho. When I imagine the feeling of ho, that’s how it feels."
"What about Ace? Have you never felt this way with him?"
"To be honest, I had this feeling when I first t him. He was cold and extrely unapproachable, but strangely enough, I sohow felt safe around him..."
Joanna sohow fell into deep thoughts and smiled in reminiscence. Her first eting with Ace ca to her mind. The only sweetness she had had in that relationship ca crashing back into her heart like a wrecking ball.
"You wouldn’t have known. I was stupidly in love at that ti. The first ti I saw him, I already imagined having children with him. I imagined sitting around with him and our children for dinner, watching TV, and going on trips."
"When I was married to him, I tried my best to achieve my dream. Who would have thought... I got divorced before I knew it. Instead, I found this feeling in you."
Mr. Q listened to Joanna’s sad but sweet narrative in silence and did not respond for a long ti.
Joanna soon realized that she was talking too much and went overboard. She coughed lightly and explained, "Don’t get wrong. I don’t feel this way about him anymore. I only feel this way about you, so... I just want to..."
"Fake it until you make it with ?"
Mr. Q hit the nail on the head with his question.
Joanna tightened her hand and nodded vigorously. "Well, I want to work in that direction."
It had been four years, and another four years went by quickly. She had spent most of her life with an unworthy man and an unworthy relationship. It was ti to start a new journey.
It might be difficult, but she finally felt the urge to open her heart and take a step forward.
"I see."
Mr. Q gently cupped Joanna’s face. Then, he examined her with his deep, tender, yet complicated gaze.
Joanna’s beautiful face was flawless and perfect. She was small and delicate. She might appear soft, but her thin lips and bright eyes said otherwise. She was not easy to ta, but that was exactly what made her so irresistible.
’Ace. Oh, Ace. You’re the biggest fool in the world. Why did you let down such a great woman and let her run away?’ thought Q.
"It’s my pleasure to get married to you and fake it until I make it, but... I don’t want you to regret it. You can tell your decision a week later."
Mr. Q stroked Joanna’s cheek softly. He was very gentle and patient and treated her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
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