Umm… What did Joanna mean? Why did she hold his arm for no reason?
Besides, her fingers were so slender, and her palm was so soft that it instantly softened his heart.
Ethan's mind ran wild, and his thoughts went slightly out of control.
He quickly shook his head and forcefully withdrew his arm. He said rather unfriendly, "What are you doing? Men and women are different. Although I'm very charming, you'd better behave yourself and don't touch me."
Joanna became quite helpless, but she saw that as a joke. So, she hurriedly agreed, "Okay, I'll behave myself. Mr. Stuart, please stop being so charming!"
In the past, all she was aware of were his mean remarks. It was only now that she realized that he was actually rather amusing.
It seemed pretty beneficial to befriend such a person.
They went to Starfee and sat at a table by the window. Ethan ordered an iced Americano, while Joanna got herself a warm Cappuccino.
Joanna sipped her coffee and found that it was still the taste she liked. It instantly uplifted her spirits.
"Spill it. What favor do you need from me?"
She did not beat around the bush and questioned.
Ethan was shocked, and he almost spat out his coffee. He asked, "How… How did you know that I needed a favor?"
"I know you. Why would you be so polite if you didn't have a favor to ask? You would have mocked me and never bought me coffee."
Ethan soon had a new impression of her, given her analysis.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and sized Joanna up for a long time, scrutinizing her. He then said, "I didn't have a good insight before and failed to notice how smart you are. I thought that you were just a mindless, pretty face who survived solely by clinging to the Moran family… No wonder! Ace is such a picky person, but he took such a fancy to you."
She raised her brows and felt that he was just teasing her.
Humph! How would Ace take a fancy to her? He would just be angry.
"Stop flattering me. Just tell me what it is. As for whether I'll help you or not, it'll depend on my mood," Joanna replied straightforwardly.
Ethan heaved a long sigh before he elaborated, "I'm in a very troublesome lawsuit. There's only one person who can win this case in the City, and that's Zack from Morans & Co. Law Firm."
"Got it."
Joanna snapped her finger. "You committed a crime, and you want Mr. Zack to help you of it. Am I right?"
"No!"
Ethan roared, infuriated by Joanna. "It has nothing to do with me, but that woman died at my place. As the person in charge of that place, that woman's family members sued me and requested I be held responsible."
"Someone framed me. They weren't willing to resolve it in private, no matter how much I spent, and they even asked for protection from the police officers. Even if I want to use special means, I don't have such a chance… I got into such a mess!"
While talking, he ruffled his hair in frustration. He almost collapsed from all the mess.
Joanna lowered her eyes and ruminated on it for a while before she asked," What's the reason for her death?"
"The police investigation found out that she had injected too much of that substance into her body, so her body couldn't take it, and she died suddenly"
He then added furiously, "Damn! She indulged in herself too much and died. It has nothing to do with me. Why did they ask me to be responsible for it? I'm so unlucky!"
"Of course, you have to be held responsible because she died at your place. You'll even have to assume criminal responsibility if you were found to be the ones who provided the substance, or if she took it under your encouragement…"
"Okay, stop it!"
Ethan became increasingly anxious. He uttered angrily, "So, that's why I came to beg for your help cheekily. Based on the previous cases, there's only one chance of victory in this kind of situation, and Zack was the lawyer. So… Just tell him to help me!"
If he were not left with no options, he would not have used that method. It was too humiliating.
Joanna answered with a faint smile, "Sure, I can help you, but I have one condition.
When Ethan found that there was hope after all, his eyes lit up. He immediately said, "What's your condition? Just tell me whatever you want as long as you can help me win this lawsuit!'
Joanna did not beat around the bush either, and she said directly, "I want to rent the piece of land belonging to your family in the southern suburbs for thirty years."
Considered one of the eight major families, the Stuarts mainly dabbled in real estate. Although they focused on only one industry, their financial resources were particularly strong.
The Stuart family gained a lot of land in the earlier years because of their great connections, which resulted in them constructing numerous famous luxury neighborhoods and commercial centers. However, although the piece of land situated in the southern suburbs of the City was as large as 1500 square feet, its development value was low because it was located in a very remote place, and it had been left vacant. Tall grass now overgrew the empty plot.
During those years, the Stuart family kept that piece of land due to a depression in the real estate industry as well as the fact that no one could take over it. If one did, it would be a certain waste of money, and they would only suffer losses.
Joanna's request… was rather strange.
"Why do you want that piece? It's trouble, so no one dares to take it."
Ethan took a sip of coffee and asked curiously.
Joanna smiled. She thought, 'He's pretty honest because he doesn't hesitate to talk bad about his family.'
"That's not your concern. So, is that yes or no?"
Joanna replied mysteriously.
"I can't wait to pass it to you if you want it. Anyone who invests in that place will suffer a great loss. I sincerely suggest that you do not take over that piece of land. If you want to invest in real estate, my family has some better lots for you to consider."
Ethan added loyally.
He subconsciously regarded her as his friend after she claimed that he was her friend, and one wasn't about to shortchange one's friend.
Joanna shook her head and said firmly, "I don't need anything else but that piece of land. If you promise me, I'll immediately ask Zack to sign a contract with you and become your defense attorney."
"Deal!"
When he noticed how straightforward she was, he behaved in the same way too, and said, "Til rent it to you at the lowest price. You're bold, but don't blame me if you can't develop it."
"Deal!"
She raised her coffee cup to him.
Unexpectedly, everything had gone so smoothly. She thought Ethan was the hardest to persuade, but it turned out that he was the easiest to talk to.
As expected, one could never judge a book by its cover.
Ethan only grew more curious about Joanna. He stared at her as if it was the first time he had met her. He sighed with sentimental feelings, "Why do I feel that you're nicer to look at after your divorce? Do you know how annoying you were when you acted like an obedient rich wife in the past?" Joanna raised her brows and replied, "Yeah, I felt that my world became wonderful after the divorce. All the people I met were nice. In the past… I was just everyone's punching bag. I was never liked; it was as if the identity as Ace's wife was some kind of sin."
During these years when she was married to Ace, she led a careful and humble life. She carefully and meticulously tried to please everyone, but everyone treated her with disdain.
On the contrary, the servants who bullied her in the past started respecting her after the divorce. Even her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, who used to scold her, did not dare to offend her now. Ethan, who always rolled his eyes at her and mocked her, also began to chat with her happily.
"I feel that my bad luck is the result of no one else but Ace. As long as I leave him, my good energy will return to me, and my life will become normal."
With a bitter smile, Joanna elaborated sincerely.
'Humph! If Ace heard that, he would be greatly infuriated…'
Ethan added, "He's taken a fancy to you now, but you ceased to like him. You guys have different tempos, so you're destined to be an unhappy couple."
However, Joanna sneered and said, "You're kidding! He doesn't take a fancy to me. It's just his temporary possessiveness."
"Perhaps…"
Ethan sighed and said, "Ace doesn't have much experience in love. He doesn't even know if he's taken a fancy to you, though there's one thing we can be sure of. He's been paying much attention to
you these days and even asked me for the techniques for pursuing women. He even jotted them down. He claims he wants to acquire your heart."