Upon leaving the bar, Joanna said goodbye to Zack and the other lawyers and stood alone by the roadside to wait for her ride.
The cool night breeze brushed against her cheeks, making her feel refreshed.
Her figure was graceful in the white dress, her hair fluttering slightly in the wind like a waterfall. There was not much emotion on her delicate face, but there was a hint of sadness there, as if it hid many stories.
Quite a few men stopped their cars and either honked or whistled at her, wanting to take her for a ride, but she scared them away with her fierce gaze.
Another car stopped nearby. Joanna was ready to roll her eyes again. The window slowly rolled down to show Ace inside.
Her gaze changed from a fierce one to a cold one, as if she did not even know him.
"Need a ride?"
Ace invited in a low voice.
"Nope, wouldn't want you to go out of your way!"
A direct refusal from Joanna.
Ace: " "
Go out of his way? They lived next to each other.
But, it seemed the woman's dislike of him was obvious. She was not even trying to hide it.
What Ace could not figure out was, if she really had no feelings for him, how could she become the author of the most popular fanfic about them? She did not seem like she had multiple personality disorder.
There's only one explanation – she's pretending!
Upon coming to that conclusion, Ace's mood suddenly brightened.
He did not even mind Joanna publicly embarrassing him in the bar earlier anymore. He told himself that it was because women always acted contrary to how they really felt.
With his long fingers on the steering wheel, Ace tilted his head slightly and told Joanna, "Get in the car. I'll tell you some things about the Morans & Co. Law Firm. The law firm isn't as simple as you think it is."
"I'm alright, thanks."
Joanna smiled and lifted her chin high like a swan, aloof and proud. "I think I can handle it, at least better than you can."
Ace's eyes darkened for a moment. He said, "You really think everything would be smooth sailing after you took care of Zack with some petty tricks? The one who's really difficult to deal with in Morans & Co. isn't him."
Joanna knew Ace was talking about Lisa Miller, the partner she had yet to meet.
The career woman with a strong attitude and outstanding abilities was the true backbone of Morans & Co.
If Joanna could not get past the obstacle that was Lisa Miller, Morans & Co. would still be like a hot potato that she could not eat nor throw away!
Ace's cold eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. He did not miss the slightest change in Joanna's expression.
He saw her doubts. Therefore, he generously gave her the chance to choose again.
"The divorce agreement hasn't come into effect yet. If you're regretting it, get on the car and we'll renegotiate the distribution of assets. I'll agree to any request you have as long as it's not unreasonable. There's no need to use your uncle as a cover."
In Ace's opinion, he was already doing the best he could as a future ex-husband. At the very least, he never thought of treating her unfairly in terms of money.
Joanna lifted her thin eyebrows slightly, her lips curled into a faint smile, "Thank you, Mr. Moran, but rest assured from the moment I agreed to the divorce, every decision I made and every word I said came from the bottom of my heart. I will never regret them."
The arrow had already been let fly. How could a dead heart come back to life with only a few good words?
Ace narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to discern whether her words were true.
At that moment, a silver sports car pulled up from behind.
"Sorry, my ride is here…"
Joanna swayed past Ace's car. She smiled at him and said, "By the way, please don't be late to the divorce certificate in a week's time, Mr. Moran."
In the silver sports car, Liam paid full attention to the road ahead. Each ounce of force he exerted on the accelerator was done with deliberate care, lest he caused any unnecessary bumps for his goddess and the two little babies in her belly.
"Boss, you're such a naughty mother. How can you visit a bar while you're pregnant? That's bad prenatal education."
"It's a restaurant bar. I didn't drink any liquor."
Joanna sat in the passenger seat with her head propped up on her hand, looking absent- mindedly out of the window. Her mind seemed preoccupied.
Liam may seem carefree, but he was actually quite observant.
He could immediately tell that Joanna was still feeling troubled about Ace, so said, half teasing and half testing, "Boss, since you haven't officially divorced the Iceberg yet, why don't you tell him about your pregnancy and see who he chooses?"
"Based on what I observed, it's not like he's completely devoid of any feelings for you. At the very least… he's still rather possessive of you."
Otherwise, Ace would not have such a terrible expression on his face when he saw Joanna get into Liam's car.
Based on male psychology, as long as a man was still feeling possessive of a woman, their story was not over yet.
"Besides, you risked your life to save him. He should repay you with his body and choose you."
Liam added.
"No way!"
Joanna stared daggers at Liam. "Why should I offer myself to let him choose? What do I get for going back?"
"You want me to continue to be that meek little daughter-in-law that everyone can step all over? You want me to get laughed at since everybody knows my husband has a mistress? I'm not a masochist!"
Moreover, possessiveness was not love. Love was a kind of caring that seeped deep into the bone, like the way Ace treated Alice…
"Well said!"
Seeing Joanna's firm attitude, Liam immediately felt relieved. "Boss, after suffering three years of brain damage due to love, you've finally recovered. I'm really happy for you!"
"But the children need a father. I can became as one."
Liam's long, narrow playboy eyes sparkled with naughtiness and affection. They were very charming.
Joanna glared at him. "Are you looking for a beating?"
Liam instantly backed down and turned into a cute little puppy again. "Alright, alright! I'll just be their uncle!"
'Sigh. I, Liam Blackwood, have always been a casanova that can deal with any woman I come across. Why doesn't my charm work on Joanna though?'
However, he was not discouraged. Regardless of what their relationship was exactly, at least he knew that he was a special existence to Joanna.
Because they had their own little secret, a secret that even the Iceberg was unworthy of sharing. The thought of that warmed Liam's heart…
"Alright, let's stop talking about all that nonsense. Have you done what I asked you to do?"
Joanna collected her thoughts, smoothed her disorderly hair, and asked Liam.
"I've made the appointment for you. Tomorrow morning, ten o'clock, Skylight Villa."
Joanna nodded and said, "Okay. I'll go alone."
"I can't let you do that. You're pregnant, so I have to keep you company. Besides, that sly old fox is really difficult to deal with. He's very close with Ace Moran. If you can't come to an agreement, he might cause you trouble."
Ever since Liam found out that Joanna was pregnant with twins, he wished he could take care of Joanna 24 hours a day. He would never let his goddess be at risk.
Joanna's decision was firm. "I can handle myself just fine. You think he can cause me trouble. that easily?"
"True that."
Liam suddenly came to a realization.
This was his boss they were talking about. Hidden inside her body was a little leopard with sharp claws. Just because she was a meek little rabbit for a few years, it did not mean she had really turned into a helpless little rabbit.
"Be careful, then. I'll wait for your good news."