Jack could hardly stifle his laughter as soon as he saw the playlist.
The first song Ace had chosen was one called "Love Is Like A Tide," while the second song was "When Our Love Was In The Past." The third song was "Love that Came Too Late, "…
In short, he had selected love songs that dealt with heartbreak, failed love, and regrets that came too late.
It seemed like Mrs. Moran had really given Ace quite a blow today.
Typically, Ace led his life solely on the basis of reason and rationality, but as soon as he got drunk, he would instantly reveal the hidden side of his personality….
But the best person to cure his current ailment would be the one who had caused it in the first place, which meant that the only person who could save him from this bad habit of getting drunk and singing lovesick songs in a karaoke bar was Mrs. Moran herself and no one else!
After singing a few songs with Ace, Jack excused himself, saying, "You go on and sing, Mr. Moran. I need to go to the restroom for a while."
Then, with his phone in hand, he slipped into the restroom.
Ace's profoundly fetching eyes stared passionately at the screen as he sang his heart out. He was in no mood to pay any attention to Jack.
Meanwhile, Jack hid himself in the restroom and dialed Joanna's number. As soon as she answered, he instantly lamented, " Please come quickly, Madam! Mr. Moran is in big trouble!"
By the time she picked up the call, Joanna was already home and comfortably soaking in the bath.
"That's none of my business," she replied nonchalantly. "Please don't call again without my permission. I'm hanging up now."
"No, please don't! Madam, you have to see him, because…"
Jack racked his brain for a way to trick Joanna into coming. In the end, he agitatedly added, "Because Mr. Moran got drunk and realized that he never wanted to get a divorce. He deeply regrets letting you go, and he's causing a commotion now… he's attempting to kill himself! He's claiming that he will jump to his death if you don't see him!"
'I'm sorry, Boss, but this is all done for the future and happiness between you and Mrs. Moran,' he thought simultaneously. 'I'm forced to ruin your impeccable image for now, but I'm sure you'll thank me once you've reconciled with Mrs. Moran!'
"Jack," Joanna rolled her eyes once she heard what Jack had just told her. "You've always been a smart and reasonable so why are you spewing bullsh*t at me? We have no grievances, so why do you take me for a fool? How could you not realize I'd know exactly what kind of guy Ace Moran is? Did you really expect me to believe that he'd lose his mind over love?"
"Why not?" Jack countered. "I know Mr. Moran always appears cool and level–headed, but he loses himself the moment he gets drunk!"
"Even if that's true," argued Joanna, "he would not lose his mind over me because there was any love between him and me. If you continue to spew such nonsense, Jack, I swear I'll block your number."
She then hung up immediately without another word.
She cursed herself for forgetting to block Jack's number, even though she had already blocked Ace's. What a silly mistake! Soon afterward, she received a text message from Jack about the location of a karaoke bar, accompanied by the following words: "Madam, you've really underestimated Mr. Moran's feelings for you!"
Joanna turned off her phone completely and closed her eyes. She tried to continue enjoying her warm bath but only grew increasingly restless.
Judging by how he looked before she left, Ace really had drunk a lot of wine and was getting quite drunk. She recalled how she had never seen him so drunk before, apart from that night when he lost control.
What if he actually did something stupid after losing his self–control? Even if he did not lose his mind because of her, it would still be partially her fault….
As she contemplated the matter for a while, Joanna finally let out a long sigh and got out of the bathtub. She quickly dressed casually and headed towards the address Jack sent her.
Meanwhile, Jack was still hiding in the restroom with his phone in his hand. He was betting on Joanna's feelings for Ace. He firmly believed that Joanna's deep love for Ace would make her drag herself out here and come to Ace, even though she had repeatedly affirmed that she did not care about Ace at all.
In that case, if he went outside and joined Ace now, would that not make him the biggest, most useless third wheel of all time?
Hence, Jack resolved to hold his position sitting on the toilet the whole time before Joanna arrived!
Not long after that, Joanna arrived at the same karaoke bar. The manager asked her if she was looking for someone.
"I'm looking for the most handsome guest you have here today," she answered bluntly.
The manager quickly nodded knowingly and said, "We happen to have an almost supernaturally handsome guest, but I don't think it's the best idea to meet him now because he's really busy."
"Busy?" Joanna frowned. "Busy doing what? Killing himself?"
"You're a funny one!" the manager laughed.
He then grinned and only answered in vague terms, saying, "I won't waste your time saying much. Why don't you just go take a peek yourself? He's in Lounge V1. Also, if you need anything, just tell me! We offer our services to both men and women."
His answer only filled Joanna with confusion, but she still proceeded towards the private lounge where Ace was, according to the manager's directions.
From a distance, she could already hear Ace's singing accompanied by the sound of laughter. She couldn't help but clench her fists tightly, wishing they would bludgeon Jack up to death.
This was… nothing like the atmosphere where someone was trying to kill themselves!
Nevertheless, since she was already here, she still pushed the door open and entered the private lounge, ready to see what was really going on there.
She ended up completely dumbfounded.
"Ace Moran! You guys are…!"
Under the glow of the dim lights of the private lounge, Joanna didn't just see Ace, but he was surrounded by several young, exquisitely good–looking men, each dressed in their own distinct style.
And all those men were exhausting every last skill in their arsenal to impress Ace.
"Ahem!" Joanna coughed awkwardly, feeling as if she really was not supposed to be there at all.
Ace did not notice that Joanna was there. He was too busy singing a famous song called "Ten Years Ago" with a microphone.
in his hand.
"Ten years ago…" he sang, "I did not know you, and you were not mine; we were still…"
Although Joanna had initially planned to leave right away, she was suddenly attracted to Ace's voice. Despite being married to him for several years, it was actually her first time hearing him sing.
She never expected a man like Ace, who was always so serious and rigid, would ever be able to sing so passionately. Sure, he had a deep and hypnotic voice, but what was more impressive was how accurately he could convey his emotions through the song as if he had personally endured a relationship that ended painfully or experienced unrequited love.
But who could that lover be?
Was it his first love, Cecilia, who would soon be engaged to one of his best friends? Or could it be the mysterious and ever–elusive Mr. X? Or was it Alice, now abundant with his offspring?
No matter who it was, Joanna was sure that it was not her anyway!
Having confirmed that Ace wasn't trying to kill himself, Joanna sighed in relief and got ready to leave quietly without leaving a single trace of her presence.
Unfortunately, one of the handsome young men on the couch covered his mouth and yelled, pretending to be shocked at the sight of the woman.
"Ah! What is that woman doing there?! How suspicious!"
Ace stopped singing abruptly. He slowly turned his penetrating gaze towards the door.
The moment he saw Joanna, his eyes, which had been bleary because of alcohol, suddenly brightened up, although it was unclear if it sobered him up or made him drunker.
He quietly watched her like that for a long time, but his gaze was neither cold nor warm. He neither chased her away nor invited her to join him.
Joanna began to feel disconcerted by Ace's stare, so she smiled apologetically to the pretty young women and told them, "I didn't mean to disturb you guys. Please continue with whatever you're doing."
Joanna initially intended to leave right then and there, but as she surveyed the scene, she felt a little uneasy about leaving Ace like this.
Would he end up plastered on the tabloid front page tomorrow morning if people saw him like this?
No matter what, he was still the biological father of her two children.
With that thought in mind, she took a deep breath and firmly decided to stay. With her head held high, she stepped into the private lounge.
"I've changed my mind now. Tonight, I will definitely leave with this man!"