Jack pushed his glasses and matter–of–factly told Joanna, "You might not know this, Madam, but whenever my boss gets drunk, he always ends up like this. In fact, you're not the first person he hugs so tightly like a bolster, unwilling to let go. Trust me, Madam. We've been through this. I know for a fact that it's perfectly feasible."
"So," he added, "if you don't mind, I must trouble you to endure it for just a while. Once my boss has sobered up, I'm sure he'll be really grateful."
Naturally, everything he said was nonsense. He merely intended to give Ace and Joanna a chance to be closer, because the sober version of Ace Moran would never do anything that would hurt his ego or embarrass him. Despite that, women's hearts were conquered by the constant pursuit, especially a woman as perfect as Joanna, now that she had become the director of the Electronics Technology Association. How else could Ace win her heart if he refused to exert a little effort and employ a few tricks?
Miraculously, Joanna actually bought Jack's nonsense.
"Fine," she said. "Hurry up and take us home then!"
She turned around and glanced at Ace, who had been holding her tight in his arms, soundly asleep. A complicated mix of emotions arose in her heart.
She was not that surprised to find that he behaved in this strange way whenever he was drunk. After all, exactly the same thing happened on that night. he was also holding her tight and would not let her go, which ultimately led him to sleep with
her!
If she had known that he would be this crazy, she would never have played the drinking game with him, even if her life depended on it.
And so the three of them walked out of the karaoke bar in that extremely bizarre formation with Ace holding onto Joanna tightly, while Jack supported Ace as he led them out of the door.
They hailed a cab on the side of the road. Even after getting inside the car, Joanna was still stuck in Ace's arms, which were wrapped tightly around her neck. No matter how hard she struggled, she just could not break free from him, so all she could do was helplessly urge the cab driver to hurry. "Please speed up!"
They soon reached Moran Villa. This was the house that Joanna called home for the last three years, but today it was just another grand building that had no room for her anymore. If there had not been an emergency, she would never have willingly taken a step back into this place ever again.
Meanwhile, Alice, whose pregnant belly had ballooned in size, was in the grand living room, dramatically weeping and lamenting about her plight to her future mother–in–law, Susan, like a soap opera actress.
"It's not like I don't want to cultivate a closer relationship with Ace, Aunt Susan, but he's just always so busy with work. that I can count on one hand the number of times he spent the night at home, ever since I moved here…"
"What can I possibly do when I barely ever see him?" she added.
"You're right," replied Susan in a voice thick with concern. She was sitting on the couch, frowning deeply. "It is indeed unfair to blame you for not taking any initiative. I know my son very well. No one can ever force him to do anything that he doesn't want to do. As for your engagement, I think there's nothing we can do but postpone it."
She had initially assumed that Ace didn't marry Alice earlier because he hadn't divorced that gold digger Joanna Pierce. However, although they were officially divorced now, his relationship with Alice hadn't improved.
Seeing how her son never mentioned the subject of marriage when Alice's belly was getting bigger and bigger by the day really broke her heart!
But as soon as Alice heard what Susan said, she sprang up to her feet anxiously and protested, "We can't postpone it anymore, Aunt Susan! Any further delay and my baby will be born an illegitimate child! You must find a way to help me!"
She hadn't acted so pitifully in front of Susan for the sake of a compromise, but only because she wanted to put more
pressure on Ace to marry her through his mother.
"Okay," Susan replied plainly. "Just give me some time, and I'll think of a way."
Ever since seeing Alice's disgusted face when she learned of the misdiagnosis that Ace was paralyzed, Susan knew that this woman was not as harmless and innocent as she might seem.
Nevertheless, the child in her belly was still the flesh and blood of the Moran family, and she had to do whatever she could to help her eldest grandchild.
It meant Ace had to marry Alice without delay!
Just at that moment, Ace, Joanna, and Jack stepped out of the cab and laboriously made their way into the manor in their bizarre formation.
As the two groups of people bumped into each other, they were stunned and speechless for a while. It created a scene that was comically strained, yet awkward at the same time.
"Madam!" Jack hastily broke the silence. "What a coincidence to find you here! What a lively scene!"
Joanna could not help but roll her eyes. No one in this world deserved the first spot in a contest for the person most likely to create a painfully awkward scene!
"You… what is going on with you two over there?!"
Susan erupted in anger when she saw Ace holding onto Joanna so tightly like that, fearing that these two were back together again.
"You should ask your son!" replied Joanna.
"Why are you guys still standing there?" she added impatiently. "Hurry up and lend us a hand!"
Susan shouted at Joanna, "You've already divorced Ace, yet you still disturb him. Now you even dare to come to the Moran. Residence and provoke us. How could there be such a shameless woman like you!"
Jack wanted to explain, but he was cut short by Joanna, who was a step quicker. She retorted back venomously, "Miss Susan, please widen your eyes and see who's bothering who. You failed as a mother, for having a son so shameless."
"You…"
Susan was so mad that she couldn't construct her words properly.
"Before this, I was your daughter–in–law, and I respected you. But now that I am no longer related to the Moran family, I will sue you for emotional harm if you offend me again."
After speaking, Joanna tried to push Ace away with all her strength but failed.
She couldn't help but suspect that he was doing it on purpose.
"Ace, are you done fooling around? Let go of me, or I will hurt you!"
Joanna had her fist clenched, and she was about to strike him.
She didn't want to spend another second in that place or see any of the people living there.
When Jack saw this, he immediately ordered the people to assist in carrying Ace while explaining Joanna's dilemma to
them.
"Madam, you've misunderstood Miss Pierce. Mr. Moran became intoxicated and refused to let go of her, no matter how hard I tried to separate them. Miss Pierce was so concerned about hurting Mr. Moran that she came all the way here. She had good intentions and was the real victim!"
"Bullsh*t!"
Susan was so upset that her face looked purplish. "Ace wouldn't be that shameless. She's definitely the one who wouldn't let go of him."
She walked towards the two angrily and wanted to separate them.
However, it was true that Ace was indeed shameless. His slender arms wrapped around Joanna's neck like a knot, and he refused to let her go.
Seeing this, Susan could only let her anger out on Alice as she yelled, "Are you stupid? Why are you standing there? Come and help me to separate them. You can't even keep your man away from her."
Alice's nails dug into the flesh of her palms. She was already envious of Joanna, and now she despised her even more since she caused her to be scolded.
"Use more strength!"
Susan was red from trying to pull them apart as she yelled at Alice and Jack.
She was unable to wait for another second and had to separate the two, right here and now.
With a few people's help, Ace was dragged away from Joanna.
Indeed, he was completely sloshed. He forgot about his noble appearance and began behaving like a kid whose favorite toy had been taken away. "Joanna, don't go!" he murmured unconsciously. "Come back to me. It's dangerous outside. Faster,
come to me."
Seeing this, Alice grabbed on the opportunity, held on to Ace's swaying body, and whispered, "I'm here."
Ace hugged Alice like he had hugged Joanna earlier and continued to mumble drunkenly, "Good. Don't go anywhere."
She let him hold her while looking at Joanna provocatively. "I'm sorry for causing you problems, Miss Pierce. When Ace is drunk, he likes to hug random people. I'll look after him. You may now return."
Joanna stared at them being so close with sheer indifference, though she was a little disappointed inside.
'Turns out I'm not that special after all. Ace will hug anyone as he did with me,' she thought dejectedly.
"Look after your man. If he comes to bother me again, I'll call the police!"
With that, she turned and left without hesitation.