Chapter 410: 407: Joshua, This Woman Cannot Be Kept
Chapter 410: Chapter 407: Joshua, This Woman Cannot Be Kept
Riley Wallace remained calm upon seeing the situation, while the man with glasses and a backpack beside her seemed rather flustered.
“Miss Wallace, do you know these people?”
Riley shook her head: “No, I don’t.”
“Well then… ”
Surrounded by so many people, the bespectacled man nervously swallowed.
“Riley Wallace, right?” James took a deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled. “I’m a friend of Joshua’s. Man, it took me visiting over a dozen Civil Affairs Bureaus just to find you.”
“What do you want from me?” Riley showed no emotion in the face of these men in black clothes, but her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
Ever since being rejected by Joshua Thompson after confessing her feelings, she had deleted all contact with him.
Having been friends for so many years, they couldn’t be lovers, nor could they go back to being friends.
Deleting his contact information and starting anew was her way of preserving her dignity.
The man she planned to marry was a programmer, simple and kind, treating her well. She figured she might as well settle down with someone who would keep her stress-free.
Little did she know that as soon as they set off to get their marriage certificate, problems would arise.
Joshua had actually sent people to block her way.
“Joshua says you can’t marry any other man,” James looked up and down the terrified bespectacled man. “This frail, skinny guy can’t compare to our Joshua, huh?”
“This guy’s looks can’t even hold a candle to Joshua.”
The bespectacled man felt embarrassed, adjusting his glasses and hanging his head in discomfort.
Riley frowned, displeased: “What on earth does Joshua want? We can’t even be friends, but now he wants to interfere with my marriage? That’s going too far.”
Thinking of this, Riley’s heart swelled with grievance.
She had intended to get her marriage certificate quietly, but unbeknownst to her, Joshua had been keeping close tabs on her every move.
Having rejected her, he refused to be with her, but now he wouldn’t even let her be with someone else?
Who does Joshua Thompson think he is?
Out of nowhere, Riley gathered the courage to grab the spectacled man’s hand.
“Today, we’re getting married — and nothing can break us apart, not even the ruler himself.”
James’s hand trembled as he held the cigarette, disbelief in his eyes.
Was Riley blind? Instead of choosing the great Joshua Thompson, she insisted on being with this fragile-looking man.
Inwardly, James broke into a cold sweat for Joshua.
Who would have thought that even a rich and handsome Joshua would be rejected?
Finding a wife truly was no easy feat for men in today’s world.
As James sighed, he ordered his gang: “Don’t let them leave.”
Unable to deal with Riley himself, he could only bring in Joshua to handle the situation.
Finding herself surrounded by dozens of people, Riley pulled out her cell phone, ready to call the police.
At that moment, Joshua Thompson arrived.
He walked briskly toward them, leaving his sports car behind. His red hair had been dyed back to its natural black color, and his handsome, mischievous features were accentuated by his naturally upturned lips.
“Riley Wallace!” Joshua stopped by Riley’s side, squinting at the man beside her, looking arrogantly charming. “Is this kind of man really worth marrying?”
Rage surged inside Riley.
“Joshua, what do you want? Do you even have the right to interfere with my marriage?”
“Marriage… Heh, you’re blind if you can see any value in this man.” Joshua snorted coldly. “Riley, not long ago, you confessed your love for me. Now, so soon after, you’re marrying someone else. I never thought you’d be so fickle…”
Riley clenched her fists, not hesitating to strike him with a “thump,” interrupting his words.
The room went silent.
James’s gaping mouth dropped his cigarette on the floor.
What had he just seen?
Had Joshua actually been hit?
Boy, this woman was vicious.
If she were to be married, wouldn’t she be committing domestic violence?
Riley withdrew her trembling hand, her eyes rimmed in red.
Seeing Joshua covering his face and gritting his teeth in pain, Riley felt both guilty and distressed.
Joshua hadn’t even tried to dodge her punch.
With a sour nose, she clenched her fists and said, “Yes, he’s not as wealthy or as handsome as you, but he treats me well.”
Riley Wallace’s voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes, “He said he likes me and that he can make me happy. I didn’t see anything wrong with that.”
“I did like you, but that was in the past.” She sniffled and puffed up her chest to make her voice sound less guilty, “But I don’t like you anymore.”
She closed her eyes and forced herself to be heartless as she spoke insincerely.
She didn’t want their friendship to turn out like this, but Joshua Thompson had rejected her confession, and she was not one to wallow in regret.
She could accept that Joshua didn’t like her, but she couldn’t accept his humiliation of her and her blind date candidate.
“Fuck.” Joshua covered his eyes, wincing in pain, “That really hurt.”
Usually, the pair would only argue and tease, but when had Riley ever seriously hit him before?
Now, for the bespectacled man, she actually fought with him and even said she didn’t like him.
He glanced coldly at the bespectacled man, who shivered in response.
As a local of Sunnydale, the bespectacled man had already recognized Joshua.
Joshua Thompson was the son of the richest man in Sunnydale, a man with power, status, and good looks, someone he could never hope to measure up to.
He glanced at Riley with a complex expression, realizing he had such an imposing rival in love.
He believed that if he really married Riley, he would not have an easy life for the rest of his time.
“Joshua, this woman isn’t right for you,” James couldn’t hold his tongue any longer, throwing a playful jab, “You should marry a gentle woman. This violent one will definitely commit domestic violence in the future…”
“Shut up!” Joshua cut James’s words off coldly, “I’m not afraid of domestic violence.”
James closed his mouth, looking frustrated.
A weak man was tolerable, but a man blinded by love was not.
There would either be no instances of domestic violence or countless instances. Joshua had completely fallen for this woman.
Joshua walked up to Riley and pointed to his swelling eye, “Riley Wallace, no one has ever hit me in my life. How are we going to settle this?”
Riley lowered her head, stuttering, “I thought you would dodge…”
She had played like this with him before, but he’d always managed to dodge her attacks with ease.
Realizing she had actually landed a punch on him, Riley was overcome with guilt.
She never intended to hit him.
Riley lowered her head, her nose stinging with the threat of tears as a few drops fell to the floor, spreading out in wet circles.
“Why are you crying…” Joshua couldn’t help but soften his voice, “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt.”
At this, Riley cried even harder.
Joshua: “…”
Why was it getting worse?
Riley seldom showed sadness or vulnerability in front of him, and seeing her cry now, Joshua’s heart immediately softened.
“Alright, stop crying. Didn’t I say it doesn’t hurt? Your strength is like a cat’s scratch, barely tickling me… Look, nothing’s wrong.” Joshua gently wiped the tears from her face, his beautiful peach blossom eyes flashing as his proud and handsome face revealed a rare tenderness.
James glanced at Joshua’s blackened eye and couldn’t help but expose his lie, “You call this nothing wrong? You look like a national treasure now.”
Joshua gritted his teeth, “If you don’t say anything, no one would consider you a mute.”
James stifled a laugh, biting on his cigarette butt, trying to keep a straight face.
Today’s Joshua was really unbearable to watch.
Riley, reminded by James, took another look at Joshua’s eye and saw that it indeed resembled a national treasure – more specifically, a one-eyed dragon.
Riley suddenly burst into laughter through her tears.
Seeing her stop crying, Joshua’s furrowed brows relaxed, and his brown eyes filled with light.
The bespectacled man took the opportunity to address Riley, “Miss Wallace, I have something to do, so I’ll leave first. As for getting the marriage certificate, if our fate is insufficient, I won’t force it.”
Riley wanted to say something, but Joshua pulled her into his arms and glared at the bespectacled man, “Good riddance.”
With such a malicious air, anyone would think they had some deep hatred between them.
Riley tried to turn her head, but Joshua held it tightly.
Her forehead against Joshua’s chest, Riley’s face suddenly felt scorching hot.
“Joshua!”
Ah!
There were dozens of people watching them!
Ah!