SWNOVELS Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Danika crouched down and hugged Joyce, saying with self–reproach, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that, but…it was the only way to get your dad to finish his work earlier and come spend time with you.”
Joyce rubbed her aching arm and, with a hoarse voice, choked back sobs and said, “Mom, I don’t blame you.”
“Alright, let’s go home and wait for your dad.” Danika took Joyce’s hand and led her back to the villa.
Yet, as midnight approached, Gideon still had not arrived.
Joyce, too sleepy to keep her eyes open and too tired to cry, had quickly fell asleep.
[I have just finished work. Is Joyce okay?]
Seeing this message, Danika smiled and quickly replied.
[She hasn’t fallen asleep yet. She insists on waiting for you. But it’s too late now. You don’t have to come over. I’ll get her to sleep.]
She then stared at her phone, and Gideon replied almost instantly.
[I’ll be there in half an hour.]
Danika, having got her way, put down her phone and went to the bathroom to freshen
- up.
She changed into a thin, silky nightgown and even intentionally sprayed perfume on her shoulders and neck.
Danika then went to sit beside Joyce’s toddler bed, her bare shoulders partially exposed, leaving only a night light on.
In less than half an hour, the bedroom door was pushed open.
Danika made a shushing gesture and got up to walk out.
With a weary expression, she said helplessly, “She had just fallen asleep. You shouldn’t have come all this way.”
Gideon casually flipped through Joyce’s drawings in the living room, most of which were doodles of the three of them.
He asked, “How has Joyće been lately?”
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Danika sighed, her face full of worry.
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She said, “She’s been having mood swings. Joyce asks me every day why her dad and mom aren’t living together, why she never sees you around. I don’t know what to tell. her.
“You’ve been too busy to come by lately. She feels like you don’t care about her. Kids her age are very sensitive.”
Danika had said a lot, but her main point was clear and concise. Which was that Gideon wasn’t spending enough time with them.
Gideon pointed to the “Dad” in the drawing and said, “This is wrong. I’m just taking care of you guys in Lyn’s place. He is Joyce’s real father, not me.”
Danika grew somewhat anxious and unwilling to accept this and replied, “But Lyn has already… Haven’t we suffered enough? Why tell Joyce? I just want her to grow up carefree. Can’t you just keep being her dad?”
Gideon shook his head, and his voice deepened again.
“A world built on lies will eventually collapse someday, and when she learns the truth then, it will tear her apart.”
The advice Teresa had given Gideon during their last conversation resonated with him. “A quick resolution, however painful, is better than prolonged suffering.”
Danika grabbed his hand, leaned in close, mustered her courage, and suggested. “We don’t have to lie. If we get together, all these problems will be solved!”
Without hesitation, Gideon swiftly withdrew his hand.
He stood up, creating distance between them, and said coldly, “Danika, don’t forget who you are. I can’t do something that would betray my best friend.”
Gideon looked down at her, his voice even colder and almost unfeeling.
“I have a wife, and I won’t do anything to betray her.”
Danika, supporting herself on the couch, looked utterly dejected.
She couldn’t accept it. After waiting for so many years, all she got were these words.
Danika laughed bitterly. “You’ve been divorced for so many years. Why are you still thinking about her?”
She mused, ‘I’m competing against a woman that I don’t even know. It’s been five years, and Gideon still hasn’t moved on.”
Chapter 45
“It’s getting late, you should rest.” With that, Gideon left without looking back.
He should have guessed Danika
had an ulterior motive, but he still came all this way
because he was worried about Joyce.
Danika sat alone on the couch, first laughing, then silent tears began to roll down her
checks.
She pondered, “What do I have to do to win Gideon over?”
Danika, always strong–willed, only allowed herself a moment of sorrow.
She wiped away her tears and then made a phone call.
“Have
you found anything on Gideon’s ex–wife yet?”
Soon after, a young man’s voice came through the phone.
“Gideon has protected her personal information very well. I haven’t found anything yet. Give me some more time.”
Hearing this, Danika lost control of her emotions again and smashed her phone directly onto the floor.
Then, a loud crashing sound rang out. The noise of the phone shattering was particularly piercing in the stillness of the night.
Just like Danika, Edith was also unable to sleep.
However, their moods were entirely different.
Looking at the clothes piled up in her room, Edith couldn’t decide which outfit to wear to the treasure appraisal meeting.
She had a bad case of indecisiveness.
Bonnie, carrying a coffee, came in and couldn’t help but comment after seeing the clothes all over the floor, “These are all limited edition, and you just threw them on the floor? That’s such a waste!”
Bonnie stayed at Edith’s place tonight because her client, whom she would be meeting tomorrow, lived nearby.
When Edith saw Bonnie, her eyes lit up. “You came just in time. Come choose one for me, please. Which one do you think is appropriate?”
“How about this one?” Bonnie set down the coffee and seriously picked out a long dress,
Chapter 45
Edith hesitated for two seconds. “Isn’t it too formal?”
Bonnie then chose a Chanel–style short skirt. “This one?”
Edith shook her head again. “Not graceful enough.”
“And this one?”
Edith chuckled awkwardly, “It’s a bit too childish…”
“What about this one?” Bonnie asked as she pointed at another dress.
“Isn’t the color too bright? Wouldn’t it overshadow everything else?”
Bonnie then picked up another dress from the floor and asked, “If so, how about this one?”
Edith squinted her eyes, her head tilted to one side, and replied, “It seems…still not quite right.”
At this point, Bonnie fell silent and took a deep breath.
Bonnie threw the dress at Edith’s head in frustration, exclaiming furiously, “Pick it yourself then! If you can’t decide, just wear those faded rags from your wardrobe!”
‘I have never seen someone so difficult to please!‘ Bonnie exclaimed inwardly.
Edith quickly tried to appease her, saying, “Oh, come on! I’m just nervous! I’ve heard that all the big names in the industry will be there, along with many business tycoons. I’m afraid of making a wrong choice and embarrassing the company.”
Bonnie easily saw through Edith’s little pretense at a glance.
With her arms crossed and a scoff, Bonnie retorted, “You’re afraid of embarrassing Gideon, aren’t you?”
Edith, her ears reddening, countered. “It’s not like that!”
“I just want…I just want to look stylish. Don’t bring Gideon into everything.”
Bonnie knew Edith too well, but seeing Edith’s stubborn denial, she didn’t bother to argue further.
“This one,
then. It has a touch of traditional elements, is neither too flashy nor too plain, and has a great design. It suits both your status and requirements,” Bonnie suggested, holding up a long green dress with a modified design.
The dress was a flattering, luxurious green with subtle patterns, featuring cut–out
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designs on the shoulders adorned with sparkling pearls, elegant yet with a hint of liveliness.
Edith snapped her fingers, happily saying, “This one it is.”
Holding her coffee, Bonnie shook her head. “Fine, I’m going back to revise my proposal. You should rest early. And please, don’t bother me anymore, whether you need something or not.”
She thought, “Having such a troublesome best friend is really my luck.
Having decided on her outfit, Edith felt greatly relieved and soon fell asleep.
On her way to work the following day, she bumped into Shane, who was heading to a university near the lab.
Edith briefly mentioned her plans to attend the treasure appraisal meeting and offered to keep an eye out for any materials he might need for his thesis.
The two then walked side by side.
Shane smiled sincerely, “Being invited to such a high–level treasure appraisal meeting shows that the association values you a lot. I’m happy for you.”