"If you were, maybe I wouldn't have chosen to marry you."
After all, their socio-economic divide would be too large. Besides, her character was not suitable for such a family. It was better to be simple.
Christopher frowned because of her words. She didn't like rich families.
Early the next morning, Janice went to work. Before she left, she thought of the phone call from Gladys, so she told Christopher.
"By the way, don't open the door for Glady again. She'll have other tricks to deal with you. Why don't you hide first? We should avoid head-on clashes when the odds are against us."
Christopher was speechless. He was tall and imposing man. What could a woman do to make him suffer? This wife was really...
However, he did not explain and only agreed.
Janice was right. After she left, a group of ruffians that Gladys hired came.
There were heavy bangs on the door.
Christopher wasn't affected at all. He calmly answered Rob's call.
"Mr. Bateman, please stay inside for a while. The matters outside will be settled soon."
"Yes." Christopher raised his noble eyes slightly. "Don't dirty the place."
Outside the door.
Rob soon took care of the several gangsters Gladys hired.
"Mr. Bateman, it's done."
Rob entered the house and reported.
"Very good."
A trace of awe flashed in Christopher's eyes.
Gladys was originally waiting for good news, but the punks came back and said that they would not go again, no matter how much money she offered.
Gladys was a little confused. What was going on? Not even hardened gangsters could touch that man.
"Mom, what should we do now? I don't want to marry that Walters rapist."
Vanessa burst into tears.
"Don't cry, Vanessa. I'll think of another way."
Gladys comforted her.
Over the past few days, Janice's work in the TV station went very well. Although she should have had a honeymoon or some celebration after getting married, she thought she would postpone it seeing as she's the sole breadwinner in the family now.
Just as she finished writing a news draft, the phone rang. It was a call from home. Janice didn't want to pick it up, but the phone kept ringing. She was afraid of disturbing her colleagues, so she answered.
"Janice, your father fainted. He's in the hospital now."
The call was from a maid in the Gladwell family home.
Knowing that she wouldn't lie, Janice quickly took leave and rushed to the hospital.
By the time Janice reached the hospital, Vanessa and Gladys had already arrived. The two of them bumped into Janice in the corridor, and they naturally did not have happy expressions.
Vanessa even stopped Janice outside the door.
"What are you doing here? Don't you only care about enjoying yourself and disregarding Father's life?"
Vanessa barred her outside the ward.
At this moment, Janice did not want to argue with Vanessa. She really wanted to know her father's current condition.
"Get out of the way!"
However, Vanessa refused to let her go.
Janice really wanted to enter with brute force, but thinking that they were in the hospital, it was not good for them to make a scene. So she reasoned, "Vanessa, this is not a good time to quarrel. Dad is lying inside now."
"Do you care?"
Vanessa sneered. "Janice, why the sudden change in attitude? Why are you suddenly concerned about your father's life when you and your husband were so intimate?"
Vanessa's words were full of sarcasm.
At this time, Janice was not in the mood to argue with her.
"Vanessa, there will be time later if you want to quarrel. Dad is ill and in the hospital. Can you be quiet?"
"Who is it that should keep quiet? Do you know that Father's lying here because of you? It was because of you that the Walters withdrew their investment in our business. Father was so agitated that he fell ill."
...
Upon hearing Vanessa's words, Janice felt a little embarrassed. If what Vanessa said was true, then it had something to do with her. However, it was not the time to pursue this matter.
She said, "Vanessa, now is not the time to discuss this. Dad is still lying inside. We should be most concerned about his illness."
"It's easy for you to say. There's a bunch of matters piled up. Even if Dad wants to get better, he can't. It's all because of your selfishness."
Janice didn't want to quarrel with Vanessa at first, but what she said was too mean. What did she mean by being selfish? Did she deserve to marry that kind of person?
"Vanessa, since you're my younger sister, I won't argue with you. However, you shouldn't pretend this matter does not involve you. Don't forget that the marriage was yours."
"You..." Vanessa was rendered speechless.
Gladys was originally watching the two sisters quarrel, but when she saw that her daughter was about to be dragged down by Janice, she stepped forward and said.
"Janice, I didn't want to criticize you, but you're too calculative. What do you mean by 'Vanessa's or yours'? You're sisters. As the older child, you should listen to your elders. No matter how bad the Walters are, their family background is still quite wealthy. Look at the man you married. He's looks like he hasn't got a cent to his name!"
Gladys clicked her tongue a few times.
Janice snorted. "So what if my husband is poor? He's not leeching off you. You don't have to worry about him."
This time, Gladys was also speechless.
Janice ignored both mother and daughter, pushed Vanessa away, and entered the ward.
Vanessa stomped her feet angrily from behind.
"Mom, look at how arrogant she is."
Gladys comforted her. "Don't worry. Let's wait and see how your father will react."
The two of them followed her in.
When Janice walked into the ward. Malcolm had already woken up. When he saw her coming in, he said, "Janice, you're here."
Seeing Malcolm was about to get up, Janice quickly stepped forward and said, "Dad, please lie down."
"I'm fine, it's just that my blood pressure is a little high." Malcolm sat up and leaned against the bed.
Janice looked at the infusion bottle above her head and her eyes turned red. "Dad, I'm sorry, I..."
Although she said harsh words to him last time, she couldn't bear to see such a thing, especially when the person lying in bed was her biological father.
"Janice, this is not your fault. It's true that I was eager for quick success and instant benefits. The Walters are indeed a dubious family. If you don't want to marry, then you don't have to." Malcolm comforted her.
"But what about the company?"
Hearing Malcolm's words, Janice felt even sadder.
She knew that her father didn't really want her to marry into the Walters, he was just easily swayed by what that mother and daughter pair said.
She could not blame him for this.
And the company was built by her parents from scratch. Although her mother was gone, she didn't want to see her hard work disappear like this.
"Let's talk about this later."
Malcolm's face was full of fatigue.
At this time, Vanessa and Gladys also came in. Knowing that they were going to quarrel with her again, Janice simply left.
After coming out of the hospital, Janice felt very uncomfortable. In fact, her father had treated her well all along. It seemed that the gap between father and daughter only appeared after what had happened three years ago.
She returned to the TV station and thought about it for a while. She still wanted to help her father.
After all, she was also a member of the Gladwell family. They should stick together through thick and thin.
Thinking of this, Janice picked out a few business cards from the few businessmen she had interviewed in the past.
No matter what, she had to give it a try.
After work, Janice went straight to a nearby nightclub.
She called those all of people, but only one agreed to meet her.
Janice thought that she should take it as an opportunity.
She went to the agreed meeting place and texted Christopher on the way, telling him that she would be home later.
Christopher originally wanted to go back early to accompany Janice, but when he
received her message, he changed his mind. He ordered Rob, "Go to this nightclub."
...
Christopher arrived and Daniel Pattinson came out to welcome him.
"Say, Chris, when did you come back?"
Daniel was Christopher's friend and the owner of this establishment.
Knowing that Christopher had returned, he immediately called a few more friends over.
The four of them started a card game.
"When did you come back? Why didn't you tell us so that we could welcome you?"
Daniel threw a pair of Kings in his hands as he spoke.
Christopher glanced at the cards in his hand and took out two of them. He said, "Aren't I here now?"
Daniel smiled but did not expose him.
After a round of games, there was a sudden noise from next door.
Richard Boyle frowned. "Danny, your place is lousy. The sound proofing is so bad that you can even hear what's happening in the room next to us."
Daniel frowned. "I'll get someone to ask what's going on."
Before he could make a call, Richard said, "Don't have to ask. Wilson Roger is in the room next door. I met him at the door earlier."
"The old fox of the Roger family?" Daniel frowned.
"Yes, it's him. He said that he had an appointment with someone, but I saw that he was planning something bad. You know, that old geezer has always been predatory."
They all smirked to each other.
At this time, there came a louder voice.
It disturbed their mood.
Daniel summoned the manager with a sullen face.
"What's going on next door? Are we running all sorts of funny shady business now?"
The manager broke out in a cold sweat. "Mr. Pattinson, we don't have these things happen normally. The guest brought them himself, and we had no choice."
"No choice? I think you've been sitting too comfortably in your manager's position for too long."
Daniel sneered.
The manager quickly apologized.
"Go, tell the guest next door not to break the rules."
"Yes."
The manager went out obediently.
"You guys continue playing. I'll go out and have a look."
Daniel felt embarrassed. It was not easy for them to get together but such a thing happened.
Seeing this, Richard also left to watch the fun.
However, Christopher was not moved at all. He only looked at the time and thought Janice should be back soon.
He put down the cards in his hand and was about to make a call to her when Richard came back.
"Sure enough, it was Wilson, that old thing. He wanted to take advantage of a girl. But, he met someone who was not afraid of defending herself and he was splashed with boiling water. Wow, that woman was tough, I heard that she's a field reporter from the TV station."
When he heard the word reporter, Christopher's hand that was holding his phone paused. Without any hesitation, he got up and walked out.
Rob quickly followed him.
Richard didn't know what was going on, so he followed too.
At this time, the corridor of the Club was full of onlookers, and quarreling voices were heard constantly.
"Miss, please calm down. Don't make things difficult for us."
"How can you do this? I am the victim, and you are helping him. Give me back my phone. Who gave you the right to confiscate other people's property?"
The familiar voice entered Christopher's ear and he quickened his steps. Sure enough, Christopher saw Janice standing at the door of the next room. Her hair was a little messy and her skirt was stained with red wine. She looked a little unkempt.
Opposite her, Wilson looked even worse. His pockmarked face looked red and swollen. Although some burn cream was applied, he still looked a little miserable.
Christopher was initially worried about Janice, but when he saw this scene, his anxiety dissipated.