Mr. Neal, Mrs. Neal’s Gone With The Money

Chapter 6

“Well, poor me. My husband doesn’t even know my true character after two years of marriage,” Cynthia blurted out.

Joshua was speechless yet again.

Was she really not satisfied unless she provoked him?

“Let’s go home.” He loosened his tie, grabbed her purse, and held her wrist as he walked out.

Cynthia hesitated.

Joshua paused as well.

Both of their gazes landed simultaneously on the purse in Joshua’s hand. Did he mistake her for Jayleen? That was Cynthia’s first thought.

Without further explanation, Joshua strode out quickly.

This scene was witnessed by Jayleen, who was in the hospital room. The gentleness on her face vanished, and she did not even care about the red marks her nails left on her palms as her hands gripped each other hard.

In a moment, the door to the hospital room opened.

Jayleen’s friend walked in, voicing her confusion, “Didn’t Cynthia hire someone to hit you? Why is Mr. Neal still…”

“It wasn’t her.” Jayleen furrowed her brows.

At first, she thought Cynthia was behind the incident, as Cynthia might be worried that she was taking her place. However, judging by Cynthia’s reaction earlier, things were

not that simple.

Joshua had arrived at a similar conclusion.

After the driver picked them up, Joshua pulled Cynthia into the back seat with him. Before he could talk about today’s events, Mr. Cheyne called, providing an update on the situation. “Mr. Neal, I’ve looked into the IP address. The account’s login IP address isn’t in Jiverton.”

“I see.” Joshua’s eyes darkened.

At that moment, his phone felt incredibly heavy in his hand. He knew he had wronged Cynthia.

A mix of emotions filled him as he glanced at the person leaning against the car window. Sunlight streamed through the half–lowered window, casting a glow on her face, where he could faintly see the fine fuzz. At this moment, she seemed to have shed her earlier confrontational demeanor and had reverted to the gentle, well–behaved person she used to be.

“Cynthia,” he called her, and his handsome face tinged with a hint of remorse.

Cynthia had overheard the phone conversation and replied nonchalantly, “Mr. Neal, please don’t tell me you’re about to apologize to me.” NôvelDrama.Org © content.

Joshua was at a loss for words. Why could she not just talk to him properly?

“Just because the IP address isn’t in Jiverton doesn’t mean I didn’t have her harmed. What if I called someone else and had them bribe the driver responsible for the accident?” Cynthia said lightly, but her

words were laced with mockery.

Joshua knew she was just trying to provoke him. He wanted to apologize, but the words just would not come out. After much consideration, he finally managed to say, “I know it wasn’t you.”

He reasoned that if she had indeed been responsible, she would not be so calmly discussing the matter, let alone analyzing the evidence.

“Sure,” was all Cynthia said. She didn’t even bother to engage with him.

Joshua was puzzled. ‘That’s it? Just a ‘sure‘?‘ Hoping to put an end to the matter and remembering the harsh words he had exchanged with her in the parking lot and hospital room, he took out a Centurion card and handed it to her. “This is my main bank card. If you’re upset, feel free to use it as you please.

“Fine,” Cynthia replied as she took the card.

Joshua was taken aback by her brisk response, seemingly not expecting her to agree so readily. Suddenly, Cynthia’s voice rang out again, asking for more.

“Where are the other cards?” she inquired.

Joshua, feeling a chill creeping over him, asked, “What other cards?”

“In light of your indecent conduct at the hospital, I want you to hand over all your cards as a precaution. I’ll return them on the day we divorce,” Cynthia said with an unreadable tone.

The driver could not believe what he was hearing, and neither could Joshua.

“Are you unwilling to do so?” Cynthia challenged him.

“Watch yourself.” Joshua replied, becoming angrier as the atmosphere in the car grew tense, “Today’s mishap was due to my poor judgment, but if your behavior these past few days hadn’t been so different from before, I wouldn’t have made such a mistake.”

Cynthia was incredulous. Was he blaming her?

“Is that so?” she asked.

“Yes,” Joshua confirmed.

“Even without the contrast, you would have doubted me without hesitation when you learned about Jayleen’s accident and saw those chat logs, wouldn’t you?” Cynthia asserted with conviction.

Joshua wanted to argue, but he found that her statement was not entirely wrong.

Cynthia tossed the card back at him, and her mood clearly irked. She could not understand why she was so upset over someone so insignificant, especially when she already knew that Jayleen held the number one spot in Joshua’s heart.

Caught off guard by the card hitting him, Joshua could not even get a word in before Cynthia’s voice rang out again. However, this time, her words were not meant for him.

“Mr. Walters, please drop me off at the next intersection,” she

said.

“Alright,” Mr. Walters replied.

Joshua, still feeling the chill, asked in a heavy voice, “What are

you going to do?”

“I’m going to buy some walnuts to improve my brain function, “Cynthia replied, having regained most of her composure. She used the most nonchalant tone to deliver the most provocative statement. “Just in case being brainless turns out to be

contagious.

Joshua was infuriated. He had never realized before that this woman could be so adept at subtly insulting people.

“Just keep driving. Don’t stop,” he ordered.

Mr. Walters, of course, obeyed his young master’s command, and the car continued on its way toward Sovereign Heights. Joshua’s chest felt tight, and any guilt he had felt toward Cynthia evaporated at that moment.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up smoothly in front of the house. Before Joshua could get out, Cynthia had already grabbed her bag, opened the car door, and headed inside. By the time he reached the living room, Cynthia had retreated to the bedroom.

He knew she was going in to change her clothes, so he waited

there for her.

Ten minutes later, Cynthia emerged wearing casual clothes. Her thin bangs fell loosely over her face, making her look even more delicate and petite. She did not seem surprised to see Joshua still there, knowing full well why he had stayed.

“At six this afternoon, we’ll go to the old villa. Pack your things in advance, and I’ll have Mr. Walters pick you up,‘ Joshua announced after she had settled down on the sofa.

Cynthia picked up the remote control and turned on the

television. “I’m not going.

“Cynthia!”

“You’re the one who broke the agreement first; you can’t blame me for this,” she shot back.

“Get your priorities straight. Which do you think is more important: shopping with you or Jayleen’s life?” Joshua said, feeling increasingly estranged from her.

Cynthia switched to a variety show. Just hearing the name‘ Jayleen‘ made her head ache. Up until today, she had always thought of Jayleen as a gentle and charming person who had a soothing smile, the girl–next–door. However, she never

imagined Jayleen to be a low–level and deceitful individual. It was disillusioning.

“Obviously, shopping is more important,” Cynthia replied to his question.

Joshua’s eyes grew colder, and his words came out angrier.” Are you trying to provoke me?”

Cynthia did not respond.

“If you want to get that divorce settlement, you’d better cooperate. If you really make me angry, you won’t get a single cent,” Joshua warned, and his patience was wearing thin.