Chapter 174 Blaming Each Other
“What?” Helen was stunned. “Isn’t your company doing well? Why is it on the verge of collapse?”
“Exactly!” Joanne added, “Curtis, your company is already listed. Even if the cash flow is tight for now, there’s no need to worry. Just grease a few palms at the bank, and the loan will come through naturally.”
Curtis listened to Joanne’s idiotic comments and didn’t even have the strength to muster a bitter smile. What on earth had he been thinking when he’d let Joanne take over Chloe’s job?
Not only was Joanne incapable of handling even the basics, but she’d also completely ruined projects that were already halfway completed.
“Joanne, don’t say such stupid things ever again!” Curtis rebuked, “If only you were a little smarter, I wouldn’t be so tired!”
“Mom! Did you hear what Curtis said?” Joanne grumbled.
Helen said, “Curtis, how could you say that about your sister? Besides, even if you like Sonya, you have to be realistic. Her reputation is terrible right now.
“The people back at the countryside all know about how she was fired and how she refused to save her colleague. How am I going to introduce her to them? They would look down on us!”
In the past, Helen only sang Sonya’s praises, yet at that moment, she utterly despised her.
Seeing Helen’s attitude, Curtis suddenly thought about how she’d once said things like this
about Chloe too.
“Come have a look at the women I’ve chosen for you. All of them are great. We’ll look great if we take them back to the countryside with us.” Helen happily handed the documents to Curtis.
“Mom, throw them away. I’m not in the mood!” Curtis snapped impatiently.
“Just have a look. Perhaps, they’ll cheer you up,” Helen said while stuffing the documents into Curtis’s arms.
“Enough!” Curtis threw the documents on the floor. “All you care about is how we look! Is it really that important? Mom, this is exactly why you forced me to divorce Chloe!”
“Why are you bringing her up again? Did I do anything wrong by making you divorce her?” Helen snapped. “She’s an orphan. She has nothing! I can’t show her off!”
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Chapter 174 Blaming Each Other
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“You can’t show her off?” Curtis said bitterly, “Her parents were martyrs who died for the country. Why couldn’t you show her off?
“Besides, when I used to have nothing, she was the one who stood by me and helped me start a business. If you think she embarrasses you, why didn’t you say something to me when I got married to her?”
Helen was stumped. “T–That’s because…”
“Because she didn’t ask for anything! We were broke back then, and we didn’t have anything, so you were more than happy to have a daughter–in–law like her!”
Helen looked rather humiliated.
“Curtis, how could you say that?” Joanne said, “Mom just wants you to find a more capable wife. Why is that wrong?”
“Capable? Wasn’t Chloe capable? She graduated from the National Defense Academy. She was the top science student in Corvessia and also a drone specialist! If she isn’t capable, why would my company be in a mess after she quit?”
In the past, he’d lied to himself that his achievements were the result of his own hard work. However, with the truth laid bare in front of him, on the way back home, he’d thought of everything that had happened and suddenly realized just how much Chloe had done for him. What had he done for Chloe in return? Even when she’d gone to collect her parents‘ ashes, he’d stood her up for Sonya.
At that thought, he sweated profusely. “If I hadn’t divorced her, everything would’ve still been alright now!”
He wouldn’t be in this mess then.
“Curtis, are you really blaming me and Mom? You divorced Chloe back then because you were with Sonya,” Joanne said. “Besides, if you were truly devoted to her, why did you keep your marriage a secret? You could have told everyone that you were married!”
Joanne’s words caught Curtis off guard.
Initially, he just hadn’t wanted Sonya to know about his marriage. He hadn’t wanted her to think that he wasn’t serious about her since he’d gotten married not long after she rejected
him.
But gradually, as his company grew, he’d just treated it as the norm. It was as if he were still single as long as he didn’t wear his wedding ring.
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“Besides, Curtis, Mom isn’t the only one with her pride. You’re proud and arrogant too. You were ashamed to introduce Chloe to people, so you didn’t tell anyone that she was your wife. What right do you have to blame your divorce on me and Mom now?”
Joanne’s words were like an invisible slap on Curtis‘ face. He felt the sting on his cheeks, yet he had no words to retort.
A moment later, he muttered, “Yes, it’s all my fault! I was the one who let Chloe down! I disappointed her!”
“Curtis, what are you talking about?” Joanne was perplexed.
Helen said, “Curtis, don’t tell me that Chloe came looking for you and asked to get back together? Don’t you do it! I won’t allow such an unlucky wench back into our home!”
“Mom!” Curtis glared at Helen. “Don’t you ever talk about Chloe like that! The ‘unlucky wench ‘you’re talking about saved my life! If it hadn’t been for Chloe, I would have long died in the river!”
Then, he stormed off to his room upstairs, ignoring Joanne and Helen.
In his quiet room, he went to the bathroom and splashed his face with cold water. Then, he stared at his haggard reflection in the mirror. The once spirited and confident man now looked exhausted, like a shell of himself.
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