Chapter <b>376 </b>
<b>She </b>had no intention of sticking around<b>, </b>being near those two brainless clowns was thest thing she needed.
Aurora was half–convinced stupidity might actually be contagious.
Even exchanging one more sentence felt like a waste of oxygen.
At this rate<b>, </b>her <b>IQ </b>might drop just standing there.
After she walked away, Joseph and Judy exchanged a look.
Joseph was about to drive off, but Judy gently ced a hand over his on the steering wheel.
With a soft, lingering tone, she said, “Joseph<b>, </b>can you believe that woman? After all this time, Aurora’s still that arrogant.
“Honestly, <b>I </b>can’t help wondering–was she with you back then just for your money? You’ve been through helltely, and all because of her.<b>” </b>
<b>Joseph </b>hadn’t thought much of it at first, but Judy’s words triggered a flood of bitter memories.
<b>“</b><b>You’re </b>right,” he muttered.
He hadn’t forgotten the days he was stuck at home, or worse, those miserable days behind bars.
Now that Aurora was down and out, this was his chance to strike while she was weak.
Judy’s voice turned sharp. <b>“</b>I’m not trying to be mean, Joseph. I just hate seeing you get hurt.
“After everything <b>you </b>went through<b>, </b>she still has the nerve to face you without a shred of guilt. And you, God, you actually <b>still </b>cared about her!
“She’s an ungrateful leech. Doesn’t matter what you did for her, she was never going to appreciate it.”
Her words hit home<b>. </b>
Joseph was moved, deeply<b>. </b>
Even when he was with Aurora<b>, </b>he’d found his thoughts drifting toward Judy.
And <b>now </b>that Judy was by his side, and Aurora had reemerged as the privileged heiress of Walton family, he couldn’t believe he’d even considered walking away from Judy for the sake of status.
What kind of person did that make him?
He looked over at <b>Judy</b><b>, </b><b>guilt </b>flooding his <b>expression</b>.
His voice caught <b>slightly</b><b>. </b><b>“</b>I’m <b>sorry</b><b>, </b>Judy. I was blind before. I didn’t <b>see </b>how good you’ve always been <b>to </b>me<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Judy shook her head, eyes misty with emotion<b>. </b>
<b>“</b>It’s okay, Joseph<b>. </b><b>I </b><b>just </b>want <b>you </b><b>to </b><b>be </b>happy and healthy. That’s all <b>I </b>care about. As long as I can stay by your <b>side</b><b>, </b>I <b>don’t </b>need anything else.<b>” </b>
Her words made <b>the </b>guilt <b>twist </b>even tighter in his chest<b>. </b>
She’d always been <b>there</b><b>, </b>and <b>he’d </b>ignored it. How had <b>he </b><b>been </b>so heartless<b>? </b>
What kind of man overlooked <b>a </b>girl like her<b>? </b>
The more he thought about <b>it</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>more disgusted <b>he </b><b>felt </b><b>with </b><b>himself</b><b>, </b>
“You have my word, “Joseph said softly. <b>“</b><b>From </b><b>now </b>on, <b>I’ll </b>treat you better<b>. </b><b>I’ll </b>give you my all. Let’s <b>forget </b><b>the </b>past and just focus on building a real life together<b>, </b>okay, Judy?”
His eyes were filled with sincerity<b>, </b><b>gaze </b>fixed on her with a quiet desperation.
Judy looked at him<b>, </b>her mind suddenly adrift.
<b>If </b>he had said these words back then<b>, </b>maybe she would’ve believed him.
Maybe she would’ve been moved.
<b>But </b>too much time had passed.
So much<b>, </b>in fact<b>, </b>that Judy could barely remember when exactly she had first met Joseph.
If he had been this devoted from the start, would she have gone through all that effort to scheme against Aurora?
Would any of this have happened?
But<b>… </b>
Judy clenched her fists. Her expression faltered<b>, </b>the emotion on her face no longer asposed.
Too much had happened. The past was gone, and there was no returning to what they were.
<b>To </b>the woman Judy was now, the idea of going back felt impossibly far away, like a different lifetime.
Joseph leaned in, closing the distance between them, and gently cradled the back of her head in his hand.