Chapter <b>1029 </b>
Still, once Joseph was discharged, there’d be another payout waiting
That was the only reason the caretaker kept showing up day after day.
Without that, she honestly didn’t know how else to convince herself to stay.
It wasn’t until a whileter that Joseph finally blinked out of his daze and gave a slow nod, signaling that he understood.
Only then did the caretaker mutter, “Alright, <b>sir</b><b>, </b>please eat. Just leave the dishes when you’re done. I’lle clear them.”
With that<b>, </b>she stepped out to handle her other tasks.
<b>For </b>the money<b>, </b>she told herself, she could endure it.
After all, he was just a guy with a bad temper.
Nothing more.
No matter what it was<b>, </b>nothing was more important than money.
She repeated that over and over in her head, and sure enough, it made her feel better.
Money really was the most convincing reason to do anything.
Joseph took a few bites but quickly lost his appetite.
He’d been stuck in the hospital for days with barely any movement<b>–</b>no wonder he didn’t feel like eating.
What really got to him was the fact that Judy hadn’te to visit.
It stung.
But then, she still remembered to tell the caretaker what kind of meals he liked.
What did that even mean?
His eyes darkened with confusion and frustration.
<b>In </b>the end, he couldn’t hold back.
He grabbed his phone and called her.
Theirst chat was still open–the conversation where he’d asked her toe take care of him.
Since then, days had passed<b>, </b>and he hadn’t messaged her again.
He’d told himself she was just too spoiled, that he’d enabled her for too long.
But now, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
He was still thinking about her and <b>the </b><b>fact </b>that she’d remembered his favorite dishes and even asked the caretaker to prepare them made Joseph feel unexpectedly moved.
A flicker <b>of </b>guilt crept in <b>as </b>he thought back to the way he’d doubt her before.
As the phone rang, an odd tightness curled in his chest.
The “beep… beep…” of each ring felt like agony.
He hadn’t realized until now just how long a ringtone could feel.
Finally<b>, </b>the line picked up.
Her voice sounded tired. “What is it?”
Joseph frowned. It was the middle of the day–what had she been doing to sound this exhausted?
“Did I bother you?”
Judy paused in surprise.
She nced at <b>the </b>caller ID–it really was Joseph calling.
The always arrogant<b>, </b>domineering Joseph… was actually asking if he was disturbing her?
Now that was something new.
She let out a softugh<b>. </b>“No, I still have to give your calls some respect<b>.</b><b>” </b>
The moment he heard that, Joseph felt like fireworks went off in his chest.
<b>Of </b>course, his Judy was still the best.
Excited, he said, “I knew it. You’re always the one who treats me the best.
“You even had the caretaker make all my favorite dishes. Thank you…”
Maybe it was the mild concussion talking, but right now, Joseph just wanted to cling to her.
Judy, however, waspletely unfazed. “It’s nothing. Don’t overthink it.”
The only reason she’d told the caretaker what to make was because she was worried–if that spoiled man didn’t get taken care of properly<b>, </b>she’d be the one cleaning up the mess.
She had way too much on her tetely and didn’t have the time to field his calls one by one.
So<b>, </b>she figured–better to say everything at once and be done with it.