Emily was a recent university graduate, not long out of school.


    Maybe it was that fearless spirit of youth, but no matter who she faced, she never backed down or worried about stirring trouble.


    She recognized Joseph instantly but didn’t say it out loud.


    After all, whoever Judy chose to be with–that was her private life.


    And Emily was just an employee. She had no right to interfere in any of it.


    Rolling her shoulders casually, she looked at Joseph and said, “I’m not sure what you’re thinking, and I honestly don’t know how to exin any of this to you.


    “But all you really need to know is that, for now, I’m the one managing this studio.”


    Joseph frowned. “Why you? What happened to the person before?


    “What about Judy? She loved this ce. Why would she suddenly give it up?”


    He couldn’t ept it.


    He’d always known how much Judy cared about fashion design–that much was obvious.


    This studio was her own creation, something she’d built from the ground up.


    There was no way she’d walk away from it without a good reason.


    It could only mean one of two things: either she’d found something better, or she had stronger backing


    now<b>. </b>


    So, she really never nned to include him in her future?


    “I already told you, stop asking about things that aren’t your business,” Emily said, growing visibly


    impatient.


    She had no interest in lingering around the studio to babysit Joseph.


    If it weren’t for the fact that he once had some connection to their boss, she would’ve kicked him out the


    moment he showed up.


    Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little sympathetic.


    There was something pitiful about this man, wandering in with his head still bandaged, looking for the woman he used to love.


    Seeing the gauze wrapped around his head had caught her off guard.


    But pity didn’t mean she thought he was clueless.


    Even if he was recovering, Joseph wasn’tpletely brainless.


    And rather than storming off in frustration, he actually chose to calm down and ask his next question politely.


    Even Emily couldn’t help but genuinely admire him for that bit of restraint.


    “So, the studio is all under your management now, right?”


    Joseph’s voice pulled her back to reality.


    Emily nodded with a smile. “Yes, Miss Judy has handed it over to me to manage.”


    She didn’t mention anything about <b>Judy </b>going abroad, only gave a vague response. “She might have some ns of her ownter, but those things are beyond what someone like me should be involved in


    Joseph thought it over and realized she had a point.


    He didn’t press her further, instead offering calmly, “Then let’s exchange contact info. If you ever hear anything about her whereabouts, keep me in the loop.”


    Joseph firmly believed that Judy couldn’t have given up this studio so easily.


    She was someone with her own vision and ambition. Once she set her sights on something, she would give it her all.


    As for the rest, he trusted that Judy would make her own decisions.


    But right now, what he needed was an exnation.


    Why had she changed the door code? Why hand the studio over to someone else?


    And why wouldn’t she answer his call?


    Was she really nning to end things for good?


    Chopter 1030