Chapter 204
Chapter 204
As expected, Joe's expression darkened.
However, Sergio did not notice it and continued speaking authoritatively, "In the past, Jessica was in Sidovor City. You could take care of her there. Now that Jessica is back, and the family is in Rozalia, there's no need for you to be alone in Sidovor City. Move the company back as soon as possible. I don't object to you being in the entertainment industry..."
Before Sergio could finish speaking, Joe interrupted him coldly, "Do you think your objection means anything?"
"What did you say?" Sergio did not expect Joe to react that way and was stunned.
"I said I don't need your permission for whatever I do." Joe did not speak lazily as he always did. His cold eyes stared straight at Sergio. He appeared almost hostile and unruly. Madison was closest to him. She reached out and tugged at his arm, hoping that Joe could control his emotions.
However, as her fingers touched his sleeve, Joe shook her off forcefully. He got up from the couch and spoke coldly, "Have you taken care of me since I was young? Since you haven't, what right do you have to order me around?"
Joe was raised by John single-handedly. John didn't even say anything. Joe thought, 'What right did Father have to tell me what to do? What made him think I would obey him? Father had not done his part as a father, so how could he speak to me in such a lecturing tone?'
Sergio had yet to react to Joe's words. No one dared to speak to him in such a tone before. He was instantly infuriated.
He slammed his hand on the wooden coffee table, making a dull sound. Sergio spoke furiously, "Who taught you to speak to your father so rudely? How old do you think you are?"NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
Joe picked up the suit jacket on the couch and put it on. "No one taught me. It's precisely because no one taught me that I'm so rude. Satisfied?"
Joe looked away indifferently and left.
"Joe!" Seeing that, Madison could not sit still anymore. She picked up her phone and hurriedly chased after him.
Afraid that Sergio and Rosalie would be worried, she told them, "I'll go talk to Joe. John, you also talk to Dad and Mom. Don't follow me. I'll be back soon!" Then, Madison left in a hurry.
"Jessica!" The people in the room could not stop Madison in time. They were even more worried that chasing after her would make things worse. After shouting, they listened to Madison and did not follow. They could only look out into the night worriedly.
The Daves family's residence was huge. There were only a few dim street lamps along the stone path shining on the ground through the trees.
Madison came out slightly later than Joe. Joe's legs were long and he walked quickly. After making a turn, she could no longer see Joe.
"Joe!" She ran after him, but when she reached a fork in the road, she did not know which to choose. She was suddenly at a loss. "Joe, can you slow down? Can you at least take me away?"
Madison was afraid of going the wrong way, so she stopped at the fork and tried to find Joe using the lights ahead. Unfortunately, she couldn't see anything.
It was windy at night. Madison came out in a hurry and did not put on any jacket. When the wind blew, goosebumps appeared on her arms. "Joe! Are you going back on your word again?"
Madison waited for a moment, but there was no response. She chose the wider path and walked ahead. Her voice choked as she shouted for Joe.
She initially wanted to have a good talk with Joe today to ease the situation between him and their parents. Unexpectedly, they started arguing before she even started.
Madison rubbed her arms and walked tentatively. Suddenly, a light cough came from behind her and someone patted her shoulder.
Madison was shocked and yelped. When she turned around and looked up, she saw Joe's nonchalant eyes.
Without thinking, Madison punched him. "Joe, you scared me to death!"
Her punch landed on Joe like a feather's caress. He looked at Madison in exasperation. "How dare you chase after me alone? You're so timid. What are you thinking?" As Joe spoke, he took off his jacket and wrapped it tightly around Madison.
Madison snorted. "Aren't I doing this because of you?"
With the warm jacket draped over her shoulders, Madison narrowed her eyes comfortably, like a cat being stroked.
When she did not feel cold anymore, something dawned on Madison. "By the way, Joe, why did you come out from behind me?"
Madison did not walk back just now.
Joe patted her head. "Because you're stupid." He hadn't gone far at all.
When Madison ran after him, he slowed down. However, Madison did not even look around her. Joe stood under a tree by the road and watched her run past him. When he followed Madison, he saw her standing even more foolishly at the fork in the road.
If not for the fact that Madison looked so anxious that she was about to cry, Joe would not have appeared. He wanted to see where the dumb girl was going to find him.
Madison followed him. She touched the back of her head and muttered, "I'll be even more stupid if you continue hitting me."
Joe snorted. "At least you're self-aware."
Madison did not argue with him. "Joe, let's go back. John, Antoine, and the others are still in the house. We haven't seen each other for so long. Let's go out and play later."
She did not mention Sergio. She could tell there was no estrangement between Joe and John, so she tried to convince him that way.
It was dark outside. She held Joe's arm, afraid she would accidentally trip over the cobblestones on the ground. She was also afraid that Joe would run away again if she was not careful. "Since we're going out to play, we have to go outside. We can just call John at the entrance later. Why do we have to go back?" Joe did not even need to think to guess Madison's thoughts. She was so stupid that she didn't even know how to coax others.
Madison bit her lip and made a decision. She spoke solemnly, "Alright. Let's leave first. We'll call John and the others later."
Joe stopped in his tracks and looked at Madison. "Tell me, what are you up to now? Is it something bad?"
"What can I be up to?" Madison exploded.
So, she was that kind of person in Joe's eyes?
She intended to take out her gift to make him happy when they were outside, but that was actually what he thought of her?
Joe looked at the angry Madison and smiled. "That's true. You're too stupid and naive to be up to no good. Let's go. You followed me yourself. Don't blame me for not keeping my word."
"But it is true you didn't keep your word," Madison complained softly. When she saw Joe's cold gaze, she shut her mouth.
Unknowingly, Joe slowed down, and his voice returned to its usual laziness. "I'll stay in Rozalia for a while. As long as there's nothing important at the company, I can stay here. However, I won't stay with you a the family residence."
To be precise, Joe would not return to the family residence easily. He did not say that out loud as he was afraid that Madison would be sad.
Madison was overjoyed. "Really?"
Joe glanced at her and did not have much of a reaction when he saw her bright smile. He only hummed softly.
When he was about to reach the entrance, he suddenly stopped.