A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 183

Chapter 183

For two days, Fiona and the others searched everywhere, yet they found no trace of Joseph leaving Jenton. Cora ordered them to keep looking. Meanwhile, she went to see Grace.

“Where are you hiding Joe?” Cora asked. Given Grace’s background, Cora had every reason to suspect Grace was involved.

“Cora, you’re funny. Your husband disappears, and you come looking for me?” Grace found it funny. She hadn’t expected Joseph to leave without saying anything. If Cora had no idea where Joseph was, how would Grace know?

“I’m serious. If you don’t hand him over, don’t blame me for tearing up our peace agreement,” warned Cora.

Grace studied Cora’s expression and could see determination in the latter’s eyes. Beneath them, there was a hint of recklessness. Still, Grace wasn’t intimidated. She shot back, “Tear it up then.”

Cora fell silent. She concluded that Joseph wasn’t with Grace. Letting out a snort, she asked, “Have you been helping him?”

“If he comes to me for help, I’ll help however I can. If he divorces you and proposes to me afterward, I won’t hesitate. I’ll get married to him,” said Grace, deliberately twisting the knife.

“You and Joe have no future together, so stop daydreaming. Here’s a piece of advice. Go back where you came from. Jenton isn’t the place for you,” stated Cora. Seeing that Grace wasn’t going to tell her anything, she gave up and left.

When Cora returned home, she noticed that Selena was home. Upon seeing Cora, Selena asked, “Where’s Dad?”

Cora had no choice but to answer, “He’s on a business trip.”

Selena pressed on, “Can he return tomorrow?”

“Probably not,” responded Cora.

“No, he has to come back tomorrow. It’s my birthday!” Selena snapped as her expression turned serious.

“It’s your birthday? I’ve been so busy recently that I forgot that it’s your birthday tomorrow. I won’t go to work tomorrow. I’ll accompany you,” said Cora.

Then, her frustration shifted toward Joseph as she mumbled to herself, “Joseph, of all times to go on vacation, you choose Selena’s birthday? You’re doing this on purpose just to cause me trouble, aren’t you? You give me headaches, and now, Selena is acting up too. You two really know how to gang up on me.”

Just then, Cora’s phone rang. The number was both unfamiliar and familiar. She frowned and entered the study before answering the call. She asked, “Why are you calling this phone?”

“You stood me up again. Don’t tell me you’ve started pretending I don’t exist,” said the person on the other end of the line.

Cora replied, “Joe is away on vacation. He isn’t home. I have to take care of the kids, so I’m busy. We’ll meet another time.”

“He’s on vacation? Leave the kids with your parents and come spend some time with me then. It’s settled,” said the person.

“Hey…”

 Before Cora could refuse, the person ended the call. That irritated her more than anything.