Chapter 55
Theobald was the CEO of a large corporation, yes, but he had no family background -his parents were dead, and he was completely devoted to his sister. He was a house of cards waiting to be blown over. But Joshua was not only a superstar with millions of fans but also a true heir to a fortune, with deep family roots.
Her earlier hesitation had been pure pride. She wouldn't let that public humiliation go. She would get her revenge on Theobald, and on that so-called sister of his.
Her body pressed eagerly against his. “Really?" she purred. "I don't believe you." Joshua smirked. "You will when you're begging me to stop."
Three minutes later.
Hannah's mouth twitched, but she managed a comforting smile. "It's just the environment in the car. You were amazing, honey."
Joshua rubbed his nose. "I've just been so tired lately. Wait until I'm rested up. I'll show you."
Hannah blushed prettily.
They separated, the car door opened, and the assistants got back in. The trailer began the drive back to the hotel.
Joshua lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. He opened his phone to check his messages and soon saw one from his brother, Joseph.
[Bro, see for yourself. Doesn't this girl look like your high school girlfriend?]
Below the text was a crystal-clear, front-facing photo. Even without zooming in, Joshua's expression froze.
Those beautiful brows, those sparkling almond-shaped eyes, that elegant, high- bridged nose... Memories came flooding back, and the image of Marguerite from high school perfectly overlapped with the photo.
It couldn't be anyone else. It was her.
He frowned, took another drag of his cigarette, and typed a reply.
[That is her. Where did you find this picture?]
[I told you to study. What have you been up to?]
A surge of anger rose in him. What was his brother doing digging up pictures of his first love?
Joseph replied quickly: [I didn't find it. It was trending on Twitter today. A paparazzo snapped her shopping with some CEO.]
A tidal wave of shock crashed over Joshua, his heart pounding in his chest. How was that possible? Marguerite had been dead for over a decade.
[This can't have been taken today. The paparazzi must have photoshopped it.] Such a thing couldn't be real.
But even as he thought it, he couldn't stop himself from tapping on the photo, zooming in, and examining every detail.
It really was Marguerite. Not just a resemblance it was her. She had been the school's top student and its most beautiful girl, proud yet kind. She was always smiling, easy to get along with. That was the impression she gave, which made him think she would be easy to win over.
He only realized how wrong he was when he tried.
Those vibrant, almond-shaped eyes were her signature. Since her death, he had
never seen eyes more beautiful, nor a girl more stunning.
Joseph was busy with something and didn't reply right away. Smoke filled the car, the air thick and choking.
Hannah coughed several times, frowning at Joshua. “Can you open a window?"
What a terrible habit, smoking in a car without any ventilation.
Joshua didn't even hear her. He was already opening Twitter, his mind racing. He scanned the trending topics but there was nothing about Marguerite A deep sense of disappointment washed over him.
What if... what if it really was her?
The driver, hearing the coughing, opened the rear window. A gust of wind blew in. The ash on Joshua's cigarette hadn't been flicked yet. As he raised his hand to do so the wind, caught it, sending hot embers flying into his face.
The sting of the heat snapped him back to reality. He threw the smoldering cigarette butt out the window.
"Who told you to open the window?" he roared.
The assistant jumped. “Uh... Ms. Carter was coughing."
Hannah was also startled, looking at Joshua with wide, frightened eyes.
Joshua closed his eyes, forcing down the sudden wave of emotion. He took a deep breath, about to say something, when his phone buzzed.
It was a reply from Joseph.
[I have a basketball game tomorrow. She's definitely coming to watch. If you don't believe me, come see for yourself.]