Free Web NovelChapter 105: Chapter 105: Liam Joyce’s True Heart
"...Not for a client." Liam Joyce glanced at Lynn Preston with a smile. "A friend of mine is in a bit of trouble, so I’ll need to go help him out for a while."
"Okay." Lynn Preston agreed obediently, but in her heart, she knew he was lying.
’What friend in trouble needs help? It’s just a high-sounding excuse. The only reason he can’t drive me to the hospital anymore is that he’s scared—scared that Ethan Lockwood or Cecilia Quincy will find out we’re together.’
"Lynn," Liam Joyce called out to her again.
Lynn asked, "Hm?"
Liam Joyce freed one hand to pat her on the head. "I won’t be able to personally drive you for a while, but I’ll arrange for an assistant to pick you up and drop you off at the hospital every day. I’ll send you his contact information in a bit. From now on, just call him whenever you want to go anywhere, and he’ll take you."
"You don’t have to go to all that trouble." Liam Joyce’s thoughtfulness startled Lynn Preston, and she quickly refused. "The company isn’t that far from the hospital. I can just get a taxi myself. Mr. Joyce, you don’t need to arrange for someone to drive me, really."
"I already bother you enough as it is. Now that you’re busy, I’d feel bad distracting you any further."
"It’s not a distraction." Liam Joyce’s smile was gentle as he said softly, "It gives me peace of mind. Being able to help you, and you being willing to accept my help, is a great comfort. I can only rest easy when I know you’re alright."
"Besides, you’re no trouble at all. I’m doing this because I want to. I enjoy it."
"...Mr. Joyce."
Liam Joyce’s words were too good, too perfect. Even though Lynn Preston knew this was all an act, her heart couldn’t help but flutter.
’For a fleeting moment, she actually wished that Liam Joyce had no connection to Ethan Lockwood. If only Liam Joyce were innocent, she would definitely be willing to give him a chance.’
’But there are no ’what ifs’ or ’if onlys’ in this world. Once a person is tainted, they’re tainted. No matter how good they seem, they’re still dirty.’
Lynn Preston was captivated for only a second before she instantly came to her senses. She put on her signature sweet smile and said to Liam Joyce in a coquettish voice, "Thank you, Mr. Joyce."
Liam Joyce flicked her on the forehead with a bent finger. "You’re welcome."
The restaurant was in a shopping mall. Liam Joyce dropped Lynn Preston off at the entrance and didn’t go in.
"Eat well. Get whatever you want, and try to eat more. Look how thin you are."
Lynn Preston smiled shyly, pursing her lips. "I will."
Liam Joyce said, "Go on in."
"Okay." Lynn Preston waved at him. "I’m going then. Goodbye, Mr. Joyce."
Liam Joyce’s eyes curved into a smile, his gaze on Lynn Preston so gentle it could be lethal.
"Goodbye."
It was a weekday, so the mall wasn’t too crowded. Liam Joyce stood at the entrance, watching Lynn Preston’s back as the escalator carried her up to the third floor until she disappeared from view.
"Sigh..."
He sighed, and as he turned to walk away, he pulled his phone from the inner pocket of his suit jacket and transferred some money to Lynn Preston.
BZZZ—
BZZZ—
Her phone buzzed twice in a row. Lynn Preston woke the screen and saw two new WeChat messages from Liam Joyce.
She furrowed her brow, unlocked her phone, and tapped on the messages, only to be caught off guard by a glittering gold transfer notification in the chat window.
—[WeChat Transfer: 5200. Please accept payment.]
—Today’s fun money. Take it and treat your friend to something nice. Don’t come back to work until you’ve spent it all.
...
The two messages were so heavy that for a moment, Lynn Preston felt like she couldn’t even walk.
She stopped in her tracks, staring blankly at the chat screen with Liam Joyce, a storm of complicated feelings brewing inside her.
When she didn’t reply, Liam Joyce assumed she was afraid to accept the money and sent another message.
—Accept the money, or I’ll dock your pay.
Lynn Preston opened the chat box, her fingers trembling inexplicably as she typed.
—Mr. Joyce, this is too much money.
Liam Joyce sent a voice message right back: "It’s not. Hurry up and take it. After you accept it, go have dinner with your friend."
He must have been walking as he said it; his breathing was a little heavy in the recording.
Lynn Preston: Mr. Joyce, isn’t this a bit against the rules...
Liam Joyce: "At Apex Design, what I say goes. I decide what the rules are. Now take the money and eat well."
With him putting it like that, Lynn Preston could no longer find a reason to refuse.
She obediently accepted the money and replied: Thank you, Mr. Joyce.
Liam Joyce: Eat well. I’m driving now.
Lynn Preston: Drive safe, Mr. Joyce.
After sending that last message, she put her phone away.
’For the person she used to be, five thousand two hundred yuan might not have even been enough for a high-end dinner. But now, this sum she once would have looked down on was almost a month’s salary.’
’Liam Joyce really was generous. Their ’relationship’ had barely started, yet he was already willing to spend so much on her.’
’How touching...’
"Hmph." She sneered, quickly suppressed all her emotions, straightened her back, and walked into the restaurant on her right.
Milly had arrived long ago. As soon as Lynn Preston sat down, the waiter brought over the dishes.
"Lynn, these are all the dishes we used to eat in college. Try them, see if they still taste the same."
Lynn Preston picked up her chopsticks and tried a little bit of every dish.
"They taste exactly the same, not a thing has changed... You even got my favorite, cold-preserved eggs! Milly, you remembered!"
Milly lifted her chin proudly. "Of course I remember! I might have been a love-struck fool back then, but I never forgot a single thing my best friend likes."
Holding her chopsticks, Lynn Preston reached out and patted the back of her hand. "You’re the best."
Milly: "Come on, eat. I’m starving."
Lynn Preston: "Okay!"
"By the way, how exactly did you and your ex break up? I’m so curious."
Milly: "Sigh... it’s a long story..."
Old friends reunited, it felt like nothing had changed. They gossiped, reminisced, and bad-mouthed people they knew. A single small topic was enough to keep them talking for over half an hour.
By the end of the meal, they hadn’t eaten much; both of them had been too busy talking.
"Sigh..." Lynn Preston finished the Sprite in her glass and sighed, propping her head in her hands. "My job is great in every way, except for the overtime. The boss is like he’s made of iron; he can really make us work around the clock without a break."
"Uh..." Milly burped and asked with narrowed eyes, "The boss you’re talking about... is he the one who took you to Azure Studio the other day?"
"Yeah." Lynn Preston nodded. "That’s him. His last name is Joyce, and we all call him Mr. Joyce."
"Mr. Joyce... hehe." Milly suddenly chuckled. "Lynn, actually, strictly speaking, that Mr. Joyce is my big boss too."
"Hm?" Lynn Preston feigned surprise. "What do you mean?"
