Chapter 596

If Joseph still couldn’t grasp what she meant, then she’d just cut him off.

There were plenty of men in the world. She didn’t believe for a second that he was the only trust fund baby out there. What a joke.

Besides, she had her own studio now. With her looks and status, what kind of man couldn’t she get? Why tie herself to this crooked tree and hang from it? It was laughable.

At last, Joseph seemed to catch on.

“Judy, now that you mention it–I actually just remembered something.”

“Remembered what?” She eyed him curiously.

What could possibly be going through that head of his? Was he actually having a rare moment of clarity?

With a straight face, he said, “I remember our company is currently in competition with Walton Corporation. We’ve been preparing bids for a new project.”

Her eyes lit up. “Exactly! Isn’t this the perfect opportunity? Aurora’s still sick–this is when we should strike and win that land bid. If Hunt Enterprises lands it, it’ll put you ahead of Walton for good! If we get a strong start now, everything that follows will be smooth sailing.”

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, as if the outcome was already a done deal.

Joseph started to get swept up in it too.

“Alright, I’ll head back and push the team to finish the bid proposal. We’ll lock this project down.”

Judy, now in a much better mood, looked at him with something close to approval. “Good. Just make sure you give it your best.”

As she spoke, Judy leaned in and planted a kiss on the side of his face, making it look like they shared a genuinely close bond–a gesture of encouragement, at the very least.

The kiss made Joseph’s thoughts drift. He was tempted to go another round, but then he remembered what Judy had just said. He managed to hold himself back, thinking it wasn’t the right moment.

After everything Aurora had put him through, and with Judy’s advice ringing in his ears, why should he keep swallowing his pride? He needed to stop being the guy who kept backing down.

No, not just that–he needed to prove to everyone that he wasn’t useless. He had ideas of his own, and he wasn’t going to be some background figure forever. He could take control of his life. It didn’t have to be like this, like he was incapable of achieving anything.

The thought filled him with resolve. He was going to show them all that he could succeed, that he had changed, that he wasn’t the same person they used to look down on.

With renewed determination, he said, “Alright, Judy. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to do everything you said. Once it’s done, life will be easier for both of us. This isn’t just talk; I really mean it."

Hearing that, Judy felt a flicker of emotion stir in her chest. If this had been in the past, she might have truly believed his words without question. But now that she had her own footing and means, she wasn’t so eager to rely entirely on a man. She had her own life to live.

Still, on the surface, she gave him the encouragement he wanted.

“Alright. I believe in you.”