Chapter 370 I Do Not Fancy That Woman

“Enjoy.”

As soon as they sat down, the coffee was immediately placed before them.

Josiah gazed at the coffee before him, his eyes widening in surprise, a touch of skepticism filling his voice. “Madelyn, are you out of your mind?”

“Exactly, Madelyn, why do you look so worried? Is everything okay?” Tristan was also quite puzzled.

It was important to remember that Madelyn wasn’t usually so generous toward them. Her sudden generosity prompted their doubt that something had happened.

At that moment, Madelyn cast a somewhat serious glance at them and started, “I need your help with something.”

Tristan burst into laughter right on the spot. “Madelyn, I knew there was more to you inviting us than just having coffee. There’s an old saying that one who offers unsolicited hospitality must be harboring ulterior motives. It fits the situation now. You harbor ulterior motives, don’t you?”

As soon as these words were spoken, Tristan was immediately met with a glaring look.

“What nonsense are you spewing? It took Jillian so much effort to help you improve your grades, and here you are, spewing the wrong idioms. Are you hoping others realize you’re illiterate?” Madelyn bluntly retorted.

“I…” Tristan opened his mouth, but surprisingly found himself at a loss for words.

At that moment, Josiah laughed with genuine interest. “All right, let’s not beat around the bush anymore. We’re close friends, so speak your mind, no need for such formalities.”

“That’s more like it.” Madelyn finally seemed satisfied.

Without further ado, Madelyn shared the situation at home and the current state of the factory with them.

In the end, Madelyn looked helplessly at them. “The circumstances surrounding this matter are a bit complicated. I need you both to help me thoroughly investigate it.”

Madelyn heaved a sigh. “If it was just a case of an employee getting hurt by accident, it would’ve been a minor issue. What worries me is the possibility of someone secretly scheming against Thornton Corporation. If that’s the case, we’re out in the open while the enemy is hiding in the shadows. This situation will only get more complex to deal with,” Madelyn logically analyzed.

What she said made a lot of sense, so Josiah and Tristan nodded in agreement.

“Madelyn, you can leave this matter to us with peace of mind,” Josiah stated earnestly.

Tristan also nodded in agreement.

Madelyn chuckled, instructing, “So it’s settled then. I have other matters to attend to. If you two get any news, remember to inform me immediately.”

They nodded in agreement, and then Madelyn hailed a taxi and left.

Chapter 371 I Do Not Fancy That Woman

Meanwhile, a gaze was fixed intently on her back, only withdrawing once she had safely gotten into the car.

“Boss…”

Tristan suddenly looked at Josiah with a gaze full of tenderness, his eyes brimming with sympathy.

“What?” Josiah glared at him, seeing him like that.

Despite that, Tristan remained unaffected, his face still etched with sorrow as he said, “Boss, you truly are pitiful.”

Josiah immediately shot back a glare, “When was I ever pitiful?”

“Alas, even though you’re clearly in love with her, all you can do is silently endure your feelings, keeping it all to yourself. You had to watch as she got taken by another man and lived with him every day, yet you couldn’t interfere in any way.”

Tristan looked at Josiah with a sorrowful expression. “Boss, you’re really pitiful. As your good buddy, let me give you some advice. If you like her, pursue her, regardless of whether she’s married or not. If you’re a real man, you should personally ensure the happiness of the woman you love, even if it means stealing her away from a marriage! Either you consider Madelyn as a buddy—after all, apart from her face and body, there’s nothing feminine about her—or let her go and find someone else. Why make yourself so pitiful? Ah, I am truly a love saint!”

After finishing his words, Tristan let out a long sigh, deeply enthralled by how emotionally intelligent he was—so much so that he couldn’t get away.

The outcome was a direct punch that sent him sprawling. Josiah, without any courtesy, socked him. Then, he said haughtily, “Wake up, will you? I’m not interested in her, so stop talking nonsense.”

In reality, Josiah was feeling somewhat disheartened. What good will it do even if I do have feelings for her? Looking at how worthless I am at the moment, I don’t deserve a woman like Madelyn. Moreover, her man is none other than Sebastian, a legend that many men can only aspire to be but never reach. Even if I don’t want to admit it, I have to acknowledge Sebastian’s capability. He’s far more powerful than I am. After finishing this term, I’ll most likely join the military. Given the military’s strict rules, I won’t even be allowed to touch my phone, let alone meet with Madelyn. Since I lack the means to provide her with a comfortable life, why should I forfeit my last shred of dignity? Perhaps I should only tell her once I’ve improved myself.

Madelyn was utterly exhausted after a long day of running around to deal with work. Thus, upon arriving at the Lockhart Villa in the evening, she immediately removed her coat and indulged in a soothing hot bath, which eased her tension considerably.

Just as she had finished washing up, Sebastian returned home from work.

Upon entering, Sebastian first loosened his tie with a deadpan expression, then proceeded to remove his suit jacket once he was in the room.

He immediately noticed Madelyn’s bare yet exquisite face, leaving him inexplicably stunned for a moment.

“You’re back!” Madelyn exclaimed as she spotted him, her spirits instantly lifting.

Sebastian had no choice but to subtly nod his head.

Reminded of something, he suddenly turned to her. “I saw the news. You’re in charge of that project, right?”

He was, of course, referring to the project Madelyn had problems with.

She nodded in confirmation. “It’s indeed a case I’m working on, but how did you know?”

“I’ve said it before. There’s nothing about you that I don’t know,” Sebastian responded in a cold voice.

A wave of warmth washed over Madelyn’s heart in an instant.

Following that, Sebastian casually mentioned, “Today, I had Malcolm look into the matter. The man who got hurt didn’t just have an accident out of nowhere.”

Madelyn was aware of that as well, so she didn’t respond, simply continuing to listen to what Sebastian had to say.

“Besides that, Malcolm had also discovered that man had been in contact with a bunch of gangsters before, and those gangsters have been hanging around your stepsister quite a lot recently. If I’m not mistaken, your stepsister is probably involved in this matter.”

After Sebastian finished nonchalantly, he turned to Madelyn. “So, what’s your plan for this?”

Madelyn’s face instantly darkened. “I knew it. Eunice was so meticulous in scheming to return to the company. I was sure it wasn’t anything good.”