บท 12: A Different Joseph (2)

After bathing, I cover myself with the robe and was about to exit the bathroom silently. I was afraid that Joseph will be standing guard by the door and whisk me away in his arms once again.

'Once is enough.' I thought to myself. 'I was embarrassed greatly and would not like that to happened again. Why is Seph acting strangely sweet.'

Joseph had been a doting and loving adoptive brother to me, but there was like an invisible wall that he did not cross. It was something I had felt since I was young and it was more evident when we got married to each other in my past life.

I tiptoed outside the door and looked around. Fortunately, no one is at the corridors right now. I had already sent Jullie outside first to check and thankfully no one was there.

I walked a little faster and felt a slight pain on my ankle. It was the one that I hit accidentally in bath a while ago.

"It doesn't look like a sprained it." I said to myself, but when I tried walking I felt quite uneasy with the pain.

I continued walking awkwardly and just wished that my room was a little nearer than the usual. The next minute, I felt someone lift mu whole body.

"Ahhh…" I was startled and was about to pounce to the person that lifted me when I saw that it was Joseph. "S-Seph… what are you doing? Put me down!" I insisted.

"You hurt your foot?" Joseph asked.

"J-Just a little…" I replied awkwardly since I was now being carried in his arms once again. "It is not that bad, Seph. I can walk so please put me down!" I demanded.

"You were walking awkwardly just now." Joseph said. "Just be patient and let me carry you till your room."

"Not again." I groaned and just accepted Joseph's help.

"That's a good girl." Joseph smiled teasingly. "You are still a clutz even though you are this old."

"Hey, I am not that old." I muttered.

"So, you still accept you are a clutz?" Joseph chuckled.

"I can't help it." I replied with a pout. "I am sorry if I am not that lady like."

Our exchange right now let me remember our childhood days when Joseph liked teasing me. It made my heart flutter with the memory.

"I am not trying to pick a fight with you." Joseph's tone became serious all of a sudden. "I just like you the way you are, Yvy. You do not need to change that."

Hearing his words sends a bitter pain in my heart. I know how different I am with his girlfriend, Dianne. She is the epitome of a beautiful lady.

"Liar…" I muttered to myself.

"I am not lying." Joseph said. I did not realize that I have said that out loud for him to hear.

We arrive to my room and Joseph put me down on my bed gently. He kneeled down on the floor and held my hand warmly.

I had my hear down, trying to avert my eyes from him. I was trying to hold back the tears that was trying to get out of my eyes.

"Yvs, look at me." Joseph cupped my chin and lightly lifted it and out eyes met. "I am not lying to you. Yvy, I like you the way you are. We have known each other since we were kids and if there is anyone that I would give my trust to, then it is you."

"Why…" I said. "Why are you telling me this now?" I asked him. 'Why are you telling me such things just now. This is not you… this is not the man I married in the past. His eyes was full of resentment and trust is the last thing he would give me.' I thought to myself.

"Yvette… there is something I have wanted to tell you." Joseph said and gripped my hand with a little strength. "I have always been afraid to tell you this, I do not know if you will still see me the same as before. I have something I have kept to myself, that I was afraid to tell anyone. Yvs, I …"

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Both Joseph and I was startled with the knock.

"Oh… I am sorry." Jullie was by the door and had just realized that Joseph and I were in a serious talk. "I-I will come back later…"

"No, it's alright." Joseph said but looked quite irritated. He pinched the bridge of his nose and stood up from kneeling down. "What is it?" He asked Jullie.

"Well…" Jullie felt the icy stare from Joseph. "Um… Mr. Brent Dawson, the lawyer is here to see young madam."

Joseph's icy demeanor just intensified with hearing the name.

"Tell him to come back another day." Joseph said. "Yvy is still not in a condition to accept guests."

"Seph, I am fine!" I scolded. "Jullie, please show Mr. Dawson in the receiving room."

"Y-Yes young madam." Jullie looked at me and Joseph and bowed her head to go out immediately.

I feel sorry for Jullie that she has to be in between me and Joseph, but since I am now technically the owner of this manor, my orders come first than Joseph's.

"Please leave, Seph." I said with an icy tone. "I need to get changed to meet our my guest."

"I am sorry if I was getting ahead of myself." Joseph said with a remorseful look. "I am still getting used to this." He smiled kindly.

I cannot but help compare the Joseph now and the one in my past life. He had said the same words, but the him in my past life had a look of sarcasm. His past self was resentful and he had made it sure that I felt that every second we were together.

The Joseph in front of me was genuinely remorseful. He has a different aura than his past self. He was kinder and brighter.

"Let us talk after meeting with the lawyer." Joseph said. "I have something to tell you." He smiled and left my room.

The doors closed and I was left alone in my room. Tears started to fall from my eyes.

"Why… why now?" I said to myself. "When I had already decided to leave, you just have to stir my heart."

The Joseph now is definitely different from my past life husband. That I am sure of now. Both the past and now's face overlaps in my mind and I can see the difference clearly as day.

"If I stay here with him anu longer, I cannot guarantee that my heart will sway to him once more." I said to myself. "I have to leave. I have to leave now if I want things to change."

'I vowed to myself that I would do things differently.' I thought to myself. 'This is my second chance and I will not let it go to waste.'

I stood up and walked to the closet to pick the clothed I would wear.

(Brent's POV)

I was led to the receiving room my a maid a while ago. They have served snacks and beverages while I was waiting here.

'This is different from before.' I thought to myself.

These past few days when I was coming here hoping to meet the new CEO and ownder of the Hamilton Hotels Inc., I was always met with cold stares and have been sent away coldly.

"I thought it was just my imagination, but seeing the difference now I can definitely say that they were treating me coldy the past few days." I said to myself.

'Well at least there is good news today.' I thought while have a sip of the coffee served to me. 'Yvette is awake and I can now meet her.'

I remember the young girl in that room when the last will and testament of her late adoptive father was being read. She seemed to be ignorant but by the time she started to speak she was quite confident. I am glad that even a young girl like her can stand up for her own and does not need her adoptive brother to protect her.

'But I never thought that Mr. Hamilton's son would be such an overprotective brother to his adoptive little sister.' I thought to myself. 'Seeing how Joseph reacted strongly against me, I can say he loves his sister dearly. I do not know why Mr. Hamilton would make me his adoptive daughter's legal guardian if his son Joseph could clearly protect her.'

Then I remembered how we exchanged fists because of an argument about his adoptive sister.

'Well this is my job, and I had promised the late Mr. Hamilton,' I thought. 'I also have a debt I need to pay.'

I looked at the window and saw the clear skies outside. I memory that I have wanted to forget but also did not want to emerged.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

The doors open and I see a beautiful young lady enter the room. I was a little taken back by how beautiful she was.

"Mr. Dawson…" The beautiful young lady called out to me. "I am sorry that we had just to meet now due to my health. Thank you for coming."

Then I recognize her as the young girl a few days ago. It was Yvette Hamilton, Mr. Hamilton's adoptive daughter and now the acting CEO and owner of the Hamilton Hotels Inc.

'She matured since I last saw her, or is it just my imagination.' I thought to myself.

"Ms. Hamilton." I replied. "Please, just call me Brent."

"Of course, Brent." Ms. Hamilton replied. "Then in turn you can call me by my name, Yvette. Nice to meet you again." She extended her hand.

"Yes, me too." I replied and shook her hand.

Seeing her once again now swayed my heart in an unknown reason.