The Boy Who Tattooed My Name on His Chest novel Chapter 78

Joshua paused for a moment, the cigarette between his fingers. Then, as if giving up, he stubbed it out and turned to get into the car. “Grandpa wants us to go have a meal.”

Joshua smelled strongly of smoke. After getting in the car, I instinctively rolled down the window to get some fresh air. He glanced at me, but didn’t say anything.

Until the first red light stopped us, Joshua suddenly spoke. It was almost as if he were trying to explain something. “I haven’t smoked that much.”

I thought, was that a performance for my benefit? But I still politely responded with an “oh.”

Joshua waited for a moment, but when I didn’t say anything else, his hand, gripping the steering wheel, tightened suddenly. He opened his mouth as though to say something, but ultimately held it back.

The drive back to the old house was silent. Joshua’s relationship with his grandfather was not a good one. They had only started talking more after his parents passed away, and Joshua needed his grandfather’s support. But it was still not like the typical grandfather-grandson relationship.

Especially when, after being told to come over for dinner, most of the food on the table was spicy or full of seafood. Joshua's face tensed, and he asked, “What do you mean by this?”

“What do you mean?” Joshua’s grandfather, who had been in power for many years, even after retiring still had an air of authority. He glanced at him and replied, “Aren’t these all your favorites?”

“Donna can’t eat spicy food, and she’s allergic to seafood. I already told Auntie about it,” Joshua said, holding back his anger.

“Really?” Joshua’s grandfather smiled, his tone slightly pointed. “Last time Donna came over for dinner, she didn’t mention anything like that. Seems like she was accommodating my old tastes.”

“I’m not that picky.” I forced a smile, picked up a piece of spicy chicken, but before I could take a bite, Joshua snatched the bowl and chopsticks from my hands.

“Not eating.” He said quietly, “I’ll have Auntie make you some porridge.”

I didn’t say anything, just stared at Joshua, watching as he avoided my gaze awkwardly.

“Since you don’t want to eat, let’s talk business,” Joshua’s grandfather said, putting down his chopsticks. His tone was flat, “How have you been getting along with that girl from the Fox family?”

At the mention of Carol, Joshua’s eyes instinctively shifted to me. He pursed his lips, his expression unwilling.

“Grandpa, I’ll talk about it later—”

“Donna is no outsider.” Joshua’s grandfather interrupted him, smiling. “Maybe when you get married, she’ll be sitting at the main table.”

Joshua used to know that.

Joshua was finally forced to sign his name under the watchful eye of his bodyguard. The moment he put down the pen, it felt as though all his strength had been drained from him. He hung his head, gripping the paper tightly, without a word. After a long silence, he hoarsely asked me, "Do you really like George that much?"

George? What does he have to do with this?

I frowned and coldly replied, "No."

I couldn’t make out Joshua’s expression. But now that the goal had been achieved, I had no intention of staying any longer.

When I said goodbye to Elder Graham, he stared at me for a long time. Eventually, he waved his hand, letting out a deep sigh. I could probably guess what he wanted to say, but it didn’t matter anymore.

In the past, Elder Graham had treated me fairly well. Perhaps it was because of his age, and the fact that his son and daughter-in-law had both left. He finally started to care about the little bit of family affection left. But his only grandson was just as stubborn and difficult to approach.

Back when I was doing everything for Joshua, I often visited the old mansion. He would occasionally ask about Joshua’s situation in a roundabout way. But the more I spoke, the more he seemed to notice something wasn’t quite right. Later, when he saw Joshua rushing me to the hospital, holding me in his arms while I was sick, Elder Graham didn’t say much. He would just ask me to stay for a meal whenever I went to deliver documents to the old house.