Chapter 14: Reject to Have Dinner

"Naïve? I think it is interesting! Don't give up! You will eventually find a job. Believe in yourself!" Joseph scoffed.

Though Kate was full of anger, she didn't are to say anything because she knew she would lose the fight. She stood up and ran out of the room; Joseph stood in the middle of the room, laughing.

Seeing Kate running down the stairs, Amy approached her and said, "I have prepared your favorite dishes for dinner. I think you will like it."

Kate was surprised at her sudden attitude change, but she was still cautious. Amy had been faulting her for two years, so she must have had an ulterior motive for being helpful. She didn't stop to say anything, though; she just ran straight for the door.

"Where are you going, Lady Kate?" Amy asked. She wanted to follow her but was afraid of irritating her. Since Kate punished her and she was warned by Joseph, Amy was scared to say too much. She was even more confused by the relationship between Joseph and Kate.

About two minutes after Kate ran out, Joseph walked into the dining room.

"Lord Joseph, dinner has been prepared. I will get it for you."

Joseph didn't see Kate, so he asked, "Where is Lady Kate?"

"She…She seems to be still angry with me and said she doesn't want to have the meal I prepared. She ran out!"

"Leave her alone," Joseph said and then sat down to have dinner.

Amy smiled to herself when she heard Joseph's reply; he was as cold to her as before.

"These are your favorite dishes, and these two are Lady Kate's favorite dishes. But she…" Amy said, "She has been taking out her anger on me more frequently. I don't know why she has become so…"

He did not know why, but Joseph did not feel comfortable without Kate sitting and eating dinner with him. He put his fork and knife down, then walked away from the table.

Seeing him leave, Amy asked in a hurry, "Lord Joseph, are you not satisfied with the dishes? I…"

The area around the mansion was beautiful. There were trees and a mountain in the distance, but it was cool in the summer evenings.

As Kate laid back on the grass, she was a little cold, but she closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze.

"Do you think I will get your name off the blacklist when you refuse to have a meal with me?" Hearing Joseph's voice, Kate became distracted by her peacefulness.

She opened her eyes and stared at him, "Go away! I don't want to have dinner. It's none of your business."

"Of course, it's my business." He bent down and said, "I will not allow you to die of hunger. It's not torturing enough."

Hearing this, he grasped her shoulder and asked fiercely, "What do you mean by that?"

Kate laughed suddenly, seeing his anger and repeated, "You just love the words she comforted you with, not the person. I will say the same thing even if you ask me thousands of times."

"Holy shit!" Joseph shoved her and said firmly, "I love Anna's everything!"

"Including her cheating you?" Kate did not want to mention what happened in the past. But when she saw him so confident, she wanted to destroy his love for her.

What if I didn't trust Anna? What if I didn't love him so deeply? Would everything be different?

She often asked herself these questions, but she would eventually feel the harsh reality. She got the chance to be his wife; still, in two years, their love has not developed but worsened.

"Kate, do you think it's suitable to slander a dead person?" Joseph got angrier and tightened his grip.

Kate frowned because of the pain, but she still answered, "Yes, I do. She indeed cheated on you! I'm just telling the truth."

"What the f**k?" He loosened his hand and cursed himself, "Why did I come out to look for her? I must be crazy!"

When she saw Joseph was out of sight, Kate laid back again and let out a sigh of relief. Gazing at the stars in the sky, she remembered what her mother told her, "My dear daughter, never devote yourself to a man. If you do, you will be looked down upon."

She did not understand it at the time, but she felt it after being married to Joseph. Kate knew how deeply her mother was hurt.

**

The next morning Kate realized how much power Joseph had in Aubi City after she received more messages declining her for an interview. Still unwilling to give up, Kate printed copies of her resume and then went out to look for a job.

After spending the entire morning being rejected by not only big companies but also by smaller ones, Kate was furious. The only response she seemed to get was, "Sorry, we have found someone suitable."

Kate walked to Lisa's shop as she wondered how Joseph could reach so many companies in such a short time.

"Is he out of his mind? He fired you but won't let you get a job. I think he is doing this just to bully you." Lisa was full of anger when she heard what Joseph was doing.

"This is his normal response. If he doesn't bully me, I will think he is out of his mind."

"How about asking for help from your mother-in-law? You said she is nice to you. Or complain to his grandpa?" Lisa advised, thinking that they could help her.

"Indeed, Mrs. Smith is nice to me. But she cares more about her son. Plus, though he respects them, he will not obey them all the time. He has his principles and will not change them easily."

"Then what can we do?" Lisa questioned. Suddenly, it occurred to her an idea, and she said, "How about you help me with my tea shop? I have been swamped recently. How about you help me, and I give you half of what we earn?"