It was in the general manager's office of the Runestone Group.
The sunshine was cast and filtrated the silk curtain into a soft golden one and onto the carpet.
Joseph frowned and felt perplexed about Irish's behavior.
It was not until when Joseph finished the call that Daisy handed in the file. She had a clear eye on his emotional changes. He was not as severe as before when he was talking on the phone. Instead, his voice was soft and gentle, full of patience and spoiling.
But why did he frown when he put down the phone? Daisy thought.
"Mr. Dover, is Irish…okay?" Knowing that Irish was pregnant, Daisy was very happy, and she thought it better to congratulate her.
However, Joseph was surprisingly deep in thinking.
Daisy was startled by it, so she just walked forward, "Mr. Dover?"
And then Joseph made a response. He took the file over and opened it.
Daisy saw it clearly that he didn't finish reading even one page within one minute, but she just kept silent as a smart woman.
Another minute passed, but Joseph didn't turn the page and just stared at it. Nobody would know what he was thinking. Daisy couldn't help reminding him, "Mr. Dover, the Investment Department is waiting for your confirmation."
Joseph came to his senses and took a glance at Daisy and then at the file. He kept silent for a while and then said, "You can just put it there, and after my signature, I will let the secretary send it to the Investment Department."
"Okay."
And as Daisy walked to the door, Joseph suddenly asked her, making her startled. She stopped and then came back, waiting for his instruction.
Joseph hesitated and then asked, "Do you know that Irish got pregnant?"
Daisy nodded, "So congratulations!"
Joseph just nodded politely and sighed, "But he seemed to be annoyed just now."
Daisy soon realized his concern since she had worked for him for a long time. She said immediately, "Mr. Dover. I know that a pregnant woman tends to have changes psychologically since she will begin a new life."
"Is it normal?" Joseph thought that his focus would be the management of a pregnant woman's feelings. He has been occupied by so many affairs and even had no time to sleep, let alone spend time learning about this aspect.
Daisy nodded lightly and smiled, "When my cousin got pregnant, she was also moody. Irish is going to be a Mom, so she is filled with uncertainty and anxiety regarding the change in her identity and future. These feelings are reasonable. What's more, Henry just passed away, so it is understandable for Irish to be in a bad mood."
Joseph was relieved.
Seeing that he finally got relieved, Daisy felt pleasant. Taking a glance at the file put away by him, she reminded him again, "Mr. Dover, you'd better check it soon. The Investment Department is anxious."
Actually, this incident would not have happened before. Joseph tended to be the one who was anxious.
Seeing worried Daisy, Joseph felt both funny and helpless.
"Have you ordered the fresh flower for tonight?" He opened the file again and played with the pen.
"Yes. It will be sent to the box of Mark Joseph Steakhouse at 5 p.m. in accordance with your requests. And the staff there are responsible for it."
Joseph nodded and then ordered, "No rose. Irish don't like it."
"I see." Daisy was clear about it. She knew that Joseph would propose to Irish since he refined the diamond ring first and then prepared a flower and candlelight dinner.
****
After leaving her aunt's home, Irish went back to Midtown Manhattan. And when she passed the Linkus Mental Research Institute, she hesitated for a while but didn't go upstairs to look.
She went back to her home.
As she opened the door, she remembered that it was not her home but Joseph's house.
The sunshine in the afternoon was so brilliant that all penetrated the room. It was so brilliant that Irish had to raise her hands to cover her eyes.
The light aroma filled the room, and everything just kept as intact as that when she went out with Joseph. The cleaner even kept the dried flower that was put on the table.
It was dried daisies.
Joseph was not a romantic man. He had never sent flowers to her since he sent her a daisy the last time they were in Hong Kong. She was fond of delicate daisies and liked to buy a little to put them at home.
Later she found that daisies became more beautiful when they turned to dry, which became an interesting hobby for her.
It was until now that she found that what she liked was not daisies but the feeling of being cherished by Joseph at every moment.
She never denied that love was beautiful, although she was hurt. She believed in love but not the man who had loved her.
She put the dry flower into the rubbish can and ended her determination to protect her love.
But when she went to the Magnolia Screen, great grief came over.
Irish sat on the carpet and reached her hand.
Her slender fingers touched the petals of magnolia and pistils. The clean silk yarn reflected the sunshine and her fingers became even brighter.
She looked down gradually and finally upon the line of letters: When we meet, we are still young, and it's not late.
The meaning of words was interpreted perfectly. The combination of letters contributed to the most touching statement, which looked so beautiful even when you didn't read them.
It was indeed a beautiful promise.
Joseph, for you, what was the late thing since you planned everything and controlled everything? Irish thought.
Tears made her eyes wet.
However, she just smiled out of self-mockery.
****
When Lilith came back to the big house, Kelly and Shirley were quarreling. She listened to their quarreling for some time, and finally, she realized that they were debating about this big house. Because Henry had stated clearly its belonging in the will, they planned to move out after the funeral.
Someone moved out in advance.
Roy and Ruby did it.
Lilith knew that Roy had his own house but didn't know about Ruby's whereabouts.
Shirley was not willing to go, though the divorce announcement took effect. However, she just insisted on staying at the house while Kelly persuaded her to have an idea about the situation. Kelly did it out of goodwill but touched Shirley's sadness, and then they had a big quarrel.
Lilith had a headache about their quarrel, so she just comforted her mother when Shirley went upstairs and asked when they would move out.
Kelly was a woman who was good at controlling her feelings, so she just calmed down and said, "Your father plans to wait and see what Irish intends to do. If she doesn't want this house, we will buy it from her for fear that it's hard to move out."
Lilith nodded and thought of something for a while, "Mom, now the journalists just tangle with us, and I want to go out for fun and avoid meeting them."
"You want to go out for fun? Even if you want, you'd better do it after tomorrow's funeral."