Chapter 8

Feeling exhausted, Josiah pinched the center of his eyebrows, got up from his office chair, and was about to get off work. Josiah's assistant, Mister Wesley, knocked on his door before entering his office. He then reported, "Sir, the matter regarding Yoel Harper has been wrapped up." Josiah simply nodded and added, "I don't want to hear of him anymore from this minute onward." "Yes, sir," Mister Wesley nodded. Just when Mister Wesley was about to leave, Ysabelle was seen heading toward his director, looking all anxious. She said, "Josiah, Meredith had escaped from the hospital, I think she's going to find Yoel." Mister Wesley tried to shift his eyes rapidly to Ysabelle but before Ysabelle could get his hint, Josiah grabbed a glass on his desk, threw it at Ysabelle's legs, and growled, "How many times do I need to repeat myself? I said I don't want to hear that bastard's name!" Josiah was furious that Yoel had the audacity to sleep with his wife. Hence, just the mention of the bastard's name was enough to make Josiah want to kill him over and over again. Ysabelle was startled. Softly, she added, "I'm sorry, Josiah. I'm only worried that Meredith would do something stupid to herself." "I will bury her entire family next to her if she dares to die!" Josiah seethed as he walked out of his office. It was obvious that Josiah would not let Meredith die that easily. Keeping up with Josiah's footsteps, Mister Wesley made a call to make sure that they locate Meredith in the shortest time possible. Pressing her lips together, Ysabelle quickly followed behind them. Josiah was now on the floor where his car was parked. The driver quickly opened the door for him. It was at the moment when a messy and haggard-looking woman came out from behind the bushes. At the sight of her, Josiah furrowed his brows as he looked at her in disdain and asked, "What are you doing here?" "There you are, Meredith," said Ysabelle as she walked toward Meredith looking all concerned. However, she was abruptly pulled into Josiah's arms when she passed by him. "Meredith Leighton, hear me when I say that even if Yena is dead, there is no way that I'll have you as my wife." Even though Ysabelle knew that Josiah was only using her to trigger Meredith, she was still pleased. This was the first time that she was able to be this physically close to Josiah. Ysabelle stood closer to Josiah and flashed a smug grin at Meredith. Meredith ignored her. Instead, she started walking toward them with slow steps as her body was still aching. She came to a stop in front of them and said politely, "Joe, I'm here to apologize." "Apologize?" Josiah sniggered coldly and added, "And I thought that our high and mighty Miss Leighton never apologizes." "No. I am sorry," said Meredith as she inched closer and closer to Josiah and continued, "I'm sorry that I cheated on you with Yoel, I'm sorry that I'm carrying Yoel's children, I'm sorry that I tried to kill Yena to hide my secret, I'm sorry for everything…" With a change of the look in her eyes, she took out a knife from her pocket and aimed at Josiah's chest, catching Josiah off guard. Ysabelle reacted quickly and pushed Josiah away. "Look out!" But the knife somehow ended up on Josiah's shoulders. "But Josiah Shelby, you're the one who needs to die!" Meredith started laughing maniacally, "You killed my child, I need to avenge his death, I…ah!" Before she could finish her sentence, Meredith was flung across the ground by a bodyguard. "Sir, are you okay?" "Mister Josiah is injured!" "Hurry up! We need to send him to the hospital!" All hell broke loose when Josiah was stabbed. Only Josiah remained indifferent and emotionless. He glanced at the knife that was stabbed on his shoulder and walked toward Meredith who was shivering and cowering on the floor. "So this is it?" Standing in front of Meredith, he sneered coldly, "I am the one who killed your lover and your children, and that's the best you could do?" Meredith looked up to meet his eyes. She said, "Josiah Shelby, you'll be sorry for what you have done!" Meredith was crying yet at the same time laughing. She looked as if she had finally lost it. Looking worried, Ysabelle said, "Josiah, I think Meredith had gone mad. Let's send her to a psychiatric ward to get her treated." Josiah took a look at Meredith who was dressed messily and how she was crying yet laughing at the same time and thought that Meredith had indeed gone mad. "Send her away," Josiah gave an order to Mister Wesley and added, "and keep a close watch on her!" Soon after, Meredith was being sent away. Ysabelle put her arms around Josiah's and said worriedly, "Josiah, let's get you treated at the hospital." Ysabelle thought that she was finally given the chance to stay by Josiah's side. However, Josiah simply shrugged her off, turned around, and got into his car. … Meredith was dragged and pushed into a small room with nothing but four walls. Her head hit the wall and she crashed onto the ground. Meredith had used up all the energy in her after rounds of attempts to struggle free. She did not even have the energy to get up from the floor. Her entire body was sprawled on the floor as she trembled. The staff then left, leaving her all alone in the room. After laying down for a while, Meredith finally mustered up some strength and tried to support herself with her hands as she tried to get up from the floor. However, before she could even sit up, Meredith felt a piercing pain coming from the back of her hand. A high heel embellished with diamonds was stepping on her hand. Meredith quivered in pain and fell onto the floor once more. "Meredith Leighton, have you forgotten what I told you before? Josiah could never accept the fact that his wife was carrying a child that was not his," said Ysabelle. With her arms crossed, she looked down on Meredith who was on the floor with a smirk on her face. Meredith cried out in pain. "Ysabelle Layne, you…do you really think that Josiah will marry you after getting rid of me and Yena? Keep dreaming…" Meredith's voice trembled as she added, "Josiah will never marry you…" "Oh really? Let's see, shall we?" Ysabelle said as she stepped harder on Meredith's hand.