MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Joshua still looked very calm. He knew that Flores' family was selfish and was not surprised when they said that they intended to leave but suddenly changed their minds. He presumed it was because someone did not want to let them go. He wanted to make it easier on Hazel, so he gave in to them again.

It did not appear that the family wanted to leave Denmark's Residence. They stopped Theresa and continued talking with her.

Hazel poked Joshua, whose indifferent attitude left her completely confused about what he was thinking.

"Hazel, come with me to Denmark Group this afternoon," said Joshua quietly.

Before Hazel could say yes, Caroline spoke, "Does Mr. Denmark have work to do this afternoon?"

"Yes." Joshua nodded.

Caroline rolled her eyes and had a greedy thought. It would be nice if she could also live here like Theresa. What a great and comfortable house to live in.

She smiled. "We haven't seen our daughter for a long time. Can we spend more time with her?"

"No problem," Joshua said quietly. "The tour guide I arranged has arrived, and they will take your family around the imperial capital."

In an instant, Caroline froze. Visiting the imperial capital was her previous request, so there was no way for her to refuse it.

Hazel turned to look at Joshua with surprise. Caroline obviously wanted to stay at Denmark Residence, but Joshua spoke simply and solved the matter. There was no way he didn't understand what Caroline meant. Did it mean Joshua didn't want the Flores family to stay?

Caroline tried to say something more, but Nanny Carter walked in with a guide before she could speak.

"Have good fun," Joshua said quietly. "I have something to do with Hazel, and I won't keep you."

The faces of the Flores family were low, and they looked as if they were humiliated. Joshua's words were clearly meant to drive them away. Even if they said they wanted to stay, very likely, they would be just asking for nothing.

"Thank you, Mr. Denmark," Caroline said reluctantly.

The Flores family eventually left following the guide.

Hazel and Joshua got in his car and drive in silence to Denmark Group. She hadn't told Joshua that the Flores family would be at Denmark Residence, and he did not mention it. She was still confused by his attitude toward them.

Joshua fulfilled almost all of the conditions that they had demanded, but he still did not seem close enough to be a family member. Was it because he refused to forgive them for abandoning him that he kept them at arm's length?

As they were walking into the building, Hazel's eyes darkened, she was trying to decipher Joshua's attitude again. 

"Joshua, do you think Theresa is pitiful?" She sighed.

"Mm," he said, looking at her with deep eyes, "you seem to care about her?"

"Of course, she's a nice, kind girl," she said meaningfully. "I like her very much, and I feel she is like my younger sister, so I want to help her despite myself."

"How do you want to help her?" he asked quietly.

She was confused. She was hinting, but why did she feel he wouldn't be willing to help Theresa until she wanted to help him? Was he so embarrassed? She could do nothing but try to figure out his attitude.

"I've asked her. She wants to study in the imperial capital." She suggested. "Maybe we can let her stay with us to study."

"It's easy," he said quietly. "But if you really want to help her, you'd better advise her to spend less time with her family. You'd better confirm with her to see if she's ready for that."

"I, I will ask her later..." She was kind of in a daze.

She proposed that Theresa should stay because the Flores family would thus certainly stay in the imperial capital. If Joshua agreed, it meant he did care about the Flores family. But why did he say that only Theresa could stay without the other Flores family members? Why was it so hard to guess what was in that man's mind?

She was completely bewildered, and it would be completely pointless to continue the conversation.

She happily changed her subject. "By the way, it is our school's anniversary this weekend, and there's a ball Sunday night. Unfortunately, I am short of a dancing partner. Who do you think… I should invite?"

Seeing the sparkle of excitement in her eyes, he raised her chin without hesitation. "Hazel Crowe, who else do you want to invite, huh?"

"What do you mean? It's not like I have any wooers." She shyly slapped his hand away.

"How could you have no wooers?" He looked at her with hidden bitterness. "I'm just giving you the best option. But really, you don't have any other choices because I'll never give anyone else a chance to approach you."

She couldn't help chuckling. The annoyance caused by the Flores family all vanished with the wind. She and the Flores family loathed each other, but she was thankful that it didn't affect her and Joshua's relationship.

"Then you must come," she said seriously. "It is a date!"

"I'll definitely come." He nodded.

***

Although the Flores family visited the imperial capital following the guide, they felt even more dissatisfied. They had clearly seen Joshua, but why didn't he admit their relationship?

Back at their temporary home, Caroline's complaints never stopped.

"Lanny, what should we do?" she said, annoyed, "And why is Joshua so kind to this bitch, Hazel? It really pisses me off! I must break them up!"

"Do you have any ideas?" Lanny frowns with displeasure. "Do you think Joshua Denmark had held on the respect he had when he was a kid, and he would obey you in every aspect?"

"Of course, I have ideas!" Caroline said very unhappily. "Even if he doesn't obey me, isn't it very simple to make them misunderstand each other? But I need helpers… Henry, contact that woman and ask her to do something for me."

"What?" Henry looked reluctant.

Caroline whispered in his ear, and he couldn't resist disagreeing. "No way. Joshua Denmark would never agree with this!"

"Who said I was going to get Joshua to agree?" She sneered, "You're stupid. I'm doing this for Hazel!"

"Okay, I'll go now." He agreed quickly.