Chapter 2 Reunion

The past felt like an old scar. It wouldn't hurt unless Joyce picked at it.

Tears streamed down her cheeks freely now. She seemed to hear a faint voice talking in her ear, and she was pulled away from the dream world and into reality. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found Carly Chen, a servant, looking at her worriedly.

"Miss Lu, why are you crying? Is your old wound hurting again?"

Her heart ached now that she was awake. Joyce quickly wiped away her tears and laughed lightheartedly. "It's nothing! Just a nightmare."

Faint music wafted into her room from the outside. "Is the party starting?" she asked.

"Not yet. It will start in half an hour," Carly answered. "However, Miss Lu, there is a gentleman outside who wants to talk to you."

Joyce frowned slightly. It must've been her private doctor waiting for her.

She glanced at herself in the mirror and saw her reddened eyes and tear-stained face. "Okay, you can go ahead. I'll fix my makeup first."

"Okay."

Carly closed the door gently. Joyce took a deep breath, picked up her brush and applied a little blush on her pale cheeks.

Eyeliner outlining her eyes and red lipstick adorning her lips, she smiled with satisfaction. The once-haggard girl in the mirror transformed into an enchanting party queen.

Done with her makeup, Joyce stood up and headed downstairs.

At the foot of the stairs, a familiar, tall man in an expensive-looking suit stood with his back to Joyce.

Joyce's heart skipped a beat.

Her elegant steps suddenly turned clumsy. She clambered down the stairs and approached the man.

It was really him, the man she had missed day and night for years.

The gentleman in the suit looked elegant and charming. For a moment, Joyce's mind was in a trance, and what appeared in front of her was the boy in school uniform, full of youth and hope.

They hadn't seen each other in seven years, but it was as though no time had passed. He still had the boyish good looks that she was so obsessed with.

All of a sudden, Joyce felt a lump in her throat. She couldn't stop herself from calling out his name. "Braydon..."

With a bright yet insincere smile, he greeted her politely. "Miss Lu, long time no see."

'Miss Lu?'

All the color drained from Joyce's face.

When did he start calling her that? He used to call her Joy.

They had started out as strangers, then lovers, then strangers again. The man was in a suit, the woman wore delicate makeup, no longer as innocent as she was years ago.

There was a severe pain in her heart, but she willed herself to stay calm. Forcing a smile, she greeted, "Long time no see, Mr. Huo."

She flipped her hair. "It's been years. What brings you here?"

"I want to make a deal with you."

She ran her slender fingers through her jet black hair, deliberately causing her delicious perfume to waft over to Braydon. However, the man only narrowed his eyes.

"A deal?" Joyce asked.

"I heard that you want to buy the land on GM Street from the Lin Group.

The Huo family and Lin Group are on good terms, so I can help you close the deal. However, in exchange, I want your kidney." Braydon pointed at Joyce with a calm expression, as though this was an ordinary request.

The fingers in her hair suddenly stiffened. In a light voice, she asked, "What did you say?"

"The land in GM Street in exchange for one of your kidneys."

He smiled nonchalantly. "That land is worth more than one hundred million dollars. This deal is actually worth it."