Christopher looked at her with a meaningful smile. "Shouldn't this kind of thing be done as soon as possible?"
Janice was stunned for a moment. It did not occur to her that he would be so considerate.
In fact, it was not that she was too anxious, but that her stepmother and father kept calling and urging her to go back.
Although she had used her work as an excuse repeatedly, she knew very well that her stepmother would not wait too long. She could come directly at any time. She had to make all preparations before her stepmother attacked.
The car soon arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Fortunately, it was a regular weekday, so it was not very crowded. Soon, the registration was over and done with.
When Janice walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, she had a Marriage Certificate in her hand. She stared at the photo of her and Christopher on it, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her chest.
Unexpectedly, in just half an hour, she had morphed from a single girl to a married woman. The speed her identity change felt unreal.
The main thing was that she and her husband had only known each other for less than an hour, and he was so handsome.
It was like a dream.
Anyway, she had succeeded. Now, she would no longer be afraid.
Thinking of this, Janice was a little excited. She couldn't help looking at Christopher beside her. "Well... Mr. Bateman..."
Before Janice could finish her words, Christopher frowned and interrupted, "Hmm? You're going to keep calling me that?"
Janice was stunned for two seconds. Yes, he was now her husband. It was indeed a bit strange to call him Mr. Bateman.
She thought for a moment and tried again.
"Christopher Bateman."
"I don't like to be called my full name by my wife." Christopher's eyes were slightly cold.
"..." Janice was a little annoyed, but she tried again. "Christopher, is that okay?"
Christopher's brows finally relaxed.
Janice put the marriage certificate away. Seeing that it was still early, she said.
"Although we got married in a hurry, we still have to prepare some things. I think there is a supermarket nearby, so why don't we go and buy some things for daily use?"
Her eyes were smiling.
Christopher nodded. "Okay."
As soon as they got to the car, Janice's cell phone rang. It was her father, Malcolm Gladwell.
Janice snorted in her heart. "Wow, this was fast." She excused herself from Christopher and walked to a quiet place to pick up the call.
"Janice, didn't I tell you that I'm sick and want to see you? Why haven't you come home yet?"
There was some blame in Malcolm's tone.
Janice rolled her eyes, did he want to see her or plot against her? "Dad, didn't I say that I would go back when I was free?"
Malcolm sighed and said, "I know you're busy, but since you're not free, I won't force you to go back. I'm now in the TV station lobby with your aunt. Come and meet us now."
After that, Malcolm hung up the phone.
Janice was somewhat surprised. It was two hours' journey from Tomaville to Denvolo. It did not occur to her that they would catch up so soon. But even though they were here, she was already married and not afraid.
Even if they came, there was nothing they could do.
However, this matter had nothing to do with Christopher. There was no need for her to get him involved. Besides, her situation at home was so complicated. They had just gotten married. What if he got frightened?
Janice thought for a moment, walked back to Christopher, and said, "I'm sorry. I have something urgent to attend to, so..."
Without waiting for Janice to finish her words, Christopher said understandingly.
"Go ahead. Whatever's needed, I'll buy it."
"All right." Janice felt a little guilty. "Give me your phone."
Christopher handed over his phone.
Janice fiddled with it for a while and returned it. "I've already added your WhatsApp. After shopping, go to my place directly. This is the key. I'll give you the address along with the shopping list later. I only have so much cash here. You take it first. If it's not enough, I'll pay you back later. I'll go back as soon as I'm done."
Janice placed the money and keys in Christopher's hands and took out a black bag from the trunk.
"There are ribbons inside, left over from the last event. Although we got married in a hurry, we should still make it festive. Take them back and use them to decorate."
After finishing her words, Janice got in the car in a hurry.
Christopher looked at the big black bag and the three banknotes in his hand. He frowned and dialed a number. "Come here, I saw you."
...
Rob thought that he had followed her carefully enough, but he didn't expect Mr.
Bateman to discover him.
Resignedly, he drove the car over.
"Mr. Bateman, I'm doing this for your safety." Rob said guiltily.
After all, he had decided to follow Christopher of his own accord. Of course, he was also a little curious.
"Seeing that she didn't discover you, I won't punish you." Christopher glanced at him coldly and walked towards the car.
Rob felt relieved. He inadvertently glanced at the bills in Christopher's hands and couldn't help but feel surprised. Since when did Mr. Bateman carry cash?
"Take me to this place." After getting in the car, Christopher handed over his phone.
Rob looked at the address and couldn't help but feel stunned again. Why would Mr. Bateman go to such a place?
Usually, Mr. Bateman would never go to a place like this. What was this supposed to be? However, when he learned that Mr. Bateman had even gotten married, there was hardly anything to be surprised about anymore.
The car soon stopped in front of an old residential building. Christopher got out of the car, glanced around, and asked, "I remember you studied design."
Rob was taking things out of the trunk. Hearing Christopher's words, he was confused, but he replied, "Yes, Mr. Bateman."
Christopher didn't say anything and walked in.
Rob followed behind uncertainly.
Soon, Rob understood why Christopher had asked that question. He stood in the apartment as compact as a shoebox, holding a few of the ribbons that Christopher had given him. Was he supposed to use these ribbons to showcase his PhD in Design? Oh gosh.
Christopher sat on the sofa and drank his coffee in a leisurely fashion, after giving his assignment to Rob.
Rob wanted to cry.
He really didn't understand why Mr. Bateman had to live in such a place instead of his mountain villa.
Janice rushed to the cafe located in the lobby of the TV station. As soon as she entered the cafe, she saw Malcolm Gladwell, Gladys Roger, and Vanessa Gladwell sitting there.
Oh, so Vanessa had also come. That's right. Both mother and daughter had always liked to play "good cop", "bad cop". If one was missing, they wouldn't be able to
perform their double act.
She had experienced a lot over the years.
If she hadn't seen Vanessa's true colors, she would have treated her as her own sister.
Janice walked over and sat opposite Malcolm.
Malcolm looked normal. He didn't look like a sick person at all.
However, Gladys looked quite angry. As expected, as soon as Janice sat down, Gladys looked at her in a huffy manner.
"Janice, you're so rebellious now. Your father is sick and wants to see you. Yet you made him come in person?"
Janice frowned. Gladys was in a hurry to punish her, but she still had to go along with the act. She hurriedly said with faux concern, "Auntie, I had a task to do, it was assigned to me."
Gladys snorted. "Janice, when will you stop that habit of lying? Although your mother has gone, I have to say on her behalf that it's not a good thing for a girl to lie. I have been to your TV station. Your colleague said that you didn't have any interviews or tasks today."
Gladys was very angry as she spoke. She waited for so long but Janice did not come home. After asking around, Gladys decided to incite Malcolm to catch her in Tomaville.
"Yes, Janice. I'm just sick and want you to come home. You shouldn't lie to me and your aunt.", Malcolm also said.
"Who on earth loves to lie?" Janice sneered in her heart. She smiled at Malcolm and Gladys, who were lying to her face.
If he really wanted to see her, would he have needed the whole family to come out? "Dad, what's wrong with you? I think you're fine now.", Janice asked deliberately.
...
Malcolm's eyes flickered as he glanced at Gladys.
"Your dad's illness will be cured as long as you return home," Gladys answered on behalf of Malcolm.
Janice couldn't help but laugh.
"Auntie, you're really good at joking. I'm not a doctor. How can my dad recover as soon as I return home?"
Gladys gave Malcolm a look. Malcolm said, "Janice, let me explain. There's a problem in the company now and I need your help."
"Me?" Janice pretended to be surprised. "Dad, I don't know anything about managing a company. You must be mistaken. Vanessa should be the one who is able to help you."
Janice directed the conversation to Vanessa, who was biting her lip and looking at Malcolm.
"I..." Malcolm stammered.
Gladys was a little anxious when she heard that, so she said, "Listen to me. Your father's company needs the Walters financial support urgently. You should have known this. Since you were a child, you were engaged to the youngest son in the Walters family. As long as you marry him now, your family's company will escape bankruptcy."
"Wishful thinking!" Janice sneered deep down in her heart, but she appeared to be aloof from the outside.
"Auntie, I think you're mistaken. Wasn't my engagement replaced by Vanessa? Didn't the Walters know about this as well?"
When the matter was mentioned, Gladys looked awkward.
"What are you talking about? You've always been the one who's engaged to the Walters. When did it become Vanessa? Besides, it was only because of your job as a reporter that we allowed your sister to replace you."
"Oh, so that's how it is." Janice was a little puzzled. "I'm still a reporter now. I'm still not qualified to be married into the Walters."
"It's not the same. The Walters... In short, they won't be picky about your job anymore."
"Oh, that's right. After all, since the groom-to-be was jailed, he has no right to be picky." Janice agreed.
Malcolm's expression relaxed after seeing Janice's response. He continued, "Janice. So, does it mean you agree to the engagement?"
Janice saw the change in her father's expression and felt hurt. What father would be willing to let his daughter marry an ex-convict? Even so, she saw a trace of relief on her father's face just now.
Even though she knew what he thought about her, it was different when she saw it with her own eyes.
Janice said, "Dad, I think Vanessa is a better candidate. You see, the Walters are businessmen. If Vanessa marries into the Walters, it will be beneficial to your business. I'm just a reporter who specializes in snooping and digging other people's shady secrets. After that incident, I don't think the Walters would be happy to have me as their daughter-in-law. If I accidentally offend them, do you think they would still support your company?"
Malcolm was a little hesitant after listening to Janice. He was a businessman, so he knew the psychology of a businessman. Indeed, Janice was a trouble-maker.
As Malcolm was wavering, Gladys quickly interrupted. "You are two years older than Vanessa and you're more serious and tactful compared to her. Besides, the problem would be solved as long as you quit your job. You can work in your father's company."
"But I can't change my reporter habits," Janice said.
"These are all trivial matters. As long as you marry him, everything will be fine."
Gladys wished Janice would be married into the Walters now and solve her problem immediately.
"Janice, help me for the sake of your mother. She put painstaking efforts into this company."
Malcolm choked emotionally.
Janice found it ridiculous. When they drove her mom out of the company, they didn't care about her efforts at all. How could they bring this up again now?
"Dad, I know. I really want to help you. But what can I do? I can't even do anything now." Janice said in distress.
Gladys had lost her patience. She couldn't stand Janice's glib tongue and blurted, "You don't have to beat around the bush. You are your father's biological daughter. Who can help him except you?"
"That's right, Janice. Dad was so worried that he couldn't sleep or eat. I feel so bad for him. Please help him."
After being silent for a long time, Vanessa finally spoke. She had always tried to act as a filial daughter. Who knew how much Malcolm doted on her over the years.
Janice rolled her eyes. "Really? Vanessa, since you love Dad so much, why don't you marry into the Walters instead? Then you can help Dad."
Vanessa was stunned. She did not expect Janice to say that. She looked at Malcolm meekly and replied. "Janice, you know that I'm still in college. How can I be married?"
As Vanessa spoke, tears were about to roll down her cheeks. Her acting was comparable to the best actress in town.