The Cherished Wife

Clarisse glanced at Joseph with a disdainful look. "I'm not helping you; I just find this amusing."

Joseph still wore a smile on his face, but inside, he cursed Clarisse. "I still have to thank you, Madam Baker," he said, then looked at James.

James' expression was grim, but with Clarisse having spoken, what else could he do? He could not just throw Joseph out.

"James, aren't you going to fetch Sir Hoffman?"

"No need!" Mateo's voice came from upstairs. Mateo stood at the top of the stairs, carefully helping Maxwell down.

"Dad, take it slowly," Mateo urged.

Maxwell's sharp eyes briefly rested on Joseph before shifting away. "What brings you here today, Joseph?"

and with the new year approaching,

Maxwell said as he slowly made his way downstairs with Mateo's

he turned to Joseph. "Joseph, please have a seat. You're

Sir Hoffman!" James responded before leaving to fetch the tea.

too distant, seating himself with a humble demeanor. "Sir Hoffman, you still look as vigorous as ever.

so?" Maxwell chuckled heartily, then turned to Mateo. "See, Joseph knows how to speak well. Look at you just

"Sir Hoffman, you flatter me too much. How could I ever compare

nodded with a smile. As James served the tea, Joseph took a sip and then set the cup down. He hesitated before speaking, "Actually, there's something I'd like to clarify with

said, his dark eyes glinting as he feigned confusion. "Are you facing some

was planning to develop the