Chapter 12 The Power of Influence

• When Jojo returned to the employee dormitory, she found her luggage thrown outside.
• She hurried to pick it up.
• "You're finally back, Jojo. I'm sorry. I just received word that you can't stay anymore. They are big shots, so we can't mess with them. Here's 200 from me. Take it, and maybe lay low for a while."
• From what was said, Jojo understood. This is what Shawn meant by "taste of power," right?
• "Sarah, don't worry. There has to be a place for me somewhere in this world. I can't take your money, considering how I have troubled you."
• Sarah’s family wasn’t wealthy, and Jojo didn't want to burden her further. When she fainted at the hospital entrance, it was Sarah who saved her.
• At that, Jojo left with a bitter smile.
• …
• Jojo dragged her woven bag along the empty street for a long time.
• She wondered if she could ever find a decent job without a college degree. Lison was so big, yet there was no place for her.
• As night fell, she was preparing to spend the night under a bridge with an old scavenger when her phone rang. "Where are you?"
• "None of your business," Jojo snapped.
• First, I was fired because of you. Now, you're calling to mock me?
• "Thanks to you, I lost my job. Happy now, Shawn?"
• "Your current identity doesn't allow you to work in a hospital," Shawn explained in a low voice. "Besides, as long as our marriage isn’t annulled, you’re my wife. My wife works as a nurse's aide in a hospital. How can I accept that?"
• Jojo was speechless. Considering Shawn’s status, she shouldn't be doing such a "lowly" job, but she was a fake wife.
• She wanted to retort, but his cold voice interrupted her. "Return to the Lawson Estate at once!"
• Jojo couldn't answer. Why is he so harsh?
• Then, she bit her lip stubbornly. "I have something to do tonight. I won't be going back."
• "What could you possibly have to do?"
• "Why can't I?" she retorted. "I was fired because of you, so I need a new job. That takes time!'
• Shawn seemed taken aback by Jojo's loud retort. He paused, then let out a cold laugh. "Grandpa will call in an hour. Do what you must."
• After hanging up, he nearly crushed his phone.
• Asher happened to come out of the study, and Shawn called him over, clearing his throat. "How’s the task I assigned you?"
• "All taken care of. Those gossipy aides have been fired, and no one will dare talk about Miss Grant’s matters," Asher reported.
• Shawn nodded.
• After leaving the hospital that morning, he immediately instructed Asher to handle this.
• Thus, Jojo got fired.
• Shawn was pleased with his arrangements. "A woman should stay home, take care of the family, and do household chores. Especially my woman, right?"
• "Uh-huh..."
• By having Asher fire those hospital aides, he had no idea that such an arrangement served to back Jojo up. That being said, he never realized that he couldn't see her being ordered around at the hospital.
• Something was quietly taking root.
• After the call ended, Jojo was even more furious.
• However, adhering to the belief of cutting one's nose to spite another's face, she begrudgingly yanked her bag back to the Lawson Estate. When she showed up in the living room, she was covered in dust.
• Shawn frowned. "Did you crawl out of a garbage dump?"
• "Of course not."
• How infuriating. Jojo glared at Shawn, who looked elegant in his loungewear.
• Her disheveled state made her even more annoyed by the contrast.
• "The Lawson Estate is in a wealthy area with no direct bus route. You demanded I return within an hour, so I had to run back," Jojo said through gritted teeth. "Don’t think I’m back because I’m yielding to you. I came back to avoid worrying Grandpa."
• Jojo finished, feeling a bit guilty. She missed the memory foam bed at the Lawson Estate anyway, as it was better than sleeping under a bridge.
• "Why didn’t you take a cab?" Shawn asked, his sexy Adam's apple bobbing. "Didn’t you just get a bonus from the hospital last month? Jojo, you’re too stingy."
• Stingy?
• Who was it that, with a fortune, deducted the cost of a phone from her billion-dollar sum?
• He wasn't just domineering and tyrannical. The man was just as miserly.
• "Why aren’t you talking?" Shawn asked.
• Jojo ignored him, her throat burning from running back. She grabbed a cup of water and drank it, revealing her slender neck as she tilted her head back.
• Watching her flushed face and the rise and fall of her chest, Shawn squinted.
• At that moment, Old Mr. Lawson called.
• "Grandfather, I’m home... Yes, Shawn is here too," she said sweetly, running over to the phone, which resulted in the older man's laughter.
• Shawn watched her sitting on the sofa, his gaze darkening.
• He pulled out a translucent jade pendant. Never before had he considered marriage or children, but now he realized having a woman at home wasn't so unappealing.
• ...
• At the Grant Residence.
• Veronica shoved everything off the table, resulting in a crash. "Jojo is d*mn lucky. She caught Old Mr. Lawson's eyes and got a marriage certificate with Shawn. What am I supposed to do now?!"
• "Why are you worried? Didn’t Shawn say he’d marry you?" her mother, Beatrice, reassured.
• "But what if he finds out the truth?!"
• She had thought selling Jojo off to a remote village would bury this matter forever, but Shawn and Jojo obtained the marriage certificate instead.
• "No matter what, you must insist it was you that night. Understand?" Beatrice reminded her.
• Veronica nodded solemnly. Certainly, she was destined for greatness. How could she allow Jojo, a country bumpkin, to seize this opportunity?
• A calculating glint flashed in Veronica’s eyes. "Mom, maybe we should..." she said, making a slashing motion across her throat. "If that old man is gone, Shawn will divorce Jojo and marry me."
• Beatrice was shocked into silence. She quickly covered Veronica’s mouth. "You can’t say such things. Don’t forget that Shawn is called the Grim Reaper. If he finds out we harmed his beloved grandfather, we’ll be done for."
• "Fine, I was just saying." Veronica temporarily dismissed the idea.