Chapter 182 First Kiss
“That’s not true.” Watching Josephine cry agonizingly in his arms, Jonathan couldn’t resist stroking her hair. “You silly girl, you still have me!”
Ever since they were married four years ago, he had never seen Josephine so lonely and helpless before.
Also, she had never cried so hard in front of him either.
Suddenly, Jonathan’s gaze darkened.
Since Josephine was no longer related to her family in any way, he did not see the point for the Smiths to continue existing.
“Jonathan, will you leave me one day too?” Raising her reddened eyes at Jonathan, Josephine gave him a vulnerable look, which sent his heart racing furiously.
“I won’t.” Jonathan shook his head. “I will never abandon you for the rest of my life.”
How can I ever bring myself to do that? You are the one whom I have resolved to protect my entire life.
“Really?” Josephine stared at him in disbelief.
“Of course!” Jonathan tousled her hair with a smile. “All right now, stop crying. At the rate you’re going, it’s going to give you wrinkles!”
“I don’t want any wrinkles!”
Having heard Jonathan’s comment, Josephine quickly wiped the tears off her eyes. Biting her lip, she tried desperately to hold back her tears. However, Jonathan’s heart melted when he noticed the determination in her eyes.
“Jonathan, do you think that I have made a mistake?” Josephine questioned.
“No!” Jonathan shook his head. “You did no wrong. The fault lies with them. One of these days, they will regret banishing you from the Smith family!”
“How is that possible?” Josephine couldn’t help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I think they can’t wait to be rid of me!”
When Hugo kicked her out, none in the huge Smith family stood up for her.
In fact, all of them couldn’t wait for her to leave and to make a clean break from her.
Is that all there is to our familial bond? What a joke!
“Believe me. That day will come!” Jonathan reached out to stroke her head. “After crying for so long, you must be exhausted. Why don’t I take you somewhere to grab a bite?”
“I’ve no appetite.” Josephine shook her head.
The last thing she wanted to do now was have something to eat.
“Even if you don’t feel like it, you still have to eat something. Only then will you have the energy to continue with the ecological park project.” Jonathan tapped her nose and added, “Don’t forget, it is business as usual at the ecological park project tomorrow morning.”
“What do you mean?” Shaking her head, Josephine asked, “I’m no longer the Smith Group’s chairman. Therefore, I have nothing to do with the project anymore.”
“Who told you that the project belongs to the Smith family?” Jonathan sneered. “If it wasn’t for you, would they even have gotten the project in the first place?”
“Jonathan, do you mean…” Josephine’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What I’m saying is, the project is still yours. No one can take it away from you,” Jonathan explained with a smile.
“Really?” Josephine looked at Jonathan in disbelief.
In a blink of an eye, she felt disheartened again. “However, I’m no longer a member of the Smith family. Where am I going to find the capital to develop the project?”
“You don’t need any.” Shooting Josephine a glance, Jonathan elaborated, “Have you forgotten that Graham Group has nothing but money?”
“Graham Group?” Josephine gave Jonathan an inquisitive look.
“Yes!” Jonathan nodded. “If Graham Group was willing to invest on the Smith family’s behalf back then, why wouldn’t they do so for you now?”
“But, will they agree to it?” Josephine’s eyes were filled with hope.
“Why wouldn’t they?” Jonathan chuckled.
Silly girl, Graham Group belongs to you. Hence, why would they object? Moreover, it isn’t just Graham Group. Even Tavion Group and the York family’s businesses all belong to you too!
“But—”
Before Josephine could say anything, Jonathan interrupted her. “There are no buts. Just leave everything to me. Trust me that Graham Group will definitely agree.”
“Mm-hmm!”
For some unknown reason, Josephine no longer doubted Jonathan anymore.
“Jonathan, thank you.”
Looking up at him, she noticed that she had never found Jonathan to be so attractive before.
In the past, she despised him and only wished to avoid him.
In fact, she even looked down upon him.
However, at that very moment, all the negative emotions seemed to have disappeared.
“What are you thanking me for?” Jonathan asked with a grin.
“I’m thanking you for being by my side and comforting me.” Lowering her head, Josephine blushed to the extent that she was embarrassed to make eye contact with him.
“Is that all?” Jonathan lowered his gaze at her while taking a step closer.
“Huh?”
In response to Jonathan’s words, Josephine suddenly looked up. However, her lips inadvertently brushed against his at that very moment.
In a blink of an eye, she recoiled in surprise.
Blushing red, she suddenly felt lost.
“Jonathan, w-what are you doing?” The redness of her cheeks intensified.
“What do you think?” Jonathan pursed his lips by reflex as he relished the sensation he had just experienced. “I just wanted to ask if you wanted to thank me for lending you a shoulder to cry on. However, I didn’t expect you to—”
Stopping abruptly, Jonathan couldn’t help but sigh. “That was my first kiss!”
“D-Don’t talk about it!!” Josephine was so anxious she almost stomped her feet.
“Why?” Jonathan asked curiously. “Why can’t I talk about the fact that you kissed me?”
“I… I don’t care. You’re just not allowed to!” Josephine pointed at him angrily. Despite how furious she was, there was little she could do about it.
That wasn’t just his first kiss. It was hers too.
Ever since she was young, she had never even held a boy’s hand before. And now, she had given her first kiss to Jonathan.
“Since I’m not allowed to talk about it, I suppose it’s all right for me to do it, isn’t it?” Letting out a cheeky smile, he reached his hand around Josephine’s waist. After giving her a pull, she fell right into his embrace.
“J-Jonathan, w-what are you doing?” Josephine could barely enunciate her words.
“Don’t think you can escape easily after kissing me.” Grinning mischievously, Jonathan closed in on her cheeks. “Since you have kissed me, I must return the favor to you.”
Just as he spoke, Jonathan lowered his head to kiss her on the lips.
Just like that, he had given his first kiss, which he had kept for over twenty years, to her.
