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Chapter 28: Joy for One, Misery for Another
🕑 Added 2024-11-28 15:20:28 +0000 UTCTony Windis’s funeral was held three days after his death, at the renowned Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago's northern suburbs.
Although Tony didn’t have many close relatives, the funeral was well-attended. As a former tennis star—albeit a second-rate one—he still had a certain level of recognition.
However, Josh didn’t join the crowd. Others might not know the truth, but he was fully aware of how Tony had met his end. Pretending to mourn someone you had a hand in killing felt too hypocritical.
Instead, Josh stayed in a parked car at a distance, playing the role of Margaret’s driver.
After more than two hours of mingling and seeing off guests, Margaret finally returned to the car and got into the backseat.
“How are you feeling? Tired?” Josh asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
Margaret, dressed in a conservative black dress, wore a small veiled hat adorned with a black ribbon. A delicate pearl choker graced her neck, and sheer black stockings completed her ensemble. Her appearance was refined and elegant, exuding an air of mystery.
“I’m fine. Everything was handled by the pastor and the funeral home. All I did was show up, so there wasn’t much to tire me out,” Margaret replied, shaking her head lightly.
“By the way, what’s with that guy?” Josh asked, nodding toward a young man lingering nearby, stealing glances in their direction.
The man had also attended the funeral and had been trying to get close to Margaret since the beginning of the service. Josh had noticed him before.
He had first seen the man when Joe Barbaro was tailing Margaret to a jewelry company. The man, David Leibler, appeared to be connected to the 'Uncle John' Margaret had mentioned and had been openly flirting with her that day as well.
“Him? That’s David Leibler, Uncle John’s second son. He’s a notorious playboy. He used to manage their family’s business in New York but returned recently. When we ran into each other at Uncle John’s office a while back, he found out I was preparing for a divorce and wouldn’t stop pestering me. I thought I made it clear last time, but he still hasn’t given up,” Margaret said, frowning in irritation.
Margaret genuinely disliked David, seeing him as no better than her late husband. Despite being in his early thirties, David had already been divorced twice, both times due to his womanizing and reckless lifestyle.
If Tony had been somewhat discreet because of his public image as an athlete, David was shamelessly indulgent, flaunting his flings without care. With Tony serving as experience, Margaret had no interest in entertaining someone like David.
“Want me to teach him a lesson?” Josh offered, narrowing his eyes.
It was bad enough that Margaret had just become his golden ticket, and now someone was already trying to poach her? Josh could barely contain his anger. Maybe he should send David to keep Tony company.
“Forget it. Just stay away from him. Uncle John has been good to me, and I don’t want to strain that relationship,” Margaret replied quickly, halting Josh’s dangerous thoughts.
Margaret had come to understand that beneath Josh’s seemingly harmless exterior lay a dangerous, wolfish nature. Yet this bad-boy charm only deepened her infatuation with him.
Even so, she didn’t want Josh handling David. While she didn’t care about Tony’s fate, she did care about Uncle John. She couldn’t bear the thought of the kind old man suffering the loss of his son because of her.
Josh, though annoyed, respected Margaret’s wishes and started the car, driving away from the cemetery. Out of sight, out of mind.
As a time traveler, Josh hadn’t felt much connection to this era. But with Margaret—a woman who had wholeheartedly devoted herself to him—his perspective had shifted. Others might not matter to him, but Margaret’s emotions did.
Rather than returning to the estate Margaret had once shared with Tony, they went back to their home in Evanston.
The estate no longer held any sentimental value for Margaret; in fact, it reminded her of everything she despised about Tony. She had moved to Evanston with Josh, bringing along a few loyal servants.
Their house in Evanston was spacious, boasting eight bedrooms—more than enough for everyone.
When they arrived, Margaret greeted their neighbors, Tommy's family, who were enjoying afternoon tea in their yard. Once inside, Josh wasted no time pulling Margaret into his arms.
“Wait, let me change first!” Margaret protested playfully, swatting his wandering hands away.
“No need. I love you in this outfit,” Josh murmured, holding her firmly and leaning close to her ear.
Feeling his warm breath on her neck, Margaret melted into his embrace.
With no further resistance, Josh scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her upstairs amid her surprised squeals. Moments later, her soft murmurs filled the house.
Downstairs, the staff heard the sounds and couldn’t help but smile, thinking, Ah, youth is a beautiful thing!
But while Margaret and Josh celebrated their new life together, in another corner of the city, a very different scene unfolded.
Inside a dimly lit tavern, a group of four men sat in dejected silence.
They were the same criminals who had planned to rob a jewelry store, only for their plans to be derailed by Tony Windis’s drunken interference. Now, they had an unexpected murder charge hanging over their heads.
It was hard to imagine anyone in their shoes feeling the least bit cheerful.
