The Rise of Dragon Temple By Wu Xia

Chapter 43 At 11:30 p.m., after Paige and her classmates left Mirage Hotel, Joseph went downstairs and took a taxi back home. When he arrived hdownstairs, he saw Paige waiting for him by the car. He knew that she must have tons of questions to ask him, and he was also ready to reveal his identity to her, little by little. Smilingly, he walked to her and asked, “It’s cold outside. Why didn’t you go up? Or maybe you could've waited in the car.” With complicated eyes, Paige gazed at Joseph. His sudden appearance tonight and his slap on Leila to protect her made her heart flutter. In the past, she once hated him. However, after a few years, she only felt complex about his reappearance. Gazing at Joseph, she took a deep breath and uttered, “Thank you for what you did tonight...” Upon hearing that, Joseph was stunned. He looked at Paige with an extra intricate look and confessed, “If I tell you that I fell in love with you the moment you savedfive years ago, would you believe me?” Paige was puzzled. Then, after a long silence, she responded, “That's not important anymore. What matters the most now is taking care of Chloe. You don’t have to do anything for me.(This will be daily updtaed at www.jar.com) | don’t need it. We are Chloe’s parents, but we don’t need to be in love with each other.

Before that, | also told you that you don’t have to be responsible for me. You have your life, and | promise | won't intervene.” Following that, she turned around and left. While staring at her back, Joseph felt that she was a woman with a tough heart. No matter how much pain she felt, she would choose to bear it herself. However, in his eyes, she was so weak that she evoked his urge to protect her...

The next moment, Joseph no longer spoke. Instead, without warning, he grabbed Paige's wrist, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly. “Joseph! What are you doing? Letgo! Letgo!” In his arms, Paige was pushing him away desperately, trying to break free. But obviously, her strength was weaker than his. Hugging her tightly, Joseph whispered sadly, “I'm sorry. | can’t imagine how much you've suffered these years, but please believe me. | truly love you, and | will form a complete, happy family with you...” As soon as he finished, Paige stopped struggling. Then, her tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably before she leaned against him and sobbed. For these five years, she had held on all by herself. However, no one knew that she was exhausted long ago, living through her life like a walking corpse, soulless and strengthless.

After crying for a while, she broke free from Joseph’s embrace and sniffled. With a stern tone, she insisted, “I'll tell you one last time. You don’t have to take responsibility. My life is ruined, but you don’t have to ruin yours! Go ahead and pursue your love. | am telling you this because this is how I feel. Do you believe me?” Upon hearing that, Joseph also nodded seriously and replied, “Yes, | believe you, but what | told you is what | truly feel too. | like you. Ever since you savedfive years ago, | have always liked you. If | wasn't fighting in foreign regions, | would've cto you. Paige, | really want to take good care of you and Chloe. Five years have passed, and we are adults now. So, whatever | said to you is not out of impulsiveness, but out of sincerity...” Paige’s eyes turned red, and she stared blankly at him. (This will be daily updtaed at www.jar.com) Actually, when she gave birth to Chloe, she had wanted to call him many times. However, she was also well aware that he had his difficulties too. When she first met him, he was not only seriously injured, but his enemies were also hunting him down to kill him. Therefore, she did not dare to call him and asked him to cback. With that, she hung on by herself for five years. Having tears in her eyes, she looked at Joseph. “Do you know what you're saying? | have nothing now, and you know how dense | am. If you truly mean that, | will take your words seriously. | really will.” At once, Joseph also burst into tears. When he saw how Paige reacted, his heart ached tremendously. Right away, he nodded hard and vowed, “I am serious. | swear. We will hold a wedding next month. In this lifetime, | will only take you as my wife!” Upon listening to what he said, Paige also nodded vigorously. “Well, | believe you, and | promise you, | will also work hard to be your good wife for the rest of my life...” After that, both of them fell silent. A flush crept on Paige’s face because, at this moment, she finally admitted Joseph as her husband. On the other hand, Joseph also knew that she was shy, so he didn’t say anything. Now that he was back, he had plenty of tto accompany her in the future. On that silent night, Joseph and Paige were still sleeping with their backs against each other. Chloe was between them as well.

Nevertheless, whether it was Joseph or Paige, they stayed awake for a long tand only fell asleep when drowsiness consumed them. The moment they got up the next day, their eyes met, and Paige couldn't help blushing again. Although she had admitted herself as his wife last night, she still needed stto overcher awkwardness. Later, during breakfast, Paige took the initiative to scoop schowder for Joseph and handed it to him, “Have more...” As Joseph's lips curled up, he nodded. “Okay, you too. You have to work later, so eat more. Don’t forget to have snice food during lunch as well...” “Okay...” Paige lowered her head and drank the chowder. Her face slightly blushed. Serena-who was sitting at one side-looked at the two of them strangely. Then, she laughed and said nothing. With that, Paige's face becredder, and she pinched Serena’s hand. “Stop laughing and eat your breakfast!” “Alright, my dear sister. | am just envious at how affectionate you and Joseph are, hee hee...” Serena giggled. Hearing that, Chloe also clapped happily. “Yay! Daddy loves Mommy.

Mommy loves Daddy. Daddy and Mommy love Chloe. We are a happy family, hehe...” When Paige and Joseph saw how overjoyed Chloe was, they smiled. After breakfast, Paige was going to work. Serena held Chloe while Joseph sent Paige to the front of her car and reluctantly cooed, “Actually, | don’t want you to go to work...” At once, Paige blushed, bit her lip, and muttered, “Well, I'll be back tonight anyway...” Upon saying this, she suddenly realized how affectionate she sounded, and her face becredder. Immediately, she hurried into the car to hide her embarrassment.

Seeing that, Joseph laughed. However, just as he was about to say goodbye to her, Estella and Yahir suddenly emerged from a distance. At that moment, Estella looked pissed off. Walking at the speed of lightning, she soon dashed to the front of him. Facing Estella, Joseph frowned gently and greeted her, (This will be daily updtaed at www.jar.com) “Hi, Mom.” Deep down, he was not fond of her, but he knew if he wanted to marry Paige, he eventually had to face her. This time, Estella did not scold Joseph. On the contrary, she harrumphed coldly and walked to Paige’s car door. “Didn’t you see I'm here? Get off the car now!” “Mom, what brings you here?” Paige quickly got off the car and looked at Estella in confusion. Enraged, Estella pointed to Paige’s car and scolded, “Excuse me? Why can’t | when you and Joseph are hiding such a big thing from me? If Lily hadn't toldlast night, | wouldn't have known that both of you bought a Mercedes-Benz...” “Um... No, Mom, listen to me. The car... um, its...” As Paige spoke, she snapped back to reality. Wait, the car! This Mercedes-Benz S-class was worth more than a million dollars! Didn't the military expel Joseph? Where did he get so much money? Originally, she wanted to ask him last night, but this had completely slipped her mind when she talked to him. As she had no concept about cars, she didn’t care much about this car. Instead, her family was the top priority in her heart. Even so, Estella was different. With her hands on her waist, she raged with a black face, “Explain this, Paige! How could you! Do you still treatas your mother? This Mercedes S cost a million dollars, and yet, you bought it without a second thought. Do you know that your father and | are still driving that old car? How can you use a better car than us?” “Mom, things are not like what you think, we.” Paige didn’t know how to explain. Fortunately, Estella ignored her and turned to Joseph. “You're Joseph, am | right? | have no idea how did you bewitch her. | introduced her to a man who is better than you, but she insists on marrying you! Well, if both of you want to be together, fine! But Yahir and | will take this car! Any problem with that?!” When Joseph was about to speak, Yahir-who finally caught up with Estella quickly pulled her aside and reprimanded, “Are you insane? Why the hell did you chere and snatch Paige’s car the first thing in the morning?” Hearing Yahir’'s words, Estella immediately sat on the ground and started to freak out. While wailing, she pointed at Paige and Joseph and yelled, “You ungrateful girl! How can you abandon your mother and run away with a man?! You even drive a nice car while lettingdrive an old one, you unfilial woman! Why is my life so bitter...” “Everyone, look at this ungrateful woman! She abandons her mother...” The more Estella spoke, the angrier she became. Seeing that she had no intention of stopping, Joseph quickly took the car key from Paige and gave it to Estella. “Mom, I'm sorry. | didn’t think it through. Please take this car...” “You nasty man! | have raised her for more than 20 years! How can you... Wait!” When Estella was about to continue making a scene, a realization hit her. Grasping the car key, she asked Joseph on high alert, “What? Did you say this car is mine? This Mercedes S, which costs more than a million dollars?” Joseph nodded.

“Yes, Mom. This car is yours. You may drive it, but please don’t blPaige. It’s all because | didn’t think it through. I'm sorry...” As Estella still couldn't believe it, she quickly stood up. (This will be daily updtaed at www.jar.com) “Are you serious? You can’t go back on your words!” she said while putting the car key into her pocket. Once again, Joseph nodded and reassured, “Yes, I'm serious. This car is yours, and it will be yours forever...” “Well, well, that’s good..” Instantaneously, Estella stopped crying and guffawed. Then, she took out the car key, got into the car, quickly stepped on the accelerator, and drove away. It was as if she was afraid that Joseph would change his mind... After she left, Yahir-who was left behind-got so mad that his face turned livid.

He felt so embarrassed in front of Joseph.