Midnight Bride The CEO’s Temptation

Soon there was a look of disappointment on Rachel's face.

Hazel couldn't help laughing in secret. She knew Rachel well. Rachel was disappointed not because Joshua didn't cook well, but because he cooked so well that she couldn't find any fault.

"How's that, huh?" Hazel asked, begging for praise.

"Well…" Rachel was not a good liar. Even though she didn't want to, she still told the truth. "Not bad."

"My mom's 'not bad' means great!" Hazel happily interpreted.

Rachel glared at Hazel unhappily but agreed.

"Thanks, mom." A smile played on Joshua's lips. The more recognition he got from the Crowe family, the more satisfied they would be with him. Even if he did marry Hazel, he should please his father-in-law and mother-in-law because the Crowe family was really nice to Hazel.

Rachel gave a slightly uncomfortable 'mm,' but Harry was a lot more honest. He said, "Joshua, you're a good cook. This is definitely the chef level, right? Yummy, yummy! But I always feel like I've tasted it before."

In an instant, Hazel was embarrassed. Because Harry and Rachel indeed had tasted a meal, Joshua cooked.

During Christmas, Joshua went to the Crowe family's house in private and cooked a meal for Hazel. Harry and Rachel happened to return home in advance, Hazel had no choice but to hide Joshua in her bedroom.

Although that memory was a little awkward, it was also a little sweet, but if her parents knew that... Hazel could imagine the storm they were about to face.

"Delicious dishes taste the same, doesn't it prove that Joshua's cooking level is excellent?" Hazel explained with a little guilty. She had no idea whether they would accept the explanation or not.

"Is it?" Rachel was suspicious.

Sensing Hazel's slightly stiff fingers, Joshua knew what she was worried about.

He opened his mouth calmly. "Dad, mom, when will my elder brother come?"

"Cough, cough..."

The atmosphere at the dinner table became a little weird. Hazel knew that Joshua was changing the subject, but she was also shocked.

This time only Harry and Rachel came. Ronald didn't. He had been working hard on his business since he met Joshua. Joshua understood Ronald, who was afraid that the Crowe family would not be strong enough to help Hazel in the future, so he worked so hard to give Hazel a secure backing.

But what really made them shocked was Joshua calling Ronald 'elder brother' in such a serious way, which really refreshed their worldview.

"Well..." Harry said uncomfortably, "Ronald's, in fact, younger than you."

"He's Hazel's elder brother, so he is also my elder brother," Joshua said quietly.

This was a reasonable statement, so they did not know how to refute it. Hazel was still a little amused but was very touched.

After all, it was because Joshua liked her that he recognized and respected her family members.

Of course, Harry and Rachel knew that, so they were more and more satisfied with Joshua.

"He has work to do these two days. But don't worry, he's not going to miss Hazel's party," Harry said.

Joshua nodded.

Led by Joshua, Rachel and Harry forgot about what had happened.

After talking for a while, Hazel mentioned that she would take Harry to the art exhibition. Joshua asked, "Do you want me to accompany you?"

"No, no need, you have so much on your plate." Hazel directly said no. She was going to meet Grandpa Sloane, and of course, Joshua couldn't be there.

Hazel and Harry arrived at the art center early on the day of the art exhibition.

After arriving, Harry was fascinated by paintings, Hazel made up an excuse to leave and went straight to look for Grandpa Sloane.

Soon, Hazel saw Grandpa Sloane standing in front of a painting. She sighed. He was alone, and perhaps no one expected this gray-haired old man to be the master of the Sloane family.

Hazel frowned slightly.

According to Joshua' survey data, she has learned about the Sloane family.

The Sloane family was a well-established family with a deep foundation, but more than twenty years ago, the family was so weakened by a civil disturbance that it fell apart and collapsed.

Oddly enough, the Sloane family survived eventually and got even stronger than before. However, Grandpa Sloane cleaned up the family and made it more low-key.

Over the past two decades, the Sloane family had long been out of sight but was still a colossus that others did not dare to provoke.

"Mr. Sloane." Pondering for a bit, Hazel used a distant and polite address. She was also afraid that she might incur his dislike by being too friendly.

Hearing this, Grandpa Sloane turned and looked a little complicated when he saw it was Hazel calling his name.

Hazel felt a bit amazed. If she was right, when Grandpa Sloane saw her... he had a pleasant surprise?

But in a flash, his expression turned so cold and dramatic that Hazel thought it was just a delusion.

"I came to accompany my father to the art exhibition today. I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence!" She smiled, putting out feelers.

"Father?" Grandpa Sloane seemed surprised.

There was a shocking flash in Hazel's eyes. If Grandpa Sloane didn't care about her at all, he shouldn't be surprised at this address.

He would not have been surprised by her saying 'father' unless he had also investigated her and Joshua, knew that she was the Denmark family's lost daughter, and knew that her biological parents had been dead for years.

Hazel was excited by this discovery. If that turned out to be the case, Grandpa Sloane and Joshua wouldn't be as deadlocked as she had thought!

"My adoptive father," she explained. "My adoptive parents are just as good to me as— my parents were to Joshua."

He looked strangely pleased, but the next moment he put on an indifferent face.

"Miss Crowe, I'm not interested in this. Please leave me alone while I look at the painting." Grandpa Sloane turned his head and said awkwardly.

Hazel was amazed. She could sense he wanted to hear it, but why did he insist on driving her away?