Chapter 482: Chapter 482: Soft-eared

Although Christy Xenos acted like she was being wronged.

In reality, she truly treated Cindy Clarke poorly.

Even Joshua Clarke thought it was too much:

If Cindy was her daughter, not an adopted one, how could Christy be so cruel to her?

Because Christy treated Cindy poorly, Joshua wanted to make amends.

But he was tightly controlled by Christy too.

He couldn’t even provide financial or material compensation.

So all he could do was to care for and comfort Cindy emotionally.

Joshua asked himself, had he really fulfilled his fatherly duties to Cindy?

When Cindy left, why didn’t she tell him?

Five years without any contact, and letting him worry like this?

Cindy was a smart girl; she must have known how worried he was.

Moreover, as Christy said, seeing Cindy on TV proved she was doing well.

She hadn’t suffered in Belfard.

Why didn’t she contact him?

Even if he went to Belfard to find her, it would be out of longing and concern; he never intended to take advantage of her in any way!

Joshua felt disheartened, but still said, “Cindy is not that kind of child.”

“Then go find her!” Christy Xenos knew Joshua all too well.

Seeing his reaction, she knew he was easily influenced and took her words to heart.

After being married to Joshua for decades, Christy knew how to manipulate him.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Once you go and she ignores you, you’ll come back feeling humiliated. Our family, including Ning, won’t laugh at you. But the neighbors will definitely gossip about you behind your back.”

Joshua was easily influenced and cared a lot about his face.

Christy hit him right where it hurt.

“Our old neighbors know Cindy is in Belfard. If you go and find her, and come back empty-handed, what will you say when they ask you about Belfard and what Cindy got you? You won’t be able to say anything, except inflate your self-importance. How frustrating would that be?” Christy asked, tapping her own heart.

“We can’t contact Cindy, but she knows our home number. She’s smart and has a good memory. But she has never called us. Can’t you see what that means?”

Christy Xenos stepped aside and waved her hand toward the door: “Go, go, I won’t stop you.”

Grandparents and Christy Xenos were pushing him step by step.

With Christy saying this, Joshua didn’t speak, but he didn’t move any closer to the door either.

Finally, he sighed, hung his head in frustration, and sat back on the sofa, taking out a cigarette to smoke.

Christy smirked inwardly.

With his easily influenced nature and concern for his image, he spoke of his love for Cindy, but he didn’t take any real action.

Otherwise, he should have been searching for her around the world within five years.

But what happened?

He didn’t even report her missing out of fear it would make him look bad and make people think she had run away. People would assume she had been abused at home.

Why else would she have left without a word?

He didn’t spend any money searching for her.

And just sat at home, sighing and pretending to be concerned, showing off his fatherly love.

As Joshua wasn’t reporting Cindy’s disappearance, Christy Xenos was naturally happy not to get involved.

If they found Cindy, it would still be a problem.

Even if Joshua was pretending, he still cared for Cindy.

And if he learned that Cindy had been manipulated, there would be conflict with their family again.