Rebirth to take revenge
Chapter 149: Frustration

Chapter 149: Frustration

Claire winced at the pressure, her brows furrowed in discomfort.

"Josh, let me go!" she exclaimed.

Josh’s eyes gleamed with cold authority. "Claire, this isn’t a negotiation—it’s an order. You’re a smart woman, so you know what will happen if you continue to disobey me."

Claire’s chest tightened with panic as she struggled to think clearly. Josh was cunning and ruthless, a man who thrived in making calculated moves. She knew she couldn’t compete with him.

Lowering her head, Claire bit her lip. Suddenly, an idea came to her. "Josh," she said softly, "I want to make a deal with you."

Josh released her chin and raised an eyebrow. "A deal? Let’s hear it."

"I need you to help me destroy the Smith family," Claire said with quiet determination. "If you do, I’ll go with you."

Josh smirked, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "Is that the best you can come up with?"

"Yes," she answered firmly.

"Fine," Josh said without hesitation. "I’ll do it."

Though she smiled at his agreement, Claire couldn’t help but feel conflicted. A deal with Josh Greg was bound to come at a high cost—there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Yet, in her current position, she had no choice. Enemies surrounded her on all sides, and she could only deal with them one at a time.

Josh watched her intently, reading the silent doubts flashing across her face. His lips curled into a slight sneer. Did she really think he was helping her out of kindness?

"Rest now," Josh said abruptly. "I’ll visit another day."

Claire nodded obediently. "Okay."

Once she lay back down, Josh left the room. Outside, the air in his car was thick with tension. Josh leaned against the seat, closing his eyes as images of Claire’s delicate features danced in his mind.

Her luminous eyes and flawless face held an ethereal quality. Even in the dim hospital room, she looked breathtaking.

Drumming his fingers against his knee, Josh sighed heavily. Moments later, he lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply as he tried to process his thoughts. The acrid scent filled the car.

What exactly was his father’s agenda? His mother had passed away years ago—why now was his father suddenly interested in Claire?

The weight of the unanswered questions fueled his frustration. One by one, the cigarettes burned out as Josh tried to regain his composure. This was just the beginning. Whatever lay ahead, he intended to control the board and dictate the outcome.

Alex’s warning didn’t bother Josh at all.

He chuckled and said, "Don’t worry, I know my place."

With that, Josh turned and left, closing the hospital room door behind him.

As Alex watched him leave, a dark expression crossed his face. He motioned for one of his bodyguards to come closer.

"Assign two more men to guard this room," Alex ordered firmly.

"Yes, sir," the bodyguard replied with a respectful bow. "And if Josh does anything suspicious, I’ll inform you immediately. We can’t let him harm Miss Claire."

Alex nodded and turned to leave.

During the days Claire spent in the Western Medical Clinic, Josh visited her every day.

Claire wasn’t used to having a brother suddenly appear in her life, but Josh didn’t seem to care. He even helped her cut apples and brought her tea.

"Thank you, Mr. Josh," Claire said politely, taking a bite of the apple and smiling at him.

But when Josh heard her call him "Mr. Josh," his expression immediately darkened.

He frowned and said, "Claire, we’re siblings. There’s no need to be so formal."

As soon as the word "siblings" was mentioned, something sharp twisted deep inside Claire’s heart.

She lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions.

Josh didn’t seem to notice.

After finishing her apple, Claire raised her head again and asked, "Mr. Josh, I want to know—what was your purpose for coming to see me today?"

"Nothing special," Josh answered lightly. "I just happened to be passing by and thought I’d check on you."

"Is that so?" Claire responded skeptically.

Josh was a businessman who never made a losing deal. Someone like him had to have his own reasons.

Claire didn’t believe his words.

"Claire, if you don’t believe me, we can do a paternity test tomorrow," Josh suggested.

"There’s no need," Claire replied curtly. "I don’t think you’re a bad person, but I also don’t have the energy to worry about things like this. I only ask that you stop coming here to bother me."

Josh froze for a moment, feeling a tinge of disappointment.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He couldn’t rush this; he had to take it slow.

"Claire, do you still not believe me?" Josh asked, his voice carrying a trace of dejection.

"Josh," Claire replied bluntly, "I think you shouldn’t come see me anymore."

She didn’t trust anyone, least of all Josh. She couldn’t shake the fear that he had ulterior motives.

Josh’s expression turned unpleasant as his eyebrows furrowed.

"When you’re discharged, you must come to my house and meet my father," he said firmly.

Josh’s commanding tone made Claire inexplicably angry.

"I won’t agree to that, Josh!" she raised her voice.

Josh’s face darkened further. "Claire, my patience is limited."

Claire gritted her teeth, her eyes turning red. "I will not go to your house. You can forget about it!"

Josh’s pupils contracted sharply as his gaze turned cold. He suddenly reached out and pinched Claire’s chin, forcing her to look up and meet his icy stare.

Claire winced in pain, furrowing her brow. "Josh, let go of me!"

Josh’s voice turned bloodthirsty. "Claire, I’m informing you, not negotiating."

Claire’s heart pounded in panic.

"What... what are you trying to do?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Josh let go of her chin, his tone cold. "Claire, you’re a smart person. You should know the consequences of disobeying me."

Claire bit her lip hard, unable to respond.

She didn’t want to go to the Greg family’s home, but Josh terrified her.

He had single-handedly built a business empire and turned it into the nation’s strongest in just three years. That wasn’t something an ordinary person could accomplish.

Compared to him, she was nothing. Competing with someone like Josh was a risk she couldn’t afford to take.

Claire’s thoughts raced wildly until, suddenly, an idea struck her.

"Josh, I want to make a deal with you," Claire said in a soft tone, trying to sound calm.

Josh raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Help me get rid of the Smith family, and I’ll be with you," Claire said plainly.

Josh smirked faintly, his brow arching. "Is that the only offer you can think of?"

"Yes," Claire replied confidently.

"Alright, I’ll do it," Josh agreed without hesitation.

Claire’s expression lit up with faint surprise, though her eyes betrayed a complex mix of emotions.

She knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Why would Josh help her for nothing?

But now wasn’t the time to overthink it. She had too many enemies within the Smith family to face, and she could only tackle them one step at a time.

Josh watched her closely and snorted coldly in his heart.

Did she think he was a fool?

This was merely a chance for him to warn her.

"Claire, you should rest now. I’ll come back another day," Josh said abruptly, ending the conversation.

Claire obediently nodded. "Okay."

Once she lay down, Josh left the room and walked to his car.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Josh leaned back with a tense expression. Claire’s delicate face floated through his mind.

Her eyes were full of spirit, her features so refined they looked like a painting brought to life.

Josh absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his knee, the rhythmic thumping filling the car.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, took a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. The smoke filled the car with a sharp scent.

Josh furrowed his brow as he exhaled.

Why did my father want to see her? he thought bitterly.

His mother had died years ago. Why now? Why Claire?

The thoughts agitated him as he chain-smoked until the last cigarette was extinguished.

Josh stood silently, staring at the cigarette butts in his hand.

Ring ring ring...

The sudden ringing of the phone broke the silence. Josh hesitated before picking it up.

"Hello?"

"Young Master, the old lady is asking you to come back immediately!"

Josh was taken aback. Why would his grandma suddenly summon him?

After a moment of thought, Josh replied, "Tell her I’ll be back soon."

He hung up the phone, stepped on the gas pedal, and sped toward the Greg family’s old mansion.

---

Inside the ancient mansion of the Greg family, the old lady of the Greg family sat quietly in her wheelchair, her eyes closed as if she were resting.

When Josh pushed open the heavy wooden door, her eyes fluttered open. Under the dim lighting, her cloudy gaze appeared unusually sharp, piercing through him like a blade.

Josh’s heart trembled with unease, but he walked over respectfully.

"Grandmother."