Hold My Tear, I’m Getting My Wife Back! ( Leanne Castillo ) novel Chapter 561

"Huh?"

"What do you mean 'huh'?" Austin said, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Which part of what I said didn't you get? Let me break it down for you."

Joy didn't respond immediately, her silence hanging in the air. Austin waited for a moment before looking up, only to find her struggling to suppress a laugh.

"What's so funny?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

Joy couldn't quite explain it herself. It was just that her lips seemed to have a mind of their own, curving upwards no matter how hard she tried to remain stoic. Her cheeks were defying gravity, refusing to be held down.

"I don't know, give me a sec, let me just laugh it out."

Austin couldn't for the life of him understand what had tickled her so much. Watching her trying to contain her laughter made him chuckle too, and he leaned back, joining in the amusement.

"Alright, laugh all you want, but if you dare say 'no', you're toast today."

Joy then sat up, crossing her legs and facing him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Her giggles sounded like she'd just stumbled upon a treasure trove.

"Hey, Austin, are you secretly crushing on me?"

"Dropping the 'boss' already?" he teased.

"Watch your tone!" Joy suddenly adopted a more authoritative demeanor. "If you're thinking about dating me, you better get your act together. I'm quite the catch, you know."

"Understood," Austin replied with a grin. "Dear Miss Campbell, might I have the honor of calling you my girlfriend?"

"First, admit you're crushing on me."

"It's not a crush. It's full-blown adoration," Austin confessed, playfully twirling a strand of her hair. "You're pretty good at figuring out your friends' love situations. Didn't you notice I had a thing for you?"

"When did you start feeling this way?" Joy leaned in, a curious glint in her eyes.

"Our very first meeting left a lasting impression on me," Austin shared.

"Which meeting are you talking about?" Joy inquired, genuinely curious.

Austin feigned offense. "You mean to tell me you don't remember our first encounter? Out of all the interviewers, I wasn't the most memorable?"

"You actually remember that?" Joy felt a mix of surprise and indignation. "And here I thought you didn't even recognize me when I greeted you on my first day at work."

Austin rubbed his temples, the connection between those events painting a humorous yet frustrating picture.

"I had just had an eye exam that day; the dilation drops hadn't worn off yet, so I couldn't see clearly," he explained, chuckling at the memory. "So that's why you were so distant afterward? All because of that?"

"Am I that petty?" Joy retorted, though a part of her couldn't help but feel a bit silly.