Chapter 509 I'm Telling You What Happened to Lola Back Then!
The room went dead silent.
Johnny's face was blank as he watched Lola hugging someone else.
After what felt like forever, he croaked out, "We need to talk."
Lola looked down and patted Darren. "Get up."
Darren clung to her, shaking all over, his face ghostly white.
Lola froze for a second, then quickly pulled out a small pill bottle from her pocket, shook out a pill, and tried to give it to Darren. But he clamped his mouth shut, refusing to take it.
Lola called out to Johnny, who was just standing there, "Help me out here!"
Johnny hesitated but then rushed over, laying Darren flat and prying his mouth open so Lola could get the pill in.
Darren's chest was heaving.
He turned his head to look at Lola, his eyes full of vulnerability.
It was like a stray puppy looking at its owner, a look Johnny knew all too well. He used to look at Lola the same way, like she was his whole world.
On those sleepless nights, Lola would hold him and say, "Don't be scared, Johnny!"
Now, her arms were around someone else.
Even though they had been so close the night before, even though he had seen her drenched in sweat, lost in passion, he didn't matter to her anymore.
She held Darren, calling his name, just like she used to with him!
"When he was 20, his parents jumped off a building right in front of him, and that's when he got heart disease." Lola gently stroked Darren's face, her voice barely above a whisper, "Johnny, you've moved on from the darkness, but Darren only has me! Even if the whole world abandons him, I won't."
Johnny, feeling dazed, felt his heart ache all over again.
Lola looked down at Darren, and Johnny saw a tenderness in her eyes that he once knew. Back then, all of Lola's patience and gentleness were his. He asked softly, "Do you love him?"
Lola was honest, "Darren is very important to me!"
Johnny slowly got up from the bed, his voice low, "Have you slept with him?"
Lola didn't answer.
In truth, she hadn't. To her, Darren was special. It wasn't just that Darren needed her; she needed him too.
Lola was way more rational than Darren; she knew this relationship was anything but normal. So she wanted Darren to get married and have kids.
Lola said softly, "You should go back."
Johnny looked at her, then at Darren lying on her bed. After a long pause, he finally spoke hoarsely, "You're just going to let him lie in your bed?"
Darren fell asleep leaning against Lola's arm. She tucked him in.
She changed into loungewear, washed up, and headed to the kitchen. She wasn't much of a cook but could manage some porridge. After starting the pot, she called Darren's manager, speaking in a hushed tone, "He's asleep at my place. Cancel all his appointments for today. I'll take care of him." After hanging up, she tossed the phone onto the sofa.
Johnny was still there, but he couldn't stay any longer. He couldn't compete with a sick guy, and in Lola's heart, Darren was more important than him.
Darren meant everything to her, while he was just someone to satisfy her physical needs.
Johnny left, closing the door behind him with a bitter smile.
What he had once given up so easily was now impossible for him to get back.
Lola wasn't playing games or messing with his head. She was done, completely over it. No lingering feelings, no strings attached. They were finished!
Johnny went back to the villa and opened a bedroom door, revealing Lola's childhood room—a pale pink princess room. On the white bed were two pillows, one for Lola and one for Johnny. He walked over and slowly sat down, gently stroking the bedspread, lost in memories of their time together.
A figure appeared at the door; it was Kingsley, just back from abroad.
Kingsley had just returned and saw Johnny there. Gavin had filled him in on some recent things about Johnny and Lola, so he immediately got the gist. In fact, Kingsley knew more than Gavin.
Kingsley loosened his tie, walked in, and closed the door behind him. "So? Do you regret it?"
Johnny looked up and saw Kingsley.
When Kingsley was younger, he looked like Charlotte, but as he grew up, he started to resemble Frederick more and more.
Kingsley crossed his long legs and got straight to the point, "Do you know why Lola won't take you back?"
Johnny stayed silent and shook his head.
Kingsley looked down, slowly rolling up his loosened tie, his voice a bit lazy, "You left so easily and talked about breaking up just as easily. But Johnny, you're not the only one who's had a tough life! Lola has a blood clotting disorder. She spent two years in a lab after she was born, and it took a lot to save her. She also has autism. Which of these doesn't make her more precious than you? But over the years, you let her down. What did my parents say to you? They treated you like their own son, but you let Lola down."
Kingsley continued, "Yeah, you can't force feelings. But after you said you were breaking up, Lola was autistic for two years! She didn't come looking for you, didn't ask for an explanation. She just quietly dealt with her illness, quietly forgot about you. Since you said you were breaking up, she hasn't stayed in this room, and no one dared to touch her things. Johnny, our family has three kids. It might look like Sienna is the favorite, but we all know that in my dad's heart, Lola is the most important. She's the product of my parents' love, while Sienna and I are the products of their marriage. Do you get it?"
Why should the princess of the Hawkins Family be treated like this, letting him come back whenever he wanted after having his fun, and why should Lola have to accept him?
After Kingsley finished, Johnny's face was pale. He didn't know any of this; he never knew that Lola was sick. No one told him.
Kingsley sneered, "Of course you didn't know. You were busy dating and thinking about escaping the Hawkins Family." With that, Kingsley opened the door and left.
Johnny sat there, unable to process it all for a long time.
When he finally went out, the house was quiet, with only some sounds coming from downstairs. Sienna had just returned from abroad and was handing out stuff to the household staff. She had brought face masks and some skincare products.
The staff wanted to pay her. Sienna smiled and waved her hand, "No need! Kingsley helped me carry them back."
Johnny just watched her.
Sienna looked up and saw him, giving a faint smile, "Johnny."
Johnny nodded slightly, but his eyes were a bit misty, and he felt a deep sense of shame. Sienna, his youngest sister, pure and lovely, still treated him with an affectionate closeness that one would expect from a sister. But deep down, he knew he didn't deserve it!
Suddenly, Johnny went downstairs, grabbed his car keys from the entrance, and prepared to leave.
Sienna called after him, "Johnny, where are you going?"
Johnny's throat tightened. After a moment, he reached out and touched her hair, "I'm going to find Lola."
Sienna just smiled.
Johnny got into the car, took a few deep breaths, and then started the engine.
When Lola opened the door, she was quite surprised, "Why are you here again?"
At that moment, a voice came from inside the house. Johnny glanced over and saw a doctor and someone who looked like an assistant.
Lola whispered, "Let's talk another day."
But Johnny couldn't wait any longer. He looked at her and asked softly, "Were those years really hard for you?"
Lola guessed that Kingsley had told him. She said calmly, "It's all in the past! Talking about it is meaningless. Besides, I'm doing quite well now."
Johnny took two steps forward and, before she could react, pulled her into his arms.
His lips pressed against her neck, his voice hoarse, "Lola, I don't dare ask if you love me. I want to know if you hate me?"
What he feared most was that she no longer had any feelings for him.
Lola was held by him. In fact, she could have easily pushed him away like before and said a few sarcastic words. But she wasn't in the mood now.
Her voice was very low, "Johnny, I told you I don't have time to hate anyone. What's the use of dwelling on these things? In fact, I never thought you would come back one day, nor did I think you would regret it, because the past is the past, and what's lost is lost! Eight years, Johnny, even the deepest feelings fade."
She gestured for him to let go of her. But Johnny refused to let go, his face hot against hers.
He knew this was wrong. Unlike Darren, he was no longer young. But now he was using the little bit of past affection to try to keep her, hoping for even the slightest response from her.
At that moment, the doctor and Darren's assistant came over. They sensed that the atmosphere was a bit tense.
Lola pushed Johnny away and asked the doctor, "How is he?"
The doctor said softly, "It's not a big problem! But he really needs a stable living environment, Ms. Hawkins. Please reconsider my previous suggestion."
Lola nodded.
Darren's assistant saw the doctor out and said a few words at the door.
Johnny looked at Lola, "Will you marry him, for his emotional and physical well-being?"
Lola didn't have the energy to argue with him. She said softly, "That's none of your business."
Johnny's face darkened.
Lola sighed softly, "You should go back! Johnny, you are the least qualified to make demands of me."
If she had compromised a bit, she would have had several children with Darren by now.
Johnny looked at her, seeing the dark circles under her eyes, and finally left.
The assistant came back, wanting to ask something.
Lola waved her hand, sat on the sofa, and flipped through a magazine, "Take good care of him in the future. Don't let him run around and cause trouble."
The assistant nodded.
Lola was a bit lost in thought and said, "Actually, Johnny's choice back then wasn't wrong." After saying that, she smiled lightly.
That night, Darren left her apartment.
Lola sat alone in the apartment, opened a bottle of red wine, and drank slowly. She also lit a slender cigarette, placing it on the bar and watching it burn quietly.
When she had some free time, she thought of Johnny. He had called twice in the evening, but she didn't answer. She didn't want to take his calls or reminisce about the past with him.
Let it be; everything was long over!
Johnny had just played around outside and suddenly realized that home was more suitable for him, that's all.
Why should she indulge him?
For the next few days, she ignored Johnny's attempts to reach out.
They met again at a party. Lola only saw Johnny when she was leaving. He was wearing a dark suit, looking tall and handsome. Many beauties were vying for his attention.
Lola didn't join the crowd. She watched quietly for a few seconds and then left early.
The driver had been waiting downstairs and quickly opened the car door when he saw Lola coming down. Lola got into the car. The driver was about to close the door when a strong hand held it open. Lola looked up and saw it was Johnny.
Jared looked a bit troubled. "Johnny, didn't you drive?"
Johnny's voice was low, "Jared, I need a ride."
Jared looked at Lola. Lola knew Johnny was clinging to her, so she leaned back in the car seat and said softly, "Let him in." Then she moved over a bit. "Take me home."
Jared responded, and after Johnny got in, he closed the car door.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was subtle and ambiguous.
Lola liked to use woody perfumes, and now, with a man and a woman alone in the back seat, it added a touch of intimacy.
Lola propped her hand against the car window and asked indifferently, "What's up?"
"Why didn't you answer my calls?"
Lola smiled, "We have nothing to do with each other, Johnny. Why should I answer your calls?"
Johnny spoke each word clearly. "Because we slept together that night, and you made me do it three times."
Jared, in the front, was unsettled, his face turning red and hot.
What was Johnny saying? These two kids were too open.
Lola sneered, "Do you expect me to take responsibility just because of this? You don't seem like that conservative type!"
Johnny's voice was deep, "What if I want you to take responsibility?"
"Then get in line!"
He was furious and simply pinched her chin, kissing her.
Lola had drunk some wine. But she wasn't even slightly drunk. When he kissed her, she bit his lip. Johnny looked up, his eyes unreadable, "That night, you weren't this cold."
Lola patted his handsome face, "I'm not in the mood now!"
She called to Jared, "Drive to the station!"
Jared felt that being a driver was tough. He had watched these kids grow up, and now they were misbehaving in the back seat!
He was getting old and couldn't handle the excitement.
Lola was just speaking out of anger. Jared drove back to the villa, and she didn't say anything.
When the car door opened, she got out directly. At ten o'clock at night, the villa was quiet. She had just reached the second floor when Johnny grabbed her and pulled her into his bedroom.
Lola didn't expect him to be so bold even at home.
With the door closed, she crossed her arms in front of her. "Johnny, if you're in a hurry, I can help you."
He wouldn't let her say such harsh words. He pinned Lola against the door, lowered his head to her lips, and brushed them lightly without fully kissing her. In a hoarse whisper, he said, "Lola, we need to talk."
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