Chapter 560 I'm a Conservative Man!
Lola was gasping for air.
Johnny wanted to marry her?
Given their current mess, marriage seemed like the last thing they should be thinking about. Why now?
Noticing her confusion, Johnny tightened his grip on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. After a moment, he said calmly, "I'm a conservative person. Since we're having a kid, we should do it right."
Angelina watched them closely.
Dad wanted to marry Mom to have another baby, but didn't they already have her?
Angelina felt a pang of disappointment upon realizing they weren't even married.
Neither of them noticed Angelina's reaction. Lola pressed her lips together. "Are you still planning to sue me?"
Johnny lowered his gaze. "If you don't want to get married, both kids will be mine."
He glanced at her through the rearview mirror, appearing calm despite his knuckles turning white from gripping the wheel so tightly.
Lola needed to think this through. But Johnny wasn't giving her any time. He just watched her, waiting for her answer.
Lola's lips twitched.
He asked, almost mockingly, "Still need to talk it over with Darren?"
Lola couldn't argue. She turned her head away and said softly, "Just drive."
It felt like she was giving in to him.
Johnny didn't say anything. His jaw tightened, and he hit the gas.
The atmosphere was tense, and Angelina clutched a toy, watching them.
At a red light, Johnny turned slightly, his voice gentle. "If you're cold, I'll turn on the heater."
Angelina whispered that she wasn't cold.
Johnny grabbed a thin wool coat from the back seat and handed it to Lola, looking at her. "Put it on her."
When Lola took it, her fingers brushed against his warm ones.
He paused, their eyes meeting, making things even more awkward.
Angelina, being young, didn't get all the tension. She just thought Dad's coat was warm and comfy, his cooking was great, and he was handsome.
Angelina liked Dad!
When the light turned green, Johnny started driving again and got to the city hall in under half an hour.
At the entrance, his secretary was waiting.
Clearly, this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Seeing them, the secretary stepped forward and smiled. "Hello!"
She wanted to pinch the little girl's cheek, but Angelina was in Johnny's arms, looking very cherished, so the secretary held back.
She whispered, "Everything's set; the place is cleared."
Johnny nodded, holding Angelina as he walked in. Lola hesitated, and the secretary gave her an apologetic smile. Only then did Lola follow.
They were greeted by a woman in her fifties. Seeing the handsome man, beautiful woman, and their adorable child, she smiled warmly.
Johnny and Lola sat across from the clerk, Lola's face a bit flushed, while Angelina perched on Johnny's lap.
Johnny glanced at Lola, then turned to the clerk and said seriously, "We want to get a marriage certificate."
The clerk quickly processed everything.
Johnny and Lola were officially married after knowing each other for 25 years. Both were a bit stunned, especially Lola.
After a moment, she looked up and met Johnny's intense gaze.
He slipped the marriage certificate into his pocket and said casually, "Let's head to the hospital, Mrs. Flores."
Lola followed him. Even though she was tall, she still had to look up at him. She noticed the neatly trimmed hair at the back of his neck, his crisp white shirt, and Angelina resting on his shoulder.
Angelina stared at her, as if checking to see if she was happy.
Lola quickened her pace, gently touched Angelina's head, and Angelina's expression softened as she called out, "Mom."
Lola felt a lump in her throat.
This time around, she could sense Johnny had changed. She felt his affection but also his resentment. She had no idea what Johnny would do next.
It left her feeling a bit lost.
Lola wasn't usually like this; she always had a clear sense of love and hate.
But when Angelina called her, she felt a bit of relief.
At the hospital, as Johnny was about to go into the operating room, he handed Angelina to her. "Wait for me outside. I won't be long."
Lola gave a faint smile.
Coincidentally, a doctor familiar with the Hawkins family came over. Seeing Lola, he smiled and said, "Don't worry. It's a minor surgery; it won't affect his fertility!"
He particularly liked Angelina and pinched her soft cheeks.
The doctor joked. "I'm going to save your little brother or sister now!"
Lola felt very uncomfortable.
Johnny watched her quietly from inside. After a while, he said lightly, "You can start the surgery now."
The doctor smiled and closed the door.
After the surgery, Johnny rested for a bit, and they left the hospital around noon.
In the car, Johnny casually checked the bag of medicine.
Angelina hugged his neck from the back, her eyes sparkling. "Dad, does it hurt?"
Johnny gently touched her little head. "It doesn't hurt!"
Angelina blew softly on him. "Even if it hurts, it won't after I blow on it!"
Johnny smiled faintly.
In the past two or three years, he rarely smiled, let alone so relaxed.
Lola, however, felt a bit uneasy, probably because he was always tense and mocking when facing her.
She thought for a moment and said, "There's a court session this afternoon. I'll take a cab to the law firm."
Johnny slowly put away the medicine. "At least wait until two. Come to my company for lunch, and I'll have the driver take you. Besides, don't you need to change clothes? If you wear this, people will think you got a marriage certificate today."
Lola felt pretty helpless. Didn't they just get married today?
But she didn't argue because Johnny was on edge, and she didn't want to set him off.
She thought he would take her to his investment company.
But to her surprise, he pulled up at Vertex Innovations Group, the company she used to run.
When the car stopped, Lola looked up at the familiar entrance, lost in thought.
Johnny's voice was calm. "A year after you left, I took over. You're still the largest shareholder of Vertex Innovations Group. So, I've been making money for you all along."
He gently touched the steering wheel. "In two years, you earned $52 billion in dividends from Vertex Innovations Group, all thanks to me! Your fancy life with Darren in Novaria was built on my sleepless nights!"
Lola didn't say anything, her eyes a bit misty.
Seeing her like this reminded him of when she was 16, during her first period.
His heart softened a bit. But then he remembered she had lived with Darren in Novaria for three years.
Those thoughts sometimes overwhelmed him. So Johnny's attitude was hot and cold.
But with Angelina, he was always endlessly patient, completely different from how Frederick raised kids.
The employees of Vertex Innovations Group saw Johnny getting out of the car holding a beautiful child with fair skin, big sparkling eyes, and golden curls.
Was this Johnny's kid?
After a moment, the other side of the back seat opened, and out came Lola, walking beside Johnny. They looked well-matched, but there was a sense of distance between them.
Johnny's secretary appeared right on cue.
Behind her were several other secretaries from the office, holding bags, starting to hand out gifts in the building, each worth over $100 in chocolates. Everyone was buzzing with excitement.
Everyone knew that Johnny and Lola had gotten married. The child had grown so much!
Lola, feeling helpless, lowering her voice. "Johnny, aren't you being a bit childish?"
Johnny naturally held Angelina, waiting for the elevator. He turned his head and gave her a mocking smile. "Do you want people to think you're still single, or do you not want to tell Darren? Still thinking about being with him?"
His words were harsh, and Lola endured it.
The secretaries not only handed out gifts in the company but also to the media. The media got even more, with gift sets worth over $800 in total.
In less than half a day, everyone in Syeattel knew Johnny was married. Naturally, the news reached Frederick. Watching the news, he wiped his eyes in disbelief and asked Charlotte, "Johnny and Lola got married? Johnny did this quietly! What about Darren?"
Charlotte silently read the news again, which included a photo.
It was Johnny holding Angelina, with Lola beside him, looking very harmonious.
She looked at it for a long time, sighing. "Frederick, people meant to be together will be together! Darren and Lola were never on the same path."
Johnny and Lola must have had their share of conflicts.
This time, it was probably for the child.
But even with conflicts, they would consider the child and not make it too unpleasant.
Getting a marriage certificate wasn't like before when they could easily divorce.
Frederick wanted to call immediately but held back. "Forget it; let's invite them over for dinner this weekend!"
At that moment, Kingsley came downstairs.
He happened to see the news and smiled faintly. "Johnny was quite something!"
He had just hinted a couple of things, and within a few days, Johnny had taken care of everything and even got Lola under control!
His words made Frederick quite angry.
At 27, he still hadn't brought a girl home, always working.
Just as Frederick was about to speak, Kingsley lazily said, "Dad, at my age, didn't you also not meet Mom yet? I still have a year!"
Frederick snorted, "With your attitude, I'm afraid you won't even know how to date a girl!"
Kingsley adjusted his cufflinks and chuckled.
He said nothing more, got into the car, and called his secretary, Ellen Smith. "Book me a flight to Lumina Bay City for next Tuesday! Yes, there's an issue with the last acquisition case! I'll be there for five days, prepare accordingly!"
Hanging up, he smiled slightly.
Even the troublesome acquisition case didn't seem so bothersome anymore!
In the villa, Frederick looked outside and asked Charlotte, "Did you see Kingsley smile? He rarely does! Who did he get his cool demeanor from? I wasn't like this, was I?"
Charlotte leaned lightly on the sofa. She said casually, "If not from you, then who? High standards, no one meets them!"
Frederick walked behind her and gently hugged her. "Out of so many people, I only had eyes for you."
Charlotte smiled faintly. When she smiled, fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes—marks of time that added elegance and maturity.
Frederick felt he couldn't be without her for a moment.
In his younger days, he occasionally liked to go out for a drink, relax with Bradley and a few others.
But after 40, he lost that interest.
He liked being around Charlotte, watching the kids. Charlotte never restrained him, but he naturally drove home after work every day.
Frederick spoke softly, "Charlotte, Johnny will definitely be a good husband."
Charlotte said calmly, "I wasn't worried!"
Frederick gently brushed her cheek, just like before.
Then he said, "I raised him myself, and I know him well!"
Charlotte leaned gently into his arms. Lola was their first child, sensible and capable, but also the one they worried about the most.
From birth, she was destined for an unusual life.
Charlotte hoped Johnny could bring Lola happiness and be with her until the end.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
