Chapter 573 Next Time, I'll Be Gentler!
Lola shut the bedroom door behind her.
It was still quiet; Angelina was still asleep. Bobby was curled up in his pink dog bed, giving Lola a look she couldn't quite read.
Then it hit her—Bobby had probably been watching them the whole time they were intimate.
Bobby darted to the door, clearly needing to go out.
Lola opened it for him.
He wagged his tail and trotted downstairs.
Lola left the door ajar and turned to look at Angelina's peaceful, sleeping face.
She quietly grabbed a vase, put the champagne roses in it, and set it on the bedside table. Lola lay back down, and soon enough, Bobby was back from his bathroom break and a quick snack.
Bobby hopped onto the bed, snuggling up next to Lola's pillow, looking at her with those big, pleading eyes, worried she would kick him off.
Lola usually didn't pay him much mind, but today she took a closer look at the little guy, noticing his black spots and thinking he was pretty cute.
She reached out to pet him, and Bobby immediately rolled over, showing his belly and a row of tiny pink nipples. Yep, definitely a little boy. Lola thought Bobby reminded her a bit of Johnny.
She pulled her hand back, but Bobby scooted closer, eventually daring to crawl under the blanket and snuggle into her arms.
Lola hesitated for a second but let him stay.
She slept until noon, and when she woke up, Angelina and Bobby were no longer on the bed.
From the living room, she could hear Angelina's voice.
It sounded like she was scolding the dog, but with her sweet, childlike tone, it wasn't very convincing. After a bit, she heard footsteps; Angelina was on her way.
She leaned on the edge of the bed, looking at Lola.
Lola felt her face warm up.
Angelina said softly, "I already had lunch. Daddy called and said Mommy might sleep in, so I shouldn't wake you."
Angelina looked at Lola, puzzled. "Are you sick?"
Lola felt a bit embarrassed and gave a little cough. "Just a tiny cold."
Angelina ran to the living room, grabbed a toy stethoscope, and placed it on Lola's chest to listen. Lola found it both funny and sweet.
Angelina tilted her head, thinking about how Mommy took care of her when she was sick. Then she ran downstairs, and soon the housekeeper came up with a tray.
Angelina walked in front, looking quite proud.
The housekeeper set the lunch by the bed, smiling. "Angelina is so thoughtful, saying you're not feeling well and asked to bring the food to your room! She's just like Johnny in that way."
The housekeeper had a pretty good idea why Lola wasn't feeling well but didn't say anything in front of Angelina.
Lola felt a bit awkward.
The housekeeper, being discreet, said a few kind words and then left. Lola looked at Angelina.
Angelina and Bobby were lying by the bed, resting their little heads, waiting for some praise.
Lola couldn't help but smile. She reached out to pat Angelina's head and said, "I feel better now; thank you!"
Angelina suddenly felt a bit shy. She ran to the living room to play with her blocks, with Bobby tagging along.
Lola felt her heart melt a little, and with the scent of roses in the air, she was in a pretty good mood. She sat up in bed and started eating.
She was both exhausted and starving.
Thinking about Johnny's early morning demands, Lola felt a bit annoyed.
Right then, Johnny called her.
Lola hesitated for a moment before answering. Johnny, probably just off the plane, asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "You up?"
Lola didn't bother asking how he knew; the housekeepers here were his people.
She softly replied, "Yeah."
Johnny, knowing her well, chuckled lightly. "Take care of yourself. I'll be back in a few days!"
After hanging up, she felt a warmth in her lower abdomen and quickly got up.
The bedsheet was stained red.
Her lower abdomen started to ache, and Lola clutched her stomach, feeling a surge of anger towards Johnny.
Probably because he was too rough, the next few days were tough for Lola. She wanted to get pregnant, so she didn't dare to take any medicine and just endured it.
When she couldn't bear it anymore, she took Angelina to stay at the Hawkins Mansion for a few days.
Charlotte took care of Lola, while Frederick looked after Angelina. Angelina wasn't in the best health and wasn't suited for amusement parks.
To make Angelina happy, Frederick rented out a section of Universal Studios in Syeattel for a week just for her.
His experienced care of Angelina reassured Lola.
By the fourth day, Lola felt much better. Charlotte made some coffee and invited her to the backyard garden.
In early summer, the flowers were in full bloom.
It was still the garden Frederick had planted for Charlotte back then, and Charlotte had been tending to it meticulously all these years.
In the small pavilion, Charlotte elegantly poured coffee, smiling lightly. "Johnny just called, saying he just got off the plane. He should be here soon."
Lola was quite surprised.
Wasn't he supposed to come back tomorrow?
Charlotte still smiled lightly. "Frederick mentioned that you and Angelina were here. When Johnny asked further, he found out you weren't feeling well, so he wrapped up his business and came back."
Lola nodded calmly, but she was quite afraid he would want to make love every day.
She thought that once she got pregnant, she would have to talk to him.
Charlotte saw her expression and guessed she was thinking about Johnny, so she asked softly, "How are things between you two?"
Lola knew that Charlotte wanted to know if they were together for Angelina's sake or if there were still feelings between them.
She thought for a moment and gently said, "Not bad."
Taking care of Angelina in Novaria wasn't easy. Lola had changed from who she used to be. She had once loved Johnny deeply and had suffered enough. Now, love didn't matter as much.
"Having someone who loves Angelina isn't a bad thing," Lola said lightly.
Charlotte felt a bit emotional but didn't say much, knowing they had their own thoughts.
Lola sipped her coffee lightly, but when she looked up, she saw Johnny.
He was wearing a sharp trench coat, lugging his suitcase, looking travel-worn, probably straight from the airport.
Lola was a bit taken aback.
When did he get back? Did he hear their conversation?
But Johnny's expression was as calm as ever.
He set down his suitcase and gently hugged Charlotte. "Mom!"
Charlotte patted his hand. "You and Lola should have a chat!"
Johnny nodded and watched her leave. Once Charlotte was out of sight, he turned back to Lola and softly asked, "Feeling any better?"
Lola took a sip of coffee to hide her emotions. "Almost there."
Johnny sat down. A servant promptly brought him a cup of coffee. He took a sip and said, "If you like staying here, we can move back. Angelina will have someone to look after her."
Lola gently shook her head.
She would be free after finishing her current tasks and didn't want to burden her parents, who deserved a peaceful life.
Johnny didn't push it. "Alright! I'll make time to be with you both."
In the garden, a gentle breeze blew, cooling him down and making him feel comfortable.
They hadn't seen each other for a few days, and Johnny couldn't help but want to get close to her. He walked behind her chair and gently hugged her, whispering in her ear, "I'll be gentler next time."
He figured it was because he had been too rough that morning.
He couldn't help but regret it.
Lola couldn't stand hearing these words. She wanted to push him away, but Johnny had already gently cupped her chin, turning her head to kiss her tenderly.
Slowly, she trembled lightly in his arms.
Just as things were heating up, Frederick returned with Angelina. Angelina hadn't seen her dad for a few days and, upon seeing the car, insisted on coming to find him.
Johnny's desire was aroused, and Lola's face was flushed, her lips moist.
Johnny calmed himself for a moment and said hoarsely, "I'll go check on her. You stay here for a bit."
After speaking, he kissed her lips and went to the hall.
Soon, Angelina's happy laughter could be heard.
Lola leaned back in her chair, covering her face, feeling hot.
Over there, Angelina had played outside all morning. After some cuddling with Johnny, she was sleepy.
She lay on Johnny's shoulder, looking very tired but reluctant to sleep.
In the end, Johnny patted her back and coaxed her to sleep. Only then did Angelina contentedly fall asleep.
Johnny adjusted the room temperature to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. He walked around with Angelina in his arms for about 10 minutes before putting her under the covers. Angelina's little face was rosy, looking healthier than before.
Johnny gently kissed her forehead.
He carefully looked at Angelina. Her appearance almost entirely inherited from him, but traces of Lola could also be seen.
Lola loved Angelina deeply and was willing to make compromises to live together with him.
Johnny smiled faintly. He reached out to touch Angelina's face again and then went to the terrace, memories of Lola flooding back. Despite his efforts, he doubted she had ever forgiven him. She had everything but craved only love, and he had failed to give her that.
No matter what he did, she would never believe that he had only ever loved her.
He stood on the terrace, slowly smoking a cigarette.
In the evening, after dinner, Johnny took Lola and Angelina back to the villa.
When they got out of the car, he carried their luggage and smiled. "I don't even have as much stuff when I travel as you two do."
Then he started unpacking himself. Opening the suitcase, it was all Angelina's stuff: fairy tale books, toys, all kinds of dolls. Johnny looked at them for a long time, then looked at Angelina and thought that her personality was more like Sienna and Natalie.
Johnny was now intent on having a son to inherit the family business. If Angelina didn't want to work or couldn't get married, a son could take care of her.
A servant came upstairs and knocked on the door. "Johnny, Lola said dinner is ready!"
Johnny answered, "I'll finish up here and come down!"
Johnny finished tidying up, washed his hands, and slowly went downstairs.
Lola and Angelina were already seated at the dining table, waiting for him. Angelina's soft voice pleaded, "Daddy, can I not go to the hospital tomorrow? It always hurts when they give me shots."
Johnny looked up at Lola.
Lola was also helpless. Usually, it was Darren who coaxed her; she wasn't very good at it.
Mentioning Darren, she suddenly realized it had been a while since she had seen him, as he had gone to Novaria.
She thought, 'Before getting pregnant, should I go see him?'
Of course, she knew Johnny minded. He thought she had slept with Darren. She hadn't explained before because it wasn't necessary and to discourage him from wanting to continue being with her. But now, living together long-term, it was something that needed to be explained.
Johnny would probably be happy to know and would be willing to go to Novaria with her!
Thinking of this, Lola felt more at ease.
Johnny carefully took care of Angelina, coaxing her for a while before she was willing to go to the hospital for shots.
Looking up, he saw Lola smiling. He was stunned; it seemed like it had been a long time since Lola had smiled so freely.
He couldn't help but ask hoarsely, "Why are you so happy?"
Lola looked at him, remembering his disappointed expression at home in the afternoon. He had heard, hadn't he?
Next week was his birthday. If she told him she and Darren had never been a real couple, he would be happier, right?
Although they had grown distant, they still had feelings for each other.
Lola smiled and just lowered her head to eat. She was probably in a good mood, as she had a hearty appetite tonight.
When she got up from the table, she touched her stomach, thinking that Johnny would lose his sexual desire upon seeing it.
Seeing her actions, Johnny guessed what she was thinking and couldn't help but chuckle.
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