Chapter 575 Johnny's Intense Possessiveness!
Melissa glanced at Johnny, then shifted her eyes to Travis.
She asked again, "Where'd you get the money?"
When Johnny showed up, Travis knew there was no hiding anything from him.
Lola couldn't have spilled the beans, which meant Johnny's crew was still tailing them. Travis felt a wave of despair and blurted out, "Johnny, can't you just cut us some slack?"
Travis pointed at Melissa. "She doesn't have much time left! Yeah, she's naive and still dreaming, but I'll stick with her and keep her from coming after you."
Johnny smirked. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
The nurse at the door saw it and tried to come in to stop him, but the bodyguard blocked her outside.
Johnny lit the cigarette, took a drag, and then held it between his fingers. He asked Travis, "You promise she won't come looking for me, but why'd you go looking for Lola?"
Travis had no answer.
Johnny paced back and forth in the ward, cigarette in hand, looking deep in thought.
Half a minute later, Johnny stopped. "Travis, I dated Melissa for a few months, but when we broke up, I made it crystal clear. No one forced you to marry her after she broke her leg, right? You could've left her after your divorce, but you stupidly kept taking care of her, ruining both your lives. You two idiots."
Johnny stubbed out the cigarette. "I'll give you some money. Take Melissa and get out of Syeattel! Never let me see you again, and don't let Lola see you either."
With that, he pulled out his checkbook and wrote down a number: $10 million.
This money was enough to send Melissa away, and if Travis wanted to start a new company, it would give him some capital.
Travis took the check and stared at the number, stunned.
Johnny straightened his clothes. "Don't let Lola know I was here, and don't contact her again."
With that, Johnny was ready to leave, but Melissa wasn't having it. She saw the check and thought Johnny still had feelings for her; otherwise, why would he drop $10 million?
"Johnny, you love me, don't you? I just want to be with you."
Travis was numb. The three years he and Melissa had leaned on each other felt like a mirage, shattered the moment Johnny showed up.
Melissa begged desperately. But Johnny kicked her away. Melissa lay on the ground, crying. "I really don't know how I'm worse than Lola. You chased after me back then; you loved me."
"No! I never loved you. I just wanted to see if I could get by without Lola." Johnny's words cut deep.
Back in the day, he had craved freedom and paid a heavy price. Now, he wouldn't let anyone or anything mess with his life with Lola.
As he left, he gave a slight nod. The two bodyguards got the message and approached Travis politely. "Mr. Perry, sorry, but we need to see you and Mrs. Perry out by tonight."
They would be following them and keeping tabs 24/7.
Travis muttered, "Johnny's lost it!" and then gave a bitter smile.
At Vertex Innovations Group, while Johnny was in a meeting, Lola took Angelina to the lounge area to play. The secretary had brought some toys and snacks that Angelina liked.
After a while, Angelina started to miss Bobby.
She wasn't home, and she wondered if Bobby was behaving.
Thinking of Bobby made her think of Darren too!
Angelina looked up and said softly, "Mom, I miss Darren. When can we go see him?"
Lola smiled. "Soon! Darren is getting treatment in Novaria right now. Once he's stable, he can come back. But we can visit him in a few days."
She took Angelina's little hand and placed it on her own belly. "There's no baby here yet, so we can still fly to Novaria."
Angelina asked softly, "Can't you fly when you're pregnant?"
Lola nodded.
Angelina proudly said, "When you were pregnant with me, you flew all the time. I'm better than other babies."
Lola patted her little head and smiled gently.
"What are you two talking about?" The office door opened, and Johnny walked in.
Lola looked up, a bit surprised. "Your meeting's over?"
Johnny walked over and picked up Angelina. "The meeting continues this afternoon. I wanted to have lunch with Angelina."
Angelina hugged his neck, super happy. She loved riding on her dad's shoulders.
Johnny walked ahead, and Lola followed with his coat. She watched Johnny in front of her; he seemed so natural in the role of a father, like he was born for it.
In the elevator, she asked softly, "How do you know how to take care of kids?"
Johnny responded lightly, "I've been learning for a long time! Before, I didn't have time while searching for you around the world, but after coming back to Syeattel, I took postpartum recovery classes. I know everything a mom knows."
Plus, he had taken care of his younger siblings when he was a kid, so he picked it up quickly.
He added softly, "After learning so much, it seems like a waste not to raise a child myself."
Angelina only half-understood but was happy nonetheless.
She clenched her little fist and cheered Johnny on. "Go, Daddy!"
Johnny smiled warmly.
Lola felt a bit helpless. Since coming back to Syeattel, Angelina had picked up a lot from TV, and she was still so innocent, saying whatever popped into her head.
Johnny squeezed her hand gently and said, "It's not a bad thing!"
The firm was just a mile from the restaurant.
Johnny didn't drive. Angelina rode on his shoulders, super happy; the warm sunlight making her feel cozy.
She really loved her dad!
They walked for about 20 minutes and arrived at the restaurant. It wasn't too crowded at noon, and a waiter greeted them as soon as they walked in, "Is it a table for three?"
Lola looked up and was stunned.
After Kingsley and Amara broke up, she hadn't said anything, but she had looked into Kingsley's friend Rebecca, and through that, she learned about Amara's past.
Amara had a boyfriend who had been sick for two years.
The bracelet Kingsley gave Amara was sold to pay for that boyfriend's medical treatment.
Lola had seen the photo; it was the man in front of her, named Ralph Graham.
Ralph was quite good-looking and had gotten into a good university. After recovering from his illness, he worked part-time while studying. The $800,000 had some left over, which Ralph used as a down payment for a small apartment.
Lola had heard that Amara left Syeattel and broke up with Ralph, and it seemed she wasn't doing well.
But the young Ralph in front of her looked vibrant, showing no signs of having been seriously ill or of having received such a favor from Amara.
Perhaps Lola's gaze was too direct, and she was tall and beautiful. Even though she was a mother, Ralph still felt a surge of male vanity.
He thought Lola was interested in him.
Then, the manager saw Lola and Johnny and immediately greeted them respectfully, "Hello!"
He said to Ralph, "This is Charlotte's son and daughter."
Ralph thought, 'Son and daughter? So they aren't a couple?'
But then, Angelina whined, "Daddy, it's so hot outside! I need to go to the bathroom."
Johnny immediately handed Angelina to Lola.
He spoke gently, "You take her to the restroom; I'll order."
Lola nodded.
After Angelina and Lola left, Johnny picked a seat and sat down, casually flipping through the menu. Ralph was still the one taking the order.
Johnny named a few dishes in French and ordered a kids' meal for Angelina.
Ralph looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand French."
Johnny raised an eyebrow. Then he slowly repeated the dish names in English. "Can you understand now?"
Ralph blushed.
Johnny had been harsh enough. He smiled. "By the way, that was my wife! I'm the adopted son of her parents."
Ralph's face turned even redder.
All his thoughts were seen through by this well-dressed Johnny, but so what? Maybe they didn't love each other. Weren't rich wives always secretly finding lovers?
As the thought crossed his mind, Ralph despised himself.
How could he think that way? Even if that wealthy lady was interested in him, he couldn't sell his dignity for money, just like Amara, who became a plaything for rich people.
He despised Amara in his heart.
When he became wealthy, he would repay that money. He wouldn't owe Amara anything.
He was working hard now, trying to finish his studies and find a decent job. He never wanted to live in poverty again, losing his girlfriend over money.
Lola came out of the restroom with Angelina and saw Ralph's colorful expression. She glanced at him again.
Johnny asked casually, "Lola, do you know him?"
Lola smiled lightly. "No. This is the first time we've met."
Johnny, though harsh, knew Ralph wasn't someone Lola would be interested in. Lola was Frederick's daughter; she could have any handsome man she wanted.
Back in the day, many celebrities chased after Lola.
Lola looked at the menu, felt that they had ordered enough dishes, and naturally said in French, "That's all."
Ralph's face turned red again.
Lola was momentarily surprised, then politely repeated what she had just said in English.
Ralph left, and Johnny took a sip of ice water.
He leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Has the standard for hiring temporary workers here lowered? I remember they used to require basic conversational French."
Lola smiled lightly. "Maybe business isn't doing well! The economy hasn't been great these past few years, and high-end spending has noticeably decreased. This restaurant has been open for 30 years and still has this kind of customer flow, which is quite good. Don't be too hard on the manager."
Johnny chuckled. "Am I being hard on the manager?"
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