Chapter 599 Kingsley, Goodbye Forever!
Amara was here?
Kingsley's phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground, but he didn't even notice. He spun around, his emotions a tangled mess.
He was both hopeful and scared, feelings he had never had before.
At the end of the hallway by the elevator, there was a crowd, but no Amara. Kingsley's eyelids twitched, and then he did something he had never done before.
"Excuse me, let me through!" he apologized as he pushed his way through the crowd, running as fast as he could. In no time, he was back upstairs, panting and scanning the area. But in the sea of people, no Amara.
Kingsley's throat tightened. He was about to call in some favors to find her when Sarah and her new husband appeared from a nearby corridor.
Sarah's belly was noticeably swollen—she was clearly pregnant. The guy next to her was all doting and protective, but Sarah looked indifferent, like she couldn't care less.
Unable to find Amara, Kingsley wondered if he had misheard.
Why would Amara be in the OB-GYN department? After their last hookup, she took a morning-after pill. No way she could be pregnant, right? He actually hoped she was pregnant. How crazy was that? He was the one who said all those awful things, calling her worthless and unfit to be Mrs. Hawkins. Why would she ever want to have kids with him?
Kingsley's face went pale, and a hint of sadness crept into his blue eyes, catching Sarah off guard. She never expected to see such a broken look on Kingsley, the toughest guy in the business world. It was a shock.
Sarah smirked a little. "Mr. Hawkins!"
Kingsley snapped back to reality. His expression grew even more complicated when he saw Sarah. Amara's background was never openly discussed, but both the Hawkins and Hughes families knew the truth.
But Sarah definitely didn't.
Kingsley just nodded coldly. Sarah didn't care and turned to her husband, saying, "I'm tired. Can you help me downstairs?" Then they left.
Kingsley stood alone by the elevator, ignoring the curious looks from passersby. The air carried a familiar scent of lanolin hand cream, the one he bought for Amara and used to put on her hands himself. He breathed in the long-missed fragrance until the excitement of hearing "Amara" slowly faded, convincing himself not to get his hopes up.
Much later, Kingsley took the elevator down again. He picked up his shattered phone and stared at the pieces, feeling lost. The only photo he had of Amara was gone.
On the second floor, near the corner by the elevator, Amara stood in the shadows, watching Kingsley.
He had lost a lot of weight and seemed different, maybe even harsher, but she wasn't scared of him anymore.
Amara once believed her fear was rooted in affection. Now, she realized she likely didn't care for him anymore.
She lowered her eyes and gently touched her belly. She was surprised; she had taken birth control pills, yet she still ended up pregnant.
When she found out, she wasn't sure if she should tell him. But she figured if she did, he would just think it was another trick.
Amara would never forget him saying she didn't deserve to be his wife, so she wouldn't be!
The baby in her belly moved a bit, giving her a little kick. Amara smiled softly. Now that she had a baby, she wasn't alone anymore.
She took one last look at Kingsley and thought, 'Goodbye forever!'
Amara skipped her prenatal checkup and quietly left through another elevator.
Lola's postpartum checkup went smoothly. Both Lola and Austin were doing great.
As they got into the car, Lola noticed a small bag with phone fragments in it.
Lola, holding the baby, asked gently, "Kingsley, what's wrong? Why are you so upset?"
Kingsley replied coolly, "I dropped it by accident."
"This isn't like you." Lola guessed it had something to do with Amara, but since Kingsley didn't want to talk about it, she didn't push. She quickly changed the subject. "Are you planning to go to Libytania in the next couple of days? Not spending Christmas at home?"
Kingsley's long fingers gripped the steering wheel.
He stared at the rearview mirror for a bit, then smiled faintly. "It's busy over there. I won't be home for Christmas."
Lola couldn't do anything about it.
After the snow, the roads were icy, but Kingsley drove steadily.
He took a different route where there was less snow. As he turned a corner, he saw someone standing at the bus stop across the street.
The person's height and hair color looked familiar!
Even from afar, he could tell the girl was at least seven or eight months pregnant.
She was looking up at the bus schedule, trying to decide which bus to take.
Why was she taking the bus in this snowy weather?
Where was her husband?
Kingsley rarely got distracted, but with Lola and Austin in the back seat, he quickly refocused. The black SUV passed by the girl.
At the same time, Amara turned around.
Kingsley and Amara missed each other again, like it was meant to be.
A bus slowly arrived, and Amara got on. As soon as she sat down, she got a call from Hailey, the owner of the breakfast shop in Stellaria City. Her husband had gambled away all their money and owed a lot of debt. The creditors kept harassing them, and the breakfast shop had to close.
Hailey's husband ended up in jail.
Coincidentally, Amara was doing well. She worked as a secretary at the Carter Group in Bostan.
Last month, she got transferred to the Carter Group's Syeattel branch.
After some hesitation, Amara agreed. Her job and future at the Carter Group were good, and she didn't want to lose this chance because of her past.
She moved back to Syeattel and rented an 800-square-foot apartment.
She invited Hailey to come live with her.
Hailey had just arrived in Syeattel, and Amara wanted to pick her up. But Hailey refused. "You're pregnant. You shouldn't be running around. Just wait at home. I'll get to your place safely."
Amara smiled. "Alright, I'll head back then."
Forty minutes later, she to her quaint yet tidy rental in the old neighborhood.
Coincidentally, as she reached downstairs, she saw Hailey carrying large bags, ready to go upstairs.
"Hailey." Amara walked up to her, feeling a mix of emotions.
Hailey, always the open-minded one, put down her things and grabbed Amara's hand, giving her a once-over before her gaze settled on Amara's belly. "You're so far along! It must be tough being pregnant!" But she didn't ask whose child it was.
Amara gently shook her head. She wanted to help Hailey with the bags, but Hailey easily lifted them and headed upstairs, playfully saying, "I'm used to this kind of work. It's nothing."
Amara could only support her belly and lead the way.
Once they were inside, Hailey looked around, quite satisfied. "This place is perfect for a baby."
Then Hailey opened her luggage and started unpacking, revealing mostly supplements for Amara aside from a few clothes.
Hailey said briskly, "I'll take care of the baby for the next couple of years. Once the baby is old enough for preschool, I'll open a breakfast shop again, saving some money for your baby."
Amara's eyes reddened. "Hailey."
Hailey came over and wiped her tears, speaking softly, "Why are you crying? Twenty years ago, I had nothing. Now it's just starting over again! Don't worry, there's a new policy. Even if you're not married, you can still register the child!"
Amara was amused.
Hailey spoke lightly, but she felt a bit sad inside. Her husband had gone to jail, and her own son didn't understand or take her in. In the end, she had to rely on Amara.
Hailey wiped her eyes. "From now on, we'll depend on each other."
She then asked, "How did the prenatal checkup go today? Let me see?"
Amara was silent for a moment.
Hailey found it strange. "Didn't you go for a checkup? Is there something wrong with the baby? Amara, don't be afraid. Tell me, I have experience. I can give you some advice."
Amara gently shook her head.
After a while, Amara said softly, "I didn't go for a checkup today. I saw Kingsley at the hospital."
Hailey was very surprised. "Did he see you?"
Amara's tone was calm. "No! I hid. He didn't see me."
Hailey carefully observed her expression.
After a long time, Hailey whispered, "After you left, Mr. Hawkins came to Stellaria City to see me once. He just brought some supplements, which were obviously very expensive. Amara, have you really given up on him? I think he genuinely cares about you."
Amara gave a bitter smile. "We're not right for each other."
Hailey then stared at her belly.
Amara gently hugged her arm and said softly, "Didn't you say you would help me take care of the baby? You can't tell him."
Hailey sighed. "Alright! We'll raise the baby ourselves."
Amara leaned gently on her shoulder.
The doorbell rang, and Hailey patted Amara. "I'll get it!"
When she opened the door, she was quite surprised.
Ralph was holding some supplements, seemingly there to see Amara. Seeing Hailey, he was momentarily stunned, then asked in a low voice, "Is Amara here?"
Hailey recognized him; in her eyes, he was nothing but scum. So Hailey said rudely, "What are you doing here?"
Ralph raised his voice. "Amara!"
Amara walked over. She hadn't been in contact with Ralph, but they had run into each other by chance last time. For some reason, he had sold his parents' house and given her $400,000. Amara had pooled it together to make up the $800,000 she owed Kingsley.
She didn't want to have any more dealings with Ralph.
But Ralph knew he probably wouldn't have children in this lifetime. Seeing Amara's swollen belly, he felt hopeful.
Amara was carrying Kingsley's baby, the excellent genes of the Hawkins Family. If she was willing to marry him, the baby would be his. Of course, he wouldn't tell Kingsley. He also wouldn't reveal her whereabouts.
Ralph spoke emotionally, expressing his willingness to be the baby's father. Hailey was furious and picked up a luggage rod to hit Ralph.
"You scumbag! If you dare to mess with Amara again, I'll beat you to death!"
Ralph was used to bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
He took a few steps back, then became angry out of shame. "Amara, don't regret this!"
Amara ignored him completely.
Her tone was cold. "Ralph, I just want a peaceful life. If you keep pestering me, I can't guarantee what I'll do! Think about your job."
Ralph glared at her for a long time.
Then he laughed harshly. "Amara, you've become much tougher after all these months! Is it because you slept with Kingsley so much that you caught it from him?"
Hailey didn't hold back, sneering. "So what if she did? Unlike you, looking all weak and sickly!"
This angered Ralph. He sneered and deliberately said, "Anyway, Kingsley won't want you. As far as I know, the Hawkins Family is arranging a marriage for him. He'll marry a woman of equal status! Amara, give up on that hope!" With that, he left angrily.
Hailey closed the door and turned back. "That scumbag must be infertile. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to be a dad? Don't worry about him. With me here, he won't dare do anything."
Amara smiled faintly.
Hailey asked again, "Do you really not care? What if Mr. Hawkins' arranged marriage works out?"
Amara looked down and caressed her belly.
When Amara left, she knew that there would eventually be a wife by his side. It was a certainty, so why worry about it?
Seeing her calm demeanor, Hailey felt somewhat reassured.
Although there were still two months until the baby was due, Amara was still working.
One day, she accompanied Landon to the airport to pick up an important client. She didn't have to go, but the client was from another country, and Amara was the only one in the secretarial department who spoke that language.
In the end, Landon decided to bring her along.
Landon was considerate of his employees, letting her sit in the back of the car and occasionally chatting with her.
He was over 40 and still single. People at the Carter Group said that Landon had met someone amazing when he was young and couldn't fall for anyone else after that.
Amara wasn't interested in prying into people's private lives.
She just thought Landon was a good boss.
An hour later, they arrived at the airport. As soon as the car stopped, Amara saw a group of people getting out of a black car across from them. Leading the group was Kingsley, and beside him was Caitlyn, the wealthy heiress from the party.
At that moment, Caitlyn was holding Kingsley's arm, looking very intimate.
Amara watched quietly, her long lashes trembling slightly.
Landon looked at Amara, then at Kingsley across the way, and smiled as he adjusted his tie. "You know him?"
Amara forced a smile. "I used to be his secretary."
Landon smiled again. "Then let's go say hello!"
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