Chapter 715 So, Lola Also Wanted to Reconcile!
The big living room was dead quiet, except for Johnny's shaky breathing.
Each breath came faster and faster.
He was half-sitting on the couch, looking around like a lost puppy. He had no clue what he was doing or what he wanted; it just felt like a boulder was crushing his chest.
It was so heavy he could barely catch his breath.
He pushed himself up and started pacing back and forth. It felt like he had lost something, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find it.
That night, Johnny drove home.
The house was silent. When he got out of the car, he glanced up at the second floor. The lights were off.
As he walked into the hall, a servant came over to take his briefcase. She avoided looking at the bruise on his face and said softly, "Mrs. Flores took the kids to her parents' house. She took Bobby too."
Johnny was heading upstairs but turned back.
Under the light, he asked quietly, "Did she say anything?"
The servant shook her head. "Mrs. Flores just came back to get the dog. She didn't leave any other instructions, just said she wouldn't be staying here for a while. She also asked if we needed her to arrange new jobs for us."
The servant's voice trembled as she spoke, almost in tears. She had worked here for many years and didn't want to leave.
Johnny sat on the couch and lit a cigarette.
After taking a drag, he got up and walked outside. Soon, his figure was swallowed by the night in the garden, followed by the sound of a car engine starting.
Johnny was exhausted, but he couldn't rest.
He knew Lola's personality; she would never tolerate his behavior. But why had he taken in Shirley in the first place? Was it just to get back at Lola, or was it some twisted pursuit of a man's desire for a woman's softness? What did he really want?
Johnny couldn't even explain it to himself.
In his thirties, after years in the business world, he had become all about profit. He knew the least damaging way would be to divorce Lola amicably, retain visitation rights to the kids, and perhaps remarry. Besides Austin, he could have other heirs.
And he wouldn't completely sever ties with the Hawkins family.
But Johnny didn't want to choose that path. Maybe he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Waiting for Lola's heart to warm up again,
Even if it meant she hated him.
When Johnny arrived at the Hawkins Mansion, it was nearly 11 PM. The house was dark.
He didn't disturb anyone and just sat in his car, waiting.
From his vantage point, he could see the balcony outside Lola's bedroom. He remembered how, years ago, when he returned from abroad, she stood on that balcony, the night breeze lifting her long hair. That image had captivated him for years.
A burning sensation in his fingers reminded him that the cigarette had burned down to his skin.
He slumped heavily against the seat, still staring in the same direction, his eyes red.
In the early morning, the Hawkins Mansion began to stir.
Frederick was an early riser. As he stepped outside to get some fresh air, he saw a black Range Rover parked in the yard. The window was down, and inside sat Johnny, whom he had once held in high regard.
Even with the injury on his face, Johnny's handsomeness was undiminished.
Frederick snorted coldly.
Johnny got out of the car and called out, "Dad!"
Frederick sneered, not indulging him this time. "Mr. Flores, I can't bear to be called 'Dad' by you! People say a good woman doesn't take care of two husbands, and likewise, Mr. Flores, you can't have two fathers. I did some digging. That Shirley girl not only has parents but also grandparents on both sides. You're not lacking in warmth; that big family can warm you up plenty."
His words were venomous, leaving Johnny speechless.
Johnny forced a bitter smile. "Dad, that's not what I meant."
Frederick sneered again. "You were all over her, and that's not what you meant? Johnny, did you think about Lola, your legal wife, or how much Angelina and Austin idolize you when you did those things? Now the whole world knows about your affair with Shirley."Johnny had no comeback.
He pleaded softly, "Dad, I need to see Lola."
Frederick loved giving him a hard time, but when Lola was mentioned, his expression softened a bit. He stared off into the distance for a while before looking back at Johnny. Calmly, he said, "Johnny, Lola had a tough childhood. Whatever she wanted, her mother and I always gave her, including you. No one in this family ever treated you like an outsider, but from today on, you're just Austin and Angelina's father. They can't stay with you. If you still care about our relationship, end things with Lola amicably."
Frederick paused before adding, "It's over between you two."
Johnny was floored.
Frederick didn't say anything else. He slowly walked back, remembering the day at the police station when he had someone write a disownment letter, declaring Johnny as his son.
His eyes stung with unshed tears. Frederick tilted his head slightly, feeling an indescribable sadness, but he didn't stop walking.
He thought, maybe their father-son bond was just too shallow.
Coincidentally, Angelina and Austin came downstairs for breakfast. They were very self-sufficient, carrying their little backpacks as they descended. From the stairs, they saw Johnny standing in the driveway.
Austin pressed his lips tightly together.
Angelina's big eyes filled with tears. She quietly walked downstairs and sat at the dining table. Frederick gently patted her head. "If you want to go, go ahead."
Angelina hesitated, with Bobby following her.
Outside, Angelina didn't run to him like she used to. She stood at a distance, looking at Johnny. His throat tightened, and he beckoned her over. Only then did she slowly approach.
But she didn't hug him.
She looked up and said softly, "Mom said you two are getting a divorce. Dad, didn't you say you wouldn't get divorced?"
Johnny couldn't answer.
He knelt down, placing his hands on Angelina's shoulders, then pulled her into his arms.
At first, Angelina resisted. She had heard from her classmates that her dad was dating a celebrity and that she would soon have a stepmother and new siblings.
Angelina wanted to ask but her pride wouldn't let her.
She stayed in Johnny's arms for a moment before breaking free and running back.
Bobby followed her.
The morning sun slowly climbed over the treetops. Johnny stood in the autumn sunlight, but it couldn't warm him. He stared blankly at the front door.
There was no door, but he knew he couldn't go in.
Not only had Lola rejected him, but this home had also rejected him.
Johnny waited until eight o'clock before he had to go to work. He didn't see Lola.
Over the next month, his company was attacked by several forces, most notably Kingsley and Gavin, who were relentless. Johnny was so busy he barely had time to sleep, let alone seek Lola's forgiveness.
Besides, he couldn't see her.
Their first divorce hearing was private. He thought Lola would attend.
Johnny took half a day off.
But when he arrived at the courthouse, Lola wasn't there. She had her lawyer handle everything. The first hearing didn't finalize the divorce because Johnny insisted on seeing Lola to discuss the agreement in person.
Leaving the courthouse, he got into his car and received a call from Lola.
It was from her law firm's landline.
---
"Johnny, it's over," Lola's voice was cold and distant. "There's nothing left to discuss. The lawyers will handle everything."
Johnny gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Lola, please, just give me a chance to explain."
"Explain what?" she snapped. "That you chose someone else over your family? That you humiliated me in front of everyone? There's nothing you can say that will change what you've done."
He could hear the pain in her voice, and it cut him deeply. "Lola, I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But I love you. I love our kids. Can't we at least talk about this?"There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer, but no less resolute. "Johnny, love isn't enough. Trust is gone. Respect is gone. You need to let us go."
The line went dead, and Johnny was left staring at his phone, feeling more lost than ever. He knew she was right. He had broken something that couldn't be fixed with words.
He started the car and drove back to the office, his mind racing. He had to find a way to make things right, even if it meant letting go of the one thing he wanted most.
Johnny held the phone, speaking softly, "You finally decided to contact me, Lola. Can we meet?"
Lola's voice was devoid of any emotion. "You might argue that our relationship hasn't broken down in the first hearing, but the second hearing will definitely finalize it. Johnny, I think you misunderstood. I'm not avoiding you... I just find you repulsive, in a physically nauseating way."
Johnny's grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles turning white.
Just as Lola was about to hang up, he spoke coldly, "We've come to this point, and you think you bear no responsibility? Can you deny that you still miss Darren? Are my actions truly unforgivable?"
Lola replied, "Yes! I should never have brought you home back then. I won't deny it—I still miss him. And yes, it's unforgivable!"
Lola let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Johnny, you still don't understand why we can't make this work. If you don't love someone anymore, if you can't live with them, you can divorce and separate. But you always chose the most extreme ways to show me that our past love was... worthless."
Johnny wanted to say something, but his throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a word.
Lola's smile faded. "That's it, Johnny. We're done."
She hung up.
Johnny sat alone in the car. He wanted to light a cigarette but found the pack empty. His phone rang again; it was Felicity. "Mr. Flores, the meeting is about to start!"
"I know."
Johnny responded indifferently, hung up, and started the car.
Over the next two months, Johnny's company faced several near-death experiences, but each time, he managed to turn things around.
In truth, he had grown indifferent to power over the years.
Maybe he didn't want Lola to think he was a useless man... or maybe he was using work to numb himself, so he wouldn't feel the emptiness of the villa.
Lola never moved back.
The kids didn't move back either. Johnny mostly saw them at restaurants near their school, sharing a meal. Austin grew more silent, and Angelina more polite, rarely even calling him "Dad."
Eventually, Johnny's company survived.
He tried to see Lola several times, but she refused, insisting he agree to the divorce at the next hearing.
Johnny responded coldly, "I won't agree to the divorce!"
He started drinking more, a man who was usually very restrained, now attending more social events.
In the upscale private rooms, surrounded by various beautiful women, they served him drinks and slipped scented cards into his suit pockets, but Johnny had no interest.
Occasionally, waking up in the early morning, he realized how long it had been since he had any intimacy.
One Friday night, he got drunk again.
Stumbling, he let his driver, Saul Pena, help him into the car. With his eyes closed, he said, "Take me home."
Saul was about to start the car when someone stood in front of it, startling him. "Are you blind? Can't you see the car? The road is wide enough for you to walk around!"
The woman refused to move. Saul, young and hot-tempered, got out to handle it.
Johnny loosened his tie and opened his eyes.
It was Shirley!
Taking advantage of Saul's distraction, Shirley rushed over, opening the car door and pleading, "Johnny, I've tried to see you so many times, but Felicity wouldn't let me."
She paused, slightly stunned.
Johnny, even drunk, was still strikingly handsome, but his expression was cold.
Nothing like before.
Before, he had smiled at her, even lay on her lap, reading documents on his phone... Were those moments of tenderness all fake?She couldn't believe it!
Johnny didn't look at her. He stared straight ahead, speaking coldly, "Ms. Wells, it was just a fling. I never promised you anything. Don't come looking for me again."
He felt nothing but disgust for her.
If it weren't for her foolishness, Lola wouldn't be divorcing him, and his marriage wouldn't be in this state.
But he still wrote her a check.
He said, "You can keep the apartment. This million dollars is my compensation to you."
Shirley, of course, refused to break up. With tears in her eyes, she questioned him, "My future is ruined, and you think a million dollars will make up for it?"
"What else?"
"A woman like you is worth that much."
Johnny's tone was devoid of emotion. "If you're smart, you'll never show up in front of me again."
Shirley's fingers trembled as she took the million-dollar check.
She felt humiliated. She wanted far more than a million dollars... In the next moment, she tore the check into pieces, stubbornly looking at him. "I know you look down on me. You might find my words laughable, but I really like you and want to be with you."
Shirley finished speaking and left without looking back.
Johnny watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.
Saul got back in the car. He had heard about Johnny's scandals and couldn't help but comment, "A woman like that isn't worth listening to. If you were in my position, she'd have found a richer man long ago instead of crying here."
Johnny leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes lightly.
He knew the biggest problem between him and Lola wasn't Shirley.
It was him who had given Shirley the opportunity.
Johnny returned to the villa.
The servant offered to make him some hangover soup, but he waved it off. Lying in bed, he felt a burning pain in his stomach. He opened the bedside drawer, searching for medicine.
He remembered Lola kept the medicine there.
But after searching for a while, he only found a small, round, smooth object... What was it?
Johnny sat up, opened the drawer, and took it out.
It was a small glass ball, about the size of a golf ball, beautifully colorful.
In the center was a maple leaf.
Johnny's gaze fixed on it because that type of maple leaf was unique to Phoenixia. There was a tree at the Hawkins Mansion that he and Lola had planted as children.
His heart suddenly trembled.
He turned it over and saw an inscription on the base. It was an anniversary gift from Lola.
It turned out she had wanted to save their marriage back then, but she never got the chance to say it, and her gift was never given.
He remembered that night. He had deliberately invited Shirley, deliberately let her appear in front of Lola to provoke her... He had let a woman he had kissed while drunk appear in front of his wife.
That night, he had also forced himself on Lola, deliberately hurting her.
What was Lola thinking as she lay in pain beneath him?
Was she thinking that all those years of love were misplaced? Was she thinking... that a man so despicable wasn't worth her effort to save?
Johnny suddenly reached out, covering his eyes.
The pain in his stomach was unbearable.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he didn't want to take the medicine because he knew... he had lost something more important than his physical health.
Johnny frantically dialed Lola's number.
But it still wouldn't connect. He could never reach her.
Enduring the stomach pain, he rushed to the Hawkins Mansion. The servant said Lola was on a business trip... she might not be back until next week!
Late at night, Johnny stood in the darkness.
He stood under the maple tree, holding the glass ball. The night wind blew... he seemed to hear Lola's voice from their childhood.
"Johnny, come here!"
"This tree is so small, you can't water it that much."
"Alright! Then we have to watch it grow together! Johnny, come here and make a pinky promise."
The faint moonlight reflected the tears on his face. Was he crying?
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