Chapter 720 Who I Date Is None of Your Business, Johnny!
It was late at night.
Cindy, worried, knocked on the door, pretending she was calling him for dinner. "Mr. Flores, how about I reheat the food..."
She stopped mid-sentence, stunned, and then quickly ran over. "You're bleeding so much! Come outside, I'll get the first aid kit."
Johnny sat silently on the living room sofa. While Cindy went to get the first aid kit, he habitually took out a cigarette. Just as he was about to light it, Cindy came back and snatched it away, breaking it in half.
"Are you trying to kill yourself? You just got out of the hospital," Cindy scolded.
Johnny leaned back on the sofa. As Cindy applied the medicine and eye drops, she said, "How can you live without a woman by your side? Mrs. Flores comes from a prestigious family and is excellent in every way. No matter how young and pretty the women outside are, they can't compare to Mrs. Flores!"
Johnny quietly replied, "I never thought the women outside were better."
Cindy glanced at him and then lowered her head.
Johnny felt like smoking again. Just then, his phone rang. It was Jimmy, inviting him out for a drink.
Johnny declined, "Not in the mood."
Jimmy was surprised by the refusal and stammered, "Johnny, still upset? Come out and clear your head. If you want to get Lola back, we need to plan carefully. Look at Landon. He made a huge mistake, but now he's married to Caitlyn and they have a kid. Caitlyn hasn't directly forgiven him, but she's helping him with the child. They are happy now!"
Johnny had no patience for his teasing and hung up.
Jimmy was left speechless on the other end.
Cindy, who overheard Jimmy's loud voice, couldn't help but comment, "Drinking only causes trouble!"
Johnny looked at her and softly said, "Make me some pasta, please."
Cindy knew he was thinking about Lola. Her eyes reddened, and she sighed before tidying up the bedroom and heading downstairs.
The living room was quiet.
Johnny looked at the bandages on his hand. He thought about how Lola used to live here every day, but he often stayed away out of spite. Now that the place was empty, he found himself wanting to come back every night.
Five minutes later, Cindy called him from downstairs.
Johnny was probably hungry and ate quickly. After finishing, he grabbed his car keys and said he was going out for a drive. He intended to drive aimlessly, but somehow ended up in front of The Hawkins Mansion.
Everyone in Seattle knew about his divorce from Lola, especially the staff at The Hawkins Mansion. The servants wouldn't let him in.
Johnny didn't insist. He parked his car at the gate and leaned against it, smoking quietly. The night wind ruffled his white shirt and tousled his dark hair.
A black Rolls-Royce slowly approached. The window rolled down, revealing a handsome face. It was Kingsley.
Kingsley stopped the car and sneered at Johnny's unhappy expression. "Why not go in, my ex-brother-in-law? The servants being rude?"
Johnny knew he was being mocked.
He smiled faintly. "Haven't you done the same thing before, Kingsley?"
Kingsley nodded in agreement. "True! I've had Amara's forgiveness, but I don't know if you'll have the same luck." With that, he rolled up the window and drove into the courtyard.
Amara, sitting beside him, sighed. "Kingsley, you're so childish!"
Kingsley parked the car.
The Hawkins Mansion's yard was quiet at night, with only the faint sound of insects.
Kingsley unbuckled his seatbelt with one hand and pinched Amara's cheek with the other. "If Lola hadn't said anything, I would've beaten him to a pulp. Gavin and I had already set a time."
Amara sighed. "You two are equally childish!"
Kingsley leaned in, turned off the car's interior light, and groped her in the dark, his voice husky. "Say 'childish' again! If you do, I'll drive home right now and show Mrs. Hawkins what childish really means!"
Amara fell silent.
Inside the mansion, Andrew, Chloe, and Frederick were talking.
Andrew glanced upstairs and asked Frederick, "Is it true that Lola plans to take the kids abroad?"
Frederick nodded. "Yeah, she's planning to go for a few years. Her mom's going with her because she's worried. I'll stay here to look after Kingsley and the others... Besides, my father needs someone around."
Andrew didn't say anything, just quietly finishing his coffee.
At that moment, Kingsley and Amara walked in. "Andrew, Chloe!"
Andrew and Chloe were happy to see them. "We told you not to come just to see us off. We're doing fine!"
Kingsley, hands in his pockets, said, "Amara insisted because she cares about Andrew's age!"
Before Andrew could respond, Frederick said, "Kingsley, only Amara can tolerate your mouth. You just love to tease her."
Kingsley smiled slightly. "Dad, she loves it!"
Frederick waved him off, telling him to leave.
Despite his talkative nature, Kingsley thoughtfully drove Andrew and Chloe back to their place. Once in the car, Andrew insisted he could drive himself, but Kingsley buckled his seatbelt and smiled. "Gavin's busy, and Molly's with the kids, so they asked me to take you."
Andrew was initially pleased but then remembered Lola's marriage. After a moment of silence, he said, "Johnny really shouldn't have done that."
Kingsley didn't respond. He started the car, and the black Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly drove out of the mansion gates.
Outside, Johnny was still leaning against his car, smoking.
Kingsley hadn't planned to stop, but Chloe called out, "Kingsley, stop the car."
Kingsley glanced outside and pulled over.
Chloe got out alone.
Seeing her approach, Johnny immediately put out his cigarette and stood up straight. "Chloe."
Chloe had lived in another city since her marriage. But when Frederick adopted Johnny, Chloe often took care of the kids, and Johnny grew up under her watch.
Seeing her now was bittersweet. He expected Chloe to scold him or even slap him, which he would have accepted, but she just looked at him quietly for a long time. Finally, she calmly said, "Go home. You and Lola are over."
Johnny's lips trembled. "Chloe."
Chloe didn't want to say more but couldn't help adding, "You grew up together. You know her best. You should have expected this outcome. Johnny... take care of yourself."
With that, she turned and walked back to Kingsley's car.
Johnny stood in the moonlight. He realized that aside from Kingsley's sarcastic remarks, no one blamed him. They just told him that he and Lola were over.
Johnny stood at The Hawkins Mansion gate all night.
Eventually, he developed a habit of coming by whenever he had time, though he never saw Lola or the kids. He did see the maple tree they had planted as children, which the gardener had moved to the corner outside the wall.
Johnny got out of the car. "Why are you getting rid of this tree?"
The gardener, recognizing him, replied, "Ms. Hawkins ordered it. She wants to plant a new one. Mr. Flores, we just follow her instructions."
Then he was surprised. "Mr. Flores, what do you want with this tree?"
Johnny carried the tree to his car, took out some cash, and handed it to the gardener, who happy with the money and cigarettes, helped him tie the tree to his car.
So the Phoenixia maple tree was moved to Johnny's villa. The tree was damaged and barely alive. Johnny hired an expert, and after half a month of care, it finally survived.
This month's family gathering day, Johnny called the Hawkins family in advance, saying he wanted to see the kids.
Frederick answered the phone. After some consideration, he said, "Alright, but bring them back before dinner. We're having a family meal tonight."
Johnny nodded. "Sure, Dad."
There was a long silence on the other end before Frederick softly said, "From now on, don't call me that."
Johnny's fingers turned pale as he gripped the phone. He forced a smile and said, "Yes... Mr. Hawkins."
With permission granted, Johnny immediately prepared gifts. This time, when he drove to The Hawkins Mansion, the gatekeeper let him in, likely following Frederick's instructions.
Johnny parked the car, carrying the gifts into the hall.
Frederick was sitting there, flipping through a magazine. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and said indifferently, "You're here?"
Johnny put down the gifts and was about to stand up.
Frederick's tone became even colder, "No need to bring gifts when you're here to pick up the kids. Just prepare something for them if you want. I'll call them down."
Johnny felt awkward. He knew Frederick no longer accepted him, not just as a son-in-law but as an adopted son. If it weren't for Angelina and Austin, he wouldn't have been able to step into The Hawkins Mansion.
Just as he was feeling uncomfortable, Angelina and Austin slowly came downstairs. Their faces showed reluctance.
Johnny realized it had been almost six months since he had been close to them, so it was no wonder they were distant.
Angelina came down first, holding Bobby, blinking her eyes.
Johnny squatted down, gently touching her head, and said softly, "Not happy to see Daddy?"
Bobby made a sound.
Angelina lowered her head and weakly said, "Happy."
Johnny then touched Austin's head. Austin didn't respect him, turning his face away in obvious anger. Frederick pretended to read the newspaper on the sofa.
Johnny respectfully said, "I'll bring them back before dinner."
Frederick replied indifferently, "Alright," then reminded him, "Take the gifts with you."
Johnny's smile faded. He took the gifts back to the car and put them in the trunk. Once Angelina and Austin were seated, he got in, buckled his seatbelt, and asked, "Where do you want to go?"
Angelina, holding Bobby, softly said, "I want to go home."
Johnny felt a pang in his heart. After a moment, he said quietly, "Okay, Daddy will take you home and make you a Manilove meal."
Back at the villa, the kids were not very enthusiastic.
No matter how exquisite and delicious the Manilove meal was, they only ate a little. In the afternoon, Angelina said she wanted cake, so Johnny drove out to buy ingredients. He looked up several recipes online and made a cake that was even better than the ones sold outside, with a delightful aroma.
Angelina finally seemed a bit happier.
Johnny cut various flavors and put them on plates for them to eat, also playing Austin's favorite cartoon. The atmosphere improved a bit. Then Johnny's phone rang; it was The Hawkins Mansion calling.
He answered, and the butler reminded him that Angelina and Austin needed to come back, as dinner would start in half an hour.
Johnny hung up and looked at Angelina and Austin.
Angelina put down her cake. "Daddy, are you coming to eat with us?"
Johnny reached out to touch her head and softly said, "Daddy's not going."
Angelina's lips tightened, and Austin quietly asked, "Are you and Mom never getting back together?"
In an instant, Johnny's heart felt like it was struck by lightning.
On the way back, the kids sat in the back seat, holding two cake boxes.
Johnny drove into The Hawkins Mansion. He didn't get out of the car. He turned to the kids and said, "I'll pick you up again this weekend."
Angelina didn't respond, but Austin suddenly said, "For Christmas, Mom is taking Angelina and me abroad. Bobby too. Maybe for a few years, maybe we won't come back."
Johnny's heart trembled. "Going abroad?"
Austin's face tightened, and he refused to say more. He opened the car door and jumped out.
Angelina followed him.
Johnny quickly got out of the car, but he didn't have time to call the kids back. He stood in the twilight courtyard, surrounded by the thick autumn air.
The villa gate slowly opened, and a white car drove in, but it wasn't a Hawkins family car.
The car stopped, and Ramon got out.
Seeing Johnny, Ramon nodded slightly, then went to the trunk to retrieve two gift boxes and naturally walked into the villa. The servants, busy bringing in dishes, greeted him with smiles, "Dr. Meza, let me help you with the gifts. Mr. Hawkins will be pleased; it's his favorite wine."
Ramon followed them inside.
Lola was greeting Ramon in the foyer when she saw Johnny.
He stood in the twilight, staring at her with a seemingly calm expression. Lola looked at him for two seconds before averting her gaze.
The courtyard was bustling with activity.
That night, Johnny drank until he ended up in the hospital. Jimmy stayed by his bedside all night.
At dawn, Jimmy woke up to find the bed empty.
Panicking, he dialed Johnny's number while shouting, "He never seemed like the type to be suicidal over a relationship. How could one Ramon drive him to this? He's just a family friend of the Hawkins, and who knows if he likes men or women! Look at how desperate he is."
But the call didn't go through; Johnny's phone was off.
At that moment, Johnny was at The Hawkins Mansion, in Lola's bedroom. Having grown up there, he knew the blind spots of the security cameras and had climbed over the wall from the backyard.
Early morning dew still clung to the grass.
Angelina was sleeping with Lola, her breath sweet and soft on the big bed.
Johnny glanced at Angelina. Then he covered Lola's mouth with his hand, pressing his body against hers. He whispered, "Shall we talk in the bathroom?"
Lola glared at him coldly.
Johnny leaned in and whispered, "I know you want to call for help, but if you want Angelina to see this scene, go ahead and scream."
As he spoke, he pulled her silk nightgown up to her waist. They had made love countless times before, even sneaking around when the kids were asleep. But never had it been so humiliating.
They were divorced, yet he treated her like a prostitute. Lola closed her eyes, wishing she could kill him.
Johnny knew she wouldn't scream. He gently carried her to the bathroom and locked the door. As soon as he turned around, Lola slapped him. "Johnny, what do you want? Because of you and Shirley, I'm constantly gossiped about. Because of you, I'm in and out of the hospital. What more do I owe you? Why do you keep humiliating me?"
Johnny didn't react to the slap. He pinned her against the bathroom door. She tried to pull her nightgown up, but he wouldn't let her.
He held her hands, his handsome face buried in her neck, and asked in a low voice, "Are you planning to take the kids and go abroad with Ramon? Do you like him? Do you want to be with him?"
Last night, he had found out that Ramon was going abroad for further studies at the end of the year.
Lola tilted her head slightly. She had no idea about Ramon's plans. She looked at the man she despised and sneered, "So what if I am? Johnny, what does it have to do with you? Who I go abroad with, who I date, even who I sleep with is none of your business. Do you hear me... none of your business!"
Johnny gritted his teeth. "Is that so?"
Suddenly, Lola laughed softly. She looked down at Johnny, who was so close, and said, "Are you going to force me again? Johnny... what else can you do besides force me? Don't make me despise you even more!"
She hadn't fully moved on. As she spoke, her eyes grew slightly moist.
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