Chapter 721 Johnny, It's Too Late to Regret Now!
Johnny saw the tears welling up in her eyes and felt a sharp pang in his chest.
He reached out to wipe them away, but Lola swatted his hand aside. "Don't touch me... Johnny, don't touch me!" she muttered.
It was just too disgusting.
The bathroom light was dim, casting a hazy glow as they stared at each other.
Johnny's eyes still held affection, but Lola had already decided to let everything go. After a moment of silence, she spoke softly, "Yes, I'm taking Angelina and Austin abroad, but not with Ramon. Johnny, if that bothers you, I've already told you. Now... can you just get out of my sight?"
She finished speaking and gently adjusted her silk nightgown.
The bathroom was quiet, and outside in the bedroom, their kid was asleep on the big bed. It should have been an intimate atmosphere, but all that was left between them was distance.
Johnny stepped back, leaning against the sink. He wanted to light a cigarette, but when his hand reached his pocket, he gave up. Looking at his former wife, he finally explained his relationship with Shirley, "At first, I wanted to make you angry or test you, but later... maybe because the marriage was too dull, my relationship with her became like a ship that couldn't turn back. But Lola, I never loved her."
He spoke sincerely, but Lola didn't want to hear it. She turned around, her fingers gripping the doorknob, and whispered, "Keep your disgusting stories to yourself!"
Johnny wouldn't let her leave. He grabbed her wrist, pleading in her ear, "Don't go abroad, okay?"
Lola's response was to shake off his hand.
Early in the morning, the Hawkins family gathered together.
Frederick, as usual, drank his beloved black coffee with two slices of toast. Charlotte thoughtfully poured him some hot milk, "At your age, you shouldn't be drinking coffee so early. It's bad for your stomach."
Frederick dismissed her concern and finished his coffee. After finishing, he folded his newspaper and said to Charlotte, "By the way, we've got a mouse problem at home. Have the maid buy some traps. The dog hole in the backyard seems to be the hotspot, so put a few more there."
Charlotte was puzzled, "A mouse problem? I haven't heard the maids mention it."
Frederick snorted, "Not just a mouse, but a big one!"
Lola had been quietly eating breakfast. Hearing this, she put down her cup and said, "I'm done. Mom, Dad, I'll take Angelina and Austin to school."
Frederick stopped her, "Your mom and I will take them. No need to tire yourself out while you're staying with us."
Lola smiled faintly.
Angelina, hearing that Frederick would take them, immediately sat up straight and finished her breakfast cleanly.
Frederick looked at the empty bowl and couldn't help but think of Lola as a child, who also loved to dig into mashed potatoes when she was happy. A wave of fatherly affection washed over him, and he reached out to pat Angelina's little head.
Frederick thought, 'She really is just like her mother.'
The following days were peaceful. Johnny seemed to accept that Lola was taking the kids abroad. He didn't say much but would pick up Angelina and Austin every weekend.
The two kids were still a bit awkward but had eased up a lot.
Friday afternoon.
Johnny returned to his office after a meeting and sat at his desk, reviewing a file about a newly registered company abroad. Yes, he was planning to go abroad too.
Lola was leaving, and if he couldn't take her with him, he would go with her.
As he was reading, his phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he hesitated but answered. After a moment of silence, a voice said, "Johnny, can we meet?"
It was Shirley.
Johnny frowned, clearly annoyed. "I'm not meeting you, Shirley. Don't call me again. We're done."
Shirley’s voice grew desperate. "Johnny, how can you just say it's over? What about my feelings? My family thinks we're getting married."
Johnny lit a cigarette, his tone icy. "I never said I’d marry you."
There was a long silence before Shirley spoke again, bitterness lacing her words. "Right, I forgot. In your heart, Mrs. Flores will always be Lola, won't she? But she doesn't want you anymore."
She hung up abruptly.
Johnny immediately blocked her number. He fiddled with his phone for a moment before dialing Wise Counsel Law Firm. After being transferred, Lola answered.
He hadn’t been pestering her lately, and when he wanted to see the kids, Lola didn’t object.
"What is it?" Lola’s voice came through the phone, mature with a hint of huskiness, which Johnny found quite alluring.
He knew she had been spending time with Ramon. She still occasionally went to that bar to listen to Ramon play guitar and sing love songs. Johnny was jealous but didn’t dare mention it to Lola, fearing her reaction.
Johnny’s voice softened. "I want to pick up Angelina and Austin tomorrow afternoon. I'll bring Bobby back too and give him a bath."
This was something trivial that didn’t need much discussion. Lola knew his intention was just to talk to her. She didn’t call him out on it and simply said, "I’ll tell my dad. You can just come over."
Johnny hadn’t seen her in a while and couldn’t help but want to. He asked quietly, "Are you not home? Are you playing tennis or horseback riding with Dr. Meza again?"
Lola thought of what the newspapers had written and smiled faintly. "That’s none of your business, Mr. Flores, is it?"
She hung up the phone.
After dealing with Johnny, she packed up her things to leave work early. Natalie had a book signing event today and had invited her to attend. Lola cared about Natalie and didn’t want to disappoint her.
Just as she finished packing, her assistant knocked and entered. "Ms. Hawkins, a Ms. Wells wants to see you."
Ms. Wells... Shirley?
Lola hadn’t expected to hear that name again. She didn’t want to see Shirley because she and Johnny were no longer connected. Shirley was Johnny’s problem to deal with. But considering other factors, she said, "Let her in."
The assistant replied softly, "Okay."
A moment later, Shirley entered. The assistant hesitated about making coffee, but Lola said, "Leave us and close the door."
Once the door was closed, Lola looked at Shirley.
Shirley glanced around the luxurious office, feeling insecure. Lola had been born with so much.
Leaning against the door, Shirley said bitterly, "Johnny and I..."
Lola interrupted her. "I don’t want to hear about you and him. I only agreed to see you to tell you that if you feel Johnny wronged you, you should take it up with him, not come to me. We’re divorced."
Compared to Lola’s calmness, Shirley was much more agitated.
Shirley laughed lightly. "Divorced? Yes, you are. But he keeps running back to you every week under the pretense of seeing the kids. Ms. Hawkins, you can’t deny that."
Lola leaned back in her leather chair. She studied Shirley’s expression and then said calmly, "You two should talk. It’s not my place to interfere."
Her indifferent attitude made Shirley lose her composure.
Why? Why!
Even though she had broken up Lola’s family, Lola remained calm and unbothered, not even considering her a threat. Shirley said coldly, "He won’t see me! So I had to come to you!"
Lola found it somewhat amusing. She didn’t agree to Shirley’s request. When she asked her assistant to escort Shirley out, Shirley was reluctant.
The next day, when Johnny came to pick up the kids, Lola was at home. The sun was shining brightly, and she was sitting on the couch in a floral dress, engrossed in a legal magazine.
She was so absorbed in her reading that she didn't notice Johnny coming in.
The house was quiet except for them; the kids were still upstairs. Johnny couldn't help but sit across from her and gently ask, "Why didn't you go out? No tennis date with Dr. Meza?"
There was a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Lola put down her magazine and looked at him. After a moment, she spoke, "I was waiting for you."
Waiting for him?
Johnny felt a glimmer of hope.
Lola smiled faintly and continued, "Shirley came to my law firm yesterday. She said you wouldn't see her, so she came to me. Johnny, I don't want to get involved in your issues with her, but Shirley's emotions are dangerous. You brought this on yourself, and you need to handle it properly. I don't want her affecting my life or the kids' lives."
Johnny instinctively explained, "There's nothing between us anymore."
Lola's smile faded. "You don't need to explain to me, Johnny. In fact, if it weren't for the kids' well-being, I'd hope you two could end up together."
She picked up her magazine again. "Angelina and Austin are upstairs. Go get them."
Johnny stared at her quietly, then finally stood up and went upstairs.
On Sunday, Johnny returned the kids to the Hawkins Mansion and then drove to the city center.
Shirley was thrilled when she opened the door. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and kiss him, just like before. No one knew how much she was infatuated with Johnny; he embodied everything she fantasized about.
Johnny avoided her. He pushed past her and sat on the couch, his hands on his knees, blue eyes fixed on Shirley.
Shirley slowly closed the door.
She smoothed her dress and forced a smile. "You finally came! Did Lola tell you to?"
Johnny took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. As he was about to light one, he noticed a familiar men's jacket on the side—it was his.
Shirley followed his gaze and then laughed. She mocked, "I know what you're thinking. You just want to get rid of me completely and win her back. But Johnny, how many times have you come to my place? How many times have we gone out together? I'm sure she knows. In two months, do you think we haven't done everything a man and woman could do? You think you're still clean because you didn't cross the final line? Dream on. In her eyes, you're already filthy."
Shirley spoke with satisfaction, but she didn't feel happy.
She lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and then said self-deprecatingly, "I have nothing left now. My career is ruined, and my family and friends look down on me. But it doesn't matter, does it? I have Mr. Flores with me... You're now also abandoned by everyone. I bet you feel worse than I do because you once had everything."
As she spoke, Johnny looked at her coldly without a trace of emotion.
At this moment, they were like two cold enemies, wishing to destroy each other. But men were always more ruthless than women. Johnny came here to resolve things once and for all.
He exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Through the gray haze, he said calmly, "Leave Seattle and go back to your hometown. I'll arrange for someone to marry you, Shirley... This is my final act of kindness."
Shirley was stunned. "You want me to marry someone else?"
Johnny stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. "I've done my best by coming here, Shirley. Don't test my patience any further. Felicity will help you book your ticket."
With that, he left without looking back.
As Johnny opened the door, Shirley screamed hysterically behind him, "Johnny, if you never liked me, why did you accept me in the first place?"
He paused and smiled faintly, "It just shows you don't understand men."
Shirley collapsed on the couch. She finally believed that Johnny had no feelings for her. If he did, he wouldn't be arranging for her to marry someone else.
He was truly ruthless!
It was only now that she truly understood him, but how could she accept it?
The next day was Monday. Johnny was in a meeting when his phone kept ringing with an unknown number.
After it rang over ten times, he finally couldn't take it anymore and answered. As expected, it was Shirley's voice, as soft and seductive as before, "I'm at the train station. I want to see you one last time."
Johnny stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gripping his phone. "I won't come! Shirley... do you want me to have someone escort you out?"
Shirley suddenly laughed, a harsh sound. When she stopped, her voice was soft, "I knew you wouldn't come! But Johnny, I took your most precious treasure. You might have to come see me... Come on, sweetheart, call your daddy... Johnny, did you hear that? This is the precious daughter Lola gave you. What if the fire burns her into a blackened stick? Do you think Lola would go mad?"
Johnny's heart sank. "Shirley, don't do anything stupid!"
Shirley was unmoved, continuing to laugh, "What... are you scared now? Regretting it? Too late! Johnny, you made me angry. You once treated me like a rare treasure. We were so happy, but you decided you didn't want me anymore. I'm not happy, so of course, I want you to be unhappy too. Why should I suffer alone?"
He could hear Angelina's weak voice calling for her daddy.
Johnny's heart pounded. He lowered his tone, "Shirley, I'll agree to any condition you have!"
Shirley laughed through her tears, "Any condition? Johnny... I'm so touched and happy. You finally care about me. But why don't I believe you? You'll agree now, but then you'll send me to jail or a mental hospital, right?"
The call abruptly ended!
Johnny's chest heaved. At that moment, Felicity ran over, her face pale, "The apartment is on fire. Not only is Angelina inside, but Lola is too!"
Johnny almost lost his balance.
Just then, a Facebook message came through on his phone: [Lola is willing to trade her life for the child's, but I won't give her the chance!]
The phone fell to the ground, shattering.
Outside, the sound of fire trucks blared. Johnny didn't know how he drove there, but when he arrived at the apartment building, flames were shooting into the sky, red fire licking the heavens.
A police line was set up, and many residents had evacuated, their faces blackened with soot.
Johnny got out of his car and tried to rush inside, but a firefighter stopped him, "Sir, you can't go in. The fire isn't out yet. It's too dangerous!"
Just as he said that, an explosion sounded.
The windows of the top-floor apartment shattered, sending a shower of sparks into the sky like a giant firework.
Lola!
Angelina!
Johnny desperately tried to push through, his voice hoarse, "My wife and daughter are inside. Let me in!"
Another explosion echoed!
Johnny still tried to rush in, his only thought being that if he had to die, he would die with Lola.
Someone grabbed his arm.
Then a slap landed on his face, stunning him. When he came to, he saw Frederick's stern face.
Frederick's eyes were wet, and he slapped Johnny again, "What good will it do to go in now? It's suicide!"
At that moment, the sound of helicopter blades filled the air, and water was sprayed down from above, quenching the flames.
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