Chapter 735 Lola, I Won't Look for Another Woman Again
Because Austin was sick, the already fragile relationship had to be confronted again.
Lola stayed by Austin's side.
At first, Frederick and Charlotte were worried that she and Johnny might clash being in the same room, but it was clear that both of them were holding back. In private, Frederick said to Charlotte, "Johnny has some fatherly qualities!"
Charlotte felt a bit emotional as she looked at Johnny, noticing how thin he had become.
He was different from before.
Watching him in silence, she couldn't tell if it was good or bad.
At noon, Austin woke up.
Austin was still feverish, his cheeks flushed, and even his eyes were red. His small face rested quietly on the white pillow as he looked at Lola and asked softly, "How long did I sleep?"
Lola placed her hand on his forehead and said gently, "For several hours. Are you hungry now? The house sent over some broth. Eating a bit will help you recover faster."
Austin didn't answer.
His eyes were moist, and his voice sounded like a small animal's whimper, "Mom, I didn't mean to."
Lola's heart ached deeply.
She leaned down, gently touching Austin's face, her voice slightly hoarse, "Mom knows! Austin, it's normal for kids to get sick. You don't need to blame yourself."
"I got sick because..."
Austin, usually proud, wanted to tell Lola why he got sick.
Before he could finish, the door opened.
Johnny walked in. Austin woke up, and his blue eyes seemed to grow deeper. He walked over and touched Austin's head, "Don't do anything silly next time. You can call Dad."
Austin was still mad at him, burying his face in the pillow without a word.
"You're going to suffocate!"
Johnny's tone carried a hint of indulgence. He bent down, picked Austin up, wrapped him in a coat, and held him on his lap.
Austin, at four or five years old, usually didn't let adults hold him.
Now his face turned even redder, struggling to get down.
Johnny didn't let go. He looked down at Austin and said, "Your mom isn't feeling well. I'll feed you."
He then looked up at Lola, "You can rest on the sofa. I'll take care of Austin."
Lola didn't want to be so close to him either.
She quietly served the broth and placed it on the bedside table. By then, Austin had stopped struggling. He was weak and rarely so docile, leaning against Johnny for care.
Johnny held Austin with one hand and fed him with a spoon in the other.
He looked at Austin's small face, inevitably recalling the time when Austin was born. That was probably the best period in his relationship with Lola, with a son and a daughter, a happy family.
Thinking of those times, he felt a lump in his throat and his eyes grew moist.
Austin looked at him, obediently eating the broth. After eating, he felt a bit better and less in pain. Frederick and Charlotte returned after lunch and happened to see this scene.
Frederick, always holding a grudge, couldn't help but mock, "You're doing quite well in the father role now!"
Johnny looked up and called out, "Dad, Mom."
Frederick wanted to mock him further, but Charlotte discreetly tugged his sleeve, signaling him to be mindful in front of Austin. Frederick relented and said to Lola, "Go have your meal! We'll stay here."
Lola nodded and gently touched Austin's little head.
"Mom will be back soon."
One of the advantages of private hospitals was that they often have high-end restaurants. Felix from the Hawkins family brought lunch.
As Lola ate, Felix introduced the dishes.
Seeing her eat little, he was about to persuade her when Johnny's clear, slightly deep voice interrupted, "That's not enough. Eat more."
Lola paused with her fork.
Felix looked at Johnny, showing an awkward smile but maintaining decorum, "Mr. Flores, hello."
Johnny sat across from Lola, serving himself food without asking, and even added a bowl of soup for Lola. His natural demeanor made Felix's face twitch.
Johnny took a bite of food and suddenly looked up, "I still prefer you call me Johnny."
Felix, having worked for the Hawkins family for decades, wasn't easily fazed.
He smiled broadly, "I've worked for the Hawkins family for decades. I'm used to calling Jesse, Leopold, Austin..."
Johnny glanced at him, and Felix smiled even more.
Lola thought Felix was doing quite well today.
Though Felix teased a bit, seeing them eating together so peacefully, he sighed with emotion and quietly withdrew.
Lola, having eaten enough, was about to leave.
As she moved, Johnny quickly held her hand. Lola looked at him, and he realized his overstep, immediately letting go. He said softly, "I have something to discuss with you."
Lola knew it was about Austin.
She thought of Austin climbing the wall at night, leading to his illness today. Regardless of her relationship with Johnny, Austin was innocent and needed care, so she didn't refuse.
Johnny, seeing her agree, felt a glimmer of hope, but this time he didn't dare to overstep.
He didn't dare to hope Lola still had feelings for him.
With few people in the restaurant, he spoke in a low voice, "I'll try to spend more time with the kids. Don't worry, I won't disrupt your life. I just hope you'll give me a chance to make it up to them."
A rational man is always easier to communicate with.
Their interaction was better than when they were married, without force or compulsion. Both of them were calm.
Lola's face was serene, and she agreed.
Finally, she made a small request, "If you start dating someone, please don't let Angelina and Austin meet her right away. Give them some time to adjust."
Johnny, initially in a good mood, hearing this, his face darkened as he looked at her, "Lola, do you think I can still date?"
Lola smiled faintly, "I don't know. I'm just assuming."
"There's no such assumption!"
He spoke quickly and urgently, "Lola, I won't date anyone else. I won't let another woman hurt you. The last one was just a manager at the company. I've already fired her. I won't let anyone else get close to me."
Lola didn't interrupt his eager confession.
She just listened quietly, then remained unmoved.
Soon, Johnny realized this and stopped, speaking softly, "Lola, you don't care anymore, do you? I don't have a chance, right?"
His expression was truly forlorn.
Lola didn't want to continue the topic. She said, "Weren't we talking about the kids? If you want to spend more time with them, you can take them on weekends. They can even stay overnight."
Her willingness to compromise made Johnny's heartache.
Lola loved the kids so much that even if she despised him, she was willing to make concessions.
He whispered, "Thank you."
Feeling the conversation had reached its end, Lola said softly, "I'm going back to the room. If you have anything else, you can leave first. I'll take care of Austin."
Johnny, not wanting to let this rare moment of being alone slip away, acted impulsively again.
He grabbed her slender wrist, looking up at her.
Lola tried to pull away, "Johnny! Have you forgotten what you said?"
Johnny's throat tightened. His long fingers loosened slightly but then tightened again, as if afraid she would leave, afraid she would disappear.
After a long silence, he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.
He asked, "Why did you keep this child? Is it because of me, Lola, do you still have some feelings for me?"
After asking, his Adam's apple moved involuntarily.
The restaurant, already not very crowded, became even quieter. These two were well-known figures in Seattle, having been part of a high-profile family drama for the past six months. It was rumored that Lola was pregnant.
Lola looked around. No matter how composed she usually was, she couldn't withstand these gazes.
Her eyes returned to his face.
She smiled faintly, "I can't have an abortion. Didn't you know that when you got me pregnant?"
His face turned a bit pale.
Lola spoke softly again, "Our issues are in the past. I'll raise this child well. Johnny, for the sake of the kids, let's at least maintain some decorum! If you can't do that, I think..."
Before she could finish, he interrupted, his voice hoarse, "I can do it!"
After speaking, he slowly released her wrist.
Reluctantly, he still let go.
Lola didn't want to see his expression. She told herself that the last thing she needed with Johnny was to be soft-hearted. It was her countless moments of softness that led to their current situation.
It was time to stop entangling.
Lola left, and Johnny didn't leave immediately. He sat there, looking down at the food. The taste was familiar and suited his palate.
He suddenly realized he hadn't eaten food prepared by the Hawkins Mansion chef in a long time.
He quietly finished all the food.
Felix, hiding in the shadows, appeared and cleared his throat, "This food was prepared for the pregnant woman, Mr. Flores. You seem to enjoy it! Though they say one person eating can nourish two, that's meant for the pregnant woman, not the man who got her pregnant."
Johnny remained silent.
Lola returned to the room and saw that Austin's spirits had improved. He was sitting on the bed, playing with his toys.
Charlotte was with him.
Lola gently closed the door, and Frederick called her to the sofa. He asked, "You took a long time eating. Did you talk with him?"
Lola didn't hide it. She said, "Yes, we talked about the kids. He wanted to spend more time with them, and I agreed."
For the sake of Austin and Angelina, Frederick was willing to compromise too.
Mainly because Johnny seemed to have learned his lesson! He looked genuinely afraid of making Lola angry and didn't dare to overstep.
As they were talking, Johnny came in.
He walked over and touched Austin's forehead. The fever had mostly subsided, and Austin seemed much better.
Johnny was relieved.
Looking at Lola again, he said, "I'll stay and take care of him, or I can come back tomorrow."
He had enough self-awareness to make such a suggestion.
Before Lola could respond, Frederick nodded, "That sounds good. You can take over tomorrow morning."
Johnny picked up his gray coat from the back of the sofa, put it on, and walked over to Austin, saying softly, "Dad's leaving now. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Austin, still feeling unwell, was reluctant in his heart.
But outwardly, he remained cool, just nodding.
As Johnny left, he couldn't help but glance at Lola. He didn't expect her to see him off, just wanted to look at her one more time. Unexpectedly, Lola looked back at him.
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere became subtle.
Johnny's Adam's apple moved slightly. Finally, he walked to the door, opened it, and left.
After he left, no one spoke.
They were afraid Lola would feel sad.
By evening, Austin was almost fully recovered, and Frederick and Charlotte were relieved.
They suggested Lola go home and rest.
Lola agreed, putting on her coat and preparing to say goodbye to Austin when a call came from the Hawkins family estate. It was Laura, telling Frederick that Patrick wasn't feeling well and asking them to come back.
The phone's volume was loud enough for Lola to hear.
She took off her coat and said softly, "Mom, Dad, you should go take care of Grandpa. I'll stay here with Austin."
Frederick had his concerns.
Lola knew what he was worried about. She said calmly, "I don't think he will. We made things very clear this time."
Frederick, worried about Patrick, considered it and agreed. They left first.
Lola stayed with Austin.
The sick child, when it was time for dinner, softly said he wanted ravioli.
"Meat-filled."
Since Austin was sick, Lola was willing to fulfill this small wish. She called Felix and asked him to have some fresh meat-filled ravioli made and sent over.
Felix readily agreed.
But after hanging up, he was troubled. With the Fireworks Festival holiday, the servants had all gone home. Where could he find someone to make ravioli?
Felix smoked a cigarette.
Angelina, holding Bobby, looked up at him, "Dad's ravioli is the best!"
Felix thought that got it!
Felix, braving the wind, made a call.
At the hospital, at 9:30 PM.
Austin had fallen asleep waiting for the ravioli, his small body lying quietly on the pillow.
Lola stayed by his side.
She was pregnant, and the recent stress had worn her out. She accidentally fell asleep at the bedside. Her golden hair gently brushed her delicate face, exuding a fragile beauty.
Johnny walked in and saw this scene.
Despite their years of marriage and growing up together, her face was deeply etched in his mind. At that moment, Johnny forgot to breathe.
He watched her almost greedily.
Afraid to wake her.
Just then, Austin woke up. Seeing Johnny in front of him, he thought it was a dream and shook his head, softly calling, "Dad!"
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