Chapter 736 Late at Night, He Stole a Kiss!
Johnny felt his heart soften as he listened.
He carried the food box over and gently patted Austin's little head. Austin was more awake now, not as soft as before, and a bit more stubborn.
Johnny sat down beside him.
His gaze fell on Lola, but when he turned back, he saw Austin watching him. Johnny felt a bit embarrassed. "Didn't you want to eat ravioli? Can you sit up and eat by yourself?"
Austin nodded.
Johnny's voice turned hoarse. "I'll move your mom to the next room. It's uncomfortable for her to sleep like this."
Austin couldn't help but say, "Be gentle, there's a baby in Mommy's tummy."
Johnny's eyes stung, and he felt a bitter taste rise in his throat. He suppressed his emotions to avoid losing composure in front of Austin and whispered, "I know."
Johnny picked Lola up, and she didn't wake.
The next room was dimly lit.
Johnny laid Lola down on the soft bed. She seemed to find it comfortable, turning on her side with her face against the white pillow. Her long body, clad in a wool dress, hadn't yet shown signs of pregnancy, and she looked particularly alluring lying there.
Johnny couldn't resist. He wanted to steal a kiss while she slept.
He kissed the tip of her nose.
He had intended to stop there, but once he felt her skin, he couldn't control himself. His lips moved down, gently kissing her soft lips.
He was careful not to wake her, kissing her lightly as if handling a fragile treasure.
Lola woke up.
Her eyes met his in the dim light. She seemed a bit dazed like she used to be under him in moments of passion.
Johnny's heart ached.
He couldn't bear to see that look in her eyes, fearing her cold, disdainful gaze once she fully woke.
Before she could push him away, he whispered hoarsely, "I brought ravioli."
The pressure on him suddenly disappeared.
Johnny got up and went to the other room, leaving Lola alone in the dim space. Perhaps because it was so dark, her other senses became more acute.
After a while, Lola slowly raised her hand and lightly touched her lips.
There was a faint taste of tobacco.
Had Johnny just kissed her?
Austin was a meticulous child. Even though he was dizzy from illness, he got out of bed to brush his teeth.
As he passed by, he saw Johnny stealing a kiss from Lola.
When Johnny returned, he found Austin staring at him. As he opened the box, he asked, "Why are you looking at Daddy like that?"
Austin, unable to hold back, blushed and said, "I saw you kiss Mommy!"
Johnny's hand paused.
He looked at Austin, who awkwardly said, "Mommy won't be happy if she knows."
Johnny softly said, "Then let's keep it a secret, okay?"
Austin bit his lip.
At his age, he had a strong sense of right and wrong. Though he didn't say anything, he disapproved of such behavior, which made Johnny feel even more awkward.
It was just a kiss, yet it made him feel like a young man, impulsive and passionate.
He fed Austin the ravioli.
Austin, feeling better, ate twelve of them. Looking at the remaining twenty or so, he said, "They won't taste so good tomorrow!"
Johnny patted his little head. "If you want more, Daddy will make them for you tomorrow."
Austin, full and sleepy, lay down on the soft pillow, staring at Johnny without speaking.
"Still mad at Daddy?" Johnny touched his little face.
Austin said, "Yes."
Johnny looked a bit disappointed but didn't say anything, just coaxed Austin to sleep.
Austin soon fell asleep.
Johnny sat quietly for a while. Lola hadn't come out, probably avoiding facing that kiss, pretending it never happened.
Austin's hospital room wasn't suitable for a hysterical argument.
Their past was in ruins, and now, there was almost no emotion left. As Johnny stood by the window, he saw a few delicate snowflakes falling outside.
Light and fleeting, they seemed to vanish as soon as they appeared.
He couldn't help but think that perhaps for the rest of his life, he would live with memories of the past; he had no right to be part of Lola's future, not even to ask about it.
The night grew deeper.
The two of them, one standing by the window outside, the other sitting by the bed inside.
Quietly lost in thought.
Whether love or hate, they were thinking of each other.
In the early morning, Lola woke up to find Johnny already gone.
The room was warm, but his presence had long since faded.
By Austin's bedside was a fresh food box, with breakfast Johnny had made early in the morning—milk, waffles, and a few other snacks, all meticulously prepared.
Austin, afraid Lola would be upset, hadn't touched it.
Lola gently said, "Go wash up and have breakfast. Don't you love these?"
Austin hesitated.
Lola walked over, hugged him, and kissed him lightly. "What happens between Daddy and Mommy is our business. You and Angelina like Daddy, and Daddy is willing to take care of you. You don't have to feel like you're betraying Mommy."
Austin, usually strong-willed, stayed in Lola's arms for a long time.
After he went to wash up, Lola walked to the window.
She saw that it had snowed during the night.
The snow on the ground was deep enough to cover knee-high boots, making it difficult to walk, let alone drive. Lola looked at the food box, guessing Johnny had gone home early to make it and brought it back.
The better he did, the sadder Lola felt.
She reached out her slender fingers and drew lightly on the window. When she came to her senses, she realized she had drawn a maple leaf.
The door to the room opened, and Johnny walked in.
He saw the maple leaf and his Adam's apple moved slightly. "Lola?"
Lola wiped away the drawing on the window and turned to him, speaking calmly. "Austin's fever has gone down. He should be fine now. You can go about your business."
Johnny closed the door.
He was wearing a coat, still dusted with snow. He looked at her for a long time before giving a faint smile. "I don't have anything important to do. It's the Fireworks Festival holiday, and there's no one I need to visit."
Once, the Hawkins family had been his only family.
During the Fireworks Festival, he always followed the Hawkins family. When he was young, Frederick would take him to visit relatives and friends, introducing him as his son. Now, he was alone, with no relatives to visit.
They stood in silence, both thinking the same thing.
Just then, Austin came over, and Johnny took care of him. Frederick called Lola to tell her that Patrick was fine and not to worry and that Charlotte would come to the hospital in the afternoon.
Lola said, "Okay," and hung up.
Johnny looked up, hesitated, and said, "Is Grandpa not feeling well? I should go see him."
Lola put away her phone.
She was mindful of Austin's presence and gently refused. "Grandpa is old and not feeling well. It might be inconvenient... maybe next time."
Johnny understood her meaning.
His eyes dimmed, but he didn't say anything more.
In the afternoon, Charlotte arrived, accompanied by Kingsley and Amara, and Sienna.
After greeting them, Johnny left first. In the hallway, he leaned against the wall, overwhelmed with heartache. He regretted using Shirley to provoke Lola, regretted wanting to give up on their marriage, and regretted forcing Lola to get pregnant.
But no matter how much he regretted it, he knew that from the moment he let Shirley stay by his side, he had lost Lola.
She was such a proud person.
How could she accept a man with such flaws to hurt her repeatedly?
A focused gaze fell on him.
Johnny looked up and saw Kingsley. He straightened up and asked lightly, "Do you want to beat me up or laugh at me?"
Kingsley's expression was indifferent, said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I guess you still have hope in your heart."
Johnny didn't deny it.
Kingsley sneered.
He stepped forward, grabbed Johnny by the neck, and pressed him against the wall, speaking harshly. "Why? Why do you still want happiness and everything after what you've done? Johnny, don't you think you're greedy? Do you think Lola is the only one who suffered? Do you know how many cigarettes my dad smoked this past year? He treated you like a son, and this is how you repay him! If you're a man, stop dreaming."
Johnny didn't struggle.
He leaned against the wall, looking down at Kingsley. He didn't deny it.
He said, "Yes, I still have hope in my heart. Kingsley... can't I even have hope?"
"When you did those things, did you leave Lola any room?"
"She cares so much about her dignity! You humiliated her with another woman, you let her hurt Angelina... and you forced her to get pregnant. Do you know how dangerous it is for Lola to be pregnant? What if the baby has problems? What then? Tell me, what then? You crazy bastard, you just want her, you want to live with her, but have you ever considered her? No! You only think about yourself."
Kingsley finished and suddenly let go of him.
He said, "Johnny, you're now one of the top bosses in Seattle. You can have any woman you want. Why pretend to be noble and stay here? If you take a step outside, the world is vast!"
He finished speaking, adjusted his clothes, and left.
Johnny remained where he was, pondering Kingsley's words, then lowered his head and smiled faintly.
Yes, the world outside is vast.
He used to think that way, which is why Shirley appeared, but he regretted it.
He didn't want to go out. His heart was trapped with Lola.
He didn't want anyone else, only Lola... but did they have a future?
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