Chapter 740 Lola, Let Me Take Care of You!
"Stella... Did Lola name her that because she misses the stars?" Johnny clutched his chest and slowly sat down on the bench.
His face had lost its color as he repeatedly thought about that name. Over time, he had gradually come to accept it, just as he had accepted that Lola still had Darren in her heart.
He looked down at the colorful ultrasound image.
Stella looked like Lola, and he could see a bit of himself in her as well.
Suddenly, he felt dizzy.
He thought about the origin of Stella, and how Lola was still willing to give birth to and care for her. What was there to argue about?
He pressed the photo close to his heart.
It was their Stella, his and Lola's.
He even took out his phone and wrote a text message. He stared at it for a long time before sending it, his eyes welling up. How had things come to this between him and Lola?
She didn't want to see him or talk to him.
Back then, when she brought him home, she was so happy. She hid him in her little bed like he was her beloved teddy bear.
[Actually, Stella Hawkins sounds pretty nice too.]
Lola received the message.
She was sitting in the back seat of the car. Nola was driving and talking to her, but Lola didn't catch what Nola said. She just looked at her phone for a moment before putting it down and turning to the window, her eyes moist.
Maybe Johnny would never understand the meaning of Stella or what Lola was reminiscing about, but she didn't want to explain it to him either.
Nola had wanted to say something, but seeing Lola like this, she held her tongue.
She thought, "Ms. Hawkins seems cold towards Mr. Flores, but they grew up together. Besides their relationship as a couple, there's still some other bond. How can Ms.Hawkins forget that?"
They probably couldn't forget each other.
Nola drove quietly, not disturbing Lola, and took the car back to The Hawkins Mansion.
Near noon, Frederick and his wife had returned and were sitting in the living room, waiting. Frederick was holding his phone, hoping Lola would call.
Lola walked in and changed her shoes.
Nola wanted to help, but Charlotte came over and thoughtfully helped Lola into her indoor slippers and guided her to sit down.
"How did the check-up go? You went out so early without calling me or your mom."
"You never ask us to come with you."
Lola sat beside him and smiled gently.
She lightly held his arm and softly said, "I was afraid Dad would get too excited. Besides, I felt fine with Nola accompanying me."
Frederick disagreed, "Me, excited? Look at how many kids have been born in this family. Have you ever seen me get excited over any of them? Ask your mom if you don't believe me."
Charlotte responded with a forced smile.
Frederick rubbed his nose, laughed awkwardly, and then asked Nola, "Where's the ultrasound? Let me and Charlotte take a look. We've been talking for so long and haven't had a chance to see Stella yet!"
Nola smiled, "I'll go get it from the car."
But the next second, her smile froze because she remembered she had given the ultrasound to Johnny.
She looked at Lola.
Lola remembered too and tried to brush it off, "The ultrasound wasn't printed out. I'll get it tomorrow."
Frederick knew right away that Johnny had gone to the hospital.
Why couldn't Johnny just let it go?
The incident at the hotel last night was seen by everyone there. As parents, they were helpless and heartbroken. Friends and relatives sighed, but the hotel staff were just watching the drama unfold.
Family matters were not for outsiders to meddle in.
Frederick let Nola leave first.
When only he, his wife, and Lola were left in the living room, he carefully asked, "Did he go to the hospital? Did you give him the ultrasound?"
Lola didn't hide it, "Yes."
Frederick and Charlotte exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. Finally, Frederick sighed, "It's good he saw it. We can't tell Stella she came from a crack in a rock."
Lola didn't want him to misunderstand, so she added, "I just let him see it. Nothing else."
Frederick and his wife knew her personality well. Back in their bedroom, Frederick tapped his fingers on the table and sighed, "If we had known it would end like this, we would have arranged things differently when Johnny was young. Who knew their love story would be so rocky? Charlotte, Lola seems to have moved on, but Johnny hasn't. He's getting more obsessed. Love should make people happy. Why pursue it so painfully?"
He spoke with a heavy heart, but he also felt anger.
Charlotte knew him best.
Frederick was undoubtedly disappointed in Johnny. Lola would never forget Shirley's affair, and infidelity was something they couldn't accept.
Frederick hated what Johnny did, but Johnny was the child he had raised for so many years. Cutting ties was easier said than done. Johnny was the son whom Frederick truly cared for and admired; in Frederick's heart, there was no difference between him and Kingsley.
Charlotte felt the same pain.
She leaned gently on his shoulder and softly comforted him, "In time, he'll understand."
Frederick got anxious, "I'm not worried about him!"
She didn't say anything, just traced his features with her slender fingers.
Frederick calmed down.
He gently held her hand and whispered, "Charlotte, I'm so lucky to have you."
Charlotte smiled softly.
Yes, despite the many worries after having children, they had supported each other through the years. But she couldn't help teasing him, hoping to lighten his mood.
She looked up and smiled, "When we first started, you only wanted to live together, not get married."
Frederick cupped her face and touched his forehead to hers.
He looked into her eyes and said, "Marriage is wonderful. Charlotte, marrying you is wonderful."
Charlotte hugged him gently.
*
This summer was hotter than usual.
In the later stages of her pregnancy, Lola had no appetite. She couldn't eat or sleep well. At the eighth month, Stella was smaller than other babies at the same stage. Frederick and his wife were worried and gave Lola lots of supplements, but nothing helped.
The adults were anxious, and so were the kids.
On the weekend, Johnny picked up Angelina and Austin. On Saturday, Austin went to his tutoring class, and Angelina stayed home with Johnny.
After half a year, Angelina's attitude towards him had softened, but it wasn't like when she was little.
In the evening, as dusk fell, the breeze in the yard was cool. Angelina walked Bobby on the grass, throwing a small ball to play with him. Through the glass, Johnny watched her from the kitchen, with a slight smile.
Austin would be back soon, and it was hot, so Johnny was making smoothies for the kids.
The ice machine was about to start, making noise.
His phone rang. It was Felicity, updating him on a major project and asking, "Mr. Flores, are you really not coming to the office tomorrow?"
Johnny held the phone, watching Angelina in the sunset.
He said, "No, I'm not coming to the office. I need to be with the kids."
Felicity didn't say anything more.
Johnny hung up, poured the smoothies into small bowls, and tasted one. It was refreshing.
Angelina, feeling hot, ran inside with Bobby following.
Johnny told her to wash her face and wait in the dining room. When the smoothies were ready, Angelina happily took one and quickly finished it.
Johnny only allowed her to have two small bowls, worried about her stomach.
After finishing, Angelina looked at him for a while.
She seemed to want more.
Johnny patted her head and gently said, "I'll make more for you tomorrow."
Seeing no hope for more, Angelina rested her chin on her hand and softly said, "I wish Mom could have such delicious smoothies too."
Hearing about Lola, his heart skipped a beat.
Angelina rarely mentioned Lola, and he avoided bringing her up to prevent stirring memories.
Now that Angelina mentioned her, he couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with Mom?"
Angelina looked at him with her big, watery eyes.
She said, "It's so hot, Mom has no appetite. The baby in her tummy is getting thin. The doctor said if this continues, Mom will suffer."
Angelina was full of thoughts.
Johnny gently patted her head and said, "I'll go pick up Austin."
He brought Austin back.
In half a year, Austin had grown taller, with long, handsome legs. He was the school heartthrob, often helping Angelina with her backpack.
Sometimes, watching his kids, Johnny felt a bit dazed. He remembered how he used to carry Lola's backpack.
Lola would hop ahead of him.
While Austin drank his smoothie, Johnny softly said, "I'll take you home later. I'll pick you up again tomorrow morning."
Austin paused and asked, "Do you have something to do, Dad?"
Johnny awkwardly cleared his throat, "Yes, I have something to do. I'll make a few more smoothies for you to take home."
Austin wasn't as greedy as Angelina.
After finishing, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and calmly asked, "Are those for me and Angelina, or are you making them for Mom?"
Johnny was caught off guard.
His relationship with Lola was intense, but he couldn't show it in front of the kids, especially mature Austin.
Johnny thought for a moment, "You and Angelina can come back tomorrow for more."
Austin nodded, "I see. You're making those for Mom. Should I mention it for Mom?"
Johnny was silent.
In the end, the kids took the smoothies home.
There were six in total, neatly arranged.
Austin calmly said, "Dad said two for each of us. The least cold ones are for Mom."
Frederick and Charlotte exchanged glances.
After a moment, Frederick looked upstairs, thinking about how Lola had lost weight and appetite. It wasn't good for a pregnant woman.
He sighed, "Take them up."
A servant brought the smoothies upstairs. The small bowl of chilled smoothie looked refreshing and appetizing.
Lola, with no appetite, found it appealing.
But after one sip, she paused. She recognized the taste. It wasn't made by the family chef but by Johnny.
Only Johnny added a bit of mint to his smoothies, which had a unique freshness.
Lola stirred it gently.
The servant, knowing she had figured it out, was nervous, afraid she would refuse it.
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