Chapter 745 He Pleases Her, Makes Her Happy, and Wants to Start over with Her1
Lola followed Johnny outside, and Charlotte eventually trailed behind them.
"Johnny," Charlotte called softly, gently closing the door behind her, clearly not wanting Frederick to hear.
Johnny turned around. Although his face was pale, he looked much softer than he had right after the divorce, when he was surrounded by gloom. Now, having reached an agreement with Lola, he felt he had another chance.
This chance had brought new life to him.
He knew what Charlotte wanted to say, so he glanced at Lola and said softly, "Mom, don't worry. I won't make Lola do anything she doesn't want to."
Charlotte slowly stepped forward.
She lightly patted Johnny's arm and said, "I heard from Jared that you haven't been feeling well lately. Take care of yourself and don't overwork."
Even though these words were for Lola's sake, Johnny felt a sudden pang in his heart.
He had deep feelings for Frederick and Charlotte.
But as a man nearing 40, he couldn't easily express his emotions. His Adam's apple moved slightly, and he said calmly, "Okay, Mom. I'll take Lola home now."
Charlotte was reluctant but had to let them go.
Johnny led Lola downstairs and into the car.
Lola remained silent. Though she wasn't as cold as before, they had been apart for so long that she didn't know what to say to him besides talking about their child.
Suddenly, her hand was held.
His hand was not very warm; it was rather cool.
Lola instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, but as soon as she moved, he gripped it tighter. She could even feel his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible.
Her fingers curled slightly, and after a few moments, she stopped trying to pull away and let him hold her hand.
Johnny held her hand like that, doing nothing else. The black SUV drove smoothly, and Johnny in the back seat thought that if time could stop at that moment, it would be perfect. He could stay with Lola forever.
Lola looked out the window.
She saw a woman on the street, dressed in rags, kneeling and begging for food.
She was thin, with broken legs.
Her floral shirt was missing a couple of buttons, exposing her skin, but her hair was dirty and messy, and her face was unrecognizable. The woman kept reaching out her hand to passersby, hoping to receive a little money or a piece of bread.
She reminded Lola of someone.
"Stop the car," Lola said urgently.
Saul slowed down and said naturally, "Mrs. Flores, we can't stop here. It's against the rules."
Johnny interjected in a calm tone, "Do as Mrs. Flores says."
Saul didn't dare say anything more and quickly pulled over to the side of the road.
As soon as the car stopped, Lola opened the door. She was still weak from childbirth and almost stumbled as she ran back. Johnny followed her, calling her name, but she didn't hear him.
Half a minute later, Lola slowed down.
Her heart was pounding, and she slowly extended her slender hand, wanting to see if the woman was who she thought she was.
Johnny reached her side.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling them tremble. His voice was slightly hoarse, "It's not her, Lola. She won't appear again."
Lola turned to look at him, her eyes colder than before, "How do you know?"
She insisted on looking. Johnny was helpless, took out $500 from his wallet, and handed it to the woman. He gestured a few times with his hands, not caring whether the woman understood him and the onlookers around couldn't make sense of what he was doing.
The woman, holding the money, was willing to do anything.
Lola brushed the hair from the woman's forehead. The facial features were different and the eyes were not the same. This wasn't Shirley.
Lola's body went limp, suddenly losing strength. The woman didn't understand what was happening. She looked up at the pale woman, who was so beautiful and elegant.
For the $500, the woman kept thanking them.
Lola quietly watched her, and tears suddenly streamed down her face uncontrollably. Johnny held her, wiping away her tears, and said softly, "It's windy. Let's get back in the car."
Lola asked him, "Johnny, how much money do you have on you?"
Her tone wasn't as cold as usual, and calling him Johnny made him willing to do anything for her. He quickly took out all the money in his wallet, about four or five thousand dollars. That would be enough for a stranger, but now he wanted to make Lola happy, so he said, "I'll take you back to the car first. There's an ATM up ahead. I'll withdraw tens of thousands of dollars."
Lola eventually got back in the car.
She waited inside while Saul accompanied Johnny to withdraw money. They used several cards and eventually withdrew over $100,000, which they handed to the begging woman.
The woman had never seen so much money and kept thanking them.
A little girl, about ten years old, ran over and mimicked the woman's actions, thanking them repeatedly.
It was a pitiful sight.
Johnny wasn't usually a sympathetic person, and neither was Lola, but today the woman's appearance struck a nerve. Johnny thought for a moment and told Saul, "Take her to the hospital and see if there's any hope for her legs. I'll cover all the medical expenses."
Saul said he was a good man.
The begging woman and the child kept thanking him.
When Johnny got back in the car, he thought what kind of good man was he? He even negotiated terms for giving blood to his adoptive father. He had never been a kind person.
He sat in the driver's seat and asked gently, "Are you okay?"
Lola didn't respond.
Johnny thought for a moment and then said, "She's dead! So she won't appear in front of us again, Lola. Everything is over! Let's forget about that time, okay?"
Lola's fingers trembled. Shirley was dead?
She had seen Shirley's miserable state and could almost imagine how Shirley had died, surely in a hundred times more horrific way in that dilapidated house, and very undignified.
Recalling those dark times,
Johnny's handsome face also grew more somber, his long eyebrows slightly furrowed. He wanted to smoke, but with Lola in the car, he just took out a pack of mints from the glove compartment and popped one into his mouth.
After a while, he calmed down and said softly, "Let's not talk about it anymore, okay?"
Lola didn't say yes or no.
She said, "Let's go to the hospital to pick up the baby."
This little episode was over. They went to the hospital, picked up the baby, and drove straight to Johnny's villa. When they were about to get out of the car, Lola, holding the baby, said, "Clean up the nursery where Austin used to stay."
Johnny got out of the car and walked around to her side.
The servants carried the luggage, and Johnny held Stella, carefully wrapping her to keep the wind from blowing on her. He also draped a shawl over Lola's shoulders and said softly, "I have a new nursery ready. Come upstairs and see if you like it."
Lola was a bit surprised but quickly understood his intention.
She said, "Okay."
Johnny was somewhat taken aback by the unexpected kindness. Holding Stella, he walked ahead while the housekeeper helped Lola upstairs. Stella's room was on the second floor, facing west. The crisp autumn air made the day quite pleasant.
Since it was a girl's room, it was decorated in soft pink and looked very cute. Johnny placed Stella in her crib and was about to cover her with a light blanket when she woke up, kicking her little legs and turning red in the face.
Johnny checked her and said, "Looks like she needs a diaper change. I'll handle it."
The housekeeper helped Lola sit on the couch.
She then went downstairs to get the rest of the luggage.
Lola watched Johnny skillfully change the diaper, and it reminded her of when she had given birth to Austin and how Johnny had taken care of him in the same way.
She couldn't bear to watch any longer, afraid it would bring back too many memories.
She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and pulled back the curtain.
Outside was a small grove of maple trees, their leaves turned red in the autumn season. Lola's eyes grew warm, and she rested her head against the glass, speaking softly, "Johnny, why hold on so tightly? If we let go, we could both live well, and the kids would grow up without any pressure."
Over by the crib, Johnny had just finished changing Stella's diaper.
Hearing her words, he paused and then looked up.
The red maples looked like fire.
Through the glass, Lola stood by the window, her face bare of makeup, reminding him of how she used to look.
Johnny gazed for a long moment.
Stella started crying again, probably hungry. Johnny put his thoughts aside and carefully picked her up, speaking softly to Lola, "Stella's hungry. You should feed her. I'll go downstairs and make you something to eat."
Despite the many issues between them, Stella's cries brought a temporary peace.
Lola slowly walked back and sat on the couch.
Johnny bent down to place Stella in her arms, his fingers lingering on Stella for a moment. Stella, sensing her mother's presence, nuzzled around, trying to find a place to feed, but couldn't through the thin fabric, growing red in the face with frustration.
Johnny watched, feeling a warmth in his chest.
Lola said softly, "You should go out."
He wanted to stay but didn't want to upset her, so he nodded. As he turned to leave, Lola began to unbutton her shirt, but the buttons were too tight, and she couldn't manage with one hand. Stella's cries grew more urgent.
Johnny had just stepped out and was about to close the door.
He turned back, standing in front of Lola, his voice a bit hurried, "Let me help you."
Lola wanted to refuse, but Johnny gently reminded her, "Lola, we agreed to be a real couple."
Her heart trembled.
Johnny wouldn't make a deal without ensuring his benefit. The 60 days was calculated precisely because after 42 days, they could resume intimacy. He said he wouldn't force her, but the agreement also stated she should work on rebuilding their relationship.
Lola smiled faintly, releasing her grip, her fingers curling slightly.
Johnny knelt, deftly unbuttoning three buttons and opening her shirt. Her slender figure and smooth skin were still enticing, even post-pregnancy.
Johnny's breathing quickened.
He hadn't done it for over half a year, and now he was faced with a woman he loved—how could he not want to make love with her?
But he didn't lose control. He lightly touched her, looking up at her, "You look even better than before."
Lola didn't act coy.
They had been married for many years and had seen each other in all states. She naturally began to feed Stella, and since she didn't ask him to leave, Johnny stayed. Once Stella had fed from both sides, he took her and placed her back in the crib.
He turned his head again and saw Lola tidying up her clothes.
His voice was hoarse, "Let me help you."
Lola turned her face away, uncomfortable, "I can do it myself. I'm hungry. Can you make something light for me?"
She was willing to talk to him, which made him happy.
Johnny helped her to the bed to rest, then said, "I'll move the crib to the master bedroom this afternoon. It's more comfortable there. Once she's ready to sleep on her own, she can move back here."
Lola didn't object. She closed her eyes lightly, "Call me when the food is ready."
She was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.
As she slept, completely unguarded, Johnny stood by the bed for a long time. Finally, he couldn't resist bending down to kiss her lips, soft and gentle. At that moment, he almost cried.
He whispered against her lips, "Call me despicable, call me ungrateful, I don't care."
What mattered was that Lola was back with him.
Johnny spent over an hour preparing a meal suitable for a new mother and brought it upstairs himself.
Lola was still asleep.
In the crib beside her, Stella was awake, her big eyes curiously looking at her surroundings. Johnny set the tray down and went over to gently play with her.
Stella grabbed Johnny's finger.
Then she smiled.
Her little legs kicked happily as if she knew this was her dad.
Johnny bent down and kissed her, "Be good and sleep. I'll wake Mommy to eat."
But as he spoke, Lola had already woken up.
She saw Johnny interacting with Stella and heard his gentle words. She thought, if only Shirley had never existed, how wonderful that would be.
At that moment, Johnny turned and met her thoughtful gaze.
"You're awake? Perfect timing for a meal."
His tone was still gentle and natural, like the most considerate husband in the world. Lola had agreed to give him 60 days, so she didn't say anything to spoil the mood. She sat up, ready to get out of bed to eat.
Johnny stopped her, "You just had a baby. Eat in bed. I'll get a small table."
He looked genuinely concerned.
Lola found it somewhat absurd and couldn't help but say, "I just had a baby, and you still made me go to your office to sign the agreement. Johnny... let's just interact normally. You don't need to go out of your way to please me. I'm not used to it."
Johnny paused.
But he was a mature man and quickly recovered, smiling faintly.
He said, "Lola, I am trying to please you, to make you happy, to start over with you. Did you think I brought you back to make you miserable every day? Or to force you? I know you don't like that. You've always liked gentle men, remember?"
Lola couldn't listen anymore.
He was bringing up the past again. She lifted her chin slightly, "I'm hungry."
Johnny set everything up and served her a bowl of soup.
She took a small sip, and he asked, "How is it?"
Lola answered honestly, "It's very good! But Johnny, you should hire a couple of nannies. Or I can bring the two from my house. You manage two companies; you can't always be here taking care of me."
Johnny placed some food on her plate, his tone calm.
"I'll work from home. I'll go to the office twice a week. Lola, I want to take care of you. We need to sleep together at night to make it easier."
He spoke softly to her.
Lola continued sipping her soup, then paused and smiled faintly, "Johnny, do you want to take care of me, or do you want to sleep with me?"
Johnny, "Do you really want to know?"
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