Chapter 749 Lola, Do You Pity Me or Sympathize with Me?
He spoke close to her, his warm breath enveloping her and penetrating her limbs and bones.
It sent shivers down her spine.
Lola felt it was too intimate and turned her face slightly, saying stiffly, "I haven't finished my soup yet."
Johnny gazed at her.
After a moment, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
In a low voice, he said, "The soup's a bit bland, but it's good for new moms."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at her chest, hinting at something unspoken. In conversations between adults, sometimes words weren't necessary to spell everything out to understand each other.
Lola's face flushed, and she pushed against his shoulder.
She sat down again to drink her soup. Despite her postnatal weakness, her graceful demeanor from a young age made her still look poised and beautiful.
Johnny gently watched her for a long time.
Johnny took her and the kids back to The Hawkins Mansion the next day.
This was the first time he had entered through the front door since the incident in Sunset City.
The Hawkins family members were quite emotional.
The servants knew Johnny had saved Frederick and that his status had changed, but they also knew he and Lola hadn't remarried. They were unsure how to address him and felt awkward around him.
Johnny, however, seemed fine.
He opened the car door and helped the two kids out. Angelina and Austin ran off to see Frederick. Johnny watched them, then turned to Lola and said, "Austin seems to have grown taller. He's almost as tall as Angelina now."
As he spoke, he carefully helped Lola out of the car.
It was a cool October day.
Johnny adjusted the shawl on her shoulders and said gently, "You take Stella inside first. I'll get the things."
Lola nodded. Just then, Charlotte came out to greet them. She hadn't seen Stella since she was discharged from the hospital and had missed them dearly.
She looked closely at Stella and then at Lola, finally feeling reassured.
Everything seemed fine.
Johnny, as naturally as ever, called out, "Mom," and then opened the trunk to take out the gifts, as if he were still part of the family, bringing his wife and kids home for a visit.
Charlotte felt a mix of emotions.
She helped Johnny with a couple of items. Johnny paused and smiled at her, "Thanks, Mom."
Charlotte's feelings grew even more complicated.
In the master bedroom at the far east end of the second floor.
Frederick had mostly recovered but was still not in the best of health and was resting.
Angelina and Austin were by his bedside, talking to him softly.
Lola brought Stella over for him to see. Her expression was gentle, her voice filled with the softness of a new mother, "She's gained three pounds in a month and is very well-behaved at night."
Frederick felt somewhat reassured.
Just then, Johnny came upstairs and entered the room.
He took out two packs of cigarettes and placed them on the bedside table, saying to Frederick, "These are from the mountains, pure and natural... I didn't tell Mom."
The atmosphere was subtle. Frederick coughed lightly, "You're tempting me to sin! If Lola's mom finds out, I'll be in trouble for two months."
But he looked at the cigarettes for a long time before putting them down.
Johnny sat on the nearby sofa and discussed some matters of Vertex Innovations Group with Frederick.
There was a significant project he needed Frederick's input on.
Men's thinking can be different. No matter how much Frederick resented Johnny when it came to business, they were rational and restrained. After about ten minutes, they wrapped up the conversation.
Frederick then started playing with Stella.
A servant brought over a small crib, and they placed Stella in it. She lay there comfortably, her little belly full.
Frederick's eyes were full of tenderness. He said to Lola, "She's growing well! I'll watch over Stella. You go downstairs and have a good chat with your mom. She's been worried about you."
Lola felt a lump in her throat. She knew how much her mom had been concerned.
She said, "Okay, I'll go see Mom."
Downstairs, the atmosphere in the living room was a bit tense. Johnny wasn't as at ease as before. Frederick smiled slightly, "You've worked hard taking care of them."
Johnny wanted to speak, but he felt a tightness in his throat as if he couldn't get the words out.
*
Lola went downstairs and asked a servant where to find Charlotte.
Charlotte was arranging the small flower room, preparing for lunch there. The house hadn't been this lively in a long time. As she placed the blue roses, she suddenly felt a wave of sadness and stood there, lost in thought.
Lola walked in and saw her.
Understanding the reason, she slowly approached and gently hugged Charlotte from behind, speaking softly, "Mom, I'm fine. I've been doing well. Look, I've even gained some weight."
Charlotte felt bad but didn't want to worry Lola.
She put down her work, pulled Lola to sit down, and asked about her recent life in detail.
Johnny visited the hospital every other day and often talked about it, but Charlotte was still worried.
Lola smiled lightly, "It's really been fine. He hasn't forced me into anything."
Charlotte felt a bit better.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked Lola, "What are your plans after the next month?"
Lola tightened the shawl around her and said quietly, "I'll probably leave. Mom, some wounds can't be healed by time or by his kindness. I can't forget what happened, or what he did to me abroad."
A woman, forced by her lover to make love with him.
She had no feelings, so he found ways to make her accept it.
Her body enjoyed the extreme pleasure, but recalling it later made her feel disgusted.
Hearing this, Charlotte didn't try to persuade her.
She wasn't just Lola's mother; she was also a woman who understood those feelings.
She gently stroked Lola's hair and said softly, "Do what feels right for you. Your dad said, even if there were thirty kids, our family could take care of them."
Charlotte hoped for Johnny's well-being, not just for the three kids but also because she had raised Johnny for so long.
But she didn't say this.
Outside, Johnny stood quietly. The small flower room wasn't soundproof, and he heard everything Charlotte and Lola said.
Returning to this home, he saw and heard the Hawkins family's concern for Lola. They worried that she was being forced and she wasn't doing well.
No one truly believed in their future.
Including Lola, she also said she wanted to leave. Even though he had known for a long time, his heart still ached painfully at that moment.
Johnny smiled faintly.
He didn't go in immediately but walked to an empty hallway, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and with trembling hands, lit one. He took several drags, his long fingers still shaking.
Johnny's Adam's apple bobbed.
Maybe Lola would never forgive him.
The autumn atmosphere was pronounced, and through the glass, the newly planted flowers outside were in full bloom, making Johnny's face appear even more somber.
Johnny finished his cigarette and walked back to knock on the door.
"Lola."
Inside, Charlotte glanced at Lola and said softly, "He's here for you."
Lola smiled faintly and walked over to open the door. As soon as she did, she caught a faint whiff of tobacco—not overpowering, but noticeable.
Lola was slightly taken aback.
She knew Johnny had mostly quit smoking, so why was he smoking now?
Johnny looked down at her, his tone gentle, "Is everything set up here? The servants will be serving the food soon."
Lola snapped out of her thoughts and quickly replied, "Almost done."
Johnny's gaze was deep, but he didn't say more. Instead, he went in to help Charlotte with some household chores. Having grown up around Charlotte and Frederick, he knew her habits well. So even though they weren't as close as before, he could handle things well.
Once everything was set up, Charlotte examined the lake-blue vase in the center.
No one knew that this vase was from years ago, from their apartment. She had bought it after her first time with Frederick. Later, due to some circumstances, she sold it, but Frederick found it and brought it back.
After all these years, the lake-blue vase was still there.
Their children had grown up.
Charlotte looked at it for a long time and then said to Johnny, "Let the servants bring in the food."
The meal was lively. To avoid another confrontation between Kingsley and Johnny, Frederick didn't let Kingsley come back. After the meal, he had Johnny accompany him for a couple of chess games.
Frederick, still weak from his injury, lost both games.
He looked at the chessboard and sighed, "I'm getting old! The future belongs to young people."
Johnny put the black and white pieces back.
He spoke softly, "You let me win, Dad."
Frederick looked at him for a long moment, then leaned in and patted Johnny's shoulder, "I wish I could, but my skills don't allow it."
Johnny didn't fully grasp the meaning, or perhaps he didn't want to.
Frederick stood up, "I'm tired. I'll rest for a bit. Later, you take Lola and the kids back. Drive slowly."
Johnny quickly stood up, "I will, Dad."
He wanted to help, but Frederick waved him off. Johnny watched his back, his eyes slightly moist.
He couldn't help but remember his childhood, watching Frederick's back countless times.
Strong and vigorous.
Back then, he had wished Frederick was his biological father.
Now, Frederick treated him with a sense of helplessness.
On the way back, Johnny drove in silence.
It was Lola who spoke softly, "Mom told me Caitlyn had her baby. I want to go see her."
At a red light, Johnny slowly brought the car to a stop. He looked at her through the rearview mirror and said gently, "I'll go with you."
Lola replied naturally, "No need, I'll have Nola go with me."
Johnny gripped the steering wheel, lightly stroking it. After a moment, he said, "Lola, I know I forced these 60 days on you. Can't you at least give me these 60 days?"
Maybe after these 60 days, they wouldn't be able to sit together as a family in one car again.
She wouldn't need to pretend with him anymore.
Lola sensed his mood wasn't good, and with the kids in the car, she leaned down to nuzzle Stella and said softly, "If you want to come, then come."
But her concession didn't make Johnny happy; it only made him feel more desolate.
The light turned green, and he started the car.
They drove back to the villa. Angelina and Austin went off to their tutoring classes, leaving Stella needing care. Lola fed her once.
After putting Stella down, just as she was about to button up, Johnny walked in.
Seeing her at that moment, his eyes reddened.
He walked over and hugged her from behind.
One hand moved up, doing what he wanted. Lola felt a sharp pain and gasped, "Johnny!"
Johnny bit her tender neck.
It wasn't out of passion but a release of emotion. He had wanted to do this for a long time.
He held her, stumbling to the bed, pressing her down in that position. Their bodies were tightly pressed together. Johnny's lips moved to her ear, trembling as he asked, "Why did you compromise? Do you pity me?"
Lola was momentarily confused, then understood he was referring to visiting Caitlyn.
She couldn't read his thoughts. Johnny hadn't been this insecure before. She hesitated and said, "Then I won't go."
Johnny held her tightly, his breath heavy, "I don't want you to go. Your body just recovered, and it's not good to go out in the wind. Besides, I haven't had enough of these 60 days. How could I let someone else see you?"
But he knew she didn't like being confined.
So he said, "I'll take you. I won't go up. I'll wait in the car."
Lola was surprised by his concession. She wanted to say something nice, but she couldn't say anything more. She thought he must know her decision—to leave in a month. That's why he was acting so differently.
Lola turned in his arms.
For once, she stayed in his embrace without resistance, without cold rejection.
She even raised her head to kiss his chin, saying softly, "Johnny, we can't change the past, but we can control the future, right?"
His blue eyes gazed at her.
He pulled her closer, their lips almost touching, his voice hoarse, "Are you trying to convince me to be perfect exes for the kids' sake?"
Lola didn't deny it.
Johnny flipped her over, pressed her down, and started kissing her. Honestly, as he kissed her, images of him and Shirley flashed in her mind. She resisted his kiss.
Without the sweet aphrodisiacs he used to give her, she felt nothing but disgust.
But she didn't push him away.
She even wrapped her arms around his neck, letting him kiss her deeply. For the first time since that incident, she was soft and willing. His eyes reddened, and he almost trembled as he called her name, "Lola."
She guessed he hadn't been with a woman for nearly a year, so she wanted to help him release.
Her hand gently tugged at his belt. His eyes darkened, and he held her hand, "Lola? Do you think I just want a handjob? You just recovered."
She didn't speak. She kissed his chin, her soft fingers gently touching him.
Johnny couldn't resist.
He knew she was only doing it out of pity, but he couldn't refuse this bittersweet poison. Slowly, the kiss changed. Johnny held her hand, his handsome face looking almost entranced.
He even unbuttoned her shirt.
Lola grabbed his hand, whispering, "Johnny, not yet."
His voice softened, "I know. Don't be afraid."
He just wanted to hold her, to see her, to imprint her deeply in his mind.
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