Chapter 764 Lola and I Have Already Separated!
Lola drove away from the hotel.
She gripped the steering wheel, feeling calm, but something blurred her vision.
It was tears.
She was still crying over Johnny.
Logic told her it was over, but emotions were not so easily controlled. Afraid of causing an accident, Lola pulled over to the side of the road.
After turning off the engine, her hands trembled on the steering wheel.
It took her a while to calm down, quietly watching the bustling traffic ahead. The street was so lively, but Johnny's love had sentenced her to a lifetime of loneliness.
Who could she blame?
She could only blame herself for bringing him back then, and for accepting him. She never thought that in the end, she still couldn't move on. She might never be able to accept anyone else, but Johnny had found a new lover.
Lola felt she shouldn't care; it was all in the past.
But she couldn't do it.
She sat in the car for about half an hour, waiting for her emotions to settle before driving off. By then, it had started raining, and the road was slick. It was a long time before she finally drove back to The Hawkins Mansion.
Lola didn't use an umbrella, just opened the car door and got out.
The rain soaked her trench coat, but she didn't care, walking straight into the hall.
The housekeeper followed her, very worried.
Frederick was sitting and watching the financial news. Hearing footsteps, he looked up to see Lola in a disheveled state, her clothes dripping with water.
Frederick turned off the TV and scolded the housekeeper who had followed her in, "Couldn't you have helped with an umbrella? Use your head."
The housekeeper whispered, "Ms. Hawkins was walking too fast."
Lola took off her coat and said calmly, "Dad, I'm fine."
Frederick remembered the news he had seen earlier, which said Johnny had a girlfriend. The place where the rumors started was exactly where Lola had gone today, so they must have run into each other.
And now she was pretending everything was fine!
Even the most rational person would be foolish enough to get soaked in the rain!
Frederick truly believed they had a love-hate relationship, destined to be entangled for life.
He didn't believe Johnny had a girlfriend, but he didn't want to interfere too much in their relationship. It was clear Johnny didn't want to hold Lola back and wanted her to start a new life. Given their tumultuous past, Frederick felt there was no need to expose the truth.
He sighed softly, "Go upstairs and take a shower, don't catch a cold."
Lola replied, "Okay."
She held onto the railing as she went upstairs, shaking the water from her hair. Behind her, Frederick's unhurried voice came, "Do you want to go meet the person your mom mentioned introducing you to last time?"
Lola's body stiffened.
She could guess that Frederick knew about Johnny's new girlfriend, which was why he was asking. Normally, Lola would refuse, but now if she refused, it would seem like she couldn't let go of Johnny.
After a moment, Lola heard her own voice, "Sure, I'll meet him."
She hadn't thought about marriage, maybe just dating.
Why not? Johnny was dating.
After speaking, she went upstairs, her steps quicker than before.
Frederick leaned back on the sofa, saying nothing. The housekeeper, afraid of being blamed, whispered, "Mr. Hawkins, I always do my best."
Frederick knew that. He replied gently, "It's not your fault. Go back to your work."
The housekeeper quickly retreated.
Frederick felt tired. He closed his eyes and remembered the day Patrick died. He had been there and heard Johnny say he would take care of Lola for life. This was his way of fulfilling that promise, like a coward.
Just then, Charlotte came down from the second floor.
She sat next to Frederick and said softly, "She seems upset."
Frederick patted her hand, "Johnny has a girlfriend."
Even Charlotte was surprised.
Frederick gave a bitter smile, "You don't believe it either, right? Who would? But Lola believes it. I don't know how Johnny convinced her. She even agreed to a blind date... Maybe it's for the best if they both move on."
Charlotte felt just as troubled.
Frederick continued, "Tomorrow, have someone send the medicine Natalie brought back from abroad to Johnny. Even though he keeps being so down, his leg will need more treatment. I think he's just given up on himself."
Charlotte assured him not to worry.
Frederick shielded his eyes from the light and sighed, "Out of all the kids, they're the most worrisome. Their relationship should have been the best."
Charlotte massaged his temples, silently comforting him.
The next day, Natalie's flight landed at Syeattel Airport.
She had gone on a business trip alone but returned with someone.
Clayton had come back with her, seemingly to focus on domestic business. After getting her luggage, Natalie said goodbye to Clayton, "Clayton, I have some things to do. Let's have dinner another day."
They had known each other for many years and were close friends.
Clayton playfully patted her on the head, "Don't disappear on me again, running off to date someone."
Natalie was taken aback.
She knew Clayton was talking about their school days. Back then, she and Clayton were close. He would occasionally go abroad with his parents for business but would come back to Syeattel now and then. However, during that time, she was always chasing after Grant, often standing Clayton up. But now…
"Fancy seeing you here!"
A familiar voice made Natalie freeze. She turned to see Grant and Clara, who must have also returned from a trip.
Clara was pushing the luggage, walking closely beside Grant.
Natalie's eyes stung.
Grant's gaze lingered on them, especially on Clayton's face, before he sneered, "After all these years, you're still with him! Natalie, you're really loyal."
What a jerk!
Clayton wanted to punch him, but Natalie stopped him. She looked at Grant and said calmly, "Mr. McCall, you're loyal too. After all these years, you're still with her! Let's not waste each other's time. We have things to do."
Grant looked at her with a deep gaze.
He repeated her words mockingly, "Waste each other's time?"
Natalie looked at him firmly, "Yes, waste time."
She spoke with conviction, but as she turned away, her eyes filled with tears.
"Clayton, let's go!"
Clayton glared at Grant and caught up with Natalie, his hand resting on her shoulder. Natalie didn't resist, almost leaning into his embrace.
Natalie leaned into the broad chest, looking close and compatible.
Grant watched them walk away, saying nothing.
Seeing Clayton again reminded him of the unpleasant breakup with Natalie. She had told him they were impossible, that Clayton had pursued her for a long time, and she needed to choose a beneficial path.
How ironic, the youngest daughter of the Devereux family from Copenhagen, succumbing to money.
Clara came up to him and softly said, "Don't let it get to you. She was always clever in school. I heard she liked to hang out with wealthy men. This guy is probably just one of them. Grant, you've been single all these years. Others might not know, but I do. You're still waiting for Natalie, but you saw it yourself, she's not worth it."
Grant's expression darkened. "Jenna, you're overstepping."
When he called her by that name, it meant he was really upset. Clara had a lot more to say but now wasn't the right time.
In Clayton's black Range Rover, Natalie sat in the passenger seat, crying and going through at least twenty tissues.
Clayton leaned on his hand, watching her. "You still like him? It's been so many years."
That guy might be handsome, but he was past his prime now. Besides, he exuded an arrogant elite vibe.
Someone like that, Natalie could easily find.
Clayton said, feeling bitter, "How is he better than me?"
Natalie's nose was red. She tried to control herself and finally stopped crying.
Her lips curved slightly, and she said softly, "He's more loyal than you."
Clayton felt even worse. "He's loyal now, but to that other woman! I remember she humiliated you several times, and he still keeps her around. Isn't that disgusting?"
Natalie didn't respond.
Because Clayton was right. Even without Clara, she and Grant were never meant to be... they were destined to be apart.
This was already a blessing.
Natalie composed herself. She didn't stay in Clayton's car but got out. "I need to deliver something to Johnny. You go home first."
How could Clayton let her go alone?
He took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. "Get in the car! I'll take you wherever you need to go today."
Natalie knew what he was thinking.
She hesitated and said, "Clayton, we're not right for each other."
If she hadn't met Grant back then, she might have ended up with Clayton. But love didn't follow a timeline. Even though she had known Clayton for so long, when love came, it overshadowed everything else.
An hour later, Clayton dropped Natalie off at Johnny's villa. He knew about Johnny's situation and didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable, so he drove off.
Natalie dragged her luggage inside.
The housekeeper greeted her immediately, "Ms. Devereux, welcome! Mr. Flores is home, he's working in his study upstairs."
Natalie nodded.
She left her suitcase and went upstairs with a small bag.
She pushed open the study door on the second floor. Sure enough, Johnny was working, looking very focused.
Natalie watched for a moment, then tried to sneak away.
Without looking up, Johnny said, "Back from your trip? Did you bring the medicine?"
Natalie replied, "Yes," and then sat on the sofa, taking out four boxes of medicine from her bag, unavailable in the country.
She said, "When I bought the medicine, I heard about your scandal. I almost threw the medicine into the river."
He replied, "Why didn't you?"
Before Natalie could answer, Johnny noticed the tear stains on her face. He couldn't help but tease, "What, did you run into Grant today?"
Natalie thought he was too perceptive.
But she didn't want to talk about Grant, so she brushed it off, "We ran into each other at the airport."
Johnny could be sharp-tongued at times, "No wonder you look like you've seen a ghost."
Natalie gave a bitter smile.
After a while, she said, "Johnny, don't talk about him like that! Back then... he was a victim too. He still doesn't know the real reason, doesn't know why I had to break up with him."
Johnny chuckled, "Maybe he knows by now."
Back then, Grant's father worked under Andrew and was later imprisoned for a crime, and sentenced to 20 years. He couldn't bear it and committed suicide in prison.
The person who handled his case was Andrew.
When Natalie was madly pursuing Grant, she didn't know. Even when they were deeply in love, she didn't know.
One day, Grant's mother came to her, slapped her, and screamed, "Your Devereux family wants to wipe out the McCall family! As long as I live, you'll never enter our family."
Natalie was only in her twenties then.
She cried, looking at the crazed Alvina. Later, she understood the whole story.
She gave Grant something she had always refused to give.
That night, in a small motel, there was a lot of blood.
Natalie was in excruciating pain.
Afterward, Grant held her, kissing her repeatedly, apologizing.
It was their first time making love.
The next morning, Natalie broke up with him. Years later, thinking about it still made her eyes hurt.
How could it not hurt? Such a cruel twist of fate, she'd never be at peace.
But what could she do?
She was the daughter of Grant's father's enemy. She didn't want to make things hard for him. Maybe she was a coward, afraid of seeing hatred in his eyes.
So she let him think she was just after money.
Johnny looked at her pitiful state and sighed, "Natalie, have you ever thought that if he really hated you and had no feelings for you, why hasn't he married anyone else at his age?"
Natalie was stunned.
Johnny didn't say more. He went back to his documents.
Natalie, feeling sorry for him, poured him a glass of water and casually mentioned, "I heard Frederick is setting Lola up with someone, and she agreed."
Agreed.
Johnny's pen pierced the paper. When he realized it, he felt embarrassed.
He tried to sound indifferent, "It's good if she can move on."
Natalie asked, "Doesn't it bother you?"
Johnny looked at his documents for a long time before replying, "It doesn't bother me anymore. I have a girlfriend now too. Natalie, Lola, and I need to move forward. The future looks better."
Natalie didn't believe him, "Johnny, you're just being stubborn! You'll regret it."
Johnny thought he wouldn't regret his decision. He put away his documents and told Natalie, "If you don't believe me, let's go home for dinner. I'll call Tracy to join us."
Natalie didn't believe him, but half an hour later, Tracy actually showed up.
Natalie whispered, "Aren't you afraid Lola will be mad?"
Johnny replied calmly, "We're not together anymore. I'm bringing Tracy home to meet the family. Maybe we'll get married next year."
Natalie was stunned. She couldn't believe Johnny really had a girlfriend.
After a while, Johnny told Tracy, "You can go home now."
Natalie stopped her from leaving.
She stared at Tracy, forcing her to admit she wasn't really Johnny's girlfriend.
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