Chapter 765 How Much Courage Is Needed to Choose Such a Letting Go?
Tracy is also in a difficult position for Natalie's action.
She looked at Johnny.
Johnny sighed softly and told Tracy to leave first. Then he pulled Natalie aside and scolded her, "Stop messing around! If she gets mad, I'll have to deal with it later."
Natalie was taken aback. She looked up at him and asked, "You care about her feelings, but what about Lola's? Johnny, I don't believe it. I don't believe you can just forget the past and accept a new woman as your wife, replacing Lola."
Johnny looked at her quietly.
After a while, he asked softly, "What else can I do? Should I tell her that my leg ended up like this because of her, guilt-tripping her into coming back to me, taking care of me every day, and watching over this leg? Natalie, do you think such a marriage would be happy? We haven't even sorted out our past issues, and now there are more... Do you think we can go back to how things were?"
Before the accident, he had let go, but there was always a glimmer of hope in his heart.
He hoped that one day, they could reconcile.
But when he lay on the operating table and caught a glimpse of his mangled leg, he lost all hope.
As Johnny spoke, his eyes turned red.
Natalie, who had been upset, softened when she saw him like this. She hugged his arm like she did when they were kids and gently called his name, "Johnny."
Johnny knew she had calmed down. He took a step back and sat on the couch.
He said, "We'll go back for dinner later."
Natalie agreed, but after a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Is that woman really your girlfriend? I still don't think she is."
Johnny replied indifferently, "Don't worry about it."
Natalie made a face at him.
Later, Gavin called her, asking where she was and saying Molly wanted her to come home for dinner.
The thought of the food made Natalie drool, but she had a task at hand. Johnny said he was going back to The Hawkins Mansion for dinner, and he hadn't been there in a long time. She had to do her job as his bodyguard.
When Natalie mentioned this, Gavin immediately told Molly, "Stop cooking! Let's go to The Hawkins Mansion for dinner."
Molly was confused.
Gavin took off her apron and pinched her cheek, "Let's go see the excitement."
The Hawkins Mansion was bustling with activity, with almost all the younger family members back.
Since Johnny's scandal, he didn't seem to mind showing his leg anymore, but he still tried to walk smoothly when getting out of the car.
The household staff knew about his condition and felt heartbroken seeing him like this.
A servant wanted to help.
Johnny held up his hand to stop them, "No need! I can walk on my own!"
Even though it was difficult, he walked from the parking lot to the hall by himself.
Most of the younger family members were already there.
With the kids, the place was quite full.
As soon as Johnny entered, Angelina ran over happily, calling him "Daddy" and holding his hand. Austin, who was reading a book, called out more reservedly but didn't get up.
Johnny looked at him, then patted Angelina's head before sitting on the couch.
Bobby circled around his feet.
Charlotte came from the kitchen with different drinks.
Seeing Johnny sitting there with his hands gently on his knees, she couldn't help but tear up.
After a moment, she smiled lightly, "Have some coffee first! Dinner will be ready soon."
Natalie helped her with the drinks.
Charlotte personally handed a cup of coffee to Johnny but didn't get up for a long time. Johnny felt bad and said softly, "Thanks, Mom."
The word "Mom" made Charlotte even sadder.
She couldn't hold back and said, "You're welcome," before heading to the bathroom to pull herself together.
The atmosphere in the living room was awkward.
Kingsley looked at Johnny, "Dad's still napping. Wanna play some chess?"
Johnny smiled faintly, "Don't cry when you lose."
Kingsley snorted, "You think I'm still eight?"
The two men focused on their game, while Gavin watched, occasionally glancing towards the bathroom.
Lola came downstairs at that moment, holding a just-awake Stella. Stella saw Johnny from afar and leaned forward, calling "Daddy."
Lola had no choice but to bring her over.
Johnny, unable to stand easily, sat and took Stella, their bodies touching. He even brushed against one of Lola's sensitive spots.
Lola looked up, and so did he.
Their eyes met, filled with unspoken emotions.
This was their first contact since he announced he had a girlfriend. After a moment, Lola regained her composure and asked softly, "Why didn't you bring your girlfriend?"
Johnny's gaze deepened, "Do you want me to?"
Lola didn't answer.
Saying too much would show she cared, and there were too many people around.
Johnny knew when to stop. He let Gavin continue the chess game and focused on Stella. Though he tried to act normal, his legs were different from before. He couldn't just stand up, especially with Stella in his arms.
Lola noticed something was off. She took Stella and said calmly, "Is your gout very bad? Shouldn't you get proper treatment? It's not good to keep dragging it out."
Johnny clenched his hand.
He lightly held onto the lingering warmth in his fingers and said softly, "You still care about me now?"
Lola didn't know how to respond.
Johnny gazed at her face and asked, "How have you been? I heard you're planning to date. Have you found someone suitable?"
He had asked this many times before.
She smiled faintly, "I'll let you know if I do."
Johnny gently rubbed his left leg and said, "I'll congratulate you then."
Their conversation was stubborn and dull.
Gavin, listening intently, lost badly but refused to admit his lack of skill, demanding another game. Kingsley packed up the chess pieces and scoffed, "You will lose ten more games! Being stubborn won't help."
As he finished speaking, Gavin turned to look at Johnny and fake-smiled, "Johnny, Kingsley was talking about me, not you."
Johnny's facial muscles twitched slightly.
These two jerks!
Fortunately, Frederick came downstairs then, and the servants announced dinner.
The meal was uneventful.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
After dinner, Johnny prepared to leave. As he was leaving, Angelina ran over and gave him a pink hot water bottle for his leg, "This will make your leg feel better."
Johnny took it, feeling a bit teary.
Not wanting to disappoint Angelina, he said, "Okay, Daddy knows."
Angelina hugged him, and Johnny hugged her back, glancing at the second-floor balcony. Lola stood there, looking calm.
He thought she had adapted and accepted that he had a girlfriend.
Soon, she would have a new boyfriend.
She would have a new life.
Just thinking about it made his heart ache, but he felt powerless to change it. Johnny gave Lola a faint smile, then awkwardly opened the car door and got in.
Saul was about to ask where they were going when he noticed Johnny leaning back in his seat.
There were tears in his eyes.
Saul was stunned, then thought about how much courage it must take... to choose to let go like this!
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