Chapter 775 Johnny Is Jealous!
The car window was half-open, and Johnny sat inside, quietly gazing out.
When he had turned Lola down, he knew this day would come. But seeing it now, he couldn't help feeling a bit lost.
Gentle snowflakes drifted into the car, landing on his shoulder.
His well-made wool coat quickly absorbed the delicate snow as if it had never been there.
Lola saw him and their eyes met.
Johnny's gaze was deep and unreadable, but he maintained his composure. The driver got out to open the door for him. After a moment's hesitation, Johnny stepped out and walked a few steps forward, waiting for Lola.
Lola looked at him for a few seconds, then said something to the young man she was with.
The young man walked over to a camera set up nearby, which was pointed in their direction.
Lola walked towards Johnny.
Those few steps felt like a lifetime to him.
Over the past few months, they had become like family, always polite and calm with each other. Johnny leaned against the car, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag before asking softly, "New boyfriend?"
Lola glanced over at the young man.
The young man, who had been adjusting the camera, seemed to sense their gaze and looked up, smiling shyly.
He looked a bit like Darren.
Lola was slightly taken aback, and so was Johnny. After a moment, he turned to her and asked quietly, "Do you still think about him?"
Lola didn't deny it and smiled faintly, "Sometimes. He was with me for so many years, and he died so young. I visited his grave the other day. It looked well-kept, and someone had placed his favorite flowers there. Johnny, was that you?"
Johnny didn't deny it either.
He took a slow drag and smiled, "Had some free time, so I went to see him."
Lola said nothing more.
They stood in the gentle snow, looking into the distance, both feeling a sense of peace.
After a while, Johnny pointed to the young man and asked, "So, is he your new boyfriend? If he is, bring him home. Mom and Dad are worried about your love life."
Lola looked down, kicking at a piece of dead grass with her black high-heeled boot.
After a moment, she looked up, "What about you? Anyone special?"
Johnny looked at her quietly, not even noticing his cigarette burning down to his fingers until it singed him. He quickly stubbed it out and smiled faintly, "No, not really."
He squinted at the young man, then coughed lightly.
"He's pretty handsome. What's his background? How far have you two gotten?"
He asked a lot of questions.
Lola didn't answer any of them. She just smiled softly, her eyes full of emotion.
Johnny felt a twinge of jealousy.
But he remained gracious, "Christmas Eve, why don't you bring your new boyfriend home for some roast turkey? Mom and Dad have everything ready, just waiting for us."
Lola spoke slowly, "I don't think that's a good idea. The kids don't know yet."
Johnny's gaze deepened.
After a moment, he opened the back door and asked, "So, are you spending Christmas Eve with your boyfriend, or coming home with me?"
Lola turned, made a phone gesture to the young man, and then got into the car.
Johnny followed her in.
Once they were inside, the windows rolled up. Johnny couldn't help but glance back, seeing the young man's disappointment.
He felt a bit annoyed and casually remarked, "Isn't he a bit young? He looks about twenty-eight."
The car was warm, and Lola naturally took off her wool coat, revealing a black wool dress underneath.
She looked at him, "He's thirty-three, not that much younger."
Johnny said nothing.
He turned to look out the window, his profile clear from Lola's angle, showing his perfect jawline and high nose. But it was obvious he was upset.
Lola took a water bottle from the console and drank.
Johnny noticed and grumbled, "That's my bottle. Yours is the pink one."
Lola had already opened it and was about to drink. She glanced at the bottle, "There's ginseng in here. Johnny, you're really into health now. What, worried you can't keep up with a young girl?"
The driver blushed at her words.
Johnny glared at her, "What nonsense! There's no young girl!"
Lola smiled softly and drank from his bottle. She did it so naturally. Johnny found himself staring at her lips.
Did Lola realize that this was crossing a line?
Weren't they family now?
He told himself not to overthink it. Maybe she didn't mean anything by it.
Just as he thought that she handed him the bottle.
Lola leaned back in the leather seat, resting her head on one hand, and smiled, "It's good for you. Austin said your rehab is going well. I noticed you walk much better now. Does your leg still hurt in the cold?"
Johnny instinctively touched his left leg.
After a while, he spoke softly, "It's much better, not as painful. But it's still ugly."
Lola looked at him.
He thought she wouldn't say anything, but she spoke gently, "Someone who truly loves you won't think it's ugly."
Johnny was shaken.
He turned to ask her something, but she was already sitting up, texting on her phone.
The profile picture was of a young man.
Johnny felt a pang of jealousy again.
They didn't speak for the rest of the ride. The black SUV drove smoothly through the streets. After a while, it was clear the driver was deliberately slowing down, even taking a detour along the river.
Lola thought, 'How boring.'
She tapped the front seat, "If we keep this up, we won't have dinner until eight."
The driver was Jared.
Jared had been the Hawkins family's driver for years, watching Johnny and Lola grow up. He chuckled, "It's Christmas Eve, the snow is beautiful, and you two are both single. Why not spend the evening together? I promise I won't tell anyone."
Lola was silent.
Johnny was silent.
Finally, Johnny spoke, "Let's go back to the Hawkins Mansion. Everyone's waiting for us."
Jared had more to say, "You're young, you need a personal life. You know each other well, it's convenient and safe. There's a five-star hotel up ahead, great food, soft beds."
He was getting out of hand.
Johnny laughed coldly, "Jared, you're quite modern now. But Lola has a boyfriend, so don't worry about her."
Jared replied naturally, "I'm worried about you! Ms. Hawkins isn't sick."
Johnny was too annoyed to respond.
Jared chuckled, satisfied.
The night swallowed the city and their car.
Streetlights began to glow.
Inside the car, it was dim, with only the occasional sweep of light from outside illuminating their faces.
Suddenly, the car stalled.
Johnny frowned, "What's going on? Why did it stall?"
Jared opened the door, "It's cold, and this car is as old as I am. It can't handle the strain and just gave up. I'll take a look."
Lola wanted to get out, but Johnny stopped her, "You took off your coat. Stay in the car."
He got out and walked to the front, checking the car with Jared.
Jared lifted the hood and inspected it, "No good, looks like we need a new engine."
He looked at the sky, then ahead, "We're pretty close to The Hawkins Mansion. It's about a ten-minute walk. Mr. Flores, why don't you two walk back? I'll stay here and wait for the tow truck. It's cold, and the car won't have heat soon."
Johnny stared at him, his gaze deep.
Jared chuckled.
Johnny walked to the back of the car, opened the door slightly, and bent down to look at Lola, "The car's broken. We need to walk back."
"Can't it be fixed?"
Lola put on her coat and moved to the left to get out. Johnny extended a hand.
She looked up at him.
In the dark, his blue eyes shone like stars, with gentle snowflakes drifting by.
Lola's fingers curled slightly, but she took his hand.
As she got out, Johnny stepped back but quickly steadied himself, and Lola fell into his arms. He instinctively held her.
At that moment, they both felt something.
Jared was still muttering to himself, "How did it break down? It was just serviced two weeks ago. Shouldn't have happened!"
Johnny looked down at Lola, "Let's go."
Lola nodded, and they walked side by side. Johnny kept his arm around her shoulder, giving her warmth on the winter night. It felt like they had returned to their old relationship, with Johnny taking care of his younger sister.
The streetlights were bright, and the snow danced under the lights.
Their shadows stretched long and far.
After a while, Lola looked up, "Does your leg hurt?"
Johnny shook his head, "No."
It did hurt a bit, but the night was so gentle, the road so quiet; everything was so beautiful that Johnny didn't mind walking forever.
They reached The Hawkins Mansion.
The gatekeeper quickly called for a car to pick them up, but Johnny declined, saying they would walk to the main house. As they approached, the smell of food greeted them.
"That's the smell of turkey legs. I haven't had that in years," Lola said.
Johnny smiled warmly.
When they stepped inside, everyone waiting gave them knowing smiles. The kids were especially happy, with Angelina running up to hug Johnny's arm and calling him "Daddy."
Johnny patted her head.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natalie, who had come over for dinner.
Johnny thought of their recent business partner and smiled faintly, "Not spending Christmas Eve with your boyfriend?"
Natalie glanced at him.
Apex Technologies Group had been working with Johnny recently, and she knew he had been in contact with that person, so he teased her.
Natalie picked up a magazine, pretending to be nonchalant, "I'm single now."
Johnny smiled again, "Really? I thought you and Clayton were doing well. He brought gifts to our house the other day. I thought he was courting you."
Natalie threw the magazine at him, "Clayton and I are just friends."
Kingsley spoke up, "Friends who watch the aurora together, see the sunrise, and drink at bars? If so, find one for Sienna too. She needs it."
Sienna, being mentioned, chose to stay silent.
After all, Natalie was taking the heat.
Natalie picked up another magazine, flipping through it casually. After a while, she said, "It just wasn't meant to be."
Johnny didn't press further.
He brought it up because their business partner often mentioned Natalie, wanting to get close to Johnny, even intruding into his personal life. Johnny wasn't naive; he knew Apex Technologies Group's ultimate goal was to get close to Natalie.
That young Grant was not easy to deal with.
So far, Johnny hadn't gained any advantage in their dealings.
He was still observing.
Lola, always caring for her sister, looked at Johnny and said softly, "She's grown up. She can handle her own affairs. Don't bring it up again."
"You're worried about her?"
Johnny's voice was low, making it sound gentle, and his gaze was focused.
After a moment, he said softly, "Got it."
They stood side by side, speaking gently and calmly, looking like they had something going on. Frederick and Charlotte finally felt relieved. Even if their children were hiding something, the outcome wouldn't be bad.
On Christmas Eve, Frederick and Charlotte exchanged a smile and quietly held hands.
That night, two turkey legs were devoured, and a lot of rum was drunk. Even Johnny, who usually didn't drink, had a small glass.
As the night deepened, it grew quieter.
Lola put Stella to bed and slowly came downstairs. Johnny was still on the couch, seemingly working. She approached him and asked, "Why are you still working so late?"
Johnny naturally pulled her to sit down, showing her, "This project is with Apex Technologies Group. It has great potential, but I can't decide whether to partner with them."
He took out a cigarette but didn't light it.
He turned to her and said softly, "Grant McCall, the CEO of Apex Technologies Group, was Natalie's college boyfriend. Their breakup wasn't pleasant. I think Grant still wants to pursue Natalie, but... they don't seem to get along on the surface."
Lola looked at the project for a while. It was a good one.
She turned to him and asked, "Why are you discussing business with me? Johnny, you're a businessman. You don't need to overthink this. I don't think Mr. McCall is someone who acts on impulse."
Johnny gazed at her face and teased, "Ms. Hawkins is so professional! Did you give that young man special treatment today?"
After a moment, Lola's voice was slightly hoarse, "Do you want to know?"
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