Chapter 373: It Has Never Been One-Sided Initiative
Aurora noticed it, and naturally, Jack did too.
"Aurora, it feels like Summer's not too fond of me," Jack voiced with a dry laugh. "I came back empty-handed, no gifts for the kids. I'll go buy some tomorrow. Now that I'm an uncle, I should act like one."
"You don’t have to spend a lot, Summer and the kids have everything they need," Aurora changed the subject and asked, "Jack, which room would you like to stay in? I'll have it prepared for you."
"Aurora, I want to stay at The White Villa," Jack replied. "My last name is White, and this is The Lewis Villa. It just doesn't feel right staying here."
"You want to stay with Dean?" Aurora was surprised. Jack had always avoided Dean, and this was the first time he had voluntarily suggested staying at the White family.
"Yes," Jack responded. "I just came to see you. I'll head to The White Villa in a bit. Aurora, after everything that's happened, I know who truly cares about me. During the years I was sick and in the hospital, he was the one who paid my medical bills. I can't ignore that kind of kindness."
Aurora felt very comforted by Jack's realization.
"My Jack has really grown up," Aurora smiled. "It's good for you to stay at The White Villa. Dean gets quite lonely by himself, so you can keep him company."
"Alright." Jack agreed, "Aurora, you and John are having a wedding ceremony. As your brother, I should get you a wedding gift."
"No need, Jack. Actually, this wedding with John is fake."
"Fake?" Jack asked. "Aurora, what's going on?"
"Well, Sandra has been hiding and the police haven't been able to catch her. So John and I came up with this plan," Aurora explained. "Sandra likes John. If John and I have a wedding, she will definitely show up, and then we can catch her."
"So that's it," Jack laughed. "Aurora, you and John are really smart. Once you catch Sandra, you can finally have some peace."
"Hopefully."
Jack stayed at The Lewis Villa for a while and then left for The White Villa.
Night fell.
John hadn't come back yet, and Lori was still not home. Aurora called, but no one answered. Just then, she saw Ava return and asked, "Ava, where's Lori?"
"On a date," Ava said sparingly.
"With whom?" Aurora gossiped. "Todd?"
"Mr. Jennings."
Aurora was surprised. "Wow, juggling two guys? Impressive."
Rose Restaurant.
Allan had booked the entire restaurant, showing off his wealth.
The restaurant was rose-themed, beautifully decorated, with an ethereal touch—music, flowers, lights, and a handsome man sitting in the hall. The ambiance was truly enchanting.
Allan planned to confess directly without beating around the bush.
As the leading lady of the date, Lori was handcuffed in Todd's car. She looked at Todd in disbelief. "Todd, what are you doing? You're getting bolder."
"Just stay in the car for a while. I'll be back soon."
Todd opened the car door and walked straight into Rose Restaurant.
Allan heard the door open and instinctively turned around. "Todd, why are you here?"
"Allan, Lori has something to do and can't make it," Todd glanced at the dishes on the table and smiled. "Looks pretty good. I haven't had dinner yet, so let's not waste it."
Allan didn't stop him. He poured himself a glass of wine and said, "Let's get to the point."
From the moment Todd walked in, Allan knew something was up.
Todd poured himself a glass too and said, "I'm not gonna beat around the bush. I want to get married."
Allan's mouth twitched, showing a shocked expression. "Whoa, hold on. I don't swing that way. I don't like men, and even though we're distant relatives, that's not happening."
Todd spat out his wine.
"Dude, I never said I wanted to marry you. You're overthinking it. My sexual orientation is straight."
Allan breathed a sigh of relief. "Good to know."
Then Allan asked, "So who do you want to marry?"
"Richard."
"What?" Allan looked like he had been struck by lightning. "Say that again?"
"Richard." Todd rubbed his hands, looking a bit embarrassed. "Allan, you can't blame me for being disloyal. I'm a victim too, but there's nothing I can do. I'm already Lori's man, so she can only be my woman."
Using an embarrassed tone to say the most determined words.
Allan was stunned, holding his wine glass, his eyes fixed on Todd.
"Say that again."
Todd sat up straight and said word by word, "I want to marry Lori."
If this were any other time, it would definitely make people laugh.
Isn't this a joke?
Todd and Lori had always been at odds, never having a proper conversation.
Lori was like a powder keg, and Todd was the torch. When they were together, it was an instant explosion.
Allan didn't laugh. He stared at Todd and asked, "Are you serious?"
"Allan," Todd patted Allan's shoulder. "Have you ever seen me not serious?"
Allan had known Todd for many years and knew his personality well.
Todd's family was in the film industry, and every actress under their banner wanted to make love with him and become his woman to get better roles. But Todd had no scandals.
Any woman who tried to get close to Todd in that way was thrown out and blacklisted.
In Allan's impression, Todd had never had a girlfriend, and he even suspected Todd might be gay.
Now, Todd said he wanted to marry Lori, which was a big deal.
Lori was a free spirit, not someone to be kept in a gilded cage. Todd saying he wanted to marry Lori meant he was willing to follow her lead, not force her to fit into his family.
The animosity between Todd and Lori was real.
Todd's desire to marry Lori was also real.
Allan stared at Todd for a few seconds, then downed his drink. "I want to know when you two got together and how it happened. You two..."
Allan really couldn't figure out how they ended up together.
It was too sudden, and from what he knew of Lori, she would never be the one to make the first move. And Todd had always insisted he had nothing to do with Lori. How could two people who weren't proactive have a story?
Todd poured more wine, clinked glasses with Allan, and said, "We've known each other for so many years, I won't hide it from you. The night Auntie Helen had an accident, Lori drank some spiked wine prepared by Sandra. I happened to run into her. You know, Lori is strong and violent. I'm weak and couldn't resist her, so she overpowered me."
Allan was stunned.
"Todd, you can fool others, but not me. You're weak? You couldn't push her away?"
Allan couldn't hold back his thirty years of upbringing and cursed, "Bullshit, you're a sneaky bastard. I think you took advantage of the situation. Before, when several women tried to climb into your bed, even when you were unconscious, you threw them all out. And now you couldn't resist one Lori?"
"Calm down, calm down," Todd laughed, really like a cunning old fox. "Don't think about it anymore. Lori is mine now. Allan, I'm sorry this time. I'll introduce you to someone good to make it up to you. Tonight's conversation stays between us."
Allan was so angry his face turned red. This was a typical case of getting the benefits and then playing innocent.
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