Chapter 411 Never Took a Photo Together
"Let's head downstairs and grab some food first. I'll fill you in after dinner," Leo said.
Ayla's face turned serious. "Leo, I'm not in the mood for jokes!"
Leo looked at her with soft eyes. "Ayla, I wouldn't joke about something like this. Come on, let's eat. You can't ignore your health, no matter what."
Ayla's anger eased a bit under his gentle gaze, but she still kept a stern face. "You have to promise you're not lying to me."
"Okay, I promise. Can we go eat now? Jerold knows you're upset and hasn't eaten either. He's waiting for you," Leo said.
Ayla bit her lip, feeling guilty about hitting Jerold that morning. She had lost her temper, but now she regretted it.
Leo reached out and touched her forehead. "Your temperature seems normal. Why do you look so pale?"
Ayla shook her head and looked away. "I'm fine. Let's go downstairs."
They went downstairs, one after the other. Jerold was still playing with his toys in the living room.
Hearing them, he put down his toys and looked up. When he saw Ayla, fear flashed in his eyes, and he shrank back.
Ayla's heart tightened at the sight of his fear. She shouldn't have let her anger get the better of her.
She walked over to Jerold and squatted down, reaching out to touch his head, but Jerold dodged, his eyes filled with fear. "Mom, I know I was wrong. Please don't hit me again."
Ayla's heart ached. "Jerold, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hit you today. Can you forgive me?"
Jerold kept his head down, playing with his fingers in silence, making the atmosphere awkward.
Leo stepped forward, squatting beside Ayla, and looked at Jerold. "Jerold, look at me."
Jerold's hands froze, and after a moment, he looked up.
"Jerold, it was wrong for your mom to hit you today, but think about it. Didn't you do something wrong too? If you hadn't lied to your mom yesterday, saying Demetrius pushed you, she wouldn't have been so angry. So, you were also at fault, right?" Leo said.
Jerold hesitated but eventually gave a reluctant nod under Leo's steady gaze.
"Since you admit you were wrong too, and your mom has apologized, shouldn't you accept it and apologize to her as well?" Leo continued.
Jerold remained silent.
Ayla turned to Leo and whispered, "Forget it. I overreacted. Jerold is just a kid. We can teach him slowly."
Leo sighed, "Ayla, if you keep spoiling him, he'll be ruined."
Jerold dared to lie because he had the Bridges family backing him. This time, the lie didn't cause much trouble, but if he lies in the future when facing serious situations, the Bridges family might not be able to clean up his mess.
"So what if he's spoiled? As long as the Bridges family is around, I won't let anyone bully Jerold," Ayla said.
Leo fell silent.
Seeing Leo's speechless expression, Ayla hugged his arm and whispered in his ear, "I just hit Jerold today. If we talk about this now, he won't listen and might resent me more. Please go along with me for now, and we'll correct his lying habit later."
Leo pressed his lips together but eventually nodded in agreement.
Ayla smiled, holding Jerold's hand. "Jerold, since you've accepted my apology, let's put this behind us and go eat."
Jerold looked at Ayla holding his hand, and a smile crept onto his previously blank face. He let her lead him to the dining room.
After dinner, Ayla eagerly asked Leo about the plan. Leo motioned for her to follow him to the study.
Once the study door was closed, Ayla was about to ask again when Leo pulled a document from the drawer and handed it to her. "Check this out first."
Ayla took it with a puzzled look. Seeing the cover of the Golden Water Resort project proposal, she frowned.
Golden Water Resort was the biggest project of Starlight Corporation, a subsidiary of Vertex Innovations Group, this year. Vertex Innovations Group had suddenly risen to prominence in Metropolis about five years ago.
Since Starlight Corporation emerged, it had been fiercely competing with Silvercrest Group in the field of technological innovation and manufacturing, and now they were neck and neck.
Starlight Corporation, established just last year, had opened numerous chain hotels in major cities across the country within a year, quickly becoming a top-tier hotel brand and already turning a profit.
For the Golden Water Resort project, Starlight Corporation had invested $200 million to purchase land on the outskirts of Metropolis, planning to build a resort spanning several thousand square feet.
Many companies wanted in on the project to gain profits, but Starlight Corporation hadn't budged.
The Bridges Group had also wanted to participate, but despite Ayla's numerous attempts, she hadn't even met Starlight Corporation's General Manager, Jerry Simmons. She was always brushed off by the development manager.
With the resort about to break ground, everyone knew there was no chance to join the project, leading many to abandon their hopes and divert their attention elsewhere.
Ayla looked at Leo with displeasure. "Is your so-called plan just to brush me off with this useless document?"
Leo smiled gently and said in a soft tone, "Ayla, if the Bridges Group joins this project, the profits will be much higher than bidding for that urban construction project with Silvercrest Group."
Ayla replied irritably, "Of course I know that, but I can't even meet Starlight Corporation's General Manager, Mr. Simmons, let alone join the project. Starlight Corporation has no intention of letting other companies in."
"I heard that Starlight Corporation is having some financial issues recently. The higher-ups at Vertex Innovations Group are also unwilling to continue funding Starlight Corporation. After all, they've already invested $200 million in land. Continuing to fund Starlight Corporation would affect Vertex Innovations Group's operations," Leo said.
"Are you sure?" Ayla asked.
If Starlight Corporation was short on funds, there might be a chance.
Leo nodded. "Of course. I have a friend working at Starlight Corporation. The information is reliable. But if we want to join the project, the initial investment will be substantial."
Ayla took a deep breath and said slowly, "I'll arrange a meeting with Mr. Simmons first. If the information is true and he agrees, I'll talk to Grandpa about the funding."
If she could get the Bridges Group into this project, Garry wouldn't just overlook past issues; he would also give her the shares of the Bridges Group as promised. Thinking of this, Ayla was filled with determination and an unwavering resolve to succeed.
"Mr. Simmons plays golf every Saturday at 2 PM. You can catch him at the golf course," Leo said.
Ayla looked surprised. "How do you know his private schedule so well?"
"I did it for you. I asked my friend, and he went through a lot to get this schedule," Leo replied.
This explanation didn't dispel Ayla's doubts; instead, her brows furrowed. "Why didn't you help me find out earlier?"
Leo gave her a meaningful look. "My friend wasn't with Mr. Simmons'secretary before."
Ayla was stunned for a moment, then understood.
She placed the document on the table, walked around it to Leo, and hooked her arms around his neck, standing on tiptoe to kiss him.
Leo held her waist and lowered his head to capture her lips.
When the kiss ended, Ayla leaned against Leo's chest, her voice soft. "This is your reward!"
Leo's eyes darkened, and he gently played with her long hair, smiling. "Thank you, honey."
He was already handsome, and his smiling face reminded Ayla of the first time she met him.
It was a rainy day, Ayla hurried into the hospital, her thoughts consumed by worry for Garry as she collided with Leo, and her umbrella tipped, sending a cascade of water onto his clothes.
At that time, she was in a bad mood because of Garry's illness. When she looked up, she was caught in a pair of gentle eyes, and she was momentarily stunned.
Leo, standing before her, had handsome features and a tall figure. He wore a gray suit, with the top two buttons of his white shirt undone, revealing his Adam's apple, exuding extreme sexiness.
At that moment, Ayla clearly heard the sound of her heart fluttering. So later, even though Garry disagreed, she insisted on marrying Leo.
Fortunately, she didn't choose wrong. After their marriage, Garry gave him a gaming company, which was the most loss-making subsidiary of the Bridges Group and was planned to be shut down by the end of the year. But with Leo's hard work, it finally turned a profit and has now become one of the most profitable subsidiaries of the Bridges Group.
No one in the Bridges family said she made the wrong choice, and no one dared to mock her anymore.
"Honey, we haven't made love in a long time. Let's do it tonight," Ayla said.
Leo's smile faded slightly and he gently took her hand, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles. "You've been busy with work lately. I didn't want you to be too tired."
"I'm not tired. Don't work late tonight. I'll wait for you in the bedroom!" Ayla said.
"Okay," Leo said.
After Ayla left, Leo's smile turned cold. He took a tissue from the table and wiped his lips.
The phone on the table rang. It was Damon.
Leo raised an eyebrow and answered. "What's up?"
"Leo, I've been in the company for a few days now and haven't closed a single deal. You have a wide network. How about introducing me to some clients?" Damon's voice was casual, as if he was sure Leo would help him.
Leo's expression was indifferent, and his words were cold. "Sorry, I can't help you."
Damon chuckled. "Leo, you wouldn't want Ayla to know that the recording of your conversation with her in the rock garden was given to me by you, right?"
"Are you threatening me?" Leo said.
Leo picked up the lighter from the table, flicked it on, and watched the flame before letting it go out.
"How can you call it a threat? I'm just reminding you that we share a secret. If I fail Grandpa's assessment and can't get into the company, I might say something I shouldn't out of frustration. Don't you think?"
Leo's lips curled into a smile. "You're right, but who can prove that the recording was given to you by me? Do you have any evidence?"
"This phone call is evidence!" Damon replied.
Leo's smile deepened, and he whispered something. The other end of the line went silent.
"I don't like fools. Since you're Ayla's cousin, I won't hold it against you this time. But if it happens again..."
Before he could finish, Damon hurriedly said, "Leo, don't worry. That recording was made by me. It has nothing to do with you. I just lost my mind for a moment. Don't take it to heart."
"Leo, if you don't have any other instructions, I'll hang up now. I have something to do later." Without waiting for Leo to respond, Damon quickly hung up.
Leo put down the phone and turned to look at the dark night outside the window, his eyes full of tenderness. Soon, he would be able to be with Sharon.
In Seb's villa living room, Sharon was playing with Demetrius when she suddenly sneezed.
Seb and Demetrius both looked at her with concern.
"Mom, are you okay?" Demetrius asked.
"Did you catch a cold?" Seb asked.
Seb and Demetrius spoke at the same time.
Sharon shook her head. "I'm fine. I just suddenly felt like sneezing. Let's continue playing."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Seb asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. You play with Demetrius. I'll go upstairs and put on a sweater," Sharon replied.
"Okay," Seb said.
After Sharon disappeared at the top of the stairs, Seb turned his attention back to playing with Demetrius.
"Dad, I want to go hiking. Can you and Mom take me this weekend?" Demetrius asked.
Seb raised an eyebrow. "Why do you suddenly want to go hiking?"
"My classmate's parents took her hiking over the weekend and took lots of pictures. She showed them to me. You and Mom have never taken pictures with me." Demetrius's eyes were full of envy as he spoke.
In the past, when he saw other kids'dads picking them up from school, Demetrius always wished his dad could do the same.
Now, seeing other kids' family photos, he also wanted to take pictures with his parents.
Seb felt a mix of emotions, a bit of bitterness for missing Demetrius's first five years, but also gratitude for finding them again.
Suppressing his emotions, he looked at Demetrius, his voice a bit hoarse. "Okay, Mom and I will take you this weekend and take lots of pictures."
"Thank you, Dad!" Demetrius was so excited that he quickly climbed up and hugged Seb's neck, kissing his cheek.
It felt like a cotton candy melting in his heart, and Seb's icy demeanor softened, a smile forming on his lips.
When Sharon came back downstairs, she saw Seb and Demetrius whispering to each other and couldn't help but clear her throat. "What are you two talking about?"
Demetrius looked up at her, excited. "Mom, Dad just promised to take us hiking this weekend!"
Sharon found it amusing and gently tapped his nose. "When did I agree to take you hiking this weekend?"
"You can agree now," Seb said.
Demetrius looked at her expectantly, shaking her hand. "Mom, please say yes."
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