Chapter 282 Guilty
Amid the playful teasing of the crowd, Lila's cheeks turned a rosy red.
She nudged Lucas's arm with a mock frown and said, "You always know how to get a laugh. It's hard to tell if you're serious or just trying to entertain everyone!"
Everyone around them burst into laughter at their banter.
As the chatter and laughter continued, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly dimmed. A group of staff dressed in cute mascot costumes wheeled in a beautifully decorated cake.
The single birthday candle on the cake flickered like a star in the darkness, marking another year gone by. Skylar was instantly captivated, her little hands clapping with excitement as she cheered in my arms.
I carried Skylar to the cake, and together, we blew out the candle amidst the crowd's well-wishes. The lights came back on, and the room erupted in applause.
At that moment, Lucas walked up to Lila, pulled out a delicate box from his jacket pocket, and knelt on one knee. With deep emotion, he said, "Lila, on this special day, I want to officially propose to you. Will you marry me?"
All eyes were on Lila, whose eyes sparkled with tears, too moved to speak.
Amid the excited cheers and blessings from everyone, Lucas carefully slipped the ring onto Lila's finger and then stood up to embrace her.
In the crowd, Fiona was especially thrilled, pulling David along to congratulate them. However, I noticed that David seemed much calmer compared to Fiona's enthusiasm. What could he be thinking?
As the joyful atmosphere settled a bit, Lucas held Lila's hand and said slowly, "Lila, you know my dream has always been to be a traveling artist, capturing the world's beauty with my brush. Yet my dad wanted me to manage the Howard Group, and I thought I'd never get the chance to pursue my dream. But now, I've given the Howard Group to Skylar. Will you come travel with me?"
Lucas's eyes sparkled with hope as he eagerly awaited Lila's answer.
Lila paused for a moment, her heart racing, but the depth of her feelings for Lucas quickly pushed aside any uncertainties.
With a bright smile, she nodded enthusiastically and replied, "I will! I want to be with you."
I couldn't help but ask, "But if you both go traveling, what will happen to Stellar Legal Advisors?"
Hearing my question, Lila hesitated again.
After a long pause, she gently let go of Lucas's hand, as if making a difficult decision, and said softly, "I'm sorry, Lucas. I can't leave Stellar Legal Advisors. I've put my heart and soul into this place, and I want to stay and continue running it."
The hope that had just ignited in Lucas's heart dimmed noticeably.
He looked at Lila tenderly, seemingly struggling internally as well.
Finally, Lucas made up his mind. He took Lila's hand again and said firmly, "If you don't want to travel with me, then I'll stay and help you run Stellar Legal Advisors."
I couldn't help but feel a bit moved. Even though Nicholas wasn't exactly a man of good character, Lucas remained so upright and principled.
Luckily, Lila chose Lucas; she wouldn't have to go through the heartache of love like I did.As I was lost in thought, Fiona suddenly suggested, "Why not make Stellar Legal Advisors the legal advisor for both the Cooper Group and the Howard Group? This way, Stellar Legal Advisors will have long-term, stable projects, and Diana won't have to search for a new legal advisor for her company. Plus, she can keep an eye on Stellar Legal Advisors for you, giving you more time for yourselves. It's a win-win situation."
Her idea made my eyes light up. It was brilliant, and everyone agreed.
And just like that, a new partnership was born.
Time flew by, and nearly two years passed in the blink of an eye.
Over the past two years, I navigated the intricate business landscape of the Cooper Group and the Howard Group. From strategic decisions to contract details, I managed everything myself. Thanks to my careful oversight, both groups not only merged successfully but also improved their performance, strengthening their positions in the industry.
However, focusing on work meant I couldn't take care of Skylar as much. Thankfully, Melissa took care of Skylar with great attention, treating Skylar like her own child. Under Melissa's care, Skylar developed good habits and a cheerful, lively personality.
Despite Melissa's excellent care, I always felt guilty about not being there for Skylar.
Especially when I came home late at night and glimpsed Skylar's peaceful sleeping face, a wave of sadness washed over me. I had missed so many of her milestones—her first word, her first steps, and countless other precious moments.
As Skylar grew older, her need for my presence became increasingly evident. Sometimes, she would grip my hand and refuse to let me go to the office. The balance in my heart, which had once favored my career, gradually began to tilt toward Skylar.
After many sleepless nights of contemplation, I finally made a decision: Theo was the only person I could trust with the company.
One day, I invited Theo to my office.
I got straight to the point. "Theo, I plan to establish a subsidiary and put you in charge."
Hearing this, Theo was momentarily stunned, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Sensing his confusion, I continued, "The company has been doing better and better these past two years. While I've achieved great success in my career, I've neglected Skylar too much. Skylar and the company are both growing every day. I can trust you all to manage the company, but I don't want to miss any more of Skylar's growth. So, I plan to delegate part of the company's main business to you."
Theo was taken aback, surprise clear in his eyes. He then replied, "Diana, I get how you feel, but running the company is a massive responsibility. I'm concerned that I might not be capable of handling it."
I waved my hand to interrupt him, saying, "There's no need to be modest. The steady growth of the Cooper Group over the years is due to your invaluable support. I have complete faith in you, whether it's managing a subsidiary or the entire Cooper Group."
Encouraged by my words, Theo nodded with determination, saying, "Alright, since you have so much faith in me, I'll give it my all and won't disappoint you."
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