Chapter 12 An Accidental Eavesdrop
Hearing Kimberly's concern, Lauren forced a smile though her eyes were hollow.
"No, everything's fine between Quentin and me. We've always been good. Didn't I tell you he's just busy with work..."
"You can't always use his work as an excuse. It’s been two years since you got married, and other than the day after your wedding when you came back together, not once have we seen Quentin during holidays. You always return alone, it breaks my heart—I didn't realize marrying into wealth was jumping into a pit of fire," Kimberly said, the pain evident in her voice.
Trying to offer comfort, Lauren wiped away Kimberly's tears. She had done and said all she could to console her in the last two years. Eventually, the Walker family began to notice the strain in their relationship, but by then it was too late—the marriage license had been obtained, the wedding done; what more could her parents do?
"Lauren, I've thought about this for a long time, and if it really doesn't work, you should get a divorce. I'll talk to your dad," Kimberly expressed her true purpose for coming.
After enduring two years of scandalous headlines about Quentin, Kimberly had had enough. She didn't want her daughter to continue living this way; Lauren deserved her own happiness.
Hearing Kimberly suggest divorce left Lauren in a daze.
"Mom... I..."
She almost revealed her pregnancy but caught herself at the last moment.
"Are you worried about the company? It's been doing well these past two years, and your father and I have even managed to save a little. I believe even if we distance ourselves from Robinson Conglomerate now, our company won't go under," Kimberly reassured.
Lauren's hesitation intensified upon hearing Kimberly mention the company's thriving state. She couldn't shake off the memory of how close the Walker Corporation had been to collapse, saved only by Quentin's intervention. Despite Quentin's initial disdain toward her, Lauren often found herself pondering why he had bothered to extend his help in the first place.
Lauren couldn't make sense of many things and eventually chose to stop trying. Insisting on marrying Quentin was, in part, to save the company. Before the wedding, the Walker family elders had all pleaded with her to rescue the business, and the way to do that was by marrying Quentin.
Now, it seemed Quentin truly had the means; within just two years, he had revitalized the nearly bankrupt Walker Corporation – he truly had the knack!
"Mom, I love him, and I won't get divorced. Men, they will play around, but eventually, they come home. One day he will realize my worth," Lauren muttered, though without much conviction.
Kimberly patted Lauren's hand and exclaimed, "What spell has Quentin cast on you that you're so smitten with him? When will you ever come to your senses, Lauren?"
"Mom, I made my choices, and there's no need for you to feel guilty. Marrying Quentin was my decision, so please don't feel like you owe me anything."
Kimberly froze; this matter had always weighed heavily on her. If she had firmly declined the Walker family's request back then, perhaps Lauren wouldn't have ended up with the Robinson Family.
"I..." With her defenses crumbling, Kimberly's heart ached. Lauren was her daughter, her precious child she had cherished for so many years. How could she not feel pained to see her unhappy in marriage?
If she hadn't been so weak back then, always yielding to fate, maybe things would have been different.
Lauren embraced Kimberly, looking strong despite the tears of her sobbing mother.
"I will be happy, Mom. Don't worry about me!" Lauren comforted Kimberly, her resolve to leave growing ever firmer.
Quentin, far away at the Robinson Conglomerate headquarters, had caught an earful of the conversation taking place in the room. He hadn't initially intended to eavesdrop on Lauren. When they got married, he suspected she had ulterior motives, which led him to install the listening device.
Over time, he had detected nothing unusual, and the device lay dormant for a long while. Only a few days ago, after noticing something off about Lauren, did Quentin return home and reactivate the equipment. He couldn't have expected to overhear such a revealing conversation today.
His gaze turned cold as he realized Lauren's talk of divorce was a manipulative game, a calculated move. Happiness? Ridiculous. What did she take him for, Quentin wondered, daring to play him like this? She must be tired of living.
Yet, a spark of joy inadvertently fluttered in Quentin's heart. Although he wouldn't admit it, hearing Lauren's confession was an unexpected delight, and he became visibly restless in his office. He wanted to rush back to their villa to see what kind of performance the cunning lady would put on next.
After spending a few hours at the Robinson Family villa, Kimberly took her leave. She had said all she could, and with Lauren set on living as she chose, Kimberly was powerless to intervene.
Kimberly truly wished for Lauren's happiness, but it should come with respect for one's own decisions.
With Kimberly gone, Lauren felt a deeper sense of melancholy. That's why she hadn't dared to tell her about the pregnancy. The Walker family? They were unreliable; future support would have to come from herself alone. What reason was there not to work hard?
Shaking off the sense of loss, Lauren regained her focus and dove back into her business management studies.
However, fatigue soon overcame her. Pregnancy had turned her exceptionally drowsy. Eventually, she succumbed to sleep on her desk.
Containing his excitement, Quentin diligently finished his work before driving back to the Robinson Family villa.
The butler was taken aback by Quentin's unexpected return during regular work hours. Was there an emergency?
Without saying a word, the butler watched Quentin ascend to the second floor.
Quentin didn't bother knocking – it was, after all, his house, his bedroom. Why would he need to knock? He swung the door open and strode in, immediately drawn to the girl fast asleep at the desk.
Even Quentin didn't realize how tenderly he was looking at Lauren at that moment.
Earlier she had been feeling just fine, yet there she was, napping on the desk. Was she asking for another cold?
Quentin was a tad irritated; he was really fed up with her lack of attention to detail.
He walked over to the bed, grabbing a blanket to cover Lauren, but then he hesitated and withdrew his hand.
The awkward move was so out of character for Quentin. When did he become this indecisive?
Standing next to Lauren, Quentin listened to her steady breathing and sighed heavily. Thankfully, she was asleep; otherwise, she might suspect him of having ulterior motives.
That was when Quentin noticed the book on business management pinned under Lauren's arm, surrounded by several other books about corporate strategy. He wondered to himself, what was she up to? Was she planning to help him run Robinson Conglomerate in the future?
