Chapter 189 The Solution to the Crisis
From Richard's genuine attitude, Lauren saw a glimmer of hope. The fair and just treatment she had always wanted was finally here, and that moved her deeply.
They dropped the topic, and Richard led them to the studio next door with a mysterious air. "Lauren, I've got something to show you," he said with a cheerful smile before opening the door.
Lauren smiled and followed him, feeling a bit puzzled. Even though it was her first time meeting Richard, she felt an odd sense of familiarity with him.
Richard shot Ethan a mischievous grin, then opened the door and led Lauren to a display window. "Can you tell what's inside?" he asked.
Lauren looked closely at the house model inside, thinking hard. Finally, her eyes lit up. "This is my design!" she exclaimed.
Ethan and Richard exchanged knowing smiles. "Surprised?" Ethan asked.
Lauren nodded. "How did my design get turned into a model?"
Richard explained, "I admired your design. Your work is meticulous and profitable. I fixed the faults and produced a model. This makes faults easier to spot."
Lauren looked at the model and said, "I felt something was wrong before but couldn't pinpoint it. After your modifications, it all makes sense now."
An expert's touch indeed revealed the flaws! Lauren admired Richard even more.
Her emotions were a mix of awe and satisfaction. Seeing a blueprint turned into a three-dimensional model was a wonderful feeling. Design work was fulfilling, satisfying not only others but also oneself. This sense of achievement was simply captivating!
Lauren left the company with a big smile on her face. Ethan noticed and felt happy, too. As long as Lauren was happy, he was even happier.
"Ethan, thank you. You've given me so many surprises today," Lauren said sincerely.
Ethan looked at her fondly and said, "Why thank me? This is all the result of your hard work. It has little to do with me."
"No, the affirmation and encouragement at this moment mean a lot to me. It's like I've come back to life," Lauren said.
Lauren's recent troubles had deeply troubled her. She thought she would never see hope again, but unexpectedly, she found hope in despair.
"So, Lauren, have you decided to stay?" Ethan asked, staring at her, afraid that if he looked away, she would disappear.
Lauren smiled and lowered her head. "I'm still considering it, but this job opportunity is really tempting."
Hearing this, Ethan felt relieved and thought, 'It's okay. I can wait. I had waited for so many years. What's a little more time?'
"Take your time to think about it. Whatever decision you make, I'll support you," Ethan said emotionally, even if she really left City A.
Back home, Lauren told Kimberly everything. She was confused, not knowing whether to give up her plan to leave City A for this job opportunity.
Kimberly listened intently, her face serious. "Lauren, please don't run away. I know it's tough right now, but you're not one to give up or shy away from challenges. Your positivity always shines through, like my little ray of sunshine."
"Mom, why are you saying this? It's like if I leave City A, I won't be your daughter anymore," Lauren said, feeling hurt.
"No, I just want you to see your true feelings. And can you really bear to let Ethan down? He's been waiting for you," Kimberly said.
"Mom, stop it. Ethan and I are just friends," Lauren interrupted loudly.
Kimberly shook her head. Lauren still refused to face Ethan's feelings. Ethan was pitiful.
"Okay, I won't say more. But running away won't solve the problem. Besides, those problems weren't really your fault," Kimberly said, then took Matthew to the balcony to enjoy the sun.
Lauren stood there, lost in thought.
Quentin had been angry for days because Lauren and Ethan had left. Whenever he thought of Lauren, he would go to the bar to drink, which made Noah a bit uncomfortable.
"What's with you going to the bar every other day? Feeling down?" Noah teased.
Quentin shot him a cold look. "What? Did you solve the financing issue? Instead of following me, you should visit more banks."
Noah plopped down on the stool next to Quentin. "If you can't solve it, do you think I can?"
Quentin downed another drink, considering the suggestion Sophia had made to him a few days ago.
Noah knew about this too. Robinson Conglomerate was in a bad situation and needed Sophia's help. But Quentin was stubborn and refused to agree, and Noah didn't know what to say.
"Honestly, no bank is willing to lend us money now, so why not reconsider Sophia's offer?" Noah started to say but was silenced by Quentin's sharp gaze.
"Why are you so indecisive? If you want to accept, do it quickly. If not, then let it fail. What's your choice?" Noah's words were clear enough, and he believed Quentin would make the right decision.
"It's not that I don't want to accept Sophia's help. I'm just wondering if there's another way. Why do we need a woman to help us?" Quentin said.
"So what if it's a woman? Don't forget that you once helped Sophia get her company back. This time, consider it her repaying the favor. Don't overcomplicate things. Mutual assistance between companies is common," Noah persuaded Quentin.
Quentin pondered. 'I just want to draw a clear line with Sophia, which would be good for both of us. But given the current situation, I have to accept Sophia's help.'
The more he thought about it, the more troubled he felt. Quentin downed a few more drinks and thought, 'Damn it! I hate this feeling of helplessness!'
Noah patted Quentin's shoulder hard, understanding Quentin's feelings. At that moment, it wasn't the right time to let emotions disrupt the company's critical matters, which waswhy he was insistent with Quentin.
