Chapter 263 A Heart Returning to Calm
Joseph was always the life of the party. To Lauren, he was like a mix of Yoda and a best buddy, a shining light in her otherwise gloomy world.
Lauren was stoked to see Joseph again. She headed over to his studio and was kinda shocked to find it super empty, which left her scratching her head.
"Hey, Mr. Borgia, why's your studio so empty today?" Lauren asked.
Joseph let out a hearty laugh, looking a bit smug. "Well, my last batch of students just graduated. I've taught exactly two hundred students in my lifetime. Decided to give myself a break and not take on any new ones for now. Usually, it's just my assistant who comes by to clean up. So, it's just me here now."
Seeing Joseph's bright smile was like a ray of sunshine cutting through the gloom in Lauren's heart.
"That's awesome, Mr. Borgia. You totally deserve a break. Why bust your butt all the time?" Lauren said, the last sentence almost reflecting on herself as well.
Joseph didn't think much of it. He happily grabbed a thick stack of materials from the bookshelf and plopped them in front of Lauren with a grin.
Lauren opened the materials and saw they were her designs from back home. She hadn't expected Joseph to get his hands on them, and he had marked them up with tons of notes.
"Mr. Borgia, these designs..." Lauren started.
"Surprised? After you went back home, we talked about house designs a bunch of times, and I gave some suggestions. But it's always better to see the designs in person. So, I asked Ethan for your detailed plans. I know your clients approved these designs, but for your improvement, I marked some flaws. We can go over them when you have the chance," Joseph said seriously, looking at Lauren.
Lauren was one of his favorite students, and he definitely put in more effort for her than for the average student.
Joseph's silent care reminded Lauren of Jessica, who had recently passed away. Jessica had also been so meticulous and caring, always thinking of her and wanting to help with everything.
Lauren's eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you, Mr. Borgia. Even though I went back home, you still worried about me. I feel really ashamed."
Joseph's chin lifted slightly, his big beard curling up, and his eyes wide open, looking kinda funny.
"You're my student. Making you perfect also brings me glory. Now, take a look and tell me if you have any opinions. We'll solve them together," Joseph said.
Joseph was a total workaholic. In his world, as long as there was design work, nothing else mattered. So, even though Lauren had traveled a long way to visit him, she wasn't treated to hospitality but was instead pulled into an hour-long work discussion before she could rest.
Lauren looked gratefully at Joseph. She hadn't expected that coming back to Pariz would give her a deeper understanding of design concepts.
Joseph then remembered that Lauren had just returned. He smiled and asked, "By the way, why did you come back suddenly? Did Matthew come too?"
Lauren was momentarily stunned, then deflected, "I've been out of work for too long and felt a bit stressed, so I came alone to relax and visit you."
Joseph gave her a cheeky grin. "Come on, don't BS me. Did you and Ethan have a spat? There's a saying, 'There's no hatred between a couple.' It's spot on. You should get what that means."
Lauren blushed. "Mr. Borgia, Ethan and I are not... never mind."
She hadn't sorted out her feelings about Ethan, so arguing with Joseph was pointless.
Seeing her hesitation, Joseph, being the sharp guy he was, figured her rough look wasn't just from work stress.
"Ethan's got it rough. Three years and he still can't win your heart, but he won't give up. Lauren, even if you don't love Ethan, he's still a rock in your life. Don't get too hung up. Letting go can open up new doors," Joseph said seriously. He didn't usually meddle in love lives, but he couldn't help giving Lauren a nudge.
Lauren's eyes widened, surprised that Joseph seemed to get her situation better than she did.
She thought, 'Yeah, love isn't my top priority anymore. It was a silly dream from my younger days. Now that the dream's over, it's time to live my life right.'
"Mr. Borgia, I get it. Thanks," Lauren said sincerely.
For some reason, hearing it from Joseph made it click. Kimberly had told her the same thing a million times, but there was always a wall between them, making her tune out.
Joseph smiled. "Since you're here, stay a few days. I've kept your old place for you. You can go back whenever you want. Meanwhile, come to my studio and finish that design book I gave you."
Lauren nodded eagerly. She needed to calm her restless heart.
After Jessica's funeral, Quentin brought Matthew back home to The Robinson Family Villa. He hired a full-time nanny to take care of Matthew while he spent his days either gaming or resting.
Matthew tried to get Quentin to play with him, but Quentin always brushed him off, barely saying a word.
Matthew was confused. Was he just here to kill time? He was bummed. He had promised Lauren he'd keep Quentin company and help him bounce back.
The scruffy, depressed Quentin wasn't the Daddy Matthew wanted. In his mind, Daddy was the coolest and most handsome guy ever.
Like Lauren, Matthew was brave and persistent. He found some paper and pens in his room and carefully drew a picture. Then he marched to Quentin's room, confident he could help Quentin snap out of it.
Quentin, lost in his grief, felt a weird sense of peace. He wasn't really defeated; Jessica's death had made him realize that chasing fame and fortune was pointless. When someone left this world, they took nothing with them. So, what was the point of all his efforts?
He decided to quit the rat race and live the life he wanted. Besides, with the wealth he'd piled up over the years, he could live comfortably for several lifetimes.
Quentin's sudden laid-back lifestyle freaked out everyone at Robinson Conglomerate.
Meanwhile, their rivals, who had been eyeing the company, were thrilled. They thought the once-dominant Quentin would finally retire from the business world, giving them a shot to rise!
