Chapter 36 The Son-in-Law of the Walker Family
Lauren and Quentin had been married for two years, and not once had they visited The Walker family together. Kimberly, feeling concerned, found herself at odds with her husband Ulysses, who Kimberly was worried, but Ulysses firmly stood by Quentin'’s side. Kimberly struggled to articulate her disappointment, trapped in a complex emotional dilemma.Kimberly felt let down by her sweetheart and found herself in a situation hard to express.
If keeping Walker Corporation afloat meant sacrificing Lauren's happiness, Kimberly would rather let the company go under. That was her mindset, but Ulysses felt differently.
So, deciding to bypass Ulysses, Kimberly sought out Quentin for a heart-to-heart. No matter how formidable a CEO Quentin was, by family connection, she was still his mother-in-law, and she believed a conversation between them was in order.
Kimberly made her way to the offices of Robinson Conglomerate. After identifying herself to the secretary, she was swiftly escorted to the CEO's office.
There she was greeted by the impressive man who was also her son-in-law, Quentin.
"Mom, please take a seat."
Quentin rose and spoke to Kimberly with courteous formality.
Kimberly eyed the man before her carefully. Even though he was her son-in-law, having met him only once at their wedding, this was the first time she had come face-to-face with him like this.
"Quentin, I ran into Lauren today. She was selling kitchen gadgets, and I want you to explain to me what that's all about," Kimberly broached squarely, not allowing Quentin to have an edge over her in terms of presence.
"Ah, what do you need me to clarify? It was her own choice, and I support her," Quentin responded evenly, his words sealed tight against any argument.
Kimberly hadn't expected to be so bluntly put in her place by Quentin right from the start. Indeed, Lauren was married now, her affairs were part of the Robinson family—Quentin's business. What more could she say?
Kimberly could feel the chill emanating from Quentin, marking her first encounter with such a dominating presence. His aura was so intense it sparked an impulse in her to flee.
How had Lauren managed with a man like this over the past two years? Kimberly found herself questioning why Lauren had fallen for Quentin in the first place.
"Quentin, since this was a decision made by the two of you, I have nothing more to say. But Lauren is so naive and kind-hearted; I fear she might get pushed around out there. So, I hope you'll take good care of her."
"Of course." Quentin turned and took a seat across from Kimberly, seemingly waiting for her to continue.
"Lauren is still young and inexperienced, and if she makes mistakes, please be patient with her." Kimberly felt a sense of helplessness, realizing pleading was all she could do without the courage to make any bold demands.
"Mom, you're too polite."
Quentin's gaze was cold, harboring a certain disdain for the Walker family. It was partly because of Lauren, and partly due to Ulysses reaching out for help with the Walker Corporation multiple times after their marriage. He considered the Walkers to be nothing but social climbers.
Since marrying Lauren, Quentin had pegged her as a gold digger. He couldn’’t recall a time he’d interacted with her, much less entertained the idea that she liked him. He believed her affection was nothing more than a convenient excuse to marry into wealth and power...
But his recent encounters had him questioning his initial judgement. Could that stubborn woman really be the type of person he had categorized her as from the start?
"Alright, since you've put it that way, I believe you. I do hope things work out for you both."
With that, Kimberly knew that further conversation was pointless. She stood up to leave.
Quentin made no effort to stop her. He merely extended a token gesture, escorting her to the office door before citing work commitments as his excuse for leaving, instructing his secretary to see Kimberly out.Quentin didn't try to stop her. He offered a token gesture by walking her to the office door before excusing himself due to work, asking his secretary to escort Kimberly out.
After leaving the Robinson Conglomerate, Kimberly called Lauren immediately. She'd found that Quentin wasn't as unreasonable as she'd thought and wanted to comfort Lauren, but her efforts seemed to backfire.
"What? Mom, you went to see Quentin?" Lauren’s voice trembled with unease. "Mom, how could you go behind my back?"
Kimberly was puzzled. "I just wanted to understand his intentions, to ask why he’s making you work. I didn't say anything else. Why are you so upset?"
Lauren's reaction frightened Kimberly, who hadn’t’t seen her daughter this upset in a long time.
Lauren was frantic, "How could you approach him like that? You're making it seem like I'm complaining about him!"
"That's not it at all. You don't understand, Quentin was quite amicable. He explained why you're working, and I didn't sense any anger from him."
Lauren didn't bother explaining her agitation to Kimberly. After all, her image in his mind had already been tarnished beyond repair. Why worry about any additional negative impressions?
"Yeah, Mom, it's okay. It's just that he's so busy with work; I was concerned he might have said something that upset you."
A profound sense of defeat washed over Lauren, a feeling of helplessness that threatened to engulf her.
Kimberly chuckled and said, "Then you can rest easy. I think Quentin has really turned over a new leaf this time. Don't keep clinging to his unsavory past. In a marriage, it's all about mutual forgiveness, you know."
Lauren understood Kimberly's good intentions, but she couldn't accept them. She was too anxious and on the verge of exploding.
She responded with a few non-committal remarks and hung up the phone, using work as an excuse.
After the call, Lauren was a mess of emotions, imagining that Quentin probably despised her even more now thanks to Kimberly's interference. She wanted to explain but then thought better of it. Let it be, she thought, let the misunderstanding stand...
Lauren threw herself into her work, explaining and demonstrating product features alongside her colleague, Chen. They closed two deals that afternoon, and a slight smile graced Lauren's face at last.
She was beginning to understand the sentiment of those high-powered businesswomen. Success at work really could be exhilarating. In high spirits now, she decided to finish the plan she had devised that day, aiming to create a flawless proposal.
In the evening, Lauren returned to her villa, had dinner, completed her nightly routine, and then continued to work overtime in her room.
Down a dark street next to the villa, a white Bentley remained parked. The man inside, his gaze intense, was staring at the second-floor window — it was Quentin.
Quentin had intentionally driven an inconspicuous car, one Lauren had never seen before, to the front of the villa. He had been around for the last couple of days but hadn't returned inside.
A strong desire urged Quentin to go back to the villa, but logic told him he shouldn't. A man who usually prioritized reason over emotion, he resisted the urge, ending up parked outside. Day after day, he watched Lauren return to the villa, never stepping out of his car.
The light inside Lauren's room was still on, and her graceful figure was even more enchanting under the glow of the lamp. Quentin swallowed hard, cursing himself for suddenly recalling the night he spent with Lauren, the intimacy they shared.
