Chapter 47 The Betrayal of First Love
Hannah saw the disappointment in Lauren's face and knew her grandson's personality wasn't exactly charming to women. Yet, she was aware that Quentin was extremely responsible when it came to relationships and truly a man worthy of Lauren's trust for a lifetime.
Hannah hesitated, knowing that some things would be better coming directly from Quentin. But how could Quentin, with his stubborn and competitive nature, bring himself to share such painful, old stories with Lauren?
So, Hannah decided to take it upon herself to disclose those things to Lauren, to help her better understand Quentin.
"Lauren, please don't get the wrong idea about Quentin. He's suffering inside, but he's used to staying strong, making it hard for him to passionately open up to others," Hannah said with a sigh.
Lauren was perplexed, "Dowager, I'm not blaming him. And I'm not ashamed to say that since I love him, I accept all of him. However, I've come to realize I just can't fit into his world, which makes me question my purpose for staying."
“Quentin hasn't grown cold without reason. Now, let me tell you what he's been through. I hope that after hearing this, you'll understand him better and be more compassionate toward him, okay?”
Lauren nodded. She had always been curious about Quentin's past but never found the right opportunity or way to learn about it. Although it was the man, he had become that she loved, not his history, she couldn't help but want to know everything about him.
“Quentin once fell in love; it was his first love. The girl had lived with our family for many years. They'd been childhood friends and shared an innocent bond. Their love was pure,” Hannah recalled as if opening a treasure chest of secrets buried deep within her heart, allowing dust-covered memories to surge forth.
Hannah sighed before continuing, “What we didn't know was that the girl harbored deep animosity toward us. We couldn’t fathom why she hated us so. It wasn't until Quentin's relationship with her seemed solid, and everyone trusted her completely, that she stole confidential company documents and handed them over to our biggest rival.”
“The sad part was Quentin refused to believe she was behind it all. He followed her onto a ship. Later, when the ship met with disaster, the girl saved herself and utterly disregarded Quentin, who couldn’t swim. Just like that, she was gone. And because of her betrayal, our company faced an unprecedented crisis, nearly bankrupting us. Since then, Quentin has been a changed man—shutting himself off, unwilling to believe in love again... until you came along,” Hannah said, her eyes shining as they rested on Lauren.
Lauren was at a loss for words, shocked by the revelation of Quentin’s heartbreak. He must have been in so much pain...
“Lauren, do you know why I agreed to help you marry Quentin?” Hannah asked, gripping Lauren’s hands.
Lauren looked down and said, “Is it because I saved your life?”
Shaking her head with a tender look, Hannah replied, “Silly girl, it's not that simple. You're thinking too naively.”
Confused, Lauren asked, “Then why did you agree to help me?”
Hannah laughed warmly. “Because I saw your kindness, your perseverance, and your innocence. I believe your positive outlook on life can truly move Quentin. I want to leave the past behind. I don't want Quentin to miss out on happiness because of one girl—and that happiness comes from what you have to offer.”
"Dowager, I..." Lauren started to say something but was interrupted by Hannah.
"Lauren, I know he's hurt you deeply these past two years, but for the genuine love you have for him, and for the sake of the child, I hope you can give Quentin another chance, okay?"
Lauren looked into Hannah's pleading eyes and her heart melted into a mess.
Things had unfolded way beyond her expectations. She hadn't anticipated the Robinson Family learning so quickly about her pregnancy, nor had she expected Quentin to have experienced something like this before, and even less so, that Quentin was beginning to show some changes toward her.
Perhaps, this really was an opportunity for her. If she could live a loving life with Quentin, it wouldn't be a bad outcome at all. The question that fluttered in Lauren's heart, however, was whether Quentin truly liked her.
"Dowager, I respect Quentin, and I respect his choices. If he loves me, I will absolutely continue to love him with everything I have. It's just that I'm afraid I might really become the person he loathes the most. That wouldn't be good for me, him, or the child."
"Lauren, can't you see that Quentin has already started to care for you, to notice you? At the home the other day, I saw the way you two were together. Trust me, I've been through this. Even if he won't admit his feelings for you right now, his eyes don't lie. I saw the love for you, clear as day, in his eyes," Hannah spoke honestly; she truly wanted to bring Lauren and Quentin together.
Lauren's emotions stirred with excitement—if only what Hannah said was true.
"Alright, Dowager, I'll keep trying. I've hung on for over two years; I won't give up now. I won't let you down."
Hannah hugged Lauren tightly; her understanding nature, her kindness, and her thoughtfulness, all made Hannah's heart ache for her.
With her spirits lifted, Lauren decided she should compromise for their future, believing her true feelings would eventually move him.
Just when Lauren had resolved to fight for their happiness, unbeknownst to her, a massive misunderstanding was slowly imperiling their relationship.
Back at the office, Quentin found his thoughts consumed by Lauren. He worried whether her wounds still hurt, if she had finished her IV drip, if the Dowager had already left, and if she felt lonely all by herself.
Quentin was surprised to find that he had invested far more time and energy in Lauren than he should have. After some thought, he could only come up with one reason for his unusual behavior—Lauren had saved him, and he simply felt grateful.
Fine, let him delude himself.
At that moment, the door to Quentin's office opened. Lifting his head and frowning, Quentin watched as a tall, fair-skinned woman in a sexy V-neck gown strode in with a smile.
"Long time no see, Quentin," Wendy greeted him with a beaming smile.
Unmoved, Quentin was somewhat annoyed by Wendy's sudden intrusion but kept his comments to himself.
"Long time no see," he replied curtly.
