Chapter 48 Rekindling Hope
Quentin and Wendy's paths had crossed at a film release party for a movie starring Wendy and financed by the Robinson Conglomerate.
From the moment Wendy had laid eyes on Quentin, she had resolved to have him, even though she was aware that Quentin was with Lauren. Despite her innocent appearance, Wendy harbored astutely deep schemes.
Due to Wendy's deliberate orchestrations, she and Quentin had grown increasingly close.
Quentin's indifferent tone made Wendy uncomfortable. "Quentin, it's been several months since we've met. Why are you so cold to me? I put on my prettiest dress as soon as I got off the plane just to see you," Wendy pouted, feigning dismay.
Quentin stood up and walked over to the sofa.
"How are you expecting to be welcomed if it isn’t cold? You didn't inform me about your return, and you think it's appropriate to just barge into my office?" Quentin was known for his bluntness, unaffected by someone's status, whether they were a celebrity or an official.
Wendy was well aware of Quentin's temper and had thought she'd be an exception in his heart. However, after knowing him for quite some time, he remained impervious to her tactics, which greatly frustrated her.
"I was just kidding; you took it seriously. I apologize if my sudden visit disrupted your work. Sorry, I'll be more mindful next time. Come on, drop the cold façade. I admit my mistake," Wendy yielded, knowing that this approach of showing vulnerability often worked on men.
Quentin's expression remained unchanged. He had no interest in holding a grudge, especially since she still had ties with the company, and he didn't want to ruin the relationship.
"Does your agency know you're back?" Quentin asked.
With playful confidence, Wendy responded, "Of course, they know. My commitments abroad are wrapped up, and now I'll be focusing on work back here."
In City A, Quentin felt the weight of expectation in Wendy’s voice. “You really have to keep me company this time, Quentin. I've been bored to death lately with nothing but work, day in and day out. Have you noticed I've even lost weight?”
Quentin scoffed, his attention had never extended to monitoring Wendy’s physical changes.
“Tonight, you need to throw me a welcome back party. I've already notified everyone I'm inviting. Aren't I great at planning ahead?” Wendy said with a playful grin.
However, Quentin's face turned frosty. Wendy had returned and instantly took the liberty of arranging his schedule, which irked him.
Still, Quentin saved face for her. They needed to maintain a long-term collaboration, and in his heart, Wendy reminded him of a pure soul, somewhat like his first love.
Quentin despised his first love, yet his deepest hatred mirrored an intense love, a truth he was unwilling to admit, but which revealed the core of his conflicted emotions.
“Next time don’t do this, or I won’t be so forgiving,” Quentin warned her coldly.
“Okay, okay, I promise this will be the last time,” Wendy assured him, raising three fingers in oath. Quentin glanced at her but said no more.
Wendy amused herself, chattering away about her experiences abroad, while Quentin didn’t utter a single response. To an outsider, they seemed to have a close relationship.
Celebrity Wendy and the CEO of Robinson Conglomerate, Quentin, were already subjects of rampant speculation in the press.
The entertainment industry thrives on rumors, and with Quentin being a highly notable figure, it attracted significant attention.
So, that evening Quentin joined Wendy at her welcome back party. They entered a hotel together, an event promptly captured by the lenses of the press.
After Lauren saw Hannah off, her parents arrived unexpectedly. Hannah, excited by the news of Lauren’s pregnancy, couldn’t wait to share it with her parents, The Walker family.
Kimberly and Ulysses arrived at Lauren's hospital room, worry etched on their faces. Kimberly was concerned about Lauren’s health, while Ulysses feared for the safety of the unborn child.
“Lauren, darling, how are you? Why did you keep such a serious matter from us?” Kimberly’s eyes glistened with tears as she spoke tenderly.
Lauren attempted to sit up but was gently restrained by Kimberly. “Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?”
"You tell me. If it weren’t for the Robinson family matriarch letting us know something was wrong, your dad and I would still be in the dark!"
"Lauren, the Robinson matriarch mentioned you're pregnant? Is that true?" Ulysses couldn't contain his excitement. If it was true, that would be fantastic.
He had always been concerned about Lauren's marriage with Quentin, fearing that a divorce would negatively impact his Walker Corporation. Now, if he was about to become the great-grandfather of the future heir to the Robinson Conglomerate, his worries would be gone.
Kimberly shot Ulysses a look, then turned to Lauren with care and said, “Lauren, your dad’s just concerned about the baby, right? With the serious injuries you've had, did the doctor tell you anything about the baby’s condition?”
Lauren felt a deep sorrow. She knew her father always wanted quick results, but it hurt her heart to face the naked truth of it.
“Yeah, the baby's fine.”
Hearing Lauren say this, Kimberly smiled through her tears. "That's good, that's good. You have to be careful from now on. Babies are both strong and fragile, you need to take good care of yourself, understand?"
Lauren nodded and mustered a small smile, trying to ease Kimberly’s worries.
"Why the tears? Lauren being pregnant is fantastic news. Crying like this, what would the Robinsons think of us?" Ulysses grumbled at Kimberly.
Kimberly wiped away her tears and responded, “It's tears of joy, I'm just... happy.”
Lauren's emotions were mixed, unsure how to comfort Kimberly. All she could do was hold onto Kimberly's hand tightly, hoping her warm touch would alleviate her worries and guilt.
"Mom, you're going to be a grandma soon. Cheer up," Lauren said lightly.
Kimberly nodded, smiling. "Time flies. In my eyes, you're still a child, and suddenly, you're married and expecting. I'd be in denial if I claimed I wasn’t getting old..."
"Mom, you're not old at all. In my heart, you're always the most beautiful mom," said Lauren with a smile.
“You say I’m not old just to make me feel better. By the way, where's Quentin? Didn't he come to take care of you?”
"Oh, he had some work at the office and went back earlier. It was Hannah who stayed with me, but he'll be back later," Lauren explained.
Kimberly finally felt at ease, "Well, as long as he's taking good care of you, I'm relieved. I'm really happy that you’ve finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."
Lauren smiled genuinely this time, hoping that this would indeed be a new beginning for her and Quentin. She yearned for Quentin to have developed some feelings for her, as she had hoped.
