Chapter 153 I will never agree As the president of the Oregon Group, a prominent figure in the business world, it was surprising that David I couldn't seem to grasp the numerous flaws in his plan. It left one wondering how such a savvy leader could overlook these issues. In the midst of his own internal conflict, Rowan fearlessly confronted him, causing his facade to momentarily freeze. After a brief pause, he finally inquired, "So, what do you suggest we do?" Without hesitation, Rowan addressed him directly, "David, I won't involve you in this child's life, nor will I reveal his biological father's identity to anyone. It's best for us to part ways and not disrupt anyone else's life due to our conversation today." David was far from accepting this proposal. He sneered, "Are you planning to have James raise my child? Does he have no qualms about it?" Rowan felt a sharp pang of anger in her chest. "What does James have to do with this? Let's not involve outsiders in our private mat
Rowan sheepishly set down the cookie and chuckled twice."The little cake is just too adorable, I couldn't resist," she admitted.Jessica lovingly tucked the quilt around Rowan and asked in a hushed tone, "I heard James mention that you two first crossed paths because of cookies.""Yes!" Rowan confirmed.Rowan finally managed to sneak the cookie away, stepped into the house, and gently closed the door. Initially, she had intended to assist Jessica with some tasks, but upon scanning the room, it seemed there was nothing needing her help. Consequently, she opted to sit on the edge of the bed and engage in a hushed conversation with her friend."At the outset, my love for cookies was so intense that I shamelessly tagged along with him every day when he walked his dog."Jessica wore a warm smile as she listened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She had the distinct impression of indulging a child proudly sharing their accomplishments. Something was endearing about Rowan's unwarranted se
It’s your son anywayJessica hung her head and remained silent.The stranger and Jessica stood there, locked in a heavy silence. In contrast, James, standing to the side, displayed a pleading expression and softly called out, "Sister Jessica..."Jessica seemed momentarily taken aback, then smiled quietly, almost as if resigning herself to the situation. In a hushed tone, she whispered, "Go ahead and see him; he's your son, after all. I can't stop you."The man gazed deeply into her eyes and extended his right hand, clasping her slender hand that hung by her side."Come with me," he said decisively.Jessica reacted as if she had been shocked, swiftly attempting to pull her hand away, but the man's grip was firm, and she struggled unsuccessfully."Let go!" she demanded.Instead of releasing her, the man extended his left hand, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and held her close.Rowan watched the scene with wide eyes, torn between wanting to intervene and understanding that if Jessi
The atmosphere between Rowan and James was becoming increasingly ambiguous. Rowan turned her face away, avoiding eye contact with James, fearing she might see the expectation in his eyes, something she wasn't ready to face.James, being as considerate as ever, didn't press her for an answer. Instead, he smiled good-naturedly and said, "Go to bed early. You have to get up early for work tomorrow morning."Rowan practically leaped up from her seat as if she had been granted a reprieve. "Okay!"James escorted her to the guest room, a reasonably spacious room conveniently located next to his own bedroom. Rowan glanced around and noticed, as he had mentioned, that the bed was neatly made, and everything she might need had been thoughtfully prepared.This small act of consideration warmed her heart. She didn't know how a grown man like James could be so meticulous in just a few minutes. She softly thanked him.James had never entered the room from the beginning. He stood with his arms cross
James took the initiative to stand up, telling Rowan in a deep voice, "You continue eating, I'll go check."Rowan had lost her appetite at this point, so she also got up and followed him towards the door.James led the way, and Rowan followed a couple of steps behind, trying to keep her composure.When James opened the door, he paused, and Rowan caught up, standing a few steps away from him.From the front, it appeared as if they were standing shoulder to shoulder, closely together. Thus, when the door opened, the person on the other side narrowed his eyes dangerously upon seeing this scene.After scrutinizing them for a moment, his brows furrowed even further.To be precise, there were three individuals outside the door: Jessica, Steve, who had unexpectedly arrived last night, and David, wearing a stern expression.The sight before Rowan was beyond her wildest imagination. She remained in a state of shock for a few seconds, staring blankly at the people outside.Steve, who stood outs
Rowan hesitated to speak and glanced at James, who had paused to pay attention to their conversation.James interrupted her, a hint of concern in his voice. "What's wrong, are you still hungry?"Rowan opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, James continued, "You really still want to eat? Alas, I really can't do anything with you. I'll heat it up for you! You wait here."With that, James stood up, collected the plates from the table, and made his way toward the kitchen."James," Rowan called out, suddenly halting him.James reluctantly stopped, his hands poised with the dishes.Rowan raised her head, gazing up at him as she spoke slowly, "James, I still want to talk to him."James put down the plates, looking at her with a furrowed brow. "Why?"Rowan explained, "He already knows about it... We can't let this linger in uncertainty. I'm afraid it will only become more complicated in the future."James, being a man, had a different perspective on the matter. His thou
Rowan felt a growing unease within her.Initially, when David had taken the initiative to approach her, she had hoped it signified his willingness to reconcile with her. But David's recent behavior had left her feeling apprehensive.She feared that he might suddenly declare, "I will never break up with Flora, and I don't want the Thompson family's children to follow you outside. Just abort the child!" Such words could easily drive her to the brink of madness.So, after David fell into silence, Rowan hesitated to speak. Instead, she sat in silence, grappling with her thoughts.Outside the car window, James had been waiting patiently for some time, but he saw no sign of Rowan getting out of the car. He decided to take measured steps towards the silver car and leaned against a nearby flower bed.Though his movements were calm and composed, his slightly furrowed brows and the flicker of eagerness in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.David couldn't tear his gaze away from James.Suddenl
"When you came to visit me today, I initially thought you had already considered alternative solutions," Rowan remarked with a subtle smile.David lowered his gaze, hoping to conceal the hint of embarrassment that had momentarily flashed in his eyes.Rowan continued, her surprise evident in her tone, "I never expected to see you hesitate like this, David. It's a new side of you."David sighed in response, realizing that even he had never anticipated facing such a predicament.He should have remained steadfast in his commitment to Flora, who had been lost and then found. Yet, inexplicably, he kept finding himself drawn to Rowan.After a moment of silence, David spoke, as though trying to explain both to Rowan and himself, "If this child is mine, I can't let them grow up without me."Rowan's lips curled into a more pronounced sarcastic smile."Yes, you've said that before. But now you're uncertain about how to explain it to Flora, and you're unsure how to handle both me and the child gr
Instantly, the air around David crackled with tension. He swiftly shed his suit, the fabric feeling heavy in his trembling as he handed it over to Richard, who felt like crying at the back of his boss—this was all his boss had been working for in the past few months: to have Miss Rowan to himself finally, without fear of Flora hurting her again. Just then, James' phone buzzed, interrupting the silence that engulfed the atmosphere. Seeing the caller, James picked up at once. "Hello, babe," James said into the phone, drawing curious glances from David and Richard. To them, only Rowan would receive such a nickname. Seeing their suspicious gazes, he switched the phone to loudspeaker. "Hi, Naomi, you can speak now," James invited. "Miss Rowan has been rushed to the hospital. She's unable to fly; she started having contractions before she entered the plane," Naomi informed them. Before James could reply, David snatched the phone from his hands. "Miss Naomi, this is her husband at the ho
The room was alive with happiness as Flora jubilated, knowing that in a few hours, every TV station and blogger would be buzzing about her wedding to David Thompson, the president of the Oregon group of companies."As the heiress of Seraphims Holding, I only deserve the best," Flora declared from where she lay on the bed, with Andrew planting kisses on her neck and along her jawline."You know I will compensate you handsomely. I panicked when I found out David had regained his memory but didn't want me anymore. I thought everything was over, after years of patiently waiting," Flora confessed, a smile playing on her lips."I've told you that you don't have any problems. Since you've opened up to me about your true feelings and that it's me you love, and only his money you desire, since you've promised that it's my child you'll carry in his house, then I don't have any issues. The wedding is set to proceed, and in a few hours, you'll be Mrs. Thompson officially, but inwardly, you'll be M
It had been a few days, and tension hung thick in the air as Steve returned to James's house to deliver his response. The silence that filled the room was deafening, each breath heavy with anticipation. Jessica, though she thought she was prepared for any outcome, couldn't help but rub her hands together nervously. Ryan, sensing the tension, rested his head on her lap, his instincts picking up on the palpable anxiety swirling around them. "So, brother, have you finally made your decision?" James asked, his tone harsh yet tinged with regret. In the past few days, he had come to realize that his emotions had clouded his judgment. He understood that everything Steve had done was out of love for him — Steve didn't want him to lose the love of his life, just as James had lost his. It was this realization that had prompted James to allow Steve to make his own decision, even if it meant James would have to bear the pain of parting with his brother, if only for a while. "Yes, kid brother,"
What?" David's father asked, surprised by his son's allegations. "Dad, answer me. Are you involved with her too?" David demanded. "No, I'm not. And I'm disappointed that you would think so little of your father," David's father said. "I don't care, Dad. If she knows something about you significant enough to trade for my safety, then it must be substantial, and I need to know about it today," David said defiantly "Sit down, and I will tell you everything," David's father said. Reluctantly, David slumped into the chair, his anger palpable, emanating from him like a dark cloud. "Firstly, I discovered the kind of person Flora was after you started seeing her. Knowing how much you love her compelled me to dig deeper. I didn't want you to end up with the wrong woman. After finding out that she was involved with different men, I decided to confront her myself instead of letting you do it. During our conversation, she confessed that her uncle had forced her into those situations and that
"What do you mean, David? It was the marriage certificate we both signed, isn't that what we both wanted back then? Just because you didn't have the memory doesn't change the fact that your mother is aware of it, and a mother can't lie," Flora's voice came over the phone, her tone laced with frustration and desperation. She wasn't even attempting to come to David's house, realizing she had nothing left to lose."Flora, even if it is true, I don't want this marriage anymore. We have to annul the certificate," David stated firmly, using a word he never wanted to utter."What? David, are you trying to use me and then discard me? We've been dating for almost seven years. Now you don't want me anymore, and you didn't consider the repercussions it will have on my family and me, on the company, on everyone who believed we would end up together... I won't force you, David, but think about the consequences. We are legally married starting next week. If we don't announce it publicly, I don't kn
Naomi could only hum softly as she listened to Rowan's teasing remarks. Bending down, she reached for the coffee cups placed in front of them, an order she had made for both of them. Savoring the warmth, she took a delicate sip before carefully placing the cup back on the table.Inwardly, Naomi grasped the subtle undertones of Rowan's words. Since meeting James, she felt a shift within herself, a desire to embody qualities that might earn his admiration. But could she confide in Rowan that the catalyst for her change was the very man who harbored feelings for her?"Miss Rowan, I can't say there's any love involved. Let's just say someone's critique nudged me towards self-improvement," Naomi replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Rowan's gentle smile lingered, leaving Naomi to ponder if her response had hit the mark."You know, being challenged by someone and feeling compelled to better oneself because of them, well, it's akin to love. You might not realize it now, but soon enough
Before James exited the hospital, he had arranged to meet Naomi, only to hear the distressing news that she was banned from leaving the house. Naomi, a pivotal figure in her father's company, had inadvertently stirred up trouble by being seen at clubs, inviting scrutiny from shareholders and adding pressure to her father's plate. She was slated to marry into another wealthy family to enhance the company's stature. James, though conflicted, found himself driving toward Naomi's house despite his vow to stay away and avoid complicating matters for both families. The prospect of being desired by Naomi's father for his daughter weighed heavily on him, even as he questioned his own intentions. Arriving at the grand mansion, James couldn't help but admire the exquisite taste of Naomi's father. The meticulously landscaped gardens, the elegant architecture both inside and out, and the grandeur of the estate left James in awe, despite his familiarity with opulent surroundings. "It seems I'll
David's desperate calls echoed in the air, chasing after Rowan who seemed to be slipping away from him. The tears streaming down her face mirrored the storm of emotions raging within her. The weight of reality crashed upon her, a cruel revelation that left her heart shattered. The love she thought would one day be hers had been claimed, sealed, and signed on a marriage certificate.Her steps quickened, driven by a mix of anguish and fear. She wished she could stop, and gather herself, but the intensity of her emotions made it impossible to fake composure. The fear of David thinking she was running away from his happiness gnawed at her, yet the pain of witnessing the love of her life marrying someone else was unbearable.Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts and the ache in her chest, Rowan's misstep jolted her back to reality. Her leg collided with an obstacle, threatening to send her crashing to the ground. Just as she teetered on the edge of falling, a strong hand encircled her, savi
Three agonizing days had crawled by since Rowan left David's house. The deafening silence hung heavy in her heart as she resisted the urge to reach out to him or answer his father's calls. Flora's mysterious behavior and her cousin's news about an award only added to the tumult of emotions swirling within her. The absence of David was a constant ache, the void left by his departure filled with memories that refused to fade. Today found Rowan grappling with the challenges of the IT department at the hospital, a temporary distraction from the emotional turmoil. As she navigated the hospital corridors, a man emerged from a ward—discharged after six months of battling mental illness triggered by a traumatic accident. His struggle mirrored Rowan's own internal conflict. The man, seemingly normal at times but haunted by bouts of lunacy, resonated with her. What gripped her most was the unwavering love poured onto him by his family, clinging to the hope of his eventual restoration, even in