Chapter 340
Neil Whitmore gave my waist a gentle squeeze, just the right amount of pressure to make my heart flutter.
He sighed, “I really wish I could put on this mature, steady front for you, but it’s just pointless. I kept it up for ten years and ended up divorced from you. I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”
“Cheer up. I remember you used to get all jittery with just a light touch from me.” Old memories of endless pursuits and painful times started flooding back.
A flicker of helplessness flashed through Neil’s eyes before he laughed, “Are you holding a grudge? It’s alright, you can get back at me whenever you want. Deal?”
Without waiting for my answer, he already had his hand behind my head, pulling me into a forced kiss. The taste of tobacco filled my mouth.
In just a few minutes, I felt my heart start to waver. Catching my response, Neil easily lifted me up and carried me into the living room.
Seeing the couch, I felt my knees get weak, sensing it was going to be a long night..
Hannah Morse was used to me coming home early. She simply smiled and greeted me, not asking anything more. I was a tad guilty but seeing her so chill made me relax.
That night, whatever I had planned for PR was pretty much done. Chloe Reynolds’ parents were under massive pressure, but I was just a bystander with no extra sympathy for them as they had brought that upon themselves.
On the other hand, Russel Dawson wasn’t affected much. He had a good reputation, and many believed his heart truly belonged to me, with his engagement to Chloe being forced.
Chloe killed herself, mainly because she felt unloved. As long as there was no evidence proving that Russel directly provoked Chloe, he was off the h ook.
The one thing that could be criticized was his refusal to talk her down the first time she threatened to jump.
I closed the web page, no longer interested in the saga.
After Chloe’s matter was settled, I threw myself into work. As my collaboration with FarHorizon Group deepened, I found some issues. The company seemed to have many partners but was more like a shell company, with many of its operations being fake.
Neil’s mentioned document was well hidden by Ethan Foster, and I hadn’t found it yet.
Aside from work, I’d hang out with Stella Wallace and the gang occasionally. Barbara Sands was pregnant, her belly showing, and her face filled with maternal warmth. Every time I saw her caressing her belly, I was reminded of Neil’s words.
When we met a few days prior, it was the time of my period, and the disappointment in Neil’s eyes was clear.
He longed for a child desperately. Mitch He bert told me that Neil even got checked at the hospital, but everything was normal. In that case, he might have suspected me, but he never mentioned it.
“Oh, baby, don’t kick mommy!” Barbara suddenly patted her belly during our chat, pretending to be angry.
Stella joyfully chimed in, “I bet it’s a boy. Girls are usually calmer.”
I stayed silent, sipping my water. Suddenly, Stella said, “I want another child, but I can’t seem to get pregnant again. I need to find a solution.”
“What kind of solution? Going to the hospital for treatment?” Alicia Rider asked.
“I have a friend who knows a top-notch gynecologist who’s been abroad all these years and is about to return. The doctor’s infertility treatment is excellent. I’ll give it a shot when she’s back.” Stella answered confidently, her eyes expressing her love for children. She wouldn’t give up.
A thought crossed my mind and I asked myself in my head, “An infertility specialist?”
The three of them were chatting happily, and I quietly noted that. Even if I left Neil in the future, deep down, I still wished for a child.
Back from the meet-up, Stella’s words echoed in my head. The hope that had faded seemed to flicker weakly again.
But that was for later. I needed to sort out my dad’s matter.
Due to Ethan Foster’s pressure, it was difficult to see my dad. All contacts were deliberately blocked. My mom, who had been worrying about my dad, wanted to see him as soon as she had recovered, but she discovered someone was deliberately targeting her after several attempts.
Seeing her worried, I felt heartbroken.
My mom had always been a strong woman, never really wronged, even when there were conflicts at home. But my dad’s incident put her under unprecedented pressure.
“I wonder how your dad is doing inside.” She’d occasionally say, her eyes filled with worry and love for my dad.
1/2
11:28
There was no good solution at that time, and it might have been awkward for me to ask Neil for help.
I told Stella and the ladies about that, and Neil found out immediately. Obviously, it was Mitch who had spilled the beans.
Neil had been busy around that time. We had less time together, but our relationship didn’t fade due to our infrequent meetups.
In fact, our relationship heated up thanks to his initiative.
He called me, “If you want to see your dad, you can tell me. I’ll sort it out. Why are you reluctant to ask for my help?”
His words left me wondering whether he was questioning me or helping me.
“This matter might be a bit tricky. I’m afraid you’d get caught by Ethan Foster if you helped me.” I voiced my concern.
“Do you doubt my capability? If I don’t want him to know, he won’t. If I really have to confront him, I won’t lose. I just don’t understand why you’re against me breaking ties with him.”
I was against it because I wanted to leave. I didn’t want to be unable to leave in the end.
The higher the price Neil paid, the harder it would have been for me to break free.
“I just don’t want you and him both to get hurt, okay? We already know about that document now. As long as we find out where it is, we’re pretty much good to go,” I said, dodging the real issue.
