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Chapter 421
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Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 422
(โฅ๏นโฅ) I didn't want to stay!I desperately wanted to ask Luke for help, but I was afraid Mrs. Walker would notice our interaction. For my own safety, the best strategy was to avoid giving Mrs. Walker any reason to think Luke and I were too close.Reluctantly, I stayed put."Come here, Ms. Middleton. Stand by me," Mrs. Walker beckoned.Her face showed kindness, but I couldn't shake the feeling of a wicked witch calling me over.I dragged my feet, feeling as heavy as lead, to Mrs. Walker's side.She looked me over and said, "Ms. Middleton, you seem thinner than when I last saw you."She was lying through her teeth. I'd gained a good ten pounds since returning to Johnsonville from Brookshire!Not daring to call out her lie, I just smiled without responding."Is Lu giving you too much work?" she probed."Everyone in the executive office has their set responsibilities," I answered, sidestepping the question.Seeing my evasion, Mrs. Walker changed the subject. "Joey told me about
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 423
"Jen, you can't avoid the inevitable," Luke said."..." Did Luke mean I had to go?I stood there, stunned, as if struck by lightning.Seeing my reaction, a flicker of amusement passed through Luke's eyes. "I meant me. You stick to your original plan - spend the weekend with Grandpa Shaw and Professor Killiney.""You're my boss, Mr. Walker. I'll follow your instructions." The dark cloud hanging over my head instantly disappeared, replaced by clear skies. My relief was evident."I'm sorry my personal matters have caused you trouble," Luke said."As if my personal issues haven't troubled you, Mr. Walker." I remembered Luke's help with gratitude. My words lightened the previously heavy atmosphere. "If going back to the Walker house makes you uncomfortable, you should follow your heart. Don't force yourself for others' sake."Earlier, I was only thinking about my own reluctance to face Mrs. Walker, forgetting Luke's feelings. Mrs. Walker had thoroughly investigated me before our inte
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 424
My dog, Doggo, couldn't stand Goofy's elegance and suddenly barked, causing Goofy to instinctively cower.Instantly satisfied, my dog wagged his tiny tail with great joy.Dogs take after their owners, but I'm not as mischievous as him!"Goofy, I'm sorry!" Really, Doggo, where are your manners?!You've played this trick so many times. How are you not bored of it yet?I poked my dog's forehead and scolded him with a stern face, "Stop scaring Goofy on purpose!"He buried his head in my arms, feigning remorse but clearly unrepentant.It was getting late. After saying goodnight to Luke and Goofy, I left with my dog.Doggo was very fond of Goofy. Every time they parted, he would stare longingly at Goofy while making noises, trying to get her attention.Goofy always turned her head away, never responding.I could only tell Doggo, "Serves you right!"Back home, as I was preparing to wash up and rest, my phone rang. It was Joey calling for a video chat.Joey and I never saw eye to e
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 425
I was so close. Maybe I could try again.I put Doggo on the floor, lay back down, and closed my eyes, trying to return to that dream.But the more I tried to fall asleep, the more awake I felt. Suddenly remembering my promise to Grandpa Shaw, I reached for my phone to check the time.6:30 AM.Grandpa Shaw and Professor Killiney kept a regular schedule, usually having breakfast at 7 AM. If I hurried, I could make it.I quickly got up and got ready. Just as I was about to leave, my phone rang. It was Luke."I'll drive you to the hotel.""Mr. Walker, I can drive myself. It's no trouble."With Luke's help, I had overcome my driving anxiety and could now drive confidently.This was a small matter I could handle myself. No need to bother him."I'm outside your house."I stopped reaching for my car door. "I'll be right out."I thought Luke was just giving me a lift on his way somewhere, but when we arrived, he got out with me."Do you have business with Professor Killiney, Mr. Wa
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 426
"Girls are like flowers; they need to be cherished. The more carefully you nurture them, the more radiant they become. With this mindset, there's no girl you can't win over."Grandpa, I'm right here! Could you be a little more discreet?This thought startled me as soon as it popped into my head.Luke's earlier words were just to appease Grandpa Shaw; he had no intention of pursuing me. I was the one taking it seriously!I couldn't let myself get caught up in this. I needed to view the situation objectively.Professor Killiney noticed my expression and spoke up: "With all these ideas of yours, how many girls have you actually won over all these years?""My methods are only for pursuing girls. At my age, chasing after women would be disgraceful. What would people think?""Now you're concerned about being disgraceful? Where was this wisdom when you were up to no good?""Watch what you say with the young ones around." Grandpa Shaw, worried about leaving a bad impression on Luke and
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 427
Breakfast consisted of Johnsonville's specialty pasta dishes paired with various small bowls of oatmeal and appetizing side dishes. Grandpa Shaw chose a mix of savory and sweet pasta.He alternated between savory and sweet bites, clearly enjoying his meal.Grandpa Shaw was like a ray of sunshine. With him around, my life was filled with warmth, brightening my mood and keeping a small smile on my face.Johnsonville is my hometown. My parents believed in the philosophy of "travel broadens the mind." From when I was just a few months old, they took me on tours all around Johnsonville.When I was older and able to travel further, they planned road trips for us to explore the beautiful landscapes across the country.When I recently moved back to the family home and was organizing things, I found the hand-drawn travel guides my parents had made for me in the study. It was heartbreaking.I stood there for a long time, holding the guides and leaning against the bookshelf until my legs we
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 428
He had a serious expression, trying to find those lost memories.The places Grandpa Shaw had marked included elegant gardens with beautiful scenery, historic landmarks, bustling amusement parks, and Johnsonville's landmark buildings.Coincidentally, my parents had taken me to all these places. Scenes from the past flashed through my mind like a silent film, brief moments of happiness mixed with guilt, leaving me silent for a long time.Luke quietly stayed by my side. After dropping Grandpa Shaw and Professor Killiney back at the hotel, Luke drove me away.On the way, I was lost in thought, not wanting to talk, leaning back with my eyes closed.When the car stopped, I thought we had arrived home. I unbuckled my seatbelt, ready to get out.But when I opened the door and saw the cemetery entrance, my breath caught, and I felt angry. "Luke, can't you stop making decisions for me?"I did miss my parents and wanted to pay my respects, but this was my business. He shouldn't have brough
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 429
"Ouch!"On our way home, we stopped at a pharmacy where Luke bought iodine and anti-inflammatory medicine to treat the wound on my forehead.When the cotton swab soaked in iodine touched my forehead, I winced in pain and recoiled.Luke's handsome face remained tense, but his hands didn't stop."Mr. Walker, maybe we should go to the hospital and let a nurse handle this."It hurt, it really hurt!I leaned back slightly, trying to avoid the cotton swab.Luke put his hand on the back of my head to hold me still. "If you had hit your head any harder at the cemetery, we'd be in the orthopedic ward of the hospital right now.""It's not that serious."I gripped the car seat in pain. Luke didn't say anything, but his touch became gentler."I was overwhelmed by my emotions and lost control. Please don't hold it against me, Mr. Walker."When one's inner secrets are exposed, it triggers a self-protection mechanism. I had worked for so long without being able to adjust before my emotions
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Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 878
We both knew how we felt about each other, but neither of us made the first move to confess.โI gave birth to him in circumstances I couldnโt control,โ Molly said, her hands tightly clutching her cup, fingers unconsciously tracing its edge. โI used to think about fighting back against the people who hurt me, but reality forced me to wake up. I couldnโt afford to lose everything.โShe hesitated, her gaze dropping. โThere are things from back then that I just canโt bring myself to tell him.โWhen I arranged for Luke and Molly to spend some time alone, the two of them mostly sat in silence.โMrs. Walker couldnโt have children for years after her marriage. Luke was just a tool to help her secure her place in the family,โ Molly explained.Mr. Walker was handsome, wealthy, and from a good family. After getting married, women constantly threw themselves at him. According to the information Wendy had dug up, Landon didnโt exactly push them away.In such a situation, Mrs. Walker, Ashleigh
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 877
Molly poured four glasses of juice and sat across from Luke.She looked like she wanted to say something but didnโt know where to start.I gave Ian a quick look.Ian took a sip of his juice and said, โMiss, the juice is sweet and sourโitโs so good!โโDrink it up, and Iโll pour you some more,โ Molly offered.Luke interjected, โItโs almost time to rest. Donโt drink too much juice.โโIโm sorry, I donโt have experience taking care of kids,โ Molly said, lowering her head. After a pause, she quietly repeated, โIโm sorry.โShe was probably thinking of Luke as a baby.I clutched my stomach, pretending to wince. โExcuse me, Molly. My stomach hurts; I need to head back to my room.โAs I stood, I grabbed Ianโs wrist.Ian caught on quickly. โJen is a girl. Sheโll get scared going back aloneโI have to go with her.โNot giving Luke a chance to respond, I opened the door and said, โMr. Walker, you stay and chat with Molly. Ian and I will be back in a bit.โIn the hallway, Ian looked thoug
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 876
Molly wasnโt the type to make things difficult for others. She didnโt give the hotel manager a hard time.After the staff left, Molly turned to thank Luke and me. โThank you for staying with me and helping me handle this.โLuke glanced at her but didnโt say anything.The silence grew awkward, so I quickly broke it. โYou donโt have to thank us. We didnโt really do much.โโWould you like to come in and sit for a while?โ Molly invited us into her room.Before either of us could respond, Ian, whoโd been holding back his excitement, eagerly chimed in, โYes, yes! Letโs go!โI sighed internally.Molly finally noticed the little one in Lukeโs arms. โAnd whoโs this?โโIโm Ian Lloyd,โ he introduced himself cheerfully.But the moment he got a good look at Mollyโs face, he let out a small โHuh?โ and then turned to look at Luke.Luke frowned slightly, and their eyes metโa silent understanding passing between them. Ian immediately shut his mouth and swallowed whatever heโd been about to sa
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 875
Five hours later, we arrived in Sharonville.Before the trip, Luke had everything arranged. After landing, we took a car to the hotel heโd booked in advance.In the hotel lobby, we ran into Molly. She was walking with two middle-aged men in sharp suits, smiling as she chatted with them.When her eyes met Lukeโs, her smile froze for a moment, then slowly softened as she stared at him without blinking.Luke didnโt acknowledge her. He walked right past, brushing by her shoulder as though she wasnโt there. From the corner of my eye, I saw her eyes redden.The two men exchanged glances but didnโt say anything. That night, however, they sent two young, handsome men to Mollyโs room.Our room was on the same floor as Mollyโs. After dinner out, we returned to the hotel and saw her standing at her door with the two young men.Their faces were powdered with heavy makeup, and they looked eager to please, practically glued to her.My thoughts immediately took a less innocent turn.Luke co
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 874
Amy messaging me at this hour was probably another complaint about other agencies trying to poach her, or how stressed she was about it all.The underlying message? She wanted me to contact Mr. Lloyd to secure better resources for herโa thinly veiled threat, essentially.Since several popular artists left One Entertainment, the companyโs resources had started to dwindle.Mr. Lloydโs return wasnโt just because of his love for acting. He also wanted to support the companyโs artists, giving them more opportunities to shine.Amy had already begun to stand out. If she simply focused on honing her craft and stayed patient, sheโd get her share of the spotlight.When Mr. Lloyd founded the company, his goal was to grow it into a powerhouse that protected its artists. Now, he had adopted a more laid-back approach: if an artist wanted to leave, they just needed to pay the penalty fee.Amyโs tactics wouldnโt change anything.I went back to reading my book.My phone buzzed again, and I ass
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 873
Mr. Lloyd's words carried a hint of reassurance for me.โJen, Uncle asked me to create a travel itinerary!โLuke had been telling Ian lots of stories about Sharonville, and Ian had also looked up a ton of information online. He now knew every street in the city and how many shops were on each one.Carefully folding his sweaters, Ian placed them neatly into his suitcase, which was decorated with a cheerful Doraemon sticker.โIโm really looking forward to your travel guide, Ian!โโIโve already finished most of it!โ Ian was a serious little worker who never did things half-heartedly. If he said it was nearly done, he was probably putting on the finishing touches.I praised him warmly.โJen, since the three of us are traveling together, we need to consider everyoneโs preferences and suggestions.โโSo, you want to get my input to finalize it?โโExactly.โโWell, wherever you want to go is where I want to go. This trip, Iโll leave the planning to you.โLuke had work to handle in Shar
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 872
For the past few days, Luke has been picking me up and dropping me off at work.Reporters often linger outside One Entertainment, and it took a lot of effort for rumors about me and Luke to die down. I didnโt want them to resurface.Luke understood my concerns, so he always parked his car a block away from the company. Once he sent me a message, Iโd grab Ian and head over.That evening, Luke prepared another full table of dishes for dinner.Ever since things thawed between us, I hadnโt said much during meals, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.โSheโs already in Sharonville,โ Luke said.โHasnโt she been out of the country for years? Will she be safe there alone?โHe was talking about Molly.The Walker family has been a prominent family in Sharonville for generations, with deep-rooted connections and influence. Mrs. Walker is a respected figure, and many people in Sharonville owe her favors. It wouldnโt be surprising if someone decided to teach Molly a lesson on
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 871
I watched the behind-the-scenes footage, and Mr. Lloyd looked great. After stepping out of the spotlight for a few years, his demeanor has become even more composed and sophisticated, perfectly matching the calm and collected surgeon he portrays in the show.โHeโs as brilliant as ever,โ Beatrice said, her eyes filled with admiration. โAs long as the co-stars hold their ground, this show is bound to be a hit.โโHe has an exceptional eye for picking scripts,โ she added, her gaze glued to the screen.I didnโt interrupt her. Instead, I got up and went to the kitchen to check on Ianโs progress.For someone so young, Ian took everything seriously. Standing on a small stool to make up for his height, he carefully worked on brewing coffee, his movements precise and methodical.โWaiter Number One, Ian Lloyd, at your service. Your oat latte will be ready soon,โ he announced cheekily.I laughed at his playful tone and played along. โWaiter Number Two will now deliver orange juice to Mr. Ian
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 870
While Beatrice chatted with Ian, I brought the gifts to the living room."You're too kind, Ms. Middleton.""Ian bought these with his pocket money."I winked at Ian.He caught on quickly, nodding.Beatrice warmly invited me to sit.Fresh fruit and two plates of nuts were on the coffee table.She placed a fruit bowl before me. "Yesterday's blueberries are freshโcrisp and sweet."The large blueberries were covered in bloom. I took one and made space for Beatrice."What would you like? Coffee or juice?""Fresh orange juice for me, and Jen likes oat milk latte," Ian said, playing with a doll, squishing its face into different shapes.Suddenly remembering our earlier conversation, he dropped the doll and ran to the kitchen. "I've learned lots from Jen. I can make juice and coffee!"Beatrice praised him: "How impressive!"She started toward the kitchen, concerned.I held her arm. "Ian's a quick learner. He does everything properly. We can trust him.""He gets along so well wit
