novelraw Chapter 219: A Pitiable Beauty
Chapter 219: A Pitiable Beauty
A coffee shop near Nocturne Group.
Chloe Sterling looked confused. "The Holt Family? I’ve never heard of them."
Jean Kensington explained, "Of course you haven’t. You’ve only been in Crestfall for a short while. The Holt Family used to be one of the city’s most prominent families, but they moved all their businesses overseas six years ago. The entire family relocated as well. So, there’s no Holt Family in Crestfall anymore, but they’re a force to be reckoned with abroad."
Chloe asked, "So you’re saying Phoebe is with one of the Holts to get revenge on me and Jasper?"
Jean nodded. "That’s my bet. And the fact that she’s willing to get together with a playboy like Owen Holt means she’s playing for keeps. You know what they say, it’s the daggers in the dark you have to worry about. You two should watch out."
"Hmm." Chloe took a sip of her coffee. "You said the Holt Family moved their businesses overseas. Where to?"
"Country A." A thought seemed to strike Jean. "Isn’t Jasper’s winery in Country A, too? Do you think his wine shipment getting hijacked by pirates has something to do with the Holts?"
Chloe did suspect as much, but she couldn’t be sure without proof. "It’s just a guess. And they aren’t the only ones who are suspicious."
"Has President Lockwood made any progress?"
"There’s been some activity on the black market, but I don’t know the specifics. He doesn’t tell me these things."
After a moment, Jean said, "He probably just doesn’t want to bother you with all this messy stuff."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "You think so, too?"
Jean replied, "What else is there to think? It’s not like he’s hiding assets from you, is it? Wait! Who else thinks so? You talked to someone else about this? Besides me, you have another friend you’re close enough with to discuss this? If it’s Chase Langdon, just pretend I didn’t ask."
Chloe said, "Then I’ll pretend you didn’t ask."
Jean: "..."
’So it really was Chase. Well, if it was him, that’s normal.’
"What’s wrong? You don’t actually suspect Jasper is having second thoughts, do you?" Jean asked.
Chloe said, "I don’t suspect him. I just want to help."
"But he probably doesn’t need your help. With his cunning and resourcefulness, it seems like there’s nothing he can’t handle." After a moment, a teasing smile touched Jean’s lips. "Or is this your way of showing him your love?"
Chloe shot her a look.
Jean continued with a grin, "There are plenty of ways to show your love. You don’t have to resort to this."
Chloe slowly rolled her wrists. "I recently upgraded my Enchanting Fragrance a little. Want to give it a try?"
Jean’s smile vanished. "...No, I’m good." She set down her coffee cup and glanced at the time. "Actually, I have to go."
"Where to?"
"To the martial arts hall. The baby is there. I promised I’d go over and spend time with him after I finished my errands."
"Then you should go. I’m heading back, too."
"See you later."
Jean grabbed her bag and hurried out.
Chloe also got up and returned to her lab at Nocturne Group.
That evening, Rose Lynch appeared before the old Sterling residence again. She sat in her car, quietly gazing at the gate she had passed through so many times, remembering all the little moments she had shared with Charles Sterling.
Her sister, Ruby, had tried her best to dissuade her yesterday, and Rose knew the chances of getting back together with Charles were slim. Still, she couldn’t accept it. The thought of Warren lashing out at her over his recent business failures only made her yearn more for the gentle, refined Charles.
Especially when it came to business, a hundred Warrens weren’t worth a single Charles.
Just as Rose was debating whether to see Charles one more time, her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Esther.
She frowned slightly but answered anyway. "Esther, what is it?"
"Mom, where are you?"
"I’m out with a friend. You all can eat dinner without me; no need to wait."
"Are you ’out with a friend,’ or did you go looking for Charles Sterling?"
Rose was silent. "..."
Esther spoke again. "Mom, are you really going to destroy our family? Destroy me? Can’t you just snap out of it? Charles hates you, and Chloe hates you, too! They’ll never forgive you. The moment they acknowledge each other as father and daughter, it’ll drag us all into an abyss. Our family will be finished.
"If that happens, Dad will never forgive you. You won’t just lose your chance with Charles and Chloe; you’ll lose us, too. Do you really want it to come to that?" Esther’s voice choked with emotion. "Mom, I’m begging you, please don’t destroy our family, okay? I want a complete family. I want us all to be happy together. I don’t want to be the child of divorced parents."
Overwhelmed with self-pity, Esther burst into tears.
Rose’s heart softened. "Esther, don’t cry. Mommy won’t destroy our family."
"Really?" Esther sobbed.
"Of course it’s true. Mommy isn’t a fool. I know what I’m doing."
"Then you can’t tell Charles that Chloe is his daughter. You absolutely can’t."
Rose’s fingers tightened. "I won’t. I won’t tell him."
’At least, not now.’
A black sedan slowly approached the old Sterling residence.
Rose said, "Esther, Mommy’s busy right now. I have to go."
Esther sniffled. "Okay."
After hanging up, Rose watched the black sedan outside. As soon as it stopped, she pushed open her door, got out, and stood in front of the main gate.
The black sedan stopped. After a long moment, Charles Sterling emerged from the car. His dark eyes fixed on her, his tone cold. "Can I help you, Ms. Lynch?"
Rose stared at him as her eyes suddenly reddened, and tears began to stream down her face.
It was undeniable that Rose Lynch was a beautiful woman. Even in her forties, her face was still impossibly exquisite. Add a few tears, and the sight was enough to stir pity in anyone’s heart.
Most men would find her impossible to resist.
Charles was taken aback for a second but quickly regained his usual composure. "What is the meaning of this, Ms. Lynch?"
Rose simply looked at him and wept, saying nothing.
After a moment of silence, Charles continued, "I don’t know what you hope to accomplish with this little drama, but whatever was between us ended a long time ago. I’m returning to Country A tomorrow. We will likely never see each other again."
Hearing this, Rose’s heart clenched. "You’re going back to Country A tomorrow? You’re not coming back?"
Charles’s answer was firm. "I won’t be back. So put any ideas you might have to rest."
With that, he started walking toward the old residence.
Rose suddenly rushed forward and hugged him from behind, her voice thick with sobs. "I know nothing I say matters anymore, but I still have to tell you. The biggest regret of my life was leaving you. The person I love... is you."
Charles pried her hands from his waist and sneered. "The only person you love is yourself."
Without a backward glance, he strode through the gate.
Rose was left outside the closed gate.
Not far away, Esther, who had been hiding in a corner, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
’Charles is leaving tomorrow, and he’s never coming back. This is perfect. Chloe will never have a real family of her own, but mine will stay whole.’