Chapter 398

Lawrence remained impassive as he listened to her earnest plea, his expression unchanging, his face cold.

He rose from his seat and firmly declined, "I am not a young man. I kindly suggest that you find someone of your age. Furthermore, I have a woman I love and I have a child. I'm sorry but I can never love another woman!"

The girl's eyes trembled, filled with deep astonishment and disappointment. Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she said with regret, "I apologize for speaking out of turn. It seems I was naive. Clearly, it was a mistake."

"Even if it were a charade, I cannot betray her. It's clear that you've got the wrong person." Lawrence stood up resolutely and gestured toward the exit. "Allow me to escort you back to the hospital."

"What about your mother, Mr. Rodriguez?"

"I can't agree to your terms." Lawrence remained stoic, his lips pressed tightly together, a sense of gloom looming over him.

At the entrance of the cinema, the girl gasped for breath on the stairs, nearly fainting. Her maid wasn't by her side, so Lawrence had to support her into the car. The black Bentley slowly departed in the rain.

In a Mercedes parked nearby, Rock put down his phone and squinted at the intimate photo of the man holding the girl. He then turned and coldly instructed his assistant, "Send it anonymously to Darcy."

"But isn't Darcy being held captive by Lawrence in the hospital?"

"She's not dead, and her ambitions are still strong. It won't stop her from causing trouble." Rock chuckled, his eyes filled with unfathomable resentment as he watched Lawrence drive away. He couldn't forget the provoking and arrogant gaze he had seen from Lawrence that day below the apartment when he forcefully kissed Winnie. It was clear who Darcy would send the photos to.

Rock then ordered his driver to drive away.

In the hospital, Lawrence escorted the girl back to the office, bid her a cold farewell, and walked toward the ward block. Claire, the maid, then helped the girl into her own car.

After the car left, Claire observed the girl's expression and inquired gently, "Miss, did Lawrence refuse your request?"

"If he easily accepted, I would have had doubts about him. He wouldn't be the man I want," Ishara laughed. She fluttered her lashes and glanced at the tall figure outside the car window, unfazed. "It depends on what's important in Mr. Rodriguez's heart, his mother or that woman. I guess he will eventually compromise."

Claire pondered for a moment, slowly curling her lips up. Lawrence would eventually do anything it takes for his mother because leukemia couldn't wait.

Meanwhile, Darcy lay on the hospital bed when suddenly her phone received a set of photos. The photos showed Lawrence stood at the entrance of the cinema, holding an unfamiliar girl. Her initial surprise quickly gave way to anger, yet soon her expression turned icy as she smirked.

Regardless of who sent these to her, she would forward it to Winnie. Gazing at the beautiful girl in the photo, he wondered about her identity and how she had suddenly become so close to Lawrence. Darcy focused on the blurred profile, and the more she looked, the more she felt that the girl resembled Winnie.

She fell into deep thought, flashes of the mastermind behind this kidnapping flickering in her mind. With narrowed eyes, the woman thought and thought, then made a call, attempting to contact Ray. She needed to find out who that woman was.

After Sidney's high fever subsided, his appetite improved a little. Unable to do much, Winnie bought a large bag of flour from the market and decided to bake bread for her son.

However, she ended up making an excessive amount, and as she looked on, her son stood by the table, quickly counting nearly 20 pieces. Sidney suggested, "Mommy, can we call daddy to come and eat some? We can't finish all of these."

Winnie hesitated for a moment. "I don't think that is necessary because we can distribute these to Elliott, Lena and George, who are living next door."

Sidney nodded and poked at the flour with his hand. "Right, there are enough people to share with. I just thought about that jerk of a dad. He seems a bit pitiful. I heard from Bryan that he's been working like crazy at Island Electronics these past few days, turning into a wild man. Unkempt beard, bad mood, and he still has to go to the hospital to keep grandma company at night. I'm afraid he'll die suddenly. Yesterday, I looked at the photos Bryan took, and his abs were almost gone."

Winnie turned her head to look at her son, her lips twitching. In fact, she knew that her tough talk that day, telling Lawrence not to bother her anymore, wouldn't work in front of the child.

Sidney was unhappy because of Oscar, and his mood was affecting his well-being.

Winnie paused briefly, reluctant to see her son feeling too disheartened, and let out a quiet sigh. "I understand you still have affection for that troublesome man. I'll allow you to invite him over for your sake. You can text him for me." Winnie felt utterly powerless but acquiesced to his request.

Sidney quickly sent a text message to his dad, working hard for his parents to reconcile and find Oscar together.

Lawrence received the message and practically tossed his documents aside, leaving the company with determined steps.

Raising an eyebrow, he got into the car and replied to his son, "Did you call me or did your mommy call me?"

"Does it matter?" Sidney rolled his eyes. "Despite being in the wrong, you're still being picky."

Of course, it mattered. He had been calling Winnie for the past few days, but she either didn't answer or Sidney had to act as a messenger between them.

He knew she had many grievances. If she took the initiative to allow their son to contact him today, it would be a sign that the ice was thawing.

Lawrence turned the steering wheel sharply and left the office. Soon after, he arrived at the apartment where the door was open, seemingly welcoming him inside.

The man smirked and halted before he entered, attempting to tidy up his disheveled appearance from these past few days. He adjusted his shirt and revealed his slim waist. Even with slightly wrinkled clothes and some stubble on his chin, his unparalleled face still looked incredibly handsome.

He strode inside with long, purposeful steps. In the open kitchen, Winnie stood at the table, her delicate figure facing away from him, seemingly making dumpling wrappers. Sidney was leaning on the kitchen counter, watching to see if the dumplings in the pot were done.

The evening sun's halo poured in, casting a warm glow on the woman's temple and her son's head. For a moment, the warm mother-child scene struck a chord deep in Lawrence's heart, softening him.

The heavy-hearted feeling in him suddenly improved. If Oscar was there, it would be even better.

The man suppressed a hint of bitterness as he gazed at the woman. He recalled his mother's words, urging him to bring her back home again. As long as he lays eyes on her and their child, the pressure of his mother's illness doesn't seem quite as overwhelming. Even the strongest man needs emotional support.

Lawrence watched in silence. The woman's phone beeped, and she cleaned her hands before opening it.

The man saw her tousled, soft black hair fall, covering her beautiful face. He couldn't resist moving closer, taking measured steps.

Her waist was slender in that wraparound coat. Lawrence took a deep breath of her fragrance and suddenly realized how long it had been since he was close to her. His eyes deepened, and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

The sudden masculine scent didn't stir Winnie, as her entire focus was on a newly received photo on her phone. Her pupils dilated as she stared directly at the image of a man embracing a strange girl, their posture intimate. They were standing at the entrance of a movie theater. There was no doubt they had just finished watching a movie together.