"lissa, please." Lawrence threw up his hands as lissa walked out on him. She stopped by the door, biting her lower lip.
When she looked back, sadness flickered in her eyes. "Dad, it’s not that you forgot... but that you forgot to do what? This?"
"Tomorrow is a big day for because the Lancasters are finally accepting into their family," she continued, her voice trembling, eyes red from suppressed tears. "We all worked so hard for this — you, , and Mom — to make this engagent happen. I know how much effort you put into it, and now it’s finally happening."
"I’m sorry, Dad, but I’m just... hurt." She drew a shaky breath. "Even so, I still hope you’ll co to my engagent and... please, co back to Mom. She’s been so worried about you. She hasn’t been sleeping like she used to."
Having said her piece, lissa resud walking.
Lawrence stood there, staring at the door as it shut behind her. He huffed, one hand resting on his hip while the other pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Goddamn it," he muttered, collapsing onto the couch. He tilted his head back, staring up at the ceiling as a long, heavy exhale escaped him.
It was true he had been busy. Last night was just the one night he’d drunk too much. But who could bla him? These past few days, he had only himself for company. Even if he was furious at Jasmine for siphoning company funds for her own use, he hadn’t burdened her with LL Construction’s current problems.
On top of that, he’d been taking risks — big ones. Each decision was a double-edged sword, and he knew one wrong move could end everything.
[Even so, I still hope you’ll attend my engagent... and please co back to Mom.]
A swirl of emotions twisted in his chest at lissa’s words. The sadness in her eyes still haunted him. He knew he had hurt her deeply.
"But because of her... and Jasmine, I’m in this ss," he muttered bitterly. "If they had told everything, I wouldn’t be in this much debt."
LL Construction might have been stable, but it had been stagnant for years. Even so, Lawrence had given everything to Jasmine and lissa — out of love... or perhaps out of spite toward Loren. Deep down, he wanted to believe all that effort had been worth it.
But after discovering the missing funds, he wasn’t sure anymore. He kept working just to forget, because whenever he thought about it, bitterness consud him — just like last night.
[Please... co back ho.]
Lawrence’s jaw tightened briefly before his eyes fluttered shut.
*****
[Young Residence]
Jasmine sat alone in the family room. Most of the household staff had already left for the venue, and those remaining were cleaning up the house. She should’ve been gone by now too, but her mind was elsewhere — weighing her options about Lawrence.
"Fine," she muttered sharply, exhaling through her nose. "Just this once."
She would give Lawrence one last chance to make things right for their daughter. After that, she’d truly consider cutting him off.
With that decision, Jasmine rose from her seat and headed toward her room to prepare.
But just as she reached the lobby, her steps froze. Slowly, she turned toward the entryway, and there he was.
Lawrence.
He stood at the doorway, his gaze eting hers.
"Dear." A smile imdiately blood on Jasmine’s face as she rushed toward him. "You’re ho?"
Standing before him, her beauty still held its grace — mature, dignified, and refined. Even with age, Jasmine could still turn heads. But Lawrence only looked at her coldly, unsure what he felt seeing her again.
"Tomorrow is lissa’s engagent party," he said quietly. "I can’t miss such an important day for our daughter."
"Of course." She smiled, reaching out to him, but he turned away and walked past her. Her hand froze mid-air.
"I’ll go later after I’ve had so rest," he said as he walked away. "You don’t need to wait for . I’ll be there."
Jasmine bit her lower lip, lowering her hand. "Lawrence... are you still angry with ?"
His steps faltered. His face tightened, caught between exhaustion and indecision.
Jasmine approached him slowly, stopping beside him.
"Dear, please," she begged softly. "We’re not young anymore. I was wrong, yes, but you’ve been with all these years. You know better than anyone."
She held onto his arm, tugging it gently. "I only did what I did to protect our daughter — to keep her safe and to stop you from worrying. Back then, things weren’t going well for us, so I couldn’t burden you with all the problems that Lola brought into this family."
Lawrence’s brows furrowed. "Was Lola really the reason for your actions, Jasmine?"
This ti, he turned to her fully. His face was tense, anger simring beneath it, but also sothing else: hope. Deep down, he wanted her to tell the truth. Because believing her was easier than blaming her.
"Yes!" Jasmine declared firmly. "Yes, Lawrence. Even if you kill , I’m telling you the truth. Please believe . In all the decades we’ve been together, have I ever done anything to hurt you?"
The anger in Lawrence’s eyes flickered. Seeing his hesitation, Jasmine moved closer, her tone turning tender and remorseful.
"Dear... I’m just a mother trying to protect her child," she said pitifully. "I hated myself for it too. I wished I didn’t have to carry that burden, but I had to. Because the one I needed to protect my daughter from... was your daughter, Lola."
"At the end of the day, Lola is still your daughter and Loren’s." Her eyes glistened with tears as her grip on his arm trembled. "And it breaks my heart that you, of all people, had to go through such a painful thing."
Lawrence looked at her long and hard. His anger slowly lted under the weight of her words. mories of their decades together — of her sacrifices, her loyalty, her efforts — softened his resolve.
Maybe she was right. Maybe everything she did was for the family. Maybe she had regretted it all.
He opened his mouth to speak, but what ca out wasn’t what either of them expected.
"Lola is not my daughter."
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