[16]
Along the way to the office, Leonel pondered why his father suddenly wanted to meet. Didn’t they meet at the dining table yesterday? Or was there something to discuss about the office situation? As long as Mountain Pte was under Leonel’s management, the founder, who happened to be his father, was free from the obligation to work in the office. It wasn’t because he wanted to monopolize what his father had built.
As the only son of Grisham, he had responsibilities on his shoulders. He couldn’t let Robby work forever. Indeed his father wanted to enjoy his old age by doing many other things. It was evident from how often his father and wife went on trips to other cities or even abroad to spend their time.
But that didn’t matter. Besides, Leonel enjoyed business activities and the corporate world. He didn’t have to run them just because he was the son of the company’s founder. No, Leonel was not like that. He exerted all his abilities to expand Mountain Pte further.
Without realizing it, the car he was driving had entered the parking lot of the building, which he considered his second home. He spent a lot of time here, right? Since he graduated from college, his activities have been centered here. He was starting from working as a junior staff while learning how Soho operated under his father’s guidance until he could control a group overseeing many sectors of the business, including the fashion department stores.
“Good afternoon, Sir,” greeted one of the security guards in the office lobby. Leonel nodded with his foot continuing to step toward his office on the 30th floor. It didn’t take long for Leonel to reach his office, which had been waiting for his arrival.
“Sir, Mr. Robby has been waiting for you,” Deborah said as soon as she saw the boss entering the room. Leonel gave little response other than a nod.
Inside the neatly arranged room were only a few scattered files the owner needed to take care of. Robby and Chris were sitting comfortably on the available sofa. This made Leonel speculate on the topic of their conversation. Surely his relationship with Chloe would be the main subject.
“Father,” he greeted as warmly as possible. He sat at the end of the sofa beside his father. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Are you sick?” Robby asked directly. The file he was correcting was immediately placed on the table. “Deborah said you’re not feeling well.”
Leonel chose to smile. “You should take care of yourself, Leonel. Don’t get too tired, especially bringing work home. Chloe needs your attention.”
“Yes, Dad.” Leonel took a slow breath. “Why did you come here, Papa?”
Robby’s response to that question made him laugh. “Can’t Papa visit? This room reminds me of many things, including overtime issues and your mother’s anger. Can’t Chloe scold you about overtime?”
His father and sarcastic remarks perfectly combined to make Leonel smile again.
“Too bad, Chris, my son has a daughter-in-law who’s not jealous,” Robby said sarcastically.
Chris, who was being addressed, glanced briefly at Leonel and chuckled. “Let it be, Sir. As long as they’re doing fine, I don’t think jealousy needs to be too obvious.”
Robby scoffed cynically. “You say it’s fine? Even when your daughter-in-law rudely asks another woman to come to my son’s house?”
“What does Papa want to talk about?” Leonel asked without hesitation. He knew his father’s remarks were not referring to Chloe. His wife received too much of Robby’s attention that Leonel felt they were swapped. He didn’t know who was the biological child and who was the daughter-in-law, as he felt a bit excluded from his parents’ affection since he got married. He never questioned it, but every time his parents spoke sarcastically and brought up Chloe’s name, he knew he was being judged.
“Are you going to sign the divorce papers with Chloe?” Robby stared at his son intensely. Leonel could perceive dissatisfaction, sadness, and unusual disappointment in his father’s eyes. This man used to be strong and firm when looking at someone. The firmness and authority were still there but now mixed with an unfamiliar sadness.
“I love Chloe as if she were my daughter, Chris,” their gazes were perfectly severed by Robby’s sarcastic remark. “Why is my son always causing trouble?”
Leonel sighed softly. “I’ve said it from the beginning; I can’t be with Chloe. It was your and Mom’s decision. Not mine.”
“And you chose to marry that woman?” Robby exclaimed firmly. “How dare you do that, Leonel!”
“Chloe was the one who requested the divorce in the first place, Dad. Not me.” Leonel tried to maintain the tone of his voice so as not to hurt his father’s feelings. Although the issues with Chloe had come to the surface, Leonel was still Leonel-the one who wholeheartedly loved both of his parents.
“You’re a coward!” Robby snapped. “Where did those words directed at me come from, son?”
Robby didn’t want to relinquish his emotional intensity towards his son yet. “You should understand why Chloe filed for divorce. You started it, Leonel. If you hadn’t been involved with that woman, your lives wouldn’t have encountered this problem.”
“The problem is, Dad, I’ve often said I can’t switch my feelings.” Leonel clenched his fists. “Whether it’s Chloe who filed or I filed for divorce, it’s the same to me. In the end, we have to separate.”
“When is Chloe in this condition?” Robby asked with an incredulous look.
Leonel paused momentarily, took a slow breath, and spoke again. “No.”
“Never divorce Chloe when she’s in this condition. At least until she fully recovers. And you should know, Leonel, even though I don’t like your intention to divorce a woman as good as Chloe, I also don’t bless your relationship. Not at all,” Robby asserted, rising from his seat. “And you, Chris. I give you the authority to handle everything regarding this foolish divorce process of my son. Truly foolish,” he said, unable to hold back. “Chloe should have more share because she doesn’t have anyone else. If you can, impoverish my son for this meaningless wealth.”
Leonel was taken aback. His father’s words could become a reality for the middle-aged man.
“I don’t remember you wearing a broken white dress with brooch embellishments last year, huh, dear?” Agatha asked enthusiastically. Three dresses had been requested to be matched with Chloe’s body now. Their regular designer needed new measurements because Chloe appeared much thinner lately.
“I don’t remember too well, Ma,” Chloe lied, accompanied by a faint smile that she didn’t make too obvious. Hoping her mother-in-law wouldn’t know what she was hiding. “Besides, Chloe can’t see how she’ll look, right?”
Agatha suddenly looked sad. She sat next to her daughter-in-law and gently rubbed her shoulder. “You’re not enthusiastic about getting better, dear?”RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
Chloe chuckled as she felt the touch of the person she considered her mother. Then she shook her head firmly as her answer. “On the way here, Chloe told you about the progress of the therapy, right? How can I not be enthusiastic about getting better?”
Agatha smiled softly. She tidied Chloe’s loose strands of hair and tucked them behind her ear. “You have to get better. Mama and Papa are waiting for you to see us again.”
“Now, Ma, I can see you already. If I’m not mistaken, you’re wearing a red dress, right?”
Chloe’s choice of color was way off, but at least her daughter-in-law showed many changes from day to day. It made Agatha’s heart fill with joy. She tightened her grip on Chloe’s hand. “Yes, dear. Mama is wearing fuchsia today. It’s similar to red, right?”
Chloe chuckled. “Yes, Ma. Let’s consider it red. But I’m so happy to experience this change.”
“I also think you shouldn’t overthink things too much. Get enough rest.”
“What am I thinking, Ma?” Chloe asked with a wide grin. “Chloe can only eat, sleep, walk-in Joshn, taste test the dishes at home, therapy, and… like now. Spending a lot of Leonel’s money.”
Inevitably, Agatha laughed. It also made some of the staff in the boutique exchange glances. They already had the latest designs yet to be shown to the public. Specifically, the Grisham family created unique designs with no duplicates.
“Oh, this is the latest one, right?” Agatha asked, picking up a mint green dress. The pastel color was elegant, with many sequin embellishments on the chest and cuffs. Although it featured a reasonably tempting neckline, Agatha wanted Chloe to wear it for some reason. “Help Chloe try on this dress.” Then her eyes quickly turned to a sleek black dress with gold embroidery in several areas. “Oh, this one too.” She gently lifted the long black gown.
The back of the black dress was quite open. Agatha grinned slightly when she asked Chloe to try on both of these outfits.
She thought if Leonel didn’t look at Chloe with these clothes, there was nothing they could save anymore. She hoped the designer who worked on the dress could make it fit Chloe’s body perfectly. Agatha could ask for some details to be emphasized to make Chloe shine even more. Although she couldn’t see how she was attracting attention, Agatha was sure her daughter would be influenced.
“Look at what Mama can do, Leonel,” she said. Her eyes kept watching Chloe’s movements as she walked with the assistance of the staff carrying the two dresses. “One day, you will surely be grateful to Mama.” She sighed softly. “Stubborn descendant of Papa Robby.”