One night stand with my president(chapter 375)

 

Chapter 375: I will Never Agree

"Edward."

Just as Harrison's aunt rushed to Edward, she slapped his chest twice with all her might, crying out, "You're really alive! You're really alive! But if you are, why didn't you come home? Do you know how devastated I was when I heard you died?"

This woman, Jazzlyn Harrison, was the one who nearly got into a car accident years ago.

She was only two years younger than Edward, and they had practically grown up together.

Although they bickered endlessly as children their bond was incredibly strong.

During college, she had a boyfriend, and after graduation, she married him and moved to his hometown.

When Edward's accident was reported, her husband was away on a business trip, and she was so frantic that she didn't wait for him to return. Driving home alone, grief-stricken, she crashed the car and almost didn't survive.

"Jazzlyn, is that really you?" Edward looked at her, guilt-ridden. "I'm so sorry..."

Jazzlyn, being highly emotional, was on the verge of fainting as she cried, but thankfully her husband caught her and shot a reproachful look at Edward.

After all, if it hadn't been for Edward's staged death, Jazzlyn would never have gotten into that car accident or spent the last decade mourning for him.

Others, too, wanted to speak with Edward.

Just then, Lorenzo coughed twice.

Everyone immediately fell silent, clearing a path for Edward to walk up to Lorenzo, who was" sitting on the couch.

As Edward reached Lorenzo, he suddenly dropped to his knees.

"Dad... I was wrong...” Lorenzo watched him in silence.

But Harrison noticed that his grandfather's hands were trembling.

After a long pause, Lorenzo shakily raised his hand and gently touched Edward's hair.

"Did I push you too hard all those years ago?"

Lorenzo's voice trembled. "If you had something on your mind, you could have told me... Why didn't you..."

He seemed to falter, unable to continue.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally murmured, "Forget it... It's all in the past. Let's not talk about it."

Edward wept, apologizing profusely.

But Lorenzo remained silent, his emotions unreadable.

Eventually, when Edward's sobs subsided, Lorenzo beckoned for Alondra.

"Alondra, come. Greet Grandpa."

Seeing so many unfamiliar faces, Alondra was already frightened.

The sight of Edward crying only made it worse.

When Edward insisted she greet Lorenzo, Alondra, unsure of what to do, burst into tears.

"What are you crying for?" Edward said helplessly. "Come on, greet your grandpa."

"Enough, don't push the child," Lorenzo interjected.

He then waved for Alondra to come closer.

His kindly demeanor eased her fear, and she stopped crying before timidly approaching him.

Lorenzo gently patted her head and asked, "Are you Alondra?"

"I... I'm Alondra Dixon," Alondra sniffled.

"Dixon?" Lorenzo glanced at Edward.

Edward lowered his head and muttered, "I use Dixon when I'm outside."

"Since you're back with the Thomson family, you should take the family name again," Lorenzo said.

"From now on, your name will be Alondra Thomson." Alondra nodded shyly.

Lorenzo turned to two of his relatives' granddaughters and said, "Take her to play. Get her some snacks, comfort her, and keep her from being scared."

The two girls led Alondra away.

Edward knew that Lorenzo had taken Alondra aside to discuss Britney's situation.

As expected, once Alondra was gone, Lorenzo asked, “What about that woman?"

Edward replied, "She was taken by Harrison's men."

"Grandpa, I had someone take her to another location for now," Harrison added.

Lorenzo nodded, his expression unwavering. 

He was clearly not opposed to Harrison's actions.

Edward felt a surge of anxiety, but there were things he had to say.

He hesitated before speaking, "Dad, Myra and I have finalized our divorce."

"You haven't been home in over a decade, and now you're in such a rush to divorce Myra?" Jazzlyn, now recovering a little, spoke through teary eyes. "Over the years, many people told Myra to remarry while she was still young, but she never did. She stuck by you, stuck by the Thomson family, by Dad, by Harrison... And you? You were out there having affairs, having a child, and now you come back and want a divorce?"

"She's the one who wanted the divorce, not me," Edward said awkwardly.

Jazzlyn said nothing more, only shaking her head in sorrow.

Even if Myra had initiated the divorce, it was only because Edward had shattered her heart.

Yet Edward still seemed focused on avoiding responsibility.

Edward's mind drifted back to Britney as he said, "Alondra's still so young... She can't be without her mother..."

Lorenzo responded coldly, "Edward, to be honest, I never thought I'd see you alive again.

Now that you're here and I know you're still breathing, I have no regrets. If you want to take that woman and disappear again, I won't stop you, As for Alondra, I may miss her, but she's your child. If you want to take her with you, I won't oppose that."

He paused, taking a few breaths, then continued, “But if you want her to enter the Thomson family, I will never agree to it."

Edward's heart sank.

He had known things wouldn't be so easy.

Britney had underestimated the situation.

Truth be told, even if Lorenzo were softhearted due to his old age, Edward might not be able to return to the Thomson family.

"I understand, Dad," Edward said dejectedly.

"I'm tired too. You all can talk," Lorenzo said before heading upstairs, casting a glance at Harrison.

Harrison nodded in understanding and followed Lorenzo upstairs.

As soon as they left, Edward was surrounded by his relatives, all eager to ask questions.

After all, a person thought to be dead for over a decade suddenly reappearing sparked curiosity in everyone.

But Ashton and Jazzlyn didn't join in the crowd.

Jazzlyn asked, "Do you think Dad is happy or not about Edward coming back?"

"Of course, he's happy," Ashton glanced upstairs, "He's just not showing it openly."

"Yeah, Edward is his son after all," Jazzlyn smiled bitterly. "But what Edward did all those years ago... It was truly heart-wrenching."

"Speaking of which, we owe a lot to Harrison," Ashton said. "If it weren't for him, we'd all still be living in the dark."

While they had all been mourning Edward, he had been living happily with his new wife.

It was almost ironic.

Meanwhile, Harrison and Lorenzo arrived in the study.

Lorenzo drained half a glass of water in one go before speaking to Harrison. "How did things go in Yewhaina?"