One night stand with my president(chapter 447)

 

Chapter 447: I Made the Decision for You

A deep ache welled in Ronan's eyes.

He didn't say a word. Milania, however, grew more agitated. "If you were half the man I needed you to be-if you had the Thomson family wrapped around your little finger-I wouldn't be rotting away like this. This is all your fault! You don't deserve to be my son. Get out!"

Two female guards quickly stepped in, pressing down on her shoulders to stop her from lashing out.

But Milania kept shouting, "Don't come here pretending to care! I don't need your pity-get out! I never want to see your face again! Leave!"

"Mom..." Ronan's voice cracked as tears slid down his face. "You're still my mother. No matter what happens... I'll never forget you."

Milania froze for a second.

"You don't need to push me away like this,"

Ronan said softly. "I know I want to leave. I want to escape all of this. But... no matter where I go, I’ll always worry about you."

His words hit her hard. Milania's eyes

turned red, and her hands began to tremble.

"You've always been a foolish child," she choked out. "Stop worrying about me. I'm never getting out of here. Just go... live your life."

Ronan could barely see through the blur of his tears.

Was Milania a bad person? Absolutely.

But at that moment, she was still a mother.

Maybe that's just what it means to be human-complicated to the end.

After leaving the detention center, Ronan took out his phone and silently opened his contact list.

The pinned contact at the top: Miss Hensley.

He knew he shouldn't still be doing this.

Adeline was with Harrison now.

When she was kidnapped, Harrison had crossed continents to find her, burning himself out in the process.

Ronan knew-Harrison would be a good boyfriend, and one day, probably a great husband too.

So what exactly was he still hoping for?

If he was being honest, this had always been a one-man play, from start to finish.

And the only audience was him.

Ronan exhaled slowly, like he was severing something deep within.

Then, with what felt like finality, he deleted Adeline's number from his phone.

She was safe now.

He had quit the Thomson Group. Soon, he'd be leaving for school abroad.

There was no real reason to contact her again.

And if that was the case, it was better not to let her number stay in his phone.

Better than torturing himself with temptation.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Isaline.

"Mr. Harrison," her voice was calm, casual. "Could you pick me up at the office tonight? I want to grab dinner with you."

Ronan blinked, caught off guard.

Isaline? Asking him to pick her up from the office? But then again, he was about to leave. Who knew when they'd see each other again?If this was her small request, why not grant it?

"Alright," he said.

It was nearly the end of the workday. Ronan drove into the underground parking lot of the Thomson Group.

Even though he no longer worked there, he was still the young master of the family. No one dared stop him.

He parked and waited.

Ten minutes passed. Isaline still hadn't come down.

He didn't mind. He leaned back in his seat, fingers rhythmically tapping the steering wheel.

Sitting there, his thoughts wandered. 

"Should I go up and see Adeline?"

He hesitated. "But what good would that do?"

And yet... not seeing her left a dull ache in his chest.

That was when he saw Isaline.

He unbuckled and got out of the car, waving her over. "Over here."

She smiled faintly and made her way toward him.

Something felt off.

She was walking unusually slowly, and she kept glancing back behind her.

When she finally reached him, Ronan asked, "Did you forget something upstairs? Or... are you waiting for someone else?"

"Huh? No, I..." Isaline faltered.

Ronan could tell she didn't want to explain, so he didn't press her.

"Let's go," he said gently. "I'll take you to dinner."

But Isaline didn't get in the car. She stalled.

Just as Ronan was about to ask again, the elevator doors opened behind her.

Two people stepped out.

Ronan froze, but Isaline lit up.

She waved. "Miss Hensley!"

Adeline turned-and saw them.

After a beat, she walked over. Harrison followed behind her.

"Isaline, Ronan," Adeline greeted with a smile.

Ronan's lips trembled slightly. There was pain in his eyes, but also something else-relief.

"Miss Hensley," he said, "It's been a while."

"It has," she replied. "I heard you're going abroad soon."

"Yeah."

"Best of luck," she said, smiling.

That smile made his heart stutter.

But then his eyes shifted-Harrison was still right there.

So he turned to him. "Harrison."

Harrison responded with a cool "Mm."

Isaline broke the moment. "Miss Hensley, Mr.

Thomson-we're off to dinner. See you!"

Adeline said, "Alright."

Ronan and Isaline got into the car.

Once they were on the road and clear of the parking garage, Ronan suddenly pulled over.

"You planned that, didn't you?" he asked quietly.

"You asked me to pick you up... so l'd run into her."

Isaline didn't look at him. She kept her eyes on the window.

She said, "I knew you wanted to see her. But I also knew you'd agonize over it forever. So I

made the decision for you."

Then she finally turned to him.

"You're leaving soon. Who knows when-or if-you'll be back."

She didn't want him to carry regrets, so she gave him one last push.

She wanted him to say goodbye to the girl he could never forget.

Ronan looked at her, overwhelmed with emotion.

Isaline was really incredible.

If he could spend the rest of his life with someone like her, maybe he could be happy.

But then, almost instinctively, he shut down the thought.

It wasn't because Isaline wasn't good enough. It was because he wasn't.

He still couldn't guarantee that he'd let go of Adeline completely.

And dragging Isaline into that kind of uncertainty.

It wouldn't be fair to her.

After a moment of silence, Ronan smiled, "Thank you."

"No need," Isaline replied, waving it off. "It was no big deal."

"Then dinner's on me," Ronan grinned. 

"What are you in the mood for?"

"Really? Then I'm going all out. I want a feast."

"Whatever you want."

Isaline smiled as she looked at him.

But when the car started again, and she turned back to the window- 

A single tear silently rolled down her cheek.