Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: How Could a Woman Like You Be Worthy of My Son

”Miss Ainsworth, I never would have expected it. I invited you here last night to discuss the wedding, and then you just disappeared. This hasn’t just affected our Lynch Family, it has also smeared Leon’s name. Whatever your reason, it doesn’t change the fact that you got into that black car. Everyone in our family knows about this now. If just one person with a loose tongue starts talking... well, even if you did marry into the family, wouldn’t that just confirm that you’ve made a cuckold out of Leon? So, don’t bother saying anything. I’m not listening.”

Mrs. Lynch had cut off every word Nora Ainsworth wanted to say.

But she smiled. ”Auntie, I know you don’t like me. And this was my fault, wasn’t it? How could I go out drinking with a friend at night? I remember you specifically summoned me to the hotel, saying you wanted to discuss the wedding. You even said Leon would be there. But what happened instead? You got me drunk, sent me to room 188, and then called your nephew, Quincy. I know exactly what you were trying to do. Since you’re so dead set against me, fine. Let’s call off the engagement.”

Mrs. Lynch’s expression showed no trace of panic. On the contrary, she was perfectly composed.

”Miss Ainsworth, you certainly can spin a tale. Me? Invite you to a hotel, get you drunk, and send my nephew over? That’s utterly ridiculous. This engagement must be called off. However, for the Ainsworth Family’s sake, I won’t leak the fact that you met a man last night and didn’t come home. A woman like you is in no way worthy of my son. Please leave!”

”Wait!” Leon Lynch turned, his eyes locked on Nora Ainsworth. ”Last night, you really went drinking with a friend?”

Nora Ainsworth’s heart skipped a beat, but the words were already out. There was no taking them back. She could only say, ”Yes.”

”When did you meet Herman Hawthorne?”

”A long time ago. We just hadn’t seen each other for a while, so I didn’t recognize him at first.”

Leon Lynch, however, reached out and pulled. Caught off guard, Nora Ainsworth stumbled into his arms, her heart racing.

”What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded in a low voice.

His expression unreadable, he looked at Mrs. Lynch. ”Mom, I believe her. Because she and I have already...” He deliberately trailed off, confident his mother would grasp his hidden meaning.

Mrs. Lynch’s composed expression vanished completely. Her eyes turned sharp and cold, her glare at Nora Ainsworth filled with an indescribable hostility.

After staring for a long moment, she suppressed her anger. Her tone became cool and detached. ”Even if she’s pregnant with a Lynch family child, she must go to the hospital and have it aborted. My mind is made up. Miss Ainsworth will not become a daughter-in-law to our family. Tell your parents I won’t leak this to the media, but the engagement is off.”

’This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she wasn’t about to let it go. She had been against this engagement from the very beginning. If Mr. Lynch hadn’t been so insistent, it never would have happened in the first place.’

’She’d tried so many schemes without getting her way. Now that she finally had her chance, she absolutely would not go soft.’

Leon Lynch had never imagined his mother would be so adamant, refusing to back down no matter what.

”Then I’ll go to the office and discuss this with Dad.”

Astonishment flashed in Mrs. Lynch’s eyes. ”Leon, you’re such an exceptional man. There are countless other women in the world. Why must you insist on her?”

Leon Lynch stood, grabbed Nora Ainsworth’s wrist, and headed for the door. ”You can explain later,” he said.

Once outside the Lynch Residence, he opened the car door and shoved Nora Ainsworth into the passenger seat.

The car tore down the street with a roar.

”Thank you,” she said, her voice hoarse. She rarely uttered those two words.