Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”I think your mom would be furious if she knew. I once said I would never get back together with you.”

Quentin Grant dismissed her concern. ”The Grant Family is a filthy place. I can’t let you in—I’m afraid it would truly stain you.”

”I feel like I’m going back on my word.”

”Are you really going to give me up just to maintain some pointless, so-called dignity? Nora, you’ve been with me since you were twenty-one. Maybe we didn’t get together for love at first, but we fell in love later. There’s no reason we shouldn’t see this through to the end. Not a single day has gone by recently that I haven’t thought of you. If it weren’t for love, do you think that would even be possible?”

”Mm,” Nora Ainsworth said, looking at him. Her mind was suddenly flooded with memories of her and Quentin Grant: from when they first met, to getting to know one another, to falling in love, and finally, to their separation. It had been a truly difficult journey.

”So, if you do something foolish again, I won’t allow it. Because I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold out like this again next time.”

Their faces drew close, and his lips gently met hers. Clothes fell to the floor, piece by piece, as a sensual atmosphere filled the room.

After receiving the call from Quentin Grant, the production team of the matchmaking show didn’t dare protest. They immediately arranged for another guest to go on.

One could only imagine the mood Leon Lynch was in when he got back.

When he opened the door, he saw the two boys lounging on the sofa, staring at each other.

Leon Lynch walked over and sat across from them.

”Where’s your mommy?”

Elmer Grant pointed toward the bedroom door and said, ”In there.”

Leon Lynch was about to go over, but Dylan Grant tugged on the corner of his shirt. ”Godfather, Mommy isn’t in there by herself.”

His expression tightened. ”Who else?”

Dylan Grant replied, ”Mhm. A Mr. Grant who looks a lot like the two of us.”

At these words, the color drained from Leon Lynch’s face.

”Quentin Grant?”

The two boys nodded.

Leon Lynch seemed frozen in place.

He turned and sat down beside them.

Silence.

Then, he suddenly shot to his feet, stalked over to Nora Ainsworth’s bedroom, and pounded on the door.

”Nora, open the door. It’s me.”

”Not a good time. Wait outside.” It was, of course, Quentin Grant who replied, and his ”not a good time” was clearly suggestive.

Leon Lynch turned, grabbed the spare key, and stood before the door again.

The two boys exchanged a glance. Sensing that a good show was about to begin, they positioned themselves behind Leon Lynch to get a better view.

He reached out, inserted the key into the lock, and with a CLICK, the door swung open.

He pushed the door open. The scene that greeted him wasn’t exactly explicit, but it wasn’t innocent, either.

Quentin Grant was sitting up in bed with Nora Ainsworth lying in his arms. Though they were covered by a blanket, it was obvious they were both naked underneath it.

Their clothes were tossed over a chair.

Quentin Grant sat up straighter, revealing his bare torso. ”Is this what you wanted to see? Then I hope you’re satisfied.”

Leon Lynch’s expression was livid, but he couldn’t bring himself to say much. He just said, ”Nora, I’ll wait for you in my room. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Nora Ainsworth nodded. ”Alright.”

Leon Lynch turned and left, his movements stiff.

Dylan Grant looked at Quentin Grant with disdain. ”Old man, does your mom know you’re this arrogant?”

”She doesn’t need to know. It’s enough that your mommy does.”

Elmer Grant clapped a hand over his eyes. ”It’s just like Mommy says: when the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be slanted. Don’t be a bad influence on us!”

”It’s not like I grabbed you by the hand and forced you to come watch. Now, you should get out. Your mommy and I are getting dressed.”

”Hmph.” The two brothers walked out the door.

Nora Ainsworth sat up straight and glared at him. ”Would it kill you to be a little more low-key?”

”Yes.”

He got dressed and climbed out of bed. ”I wonder if that guy is about to say his goodbyes.”

”I don’t know. I’ll go see.”

When she arrived at Leon Lynch’s room, she found him sitting there, lost in thought and staring blankly ahead.

”Leon.”

He pointed to a chair. ”Sit.”

Nora Ainsworth sat down and looked at him.

”To be honest, from the moment I found out you were pregnant, I knew he was still in your heart. I always suspected you two would get back together eventually. I just never thought it would happen so fast, the moment you saw each other again. Do you trust him that much?”

Nora Ainsworth’s expression was composed as she replied without hesitation, ”It’s not a question of trust. It’s that I don’t want to dwell on the gains and losses of the past. Sometimes, you can lose someone in an instant, but being together can be for a lifetime. It doesn’t matter who was right or wrong. The important thing is that we can be together again. That’s enough.”

He gave a wan smile. ”I get it. I guess I’m pretty pathetic, too. I knew you were a black hole, yet I still stepped right in, and now I don’t want to climb out.”

”Leon, don’t say that. We’ll always be friends, and you’ll always be the boys’ godfather. And the children are hoping you’ll find them a godmother soon.”

Even if Leon Lynch was unwilling to believe it, the fact remained that he and Nora would never be together.

”Hmph. As if finding them a godmother is the hard part.”

Seeing his expression had lightened, Nora Ainsworth reached out and took his hand. ”In a few years, don’t let me hear that you’re still all alone. Please, cleanse your heart, wipe me away from it, and let someone new move in. I’m begging you.”

He looked at her intently, his heart bleeding.

”Can I hug you, one last time?”

She stood up, rested her cheek against his chest, and wrapped her arms around his waist. ”Leon, I’ll always remember all the wonderful, touching moments you’ve given me.”

”Nora, if he ever bullies you or makes you sad, you have to tell me.” He hugged her back. At that moment, he knew he had to finally put a stop to his feelings.

She nodded against his chest.

Then she left his embrace. ”We haven’t eaten dinner yet. I’ll go cook.”

When she stepped out of the room, Nora Ainsworth was surprised to see Quentin Grant in the kitchen, playing the role of head chef. ’Well, isn’t he proactive?’ she thought.

She walked over, clasping her hands behind her back. ”Chef Grant, busy cooking?”

A smile spread across Quentin Grant’s face. ”Those two little rascals had the nerve to tell me their godfather is a better cook. Said he cooks for every meal and I can’t even compare. I can’t let him show me up, can I?”

Nora Ainsworth pressed her lips into a faint smile. ”No, you can’t.”

”That’s what I’m talking about. By the way, what did he say to you?”

Nora Ainsworth leaned close to his ear and said, ”Leon said that from now on, we’re just friends, and he’s just the children’s godfather. He also said that if you don’t treat me well in the future, he’ll definitely—”

Before she could finish, Quentin Grant cut her off. ”I’ll never give him the chance. Still, at least he knows his place.”

By the time dinner was served, Quentin Grant was looking at Leon Lynch much more favorably. He poured a glass of wine and raised it. ”I don’t say thanks very often, but credit where it’s due. Thank you, Young Master Lynch, for taking care of Nora and the two boys for these past two-plus years.”