Her Return, His Regret

Charles slapped the entertainment magazine he was reading on the table in frustration. He glanced at the family's butler, Arnold Miller, and said, "So Ryan's engagement ceremony has been set to happen in two weeks. What is wrong with this boy?" Arnold chuckled, his wrinkles moving at the action. He was standing beside Charles in his study, ready to serve him at any moment. Looking at Charles, he replied, "What do you mean by boy, Sir? Ryan is a fully grown thirty-three-year-old man." "Exactly! He's thirty-three! But he acts like he just hit puberty," Charles scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't understand... he seemed more interested in the young lady of the Davis family, Lora Davis. I saw how he couldn't stop looking at her at the party... so what is this now? Why is he going through with the engagement to Ivy? I'm pretty sure he doesn't love her."

"The young man must have his own reasons. Perhaps you should let him do what he wants? The last time you interfered and forced him to marry, things turned out to be a disaster," Arnold reasoned.

He had been working for the Kingsley family for so many years and sometimes served as a voice of reason for Charles.

However, the old man didn't want to listen. He remarked, "I would have let him be if he decided to marry a sweet lady like Lora. Not that two-faced woman who only has a pretty face. I'm very sure this is another ruse from Ivy Williams. If Ryan wanted to marry her, he would have done so the moment Larisa died."

Arnold glanced at Charles and asked, "So, what do you plan to do? Are you going to stop him?"

"Unfortunately, the fool inherited the stubborn genes from me," Charles remarked and then a thought occurred to him. "You know what? Get the car ready, I'll go and visit Lora. There's just something about her that I quite can't figure out yet."

He had been suspicious of Lora's identity. The young woman seemed to have a certain kind of hatred for her grandson. Perhaps there was more to that than meets the eye. "Sure, I'll let the driver know," Arnold replied.

A little while later, Charles walked into the Davis and Co. building. He approached the receptionist and remarked, "Hello, dear. I would like to meet Miss Lora Davis, please." "Do you have an appointment, Sir?" The receptionist asked cautiously.

Charles' aura was majestic and she could tell he wasn't an ordinary person despite his old age.

Charles smiled and replied, "No, but let her know that the Chairman of the Kingsley Group is here and I would like to discuss a personal project with her."

The receptionist's eyes widened into saucers. She quickly excused herself and dialled a number on her telephone.

A few minutes later, she glanced at Charles with an apologetic look. She said, "Unfortunately, Miss Davis is not in the company at the moment and she won't be returning anytime soon." Charles frowned. Was Lora trying to avoid him?

Instead of leaving, Charles went to the cafe near the company, hoping to catch Lora when she returned. He ordered a cup of rose tea and sat by the window, his mind reeling with thoughts.

...

On the other hand, Jack Davis picked up the twins, Ella and Ethan from school since it was half-day. On the way, they sat with him in the backseat of the car.

Ella was the first to say, "Granpa, can you take us to your company? We want to see Mommy."

Ethan nodded and added, "Yes, I would like to see where Mommy works."

Jack chuckled and ruffled Ethan's hair before replying, "Your Mommy is very busy."

"We won't disturb her, Grandpa. We promise!" Ella stated. "We will be good and not cause trouble. Can you take us with you, please?"

Jack relented and sighed. He looked at the kids and smiled. "Ok, Grandpa will take you to Mommy's workplace."

"Yay! Grandpa is the best!" Ella squeaked.

Jack Davis' convoy of cars stopped just in front of the office building. He helped the twins out of the car and led them into the company. "Wow! This place is so cool!" Ella squealed, looking around in awe.

"Sir, are those your children?" One of the employees asked.

"Don't let my wife hear you say that when both of us are way past our childbearing years," Jack laughed. "These are my grandchildren, Ella and Ethan. The future heirs of Davis & Co."

"Wow, they are so beautiful!" Another employee couldn't help but say.

"Thank you, they take after me," Jack said proudly.

When his assistant approached him, Jack glanced at him and said, "I want you to look after my

grandchildren and take them around the company. They have security guards but I want to be extra careful... I just need to see a few old

clients in the conference room."

The moment the twins were left with the assistant, the employees couldn't help but fawn over them. They were so cute.

"I didn't know Miss Davis had children. The little girl looks so much like her. She's not married though... who's the father?" Someone remarked in a whisper.

"Does that matter? What matters is that these kids were born with a golden spoon in their mouths," another replied.

The assistant took the twins around the company and everyone seemed to fall in love with them. They were polite, kind and lively.

Suddenly, Ella grabbed Ethan's shirt and said, "I want a cake."

"Ella, not now. Mommy said you shouldn't eat too many sweet things," Ethan replied.

Ella pouted. She said, "It's just a little piece of cake. Mommy said that's ok."

Ethan sighed. He wasn't a fan of sweet things like his sister, but he could do anything for her. He looked at the assistant and asked him to take them to the cafe downstairs.

On their way, Ella excitedly ran

ahead while the assistant and Ethan followed closely. Ella was the first to rush into the cafe but she ended up bumping into an old man before falling on the floor.

Ethan rushed to help his sister up and anxiously asked, "Are you ok, Ella?"

Ella nodded and then Ethan turned to the old man to apologise.

"I'm sorry, Sir-"

However, the moment he raised his head to look at the old man, Ethan and the old man gasped, staring at each other in shock.

Ethan's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped to the floor. Why did this man look like a much older version of himself?