Laura’s Victory Second Chance

Chapter 38

Robert returned home feeling defeated, the smell of exhaust fumes still lingering in his nostrils. Elara, noticing Laura was missing, exploded with anger. “Where is she?” she asked.

“That man took her away,” Robert replied, sensing her rising fury. He quickly added, “Mom, don’t worry. Laura loves me so much.”

Elara could tell the situation was more serious than he thought. “She loves you, huh? What about you? Do you love her too?”

Without hesitation, Robert replied, “Of course, I love her! Why else would I have planned to propose to her tonight?”

Seeing her son’s naivety and joy, Elara felt it was time to bring him back to reality. “Robert, if another woman gave you gifts that were worth tens of millions of dollars for your birthday, threw a celebrity party, and bought you a suit worth 330 million, would you let that slide?”

His smile faded immediately, the hard truth hitting him like a slap. “Mom, can we not talk about this?” he said, feeling the sting of his own financial shortcomings and the fact that Laura might be slipping away.

Elara sighed, trying to keep her frustration in check. “You’re my son, and your successes reflect on our family. The Sharpe and Brown families were humiliated today. Do you think I’m still pushing you to win Laura back because I want to?

“You’re not a kid anymore. Even though you’ve joined the company and become your dad’s right–hand man, you’re still young and lack experience. “Our family has a bit of an awkward position in the real wealthy circles. We don’t have enough connections or the solid foundation we need and it’s hard to grow stronger.

That’s why I never liked you being with Laura–until I found out she’s Alistair’s daughter. Do you have any idea who Alistair was? His wealth was unimaginable. Even after the Godfrey family’s collapse, his estate still amounted to a fortune. As his daughter, she’s not just any girl.”

“700 million dollars is a huge amount,” Robert said and nodded. “But we don’t need her money.”

Elara pushed his forehead playfully, trying to get through to him. “You can be clueless sometimes! Haven’t you noticed how the Sharpe family treats her now?”

“Well, I thought they were just feeling guilty because Laura exposed their shady dealings,” Robert said.

“Ha! You give David and his wife too much credit. If they had a conscience, they wouldn’t have acted the way they did. I’d bet Alistair didn’t just leave Laura that 700 million. He probably left her shares too.”

Elara’s insight struck Robert. If David didn’t seem interested in just 700 million, it meant there was something bigger at play.

His eyes lit up with realization. “Shares in the Godfrey family? How much could that be worth?”

“The Godfrey family has been around for generations. In his time, Alistair was a genius. Under his leadership, the Godfrey family grew exponentially and became head of the top four families. If he hadn’t met that tragic fate…”

Elara recalled the business titan who once had the power to shape the world. He was the dream of many young women twenty years ago.

“Maybe it was envy that took him too soon. The Godfrey family may not be as strong without him, but their legacy runs deep. If Laura inherited even a small stake in the Godfrey Group, imagine the influence that could give her.

“And think about her status–if we connect with the Godfrey family, the Brown family’s rise could be closer than we ever imagined.”

Robert fixed his gaze on Elara, determination shining in his eyes. “Mom, I know what I need to do.”

“You think you get it? You’ve already blown it. You had a great hand, and you played it all wrong.”

“Mom, don’t stress. I promise I’ll win her back.”

“With what? If it weren’t for Olivia, maybe you’d have a better shot, but you couldn’t resist getting mixed up with that enchantress. Honestly, no woman would tolerate that.”

Robert muttered defensively, “Didn’t you say Liv was gentle and kind? You told me to get along with her.”

“That was before I realized how cunning that enchantress is. Listen, Robert, I’m telling you this because you need to understand what’s at stake. You won’t be able to outsmart Olivia. If it weren’t for Laura, marrying Olivia wouldn’t be a disgrace to our family.

“But now that you know Laura’s true identity, you’ve got to change her mind. Promise me you’ll cut ties with that enchantress.”

Robert thought back on his pleasant moments with Olivia. To him, it felt unfair that she was taking all the blame, and he wondered how she was holding up.

Noticing his distracted expression, Elara poked him in the forehead. “Still hung up on that enchantress?”

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Chapter 38

“Mom, I’m just worried about her injury.”

She frowned, warning him firmly, “If you don’t care about the Brown family’s reputation, I do. You need to cut her off starting today. That’s the only way you’ll have a chance with Laura. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll end up losing both the girl and any chance at wealth.”

Robert wasn’t blind to the situation anymore. Any pity he felt for Olivia dimmed when he thought about Laura. “I get it. I won’t get involved with Olivia again.”

Elara replied, “Good. Once you win Laura over and marry her, the wealth Alistair left for her will naturally be yours.

“After that, I won’t mind whatever woman you want to pursue. But until then, if I find out you’re still linked with that enchantress, don’t expect any kindness from me.”

Elara’s reputation for toughness was well–known to Robert. Despite her affection for him, she was serious about major issues. He realized she was only looking out for his best interests, and cutting Olivia off seemed manageable.

“I understand, but given the way things are now, I’m sure Lau still blames me and the Sharpe family. Right now, she probably thinks more about that man.”

Elara stared ahead, her expression shifting to one of cold resolve. “I’m a woman, so I can relate to her better than you think. Women wear their hearts on their sleeves. It’s normal for her to feel hurt and angry at you.

“The more resentment she feels, the more it’s tied to her feelings for you. If you show genuine sincerity and completely ignore Olivia, Laura will soften and come back to you.”

She continued, “No matter how close she’s gotten with that man, don’t hold it against her. You can’t push her away again. Maybe he’s spending all that money on her to gain something from her.”

Feeling a growing sense of urgency, Robert clenched his fists. “If he thinks he can take my woman, he’d better think twice. Laura is mine!”