Ch. 201..205: Begging For A Reconciliation Chapter 201-205

Chapter 202

Han and Jackson stared at each other for roughly three seconds. It was Molly who hurriedly broke what was becoming an awkward silence. "Han, let me introduce you again, since you can't remember now. This is my father, Jackson: he's the head of Linkville's tax department."

Han's brow furrowed imperceptibly. The head of Linkville's tax department...

He distinctly recalled that he had a private document on liis computer, and the contents of it were entirely about...

" What's wrong, Han? Why are you looking like that?" Jackson noticed that something was off about Han's gaze but kept liis composure. He was too much of an old hand to betray anything on his expression, but he watched Han's reactions like a hawk, and liis entire body language radiated a sense of forbidding dominance.

Han's face betrayed no emotion whatsoever as he replied, "It's nothing. I was just thinking about something in the past, that's all."

When Molly heard this, she beamed and cooed, "What have you remembered, hmm?"

Han shook his head. A trace of disappointment flickered in Molly's gaze, but she merely smiled and said, "Oh, that's alright then. Take your time."

"Please do come inside and chat, don't stand here at the door." Mrs. Lamere hastily ushered everyone inside. The dining room had already been set with Han's favorite dishes. Everyone earned on chatting as they ate.

"Han," Jackson said abruptly as he savored liis soup, "Have you been able to find a suitable donor for Charlotte's myeloma?"

Han pursed his lips and answered expressionlessly, "Not yet." Molly had already brought the matter up when she took him back to Linkville. At the time, he had been startled to discover that he had a child: what was more, the child was liis and Molly's. After meeting Charlotte, he had experienced an odd sense of familiarity, which was what had put his suspicions to rest.

Charlotte was most certainly his child. There could be no doubt about that. If that was the case, then Molly was definitely his fiancee. However, who was Sarah Wliite then? Was she truly the scheming, money-grubbing gold-digger Molly had made her out to be?

"I have an idea if you'd like to hear it?" Jackson put down liis soup spoon and gave Han a meaningful look.

Han experienced an unpleasant sense of unease. Without changing liis expression, he asked. "What do you have in mind?"

A faint half-smile played about Jackson's mouth. "Since we can't find a suitable donor yet and we can't use just any bone marrow, why don't you look for a woman you could have another child with and use their bone marrow for Charlotte's transplant?"

Han's head jerked up involuntarily at this, and a flicker of astonishment flashed through liis eyes. How could Jackson even suggest such an insidious, unscrupulous thing?

"What? Do you think that's heartless and cruel?" Jackson shrugged and chuckled lightly. "Well, think about it this way. A child can still survive if their bone marrow' is extracted: at most they might have congenital defects. If you're able to find a mercenary woman and pay her well, she might be willing to do it."

Han's hands clenched slightly, and he shot a glance tow'ard Molly with a very forbidding expression. She averted her eyes aw'kwardly. Her reaction told him all he needed to know.

He put down liis eating utensils, then wiped liis mouth with one of the paper napkins. "I don't agree with that. I'll find some wray to deal with Charlotte's myeloma, but I'm not about to sacrifice anyone to do it." His voice betrayed liis irritation. Standing up. he turned and left the dining room.

"Han!" Molly ran after him.

Jackson watched Han's tall, forbidding figure departing. His smiling expression had not altered throughout the entire exchange. Slowly, he leaned back against the chair and gave a slow, meaningful smile. He had already anticipated that Han would decline his suggestion.

"Jackson. wrhat happens now? Won't tliis make Han turn against us?" Mis. Lamere fretted, her brow’ creased in anxiety.

"There's nothing to w'orry about. We've set out the bait, that's all," Jackson replied coolly.

"Han!" Molly caught up with Han at the gate. He was opening the car door, but she caught hold of liis hand, stopping him. His browr creased slightly, and he glanced at her, irritation evident in liis expression. "What is it?"

Molly shot him a quick look filled with anxiety, her heart beating fast. Delicately, she enquired, " Are you not in favor of Daddy's suggestion, or is it because of that gold-digging woman, Sarah?"

Han's frown relaxed slightly. Coldly he turned his eyes awray, answering, "Why wrould a pretentious woman like that concern me?" After a slight pause, he added. "Sarah Wliite is nothing to me: she wont influence whatever decision I make."

Molly heaved a silent sigh of relief when she saw his look of disdain. At long last, he was finally disgusted by that woman! She let go of Han's hand, and her smile reappeared as she answered,

"Since you're not in favor of it, I w'on't bring the matter up again. That's right. Han. Mi s. Sanders will be having her birthday celebration this week. Will you come with me?"

The Wliite family was very close to the Sanders. Leah was sure to be at the dinner since Mi s. Sanders was so fond of her.

Han got into the car and put liis hands on the steering wheel, nodding absentmindedly. "I have wrork to do at the office still. I'll take my leave now." He drove off after that. He might have lost liis memory, but his mind was still sharp as ever. It was impossible not to mistake Molly's underlying meaning.

It was around 8 pm by this time. Han drove aimlessly around the Linkville city center. He stared at the teeming nightlife on the streets, his gaze preoccupied. Gradually, however, a trace of perplexity appeared in liis eyes.

He was in the midst of a prosperous, bustling city and he had everything he could possibly want, yet he felt an odd emptiness within him. Had he felt like tliis in the past, or was this a result of losing liis memory?

Without being aware of it, he had driven to the Wliite residence and wras now7 at the gate. He did not know7 why he had come here, only that he felt an odd sense of peace and cahn whenever he looked at the lights shining brightly in the house.

Han stopped the car and let his mind drift, quietly observing the Wliite residence. As he watched, a skulking figure suddenly drew7 his attention.

This was a very quiet residential area. The residents primarily drove their cars to and fro: very few7 people walked around.

Furthermore, the figure was constantly pacing in front of the Wliite residence's gate but made no move to go in. This in itself wras sufficient to arouse anyone's suspicions.

Han's brows lifted slightly. After a moment of consideration, he got out of the car. Very stealthily, he made his w7ay over to the skulking figure until he was right behind it, then asked abruptly, "What are you doing here?"

"Eep!" The figure gave a startled shriek and spun around, flailing wildly. "Don't take me back! I w'on't go back!"

Chapter 203

Han’s eyes widened in surprise. The skulking figure was none other than Shawn Ford!

He was not personally acquainted with Shawn, but upon returning to Linkville, he had made a point to investigate the man’s background. What he had discovered had given him quite a shock.

"What are you doing here?" Han’s gaze grew even chillier as he eyed Shawn with evident disdain.

The sound of Han’s familiar voice made Shawn look up immediately. Upon encountering the other’s severe, judgmental gaze, he involuntarily shrank back slightly. In a tiny voice, he stammered. "I.. .I’m h- here to see Sarah!"

Han's frown deepened. A deep sense of loathing and disgust for the other man rose up within him.

"If I recall, she already sent you home, didn't she?"

"But I want to be with her! I don't want to go home!" Shawn persisted stubbornly.

Han's expression grew even darker when Shawn declared he wanted to be with Sarah. In fact, his entire aspect was so forbidding that Shawn did not dare open his mouth.

After a moment. Han finally broke the oppressive silence. "I’ll send you home." Currently, Shawn wras only 7 years old mentally. Even if he looked like a perfectly capable adult, there was no telling what sort of dangers he might encounter, walking around alone at night. While Han honestly washed he could leave the other to sink or swim, he could not shake off the fact that they had some sort of a connection. It gave him a headache.

However, Shawn shoved him aside and snapped petulantly, "I won’t go home! I want to see Sarah!" Taking advantage of Han having let down liis guard briefly, he ran towrard the White residence, yelling.

"Sarah! Sarah! I’m here to see you!"

Han looked extremely displeased. He did not want Shawn and Sarah to get too close. Striding forward, he grabbed hold of Shawn and dragged him back to the car. intending to bundle him in and send him home.

However, Shawn proved to be surprisingly strong. When he began struggling and thrashing in earnest, even Han found it difficult to hang onto him.

"What the hell are you two doing?" A freezing voice snapped from behind them.

Both men froze on the spot.

Leah was in pajamas, standing just inside the gate of the White residence and staring expressionlessly at the two of them. Han and Shawn were locked together in an extremely awrkward pose. From wfrere she was, it looked as if they were two primary school students fighting. She pursed her lips slightly and repeated. "What the hell are you two doing?"

Han finally came back to his senses. However, right at that moment, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his hand. Giving a startled hiss, he stared in astonishment at Shawn, wdio had sunk his teeth into his finger like a vicious dog. As Han loosened his grip, Shawn dashed over to Leah, wailing like a child telling tales to an adult. "Sarah! Let me in quick, that bad man is trying to bully me!"

Han’s browr creased slightly; so Shawm regarded Sarah as his savior and himself as the bad man?

Leah did not even know' howr to react w'hen she saw' Shawm’s pleading face. Emotionlessly. she asked. "Why are you here again?"

"I missed you." Shawm faltered.

Leah’s expression was frosty as she ordered. "It’s already late. Go home now."

Unexpectedly. Shawm suddenly burst into tears. Sobbing like a child, he wailed, "No! I don’t want to go home! I just want to be with you, Sarah, I don’t wrant to go home!"

Leah's agitation made her raise her voice. "Shawm Ford, stop making an unreasonable fuss! You may wrant to be with me, but I have no desire to be with you!"

This was the first time she had ever spoken so angrily to Shawm. His face took on a hurt look as he pleaded. "Sarah, don’t you wrant me anymore?"

The wdiole situation was giving Leah a headache. However, she just w’anted to be rid of the problem that was Shawm once and for all, so she steeled herself and replied coldly, "I’ve never w’anted you, ever."

Shawm’s entire expression crumbled as if something inside him had abruptly shattered. He ground liis teeth together and glared at Han. In a quivering voice, he accused, "I knew it! Everyone looks up to him. No one likes me. I hate all of you!" With that, he turned and dashed toward the street as fast as liis legs could cany him. In an instant, he had vanished.

Han frowmed and was about to chase after Shawm when he heard Leah from behind him. "Stay where you are, Han Howard." Despite the irritation liis expression displayed, he did actually come to a halt. Standing at the gate, he eyed Leah and asked. "Well? What is it?"

Leah's gaze went to Han's finger where Shawm had bitten him. "You're bleeding. I'll go fetch you a plaster." She intended to hand him Regina's letters as well.

However, Han turned awray with a smirk. "So this is part of your seduction scheme too?"

Leah was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

Han shot her a derisive smile, liis tone full of mockery. "You seduce men tliis way, I see."

Leah looked thunderstruck.

"Did you seduce Shawm like tliis as well?" Han closed in on her menacingly. "Once you've managed to wrap a man around your little finger, you just discard them once you've sucked them diy, all for the sake of money. That's your little game, is it?"

Leah could hardly believe her ears. "Are you mad? Who the hell has been telling you these tilings?"

Of course, Han was not about to reveal liis source of information. Instead, he eyed Leah coldly. "Tliis is merely what I've observed. You're utterly despicable. Stay as far awray from me as you can." With that, he got into the car and drove off.

The October night air was very chilly, and Leah was clad only in a set of thin cotton pajamas. Standing at the gate, watching Han's departure, she felt chilled to the bone. It had been a long time since Han had said such tilings to her. True, he had spoken even more hurtful w’ords in the past, but.. .for whatever reason, she could not help feeling cut to the quick.

In the meantime, Shawm kept on running, stumbling along the wray. However, he couldn't outrun Han's car. By the time he reached the comer of the street, Han had already caught up with him.

Han got down from the car and grabbed hold of Shawm's wrist. "Get in. I'll take you home."

Shawm kept on struggling. "No! I won't go back!"

As the two men tussled, Shawm staggered, slipped, and fell backward. His head hit the pavement and began bleeding profusely. Han frowmed at tliis but said nothing. Instead, he bodily hauled Shawm into the car and took him straight to the hospital. Once the other had been admitted, he immediately called the Ford family's butler, Mr. Carling, who showed up in record time.

"Mr. Howard," Mr. Carling greeted Han very respectfully the minute he saw him.

Han merely nodded: he was about to reply wlien liis phone suddenly rang. He answered the call, then abruptly turned to the butler. "My apologies, but something's come up, and I need to go. I'll leave Shawm to you. then."

Chapter 204

Mi; Carling's demeanor remained as deferential as he said, "Okay. Mr. Howard, you can go."

He had addressed him as "Mr. Howard" rather than "Mi; Han."

Han hurried away. After he had left. Mr. Carling opened the door to the ward and walked in.

The ward was very quiet at the time, and no doctors or nurses were in sight. Shawn was dressed in a hospital gown that was blue and white. He lay quietly on the bed, eyes closed, breathing steadily.

He seemed to be in a deep sleep.

Mi; Carling sat by the bed and sighed before asking earnestly, "Mr. Shawn, is there a need for you to torment yourself like this?"

After hearing his words, Shawn, who was lying on the bed, abruptly opened his eyes.

He no longer had that silly look in his eyes. Instead, a darker and more scheming appearance had taken its place.

Shawn sat up slowly from his bed. His head was still a little sore. The malicious and insidious intent in Shawn's eyes grew more pronounced as he considered the price he had paid.

"You don't understand." Shawn said coldly, "it's nothing to exact vengeance on Han by killing him. That's far too easy for him."

His expression grew' more and more sinister when he suddenly laughed icily and drily as if he had thought of something that tickled him. "I wrant him to live liis entire life in agony and regret. I'll make

him watch as the woman he loves wralks awray from him. I want him to have nothing but pain and agony for the rest of his life!"

Intense hatred filled Shawn's eyes as he gritted liis teeth.

For a brief moment, Mr. Carling was taken aback by his expression.

He couldn't understand how Shawn had become tliis way.

"Why don't you just stop, Mr. Shawn? Mr. Howard has never done anything to cause you harm. Besides...he has lost his memory and can't remember anything. Your vengeance is completely meaningless!" Mr. Carling tried hard to persuade him.

"Stop talking!" Mr. Carling was interrupted by Shawn's fierce and agitated speech. "If it wasn't for Han. would my life be like this?" he said coldly, clutching the edge of the bed. "Back in the day. the Ford family was far more powerful than the Howard family. He and that woman are to blame for everything! I'll never forgive them for the rest of my life!"

When Mr. Carling saw the intense hatred in Shawn's eyes, he was rendered speechless and helpless inside.

He had never walked a mile in Shawn's shoes, so he had no idea wdiat the man was going through.

It was just that he didn't want the child he had raised with liis own hands to become a weapon of vengeance.

Besides—

"However, Mr. Shawn, Ms. White is blameless. She has a good heart." Mr. Carling let out a sigh.

Yes, Leah had a good heart. Even if she had to face Shawn, who had previously hurt her, she would still properly care for him.

Shawn remained unusually quiet.

His fingers curled up slightly, and the gummy bears suddenly came to mind.

Leah did, in fact, buy him that candy.

Mi; Carling assumed that he had wavered upon observing his silence.

After a while, Shawn's eyes returned to being dark and cold as he said, "As long as anyone has anything to do with Han. they are all evil—so is she."

He sounded very cold.

It was as if he was trying to convince himself.

Mis. Sanders hosted a birthday banquet at Skai Restaurant on Friday.

Leah wrent to the birthday banquet with Ron, while Ian wrent with Sasha.

Sasha had been staying at the Sanders' residence lately. Mis. Sanders had animosity toward her, but she didn't say anything about it because of Ian.

Mis. Sanders preferred Leah over Sasha because she was the White family's eldest daughter and the family business's heir. Leah would be more useful to Ian based solely on these factors.

Supposedly, the two could live happily ever after, just like in a fairy tale.

However, wrho would have thought that Ian would lose liis marbles and cancel the engagement banquet, infuriating Mis. Sanders.

Mis. Sanders still harbored some resentment toward Ian these days.

Mis. Sanders, on the other hand, had not expected Leah to show' up with Ron!

Mi s. Sanders' face darkened in the blink of an eye when Leah took hold of Ron's aim and walked to her side.

"This is my birthday present to you, Mrs. Sanders." Leah handed over the gift box she was holding.

Ron also used the occasion to present liis gift cheerfully.

Ron previously gave a gag gift at Gordon's reception banquet, wdiich made Mi s. Sanders wrary of his gift.

Mis. Sanders thus rejected Ron's gift.

She smiled a little forcedly as she accepted Leah's gift. Then, she said. "Sarah, you are such a good girl. How can you be friends with someone like him? Even if Ian had done you wrong, you can't be with him..."

She hesitated to speak.

Leah felt helpless.

Sasha and Ian came over at tliis point.

When Ian saw Leah, liis eyes flickered slightly. He seemed to be bursting at the seams and needed to say something to Leah.

Even though they had only stopped seeing other for tivo weeks, Ian thought the chasm between them had grown so wide that it could never be bridged.

"Ian," Sasha said as she tugged on liis arm and shook her head at him.

Ian's condition was already known to Sasha.

But wdiat did it matter? She had been with Ian for five years, which was enough.

Ian let out a sigh.

"Sarah," he said as he approached, exuding restraint and caution.

It was only one word, but it took all of liis courage.

Leah's heart wasn't as tumultuous as it had been wiien she saw’ Ian again.

She had long since moved on from that after going through so much. She didn't need to push it to happen since she had no affinities with him. At the very least, they were once good friends, and he had helped her a lot back then.

"Long time no see," Leah said, smiling.

Ron pouted and turned awray from Ian, repulsed.

"Yes, it's been a while." Ian moved in front of her and said, "I'll announce something later."

" What is it?" Leah felt a tiny bit shocked. Was he going to announce liis engagement to Sasha?

"You'll find out later," Ian said, forcing a smile.

Leah nodded and didn't say anything else.

There was a commotion at the entrance, and Leah instinctively looked up to see Molly walking in with a smile, holding Han's hand.

Tliis was Han's first public appearance since losing liis memory, and he had brought Molly with him.

Prior to this, there had been rumors that he and Molly had a tense relationship and that he was intimately involved with the jewelry designer who had just returned from abroad.

However, they had both shown up together. It was as if they were slapping those rumor-mongers in the face.

"Happy birthday. Mrs. Sanders." Molly said as she walked towards them, smiling.

Han's gaze was cold and indifferent. Leah cast a glance liis way, and his browr furrowred slightly in response.

It appeared as though her mere gaze was enough to make him uneasy.

Chapter 205

"Aren't you Ms. White?" Molly abruptly changed the subject to Leah.

Leah's heart was filled with a foreboding feeling.

Sure enough, Molly next grabbed Han's arm and said, with a playful smile. "Do you remember her. Han? Ian had previously abandoned her at the engagement banquet. She was later let go by our company as well."

Finally. Han's eyes landed on Leah, but he quickly averted them in abhor, muttering. "I don't remember."

Molly had been watching Han's response closely.

Finally, a triumphant smile broke out on Leah's face as she realized he was staring at her with nothing but revulsion and no other feelings.

Leah was now officially hated by Han!

"It's a good thing you don't remember. We don't need to keep in mind inconsequential people," chuckled Molly as she made provocative eye contact with Leah.

Leah, on the other hand, had already averted her gaze.

She didn't give a damn what Han said or did. She only had to be concealed about—

"It doesn't matter if you don't remember me, but don't forget that you still owe me 1.6 billion," Leah replied without making a face.

Molly's smile froze at the comer of her mouth, and she glared at Leah, snarling, "You're such a gold digger!"

Ron had initially intended to intervene and defend Leah, but after hearing her mention "1.6 billion," he became curious and enquired, "What is the tiling I'm hearing about 1.6 billion?"

Leah started to speak when she noticed Ian holding Sasha's hand and that they had moved to the side of the stage.

The surrounding lights dimmed abruptly, and the noisy environment became silent.

Leah had no choice but to swallow the words she was about to say.

"Everyone, today is my mother's birthday banquet, and I'd like to take tliis opportunity to make two announcements." Ian said through the microphone, his voice as warm as it had always been.

People at the banquet began to speculate about what the announcements could be given that they had to be made in such a grandiose fashion.

"The first announcement is that I have decided to get engaged to tliis woman beside me, Ms. Sasha White," Ian said with a small smile while holding Sasha's hand.

Ian's words rippled through the crowd like a skipping stone.

Everyone was startled, and they all unconsciously turned to look at Leah.

Half a month ago. Ian was planning a high-profile engagement with Leah, and many people were invited to the engagement banquet, causing the entire city to buzz with excitement.

So many people had attended their engagement banquet at the time, and so many had wished them well.

The blessings now appeared to have stayed with him, but the person who had taken her place next to him was Sasha instead!

How ironic!

Even the guests in the room were unsure how to respond to the news, let alone Leah.

Although she had already known in her heart, hearing Ian personally aimounce it was a different stoiy.

Leah was still holding the glass of wine and smiling awkwardly. However, Leah was unsure how to respond to the sympathetic and intrigued looks directed at her.

Ron took her hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid. You still have me. I will keep you safe."

Leah raised her head and gave him a weak smile.

She'd heard that from far too many people in tliis world.

They all eventually left her, one by one. A man's mind could change so quickly.

"Tsk tsk tsk! It's quite ironic. The older brother broke off the engagement with his fiancee only to get engaged to her younger sister, and the younger brother is now consoling her." Molly said at Leah's ears, her voice seeming to have a way undertone. "The relationships are so messed up."

Leah ignored her, but she knew what she said was correct.

It was very ironic indeed.

Everyone's expressions were stiff except Mrs. Sanders, who managed to keep a forced smile on her face.

Sasha was the only person in the room who wore a smile on her face. She looked at Ian joyfully as if he was fated to be her forever.

In the end. Ian was still hers.

"And what about the other tiling?" A guest from the audience asked.

It wouldn't matter if Ian announced something shocking later since nothing could shock them anymore after the earlier announcement.

Ian was still smiling, but his voice had taken on a serious tone. "The second announcement is that I have decided to split up Wliite Group. I will return Ms. White's company shares to her. In terms of my stake—"

Ian looked at Ron. who was standing a distance away. His eyes showed a range of conflicted emotions as he said, "As for my shares, I will transfer them to my younger brother, Ron Sanders."

Mis. Sanders let out a scream as soon as he finished speaking.

"What are you on about. Ian? Come on down right away!" Mrs. Sanders' face sank as she reprimanded Ian, finding it impossible to maintain a smile.

Ian shook his head, sighed, and said, "Mom, I'm not pulling your leg. I've already drawn up the equity transfer agreement, and after the banquet, I'll give Ian my stake in Wliite Group, and Sarah will become the company's new boss."

"Stop talking!" Mis. Sanders was enraged. She stormed onto the stage, snatched the microphone from his grasp, and threw it to the ground.

"I've been with your dad for so long, and I've been holding back my rage and voice all for you to successfully inherit Sanders' family business. Ron is just a bastard. He is proof of your father's wrongdoing toward us. What gives you the right to hand over something I've worked so hard to safeguard for you?!" Mis. Sanders chided Ian while pointing at his nose.

Her words were hard to swallow. Leah was the closest to Ron. She noticed he was gradually clenching both hands, and the veins on the back of his hands were bulging.

For the first time. Ron did not refute Mis. Sanders. Instead, he yelled at Ian. "I don't need your stupid company's shares!"

Ian continued to have a helpless look on his face.

He handled the circumstance calmly as though he had anticipated it. He said. "Mom, Ron, I've made up my mind. You also know that I did not intend to inherit the company. It's an interest in medicine that I have. Now that Ron has returned, I can hand over the company to him and finally pursue my interests."

Mis. Sanders' chest heaved vociferously as she cried, "No way! The company cannot be handed over to an outsider!"

However, Ian's demeanor was firm. "The company is mine. I have the authority to make decisions."

Doubts began to surface in Leah's heart as she observed the mother and son engaged in a face-off across from one another.

Ian was not the type to go against Mis. Sanders in tliis manner. On the contrary, he wras extremely filial and sympathetic to Mrs. Sanders's hardships.

However, tliis time he stated that he would have the shares transferred regardless.

Instead, it made Leah recall how Ian had sometimes seemed a little off.

Upon hearing Ian's words, the whites of Mrs. Sanders' eyes rolled back, and she fainted before she could return a vehement response.