One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 20

Jimmy’s face was a storm of rage as he shouted at Doris, his voice dripping with sarraum and indignation, Doris, now that you’ve found someone to hack you up, you think you can do whatever your want, but

How could you let him talk to me like that, you linde hat! Don’t forget, Fin your father. You’re such a disappointment?

Doris opened her mouth, ready to retort, but before she could utter a word, Lewis uepped forward, his patirtire completely worn thin. His voice was sharp, and every syllable carried the weight of judgment “Parents who can’t even stand by their own kid don’t deserve their respect.

“Worse, you team up with outsiders to humiliate her? You’re not fit to call yourself her father. From now on, Fl be the one standing by Doris. And if any of you dare to hurt her again, I won’t hesitate to call the police”

With that, Lewis released Jimmy’s wrist.

Jimmy finally regained control of his arm, but the throbbing pain lingered on his wrist as if etched into his skin. His thoughts raced in panic as he pondered,

What kind of man is this? Ile’s terrifying: Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his back.

At that moment, Lewis stood tall, commanding, his every word and action radiating the strength of a man who would go to war for his wife. The crowd couldn’t help but stare at him in awe, admiration flickering in their eyes.

Ryan, watching how Lewis captivated everyone, felt a surge of bitterness gnawing at his pride. Furious, he scoffed and spoke coldly.

“Mr. Reed, since that’s how it is, I’m afraid I’ll have to take hack the gifts I’ve given your family. It’s not like we’re related or anything.”

At that, Jeremiah and the others swiftly stepped forward, collecting the extravagant diamond watches that had been gifted to the Robinson family as a gesture of goodwill.

The sight of their precious prizes being snatched back was like a slap to the Robinson family’s face. None of them were happy about the outcome.

Andre, still dazed by the unfolding drama, turned to Jimmy, demanding answers. Jimmy, what… what’s going on here?”

Maisie’s expression twisted in displeasure, and she muttered in frustration, “Rupert, Claudia, how could this happen? Our diamond watches are gone just like that.”

Ryan’s actions were as deliberate as they were cruel. The gifts he’d initially given to boost Jimmy’s ego were now being weaponized to rub salt into their wounds, each reclaimed watch a jab to Jimmy’s already fragile dignity. Ryan clearly did this only out of spite.

“Ryan, Jimmy called out desperately, trying to salvage the situation.

“Ryan,” Rupert echoed, his voice thick with anxiety.

But their pleas fell on deaf ears. Ryan’s decision was final, and he had no intention of turning back.

Just as Ryan was about to leave, Lewis’s icy voice cut through the air. “Mr. Watson, wait.”

Ryan halted mid–step, his back still to the room. He didn’t bother to look back, but his silence was invitation enough for Lewis to speak.

Lewis’s tour was cold and biting, each word deliberate. “Mr. Watson, Doris is my wife now. It’s my responsibility to take care of her.

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The mom fell into stunned stence

wise words had red need for the

Casps rippled through the red and wimpers filled the

Most of the onlookers couldn’t hide their disdained med det red person does tha

“Mr. Watson, Tonce thought you genuinely cared deed, he come diery with the intent on the stepped forward “But now I see you for what you really are there we trondit marry yo

voice

Ryan’s polished smile twisted into a crueline His work was faced with every he finally dragged genence they Marry me?”

He let out a derisive Taugh. Do you think 1, the CFO of Nation Carey, world serially see for severne Wee her deserve a woman who’s a perfect match for my state–someone from the rat femy tent passing amusement for me

I

Ryan’s gaze swept over Doris, disdain dripping from his every word “tor, the fare that aver med intrend as your wa honor you didn’t deserve.

“And yet, you dared to dream of marrying me? Do you really think you’re worthy tenise contiene semen Yug pretending you’re something special?

Doris remained stoic, her face devoid of emotion, as if his cruel words couldve teach her Inside, there was neither anger nor sadness–just a weary familiarity. She had seen through Ryan’s true tueture long ago

His venomous remarks only reaffirmed what she already knew, leaving her entirely unsurprised.

Ryan strolled across the plush carpet, his footsteps slow and deliberate, before stopping in front of Lewis. His liga curled into a mocking smirk. “Mr. Hartman, take good care of the trash I left behind.

“Soon enough, you’ll learn what it means to be outclassed. Going up against me? You’ll love so badly you won’t even know what hit you.”

Lewis met Ryan’s arrogance with unflinching resolve, his chiseled features as steady as a granite cliff. “Alright,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I’ll be waiting”

Standing beside him, Doris felt a wave of tension tighten her chest. Her fingers instinctively gripped Lewis’s arm. Ryan’s power and influence could crush someone like Lewis without breaking a sweat, she thought, worry grawing at her.

Ryan turned on his heel, walking toward the private room’s door. As he reached it, he tossed one last comment over his shoulder. “Mr. Reed, don’t forget the money you owe me.”

Jimmy flinched at the mention of the one million dollars, his temples pounding with stress

His frustration boiled over, and his glare turned toward Doris, his voice rising in anger. “Doris, are you happy now? You’ve ruined this party. You’ve offended Mr. Watson, and thanks to you, our family is doomed. Get out of my sight.”

Doris didn’t hesitate. This was not a place she wanted to linger for even another second. Not wanting to drag Lewis into the mess any longer, she grabbed Lewis’s hand and walked out of the room, her back straight, her steps steady, but her heart heavy with emotion.

As they emerged from the hotel into the crisp air, Doris exhaled deeply, over and over, trying to rein in the overwhelming

urge to cry.

new; she had spent more than two decades enduring his verbal abuse, his violent outbursts. She had thought she’d grown numb to it, but every fresh insult still stung and brought her to tears, reopening wounds

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26 Feb FT

Chapter 20

borne it alone, yet today, Lewis

monumental in her eyes, a rare gift in a

steady as he noticed the tears welling in her eyes, stubbornly refusing to fall “You can lean on my

dam Doris had tried

her voice barely above a whisper. She let

away her tears before pulling back. The entire gesture lasted only seconds, but it felt like an eternity of unspoken comfort. Doris straightened, a forced smile lifting her lips

for everything today,” she said sincerely. “I know just saying it doesn’t feel like enough, so let me treat

he simply said,

led her to a cory, highly–rated seafood restaurant he had discovered online–a place known for its hearty meals and warm,

seafood. She’d once said. “There’s nothing a delicious seafood feast can’t fix.

her here, hoping that the vibrant flavors and hearty dishes might

eyes.

Aren’t I impressive?” He slid the menu toward her with a self–assured grin.

impressive.” She didn’t even glance at it

brow, sensing her indifferent tone. “Can you put a

a pitiful look

in her he couldn’t ignore–a quiet resilience that

the way her emotions played across her face–the subtle furrow of her brows as she scanned the menu, the faint catch of her teeth on her lower lip when she hesitated. She was

like eating?” Doris asked, snapping him out of

replied. “Anything works

long before the dishes began arriving, one by one, filling the table with vibrant colors

the spread, and without hesitation, she grabbed the shrimp taco closest to her and took a

me,” Lewis said generously,

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Chapter 20

at Doris, his voice dripping with sarraum and indignation, Doris, now that you’ve found someone to hack you up, you think you can do whatever

that, you linde

uepped forward, his patirtire completely worn thin. His voice was sharp, and every syllable carried the weight of judgment “Parents who can’t even stand by their own kid don’t

on, Fl be the one standing by Doris. And if any of you dare to hurt her again, I won’t hesitate

released Jimmy’s wrist.

pain lingered on his wrist as if etched into his skin. His thoughts raced in panic as he

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down

every word and action radiating the strength of a man who would go to war for his wife. The crowd

watching how Lewis captivated everyone, felt a surge of bitterness gnawing at

that’s how it is, I’m afraid I’ll have to take hack the gifts I’ve given your family. It’s not like we’re

watches that had been gifted to the Robinson family

prizes being snatched back was like a slap to the Robinson family’s face. None of them were happy

unfolding drama, turned to Jimmy, demanding answers. Jimmy, what… what’s

muttered in frustration, “Rupert, Claudia, how could this happen?

cruel. The gifts he’d initially given to boost Jimmy’s ego were now being weaponized to rub salt into their wounds, each reclaimed watch a jab to Jimmy’s already fragile dignity. Ryan clearly did this only

Jimmy called out desperately, trying to salvage

echoed, his voice thick with anxiety.

decision was final, and

about to leave, Lewis’s icy voice

didn’t bother to look back, but his silence

tour was cold and biting, each word deliberate. “Mr. Watson, Doris is my wife now. It’s

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your Market regegir a wattah wave has no place for you in her

mom fell into stunned stence

words had red need for the

the red

their disdained med det

on the stepped forward “But now I see you for what you

voice

was faced with every he finally dragged

Carey, world serially see for severne Wee

I

dripping from his every word “tor, the

you really think you’re worthy tenise contiene semen Yug pretending you’re something

face devoid of emotion, as if his cruel words couldve teach her Inside, there was neither anger nor sadness–just a weary familiarity. She had

venomous remarks only reaffirmed what she

stopping in front of Lewis. His liga curled into a mocking

means to be outclassed. Going up against

arrogance with unflinching resolve, his chiseled features as steady as a granite cliff. “Alright,” he said, his voice calm but

her chest. Her fingers instinctively gripped Lewis’s arm. Ryan’s power and

tossed one last comment over his shoulder. “Mr. Reed, don’t forget

mention of the one million dollars,

and his glare turned toward Doris, his voice rising in anger. “Doris, are you happy now? You’ve ruined this party. You’ve offended Mr. Watson,

mess any longer, she grabbed Lewis’s hand and walked out of the room, her back straight, her steps steady, but her heart heavy

Doris exhaled deeply, over and over,

urge to cry.

new; she had spent more than two decades enduring his verbal abuse, his violent outbursts. She had thought she’d grown numb to it, but every fresh insult still stung and brought her

2/4