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.

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,

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Wed, 26 Feb FT

Chapter 20

she would have borne it alone, yet

eyes, a rare gift in a world that often seemed devoid of

his gaze warm yet steady as he noticed the tears

fragile dam Doris had tried so

she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She let her forehead

brief moment, she allowed herself to let go, quickly brushing away her tears before pulling back. The entire gesture lasted only seconds, but it felt like an

her true emotions. “Thank you for everything today,” she said sincerely. “I know just saying it doesn’t feel like enough, so let me treat you to lunch. What do you

he simply said, “Follow me.”

led her to a cory, highly–rated seafood restaurant he had discovered online–a place known

said. “There’s nothing a delicious seafood feast can’t

that the vibrant flavors and hearty dishes might soothe her wounded heart, even if

her eyes.

impressive?” He slid the menu toward her with a self–assured grin.

She didn’t even glance at it before gesturing lazily to

brow, sensing her indifferent tone. “Can you put a little more thought into

quipped, feigning a pitiful look

lingering longer than he intended. Beneath her playful banter and nonchalant demeanor, there was a strength in her

furrow of her brows as she scanned the menu, the faint catch of

like eating?” Doris asked, snapping him out of

works for

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

lit up the moment she saw the spread, and without hesitation, she grabbed the shrimp taco closest to her and took a

today we’re gonna eat our sorrows away. Have whatever you want–it’s on me,” Lewis said generously, leaning back in his chair

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Chapter 20

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

to me like that, you linde hat! Don’t

worn thin. His voice

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

Lewis released Jimmy’s wrist.

arm, but the throbbing pain lingered on his wrist as if etched into his skin. His

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled

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

captivated everyone, felt a surge of bitterness

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

the extravagant diamond watches that had been gifted to

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

Jimmy, demanding answers.

she muttered in frustration, “Rupert, Claudia, how could this happen? Our diamond watches

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,

desperately, trying to salvage the

his voice

fell on deaf ears. Ryan’s decision was final,

as Ryan was about to leave, Lewis’s icy

to look back, but his

deliberate. “Mr. Watson, Doris is

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herrer for your Market regegir a wattah wave has no place for

fell into stunned stence

words had red need for

the red and

couldn’t hide their disdained med det red person does

stepped forward

voice

polished smile twisted into a crueline His work was faced with every he finally dragged genence they Marry

severne Wee her deserve a woman who’s a perfect match for my state–someone from the rat femy tent

I

from his every word “tor, the fare that aver med intrend as your wa honor you didn’t deserve.

dream of marrying me? Do you really think you’re worthy tenise contiene

stoic, her face devoid of emotion, as if his cruel words couldve teach her Inside, there was neither anger

what she already

front of Lewis. His liga curled into a mocking smirk. “Mr. Hartman, take

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.”

features as steady as a granite cliff. “Alright,” he said, his

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

tossed one last comment

of the one million dollars,

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

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

hotel into the crisp air, Doris exhaled deeply, over

urge to cry.

was nothing 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

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