CHAPTER 957: CHAPTER 957: THE BOY AND GIRL STANDING IN THE RAIN

Although she was smiling, the smile did not reach her eyes, making Justin Xavier find it unbearably glaring.

"President Xavier, don’t work too late, and drive carefully on the road. I’m going to take a shower now." Leah Thorne walked towards the bathroom.

Justin Xavier immediately extended his large hand and grabbed her slender wrist.

"What’s wrong, President Xavier?" Leah fluttered her lashes and asked him.

"Is your inability to conceive related to me? When you left, it seemed... like you were hurt badly." Justin Xavier lowered his voice.

Leah’s refined brows and eyes were relaxed and lazy, "President Xavier still remembers, huh? I had just celebrated my 18th birthday back then... I was indeed hurt badly, lost quite a lot of blood, and had over ten stitches. I recall when Dr. Lucy asked why my boyfriend wasn’t there, I said I didn’t have a boyfriend, and those nurses looked at me with disdainful and strange gazes. I endured the pain to climb off the bed to pay the fees, and a man ran over asking me, little sister, how much are you selling for..."

Justin Xavier’s fingers tightened subconsciously around her delicate wrist.

Hiss.

Leah immediately let out a painful hum and glanced coquetishly at him, "President Xavier, you’re hurting me."

Justin Xavier quickly released his grip.

His throat dry and parched, he moved his thin lips several times before making a sound, "Leah, I..."

"President Xavier, there’s no need for apologies. When I was at my most difficult, you didn’t come looking for me, you were absent, so there’s no need to mention it later." Saying this, Leah turned around and entered the bathroom.

...

Justin Xavier was driving on the road, heading to the company.

He had been in a meeting at the office when his mom called asking him to come to the Xavier family mansion for dinner, but he refused without thinking, wanting to hang up. But his mom said Leah Thorne had already arrived.

He immediately dropped his work and rushed to the mansion, driving his car swiftly along the way because he feared she would be bullied.

He didn’t know beforehand that she couldn’t conceive, and he hadn’t planned on having children with her.

Their journey together had been full of ups and downs; they had just come together and hadn’t enjoyed any sweet couple’s time yet. He didn’t want any third party to interfere, including a child.

He had raised her, calling her sister was possible, calling her daughter was also possible; in his eyes, she was still so small. He had pampered her so much, how could she have children?

He hadn’t thought about marrying her either; she was the Thorne family’s daughter, and he couldn’t give her marriage and a title, which was the bottom line—no more retreat.

Regarding her leaving at 18, he indeed didn’t go looking for her.

He had cared for her for so many years; it was the first time he truly missed being in her life.

It’s not that he didn’t want to find her; countless times he had the impulse to seek her out, but his legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, not daring.

He truly didn’t dare.

Didn’t dare to have anyone inquire about her whereabouts, didn’t dare to hear her name anymore.

Later, he found Madame Goldie, who brought her back.

The time she was gone was a blank space in his life; he didn’t know what had happened to her.

Slowly, Justin Xavier parked the luxury car, on the bustling streets, the city’s neon lights at night spilled through the car window onto his handsome, jade-like features, and he suddenly stopped, taking out a cigarette, quietly lighting it.

In the lingering bluish smoke, he furrowed his eyebrows tightly, feeling guilty...

No matter how sinful the Thorne family is, she was just an innocent little girl, whom he pushed into the abyss with his own hands.

Day after day, the torment and desire in his heart could no longer be suppressed, so he took possession of her under the guise of hatred.

From that day on, he understood profoundly that he had ultimately lost that girl, the girl whose eyes used to be full of him.

Stopped in his tracks, because of one person, fearing an entire city.

He truly didn’t dare.

At this moment, the phone ringtone sounded, a call came.

Justin Xavier pressed the button to answer, the voice of his private secretary came through, "Hello, CEO, Elder Ford has arrived. When will you be back?"

Justin Xavier silently extinguished the half-burned cigarette, "I’ll be there shortly."

...

Leah Thorne left the film crew to shoot a series of New Year fashion photos; her fashion and business resources have always been top-ranked in the entertainment circle.

The shoot went smoothly, Madame Goldie went to retrieve the car from the garage and instructed with concern, "Leah, I’ll go get the car, wait here for me, don’t wander off."

Leah nodded, "No worries, I’m not a three-year-old child."

Madame Goldie looked at Leah’s charming and radiant face, finally understanding the man’s worry, Justin Xavier. The woman was too beautiful, taking her out wasn’t safe.

Madame Goldie left.

Leah stood obediently in place waiting, when raindrops began falling onto her small face. She glanced up; it was raining.

It actually started raining.

Leah stretched out her small hand to catch the cool raindrops.

In the next second, a black umbrella was suspended over her head, shielding her from the wind and rain.

Who?

Leah turned and saw a young, handsome boy in front of her.

"Leah, do you remember me?"

Leah looked at the person in front of her and asked in confusion, "You are?"

"Leah, this is for you. So many years have passed, do you still like dolls?"

Leah looked at the doll in her palm, suddenly remembering, her eyes brightened, "Simon Ford?"

Twenty years ago, the Thorne family in high governmental positions and the Ford family in commercial wealth were well known; furthermore, the Thorne and Ford families were close family friends.

However, later the Ford family settled abroad, and the Thorne family’s sudden downfall led them to gradually fade from everyone’s view.

Yet, these years the Ford family merely withdrew from Bayside, to develop overseas; now the Ford family is financially robust, having become financial magnates.

Simon Ford is the only son of the Ford family, excellent from a young age, born from an esteemed lineage, and now Leah Thorne’s age, at the prime of youth.

Simon Ford wore a camel-colored trench coat, holding a black umbrella, his eyes deep and bright as he looked at Leah Thorne, "Leah, my little sister, you’ve finally recognized me."

This doll was once her childhood favorite, bought by her mommy.

Later, as she grew up, Leah hoped to buy a similar doll, but they were no longer available in the market, already discontinued.

Looking at this doll and encountering an old friend, Leah’s beautiful eyes shone with twinkling star-like smiles, she looked at Simon Ford, "Simon Ford, long time no see."

"Yes, long time no see, Leah, my little sister, you’ve grown so much."

Simon Ford still remembered when Leah’s father, Quinn Thorne, betrothed Leah to him as his fiancée; she was just a little girl, still the most dazzling little princess of the Thorne family.

Leah and Simon Ford exchanged smiles.

At this time, a Maybach slowly pulled over, the driver’s window slid down, revealing a cold and handsome face; Justin Xavier arrived.

Justin Xavier looked at the opposite street where the young boy and girl exchanged smiles, both in the peak of youth, standing in the rain, sharing an umbrella, as beautiful as a sand painting.