Chapter 14 Can’t Win Her Back
A glimmer of delight flashed in Johanna’s eyes.
But almost immediately, she feigned modest refusal as if she had no interest in fighting over anything or taking ad- vantage of anyone.
“I can’t take them… You bought these for Lizzie, didn’t you? I can’t possibly accept them…”
“Take them!”
Theron’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
“You need them more than she does right now. Besides, they’re not for you. They’re for the baby.”
Johanna bit her lip as though caught in a moral struggle.
Only when Theron pushed the mesh bag closer to her again did she reluctantly nod and take the nutritional supple-
ments.
She made herself look like a proud mother who was forced to accept help for the sake of her child.
A faint blush appeared on Johanna’s cheeks.
“Thank you, Mr. Howland.”
Seeing how struggling she looked carrying that big bundle of supplements, Theron took the bag and the lunchbox from her hands.
“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”
Johanna looked flustered, but Theron was already striding toward Equinox Research Laboratory.
Watching his back, Johanna smiled triumphantly.
She trotted to catch up with him.
As the two walked side by side, they drew quite a few stares.
Johanna deliberately slowed her pace. Thinking she was tired and worried about straining the baby, Theron slowed down as well.
From time to time, Johanna stole glances at Theron.
Theron kept his eyes ahead, unaware of her gaze.
Johanna felt disappointed.
0.0%
12:49
Chapter 14 Can’t Win Her Back
288 iVouchers
Theron escorted Johanna all the way to the dorm building of Equinox Research Laboratory.
Handing her the mesh bag, he said, “Take good care of yourself. If you need anything, come find me. Don’t let your- self suffer.”
There was an implicit meaning in Theron’s words.
Johanna took the mesh bag and softly responded, “Okay.”
Theron nodded and left.
Johanna stood there, watching Theron’s figure grow smaller in the distance.
“Hanna, you seem so reluctant to part with him.”
Adrienne had somehow snuck up behind Johanna without a sound, her teasing voice startling Johanna.
“You look like you’ve been shot by Cupid’s arrow. If you like him, go for it! Hanna, you’ve got the looks and the cre- dentials. What are you afraid of?”
Johanna quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks red.
“Adrienne, don’t talk nonsense! I’m not…”
Adrienne stepped up and linked arms with Johanna, walking with her into the dorm.
“Don’t be shy. If you like him, go for it! It’s always easier when it’s the woman who makes the first move. Mr. How- land brings you things all the time and even walks you home. He clearly likes you too!”
Stretching her voice, Adrienne teased, “I’m telling you, something good is about to happen between you two!”
Johanna’s heart raced, her face blushing. She tried to stay composed and playfully tapped Adrienne’s hand. “Adrienne, don’t joke like that!”
Then her expression turned gloomy. “Mr. Howland is with Lizzie. There’s no way he and I could ever happen. If peo- ple hear what you’re saying, it will hurt his reputation.”
Adrienne curled her lip in disdain. “Lizzie? That thief who stole other people’s research? She’s not worthy of being with Mr. Howland! If anything’s hurting his reputation, it’s him being with her!”
Johanna felt secretly pleased, though her face still wore a gentle and kind expression.
“Adrienne, don’t be so harsh… Lizzie was just momentarily confused…”
“Momentarily confused? She has a character problem! Ugly and dramatic! People like that should be arrested, parad- ed with signs, and sent to a labor farm to be reformed!”
She gripped Johanna’s hand tightly. “Mr. Howland only helps her out of pity for the sake of her brother. She’s just lucky to have a good brother who happened to be close to Mr. Howland. They were like brothers! If Lizzie’s brother hadn’t asked Mr. Howland on his deathbed to take care of her, Mr. Howland wouldn’t even give her a second look!”
In Adrienne’s mind, Lizzie, who only had a junior high education, had gotten into the institute through Mr. Howland
19.9 %
12:49
Chapter 14 Can’t Win Her Back
288 Vouchers
and snatched away her chance at a permanent position. Because of Lizzie, she’d had to wait two more months to get hers! The thought of that made Adrienne furious.
“Don’t worry. Mr. Howland is just loyal to old ties. Once this is all over, you’re the only one he’ll care about!”
Johanna looked down, pursing her lips.
She was the one bound to Theron by his loyalty to his brother.
In fact, Lizzie and Theron were childhood sweethearts. Aedan Trevino had joined the research institute at the same time as Theron, and it was on the day she accompanied her brother there that Lizzie first met Theron.
Later, when Lizzie was a bit older, the two developed feelings for each other. With Aedan’s blessing, they became a couple.
But of course, Johanna wouldn’t say any of that aloud. She simply let Adrienne continue to be misguided.
Theron returned to the office area.
Monty Bonilla was surprised to see him come back so quickly.
“Back already?” He remembered that Lizzie’s uncle lived quite far from Equinox Research Institute.
Unaware of the subtle look on his face, Theron answered casually.
“I ran into Johanna. She came to bring Lizzie lunch. She looked so thin, so I gave her all the supplements.”
It didn’t seem right to show up empty–handed, so he didn’t go to visit Lizzie.
Monty froze. “Johanna? She came to bring food to Lizzie?”
Theron gave a nod. “She can’t even take care of herself right now, yet she’s still thinking about Lizzie.”
Even as an outsider, Monty frowned deeply at that.
It just didn’t make any sense.
“Mr. Howland, I know this is your private matter and I shouldn’t meddle, but things are already tense between you and Lizzie. So I’ll just say it anyway. Don’t you find Johanna’s behavior a little questionable?”
Theron frowned. In his mind, he was looking after Johanna out of respect for Efren. Johanna, feeling indebted, was returning the kindness by showing concern for Lizzie. What was wrong with that?
- He believed Lizzie was the unreasonable one. She wouldn’t hear his explanation and ended up making things difficult for Johanna, who was pregnant and still bringing meals to Lizzie.
Monty was a few years older than Theron. He may not have matched Theron on the battlefield or in leadership, but when it came to dealing with people, he was a lot smarter.
He couldn’t help but speak up again, “If Johanna really wanted to bring lunch to Lizzie, why didn’t she just take it straight to the hospital? Why did she loop all the way to the office first, and then to the hospital? The food would be cold by then!”
53.7 %
12:49
Chapter 14 Can’t Win Her Back
288 iVouchers
Theron frowned, still defending Johanna, “She was worried Lizzie was still angry and wouldn’t accept it. Lizzie’s up- set precisely because I’ve been getting too close to Johanna. She misunderstood Johanna.”
Monty looked shocked. Lizzie was a reasonable and understanding girl. How could Theron make it sound like she was such an unreasonable person?
“Mr. Howland, have you ever considered the possibility that Johanna never meant to bring lunch to Lizzie? Her real target might be-”
“Mr. Bonilla!” Theron cut him off coldly. “Efren is gone. Things are already tough enough for Johanna. Stop criticiz- ing her!”
Monty wanted to say something but thought better of it. The rumors about the two had spread like wildfire throughout Equinox Research Institute. And yet here was Mr. Howland, still thinking that as long as his heart was pure, no shad- ow could stain his name.
“Alright. I won’t say another word.”
87.8 %
