Chapter 148
Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Chapter 150: Chapter 150 The marriage certificate still had footprints on it, dirty and muddled.
Mrs. Olsen took out her handkerchief and wiped it off, her eyes downcast, “No matter what, Isla shouldn’t have damaged Keira’s marriage certificate p>
Taylor Olsen scoffed, “She shouldn’t have resorted to hitting people either! Keira’s uncivilized, vulgar demeanor, why do you still bother about her p>
But Mrs. Olsen ignored this remark, cleaned the marriage certificate, and then prepared to open it and look.
However, the marriage certificate in her hand was snatched away by Taylor Olsen, “What’s there to look at? Didn’t her husband visit our house last time? That construction worker, allowing his wife to be a mistress and a homewrecker here—such a useless man! Don’t look anymore, lest it infuriates you p>
Mrs. Olsen tightened her jaw and finally spoke, “Then before we leave, let’s return the marriage certificate to Keira p>
“…Fine, Shirley, you’re just too kind p>
While they conversed, they walked toward the main hall ahead.
Keira Olsen did not return to the main hall but went to the backyard instead.
This year’s winter seemed particularly cold, the cold wind blew against her, penetrating her thin evening dress, quickly making her feel as if even her bones were cold, yet these were nothing compared to the chill in her heart.
She didn’t blame Mrs. Olsen for wrongly accusing her, nor did she have the right to blame her.
Mrs. Olsen was the sole warmth in her childhood.
It was Mrs. Olsen who taught her self-respect, self-love, and to not live within others’ definitions;
It was Mrs. Olsen who helped her enroll in elementary school, giving her the chance to receive nine years of compulsory education;
The first doll of her childhood was given by Mrs. Olsen, though later it was secretly torn to shreds by Isla Olsen;
The first evening dress she received as a gift was also from Mrs. Olsen, who taught her that a girl’s beauty is not to please men but to please herself, although later that dress was stripped off by Poppy Hill and given to Isla Olsen;
Latterly, it was also Mrs. Olsen who helped her break free from Poppy Hill’s control in middle school, and it was Mrs. Olsen who provided her with an identification during her college entrance examination; otherwise, she might not have been able to attend college…
If not for Mrs. Olsen, she might have died in infancy, died from beatings as a child, or died in the mountainous regions where she was trafficked… Even if she had survived by chance, she would be nothing more than a walking corpse now.
She had always harbored an uncontrollable adoration for Mrs. Olsen.
That’s why she felt deeply saddened when Mrs. Olsen asked her to leave just now.
She stood by the artificial lake, quietly gazing at the foggy surface of the lake in today’s misty Oceanion, making her vision blurry and seemingly unable to see her future.
In this darkest, coldest moment, a warm coat was suddenly draped over her shoulders.
Keira Olsen turned around in a daze only to see Lewis Horton approaching; he looked less harsh than during the daylight, his presence now softened with gentleness and caring intent.
The man was now staring at her, his voice low and warm, “Why are you here alone? Aren’t you cold p>
Keira Olsen felt a twinge at the tip of her nose.
At the sight of him, a strange, sour emotion filled her heart, moistening the rims of her eyes.
She blinked, trying hard to hold back her tears…
But the man suddenly reached out and embraced her.
The warmth from his body seeped through their thin clothes, reaching her, gradually bringing some feeling back to her frozen body…
She didn’t know when it had started, but it seemed that whenever she was heartbroken or sad, this man always appeared just in time.
Keira Olsen’s mood had finally calmed down, and she pushed him away, saying, “Shouldn’t we head back p>
“Yeah.” Lewis Horton’s lips curved into a smile. “Grandma is sending people everywhere to find you. She can’t wait to announce our marital status p>
He took Keira Olsen’s hand and suddenly looked down at her. “Miss Olsen, you know what announcing our relationship means, right p>
His eyes were serious and persistent, causing Keira Olsen’s heartbeat to speed up. She clearly knew what it meant, yet she deliberately asked him, “What does it mean p>
Lewis Horton didn’t expose her thoughts but straightforwardly said, “The marital status of the CEO of Horton Group, a public company, needs to be stable; otherwise, it can affect the entire company. So… once we announce our relationship, we will be husband and wife for life p>
Keira Olsen was about to retort ironically that her company was also going public…
But the man seemed to know what she was about to say. His voice suddenly became deep and magnetic, and he preempted her by stressing each word, “Miss Olsen, you’ve seen the situation in the Horton Family. The future is filled with countless variables, and I might even be ousted from the first branch of the family or even kicked out of the Horton Group. So, are you willing to spend your life with me p>
Keira Olsen was stunned.
His words were so realistic, laced with threads of uncertainty and caution, as if he weren’t sure she would agree.
Keira Olsen tilted her head and said, “What if one day you really are down on your luck, kicked out, and penniless… then I’ll just support you p>
At this, Lewis Horton was briefly stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh helplessly.
Aside from the Horton Group, he still had many backups… Those words he just said were just to remind Keira Olsen of the unknown road ahead, but he hadn’t expected this answer.
The girl before him always surprised him.
From the first encounter to the many times thereafter, he never knew when he had fallen for her.., maybe it was her quirky charm in assuming various identities to get close to him, maybe it was her stubborn look when threatened by Jake Horton, maybe it was her eternally confident smile, or perhaps it was that inexplicable sense of familiarity he felt the first time they met…
He remembered the time he went to the Olsen Family to propose marriage. The moment he entered, he noticed a girl standing in the corner quietly staring at him.
Her eyes were clear, filled only with curiosity and observation.
She thought she was not conspicuous standing in the shade, not realizing that even the shadows couldn’t hide her stunning charm and radiance…
This must have been love at first sight, which eventually grew deeper over time.
Everything was just right.
Lewis Horton looked down tenderly and said softly, “Okay, then you’d better earn a good amount of money. I tend to spend quite a bit p>
“…No problem p>
Only after Keira Olsen had answered did she realize that at some point, Lewis Horton had already taken her hand and interlocked their fingers tightly.
She paused.
Always independent, she had never thought of needing a companion, though many had pursued her.
Yet she never felt the need to rely on a man.
At this moment, however, she felt having him as a companion was quite nice.
Suddenly a phrase popped into her mind: “Hold your hand, and grow old with you p>
The two walked towards the entrance hall.
Their steps were firm, their eyes smiled when they looked at each other, and they walked side by side into the back entrance of the banquet hall.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Olsen and Taylor Olsen also entered the hall, searching everywhere for her.