After Grace Chandler finished crying, Victoria Kelly handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. Grace choked up and said, "For the last time, from now on, I won't shed another tear for him."
Victoria Kelly said, "Grace, you are an exceptional girl. Once you let go, you will find the love that belongs to you."
Grace nodded vigorously.
She had said many times she wanted to let go, and this time she truly did.
Ivan Horne didn't care much about Grace Chandler. He kept his promise, accompanying Lia Aiken as they ate their way from one end of Gourmet Street to the other, until Lia cried out that she was stuffed.
"So, should we take a cab back or walk back? Walking might help us digest."
Mentioning going back, Lia Aiken looked slightly downcast and said, "Ivan, I don't want to face my dad and them at the hotel now. Besides, I can't bother my senior sister tonight."
Ivan Horne smiled, "That's easy, you can switch to another hotel, but of course, if you're willing, I'd be happy to welcome you to my home."
Lia Aiken: ...
"Lia, why not come home with me? We have many guest rooms at home, and you can stay as long as you like. My mom likes you so much, and if you come back with me, my family will only be happy."
Ivan Horne really wanted to take Lia Aiken home.
Although Lia Aiken had met his parents, it wasn't at his place, but rather at his uncle's place, which wasn't quite the same.
Lia thought for a long time but still refused to stay overnight at the Horne Family's house.
Ivan Horne could only help her arrange a new place to stay, at a hotel under Valence Group. The two of them walked for half an hour before hailing a cab to go to the Horne Family's hotel.
Meanwhile, Tom Aiken was waiting at the hotel for his daughter to return.
Now knowing Lia was his biological daughter, Tom Aiken wished to compensate for everything he owed her.
Waiting for a long time without seeing her return, Tom Aiken cautiously made a call to Ivan Horne.
"Mr. Horne, this is Tom Aiken. How is Lia doing?"
"She has calmed down, but she said she doesn't want to face you all right now. I've arranged for her to stay at our Horne Family hotel. Don't worry, she'll be safe."
Hearing that his daughter didn't want to face them, Tom Aiken felt a pang of pain and guilt, yet he could understand Lia. If it were him, he would need time to calm down too.
He pleaded, "Mr. Horne, please take care of Lia."
Ivan Horne said gently, "She's my girlfriend, and she'll be my wife in the future. I'll take good care of her. You don't need to worry."
Hearing this, Tom Aiken felt a mix of emotions. Initially, he wanted to introduce his younger daughter to Ivan Horne, but Ivan fell in love with Lia instead. He once regretted that Ivan didn't love Violet Aiken, but now he feels fortunate.
He owed Lia too much, and because she knew Ivan Horne through him and they fell in love, he felt a bit of comfort. At least his daughter found happiness.
"Thank you, Mr. Horne."
"You're welcome. Please call me Ivan from now on."
Ivan Horne showed respect to his future father-in-law.
Tom Aiken obliged, "Ivan, I want to head back first, and I need to explain to them that Lia is my biological daughter. I treated her poorly before, but I won't let her down again. When Lia wants to see me, please bring her home."
"Alright."
Ivan Horne agreed warmly, adding, "Regarding the cooperation between Valence Group and Aiken Family, I'll have someone handle it. I want to spend time with Lia now, so I won't deal with it. Rest assured, as long as I'm here, I won't let Aiken Family go bankrupt or be acquired by other companies."
Initially, he wasn't very interested in working with Aiken Family, but now he willingly offered to help them since it was his future wife's family company.
"Thank you," Tom Aiken thanked him once more.
After hanging up the phone, Tom Aiken looked at the two bank cards on the coffee table. Nico Aiken didn't accept the bank cards, instead saying he would transfer his share of the stocks to Lia's name. He also didn't want any dividends from the shares he owned for the past nineteen years, leaving everything to Lia as compensation and as a wedding gift from her uncle.
Nico Aiken had already left, saying he had some matters to attend to. Tom Aiken didn't stop him.
Picking up the two bank cards, Tom Aiken put them back into his wallet, intending to give them to Lia when she's ready to come home.
