Refusing to Remarry: Mr. Hawthorne, You Are Out-Chapter 44: His Gradual Approach and Kindness
Raine was focused on driving.
Jonas and Candace sat in the back seat, one silent, the other sweating while clutching her stomach.
Leon Grant was in the passenger seat, watching Raine’s skilled driving, and couldn’t help but ask, "When did you learn to drive?"
"Two years ago." Raine replied, pressing the gas pedal and easily overtaking a Mercedes ahead.
"Not bad." Leon praised her and then asked, "What was the first car you drove?"
Raine paused for a moment before answering, "A Maybach."
That car wasn’t hers, it was Jonas’s.
She learned to drive after meeting Jonas, and when she first started, they were already dating. Even if he was reluctant, he still let her practice driving.
She didn’t drive the family car but insisted on driving Jonas’s car.
When she was first on the road, she was timid, overlooked many details, and felt wronged when Jonas spoke to her sternly during lessons.
Thinking back, it felt like it happened just yesterday.
She parked the car in a secluded corner, remembering it was under a big tree. After getting out, she couldn’t help but get teary-eyed.
Already deeply infatuated with him, being scolded amplified all her grievances, especially since she was the one always running after him, resulting in an emotional breakdown.
Isn’t there a saying about how breakdowns happen when you think of all previous breakdowns?
That was the first time Jonas saw her angry with him.
Once the surroundings quieted, and he thought calmly about what he had said, Jonas realized his words were too harsh.
But he didn’t know how to comfort a girl.
He waited for her to calm down before going to a nearby store to buy her an ice cream.
He’d noticed she liked it, having seen her eat it a few times.
When Raine saw him standing in front of her with the ice cream, saying nothing but faking a cool demeanor, her anger vanished instantly.
She smiled, took the ice cream, and tasted it, feeling sweetness fill her heart.
Looking back now, she realized how naive she was back then.
How easily her temper evaporated, leaving no trace of anger.
She really liked Jonas. Just a little gesture from him would make her forget everything...
In the back seat, Jonas also recalled those days after hearing her words.
His eyebrows slightly shifted, and a deeper look emerged in his eyes.
At that time, it was also because she had just gotten her driver’s license. If he weren’t strict, how could he feel assured when she was driving alone?
He didn’t consider that she was still just a young girl, and his usual tone with subordinates wasn’t suited for her.
Seeing her stifle her sadness without shedding a tear, just reddening her eyes, made him feel bad too.
When he saw her smile after taking a bite of the ice cream, he realized that she really didn’t ask for much.
Back then... agreeing to be with her was undoubtedly because he liked her.
No one could have predicted this: after merely a couple of years, they had become such strangers.
Unconsciously, he glanced at the rearview mirror. She was looking straight ahead, oblivious to him, without any change in emotion in her gaze.
He had to admit, Jonas felt a bit disappointed in his heart.
Unaware of their thoughts, Leon changed the subject, "Next week, Haworth’s anniversary will feature a car exhibition. Interested in checking it out together?"
It was essentially an invitation to her.
Raine’s first reaction wasn’t to answer but to glance at the rearview mirror.
At that moment, Jonas was looking at Candace.
Judging by Candace’s expression, she seemed to be in great pain.
Maybe she ate something bad...
Seeing her hesitating, Leon asked again, "Or do you have other plans?"
"Well, there’s quite a bit going on at the company." Raine snapped back to reality and didn’t agree.
Today, accompanying Leon was primarily a gesture of gratitude.
In the future...
Besides work-related matters, she didn’t want too much involvement with Leon.
Leon wasn’t upset, instead saying, "True, with the bidding conference coming up, you’re surely busy."
"Speaking of the bidding, I have to thank you." Raine said, turning on the right signal, preparing to make a right turn into the city.
"No need to be so formal." Leon smiled slightly, noticing the two in the back hadn’t spoken, he asked, "It should be about twenty minutes until we’re there. Ms. Ford going to be okay?"
Candace didn’t respond.
She was in too much pain to speak.
Jonas answered for her, "She’s holding up."
Raine’s brow furrowed slightly as she silently pressed the gas pedal.
Soon they arrived at the hospital.
When Jonas took Candace inside, Leon got out to walk a short distance with them.
Raine didn’t get out; she sat rigidly in the car, watching Jonas’s departing figure...
After a long time, she finally bit her lip and laid on the steering wheel, her frail shoulders slightly trembling.
Letting go turned out to be this hard.
Cutting ties made the heart ache this much.
——
When Leon returned, he saw Raine slumped over the steering wheel, looking dispirited.
He opened the car door and got in, bringing back a bottle of water for her.
"They took her to the emergency room." Leon said as he unscrewed the lid.
"Okay." Raine nodded, not inquiring further.
While handing her the water, Leon added, "I didn’t expect you’d be willing to drive her to the hospital."
"Did you expect me to do nothing?" Raine took a small sip, smiling lightly.
"You did well," Leon responded.
"Thank you for the compliment!" Raine didn’t want to continue the topic, so she buckled her seatbelt and started the car again.
She was initially planning to drive Leon home, but he mentioned that there’s no practice of women driving men home, so they drove back to the Sinclair residence together.
Leon used the excuse of feeling dizzy from drinking a bit to enter the house confidently, and took the opportunity to greet Evan Sinclair. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
While the two men drank tea and chatted downstairs, Sharon Jennings took Raine upstairs to question her.
"Didn’t you say you were going to be out all day? Why are you back so soon?"
"Something came up midway. Mom, I’m a bit tired." Raine rubbed her temples, looking genuinely exhausted.
Even though she hadn’t done any physical work, the events of the afternoon were indeed taxing.
Seeing her daughter’s weary face, Sharon’s heart ached, "Then lie down and rest for a bit! What do you want for dinner? I’ll make it for you."
Lying in bed, Raine drowsily replied, "I’d like some fish..."
Sharon chuckled, "You were fond of fish since you were little! Just like your dad! Alright, I’ll make some for you!"
She got up and left, not forgetting to close the door gently behind her.
Raine was indeed exhausted and fell asleep quickly.
But shortly after she dozed off, the phone left beside her pillow started vibrating.
"Buzz! Buzz!"
The caller ID displayed the name ’Jonas Hawthorne’.
