Chapter 181
Watching Dorian's attitude toward him, Joshua felt pretty hurt inside.
But he knew he had no one else to blame. Who told him to do so many terrible things in the past? He was just reaping what he'd sown. He had to quietly endure it and work hard step by step until Dorian accepted him again.
After trying to ease his emotions a bit, Joshua carried Aurora and followed them inside.
In the dining room, Rhea had the servants prepare lots of delicious food.
Seeing Joshua come over too, she had the servants set an extra place.
Then she invited Joshua to sit down and eat with them.
Joshua didn't refuse.
After all, this was one of the few chances he had to be with the two children.
But his presence was like air to everyone else.
Heath and Rhea only had eyes for Ella.
"Ella, is your injury okay? Should we take you back to the hospital for another checkup?"
They'd learned that Ella had been bitten by a snake and were very worried.
Even though Ella was right there in front of them, looking perfectly healthy, they were still afraid the injury hadn't been treated properly and might leave some lasting problems.
Ella smiled and said she was fine. She glanced at Joshua, thinking about how he'd sucked out the venom for her. She opened her mouth to say something, but swallowed the words back down.
Some things were better left unsaid, to avoid making certain people overthink things.
Ella noticed that Aurora really seemed to like Joshua - she kept serving him food.
As for Dorian, he just kept his head down eating.
From start to finish, he refused to even look at Joshua once.
When Joshua tried to serve him food, he acted extremely disgusted and threw it right back onto the empty plate.
It made Joshua very embarrassed.
"This kid, I don't know who he learned that personality from." Heath laughed, clearly hinting at something.
Obviously, Heath couldn't stand Joshua either.
If Ella hadn't invited him over, as the father of this household, he definitely wouldn't give Joshua any face.
Dorian knew Ella was talking about him. He lifted his head and replied, "Like father, like son. The way he treats me is naturally how I'll treat him."
Really not wanting to stay any longer, and feeling disgusted looking at certain people, Dorian dropped his knife and fork and stood up. "Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Vida, I'm full. You all take your time eating."
With that, he went upstairs by himself.
The adults left behind looked at each other awkwardly.
Especially Joshua.
Dorian's "like father, like son" comment was like a hard slap across his face.
It was true - he hadn't been good to Dorian before.
He'd even called Dorian a bastard child.
Even after knowing Dorian was his son, he'd still forcibly separated him from Ella.
Now that Dorian despised him, hated him, and blamed him—wasn't that exactly what he deserved?
Joshua knew he had no one else to blame. His expression grew serious as he apologized, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I apologize for all the terrible things I did in the past. From now on, I'll work hard to make it up to Ella and the children."
Aurora quickly chimed in, "Teacher said that if you know you're wrong and fix it, you're still a good student, a good kid. We should give people like that a chance."
She looked up at Ella, her face innocent and pure. "Mom, isn't that right?"
Ella didn't want to hurt the child's confidence, so she just nodded in agreement.
"Let's eat first. After dinner, spending time with the children is what matters most." Rhea stepped in to smooth things over, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
After dinner, Joshua still took the initiative to find Dorian, wanting to talk with him alone.
When he arrived, Dorian was alone in the study doing his own thing.
Seeing someone enter the study, Dorian immediately closed his computer and picked up a pen, pretending to doodle on paper.
Joshua walked over to him, his voice as gentle as possible. "Dorian, can we talk?"
Dorian kept a straight face, didn't even lift his head, his attitude extremely cold. "Go away. I have nothing to talk to you about."
Joshua very sincerely apologized to him. "I know, it was all Dad's fault before. Dad was blind and didn't know you and Aurora were Dad's children, so I treated you so badly."
"Give Dad one more chance to prove himself. Dad will work hard to make you satisfied, okay?"
"People like you never change. I'll never believe anything you say. Leave now."
Dorian still wouldn't even look at him, keeping Joshua at arm's length—he wouldn't even give him a chance.
Joshua was hurt by Dorian's words.
He couldn't quite understand—they were twins, so why did Aurora like him as a father so much, and without him doing anything, Aurora had come back to his side.
But his brother was so stubborn.
Watching Dorian's attitude toward him, Joshua had a headache and had no idea what to do to change this child's opinion of him.
After brooding for a while, Joshua still tried hard to please him.
"Dorian, then tell me what I need to do for you to forgive me? Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, okay?"
Dorian couldn't help but look up at him.
But it was with a cold snort. "I don't care about your stuff. I feel disgusted just looking at you. Someone like you doesn't deserve Mom and Aurora's love."
"Even if you get them to accept you, I never will. Hurry up and leave, don't make me sick."
He would never forget how, when he was little, he couldn't leave his mom, couldn't bear to be apart from her.
But this so-called father still had people forcibly take him away.
This kind of cold-blooded, heartless person - he didn't want to acknowledge him.
However, Dorian's words were like sharp blades, stabbing mercilessly into Joshua's heart one after another.
His heart ached unbearably, and he didn't know what to do to change Dorian's opinion of him.
Right now, he could only leave sadly.
Joshua knew that in this whole house, except for Aurora, no one welcomed him.
So after he put Aurora to bed, he left tactfully.
He just didn't expect that as soon as he left the villa, Ella would come after him. "Can you drive with your leg like that? If you're not comfortable, I'll have them take you."
For the sake of him risking his life to save her, Ella felt she should at least show some concern. Otherwise, she'd feel bad about it and didn't want to be seen as an ungrateful person.
Joshua looked at Ella's injured leg too. He'd wanted to have her take him, but dismissed the thought.
He smiled and refused. "No need, I'll have Brian come pick me up. You go back inside!"
Ella didn't insist. As she turned to go back in, Joshua called out to her again. "Ella..."
Ella turned back to look at him.
Joshua's expression was serious, his brow furrowed.
"Could you say some good things about me to Dorian? He seems to see me as an enemy."
"Of course, I'm not asking him to definitely acknowledge me or return to the Thomas family. I just want him to give me one chance to make it up to him."
With Dorian's current attitude toward him, he wouldn't even give him a chance.
Even though he felt endless guilt inside and wanted to do something for the child, he didn't have the opportunity.
Ella was silent for half a second before sharing her thoughts. "The child is seven years old. He has his own ideas and views. If you want him to change his attitude toward you, you'll have to do something that satisfies him."
"As for what to do, I don't know what he wants to see either. Give him some time!"
Joshua understood. After sincerely thanking her, he turned and left the courtyard.
Ella watched his retreating figure, looking so lonely and desolate.
Sometimes she thought - if you knew it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place?
There's everything under the sun, except medicine for regret.
Joshua knew regret now, but it was too late.
Only after Joshua's figure completely disappeared did Ella go back inside. She came to Dorian's room and sat on the edge of the bed, asking him, "Tell me honestly, what would he have to do for you to forgive him?"
Dorian leaned against the headboard, looking at his mom's expression that clearly showed she'd come to ask him something on purpose. He didn't need to think to know that Ella had come to persuade him.
He answered with a different question, "Mom, do you still like him?"
Ella was stunned for three seconds by Dorian's question.
She quickly shook her head in denial. "I don't like him."
"Well, there you go. Mom, if you don't like him, then don't worry about whether I forgive him or not."
Ella smiled. "But he is your father after all."
"But he's never fulfilled a father's responsibilities. I'm seven years old - has there been a single day when he actually took care of me, gave me allowance, or took me to school? Not only has he not done any of that, but he forcibly separated me from you. Mom, have you forgotten about all that?"
He would never forget. He was grateful that Joshua had saved Ella and Aurora, but gratitude was gratitude - that couldn't erase his prejudice and disgust toward this father.
Ella felt ashamed at what Dorian said.
But there were some things she still wanted Dorian to know.
"Mom hasn't forgotten what happened before. Mom hasn't thought about remarrying him either. It's just that he wants to make it up to you and Aurora, and I want you to be like normal children who have both parents' love, so..."
"I know that."
Dorian shared his thoughts. "That's why when you interact with him and bring him home to be with Aurora, I haven't said anything."
"This is fine. But don't make me do things I don't like. At least right now, I can't accept him."
Ella fell silent.
Hearing what Dorian said, she found it hard to imagine this was a seven-year-old child's attitude toward his own father.
She should respect his wishes.
"Okay, Mom understands what you mean. Go to sleep early."
Dorian lay down. Watching his mom's back as she was about to leave, he called out, "Mom, actually, no matter what choice you make, I'll support you. I'll also work hard to make you satisfied."
"So don't overthink things. Just let things happen naturally. I think we're doing pretty well as we are now."
Hearing Dorian's comfort, Ella smiled with relief.
She also thought things were pretty good as they were now.
If Joshua wanted to make amends, let him make amends, as long as he didn't disturb her life.
After all, Aurora liked him. As a mother, she couldn't very well deprive the child of the father's love she deserved.
She wasn't that kind of self-righteous mother.
The next day was the weekend. Ella didn't go to work - her foot injury also needed a couple of days to heal.
Early in the morning, Joshua came again to pick up the children.
Dorian didn't want to go out with him, so he just took Aurora out.
Both weekend days were like this - taking her out in the morning and bringing her back in the evening.
On Monday, Ella went to the company on time.
Megan followed beside her, reporting, "Ms. Garcia, TK Group's executive annual meeting - they've invited you to attend. But they're holding it in Eldoria. Do you want to go?"
Ella frowned, silent.
TK Group had been cooperating very well with the Lewis Group in recent years.
Their headquarters was also in Emerald City - why would they hold the annual meeting in Eldoria?
Were they trying to invite their partners to go have fun together?
Thinking that Zachary was in Eldoria, and very likely Michael too.
Ella refused without hesitation. "Turn it down. I'm not going."
All these years, she'd never dared go abroad.
Afraid of being targeted by Michael.
Only staying in the country was safest.
Megan added, "I saw on TK Group's invitation list that the Baker Group seems to be there too. The Baker Group's CEO is called Zachary Baker. Ms. Garcia, do you know Mr. Baker?"
Hearing "Zachary Baker," Ella's nerves tensed.
She looked at Megan. "You're quite curious, aren't you? Alright, I'll think about attending the annual meeting. Go take care of your work first."
Megan left.
Ella took out her phone and found Zachary's number.
She dialed it.
Over the years, she'd occasionally kept in touch with Zachary.
TK Group had deep cooperation with them. If they invited her and she didn't go, she was afraid Zachary would say she wasn't giving him face.
But going might be dangerous, so she'd better call first to ask about the situation on Zachary's end.
Soon, Zachary answered.
The man's warm, pleasant voice came through. "Ella, it's been a while since we've been in touch. Are you doing well?"
Ella smiled. "It has been quite a while. I heard you're attending TK Group's annual meeting?"
She knew that after Zachary went back, he'd successfully inherited everything from the Baker family through his own abilities and taken the CEO position.
All those people who couldn't stand him before and tried every way to suppress him - he'd ruthlessly crushed them all.
Now, in the entire huge Baker family, Zachary was the one who called the shots.
Zachary laughed. "Yeah, I saw your name on the list, so I agreed to attend. You're coming, right?"
"Why don't you bring Aurora and Dorian along? I haven't seen them in so long. I wonder if they've grown taller."
Hearing this, Ella thought that the place should be safe.
She could go there with confidence.
But bringing the children would be somewhat inconvenient.
She agreed with Zachary. "Okay, then we'll see each other at TK Group's annual meeting."
"Why wait to meet at their company's annual meeting? Come two days early, and I'll take you around."
Ella agreed.
After hanging up, she had Megan reply to TK Group that she would attend.
Megan nodded in agreement, then reported, "Ms. Garcia, Mr. Lewis is here and wants to see you."
Ella couldn't quite understand why Mason would come to see her.
Thinking that he was her biological brother after all, she should still see him.
She had Megan bring him in.
Mason walked into the office and looked at Ella sitting in the CEO position he used to occupy. In her business suit, she looked capable and elegant. Especially when she was working with her head down - she had the special charm of a mature woman.
Mason thought having a sister like this was his blessing.
He really didn't know what he'd been thinking before - why had he opposed her?
Mason walked over and said sincerely, "Ella, I want to have a good talk with you."
Ella looked up at him, her delicate face showing no extra expression.
"Talk about what?"
Mason felt somewhat embarrassed. He pulled over a chair and sat down, lowering his head and saying it all in one breath. "I want to go home and be good to Mom and Dad, but they said if I want to come home, I first need to get your consent."