There were many reasons Lola trusted Amala with so many things. After all, that woman was incredibly reliable, especially when it came to uncovering Lawrence’s wicked plans. Selling property to multiple buyers was a criminal offense.
It was fraud.
Yet, that was exactly what Lawrence was going to do... under Lola’s name. It was embarrassing to even tell anyone about it, especially Atlas, that her own father could do this to her. However, their history was so full of embarrassing moments that she couldn’t even call it that anymore.
At Chairman Lancaster’s Residence, Lola was led to the small farm where the chairman was spending his time feeding his chickens.
"Grandpa."
Chairman Lancaster paused, his hand halfway through throwing feed to his chickens. He turned to the voice, only to see a woman with a horse’s head.
"Lola!" The life in his eyes shone brightly, and he started to get up.
"It’s okay, Grandpa," Lola rushed to his side, holding his arm to keep him seated. Sitting on the folding chair beside him, she smiled behind her mask. "How have you been?"
The chairman frowned at her. "My granddaughter, why did you only visit me today? Is life hard again, hmm?"
"Hmm..."
"I told you if you’re having a hard time, just come to me!" he insisted. "Don’t you trust me anymore?"
No, I trust you, that’s why I’m here. It’s just that...
It was just that the chairman was very old now. She didn’t have the heart to bother him with things that could negatively affect his health. However, she never forgot to appreciate the man’s existence.
Slowly, Lola took off her mask, revealing a beautiful face with a soft smile. "Grandpa, I’ve been very lucky lately. Life isn’t as hard as it used to be."
Chairman Lancaster studied her face, his eyes softening. He reached out and cupped her cheek with his clean hand, smiling back at her.
"Is that the truth?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
He nodded in understanding. "I’m glad to hear that." He heaved a sigh of relief as he retrieved his hand. "I was worried about you, after all."
Lola pressed her lips together, not surprised that his reaction and treatment were the same with or without her mask. Only he would see beyond what was on her face. Unfortunately, people like him were rare because, in this world, people judge others based on their appearance first.
One good example of that was Derek Lancaster.
"Anyway, how are you, Grandpa?" she asked, going back to the main subject. "Have you been well?"
"I’m as strong as a cow—cough!" he coughed, making her reach to pat his back.
"Grandpa..."
"Lola." He sighed and looked up at her. "I am fine, my beautiful granddaughter."
Yet, he had just coughed so violently that it made her panic for a second. However, she didn’t let it show. He would only worry if she were worried.
"Have you been taking your medicine regularly?" She asked, and he nodded.
"I am old, Lola," he leaned back, watching his chickens eat. "But my doctor said I am doing better than people my age. I should thank them because they’ve been helping me."
Glancing at the chickens, her lips curled into a smile. Many others try to achieve a luxurious lifestyle, but this man, at the helm of the Lancaster family, had built a small farm in his backyard. It reminded her of their family farm, owned by her grandfather, which Loren took care of.
It was the place her mother stayed in the last moments of her life, and she couldn’t blame her.
"Your father and I... haha! I remember when your father and I used to stay at your farm," he said, laughing as he reminisced about the good moments of his life. "We used to leave the city and hide in your family farm to take care of pigs, chickens, and all sorts of animals there. Initially, he started it because he wanted to enter agriculture."
He chuckled, giving her a knowing look. "He said it was part of his learning the industry and how things are. But in the end, he couldn’t, because he got too attached to all of them."
"He started eating plants then," he added, his mood elevating. "He’s the one who taught me to stop, pause, and appreciate life. After all, life has never been easy. Not for him, not for me. Now, everyone is always in a hurry."
"Everyone just wants this and that, and when they have enough, they want more," his tone quieted down. "Sometimes, I wonder where I went wrong."
Because this was true in the Lancaster family. Even when he had taught his children and even his grandsons everything he had learned in his life, it was never enough. He knew it was not enough, and he never made excuses about it.
That was just how the Lancaster family was.
"It is still unfortunate that your engagement with Derek didn’t push through," he said, giving her a soft look. "But at times, I also think that your grandfather and I made a mistake in even arranging that. That brat doesn’t deserve you."
"Grandpa, don’t be like that." She smiled, holding his hand. "I’m just glad you didn’t hesitate to hear my request and didn’t force me."
"How can I when that brat... that brat just embarrassed me over and over?" he hissed, his mood faltering at the thought of his troublemaker of a grandson. "How dare he neglect you and take care of Lawrence’s bastard daughter?"
It was too late for the chairman to catch himself badmouthing Melissa and Lawrence. But that wasn’t his concern. He turned to Lola to check if she had been hurt by what he said.
Thankfully, she only chuckled.
He heaved a sigh of relief before a thought crossed his mind. "Lola, did Lawrence hand you Loren’s titles?"
"Well..." she hummed, smacking her lips. "He said he’ll have to transfer the titles to my name, and the process was very slow."
"What?" he frowned deeply. "It shouldn’t take that long. It should’ve been done at this point."
"Is that so?" Lola touched her nape out of habit. "I don’t know much about these kinds of things, Grandpa. So, I’m just waiting for his call."
Hearing this, the chairman’s face twisted into a deep frown of displeasure. He didn’t bother Lawrence before because he knew it would take some time. However, Lawrence could pull some strings to hasten the process. They’d been waiting long enough.
Chairman Lancaster grabbed her hand and nodded at her reassuringly. "Don’t worry, Lola. You’re going to have them by the end of this week. I’ll make sure of that."
"Grandpa..." Lola pursed her lips, but the corners of her eyes narrowed into a sharp look.
Deep within, she couldn’t help but smirk. After all, aside from wanting to visit the chairman and check on his welfare, she needed him to pressure Lawrence into handing over what was rightfully hers.
Just a word from him, and Lawrence would be biting his nails.