Forgotten Love: Mr. President, Mrs. Fordham Has Rejected You!-Chapter 225: I Will No Longer Take Part in Your Life

Chapter 225: Chapter 225: I Will No Longer Take Part in Your Life

Damian Hawthorne’s heart suddenly sank; oh no, has the Ferris wheel malfunctioned?

He looked at the person curled up into a ball on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Without thinking much, he quickly took off his coat and tightly wrapped her little head, then scooped her entirely into his arms.

Her cheek was forced against his chest, snugly, and she could no longer see a single ray of light outside.

His powerful heartbeat thumped steadily through the thin shirt into her ears.

He gently patted her back, again and again.

"Darling, be good. Don’t be afraid, I’m here. Don’t be scared."

He regretted it deeply; he should never have brought her to such a high place.

In the enveloping darkness and familiar embrace, Claire slowly calmed down and stopped crying.

Yet, her small hands clenched tightly onto the fabric at his waist, her knuckles turning white.

"Don’t be scared, darling. We’ll be able to get down soon." Damian softly coaxed into her ear.

Claire’s emotions gradually steadied.

And just then, without any warning, the Ferris wheel slowly began to move again.

They descended steadily and safely.

The staff downstairs were running around frantically, engineers sweating as they checked everything over and over.

"Strange, all the equipment is functioning normally. How could it have stopped for two minutes out of nowhere?"

As soon as the Ferris wheel landed, Damian immediately carried Claire out, his coat still securely covering her head.

He walked straight through the crowd and carried her onto the car.

Once the car door was shut, blocking out all gazes, he dared to remove the coat.

"Claire, we’re going home now. It’s alright."

The girl’s little face was pale, with tear stains still clinging to it, and the sight tugged at his heart painfully.

"I’m sorry," he was filled with guilt, "I didn’t know you had a fear of heights. I’m sorry."

He tenderly ruffled her hair, treating her like the most precious treasure.

Claire recovered and gestured to him.

[I’m alright now, you don’t need to blame yourself.]

Damian looked at her, hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Did you... just speak?"

Claire froze, then firmly shook her head.

Damian sighed.

It seemed he was too tense just now and started hearing things.

She gestured again.

[I want some candy.]

"Alright, let’s have some candy."

Damian immediately took out her favorite milk candy from his pocket, skillfully unwrapped it, and put it into her small mouth.

Her cheeks immediately puffed up slightly, her eyes innocent and naive, like a little hamster sneaking food.

Watching her adorable appearance, he couldn’t help but ask: "Is it sweet?"

She nodded vigorously.

"Let me taste it."

The man’s deep voice was laced with temptation. He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head, kissing her lips.

Claire’s eyes widened instantly, but she seemed less resistant to him than before.

She knew she still liked him.

The rich milk fragrance melted between his and her lips, overwhelmingly sweet.

She didn’t push him away; she earnestly, diligently protected her candy with the tip of her tongue, afraid this big rascal might snatch it away.

...

The next morning, Aiden Fordham woke up, and the fever had subsided.

He stood on the spacious balcony, the morning breeze lifting the corner of his robe, revealing the firm lines of his calves.

He lit a cigarette and took a deep breath; the pungent smoke choked into his lungs, unable to suppress the dull ache in his chest.

Before him lay a vast river view, with the waters rolling ceaselessly. Across the river, the Fordham Group’s skyscraper stood cold and proud in the morning light.

He had purchased this place because of the view.

But now, he longed for another scene.

If she were standing in this home of theirs, apron tied around her, busy in the open kitchen, the aroma of the food wafting, smiling as she waited for him to come home.

How happy that would be.

But what had he done back then?

He had only let her stay here for one night.

That night, like a madman out of control, he claimed her body.

He vividly remembered her crying beneath him, her delicate voice pleading for him to stop, saying it hurt.

But he didn’t.

He was blinded by possessiveness, disregarding all gentleness, thinking only of taking by force.

The next day, he even had Keegan come over specifically to send her back home.

Furthermore, he ordered personally that she must never set foot in this place again from then on.

How hurt and desperate she must have been?

Reflecting on this crushed Aiden’s heart as if an invisible hand were gripping it tight, making it unbearable to breathe.

Now, even if he begged her to stay, she would never come.

He was damned.

He had pushed her away with his own hands, missing her for so many years.

He had even harmed her...cost them two children.

"Smack!"

A crisp sound.

He raised his hand and slapped himself hard, the force so strong that it instantly left a clear five-fingered red mark on his handsome face, burning with pain.

Nine o’clock sharp.

Aiden Fordham appeared promptly in his top-floor office at the company. His perfectly tailored black suit made him look cold and ascetic, though the red mark on his cheek could not be concealed.

When Keegan walked in with coffee, he saw it clearly but dared not ask.

Aiden Fordham turned on the computer, and an avalanche of news popped up instantly.

The Monroe Group had completely exploded.

Hundreds of partner hospitals abroad were in chaos, families of patients protested and blocked entrances, the scene was entirely out of control.

The flood of public opinion had smashed all barriers, leaving the crisis communication team declaring it beyond saving.

The anger of the public had been thoroughly ignited, and online, the #MonroeGroupheartlessbusinessman# topic surged to global trending.

There lay only two paths before them.

Either, obediently refund the afflicted patients and publicly apologize in a global press conference.

Or, wait for forced delisting and disappear forever.

Surely, The Monroe Group’s stock price tomorrow would plummet dramatically.

But the matter hadn’t stopped there.

Some extreme detractors directly aimed their criticism at God N.

[Partnering with a trash company like The Monroe Group, what good can God N be? Birds of a feather.]

[This so-called cardiovascular miracle drug, I think it’s just a gimmick for profit; who would dare use it? What if someone dies?]

[God N, get out of the medical world! Stop harming people!]

Thus, God N’s loyal fans couldn’t sit back and swiftly engaged in a fierce clash with the detractors.

The comment section was ablaze.

The Fordham’s public opinion monitoring system was streaming all negative entries about God N to Aiden Fordham’s screen in real-time.

His gaze progressively turned steely, with an atmosphere around him intimidatingly pressurized.

He would never allow anyone to harm her even slightly with such filthy words.

This move, Aiden Fordham had to control personally.

After ten o’clock in the morning, Stella Grant’s phone screen lit up, displaying an incoming call from "Keegan Lindsey."

Stella Grant swiped to answer.

Keegan’s respectful voice came through, "Ma’am, President Fordham wants to discuss the issue being heatedly debated online."

He paused, then added weightily, "President Fordham said that if public opinion continues to ferment, it might affect Fordham and Bluebird’s stock prices."

Stella Grant had just hung up Iris Summers’ call, her mind already made up.

Back when she was on Lumina Isle, she was unaware of everything The Monroe Group had announced, and now they wanted her to take the blame.

Iris Summers’ suggestion was straightforward: Bluebird should issue a statement and completely sever ties with The Monroe Group.

After all, the actions of The Monroe Group had nothing to do with God N, and the dose was not directly authorized by God N.

Quick decisions to settle complex issues.

But she did not immediately agree.

Doing so would be akin to kicking someone when they’re down, leaving The Monroe Group with no chance to recover.

As for how Ethan Monroe got his hands on the formula, that debt needed to be explained by Aiden Fordham himself.

Once her thoughts settled, Stella Grant went downstairs and got into the car where Keegan Lindsey was already waiting.

The car spiraled around the serpentine mountain road, the highest mountain in Meritopia, and half an hour later, it stopped in front of a vegetarian restaurant.

The restaurant was nestled among the trees, with a peaceful and serene atmosphere, exuding a sense of Zen.

She was guided to a private room where Aiden Fordham was already seated.

Soon after, the waiter started serving the dishes.

Each course presented was so exquisite that it seemed more like a work of art than food.

A spinach dumpling had sauce outlining a river scene beneath it, turning the dumpling into a green boat floating on the river.

Two osmanthus cakes were drawn as car wheels, with a few strokes depicting the car body—vivid and lifelike.

A few pieces of greens were arranged like pine trees in a landscape painting.

Each dish was so beautiful it made you reluctant to touch it with chopsticks.

"Try a taste."

Aiden Fordham smiled at the look of amazement in her eyes.

It seemed she really liked it.

Stella Grant raised her eyes to him. On his handsome face, a red mark had not completely faded, like someone had slapped him.

But she did not ask.

"This dish is so thoughtful. I don’t want to destroy this beauty." She sincerely praised.

Aiden Fordham directly picked up the serving chopsticks, placing the small boat, the pair of car wheels, and the pine tree into her bowl.

"If you don’t eat, we’ll have to return the dish." He curled his lips with a hint of teasing, "I bet the owner would cry."

The waiter continued to deliver "beautiful scenery" onto the table.

Vast fields of flowers, magnificent architecture, breathtaking ocean sunrises, and whimsical scenes of rabbits pulling carrots...

The table was dazzlingly full, incredibly beautiful.

She picked up her chopsticks and cautiously tasted a bite, her eyes instantly brightening.

Not only was the artwork crafted with care, but the dish was also made with equal dedication—the taste was surprisingly good.

Aiden Fordham watched her eat with relish, continuously adding food to her bowl, laughter never leaving his eyes.

Both of them had eaten enough; the steam on the dining table gradually faded, and the atmosphere became calm.

Stella Grant put down her chopsticks, wiped the corner of her mouth, and looked directly at him.

"The trap for The Monroe Group was set by you, wasn’t it?"

Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear.

Aiden Fordham’s chopstick movement paused in mid-air.

He put down his chopsticks, looking at her seriously without any concealment.

"I gave him a good hand, and he played it disastrously."

His voice was calm and cold.

"If he hadn’t been greedy, stockpiling that batch of expensive drugs and deceiving consumers, this situation wouldn’t have arisen. God N’s cardiovascular agent could have brought him endless wealth. But now? The public has started boycotting all new drugs from The Monroe Group, dragging God N down with them."

"He turned a diamond into an egg with his own hands."

Stella Grant stayed silent.

Aiden Fordham was stating facts; this time, it was truly Ethan Monroe’s own fault. At his core, he was a businessman, blinded by greed.

Aiden Fordham spoke again, "Bluebird has long wanted to take action to protect your reputation, but I’ve held them back, waiting for you to decide upon your return."

He looked at her, slowly inquiring.

"Tell me, what do you want to do?"

Stella Grant looked at him. He seemed generously to place the choice in her hands, but her mind was like a clear mirror.

He had already calculated everything.

She suddenly laughed, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"Aiden Fordham, you’re not waiting for me to decide; you’re waiting for his hospital to explode, so you can clean him out thoroughly, right?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Aiden Fordham laughed as well, unabashed by her insight.

She was truly getting smarter.

He leaned forward slightly, staring into her eyes, "What, have you softened? Want to save him?"

Stella Grant gave him a sideways look, her tone filled with sarcasm, "President Fordham, you took my things as bait, and now you want me to clean up the mess?"

"You really know how to play this game."

Aiden Fordham’s smile faded, his tone becoming serious.

"As long as you promise not to meet with him privately, and not interfere with this matter, I will not continue to target him."

"But of course, this time he must bleed for what he’s done. He must provide satisfactory compensation to all consumers and offer a sincere apology to the public."

His voice softened again, his gaze falling on her slightly pale face.

"You now only need to focus on recovering your health—you are more important than anything."

Stella Grant’s heart sank slightly.

"Alright, I won’t interfere for now."

She paused, warning him slowly and clearly.

"But next time, don’t use my things as bait."

He laughed, with an immovable gentleness in his eyes, "Alright, I promise you. From now on, no matter what I do, I will seek your consent first, okay?"

The mood changed too quickly, and Stella Grant felt a bit uneasy.

He added, "I won’t allow anyone to damage God N’s reputation. Bluebird doesn’t need to step in on this matter, I will handle it myself. Leave everything to me, okay?"

"Alright." She nodded.

She didn’t have the energy to deal with this mess anyway.

If Bluebird really stepped in, it would be an official endorsement, kicking them while they’re down.

That wasn’t the outcome she wanted to see.

She just hoped Ethan Monroe would realize his mistakes and change before it was too late.

She picked up her cup, drank a sip of warm water, and then put it down.

"I’m full, please take me home."

Aiden Fordham, however, stood up, went around the table, and arrived beside her, naturally taking her hand.

He leaned over to her ear and mysteriously said, "I’ll take you somewhere."

"I don’t want to go, I want to go home." Stella Grant wanted to pull her hand back.

He only gripped it tighter, not allowing refusal, very dominantly leading her out.

He led her through a winding path behind the restaurant, slowly heading towards the back mountain.

Eventually, they stopped at the edge of a cliff.

Looking down, it was a vast sea of clouds flowing gently.

The mist rose, dreamlike and beautiful, leaving one speechless.

The entire city of Meritopia was buried beneath the clouds, with only that tallest building in the distance standing like a mirage amid the clouds.

The words "Fordham Group" stood proudly in sunshine, shining brightly.

Stella Grant’s eyes brightened, reflecting pure white, too stunned to speak.

Aiden Fordham looked at her, his eyes full of deep affection.

"When I was in high school, I accidentally discovered this place. After returning to the country, I bought this piece of land."

He pointed to the distant Fordham Tower, "I even specially built Fordham to rise above eighty floors."

He turned his head back, his gaze intense as he looked at her.

"This is my private scenery, and from now on, it belongs to you too."

"For the rest of my life, all I want is to watch the flowers bloom and fall with you, to watch the clouds roll and unfold."

She was utterly unmoved, her tone cold, "Aiden Fordham, I don’t want to be part of your life anymore!"

Aiden Fordham felt a deep blockage in his heart...