The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 625

Dorothy peered into his eyes, which burned with an earnest intensity, unmarred by even a hint of evasion.

For a fleeting moment, she yearned to spill the beans about what his mother, Amanda, had done to Bella, just to see what he would do.

Would he still stand by her?

But the words died on her lips.

It wasn't fear that Everett wouldn't choose her. It was dread that he'd be torn apart by the decision, plummeting into an abyss.

On one side was the mother who raised him, and on the other, the love he'd pursued for years. Either choice could shatter him.

Rather than witness such torment, she chose to release her grip.

She couldn't bear to see Everett struggle, so she decided to make the choice for him.

After all, it was his duty to stand by his mother as an only child. No one could fault him for that.

If he sided with her, she feared the wagging tongues and the judgmental whispers would drag him into despair.

...

Once Jeffrey was tidied up, Karen slowly opened the bedroom door.

There sat Derek and Serena in the living room as expected, each looking more sour-faced than the other.

Upon seeing his daughter emerge, Derek was the first to speak, "Karen, come here."

"Sorry, but I can't agree to your proposal," Derek stood firm, "A relationship that sprouts under these circumstances is too flimsy to support a lifetime commitment."

"I really do love Karen!" Jeffrey was getting anxious, "I want to marry her."

Derek turned his gaze to his daughter, "And you? Do you love him?"

Caught off guard, Karen hesitated before giving a muffled acknowledgment, "Yeah."

"What do you love about him?" Derek scrutinized the young man before him, his expression unyielding, "His good looks? Or the fancy car parked downstairs?"

Karen didn’t dare to reply.

"Karen, we're a humble family. You’re the only daughter of ours. We never expected you to climb the social ladder. Just look at him. He's got 'playboy' written all over him. Can you handle that? He says he loves you today, but tomorrow he could be saying that to someone else. Then who will you cry to?"