Chapter 551

Lawrence wore an expression impervious to scalding water, his features set in a resolute defiance. "When you forced me to return home, I made it clear that I would assist you, but I had no desire to rule over the Rodriguez empire. I intend to marry Winnie. If you disagree, then I shall not sit in this chair as a Rodriguez. "

"You might as well knock me off my pedestal today. Without the wealth of the Rodriguez family, Lawrence, do you still think Ishara would want to marry you?"

"You want me to get married? We'll talk about that after I step down as CEO."

Ishara took a deep breath, completely dumbfounded. She hadn't expected that despite the immense pressure from Bob and the public opinion, he would remain defiant, risking it all.

Once Lawrence steps down from the Rodriguez family empire, he will be nothing.

He was gambling his future to marry Winnie while Ishara dug her nails into her palm, breaking the skin.

Bob, on the other hand, was left speechless by Lawrence's words.

He had only this son, and he couldn't afford to lose him.

The reputation of the Rodriguez family, the potential PR crisis that their corporation could face, and Lawrence stepping down.

Lawrence was forcing him to make a choice.

As a father, being so easily checkmated by his son, Bob was so angry he couldn't utter a single word.

After a brief silence, he found his voice stern. "You can't make jokes about your position."

Lawrence remained cool. "Then agree to let me marry Winnie. Once we're married, the public will eventually tire of their gossip. As for the various shareholders of the Rodriguez family corporation and the squabbles among the different branches targeting me, I'll handle these issues alone. I won't let it affect you."

Bob looked at him coldly. "What if I don't agree?"

"Then I will resign as the CEO of the Rodriguez family the first thing tomorrow, and sever ties with the family. No longer associated with Mr. Rodriguez of the Rodriguez family, taking Ishara to deal with her pregnancy won't threaten our reputation. It's a good solution."

Ishara trembled, tears falling, as she touched her belly and said bitterly, "Lawrence, this child is truly yours. If you go through with terminating it, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Bob, you can't let him hurt my baby, absolutely not."

Her fear touched Bob's heart. "I wouldn't let him harm the child, Ishara, don't worry. We're out of options now, and you bastard, I won't meddle in your marriage anymore. You want to marry that Winnie, but I doubt she'd want to marry you. I'd like to see if she has the nerve."

"There's no need for you to concern yourself with that," he dismissed the worry with a wave of his hand.

Reports had just flooded the news. He was accused of forcing Ishara to punish their child, then he turned around and announced his engagement to her as a business arrangement. "You're plunging Rodriguez Enterprises' stock into chaos. Handle your personal crisis and the company's losses, or forget about bringing Winnie into this family," Bob said.

"I'll take care of it." Lawrence's voice was as cool as ice.

He buttoned up his suit jacket without a glance at Ishara and, with Bryan escorting him, left the Rodriguez family estate.

"Ishara, what's wrong with you?"

Ishara collapsed to the floor, her eyes red, her face ashen.

Eleanor called out loudly, intentionally drawing attention.

Bob's face twitched, and he turned, yelling, "Get the doctor now! We can't have anything happening to her or the baby."

Leah witnessed Bob's protective stance over Ishara and the unborn child.

She thought of Sidney and, from his stories, Sidney's unseen twin brother, Oscar. Sighing deeply, she followed Lawrence outside.

"Lawrence!"

"Grandma." Lawrence paused and turned with a frown. "Is there something else?"

"All I want to know is if the child Ishara is carrying is really yours," Leah asked with a heavy heart.

Lawrence shared a bone-deep closeness and respect with Leah.

His face tensed, a stark contrast to his earlier, nonchalant demeanor in the living room. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice came out hoarse, "Grandma, whether that child is mine or not, it comes from a dirty scheme. I won't let her give birth to it. My children are Sidney and Oscar, and Winnie is nurturing the little life within her."

"What?" Leah eyes widened as she stared at her grandson's stern features. "Winnie is pregnant too?"

"Winnie has been pregnant for a month. Once her belly is bigger, I'll bring her through the Rodriguez family doors to meet you."

"And Ishara..."

"If father insists on protecting her, she can live a bit longer. I understand your Christian compassion; you don't want to see her child harmed. But what I must protect is the real grandchild growing inside Winnie."

Leah's brow furrowed with worry. Despite her dislike for Ishara, Lawrence had a child with her. For the sake of the child, she thought, letting Ishara marry into the family was a decision she could agree to with Bob.

Winnie was now carrying Lawrence's child, leaving Leah at a loss for a decision.

Lawrence left Camellia Mount with a look of somber depth, his heart pounding erratically, feelings of unease enveloping him.

He pressed down on the accelerator, speeding toward his mother's hospital.

"Winnie, how is she?"

In the Rodriguez family's guest bedroom, Ishara stirred awake, her face ashen and sickly.

Eleanor gently steadied her daughter, her face contorted with anger and anxiety. "Ishara, after all our planning, has it all been for nothing?

"I could never have imagined Lawrence being so ruthless to forsake the Rodriguez wealth, threatening Bob to call off his engagement to you.

"Now, with this child you're carrying, what are we going to do?

"Are we really going to watch Lawrence marry Winne without lifting a finger?

"All our efforts would be in vain."

Fingers fiercely wrinkling the bedsheet, Ishara sneered with a head shake, "Mother, stay calm.

"Lawrence is making his last stand, ready to give up everything and stop me from succeeding.

"No matter how bad it looks, Bob is still on my side; he wants this grandchild in my belly.

"There's still a hope, and of course, I'll keep the child.

"After all, it carries Lawrence's genuine bloodline.

"With the scandal making headlines, the Rodriguez Group's crisis won't be easily settled by Lawrence

"Not to mention Mars, the formidable older heir, eyeing the situation.

"He wants to marry Winnie, is that right? Then I'll start with Winnie. I'll find a way to make it so she can't get married."

"What can you do? If Lawrence pressures Winnie, he has all the power."

Ishara's brows furrowed tightly.

A cunning idea began to take shape in her mind. "Mother, help me up. I must see Winnie before Lawrence does."

A sharp glint flickered in Eleanor's eyes as she hurriedly sent Claire to bid farewell to Bob, accompanying her daughter out of the grand Rodriguez residence.

Inside the Harrington Group Hotel, Rock watched Eleanor's tear-stained face pleading to the media on the news. His gaze clung to the caption, "Ishara is pregnant with Lawrence's child."

A sly, icy smirk quickly crossed Rock's lips. This was a stroke of magnificent luck. After pondering for a moment, he summoned his assistant. "Get Ishara on the line," he directed. "Tell her I want to meet. I have a proposition she'll want to hear."