Rising from the Ashes BY Only For You Novel

----

Chapter 907

A faint trace of bitterness flickered across Jameson's face, but he

still smiled. "Lauren, I came all the way to Jayrodale just to tell you

this-go after your happiness. Your mother and I will handle the

family matters, so you don't need to worry about us."

Lauren's eyes lit up with surprise. "Really?"

Jameson's smile grew warmer. "Of course. You are my daughter,

and I love you and your sister more than anything."

Tears of joy welled in Lauren's eyes. "Then, Dad, can you help Dr.

Lloyd handle the trouble with the Golding family?"

Jameson's smile wavered slightly, and the bitterness in his

expression deepened. But he still forced himself to nod. "Don't

worry. At the very least, I can make sure you and Andrew get to be

together. Now, go to bed. Your mother and I need to talk."

Lauren obediently went to her room.

The moment she was gone, Jameson's smile vanished. His face was

left with nothing but exhaustion and helplessness

Tiana let out a mocking laugh. "What a great display of fatherly

love. Do you really think saying pretty words like that will change

anything?"

Jameson sighed and gestured toward the hall. "This isn't the place

to talk. Let's not bother the kids-come to our room."

Once inside, Tiana slammed the door shut. "Jameson, let me make

this clear-if you really allow Lauren to be with Andrew, the only

----

thing you'll get in return is the destruction of the Rhodes family!"

Jameson let out a cold chuckle. "Tiana, you've never been happy

since marrying me, have you? I know-you regretted it the

moment you said yes. Your heart has always belonged to someone

else."

He continued, "But let me remind you, we are no longer young and

free. We are not the same reckless kids we once were, without

responsibilities or burdens. Lauren is our daughter. She loves

Andrew, and he loves her back. As her father, I refuse to crush their

happiness with my own hands."

Tiana scoffed. "Oh? And then what? You spare their love, and in

return, you let the entire Rhodes family get buried with them? You

know exactly how Joe feels about Lauren. The Driscoll family has

already sent over their engagement gifts.

"what now? Are you seriously thinking of rejecting them? Do you

actually have the guts to challenge the Driscoll family?

"and what about Kenny? If you don't rely on the Driscolls for

support, do you really think your position as head of the family

will last? You think the Golding family won't devour you whole?"

Her sharp, unrelenting words cut through the air, leaving Jameson

silent.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "If the

family is struggling, if we're being suppressed, then that is my

own failure as its leader. But if I use that as an excuse to sacrifice

Lauren's happiness, then I would be unworthy of everything I've

learned in this lifetime."

----

Tiana let out a bitter laugh. "No wonder your daughters adore you.

Look at you-the great, selfless father. You'd sacrifice everything,

even your own life, and the entire family, just to protect their

happiness.

"And me? I'm the cold-hearted mother, the one who actually

understands what's at stake. Jameson, is this what you wanted?"

Jameson's face darkened, and he spoke in a low voice. "Tiana,

that's enough! Lauren and Cece both still love you. You are their

mother, and nothing will change that."

Tiana laughed at herself, the sound hollow and tired. "All I ever

wanted was for Lauren to walk a different path than | did. If she

marries into the Driscoll family, she will soar.

"she will live a life of absolute freedom, free from the struggles

and limitations of being born into a smaller family. She will never

have to experience the helplessness and humiliation that comes

with trying to break through those barriers.

"But in the end, all I got in return was Lauren's hatred. The irony-

my love for her has turned me into the villain."

Jameson furrowed his brows. "The Driscoll family may offer her a

powerful future, but Andrew... Even though I've never met him,

I've heard enough about him from both you and Lauren."