Chapter 619 Cast Aside There’s No Coming Home
Lachlan didn't bother arguing. He said, "Enough? Now leave."
Charlotte ran away faster than a rabbit could hop. The ancestral hall fell silent once more.
Lachlan turned his attention to Naomi. He muttered, "Aunt Naomi."
Naomi slowly opened her eyes. With a trembling voice, she asked, "Is what Oscar told me real?"
"Every word of it."
A long silence later, Naomi said, "I have but one condition: spare Aidan the truth."
"He will find out eventually. There's a reason they lured him here. So, he can find the truth."
"Buy as much time as you can."
"Oscar's already looking into this in Highside. We will have results in a few days at the latest," said Lachlan.
Naomi sighed. "So what? We can't change the past, not even if we know the mastermind."
"I'll keep an eye on him, Aunt Naomi. I won't let him do anything stupid."
"Everything that's happened in Highside and Jamesdon is all my fault. The Woodleys, and… This is all my fault."
"Do not blame yourself, Aunt Naomi. None of this would've happened if he hadn't lied to you. None of this would've
happened if he hadn't been trying to take over the family."
Thirty years ago, Gordon came to Jamesdon to make a business deal. He eventually got to know Naomi and started
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtcourting her madly. Naomi was part of the Woodleys back then. She was born and bred in Jamesdon. Because of
the family rule, she had never left Jamesdon, and this Highside man piqued her interest.
As time passed, many Woodleys thought the 'never leave Jamesdon' rule was preposterous. They wished to see the
world. Because of their fetters, Gordon's promise of a beautiful world out there lit the flame of wanderlust in
Naomi's heart.
To make her fall for him, Gordon did a lot of things. She eventually fell for him, and that steeled her resolve to leave
for Highside. Freedom was one reason, and love was the other.
However, she never thought Gordon already had a family. When she followed him back to Highside feeling all giddy,
Gordon asked her to convince her father to expand their family business to Highside. He said that it would help build
his connection.
Naomi then told him that she had cut all ties with the Woodleys the moment she left Jamesdon. They would never
take back in or expand their business. Only then did Gordon find out about that particular rule. His face fell, and for
days he didn't visit Naomi.
For some reason, when Naomi found out about her pregnancy, she wanted to share the good news with Gordon.
Right after she left the hospital, she went to Pearson Group. It was there she met Sienna and the young Justin. She
stood petrified, holding the report in her hand. That was when she knew why Gordon hadn't been keeping in touch
with her.
Gordon was no longer satisfied with just the business in Highside. The Zielinski Family was fine, but the Woodley
Family was far, far superior. From the moment he approached Naomi, he had already planned everything out. First,
he would lure Naomi out and take her back to Highside. She was the only girl of her generation, and her father
loved her. He would never let her suffer alone.
If the Woodleys were to expand their business, Gordon would have it under his control. All he had to do was slowly
take over, and then he would also have Jamesdon in the palm of his hand. If that plan worked, he could cut ties with
the Zielinski Family. Yet the Woodleys' rule came as a shock. Thanks to that, his months of hard work were for
nothing. He also hated Naomi for not telling him that rule earlier.
Naomi didn't demand an explanation, however. She went back to her house, packed her things, and left. Even
though she knew this was a scam, she had no way back. After that, she hesitated for a long time and eventually
gave birth to the baby.
With no place to call home, the baby was her only reason to live. She changed her name and moved to a place
where no one knew her. In a short time, Naomi fell from a lavish life to one fending for herself and her child. It was
a tough life, but she took it one day at a time.
Fortunately, her child grew up without a hitch. Years later, Gordon showed up in their rickety shack. He showed no
remorse despite having ruined Naomi's life, but he had aged. There were strands of gray hair on his head.
He told Naomi that his other son suffered a car crash and became a cripple. He was wheelchair-bound for the rest
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmof his life and could no longer take up the mantle of a successor. He coerced Naomi to hand Aidan over. He
promised her to raise him as a successor. If she refused, the other Pearsons might try to use him, and Gordon
would be forced to kill the child.
For a few nights, Naomi lost sleep. She looked around her house and, overwhelmed by sorrow, cried her heart out.
How did this happen? My son should've been raised with love, and yet he's suffering with me. She agreed to the
condition and gave Aidan to the Pearsons. She then left Highside the same way she departed Jamesdon. There was
no coming back for her.
As promised, Gordon raised Aidan as successor, but he was wary of the Woodleys. He was worried that they might
claim Aidan someday. It was why he kept trying to control Aidan. He was wary of him, yet he still wanted to take
over the Woodleys. However, his plan didn't work and he ended up paralyzed.
Naomi snapped out of her thoughts and stared at the tablets ahead of her.
Sounds of footsteps approached them.
Lachlan said, "I shall be leaving now." He backed out of the ancestral hall and saw Aidan outside. He left without
saying anything.
Aidan stood outside, staring at Naomi for a while. He then went inside and knelt behind her.
Hearing the rustle, Naomi turned around and said softly, "You don't have to kneel."
Calmly, Aidan said, "I'm not kneeling for them, but I can't possibly stay standing up when you're on your knees."