"Ten seconds..."
Rachel would be lying if she said she I wasn't surprised.
"Roger, leaving Apliaria isn't a simple matter.Don't you think you're being rash about this?"
Roger looked at her straight in the eyes and smiled.
"Ten seconds isn't rash to me."
Rachel pursed her lips.
Roger would give up everything he had in Apliaria just to be with her.
Never in her wildest dreams did she think he could do such a thing.
Roger was the only successor of the Jimenez Group.
Ever since he came back, his father had gradually handed over the leadership of the company to him.
Everyone in the business circle knew Roger would eventually take over after his father's expected
resignation in two years.
Only a foolish person would give up everything for a woman who might not even accept him in the end.
The Jimenez family had only two direct successors in line, Roger and Clara.
Clara was a doctor and wasn't interested in the family business.
If Roger left, their cousins would definitely fight their way to take over the company.
They might even force their father to hand it over to them.
Roger cared about his family so much.
He wouldn't be so quick to abandon his parents like this.
"Roger, you might've misunderstood."
Rachel thought he wouldn't choose her over his family, which was why she was taken aback by how
easily he had decided to leave everything to be with her.
She wasn't pleased, relieved, or moved by it.
Instead, her heart sank.
If she just let Roger make such a reckless decision, she would blame herself and feel guilty.
She felt like being put on the spot.
How could she possibly accept him if it entailed abandoning everything he had?
"I'll say this for the last time." She looked at Roger seriously.
"I will leave Apliaria for good, and not just to take Joey on a vacation.Don't you understand?"
"I do."
"Then why are you..."
Before Rachel finished her words, Roger put his hand on her head and patted it gently.
"I know what you are worried about."
Rachel wasn't used to him being affectionate toward her, but she didn't avoid his touch.
After he was done speaking, she pulled his hand off and said, "Then you shouldn't make such a rash
decision.You are the only successor of your family, and your parents have entrusted you with
everything."
"I don't have to be the successor," Roger said as if it was just a simple matter.
"But you are the only son of your parents." Rachel closed her eyes in frustration.
She didn't know if she should be annoyed with Roger's stubbornness or her hypocrisy because she
wasn't sure anymore if she was trying to dissuade him for his sake or to relieve her guilt.
"You can't just leave them like this.They are not getting any younger, Roger.Do you think they will
accept it?"
Roger lowered his head to meet Rachel's eyes and looked straight at them as he said, "I know,
Rachel.I've considered all of these before I made the decision.Now, I want to ask you one thing."
Rachel could hear the faint beating of her heart.
"What is it?"
Without taking his eyes off her, Roger asked, "Everything you said just now, were they true?"
Rachel felt conflicted.She didn't know what to tell him.
If they weren't in a complicated situation, she could swear what she said was true in a heartbeat.
But if she did, she was afraid it would cement Roger's decision to give up everything and leave with
her.
Seeing her hesitation, Roger smiled.
"Okay."
Rachel was confused.She hadn't given her answer yet.
"I will convince my parents."
Roger straightened up, his eyes still fixed on her.
"Rachel, I know you're afraid I might regret this decision in the long run.You feel guilty about it because
you aren't sure if you can reciprocate my feelings.I don't know how things will unfold in the future, but
I'll have to leave it to time.For now, I'm only sure about one thing.If I let you go, I will regret it for the rest
of my life."
Rachel remained silent.
Roger continued, "My parents adore each other enough.They don't need me to stay afloat.Even if I
leave Apliaria, they will be fine.They'll still have my sister and their lovely granddaughter by their
side.As for the Jimenez Group, I believe my father will find a more suitable successor after I leave."
Rachel didn't know if she should believe it.She couldn't think of anything else to say to persuade him
either.
For a moment, they just stared at each other.
Roger smiled gently.He was about to say something when the sharp voices of the kids suddenly came
behind them.
"Mommy!"
"Uncle!"
Joey and Riley were excitedly running hand in hand toward them.
Rachel immediately turned serious and pulled away from Roger's stare.
Roger turned to face the approaching kids.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Rachel lowered her head and clenched her fists
slightly.She must be feeling uneasy.
Without saying anything, Roger reached for her clenched fist and held it tightly.
It took Rachel by surprise.She turned to him, her eyes widening in alarm.She wanted to pull her hand
away, but when she saw the look in Roger's eyes, she didn't.
The smile on Roger's face grew brighter when Rachel let him hold her hand.
He could tell she started accepting him.
"Joey, Riley.You're back."
Roger greeted the kids.
Riley immediately noticed that they were holding hands.Her eyes lit up, revealing the cute dimples on
her cheeks.
"They are holding hands!"
Joey's eyes fell on their intertwined hands, and his smile faded. Unlike Riley, he looked a little upset.
"Joey?"
Roger noticed it and called him gently.
Joey looked up and found Rachel's and Roger's eyes on him.
His tiny lips slowly curved up into a smile.
"Congratulations, Mr.Jimenez! But you know you can't replace me.I'm still the number one man in my
Mom's heart!"
"I know, Joey."
Roger smiled and patted Joey's head.
"Don't worry.You will always be the most important in your mommy's heart, as well as in mine."
"Good.That's a deal!"
Joey curled his lip and looked at Rachel.
"Mommy, I want to go to the bathroom."
"Oh, um, okay.I'll just..."
Before Rachel could finish her words, however, Joey let of Riley's hand and covered his stomach.
"Oh no, I can't hold it in anymore! I'm going to the bathroom now"
He then turned around and ran away like a streak of lightning.
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