Chapter 23 For Chace
Kathleen couldn’t help but glance outside. It was already ten at night, and Donovan still hadn’t returned.
Had he not confirmed in the afternoon that he’d be home, she would have given up
Ten minutes later, headlights illuminated the driveway.
waiting.
Kathleen immediately got up and headed to the kitchen to serve the food. A short while later, Donovan stepped inside. hanging his suit jacket on the coat rack. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
“Dinner’s ready.” Kathleen said, placing a steaming bowl of soup on the dining table, her hands protected by cotron gloves. She glanced at her tall son.
“Go wash your hands,” she instructed before returning to the kitchen.
The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom as Donovan returned to his bedroom to change.
Just let Olivia handle this,” he said, stepping in to help set the table.
Kathleen waved him off dismissively. “It’s not a big deal.”
She placed a plate in front of him. “Have some grilled ribs.”
Donovan wasn’t much of a talker. He ate with quiet refinement, while Kathleen sat across from him, absent–minded.
Though subtle, he could feel his mother’s gaze lingering on him. Looking up, he asked, “Is something wrong?”
“You go ahead and eat. I’ll slice some fruit,” she said quickly, getting up.
Donovan watched her retreating figure and knew–she definitely had something on her mind.
Kathleen turned on the television, tuning into an outdoor variery show. The featured guest was a rising star from Mayer Entertainment—a young man with a neat and polished appearance.
Donovan settled onto the couch beside her. Kathleen set the remote control on the coffee table, then pulled out her phone, scrolling through her photo gallery before handing it to him.
“This young lady’s name is Betty,” she said. “She’s Gillian’s daughter. She just returned from studying abroad this year Isn’t she beautiful? I’ve met her–she seems like a lovely girl.”
She studied Donovan’s expression carefully, noting how his gaze flickered toward the photo for a fleeting moment before he looked away.
Kathleen’s heart sank. She had anticipated resistance, yet she wasn’t ready to give up.
“Shelby has been gone for a year now,” she said gently. “You still have a life to live, don’t you?”
“Mom,” Donovan began, his voice steady yet heavy with emotion. “I can never repay her for what I owe. How could I possibly have the audacity to live a happy life?”
A wave of frustration welled up inside Kathleen. “Shelby was a good girl, but you’re just—
“It’s all my fault
Donovan took her hand. “Mom, please don’t set me up on blind dates anymore. I won’t get married again.”
He knew Shelby never asked him to stay alone for her. She wouldn’t have cared either way. But he had already made his choice.
Kathleen fell silent and turned off her phone.
1/3
Rising to her feet, she wiped away her tears discreetly, keeping her back to him. “Im going home, she said, her voice subdued.
Donovan sighed. “Mom.”
She understood his pain, truly, but as a mother, it broke her to see him like this–trapped in a past he couldn’t change, unable to move forward.
Donovan instructed his driver to take Kathleen home. Soon, the mansion fell into an all–too–familiar silence.
Sprawled on the couch, he stared at the grand chandelier hanging above him. Shelby had picked that out.
He could still remember how her eyes sparkled that day, filled with excitement. She had been breathtakingly beautiful
He swallowed two pills–his insomnia had worsened lately. For an entire year, not once had he dreamt of her
He missed her terribly. He longed to hear her voice, to hold her close, to tell her the words he never got the chance to say.
Donovan stepped into Shelby’s bedroom and lay down on her bed.
Outside, the city slowly drifted into slumber. One by one, lights flickered off, until the darkness swallowed everything who
“Don.” A soft poke on his face, followed by a voice–gentle, familiar.
quiet
gaze.
Donovan’s eyes fluttered open. Shelby sat beside him, her knees drawn to her chest, watching him with a
Without a second thought, he sat up and pulled her into his arms. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, inhaling deeply.
“Shelby. I miss you so much.” His voice broke as tears slipped down his face.
She was warm–so achingly warm–and he clung to her, afraid to let go.
“Why are you acting like a child?” Shelby murmured, her fingers running gently through his hair.
Donovan squeezed his eyes shut, unwilling to open them. He feared that if he did, she’d vanish like a fleeting dream.
Desperation took hold of him. He pressed fervent kisses along her neck, trailing up to her jawline, then her cheeks, and finally, the soft curve of her eyes.
“It tickles…” Shelby giggled, turning away from him. But then, Donovan’s eyes snapped open.
“Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting soft golden hues across the room. His arms clutched nothing but the blanket. Shelby was gone.
No–Shelby had never been there.”
He sat up slowly, staring blankly out the window as reality settled in. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.
By the time Kathleen left, Olivia had returned. Donovan finished his breakfast in silence before heading to the office.
Recently, one of Donovan’s managers had set his sights on a group of promising film and television majors who had yet to graduate. Among them were former child stars with impressive résumés.
Kelly, the manager, personally delivered the stack of résumés to Donovan’s office.
At the time, Donovan was in the middle of an international video conference. Not wanting to disturb him, Kelly placed the documents on his desk and quietly left.
When the meeting finally ended, Donovan leaned back in his chair, exhaling softly. He reached for the stack and began flipping through the résumés.
That was until his eyes landed on a particular photograph–Lara Ross from Starburst Drama Academy.
2/3
What caught Donovan’s attention wasn’t her credentials or experience but her striking resemblance to Shelby.
He picked up the phone and dialed Kelly. “Sign her,” he instructed.
Kelly was momentarily stunned. Among all the candidates, Lara had the least acting experience. But in an instant, she understood–Lara’s beauty alone was enough to turn heads. She was the kind of woman who could make a living just by her good looks.
Kelly set out to make contact, but signing Lara proved more challenging than anticipated.
The biggest obstacle was her older brother, Oscar Ross, who strongly opposed her pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.
She had secretly enrolled in Starburst Drama Academy without informing their parents. Now that she had graduated her family expected her to take over the family business.
Another reason Oscar disapproved was that last year, Lara had landed a role in a period drama as the third female lead. During a scene that required her to enter the water, an accident occurred–she nearly drowned.
After she was admitted to the hospital, doctors warned that she might not survive. Fortunately, Lara pulled through. However, the drowning incident left lasting effects–she often struggled with memory issues.
Kelly reported everything to Donovan in detail. After some thought, he decided to meet Lara in person. He had searchi online for clips from the dramas she starred in and found her acting skills to be quite impressive.
The meeting was set for a week later. However, Kelly soon discovered that Mayer Entertainment wasn’t the only company reaching out to Lara.
“I don’t agree!” Oscar declared, pacing back and forth, hands on his hips.
At one hundred and eighty–seven centimeters tall, Oscar was a commanding presence. Years of gym training had sculpted his physique, his well–defined muscles a testament to his dedication. His tanned skin contrasted sharply with Lara’s fair complexion, yet the resemblance between them was undeniable. While Oscar took after their father, Lara was the mirror image of their mother.
“But Oscar, I want to act,” Lara insisted.
Lara’s dream was to break into the entertainment industry and become a successful actress.
“I’ve already spoken with HR. You’ll be joining the company as Executive Director tomorrow,” Oscar stated firmly.
He had carefully mapped out a future for her, giving her a two–year timeline to adjust. After that, he intended to fully hand over the company to her while he pursued business expansion in the foreign market,
“I’m not going.” Lara declared, clutching a pillow tightly as she curled up on the couch.
“You’re so starstruck you can’t even think straight,” Oscar snapped, his irritation evident. “Don’t think I don’t know why you’re so desperate to join the entertainment industry. It’s all because of Chace.”
