Chapter 112
Chapter 112
B
In the early evening, the sky was covered in a thin layer of gold. Alex stood at the temporary parking area in front of the hospital, watching the plane fly away overhead, his eyes unknowingly welling up with tears.
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His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he answered Haley’s call. “I’ve spoken with your mom, and she’ll be there soon. I have something to do, so I’ll come by later.” After hanging up, he drove straight toward the overpass.
As dawn began to break, Layton was slumped on a bench along a riverside walkway, struggling to stay awake. “Alex, you’ve been searching for those emerald fragments all night. I think the missing piece might have fallen into the river.”
Alex sat wearily at the edge of a flowerbed, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the place in the river where Ellie once struggled. He clenched the emerald fragment tightly in his hand.
Seeing Alex’s downcast look from afar, Layton came over and sat next to him by the flowerbed. They both lit a cigarette, and Layton glanced at Alex. “I could believe it if you told me Haley hit Ellie, but Ellie hitting Haley? That’s a tough sell.”
Alex stared at the calm river, his deep eyes obscured by a light smoke, hiding his emotions. “Not only did Ellie hit Haley, but she did it more than once.” His voice was rough, carrying an undertone of helplessness.
Layton’s lips curled into a playful smile. “Ellie’s so soft–hearted; if she actually hit Haley, Haley must have really provoked her.”
Noticing the dark look on Alex’s face, Layton quickly explained, “If a normal person gets slapped, they’d understand they’re not liked. But Haley, with her bossy nature, keeps pushing forward even after Ellie slapped her. What else is she asking for- a call for more?”
Alex took a deep drag of his cigarette, blowing out a thin ring of smoke that didn’t ease the heaviness in his chest. “Haley doesn’t want me caught in the middle. She wants to make up with Ellie and keep the peace.”
Layton exclaimed, “Even so, you can’t just push Ellie into the river.”
With a furrowed brow, Alex retorted, “I’m not crazy. Do you think I’d push her into the river knowing she can’t swim?” Layton shot back, “Then how do you know Ellie meant to push Haley?”
Alex glanced at Layton, who gave him a look that screamed, “You’re in deep trouble.” There was a brief silence before Alex lit another cigarette.
Layton said, “You’ve grown up with Ellie, Alex. If you can’t decide, it’s better to just see her as a sister. There’s no need to end up never speaking again.”
“No way,” Alex replied instantly. “No matter how bad things get between us, as long as I choose to, we won’t end up like that.”
He thought as girls grew up, they were bound to have a few moods. Even if Ellie felt a bit hurt, she wouldn’t let things fall apart completely.
They had had countless arguments since they were kids. Ellie has been brought to tears by him countless times, and yet they
in the end. Besides, Ellie had liked him for seven years now–it was not just a day or two, but a full seven always
made up
years.
Layton stared at Alex for a long time, feeling like this guy was on a self–destructive path. Tossing away his cigarette butt, Layton cautiously asked, “We’ve been like brothers since we were kids. Can you tell me the truth? Why did you suddenly start liking Haley?”
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Chapter 112
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As Alex chain–smoked without saying a word, Layton spoke his mind. “Honestly, you’ve known–Haley for years. You used to barely glance at her, so why are you suddenly so fixated on her?”
Alex grumbled in frustration, “You just don’t understand.”
Layton continued, “Yeah, I don’t understand. But every time something happens between Ellie and Haley, you always side with Haley. You’re even willing to risk everything to save her, completely ignoring what Ellie is going through.”
Alex replied, his voice deep, “I risk everything for Haley because she once risked everything to save me.”
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