Chapter 554
In the garden of Grant Manor, two figures stood apart, exchanging glances.
Ellie said, “Cigarettes have a lot of nicotine in them. The carbon monoxide and cyanide released when they buocas wy harm your lungs and your ability to breathe.”
“The chemicals like benzene, heavy metals, and others found in cigarettes can even increase the risk of cancer, the What at the many cigarette butts scattered at Alex’s feet.
“Knowing all these bad effects, so many people still smoke,” Alex said and glanced briefly at Ellie before saring of t distance. Ellie stood next to a flowerbed a little to his left.
Suddenly, five years‘ worth of memories rushed into her mind–the sight of Alex’s Mom on her knees at the Lapon wedding, begging him not to pull the trigger.
Back then, Alex fully understood how devastating it would be for the Warren family and the Warren Group if he took violence. Yet he had still pulled the trigger.
When he found out about her pregnancy, even knowing the storm that would follow, he had rushed out to see ber the des headfirst into disaster, despite knowing the risks.
“You should try to smoke less, if only for the sake of the people who care about you,” Ellie said, her tone woudy and lacking emotion as she rested her hands on the flowerbed and tilted her head slightly upward.
Perhaps sensing Alex’s inner struggle or not
calmly, even offer some comfort,
him holding back his usual bravado, Ellie realized the could speak to bice
him
“Are you feeling sorry for me?” Alex’s unexpected question caught Ellie off guard. She turned to face him, saying nothing in reply.
As she watched him pull out another cigarette from his pack, she reached into her pocket for the candy her daughter had given her before she left home.
“Here,” Ellie said, offering the candy to Alex. He just stared at her without taking it, so she stepped closer and placed it in his hand.
In the past, Alex had always been surrounded by admirers, a person of importance no matter where he went–even to the restroom, there would be a crowd.
Yet now, after being away for so long, no one came looking for him. Reality can be cruel. The fact that the Warren family hadn’t completely fallen apart during Alex’s five–year absence felt like a small mercy from others.
“You might find peace just sitting in a hospital hallway, realizing that good health is more valuable than anything else,” Ellie concluded, taking his cigarette and putting it back in the pack.
Their eyes met, and Alex looked surprised for a moment. Then he forced a smile that seemed a bit bitter. “Can you believe it? No one’s ever talked to me like this in my life.”
Ellie felt a sudden rush of emotions swelling inside her, and she looked away.
“People just call me a scoundrel, a terrible debtor, treating me like I’m lower than even Orion’s toe. I used to laugh at what they said, but now I see that they were right. I was in the wrong.”
Listening to Alex’s self–criticism and despair, Ellie felt a mix of sympathy and sadness. In the past, Alex had held onto a pride that seemed untouchable, never caring to correct people’s misunderstandings.
After some thought, she replied, “Maybe they care about you a lot, and their frustration comes from wanting you to reach your full potential?”
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Chapter 554
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Looking at Alex again, she noticed he was smiling once more. Alex said, “I never guessed you had such a way with words”
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