Chapter 92
Alex still had the apple in his mouth, and blood was pouring from his forehead as he stared intensely at Ellie.
In the next moment, the apple slipped from his hand, and without warning, he fell right into Ellie’s arms. Alex probably never thought he’d end up in Ellie’s arms in his lifetime.
Startled, Ellie quickly threw the rock aside and pushed Alex away. With a thud, Alex fell onto the rock, hitting his head hard once again.
Ellie checked Alex’s breath and listened to his heartbeat in a hurry. Then she quickly pulled the phone from the pocket of Alex’s suit pants and darted to the side to make a call.
Ellie didn’t know much, but she did know Alex was tough. Not only did he work out regularly, but he also went through regular combat, shooting, and anti–terrorist simulation training. To Alex, this was a minor concussion.
*****
In the early hours at Jaslands Hospital, Alex woke up to a few gloomy faces–his parents, Ellie, and Aaron. His gaze locked on Ellie, and Alex was so angry that he gritted his teeth. He wished he could kill Ellie with a look.
Ellie lowered her gaze, standing quietly next to Aaron as if she hadn’t been the one who whacked Alex on the head.
Fighting off a headache as he got up, Alex noticed Ellie standing there casually, not even bothering to help him after knocking him out. Irritated, he muttered, “Is everyone standing around here planning my memorial service?”
Alex didn’t ask how he got back or why his head was injured; he just shot a furious glare at Ellie.
Nancy walked to the bedside and slapped Alex. “A memorial? Do you think I’ll trouble myself to hold a memorial for a little brat like you?”
Ellie was speechless. Aaron pulled Ellie back to make some room for Nancy.
Dazed from the slap, Alex noticed Ellie retreating further and became even more enraged. “I’ve got bandages on my head, remember!”
Todd’s face turned pale with anger. “You rascal, after what you did to your sister, you still have the nerve to talk!”
Alex retorted, “You’ve both been sterile for over twenty years. How could I have a sister?”
Ellie pouted, exchanged a glance with Aaron, and the siblings subtly moved two steps back.
Todd said, “Aaron is about your age and already has goals and a career. And Ellie, she’s so young and can balance work and grad school. But you? You’re always wasting money and doing nothing. How did I end up with such a rebellious child?”
“How have I wasted your money?” Alex jumped out of bed. “Aside from the 300 million you gave me in freshman year for my startup, what else have you funded?”
Nancy’s hands trembled with anger. “If I knew you were going to be such a jerk, I should have strangled you at birth! Why don’t you give back the 300 million dollars if you’re so brave?”
“So you want to settle accounts with me!” In front of everyone, Alex transferred 600 million dollars to Nancy. Alex then pulled out a bank statement on his phone and showed it to his parents. “Double what you gave me, with interest. The rest is mine!”
Todd pointed to the billion–dollar balance on Alex’s phone. “Tell me, where did you get all this money?”
With an unclear nasal scoff, Alex gave Aaron a challenging look. “Your mindset determines your potential. Hard work only sets your baseline.
“Don’t think that rushing around from dawn to dusk, being frugal is the same as working hard or showing ambition. I make money to pass the time that could take you a lifetime to earn!”
Alex said, “From now on, spare me your useless lectures. There’s no right or wrong in this world, only strong and weak!” After saying this, Alex slammed the door and walked out.
Ellie stood quietly beside Aaron, watching Alex slam the door as he left. She always knew Alex could earn money on the side.
Ellie remembered during Alex’s second year in college, on her birthday, Alex gave her a white jade engraved with words, and secretly told her he had made some more money.
Later, she found out the jade Alex gave her was an antique worth millions. It scared her so much that she rushed to return it to Carlos’s study that night.
1/2
Extra Check–in
Exclusive Profile
Ad–free Reading
Vouchers
Dodge
Chapter 92
Alex didn’t like being tied down or following a routine. Making money was easy for him, and when it came to spending it, no one could beat him.
Over half an hour later, the Thompson siblings parted ways with Alex’s parents at the hospital entrance.
Lacey showed up late. “You scared me! I thought something had happened to you,” she said while Ellie pulled her to the sidewalk. Lacey insisted on driving them back.
Aaron politely declined, “I’ve already called a cab. Please take care of Ellie, Ms. Mosley,” he said before leaving, and Lacey drove Ellie home.
At the entrance of Ellie’s apartment, Lacey turned off the engine and said, “Ellie, things are so tense between you, Alex, and Haley. How will you face them once you’re with the Warren family?”
Ellie unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “They’re the ones who should feel awkward, not me!”
Lacey said, “That’s easy to say, but before this, I’ve heard that jerk Haley mention that the hospital in Ameria extended an offer to you. Why didn’t you stay abroad and instead chose to come back to this mess?”
Ellie lowered her eyes and remained silent for a while. “Lacey, no one wants to leave here more than I do,” she said.
“Then why won’t you leave?” Lacey asked directly.
Ellie’s empty gaze looked out the car window. “I’ve been living with the Warren family for over ten years and been separated from my parents and brother for just as long.”
Without realizing it, Ellie’s voice became choked up. “Throughout these years, no matter where I am, my parents call rarely. Every time we speak, my mom always says let’s hang up, yet they never actually end the call first.”
Ellie said, “My dad lost a leg, his lungs are weak, and he needs to take medicine all year round. He had to endure all kinds of complications for years.
“I don’t know how long they have left or if they’ll get to see Aaron or I get married and have kids.
“I just want to be as close to them as possible while I still can. I don’t want the regrets of wanting to care for them when it’s too late, standing by their graves with nothing but remorse!”
“Ellie,” Lacey said with a sad expression, holding Ellie’s hand, unable to find the words.
Ellie said, “Lacey, do you know how hard it is for kids from poor families to make it big?”
Ellie said, “Aaron has worked hard for so many years. His job and dreams are here. Our relatives and friends are all here. We haven’t done anything wrong, so why should we leave our parents and everything behind?”
Ellie said, “What will happen to our parents if we leave? Lacey, have you forgotten how Haley treated me in Ameria?”
Ellie thought, ‘Avoiding problems is never the best way to solve them. When people try to smear us, saying that the truth will come out eventually is a waste of words. Since I couldn’t dodge the issue, I had no choice but to confront it.
The next morning, Ellie went to the Warren Manor. She spent the entire day there, but Alex never showed up. It was around nine in the evening when Ellie returned to her apartment.
With just one day left until the family reunion party, there were still some things she needed to take care of. As Ellie stepped out of the elevator, she immediately spotted Alex, who was drunk, standing at the door.
2/2
