Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Even though there were only a few people in the side room, the tension was intense.
Alex and Ellie stood facing each other in the center of the room, both teary–eyed as they locked eyes.
Ellie bit her lower lip, simply staring at him in disbelief.
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Alex knew she had secretly liked him for seven years, yet he wasn’t moved or sympathetic. Instead, he treated her affection like a bargaining tool.
He was well aware of her pain, but he turned her feelings into a sharp knife, stabbing at her heart repeatedly.
He was indifferent and cruel to her.
Ellie had too many grievances bottled up inside, but she couldn’t utter a single word.
She didn’t know what to say, who to say, or how to say.
The cold and resolute look in Ellie’s eyes made Alex feel inexplicably uneasy. He averted his gaze, pulled out a pile of documents from his pocket, and threw them in front of his parents.
He said, “If you insist on adopting her, then consider me no longer your son.”
After saying this, Alex turned and left.
Layton picked up the documents Alex threw down, but before he could take a look, all the lights in the villa went out.
down udden Feti
The next moment, the entire Warren Manor was suddenly plunged into darkness, even the emergency voice–activated lights wouldn’t turn on.
After a brief moment of chaos in the living room, everyone felt their way toward the nearby garden in the dark.
A few minutes later, a servant hurriedly reported that all four backup generators in the villa had broken down and were undergoing emergency repairs.
Over an hour later, Layton found Alex at a bar.
Seeing Alex’s disheveled appearance, Layton picked up a few unopened bottles from the table and said, “You cut off power to the entire villa, scattered the guests from the manor, and came here alone to drink. That’s really a thoughtless move.”
Alex’s eyes were bloodshot with frustration as he poured himself a drink and downed it in one go.
Layton gave Alex a disapproving look and said, “You’re a grown man. Ellie likes you but she hasn’t made it public and it hasn’t affected you. Can’t you just pretend not to know it? How could you do that to threaten her?”
“I gave her a chance.” Alex slammed the glass onto the table. “She is the one who insists on being stubborn.”
Layton said, “Ellie would rather swear than admit she likes you. Are you happy now?”
Alex lit a cigarette and rested his elbows on his knees, exuding a sense of exhaustion and helplessness.
Layton looked at the tattoo on Alex’s ring finger with curiosity. “How did you pass the recruitment review with such a noticeable tattoo?”
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Chapter 98
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Alex lowered his gaze, growing more irritated as he stared at Haley’s initials on his left ring finger. “It’s okay if the tattoos on exposed areas are under 1 inch with standard military training gear.”
Layton asked, “Are you really planning to join the army?”
Alex lifted his gaze to Layton. “What else would I do?”
Layton continued, “Even if you can’t accept Ellie as your adopted sister and don’t care about Ms. Grant, then what about Haley?”
Alex took a big drag from his cigarette, blowing the smoke out slowly as a steely focus returned to his eyes.
In the early hours next day, Alex and Layton left the bar, spotting Haley standing next to Alex’s car from a distance.
“Alex,” Haley greeted as she walked up.
Layton gave Alex a meaningful look before getting into his car and driving away.
Alex stood by his sports car and lit a cigarette.
Haley watched Alex’s reaction carefully and said, “Alex, I’ve been waiting here for over an hour. I called you but you didn’t answer, I didn’t dare to disturb you.”
Seeing Haley’s distressed look, Alex unlocked the car and opened the passenger door. “It’s chilly out here. Get in.”
Haley smiled when she saw Alex wasn’t mad and had even opened the passenger door for her.
She playfully said, “Alex, I love being in the front seat. From now on, you can’t open the door for any other girl, nor let them sit in your front seat, alright?”
Alex suddenly thought of Ellie’s pale face.
He had tried to pull Ellie into the car several times, but she always refused while crying.
At that time, Ellie said, “I don’t want to ride in your car. I don’t want to be pushed out of the front seat again.”
Alex didn’t understand why she reacted so strongly before.
But when he accidentally found those paintings hidden in her balcony cabinet, he instantly understood.
She liked him, so she cared about every detail of him.
Out of nowhere, a sharp pain spread from deep in his heart to every part of his body. Alex leaned a hand on the car door, bending slightly as he took deep breaths.
After Haley got in the car, she realized Alex was still outside. She hesitated for a moment and got off.
She was supposed to be happy when Alex publicly tore up the documents of valuable shares the elders had given to Ellie at the banquet at the Warren Manor.
However, seeing Alex make a big effort to stop Ellie from becoming his sister in name made Haley feel uneasy.
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Chapter 98
As a woman, Haley could easily figure out why Alex was doing this.
Alex hadn’t moved on from Ellie yet.
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But with Haley being his fiancée, Alex couldn’t openly get close to Ellie. He had to pressure Ellie, trying to get her to voluntarily give up her role as the Warren family’s adopted daughter.
Holding back her inner panic, Haley said in a light–hearted tone “Alex, you saw how generous your grandparents and parents were with Ellie, but you’re the only heir of the Warren family.
“Your parents are getting older. You should take over the company and let them enjoy their retirement.”
Alex leaned against the sports car with one leg straight and the other bent. He pulled his gaze back from the empty road and looked at Haley.
After a pause, Alex said, “I’m planning to join the army.”
“Join the army?“. Haley was shocked.
Her expression changed immediately when she heard Alex say that. She asked, “Why? Why didn’t you talk it over with me?”
xflicked the cigarette butt away and stood up straight to face Haley. “It’s my own business. I don’t need to discuss it with anyone.”
Haley spoke in disbelief, “But I’m your fiancée. What am I supposed to do if you join the army?”
Alex was silent for a while before he said, “Haley, I admit I was a bit hasty when I pursued you. When we were dating, I told you that you had saved my life, and I wanted to take responsibility for that.”
Alex suddenly brought up the time he was rescued, and Haley felt a wave of panic flooded her. She quickly lowered her eyes to hide her feelings from him. “Alex, didn’t we agree not to mention this again? Why are you bringing it up now?”
“Haley, have you ever planned for what life after marriage would be like, including having kids?” Alex paused briefly, choosing not to tell Haley directly that she could no longer have children because she had saved him.
Haley squeezed her hands tightly at her sides.
Haley thought, ‘When Alex argued with his mother in the living room, he said that he intended to stay child–free.
‘It seems he always hesitates to take our relationship further because he fears I would want children.‘
Haley took a hesitant step closer to Alex and said firmly, “Alex, I don’t like kids. Even if I married someone else, I still wouldn’t want kids. I want child–free.”
Alex asked, “Are you sure?”
Seeing the unusual excitement on Alex’s face, Haley nodded confidently. “Yes, I’m sure. I never want to have kids in my life.”
As long as she eased Alex’s worries, Haley believed that with the necklace and her family’s standing, Alex would soon be with
her.
Alex said, “Great. Haley, let’s break up.”
