Chapter 92
Ever since Alex started pursuing Haley, he had never missed a call or delayed responding to a text. But last night, he had turned his phone off.
When Haley went to find him this morning, she entered his room and was hit with the strong scent of cigarettes, and empty wine bottles were scattered all over the coffee table. It was clear that Alex was struggling. He couldn’t stand Ellie leaving. He was miserable, and in his pain, he had turned his phone off to avoid Haley and drank away his sorrow.
Haley thought bitterly. For Ellie’s sake, he had shut everyone out.
She struggled to keep her feelings in check, got out of the car, and stood beside Alex, watching as Aaron walked away. Then, she gently pulled Alex back into the car.
Alex climbed into the car and immediately lit a cigarette, not rushing to leave. Haley sat quietly beside him for a moment, unsure of how to approach him, until she finally spoke, her voice soft but firm.
“I know you’ve always treated Ellie like a sister,” she started, glancing at Alex, who remained silent. “But Aaron is her real brother. Even though your family raised her, if Ellie insists on going back to the Thompson family, you can’t stop her.”
From her position, she couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome Alex’s features were, even more so when he was in such a state of quiet anguish. Aaron was attractive too, but he lacked the chiseled and aggressive look that Alex had.
The more time Haley spent with Alex, the more she began to understand why he was irresistible. His appearance, combined with his unmatched status, made all other men seem dull in comparison. She found herself staring at him more often, her gaze growing increasingly infatuated.
She had already agreed to Alex’s proposal, and now, he was busy organizing their new home. In just a few days, they would be moving in together, and their families were preparing for the engagement celebration.
Haley believed that no matter what Ellie’s feelings for Alex were or how Alex had treated Ellie, it would all soon become history. She was confident that Ellie’s affections would fade, and things would settle between her and Alex.
As Alex rested one arm on the car window without saying a word, Haley hesitated. Finally, she said, “A friend gave me a nice bottle of wine a few days ago. How about you come over to my place tonight, and we can open it?”
“I have plans tonight. Let’s do it another day,” Alex replied bluntly, flicking away the cigarette butt before starting the car. “I’ll drop you off at your place first.”
Haley was stunned. It was rare for her to put aside her pride and initiate something like this. To be turned down so directly left her visibly upset. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her feelings for Alex or because of the sting of rejection.
Later that night, at the Encounter Bar on Old Alley, Whitney sat at a booth on the first floor, watching Alex from afar. He had been drinking for over two hours by himself.
Seeing the familiar sorrow in Alex’s demeanor, Whitney stood up and walked over to him. “Tonight, the drinks are on me,” she said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Alex lifted his eyes to glance at Whitney, but otherwise, he continued to drink, ignoring her attempt to cheer him up.
Whitney leaned over, placing her palm on top of Alex’s glass to stop him. “Drinking like this is so boring. How about I tell you a story to make it more interesting?”
Without waiting for Alex’s response, Whitney began her story, her voice casual but warm. “Once upon a time, there was a little girl living in the countryside. Her family wasn’t wealthy, but her parents and brother loved her very much.”
As Alex stopped drinking, Whitney continued. “The little girl’s grandpa was a retired soldier, her dad was a veteran, and even her uncle died serving
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Chapter 92
Ever since Alex started pursuing Haley, he had never missed a call or delayed responding to a text. But last night, he had turned his phone off. When Haley went to find him this morning, she entered his room and was hit with the strong scent of cigarettes, and empty wine bottles were scattered all over the coffee table. It was clear that Alex was struggling. He couldn’t stand Ellie leaving. He was miserable, and in his pain, he had turned his phone off to avoid Haley and drank away his sorrow. Haley thought bitterly. For Ellie’s sake, he had shut everyone out.
She struggled to keep her feelings in check, got out of the car, and stood beside Alex, watching as Aaron walked away. Then, she gently pulled Alex back into the car.
Alex climbed into the car and immediately lit a cigarette, not rushing to leave. Haley sat quietly beside him for a moment, unsure of how to approach him, until she finally spoke, her voice soft but firm.
“I know you’ve always treated Ellie like a sister,” she started, glancing at Alex, who remained silent. “But Aaron is her real brother. Even though your family raised her, if Ellie insists on going back to the Thompson family, you can’t stop her.”
From her position, she couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome Alex’s features were, even more so when he was in such a state of quiet anguish. Aaron was attractive too, but he lacked the chiseled and aggressive look that Alex had.
The more time Haley spent with Alex, the more she began to understand why he was irresistible. His appearance, combined with his unmatched status, made all other men seem dull in comparison. She found herself staring at him more often, her gaze growing increasingly infatuated.
She had already agreed to Alex’s proposal, and now, he was busy organizing their new home. In just a few days, they would be moving in together, and their families were preparing for the engagement celebration.
Haley believed that no matter what Ellie’s feelings for Alex were or how Alex had treated Ellie, it would all soon become history. She was confident that Ellie’s affections would fade, and things would settle between her and Alex.
As Alex rested one arm on the car window without saying a word, Haley hesitated. Finally, she said, “A friend gave me a nice bottle of wine a few days ago. How about you come over to my place tonight, and we can open it?”
“I have plans tonight. Let’s do it another day,” Alex replied bluntly, flicking away the cigarette butt before starting the car. “I’ll drop you off at your place first.”
Haley was stunned. It was rare for her to put aside her pride and initiate something like this. To be turned down so directly left her visibly upset. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her feelings for Alex or because of the sting of rejection.
Later that night, at the Encounter Bar on Old Alley, Whitney sat at a booth on the first floor, watching Alex from afar. He had been drinking for over two hours by himself.
Seeing the familiar sorrow in Alex’s demeanor, Whitney stood up and walked over to him. “Tonight, the drinks are on me,” she said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Alex lifted his eyes to glance at Whitney, but otherwise, he continued to drink, ignoring her attempt to cheer him up.
Whitney leaned over, placing her palm on top of Alex’s glass to stop him. “Drinking like this is so boring. How about I tell you a story to make it more interesting?”
Without waiting for Alex’s response, Whitney began her story, her voice casual but warm. “Once upon a time, there was a little girl living in the countryside. Her family wasn’t wealthy, but her parents and brother loved her very much.”
