Esther Carter dealt with the troubleso matter and returned to the ward.
Elara Hale saw her and asked in surprise, "Why are you back again?"
Esther Carter, hiding her guilt, acted nonchalant and said, "I just got off the phone with the director. He said my scenes have been postponed. At least I won’t be needed for the next three days."
Elara Hale looked at her suspiciously, "No scenes for you, yet an actor working with you can specially co here?"
"You don’t understand," Esther Carter sat down nearby, resting her chin on her hand, "Do you think I’m pretty?"
"Pretty," Elara Hale couldn’t help but laugh, "If only you could control that mouth, who knows how many people would be head over heels for you."
There was no exaggeration in that. Esther Carter, when silent, was a typical northern woman: fair-skinned, beautiful with long legs, long hair flowing. Plus, she had good taste in clothes and knew how to dress, making her especially elegant.
It’s a pity that once she spoke, there was a heavy northern accent.
Her father was from the northeast, and although she grew up in Northgarde, being influenced from a young age, she spoke fluent northern-accented Northgarde dialect.
How should I put it, once she starts talking, people easily overlook her physical beauty.
Esther Carter blinked at her, "I’m pretty, that guy’s chasing , but I’m not interested in him, so he went to great lengths to find out my whereabouts from the director and followed here. Didn’t you see his frustration at not being able to get ?"
Elara Hale paused, recalled, and indeed found herself drawn in, "He did seem a bit frustrated."
Following Esther Carter’s words, she suddenly beca interested, "What’s that guy’s na? He’s quite handso, tall, and he’s not the skinny type; he has muscles! It’s rare to find a manly man in your industry these days."
Thinking of Owen Grayson’s devilish face, Esther Carter felt disdain. His effeminate looks, who would care.
If not for reassuring her friend, she wouldn’t have concocted this reason. Just the thought of having his lousy na associated with hers made her feel contaminated.
Isn’t this like a work injury? Later, she’ll have to discuss with The great Mr. Fitzwilliam about needing a pay raise!
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Esther Carter, eager to end this topic, imdiately stood up, "I’ll get it."
When she opened the door, it was Aidan Somrs.
In the first two days when Elara Hale had her accident, Aidan Somrs ca a couple of tis, but then Elara Hale urged him to go back to school, so Esther Carter hadn’t t him.
"Who are you?" she scrutinized Aidan Somrs.
Aidan Somrs glanced at her, "I’m here to see my sister."
Esther Carter was stunned.
Aidan Somrs ignored her, swaggering in.
Elara Hale was also taken aback. If she recalled correctly, this seed to be the first ti Aidan Somrs called her "sister," right?
But once Aidan Somrs entered, he seed to forget what he just said, tossed his backpack on the table, walked to the bedside, and asked, "How are you doing now?"
Elara Hale replied with a smile, "Weren’t you there during the most dangerous tis? It’s all fine now. The doctor said the bandages could be removed by tomorrow, and I can be discharged."
She paused and then asked, "Didn’t I tell you not to co? Are you here for sothing today?"
Aidan Somrs is now a senior in high school. The academic pressure is high, and Elara Hale hopes he will work hard to pursue his dream of joining the military.
Aidan Somrs sat down beside her, picked an orange, and began peeling it, "I just wanted to ask you sothing."
Elara Hale imdiately straightened up, "Facing so difficulties?"
Aidan Somrs shook his head, "Do you rember when I got into a fight at school and almost got expelled? How was it resolved later?"
Elara Hale paused.
Of course, she rembered. That ti Aidan Somrs fought with Cecilia Quincy’s brother, Caleb Quincy. She stepped in to apologize, going so far as to humble herself, yet Cecilia Quincy wouldn’t let Aidan Somrs off.
Later, Rosalind Jacobs had her go to a club called Eye of Agelessness. For Aidan Somrs, she gritted her teeth and went, only to almost be taken advantage of by soone high on drugs.
That ti, it was Zion Fitzwilliam who rescued her by chance.
Aidan Somrs looked at her and repeated the question, "How was that matter resolved later?"
Elara Hale shook her head, "It wasn’t resolved. Eye of Agelessness was investigated the next day for allegedly providing a place for drug users and was shut down. After that, everything at your school just mysteriously quieted down. I don’t know why either."
She looked at Aidan Somrs, eyes filled with concern, "Why are you suddenly asking about this? Did sothing happen?"
Aidan Somrs split an orange in half, casually tossed half to Elara Hale, stuffed the other half into his mouth, and only after swallowing did he say, "Yesterday Caleb Quincy ca to apologize to ."
"What?" Elara Hale thought she misheard, "It’s been almost half a year, hasn’t it? Why is he apologizing to you now?"
Aidan Somrs nonchalantly said, "How would I know? Out of the blue, he cos to , face beaten to a pulp, and tearfully asks for my forgiveness."
Elara Hale frowned tightly.
Aidan Somrs glanced at her and said, "I thought you might have done sothing... or perhaps the person who helped us warned him, otherwise why would he suddenly apologize? He seed genuinely scared."
Elara Hale shook her head, "I don’t know what’s going on either. Maybe he encountered sothing himself."
Aidan Somrs looked at her, wanting to say more but ultimately suppressed his doubts.
Elara Hale didn’t know Caleb Quincy’s true nature, but Aidan Somrs was well aware. He was ruthless and void of humanity, wreaked havoc during the over two years of high school, even hitting teachers and the dean...
Ever since the conflict half a year ago, Caleb Quincy occasionally targeted Aidan Somrs at school, but for so unknown reason, Caleb Quincy never went beyond verbal taunting with him, unlike how he treated others.
Yet even so, their relationship was like fire and water.
But now, Caleb Quincy suddenly ca to apologise, crying desperately and begging for forgiveness, saying he’d die if he wasn’t forgiven...
Aidan Somrs sensed that things weren’t so simple, but since Elara Hale didn’t know, he didn’t want to worry her.
She’s so clueless, knowing wouldn’t help.
Aidan Somrs stood up, grabbed his backpack, "I’m leaving."
Elara Hale squinted, "You ca just to ask about this?"
"What else?" Aidan Somrs gave her a sideways glance and said coolly, "Did you think I was worried about you? You said it yourself, I’m busy with my studies and need to focus on learning."
Elara Hale was left speechless. That was true, but... saying it outright was so hurtful.
But she had always been tolerant of Aidan Somrs, not taking it to heart, "Then study well and be careful on the road."
Aidan Somrs waved his hand with his back to her and walked out the door.
After he left, Esther finally dared to speak, "Elara, are you two okay now?"
She was afraid of Aidan because when Yvette first got married, Aidan had a haughty attitude towards Elara. Esther stood up for Elara, only to have Aidan put a live rat inside her clothes.
Alive!
That was a pain she could hardly forget for a lifeti!
The rat scurried around inside her clothes, its claws and tail brushing against her skin...
Ah, can’t think about it, can’t think about it!
Elara knew Esther’s deep-seated fear of Aidan and smiled as she explained, "He’s just an awkward kid. When Auntie Yvette and my dad had been married for over a year, I found out that Aidan would help my dad with the toilet when Auntie Yvette wasn’t looking. You know how troubleso this can be for a paralyzed person. I never thought he would go to this extent."
Esther stared at her blankly, "Are you talking about Aidan? Isn’t he just a brat?"
"Maybe being a brat is his way of protecting himself from external harm. He actually understands deep down who treats him well, who cares for him, and he reciprocates. After I divorced Mason, he even fought for at school because soone called a howrecker."
"Even though he seems indifferent on the surface, inside he’s kind and soft-hearted—a child who elicits compassion."
Esther rubbed her nose, still finding it hard to believe, and after a mont said, "Alright, I might have misjudged him, so I should treat him more politely in the future."
Elara glanced at her with a smile and teased, "Do you dare to talk to him?"
Esther awkwardly replied, "...No, I don’t."
So, she didn’t even dare to speak to the boy, let alone talk about being polite to him.
In the afternoon, the sunlight was lovely, and Esther got a wheelchair from the nurse, taking Elara downstairs for so sunshine.
Elara sat in the wheelchair, feeling the occasional glances from passersby. Even without malice—just curiosity, or sotis devoid of any emotion—she still felt uncomfortable.
Being lower than others naturally while sitting in a wheelchair, even if no one looked down on her, she couldn’t help but imagine those looks as malicious.
Is this what Father’s daily life is like?
Her heart ached a little. Before the accident, Father was a senior engineer, respected wherever he went. Afterward, in a wheelchair, he was subject to those unusual glances wherever he went. She couldn’t imagine how he coped in those years.
Mother’s death was a cruel blow, and a sudden fall from an accomplished middle-aged man to soone confined to a wheelchair... his life must have been so difficult.
Elara unconsciously gripped the armrest, her fingers trembling slightly.
Sotis, she even wished the family had died together back then; at least they would be together, and the living wouldn’t have to endure such tornt and pain. Sotis, she’d think it’d be better if it weren’t an accident but an attack by criminals or malicious acts, at least then there would be soone to hate.
But as it was, the driver was caught, and it was over, while she and her dad had to live a lifeti under the shadow of this trauma.
Just as she was lost in these thoughts, the wheelchair suddenly stopped. Elara returned to her senses to see a figure standing not far ahead—a man in a silver suit, looking refined and handso, his face striking and spirited, eyes deep and looking at her with a sudden tenderness.
It was Mason, holding a bouquet, standing ten steps away from her wheelchair. Seeing Elara, he spoke softly, "Elara..."
Esther imdiately stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Elara, watching him warily, "What do you want?"
Mason chuckled lightly and said, "What could I do? Ms. Carter, I just wanted to see my wife. I miss her very much."
Esther sneered, "A weasel wishing Happy New Year to a chicken, you’re up to no good! Don’t think I don’t know how disgustingly you and that bitch Cecilia treated Elara! Let remind you, Elara is your ex-wife, your wife is nad Quincy, you have no right to miss Elara!"
She always knew Mason wasn’t a good-tempered person and was prepared for him to be enraged by her offensive words. But... she didn’t care.
After all, she had The great Mr. Fitzwilliam backing her! In front of The great Mr. Fitzwilliam, Mason was nothing.
She waited for Mason to explode, but to her surprise, he rely smiled nonchalantly at her hostility, as if he hadn’t taken it to heart at all.
"Elara, I heard you’re recovering well these days. Has the doctor said when you can be discharged?"
Mason bypassed Esther’s sight and looked at Elara, asking gently.
Elara frowned slightly, "Mason, what do you want with ? Just say it."
Mason smiled, took a few steps forward, but was forcibly stopped by Esther. He didn’t insist, just spoke to her over Esther, "Can’t I just co to see you without any ulterior motives? I told you long ago, I regret the divorce, Elara, I miss you."
Esther shuddered with disgust, blurting out, "Are you sick? Our Elara is married, she’s got nothing to do with you, who are you pretending to be all deep and tender for?"
Mason ignored her, only looking at Elara, saying, "Elara, I want to talk to you."
Elara unhesitatingly refused, "Sorry, I don’t think we have anything to talk about. Mason, it’s been more than half a year since we divorced, and I hope you stay out of my life."
Mason said, "What if I have sothing very important to tell you? Sothing important enough—" he looked at Elara and smiled slightly, "to concern your current marriage."
Elara froze, then spoke calmly, "If there’s a problem with my marriage, I wouldn’t need to hear it from you."
Esther almost wanted to hold up a sign to celebrate her friend.
Not easy at all, for more than three years, Elara finally showed strength in front of Mason!
Back when they were married those two years, she really watched as Elara transford from a vibrant girl into a spiritless doormat...
Indeed, divorce is the best beauty treatnt for a woman, an unhealthy marriage can destroy a woman.
She pushed the wheelchair, turning away from Mason.
Mason watched Elara’s back and said, "I’ve already divorced Cecilia Quincy."
Esther staggered, instinctively checking Elara’s reaction, worried Mason’s words might break her rationality.
After all, as her friend, she knew better than anyone how deeply Elara used to love Mason.
Elara t him at her most difficult ti; he worked hard, propping up her crumbling world. To Elara, he was more than just a lover, he was a pillar of strength and her greatest support.
In that marriage, Elara gave all her passion and sincerity. She respected love, respected her partner, and respected Mason’s family. If the counterpart hadn’t been Mason, what a sincere relationship she could have received!
But what did she get in the end? Contempt, betrayal, criticism, and bla.
Esther was really afraid that Elara would change her mind after hearing Mason divorced.
But soon, she realized she had underestimated her friend’s bravery.
"Mason, I’ll remind you again, we’re divorced. You’re my past, not in my future. Whether you marry or divorce, choose or abandon soone, has nothing to do with . I hope I never have to see you again in the future."
Having said that, she didn’t wait for Esther’s help but pushed the wheelchair herself, moving forward.
Leaving without hesitation, leaving with calm and fearless.
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