Chapter 216 Where Is That Man?
The soft patter of rain was heard outside. In front of the French windows at the duplex apartment, Elijah was holding a cup of floral tea that Courtney had made for him. “Things have been so hectic lately. I had someone look after Tina for a couple of days. When you have time, I’ll bring her along and treat you to a meal.”
“I always have time.”
The man looked especially gentle with a pair of glasses on while he sat on the gray fabric couch. He had the stability and confidence befitting his age. The way he spoke and carried himself also gave off a sense of security.
“We can’t bring the dead back to life, Elijah. You know I don’t like to worry too much about things that can’t be changed.” Courtney looked weary as she massaged her swollen temples.
She had not slept properly over those two days.
Her father’s passing was questionable. It wasn’t that she did not have any suspicions of her own, but given her identity, it was not appropriate for her to dig any further. Otherwise, it would be hard to avoid criticism from people who would claim that she was only trying to find trouble because she was unsatisfied with her father’s unfair division of property. Personally, she did not mind the criticism, but she did not want people to gossip about Tina.
“Technically, you should have the right to half of the Hunter Family’s inheritance.”
“This really isn’t important to me.”
Elijah sighed and had a disheartened expression. “You just can’t be bothered. I’m not forcing you to go all the way with this, but you’re not even thinking about trying to do something.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that. I want to live a more simple life.”
“Are things simple now?” Elijah’s tone sounded profound. “In a big family like the Duncans’, a family feud is never a simple matter.”
Courtney was taken aback. “You know about that?”
“It’s impossible not to know.” His expression was subtle. “You’re in the spotlight of business news headlines in Asia. Nowhere in the news is your relationship with him a secret anymore.”
Resting all her weight against the couch, she chuckled. “Are you that certain? There’s actually another part to it which I believe Cameron told you about previously, didn’t she?”
He did not answer her.
Cameron had always gladly passed on various information to him. When Courtney first met Cameron in America, she and Elijah had already registered their marriage. At the time, he had just passed the bottleneck period in his career. Apart from rising steadily, he also provided financial support to Cameron who was still a design student and struggling with financial hardships.
Hence, she was in his debt.
At the thought of Cameron, Elijah frowned. “Cameron is not in a very good state. I suggest letting her stay at a hospital for treatment. That guy called Gale might not have the ability to look after her properly.”
“Don’t worry. He’s devoted to her.”
She waved him off, but he still looked concerned.
After letting out a long sigh, he pressed, “Being devoted to her is one thing, but being able to care for a person with depression is another. Aside from specialized nurses, no one can keep their eyes on a patient all day long. There will be times when they need to go out. If something happens while they’re out, who is going to take responsibility? The housekeepers at home?”
His words made her doubt herself. “I will bring up the idea to him then.”
“Okay. I’ve already contacted the best rehabilitation center for treating depression in America. For the sake of her recovery, I recommend sending her there.”
“America?” Courtney was dumbfounded. “I don’t think Gale can accept that.”
They would be separated by an ocean and time difference. If they really sent Cameron away, he might lose his mind.
“Then we will see if he’s only doing this for himself or if he’s genuinely doing this for Cameron’s sake.”
Elijah’s reasoning was harsh. He did not consider Gale’s feelings one bit.
Nonetheless, Courtney understood. After all, he did not know Gale personally and was only speaking for Cameron. He couldn’t tend to everyone at once.
“Okay, I’ll talk to him,” she agreed with a serious look on her face. It might have been easy to say that but would prove harder to do later.
They talked late into the night. By the time Courtney sent Elijah off, it was already pitch black outside. Lilian waved at her in the dark, signaling her to go back.
Courtney nodded. Tightening the shawl around her, she turned back around and went inside. When the doors opened, a breeze blew past and a storm began all of a sudden. She shrank her shoulders and thought that the weather had gotten cooler.
The elevator took her up.
With a ‘ding’, the doors slowly opened. Courtney lowered her head and headed toward her house. When she was putting in her passcode, the beeping sound was exceptionally clear in the corridor. Stepping inside, she noticed the fragrance of the flower tea was still quite strong.
She went to the kitchen to boil water for herself again. While she was staring at the kettle, a man’s voice suddenly came up from behind her, scaring her half to death.
“What are you thinking about?”
She cried out in alarm and turned around with a hand on her chest. A tall and big figure was standing under the incandescent lights in the living room, producing a long shadow on the ground. She could not see his face clearly, but she was able to identify him.
It was Alexander.
“You scared me to death.” She pressed down on her rapidly beating heart. “What the h*ll? When did you get here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Shanghai?”
With a blank expression, he answered, “The project ended. When I heard about your father, I came back right away.”
There was a huge storm in Shanghai over the last couple of days. All the flights were delayed, and roads were blocked because of an increase in accidents on the highway. It dragged on until this morning when flights began operating again.
Courtney had not recovered from the shock she received earlier. Her hands were still shaking as she held onto the marble table for support. Her breaths were coming in a rush. “No, I mean, shouldn’t you have at least called when you came back? You almost scared me to death by showing up at my house without a word. I really regret giving you the passcode now.”
She was only grumbling from being surprised, but she did not realize that those words left a bitter taste when they reached his ears.
“I’m sure that isn’t the only thing you regret.”
Step after step, he closed in on her while dripping water on the floor. The pool of water was mixed with traces of mud.
Only then did she realize that he was drenched from head to toe.
“What happened to you? How did you get caught in the rain? Where’s Mr. Reynolds?”
It was as though he did not hear her. With the big marble countertop in the kitchen between them, he glared at her and asked in an icy cold voice, “Where is that man? Did you send him off already?”
He did not dare to believe that she could still act as if nothing had happened in front of him at this moment. She could still stand tall and face him after sending another man out of her house.
His question made her heart sink slightly.
What man?” she responded automatically, but she already guessed that Alexander had seen Elijah.
“Are you asking me?” He found it funny. Ridicule and contempt filled his cold gaze as he stared at her in disappointment. “Are you not going to explain your relationship with that man unless I tell you everything I saw first?”
“Elijah and I are just friends. You’re mistaken.”
She cradled her forehead as she finally knew why Alexander was so aggravated all of a sudden.
“Friends?” His chilly laughter rang clearly through the big house.
