Fortunately, I have no intention of remarrying right now,” Elizabeth shrugged. Natalia took a sip of her drink and smiled slightly, as if she already knew what the future held.
“This journey hasn’t been easy. I barely crawled out of the last pit; not about to jump back in,” Elizabeth said lazily. Natalin said, “I know you’re clear-headed, just occasionally confused.”
“No. I’m just often confused when it comes to Alexander,” Elizabeth admitted. She used to be all about love. So, she deserved the hurt she got. But now, she was truly clear-headed. Nothing was more important than herself and her family.
At 20, Elizabeth was crazy about marrying Alexander. At 21, she was willing to give her life for him. But now, at almost 25, Elizabeth was no longer willing.
“When’s the next party?” Elizabeth didn’t want to talk about her and Alexander anymore, so she changed the subject.
Natalia replied, “It’s Queen’s Night.”
“I heard you on the phone earlier, saying there’s an actress who’s been overshadowing you. What’s going on? Need any help?” Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, her tone more serious.
Natalia couldn’t help but laugh. Elizabeth’s words sounded like, “Do you need me to have someone take care of her?”
“It’s just an actress of the same type. She recently starred in a web series that blew up. She’s trying to overshadow me. It’s annoying,” Natalia sighed. “But now that I have Tears of Snow, don’t worry, the front-page news on Queen’s Night will definitely be about me!”
“Great, looking forward to seeing you on the front page,” Elizabeth said.
Natalia nodded. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, we’re family,” Elizabeth patted Natalia’s shoulder. She never considered Natalia an outsider. To Elizabeth, Natalia was like her own sister. Of course, it would be nice if Natalia could share more warm moments like this with her.
It was already past ten after dinner.
Declan was happy and had a few more drinks with Charles. As the car drove away, Elizabeth still saw Natalia’s figure in the rearview mirror.
Natalia stood alone at the dock, arms crossed, looking thin and languid. Although Natalia was thriving in the entertainment industry, wasn’t she also lonely? Everyone knew Natalia was Charles’s daughter, a socialite who would inherit the entertainment company if she didn’t act well. But at the same time, everyone knew she wasn’t Charles’s biological daughter.
Elizabeth looked away. Rose, driving, asked, “Have you been in touch with Alexander lately?”
Elizabeth looked up. Although Declan had drunk a lot, he perked up at the mention of Alexander’s name. He said, “No way, I’m telling you, you can’t get back together with Alexander. I don’t agree.”
Elizabeth looked at Declan quietly. She pulled the blanket over Declan. “Got it, Dad.”
Rose sighed. “If he knew it would come to this, why did he do it in the first place?”
Elizabeth gave a bitter smile. “Mom, that’s life.”
“How’s that Esme from the Russell Family?” Rose asked.
Elizabeth answered, “The news this morning said she was taken to a mental hospital.”
Rose instinctively shook her head. “What a pity.” Esme was such a good girl. Rose still remembered how she often came to play at their house with Elizabeth during college. Esme had a pleasant way of speaking and was good at reading people. It’s just that Esme changed later.
Rose sighed, “Reaching this point, she brought it on herself. Elizabeth, once someone enters a mental hospital, whether they’re truly insane or faking it, there’s only one path left!”
Elizabeth was silent. Although Rose didn’t finish her sentence, Elizabeth knew that path was death.
“Maybe it’s for the best. Otherwise, she’d be a menace outside. With such a malicious mind, she deserves to suffer a bit.” Rose was even angrier than Elizabeth when it came to Esme. If it weren’t for Esme, how could Elizabeth’s marriage have fallen apart?