One Night Surprise (Courtney and Alexander)
Chapter 216

One Night Surprise Chapter 216

Chapter 216 Where Is That Man?

The soft patter of rain was heard outside. In front of the French windows at the duplex apartment, Elijahwas holding a cup of floral tea that Courtney had made for him. “Things have been so hectic lately. Ihad someone look after Tina for a couple of days. When you have time, I’ll bring her along and treatyou 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. Hehad the stability and confidence befitting his age. The way he spoke and carried himself also gave off asense of security.

“We can’t bring the dead back to life, Elijah. You know I don’t like to worry too much about things thatcan’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, butgiven her identity, it was not appropriate for her to dig any further. Otherwise, it would be hard to avoidcriticism from people who would claim that she was only trying to replace trouble because she wasunsatisfied with her father’s unfair division of property. Personally, she did not mind the criticism, butshe 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 goall 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 familyfeud 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 newsheadlines 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 anotherpart 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 inAmerica, she and Elijah had already registered their marriage. At the time, he had just passed thebottleneck period in his career. Apart from rising steadily, he also provided financial support toCameron 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 herstay at a hospital for treatment. That guy called Gale might not have the ability to look after herproperly.”

“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 aperson with depression is another. Aside from specialized nurses, no one can keep their eyes on apatient all day long. There will be times when they need to go out. If something happens while they’reout, 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 thesake 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 mightlose 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 speakingfor 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 thatbut 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 thedoors opened, a breeze blew past and a storm began all of a sudden. She shrank her shoulders andthought 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’svoice 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 standingunder the incandescent lights in the living room, producing a long shadow on the ground. She could notsee 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 didyou 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 cameback right away.”

There was a huge storm in Shanghai over the last couple of days. All the flights were delayed, androads were blocked because of an increase in accidents on the highway. It dragged on until thismorning when flights began operating again.

Courtney had not recovered from the shock she received earlier. Her hands were still shaking as sheheld 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 housewithout 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 tastewhen 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 withtraces 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, heglared 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 thismoment. 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 herin disappointment. “Are you not going to explain your relationship with that man unless I tell youeverything 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.