Chapter 94 Drinking the Pain Away
Finished
The more Lauren tried to hold it in, the more the sorrow swelled inside her, until it finally burst forth. She dropped her head onto the cold railing of the pedestrian bridge and began to cry. Softly at first, then harder, muffled sobs turning into heart-wrenching weeping.
Felix was stunned. He stood frozen in ce, utterly helpless. In all his twenty- eight years of life, no woman had ever cried in front of him. And now one was sobbing uncontrobly right in front of him. It made his chest tighten in a way that left him deeply unsettled.
He sighed and took out a cigarette, holding it out stiffly in her direction. "Want one?" he asked.
Lauren looked up. Her tear-soakedshes clung together, her eyes red and glistening with sorrow. "You''reforting me?" she asked, her voice thick with tears
"Mm." Felix nodded, answering simply.
"But I don''t like smoking." Lauren said.
"... Felix''s brow twitched as if he were about to frown. But just as the lines gathered between his brows, he forcibly smoothed them away, as though afraid she might misunderstand and think he was growing impatient.
His lips parted. Tll buy you a drink then," he said.
Lauren hupped through her tears, her shoulders shuddering. If I drink, will I stop feeling sad?"
"Mm." Felix nodded.
"Alright, I''ll drink. But I don''t have any money."
"It''s fine. It''s on me."
"You''re such a good person.
Felix''s expression faltered. He opened his mouth but found himself at a rare loss for words.
A good person?
No one had ever called him that before.
He always considered himself cold-blooded. Every decision he made was deliberate, every action guided by purpose and gain. He had no use for sentimentality, and the opinions of others were irrelevant to him. In his mind, there was no such thing as an absolute "good person'' or ''bad person. What matters is interest and method to achieve things.
He never denied the ruthlessness, the decisiveness he was so often used of. On the contrary, he believed they were necessary. In a world as brutal as this, those qualities were survival itself.
But now, this girl had called him a good person. The words hit him strangely, as if they had struck some long-forgotten part of him, buried deep and long since turned to stone.
The corners of Felix''s lips lifted in a faint smile.
Chapter 94 Drinking the Pain Away
"Wait here," he said quietly, turning to leave.
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Finished
Lauren leaned weakly against the railing, watching hint intently. She saw Felix stride across the bridge, long legs canying him to the back of his Phantons. He opened the trunk and reached inside.
His gaze settled on two bottles of wine.
Initially, he nned to bring them to an important meting about a project in Eastgate. But now, they would be used tofort a brokenhearted girl into feeling better.
Felix took the bottles and made his way back to her. Reaching her side again, he handed one over.
"Drink," he said.
Lauren did not hesitate. She unscrewed the cork, tipped her head back, and drank straight from the bottle.
Felix''s gaze flickered, amusement sparking briefly in his usually impassive eyes.
She drank so boldly, as if it were water.
Watching from inside the car, Josh was stunned.
Wait... Was red wine supposed to be drunk like that?
And not just any wine. That was a Piendeolo Rosado worth over 70,000 dors a bottle. And this girl was drinking it like beer.
Josh was speechless. He shifted his gaze back to his boss
That cold, distant boss of his was actually allowing her to drink like that. Not just allowing her. He seemed to be indulging her. The faintest trace of a smile tugged at Felix''s lips.
Josh had never seen his boss look at any woman this way. It was unprecedented. He scrambled to grab his phone and quickly snapped a picture of them standing there on the bridge, then sent it to Madam Kate without a moment''s dy.
At that exact moment, Kate was on the verge of a breakdown.
Not just her. Anna, Marilyn, Elliot, Lucas, and Keh were all frantic with worry. Ever since Lauren had suddenly disappeared, they had been searching for her as if their lives depended on it. They feared she might do something foolish. But after two hours of searching, there was still no sign of her.
Just as Kate was growing desperate, her phone vibrated. The instant she saw the photo Josh sent, her heart, which had been suspended high in her throat, finally settled.
But the relief was short-lived. Her eyes soon focused on Lauren''s anguished expression. Her slender figure clutched a wine bottle, drinking to drown her sorrows. The olddy''s heart twisted painfully in her chest.
Her eyes reddened as she murmured to herself, "This poor child. How much pain must she be carrying?"
Kate had always held firm to her traditional beliefs. She disapproved of young girls drinking, always thinking it improper. But in this moment, looking at Lauren, all she felt was boundlesspassion
"Let her drink," she whispered softly. "If drinking can ease her nain, even for a little while, then so be it."
Ghapter 94 Drinking the Pain Away
Steadying herself, she quickly dialed Felix''s number.
#Finished
At the same time, Lauren had already finished an entire bottle. Her pale cheeks were flushed, bringing an unexpected warmth and life to her delicate face. Her had drooped slightly, but she was still reaching for the second bottle.
Felix was about to stop her when his phone buzzed. With no choice, he answered. Kate''s voice rang out at once. "Felix. is Laurie with you?"
Laurie?
He nced at Lauren. She was halfway through her second bottle.
"She''s a good child, Kate continued, her voice thick with emotion. "Grandma really likes her. But this poor girl, her life has been so hard, and she''s suffered so much. You must take good care of her; do you understand? Once she''s done drinking, take her back to your ce. And remember, no bullying her. If you dare, I won''t let you off easily!"
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