?Chapter 579:


    News about Wesley and Lawrence’s spat had already spread through various group chats in the. Gossipmongers, always eager to stir the pot, were quick tobel Wesley as cold-blooded and ruthless.


    Elena made noment. She knew better than to judge based on rumors. She paused, her thoughts swirling, then settled back down onto the hood.


    Beside her, the car’s hood dipped as Wesley took a seat.


    Neither spoke.


    Wesley rolled a cigarette between his fingers before asking, “Do you mind if I smoke?”


    Elena shook her head.


    The wind at the mountaintop howled, tugging at everything it could. Wesley’s lighter flickered and failed to catch me several times.


    Suddenly, the wind died down, and a soft blue me danced from the lighter. Wesley arched an eyebrow.


    Wearing a trench coat, Elena casually extended one side of it, creating a makeshift windbreak. Her expression was calm. “Are you going to light it or not?”


    Once the cigarette was lit, Elena let go of her coat.


    Wesley’s long, elegant fingers held the cigarette as he slowly exhaled, sending smoke rings into the air. His gazended on her delicate yet unassuming face.


    The night was still, and on the deserted mountaintop, moonlight cascaded over Elena, wrapping her in a silver glow. Under its ethereal light, her beauty felt almost unreal.


    Strangely, the fury that had been burning in Wesley’s chest began to fade. Gradually, his tension eased. His voice was rough as he asked, “Why are you here alone?”


    Elena responded with azy drawl, “Why are you?”


    A smirk ghosted across Wesley’s lips. It had been a long time since he experienced such quietpanionship with her. He flicked the ash from his cigarette. “You already know.”


    It was a simple statement, but they both understood its meaning perfectly. Wesley knew Elena wouldn’t have stayed with him if she wasn’t aware of what had happened today.


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    Already aware of what Wesley was referring to, she replied, “Yes.”


    Wesley wasn’t surprised by her reply. He drew in a long breath from his cigarette before asking casually, “Do you think I’m cold-blooded?”


    Wesley was well aware of the insults spoken behind his back, but he couldn’t care less.


    Elena answered honestly, “I don’t think so.”


    Wesley’s fingers, still holding the cigarette, stiffened subtly. After a beat, he asked quietly, “Why?”


    Lawrence was his biological father, a fact he could neither deny nor escape. People branded him as cold-blooded, yet she didn’t see him that way.


    Elena’s gaze drifted toward the horizon, taking in the sprawling city below. “Not everyone who has a child knows how to be a parent. I’m sure you had your reasons for what you did.”


    People who lived in a bubble of idealism were the only ones who believed every parent loved their child. The Reed family had tried to pressure her into handing over half of the Harper family’s fortune. She had severed all ties with them, and in response, she was branded as ungrateful and cold-hearted. Only she truly understood how vile the Reed family was.


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