Clifford still had a flat, expressionless face standing in front of the small window. Even though his face didn't show any emotion, his heart was secretly crying for the young woman inside that ward.
Clifford didn't want to see Merry cry or be sad. If allowed, he wanted to stay by her side and wipe away her tears. But no matter how much he wanted it, Clifford was not qualified to do so.
The head of the Widjaya Family security team pressed his lips tightly together until it turned white. His throat felt choked with feelings he could not express.
All the emotions Clifford was feeling right now wasn't because Merry was crying for someone else, but simply because that woman was Merry.
Merry was still in her youth. The young woman should spend her time smiling mischievously, not crying with her broken heart. Merry should not be bound by such sadness.
Clifford thought that if the only way to make Merry smile again was Chris getting back to his feet, then he wouldn't mind taking the man's place and fell into a coma. He was willing to do anything to make Merry smile again.
In the end, Clifford did not go into the ward. He hung the plastic bag containing Merry's lunch on the doorknob, then he turned and walked away. Clifford walked out of the hospital into the outdoor's garden. The man barely felt the cold wind blowing hard as he took out a cigarette and took a smoke.
One piece...
Two pieces...
No matter what Clifford did, he could not suppress the sadness in his heart. The man stopped under an old, withering tree and leaned against its trunk. The white smoke could not cover the melancholy feeling in his eyes. Clifford closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Behind him, the sound of footsteps treading on the fallen leaves suddenly came. Clifford immediately opened his eyes and turned around in an alert. He met a pair of dark blue eyes that were as sharp as blades.
Clifford immediately straightened up and nodded at the man. "Young Master Jean," he greeted. Clifford was grateful that his voice didn't tremble as he spoke.
"What are you doing, standing here alone?" Jean asked, narrowing his eyes. The man's fingertips were also holding a cigarette, his approaching figure looked elegant and dignified.
Clifford was breathing slowly as he was trying to suppress his emotions. The man's gray eyes were expressionlessly cold. "I didn't do anything, young master. I just smoked to relieve my fatigue," Clifford dodged.
Jean stopped in front of him. His sharp eyes stared at Clifford as if he could see everything. The fourth son of the Widjaya Family raised his face and looked at the sky that looked gray. A few moments later, Jean spoke in a low voice.
"Better to let go than to feel sad."
Hearing this, Clifford's flat face was replaced by a surprised look. He met Jean's eyes, who looked back at him. Clifford could see the seriousness in his young master's eyes, and he knew that it was no use pretending not to understand his words.
After a few seconds, Clifford laughed at himself and said, "Young Master, I don't have the qualifications to do that."
As someone who had always been by Jean's side and protecting him, Clifford had never doubted his young master's abilities. Jean never said much, but that didn't mean he couldn't understand what was going on.
After being with Jean for so many years, Clifford knew very well that the man had a sharp and brilliant mind. Many things couldn't escape his attention. That was why Clifford had purposely isolated himself in this remote place to avoid Jean, at least until he regained control of his emotions. But who would have thought that he would actually meet Jean here?
A cool wind blew, messing up the leaves scattered on the ground. Clifford's gaze was fixed on the leaves flying in the wind as he stubbornly refused to look at Jean.
Then Clifford heard Jean ask him, "What are those qualifications?"
Clifford didn't want to admit it, but he had to be straightforward. "The man is a good friend of yours, almost like your own brother. Plus, he is the second grandson of the Hartanto family. While I... I am just..."
Before Clifford could finish, he heard Jean interrupt him. "I also consider you like my own brother. You have accompanied me for many years, like an older brother. As far as your identity is concerned, you should not look down on yourself. That's tantamount to looking down on the Widjaya Family,"
Jean's words caused Clifford to turn to the man. His expression was filled with shock and disbelief. Perhaps, this was the first time Clifford had heard Jean openly confess his feelings for his head bodyguard. At the same time, these words created a churning storm in Clifford's heart.
"If you like her, why not give it a try? You shouldn't talk about qualifications, they are unnecessary!"
Clifford's heart was shaken even more when he heard that. At least until this moment, he had never thought that he would qualify to compete with the second grandson of the Hartanto family.
"Young master, you… want me to fight for that?" Clifford asked in a hoarse voice, as if he couldn't believe it. He looked closely at Jean, trying to get a fair answer from his mouth.
Neither of them realized that the cold wind had stopped blowing.
Clifford heard Jean say, "Merry is young and simple. If you believe in your own mind and what you want to do, then do it,"
Clifford's breath was caught when he heard that.
"You are part of my family, the Widjaya family. You're not cut out for standing alone in a corner!"
After saying all that, Jean immediately turned around. Perhaps to cover up his embarrassment, the man walked briskly toward the hospital's entrance.
Clifford looked at the back of the man walking away. His eyes were hot and there was a warm current that broke the emotional dam in his heart. One sentence from Jean had knocked down his wall of low self-esteem.
Clifford had liked Merry for ten years. He thought that he had his emotions well, and he only blamed the time for that. As the time went by, it became increasingly difficult to hide his feelings, especially as Merry grew into a beautiful young woman.
What made Clifford feel most helpless was his predestined background. Even though he never said it, he always put himself behind the scenes. Clifford thought that he didn't deserve to stand with the 'main characters'.
But Jean's words opened his heart and gave a push to his back. In the end, his heart was moved by that man.
No one could love forever without asking for anything in return. Who wouldn't want their love to blossom and bear fruit?
On this day, Clifford, who had always put himself in a lowly position, had a faint smile on his expressionless handsome face.
He thought that he would fight for the feelings of love that lodged in his heart for these ten years. But Clifford was not going to push Merry aggressively. Even if his love failed to bear fruit in the end, he still had no complaints in this life.
Clifford looked where the man was leaving, and said to himself, "Young Master Jean, thank you."
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