Chapter 224: Are you in a better place?
Ryle averted his gaze from the snow, his gaze still as playful as if it was not his mind that was racing with thoughts that could not be spoken out loud.
"Nothing special."
"What’s your relationship with Daisy?"
The sudden question from Maxim caught Ryle off guard but his expressions did not change, "What has it got to do with you?"
"She is my sister-in-law."
"You and Diana are not even married yet. Even though you have a child, are you not afraid she will find herself another man if you waste your time poking your nose in other people’s business?"
Maxim was hit in his sore spot and his face turned ugly. Because of Diana’s pregnancy, they had not gotten married and she was still his fiancee. As much as he wanted to wife her up, he could not do so abruptly with their little Elias in the mix. So, he exercised patience and tolerance. In his mind, Diana was already his wife.
As calm as he seemed on the outside, only Maxim knew how miserable he felt when someone burst his bubble.
And Ryle seemed to know well about what to say and how to say in order to poke the sore spots of his friend.
He would not have been as triggered if his own reverse scales were not scratched by the man.
Maxim cleared his throat and glanced at Ryle coldly.
Ryle gave him an indifferent look which seemed almost provocative in certain ways.
"It is only a matter of time before we get married," Maxim started, "I don’t know what intentions you hold for Daisy but you should consider and reconsider things well. I don’t want her to get hurt."
Ryle felt rather bitter having been painted as a villain in his best friend’s mind. He felt rather incensed and wanted to defend himself, say what he felt for Daisy but he knew that if he spoke, his words would not be believed.
For a person like him, it was rather easy to wear a ghost mask, pretend to be a monster and be called a monster willingly rather than struggling, removing the mask, reveal his face and still be called a monster.
Putting a tough exterior and letting people see the worst was always the easy way than saying you mean well only to hear them say that they don’t buy your words.
Moreover, who was he to blame?
His past actions were rather heinous. The number of times he had looked down on Maxim for falling in love so hopelessly, he could not count them. Nobody told him that there would be such a day when he would be in such a state and be trampled by the best friend of his whose ’emotional dignity’ he used to trample in passing as a means of entertainment.
Maintaining his thick skin, Ryle scoffed, "You just don’t want Diana to be sad."
Maxim gave a deep glance but eventually, he not argue.
In the back garden, Ivy was on tenterhooks as she showed Logan around the place.
It was one thing to blatantly tell him that the back garden was so beautiful that he would miss out if he did not see it and it was another thing to bitterly realize that she was exaggerating it.
The Chen Mansion in every way was marvelous and there was no denying that the back garden was blooming with all sorts of flowers. The blooming plum blossoms that were enveloped in snow alone were beautiful enough to capture people’s attention.
But to Ivy... she would like it better if someone got her some new tech, latest gaming gadgets or if she was taught some wide-ranging hacking techniques by Daisy.
She was not the kind of person who knew how to appreciate the beauty of flowers.
They bloomed today, they would wither tomorrow. Why to gush over them?
But she had dragged Logan all the way here because she saw him sitting there all by himself. And somehow it gave people a lonely feeling.
Since she brought him here, naturally, she had to go all the way. So, she led the man around, "You see, Sir Logan, see these plum blossoms. Usually, they are just as beautiful but perhaps because of the snow, they seem even prettier. I didn’t want you to miss out on such a spectacular sight... cough..."
When the man glanced at the flowers solemnly, Ivy covered her mouth with one palm as she cleared her throat.
Logan appeared like he was trying to see where the spectacular sight was.
Just as she was about to die from her awkwardness, her little savior stepped in while holding her hand.
"Vi... Vi.." Angel’s eyes never once left the beautiful plum blossoms.
Ivy’s eyes softened, "Wait."
She reached out and plucked a few blossoms before she arranged them in Angel’s blonde hair. Then she handed the remaining flowers to the little girl who happily received them, looking at the snow that coated the petals, her eyes shining with incredulity as if she had discovered something novel.
"At least, someone liked the back garden and saved my face," Loose as her tongue was, Ivy did not realize what she had uttered until those words were out in the open.
She looked at Logan and then froze.
"You... I... I did not mean it like that," Ivy waved her hand hurriedly.
Logan looked at her flustered expression, paused for a moment, before he opened his mouth to speak, "How have you been?"
Hearing his words, Ivy also calmed down. She knew that the man probably asked it in an attempt to save her from the embarrassment but she was very thankful about it, "I am doing well here," she said as her lips curved up in a sincere smile, "The circumstances under which I ended up here did not seem as good but they led me to a better place so I am content."
Although Logan did not ask, she still briefly mentioned it. It was a bit amusing how a few years ago, they were all in Los Angeles. Both her and Logan used to work for Maxim. But now, both of them ended up here due to different situations.
Logan looked at her sincere smile that seemed so infectious as if she could not be happier and he nodded his head indifferently.
"What about you? Are you in a better place now?"
