My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)
Chapter 218

I didn't know what to make of lan's situation, so I watched him open a bottle of wine and started drinking on his own.

Failing to hold back, I decided to join in for some sips and told him, "Why don't you settle in Ucrebury in the future? Monique and I are here. We can have each other's backs." What was gone was gone. Only a few people would stay with us for a lifetime.

lan took a few more swigs, and I could tell he was in a bad mood.

"We'll see what the future brings. I'm really envious of the relationship between you and Monique. Despite losing your family, you both really cared for each other."

What between Monique and me was no longer mere friendship. We only had each other. We were family.

The red wine was quite strong. I stopped drinking after a few sips, and it was before I realized lan had finished a bottle in a flash. "That's enough! This wine is strong." Worriedly, I warned him.

He was flushed, and he looked tipsy as he reached for another bottle of wine. But he sounded sober. "Don't worry, I won't die! It's not like anyone cares if I die anyway."

He chugged down more wine, his eyes brimming with tears, and he continued, "Humans are ridiculous. They insult and turn their back on you when they don't need you. But when they needed you, they had the audacity to beg for pity. It's crazy!"

I couldn't comprehend what he was mumbling. Not knowing how to respond, I just listened to him quietly.

Monique, however, had woken up. Still leaning on the sofa, she softly asked, "Did the people from Jarold City come to you?"

Her question was apparently directed at lan. With his eyes half-closed but red, lan nodded, "They're just a bunch of ruthless people. They forced my mom to death, and now they want me to go back to save that sick old b*stard. Look at the irony of that!"

Lost in their conversation, I mouthed to Monique, "What's going on?"

Getting to recap what had happened, Monique took a sip of water and put her cheeks on her hand, "lan is the illegitimate son of Gordan Shelley, a wealthy businessman in Jarold City. Five years ago, his mother brought him back to Jarold City, hoping that the Shelley family would accept him, but they refused and drove them out. Based on what he said just now, the Shelley family probably is planning to take him back now."

"Why didn't I know any of this?"

"Of course you don't. You were almost going insane because of Grandma back then. Even if he told you, you wouldn't have paid any attention."

As the alcohol kicked in, lan drooped on the sofa. He looked dejected.

All happy families were alike, but each unhappy family was unhappy in its own way. Since I wasn't good at comforting others, I could only quietly offer my company for him.

As much as it hurt, there were just some things that we would need to endure all on our own.

I looked up to check the time, and it was already midnight. Since lan was already drunk, I got up and helped him to his bed with Monique. Surprised after noticing the time, she asked, "Did Hendrix call you?" I shrugged, "My phone was dead."

She curled her lips. "You should go home quickly! Leave this mess to me."

"Don't worry. I've told Hendrix that I'll be staying at the Bronzy Condo tonight," I assured her as I covered lan with the quilt.

Spotting the dark circles around Monique's eyes, I asked, concerned, "You didn't sleep well recently?"

She nodded, looking fatigued. "This child is no angel. It's been a real torture for me!"

It was true that every pregnancy was different. On the contrary, I wasn't suffering as much as she did other than only a few morning sicknesses. I collected our belongings, and I said, "Let's go home." The hotel wasn't far away from the Bronzy Condo, so we arrived home after only a short drive.

It was already one in the morning by the time we got to bed. We were so tired that we dozed off soon after.