Chapter 308

The reason she broke down today wasn't just about the inheritance mess.

It was about being acknowledged.

Walter was a big deal in their circle, and Henry and Amelia were his main heirs.

This clearly showed Walter favored Henry over Alexander.

It was like saying Alexander was a loser who couldn't compete with Henry.

Now, everyone in their elite circle would think the same.

That was the real problem.

The chaos of the past few months had almost driven Scarlett to the edge; she couldn't handle it.

In every way, Alexander was better than Henry and the rightful heir.

How could anyone call him a failure?

Seeing Scarlett drowning in her emotions, James didn't bother with comforting words. "Don't you know what your own son is like?"

After dropping that bomb, James turned and left, only to see a tall figure step out from the shadows by the door.

No one knew when Alexander had shown up or how long he'd been listening.

His eyes were empty.

In the past, James would have tried to comfort him, but now, fed up with Alexander, he thought his words were spot on.

It was better for Alexander to face reality sooner rather than later.

James left the room without a hint of emotion.

Alexander didn't care about the gossip anymore; the person whose opinion mattered most had already cut him off.

He rubbed his temples and looked at Scarlett, who was crying on the couch.

"Mom, can you stop? Walter's will is for my own good. I don't see a problem with it."

Scarlett looked at him in disbelief, her face full of bitter disappointment.

"Are you really that clueless? This is so unfair to you! You're clearly the best in the family. Walter must be losing it to make such a crazy will!"

Deep down, Alexander knew he couldn't match Henry's skills.

But hearing it over and over was annoying. "Enough, Mom, just stop."

Scarlett was completely crushed; nothing could cheer her up.

"Even if you don't care about yourself, think about me! I've done so much for you. If your reputation tanks, how will I survive in our social circles?"

So that was Scarlett's real worry.

She didn't care about Alexander's feelings, just her own pride.

In that moment, Alexander got why James called Scarlett a hypocrite.

With a pounding headache, he spoke slowly, "I'm sorry, Mom, for embarrassing you."

Scarlett realized her words had hurt Alexander and quickly grabbed his hand to comfort him. "No! That's not what I meant. I just think you can't keep being so down. You..."

She couldn't finish her sentence.

How could a mother not feel for her child she carried for ten months?

But Scarlett was more worried about their future. Within both the family and the company, it was Henry who got all the attention.

Scarlett had a feeling that one day Henry would come back and take their place.

If Henry brought back his crazy mom Brenda, their family would be whole again.

All of Scarlett's carefully laid plans over the years would go up in smoke!

Plus, she knew she hadn't exactly been kind to Henry in the past. What if he wanted payback?

If Henry came after her, that was one thing, but Alexander was still so young. What about his future?

Thinking about all this, the usually confident Scarlett couldn't keep it together anymore.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the couch. "I don't know what to do anymore. Do whatever you think is best."

Alexander was quiet for a few seconds. "Actually, I think going abroad isn't a bad idea. My dad was right; I'm not good enough yet. This is a good chance to get better. Henry got where he is through his own hard work."

Alexander had grown up through these setbacks. The Alexander who only knew how to party was now just a shadow of his former self.

He was even grateful he was still young; realizing this stuff later would have been too late.

But Scarlett would never admit defeat. After a few words, they started arguing again.

Alexander left the room, tired and disillusioned.

He needed to find a place to let out his frustration.

In the past, he would hit the racetrack for some thrills, but now his friends avoided him, not wanting to get dragged down.

He didn't want to bother anyone either.

Alexander went to a bar alone, ordered a few drinks, and sat in a booth, drinking quietly.

The dim light blurred the faces around him, turning them into shadows.

That was fine with him; he could let his guard down and enjoy a moment of anonymity.

Besides, Alexander really thought going abroad was a smart move. He'd get away from seeing Amelia and Henry all lovey-dovey.

Adjusting his mindset abroad, he could snap out of this funk soon.

The fiery liquor burned his throat, dulling the edges of his sobriety.

Just as he closed his eyes to rest, a familiar woman's voice reached his ears. "Come on, I said I'd drink for you. Why are you hiding?"

This voice had once been part of his wild days and had contributed to his downfall.

How could he forget?

"Mia? What are you doing here?" he shouted.

The bar's music was loud, and Mia didn't hear him at first.

Alexander raised his voice and called out again.

This time, Mia heard him, her face showing surprise as she turned to him.

Alexander looked at her heavily made-up face, narrowing his eyes slightly.

If she hadn't turned around, he wouldn't have recognized her on the street.

Unlike when they were together, Mia was now dressed provocatively, wearing the cheap perfume she used to hate.

She no longer looked like the carefree girl she once was; she looked like a seasoned player in the nightlife scene.

Seeing her again, he was struck by how much had changed.

Alexander's eyes moved to Mia's outfit, a black low-cut dress that exposed most of her chest.

Such attire easily conjured inappropriate images.

Even though he knew he had no right to ask, he frowned and said, "What are you doing here?"