Chapter 61
Alexander got into his car, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
Sitting in the car, he stared at the glowing tip of his cigarette, feeling lost and unsure of what to do next.
He decided to send a message to the group chat: [Pulse Society, drinks.]
David replied quickly: [Seriously? You've bailed on us so many times before.]
Even Dylan, who usually had a sarcastic remark ready, simply responded: [Alright, be there soon.]
Seeing the replies, Alexander stubbed out his cigarette, started the car, and headed to Pulse Society.
By the time he arrived, Dylan was already there.
In the private room, Dylan was lounging lazily on the sofa, with the low table in front of him already covered in bottles.
Alexander walked over and sat on the sofa to the side.
Dylan glanced at him without saying a word, opened a bottle, and handed it to Alexander. "What's eating you tonight?"
Alexander took a swig. "Me? Nothing much. Does Zoe know you're out?"
Dylan glared at him. "If she did, do you think I'd be out here drinking with you in the middle of the night?"
Dylan was unapologetically putting friends second to his love life.
Alexander raised an eyebrow. No wonder Dylan showed up so quickly tonight; he was alone too.
Alexander's love life was also a mess. He could only manage a bitter smile as he clinked glasses with Dylan. "Alright, let's drink."
Both of them had their own troubles, and before long, they had downed half a bottle each.
By the time David and Tyler arrived, the two had already had quite a bit to drink.
Tyler and David exchanged a look and each grabbed a bottle from their hands.
Dylan, now without his bottle, turned to Alexander. "Why the sudden urge to drink tonight? You've turned us down so many times before."
Alexander lay back on the sofa. "Scarlett wants to break up with me."
The statement was odd.
Even Tyler couldn't help but be surprised.
Hadn't Alexander already broken up with her before he went abroad? By the time he returned, she was already engaged to Sebastian. How could they break up again?
Dylan couldn't help but mock him. "Didn't you guys break up ages ago? Did you get back together in a dream or something?"
Maybe it was the alcohol dulling his senses, but Alexander didn't react to the sarcasm. He was in the mood to talk. "I told her I'd be her lover, and she didn't reject me."
Tyler couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
The other two had similar expressions of disbelief.
Alexander, a lover?
If this got out, it would definitely be a hot topic on social media.
"Everything was fine before, but after she met Sebastian, everything changed." Alexander looked regretful. "I shouldn't have let her go."
"Now she doesn't want me and keeps trying to set me up with other women."
Alexander's delicate features dimmed as he lay back, his eyes meeting the not-so-bright ceiling light.
His heart ached again.
These days, he was filled with regret, constantly replaying scenarios in his mind. If he had stopped Scarlett from meeting Sebastian, kept her locked away in their little villa, would things be different now?
But he knew all too well that as long as Scarlett loved Sebastian, unless he could keep her locked away forever, this would have happened eventually.
Alexander, who had been a business prodigy, felt powerless in front of Scarlett.
He no longer knew what role he could play to stay by Scarlett's side.
From the moment he suggested being Scarlett's lover, he had given up on the hope of winning her love. But now he realized that it wasn't just her love he couldn't have.
Dylan, too, was reminded of his own heartbreak.
He squinted, a self-deprecating smile on his face. "What are these women thinking?"
"Zoe's the same, treating me like a damn plaything, using me and then kicking me out." He was getting himself worked up. "What's wrong with me? Wasn't she the one who wanted to marry me back then?"
David couldn't hold back anymore.
He looked at Dylan. "Come on, man, your situation is nothing like Alexander's! Zoe loved you deeply, and you hurt her so many times. You should be grateful she's still willing to talk to you!"
Dylan glared at David.
David shrugged, indifferent.
Though he had dated many women, most were just flings. He wasn't exactly experienced in serious relationships, but seeing his friends like this, he had to try to help. "Do you think Scarlett still has feelings for you?"
Alexander was silent.
He didn't know how to answer that.
Did Scarlett love him?
Since their reunion, he had never been sure.
Every time he saw a glimmer of hope, it was quickly dashed.
So, he didn't know.
Seeing his silence, David didn't know how to comfort him.
The scariest thing in love is when there's no love.
He opened his mouth, struggling to find the words. "Maybe..."
Tyler immediately coughed, cutting David off.
David and Dylan hadn't seen Alexander's obsession with love, but Tyler had.
Telling Alexander to let go was impossible.
Dylan understood what David was about to say and disagreed.
He got up, unsteady, and put his arm around Alexander's shoulder. "Don't listen to David. Listen to me! If you like her, don't give up. It doesn't matter if she doesn't like you. You like her, that's enough!"
"Sebastian has a mistress, right? No matter how much Scarlett likes him, how long can that last?" Dylan spoke as if he had a wealth of experience. "If she avoids you, just grab her and keep her close..."
Tyler couldn't help but push him. "Stop talking nonsense. This is a lawful society, stop reading those domineering CEO novels."
Dylan didn't care and added, "Don't let go. Once you do, it's really over."
Seeing the two men so troubled by love, David filled his glass. "Alright, alright, we're here to drink, right? Stop talking and let's drink until we drop."
Tyler immediately agreed. "Exactly, drowning your sorrows is a way too."
Alexander didn't refuse.
Drowning his sorrows was the reason he came out to drink.
In the short time he rested in the car, even with his eyes closed, all he could see was Scarlett's cold expression.
Scarlett had asked him if being in bed together meant love.
How could it not be love?
Even during their time apart, Scarlett was the only one on his mind.
But it seemed he was the only one left in the memories Scarlett had abandoned.
Alexander didn't want to go home because he couldn't close his eyes.
So he decided to get drunk, let the alcohol numb his nerves, and maybe get a moment of peace.