Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Alexander slowly turned around and saw Nicholas standing there.

"Why are you here?"

Before Nicholas could answer, he asked urgently. "Did Stella come back? Did you bring her here?"

Nicholas looked at him, a flicker of complexity in his eyes, then shook his head and answered calmly. "She didn't come back."

That short sentence was like a bucket of ice water dumped over Alexander's head.

Nicholas's words instantly extinguished all his hope and excitement.

Alexander stared at Nicholas blankly, the light in his eyes fading bit by bit, leaving only endless disappointment.

His body swayed slightly, as if all his strength had been drained.

"It's not her... then who could it be?" Alexander muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.

His gaze fell back on Mason's tombstone, and the fresh fruits now looked painfully conspicuous.

Nicholas stepped forward and looked at Mason's tombstone. After a moment of silence, he began to explain.

"I also came to pay my respects to Mr. Hall. I just got here and saw the offerings in front of the tombstone, so I knew someone had been here before me. Maybe it was an old friend of his, or perhaps a neighbor."

Alexander said nothing, just stared at Mason's smile on the tombstone. His chest felt tight and painful, as if something were pressing down on it.

If she didn't even care about Mason's memorial day anymore, would Stella ever come back?

Alexander really had no confidence in the answer to that question.

Nicholas tilted his head slightly and glanced over at him.

"Are you still looking for her?"

Though it was a question, he sounded more like he was making a statement.

Alexander nodded at his words, his voice hoarse.

"As long as I'm still alive, I'll keep looking."

"But she doesn't want you to find her."

Nicholas looked at him seriously.

"When she left, she had already made up her mind to completely disappear from your world. So if she doesn't want to be found, you won't be able to find her."

Nicholas's words were like a splash of cold water, yet Alexander knew he was telling the truth.

But so what?

"I've never failed to get what I want, or who I want. No matter how far she goes or how deep she hides, I will definitely find her and bring her back."

Seeing his determined, almost obsessive look, Nicholas sighed helplessly and said no more.

Some obsessions can't be talked away or stopped by anyone else.

Alexander stood in front of the tombstone for a long time before slowly turning and walking toward the cemetery exit.

Under the autumn sunlight, his figure looked particularly lonely. Nicholas watched his departing figure, then took out his phone to make a call.

The call was quickly answered, and Stella's gentle voice came through.

"Nicholas, I'm almost at the cemetery. There was some traffic on the way, so sorry to have kept you waiting."

Hearing her voice, Nicholas's tone immediately softened, completely different from the calm demeanor he had with Alexander.

"No need to come, Stella. Someone just caused trouble at the cemetery, and it's temporarily closed. You can't get in."

Stella was taken aback by this news.

She had taken the risk to come back specifically to properly pay her respects to Mason.

After all, today was the day of his memorial, but something had to happen at the cemetery.

"What about the offerings?"

Facing her soft inquiry, Nicholas thought for a moment before responding.

"I've already had someone take care of it. Don't worry. Find somewhere to pull over and be safe. I'll come find you now."

After hanging up, a trace of heartache flickered in Nicholas's eyes, he looked in the direction Alexander had left and sighed softly.

Alexander drove back to the Brown Group.

As soon as his car stopped at the company entrance, he saw a pretty figure standing at the bottom of the steps.

She wore a white dress, had long flowing hair and delicate features, and was looking in his direction.

Alexander frowned.

The face seemed somewhat familiar, but he really couldn't remember who she was.

Since he couldn't remember, he simply stopped trying to.

Alexander was prepared to walk around her into the company, but the woman blocked his way.

"Alexander." Her voice was sweet and soft, with some excitement in her tone.

"Alexander, did you not recognize me? I'm Wendy, Wendy. Don't you recognize me?"

Wendy.

Hearing that name, a few childhood memories flashed through Alexander's mind.

So this was the little girl who used to follow behind him, calling "Alexander" over and over.

She was also the friend who had gone abroad to study for four years and then disappeared without a trace.

Seeing Wendy, Alexander's expression turned cold, his tone flat. "What do you want?"

Wendy seemed not to notice his coldness and kept smiling, her eyes curved .

"Alexander, I just got back in town. My grandfather specifically asked me to come see you. We haven't seen each other in so long. Let me treat you to dinner, just to catch up."

Before Alexander could refuse, Wendy reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Alexander, you won't deny me even this one chance, will you?"

Looking at those somewhat bright eyes, Alexander frowned slightly.

Wendy's hand was soft, and she wore a light perfume.

But Alexander instinctively took a step back, wanting to push her away.

Unfortunately, Wendy held on tight, and with quite a few employees watching around them, Alexander didn't want to make a scene or cause a fuss, so he could only frown and let her lead him into the car.

The car headed toward a restaurant.

Wendy looked at Alexander while taking out a small mirror to touch up her makeup, asking in a seemingly casual tone.

"Alexander, why are you so cold now? We grew up together and have so many childhood memories, but now you won't even talk to me."

Alexander stared blankly out the window, ignoring her.

Seeing this, Wendy frowned slightly but wisely fell silent.

She felt that Alexander seemed very different from before.

He seemed quite different from the person in her memory, so she knew she had to be careful.

For the rest of the ride, Wendy didn't pester Alexander with conversation.

Alexander quietly breathed a sigh of relief, still thinking about what had happened at the cemetery, and was glad not to have to chat with her.

What was there to talk about anyway? They hadn't seen each other in so long.

They remained silent until the car stopped at an elegantly decorated restaurant, and only then did Wendy look at him and speak.

"Alexander, we're here. Let's go eat."

Alexander nodded, no longer refusing.

They were already here, and refusing again would really be too disrespectful.

Wendy smiled and, with practiced ease, led Alexander into a private room.