Chapter 176 The Past Is Like Smoke
Simon appeared much more mature than six years ago, with an added touch of elegance. Elizabeth still remembered how much Simon had helped her when she fled from Sunwillow City. When she went from her rental apartment to stop Alexander's wedding, it was also Simon who assisted her.
Elizabeth looked at Simon with a gentle and kind expression.
Simon then asked, "Elizabeth, are you okay? I know Alexander captured you, but my family has been keeping a close watch on me lately. I also knew that if I approached you rashly, it would only make Alexander angrier, so I didn't contact you. Tell me, are you okay? How is Alexander treating you..."
"Very well," Elizabeth replied briefly, without saying more, only smiling slightly.
Even though she was grateful to Simon, she always kept her gratitude in her heart, never expressing it openly. Just like she was grateful to Owen back then, she never mentioned it. Even though Owen hurt her deeply, she would still protect Owen with her life.
Seeing Elizabeth's calm demeanor, Simon felt much relieved, asking, "Are you looking for a job?"
Elizabeth nodded, replying, "Architect. They seem quite satisfied with me. I'll be working here from now on."
Simon immediately said with delight, "Really?"
"Of course," Elizabeth smiled, then asked, "Why are you so happy?"
Simon said, "This is a construction design company co-founded by a few of my friends. I'll tell them to take good care of you."
Elizabeth shook her head, saying, "No need, Mr. Jones. I want to earn my salary based on my own abilities."
Simon smiled, "Well, that's good too. I believe in you. You will definitely achieve great things."
From the first moment he saw Elizabeth, he felt she resembled his aunt Donna, both in looks and personality. For some reason, Declan recognized Clara as his granddaughter, treating her as the most important person.
Simon was very resentful of Clara.
But he had no evidence to prove that Clara was not Donna's daughter.
After all, his parents had investigated, and it was true that Donna had married Oliver back then. Then Donna died, leaving behind Clara. Later, Oliver remarried, which made sense.
At least Clara was Oliver's daughter, that was certain.
Simon was the only one in the family who didn't like Clara, and because of this, Declan had a lot of issues with Simon. In recent years, because of Donna's matter, Simon's relationship with his family had been very tense.
At this moment, seeing Elizabeth, Simon naturally wanted to ask, "Elizabeth, are you available? Can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
Elizabeth replied, "Mr. Jones, if you have something to say, please say it directly."
She had a bit of a refusal in her tone, not wanting to have too much contact with people from the outside world. Simon understood Elizabeth, as six years ago in Sunwillow City, those high-society people had hurt Elizabeth deeply.
Seeing Simon not speaking, Elizabeth smiled faintly, "Thank you, Mr. Jones."
"Thank me for what?" Simon asked.
"Thank you for your help back then," Elizabeth said. "So, if you have something to say, just say it. If I can help, I will."
Simon sighed, "I just want to know, what is your relationship with the Guise family?"
Elizabeth was silent.
"Can you tell me?" Simon asked.
The relationship between Elizabeth and the Guise family had always been a scar for Elizabeth that she didn't want to reopen.
But it wasn't something she couldn't talk about.
Elizabeth didn't go to a café with Simon, just briefly telling Simon about her relationship with the Guise family right there on the street in front of the company she was applying to.
She didn't want to waste time because she wanted to go home quickly to know what Alice had done at the Windsor Manor.
Elizabeth said, "I lived in my hometown until I was twelve. My parents made a living by growing vegetables, and my dad did some labor work in his spare time. When I was ten, my dad was killed by a heavy object falling on him while he was working at a freight yard. That year, my mom was sick for an entire year. After that, her health was never good. I did well in school, and my mom didn't want me to miss out on my education. Two years later, my mom brought me to Sunwillow City."
"It was my first time in a big city. I didn't know what our relationship with the Guise family was. My mom never told me. She just brought me to Oliver's house, asking Oliver and Lila to let me stay at the Guise Mansion so I could go to school. Oliver was reluctant, and Lila was especially unwilling. But for some reason, they eventually agreed to take me in. From then on, I lived at the Guise Mansion. My mom came to see me every six months. But she never came to the Guise Mansion, always meeting me at school, talking to me, giving me some money, and then leaving."
"During winter and summer breaks, I would go back to my hometown, helping my mom sell vegetables. Our life was poor, but we were happy. I once asked my mom about our relationship with the Guise family, but she never told me. After the summer break, I would return to the Guise Mansion in Sunwillow City to continue my studies. This was my life from sixth grade until my sophomore year in college."
"Later, my mom's health got worse, and she came to see me less and less. When I went to college, with my living expenses increasing, Lila became more and more dissatisfied with me. Oliver often complained about me too. I asked my mom why she still wanted me to stay at the Guise Mansion. My mom cried and told me, 'Elizabeth, look at how hard your dad and I have worked all our lives, growing vegetables. If you can endure for four more years and finish college, you can leave the Guise family, find a good job, and become self-sufficient. You won't have to come back, growing vegetables or suffering like your dad did.'"
"Seeing the hope in my mom's eyes, I didn't want to disappoint her. So I endured the Guise family's disdain and contempt. Until my sophomore year, when I went to prison for manslaughter."
Elizabeth spoke about this with a particularly calm demeanor, as if she were telling someone else's story. Even when she mentioned going to prison, her tone was so indifferent.
However, hearing Elizabeth recount her past, Simon felt a deep pain in his heart, a kind of heart-wrenching pain. He looked at Elizabeth with sorrow, asking, "You never knew what the relationship between your parents and the Guise family was?"
Elizabeth shook her head, her tone suddenly darkening, "I wanted to know. I planned to ask my mom when I got out of prison, but three days before my release, my mom died."
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