Chapter 65 The Gift for Alexander
Esme grabbed Elizabeth's hand, tears streaming down her face, and cried out, "Elizabeth, you finally made it?"
"Mom," Elizabeth sobbed uncontrollably, "I'm so sorry, Mom. I had stuff to do today and got here late."
She had just left the construction site, had a showdown with Oliver at the bus stop, and then wandered around to avoid running into him again before catching the next bus.
Because of all that, she ended up visiting Esme even later.
Elizabeth knew Esme's condition was getting worse. She wanted to stay with her, but she couldn't afford to lose her job; as a woman fresh out of prison, finding a job was insanely hard. No matter how tough and exhausting it was, it was what kept her going.
She knelt in front of Esme, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry."
"I'm fine, Elizabeth. I know you're a hardworking kid. You can't lose your job. A woman has to be independent and strong. I'm almost at the end of my life, you don't need to put your work on hold for me," Esme said, understandingly.
Elizabeth cried even harder.
"Don't cry," Esme lifted her frail hand to wipe Elizabeth's tears. "Elizabeth, promise me one thing, okay?"
Elizabeth nodded desperately and replied, "Mom, just say it, I promise you, no matter what it is."
"Alexander," Esme said, pausing to catch her breath. "I know Alexander always seems cold and distant; it's because of the environment he grew up in. Before he was ten, Alexander wasn't acknowledged by the Windsor family. Later, when he was, he was denied inheritance rights. Even so, he still faced persecution and exclusion from the Windsor family. That's why he's so cold and heartless today. But Alexander is a good man. If you treat him kindly, he'll warm up."
"I know, Mom. Alexander is really good to me," Elizabeth smiled at Esme.
Esme shook her head and continued, "That's not what I mean. I'm being selfish. I know you're a hardworking, good-tempered, and kind kid. I'm selfishly asking you, no matter what happens in the future, don't let Alexander be alone. Take care of him for a lifetime. I'm worried he'll be taken advantage of. Elizabeth, considering I taught you all my skills in prison and made you proficient in construction, promise me to be with Alexander for a lifetime, okay?"
"Okay, Mom, I promise you. Don't talk anymore. You need to rest now," Elizabeth looked at Esme with immense heartache.
Seeing Esme, who was so energetic just the day before yesterday and didn't seem sick at all, suddenly deteriorate, Elizabeth realized how fragile life could be.
Esme's skin had turned a jaundiced yellow. The doctor said it was a sign that her blood was completely destroyed and there was no way to save her.
Elizabeth was heartbroken to the extreme.
Elizabeth didn't want Esme to die. She hoped the doctors could treat her, even if it meant giving her just one more minute to live.
She turned back with a pleading look at the doctor.
The doc, looking just as stressed, said to Alexander, "Mr. Windsor, Mrs. Esme Windsor needs to get into a sterile room ASAP, with the best meds and the strongest antipyretics. Sure, antipyretics might mess with the cancer treatment, but at least it'll keep her organs going a bit longer. If her fever stays above 100.4°F, her organs are gonna fry."
The doc's words hit hard. Alexander got it, and he and Elizabeth left, trying to keep it together.
Esme's condition getting worse was a gut punch for Alexander, but he had to suck it up. They knew this was coming a month ago. Plus, he had a ton of company stuff and people gunning for his spot to worry about. He couldn't afford to slip up, not even for a second.
Leaving Esme's room, he walked fast, catching up with Elizabeth, but didn't even glance her way. He just breezed past her to his car.
Elizabeth didn't look at Alexander either. Even when she walked past his car, she didn't turn her head.
But Gavin, standing by the car, couldn't help but react when he saw Elizabeth. His lips moved a few times, almost out of habit, wanting to invite Elizabeth into the car. He even almost called her Mrs. Windsor as greetings.
But seeing Alexander's icy expression as he got into the car, Gavin kept his mouth shut.
Deep down, Gavin, like Esme, hoped Elizabeth could be Alexander's wife. But at the end of the day, he was Alexander's assistant and bodyguard. No matter how much he liked Elizabeth, his loyalty was to Alexander.
Elizabeth walked away, and Gavin regretfully drove Alexander out of the hospital. Knowing Alexander was in a bad mood, Gavin glanced at him a few times on the way, wanting to say something but holding back.
"If you got something to say, spit it out!" Alexander said coldly.
"Mr. Windsor, Mrs. Esme Windsor's condition is getting worse. Soon, you won't have any close family left. I think Miss Spencer has a good heart. She did push Miss Guise, but..."
Gavin's words were cut off by Alexander, who said, "Don't let Elizabeth's little acts of kindness fool you!"
Gavin didn't dare say another word. They drove in silence, heading back to Alexander's place.
Alexander lived in a top-tier luxury community, where no one usually dared to stop him. But today, as soon as the car entered the gate, security stopped them.
"What's the deal?" Alexander looked at the security guard, annoyed.
"Mr. Windsor, there's a package for you," the security guard eagerly handed the package to Alexander.
A package? He never shopped online. How could there be a package?
Alexander was puzzled but took it anyway.
At the parking spot, as he was about to open the package, Gavin stopped him and said, "Mr. Windsor, let me handle it."
Gavin tore open the package. He was worried there might be something dangerous inside that could harm Alexander.
It turned out to be a simple yet high-quality cigarette filter, very fitting for a man.
And a beautifully crafted postcard.
Alexander recognized the elegant and strong handwriting on the postcard. It was Elizabeth's handwriting.
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