Chapter 1527 Having Second Thoughts?
Laura glanced at the totally wasted Derek and Elliott sprawled on the table, then at Julia, who was also a bit tipsy, and couldn't help but feel exasperated. "Julia."
"I need to hit the bathroom," Derek suddenly stood up unsteadily and grabbed Laura's arm. "Come with me."
Before Laura could protest, Derek dragged her out. "Let me go with you."
"You're the only one who hasn't been drinking, so I trust you to come with me," Derek said, pulling her outside.
Once the door to the private room closed and they had walked a bit, Derek's wobbly body straightened up, and his slightly tipsy eyes cleared.
"You were faking it," Laura said, stunned. "Why? I want to go back."
"How can you be so clueless?" Derek pulled her closer, laughing in frustration. "Couldn't you tell I am trying to give them some alone time?"
Laura was shocked. No wonder Derek had been acting weird tonight, constantly toasting with Elliott. He was trying to get Elliott drunk on purpose. "Are you nuts? Elliott and Julia..."
"Julia was Elliott's girlfriend when he was studying abroad. You don't know that?" Derek raised an eyebrow.
"I know a bit about that," Laura said vaguely, "But they broke up ages ago, and Julia's married now."
"So what if she's married? They still have feelings for each other," Derek said nonchalantly. "Besides, if Elliott had really moved on, why hasn't he found a girlfriend all these years?"
"Elliott's been seeing someone recently, getting to know her," Laura said.
"If Elliott had really moved on, nothing would happen tonight," Derek laughed. "Anyway, this is all I can do, give them a chance. Let's not disturb them."
After saying that, Derek leaned his entire body on Laura. "Help me, I'm really drunk."
"I don't believe you anymore. You're not drunk at all," Laura said, almost losing her balance under Derek's weight, pushing him away in frustration.
"Laura, I drank so much. Do you think I wouldn't get drunk? I was just holding on earlier. Help me, or I'll fall." As Derek spoke, he wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning half his body intimately against her.
Laura was helpless against his cheekiness and angrily helped him into the elevator.
Once they got to the parking lot and into the car, Laura called Julia. "Julia, Derek just threw up all over his clothes. I'm taking him back to the Presidential Palace. Tell Elliott that."
Before Laura could finish, Derek grabbed her phone. "Elliott drank too much, and you're also drunk. It's not convenient for you to take him home. I booked a room for him upstairs. Take him up there."
Laura was silent.
After Derek finished speaking, he hung up and tossed the phone back to her.
"You booked a room for Elliott upstairs? When did you do that?" Laura stammered. She couldn't believe it. Julia had also been drinking. If she took Elliott upstairs, two young people, former lovers, alone together—it could easily lead to sex.
"When I went to the bathroom earlier," Derek said, rubbing his stomach and looking uncomfortable. "For their happiness, this is the first time I've played bartender. How are you going to thank me?"
Laura shot him a glare. "I never asked you to do so. Besides, Julia is your cousin. I haven't even blamed you for setting up Elliott."
"Maybe Elliott is thanking me in his heart," Derek smirked. "Didn't you notice? When I brought Julia tonight, Elliott's whole demeanor changed. If he didn't care at all, he would have just shaken her hand and said, 'Long time no see.' If it weren't for me, Elliott wouldn't have looked at Julia all night. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Laura asked, feeling as confused as if she had been drinking.
"For someone who's been married, your emotional intelligence is really low," Derek said with a hint of disdain.
Laura was fuming. "So what if my emotional intelligence is low? Do you dare to despise me?"
"No," Derek quickly shook his head, trying not to laugh. "I guess it's because Elliott resents Julia. Think about it, they were deeply in love, and then Julia suddenly married someone else after returning home. How could he not resent her? But it's because of love that there's resentment. If he didn't care at all, there wouldn't be any resentment."
Laura fell silent, remembering a time at the Jude Estate when she saw Elliott and Julia arguing. Elliott's words had been very harsh, which was probably due to resentment.
Derek continued, "No wonder Elliott resents Julia. Julia was raised by my grandfather and was too obedient to the family when she was young. She always put the family first, carrying too many burdens. When someone lacks power, marriage and happiness aren't choices he can make."
Laura remained silent.
Laura hadn't grown up in such a family and didn't understand those feelings. "I don't get it. Is being in a high status that important? The Jude family is already doing well. Do they really have to be at the top, even at the cost of their descendants' happiness?"
"Not every parent puts their children's happiness behind the company and wealth. Sometimes, it's unavoidable."
Derek looked at her with a smile. "Laura, if it weren't for Elliott, you wouldn't be so carefree. Even your marriage would be considered for family background and future benefits to the company. If you loved an ordinary man, your parents might not support you."
Laura was stunned, realizing she couldn't refute him.
It seemed to be true.
"The more you have, the less freedom you own," Derek said wistfully, then seemed to think of something, and his whole demeanor deflated.
"Are you thinking about yourself?" Laura suddenly felt a bit sorry for him.
"A little. By the way, didn't you promise to let me try kissing you? Now it seems like a good time," Derek's bright, gem-like eyes turned to her. "Are you going to back out?"
This topic changed too quickly.
Laura was dumbfounded and blushed. "Didn't I make it clear to you this morning?"
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