Chapter 231


    He did not answer. Instead, he stood up and opened a bottle of red wine. Then, he took a ss and


    poured m e some water. He said, "I''m in a bad mood. Have a drink with me."


    I took up the ss and clinked sses with him. He picked up the red wine and downed it with one


    gulp.


    "Is it a rtionship problem?" I asked softly. I had no idea what was wrong, and I did not know how


    tofort him.


    In my memory, Jerome’s family was quite rich and they were staying in Whaldorf City. Hence, it was


    probably not a family problem. The remaining possibility left was a rtionship problem. After so


    many years of not seeing each other, I was not sure about his rtionship status.


    "Ho." He swirled the red wine in the ss and said, "I had mixed feelings when I saw you and


    Cecilia still sticking together like a family after so many years. Not like me, I''m destined to be alone."


    Apart from the sadness and sorrow in his eyes, I could also see that he was feeling lost.


    I poured out the water in my ss and poured myself a little red wine. I might as well join him for a


    drink. I


    did not know why a cheerful guy like him would be so sad. However, a silentpanion was more


    than anything at this moment.


    "Come to Salt City. We''ll be here for you. We can take care of each other in the future. We''ll never


    abandon each other."


    One would meet many friends in a lifetime, but most friendships could not stand the test of time.


    Many would just fall apart.


    My friendship with Cecilia was considered rare. We were not only friends but were each other''s


    family.


    "We''ll talk about itter!" He was not satisfied drinking a single ss of wine, so he started drinking


    from the bottle.


    I lifted my hand and took the bottle of wine from him." The alcohol content is high. How will your


    body handle it if you get drunk?"


    "It''d be better to die. Death pays all debts. Then, no one will ever force me again."


    He snatched the bottle back and continued to drink." It''s tiring to be alive. When you need


    someone''s help, n o one cares about you. When they need you, you’ll have to show up. Otherwise,


    you’ll be said to be ungrateful."


    I could not understand what he was saying, so it was better if I did not say anything. I could only


    watch him quietly. I was worried.


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    Maybe Jerome was making a lot of noise, so Cecilia, who was beside me, woke up. She asked,


    "They went t o look for you again?”


    "Yes. They asked me to go back to take care of that old man. It''s ridiculous, right?" Jerome was


    getting tipsy. He squinted his eyes and gave a bitter smile.


    "What''s wrong?" I looked at Cecilia.


    Cecilia got up and sat on the sofa. She pinched her brows and said, "His father abandoned his


    mother back then. He then married into a wealthy family in Whaldorf City. But after years of getting


    married, his wife still wasn''t pregnant. His father then came looking for them and snatched him


    away from his mother. This isn''t the most exasperating part. Do you know what pissed me off the


    most?"


    Cecilia looked angry as she continued. "Jerome''s father only brought him to the family for less than


    three years. That rich wife of his got pregnant and gave birth to a son. Now, there''s no ce for


    Jerome i n that wealthy family.


    "Before Jerome could graduate, he was cast out by the family. Later on, his mother got sick and


    passed away. It was his uncle who supported him to finish his studies in university. After that, he


    became an exchange student and went abroad."


    "Why don''t I know about all these?" Jerome always looked so cheerful back then. I had no idea so


    many things had happened to him.


    "You almost went insane because of your mother. You probably wouldn''t be able to listen even if we


    told you about it. So we didn''t. We wanted to save you the trouble."


    Jerome leaned on the sofa. His eyes were red. "My mother got sick because of him. He got what he


    deserved. Last year, his son died in a car ident. He shamelessly asked me to go back, iming


    that he’s old and I should go back to fulfill my filial duty. Tell m e, isn’t this ridiculous?”


    It was indeed ridiculous. I had never thought that there was such a father in this world.


    After all, we all had a cross to bear. Happiness seemed so simple but we all had different troubles to


    deal with.


    I looked at Jerome who was lying on the sofa. He was drunk. His eyes were misty, and his


    expression was sad. It broke my heart seeing him like that.


    Everyone had their own burdens to carry. There were troubles that all of us had to face alone. No


    one else could help with that. As a friend, we could only provide himfort andpanionship.


    I sat down and patted him on his shoulder,forting him silently.