Chapter 1277


    Maria picked up some food and popped it into her mouth. Amidst chewing, she smiled, "Ernest, this


    dish is delicious. Try some."


    Ernest chuckled and cast Maria a meaningful gaze.


    Maria was still helping his brother. From the smug look on her face, Ernest could guess that this call


    was from Gary.


    Maria''s eyes were bright and she was very excited.


    "Maria, Gary calling shouldn''t make you so excited, should it?" Ernestmented faintly. He


    remained nonchnt.


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    Maria was stunned andughed dryly. She thought to herself that it was normal for Ernest to guess


    that Gary was calling. After all, Ernest was pretty smart.


    She grinned, "Ernest, are you not happy that Gary called?"


    Ernest did not say anything.


    Maria pouted and sighed, "You two are family. Why do you two have to fight with each other?"


    "Stop with the nonsense," Ernestmented, "We are not fighting with each other. What are you


    thinking about? What''s the point of thinking about such affairs daily?"


    "Oh," Maria smirked, "I''m not overthinking. Ernest, aren''t you the one who''s thinking too much?"


    Ernest chuckled and stuffed a mouthful of food into his mouth slowly. He was not in a hurry to eat..


    Maria took a bite and saw that he didn''t speak. She put down her cutlery and said, "Let''s stop


    eating. Celeste has just arrived. We can''t let her eat our leftovers. Let''s wait for her and eat together


    Ernest nodded and did not object, "That was what I thought too."


    With that, they put down their cutlery and waited.


    Maria''srge eyes were staring at Ernest the whole time.


    A while after Ernest noticed Maria''s incessant stares, he frowned and said bluntly, "Can you stop


    staring at me? What do you want to tell me? Just say it."


    Maria smiled and acted as if nothing had happened, "No. Ernest, I don''t have anything to say."


    "Then why are you staring at me?" Ernest frowned.


    It was really ufortable to be stared at by others.


    "Because you are good- looking," Maria praised him, "You look beautiful."


    Beautiful?


    Such a word wasn''t really apliment, but an insult.


    Ernest scowled in disgust, "That''s enough. You don''t have topliment me. Just tell me what''s on


    your mind.."


    "I just had a realization and I want to share it with you," Maria said thoughtfully, "Would you like to


    hear it?"


    "Your perception of issues might not be suited for me," Ernest was smart and had naturally guessed


    what was going on.


    He had a rough idea as to what Maria wanted to say.


    "That''s not necessarily true," Maria shrugged and kept smiling eerily at him, "Ernest, I just


    remembered that there are many fishes in the sea. There''s no need to chase after a single fish. Am


    I right?"


    Some emotions shed through Ernest''s gaze as he stared into Maria''s eyes. She had a gentle and


    charming smile stered on her face.


    "Maria, I agree with you."


    Maria was stunned for a moment before sheughed, "Oh really? It''s great that you agree with me,


    my dear cousin."


    "Of course I agree. There are so many fishes in the sea. Don''t always daydream about getting to


    know Liam. Although I didn''t introduce him to youst time, I didn''t beat around the bush. Liam only


    takes a liking to a certain type of girl," Ernest looked at Maria and continued, "So if your love for


    Liam is only that of a fan''s towards their idol, then that''s fine. But if you have any other intentions, it


    won''t end well."


    Hearing Ernest''s words, Maria''s face instantly turned pale, and her face was drained of colour.


    However, she managed to react very quickly. She immediately smirked awkwardly and asked,


    "Ernest, did you not introduce me to Liam because of this concern?"


    "Of course," Ernest nodded.


    Maria chuckled and waved her hand to dismiss his concern, "Then you really think too much."


    "Really?" Ernest snickered. His sharp eyes fell on Maria''s pale face, doubt and disbelief evident in


    his tone.


    "Of course. I like Liam as he is my idol and I am his fan. What were you thinking?"


    "I thought that you were going to persist in marrying Liam," Ernest answered, "If you have this idea,


    you''d better give up. Don''t delve too deeply in it. You should avoid getting hurt and doing all this for


    nothing."


    Maria was really agitated by his words.


    She knew that Ernest wouldn''t say these words for no reason. If he wanted to get back at her for


    helping Gary, he wouldn''t give her such a hard blow.


    It seemed that Liam really preferred certain types of women, and she wasn''t included in those


    types.


    She could feel her heart sink, but she told herself to not be afraid. It was a big challenge that she


    had decided to face.


    She had to be patient. She couldn''t give up just because of what Ernest had said.


    "Thank you for saying these words to me, Ernest. But you really think too much," Maria still grinned


    at him.


    Seeing as Maria was still pretending, Ernest frowned, "Maria, you are only 16 years old. Liam is


    already 22 years old."


    "Ernest, aren''t you also 16?"


    "That''s why I know what I''m doing," Ernest exined, "I''m only studying at this age. There''s no


    need to think about anything else." "That''s what I think too," Maria replied with a chuckle.


    Ernest could only sigh after hearing what she said, "Well, as long as you understand your own


    priorities."


    He didn''t say any more.


    Maria was silent, and the hope in her heart copsed.


    Her expression grew gloomier and wearier by the second.


    Meanwhile, upstairs.


    Celeste went back to her room and picked up the call.


    Gary''s voice was heard from the other end of the phone.


    "Celeste."


    His voice was low and hoarse, and he seemed a little tired.


    "I''m here," Celeste said hurriedly, "What''s wrong?"


    "I''m fine," Gary''s tone was casual, as if he was really fine.


    However, Celeste could still tell that his voice was a little hoarse, and he didn''t seem to be fine.


    "That''s impossible," It was rare for Celeste to be so stubborn. She asked, "Did something happen?


    Are you okay?"


    "Oh, everything''s fine," Gary smiled helplessly. Then, he started coughing. Soon, a long string of


    coughing could be heard.


    "You''ve caught a cold?" Celeste asked worriedly.


    "Yes, I caught a cold," After a while, Gary finally finished coughing. His breathing was unstable and


    a little short as he exined, "I caught a cold after speaking to you on the phone that day. I''m much


    better now. It''s just a small cough now."


    "For so many days?" Celeste was very concerned, "That was a week ago."


    "Well, don''t worry."


    "Have you seen a doctor?"


    "The doctor said that it might be because of the different environment and climate here," Gary


    added, "I''m not having other symptoms apart from a cough. I took some medicine and I should


    recover quickly."


    "Oh," Celeste let out a sigh of relief.


    "Are you staying with Maria and Ernest?" Gary asked.


    "Yes, I''m staying next to Maria''s room," Celeste told him, "I just moved in this evening." "Good,


    that''s great to hear," Garymented.


    "Do you think so, too?" Celeste asked him uneasily.


    "Why should I not?" Gary asked in reply.