Chapter 5

“Mrs. Albright, please lie still.” I pulled up a chair and sat down a comfortable distance from the bed.

Mrs. Albright grabbed my hand, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

“Such a good boy. I knew you had a kind heart.”

“See? Our Elara, aside from her humble origins, what’s not to love about her?”

“She’s smart, dedicated to her family, and she’s going to achieve great things, I promise you.”

“Will you... just give her another chance? Please?”

The moment she finished speaking, Caleb, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face, quickly piped up in support.

“That’s right, Leo. Elara really is a wonderful woman. It would be such a shame if you two missed out!”

Elara, meanwhile, kept her head down, feigning an expression of guilt and helplessness.

Three actors, one pitiful play.

I looked at Mrs. Albright and spoke slowly. “Mrs. Albright, there are many successful women out there. But I’m not interested in charity work.”

One sentence, and the entire room fell silent.

Mrs. Albright’s tears were still clinging to her face, but her expression had frozen.

Caleb’s mouth hung open, looking utterly bewildered.

Elara suddenly snapped her head up, her face instantly flushing crimson.

“You... what did you say?”

“I said, I’m not interested in charity work.” I repeated, meeting her furious gaze with unflinching calm.

“Ms. Albright, what’s your monthly salary?”

“Is it enough to buy your mother’s medication, pay your brother’s tuition, and support an entire household?”

“My parents raised me for over twenty years, not for me to marry some woman and struggle through life right alongside her.”

“Leo!” Elara shot to her feet, pointing a trembling finger at me.

“You, you’re practically insulting me! Don’t you dare mock the less fortunate! I...”

“I’m not mocking you. I’m simply stating facts,” I cut her off.

“And besides, Ms. Albright, you’re talking to the wrong person.”

“The person who truly appreciates you and is willing to fight alongside you... isn’t me.”

My gaze slowly shifted to Caleb, who stood nearby.

“Caleb, didn’t you always say Ms. Albright was a diamond in the rough, a woman of good character, and that whoever married her would be set for life?”