Evelyn Windsor walked into the main hall in a daze, and Mr. Landon was pleased to see the love and deep disappointment in her eyes, smiling as he waved her over: "Chloe, come here, let Grandpa Landon take a look, have you become prettier over the years?"
Evelyn Windsor gathered her spirits and walked over with great reluctance, calling out, "Grandpa Landon."
The old man curled his lips, a smile full of hidden meanings appeared: "Chloe, Durrell had a car accident, and the culprit hasn't been found yet. Naturally, he might be in a bad mood, but don't dwell on it too much."
She managed a slight smile from the corners of her lips.
"Grandpa Landon, I'm not mad at him. I'm just mad at myself."
She couldn't help but wonder if leaving without saying goodbye back then was right or wrong.
The old man cleared his throat, hinting subtly: "I heard that in your circle, many develop feelings because of acting together?"
Evelyn Windsor instantly understood.
If they could film the same movie, it would give them plenty of time together.
Then, she could properly explain things.
Thinking of this, the frustration and sorrow in her eyes dissipated quite a bit.
Noon.
Zeke Landon returned to the old estate, worried that Durrell might argue with Grandpa, and hurried back after his meeting, only to find that Durrell wasn't even there, but Evelyn Windsor was talking and laughing with the old man.
Seeing this scene, Zeke Landon's expression darkened slightly.
Grandpa actually deceived him, wasn't it supposed to be just a simple inquiry about Durrell's injuries? Why have Evelyn Windsor come?
Even though he was displeased, he didn't show it at all and simply approached saying, "Grandpa..."
The old man seemed delighted to see Zeke Landon, a faint smile still on his lips:
"Zeke, you're just in time. I remember Skylane Estate sent an invitation for a party, right?"
Zeke Landon frowned slightly but nodded nonetheless.
"Yes."
Once the words fell, the old man cleared his throat: "Then let Durrell go."
After saying this, he gave Evelyn Windsor a meaningful glance.
Evelyn Windsor understood the old man's intention; the Windsor Estate also received Skylane Estate's invitation.
If Durrell Landon and she appeared at Skylane Estate's party together, the long-awaited reunion, just thinking about the scene made her heart race.
Zeke Landon's eyes deeply wandered over the old man and Evelyn Windsor, his dark eyes swirling like a whirlpool, yet his expression didn't change, only simply responding: "Alright."
Then gracefully departed.
The old man didn't stop him.
...
Durrell Landon returned to Imperial View Manor, finding out Quiana Sutton was actually within the manor, yet the servants seemed clueless about where she had gone.
Everyone envied Imperial View Manor's splendor and grandeur, but in his eyes, it was merely a beautiful golden cage imprisoning him.
Previously, he didn't harbor many feelings, but upon hearing Quiana Sutton's absence, he unexpectedly felt a bit desolate.
Unusually, he asked the servants to bring him a few bottles of wine.
...
In the evening, Quiana Sutton returned to Imperial View Manor, and the butler hurried to greet her.
"Miss Quiana, it's so good that you're finally back."
During her stay at Imperial View Manor, the butler treated her respectfully. She paused and softly inquired, "Has something happened?"
Seeing Quiana Sutton was like seeing a rescuing star for the butler.
He reckoned the only people able to persuade Landon within the manor were either Young Master Feng or this young lady.
"Young Master locked himself in the room, drinking all afternoon; Miss Quiana, please help persuade him."
Upon hearing this, Quiana Sutton frowned slightly: "Doesn't he usually dislike the taste of alcohol the most?"
The butler was equally puzzled but knew that the young master always felt troubled after visiting the old estate.
"Miss Quiana, today the young master returned to the old estate; the relationship between the old man and the young master isn't very good..."
He didn't continue speaking, after all, the affairs between the old man and the young master weren't his place to comment.
Everyone has untouchable secrets in their hearts; she wasn't very interested in those secrets. Since the butler didn't continue, she didn't ask further.
She simply replied: "I can try to persuade him, but I can't guarantee how effective it will be."
The butler looked at her with tearful gratitude.
Arriving outside his room, lately she was sleeping in the guest room; although the sofa in his room was comfortable, his presence was quite overwhelming, often causing insomnia. She didn't want to constantly have dark circles under her eyes, affecting her looks.
She knocked on the door a few times, but no response came from inside.
She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door directly open.
The window in the room was open; the scent of alcohol wasn't strong, rather there was a faint fragrance.
From her angle, she could see Durrell Landon holding a wine glass, tilting his head as he prepared to drink, a few drops slipped from the corner of his lips, following a curve directly into his chest, visually alluring.
She never knew a person could drink in such an enthralling manner.
Durrell Landon sensed someone standing at the door, turned sideways, saw Quiana Sutton, his lips unconsciously curled upward.
"Are you here to check on me?"
She walked forward a few steps, arms crossed above her chest, casually leaning against a nearby wall, looking listless:
"You've been drinking all afternoon; the butler's worried about you."
"And you? Are you worried?"
She fell into silence, not answering his question, her mind was filled with contradictions; occasionally, her rationality and emotions would tug at extremes, though most of the time, rationality prevailed.
Her silence was the best answer.
Durrell Landon grew angry, reaching out to pull her into his embrace; he compelled her face to rest against his warm chest.
"Don't move, I won't do anything, just let me hold you for a while."
Quiana Sutton pushed slightly, feeling his body's entangled strength and scalding warmth; for a moment, she couldn't quite push him away.
It was as though he was drunk yet surprisingly clear-headed.
Labeling him as clear-headed was attributing his skill in playing rogue, as skilled as ever.
Labeling him as drunk was due to a persistent misty glass over his face, preventing clear sight; only casually detached yet slightly aloof expressions showed, but at this very moment, she saw a crack appeared in that glass for the first time, leaking his truest emotional state.
His loneliness, unease, and fragility.
She wasn't one to meddle much, but at this moment, she still opened her mouth to say:
"In this world, there would never be anyone coming to save you; only oneself can rescue oneself."
Durrell Landon's arm tightened a bit, holding her firmly in his embrace, seemingly wanting to blend her entirely into his arms.
"What if I insist anyway?"
"Then one would only fall into a point of no return."
All causes and effects in this world can only be unraveled by oneself.