Gloria mocked herself in her heart, 'Maybe my life has become too simple, so my mind has gotten slower.'
Ellison looked at Gloria's dull face with appreciation, trying to find traces of her bright smiles from her childhood. His eyes blinked with regret. It seemed that the smiling Gloria would never appear again.
"The coffee tastes really good." Ellison took another sip.
Gloria suddenly reacted. She frowned and said, "That's my cup."
"Sorry." Ellison put down the cup in his hand gracefully.
Gloria looked at him with surprise. It was her cup. Wasn't it something very private that people don't share with strangers?
She said angrily, "You are Ellison, right? I can let you use the lounge chair, but you are not supposed to touch my cup. That's not polite. Or do you often drink from a stranger's cup?"
"Don't be angry," Ellison smiled, raised his hands, and comforted her. "I was thirsty just now, and I didn't know it was your cup. Otherwise, I would have asked for your permission first. If you feel uncomfortable about this, I apologize. I didn't mean it."
It sounded sincere, but on second thought, Ellison didn't mean to apologize.
"But since I have used the cup, why don't you give this cup to me?" Ellison demanded.
Stunned and annoyed, Gloria restrained her expression and looked at Ellison coldly. "That's rude. And, excuse me for being blunt, Ellison, has anyone ever said that you're quite shameless?"
It was indeed rare for the guesthouse owner to be so rude to a guest, but she had passed the age when she had to compromise.
Upon hearing this, Ellison laughed it off. He looked at Gloria with great interest and said, "Has anyone ever said that you were quite blunt?"
"If you mean that my words are unpleasant, then I'm sorry. It's your bad luck. If you met me a few years ago, I might have been more polite," Gloria said indifferently.
"What do you mean?" Ellison stared at her with interest.
Gloria chuckled and said, "Maybe, a few years ago, all I did was compromise. So, for the past two years, I stopped doing that and cared more about how I felt. I don't care about anything else, but I won't tolerate a guest who provokes me deliberately."
Ellison knew what an arduous life was under her seemingly indifferent words. When Ellison saw her again, his heart ached as he looked at her with pity.
Gloria avoided his gaze and continued, "Ellison, if you like a lounge chair, I'll get someone to bring you a new one tomorrow, well, together with a new cup. You can have it if you want."
She looked up at Waikiki Beach, not far from her. Then, she slowly walked to the yard where she planted some plants and wildflowers.
Gloria squatted down and picked up a small shovel to loosen the soil.
Ellison stood up and stared at Gloria in the yard not far away. At that moment, Ellison felt peaceful while watching Gloria take care of the flowers and plants.
The night gradually descended, and the street lights flickered. But Ellison's heart was beating fast. So he put his hand over his chest.
"Madam," Exclaimed Ellison.
Hearing the voice, Gloria turned around and asked in confusion, "Is there anything else?"
"My name is Ellison, but you haven't told me your name yet," Ellison said with a smile.
Gloria was slightly stunned. She did not remember how long it had been since someone asked her name.
"You can just call me Madam." Gloria did not know what her name was supposed to be.
Ellison's heart skipped a beat. Then, his dark eyes lit up again. He said happily, "Okay, I will call you Madam."
Gloria stood up and clapped her hands. She did not take Ellison's words to heart.
She got used to this peaceful life for the past two years.
Ellison didn't continue watching. He turned around and went back to his room.
He stood by the window and looked down. Gloria was slowly walking back.
It was dark, and her figure disappeared into the courtyard.
Ellison slowly put a hand to his chest. He felt the vigorous beating inside. Did he fall for her?
This was no longer about being jealous of Patrick, nor the excitement about hunting her down when he first came to Waikiki Beach.
Gloria's life had been full of ups and downs. She had been high and mighty and had fallen to the dust. Never did Ellison expect to see a completely new Gloria.
Ellison stood in front of the window and suddenly clenched his fingers. He made up his mind. 'Patrick, you won't have a chance this time!'
In the territory of the Black Thorn Pack in Gabbs, Sean was in Stewart's room.
Stewart handed Sean a flash drive and said, "Give this to him."
"What is it?" Sean raised it and glanced at it. He did not care too much.
"The surveillance footage of Gloria in the werewolf prison," Stewart said expressionlessly.
Sean was shocked. He asked, "I thought it was destroyed."
Stewart sneered and said, "If someone wants to destroy it, then there'll also be someone who tries to save it. He'll get his way because money talks."
He glanced at the flash drive in Sean's hand. With loath in his eyes, he said irritably, "The video costs five million. You should watch it and see what those monsters have done!"
'Five million? Is it some top secret?' Sean thought to himself. Stewart must be crazy to spend five million on some videos.
"Three years ago, when Patrick was looking for these videos, they were destroyed in advance. But I never gave up looking for them. With the high reward, someone will be tempted if he has a backup. If five million can't make him change his mind, there can only be two possibilities. He doesn't have them, and we can't afford to cross the person behind him." Stewart explained.
Sean nodded, but he still didn't understand. "But isn't five million too much?" He felt that the price Stewart offered was too high. He continued, "Gloria had a tough time in prison. We all knew it. Why did you spend so much money on the videos? Isn't it more important to find her now?"
The smile in Stewart's eyes grew colder. He said, "You won't say that after you watch those videos."
When he first watched them, Stewart could not help but tremble in anger.