This flower was called a cockscomb? What a unique name.
Its color was bright, and it did kinda look like a roosterâs comb.
Ellinor stared at the flowers in a daze for a bit, then curiously asked. âMr. Howard, why would someone of your stature personally fertilize these flowers? Donât you have professional gardeners at home?â
McNeil replied, âThis is my wifeâs favorite flower. It needs a lot of care and is very picky about temperature, humidity, and soil conditions. I donât trust anyone else to take care of it.â
Wife?
Hmph, his current wife was Patriciaâs mother.
This heartless man betrayed his first wife but was now so attentive to the flowers his current wife liked.
How ironic!
Did he think this made him look deeply affectionate?
What a hypocrite!
Ellinor struggled to control her emotions as she thought about the possible injustices, betrayals, and grievances her mother may have suffered in the Howard family.
Everyone else was one thing, but the man who should have been the most trusted by her mother and who should have trusted her mother the most was also bullying her mother. It was too much!
After thinking about this, Ellinor didnât want to be nice to him. She scoffed and exposed his hypocrisy.
âLet me be blunt, Mr. Howard, if you have time to fertilize these flowers, you should spend more time with your beloved wife. Thatâs more meaningful than pretending to be moved by your own laziness here!â
McNeil was stunned. This was the first time anyone had criticized him so directly, and it was a young girl heâd just met.
The girl was glaring at him furiously, as if she had a great enmity towards him.
McNeil didnât know why Ellinor was hostile to him, but he didnât want to quarrel with a young girl. He nodded and said thoughtfully, âHmm, you make a good point. But there are some things that you donât understand when you donât do them at the time. When you finally understand and want to do them, itâs already too late.â
Ellinor was taken aback. Too late? What did he mean?
âEllinor, you liar. So youâre here!â Byran suddenly jumped out, panting and angrily pointing at her.
Ellinor looked at him, raising an eyebrow. So this silly boy was also home?
After seeing his son pointing at someone and speaking rudely, McNeil frowned, âByran, how can you talk to a guest like that? Itâs rude!â
Only then did Byran notice his father, and he quickly became more polite, âDad, youâre here too! Uhâ¦. I need to talk to her!â
McNeil sternly said, âEven if you need to talk to her, you should speak properly. You canât point at people! Besides, sheâs older than you; you should respect her.â
Byran frowned, and before his father, he reluctantly said, âUm⦠Ellinor, I need to talk to you. Can you come with me?â
Ellinor nodded, âSureâ
Then she turned to McNeil, âMr. Howard, Iâll be going.â
McNeil took a sip of water and calmly said, âAlright, you can go.â
As Ellinor left with Byran, McNeil watched the girlâs back, who was about the same age as his lost daughter, and fell into deep thought..
He closed his eyes, recalling his wife and daughter.
âDad, are you planting these flowers here again?â
After hearing the word âDad, McNeil snapped back to reality, only to see Patriciaâs face, a trace of melancholy flashed through his eyes.
To Patricia, McNeil was also gentle.
âYes, what happened, Patri?â