Chapter 1159 Side Story: Love for Wild Vegetables
In the room, Archer’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “You don’t have to use those words to deceive me. If your parents were willing to accept me, they would have done so a long time ago. You rich and vulgar people look down on me because of my poor background and consider me a poor boy. It’s ridiculous! I even look down on you guys.”
“Archer, it’s okay if you take your anger out on me, but you can’t talk about my parents like that.”
“I will say what I want. What can you do about it? Are you going to leave me?” Archer continued his ranting as Molly lost the argument.
Alistair couldn’t stand it anymore and his face turned cold as he pounded on the door twice with force. Soon enough came Archer’s roar, “Who is it?”
He lowered his voice deliberately and said, “It’s property management. Someone complained that you are disturbing the peace in this building.”
Less than two minutes later, Molly opened the door only to see Alistair standing outside without a mask.
“Milk tofu, why are you here?” she asked in surprise when she saw him.
Alistair noticed her red eyes and walked into the house with anger wrapped around him.
Archer was sitting on the sofa smoking by himself while broken glass shards littered all over their apartment floor.
“Well well well,” he said suddenly gaining some confidence as if declaring sovereignty towards Molly by beckoning her over with his finger saying, “Come here baby.”
Molly was about to walk over but Alistair grabbed her wrist tightly pulling her behind him instead.
“Mr. Callahan,” Archer sneered at Alistair while exhaling smoke from his cigarette between puffs of air before continuing. “She is my girlfriend. What business do I have with you interfering?”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
“I’m sorry but I’ve already interfered,” replied Alistair calmly yet firmly.
Archer turned green from rage but since he had always been afraid of tough guys like Alistair who wouldn’t back down easily; he could only shout at Molly instead saying, “I’ll say it again – come here.”
Seeing that Molly was trying to break free from his grip, Alistair glared at Archer before shouting angrily, “Do you call yourself a man for using her kindness against her?!”
Archer avoided eye contact while puffing away at another cigarette coldly replying without any emotion or concern for others’ feelings, “That’s what she should be doing.”
“Why should she! You received a lot of compensation for your injuries, enough to last a lifetime if you’re frugal. Her even gave you a house as thanks for saving her. The Suham’s houses are not cheap, and if it were up to you, you could never afford one in your lifetime. Thanks to the White family, but in the end, you turn around and criticize them as vulgar rich people. Who do you think you are?”
“Archer, she doesn’t owe your anything! Don’t use your injury as moral blackmail!”
Archer fell silent and didn’t respond.
Alistair grabbed Molly’s arm and tried to leave but she didn’t budge; she seemed hesitant about leaving.
He became frustrated and said, “Do you want to continue being mistreated here?”
“He has trouble with his legs; it’s not easy for him normally. I’ll make him some food before we go.”
Alistair was truly speechless but had no choice but to persuade her patiently, “He can live without you; he hasn’t starved while alone at home during your half-month business trip. He knows how to order takeout.”
Molly hung her head silently.
“Big sis, Uncle Malcolm and Aunt Lyra are both waiting for you at home. I used to make excuses for you every time, but this time I really have no excuse. If you don’t go, we’ll both be found out. If Uncle Malcolm goes back and tells on me to my dad, revealing all the lies I’ve helped you cover up before, I might end up getting in trouble. Can you bear to watch me get into trouble?”
Naturally Molly couldn’t bear that thought.
She let Alistair lead her away without stopping despite Archer’s cries behind them.
The two quickly left Myrtlegrove Neighborhoods by taxi towards the White family’s residence.
On the way there Alistair lectured earnestly, “Archer takes all of your kindness towards him as something he deserves. He won’t appreciate what he receives from others- so it would be best if ignored him completely until he realizes what he is missing out on.”
As soon as Archer’s name was mentioned, Molly began tearing up again with misty eyes, “It’s my fault. He wasn’t like this before… back then when we were together…he was gentle and considerate taking care of me meticulously… His performance was excellent, and he always ranked among the top in the military assessments. It’s because of me that he has become like this.…”
Alistair felt helpless, “The past is the past, people change, or perhaps the person he is now is the real him. His previous kindness towards you might have been influenced by your status, considering that if he married you, he could skip decades of hard work and enjoy a life of luxury and comfort.”
Molly shook her head firmly,” He isn’t like that.”
“Knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean knowing their heart. You’ve only known him for a few years, and you don’t truly understand his real nature.”
Getting more impassioned, Alistair grabbed her arm, trying to instill the right perspective in her. “A man who truly loves you would never want to see you cry and would never want you to suffer. But he not only lacks compassion for you, he also burdens you with all the negative emotions. He frequently takes his anger out on you, and that’s not love, do you understand?”
Molly hung her head and tears occasionally slipped from the corners of her eyes, making her face look pale because of his words.
Feeling like he had spoken too harshly, Alistair sighed silently and lowered his voice to coax, “There are countless good men in this world. If he can’t make you feel happy and fulfilled, let’s find someone else who can.””
He took out a tissue that he carried with him and wiped away Molly’s tears for her. “What kind of man do you like? I’ll help pick one for you.”
“Really?”
He looked down with melancholy in his eyes. “Of course it’s true. Men know men best. I will definitely pick a good one for you.”
“I just want Archer. Can you help me talk to him and convince him to become the man he used to be, the one who cared for me deeply?” Molly said.
Alistair was both angry and felt choked up inside, “I don’t understand what kind of magic potion Archer gave you that made your brain fall in love like this! Have all these years eating wild vegetables on the border affected your mind?”
But Molly laughed instead, “How did you know? The climate on the border is changeable. It’s an arduous environment where we’re often busy with tasks but unable to fill our stomachs properly so we have no choice but to roast some rabbits or boil some wild vegetables.”
…
Alistair found himself both amused by what she said yet feeling sorry for her at the same time.
Molly reminisced further, “Don’t underestimate Archer just because he’s injured now. When we were still serving together in our unit before, he was amazing! I’ve competed against many comrades myself but could never beat him. Back then I thought ‘I must conquer him’.”
“There were many young girls who admired him or liked him within our unit too. Yet despite having so many suitors vying after him, why did Archer choose me? Every time we went out on missions together, dangerous tasks would always be taken up by himself alone while ensuring my safety. He…is really great.”
…
Did she forget that she was once a military academy beauty queen – how much goddess-like presence she held within countless men’s hearts?
There were so many men pursuing after her; those little girls surrounding Archer couldn’t compare at all! How could she be moved just because Archer chose her?!
Listening quietly beside Molly now made Alistair feel even more suffocated than ever before. Perhaps it would be better if he turned away without saying anything more.