Remaining Days, Please Advise

"Was he willing to get engaged?"

Elena's smile faltered, and she replied seriously, "It's not a disagreement; the engagement has already been called off."

Aiden's smile immediately turned more serious, "Elena, are you serious?"

Elena remained silent for a while, her tone tinged with helplessness, "Do I seem like the kind of person who would joke about my own marriage? Why is it that neither you nor Brian can understand that?"

Aiden was genuinely shocked, "Is it because of Zara?"

Elena brushed aside the hair that the wind had blown into her face and said gently, "Mr. Hunt, you are Brian's best friend, so let me ask you a question, and I need an honest answer."

"Go ahead."

"Was Brian willing to get engaged to me in the first place?"

After much consideration, Elena finally voiced the doubt she had in her heart, and what followed was Aiden's silence.

Elena smiled faintly, "You don't need to say anything, I already know. It seems I've always been too foolish, unable to see anything clearly."

Aiden's throat felt dry, "Is there really no chance between you and Brian?"

He thought Brian was quite satisfied with Elena as his fiancée.

Elena raised her right hand, which bore a ring, "I forgot to tell you, I'm married."

Aiden was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth, and after a long while, he asked, "You're really married? Does Brian know?"

"I told him, but he didn't believe me. He thought I was lying to him to force him to back down."

Seeing the calm expression on Elena's face, Aiden finally believed her.

He couldn't help but take out a cigarette and bite it.

Elena took a step back, preparing to leave.

Aiden removed the cigarette and suddenly called out to her, "Since there's no chance between you and Brian, there are some things I can tell you."

Elena turned around, her clear eyes calmly looking at him, "Go ahead."

"Brian agreed to the engagement back then for two reasons: one, his parents forced him into it, and two, because of your eyes."

Eyes?

Elena thought of Zara's appearance and suddenly her pupils shrank slightly.

She had originally thought her emotions wouldn't be affected by Brian anymore, but upon hearing these words, a wave of humiliation and anger surged through her heart.

Elena suppressed her anger, "So Brian saw me as a substitute for Zara?"

"A substitute would be a bit of an exaggeration since you don't resemble Zara at all. It was just because both you and Zara have green eyes that Brian agreed to the blind date in the first place. Besides, his family was pressuring him to get married, and Brian thought, 'Who does it matter who I marry?' You seemed more reasonable than other women, so he agreed to the engagement."

More reasonable than other women?

Elena's calm tone carried a hint of sarcasm, "So I should thank him for that?"

Aiden immediately fell silent.

After a moment, he said, "Brian's actions were indeed not right. You breaking up with him is like escaping a pit of fire. But as his brother, I can only take his side..."

"I understand, goodbye."

Elena took a deep breath, turned, and walked towards Chris's car.

Aiden watched her back and sighed. Just as he was about to drive away, he saw an extraordinary man walking in Elena's direction.

Elena even took the initiative to hold the man's hand. Their gestures were measured, yet tinged with a subtle intimacy.

Both of them were tall and slender, with extraordinary grace, making them a perfect match when standing together.

Aiden raised his hand and touched his chin, thinking of how Elena and Brian used to interact.

Although they were in the same space, they talked and acted in an official manner as if handling business, always polite, with no sign of intimacy.

Outsiders said that Elena was infatuated with Brian, that she had been Brian's "dog" for three years.

But now, Aiden thought that Elena's affection... might have been somewhat exaggerated.

...

As soon as Chris saw Elena, he sensed something was wrong with her mood.

Before he could speak, Elena suddenly took the initiative to hold his hand.

Chris silently tightened his grip on Elena's hand and opened the car door for her.

After Elena got into the car, Chris didn't leave immediately. His tall figure stood by the car door, slightly lowering his head, revealing a smooth side profile, his silhouette casting a shadow in front of Elena.

He deftly took Elena's hand and slipped a bracelet onto her wrist, "What are you thinking about?"

The man's deep voice reached Elena's ears, pulling her back to reality. "Did you get the bracelet?"

"It's on your hand."

Elena looked down and realized that Chris was holding her hand, with the bracelet already around her wrist.

Her cheeks flushed, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Chris held it tightly.

"Who did you just meet?"

Elena fell silent immediately, then suddenly asked, "Can I hug you?"

Chris replied gently, "Anytime."

Elena wrapped her arms around Chris's waist and slowly buried her head in his chest.

Suddenly, a warmth came from her hair, as a gentle touch brushed over the top of her head, making Elena pause.

The air was filled with a subtle, elegant fragrance, reminiscent of mist-covered mountains behind a monastery—calm, majestic, distant, and serene.

Elena's heart instantly quieted down.

She pushed Chris away, adjusting her emotions, "Sorry."

"What made you upset all of a sudden?"

Chris could tell that Elena's mood had changed during the brief time he was upstairs getting something.

Elena pursed her lips.

Just when Chris thought she wasn't going to speak, Elena suddenly said,

"I just ran into one of Brian's friends. He told me that Brian agreed to get engaged to me back then because both I and his ex-girlfriend have green eyes, and the other reason was family pressure."

Chris lowered his gaze and asked, "Are you hurt?"

Elena curled her lips but found she couldn't smile, "No, I just feel like I've been a joke for the past three years."

"Don't say that about yourself." Chris's deep brows furrowed slightly, "If he doesn't appreciate you, then he's blind."

Elena was stunned, perhaps not expecting Chris to comfort her this way.

She suddenly smiled, "Are you complimenting me or yourself?"

Chris's expression softened, "Both."

After getting into the car, Chris took Elena to the Jones family estate.

As soon as they got out of the car, they saw the housekeeper holding a basket and a ladder, trimming cherry blossoms. When she saw Elena and Chris, she smiled so wide that her wrinkles gathered together.

"Miss Elena and Mr. Chris are back! Come in and rest, lunch will be ready soon."

Elena asked curiously, "Auntie, what are you doing?"

"Mr. Jones is so happy to know you're back! He not only asked me to tidy up the garden but also asked the chef to prepare a big meal!"

Elena looked at Chris in surprise, "Did you tell him?"

Chris remained calm, his eyes flickering slightly, "We're coming over unannounced, so we should give Grandpa some time to prepare."

Elena smiled warmly, "Looks like we're in for a treat today."