The Rise of the White Lotus

Chapter 300 Reality

Lexi didn't send the old man off and remained silent until all of their footsteps headed out and engines from outside revved up and sped away. All the words that Edward Lu said had been engraved on her mind and traveled to her heart.

She didn't speak a word as her gaze stared down at the cup of tea that was said to have poison in it. Although Lexi was certain that Edward Lu would stop her from drinking it, if she did accept it, still, just how rotten was the Lu family system to take lives as if they were nothing?

Also, Ethan Lu... did his grandfather's surprise visit make him have second thoughts about her attendance to his official take over later? Surely, his way of asking was quite something in that Lexi would never have expected it. Ethan Lu, he just showed her what kind of man he has been hiding in front of her and the side of him she failed to clearly see.

Raising a gun to his kin even without his presence— Lexi was too used to the bubbly side of him that all of the worries and even understanding everything about his situation were reduced enormously by his smiling front. Although the thought that Ethan Lu was in a tight position and the Lu family wasn't as clean as it was never once left her mind, the reality was completely different from what she built in her head.

The reality was a hundred times more terrifying.

"Nico, I want some time alone please." Without breaking her gaze away from the cup of tea, Lexi lowly muttered.

Nico Zhuang who remained silent as he stabilized his muddled mind glanced at her upon hearing her order. Politely bowing his head, Nico Zhuang left without making noise to give her some space to think.

Well, she still has time to think about the old master of the Lu family as what he said were all of the truths and nothing but the truth. No matter how harsh it may come off, Lexi would have to see this side of the Lu family and what kind of man Ethan Lu has been when he wasn't in front of her.

He just hoped that whatever decision Lexi would end up making... he would still respect it as well and she would have been and would always be very suited to be the family matriarch that gained his full respect.

****

[Lu Corporation]

After shooing away the ever-persistent Lyrick Jiang, Ethan Lu could finally heave a sigh of relief as his assistant finally left his office. Glancing at the closed door, Ethan Lu leaned his back against the executive chair and another heavy sigh escaped his mouth.

Tilting his head back and staring at the ceiling with mellow eyes, a glint flashed across his eyes, Ethan Lu slowly closed his eyes as another deep exhale came out from his nose.

'Love... sorry for being a coward.' Ethan Lu apologized inside his mind as his message would surely be received by his grandfather.

He never planned to do it. Actually, he wanted to be selfish and just drag Lexi to the world he was living in now. However, knowing his grandfather, he would surely parade the shamelessness of his beloved family around as if it was something to be proud of.

Therefore, instead of rushing to his home, Ethan Lu decided to act this way and back up his grandfather's obvious agenda— by showing Lexi just how ruthless he could be.

Still, it would be better that way because even if Lexi would decide that she didn't want that kind of life with him... she could walk away before it's too late. On the other hand, if she still decided to accept the man that she wouldn't be able to recognize later, Ethan Lu just thought of kneeling on the washboard with a happy heart for as long as she desired.

Regardless, just the thought of not having her in his life pained him already. What more if it came to life? It would devastate him.

'Brother Mo... this must be what you felt before.' Being reminded of Morris Liu's decision, Ethan Lu finally understood his reluctance.

Both of them loved her dearly hence, they wanted a peaceful life with her that she deserved. However, the only difference was that Ethan Lu didn't want to push her away but gave her a choice if she wanted this kind of life with him; being surrounded by extreme schemes and bind them in the stupid ala crime family rules.

"Jeez..." Covering his already closed eyes with his arms, Ethan Lu rubbed his arm to wipe the building pool beneath his eyelids.

For a moment, Ethan Lu felt melancholic to the extent of making him cry, just the thought of returning home later without her things in his house anymore. Just the thought of waking up with an empty side of the bed, an empty house... just the remnants of her and all their memories together— he felt bitter.

Still, this has been and would always remain his fate. He had always known that one day, he would have to take over whether he liked it or not. It was just that, right now, his previous retaliation wouldn't work anymore because he has someone he held dearly in his heart, that he would rather take this job as the Lu family head to give her a peaceful life than to return to the carefree world he was in before she pranced into his life.

"Enough... I still have an argument to finish." Profusely wiping the leftover liquid in his eyes with his arm, Ethan Lu sniffed hard as he vigorously shook his head to clear his mind.

He then opened up his laptop and was bombarded by the back up crazy shippers of the EliXi fandom. Alas, unlike his enthusiasm to argue earlier, Ethan Lu could not even read every message he received as he wasn't in the mood anymore. Therefore, instead of replying to the tons of hate messages, he logged out and closed the tab before closing the laptop.

Just before he could think of what to do, his hand instinctively opened one of the drawers and revealed the small box on top of the properly arranged important documents. As his eyes laid upon on it, his gaze softened as he picked up the small box.

Opening it, the ring he had been dying to put around her finger... would he be able to do it? He stared at the beautiful, shining stone on it for a while before closing it and sliding it inside his suit pocket.

Without a word, Ethan Lu jumped out of his chair and took his blazer suit before he left his office. He wanted to clear his mind for a little bit and use a bit of distraction so he wouldn't worry if Lexi would still come to his big event later.