No Remarriage for us Stay Away by Livia Storm

Chapter 487 Dislike Me

"Ezekiel, why would you say something like that?"

"Well, my uncle..." Ezekiel murmured, lifting a glass of wine from the table and taking a sip. He poured himself

another at a leisurely pace and said, "My uncle tried to prevent Zachary from reopening your father's case,

intending to pin the blon Johanne. It could also be because | told you the conflict between the White family

and Zachary was due to interests the previous time. Actually, | lied to you."

Lenora's lips moved slightly.

After she returned to her hcountry, she never reached out to him, harboring the intention of gradually

distancing herself.

"See? You're not denying it. You dislikenow."

Lenora was rendered speechless for a while. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's not that I dislike

you. | just don't understand you."

When she was in Fairlake, she believed his words.

Later, she learned everything from Zachary. Only then did she realize that the conflict between the White family

and the Fuller family was related to her father's case.

Back then, she thought that perhaps he was oblivious to the actions of the White family. Otherwise, he wouldn't

have mentioned so casually that he wanted to support the White family.

At that moment, however, he had admitted to deceiving her, which indicated that he was aware of it.

"Why didn't you askif you didn't understand?" Ezekiel leaned his arm on his forehead, squinting his eyes at

her.

Lenora had considered asking him why the White family was trying to hinder the investigation.

However, she thought it wouldn't have made a difference.

She merely had a chance encounter with Ezekiel, and he had no obligation to explain anything to her.

Ezekiel had helped her a few times, but that didn't mean he was obliged to assist her in everything.

"Ezekiel, you knew full well how much | resented the attention given to my father's case, but you still chose to

act as you did. You must have had your reasons, reasons that were clearly far more important than my feelings

toward you. Hence, there's no point in asking." Upon hearing those words, Ezekiel was taken aback for a few

seconds. He gave a bewildered smile and lifted his eyes to look at Lenora. "You make ssense. So..."

Ezekiel tilted his head back, his raven-like eyelashes casting intricate shadows in his eye sockets, making his

eyes appear even more profound, mystifying, and indistinct. "Do you want to know why?" he asked.

"Why what?" Lenora asked, following his line of conversation.

Ezekiel lowered his gaze. His large hand clenched tightly around the wine glass, so tightly that his knuckles

turned white. He struggled to control his emotions as he said, "It's because my uncle hates the Fuller family. |

also hate the Fuller family."

As she gazed upon his face, strikingly similar to Zachary's, a thought flashed across Lenora's mind in a split

second, a thought so unbelievable she could hardly believe it. Could it be...

"Back then, Tamara interfered with my parents’ marriage, flaunting her pregnancy to my mother. My mother,

eight months pregnant, was so upset that she gave birth toprematurely. After my birth, she was never able

to stabilize her emotions. One day, when the nurse wasn't paying attention, she jumped from the rooftop..."

Ezekiel closed his eyes, gritting his teeth tightly. His lips trembled slightly, and his voice was low and hoarse,

carrying a hint of an almost imperceptible sob.

"My uncle mentioned that she stopped breathing right there and then, with blood all around her..." Ezekiel

uttered while sipping his drink. "When she passed away, she was only twenty-four... When | was a child, |

remember my granny tellingthat my mother was born in autumn. The night before her birth, a gentle rain

had fallen. My granny, feeling it was a sign, named my mother Rebecca. The nmeans to tie people together,

just like how the rain is a symbol of life and connection. Upon hearing the news of my mother's death, my granny

fainted on the spot. Her health deteriorated rapidly thereafter, and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

She often mistook others for my mother. Yet, when she was on her deathbed, she regained her lucidity. Holding

my hand, she confessed that she shouldn't have named my mother Rebecca. From the moment | was born, | was

without a mother. The one responsible for my mother's premature delivery and emotional breakdown, was living

carefree abroad, under the protection of the Fuller family, without facing any punishment..."

At this point, Ezekiel spoke with a heavy emphasis on each word, his eyes moistened for a moment.

He immediately closed his eyes, leaning his head against the back of the chair and took a deep breath.

Once she considered Zachary's background, Lenora understood.

Zachary was indeed the child of Tamara and Bertram from years ago.

Following the death of his mother, the culprit remained unpunished, causing Ezekiel to develop a deep

resentment toward the Fuller family.

Therefore, the White family was unwilling to reopen the investigation because they wanted Johanne to bear the

blas the main culprit. Once the verdict was announced and the news that the eldest son of the Fuller family

was a murderer was out, Fuller Group would

sout

ve

inevitably face a massive blow. Seizing this opportunity, the Hoffman and White families, along with others who

wanted a piece of the pie, would kick them while they were down. Even if the Fuller family could ultimately save

themselves, they would surely not be as powerful as before.

Suddenly, Lenora remembered that she once had a conversation with Bertram.

It was no wonder Bertram was extremely polite to her over the phone. He knew she was his former daughter-in-

law, and not too long before that, Zachary had personally visited the Fuller residence because of the issues

Jasmine was causing her. The reason why Bertram could so easily agree with Zachary was likely because

Zachary was his son.

"Ezekiel, | can empathize with your feelings. I, too, grew up without a mother. Thankfully, my father loved me

deeply, even willing to sacrifice his life for mine. That's why | want to uncover the truth behind his death," Lenora

said.

However, Ezekiel clearly didn't share

her good fortune. His relationship with Bertram had to be mediocre at best. Otherwise, he wouldn't continually

refer to him as his uncle and his grandmother in such a detached manner. It was as if his

other blood relative simply didn't exist.

It was clear to think about it. If Bertram was truly a responsible person, such a situation wouldn't have occurred.

"Your mother was to you what my father was to me. Since you understand the pain of losing a loved one, you

shouldn't have stood in the way of my father's case being reopened."

"I'm sorry..." Ezekiel took a deep breath, opening his eyes to look at her apologetically. His gaze was hazy, tinged

with a shade of pain. "I regretted it afterward, but | was too afraid to face you... That's why it has taken until

today."

"lI understand... Everyone harbors their own secrets and hidden vulnerabilities, their hatreds, in their hearts. To

lay one's soul bare for others to see is not something easily achieved..."

"Nora, I'm really tired," Ezekiel said in a hushed voice, seemingly in discomfort, as he leaned over the table.

"Don't let yourself get so worn out."

Lenora hesitated for a moment, then got up and took the bottle of alcohol from his hand. "I don't want to delve

into your grudges with the Fuller family. However, Ezekiel, why let life be consumed by hatred and constant

scheming? Why not travel, take sphotos, and live a

‘ve

carefree and spirited life? Wouldn't that be more fulfilling?"

"I-It's easier said than done..." Ezekiel mumbled, his words slurred. "If | leave, who will take charge of the

Hoffman family?"

"Oh... | seem to have forgotten about that."

Lenora had a sinking feeling and quickly asked, "It's getting late. Shall we head back? Where do you live?"

Mos 1 ies."

Lenora leaned in close to listen carefully, but in the end, she still couldn't make out where he lived. D*mn it...

Had | known earlier, | wouldn't have let him ramble on so much. | should have asked him where he lived first.

She didn't know the location of the Hoffman residence, but she thought Zachary would know.

However, if she were to call Zachary and tell him she needed to take the drunken Ezekiel home, he would

probably rush straight to Jeahron to confront her.

As for Jasmine, Lenora had no intention of removing her from her blacklist.

Previously, Bertram had indeed called her.

Yet, she figured Bertram would be the last person Ezekiel wanted to see at that moment.

I guess I'll just take him back to the hotel. Lenora hailed a cab, enlisting the help of the restaurant server to

assist Ezekiel into the vehicle. Once they arrived at the hotel, she arranged for a room for him.