Chapter 1137
Joann chuckled and started eating.
The door creaked open just then, and Alec walked in, shoulders slumped.
Brenna’s gaze narrowed. “Where have you been?”
Alec sat by his mother’s bed, sighing heavily with a sorrowful expression.
“Damn it! Women are nothing but heartless!”
One glance at Alec’s rumpled clothes made Brenna frown.
“What happened?” she asked.
Wiping his tears, Alec let the truth spill out. “Lila kicked me out because she believed I wouldn’t get rich again. I tried reminding her we’re still married, so technically, I could go home any time. She is really a scheming woman. You know what she said to me?”
Joann fixed Alec with a look of thinly veiled scorn, arching an eyebrow. “You never even bothered to register your marriage, did you?”
Alec let out a heavy sigh. Then, tears welled up and rolled down his cheeks. Right away, Brenna put the pieces together. “So, it’s true? You really didn’t register your marriage with her?”
Suddenly, Alec broke down entirely. “No. Back when I was flush with cash, I supported her for years, and she poured on the sweetness, said she loved me every single day. If we didn’t see each other, she’d blow up my phone, acting like she couldn’t live without me. But once I went broke, she changed completely. Now, I realize she never loved me.”
Brenna’s laughter rang out, sharp as glass. “Look at you—old, worn down, no charm left, and barely holding it together. What did you think she loved, your wrinkles or your thinning hair? You should have seen the reality sooner.” Joann paused for another bite of her pastry before saying, “All she ever loved was your money. You lost the money, so out you went.”
Alec cried for a while longer, and when he finally stopped crying, he turned to Brenna. “Brenna, after everything I’ve done for you all these years, you can’t just toss me aside. I’ve got nowhere to go now. Please, help me find a roof over my head.”
Even Joann watched Brenna expectantly. She might think Alec was hopeless, but the idea of him living on the street was more than she could bear.
“I can rent a place for you and pay several months’ rent. You can stay there for now. With your monthly salary of over ten thousand, you can certainly support yourself,” Brenna said. “Had you not left Ruby, maybe you’d still be living in comfort. You have only yourself to blame for this.”
For a moment, Joann sat silent, the realization sinking in that Brenna’s grudge against Alec hadn’t faded. She knew now she depended entirely on Brenna for her treatment and care, so even though she felt for her son, she didn’t speak up for him.
Alec knew Brenna resented him, and he regretted how he had treated her before deeply. “Didn’t your parents give you several properties?” He gazed at her with hope, searching her face for a hint of sympathy.
Brenna gave him a cool stare. “They did. Hoping I’ll give you one?”
Embarrassment colored Alec’s face. Still, he was unable to hide his desperation. He gave a small, hopeful nod.
“Just give me one—something simple, somewhere to sleep. I can’t keep renting forever. What happens when I can’t work anymore? How will I survive then? I know I wasn’t perfect, but I did raise you. You can’t be too heartless to me. You have more than enough. You’re making millions on your projects. A small house is nothing to you.”