"Jerk!" Winona cursed, sniffing a bit, as she strutted far from the hospital. "See who cares for him!"
The beautiful curvaceous damsel naturally caught the attention of many men, let alone the one who was specifically looking for her. He blocked her way, making Winona almost bump into him.
However, she managed to stop on time and step back, though not forgetting to glare at the damned obstacle. At this time though, she could only glare at his shoe while she wiped away her tears as subtly as she could.
"Winona…" he said, voice drooping with flirtatiousness.
Winona's eyebrows rose and she looked at the handsome man with wavy ash blonde hair.
After getting to Alterra and getting access to the hygiene products, this guy cleaned up well, without any sign of his poor state before getting here.
He was still a disgusting scum in Winona's eyes, however. She crossed her arms, looking defensively at him. "What do you want?"
"Does there have to be a reason for a man to see his fiance?"
"Ex-fiance," she corrected. "Pretty sure I broke that off when I saw you fucking two women!"
"Neither families agreed to that, my love," he said. "We're still in a relationship, and I can assure you I will not make the same mistakes—"
Winona really didn't need this bug right now!
This guy was someone who moved from Limestone Valley, attracted by what they showed in the newspaper. He applied—as did hundreds of others—for the engineering department when the Research Center announced a mass hiring.
It was a dream job for him! Doing office work and only training outside as needed. Best of all, the pay was good and they had royalties for whatever they contributed in.
However, unfortunately for him, the Research Center had a high standard of employment. Those accepted were ones who could truly contribute more than the basic clerical and repetitive tasks.
He was rejected and had posted a lot of complaints of unfairness—not only him, but the survivors of his family (who were unfortunately 3, like cockroaches the world didn't need).
This jerk's nosy mother found she had a good position there, and the family had been bothering her ever since.
"I told you, I'm not the only one who decides who gets the job!" she said, using her remaining patience to be civil. Otherwise, she would never hear the end of it from her grandmother.
"If I were you, I'd work hard to get contribution points to get in the library. Maybe you'd find some useful information there to pass."
She was already being very kind. Although this guy graduated in industrial engineering, he only passed by paying his way through. A freshman probably knew more than he did!
"I don't believe that, wife," he said, apparently unperturbed by her words. She rolled her eyes and turned, waving him away.
"Stop it, Eric. I'm not in the mood," she said, finally walking past him. "Leave me alone or I'll call the guards on you."
The man sneered but didn't follow her. In the end, he smiled arrogantly, watching her figure disappear from view.
No, wife, you won't have a choice.
Back in the hospital ward, a few googley-eyed nurses were indeed eyeing Ansel. Winona's forced close apparently made the sliding door bounce a bit so the door was left slightly ajar.
The handsome Ansel was staring at the bowl and they thought he must've been wondering how to eat!
The nurses opened the door and tentatively walked to him.
"Do you need help, Mister Ansel?" a nurse asked. Another nodded, "We can help you."
Ansel naturally refused to be called Elder, even if it sounded cool sometimes.
He smiled at them, making them blush. They were already walking forward to help him, but then he took the bowl and drank, obviously not needing any help at all in the first place.
"It's okay…" he said with a sigh. "I can actually drink myself."
Later that night, seeing as Winona's not coming back, Ansel checked himself out (earning himself some stares from the old women, who had also recovered enough to get out).
Althea and Garan naturally knew that he was healthy, thinking he was just being lazy at the hospital. Althea even supported it, because he really needed some rest, and perhaps it could be a chance for Winona and Ansel to develop more as a couple.
She didn't have any idea that Ansel would botch that chance so horribly.
Anyway, he brought the items Winona left in his room. He didn't know how Althea convinced the blonde to take care of him, but Winona brought some stuff expecting she'd stay for hours, maybe even days.
For example, he had her hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, and face towels.
Winona's space, he knew, was filled with her other essentials as well as experimental things, so he wasn't surprised she brought a bag for a change of clothing and toiletries.
He sighed and he, with his 'good hand', carried the hemp duffel bag—made in the factory by the way—and he headed to Winona's villa not too far away from theirs.
He was wearing a cast on the other arm. It was fake, of course.
Winona better feel guilty abandoning him like that.
It was just that, before he could ring the doorbell, he heard something knock inside, followed by some yells.
His eyebrows furrowed and he wanted to climb up the gate. Unfortunately, the system security for houses outside of wars was impeccable and he would not be able to enter even if he jumped over like superman.
Fortunately, he didn't have to wonder for long as the door opened. His eyes softened a bit as he saw familiar blonde hair, but then he saw her glassy eyes filled with betrayed anger and he froze.
"How can you let them in grandma!" she yelled as she looked back into the villa. "This is my house! I paid for it with my hard work!"
"I'm your grandmother!"
"It doesn't mean you can just let strangers stay in MY house!" She said, "I should've known I shouldn't have agreed to sign co-ownership with you! Now I can't even kick them out with the system!"
Her voice was shaky, filled with the tone of betrayal and accusation. Ansel could tell she was on the verge of crying, and it made Ansel livid.
He gritted his teeth. How dare they make Winona cry!!