“You’re not satisfied with the interview arrangements? Maybe there are some improvements we can discuss,” Aldrich said.
Maggie shook her head, “Thomas has arranged it well, showcasing the beauty of Barrett Manor, your dedication, and the happiness of me and the babies.”
Aldrich held Maggie’s hand and asked, “But you’re still not satisfied, Maggie. Tell me, what are you thinking?”
“Values and motives.”
“These certainly have value and will enhance my reputation in the wolf community, which is beneficial for my campaign.”
“If all this had no value, would you still do it?”
“I don’t understand your dilemma.”
Maggie pushed Aldrich away, “Just like last night when I asked you about Grace. You answered without hesitation, and it’s been bothering me.”
At the time, his response was that he would kill Grace, a hybrid with whom he had no connection.
Aldrich stood up and said, “I don’t see a problem with it. If I had to choose again, I would make the same decision.”
“This is the real you. This version of you makes it hard for me to believe…” Maggie turned and walked out. Marvin tried to stop her, but she pushed him aside.
Then, Grace also pushed past Marvin. “I’ll go and check on Maggie.”
Marvin attempted to follow, “Grace, you can’t go outside!”
“Mind your own business!”
Grace’s voice faded from the doorway, and Thomas, who was organizing his notebook, shook his head. The interview was about to start, and the residents of Barrett Manor were suddenly in a tumultuous state of emotions, leaving uncertainty about how the interview would proceed.
Grace’s attitude left Marvin very frustrated. He muttered to himself, “It’s all because of that noisy little bird. Alisa’s milk ruined my explanation to Grace!”
Aldrich also had a stern expression, “The interview hasn’t invited Grace.”
“You don’t welcome her?”
“It’s not that. Barrett Manor will always have a room for Grace, but right now, she’s not suitable to appear in public and in the live broadcast.”
“Aldrich, do you want to erase Grace from the past?”
“No.”
“No, I can read it in your eyes. You even wish Grace would forever live in darkness.”
“Lunaris vampires fear sunlight.”
Marvin suddenly grabbed Aldrich’s collar. “Grace isn’t a Lunaris vampire reeking of foul odor!”
“I can’t wake up someone pretending to be asleep.”
Worried, the butler Thomas advised, “You two, it’s not as simple as when you were kids, calling your wolves to fight on the grass to solve problems. You need to communicate and solve problems like humans.”
Marvin huffed and let go of Aldrich. “I’m starting to understand Maggie now.”
He wanted to leave the malicious atmosphere in the living room but was stopped by Aldrich, who grabbed his arm. “Do you really want to go outside and have a brawl on the lawn?”
“Do you understand why Maggie is angry?” Marvin asked.
“Would you care?” replied Aldrich.
“Marvin, you’re always filled with skepticism and anger towards me because of Grace.”
“That’s because you have a core of coldness and ruthlessness deep inside! All that nonsense about responsibility, justice, and the greater good is a lie! Aldrich Barret, do you even know that the rationality you cherish and what you think is the best choice is a ruthless dagger that wounds those who genuinely care about you!”
Marvin also left, and Thomas sighed deeply. “The situation is getting worse.”
Aldrich wanted to unleash his anger, but he found that he couldn’t express his frustration. Damn rationality told him that he couldn’t do so before the interview.
He sat on the couch and gently massaged his temples. “Thomas, is rationality really damnation?”
As an observer, Thomas knew that no one was wrong. It was just a matter of differing perspectives and inclinations on the scale of emotions and rationality. He contemplated and said, “Aldrich, from both emotional and rational perspectives, you and Grace lean towards rationality, while Maggie and Marvin lean more towards emotion. There’s no right or wrong here.”
“Emotion…”
This term had always been classified in Aldrich’s mind as a trait only possessed by the weak. He couldn’t deny that he had looked at these emotions with a hint of pity and contempt, believing that true strength meant holding all the rules and circumstances in hand, free from the interference of complex emotions, always making the most favorable decisions. The weak, in contrast, failed and could only comfort themselves with this flimsy notion of “emotion.”
In the garden, Maggie was stopped by Grace, and they took a walk together among the flowers.
Grace was affected by the fragrant flowers and sneezed. “Before, the flowers here weren’t as vibrant, much like Barrett Manor itself, exuding grandeur.”
“You don’t like flowers?”
“I like the current flowers, at least they’re no longer lifeless.”
“Aldrich doesn’t like flowers, but he chooses not to dislike them because of me.”
“That’s quite rare.”
“No, I hope Aldrich can show his true self.”
Grace pulled Maggie to sit in the flower bed, partially obscuring her. This made Maggie feel the pain less acutely.
Cursing the loathsome Lunaris vampires’ constitution, Grace smiled and said, “Is there a possibility that what you care about, Maggie, isn’t important to Aldrich?”
“The opposite of genuine is fake, insincere, even calculating, with a strong sense of purpose.”
“No purpose is what real calculation is.”
Maggie looked at Grace helplessly. “I don’t understand.”
“Flowers are optional for ambitious people like me and Aldrich. Appreciating flowers can refine one’s emotions, but it’s not necessary because time is precious. But when it comes to Maggie, he has a strong purpose, which is what you called calculating. That’s why he chooses to respect you, accommodate you, and let you drop all your guards as much as possible within the safe zone he has planned for you.”
“Yes, it’s that purpose that makes me feel like everything good about him is merely a transaction. When my value decreases or becomes nonexistent, he’ll discard me.”
“Lovely Maggie, you don’t need to worry.” Grace gently placed her hand on Maggie’s pregnant belly. “The bond between you two will always exist. He can’t let you go.”
Maggie said dejectedly, “I demanded too much. We were just contract partners, and yet I found myself foolishly hoping that Aldrich would truly fall in love with me.”
But Aldrich was the most outstanding hunter. Faced with his all-encompassing care and preferential treatment, which woman wouldn’t be moved?
Grace playfully remarked, “But this kind of transactional relationship is more reliable for Aldrich than the love you believe in, Maggie.”
“He doesn’t believe in love?”
“It’s too elusive. Wolves like us believe more in what we can see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and grasp in our hands.”
Maggie felt utterly deflated. “You do understand Aldrich better.”
“That’s why we aren’t the best match, Maggie. Only you can make this Alpha, who thinks he’s unbeatable, change. You can bring him down from his lofty perch and make him a great leader who genuinely rallies the collective interests of the wolf pack.”
“I’m not as important as you make me out to be.”
“No, without you, Aldrich wouldn’t even doubt himself, and he wouldn’t realize that absolute rationality can also be a form of harm.”