75

"That explains your closeness as siblings."

"I was all he ever had to depend on. He was the only one who would come to cheer on my races out of my brothers." Ellie looked nostalgic. "I looked more forward to him cheering me on in the crowd than I did my die hard fans."

Henry looked at her with a jealous glint. "I have always wished for someone who would support me like that."

"I would love to lose a step brother or two. But I doubt even the famous Wong charm could woo them. They're complete imbeciles who would do anything to get ahead of one another. It got so tiring to see them call revenge on each other and doing less than horrible things. They're so childish and dramatic. They remind me of Desperate Housewives or reality tv stars who would do anything for fame." Ellie thought if she did bring them here, they would probably coo over Henry before scheming to take his money. "I have heard from the extended family that they were very much like our father's first wife and less like our father."

Henry looked at her with understanding. "Now why you and Nolan are alone makes complete sense. When it really matters having family who are meddlesome and will cause more of a bother than a help is quite a pity."

Ellie watched Henry with interest. The beautiful house that surrounded him had always made Ellie assume that his childhood had been a very pleasant one. To see the narrowing and twitching of his eyes, made her feel uneasy. Who hurt him? She wondered if it was the father who had decided that he would make his son marry whether he liked it or not. "It's sad that we cannot choose a good family the same ways we can choose to have good friends."

"Every family has its share of addicts, ill, and degenerates." Henry said with a soft sarcastic smile. "If I wasn't so furious that people wanted to take what my father made and dismantle it, I probably wouldn't have done so much to save it and keep it in my hands. In fact, the idea of choosing you would have never happened. May it be this marriage is quick, but I hope it will end soon."

Ellie could feel a knot forming in her stomach. The way he said those words was a raincheck on reality that his care for her had an expiration date. The only tie they had was that they had both signed marriage papers which was a document which was supposed to end with her death. But they had gotten themselves tangled into a situation they had never wished to be in because of a miracle. Ellie knew that Henry eventually would address it as it was important, but currently all Ellie wanted to do was cherish this momentary boon of closeness. "Henry, forget that we're married for a minute. I'm sure we can resolve this situation without creating a huge fuss for either of us. It is possible if we find a way. I have an idea."

"Are you serious? Tell me immediately." He looked at her with such delight that Ellie felt a bit guilty.