Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 423: Losing His Mind (1)

Once the news of Ayla’s death reached the public, it caused quite a stir and sparked widespread outrage. People were shocked by this sudden news, as the last news they heard about her was about her second pregnancy after the humiliating scandal that ended her career in the showbiz industry.

The Han family released a statement claiming Ayla had suffered some complications when she went into premature labor, leading to her untimely death. The statement also mentioned how devastated the family was by the loss and how they wished for privacy during this trying time.

Some found Ayla’s death suspicious but weren’t brave enough to voice their concerns publicly. They quietly speculated about the circumstances surrounding her premature labor and questioned if there was more to the story than what the family had disclosed. However, they feared facing backlash or being accused of spreading baseless rumors, so they kept their suspicions to themselves.

One of them was Lewis Jiang. Ayla was the third person to die in their Jiang family, following his father and his wife, Camilla. He couldn’t help but notice the eerie pattern of deaths in his family, raising doubts in his mind about Ayla’s passing. He couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling that there might be a hidden connection between these tragedies, leaving him uneasy.

However, he didn’t have time to dwell on it as his family struggled financially. His second daughter, Elise, moved out and decided to live alone. However, her sudden choice of career made Lewis worried about her.

Because Elise failed to secure employment, she became an Elysian escort instead. Lewis knew what kind of place Elysian was, and the humiliation he faced because of Elise’s choice made him a laughing stock in the business circle.

Elysian was a famous gentleman’s club catering to the city’s wealthiest bachelors and married men. It was known for its luxurious ambiance, exclusive clientele, and questionable activities behind closed doors. Lewis couldn’t bear the thought of his daughter being involved in such a place, and he feared for her safety and reputation. The weight of his worries only added to his already mounting stress and unease about their financial situation.

With his elderly mother’s health continuing to deteriorate, Lewis’ remaining resources continued to dwindle, and he found himself paying atrocious amounts of money to settle his mother’s medical bills and provide her with the care she needed. The burden of these expenses made it increasingly difficult for Lewis to maintain a stable financial footing and secure a better future for his daughter.

Despite his efforts to find alternative sources of income, the mounting pressure from his mother’s health and his daughter’s potential involvement in the questionable establishment weighed heavily on Lewis, leaving him desperate for a solution.

His eldest daughter, Adrienne, refused to help him. With her fast-growing shoe business, it would be easy for his daughter to contribute financially and alleviate some of the burden. However, Adrienne’s refusal to assist only added to Lewis’s frustration and desperation. Instead, Adrienne filed a restraining order against him, stopping him from having any contact with her or his ex-wife. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

With his money dwindling and his support system crumbling, Lewis felt he was running out of options. His former colleagues and business partners refused to associate themselves with him anymore, fearing that it could affect their chances of doing business with his son-in-law, Lennox Qin, who was known to adore his wife and spoil her rotten.

Lewis knew that if this continued, he would also lose the small manor they were living in and be left with nothing. He spent a sleepless night racking his brain to find a solution to his problems. He considered seeking aid from a local charity or applying for government assistance programs, but he was too prideful to ask for help.

One night, Lewis stood in the empty parking lot of the apartment complex where Elise was staying. He’d been waiting an hour, hoping his daughter would show up. With his mother scheduled to undergo surgery the next day, Lewis was desperate for Elise’s support and assistance. He knew that if he could convince her to return home and help care for her grandmother, they might salvage their situation.

However, as the minutes ticked by and Elise failed to appear, Lewis couldn’t help but feel a sense of hopelessness creeping in. The night was growing darker and colder, and Lewis began to worry that Elise had decided not to come.

Just as he thought she would never arrive, a black car stopped several meters from where Lewis stood. He watched as his daughter stepped out of the expensive car, clinging to a wealthy businessman he’d seen in the news several times. Lewis had heard that this man had quite a reputation as a womanizer, and he was worried about the influence he might have on Elise.

As they approached, Lewis noticed a sparkle in his daughter’s eyes and a smile on her face that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

"Elise," he called her out, and the smile on his daughter’s face immediately fell upon seeing him.

Her companion quickly understood the change in the atmosphere and excused himself. He kissed Elise on her cheek, bidding her goodbye before driving away.

"What are you doing here?" Elise walked past her father and entered the apartment building.

Lewis followed her until they stopped before an elevator, waiting for the doors to open. He could sense the tension in the air as he struggled to find the right words.

He finally mustered up the courage and asked, "Elise, I’ve been trying to reach you. Why aren’t you answering my calls?"

Elise frowned and looked at her father in disgust. Lewis wore a worn, tattered jacket, starkly contrasting his usual polished appearance. He had reached rock bottom and lost all sense of pride.

Elise hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and pity.

She took a deep breath before finally responding, "How much money do you need for you to stop bothering me?"

Lewis was astounded by his daughter’s words. He looked at her with hurt and disbelief. He never thought he would hear such callousness from his flesh and blood. The weight of his mistakes and failures seemed to crush him even further as he realized how much he had let down his daughter.

"I said what I said," Elise huffed before taking something from her handbag and handing an envelope to her father. "Stop showing up unannounced. What would my boyfriend say if you kept showing up at my door? That should be enough to cover Grandma’s surgery. Don’t bother me again!"