Chapter 34 - Admirable

"What do you like about Elen?" Maurice Serano asked Felix.

The two men were sitting on a bar with some glass of whiskey in their hands.

"Why would I tell you that?" Felix replied nonchalantly. He raised the glass and gulp the drinks.

Maurice simply snickered at Felix's response. He poured another glass for himself without saying anything.

"I just like her because she is her. No special reason." Felix tilted his head to Maurice. "She is a tough and unique woman who even serve her country. That alone makes her special. Though I only find out that later." He said with a slight smile.

A woman who serves her country? The beautiful statement pained Maurice. He was reminded of his silly mistake. Why didn't he treasure her like this man did when he had the time? It's too late to regret it now.

He forced a little smile. "Be good to Elen. She may appear to be tough and strong, but she will be more sensitive than you thought. She was never like this before." He advised the Prince.

When he saw the Prince's confused face, he continued. "It might be hard to believe, but she was once a soft and simple girl. She used to be afraid of her mother so she obeyed her every word. But to me, it doesn't look like being afraid. From what I saw, it seemed like she craved for her mother's affection and approval. That's why she was very obedient to her." He explained.

Felix fully understands what Maurice was saying because he was also once in her shoes. The only thing he ever wanted was his parent's approval, until the woman he loved died.

"At first, I was not happy with the engagement because I thought that the heiress of the largest conglomerate like TR Group would be a spoiled and proud one. But my thoughts about her absolutely changed in our first meeting." Recalling his first encounter with Yelena, Maurice faint a smile. "She was so kind, beautiful, gentle and well-mannered that I fell for her right away."

Felix realized how much Yelena had changed through the years. It made him more curious about her.

"The woman I first met on Belden was a tough yet lonesome being," Felix said to Maurice. "She's also one big liar." He added.

"Belden?" Maurice asked with a bewildered face. He still remembers how the country holds a special place in Yelena's heart.

"We met in Belden," Felix replied without much thought.

Maurice's eyes grew wide in surprise. "Wait! Don't tell me that it's only been a few weeks since you two met!" He exclaimed.

"Why? Is there a problem with that?" Felix calmly sat and drink the whiskey.

Maurice felt utterly defeated! Not even a month had passed, but this man already owned Yelena's love and complete attention! He still remembers that it took him months to make Yelena feel comfortable around him.

"Mr. Serano, time is not what defines love. As long as it's true love, you will feel it right from the very beginning. Time is just a measurement made by us, humans." Felix stated his thoughts on love and time.

When it comes to love, he never hesitates. Besides, he was the type to fall in love at first sight. He don't understand why people use time to defines love.

If time really defines love, then why would people break up after many years of dating? Even couple who married for decades divorced in their later life!

"I never doubt my feelings for Yelena. You only left her because you don't know how worthy she is. But I won't ever leave her because no one sees her worth more clearer than me." Felix chuckled and look at the man. "But thanks to you, I got a chance to be with such an amazing woman." He frankly said his mind.

The Prince frankness made Maurice feel perplexed! He really wished to punch him in the face for saying such things to him. But he knew the Prince meant no harm. He was just being frank. Super frank!

But as he gets to know this Prince, he admits that he was really admirable. Somehow, he feels glad that Elen was in the care of a man like him! But that made him feel more miserable.

Feeling annoyed because there's nothing he could do, he gulps down another glass and hardly placed the glass on the table.

* * *

"Father, what do you hate so much about Felix? You don't even know him well." Yelena asked her father.

For almost half an hour, her father attempted to talk her out of her relationship with Felix. She became quite annoyed by now!

She never knows that her father would really care about whom she date! He never cares much about her; so why bother to make a fuss?

"Then what about you? Do you know him well?" Her father asked her back.

Yelena realized that she knows nothing about Felix! But she still believes what her heart feels.

"Father, do you think that I can afford to be careless when it comes to love? Maybe you forget that I was hurt once. But it's understandable. Since I was a child, you never really care about me."

"Yelena -"

"And don't forget that the one who hurt me was my ex-fiance whom you admired so much."

Maj. Gen. Ethan Arista sigh. He looks at his daughter and realized that she was still not in a good condition. She can't afford to be so worked up.

"Listen, Yelena. I'm okay even if you don't want to marry Maurice." His voice was much calm than before. "I only want you to meet a guy who is in the same league as you." He explained.

"And why can't that be Felix?" Yelena scowled. She cannot understand why her father disapproved of Felix. There's nothing wrong with him!

"Because I don't want you to marry a man from afar away place! I want you to always be near us!"