While Ella was drinking, she divulged to Queeny what had been on her mind for years.
"You know what, Queeny? I'm not really an orphan. I have a father, but I've never met him in my life."
It seemed that Ella wasn't good at drinking. She became tipsy after just a few glasses of wine.
Pouring wine for herself, Ella murmured, "He abandoned my mom before she gave birth to me. Since I was born, he has never come to me even though he knows he has such a daughter."
"I used to believe that he must have something that he found awkward to disclose, so I bore him no grudge even though he had never fulfilled his paternal obligations."
"Not until now do I realize that I have been finding excuses for him to make myself feel better. He has no intention whatsoever to acknowledge me as his daughter."
"Although I've already grown up and I ask for nothing more than having a family like everyone else does, he will not grant me this little wish."
"Queeny, do you think I'm pathetic and silly?"
It had never occurred to Queeny that Ella should have such a pitiful origin.
Her heart grabbed by sympathy, Queeny patted Ella on the shoulder and said, "It's not that you're silly, but that your so-called father is unworthy of what you've done for him."
Queeny had known since long ago that some people were not worthy of the parental titles.
So it didn't surprise her at all that there should be such a man as Ella's father walking the earth.
Although she was not acquainted with Ella's father, Queeny could imagine from Ella's words what a callous and selfish man he was.
With teary eyes, Ella mumbled, "I know he's not worthy of it, but I'm dying for his acknowledgement. No one knows how much I wish to have a family."
"Now it seems I will not have it, never ever. No family, and nothing else whatsoever."
Ella's voice trailed off.
Finally, she collapsed onto the table.
Queeny shook her shoulders and called, "Ella?"
Ella made no move.
Queeny gave a sigh.
Ella seemed to have really got drunk.
It was outrageous that Ella's father, whoever he was, should be so cruel to his own daughter, denying her even when he knew her existence.
No matter who this man was, he should pray not to be caught by Queeny, or he would be penalized for what he had done.
With these thoughts, Queeny summoned the waiter and paid the bill, when all of a sudden, she was seized by a curious dizziness.
Shaking her head, Queeny felt it odd that she should be giddy without drinking much.
Could it be that her long rehabilitation had made her susceptible to alcohol?
Fortunately, the dizziness was only slight as tipsiness, so Queeny paid no attention to it.
Having paid the bill, Queeny woke Ella up and told her to go.
Much wine as Ella had drunk, she was not completely overwhelmed.
Not wanting Dean to see Ella so drunk, Queeny didn't summon the bodyguards. She helped Ella to stand on her feet and went out with her.
"Queeny."
Ella called faintly when they were heading out.
"Well, what's it?"
"I'd like to go to the washroom."
Queeny turned and looked aside. Seeing that there was a washroom in the corridor outside, she said, "OK. I'll take you there."
She helped Ella towards the washroom.
Dean and the other bodyguards were in the adjacent room and available at any moment.
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