294: Attempts and Misunderstandings

As the evening light dimmed into a dusky glow, Alex stood alone, contemplating his next moves. Despite his apparent disinterest in his family's dramas, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern for his sister Lillian, who seemed to be mirroring Emma’s past more each day. Unsuccessfully trying to reach out to Lillian, who promptly hung up each time, signaled her clear intent to shut him out. Resigning himself to the reality that Lillian was set on her path, Alex conveyed to his mother that he would step back from intervening. The air was chilly as Alex paced outside the venue of a business gathering he was attending, primarily to interact with Wayne. Lately, he seemed to have taken on the role of Wayne's shadow, following him around in a bid to foster some form of camaraderie or, perhaps, to mend fences. Wayne, however, had other ideas. "What are you up to, Alex? Don't you have any serious work to do? I'm sure you already know that following me around isn't going to win you any favors, especially not from my sister," Wayne confronted him with a blend of irritation and suspicion. Alex, hands in pockets, faced Wayne squarely. "You’ve got me wrong, Wayne. It’s not about Emma. I’m here for straightforward business reasons. We're often in the same circles, and it makes sense to get along, doesn’t it?" Wayne scoffed at the notion. "Straightforward? Since when has anything with you been straightforward, Alex? We aren’t allies, and since you and Emma parted ways, you're less to me than a stranger." Alex sighed, the painful barbs of Wayne’s words sinking deep. "Look, I know there’s a lot of history here. I’m trying to move past that, trying to show that I can be different. I’m serious about making things right." Wayne’s eyes narrowed, his tone icy. "Make things right? After everything that's happened? You expect me to believe that you just want to be pals? You're dreaming if you think I'll trust you around Emma or any of us." Turning to leave, Wayne threw over his shoulder, "Stay away from us, Alex. It’s better for everyone." He strode away confidently, like a boss. Left alone with his thoughts, Alex pondered Wayne’s harsh and abrupt dismissal. It was clear that the road to redemption was going to be a long one, if not impossible. Yet, he wasn't ready to give up—not just yet. His determination was reinforced by the nagging feeling that he owed it to himself and to Emma to at least try to mend the fractures of the past. Just as he was about to head out, his phone buzzed—a call from Lillian. His heart skipped a beat. Despite the estrangement and the recent coldness, she was still his sister. Bracing himself for another dismissal, he answered the call, hoping maybe, just this once, she might want to talk.