American Adventure: My Uncle is Don Quixote

Phoenix held his cup of black tea, leaning back in the rattan chair and quietly watching his daughter’s animated expression.

He couldn’t remember the last time the two of them had laughed so heartily.

"That does sound like an amazing performance," he said with a gentle smile, setting down his teacup and glancing at his watch. "But now that things here have settled, it’s about time for me to get going."

"Returning to the United Kingdom so soon?" Elizabeth’s eyes dimmed a little. "I’ll see you off."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Dad, why don’t you move back to New York? We hold the most shares now—"

"There’s no need, Liz. The amount of money doesn’t matter to me," Phoenix said. "I’m leaving New York simply because I dislike everything about this place. This world of fame and fortune has never suited me. Even though we’ve won, the air here still suffocates me."

"I’ve grown accustomed to life back in the English countryside, spending time with my antiques and researching the evolution and history of certain words," he said with a shrug. "You know, being a naturalist and an antique collector who doesn’t have to communicate with the living... it suits me just fine."

A flicker of reluctance crossed Elizabeth’s eyes, but she knew her father’s character and didn’t press him.

Phoenix looked at his daughter, who seemed to glow with her exquisite makeup. Remembering what Li Wei had said yesterday, a powerful wave of guilt suddenly washed over him.

"Liz... I’m sorry. I was truly too selfish," he said softly. "I was so focused on escaping this place that I failed in my duties as a father. I didn’t consider your feelings when you were young, and I let you suffer so much..."

Hearing his words, Elizabeth felt a sting in her nose. She took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that were welling in her eyes.

Her face broke into a radiant smile.

"Dad, what’s past is past. It can’t be changed," she said. "The pain was real, too. I’ll never forget those memories, and I can’t ignore the effect those things had on the person I am today. But... I choose to make peace with it all."

"I have the power to protect myself now. I don’t have to care about the gossip and rumors anymore," she said, hugging Phoenix, who looked as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Go live the life you want. I’ll be just fine here."

Phoenix’s eyes reddened slightly as he gave a gratified nod.

He was about to say something more when his gaze traveled through the sunroom’s glass. In the distance, he saw Li Wei chatting with Dr. Harrison under the portico.

"I may not like anyone else in this manor, but for some reason, I have a much better feeling about Li Wei," he said gently. "He’s a very capable and interesting young man. You have my blessing."

Elizabeth froze for a second before all the blood rushed to her head.

"Dad, what are you talking about!" she exclaimed, shooting to her feet. "He’s not my boyfriend! His girlfriend is my best friend."

"At least, not yet..." she sighed, sinking back into her chair.

"You just have to pursue what you want. After all, the things you don’t get when you’re young," Phoenix said with a smile, picking up his tweed overcoat. He teased as he walked away, "are the things you’ll regret when you’re older."

He walked out the door, popped his collar, and ducked into the car waiting to take him to the helipad.

His words hadn’t been a mere joke.

As a father, he knew all too well the taste of lifelong regret that came from hesitation and holding back. He had chosen to flee this manor of endless scheming. And while he had preserved his freedom, he had paid for it with the inability to watch his daughter grow up.

Now, she had sharp claws, impenetrable armor... she had everything.

He was encouraging Liz to go for it. Even if she lost, the pain would only be temporary.

’I hope Liz thinks so too...’

’Or does she?’

Back in the sunroom, the blush on Elizabeth’s face gradually faded, replaced by a look of unprecedented contemplation.

Her gaze fell once more upon Li Wei, who was discussing golf swing techniques with Dr. Harrison.

Now, the mere sight of him was enough to make a smile tug at her lips, as if his presence alone could lift her spirits.

’But is this enough, Elizabeth Mellon?’

she asked herself silently.

Her father’s words—"the things you’ll regret when you’re older"—had struck the very heart of her fears.

’Am I really going to keep standing silently beside Li Wei and Anya forever, under the false pretense of being a "good friend" and "best friend"?’

In the past, she’d had her reservations and her insecurities.

Anya was Sergey’s only daughter. To her, tens of millions of USD was just a number. For Elizabeth, it was the amount of a trust fund she wouldn’t have been able to touch for ten years.

The only thing she could do was act as a go-between for Li Wei, introducing him to people. But her last name was just a name; she couldn’t make those people give Li Wei any special consideration because of her, nor could she offer him any real support.

But things were different now!

She was now the owner of a 20% stake in the Delaware Free Port. Moreover, she had taken over her father’s independent board seat and voting rights. In this latest shake-up, she had transformed into the most powerful person in the family, second only to her grandfather, Alexander.

At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.

’Why should Anya get to have Li Wei all to herself? I’m the one who met him first!’