- Chapter 466
- Layton shot a glance at Alex and motioned for Lacey to come over to his side.
- Lacey shot a covert glare at Alex before joining Layton, seating herself opposite Alex. Her eyes lingered on the empty wine. bottles scattered across the coffee table and the wine glass Alex was clutching tightly, prompting her to edge a bit closer to Layton’s side.
- Layton asked, “Lacey, you visited the Thompson residence today. How’s Ellie holding up?”
- Lacey pouted, “After being so badly deceived, what do you expect?”
- It was plain to see that Alex’s expression was darkening by the second.
- Layton nudged Lacey with his elbow. “Quit being brutally honest, just tell Alex, is Ellie alright?”
- “Not well!” Lacey glared at Alex but quickly averted her gaze. “She’s lost a ton of weight, her eyes were swollen, and her voice was hoarse when I saw her.”
- Lacey continued, “Mrs. Thompson said Ellie has been locking herself in her room since she got back, not eating or drinking, just crying endlessly. Ellie was so desperate, she tried to slit her wrists in the bathroom. Thankfully, she was found just in time!
- “When Diana and I got there, Ellie was still bedridden from severe blood loss, and Mrs. Thompson was beside herself with grief!”
- Lacey was deliberately lying to scare Alex. But she felt a pang of guilt.
- Alex’s mind exploded with a “boom!” like fireworks. His chest felt as if it were being constricted, the pain making it hard to breathe. He gasped for air, his mind a chaotic blank, with only the words “slit her wrists” echoing incessantly in his ears.
- “That serious?!” Layton was also shocked.
- Watching Alex stagger to his feet and leave, Layton quietly asked, “Tell me the truth, were you just messing with Alex?”
- “Even if I were to deceive him, I wouldn’t deceive you too. Ellie’s really in a bad way!” Lacey said, looking down guiltily.
- Lacey thought, ‘Layton has been tight with Alex since they are kids, almost to the point of being just like him. I am not about to fall for that.’
- *****
- “Mr. Warren, the security at the Thompson residence is military–grade; you can’t just barge in!” Late at night, at the perimeter wall of the Thompson residence in West Suburb No. 7, Barry stopped Alex, fearing he might trigger the alarms and end up with an unwelcome police escort.
- Alex leaned heavily against the wall of the Thompson residence, struggling to contain his overwhelming emotions. His head was bowed, hiding his expression, but his trembling shoulders betrayed his intense restraint.
- “Find a way to cut the power lines!” Alex’s gaze lifted, his eyes blazing with reckless desperation.
- Barry wiped the sweat from his brow. “Mr. Warren, that’s not an option!”
- Just then, a car pulled up quietly behind them, and Evan hurried out. “Sir, Mr. and Mrs. Warren are waiting at home. They insist you return immediately!”
- *****
- 06:54 Sat, 22 Feb
- Chapter 466
- 10080
- A few days later, Ellie gradually emerged from the shadow of Alex’s betrayal. She was ready to return to work at the kreginal and reclaim her normal life.
- “Why don’t you let Aaron drive you to and from work?” Jason gently suggested, and Ellie nodded obediently.
- Since her return, Alex hadn’t bothered her, but only because she hadn’t left the Thompson residence. Yes, the couldn’t hide forever–she had to face reality eventually. Having Aaron drive her to and from work would make things much exter
- Around nine in the morning, in the hospital lobby, Ellie, clad in her white coat and holding a stack of medical fles, was stopped by Quinlee. Quinlee exclaimed, “Ellie, what a coincidence running into your
- Chapter 467
- ST.
- Quinlee greeted Ellie like an old friend, and then casually shifted the tone. “I heard you got your memory back. I’m really happy for you.”
- Ellie’s expression shifted. Ever since that incident at the Thompson residence where Quinlee and Yvette had deliberately targeted Diana, Ellie had lost all goodwill toward them. “I have things to do, so I won’t keep you, Ellie said, turning to leave.
- “Wait, Ellie,” Yvette called out, awkwardly stepping in front of her as Ellie turned to leave without a word. She stared at Ellie and probed, “Ellie, do you know why Aaron suddenly ended things with me?”
- “Ms. Griffith, whatever’s going on between you and Aaron, you should be asking him,” Ellie replied bluntly, shutting Yvette down.
- Yvette shot a troubled look at Quinlee, who smoothly stepped in with a smile. “Ellie, don’t be like that. Yvette really cares for Aaron. They were doing so well, and then out of nowhere, he ended things. She’s been heartbroken and just wanted to ask you about it.”
- “My answer remains the same–if you want to know something, ask Aaron,” Ellie said, stepping into the elevator without looking back.
- As Ellie coldly turned and entered the elevator, Quinlee subtly guided Yvette to an empty corner.
- Quinlee said, “Yvette, let me tell you, Ellie and Diana are close. She’s tight–lipped about everything, so this must involve Diana. Besides Diana and you, Aaron hasn’t had any other women in his life.”
- Quinlee cunningly advised, “You and Aaron were introduced by your families. Even if he doesn’t want to continue the relationship, with both families involved, if you take the initiative, he won’t just dismiss you.”
- A spark of hope reignited in Yvette’s eyes. “No matter what, I have to try. Aaron is everything I want in a man, and I don’t want to let someone like him slip away.”
- “Ellie’s at work now, and Aaron usually picks her up after her shift. I’ll wait with you at the hospital entrance, and when Aaron shows up, make sure to talk to him properly,” Quinlee coached Yvette on how to win Aaron back, pulling her into the elevator.
- After wrapping up her work, Ellie stood by the roadside, anticipating Aaron’s arrival. Catching sight of Alex stepping out of a sleek black Bentley nearby, Ellie’s heart skipped a beat, and she retreated with unsteady steps.
- With bloodshot eyes, Alex lunged forward to grab Ellie’s hand. Terrified, Ellie screamed, covering her head and dodging
- him.
- “Ellie!” Alex’s voice broke, his gaze locked onto her intently. He tentatively reached for her hand again, pleading, “I’m begging you, don’t move. Let me see your wrist.”
- But Ellie wouldn’t let him anywhere near her. She wrapped her arms around her head, her body shivering slightly. She kept turning away, her back to Alex, her lower lip bleeding from biting it, refusing to utter a single word to him.
- Although she didn’t know why Alex wanted to see her wrist, at that moment, she simply couldn’t bring herself to face him.
- “Jerk!” Just then, Aaron stepped out of the car and punched Alex square in the face.
- Alex grunted as his body slammed against the car door, leaning on the window. He watched as Aaron and Ellie climbed back into their car and drove away.
- Frustrated, Alex balled his fists and pounded on the car door, his hand quickly turning into a bloody mess, too gruesome to look at. He hunched over in pain, a suppressed whimper escaping his throat.
- Hearing the kitten meowing inside the car, Alex reached through the window and gently stroked its forehead. Tears welled
- Chapter 467
- up in his fiery red eyes. Choking back sobs, he said, “What are we gonna do? Mom doesn’t want us anymore!”
- Chapter 468
- Not too far away, Quinlee watched Ellie and Aaron hop into a car and speed off. After dismissing Yvette, she made her way
- over to Alex’s car.
- Noticing the bloody mess on Alex’s hand, Quinlee calmly inquired, “Mr. Warren, your hand is injured. Would you like me to accompany you to the hospital to get it bandaged?”
- “You?!” Alex sneered through his nose, quickly regaining his composure.
- Quinlee nodded and said, “After all, I’m your brother’s fiancée. If he were still alive, we have had married. Seeing you so upset, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. Let me take you to the hospital to get it bandaged so your parents won’t worry about you?
- “Get lost!” Alex curtly interrupted Quinlee before she could finish her sentence.
- “Mr. Warren,” Quinlee cautiously reached out to touch Alex’s arm, but he shoved her away.
- Seeing this, Barry quickly stepped forward to stop Quinlee from getting any closer to Alex.
- Quinlee was frightened by the fierce look in Alex’s eyes and instinctively stepped back a few paces.
- When she saw Alex getting into the car, she stubbornly said, “I had intended to chat with you about what’s on Ellie’s mind, but since you are not interested, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.”
- Alex asked, “What did she say to you?!”
- Seeing that Alex was finally willing to speak to her, Quinlee gathered the courage to approach the car. She stood by his car door while Alex was inside.
- With the window down, Quinlee looked down at Alex who was sitting with his hands covered in fresh blood, cradling a purebred Maine Coon cat on his lap.
- Since Quinlee wasn’t invited into the car, she had to talk to Alex from outside. She said, “There are some things I really shouldn’t say.
- “But Mr. Warren, you’re so deeply in love with Ellie, yet she doesn’t even spare you a glance despite all the pain you’re enduring. I can’t stand by silently anymore and felt compelled to remind you.”
- Alex lit a cigarette, his brow furrowed tightly. “Just get to the point!”
- Quinlee revealed, “Actually, Ellie talked to me about you. She mentioned that her ideal marriage partner is actually her college friend, Leonard!
- “Ellie told me herself that she no longer has feelings for you, and that you don’t even compare to one ten–thousandth of Leonard. Forced love never works, Mr. Warren, you really should move on!”
- Seeing Alex remain silent, Quinlee thought he had taken her words to heart and felt a secret thrill. She placed her hands on the car window and went on, “Mr. Warren, don’t be fooled by Ellie’s pretty face and sweet demeanor.
- “She’s actually very manipulative and skilled at controlling men. She has many sides to her, but she just puts on an innocent act around you–you just haven’t noticed yet.”
- Alex gave Quinlee a sidelong glance with an emotionless face. The next second, he crushed the burning cigarette hard onto the back of Quinlee’s hand.
- “Ah!” Quinlee screamed in agony and yanked her hand back desperately. She stared at Alex in disbelief, her face pale, and exclaimed, “You!”
- Chapter 468
- Alex’s eyes were cold and menacing as he warned. “If you dare talk badly about Ellie again, I’ll personally send you to reunite with my brother!”
- Quinlee clutched her burned hand and stumbled back in fear. Her eyes were filled with rage as she watched Alex’s car drive away, her gaze burning with hatred.
- She only said a couple of things about Ellie, and Alex ignored her status as his brother’s fiancée and burned her with a cigarette. Quinlee barely managed to stay upright, her entire arm shaking uncontrollably from the pain.
- Chapter 469
- Filled with shame and anger, Quinlee gritted her teeth as she stared in the direction of Alex’s departing car. The more Alex couldn’t let go of Ellie, the more determined Quinlee was to make sure they wouldn’t end up together.
- All the pain Alex inflicted on her, Quinlee vowed to repay on Ellie a hundredfold. Quinlee believed that, someday, she would walk into the Warren Manor with her head held high and become its rightful mistress.
- That night, at the Warren Manor, Nancy was chatting with Todd in the living room. Seeing Alex come in with a gloomy expression, holding a cat, she finally felt relieved.
- With Carlos passing away and Ellie leaving, the house felt desolate and oppressive. Seeing his parents still up so late, Alex set down the cat and changed into slippers, stepping into the main living room.
- The three of them sat silently on the sofa for a long time. Finally, Nancy couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up. “Alex, let it go! There’s no future for you and Ellie anymore. Orion is gone, and your grandpa too. Please, let your dad and me have some peace and quiet!”
- Alex lowered his head, holding back his emotions for a long time before speaking. “Dad, Mom, I’m not letting go! But don’t worry. I won’t be reckless like before. I know what I’m doing!”
- Todd fumed, “You’d be crazy to think you have any self–control!”
- Hearing the crash of a cup and Todd’s angry shout, Alex kept his head down, repeatedly rubbing his wedding ring. Although Ellie accepted Alex’s proposal and wore the wedding ring for him while she was suffering from amnesia and he deceived her, for him, everything they had experienced together was real.
- From the moment Ellie placed the ring on his finger, she became his steadfast choice for life. He vowed never to remove that ring unless he was dead.
- *****
- Two days later, as Ellie was getting ready for work, Joanna pulled her aside and whispered, “Ellie, when you have a moment, talk to Diana. Find out what’s really going on between her and Aaron.”
- Recalling Aaron’s strange behavior with Diana two days ago, Ellie nodded. “Mom, I’ll invite Diana for dinner after work and ask her about it.”
- After work, Ellie let Aaron know about the situation and then took a cab to a fancy restaurant downtown to meet with Diana and Lacey.
- “Ellie, over here.” Diana and Lacey waved to Ellie as soon as she entered the restaurant.
- “Got stuck in traffic during rush hour,” Ellie said apologetically as she sat down.
- The three friends had barely sat down when Lacey steered the conversation towards Diana. “Diana, what was the deal with you and Aaron at the Thompson residence the other day?”
- Hearing Lacey’s question asked, Diana pretended not to hear.
- Ellie and Lacey exchanged glances, and Ellie quietly asked, “Diana, why do you keep running away whenever you see Aaron?”
- “I don’t,” Diana said, trying to sound confident as she puffed out her chest and sat up straight.
- “We’ve all noticed it. Whenever you see Aaron, you run away as if you’d like to avoid him at all costs. There must be
- Chapter 469
- something going on. If you don’t spill the beans, we’re going to be really upset!” Lacey teased,
- Diana saw both of them staring at her and gave an awkward smile. “Oh, really, there’s nothing” she said, giving an embarrassed look to Ellic. “It’s just a little misunderstanding, really nothing to worry about.”
- No matter how hard Lacey and Ellie probed, Diana wouldn’t utter another word.
- 100% A
- Ellie said, “As long as everything’s okay, I won’t ask anymore. Aaron is coming to pick me up later; I’ll just ask him then”
- When Ellie mentioned that Aaron was coming over soon, Diana discreetly put down her knife and fork, grabbed her bag, and was already stepping out of the booth with one foot.
- Not too far from their booth, Layton held onto Alex’s waist to stop him. “Alex, listen to me, don’t go over there. Ellie’s got a fork and knife; she might stab you!”
- Chapter 470
- “Let go!” Alex broke free from Layton’s grip and marched towards Ellie.
- At that very moment. Aaron walked in through the restaurant door. Seeing Alex heading towards Ellie, he darkened his face instantly.
- Diana kept her head turned, staring at the door. When she saw Aaron come in, she was so scared that she jumped up and
- ran.
- So focused was she on watching Aaron that she didn’t notice the person behind her. She turned around and bumped straight into Alex’s chest, letting out a yelp of pain.
- The next second, Diana was used as a shield by Alex and was pushed right in front of Aaron. “You little scum, Alex!” Diana shouted as she stumbled towards Aaron, calling Alex a jerk.
- Aaron watched as Alex approached Ellie but was forced to halt and catch Diana.
- When Alex approached Ellie, she had already risen from her seat. Without a word, he grasped her hands to inspect her wrists for any injuries. Upon seeing her unmarred wrists, Alex’s face darkened as his gaze shifted to Lacey.
- Lacey’s expression turned sheepish as she tucked her chin and hid behind Layton.
- Seizing the moment, Ellie wrenched her hands free from Alex’s grasp and darted over to Aaron’s side. She didn’t want to see Alex, not for a single second.
- “You all keep chatting, I’m outta here,” Diana said, slipping away like an eel, making her escape first.
- Aaron had no intention of stopping Diana. He cast a glance at Alex before pulling Ellie away.
- Alex stared blankly at Ellie’s resolute figure as she walked away.
- Watching Ellie pull out a wet wipe and continuously scrubbing the hands he had held as she walked, Alex felt as if something was lodging in his chest, suffocating him.
- She was avoiding him, found him repulsive. She wouldn’t even say a word to him, didn’t even want to glance at him. Snapping out of his thoughts, Alex gave Lacey a warning glance and dragged Layton away.
- “Bro, if you’re looking for trouble, don’t drag me down with you,” Layton said as Alex pulled him out of the restaurant, step by step.
- Late at night, at the Thompson mansion at West Suburb No. 7, Ellie was asleep when she sensed a figure by her bedside, startling her awake with a shiver. Seeing Alex in his black pants and shirt, his eyes red, standing by her bed, Ellie instinctively moved to the other side of the bed.
- As she was about to call out, Alex clamped his hand over her mouth. Kneeling on the bed, he muffled his voice, saying, “Ellie, don’t shout. I just want to talk; I just want to see you!”
- Ellie discreetly glanced toward the balcony and reluctantly nodded.
- Seeing Ellie nod, Alex slowly released her. She sat on the bed, her head hanging down, while Alex knelt beside her.
- Realizing Ellie truly hadn’t called for anyone, Alex sighed in relief and adjusted the blanket that had slipped off her. He peered down at Ellie; her face was mostly concealed by her long hair, making her expression unreadable.
- He couldn’t resist reaching out to tuck Ellie’s long hair behind her ear. Before his fingers could brush against her hair, Ellie
- turned her head away. Alex’s hand hung in mid–air for what felt like an eternity before finally desgging
- Ellie discreetly reached for her phone and hid it under the banker. The pair wounds waxe milost in are othed and for loss told after his amnesia felt like they happened yesterday. She couldn’t bring herself to Exce Flex’s docets Bare
