Chapter 116
Auron lay in bed, a bandage covering his forchrad, clearly freshly dressed
cod guard outsade his hospital room, her eyes fixed on the door. When Alex approached, she moved to block his way: “Why are you here!”
Sering Elbe guarded expression, Alex felt his chest tighten with frustration, his face darkening, “Aaron’s a grown man. Broad daylight, crowded hospital–what could 1 possibly do to him”
He stepped forward, his tone firm “Move aside. I need to talk to Aaron.
Elle glanced at the door behind her before turning back to Alex. “If you’ve got something to say, say it to me. Aaron doesn’t want to see you.”
Alex stared at Ellie, his gaze intense but silent. Finally, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the stairwell, releasing her only when they were alone.
Neither spoke, their silence heavy with tension as they locked eyes.
After a long moment, Alex let out a resigned sigh. “Ellie, I’m not here to fight with you. Aaron’s injured now, this is the perfect time for him to hand of Ethan’s case to someone else.
“Let him stay here, focus on recovering, and I swear nothing else will happen to him.”
Ellie couldn’t help!
Ip but few
feel a surge of binemess.
If Aaron dropped the case and passed it to someone else, Ales would undoubtedly find a way to exploit the loophole and save Ethan’s neck. And sure, Aaron might come out of it unscathed.
The real reason Alex had come was that Haley
ut Haley wanted him to pressure Aaron into giving up the
When Aaron had first taken on the case, Ellie had tried to dissuade him. But Aaron’s response had been unequivocal. Tid rather lose my job than compromise my principles.
Elbe held Alex’s gaze, her eyes unwavering. “You’d throw anyone under the bus for Haley. Meanwhile, Aaron is willing to sacrifice everything for his work and his beliefs. Go ahead; use whatever dirty tricks you want.”
Alex cliched his jaw, staring at Ellie for a long, heated moment without saying a word.
Finally, he thumped his chest in frustration and snapped at her. “You’re accusing me of being behind this Where’s
your proof?”
Ellie’s voice was steady, curing. “I don’t need proof. I know it was you”
Alex spun in place, pacing a tight circle in front of her as he tried to rein in his temper. His fists clenched and unclenched, his breathing heavy.
He stopped abruptly and grabbed Ellie’s shoulders, leaning down so their eyes were level. “Ellie, is that how it works with you” The moment you suspect me, I’m automatically guilty?”
“Right back at you” Ellie shot back, her tone cold.
Alex took a deep breath, then another.
Ellie could see the rage simmering beneath the surface. Watching him struggle to stay composed, she quickly pushed him away, putting some space between them.
For several moments, Alex said nothing his chest rising and falling as he fought to calm himself. Finally, he spoke, his voice tight with barely restrained anger. “Ellie. I know you’re convinced it was me. If you don’t believe me, fine. I’m done explaining myself.
“But hear this,” he continued, his voice sharp. “If you can’t handle something, you shouldn’t take it on in the first place. Did Aaron even stop to think if he was capable of handling this case before he took it
“Did he weigh the risks? Probably not. Everyone needs to know their limits. If something’s beyond your ability, it’s bound to end in disaster. Aaron getting attacked‘ He brought that on himself.”
Elbe’s expression hardened, her patience wearing thin. “If that’s what you believe, then we have nothing more to talk about.” She pushed past him and began to walk away.
Aher a few steps, she stopped and turned back to him. “Follow me. There’s something I need to show you”
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Chapter lis
Temir. Ellie led Alex in a different floor of the hospital
stopped at the first room on the corridor, gesturing for him to look inside. Then she moved to the next, and the next, guiding him from one
to another until they reached the last one
Through the window of the final room, they saw a teenage boy wearing a school uniform. His arm was in a sling, and he was standing by the hospital bed, massaging his mother’s arm with his free hand.
Behind him, on a small cot, lay an array of textbooks and school supplies.
Ellie turned her head slightly to look at Alex, her voice calm but pointed. “These are the victims of that car accident. Three of them didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye before they were gone”
Ellie looked at Alex, her voice cold and steady. “It didn’t have to be this bad. These people didn’t have to suffer such severe injuries.
“One of them might have even survived. But Ethan fled the scene, driving recklessly and hitting them repeatedly without a shred of concern for their lives.”
Alex stared at the boy in the hospital room, his expression frozen in shock. Ellie’s tone remained calm, though her eyes betrayed her pain. “That boy’s name is Ryan.
“On the day of the accident, he was coming back from evening classes to help his parents pack up their stall. His dad, proud of Ryan for ranking first in his monthly exams, went next door to buy him some fried chicken.”
She paused, her voice catching slightly. “He stood there holding the fried chicken, calling out to his son, Ryan, I bought you an extra piece today. Have all you want when we get home.”
Ellie’s voice trembled, but she pressed on. That’s when Ethan’s car lost control and sped toward them.”
Her eyes turned red as she steadied herself. After a moment she continued, her tone heavy with sorrow. “Byan was only a few hundred feet away. He saw his father get hit, watched him by through the air, and crash onto the road.
With a sickening thud, he landed, blood spreading rapidly from the back of his head. And in his hand, he still clutched Ryan’s favorite fried
chicken”
“That was the last thing Ryan’s father ever said to him.”
Alex turned away numbly. In the corridor outside the hospital room, the two faced each other silently, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard. to breathe.
At some point, Alex’s eyes turned red. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his lips remained tightly shut. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything
Ellie finally broke the silence. Theard Ryan is taking the SAT next year. Tell me, if it were you, could you move past your father’s death and your mother’s critical injuries to face the biggest exam of your life!”
Alex said nothing, his usual sharp retorts absent.
Ellie pressed further. “You say the world is unfair, that it’s about strength v living their lives without hurting anyone. Is this what you call fair?
versus weakness. Fine, F
Ill give you that. They are weak, but they were
“You say money can solve everything. Can you use money to bring his father back?”
“Ellie.” Alex’s voice was hollow, his body sagging as if all his strength had been drained. He reached our his side, unable to complete the gesture.
cas if to bold her hand but let it fall back to
Ellie’s voice sharpened. “You only see the tears of the woman you love. Do you have any idea how devastating and hopeless their cries are?”
Alex’s brows knit together tightly, his gaze shifting as he struggled to meet her eyes. He stood before her, his lips parting slightly, but no words
Ellie’s gaze bore into his. T’m just like them. To you, we’re nothing more
g more than p people who deserve to pick scraps. That’s why I can feel their despair and helplessness, but you… you can stand here and remain unmoved.”
“Tim not like that!” Alex finally shouted, his voice breaking. I’m not indifferent”
