Chapter 123
Not long after Laytonand Lavey left. Thana. Aarons, and Ellie also said their goodbyes and leth.
Alex willingly took care of the bill for the three of them.
Once parade the restaurant, Haley couldn’t hold back any longer. She blurted out “Alex, Diana keeps parading herself around as your hancée. So
Alex frowned, clearly annoyed, and responded. “That’s just how she is. Don’t pay her any mind. I’ve got things to do. Tll call you a car to take you
Haley’s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into tight fists. “Alex, when are you going to officially end your engagement with hier? Can you really stand by and watch me get treated like the
Alex vexpression darkened. “This engagement involves both families. It was arranged by the elders, it’s not up to me to decide.
Tim sorry Flost control of my emotions. I won’t bring it up again. Haley quickly softened her tone, knowing when to stop. “As long as you treat me well, that’s all that matters. If you’re busy, I’ll get a cabs on my own”
Although Alex was always hot and cold with her, tonight, something felt off about hain.
Haley’s mind raced back to eather in the evening. Alex hand suddenly asked for her necklace, saying he needed to get it repaired, which left her
uneasy and restle
Before long. November arrived, bringing with it a crisp chill in the evening breeze
Late at night, in the private suite of the Earl Hotel Ales stood barefoot on the plush carpet. He wore a white shirt and black dress
of the floor–to–ceiling windows at the neon–lit skyline of Jislands,
There was a knock at the door. Barry, the Warren family’s head of security, stepped in Dressed in a black–and–white suit, his imposing build and buzzcut gave him an air of authority
He placed a folder on the coffee table, speaking briskly. “Mr. Warren, all the information inside has
s been thoroughly verified”
Barry continued. “Everything matches up, except for one person, Nolan, the man who found you unconscious years ago, took you to the hospital, and called the police. We haven’t been able to locate him”
Alex tumed, hands in his pockets “You can’t find him”
Barry explained. “After Nolan received the reward money from the Warren family, be quit his job and squandered the cash on gambling, drinking. and women. It wasn’t king before he was broke and deeply in debt.
“His wife couldn’t take it and divorced him. Locals from his hometowns said he ran off with a woman a few years back to escape his debts. They think he’s hiding in Jinerity
Alex’s sharp gaze fixed on the folder. “Have you confirmed the personnel list from the relocated factory
“Yes,” Barry nodded. “We’ve cross–checked all the workers and external individuals at the Nopolis East Industrial Park, both online and offline. No one named Harold has surfaced”
Closing his eyes in frustration, Alex said tiredly. “Widen the scope. Keep searching until you finil Nolan. I need to verify every detail about how he
ved me
Barry nodded and left. On his way.
y out, he passed Layton and greeted him politely. “Good evening, Mr. Mosley”
Layton watched Barry leave in a hurry before turning to Alex. “After all these years, why are you still investigating this?
Alex, looking drained, sank onto the couch. Resting his elbows on his knees, he clasped his hands, pressing them to his forehead. He muttered. “Ellie once gave Haley a men’s necklace“.
Layton, who had just perched on the couch, bolted upright at Alex’s words. “Are you serious?”
Alex lit a cigarette, his movements deliberate. “She let it slip when she was drunk. Ellie said Haley didn’t want it, and later, she lost it,”
1/2
ex
D
Dreame–Read Romance…
Download
Chapter 123
Layton smacked his thigh. “That’s easy enough. Just show Elle the necklace you gave Haley. You’ll know right away”
Leaning heavily against the conich, Alex shot Layton a cold look. Haley told me
e she lost the necklace I gave her, to
“Tuck Layton cursed under his breath “Something’s definitely up. That’s way too much of a coincidence.”
Alex locked eyes with Layton, has brows furrowed deeply. “You think it’s more than a coincidence too!”
Layton planted himself on the coffee table in front of Alex. “Alex, whether it’s a coincidence or not, Ellie gave Haley that necklace. Even if Haley didn’t take it, she’s seen it before. You need to confront her and see if she’ll admit to
“And another thing. Ellie can draw. Just ask her to sketch the necklace. That’ll sende it”
Alex took a deep drag from his cigarete, the faint smoke curling into the air and obscuring part of his view “Talready tried that before
“Haley admitted that Ellie once gave her a necklace, but she didn’t accept it. Her account matches Ellie’s. As for what it looked like, she claims it’s been too long and she doesn’t remember.
“What about Ellie? Did you ask her to draw it?” Layton pressed.
“She won’t even talk to me.” Alex said, leaning lifelessly against the couch. His head rested on the back cushion as he stared at the ceiling
Layton’s sharp eyes darted around thoughtfully as he shuffled a deck of cards in his hand. “Back then, you managed to give the necklace away, and you knew it was a girl. So why didn’t you remember her face
Alex straightened his posture, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray. “It’s not that I didn’t remember; I couldn’t see clearly
Years ago, during his kidnapping. Alex had suffered a severe head injury. Blood clots had pressed against his optic nerve, causing temporary blindness. He had desperately ined to make out the girl’s face, but all he saw was a blurry silhouette.
The suite fell into a heavy silence. Even Layton stayed quiet for a long time. Sining across from Alex, he absently shuffled the cards, pulling our the ace of spades over and over again.
Finally. Layton broke the silence. “Alex, do you really think digging into all this now will do you any good?”
Alex’s brow furrowed at the sudden question.
Layton continued, “Given your current situation with Haley and Ellie, it’s obvious that you and Ellie have no future together. If you stop now, you can at least maintain the relationship you have with her.
“Things won’t escalate further. But if it turns out Ellie was the one who saved you back then, then the one who’ll be unable to have children in the
future. Ellie”
Each word from Layton cut into Alex like a knife, piercing his heart with brutal precision.
Alex’s hand froze as he was pouring himself a drink. He gripped the glass tightly, sinking deeper into the couch.
Closing his eyes, he masked his emotions, though the weight pressing down on him was palpable. It was as if he carried the weight of a mountain, leaving him barely able to breathe.
Layton, indifferem to Alex’s inner turmoil, pressed on relentlessly. “You’ve known for years that Ellie’s been in love with you. Seven years, Alex… And yet, you’ve hurt her so badly, even extending that hurt so her family and refusing to show them any leniency”
Layton’s voice sharpened as he added, “If the truth ever comes out, if Ellie really was the one who saved you, then after everything you’ve done to her, your relationship will only end up worse than it is now
Final
2/2
