Chapter 149
Beneath the rainy sky, Ellie watched as Alex, holding a sharp dagger, carefully carved away
y the skin where the tattoo lay. He used all his strength, each stroke scraping down to the home.
Blood poured from the wounds, mixing with the rain, making the bright red color even more vivid. She didn’t intervene or say a word, her face was like when she saw him carve Haley’s name onto his ring finger.
Back then, her beam was full of pain, but now she felt only numbness. With a clatter, the bloody dagger fell into the puddle forming beneath Alex’s teet, turning the already red water into an even brighter shade
As she watched Alex, whose arm shook from pain, she saw him cautiously approach her, his eyes red with emotion.
Ellie spoke. “Even if you erase the surface, that tattoo on your ring finger has become part of you. Unless you die, you will never get rid of it Just like the debt you owe me; unless you’re dead, you will never repay it in this lifetime”
“Do you hate me!” Alex stopped in front of Ellic, looking into her eyes. When Ellie stayed silent, Alex, ignoring his pain, grabbed her shoulders tightly, asking again. “Ellie, do you hate me?”
Ellie looked into the depths of Alex’s soul By the overpass, they stood in the rain, staring at each other for a long time. Finally. Ellie replied calmly, You are not worthy of my hate.”
At that moment, Alex completely collapsed. Tears mingled with rain as they streamed down his face; he struggled to control himself, loosening his hold on Ellie’s shoulders only to tighten it again in a frantic cycle.
Ellie remained still, her gaze cold as she looked at him. Finally, Alex let go. They stood side by side on the overpass, both looking down covered river below
at the f
“Tadmat. I have hun you more than once for Haley’s sake, and I spoke cruelly to your parents–I deserve every bit of punishment.” Alex finally found his voke
e a chance to make thi
His face turned dull as he looked at Ellie, his quiet tone full of desperation. “Ellie, give me Ellie looked away, her expression indifferent as she faced Alex, asking. “Are you sure you want to make things right?”
things right.”
With tear–filled eyes, Alex fervently nodded. “As long as you allow it, I will d
do anything you want.”
fog-
“Are you really sure?” Ellie pressed.
Alex replied, “If you doubt me, I call swear to the heavens.
“Then Herg you, from that moment on, do not come before me again, Ellie declared, instantly freezing all expression from Alex’s face.
“I don’t want to ser you again; even if we meet in the future, please stay away from me don’t come any closer.”
“I can’t do thart” Alex suddenly shouted, the pain in his voice clear against the unending rain. The thought of such a separation felt worse than death
Ellie let out a cold laugh. Her voice slufted from calmness to strong resolve. “So, Haley was right; the most sellish person is you.
“You an solely on your desires, completely ignoring the feelings of others; you don’t know what respect is, nor how to truly love anyone. You only loveyourrit
As she turned her bark on him, Alex, feeling d
“Don’t pretend in feels
I sorry, saying you
want to make up
for things. Yo
You can’t do it with that, Ellie pushed past Alex and walked away. desperate, lunged forward recklessly to hug her tightly once more. “I can change.”
will become the jetson ytarodice loved”
me that you don’t like. I
was mullled against her skin as he sobbed uncontrollably. “Please don’t ignore me.”
His breath was heavy as he buried his face into the crook of Ellie’s neck. “I will listen to you and change everything about me
“Ellie, give me this chance: I promise I will suured Alex’s voice w He begged her, “Ellir, you can’t leave me
Talready told you, the person I once loved is long gone. Ellie forcefully pulled away from his embrace.
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7.10 AM &c.
Chapter 149
Seeing Alex’s pained expression, Ellie spoke flatly, “I know I may not have your smarts, your good upbringing, and I don’t have your cleverness or
mithlessness.
“But my dad has passed away: no one is left relying on me for money for his medicine or care. I’m not scared of losing my job anymore.”
“If you keep disturbing my life. I can step away without hesitation–death will mean nothing” With that, Ellie left without looking back.
Alex’s outstretched hand hesitated in mid–air, frozen, as he lost his courage to touch her. He wanted to hold her tight and never let go, yet he didn’t
dare anymore.
The sky poured rain fiercely. He stood there, watching Ellie’s silhouette disappear into the distance, his heart breaking as he called out her name in despair.
Time moved into the depths of winter. A month had passed since Harold’s death, and Joanna had moved into Jaslands to be with her children. Ellie kept her medical results clear, Joanna cried softly for several nights, slowly accepting the harsh truth. Aaron stayed silent; he wanted to comfort her but didn’t know what to say
In the past month, Alex hadn’t shown up again, and Ellie’s family began to heal from their emotional pain. The deceased would no longer suffer, but the living had to keep pushing forward.
Ellie buried all her feelings of guilt about her dad deeply inside; she quit her bar job, balancing work with her postgraduate studies, Slowly, everyone’s lives began to get back to normal.
One weekend, Diana and Lacey came over with lots of fruits and nutrition supplements. The three girls chatted in the room while Joanna cooked dinner in the small kitchen.
Lacey looked around the small bedroom with its bunk bed, frowning in concern. “Ellie, we’re such good friends; why don’t you stay in my house!” Im doing perfectly well now; you don’t need to worry about me, Ellie replied with gratitude, speaking
softly
After Harold’s death, Diana and Lacey had stayed by her side for days. They had arrived in her hometown only a few hours late. They had shared her grief as tears flowed from all of them
They didn’t look down on her small home, nor criticize her messy bed, nor did they make fun of Joanna’s worn–out coat. True gratitude filled her beart; Ellie cherished their
presence.
They had already done so much for her, and she felt she couldn’t ask for a
anything more.
Suddenly, Lacey remembered something and lowered her voice. “Ellie, did you know! I heard from Aaron that Alex has been cutting his finger, all the way to the bone.”
Ellie forced a smile, staying silent. Even if he hurt himself until he was nothing but a skeleton, it didn’t matter to he
to her anymore.
When Alex was mentioned, Diana got upset. “Cutting his finger is not enough; he should chop off his head instead.” Just as Diana started a rant about how Alex was the worst, Joanna knocked and came in, announcing that Alex’s parents had arrived with him.
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