Chapter 258,
Overcome by the sight of his parents aging overnight, Alex entered the police car. It was a little past two in the afternoon, and rain continued to fall.
The alley was long, shrouded in ominous dark clouds that threatened to engulf the space in darkness.
Ellie had taken a half–month leave from her job at Marvin’s. She planned to travel to another city to terminate her pregnancy, seeking solitude for a few days.
Lewis had chased after her, offering an umbrella, but she had declined. Her heart was already drenched in despair, and it mattered little whether she got wet in the rain.
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Ever since Alex was detained, everyone had urged her to let go, to forgive. But no one would know that her feelings for Alex for seven long years had withered to desolation. She could no longer love him, nor could she love anyone else.
All she desired now was to live the most ordinary, tranquil life she could muster.
Hearing the familiar footsteps behind her, Ellie paused but did not turn around. Two police officers stood a short distance behind Alex. He had his hands clasped in front of him, a jacket draped over his hands to hide the handcuffs.
Alex was behind Ellie, his eyes red around the corners. He remained silent, and Ellie did not turn back, maintaining this position for what felt like an eternity until Alex could no longer resist taking a step closer to her.
He raised a hand, yearning to embrace her, but the handcuffs prevented him from doing so. His hands fell powerless at his sides. Mustering his courage, Alex finally spoke, “Ellie, please say something to me.”
He waited, but when Ellie remained silent, he nearly broke down in a desperate plea, saying, “I have to leave soon; I beg you, just look back at me.” He continued to wait, but Ellie still did not turn.
Just as he raised his foot to approach her, a police officer reminded him that time was up.
Feeling defeated, Alex drew his foot back, his eyes brimming with tears as he clutched Ellie’s sleeve tightly. “Ellie, I’m begging you, just say a word to me.”
“Mr. Warren, time’s up,” the officer said politely, pulling Alex away.
“Ellie.” he cried out. “I won’t disturb you again; just say something, and I’ll go. Look back at me. Just a word.”
The officers forcibly pried his fingers away from Ellie’s sleeve, and Alex helplessly called out her name repeatedly.
It was only when he was forcibly dragged to the alley’s entrance and ushered into the police car that he realized Ellie never turned back.
The police car roared to life and drove away, leaving behind Ellie, who suddenly broke down in tears. She still did not turn around, crouching down and letting the rain soak her.
This summer rain in the damp alley was the final chapter of her relationship with Alex.
Aaron arrived to pick up Ellie, witnessing this heart–wrenching scene from a distance. Holding an umbrella, he approached her silently and stood quietly by her side.
At that wedding, he understood that letting go of Ethan was merely an invitation to potential danger for Ellie.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to disregard everything and decisively take that shot. But Alex had done it. He had forsaken the Warren Group, even ignoring his own parents.
Ellie looked up at Aaron. The more she tried to control herself, the more her tears flowed. Aaron held the umbrella while
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18:47 Fri, 21 Feb 0
Chapter 258
gently lifting Ellie, allowing her to lean against him and let out her pent–up emotions,
Leaning all her weight on his shoulder, Ellie trembled as she spoke, “Aaron, today marks a hundred days since Carlos passed away.”
Upon returning home, Ellie fell ill. She steadfastly refused to go to the hospital, while Joanna and Aaron insisted on not leaving her alone for a healing getaway out of town.
Her plans for the termination were once again postponed, yet she still hadn’t confided in anyone about her pregnancy.
During moments of boredom, she picked up her phone, only to find distressing news–reports of a wedding shooting leading to a ten–year sentence, plummeting stock prices for the Warren Group, and the illness of Nancy.
Overwhelmed by despair, Ellie simply switched off her phone. The entire day slipped away in a haze of restless sleep followed by brief awakenings, only to doze off again.
It wasn’t until afternoon when Lacey came upstairs to call her that she mustered the energy to descend
“Ellie, here,” Nalani said, handing her a bag. Ellie saw the pricey limited–edition handbag and thanked her politely.
Noticing Ellie’s pallor, Layton cautiously suggested, “I’m visiting the prison tomorrow; would you like to come with me?” Ellie looked at Layton, shaking her head. At this point, it mattered little whether she went.
The following morning, Layton arrived at the prison for his visit. Alex was wearing his prison garb, and Layton tried to conceal his emotions.
“Since you’ve been here, Nancy has fallen ill, and now the stock of Warren Group is plummeting. Your dad, in a bid to stabilize sentiment, has nominated your cousin to take your place, but the board rejected it,” Layton explained.
Alex listened quietly to Layton’s words, then replied coolly, “My Mom is strong; she will be just fine. As for the Warren Group, let the board deal with their chaos.”
As the sole heir to Warren Group, he was well aware of the serious consequences of his public actions. His parents would surely suffer heartbreak for a time, and the Warren Group would undergo a chaotic power struggle.
From the moment he decided to pull the trigger, he prepared himself for the loss of everything. So long as Ellie was well, he had no regrets.
Late at night, Alex lay on the prison cot, repeatedly caressing his right hand where his ring had once been on it.
When he was detained, his ring was removed, leaving only a mark to signify that he once wore it, a testament to the happiness he and Ellie had shared.
He had yearned desperately for a future with Ellie. Even if she hated him, he wouldn’t care.
He simply wanted her to stay by his side. Even if it meant enduring pain, he wanted their futures to be linked. For her sake, he had exhausted every means to hold onto her. In the end, he could only cause her deeper wounds.
Ellie had sacrificed her entire youth for him. Yet now, not even a decade in jail could win back a single glance from her. Though he knew her heart had strayed far from him, he couldn’t help but consider her his everything.
She longed to escape from him, he couldn’t bear to disturb her again. From then on, no one would ever light up his heart again. Alex remained wide awake until dawn broke.
“Alex, you got a visitor,” the officer said on the morning of the third day, leading Alex out once again.
