Everyone assumed Elijah was subtly mocking Daxton by implying he was practically a son to him, given their similar ages.
Elizabeth believed it too.
Her eyes narrowed with a flicker of disdain as she glanced at Elijah and deliberately stepped on his foot.
“Don’t stand in my way.”
Her casual shoes made the action gentle yet audacious, laden with silent contempt.
Daxton, meanwhile, subtly lowered his gaze to conceal the hint of amusement twinkling there.
It was clear. She was standing up for him.
A sudden, ragged inhale escaped Albin.
Defying Elijah was a rarity no one dared, but Elizabeth unflinchingly did so—for another man.
Enraged, Elijah barked, “Elizabeth!”
Unfazed, she continued, tugging Daxton by the sleeve toward the waiting police car.
Daxton paused to give Elijah a courteous nod, then held the car door open for Elizabeth. Together, they slipped inside.
The police officers, spectators to this bold display, wished they could vanish.
One seasoned officer finally mustered the courage to approach Elijah. “Mr. James, we’ll head back to file the report now.”
Elijah’s gaze was fixed on Elizabeth, his expression unreadable and silent.
“We’re going to head back and will keep you updated on any new developments,” the officer announced.
Interpreting Elijah’s silence as consent, the officer gestured decisively and commanded, “Everyone, back to the station!”
“Ruby, let’s follow the police car,” Sandra suggested, ushering Ruby toward her vehicle.
Albin looked from Sandra to Elijah, hesitating for a brief moment before he bit back the words, “I’ll come too,” his eyes lingering on the departing cars with a sense of longing.
Before long, only Elijah and Albin remained beside the desolate dock.
Breaking the silence, Albin ventured cautiously, “Elijah…”
At that, Elijah gave him a sharp, icy glare, causing Albin to abruptly fall silent.
In Ripples Complex…
After providing their statements, Sandra and Ruby escorted Elizabeth to the hospital to ensure she was alright. Thankfully, she only suffered some minor scrapes and bruises.
Back in their apartment, Elizabeth flung off her shoes and slumped onto the couch.
Sandra dropped down next to her, feigning annoyance as she nudged her friend.
“Do you even consider me your best friend anymore? You didn’t breathe a word to me about what went down in Foxfire County!”
Ruby stepped out of the kitchen, balancing a steaming mug of coffee which she handed to Elizabeth before sinking into a beanbag across from her. She locked eyes with Elizabeth, her expression grave.
“Sandra’s right, you know. You can’t take all of this on yourself.”
“Alright, I understand. I was wrong,” Elizabeth admitted, her fingers curling around the warm mug, the heat seeping comfort into her bones.
Sandra rose, retrieving the first aid kit from the cupboard. She pulled out the ointment that Melany had supplied for Elizabeth’s injuries.
As she noticed the angry red welts marring Elizabeth’s skin, her eyes brimmed with tears, and she spat out bitterly, “That scumbag Nate! He should pay dearly for what he’s done!”
Ruby pondered for a moment before suggesting, “Maybe I should ask Mr. Rodgers if you can take some time off during this period?”
“No way. That would just throw the entire production schedule off track,” Elizabeth objected, shaking her head.
“The doctor assured me I’m okay. A little ointment and these marks will fade in a couple of days.”
She tried to reassure Ruby, adding, “Don’t worry, the police will catch Nate soon enough. I’m safe.”
Ruby crossed her legs and lit a cigarette, her mind racing as she remarked, “Considering everything we know, the Foxfire County thug incident and the buzz on social media weren’t Nate’s doing. The thugs were a fluke, but the media frenzy? That seems orchestrated.”
Their eyes met, and a moment of realization passed between them. They exclaimed,
“Sandra!”
In the plush confines of a luxurious hotel suite, Nate found himself engulfed by insomnia, nestled among a chaos of empty bottles and an overflowing ashtray brimming with cigarette remains.
His mind was haunted by thoughts of Elizabeth, whom he had yearned for over two years. She was now on the brink of becoming a permanent scar in his life’s narrative.
As dawn crept closer, the shrill ring of his phone sliced through the silence. Nate glanced at the caller ID—it was Yara.
She likely wanted an update on their latest scheme.
Yara had orchestrated the plan to kidnap Elizabeth with chilling efficiency, acting as the brains of their covert operation.
Nate, gripped by a fleeting impulse of annoyance, was about to dismiss the call when his chief bodyguard intervened with a swift gesture.
The bodyguard’s words caught Nate off guard. “Considering she’s Elizabeth’s sister, isn’t she a suitable alternative? Plus, Yara isn’t tangled up with the James family’s influential connections.”
A spark of realization ignited in Nate’s eyes, dissipating his previous frustration. A sly smile spread across his face as he accepted the call, his tone smooth and composed.
“It’s all over. She’s gone for good. As a token of my appreciation, I’ve secured a rare, high-end designer bag for you. I’ll arrange for you to be brought over for a celebratory dinner tonight.”
“Fantastic!” Yara responded, her voice tinged with triumph.
With Elizabeth no longer standing in her way, Elijah was now within her grasp, the prize she had yearned for.
