Chapter 224

Jayden took a slow sip of wine, his brow furrowed as he mulled over the information. “She left Jersten on her own, with just two bodyguards. Are you absolutely sure this isn’t a trap?” He had been cautious ever since leaving his hideout earlier that evening. For now, safety dictated he remain holed up in the sewer, a grim but effective sanctuary.

“It’s not a trap,” Amber said, her voice sharp with urgency. “She’s occupied with that project, fighting it out with me. Right now, she’s just checking on how it’s going. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for. Trust me.” Amber’s patience had been stretched to its breaking point. After everything she’d been through, she was certain that all her misfortunes led back to Elvira. If taking a risk meant getting rid of Elvira, then it would be worth it.

When Jayden didn’t respond, Amber pressed further, her words sharp and deliberate. “Do you really want to stand by and watch me lose to Elvira? This project could make or break her. If she fails, her future, her reputation, everything, will be destroyed.”

Jayden’s grip tightened around the bottle in his hand until it crumpled under the pressure. His daughter was his only hope, his sole reason for persevering in this harsh world. He couldn’t let her be ruined.

“Alright,” he said, his voice firm with resolve. “I’ll handle it. I’ll figure out a way to eliminate Elvira.”

Amber exhaled, relief washing over her. The end is near. It is now or never; I am not letting Elvira slip through my fingers again, she thought.

Jayden wasn’t like ordinary hitmen. His methods were unconventional and unpredictable. That’s why Amber pinned all her hopes on him.

With Jayden’s agreement, Amber felt reinvigorated, her determination renewed. She glanced at her hands, roughened and calloused from endless toil. Bitterness twisted her expression as she muttered curses under her breath, aiming her venom at Karen.

If it weren’t for Karen’s usefulness to her daughter, Amber would’ve arranged to get rid of the old hag long ago.

Elvira leaned back in her seat, glancing at Cole beside her. This business trip wasn’t just about work. She wanted to spend more time with him, to understand what was on his mind, and perhaps help him sort through whatever weighed him down.

The trip was a short drive to a small town near Jersten, just four hours away. The two of them were chauffeured in a sleek business car, with another vehicle trailing close behind, carrying their security detail.

Cole, as usual, stared silently out the window. Elvira stole a few glances at him, but he didn’t react. Her thoughts drifted to something Leonard had said, about Cole being involved in the Nina incident. But that didn’t sit right with her. Leonard’s credibility was questionable at best, and she found it hard to believe Cole would ever do such a thing.

Despite his quiet demeanor, Cole had always been decent and upright. Someone like him couldn’t possibly have a hand in something so cruel.

“Cole,” Elvira began cautiously, her tone gentle. “Are you thinking about the past?” She’d noticed the heavier air around him lately. Nothing else in his life had changed. There were no new relationships or upheavals. It had to be old memories resurfacing.

Cole turned to her, his long hair falling partly over his eyes, obscuring his expression. His voice was calm, almost detached. “Yeah. A few things came back.”

In truth, he remembered everything.

“You don’t seem happy about it,” Elvira said, concern lacing her words. “Were they bad memories?”

Chapter 221

“Not exactly pleasant,” he mumbled, turning back to the window. He didn’t want her to see the sorrow etched in his gaze.

“Do you have any family left? Do you want to find them?” Elvira asked, her tone a mix of concern and impatience. Talking to Cole felt like pulling teeth. Couldn’t he just get everything out in one go instead of dragging it out?

“Not really,” Cole muttered, his response clipped.

Elvira blinked, at a loss for words. She fought the urge to grab his face and shake him until the words spilled out. Why did everything have to be so difficult with him?

“Fine. If you don’t want to, then don’t. But don’t overthink it. Life’s not as complicated as it seems. We only have a few decades here, so we might as well try to be happy.” Elvira smiled, though she felt like she was coaxing a stubborn toddler. No, scratch that; toddlers were easier to deal with. Even Alice wasn’t this tough to handle.

Cole stared at his hands, tightening them into fists on his lap. Happiness? He scoffed internally. How could someone like me even think about happiness after everything I went through?

He glanced at Elvira, her presence the only thing keeping the icy grip of his past at bay. “When she’s here, it’s different. Warmer. Lighter. But that never lasts, does it? I can’t always be near her. Can’t always protect her.” But if anyone so much as tries to hurt her? They’ll regret it. I’ll make sure of that.

“I found this fun little game the other day. It’s surprisingly good for stress relief. Want to give it a shot?” Elvira asked, holding out her phone. “I play it sometimes.”

Cole glanced at the screen, then obediently pulled out his phone and downloaded it. As she leaned in to show him how to play, her scent surrounded him, soft and warm. He stiffened but forced himself to appear normal.

These moments alone with her were rare, and he cherished every second.

The bodyguard’s voice crackled through the phone. “We’ve got a flat tire.” Elvira sighed. “Just find a place to fix it. I’ll wait ahead for you. Once it’s done, catch up so we can continue.”

Cole’s hand froze mid-game. His gaze darkened briefly before the emotion vanished, replaced by a calm mask. Without a word, he resumed playing.

“You need to move that piece down first,” Elvira said, pointing at the screen, “then slide this one over. See? Like that.” Cole followed her instructions and quickly won the level. A rare smile appeared on his face.

He thought, Around Elvira, I can finally let go, feel a little softer, a little more human. I like how she makes me feel safe, even if it’s just for a while.

At a gas station up ahead, Elvira asked the driver to stop and refuel. Turning to Cole, she said, “I’m going to grab a few things from the store. You stay here.”

“I’ll come with you,” Cole offered immediately.

“No need,” she said with a laugh, holding up her hand to stop him. “I’m just picking up something personal. Wait here, okay?”

Cole frowned but nodded reluctantly, watching her disappear into the convenience store. His eyes stayed glued to her figure through the glass, following her every move as she browsed. Then, a woman approached Elvira, said something, and led her further into the store.

Cole’s gut tightened. Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed. The moment he stepped inside, he heard Elvira scream. His chest constricted painfully as he bolted toward the sound.

When he rounded the corner, the scene unfolded before him: Zach and a group of bodyguards had restrained the woman who’d spoken to Elvira. Elvira stood unharmed, but the tension in the air was thick.

Cole rushed over, his voice sharp and urgent. “What’s going on?”

“She…” Elvira opened her mouth to explain, but before she could get a word out, Cole snapped. Like a storm unleashed, he lunged at the woman, grabbing her with a ferocity that left no room for hesitation.