Chapter 19
Ruben made his way to the entrance and saw Asher standing outside.
He smiled and said, “I heard from my butler that you’ve visited the mansion six times in the past half a month. Is there anything I can help you with?”
Asher glared at him, looking intensely into his eyes, and said, “I’m here to visit Estelle. Her phone is perpetually turned off. Ruben, did you lock her up at home or something? Do you know that it’s against the law even if you’re both husband and wife?”
Ruben laughed coldly. “Uncle Asher, it’s great that you still know that she and I are husband and wife. Don’t you think that you’re being a little too concerned and overprotective of her?”
He came closer to Asher and said in a low voice, “It means nothing even if Estelle kissed you before. She only did it to make me mad. Surely you didn’t think that it meant she actually liked you?”
Asher stiffened.
“Don’t come anymore if you don’t have any other issues, Uncle Asher. Actually, just stay away. You’re not welcome here.”
Ruben could feel his heart boiling with rage on the way back when he thought that someone else had their eyes on Estelle. His Estelle.
It was no longer safe to live here. He was going to move Estelle to the new island he had just bought. They would be much safer there!
So, he immediately told Phil to make all the necessary arrangements.
For the next few days, Reuben kept himself busy coordinating things for moving to the island. Just a day before his plan was executed, however, Phil suddenly called, informing him that Louisa had found her way to the company to cause a huge fuss.
She’d even brought both of her children and gone up to the rooftop, citing that she would jump if Ruben still refused to see her.
Ruben immediately hurried over to the company with a dark expression on his face.
A short while after he left, Asher led his men and barged into the mansion. Estelle was standing on the balcony when he finally found her.
Asher stayed quiet as he stood next to her for a while. It wasn’t until her impatient gaze landed on him that she finally asked, “What are you doing here?”
Asher mustered his courage to speak up. “Do you… Do you remember saving a little boy from being trafficked when you were young?”
For years, Asher had always been the one taking care of other people. That had been the only time someone else had actually taken care of him. She was very special to him. However, he just couldn’t quite describe the emotion he felt for her.
Estelle was shocked by his words. “You…”
“It was me!” Asher exclaimed, his eyes shining brightly. “You remember me!”
ed coldly instead. “Of course I’d remember you, you pathological liar.”
ised her that he would call the police as soon as he got out, and young Estelle had happily told Darlene about it. Darlene had given her a small ething incredibly hard to come by, and she’d kept asking Estelle if it was real and if she was dreaming.
ally? Is it for real? You’re not lying, are you?”
Of course I’m not! He promised me!” young Estelle had said, thumping on her chest for reassurance.
However, they continued to wait, to no avail. A month passed, followed by a year and many more years–still, not a single policeman was in sight to come to rescue them.
Darlene had grown resentful toward Estelle because of that. She thought that Estelle was exactly the same as Albert—a pathetic, pathological liar. She never saw Darlene smile again after that.
Asher frantically tried to explain himself. “I reported it to the police back then! But I’d fallen sick right after that, and when I woke up, I couldn’t remember the exact location of that place. I’ve been looking for you ever since!”
Estelle chuckled coldly and walked away. “It doesn’t matter anymore. But I really regret saving you back then. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have just let you rot away to nothing. My mother and I would never have had such a terrible relationship if it weren’t for you. And I wouldn’t need to continue looking at Ruben, that disgusting bastard, every single day.”
Asher was rooted to the ground in shock. He felt pins and needles pricking into his heart, all jittery and uneasy,
“Wait!” he said, stopping Estelle from leaving. “L. I’m sorry. I can’t change anything that’s already happened, but I can make it up to you for that. If you don’t want to continue staying here, I can bring you out immediately.”
Estelle stopped in her tracks. “Ruben threatened me with my friends. Can you ensure their safety after I’ve left?”
Asher nodded at one. “No problem at all!”
Estelle fell silent for a short while. “I’ll trust you this one last time.”
There was no other way out anymore, after all.
