The elevator required iris recognition to open the door and descend, and Finn fainted. It was impossible to let her out when he woke up. Even if she could go down now, Finn’s men awaited her below, leaving her helpless. She was like a bird trapped in a cage, with a vast network outside, ready to shoot her at any moment.
Elisa stood at the French window, watching the patrolling shadows below. She gripped the hand placed on the window tightly. She returned to Finn’s side, unfastened his tie and tied his legs, then began to check if he had a phone. She didn’t know if he had foreseen the situation and didn’t bring a phone from the beginning. With no internet or communication tools, she was afraid she would be trapped here.
There were only two possibilities: either take Finn out as a hostage, or wait for someone outside to rescue her. The second option seemed more feasible. She had been out of contact for a while, and Patrick would surely notice something was amiss.
Her plan now was to ensure her own safety and prevent Finn’s men from harming her. Elisa looked at Finn, tied to the chair, and a surge of hatred rose within her. She resented Finn as much as she did Hamish. Aside from the harm he had done to her, he had killed Autumn and ruined Aoife.
Elisa grabbed Finn’s hair, forcing his head up, while her other hand grasped his neck, as if she could kill him with a single blow. Her rationality was not consumed by hatred. If she killed Finn at this moment, she truly wouldn’t be able to escape.
Elisa let go of Finn, turned, and sat on the sofa, curling up with her head against her knees. “Louis, I want you to come save me. Didn’t you say you would come to me first as soon as something happened? When will you come?”
Even though everything had changed here, it still stirred up too many painful memories for her to bear.
…
After parting ways with Elisa, Louis called the hotel suite he had booked early in the morning to cancel. He couldn’t drive because of his injury, and he regretted leaving Elisa alone. Yet, he didn’t know how to face her. Instead, he called Patrick to inquire about the situation.
“Miss Powell just called me and said she went back by herself…”
“I see…”
Patrick found it strange, but didn’t ask further. Louis knew Elisa had gone back alone and hung up the phone, feeling uneasy.
This discomfort persisted until he returned home, locking himself in his room.
Mrs. White found it strange that he had returned early. Louis was supposed to be preparing to celebrate the successful completion of Elisa’s first film. He had even gone to the set to pick her up. She wondered why he was back so soon and why he didn’t seem happy to see the person he liked. Due to the incident with Louis pulling his own tooth, Mrs. White didn’t dare let him stay alone in his room.
She first sent a servant to check the situation, ensuring Louis hadn’t brought any dangerous items into the room. Then she walked to Louis’s room and hesitated before knocking on the door.
“Louis.”
No one answered from inside.
She knocked again, and this time Louis responded, “What is it?”
“Can I come in, dear?”
There was no response from inside. Mrs. White tried the door and found it unlocked. She gently pushed it open. The curtains were drawn, and the room was dimly lit. As she entered, she saw Louis leaning against the bedside.
“Louis.”
Louis buried his head, making it hard to see his expression. His phone lay at his feet, displaying Elisa’s call log.
It seemed the problem lay with Elisa. Mrs. White had noticed issues between Louis and Elisa since he pulled his tooth.
Louis was usually indifferent, unswayed by the entertainment industry. For him to pull out a tooth, Mrs. White couldn’t fathom the nature of their conflict. However, she couldn’t meddle in their relationship.
“You booked a hotel for Elisa’s wrap-up celebration today, why did you return so early?” she asked softly.
“I didn’t go,” Louis murmured.
“Did something happen between you two?”
Louis remained silent.
Mrs. White sighed and sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, nearer to Louis.
“Can you talk to Mom about it?”
Louis didn’t show any rejection, so she gently patted his head, trying to calm him down. Her movements were very gentle, and Louis softened. He cleared his throat and said hoarsely, “Mom, if Dad treated you as a stand-in for someone else, would you…?”
“How dare he!” Mrs. White interrupted, “If he dared, I’d break his legs!”
Mr. White, twenty kilometers away, shivered inexplicably as helooked at the pitch-black sky outside the window, sensing a change in the air.
Louis, upon hearing Mrs. White’s outburst, instantly let down his guard.
“I was just speaking figuratively…” he mumbled.
Mrs. White wasn’t foolish and instantly grasped the critical point of the issue. Louis didn’t like to speak figuratively when there was nothing wrong, and he had specifically pointed out the word “stand-in.”
“Is Elisa treating you as a stand-in for someone?” Mrs. White asked.
Louis tensed up.
Mrs. White stopped patting his head and, after a moment of contemplation, said, “No, that shouldn’t be the case. My son, who is so exceptional, being treated as a substitute? Whose substitute? Is there a photo?”
“No.”
“Do you think Elisa likes you because you resemble someone?”
“It’s not that I think so, it’s just the way it is.”
“And who is that person?” Mrs. White inquired.
Louis succinctly replied, “He’s dead.”
The atmosphere suddenly became tense and heavy.
“In this day and age, do you still believe in stand-in scenarios? Onlookers see more than the players themselves. Louis, do you truly believe that Elisa is with you only because of another person?”
“Isn’t it true?” Louis scoffed self-deprecatingly. “I always thought she liked me, until I saw the picture of the person she liked. She enjoys my smile and stares at my face because I resemble that person, not because I am Louis. Today, when I asked her if she could forget that person and be with me, she refused me.”
Mrs. White furrowed her brow, stood up, and drew the curtains open, then turned on the lights. Standing in front of Louis, she said, “Look at me, Louis.”
Louis looked up, somewhat taken aback by Mrs. White’s expression. This was the first time she had been so serious with him, as if he had committed a major error.
“By asking Elisa to forget about that person and be with you, aren’t you essentially forcing her? Leaving aside how that person passed away, just the fact that he remains in Elisa’s memory speaks volumes about his impact on her,” Mrs. White crouched down, gently cupping Louis’s cheeks in her hands.
“What’s more terrifying than growing old is forgetting, and even more so is being forgotten. If one day Elisa is no longer here, would you forget her if I asked you to?” Mrs. White’s voice was soft yet firm.
Louis immediately responded, “How could she not be here?”
“People can’t control accidents or life and death. Who can guarantee accompanying another person for a lifetime? But, Louis, even after someone passes away, they can live on in others’ hearts. You cannot prevent someone from remembering another person. It’s too selfish.”
Louis stared blankly at Mrs. White, his eyes turning red in secret, like an abandoned puppy.
Mrs. White suppressed a smile, “As for Elisa’s feelings, you need not worry that she is with you because of someone else. On the day of your accident, she rushed to the hospital without changing out of her costume and makeup. This alone proves your place in her heart. You don’t need to doubt yourself; you are unique in this world, the sole existence.”
Louis gradually leaned his head against Mrs. White’s chest, and after a long while, he quietly murmured, “Hmm.”
“You should be grateful to that person. It’s because of his kindness to Elisa that you have such a good Elisa. It’s also because of him that you met Elisa and can stand by her. You must remember the good others have done for you, instead of dwelling on the negatives. That way, you won’t be burdened,” Mrs. White advised.
“Mom,” Louis called out.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
Mrs. White burst into laughter, then tapped Louis’s head, “If you had talked to me earlier, you might not have pulled your tooth. But never mind, consider it a lesson learned. In the future, remember to communicate more and not lock yourself in your room, pondering everything. If I were like you, I wouldn’t know how many times I would have divorced your father by now. You still have a long way to go.”
Louis nodded. As Mrs. White had said, he tended to lock himself away and not communicate. Yet, if he thought about it, Elisa’s feelings for him had nothing to do with this person called “Autumn.”
Their relationship had developed step by step in the months since he had met Elisa. How could he suddenly forget the image of Elisa caring for him in the hospital, her worried expression?
The lock in his heart suddenly snapped open, and Louis grabbed his hair. He had been foolish, nearly falling for Hamish and Finn’s attempts to drive a wedge between him and Elisa!
Mrs. White picked up the phone and handed it to Louis, “Elisa is waiting for you. Give her a call.”
“Okay.”
Louis unlocked his phone, and the call log was still on Elisa’s number. He pressed the call button, and after a few rings, a system tone sounded.
“Sorry, the person you are trying to reach is unavailable.”
“Is Elisa busy with something?”
“Maybe…”
At this time, what could she be busy with? Louis checked the time; it was 4 p. m. Wasn’t this the time for a nap?
Louis called again, and this time the system tone changed to “call in progress.”
“Is she angry with you?” Mrs. White asked.
Louis’s expression instantly turned cold, and he stood up, his dark eyes filled with rising anger.
“Elisa is in trouble.”
Louis had a sense of impending crisis. If Elisa’s phone was unanswered, she might be preoccupied with something, but having the second call abruptly disconnected wasn’t like Elisa’s style. Her phone may not be with her.
“Mom, I need to borrow some people to find Elisa. She may be in danger.”
Mrs. White’s expression also turned serious. This couldn’t be delayed. She immediately sent people to investigate and accompanied Louis to find Elisa.
Louis tried to check Elisa’s phone signal, but the other party had clearly been cautious and shut off the phone.
Sitting in the car, Louis was both angry and anxious. If he hadn’t left Elisa at that moment, she might not have been in trouble; his carelessness had endangered her.
“Slap!” Louis slapped himself hard, snapping himself back to his senses. He had almost forgotten about Patrick.
Patrick, the bodyguard Louis had introduced to Elisa, was primarily responsible for her safety. Hewouldn’t have neglected any precautions.
Louis felt a glimmer of hope and called Patrick, explaining the situation to him.
“Don’t worry, she will be fine. I have her location here.”
The location was hidden in a ring, and as long as Elisa didn’t take it off, he could find her.
Patrick didn’t waste a moment, swiftly locating the signal and forwarding it to Louis before hurrying to the location.