Elisa was incredibly tolerant of pain, to the point where one could easily overlook the fact that she was actually the most afraid of it. Many times, Elisa endured the pain without a sound. Was she really able to endure so much? No, in fact, she was in agony, on the verge of collapse. Hamish’s actions had pushed her to the point of biting, so desperate that she wouldn’t even loosen her grip, dirtying her own mouth. This showed just how far Hamish had driven her. A person adept at enduring pain, silently experiencing disappointment. Elisa had learned to hide her emotions, but that didn’t mean she was truly emotionless. At present, Elisa had no feelings for Hamish, not even half. Though her previous resentment had dissipated, it had now resurged, making her feel nauseated once again. It was ironic how she had thought Hamish had changed, when in reality, he was still the same: deceitful, untrustworthy, and fickle, his vices ingrained in his very nature.
Glancing at her phone, Elisa felt a pang of regret regarding her phone bill, but she couldn’t help but curse at Hamish, saying, “Hamish, manners are a good thing, I hope you can have them.” The previous version of Hamish must have been an octopus, not only enjoying the best of both worlds but also enjoying causing chaos. “Manners are something I never had, after all, my parents died early, and no one taught me.” “Just because no one taught you, does that give you the right to harm others? Should others bear the consequences of your immorality?” Elisa could imagine Hamish’s shameless expression, with a nonchalant smile at the corners of his mouth and deep, serious eyes.
Elisa clenched her fists, suppressing her anger. “Let’s meet,” Hamish said. Elisa took a deep breath. “Hamish, can’t we avoid this? You just want to see me fall into the same pit again, to see me once more abandoned and caged by you. But this time, it won’t happen. Louis didn’t abandon me; even the household registration we went to was arranged by his mother. Despite all this… what more do you need to prove?” The line fell silent. Elisa waited for a response, thinking he had hung up, only to discover that the call was still connected, with no sound from Hamish’s end.
“I’ve already died once. A good horse doesn’t go back to chew on old grass. Do you think I’d rummage through the trash for something?” Hamish spoke up, “We would be better off together…” His arrogance made Elisa laugh. “Good? What you consider good, is it destroying my family and causing deaths, or treating me like cattle to produce children? Or continuing to manipulate me, turning me into an ignorant fool for your entertainment?”
“Hamish, do you remember the day we went to register our marriage? You said with your own mouth that you would never love me in this lifetime. You threw the marriage certificate into a roadside puddle, bought a $30 ring from a roadside stall and tossed it to me. There was no emotion between us, not even material possession. It was so cheap, and once it’s gone, it can’t be retrieved.” Elisa’s voice was calm. She paused, and the breathing on the other end of the line became hurried and heavy, but there was still no response.
Calmly, Elisa asked, “Hamish, do you love me or are you just accustomed to me? During the three years after my death, did you suddenly find it comfortable to have someone serve you while I was alive?” This time, Hamish couldn’t hold back. He retorted, “I love you, Elisa. Your love for Louis is as much as my love for you. I ask you to give up Louis, but you refuse. How can you ask me to let go of you?”
“To hell with your love! Hamish, take a good look at your heart. Is that love? Count how many times you’ve abused me, how many times you’ve slapped me. Louis has never laid a hand on me. Even if he misunderstood and thought I deceived him, he pulled a tooth rather than raising a hand against me. That’s the difference between him and you!” Only Hamish could provoke Elisa into swearing. She took a breath, feeling a pain in her chest, even her throat hurt as she spoke. “Even now, you don’t feel any remorse, whether I’m alive or dead.”
There was silence on the phone again. Speaking to the empty air, Elisa mocked, “Hamish, you were once someone I wouldn’t turn back for after hitting a wall. For the love I had for you, I cooked for you for over 1300 days and evengave your beloved frequent blood draws. Can’t you let go?” After so many years of knowing Hamish, and five years of marriage, there was really no love left, only resentment. Even if it wasn’t love, even a dog could have elicited some affection.
Unfortunately, after the Powell family disappeared, she truly despised him. A person couldn’t be cheap their whole life. “Cough, cough, cough…” The phone emitted Hamish’s urgent coughing. After hearing Elisa’s words, Hamish’s breath hitched, almost unable to catch his breath. His chest hurt terribly, as if his lungs were cracked, ready to be torn apart with just a tug, drenched in blood.
“Elisa, if I say I’m dying, will you come to be with me?” “Send a wreath to keep you company? You’re so self-assured. Maybe I gave you too much confidence in the beginning?” Hamish nearing death? Eight out of ten things he said were probably false. Even if it were true, so what? The world changes. This line from Hamish was familiar to Elisa because she had said similar things to him in the past. But what had Hamish done? He accused her of being mentally ill, locking her in the bedroom for four days with nothing inside, forcing her to drink tap water to quench her thirst and chew on tissue paper when she was hungry.
His knuckles were pale from clenching, his pupils dim. “You want me to spare the White family, then come see me. You should be clear about the situation with Louis and the White family. It’s on the verge of collapse, and it doesn’t need my push to fall. More than just me wants to see the White family in ruins. Bankruptcy is a minor issue, but you know how dirty it is in this circle. Framing others and shifting blame is normal. So, guess what… has any contraband appeared in the White family’s shipping line recently? Some things could lead to imprisonment, or even facing a firing squad.”
Elisa felt a creeping sensation on her scalp. She picked up the cold water on the table, taking a few sips to keep calm. Analyzing Hamish’s words one by one, it was entirely possible for Hamish to do such a thing. No one understood Hamish better than she did. However, in business, Hamish never made a loss. But this time, to crush the White family, it was as if he was cutting off his nose to spite his face, causing the entire Burns family to collapse. If Finn hadn’t died and taken over the Burns family’s business, it might have been him facing bankruptcy now.
Being so reckless was unlike Hamish’s style, and… even if Hamish acquired the bankrupted White family, it would be a mess and he wouldn’t be able to recover his investment. Wouldn’t the other shareholders of the Burns family say anything about this? So why did Hamish do this?
“Are you really willing to tear everything apart?” Hamish spoke, “It’s just a common business tactic.”
“What a common tactic,” Elisa said mockingly. After a brief silence, she said with a cold laugh, “I’m married now. What’s the point of meeting you?” “Marriage doesn’t mean we can’t divorce. Haven’t we divorced before?” “So if I meet you, you’ll spare the White family? And can you take back what you said about framing and setting up others?” Elisa asked. Hamish grunted in response. “You’re quite skilled. You can even acquire contraband. Aren’t you afraid of getting your hands dirty just to frame someone?”
“Everyone involved in this knows how dirty things can get. You should know better than anyone, Elisa.” Elisa couldn’t help but applaud him. “Indeed, considering that the Bankshire Powell Group disappeared because of your similar actions. So, what’s the big deal with doing the same to the White Group?” Hamish retorted, “Money talks.”
Elisa’s voice was laced with a cold laugh, but this time she couldn’t hold back, laughing with satisfaction. Hamish’s voice was hoarse, “What are you laughing at?” Elisa stopped laughing and said after a pause, “I recorded it.”