Elisa just wanted to finish things quickly, just like Hamish said, putting on some clothes won’t kill her.
She would treat herself as a temporary model today, fulfilling Hamish’s final wish.
Of course, Elisa wasn’t dumb enough to follow Hamish’s orders completely. She copied the files from her phone to the computer, but there were many files and they took up a lot of memory. It would take at least an hour to finish copying everything.
The makeup artist brought in the wedding dress. Elisa didn’t look closely, just glanced at it. The skirt was covered in diamonds, like a starry sky.
The wedding dress was designed according to her body proportions. Elisa only wore it for five minutes before the makeup artist came in to adjust the skirt, asking her to sit in the chair for makeup.
Elisa had taken good care of her face, so makeup was easy. She only needed a light touch to make her captivating. Someone behind her tucked her waist-length hair up.
Elisa looked at herself in the mirror, thinking about her next move. She was afraid that Hamish had an ace up his sleeve. She didn’t know many people around Hamish, except for a few workers in the past few days. There was only the doctor left.
Hamish said he fired Tobias, but could he have deliberately sent Tobias away to do something else?
The amusement park accident and the acceleration pedal malfunction, if they were related to Hamish, then Tobias was the most likely person to carry out the actions.
And only Tobias knew Hamish’s email address.
“Miss Powell, you are truly beautiful. You are the most stunning bride I have ever seen,” the makeup artist suddenly praised, interrupting Elisa’s thoughts.
Elisa replied in a cold tone, “I am not the bride.”
The makeup artist quickly closed her mouth when she saw Elisa’s displeased expression.
The files were also copied onto the computer. During her toilet break, Elisa took out her phone. She hesitated for a moment before calling Louis, but his phone was still off. She tried calling other people in the White family, but no one answered.
Could something have happened?
Her eyelids twitched a few times. Elisa used to not believe in superstitions, like the left eyelid twitching indicating wealth and the right eyelid twitching indicating misfortune. But now, she couldn’t suppress the feeling of panic inside her.
Before, Elisa thought she could wait for death with Hamish, but now she had the confidential documents from the Burns Group in her hands. Hamish had promised to let her leave safely tomorrow, and if he didn’t, she would not just sit and wait for her death.
Elisa contacted Patrick. Time was running out, so she didn’t waste any words. She asked Patrick to arrange more people to protect the White family during this time and to find Tobias.
She had a premonition that Tobias knew about the accidents those few days.
“Miss Powell, Mr. Burns is calling for you.”
“I know,” Elisa responded and put away her phone.
The dress was too long and wide, and it was uncomfortable to walk in high heels. Elisa took off her heels and left them aside, walking barefoot on the floor.
Elisa thought as she walked up the stairs to the second floor. She held onto the handrail and looked down from above. Hamish was standing below, wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, tall and imposing. He kept looking up, as if waiting for her to appear.
His gaze was focused and filled with deep affection. His deep eye sockets glowed red, and his jet-black eyes reflected light like dazzling obsidian, dark yet translucent.
During their brief eye contact, Elisa shifted her gaze. She held onto the handrail and stepped down one by one, the train of her dress being held up by someone.
Walking down, the sparkling diamonds on her white dress shone like a meteor shower, dazzling and radiant.
A smile tugged at the corner of Hamish’s mouth. Finally, the dream he had for so many years became a reality.
Looking at the diamonds on her dress, he remembered something Elisa said to him before.
-“Hamish, you are a star to me. I used to think you were out of reach, the light in my eyes. But now, whether there are more or fewer stars, it doesn’t matter.”
The stars piled together, their light not any less dim than the moon.
The white dress made Elisa’s skin even fairer, not sickly pale, but translucent and with a rosy hue.
Her facial lines were smooth, with delicate features. There was a hint of pink at the ends of her eyebrows, revealing a touch of charm and a hint of undefined sharpness.
This was the first time Hamish had seen Elisa look so stunning, but unfortunately, she wasn’t his Elisa.
Hamish reached out to try and hold her, but Elisa glanced at him and pretended not to see. She stepped aside and said, “I have put on the dress. Now, it’s time for you to keep your promise.”
“What should I do? Seeing you like this, I suddenly don’t want to let you go,” Hamish said.
Elisa narrowed her brows and replied calmly, “Do you really think I believe your words?”
Hamish said, “What if I break my promise this time?”
Elisa’s face remained calm, without anger or the sadness of exhaustion. It was as if she had already anticipated this outcome.
After all, Hamish had broken his promises more than once.
In his Mr. Burns’ mouth, integrity meant nothing. He would lie to a woman without any hesitation to achieve the perfect outcome in his heart.
Unfortunately, Elisa was no longer the Elisa who let him manipulate her.
“Half an hour ago, I copied the confidential files from your computer to my phone. If I can’t go back tomorrow, then these files will be sent to my company. You should know what I will do with such important files,” Elisa said.
“Elisa, I am a terminally ill person. Do you think I still care about money and fame?” Hamish countered.
Only in times of desperation do you realize that the things you’ve worked so hard for your whole life, the money and fame obtained through any means necessary, really mean nothing in the face of death. You can never take what can’t be taken.
Elisa simply said, “I have called the police.”
Hamish froze, “What did you say?”
Elisa tidied her heavy skirt as she spoke, “I said I called the police. Now that the Burns Group’s confidential information is in my hands, even if you don’t care, once you lose the money and power of the Burns Group, you won’t be able to do anything to the White family. This time, I absolutely won’t allow you to harm the people around me!”
Hamish took a deep breath and smiled, “Aren’t you afraid I have a backup plan?”
Elisa sarcastically asked, “Do you have a backup plan? If I guess correctly, the only person who is working for you now is Tobias. Was it him who caused the amusement park accident?”
Hamish’s expression didn’t change, but his pupils darkened.
Elisa always liked to handle things herself, not because she didn’t trust the people around her, but because she was used to it. She had grown up alone, supporting the Powell family right after she became an adult. Her father and brother relied on her, and she could only rely on herself.
If one isn’t strong, they will be devoured by the strong. It’s a lesson she has learned from a young age.
Elisa came to his side willingly because he knew the reason very well. It was for the White family and for Louis.
From the moment Hamish willingly gave Elisa his computer password, he had willingly admitted defeat.
Just like Elisa said, without the money and power of the Burns Group, it would be nothing but scattered sand. As a person who spent his days spitting blood and lying in bed, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.
But in reality, Hamish hadn’t thought of doing anything. He secretly pledged that he wouldn’t do anything to Elisa anymore.
Humans… always have to say goodbye to things they can’t hold onto.
With Elisa, who held the foundation of the Burns Group, and his own inheritance, no one would dare to bully her in the future.
And he… the “final boss” of this game should be defeated.
And the White family… Hamish thought of something and burst into laughter.
“Elisa, what you should learn is how to rely on and trust the people around you,” Hamish said.
Elisa fell silent for a moment and didn’t argue with Hamish’s words. “Maybe,” she finally said.
“Sit over there and talk to me for a while,” Hamish gestured with his eyes. The living room had been rearranged and a white double rocking chair was placed on the side, decorated with vines.
Elisa walked over and sat down. Instead of sitting beside her, Hamish had someone move a chair and sat next to her. There were several cameras recording this scene.
“Elisa,” Hamish spoke up, “although you often say that there are no ifs in this world, I still can’t help thinking, if only today were like before, with a proper wedding, a proper wedding dress, and a proper ring.” The more he spoke, the more he felt indebted to Elisa.
Elisa rocked the chair on her tiptoes and looked at the darkening sky outside. She said, “It’s too late.”
She wasn’t just referring to the time.
Muddy water can’t sustain a clean fish. A delayed sun can’t save a dead sunflower. Warm water doesn’t cool instantly, and the day doesn’t turn dark in the blink of an eye.
“Elisa, will you still remember me in the future? And… do you wish for my death?” Hamish asked cautiously, his voice hoarse. He wanted to hear the answer, but at the same time, he was afraid it would be different from what he expected.
He was like a person who had just crawled out of the abyss, sensitive to the light, and could only half-close his eyes and wait quietly.
After a moment, Elisa said, “Sometimes I want you to die and stop bothering me, and sometimes I hope you stay alive. Only by staying alive can you withstand the suffering of this world.”