He had predicted she would say that. He did not know why, but when he realized that Elena had been released, he had an ominous feeling about it.
“He went to see you, didn’t he?” He should have thought of it.
Besides Michael, who else could make Ava withdraw the case? Who else could get Elena released?
“What have you promised him? He wants you to go back to him?”
“Isn’t this what I have always wanted?”
Elena gave him a gentle push as she smiled at her.
“I have always been his woman. I pretended to be with you on the island so that I could leave him. It was an act we put up for his sake.
“Now, we have made peace with each other, and he is willing to be with me again. Is this not the perfect ending?”
Henry had no way to refute her. They were back together. That would have been the perfect ending, so nothing was wrong at all. Everything fell back into place nicely, so why did he feel so terrible? So uneasy?
“Are you sure that he wants to be with you again?”
He did not know what was in his mind. He wanted her to say yes; he wanted to see her happy.
Yet, he hoped that she would say no, at least… at least he would stand a chance! Elena did not answer his question directly. She merely looked at him and pushed his hands away.
“Henry, we are friends. You are my best friend.”
“Are we just friends?” Henry was struck with a sense of emptiness.
“Weren’t you here to help Michael and me from the beginning?”
She knew that it would hurt him badly, but someone would always be hurt in a relationship between three people. Eldest Young Master Williams would never allow himself to get hurt. If he were the one injured, he would make sure that everyone else would suffer with him. He would drag everyone to hell, to be buried with him! Therefore, it was better to hurt Henry.
“I’m sorry, I thought that you were helping me with sincerity.”
Elena put up a cold and distant front as if she was disappointed in him. Her disgruntled look was like a sharp dagger that drove straight into Henry’s heart.
“I… wanted to help you.” He wanted to laugh at his stupidity, but he was so bitter that he could not laugh at all.
“Thank you.” Elena pretended not to notice the pain that gleamed in his eyes.
She forced a soft smile at him and continued to pack her things.
“He will be here to pick me up soon. I still have to go back to my apartment to pack my things.
“Henry, thank you so much. If you weren’t there for me during those days, I don’t know how I would get through them.
“But things have cleared up now. Michael forgave me, and we are back on good terms. We will be happy together. Don’t worry about us.”
She looked away. When she carried her luggage and walked out, her eyes had stung, and her heart was sore. Henry watched her slender figure as she walked toward the door. He was so shocked that he forgot to help her with her luggage. He also forgot to help her open the door so that she could leave more quickly. He forgot everything because his heart was torn into pieces the moment she walked away.
Elena’s hand landed on the door’s handle, her breathing labored, and her eyes were moist.
“I’m going now. I’ll call you later.”
She decided not to look back because she feared that she might cry, and her voice would become hoarse. She could not look back. She twisted the door handle. The man rushed toward her and hugged her tightly from behind before she could open the door ajar.
“Don’t go… Please? Can you please stay?”
Elena went stiff. She kept quiet and did not turn to look at him. Henry buried his face in her neck. Her neck was cold, just like his face.
“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t stop you if this is what you wanted.”
They had reconciled and cleared their misunderstandings. They finally got back together, and they would live happily ever after. No one would be able to separate them. They would live an even better life together without anyone’s interference. Henry knew he should not stop her. He would be a bad guy if he stopped her! However, he was reluctant to let her go. His heart would break if she were to leave. Elena was his heart. If she were gone, then his heart would be gone!
“I’m sorry…” Henry’s voice was deep and heavy. He hugged her tightly and buried his face between her neck.
“I’m sorry… please don’t go. Elena, don’t leave me. I’m sorry! Don’t leave me!”
Elena’s hand trembled. The handle bounced from her grip, and the door was locked again. She knew that she should leave, but his voice was so hoarse, and he had trembled so severely. It…distressed her. She bit her lips and lifted her head high as she fought the tears that might trickle down her cheeks if she looked downward.
“Don’t go, Elena!” He did not want to give up! He had held back for so long that he did not want to give up so easily!
“Don’t leave me. I love you! I love you! Please don’t leave me!”
Elena’s thin body shuddered. He grabbed her and flipped her around with her back against the door. Then, he pinned her down and pressed his lips on hers. However, she looked away to avoid him, so his kiss fell onto her neck. She noticed the gleam in his eyes and saw the tears of a proud man.
Elena was startled; she did not know what to do. She did not know that her departure would break him! However, had she stayed, the harm would be greater for everyone! She had a lot to do! She wanted to avenge her friends! She looked down resolutely and gave him a hard shove!
“Elena…” Henry could not believe it; she had pushed him away.
“You know that I like Eldest Young Master Williams, so why are you doing this to me?”
Elena stared at him with resentment in her eyes. “Why are you making things hard for me? Why do you want to put me in a difficult position? Why?”
“I…” Her sudden accusation took him by surprise.
He did not know that he had made things hard for her or put her in an awkward position. He was clueless about that. He only wanted to be with her.
“I owe you a big favor, Second Young Master Sharp. I know that I owe you too much, but don’t use my gratitude and guilt against me! I like Michael, not you!”
She flung the door open with a click and then slammed it shut with a loud bang. There was no longer warmth in the room after she had left. Henry did not expect she would go without an ounce of hesitation! She left after he mustered his courage and confessed his feelings to her. He leaned quietly behind the door.
A few moments later, he walked to the balcony in a daze and looked down at the parking lot in front of the apartment building. He had a hunch that he would see the person there. True enough, as he looked down, he spotted the Maybach that had stopped at the foyer below.
The girl quietly handed her luggage to Levi before she got into the car. The engine roared, and the vehicle jounced forward as it disappeared into the distance.
Eventually, she had left and returned to Michael. They finally got back together; they were together from the beginning anyway. Henry was left by himself…