Chapter 187
Hearing such an answer, Joshua was happy too.
At least Ella hadn't rejected him outright.
Not rejecting him meant there was hope.
He wasn't in a hurry either.
After all, he had plenty of time ahead of him with Ella.
Joshua didn't press Ella anymore and nodded in agreement, "Okay, we'll talk about it after we get back."
After they ate, they could only stay in the cave—they couldn't go anywhere.
They weren't familiar with the area and were worried about being spotted by drones if they went out. Plus, after the rain stopped, they didn't dare make another fire, afraid of giving away their location.
Fortunately, this was a tropical climate, so the nights weren't cold.
But three days later, with no food left, Joshua had to go out to find something to eat.
Brian still hadn't sent anyone to pick them up, and they had no idea what was happening outside. Being in a foreign country and being hunted, they didn't dare wander around.
Joshua brought back a bunch of wild fruit from outside and sat beside Ella, peeling them for her to eat.
But Ella looked worried, completely lacking the energy she'd had the first couple of days.
Because she didn't know how long it would be before they could go back.
She missed the children. Looking at Joshua, she suggested, "Why don't we just leave? Maybe Zachary didn't tell Michael. Even if we get caught by Zachary's people, they won't really do anything to us."
Ella still held onto a sliver of hope about Zachary.
But Joshua wasn't comfortable with that.
If he were alone, it would be one thing - he probably would have kept moving that same day.
But he had Ella with him.
To ensure Ella's safety, he had to be extremely careful.
"We can't leave. I have a special tracking device on me. If Brian is safe, he'll come get us right away. If we wander around and get discovered, it'll be even harder for them to help us."
Ella had no choice but to listen to him.
But the two of them stayed in the cave for another three days.
Six whole days, and still no sign of hope.
They couldn't eat well or sleep well, and both of them had become much more haggard.
Gradually, Ella lost her reservations around Joshua and would lean on his shoulder on her own.
When Joshua held her, she didn't refuse.
The nights were cool, so they comforted each other and slept in each other's arms.
A few more days passed.
Just as Joshua was leaving the cave to look for food, he suddenly heard a drone hovering overhead.
He immediately looked for cover, on high alert.
But a familiar voice came from the drone, "Joshua, is that you? If it's you, respond immediately. We're here to take you home."
Joshua heard Mason's voice and quickly used his lighter to set something on fire to signal back.
Mason saw smoke rising through the drone's camera. He controlled the drone to look down, and after confirming it was really Joshua, he hurried into the mountains to get them.
Joshua knew Mason had come for them and they were safe now.
He rushed back to the cave and hugged Ella tightly, crying tears of joy.
"Ella, we can go home now. Mason's here to get us."
They'd been here for half a month.
Half a month.
They'd eaten everything edible around them and had lost a lot of weight.
If no one had come, they didn't know how much longer they could have lasted.
Ella replied weakly, "Is it really Mason? It's not a trap, is it?"
Joshua let her go and tidied Ella's somewhat messy hair, smiling gently.
"How could it be a trap? I can recognize Mason's voice. Come on, let's go home and see the kids."
"Okay." Ella let Joshua take her hand, and they left the cave, retracing their steps.
After walking for about an hour, they heard a familiar voice ahead.
"Joshua." Joshua and Ella looked up. On the slope ahead, Mason was indeed standing there with several bodyguards in black.
Seeing him at that moment, Ella truly felt hope.
They could finally go home.
She couldn't help tearing up. She went up to Mason and asked anxiously, "Are Aurora and Dorian okay? We didn't make it back in time ,Mom and Dad must be worried sick, right?"
Mason looked at Ella and Joshua's disheveled appearance, his eyes welling up.
Not just their parents - Mason had been worried too.
He couldn't help but hug Ella, his voice hoarse.
"Do you know we thought we'd never see you again? We thought you and Joshua wouldn't make it back."
"Ella, why didn't you prepare properly before coming out here? Aurora and Dorian have been crying for their mom every day because they can't reach you."
"If I couldn't bring you back, I wouldn't know how to face those two children."
If Samuel hadn't received Megan's call for help, they wouldn't have even known Ella and Joshua were in trouble.
By the time they got here, Brian was already gone, and when they found Megan, she was barely alive.
Fortunately, they managed to save her.
Ella stiffened - this was the first time Mason had hugged her like this, and she felt a bit uncomfortable.
She awkwardly moved away from her brother's embrace and asked, "But they're okay, right?"
"They're fine."
Looking at Joshua and seeing that he was okay, but Ella looked terribly worn out.
She must not have eaten or slept well these past days.
Mason squatted down in front of Ella. "Get on, I'll carry you on my back."
Ella hesitated.
Joshua nodded at her. "I know you're weak. Let him carry you."
Ella didn't argue anymore and climbed onto Mason's back.
The group headed back toward the road.
Joshua asked, "Why did it take you so long to come? Are Brian and Megan okay?"
Mason knew he couldn't hide it.
He didn't want to hide it either, so he told the truth, "Zachary and Michael's car forced Brian's car off the road, causing it to go over a cliff. He was badly injured."
"When they realized you weren't at the crash site, they didn't bother with Brian and Megan. Because they didn't get help in time, Brian gave Megan the little food left in the car. He didn't make it until we found him."
"Megan survived, but her legs are ruined. She's still in the ICU now."
Hearing this outcome, Joshua was shocked and couldn't accept it.
Was Brian dead?
His most loyal assistant had died trying to save him and Ella.
Joshua couldn't bear this blow. He stopped walking, his chest heaving violently, overcome with grief.
Ella hadn't expected that her stubbornness would get Brian killed.
And leave Megan's legs crippled.
She buried her head in Mason's neck, sobbing uncontrollably.
Mason said, "Don't be too upset. Samuel and I worked with the embassy and used online pressure against the Baker family. Zachary has already been taken in for investigation."
"Michael's whereabouts are unknown, but with the Johnson family's influence, they probably took him back to the country and hid him. There's nothing we can do about him."
Right now, the most important thing was to get Joshua and Ella home.
The children and their parents were still waiting.
Joshua tried to calm himself down.
Back in the car, after eating something, he asked Mason in a hoarse voice, "What about Brian's body? Did you bring it back?"
"Yeah, we sent him back. His body was given to his family - the funeral is probably already over."
Joshua still couldn't accept such a cruel reality. He leaned back against the car seat, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
Ella sat beside him, full of regret and self-blame, tears flowing nonstop.
If it weren't for saving her, how would Brian and Megan have gotten into trouble? It was all her fault. Why did she always drag innocent people down with her?
Throughout the journey back home, neither Ella nor Joshua could say another word.
Midway, they both passed out for several hours from the overwhelming grief over Brian's death.
When they arrived in Emerald City, it was already late at night.
Mason took them both back to the Lewis family.
Ella immediately went to the children's room to see them.
Joshua also checked on the kids. Seeing them asleep, he went to Brian's home to pay his respects to the elders.
Early the next morning.
When the children saw Ella right by their pillows, they were overjoyed. They hugged her, kissing and crying, quite upset.
"Mommy, you're bad! Why did you take so long to come back?"
"Mommy, I missed you so much."
"Mommy, did Daddy come back with you?"
Ella woke up and hugged them, nodding. "Daddy came back with me, but when he saw you were asleep, he had things to take care of."
Now that it was daylight, she should go to the hospital to see Megan.
Thinking that it was because of her that Megan was seriously injured, Ella felt she had no face to see Megan.
"Mommy, promise you won't leave us for so long again, okay? You don't know how worried we were when we couldn't reach you."
Aurora and Dorian still wouldn't let go of their mother, holding her and crying.
Heath, Rhea, and Vida, knowing Ella had returned, all came to the room to see her.
Seeing that Ella was fine and uninjured, they finally felt at ease.
Looking at them, Ella felt extremely guilty.
"I'm sorry for making you worry. I never thought Zachary would scheme against me, and that it would get Brian killed."
Brian had gotten into trouble because he went with Joshua to save her.
In other words, she had indirectly caused his death.
She now carried the burden of a life lost. How could she ever feel at peace again?
Rhea came forward and hugged her, comforting her. "We're just glad you're okay. After we found out what happened to you, we prayed every day, just hoping you and Joshua would come back safely."
"But we never expected them to send back Brian's body and a severely injured Megan."
"Don't blame yourself too much. We'll make it up to Brian's family."
"I'm sorry." Leaning in Rhea's embrace, Ella didn't know what else to say besides apologizing.
Thinking of Megan still in the hospital, she tried hard to compose herself. After breakfast, she personally went to the hospital to see Megan.
Megan was now permanently paralyzed.
Samuel had been by her side the whole time.
When Ella arrived, Samuel didn't give her a pleasant look and was even sarcastic.
"Why did you bring Megan along when you went to see Zachary?"
"Look at Megan now. Are you satisfied with what she's become?"
Through the glass window, looking at Megan in the ICU with tubes all over her body, Ella's tears burst forth.
Her voice was terribly hoarse. "I'm sorry!"
Samuel snorted coldly. "Is 'sorry' any use?"
His eyes red, he glared at Ella, unable to help raising his voice. "Do you know I was ready to propose to her? Her biggest dream was to wear a wedding dress and become my wife, but now she'll never stand up again."
Never mind that she couldn't stand - she'd also lost the ability to have children forever.
Samuel resented Ella for taking her to Eldoria, and resented himself for not being more attentive to her.
He clearly had feelings for her, but never brought up marriage, causing her to waste all those years.
When he finally got everything ready, he asked her to get back together, and wanted to propose, but such a terrible thing happened.
Samuel felt this must be some cruel joke from heaven.
How could Megan become a vegetable?
Ella knew it was her fault. She raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face and promised, "If she really can't stand up again, I'll take care of her for the rest of her life."
Samuel laughed bitterly, but glared at her coldly. "You'll take care of her? How? Can you give her happiness or bear children for her?"
Ella felt Samuel was going too far.
How could she bear children for Megan?
Ella opened her mouth to explain, but Samuel coldly ordered, "Leave. I don't want to see you right now, and I don't think Chuchu wants to see you either."
"Watch your tone with her." Joshua arrived at this moment.
He'd just come back from the Scott family and came to check on Megan, only to find Samuel scolding Ella.
Samuel glanced at Joshua but didn't care.
Samuel opened the door and went into the ICU, shutting them both outside.
Joshua knew Ella was also suffering inside. Seeing tears still on her face, he raised his hand to wipe them, comforting her. "Don't mind him. We'll take responsibility for Megan from now on, have someone watch over her 24/7, keep her company."
Ella still couldn't accept such a cruel reality.
It was her fault, and she wouldn't run from it.
She just felt too terrible inside. She needed to find a quiet place to be alone.
Not wanting to stay and be an eyesore to Samuel, she held back her emotions and turned to leave.
Joshua followed her. "I went to the Scott family. Brian's parents have forgiven us. Megan has always been alone, so from now on we'll just take care of her like family."
They got in the car by the roadside.
Ella steadied her emotions, her voice choked. "Tell me, if I hadn't brought Megan along and gone by myself, would nothing have happened?"
Even if Zachary had schemed against her, so what?
She could have been the only one hurt.
But now, Brian was dead, and Megan was seriously injured.
She really couldn't help but blame herself and feel terrible.
"There's no use thinking about that now. You hired Megan with a high salary - as your assistant, she was supposed to go on business trips with you."
"An accident just happened during that time. None of us could have prevented it, otherwise I'd have to bear the guilt of Brian's death, too." Joshua understood Ella's feelings.
They both felt the same way.
After all, Brian was the one he'd brought along.
Although he was his assistant, Brian had been by his side for years - they were already like brothers.
He died because of him. Joshua felt no less uncomfortable and sad than Ella.
But the dead were gone, and the living had to go on. They could only try their best to make up for the harm caused. What else could they do? They couldn't exactly join them in death!
"I'm sorry!" Ella leaned on Joshua's shoulder on her own, unable to hold back any more tears.
"Joshua, it's all my fault. If I'd listened to you and not gone to that annual meeting, not contacted Zachary, none of this would have happened."
"It's my fault. Tell me, what can I do to make it up to them?"
Joshua held her tightly in his arms, pressing a sorrowful kiss to her forehead. "Living well and taking care of their families is the best way to make amends."