Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Ella fell silent for a long time without answering.

But I could feel that she had relaxed a lot.

Instead of responding to my question, Ella tentatively called my name: "James."

Her voice was soft. "Can I ask you a question?"

I smiled slightly and nodded. "What do you want to know? Didn't I tell you last time that if you want to know about me, you can just ask?"

Ella slowly began: "Well... I want to ask..."

She hesitated, looking at me. "I want to ask, does Kai have a girlfriend?"

The expression on my face froze instantly, and my tone became stiff without me Suddenly froze, and my voice turned stiff without realizing it: "Ella, don't tell me you like Kai?"

"No, no," Ella quickly shook her head. "It's my classmate, Hazel. She likes Kai. I'm asking for her." She hurriedly explained.

I clenched my teeth slightly and let out a light breath.

This girl—she just went through something so terrible, yet she still has the energy to worry about other people's business.

"He doesn't have a girlfriend," I answered her question.

Ella pressed on: "So, what's Kai's last name?"

"It's Collins," I answered honestly.

"How old is he?" Ella kept digging.

"Thirty."

Ella nodded and asked again: "What does his family do?"

"They've all passed away," I said flatly.

Ella froze.

"Any more questions?" I stared at her intently.

Ella looked at my expressionless face and said quietly: "No more."

I continued to gaze at her and called out, "Ella."

She hummed in acknowledgement.

"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"

Ella paused.

"Ella." I looked at her and said seriously, "As long as you ask me, I'll tell you. Is there anything you want to ask me?"

Ella thought for a moment and seemed to really think of a question. She spoke: "Last time you said a woman took a bullet for you and died."

"Yes, she was Alexander's mother, named Mia Smith. She was my half-sister."

"Mia recklessly fell in love with a man named 'Oliver' and had Alexander for him before marriage. But that man was using her from beginning to end. He used Mia to get close to me—his real purpose was to take my life. Later, Mia took a bullet for me. Until she died, she never knew that the person who shot her was the man she loved deeply."

After Mia's death, this was the first time I told anyone her story.

Once, I couldn't understand what Mia meant by love.

She used to say that love was something you could give everything for, something that could make you break all your principles.

Back then, she would always laugh at me, saying, "You don't understand."

Indeed, at that time, I really didn't understand.

Perhaps now I do.

Because I've also met that little fool who makes me compromise again and again, who makes me break my principles for her—Ella.

As long as she would kiss me on her own initiative, I could even give her my life.

"So, where is Oliver now?" Ella tilted her head and looked at me.

I answered briefly: "Still being hunted."

Her eyes showed complex emotions, and she asked: "If you catch him, what will you do with him?"

In my heart, I thought, naturally, I would personally send him to hell.

But this answer might be too cruel for Ella.

So I didn't tell the truth; I only said, "We'll see when we catch him."

Ella nodded gently.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

Sophia reported from outside: "Mr. James Smith, Mr. Marcus Smith is here."

I touched Ella's head and said, "I need to take care of something. Wait for me in the room, don't go downstairs, okay?"

Ella nodded obediently.

I opened the door, and before leaving, I turned back to remind her: "If you're tired, go to sleep early."

Ella nodded again.

I went downstairs and saw Marcus standing there, leaning on his cane, looking furious.

"Grandpa, you came all this way—what for?" I walked past Marcus and sat down to the side.

Marcus slammed his cane hard on the floor and roared furiously: "James, you've completely lost your mind!"

I didn't deny it, going along with his words: "The son of a madman—how could he not be mad?"

My words left Marcus speechless.

I spoke casually: "So, Grandpa, are you here to demand an explanation because I killed your woman?"

Marcus had countless women in his life.

In his eyes, women were nothing more than disposable playthings, and he never gave his heart to any of them.

He didn't care at all whether Catherine lived or died.

"I know you dealt with Catherine to get revenge for that woman! But is it necessary to make yourself another enemy over a woman? Don't you have enough enemies already?" Marcus questioned me angrily.

But I didn't care. "My business doesn't need your concern, Grandpa. Perhaps in your view, women are just decorations in your life, something to amuse yourself with when you're in a good mood. But for me, Ella is very important."

Marcus snorted coldly. "Do you want to die for a woman like your father did?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the huge living room instantly fell silent.

My father, Adrian Smith, was Marcus's third son and the one he valued most.

In Marcus's eyes, my father was perfect in every way, except that he fell in love with a woman from Astoria, which he couldn't accept.

That woman was named Camelia. Adrian forcibly brought her home when he was traveling in Astoria.

Moreover, Camelia was already married in Astoria.

All members of the Smith Family, including Marcus, looked down on Camelia.

They felt that Adrian had done something that greatly insulted the Smith Family.

At Marcus's birthday party, Adrian raised his gun on the spot and, in front of Marcus, shot and killed everyone who spoke disrespectfully about Camelia, including Adrian's two brothers.

This was truly an unexpected and unforgettable birthday gift for Marcus.

After that, no one in the family dared mention Camelia again.

Later, Camelia gave birth to me for Adrian.

But while she stayed by Adrian's side, she was always restless, trying every way to escape.

Neither chains nor captivity could break her spirit or crush her pride.

Finally, Adrian came up with what he thought was a brilliant solution that finally kept Camelia by his side.

But while Camelia stopped trying to escape, she also seemed to have lost her soul.

Everyone said Adrian was a madman.

But only he knew—how was he mad?

He was simply madly in love with a woman who didn't love him back.

Perhaps obsession really is hereditary.

When I met Ella, somehow, I made the same choice as my father, Adrian.

I looked at Marcus, my tone cold: "If you're afraid of dying, you can change your name and leave."

"Impossible!" Marcus had been competitive his whole life. Dignity meant more to him than anything.

If he had to abandon his surname and hide, he would rather die.

It seemed Marcus had made this trip for nothing.