Chapter 25
Elizabeth's POV
I was taken away directly, right in front of Aiden.
When he finally realized what was happening and tried to catch up, several burly men in black suits blocked his path.
"Who are you! Let her go! She's my fiancée!"
Aiden's helpless roar grew fainter as I was escorted outside, still somewhat dazed.
As I was put into the car, I saw that familiar profile.
Alex sat in his seat wearing a dark black suit, his entire presence radiating power. He didn't even glance my way when he heard the commotion.
It really was Alex. He hadn't replied to my message asking for help, yet he came?
A sudden wave of joy washed over me. I leaned forward, my voice carrying a hint of excitement I hadn't even noticed myself, "Mr. Windsor, I didn't expect you to..."
He finally turned his head. Those deep eyes held no warmth, only undisguised displeasure. The rest of my sentence stuck in my throat.
"Drive," he told the driver in a cold, emotionless tone.
I wisely sat beside him without speaking, watching as he brought me back to the villa I had struggled so hard to escape from.
I followed him into the villa. The clock already pointed to the early morning hours.
Lisa and Anna had clearly been waiting in the living room. When they saw me, they immediately hurried over.
"Ms. Spencer, it's very late. Shall we take you back to your room to rest?"
They were the ones who had taken care of me under Alex's orders last time.
Although I had run away directly, I still felt somewhat guilty about it.
I instinctively looked at Alex, trying to read something from his expression.
I met his cold, sharp eyes.
He spoke, his voice flat yet ice-cold, "Can't you live without a man?"
I froze. What?
How did he come to that conclusion?
I wanted to ask clearly, but Alex had already turned to go upstairs. Anxious, I instinctively reached out and grabbed his arm.
"What do you mean by that? Explain yourself."
What did he mean by "can't live without a man"? When had I ever shown that kind of attitude?
Alex stopped and turned back, his icy gaze now carrying a hint of scrutiny. Lisa and Anna tactfully retreated quietly, leaving the entire space to us.
"Mr. Windsor, I think there might be some misunderstanding between us."
Alex just gave me a lazy glance and said, "You kept saying you wanted revenge on Aiden, then turned around and went to the hospital with him. What, did you soften when you saw him?"
"What?" I couldn't follow his logic at all, only felt it was absurd. "Where did you get the idea that I still love him?"
If I could turn back time, I would never let Aiden appear in my life.
"Elizabeth, the only reason I'm dealing with you at all is because of the child in your belly. If something happens to this child, you know very well what price you'll pay."
Alex's cold words completely brought me back to reality. I stared at the man before me, extremely wary.
He was right. With his status and position, he did not need to waste time on me. The only connection between us was this child.
But for some reason, hearing him state all this so bluntly still caused a sharp discomfort in my heart.
"I'll take care of myself," I turned my face away, no longer looking at him. "Thank you for saving me tonight. I'm going upstairs to rest."
With that, I turned and walked straight toward the stairs. I could feel his gaze following me like nails until I turned the corner of the staircase, and it disappeared.
Back in that familiar room, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Alex was a dangerous man, no less dangerous than Aiden. The only reason he could still tolerate me now was the child in my belly. The reason he rescued me from Aiden tonight was only to ensure his asset remained safe and sound.
"Ms. Spencer, please don't leave again this time," Lisa followed in, her face full of genuine concern. "Mr. Windsor, he'll really get angry."
I looked at her, my lips moving, but didn't know what to say. Just then, my phone vibrated violently.
Aiden's name appeared on the screen. My heart tightened, and I immediately declined the call.
But he called right back, as if he wouldn't give up. I hesitated, then finally slid to answer.
Lisa and Anna immediately fell silent and retreated to the side.
Aiden's voice came through, suppressing his anger, "Elizabeth! Where are you? Who took you away?"
"Didn't you see me being taken away with your own eyes? Why are you only thinking of saving me now?" I deliberately responded with a mocking tone.
Then I lowered my voice, using a tone that sounded both scared and urgent, "It's almost dawn. If Grandma finds out I'm not there, she'll definitely investigate. The whole process of you taking me away was caught on surveillance. As long as she checks a little, she'll know it was you. You'd better think about how to explain this to Grandma first."
Aiden's breathing became noticeably rapid. "Where exactly are you?"
"I've been locked up. Their confiscation of my phone seems coincidental. Will you come save me?"
With that, I hung up directly.
Aiden was probably too confident. He never imagined I would escape his control this way. That's why he reacted so slowly when Alex's people showed up.
After being hung up on, he called several more times. I declined them all.
After dawn, news of my disappearance would spread, and Aiden would be the first person who needed to answer for it.
"Ms. Spencer, are you alright?" Lisa asked carefully.
I shook my head. "It's late, let's rest."
No matter what, my body came first. Even though I wasn't sleepy, I forced myself to lie down. Since I was back here, Alex wouldn't let me go in the short term.
My mother's keepsake was still in his hands. Tomorrow, I had to get it back from him.
The next morning, I saw Alex in the dining room. I walked straight up to him and held out my hand.
"Mr. Windsor, please return the bracelet my mother left me."
He looked up, those unfathomable eyes showing an emotion I couldn't read, just staring straight at me.
"Want your bracelet back?" His tone rose slightly at the end, carrying a casual questioning tone, but I immediately heard the subtext: he wasn't planning to give it back.
I suppressed the unease in my heart and insisted, "I'm right under your nose now. That bracelet is very important to me, but it has no value to you. Please return it to me."
"You are under my nose," he leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between us, "but who can guarantee you won't run away again the moment you get a chance, like last time?"
His voice was colder than last night, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.
I was silent for a moment, then looked directly into his eyes, "Mr. Windsor, if you want to control me, there are many ways to do it. You don't need to use the bracelet to threaten me. Please return it to me."