Chapter 60
Elizabeth's POV
The expression on Aiden's face completely froze. He frantically waved his hands, eager to distance himself, "It's not like that, I really just wanted to ask Mr. Windsor for help. You wouldn't just stand by and watch someone die, would you?"
"Stand by and watch someone die?" Alexander repeated his words, but his tone was even more displeased.
Aiden quickly waved his hands, "No, I misspoke. This really has nothing to do with you."
"If you know that, then get lost."
Even more blunt than what I had just said. This time, Aiden was completely frozen in place, stunned for a long while with no intention of moving forward.
Alexander took my hand and led me toward the center of the banquet hall.
Warm heat came from his palm. I couldn't help but look up at the person holding my hand.
The coldness around Alexander had disappeared at some point, replaced by a calm presence in his eyes.
He brought me to the lounge area and got me some food.
"Are you hungry?" After handing me a small cake, he finally asked.
I took two bites, my mouth filling with the sweet fragrance of cream, before nodding at him, "I was just getting hungry, thank you."
Alexander wouldn't normally attend this kind of banquet at all. He came to go along with my saying I wanted that partnership.
These were all things Alexander did for me. When I realized this belatedly, I felt somewhat shocked again.
Could Alexander really go to such lengths?
I tentatively said, "If you don't want to stay here, we can go back. After all, we've already got the partnership."
Alexander looked to the side. I followed his gaze and found Aiden standing alone, looking in my direction.
"He seems to still have something to discuss with you," Alexander suddenly said.
I was stunned for two seconds, making sure I hadn't heard wrong. "I have nothing to do with him. Let him look for me if he wants."
This sounded really strange, and besides, would someone like Alexander really care about such things? The reason for staying here was actually because of this? Realizing this, I was left with nothing but disbelief. For Alexander to say something like this was really too unusual.
"Mr. Windsor, the partnership is done. Let's go back."
I was very direct, actively taking his arm to leave. Alexander frowned at me.
His gaze moved back and forth between Aiden and me. Slowly, the emotion in his eyes gradually subsided, finally turning into a low response.
I breathed a sigh of relief as if a weight had been lifted, ready to leave with him.
We had only taken two steps when Aiden made a move, approaching me again.
That annoying pestering was about to start again. I instinctively moved closer to Alexander.
Bianca was no longer by his side—she must have been sent to the hospital.
But Aiden had just acted so concerned about Bianca, yet wasn't by her side. This did surprise me a bit.
"Didn't you want to get revenge on Aiden?" Alexander leaned close to my ear, speaking in a voice only the two of us could hear.
I looked at him suspiciously and nodded, "Wouldn't it be too obvious to act directly? There are so many people here."
When I saw Aiden, I wanted to embarrass him, but because Alexander was beside me, and there were really too many people around, I was somewhat conflicted.
If it affected Alexander's reputation, that would be serious.
"With me by your side, he won't dare do anything to you."
Alexander's voice sounded light, but the meaning in his words seemed quite domineering, as if saying he would back me up.
I looked at him, feeling something extremely subtle in my heart, which finally turned into a nod.
If Aiden approached so openly again, like just now, I definitely wouldn't be polite.
Seeing that Alexander and I were about to leave, Aiden followed behind, as if looking for an opportunity to make his move.
In the parking lot, Aiden jogged over.
"Elizabeth!" He called my name loudly, quickly standing in front of me. "Did you hear what I just said? Grandma really needs you."
I stopped and looked at him, "You should spend more time managing the company. Don't end up with nowhere to cry when it goes bankrupt."
For Aiden now, bringing up company matters was what pained him most. Sure enough, with just a simple sentence, his face involuntarily showed a pained expression.
These words didn't make him back off. "Elizabeth, I've never asked you for anything. This time, for Grandma's sake, I'm begging you, okay?"
"No." I refused even more decisively.
Alexander had already gotten in the car. Outside, only Aiden and I remained. His expression instantly became fierce, as if he had finally exhausted all his patience, and he suddenly moved closer to me.
At that moment, I waved at someone in the shadows. Accompanied by hurried footsteps, four or five bodyguards quickly surrounded Aiden.
By the time Aiden realized something was wrong and wanted to escape, it was too late. He looked at the bodyguards around him in terror, recognizing them as Jasper's men.
These were people Alexander had requested from Jasper after saying those things to me.
Aiden's composure immediately crumbled. He stared at me, panicked and at a loss, "What are you going to do?"
I looked down at him, my tone brooking no argument, "You're too much of an eyesore. I want you to behave."
As my words fell, I waved at those bodyguards again. They understood perfectly and rushed over, attacking Aiden from both sides.
Screams came from that direction, and only then did I feel satisfied.
This kind of person deserved to be properly punished.
Fists landed precisely on flesh. Aiden's face quickly became bruised.
Since the banquet was just starting and this was the parking lot, there were no other witnesses. I told those bodyguards not to hold back.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Aiden stammered, begging for mercy, but stubbornly refused to look at me.
He seemed to feel he'd lost face, protecting his vital parts and gritting his teeth, unwilling to cry out in pain.
I stood on the outside, keeping my distance, looking coldly at his bruised and swollen face.
If it were before, I would have rushed over in distress. That gaze looking at me carried some disbelief.
He seemed to be confirming whether the person having him beaten half to death was really the Elizabeth who used to follow behind him.
I remained expressionless, letting him look, without a trace of guilt or heartache.
If Aiden still thought I had any lingering feelings for him after all this, then he was the one who needed to see a doctor.
"Elizabeth, you're so heartless to me."
When I finally raised my hand to stop those bodyguards, Aiden wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, staring at me without blinking.
In those eyes was an undeniable hatred.