Chapter 211 New Tenant
The young man feeding pigeons in the park wore a gray wool coat.
A white scarf hung down his back, sunlight spilling across his shoulders.
He was bathed in a warm golden glow.
His smile was warmer than the sun.
Ambrose crouched down, placing breadcrumbs in his palm.
The white dove's beak gently touched his fingertips, yet he always felt something was missing.
As if he had forgotten something important.
It felt like a hollow in his heart.
He didn't know what that hollow was.
So he traveled alone, moving through various countries, searching.
He'd been through twenty-one countries and still hadn't found it.
At night, he watched a movie in a cinema.
The film showed a blonde couple running into criminals in the suburbs.
The male lead's lung was pierced by a dagger.
When he spoke, blood kept seeping from his chest.
He touched the female lead's face, every word filled with pain.
"I'm... fine, listen, don't cry, promise me, live on..."
Suddenly, Ambrose's mind felt like it was struck hard, tears instantly filling his eyes.
A woman's face gradually became clear.
He finally remembered what was missing.
Ambrose's nose burned, and he raised his hand to wipe away the uncontrollable tears at the corner of his eyes.
He tightened his coat collar and turned to walk out of the cinema.
In the audience, people were making out, flirting, and eating popcorn.
The cold glow from the screen fell across his determined back.
He had made a decision.
He was going back.
Meanwhile, at five in the morning in this city, someone hadn't slept all night.
Dylan woke up at his office desk, his face marked with creases from his tie. He cradled his numb left leg, slowly pulling it out from under the desk. While waiting for his leg to regain feeling, his fingers still gripped the mouse.
There were over a dozen emails in his inbox, all related to Juniper.
Juniper and Lester are entering a hotel.
Juniper and Lester are embracing naked.
Dylan couldn't bear to watch, but he forced himself.
Until that email appeared.
It was a secretly recorded video from a bathroom.
Lester roughly pushed Juniper against the wall, yanked down her skirt, and fisted her hair.
"Tell me, if William knew you were the real culprit, what would he do to you?"
Juniper went from panic to a seductive smile. She fixed her messed-up hair and grabbed his hand, placing it on her chest.
"Don't worry, we're in this together."
"Of course, after all, you're the one who made me burn those two sisters to death."
"I'm just an accomplice, you're the main criminal."
Heavy breathing sounds came from the video.
Dylan finished watching the last email, his hands shaking. Without thinking much, he forwarded all the evidence to William's email, then quickly went upstairs.
The study door was slightly open.
Dylan pushed it open and saw William sitting in front of the computer. He wore yesterday's suit, his eyes red-rimmed, even more than Dylan, who'd been up all night.
He was looking at those emails.
His expression hadn't changed.
Those eyes were so empty they sent chills.
"Mr. Spencer." Dylan walked in, standing to the side. "We found where Lester's hiding. I'll go arrest him right now."
William didn't look up.
"No rush."
Dylan froze.
"What?"
William finally looked up at him. In those empty eyes, something was flowing darkly.
"Let him keep hiding. As long as he doesn't leave the city."
Dylan clenched his fists.
"Mr. Spencer, we have all the evidence. Juniper can't escape."
William looked at him.
"Escape? Did I let her escape?"
He stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the sky was slowly brightening, morning light creeping in.
"Dylan, what do you think Juniper wants most?"
Dylan thought for a moment.
"Mistress of this house."
William nodded.
"She wants to be mistress of this house. Even when Isabella was alive, she wanted it."
He turned around.
"Letting her die would be too easy for her."
Dylan was stunned.
William took a step forward.
"For people like her, death is a release."
"Who's going to pay back the pain Isabella suffered?"
"So you're planning to..."
"I'm planning to marry her."
Dylan's mind went blank.
"What?"
"Marry her," William repeated. "Let her move in, wear Isabella's clothes, take Isabella's place, be mistress of this house."
Dylan's eyes widened in shock.
"Mr. Spencer, have you lost your mind?"
William looked at him, saying nothing.
Dylan stepped forward, his voice shaking.
"You're going to marry her? She killed Ms. Tudor's sister! She ruined Ms. Tudor's life! And you still want to marry her?"
William remained silent.
Dylan clenched his fists, knuckles whitening, and said, "No."
William's eyebrow twitched.
This was Dylan, who'd been with him for eight years, saying "no" for the first time.
"What did you say?"
"I said no." Dylan's voice was still shaking, but he didn't back down. "Letting her marry in would be the greatest pain for Ms. Tudor."
The study was unnervingly quiet.
Only the breathing of two people.
William looked at Dylan.
Looked for a long time.
Then he smiled.
That smile wasn't cold.
"This is the first time I've heard you say so much."
"And the best thing I've ever heard you say."
Dylan didn't respond, his chest heaving.
William stepped back, leaning against the window.
"You're right."
Dylan froze.
"She'll only think she won. She won't feel pain, she'll only laugh."
"Isabella must be very lonely; she needs more family to keep her company."
"Let her move in, but not as mistress of the house."
"Let her face Isabella every day, let her live in fear, in jealousy, in front of things she can never have."
William spoke faster and faster.
"Let her think she has a chance, then gradually realize she never will."
Dylan was silent for a long time.
So long, William thought he wouldn't speak.
"Go pick out a wedding dress."
Dylan froze.
"Mr. Spencer..."
"Not for her to wear." William interrupted. "For her to look at."
William walked to the window, his back to him.
"Let her move in, right next to Isabella."
His voice was very calm.
Dylan completely understood William's plan.
This was years of understanding.
Only William remained in the study.
He stood for a while, then walked to the window.
The sunlight had fully risen, casting light over him.
He suddenly reached out his hand, as if holding the air beside him.
"Isabella."
His voice was very soft.
"I won't let you get hurt again."
He held the air and walked forward, his right hand hovering in the air, as if holding an invisible hand.
"I'll never let you cry again."
"William is the bad guy, I'm Donny, Donny will never hurt Isabella."
"I'm Ambrose. Ambrose can give his life for Isabella."
"Isabella, don't be sad, William isn't here, no one can hurt you."
He held the air, walking out step by step.