Chapter 143
Ella gestured for Zachary to go rest, then turned to push Rhea away.
But Joshua stepped forward to block her path, looking utterly dejected, "Ella, can we talk?"
Now that Zachary had proposed, if he didn't make things clear with Ella soon, he might never get another chance.
Even though staying at the Lewis family meant being unwelcome, even though Ella tried to avoid him whenever she saw him, he still had to fight for himself.
"What is there for us to talk about?"
Ella's face was expressionless as she instructed the nanny nearby, "Elowen, show him out."
Elowen looked troubled, standing there wanting to speak but afraid of offending anyone.
Joshua immediately added, "Ella, can you not be so cold? Have you forgotten how my grandfather treated you during those five years at the Thomas family?"
"Even if you have no feelings for me, can't you at least give me a chance to talk to you for grandfather's sake?"
He was willing to be patient now and take the time to talk things through with her properly.
If Ella wouldn't even give him a chance to speak, Joshua couldn't guarantee he wouldn't resort to some extreme measures and do something drastic.
"Ella, just hear him out and make things clear, so he'll stop having these fantasies."
Zachary knew it would be hard to shake off Joshua, so he might as well let Ella give in.
If Ella truly hated Joshua, she certainly wouldn't hold back.
It would also let Joshua die quickly.
Ella glanced at him, then handed over Rhea's wheelchair handles.
After watching Zachary push Rhea away, she turned and walked to the balcony, looking down at the sprawling garden below, not willing to spare Joshua even one more glance.
Joshua followed behind her.
Knowing that humble pleading wouldn't work, he simply stated his decision, "You know I'm at this age without even a child. You know how important Dorian is to me."
"If you really choose to be with Zachary, then I'll spare no effort in fighting you for custody of Dorian."
"If you stay at the Lewis family and don't get involved with any man, I won't separate you from Dorian."
"Of course, if you can give me a chance to make things right and bring Dorian back to the Thomas family with me, I promise I'll never let you regret it again."
This was what Joshua wanted to say to Ella.
Ella had three choices.
He just hoped she would think carefully before choosing.
Ella laughed coldly.
She asked him, "Fight me for custody of Dorian? Where do you get the nerve? Have you ever fed him a single meal or bought him a single piece of clothing?"
She turned to face Joshua, her face cold and emotionless, "How about I give you Aurora instead? As long as you can bring her back alive, Aurora can be your daughter."
Don't think that just because Joshua had money and power he could do whatever he wanted.
He could only use that against her. What kind of man was he?
Every time Aurora was mentioned, Joshua felt his heart pierced with needles.
Ella knew how to hurt him.
Knowing Aurora couldn't come back, she still used Aurora to provoke him.
He suppressed the pain in his chest and said righteously, "Put yourself in my shoes. If Aurora had been my child with someone else back then, and I asked you to help her, would you have helped?"
"I love you. I cared that you had a child with someone else. Choosing to ignore it in that situation, I know it was a bit heartless, but it was understandable, wasn't it?"
"If I'd known she was my daughter, would you have needed to beg me?"
"So it's my fault?"
Talking about Aurora, Ella's eyes reddened as she questioned, "I didn't know Aurora was your daughter. Is that my fault?"
Seeing her about to cry, Joshua's heart ached even more.
He explained, "That's why I'm saying Aurora's death is something neither of us wants to face. Why do you have to use her to hurt me every time we argue?"
"You have no idea how important children are to me. Even when I didn't know they were mine, I thought about accepting them and being their stepfather."
"Ask yourself honestly. Is everything between us really all my fault?"
His only mistake was being blind, mistaking Scarlett for the person he'd been with that night.
Choosing to believe Scarlett again and again.
On this point, he truly failed Ella.
"Enough."
Ella steadied her emotions, refusing to shed a single tear in front of Joshua.
She turned her back to him, not wanting to look at him anymore, "I'll tell you my choice. I'm leaving, I'll be with Zachary, and don't even think about taking custody of Dorian. Even if I have to fight with my life, I'll keep Dorian by my side."
Hearing this answer, Joshua felt his heart shatter.
So all his talking was completely useless?
Joshua looked at Ella disappointedly, "Are you really going to force me like this? Dorian is my child. To have him, I'll do whatever it takes."
He really would use any means necessary.
Even if he didn't do anything, Jasper and Ava would try everything to bring Dorian back to the Thomas family.
In that case, how could their mother and son's life ever be peaceful?
"Then bring it on."
Ella maintained that attitude, absolutely refusing to give in or compromise.
She turned to leave.
Joshua watched her retreating figure and made a threat, "Ella, think it over carefully. If I can't have Dorian, I might just destroy the Lewis family, and I won't let Zachary off either."
Ella stopped in her tracks.
Furiously clenching her fists, she ground her teeth and said to him over her shoulder, "If you have that ability, why didn't you do anything when Aurora was kidnapped by Scarlett's people?"
"At the end of the day, Aurora and grandfather's deaths were Scarlett's doing. If you're so capable, make Scarlett pay with her life."
Back then Joshua couldn't even handle simple things.
Now when it came to dealing with her, he had all kinds of methods.
This kind of man was truly disgusting.
She really didn't want to talk to him anymore. Ella quickly left.
Joshua didn't stop her.
Speaking of Scarlett, he really should make her pay.
Ella's wish was for Scarlett to die?
Then let her die.
That kind of woman only disgusted people by staying alive.
Joshua turned and pulled out his phone to call Brian.
After leaving, Ella locked herself in her room, staying by Dorian's side.
She knew the Thomas family still didn't have a grandson. Dorian was undoubtedly their hope.
If she took Dorian and left, could she really get away?
Looking at Dorian sleeping peacefully beside her, Ella gently stroked his adorable little face, her heart aching.
If Joshua really fought her for custody, could she win?
She didn't know where Joshua got the nerve to fight her for custody.
Realizing she was no match for Joshua at all, Ella buried her head as tears silently rolled down.
The next morning, Joshua shamelessly stood guard outside Ella and Dorian's room.
As if truly afraid they would run away.
When Zachary passed by and saw him, he couldn't help but strike up a conversation, "Mr. Thomas, still haven't left? Do you think that by shamelessly clinging to Ella like this, she'll go back with you?"
Zachary would have been better off keeping quiet.
As soon as he spoke, he gave Joshua an excuse to teach him a lesson.
Without giving anyone a chance to react, Joshua clenched his fist, rushed over, grabbed Zachary and punched him hard twice.
Zachary was about to fight back with his fist clenched.
But realizing Ella would soon come out with Dorian, he loosened his fist and continued saying things to provoke Joshua, "Does hitting me change Ella's choice? Let me tell you, Ella has already agreed to leave with Dorian and me. We'll get married and live happily ever after together."
"You're asking for death."
Joshua couldn't stand Zachary's words.
He hit even harder.
However, just as he was pinning Zachary to the ground, beating him out of control, the door nearby opened.
It was Dorian who came out.
Seeing the scene before him, he rushed over furiously and kicked at Joshua, "You big bad guy, why are you hitting my dad? Get away, let go of my dad."
Dorian pushed and shoved Joshua.
Seeing Dorian, Joshua naturally didn't dare use violence anymore.
But when he softened his voice to talk to Dorian, he saw him supporting Zachary with concern, naturally calling out to Zachary, "Dad, you're bleeding. Mom, dad got beaten, come out and look."
Hearing the noise, when Ella came out of the room, she saw Zachary's injured face.
She hurried over to help him up. Seeing Joshua standing nearby with blood on his fists, Ella was furious and slapped him hard across the face, "Joshua, this isn't a place where you can act wild. Get out."
Dorian was very angry and kicked his little legs at Joshua again, "Go away, you bad guy, you're so terrible."
Joshua stood frozen.
When Dorian kicked him, he remained unmoved. When Ella hit him, his expression didn't change.
But Dorian calling someone else dad, just a simple form of address, made his heart feel like it was being corroded by sulfuric acid.
That heart-wrenching pain was really unbearable.
Joshua's hurt, dim eyes stared at Dorian as he said softly, "Dorian, I'm your father."
Dorian spat at him, disgusted and repulsed, "You don't deserve to be my dad. You people killed Aurora and bullied my mom. I hate you so much. I'll never acknowledge you as my dad in this lifetime."
Seeing Zachary's bloody mouth, he got even angrier and kicked at Joshua again, "Get lost, get out. I don't want to see you."
Dorian's attitude toward him was like another sharp sword stabbing into Joshua's heart.
Especially watching Ella help Zachary leave, Joshua stood there frozen, laughing miserably, his eyes bloodshot.
Soon, Dorian ran off too.
But Mason came over.
He asked Joshua, "Why did you hit Zachary? If you want Ella to change her mind, you need to keep your cool."
After all, they were friends who grew up together.
Mason naturally didn't want Ella to leave with Zachary.
In his view, he still hoped Ella could bring Dorian back to Joshua's side.
Joshua lowered his eyes and wiped away the tear that had formed.
His voice was hoarse and harsh, "Go tell Ella that I'm not just going to hit Zachary. If she really dares to take Dorian and leave with Zachary, I'll want to kill Zachary too."