Chapter 58
Ella thought that Joshua wasn't a good option either.
If he found out that Aurora and Dorian were actually Samuel's children, the consequences could be even more terrifying.
While Samuel still didn't dare claim the children, she would insist they were Michael's. Maybe they would believe her and let her go.
To escape from the vicious Joshua beside her, Ella put on a stern face and said defiantly, "Yes, he's the children's father. You saw him, didn't you? He's younger than you, better looking than you, and richer than you too."
Actually, Ella still didn't fully understand Michael's background.
Just from Michael's clothing, food, where he lived, and the servants who attended to him.
You'd need quite a fortune to spend so lavishly.
Especially the things in the castle - every single piece was worth a fortune.
Joshua was trying hard to control himself.
In his thirty-four years of life, this was the first time anyone had looked down on him like this.
Complaining he was too old, not good-looking, and poor.
In this whole world, only Ella would dare say such things.
He was a billionaire boss, a man that countless socialites in Silverlight City wanted to marry, someone who became the youngest entrepreneur in the country at just 34.
Yet in front of Ella, he was nothing.
Joshua stared at her, his deep eyes seeming hurt, becoming dark and melancholy.
His chest felt unbearably sour, his heart aching painfully.
Joshua's Adam's apple moved with difficulty, and after a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, "Ella, no matter how good he is, that's no reason for you to deceive me."
"You're the first person who's dared to play me like this."
Joshua suppressed his anger and told Brian to drive.
His handsome, resolute face seemed covered with a layer of frost, cold and sharp, intimidating.
Ella grabbed Dorian's little hand and held it tight, inexplicably feeling the temperature in the car drop to freezing.
She knew she would face an even bigger storm ahead, but no matter what Joshua did to her, she had to find the courage to survive.
She had to live well, waiting for her Aurora to come back.
And she had to protect her Dorian, so he could grow up healthy and strong.
Suddenly thinking of something, Ella's gaze fell on Joshua, looking him over.
Only then did she notice that blood had soaked through a large area of his pants at the thigh.
Remembering the gun Michael had fired earlier, she kindly reminded him, "Don't you need to go to the hospital to get your wound treated?"
Joshua looked at the wound on his leg.
It wasn't serious.
But he felt that the syringe that had entered his body was poisoned.
It just hadn't taken effect yet.
Joshua ignored Ella's concern, his face dark as he looked out the car window.
Ella saw that he didn't seem to be in much pain.
And there was no bullet hole in his pants, so the injury probably wasn't very serious.
Maybe just a scratch?
Since Joshua himself didn't care, she couldn't be bothered either.
Brian drove straight to the Thomas Manor.
Joshua got out first, walked around the car to open the door beside Ella, roughly took Dorian from her arms, and handed him to Brian.
"Take the child to Tranquil Villa."
Ella refused, getting out of the car to try to take Dorian back. "Joshua, what are you doing? I don't want to be separated from Dorian."
"Mommy, I don't want to be separated from you either."
Dorian was too afraid of losing Ella.
He reached out in the air, wanting to return to Ella's arms.
But Joshua blocked them, preventing mother and son from touching.
"Take him away immediately," he ordered.
Brian understood, put Dorian back in the car, and locked the door.
When Ella tried to get the child again, Joshua stopped her, holding her in his arms to keep her from going over.
Unable to get Dorian back, Ella could only comfort him, "Dorian, don't be afraid. Mommy will come find you."
Dorian still didn't want to be separated from Ella, pressing against the car window, crying and shouting, "I don't want to, Mommy, I don't want to be separated from you, I'm scared, Mommy..."
But no matter how Dorian pounded on the window and shouted, Brian still drove away.
Hearing Dorian's piercing, heartbreaking cries, Ella's heart ached terribly.
Unable to break free from Joshua beside her, she lowered her head and bit hard into his arm.
Joshua didn't push her away.
Even though a piercing pain came from his arm.
Even though Ella was guilty of terrible crimes.
Even though she had given birth to two children for another man and had an affair with the children's father during their marriage.
Until this moment, holding Ella tightly in his arms, feeling the warmth from her body.
Watching her bite him, this pain she gave him was real and present. Joshua's once shattered heart finally showed some signs of healing.
At least Ella was alive.
Being alive was more important than anything.
Joshua waited until she had bitten enough and let go, then said quietly, "After your accident, Grandpa became critically ill. He's been unconscious until now. For the sake of how good he was to you before, go see him!"
Ella froze.
She suddenly pushed him away and rushed into the house.
It was already evening.
Jasper and Ava were both at home.
The couple, who were dining in the dining room, were startled when someone suddenly burst into the house without even greeting them.
Ava was stunned, muttering to herself, "Who am I seeing? Am I seeing things?"
Jasper denied it, "You're not seeing things. I saw her too. It's Ella."
Just as the couple looked confused and bewildered, completely unsure what was going on, they saw Joshua enter.
Ava went to stand in front of Joshua, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Joshua, was that Ella who just came in? Isn't she..."
Isn't she dead?
Joshua had even held a funeral for her.
How could she appear now?
Joshua explained, "Ella didn't die. After she fell into the sea, someone rescued her. I asked her to come see Grandpa."
Hearing that Ella wasn't dead, Ava finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Good that she wasn't dead - she really thought she'd seen a ghost.
Ava asked again, "Then why is she only coming back now? She doesn't look like she was seriously injured and couldn't come back."
Joshua fell silent.
He didn't know how to explain to Jasper and Ava that Ella had given birth to children for another man, and the children's father had come looking for her.
That she deliberately didn't come back because she wanted to be with the children's father.
Joshua felt he couldn't afford to lose face like that.
He avoided Jasper and Ava, leaving them with, "I'll go upstairs to see Grandpa first. Mom and Dad, don't follow me. Go ahead and eat."
Upstairs, in Aiden's bedroom.
Ella pushed the door open to see Samuel giving Aiden an IV.
She paused, very unwilling to face Samuel who had once taken advantage of her vulnerability, but worried about Aiden.
She gathered her courage and went over, sitting down by Aiden's bed.
"How is Grandpa?"
Samuel was startled when he saw Ella.
Unsure, he rubbed his eyes and stared again, couldn't help but ask, "My God, you're not dead?"