Chapter 179
After settling into the guesthouse arranged by the coordinator, it was already late.
Ella had her own room, and just as she finished washing up and was about to sleep, there was a knock at the door.
She got up to answer it.
Chris stood at the doorway, smiling as he said, "Ms. Garcia, there are mosquitoes around here at night. I brought you some mosquito repellent."
Ella thanked him and let him in to set it up
However, just as Chris entered the room, Joshua happened to step out from the adjacent room and saw them.
He lifted his hand to check the time on his watch—ten o'clock at night.
This late, what was that pretty boy doing in Ella's room?
A knot of irritation twisted in his chest. He hurried over, about to knock, but discovered the door was still open.
Ella stood right at the threshold.
Ella spotted him too, sizing him up with clear displeasure written across her face. "What do you want?"
Joshua couldn't see what was happening inside the room,but the knowledge that Chris was there made his stomach turn. "You have someone in your room?"
Ella didn't deny it. "How is that any of your business?"
"How is it not my business? You're the mother of my child."
"So what?" Ella shot back, her tone aggressive and her attitude hostile.
Joshua watched as Ella remained ice-cold toward him, a dull ache spreading through his chest.
He opened his mouth to say more, but Chris, having finished setting up the repellent, walked over with an affected sweetness in his voice. "Ms. Garcia, I'm all done."
He had deliberately left two buttons of his shirt undone, and as he approached Ella, his hair—already slightly damp—now looked as if he'd just stepped out of the shower.
Ella responded with a simple acknowledgment, and seeing that Chris showed no intention of leaving, she went along with it. "Wait here a moment. I'll be right with you."
She fixed her gaze on Joshua. "Do you need something? If not, get out of here."
Joshua looked at Chris with his fox-like demeanor, anger burning in his gut.
When his eyes returned to Ella, he couldn't hold back his temper. "It's late at night—what are you doing with him in your room?"
"None of your concern." Ella abruptly pushed the door shut, not letting Chris out either.
Dorian was right—she should disgust Joshua a little.
That way, he'd have some self-awareness and finally leave her alone.
"Ella, you—" Joshua found himself shut outside, fury blazing through him.
But thinking of his relationship with Ella, he couldn't let his anger loose, or he'd only push her further away.
He knocked on the door, trying his best to keep his voice low and gentle. "Ella, don't do this. I know you're just trying to make me back off, but you don't actually care about that pretty boy. Don't put on an act with someone just to spite me, okay?"
"Ella, open the door. We can talk this through calmly."
"Ella..."
Ella acted as if she couldn't hear him at all, walking past Chris deeper into the room.
Chris turned to follow her, his face full of shock. "What's Ms. Garcia's relationship with Mr. Thomas? He seems to care about you so much."
Ella had spent the entire day traveling and was thoroughly exhausted by now.
She sat back on the bed, leaning against the headboard with her eyes closed to rest, but she didn't hide the truth from Chris. "He's my children's father."
And her business partner.
Beyond that, they had no connection.
Ella didn't deny it—as long as Joshua refused to give up, they'd inevitably keep running into each other.
She felt deeply troubled, not knowing how to avoid Joshua.
Chris was genuinely shocked.
He had never imagined that the father of Ms. Garcia's children would be Mr. Thomas
Mr. Thomas wasn't just powerful and wealthy beyond measure—his appearance was striking, and he radiated an undeniable air of authority.
How could a college student like him compare to such a powerful businessman?
But thinking it over, he had youth on his side.
Maybe Ms. Garcia preferred younger guys like him.
After all, Dorian really liked him and had even asked for his contact information.
Chris stepped forward to stand in front of Ella, speaking softly. "Ms. Garcia, are you feeling unwell? Would you like me to give you a massage?"
Ella opened her eyes and leaned lazily against the headboard, ignoring his offer and asking a completely different question. "Are you really short on money?"
Chris froze for a moment, then lowered his head without denying it.
Ella pulled out her phone and transferred money to him. "I'm giving you one million dollars. For the next few days, you won't just be driving—you'll stay by my side at all times, on call whenever I need you. Understood?"
Chris's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly without hesitation. "Yes, I understand. Ms. Garcia, you can count on me. I won't let you down."
"Then go stand by the door. Don't open it. I'm going to sleep now."
Ella lay down and settled in for the night.
Chris stood there, somewhat bewildered.
He didn't quite understand what Ms. Garcia meant.
She gave him money—didn't that mean she wanted to develop some kind of relationship with him? So why was she telling him to guard the door and not open it?
Seeing that Ms. Garcia had already lain down, and thinking about Mr. Thomas still outside, Chris didn't dare harbor any inappropriate thoughts. He obediently went to stand by the door without making a sound.
Joshua kept knocking and calling out, but Ella never opened the door.
Thinking about the pretty boy inside the room, he paced anxiously like a cat on a hot tin roof, yet he couldn't kick the door down.
That would only make Ella hate him more.
Joshua didn't know what to do, so he pulled out his phone and kept sending Ella messages.
[Ella, can you please calm down and not be impulsive? Don't just find some random guy to provoke me, okay?]
[Ella, if you don't want to see me, I can leave, but please let that pretty boy out.]
[Ella, I'm begging you—open the door.]
[If you're really with another man right now, I'll lose my mind.]
When the messages went unanswered, he called her.
But Ella had already turned off her phone and fallen asleep inside the room.
She paid no attention whatsoever to the two men at her door.
Joshua leaned against the door the entire time, unable to hear any movement from inside. He thought that Ella must have kept Chris in there just to upset him.
Surely she wouldn't actually do anything with Chris.
He needed to choose to trust Ella.
Joshua refused to leave, standing guard at the door.
He stayed there all night long.
When dawn broke, Chris opened the door to leave.
Joshua sprang to his feet, grabbed chris by the collar, and growled, "What were you doing in there all night? Explain yourself clearly, or I'll destroy you."
Chris was, after all, just a college student without much life experience. He'd been so attentive to Ella simply because she was young, beautiful, and wealthy.
Plus, he genuinely liked her.
Faced with an angry Mr. Thomas grabbing him and threatening violence, he was genuinely frightened
But remembering he'd taken Ms. Garcia's money, he lifted his chin defiantly. "It's none of your business what I did with Ms. Garcia all night. Mr. Thomas, please—please show some restraint."
"You're asking for it." Joshua had held back his explosive temper all night, with nowhere to vent it. He raised his fist and swung hard at Chris's face.
Chris didn't dare fight back.
This was Mr. Thomas—he couldn't afford the consequences of even touching the man.
Besides, he was no match for Joshua. To get more money, he could only endure the pain.
Joshua, seeing his weakness, knocked him to the ground with just one punch.
He kicked him aside with disgust and barked, "Get lost."
Chris scrambled to his feet and hurried away.
Joshua pushed the door open and entered the room, seeing Ella sitting up in bed, rubbing her temples, as if she hadn't slept well.
He strode over to her, lowering himself to kneel before her, his eyes rimmed with red.
"Ella, please stop doing things that break my heart. I know you're just trying to upset me, but find another way. I can't take many more nights like last night."
Sometimes he truly didn't know what to do to satisfy her.
Were the things he'd done to her in the past really so unforgivable?
But he'd dealt with Scarlett, and he'd saved Aurora at the cost of nearly his own life.
Why was Ella still treating him this way?
Joshua knelt before her, his heart bleeding with pain.
Ella looked down at the man kneeling by her bed.
Seeing him humble himself, gazing up at her, completely stripped of the arrogance he displayed to others.
Sometimes she thought Joshua was remarkably adaptable, but what was the point of all this?
Ella laughed coldly. "What I do has nothing to do with you, does it? Joshua, stop being so delusional, will you?"
Joshua looked up at her, his eyes moist, his throat tight, his voice hoarse.
"Tell me-what must i do to satisfy you? You said you had forgiven me, so why do you treat me like an enemy?"
He truly felt Ella's heart was made of stone—cold and hard.
He'd been hurt so many times because of her, nearly dying on several occasions.
Why couldn't she let go of the past?
Why couldn't she give him one more chance?
Ella felt irritated and disgusted first thing in the morning.
She looked at Joshua impatiently. "Forgiving you means I have to be with you? Joshua, you're almost forty years old. Besides the children, we have absolutely no relationship. If we're working together, let's work professionally. What are you doing here, performing this deep affection act? Don't you find it disgusting?"
If he'd act like a man and interact with her like a gentleman—keeping work as work and life as life—she might give him a pleasant expression.
But what was this behavior now?
Acting like he'd caught her in some affair—it only made her more repulsed.
"I'm disgusting?" Joshua looked wounded, his heart constricting.
Looking at Ella, his gaze grew dim and sorrowful, as if sand had gotten in his eyes.
"Would you only feel relieved, only feel liberated, if i died and disappeared from your world forever?"
Ella's eyes flickered, unwilling to continue arguing with him. She urged, "Just go. Can you please not ruin people's moods first thing in the morning?"
"Fine. I'll go."
Joshua stood up, staring at her with aggrieved eyes.
"Ella, listen to me—I'm leaving, and I won't come back. You'll never see me again in this lifetime. I'll leave you forever, leave this world. From now on, you take care of the children yourself."
He spoke as if leaving a final testament, then turned and stormed out, wounded.
At first, Ella paid no attention.
But when she went to the dining room for breakfast after washing up, she found the coordinator there, along with Megan and a swollen-faced Chris.
Just no Joshua.
Ella's heart suddenly jumped, and panic began to creep in.
She asked the staff, "Where's Mr. Thomas?"
The coordinator looked equally puzzled. "I haven't seen him. Is he still sleeping in his room?"
The coordinator immediately sent someone to check his room.
Soon, a staff member returned with the news that the room was empty; they had searched the entire guesthouse and the surrounding area, but there was no sign of him
Megan clearly noticed Ella's worry and suggested, "Ms. Garcia, why don't you give him a call?"
Ella was too proud to do so.
She gestured dismissively. "Let's eat. After breakfast, we still have work to do."
Though her heart felt unsettled, she kept reminding herself not to care.
Joshua's life or death had nothing to do with her.
He was nearly forty years old—whatever he did, he'd have some sense about it.
He surely wouldn't do something foolish just because she'd said a few harsh words.
Around noon, Aurora called.
Ella answered, and Aurora's cheerful voice came through. "Mom, Dad said he went on a business trip with you—is that true? I can't reach Dad's phone. Can you let Dad talk to me?"
Ella had no idea where Joshua had run off to, so she deflected casually. "He's busy right now. I'll have him call you back later, okay?"
Aurora was understanding and agreed.
Thinking that Ella was busy with work, she didn't want to disturb her further and hung up after a brief chat.
Ella followed the coordinator to survey the site.
They assessed the environment to determine how much investment would be needed to build an integrated leisure and entertainment resort.
She spent the entire day with Chris and Megan inspecting various locations.
By evening, there was still no sign of Joshua.
But Joshua's car was there, and the luggage he'd brought to his room was still there too.
That evening, Aurora called again asking where Dad was and why she couldn't reach him.
After hanging up, Ella finally couldn't stand it anymore and called Joshua herself.
But the call wouldn't go through, and her messages went unanswered.
She didn't know what madness had possessed Joshua. Recalling the parting words he had uttered when he stormed out, she now genuinely feared he might do something reckless in a fit of despair
Unable to reach Joshua, she spent that night restless and anxious, not daring to close her eyes.
The next morning at first light, Ella searched everywhere but still couldn't find Joshua. She quickly gathered Megan, Chris, and the coordinator to search together.
They searched from morning until night, but Joshua remained missing.
Ella was about to call the police.
But when she tried dialing Joshua's number one last time, it actually connected.
She was furious, immediately launching into a tirade.
"Joshua, are you sick or something? A grown man playing a disappearance act and deliberately making people worry-do you find that amusing?
"Do you think anyone cares if you're gone? If Aurora hadn't been trying to find you, I wouldn't even bother making this call. If you're alive, hurry up and call her back."
But from the other end of the line came an unfamiliar voice. "Hello, the owner of this phone was injured while saving someone. He's lying in my home right now and can't move. If you're his friend or family member, could you please come over?"
Ella, realizing it was someone else, immediately changed her tone. "He's injured? Is it serious?"
"Pretty serious. He can't move his legs. He absolutely refuses help, and he seems extremely depressed."
Ella had no idea what Joshua was trying to pull this time. She asked for the address, then drove through the night to get there.