Chapter 48
Looking at the pair of shoes in the tray, along with several pieces of torn and tattered fabric.
Joshua couldn't imagine what Ella had been through.
He staggered, his chest so tight he couldn't speak.
His stomach suddenly cramped, and he crouched on the ground in pain.
Brian watched Joshua's suffering and responded to the police, "Yes, these are things from the victim."
The day Ella disappeared, she seemed to be wearing these sneakers and casual clothes.
But why were her clothes torn so badly?
The police continued, "Based on these items, we've confirmed that after the victim fell into the ocean, the smell of blood attracted sharks. She's likely gone without a trace. Our condolences to the family."
Hearing "gone without a trace," Joshua felt a shattering pain in his chest.
Unable to breathe properly, his brain starved of oxygen, plus he hadn't eaten much in three days, he suddenly passed out.
"Mr. Thomas."
Brian quickly caught Joshua, and together with the police, they put him in the car and returned to Tranquil Villa.
With the police finding Ella's belongings and announcing her death, saying even her body had been eaten by sharks, there was no need to continue searching.
The police withdrew and left, focusing on tracking down the real culprit.
Joshua was taken to Tranquil Villa, where Samuel quickly set up an IV for him.
Hearing from Brian that Ella was gone without a trace and would never come back, Samuel could only feel regret and sympathy.
He just hoped the police would quickly find the killer and avenge Ella and two-year-old Aurora.
Because of Ella's death, Samuel took it upon himself to notify Aiden and the others.
Aiden couldn't accept this reality, his condition worsened, and he became bedridden.
Samuel had to return to the Thomas Manor first to take care of Aiden.
Jasper and Ava came to Tranquil Villa wanting to ask Joshua what happened.
But Joshua was also unconscious.
The couple was more worried about Aiden and were about to leave when they heard a child crying.
They followed the crying to a room.
They saw that in the secondary bedroom of Joshua's new house, there was actually a little boy.
The couple was confused and asked the nanny, "Whose child is this?"
Patricia was comforting Dorian while explaining, "This is a child Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Thomas adopted. There was also a little girl, but sadly the little girl and Mrs. Thomas won't be coming back."
Ava looked at Jasper.
She could hardly believe that Joshua and Ella had secretly adopted children behind their backs.
If they wanted children, why didn't they have their own? Why adopt?
Looking at the constantly crying little boy, Ava inexplicably felt he looked somewhat similar to Joshua.
But she didn't think much of it. Thinking about Ella's accident, they felt quite upset too.
Without dealing with the child, Jasper and Ava returned to the Thomas Manor first.
Just after they left.
Scarlett came over.
She had been here before, and Karen couldn't really stop her, so she had to tell her the truth. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Thomas is seriously ill and can't see you. Please go back!"
Scarlett of course knew what was going on.
Because she had succeeded.
She had sent people to kill Ella and her daughter.
It was just a pity that one child hadn't died.
But leaving one child alive didn't matter.
Scarlett told Karen, "I know, I'm here to take care of him."
Ignoring Karen, Scarlett went straight upstairs to Joshua's room.
When Joshua woke up, it was already the next day.
He felt someone beside him, wiping his face with a towel.
He suddenly grabbed that person's hand and murmured, "Ella, is that you?"
"You came back, didn't you?"
"Ella, I was wrong. I'll never get involved with Scarlett again."
"Don't leave, I can't bear to lose you."
Scarlett's face changed dramatically. Watching Joshua's confused state and hearing what he said, she felt both jealous and concerned.
What was so good about Ella?
She was just younger, relying on Aiden's favor.
Why did Joshua have feelings for her too?
Scarlett couldn't accept that Joshua now loved Ella.
She was angry, jealous, and hateful.
But thinking again, why should she care?
After all, Ella would never come back.
Without Ella in this world, wouldn't the Joshua in front of her be hers?
This time, she'd like to see what reason Aiden had to stop them from being together.
Scarlett, driven by possessive impulse, leaned down and kissed Joshua's face, softly saying, "Joshua, you're mine. From now on, you're all mine. Open your eyes and see who I really am."
Hearing this, the semi-conscious Joshua suddenly woke up.
Opening his eyes to see the person by the bed wasn't Ella, but Scarlett.
He distantly pulled away at once, his face full of exhaustion.
"Why are you here? Where's Ella? Have Ella and Aurora come back?"
Scarlett's expression changed instantly. She pretended to be sad, acting very upset.
"Joshua, I know you can't accept it, but I have to tell you, Brian said the police have reported Ella and that child dead. They... won't be coming back."
They won't be coming back.
Ella and Aurora are dead.
Receiving this information, Joshua's mind went blank.
He was grief-stricken.
Unable to accept the fact that Ella and Aurora would never come back, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Joshua."
Scarlett called out and quickly grabbed tissues to wipe for him.
Joshua didn't want her to touch him and weakly called out, "Get Brian."
"Joshua, I know you're sad. Ella and I knew each other for many years, I'm very sad too. After all, she was so young."
Scarlett refused to leave and started crying, "But I feel bad for you. I'm afraid you'll follow Ella. As long as you're okay, I can leave anytime."
Joshua ignored her.
He was in too much pain.
Joshua had never imagined that one day, Ella would never appear in his world again.
During the three years Ella was gone, he always thought of her.
Wondered if she was doing well abroad alone.
Wondered if she'd meet someone else and stop liking him.
Wondered what he'd do if she never came back.
Joshua endured for three years.
Finally, Aiden spoke up, telling him he must marry Ella.
So he used Aiden as an excuse, actively contacted her, had her return home, then took her to get married.
In the year after marriage, Joshua felt more grounded and at peace than ever before.
Every day seeing Ella wake up beside him filled his heart with satisfaction.
But Joshua never admitted that was love.
But now, she would never come back.
Ella was dead.
Gone from this world.
Only now did Joshua admit he loved Ella.
Without Ella, his heart was shattered and bleeding.
He couldn't breathe normally, couldn't walk, couldn't eat anything.
He was filled with regret, in unbearable pain.
In front of Scarlett, Joshua had no image to maintain, crying in complete misery.