Chapter 531

Chapter 531

Could it be that person?

After the three of them finished dinner and came out, Elsie immediately spotted Ronald's car not far away.

It seemed he was well-informed and had come specifically to wait for her.

Outside the restaurant, the night breeze was slightly cool.

He looked at Elsie and walked over, "Missy didn't give you a hard time earlier, did she?"

"Just a few sarcastic remarks."

Elsie's expression was indifferent, "Did she know Mr. Miller before?"

"No," Ronald guessed what had happened, "She's always been hostile toward you, and it seems she hasn't been idle during her absence these days. You..."

"You don't need to remind me, I know." Elsie coldly interrupted him.

Ronald felt increasingly frustrated, "Let me give you a ride."

"No need to trouble Mr. York, we've already called a cab ." Aline immediately stepped in front of Elsie, her tone unfriendly.

"Aline," Elsie tugged at her arm, signaling her to calm down, then turned to Ronald with an indifferent tone, "Then I'll trouble Mr. York."

Aline looked at her in surprise, but when she caught Elsie's calm yet meaningful gaze, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

Cecilia was also a bit confused, but she chose to trust Elsie.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Ronald glanced through the rearview mirror at Elsie in the back seat. She was looking out the window, neon lights flickering across her face.

"I want to go see Elsy." Elsie suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

Ronald's fingers on the steering wheel tightened imperceptibly. "Okay."

At the York Manor.

Unexpectedly, Vera showed a bit of politeness toward Elsie's arrival, though that politeness was tinged with unnaturalness and nervousness.

"Ms. Glover is here, come, come in and sit." Vera's face was full of smiles, but it looked stiff no matter how you looked at it.

Before Elsie could respond, a shrill female voice came from the living room, "Well, well, if it isn't Ms. Glover. The rumors about you and Ronald are flying everywhere, and you still have the nerve to come here? Are you that desperate to throw yourself at my cousin?"

Ronald's cousin, Jennifer York, stood with her arms crossed, looking at Elsie sideways, her face full of meanness and disdain.

Elsie's fingertips lightly tapped on her knee. Without looking at her, she spoke leisurely.

"I've certainly witnessed Ms. York's manners today. Is your cousin made of money? Not everyone's interested."

"You—" Jennifer was so choked by these words she nearly couldn't catch her breath.

"Jennifer, shut up." Ronald said , his tone flat.

Jennifer could hardly believe her ears, "Ronald, you're actually taking her side?"

Ronald didn't respond to her, turning to Elsie instead, "Elsy is in her room upstairs, I'll take you there."

Jennifer stamped her foot but ultimately didn't dare say anything more.

When Elsy saw Elsie, she cheered and rushed into her arms like a little cannonball.

"Ms. Forbes! You finally came to see me!"

Elsie hugged the small body back, played blocks with Elsy for a while, and read her a storybook.

Before bed, Elsy clutched Elsie's finger and asked softly, "Ms. Forbes, will you and Dad get back together? Will you be my mom?" Her words were full of a child's hope.

Elsie stroked her soft hair, speaking gently but clearly, "Elsy, things between adults are complicated. I can't lie to you. But I really like Elsy, and that won't change because of anything, okay?"

Elsy's little head nodded slightly. After a moment, she responded in a muffled voice, but still obediently hugged Elsie's neck and gave her a kiss.

"Okay, I like you too."

After putting Elsy to sleep, Elsie came out of the room.

Ronald was waiting outside the door and walked her downstairs.

The night had grown deeper, and the car drove into the thick darkness.

"You came today to use me, didn't you?" Ronald asked without warning.

Elsie looked at the flowing lights outside the window, the city's light trails spreading in the distance. She didn't deny it or explain anything.

"Yes."

After a pause, she added, "If Mr. York finds it inconvenient or unwilling to cooperate, you can stop anytime."

Only the low hum of the engine remained in the car. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"I'm willing."

Elsie turned her face. The neon light trails outside the window rapidly swept across her pupils, causing her a moment of distraction.

Using him was a decision she'd made after careful consideration, but she hadn't expected him to agree so readily, even with a sense of going all in.

Seeing her long silence, Ronald's fingers behind the steering wheel tightened, his Adam's apple bobbing as his voice became even more hoarse, "Elsie, I know I was a bastard in the past. I was blind and hurt you. Those hurts can't be erased with just an apology. But now... I just want to do something, anything I can do for you, I'm willing."

He paused, as if using all his strength, "I regret it, Elsie. From the day you left, no, from even earlier, I started regretting it. I just refused to admit it, or rather, didn't dare to admit it. I was afraid to face the mistakes I made, afraid to face the fact that I lost you."

His voice was full of suppressed pain, each word seeming to be squeezed out from deep in his chest.

Elsie listened quietly, her face expressionless.

After a long while, she finally spoke softly, her voice so steady it didn't ripple, "Mr. York, your regret is too late for me. I've said it before—the old me is dead."

She turned her head, looking directly at him, "What's past is past. I just want to live my own life now and protect the people I care about. Let's both look forward."

With that, she reached out and opened the car door, "Thank you for the ride."

Ronald watched her back as she got out without hesitation, his heart feeling like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe.

Too late... was it really too late?

Elsie returned to the villa. The living room lights were still on.

Aline sat cross-legged on the sofa with a tablet in front of her, but clearly her mind wasn't on it.

"Finally decided to come back?" Aline raised an eyebrow, "Ronald personally drove you back. Olivia, you really know how to cause trouble for yourself."

Elsie changed her shoes, walked over and sat down beside her, pouring herself a glass of water, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I just went to see Elsy."

"Why did you agree to go with him earlier?" Aline pursed her lips, "What's really going on between you two? Don't tell me you actually believed his nonsense and you are planning to rekindle the old flame?"

"You're overthinking it." Elsie took a sip of water and briefly explained her plan to use Ronald to draw out whoever was behind Missy.

After listening, Aline's brows furrowed even tighter, "Fight fire with fire? Olivia, this is too risky! Ronald is cunning. What if he..."

"I know there are risks." Elsie interrupted her, "But this is currently the fastest way to expose the mastermind. Besides, do you think Ronald has anything left to gain from me now?"