Chapter 125 WOUNDED HEART
Drexton dragged his feet down the bridge while staring at his shadow. He looked like a lost soul, almost a lifeless human walking.
His wound hasn’t stopped bleeding, and he’s not ready to put it out. Let him feel the pain he’s given Ixora, although he knows no amount of pain would amount to the one he gave her.
She’s wronged and is hurt, and she has every right to be, but why does she keep running away from him? He can never mistake anyone else for Ixora. Never.
Jaxon did not believe him, Alexa, either, but he knew what he felt. When he pinned her. When he felt her pulse. When her breath fanned his face. When he heard her low whimpers, all those tiny things are how deep his obsession runs for her. How deeply he has studied her tiny, subtle signs.
He got to the middle of the bridge and stared down at the water.
He could remember the terrified look in her eyes when Hazel fell into the water. Back then, he shot Hazel to make her fully dependent on him, but today, he realizes he didn’t save her back then for her to depend on him. He saved her because he was scared of losing her. Instead of admitting it, he had to twist it into his hatred and revenge.
He traced his eyes to the dark road ahead, and the image of them hugging each other appeared. He has always wiped her tears, but...
He slid his hand into his pants and took out the goodbye note.
He couldn’t wipe her tears when she wrote the note. He wasn’t there to comfort her. He let her leave while dying, imagining the expression she had on her face while writing the note.
Can he still look her in the eyes? What if she has moved on? Eighteen months had passed, and he broke her. He doesn’t expect her to stay single. He doesn’t even deserve her love or hatred.
Monsters don’t deserve happiness. The only thing they deserve is loneliness, and sadly, he’s one of them.
He folded the paper and slid it back into his pocket.
“Ixora,” he whispered, confusion clouding his eyes.
If he did see Ixora today, that would mean Hazel does not have her. What is going on?
Someone had hit him when he was with Ixora, but who?
It has to be one thing; Ixora is in the city.
Who was that girl who took Hazel out?
He knew he was barely conscious, but he saw them leaving before Jaxon and Alexa walked in.
The more he tries to get an answer, the more confused he gets.
Switching on his phone, he saw countless missed calls and text messages from Jaxon and Alexa.
“Where are you?”
“Don’t the elf think of harming yourself?”
“Answer the damn call.”
“Please, be safe.”
As if watching him, Jaxon’s called.
“I’m coming,” he said and hung up, not giving Jaxon the chance to speak.
He pocketed the phone and marched with ease down the bridge. His steps might be taken with ease, but his mind was in a mess, and until he’s able to solve the whole puzzle, he won’t be okay.
\[HELL DEVIL’S HIDEOUT\]
“He should be here any moment from now,” Alexa muttered, and as if hearing her, Drexton walked in.
She rushed to him. “Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes landing on his dried blood.
He slapped her hand away before she could touch his forehead.
“I’m fine,” he replied, going to sit.
Jaxon appeared with the first aid kit in his hand.
“At this rate, I should reopen the hospital. You are always hurting yourself,” he said, and sat in front of the table.
“I was attacked. Someone didn’t want me to see Ixora,” he said. “Don’t treat the wound.”
Jaxon sighed. “At times, I wonder if you’re obsessed with leaving your wounds. That’s a habit that should be gone by now.”
“Why don’t you treat the wound in my heart instead?” Drexton said, eyes fixed on Jaxon.
Jaxon opened his mouth, but no meaningful words were formed. He exhaled and closed the kit. Nobody can convince Drexton anyway.
“We checked the CCTV footage, and we didn’t see Ixora,” Alexa said.
“I don’t need any video to prove my point. I know who I felt,” Drexton replied raptily and stood.
“Get ready, we’re going to Sicily.”
Jaxon immediately stood, face lighting up. “Does that mean...” he trailed.
Drexton nodded. “We are going to get Maddox.”
\[SICILY, A ROOM\]
Maddox opened his eyes with a soft groan. His body still aches from the beating, but not like before. His brain slowly processed the environment, and he soon realized the soft, fluffy material he lay on. A mattress.
He speedily sat up and looked around to notice he was in a room. Last he remembered, he was in prison when Slade dragged Nelly away. He was about to go after them when a bullet was fired. He fell unconscious.
How then did he end up in the room?
He also noticed his wound had been treated.
“What is going on?” he muttered, almost immediately, his eyes widened.
He remembered Slade mentioning something about marrying Nelly in three days.
It hasn’t happened.
He hurried down the bed and bolted to the door.
Before he could touch the bolt, the door opened from outside.
He stepped away, eyes following the maids as they walked in while pushing the trolley with them.
Different delicacies filled the trolley, any type of dish one could ever want. He couldn’t notice the one that was absent.
What is going on? Slade hasn’t married Nelly, has he?
The maids began leaving after setting the food.
He stopped one of them.
“What’s going on? Where’s Nelly?” he asked, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible.
They haven’t done the wedding, have they?
“She was the one who sent the food,” they replied, bowing their heads.
He didn’t have a chance to say anything before they left.
“No, I won’t let...” he pushed the door open to run out, and at the same time, Slade walked in. They bumped into each other.
“Easy,” Slade said, stepping in fully.
Maddox’s eyes darkened as he grabbed his collar and slammed his back on the wall.
“Where is Nelly?” he asked, throwing death glares.
Slade smiled, the usual annoying one that makes Maddox want to gouge out his eyes and feed them to J. K.
Slade held his hand and brought them down.
“You should get so angry, the doctor advised that,” he said.
“What happened to Nelly?”
“She’s come back to her senses. You were unconscious for one day, and that was all it took to bring her back to her senses. Our wedding is tomorrow, and as planned, you will leave the same day we’re going on our honeymoon,” he smirked, seeing the look on Maddox’s face.
He was fuming, ready to explode any moment from now, and that’s what he wanted. To get on his nerves. To make him feel like a loser.
“Bastard,” Maddox growled and landed his fist on Slade’s upper chin.
Slade smiled and wiped his blood. He looked Maddox in the eyes and licked off the blood.
“Hit me. That’s what losers do.”
“I will get Nelly out of here.” As soon as he said that, he ran out of the room.
Slade laughed loudly and followed him.
\--
“Nelly,” Maddox said, opening every door he could come across.
The left, right, up the hallway, down the hallway, there was no Nelly.
“Did you find her?” Slade asked from behind.
Maddox faced him with a darkened gaze, and his hand found his throat. He gripped his neck in a choking hold and slammed his back on the door.
“What have you done to her?” he asked dangerously.
“Maddox,” a voice called softly and tenderly.
Maddox looked at his side to see Nelly standing. Slowly, he released Slade.
“Nelly,” Maddox rushed to her. “What happened? Did he do anything to you? Let’s leave right now, and this time, I’m ready to shed blood if it means getting you out of here.”
“You don’t have to do it,” Nelly said.
Maddox couldn’t help but notice the unusual softness in her tone.
“Nelly, what is wrong? Did he blackmail you? What...”
“He didn’t do anything to me, Maddox. I’ve decided to get married to Slade,” she looked away from them.
Maddox grabbed her arm and pulled her to meet his gaze. “Tell me, what did he say to you?”
Slade stepped in and pushed Maddox away. “I won’t let you anywhere close to my fiancée.”
Maddox balled his knuckles so hard that they turned ghost white. “To hell with you!” he rushed and slammed his fist on his jaw.
Slade’s lips burst open.
“Maddox!” Nelly yelled and stood in front of Slade. “Why don’t you get things when being told once. Slade was my first in everything. It’s only normal that we get married to each other. We are getting married tomorrow, and I am happy with Slade.”
Maddox loosened his fist, and his eyes softened. “I know this is not your words. He’s blackmailing you. You don’t love Slade, you can’t love a monster.”
“Well, maybe you are the monster! Who’s the one who connived with his best friend to break my friend’s heart? Maddox Creed.” She looked into his eyes emotionlessly. “What gave you the right to think you can dictate your own love life when you and your friends are sadists. Stay away from me, Maddox Creed,” she warned, her tone dangerous.
She held Slade’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Do you think I will let you go? That I will buy your lies. I see right through you, and I know you are doing this to save my life. I admit you loved Slade back then, but I have seen how you lose yourself under my gaze. You can’t lie to me, Nelly.”
“And why do you think of yourself as the hero in my life?” She spread out her arms. “Oh, the hero in Nelly’s life. The one who’s going to save her from the bad people.” She took two steps and stood in front of him, locking their eyes together. “I love Slade, and I intend to get married to him.” The way her lips moved was like she was spelling it out for him.
Maddox ran his hand through his hair and slammed his fist on the wall. “You are doing this to save me. These are not your words but Slade’s. You are not in love with Slade!”
“Then watch me prove it! Watch me prove how much I love Slade. How much I need him in my life. How much I eagerly want to marry him,” she said, breathing heavily.
She faced Slade and walked to him. She grabbed his face and stood on her toes.
Glancing over her shoulder, she muttered. “I love Slade.”
She crashed her lips on his.