Chapter 196 How Do You Know I Can't Live Without Her?
This was their first private meeting since their last explosive confrontation.
But this time, William seemed much calmer than before.
The two stood there, staring at each other from a distance. Then York smiled and said, "Want to grab a drink?"
In a private room at Moonlight Bar.
York held his glass, watching William sitting to the side with his head lowered, having already finished an entire drink.
Neither of them spoke.
To be precise, York was waiting for William to speak first.
William poured himself another glass. Just as he was about to finish it, he asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"What do you mean?" York asked.
"Amelia." William said her name and looked at York.
"I think I made myself very clear last time. I like her, and I'm pursuing her now," York replied.
William frowned slightly, studying York carefully.
Unlike last time's big argument, he was seriously examining him, as if trying to see into York's heart.
"York," William finally said, "knowing you as I do, you wouldn't like her."
But York just laughed lightly. "There's a lot you don't know."
"Did you spend all those years exiled at sea just to come back and decide you like her?" William said sharply.
York lowered his eyes slightly.
Yes, those years at sea were his family's way of exiling him.
But not many people knew about this.
Back then, he and his branch weren't in power—it was other side branches.
He had forcibly pioneered and opened up maritime routes, gaining many resources. His foundation was actually shipping.
Various routes, various ports, and the corresponding local powers and resources, all connected into a giant network.
The gemstone business was just one source of goods.
In reality, he was involved in many things. Anything related to cargo shipping and exports had to give him a cut.
But few people knew all this.
Even William only knew he had been exiled back then.
During those years at sea, he had experienced countless betrayals, countless bloody lessons. He had once almost believed that there was no real trust in this world, no one you could truly turn your back to, no one you could truly give your heart to.
Until he saw her, Amelia.
Watching her love another man with all her heart.
Watching her throw caution to the wind for him.
He went from being an observer, to envious, to jealous.
Day and night jealousy, tossing and turning.
Finally, he realized he wanted to possess her, wanted her to belong completely to him alone.
He had fallen in love with her.
While she was loving another man with all her heart.
"What? Can't answer?" William's voice pulled York back from his thoughts.
"William, we're both complicated people," he said. "You don't need to ask me such childish questions."
"If you must have an answer, I can only say I like her. I'm not lying to you about that."
York put down his glass and looked at the unwilling William before him.
"Didn't you already choose Isabella?" York said. "During all those days and nights when you abandoned her, she cried for you many times. Did you know that?"
William stared directly at York.
"Since you've already made your decision, don't look back," York said. "Let go. Don't make her sad anymore."
"I can't let go," William's eyes reddened slightly. "I can't live without her."
York didn't speak, frowning as he looked at William.
"York," William said softly, "you could choose other women. Many people would want to be with you. You don't have to have her..."
"How do you know I don't have to have her?" Before William could finish, York had already interrupted him.
William froze slightly, looking at York's sharp eyes.
He suddenly realized, more than ever before, that York was serious.
He really liked Amelia.
Wanted Amelia.
And he had to have her.
...
The night was slightly cool.
Amelia lay alone in the bathtub.
Hot water wrapped around her, letting her whole body relax.
Looking at the rising steam, she remembered many things.
Everything that had happened recently, everything from the past.
Her life had only been 25 years so far, but it had already been full of ups and downs.
Her marriage to William had completely fallen apart.
She didn't like looking back. She wanted to keep moving forward.
York's eyes full of affection appeared in her mind.
She lowered her eyes slightly, looking at the reflection in the water.
Actually, in that moment, not just him—she herself had also felt that flutter of attraction.
She didn't know if it was the heat, but Amelia felt her heart beating very fast.
Should she just accept him?
Just accept his confession and be with him?
Her mind felt a bit confused.
...
Moonlight Bar.
York had already left.
William sat there drinking one glass after another.
There was a knot in his chest that wouldn't dissolve.
Stuck there, very uncomfortable.
So he could only keep pouring down drinks.
As if only this way could give him a moment of dizziness and confusion.
But the more he drank, the clearer Amelia's face became before his eyes.
York liked her.
Alvin was watching closely.
Jeffrey and Dash were also waiting.
His heart grew increasingly bitter.
He couldn't let go. She was his.
...
On the nighttime road, York sat in the back seat of the Bentley, letting the driver take him back to the Jenkins Villa.
He looked at the scenery outside the car window.
The weather was nice today.
He was in a good mood too.
Amelia's eyes in that moment of attraction appeared in his mind. He smiled slightly, his heart softening.
The car drove all the way into the Jenkins Villa.
Otis was still playing with Whiskers. When he saw him, he greeted him.
York responded, then went back to his study.
He spread out the paper and picked up his brush.
Stroke by stroke.
Soon, he had sketched on the paper Amelia's eyes as she looked at him today.
Eyes with attraction in them.
He gazed at those eyes, his own eyes full of tenderness.
After a long while, he put the painting away, then turned and went to another room.
He opened the door.
As the lights came on, rows of shelves could be seen.
York walked slowly to an empty shelf, holding his latest painting.
He carefully wrote today's date in the corner of the painting, then hung it on the shelf.
Next to it was another painting of her crouching down, feeding the cat with freeze-dried treats.
After hanging it up, York slowly walked out. Before finally leaving the room, he scanned it once.
In this room were countless shelves with countless paintings.
And on all these paintings, without exception, was the same person.
Amelia.