Chapter 153 Punished

Chapter 153 Punished

Eleanor looked at the man kneeling before her.

The morning sunlight fell across his shoulders. His black tactical jacket was still stained with last night's dust and blood, his hair disheveled.

But his eyes—they burned brighter than she'd ever seen them.

Eleanor suddenly smiled.

She held out her hand.

"Put it on."

Raymond froze for a moment, then fumbled to retrieve the ring, carefully sliding it onto her ring finger.

The band fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for her.

He rose to his feet and pulled Eleanor into his arms, holding her so tight it felt like he wanted to fuse her into his very body.

Eleanor leaned against his chest, feeling his rapid, powerful heartbeat. In that moment, all the exhaustion and pain of these past days seemed to melt away.

She couldn't help but laugh softly.

Burying her face against his chest, she murmured, "Idiot."

They stood there in the morning sunlight, the devastated battlefield behind them, the rising sun ahead...

A week later, Joseph's condition finally stabilized.

Eleanor spent nearly every day at Joseph's bedside, personally preparing his medications.

Every afternoon, Joseph and Eleanor would each hold a cup of coffee, as if they'd been transported back many years.

Joseph's spirits improved day by day.

Though his body remained weak, his complexion had grown much rosier than when they'd first rescued him from the estate, and his voice had regained its strength.

Propped up against the hospital bed, he watched Eleanor peel an apple across from him, then suddenly asked, "Eleanor, this man of yours—does he treat you well?"

Eleanor's hands paused slightly. She looked up to find Joseph studying her with scrutinizing eyes.

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Joseph, you mean Raymond?"

"Who else would I mean?" Joseph huffed. "That man who stands guard outside the door all day. He comes in several times asking what you want to eat, what you want to drink—even I find him annoying."

Eleanor couldn't help but smile.

She handed Joseph the peeled apple, her tone certain. "He treats me very well. Don't worry—he's the kind of person who'd risk his life for me."

"Is that so? Then let me ask you—has he ever mistreated you?"

Remembering how Raymond hadn't even bothered to show up for their first arranged meeting, Eleanor's smile deepened. "He didn't exactly mistreat me. When we first met, his attitude was pretty bad, but after getting chewed out, he shaped up."

Joseph huffed again. "You'd better keep him in line. Men—when they're young and reckless, they end up paying for it later."

Eleanor felt warmth spread through her chest at Joseph's protective concern.

She reached over to tuck the blanket around him, asking softly, "He proposed to me. And I said yes. When the time comes, would you be my witness?"

Joseph nearly dropped his apple onto the bed.

He stared at Eleanor, taking a long moment before speaking. "He moved fast, didn't he? I've barely met him a few times and he's already stolen my student away?"

He complained, but his eyes reddened despite himself.

He raised his hand, pretending to rub his eyes, his voice rough. "All right. I'll be your witness. I never married, never had a wedding of my own. My greatest wish is to see you in a wedding dress, marrying someone who truly cherishes you."

Eleanor gently took Joseph's hand, saying nothing.

Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect.

A few days later, the International Criminal Police Organization officially announced that the multi-year international illegal production and distribution network for the controlled substance SKTrelin had been completely dismantled.

The announcement detailed the operation's results: seven SKTrelin production facilities shut down globally, tens of thousands of illegal doses seized, over one hundred thirty suspects apprehended.

The mastermind Jagger would face trial, and all eleven members of his core team had been captured.

The day the announcement went public, Black Claws called Eleanor.

His tone was as cool as ever, but after finishing his report, he fell silent for several seconds.

Then he said quietly, "Boss, you've worked hard."

Eleanor held her phone, gazing at the rose garden in Crestview Estates through the window. She suddenly realized that this kind of peaceful, almost boring life was perhaps what she'd wanted all along.

Jagger's trial was quickly scheduled.

When the court set the date, Eleanor made a point of attending.

She sat in the very last row of the gallery, in the corner seat, watching from a distance the man in the defendant's box—head shaved, wearing prison garb.

He bore no resemblance to the elegant gentleman who'd held a coffee cup in that estate, speaking so eloquently.

The judge read out his charges one by one. It took nearly twenty minutes.

Finally, the gavel fell, announcing the verdict: "The defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole!"

As the bailiffs escorted Jagger from the courtroom, he seemed to sense something. He suddenly stopped and turned, his gaze cutting past everyone else to land precisely on the young woman in the beige trench coat in the last row of the gallery.

But Eleanor had already stood and walked out of the courtroom without looking back.

She had no more interest in anything about this man.

Whether he felt regret, resentment, or wanted to beg for mercy—none of it had anything to do with her anymore.

The debt he owed would be paid in full!

When she walked out the courthouse doors, Raymond's car was already waiting.

He leaned against the car door, and seeing Eleanor emerge, the corners of his mouth curved upward involuntarily.

"Well? You look like you're in a good mood."

Eleanor walked up to him, casually tucking wind-blown strands behind her ear. "Not bad. Jagger got life without parole. He'll never walk out of prison again."

Raymond opened the car door for her, and as she bent to get in, he said softly, "So next, shouldn't we start worrying about our own business?"

Eleanor paused, turning to look at him. "What business do we have to worry about?"

Raymond closed her door, walked around to the driver's seat, and started the car.

The car pulled smoothly out of the courthouse parking lot and merged into the main road traffic. At a red light, he finally turned to look at her with a half-smile.

"The wedding. You're not planning to just keep putting it off, are you? I already put a ring on your finger."

Eleanor felt her cheeks warm under his gaze. She turned to look out the window, pretending to watch the scenery, but couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from lifting.

"I know. I'll talk to Mom and Dad about it."

Only then did Raymond smile with satisfaction, pressing the accelerator and heading toward Crestview Estates.