Facade of Love

Chapter 450 The Path I Choose

Idris’ eyes were bloodshot, his soul on the brink of shattering, and it hurt my chest just to see him like that. I wanted to tell him that everything I said was a lie and that after cheating death, I would give anything to leap into his arms, cling to him, and promise that it was all behind us. I wanted to tell him that we would have to hold on to each other tighter than ever and never let go.

However, wishes sometimes had to go cruelly ungranted.

I could not walk the same path as him anymore.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I held back every emotion and told him, "Idris, I can't make up for what I owe you, but I wish you the best from the bottom of my heart. May you find joy with a loving wife and a wonderful son, and may your life be easy and free from hardship."

With that, I got up, ready to walk away.

However, he caught my wrist, his grip so tight in his fury that it hurt. I bit my lip, enduring the pain as I met his gaze.

His lips were white, and the rage in his eyes was about to burst forth. Finally, he forced out the words, "A loving wife and a wonderful son?"

Narrowing his eyes, he looked at me with scorn. "Who's the loving wife? And the wonderful son? Is it Alice?"

I could not help but frown at his reaction. Had he not already owned up to his past with Alice? Why was he acting like that then?

When I stayed silent, he let out a disdainful laugh. "Yvette, what are you doing by pushing me to her? Are you off to find Lucas?"

As I watched him, I could tell he was seriously ticked off. I let out a quiet sigh. I had hoped we could part on good terms, but it looked like that was not going to happen.

Talking more would probably lead to a fight, and I did not want that. I glanced down at his hand, clamped around my wrist, and said with a scratchy voice, "Idris, that hurts." Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

He quickly let go, his face showing surprise for once. He stumbled over his words. "I... I didn't mean to."

I knew it was an accident and was not mad at him. I just wanted to move on. "It's fine!" I said and walked away.

"Yvette!" he called out, but I did not stop. Even if I had, I would not have known what to say.

Behind me, I heard something crash and his grunt of pain. I did not look back. He must have tried to follow me but ended up hurting himself in his rush.

Outside, Ensio was waiting. He gave me a confused look as I stepped out.

I kept it short. "Go check on him and get him to the hospital, fast."

Ensio bolted inside without a word.

I watched Idris being supported by Ensio as they left, then wandered back to Maxwell's place.

Maxwell was always busy and hardly ever home. We did not get to talk much, and when we did, it was all business or him asking about my next move.

What next move? I felt more and more out of place in this city. I could not stick around.

I could not really tell Maxwell my plans, so I just gave him a quick, vague answer.

I guess I had to figure out my own way.

When I walked into the police station, Gregory looked up, clearly not expecting me. However, he recovered quickly and said, "Ms. Scott, what are you doing here? I've been meaning to catch up with you."

I got straight to the point. "What about?"

He hesitated for a second, then ushered me into his office and gestured for me to take a seat at his computer. He clicked on a video file, and I understood as Kobe's face filled the screen. "Is this what Mr. Kobe wanted me to hand over to you?"

Gregory just nodded.

I raised an eyebrow. "The evidence he collected on Kenneth Ludin while undercover?"

He shook his head. "No, it’s not that. The evidence is top secret, so I can't show it to you. It's been taken by the higher-ups. This is something different."

I was puzzled but watched Kobe's video message under Gregory's watchful eye. It was a dark setting, reminiscent of somewhere Kobe had stayed before. He must have used his phone to record it. The ten-minute clip was a heartfelt recount of his journey since leaving Lake City a decade ago, his unexpected trials at the border, and how he stumbled upon Chandler, a guy working for Kenneth. He described their unlikely friendship, forged in the face of danger.