novelxo Chapter 2136 (End)
Chapter 2136 (End)
Noah's body jolted, his gaze froze in an instant.
“Come on, Noah, don't let Ella's sacrifices be in vain. She wanted you and the Trettons to be okay. Just do it for her."
"Where did she go?" Noah spoke as if Jon's words had never reached his ears.
Jon silently stared at him.
Noah clenched his fists, his thin lips quivered, a ring of red encircling his eyes. He persistently repeated those few words. "Where did she go?"
No response came, his hoarse voice repeating the unchanged phrase. "Where did she go?"d2
Jon's eyes shut almost in resolution.
Noah's adam's apple bobbed, "Dad, I'm begging you."
Jon suddenly shuddered, his eyelids fluttering before snapping open.
"Ella did nothing wrong, it's all on me. I've let things spiral into this mess. How can I live with myself using her life as a stepping stone?
"I can't do what you call letting go, that's not letting go. Dad, I can't let Ella leave. There's no one else in this world who'll love me like she does.
"I know I messed up, but letting her go is an even bigger mistake. I need to make it right. I need to take care of her. I can't stand the thought of her being with anyone else. What if someone breaks her heart?" Considering the possibility, Noah's throat worked violently, his voice ragged beyond recognition. "She loves me. She must be heartbroken without me. Dad, she must be crying right now. I have to find her. Dad, please."
Jon slowly opened his eyes, wincing as if stabbed by the thought. His son, once proud and strong, now knelt before him, a picture of desolation and desperate pleading.
Ella was crying. Yes, she was crying.
Despite her calm expression during their last encounter, her eyes were red, her voice trembled, and every word she spoke seemed to exhaust all the strength in her body to restrain the emotions on the verge of collapse. So, he left just to give her space to vent her emotions.
She must be crying now.
He still couldn't forget the profound sadness seeping through her stubborn gaze. Nor could he erase the image of her bending over in pain, clutching her chest, as he looked back after walking away. Tears, unstoppable, slid from his eyes.
"It's all your fault... all your fault..." Jon gripped his cane with all his might, his trembling voice breaking into sobs.
"If only you had shown half of this resolve from the start, Ella wouldn't have suffered so much. It's all your fault. You hurt my Ella, forcing her away from me time and time again. You don't deserve Ella, Noah. You just don't."
Tears streamed down Jon's face, and the butler rushed to his side for support.
Only now did everyone understand that Jon had been holding up all this while.
Worried about the Trettons, concerned for Noah, but even more for Ella, Jon didn't want anyone to be hurt, yet in the end, that was exactly what happened.
Jon was torn. Back then, he didn't object to their relationship, yet not optimistic about it either.
Putting aside their familial connection, Jon didn't think Ella being with his son, a man cold and calculated, concerned only with profit, was a good thing. But who knew Ella would harbor such deep feelings for Noah?
Moreover, the current situation was crafted by his own son, deemed clever by everyone.
"You're the last person who deserves forgiveness. It's all on you." In a sudden motion, Jon raised his cane, striking Noah again and again with unforgiving force.
Noah's eyes shut tight, teeth clenched, silently bearing the relentless beating.
The commotion drew airport staff, who, after failing to intervene, could only watch as the cane fell repeatedly on the man kneeling on the ground.
The onlookers grew in number, but Jon showed no sign of stopping. It wasn't until the butler saw blood oozing from the corners of Noah's mouth, his dark shirt gradually soaked, that he anxiously grabbed Jon's hand. "That's enough, sir. If you keep this up, he won't last."
Jon thrust away the butler's hand with a forceful swing, the finely carved boxwood cane snapping in two.
A collective gasp rose from the crowd.
Noah, unable to hold back, groaned, a cough bringing up more blood.
"It's because of you. All the hurt is because of you. You're the least deserving to be with her. My Ella, so kind and sweet."
Jon tossed aside the broken cane, the butler steadying him, his arm trembling uncontrollably. "Get out. Just get out."
Noah's throat worked, the metallic taste suppressed, as he staggered to his feet, gripping his knee, his search relentless and nearly obsessive. "Where did she go?"
"I won't tell you. If you can find her, do it. If not, it just proves your bond was never meant to be." With those words, Jon had finally spoken his piece.
Noah nodded, silently moving past his father, weaving through the crowd, and entering the airport lobby. His steps went from shaky to erratic, then purposefully striding, searching desperately for something in the vast hall.
His assistant caught up from behind, and Noah grabbed his arm like a lifeline, his voice tinged with urgency. "Help me find her, quick. Help me find her."
The assistant was inwardly shaken; today's Noah was something he couldn't have fathomed. "Mr. Noah, please, take it easy. I'll check the counter for Ms. Ella's flight. Just please calm down." Hearing his words, Noah paused, a moment of clarity returning. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
Right now, the assistant had no interest in Noah's rare moment of panic, his focus solely on finding Ms. Ella's whereabouts. "Mr. Noah, please have a seat. I'll go check now and come back as soon as I have any news."
Noah was injured, and the assistant noticed a bloody imprint where his arm had been seized.
Jon had clearly thrown his punches with the wrath of a tempest. The dark fabric of Mr. Noah's shirt was stained with the blood that had blossomed from the brutality of the blows. The assistant couldn't fathom the extent of pain Noah was enduring at that moment, but one thing was crystal clear to him. Ms. Ella's words to the press were a pile of balderdash.
If what she claimed was true, Jon would never have come close to beating his son, his pride and joy, to death for someone with the heart of a cold-blooded ungrateful adopted girl. Why did the man, who supposedly fell victim to her calculations, would rather be beaten to death upon learning everything and still kneel on the ground begging Jon to reveal her whereabouts? Ms. Ella had likely taken on the mantle of guilt to shield everyone else.
Approaching the check-in desk, the assistant requested information on Ella's flight. The country she was headed to was nowhere near where she had been studying. She was resolute about getting away. And as for her, would she hop to another nation upon landing, switch to different means of travel, or perhaps even end up in some godforsaken corner of the earth? Might she even contemplate something as drastic as taking her own life?
Mr. Noah's frantic panic was not without reason.
In B Country, the plane had taken off just ten minutes ago. The assistant relayed this to Noah, who shot up and commanded, "Book the next flight for me."
Taking in the perspiration mingling with the pallor of Noah's face, the pool of crimson below, and the blood still dripping from his arm, the assistant hesitated before saying, "Mr. Noah, your wound..." "Just book it." His expression was resolute, his tone brooked no argument.
With a sigh, the assistant pulled out his phone to check the next available flights.
*
The scene of Noah being nearly beaten to death by Jon had everyone in a tizzy. In the era of instant digital news, it was impossible to ignore the headlines screaming across every platform.
Ella had just confessed at the press conference - admitted to a sordid affair with her uncle and announced she was leaving the Tretton family, heading straight for the airport. What followed was Noah's pursuit to the airport, where his father confronted him outside the terminal, leading to the kneeling, begging scene that nearly ended in his death. A bystander had captured it all on video, adding fuel to the viral firestorm online.
[It looks like the Tretton family's adopted grand-daughter wasn't telling the truth at the press conference.]
Soon another video surfaced, this one of Ella's conversation with Paul at a diner before she met with Rebecca. Linking the timing and events, the picture became clearer.
[This is a complete 180 from how she acted at the coffee shop with Rebecca. Was she pretending to be a saint in front of a man, but showing her true colors in front of a woman?] [It's like she was deliberately provoking Rebecca at the coffee shop.]
[She just wanted to take all the blame to protect the Tretton family and her uncle, considering the family had already been under a lot of fire.]
[So the adopted grand-daughter isn't the heartless traitor she was made out to be.]
Leaning over the railing of the airport café's second floor, Cicely propped her chin on her hand, her slender fingers tapping idly on her cheek as she watched the two men below.
When Noah rose to his feet, Cicely's gaze swept over his bleeding arm and settled on the calm, handsome man opposite him. Her brows arched slightly. "If this keeps up, your buddy might just die en route to E Country."
The man turned his head, his dark eyes glanced down casually before returning to Cicely's delicate face. His lips parted, his voice carrying a barely perceptible cool detachment. "Finished your coffee?" Cicely's lips twitched imperceptibly before looking down at her cup and pushing it away with distaste. "I'm done."
Seth glanced at her. "Thought you wanted to try the airport coffee? All this way for just a sip?"
"What? You feel I owe you more for the trek here? Should I drink it all then?"
Seth caught her hand as it reached for the cup, holding it gently in his, a soft punishment hidden within his rough tone. "What exactly has Chloe been feeding you?"
Cicely's brows quirked. "Maybe I just thought you'd prefer being bothered by me than threatened by Chloe. Isn't that right?" Seth's lips curled into a half-smile. "In truth, her antics barely affect me. It makes your sisterly bond seem all the stronger."
"Sisterly bond?" Cicely pondered the words, turning her hand within his, her fingers brushing his palm playfully. "You think we're close? Then perhaps you should do her more favors from now on." Seth fell silent. Was this the world's most unsuccessful attempt at stirring discord?
Did that woman even need his help?
Remembering how Chloe had brandished an unpublished expose to coerce him into meddling in the Tretton family affair, even dragging Cicely into the mix to increase the pressure, Seth's temples began to
throb.
Seth had merely used her artist's social media influence to stir the pot for the Tretton family, and now she had managed to seize leverage over his own artist.
Seeing Seth's expression darken, Cicely tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I see you look troubled. You really would've stayed out of it if she hadn't 'threatened' you?"
"Is that so wrong?"
Cicely laughed softly. "What if I said I didn't believe you'd stand by idly?"
Seth's smile broadened. "I'd be quite pleased."
She understood him, trusted him, and that was more than enough to make him happy.
"And?"
"Yeah, he won't die on a plane to B Country, but he might die in a P City hospital."
Cicely didn't say anything further.
The next flight to B Country was fully booked, and not even Noah, with all his wealth, could convince a single passenger to give up their seat for any price.
For over an hour, Noah paced back and forth, his complexion shifting from a pale, sweaty pallor to a flushed, sweat-drenched red-a clear sign that his condition was rapidly deteriorating.
It wasn't until his assistant mustered the courage to touch his forehead that the scorching heat transferred to the palm sent a shiver down his spine. "Mr. Noah, you've got a fever."
"Forget about me. Keep an eye on the departure board. Make sure they keep looking. I need that ticket."
Noah tried to push the assistant's hand away, but his strength was waning, his voice barely audible and his lips, cracked and pale, were beginning to chap.
As the check-in time loomed closer and no news of a canceled ticket came, Noah, against his assistant's advice, took matters into his own hands.
No one budged, no matter how outrageous the offer.
The assistant consoled Noah, assuring him that they had contacted their people in B Country to monitor Ella's movements. Once she landed, they would intercept her as planned. Noah finally regained some composure.
Walking out of the airport terminal, it was already late at night. Noah hadn't reached the car when his tall figure suddenly collapsed. The assistant cried out in alarm, "Mr. Noah!"
So much had transpired in a single day. Before Noah was whisked from the terminal to the emergency room, Rebecca had reached out to the press.
Following the video of Ella and Paul in the restaurant, Rebecca investigated another matter-perhaps seeking an answer for herself, or maybe looking for a reason. When Rebecca found the answer, she laughed mockingly, yet felt a wave of relief.
Standing where Ella had faced the media that afternoon, Rebecca addressed the same reporters:
"As you all know, my engagement to Noah was a merger of interests. There was no love between us. I was escaping a failed romance, and he was avoiding someone he shouldn't be involved with. Our mutual self-assurance brought us together.
"He once told me that if I ever had regrets or found true love, I could leave anytime. He even gave me the right to initiate the annulment. Because of this generosity, I found him tolerable at our first meeting. Unfortunately, I never found true love, but he ultimately surrendered to his heart.
"Yes, I knew from the start that he was in love with his young niece. For someone as outstanding as him, marriage was never a necessity. He feared the consequences of his feelings so much that he was willing to use marriage as a shield. He didn't realize it, but I did and chose to ignore it.
"I refuse to marry a man who doesn't love me, especially when I know he loves someone else. He simply found his love before me. If it wasn't him today, it might have been me tomorrow or next year. It was just a matter of time.
"So there were no third parties in our relationship.
"Regarding my encounter with Ms. Ella at the coffee shop, I'm sure everyone's first reaction to the video was condemnation of her. It's clear who is in the right or wrong, but what if I told you..."
Rebecca paused, eyeing the expectant reporters, masking the bitterness in her heart with a deep breath before continuing, "What if I told you that the video of our encounter was orchestrated by Ms. Ella herself?"
The reporters seemed confused, exchanging puzzled looks.
Rebecca forced a smile, presenting a document, "This is the proof of Ms. Ella's communication with the video uploader-time, place, all documented. It was a simple task to trace the connection back to Ms.
Ella."
"As to why she did it, I'll leave that to
your imagination. The reason I'm standing before you today is that I refuse to be seen as the abandoned party in their relationship. I'm fine. I'm the heiress of the Minton family, one of P City's most distinguished doctors. I simply made a youthful, arrogant decision. I just haven't found the person I truly love yet."
Rebecca bowed to the reporters, handed them the document, and walked away with her head held high.
In a P City villa, Ollie rushed inside, exclaiming, "Ella!"
Inside, four burly bodyguards in black stood expressionless as they watched her.
On the villa's couch, Ella, with swollen eyes, looked up as Ollie burst in, her voice hoarse, "Ollie, be careful with the baby."
"Oh, right!" Ollie quickly nodded, composing herself with dignity, then realizing the urgency again, she blurted out, "How can you worry about me at a time like this?! Your uncle is dying!"
Ella's mind buzzed, momentarily stunned before she spoke slowly. "Ollie, what are you talking about!"
"How could I make up something this serious? Seth told me your uncle collapsed at the airport and was rushed to the hospital."
Ella's face turned ghostly pale, "Collapsed at the airport? How could..."
"Look, Seth sent me this video. Your uncle was almost killed by Grandpa Jon."
Ollie, ever impulsive, played the video on her phone for Ella to see. The moment Ella saw Noah, her eyes filled with tears again.
Witnessing Noah's desperate plea to her grandfather, a storm of sorrow and concern, mingled with a whirlwind of emotions, threatened to overwhelm her.
"Dad, I'm begging you.
"Ella's not to blame, it's all on me. I was the stubborn one who let things spiral out of control. How can I live with myself, stepping on her for my own peace of mind?
"I can't do what you're calling 'letting her go,' Dad. That's not letting go. I can't let Ella walk away. Nobody in this world could love me the way she does.
"I know I messed up, but letting her go would be an even bigger mistake. I have to make it up to her, and take care of her. I can't stand the thought of her being with anyone but me. What if someone else
breaks her heart?
"She loves me, Dad. She'll be heartbroken without me. She's crying right now. I just know it. I have to go find her."
Her words were choked by sobs, but before she could finish, Kane swiftly covered her mouth. "Sweetheart, please, spare me the drama."
"Mmmph."
Feeling the dampness against his hand, Kane released her mouth and saw it was smeared with tears and snot.
Grimacing in disgust, he flicked his hand and hastily pulled out a tissue, placing it under Ollie's nose. "Blow. Hard."
Ollie, eyes shut, blew her nose fiercely while Kane cleaned her up and then wiped his own hand. Turning to Ella, he said, "Your uncle's in the hospital for real; got himself beaten up pretty bad. If you're worried,
get moving. The car's outside."
Ella looked frantic.
Kane smirked, "What the hell are you hesitating for? If you miss out now, it'll be too late, and all that intangible crap you're clinging to won't be worth a damn."
As soon as Kane finished, there was a gust of wind by his side, and when he looked back, the girl who had been sitting on the couch was gone.
Rebecca's press conference had quelled many of the negative comments. After all the drama, it was just another unusual yet seemingly ordinary life unfolding online. Participants lost interest, and spectators
dispersed. A few unsatisfied souls remained, deeply empathetic and indignant, unforgiving.
However, any lingering attention was finally swept away by another piece of entertainment news.
CP Entertainment's rising star Marian, rumored to have fallen for her co-star, now taking her boyfriend home to meet the parents – the gossip was flying all over the net.
Photos and videos were everywhere.
The show they starred in was about to premiere on Visionary Productions. The man was the leading actor in the show.
"It's not the same thing. Besides, they did meet their parents. You've even given your blessing for them to get married. Wasn't the PR ready for this? Releasing it now is perfect timing. The buzz will boost the
ratings to new heights."
Seth let out a cold laugh, "So I should thank you."
"Don't mention it."
With that, Seth hung up the phone. Two minutes later, his phone buzzed with a new message.
Noah: [Win-win cooperation. Thanks.]
Seth: [Get lost.]
The End