LOGINElena didn’t completely agree with him.“If Asher was the one who arranged Cedric’s murder, then why did you agree to help him? You knew he was manipulating you, yet you still agreed. Did the two of you make some kind of deal?”Duncan wasn’t stupid. He would never accept a deal that didn’t benefit him.At that moment, Duncan found himself in an awkward position. He hadn’t received anything from Asher in exchange for what he had done.He had only agreed because Asher had threatened to reveal his true identity to Elena.If Duncan hadn’t been worried about how Elena saw him, he would never have allowed Asher to control him.But who could have known that the secret he had worked so hard to hide would eventually be revealed to Elena anyway?If he had known things would reach this point, perhaps he would have told her the truth from the beginning instead of allowing Asher to use him as a tool.Elena said calmly, “In any case, thank you for saving me. But perhaps Asher had no other choice. H
Elena sighed and didn’t question his account.“So, what now? Do you have any plans? Are you going to continue down this path?”Duncan had already lost many of his men, and he couldn’t continue like this.Besides, Elena didn’t want him to keep walking down this path.Duncan gave a helpless smile.“I haven’t decided yet.”Elena felt that he was caught between two choices, so she spoke sincerely.“Duncan, now that you’re back, why don’t you leave all of that behind and start over?”They had grown up together, and although they weren’t as close as she was with Jonathan and Elliot, she didn’t want to see him repeat the mistakes of the past.Things were different here than they were overseas. If Duncan continued behaving this way, he could end up in prison. She didn’t want that for him.Elena’s gaze was sincere and genuine, making Duncan’s heart beat faster. For a moment, he wanted to agree with her immediately.But he remained rational.He looked directly at her and asked, “Elena, if I sta
The next day, while Elena was busy at the hospital, she received an unexpected call from Duncan. It was the first time he had contacted her since their last meeting.His voice was cold and emotionless.“Elena, can you have lunch with me?”Elena glanced at the clock. She still had two hours before her lunch break. She thought she could finish with her patients by then, so she replied, “Of course.”After ending the call, she returned to work without thinking too much about why Duncan wanted to see her.Two hours later, she met him at the hospital entrance.“I’m sorry I’m a little late,” she said.She explained that one of her patients had needed extra time, which had delayed her.Duncan didn’t mind. He opened the car door for her and said, “Get in. I’ll take you to lunch.”Elena got into the car without asking where they were going.Silence filled the drive. Duncan seemed unsure of what he should say, while Elena preferred to wait for him to start the conversation.They soon arrived at
On the way, Elias and Lucy didn’t talk much. Silence filled the car until Elias noticed a vehicle that had been following them for some time.His expression changed, and he began to suspect that the person inside might be one of his enemies. Given his work as a police officer, having enemies wasn’t unusual for him.Elias sent the vehicle’s license plate number to one of his colleagues and asked him to check the owner’s identity. A short while later, the information came through.Name: Ethan Parker.Elias paused for a moment, then looked at Lucy.She noticed his gaze and turned toward him.“What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” he replied calmly, setting his phone aside.They soon arrived at the Rite residence. Elias got out and walked Lucy inside, then remained outside waiting. He didn’t leave until she sent him a message confirming that she had safely made it inside.Only then did he return to his car.But as soon as he reached it, he noticed the same car parked on the other side of the street.
He had become tall, well-built, and strikingly handsome. If he hadn’t told her himself that he was her old classmate, she probably wouldn’t have recognized him easily.Elias smiled shyly.“Back then, I was under a lot of pressure, and I gained weight easily. But after I joined the police academy and started training regularly, I changed a lot.”Lucy laughed.“That’s great.”Then Elias asked her, “What about you? I heard you’re working at your family’s company now.”Lucy nodded.“Yes. My parents are getting older, so I can’t live the way I used to anymore.”She paused for a moment before adding, “I have more responsibilities now.”If Ethan had never appeared in her life, perhaps she would still be living a simpler, carefree life without fully understanding the difficulties her parents faced. But Ethan’s appearance had changed so much in her life.Elias smiled.“Come on, you’re still young and beautiful.”Lucy felt a little embarrassed.“Stop flattering me. I’m almost thirty.”Elias lau
Although Lucy and Ethan were their friends, their relationship belonged to the two of them, and no one could make that decision on their behalf.As for Asher, perhaps it was better to let them solve their problems themselves.He had something more important occupying his mind.Elena.Even now, she hadn’t agreed to officially be with him, and he didn’t know how long he would have to wait.But he knew one thing.No matter how long it took, he would never give up on her.Lucy and Elias walked slowly behind Asher and Elena.It was a bitterly cold winter night, and the chilly air stung their faces. Lucy shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself, beginning to regret agreeing to go for this walk.In weather like this, it would have been better to return home and relax rather than wander around outside.As she was thinking about it, she suddenly felt something warm settle around her shoulders.She turned and found that Elias had taken off his coat and placed it around her.She quickly t







