Chapter 164: I’m Sorry, IL
Chapter 164: I’m Sorry, I Let You Down
Chapter 164: I’m Sorry, I Let You Down
(Elena Blackwood’s POV)
I faced Marcus Blackwood’s deep golden eyes and froze momentarily. The dim light cast shadows across his
pale features, making him look more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him.
As I was about to get up from the bedside chair, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. His grip was weak
but desperate.
“Elena,” he called my name softly.
I quickly pulled my hand away and explained, “I was only helping you turn off the light. Don’t overthink it.“.
My voice came out sharper than intended. “I came to see you only because we were in the same car during
the accident. If you died, I wouldn’t be able to explain to the Blackwood family.”
Marcus watched my serious explanation with those intense golden eyes. After a moment, he responded with
a simple acknowledgment.
“I understand.”
Then his voice dropped to barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, I let you down.”
I was stunned and stared at him. “What do you
mean?”
Marcus’s gaze remained fixed on my face, never wavering. “I remembered everything from the past.”
My heart skipped a beat. The air in the room suddenly felt thick and suffocating.
“I told you to come find me when you grew up,” he continued, his voice heavy with regret. “And you came, but I
had forgotten you.”
I clenched my hands at my sides, the knuckles turning white. I looked away from his penetrating stare.
“It’s all in the past,” I said firmly.
“For me, it isn’t over,” Marcus insisted.
He tried to sit up, his face contorting with pain from the movement. I immediately pressed his shoulder down, my healing instincts taking over.
“Don’t move or your wound will tear open,” I warned. “Your mother will blame me again.”
He paused and lay back down against the pillows. “I’m sorry.”
I withdrew my hand and stood with my back to him. The distance felt both necessary and painful.
“Why are you apologizing?” I asked without turning around.
My voice was steady despite the turmoil inside. “We’re even now. While we’ll still sever our mate bond, I’ll wait for you to recover from your injuries.”
Without waiting for his response, I walked toward the door. Each step felt heavier than the last.
Marcus watched my retreating figure and suddenly began coughing violently. The harsh sound echoed
Chapter 164 I’m Sorry, 1.
through the quiet room.
The coughing caused chest pain, and I could hear his sharp intake of breath between the spasms.
Amber Stone heard the commotion from the hallway and entered the room quickly. She found him in distress
and immediately pressed the nurse call button.
I stood outside the room, frozen in place. My hand hovered over the door handle, torn between going back
and leaving.
Doctors and nurses filled the ward quickly, their urgent voices mixing together. I stood there for a long time, feeling completely lost.
Finally, I forced myself to walk away.
I returned to the hotel and encountered Hugo Ashworth by the fountain pool downstairs. He was wearing a
thin windbreaker, his tall figure elegant against the colorful lights.
His profile was hidden in the shifting illumination like an otherworldly immortal.
“Hugo?” I was surprised to see him. “What are you doing here so late at night? Are you waiting for someone?”
He turned toward me with a gentle smile. “I also stay at this hotel, but I’m not used to living in the Northern Territory. I came out for some fresh air.”
I smiled despite my heavy mood. “The Northern Territory’s climate is dry. With autumn’s significant temperature differences between day and night, it’s normal to feel uncomfortable.”
Hugo noticed my thin clothing and pointed out, “Despite knowing about the temperature difference, you
haven’t worn a coat.”
I looked down at my silk long–sleeved shirt. It couldn’t block the wind at all.
“It’s not that cold,” I claimed.
Just then, I sneezed unexpectedly. The sound was loud in the quiet courtyard.
Hugo took off his windbreaker and draped it over my shoulders without hesitation. The fabric was warm from his body heat.
I was stunned and looked at him in surprise. “Hugo, you don’t need to<”
“Don’t stare,” he interrupted gently. “If you fall ill, I’ll be busy when we return to Riverside City. My assistant took leave to go on blind dates.”
We entered the hotel together, the automatic doors sliding shut behind us.
The next day, Adrian Whitmore brought updates on the car accident investigation. His expression was serious as he sat across from me in the hotel restaurant.
Jacob Hayes stood beside him and reported, “The pack enforcement found a burned car in the wilderness. Through traffic monitoring of all vehicles leaving the city, they traced the license plate of the hit–and–run vehicle and obtained the car owner’s identity information.”
I understood immediately. “This wasn’t a simple traffic accident.”
“Even in a hit–and–run case, there would be no need to urgently burn the car,” I added.
Adrian commented, “Using car burning to destroy evidence was rather foolish.”
< Chapter 164. I’m Sorry, IL…
He looked at me, concern evident in his eyes. “Based on the surveillance footage and the car’s speed, if not for the intervention, you would be the one lying in the hospital now.”
His voice grew thoughtful. “In this matter, I’ve indeed gained a new perspective on Marcus Blackwood. Choosing to protect others over self–preservation in such emergency situations is rare.”
I kept my eyes downcast, remaining silent. The weight of Marcus’s sacrifice pressed heavily on my
conscience.
Adrian smiled and changed the subject. “My father wants to see you.”
