<h4>Chapter 501: The Last Tear</h4>


    However, the other party was hiding too deeply. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t uncover their identity.


    There were far too few clues left behind. He had hired detectives and spent countless sleepless nights researching, yet there was no progress.


    "Can’t sleep?"


    "Mm, I can’t sleep."


    "Then keep mepany for a chat," Eric said as he towel-dried his hair.


    E reached out and patted his sturdy chest. "Only for half an hour, then you need to sleep. Honey, our whole family depends on you, so you must take care of yourself."


    Eric froze for a moment. The tenderness in E’s eyes was so sincere, no longer forced like it had been in the past.


    He nodded, set the towel aside, and gently kissed her hand. "Thank you, my love."


    E smiled through her tears.


    She had already dimmed the lights, so even though her eyes shimmered with tears, Eric didn’t notice.


    They leaned against each other, reminiscing about the past. Every memory they shared was filled with love and warmth.


    "By the way, James went to Country W earlier today," Eric said casually.


    E looked at him in surprise. "Why would he go to Country W?"


    "Because he believes Elias is there."


    E fell silent. James was grasping at straws. Even if he went there, what difference would it make? Eric had no intention of forgiving him.


    "I... I’m also nning to cklist Aurora," Eric said nonchntly.


    E hesitated for a moment, then quickly shook her head. "Don’t cklist innocent artists because of me. At least... not until we know the truth. I don’t want to implicate anyone unfairly."


    Eric stared at her in surprise. "I thought you... hated her."


    E lowered her gaze, her smile tinged with bitterness. "I was angry before because I had to watch Elias being taken away without being able to do anything. My frustration boiled over, and Ished out at you and her as an excuse."


    Eric held her tightly. "Honey, I’ll listen to you."


    Their warmth passed between them. E rested gently in his arms, her voice soft and soothing.


    After half an hour of chatting, they closed their eyes to rest. Soon, E could hear Eric’s steady breathing. It seemed the sleeping pills were very effective.


    She turned to her side and quietly watched Eric’s profile.


    The faint moonlight filtered through the window but was muted by the dim lighting in the room, leaving only a soft silver trace.


    His profile was so captivating. Even in sleep, he exuded charm.


    He wore a thin nightshirt, the nket covering him just below his corbone. Two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his toned chest.


    E’s eyes welled up with tears without her realizing it, blurring her vision.


    She reached out to pull the nket over him and wiped away the tears that had slipped down her face. But the more she wiped, the more they fell. Eventually, she let them flow freely.


    Eric, it’s not that I don’t love you... or that I don’t trust you. It’s just that the enemy is too cunning. Elias is our precious son, and I don’t want him to be harmed in any way...


    In three days, you’ll receive an email from me. It will have a video of Elias and a message I’ve left for you. I hope you’ll understand.


    Eric, I love you.


    No matter what happens to Elias and me, whether we cane back safely or not, I hope you’ll take good care of little Dorian and live your life well.


    I know it will be incredibly painful and difficult for you, but time is a great healer. One day, you’ll ovee this sorrow.


    E’s tears soaked the pillowcase, leaving her face cold and damp.


    At midnight, E slowly sat up.


    She nced at her phone and left it on the nightstand. After all, where she was going, the phone would be confiscated even if she took it with her.


    E cast a long, deep look at Eric, unable to tear her gaze away, as if she wanted to etch his image into her very soul.


    After about two minutes, she finally rose from the bed. She wiped the cold tears from her face, silently opened the wardrobe, and changed into a ck, long-sleeved casual outfit.


    Then she slipped on the silver bracelet from her bag. E often wore this bracelet, which puzzled friends like Amelia and Chloe. They couldn’t understand why, with her worth in the hundreds of millions, she still wore a in silver bracelet.


    Most wealthy women who liked bracelets would opt for exquisite jade ones.


    But E’s bracelet, while only silver, bore intricately beautiful patterns.


    Whenever her friends asked about it, E would simply smile and say it was a keepsake left by Isabe. Only E and Eric knew the true secret of that bracelet.


    The silver was icy cold against her skin. Her hand trembled as she walked to the dressing table and picked up her car keys.


    Barefoot, she quietly left the room, stepping away from the man she loved.


    After leaving, she softly closed the door behind her. Holding back her tears, she walked to the nursery.


    This room had once belonged to Elias and Dorian. The door was slightly ajar. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Moore were asleep on one side of the room, while little Dorian slept soundly in his cartoon-themed bed on the other side.


    E’s gaze fell on his adorable and handsome little face. Her tears broke through the dam again, blurring her vision.


    My sweet Dorian, my little Dorian!


    Leaving you is thest thing Mommy wants! But you must believe, Mommy wille back alive and bring your brother home!


    She quietly wiped away her tears and silently approached the bed, wanting to kiss Dorian’s cheek.


    But she hesitated, afraid of waking him, knowing that if he woke, it would be even harder to leave.


    She stood frozen for a couple of minutes, wiping her tears again, before slowly stepping back out of the room.


    Her footsteps were light as she made her way to the garage. She got into her car and drove away from the vi in a hurry.


    No one woke up. The night was deep and dark, concealing untold sorrow and malevolence.


    E’s driving wasn’t fast, but her heart pounded wildly, and her temples throbbed in pain—likely another re-up of her nervous exhaustion.


    Her mind wandered to the day Elias was taken. Eric had chased after the truck in his car, and for a moment, she thought he could bring Elias back.


    But deep down, she understood—even if he caught up, what could he do? Force the truck to stop? Those kidnappers were crazed and wouldn’t surrender easily. What if a car ident urred in the process?


    Or ram the truck? That would be an even more foolish move. No matter the approach, it would risk harming everyone on the truck.


    It waspletely understandable that Eric hadn’t been able to bring Elias back. If it had been her driving instead, she would’ve been just as worried about the truck tipping over or worse, and the regret would have been unbearable.


    She hadn’t med him for failing to catch up that day because she knew speed wasn’t the only factor—it was much moreplicated than that.


    The wind slipped in through the car window as her final tear vanished into the cor of her ck shirt...