?Chapter 144:


    Javier nced at her cautiously, suspecting she was always up to something, likely plotting her next scheme. Though doubtful, his body moved on its own, leaning in as his ear drew closer.


    Elena said, a meaningful smile ying on her lips, “Soon, Elyse will show up at your door. She’ll put on a sorrowful act and maybe even let a few tears fall. But it won’t be out of genuine concern for you—she just doesn’t want you to reveal how much money you’ve spent on gifts for her.”


    Javier froze for a moment. As her words sank in, frustration surged through him. “I knew you had bad intentions! There’s no way Elyse would do such a thing. She’s the one who truly cares about me. Stop trying to turn me against her. I won’t listen to another word from you!” His gaze burned with fury. If he weren’t injured, he would have gotten up and thrown Elena out himself.


    Elena remained unfazed. “Believe what you want.” With that, she spun on her heels and walked away.


    By the time Elena stepped outside the house, the clock had already struck past ten.


    The night stretched on, the moon hanging high, its glow illuminating the asional flicker of distant stars. The trees rustled under the breeze, their shadows shifting restlessly.


    On the vi’s staircase, Elyse gripped the edge of her dress, cautiously making her way toward the study. As she eased the door open, her eyes welled up the moment she saw Javier. “How could Vince do this to you? Does it hurt?”


    At the sight of Elyse, an unexpected sense offort washed over Javier. Earlier, when he heard footsteps outside, he assumed Elena had returned to taunt him. To his relief, it was Elyse instead.


    Forcing a small smile, Javier reassured her, “It’s not a big deal, Elyse. It only looks bad—it barely hurts.”


    Elyse had brought medicine along. She carefully applied it to the wounds on his back.


    The instant the ointment made contact, a sharp sting shot through Javier’s body, causing him to tense. What kind of medicine was this? Why did it burn so much?


    Despite the pain, Javier still beamed foolishly. Elena was wrong. Elyse wasn’t the person Elena made her out to be. Elyse wasn’t here to cover her tracks—she hade because she truly cared for him.


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    He said, “You’re the only one who truly looks out for me, Elyse.”


    Losing the medicine bottle, Elyse said, her voice trembling with feigned self-me, “This is all because of me. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have suffered like this.”


    Her words sent a jolt of panic through Javier. In his rush to reassure her, he moved too abruptly, pulling at his wounds and breaking into a cold sweat.


    Elyse quickly whispered, “Don’t make noise by moving around. You’ll wake Vince and Samira.” She spoke instinctively.


    Javier froze for a moment. He had just winced in pain, yet her first thought was about not disturbing his parents. Shouldn’t her concern be for him instead? Almost immediately, he shook off his doubts. Elyse hade all this way just to care for him—how could she not care? It was Elena’s nonsense that had nted doubt in his mind.


    Seeing the flicker of uncertainty on his face, Elyse asked, “What’s wrong?”


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