Chapter 164: I’m Sorry, IL

bChapter /bb164/bb: /bbI’m /bbSorry/bb, /bbI /bbLet /bbYou /bbDown /b

Chapter 164: I’m Sorry, I Let You Down

b(/bElena ckwood’s POV)

bI /bfaced Marcus ckwood’s deep golden eyes and froze momentarily. The dim light cast shadows bacross /bbhis /b

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 exined, “I was only helping you turn off the light. Don’t overthink bit/bb./b“.

My voice came out sharper than intended. “I came to see you only because we were in the same car during

the ident. If you died, I wouldn’t be able to exin to the ckwood family.”

Marcus watched my serious exnation with those intense golden eyes. After a momentb, /bhe responded with

a simple acknowledgment.

“I understand.”

Then his voice dropped to barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, I let you downb./b”

I was stunned and stared at him. “What do you

meanb?/bb” /b

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 toe 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 prating 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 me me again.”

He paused andy 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 bondb, /bbI’ll /bwait for you to recover from your injuries.”

Without waiting for his response, I walked toward the door. Each step felt heavier than bthe /bst.

Marcus watched my retreating figure band /bsuddenly began coughing violentlyb. /bThe harsh sound echoed

Chapter 164 I’m Sorry, 1.

bthrough /bthe quiet broom/b.

The bcoughing /bcaused chest pain, and I could hear his sharp intake of breath between the spasms.

Amber Stone heard themotion from the hallway and entered bthe /broom quicklyb. /bShe found bhim /bbin /bbdistress /b

and immediately pressed the nurse call button.

I stood outside the room, frozen in ce. My hand hovered over the door handle, torn between going bback /b

band /bleaving.

Doctors and nurses filled the ward quickly, their urgent voices mixing together. I stood there for a long btime/bb, /bfeelingpletely 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 ba /b

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 sote 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 ufortable.”

Hugo noticed my thin clothing and pointed out, “Despite knowing about the temperature difference, byou /b

haven’t worn a coat.”

I looked down at my silk long–sleeved shirt. bIt /bcouldn’t block the wind at all.

“It’s not that cold,” I imed.

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 ident 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 bthe /bbwilderness/b. Through traffic monitoring of all vehicles leaving the city, they traced the license te of the hit–band/b–run vehicle and obtained the car owner’s identity information.”

I understood immediately. “This wasn’t a simple traffic ident.”

“Even in a hit–and–run case, there would be no need to urgently burn the bcar/bb,/b” I added.

Adrianmented, “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 surveince footage and the bcar’s /bbspeed/b, bif /bbnot /bfor 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 ckwood. 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.”