Chapter 260
260:
But something didn’t add up. Jayceon had been desperately searching for Ellie for seven years, which meant the boy should be at least six.
Ethan’s phone immediately buzzed with Jayceon’s frantic messages.
“Who are you with? Whose phone is this?”
“Is this message from Ellie?”
“Please tell me, why aren’t you answering?”
“Ethan, I’m begging you. Help me find out if it’s really from her.”
“Get me Ellie’s contact, and I’ll be forever in your debt.”
“Do I have a son? Can you help me find Ellie and find out what’s going on?”
“Why are you ignoring me?”
Ethan muted his phone, the screen fading to black as he slipped it into his pocket. Jayceon’s relentless messages were easy to ignore, but the weight of Ethan’s secret assistance pressed heavily on his conscience. If Brenna ever found out he had been helping Jayceon behind her back, he risked losing her for good.
Knowing what mattered most, he sighed, retrieved his phone, deleted the chat history with Jayceon, and blocked him.
Only after doing all this did Ethan feel somewhat relieved. Even if Brenna checked his messages now, she would find nothing suspicious. He smirked, feeling clever about his actions.
Hours passed at the police station while Brenna assisted with the investigation. Ethan waited through the long night, ignoring the persistent vibrations in his pocket as Jayceon’s calls came in one after another—until he blocked those as well.
Once the investigation was over and he finally brought Brenna home, Ethan returned to his own house, only to find Jayceon sitting in his living room, a deep scowl darkening his features.
g͎a͎l͎n͎o͎v͎e͎l͎s͎.͎c͎o͎m͎ = ʟᴇɢɪᴛ
Ethan spared him a glance, his expression indifferent. He didn’t bother waiting for Jayceon to speak. “Don’t bother asking. I’ve got nothing more for you,” he said flatly and finally. “I won’t betray Brenna again.”
Jayceon’s expression darkened further, frustration heavy in his voice. “Please, just help me out here. I’ve been losing my mind searching for Ellie. Do you understand how devastated I felt when I saw what you sent me? She’s been out there alone, raising a child, and I had no idea. What kind of person does that make me?” he asked.
Ethan’s voice remained calm but carried an undeniable edge. “That’s your mess to clean up, Jayceon. You created this situation, and now you have to face the consequences. You have all the connections, all the resources—use them. I refuse to believe that with everything you have at your disposal, you can’t track her down. As a friend, I’ve done all I can for you.”
Jayceon’s jaw tightened, disappointment flashing in his eyes. “You’re really heartless,” he muttered bitterly before storming toward the door. But just as he reached it, he stopped and turned back, his voice softer but still laced with pain. “Thanks, though. At least now I know Ellie’s in Norview.”
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