Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Elspeth felt like laughing at his words. “What can I be up to? Look, there’s nothing on me.” She turned around to show that she carried nothing on her that could harm him before saying, “I’m only worried about this girl. She’s timid, so don’t scare her anymore.”
Despite his doubts, she seemed to make sense.
As Elspeth slowly approached him, Callum suddenly grabbed her wrist.
His expression was somber as he said, “Don’t go. He’s not in his right mind now, and I can’t guarantee that he won’t do anything to you.”
“Don’t worry. I think he’ll still listen to what I say.”
Although she knew that Arthur did not feel particularly strongly for her and only wanted to use her as a means to get revenge on Callum, she could still sense that he had feelings for her and would not hurt her at the very least.
Hearing that, Callum slowly let go of her wrist and watched as she walked toward Arthur. The moment she reached his side, he instantly shoved his assistant away and pressed the knife against Elspeth’s neck. Meanwhile, the assistant was pushed into Edmund’s arms, and she clutched his sleeve tightly, nearly losing her footing.
Instead of fearing the knife in his hand, Elspeth asked in a calm voice, “Okay, Arthur, how do you feel now?”
Arthur was a little shocked as well. He hadn’t expected that she would be in the mood to ask him how he was feeling at this time.
“Aren’t you scared?” he asked in a muffled voice.
“I’m not. Didn’t you say you like me? Since you like me, you will definitely not hurt me, so why should I be scared?” Elspeth chuckled with a bright and cheery smile.
Upon seeing her tranquil smile, Arthur was momentarily distracted, and his next words subconsciously slid out of his mouth. “Go out with me, Elspeth. I don’t need anything, not even Winthrop Group, and I won’t hurt anyone again.”
Although his voice wasn’t loud, it wasn’t soft either. As everyone in the room was tense and feared that he would make an unexpected move, they heard him clearly. At his words, Callum’s eyes darkened.
“But I’ve already said that I don’t like you.”
Arthur shook his head, his expression turning morose. “No, you can try to like me. I’ll definitely treat you well, even better than Callum.”
“But I don’t need you to treat me well.”
Arthur lost his mind once more at her words. “Why? Why exactly do all of you like Callum? Do I look that much worse than him?”
Unfazed, Elspeth looked at his side profile calmly. If she had to compare their looks, Callum’s was elegant and cold, while Arthur’s was as beautiful as the moon. In particular, the scar between his eyebrows contributed to a sense of flawed beauty. However, this moon was as far from her as the
Moon orbiting around Earth-it would never reach her heart.
“It’s not your fault that I don’t like you, nor is it mine. We’re just not fated to be together.”
Arthur said viciously, “I don’t believe in things like fate.”
At that moment, Callum had practically lost all his patience. He feared that if things went on, Elspeth would eventually get hurt. The knife in Arthur’s hands was too dangerous, and he couldn’t help but worry for her safety. However, just as he was about to make a move, Elspeth stopped him with a look, indicating that she had a plan.
Elspeth looked at Arthur with an earnest gaze. “Arthur, do you know what kind of person I like, then?”
Arthur cared, of course. He’d always dreamed of being the kind of person Elspeth liked.
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“I like someone gentle and kind. The person must be calm and isn’t manipulative.”
“Are you saying that Callum is that kind of person?” Arthur was amused by her words. “He’s nothing but a businessman who only cares about profit. Do you really think he’s innocent if he’s able to make Winthrop Group so successful?”
Arthur was now more than certain that Elspeth only liked Callum because she was deceived by his appearance and his tricks. He knew that he was the right one for her, and he was the only one who genuinely liked her.
However, Elspeth shook her head firmly and said gently, “It’s the complete opposite. That’s the kind of person Callum is. You’ve only seen his craftiness, but you’ve never noticed his worry and concern toward his brothers or his toleration for me, much less the kindness that he hides under a layer of ice.”
This was what she found out after spending so much time with him.
“You’ve known him for over twenty years. Do you really not understand him at all?”
Her words instantly rendered Arthur speechless. Elspeth looked at him, waiting for his response as he fell silent for a long time.
“Arthur, you have to stop doing this,” Elspeth advised him gently. After all the sins he had committed, it was the biggest act of mercy she could offer him to talk to him calmly like this.
Suddenly, Arthur raised his head and asked mindlessly, “Even you think it’s my fault?”
Elspeth opened her mouth, sensing that something was off, and in the next second, a dark, vile look emerged in Arthur’s eyes.
“If even you think I’m at fault, then I don’t mind going on like this.”
Nobody was on his side. Even Elspeth, whom he liked the most, had never given him the time of her day. Arthur could not explain how he felt-there was heartbreak and desperation, but more than that, he felt completely disheartened by Elspeth.
“I was going to let you go.” Arthur caressed her face with the knife handle. Though his voice was gentle, each of his words was cutting. “But what you said hurt me too much. Elspeth, you’re not worthy of my love.”
Instantly, warning sirens sounded in Elspeth’s mind, and in the next second, Arthur raised his knife and went straight for her face.
Fortunately, she prepared herself beforehand. Upon seeing his abnormal behavior, she dodged backward. However, as she was tightly trapped in his arms, she couldn’t avoid being grazed, and a bright red wound soon appeared on her face, gushing with fresh blood.
Callum instantly felt his heart tighten at the sight of Elspeth’s wound. “Arthur, don’t be reckless, or I’ll never forgive you!”
“What’s wrong? Worried about her? You can save her, but only if you fulfill my conditions.”
Arthur looked cold and apathetic; it was as if he were devoid of emotion and he waved his knife in the air. As he had trained in martial arts while he was in university, he was decently skilled in combat and his previous moves were enough to show how vicious he was. It was now clear that Arthur’s murderous intent had fully emerged.
Callum inhaled deeply before asking, “All right. What are your conditions?”
“First, have all the officers here leave.”
Callum’s gaze swept across the room, but the surrounding officers did not budge.
“Mr. Winthrop, the convict’s mental state is clearly not stable at the moment. We have to stay here to ensure the hostage’s safety.”
When Arthur heard the word convict, his face instantly darkened to a terrifying extent. “Tell them to leave. Don’t make me say it a third time.”
Callum said to the police officers coldly, “Everyone, please leave.”
“But, Mr. Winthrop-“
“Leave!”
Left with no other choice, the officers could only leave, even taking Margot who had difficulty breathing with them as they exited, as well as the person in charge and the assistant who were both paralyzed with fear. Soon, the room was empty except for Callum and the two other brothers of the Winthrop Family.
“I’ve already done as you said. What else do you want?”
Callum did not want to see Elspeth being taken away and falling into Arthur’s grasp for a single second longer.
Elspeth, however, said frantically, “Callum, don’t agree to his conditions.”
Irritated by her words, Edmund barked at her, “You stupid woman! Can’t you just shut your mouth and stand still? Do you know that you’re worrying us even more like this?”
What if she provoked Arthur? The sight of him slashing her face with the knife earlier was already a spine-chilling sight. If something else happened, there was no guarantee he could keep himself under control. He might just end Arthur’s life then.
Hearing their conversation, Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle. “You really are something. Everyone is standing up for you and worrying about your safety; it looks like they like you quite a lot.”
Upon saying that, he let out a deep and helpless sigh. “What a shame. The more they’re like this, the more you’re becoming their weakness, and I can use this chance to do what I wanted to do.”
Now, Arthur had finally achieved enlightenment. Things like emotions were simply all lies. Only wealth, power, and resources were important. Even if he still could not forget about Elspeth, he only wanted to use her in exchange for his own benefit.
Elspeth did not reply, emanating an aura of fury.
“What’s this? Getting mad, are we?”
Arthur had rarely seen Elspeth lose her temper like this. In the past, although he had made her unhappy many times, she mostly showed disdain toward him. Hence, her fury right now was a completely different experience for him.
“So, I can affect your emotions. Is it because you like me?”
They had already come to this point, yet Arthur was still able to flirt with her. He pinched her chin harshly, and a red mark soon appeared on it.
“Arthur, you’re the most disgusting person I’ve ever met.”
