CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 173: WON’T LET ME GO

Joel Sutton withdrew his gaze, his already pale face turning a few shades whiter.

"Miss Hathaway, I heard you had a car accident, so I came to see you." Azure Vaughn placed a box of supplements on the corner of the bed, then fiddled with her fluffy curls, "Why hasn’t Henry Preston come to see you?"

She glanced around, her eyes betraying disappointment.

She wasn’t here to see me, but thought Henry Preston would be here, so she wanted to take a look.

"What are you doing here?" Joel Sutton suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of resentment.

"Joel Sutton, you really did end up with her," Azure scoffed, "How are you any different from me? We both want to live a better life, so what right did you have to kick me while I was down and expose my communication with Henry Preston?"

Joel Sutton wasn’t at all like Azure said. Angrily, he grabbed the box of supplements and threw it to the ground, "I’m not like you. I’ll never betray love for money. You can get lost!"

I watched with indifference as this once-loving couple had completely changed.

Azure let out a cold laugh, "Heh, you really think you’re so high and mighty, Joel Sutton. During the time I was with you, we ate discounted spicy hotpot, bought clothes from clearance sales, and crowded onto a two-dollar bus. Isn’t that enough? Do you know how much it costs for a heart transplant? Following you, I’d probably be heading for a dead end!"

Joel Sutton’s face turned red with her words. He must still hold some sweet memories, but to Azure, those memories seemed very cheap.

"Joel Sutton, so what if you’re a high achiever? Do you really think you can make it big?" Azure looked at Joel with pity and sympathy in her eyes.

Azure was speaking animatedly, purposefully provoking Joel Sutton, belittling everything about him.

She hadn’t noticed Henry Preston had arrived, standing right behind her, having heard everything clearly.

Henry Preston seemed possessed by an evil spirit these past two days.

The last time I saw him, he exuded an eerie coldness. This time, his eyes remained dark, full of a forbidding aura.

This coldness felt a bit unfamiliar to me.

We’ve been married for five years, I know his personality is cold, but not with this kind of sinister chill.

In any case, it inexplicably made me uneasy.

Having insulted Joel Sutton enough, Azure turned to leave, as there was no one here she wanted to see. But when she turned, she was startled by Henry Preston’s presence and stumbled back two steps, leaning against the end of the bed.

"Henry Preston!" Azure called out, sounding a bit anxious.

"Get out." Henry’s gaze was icy, his thin lips finally moved.

Azure had her back to me, so I couldn’t see her expression, but her voice was very calm, "Henry Preston, why are you avoiding me? I’m not looking to entangle with you, but there are some things I need to discuss with you."

Henry showed no expression, "There’s nothing between us that needs discussion. It doesn’t matter who you are now, just don’t bother me."

Did Henry Preston actually know that Azure’s identity had changed from before?

It seems he looked into it.

"..." This left Azure speechless.

She had gone through a huge transformation to become the goddaughter of a vice president of a large foreign corporation, bringing twenty billion back to City A to invest. Shouldn’t Henry Preston look at her with new eyes?

No matter how strong The Preston Group is, it’s still a business. It couldn’t possibly give up the benefits on the table, right?

I could feel Azure’s complex emotions at this moment.

"Miss Hathaway, I’ll be heading out now." Joel Sutton couldn’t listen any longer with his face looking a bit dejected and upset. He softly said, then left silently.

After Joel Sutton left, I finally spoke blandly, "If you two have any grudges, could you please take it outside? I need to rest."

Azure turned and gave me a resentful look, seemingly wanting to say something but ended up saying nothing.

"Henry Preston," she turned back to Henry Preston, her voice calm again, "Evan Hawthorne’s painting ’Winter Snow River’ was ordered by you, right? Can you let me have it? I can offer more money."

I laid back and covered myself with the blanket, not wanting to listen.

"Ah!" In the next second, Azure’s scream rang out. I lifted the blanket to see Henry Preston already dragging her out of the room.

"Do you know Sean Lawson?" Henry returned, locked the door, sat down on a chair, and asked me.

"I don’t know him." I closed my eyes and feigned sleep, casually answering, "But I know he was the one causing trouble at the chemical plant before."

"Hmm, so I was worried he might seek revenge on you. I’ll have someone protect your safety in the coming days." Henry’s voice carried a hint of authoritative firmness that allowed no refusal.

I opened my eyes and rejected him without thinking, "No need, I reported it to the police. If it really was Sean Lawson, he can’t escape."

Henry’s eyebrows furrowed, a small mountain of frustration built up between them, "You think it’s that simple? Even if he knows your identity, he dares to target you, so don’t joke around with your safety."

"Fine, I’ll find myself a bodyguard, Henry. You don’t need to worry about me." I replied calmly.

"Must you use this attitude with me?" Henry frowned deeply.

I interrupted him, "Let’s not dwell on the past anymore. Really, those are bygones. You brought me to the hospital, dealt with the offender, and for that, I thank you. But don’t do these things for me in the future. Let me go, and let yourself go too."

These words touched Henry’s Achilles’ heel once more. I knew what he least wanted to hear was me severing ties with him, but I didn’t want to leave room for ambiguity.

Let’s make things clear to avoid causing trouble for each other.

"I can’t do that." Henry gritted his teeth, his eyes full of unwillingness, "I won’t let you go, nor will I let myself go!"

"What do you want then? Remarry? And we just piece things back together?" I retorted, feeling a flutter of emotion in my heart.

Besides Ivan Underwood, I hadn’t told anyone that I might never be able to conceive again; it was my greatest pain.

The scar left by this matter could never be erased.

I stared at Henry, waiting for his response.

Henry’s face showed defeat, mixed with pain, "As long as you don’t push me away."

"As long as I treat you like an ordinary friend?" I smiled slightly.

"Perhaps." Henry’s voice was very soft.

"Even if I have a new boyfriend or I marry someone else, can we still be just friends?" I pressed on, somewhat aggressive because I knew it was impossible.

Sure enough, Henry’s expression changed, a sense of danger clawed its way from his eyes.

He suddenly stood up, "Get some rest."

With that, he left without turning back.