CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: ELIAS, PLEASE LET ME GO

"Since when did you become so hesitant even with drinking?"

Annelise gazed intently.

Elias Warner’s movements were lazy: "When I asked if you wanted to drink, I thought you were just having a sip or two. Does drinking always have to be about chugging down in one gulp?"

Annelise was left speechless.

In her mind, Elias Warner was decisive and straightforward.

Just like back then, when she "betrayed" him, he left for the peacekeeping forces without leaving a single word.

"I’m sorry!"

Annelise suddenly blurted this out.

Because she remembered how she hurt Elias Warner five years ago.

Elias Warner tilted his head back, finished his drink, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

"This is the first time I’ve ever had a drink with you!" Annelise smiled.

As if, in this moment, they had both cast aside all their past grudges.

"Why are you saying sorry?"

Elias Warner paused slightly with a beer can in hand.

Annelise stared into his eyes, then looked away.

And casually opened a second can.

Pop.

The foam splashed onto the back of her hand.

Elias Warner, composed as ever, watched Annelise, and casually grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and handed them to her.

"Why did you stop talking?"

He was eager to hear what she would say next because he felt that it was rare for Annelise to talk to him so quietly.

"Let me put it another way!" Annelise said, "You’re getting married, so can we just not contact each other anymore?"

"Why?"

Elias Warner felt a stab of pain in his heart.

Does she really want to sever ties with him so badly?

Annelise curled her lips into a smile, "You’re a married man. Frequently contacting me, what does that mean? I don’t want to be the other woman, especially since she’s still my best friend, and you two have already been intimate. Shouldn’t you be responsible for her?"

"Intimate?"

Elias Warner frowned, guessing what Annelise meant by intimate.

Annelise’s mood sank immediately: "Don’t you admit it? Do I have to spell it out for you? The hickey on Sylvia Lowell’s neck, that night when you first invited me to the villa, there were clothes scattered all over the floor, and... she often tells me how her boyfriend is in bed..."

She couldn’t continue.

Her heart ached.

Elias Warner placed his arm on the sofa, chuckling awkwardly: "So, you think I had an affair with her?"

He stared into her eyes.

"Isn’t it true?" Annelise took a large swig of her beer.

He laughed: "Even if I get married, I won’t let you leave me. Not only that, but I want you to cut ties with every man around you!"

The second can of beer slid down his throat, filling his chest with its cold and bitter malty taste.

Annelise’s voice was dull: "Why won’t you let me go? You’ve obviously fallen in love with someone else, haven’t you?"

She threw the stone that weighed on her heart at Elias Warner, smashing it right into his chest.

When did he fall in love with someone else?

Wasn’t it she who fell for someone else?

And now she’s accusing him of loving someone else?

Annelise suddenly lifted her head, her tearful eyes shimmering like a rain-covered southern sky: "Can you? Just let me go completely?"

Maybe it was because she had been drinking.

Annelise’s words suddenly had a drawn-out tone, soft and lingering, like willow branches skimming the river’s surface, the fluff drifting into the pond.

"No!"

Elias Warner stood up and approached Annelise, wrapping a large hand around her waist, the other hand exploring her chest.

The soft spot engraved with his name.

"You, can only belong to me! Your heart can only belong to me!"

"You..." Annelise paused, "Are you deliberately teasing me? Tormenting me? Is it fun?"

Elias Warner laughed angrily: "So, everything I do, you think it’s just to tease you?"

"Isn’t it?" Annelise shook her head, looking serious: "It’s worse than teasing!"

"..."

Elias Warner wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

"How am I teasing you?"

He placed his beer can on the table, spread his arms open, and leaned forward: "How is it worse?"

Her moist eyes watched him, not evading: "You bully, mock, tease, trample..."

She spoke with conviction: "Anyway, it is to get revenge on me!"

The alcohol crept up to her brow, her determined tone gradually turned into a wandering gaze, she gathered her long hair that draped over her shoulders, grabbing the bottle.

"Down this drink, and can we consider ourselves even?"

Elias Warner put down his glass, absolutely refusing to clink bottles.

"You’re drunk!"

Annelise leaned forward, her cascading hair brushing over his hand.

A familiar grape-scented shampoo aroma.

Entrancing.

Elias Warner’s Adam’s apple bobbed again.

He didn’t expect low-alcohol beer could get her drunk.

"Let me help you wash up and have a good night’s sleep, don’t overthink!"

He took the beer can from her hand and placed it on the table.

Wrapping his arm around her waist, he lifted her up and headed towards the bathroom.

Annelise propped herself up, touching Elias Warner’s face.

She felt as if in a dream.

Is this a dream?

Only in dreams does Elias Warner treat her so gently, right?

It had been so long since she felt this.

It brought back memories of their days together.

When she said she was tired, he would always carry her on his back.

When she said she was thirsty, he would wait in line for hours to buy her favorite mango sago.

Now, this feeling had returned.

Five years!

She had waited so hard!

Tears rolled down her cheeks, falling onto Elias Warner’s hand.

The warmth made Elias Warner look down.

Seeing the tears on her face, Elias Warner leaned down to kiss away the tear stains.

What had she gone through all these years?

He carried Annelise into the bathroom and laid her down in the bathtub.

Adjusting the water temperature just right.

Then closed the bathroom.

He feared he couldn’t resist her...

So he stepped out, waiting outside.

He took out the sandalwood bracelet from his pocket, gently rubbing it.

Buzzing... buzzing...

The phone rang.

Elias Warner looked down, seeing that Annelise’s phone was on the small table by the bed.

It was Sylvia Lowell calling.

Elias Warner thought of Annelise’s series of remarks earlier.

The hickey, the scattered clothes.

His eyes narrowed slightly, emanating a cold gleam.

He pressed the answer button.

"Hey, Annelise, are you in your room? Why isn’t anyone answering when I knock on your door?"

"I took her away. She’s with me now!"

His icy voice was like a sword piercing Sylvia Lowell’s heart.

For a long moment, there was silence from the other side.

"Sylvia Lowell, I warn you, don’t try any tricks, your little schemes may deceive Annelise, but they won’t fool me!"

Elias Warner’s warning sent a jolt through Sylvia Lowell’s heart.

Could it be that Elias Warner had discovered something?

"Elias... brother, I don’t know what you mean..."

"You might act in front of Annelise, but do you also want to act in front of me? We are just a family alliance, you know very well what my attitude towards you is, and your purpose in approaching Annelise, you know yourself, don’t make me expose you! Also, if today’s events are known to others, think about the consequences. Even if you don’t care about yourself, you should care about the Lowell Family!"

Sylvia Lowell’s heart shook.

She nearly lost her footing, stumbling as she caught onto the wall beside her.