Chapter 209
“Nervousness, memory loss, lack of focus, depression, and issues with sexual function,” the nurse replied.
Ella nearly choked on her own saliva at the last part. She really didn’t want to know about Viper’s private life.
“I think the first ones fit the bill. Thanks for the info,” she said, trying to brush it off.
“No problem. It’s my job,” the nurse replied with a smile.
Ella went back to the ward and said seriously, “Mr. Griffin, I think we’re getting along really well.”
Jaden did not respond.
Fate indeed could bring two strangers together and made them get along.
But it wasn’t fate bringing them together this time. It was his stubbornness and jealousy, wanting something he couldn’t have. He kept saying he’d let Ella off the hook, but he couldn’t let go. While Ella had been moving forward and improving over the past three years, he’d been stuck in the same place.
“Mr. Griffin, when you look at me, you might think of your daughter. I, on the other hand, think of my lost loved ones. We’re kind of in the same boat,” Ella said.
“I’ve heard about you since I arrived in Ardbert City. You’re a young woman with a very colorful love life,” Jaden commented.
Hearing this, Ella smiled, a bit embarrassed.
“How many boyfriends have you had?” Jaden asked, sounding like an older, disapproving figure.
Then, Ella shrugged. “I don’t keep track. If I’m happy, I stay. If I’m not, I move on. Men are like clothes–why not have a few options in the wardrobe?”
Jaden was taken aback by her straightforwardness.
“I just like new clothes. What’s wrong with that? Everyone does this,” she added.
Ella was just playing the game by their rules, giving them a taste of their own medicine.
It’s not like only men could keep their options open.
Ella’s life was like a pond full of beautiful fish–she enjoyed it and didn’t let old rules hold her back.
“I heard you were once married to the CEO of Denison Group. I saw him recently.”
Ella’s heart skipped a beat. “Mr. Griffin, you met him?”
For the past three years, Jaden had stayed out of the spotlight, barely showing up for anything.
Kyle only ever saw Hank, and even Yolanda had never met him.
“How’s he doing?” Ella suddenly asked.
Jaden replied, “He’s calm, doesn’t talk much, but he’s a good businessman.”
“He’s always been like that,” Ella responded.
“Mind telling me the story between you two?”
“Mr. Griffin, aren’t you a bit too old to be so nosy?” Ella teased.
“Can’t an old man enjoy a little gossip?” He smirked.
“Well, about him…”
Without feeling suspicious, Ella began to talk, and Jaden subconsciously held his breath, wondering how she’d describe him.
‘What’s she going to say about me? Was I that bad? A total failure?‘ His thoughts raced,
But her first sentence caught him off guard.
“He’s actually a good guy. A decent husband and a good father. We just didn’t click personality–wise, and it was too tough to make it work. The divorce was the best thing for both of us. We’ve got some personal issues, so it’s not something I can really share with you, Mr. Griffin. But if you’re
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considering him as a partner, no problem.
“Even after the divorce, he didn’t hold anything against me and helped me build my path forward. That shows his character, right?”
Ella was being honest. The reason she was doing so well now was partly because of Jaden.
Thanks to him, the wealthy families in Ardbert City had to show her respect.
“Do you think it’s a shame you two split up?” he asked.
Ella shrugged, “No, we’ve done just fine these past three years apart, haven’t we?”
Jaden felt like screaming inside, ‘No, I’m not fine at all.‘
Without Ella, every day dragged on, feeling worse than death. He was nothing but a shell of a man, living only to protect her from afar.
But on the outside, he kept his face calm, even though a wild beast raged within.
His fists clenched and then slowly released, the fight draining out of him.
‘As long as you’re happy, Ella, that’s all that matters, he told himself. ‘The rest doesn’t matter.’
“Mind telling me why you two didn’t work out?” he asked again.
“He liked being in control, and I hate being controlled. He loved me, but it felt more like being caged. He used his power to try and make me bend. Sure, he loved me, but he didn’t respect me. We said we trusted each other, but when push came to shove, all those defenses crumbled. We were too selfish, too suspicious. We just weren’t right for each other.”
After all these years, Jaden finally understood what he had done wrong.
So that was it. But time couldn’t be turned back. Regret washed over him, drowning him in the realization that there was no way to fix it.
“Do you still love him?” Jaden asked, his heart tightening.
‘Ella, do you love me? How much do you love me?‘ he wondered silently.
“I don’t love him anymore,” Ella replied with a playful smile. “I’m doing just fine now. With so many men to choose from, who even thinks about him anymore?”
She buried her real feelings, hoping that in time, she might even believe her own words.
Fake it till you make it, right?
Jaden’s heart sank. Ella had always been calculated, weighing every choice.
He wished he could be her one true choice, but she had too many options. He could be first in line, or he could be last.
His eyes dimmed, and he fell silent for a while. Ella noticed and was puzzled.
“Mr. Griffin, what’s on your mind?” she asked, teasingly wondering if he was really dealing with some midlife crisis memory loss.
Jaden snapped back to reality and said, “Nothing.”
Ella leaned in, the gossip bug biting hard. “You’ve heard my drama, now spill yours. How did you end up here? Is your wife good–looking? If you’re still into her, why not try to win her back? It’s not too late to have another kid.”
Jaden’s expression turned cold as he replied, “Stay out of adult business, kid.”
Ella was taken aback by the man’s moodiness. What a volatile guy Viper was.
After spending the whole morning waiting around, it was finally time for lunch.
Jaden, stubborn as ever, refused to stay in the hospital and only agreed to come for an IV drip. Despite the serious wound, he was healing up well.
Ella planned to grab something light and nutritious for lunch and told Jaden, “Mr. Griffin, wait here for me. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, she headed deeper into the hospital.
There was a young patient she wanted to check on–an unfortunate child who had suffered brain damage from a high fever.
His parents had dropped him off and then disappeared.
A few of the doctors, moved by the child’s plight, had taken him in and cared for him at the hospital.
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Ella always made a point to visit whenever she came by. She kept milk candies in her pocket just for this little guy.
She was too late yesterday; the child was already asleep. But today, it was time to drop by and see him.
When the eight–year–old spotted her, he quickly set aside the caterpillar on his hand and ran over with a huge smile.
His clothes were a bit messy, and he had a little drool, but his eyes sparkled with warmth and curiosity.
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