Free Web NovelChapter 151: Chapter 147: Back Then, It Wasn’t Elliot Sheridan
’If it was because of Selena Sheridan, that’s impossible.’
’Their relationship should be strictly that of a senior and a junior.’
Justin Sullivan was desperate to know about Georgia Thorne and Elliot Sheridan’s past, but at the same time, he didn’t want to hear about them.
Justin Sullivan thought Georgia wouldn’t say anything, but she slowly began to speak. "Do you know what it feels like to be abandoned, to wait alone in despair?"
Justin Sullivan stared at her fixedly. Georgia smiled. "It’s fear. It’s loneliness. It’s knowing you have no bright future ahead of you."
When she first stepped into that hotel, Georgia felt a loneliness so profound it was as if the entire world had abandoned her. She was so scared and sad she wanted to cry, but she didn’t dare make a single sound.
The more terrified she was, the more she pretended to be strong.
That kind of despair can make a person’s mind break.
"Later, he was the one who saved me from that loneliness and despair." Georgia looked at him with a smile. "Sometimes, I even think that if Elliot Sheridan hadn’t stepped in back then, the Georgia Thorne you see today might just be a lonely tombstone."
She didn’t describe much about her past life, but her words made Justin Sullivan’s heart ache.
’What kind of blow would make her think of dying? She was never an impulsive person.’
His throat felt as if it were blocked, unable to utter a single sound.
The veins on the back of the hand gripping the cup bulged. "Nina, you’re still angry with me, aren’t you?"
Justin Sullivan suddenly changed how he addressed her, wanting to go back to how things were. "I know I was wrong. If I could do it over, I would never have left."
If he had known that his departure would push Georgia into another man’s arms, he would have rather died than leave.
"At first, I did resent you. You were the one who promised my mother you’d be with me forever, yet you left when I was at my lowest and most alone. But I don’t hate you anymore. Really."
Georgia said, "Everyone makes their own choices. You chose to go abroad, just as I chose Elliot. Both were out of necessity, but sometimes, they’re also fated."
"Nina, you can’t be with Elliot. He’s not a good person, he..."
Justin Sullivan was about to speak urgently but was cut off bluntly by Georgia. "Whether Elliot is a good person or not is for me to know in my own heart."
"Besides, we’ve broken up now. I’m sure you’ve seen the recent news about him, so whether he’s good or bad has nothing to do with me anymore."
Lately, there had been too much news about Elliot Sheridan and Nathan Rhodes, with reports of them attending various events together everywhere.
Elliot had never been a high-profile person, nor did he like putting his private life on display for public amusement.
’And no one could force him to do these things. The only reason he’d be willing is that he has real feelings for Nathan Rhodes.’
’He even calls him Nate. What an intimate nickname.’
Justin Sullivan saw the forced smile on her face, and it felt like a thorn piercing his heart.
After dinner, Justin Sullivan drove Georgia Thorne back to her apartment building.
"Nina, can we start over?"
"Jus—"
"You don’t have to answer me right now. You can take your time to think about it. This time, I have plenty of time to wait." Fearing a rejection, Justin Sullivan hurriedly cut her off.
In some ways, he admitted he was a coward.
Georgia looked at him, and his hand on the steering wheel slowly tightened. "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is my sister’s second court hearing. We’ll see each other at the courthouse tomorrow, and I’ll give you my answer then." Georgia pushed open the car door, got out, and turned back to Justin Sullivan inside. "Goodbye."
Justin Sullivan stayed in the car, unable to suppress the joy in his heart.
’Just now, Georgia’s tone seemed to soften. It didn’t sound like she was going to reject me.’
He took a deep breath. ’Whatever the result, the truth will come out tomorrow.’
When Georgia returned to the apartment, Lynn Thorne was helping her child with homework.
"Did you eat out?"
"I ate with a friend. By the way, Lynn, how did your talk with Attorney Shaw go today?"
"Attorney Shaw said there’s no problem."
"As long as there’s no problem. I have something to do tomorrow, so I won’t be able to go to the courthouse with you."
"Okay, I understand. Your work is important."
’Come to think of it, I really owe my younger sister. She took me in during my hardest times and even lent me her savings.’
Lynn Thorne was truly and deeply grateful.
"Lynn, you should get to bed early."
"Okay!"
Georgia took a shower, but she couldn’t fall asleep as she lay in bed.
She glanced at Nancy Hughes beside her, who was wearing headphones, her eyes glued to the computer screen, tracking the movements of the main character.
She called her name twice, but Nancy must have had her headphones on too loud, as she didn’t respond.
Georgia gave her a hard push. "Nancy, I..."
"Holy shit!"
Before Georgia could finish what she was trying to say, Nancy swore loudly and shot up in bed, almost dropping her laptop in panic.
"I was watching a horror movie, and you suddenly poked me. You scared me to death!" Nancy hurriedly patted her chest, picked up a glass of water from the side, and took two sips to calm her nerves.
"I called your name a few times, but you didn’t answer." Georgia sat up and rubbed her back. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to."
Nancy hit the pause button. "What did you need me for?"
"I want to ask you for a favor."
"What favor? To take you to the airport tomorrow?" Nancy’s eyes went wide.
Georgia said, "No."
She threw back the covers, got out of bed, and took a check from her bag.
Earlier today, before meeting Justin Sullivan, she had gone to the bank to withdraw the money Elliot Sheridan had given her and had it made into a check.
"Where did you get so much money?" Nancy was dumbfounded when she saw the amount on the check.
A full one hundred thousand.
’She hasn’t been working that long, how could she have so much money?’
"Please return this check to Elliot Sheridan for me."
Lynn’s hearing was at ten in the morning, while Georgia’s flight was scheduled to depart at nine.
Having barely slept all night, Georgia got up at five o’clock.
She got ready, and at around seven, she grabbed her already-packed luggage and prepared to leave.
As she was putting on her shoes, Nancy came out of her room. "Are you really leaving?"
Georgia gave a nearly inaudible hum of agreement, but Nancy heard it.
Her eyes immediately turned red. She walked over and hugged her tightly. "Georgia, I really can’t bear for you to go. Don’t leave. Stay, okay?"
The two of them were like sisters. Ever since they met in school, they had spent all their time together, except for winter and summer breaks.
Their bond was so strong they were no different from real sisters.
Georgia patted her back, comforting her in a hoarse voice, "It’s not like I’m leaving forever. What are you crying for? Besides, didn’t you say last night that we weren’t allowed to cry? Whoever cries is a puppy!"
Nancy’s eyes were red, tears welling up. She lightly punched Georgia’s shoulder. "Hmph! Who wants to cry? You’re just ungrateful, abandoning me like this. Am I supposed to pay the rent all by myself?!"
Georgia burst out laughing. "Who said that? Didn’t I leave Blue to keep you company?"
"Tch, Blue can’t even talk!" Nancy wiped away a tear and gave her a little shove. "Alright, you should get going. I’m going back to bed for a bit!"
"Okay, goodbye!"
Georgia hugged Nancy one last time, then put on her shoes and left.
Georgia first went to her company to take the company bus to the airport.
There were twelve colleagues in total on this trip to Akashima, and their destination was Kaelan.
At the airport, Nicole Kane patted her shoulder. "Give me a call when you get there."
"I will!" Georgia nodded in reply.
While boarding, Georgia glanced back at the bustling terminal, took a deep breath, turned off her phone, and put it in her bag.
「An hour later, at the courthouse entrance.」
Byron Shaw saw Lynn Thorne arriving alone and couldn’t help but ask, "Miss Thorne, Miss Georgia didn’t come today. Is she sick?"
"No, Georgia has work to attend to today. Let’s go inside."
"Alright!"
At ten o’clock, the hearing officially began.
A man in a black suit sat in the gallery, his eyes constantly scanning the seats, his brows tightly furrowed.
He was disappointed not to see the person he was looking for.
’Could something have happened to her on the way?’
At that thought, Justin Sullivan could no longer sit still. He turned and hurried outside.
Outside the courtroom, Justin Sullivan called Georgia Thorne again and again, but her phone was off every time.
He grew increasingly anxious and called his assistant, telling them to find out where Georgia was.
Today was the day she was supposed to give him her answer.
Last night, his mind had been in turmoil, and he couldn’t sleep at all.
He kept replaying Georgia’s final expression in his mind. That "goodbye" had sounded like a final farewell.
’Could she be on her way right now, or maybe she’s already downstairs?’
He waited anxiously for twenty minutes, but there was still no sign of Georgia.
Finally, his assistant called. "Sir, I’ve found Miss Thorne’s whereabouts!"
Hearing those two words, his spirits lifted. "Where is she?!"
’As long as she’s not in the hospital, anything is fine!’
That was what Justin Sullivan was thinking. However, after hearing what his assistant said, he froze completely.
It was as if a basin of ice-cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. Suddenly, he couldn’t hear a thing.
"Sir, Miss Thorne has gone abroad. She’s on a plane to Akashima right now."
His assistant’s words echoed in his mind, a BUZZING sound filled his ears, and his gaze turned dim, losing all focus.
’How could this be? She clearly said last night that she would give me her answer today.’
He had waited six long years for this answer.
She had said they would meet at the courthouse, that she would give him her answer.
