Chapter 168: Chapter 168

As soon as those words were uttered, the room fell silent.

Letitia snapped open her eyes, staring straight at Elgin on his knees before her.

Even kneeling, his back was straight as an arrow, his knees caked with dust.

The ground was littered with gravel and dirt… that must’ve hurt like hell.

Trade yourself for her?” Shela echoed, “Elgin, you’d die with me to save Letitia?”

“Yes.”

“You’re cool with dying?”

Elgin replied, “All I want is for Letitia to live well.”

So his death didn’t matter. Letitia living for him was all that mattered.

Shela, mad with jealousy, screamed, “You love her that much regardless of dying for her?!”

Tears blurred Letitia’s vision.

She shook her head fiercely, “Elgin, you don’t have to go to these lengths for me…”

“Letty,” he said, “I wish you a long and prosperous life.”

The most heartfelt declaration of love wasn’t “I love you” or “I’ll marry you,” but “I wish you a good life in

this world.”

He wished Letitia a long and prosperous life, even if it meant his death.

Tears mixed with blood from a cut on her cheek, intensifying Letitia’s pain.

But that was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

Why did Elgin have to be such a paradox… winning her love and hate at the same time?

“Is that a deal, Shela?” Elgin asked, “You let Letitia go, and I’ll be your hostage.”

With that, he started to rise and walk towards her.

“Hold up!” Shela snapped, “You’re a big dude, how am I supposed to keep you under control? You’d

knock me out cold as soon as you got close!”

“So, you’re saying you’ll trade?”

“Willingly. Hahaha, Shela burst into laughter, “Having you with me on the journey to the underworld

beats Letitia’s company any day. Plus, when we’re reborn, I hope you fall for me in the next life!”

A pure disgust flashed in Elgin’s eyes, but he masked it quickly.

Shela went on, “Anyway, whether you die or Letitia dies, either will do. Whichever one of you survives

will spend a lifetime in agony and self-blame. My goal, you see, is utterly achieved.”

“Fine,” Elgin nodded, “Let’s get this swap started.”

His tense nerves relaxed a fraction.

As long as Shela was willing to trade, Letitia’s danger would diminish.

If he ended up in Shela’s clutches… he didn’t care.

He might die or escape.

Either way, Letitia would be safe.

Letitia said in a hoarse voice, “Elgin, aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Crupter 160

To be honest, she was terrified. The chilling specter of death was not something she was ready to

embrace; she yearned for life. Her parents were waiting for her, and the Sanders family was counting

on her to clear

their name…

Bus Elgin, with his noble status and greater responsibilities, was the current head of the Ramirez

family, the CEO of the Ramirez Group. If anything happened to him, the stocks, market value, and

board of Ramirez Group… would all be thrown into chaos!

Elgin looked at Letitia and gave a small smile.

“Of course I’m scared, he answered, “But losing you scares me more.”

Letitia, crying, asked, “And you think I’m not scared of losing you?!”

Elgin felt a warmth in his heart.

“Letty, your words are enough. His smile deepened, “I know you care about me.”

She was afraid of losing him too.

Well, that was just great.

So his rescue was all the more worth it.

Elgin knew he owed her so much.

If he could clear his debts with his life, it wouldn’t be too bad… And Letitia would remember him for the

rest of her life, keeping a place for him in her heart.

“Enough!” Shela barked, “Quit the sweet talk! Elgin, I’ll trade you for Letitia, but first… you’ve got to

maim yourself!”

Maim himself?! Letitia widened her eyes in shock.

“Ruin one of your hands, or a leg,” Shela instructed, “That way, I can control you. Otherwise, once you

get close, you’d take me down in a move, right?”

Without blinking, Elgin nodded, “Fine.”

“No, don’t, please don’t…” Letitia screamed, “Elgin, you can’t do this! Absolutely not!”

She had to watch him kneeling before her and now she’d have to watch him maim himself.

After that, she’d have to watch him fall into Shela’s hands, while she got off scot-free.

“Shela, just kill me, do it now!” Letitia shouted, “Stop torturing him and me… Just end me first, then

yourself, and let’s get it over with!”

She couldn’t take it anymore.

Every second was overwhelmed by the torture!

“Heh, what tragic lovebirds,” Shela mocked, “One ready to die, the other ready to die for the other…

Your love is touching!”

Letitia kept crying and begging, pleading with Elgin not to maim himself.

She didn’t know if she loved Elgin. But at that moment, she’d rather die than see him harm himself and

fall prey to Shela.

“Please, Elgin, I’m begging you, stop trying to save me…”

“We’re enemies, I hate you, I could never love you, what you’re doing for me isn’t worth it!”

“Your hand is made for signing documents, it can’t be wasted…”

But no matter what Letitia said, nothing could sway Elgin’s resolve.

He turned and walked away.

Quickly, he returned with a fancy Swiss army knife in hand.

What a good blade, sharp enough to slice through steel.

Blood wouldn’t even stick to it. Just a simple wipe could make it gone.

“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” Shela said, “Hand or foot, your call.”

“Hand. Elgin didn’t even flinch as he raised the knife high.

“No, Elgin, please no.”

Amidst Letitia’s desperate cries, Elgin remained calm.

Knife in his right hand, he plunged it towards his left arm without hesitation.

The blade pierced through his flesh.

Ruthless. Elgin was ruthless to himself!

From start to finish, he didn’t utter a single scream!

“Is that good enough? Elgin looked up at Shela, “Are you satisfied?”

Even Shela was taken aback by his decisiveness and ferocity.

This man could be so unforgiving to himself!

So, for a moment there, Shela was completely tongue-tied, just staring blankly at the blood dripping

down Elgin’s arm.

His face was turning ghostly pale. But Elgin, cool as a cucumber, didn’t show a hint of panic.

“You, you…” Shela stammered. She hadn’t expected Elgin to be so decisive, not hesitating for a

second.

Elgin didn’t want to waste any time. The faster this was over, the better. He had only one thing on his

mind.

That was to save Letitia.

He couldn’t care about anything else right now!

Letitia herself was in a daze, watching the blood as if it were flowing right out of her body.