Chapter 587

Elysia's breath caught, and her eyes widened in sheer shock. She clearly hadn't expected that question.

Seeing her reaction, Tarquin's chest heaved with anger, and it took a moment for him to compose himself before speaking. "Back at the precinct, we made a bet. We agreed that if I got out, you'd honestly answer one question for me. If you lie, you'll never strike it rich! Now, I'm asking you, do you actually like me or not?"

Elysia blinked, her face a picture of confusion as she shook her head and admitted, "No, I don't."

Tarquin felt as if an invisible hand had clenched his heart, the pain so intense he could barely breathe. "Not even a little bit?"

Elysia, cautious, replied, "No, not at all."

Tarquin was a portrait of devastation, all his earlier excitement and joy wiped clean. His heart sank, shattering into pieces on the floor. The room fell into a dreadful silence.

Their gazes met, worlds apart in expression. One looked as though he'd been dealt a grievous blow, a complete sense of defeat enveloping him. The other was cautious, clearly still trying to piece together the situation.

After what seemed like an eternity, Tarquin's phone broke the silence. He took a deep breath to steady himself before answering. The call was from Keaton. "Tarquin, I just heard about Elijah's situation, and I'm on my way to the hospital. Are you there now?" "Don't bother! I'll come to you!" Tarquin pocketed his phone and, with a last pained look at Elysia, turned and left.

Elysia watched his retreating figure, utterly baffled. Her brain was slow on the uptake, still trying to process what had just happened. He was mad because she planned to take Elijah away from Jindale City, which was understandable! But why did he ask what he meant to her?

What did he mean to her, if not the reluctant father of her child, a truth she was unwilling to admit? And why did he ask if she liked him? She'd honestly answered no, so why was he upset?

Moreover, what did her feelings for him have to do with taking Elijah away? No, it wasn't just about Elijah. He was also upset that she didn't like him! Good Lord, could he actually have feelings for her? This was... Elysia's heart raced, shocked and bewildered. But why would he like her? What about her could possibly appeal to him?

Ah, Elysia was on the verge of madness, frantically raking her fingers through her hair, reaching for her phone to call Blossom and spill her guts. But she wasn't entirely sure, how could she even begin to explain to Blossom? He'd only asked if she liked him, without confessing any feelings himself. What if she was reading too much into it?

Elysia was a whirlwind of panic and confusion...

On the other side, Mr. Bradford, with his heart in pieces, arrived at Blissful Uncle's Bar and immediately started smoking in silence. His aura was so icy, he almost scared off all the patrons, resembling a walking, human-sized freezer.

Initially, Keaton thought it was all about Elijah, bombarding him with a flurry of comments. But whether it was about Elijah or cursing Gideon, Tarquin just smoked in silence, a thunderous expression on his face. Until Elysia was mentioned...

"I heard it was Elysia who came through again, and she even passed out from exhaustion trying to save Elijah. Honestly, she truly loves Elijah." Tarquin's expression darkened ominously, his irritation palpable as he gritted his teeth. "She only loves Elijah!"

Keaton paused, then it clicked. "Are you upset because Elysia doesn't love you?"

That was it, she didn't love him! Tarquin's chest felt like it was burning, as he took a harsh drag on his cigarette. "I couldn't care less!"

"So, you don't care about Elysia's love? Then why the anger?"

"It's because she's trying to take Elijah away from me!"

Keaton was confused. "What do you mean?"

Tarquin, irritation clear on his face, flicked away his cigarette ash, the frustration evident.