Page 159 of King of Ruin

Elias simply looked back at him, completely unimpressed. "What else do you expect?" he said with a shrug. "You brought another woman into your house just because you were pissed that Elise wouldn't tell you who that man was. Instead of talking to her, instead of confronting her and asking her properly, you decided to make her jealous. Now you're acting surprised because she isn't reacting the way you wanted." He leaned back in his chair, letting out a tired breath. "From where I'm standing, it looks like she's already preparing to leave you. Honestly, Xavier... I think this relationship is over."

"That's not going to happen."

The denial came so quickly that it almost sounded instinctive.

"She's not leaving me."

The thought alone made something inside Xavier violently reject it. His voice rose without him realizing it, his grip tightening around the whiskey glass until his knuckles turned white.

Elias watched him for a long moment before speaking again. "Why not? You're Xavier Chen. If you really wanted to know who that man was, you could've had someone investigate him within an hour. So why didn't you?"

Xavier's jaw flexed.

"Because I don't want to."

His answer came without hesitation.

"I want her to tell me." His frustration seeped into every word as he leaned forward. "She's my girlfriend. If another man has entered her life, why should I have to investigate it? She should be the one telling me. I asked her over and over again, and she still refused to explain. That's not fair."

Elias rubbed a hand over his face, looking more exhausted than angry now. "Then nothing is going to change," he said quietly. "If you refuse to find out the truth yourself, and she refuses to tell you, where does that leave the two of you?" His gaze settled firmly on Xavier. "She's already starting to let go of you."

The words landed like a punch to the chest.

"Tell me something honestly." Elias's voice lost its edge, becoming almost calm. "Are you actually prepared to lose Elise?"

Xavier didn't answer.

For several long seconds, he simply stared at him.

The color slowly drained from his face as the meaning of those words settled over him. All the anger that had beenburning inside him only moments ago disappeared, replaced by something infinitely worse.

"...No," he admitted at last, the word barely more than a whisper.

Elias sighed, the tension leaving his shoulders as he reached across the table and gave Xavier's shoulder a firm pat.

"I think it's about time you confessed to her. Unless you tell Elise that you love her, this isn't going to get any easier. I'm afraid your relationship is going to end just like this."

He let out a sharp breath before continuing.

"You made a mistake by bringing another woman into your relationship. She told you very clearly that the day you brought another woman between the two of you would be the day your relationship ended. Despite knowing that, you still did it, just because you wanted to get on her last nerve."

He looked at Xavier with a disappointed shake of his head.

"And now this is the result. She doesn't even want to fight with you anymore. She's just going to walk away... and it's all going to be your fault."

Xavier's entire body felt numb by the time he left Phantom.

The ache in his chest had only worsened with every passing hour, settling so heavily over him that even the alcohol couldn't drown it out. He tried to suppress the unfamiliar anxiety clawing at him, but it refused to fade. Instead, he emptied one glass after another until the bottle was nearly gone, hoping the burning whiskey would silence the thoughts that wouldn't leave him alone.

It didn't.

By the time Benjamin drove him back to the Chen mansion, it was well past midnight.

The mansion stood quiet beneath the winter sky, every light inside already turned off. Benjamin stepped out first and opened the rear door before watching Xavier climb out of the car, his movements slower than usual.

He frowned with concern.

"Mr. Chen... are you alright?" he asked cautiously. "Should I help you upstairs?"