"I don't need you to decide what I am," Blanche had shed her previous indecisiveness. "If you want to go back and leave safely, you can only take these words with you."
Though she was very reluctant, she had no choice but to agree for her own safety.
Watching the man leave, Blanche bit her lip hard. Allen, are you really going to be this ruthless?
Felix noticed that Blanche had let the man go and asked, "Did you reach an agreement?"
"Yes," Blanche replied softly. "Thank you for your help this time."
"You're welcome. You've helped me before, haven't you?"
Blanche fell silent. Felix could see that she was in a bad mood and asked, "What's wrong? Is the situation not resolved yet?"
After everything she had been through, Blanche felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. She replied wearily, "As long as no one is dead, things will keep piling up."
"Feeling this way isn't good," Felix comforted her.
"I'm not being negative; I'm just stating the facts."
Blanche thought she had escaped from New York City and from Allen, only to realize he had followed her. Today he sent someone, but what about the future? Would he come looking for her in person?
"Things will keep piling up, but they will also get resolved. Don't worry," Felix said, even though he didn't know the specifics, but seeing Blanche so downcast made him want to reassure her.
"Thank you," Blanche appreciated Felix's kindness.
Although they had only known each other for a few days, they had become friends. Felix promised that during their time on the boat, he would protect her and Jason, ensuring that no outsiders would disturb them.
Blanche thanked him, but he had no idea that Allen had seeped into her very being like air. No matter how far she ran, she could never escape Allen's grasp.
Bang—
Allen kicked the door open, his violent emotions no longer suppressed. He strode directly towards Leslie, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Al… Allen… what are you doing here?" Leslie asked nervously, hiding something behind her.
"What's wrong? Not welcome?" Allen asked.
"No, I would love to see you every day, but… didn't you go abroad?"
Leslie cautiously looked at him. Because Allen had left, she had let her people search for Blanche, and they had already rushed to the sea at top speed. In just a few days, they would catch up with Blanche.
But now, why was Allen back? Did he find out… No, it was impossible; no one could have leaked the information. Allen must have returned because he missed her.
"Allen, look at you, coming back so travel-worn without even telling me," Leslie pouted. "Come, let me take care of you."
Allen didn't want Leslie to touch him at all. He grabbed her wrist forcefully and growled, "Don't play tricks on me. Where is she?!"
Leslie didn't understand what Allen meant. "What do you mean, where is she? What tricks? Allen, what are you talking about… I don't understand."
Allen despised people who pretended to be confused. The fact that Leslie still wouldn't reveal the truth was practically asking for death.
"Stop pretending!" Allen had lost all patience. "Don't think I don't know what you've done, Leslie. If anything happens to her at sea, I'll throw you into the water to feed the fish!"
Leslie's face changed instantly, her lips turning pale. "How… how do you know?"
Leslie underestimated Allen. She thought he would obediently leave according to her plan, completely unaware that Allen had never trusted her from the beginning.
"If you want to keep something from others, don't do it yourself. Speak up!" Allen was too tired to waste any more words with Leslie.
But Leslie didn't want to tell Allen anything, especially seeing him lose his mind and become so crazed over Blanche.
"Blanche is dead! Don't think you'll ever find her!" Leslie gritted her teeth.
"What?!"
Two flames ignited in Allen's eyes. "What have you done to her?!"
Leslie felt as if her arm was about to break; Allen's strong grip was nearly crushing her.
"I told you, she's dead. She jumped into the sea to commit suicide!"
Allen's ears rang, and his mind buzzed; he was momentarily at a loss for how to react.
"You pushed Blanche to a dead end. She had no choice but to jump into the sea to end it," Leslie said, pretending to be sympathetic. "Allen, I feel for you. I know you care about that woman… but she is ungrateful, taking your kindness for granted, even trampling on your feelings. A person like that is not worth mourning."
"Shut up!" Allen spat the words through clenched teeth.
"Allen, I'm speaking the truth. Blanche knew she had nowhere to go and couldn't escape your grasp. In a moment of despair, she jumped into the sea. I was really sad when I found out. I know she meant a lot to you… but I didn't want to see you so hurt, so I said she went abroad. Allen, I'm only thinking of you. My heart is only for you. Don't think about Blanche anymore; she has no heart."
In just a few sentences, Leslie cleared herself of guilt. She pretended to care for Allen and acted understanding, hoping to win his forgiveness.
But how could Allen believe Leslie because of those few words? In his heart, Blanche was strong and smart. Although she had betrayed him, she had never changed. And Jason was by her side—how could Blanche leave Jason behind?
Most importantly, Allen didn't want Blanche to be gone.
"If she's dead, then the next steps will be easier," Allen said.
Leslie felt a surge of joy; it seemed Allen believed her.
"Yes, Allen, you'll have a brand new life and won't have to suffer from that woman anymore."
Allen nodded. "But, Jason still needs to be brought back."
Jason was Allen's son, destined to inherit everything from the Smith family. Although Leslie didn't want Jason to return, she had no capacity to give birth herself, so she had no choice but to agree.
"Then I'll take care of Jason when he comes back," Leslie said with a smile.
"Although I don't have the chance to be a mother, I will study hard to be a good one…"
The implication of her words was that she intended to marry Allen and become Jason's stepmother, wasn't it?
Allen watched this unfold and scoffed coldly to himself. Leslie was not worthy of being his son's mother.
The only woman he had ever recognized as his wife was Blanche.
What he could confirm now was that Blanche had left this place and was on a ship, but he still needed to search carefully to find out which ship it was.
Allen wasn't sure if, upon learning that he was looking for her, Blanche would try to escape again.
Why was this woman always avoiding him? The thought ignited a fire within Allen.
He had already made concessions, planned to remarry her, and even arranged a wedding. Why did she still want to run away? Did she hate him that much? Or was there another man in her heart?
Allen's brow furrowed, and the hostility between his brows deepened. Seeing that Allen was angry, Leslie tried to soothe him, saying, "Allen, that woman doesn't recognize your worth. Don't think about her anymore; why not consider our future instead?"
Allen shot her a cold glance. "You can't even have children. What future is there?"
Leslie's face instantly lost all color. Allen had deliberately touched on her pain points to punish her.
"President." Matthew caught up with Allen as he exited the door.
"I want all the information on ships in the recent sea areas, including how many people are on board, who they are, and what they are doing."
"Understood."
"And," Allen's hand, which was in his pocket, curled slightly. His tone became somewhat difficult, "When you find her, don't alert her…"
This was Allen's greatest and most difficult concession. He wanted nothing more than for Blanche to return immediately, but he had to hold back to avoid alarming her.
Matthew understood the president's concerns. Years ago, Allen had defied the Smith family's opposition and resolutely left to be with Blanche, enduring a lot of pressure. Although they had experienced many changes since then, Allen's feelings for Blanche had never changed, even after she betrayed him and ran away…
Thinking of this, Matthew felt some resentment. How could Blanche be so ungrateful? Didn't she see the president's feelings for her?!
"President, why not just bring her back directly? Stopping all the ships now will…"
Before Matthew could finish his sentence, he was silenced by a fierce glare from Allen.
Matthew realized he had misspoken and quickly shut his mouth. He had no idea that no matter how harshly Allen spoke about Blanche, he couldn't bear to hurt her even a little.
"Remember, don't touch her. I want to see her return safely," Allen instructed.
"Yes," Matthew replied.
Jason's mood improved significantly after eating the candied hawthorn made by Blanche. It might also be because Felix had been accompanying and entertaining him, so Jason's expression had brightened considerably.
"Mommy, are we going to Uncle's house when we dock today?"
"Uncle" naturally referred to Felix.