Chapter 212 - Regrets

Meanwhile, at the abandoned warehouse, Erick and Spike were already back inside. They didn't waste any more time as they both approached Selena.

Then, they saw James who was already standing in front of his sister. He already removed her blindfold. It looked like Selena was drugged as she still remained unconscious.

When Erick reached the siblings, he paused for a moment to meet James's gaze. After nodding with each other, Erick examined the bomb which was attached to Selena's body.

A puzzled frown etched into his face as he saw the bomb was already deactivated. 'Who did it? I thought he called me because the time is running out and the bomb is about to explode.'

He gazed up to see James. He gave him a questioning look as if asking him if he was the one who deactivated the bomb.

"The bomb just automatically stopped a while ago when I approached Selena." James lied to him.

The truth was Elle already deactivated the bomb before she turned around to face Erick whom she thought was James. 

Spike had no idea that the bomb was already disarmed and purposely used it as an alibi to stop Erick from chasing Elle. He heaved a sigh of relief as Selena's life was no longer in danger.

Though he couldn't believe it, Catseye remained true to her words that she won't hurt Selena. Now, he understood that Catseye was really a clever woman. He thought they already cornered her but she was still able to escape from their grasp.

But the good thing was James's plan worked out in the end. He was able to reveal Catseye's true identity to Chief Detective Lee. She also got hurt and looked miserable when she left the warehouse.

And finally, they were able to find out who was the mastermind behind the assassination of Jorge Arison, the father of Selena and James. Now, he wondered what will be the next move of his boss, James.

When the 'bomb thing' was resolved, all of a sudden, Erick asked James and Spike.

"Did you see Catseye? Did you meet her?"

Erick asked the two men just to confirm if they saw Elle's face and discovered her true identity. He didn't know why but he was worried that Elle's identity would not be hidden anymore. 

Though as a detective assigned to this case, he had an obligation to reveal her identity and he was supposed to catch her to make her pay for all her crimes. However, he felt the other way around. Despite the conflicting thoughts he had, deep inside, he still wanted to protect her and hide her identity from others.

But, he wasn't supposed to do that. This was against his morals as a detective, as a man of justice. He didn't know what to think and what he should do anymore. 

And now, with his serious expression, he was anticipating James and Spike's answer to his question.

Spike and James looked at each other before one of them spoke up.

"We didn't see her," James replied to him that made Spike silently wonder why James pretended that he didn't discover Catseye's true identity.

"We just arrived here a few moments ago. We heard a gunshot then we rushed here. When we entered, Spike saw you running so he came to follow you." James added.

A few moments ago, James just finished giving his instruction to Black Shadow and Spike when they saw a car from a distance, coming to their location.

James decided to hide at first. He already guessed that the person who was inside that car was detective Lee. He was surprised that Erick was able to get there in just a short period. They just sent him the location but suddenly he appeared on site.

But still, he was glad that he came as early as this. It was the right timing for Erick to see Elle was inside together with Selena who played as the victim. When they saw Erick stepped out of his car and cautiously proceeded inside the warehouse, the three of them secretly followed him behind.

Black Shadow's action was able to help him in reaching the desired outcome of his plan. After that incident, it looked like he succeeded in stirring conflict between Erick and Elle.

Even though he was happy with the outcome, James couldn't stop himself from worrying about Elle as he saw her flee with her injured arm. Then he asked Black Shadow to follow Elle and make sure that she was just fine.

Aside from James's order, Black Shadow had the intention to follow Catseye since he also wanted to talk with her. 

As of this moment, Erick felt relieved after hearing James's answer. Then after a few seconds, James returned his question to him.

"How about you Chief Lee? Did you see her?"

Erick was rendered speechless. He didn't know what to say and what to reply. He was debating with himself whether to tell them the truth or lie. Then after much thought, he answered him.

"Yes, I saw her. I saw Catseye." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

James gave him a meaningful glance as his lips twitched, suppressing a smile.

'I knew it. You will still choose to be righteous and betray the one you love. I think your love for her is not that strong to accept her. You didn't even think twice as you shot her a while ago.' James was rejoicing but at the same time ridiculing Erick in his mind.

However, Erick's next words proved James's assumption was wrong.

"But… I didn't see her face. She was wearing a mask." Erick added as he lied also with them.

James's expression darkened as he knew that Erick was lying to them. However, he was able to conceal his displeasure.

"Why did Catseye kidnap Selena? Do you know the reason?" Erick asked them again.

James signaled Spike to untie Selena and remove the bomb which was wrapped around her body. Spike nodded as he followed his command.

James was looking at Selena when he simply replied to Erick: "Money. Just because of the money. She asked us to give her a hundred million in exchange for Selena's life."

'Money?! Just because of money?' Erick repeated James's words in his mind. Disbelief was written on his handsome face. He couldn't believe it.

Erick somehow believed that there must be a deeper reason why Elle did this. But he couldn't pinpoint it as of now. He wanted to find the answer and the only solution he could think of was to talk and ask Elle by himself.

'I need to find her as soon as possible. I think I am going mad if I won't see her right now. D*mn, she was still injured!' Erick was still blaming himself.

As he ensured that Selena was already safe and James was there to take care of her, Erick decided to leave and try to search for Elle. As he bade them goodbye, he immediately rushed to his car and grabbed his phone. He checked Elle's current location through the GPS tracking which was sent to him by Rose.

But to his disappointment, Elle's signal was already gone on the screen. Erick cursed inwardly as punched the steering wheel at the front. He felt helpless and desperate. He didn't know how he would be able to find Elle.

She probably switched off her phone that's why the signal suddenly disappeared.

"Elle, please turn on your phone. Please… please wifey. I need to find you." Erick mumbled to himself.

The guilt he felt, his worry for Elle, and his fear of losing her were suffocating him. He felt like his world was about to crumble into pieces without Elle.

Feeling lost and empty, Erick drove his car away from the warehouse. When he was driving on the main road, suddenly he stopped the car on a certain part of the road, just a kilometer away from the warehouse.

He stared absentmindedly in front, then a memory just crossed his mind. Then he realized this was the place where he first met Elle. He clutched his chest as he felt like his heart was being squeezed.

Elle's beautiful pale face popped up in his mind. She was also wearing all black that night-black plain shirt matching with black jeans. She was badly injured and bleeding too much. She was struggling with pain.

In his mind, he remembered how his chest suddenly tightened with an ache just like what he was feeling right now when he first saw Elle in that terrible state.

He rushed in towards her direction and he saw her clear and dark alluring eyes filled with relief as she stared at him. Then he caught her in his arms as she collapsed in front of him.

That was their fateful encounter. The moment their paths had crossed with each other. He vividly remembered that memory in his mind right now. He had sworn to protect her after that but now, he failed to do it as he hurt her with his own hands. His regrets were torturing him.

He felt overwhelming pain and sadness. "D*mn, it hurts so much! It really hurts!" he mumbled through gritted teeth as he punched his own chest several times.

Then the tears came without warning as warm liquids already made its way in the corner of his eyes, rolling down his face. He slammed his eyes shut as he ground his teeth.

'Elle… I am sorry. I really am. I hope you can still forgive me. I hope you don't hate me.'