Chapter 402: The Long Wait
"Ella, I just heard from John that Eric is in trouble over there. Is it true?" James’s anxious tone carried over the phone, but it only filled Ella with disdain. Where had this urgency been before? Whenever Eric faced danger in the past, James never did anything. His indifference had been especially glaring in critical moments.
"Yes, it’s true," Ella admitted. There was no point in hiding it anymore—John had already told James everything.
James was both shocked and panicked. "Did you report it to the authorities? He’s up against a powerful family—how could he be so reckless?"
Ella let out a bitter laugh. "Uncle, do you think it’s easy for Eric to make a place for himself abroad? Building a life in Country W inevitably means stepping on some big toes. If you have any influence, I hope you’ll use it now to help him—it’s the least you can do to make up for the past."
James paused, his voice tinged with sadness. "I understand. I won’t bother you further."
Ella gripped the phone tightly, her palm damp with sweat. Despite the cold weather, she felt an oppressive heat overwhelming her.
What could she do?
Would John and the others be able to find Eric and rescue him?
Her throat burned as if it were on fire. Pouring herself a glass of water, she gulped it down, but the unease remained.
She felt utterly exhausted and overwhelmed. She lay down on the bed, but the heavy weight of fatigue seemed to seep into her bones, her eyelids growing heavier by the second.
Then Lucas’s words echoed in her mind, jolting her upright with a shiver.