Chapter 125: I've Fallen for You
Matthew told Ella that the hospital had reported another shooting victim, a somewhat well-known businessman named Zachary. Matthew planned to rush to the hospital and hoped Ella would join him.
Ella was a squad leader in the police department's women's anti-riot team, responsible for security incidents involving or targeting women. Zachary's case had nothing to do with her job.
She knew Matthew's true intention was to help her advance by involving her in more major cases, but also to get closer to her.
If the anti-riot team were needed, her superiors would be involved, not her as a squad leader.
She had no feelings for Matthew and was focused on proving whether Henry was her biological brother, so she declined Matthew's invitation.
To her surprise, Ryan called shortly after, saying there were reports of forced prostitution at Violet Bar and asked her to investigate that night.
Ella had heard rumors that Ryan's brother-in-law, Quentin, had shares in the bar, or that the shares were his. Without evidence, most people dismissed it as gossip. Some said Quentin handled all the bar's renovations, and the rumors were just jealousy.
But Ryan's call was clearly suspicious. If forced prostitution was happening, it had nothing to do with Henry, who had only taken over the bar that morning. Investigating that night was obviously targeting Henry. If the station had planned this, her superiors would have informed her, not Ryan.
Ella realized Ryan, misled by Erick, thought she was Erick's girlfriend. Erick's bar was taken by Henry, and Ryan was seeking allies.
Ella agreed, wanting to understand Ryan's connection to Violet Bar.
So, when she entered the hospital, she asked about Zachary's injury, knowing it was Henry's doing but seeing no signs of guilt in him. She couldn't tell if Henry was a natural actor or if she believed he was her brother.
When Henry asked if she had talked to Bryan, Ella didn't answer but asked, "Why did you suddenly ask if my parents had given away or lost a son?"
Henry calmly asked, "Did you ask them at lunch?"
"They said it wasn't true!" Ella replied. "I think so too. Our family was well-off. Even if we had more children, they wouldn't give one away, especially a son."
Henry noticed Ella's words contradicted her uncertain eyes. She seemed to suspect something after asking her parents.
This was also Henry's biggest question. If his parents were poor, or if his mother was a prostitute as his foster mother initially said, it made sense to give him away. But his foster mother later revealed his mother was a noblewoman. Despite being a rural woman, his foster mother could distinguish between a city prostitute and a noblewoman.
Henry had seen Aurora. In her forties, she looked thirty. Twenty years ago, she would have left a lasting impression on his foster mother.
Henry smiled wryly, "Maybe I'm mistaken. A friend of mine was given away as a child. His foster mother told him his biological mother drove a red car and personally handed him over. He said the license plate was the same as your mother's car, so I paid special attention."
Ella asked, "What's your friend's name?"
"Oh," Henry said, "He's a fellow inmate. He told me this because I mentioned my brother in Harbor Springs. I don't know his real name, just his nickname, Ivan."
Ella thought: Who are you fooling? You can't even make up a name. You're Henry, and he's Ivan? At least make up a name unrelated to yours!
Ella nodded nonchalantly, "When will your IV be done?"
"Soon, maybe half an hour."
"Any plans tonight?"
"No."
"Okay," Ella said, "There's a concert at the stadium tonight. Someone gave me two tickets. Let's go together."
Henry was stunned, "Us?"
Ella gave him a sideways look, "Is that a problem?"
"No," Henry explained, "You're a beautiful cop, and I'm an ex-convict. Isn't it inappropriate for us to go to a concert together?"
"What's inappropriate? Do you think I'm not good enough for you?"
Henry was shocked: I already have a troublesome brother like Bryan. Now I have a quirky sister? With your family's wealth and you being a beautiful cop, why would you like an ex-convict?
At that moment, Henry saw the same wild streak in Ella that he saw in Isabelle.
"No, Ella, what do you mean?"
"Nothing, I've fallen for you!"
Henry was covered in goosebumps, "No, I already have a girlfriend."
"Who?"
Henry almost blurted out Isabelle's name but quickly said, "You wouldn't know her."
"What's her name? Tell me!"
Henry knew she was using interrogation tactics. Any hesitation would give him away.
"Leon, the village beauty."
Henry couldn't think of another name, so he said Leon's.
Ella frowned, thinking the name sounded familiar.
"Do you think I'm not as good as her?" Ella remembered who Leon was and asked.
Henry awkwardly smiled, "No, it's just difficult. Besides, I was in prison for six years, and she waited for me."
"How old is she?"
"The same age as me, we're classmates."
"Have you seen her recently?"
"Yes, we talked on the phone yesterday. She's waiting for me to come back."
Ella walked over, pressed Henry's head, and ruffled his hair. It seemed like she was angry, but she was actually pulling his hair. "If I'm not mistaken, Leon is 27, married, and has a five-year-old child, right?"
Ella then angrily walked out the door.
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