Chapter 72 Marco's Arrival and William's Embarrassed State

Elena Garcia POV:

I was standing in the dark, when a car's headlights suddenly lit me up. The car was speeding like the driver was on a mission, making me second-guess if I should even try to flag it down.

But I didn't have much choice. It was freezing, and this place was way too isolated. Who knew when another car would come by?

I stood up and waved my arm. The car screeched to a halt with a loud, piercing brake sound. Someone jumped out in a hurry.

The headlights were so blinding that I had to shield my eyes with my other hand. I couldn't see who it was at first.

But then he spoke, and I knew right away.

"Elena? Elena!"

It was Marco. He ran over and hugged me tight, letting out a big sigh of relief.

"What are you doing out here in the middle of the night? This is dangerous," he said.

He felt how cold I was and immediately took off his suit jacket, draping it over my shoulders.

That was when I finally saw his face. He looked more serious than I'd ever seen him, his brows furrowed, and his brown eyes full of concern.

"Damn it! Did the party end early? How could he leave you here alone?" he muttered.

I didn't know what to say.

Marco cupped my face and leaned in close. "What happened? Who made you cry? You're upset, aren't you?"

The calm facade I'd been holding onto shattered. Yes, I was upset.

Unlike the time Marco found me crying in the dorm and I tried to hide it, now I just wanted to admit it.

My nose tingled, and I responded to Marco with my tears.

I couldn't hold them back anymore. Seeing Marco made me break down, and I threw myself into his arms.

"Marco, I'm so sorry. You were right," I said, hugging him tightly like he was my last safe haven.

With him, I felt a huge sense of relief.

My words were a mess, just a mix of emotional venting, grievances, sadness, anger, and guilt.

"He's a jerk," I cried softly.

Marco stiffened when I hugged him but gently patted my back over and over, his movements tender and patient. I could hear his steady heartbeat.

After I calmed down a bit, Marco took a deep breath. "Stay in the car, okay? Elena."

His voice had a hint of restraint, like the calm before a storm.

He took my hands from around his waist, kissed them, then kissed my tears. It was so reassuring.

"I'll be back soon. Stay with Noah until I do?" he said.

That was when I noticed Noah standing by the passenger door, looking awkward. Marco handed me over to him.

"There's a blanket in the car. Get it out; she needs it," Marco told Noah.

Then Marco turned and walked off in a direction I knew all too well.

I could sense what he was planning, and his departure made me anxious again, like I'd lost my comfort object.

"Marco!" I called out.

He turned to look at me. I couldn't see his expression clearly, but I could feel his emotions ready to explode like a volcano.

But he still responded patiently. "Don't worry; I won't do anything extreme." He seemed to think I was worried about William.

"I'll be back soon. Don't stop me, okay? Elena," he said, almost pleading. It seemed like he suffered the same pain as me. 

Then, without waiting for me to say anything else, he quickly left.

Back in the car, wrapped in a blanket and wearing Marco's jacket, I sat in silence.

Noah looked at me, wanting to ask something, but he hesitated.

When someone called him, Noah lowered his voice, trying not to disturb me.

"Francesco, chill out; it's just a minor issue! Marco? He'll be back soon," Noah said.

"Hmm? No, I can't go find him and hand him the phone... okay, I don't dare."

I lost track of time as sleepiness took over. When Noah called my name again, I saw Marco through the car window. His shirt was a mess, and he was holding a guy by the collar.

He dragged the guy to the car door where I was sitting. I rolled down the window.

"Talk," Marco said, kicking the guy's knee.

The guy cried out in pain.

That cry confirmed who he was.

I leaned against the car window, shocked to see the face of the man kneeling before me.

The handsome face that once made me feel a crush was now full of panic and fear. Dark circles under his eyes, swollen and bruised, he looked ugly and wretched.

"Talk," Marco repeated, grabbing his hair and forcing him to look at me.

"I'll talk! I'm so sorry, Elena. I apologize for everything I've done, okay? Please forgive me, Elena. You have to forgive me, for the sake of our relationship! Please!"

My anger flared up again. I looked at him with a mix of sarcasm and sadness. "Are you sure?"

Marco said, "Yes, for the sake of our love!"

His demeanor was so pathetic; I couldn't believe I once liked this guy. To beg for mercy, he even started lying again.

"I thought I was just a whore to you?" I said sarcastically. "When you slept with me, it felt like sleeping with a pillow, didn't it?"

I gripped the edge of the car window to stop myself from getting out and doing something rash.

"Your true love isn't me; it's Sofia."

William said, "No, I love you, Elena. Those were just jokes!"

Marco lifted his foot and kicked William's chest hard, then dragged him back in front of me.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll cut your tongue out and shove it back in your mouth. Maybe then you'll understand what you should say?" Marco's expression was dark and terrifying.

When he was fuming, he was eerily calm.

William apologized, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me, Elena. I'm sorry, I was deceived by Sofia. I'm an idiot. I shouldn't have done such horrible things! Please forgive me!"

This time, William's apology seemed more sincere, his eyes filled with anxiety, and I even saw him shed tears.

But I thought those tears weren't because he truly realized his mistake and regretted it, but because Marco scared him.

I felt bored and didn't want to see William's face anymore.

So I looked at Marco and said, "Marco, I want to leave."

Not getting my forgiveness, William became anxious, frequently glancing at Marco. Then William let out a strange cry and tried to run away. But he only stumbled a few steps before Marco pulled out a gun from his waist and fired a few shots at his feet. William fell to the ground.

"Marco!" I was shocked and flustered.

Marco remained calm. "Don't worry; I didn't aim for his head or heart."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Although William had done those disgusting things to me, I didn't want to kill him. Because that would cause trouble for Marco, which was the last thing I wanted.

I gave one last cold look at William, who was pretending to be dead on the ground, and left with Marco.

Noah was driving, and Marco sat with me in the back seat.

In the car, I leaned against the car door at first, but the door was still cold and hard, giving me no sense of security. As time passed, on a bumpy road, I leaned to the other side and couldn't help but rest against Marco.

I stiffened, not knowing what to do.

As if sensing my discomfort, Marco reached out and gently placed my head on his shoulder to make me more comfortable. Then he gently patted my back through my clothes.

"Sleep, Elena, have a good sleep," he said, his voice full of tenderness.