The air in the villa congealed, everything living around seemed absent, leaving only a deathly stillness. A terrifying stillness. Jace Kingsley sat on the couch in the living room, with Elara Shelby beside him. At this moment, Elara Shelby held Jace Kingsley’s hand, looking at the motionless person with an extremely pale face, and eyes devoid of any sparkle. Her heart ached intensely. "Jace, come back to Sea City with your mother." "Don’t come back to this place of heartache again." Jace Kingsley remained silent, neither responding nor moving at all. It was as if Elara Shelby’s words hadn’t reached his ears, or if they had, they couldn’t reach his heart. He seemed like a puppet, a soulless puppet with only a body. Elara Shelby had already anticipated that telling Jace Kingsley the fact that Ava Sterling had married Poe Vaughn would be hard for him to accept, yet she hadn’t expected his emotions to be so intense. Intense to the point where he couldn’t make any movement. Such a state of Jace Kingsley made her heart extremely painful and afraid. Afraid that something might happen to Jace Kingsley. He was her only son, her dearest son. For a long time, Jace Kingsley had no reaction, and Elara Shelby’s heart grew increasingly anxious, even her hand started trembling: "Jace, say something, speak to your mother." Bella Ainsworth stood behind the sofa, watching Elara Shelby gradually lose her calm, then looking at Jace Kingsley, who had been frozen ever since Elara Shelby mentioned Ava marrying Poe Vaughn, her brows furrowed. She spoke up, "Young master, please say something, madam is very worried about you." Normally, Elara Shelby wouldn’t have Bella Ainsworth speak, and Bella wouldn’t speak. But now, seeing Elara Shelby , she had to speak. Jace Kingsley showed no sign of movement, but his mind was filled with numerous thoughts racing by. At the same time, many images floated before his eyes. From initial shock, disbelief, to gradual acceptance, suspicion, his emotions were rapidly changing. He never thought Ava would marry Poe Vaughn, he had guessed countless possibilities, except for this one. Because Ava had said she didn’t want to get married, and he knew she wasn’t lying to him. So, he had never thought Ava would get married. Moreover, that person was Poe Vaughn. Such a cold person, a person without warmth, always ruthless and iron-handed in the business world, someone no person or thing could sway. Why would someone like that marry Ava? If it’s love or affection. He didn’t believe it, nor did he think it was possible. Google seaʀᴄh NoveI~Fire.net Recalling everything that had happened since he met Ava again, he was certain Ava and Poe Vaughn had no affection. Precisely because there was no affection, Ava would marry Poe Vaughn. He didn’t know the full story or the process, but some things he was certain of. Because no one in this world understood Ava better than he did. From the year they met, he had engraved her into his mind, then returned to the Kingsley Family, worked hard to reach the position he wanted, always keeping an eye on Ava. He clearly knew what Ava wanted, she couldn’t be bound by marriage, much less easily trust someone. And she hadn’t known Poe Vaughn for long, even extremely short. Marrying Poe Vaughn in such a short time likely had some reason. The images flashed faster before his eyes, from their reunion to everything afterward, Ava’s changes, and he gradually calmed down. Originally, Ava was willing to give him a chance, but later, she said it was not possible, not now. Which meant, she needed time. Her marriage to Poe Vaughn wouldn’t last, she would end this sudden marriage relationship with Poe Vaughn. Later, she completely severed ties with him, because she realized her marital status and knew his intentions, under such circumstances, she couldn’t delay him, couldn’t hurt him. So, she resolutely cut him off. Even as friends, they couldn’t be. Her actions didn’t mean she had no feelings for him, on the contrary, she did have feelings. That’s why she did this. If there were no feelings, she wouldn’t need to sever the friendship at all, really wouldn’t need to. At this moment, a strange light flashed in Jace Kingsley’s eyes, and he gradually smiled. Amidst Elara Shelby’s growing panic, a smile appeared on his face. An incomparably happy smile. Seeing Jace Kingsley’s sudden smile, the gleam in his eyes, Elara Shelby was shocked and even frightened. This state of Jace Kingsley worried her more than before, and at this moment, Elara Shelby’s voice was unsteady. "Jace, don’t smile, your mother..." Elara Shelby’s voice reached Jace Kingsley’s ears at this moment, and he turned his head, looking at the worried and anxious, pale person, gripping Elara Shelby’s hand, and smiled, "Mother, I’m fine." His voice was calm, and the smile in his eyes was as usual, even reverting to the always reassuring look of the past. Elara Shelby was stunned, "You... what is this..." At this moment, Elara Shelby couldn’t fathom Jace Kingsley’s thoughts. She carefully examined his face, his expression, his smile, to see if he was truly happy or if it was a smile of extreme anger or sorrow. Jace Kingsley knew what Elara Shelby was thinking, his voice became even more gentle, "Mother, I’m really fine." With that, Jace Kingsley took Elara Shelby’s hand to touch his face, letting her confirm whether he was truly fine. Elara Shelby carefully touched Jace Kingsley’s cheeks, looked at his brows, saw the genuine smile in his eyes, after a long time, her heart calmed down. She could be certain that her Jace was fine. But how could this be? How could he be fine? Elara Shelby was doubtful. "Jace, what do you think in your heart, tell your mother, your mother wants to hear your thoughts." Elara Shelby’s hand left Jace Kingsley’s face, holding his hand, looking into his eyes, wanting to see Jace Kingsley’s thoughts from his eyes. Jace Kingsley’s gaze shifted slightly, and he said, "Mother, if I said, I still have only Ava in my heart, what would you do?" Elara Shelby’s brow furrowed momentarily, a fleeting flash of killing intent in her eyes. Jace Kingsley saw it, and his smile vanished, both on his face and in his eyes. He gripped Elara Shelby’s hand, his expression becoming serious and solemn, "Mother, I’ve waited for Ava for twelve years." "Twelve years, I’ve always had people watch over her, protect her, such feelings can’t be easily discarded." Elara Shelby’s brow furrowed even tighter. Twelve years, a cycle of human life, can’t be obliterated by a casual word. "I don’t know how to tell you about Ava’s current situation, but I can be sure of one thing, she didn’t marry Poe Vaughn out of feelings for him, but for some other reason." "I don’t know the specific reason." "But I want to tell you, in this life, I will marry no one but Ava."