Chapter 16 :. 288 Voucher In the middle of the night, Mario was awakened by a sudden gasp for breath. He pushed open Eloise's bedroom door and found her thrashing violently in bed, her forehead covered in cold sweat, her lips trembling as she uttered fragmented words: "Don't... Ronald... car... blood..." Mario frowned and approached, about to reach out and wake her up, but heard her clearly say, "Mario... don't look at me... I look too ugly right now... His fingers hung in the air, his pupils suddenly contracted. There was no memory in his mind that corresponded to it, but this sentence was too specific. It was as if describing a real scene. Even more eerie was Eloise's tone, as if she had seen him with her own eyes... collecting her body. The next morning, Mario sat in the study with a thick stack of investigation reports spread out in front of him. "Checked it out, Kody pushed his glasses up, "Ms. Patnick's behavior in the past six months is completely different from before. The strangest thing is-" he pointed to a screenshot of the surveillance footage, "she suddenly withdrew all her investments from Ronald the day before the fake death plan was implemented." Mario's eyes darkened: "Continue." "And there's this, Kody pulled out another medical record, "Three months ago, Ms. Patnick had a high fever of 40 degrees, and the first thing she did when she woke up was send someone to Switzerland to find you." Mario's knuckles tapped on the desktop, the rhythm getting faster and faster. All the clues pointed to a ridiculous conclusion. The present Eloise seems to be able to predict the future. He closed the file and said, "Go check the background of the anonymous fund project under 06.18 Chapter 16 her name." At the charity gala, Eloise, wearing a long gown, entered arm in arm with Mario She keenly noticed that he was particularly silent tonight, his fingertips occasionally unconsciously rubbing the edge of the wine glass. This was his habitual action when he fell into thought. "What's wrong, Mr. Nygard? she asked softly," Mario suddenly looked at her and said, "Do you remember the bet we made when we were ten years old?" Eloise didn't hesitate: "You lost, promised to wear a skirt to school, and ended up being beaten by your dad for three days." She added with a smile, "The silver ring I gave you was the bet at that time." Mario's eyes flickered slightly, but then he asked, "Do you know why I went abroad?" "Because a year ago I told you I didn't want to see you, but in reality, it was because... Eloise's words trailed off. She saw Mario's eyes sharpen like knives." The air solidified in an instant. "Eloise, Mario set down his glass, his voice low enough that only she could hear, "I never told anyone the real reason I left my home country." He took a step closer, "Who are you really?" On the terrace, the night wind carried the scent of flowers. Eloise gripped the railing, feeling flustered for the first time since her rebirth. Mario stood in the shadow, with the moonlight only illuminating half of his face, making him appear particularly stern. "If I told you... she took a deep breath, "I died once, would you believe me?" In the next twenty minutes, Eloise laid out all the betrayals, pain, and death of her past life. When she talked about the night of the car accident, her voice began to tremble involuntarily: "They were standing across the street... watching me bleed to death..." Mario's expression changed from shock to complexity gradually. Chapter 16 9:0 288 Vouchers When Eloise mentioned that it was him who collected the body for her, his knuckles turned white from exertion. Silence spread between the two of them. "So, Mario suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice, "you chose me just out of guilt? Because you saw me collecting your dead bodies for you? And then decided to compensate me?" Eloise suddenly looked up and said, "No! I really am..." "Enough, Mario interrupted her, "I need to think carefully about the relationship between us." He turned and walked towards the door, his back stiff. "For now... let's not see each other." Eloise stood alone on the terrace, her fingertips digging deeply into the palm of her hand. She should have anticipated this outcome long ago. How could Mario, such a proud person, possibly accept a relationship that began with guilt? Laughter from the guests could be heard inside the house, mixed with Ronald's triumphant voice: "Looks like Mr. Nygard and Ms. Patnick have had a falling out..." Eloise wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and straightened her back again. Just as she was about to leave, her phone suddenly vibrated. "The bank account in Switzerland has been activated." "The three mining rights under your name have been transferred back." Next came a text message from an unknown number: "Settled." Eloise stopped in her tracks. What does it mean? With the money settled, is the next step to settle the people as well? Chapter 17 Title: Committed In CrushReel's ongoing novel "Committed," a man, grappling with the pressure to propose to his girlfriend, finds himself at a crossroads when he unexpectedly encounters a runaway bride. Seeking an escape from his relationship's demands, he embarks on a journey to Greece where he crosses paths with the enigmatic former... Exploring themes of love, commitment, and serendipity, this modern romance delves into the complexities of relationships and the unexpected turns life can take. As the protagonist navigates between duty and desire, readers are drawn into a tale of opposites attracting amidst picturesque Greek landscapes. What sets "Committed" apart is its heartfelt portrayal of emotional conflict and the pursuit of true connection. Dive into this sweet romance that promises twists of fate and heartfelt revelations. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a story that resonates with the beauty of unexpected encounters.