Chapter 83 Preventing Irene's Departure
Edward received Millicent's text just as he was about to reach the airport. His anxiety spiked and he pedalled even faster.
"I'll be there in a few minutes. Please buy me some time," Edward replied. Time had never passed so slowly before and the road to the airport felt endless.
"Okay," Millicent replied.
However, there was only so much she could do to stall Irene. If Edward didn't arrive at the airport in time, everything would've been for nought.
"Alright guys, I should go check in," Irene said. There were less people in the queue to check in, so she stood up. Reluctant as she was, she needed to stick to her decision.
"Okay. Irene, let me carry your baby for you. It'll be more convenient that way," Millicent said, trying to stall. Like this, Irene would need to come to get her baby before passing the security gates. Edward would now have slightly more time.
"Millicent, are you trying to stall time for Edward?" Elio asked after Irene left. He noticed what Millicent had been doing.
He saw how anxious Millicent had been when she looked at her phone.
"Yeah. I know how much they love each other, but Celine and Eric's villainous plan wedged a misunderstanding between them. As Irene's best friend, I should do something to help them."
Millicent spoke her mind without caring what Elio might think about her.
In any case, Elio didn't like her. That had always been obvious, hadn't it?
"You did the right thing, Millicent," Elio said. He didn't expect her to be so concerned about Irene or treat her so well. He felt like he had just met her for the first time.
"Yeah. Thanks for understanding, Elio," Millicent said in surprise. She thought he would oppose her, but he didn't.
"It's okay. I can see how much you care about Irene. It's hard to find such a good friend nowadays," Elio said sincerely.
"Alright, I'm leaving. I'll contact both of you once I reach Italy. Bye!" Irene said as she took her child from Millicent before turning around.
Suddenly, Irene's cell phone vibrated. She declined the call when she saw Edward's name on the screen.
Edward couldn't find Irene when he arrived, so he called her anxiously. But she didn't want to answer it.
He had no choice but to call Millicent instead.
"Millicent, where are you now?" Edward asked anxiously.
"We're at the boarding pass! Hurry, Irene has just checked in!" Millicent exclaimed. She hoped he could reach Irene in time and prevent her from going to Italy. "Millicent, where's Irene?" Edward asked. He didn't see Irene anywhere near Millicent and Elio.
"She's just gone in! Hurry, go!" she yelled. Edward dashed through the gates right after she was done speaking. Both Millicent and Elio stood there in shock.
Edward searched for Irene desperately, but he couldn't find her in the crowd. Just when he almost lost his mind, he saw her about to board the plane.
"Wait, Irene! Don't leave me behind! Are you really going to leave by yourself?! Don't you love me anymore?" Edward yelled. He ran over and hugged her tightly, pressing her body into his.
"Why are you here, Edward? How did you know that I was here? Did Millicent ask you to come here?" Irene retorted. She was quite happy to see him chase after her. She felt rather hollow when she didn't see him earlier.
Irene wasn't sure why such thorny questions came out of her mouth when she saw him rush to her eagerly.
"Irene, you can't leave me alone. Come home with me," Edward said before grabbing her hand and leading her away from the crowd.
Irene resisted at first, but she could not overpower a man. Moreover, she was holding her baby and had to leave with him.
"Let go, Edward! Why are you doing this to me? I'm free to go wherever I want. It's none of your business! You should be with Celine instead of wasting your precious time here."
Irene slipped out of Edward's grip after they got away from the crowd. She spoke coldly to him because what happened between Celine and him was still on her mind.
"Irene, I can explain. Please listen?" Edward pleaded. He had to clear up this misunderstanding.
However, Irene only stood there silently.
"Irene, I swear I have never been in a relationship with Celine. Eric and Celine have conspired against us! Come, I'll show you the videos and recordings when we get home." Edward wasn't sure what to do when Irene didn't react. Did she really throw away all her feelings for him?
"What's wrong, Irene? Don't you trust me? Or do you not care about me anymore?" Edward spoke, hurt evident in his voice.
How could Irene not notice? She knew Edward was sad, but she didn't understand why she felt so distant from him. "No, Edward."
Irene was happy to hear that he had nothing to do with Celine. If he had told her about this earlier, she would've been elated.
But things had changed. She could no longer return to her cheerful self. No matter how much he explained himself, there was no way for her to bridge the gap between their hearts. Perhaps the farthest distance in the world was the gulf between hearts. It didn't matter that they were physically close to each other now.
But there was a deep gulf between their hearts now.
Edward smiled when Irene finally replied. She noticed a subtle change in him.
"Hello, we're about to take off. Do you still want to board?" asked the air stewardess. She didn't want them to miss the flight.
"We aren't boarding. Thank you!" Edward answered. He would definitely not allow Irene to leave him.
"Let's go home, Irene," Edward said gently.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and led her away from the boarding area.
Now that Edward was here, Irene knew he would never allow her to leave. She had no choice but to return with him. "Irene, Edward! You're back!" Millicent said happily.
Millicent was looking in the direction of the boarding area anxiously, but she couldn't find Irene or Edward anywhere.
Moreover, the staff had just announced that the flight would be taking off soon. She thought that Edward couldn't find Irene in the crowd. Or perhaps she was unwilling to return with him.
"Yeah. Thanks, Millicent," Edward said sincerely. He wouldn't be able to find Irene so quickly without her help.
"Let's go home," Irene said indifferently, and nobody could tell if she was upset or happy. However, she came to realise that Edward was very charismatic. He could even win over Millicent's favour. She needed to give him some credit for that.
In the past, Millicent would support her fully no matter what decision she made-even if it was a little unconventional. Yet now, she had decided to help Edward stop her from leaving.
"Okay, Irene, let's go!" Millicent answered quickly. She knew that Irene would punish her for this, so she buttered up to her.
"Irene, let me carry your baby. You must be tired after carrying her for so long," Millicent said thoughtfully as she reached out for the child.
"Okay. You're the best, Millicent!" Irene agreed. After all, she knew Millicent was worried she would be mad, but she needed to say something meaningful.
Edward and Elio chuckled involuntarily.0000☐☐☐☐