Chapter 288: You Said It Yourself: That Was Then

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: You Said It Yourself: That Was Then

Once he was sure the group was long gone, Hector Garland slowly emerged from the shadows.

He had deliberately hidden himself because, when it came down to it, he didn’t fully trust Rick Shepherd.

The man was deeply cunning and treacherous; he couldn’t be trusted completely.

His willingness to cooperate with Rick Shepherd was solely for the purpose of taking down Seth Shepherd.

When Seth Shepherd had taken over the Black Dragon Society with an iron fist and secured his position as its leader, Hector Garland’s status within the organization had declined day by day. Eventually, he was exiled to M-Country to oversee an insignificant transfer station, completely cut off from the society’s core affairs.

If not for Seth Shepherd, his big brother would never have met such a fate.

His big brother had given him a new lease on life. For all these years, he had bided his time, feigning submission to Seth Shepherd. His only reason for staying in the Black Dragon Society was to overthrow Seth and rescue his big brother from the underground prison.

But Seth Shepherd was naturally vigilant, ruthless, and suspicious. He never truly accepted the old guard who had served the previous generation of leaders. Even when he kept them employed, he erected defenses and restraints at every level.

Hector Garland had been plotting in secret for years but could never find an opportunity to strike.

The rift between the brothers, Rick and Seth Shepherd, ran deep. Hector Garland planned to exploit the Shepherd Family’s internal strife to bring Seth down.

Once Seth Shepherd fell and Rick Shepherd took over the Black Dragon Society, he could seize the opportunity to rescue his big brother and reclaim everything that was rightfully theirs.

Rick Shepherd was all ambition with no foresight. Compared to the ruthless and meticulous Seth, he was far easier to manipulate.

He never expected that Rick Shepherd would actually try to have his own brother killed, secretly sending men to ambush him. The attack left Seth Shepherd gravely injured and in a coma, his fate uncertain.

Returning to the cave where he was hiding, Hector Garland took a new, unopened cell phone from his backpack. He inserted a newly purchased SIM card and dialed a number he hadn’t contacted in over a decade.

After a long series of rings, the call finally connected. He announced himself.

"It’s me, Hector Garland."

A cold, impatient voice came from the other end.

"I told you long ago to cut off all contact. Why are you calling me now?"

"Jared Hawthorne has been investigating that old incident for years. I don’t know which clue led him to me, but now he’s teamed up with Jax Blackwood, and they’re hunting me everywhere. I’m in grave danger."

"The hitman from back then is long dead. The trail should have gone completely cold. How could they have traced it to you?"

"I’m not sure why yet, but now isn’t the time to dwell on it. You have to help me escape. If they catch me, and I’m cornered, I’ll have no choice but to give you up."

"Hector Garland, how dare you!"

"You know my character. I don’t have many principles to begin with. When pushed into a corner, I’m capable of anything."

The other end of the line fell silent for a moment.

After a while, the other party relented.

"Where are you now? I’ll arrange for my men to pick you up."

「The Forrester Estate.」

The butler, having pieced together the entire story from his investigation, bowed before Patriarch Forrester to deliver his report.

"Patriarch Forrester, that is the situation. The young master is currently in Ashmore with Miss Hughes."

Patriarch Forrester’s expression suddenly turned cold, his tone filled with anger.

"Contact Tristan immediately. Tell him to return to Portclyde at once."

’This is absolutely absurd.’

’He’s already married, with Bonnie waiting for him at home, yet he’s off on a trip alone with his first love, without any regard for his own wife’s feelings.’

’That Justine Hughes has no sense of propriety. She let him go back then, and now she’s clinging to him again.’

’Does she really think that after three years, the Forrester Family would just accept her and let her marry in?’

The butler lowered his head and replied, "I have tried to contact the young master multiple times, but his phone has been switched off."

"Send men to track them down. The moment they’re found, bring them back immediately."

"Yes, sir." The butler agreed, then paused and spoke cautiously, "But if the young master insists on not returning..."

"It’s not up to him."

「Ashmore.」

This was the third day Tristan Forrester had been with Justine Hughes.

During the passionate days of their youth, they had come here on a holiday. The entire small city was filled with their vivid, warm memories.

On the peak of Solara Temple’s mountain, Justine Hughes stood gazing into the distance, her eyes filled with nostalgia. Below her, green mountains stretched endlessly, and beside her, the ancient Tree of Love was draped with layers of red ribbons. Each and every one held the hopes of lovers from all over the world.

Tristan Forrester stood beside her, his tall and straight figure imposing. His dark eyes were calm and unreadable, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.

"It hasn’t changed at all after so many years." Justine Hughes turned around, looking up at him with her eyes full of expectation. "Tristan, do you remember? We heard this Tree of Love was very powerful, so I pestered you to come here just to hang a ribbon. Do you remember what we wrote on it?"

"It’s been too long. I don’t remember," Tristan Forrester’s voice was flat, devoid of any warmth.

The smile on Justine Hughes’s face froze instantly. The light in her eyes dimmed, and a hint of bitterness crept into her expression.

"I don’t believe you’ve forgotten. I know you’re still angry with me for abandoning you for my career and ambitions back then."

"I was never angry with you. From beginning to end, I’ve always respected your choice."

Justine Hughes reached out and gently clutched the corner of his shirt, her voice softening.

"Well, I regret it now. I want to come back to you. Can you..."

"No."

Tristan Forrester cut her off expressionlessly, his dark eyes looking straight at her as he spoke, each word painfully clear.

"Justine, I’ve told you before. You chose this path. There’s no turning back. You and I can never go back to how things were."

Justine Hughes had been his first love, the one he’d fallen for in his youth. Back then, he had genuinely wanted to spend his life with her.

At the time, everyone had been against them. He was even willing to defy his family, his initial resolve unshaken.

But all his persistence was met with her letting go so easily, severing all ties between them.

She had her ambitions and her pride. He didn’t want to force her, so he let go to let her be, allowing her to pursue the future she wanted.

Before he agreed to his grandfather’s request to marry Bonnie, he had actually given her another chance. He had secretly waited for her to come back. If only she had shown regret, he would have married her without holding any grudges.

But in the end, she never came back.

Justine Hughes’s eyes instantly reddened, a thin layer of mist welling up.

"Why not? Have you really fallen in love with Bella Thorne? Did you forget what you said under this tree all those years ago? You personally told me you would stay with me for life, that you would never leave me."

"You said it yourself—that was years ago. Three years is enough time to change many things." Tristan Forrester’s expression was calm, but his words were mercilessly cold. "I don’t love you anymore. I’m only here with you now out of respect for our past, to give us both a bit of dignity."

"I don’t believe you!" Justine Hughes shook her head desperately, unable to accept his words. "If you really didn’t care about me, if you didn’t love me, why would you help me and make a special trip to bring me here?"

Not a single ripple of emotion showed in Tristan Forrester’s eyes. "If you had calmly cooperated with your treatment and agreed to the surgery, this trip to Ashmore would never have happened. I just didn’t want to see someone I once loved resort to suicide."

Justine Hughes trembled, throwing her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek tightly against his chest. Her shoulders shook as she choked out her words.

"Tristan, I was too insecure and arrogant back then, that’s why I chose to go abroad to pursue my career. But these past few years overseas, I’ve thought about you day and night. I’ve never gotten over you. Please, don’t be so cold to me. Give me one more chance, okay? I really do love you. I can’t live without you."

As she finished speaking, she collapsed against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

Tristan Forrester stood perfectly still, letting her cry. His heart remained unmoved as he quietly looked down at her.

"We’re leaving for Portclyde tomorrow. After your surgery, I’ll arrange for someone to take you back to New York."

Justine Hughes’s body stiffened, and her sobs grew even more sorrowful.

In the past, the moment she shed a single tear, Tristan Forrester would soften and patiently coax her.

But now, when he looked at her, his eyes held only indifference, as if all the deep love from their past had vanished without a trace.

It was like the red ribbon they had tied to the Tree of Love all those years ago—weathered by wind and rain, it could no longer be found.

The young man who once had eyes only for her under that tree had also completely disappeared into the river of time.

’It shouldn’t be like this.’

’He clearly said he would love her forever.’

Back at their hotel, the elevator doors slid open to reveal the butler waiting in the hallway. Tristan Forrester stopped short.

"Mr. Eugene, what are you doing in Ashmore?"

The butler took half a step forward, his attitude respectful. "Young Master, the Patriarch and the Young Mistress have returned to Portclyde. They were unable to reach you for days, so he specifically instructed me to come to Ashmore to find you and bring you back."

Only then did Tristan Forrester understand.

The afternoon they arrived in Ashmore, his phone had accidentally slipped from the deck of a cruise ship into the water. He’d been so busy counseling Justine Hughes these past two days that he hadn’t found time to get a new SIM card.

"When did they get back?" Tristan Forrester frowned. He hadn’t received any word about this beforehand.

"The day before yesterday. The Young Mistress went to the office looking for you..." The butler hesitated, glancing at Justine Hughes, who was standing beside Tristan.

Noticing his gaze, Justine Hughes quietly clenched the hand hanging at her side into a fist.

"Tristan, you two talk. I’ll go back to my room first!"

After Justine Hughes returned to her room, Tristan Forrester went into the adjacent suite.

The butler followed him inside.

"Are Grandfather and she okay?"

Tristan Forrester poured a cup of tea, sat down on the sofa, and asked in a low voice.

"The Patriarch is doing well. He can walk with a cane, but not for long. He has to walk for a bit and then rest."

"The Young Mistress knows you came to Ashmore with Miss Hughes. She seems... a little upset."

’Although the Young Mistress didn’t say anything, he could tell. He could see that she wasn’t happy.’

’Who would be happy knowing their husband was on a trip with his first love?’

Tristan Forrester’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I couldn’t just watch her die in front of me."

’Since they’re back in Portclyde, they must know about Justine Hughes attempting suicide because she couldn’t accept having a mastectomy.’

The butler bowed. "Young Master, I understand your reasoning, but the Young Mistress doesn’t. I feel that you should discuss some things with her. At the very least, she has the right to know!"

"The Patriarch knows what you’ve done, and he is very angry. He feels you’ve gone too far and have been inconsiderate of the Young Mistress’s feelings."

Tristan Forrester set his cup down and said lightly, "I just didn’t think it was necessary for them to know. This is something I wanted to handle myself."

’Justine Hughes is already suffering enough from her illness and the prospect of a mastectomy. There’s no need to broadcast something like this for everyone to know!’

’And he didn’t want Bella Thorne to find out, either. It would only deepen the misunderstanding and lead her to overthink things.’