Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 161: I Only Want You...

"Debased?"

Elara Forrest seemed to flinch at the word, a fleeting struggle and pain flashed through her eyes, but it was only for a moment, before she covered it with a more vivid smile.

She forcefully broke free from his grasp, her soft body pressed closer against him instead, her arms winding around his neck like a watersnake, her red lips close to his earlobe, her breath fiery.

"I want nothing."

"Aidan Sterling..." she withdrew slightly, stared directly into his deep eyes, word by word, "I just want you."

With that, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his tightly pressed thin lips.

That familiar and fragrant scent drew near, Aidan Sterling’s heart almost stopped beating in that instant.

The memories of countless intimate kisses assaulted his reason like a tide.

Yet, just as her lips were about to touch his, he suddenly turned his head away!

Elara’s kiss merely brushed past his tense cheek.

In the next moment, as if scorched, Aidan suddenly reached out, pushing her away from himself!

The force was so great that Elara staggered back several steps, her slender spine heavily hitting the cold wall, making a dull sound.

"Ugh..." She groaned in pain, the seductive smile on her face instantly freezing, replaced by a trace of embarrassment and disbelief.

Aidan took a deep breath, turned his head to stare at her firmly, "Elara Forrest, what do you take me for? Hmm?"

His voice was hoarse, "Do you think this way, you can return to the past? Or do you think I, Aidan Sterling, am someone you can manipulate at will?!"

The coldness of the wall seeped through the thin nightgown into her skin, Elara leaned against the wall, slowly straightening her body.

She raised her hand, leisurely tidied the somewhat messy strap of her nightgown, her face once again adorned with a flawless seductive smile.

"Return to the past? Heh..." she chuckled lightly, her eyes desolate, "Aidan, we can never go back."

She looked at him, her gaze seemed to penetrate him, looking at something else, carrying a kind of cruel and weary understanding of the world, "Do you still love me?"

Aidan said nothing, lips pressed tight.

Elara chuckled, "Love is the most useless thing in this world. Now I only believe in the benefits I hold in my hand, only believe in the power that can make those who humiliated and trampled on me pay the price!"

She took a step forward, though her posture was still languid, her eyes were sharp as knives: "You said you’d give me anything I want? Fine, I want you to help me acquire absolute control of that tech company from the Capet Family, I want that old man and his twisted brother left with nothing! I want you to use the Sterling Family’s connections in Europe and America, ensuring I win this divorce case, and make sure the Capet Family can never recover!"

With each demand, Aidan’s face grew paler.

These requests were far more complicated and perilous than he had imagined, involving not only vast sums of money but also tangled international forces and gray areas.

"Is this what you call ’wanting me’?"

Aidan’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible, "Elara Forrest, do you know what you’re saying? The road you want to take is fraught with dangers, just one misstep, and it could be catastrophic!"

"Catastrophic?" Elara seemed to have heard something amusing, her shoulders trembling with laughter, yet tears glimmered faintly at the corners of her eyes, cold and devoid of any warmth.

"I’ve long been in the abyss, Aidan. Ever since I was forced to marry into the Capet Family, ever since I endured the first slap... I was no longer the Elara Forrest of the past."

She walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured herself a glass of strong alcohol, tilted her head back, and drank it all at once. The spicy liquid slid down her throat, bringing a burning pain, but also made her more sober and cold.

"Just tell me, will you help or not?"

Aidan remained motionless, like a frozen statue.

He looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar woman before him, at her determined and insane gaze, at her tightly armored shell with sharp edges.

He knew she was telling the truth.

The pure and beautiful girl he once loved had truly died five years ago.

A massive sense of powerlessness and heartbreak swept over him.

Helping her might push her into even more dangerous situations, might drag himself and the Sterling Family into a quagmire.

But if he didn’t help...

Could he just watch helplessly as she crashes and bleeds on this path?

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, all that was left was deep exhaustion and a kind of resigned compromise.

"... Fine."

One word, heavy as a thousand pounds.

Elara’s fingers tightened imperceptibly around the wine glass, her knuckles turning white.

With her back to him, he couldn’t see the fleeting complex emotions on her face, the relief, the guilt, and perhaps... even a slight pain so faint she herself hadn’t noticed.

"But Elara," Aidan’s voice was clear and cold, "this is the last time. From now on, we’re even. You go your way, and I’ll go mine."

Elara slowly turned around, her face still wearing the alluring and captivating smile, as if the momentary fragility earlier had never existed. "Deal."

She raised the empty wine glass and gestured at him, the curve of her lips was perfect, "President Sterling, happy cooperation."

Aidan took a long, hard look at her, as if wanting to etch her current likeness into the depths of his soul.

Then, he suddenly turned and left swiftly without a single lingering shred of desire.

The sound of the door slamming reverberated in the silent suite, lingering for a long time.

Elara’s smile shattered instantly like fragile glass the moment the door shut.

She stumbled back a few steps, collapsing onto the cold carpet, the glass rolling from her hand, soaking the expensive carpet.

She buried her face deep into her knees, her shoulders shaking violently, yet not a single sob escaped.

Only silent tears surged forth, soaking the cold silk.

She was no longer capable of love.

From the moment she gave up on Aidan, boarded the plane to another country, from enduring humiliation and violence day after day in that so-called noble family, her heart had already died, decayed.

Love is a luxury item she no longer qualifies to possess.

Now what lives is merely a shell driven by hatred and desire.

Did using Aidan cause her pain?

Perhaps.

But that faint heartache had long been devoured by the accumulated despair and hatred over the years, leaving very little behind.

She slowly lifted her head, eyes blurry with tears, gazing at the gray sky outside the window, her gaze gradually turning cold and resolute.

Having chosen this path, she could only press forward.

At any cost.

Even if...

In the end, it would hurt everyone, including herself.

Skin and bone shattered beyond recognition.