The Five Years He Missed Chapter 21

The Five Years He Missed Chapter 21

In front of the company building, I looked up at the setting sun after finishing my interview and let out a soft sigh.

After Dominic finally gave up on clinging to me, I’d quit the flower shop. Aidan didn’t tease me anymore—instead, he handed me a business card.

“You’ve missed a lot of time, but I believe in your abilities.” Afraid I might refuse, Aidan explained, “Don’t worry—I’m just getting you through the door. Whether you can stay depends entirely on yourself.”

I looked closely—it was a business card for the Vice President of Ashford Group. The Ashford family’s main operations were overseas and had only developed domestically in recent years. They genuinely weren’t under Dominic’s thumb the way other companies were.

I was silent for a long moment, then asked with complete seriousness, “Aidan—are you actually one of those people born into wealth who spurns it, obsessed with medicine, who gave up your inheritance to become a doctor?”

Aidan rapped me on the head, thoroughly exasperated. “What nonsense are you thinking? I am indeed from the Ashford family, but Ashford Group belongs to my older sister Charlotte. It has nothing to do with me. So how you do in the company—I can’t interfere at all.”

I clutched my head, looking thoroughly pitiful. But I still accepted Aidan’s kindness. After brushing up on my professional knowledge for a period of time, I went to the interview. It went fairly smoothly. What troubled me was not knowing how to face Aidan.

He had helped me so much, and I didn’t know how to repay him. And those ambiguous attitudes of his—they frightened me even more.

I opened my phone and murmured to Luca’s photo on the screen,
“Luca, what on earth is Mommy supposed to do?” In the photo, Luca
simply smiled radiantly. That lovely smile lightened my heart a little.

I had just started to head back toward the rental when a woman came
charging at me and knocked me to the ground.

“Elena! You bitch! You’re the one who ruined me!” The woman wore a
hospital gown, her face covered in horrifying scars, her expression
twisted and crazed. I could barely recognize her—it was Brianna.

She had somehow escaped from the psychiatric hospital, and in her
hand she clutched a dagger. “You’re so proud of yourself, aren’t you? I
won’t let you win. You’re coming with me to die!”

The dagger stabbed toward me. My eyes went wide with terror. I tried
to roll to the side, but my whole body was rigid and wouldn’t move.
Was I really going to die here…

A sickening squelch—the blade sank into flesh. But I felt no pain. In a
daze, I opened my eyes and discovered I was shielded tightly within a
broad, solid embrace, protected without a single gap.

Bodyguards rushed forward and pinned Brianna to the ground. Only
then did I come back to my senses. The one who had shielded me
was Dominic.

A knife was buried in his side, blood still streaming out. His face was
ghastly pale, but his eyes still held a tender, lingering devotion.
“Elena… as long as you’re alright… that’s all that matters…”

“Shut up!” I was shaking as I dialed the emergency number. “Stop talking—save your strength!”

On the hospital bed, Dominic slowly opened his eyes. He blinked groggily, turned his head, and sure enough, saw me there beside him.

I was staring at him intently. When I saw him wake, I let out a breath of relief and hurried to call the doctor.

“I’m… I’m fine…”

“Then Mr. Gambino really is something else—takes a knife and is perfectly fine.” I jabbed at him, and he shut his mouth, looking a little wronged.

I didn’t want to deal with him. I finished helping with the payment, called his advisor to come, and prepared to leave.

“Elena!” Dominic called out to me, a little desperate. “Stay with me a little longer, please?” His advisor also looked at me with disapproval. “Miss Elena—Mr. Gambino was injured for your sake.”

I turned my head and asked Dominic expressionlessly, “Is that what you think, too?”

Dominic hurriedly said, “No. I was the one who did wrong, which led to everything that’s happened. I just… want to look at you a little longer…” His voice even carried a faint trace of pleading.

He did just take a knife for me, after all. I thought this, but my expression didn’t soften in the slightest.

“Dominic, thank you for saving me.”

Hope flared to life in Dominic’s eyes.

“But this is what you owed me,” I continued.

The light in Dominic’s eyes dimmed instantly. His voice trembled. “Is there truly no chance at all for us? Is Aidan really that wonderful?”

Aidan truly was wonderful. My mind drifted for a split second before I yanked it back. I said flatly, “This has nothing to do with Aidan. You and I came to this point not because of anyone else—only because of you. Dominic, let’s leave it at this.”