Chapter 626: Waiting for Him at the Civil Affairs Bureau

"Get off the boat with me and go ashore. You’re only getting in the way here. Leave the professional work to the professionals." Elijah Hawthorne’s voice was cold, his words cutting straight to the point.

"I’m not going. I’m not getting in the way." Ivy Sherwood knew she couldn’t be of much help, but staying here was the only thing that brought her even a sliver of peace.

"Even if you aren’t in the way, how do you think Quentin Blackwood would react to seeing you like this? Wouldn’t he be worried? He put his life on the line to protect you. Even if you won’t think for yourself, won’t you at least think of him?"

Elijah knew that bringing Quentin up was the only way to persuade her. No one could truly comprehend the depth of Ivy’s agony, but at the same time, there were people here whose hearts ached for her.

"Can you please just let me stay? I promise I won’t cause any trouble. I just want to be a little closer to him." She stared at him with bloodshot eyes.

Even a man as iron-hearted as Elijah was moved in that moment. Quentin really was lucky to have someone searching so desperately for him even after he was gone. Elijah figured that if he died one day, the only people left behind would be those clapping and cheering; no one would ever come looking for him.

At a loss for further words, Elijah stayed quiet as the sun slowly rose. Eventually, someone brought them food, but Ivy had no appetite. She couldn’t stomach a single bite of the breakfast.

"It’s only nine o’clock. Why is the sun already so brutal?" someone muttered. It was summer now, and out on the sea, Lustre’s soaring temperatures were already making the heat unbearable for some.

Nine o’clock? Ivy glanced at the time. She had to go back. She needed to go back right now!

"Can you give me a yacht? I’ll head back myself." She knew how to pilot one.

"I’ll go with you," Elijah said. He found it strange—just moments ago, she had adamantly refused to leave no matter what he said. Why the sudden rush to return? Unable to put his mind at ease, he decided to tag along.

He didn’t know how to pilot a yacht and had never learned. Just as he was about to call someone over to drive it, Ivy spoke up.

"I can do it."

He watched as she maneuvered the vessel with expert precision. She really did know how.

"What exactly are you planning to do?" Elijah asked, noting her frantic rush.

Ivy didn’t explain her intentions. As soon as they reached the shore, she made a beeline for a car.

"Let me. You drove the yacht; I’ll take the wheel now," Elijah said, sliding into the driver’s seat.

"Take me home first." Ivy didn’t fight him for the keys.

After Elijah dropped her off at her place, Ivy went inside to grab something and quickly hurried back downstairs.

"Where to now?" Elijah had been waiting for her. He noticed that she had washed the grime off her face and tied her hair up into a neat bun. However, nothing could erase the swollen redness of her eyes.

"The Civil Affairs Bureau."

"Where?" Elijah thought he had misheard.

"The Civil Affairs Bureau. I can drive there myself if you want."

Quentin had told her that they would get married today. Maybe he was deliberately making her worry just to surprise her. Maybe he was perfectly fine and was already waiting for her at the entrance. Now that it was working hours and the staff were on duty, they could get their marriage certificate. They had agreed on it. He had promised!

Looking at Ivy like this, Elijah was momentarily at a loss for words, an indescribable pang of sorrow welling up in his chest. He drove her to the Civil Affairs Bureau and watched her search high and low, inside and out. When she couldn’t find Quentin, she simply waited. She waited from morning all the way into the afternoon.

She thought, "We had a deal. You lied to me again. I’m never believing another word you say. If you don’t show up right now, I’m going to be seriously angry, and I’ll never marry you! Fine, seeing as you usually treat me so well, I’ll wait another five minutes. If you’re not here by then, I’m really leaving, and you won’t get another chance! Maybe Mr. Blackwood is just busy. He always has so much to do. Something might be holding him up. He said he’d come, so he’ll definitely come. I’ll give you another five minutes! Just five minutes. This is the absolute last five minutes. I really won’t wait for you after this!"

But as one five-minute block bled into another, she never saw Quentin. Every surge of hope was crushed by yet another wave of disappointment.

Today must have been an auspicious date, as couples streamed in and out of the building. They walked in wearing blissful smiles and walked out just as joyfully, hand in hand. Ivy remained there until closing time, but her other half never showed.

This really was the final five minutes, as the bureau staff were preparing to get off work. One passerby even approached her and asked, "Miss, I’ve seen you standing here all day. Has your boyfriend still not arrived?"

Ivy opened her mouth to reply, desperately wanting to say that he would come, that he would definitely come! But before she could get the words out, Elijah grabbed her by the wrist.

"Come with me."

The onlookers watched her being pulled away with eyes full of pity, likely filling in the blanks with their own wild imaginations.

"Ivy, let’s go back."

Elijah had been waiting here all day too. Xavier Mercer had contacted him earlier, temporarily entrusting Ivy to his care. Waiting here was pointless. Quentin was dead; he wasn’t going to show up. It was cruel, but it was the truth.

"Stop waiting. He isn’t coming. He’s gone, but life still goes on. Think of your family. Think of the baby in your belly," Elijah said sternly. "The world is filled with billions of people besides Quentin. I know you’re hurting right now, but you have to move on eventually, don’t you?"

He was actively trying to snap her back to reality. Perhaps no one else would dare say these things to her. Her family would probably just feed her empty comforts, telling her that Quentin would return, that she shouldn’t be sad, and that she should just keep searching. If that was the case, he was willing to play the bad guy.

"I hate you, Elijah Hawthorne! I don’t want to see you!" Ivy just wanted to shield herself. She wanted to continue living in denial, clinging to the belief that Quentin was coming.

But Elijah ruthlessly shattered her beautiful fantasies, ripping the ugly truth open and laying it bare before her.

"Hate me all you want. I’m right here, and you can’t chase me away."

Ivy stayed rooted to the spot well into the night. Even after the crowds completely dissipated, Elijah refused to leave. When she finally stood up in sheer exhaustion, he immediately offered, "I’ll take you home."

"I’m not going home. Take me to the docks."

"You need to rest," Elijah demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"I know you’re looking out for me, but Elijah, I can’t sleep right now. If I’m not there watching, I’ll only be even more terrified."

Who could have predicted that the sight of Quentin’s retreating back yesterday would be the very last time she saw him? Who could have known that the anxious phone call she made would be their final conversation?