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“This woman—” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration lacing his voice. “I make so much money, and instead of asking me for help, she spends every damn penny I give her—money meant for her to enjoy, to live comfortably—on debts?!”
His jaw clenched, eyes darkening.
“Without telling me? Without asking for help?” His voice dropped, dangerously low.
Henry blinked, then cautiously said, “Uh… Mr. Stark, you’re angry because Miss Ellie didn’t let you pay off her debts and use the money you gave her for fun instead?"
"Or what?!" Sawyer snapped. "What the fuck is my money for if not for my girlfriend? Does she think I’m going to take it to my fucking grave?"
Henry struggled to suppress a chuckle, quickly lowering his head. ‘Here I was, worried that Mr. Stark would be furious about his money being given away without his knowledge, maybe even demand that Ms. Ellie pay it back. Instead, he’s pissed because she didn’t make him pay, and didn’t use his money to spoil herself.’
“What the hell are you laughing at?” Sawyer barked, snatching the tablet from Henry’s hands.
“Nothing, Mr. Stark.” Henry coughed, quickly straightening his expression.
Sawyer exhaled harshly. “Go. Pay off every single goddamn cent of those loans. Settle Tony’s hospital bills. Move him to a VIP suite, bring in the best specialists, and do whatever it takes to get him out of that coma.” He fixed Henry with a sharp glare. “And don’t tell Ellie a damn thing. If she asks, make up some bullshit about a secret donation fund for coma patients.”
Henry nodded, his lips twitching. ‘For a man who pretends to be cold and ruthless, Mr. Stark is completely and hopelessly in love with Ms. Ellie.'
Sawyer ran a hand down his face, his breathing steadying. But just as he began to settle, something clicked in his mind. His eyes snapped back to Henry.
“You said Ellie was burned three years ago?”
Henry glanced at the file and frowned. “Yes, Mr. Stark. But…” His voice trailed off, surprise flickering in his eyes.
“But what?” Sawyer pressed.
Henry lifted his gaze. “She was burned on the same day as Ms. Olivia.”
Sawyer stiffened. Their eyes met, the same suspicion creeping into both their minds.
Was it just a coincidence?
Chapter 21 Options
He yanked the file from Henry’s hands and scanned the details. The records confirmed it—Ellie had suffered severe burns and underwent reconstructive surgery. Now, she had fully recovered. There was nothing else mentioned.
Except…
Something didn’t add up.
It stated that Tony had adopted her three years ago, yet there was no record of her identity before that.
Sawyer’s grip tightened. “Where’s the information about her life before that?”
Henry’s frown deepened. "According to the doctors, Ms. Ellie lost her memories when Mr. Tony found her. There’s no record of her past before that."
Sawyer’s chest tightened, a dull ache spreading through him. His fingers pressed against his heart as an unfamiliar panic clawed at his ribs. His heart pounded with something unexplainable.
His gaze hardened as he looked at Henry.
“Find out everything,” he ordered, “I want to know who she was before that fire.”
Henry nodded, taking the file back and heading out.
Sawyer turned around, his heart pounding. The more he thought about everything Ellie had endured in just three years, the more a deep, unshakable need to shield her and give her everything he had consumed him.
He hadn't realized she had suffered this much. And in all that time, he had said the most ruthless things to her—words that now made his stomach churn with guilt. The overwhelming pain of it settled in his chest, refusing to fade.