The Art of Wealth: I Became a Billionaire
Chapter 44: Collateral Damage

Chapter 44: Collateral Damage

For now, Elliot was staying at Raymond’s Gatehouse, a quiet, isolated building on the far end of the town. The team had agreed it was the safest place to hide him. After what happened during the rescue, they knew George’s men would be watching closely, waiting for any sign of where Elliot might be.

Raymond wasn’t a fool.

He knew they were being tailed, probably every hour, every step, every move. So, he ordered his men to stay on high alert. Movement was restricted. Every car ride had a plan, and every exit had a backup route. There was no room for carelessness.

But despite all of it, Raymond kept one thing secret from Elliot.

The safe room, a hidden chamber built deep within the house, where their most confidential plans and secrets were kept. Only trusted allies had access to it.

Elliot wasn’t one of them.

Not yet. He hadn’t shared anything. No information, updates, or gratitude. He just kept quiet.

And that didn’t sit right with some of the men.

But Raymond didn’t waste his energy on Elliot’s attitude. His heart and head were with Edward, the guard who took a bullet during the mission. He had been moved to a hospital under a false name for security reasons, but updates weren’t good.

He wasn’t waking up. His body was healing, but his mind wasn’t responding. And that? That weighed heavily on Raymond.

"..."

Inside the gatehouse, everything was quiet. Too quiet.

Alex walked in and spotted Elliot sitting at the far end of the room.

He was hunched over a desk, staring into a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. He hadn’t taken a sip. Just... stirring it slowly, like he was hypnotized.

Alex stood there for a moment, watching him.

This wasn’t the Elliot he knew.

Gone was the confident guy with a loud mouth and a sharp tongue.

Gone was the one who laughed too loud, argued too much, and never backed down from a fight.

Now? He looked broken. Alex sighed and walked over.

He didn’t sit. Just stood beside him and said softly... "Why are you doing this to yourself, man?"

Elliot didn’t respond. The spoon in his hand clinked against the side of the mug, again and again.

Alex leaned in a little. "You haven’t said a word since they brought you here. Not to me. Not to the people who risked their lives to save you. You barely even look at us."

Alex’s voice hardened a bit. "Where’s the Elliot I know? The one who was always running his mouth, always challenging everyone, always too proud for his own good?"

Elliot finally stopped stirring.

Alex kept going.

"If you blame me for what happened, fine. Say it. Punch me if it’ll make you feel better. But don’t act like you’re the only one who lost something. People got hurt bringing you out. One of our men is still fighting for his life."

Elliot was still for a moment.

Then... he finally spoke.

His voice was cold. Bitter.

"Alex..."

He slowly turned toward him.

"How many times did I warn you?"

"How many times did I tell you to stay away from these people?"

"How many times did I tell you this was dangerous and it was only a matter of time before it all exploded in your face?"

Alex clenched his jaw but didn’t interrupt.

Elliot stood up now, facing him fully.

His eyes burned with pain and anger.

"And now here we are. I’m the one who paid the price."

"You talk about people getting hurt?" He pointed to his face.

"Look at me, Alex. I was tortured. Beaten. Left to rot in some cells. And you’re saying I should thank the same people who dragged you into this mess?"

"You expect me to kneel and worship them because they showed up at the last second? If you had listened to me in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I wouldn’t have scars on my back or nightmares when I close my eyes."

A long silence stretched between them.

Then Elliot added, in a whisper...

"I wouldn’t have been in this misery if it weren’t for you."

Alex felt that like a punch. He looked at Elliot, really looked, and realized the man standing before him wasn’t just angry.

He was traumatized.

Alex took a slow breath. "So... you really do blame me."

Elliot stared at him, unflinching.

"Who else should I blame?"

Alex’s shoulders slumped. There was nothing left to say. He turned around and walked to the door.

Then without looking back, he muttered.

"I hope you heal, Elliot. Truly. Even if it’s not with us."

And then, he left.

*****

The house was quiet when Alex got home. As he walked past the living room, he saw Sarah sitting on the floor beside the low reading table, helping Emma, his younger sister, with her studies. Books and papers were scattered all over, and Emma’s eyes were locked in deep concentration as she scribbled notes.

Sarah smiled when she noticed him, her expression soft, but Alex could barely return it. His face looked drained, and his walk was slow and burdened.

"Hey, big bro," Emma said, glancing up.

Alex cracked a faint smile.

"Hmm... At this rate, you might even become a lawyer."

Emma grinned and shrugged.

"Well... I’m actually starting to consider it. Law’s kinda interesting."

Sarah chuckled and gave Emma a playful nudge.

"That’s my influence at work."

Alex nodded, then excused himself and walked slowly toward his room. His mind was still clouded by the conversation he had with Elliot. The words kept replaying like an echo.

He pushed open the door to his room and stepped inside. A few moments later, Sarah followed him in. She leaned on the doorway for a second, watching him from behind.

"You saw Elliot, right?" she asked softly.

Alex didn’t turn around. He just nodded as he sat on the edge of his bed, eyes on the floor.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice low and flat. "He’s... recovering."

Sarah folded her arms and stepped inside, closing the door gently behind her.

"But still not talking to you?"

Alex exhaled slowly, shaking his head.

"Nope. Not to me. Not to anyone."

"What if I came with you to see him?" she offered gently.

"Maybe he’ll talk to me."

Alex shook his head immediately, sharply.

"No."

"That’s not an option, Sarah."

She blinked, surprised by how quickly he shut the idea down.

"Why not?"

"Because it’s not safe," Alex said, that place is not for someone like you."

Sarah stepped closer. "So what’s your plan then? Just keep waiting for him to magically come around? Just hope one day he wakes up and says, ’Hey Alex, let’s be best friends again’?"

Alex didn’t answer.

He sat back down on the bed, leaned forward, and buried his face in his palms.

After a long pause, he muttered,

"He still blames me, Sarah. He told me today. To my face. He said I’m the reason he was tortured. The reason he’s suffering."

Sarah’s eyes softened.

She walked to him and sat beside him on the bed, silent for a moment. Then she said quietly. "Okay... and you actually believe that?"

Alex looked up at her, confused.

"I mean... he said it."

Sarah turned to him.

"And who was the one that got involved with those people first?"

"Who was the one running errands and doing dirty work for them?"

Alex didn’t respond.

"He’s angry. He’s hurt. And yeah, he’s lashing out. But that’s what Elliot does when he feels trapped, he finds someone to blame. And lucky for him, you’re the closest target." Sarah said.

Alex looked down again.

Sarah continued with a much firmer voice now. "Don’t let his pain twist the truth in your head. You didn’t drag him into this.

Alex clenched his jaw, voice a little shaky.

"Still... he hates me now. I saw it in his eyes. Like I’m the enemy."

Sarah placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "Then don’t wait for him to talk, Alex.

You don’t need his permission to make him listen.

You make him talk."

Alex blinked and looked at her.

"You think so?"

Sarah smiled faintly.

"I know so."

For the first time that evening, Alex no longer felt like he was crumbling. But deep down, he also knew...

It was time to confront Elliot again.

Not as a friend begging for forgiveness.

But as a man determined to wake another man up from his pain.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.