#Chapter 196: I Know You

Ella POV I felt oddly numb as I watched my kidnapper drive away. Alexander had just let him go—no, he had practically ordered him to leave. And as much as I wanted to feel outraged, I simply couldn’t. It was as if I should have expected it. After everything that had happened in the past few days... after seeing the way Alexander had handled things with Dr. McIntyre... it was painfully clear. Alexander was a criminal of some kind. The realization made my heart ache, a dull, hollow pain that settled in my chest. But I couldn’t deny it any longer. Not after this. I wanted desperately to trust Alexander, but I had seen how my life with a secret criminal worked out in the original timeline and it wasn’t something I could just ignore. Without a word, Alexander led me to his car and opened the passenger side door. I sank into the seat gingerly, suddenly aware of every scrape and bruise from the ordeal. I would be sore tomorrow—there was no question about that.