[BL] Dear Hushand, I want divorce-Chapter 98: Finally found my boy

Kian stood at the entrance of the house, holding the basket of strawberries with a puzzled expression. His brows were furrowed, his worry evident in the way he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He gently knocked on the door before it creaked open, revealing the grumpy old grandpa.

"Ah, Kian," Grandpa muttered, his stern face softening slightly at the sight of the young man. "What’s that you’re holding’? I thought Ash took the strawberries to market. Why did he come back so fast?"

Kian scratched the back of his neck, solemn yet concerned. "He did, but...he dropped them. I found them scattered on the ground after he ran off."

Grandpa’s eyes narrowed as he took the basket from Kian’s hands. "Ran off, huh? Boy’s always have something stirring in their head. Any idea why?"

Kian shook his head, his voice low and troubled. "No...He just froze. I tried asking him what happened, but he didn’t say anything. He just took off and hid in his room when we got back."

Grandpa sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he placed the basket on the nearby table. He glanced toward the closed door of Ash’s room, his hardened expression hiding the deep worry etched into his heart. "That boy...always keeping things to himself. Don’t know what’s got into him lately."

Inside the small room, Ash sat against the wall, his knees pulled to his chest, trying to steady his rapid breathing. His heart still pounded violently against his ribs, his mind whirling in chaotic spirals. He could still hear Elijah’s name echoing in his head, over and over, like a haunting refrain that wouldn’t stop.

Why? Why would Elijah be here?

His breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps as questions flooded his mind. What if...it wasn’t him? What if it’s just someone with a similar name?

But deep down, he knew. He knew that kind of luck didn’t exist for him. Elijah wasn’t just a name that would disappear easily from his life. No. But after three years? Could Elijah really still be searching for him?

Why now? Ash’s mind raced with the possibilities. Could he have been looking for me all this time? His chest tightened at the thought, a mix of emotions choking him.

There was fear, yes, but also something else—something painful, like a buried hope he’d never allowed himself to feel.

But no. He couldn’t think like that. He had left for a reason, to spare Elijah from the pain of his presence. Why would Elijah come after him now?

His hands trembled as he rubbed at his face, trying to stop the tears that threatened to spill. But the thought of seeing Elijah again, the thought of being confronted by everything he had tried to bury for years, was too much.

Could Elijah still care? His heart ached even more at the idea that maybe—just maybe—Elijah hadn’t moved on. But then again, what if he had? What if Elijah had come to confront him, to finally rid himself of the past? The uncertainty gnawed at him.

He was terrified, but he couldn’t stop the part of him that wanted—desperately wanted—to know why Elijah had come, if it really was him.

Did he truly spent three years searching for Ash?

He clutched his knees to his chest, eyes distant as if trying to convince himself that this could all be a coincidence.

Maybe Elijah’s here for business, he thought, trying to steady his breath. It made more sense. The small coastal village, though modest and humble, had become something of an attraction for developers. The untouched beaches, the natural beauty, the potential for resorts—it was enough to lure businessmen from all over the world. He’d overheard conversations in the market before about investors eyeing the land, drawn to its serene beauty and possibilities for tourism.

Of course, Ash reasoned with himself. Elijah could just be here on some business trip. The hotel along the main road was the most luxurious in the region, the kind of place where wealthy men would stay during negotiations or site visits. Maybe Elijah was here to inspect the land, talk to local developers, or even secure a deal for his ever-expanding empire.

His fingers clenched tightly around his arms as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Elijah’s a businessman. He’s here for work, not for me. He doesn’t even know I’m here. He repeated it in his head, forcing himself to believe it.

How could he know? Only Noah knew where Ash had gone, and Noah would never tell Elijah. Noah had promised to protect him, to keep him hidden away from the past. Elijah could be walking in the same streets Ash had walked, completely unaware that Ash was just a stone’s throw away.

Ash’s thoughts raced, questioning everything. I’m probably overthinking this. Maybe it’s not even Elijah. He could be driving himself into a frenzy over nothing. His mind could be playing tricks on him after hearing that name. It could easily be someone else, some other powerful businessman with a similar name.

Why would Elijah even care? Ash thought bitterly, his chest tightening. He had been the one to leave. He had been the one to destroy their connection. He had hurt Elijah in ways he could never forgive himself for. Why would Elijah still be searching for him after all this time?

He stood from the bed, pacing the small room, his heart pounding louder in his ears. No, Elijah isn’t looking for me. He’s moved on. He has to have moved on. It was the only logical explanation. Three years was a long time, and Elijah was not the type of man to waste time chasing after a ghost. Elijah had probably built his empire further, expanded his business, met new people—maybe even fallen for someone new.

The thought sent a sharp pang through Ash’s chest, but he shook his head, trying to clear it. He couldn’t let himself believe that Elijah was here for him. That kind of hope was dangerous.

Grandpa knocked softly on the door before pushing it open, carrying a steaming bowl of soup in his weathered hands. He looked at Ash sitting on the bed, lost in thought, his shoulders slumped and his expression distant. Grandpa frowned, his gruff demeanor softening at the sight of Ash’s distress.

"What’s going on with you, boy?" Grandpa asked, his voice gravelly but full of concern. He placed the soup on the small table beside the bed and sat down next to Ash.

Ash hesitated, his throat tightening as he tried to form the words. The familiar comfort of Grandpa’s presence made it harder to hold back the emotion that had been welling up inside him all evening.

Finally, his voice cracked as he spoke, "I was reminded of my past... A name I never wanted to hear again... And now that name... it’s near me."

Grandpa’s face softened with understanding as he rested a heavy hand on Ash’s shoulder. He didn’t say anything right away, letting the silence fill the room. He knew Ash wasn’t one to open up easily, and when he did, it meant he was hurting deeply.

"You’ve been running from that past a long time, haven’t you?" Grandpa said quietly, his voice gentler than usual. Ash nodded, his eyes downcast, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.

"I thought...I thought I could leave it behind," Ash admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "But it’s like no matter how far I go, it’s always there...waiting for me."

Grandpa sighed deeply, his heart aching for the young man beside him. He had seen the pain that lingered just beneath Ash’s cheerful exterior, the weight he carried every day. "Life doesn’t always let us run, son. Sometimes it throws our past right back in our face when we least expect it."

Ash’s eyes flickered with a hint of sadness as he met Grandpa’s gaze. "What if I’m not strong enough to face it again? What if...what if it destroys me this time?"

Grandpa shook his head firmly. "You’re stronger than you think, boy. I’ve seen it in you. You’ve got heart, and you’ve got the will to survive."

Ash felt a lump form in his throat at Grandpa’s words.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Grandpa reached over and slapped Ash’s back, hard enough to make him wince. "Now stop moping around like a little lost puppy," Grandpa grumbled, though his eyes shone with warmth. "No point in worrying about things you can’t control."

Ash rubbed his back, but a small smile tugged at his lips despite himself. "You’re right, Grandpa," he said softly, feeling a little lighter, even if just for a moment.

"There’s the lad I know," Grandpa chuckled, the sound rough but comforting. "Now eat that damn soup before it gets cold, or I’ll take it back and eat it myself."

Ash laughed, the sound genuine this time, as he nodded and picked up the bowl of soup. The warmth from the bowl seeped into his hands, and for a brief moment, the heavy weight in his chest seemed to lift.

************

Meanwhile,

The luxury hotel, named "The Crystal Tide," perched on the edge of the coastline. Elijah rested on a couch, his eyes closed, trying to unwind after the exhausting journey.

A knock at the door broke the stillness. Elijah didn’t bother opening his eyes as he heard footsteps enter the room.

The investigator he had hired stood before him. Clearing his throat, the man spoke. "I’ve completed the task, Mr. Stone."

Elijah remained still, his eyes still shut. "And?" His voice was calm, almost bored, as if the answer wouldn’t surprise him.

The investigator shifted slightly, sensing the gravity of the moment. "Ash...he’s in this village, sir. I found his exact address."

Elijah’s eyes snapped open, a smirk already forming at the corners of his lips. "Go on," he urged.

The man continued, "He’s living with an elderly man, helping him sell strawberries. From what I observed, he is blending into the village life."

Elijah’s smile widened as he let the words sink in. He opened the drawer beside him and pulled out an envelope, thick with cash, and handed it to the man. "You’ve done well."

The investigator accepted the envelope with a grateful nod. "Thank you, sir."

After the man left, Elijah leaned back in his seat, his smirk returning as he whispered to himself, "I finally found you, my strawberry boy."