2025-06-30 23:02:57Eli watched as different men walked up to his wife, advertising themselves to her like she wasn’t already married, some even went as far as pecking her cheeks and forehead, and he couldn’t help but feel disrespected, a huge feeling in his heart to go and stand beside Elara as he watched her look of discomfort enveloped him, but he stopped himself, because he didn’t want any look of disapproval from her grandma, and he didn’t want to add a strain on Elara and her grandmother’s relationship, things were already not so smooth for her because she had insisted on sticking with him, and he didn’t want to add to it.
Eli’s face shifted slightly to that of anger and sadness as he watched Dominic Vaughn, the man that had been openly and shamelessly pursuing his wife, give her the Jade necklace he had been eyeing earlier that night and hoping to get for his wife.
“Elara – you know I love you and I can get you the whole world, I don’t know why you insist on staying with that poor man that can barely even feed himself.” Dominic said to Elara, his voice loud enough for everybody to hear, causing Mireille and every guest present to burst out laughing, not bothering to hide their emotions any longer.
Genevieve felt her face swell with embarrassment and she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at Eli with loathing, it was embarrassing enough that he was poor, it was more annoying that he wouldn’t leave her granddaughter alone.
“It is enough I accepted your gift Dominic, but I wouldn’t accept you insulting my husband, and if you think you have any right to talk to my husband in that manner because of this gift you have presented, I wouldn’t mind returning this gift to you.” Elara spoke through the noisy crowd, her voice angry. She was sincerely angry that this man tried to insult Eli, she didn’t mind when it was a family member, but when a stranger tried to do it, she couldn’t help but get annoyed immediately. She saw the insult as not only an insult to Eli, but an insult to her family and herself when a stranger took it upon themselves to embarrass her husband.
“I am sorry Elara, but I was only speaking the truth.” Dominic responded– clearly embarrassed, but not wanting to annoy Elara further, after all it was her birthday, and he was in her territory.
“Apology accepted, and I will pretend not to have heard the other part of your sentence.” Elara responded to Dominic immediately shifting her gaze from him, she didn’t like Dominic, not only because of the insult he had given Eli that night, but for so many other reasons and she never saw herself having anything to do with Dominic despite being wealthy.
Genevieve looked like she wanted to say something in his defence, but a look from Elara stopped her, she could tell Elara was really angry and she didn’t want to do anything to provoke her further.
“Why don’t Eli come forward to present his gift to Elara as well.” Genevieve said suddenly, diverting all her attention to Eli
Eli sighed hesitating, he had been excited to give his wife the gold necklace he had bought earlier, but seeing all the expensive birthday gift she had received that night, he wasn’t confident in his gift.
“Grandma, you know Eli doesn’t have any money and I really don’t care if he doesn’t give me any gifts.” Elara said before Eli could have time to make up his mind. Her face was filled with worry like she really didn’t want to hurt his feelings, her voice also low like she was trying to whisper, but loud enough for the guests around her to hear, and soon they started to gossip about Eli. She looked around a little smile creeping up her face as her plan turned out successfully, turning to Eli with a sad look on her face before mouthing. “I love you – poor or not.” then focused her attention on the remaining people that had gifts to present.
.Eli sighed, turning his head away from the sight that continued to annoy him, but he couldn’t do anything about it, he also didn’t think he was going to be able to take his wife for the dinner he had planned for their anniversary, and staying in this place was suffocating him, plus he was hungry, and the menu had more drinks than food.
“Have you finally realized you have no place here?” A loud voice boomed beside Eli as he stood up and made his way to the exit, frowning he turned to check who the voice belonged to, Cassian Morreau, another of Elara’s cousin, brother to Mireille and son to Luccien Morreau came into his line of view, the frown on his face intensified as he turned forward ignoring the voice.
He and Cassian barely had any encounter, since he lived in another part of the state, plus he was always busy with work, so he couldn’t waste his time picking on another man, so Eli was left totally confused and lost on why he was present today, and why he decided to pick on him. Was it something that had been planned by the whole Morreau family and he was lured here to be embarrassed.
“Darling!!! – Don’t waste your time on him, he is not worth your breath, you shouldn’t be bothered by an orphan like him, who still depends on his wife to survive.” Isolde Virelli said from her seat which was quite far from where Cassian and Eli stood. She stood up from her seat, glancing around her to make sure the guest had heard what she had said as well as she made her way to Cassian's side.
“I know, but the sight of him makes me mad, and disappointed in myself that I couldn’t protect Elara from a blood sucking demon like him– haven’t you noticed ,Elara isn’t as bright as she used to be, plus I don’t know what kind of spell he must have cast on her to make that woman side him no matter what.” Cassian responded to his fiancee, his face scrunched up in sadness, turning to disgust any time it brushed over Eli.
“I have never wronged you Cassian – Why must you embarrass me like this,” Eli finally spoke, not able to ignore them any more.
“It’s not my fault that my wife loves me and is not as self-centered and selfish as the rest of the family, I do not want to say anything negative about the Morreau family as there are lots of guest here, and spoiling my in-laws names is not in my personality, so please, I would ask you to continue to ignore me as you normally do.” Eli added, his voice low in order for Cassian to be the only person to hear him. Bowing his head slightly as he turned to leave, but was stopped by a hand on his wrist.
“Who gave you the right to be able to speak about the Morreau family in that manner?” Cassian asked, his hands raised slightly as if to punch Eli drawing more attention to them, as the guests sat in satisfaction waiting for a fight to occur.
“Don’t even think about it Cassian – Eli is my husband and I demand he should be respected.’ Elara who had rushed over as soon as she had noticed the commotion said.
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Chapter Ninety - nine
Eli woke to the sound of a house breathing.It took him a second to place it—the faint creak of wood settling, the low hum of a refrigerator somewhere nearby, the distant clink of a spoon against ceramic. Morning sounds. Domestic ones. The kind that didn’t belong to glass-walled bedrooms or quiet penthouses or places that existed mostly to be passed through.He stared at the ceiling, unfamiliar and faintly cracked at one corner, and let the confusion pass.Right.Evelyn and Franklin’s house.He hadn’t slept like this in years.Not the kind of sleep that pulled him under without resistance, without the half-conscious vigilance that usually lingered at the edge of his mind. He hadn’t dreamed—at least, not anything he remembered. No fragments. No unfinished conversations looping endlessly.Just darkness. And rest.That realization alone made his chest tighten.He sat up slowly, as if sudden movement might break whatever fragile thing had allowed him peace. The blanket slid down to his wa
Chapter Ninety - eight
Morning arrived gently.Not with alarms or urgent calls or the sharp intrusion of responsibility—but with light filtering through the tall windows, pale and unassuming, as though the day itself was testing the ground before making demands.Eli woke slowly.For a moment, he didn’t move. Just lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the house. The night before had been long—roads without destinations, thoughts that had needed space more than answers. He’d returned late, parked in the driveway long after the city had surrendered to sleep, and collapsed into bed with a tiredness that felt earned rather than heavy.He reached for his phone out of habit.No missed emergency calls.No red alerts.No messages marked *urgent*.Instead—A notification banner slid across the screen.Voice note received.Sender: Aurelius Group — Executive ChannelEli frowned slightly.He sat up, back resting against the headboard, and tapped play.For a split second, there was silence.The
Chapter Ninety - seven
Eli didn’t return to the bedside, immediately.He stood just outside the glass partition, one hand resting against the cool surface, eyes fixed on Elara’s still form. Her breathing remained even. Untroubled. For now, that was enough.Karim waited beside him, patient in the way only someone who had learned to coexist with dangerous silences could be.“Karim,” Eli said without looking away. “You’ll stay here.”Karim inclined his head slightly. “Of course.”“If she wakes up and asks for me—”“I’ll tell her you stepped out,” Karim said. “If she asks who I am, I’ll say I’m your friend and colleague.”Eli’s gaze shifted to him then. “No embellishments.”A faint, knowing look crossed Karim’s face. “I wouldn't dream of it.”“Good.” Eli exhaled slowly. “Don’t leave her alone. Not for a second.”“You don’t need to say it.”Eli nodded once, a silent acknowledgment of trust earned the hard way. He straightened, already compartmentalizing, already moving on to the next necessary thing.“Call me if
Chapter Ninety - six
Eli didn’t touch her.Not at first.He stood there with his hands at his sides, fingers flexing once as if testing whether his body still answered to him. The urge to reach out—to confirm warmth, solidity, undeniable presence—sat sharp beneath his ribs. He resisted it with the same discipline he used to resist panic, impulse, hope.Hope was dangerous.He leaned closer instead, lowering himself into the chair beside the bed. The faint sound of her breathing filled the space between heartbeats. In. Out. Consistent. Alive.Thirty-six hours ago, Karim had said.Thirty-six hours where the world had continued turning without this truth. Thirty-six hours where Eli had still been in that underground city trying to figure out what it wanted from him.He let his gaze trace her face, cataloging differences with ruthless precision. The hollow at her cheekbones. The slight discoloration at her temple, almost hidden by her hair. An IV line threaded into her arm, tape secure, clinical and careful.S
Chapter Ninety - five
The jet accepted them without ceremony.No pause for drama, no sense of occasion—just the soft intake of air, the familiar hush of insulation, and the quiet competence of people who were paid very well not to react. Carlos moved ahead as usual, exchanging brief confirmations with the crew, every step efficient and practiced. He didn’t linger, didn’t make small talk. There was a rhythm to the way he operated in spaces like this—measured, unassuming, in control.Eli followed more slowly.Not because he needed the time, but because slowing himself down felt deliberate. Necessary. The cabin felt the same as it always did—leather, low lighting, subtle temperature control tuned to comfort rather than personality. Predictable. Safe. He let that familiarity settle into his bones as he took his seat, loosening his jacket but not removing it. A habit he hadn’t questioned in years.The door sealed. The engines began their steady hum.Zurich slipped away without sentiment.Carlos sat across from
Chapter Ninety - four
Carlos was already dressed when Eli woke up.That alone was unsettling.Not just dressed— assembled. Hair neat. Shirt pressed. Jacket on. Shoes laced. The version of Carlos standing near the window looked like the man Eli had known for years: calm, efficient, already ten steps ahead of whatever problem was currently pretending not to exist.Morning light cut through the hotel room in clean, unapologetic angles. Zurich looked crisp outside, like a city that believed very strongly in schedules and accountability.Eli blinked, disoriented.For a split second, his brain supplied the wrong memory. Carlos chewing bread like it was a religious experience. Carlos narrating textures. Carlos joking about nutrition opinions and conceptual dirt.This Carlos did none of that.He was scrolling through a tablet, expression neutral, posture loose but alert. A mug of coffee sat untouched on the desk beside him, steam thinning.Eli pushed himself upright. His head felt heavy, like his thoughts had been
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