2025-06-30 23:01:44Chapter Two
“Oh, look who is here?”.... Mireille Morreau, Elara’s cousin said, her voice loud enough to draw attention to Eli who had just walked into Elara's birthday party which was being held at Genevieve Morreau — Elara’s grandmother’s house.
Eli, who was tired due to the distance it took from his house to this place, and the only available car had been used by Elara sighed to himself, wishing that everybody would ignore him and he could spend time with his wife
“Darling!!! – I know you said I should wait at home for you and how you wanted to surprise me, but grandma threw this party and she said if I didn’t show up on time, we were going to have issues, that’s why I left.” Elara, who had noticed the commotion, said as soon as she reached Eli’s side.
“Oh! – pleeease – you do not owe this man an explanation.” Lucien Morreau, …. Elara’s uncle and Selva’s younger brother said, coming to stand beside Elara.
Unfortunately for Eli, Lucien was about to make an announcement, and a mic was in his hand, so all the guests heard the cruel words he had said to him.
“Uncle, he is my husband, so I owe him every explanation.” Elara responded, her face masked with pain and sadness due to the ugly way Lucien had just spoken to Eli, but in her heart she was joyful and happy about the embarrassment Eli was currently facing.
She had been happy to marry Eli at first, had been in love and wanted nothing more to spend the rest of her life with him, she had known about his situation then, but somewhere deep in her heart, she had believed things would change and Eli would become rich, but with each passing month, and Eli didn’t seem to improve in his finances, and her family had started to look down on her, even her mom had done nothing to hide her disappointment in her choice, Elara had started to detest Eli, and the love she had for him started to fade.
She couldn’t divorce him though, she did not want people to see her as a gold digger and someone who only married for money, so she had continued to pretend as the sad, helpless wife whenever her family insulted Eli and hoped in her heart, that this would chase him away and she could continue to uphold her good perfect persona, and all the insult would go to Eli.
‘Poor husband leaves loving wife due to shame.’ That would bring so many rich suitors to her, who would treat her nicely and try to gain her favour, because they would all believe she was so in love with her husband and she was suffering from immense heartbreak, thereby making it hard to win her heart.
“It doesn’t matter Elara, Hope you are enjoying the party?” Eli asked, a sharp pain cutting through his chest as he looked at his wife’s sad face.
“How could I enjoy the party without you here? —- I was thinking of coming to find you if you had not shown up.” Elara responded, burying her head in Eli’s shoulders as disgust passed through her face.
Eli felt happy immediately and wrapped his arms tightly around Elara, giving her a peck on her forehead.
Genevieve Morreau, Elara’s grandmother watched with displeasure at this show of affection from the podium on which she stood, she had hoped to use this event to look for suitable suitors that were worthy of her granddaughter, but how was she going to be able to achieve that when Elara was putting on a public display with Eli, clearing her throat, she reached for the mic.
“Gift giving will now commence, I would love to invite Elara to join me on this podium.” Genevieve’s voice rang out – sending a smile to Elara's face, she had been wondering how long she was going to need to end this hug, and her grandmother’s voice felt like a saviour in her torment. Elara lifted her head slowly, masking her happiness with sadness as she peered into Eli’s sad eyes. “I have to go now, babe– I will be back soon.”
“I am very certain Eli is not deaf, and he clearly heard your grandma call for you, so I see no reason he should have a problem with that.” Luccien Morreau said angrily, his voice so loud that the ever gossipy guest could hear.
“Unclee!! – Please!!” Elara turned to face her uncle, her face filled with sadness.
“Don’t get worked up, love.” Eli said to his wife as he turned her towards him, planting a light peck on her forehead, making Elara close her eyes immediately, like a girl flustered from shyness due to a kiss like that from someone she loved, but in reality she had closed her eyes immediately to conceal the disgust that had passed through her eyes at the thought of this poor man’s lips on her skin.
“I would love to ask Mr Eli to stop from keeping our guest waiting and allow the beautiful lady I had called to walk up here.” Genevieve said from where she stood, spitting Eli’s name like a curse and poison on her tongue, making the guest whisper harsh words against Eli among themselves, some of their voices not so much as a whisper.
Genevieve smiled from where she was, happy that what she had said was producing the reaction she wanted. She wanted the guest here to see that she had no regard for Eli and didn’t consider him her son-in-law, so they could approach Elara without restraint and try to win her heart.
Elara was her most favoured granddaughter, and she had been extremely annoyed when she learned that she had agreed to marry Eli, Elara was beautiful and could get any man she wanted, so had been confused as to why she would settle for Eli, therefore she had made it her sole purpose to rectify Elara’s mistake, and get her to marry someone that was truly deserving of her granddaughter.
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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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