Chapter 216
Another reporter, a woman with a sharp bob haircut, piped up from the front. “Why such a simple courthouse wedding, Mr. Vexley? You’re a billionaire—most people in your position go for lavish affairs with celebrities and yachts. What made you choose this p>
Eliana fielded this one, her voice gentle yet firm, carrying the quiet strength that had always defined her. “I’m a simple person at heart,” she explained, her expressive eyes scanning the crowd with humility. “I’ve never needed grandeur to feel special. This felt right—intimate, real. It’s about us, not the spectacle.” She glanced down at Rafael, her hand brushing his cheek in a gesture so natural it drew sighs from the onlookers.
Rafael nodded in agreement, his commanding presence undiminished even from the wheelchair. “But, that doesn’t mean we’re skipping the luxury altogether,” he added with a playful smirk, his sarcasm peeking through in a way that made the reporters chuckle. “Eliana deserves the world—the finest destination wedding, with beaches, fireworks, the works. But right now, with her pregnancy, planning something that extravagant would be too stressful. I won’t risk her health or our child’s for show. We’ll do it properly when she’s ready—physically and mentally.” His words were protective, almost fierce, painting him as the devoted husband rather than the reclusive tycoon the world knew.
The reporters nodded, their faces breaking into genuine smiles. One quipped, “You two look so happy together—it’s like a fairytale!” Another added, laughing lightly, “And Mr. Vexley, you seem less… intimidating with her by your side. She’s softened you up!” The group erupted in good-natured laughter, the tension of the interview easing into warmth as more photos were taken.
Throughout the barrage of questions, Eliana’s phone buzzed incessantly in her clutch, the vibrations like an annoying insect she couldn’t swat away. Mirabel’s name flashed on the screen—call after call, relentless. Eliana ignored it each time, her focus on the performance, her smile never wavering. But inside, her mind churned with worry, the emotional weight pressing down like a storm cloud.
Finally, as the interview wrapped up, the group began to disperse. “Thank you all,” Rafael said with a wave, his voice carrying authority. Eliana linked her arm through his as James wheeled him toward the waiting fleet of sleek black cars, the tires gleaming under the sun. Jax and his men—Oliver with his vigilant stare, Will’s quiet intensity, Liam’s easy grin, Kai’s sharp focus, and Viktor’s imposing bulk—flanked them like shadows, ensuring no one got too close. Reporters called out final questions, but the team moved with practiced efficiency.
James “helped” Rafael into the back seat of the lead car, his movements deliberate and supportive, though Rafael’s athletic build betrayed no real need. He folded the wheelchair with a click and stowed it in the trunk, his face impassive. Eliana slid in from the other side, her dress whispering against the leather seats as she settled in. Jax nodded farewell before heading to his own vehicle with the others, engines purring to life in unison. James climbed into the driver’s seat, glancing in the rearview mirror. “Home?” he asked simply.
“Home,” Rafael confirmed, his voice low. As the car pulled away from the curb, the courthouse fading in the distance, Eliana’s performative smile dropped like a curtain after a show. Her shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of the day crashing over her. She stared out the window at the blurring cityscape—skyscrapers piercing the sky, pedestrians hurrying along sidewalks lined with autumn leaves. Her mind raced to Henry, wondering how he’d react to the news blasting across every screen. Would he be heartbroken? Angry? She prayed he’d be okay, that he’d move on without pain. Then her thoughts shifted to her father, Frank, lying in that sterile hospital bed, tubes and machines keeping him in a fragile coma. What would he say when he woke? That she’d married Rafael Vexley without his blessing? The thought twisted her heart like a knife, but she pushed it down. No regrets—this was for their protection, a shield against the vultures circling them. Nothing more.
Rafael stole glances at her from the corner of his eye, his piercing gaze hidden behind the pretense of clouded vision. She looked so vulnerable now, the hopeful smile she’d worn for the cameras replaced by a furrowed brow. Was she okay? The question burned in his chest, but he held back, unsure how to bridge the chasm between their act and reality. The car hummed along the highway, the silence thick with unspoken words.
Eliana’s phone buzzed again—Mirabel, relentless as ever. It vibrated against her thigh, insistent, demanding. With a sigh that carried the weight of her emotional scars, she finally answered, pressing the device to her ear. “What do you want, Mirabel?” she said, her tone ice-cold, a far cry from the sweet warmth she’d displayed moments ago.
Rafael’s head snapped toward her, his steel-grey eyes widening in shock. He’d never heard her speak like that—calculated, venomous. James’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his eyes flicking to the mirror, equally stunned.
On the other end, Mirabel exploded like a volcano. “How dare you, you insolent child!” she shrieked, her voice echoing through the phone so loudly that even Rafael could hear the edges of it. “I gave you an ultimatum—three days to surrender yourself and that bastard child to me! And you marry him? You think this changes anything? You’re nothing but a pawn, and I’ll crush you p>
Eliana didn’t flinch. Instead, a laugh escaped her lips—not her usual warm, melodic one, but a cold, calculating chuckle that sent chills down Rafael’s spine. It was laced with a darkness he’d never imagined in her kind-hearted soul. “Oh, Mirabel,” she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery, “you really don’t get it, do you? I’m Mrs. Vexley now. Mrs. Rafael Vexley. Let that sink in. You should remember who you’re dealing with.” She paused, letting the words hang like a threat, her honey eyes narrowing as she stared at the passing traffic.
Mirabel sputtered, her composure shattering. “You think a ring makes you powerful? I’ll ruin you! I’ll p>
Eliana cut her off, her laugh sharpening into something predatory. “This is just the beginning of your problems, Mother dearest.” The word ’mother’ twisted like a blade, though Mirabel didn’t yet know the full truth behind her words. “You’re going to regret ever coming after me. Regret putting my father in that coma. You have no idea what I’m capable of.” Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “After all, I have your DNA running through my veins. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree p>
With that, she hung up, the click resounding in the silent car like a gunshot. She tossed the phone onto the seat, her chest heaving with a mix of rage and triumph, her expressive face flushed.
Rafael stared at her, mouth agape, his calculating mind reeling. Who was this woman beside him? The sweet, naive caregiver he’d fallen for, or this fierce avenger? James, equally speechless, drove on in stunned silence, the air thick with the aftermath of her words. The car sped toward their future, but the chains of betrayal tightened, promising more drama ahead.