Chapter 227
Finally, the front door opened with a soft whoosh, and Eliana stepped inside. Her slender frame, with its warm brown skin and natural elegance, sagged slightly under exhaustion. Her long curly black hair falling over her shoulders, disheveled from the emotional storm. Her expressive honey-brown eyes were rimmed red from tears, and her heart-shaped face bore the weight of turmoil—her lips pressed into a thin line. The pregnant belly she carried added a gentle curve to her silhouette, a symbol of their tangled future. She wanted to make a beeline straight to her room not wanting to wake anyone up, sighing deeply, her quiet strength frayed but unbroken.
But before she could even make it to her room, the plan sprang into motion. James burst from a side hallway, his face a mask of feigned panic—eyes wide, breath ragged, tie askew. He rushed past her toward Rafael’s study, muttering loudly enough to be heard. “Oh God, Mr. Vexley! Sir, are you alright? I heard a crash—hold on p>
Eliana’s heart leaped into her throat. “James? What’s wrong? Is it Rafael?” She dropped her purse on the floor, her voice trembling with worry, and hurried after him, her curls bouncing with each step. Her emotional resilience kicked in, pushing aside her fatigue as adrenaline surged.
They burst into the study together. There, in the center of the room, stood Rafael—out of his wheelchair, tall and commanding at 6’3″, his athletic build no longer diminished. He “stumbled” forward, his arms outstretched, his steel-grey eyes wide with mock astonishment. “James! James, I… I can see! The light—it’s flooding in! I can see the books, the desk… everything p>
James skidded to a halt, his panic shifting to exaggerated joy. “Mr. Vexley? Sir, is this real? You—you can see again?! You’re looking right at me p>
Eliana froze in the doorway, her honey-brown eyes widening in disbelief. Tears welled instantly, her full lips parting in a gasp. “Rafael? Oh my God… you can see? How? When?” She rushed forward, her slender hands reaching for him, her pregnant belly brushing against him as she collided into his chest.
Rafael wrapped his arms around her, his embrace strong and genuine for the first time in months—no pretense. He pulled back slightly, his piercing eyes locking onto hers, drinking in her features as if for the first time. “Eliana… my God, you’re even more beautiful than I remembered. Your eyes—they’re like warm honey, sparkling with life. And your smile… that hopeful curve to your lips. I’ve missed seeing it so much.” His voice cracked with emotion, sarcasm forgotten, as his hands gently cupped her face. Then, his gaze dropped to her belly, his large hands splaying protectively over the swell. “And this… our child. I can see how you’ve grown, how radiant you are. It’s… it’s a miracle. I felt a rush, like the fog lifting, and suddenly, the world was clear again p>
Eliana sobbed happily, her kind-hearted nature overflowing. “Rafael, I can’t believe it! You’ve been in the dark for so long… suffering. But now? Now you can see me, see us.” She laughed through her tears, a sound like tinkling bells, her emotional wounds momentarily forgotten in the joy. “Pinch me—am I dreaming? You look so… alive. Standing tall, those grey eyes sharp as ever p>
James, playing his role to perfection, pulled out his phone. “I’ll call the doctor right away! Dr. Harlan needs to confirm this.” He dialed quickly, stepping aside. “Doctor? It’s James. The miracle happened—Mr. Vexley can see! Get here now p>
Minutes later, the door swung open again, and Dr. Harlan hurried in, stethoscope around his neck, medical bag in hand. His face was a picture of feigned shock—eyes bulging, mouth agape. “Mr. Vexley? James said… but this is impossible! Let me examine you p>
Rafael submitted to the charade, sitting on the edge of the desk as the doctor shone a light in his eyes, checked reflexes, and muttered medical jargon. Eliana hovered nearby, twisting her fingers, her face a canvas of hope and anxiety. “Doctor, please… is it real? Will it last p>
Dr. Harlan straightened, shaking his head in “amazement p>
Eliana’s tears flowed freely now, her voice choked. “Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much.” She turned to Rafael, beaming. “See? I told you—hope wins. You look happier, Rafael. I can see it in your eyes… literally p>
Rafael chuckled, a rare, genuine laugh that rumbled from his chest—sarcastic edge softened. “Hope? Happiness? From you, Eliana? Maybe it’s contagious. But don’t get too sentimental; I might start believing in fairy tales p>
James cleared his throat, exchanging a knowing glance with the doctor. “We’ll give you two some privacy. Congratulations, sir.” They slipped out quietly, closing the door behind them.
Alone now, the room pulsed with newfound intimacy. Rafael pulled Eliana close again, his hands tracing her curves—the swell of her belly, the softness of her waist. “Eliana… I’ve waited so long to really see you.” His voice dropped to a husky whisper, laced with raw emotion. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss—slow at first, then deepening with pent-up passion. His fingers tangled in her long curls, pulling her flush against him.
Eliana melted into it, her arms wrapping around his neck, her body responding instinctively. The kiss was electric, emotional—a storm of relief, love, and hidden truths. She tasted the salt of her own tears on his lips, felt the heat of his athletic frame. “Rafael,” she murmured against him, “this feels like a dream… your eyes on me, really seeing p>
He deepened the kiss, his sarcasm forgotten in the moment. “More than a dream, my love. It’s us—finally free.” His hands roamed gently, reverent, as if memorizing her anew.
But suddenly, reality crashed in. Eliana pulled back, her honey-brown eyes wide with shock, her cheeks flushed. “Wait… Rafael, what are we doing? This… it’s too much, it wasn’t suppose to happen. I just came from seeing Henry, and now this miracle? My heart’s spinning p>
Rafael’s steel eyes searched hers, a flicker of his old detachment returning, but softened by vulnerability. “Eliana? What’s wrong? This is what we’ve wanted—I can see again. Aren’t you happy for me p>
She stepped back, her hand on her belly, breathing heavily. “I know… but it has nothing to do with our relationship. Give me a moment. Please p>
The room fell silent, the joy hanging by a thread, as the weight of unspoken secrets lingered in the air.