Chapter 190
Eliana’s hand shook as she gripped the phone tighter, her knuckles turning pale. Tears welled in her expressive eyes, but she blinked them back, her voice rising with a mix of anger and fear. “You’re insane! Henry hasn’t done anything to you. And neither have I. What do you even want from me p>
There was a pause, the static humming like a predator’s breath. Then Mirabel’s voice dropped to a deadly whisper, each word an ultimatum carved in stone. “Listen carefully, Eliana, because I’m only going to say this once. The only way you survive my wrath—the only way you keep yourself and that precious unborn child safe—is if you come to me. Willingly. Of your own free will. Crawl to my door, beg for my mercy, and I’ll take care of you. Both of you. I’ll be the best mother and grandmother p>
Eliana’s breath hitched, her hand instinctively flying to her belly again, as if to shield the life growing inside her. “Take care of us? Why would you do that? You’ve never cared about me before p>
Mirabel’s tone turned sickly sweet, laced with calculation. “Oh, but I do now. That baby you’re carrying? It’s my ladder to Rafael’s wealth. My stepson thinks he can outmaneuver me, but with his heir in my grasp? I’ll control everything. The Vexley empire will be mine to command. You’ll live in luxury—silks, jewels, the best doctors money can buy. No more scraping by in that hovel with your sickly father and your lovesick puppy of a boyfriend. But refuse me, and… well p>
Eliana felt a wave of nausea wash over her. This woman—her own mother—saw her child as nothing more than a pawn. “You’re using my baby? Your own grandchild? How can you be so heartless p>
“Heartless?” Mirabel echoed, her voice mocking. “Darling, in this world, hearts get you killed. You have three days, Eliana. Three days to come looking for me. Call this number when you’re ready to surrender yourself. If you don’t… I’ll wipe you off the surface of the earth. You, your father, your Henry—all of you. You’re a nobody, Eliana. A ghost from my past. No one will bat an eyelid if you suddenly disappear. No investigations, no tears. Just… gone p>
Eliana couldn’t believe it. This was her mother? The woman who had once held her as a baby, now threatening to erase her existence? Her mind reeled, flashing back to fragmented memories—Mirabel’s face, younger and softer, before greed twisted her. But now, the cruelty was unimaginable. Eliana’s voice cracked as she forced out the words, trying to sound brave. “I’m not afraid of you, Mirabel. You’re nothing but a bully hiding behind money and power. Don’t contact me again. Ever p>
Inside, she was crumbling. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her vision blurred with unshed tears.
Mirabel’s laughter erupted again, a cold, triumphant cackle that echoed through the phone like thunder. “Oh, sweet, naive child. Not afraid? You’re shaking like a leaf right now, aren’t you? Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Three days, Eliana. Tick-tock p>
The line went dead with a click, leaving only silence in its wake—a silence that screamed.
Eliana dropped the phone onto the bed as if it burned her. Her whole body quaked, her breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. She wrapped her arms around herself, rocking slightly, trying to hold the pieces together. Tears streamed down her cheeks now, hot and unchecked, soaking into the fabric of her blouse. How could her own mother be so ruthless? So devoid of humanity? The threats replayed in her mind—kidnapping, murder, using her baby as a tool. It was too much. She needed help. Someone strong enough to stand against Mirabel.
With trembling fingers, she snatched up her phone again and dialed Henry. Her rock, her friend—the one who had always been there, quietly loving and protecting her. The phone rang… and rang… and rang. No answer. Panic clawed at her throat. She tried again, the rings mocking her desperation. Still nothing.
“Where are you, Henry?” she whispered to the empty room, her voice breaking. “Please pick up p>
Unknown to Eliana, miles away in a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of the city, Henry Jackson was drowning his sorrows. The handsome aspiring doctor, with his sharp features and warm eyes, sat slumped at a corner table, a half-empty glass of whiskey in his hand. Isabella Voss, a beautiful woman with fiery red hair and a charming smile, leaned in close, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes. “Come on, Henry, just one more shot!” Isabella urged with a reckless spark in her eyes. “Just for tonight, let’s forget everything—every headache, every person who’s treated us like we don’t matter. We don’t deserve that kind of crap from the people we love p>
Henry chuckled weakly, his mind foggy from the alcohol, but his heart still ached for Eliana. He hadn’t heard his phone buzzing in his jacket pocket, buried under the haze of the drunken night. “Yeah, maybe you’re right, Isabella. Just… one more p>
Back in her room, Eliana’s fear spiraled. What if Mirabel had already gotten to him? What if he was hurt—or worse? She dialed again, her fingers slipping on the screen from the sweat. Ring… ring… voicemail. “Henry, please call me back. It’s urgent. I… I need to know you’re okay p>
Desperation clawed deeper. Her father’s recovering health flashed in her mind—he couldn’t handle this stress. And Rafael… oh, God, Rafael. She had sworn off him. Vowed never to rely on that cold, calculating billionaire again. The man who had broken her heart with his mistrusts and detachment. She had promised herself independence, to shield her heart from the pain he caused—the heartbreak, the accusations he once heaped upon her, the way his piercing steel-grey eyes could make her feel seen and shattered all at once.
But now, facing Mirabel’s wrath, the walls she built crumbled. Rafael was powerful, ruthless in his own right. He could protect her and her baby. Swallowing her pride like bitter medicine, Eliana scrolled to his number. Her thumb hovered, hesitation warring with terror. Finally, with a sob, she pressed call.
The phone rang once, twice. Then, his voice—deep, commanding, laced with surprise. “Eliana? Is everything alright p>
“Rafael,” she choked out, her voice raw with tears. Tears flowed freely now, her body curling into itself on the bed. “I… I need your help. Please p>
There was a pause, the sound of his breath catching. When he spoke again, his tone softened but his fears deepened, joined by urgent concern. “Eliana, what’s wrong? Talk to me. Where are you? Didn’t James bring you home p>
“It’s Mirabel,” she whispered, the name tasting like poison. “She called once I got home. Threatened me, the baby, Henry, my father. She wants me to come to her or… or she’ll kill us all. Rafael, I’m scared. I don’t know what to do p>
Rafael’s voice hardened, a steel edge cutting through. “Stay where you are. Don’t move. I’m coming for you right now. James will be there in minutes. Eliana, listen to me—you’re not alone. I won’t let her touch you. I swear it p>
Eliana nodded, even though he couldn’t see, her sobs quieting to whimpers. “Hurry. Please. I’m scared p>
The call ended, but the connection lingered in her mind. She had broken her vow, reached for the man who had hurt her deepest. But in this moment, with shadows closing in, Rafael Vexley was her only light.