Chapter 204
Rafael Vexley cleared his throat, his tone dripping with feigned graciousness. “Well, since our knight in shining armor has arrived, perhaps I should give you two some space. Wouldn’t want to intrude on good friends catching up.” Internally, he gritted his teeth, the words tasting like ash. He despised leaving her side, especially now, but appearances mattered in his web of deceptions.
Eliana nodded gently. “Rafael, you don’t have to p>
“No, no, my dear. You two talk. I’ll be right outside if you need me.” Rafael raised his voice slightly. “James? Wheel me out, would you? I feel like admiring the hallway decor p>
The door opened promptly, and James stepped in, gripping the wheelchair handles. With a smooth push, he rolled Rafael away, the billionaire’s fake smile holding until the door clicked shut behind them.
Now alone, Henry dropped into the chair beside the bed, his hands clasping Eliana’s. “What happened? Tell me everything. I thought you were safe with Rafael at Green Hearts Hospital last night. How did you end up here, at St. Patrick’s? God, Eliana, I should’ve been there p>
Eliana’s eyes shimmered before the tears finally spilled, tracing warm, helpless paths down her cheeks. Her fingers tightened around Henry’s as if he were the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely. When she spoke, her voice trembled—thin, cracked, as though each word scraped its way out of her.
“Henry… everything went wrong p>
She swallowed hard, breath hitching. “Last night—after all the chaos that landed me at Green Hearts—Rafael told James to take me home safely. And he did. He really did.” Her grip tightened, desperation bleeding through every syllable. “But later… later that night… Mirabel called p>
The name alone seemed to drain the remaining color from her face. Her lashes fluttered, another tear slipping free, her entire body curling slightly as if bracing for whatever memory was about to tear through her next.
Henry’s brow furrowed, anger flashing in his warm eyes. “Mirabel? That witch. What did she say p>
Eliana wiped at her tears with her free hand, her breath hitching. “She threatened me. Said if I didn’t give in to her demands in three days—give her rights to become my mother again and control Rafael’s wealth through my baby—she’d kill me. And Papa. And you, Henry. She mentioned you by name, like she knew exactly how to hurt me most.” Her voice trembled, the memory replaying like a horror film in her mind.
Henry leaned forward, his face paling. “Me? God, Eliana, why didn’t you call me? I would’ve come running p>
“I tried!” Eliana’s sob escaped fully now, her shoulders shaking. “Your phone rang and rang, but you didn’t pick up. I was terrified, Henry. Alone in the house with Papa sleeping, hearing every creak like it was her coming for us p>
Henry felt a heavy thud in his chest, a wave of guilt slamming into him so hard it stole the breath from his lungs. He scrubbed a hand over his face, hating himself for even asking something so careless while she was falling apart in front of him.
“Eliana… I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice dropping, roughened by remorse. “That was a stupid question. I just—” He exhaled sharply, steadying himself. “What did you do next p>
“I called Rafael,” Eliana whispered, her honey eyes distant. “He sent men over right away—armed guards, patrolling the house all night. I felt safer, but… this morning, I was stupid. So, so stupid.” Fresh tears streamed down her face, carving paths of sorrow.
Henry’s heart ached, his thumb brushing her knuckles. “What do you mean? Tell me p>
“I asked him to pull the guards back. Said I’d feel uncomfortable with them shadowing me everywhere—I had so much to do today. Papa’s regular checkup at the hospital, then my classes at school. I thought… I thought we could handle it. Just one normal day.” Her voice cracked, the regret palpable.
Henry shook his head, disbelief mixing with horror. “And then p>
Eliana’s grip tightened, her words tumbling out in a rush of emotion. “We left the house this morning, Papa and I. He was humming that old tune he loves, you know? The one about sunny days ahead. We stepped onto the sidewalk, and then… this black van came barreling toward us. Full speed, no brakes. It was aiming right for us—for me.” She paused, her free hand instinctively cradling her bump, as if shielding the unborn child from the memory.
Henry’s eyes widened, his breath shallow. “Oh God p>
“Papa saw it first. He shoved me out of the way—hard. I fell forward, landing on my stomach. The pain… Henry, it was like fire ripping through me. I thought I’d lost the baby right there on the pavement.” Her sobs grew louder, raw and unfiltered. “The van hit him instead. Crushed his legs, sent him flying. There was blood everywhere, screams—mine, the neighbors’. He’s in another room now, in a coma. Machines breathing for him. Doctors say it’s touch and go p>
Henry couldn’t believe his ears, the room spinning around him. While he’d been at Isabella’s, packing up her ex’s clothes, flirting with disaster in a penthouse far removed from reality, Eliana had been fighting for survival. Her father—kind, sickly Frank, who’d raised her alone—now lay comatose because Henry hadn’t been there. Again. The guilt was a lead weight in his chest, suffocating. “This is all my fault,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “I should’ve been home. Protecting you. Instead, I was out there, helping someone else with their mess. I’m so sorry, Eliana. I feel like the shittiest friend alive p>
Eliana shook her head fiercely, her curls bouncing with the motion. “No, Henry. Stop that. It’s not your fault—none of it. It’s Mirabel’s. She’s the monster here, pulling strings from her ivory tower. But I’ve decided… I can’t let her win. Not anymore p>
Henry looked up, hope flickering amidst the despair. “What do you mean? We’ll go to the police. Expose her. I’ll help you p>
“It’s not enough,” Eliana interrupted, her voice gaining a steely edge through the tears. “I need protection. Real power. That’s why… I’m going to marry Rafael p>
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Henry Jackson felt his heart die in his chest, a sharp, final shatter that left him hollow. Marry Rafael? The recluse billionaire who’d woven her into his web of lies? For protection, for revenge—it didn’t matter. The dream he’d harbored, the unspoken love he’d carried since college, crumbled to dust.