Chapter 231
Outside, the morning air greeted Eliana like a cold slap—brisk, sharp, and brimming with the unforgiving honesty that darkness often concealed. She wrapped her thin shawl tighter around herself as she stepped through the tall iron gates of the Vexley estate. The guards nodded at her, but even their polite greetings felt distant, muffled, as if she were walking through a dream she wasn’t ready to wake from.
She raised a hand at the sight of an approaching cab. It rolled to a slow stop, the engine humming beneath the quiet of dawn. The driver—a middle-aged man with grizzled stubble and kind, sun-creased eyes—adjusted the mirror to look at her.
“Early start, Madam?” he asked, voice warm and gentle, like someone who had seen countless stories climb into the back seat of his cab.
“Yes,” she answered, her voice soft and tired, barely clinging to composure. “To the university, please p>
He gave a thoughtful nod, pulling away from the curb. “Long day ahead then. But rewarding,” he added, his mouth curving into an encouraging smile. “You look like you’ve got the heart for it p>
Eliana tried to return the smile, but it felt borrowed—like a mask she hadn’t fully learned to wear. “I hope so,” she murmured. “Lately, everything feels… overwhelming p>
The driver didn’t pry. That alone felt like a gift.
As the cab threaded its way through the waking city, her thoughts drifted—uninvited—back to Henry. His voice still echoed in her mind, full of hurt and disbelief. She could almost see him sitting across from her again, jaw tense, eyes fighting the war between love and heartbreak.
Would he ever forgive her?
Should he?
In her mind, she whispered to him the words she never got to say aloud: I’m sorry. I didn’t choose wealth. I didn’t choose power. I chose survival—for myself, for my baby, for my father.
But the ache in her chest reminded her that survival had never felt so much like betrayal.
And then there was Rafael.
Her heart fluttered—annoyingly, traitorously—at the thought of him. Of the moment his sight returned. The awe in his voice. The way his fingers had brushed her cheek afterward, as if memorizing her face all over again.
And the kiss.
God… that kiss.
Was it love?
Or was she simply drowning, reaching for the nearest steady thing—his commanding presence, his unexpected tenderness, the strange comfort she felt in his arms?
She didn’t know. And that terrified her.
The cab slowed as the university came into view, its ivy-laden walls rising proudly in the soft morning light. Students trickled through the gates, their chatter light and carefree—blissfully unaware of the chaos she carried inside her.
She paid the driver, offering him a grateful smile. His encouraging nod lingered with her as she stepped onto the pavement.
But her steps faltered.
A knot formed in her stomach.
She had completely forgotten—or maybe she had forced herself to forget—the events of yesterday. The quiet courthouse. The sterile smell of paper and ink. The flash of cameras. The whispered confusion of strangers.
Marrying Rafael Vexley, one of the richest and most guarded men in the world, had been enough to ignite a media explosion. Even in her emotional haze, she should’ve realized the news would spread like wildfire.
A gust of wind rustled the trees overhead as she pulled her bag closer to her chest.
Eliana walked toward the nursing building, her steps light but hurried, lost in thought. “If only Papa could wake up from his coma, I wouldn’t be this worried,” she murmured to herself.
At first, the stares were subtle—a group of students whispering as she passed, a professor doing a double-take. Then, a young woman with bright red hair approached, her eyes wide with feigned friendliness. “Oh my gosh, are you Eliana Bennett? I mean, Eliana Vexley now? Congratulations on the wedding p>
Eliana blinked, startled. “Uh, yes… thank you?” Her heart skipped a beat. How did this stranger…?
Before she could process, another student, a tall guy with a backpack slung over one shoulder, chimed in. “Dude, you’re famous! Saw the pics online. Marrying Rafael Vexley? That’s like winning the lottery p>
Eliana’s cheeks flushed, her slender hands clutching her bag tighter. “It’s… private. Excuse me, I have class p>
But the red-haired girl blocked her path gently. “Wait, can I ask—why’d you leave Henry Jackson for him? I mean, Henry’s hot and all, studying to be a doctor. He’s rich. Is it because Vexley’s richer p>
The words hit like a slap. Eliana’s honey eyes widened, tears threatening. “What? No, that’s not—Henry and I were just friends. Please, let me through p>
A small crowd was forming now, phones emerging from pockets like weapons. A girl with glasses pushed forward. “Is Rafael really the father of your baby? Or is it Henry’s? Come on, spill! The tabloids are saying it’s true love but we all know you were dating Henry Jackson p>
Eliana shook her head, her voice rising in panic. “That’s none of your business! The baby is Rafael’s. Please, stop p>
Laughter rippled through the group, but it wasn’t kind. A guy in a hoodie smirked. “Yeah, right. Henry’s from money too, but not Vexley-level. Did you dump him ’cause he’s not billionaire rich? Smart move, girl p>
“No!” Eliana cried, her emotional resilience cracking. “You don’t know anything about us p>
More voices joined the fray, the crowd swelling to a dozen or more. An older student, perhaps a senior, leaned in. “Aren’t you bothered that Rafael’s blind and crippled? Like, how do you even… you know? Is the money worth staying with a disabled guy p>
Eliana’s face burned with humiliation and anger, her sense of justice igniting. “How dare you! He’s a person, not some… some burden. His disabilities don’t define him p>
Flashbulbs popped—phones capturing her every expression. “Smile for the camera!” someone yelled. “You’re a celeb now p>
A bubbly freshman bounced up. “Can I get your autograph? My friends won’t believe I met Rafael Vexley’s wife p>
Eliana’s breath came in short gasps, her pregnant belly heaving with the effort. “No! Leave me alone!” She pushed through the throng, her slender frame weaving desperately. Elbows jostled her, voices overlapping in a cacophony.
“Why marry a recluse p>
“Is it true he’s horrible to everyone who comes close to him p>
“Pose with me p>
Tears streamed down her face as she broke free, her curls disheveled, her heart pounding like a drum. She sprinted toward the nearest building, bursting into the women’s bathroom and slamming into a stall. The lock clicked with a finality that echoed her despair. She slid down the wall, sobbing uncontrollably, her body shaking.
“Why is this happening?” she whispered between gasps. “I just wanted a normal day p>
Her hand fumbled for her phone, fingers trembling as she dialed Rafael. It rang once, twice p>
“Rafael?” she choked out when he answered, her voice breaking. “Please… help me. I’m at the university, and there are people… reporters, students… they’re everywhere. I can’t get out p>