Chapter 236
The bell tower struck two, each chime rolling across the university grounds like a slow exhale. The sound drifted over the red-brick buildings and wide lawns, tugging students out of the nursing complex in a wave of chatter and clattering footsteps. Laughter, complaints, the rustling of bags—all of it blended into the familiar afternoon rhythm of campus life.
Eliana Bennett stepped into the flow of bodies, moving carefully, as though the world had suddenly become too sharp. Her backpack tugged at her shoulders, and one hand instinctively slipped to her belly, cradling the soft swell that had begun to make her gait a little slower, a little more deliberate. Her long curls shimmered in the London sunlight, flowing down her back in wild, glossy spirals. Her warm honey eyes darted over the walkway ahead, alert, cautious—still shadowed by the chaos of that morning. Reporters shouting her name. Phones shoved in her face. A crowd treating her life like public entertainment.
She inhaled. Exhaled. It was over—for now. No cameras. No whispers. Just the quiet relief of an afternoon class finally behind her.
Under the wide branches of a nearby oak tree, Henry Jackson stood half-hidden in its shade. He’d left his lecture early, unable to shake the restless knot in his chest. He told himself he was just checking—just making sure she got through the day without being ambushed again. Nothing more. But his position wasn’t an accident; he’d chosen this spot with precision, close enough to sprint to her if things went sideways, far enough that she wouldn’t see him and mistake his presence for pressure.
His tall frame blended with the tree’s shadow, but his eyes—warm, sharp, and heartbreakingly gentle—never left her. He watched the subtle way she shifted her weight, the way she touched her stomach, the tired slump of her shoulders.
On any other day, he would have been at her side. He’d have caught up to her between classes, pressing a cold apple into her hand, or sliding a packet of ginger biscuits into her bag with that easy smile of his.
“How’s the little one treating you today?” he’d ask, not out of obligation, but because he actually cared. He always had.
But today he stayed rooted in the shade, unmoving. Her choice—Rafael—still burned like a bruise beneath his ribs. She hadn’t just picked someone else. She’d picked him. The billionaire with the storm-grey eyes and the gravity that seemed to bend her world.
Henry told himself he was done. He didn’t owe her anything. He’d said those words so many times they should’ve hardened into truth by now.
But even with the ache of rejection tightening his chest, even with the logic screaming at him to walk away p>
He stayed.
Because love, even when it isn’t returned, has a stubborn pulse. It pulls you toward the person you’d sworn you were finally ready to forget.
And right now, that pull dragged him to the shadow of an oak tree—watching over the woman who no longer belonged to him, but whom he could never quite stop protecting.
Eliana didn’t notice him, nor did she dwell on his absence. A pang of sadness tugged at her heart—not bitterness, but a deep, aching sorrow for the friendship that now felt fractured, a chasm widened by her choices. Henry had been her rock, but she’d shattered his heart when she’d ended things, and yet he’d still rushed to her aid that morning. “He doesn’t owe me a thing,” she thought, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. The hole in their bond might never mend, and that pain sliced through her like a dull knife, but she had no choice but to forge ahead. For herself, for the baby, for her father.
As she stepped onto the main path, her eyes caught sight of a sleek black SUV parked discreetly at the curb—a vehicle that blended luxury with understated practicality, its tinted windows reflecting the autumn leaves overhead. Relief flooded her chest like a warm tide as she spotted Jax. She had been dreading the walk to the bus stop alone, the fear of another ambush gnawing at her edges, but she hadn’t wanted to burden Rafael with another call or impose on Henry again. And there they were: Rafael’s men, steadfast as ever.
Jax, the orchestrator of the group with his sharp eyes and easy confidence, stepped forward first. His lean build moved with purposeful grace, and he offered her a polite nod, his voice smooth and reassuring. “Mrs. Vexley,” he greeted, using the title that still felt foreign to her ears. “Mr. Vexley sent us to ensure you get home safely. May I take your bag p>
Eliana’s shoulders relaxed, her expressive eyes lighting up with gratitude. “Jax, thank goodness. I was starting to think I’d have to brave the crowds alone again. Yes, please—it’s heavier than it looks today p>
As Jax slung the backpack over his shoulder effortlessly, Kai approached from the side, his shadow-like presence silent and sudden. He was compact and wiry, with a gaze that missed nothing, and he pulled open the rear door with a fluid motion. “After you, ma’am,” he said, his tone clipped but kind, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
From his hiding spot, Henry observed the scene unfold, his heart twisting like a vine caught in the wind. The way Eliana’s face softened at their arrival, the effortless coordination of Rafael’s team—it all underscored how deeply entangled she was in that world now. Students nearby paused, whispering excitedly, a few pulling out phones to snap photos or record videos. “Is that her? The billionaire’s wife?” one murmured, the flash of a camera glinting in the sunlight. Henry’s fists clenched at his sides, but he remained still, his ambitious spirit warring with the lingering love that refused to fade. Watching her slide into the car felt like another piece of his heart breaking off, drifting away irretrievably.
Inside the SUV, Viktor settled into the driver’s seat, his calm, precise hands gripping the wheel as if it were an extension of himself. The engine purred to life, smooth and powerful, and they pulled away from the curb with barely a whisper. Eliana leaned back against the leather seat, exhaling deeply. “Viktor, could you take me to the hospital first? I need to see my father before heading home p>
Viktor’s eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, steady and unflinching. “Of course, Mrs. Vexley. Straight there. Traffic shouldn’t be too bad this time of day p>
As they merged into the flow of London streets, the tension from the day began to ebb, replaced by an unexpected camaraderie. Jax turned in his seat, flashing a grin that revealed a dimple. “You know, we’ve been parked there for four hours straight. Kai here nearly turned into a statue. Thought we’d have to chisel him off the sidewalk p>
Kai shot him a mock glare, his quiet demeanor cracking into a chuckle. “Says the guy who complained about the coffee going cold every five minutes. ’This is undrinkable, Viktor—find a shop!’ Like we’re on a sightseeing tour p>
Eliana laughed, the sound light and genuine, bubbling up from her chest and easing the knots in her stomach. “Four hours? You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve managed… maybe p>
Viktor glanced back with a rare smile, his voice steady like the hum of the engine. “Orders from the boss. And honestly, it’s no trouble. Better safe than sorry, especially with that circus this morning p>
Jax nodded, leaning forward. “Yeah, we heard about it. Reporters can be vultures. But you handled it like a pro from what we saw—slipping away with that friend of yours p>
Eliana’s cheeks warmed at the mention of Henry, but she pushed the sadness aside. “Henry’s a good guy. But I’m glad you’re here now. Tell me more about you all—Rafael doesn’t share much about his ’team.’ What do you do when you’re not babysitting me p>
Kai raised an eyebrow, his shadow-like movements shifting as he relaxed. “Babysitting? Nah, this is the highlight. I’m the one who blends in—disappears when needed. Grew up in Hong Kong, learned a few tricks on the streets. Makes me good at spotting trouble before it spots us p>
Jax chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “And I’m the coordinator. Keep everyone in sync, like conducting an orchestra. Used to be in logistics for big events—concerts, that sort of thing. Now it’s more… high-stakes symphonies p>
Viktor added from the front, his tone dry but amused. “Me? Just the driver. But I’ve got a knack for getting places fast without drawing eyes. Former racer, back in my wild days. These two keep things lively, though. Kai once scared off a pickpocket just by staring at him p>
Eliana’s eyes widened, her face lighting up with delight. “Really? Kai, you have to tell me that story p>
To be continued p>