Chapter 295
But now, watching Eliana call him “Papa H” and melt into his arms, the pieces clicked into place like a lock tumbling open. Rafael had done his due diligence when H first mentioned Eliana— a thorough background check that revealed her ties to Kenneth Holloway, the multi-billionaire mogul, one of the richest men in the world. He’d heard whispers of Holloway since boyhood, tales of his empire in tech, real estate, and beyond. But back then, Rafael’s focus had been on Eliana herself, on the people who had hurt her—Sarai, Jason, the betrayals that had scarred her. He hadn’t delved deeper into the “dead” grandfather, hadn’t requested photos or details. Why would he? The man was gone. Or so everyone thought.
“Papa H?” Rafael echoed, his voice low and edged with bewilderment, stepping closer to the bed. His athletic frame loomed, but there was no threat in it—only genuine puzzlement. “H… you’re Kenneth Holloway? Eliana’s adopted grandfather?” He glanced at Eliana, whose tear-streaked face lifted from H’s shoulder, her eyes mirroring his confusion. “You saved me from that crash, helped me regain my sight, told me to protect her… but you never said she was yours. Why? Why keep that from me p>
H—Kenneth—straightened, releasing Eliana gently but keeping one hand on her shoulder, a paternal anchor. He turned to Rafael, his expression shifting from tenderness to a stern, appraising gaze. The lines on his face deepened, and for a moment, the room felt charged with the weight of unspoken judgments. “Rafael, my boy,” he began, his voice steady but laced with disappointment, like a mentor correcting a wayward pupil. “I needed to see how sincere you’d be to Eliana without my shadow looming over you. No influence from the old man pulling strings. I wanted to know if you’d treat her right because of who she is, not because of who I am. And frankly, I’m disappointed. You made her suffer—your games, your secrets, the way you pushed her away even as she cracked those walls of yours. I won’t forgive that easily p>
Rafael’s face paled, his chiseled features twisting with regret. He sank into the chair beside the bed, his broad shoulders slumping under the weight of H’s words. The billionaire who commanded empires now looked vulnerable, his steel-grey eyes dropping to the floor. “H—Kenneth—I… I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rough with emotion, a rare crack in his cold facade. “I never meant to hurt her. You know my world—betrayal at every turn. I was testing everyone, including her, but she… she broke through. She’s the only one who ever did. I adore her, more than I can say. Please, forgive me. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it right p>
Eliana, still cocooned against the pillows, scrubbed at her cheeks with the back of her hand, smearing away tears she hadn’t signed up for tonight. Her honey-brown eyes bounced between the two men like a pinball on overdrive. Dumbfounded didn’t even come close.
Her grandfather—the man she had buried in her heart years ago, mourned, grieved, and very thoroughly believed to be dead—was standing right there. Breathing. Looking annoyingly solid. And Rafael—her husband, the brooding recluse who had hired her as a caregiver, pretended to be broken in more ways than one, and somehow, against all odds, stolen her heart—knew him.
Not just knew him. Knew him well.
“Wait… you two know each other?” she blurted, her voice climbing an octave as the realization finally slammed into place. Awe tangled with disbelief until neither could breathe properly. “Papa H—you told Rafael about me? You actually begged him to look after me p>
Her gaze snapped to Rafael. “And you—you knew about Papa H this whole time, but didn’t know he was my Papa H p>
She let out a shaky laugh, half-hysterical, half-on-the-verge-of-crying-again, because apparently emotional stability had clocked out for the night. The sheer absurdity of it all landed like the punchline to the worst joke ever told.
“This is insane,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair and immediately regretting it when the IV tugged. “I feel like I’ve accidentally wandered into some warped fairy tale where everyone has secrets the size of dragons… and somehow I’m the last one to get the script p>
She looked at them again—one her past, one her present—and shook her head slowly.
“Please tell me there isn’t a prophecy involved,” she added weakly.
Kenneth chuckled softly, the sound warm and rumbling, easing the tension like a balm. He patted her hand, his wise eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “Oh, my dear, life’s full of twists. Rafael and I go way back—he’s like the son I never had, the good one, anyway. But yes, I kept my cards close. Had to make sure he was worthy of you p>
Rafael reached for Eliana’s other hand, his touch tentative, seeking forgiveness in the gesture. “I didn’t know the full story, love. H—your grandfather—he’s been my guardian angel. Saved me when no one else would. But I swear, from now on, no more secrets p>
As the three of them sat there, the air softening with tentative reconciliation, the curtain partitioning the room rustled. A burly man in a dark suit slipped in— one of Kenneth’s most trusted guards, his face etched with loyalty and discretion. He leaned in close to Kenneth, whispering urgently into his ear, his voice a low murmur that carried just enough for the others to sense the gravity. “Sir, important guests have arrived. The ones you were expecting p>
Kenneth’s face split into a wide grin, his teeth flashing in the dim light, transforming his weathered features into something almost boyish with anticipation. He leaned back, his eyes gleaming with a predatory satisfaction. “Ah, perfect,” he said to no one in particular, his voice booming with dramatic flair. “Tomorrow’s conference is going to be spectacular. Fireworks, revelations—the works p>
Eliana tilted her head, her curly hair shifting as she frowned in confusion. The happiness from moments ago mingled with a fresh wave of bewilderment, her heart-shaped face creasing with questions. “Papa H, what’s going on? What conference? And these guests—who are they p>
Kenneth’s grin widened, his kind eyes hardening with resolve as he squeezed her hand once more. “Don’t you worry, my girl. I’m going to handle everyone who ever hurt you—with one blow. Mirabel, Sarai, Bianca, those greedy children of mine… they’ll all get what’s coming. Tomorrow, it all comes crashing down p>
Eliana’s confusion deepened, her honey-brown eyes searching his face for clues. “Handle them? How? Papa H, you’re scaring me a little. What do you mean by ’one blow p>
But Kenneth only winked, his expression enigmatic, leaving the tent filled with the electric promise of impending drama.