The Heiress Revenge

Two

Elaine

My eyes fluttered open, and I was temporarily blinded by the bright light in a room that seemed like a private ward for a VIP patient.

That should be me.

I was about to sit up when I was held back by a drip line banded to my wrist.

“Elaine!” I heard my name from a couple of lips. Grandmother, Edward, Jane, and Edward's family were present.

Grandmother was visibly relieved.

“Goodness, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

I smiled sadly at her, hugging her tightly. I could not imagine not seeing her again. She would have been devastated by my death.

“I am sorry, grandmother,” I whispered.

She sat beside me, her aged hands cradling my face. “I am glad you are safe.”

Edward and Jane walked forward; I was visibly repulsed by their presence, but I tried to hold it in.

“Are you okay, Elaine?” Edward asked gently.

“I'll be.” After I get rid of both of you.

Jane smiled sweetly at me, but I could sense her hostility. “You had everyone frightened, and it caused such a big issue. Poor Edward. I'm glad you are safe now.”

Grandmother shook her head in disapproval at Jane, displeased.

“That's unnecessary. Elaine needs to recover fully before being troubled about petty issues.”

“Elaine is grown now, Grandmother; there's no need to pamper her. She should be able to shoulder the responsibility for her actions.”

Grandmother directed a glare at her, and she shut up and retreated.

I stared at her and Edward. Have they started fuc'king here as well?

Edward's parents came forward. “We would love Elaine to explain why she ran away from the wedding in that manner. "Exposing my poor boy to so many hateful opinions on the internet and media,” his mother said pointedly at me.

Was the wedding covered by the media? I had forgotten that Edward requested full media coverage, and because of how love-stricken I was, I agreed. Glad it backfired.

Now I think about it, he felt eager to show the world he was the mister that got Elaine Gregory.

I considered how this would impact my family name and business. I care less about Edward's feelings.

“That's enough!” Grandmother ordered. “No further discussions on this until my granddaughter is out of the hospital room.”

I needed some time to think about how to go about this. “I want to rest now. I need everyone gone except grandmother.”

Edward's parents, appalled by my rudeness, left. His mother has a particular vim against me. In my previous life, she loved me due to how agreeable I was.

I was too nice to them, and it landed me to death.

Jane left after them; her attraction to Edward was one I missed in my previous life due to how absorbed I was in him, but not anymore.

Edward gave me one more worried look before he left. I would have mistaken this for one of worry and heartbreak, but he was simply worried about losing his grasp of my wealth.

He closed the door behind him.

I sat upright and hugged Grandmother tightly. She sensed my anxiety and sat beside me.

“What's wrong, Elaine?”

I bit my lips nervously, wondering if I should tell her the truth that Jane and Edward were cheating on me.

“I can't go ahead with the wedding,” I said softly.

She chuckled, “Anyone could guess that. You slapped him pretty hard at the altar and ran off. I am rather curious as to what he had done that prompted that reaction.”

What he will do, grandmother, what he will do…

I had no concrete evidence to back up my claims that Edward killed me already, but I knew if I told Grandmother she would believe me.

I was sure of it. I was about to spill the truth to her when I noticed the door was slightly open. I could see Jane's scanty blonde hair falling through.

That slithering snake, she has been eavesdropping.

I held back my confession and smiled nicely at Grandmother.

“Now I think about it. I think it was just my nerves.”

“Are you sure? I will always support you in whatever decisions you take. I was never in support of you getting married to him anyway, so you know I'm ready to back you if you want to leave him.”

I hugged her in relief. I knew she always had my back. “I need you to trust me for now. For the media mess as well…”

She brushed it off, “Don't worry about it. It's such an insignificant issue.”

“Which I am very capable of solving.”

She hugged me tightly and stood to leave.

“I should let you rest.”

I was itchy with curiosity in my mind about the man who saved me earlier.

“Grandmother, who was he? The man who saved me.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure you want to know? You told me not to speak of him.”

I widened my eyes in shock. “Alexander!”

She nodded. “He brought you here and paid your bills even before informing us. Such a gentleman.” She grinned, visibly proud.

Flustered, I shoo'ed her away. Of course, she would react this way. He was my ex-fiance, her preferred choice.

Alexander, I thought repeatedly.

***

The resounding steps of my heels filled the boardroom as I entered. Executives already seated rose on their feet to acknowledge me before sitting back up.

Jane was Edward's assistant during this period; she stood right behind him and was the only assistant present.

Before, I wouldn't have any problem with her present, but not anymore. Given her eavesdropping yesterday, I will spare her no mercy.

“You should excuse us," I said to her.

“I have important documentation to hand to me. Edward and the board.”

I stared at her pointedly. “Hand it over to him and leave. Simple as that.”

“But…”

I stared tersely at her.

“Here is the mental report and status.” She said to Edward and left the room. Her expression contorted into one of displeasure.

Once she left, I glanced at the file. “On whom?”

The whole room shifted in discomfort at my tone and icy glare directed at them. This never happened in my first life.

Edward stood up. “I would love to be in charge and handle the company's affairs at the board level so you can have more time to rest and care for your health. The board members agreed to it yesterday, and we await your approval.”

I scoffed internally; they must have thought of me as the naive girl who agrees to everything because her fiancée requests it. It made me sick, thinking my past self would have found it cute.

“Who said I was sick?”

“The mental health report.”

I scoffed, “On whose consent was it conducted?! Mine?”

How dare he request the doctor to write an evaluation without my knowledge and presence?!

A board member stood up abruptly. “I apologize, but you don't sound like the clear-headed board director we all know. Your behavior at the wedding was questionable, hence the worry. I suggest you take his advice and rest for a while.”

“You better get used to me being this way,” I threw daggers at all of them, letting my piercing gaze linger on Edward.

I tore the mental report into shreds. “If this is what the board meeting would hold for, I don't find it befitting to waste my time any further.”

I could see Edward's anger building, but he was doing well concealing it.

“We held a voting session yesterday, and we have reached our agreement.”

I laughed so hard they stared at themselves, flustered.

How quick it was for them to reveal their true nature once I stopped being a puppet.

“Was I present at this meeting? Neither did I precede it; whatever child's play you did yesterday is invalid.” I relaxed against my chair and swayed in it.

I needed to get ahead of them in these games we were playing. I managed to steer things off into a more dangerous path, but it was much better to know your enemies than to let them disguise themselves as friends.

“But I'm no dictator, and I'm willing to step down from being a board director. I will inform you when the next election will be held. Today's meeting is dismissed.”

I walked out of the conference room, taking deep breaths as I tried to calm myself down.

Despite how courageous I might have seemed, it was still unnerving to have that much opposition.

I gave Edward this power; I needed to do everything to remove it from his grasp. I managed to make him more revered and respected than me.

I was about to sit in my office when the door jerked open.

Edward walked in red-faced; he must have felt offended and embarrassed today. This was my first time going publicly against him.

He tousled his hair violently. “First the wedding, now this at today's meeting. What is wrong with you, Elaine? Did I do anything to offend you? Tell me.”

I walked to him sensually, swaying my hips before catching hold of his tie and adjusting it so he felt more suffocated.

'I told you, I'll make you pay.'. I almost blurted in pure fury but held back.

“You worry too much; work can sometimes be intense like this. This doesn't change anything between us.”

He sighed, somewhat relieved. “The wedding must have stressed you out as well. I was scared for a moment; you were unlike yourself.”

You killed the old Elaine.

I smirked and settled behind my desk. “Select a date in two months for the wedding and work on clearing the articles and tabloids circulating.”

He nods. “I suggest a dinner between both families once it all cools off. So my parents don't keep bearing any grudges.”

“Fine,” I said.

Once he left, I picked up my purse and reapplied my red matte lipstick.

I needed help to overcome this. I had one person in mind. I was not sure if he would welcome me wholeheartedly, but I have to try.