Chapter 44
1286 Words
Mara's POV
I thought it would take longer to save me.
Before I passed out, before everything went dark, I caught a familiar scent through the fear and pain. I didn’t want to hope it was him. Hope would have hurt too much if I woke up and found myself still trapped with them.
I told myself not to believe it.
I told myself that if I opened my eyes, I would still be there.
But when I did open them, the first person I saw was Elias.
Not a memory. Not a dream. Him.
The relief hit me so hard it almost hurt. He had really saved me. And not just that, he stayed. He watched me. He fed me. He even went as far as raising his voice at the doctors.
This wasn’t the Elias who ignored me.
This wasn’t the Elias who punished me with silence.
This Elias noticed everything.
And that scared me more than the kidnapping ever did.
Because my heart reacted before my mind could stop it. Each small thing he did—his presence, his care, the way he refused to leave my side, made something dangerous grow inside my chest.
Feelings I shouldn’t have.
He was my husband’s brother.
And yet… my heart didn’t seem to care.
What frightened me most was knowing how hard this would be for him once the truth came out. If Camille truly had a hand in Philip’s death, it would destroy him. But still, he needed to know. I needed to tell him. Especially because he had suspected me for so long.
“Tell me,” Elias said quietly, his voice steady but tense. “Was my mother behind your kidnapping?”
I swallowed.
“I…I believe she has a hand in it,” I said softly. “The kidnappers kept talking about their boss. They always referred to their boss as “she”. We talked but my eyes were covered. One thing I wouldn't forget is her scent.”
I told him everything after that.
About hiding Philip’s medical report. About how sorry I was. I didn't mean to hide it from him, I just didn’t know how to speak when he made it so hard to explain anything. I told him about the night I saw Camille in Philip’s study. About the poison I found hidden away.
“What poison?” Elias asked.
“Arsenic,” I answered, then took a breath before continuing. “There was too much on my mind. When I realized you had already seen the report, I panicked. I wanted to explain how it ended up in my hands, why I had requested it from Dr. Dan, but you pulled away from me. You shut me out.”
I swallowed.
“I even stayed late at the company that night, hoping you’d give me a chance to talk.”
“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly.
The words stopped me.
I looked at him, stunned.
Was he apologizing?
I saw the anger burning beneath his calm, and it wasn’t directed at me. I didn’t know what he would do with what he now knew, and that frightened me too.
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
“I…”
“Don’t,” he murmured when I tried to talk.
“Not now. You need rest. I don't want you stressing on anything.”
He came close, tucking the blanket around my shoulders. “We’ll talk later. I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”
The room grew quiet.
I stared at the ceiling, twisting my fingers like a child trying to hide nervous energy. My heart wouldn’t slow down. It beats for him, and that truth terrified me.
I turned slightly and looked at him.
His eyes were closed.
Was he sleeping?
I stared at him for longer than I meant to.
My eyes traced his face slowly, taking in the sharp line of his jaw, the tension he carried even at rest. Then, without meaning to, my gaze dropped to his lips.
My breath hitched.
The thought came suddenly, recklessly. I wondered what they would taste like. What it would feel like if he leaned down and kissed me, if he closed the space between us, if his mouth covered mine and I let myself forget everything else.
My heart began to race, beating too fast, too loud.
Reality crashed into me.
What was I doing?
I turned my face away at once, shame burning through me. I scolded myself silently, forcing the thoughts down.
I shouldn’t even be thinking about him like this.
Morning came softly.
I woke and reached out instinctively—
The chair was empty.
My chest tightened immediately.
He was gone.
Hunger hit me next, sharp and insistent. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten properly in days. I sat up slowly, testing my strength. My feet felt steady on the ground, and relief fluttered through me.
I wrapped the blanket tighter around myself and made my way downstairs.
The kitchen was empty.
I reached for the cereal cupboard, standing on my toes, stretching as far as I could. My fingers brushed the box but couldn’t quite grasp it.
Then footsteps approached, and before I could turn, a hand appeared above mine, taking it effortlessly.
I froze.
He handed the box to me.
“You shouldn’t be doing this.”
I turned too quickly, nearly losing my balance.
“I was just—”
“You should be in bed,” Elias said firmly, already pulling out a bowl. “I can tell Margaret to attend to you.”
“I was hungry,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze.
“You’re supposed to rest,” he replied. “Not wander around the house.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted weakly.
“You’re not,” he said softly. “I’ll make it for you.”
He poured the cereal himself, precise and controlled. “You won’t be going to the company for weeks,” he added.
I expected that from him.
“The doctor will be coming here soon,” he continued. “You need to eat before he arrives. This won’t happen next time. Margaret will be the one attending to you.”
Before I could talk, a voice cut in.
“Mara?”
I turned.
David stood in the doorway.
Relief softened his features, and before I could react, he crossed the room and pulled me into a hug.
“I was worried,” he said softly. “I didn’t know if—”
The sharp sound of a plate hitting the counter made me flinch. Elias moved between us, pulling me gently but firmly out of David’s arms. His grip was protective, unyielding. He said nothing to David. He didn’t need to. The warning was clear in his eyes.
“Upstairs,” he said quietly, guiding me out. I let go of his hand when we reached the stairs.
“I… I can walk on my own,” I said, my cheeks burning.
“I’ll have someone bring your food for you,” he said, pausing as if forcing himself to continue. “And I don’t want you around him.”
I said nothing as he walked out. A small, secret smile tugged at my lips. It felt… good, having him treat me like this, seeing him jealous.
Later, the doctor came.
He checked my vitals, asked questions, and reassured me that my recovery was progressing well. Elias stayed nearby the entire time, listening to every word as though it mattered more than anything else.
Just as the doctor and Elias left, the door opened again.
Andrea stepped inside.
Her eyes went straight to me.
- Writer
