Chapter 219
Elodie’s POV~
I noticed her feet were bare.
I lifted her carefully and set her back on the bed, tucking the blanket around her legs.
“How many days will you be staying this time?” I asked.
Liora shook her head. “I don’t know. Dad didn’t say. He just told me to wait here until he comes back p>
I nodded quietly. “Mm p>
I didn’t ask anything else.
But then Liora suddenly remembered something. She scrambled off the bed and ran to grab her bag.
“Mom! I bought you a gift when I went abroad p>
She pulled out a small crystal ball and held it out to me, her eyes wide and hopeful.
My heart squeezed.
It had been so long since she’d thought to buy me a gift.
I took it from her, keeping my expression calm. “Thank you. I really like it p>
The Next Day.
After breakfast, I went upstairs and found Liora on a video call with Dante.
When she saw me come in, she looked up and smiled. “Mom p>
“Mm p>
I walked over to my desk and opened my laptop, intending to review the materials I’d organized yesterday.
On the screen, I heard Dante’s voice. “Do you have any plans today p>
Liora lay on the bed, swinging her legs happily. “I want to watch a movie! And Mom’s going to take me out for lunch p>
I stilled.
I hadn’t agreed to that yet.
A moment later, Liora walked over holding the phone.
“Mom, Dad said I should give the phone to you p>
I hesitated, then took it from her.
I didn’t want to video chat with him.
So I placed the phone face down on the table, the camera pointing uselessly toward the ceiling, and asked flatly, “What’s the matter p>
“It’s been hard on you with Liora these past few days,” Dante said.
I didn’t respond. Just kept my eyes on my computer screen, typing in the ideas I’d missed yesterday.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“No,” he said. Then, almost like an afterthought, “Happy New Year p>
I gave a short “Mm” and hung up without another word.
I handed the phone back to Liora, who took it with both hands and skipped back to the bed.
Around noon, just as I was getting ready to take Liora out, my phone rang.
It was Johnny.
I smiled faintly and answered. “Hey p>
“Damn it, I ran into them again!” Johnny’s voice was low, frustrated, like he was trying not to yell.
I froze for a second, then immediately understood who he meant.
Before I could say anything, I heard him mutter under his breath, “They’re looking at me. Shit. They’re coming over. I’ll call you back p>
I replied calmly, “Okay p>
The line went dead.
I’d just ended the call when I imagined what was happening on the other end.
Dante and Sienna walking up to Johnny at the airport. His jaw tight. His patience wearing thin.
“Mr. Gray, where are you headed?” Dante would ask, polite as ever.
Johnny wouldn’t answer. He’d force a smile and say something like, “Mr. Bellini, Miss Brown, we’re not that close. So if you run into me again, feel free to pretend you didn’t see me p>
Sienna would smile sweetly. “Mr. Gray, you’re really funny p>
Johnny would probably smirk, about to fire back, when Sienna would notice his suitcase and ask, “Mr. Gray, are you traveling abroad too p>
And Johnny, being Johnny, would laugh and say, “Sorry. We’re not close. No comment p>
Then he’d grab his suitcase and walk out of the VIP lounge without looking back.
I could picture it all so clearly.
A few minutes later, my phone rang again.
I picked up. “What are you doing now?” Johnny asked.
I’d just finished changing my clothes. I glanced at myself in the mirror. “I’m about to go out and watch a movie p>
“Sounds like a good plan,” he said. Then, more carefully, “Are you going by yourself p>
“With Liora p>
Silence fell.
Then— “Wait. Weren’t you guys supposed to be celebrating New Year at the Bellini house this year? Why is she suddenly with you now p>
I was touching up my makeup, keeping my voice light. “She was brought over last night p>
Johnny let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. “So Dante’s planning to go on a honeymoon with Sienna, and since your daughter was in the way, he just dumped her on you? Ha. They really have no shame p>
I didn’t react. Didn’t say anything.
Because what was there to say?
He was right.
At that moment, Liora came running over, freshly dressed and ready to go. She grabbed my hand, her face bright and eager.
“Mom, I’m ready! Let’s go p>
I smiled down at her. “Okay p>
Then I spoke into the phone. “Don’t worry about them. Just enjoy yourself p>
Johnny sighed. Got it p>
He paused, then added, “I’ll be back soon. I won’t leave the company to you alone p>
I smiled softly. “Okay p>
________
After we finished dinner and the movie, we walked past the arcade on our way back to the car.
Liora spotted it immediately. Her steps slowed, and I felt her tug gently on my hand.
“Mom She looked up at me with those big, hopeful eyes. “Can we go in? Just for a little bit p>
I glanced at the flashing lights, the sounds of games beeping and music playing. It had been forever since we’d done something like this together.
“Okay,” I said.
Her whole face lit up, and she practically dragged me inside.
The arcade wasn’t anything special. Just rows of games, claw machines, racing simulators, basketball hoops. For Liora, this kind of thing was normal. She did it all the time.
But she hadn’t done it with me in so long that even something this simple made her glow with happiness.
I watched her run from game to game, laughing when she won a tiny stuffed animal from the claw machine, pouting when she missed a shot at the basketball game.
And I just… followed. Smiled and let her be happy.
I’d made plans to have dinner with Reed that evening.
So after we left the arcade, I figured I’d drop Liora off at home and then head out to meet him.
But the second I mentioned it, Liora’s smile disappeared.
She looked up at me, her bottom lip sticking out just a little. “Can’t I come with you p>
I paused.
Reed had only invited me out for a casual dinner. Nothing serious. Just a thank-you for helping him out before. It probably wouldn’t be a big deal to bring her along.
I pulled out my phone and called him.
“Reed, do you mind if I bring someone with me? My daughter p>
There was a beat of silence. Then Reed laughed, warmly. “Elodie, of course not. Bring her. I’d love to meet her p>
He hesitated, then added gently, “I didn’t know you had a daughter p>
“Yeah,” I said simply. “I do p>
“Well then, I’m looking forward to it p>
Half an hour later, I walked into the restaurant holding Liora’s hand.
Reed was already there, standing when he saw us. His eyes went straight to Liora, and he smiled warmly.
“So this is your daughter.” His expression was kind, genuine. “She’s beautiful. Looks just like you p>
I felt a small, real smile tug at my lips. “Thank you p>
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Reed asked gently.
Liora glanced up at me first, like she was checking if it was okay to answer. I gave her a small nod.
“Liora,” she said quietly. “Liora Wilson p>
Reed’s smile didn’t falter, but I saw something shift in his eyes.
“Wilson,” he repeated thoughtfully, straightening up. His gaze moved back to me. “Your husband… is Dante Wilson p>
I nodded. “Yes p>
He went quiet for a second.
I could see him working it out in his head. He’d probably wondered before, when I told him I was married, why someone like me had settled down so young. I was good at what I did. I had a career. A future.
But if my husband was Dante Wilson, then yeah, it made sense. On paper, at least, we were a good match.
Then something else seemed to click for him.
Maybe he was remembering the way I’d sounded when I mentioned my marriage before, so distant, and detached. Or maybe he was thinking back to New Year’s, when he’d run into the Wilson family and I wasn’t there.
Either way, I could see it in his face.
He understood now.
Things between Dante and me weren’t just strained. They were broken.
He gestured toward the table with a warm smile. “Please, sit p>
I guided Liora to a chair and helped her settle in before sitting down myself.
Reed reached into a bag beside him and pulled out two neatly wrapped gifts. He set one in front of me and one in front of Liora.
I shook my head. “Uncle Reed, you didn’t have to p>
He waved me off gently, his tone fatherly and kind. “It’s New Year. It’s tradition for an elder to give gifts to the younger generation. It’s nothing big. Just a small gesture p>
I hesitated, then reached out and accepted both gifts. “Thank you p>