Chapter 661
Elysia, with her eyes rimmed red, took a moment to compose herself in the hallway upstairs before daring to enter her home. She didn’t want her kids to notice anything amiss and start worrying about her.
Upon her arrival, the kids immediately bombarded her with questions about when their stepdad would come over. Elysia forced a smile, made up an excuse about him suddenly being tied up with work, and then turned to head into the kitchen, trying to hold back her tears as she prepared breakfast.
After the morning chores were done, she locked herself in her bedroom, dove under the covers, and wept in silence. Her heart ached unbearably. He had actually accused her of keeping him as a backup plan! In his eyes, was she really that despicable? Despite explaining that her encounter with Keith was purely coincidental, he refused to believe her, suspecting her of secretly dating Keith. She had reiterated her lack of interest in Keith numerous times, yet he persisted with his doubts and accusations.
Had she done something to blur the lines with Keith? And then there was his reluctance to move in with her. She knew it was unfair to him and felt guilty about it, but she couldn’t expose the kids to such a significant change without being sure about their future together. If he had just agreed, she would have found a way to make it up to him. Even if he initially disagreed and got angry, she could understand. But accusing her of stringing him along while keeping things unclear with Keith? That was just low. In his eyes, was she really such a fickle-hearted person?
Both Elysia and Tarquin were in agony. After their unpleasant parting, Tarquin returned to his company only to find out a key project had been halted due to a mistake made by a project manager under the influence, leading to a government stoppage. This meant not only a hefty fine for breach of contract but also a blow to the company’s reputation and future dealings. Tarquin’s rage was palpable, shocking even Lowell, his right-hand man. The entire atmosphere at Bradford Group was tense, with everyone on edge, working diligently to avoid further issues.
Throughout the day, Elysia kept to herself except for meal times, her heart heavy with sorrow. Tarquin, on the other hand, drowned himself in work, skipping meals and maintaining a stern demeanor that clearly communicated a “do not disturb” warning. Lowell, despite his best efforts, couldn’t persuade him to take a break, nearly getting frozen by Tarquin’s icy glare.
As the night deepened, neither of them could find sleep. Their relationship had barely started, yet they were already tasting its bitterness. Elysia lay in bed, her attention glued to her phone, hoping for a message from him. Each time her phone buzzed, she would quickly check it, only to feel dejected when it wasn’t from him. She considered reaching out but didn’t know what to say, her pride and hurt feelings keeping her from breaking the silence. Meanwhile, Tarquin spent the night in his office, unable to focus on work as thoughts of Elysia consumed him. He stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, overlooking the lights of Jindale City, smoking a cigarette – a habit he hadn’t indulged in for a long time. The more the night wore on, the more he missed her, finding it impossible to concentrate. He contemplated reaching out to her numerous times, but each time, he held back at the last second, unwilling to appear weak or to concede to her demands, which would mean not moving in together.