The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Farrah fell silent. For the words Elice spoke to her, she had never expected. It she wondered in her mind. Was this really Elice standing before her? Because it didn’t seem like the Elice she knew.

But wait. It was weak, until Elice wasn’t sure if it was a shake. Although in reality Farrah was shaking her head. She refused to admit that she had experienced something similar before.

On Elice and Garrett’s wedding day. Farrah wouldn’t forget that. But Farrah had thought that maybe there was a euphoria of happiness that caused Elice to act out of character for her.

“I won’t let you hurt me again,” Elice said as she hugged her still slim belly. “Nor my child.”

And maybe Elice didn’t realize that she had changed until now. But not with Farrah. For when something happened more than once, it was clearly no coincidence. Instead, it was certainty.

“You…”

“I will risk everything to protect my child. I will never lose a second time.”

That look felt like a stab to Farrah’s heart. Maybe Elice’s voice sounded deep when she spoke. But this stab was not something she could ignore.

Elice stared at Farrah without blinking. With a look of strength that only a mother possessed.

For Elice would never forget what Farrah had done to her womb before. And she would never let it happen a second time. She had been weak before, but now Elice would fight with everything she had.

What happened to you, Elice? Why are you…

“Elice.”

A heavy voice broke the tension between Elice and Farrah. They turned. Looking at the same point. That was Garrett coming towards them.

“Garrett.”

Garrett looked at Elice. Although Elice’s voice sounded normal, Garrett’s instinct told him otherwise.

“Is something going on?”

“Something going on?” Elice asked back, meeting Garrett’s gaze. “Oh, no. Nothing is going on. I’m just talking to Auntie Farrah.”

Elice turned to Farrah. The middle-aged woman remained silent. As if her mind was still captured by Elice’s attitude towards her a few moments ago. And then Farrah found Elice’s gentle gaze falling on her with an unusual impression.

“About my pregnancy,” Elice continued, smiling at Farrah. “Isn’t that right, Auntie?”

The look in her eyes, the thread of her smile, and Elice’s voice truly stunned Farrah. No, not because she couldn’t answer. Quite the opposite. Until finally Farrah was left with no other choice. She nodded.

“Y-yes.”

That answer made the smile on Elice’s face even brighter. She turned back to Garrett.

“Auntie told me a few things to do and avoid in the early stages of pregnancy.”

There was disbelief in Garrett’s eyes. But he didn’t push Elice. Especially since the woman spoke again the next moment.

“Oh yes. Why did you come looking for me?”

The question reminded Garrett of the reason he had come to see Elice.

“Dinner,” Garrett replied. “Do you want to eat downstairs or in the room?”

“Together, Garrett. I get bored in the room all day.”

“All right,” Garrett nodded. He reached for Elice’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go downstairs now. Mom’s waiting.”

As Garrett took a step away, he suddenly realized that Elice hadn’t moved at all. Instead of immediately following her husband, Elice turned to Farrah.

“Auntie?”

Farrah blinked once. “Yes?”

“Let’s have dinner together.”

Having said that, Elice closed the door with a smile. Then she gave Garrett’s hand back and the two of them left the nursery. Leaving Farrah alone.

For a few moments, Farrah didn’t get up right away. But she seemed to be thinking. Thinking about everything that had happened. Until finally she went out as well. Together with Elice, Garrett, Norah and Wilda at the same dining table.

The atmosphere around the table was rather calm and peaceful. Despite the presence of Farrah, who had never been an intimate part of the family, there were no meaningful conversations to spark debate. One thing Garrett was grateful for until he and Elice returned to their room.

Garrett decided not to touch any work that night. He would accompany Elice. He joined the woman as she rested on the sofa.

“What did Aunt Farrah talk to you about?”

That was the first question Garrett asked Elice. As he reached for Elice’s hand and gave it a few gentle massages. Elice closed her eyes for a moment. She enjoyed the soothing touch.

“With the history of your relationship with Auntie Farrah all this time, I’m sure you two are not in a warm atmosphere like aunt and nephew.”

Still with her eyes closed, Elice smiled. She said. “Of course.”

“So what?”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Elice’s eyes opened as she let out a long breath. She withdrew her hand. A silent gesture as she told Garrett that her body wasn’t too tired right now.

“Actually, we were discussing my pregnancy.”

Garrett stared at Elice in disbelief. Oh, Farrah paid attention to Elice? Impossible.

“She reminded me not to stress about it. She was afraid it would affect my pregnancy,” Elice continued quietly. “But I know what’s really going on.”

“What do you mean?”

This time it was Elice’s eyes that showed a look of disbelief. She shuffled closer to Garrett until the small distance between them allowed Elice to speak in a low tone.

“You don’t think that Aunt Farrah is still living in our house because she really cares about us, do you?”

Without answering, Garrett asked back. “Cares because we’re still sad about Nana leaving?”

A nod Garrett received made him laugh. But there was nothing funny about Garrett’s face. Instead, the opposite. He looked disgusted. And he shook his head.

“Oh, come on, Elice. I’ll never believe it.”

Whenever he talked about Farrah, whether in front of her or behind her back, Garrett could never contain his emotions. Every little thing she had done to him and his mother left a lasting impression, and the anger inside him would never diminish as the days passed.

“No matter how good she pretends to be, it means nothing to me. I know she has never cared for anyone. Not even my mother, her sister-in-law.”

Garrett’s memories were too strong to forget the things Farrah had done to Norah. Among all the wrongs Farrah had done to his mother, there was the incident at the recent party. When Farrah had poured a glass of drink on Norah. In front of everyone.

As this memory flashed through Garrett’s mind, the emotions he felt intensified. He took a quick breath and tried to calm down. Because Elice was with him.

Then Garrett looked at Elice. A subdued smile flashed.

“Especially for me. Her nephew, whom she considers no more worthy than her son.”

For a moment, Elice was stunned. Even without Garrett expressing it, she could feel the extent of the anger her husband had been accumulating all this time.

“And what about you?”

Elice blinked once and found a similar question directed at her by Garrett.

“Do you still have to ask that?”

In reality, Elice didn’t wait for Garrett’s answer. Just like her husband, Elice had her own reasons for not trusting Farrah.

“I almost died because of her, Garrett. Spending days in the hospital when I miscarried before was more than enough to prove that not all women have a mother’s heart.”

Saying that made Elice feel the bitterness that had never left her heart. The pain and suffocation still felt the same, filling her chest. Her voice trembled. Hinting at a sadness that would never go away, no matter how long.

That was why Elice was so sure. That no matter what, Farrah would never know the meaning of caring. Because, let alone the two of them, even Farrah didn’t care about her own parents and siblings.

“Garrett.”

Elice squeezed Garrett’s hand. It was fear that filled her with various negative thoughts.

“I’m sure Aunt Farrah is up to something,” Elice said, staring intently at Garrett. “A-”

Garrett’s finger rose. It landed right on Elice’s lips. Cutting off the words his wife was about to say.

“Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

Garrett’s gaze softened. He knew exactly what Elice was thinking. But he wouldn’t neglect the rest Elice needed. The night was getting late.

“It’s late. You should sleep.”

Garrett reached for Elice’s body. He carried her and laid her on the bed. Inviting his wife to rest in his embrace.

*