A Love Buried by Secrets novel Chapter 19

"Eli, it's been more than six months. You've got to face the facts…"

Inside the villa Elliot had bought for himself, his friends watched with pity as he kept drinking, one bottle after another.

Ever since Serena left and he found out the truth about the past, Elliot had been drowning his sorrows in alcohol, sinking deeper into misery. He didn't even know what he was doing anymore.

He was supposed to marry Vanessa soon, but he couldn't get Serena off his mind. His friends had tried over and over to talk sense into him, but he wouldn't listen, as if only the booze could help him escape reality.

His friends sat nearby, their faces full of worry as they kept sighing.

"It's been forever, and Eli still can't get over it. We've never seen him like this before."

"Even though the revenge plan fell through, the rumors are long buried. Barely anyone in our circle knows the real story. And with Eli and Vanessa getting married soon, this just isn't him."

"He didn't spiral like this when his company was almost bankrupt. Six months have gone by. He's going to ruin his health if he keeps drinking."

"Do you guys think this is about..."

The question hung in the air, unfinished, but everyone knew whose name they were tiptoeing around.

Nobody dared say it out loud because it was enough to set Elliot off. No one understood where his anger and pain came from.

They huddled together and spoke in hushed tones.

"Is Eli still beating himself up? Finding out that he's been taking revenge on the wrong person all this time must've wrecked him."

"But now Serena's gone. No matter which of us tried to call her, the phone just wouldn't connect. Eli didn't even get the chance to say he's sorry."

"Or maybe… Eli actually fell for her?"

The words were measured as if worried Elliot might overhear.