A Love Forgotten (Arianna and Elijah) novel Chapter 4

I turned to head upstairs. Elijah looked so humble that it was a sight for sore eyes.

Just then, the woman asked gently, "How are your injuries, Ms. York?"

I turned around, saying reluctantly, "Much better."

Elijah stopped her from asking more. "She's fine. She just got a little banged up here and there."

I sneered. "You didn't bother visiting me when I was in the hospital, Elijah. How would you know that I'm fine?"

His expression darkened. "Stop this nonsense, Ariana."

"Nonsense?" I laughed. "I'm just stating a fact. How is that nonsense? Or do you think everything I say is nonsense?"

My disgust for him peaked at this point. Though I didn't remember anything about the past seven years, I was sure Elijah's neglect of me and his claims that I was only throwing tantrums had angered me countless times. It'd be a miracle if I could remain sane and calm after all that.

The woman suddenly curtsied in my direction. I frowned. "What are you doing?"

She lowered her head, sounding aggrieved as she said, "I came to apologize to you, Ms. York. I know you must've gotten the wrong idea after seeing my WhatsApp conversation with Elijah."

She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. She looked pitiful.

I was about to mock her when someone suddenly charged into the house and shoved me hard. "You're a nasty bitch, Ariana! You were the one who threatened suicide! What does that have to do with Josie? Why did you force her to apologize to you?"

I fell backward from the shove, and an intense pain spread through me, starting from my waist. My heel also hurt like hell.

Then, I heard myself cry, "She's Jocelyn Cornell?"

I looked at her and appraised her seriously. She hurried over, looking like she wanted to help me up. I spotted the smugness that flashed in her eyes, though. I knew my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

She kept apologizing to me. "I'm so sorry, Ms. York. Are you hurt anywhere? Evan's just a child—please don't get mad at him."

Evan?

I turned to look at the young fellow who'd shoved me aside. I guessed he was Evan Linden, Elijah's younger brother. He and Elijah had similar looks, after all. He glared at me, looking like he wanted to rip out my throat to appease Jocelyn.

I grabbed the banister and slowly pulled myself to my feet. Evan stood protectively before Jocelyn, looking like he would fight me to the death if I were to do anything to her.

Instead of saying or doing anything, I slowly made my way upstairs. For a second, the trio downstairs didn't know how to react to that.

Elijah was probably waiting for me to fly into a rage or kick up a fuss, and Jocelyn was probably waiting for me to scream and shout at her so she could pretend to explain.

Meanwhile, Evan was surprised. He was probably waiting for me to yell at him like a shrew and call him an ingrate.

They waited for a storm that never came.

I headed upstairs and slammed the door shut.

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