Chapter 76 Who was it then?
“Father, don’t say that. It’s not your place to take the blame,” said Elisa. She shook her head out of disagreement. She recounted, “maybe I was never meant to be in Gareth’s life. Fate just had other plans.”
Mr. Wickam mirrored her with a disagreeing shake of his head. “My dear Elisa, fate destined you two to be in each other’s lives” he refuted.
Elisa paused at Mr. Wickam’s statement. Is this his true intention? To make me and Gareth reconcile?
“Mr. Wickam…”
With her speculations being confirmed, Elisa delayed her response.
Mr. Wickam gave a defeated sigh. “Liz…” Mr. Wickam chided.
“Elisa Benett. You were, and still are, the love of Gareth’s life”, he contested.
That statement made Elisa chuckle. “Hey Dad, no offense, but you should really stop with the white lies,” she confronted. “I know you think I’m still mad about that payment, but really I’m over it.”
Mr. Wickam shook again in disagreement. “No, Liz, listen to me. I’m not lying to you.”
Elisa had nothing to say, and naturally, she didn’t believe a word he said.
Mr. Wickam had expected this and didn’t pressure her further. However, he continued to reaffirm Elisa.
“You have known each other for years now. If things moved on, and if it weren’t for that incident, he will still treat you dearly as it once was. Don’t you think that?”
There was a melancholic look in Elisa’s eyes. Yes, it’s true. Gareth was kind to her and that was what made her fall for him in the first place. Ever since she laid eyes on him, her love had deepened through the years…
But since that incident, Gareth’s attitude toward her had changed. This gave Elisa the realization and clarity to re-evaluate Gareth’s feelings towards her. It was just a misunderstanding.
As if Mr. Wickam could read Elisa’s thoughts, he clarified, “Gareth is brash. That is true. But protecting you was his biggest priority. There was not a day he didn’t let his guard down in order to protect you. After that incident, his world came crashing down and he started acting out in rage. At home, he did not eat or drink for the next two days.”
Elisa raised her head in surprise, “How come?”
Elisa was kept in the dark about this.
Mr. Wickam smiled in response. “If anything, he’s the one carrying the disappointment. Gareth wouldn’t make such changes for just about anyone, Elisa.”
Elisa turned pale at that statement. With clenched teeth and hands, she turned tense.
“I’m aware that you are a victim in this whole ordeal.” spoke Mr. Wickam.
She raised her gaze to meet Mr. Wickam’s. “You believe me?” Elisa managed to choke out.
“You can’t hide from the truth. I know the person who did this to you.”
Elisa turned tenser by the second. “Tell me who!”
She actually knew the answer in her heart, but after having gone through so much, she still held on to that uncertainty. Elisa did not want to think about what could go wrong, and she also believed that there was nothing she could do to reconcile with Gareth.
“You already know the answer, don’t you?”
Elisa looked toward Mr. Wickam with disbelief.
“Well…”
“Gareth was not coerced by her, there were others. It was a stroke of luck that the two of you bumped into each other’s lives.”
Elisa was caught off guard by the truth. It was no wonder things spiralled into this series of events.
No wonder Linda acted the way she did. She was difficult toward her and high-strung around her, not to mention outright cruel with that temper toward her.
So that was what happened. During that time, my aunt was trying to smooth things out, and all of this was a misunderstanding.
In that same timeline, Elisa was blissfully unaware of the secret turmoil. Now that it was made known…
Elisa always knew it. Linda can be reasoned!
One by one, she is gaining the trust of others!
But the next moment she sensed something wrong, “That… Who is plotting against him?”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: No Chance of Remarriage Get Lost (Elisa)