His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55 Whatever You Ask, I’ll Agree

The driver fumbled with the umbrella, too late. He hurried to hold it over his boss, his face pale with self-reproach.

On the ground, the broken shards of the porcelain bowl were scattered, a slice of ginger and a few suspicious, damp herbs clinging to the ceramic.

Lawrence gave them a cold, piercing glance before striding toward the house.

“Dad.” Anya stood to the side, her earlier composure gone.

He ignored her, and she had no choice but to follow.

From the car, Liana couldn’t see clearly, but from the silhouette, she thought it was probably him-the man she’d yearned for as a child, hoping for a pat on the head, a warm smile.

She’d loved him. She’d hated him. But she never imagined he’d stand by while harm came to

her.

He had a sterling public image. She’d tried to convince herself he just wanted to cut ties with the past, that he’d never hurt her, that maybe a tiny corner of his heart was reserved for the daughter he’d left behind. That he might, sometimes, think of her with a pang of longing.

Elian drove south to his current residence, an 8,000-square-foot penthouse duplex overlooking the ocean.

He carried her inside, bypassing security with facial recognition.

Liana stayed limp in his arms. He’d saved her again.

“Elian, when can we get the divorce?” Her voice was small, a plea as much as a question.

“Soon.”

His steps didn’t falter. He took her upstairs to the master suite’s bathroom, setting her on a bench. He wrapped her in a thick towel, then turned to fill the bathtub.

Returning to her, he gently began drying her hair and face. “Take a bath. I’ll make a call to push ‘the divorce through.”

“Mhm.” The sound was barely audible.

She wanted to believe him. But his eyes were so gentle, so earnest, as if he could grant any It made the truth impossible to discern.

wish.

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12:02 Thu, Feb 12

Chapter 55 Whatever You Ask, I’ll Agree

Like that ginger tea-was it really just tea?

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+5 Pearls

A voice inside her screamed it wasn’t. But without proof, it was just a paranoid suspicion.

If she spoke it aloud, people would say she was making wild accusations.

Seeing the confused vulnerability in her damp eyes, Elian cupped her face, resting his forehead against hers.

He whispered, “Liana, don’t make me lose you. Whatever you ask, I’ll agree.”

She stayed still, feeling only the deep, bone-chilling cold.

Elian’s phone buzzed, rattling the quiet bath.

Liana caught his hand as it moved to undo her blouse buttons. “I’ll do it.”

“Alright. I’ll take this call.”

He studied her determined face for a moment before rising and walking out.

Liana, still fully clothed, slid into the filled bathtub.

Warmth enveloped her. She stared at the recessed lighting on the ceiling, listening to the low murmur of his voice outside.

“I can’t

get there now. Put him on.”

He hadn’t

gone far.

“Theo, sweetheart, go to bed. Daddy promises I’ll be there when you wake up, okay?”

His patient, soothing voice carried through the door, reaching both the child on the phone and Liana in the tub.

She used to admire men like him-always in control. Lately, she’d realized that one man’s control often came at the cost of many people’s pain.

He saw the whole chessboard, but the pieces being sacrificed were real people, left broken and bleeding. He was blind to the carnage.

His voice had always been her anchor, steady and calm. He never barked, never pressed hard.

No crisis seemed too big for him. But now…

The call ended. Clarity returned to Liana.

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