My Boss’s Hidden Heir (Elara and Marcus) novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Elara cried until there were no tears left.

59 CART

By the time she pulled herself together, it was past 6 PM. She washed her face in the bathroom, scrubbing away the evidence of her breakdown. Her eyes were red and swollen, but there was nothing she could do about that now. She had to see her mother, Had to pretend everything was fine even though her entire world was falling apart.

The hospital was quiet during evening visiting hours. Most families had already come and gone. Elara walked the familiar path to her mother’s room, her footsteps echoing off the linoleum floors.

Her mother was awake, propped up against pillows, watching some cooking show on the small TV mounted to the wall.

She smiled when Elara entered, but the smile faded quickly.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Elara sat in the chair beside the bed, forcing brightness into her voice. “Just tired from work.”

“Your eyes are swollen.”

“Allergies. The subway was packed today.”

Her mother reached out, taking Elara’s hand in hers. Her grip was weak, fingers thin and cold. “You can’t lie to me. I’m your

mother.”

“I’m fine, Mama. Really.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the cooking show filling the space between them with cheerful instructions on how to

make the perfect risotto. Elara focused on the screen, anywhere but her mother’s concerned face.

“Has your father come home yet?”

The question landed like a punch to the gut.

“No.” The lie came easier this time. “He’s still gone.”

“He’ll come back. He always does.”

Elara wanted to scream. Wanted to tell her mother that Luca had broken into her apartment and stolen every cent she’d saved. That he’d chosen gambling debts over his wife’s cancer treatment. That he was never coming back because men

like him didn’t come back. They just kept running until there was nothing left to take,

Instead, she squeezed her mother’s hand. “I should go. Let you get some rest, your chemo starts next week.”

Another lie, the money is literally gone.

“You just got here.”

“I know, but I have an early morning tomorrow. Big meeting with Mr. Thorne.” Another lie. They were piling up now, stacking on top of each other until Elara couldn’t remember what was true anymore. “I’ll come back soon, I promise.”

1/5

19:50 Thu, 30 Apt a G

Chaptern

Her mother’s eyes searched her face, looking for cracks in the facade. “Okay, baby. Be safe going home.”

Elara kissed her forehead and left before her mother could ask any more questions.

Be vouchers

The subway ride back was a blur. She stared at her reflection in the dark window.. Marcus’s voice kept playing in her head

on repeat.

“Marry me.*

“One million dollars.*

*Two years.

It was insane. The whole thing was insane. But twenty–four hours from now, Victor would take the house. Her mother would have nowhere to go when the hospital discharged her. And Elara would be left with nothing.

One million dollars could fix everything.

She reached her apartment building just after 8 PM. Climbed the stairs slowly, exhaustion weighing down every step. When she reached her floor, she stopped.

Her door was open. Again.

Elara’s heart started racing. She’d closed it when she left for the hospital. She was sure of it. Had even checked the lock

twice.

She approached carefully, quietly. Grabbed an umbrella from the hallway closet and held it like a weapon.

She pushed the door open with her foot.

Luca was sitting on her couch.

Her father looked worse than the last time she’d seen him. Unshaven. Bloodshot eyes. His clothes wrinkled like he’d been

sleeping in them for days. He had a beer in his hand, feet propped up on her coffee table like he owned the place.

Rage exploded through her chest.

“Where is it?” She dropped the umbrella and charged at him. “Where’s my money?”

Luca didn’t flinch. Just took another sip of beer. “You had three thousand dollars sitting in a box and couldn’t help your

own father?”

“It’s cancer, Elara.” He said it so casually, like he was discussing the weather. “Nobody survives cancer. Why waste money on a lost cause?”

Luca stood slowly, setting his beer down on the table. “Don’t raise your voice at me.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify