Second Vows Adored by the Billionaire novel Chapter 7

By dusk, Victor returned carrying a tray of simple food.

He set it on the bedside table and stood with his back to her for a moment before turning around, irritation evident in his voice.

"Eloise," he said, "did you really push Beatrice?"

Eloise lowered her eyes. "Yes."

Victor's tone sharpened. "She's just a child. How could you—"

Eloise lifted her chin. "She told me I shouldn't have children with you. That she wants you all to herself." Her voice shook slightly. "No five-year-old comes up with that on her own, Victor. Someone taught her to say it."

Victor stiffened almost imperceptibly.

He looked away, and when he finally spoke, his voice had lost its edge. "She's just a kid. Children don't understand what they're saying. Don't take it personally, okay? Go easy on her."

The way he immediately jumped to defend her hit Eloise like a slap across the face.

How many times had she overlooked this before? How had she been so blind?

Now, she wanted to kick herself for not seeing it sooner.

Her voice dropped, barely louder than a whisper.

"Victor, tell me the truth. Do you still love me?"

Victor's heart lurched. He pulled her tightly into his arms, pressing his chin against the top of her head.

"Of course, I love you. Eloise, what are you thinking? How could I not love you? I will always love you."

Trapped against his chest, surrounded by a scent she once found comforting, Eloise felt her stomach churn violently, nausea rising without warning.

She was about to push him away when a soft but urgent voice carried through the door.

"Victor, could you come here for a moment? Beatrice is throwing a fit in the bathroom and won't take her bath. I can't handle her alone."

Victor's arms loosened instantly, like he'd been jolted awake.

He practically pushed her aside. "I'm coming."

He was already at the door when he paused and glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes barely meeting hers.

"Eloise, I... I need to go check on her, okay?"

Before Eloise could answer, Beatrice's loud crying came from down the hall. Victor left at once, the door closing with a heavy thud behind him.

Eloise gave a faint, bitter smile. Her fingers clenched tightly, and the cold in her chest deepened.

After finishing the meal Victor had brought her, her strength returned just enough for her to move.

She resumed sorting and discarding, determined to rid herself of everything unnecessary.

It would make leaving easier.

Anything in the bedroom that unsettled her was thrown away without hesitation, including her wedding dress and veil.

She stuffed them into garbage bags herself and had the housekeeper take them out with the trash.

Victor walked in just in time to see it.

A strip of white fabric showed through the black garbage bag, and unease rose sharply in his chest.

"Eloise, you're throwing away the wedding dress?" he asked.

Her gaze was calm as she met his eyes. "I'm tired of looking at them. I need the space."

Victor, it's not that you made it impossible for me to be your wife. It's that I don't want you anymore.

He stared at her, his heart tightening in confusion.

"You said you wanted to keep those forever. You even said we'd wear them again when we're old and take another wedding photo. Why would you suddenly want to throw them away?"

Eloise smiled faintly. "There will be new ones in the future. These are old. They're outdated."

They had once mattered because she believed she was his only one, the only woman who had ever worn a wedding dress for him.

Now his heart was crowded, and his life was crowded.

But that hope died with his last sentence.

Eloise looked up at him, sorrow cutting through her chest.

Once, she had loved him without question, certain they would build a life together.

That was why she had defied her grandfather, walked away from someone he'd approved of, and given up her inheritance just to be with Victor when he was starting from scratch.

She had imagined a lifetime together, but she had never noticed the presence of another woman.

Eloise stayed silent for a long moment, forcing the ache down. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for Anita?"

Victor avoided her eyes, his throat tightening. "It's no trouble. She's practically family."

Pain stabbed through her chest, and her body swayed.

Victor caught her quickly and carried her to the bed, laying her down with care.

As she looked up at him, meeting his affectionate gaze, her chest ached unbearably.

"Victor," she said softly, "I want to have dinner with you. Just the two of us. It's been a long time."

It truly had.

The last time he had eaten alone with her was nearly a year ago, on New Year's Eve, and even then, he had left halfway through.

Anita had called him, supposedly for work. But it was just because Beatrice had wanted him there to watch the fireworks with her.

Eloise had always been understanding; she never blamed him for these things.

So, Victor found it difficult to disappoint her.

He swallowed hard, guilt heavy in his voice. "All right. I'll arrange it."

She nodded. "Okay."

Victor, let that meal be our farewell. After that, we go our separate ways.