Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 26

All the grievances she had endured over the past days surged toward her in a tidal wave.

Even the strongest defenses of her heart crumbled in an instant.

Emotion drowned out reason, and Eliza, driven by impulse, wanted to confront Calvin and demand an answer.

By the time her mind cleared, she was already standing downstairs at his residence.

The night wind bit sharply at her skin.

She had come in such a rush she hadn’t even brought a coat, the icy air stabbing mercilessly into her neck.

Since she was already here, Eliza decided she would face him openly, once and for all.

But just as she took out her phone, headlights flared.

His car was pulling in.

The beam dazzled her eyes. When her vision adjusted, the vehicle had already rolled smoothly into its private space.

She was about to call out when she saw Medea step gracefully out of the passenger side, eyes curved in laughter.

The words died in Eliza’s throat, stuck there like stone.

Calvin retrieved a petite pink suitcase from the trunk, obviously a woman’s.

The two of them chatted and laughed as they entered the house.

The closing of the door scraped something raw inside her, stripping away another piece of herself.

So soon… already moving in together?

But of course. If you’d loved someone for so many years and could finally be together in the open, why wait?

Only those who didn’t love, who didn’t care, dragged things out endlessly.

There was no such thing as a “marathon of love.”

At the core, it was simple, he just didn’t care.

In that instant, she understood. Her heart turned cold as ash.

She stood in the shadow of the trees, staring at the glow inside the windows.

The numbness she had trained herself into was pierced by sudden spasms of pain.

And she faced the pain head on. No more running.

She had entrusted half her soul to Calvin.

Now, wrenching it back meant killing that half outright.

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Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

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Chapter 26

The half that remained bled as she stitched herself back together, gasping for survival.

She forced herself to accept the truth: sometimes people say “I don’t love you” and mean it,

and they drive you away with the cruelest method possible.

That night, Eliza stood in the cold for a long, long time.

She watched the lights in his house burn bright, then fade into darkness.

Through those endless, torturous hours, so many unanswered questions finally became clear.

She hadn’t secured the surgical slot. Eliza decided to transfer her mother to the capital’s best oncology hospital.

But before she could even file the paperwork, Josh called.

He had persuaded one of the country’s top specialists to come perform the surgery in Washington.

Even Philip advised against transferring.

With her mother’s condition so precarious, the stress of relocation might harm both her mind and body.

The best plan was to wait for the expert to come.

Eliza accepted the advice. The boulder crushing her chest finally grew a little lighter.

She didn’t know how to thank Josh. He had flown overnight to the capital just to secure a surgeon.

The debt was immense.

“Leave it for now,” Josh said over the phone, his voice carrying through the din of an airport terminal. “I’ll let you know when I think of

something.”

“When’s your flight?” Eliza asked, already thinking she should at least treat him to a meal.

“Why? Planning to pick me up?”

“Do you need me to?”

“Of course.” Josh was never one for false courtesy,

“Alright,” Eliza agreed briskly. “Send me your flight number. I’ll be there on time.”

That afternoon Sadie texted her: a package had arrived at the office.

Eliza made a quick trip back to Everest. The parcel was a dress she had ordered weeks ago–for the celebration banquet.

When she placed that order, she had been full of hope. She had belloved Calvin would already have proposed by then, that the whole company would know who she was. She had even ordered matching couple’s outfits with him,

dreaming of announcing their love to the world.

Just as he now flaunted his favor for Medea, openly and without shame.

But this dress… she would never wear it.

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Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

Chapter 26

After pressing it smooth with an iron, Eliza received another call from Calvin.

He told her to pick up a suit from Studio.

Perplexed, she went. She had always arranged his formal attire for business banquets and galas.

Since when did he order clothes himself?

Her question was answered the moment she saw it.

It wasn’t a man’s suit at all. It was a woman’s gown.

Not in her size.

She didn’t need to check the order. She knew instantly it was made for Medea.

And from the order date, it was placed even earlier than hers.

So when she had been picturing a proposal, planning a future, he had already been commissioning bespoke gowns for another woman.

What a bitter joke.

Even after weeks of numbing herself, the discovery pricked sharp as needles in her chest,

every breath like fire.

She told herself it would pass.

It would all pass.

Leave Calvin, and everything would be fine.

Eliza hung the gown carefully, printed another resignation letter, and slid it onto his desk.

By then, it was exactly quitting time.

She left on the dot. Again.

Sadie, no longer surprised, only teased when she noticed Eliza freshened her lipstick.

“Got a date tonight, Eliza?”

“Something like that,” she smiled, gathering her things.

“Good luck!” Sadie waved as she headed out.

Back at her desk, Sadie stayed behind to finish her own tasks.

Halfway through, the intercom buzzed. It was President Young.

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