She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 36

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Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Morning light slipped through the heavy curtains, casting light golden patches on the suite’s dark carpet.

Celia woke to an ache that felt both familiar and foreign. The moment her mind cleared, flashes of chaotic and steamy memories from last night rushed back to her.

The glass of water Laylah handed her, the sleazy grin on Louis’ face, the sharp pain when her skin cut open. Elliott’s intense gaze, and his burning kiss.

Celia snapped her eyes open, and a strange ceiling came into view, along with a lavish chandelier. The soreness in her body told her exactly what had happened.

A dull ache pulsed from the wound on her thigh, though it had already been properly bandaged. Celia was in soft, clean loungewear that wasn’t hers. The air carried a faint cedar scent, mixed with a crisp, distinctly masculine trace.

Celia didn’t move right away. She just lay there, eyes clear, quickly sorting through the situation.

The drug had fully worn off. Aside from the physical discomfort and the pain from her wounds, the nerve damage seemed to have been contained in time. Thanks to Elliott.

Celia pressed her lips together. Rationally, she knew that under last night’s circumstances, him personally neutralizing the drug effects was probably the best option.

Still. Celia had lost the virginity she had kept for twenty-five years, in a way that felt almost absurd. Celia flexed her fingers slightly. The motion pulled at sore muscles, and her brow furrowed.

“You’re awake?” Elliott’s deep voice came from the doorway.

Celia looked over. Elliott was standing there, dressed in light gray loungewear, his posture straight and his hair still a bit damp. Clearly, he had just showered.

Elliott held a tray with porridge, a few simple dishes, and a glass of warm water. His expression was calm, giving nothing away. But when his gaze settled on her, there was an intensity she couldn’t quite place.

“How are you feeling? Any discomfort?” Elliott walked over, set the tray or the nightstand, and reached for her forehead.

Celía turned her head slightly, avoiding his hand. The rejection was subtle but clear.

Elliott’s hand paused in midair, then withdrew. He sat down on the sofa by the bed. “I checked your wound again. No signs of infection. But with the blood loss and the physical exertion, you need rest,” he said, steady and clinical.

“Thank you.” Celia’s voice came out hoarse. She tried to push herself up, but the pull on her wound and her aching core made her freeze mid-motion.

Elliott stood up almost instantly, instinctively reaching to help, but stopped himself just before touching Celia’s arm. He adjusted her pillow higher instead, then stepped back. “Take it slow.”

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Chapter 361

Celia leaned back, took the warm water, and sipped to soothe her parched throat. She looked up at Elliott calmly. “About last night, thank you for saving me. And for your help.”

She deliberately stripped the most intimate part of last night down to nothing more than a necessary medical

act

Elliott’s eyes darkened slightly. He steered the conversation away. “Louis admitted it. Aiyana gave him the drugs and the key. Laylah was likely involved.”

Celia’s gaze went cold, though she wasn’t particularly surprised. “I figured,” she said flatly. “Laylah handed me the water. They wanted to ruin me at Tanner’s birthday party, destroy my reputation, and push me out for good.”

“What are you going to do?” Elliott asked, watching her. He expected her to be angry, hurt, or at least show some emotion. But she was calm, almost as if she were talking about someone else.

“I’ll gather evidence and go to the police,” Celia kept it short. “Assault, illegal drugs, incitement. That’ll be enough to make them pay dearly. As for Louis, he is just an accomplice.”

Celia paused, then added, “Of course, that’s the legal route. But before that, I don’t mind collecting a little interest my own way first.”

Elliott caught the icy flash in her eyes and realized he might have seriously underestimated Celia. She wasn’t fragile. Not some delicate flower at all. She was a rose with thorns tucked out of sight, quiet until provoked, then sharp and precise.

“Need any help?” Elliott asked.

Celia glanced at him and shook her head. “This is my business. You’ve already done enough.” She meant last night. She didn’t want to owe him more, especially not the kir of debt that got complicated.

Elliott was quiet for a moment, then switched topics. “I’ve already had someone run a paternity test for Beckham and Laylah’s kid.”

Celia’s fingers tightened around the glass for a split second before she relaxed. “That’s their problem,” she said evenly. “It has nothing to do with me anymore. I signed the divorce papers last night.”

Getting that agreement was another reason Celia attended Tanner’s birthda arty.

“You just let it go like this?” Elliott asked, looking for any sign she was faking it. But there was nothing. She truly didn’t care anymore.

“Three years in a loveless marriage. It should have ended long ago.” Celia put on a faint smile. “I only stayed out of respect for my grandfather and Tanner. It’s time now. Laylah can have Beckham if she wants. She shouldn’t stoop so low.”

Celia looked at Elliott. “Mr. Perry, I’d like last night to end here. For both of us, it was just an unexpected medical intervention. I won’t hold it against you, and I hope you can forget it too.”

Celia drew a line between them, making it clear that they were even now,

19:30 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 36

But something tightened in Elliott’s chest. He looked at Celia’s composed, distant face.

49

Last night flashed through his mind. Her trembling, her tears, the way she finally fell asleep in his arms. The crimson stain on the sheets, and the way she’d curled against him without realizing it, trusting him without

meaning to.

“Medical intervention? Just forget it? What if I can’t forget?” Elliott asked, his voice lower, eyes fixed intently

on Celia.

Celia met his gaze, her eyes crystal clear and unwavering. “Mr. Perry, aside from whatever kindness my mother may have shown your family, there’s nothing else between us. Last night you did what you had to. and I’m truly grateful for that.

“But that’s all that could happen between us. You’re the head of Perry Group, and I’m just someone going through a divorce. We live in different worlds, and there shouldn’t be any further entanglement between us.”

Celia made her stance clear, leaving no room for any possibility Elliott could bring up.

Elliott stared at her for a while, then let out a soft laugh, though the smile never reached his eyes. “Celia, are you always this rational? Even after what you just went through?”

“Being rational is the only way to live well.” Celia lowered her gaze to the water in her cup, the surface trembling slightly. “Letting emotions take over only makes people vulnerable and easily hurt.”

“I used to let my feelings get the best of me. And my mom is the best proof of where that leads.” By that, she meant Mireya, who gave her heart to the wrong person and paid the price.

The room fell silent, leaving only the hum of the air conditioner.

After a while, Elliott stood up, looking down at Celia. His voice as steady but firm, leaving no room for argument. “Celia, you can set your boundaries as you like.

“But I have my own rules. Last night was not just a medical intervention to me.”

Elliott paused, then continued, “I’ll take care of the Stein sisters and Louis. Think of it as me settling the score for you. As for us…”

e, you need strength. Your Elliott held her gaze for a moment. “We’ve got plenty of time. Have your com clothes and phone are over there. Neil will come at nine and take you wherever you want. If you need anything, call me.”

Having said that, Elliott left without giving Celia a chance to respond. He turned and left the bedroom, closing the door gently behind him.

Celia leaned back against the pillows, watching the door close with a slight frown. His last words put her on edge. “This guy doesn’t seem to play by the script I wrote,’ she thought.

Celia picked up the bowl of warm porridge and ate slowly. It was light and soothing. She felt completely drained. She really needed time to recover.

After finishing the porridge, Celia got out of bed. Her leg still ached, but it was manageable. She walked over

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