The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 229

Night fell.

Elias walked into the dining room. It was empty.

The lights were dim, and the large dining table was set for two with steak dinners, a single flickering candle in the center.

His expression darkened. Realizing what was happening, he turned to leave.

Suddenly, a soft body pressed against his back.

"Elias, don't go," Genevieve whispered, her arms wrapped tightly around his powerful waist.

"Gen, let go," Elias said sternly, frowning.

Genevieve bit her lip and held on even tighter, pressing her chest against his back, trying to stir a response from him. But Elias gave her no such opportunity. He grabbed her wrists and forcefully pulled her arms away.

Without a backward glance, he headed for the door.

Genevieve clenched her fists, a flash of the humiliation she'd felt at the Vale estate—when all her advances had failed—surging through her.

At some point, the dining room door had been closed.

Elias tried the handle, but it wouldn't budge.

"It's no use. Laurel locked it," Genevieve said, her voice soft and weak.

Hearing this, Elias turned around, his gaze cool as he stared at her. "Gen, I thought you understood me. I don't like it when people pull these kinds of stunts on me."

"I didn't," Genevieve insisted, her eyelashes trembling. "Elias, I honestly didn't. I had no idea Laurel would do this. If I had known, I would have stopped her."

Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, she paused before adding, "Just now… I just couldn't help myself. But I swear, I knew nothing about Laurel's plan. After what I did last time, I know you must look down on me. Why would I… Elias, you have to believe me… I…"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, as if she were about to burst into tears.

Seeing her desperate expression, Elias fell silent for a moment. His brow relaxed slightly as he handed her a tissue. "I believe you," he said gruffly.

At his words, Genevieve managed a weak, tearful smile.

Elias took out his phone to call Laurel.

But Laurel had anticipated this. She didn't answer. When Elias called a second time, she turned her phone off completely, determined to keep him and Genevieve trapped together.

She could feel his gaze on her, raw and direct.

She felt a flush of shyness and looked up at him, her eyes full of emotion. "Elias, you…"

"Gen, where's the scar on your forehead?" Elias asked abruptly, his voice low.

Genevieve froze, caught off guard. "Wh-what scar?"

Elias's eyes narrowed. "I just remembered. Five years ago, when you saved me, I think a piece of falling debris cut your forehead here."

The fire five years ago had caused him to inhale a large amount of smoke, leading to temporary oxygen deprivation. When he woke up in the hospital, his memories of the fire were fragmented and hazy. The only thing he remembered clearly was the figure rushing into the flames.

He couldn't see the figure's face, only a crudely made bracelet on the woman's slender wrist.

And that bracelet was the same one Genevieve had made herself.

Genevieve’s expression flickered. "Oh… that scar faded a long time ago."

Elias squinted, staring at her forehead. "Is that so?" he questioned.