The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 230

Genevieve instinctively touched her forehead, her lashes lowered to hide the unease in her eyes. She explained softly, "Elias, you know how important a girl’s face is. If I had a scar, people would stare. So, I found a way to get rid of it."

Elias considered her words. It made sense; a scar on a woman's face would certainly be unpleasant.

Genevieve paused, then asked tentatively, "Elias, are you starting to remember what happened in the fire?"

"No, just a fleeting image of your forehead getting cut by the debris."

Elias’s gaze grew distant. In the memory, the figure was still blurry, but he could clearly see a small, jagged gash on the woman's pale forehead, blood seeping from it. It looked painful.

As he thought of it, the words slipped out. "Did it hurt?" he asked in a low voice.

Hearing his answer, Genevieve secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, hearing his concern, her eyes lit up and she smiled. "It hurt at first, but once the wound healed, it was fine."

Elias was quiet for a moment before offering a brief nod.

Seizing the opportunity, Genevieve stepped closer to him, her gaze full of adoration. "Elias, you don’t have to feel guilty. Rushing into that fire to save you five years ago… that was my choice. I’ve never regretted it, and I never expected anything in return."

"Just being able to see you well, like this, is enough for me."

Elias looked up, meeting her gaze and catching the raw emotion in her eyes. His brow furrowed. "Gen, there’s something I need to say…"

"Elias, sit down and have dinner with me," Genevieve suddenly interrupted. She sat down herself, poured a glass of red wine, and handed it to him.

In the orange candlelight, her eyes were red-rimmed, making her look incredibly pitiful.

Elias’s lips formed a tight line. His eyes inadvertently fell on the bracelet visible on her slender wrist, and his expression softened. The cold, unapproachable aura around him dissipated slightly.

"Elias…"

"Gen, you've had too much to drink."

"No, I haven't." Genevieve stood up, her misty eyes fixed on him. "Elias, you're angry with me, aren't you? You blame me for leaving you two years ago, for not waiting for you, for marrying someone else, right? That’s why you keep pushing me away no matter how hard I try to get close…"

"But… but you know I had no choice two years ago. Your grandfather, the Vale family… they were all using you to pressure me. What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to just stand by and watch you lose everything for my sake?"

Tears streamed down Genevieve's face. "Elias, don't avoid me. I… my heart is in so much pain, it really is. You know how I feel about you. For two years, there hasn’t been a single moment I haven’t thought about coming back to you!"

"I did everything I could, I worked so hard to escape the Vale family's control, all so I could be with you. Elias, you're the only one in my heart."

"Elias, I love you. Please… don't say no."

Crying pitifully, Genevieve wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her toes, and tried to kiss him.