The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Elice hated going to the hospital. Even more so when Garrett was the reason for her visit.

Feelings of worry and fear mixed together. Mixed and clouded Elice’s mind. She couldn’t be calm. Not until she met Garrett.

“Garrett.”

When Elice entered the hospital room and found Garrett lying in bed without any injuries, relief came. The tension left Elice. Almost along with what little energy she had left.

“Elice.”

Elice’s body nearly collapsed. But Rosaline, who came with her, acted quickly. She caught Elice’s body just in time.

Elice looked desperate. If before her legs had been able to kick strongly to catch Garrett as quickly as possible, now it was the opposite. Her legs felt shaky and weak as she walked.

Elice approached Garrett. Her hand was raised. It landed on Garrett’s cheek. And a tear fell down his cheek.

“I’m sorry.”

Rosaline made sure Elice could stand on her own. She bowed her head politely. Then, understandingly, she decided to leave. Closing the door from the outside. Leave the couple to their private time.

“Garrett.”

Elice’s other hand rose as well. It cupped both of Garrett’s cheeks completely. Her eyes moved. Quickly checking Garrett’s condition.

“I’m fine, Elice. I’m perfectly all right. I’m not hurt at all.”

Elice heard that. Elice could see the truth. But Elice couldn’t believe it right away. Not until Elice felt Garrett in her arms.

With her eyes closed, Elice hugged Garrett. She held him in the midst of various fears that needed to be calmed.

Garrett was silent. He returned Elice’s embrace. Allowing Elice to calm the turmoil that was shaking them.

Faintly, Garrett heard sobbing. As Elice’s grip tightened around him, Garrett felt his wife’s skin grow colder.

Garrett tried to soothe Elice. With gentle and loving strokes down her back. Turning slightly, he planted a kiss in her hair.

“I’m sorry, Elice.”

Elice didn’t speak. But the shadows of recent events filled her mind.

From Garrett’s attack, Daphne’s attempted murder at home, and Daphne’s accident. And now?

“I don’t want to lose you, Garrett,” Elice finally whispered. “I’m afraid. I can’t lose you.”

This time it was Garrett who tightened the embrace. Elice’s words were filled with fear and hope. Something that reminded him of his conversation with Ariel earlier.

Because at that moment, Garrett didn’t care how many accidents he had to endure. He didn’t care about his own safety. But he was afraid for Elice. Because Ariel’s voice echoed in his head again. Echoing since before. Relentlessly.

“Mom wants to get rid of Elice.”

Garrett’s body trembled. Fear, wildly imagining the worst-case scenarios in his mind.

No. I won’t let anything bad happen to Elice.

In the curve of Elice’s shoulder, Garrett nodded. Trying to calm Elice down. Himself as well.

“You won’t lose me. I’ll always be by your side.”

Then Garrett loosened their embrace. Creating some distance so he could wipe away the tears that had soaked Elice’s face. He smiled. Tried to smile as usual.

Garrett reached for Elice’s hand. Held it tight. Drawing Elice’s tear-filled eyes to him.

“I’ll do anything to always be with you, Elice.”

Beyond that, Garrett also promised. Not only to Elice. But also, to himself.

“I’ll protect you.”

Garrett brought Elice’s fingers to his lips. He kissed them lovingly. And not without reason. Because it wasn’t only Elice who needed to be reassured. But also himself.

“I will always protect you.”

Because his encounter with Ariel had brought out Garrett’s worries. Fear consumed him. Made him restless. With every breath he took now, Garrett felt heavy.

“I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you, Elice,” Garrett said. His eyes looked intensely at Elice. “I love you.”

When Garrett spoke the words of love, he didn’t know that not only Elice heard them. Instead, a man standing at the door of the room also heard them. Through a small gap he created, he could clearly see Elice nodding in response to that heartfelt expression.

Elice burst into tears. She embraced Garrett again. In a sweet smile that brought bitterness to another’s heart.

Heartbreaking. But Ariel knew it was the choice he had made. Until turmoil rose within him. And like a loser, he turned. Walking down the hall with his head bowed. Both hands clenched at his sides.

Trying to stay upright. Keep walking. Holding on with all his might. But a voice inside of him couldn’t be silenced. For in the end, he cursed. For the fate that forced him to retreat in a difficult decision.

*

Last night, after Ariel’s visit to his parents’ house…

“What’s wrong with Ariel? He’s never been like this before? Coming to his parents’ house often isn’t Ariel’s nature.”

“Is he planning something?”

“Come in.”

“What is it, madam?”

“Nothing. I’ve just been wondering about Ariel lately.”

“I feel there’s something strange about Ariel.”

“Strange? Does that mean we need to change our plans, madam?”

“Maybe it’s just me, because I want to get rid of Elice. Yes. It seems that’s why.”

“So shall we continue, ma’am?”

“I think Garrett and Elice know that I’ve been bugging their house. So far they haven’t discussed anything important at home and that makes me think they know what I’m doing.”

“So, let’s forget about it. Besides, we have to get rid of them in the end. As soon as possible.”

Ariel’s heart seemed to stop as he listened to Farrah and Teddy’s conversation. In the middle of the night, Ariel’s body felt cold as he realized something. That it wasn’t only Garrett and Elice that Farrah suspected now. But also, himself.

Ariel closed his eyes. Both his hands rested on the desk, clenched tightly.

I shouldn’t have been so conspicuous.

But there was nothing Ariel could do. Because the concern for Elice’s safety made a part of his rationality disappear. Replaced by impulsive actions that led to Farrah’s suspicion.

Taking a deep breath, Ariel slowly opened his eyes. He tried to calm down. Think quickly. Trying to find a way out of this. Because Elice’s safety and his own suspicion were things he had to prioritize.

Ariel reached for the phone on the table. Quickly she contacted Ruben.

“Ruben, I need you to do something.”

Getting straight to the point, Ariel clearly instructed Ruben to find a four-wheeled vehicle and a driver willing to be paid. To hurt Garrett.

“I want it done as soon as possible. But be careful not to hurt Garrett.”

Ariel’s jaw tightened. No. Not because he cared about Garrett’s safety. But because he knew that only Garrett could protect Elice twenty-four hours a day.

“What do you mean, sir?”

There was doubt in Ruben’s question. He obviously didn’t understand. But Ariel decided not to explain it over the phone.

“Do what I told you. And come here tomorrow night.”

*

Now….

Eventually, Ruben understood Ariel’s goal. He really didn’t want to hurt Garrett. On the contrary.

“This is the only way to keep Mom from getting suspicious.”

Ariel said, clasping his hands together. He had just come back from the hospital. To meet and talk to Garrett according to his plan.

“That’s a really risky move, sir.”

Ruben’s voice made Ariel raise his face. He looked at Ruben. Finding his personal assistant’s concern.

“Mom won’t know what I’m doing unless you leak it.”

Ruben nodded. “Of course I won’t leak it, sir. But are you really sure?”

“What do you mean?”

Ariel’s brow furrowed slightly. And it wasn’t hard for Ruben to explain.

“What you’re doing is clearly against what Mrs. Farrah wants. Doing all this is the same as going against Mrs. Farrah.”

Ariel was stunned. He confirmed Ruben’s words. And he had thought about it thoroughly.

“I would never go against Mama, unless Mama wanted to get rid of Elice.”

Silently, Ruben couldn’t say anything when Ariel mentioned this name. For without Ariel having to explain, everything was already clear.

Ariel loved Elice.

His mind spun. Ariel played with glimpses of the past. Beautiful and full of laughter. With Elice in his arms, looking at him with love.

Before, Ariel thought it was just ordinary love. Feelings that weren’t special. That would just go away and he could find a replacement.

But Ariel was wrong. And when he realized it, it was already too late. Elice already hated him.

Elice lay on the hospital bed. Alone, holding back the grief of losing her child. Which dissolved in Farrah’s contempt. And for all that, Ariel thought there would be no guilt plaguing him.

But once again Ariel was wrong. The image of Elice smiling when she announced her pregnancy haunted him. Elice’s happy laughter echoed in his ears. Ringing in his ears with each approaching night.

It disturbed him. And no matter how hard Ariel tried to push it away, the result was always the same. A growing regret that quickly took root in his heart.

There was nothing Ariel could do if Elice wouldn’t take him back. He could only restrain himself when Elice threw herself into the arms of another. And the happiness in Elice’s eyes when she was pregnant again was a slap in Ariel’s face.

Once again Ariel was shaken by regret. He wanted to deny the reality, but now Elice seemed really happy. Something that made him realize something. That maybe this was the only thing he could do. To keep Elice safe.

“I’ll do anything.”

Ariel’s voice trembled. But filled with unshakeable determination. Silencing Ruben in a thousand languages.

“To ensure Elice’s safety,” Ariel continued, nodding once. “I don’t care. I’ll do anything.”

Regardless of whether everything he did would benefit Garrett in the end, Ariel would do it anyway. In fact, it felt bitter. Because the image of Elice answering Garrett’s declaration of love with her eyes felt more piercing than Elice saying the same words.

Ariel knew that. His place in Elice’s heart had been replaced. It hurt his feelings. But unfortunately, Ariel couldn’t use that as a reason to neglect Elice.

Ariel’s hand clenched tightly. He tried to hold his breath for a moment. Faintly. Slowly. But Ariel felt a grip squeezing his heart.

Painful. Suffocating. But Ariel was powerless as he clearly realized a fact that had remained undiscovered until now.

I love you, Elice.

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