Chapter 200
When the room had finally emptied, leaving just the two of them, Theodore asked quietly, “Do you blame me?”
Eliana glanced at him, then replied with a hint of irony, “Is this how you pictured things turning out?”
He hesitated before answering. “I just wanted to push them into apologizing to you. Things only got out of hand because Hannah wouldn’t give up. Sha went to Julian for help, and that’s what started the rest of it.”
Eliana closed her eyes briefly. “Do you know why I didn’t lash out at you right away? Because I knew you meant well. I knew y
you did it for me
Her voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp as they met his. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not angry. Did it ever occur to you to ask me first? To ask if I even wanted you to fight this battle on my behalf?”
The weight of her words lingered in the air, pressing down on the silence between them.
She sighed. “You’ve always been too aggressive. Whether it’s Luke, the Burke family, or anyone else who rubs you the wrong way, your first instinct is to destroy them. But look at their eyes now. Don’t you see it? The hatred, the bitterness. It’s only gotten worse.”
Theodore said quietly, “You don’t need to wolet them hurt you.” Eliana shook her head. He still didn’t see the real isc. 9
“Theodore, I’m not like you. I can’t take a bullet and pretend it doesn’t hurt. What I need isn’t
revenge. I need peace. I need a place where I can catch my breath and feel safe.”
A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes, as if he’d only just realized she was speaking not of blame, but of exhaustion.
“I’m going to check on them,” she said, turning toward the door. When he moved to follow, she stopped him with a raised hand. “Don’t. You’ll only make things worse.”
With that, she stepped out. The door to Room 101 stood ajar. Inside, the bed was deserted, but the crimson stain on the sheet and the scattered instruments on the floor told a story that needed no words.
At Burke Manor, Hannah was laid gently on her bed. Her hand clutched at Belinda with desperate strength, her voice strained and trembling. “Mom… it hurts. It hurts so much…”
“I know, sweetheart. Just hang on a little longer. Your dad’s already called a private doctor.”
They couldn’t risk going to a hospital, not after what had happened. The shame was too great, and the stakes too high. Even with the damage done, reporting it to the police was out of the question.
“Mom… I’m ruined! Just let me die!” Hannah sobbed. Her cries quickly drew the attention of others in the house.
Isaac, curious and unaware of the gravity of the situation, crouched by the doorway and peeked inside. Seeing him, Belinda shot to her feet and stormed toward the door, blocking it with her body. “Out! Now!”
But Isaac, tall for his age, had already seen Hannah’s bruised limbs where they stuck out from beneath her torn dress. “What happened to her?” he asked, frowning. “Is she hurt? Should I help blow on it to make it better?”
Belinda slapped him hard across the face.
“If you breathe a word of this to anyone,” she hissed, “I swear I’ll sew that mouth of yours shut!”
Isaac held his cheek, stunned, then burst into tears. “I was just worried about Hannah! And you hit me. You’re awful! You’re mean!”
Chapter 200
Flians took a cab to Burke Manor,
Hudson was outside the house, smoking heavily, the ground around him fittered with cigarette butts,
She had barely stepped forward and called out when Hudson waved her off, panic in his voice. “Please, Elians. Vnd begging you can house fe your mother of your sister see you right now!”
“Dad, I just..
But he cut her off, shaking his head with desperation. “Theodore’s not someone we can handle. I’ve learned my lesson, and I don’t want you making the same mistake. Just do what he says, Eliana. Promise me that. Don’t end up like your sister!”
There was real fear in his eyes now. He knew exactly what Theodore was capable of. The man who had lifted Eliana so high today could crush her without blinking tomorrow. And Hudson could only curse himself for the choices that had led to all of this.
“He wouldn’t do that to me,” Eliana murmured.
Hudson gave a bitter, broken laugh. “That’s what I thought, too. Before all this. But look where we are now.” His voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes, trailing down cheeks that suddenly looked far older than they had the day before. “Maybe this is what I deserve…”
Just then, Belinda’s rang out from inside the house. “Hudson! Is the doctor here yet?”
Hudson turned reflexively, and in doing so, revealed Eliana standing just beyond him
The moment Belinda saw her, something in her snapped. She stormed out, trembling with rage, her voice rising to a shriek. “Theodore said all I had to do was apologize and he’d leave us alone! Why is he going back on his word?!”
Eliana stiffened. “Maybe if Hannah had just stayed out of trouble, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Oh, spare me,” Belinda snapped. “You’ve always hated her! Admit it. You’ve been jealous since the day you were born. She’s always been better than you, smarter, prettier, more loved. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?”
Before Eliana could respond, Belinda lunged and wrapped her hands around her throat.
“Let her go!” Isaac came rushing from the doorway and shoved Belinda aside with all his strength.
Eliana gasped for breath, her voice sharp with fury as she looked at the bruises already forming on Isaac’s face. “This has nothing to do with him! What did you hit him for?!”
Belinda’s eyes were wild now. “Because I felt like it. That’s why!”
Isaac clutched Eliana’s arm, eyes wide with fear. “Ellie, I don’t want to stay here anymore. Can I come with you? Please?”
Eliana didn’t hesitate. She could already see where this was heading. “Yeah. Come on.”
Belinda sneered. “If you leave, don’t bother coming back!”
At those words, Isaac suddenly let go of Eliana’s hand and bolted back inside.
Belinda gave a triumphant smirk. “Smart kid. Knew he didn’t have it in him.”
But just moments later, the front door slammed open again. Isaac reappeared, one arm hugging a bundle of clothes, the other clutching a wad of allowance money. Two pajama sets were draped messily around his neck. “I’m ready! Let’s go, Ellie!”
The cab was still waiting at the curb. Eliana opened the door and helped him inside without a word.
Behind them, Belinda exploded. “Fine! Go then! See if I care! As far as I’m concerned, I never gave birth to either of you!”
From inside the taxi, her voice faded into a muffled roar. Eliana leaned her head back against the seat, too tired to feel anything.
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Chapter 200
She glanced over at Isaac, who was now struggling to yank the pajamas off his neck and nearly strangling himasif in the ptoress
With a sigh, she reached over and helped untangle them.
As soon as he could breathe, Isaac brightened. “Ellie, are we going to see Theodore again? Is this one of those secret missions?”
No one had the heart for anything secret or exciting anymore.
Eliana smoothed his hair and said softly, “No, sweetie. I’m taking you somewhere better.”
“Okay!” he grinned.
At Therapy Center.
“Bernie, I’ll leave my brother with you for now. Once things calm down with the Burke family, I’ll come pick him up,” Eliana said.
Bernice gave a warm, reassuring nod. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll take good care of him.”
Meanwhile, two female teachers stood nearby, smiling as they watched Isaac curled up awkwardly on a children’s bed, trying to sleep. Hey, don’t squeeze in with the kids,” one of them teased. “Come sleep in our room instead.”
They were genuinely afraid he might kick the little bed to pieces.
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GRAMA
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