Chapter 42
Two years ago, right after Theodore first learned he had gone blind, he once lost control and ran out of his room.
93%
Surrounded by the sounds of mocking voices, he snapped. In a moment of panic and rage, he shoved the person closest to him. The man toppled over the second–floor railing, and it left him paralyzed from the chest down.
Ever since that incident, the household staff had steered clear of Theodore, and he never stepped out of his room again.
Eliana, however, simply thought he was too proud to admit the real reason. She played along and said, “Alright, no one can hurt you. Come on, let’s keep walking.”
Her tone, soft and coaxing like one would use with a child, made Theodore chuckle inwardly. Still, he felt this feeling of being protected by her wasn’t so bad.
The two of them walked all the way to the courtyard just outside Russell Manor.
As they stepped outside, delicate snowflakes drifted in the air, carrying with them the earthy scent of plants.
Theodore paused slightly, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. Eliana noticed him dazing off and, worried he might slip on the snowy path, suddenly did something unexpected–she hugged him.
It felt to Theodore as though a puppy had just leapt into his arms. He lowered his head slightly and asked, “Are you cold?”
“No,” Eliana replied, “I’m just afraid you’ll slip.”
A rare warmth bloomed in Theodore’s chest. He spoke softly, “I won’t. Even if I can’t see, I can still feel.”
Eliana felt her heart ache a little. Then Hannah’s cruel words from earlier came to mind, and she couldn’t help saying, “Mr. Russell, you have to get better soon.”
Theodore asked, “Is that what you want?”
“Yep.” She wanted him to recover soon and punch every single person who ever looked down on him.
He continued, “Do you want that because of the agreement you made with my grandfather, or is it for me?”
Eliana hesitated. “I don’t know.”
She just knew he had suffered too much. He was once a man standing at the pinnacle of power, yet now, he was reduced to someone anyone dared to whisper about behind his back. If she were in his shoes, she would’ve crumbled long ago.
Thus, she wasn’t sure if it was duty that kept her by his side or pity.
Theodore noticed she didn’t respond the way she once might have, and he put on a faint smile.
He thought, “That’s a good sign. I have to win her over completely before Anthony gets the chance.’
Thinking of that, he allowed her to hug him.
Just then, a snowball hit Eliana square on the back of the head, jolting her right out of Theodore’s arms.
“Who just ambushed me?” shouted Eliana.
“I did,” came a cheeky voice. A little boy walked out from behind a tree, twirling another snowball in his hands and wearing a smug grin.
Eliana narrowed her eyes. “Jayden? You hit me, huh?”
1/2
12:36 Wed, 11 Jun DO
Chapter 42
393%
Jayden said, his eyes gleaming with mischief, “If I hadn’t interrupted, were you two about to kiss?” He quipped, “Dating a blind guy… Tsk, your standards are really low.”
Eliana shot back, “We’re married. We can date however we want. We can kiss whenever we want. But hey, have you your homework yet, you little loudmouth?”
finished
“It’s Saturday tomorrow. I can do it…” Jayden trailed off. He frowned and thought to himself, ‘Wait, why am I even answering this stupid woman’s question?‘
Hearing the automatic response, Eliana burst into laughter. “You must get nagged about your homework a lot by teachers and parents, huh?”
Jayden, now red in the face, hurled his snowball at her in frustration. This time, Eliana tilted her head and dodged it easily.
Her playful smile vanished, replaced by a glint of mischief. She thought bitterly, ‘If Lainey can’t teach her son any manners, then let me do her a favor!
She grinned. “Oh, you want a snowball fight? Fine, bring it on.”
2/2
