Chapter 166 THORNE FAMILY

Chapter 166 THORNE FAMILY
(Eli's POV)

A few minutes later, the doctor returned with another nurse, checked my vitals, asked me a ridiculous number of questions, and finally gave me permission to go home.

Home.

The word felt different now. I remembered the first time I'd been there, Julian had his men drag me. Then I went back a few months ago without knowing who I was.

Now I remembered everything. The good, the bad, the ridiculous… And somehow, I still wanted to go back to the same house with the same two men.

Julian helped me out of the hospital bed while Anton gathered my things.

“You don't need to carry me,” I complained.

Julian glanced at me. “I know.”

“Then why are you holding me?”

“Because I want to.”

I rolled my eyes.

Anton laughed. “Let him have his moment. He thought he was going to lose you.”

I looked at Julian, and his expression immediately softened.

I squeezed his hand. “I'm not going anywhere.”

His fingers tightened around mine. “I know.”

But he didn't sound like he believed it yet.

The three of us eventually left the hospital together.

The driver was waiting outside.

Julian opened the back door for me, and I climbed inside. He followed, then Anton climbed in beside him.

I looked at them. “There's enough space, you don't have to sit so tightly close like we're stuck together.”

Anton shrugged. “We're a package deal.”

Julian nodded seriously. “Fortunately.”

I laughed.

The drive home was quiet at first. Not uncomfortable, just peaceful.

I leaned against Julian's shoulder while Anton rested against the opposite side. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't wondering what anyone was hiding from me.

I remembered who I was. And I remembered who they were. And there's no more games.

When we finally pulled into the driveway, I immediately noticed someone waiting near the entrance.

Damien.

“What is he doing here?” I asked.

“Not sure,” Anton replied, “maybe to beg for your forgiveness.”

“The nerves. Can I hit him?”

“Sure—” Anton said but Julian quickly cut in—

“No, you just got discharged from the hospital, you don't have the strength. Just ignore him if you don't want to hear him out.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ohh you'll see.”

We got out of the car, and I immediately pinned a glare on Damien.

The moment he saw me, his expression changed.

He stepped forward, and I stopped walking.

Damien stopped too.

His eyes dropped. Then, without warning, he lowered himself to his knees.

“I'm sorry.”

I stared at him. “Damien—”

“I know I don't deserve forgiveness.” He bowed his head. “I betrayed your trust. You trusted me when nobody else was around, and I abused that trust.”

My jaw tightened. “You're right, you don't deserve forgiveness. I don't care what your reason was, we were friends. You didn't even hesitate. Was it fun manipulating me? I wasn't worth taking a step back for?”

Damien looked up. “I have no excuse. I hurt you and betrayed our friendship without care, I am so sorry. Please give me another chance to be better. I want to be your friend, your bodyguard… I’ll accept whatever punishment you give me.”

I crossed my arms. “Whatever?”

“Whatever.”

I glanced at Julian. He looked completely uninterested.

Damien turned to him desperately.

“Sir—”

Julian raised a hand. “I don't know you, young man.”

Damien's face fell. He turned toward Anton.

“Boss?”

Anton shrugged. “You're on your own.”

Damien looked back at me. “What can I do to make you forgive me?”

I considered it… then grinned.

“Punching you may work.”

Damien blinked. “Seriously?”

I punched him.

Hard.

His head snapped sideways.

Before he could recover, I kicked him in the stomach.

He stumbled backward and caught himself.

I dusted my hands. “I forgive you.”

Damien straightened slowly.

“But you're still under probation until I decide otherwise.”

He stared at me. “Ohh.”

He rubbed his stomach. “That's a little heartless.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You want jail time instead?”

“No.”

“Then stop complaining.”

Damien sighed. Then his eyes suddenly brightened.

“Well…” he pointed at me. “I have your secret.”

I frowned. “What secret?”

He smiled. “The secret account.”

My heart stopped. Fucking bastard. He knew.

Julian and Anton both turned toward me.

Damien continued cheerfully. “I could tell your husbands that you've been secretly putting millions of their money into a private secret account.”

I glared daggers at him before turning to Julian and Anton with the most innocent look I could put on.

Then back at Damien. “You have such a loose mouth.”

Damien blinked. “What?”

“You just fucking said it. It's no longer a secret.”

Damien's mouth fell open.

Anton burst out laughing.

Julian looked at me with an amused expression.

I immediately went into defense mode. “Hey! I was being independent and cautious and ready just in case!”

Anton folded his arms. “So defensive.”

“I was protecting myself!”

“You were keeping secrets.”

I pointed at him. “You can't be mad.”

Julian chuckled. “We're not mad.”

I blinked. “You're not?”

Julian shook his head. “My money is your money.” He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “Yours can stay hidden if it makes you feel safer.”

I stared at him with a smile.

“See?” I turned toward Damien. “Now you've lost all your cards.”

Damien's face fell. “Wait.”

I grinned. “Probation, it is.”

“Oh, come on!”

I laughed. “You just tried to blackmail me!”

“Fine. I deserve probation. Can it get lifted on good behavior?”

“Maybe. Let's see how good the behavior is.”

Anton laughed harder. Even Julian smiled.

Damien stood there looking betrayed by the entire household.

And somehow, after everything we'd survived… It felt good to laugh again.

We were still laughing when we finally stepped inside.

I slowed down.

My eyes immediately went toward the corner of the living room.

The vase.

Or, more accurately, the place where the vase had been.

There was nothing there anymore.

I looked at Julian. “About that…”

Julian followed my gaze. “The vase?’

I nodded. “I’m sorry I shot at you.”

His expression softened.

“I panicked. I didn't know how else to get away from you at that moment.” I looked down. “But I promise I won't ever leave you again.”

Julian stepped closer and pulled me against him.

“It's fine.” He kissed my forehead. “I deserved it.”

Anton, who was walking past us, casually added, “Good shot, though. I was proud when I found out he was bleeding because of you.”

I pulled away from Julian. “What?”

Julian's expression immediately became suspicious.

Anton grinned. “You didn't know?”

I stared at Julian. “You got hit?”

“It's nothing.”

“Where?” I immediately started touching him, checking his arms and shoulders.

“Where did you get hit?”

“Eli—”

“Oh my God.” I found the bandaged area. “You were actually bleeding!”

Anton laughed. “He was.”

I stared at Julian in horror. “I thought I only hit the vase!”

“You did hit the vase.”

“And you!”

“Technically, yes.”

I groaned. “I'm so sorry.” I touched the bandage carefully. “I meant to take a scare shot. I didn't mean to actually shoot you.”

Julian caught my hand and kissed my fingers. “You're forgiven.”

Anton snorted. “Don't feel sorry. He deserved it.”

Julian raised a brow at him. “You seem unusually happy about this.”

“I am.”

I laughed.

Anton pointed upstairs. “Now let's go. You need rest.”

Julian nodded. “He's right.”

I sighed. “Fine.”

__________________

By evening, the house had returned to something that almost felt normal. We were outside around the barbecue.

Anton and Damien were standing beside the grill, arguing over how much seasoning belonged on the meat.

“There is such a thing as too much pepper,” Damien complained.

Anton didn't even look at him. “There's also such a thing as not enough.”

“You've put enough pepper to kill a man.”

“Do you have British ancestors? You can handle a little spice.”

Damien stared at him. “You're impossible.”

Julian was sitting beside me. Actually, “sitting beside me” wasn't quite accurate. He was practically attached to me.
His arm was around my waist, his head occasionally resting against my shoulder as though he had spent the entire day afraid someone might steal me again.

I looked at him. Then at Anton before returning my gaze back at Julian.

“I think we're boyfriends, not husbands.”

Julian lifted his head. “What? We're married.”

“I know. But, I want you to court me again.”

He stared.

“And marry me properly.” I added

Julian's expression softened. “What was wrong with the first wedding?”

I made a face. “I don't like our vows.”

Anton chuckled from the grill.

I continued. “So until you give me a proper wedding, we're boyfriends.”

Julian didn't even hesitate. “Then let's do it tomorrow morning.”

I burst out laughing. “Absolutely not.”

“Why?"?”

“I don't want it rushed.” I leaned closer to him. “I want to pick my suit myself. I want to talk about it properly before we start planning anything.”

Julian nodded. “Okay.”

“And I want to tell my grandfather this time.”

His expression warmed. “So he can walk you down the aisle?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “I want that part.”

Julian kissed my temple. “Then you'll have it.”

“And…” I looked between him and Anton. “We're going to need a little more planning, considering we're three this time.”

Anton suddenly went quiet.

I looked at him. He had stopped turning the meat, his eyes were on Julian. Julian was looking at him too. Something passed between them, something I couldn't understand. Anton looked away first.

I frowned.

I turned toward Julian. His expression wasn't any different.

For some reason, that bothered me.

I knew Anton loved Julian. It was obvious.

I looked at Anton again. He was pretending to be completely focused on the barbecue, but I caught the way his eyes briefly returned to Julian.

And I wondered… would Anton actually want that? Or had I just assumed?