Chapter 84 Drag You Back
Genesis's POV:
When I woke up, I saw Eli sitting beside my hospital bed.
Seeing me awake, he quickly called for a doctor to examine me. The doctor confirmed I was fine, just that the whip marks would heal in a couple of days.
But after the doctor left, Eli acted strangely. He stared at me in silence.
I couldn't speak, so the whole room felt eerily quiet.
[What's wrong with you?] I couldn't help but ask him.
"Forth is awake too, in the next room. Do you want to see him?"
I looked at him confused. Why would he want me to see Forth?
I shook my head, indicating I didn't want to go.
But Eli didn't give up. He sneered and leaned closer. "Really not going to see him? That's Forth we're talking about."
[I'm not going.] I signed irritably.
I didn't know what was wrong with Eli. Before, he couldn't wait to keep me miles away from Forth, but now he kept hinting I should go see him.
Although Forth was deceived by Delilah this time, it was still a fact that he almost got me killed.
I had already done enough by not watching him drown. How could I possibly go see him?
Seeing my firm stance, the suspicion in Eli's eyes deepened.
He sat on my bed and gently took my hand, playing with it constantly.
I was used to his occasional touching, so I just let him be.
But after a while, Eli suddenly spoke again. "I heard Forth's hands are seriously injured. Maybe he won't be able to play football anymore."
I had already said I didn't want to see Forth. Why did Eli keep asking?
I forcefully pulled my hand back from his.
Eli's brow immediately furrowed.
[What exactly do you want? Why do you keep asking if I want to see Forth?] I was tired of guessing games and asked him directly.
Eli stared into my eyes, as if trying to find some truth in them.
I met his gaze without avoiding it.
"Because you were going to run away with him..."
Before he could finish, someone knocked on the door. It was Forth.
Forth's hands were wrapped in bandages, and his face had several purple bruises. He had clearly suffered a lot.
Seeing I was awake, Forth's face immediately lit up with a bright smile.
"You're awake?!"
He seemed not to notice Eli beside me and walked straight toward my bed.
I politely made eye contact with him for a moment. Suddenly Eli got angry. He sneered at us both, stood up, and slammed the door as he left.
I looked at his retreating figure in confusion, not knowing what had gotten into him.
Forth looked guiltily at the scars on my face and lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, I... I know apologizing can't make up for the stupid thing I did." Forth said hesitantly.
I frowned and took out my phone to type: [I don't want to accept your apology.]
Forth looked at the phone screen dejectedly. After a long moment, he nodded. "I understand. Not accepting my apology is your right. This is the price I should pay for doing wrong."
He started to leave with heavy steps, but stopped after two steps and looked back at me. "As compensation, if you need anything, you can contact me. I'll do everything I can to help you. Especially when you want to leave."
Hearing Forth's words, I instinctively looked toward the door to make sure Eli wasn't nearby.
[How do you know I want to leave?] I typed. Had I been that obvious?
Forth smiled bitterly. "I didn't know before, but... after this incident, I figured it out. You applied to Novien University of Technology to escape from Eli, right?"
I lowered my eyes in acknowledgment.
I could have escaped successfully, but Forth had leaked it to Eli, and I lost my offer from Novien University of Technology.
Forth probably remembered his previous stupid actions too. His expression became even more pained.
"About what happened before, I'm sorry. I always said I wanted to help you, but I seemed to keep causing trouble instead." Forth said bitterly. "I think your relationship with Eli is probably different from what I guessed before. I won't ask questions or tell anyone. That's all your freedom."
After saying this, he looked at me deeply, then left the room with his head down.
This time he should really give up, right?
I looked at the scars on my hands. I couldn't bear another one of his "good intentions."
Right after Forth left, Eli came back.
He seemed to be holding back anger. After entering, he looked me up and down with eyes that seemed ready to devour me.
"How was it? Did you and Forth plan when you're leaving?"
What was wrong with him now? I had no idea what he was talking about.
I lay down weakly, not wanting to waste energy on him.
But my action seemed to provoke Eli further. He angrily rushed to my bedside and grabbed my wrist.
Afraid of hurting me, he deliberately avoided the wounds on my wrist.
"Let me tell you, even if you've planned everything, I'll still drag you back! Genesis, you can only stay by my side! Even if you don't love me!" Eli stared into my eyes, speaking word by word.
At this moment, he was like an alpha wolf guarding his prey, fiercely declaring his ownership.
Looking into his gray-blue eyes, my heart trembled.
I had never seen such strong possessiveness from him. I felt his feelings for me were more about unwillingness to accept what he couldn't have. He didn't want a real me. He just wanted me to become an obedient canary.
Would that still be me?
Without freedom, without all my preferences, that wouldn't be a real person!
I couldn't help but shiver.
I sincerely began to hope Jordan would see the video I had sent out soon.
Seeing my lack of response, Eli's anger intensified. His grip on my wrist tightened.
The discomfort in my wrist made me frown. But when I looked at Eli's face, my mind flashed back to that day when I was dying, the figure swimming desperately toward me.
If not for Eli, I would have drowned in that sea.
My heart immediately softened. If saying these things would make him unhappy, and he had saved me, I shouldn't hurt him.
I helplessly sat up and gestured to explain. [Forth just came to apologize to me. After all, it was because he believed Delilah's lies that I got caught.]
I thought my explanation would calm Eli down, but after hearing what I said, his frown deepened.
"What do you mean? Weren't you two eloping together when Delilah caught you?"