Chapter 69 TERRIBLE INSIDE
Eli's POV
I woke up later than I used to. I purposely slept in until now.
The kitchen is quiet when I walk in. The staff move around softly, rounding up their duties. They've started being around more since Mrs Thorne and Lovia came. Normally I barely see them, it's like they only work while I'm asleep.
I grab a mug and pour myself hot coffee.
I used to wake up angry at the world or very determined to make money and take care of my grandfather.
Now I wake up tired.
I lean against the counter and stare at the steam rising from my cup. I barely recognize myself these days. I used to shout first and think later. Now I think too much. I swallow too much. I stay quiet too much.
Julian dragged me into his world, and somehow my sharp edges got sanded down without me noticing.
“Do you normally wake up this late?” Her smooth voice interrupts my thoughts.
I don’t turn around.
Lovia walks in like she owns the tiles beneath her heels. She’s dressed perfectly. Of course she is.
“You don’t cook for Julian?” she asks.
I take a slow sip of my coffee, ignoring her.
She steps closer. “You know, he’s working so hard. You wouldn’t know how tough the corporate world is.”
I roll my eyes and turn to face her. “Try me.”
She smiles, thin. “If you sit at home all day doing nothing, you might as well help around the house.”
“That’s what the staff are for,” I reply. “I’m not here to help around the house.”
She chuckles softly. “Little advice. You have to be useful to keep him. A man like Julian wouldn’t want a liability.”
I tilt my head. “You think?”
She folds her arms. Waiting.
“Spoiler alert,” I continue, taking another sip. “He’s the one keeping me. I didn’t beg to marry him.”
Her jaw tightens just slightly.
Before she can respond, I cut her off.
“Instead of advising me,” I say calmly, “why don’t you try cooking instead of rearranging art portraits and flowers? Try cooking for him. Who knows? He might marry you if you cook well enough.”
Her lips part.
I don’t give her the chance.
I walk out.
My chest feels tight. My hands are shaking. I hate that they’re shaking.
I take the stairs two at a time and almost run into Anton in the hallway.
He’s leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking far too amused.
“Eli,” he says, smiling.
I walk past him.
“Eli,” he repeats, softer.
I ignore him and head straight into the bedroom. I lock the door behind me.
My heart is pounding. I don’t even know why I’m this angry. Or maybe I do.
I change quickly. Jeans. Shirt. Something simple. Something that feels like me before all this.
When I open the door again, Anton is still there.
He raises an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“I’m very okay,” I reply.
He studies my face. “You don’t look—”
“Take me to Julian’s office.”
He blinks. “Why?”
“Take me there.”
He watches me for a second longer, then nods. “Okay.”
The drive is silent.
I stare out the window. My reflection looks unfamiliar. Less wild. More controlled.
I don’t know if I like that.
Anton glances at me once. “You’re about to start a war?”
“Maybe,” I say.
“You ready to win it?”
“I’m not trying to win,” I reply. “I’m just helping myself.”
He doesn’t respond.
The elevator ride is just as quiet. The doors open to Julian’s floor. Everyone stared but I didn't care about the stares.
When we enter his office, Julian doesn’t look up from his computer. He's probably already been informed of our presence before we got to his office.
He speaks first. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to work,” I say.
His fingers pause on the keyboard.
“I’m tired of idling around just because you want me to,” I continue. “I deserve to gain something from this mess. Let me work in your company. Under any department willing to train. Internship. Anything. I want to leave the house every morning too.”
He slowly lifts his head.
His eyes are calm and unbothered by seriousness.
“Asking me for something in that manner?” he says. “Go back home.”
“I’m not listening to you.”
Anton shifts slightly behind me.
Julian’s jaw tightens. “Excuse me?”
“What is your long-term plan?” I ask. “You want to keep me in one tiny corner of your big house and shrink me into a brainless doll?”
“Eli,” he says quietly, “are you raising your voice at me?”
“Well, you wouldn’t listen to me otherwise.”
“I’m busy,” he says. “Leave. Come back when you’re ready to speak to me with respect.”
“Respect?” I laugh, not believing he just said that to me. “You are not respecting me. Why demand it from me?”
His eyes darken.
“Do you want me to shut you up with a gag?” he asks calmly.
The air in the room changes.
“Julian,” Anton cuts in.
Julian doesn’t look away from me. “Take him back home. We’ll talk later in the evening.”
Anton steps closer.
“If you touch me,” I warn, “I’ll kick you in the balls.”
Anton grins. “I’m loving this.”
I glare at him.
Julian leans back in his chair. “Are you done?”
“No,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow.
“But I’m leaving,” I add.
I turn and walk out.
Anton follows me.
The hallway feels colder than before. My anger is still buzzing under my skin, but now something else is mixing with it.
Fear? Maybe.
Or maybe it’s just disappointment.
We step outside the building and get into the car.
Anton starts the engine but doesn’t drive yet.
“Feel better?” he asks.
“No.”
He nods once. “You were brave.”
“I was stupid.”
“Same thing sometimes.”
I stare ahead.
“I don’t want to go back to that house now,” I say quietly.
He looks at me. “Where do you want to go?”
“Can you take me to see my grandpa?”
His expression softens immediately.
“Yeah,” he says. “Of course.”
He pulls the car into traffic.
I lean my head back and close my eyes.