Chapter 177
Ella felt like she'd slipped into a dream.
In it, she was fifteen again, freshly delivered to the Thomas family by her grandfather, meeting Joshua for the first time. He'd been twenty-five then, already the company's vice president.
Dressed in a sharp suit with the afternoon sun setting behind him, he'd appeared before her backlit, almost ethereal.
In that moment, her pulse had quickened, heat flooding her cheeks as reality blurred into something dreamlike and surreal.
Especially when Aiden told her this man was her fiancé, that once she came of age, she would marry him.
From that instant, Joshua became her light, her everything, the goal she chased with single-minded devotion.
After that, she'd lived at the Thomas family estate, spending every day in Joshua's orbit.
He'd always been cold to her, distant and unreadable.
Yet whenever outsiders tried to hurt her, he was the first to step in and shield her.
Once, when classmates locked her in an empty classroom, and she'd despaired of spending the night alone in the dark, Joshua had kicked the door open and brought her home.
When her period caught her off guard and left a stain on her skirt in a crowded hallway, Joshua had wrapped his jacket around her waist and led her away from prying eyes.
When she'd fallen ill, he'd sat at her bedside, keeping watch over her through the night.
In the dream, those youthful joys washed over her again, sending ripples of excitement through her chest, sharp and bittersweet. But dreams always ended.
Ella opened her eyes to find herself lying in her own comfortable bed at home.
The elegant, spacious room was empty, silent except for the echo of memories still playing in her mind.
It wasn't really a dream, she realized. It was the past. Those scenes had actually happened between her and Joshua.
If there had been no Scarlett, no misunderstanding about the child, what would her relationship with Joshua look like now?
Ella didn't know. She lay still, reluctant to move, her heart still fluttering from the dream's lingering aftershocks.
She didn't know why she was dwelling on it. Those beautiful, hopeful days of her youth were gone forever, irretrievable.
Just then, the bedroom door creaked open.
From the direction of the living room came two hushed, childish voices.
"I wonder if Mommy's awake yet."
"She's probably hungry."
"Dorian, slow down. Don't wake her up."
Ella pushed herself upright and saw Aurora and Dorian tiptoeing toward her bed. When they noticed she was awake, both children rushed forward with delighted squeals.
"Mommy, you're finally up!"
"You have no idea—you were so drunk last night, we couldn't wake you at all."
"Are you feeling better now? Does it still hurt?"
Ella looked at the two worried faces beside her bed and smiled with relief. "Much better. I'm fine now." Curiosity flickered through her. "How did I get home last night?"
Aurora's eyes lit up as she scrambled onto the bed and settled beside her mother, her voice sweet as honey. "Daddy carried you home! You threw up all over him, too."
Dorian, however, looked distinctly unhappy. "Mom, why were you even with him last night? Not only did he carry you back, but his leg injury must've flared up again. He was sweating from the pain."
He didn't want Ella anywhere near Joshua. Last night had just put her in his debt again.
How were they ever supposed to be done with each other at this rate?
Ella fell silent, trying to piece together the previous night's events.
She'd had quite a bit to drink and had asked Megan to take her home. How had Joshua ended up doing it instead?
The man was always making grand gestures that nobody asked for. Ella kept her expression neutral and told the children, "It must be getting late. Let me get up and take you to school."
Aurora looked exasperated. "Mom, it's Saturday. No school."
Ella laughed softly and pulled Aurora into a kiss. "Sorry, sweetheart. Mommy's brain is still foggy. How about we go out and have some fun instead?"
Aurora clapped her hands in excitement while Dorian was already heading to the walk-in closet to pick out Ella's clothes for the day.
He even went to the bathroom to squeeze toothpaste onto her brush, lay out a towel, and fill the sink with water.
With her children's help, Ella quickly freshened up and dressed. Taking each child by the hand, she led them downstairs for breakfast.
It was already eight in the morning. Vida and her baby weren't around, and neither was Heath. Only Rhea was there.
Seeing Ella finally awake, Rhea instructed the kitchen staff to prepare food, then accompanied Ella and the children to the dining room.
Noticing Vida's absence, Ella asked casually, "Where are Vida and the baby?"
Rhea sighed. "Mason wanted to see the child, so she took him over. I don't know what that man's thinking—won't cut ties with his other woman, but still wants to see the baby whenever it suits him. And Vida's too good-natured. She just goes along with it."
Hearing this, Ella felt a flash of irritation. So after working alongside her for a year, Vida still hadn't shaken off her lovesick tendencies.
Every time Mason called, she dropped everything and ran to him with the baby. What was she even thinking?
Rhea added, "Joshua was the one who brought you home last night. His leg doesn't seem fully healed yet. When he left, his face was as ,white as a sheet. I offered to let him stay the night, but he was decent enough to refuse."
At those words, Ella's heartbeat stuttered. But her expression remained unchanged as she continued eating with practiced elegance.
Beside her, Aurora lifted her head from her plate, her big eyes shining with concern. "Mommy, let's not go out today. Let's go see Daddy instead. I want to spend time with him."
Dorian couldn't help but grumble, "What's so great about him? He's never even treated you well. Why do you keep thinking about him?"
He really didn't understand Aurora. What was there to miss about Joshua?
Aurora's face crumpled, her eyes welling up with tears. "I just want a dad. I want to be like all the other kids and have a daddy who loves me."
Dorian sighed in frustration. "You've got me, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Vida who all love you. Aren't you happy? Don't you feel loved?"
Aurora's stubbornness flared. "I want a dad. If you don't want one, that's your business. But I want my daddy."
She burst into tears, looking between Ella and Rhea with a tear-streaked face. "Grandma, Mommy, if you don't like my daddy, I won't force you. But can I go see him by myself? I'll come home before dark, I promise."
She was seven now. She knew how to get around and knew where Joshua lived. She could just call a cab.
Watching Aurora's tears fall in fat drops, Ella's heart ached.
Aurora had been lost and found again, a miracle returned from the brink of death. She was precious beyond measure.
Ella immediately scooped her daughter onto her lap and soothed her gently. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Mommy will take you to see your daddy. You can spend time with him."
Aurora's tears stopped as quickly as they'd started. She looked up at her mother with obedient eyes. "Mommy, I know you and Daddy have problems. I'm not trying to force you to be together because of me. I just really like him. But don't worry—I won't choose him over you. I'll just visit him, and I'll come back to you tonight."
Ella nodded, wiping away her daughter's tears. "Okay. Finish your breakfast, and then I'll take you over."
Dorian said nothing. Aurora cried at the drop of a hat, like she was made of water. He'd have to watch what he said around her from now on.
Aurora had every right to enjoy her father's love. Just because he didn't like Joshua didn't mean he should impose his feelings on his sister. Dorian realized his mistake. He'd work on it. Slowly.
After breakfast, Ella took both children and headed out.
She didn't know whether Joshua was at the hospital, at the Thomas family estate, or somewhere else entirely. As soon as they left the gated community, Ella pulled out her phone and dialed his number.
Joshua's leg injury had flared up again, and he needed several days of rest. He was at Tranquil Villa, where Samuel had just finished putting a cast on his leg. He couldn't even get out of bed.
Propped against the headboard with his laptop balanced on his thighs, he was trying to work when his phone rang.
Seeing Ella's name on the screen, his heart gave a traitorous lurch. He grabbed the phone and answered, forcing his voice to sound casual.
"Ms. Garcia, good morning." He was terrified of putting her off, so he kept his tone carefully polite.
Ella's voice, by contrast, was cold. "Where are you?"
"What's wrong?" Joshua didn't want Ella to know his leg had relapsed, that he was laid up and useless.
Ella said flatly, "Aurora misses you. She wants to see you."
Before he could respond, Aurora snatched the phone. "Daddy, where are you? I'm coming to see you!"
Hearing Aurora's voice, Joshua's heart melted into a puddle.
But how could he let the children see him like this, broken and bedridden? As much as he missed Aurora, now wasn't the time.
Joshua kept his voice gentle. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Daddy's out of town on a business trip. Give me a few days, and I'll come see you the second I'm back, okay?"
"Grandma said you hurt your leg. How could you go on a trip if you're that badly injured? You're lying." Aurora's voice turned petulant, on the edge of a tantrum.
Ella took the phone back, her tone icy. "Stop making excuses. I know what's going on. Tell me where you are, or I'll have someone track you down."
Before Joshua could come clean, Dorian's voice piped up from the background. "Found him. He's at Tranquil Villa. He's not on any business trip. Men's mouths—nothing but lies."
Ella was momentarily startled. Dorian was seven years old and already knew how to track someone's location. That was genuinely unexpected. She hung up and drove toward Tranquil Villa.
Tranquil Villa. The home she and Joshua had bought together when they got married.
She hadn't expected him to still be living there. What was he thinking?
When they arrived, Aurora bolted out of the car and ran toward the house.
Inside, the villa was eerily quiet, devoid of housekeepers or staff. The vast space felt hollow and lifeless. Ella led the children inside, a strange melancholy settling over her. But she didn't dwell on it. She took the kids upstairs.
Halfway up, they ran into Samuel, who was on his way out. Ella stopped and asked, "Is he okay?"
Samuel sighed, his expression grim. "He won't die, but his leg wasn't fully healed to begin with. It can't take that kind of strain. I don't know what he was doing last night, but the injury's back with a vengeance. He almost crippled himself permanently."
Ella felt a pang of guilt. She exchanged a few pleasantries with Samuel before continuing upstairs with the children.
Joshua wasn't ready for visitors. The door swung open, and Aurora's bright, sweet voice rang out. "Daddy, how are you? Are you feeling better?"
Joshua quickly pulled the blanket over his injured leg and smiled at Aurora as she ran toward him. "I'm fine, sweetheart. It's the weekend—you should be resting. Why did you come all the way here?"
"I just wanted to be with you. Don't you want to be with me?" Aurora's face scrunched up in a pout.
Joshua hurried to apologize. When he saw Ella enter the room, he smiled and waved her in. "Sorry for making you come all this way. I'm really okay, though. Just need a day's rest."
Ella couldn't see his leg beneath the blanket.
Thinking back to last night, she did feel a twinge of guilt, but it quickly turned to irritation. "Could you stop being so stubborn? Why did you have to carry me home? Couldn't you have called a cab? Couldn't you have had Brian pick us up?"
There had been so many easier options. But he'd chosen the hardest one.
Was he stupid or just reckless?
Joshua's gaze was deep and tender as he looked at her, his eyes full of unspoken emotion.
"I just wanted to spend a little more time with you. I didn't know my leg would betray me like this. But it's nothing serious. I'll be fine in a couple of days."
That single sentence—"I just wanted to spend a little more time with you"—sent a jolt through Ella's chest.
Realizing he was trying to talk about feelings again, she kept her face cold and her voice cutting. "Don't expect me to be grateful. I don't owe you anything. Rest up. I'll come back later to pick up Aurora." She turned and walked out without looking back.
Even if she felt a sliver of guilt, it wasn't like she'd asked him to do any of that.
Why should she feel bad?
Joshua could play the martyr all he wanted. That didn't mean anyone needed his grand gestures.
Watching Ella's retreating figure, Joshua felt a dull ache spread through his chest, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Then Aurora's voice pulled him back.
"It's okay, Daddy. Even if Mommy doesn't like you, I do. I know you're going to be a great dad. If we work together, she'll see how good you are someday."
Aurora's faith in him was unwavering.
Joshua felt a warm glow spread through his chest. He reached out and ruffled Aurora's hair, his eyes soft with fatherly love. "Thank you for believing in me, sweetheart. I promise I won't let you down."
He glanced around. "Where's Dorian? Didn't he come with you?"
Aurora's face fell, her lips pushing into a sulky pout. "Don't even get me started. He came all the way here, but he's just sitting downstairs. He won't even come up to see you."
"Don't be sad, Daddy. Once you're better, you can take me to school and show everyone how handsome my dad is. Then Dorian will definitely regret it."
Joshua couldn't help but laugh. He pulled Aurora into a hug and kissed the top of her head.
"Okay. Daddy will get better soon. Then I'll pick you up and drop you off at school every single day, and everyone will be jealous that you have such a handsome dad."
Aurora giggled, her mood lifting instantly. Worried he might be bored, she settled in beside the bed and began chattering away, telling him all about the years she'd spent with Ella and Dorian, every little detail spilling out in an endless, animated stream.
Joshua listened intently, his gaze never leaving her face. Watching Aurora talk with such excitement, her expressions shifting with every story, he leaned back against the headboard and felt, for the first time, a deep and abiding happiness bloom in his chest.