Chapter 69 Canary
Genesis's POV
My tears wouldn't stop falling, mourning my lost freedom.
Eli took out a handkerchief to wipe my face, his breath hot against my skin. He looked down into my eyes and said, "Except for leaving me, I can fulfill any wish you have. Understand?"
But he'd denied me the freedom I wanted most. Did anything else matter?
I nodded numbly, keeping my eyes down to avoid meeting his gaze.
Eli pulled me into his arms. I could feel his hard muscles and overwhelming strength. I wanted to escape from his embrace, but I couldn't.
"I had already planned what graduation gift to give you. The latest computer, phone, even the most beautiful haute couture dress from this year's fashion week. But you ruined all of that."
His voice was calm, so calm it was as if he wasn't the one who'd been deceived.
But the calmer he was, the more frightened I became.
All of this was forced on me! I didn't care about computers or phones, much less haute couture dresses. I just wanted to follow my own plan to get away from the Martinez family, away from him, to find the truth about my parents' deaths!
Anger surged in my heart, but Eli lifted my chin. He looked at me coldly.
"You happily posted photos with Forth on Instagram, but couldn't wait to change our photo wallpaper. You even wanted to go abroad with that idiot to get rid of me! Haven't I been good enough to you?"
He was indeed one of the few Martinez family members who treated me well, but that wasn't what I wanted at all!
I suppressed the anger in my heart, managing not to direct my resentful gaze at his face.
Eli seemed oblivious and continued talking.
"You shouldn't go to Walton University anymore. Just stay and attend college in Valleria City."
I jerked my head up, staring at him in shock.
How could he! Looking at his serious expression, my heart sank further. He really meant to do this!
My breathing became rapid. I used almost all my strength to barely suppress my rage.
But what good would my anger and pain do? I couldn't fight back against Eli at all.
I desperately searched for a solution, finally managing to say: \[But application season is already over.\]
"Don't worry about that," Eli said easily. "I'll handle it."
Eli had just decided my future! But I didn't have the energy to be angry anymore. I simply closed my eyes calmly.
Eli gripped my chin, forcing me to open my eyes and meet his gaze.
"Are you dissatisfied with my arrangement?"
I shook my head. I didn't want to anger him further. That would only make him monitor me more strictly.
Eli affectionately tapped my nose. "You little liar. But even if you're unwilling, this isn't up for discussion."
\[I understand. Arrange whatever you want. I'm going upstairs to rest.\] I stood up and calmly signed to Eli.
Surprisingly, Eli didn't stop me. He just stared into my eyes and said, "You can only be sad for tonight. Tomorrow morning I want to see you smiling, not continuing to grieve over Forth."
I was too tired to explain anything more to him. I walked past him and went upstairs.
I returned to my bedroom and lay on the bed, tears streaming down endlessly.
The feeling of having hope right in front of you only to have it shattered was unbearable. I didn't know how long I cried before falling into a confused sleep.
I woke from my dreams in the middle of the night.
Lying in bed, I thought about how even though Eli had cut off my path to Novien, I still had to leave the Martinez family.
There was nothing here but endless pain and the inexplicable stigma of being an illegitimate daughter. And I had to investigate the truth about my parents' deaths to put their souls to rest.
The Martinez family was actually very powerful. I had considered asking for their help.
But after all these years, I could see clearly that they would never help me. They might even find me troublesome after learning the truth and take the opportunity to kill me. So I could only rely on myself.
I didn't even understand why Jordan had chosen to adopt me from the orphanage in the first place.
Judging by his attitude toward me over the years, it didn't seem like a kind act.
But none of that mattered now. The most important thing was solving my current problem.
If not for this situation with Eli, I would probably have already prepared everything and quietly left the country!
I pounded my fist hard against the headboard, wishing I could go back to that day when I hid in the tree. No matter what happened, I absolutely wouldn't climb that tree!
Only now did I realize how free I'd been when no one paid attention to me! At least no one watched me like a predator, wanting nothing more than to drag me to bed.
My gaze fell on my phone beside the pillow, and I suddenly had an idea.
I found the video I'd hidden in a secret folder. It was time to give it to Jordan!
My finger unconsciously slid across the screen. Eli was especially sensitive right now. He definitely wouldn't let me go to school alone, and I couldn't expose myself as the sender of the video.
How could I escape Eli's surveillance and send it anonymously?
Early the next morning, I went to find Eli myself.
The servants told me Eli was in the sunroom. I immediately went there. From a distance, I saw him sitting leisurely in the sunroom, basking in the sun and drinking coffee.
When he saw me, he beckoned. "Come here."
I walked over obediently. Eli pulled me to sit beside him and held my hand.
"Tonight I'll take you to Archibald's bar to relax."
I had no interest in bars at all.
I signed with difficulty: \[You won't let me go to school, but I still have unit tests and final exams. What about those? And I need to keep up with my studies.\]
Eli's smile faded slightly. "I'll get the best private tutors to come teach you at home. You can take exams at home too."
He casually played with my fingers, as if all my worries were nothing to him.
"There's nothing the Martinez family can't do. You'd better behave and not get any funny ideas."