Chapter 102: You Are Never Leaving

Elizabeth’s POV:

I felt as though I had emerged from a long, grueling night plagued by a singular, haunting dream. First, I saw myself plummeting from the yacht, the wind whipping past me, and when I blinked, I was in a void. Everywhere I looked was a blinding, absolute white, and there was only one other person there: a little boy, no older than four. He stood there, small and trembling, begging me to open my eyes.

This child needed me more than anything else in the world. In that moment, the pieces didn't quite fit together, but the second I opened my eyes and met Talon’s gaze, it took less than two seconds to put a name to that little boy. It was Jaxon. And he needed me.

The first hour was a blurred, overwhelming rush. Everyone surrounded me, their faces wet with happy tears, and Rosa filled me in on the fact that I had been unconscious for days. The doctor checked my vitals and started another IV drip to keep me hydrated.

Through all of this, I didn't see Jaxon once. I was still too weak to even swing my legs over the side of the bed and go find him myself. Aunt Camille and Miss Alice were strict, refusing to let me rest until I had finished an entire bowl of porridge. Eventually, my eyes grew heavy again, and I drifted back into sleep.

\--

The next morning, I felt significantly stronger. While I was drifting in that half-conscious state between sleep and wakefulness, I felt the familiar sensation of wet lips pressing against my forehead. Then, he took my hand, squeezed it tightly, and left.

It wasn't a dream; he was actually here. But by the time I fully opened my eyes, he was gone again.

“You need to eat more,” Vicky said. She had helped me freshen up and was now carefully brushing through my hair as I sat before the vanity mirror.

“Do you think he’s avoiding me?” I lifted my head to meet Vicky’s reflection in the glass. She knew exactly who I was talking about. Everyone had been dancing around the subject, avoiding giving me a straight answer as to why I still hadn't seen Jaxon. We were in the same house, but all he did was kiss my forehead while I was asleep and vanish before I could speak.

“To be honest, while you were unconscious, he was onto you like a virus on its host body. I expected him to be exactly the same way once you woke up,” she said, dropping the brush. The more I tried to puzzle out the problem, the more my head began to throb.

“Cruella Mitchell pushed me off that yacht,” I blurted out. My teeth gritted as the memory of her hands on my shoulders returned with vivid clarity. Things had been okay between Jaxon and me before she pushed me; now, he was treating me like a stranger. Did he feel guilty? Did he think Cruella had targeted me simply because I was married to him?

“That bitch. Jaxon made sure she’s on the streets. Even the rest of the Mitchells are struggling to keep their business afloat.”

“How so?”

“Sinclair Group and Voltex issued an official announcement stating that anyone who does business with the Mitchells will be considered an enemy. Most of their partners have already withdrawn.”

I should have felt sad. The old version of me would have felt terrible because my parents had built that company, but I could have lost my life because of Cruella. They deserved everything that was coming for them.

“Then, do you want to hear the funny part?” Vicky’s eyes brightened as she shifted on the edge of the bed to fill me in on everything I’d missed. “Austin Mitchell had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. I was actually ready to head over there with some condolence flowers, but the man just had to revive.”

I laughed, struck by how she could be so funny and serious at the same time. “It’s so good to see you laughing,” she said, staring at me with a soft, guilty smile. I didn't understand why she felt guilty when she had nothing to do with the accident. Perhaps she was carrying a weight, just like Jaxon.

Vicky left the bed and crouched in front of me, taking my hands in hers. “I got a little job—a legal one. And since I don't have to pay rent or anything, I spend my money on clothes and groceries. On the weekends, I go clubbing with my friends. It’s fun, Beth. It’s calm.” She described her life to me, and I had to admit, it sounded incredibly peaceful.

“There is a university not far from my place that offers accounting. I have a friend who could help you get in.”

My brows furrowed at her suggestion. Why would I want to move to PA and study there instead of staying here? “What are you saying, Vicky?”

She sighed heavily. “I’m saying that if you think the pressure here is too much... and honestly, I don't like the responsibility the Sinclairs have piled onto you. If you want to leave, PA will be your home.”

I wasn't sure what 'responsibility' she thought the Sinclairs were putting on me. They were my family. This was my home, and I didn't want to go anywhere. As much as the life she described was tempting, and certainly more normal for a girl my age—I couldn't imagine leaving Jaxon.

“I’m not forcing you, okay? it’s just a suggestion, and you can think about it. This marriage with Jaxon seems to benefit only him and his family, and I don’t want that for you.”

I shook my head in immediate denial. “That’s not true. They... I... I...” I tried to think of a list of benefits to prove her wrong. But as I searched my mind, only one thing stood out clearly: I got to be by Jaxon’s side.

“Let’s go downstairs for breakfast,” Vicky said, noticing my struggle to articulate what I benefited from this marriage. I knew that question was going to haunt me for a long time.

The rest of the day moved like a rocket. I chatted with Bella and Rosa, but my mind was constantly drifting, hoping for Jaxon to return but he didn't. Not even when I sat down for dinner with Aunt Camille and Talon. Now, I sat in the dark living room, staring aimlessly at the TV.

Vicky was already asleep. I had lied to her and told her I was going to bed, but the moment she was gone, I slipped back downstairs. I was watching a movie just to keep myself awake; I was terrified that if I fell asleep, I would just wake up to another memory of Jaxon kissing my forehead and leaving before I could catch him.

My head snapped toward the door when I heard a car pull into the driveway. My body was still a bit weak, but I had eaten enough and rested enough to walk without help. I made my way to the entrance just as Jaxon climbed out of the car.

The driveway lights were on, casting a sharp glow over him as he checked something on his phone. He looked stunning, even in his usual white shirt and trousers—though his sleeves were rolled up now and his hair was a mess, as if he’d had a brutal day at the office.

He must have sensed me because he looked up from his screen, and our gazes locked. Even though he had hurt me by ignoring me for days, I still felt a wave of warmth just looking at him.

Part of me thought he was going to walk right past me, but he strolled over with a deep frown. “Why are you out here and not sleeping?”

He placed the back of his hand on my forehead to check for a fever and sighed. “I’ll tuck you into bed.” He turned to head inside, expecting me to follow, but when I didn't move, he turned back to face me. “Elizabeth.”

“Do you not love me anymore?” I blurted out. The question had been burning in my throat. I remembered him confessing his feelings; I remembered him wanting me close and telling me I was his. So why hadn't he come to me when I finally woke up? Why was he hiding?

“Elizabeth...”

“If you don’t, then I will leave. I promise.”

His jaw clenched audibly. “You are never leaving.”

His words didn't match his actions of the past week. But there was no need for him to tell me I couldn't go, because even though I had threatened to leave, I wasn't strong enough to actually do it. Jaxon had suddenly become the center of my entire world.

I felt like he had shown me just enough emotion to trap me. He knew my heart was soft, and now that I was all in, he was pulling back—leaving me to hold onto this love all by myself.