Chapter 4: Left For Money
1208 Words
Hermione’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Elijah. The years of her suffering flashed through her mind, all to protect him and their daughter.
“Take care of me? Really?” Hermione asked, her frustration boiling over. “After abandoning me right after we married, that’s the story you're sticking to?”
“I did it for us, Hermione. I wanted to prove myself, to be worthy of you and your family,” Elijah replied, trying to explain his side.
But Hermione was too hurt to hear him. She flickered Elijah’s hand when he tried to hold her.
“Stop using me as an excuse, Elijah. Or at least make it believable,” Hermione said, her voice trembling in anger. “Do you know what happened after you left? Herm Group, the company I built, was taken away from me. I… I couldn’t even stop it.”
Elijah’s chest tightened with guilt. He had joined the military, rising to the Supreme Commander position, to protect Hermione.
But in the end, he hadn’t protected her at all.
‘Right. Harold was about to say the reason for Hermione losing the management rights earlier, but that child came…’ Elijah thought, referring to the child who called him daddy.
However, Elijah thought it wasn’t an important thing now. Getting Hermione’s forgiveness was all that mattered. Without her, all his hardships would have gone to waste.
“I’m sorry, Hermione. I’m sorry for leaving without telling you,” Elijah said, his tone low. “I just… didn’t want to drag you down with me, so I became better… for you.”
The sincerity was evident in Elijah’s voice, and Hermione heard it loud and clear. There was a part of her that wanted to believe her husband, but at the same time, she remembered what her mother said.
“You abandoned me in exchange for money,” Hermione spoke, echoing her thoughts.
Elijah blinked his eyes twice, confused. “Wait—I left you for what?”
“Acting innocent now, aren’t we?” Penny included herself in the conversation, her arms folded as she looked at Elijah condescendingly. “After you took $500,000 from my husband, you disappeared. Now, you’re going to act like it didn’t happen?”
The other guests sneered, and they gave Elijah harsh remarks as they looked at him disdainfully.
“I borrowed from Dave for my mom’s hospital bills, but when I got there, she died, so I gave the money back,” Elijah explained, his tone firm, ignoring murmurs from the guests.
Hermione’s eyes softened for a moment, her gaze hopeful. “Wait... what? Mom told me you took the money in exchange for leaving me.”
“I didn’t,” Elijah answered, his tone confident. “Is that why you’re mad at me?”
“That’s one…” Hermione’s gaze fixated on the floor, and her hands played with the fabric of her dress. “But still, you didn’t tell me you were leaving at that time, Elijah. You just disappeared.”
“When I got back from the hospital, you were gone. Your parents wouldn’t tell me where you went, so I had no choice.”
Elijah reached for her hand again, and this time, she didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry, Hermione. I should have done my best to track you down… But I was powerless.”
“No…” Hermione shook her head, holding Elijah’s hand tightly. “I should be the one to apologize. I shouldn't have left that day and listened to your explanation.”
“Don’t buy it, Hermione! That bastard must be lying!” Penny exclaimed and turned her head to Dave. “It wasn’t true, right? You told me that he took the money and disappeared in an instant!”
Dave was caught off-guard for a second. It was true; Elijah returned the money a few hours after he took it since he didn’t need it anymore. But he didn’t tell Penny about it.
That $500,000… Dave used it to gamble, and he lost it all. He framed Elijah for it, thinking that Elijah wouldn’t come back to their mansion.
‘There’s no way the Elsher should know about this. They'd be suspicious of my capability as the head if they knew I lost that much money!’ said Dave at the back of his mind.
“No! It wasn’t true!” Dave exclaimed, yet his voice slightly cracked. “Elijah, how dare you give me false accusations? Can you prove your statement to us?!”
“Sure. Let’s look at your bank statement, then,” answered Elijah in a confident tone.
Dave was taken aback, but he concealed his nervousness with rage. “What an ungrateful bastard! After we accepted you to the Elsher family, this is how you repay us?!”
“Dad, stop it!” This time, it was Hermione who spoke. “I know you never liked Elijah from the start, but this? This is too much… How could you feed me lies about him?”
“And now we are bad parents, huh?” Dave raised an eyebrow. “We just want the best for you, and you will never get the life you deserve if you’re with Elijah. How could you take his side instead of us?”
“Because unlike both of you, Elijah supported me for the things I want, letting me enjoy my freedom and pursue my dreams,” Hermione answered.
Although they just spent a short time with each other, Elijah and Hermione let each other strive for their passion and dreams, thinking that they’ll be better and make everything right.
“And let me also ask you a question. Dad, Mom… How could you marry me to someone I don’t love?” Hermione asked, the pain evident in her voice.
Dominic clenched his fists, hurt by Hermione’s statement. “Hermione, are you for real? You’re choosing that pathetic loser over me, who can give you everything?”
“I don’t need you to give me everything, Dominic. I’m fine on my own,” Hermione said, her tone firm. “And please, stop including yourself in our family conversation. We’re talking here.”
“When did I teach you to be rude, huh?!” Penny thundered as she raised her hand, about to slap Hermione.
But Penny placed her hand down upon seeing Harold ready to defend her.
“You think someone like him would just give it back when he needed it that much?” asked Penny, her tone mocking. “
“I’m telling the truth, Hermione,” Elijah reassured, his eyes softening. “I didn’t leave you for money… Nor will I.”
Although it was the first time she saw Elijah again after five years, there was a part of her that believed his words.
“I believe you, Elijah. And I’m glad that you’re back,” answered Hermione with a smile.
“You’re making a big mistake, Hermione. He’s lying!” Dave roared. “Guards! Take this fool out of my house, and don’t let him in again!”
But before the guards could obey, the child Elijah encountered at the airport earlier arrived, running toward Elijah with tears streaming down her eyes.
- Writer
