Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Furthermore, a bar was not an appropriate place for a young and naive girl like Elin. It was a breeding ground for danger, a crossroad of temptation and risk. In her innocent school uniform, Elin stood out starkly among the provocatively dressed women, becoming an easy target for unwanted attention, or worse.
A shadow fell over Erick’s face at these possibilities. He icily said to Elin, “None of my affairs are any of your concern. It’s obvious you don’t understand your place. Have I been too lenient with you?”
Erick’s words were intended as a caution, a warning to make Elin aware of the dangers that lurked in places like this. However, when they reached Elin’s ears, they transformed into sharp blades, shattering her heart and leaving her wounded and resentful.
Elin’s gaze smoldered as she clenched her fists, holding back the tears that threatened to overflow. She knew that showing tears now would only attract more scorn.
The confidence Elin had meticulously built over the years crumbled under Erick’s scorn. She fell into a pit of self-doubt, unable to meet Erick’s gaze since that fateful day.
Erick, a man typically reserved and controlled, rarely showed such bursts of temper. He abruptly ended his call with the driver, then stood and tossed a suit carelessly onto the sofa, signaling for Elin to put it on.
This gesture was merely a condescending act of charity, a clear indication that he viewed her presence as an unwelcome inconvenience.
Elin draped the suit over herself, a dismal attempt at preserving some dignity. Despite the situation, she could not risk being seen in public in her current attire. Her mother’s voice haunted her, scolding her for not recognizing her place and for chasing impossible dreams. Just as Erick had pointed out, she was not even supposed to concern herself with someone of his stature.
Coming from vastly different worlds, Erick was the heir to the prestigious Foster family, and Elin was merely a maid’s daughter. It was inappropriate for her to mistake Erick’s kindness as an invitation to care for him, much less to develop feelings for him.
Erick’s harsh words abruptly snapped Elin out of her daydream. Indeed, she needed to understand her position. Who was she, anyway? Just the daughter of a maid, confined to the servants’ quarters of the Foster estate. That was her reality.
As Erick’s eyes shifted, he saw Elin standing there. Her head was bowed, her body seeming to have lost all its energy. The oversized suit hung loosely, almost reaching her knees, making her look like a ghost, vulnerable to being whisked away by the slightest breeze.
Elin’s usually bright eyes were now dim and lifeless, like stars smothered by the cold grip of despair. Her pale complexion made her look almost ethereal, as if she might faint at any moment.
A pang of guilt struck Erick when he realized his words might have been too harsh. Elin was only eighteen, probably even more lost than he was in the complex dance of relationships. He carefully chose his next words. “Tonight’s matter…”
“It’s fine,” Elin whispered softly, barely audible. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. I won’t say anything to anyone.”
Erick found himself momentarily speechless, his eyes locked with hers, both filled with unvoiced thoughts.
Thinking Erick doubted her, Elin quickly pledged her silence. “I swear I’ll keep this secret… I…”
Elin’s gaze drifted to a mirror, reflecting Erick’s imposing figure.
His features were striking, his presence almost otherworldly. Her voice trailed off to a whisper. “I know my place.”
Though it seemed everything was settled easily, Erick felt more irritated than relieved. A nagging thought bothered him that things shouldn’t have ended this way.
Erick leaned forward, about to speak, when Elin, like a bird startled into flight, quickly backed away and rushed out the door. Her departure Looked more like an escape than a mere exit.
As Elin raced through the door, she collided with the driver, who had just arrived. His worry eased a bit when he saw her. “Thank goodness you’re here! I’ve been worried sick. I couldn’t find you anywhere!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with relief.
The driver had served the Foster family for years and had grown close to Annis. Elin, a model child, had always had a special place in his heart, and over time, he had come to adore Elin as if she were his own daughter.
Cap?tulo 875:
Confronted by the driver’s concerned look, Elin quickly adjusted her clothes, worried he might spot something wrong. Her voice was raspy as she apologized, “I’m sorry to worry you.”
The driver tenderly stroked Elin’s head and asked with genuine concern, “What happened? Why are your eyes red and puffy?”
Before Elin could respond, Erick came over, frowning when he saw her still standing in the cold wind. “Why aren’t you in the car?”
Elin looked down and answered softly, “I was waiting for you to get in first, sir.”
Erick was taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor, leaving him momentarily speechless. He then walked over to the car.
After Erick got inside, Elin went to the passenger door and had just opened it when she heard his stern command. “Get in the back.”
Her hands trembling slightly, Elin slid into the backseat, trying to make herself as small as possible. A sharp pain down there gripped her, causing her to curl up.
“Are you still feeling unwell?” Erick asked, his concern evident as he reached out to check her forehead.
At his touch, Elin instinctively flinched away, pressing herself against the car window to put distance between them.
Erick’s hand froze in midair, his fingers tightening.
Elin’s face showed no emotion, her voice steady and reassuring as she said, “I’m fine.”
Elin’s calm demeanor convinced Erick to drop his concern and focus on other matters. His priority was to deal with the aftermath of the bar incident. He was determined to find the person responsible for drugging him.
The car sped down the road, moving quickly and quietly, the silence within almost palpable.
Maybe it was the relentless ache of his headache or the remnants of his hangover, but Erick leaned back and closed his eyes, seemingly drifting off to sleep.
Elin tried to make herself smaller, hiding within the large folds of Erick’s suit and even muffling her breaths.
As they drove past a pharmacy, Erick’s sharp command cut through the silence. “Please pull over.”
“What do you need? I’ll go get it,” the driver offered promptly.
Erick glanced at Elin before responding, “I’ll get it myself.” He then exited the car and disappeared into the pharmacy, reappearing moments later with a bag in hand.
Upon arriving at the Foster estate, Elin quickly got out of the car, eager to leave the cramped space. But before she could walk away, Erick’s voice halted her. “Elin, wait.” He held out the pharmacy bag to her. “Here, don’t forget to take these.”
Elin looked at the bag, seeing the emergency contraceptive pills within. She gripped it tightly, whispering, “I will.”
Erick paused, hesitating before he spoke again. “About tonight, it was unexpected, and the blame falls solely on me for failing to control myself. If there has been any harm to your body, please let me know.”
As Erick spoke with a hint of tenderness, Elin, who had been holding back her tears throughout the ride, could no longer restrain them.
Erick sighed, looking down. “Earlier, I was worried sick about you going to a bar alone. That’s why I was so harsh. I apologize. Please don’t take my harsh words to heart,” he pleaded.
He paused before adding, “And… I’m not in the right mindset for relationships right now. If you’re hoping for some kind of commitment from me, I’m afraid I can’t offer that.”
Cap?tulo 876:
Erick knew his words reeked of selfishness. He hadn’t come to terms with the evening’s events yet, let alone expected Elin to understand.
He cared deeply for her, having seen her grow up. The thought of her emotional pain troubled him. With genuine concern, he offered, “Elin, if there’s any way I can make amends, anything you wish for, I’ll do everything in my power to fulfill it.”
Erick knew he couldn’t commit to a serious relationship or marriage until he resolved his own family issues. This promise to fulfill Elin’s wishes was the best he could do.
Erick’s eyes lingered on Elin’s youthful, innocent features. A wave of shame washed over him, realizing he could only offer her the stark truth. “If you’re still upset, I can talk to Annis, try to make
things right with her…”
“No!” Elin interrupted sharply; her voice filled with distress.
“Don’t tell my mom!”
Seeing that Elin had finally broken her silence, Erick’s expression softened. “Think about it. Let me know what you decide, and I will honor it,” he said gently.
Elin had never expected an apology or an explanation, let alone compensation. Accepting any form of reparation would only reinforce the idea that she was manipulative and reduce their intimate moment to a mere transaction. To Erick, she might have been just a passing chapter in his life, but to her, it was the surrender of her first love. She harbored no regrets.
Her voice was a faint whisper as she spoke. “I don’t need any compensation. Let’s just pretend this never happened. You got nothing to worry about.”
Erick’s irritation flared at Elin’s poised acceptance and her seeming indifference to giving up such a significant first experience.
Grasping her shoulder firmly, he emphasized each word. “Know this, even for me, mistreating you is forbidden.”
Retreating to her room, Elin sank into the comforting warmth of her bath. Erick’s parting words echoed in her mind, a persistent reminder:
“Know this, even for me, mistreating you is forbidden.”
Elin understood Erick’s harsh outburst might have stemmed from genuine concern for her. Yet, once spoken, words could carve deep impressions, indelibly marking the heart. Memories of the hurt would resurface uninvited, carrying a residual sting of sadness. It was impossible for her to remain untouched by them.
In the following days, Elin deliberately avoided Erick, and it seemed he reciprocated, as their paths hadn’t crossed.
One afternoon after school, Landen called Elin to his study.
Entering respectfully, Elin asked softly, “May I ask what you need of me?”
Landen looked up with a kind expression and inquired, “You’re turning 18 this year, correct?”
Elin nodded.
Landen then asked, “I’ve heard you’re interested in pursuing design in college?”
“Yes, sir,” Elin responded.
“Have you considered Uchaesau? Sterling University College of Creative Design has an excellent reputation.”
Elin was surprised by his suggestion. Uchaesau was far from Swynborough, and she had planned to apply to a renowned local design academy, which would allow her to stay close to her mother.
“I’ve been planning on applying to the design academy here in town,”
Cap?tulo 877:
Elin said with openness and sincerity.
Landen responded with a chuckle and motioned for her to come closer.