The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Daphne snapped. She rose from the sofa, her back straight. As if preparing to face her opponent.

“You clearly know this is connected to me, Elice. Everything from Garrett to Ariel, whether you like it or not, will connect you to me. It’s your destiny. You cann’t do anything for that.”

It feels as if Elice really wants to eliminate this one word from her life’s dictionary. Fate? Elice feels that fate has never given her anything good. Only problems and tears.

“I don’t know if you feel arrogant or what, but believe me. I will not force you to marry Garrett unless circumstances force me to.”

“Then don’t,” Elice replied without hesitation. “I’m sure there is no woman out there who would refuse Garrett’s proposal. A man who is currently at the top of his game. With a great family background, I’m sure no woman would think twice about accepting him.”

“At least you can see that clearly.”

Elice felt her face suddenly stiffen at this sarcastic remark. Especially with Daphne’s look when she said it.

“You don’t have to say it. Every woman these days hopes to be Garrett’s companion, of course. And even if I had other options, believe me. I wouldn’t have to meet you for the third time.”

Elice swallowed her saliva. Somehow, she felt that something was different with Daphne that day. Seemingly more arrogant, making her more cautious.

It was a different Daphne from the one she had met the other day. Although that dominating aura had been present since their first meeting, Elice realized that today Daphne was truly different.

Daphne seemed to corner her. Trying to trap her. Pressing her.

“But no matter how I look at it, I really have no other choice. You are the only woman I see who meets the criteria to accompany Garrett at this time.”

“Criteria?” Elice asked, unable to contain her contempt. “That’s the right word for asking a woman to be your grandson’s wife.”

“Why not? Everyone has their criteria, Elice. Ugh. Apparently. You are still so naive.”

Elice tried to shake off the label. She was not a naive girl anymore. Naive or stupid. No.

“Do you know, Ma’am, that the woman who meets those criteria is the one who least meets the criteria to be Garrett’s wife?”

Daphne frowned and looked at Elice in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Elice took a deep breath. With her eyes dramatically closed, Elice felt how heavy her head was. The situation that had been weighing on her for the past few days was really making her feel almost crazy.

Right now, Elice did not hope for anything. Just a peaceful life. That was her goal when she left Crestdale. Thinking that the hustle and bustle of Ashford City would erase her past. Replace it with a bright future.

But what happened was that the density of Ashford City trapped Elice in an even more complicated mess. More than perfect to drive her insane.

And now, increasingly trapped by circumstances, gossip, articles, Ariel, Garrett, and Daphne, Elice feels truly trapped. She wants to break free. But everything seems to trap her. Especially Daphne.

Elice did not care about all the criteria that Daphne had observed. To hell with all that.

“I’ll never meet the criteria to be Garrett’s wife.”

Elice had made her decision. Whatever it took. Just to make sure she was not dragged further into the maelstrom of these problems. She did not want any connection to Garrett, the Morales family, or even the Ramirez family.

“Because anyway,” Elice continued, fortifying herself. She pushed reason and her embarrassment aside. For if she could express an ironic hope, then Elice hoped for her dark past. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want a daughter-in-law who got pregnant with Garrett’s cousin.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Daphne remained silent. She did not say anything with a flat expression on her face. And Elice smiled triumphantly.

“I…” Elice said with a trembling voice. “… got pregnant with Ariel once.”

Then silence. No one spoke as Elice spoke the truth of that past. Something that would be a shame for the rest of her life. A shame that she tried to hide half to death. But it was the very thing she was happy to reveal.

For one purpose. So, she would not have to marry Garrett. And Elice was sure that Daphne would back off after that.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying? I said I got pregnant with Ariel once. I got pregnant with Garrett’s cousin.”

Elice smiled. Seemingly pleased to see the stiffness in Daphne’s face. But a moment later, a mischievous smile also appeared on Daphne’s lips.

“It seems… you’ve changed quite a bit, Elice.”

Elice’s smile disappeared. Confusion immediately enveloped Elice. For a moment later, it was Daphne who put on her sly smile.

“What do you mean?”

Daphne chuckled and shook her head. At that moment, as if not caring about Elice’s confusion, she reached for her teacup. Enjoying the drink very casually. And, of course, not forgetting to let out a sigh of pleasure.

The teacup landed on the coaster again. At that moment, Daphne looked meaningfully at Elice.

“Who do you think you’re dealing with, Elice?”

There was no escape. Elice’s body felt really cold.

“Right now, you’re looking at Daphne Billings Morales,” Daphne said emphatically. Her eyes were sharp, staring at Elice without blinking. “And do you think I don’t know that you had a miscarriage? That you nearly killed yourself several times?”

Elice must be lifeless by now. That’s for sure.

“I know everything, Elice. Everything. And suddenly I became curious about something. Um… haven’t you ever wondered who could bring your gossip with Garrett to the surface in just a few hours?” Daphne asked with a mischievous smile. “Just a few hours after Garrett met you in your apartment?”

Maybe that was the uneasy premonition Elice had been feeling since earlier. When she felt something different than Daphne. It was because of…

“It’s because of me.”

*