Married To The Blind Heir (by Tessa Galvin) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

I’m not here to send you away,” Ellana said gently. “Come over here. We need to talk.”

He hesitated, then slowly tuined around.

Seeing no bruises or signs of injury on him, Eliana figured Theodore hadn’t yet taken physical action.

After a moment of silence, she asked, “I heard you turned down Theodore’s check and the plane ticket ite

Luke lowered his eyes and muttered, “Yeah… I just didn’t want to give you another reason to think I’m worthless

Though her heart no longer trembled at his words, she couldn’t deny that Theodore had indeed made things difficult for him. She sighed softly “I’m sorry. I never thought things would spiral like this and hurt you and Mrs. Graham,”

Luke shook his head. This whole ordeal had shattered whatever lusions he had left about being the privileged son of a wealthy family

“it’s not your fault, I’m the one who’s useless. The moment my family collapsed, I realized I was nothing on my own. That’s why I didn’t even standa chance against someone like Theodore.”

Eliana pressed her lips together, “I’ll make things right for you. Soon,” she said with quiet resolve.

Luke opened his mouth to speak but paused, then asked with concern, “Don’t worry about me. Has he done anything to you?”

She shook her head. It seemed both Jayden and Luke assumed Theodore would hurt her.

But apart from giving her the cold shoulder, he hadn’t done anything. The crueler side of him, it seemed, was always saved for others.

Still, the thought made her uneasy. She gave a small, bitter smile. Theodore was becoming more terrifying than she had ever imagined.

Noticing how tired she looked, Luke said apologetically, “You didn’t have to get involved. I mean it. Even if I can’t find work, survive.”

“I’m not doing this for you,” Eliana said firmly. “I’m doing it for myself if thad let you take that check and ticket and just leave, it would’ve only confirmed everyone’s suspicions about us.”

She had never been more clear–headed. “Take care of Mrs. Graham. Don’t let her worry. I should go”

Luke didn’t try to stop her. He simply stood there, watching her walk away.

And in that moment, it finally sank in. Whatever guilt he felt about the past, what truly mattered now was not becoming another burden to her,

At 7 PM, Russell Manor

Eliana came home later than usual. She had gone to see Luke after work, and now, after everything that had happened between her and Theodore, her late return no longer mattered.

As she stepped out of her shoes in the foyer, she looked up and saw Anthony

“Anything you need?” she asked,

He offered her a considerate smile. “Eliana, I forgot to mention this yesterday. If your friend needs any help, I’d be more than happy to as

She studied him for a moment before asking “Why would you offer to help someone you’ve only met once?

Anthony gave a quiet sigh. “Let’s just say ‘m not fond of the way Theodore handles things. His methods… they can be extreme. And I speak from personal experience. I’ve been on the receiving end myself.”

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Chapter 186

Before Ellana could respond, the front door swing open behind them.

Avalce, cold and commanding, cut through the hallway. “Move”

Anthony turned, the smile still playing at his lips, “Theodore. You’re back.”

Elana stiffened. She instinctively tried to leave, but Theodore reached for her wrist and pulled her firmly to his side.

“I wasn’t talking to you, sweetheart. His eyes narrowed at Anthony with a clear message to leave.

“So it’s me.” Anthony, undeterred, gave Eliana a small, knowing smile, as if a silent understanding had passed between them. He turned and walked away without another word.

Just as unease began creeping into Eliana’s chest. Theodore’s hand turned her face sharply toward him.

His tone was deceptively light, but there was no mistaking the edge in it. “Got a little secret going on with Anthony now?”

“No,” she said coolly

She tried to free herself, but he tightened his grip instead, His lips brushed her skin not as a kiss, but as a warning “Stay away from him. He’s not what he

sccms.

“And you are?” Eliana stared straight at him, her eyes clear and calm, reflecting every shadow he carried inside.

His breath hitched, his anger flaring. He was about to silence her with a fierce kiss when a maid appeared, cheeks flushed, “Me and Mrs. Russell, dinner is ready.”

The maid nearly squealed inside. “Oh my god, he barely walked in and he’s already going for a kiss?”

Eliana used the moment of distraction to pry his fingers off her and slipped from his grasp before he could react.

Theodore’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. He thought, ‘She better not go running to Anthony for help.

But Eliana had no intention of asking Anthony for anything

He was too clever and calculating. If she turned to him, she might only make things worse.

At nine o’clock in the evening, Eliana stepped out of the bathroom, freshly showered

As she walked toward the bed, the phone charging on her nightstand lit up with a sudden glow.

She picked it up and saw a message, sent privately by a former classmate from university.

[Ellie, you won’t believe this. Luke came by my uncle’s company today to apply for a job. Said he’d take literally anything, even a security post.

[But my uncle turned him down. When I asked why, he pulled me aside and said it was because Luke had crossed Mr. Russell. Is that true?)

Her curiosity evidently unsatisfied, the girl followed up almost instantly with another message.

[Lilie, don’t tell me you still have feelings for Luke. Is that why Mr. Russell’s blacklisted him?]

Eliana pressed her lips together, unease tightening in her chest. If she let things keep spiraling, it was only a matter of time before eve and Luke still had unfinished business.

It was past ten when Theodore finally came down from the gym on the top floor and returned to the bedroom.

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believed she

rupter 186

For the past week, an unspoken hythms had developed between them he would come in around ten, and she would

But tonight, the pattern was broken. She wasn’t asleep.

She stood barefoot before the floor length windows, silhouetted by the city lights beyond. The moment the door clicked oper

hair sweeping the air in a gentle arc before falling softly against the thin fabric of her nightdress.

And tonight her nightdress was more revealing th tuspal

Something prickled at the tip of Theodore’s nose. He sensed at once it might be a carefully laid trap

He lowered his gaze, only to find it drawn to her bare feet sinking into the thick, velvety carpet, so delicate they seemed made in be cupped gently in one’s hands

That itch wasn’t just at his nose now. It had reached his chest and his pulse.

“I’ve run your bath,” she said softly

She had timed it perfectly, anticipating his usual return. And sure enough, he had walked in right on schedule.

He arched a brow, intrigued. Just as he stepped toward the wardrobe, she added, “Your robe’s in there too”

His hand froze momentarily on the wardrobe handle. ‘Is this her way of making amends he wondered.

Saying nothing, he walked into the bathroom, but the faint curl at the corner of his tips betrayed his thoughts.

When Theodore came out of the shower, he got into bed without a word, burning away from her, i anxiously. She had hinted enough. Surely, he understood what she was offering.

er, as if she were invisible. Eliana’s fingers fidgeted

Left with no choice, she reached out and gently y tugged at the blanket.

He didn’t even look back. He simply yanked it back with force, tucking it beneath him to keep her out.

She stared at the back of his head, frustration simmering beneath her skin, until at last she

she murmured, “Can we talk?”

Though his face remained stoic, a quiet satisfaction flickered within him. Still, he wasn’t ready to let her off that easily. “I’ve got an early meeting

tomorrow.”

“Fine, I won’t bother you.” And just like that, all the courage she had built up crumbled.

Theodore turned sharply, no longer bothering to hide

de his reaction. “Talk about what?”

She hesitated, then met his gaze. “I’m asking you please, let Luke:

It was as if she had struck him straight in the chest. His lungs seized, a dull pressure pressing down. “What did you say?”

“Let him go,” she repeated, hands clutching the blanket between them so tightly her knuckles turned pale…

it was then Theodore understood none of this had been about reconciliation. Everything she’d done tonight had been for Luke.

She took his silence for hesitation and gently reminded him, “You said if I asked you to, you would_*

But he cut her off coldly. “I said I’d consider it, But I never said words alone would be enough.

Eliana shut her eyes, gathered herself, then reached for his shoulders and leaned into his chest, which remained stiff beneath her touch. Her voice was low and steady. “I am asking. Like this”

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Chapter 186

She had made up her mind if this was the price, the would pay it Lathin

But after a moment’s stillness, Theodore-

Thana… do you really

ink this is what I want from you?”

His voice m

wanted, so long a

her posted he

Chana looked u startled, confusion shadowing her eyes.

He looked straight at her, every word deliberate, burning “I was going to let him go. I would have, if you’d just kept quiet and

nothing

“But you had to keep testing me, pushing further. And now this? You’d offer yourself to protect him, and you expect me to believe there’s nothing between you?”

With that, he threw the blanket aside, got out of bed, and walked straight out.

The door slammed behind him with a resounding bang. Eliaria flinched. Her shoulders trembled as the sound echoed through the slen

And only then did she truly understand there was no winning with him.

It was a trap from the start. And she had walked right into it. Now, she was out of moves

Another week shipped quietly by.

That evening as Luke walked through the door, he found Pamela sitting on the couch with a strange, unreadable look on her face. “So, how’s the job search going?”

Luke forced a smile. “Still waiting to hear back. But don’t worry, Mom, Just give me a little more time. l find something I promise.”

Pamela studied him for a long moment, then, to his surprise, tears began to well in her eyes. “How long do you plan to keep lying to me

“Mom?” Luke rushed forward, his voice tightening with guilt as he reached out to console her. “Please don’t cry. This is all on me. I hate that I’ve made

you worry.

But Pamela gently took his face in her hands and asked, very quiefly, “It’s because of Ellie’s husband, isn’t it? He’s the one keeping doors shut in your

face.”

Luke’s heart skipped, his expression hardened. “Who told you that?” he demanded.

Pamela answered calmly. “Our family may have fallen from grace, but we’re not completely without connections. I’ve watched you struggle for over two weeks now. I was going to call in a favor, try to get you placed somewhere.

“But every time, people hesitated and made excuses. I knew something was off. So I pressed, and someone finally told me the truth. It was Theodore, He

the order.

Luke’s face darkened. The two women he cared about most, Eliana and Pamela, both knew just how far he’d fallen. And still, he was powerless to change

anything