The Marvelous Elijah's Return novel Chapter 45

A mother’s plead 

As Ryan tested his suitcase on the bed, he looked back when his room door burst open, and Mall rushed into the room. 

“What?” Ryan asked, tossing a t shirt into his suitcase, 

“Rookie just showed me this!” Matt said, holding up his phone in his hand. 

Annoyed, Ryan snatched his phone with a blank expression on his face and played the video, his eyes widened slightly 

“So when Boss and Peach went out... Damn!!” Ryan gasped as he listened to Peach confronting Jessica on the video. 

“Damn indeed...” Matt agreed with a chuckle. 

“Does the boss know that someone uploaded what happened at the bar onto the internet?” 

“Yeah, Rookie told him.” 

The room fell silent after Matt stopped talking, but eventually, Ryan broke the silence as he mumbled, “With the lies that Melina spread and now video of this Jessica person confronting boss, he‘s never going to escape the rumors.” 

There was a long pause, and then Matt frownes and said, “You think! The fact that he carried her out of the bar like that is going to make it harder for him to clear his name.” 

Sighing, Matt watched Ryan toss another pair of trousers in the suitcase and then mumbled, ** So you and Rookie are leaving today?” 

“Yeah,” Ryan muttered sarcastically, pulling another shirt out and throwing it into the suitcase. “We have the location of where Bryan lives and Rookie found out the perfect place to stay for the one month... Um... he has our hotel room book.” 

“That was easy,” Matt said in amusement. 

Closing his suitcase lit, Ryan turned around and said, “Let‘s just hope it goes smoothly.” 

As Miss Grace was walking toward Elijah‘s room, the door suddenly opened, and he walked out, stopping when he saw her standing in the hallway. “Has Peach woken up yet?” He asked, feeling uneasy that he brought her daughter back drunk “She‘s still sleeping... But I am here to ask if we could talk,” Miss Grace answered softly, trying to remain calm. 

Reading her expression, Elijah could clearly tell something was bothering her, and he sighed heavily and looked away from her, before turning back, “Of course, we can talk,” 

When both of them entered his room, Miss Grace shut the door and then looked at him with an anxious expression and asked, “I know this is none of my business, but when... when you and my daughter start getting entangled in so many indecent rumors, it becomes my concern 

Looking at Miss Grace and feeling guilt rise in his chest, Elijah replied, “I‘m sorry about yesterday and that – 

“What are your plans, Elijah?” Miss Grace interrupted him quickly. 

Confused by her reaction, Elijah raised his eyebrows and repeated, “My plans?” “Yes,” Miss Grace replied seriously. “In the nearest future, do you plan to remarry?” 

The question was hard for her to ask, knowing that Elijah had recently gotten a divorce from Melina, and asking him such a thing was probably hard for him, but she wanted to know the truth for her daughter‘s sake. 

“No,” Elijah plainly stated, answering with honesty in his voice. 

His response left Miss Grace with a sickening feeling and a look of disappointment painted all over her face. She lowered her gaze to the floor and quietly murmured, “I see...” 

Now, she feared for her daughter, for her reputation, for her future, because she knew that this kind of scandal could destroy Peach and her chances of finding a good man to marry or having children of her own, and it frightened her! 

Shaking her head and closing her eyes briefly, Miss Grace lifted her chin, looked directly into Elijah‘s eyes, and softly uttered, “If you don‘t have any long–term plans for my daughter, can you promise me not to touch her... please don‘t hurt her image or her character... please, Elijah...” 

“You guys can still be friends, but try and avoid each other in public. Avoid any sort of intimate contact,” Miss Grace explained softly, “You can spend as much time together, but keep that distance.” 

“Mama!!” Peach gasped in shock, staring at Miss Grace‘s pale complexion in panic. 

“I‘m sorry, Peach, but he made it clear that he doesn‘t plan on marrying ever again, and I think you should understand that, and get rid of any emotion or attraction you feel towards him,” 

Holding all her emotions squeezed inside of her. Peach swallowed hard and tried to calm down 

and breathe, because she knew what would come next. 

“You are a woman, Peach, and your reputation and dignity are one of the few things you should care about more,” Miss Grace continued. “And I‘m afraid you‘ve been exposed enough. so, please... I want you to stop having feelings romantically for Elijah.” 

“Mama...” Peach whimpered softly. 

Reaching out and touching her cheek, Miss Grace stroked Peach‘s face lovingly and said, “ Sweetheart, within a heartbeat I would have blessed you guys‘ relationship if he was interested and wanted to give you a chance. But after what he told me this morning, I can assure you that he is not, so I am asking you, honey, please stop.” 

Unable to form a reply, Peach simply stared back at Miss Grace, with a look of sadness written upon her beautiful face. 

She knew that her mother had spoken the truth and the fact that Elijah didn‘t intend on ever getting married again hurt her deeply, but there wasn‘t anything she could do to change anything. 

“I am begging you to promise me.” Miss Grace murmured, staring intently at Peach, holding her gaze with hope and love, hoping that her daughter would agree to stop seeing Elijah romantically. 

Peach hesitated a moment before nodding slightly, letting out an unsteady breath holding in her tears and smiling weakly as she whispered, “I promise,”