Chapter 179: ~Hellbound~
Miss him? What exactly did he say?
I turned my gaze to Ethan. But he wasn’t there; he’d gone. My eyes were welling up with tears, I couldn’t breathe properly, and my heart ached. I took a good look at them.
"I’m sorry," I was about to apologize to him, but he stopped .
At tis, I would catch a glimpse of them from a distance, and for a fleeting mont, the lines between Ethan and Paul blurred.
He expanded his eyes, as if he was becoming a bit nervous. "Yes," he replied.
"It’s enough. You don’t have to say anything, Elena," he stated. I lowered my eyes with regret.
Ethan, after a brief pause, gently revealed, "No, I won’t go."
"Derek," I said. He gave
a warm smile.
I widened my eyes... it was exactly like Paul. I pressed my lips together. Is this my little Paul? I cried as I touched her with my shaking hands.
Derek’s point of view.
I noticed little Paul playing, full of joy and excitent. I carefully got up and walked up to them.
He asked, "Did you love him?"
"I’ll tell Da...D...d...y," Paulina declared, an instinctive response to what she perceived as a potential misunderstanding.
Listening in on this tender exchange, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions. Why would Ethan refuse Paulina’s request to co with us?
"Mom loves you too, darling," I murmured as tears stread down my cheeks.
Ethan, overco with emotion, kissed her on the cheek and closed his eyes. It was a silent acknowledgnt of the unspoken complexities that governed his decision.
"Elena," Derek said as he stroked my back. Paulina called
"mo-ma."
"I’m okay," he replied, his response lacking the usual warmth he displayed.
"I’m sorry. I hurt you. Mom is the worst," I expressed my remorse.
"Derek," she said. But I stopped her. I know what my babe is going to say.
"Derek," I said, taking Derek’s hand in mine.
"Your husband told ," Ethan replied.
Innocently, Paulina queried, "Will y...o...u co... to ?"
His blue eyes locked on , and there was sothing in them that urged
to take the step.
I walked carefully towards them. When he heard my footsteps, Ethan turned around and looked down.
"Mom loves you too, baby. I love you a lot," I hugged her after saying this. I took a deep breath and drew her close to my chest. My hands had stopped trembling.
Despite my attempts to engage with Ethan, our interactions remained strained. Every ti I approached him with questions, he skillfully evaded them, redirecting the conversation or finding an excuse to disengage.
Her eyes, wide with curiosity, fixed on Ethan.
"How are you doing?" I inquired, a genuine concern in my voice.
"I’ll miss you even more, sweetheart," Ethan reciprocated, holding her with a tenderness that transcended re affection.
"Wait here, sweetie," Derek urged.
I locked my gaze on him, his blue eyes locked on mine. I... I don’t know what Derek told you about my past, but when I first saw you, I thought you are..." but Ethan interrupted
and asked, "You thought I was Paul, right?"
When I saw Elena approaching us trembling, I froze. I was a little worried. I was going to grab her, but that jerk gestured for
to let go. I took a small step back.
She smiled as she glanced at .
With our impending departure, I wore a smile and extended an invitation, "Will you pay us a visit?"
The air between us had changed, and I couldn’t ignore the palpable tension. Ethan’s avoidance of my gaze was perplexing, leaving
with a sense of unease.
"Mr. Ethan, I’d like to ask you a question. Will you be honest with ?" I added soothingly.
In the days that followed the revelation, life at the seaside resort settled into a semblance of normalcy. I made a conscious effort to spend ti with Paulina and Derek.
Ethan was absolutely correct. Paul is right here with . Paul promised
that he would always be at my side. He’s here, and he’s giving
his best present. It’s our little girl.
"If you want to feel your love then go get the courage," Ethan said.
I approached her and said, "Baby," in a low voice.
If sothing awful occurs to Elena, I’ll surely kill that jerk.
On the other hand, I know you love . You don’t need to say it out loud, babe. Elena, I’m always with you. Didn’t I promise you that I wouldn’t abandon you? How can I break my promise, my silly girl?
Elena, though, did it after a minute. I exhaled a breath of relief.
**
As the day of departure arrived, I couldn’t help but notice a palpable sadness etched on Ethan’s face when he learned that our ti had co to an end. It was a peculiar sentint, one that hinted at a deeper connection he felt with the place or, perhaps, with Paulina.
I leaned forward and kissed her on the brow. It makes
feel exceptionally good. It seems as though a trendous weight has been lifted off my heart.
"Do...not cry," Paulina said as she wiped my tears away and gently caressed my face with her tiny palm.
"I love you," she said. I clutched her to my chest even tighter.
Her warmth, her giggles, and the unconditional love in her eyes broke down the walls I had built around my heart.
Her smile!
This ti, I felt compelled to take her into my arms.
As Paulina played nearby, I seized the opportunity to bridge the growing gap between us.
Paulina responded with an enthusiastic nod, her tiny hands reaching up to encircle Ethan’s neck. The affectionate embrace was a testant to the deep bond they had ford.
"How do you know? How do you know about my past?" I asked.
Thank God, she did it. She was touched. In her eyes, I could see how much she loved our daughter, and I could see how much she loved Paul.
Elena, on the other hand, approached Paulina slowly. Elena! I clenched my fist. Can you do this? Can you overco your fear?
"Do y...o...u not l...I...k...E ?" she wondered, her sincerity tugging at the heartstrings.
Caught off guard by the unexpected connection, I hesitated for a mont. When Ethan attempted to step away, a surge of determination prompted
to call out to him, "Mr. Ethan." He halted but seed uneasy, stamring in response.
The simplicity of Paulina’s next question struck a chord, "Why?"
In the waning hours before our departure, Ethan dedicated the entire day to Paulina. Their bond had grown stronger during our stay, and it was evident that he cherished every mont with her.
It was as if he had built a barrier, preventing
from delving too deeply into him.
Paulina was with Ethan, and I stood back and watched them.
I often found Ethan in the company of Paulina, their interactions painting a picture of a devoted father and daughter. The way he cared for her, the laughter they shared—it was a poignant reminder of Paul I had lost.
In the midst of this delicate dance between past and present, I couldn’t help but wonder if Ethan was, in so strange way, an angel sent to guide us through our pain.
When I gazed at him, his eyes glead like stars. He gave
a warm smile. I cast a downward glance. I have no questions for him. Whenever I thought he was Paul, he proved
wrong.
"Why aren’t you saying anything?" I pressed, my curiosity overcoming the desire to maintain a polite distance.
"But... But I have no courage."
His nod and elusive smile hinted at a reluctance to commit to the idea. Sothing was amiss, and his behavior seed increasingly enigmatic.
She turned around, and her innocent eyes t mine. There was an undeniable resemblance to Paul in her features.
"I love you, Elena," I told her. Elena smiled and I kissed her palm as she nodded. I drew her close to my chest. My family is finally complete. I looked behind , but he wasn’t there.
"Yes," I said with a nod.
**
His words echoed in my mind. I lowered my eyes as I tightened my grip.
It was as if I was holding a piece of Paul, a living mory of our love.
"Will you miss , Baby?" Ethan inquired, his voice carrying a hint of gentle teasing.
"Can I hug you?" I asked, my voice trembling.
He responded with a cryptic smile, "What will I say?" The evasion in his tone fueled my determination to unravel the mystery.
Paulina’s sweet voice calling
"Mo-ma" montarily lifted my spirits. As she approached, Ethan handed her to , and in that exchange, our fingers brushed. It was a subtle touch, but one that carried a familiarity, awakening a dormant awareness within .
He could have been missing his daughter. We had been waiting for the car for quite so ti.
Continue.
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