Semua Bab Mated to her Enemy: Refusing his Rejection : Bab 241 - Bab 250

For the next week, Eloise vanished into her room like a ghost haunting her own life. She barely slept. Days and nights bled together as she drowned herself in the project, using it like armor to keep the world out. Papers scattered across every surface, coffee cups piled beside untouched meals, and the blue glow of her laptop lit the shadows under her eyes. She didn’t want rest—she wanted escape. Escape from the memories, from the quiet pain that crawled through her chest, and most of all, from him.Jack, however, became a constant in her silence. Sometimes, he knocked with lunch in hand, offering it with a casual, "Thought you might be starving in there." Other times, he sprawled on her couch, his phone in hand, whistling a tune, saying nothing but being present.Eloise grew used to him. His silence. His presence. She didn't mind him anymore.Mandy had stopped calling. Now, she only texted."Ainsley's doing fine. He's healthy and eating."Each day, Mandy sent a new message, and Eloise

Outside, immediately after stepping out…..Eloise leaned back against the cold brick wall of the building, letting out a shaky breath. The night air slapped her face, sharp and bitter, but it was better than being inside. Her legs felt weak. Her arms wrapped around her chest as if shielding herself from the past that was clawing its way back.What if I could go back in time? She thought bitterly. What if I could choose again?She scoffed aloud, her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen and saw that it was a call from a strange number. She hesitated, almost rejected it. But her thumb slipped.“Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” Pamela’s shrill voice exploded from the speaker. "You blocked my number, didn’t you? That’s heartless! Richard has leukemia, Eloise! Are you really going to just stand by and let your brother die?”Eloise’s mouth parted in stunned silence. That voice, one she hadn’t heard in years, pierced through her like a jagged blade. It brought back memories of being

Eloise sat on the edge of the bed, her spine rigid, her fists gripping the sheets like they might tear. Her eyes were hollow, bloodshot from yet another sleepless night. Her mind was a battlefield, scattered memories, lies, and a face that refused to leave her thoughts.Ainsley.The sound of the door creaking open was subtle, but to Eloise, it hit like a bomb in the silence. She didn’t flinch, didn’t turn, didn’t even blink.She already knew who it was. She could feel his presence as clearly as the weight pressing against her chest. That boy—no, that man, who had no right to be lingering in her space, yet somehow, here he was again. He stepped inside, barefoot, clutching that same ridiculous blanket she’d taken to the living room. He moved slowly, like he was approaching a wild animal; uncertain, wary, ready to bolt.And yet… he didn’t stop.Ainsley looked at her from across the room, searching for her reaction like it was oxygen. But she gave him none.No words, No glares, No rejecti

Eloise stood there for a long time, frozen in place. Her fingers were curled loosely around the doorknob, she whispered to herself, barely audible, “Come on, and just... move.”But her body didn’t listen. Only after what felt like an eternity did she finally open the door. Her knees bent stiffly as she picked up the takeout bag that had been sitting outside. The food had lost most of its warmth. “Mandy… thank you,” she murmured, even though the hallway was empty, and her voice bounced off the walls like a forgotten ghost.The weight of silence pressed into her as she stepped back inside. The door clicked shut. Time slipped away without meaning. She glanced out of the window and saw dusk bleeding across the sky. Her hand hovered over her phone. No messages. No missed calls. Not even from Jacob.A tight laugh escaped her lips. “Guess threats do work,” she said bitterly.Shoving the phone aside, she turned her attention to the papers on the table. Her eyes skimmed over them, seeing no

That night, the amusement park sparkled like a galaxy of neon stars. Children ran past laughing, couples held hands under soft golden lights, and the scent of popcorn lingered in the air.Ainsley reached for Eloise’s hand, lacing their fingers together tightly. They boarded the Ferris wheel and ascended into the night.The city lights stretched below them, endless and beautiful. Ainsley looked at the stars and said, “I wish for Eloise to have a happy life.”Eloise turned to him. “That’s a sweet wish.”“I mean it.” He gazed at her. “No matter what happens.”Her throat tightened. She looked away, hiding the pain in her eyes.*******The sun was barely up when Eloise stepped into the underground parking lot of the Anthony Group building. The air was cold, filled with the smell of gasoline and concrete. Her heels clicked sharply against the cement floor as she walked toward the elevator, her eyes tired, and her body still sore from the night before. She didn't expect anything unusual—unti