The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Garrett had to calm himself before he could comfort Elice. But Elice’s broken sobs in his embrace nearly shattered the usual calm that clung to him. Truly, he felt a threatening tightness that seemed ready to explode and crush his chest in the near future. It was agonizing.

Elice’s screams, tears, and the tightness of her hands wrapped around him, along with her face landing on his chest, were a perfect combination to darken Garrett’s eyes. He would not ask what had happened. The fear and suffering Elice was going through was so vivid to Garrett.

“G-Garrett.”

Even her trembling voice conveyed unmistakably all the horrors that had enveloped Elice. Her body was cold. It felt so fragile.

“A-Are you okay?”

Garrett’s voice trembled just as much as Elice’s, but for different reasons. While Elice was afraid, Garrett was angry.

On Garrett’s chest, Elice tried to nod, to give an answer without words. But it seemed useless. For Garrett clearly knew that Elice was not well. So, he made her sit on the bed.

It was a bad decision for Garrett. Because when they were separated by a short distance, he could clearly see the state Elice was in. She looked completely disheveled. Her hair was tangled, and the clothes that clung to her body could hardly be called clothes.

Garrett clenched his jaw and held his breath, trying to control his emotions. He could not explode there. He did not want to frighten Elice any more. But the wounds and bruises inflicted on Garrett were truly an enormous ordeal.

Ariel had not only frightened Elice. More than that, Ariel had hurt Elice. To the point where a ghost of hatred arose in Garrett’s mind. That not only in the past, but also now Ariel always found a way to make Elice suffer.

“I-I…”

Elice could not speak. Her tongue felt dry in the midst of tears and lingering fear.

“Calm down, Elice. You are safe now.”

Garrett used both of his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears on Elice’s face, careful not to add to her fear.

As Garrett noticed Elice slowly regaining control, he took the initiative. He stood up and opened Elice’s wardrobe, taking out a piece of clothing. A loose shirt, which he immediately put on Elice.

Elice bit her lower lip. “I’m scared, Garrett. I’m scared.”

It was an unnecessary statement. Without needing to be told, Garrett knew how scared Elice was at that moment. She had just experienced something terrible in her life, especially with the evidence of resistance imprinted on her body. More than enough to explain how devastated Elice was.

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’m here. Ariel won’t come back.”

Ironically, Garrett knew he had not done anything to protect Elice when the incident almost happened to him. And that made Garrett even more angry. He should not have left Elice alone like that. He should have known how crazy Ariel could be.

“I don’t think you can stay here anymore, Elice. I’m worried about your condition.”

Elice knew that. She did not want to take that risk either. Who could predict? Ariel might come back tomorrow. And she might be unlucky again. But…

Elice lowered her face and looked at the wounds on her hands, which could not be covered by the short sleeves of her shirt.

In such a condition, Elice was not sure if she could go back home. She could imagine what would happen to Wilda if she saw her now. Her mother would be sad. And cry again for her.

“It’s better if you stay in the apartment from yesterday.”

Garrett’s voice made Elice raise her face again. The gentle look in his eyes made her feel calmer.

“You’ll be safe there, and not everyone can come in. Besides…” Garrett took a deep breath, implicitly making a promise to Elice. “… I will make sure that Ariel will never set foot there.”

Without needing much time to think, Elice nodded. She accepted the offer without hesitation. And noticing this, Garrett immediately pulled Elice into his embrace.

Garrett closed his eyes. He first had to calm himself from the lingering heat that dominated his mind. And that was not easy.

“I’ll help you pack and we’ll leave right away.”

*

Around ten o’clock at night, Garrett received his ordered dinner from the apartment staff. Without forgetting to thank them, he closed the door. Elice was in her room, arranging her things and maybe cleaning up. While Garrett, who had decided not to go home right away, was preoccupied with thoughts about their dinner.

He tried to convince himself that everything was safe, but being alone in the room gave Elice a different impression. As she cleaned herself, she could not take her eyes off the marks left there.

The wounds and bruises made it impossible to erase the fear from her mind. Elice remembered Ariel’s treatment earlier. And she was sure that it would take a while for her to get rid of that terrible shadow.

Therefore, Elice decided to wear a long-sleeved pajama set. She had to cover those scary traces. So, they wouldn’t have the power to frighten her thoughts.

Elice came out of the room looking for Garrett and found him busy at the dining table, serving some delicious food that was emitting a tempting aroma.

“I haven’t eaten yet,” Garrett said, greeting Elice. “I hope you’ll join me for dinner.”

Elice’s body was exhausted. She could barely take a step. And to make matters worse, she had not had dinner yet. Ariel arrived at just the right time.

A faint smile appeared on Garrett’s face as Elice approached. He helped her sit down and put the food on her plate.

During their very late dinner, neither of them spoke. They both remained silent, immersed in the same silence.

“Are you okay here alone? Or if you want, I can ask Mrs. Amber to keep you company,” Garrett asked.

Elice shook her head, hugging herself as she tried to put on a reassuring expression for Garrett.

“I’m fine,” Elice replied. “Like you said, Ariel won’t be able to get in here, right?”

Sure. Garrett shook his head. “No, he won’t. Let alone get in, he won’t even be able to get past the security portal.”

A faint smile appeared on Elice’s face. “Then I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry.”

Garrett looked at Elice for a moment. He caressed her cheek and found himself unable to resist. So, he planted a soft kiss on Elice’s forehead.

“I’m going home.”

Elice nodded and let Garrett go, making sure the door was locked.

*

Arriving home at almost midnight, Garrett did not expect to find Daphne in the living room. Just as he entered, his eyes immediately met his grandmother’s. Garrett’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

Daphne blinked. “What happened?”

Garrett knew that sooner or later Daphne would find out the truth, especially if she chose the legal route.

“Ariel went to visit Elice in her apartment.”

Behind the glasses perched on her nose, Daphne widened her eyes. The lines on her forehead deepened.

“What did he do?”

Garrett’s face hardened. He seemed lost in thought. “Something he shouldn’t do to a woman.”

Daphne held her breath. Her aged face looked pale.

“How is she now? Is she all right?”

Garrett nodded once. “She’s fine. And now she stays with me.”

A sigh of relief escaped. Along with Daphne, who closed her eyes for a moment. And when she heard Garrett’s faint footsteps indicating that he was about to move, she spoke up quickly, preventing her grandson from continuing.

“What are you going to do?”

The bulging veins on Garrett’s forehead and the sound of clenched teeth should have answered Daphne’s question.

“What else am I going to do?” Garrett replied to Daphne. “I’m going to report Ariel’s actions to the police. He must be held accountable for what he has done. I will never forgive him. Damn it, even if he’s my cousin.”

Looking at Garrett’s expression, Daphne had no doubt that he would do what he said. But Daphne, on the other hand, sneered with a scornful expression.

“Are you going to report Ariel to the police? Tsk tsk tsk. What do you think you’re doing, Garrett?”

Garrett raged. “I will hold him accountable for daring to hurt Elice.”

“Then let Elice become public consumption for the umpteenth time?” Daphne stabbed. “Is that what you want?”

The rage in Garrett’s chest seemed to have a pause. He was stunned.

“If you turn Ariel in, what do you get? Justice for Elice? At the cost of people gossiping about her again? With rumors linking the three of you?” Daphne shook her head. Faintly, but Garrett was sure he heard his grandmother chuckle. “You’re angry. I know that. But you’re not in a calm state, Garrett. And you know how risky it is to act in the heat of the moment.”

Garrett was indeed aware that his emotions were overwhelming him. Anger was truly controlling him. But he couldn’t accept these accusations.

“This has nothing to do with my anxiety, Nana. Despite my anger, Ariel must still be held accountable for his actions. I will never allow him to touch Elice again. Even if it means putting him in jail.”

This time Garrett was sure his ears weren’t deceiving him. Daphne had chuckled earlier. Because now, right after Garrett had spoken, Daphne laughed.

“You’re really naive, Garrett. You shouldn’t be so innocent.”

Garrett blinked. Daphne’s words managed to dampen his anger at Ariel for a moment.

“You don’t agree with Elice being treated like this, that’s understandable. But you have to realize that this situation is going to push Elice even further into a corner. And I’m sure you don’t want that to happen to her.”

Reluctantly, I admitted that what Daphne had said was true.

“I can’t believe you still think the victim should be ashamed, Nana. Instead of the criminal who should feel it.”

Daphne shook her head. “Because Elice is no ordinary victim, Garrett. I am sure you understand what I mean. Imagine how much gossip will accompany the news about Elice this time. And if you act wrongly, it’s not impossible that they will turn the facts around by degrading Elice”.

Again, Garrett did not want to admit it. But again, Daphne’s words were true.

“So, you’re telling me to just keep quiet?” Garrett asked bitterly. “Do nothing while Elice is scared to death because of Ariel?”

Daphne’s eyes widened from behind her glasses. She shook her head.

“Oh, of course not. I didn’t say that. All actions must have consequences, after all.”

Garrett remained silent. He waited.

“But not in the way you think, Garrett. Prison won’t be enough for Ariel. How long do you think he’ll be punished? One year? Two years? Where’s the remission? Parole? At the risk of tarnishing Elice’s name in the eyes of the people? Tsk tsk tsk. It’s not worth it, Garrett.”

Garrett’s look at his grandmother changed. He tried to guess what Daphne was thinking. But Garrett wasn’t sure.

“What do you mean, Nana?”

This time a faint smile appeared on Daphne’s face. A smile that made Garrett feel as if he had never met Daphne before.

“What I mean is,” Daphne replied with full rhythm. “… not all revenge has to take a legal form.”

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