Chapter 113: A Maybe
Eliana froze, the words echoing in her head as if the room itself had stopped breathing. Henry Jackson had just asked her to go with him—to the UK.
For a heartbeat, she couldn’t move. The offer was dazzling, almost unreal. For someone like her, it wasn’t just a trip—it was an open door to an entirely new life, a chance to rewrite her story. But that wasn’t what made her chest tighten or her throat ache. No, it was the man in front of her. Henry—sincere, steady, impossibly kind.
Her lips trembled into a smile, the kind that came when you were fighting tears and losing. Her honey eyes shimmered, catching the soft light streaming through the curtains. The late afternoon sun painted everything gold—the air, the walls, even Henry’s face as he knelt before her on the luxurious carpet of his expensive but warm apartment.
He looked up at her with those sky-blue eyes, a quiet plea hidden behind the hope in his expression. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by something far more disarming—vulnerability. In that moment, he wasn’t the charming, composed man she’d first met. He was just Henry: the man who’d listened, who’d cared, who was now asking her to take a leap with him.
Before he could say another word, Eliana moved. The world seemed to blur as she lunged forward, emotion overriding thought. Her body folded into his embrace, trembling as the dam finally broke.
The sudden movement caught Henry off guard, his breath hitching as he instinctively wrapped his strong arms around her to steady them both, preventing a tumble onto the floor. The scent of her hair—wild and sweet—filled his senses as her long black curls spilled over his shoulder like silk. For a moment, neither spoke. The only sounds were their uneven breaths and the steady rhythm of their hearts beating in sync, loud and real and alive.
"Eliana?" Henry murmured, his voice a blend of shock and concern, his hands gently rubbing her back in soothing circles. "Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?"
She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her lips trembling into a grateful smile, tears glistening on her warm brown skin like dew on petals. "No, Henry... no. I’m just... overwhelmed. Thank you. Thank you for being such a good friend. You’re an incredible guy—the kindest person I’ve ever known. You’ve been my rock through all this darkness."
Henry’s eyes softened, a faint blush creeping up his handsome face as he helped her back to the couch, still holding her hands tightly. "Eliana, you don’t have to thank me. I’d do anything for you. But... does that mean...?"
She nodded slowly, her voice soft but earnest, laced with the ache of her recent heartbreak. "I want nothing more than to go with you, Henry. Just to run away from all this hurt, this mess that’s tearing me apart. Maybe... maybe more distance would help me cope with these feelings for Rafael. They’re like thorns in my heart, twisting every time I think of him. The UK sounds like a dream—a place where I can breathe again, away from the shadows."
Henry’s face lit up like the sun breaking through storm clouds, his reserved demeanor cracking into a broad, joyous grin that revealed perfect white teeth. He squeezed her hands, his voice rising with excitement. "Wait, is that a yes? Are you saying you’ll come?"
Eliana laughed lightly, a sound like tinkling bells mixed with a sniffle, wiping away a stray tear with the back of her hand. Her modest sundress, faded from too many washes, shifted as she leaned back, her natural elegance shining through despite the wear. "It’s a maybe, Henry. I have to talk to my father about it first. He’s everything to me—I can’t just decide without him."
Henry nodded immediately, his expression shifting to one of complete understanding, his ambitious drive tempered by respect for her family ties. "Of course, I get it. Family comes first. Take all the time you need. I’m just... happy you’re even considering it. It means the world to me."
The next morning dawned bright and crisp, the scent of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon wafting through Henry’s spacious kitchen. Eliana padded in, her curls tousled from sleep, wearing an oversized t-shirt he’d lent her, her slender frame looking fragile yet resilient in the soft morning light. Henry, already dressed in a crisp button-down shirt for his classes, flipped pancakes with practiced ease, his tall, handsome figure moving with the grace of someone used to luxury but grounded in kindness.
"Morning," he greeted with a warm smile, sliding a plate piled high with fluffy pancakes, eggs, and fruit toward her at the breakfast bar. "I made your favorites—or at least, what I think is your favorite. Your eyes always lit up whenever you see them. Eat up; you need your strength."
Eliana’s eyes widened in appreciation, her stomach rumbling audibly as she sat down. "Henry, this looks amazing. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble. You’re such an angel."
"It’s no trouble," he replied, pouring her a glass of orange juice, his sharp features softened by the domestic scene. "Besides, I enjoy it. Makes me feel like we’re back in those late-night study sessions, minus the cramming."
As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, laced with light laughter over shared memories. But midway through, Eliana set her fork down, her expression turning serious. "Henry, I want to go visit Papa at the hospital today. After everything yesterday, I need to see him, talk to him about... well, everything."
Henry paused, his fork halfway to his mouth, then nodded thoughtfully. "Absolutely. I’ll drive you. My classes don’t start until noon, so we’ve got time."
An hour later, they were gliding through the city in Henry’s SUV—the same one his secretary had retrieved from the Vexley Enterprises parking lot the night before. The engine purred like a restrained beast, but beneath the quiet hum, Henry’s thoughts were anything but calm.
The memory of yesterday clawed at him, tightening his jaw until it ached. The humiliation, the helplessness—Rafael’s cold dismissal still burned like acid in his veins. To think that Rafael could throw Eliana away so easily, as if she were nothing. It made Henry’s blood simmer. What he wouldn’t give to have her—to hold her close, to prove that she was worth more than the world had ever told her.
The city sprawled outside in a blur of color and motion: pedestrians crossing against the light, buses exhaling clouds of exhaust, vendors shouting over the hum of traffic.
Inside, the atmosphere was taut but intimate. The radio whispered soft jazz, the smooth rhythm filling the silence between them. Eliana sat quietly beside him, her fingers tangled in her lap, her gaze distant as though she were watching her thoughts instead of the city. The closer they got to the hospital, the tighter the knot in her chest grew.
Henry’s eyes flicked toward her for a moment. Even in the dim car light, her tension was unmistakable—the way she pressed her lips together, the slight tremor in her breathing.
"Nervous?" he asked softly, his voice breaking the silence like a gentle chord. His tone carried warmth, but there was an undertone of something deeper—protectiveness, and affection.
Eliana turned to him, caught in the kindness of his gaze. For a heartbeat, she forgot how to breathe.
To be continued...