Noah’s expression darkened noticeably the moment he saw Elias. Instead of releasing Elena, his grip tightened around her wrist.

Elias stormed over and clasped Noah’s hand. "I said let her go," he hissed dangerously, regarding the other with pure hatred.

"Elena was my wife for five years," Noah said, leveling the glare. "She loved me since she was a child. Then, when we hit a rough patch, you took advantage of the situation. You manipulated her and made her marry you."

"Enough, Noah," Elena snapped. "No one forced me to marry him. I made that decision myself."

Noah’s gaze fixed on her, a dark unease settling deep inside his chest.

"This is not true," he said, shaking his head. He couldn’t accept the fact that she had willingly married another man. "This can’t be. You love me..."

He grew breathless. "You always loved me..."

"Yes," Elena yelled. "I once loved you with all my heart."

She shoved him hard in the chest with all the strength she could muster.

"But that love died with my child."

Noah watched Elena through his tear-filled eyes. Every breath felt heavier than the last. He couldn’t forgive himself for what he had done at the time.

The memory felt like a knife twisting deeper into his heart.

"There is nothing left in my heart for you."

Noah grew annoyed and restless at the same time. "Are you going to throw away everything we had? People make mistakes. Can’t you forgive me?"

"Killing our child wasn’t a mistake." Elena’s voice cut through him like a blade. "It was a crime." Her body trembled. "A sin."

Noah breathed out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging. "I am sorry," he apologized. "I know I was wrong. I know I hurt you."

His eyes pleaded with hers. "But can you give me one chance? Just one chance to make things right?"

"Sorry?" Elena felt ridiculous. "You were not at all sorry when you hooked up with Tessa for the first time. You didn’t feel sorry when you tricked me into signing the divorce agreement. And you certainly weren’t sorry when you planned to kill my unborn child."

With each word she uttered, Noah’s confidence slipped away piece by piece. He could tell he was losing her, and this thought made his heart ache unbearably.

"You are sorry because the truth came out," she went on. "If you had not been exposed, you would have continued lying to me..."

A crushing weight of emotion settled in her chest, almost choking her. "You saw me suffering. You watched me break down. And you still kept hurting me without a trace of remorse."

Noah couldn’t look her in the eye. He felt sickened by his own actions.

"Your simple apology can’t erase any of that."

When Noah finally looked up, every trace of arrogance was gone. What remained was only guilt.

"Then tell me what to do? How can I make you feel good? How can I earn your forgiveness?"

Elena held his gaze indifferently. "Let me go," she replied flatly. "Stop clinging to the past. Focus on what you have now."

She took a step closer to him and lowered her tone. "Make sure Catherine and Richard never find out what you did to my unborn child and me. Or they will be devastated."

Noah’s mouth slacked open. He trembled to the core of his heart at the implications of her words.

Elena stepped back and interlaced her fingers with Elias’s, meeting his eyes. "Let’s go."

They walked away.

Noah watched them leave. His chest tightened painfully.

Every step Elena took felt like another knife in his heart.

He wasn’t willing to let her go. He rushed forward and stood before them, blocking their path.

"Elena, I am willing to change," he said desperately. "We were together for so long. For the sake of everything we shared, give me one chance."

His eyes reddened. "I swear I’ll cherish you from now on. I’ll make things right. Please... I only need one chance."

"You already had your chance." This time, it was Elias who had spoken. "You had fifteen years. But you ruined it yourself. Now, she doesn’t want you anymore. You already lost."

He shoved Noah aside and walked away with Elena.

Noah remained rooted to the spot. His chest rose and fell violently. Jealousy and resentment burned through him.

His hands clenched into fists.

"I won’t give up, Elena," he muttered as the car disappeared through the gates. "You will come back to me one day. And I’ll make sure of it."

He phoned his assistant.

The call was connected in a few rings.

"I told you to investigate Elias Rowan," Noah said coldly. "Why haven’t I received any updates?"

"Sir," the assistant replied anxiously. "There is very little information about him. He is extremely private. He avoids public events and keeps a low profile. From home to the office and from the office to home is what he does. From what we’ve gathered, it’s mostly home and office, office and home."

He paused. "And he seems very devoted to Miss Elena—"

"That’s enough," Noah cut him off sharply.

He had no interest in hearing praises about Elias.

"Keep digging. Everyone makes mistakes. The moment he makes one, Elena will leave him. And I’ll be waiting."

"Understood, sir."

Noah lowered his phone. A dangerous grin slowly spread across his face.

"Elias Rowan, you dared to challenge me. I’ll make you regret it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The entire drive home passed in silence.

Elias kept his eyes on the road. His expression remained grim.

Elena knew he was upset. Several times, she wanted to speak. Each time, the words died in her throat.

At last, the car came to a halt.

Elias got out without a word and walked inside. He didn’t open her door. He didn’t wait for her.

A knot formed in Elena’s stomach.

She hurried after him.

The moment she stepped into the house and closed the door behind her, a strong hand pressed against the wall beside her head.

Her breath caught.

Elias stood over her. His tall frame trapped her completely.

Elena’s heart sank. She swallowed. "El-Elias..."

"Why did you go there?" he growled, not allowing her to speak. "Were you that desperate to see him?"

He thought she had gone there to see Noah. And he was terrified she would slip through his fingers.

"I wasn’t..." she replied.

"Then why?" Elias pinched her chin. His desperation was plain.

"Catherine called me," she explained. "She wanted to see me."

"You are no longer allowed to meet any member of the Sinclair family," he said possessively.

Before Elena could reply, he pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was demanding and possessive, as if he were reassuring himself that she was still there with him. Then it gradually softened. It became more consuming.

Elena resisted in the beginning, terrified. Her palms pressed against his chest. But as his movements softened, her resistance slowly melted away.

Her fingers curled into his shirt. She tilted her head back, giving him full access to her mouth.

Just as he deepened his kiss, his phone rang.

Both of them froze.

Breathing heavily, they pulled apart.

The shrill ringing shattered the moment.

Elias stepped back and glanced at the screen. The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression changed.

"Hello?"

"Mommy is awake." Leo’s excited voice burst through the phone.

His eyes widened in surprise. Then a grin spread across his lips. "Are you serious?" he exclaimed, joy exploding in his heart.

"Yes." Leo sounded ecstatic. "She is awake. And she wants to see you. Are you coming?"

"I’m coming."

He ended the call and rushed over to the door, ready to leave. Halfway there, he paused and looked back at Elena. The excitement in his eyes was unmistakable.

He clasped her shoulders. "Stay home. I’ll be back soon."

"Where are you going?" she asked, puzzled.

"I’ll explain everything to you. But I need to leave now." He pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead before leaving.

Elena stood there in a stunned silence, her mind reeling with questions. "Where is he going in such a hurry?"