After I Left, He Fell Apart

Gabriella's POV

I felt like I couldn't breathe. Those words kept circling in my mind. Thomas had drugged me. He was the reason I had been sick, and he had been here taking care of me after poisoning me.

I scoffed bitterly. I had almost fallen for it, I had almost let him fool me again.

When Thomas came out of the shower, I was pretending to be asleep. I wouldn't be able to hide my reaction to this news, and he would know that something was wrong.

Thomas pressed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Have a good night's sleep, Ella.” He murmured.

I resisted the urge to flinch at his touch, no matter how repulsive it felt.

Over the next few days, Thomas still didn't leave my side. He kept caring and tending to me. The few times he left my side was for the marriage preparations, but nothing he did moved me. I knew what he was capable of, and how evil he really was.

However, I barely spoke to Thomas after that night. Every time he touched me, every time he looked at me with those soft, loving eyes, I wanted to ask him how he could pretend so well. How he could poison me, plan my death, and then sit beside me, stroking my hair as if I were the love of his life.

But I said nothing. I kept my distance from him, and I only answered when necessary, using short sentences, nothing more.

At first, he didn’t notice. He thought I was still weak, still recovering, especially as he had been very busy with the wedding plans.

But after a few days, the silence started to get to him.

“Ella,” he murmured one evening as we sat together in the living room. I had a book in my lap, but I wasn’t really reading it. I could feel Thomas watching me for a while with an unreadable look in his eyes.

I glanced at him for a brief second, before I turned my attention back to my book, silently telling him that I was listening.

He shifted closer to me. “You’ve been quiet lately.”

I kept my face blank. “I don’t feel like talking.”

Concern flashed across his face. “I know you’re still grieving, baby. I get it. I know how much you wanted this child.” His voice was soft. “But I promise you, next time will be different.”

My hands tightened on the book. Next time?

Thomas cupped my cheek, lifting my face toward him. “We’ll try again, Ella. And this time, I swear to you, the pregnancy will stay.” He said so sincerely, like he really meant it.

I forced a smile, “Thank you.” I murmured.

He released a deep breath of relief. “That’s my girl. I love you.”

I allowed him to pull me into his arms, resting my head on his chest as he murmured soft words that meant nothing to me.

A sharp sound interrupted us, his phone was ringing. I glanced at the name on the screen quickly before he flipped the phone over with a frustrated groan.

It was Claire.

This wasn't the first call from Claire today. Claire had been calling and texting Thomas non-stop for days, but he had been ignoring them.

I watched him, lifting an eyebrow at him, but he said nothing, avoiding my eyes.

“You’re not going to answer?” I asked, tilting my head.

Thomas sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

“You know Claire,” he muttered. “She’s always such a perfectionist. She probably just wants to go over the wedding arrangements again.”

I nodded slowly, pretending that I believed him.

“She’s been calling a lot,” I commented. “It must be important.”

Thomas hesitated, then he shook his head. “It’s not. I don’t want to deal with it right now.” He squeezed my hand gently.

“Your well-being is my number one priority, Ella. Everything else can wait.”

I scoffed internally. Liar.

Before I could say anything else, a sharp knock came from the front door.

Thomas hesitated for a moment before he got up to answer the door.

The moment he opened it, Claire stormed in. Her heels clicked against the floor sharply. Her eyes immediately found me, and she sneered slightly before she hid it with a fake smile.

“Ella,” she said sweetly, though I could still hear the sharpness in her tone. “How are you feeling? You look… better.”

I shrugged, forcing a smile. “Yes, thanks to Thomas.”

She scowled for a split second before she released a forced laugh. “Oh yes, Thomas. Thanks to him. He's such a wonderful person. Is that the reason he hasn't been picking his calls?”

Thomas placed a hand on her arm, squeezing it in warning. “Claire, not here,” he muttered under his breath.

She rolled her eyes, “Fine. But we need to talk.” She glanced at me, before she turned back to Thomas. “Alone.”