Lost in the Pause

Rage threatened to consume Eloise. Knowing that Jonathan and her parents wouldn't believe her, she decided not to waste her breath arguing. She just let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Go on, then, tell me what you're hoping to get out of me through this dramatic confrontation."

Helena and David were about to speak when Jonathan beat them to it. "Apologize to Sonia and compensate her, and we'll consider this incident settled and let you off the hook."

As he said this, he furtively reached for Eloise's hand, as if hinting that this was the lightest punishment she could get off with. However, Eloise found this ironic, seeing as she had nothing to do with the incident at all.

At that moment, Sonia spoke from where she sat on the hospital bed. "I don't need Eloise's apology. She's easily embarrassed, and I don't want to make this harder for her than it should be. Besides, she was probably confused when she orchestrated this mess.

"As for the compensation… Eloise, if you give me the Southam project, I won't press charges against you."

Eloise couldn't help snorting. She glanced at Jonathan and asked, "Is that what you also think?"

Jonathan's gaze was far colder than she imagined. It was clear he agreed with Sonia's suggestion.

"And what if I refuse?" Eloise countered.

"On what grounds?" Jonathan was so hung up on Sonia nearly getting run over by a speeding car that he only wanted to make things right for her. "Ellie, for the sake of the five years we've spent together, I went along with your decisions and stood by you. I even promised to marry you.

"Isn't that enough? You already have what you wanted, so why would you plot against Sonia?"

"I told you I didn't do it! What makes you think I'd pull a deadly stunt against her in public?" Eloise knew that Jonathan didn't believe her, but she refused to be blatantly accused of something she didn't do.

Jonathan closed his eyes impatiently, not wanting to hear Eloise's explanation. "Eloise, it's only right that you're punished for your wrongdoing. If Sonia wants the Southam project, let her have it. If not, I'll take it by force and give it to her."

Such was Jonathan's great love for Sonia, unreserved and bold.

His threat was like a bucket of ice water tipped over Eloise's head, chilling her to the bone. She slowly raised her gaze to look him in the eyes. "So what will I have to do for you to back off the Southam project?"

Eloise did not hail from a powerful family or have parents to support her. She had to work twice as hard for what she wanted.

She'd prepared for the Southam project for a whole year. She stayed up on countless nights, drank until her stomach bled, and the doctors almost lost her on two occasions. In other words, she'd earned the Southam project with her life.

Jonathan knew all this as well, yet here he was, threatening to take the project by force. It was absurd.

"Eloise, beg on your knees for my forgiveness." A gentle smile curved Sonia's lips. "If you apologize to me, I'll spare your project. I know you nearly killed me, but the Southam project is your blood, sweat, and tears. I can't bring myself to take it from you, and I don't want Jon to choose between us."

Sonia had finally come out with the truth. She had never dabbled in biotechnology, so why would she want the Southam project? It was more likely that she wanted to humiliate Eloise in a different, roundabout way.

Jonathan's sharp gaze landed on Eloise. "Since Sonia has spoken, just do as she asks. Get on your knees and apologize to her, Eloise."

"You want me to get on my knees?"

There was a time when Jonathan threw a huge, violent fit, and two maids had to pin him down and beat him into submission with an electric baton. Eloise had rushed toward him and shielded him with her body. The maids forced her to get on her knees and apologize, or they'd continue beating Jonathan.

Eloise had no choice but to do as the maids asked, all so she could protect Jonathan. He'd had the mental capacity of a seven-year-old then, but that night, he cried while blowing on her bruised kneecaps.

"I'll behave from now on, Ellie. Don't get on your knees for me anymore. I won't let anyone make you do it. You're the most important person in the world to me."

He might be mentally a child, then, but he knew how humiliating it was for one to get on one's knees.

But Jonathan had gone from a gullible child to a shrewd and ruthless adult. He fixed Eloise with a grave look, expecting her to beg for Sonia's forgiveness at the expense of Eloise's pride. "You were wrong, so you must deal with the consequences."

It was as if an icy, phantom breeze had blown into the room, sweeping away all that was wonderful and leaving only a deep chill in its wake.

"Fine, I'll get on my knees." Eloise gritted her teeth and turned to face Sonia. She bent her legs slightly.

The corner of Sonia's mouth curved up in a smug smile. "Just get on your knees and I'll forgive you, Eloise."

But just as Eloise's knees were about to hit the ground, she suddenly straightened up and summoned all her strength, then slapped Sonia across the face. It was a loud and hard slap, and blood trickled out of the corner of Sonia's mouth.

"That's my apology!" Eloise snarled. She would not apologize for something she didn't do!

David and Helena charged forward like rabid animals when they saw Sonia getting slapped, but Eloise dodged them.

Not wanting to put up with these rotten folks anymore, Eloise headed for the door. But she had taken only a few steps when someone kicked her in the back of her knees. She lost her balance and staggered, then fell on the floor with a loud thud. Pain seized her.

She looked up, meeting Jonathan's dark, menacing gaze. "You crossed the line, Eloise."

At that moment, the two bodyguards who'd been at the door entered the room. Jonathan ordered, "Get her on her knees and keep it that way for three minutes."

Having heard Jonathan's instruction, the two burly bodyguards stepped forward and gripped Eloise's arms. She tried to break free, but she was no match for two male bodyguards.

They shoved her head toward the floor until her forehead knocked on the tile. No sooner had she risen than they shoved her head down once more. Before long, blood bloomed across the floor.

Sonia was clutching her chest, feigning concern like the drama queen that she was. "Please be gentle with Eloise! Don't be too hard on her."

Meanwhile, Jonathan reached out to cover Sonia's eyes, fearing the gory sight before her would scare her.

All Eloise heard was the sound of her dignity shattering. If she'd known this would happen five years ago, would she have chosen to fall in love with Jonathan still? No, she wouldn't.

When the bodyguards finally let her go, Eloise was already sapped. Fresh blood trickled down her forehead and into her eyes, then dropped on her white dress. Crimson bloomed over the front of her dress.

Her hair was a mess from being gripped, and she looked every bit the pathetic loser. She stared at Jonathan as he protected another woman. This was the man she'd loved and protected for five whole years—a man who had taken her dignity and crushed it.

"I don't want you anymore, Jonathan," Eloise muttered hoarsely. She was unsteady on her feet as she headed out the door, her parents hurling abuse at her from behind.

"If she didn't have late-stage cancer, I'd hire someone to beat her into a pulp!"

"Good riddance! She ought to die outside the family. She won't have a place in the Jensens' mausoleum!"

As it turned out, everyone thought Eloise had cancer and believed her days were numbered. And yet, no one felt sorry for her or sided with her. No one offered her even the slightest warmth in her final days.

Even after all these years, she was still alone.

Eloise's eyes prickled. Her mind went blank, and the next second, she collapsed on the floor.