My Vitamins Were Swapped For Contraceptives

After leaving the Peterson residence, Eliana wandered with no destination, the hours blurring together. It was well past midnight when she finally made it back to the villa.

"Mrs. Harvey, you're back!" the housekeeper greeted her.

"Is Christopher here?"

"No, he hasn't come home yet."

"Oh."

Eliana nodded. He was probably still with Octavia and their son, Gage. Heavy with thoughts, she went upstairs and pulled out the proposal her adoptive mother, Calliope Peterson, had given her. She stared at it blankly for a while, then headed into the bathroom for a bath.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, the bedroom door swung open. Christopher walked in. Eliana froze in the doorway.

She was wrapped in nothing but a towel. She'd planned to let her skin air-dry before changing into pajamas—she hadn't expected him home so late. The towel barely covered her, doing little to hide her long, shapely legs. Droplets slid down the elegant line of her collarbone and disappeared into the soft curve of her chest. Her skin glowed like porcelain—fresh and pure, like a rose newly risen from water.

Christopher's expression darkened at the sight of her, ethereal and fresh from the bath. He crossed the room toward her with purpose.

"Why didn't you dry your hair?" he asked, sliding his cool fingers through her damp hair, grazing her cheek.

His touch made Eliana go rigid. Sensing her resistance, Christopher pulled her into his arms.

"Still mad at me?" he murmured, his warm breath fanning her ear, his lips brushing the shell of it.

"I need to dry my hair," Eliana said, trying to pull away, but his arms locked around her.

He lifted her onto the counter like she weighed nothing, then grabbed the hairdryer and started drying her hair himself.

"I can do it myself," Eliana protested, reaching for the dryer. His quiet, irritated whisper stopped her cold.

"I hate it when you push me away."

His eyes were dark, deep—a swirling vortex that threatened to pull her under. His hand slid through her hair, tilting her face up, his thumb brushing her lips.

"Eliana..." He switched off the dryer, his voice a low murmur against her ear, hot with unmistakable want. "I want you."

"It's late. I just want to sleep—mmph!"

Eliana wasn't in the mood for intimacy, but he silenced her protests with a commanding kiss. In three years of marriage, unless it was that time of the month, he'd sought her out often. She'd once thought his intensity meant his feelings were growing. Now she realized it might have been nothing but physical. If he truly cared, how could he have lied to her for so long?

The thought of the child he'd had with Octavia made her resist. Christopher released her with an irritated sigh. He watched her clutch the towel to her chest, her eyes red with shame. Some of his anger ebbed, but the tightness in his jaw and neck gave him away.

Not wanting to drag out the standoff, Eliana slipped past him and left the bathroom. When she came back from the closet in her pajamas, she froze. Christopher was holding a document—the proposal Calliope had given her. She hadn't decided how to bring it up with him. Now he'd found it on his own.

"So this is why you came back tonight?" he asked, lifting the proposal.

Caught, Eliana pressed her lips together. She couldn't deny it. If not for this, she wouldn't have come back at all.

"Ha..." A cold laugh escaped him. He nodded slowly. "I was just a cash cow for your family, wasn't I?"

The bitter sarcasm in his words cut straight through her. Was that really how he saw her?

"Christopher..." She wanted to explain, but he cut her off, snatching up a pen to sign the contract at the end of the proposal.

"Are you satisfied now? Stay away from Octavia and Gage. Otherwise, I'll make sure the Petersons pay back every penny they've taken from me over the years."

His warning was clear, final. He tossed the signed contract at her and slammed the door behind him. The sound echoed through the room—and straight through Eliana.

For a long moment, she just stood there. Then, slowly, she bent down and picked up the contract. Her face was pale, but she managed a bitter smile. He'd agreed to invest—not out of love for her, but to keep her away from Octavia and their child. Shame crashed over her, overwhelming. In a burst of frustration, Eliana ripped the signed contract to shreds and flung the pieces into the air. She couldn't betray her adoptive parents' trust—but she would not endure more humiliation for Octavia and her child.

Monday morning, Christopher was in a board meeting when his phone buzzed. Eliana's name flashed on the screen. He declined the call. A text came through seconds later:

"Christopher Harvey, I'm waiting for you at the solicitor's office. If you don't show up, you'll regret it!"

His expression darkened. Everyone in the room noticed; silence fell. But Christopher ignored the summons. He turned off his phone and continued the meeting. He had no intention of going to the solicitor's office.

Until his assistant, Uriel Mason, rushed in.

"Mr. Harvey, something's wrong..."

No one heard what Uriel whispered, but they all watched Christopher's face go grim. He left the meeting without another word. Curious looks passed around the table. In the eight years since he'd taken over the company fresh out of college, Christopher had never walked out of a meeting halfway through—no matter how bad the crisis. What could possibly be urgent enough now?