A Love Forgotten (Arianna and Elijah)

Chapter 216

Elijah glared at me darkly. "Ariana, didn't you once say you loved me? But now, you've already moved on? Or was there something going on between you and Mr. Wood all along. Without thinking. I raised my hand to slap him. He caught my wrist mid-alt, smicking

"Did strike a nerve

1 laughed herrerly should have let Logan handle this. If he were here, he'd be the one slapping you!

He let go of my hand, his face key. "Let's skip the drama Arias, dragging this out in court is just a public spectacle. We were married for five years-I don't want it to end in a circus." So, did this mean he wanted a settlement?

allowed my anger and asked, "What's your proposal?"

Elijah hesitated, his gaze conflicted. "Til give back everything that's yours. Just ghe mesos.

I was taken aback Thadn't expected Elijah, who was usually so unyielding, to offer a clean split.

After a moment of silence, I replied, "Wight How much time do you need?"

He tugged at his tie, visibly agitated. "I don't know. I'll need the accountants to figure it out... Ariana, I just wasn't prepared."

His final words were said with a surprising sense of resignation.

A pang of something flickered in my heart.

I looked at him closely. His eyes were bloodshot, and there were faint shadows under them. He didn't look like he'd been doing well. The thought struck me, and surprisingly, I felt a winge of pity. Noticing my silence, he lowered his voice. "Ariana, I really wasn't ready

"What are you not ready for?" asked

eyes reddened further, and he quickly looked down, hiding his expression. Tm just not ready to lose you,"

He turned away, pulling out a cigarette and tumbling with his lighter, but he couldn't get it to light. After several failed attempts, he threw the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under

Taking a deep breath, be looked straight at me. "Let's settle this amicably. I'll do my bear to return what's yours.. jast spare me some time."

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. This was the first time since my memory loss that I'd seen Elijah lower his pride and ask me for time and space.

We stood in silence, countless emotions running the ough my mind Finally, I nodded

'T'll discuss it with Mr. Webb. He'll be in touch,"

Elijah didn't look relieved. If anything, he seemed more conflicted. He hesitated a

Tasked, "Is there anything else? If not..

After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Does he... treat you well?"

I baked, not sure I'd heard him right. "What did you say?"

something more to say.

His gaze shifted toward Logan's cat in the distance, and he repeated, "Does he treat you will?"

Slowly, I nodded. "Yeah. He treats me really well!

A strange expression ticketed across Elijah's face, something between a smile and a grimace. His eyes held an intensity that made my heartache unexpectedly.

He whispered, "AL. I'm sorry about Jocelyn"

I took a steadying breath "Elijah, don't. Please, just stop bringing this up"

However, he continued stubbornly, "I should have ended things with her from the start. It was my fault... I was too arrogant... I thought you'd never leave. I thought crossing that line didn't My eyes filled with tears. I didn't know why, but I suddenly felt the urge to cry.

He went on, "I heard what Teri said today. I knew back then that you loved me deeply and did so much for me..

I raised my hand, stopping him. "Enough, Elijah. It doesn't matter anymore. It's all over now!

I turned to leave, but he reached out as it to grame, then let his hand fall, defeated. "I dowli in't matter. I just... I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I have to take responsibility for

So that was it. Flet out a soft, bitter laugh

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