Chapter 139: He really loves Leo.
Elena sat beside Leo’s bed, reading him a bedtime story about a little dinosaur who was afraid of the dark.
"Along the way, the tiny dinosaur discovered that the stars were not frightening at all—they were little lights guiding him home."
Leo hummed softly as he listened, though his eyelids grew heavier with every passing minute. He struggled to keep them open, determined to hear the ending of the story he had already memorized.
In the end, sleep claimed him. His humming faded, his eyes fluttered shut, and his breathing became slow and even.
Elena closed the book and looked at him.
Leo hugged his dinosaur plush tightly against his chest, his lips slightly parted in peaceful sleep.
Elena’s eyes softened. A gentle smile touched her face. She brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead. Suddenly, her thoughts drifted back to Ian.
At lunch, he had looked after Leo with such natural affection. The way he had wiped the oil stain from Leo’s lips, held his hand as they walked, and spoken to him with endless patience replayed vividly in her mind.
They were only small gestures, yet they spoke volumes.
’He really loves Leo,’ she thought. ’Was today his way of making up for everything he had missed?’
She let out a quiet sigh. Everything she had witnessed had changed the image she had formed of Ian.
He was nothing like the man Evelyn had described.
’Maybe there is more to the story than I know.’
Carefully climbing off the bed, she tucked the blanket around Leo one last time before quietly leaving the room.
When she entered the master bedroom, she found Elias leaning comfortably against the headboard, a book in his hands.
He looked up as she walked in, closed the book, and placed it on the bedside table.
"Is he asleep?" he asked.
Elena nodded. She climbed onto the bed and curled onto her side beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist.
"Tired?" His voice came softly.
"Yes," she answered quietly.
He chuckled. "Has Leo been giving you a hard time?"
"Leo is such a sweet child," Elena said with a smile. "He doesn’t trouble me at all. I love spending time with him."
Relief flickered across Elias’s face. He was glad Leo had grown comfortable around Elena. But his smile gradually faded.
Elena’s expression had become distant, her gaze fixed blankly on the opposite wall. She looked disturbed.
"What is it?" he asked, studying her carefully. "You said you were tired. Why aren’t you sleeping? Is something bothering you?"
Elena looked up at him, silently debating whether she should bring it up.
Elias caught the hesitation in her eyes. "Talk to me."
"I met Ian today," she said.
His brows drew together.
"He came to pick Leo up from school." After a brief pause, she continued, "He took Leo out for dinner and invited me to join them. So... I went."
Elias remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"He loves Leo," Elena said quietly. "You can see it in everything he does."
"Yes," Elias replied. "He does."
Elena sat up slowly, locking her eyes with his. "I think he is a good man."
Elias looked at her calmly. "He is a good doctor," he said. "Sadly, he couldn’t be a good husband."
Elena lowered her eyes. ’What a shame. Such a good man—why did things end up like this?’ she mused.
She couldn’t understand why he couldn’t give enough time to his family.
She knew being a doctor demanded endless sacrifices and long hours. But surely there should have been room for his family too. And if he had never truly loved Evelyn, why had he married her in the first place?
"Hey..." Elias gently cupped her face, lifting her chin until she was looking at him again. "I don’t like it when you are thinking about another man while you are with me."
Elena couldn’t stop her lips from stretching. "My apologies. I am not thinking about anyone else."
His smile resumed. "You should only think about me when you are with me." His voice was quiet, carrying a hint of teasing possessiveness.
Their eyes met, and for a long moment neither of them spoke. Then he leaned in, his lips hovering over hers.
Elena’s heartbeat quickened. She could see every dark lash framing his eyes and feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. The familiar cedar scent of his cologne surrounded her.
Her lips trembled slightly in anticipation. But he was not kissing her.
"Elena." The way he said her name made her heart melt.
She curled her fingers around her nightdress. A shiver ran through her body.
He leaned even closer and whispered in her ear, "I want you."
Her body had already betrayed her. Every whispered word, every lingering glance had set her heart racing long before he confessed his desire.
She wanted him just as desperately. She caught his collar and pulled him closer to her.
"Then what are you waiting for? Take me."
A smile flickered across his lips before he gathered her into his arms and claimed her mouth.
She looped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss with equal longing.
What began as a gentle kiss quickly deepened into something far more consuming. Their teeth collided, their tongues intertwining. Every lingering touch spoke of the love and yearning they had kept bottled up throughout the day.
He held her head and kissed her madly as if he had been tasting her for the very first time.
Elena was dizzy. His warmth surrounded her, his familiar cedar scent clouding her senses until she could think of nothing but him.
Still holding her close, he eased her back onto the bed without ever breaking the kiss.
She let out a soft, breathless sigh.
When he finally lifted his head, his dark eyes were filled with affection and unmistakable desire.
"Tonight, I’ll make you beg for me again and again."
He pressed his lips on her neck, then trailed his kiss down while his hands pushed her nightdress up.
Her pale skin was exposed beneath his eyes.
"So beautiful," he drawled, marveling at her.
He kissed her breastbone, his fingers traveling down further. His touch sent shivers through her, making her cling to him even tighter.
"Uh..." She sighed, arching her back, as if asking him for more.
He slipped his fingers into the waistband of her panties. His kiss lingered on her stomach as he gently pulled her panties down.
Another moan escaped her mouth. Her body trembled with desire.
He moved his fingers around her thighs, inching toward her core. But he deliberately didn’t touch her there.
Her thighs clenched in anticipation.
"Elias, please," she breathed.
He smiled knowingly, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her. "What do you want, Elena? Tell me clearly."
"I want..." Her voice trailed off.
"What is it, Elena?" he whispered, kissing her inner thigh softly. "What do you want?"