Chapter 242
Chapter 242:
“You think love is chaos because you’ve never had it,” Eliza said, pressing the nerve deliberately.
Jeannine’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You are insolent p>
“I am honest.” Eliza held her gaze. “I love Dallas. We are married — legally, emotionally, in every way. And I am not going anywhere.” She placed one finger on the check and slid it back across the table. “So you can either accept me, or lose your son forever. He already chose me over Ferd. Do you want him to choose me over you as well p>
Jeannine stared at the returned check. Her hand trembled slightly.
“You don’t know what he is,” she whispered. The hardness had drained from her voice, replaced by something that looked disturbingly like genuine fear. “You don’t know what he carries p>
𝘓𝗮𝘵𝗲𝘀𝗍 𝖼𝘩𝗮𝗉𝘁𝖾𝗋𝘴 𝗈𝗻
“I know he was lonely,” Eliza said. “I know you sent him away to boarding school when he was a child p>
“We sent him away to save him!” Jeannine snapped, her composure fracturing. “And to save us p>
“From what p>
Jeannine leaned in, her eyes wide and intense. “From the curse. From the Omen,” she hissed. Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “Dallas was born with a caul — a veil over his face. The family astrologer, an old fool Ferd trusted, said he would devour the family fortune. That he was a dark star p>
Eliza stared at her. “You exiled a child because of… astrology p>
“It wasn’t just that!” Jeannine insisted. “Accidents happened around him. Nannies fell. Dogs died. He is dangerous, Eliza. He attracts death p>
“He attracts death because you surrounded him with coldness,” Eliza said. She stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. She couldn’t listen to another word. It was madness — rich people madness, the kind that dressed cruelty up in superstition and called it protection.
“I’m done listening to fairy tales,” she said, picking up her purse. “You’re not protecting him. You’re justifying your own cruelty p>
She turned to leave.
Jeannine’s hand shot out and seized Eliza’s wrist. Her grip was surprisingly strong, her nails digging into the skin.
“It wasn’t just superstition!” Jeannine hissed, pulling her back. “He hurt people. He has violence in his blood p>
“Who?” Eliza demanded, trying to shake free. “Who did he hurt p>
“Ferd’s… assistant,” Jeannine said, the word tasting like something rotten. “Dosha. She fell down the stairs when Dallas was ten p>
Eliza went still.
“Dallas was at the top of the stairs,” Jeannine said, her eyes haunted. “Watching. Smiling.” She paused. “That’s why we sent him away. He pushed her p>
“Dallas would not push a woman down stairs,” Eliza said. “He protects women p>
“He was a child!” Jeannine insisted. “A jealous, dark child. He knew Ferd liked her more than him p>
“Or maybe Dosha fell,” Eliza said. “Or maybe she lied p>
“Dosha was pregnant,” Jeannine said.
The silence in the café was deafening.
“She lost the baby,” Jeannine whispered.
“Ferd’s baby?” Eliza guessed, her stomach turning.
Jeannine went pale. She realized she had said too much and pressed her lips together.