Chapter 222
Chapter 222:
Edward and Victoria exhaled in relief.
“Thank you, Eliza,” Victoria said stiffly.
“Don’t thank me,” Eliza said quietly. “Just teach him how to lose p>
She turned to leave.
𝖭𝖾𝘸 𝗐𝗲𝘦k𝗹у ch𝗮𝗽𝗍𝗲𝗿𝘀 oո ѕ.𝘤о𝗆
“He doesn’t love you like I do,” Anson whispered to her back.
Eliza paused at the door. “He loves me better p>
She walked out.
Outside, Dallas was leaning against his black SUV, waiting. Eliza crossed to him quickly. “Take me home p>
Dallas opened the door. “Done p>
“Done,” Eliza said.
They were back in the safety of Eliza’s apartment. The city lights twinkled outside, indifferent to the war they had just fought.
Dallas helped Eliza change out of her clothes. With only one good arm, she needed him to unbutton her shirt. His fingers were gentle, brushing against her skin.
“You were brave today,” he said, kissing her shoulder.
“I felt cruel,” Eliza sighed, leaning into him. “Breaking his heart to save his wallet p>
“You saved his life. He was spiraling,” Dallas assured her.
“I told his parents about the dependency. About how I used him too,” Eliza admitted.
“You didn’t use him. You survived him,” Dallas said.
Eliza looked at him. “And what about us? Did I use you p>
Dallas paused. He looked away for just a moment. “You used me to get free,” he said honestly. “And I let you.” He held her gaze. “But now you are free. So stay because you want to p>
“I want to,” Eliza said.
She pulled him down into a kiss. It deepened quickly — the brush with death had left them both hungry for life.
He carried her to the bed.
“Your arm…” he hesitated.
“Is fine. I have another one,” Eliza said, the joke coming out soft and weak.
They made love slowly, with quiet certainty. There were no ghosts in the room. Only them.
Afterward, Eliza fell asleep on his chest, exhausted.
Dallas stayed awake, staring at the ceiling shadows.
He knew he still had one secret left — the connection to her mother. The reason the Solomon name had drawn him in long before he ever met Eliza. Diana Solomon had shown him a kindness he had never known, and he had never told her daughter.
I have to tell her, he thought.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand.
He picked it up. A text from Anson.
You won the battle. But the game isn’t over. She thinks you’re her savior — but she has no idea about your real motives, does she? She doesn’t know why the name ‘Solomon’ caught your attention in the first place.
Dallas’s eyes narrowed. Anson didn’t know the specifics, but he had found a thread and was already pulling on it.
Tell her, the message continued. Or I’ll enjoy finding out the truth myself and delivering it personally.
Dallas deleted the text.
The peace was shattered again.
He looked at Eliza sleeping quietly against his chest. “I’ll tell her,” he whispered to the dark. “My way p>