Chapter 53
Chapter 53:
“Let her tell me that!” Anson shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Dallas. “To my face! If she tells me to leave, I’ll go. But I know she won’t. She loves me p>
Dallas studied him for a moment, running through the calculation quickly and cleanly. If he blocked Anson now, Anson would play the victim. He would tell the press that Dallas Koch was holding Eliza Solomon against her will.
But if Eliza rejected him — if she looked him in the eye and cut him off herself — Anson would die a social death that no press spin could resurrect.
Dallas knew she was ready.
“Fine,” Dallas said. “Five minutes. Under supervision p>
He nodded to the guards. They stepped aside.
“You’re coming with me,” Dallas added, already turning toward the elevator. “I want to see this p>
In Room 302, Eliza was staring at a magazine she wasn’t reading.
The door burst open. Anson rushed in, bringing with him the stale smell of champagne and a sleepless night.
“Eliza! Thank God.” He crossed to the bed, reaching for her.
𝖱е𝘢d 𝗼𝗻 𝘢𝘯y 𝖽е𝘃𝗂𝗰e 𝗼n
Eliza flinched and drew her knees up. “Anson p>
Dallas positioned himself in the doorway, arms crossed. He didn’t speak. He simply watched.
“They wouldn’t let me in last night,” Anson said, the words tumbling out. “I was out of my mind with worry. Look at you — you’re pale p>
“I almost died, Anson,” Eliza said quietly.
“I know! It was Claudine — she’s unhinged!” Anson moved closer, his voice dropping to something pleading. “But you’re safe now. Come home, Eliza. I’ll take care of you. We can go back to the Manor. Everything can go back to the way it was p>
Eliza looked at him. He looked pathetic — hollow-eyed, rumpled, clutching at something that had already dissolved.
Then she looked at Dallas. He was still. Solid. Waiting.
The choice was here.
Anson grabbed Eliza’s hand, his palms damp. “Claudine is sorry. I made her apologize. We can fix this p>
Eliza pulled her hand away as if he had burned her. “Fix what, Anson? My throat? The fact that you watched her poison me p>
“I froze,” Anson stammered. “My mother grabbed my arm. I’m sorry. But you know I love you. You know I’ve always loved you p>
“You love owning me,” Eliza corrected him, her voice gaining strength. “You love having a pet p>
“No. That’s not true p>
“I am grateful to the Hyde family for raising me,” Eliza said, choosing her words carefully. “You are like a brother to me, Anson p>
The word hung in the air. Brother.
Anson recoiled as if she had slapped him. “Brother? I loved you. We were meant to be married p>
“We were children,” she said. “And then you got engaged to Claudine. You chose her. You chose the money p>
“That’s business!” Anson shouted. “My heart is yours p>
“My heart is closed to you, Anson,” Eliza said firmly. “Please leave p>
Anson turned red, his humiliation curdling into rage. He spun around and pointed a trembling finger at Dallas.
“It’s him, isn’t it? This capitalist vulture — he’s brainwashing you!” Anson spat. “He’s just using you. He doesn’t love you. He’s playing some sick game p>