Chapter 284 They Became Closer
“Elliot, I remember holding you in my arms as a child many years ago. More than two decades had passed, and you had grown up to become the head of the Presgrave Family. Now I’m so proud of you!” Using their family ties, the man attempted to gain Elliot’s sympathy. He then continued pleading, “Do this uncle of yours a favor, Elliot. Let me see your grandma; I need just ten minutes.”
“Let me say it again. Get out.” Elliot’s tone was cold and unforgiving.
“You…” The man was suppressing his rage.
Despite hiding under the window outside, Anastasia could feel the tension inside the villa.
“Do you really want to be this heartless, Elliot? I’m still one of the Presgraves and, on top of that, your uncle! How can you be so disrespectful to me?”
“The Presgrave Family has no such person. To me, you’re a nobody,” Elliot replied flatly.
“Well. What you said today would be etched in my mind. You’ll definitely regret it!” Riley yelled, followed by the slamming sound of the door.
The sound startled Anastasia, who was hiding outside, and consequently, she stepped on a dried leaf, making a small rustling sound.
“Come out now, whoever you are.” Elliot’s uninterested voice rang out from within.
She had wanted to leave, but she was so stupefied by his words that her heart raced again. As a result, she had no choice but to respond, “It’s me, Anastasia.”
Following her words, a figure appeared by the window. Elliot’s voice softened as he looked at her in surprise. “Why are you here?”
“If I said I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, would you believe me?” she asked embarrassingly. The situation was just too awkward for her.
To that, he gave her a gentle smile. “Of course I do. Come in!”
She went in through the main door and discovered that he was the only one in the villa. Sitting on the sofa, he lit a cigarette and started smoking. Clearly, he wasn’t in a good mood.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have eavesdropped. I promise I won’t say a word to anyone else,” she said, raising her palm. There was nothing to be said about this anyway.
Seeing that, he put out the cigarette he had just lit and said, “Have a walk with me.”
And she acceded. They both walked down a bamboo path that had no one on it toward a bamboo forest with a few dimly lit lights. Looking at his upright body in front of her, she had no idea what to say.
“He’s my father’s half-brother who was chased out of the family twenty years ago.”
She pursed her lips hearing that. “I know. Your grandma told me about him this afternoon. Your parents passed away because of him, right?”
Her words took him by surprise. Turning around, he said, “My grandma really treats you as her family.”
That made her face blush, as she knew that Herriot indeed meant so.
“My parents flew abroad to deal with the mess he created, but the helicopter crashed, ending both their lives,” he said, raising his head. The light shone on his face, reflecting his sadness.
Her heart ached for him, but she had no idea what to say to console him.
But actions could express those that words couldn’t. She extended her hand and held his arm, her gaze revealing her silent concern for him.
With that, he looked at her hand and quickly gripped it, his other hand holding her waist. They were intimately close to each other.
That made her gasp for air, but she did not break herself away from him. He was staring at her with his burning eyes, so alluring that any woman would fall for him just by looking at him.
And that included Anastasia too. She wasn’t a clay figurine or a doll, and her heart, like everyone else’s, would be moved. Especially now, when he was vulnerable and was desperate for someone’s comfort.
He approached her with his head tilted slightly, and she didn’t need him to tell her what he was about to do.
Perhaps it was the light, or the moon, or this man himself, who bewitched her. His arms were tight around her waist, and every breath she took was filled with his enticing scent. But she was well aware that what she was doing was wrong.
