Chapter 293
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#35 BONUS
Finnegan was like a dangerous beast–unapproachable to anyone except Elara.
“Do you really think you’re her real boyfriend? Go ahead and fool others, but don’t start fooling yourself,” he said coldly.
Theodore, who was already fuming, was about to retort when Elara tugged lightly on his sleeve. The fire in his eyes melted into a bright, affectionate smile upon meeting her gaze.
“I’ll listen to you. I’ll do whatever you say,” he said, his voice wrapping around her like a warm down blanket.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to swallow his resentment–for her sake.
He could fight for her, compete for her, but he could also let go when it mattered.
“Since my dear brother–in–law is an expert at treating bruises, I’ll leave Elara in your capable hands. I have to admit, as a boyfriend, I can’t compare to her blood relative Theodore said, deliberately dragging out certain
words.
Finnegan’s expression darkened.
Meanwhile, Theodore lowered his gaze and carefully cradled Elara’s delicate wrist in his hands. His touch was so gentle it was as if he feared she might break.
Elara held back a quiet laugh. It was just a minor bruise, yet Theodore treated her like the most fragile treasure in the world.
She had long outgrown the age where a simple scrape would make her cry and seek comfort.
But in moments of gentle care, it felt like a surge of strength had been injected into her chest, making the blood coursing through her veins feel almost scorching
“Once you get home, take a shower and rest early. If you’re worried about not being able to sleep, you can have my dear brother–in–law stay over–just make sure he sleeps in the living room.
“Actually, I could sleep right outside your bedroom door, but I know Elara would never allow that. You’d feel too sorry for me. But someone as tough–skinned as my brother–in–law? It should be no problem at all.
“Just remember to lock your bedroom door. I’m only worried his snoring might keep you up,” Theodore said.
Finnegan shoved his hands into his pockets, itching to find a needle and thread to sew Theodore’s mouth shut.
After sending Leonard off and saying goodbye to Theodore, Elara returned home with Finnegan.
At the entrance, as she changed into her indoor slippers, her eyes landed on the small whiteboard where Merida had left a message:
“For tomorrow’s breakfast, I’d like Mommy’s special chicken noodle soup that’s made with love!”
Alongside the words, Merida had even drawn a cartoon version of herself, hugging a bowl of soup with starry eyes.
Elara picked up a marker and wrote a simple “Ok“.
“Finn, thank you for taking care of Merida.”
Because Merida carried the Fisher family’s bloodline, Elara had always worried that hiring a nanny could pose a risk as the Fisher family could easily buy someone off.
She insisted on taking care of Merida herself to minimize potential threats. But as a single mother with work and
+25 BONUS
Chapter 203
social obligations, she couldn’t always be there at night. Whenever she had to be away, she entrusted Merida to Finnegan.
“Merida is a good kid. I’m never bored with her around, and my mind dor stepped into the living room, slipping on his house shoes.
wander,” Finnegan said as he
His military habits kicked in as he instinctively scanned the entire room, even glancing outside the windows.
Pulling back a corner of the curtain, he looked toward the high–rise building across from them—the one Harvey had purchased. It was directly facing their apartment.
That meant that even if Harvey hadn’t gone to the extreme of imprisoning Elara, he had likely planned to spy on her and Merida from across the street.
The very thought of it made Finnegan sick.
“Have you thought about moving?” Finnegan asked.
Elara shook her head. “After everything that’s happened, I don’t want to run away anymore. Today, I locked Harvey up because I wanted him to associate this place with feat.
“There will come a day when he’s released, and when that happens, he’ll have to spend an enormous amount of energy confronting the dark history that house now holds for him.”
Thinking about it, Elara couldn’t help but anticipate how Harvey would handle it.
Meanwhile, Finnegan brought out a bottle of herbal oil and began massaging her wrist.
Merida was already asleep. Though the door to the children’s room was shut, Elara sat quietly in the living room, afraid of making a sound.
She bit down on a towel, burying her face into the back of the sofa. Her entire face flushed red from the suppressed pain, and Finnegan noticed even her ears had turned crimson.
He applied just the right amount of pressure as he rubbed her wrist. The heat from his hands seeped into her skin, and before long, the area had turned completely red.
Elara nearly clawed through the leather sofa, only stopping when she felt warmth settle over her wrist. Turning her head, she saw Finnegan pressing a warm towel against her skin.
His palms were broad, and his fingertips were rough with calluses. He didn’t seem to feel the heat at all.
“What are you laughing at?” Finnegan asked while keeping his head down.
He never once looked at her, yet somehow, he knew she was watching him with a smile.
Elara admitted, “I just thought of something Theodore said.
Theodore had such a way with words–he had actually called Finnegan thick–skinned.
“Do you think about him often?”
The words slipped out before Finnegan realized it. The moment he did, he knew he had overstepped. As her older brother, asking about her personal feelings was crossing a line.
Chapter 294
