Chapter 46: His Heart Belonged to Someone Else

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: His Heart Belonged to Someone Else

"What’s so funny to both of you?!" Eloise shouted, her voice cracking with fresh fury.

The laughter died instantly.

"I’m hurting right now, and you’re both sitting there laughing? What’s so funny?! Do I look like a joke to you?!"

"I’m sorry," Henry muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Just keep quiet, you ugly thing!" Eloise snapped tearfully.

Paying no attention to her outburst, Elisha shifted closer to Henry and leaned over to press a tender kiss against his forehead. "You look absolutely pretty, baby," he murmured.

Henry smiled, pouting playfully at Elisha. "Thank you."

Eloise’s eyes widened as another realization struck her. She stared at Henry in disbelief, her gaze dropping briefly to the way he was pouting playfully at Elisha. "Wait... don’t tell me you’re the one receiving? You mean my boyfriend is the one playing the woman’s role here? Then what the hell does that make me?!"

"What do you mean?" Elisha frowned, shaking his head. "You can’t just say it like that—"

"Oh, like I care about semantics right now?!" Eloise yelled, throwing her hands up in frustration.

Henry looked at Elisha. "Give me a moment. I want to talk to her."

Elisha nodded. "It’s fine."

Henry gently pulled his hand away from Elisha’s and stood up from the bed. He walked over to Eloise and sat on the edge of the sofa facing her. Then he reached for her trembling hands and held them gently.

"I’m sorry, Eloise. Truly," Henry said, his voice filled with genuine remorse. "I know I hurt you, and I hate that I did."

Eloise stared down at their joined hands, her lip trembling. "You know I didn’t deserve this. Why would you hurt me like this?"

"I’m sorry," Henry repeated softly, having no other words to offer.

"I won’t forgive you easily, you know," Eloise whispered, a fresh tear slipping down her cheek. "I’m not even angry that you love a man. What hurts is that you pretended to love me when you already knew your heart belonged to someone else. You made me believe our relationship was real, and that hurts more than you can imagine. I’m not going to forgive you for this anytime soon."

"I’m really sorry, Henry," Henry said.

She pulled her hands away and sniffed hard. "And as for both of you? You better start running whenever you see me coming, because I might just break both your legs."

She was about to stand and leave when another sharp knock sounded at the bedroom door.

The maid’s voice came from the other side, sounding slightly panicked. "Sir? Mrs. Edmund and Miss Jasmine are downstairs. They’re here to see you."

Henry groaned and rubbed his temples. "What a day... Here comes another round of trouble."

He called toward the door, "Tell them I’ll be downstairs in a minute."

Elisha’s expression instantly hardened. He stood from the bed. "Don’t go down there, Henry. I’ll go down and deal with them myself."

"No, let me handle this," Henry insisted, stepping in front of him. "Whatever happens, stay up here. I’ll tell them you aren’t even here."

Elisha hesitated, studying him for a moment. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

Henry nodded confidently. "I can handle it. Just stay here."

"Alright," Elisha reluctantly agreed.

Eloise paused near the doorway and raised a tear-stained eyebrow. "What’s going on? Not that I care, but I’m curious."

"Elisha came out to his family last night," Henry explained quietly. "His mother is probably here because of what happened."

Eloise’s expression softened for a brief moment, a flicker of sympathy crossing her face despite her own heartbreak. "She must be hurting right now, just like me... poor woman." She shook her head and adjusted her bag over her shoulder. "Anyway, handle your shit. I’m out of here. I don’t wish either of you well, fuck you two."

With that, she yanked the door open and stormed into the hallway.

Henry cast one last worried look at Elisha before hurrying after her to deal with the trouble waiting downstairs, leaving Elisha alone in the quiet room.

As Henry and Eloise walked side by side down the grand staircase, the tension between them had eased slightly. Halfway down, Eloise stopped and turned her face toward him.

"I have a question to ask you," she said quietly.

Henry slowed to a stop and met her gaze. "Go ahead. I’m listening."

"Do you think I’m beautiful?" she asked, vulnerability in her voice.

Henry didn’t hesitate. "I don’t think you’re just beautiful, Eloise. You’re breathtakingly beautiful."

A bittersweet smile touched her lips. "Alright... but did you ever feel anything real for me? Even a little?"

"Yes, Eloise," Henry answered honestly, his voice filled with regret. "I really did. You’re amazing, and you have a heart of gold. It was never because you weren’t enough. The truth is, my heart has always belonged to him."

Eloise swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand."

They continued down the stairs until they reached the lower hallway. Eloise looked up at him, her protective side returning.

"If you ever change your mind, or if his family refuses to accept him or allow the two of you to be together, or if that piece of trash ever breaks your heart... don’t you dare choose another woman. Choose me, okay?"

Henry looked at her with genuine respect and gave her a solemn nod. "I promise you."

They turned the corner toward the expansive living room, but before they could step inside, Jasmine suddenly rushed forward and lunged at Henry. Her face was twisted with fury as she began pounding her fists against his chest.

"You whore!" Jasmine shouted. "What did you do to Elisha to make him fall in love with you?! Where is he now?! Call him out right this second!"

Eloise’s expression hardened. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and shoved Jasmine’s hands away from Henry’s chest.

"Take your filthy hands off my man," Eloise snapped.

Elisha’s mother, seated on the main sofa, massaged her temples with a tired sigh. She raised a hand toward Jasmine. "Will you stop screaming? Sit down and calm down."

Henry stepped past them and walked toward the seating area. He stopped a few feet from Elisha’s mother and gave her a respectful nod. "Good morning, Mom."

She looked up at him, her expression softening slightly. "Good morning, son." Her eyes then shifted toward Eloise. She pointed at her. "Who is she?"

Before Henry could answer, he turned back to her. "Mom, I’ll answer all your questions, but can you please make Jasmine leave my house? She’s completely out of line and extremely rude."

Elisha’s mother glanced at Jasmine, who was still visibly upset, and sighed. "I’ve had enough of her behavior today." She looked at Henry. "This is your house, Henry. You have every right to decide who stays here."

Jasmine’s jaw dropped. "Mom! Are you really just going to let—"

"You can leave, Jasmine," Elisha’s mother interrupted firmly. "I heard everything you said last night and this morning. But as a mother, I’ve seen enough to understand why my son doesn’t want you. I think it’s time you stopped pushing him and forcing yourself on him."

"Elisha is gay!" Jasmine screamed, completely losing control. "He loves Henry! They’re both disgusting!"

"And so what if they are?!" Eloise shot back, stepping forward angrily. "If a man rejects you, I understand that it hurts. But why make such a big deal out of it? Everyone has the right to love whoever they want. It’s not like you’re any better. Look at you, you’re here forcing yourself on a man who clearly doesn’t want you. I bet it’s because no man wants you."

Jasmine’s eyes narrowed. "What about you?"

Eloise scoffed. "Forget it. I’m hot as hell, and I always have choices, unlike you. Just go home and get some rest, girl."

Jasmine’s face flushed with anger. "Just because you’re famous doesn’t give you the right to talk to me anyhow!"

"But I’m only telling you the truth," Eloise replied with a shrug.

Jasmine suddenly rushed toward her, raising her hand as if she were about to slap her.

Henry’s expression hardened. He immediately stepped forward and pointed toward the front door. "Leave my house. Now."

Humiliated and furious, Jasmine froze for a moment, realizing that everything she had tried to do had only backfired. With a frustrated cry, she spun around, marched toward the front door, yanked it open, and slammed it shut behind her.

Eloise watched her leave before turning to Elisha’s mother and giving her a polite nod. She then glanced at Henry one last time, rolled her eyes dramatically, and muttered, "Good luck."

She walked out and closed the door softly behind her, a sharp contrast to Jasmine’s dramatic exit.

The heavy front door clicked shut, leaving Henry and Elisha’s mother alone in the spacious, silent living room.

Elisha’s mother patted the cushion beside her. "Come here, Henry. Sit with me."

She looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears and the lingering shock of the previous night. "Talk to me as your mother. I want to hear everything... and don’t hide anything from me."

Henry let out a slow breath. He crossed the Persian rug and sat down beside her.

"Ask me anything you want, Mom," Henry said softly.