Chapter 426: Acknowledging His Identity
Ella leaned gently into Eric’s embrace, her fingers brushing over his slightly rough hands. "I know you’ve been working hard these past days," she said softly.
Though she didn’t press him, Ella understood that Eric rarely worked this late. In the past, he always made it home in time for dinner and would take her for a stroll afterward. For him to stay at the office until 10 p.m., there must have been something exceptionally important happening.
What’s more, Eric had always been forthcoming with her about everything, but now it seemed like he was deliberately keeping something from her.
"How are you feeling today?" Eric asked, leaning back on the couch and gently kissing her cheek.
"Pretty good. Much better than usual," Ella replied with a smile.
Eric placed a hand on her waist and began massaging gently. "Still sore?"
Ella chuckled lightly. "Not anymore. My body seems to be recovering quite well these past few days."
Eric continued to rub her waist tenderly before getting up to fill the bathtub. He wanted Ella to take a bath, not only to relax her but also to distract himself from the desires he had been suppressing.
The warm, comforting night passed quickly. Ella didn’t sleep well, as usual, and in the early hours of the morning, she felt Eric getting out of bed. This time, however, he didn’t head out for his usual morning run or workout. Instead, he left the house entirely.
Reaching out, Ella’s hand landed on the now-empty spot beside her, leaving her feeling a tinge of melancholy.
Unable to fall back asleep, Ella opened her eyes and gazed out at the slowly brightening light creeping through the window. Morning had fully arrived.