The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Now there was nothing Garrett could do but remain silent, giving Elice the time she needed for a pause. Garrett knew this was a truly messy situation.

Somberly, Garrett took a deep breath, realizing that being alive up until this point was a valid sign. Elice was not a weak woman; quite the opposite, in fact. She was strong.

For Elice, she had found herself helpless on numerous occasions. Countless thoughts of suicide crossed her mind. But when she saw her mother’s face, a glimmer of rationality emerged.

I have already caused Mom suffering. Should I add to her tears? By leaving in a pitiful state?

So, when thoughts of suicide came, Elice would prepare herself. She would get dressed and decide to go to the club. Because she thought it was the only way to rid herself of those dark thoughts. During the crowd, where there would be no sanctimonious people to mock her tears.

But she never expected what she found today. Instead of receiving ridicule and accusations, she found a pair of ears that patiently listened to her story without uttering a word of judgment.

“At least now you’re free from that man,” Garrett finally said. He could not console her, as he had stated before. He was just a good listener, and he found no other words to say except for that fact.

“I don’t know,” Elice whispered sadly. “I don’t know if I’m free from him or the other way around. I’m the one who has been discarded, and I’m worthless now.”

Garrett furrowed his brow, disagreeing with what Elice said.

“Letting go of a man like him doesn’t show your worthlessness. On the contrary, it means he’s not worthy of you.”

“You couldn’t possibly forget that, I just said it a moment ago.”

Elice said, looking at Garrett. Her eyes still held traces of tears, and her gaze seemed truly wounded, as if she believed her future was now as dark and uncertain as a path in the middle of a forest, without any sunlight or glimmer of hope.

“I am no longer valuable as a woman. I have been pregnant. I have had a miscarriage. And…”

Elice couldn’t continue her sentence. Instead, she took a deep breath, resigning herself to her fate. Perhaps she would continue to live only for her mother. Her true life had already died.

“But that doesn’t negate the fact that many eyes still look at you with admiration,” Garrett responded, signaling with his eyes.

Looking around, Elice noticed a particular point of focus in Garrett’s gaze. Several women seemed surprised when she turned her attention to them, probably caught in the act of gossiping about their fellow women, a typical female trait.

“I have been observing you all this time. Many have been secretly looking at you, probably because they find you attractive,” Garrett continued, glancing back at Elice. “It’s not just women; I have also noticed some men from my group who have shown interest in you. No need to thank me, thinking that my presence here saved you from other player.”

Elice could guess the meaning behind Garrett’s words, but it didn’t quite register with her.

“They only know my appearance. They don’t know anything about my past.”

“And isn’t that the point?”

Out of the blue, Garrett cornered Elice with a fatal question, almost causing her to flinch unexpectedly. What Garrett said made perfect sense.

“It’s just the past. And what people see in us is… only our appearance.”

For this matter, Elice certainly could not argue. After all, was not it true? What people saw in others was merely their appearance?

“I-I….”

“You’re sad, undoubtedly. And even I’m not sure I could handle life in your current position.”

It was not an empty phrase. Garrett was certain of this. Initially, when he saw a woman crying alone, he thought it was a case of a broken heart. But it turned out to be more than just a broken heart for Elice. It was despair.

“But I believe there are still many eyes that see you as valuable. Not just me, those women, or a group of men. Out there, I’m sure, regardless of your past, you’re still valuable.”

When Elice’s sanity returned, Garrett’s words sounded remarkably logical. But believe me, Elice had gone through this phase multiple times. Now, she might feel like she was climbing up again, only to fall back down shortly after.

“I don’t know,” Elice said uncertainly.

Garrett understood. “Don’t force it. You need time. But I know, at least you realize that surviving until today proves that you still value your life.”

In her own eyes, Elice felt completely worthless. She believed she was the lowest woman in the world. Discarded and looked down upon.

“Moreover…”

Garrett’s voice interrupted Elice’s thoughts. She looked at him, seeing his shoulders rise as he took a deep breath.

“… why should women lower their standards for men?”

It seemed like an ordinary question, but…

“Isn’t it entirely up to you?” Garrett asked with a serious expression, locking his gaze onto Elice. “I just can’t fathom why you allowed Ariel to dictate your worth. Uh… just because you were pregnant? You had a miscarriage? And that puts you in the category of low-value women?”

Garrett scoffed in disbelief at his own question. He shook his head, as if witnessing the most absurd circus performance in the world.

“You’re not in a woman’s position. No matter the case, we’ll always be the ones cornered.”

“That’s why… from now on, don’t let yourself get close to men like that.”

“I can even be sure that no man would want to get close to me after knowing my past.”

“Don’t you see me right now?”

“You-”

Elice sighed. A faint smile played on her lips. She shook her head weakly.

“Perhaps you’re the only man who stayed here after learning about my past.”

“Maybe not the only one,” Garrett said. “But anyway… I’m sure you didn’t expect there’d be a stranger sitting with you, listening to your story. In the end, I gave in to my instincts to approach you.”

“So… do you think I’m valuable?”

Without any doubt, Garrett nodded. “In my eyes… you’re a valuable woman. And maybe that’s the only reason I couldn’t resist coming over to talk to you.”

“Tell me, what makes me look valuable in your eyes?”

Taking a few seconds to answer the question, Garrett took the opportunity to observe Elice from head to toe. Starting with her black, sensually wavy hair, moving on to her beautiful oval face, and then down her body accentuated by a captivating black dress. Ending with a pair of nine-centimeter-high shoes that made her shapely calves look tempting.

“Because not many beautiful women like you come to the club alone without showing any signs of trying to seduce any man.”

Elice burst into laughter.

“And you’re oblivious to your surroundings. Regardless of a few people who intended to approach you, you got lost in your own world. In my eyes… that’s a real sign that a woman is valuable.”

Satisfied with her dry laughter upon hearing Garrett’s words, Elice lifted her head, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.

“You have a different judgment for the category of valuable women,” Elice commented. “You should add ‘virgin,’ ‘well-behaved,’ ‘intelligent,’ and ‘from an esteemed family.'”

“Oh! Isn’t that too harsh? Women aren’t perfect creatures. Why set so many criteria?”

Elice laughed again. “Criteria or not, that’s what builds confidence in our community.”

“Find another way to build confidence.”

“Like what?”

“By looking in the mirror and seeing how much you have.”

Garrett’s hand rose gently, pushing aside a few strands of hair that almost covered Elice’s eyes, tucking the delicate strands behind her ear.

“I’m sure it’s not hard for you,” Garrett said, withdrawing his hand. “Because I, who have only been talking to you for half an hour, can feel it.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

The words hit Elice like a breath trapped in her throat. Hearing Garrett’s words, observing his manner of speech, and seeing the smile on his face left her speechless in a thousand languages. It made her realize she was cornered with one question. Was it true?

“If you don’t believe what I said, you can see the truth in a month from now. And if a month is not enough to prove it, then look a year from now. In the end, you will realize that I’m right.”

As if Garrett could read Elice’s mind, he said something that made the air reluctant to reach her lungs. Elice could only respond with indifference.

“Let’s just wait and see.”

“Do you need evidence?”

“What do you mean by evidence?”

“That at least there’s a man here who still sees you as valuable? Regardless of your past.”

Elice was still trying to grasp the meaning of Garrett’s words when she felt his fingers, which had briefly touched her hair, moving again. This time, they brushed softly against her cheek, causing Elice to instinctively close her eyes.

Her body tensed, unable to anticipate the touch, leaving her rigid. She could not even flinch.

Garrett could clearly feel how Elice’s body froze when his fingertips grazed her smooth cheek. However, when he noticed she didn’t pull away, he continued his action.

Garrett’s face moved closer, positioning itself right in front of Elice’s. Creating a reality where their breaths could caress each other.

Garrett gazed into Elice’s eyes. In a few silent seconds that meant everything, he ignored the music that entrapped them both and paid no attention to their surroundings.

“Allow me.”

Two words Garrett spoke as a form of permission. It was an expression that Elice did not have time to answer. As his fingers, which had initially touched her cheek, moved to her chin, he pulled her closer. Embracing the presence of Elice’s lips, which then met his own.

Elice’s eyes immediately closed, and her hands rose to rest on Garrett’s chest, feeling its firmness. She wanted to push him away, but Garrett pressed his lips onto hers, and instead, she found herself gripping his shirt.

When Garrett felt Elice’s hands on his chest, he was prepared for various possible reactions. A slap would be the most logical one to expect. But the reality was quite the opposite.

And that made a small part of Garrett’s sanity think. The grip on his chest told him that what he had thought about Elice was true.

Elice was a valuable woman. And at least that’s what Garrett wanted to show her. That when a woman is valuable, a man will kiss her with all his soul.

*