Elias’ Crimes and Punishments of Romance
Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 I’m Angry! I’m Sad!

When Grace noticed the look of frustration on Elias’ face, she panicked a little. “Okay. I’ll trust you!But… Wasn’t it hard for you to hold yourself back last night, Elias? How did you control yourself?”Grace asked in a cautious tone. She didn’t want to make him angry. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him-itwas simply that she couldn’t trust Amanda! That was the perfect chance for Amanda to reconnect withElias. Why would she give up on such a good opportunity?

“I took a cold shower, Elias muttered flatly. Grace felt a lot more relieved after hearing his explanation.She knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t bother to explain himself if he had slept withAmanda-he would’ve just admitted to it instead. Elias wasn’t a man who liked explaining himself, afterall.

A smile surfaced on Grace’s face as she walked over to Elias. “Do you still feel the effects of the drugsnow, Elias? Do you feel better….?” she asked bashfully.

“Yeah.” Elias sat down on his office chair to prepare for work. He had a meeting with highermanagement later that day. “If you need anything, I… I can help you feel better, Elias. I’m yourgirlfriend, and I…” Grace was too shy to even look him in the eyes. Elias had never once laid hands onher, and she couldn’t seem to get him to do it no matter how hard she tried.

Up until then, Grace was still lying to him about the night of the celebration four years ago. Would Eliasstill feel responsible for me if he found out that he didn’t sleep with me at all that night? Grace was tooafraid to imagine how Elias might react if he ever found out. So, she knew that she had to sleep. withhim before he found out about the truth. Otherwise, she would be at risk of getting dumped. by him.

Grace’s fists were clenched as she waited anxiously for the man’s answer. Elias, who was signingsome documents with a pen, halted his movements for a second. “There’s no need for that. I’m fine.”An awkward silence filled the air after that.

A look of disappointment and shame appeared on Grace’s face. It was embarrassing enough for awoman to be the one making such suggestions, and it was worse to be rejected! In an attempt to dealwith the awkwardness, Grace changed the topic. “Are you busy this afternoon? Can you spend sometime with me? I need you.”

Amanda hurried back to her house in Lotus Waterfront to replace the nanny and her baby having breakfasttogether. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the nanny had stayed the night. “Why are youonly home now, Miss Bailey? I nearly called the cops! The baby was crying for you, and I didn’t want toleave him alone.” The nanny couldn’t help but complain when she saw

Amanda.

Aiden’s big, round eyes lit up when he saw his mother, but he then turned his head away grumpily. Hedidn’t want to look at her. Amanda gave them a helpless smile. I’m sorry. I couldn’t come home lastnight as something came up. Thank you for staying around to care for the baby. I’ll give you an extraallowance for it, she told the nanny.

“It’s not about the money. I was just worried about you! I’m glad you’re back. I guess I should leavenow-I have a bunch of things to do at home, too, the nanny uttered.

“Alright. Thank you for last night. Goodbye. After sending the nanny off, Amanda came back to thedining table to replace Aiden stuffing his face with breakfast. The young boy hadn’t met her gaze since shecame home, and it was obvious that he was angry at her. Amanda couldn’t help but giggle when shesaw her son’s chubby and smooth cheeks. “Why won’t you look at me. Aiden?”

“Hmph!” The young boy grunted at his mother before he went back to eating his breakfast. He didn’twant to speak to Amanda at all.

“Aiden? Are you really going to ignore Mommy?” Amanda tried her luck again. The child was throwinga pretty bad tantrum as he was persistent in ignoring her. “Baby? Don’t ignore me. Didn’t you say that

you’d always forgive me?” Amanda knew that the boy had every reason to be mad at her, yet shecouldn’t help but feel amused at how adorable he looked when he pouted. In the end, she couldn’tcontain her laughter, and she chuckled while pinching the young boy’s chubby cheeks.

Aiden responded with an impatient cry. “Hmph! I’m angry! I’m sad!”–

“What do I have to do to make you happy again? Should we go to the theme park later today?”Amanda offered. Upon hearing her suggestion, Aiden’s round eyes sparkled with interest, but he forcedhimself to put on a nonchalant look right after that. “You’re the one who wants to bring me there. I don’treally fe

like going at all,” he mumbled.

Amanda burst into laughter. The young boy’s cuteness was simply irresistible. “Sure, sure. I’m the onewho’s forcing you to go to the theme park, right? For my sake, would you let me bring you there?” sheasked.

The young boy’s spirits lifted after that. “Let’s go right after I’m done with my meal!” He grinned.excitedly.

“Alright. You should finish your meal now, then. I’ll go get changed,” Amanda replied.

“Okay!”

Amanda spent a few hours under the hot sun, and she felt like her legs were about to give way at anymoment. She had brought Aiden to the theme park for some fun, but Aiden made it his mission to tryout every ride at least once. “Mommy’s going to use the washroom for a while, Aiden. Can you stayhere and wait for me?” Amanda uttered.

“Sure. Hurry up, Mommy. I’m hungry, and I want some food,” Aiden replied.

“I got it…” It was a nightmare to spend a day out with a young boy like Aiden-Amanda was physicallydrained to the point where she felt like puking. Meanwhile, Grace happened to be on the phone in thewashroom. “Where are the reporters that you’ve hired? Are they all prepared and in their positions?”she asked.

“Don’t worry. They’re all in their spots, and they’ll upload the pictures after they snap them later. I’vecontacted the other magazines and entertainment media as well,” the person on the other end. of thecall said.

“Great.” A cunning smile formed on Grace’s face after she ended the call. I want the rest of the world toknow who Elias is really dating! Unfortunately for Grace, Amanda happened to walk into the washroomat that moment. Grace wiped the smile off her face when she saw Amanda. “Amanda?“

“What are you doing here?” Amanda froze when she saw Grace. She hadn’t expected an actress likeGrace to show up at a public space like the theme park. When Grace recalled how Amanda and Eliashad shared one whole night together, she couldn’t help but feel hatred toward Amanda. “Hmph! I betyou were disappointed last night, Miss Bailey. Elias didn’t lay a finger on you even when you guys werein the same room. How embarrassing is that? Do you think you’ll get to remarry Elias just by getting onGrandpa’s good side? Elias doesn’t like you at all!” Grace cried.

Amanda stared at Grace as if Grace were an idiot. Amanda had no intentions of speaking about whathappened the night before, but she figured that she had no reason to hold herself back since Gracewas being so pushy. “How are you sure that he didn’t touch me?” Amanda asked.

“Elias told me about it, of course! He didn’t touch you at all!” Grace was firm with her tone as she hadcomplete trust in Elias.

Amanda let out an icy scoff. “Do you believe everything that he says? We were locked up together thewhole night! The drug took effect later that night. Do you think he managed to hold himself back?”

“What do you mean?! Elias would never lie to me. Stop trying to ruin our relationship!” Grace cried. Shefelt as if her mind was about to explode at that moment. Just the thought of Amanda and Elias messingaround in bed gave Grace a mental breakdown.