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Chapter 8: Elicit relationship

Rafael's POV

I can't control it. Everything about her was Ella! I understand if everyone saw me as a despicable, ruthless, and stupid husband. I betrayed my wife and I am determined to make amends for everything I did to her.

This time... I will love her. "I'm not Ella, my name is Ellasandra—uhmp!" she gasps.

I silence her once more and feel her lips against mine. The taste of this kiss, her scent... I remember them too well. No matter how many years have passed, that night still lingers in my heart and mind. She breathes heavily and has the same expression as that night. Ella and Ellasandra was the same person, I knew they really are!

"Ellasandra... just look at me," I assert firmly.

I hold her face and make her look into my eyes. I am determined to make her forget other men. She will only have eyes for me, no matter what happens. I lift her chin and leave a mark on her neck. Ellasandra moans and gasps. I look at her and kiss her forehead after that.

"Shall we head back inside? I'm certain Mrs. Zheng has been searching for you. She cares about you and I believe she could be a great friend for you. Let's go," I suggested.

She appeared uneasy and touched her neck. I stood up and leaned in. "Don't even attempt to conceal it. That's a signal to those men that you're taken. They should respect what isn't theirs," I firmly asserted, using my deep baritone voice to show Ellasandra my possessive side.

She stood up and let out a deep sigh. "Fine. It's not like men are interested in me anyway," she remarked.

She lacks confidence, doesn't she? I'm aware that she noticed the guest who was observing her. Too bad for her. I've had my eye on that guy since she arrived at the party.

We entered the house and everyone was delighted to see her again. Someone was about to ask her to dance when they spotted her hickey. I smirked mischievously.

"Gentlemen, as I mentioned before, Ms. Winters is already accompanied. We have other single guests, so please refrain from bothering her on my behalf," Yu Xuan states.

I smile and glance at the gentlemen, who understand my message and promptly withdraw. I firmly hold Ellasandra's hand and refuse to take my eyes off her, as men surround us and she is a successful tycoon herself.

Ellasandra possesses many desirable qualities that a businessman seeks in a spouse, which is why I feel the need to protect my relationship with her. After an hour, we decide to leave the party. "It's getting late, and Ellasandra needs to go home," I announce. Mr. Zheng chuckles and takes hold of my hand, to which I respond with a smile.

"Thank you for having us," I express my gratitude.

Mr. Zheng's wife embraces Ellasandra and then looks at me. Xiao Tong winks at me, which I find a bit odd. I understand what she's trying to convey, but I'm unsure if she'll tolerate me any longer. Ellasandra was different from my delicate Ella, yet I believe they are the same person.

As we drove, Ellasandra remained quiet. I intentionally drove slowly to prolong our time together. "Why are you driving so slowly? There's no traffic. Is something wrong, Rafael?" she inquired.

I glanced at her and replied, "I want to be with you for as long as possible."

Although I didn't say anything more, I could tell she noticed how sincere I was. When we stopped at a red light, I asked, "Are you still awake at the hotel?" She nodded and began to yawn. I chuckled and told her, "You can go to bed. I'll wake you when we arrive." She turned to me and smiled.

One thing I noticed was that Ella's eyes might be brown and Ellasandra's green, but they both sparkled in the same way. "Thank you, Rafael. I had a great evening because of you. Just wake me up when we get there, okay?" she said.

I nodded and smiled gently. "Don't worry. I'll wake you up as soon as we arrive."

She faced the road and closes her eyes. The traffic light shifts to green color. I drove again and make the car’s heater stronger. I parked the car on a specific side of the road and then unbuckled my seatbelt and removed my coat.

After that, I unbuckled her seatbelt and covered her with my coat. "Thanks..." she murmured without opening her eyes.

I smiled, put back her seatbelt, and we continued on the road. The thirty-minute drive from the house to the hotel ended up taking fifty minutes. I parked the car in my designated area without waking her up, just watching her beautiful sleeping face.

I raised my finger and traced her brows, nose, and lips. She is my Ella, I am certain of that. The sensations I felt when I kissed her were the same as that night when I kissed my wife, the same night we made love. Leaning back in my seat, I started massaging my forehead.

"What should I do? I really want to prove that you are my late wife Ella. Everything about you tells me that you’re my wife."

When I come to the realization of how dire the situation is, I find myself massaging my forehead. Ashley, who still believes we are in a relationship and that I will eventually marry her, is with me. I am too preoccupied with mourning and blaming myself for what I have done that I forget to reject and inform Ashley that I will never love her again. As I groan and contemplate smashing my head on the steering wheel, a soft hand stops me, and when I turn around, I see that Ella is awake.

"I don't want you to ruin that angelic face. What's wrong?" she asks. I lean back and shake my head. Once again, I have to lie.

"Do you really think I'll believe that? It was written all over your face, Rafael. I can listen. I won't laugh or judge you, I promise," she says, smiling sweetly.

Her words make me feel better. I chuckle. "I was just thinking about how I can court you, how I can make you look at me," I confess. She is taken aback by my honesty.

Ellasandra lets out a sigh. "You have a girlfriend. How can I entertain you, Mr. Midnight? Are you worried about that kiss?" she remarked. I turn to face her.

"I am not. That kiss is the sweetest I have ever had. They taste exactly the same. I know you're my Ella."

She turned pale, but quickly concealed her expression. I knew it. She's hiding something from me, and I think my hunch was right. Ellasandra and Ella was the same person. I need to know why I met her in my dreams almost three years ago. I want to understand why she told me that her name was Ella Myers.

Why did she hide the truth? "I think you're being delusional. I will never live in the shadow of your wife, Rafael. I will never act like her. You shouldn't turn me into the ghost of your regrets." I give her a serious look.

"You don't need to live in her shadow because she is you. Your actions and everything else were identical. No matter what name you go by, I will always recognize you. I will prove it to you, Ellasandra. You are Ella Myers," I stated firmly.

She averts her gaze. My wife starts to realize how serious I am. I will ensure that she reveals herself on her own. "Why don't you come over for a coffee? It's getting chilly and you lent me your coat," Ellasandra suggests. I immediately smile.

"No problem. I will always say yes if it's you. Well, except for taking my own life or jumping off a building. I want to be with you always until my hair turns gray," I respond.

She blushes and hides it by looking out the window. I open the car door for her and place my hand on her head to protect her from bumping it. We entered the elevator and it abruptly stopped on the tenth floor. The operator addressed us and explained the situation.

"Good evening, everyone. For those of you who are stuck in the elevator, please give us five minutes as we are currently experiencing technical difficulties. The system will be operational again in five minutes. Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize for the inconvenience," he said.

Ellasandra leaned her back against the wall, appearing unbothered by our extended time together. I also leaned against the wall, remaining silent, hoping she would initiate the conversation. "Tell me, Mr. Midnight. What kind of relationship do we have now?" she asked.

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