A Love Buried by Secrets novel Chapter 21

Although Elliot's friends had seen it coming, hearing him say it aloud still left them stunned.

Vanessa, however, smirked coldly, as if he were now a stranger to her. She and Elliot had been childhood sweethearts.

As she once told Serena, he had watched out for her since they were five. They walked to school and back together every day, working on their homework side by side. He was always coming up with little surprises just to make her smile.

Even when they were apart, they kept in touch. His letters were full of passion. He never actually said how he felt, but everyone assumed they'd end up together.

Then, Vanessa returned and discovered that Elliot was already dating someone else—his stepsister, Serena.

People said that his actions were for the sake of revenge, but real revenge wouldn't come with second thoughts. Vanessa should've seen the truth way sooner.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she watched Elliot break bottle after bottle like he was trying to destroy the misery and frustration eating him alive.

His voice, heavy with hurt, echoed through the room. "I can't forget her. I just can't! I need Rena!"

It had been six months since Serena left, and every single day since then had been agony. Thoughts of their time together tormented him constantly.

She used to stand in this very same house, sneaking hugs and kisses, loving him so intensely that she would have sacrificed anything for him. She'd looked after him, hugged him through the night, believed in him completely, and even imagined being his wife someday.

Her eyes had always sparkled with joy, glittering like stars, drawing him in repeatedly until he couldn't help but kiss her. The memories of her were burned into his mind, inescapable.

Drunk or sober, Elliot couldn't get Serena out of his head. Her figure, her voice, the way she called him "Eli", and even how she cried so beautifully and heartbreakingly—all of it clung to his heart like ghostly hands.

Every breath brought back the memory of her scent when he'd buried his face in her neck. He never thought he'd wind up like this.

Elliot used to be untouchable. He used to be that icy, patient man who waited years to get his payback. But now he'd lost it all. His revenge had backfired.