Taming The Wild CEO novel Chapter 86

C H A P T E R 1 5 : F A M I L Y A S A W H O L E

E L L A S T A N F O R D

There were two reactions: a sharp gasp from Ella and a low grunt from Derek. The rest of the room stayed still.

“Oh my gosh, Momma, I am so sorry,” muttered Ella softly. Feeling bad that she had more or less pushed her mother into revealing this traumatic experience, she opened her arms and reached out to her mother. Eleanor held Ella’s hand, a sad smile was on her face.

Derek stood still like a statue for one full minute before he could form a response. “I am sorry, Eleanor.” He shook his head. Guilt and contrition were in his eyes. “I have failed you, haven't I? I was supposed to protect you.”

“No.” Eleanor shook her head slowly as she finally turned her face and locked her eyes with Derek’s. “I was the one at fault here. I should have never gone to that party. I should have stayed home. I should not have listened to my sister.”

Derek moved to stand next to Eleanor. He cupped her face, his thumb gently rubbed her cheek. “You should have told me, Eleanor. You should not have run away.” A frown settled on his forehead. “Why did you run away?”

“I was so scared and I did not even remember what happened that night. Everything was so blurry and when Rachelle found me—” Eleanor broke down in tears and Derek put his arms around her. “I was so embarrassed by it and at the same time, I could not tell you. I could not have you look at me differently. I would die if I see any disgust in your eyes. That's why the night after that when you were holding me, I tried to move away and I gave you ridiculous reasons in order to avoid any physical contact because I—" She choked on her tears and took a deep breath. "I could not. Every time you touched me, I was reminded of what happened. Those images, although they were blurry, they kept haunting me."

"That is why you were having nightmares, Momma," commented Ella as she recalled all those years ago when she woke up in the middle of the night only to find her mother crying. Her mother had never told her what the reason was and she had always assumed that it had something to do with her father. She had thought that her mother had been crying because her father had abandoned the two of them. Once she had tried to get her mother to start dating again but her mother had always refused. Now she understood why.

Eleanor gave her a rueful smile. "I am sorry I did not tell you, Honey." She took a step back and touched Ella's temple. "I was not proud of what I did that night. I was married. I should stay at home and take care of my family. Instead, I got swayed and went to that blasted party."

"We could report this to the police if you want to," Derek suggested. "That person who has harmed you should be held responsible."

"I would rather forget about it," answered Eleanor weakly. Derek grabbed some tissue and offered it to her which she accepted gratefully. "It had been twenty five years and I did not go to a hospital or anything back then. If there were any proof that could be used against that monster, they are no longer here. It has taken me more than five years to make peace with what happened although I could never forgive Rachelle."

Ella frowned, staring at her mother with worried eyes. "Mom, what did Aunt Rachelle actually do? Besides taking you to that party."

"That monster was her boyfriend!" Eleanor nearly shouted. Her hands were shaking and she clasped them together, holding a ball of tissue tightly. "She left me alone with that monster and when I tried to escape, she did nothing to help me."

"Fucking hell!" Derek cursed, his hand tightened into a fist. "I should have known that she was up for no good. Fuck!"

"It was not your fault, Derek."

"You were my wife," he muttered stubbornly. "And I was too busy with the hospital. I think if you are being honest, you would say that I was the reason you went to that party in the first place. You were not happy at home. I was too occupied with my work that I have neglected you." One tear slipped out of the corner of his eye and made its way down his cheek. "I am so sorry, Eleanor. I deserve all that has happened."