Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 525: Waking from a Nightmare into Warmth

Chapter 525: Waking from a Nightmare into Warmth

Luke hesitated for a moment. Yeah, what was he even trying to explain? He had really outsmarted himself this time. All those past feelings had long faded, and now, he could only see her as a sister.

"You’re right. I’ll give it a try. If things go well, maybe I’ll consider dating," Luke said, immediately regretting his words.

What was he even saying?

Why did he sound so old-fashioned... so desperate to express himself?

Just then, Eric called out to Elias and Dorian from not far away. Ella took both boys by the hand and led them over.

Eric and John were grilling nearby, and by the time Ella and the boys arrived, the air was already filled with the mouthwatering aroma of barbecue.

It was a joyful evening.

Ella was in a relatively good mood. Later that night, Eric received a call from Michael in Country S. She had been waiting for him in bed, but at some point, she drifted off to sleep.

When Eric returned, he found her fast asleep. Looking at her familiar figure, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth—and frustration.

It had been days since he last touched Ella.

He had been considerate of her physical and emotional state. She was exhausted. The first night he returned, he had been a little too eager, but she had pushed him away, saying she was too tired.

So, he had been holding back ever since, waiting for her to take the initiative.

Tonight, he had spent the evening playing games with the boys while Ella, seemingly uninterested, had gone to their room early to shower. But by the time he returned, she had already fallen asleep again!

Eric sighed in exasperation. He had been holding back for eight whole days!

But seeing her peaceful, sleeping face, he had no choice but to accept his fate and head to the shower.

Meanwhile, Ella was trapped in a nightmare.

She dreamed of the research island.

Somehow, she and Elias were back there again. And the gun she had stolen from Mason was no longer in her pocket.

Isaac and his team of assistants surrounded her, demanding that she hand over Elias—or they would kill her instead.

In her dream, Ella refused, standing her ground. Isaac only smirked cruelly before grabbing a broken beer bottle from the side and lunging at her...

"Ah!"

Ella let out a terrified scream, her body jolting awake.

A voice called out beside her, "Ella... Ella! Are you okay? Was it another nightmare?"

It was Eric’s voice.

Slowly, Ella returned to reality. She opened her eyes and saw the familiar surroundings of their home in Country W, where she had once lived for a short while.

The soft yellow light bathed the room in a warm, hazy glow.

But her body was drenched in cold sweat. Eric reached for a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead before pulling her into his arms, pressing tender kisses against her brow.

"I’m sorry... I should’ve protected you better..."

Ella, still catching her breath, heard the guilt in his voice and managed a small smile. "How could I blame you? I was the one who foolishly went there on my own."

"If it weren’t for you, we would’ve never found you and Elias. And without you... who knows what kind of horrors Isaac would’ve inflicted on him..."

Eric’s kisses trailed to her earlobe, and the intimate touch sent a shiver through her.

Ella had been having nightmares frequently. Her mental state was growing worse.

Sensing her stiffness, Eric stopped and gently lifted her chin.

"Ella, no one is going to hurt us anymore, okay?"

She nodded.

After what had happened, Eric had become even more cautious. The number of bodyguards protecting Elias and Dorian had increased from four to six.

But despite all this, she still couldn’t shake the feeling of unease in her heart. Maybe it was because she had never experienced anything like this before. The events on that island had left a lasting impact, and even after seven or eight days, she still couldn’t completely escape the lingering nightmares.

Eric pulled her into his arms, holding her a bit too tightly, causing Ella to feel some discomfort.

His hot breath brushed against her earlobe, making her body gradually soften in response.

"Ella... don’t think about those unpleasant things. Let’s do something enjoyable instead. Afterward, you’ll definitely sleep well tonight!"

Eric murmured, his warm breath spreading across her earlobe. Ella could almost taste the scent of passion in the air. She gasped for breath, gripping his soft and thick pajama fabric tightly.

Her body tensed.

Just as she was about to give in, the phone on the nightstand suddenly rang urgently.

Ella frowned, reaching out with effort to grab the phone. The man beside her had already started to make his moves.

She saw an unfamiliar number.

Thinking of what had happened on the island, she suspected this might be a threatening call.

Ella answered the phone.

She needed to remove the bomb next to her completely, ensuring nothing unexpected would happen again.

After answering, Ella made sure to put the call on speaker.

"You’re Ella, right? Haha, I heard you went to deliver yourself to them because of your son’s kidnapping. How stupid!"

The voice on the other end was cheerful and mocking. Both Eric and Ella frowned upon hearing it, the voice itself was revolting.

"Leah, do you really need to be so dramatic?" Ella sighed lightly. "You can’t stand to see me come back, so you called just to mock me?"

Leah laughed even more on the other end, "Of course, you were taken, probably by Mason, right? Tsk tsk, how many times have you been with him? Doesn’t Eric think you’re dirty?"

Eric snatched the phone from Ella. "Leah, you’re the only one who knows how to write dirty words because you’ve lived them yourself... And you, such a filthy person, have finally received your comeuppance. Your husband doesn’t come home at night, spends time with other women, your in-laws dislike you, your sister-in-law and aunt bully you. You deserve it. To us, someone like you is just a tiny speck of sand. Don’t bother trying to disgust Ella and me. We’ll be a thousand times happier than you."

After he spoke, Eric heard heavy breathing from the other end, and it was clear Leah was furious.

He hung up the phone directly.

Ella looked at her man, suddenly feeling amused.

Eric noticed the smile on her lips and felt his mood lift. He forgave himself for going on such a long rant about a nasty person.

Normally, he wouldn’t have cared, but if his words made Ella smile, it was all worth it.

"What’s so funny? Do you think your husband is particularly handsome, and that I was especially good at making those insults sting?"

Eric pinched Ella’s nose, his smile radiant.

Ella chuckled, "Of course! I’ve never seen you curse like that before."

Usually, it was just short commands like "Get lost," "Are you tired of living?" and so on.

Eric looked at her soft, plump lips. Over the past few days, Ella had been using lip balm, and her previously chapped lips had returned to their usual gloss.

He heatedly pressed his lips against hers, nibbling gently before eagerly continuing what they had left unfinished earlier.

Ella moaned softly, a beautiful flush spreading across her cheeks.