Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 551: Making a Scene

Chapter 551: Making a Scene

According to John, Eric hadn’t been attending therapy for the past few days, but he had been smoking constantly—so much that his entire office reeked of cigarettes.

And yet, he refused to say a word. By the time he returned home at night, Ella was sometimes already asleep. Even if she was awake, they barely exchanged any words.

On the other hand, Elias and Dorian were still able to spend short moments playing with him.

But Eric was coming home less and less.

Ella was so anxious that she nearly lost her patience. What was he trying to do? Face his past alone?

Was her support not enough? Was she becoming less and less important to him?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

On top of that, Eric had confined her to the house for an entire week. She hadn’t even stepped past the railing of the plaza.

Feeling stifled, Ella asked the bodyguards to call Eric, but he didn’t answer.

Left with no other choice, she called Amelia to tell her about the situation.

Amelia sent people to keep an eye on Eric, just in case anything happened to him. But the only report she got back was that Eric had been staying in his office day and night.

As for what he was thinking or doing, no one knew.

"Your man is too proud. He probably doesn’t want you to see his vulnerable side. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine soon," Amelia tried to comfort her.

Ella frowned with worry. If it weren’t for the baby in her belly, she would have stormed into Eric’s office and given him a piece of her mind.

But with her pregnancy, how could she afford to get angry? What if she got too worked up and the baby came early?

Sometimes, she resented Eric a little. But then she reminded herself—he didn’t want to be like this. Depression wasn’t something that just disappeared overnight.

He needed time.

Sitting in his office, Eric felt suffocated.

Maybe he had achieved everything—love, a family, children—so there was nothing left to hold on to. And that made life feel... meaningless?

Perhaps that was why, even though he loved Ella, his heart felt like it was withering away.

Depression had the power to turn a living person into a walking corpse.

Eric knew better than to let his guard down, so he had John stay with him.

Poor John. He had just returned from his honeymoon with his lovely wife, only to be dragged into keeping Eric company in the office, day and night.

Sure, the pay was good, but... his beautiful wife was stuck home alone. Who knew how many complaints she had?

Meanwhile, Amelia and the others frequently visited Ella, trying to lift her spirits and keep her from dwelling on Eric’s situation too much.

But Ella wasn’t overthinking it.

She was quietly waiting for Eric to come back.

She knew he wanted to fight his demons on his own, to conquer all the negative energy inside him.

On the tenth day, John secretly texted Amelia. Since Ella’s phone was still in the bodyguards’ hands, he couldn’t text her directly.

John informed them that Eric had taken him and left the company, heading to a scenic area in L City.

Ella didn’t say much—just told him to keep an eye on Eric.

People would always have moments where they lost themselves.

But Eric didn’t want her to see him at his weakest and most confused.

He was too proud to let his image as a strong, capable man crumble in front of Ella.

On the eleventh day, Eric still hadn’t returned.

That morning, Ella received a call from Luke.

Aiden was getting married, and she needed to prepare to attend the wedding.

Aiden was her second cousin—her real cousin. Even if she was pregnant, she couldn’t skip the wedding.

Though, to her dismay, the bride was none other than Jessica—the very thought of whom made Ella feel sick.

But at this point, there was nothing she could do.

Jessica was pregnant, and Aiden was the kind of man who valued relationships deeply.

No matter how much Lucas opposed it, Aiden had made up his mind to marry her.

Ella immediately called Eric, intending to go with him to Country W for the wedding.

But when she dialed his number, the person who answered was John.

"Where’s Eric? Let me talk to him," Ella said gently, without the slightest hint of anger in her voice.

Deep down, she was filled with resentment, but what could she do? She had to understand Eric’s situation.

"Boss said... if you have anything to say, you can tell me," John replied hesitantly.

Ella frowned. "My second cousin is getting married on the eighth of next month. I’m planning to fly to Country W in a few days. Let him know and tell him to come back so we can go together."

John relayed the message to Eric, but Ella couldn’t hear his response. Instead, she heard the sound of flowing water and the faint laughter of a woman.

A slight displeasure crept into her heart.

Moments later, John returned to the call. "Sister-in-law, Boss said you should go ahead. He’ll meet you there around the thirtieth."

Ella blinked.

So, by the time he appeared in Country W, it would mean he had finally escaped the clutches of his depression?

"Alright, then I’ll take Elias and the others and head there first," Ella said, not pushing him further.

Even though she had heard a woman’s laughter, her confidence returned almost instantly.

Eric was neither heartless nor fickle—he was devoted.

That man would always be hers. He would never love another woman.

Ella asked Amelia to book tickets for the fifteenth. Today was the tenth, which meant she and her sons would be leaving Country S in five days.

During those five days, Eric called her, but his tone was distant, as if nothing had happened between them.

He simply reminded her to be careful and told her not to worry about him.

Ella remained calm as well.

At that moment, Eric was resting one foot on his bicycle, surrounded by vast nature. The once pale complexion of his face had regained a healthy flush, and he seemed to be in much better spirits.

"Alright, we’re about to board. We’ll talk later," Ella said before hanging up.

Eric held his phone tightly, his thin lips pressed together.

In the distance, a couple rode bicycles, laughing as they pedaled away.

Eric squinted, his emotions tangled.

I’m sorry, Ella... I made you worry.

I couldn’t bear for you to see me like that, so I had to shoulder it alone.

I’m a man—I can’t let you carry the weight of my worst emotions.

Slowly, he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

That day, when he had walked away so decisively, it was because he was afraid that if he stayed, he would say even more hurtful words.

He knew he had been irrational.

But emotions were hard to control.

The only solution was to temporarily distance himself from Ella, to cool down. Once his emotions settled, he would return to her side.

That way, she wouldn’t be affected by his turmoil.

And she wouldn’t have to witness his helplessness, his confusion, or his pain...

The cold wind howled.

The ninth of the month after next was the New Year.

Which meant they would likely spend it in Country W.

Eric raised an eyebrow slightly.

His mood... was beginning to improve.

John had been watching him quietly and noticed that his emotions had stabilized significantly over the past few days.

Eric had spent those days cycling furiously, crossing one mountain after another—dragging John along, who, in the process, had lost several pounds.

Eric was truly a tyrant when it came to endurance.

But this kind of release seemed to help him.

Surrounded by nature, Eric had taken plenty of photos, observing every little movement of the animals around him.

Just then, a sudden voice rang out, making John’s expression change instantly.