I Saved My Fiancé Before He Became a Billionaire Chapter 05
I moved in with Elias. Just like that.
My excuse was weak, flimsy, obvious.
I said my parents had just split up, gotten divorced, the house was chaotic, and I was completely
homeless, with nowhere to go.
Afterward, I apologized silently to my parents again and again.
For my future happiness, I had to pretend they were separated. I’m so sorry.
It was a flimsy, terrible lie, easy to see through.
But Elias didn’t question it, didn’t doubt me, didn’t push for more.
He just looked at me for a long moment, then asked my name softly, gently.
“Grace Carter.”
I pointed to myself, smiling brightly.
“Grace as in ‘gift from God.’ Carter as in… steady, reliable, safe.”
“Anyway, staying with me, your life gets better. I promise.”
Positive encouragement, always. I was determined to give him that.
Elias looked thoughtful, his eyes softening.
“Your parents must have wanted so much for you, loved you so much when they named you.”
I was about to reply when he added softly, his voice full of quiet memory, “My dad picked my name from a hospital nursery list, just a random name.”
“He saw a baby named Elias. Said he looked like he was loved, like he had money, a good life.”
“He hoped I’d be like that. That I’d have a good life, be happy, safe.”
A faint, gentle, heartbreaking smile touched his eyes.
“My dad didn’t have much education, didn’t know big words.”
“He thought that was the best wish he could give me. Just a name.”
“After he died, my mom raised me alone, worked two jobs, was sick all the time.”
“But she never let me quit school. Never. Just told me to study hard, get a better life.”
“Later she worked at a fancy private club and met Noah’s dad, Richard Blackwood.”
“My mom was beautiful. So beautiful.”
“She married into the Blackwood family to survive, to give me a chance.”
“I changed my last name to Blackwood. Just like that.”
He paused, his voice breaking slightly.
Then said quietly, forcing positivity, “I had a good childhood, with my dad. No one owes me
anything.”
It was like he was annotating his own life, repeating a mantra to convince himself.
Telling himself over and over not to resent, not to hurt, not to feel.
“You can resent them. It’s okay to resent them. You’re allowed.”
I said, thinking aloud, my voice thick with emotion.
“You know what? I resented waking up early for seminars in school. Hated it.”
“I resented groupmates who slacked off, let me do all the work.”
“I even resented the dining hall workers when they gave me tiny, sad portions.”
“When I started working, I resented colleagues who blamed me for their mistakes.”
“I resented falling behind on projects, feeling stupid.”
“I resented not getting the raise I wanted, being overlooked.”
Elias and I were complete opposites. Polar opposites.
I got angry easily, frustrated quickly, wore my heart on my sleeve.
Frustrated over tiny, small things.
But Elias was always balanced, steady, calm, in control.
Even in the worst, most painful situations, he rarely lost control, rarely broke.
I used to envy him for that, more than anything.
Envy that he could swallow all his pain, all his hurt, so quietly, alone.
I rephrased, speaking gently, carefully.
“What I mean is, you don’t have to be who everyone expects you to be. You don’t owe them that.
“Being yourself is enough. More than enough.”
“If you never resent anything, I applaud you for being good, for being kind.”
“If you do resent them, scream, cry, be angry—I’ll be happy you’re being honest, being real.”
I didn’t know if Elias truly didn’t resent anyone.
Or if he just forced himself not to, for his mom’s sake.
. It didn’t matter.
I loved every version of him. Broken, strong, quiet, angry-all of him.
Maybe I wasn’t here to save him.
Maybe I was here to tell him:
He was loved. Deeply. Fully. Unconditionally.
Somewhere in the future, I would definitely find him. Come for him.
Elías covered his mouth with his fist, sounding amused, a small laugh escaping.
“I understand. I hear you. Thank you, Grace. Thank you.”
Maybe I imagined it, but I thought I saw quiet teasing in his eyes.
“You’re homeless, with nowhere to go… and you’re still worrying about me.”
Huh?
I opened my mouth, but didn’t explain, didn’t argue.
He actually believed that stupid lie? Unbelievable.
“Don’t you have class tomorrow? Early class?”
“Get some rest. Please. You need sleep.”
I cleared my throat and changed the subject quickly, awkwardly.
“To pay rent, to earn my keep, I’ll cook all your meals. Three meals a day.”
“I’m a really good cook. I promise you’ll eat well.”
Elias glanced at me and said suddenly, bluntly, “You need to buy clothes first. You have nothing to
wear.”
I’d forgotten. Completely forgotten.
This wasn’t the warm, full home I shared with future Elias.
There was nothing here that belonged to me. No clothes, no toothbrush, nothing.
I was about to agree happily when I checked my account balance on my phone.
And swallowed my words immediately, my heart sinking.
I couldn’t get a job here, couldn’t make money.
My identity, my social security number, my entire life-none of it existed in this timeline.
I could only spend what I had, day by day, until it was gone.
I couldn’t let Elias starve, not after everything. Never again.
But I couldn’t walk around naked, either. I had to have clothes
After thinking nervously for a minute, I called hesitantly, softly, “Elias.”
He looked at me at once, his eyes wide, confused, attentive.
“Um… Is it okay if I wear your old clothes? The ones you don’t want anymore?”
