The Marvelous Elijah's Return

Pardon

The sound of chitchats and laughter of a bunch of old ladies’ voices echoed in Elijah’s ears as he

watched from a distance his mother hugging Peach’s arm with a big smile on her face as she introduced

Peach to Madam Elle and the other ladies in her book club.

“Your daughter-in-law is very pretty, Lisa.” A classic dressed old lady spoke up with her soft eyes on

Peach.

“Your son is quite a lucky man.” Madam Elle added. “She’s such a darling.”

Seeing all the attention go on Peach and Mrs. Maxwell, Elle pouted at the thought that their afternoon

Tea and books event was taking place at the Maxwell mansion because all the women voted so because

they wanted to see Peach.

“Can we read the next book already?.. Because after this, I have to go visit my grandkids.” Elle whined.

And then she looked over at Mrs. Maxwell and asked, “When is your son going to put a bun in the oven?

They seemed to have been together for quite a while now, according to you.”

Nervously looking over to Elijah, Peach met his eyes, seeing a slight glance of annoyance in it, and then

she said softly to Madam Elle, “We will have kids when the time is right. Honestly, Elijah and I are not in a

rush.”

Although it had been confirmed by doctor Harry that she was one month pregnant, Peach and Elijah

decided to keep it a secret for as long as they can until she starts to show or give birth.

When she looked back at Elijah, he gave her a small smile like he was proud of her, and she

felt her heart flutter.

Frowning slightly at Peach’s reply, Madam Elle scoffed and said, “You two are not getting. younger, if you

keep waiting, your chances would become slim and we all know how desperate Lise is for a grandchild

and-”

11

“That’s enough, Elle!” Mrs. Maxwell let out her tone low but harsh. “They are married. It’s their place to

decide what kind of future they want, and you are being rude.”

A nervous laugh escaped Elle’s lips as the other woman gave her a disappointing look, which only made

Elle feel more embarrassed, and she mumbled, “Why are you being so serious? I was just kidding

11

“Don’t play me like a fool, Elle. I know disrespect when I hear it, and I won’t stand for it.” Mrs. Maxwell

warned, refusing to return the smile Madam Elle was giving to her.

Even though the situation was awkward, the fact that her mother-in-law stood up for her was something

Peach found admirable and it made her more confident to be in the midst of all these wealthy women

with the flashy jewels and clothes.

When she eyed Elijah to show off the pride she felt with a cute expression, she noticed him on the

phone, his face dead-serious, and her smile slowly faded.

“Is the helicopter ready, Martin?” Elijah asked.

“We just landed it in the backyard, sir. Are you coming downstairs?” Martin asked.

“Give me a couple of minutes, and I will be there.”

“Yes, boss.”

After ending the call, Elijah looked over at Peach, and their eyes immediately locked, and she hastily

stared back at his mother, pretending as if nothing happened.

But Elijah quietly walked over to her, and without warning, he took her hand into his, pulling her away

from the others and walking a few distances.

“I got to go, but I will be back tonight,” Elijah whispered.

“Okay,” Peach replied in a hushed tone.

Looking back, Elijah saw his mother and Miss Grace engaging in a discussion with the other ladies, and

then he stared back at his wife, claiming Peach’s lips with a quick kiss.

Then with one last tender glance, he walked off, leaving her staring after him, deep into her thoughts.

“Did he say where he’s going?” When Peach heard her mother-in-law’s voice, she jumped slightly.

Then she stared into her eyes, smiling weakly, and then she shook her head.

“No,”

When Elijah got into the backyard, his men were already waiting for him there, and the sound. of the

chopper blades made him deaf to their voices until they got in the helicopter.

After his last encounter in Syldavia, he knew to be careful with how he moved about in Bordoria until he

could figure out who was involved in the incident.

“Where to, boss?” The pilot shouted back at him.

“Unta!” Elijah yelled back. “Our destination is the State of Unta Bank.”

Hugging onto the pillow tightly, Peach squeezed her eyelids shut as she softly sniffed, fighting her urge to

cry, hating the sight of how dark it was outside, and yet, Elijah wasn’t home yet.

Then the sound of her room door opening drew her attention, and she turned her head to the left, gazing

at Mrs. Maxwell, entering the room with a tray.

“Is he back?” Peach mumbled, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry.” Mrs. Maxwell gently said.

It grew silently as Peach’s eyes got blurred with tears. Then she aggressively sniffed continuously as she

stared away from Mrs. Maxwell, mumbling, “Sorry, it’s the pregnancy hormones.”

“I

Smiling gently at her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Maxwell rested the tray on the table and said, You should not

turn down dinner just because you are worried. After all, you are not eating for one anymore, dear.”

“Thank you,” Peach replied with a weak smile before she reached for a plate of Kale salad, Pan -seared

salmon, Steamed cod, and a glass of water.

Slowly, she picked up the fork, pushed the lettuce around the salad before stabbing it, and

mumbled, “I feel guilty, a bit sad… but mostly remorseful… not hurt or suspicious when he leaves.”

“sweetheart…” Mrs. Maxwell mumbled.

“To know that it’s my family that is hunting him, and they are in this vicious cycle of them hurting him and

wanting us dead is just horrible.” Tears rolled down from Peach’s eyes once again as she took a bite of

food.

“Every time he leaves, I am haunted by the deaths in my past, and I don’t want it to be him, but I can’t

stop thinking about how it could be… or low it might happen to us…” Peach mumbled as she placed the

fork down.

Then she wiped her lears and smiled at Mrs. Maxwell before she continued, “So yeah, I guess I am still

feeling guilty because I am a Hayes like them.” 1

Even though Mrs. Maxwell never knew how bad things were with Elijah and the Hayes, and she didn’t

know about the threat on his life, she took Peach’s hand in hers, squeezing it, and said, “You are not like

them. You are different… You are not just a Hayes, but a Maxwell, and a sweet, beautiful, wonderful

soul… So stop worrying and eat, so the baby and you can stay healthy.”

After watching Peach silently eat as much as she could, Mrs. Maxwell frowned slightly when Peach tried

to leave the bed with the tray, and she let out, “I will do it. You should rest. Today was a lot, and it must

have been tiring for you.” “Thanks, mother,” Peach said with a small smile. There was a brief pause as

Mrs. Maxwell watched Peach settle under the covers, and then she picked up the tray, leaving the room.

When she got into the hallway, she froze in her steps when she saw Elijah, coming from the opposite

direction with a folder in his hand.

Once her son reached her, she met his eyes and said, “Peach is resting. Let’s talk.” Slightly worried,

Elijah nodded and followed his mother back downstairs, into the empty dining room.

“Your father and you had been keeping a lot from me… but this is not about me, you, or your father. It’s

about that girl upstairs, carrying your child in lier. Pregnancy is an emotional process, and it is hard to

handle stress and worry. I can tell she cares about you. You have to let this fuel die.” Mrs. Maxwell said.

“Mother, what are you saying?” Elijalı asked. “I just learned that you and her family are in a dangerous

toss-and-pull situation that’s endangering both your lives. Elijah, you are going to be a father. Put this

fuel to bed, and see to your family.” “Mom, you don’t understand-”

“I don’t want to understand, Elijah! I want my son to stay alive and thankfully, that’s what your wife wants

too.”

“Mother

“Elijah, you have all the money to start fresh with your wife here, and raise your child in a safe

environment, always from this senseless chaos!”

Silence shadowed the dining room for a couple of seconds, then Neron stood to his feet and mumbled, “I

see.”

“Are you going to take my advice?” Mrs. Maxwell said, watching him pick up his coat from the

chair arm.

Without responding, Elijah walked away, and her gaze followed him until his back faded out the

doorway.

“There’s no honor in dying and leaving a wife and kid behind, son!” Mrs. Grace lashed out after him.

Her words echoed into Elijah’s ear causing him to sigh as he walked down the hallway.

When he came to their room, he stopped in his steps, gazing at the bedroom door for a moment before

walking past it, feeling like he should spend the night away from Peach to think things through.

But Elijah didn’t go far when he stopped and turned around, walking back to the door, and then grabbed

the knock pushing it open.

Hearing his footsteps in the room, Peach kept still, squeezing her eyelids tightly, suppressing her

emotions.

“Are you awake?” Elijah mumbled, sitting on the bed, beside her.

Raising her eyelashes, Peach’s gaze rested on his, and she intensely stared at him without uttering a

word.

“Peach,” Elijah said with a pause, hesitating as his hand reached out for her cheek. “What would you say

if I ask you to stay here and settle down in Bordoria, making this our home and raising our baby here?”

“Yes! Yes, I will like that very much!” Peach exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy.

Silence fell over the room, as she waited to see if he would reply. Finally, Elijah smiled at her before he

looked away, saying, “Just like that? Won’t you miss-”

“Everything I would miss is here with me. The motel got burned. I got nothing back in Syldavia to miss,

babe.”

Pausing, Elijah watched tears settle in Peach’s eyes, and he immediately pulled her closer, holding her

tightly to his chest.

‘What am I going to do with your grandfather’s will now that I have the original in our possession.’ Elijah

thought caressing her head. ‘Should I really pardon the Hayes and move on with my life for our family’s

sake? Will that work?’