When His Eyes Opened (full chapter)

Chapter 70
The admiration on Chelsea’s face instantly vanished into thin air.
“I can’t be one hundred percent sure about this, but I’m at least eighty to ninety percent sure of it,” Charlie continued. “I never told you because I was on decent terms with him before. Besides, I figured that his merits could make me overlook this matter.”
Chelsea felt a chill run through her entire body. It felt like an eternity before her trembling hand managed t o bring her glass of wine to her lips.
“He might be impressive, but he has a huge disadvantage. You shouldn’t worship someone like him. If you were to marry him, I’d be worried for your safety,” Charlie said indifferently as he cut into his steak.
“I’m sure he had a reason for doing it… I don’t believe that he’s a bad guy…” Chelsea mumbled after a moment’s silence. “I would know if he was a lost cause. I spent all these years by his side, so I know him like the back of my hand.”
Charlie chuckled at his sister’s gullibility.
“There was a serial killer who was finally caught a while ago. He managed to get away with his crimes for over ten years. The whole time, he was working hard at a normal job, and everyone around him said that h e was honest and kind…”
“Watch your mouth, Charlie Tierney!” Chelsea snapped. “I have my own opinions. Mind your own business!
“I knew you couldn’t handle me putting him down, which is exactly why I didn’t say a word all these years,” Charlie said with an innocent expression, then shrugged and said, “Keep holding on, then! When you decide to give up one day, our family will always welcome you back with open arms.”

“I don’t need that! I have my own properties.”
“It looks like Elliot Foster pays you well,” Charlie teased.
Charlie was the Tierney heir, so Chelsea had never asked for a penny from the family after she left and began to fend for herself.
“Everything aside, he’s an amazing boss. Even if he will never belong to me, I’m still willing to stay by his side,” Chelsea said, then raised her glass and added, “Good luck going after Avery Tate. I know you’ve never failed in pursuing a woman. I hope it’ll be the same this time!”
“I’m confident it will be,” Charlie said smugly as they clinked glasses.
A week later, Ben walked into Elliot’s office at Sterling Group with the latest piece of first-hand gossip about Trust Capital to share with him.
“Charlie Tierney is interested in investing in Tate Industries, right? Rumor has it that Avery Tate hasn’t given him a solid answer yet,” Ben said with the widest grin on his face. “I also heard that he’s been asking Avery out at every opportunity… He invited her out for dinner, asked her out for a hike, and even to an art gallery… It looks like he’s pulling out all the stops, but it’s too bad that Avery’s been indifferent and ignoring all of his advances…”
“Mr. Tierney’s finally met his match!” Chad chimed in. “He’s an expert Casanova. Every one of his girlfriends has been more outstanding than the last, and they were all crazy about him. Even after he broke up with him, he still managed to stay on friendly terms with all of them. I didn’t expect Miss Tate not to fall for his charms.”
Elliot’s face was stiffened with rage. He did not find the whole thing funny at all.
The fact that Charlie Tierney was asking his wife out in the name of “work” was vile, disrespectful and a blatant act of shamelessness.
“She hurt her face and hasn’t left the house in a week,” Elliot said curtly.
Ben and Chad were taken aback.
“How did she get hurt?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Elliot said quietly, “My mother hit her.”
“What the hell? Was it because of that whole thing with your nephew?”
“Yes,” Elliot said as he shifted his gaze away from his laptop screen. He picked up his cup of coffee, took a sip and said bitterly, “She hasn’t spoken a word to me all week.”