After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lainey stood up and said, “Ms. Wren, please make yourself comfortable white po pet Antho others.”
Delilah nodded politely. “Sure thing.”
But the moment Lainey turned around, Delilah rolled her eyes hard–she was here for Theodore, not Lainey who was nothing more than a homewrecker who’d clawed her way to the top, even worse than Eliana in her book
If it weren’t for needing Anthony’s invitation to get into the Russell Manor, she wouldn’t gifts to curry favor with them.
even spare Lainey a glance, let alone buy all these
Lainey, who had her back turned, wasn’t in much better spirits either She’d tried to win over Delilah before, but belilah would only listen to Theodore.
Not only that, but she’d thrown coffee at her and called her a “homewrecker” Now that she’d grown up, it seemed she’d finally feared some restraint.
When Lainey reached the staircase, she spotted Eliana standing at the top. Her expression instantly stiffened, but than she reconsidered- Delilah was Anthony’s guest, so she had nothing to feel guilty about.
Right now, Lainey had her own agenda. Delilah came from a good family background and was the beloved darling of the wiren family. If Anthony could win her over, it would be a huge advantage for her and her son!
prevent Eliana from causing trouble, Lainey skipped the elevator and walked up to her. “Listen, Ellie, Ms. Wren is Anthony’s guest. Don’t give her a hard time, okay?”
Eliana stood on the steps, her tone flat. “I’m not that kind of person
“Good.” Lainey breathed a sigh of relief and continued upstairs,
When sh
she reached the third floor and knocked on Barbara’s door, she found Barbara doing her morning study session.
Seeing Lainey, Barbara said, “Mom, let me study a bit more before I come down for breakfast”
Lainey gathered her thoughts before speaking, “Barbie, here’s the thing–Delilah’s here, and she brought you gifts. I want you and Jayden to come downstairs and meet her.”
ought for a moment. “Who’s Delilah?”
Barbara thoughtf
Considering that Barbara was relatively young when Delilah went abroad, Lainey reminded her, “You know, that girl who used to follow Theodore around all the time”
At that, Barbara put down her pen and let out a cold laugh. “Oh right, I remember now. She called me a bastard when I was Sttle. Mom, she’s not still hung up on Theodore, is she?”
Barbara’s words made Lainey squirm with embarrassment, but she pressed on stubbornly. “No, Anthony Invited her over as a guest.”
Barbara’s face twisted in disbelief. “Anthony?”
Lainey nodded. “Barbie, the Wren family might not match the Russells, but they’re still a solid choice. If Anthony can win over Delilah, who would dare look down on him behind his back?”
Barbara’s brow furrowed “Mom, Anthony’s already engaged to Alice. Even if he wants to be with Delilah, shouldn’t he break off the
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engagement first?
I mean, I’d love to see Anthony dump Alice, but what if Delilah’s actually after Theodoret We already went through this
are you trying the same thing again?”
Lainey shot back Irritably, “Can’t you have a little faith in your brother?”
Barbara spoke earnestly, “I do have faith in Anthony. That’s exactly why I don’t understand why he keeps going after Theodore’s leftov Anthony’s gentle and handsome–finding a decent girlfriend shouldn’t be this hard.”
Lainey sighed, “You don’t understand, Rich, powerful women won’t give him a second glance.”
The truth was brutal but simple–outsiders only saw Theodore as the rightful heir to the Russell family. Her three children were just side branches, afterthoughts.
“Then why not aim lower? Someone like Eliana would be perfect!” Barbara suggested pragmatically. “Sure, Eliana doesn’t come from old money, but she’s kind, well–mannered, and genuine. Look how well she and Theodore get along”
“Enough! You always perk up when Theodore’s mentioned. Who’s actually your real brother here?” Lainey snapped, unable to listen
anymore.
Her children deserved to seize every opportunity to soar high, not settle for mediocrity.
After a pause, Lainey said, “Come on, let’s go downstairs.”
Barbara’s face darkened as she flipped through her book. “No thanks. I’ll just have the maids bring breakfast up. I’m not going downstairs.”
“Barbaral” Lainey wanted to explode, but this wasn’t the time. “Fine, whatever. I need to wake up Jayden and get him downstairs before Eliana and Delilah start tearing each other apart!”
Barbara’s head snapped up immediately. “Mom, what did you say? Eliana’s with her?”
“Yeah,” Lainey said.
Barbara stammed her book shut and sat up straight. “Then I’m coming with you.” She couldn’t let Eliana get hurt. Delilah had been in trouble since day one.
When Lainey and Barbara reached Jayden’s room, they found him still fast asleep with a textbook dropped on the floor beside his bed. Lainey noticed the dark circles under Jayden’s eyes and whispered, “It looks like Jayden really has changed a lot lately.”
“He has.” Barbara lived next door and had seen it all firsthand.
But thinking about Eliana’s situation right now, Barbara immediately yanked off Jayden’s blanket, pinched his nose, and shouted, “Hey! Time to get up!”
“Barbie, stop it! Let go! He has asthmal” Lainey fushed to stop her.
A few seconds later, Jayden opened his eyes and asked groggily, “Mom? Barbara? What are you doing in my room this early?”
Lainey was about to speak when Barbara cut in, “Mom, you go downstairs first. I’ll talk to him.”
Seeing Lainey’s hesitation, Barbara added, “Aren’t you worried about Eliana and Delilah fighting?”
“Just don’t say anything you shouldn’t,” Lainey warned before hurrying off
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Jayden was still completely lost. Barbara, who’s Delitat?
Barbara remembered that when Delilah was chasing after Theodore years ago, Jayden hadn’t even been born yet shen find “Listen, little brother, let me tell you what’s going on.”
Meanwhile, Eliana and Delilah didn’t fight in the main hall. Mier a brief glance at each other, they went about their own busines
Eliana ate breakfast while Delilah sipped her coffee, stealing a sideways look at Eliana in her cartoon nightgown.
“Seriously? That taste is so childish. It’s laughable, Delilah thought to herself
After mentally dismissing Eliana, Delilah continued drinking her coffee. She was already imagining what she’d say when she saw Theodore later. This time, she was determined to leave him with the impression of a proper lady.
A moment later, the elevator chimed. Delilah’s eyes lit up immediately, only to dim with disappointment when Anthony stepped out instead,
Anthony, ever considerate, asked, “Della, have you had breakfast? Want to join us?”
AD
