Chapter 102
The pleasure Theodore brought Alice sounded heavily sexual.
Hearing Anthony’s words, Eliana couldn’t help but let her mind wander. Though she knew it was normal for Theodore and Alice to be intimate when the dated, she still felt uncomfortable.
After biting her lip, she asked, “So you mean Ms. Powell won’t let you touch her because she still has feelings for Theodore?”
“Yeah,” Anthony croaked.
“But…” Eliana frowned in confusion. “If she still loves Theodore, why did she leave him and choose to be with you?”
Alice had even gotten engaged to Anthony. If she didn’t love him, she shouldn’t have accepted his proposal–it wasn’t a child’s play, but a moment witnessed by countless people.
Anthony took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “I saw how heartbroken she was over Theodore’s car accident, so I kept comforting her. Maybe that’s why I became the one she transferred her feelings to.”
Eliana wasn’t sure how to console him, so she simply said, “Don’t think too much.”
Anthony smiled bitterly. “I don’t want to, but from Alice’s changes these past two days, I suspect…”
Eliana blurted out, “Suspect what?”
Staring at his wine glass, Anthony said slowly, “She agreed to my proposal because she wanted to move into Russell Manor and be near Theodore every day.”
Eliana felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her. She asked dejectedly, “If that’s the case, why did she break up with him instead of just taking care of him?”
Anthony laughed self–deprecatingly, “She probably didn’t expect Theodore’s eyes to recover, so she chose me. The ridiculous part is I thought she loved me, but I was just a backup.”
Eliana wanted to refute Anthony, believing that denying it would make these ugly things disappear. But she sadly realized she had no grounds to argue.
Noticing the change in her expression, Anthony pressed on in a low yoice, “Ellie, have you ever thought–what if Theodore feels the same way about you?”
Eliana’s mind went blank, not even noticing he had called her Ellie. She met his gentle gaze. Anthony seemed like her most loyal listener, so she confessed, “Our marriage is a deal. I can morally despise him but can’t stop him from acting that way.”
“But Theodore bought you this today, didn’t he?” Anthony pointed to her wedding ring. “That means you mean something to him.”
Maybe the night made it easier to let down her guard, or maybe Anthony’s words resonated with her. Eliana found herself admitting, “We bought these rings for show.”
Anthony paused, then sighed, “So we’re both just tools–used and discarded.”
Eliana bit her lip, silent.
Anthony staggered to his feet, looking embarrassed. “I drank too much tonight. Forgive me if I said anything out of line.”
Eliana replied, “It’s okay.” She thought it was better to know the truth early, so she wouldn’t hold onto false hopes.
Suddenly, Anthony frowned as if about to vomit.
Seeing he couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time, Eliana grabbed the ice bucket from the bar and held it to his mouth. As he retched painfully, she patted his back reassuringly.
Chapter 102
After he finished, she handed him a tissue and asked, “Are you okay?”
Wiping his mouth, Anthony gave her a strange look she seemed so used to taking care of others, not afraid of the mess at all. But the next moment, composed himself. “Thank you, Eliana. I made a fool of myself.”
Eliana understood his feelings. “Go rest and have a good dream.”
“Okay, goodnight,” Anthony said.
After he left, Eliana thought for a moment and cleaned up the dirty ice bucket and broken glass from the bar. Anthony always presented a gentlemanly image in public, and she didn’t want others gossiping about him getting drunk.
Up on the third floor, Anthony watched Eliana busy downstairs.
Sensitive since childhood, Anthony knew she was cleaning up his mess, but he couldn’t understand why. Maybe because he’d saved her at the Therapy Center, though his motives hadn’t been pure.
“Idiot,” Anthony muttered, turning around–only to see Alice’s complicated gaze.
His true emotions vanished instantly, replaced by fake tenderness. “Why are you up?”
“I woke up and saw you weren’t there, so I came to check,” Alice said unhappily. “Sorry for interrupting your little drinking party with Ms. Burke.”
Anthony remained calm. “I’m helping you. Since you can’t get over Theodore, if I make Eliana fall for me, you’ll have a chance to get close to him.”
Alice started, frowning. “Have you never liked me at all?” Otherwise, he wouldn’t say such things so calmly.
Anthony smiled at her. “Are you jealous? Upset that a man who only treated you well is suddenly betraying you?”
Alice paused, her face flushing as her thoughts were exposed. She was used to Anthony’s tenderness. Even knowing his motives were impure, she’d fallen for his two–year campaign of kindness.
Alice said, “Anthony, we’ve slept together, and there’s no chance with Theodore-”
He gently cut her off. “Not necessarily. You’re beautiful and sexy. Any man would fall for you if you wanted.”
Alice blushed. She walked over, hugged his waist, and looked up at him seductively. “Including you?”
She admitted feeling threatened seeing him alone with Eliana.
Anthony looked down at her. Alice wore a black lace nightgown, revealing her curvy chest and tempting legs–so different from her usual cold demeanor, that it stirred desire.
But when she closed her eyes, inviting him, he gently pushed her away. “Sorry, I just threw up downstairs. I’m messed up all over.”
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