Chapter 129
When Harper asked, Eliana shook her head and said, “Let’s not talk about it. Just order something”
Harper leaned her cheek against her hand, twirling her glass, and raised a brow. “You sure? I thought you didn’t like drinking. Must’ve hit you hard thi
time
“Harper, Eliana said, sighing helplessly at her.
“Alright, alright, I won’t ask.” Harper snapped her fingers and called to the handsome young bartender, “Get her a cocktail, and bring me the best–looking male escort you’ve got.”
‘Best looking male escort?‘ Eliana blinked, clearly startled, and stared at her.
Harper couldn’t help but pat her on the cheek with a grin. “Relax. You drink your drink, and I’ll play with my toy.”
Eliana lowered her voice, “What if Ashton finds out? That’s s kind of a big risk, isn’t it?”
Harper let out a lazy hum and smiled slyly. “Did Theodore
e ever mention I used to be an escort?”
Eliana hesitated and then nodded. “He did.”
“So? Do you look down on me now?”
“No,” Eliana said softly.
Harper had been around long enough to spot sincerity when she heard it. From that moment, she truly started seeing Eliana as a friend.
“I’ve taught you a lot already,” Harper said, sipping her drink. “But I forgot the most important lesson. Being too nice makes it easy for people to walk all over you. Why should men get to fool around and we’re expected to be saints?”
Just then, the bartender returned, trailing behind him a lean young man with sharp cheekbones, pale skin, and the kind of gaze that made people pause without knowing why.
Harper looked him up and down, clearly intrigued. “I’m Harper.”
“Hi, Harper,” the young man replied in a voice soft enough to drip honey.
Eliana shivered at the way he dragged out her name.
“What’s your name?” Harper asked.
“Asher Lane.”
“Sit,” Harper said and then quickly pulled him to her side before he could take the middle seat. “Sit over here. She’s a married woman.”
Meanwhile, the bartender slid a cocktail over to Eliana. “Here you go, gorgeous. One Mai Tai.”
The drink looked vibrant and inviting. Eliana took a cautious sip, found it sweet, and started drinking more freely.
The bartender opened his mouth to warn her about the drink’s strong kick, but Harper gave him a look that made him shut right up.
‘Let her get drunk,‘ Harper thought. ‘It’s about time this good girl let loose.
Soon, Eliana was watching Harper casually stroke Asher’s hand or plant kisses on his cheek. Every time he tried to kiss her back, she just laughed and pushed him away.
Time passed.
1/3
Chapter 129
Eliana hiccupped and whispered, “Harper. I need to use the restroom.
Harper saw how unsteady she was and nudged Asher. “Help her out. And keep your hands to yourself, unless she makes the first move, in which end you just be a good boy and take it.”
“Yes, Harper,” Asher answered sweetly.
As he helped Euana away, Harper noticed her phone left on the bar and shook her head. “Such a little airhead”
Just then, the phone started ringing.
Harper glanced at the screen. ‘Theodore?‘
She hesitated and then picked up. “Hello? Mr. Russell, it’s Harper.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s with me.”
“Don’t corrupt her.”
His voice was tight with restrained fury. Harper, on the other hand, sounded utterly amused. “If you’re that worried, come pick her up.”
She paused and then added, “She just went to the restroom, with the best–looking male escort in the place. You might want to get here fast, before they really start to click.”
There was a long silence on the other end. Then a burst of angry breathing. “You’re at The Gilded Ford?”
“Nope,” Harper said cheerfully. “Wait… where are we again?” She tapped her forehead theatrically and then said, “Oh, right. The Ivy Dusk.”
The call ended in a hurry.
Harper tossed the phone back on the bar with a smirk. ‘Serves you right, you smug bastard.’
By the time Eliana came back, Harper didn’t mention the call. She kept flirting with Asher, while Eliana slumped over the bar to sober up.
About half an hour later, Eliana sat up and murmured, “Harper, I should go.”
Harper had just opened her mouth to say “stay a little longer,” when she spotted the man walking through the door. Her expression shifted. “Yeah, you probably should.”
“Thanks again for earlier,” Eliana said, pulling out a bill from her wallet and handing it to Asher.
She’d heard escorts charged even for conversation, and Asher was clearly their top tier. If she paid him first, maybe he wouldn’t try to upsell her.
Asher leaned forward with a soft smile, reaching to take the money.
But before his fingers could touch hers, a strong arm yanked her back by the shoulders.
Eliana stumbled into a firm chest that smelled of expensive cologne. Blinking in confusion, she looked up and saw Theodore’s stone–cold face staring
down at her.
Her smile vanished instantly. “You?”
The storm behind his eyes brewed dangerously. “We’re going home,” he growled.
“You’re just in time,” Eliana said, brushing his hand off and standing straight. She lowered her gaze. “Here. Take it back.”
Harper and Asher both froze. ‘Just in time?‘
2/3
Chapter 29
Elána slipped the wedding ring oft har finger dial tossed it at Theodore’s chest, then the grabbed her sintesse and kamel colong me – Nightly from the slithol.
Damn Hagel muttered in shock. Then she burst out laughing.
Theodore’s face furned action. He turned to her slowly, gaze sharp enough to cut. Achton’s name won’t protect you from me. Don’t test ma tunes –
He didn’t wait for an answer, Instead, the man who never gave in to anyone snatched up the ring and took off after Ellana
He caught up quickly, slamming his hand down on her suitcase to stop her. Though still angry, he tried one last time. “Come home with me”
Eliana pulled on the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. She turned around and met his eyes with no fear. “Let go I’m not going with you. I have other places to go besides Russell Manor,”
“Where? Burke Manor? The therapy center?” Theodore’s voice cut like a knife. “At Burke, you’re just a pitiful nobody. And if you go back to the center, you think Bernie won’t worry herself sick over your mariage?”
AD
