Chapter 229
Theodore immediately turned to her. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing,” Eliana said, wiping her face.
She just assumed the people in the pool were horsing around and accidentally splashed her. But to her surprise, a glamorous, fashionably dressed woman suddenly rose from the water, a water gun clutched in her hand.
But that wasn’t the worst part. After flipping her wet hair over her shoulder, the woman strode straight toward Theodore and cooed, “Theodore.”
‘Why’s she calling him in that tone?‘ Eliana wondered. She couldn’t help but glance at Theodore to see his reaction, and she noticed how he froze
momentarily before quickly regaining his composure. ‘So they know each other.‘
Before Eliana could react, the woman was already throwing her arms wide open, eagerly moving in to hug Theodore.
She was in a bikini, and that hug meant Theodore was really getting quite the treat. All the men present couldn’t help but cast envious glances his way.
Theodore stepped back to avoid her, then raised a hand in a stopping gesture. “Delilah, just stay right there.”
Delilah pouted and whined playfully, “Theodore, you always used to call me Della.”
All the men present were weak at the knees, thinking that they would totally volunteer in Theodore’s place to receive that hug.
“Cut that crap,” Theodore said coldly. “When have I ever called you that?”
Delilah pouted and stomped her foot. “Whatever. I just got back, and you won’t even give me a big hug? Do you have to be so mean to me?”
Theodore couldn’t help but raise his and Eliana’s interlocked hands, then declared to her, “I’m married.”
“So what?” Delilah didn’t even glance at Eliana. “When you were with Alice, I said I’d wait for you two to break up. Now that I’m back, you’re married? Well then, I’ll just have to wait for your divorce.”
Theodore, clearly accustomed to her ways, responded calmly and without getting mad, “Then you might be waiting indefinitely.”
Delilah pouted and retorted, “You said the same thing back then, and didn’t you still break up with Alice?”
Theodore’s expression turned stern. “Delilah, out of respect for the close friendship between our grandfathers, I won’t make a big deal out of this, but only if you can watch what you say.”
After a pause, he turned to Eliana and explained, “Her name is Delilah Wren. Our grandfathers were close friends, so we’ve known each other since childhood. To me, she’s always been just a childish little sister, nothing more.”
With those words, he made it crystal clear there was nothing between him and Delilah. Hearing this, Delilah shot Eliana a glare and demanded, “What’s your name?”
“Eliana,” she replied calmly.
Delilah’s eyes swept from Eliana’s delicate little face down to her flat chest, and finally, a smirk tugged at her lips–she’d found her opening. “You look like you never even hit puberty. Honestly, what does Theodore even see in you?”
Eliana let out a light chuckle at Delilah’s boldness in speaking so freely in front of Theodore. With a hint of teasing, she said, “Ms. Wren, do you perhaps have a particular fondness for my husband?”
“I do,” Delilah declared without hesitation. “I’ve had a crush on him since we were young, and I’ve always dreamed of being with him.”
“Then where were you during those two years he was blind?” Eliana asked pointedly.
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Chapter 229
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“I was abroad. I wanted to come back, but my daddy wouldn’t let me. He insisted I finish my studies there.” Delilah’s expression dimmed as she spoke “Theodore, if I’d been able to come back and look after you, would I be the one married to you now?”
“Impossible,” Theodore said coldly. “Treat my wife nicely.
“No way,” Delilah retorted. “What right does she have to be your wife? She’s neither as rich nor as sexy as I am. If you marry me, our families will make an unstoppable alliance. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”
“This is why.” With that, Theodore suddenly turned, lifted Eliana’s chin, and claimed her lips with a decisive kiss, leaving no room for refusal.
Seeing this, Delilah’s eyes widened in shock. In her memory, Theodore had always been cold and distant, so it took her aback to see him kissing someone in public.
Even Franco, who was watching from a distance, couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that the ice–cold heart of Theodore had finally melted.
Theodore turned his gaze back to Delilah with a rare glint of satisfaction in his cold gaze. “Does that settle it?”
Stunned and defeated, Delilah was rendered completely speechless.
Seeing her reaction, Theodore said softly, “Let’s go, Mrs. Russell.”
“Mmm.” Eliana, with her cheeks flushed, walked away with him and teased, “Couldn’t you have given me a heads–up before springing a surprise like that?”
“I did,” Theodore said with a teasing smile.
Eliana asked, “When did you?”
Theodore said, “I gave your hand a little squeeze.”
Eliana thought, ‘Huh? That counts as a heads–up?‘
Theodore teased with a smirk, “Mrs. Russell, your lips taste sweet. Is it orange–flavored?”
Eliana pulled out a tube of lipstick from her bag and teased, “That’s because you kissed off my lipstick.”
Theodore sighed helplessly and said, “Mrs. Russell, has anyone ever told you you’re completely romance–proof? Like a blockhead?”
Eliana gave a little shrug. “I’m going to touch up my makeup. Text you later.”
“Alright.” Theodore casually waved over a waitress to show her to the restroom.
Meanwhile, at the pool, a young man who bore a striking resemblance to Delilah walked over and teased, “Delta, why aren’t you in the water? Why are you just standing here zoning out in the sun?”
Delilah finally snapped out of her daze and whined, “Marc, I just ran into this utterly detestable woman. Can you help me put her in her place?”
Marcus hesitated. “We’ve only just returned to the country, Causing trouble now would damage our famil
utation.”
“But Theodore kissed her. I can’t believe he did that!” Delilah shrieked, losing it.
Marcus‘ eyes lit up with excitement. “Theodore? You actually saw him?”
“I didn’t just see him. I even met his wife.”
“So, this ‘utterly detestable woman‘ you’re talking about… is Theodore’s wife?”
Delilah gave a sharp, determined nod.
Chapter 229
Marcus advised, “Della, I’ve just taken over Daddy’s company. The whole reason we’re at this yacht party is to discuss a partnership with Russell Group, if you offend Theodore’s wife now and he refuses to work with us, Daddy will be furious.”
“I don’t care if Daddy gets mad! It’s all his fault. If he’d just let me come back to take care of Theodore, I’d be his wife by now,” Delilah said petulantly.
“Besides, if Daddy hadn’t been so snobbish and cut ties with Russell Group the moment Theodore went blind, would he really need to send us two rookies now to try and fekindle our childhood connection with him?”
“Since you’re fully aware of all this, that’s all the more reason you can’t afford to offend him now,” Marcus said sternly.
“Hmph! If you won’t help me, I’ll deal with her my own way. Whatever happens, I’ll take the fall myself.” With that, Delilah spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving Marcus sighing in frustration.
Meanwhile, in the restroom, Eliana was touching up her makeup in front of the mirror when the door swung open and someone quietly walked in, softly calling, “Ellie.”
Looking in the mirror, Eliana exclaimed, “Megan, you’re here.”
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