Chapter 41
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Hudson added, “By the way, take the bank card out of the safe. When Ellie comes home this weekend, just give it to her.”
Belinda immediately grew unhappy. “In my opinion, we should save that money for Hannah’s wedding. She and Nolan are head over heels right now. They could tie the knot any day.
“It’s just that our family has only recently recovered. I’m worried that if she marries Nolan soon, they’ll look down on her.”
“Nonsense. That money is what we got from selling-” Hudson stopped himself mid–sentence. “We’ve already done plenty for Hannah. Stop playing favorites.”
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Belinda shot him a defiant look. “Hannah is the best and most promising one of our three children. Is it so wrong that I want to give her a better future?”
Before she could say more, a young voice piped up behind them, “That’s not true. Ellie is the best.”
Belinda turned and saw a tall young man–easily over six feet–standing there with an indignant look on his face. His handsome features were touched by innocence.
Belinda’s temples began to throb, and she shouted, “Isaac, be quiet and go play with your Legos.”
With his hands on his hips, Isaac
peated like a broken record, “No way. Ellie is number one. No one is better than her.”
Seeing Belinda lift a hand to smack him, Isaac darted away, sticking out his tongue and winking as he ran.
Belinda massaged her pounding temples and turned back to Hudson. “See? We’ve got a foolish son, a daughter who doesn’t care about us, and you still think we shouldn’t rely on Hannah?”
At 8 PM, at Russell Manor.
After dinner, Eliana came to Theodore and asked, “Mr. Russell, you said yesterday you wanted to go for a walk tonight. Are you still up for it?”
Theodore pressed his lips together and gave a quiet nod.
Eliana looked at him and then ventured to ask, “Well, just in case, I’m gonna hold your hand, okay?”
Without a word, Theodore extended his hand. Eliana immediately took it. His hand was large and warm–rather than her leading him, it felt more like his hand enveloped hers.
As Eliana guided Theodore out of the room, everyone they passed stopped in their tracks. Their eyes were filled with shock and fear, as though they’d just witnessed something scary.
Sensing her hesitation, Theodore turned his head to her and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Eliana looked at his unaware, striking profile and thought, ‘It’s better if he doesn’t know!
Unfortunately, someone shouted from behind them, “Oh my, Mr. Theodore Russell stepped out of his room?”
Another maid warned her, “Shhh, quiet. Don’t let him hear you.”
Someone else added, “Yeah, do you want to end up like that guy from two years ago to be pushed down the stairs by him?”
Suddenly, Theodore’s grip on Eliana’s hand tightened, just enough to sting her.
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12:36 Wed, 11 Jun D.
Chapter 41
Eliana looked up and noticed the change in his expression.
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Worried he might retreat into his shell again, she stepped forward and announced to the gossiping maids, “He’s going to be coming out more often from now on, so I hope you can all stop reacting like this. Do you understand?
The maids glanced at Theodore, who now stood beside Eliana like a god of vengeance. They all nodded furiously and replied, “Y–Yes, understood.”
Eliana thought she just intimidated them into submission. She then added, “Alright then, back to work.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The group scattered like birds startled from a tree.
Eliana cleared her throat and turned to Theodore, speaking earnestly. “It’s alright now. I won’t let them hurt you.”
To her surprise, the coldness melted from Theodore’s face, and he asked with a faint, sardonic smile, “Do you really think they could?”
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