Chapter 242
Eliana asked, “Did Ashton do anything unreasonable to you?”
“Please.” Harper smirked. “Before I left, I even slapped him, and he didn’t utter a single word of protest.”
“Wow!” Eliana couldn’t help but let out a low whistle in admiration.
Amused by her reaction, Harper chuckled, “Ellie, here’s a lesson. Between men and women, if you seize the moral high ground first and paint yourself as the victim, you’ll often turn the tide in your favor, no matter how bad things seem.”
She sighed then, almost motherly, “You’re always so well–behaved. It wouldn’t hurt to be a little wicked sometimes.”
Suddenly, Theodore’s face appeared on the screen, his voice laced with warning. “Harper, don’t go corrupting her.”
Harper gave an awkward laugh. “Oh, you’re here, Mr. Russell.”
“Did you forget Ellie is using my phone?” Theodore glanced at the background behind Harper, the same cruise ship they were on, and pieced together her earlier words. He frowned, “You snuck away from Ashton again?”
Harper nodded. “Yeah. I’m here to confront him.”
“Careful. He might lock you up when you get back this time.”
“It won’t happen. This is my last escape.” Harper’s confidence was unshakable. “Ashton will let me go for good, or else he won’t be able to coax his sugar baby.”
“He’s never needed to explain anything to Cathy,” Theodore countered coolly.
Harper stiffened as Theodore continued, “No matter how special she is to Ashton, she’s just a college student with no power to defy him.
“Once he realizes today was all a game, he’ll come after you again. All these years, she didn’t even know you. That’s how airtight his control is.”
Harper’s confident smile vanished instantly. Desperate, she pleaded, “Mr. Russell, for the sake of helping you at Zane’s birthday banquet, please help me
out of this.”
Beside Theodore, Eliana chimed in, “Theodore, help her, please.”
Theodore eyed Harper coldly. “If I help you and Ashton finds out, he might turn against me. Why would I risk losing a good friend?”
Helpless, Harper shot Eliana a pleading look.
Catching her silent plea, Eliana tugged lightly at Theodore’s pinky. “Theodore, I know you always repay favors. Just help her this once, okay? You’re the
best.”
A small smirk tugged at Theodore’s lips. For the words you’re the best“, he was willing to give her everything she wanted. He smiled, “Fine. Wait for my arrangements after we dock.”
Overjoyed, Harper and Eliana high–fived through the screen. Once the video call ended, Eliana sighed, “Harper is really something else.””
Theodore snorted, “That’s because Ashton is two timing her. I don’t waver, so-” He wanted to say “Don’t treat me like tha
Eliana sneezed.
before he could finish,
He immediately pressed a hand on her forehead and then frowned, “Damn it.” She was running a low fever. In one swift motion, he scooped her into his arms and strode toward their cabin.
Along the way, many passersby glanced their way, and Eliana, embarrassed, gently pushed against his chest. “Theodore, I can walk. Put me down.”
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10:54 Thu, 26 Jun • f
Chapter 242
Knowing her shyness, he soothed. “It’s dark out. No one can see us.”
Eliana was speechless, thinking, ‘Seriously? The cruise ship is dripping with lights.
Under the weight of amused, envious, and teasing gazes, Eliana buried her face into Theodore’s chest like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand.
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