Chapter 144
Lainey glanced at the crate, dismissing it as ordinary. “No idea. Probably gifts from some distant relative of Eliar’s”
Eager to bette Eliana, Alice coaxed, “Can we open it and see?”
“Sure,” Lainey shrugged
“It’s not locked–can’t be anything valuable.”
Alice flipped the lid open, ready to sneer, but her words caught in her throat, Gold bars lined the crate, thimmering so brightly she couldn’t look away despite the dazzling glint.
Even Alice’s usually haughty face betrayed worldly greed. “Lainey, did you see that?”
“I saw it.” Lainey gasped, instinctively denying, “Fake, It’s all lako
Alice nodded frantically. “You’re right. This must be fake. No one would give Eliana a crate of gold bars.”
With at least a hundred bars inside, the thought that Theodore might have bought them on a whim made Alice clerich her teeth.
“Wait, there’s a card,” Lainey spotted a black card between the bars.
Alice read aloud, “Mrs. Russell, the hundred gold bars are delivered in full today. From Julian
Alice knew Julian. He was a mob heir who rarely showed Theodore respect. There was no way he’d address Eliana so courteously.
“How did Eliana get so close to Julian?” she jealously wondered.
That was just a pure misunderstanding–Julian and Eliana were practically enemies.
Just then, Eliana’s voice came from behind. “What are you doing?”
Lainey and Alice, too mesmerized by the gold, jumped at her voice.
Eliana rounded the sola and saw the open crate. “Don’t tell me you’re eyeing my gold bars?”
Alice flushed, retorting quickly, “Nonsense! Lainey and I would never–we were just curious.”
a look‘?”
Eliana said coolly, “Did you ask for my permission before just taking a
Unable to bear the scolding, Lainey shrieked, “Who are you to lecture us? Remember,
, you caused Alice to miscarry!”
“You know the truth.” Eliana had servants carry the crate upstairs, adding, “Don’t touch my things again, or call the police.”
Alice and Lainey turned pale. Their plan to mock Eliana’s poverty had backfired, leaving them mortified.
Theodore, returning from a roohop workout, saw Eliana humming beside the gold crate on the second floor, clearly in high spirits,
He chuckled. “You like gold that much?”
“Of course who doesn’t?” Eliana blurted, then realized it was Theodore. She quickly masked her greed. “I’m just guarding them for you, I swear.”
Chapter 145
