Chapter 172
“Oh? Then how did this power end up here!” Alice was wirlding the evidence like a weapon, determined to make an example of Barbara
She needed everyone to know the old, meek Alle was dead, and anyone who crossed her now would pay the price,
Anthony frowned deeply. “Baible, you need to explain.”
“Yes, I brought the powder.” Barbara, young and hot blooded, actually conlossed.
After a tense pause, Anthony said, “Apologize.”
“Apologize to her?” Barbara sneered, “Not a chance.”
Anthony’s voice turned steely. “No apology, no more coming home. This isn’t a request.”
Barbara gaped at him in horror. “Anthony, are you serious?”
“She’s going to be your sister–in–law. Show her some respect.”
“She’s not my sister–in–law. She’s a tramp who was hitting on Theodore?”
“Enough!” Anthony slammed his fist on the table, his normally composed face now ice–cold. “Did you witness this “hitting on?”
“L” She thought, “I didn’t, but it’s obvious. Why isn’t Anthony furious that Alice has almost cheated on him?
Eliana started to speak up, but Theodore squeezed her hand under the table. Lainey and Anthony’s deference to Alice was suspicious, so he wanted to
observe longer.
Anthony closed his eyes before saying sternly, “Last warning–apologize, or move into the dorms permanently”
“Fine, I’ll stay away!” Barbara screamed through tears, then bolted from the room.
After a heavy sigh, Anthony sat back down. “My apologies for the drama. Let’s continue.”
“Wait a second.” Alice wasn’t letting up. “Eliana, you were in the kitchen too, weren’t you?”
odded. “I
Eliana nodded. “I was”
“Were the two of you plotting against me?” Alice pressed.
Theodore’s tone turned lethal. “Alice, watch your mouth”
Alice turned to him, her eyes a mix of hurt and mockery. “Theodore, I was just asking a question. Already taking her side!”
Eliana interjected, “If I’d been in on Barbara’s plan, do you really think you’d be sitting here unharmed?”
Alice laced Anthony “Honey, this family needs a serious reality check. I don’t feel safe otherwise.”
“Don’t fret.” Anthony soothed. “This won’t happen again.”
He thought, ‘Thank goodness Eliana stopped Barbara in time.” With Alice’s current grudge, the fallout could’ve been catastrophic.
Upstairs in their suite, Theodore found Eliana deep in thought. “What’s troubling you!
“Just trying to make sense of it,” she admitted. “Anthony always adored Barbara. Why be so cruel to her?”
“Alice must have something on him. Let them tear each other apart, Theodore said.
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Chapter 172
Then he suddenly swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bathroom. “No more worrying about tham, Tim
“Put me down! Eliana wondered, ‘Is he actually asking to shower with me? No, my legs are still weak.
“Walt, I need to talk to you,” she blurted out.
Theodore turned on the shower, soaking them both. “Mom?” His eyes were fed with tonging
“You should conserve energy for work. I can’t… Elana said.
“You can.” He cut her off with a kiss, silencing her protests,
As the water cascaded down, Theodore bit back a sigh.
Hard to believe he’d become a prisoner of desire, utterly consumed.
The following evening, right after clocking out of work, Eliana’s phone buzzed with a call from the police station.
is this Eliana?” a voice asked.
“Yeah, speaking” she replied.
“Hold on.”
After a brief two–second silence, another voice came through. “Ellie, it’s me!”
“Isaac?” Eliana exclaimed.
“I’m lost. Please come get me?” Isaac’s voice wobbled, on the brink of tears.
“Okay, okay,” Eliana said urgently. “Tell me where you are. I’m on my way.”
cop tell you.” With a sheepish mumble, Isaac passed the phone back
“Umm, let the cop
At the station, Eliana thanked the officers profusely before leading Isaac out. He was happily sucking on a lollipop they’d given him.
“Isaac, what were you thinking, running off alone?” she asked.
“I wanted to surprise you. But once I got out, I couldn’t remember how to get to your place,” Isaac replied.
After his quileless explanation, Isaac suddenly reached up and gently touched her ear. “Ellie, does it still sting?”
Eliana froze. “You know about that?”
“Mhm. I eavesdropped when Mom was whispering with Hannah. I scolded them.”
“What did you say to them?”
“I called them morons
“Then what happened?”
“Mom told me to scram,
Eliana couldn’t help smiling as she ruffled his hair. “She didn’t mean it. It was just a joke.”
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Chapter 172
Isaac kicked at a stone, pouting, “Hannah picks on se non stop at home. I don’t want to go back there anymore.”
Watching Isaac’s shoulders slump further, Ellana nished to distract him. “Hey, you’ve never visited Russell Manor How about take you there right now!
Isaac’s frown vanished instantly. He clapped his hands, beaming, “Yes, let’s go! I wanna see your husband
Eliana only hoped Theodore, who still knew nothing about her brother, would hit it off with Him.
At Russell Manor, Lainey’s eyes narrowed as Elana walked in with a strange man trailing behind. “Who’s this?”
“My older brother.” Eliana’s voice was steady. Turning to Isaac, who was gaping around in awe, she added, “Isaac, this is my mother–in–law, Mrs. Lai
Russell
Isaac nodded earnestly. “Good day, ma’am,” he said politely,
Lainey and Eliana both stared, speechless.
“Ellie, Mom said I should call women her age “ma’am‘ to be respectful,” Isaac said, confused. “Did I mess up?”
Eliana, always quick to defend family, shrugged. “No, you’re good.”
Lainey’s face turned purple with frustration,
“Why isn’t she answering me?” Isaac scratched his head, peering at Lainey with concern. “Is she unable to speak?”
Lainey fell silent.
“She’s just not very talkative.” Eliana grabbed Isaac’s arm and steered him toward her room, leaving Lainey fuming in the hallway.
When Theodore returned home from work, his steps slowed. A man’s voice–one he didn’t recognize–was coming from their bedroom,
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