Chapter 192
About half an hour later, Hudson set his coffee cup down, clearly uneasy, and looked across the table at Anthony,
“So… that’s pretty much what happened,” he said. “Somehow, over the past month, Theodore quietly acquired a significant number of BNG CON shares. Before we knew it, he became our largest shareholder. I don’t know what he’s trying to do. That’s why I came, to ask him directly®
Anthony gave a brief pause, then responded calmly, “Maybe he sees potential in a partnership. Perhaps he wants to build something with you!
Hudson let out a weak laugh. “If that’s the case, I’d be relieved. But I can’t help but worry…”
“Worry about what?”
“It’s nothing.” He took another sip of his coffee, clearly dodging the question.
Anthony didn’t push further. “Shame he’s out of the c
e country right now. Otherwise, you could’ve asked him yourself”
Hudson shifted in his seat and hesitated before saying, “Would you mind giving him a call? Just to find out what exactly his intentions are?”
The truth was, Hudson hadn’t come entirely of his own will. Belinda and Hannah had pressured him into it. If he went home without any answers, he’d be in for another long lecture.
Anthony looked slightly surprised. “You don’t have his number?”
Hudson gave a sheepish smile. “Embarrassingly enough… I’ve never actually met him.”
Back when Theodore was blind, his family never took him seriously. And after he regained his sight, the tension between Eliana and his family only escalated, making it even harder for Hudson to face him.
If Theodore hadn’t suddenly become Burke Group’s largest shareholder, Hudson wouldn’t have dared come at all.
Anthony nodded as if understanding. “Alright. I’ll give him a call for you.”
Hudson’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. Anthony took out his phone and, with
practiced ease, dialed a fake number. The call, of course, went nowhere.
After a few moments, he hung up and offered an apologetic shake of the head. “Looks like his phone is off. Maybe something urgent came up.”
He let the silence settle before continuing, “Mr. Burke, why don’t we exchange numbers? I’ll get in touch as soon as Theodore returns.”
“Yeah, okay,” Hudson sighed. At this point, he didn’t have much of a choice.
After he left, looking troubled and preoccupied, Anthony remained seated for a while, eyes narrowed in thought. ‘Does Eliana even know Theodore’s taken over Burke Group?‘
When Eliana saw Theodore again, he looked every bit the picture of elegance, tailored suit, freshly shaved, not a single strand of hair out of place. He seemed sharp, composed, and entirely in control.
As they headed downstairs for breakfast at the hotel, Eliana glanced at him and asked, “So, when are you flying back?”
Theodore gave her nose a light pinch and smirked. “I just got here, and you’re already trying to get rid of me?”
She chuckled, “I’m just worried you’ve got a million things waiting for you.”
“I’ll head back in a couple of days,” he said easily. “And when I do, you’re coming with me.”
Eliana hesitated. “What about Megan? She got hurt because of me. I can’t just leave her behind.”
Chapter 192
d’ve already arranged a private muse to stay with her at the hospital. Theodore replied, salt it were the mout als believe me, we’ll siving by later and you can see for yourself.”
She nodded, finally reassured.
At the restaurant, a waiter greeted them warmly and asked for their order.
Eliana opted for the buffet, and Theodore, after a slight arch of the brow, followed her lead.
The waiter then guided them to the buffet area.
The place was already buzzing, filled with locals chatting in a language neither of them understood, making them stand out even more.
It didn’t help that Theodore’s looks were turning heads.
A few women openly stared, and one or two even gave him obvious, lingering glances right in front of Eliana.
She shot him a look, but he remained completely unfazed, dropping a piece of baguette onto her plate with the same nonchalance he might’ve used to swat away a fly.
One woman, braver than the rest, brushed against him under the pretense of reaching for food.
Theodore’s jaw tightened. His eyes flicked toward her, sharp and cold.
It only took a second for the woman to mutter a flustered apology and retreat.
Eliana, who had been silently fuming, burst into laughter.
Theodore gave her a dark look. “Something funny?”
“You, apparently. Can’t walk five steps without someone throwing themselves at you.”
Still smiling, she brushed off the spot where the woman had touched him, like wiping off invisible dirt. Only then did his expression soften.
They found a quiet table and sat down. Theodore had just taken a sip of his coffee when a small card appeared beside his hand. It had a phone number scribbled on it and a bold red lipstick kiss mark.
He picked it up and held it out to her, a wry smile playing at his lips/“Darling, it seems they think you’re invisible.”
They had clearly seen her sitting there. And yet, these women had no shame.
Eliana took the card without a word, crumpled it into a tight ball, and, making sure the culprit was watching, tossed it straight into the trash bin.
The woman huffed and stomped away in frustration.
Theodore finally let out a low laugh.
T
She gave him a withering look. “Really? As if you don’t already attract enough attention.”
She grabbed the piece of baguette he’d given her and took a bite, then immediately winced, pressing a hand to her jaw. “What the hell is this, a breadstick or a weapon?”
Theodore raised an eyebrow, amused. “Sure you’re not just using that as an excuse to cover up how jealous you are?”
In Megan’s hospital room, a small army of purses stood at attention like a battalion deployed for a royal guest.
“Ms. Thompson, would you like some water?” asked one.
2/2
fusthad some Megan replied wearly
How about something to eat?” another chimed in.
No thanks. I’m an actress. Watching my weight isn’t optional.”
Need to use the restroom?” came the next hopeful voice.
“I went thirty minutes ago.”
“Oh… then how about a little water?” another nurse tried again, undeterred.
Megan let her head fall back against the pillows and closed her eyes, one breath away from screaming. Just when she thought she couldn’t take another second, two figures appeared at the doorway. Her eyes flew open, lighting up with relief. “Ellie! Oh, thank… ahh, damn…”
“Ms. Thompson, please don’t sit up,” a nurse warned quickly, rushing over. “You’ll pull your stitches.”
Eliana stepped into the room, pausing to glance at Theodore before turning a skeptical eye to the crowd of nurses. “Wait, how many of them did you hire?”
One of the women smiled brightly. “There are twelve of us total. We work in two shifts so Ms. Thompson has full support, day and night.”
Megan didn’t wait and grabbed her hand with the urgency of someone on the verge of a mental breakdown. “Ellie, please. Get them out of here. If one more person offers me water, I swear I’ll scream!”
After everything that happened the day before, the two women had moved past formalities. There was now a comfortable familiarity in Megan’s pleading, half–playful tone.
Eliana gave her a sympathetic look, though a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “You know he meant well, right?”
