Chapter 195
The next day, as Julián made a leisurely round through the casino floor, he asked offhandedly, “You need money?”
Hannah walked beside him, responding softly, “Yes.”
“How much?”
“As much as you can give,” she replied without hesitation.
Julian finally turned to look at her, amused. “Big appetite, huh?”
Hannah met his gaze, eyes burning with determination. “Darling, this is the first favor I’ve ever asked of you. Help me out, and I’ll do whatever you want.
There was no subtlety in her tone. It was a clear offer.
And with someone like her, elegant, seductive, beautiful to the bone, there wasn’t much a man would ask for besides taking her to bed.
A glint of something unreadable flashed in Julian’s eyes. “I’ve got the money. You can have it.”
Hannah’s eyes lit up, but before she could speak, he added, “On o
condition. You’ll sign a loan agreement.”
She paused, stunned. “A loan? But… we’re together.”
Julian gave a nonchalant shrug. “Even with family, the numbers have to add up.”
At that moment, Hannah couldn’t help but think of the box of gold bars he’d given Eliana.
Julian, ever perceptive, gave her a knowing look. “You’re thinking about those gold bars I gave your sister, aren’t you?”
Hannah, caught off guard, didn’t bother hiding it. “Yes. You were so generous with her…”
He looked at her, unfazed. “That wasn’t generosity. I gave her those because I lost a bet at the racetrack. And you, of all people, should remember why! lost.”
It was because of her. If Hannah hadn’t fallen from the black horse, Julian wouldn’t have missed his winning odds.
Panicking a little, Hannah tried to shift the blame. “Julian, you don’t know how vicious my sister can be. She got Theodore to buy up a huge portion of my father’s company stock.
“Now he’s the largest shareholder in Burke Group. And as if that weren’t enough, he’s planted people in the finance department to block salary disbursements.
“It’s clear. They’re trying to bring down my dad’s company. My parents were losing sleep over this, and I just couldn’t stand by doing nothing. That’s why I came to you.”
Julian went quiet for a moment, then said, “Well, if she managed to get Theodore to go that far for her, I’d say that’s a skill.”
Hannah froze. After everything she said, Julian didn’t even acknowledge how much she cared about her parents. He just sounded vaguely impressed
with Eliana.
But then he added, “Still, I never pass up a chance to cross Theodore. So you came to the right person.”
Hannah said nothing, but deep down she felt a flicker of guilt. She’d known exactly what would sway him, his rivalry with Theodore, and she’d used it.
Ten minutes later, Julian handed her a check.
In return, she slid a signed loan agreement across the table.
1/3
Chapter 195
The money Hannah brought back came just in time. For Burke Group, it was nothing short of a lifeline.
Watching from the side, Belinda beained with pride. “Didn’t I tell you? Only Hannah is truly our daughter. That other one has done nothing but caufa trouble since the day she was born, I regret ever having her!”
Hudson, however, couldn’t shake the guilt that had taken root after his conversation with Theodore the day before.
Unlike Belinda, he wasn’t delusional. He knew full well they had treated their two daughters like night and day. They had spoiled Hannah, placed her on a pedestal while leaving Eliana to fend for herself.
It was that very favoritism that led them to marry Eliana off to a
nd man without hesitation.
Hudson had gone along with it partly because of his weak heart and partly because he had no energy to argue with Belinda’s domineering ways.
And Hannah, to her credit, had always made them look good in public. So, over the years, he’d turned a blind eye to how she mistreated Ellie.
Now, no matter how much Belinda praised Hannah for being the perfect daughter, Hudson found himself growing indifferent. Beneath it all, he couldn’t help but feel a bitter sense of irony as if this was all the consequence of choices they had made long ago.
“I’m heading to the office to get the salaries paid out before the staff causes a scene,” he said flatly, and turned to leave.
Watching him go, Hannah frowned. “Mom… what’s with Dad?”
She’d got the money while he still seemed so cold.
Belinda reached out to gently stroke her cheek. “Oh, don’t mind him, sweetheart. He’s just overwhelmed. He’s happy. You’ll see. He’s just not great at showing it.”
Word of Hudson issuing salaries to Burke Group employees reached Theodore’s ears before the day was out.
Stanley leaned in slightly, speaking in a lowered tone, “Mr. Russell, looks like Burke Manor wasn’t as broke as we thought.”
A faint smirk tugged at Theodore’s lips, laced with disdain. If the Burke family truly had savings, they wouldn’t have sold off Eliana like a bargaining chip.
There was only one explanation. Hannah must’ve gone begging Julian.
Julian had always had a thing for challenging him, so this outcome didn’t surprise Theodore in the slightest.
He picked up his phone and dialed without hesitation.
Julian blinked in mild surprise when he saw who was calling. After all, it hadn’t been that long since Theodore had the police shut down one of his underground casinos, hardly a forgettable move.
Theodore’s voice oozed casual amusement. “Julian, I’ve got a little secret about your girlfriend. Interested?”
Julian’s tone remained indifferent. “Hmm? Let’s hear it.”
By the time the call ended, Julian’s hand was clenched tight around the phone, his knuckles white.
Those sharp and calculating eyes were now burning with something far more dangerous.
On the other end, Theodore’s voice had remained cool and deliberate until the last moment. “If you think I’m lying, Matthew’s still in Covenhill. Ask him.”
ค
Chapter 195
Once the call ended, Julian slammed the phone and the poker table the screen shattered an limpacie plinter set plats are
surface
One of his bodyguards rushed over. “Boss, what happened?”
Jutian pulled out the IOU Hannah had left him, glanced at it without emotion, and replied evenly, “Nothing, I just really, really hate being made.
Later that evening, at Russell Manor.
Eliana was in her room, mid–video call. “How’s the injury?” she asked. “Feeling any better?”
On the screen, Megan tapped her stomach with a grin. “Almost good as new. I’m planning to finish the rest of my scenes tomorrow and head home”
“Will there be a scar?” Eliana asked, concern evident in her voice.
Scars on a woman were never ideal, especially not for someone in showbiz. If Megan had to do swimsuit shoots or revealing scenes, even a faint mark could be a problem.
Megan brushed it off with a laugh. “No big deal. I’ll get laser treatment. My agent said Mr. Russell already booked the hospital before flying out of Lunara. Once I’m back, I’ll get it sorted.”
Still, Eliana couldn’t help but say, “You’re braver than I am.”
Megan rolled her eyes dramatically. “Please. The only reason I acted like a hero was because it was you, Mr Russell. If it had been anyone else,! wouldn’t have thrown myself into that mess.”
Eliana laughed, shaking her head.
Just then, Megan’s eyes flicked toward something behind Eliana on the screen. The door to the room had opened, and Theodore stepped inside.
Megan pulled a face and teased, “Your husband’s home. I better go. Wouldn’t want to trigger another jealous episode.”
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