Chapter 244
Ashton had barely slept last night, haunted by Harper’s parting words “I loved you.” Today, he kept unintentionally tuning out Cathy’s chatter
Just then, Cathy returned to the table. “Mr. Ford, Mr. Yates, I’m back.” She blinked at their empty place settings. “Haven’t you ordered yet?”
“We’re waiting for Theodore,” Felix explained.
Cathy’s eyes lit up. “Mr. Russell is joining us? Shouldn’t he be with Mrs. Russell?”
“She is over there.” Felix nodded toward Eliana’s table.
When Cathy followed his gaze and spotted Harper laughing with Eliana, her voice faltered. “Mrs. Russell knows Ms. Reynolds?”
Felix kicked Ashton under the table.
“Hmm?” Ashton surfaced from his daze. “What?”
Cathy watched the two women’s easy camaraderie, her shoulders slumping. “I finally understand why Mrs. Russell has always been so distant with me.”
Ashton patted her hand absently. “Don’t overthink it.”
“You brought Ms. Reynolds into your circle long ago, didn’t you?” Cathy’s eyes shimmered. “That’s why Mrs. Russell accepted her first. To her, I must seem like the other woman between you two.”
“Harper was just your decoy.” Ashton repeated mechanically.
But Cathy’s gaze lingered on Eliana’s warm smile toward Harper. “Mrs. Russell seems so kind hearted. She even gets along with someone like Ms. Reynolds, yet she can’t accept me. Maybe a decoy is worth more than me.”
Just then, a dangerously smooth voice cut through the air. “Someone like Ms. Reynolds? Are you implying my wife has poor judgment?”
They turned to see Theodore glowering at Cathy, his presence chilling the table.
“N–no, Mr. Russell,” Cathy stammered. “I’d never disrespect your wife.”
Ashton sighed, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Theodore, get some coffee. You’re crankier than usual today.”
“This is my normal.” Theodore summoned a waiter without breaking eye contact. “Let’s order.”
Cathy bit her lower lip, seeking comfort from Ashton, only to find him draining his glass, offering no defense.
Megan was staring at Harper in shock. “Wait, that guy drinking brandy was your sugar daddy?”
Eliana quickly clarified, “Former sugar daddy.”
Megan nodded before turning to Harper. “You’re beautiful. Why settle for that kind of life? Even working as a receptionist or secretary would be better.”
Harper sighed, “I’d need actual qualifications for that, superstar.”
Megan waved her off. “Don’t call me that. We’re both from the same rough background–an actress and a hostess. No one is above the other.”
Eliana realized Megan was trying to comfort Harper. When they first met, Eliana had thought Megan was arrogant and dismissive, but now she saw her kindness beneath the sharp edges.
Harper immediately felt a strong connection with Megan, and by the end of breakfast, they were practically ready to swear eternal sisterhood over
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Chapter 244
drinks.
After breakfast; Eliana took her fever medication before heading out with Megan and Harper.
Several speedboats zipped across the water, each towing a surfer behind them.
Megan pointed excitedly. “Hey, look at the guy on the left. His body is insane!”
Eliana and Harper turned to see a man in swim trunks carving through the waves, water glistening on his sun–kissed skin under the sunlight.
Harper whistled. “I’m just hoping his trunks slip off.”
Eliana, however, thought that man looked familiar.
Theodore, Ashton, and the others emerged from the restaurant just in time to see the women’s captivated stares. An inexplicable irritation prickled through them.
Felix scoffed, “It’s just surfing. Haven’t they seen it on TV before? Do they have to scream like that? My eardrums are about to burst.”
Ashton sneered, “Only shallow women drool over a man’s body like that.”
“Ashton, watch your tone,” Theodore warned, though privately, he agreed. But he wasn’t about to admit it, not with Eliana among the admirers.
“Alright, alright, we’ve got our own business to attend to. No point staring at them,” Felix said, noticing Cathy still lingering. He shot Ashton a meaningful
look.
Ashton lowered his voice. “Cathy, we’ve got some business matters to discuss. Find something fun to do, and I’ll come find you later.”
But Cathy had lost all her earlier cheer. “Mr. Ford, I’ll just go back to my room.” With that, she turned and walked away, her shoulders slumped.
Watching Ashton fail to please either woman, Theodore muttered, “Serves you right.”
Felix clapped him on the shoulder, barely suppressing a laugh. “Better luck next time, buddy.”
As the three men walked off, Delilah, who had been lurking in the shadows, seized her chance. She sauntered over to Eliana and sneered, “You’re already married to Theodore, yet here you are ogling my brother like some lovesick fool.”
Eliana turned to her calmly. “That’s your brother?”
Delilah lifted her chin proudly, then cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Marcus, over here!”
Hearing her, Marcus, who was still riding the waves, grinned and waved back.
Eliana glanced at him before saying flatly, “No wonder he looked familiar.”
Megan, who had taken an instant dislike to Delilah, immediately averted her gaze.
Only Harper seemed confused. “What’s going on, Ellie?”
Delilah scoffed, “Don’t play dumb. You think cozying up to Eliana will give you a shot with my brother? Dream breeding. Save yourselves the effort.”
e only marries a woman of proper
Harper immediately understood. She rolled her eyes. “Who said we were looking at him? We were checking out the guy driving the speedboat. Right, Megan?”
Megan didn’t miss a beat. “Exactly. Your brother is not even half as good–looking as Raphael. Why would I bother?”
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Chapter 244
Eliana gestured for them to leave. “Let’s go. The air here is getting stale.”
As the three walked away, Delilah called after them, “Eliana, you only won yesterday by luck. Let’s have a rematch today.”
