Ashton recalled how amicably Franco and Eliana had chatted aboard the cruise. He felt a flicker of reassurance. “I believe he will. He and Ellana seem to have a good tapport.”
That seemed to catch the officer’s interest. “In that case, let’s move quickly.”
Ashton nodded, then added, “Also, I’d like to speak with my Lawyer, if that’s alright?”
By evening, two unexpected visitors arrived at Eliana’s hospital room, Beverly and Ryan.
Beverly looked at her with genuine concem. “Oh, sweetheart You’re hurt so badly. If I’d known, I never would’ve asked you to handle the setup at the government hall. This is on me.”
“Ms. Jenson, please don’t blame yourself,” Eliana replied quickly. “It was just bad luck, nothing more
After a brief pause, she asked curiously. “But, how did you know I was here?”
“The police showed up at the building earlier, Beverly explained. “Ryan happened to overhear when he was back from training. He asked around, found out what happened, and called me. We came as soon as we could.”
“I appreciate it. Really,” Eliana said, touched but slightly embarrassed.
Suddenly, Ryan leaned in, gently taking her hand. “Ellie,” he said seriously, “if this wasn’t an accident, I promise, I’ll help find whoever did this
Eliana hesitated. She was about to mention that a suspect had already been taken in, but what if Ashton truly wasn’t guilty!
After a moment’s pause, she said softly, “Mr. Jenson… you really don’t have to go to such lengths for me.”
To Ryan, she was already like family. He took her troubles as seriously as his own. But this wasn’t the moment to speak of that. So he simply replied, “it’s mostly because of my mom. She’s blaming herself, You know I can’t just sit by and watch.”
As he spoke, Eliana’s phone rang from the nightstand.
Ryan plan
glanced at the screen and handed it to her. “It’s your mother. She’s probably worried.”
Eliana frowned slightly, but declining would only seem odd.
She took the phone and answered, bringing it to her ear. “Hi, Mom.”
Belinda’s voice came through instantly, sharp and accusing. “This is your doing, isn’t it? You convinced your father to divorce me, didn’t you?”
“Wait, he actually brought up divorce? Eliana thought, stunned.
“Mom, no, I didn’t,” she said calmly.
“Then why would he say you’d understand no matter what decision he makes?‘ Belinda demanded.
“He did ask me about it, yes, Eliana admitted. “But I told him I’d respect whatever you both decide.”
“Oh, how generous of you,” Belinda snapped. “So you’re saying you support the divorce? Trying to ruin me completely, is that it?”
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Ellana’s brows drew together. “That’s not what I said, I didn’t take sides, I said I’d respect your choices, both of yours!
Belinda’s voice turned cold and mocking. “So now you’re both united, is that it? What’s next? Kicking me and Hannah out of the Burke fam and leaving us on the street?”
“I’ve never wanted that,” Eliana said quietly in truth, she was the one who’d been cast out.
“I get it now,” Belinda went on bitterly. “Your husband’s targeting Hannah, and you’re after me. This is your way of getting revenge, isn’t it? You didn’t get the love you wanted growing up, so now you’re tearing the whole family apart.”
Eliana winced. The shouting was giving her a headache.
In the room, aside from Belinda’s voice raging through the speaker, there was only silence.
Ryan’s expression shifted subtly from initial relief, to awkwardness, then to a quiet, simmering anger.
He had been glad at first; it was comforting to know someone had called, presumably concerned about Eliana. But the mood soured quickly. The conversation revealed her parents were on the verge of divorce, something he hadn’t meant to overhear.
And what unsettled him most was Belinda’s complete lack of awareness or care that her daughter had just been in an accident.
Yet Beverly, who had long since made a thorough study of Eliana’s background and social ties, remained calm. She wasn’t surprised.
What she felt, instead, was a deep ache. Eliana had grown up in such a home, and still managed to be thoughtful, composed, and self- effacing. That only made Beverly care for her more.
As Belinda’s scolding continued, Beverly reached over and gently took the phone from Eliana’s hand. Holding it to her ear, she spoke softly. but with clear authority. “Have you said enough?”
There was a brief silence on the other end before Belinda snapped, “Who are you? I’m speaking to my daughter. Stay out of it.”
“Oh, so you do remember she’s your daughter?” Beverly’s voice remained even, her tone effortlessly composed despite the anger behind it. “She’s in the hospital, and you didn’t even notice.”
“She’s in the hospital?”
“She is. And if you cared even slightly, you’d lower your voice and let her rest.”
Belinda scoffed. “So what are you, then? Her nurse? Her maid?”
“I’m… Beverly began, but Ryan coughed deliberately, reining her in..
She paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “You’ll find out soon enough. What matters is this, you’ve no right to call yourself her mother.”
That set Belinda off. “I don’t? And you do? Who the hell do you think you are? Some two–bit social climber? Don’t make me laugh!”
What followed was a stream of increasingly vile insults, unaware that the woman she was berating was none other than the city’s First Lady.
Beverly listened, silent but resolute. Every world only deepened her conviction. Eliana needed someone to stand up for her, and she would be that person.
Just then, Eliana gently touched the back of Beverly’s hand.
Beverly looked down. Eliana was reaching for the phone.
With a reluctant sigh, Beverly handed it back. She half–expected Eliana to continue tolerating it all in silence. Instead, Eliana calmly ended the
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call. The room fell quiet.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that,” Eliana said, her voice composed but weary. “And thank you.”
Beverly looked at her, eyes softening. “I might’ve gotten a little emotional,” she admitted. Then, after a pause, “Ellie… if you were my daughter, I wouldn’t let anyone treat you this way.”
Eliana hesitated, then gave a faint smile. “Beverly, I’m not that lucky.”
‘You will be, Beverly thought, but kept the words to herself.
Outside the room, as the two walked down the corridor, Beverly’s tone shifted. Her usual warmth was gone, replaced by quiet resolve. “Ryan. In a few days, send invitations to Belinda and Hudson. I want them at the charity auction.”
Ryan stared at her “Why? Why let them show up?
Beverly didn’t hesitate. “Because that night, I’ll be announcing that Ellie is my goddaughter. And I want them there to witness it. The child they treated like a burden will be someone I choose to treasure.”
