Chapter 55
Before long, the doorbell rang. Isaac shouted excitedly as he rushed over to open the door, “It must be Ellie.”
The moment the door swung open, Eliana didn’t even have time to speak before a tall man threw himself into her arms, nearly knocking her back a few
steps
“Why did you take so long to come home?” Isaac whimpered.
Eliana hadn’t expected Isaac to cry. She gently patted his back, trying to calm him down. “I’m sorry, Isaac, I’ve just boen really busy lately and couldn’t find the time to visit you.”
–
It took a good while before Isaac finally stopped sobbing. He looked up at her with red eyes and said, “Promise me you will… take me out today, for the whole day…hicl
“OK, I promise you. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, I’m all yours,” Eliana said with a smile, wiping away his tears and snot with a tissue. Then, holding his hand, they walked into the living room.
But the moment they stepped inside, Belinda’s voice rang out with sharp sarcasm. “Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Russell Where’s your husband, by the way?
Eliana pressed her lips together and said softly, “Hi, Mom”
Belinda launched into the trade she’d been holding back since their last phone call. “What’s that you’re carrying? A fruit basket? Geez, no better than stuff I got from Sam’s.”
Eliana said curtly, “Mom, where’s Dad? I want to see him”
Eliana paid this vist for two very specific reasons. One was to get the money, and the other was to take isaac out for a full day. She had no interest in any
drama or conversation.
Just then, Hannah appeared at the staircase, supporting Hudson as they slowly descended from the second floor. Eliana looked up and greeted them. “Hi, Dad, Hannah.”
After helping Hudson sit down on the sofa, Hannah said, “Elie, Dad isn’t feeling well today, something about his heart. But when he heard you were coming, he insisted on getting up.”
Eliana asked, “Did you call the family doctor?”
“Yes, we did. He’s on his way,” Hannah replied, then casually pointed to an empty seat after sitting between her parents. “Sit down, Ellie.”
Eliana glanced at Hudson, Seeing him like this made it difficult for her to bring up the money issue.
To her surprise, the next moment, Hudson reached into his jacket and pulled out a bank card, handing it to her, “Ellie, take this. Everything on it is yours.”
She accepted it and instinctively asked, “One million dollars?”
Hudson’s expression stiffened. He looked toward Belinda, but she deliberately turned her head away, as if none of this concerned her
Left with no choice, Hudson replied on his own, “Elle, there’s 500 thousand dollars on the card.”
Under Eliana’s gloomy gaze, Hudson forced himself to explain, shame thick in his voice. “As for the rest your mother and I hope to save it fo wedding”
Eliana was completely disappointed with them after hearing that.
She had always known Hudson was easily swayed. In his youth, he listened to Belinda. Now in his later years, he listened to Hannah. And she, the daughter who wasn’t clever, who didn’t know how to sweet talk, became the family’s sacrifice.
3.31 Inu, 12 Jun
Chapter 55
She screamed inwardly, ‘How could they do this? Ever since I married Theodore, I haven’t had a single peaceful day
I’ve endured his unpredictable moods, suffered the humiliation of dealing with Lainey’s crew, and even now, the scratches from Barbara haven’t learned that money myself Why should I hand it over to Hannah?
Her face turned grim, her tone laced with resolve. “One million dollars. Not a cent less”
Hudson tried to reason with her. “Ellie,
,500 thousand is already quite a lot.”
