Chapter 71
Aher they finished their sandwiches, Elana took Theodore out for a walk, and they got back around 5pm. Theodore headed to the shower, while Fana quietly pulled there draft proposals from her bag and slipped out of the room, making her way up to the third floor–Anthony’s floor.
Theodore headed to the shower, while Eliana quietly pulled there draft proposals from her bag and slipped out of the room, making her way up to the third floor where Anthony stayed
She knocked softly on the door, holding the drafts and waiting quietly
Not long after, the door opened. Anthony stood there shirtless, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His toned abs and sharp V line were hard to
Elana quickly looked away. “5–sorry, I didn’t know you were in the shower”
“It’s fine” Anthony replied. He turned back into the room and threw on a robe. Seeing that she will wouldn’t look at him, he thought, ‘She’s so shy. Has Theodore still not slept with her
That thought made his smile widen. He asked in a gentle voice, “What brings you here so late?”
Elana glanced over, and once she saw he was dressed, she said, “Mr. Russell, have three drafts for the engagement ceremony I’d like to get your
thoughts on them.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow as he took them. “Did you design one of these?”
Wes, the first one is mine.”
“Then why didn’t you just bring that one? You know, with the way things are between us, I’d approve it even if it were just a stick figure sketch” “Then why not just bring me yours? You know, with our relationship, I’d accept anything you designed.”
His voice was as warm as ever, but Eliana felt a little awkward–it felt a bit too intimate.
Thankfully, Anthony didn’t press for an answer. After a brief pause, he stepped aside with a smile. “Wanna come in and talk?”
“Elana hesitated. It didn’t feel right to be alone with him in his room this late at night.
Honestly, she had only come to drop off the drafts. As for his feedback, she figured she could get it over breakfast tomorrow.
“Alright, I get it. Not the best timing. Give me a second.” Anthony turned back into his room, grabbed his laptop and a pen, and then said to Eliana, “Let’s talk in the lounge outside, okay?”
There was no one else in the lounge either, but at least it didn’t feel as intimate as being in her brother–in–law’s room. Considering he was a client, Eliana agreed. “Okay”
Eliana had hoped to wrap things up quickly, but it ended up taking a whole hour. She tried to cut in several times, but every time, Anthony would bring up something new that needed fixing, so she had no choice but to focus and listen.
By the time Eliana finally returned to Theodore’s room, the clock on the wall already read ten
Theodore was leaning against the bed, head tilted as he looked over at her. “Where’d you go?” The light from the wall lamp cast across his face, making him look even more imposing.
The light from the wall lamp cast across his face, making him look even more imposing.
Eliana’s heart tightened, and she mumbled softly, “I went to see Anthony to ask about some work stult.”
Theodore glanced at the papers in her hand and said, trying to sound casual, “It’s late. Go wash up and gut some rest
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Chapter 71
“Oh, okay” Eliana breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She placed the drafts on the nightstand, grabbed her pajamas, and headed into the hathroom,
As soon as the left, Theodore picked up her draft. It was covered in notes and edits–clearly, she’d poured a lot of effort he tore it up, she’d probably go to war wills İsim.
Suppressing the urge, he forced himself to put the draft back exactly where Eliaria had left it.
In the middle of the night, Theodore got out of bed and stood by the floor to ceiling window, dialing Samuel’s number.
gagement ceremony. If
On the other end, Samuel yawned nonstop. “It’s the middle of the night. Shouldn’t you be in bed, cuddling with your lovely wife? What are you calling me for
Theodore stared at the swirling snow outside. His eyes were icy, but his heart was burning. “Samuel, is there any medicine that can help my eyes heal
faster?”
Samuel was taken aback. “What, you’re getting impatient now?”
Theodore just gave a quiet. “Mm”
“Aren’t you worried Eliana might get bribed by Lainey and Anthony to secretly keep tabs on you while you take your meds?” Samuel asked.
Theodore glanced back at Eliana on the bed, his tone laced with barely noticeable affection. “She’s too clueless to pull something like that off”
Samuel muttered, “Men are impossible to figure out. That’s not what you used to say…”
Theodore frowned. “What did you say?”
Samuel quickly backtracked, “Nothing! The new medicine is almost ready. Please, just give me a bit more time.”
The next morning, inside the elevator at Starlight Modia, Hannah and Jennifer stood on opposite sides.
As the elevator rose, Jennifer glanced at Hannah and said, “Ms. Burke, you’re back at work today? You don’t look too good. Still not feeling well?”
Hannah looked up at the camera in the elevator and stayed silent. But the moment the elevator dinged open, she grabbed Jennifer by the arm and yanked her out.
Jennifer snarked, “Ms. Burke, your office is upstairs, you know.”
“Shut up: I need to ask you something.” Hannah snapped, dragging Jennifer straight to the break room.
The place was still quiet–no one else had arrived yet. Hannah took out her phone, pulled up the photo of Eliaha and Nolan together, and demanded angrily, “Why the hell did you send me this?!”
Jennifer crossed her arms and said lazily, “I was just giving you a heads up–your little sister and Mr. Hall get together behind your back. Shouldn’t you be thanking me instead of grilling me?”
“But that photo’s fake!” Hannah barked.
to the cafeteria at lunch yesterday to see Eliana. I wasn’t the only one
Jennifer looked at her like she was crazy. “Says who? Go ask anyone if Nolan went to t
who saw it.”
Hannah froze. “So, the photo is real?”
Jennifer said each word slowly and clearly, “Absolutely. Real”
Confused, Hannah couldn’t help but think, ‘If Jennifer was telling the truth, then why did Mom yell at me the moment she got home last night? And why did she say the photo was take?
Chapter 71
‘Later, she even broke down crying, saying I’d have to return the 500 thousand dollars to Eliana, that he’d been humiliated because of
It was the first time Mom had ever yelled at me, and the 500 thousand dollars I’d just gotten would be gone. I was so furious that I couldn’t sleep all night, convinced Jennifer had set me up.
Seeing how awful Hannah looked, Jennifer sneered, “What’s wrong? Tried to play dirty and ended up screwing yourself over?
Hannah shot back, “Shut up. Don’t even think about driving a wedge between me and my
“Oh, please. You’ve been making things harder for Eliana for two years. You think I haven’t noticed?” Jennifer scoffed.
She circled Hannah, relishing her tension. “Your sister just sealed a huge deal and is on the rise, but you? You can’t even hold onto your own boyfriend.
“said shut up!” Hannah finally lost it and shoved Jennifer
But Jennifer wasn’t someone to take it lying down. She steadied herself, grabbed the water cup behind her, and splashed it right in Hannah’s face
Hannah screamed. Her makeup was ruined, and there was even someone else’s water from yesterday in her mouth. She was on the verge of a
breakdown.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the door. Both Hannah and Jennifer turned to see someone standing there, phone aimed at them.
A second later, the phone was lowered, revealing the person behind it–it was Eliana.
“Don’t stop now. Go on, throw some punches,” Eliana said, looking at the two stunned women. “Trecorded everything you two just said–and I have to say, your little action scene was pretty entertaining too.”
“Elianal” Snapping out of it, Jennifer rushed forward, trying to snatch the phone.
But Eliana slapped her across the face, leaving her frozen in place. Even Hannah was too shocked to react.
Then Eliana huffed, “Jennifer, you almost got me in trouble.” Theodore hadn’t backed her up yesterday, things could have turned out much worse.
Jennifer had no idea how serious things were and raised her hand to hit back.
Eliana immediately raised her phone. “Go ahead. Hit me. I’ll send the video to Mr. Hall.”
Jennifer’s hand snapped back like she’d touched a hot stove.
The moment Hannah heard Nolan’s name, she got nervous. “Ellie, calm down-
“And you if I could, I’d slap you too!” Eliana shot her a cold look and said expressionlessly, “You told my mom to come and chew me out. Do you me out of the picture?”
Hannah didn’t ever hesitate to shift the blame. “I didn’t) Mom saw the photo and insisted on going to confront you.”
want
“Oh, really?” Eliana leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Bet you didn’t expect Theodore to take my side. The photo was real, but he told everyone it was
fake.”
Hannah’s eyes went wide in shock as she thought, “That overbearing man–rumored to be hopelessly devoted to his first love–actually lied for Elana, who’s just a nobody?!
“You saw I wasn’t wearing a wedding ring and thought my life was miserable, didn’t you?” Eliana asked.
As Hannah’s breathing grew heavier, Eliana flashed a sweet smile and continued, “Actually, he treats me incredibly well. Sorry to disappoint you.”
Then she took a step back, looked at Hannah and Jennifer, and said, “From now on, you two need to cooperate with me at work. If you don’t, I’ll make this video public and let the people you care about most see who you really are.”
Chapter 71
After Eliana left, Jennifer stomped her foot and said to Hannah, “Turris nut your sister was the real wolf in sheep’s clothing”
Hannah clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. There’s no way she was p
ng with her head on her desk when her phone buzzed with a text. She glanced at the screen and saw that 500 thousand dollars
At noon, Eliana was doring t had just hit he account.
Smiling in satisfaction, she sent a text to Belinda Payment received] Then the went back to her nap, but a few seconds later, Belinda cafted
The moment Eliana picked up, Belinda shouted, “Eliana, you’ve really got some nerve now
Eliana replied lazily, “Mom, you showed up at my place and ended up paying me back. You’re welcome to come again anytime.”
Belinda let out a furious laugh. “You better hope Theodore never stops doting on you, You’re no longer part of our family”
moment you lost me
Eliana delivered the truth without hesitation. “I stopped being part of the Burke family the mo
Belinda hung up right away.
Eliana slowly put her phone down and thought, ‘Mom’s angry with me, but I’m extremely disappointed in her
“Yesterday, when she barged into Russell Manor to confront me about Hannah, she didn’t give a second thought to whether Lainey would tear me apart afterward. So why should I keep playing nice?‘
AD
