Chapter 84
In the bathroom, Eliana stripped down
unwound the bandage from her right hand. Her elbow was a mess–red and swollen, marked by the weight
that crushed her while saving Alice and the struggle with Theodore.
She chewed her lip, thinking, ‘This isn’t healing anytime soon.‘
After the shower, she fished out the prescribed meds and bandages from her bag. With her back to Theodore, she settled at the dressing table and started treating the wound.
But her left hand fumbled awkwardly. As she wrapped the bandage, the gauze slipped from her grasp and landed on the floor. Theodore waited for her to ask for help, but she just huffed and gave up.
He thought, ‘Stubborn as hell.’ He rubbed his fingertips in annoyance and suddenly had a strong urge to pinch her.
Eliana curled up on the sofa with her laptop. The screen cast a glow over her face, highlighting her furrowed brows and intense gaze. Clearly, it was not the time to start a conversation.
She stared at the words “Work Summary” on the screen, deflated. She’d planned to pen a cheerful reflection, but after everything, she deleted the title and typed “Work Self–Criticism” instead.
Theodore could do as he pleased. She’d made that clear. It wasn’t her problem anymore.
In the dead of night, Theodore crept to the sofa. He watched Eliana’s sleeping form, then gently eased her right hand from beneath the blanket. Rolling up her sleeve inch by inch, he winced at the angry bruise.
He fetched the ointment and bandages, reapplying the cream with care before wrapping the bandage snugly. Her wrist felt like a bird’s wing in his grasp -so fragile he feared crushing it.
When he finished, Theodore exhaled slowly, realizing he hadn’t acted so cautiously.
He reached out and ruffled her soft bangs. Before, he’d only seen her as meek and sweet. But today, he realized just how sharp–tongued she could be- her words cutting deep enough to leave him speechless.
After a long moment, he tucked the blanket snugly around her and slipped away.
Eliana turned onto her side, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
The next morning, when Eliana woke up, Theodore was already gone.
It hit her then–he wasn’t the helpless man who’d relied on her anymore. Now, he was free to do as he pleased, with the whole world at his feet.
Snow blanketed the world outside, matching the chill in her heart.
At Starlight Media, Eliana walked into the office clutching her self–criticism. Out of nowhere, a magazine came flying at her. The paper’s edge sliced across her cheek, leaving a stinging red mark.
She glared at the culprit. Hannah stood there, arms crossed, poker–faced. “Look at the mess you’ve made! You’ve dragged the company’s name through
the mud!”
Eliana picked up the magazine. The cover was plastered with a photo of Theodore holding Alice. A tiny picture in the corner showed Nolan shielding her right hand and leading her out. The headline screamed, “Starlight Media CEO Caught Cheating?”
But Theodore had promised that Merlin would bury the engagement drama. How did this end up in a tabloid? Even worse, the article labeled her as
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Chapter 84
Nolan’s girlfriend.
No wonder Hannah was livid—this added fresh fuel to old grudges.
Still, Hannah had an image to uphold as a manager. Harping on the Nolan–Eliana rumors would make her look petty. So she said hypocritically, “Is this how you set up the event? You could’ve killed a client!”
Eliana didn’t argue. “It was my fault. I’m sorry.”
“A sorry won’t cut it. Do you have any idea how much money and credibility you’ve cost us?”
Eliana held out the self–criticism she’d written the night before. “Ms. Burke, this is my report. I’ll take whatever punishment the company decides.”
Hannah snatched it from her and plastered on a fake smile. “Even if I let it slide, the rest of the team won’t be so forgiving.”
Eliana scanned the room. The others kept quiet, but their scowls said it all. They had dedicated a lot of effort to organizing the grand engagement party. Now it was ruined–bonuses, praise, all down the drain.
They’d get mocked by other departments for sure. And then there were those police interviews. One drama after another–it was enough to give anyone whiplash.
Jennifer chimed in, “Ms. Burke, she clearly can’t handle responsibility.”
Now, Jennifer and Hannah were on the same page. To them, Eliana was public enemy number one, and they weren’t about to pass up the chance to take
her down.
With backup from Jennifer, Hannah had the perfect excuse. “Good point. Eliana, take a break from department work. Head to the warehouse and help with inventory to avoid arousing the resentment of other colleagues. I’ll pass this report to Mr. Hall and see what he thinks.”
Hannah’s arrogance wasn’t baseless. After all, Theodore had carried off Alice yesterday, not Eliana.
Everyone knows the drill–mess up, own up, and take your lumps. Eliana got it too and took her punishment without a word.
“Back to work,” Hannah barked at the rest of the team. Clutching Eliana’s self–criticism and the magazine, she stalked off.
But instead of heading to Nolan’s office, she ducked into her own. With a flick of her wrist, she fed the self–criticism into the shredder. In seconds, it was
confetti.
She leaned over the magazine, tracing Theodore’s chiseled features with a hungry finger before landing on Nolan’s face in the corner.
‘How dare he get tangled up in rumors with Eliana? He’s clearly in hot water this time,‘ Hannah thought. So Hannah sat back Nolan to come groveling for forgiveness.
dently, waiting for
Too bad he didn’t go to her first.
“Ms. Smith, where’s Eliana?” Nolan asked.
Jennifer’s jaw tightened at the question. Jealousy gnawed at her, but she managed a shrug. “Ms. Hannah Burke sent her to the warehouse to move boxes.”
Nolan’s brows shot up. He thought, ‘Eliana’s hand is still injured, and Hannah knew it.’
Still, he wasn’t shocked. Hannah had it out for Eliana long before this.
When he reached the warehouse, Eliana was already hard at work. The lone woman among a sea of burly men, she stuck out like a sore thumb.
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