Chapter 86
The moment Eliana stepped through the door, she saw Theodore striding toward her quickly, sweat on his forehead and lingering rage on his face as if he’d just fought a battle.
When he reached her, his concern was obvious. “Are you okay?”
Eliana knew exactly what he meant. She eyed him skeptically. “You said Merlin would bury the engagement party drama. So why is everyone talking about you and Ms. Powell?”
“Was he using this to start a fight with Anthony and claim Alice as his?‘ The thought made her nauseous.
Theodore frowned at her look. “What’s with that expression? Anthony did this!”
Eliana gave a humorless laugh. “You’re saying he’d humiliate himself like that? Let all of Covenhill make fun of him?”
As ridiculous as it sounded, that was Anthony’s cruelty–willing to lose everything to hurt his enemy, yet still making people see him as the victim.
Just then, Anthony walked over and told a servant, “Get me an ice pack, please.”
“Yes, sir.” The servant hurried off.
Seeing Anthony’s bloodied lip and messy appearance, Eliana asked Theodore, “You beat him again?”
“He had it coming.” Theodore didn’t deny it. He turned her face toward him and ordered, “Don’t look at him.”
Eliana hated his bossy tone, especially after he’d stolen Anthony’s fiancée yesterday and now beaten him up. It was hard not to think they were fighting over Alice.
Thinking of the drama Alice had caused before even moving in, Eliana was mentally drained. “I don’t want to see you either. Move.”
She swatted his hand from her chin and turned to march up the stairs.
Theodore’s mind reeled with turmoil. The persistent frustration of failing to make peace with her until now made him want to smash something.
Anthony took the ice pack from the servant, pressing it to the corner, of his mouth as he watched the scene with dark amusement.
When Eliana came downstairs, she saw Lainey cradling Anthony’s face, her voice thick with grief and anger as she snapped at Theodore, “Don’t you think
you went too far?
“Anthony represents Russell Group now. How’s he supposed to show his face in public if you keep beating him like this?”
Theodore’s gaze turned icy at the accusation. “Have I gone soft on you lot that you think you can talk to me like that?”
Lainey flinched at his words.
Theodore continued, “Everything you have was stolen from me. I’m just taking back what’s mine, bit by bit.”
Eliana paused mid–step. She knew Theodore had lost more than just Russell Group–he’d lost Alice too.
Theodore added, “And another thing–I didn’t want Eliana to feel lonely, so I let you eat at the table again. Don’t mistake that for being on equal footing.”
This was news to Eliana. ‘So Lainey and her kids have lived in such humiliation before?‘ she wondered.
Lainey shook with rage, finally spitting out, “But… but Russell Group is Anthony’s now! The head of this family should also be…”
The name “Anthony” died on her lips under Theodore’s cold stare.
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Chapter 86
Theodore said, “Russell Group was never anyone’s private property. Grandpa built it from the ground up, with decades of countless employees‘ hard work. And you think you can just grab it? Lainey, what right do you and Anthony have?”
Lainey couldn’t muster a reply. He was right–compared to the founders, Anthony was just a parasite.
And Theodore had every right to say it. When his father ran the company into the ground, it was Theodore who took over and made it thrive.
Just then, Wyatt shuffled forward with his head down, his voice quivering. “Mr. Daniel Russell is here.”
“What?!” Lainey yelped.
Everyone knew that despite Daniel’s immense power, he’d always lived in seclusion. Even during holidays, they’d had to travel to Amberhold to visit him.
For him to come in person now made it clear how much he prized Theodore, his eldest grandson.
Though panic raced through her, Lainey forced herself to appear calm. “I’ll go show him in.”
“You needn’t bother.” A sharp command cut through the room as a suited, cane–carrying, vigorous elderly man marched in–Daniel himself.
Daniel had been a soldier in his youth, exuding a natural air of stern authority. As he passed Lainey, she flinched and shrank back.
Daniel scoffed at the reaction when he saw it from the corner of his eye. He thought, ‘Logan’s second wife has plenty of wiles but no class to speak of.
In an instant, everyone scrambled to greet him, and the strained atmosphere turned artificially polite.
Seeing this, Eliana stepped out of the shadows, eyeing Daniel with awkward formality.
To her surprise, he spoke first. “Little one, we meet again.”
They had met once before. When Daniel went to Burke Manor to discuss the engagement, Belinda had brought her forward. Back then, Daniel had just frowned and grumbled, “Too young,” as if the arrangement was a chore.
Now, his attitude toward her had changed–no doubt because he saw her as the one who’d healed Theodore’s sight.
As her mind raced, she softly greeted, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Daniel Russell.”
Theodore beside her frowned at this. He wondered, ‘Why isn’t she calling Grandpa “Daniel“?”
Daniel noticed Theodore’s reaction. A fleeting smirk crossed his eyes before he asked, “When do we eat?”
At the table, with Daniel there, everyone but Theodore barely breathed, terrified of accidentally upsetting him.
Just then, Daniel said calmly, “Theodore, now that your eyes are healed, you’ll return to Russell Group tomorrow.”
Clink! Lainey’s fork fell to the floor.
As Daniel turned toward her, Lainey hastily gathered her words and said, “Daniel, isn’t this too soon? His eyes just healed. Maybe let him rest longer?”
“He’s rested for two years. You think that’s not enough?” Daniel’s tone held hidden meaning.
Lainey’s heart pounded wildly. She wondered, ‘Is Daniel already suspicious of us?‘
Just then, Anthony smiled and chimed in, “Grandpa, I’d fully welcome Theodore back. I’m just wondering what role he will take.”
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