In the large photo on the magazine cover, everyone except Theodore and Alice became background noise. Keen observers would notice Eliana, forgotten on the stage, looking stunned and lost.
Theodore’s handsome face tensed involuntarily. “Although we did buy these rings today, I truly want to make it up to her.”
“This is deception.” Bernice said sharply, “That girl will take it seriously! I will make her leave you no matter what.”
Bernice thought this man was more terrifying than Luke had been.
He clearly loved another woman yet could still coax Eliana into obeying him. Bernice refused to let Eliana be toyed with in his hands.
A cold glint flashed in Theodore’s eyes. He might as well confess, “It’s too late. We’ve already had sex.”
Bernice’s expression froze, then surged with fiercer anger. “You shameless bastard!”
Bernice thought, ‘He doesn’t love Ellie at all but still slept with her. This man is surely a jerk!‘
Theodore pursed his lips, not mentioning the aphrodisiac that had caused his loss of control. Even if he explained, Bernice would only think he was making excuses for his shamelessness.
“You’re the elder Ellie respects most, so you can scold me however you want. But if you try to take her away from me, I might raze this Therapy Center to the ground,” he said.
Bernice was so angry she lost all reason. “All right, just burn it to the ground. I never want to operate a therapy center based on sacrificing Ellie.”
Eliana, hovering outside the door, jumped at Bernice’s shout and rushed in, only to see Theodore and Bernice standing at opposite ends, both wearing terrifying expressions.
Needless to say, they’d been arguing. She glared at Theodore angrily and said, “Get out!”
Seeing he didn’t move at all, Eliana simply pushed him out. If Theodore hadn’t let her, she couldn’t have moved him with two extra hands.
After the door was slammed in front of him, Theodore rubbed his nose and turned around, only to meet the inquisitive stares of the teachers.
One teacher held up her phone, comparing it to a wiki photo. “Is this him?”
“s this him?”
The other teachers looked at the photo, then at Theodore, and exclaimed excitedly, “Yes, that’s him.”
“So you’re the former president of Russell Group?”
Theodore wanted to say he was still the current president, just that wiki hadn’t updated yet.
“You regained your vision?” Daria said dumbly, waving her hand in front of his face.
“That’s right, thanks to Eliana,” Theodore said, looking toward Bernice’s office.
Seeing the love in his eyes, the teachers blushed. They asked, “Since you’re Ellie’s husband, want to visit her secret base?”
Inside the office, after helping Bernice back to her chair, Eliana heard her say suddenly, “Ellie, divorce him.”
Eliana bit her lip. “Bernie, l…”
Years of knowing Eliana made Bernice realize something was wrong. “Do you have something you can’t tell me?”
Eliana nodded. “My dad signed an agreement with his grandfather. I not only had to cure Theodore’s eyes but also bear his child. My dad hid this from
me.”
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Chapter 99
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Bernice nearly fainted. “Your father is as unreliable as ever.”
“Bernie, listen to me,” Eliana said softly, kneeling beside her. “I’m doing fine now. See, I’ve gained weight, right? The Russell family eats well. And there are so many servants, I don’t have to do any chores. I’ve never been this relaxed in my life.”
Seeing Eliana still hiding her pain, Bernice wanted to scold her but finally stroked her thin face. “Were you angry with me for how I acted yesterday!
Eliana quickly shook her head. “I know you were too upset to face me. I could never be angry at you no matter what.”
After calming Bernice down, Eliana exited the office and looked around but didn’t see Theodore. She asked a nearby teacher, “Where is he?”
“He’s in your old room,” the teachers said.
Eliana rushed nervously toward her old room.
The door was open, so she immediately saw Theodore. “What are you doing here?”
Theodore squinted. He thought, ‘Can’t I visit her room?‘
The teachers were afraid that she’d misunderstand, so they said, “Ellie, don’t worry, we brought him here to look around.”
Eliana blurted out, “Don’t tell me you rummaged through my closet.”
Though she asked, her eyes stayed fixed on Theodore, making it clear who she was wary of.
One teacher said, “It’s locked, and you always keep the key to yourself.”
“Right, I have the key.” Eliana was too flustered to remember.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Theodore said gravely, striding past Eliana and out the door.
He looked angry, but after upsetting Bernice and entering her room without permission, Eliana didn’t think he had the right.
Sensing the awkward tension, the teachers gathered around. “Ellie, did we upset you by bringing him here?”
“It’s fine.” They didn’t know the truth and had naturally treated him as family.
Eliana was angry because this room hid a secret even she didn’t want to uncover.
Just then, Theodore, walking quickly out, accidentally collided with a boy who had his head down. He caught the boy swiftly and asked, “Are you okay
Eliana, exiting the room at the same moment, saw this and rushed over. “Jake, are you all right?”
The boy, Jake Dennis, looked up from Theodore’s arms. His bright eyes lit up at the sight of Eliana. Then he said slowly, “M–mommy.”
Theodore turned in surprise to Eliana, waiting for an explanation.
Jake was a mute boy abandoned here.
Eliana used to visit often and try to teach him to speak. Over the years, he’d learned simple words, and the best he said were “daddy” and “mommy.”
Children always showed their truest desires, Jake simply wanted parents who would love him.
After hearing Eliana’s explanation from the corner, Theodore turned back, picked up Jake, and said, “Call me daddy.”
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Chapter 99
Eliana’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”
But it was too late. Encouraged by Theodore’s gaze, Jake happily said, “D–Daddy.”
